English Study Material XII

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STUDY MATERIAL
SUBJECT: ENGLISH CORE

CLASS: XII
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CONTENTS
1. PATTERN OF QUESTION PAPER/SYLLABUS
2. BLUE PRINT OF QUESTIION PAPER
3. SECTION – A READING COMPREHENSION
4. SECTION – B ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS
5. SECTION – C LITERATURE/TEXT BOOKS
6. SAMPLE QUESTION PAPERS (SOLVED)
7. SAMPLE QUESTION PAPERS (FOR PRACTICE)

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PATTERN OF QUESTION PAPER/SYLLABUS
ENGLISH CORE – XII
(SECTION – A) 20
MARKS
READING
1. Unseen passage for comprehension 9+3 = 12 marks
2. Note Making with summarizing 5+3 = 08 marks
(SECTION – B) 35 MARKS
ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS
3. Short Composition 05 marks
i. Notice/Appeal Writing
ii. Invitations & Replies (Refusal & Acceptance)
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iii. Advertisements (Classified & Display)

iv. Posters
4. Report Writing 10 marks

5. Letter Writing 10 marks
i. Letter to Editor
ii. Letter of Complaint
iii. Letter making enquiries
iv. Letter placing orders
v. Job application
6. Long Composition (Article/Speech) 10 marks
(SECTION – C) 45 MARKS
TEXT BOOKS/LITERATURE
‘FLAMINGO’ 30 marks
‘VISTAS’ 15 marks
FLAMINGO
7. (a) Answer one extract out of two from poetry. 04 marks

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7. (b) Answer three questions out of four from poetry. 06 marks

8. Short answer type questions(prose) 5X02 = 10 marks
9. Answer one long answer type question out of two.
(125-150 words) 10 marks
VISTAS
10. Answer one long answer type question out of two.

(125-150 words) 07 marks
11. Short answer type questions (30-40 words) 4 X 02 = 08
marks
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ENGLISH CORE - XII

Blue Print/Design of Sample Paper 2008
Section Type of Question Marks Total marks Testing objectives
READING 20
Q.1 1.1 a) VSA 1M Comprehension
b) SA 2M Comprehension
c) SA 2M Comprehension
1.2 a) VSA b) VSA c) 1M Vocabulary testing,
VSA
1M Vocabulary testing,
Q.2 2.1 Note - Making 5M Study Skills (Comprehending &
Note Making)
2.2 Summary Writing 3M Summarising Skills
WRITING 35
Q.3 (1s1 Option) Short Writing Skill 5M Providing factual
or or or details, organization, fluency and

coherence
(2nd option) Short Writing Skill 5M
or
Providing factual details,
Q.4 st
(1 option) Long Writing Task 10M organization, fluency
Presenting factual and format,
details,
fluency and coherence
or (Report writing) or or
Long Writing Task Or
2nd Option (Factual 10M
Reporting) Presenting factual details,
Letter writing format, fluency
Formating, and coherence
organization,
0.5 (1st option) 10M
(Long Writing coherence, fluency,
or Task) or Letter or
Writing (Long or
(2nd option) Writing Task) 10M
Formatting,
Organisation,organization,
coherence,
Q.6 (1 st option) Article (LWS) 10M
or or Article (LWS) or fluency
(2nd option) 10M or

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ENGLISH CORE - XII

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TEXT BOOKS 45
Q.7 a) (1st Option)
a) SA 2M Poetry appreciation
b) VSA 1M Interpretation
c) VSA 1M Interpretation
or or or or
(2nd option) a) SA 2M Poetry appreciation
b) VSA 1M Inteqiretation
c) VSA 1M Interpretation
Q.7 Any three 1) SA 2M Comprehension
2) SA 2M Interpretation
3) SA 2M Understanding
4) SA 2M Interpretation
Q.8 All five a) SA 2M Comprehension
b) SA 2M Comprehension
c) SA 2M Interpretation
d) SA 2M Understanding
e) SA 2M Understanding and
interpretation
Q.9 (1st Option) Long answer 10M Content organization
Fluency, Coherence,
Understanding
ornd or or or
(2 Option) Long answer 10 M Content organization,
fluency, coherence.
understanding
Q.10 (1st Option) Long answer 07M Content organization,
i fluency, coherence,
. . . . . ...;....„ . . ...
understanding
or Or or Or
(2nd Option) Long answer 07M Content organization,
Fluency, coherence.
understanding
Q.ll a) SA 2M Understanding
b) SA 2M Understanding
c) SA 2M Interpretation
d) SA 2M Understanding
ENGLISH CORE - XII

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SECTION – A (READING COMPREHENSION)
COMPREHENSION PASSAGES
SECTION – A (Q. No. 1)
READING SKILLS
Reading is a skill that can be acquired. Anyone can learn to read better
and faster and thereby comprehend in lesser time.
Rather than concentrating on words on the page, look for the main ideas,
follow the main thread of the ideas consciously at a fast pace. Try to
comprehend the overall organisation of the passage in terms of the
development of thought. Don’t get sidetracked by minor details or
examples.
The following points should be kept in mind and carefully noted while
attempting the questions on comprehension:
1. Do not be panicky seeing a long passage.

2. Go through the passage carefully and try to get a general idea of
the subject the passage deals with.
3. Second reading would certainly better your understanding. So do
it.
4. Some difficult words may scare you but do not lose heart. Make a
guess and try to relate them to the preceding and the following
sentences.
5. Read the questions asked very carefully.
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6. Underline the relevant parts of the passage which can give the
answers.
7. Answer to the point.
8. Use simple and your own language. Do not give your comments.
You are to display your comprehension and not knowledge.
9. If there is no way out, use words from the passage. Wrong words,
if used, will send wrong signals.
10. If you are asked to give a title or heading to the passage, keep in
mind the following clues :
a) title is hidden either in the beginning or in the ending lines
of the passage.
b) first letter of each word in the title should be capital letter.
c) title should give the main idea of the passage.
d) title should be small and brief.
SOLVED EXAMPLES
PASSAGE-1
REORIENTATION OF EDUCATIONAL IDEALS
Everybody knows that the education given at present in our universities

is narrow and strictly intellectual and is confined to giving instructions
in the subjects of set course with an eye only on the student's success in
the examination. The physical side of the education is neglected, and
there are practically no facilities for. Social life or corporate activities of
any kind. Naturally in such narrow grooves, 'there is little opportunity
for training the character of the student and developing his personality.
In this connection, it will be wise to look up to America, the most
practical country in the world. America possesses democracy in
education. Education is not a monopoly of the idle rich, of the privilege
solely of the bloated and arrogant middle class, but the birthright of
every American child. In Europe primary education is free and
compulsory, but higher education is reserved only for a few. No attempt
is made by American Educationists to dole out education according to
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social position. It is possible for student to start in the common school

and right up to the university.
Education in America is frankly utilitarian as it is not either in England

or in India. Metaphysics and Latin and Greek occupy a very subordinate
place in the curriculum. The almost miraculous success of American
business all over the world is due to the strictly utilitarian ideals of
American education. In America businessmen generously give away
large sums of money. It is not an idealistic generosity which prompts
them to do so. But the realization that their education has helped them to
make money and so they must give money for giving similar education
to others. No American would even dream of encouraging a- type of
education without direct social utility. A look into an American
university calendar would show that the courses of study offered range
from dish-washing to metaphysics. But dish-washing is given more
importance than Aristotle.
The difference between American and Indian education is that Indian

educationists aim at providing merely glorified clerks while Americans
want self-respecting citizens who shall be taught to make an
independent living in every walk of life. Our unemployed are consoled
by being told that "man shall not live by bread alone?" This is not true.
The truth is that man shall not live by culture alone. He wants bread
first. That is recognized by American universities. So in these two ways
we can learn much from America. We must make education cheap
within reach of all who are capable of it and desire it and we must make
it utilitarian. A man who can do the job of dish-washing really
efficiently is a better citizen than a man who writes Babu Piche Lal's
English, and murders Shakespeare. In America, examinations have been
completely eliminated. Instead of holding examinations and promoting
those who receive a certain percentage of marks, the entire group is
promoted. The more slowly developing child is given individual
attention, and the brilliant child is not retarded. The gifted child is given
more work of a creative nature, and is even encouraged to dream, but is
never placed in a class of children older than himself, where he may
grow self-conscious and lose confidence.
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On basis of reading the above passage, answer the following questions

A1. a) What is the aim of present system of education of India ?
Ans.) The aim is to give instructions in subjects of course with an
eye only to the student's success in the examination.
a) What are the two shortcomings of the social life of a
student?
Ans.) The two short comings are- no opportunity for training the
character of student and to develop his personality as there
are no corporate activities.
b) On what grounds can we say that American education is

utilitarian in nature ?
Ans.) The courses of study in America offer a range from
dishwashing to metaphysics, but dishwashing is given more
importance. Education without direct social utility is
discouraged.
c) What is the great distinction between American and

Indian education?
Ans.) Indian education aims at producing merely glorified clerks.
Our unemployed are consoled by being told that "man shall
not live by bread alone!" Americans want self-respecting
citizens who shall be taught to make an independent living
in every walk of life. They recognize that man needs bread
first.
d) Americans treat the gifted child on different norms. What

are those?
Ans.) The gifted child is given more work of creative nature, is
encouraged to dream, never placed in a class of children
older than himself, where he may grow self-conscious and
lose confidence.
e) What can Indians learn from the American system of

education?
Ans.) Education is birth right of every child. It should be

utilitarian. Education should produce self-respecting
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citizens capable of making an independent citizen.

Eliminate exams.
g) Write the synonyms of the following words :
(i) Opportunity - chance
(ii) Miraculous - wonderful, supernatural, divine
(iii) Eliminated - removed
h) Write three facts from the passage that speak about the
success of business in America
Ans. (i) Utilitarian ideals of education.
(ii) Businessmen generously give away large sums of

money for education.
(iii) Not idealistic generosity-realizes that education helps

make money so they must give to others.
PASSAGE-2
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
12 Marks
1. As religious people believing in God, we are all aware of the
influence of prayer in our individual lives. It is true our temples,
gurdwaras, churches and mosques reverberate with the prayers of
the devout on festive occasions and even in the course of daily
life. When individuals face dire situations, often they are led into
prayer, their faith thus opens for them a source of comfort and
encouragement in their hour of need.
2. But how does this nation, as a collective entity, exercise its faith
in prayer? It may be recalled that during the freedom struggle and
subsequently after Independence, the Father of the Nation, used to
lead the people in prayer on matters affecting its destiny. The men
of different faiths used to take part in such meetings, which gave
them a sense of purpose and also a sense of solidarity as people
sharing one destiny.
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3. Since the Mahatma fell to the bullets of an assassin, no one else

probably came forward to provide leadership to an exercise of
prayer at the national level. No doubt, people of all faiths had
organised prayers at their places of worship in the aftermath of
national tragedies like the Gujarat earthquake or the Orissa
cyclone. The hijacking of an Indian plane with its passengers to
Kandahar in the recent past had moved this nation to pray. The
whole nation, again, had taken to prayer en masse on two other
earlier occasions-when Amitabh Bachchan fell seriously ill and
also when Mother Teresa was on bed.
4. “Man's” need for prayer is as great as his need for bread. As food
is necessary for the body, prayer is necessary for the soul. I have
not a shadow of doubt that the strife and quarrels with which our
atmosphere is so full today are due to the absence of the spirit of
true prayer. True prayer never goes unanswered." wrote Gandhiji.
According to Vasudevan, secretary of the Rajghat Samadhi
Samiti, all-religion prayer meetings are held every Friday at
Rajghat from 4 p.m. to 5.15 p.m.
5. It is said that the act of prayer changes people and situations.
There is a general impression that prayer is an act of seeking
favours from God for selfish ends. It is as if all praying people are
only interested in taking their shopping lists to their maker! Far
from it. The very act of praying teaches one to empathise with
those who suffer. It broadens one's vision and outlook . It builds
up one's character by imparting a sense of responsibility towards
other people and situations.
6. The latest example of a praying nation comes from the United
States, which is often labeled as too materialistic. Speaking at the
National Prayer Breakfast at Washington in the second week of
February, President George Bush praised Americans of all faiths
for turning to prayer in the wake of the September 11 terrorist
attacks. He said he had spent much time "on bended knee" since
terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon,
killing more than 3000 people.
7. Regardless of the religious affiliations, people in the affected
areas showed an exemplary sense of tolerance in the hour of
tragedy. All differences of religion, ethnicity, race and language
were forgotten as volunteers got busy assuaging the pain and
sorrow felt by the victims. The American example has several
lessons for India which is also a pluralistic society. It has
demonstrated that differences of religion and ethnicity need not
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stand in the way of the nation unitedly facing all its challenges. If
it is true that all religious faiths teach tolerance, humility and the
value of helping neighbours, then the religious leaders of this
nation could also engender unity and oneness of purpose by
coming together periodically to pray for the nation. And when
they focus on the fact that all people, regardless of their
differences, share one common destiny, there could be greater
communal harmony. Such a consciousness ought to pave the way
for peace in society. (M.P. K.
Kutty)
(a) Answer the following questions : 9 Marks
(i) When do people generally pray ? Why ? 2 Marks
When individuals face dire situations, often they are led

into prayer, their faith thus opens for them a source of
comfort and encouragement in their hour of need.
(ii) What is the importance of the nation praying as a

collective entity? 1Mark
It gives them a sense of purpose and also a sense of unity as
people sharing one destiny.
(iii) Give two examples from the recent times when the nation
was led to pray for a cause ? 1 Mark
The Gujarat earthquake/the Orissa cyclone or any other.
(iv) How does the act of praying influence mind and
Personality? 2
Marks
The very act of praying teaches one to empathise with those

who suffer. It broadens one’s vision and outlook. It builds
up one's character by imparting a sense of responsibility
towards other people and situations.
(v) What lesson does the American example demonstrate to

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India ? 3 Marks
The American example has several lessons for India which

is also a pluralistic society, it has demonstrated that
differences of religion and ethnicity need not stand in the
way of the nation unitedly facing all its challenges.
b) Find words from the passage which mean the same as

the ones given below : 3 Marks
(i) unity (para 2)
solidrity
(ii) conflict (para 4)

strife
(iii) commendable (para7)

exemplary
PASSAGES FOR PRACTICE

PASSAGE-3
1. Read the following passage and answer the questions that

follow: 12 Marks
Three worrisome aspects of national life demand drastic measures as

early as possible. These are: exploding population, rampant corruption
and an administrative system which is among the worst in the world.
Ever since Independence, these three problems have been pushed under
the carpet because they require tough decisions.
1. Even as the country's population has crossed the one billion

mark, our leaders continue to twiddle their thumbs. The so-
called national population policy, announced with much
fanfare recently, is an unmitigated farce. After talking about
a dozen concerns pertaining to the health of women and
children, it again puts "emphasis on voluntariness in the
area of family planning. But experience of the last five
decades shows that Indians population problem is of such a
magnitude that mere recourse to persuasion and
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propaganda-which means voluntariness-is just not enough.

There is urgent need for a centrally-sponsored nation-wide
scheme of incentives and disincentives-a carrot-and-stick
policy.
2. Needless to say, an incentive-disincentive scheme would
initially cover the organised sector, which means
employees of the Central and state governments as well as
the public and private corporate sectors. The incentives-
disincentives would entail monetary rewards, promotions
and concessions relating to the education of children,
housing and transportation. The details are not difficult to
work out and have been written about ad nauseam.
3. Corruption has been corroding the very innards of the
Indian nation. First, there is need for an attitudinal change.
We should eschew the despicable habit of throwing up our
hands in despair and lamenting that nothing can be done
about corruption. Because of the innate avariciousness of
human nature, it may be difficult to eradicate corruption,
but it can definitely be reduced. For this, it is equally
important to remember that we must attack corruption at
the highest echelons of power because, like liquid, it flows
from top to bottom. The Central Vigilance Commission is
there to check corruption among bureaucrats. But what
about corruption among ministers and parliamentarians
who occupy a higher position than bureaucrats in the
hierarchy of power ? It is here that the Lokpal comes in, an
ombudsman-like institution independent of the government
which would also cover the office of the Prime Minister.
4. There is also need to strike at the root cause of corruption
by breaking the corrupt politician-businessman nexus.
Politicians take black money from businessmen in order to
fight elections. If there were state funding of political
parties, this need would, to some extent be obviated.
Considering that the quinquennial expense of elections in
India is estimated around Rs 1000 crore, it, means that
there is an annual need of just Rs 200 crore for state
funding of political parties. For a country of India's size this
is a manageable amount. Several advanced democracies,
the USA and Germany among them, have state funding of
political parties.
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5. An atrocious administrative system is not only retarding the

country's economic progress but has also become the
average citizen's nightmare. At the time of Independence
our leaders blindfoldedly adopted the colonial type of
administration left behind by the British and imposed it on
the nation. In the last five decades, despite a constant
clamour, there has not been a single piece of administrative
reform, with the result that the situation has been going
from bad to worse.
6. Three administrative reforms should be introduced
immediately. One, no file should be required to move more
than three levels before a decision is taken. Two, there
should be 'a moratorium on government recruitment till the
size of the bureaucracy is reduced by 30 per cent over 10
years. Three, the foolproof security of service in
government jobs should be rescinded. But, considering our
pusillanimous leadership, who will bell the cat?
(Aruind Bhandari)
(a) Answer the following questions briefly in your own

words as far as possible :
(i) What are the three worrisome issues faced by the

present day
India? 1 Mark
(ii) Why has the National Population Policy not been

effective in reducing population so far ? What is the
author's suggestion in this regard? 2 Marks
(iii) Who should be targeted first for reducing corruption?

What is the role of Lokpal in this context?2 Marks
(iv) What is the root cause of political corruption? What

measure can be taken to reduce this ? 2 Marks
(v) Mention the main reforms that can be adopted to

strengthen the administrative system in India?
2 Marks
(b) Find wards from the passage which mean the same as
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(i) severe (Para 1)
(ii) scale (Para 2)
(iii) greediness (Para 4)
PASSAGE-4
1. Read the following passage and answer the questions that

follow: 12 Marks
The advance of knowledge is often a mixed blessing. Over the
past 60 years, nuclear physics has been one obvious example of
this truth. Over the next 60 years, genetics may be another. Today,
enterprising firms offer, for a fee, to tell you about your genes.
They claim that this knowledge will help you live longer and
better. You might, for example, have extra check-ups to detect
early signs of the diseases that you are most at risk of contracting,
or you could alter your diet to reduce that risk. If your chances of
a long lifespan are not good, you might buy more life insurance,
or even retire early to have enough time to do what you always
wanted to do.
Selecting our children raises more profound ethical problems.

This is not new. In developed countries, tile routine testing of
older pregnant women, combined with the availability of
abortion, has significantly reduced the incidence of conditions
like Down's syndrome. In some regions of India and China where
couples are anxious to have a son, selective abortion has been the
ultimate form of sexism, and has been practiced to such an extent
that a generation is coming of age in which males face a shortage
of female partners.
Selection of children need not involve abortion. For several years,

some couples at risk of passing a genetic disease on to their
children have used in vitro fertilisation, producing several
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embryos that can be tested for the faulty gene and implanting in
the woman's uterus only those without it. Now couples are using
this technique to avoid passing on genes that imply a significantly
elevated risk of developing certain forms of cancer.
Since everyone carries some adverse genes, there is no clear line

between selecting against a child with above-average risks of
contracting a disease and selecting for a child with unusually rosy
health prospects. Thus, genetic selection will inevitably move
towards genetic enhancement. For many parents, nothing is more
important than giving their child the best possible start in life.
They buy expensive toys to maximise their child's learning
potential and spend much more on private schools or after school
tutoring in the hope that he or she will excel in the tests that
determine entry to elite universities. It may not be long before we
can identify genes that improve the odds of success in this quest.
In the case of sex selection, it is easy to see that couples who

independently choose the best for their own child can produce an
outcome that makes all their children worse off than they would
have been if no one could select the sex of their child. Something
similar could happen with other forms of genetic selection. Since
above-average height correlates with above-average income, and
there is clearly a genetic component to height, it is not fanciful to
imagine couples choosing to have taller children. The outcome
could be a genetic arms race that leads to taller and taller children,
with significant environmental costs in the additional
consumption required to fuel larger human beings.
The most alarming implication of this mode of genetic selection,

however, is that only the rich will be able to afford it. The gap
between rich and poor, already a challenge to our ideas of social
justice, will become a chasm that mere equality of opportunity
will be powerless to bridge. That is not a future that any of us
should approve.
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But avoiding this outcome will not be easy, for it will require that
selection for genetic enhancement is either available to no one or
accessible to everyone. The first option would require coercion,
and since countries will not accept that others should gain a
competitive edge, an international agreement to forego the
benefits that genetic enhancement can bring. The second option,
universal access, would require an unprecedented level of social
assistance for the poor, and extraordinarily difficult decisions
about what to subsidise. (Peter Singer, TOD)
(a) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words

as far as possible : 9 Marks
(i) How does the knowledge offered by some
‘enterprising firms’ help people ? 1 Mark
(ii) How can genetic selection help couples avoid from
passing on the cancer affected genes to their next
generation ? 2 Marks
(iii) Mention two positive effects of genetic selection.
2 Marks
(iv) What are two main adverse effects of genetic
selection? 2 Marks
(v) Why is the universal access to the selection for the
genetic enhancement not an easy option for nations
to accept ? 2 Marks
(b) Find words from the passage which mean the same as
(i) innovative (Para 1)
(ii) moral (Para 2)
(iv) high
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PASSAGE-5
1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions

that follow: 12 Marks
1. Our ancient sages and forefathers had taught us the importance of

three qualities as essential requisites to preserve our culture
eternally. They relate to our intellectual, emotional and physical
aspects involving moment to moment transactions. They are
fearlessness, non-attachment and non-violence.
2. The most important among the three is fearlessness. Whenever our
culture or our values are threatened, we should have the courage to
stand against the inimical forces. The conflict between truth and
untruth or right and wrong, is a phenomenon that has baffled people
right from the beginning of creation. Many times, we feel that
wickedness is over-running righteousness. But we should realise
that this is temporary. Ultimately, truth alone will win. This is the
law of nature. The main weapon in the battle for the victory of
Dharma (Righteousness) is fearlessness. This is essentially a state of
mind.
3. To develop fearlessness, we have to shed our ego that often clouds
our mind and intellect. First of all we must develop a firm
conviction in the principles and beliefs, we value. We should then
remain ready to sacrifice everything that we hold dear to us. Some
people merely sacrifice their possessions, that too mainly for the
sake of name and fame. That is not true sacrifice. Giving up one's
ego with a spirit surrender or submission to the unseen power of
Almighty to attain fearlessness is true sacrifice. We understand
submission as mere obedience to our superiors or others in authority,
forgetting our basic responsibility that we should resist any attempt
from any quarters to impose wrong practices and unrighteous acts.
4. Fearlessness can be attained only if another equally important
quality like non-attachment can be cultivated. This calls for
discrimination (Viveka). The ability to distinguish between the
permanent and the temporary is called Viveka. There is no
attachment to any person or a thing, be it a family or property. But
this value comes only when we seek for higher levels of knowledge
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to attain wisdom, which is different from the skills or techniques or

literary proficiency.
5. Supplementing both these qualities of fearlessness and non-
attachment is the ability to remain non-violent under all
circumstances. Non-violence is not limited to the physical body.
One should practice non-violence in speech and thought too. It calls
for immense will power. Jains as a community led by their monks
have shown clearly the path of non-violence in day-to-day life.
When we combine fearlessness and non-attachment with non-
violence, we unleash forces which can bring down even powerful
armies and mighty empires. Take the case of the United States of
America, which had a fearless leader like Abraham Lincoln, who
galvanised the urges of the people against slavery for freedom.
Mahatma Gandhi inspired us for freedom from foreign rule by
inspiring us through fearlessness, non-attachment and non-violence.
6. However, epics teach us that it is impossible to correct men like
Duryodhana. In such cases, use of force is not only necessary, but it
also becomes mandatory. The physical punishments parents mete
out to their children for a positive purpose also cannot be considered
as violence as long as no love is lost in the relationship.
(Adapted-D. Narsimha Rao-HT)
(a) Answer the following questions briefly : 9 Marks
(i) What are the three essential requisites according to the
passage to preserve our culture eternally ? Of these, which
is the most important ? 2 Marks
(ii) What is fearlessness an important weapon against ? How ?
2 Marks
(iii) How can fearlessness be cultivated in a person ?
2 Marks
(iv) What is non-violence? Is violence always wrong? Explain.
2 Marks
(v) How does the combination of the three requisites described
in the passage help preserve our culture ?
1 Marks
(b) Find a word from the passage which means the same as each
of the following : 3 Marks
(i) a thing which is needed for a purpose.
(ii) that can be morally justified.
(iii) to release something powerful.
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PASSAGE-6

that follow: 12 Marks
1. Memory is what defines our lives, our personalities, our very
existence. The dictionary defines memory as the faculty by which
things are recalled or kept in the mind, the recovery of one's
knowledge by mental effort. But for most of us memory is just the
ability to recall facts and figures, the faces of people we know and
the recollection of things in the past. But memory is far more
complex than this. Without memory, as in the case of amnesia, the
personality changes and is distorted without any point of
reference. Memory is" of vital importance in defining our
personalities as it enriches our lives with complicated personal
remembrances. Without this we turn into walking zombies. As
people grow older they often suffer memory loss in some form or
other and diseases like Aizheimer's can obliterate memory centres
of the brain, making the sufferer into a different, less coherent and
irrational personality.
2. Science has discovered that there are many different types of
memory and we can lose one kind and still retain others. Human
beings have a long term memory and a working memory.
Working memory is the ability to recall telephone numbers,
addresses and relevant information such as those needed in our
daily lives. Many elderly people seem to lose this form of
memory while still retaining their long term memory. Even
perfectly normal people may have only one part of the brain
active under stress or illness. In addition to long term memory and
working memory, there is also recent memory, semantic memory
(the memory of facts) and episodic memory (the memory of
something which actually happened), explicit and implicit
memory and source memory, which enables us to recall from
where we learnt certain facts. A loss of source memory seems to
affect most people at sometime or the other.
3. Without memory we become different people. It is what most
elderly people fear, but it need not be so. Unless illness is the
cause for memory loss, participating fully in life can make a
world of difference. Scientists, musicians, writers, doctors,
25
architects, engineers and artists, all use their brains and memory
centres to maximum effect. In fact anyone who is absorbed in
some sort of work or project, or hobby whereby the mind is
stimulated and used, can keep the memory in good working
condition. Reading and paying attention to what you are reading,
learning poetry by heart and taking a deep interest in the world
around you, stimulates memory. We must also learn to breathe
deeply.
4. If the brain does not receive sufficient oxygen for the process of
cerebration, hallucination and negative psychic reactions occur.
Yoga tells us that for good mental health and emotional stability,
we need to be good, deep breathers.
Without memory we are nothing. Our closest family members are
nothing to us, we are alone, drifting in a world of which we
appear to know nothing. The preservation, dignity, empathy, love
depend almost entirely on the preservation of memory.
(Adapted-Nergis Dalal-HT)
(a) Answer the following questions briefly : 9 Marks
(i) What is the true definition of memory ? How is it different from
the layman's interpretation of memory ? 2 Marks
(ii) What is the importance of memory? How does the absence of it
affect our personalities? 2 Marks
(iii) What kind of memory loss do old people generally suffer from ?
Does this mean they lose memory completely ? 2 Marks
(iv) How can one keep one's memory in good condition? Give at least
two points. 2 Marks
(v) How is the preservation of memory important in our personal
lives? 1 Mark
(b) Find words from the passage which mean the following :
3 Mark
(i) to remove all signs completely
(ii) to make something more active
(iii) to keep something in good condition or in original state
26
PASSAGE-7
1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that
follow: 12 Marks
1. Sarah Riley works in the heart of London. Her working day
is filled with meetings, phone calls, project deadlines and
all the other responsibilities of corporate life. She is good at
her job and his steadily progressed over the last six years to
her current position as marketing consultant for a large
communications and marketing firm.
2. It is a demanding job but well paid and Ms. Riley loves it.
Yet for the past year and a half, she has been leaving her
job every Wednesday evening to drive to the coastal town
of Brighton, where she spends the rest of the week and part
of the weekend working as a junior barber in a city centre
salon. She does not need the extra money nor is she
planning a career change. The fact is that like a small but
growing number of workers, Ms. Riley has simply decided
that two careers are better than one.
3. Dual careerists (also sometimes called sunlighters) are not
contractors who work for several clients or moonlighters
who take on extra-jobs for money. Instead, they are people
who are actively committed to more than one career.
Celebrity hybrids, such as singer/actress/children's author,
Madonna and even actor/champion poker player Ben
Affleck are known for having more than one career on the
go and it is a trend that experts say is gathering force
among office workers.
4. Ms. Riley is now completing her NVQ Level 2 barber
training, "I have always been interested in men's hair-
dressing and I find it quite creative." She says, "I would
often look at someone's hair-style and think. I can do that
and one day I just decided to do it. Initially I enrolled in an
evening course, which gave me a very basic grounding and
a chance to see if I could actually do it. When I realised I
could and that I enjoyed it, I decided to train properly."
5. City and Guild recently conducted a forward-looking
analysis of the trend and concluded that increased life
expectancy and pension under-funding will lead to longer
working lives, while the rise of (particularly on-line)
27
technology will mean people can re-train while holding

down their current jobs. This creates an encouraging
climate for dual careerists. The study predicts that the 1.2
million people who currently have two or more jobs will
double in the next 20 years.
6. Like Ms. Riley, the majority of dual careerists work part-
time. But executive assistant Nicola .Wright, 27, who has a
full time job as a P.A. opted for an additional career when
faced with the prospect of otherwise having to give up her
childhood passion for dance. She decided to train as a
dance teacher in the evenings and week-ends and has spent
the past six years establishing her own dance school in
Portsmouth, along the Coast from Brighton, while holding
down her original job. For her, top notch organisational and
time management skills and the goodwill of her employers
were fundamental in helping her realise her ambition.
7. However, taking on two careers can require almost
superhuman determination and efficiency. Apart from the
training there are administrative chores like completing tax-
returns which many people with more than one employer
are required to do. "It is exhausting," Ms. Wright admits.
8. But despite their punishing schedules both Ms. Riley and
Ms. Wright maintain that being able to do creative jobs,
makes them appreciate their mainstream jobs even more.
As Ms. Riley explains, "I have always wanted to live by the
sea and have a country life-style. In Brighton I live within
walking distance of my job. I can go home for lunch and
feed the dogs and on Sundays I can go for country walks.
But I also have my city life with my London job with the
salary, friends and social life that goes “with that. Both jobs
really complement each other".
9. Prof. Peter Nolan, Director of the Future of Work
Programme, funded by the Economic and Social Research
Council (ESRC), points out that the notion that people are
becoming less interested in holding down a career in favour
of quality family life is a myth. There is in fact, he argues, a
revival in the desire for a career.
10. Statistics show that the length of time people stay with
employers hasn't changed much, but the number of
different and /or additional jobs people do in their working
lives have been growing significantly and this is linked to
28
people being offered more flexible working hours. Part-

time work no longer conforms to the stereotype of being
temporary, insecure of a stopgap. Often it is a secure, long-
lasting career and changes in employment law over the
years mean that the benefits and rights make it comparable
to full time work. It seems that doubling your careers could
also double your freedom.
(a) On the basis of your reading of the above passage
answer these questions. 9 Marks
(i) Who is Sarah Riley? What is the nature of her job?
(ii) Who are dual careerists ? Mention some dual
careerists. 2 Marks
(iii) Where has Ms. Sarah Riley been going every
Wednesday evening and why ? 2 Marks
(iv) What did the City and Guild conducted analysis
state? 2 Marks
(v) What is the opinion of Ms. Wright about dual
careers? 1 Mark
v (b) Find words from the above passage which mean the same
as: 3xl=3
(i) very tiring (para 7)
(ii) provided money for (para 9)
(iii) adaptable (para 10)
PASSAGE-8
follow: 12 Marks
1. My father gets a faraway look in his eyes that's
unmistakable. As he looks towards the horizon and his eyes
seek out the bright flashes of snow-capped peaks, we all
know what he's thinking. Mountain tops have always had
that magnetic effect on him.
2. As I grew up I inherited some of my father's restlessness. I
know many people think there must be some compulsion
for the son of Edmund Hillary to climb mountains. They
assume that I need to compete, or measure up as if there
was some strong mark on stone that says, “Thou shall
climb mountains” - and in particular Everest, whether you
like it or not. But for me it's simpler than that. I think
families are like factories : some manufacture lawyers
29
while others produce landscape gardeners. The Hillary

family is a limited production mountaineering
establishment.
3. Today at the age of 48, I am a determined mountain man :
love to climb them, love to dream about them. I have been
on more than 30 mountaineering expeditions, from the
Himalayas to the Antarctic. And yes I have climbed Everest
- twice. I treasure the same things that drew my father to
climbing - great feeling of friendship and trust among
people who work together, sense of pleasure and
excitement, especially in dangerous places where your life
depends upon making the right call. I guess I am luckier
than most because I can fall back on all that my father has
taught me. One devastating day in 1995 this advice saved
my life.
4. Just below the summit of the mountain known as K2 or the
"savage mountain' of the Himalayas - there is a steep ice
channel called - "The Bottleneck'. I was among a party of
eight climbers heading for the summit, with just 400 meters
left to climb. Perched there, 8200 meters above sea-level
and looking east along the northern edge of the Karakoram
Mountains to the Tibetan Plateau, I noticed curls of
ominous cloud began to move in suddenly and quickly with
great force.
5. As the weather worsened, I became very concerned. I
stopped. Something didn't feel right. At that moment I
clearly heard my father's voice. Down. Go down. Stick to
your guns. Peter.
6. Then, from above me, I heard another voice - a woman's.
"Come on up. Use the red rope". Alison Hargreaves, a
fellow climber, was encouraging me to join her. Not for
you. Peter. Was that my father's voice again ? The unsettled
feeling in me grew stronger. Finally I told Jeff Lakes, my
climbing partner, that I was going down. He too was
feeling unsure, but decided to go on ahead. As I headed
down, I looked back at Jeff a couple of times, until a thick,
threatening cloud blocked the view. Soon, the same fast-
moving cloud would engulf the summit and plunge me into
an isolated world of terror.
7. Don't be afraid to make your own decisions. Don't be afraid
to stand alone. That was my father's voice.
30
8. Alone in body but not in spirit I descended. But with fear

tapping upon my shoulders, I was caught in the frightening
situation of the rising storm. The flanks of the mountain
were out of control and so, perhaps, was I.
9. Fear makes you careful. Fear makes you good. Fear, my
father told me, is not something you manage. So I seized on
what I could control : a well-clipped descender and a taut
rope. For hours I continued to go down rope after plunging
rope - every rope one closer to the ice ledger at Camp-2.
10. When I awoke in my tent the next morning, it was silent,
sunny, still. I alone had successfully descended from the
summit pyramid of K2 that night. The seven above were
dead.
11. Life in a famous family has its advantages and
disadvantages. Lunch with Indira Gandhi or a trip to the
North Pole with Neil Armstrong are one - although a rather
extraordinary - side of the coin. The other can be a battle
with identity and independence. When I am 80 years old
myself, I know I will more than likely still be greeted with,
"Wait a minute, you're Ed Hillary's son !" But my father is
quite a man and I am proud of him.
(a) On the basis of your reading of the above passage
answer these questions. 9 Marks
(i) What does the son read in his father's eyes ?
1 Mark
(ii) State any two qualities of the father that have rubbed
off on his son. 2 Marks
(iii) "The Hillary family is a limited production
mountaineering establishment"... What does the
author mean by this? 1 Mark
(iv) In what way does the author consider himself more
fortunate than other mountaineers? 1 Mark
(v) What was the father's opinion about Fear'? How did
it help the author? 2 Marks
(vi) What was the fate of the seven companions who
climbed the K2 summit ? 1 Mark
(vii) Being a celebrity's son has its own limitations. What
are those? 1 Mark
31
(b) Find words from the above passage which mean the
same as each of the following :
3x1=3
(i) to be as good/successful as expected (para 2)
(ii) sitting on high and dangerous position (para 4)
(iii) tight and completely stretched (para 9)
PASSAGE-9
follow: 12 Marks
1. Millions of men and women, thousands of leaders, a succession of
social, religious and political movement-it is impossible to draw
up a full list of the makers of India even on a limited 1000-year
basis. All that can be attempted here is to present a few
representative names, some of them inspirational still. All of them
remind us of the course we have traversed, and how we have
come to where we are. Let us make a start with the best ever
Indian.
2. Implied in Toynbee's assessment was the deduction that Gandhi
was not just an Indian phenomenon. No doubt India derived
unequalled benefit from his leadership. By fitting the freedom
struggle into the framework of a philosophy of justice and
fairness, he achieved for India a stature that was denied to other
countries, including China, that won independence around the
same time. That the stature was quickly lost by the governments
that came to power on the labours of Gandhi is a different matter.
The decline of India did not amount to any repudiation of Gandhi.
Indeed, it was seen as a consequence of the betrayal of Gandhi by
his supposed followers.
3. The true measure of his impact on history is that it is not
dependent on the successful completion of his mission in India.
The others who soldiered on with him in the epic war of
independence – Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel included - will
be remembered for what they did in India and for India; they were
essentially Indian personalities. So, for that matter, was Jinnah
whose life's work boiled down to the creation of a state on what
rapidly proved to be a dubious premise.
4. Gandhi soared above them all because he dealt essentially with
ideas and theories relevant to all mankind. Like Buddhism,
Gandhism lost ground in the land out of which it evolved. But,
32
like Buddhism, it has been embraced by distant peoples who see

in its tenets the promise of a meaningful life. It was as though
Gandhi's involvement with India was merely incidental to his
larger involvement with what he persistently called Truth. Raja
Rao put it pithily when he wrote: "For Gandhi India was only the
symbol of a universal principle. All countries were, for Gandhi,
India." When we look at him in this perspective, we realise that it
was his universality, the transcendent quality of his life and
thought, that made Gandhi Gandhi.
5. He will be greater than not just Stalin and Hitler - two characters
who are rather too one-dimensional to be contrasted with the
vastness that was Gandhi. Gandhi personifies the greatness of the
time-honoured proposition that Love is superior to Hatred, that
Good is better than Evil. Great personages of history who based
their "greatness" on Hatred and Evil, on conquests and
oppression, have all gone under. The Byzantines and the
Ottomans, the Mongols and the Mughals, the British and the
Spanish once strode the earth as if they owned it. Today only
Britain and Spain survive, and that as second-class entities
confined to Europe, Alexander, the first king in history to be
called "The Great," died a lonely death as a disillusioned and
defeated man at the incredible age of 33. Nothing of his greatness
remains today even "in his native Macedonia which is now but an
appendage to the horrible tragedy of Yugoslavia.
6. Greatness built on murder and acquisition passes. Greatness rising
out of compassion and service abides. The Buddha abides. Christ
abides. The great unknown thinkers of the Upanishads abide.
Gandhi carried that tradition through to our times. He might have
been let down by the "Gandhians" who, armed with political
power, have turned India into a mess. That too is parallel to the
way quarrelling Buddhists, exploitative Christians and lately-
intolerant Hindus have been letting down their preceptors. But
their smallness does not detract from the true greatness of the
sages who opened the path of enlightenment for them and for the
world. They abide because they gave without taking. They were
not men of arms. They were men of ideas. Parithranaya
sadhunam, they appear from age to age. They appear to teach us
that the world can be conquered, not with force, but with ideas. It
was the lesson of this Millennium too - taught by the man of the
Millennium.
33
(a) (i) What did Gandhi achieve through his philosophy of

justice and fairness ? 2 Marks
(ii) How will Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel be
Remembered? 2 Marks
(iii) According to Raja Rao, what did Gandhi represent?
2 Marks
(iv) The author talks of two types of greatness. Which one is
much appreciated and admired? 2 Marks
(v) What was the lesson of this millennium? 1 Mark
(b) Pick out words from the passage that mean the same as :
3 Marks
(i) continuous decrease/fall (para 2)
(ii) strong effect (para 3)
(iii) rose quickly (para 4)
PASSAGE-10

that follows : 9 Marks
1. Development journalism is the backbone for a developing
economy. Heritage publishing is the citadel on which the
transition from developing nation to developed country rests.
India is in such a transition stage. According to the Prime Minister
this goal can be achieved by 2020. The effort for making India a
developed nation are fully geared up on so many fronts be it
highway laying, technology upgradation, IT, telecom, aeronautics
and transportation. But to create informed public opinion on the
issues pertaining to development initiatives for a meaningful
debate is what development communication should cater to. This
holds particular relevance for people's participation in the
transition phase of taking India from a developing mode to a
developed economic power.
2. Information dissemination has several shades, ramifications,
delivery mechanism and intended spinoffs. There is plenty of
news in the country through the electronic, print and internet
media. There are lot of programmes and columns dedicated to
current affairs and latest developments in various fields. However,
a dedicated, singular, uni-directional and unflinching endeavour
to inform, educate, retrieve and redirect information to the people
is a work of the Publications Division of the Ministry of
Information & Broadcasting. The 21 journals brought out by the
34
Division include 13 editions of Yojana in 13 different regional

languages covering all the regions of the country. The Yojana
group of journals are an effective two way linkage between the
policy makers and the beneficiaries on development initiatives
across the board.
i) The English- and Hindi editions of Kuruskhetra dedicated to rural
upliftment is one of its kind among developing and developed
countries put together on grassroots issues, the great visionary
Jawaharlal Nehru, once during a visit to Kurukshetra district of
Haryana with the brain child behind Indian Planning, Dr.
Mahalanobis, found a unique farm development project taking
shape in the region. Nehru immediately wanted dissemination of
such information and that is how the Kurukshetra journals were
born.
ii) The Bal Bharati in Hindi is one of its kind pertaining to children's
literature which emphasises on healthy development of the body
and the mind for the young ones. Ajkal in Hindi and Urdu is
touching its 60'" year with a revered literary tradition.
Employment News is probably the largest circulated single
newspaper in India and that too belonging to the government. It
brings hopes and aspirations as well as career guidance to
millions of young people all over the country.
iii) And all these range between Rs. 5 and 7 which come under the
lowest range of affordable prices. Added to this is the range of
books produced by the Division under the 'Builders of Modern
India' series, 'Cultural Leaders of India', Gandhiana including
multimedia CD and e- book, biographies and books on art,
history, culture and heritage. That makes the Publications
Division a unique repository of India heritage in the annals of
which one can trace speaches of Presidents and Prime Minister of
country and great classics including 'Poverty and Un-British Rule'
by the legendary Dadabhai Nauroji, ' 1857' by Tarachand.
iv) Who says Indian heritage and culture is under threat due to the
proliferation of satellite channels and the internet beaming
programmes with an over dose of titillating entertainment? As
long as Publications Division stands aloft holding the Indian
heritage in its mighty chest, the jewel in the crown will shine as a
beacon light.
35
A.I . i) What is meant by Heritage publishing? Is India a

developing or a developed country according to this passage?
2 Marks
ii) How are the various editions of the YOJNA useful?
1 Marks
iii) Which paper mainly deals with the career guidance and job
opportunities? 2 Marks
iv) What useful work is being done by the Govt. Publication
Division? Name any one of its great publications?
2 Marks
v) What are the challenges to the future of Indian Heritage and
culture? Give any one specific example.
2 Marks
B. Find out words from the passage which have similar meaning:
lx3=3
1) Change (Para 1)
2) A great deal (Para 2)
3) Respected (Para 4)
COMPREHENSION PASSAGES
SECTION – A (Q. No. 2)
NOTE-MAKING AND ABSTRACTION
How to make notes?

Read the following steps for making clear and concise notes quickly :
Step 1- Read the passage to get a gist of the passage, to know what
it is about, i.e., the theme and subject of the passage.
Step 2- Read carefully, underlining or mentally making a note of
the main ideas it deals with.
36
Step 3- Make a note of the main ideas roughly.

Step 4- Add the sub-points which supplement the main points.
There is no need to give example especially if there are too
many.
How do I present my notes ?

Do not write complete sentences instead use brief, clear phrases. Make
points with the use of symbols an abbreviations, use proper indentation.
What is the format that I can use ?

You can use different kinds of formats depending on the theme of the
passage. It could be serial or sequential such as flow charts, piecharts,
etc. You should also use some abbreviations and contraction which are
easily recognizable.
NUMBERING AND INDENTING:
Main Heading
1. Sub Heading
1.1.........................
1.2……………..
1.3……………….
2. Sub Heading
2.1.........................
2.2……………..
2.3……………….
3. Sub Heading
3.1.........................
3.2……………..
3.3……………….
37
SOLVED EXAMPLES
PASSAGE-1
Q.1 Read the following passage and answer the questions that
follow : 8 Marks
In Democratic countries, any efforts to restrict the freedom of the
Press are rightly condemned. However, this freedom can be easily
abused. Stories about people often attract far more public
attention than political events. Though we may enjoy reading
about the lives of others, it is extremely doubtful whether we
would equally enjoy reading about ourselves. Acting on the
contention that facts are sacred, reporters can cause untold
sufferings to individuals by publishing details about their private
lives. Newspapers exert such tremendous influence that they can
not only bring about major changes to the lives of ordinary people
but can even overthrow a government.
The story of a poor family that acquired fame and fortune
overnight, dramatically illustrates the power of the Press. The
family lived in Aberdeen, a small town of 25,000 inhabitants in
South Dakota. As the parents had five children, life was a
perpetual struggle against poverty. They were expecting their
sixth child and were faced with even more pressing economic
problems. If they had only one more child the fact would have
passed unnoticed. They would have continued to struggle against
economic odds and would have lived in obscurity. But they
suddenly became the parents of quintuplets, four girls and a boy,
an event which radically changed their lives. The day after the
birth of the five children, an aeroplane arrived in Aberdeen
bringing sixty reporters and photographers. The news was of
national importance, for the couple had become the parents of the
only quintuplets in America. The rise to fame was swift.
Television cameras and newspapers carried the news to everyone
in the country. Newspapers and magazines offered the family
huge sums for the exclusive rights to publish their photographs.
Gifts poured in not only from unknown people, but from baby
38
food and soap manufacturers who wished to advertise their

products. The old farmhouse the family lived in was to be
replaced by a new $100,000 home. Reporters kept pressing for
interviews so laywers had to be employed to act as the spokesmen
of the family at press conferences. The event brought serious
changes to the town itself. Plans were announced to build a huge
new highway as Aberdeen was now likely to attract thousands of
tourists. Sign posts erected on the outskirts of the town directed
tourists not to Aberdeen, but to 'Quint-City U.S.A.' The local
authorities discussed the possibility of erecting a 'quint museum'
to satisfy the curiosity of the public and to protect the family from
inquisitive tourists. While the five babies were still quietly
sleeping in oxygen tents in a hospital nursery, their parents were
paying the price for fame. It would never again be possible for
them to lead normal lives. They had become victims of
commercialisation, for their names had acquired a market value.
The town itself received so much attention that almost every one
of the inhabitants was affected to a greater or leis degree.
(a) On the basis of your reading of the above passage make
notes on it, using at least 4 recognisable abbreviations
wherever necessary. Use a format you consider
appropriate. Supply a suitable title. 5 Marks
(b) Write a summary of the above passage in about 80
words. 3 Marks
Answer
(a) Power of Press in Democracy
1. Chances of Abuse of Freedom of Press
1.1 suffering to indiv.
1.2 disturb pvt. life
1.3 overthrow govts.
2. Story of Aberdeen fam.
2.1 Location : (i) town in S. Dakota
(ii) pop.—25,000
2.2 Details about faim. :
(i) poor/eco. prob.
(ii) 5 children
(iii) gave birth to quintuplets—4 girls & 1
boy—only instance in America.
2.3 Life permanently changed—prob. begin
(i) arrival of 60 reporters & photographers
39
(ii) privacy gone

(iii) money offered by newspapers, mag.
(iv) gifts from people & manufacturers
(v) proposal for a new $ 100,000 home
(vi) AppmL of lawyers
3. Effect on Aberdeen—Proposal
3.1 inflow of tourists
3.2 city renamed—Quint-City U.S.A.
3.3 quint museum
4. Conclusion
4.1 Victims of commercialisation
4.2 all inhabitants affected
4.3 not possible to restrict freedom of press
Abbreviations used
1. govts. -governments 2. eco. - economic
3. appmt. –appointment 4. indiv. - individuals
5. pvt. -private 6. fam. - family
7. inc. -increased 8. mag. - Magazines
(b) Summary
In democracy, freedom of press is very important but it can
be abused. At times not only governments can be affected
but even the lives of ordinary people. One such example is
of an Aberdeen couple in S.' Dakota whose life changed the
day they gave birth to quintuplets, the first of their kind in
America. They became rich and famous, received costly
gifts and lot of publicity all at the cost of their privacy. The
city was renamed as Quint-City, a museum and highway
was built. Ultimately not only the family, but the whole city
also paid a heavy price for commercialisation.
40
PASSAGE-2
follow : 8 Marks
The work which Gandhiji had taken up was not only the
achievement of political freedom but also the establishment of a
social order based on truth and non-violence unity and peace;
equality and universal brotherhood and maximum freedom for all.
This unfinished part of his experiment was perhaps even more
difficult to achieve than the achievement of political freedom. In
the political struggle, the fight was against a foreign power and all
one could do, was either join it or wish it success and give it their
moral support. In establishing the social order of his pattern there
was a likely possibility of a conflict arising between groups and
classes of our own people. Experience shows that man values his
possessions even more than his life because in the former he sees
the means for perpetuation and survival of his descendants even
after his body is reduced to ashes. A new order cannot be
established without radically changing the mind and attitude of
men towards property and at some stage or the other, the 'haves',
have to yield place to the 'have-nots'. We have seen in our time,
attempts to achieve a kind of egalitarian society and the picture of
it after it was achieved. But this was done by and large, through
the use of physical force.
The root cause of class conflict is possessiveness or the
acquisitive instinct. So long as the ideal that is to be achieved is
one of securing maximum material satisfaction possessiveness is
neither suppressed nor eliminated but grows on what it feeds. Nor
does it cease to be such—it is possessiveness, still, whether it is
confined to only a few or is shared by many.
If egalitarianism is to endure, it has to be based not on the
possession of the maximum material goods by a few or by all but
on voluntary, enlightened renunciation of those goods, which
cannot be shared by others or can be enjoyed only at the expense
of others. This calls for substitution of spiritual values for purely
material ones. The paradise of material satisfaction that is
sometimes equated with progress these days neither spells peace
nor progress. Mahatma Gandhi has shown us how the acquisitive
instinct inherent in man could be transmuted by the adoption of
the ideal of trusteeship by those who ‘have' for the benefit of all
those who 'have-not' so that, instead of leading to exploitation and
41
conflict, it would become a means and incentive for the

amelioration and progress of society respectively.
notes on it, using at least 4 recognisable abbreviations
words. 3 Marks
Answer
(a) Gandhi’s Dream—'Establishment of Social Order'
1. Gandhi's wk.
1.1 pol. freedom
1.2 estd. social order based on
1.2.1 truth & non-violence
1.2.2 unity & peace
1.2.3 univ. brotherhood
1.2.4 max. freedom
1.2.5 more diff.
2. Pol. freedom
2.1 fight against forgn. power
2.1.1 join
2.1.2 wish success
2.1.3 moral support
3. Social order-diff.
3.1 man's possessiveness - prop.
3.2 diff. to change attitude
3.3 raves' to yield's ‘have-nots'
3.3.1 diff. to accept
3.4 desire for max. material satisfaction
4. Egalitarianism - based
4.1 not poss. by a few or all
4.2 but renunciation of goods
4.3 Spiritual values subst. material varies
4.4 Material satisfaction
4.4.1 equated - progress
4.4.2 achieves
4.4.2.1 neither peace
4.4.2.2 nor progress
5. Acc. to Gandhi
5.1 trusteeship
5.1.1 benefit who ‘have-not'
42
5.1.2 end exploitation & conflict

5.1.3 lead to progress of society
5.1.4 incentive for amelioration
Abbreviations used
1. wk. - work 2. pol. - political
3. estd. - established 4. univ. - universal
5. max. - maximum 6. diff. - difficult
(b) Summary
Gandhiji wanted not only to establish political freedom but also to
bring a social order based on truth and non-violence; unity and peace;
equality and universal brotherhood and maximum freedom for all. The
achievement of political freedom was easy because it was against
aforeign power and everyone gave moral support to it. In establishing
the social order of his pattern there was a possibility of a conflict arising
between groups and classes of our own people. Moreover, a new order
cannot be established without radically changing the mind and attitude
of men towards property. The 'haves' to yield place to the ‘have-nots’
Mahatma Gandhi showed us the acquisitive nature in man could be
changed by the ideal of trusteeship by those who 'have’ for the benefit of
those who have not.
PASSAGE-3
follow : 8 Marks
For those who failed to keep pace with the advances in
mountaineering equipment in the past two decades, it's a whole
new world of synthetic marvels that may just have taken the sting
off taming Everest.
Take boots. Earlier, climbers used heavy leather shoes with soles
that were hobnailed into the uppers. An hour before the start of
the expedition, they needed to be waxed to make them
waterproof. No wax meant instant frostbite. And if the boots were
left outside the tent, they would be frozen, making it extremely
difficult to slip the feet in. The only solution was to sleep with the
boots inside the sleeping bag.
Today's boots come lined with the magic of plastic. They don't
freeze and are lightweight. The One Sport Everest is extremely
warm, with a lining of Alveolite insulation and another layer of
Alveolite in the built-in over-gaiter. And they weigh less than a
kilo. The sleeping bag is the key to survival in the Death Zone of
43
26,000 ft and above. Earlier, the bags were stuffed with goose
feathers. Today, they sidestep the down-versus-synthetic
conundrum by swinging both ways. While feathers are layered
next to the body for warmth, the synthetic, quick-drying
Primaloft, lies on the outside for its moisture-shedding properties.
The old faithful ice-axe was wooden with a steel head, sturdy, but
heavy and undimensional. Not any more. The latest ice-axes are
made of titanium and are feather-weight. They also have
curvatures and teeth that allow a climber to be suspended, in mid
air with only the ice-axe for support. Similarly, pitons and ice
screws have transformed-all are titanium.
Another area where a revolution has been quietly at work is
oxygen cylinders. If one doesn't believe in Reinhold Messner's
code of bagging the summit by "fair means", take heart. The old
days, when cylinders weighed 10 kg, are over. The state-of-the-art
Russian-built oxygen systems consist of a stiff plastic mask, a
regulator and an orange steel Keviar gas canister. They weigh less
than 3 kg. Not only are they lighter, but they also have more
capacity.
In fact, everything has changed. The tents are lighter, sturdier and
can breathe. The mittens with fleece inners assure frost-free
security. Even the food is precooked and dehydrated. All one
needs to do is add water and heat.
Camp cookers too have become lighter, smaller, and more
efficient. A steel-mesh bull's eye in the middle of the ultra-
efficient LP gas burner keeps the flame roaring when the wind is
doing likewise. But the handiest feature is its integrated starter.
No more the temperamental matches. Just open the valve, flick
the index finger, and.... Houston, we have ignition.
Technology can keep you in a better frame of mind, but as
Captain M.S. Kohli, who led the Indian team in 1965, says, "In
the end, you still need to climb that mountain."
(a) On the basis of your reading of the passage make notes
on it, using at least 4 recognisable abbreviations
words. 3 Marks
44
PASSAGE-4
follow : 8 Marks
So often these days we hear and speak of the conquest of nature,
'the taming of ‘river', ‘the war against insects' and so on. Often
these phrases are used without consciously attaching any values
to them, but they have underlying them an attitude of hostility
towards Nature and Nature's creatures, a view point which seems
to assume. Nature as an enemy that needs to be vanquished.
Alternatively, Nature seen merely as a 'resource' to be 'exploited' -
take the maximum out of it, regardless of what this does to natural
processes audio other creatures which depend on these processes
It is this attitude which sees fellow humans too as a resource to be
exploited, or other human communities as enemies to be
conquered.
There is a growing back of sensitivity and respect for our fellow
creatures. This attitude is being drilled into a child by social
forces, which can only be countered by environmental education.
Yet, sadly, in most cases this is not done. What is done is talk
about the food web and the energy cycles and ecological balance
and how removal of any elements disrupts the whole system, and
how this can affect human beings too What this approach lacks is
the essential interaction with Nature and with other humans.
Indeed in many environmental activities the opposite takes place.
A classic example of this is making of a herbarium, of even
worse, and insect collection, as common in both formal and non
formal education in India. A child is often encouraged to pluck
leaves and flowers and run after butterflies with a net, and is part
of a large group of children similarly marauding a patch of nature
within it. Such a child is not likely to develop any strong feeling
of respect for nature, or for the individual "specimens" pressed in
the plant file or trapped in ajar. It is even worse when the activity
is also competitive, LC., who collects the maximum. A lot of
knowledge may be gained, but it is gained in a value system
which emphasises exploitation and conquest, ‘not sensitivity and
respect. Learning under a tree, (Santivana) rather than in a
classroom, is indeed the Indian tradition, is far more effective and
long lasting.
The alternative is to take up activities where ecobalances,
ecological diversities animal behaviour, human plurality and other
45
such concepts and systems are introduced with the stress on their
intrinsic worth. Materials, processes, living beings do not exist
only for human use, but more importantly they are worthwhile in
themselves.
A frog is as much in love with its life as the human child is with
its mother : the feelings of the frog must be respected. The final
thrust of environmental education seems to be embodied in the
vital question : 'Am I doing something which disrespects or
violates some other creature's right to live and live freely ? If I
am, what can I do to minimize the damage I am causing ?
Once again, the Indian tradition of ahimsa comes out as infinitely
more relevant then much of what we learn in modern education.
words. 3 Marks
PASSAGE-5
follow : 8 Marks
Self-reliance is a sure key to success and happiness. A self-reliant
person always depends upon his own energy, capacity to work,
prudence and the resources. Therefore, a self-reliant person is
master of himself and the circumstances as he does not depend on
others. Such a person is always calm, sure, confident and self-
possessed. He is firm, prompt in action and even ready to face any
challenge, and fertile of resources. While others who are not
independent, are surely much handicapped. It is really a slavery to
depend on others for help, guidance and aid or resources. And a
slave is always at a great disadvantage. A person is most happy
and satisfied when he relies upon his own strength, power and
resources. He even walks without crutches or outside support.
Self-reliant people have always been found sure, self-assured,
decisive, optimistic, free, independent and bold. They do not
suffer from indecision or delay. They are rich in expediency,
quick in action, and steadfast in decision. Their will-power is very
strong, their resolutions unfailing. They are the makers and
masters of their destiny. They never blame fate, circumstances or
the tools for they make their own tools and use them with greatest
46
skill and concentration which is at their command. Their work,

their creations and achievements bear the stamp of their
personality. They are original in ideas and in shaping things and
events. They achieve what they will because they are self-
dependent, resolute, single-minded and self-controlled. They
know well their strength and weakness and so use their energies
and resources in such a way as never to expose their weakness.
And when they achieve their victories, their ambitions and goals,
then their joy in an unalloyed bliss for the glory is not to be
shared by others. Self-reliance is the best support, the best tool
and the shortest way to success. Lord Budha said "You are both
friend and enemy of yourself. The heaven and hell lies within
you. It is upto you what you choose. You are your own lamp,
guide and staff. Never depend on others. Be the maker of your
destiny. Help yourself and the world will help you". It reminds us
of the famous saying "God helps those who help themselves" All
successful men and women have been self-reliant. They achieved
what they desired because they did not depend on others. They
ran fast and in time on the roads of self-reliance. A man walking
with the crutches of others help cannot think of running a race, he
cannot compete, he is sure to end with the crutches.

appropriate. Supply a suitable title. 5
words. 3
PASSAGE-6
follow : 8 Marks
In ancient India, during the Vedic age, women were given
education in the same way as men. It was during the Muslim
period that women began to be kept in strict puma . Neither were
there proper arrangements, nor did the parents dare send their
daughters out to receive education. During the
freedom struggle, it was realised by our leaders that without
active participation of women in the freedom movement, India
47
would never become free. Since then the necessity of educating

women has been increasingly felt.
Women have to play an important role in the development of the
country. If we want to make democracy successful, women must
be educated. They are the builders of happy homes. It is in their
lap that the children receive their first lesson. As the mothers are,
so will be the children. Moreover, certain professions are most
suitable to the nature of women. Women make the best nurses.
Primary education can be given only by women. There are many
other professions in which women can play a very important part.
In a nutshell the progress of the country depends upon female
education. We must give up our conservative outlook. The need of
female education was never so great as it is to-day.
All now accept the necessity of giving education to women. But
there are differences of opinion on the type of education which
should be given to them. Indeed, it is a very important issue.
Should boys and girls be given the same kind of education ? Or
should there be different type of education for boys and girls ? If
we decide to give different type of education to girls, then of what
type should it be ? These are the questions which must be
answered. Wrong type of education can cause greater harm than
good to our girls.
Some feel that women should be given a different kind of
education from the one given to boys. Women have to discharge
their duties as good mothers. Their education should be such as
may enable them to run their homes efficiently and make them
good mothers. Their sphere of activity is entirely different from
that of men. So must be their education.
Another question is whether there should be co-education or not.
Opinions differ widely on this issue. There are men who strongly
advocate co-education at all stages. On the other extreme are
those who are deadly against it. But the truth lies in between these
two extremes. Boys and girls may be educated together in
primary and university classes. But co-education in high school
and inter classes is full of dangers. We should take full advantage
of co-education as well as safeguard ourselves against its evil
effects. This will be the best policy for giving education to
women.
Q. A. Make notes on the passage using appropriate
abbreviations. Also supply an apt heading.
Q. B. Make a summary of the passage.
48
PASSAGE-7
follow : 8 Marks
Rising prices are causing a great concern to the Indian economists

at the present moment. It is true that prices can never remain
stationary. A certain amount of fluctuation is inherent in the very
nature of prices. In a developing economy, they usually display an
upward trend. But if prices keep rising persistently, they cause
great hardship to the people. They spare neither the rich nor the
poor, neither the producer nor the consumer. They make economic
activities uncertain and unstable, causing great unrest in the minds
of the people.
Inflation is a self-accelerating process. It is a phenomenon that
feeds on itself and initiates a very vicious cycle. Rising prices
drive people to demand increased wages and salaries. Since such
demands are resisted in the beginning, they resort to pressure
tactics like strikes and demonstrations. But such tactics only
decrease production and aggravate the situation. And if the
demands are met, there is a fresh spurt in prices. All benefits
accruing from additional income are neutralised. Then fresh
demands are raised and this cycle goes on.
The fixed-income groups like salaried people, wage-earners and
pensioners are the most helpless victims of inflation. As prices
rise, their real income gets eroded. The additional dearness
allowance which the government sanctions from time to time
proves of no use to them, because their purchasing power actually
goes down. Inflation induces businessmen to invest their money
in non-productive assets like gold and land whose real worth is
not affected by rising prices. High prices also adversely affect the
exports of the country and distort the balance of foreign trade.
Numerous factors can be cited to explain price rise in India. First,
our economic planning has suffered from serious drawbacks right
from the beginning. During the various Five-Year Plans, while the
public expenditure persistently increased, the production targets-
were never realised. This forced the Government to resort to
deficit financing. There was a rapid increase in the money supply
49
without a corresponding increase in production. The resulting

imbalance inevitably led to inflation.
The taxation policy of the government has also contributed to
price rise. A sound policy of direct taxes would not only have
yielded higher revenue but also have enabled the government to
give relief in indirect taxes, which invariably lead to inflation.
Defective tax structure has encouraged tax evasion and led to the
accumulation of black money. This is an example of evil
multiplying evil. The parallel economy in our country that thrives
on black money and smuggling has always encouraged rise in
prices.
Steep rise in the population of the country after independence is
another major factor responsible for causing inflation. During the
last thirty years alone, the population has gone up by about 75 per
cent. Rising population multiplies demands for all kinds of goods
and services and leads to an all-round price-hike.
Slow increase in agricultural and industrial production, faulty
distribution and marketing system, and an unprecedented hike in
oil prices in the international market can be cited as some other
important factors that have aggravated the situation. Our
agriculture has been rather slow to respond to innovations.
Industry has been faced with shortage of inputs like coal, power,
raw materials. But even the things produced are not properly
distributed. Majority of Indians have no community
consciousness. There is no organised consumer resistance to price
rise. Instead, our masses get scared by the rumours of scarcities
and tend to hoard as much as they can. This further intensifies the
crisis. Indians also believe in ostentatious living. They indulge in
wasteful expenditure that directly affects the prices.
Q. A. Make notes on the passage using appropriate abbreviations.

Also give an apt title.
Q. B. Make a summary of the passage.
PASSAGE-8

that follows : 8 Marks
Occasional self-medication has always been part of normal living.
The making and selling of drugs has a long history and is closely linked,
50
like medical practice itself, with belief in magic. Only during the last
hundred years or so has the development of scientific technique made it
possible some of the causes of symptoms to be understood, so that more
accurate diagnosis has become possible. The doctor is now able to
follow up the correct diagnosis of many illness- with specific treatment
of their causes. In many illness of which the causes remain unknown, he
is still limited, like the unqualified prescribe, to the treatment of
symptoms. The doctor is trained to decide when to treat symptoms only
and when to attack the cause. This is essential difference between
medical prescribing and self-medication. The advance of technology has
brought about much progress in some fields of medicine, including the
development of scientific drug therapy. In many contries public health
organization is improving and people’s nutritional standard has risen.
Parallel with such, beneficial trends are to which have an adverse effect.
One is the use of high pressure advertising by the pharmaceutical
industry which has tended to influence both patients and doctors and has
let to the over use of drug generally. The other is the emergence of the
sedentary society with its faulty ways of life: Lack of exercise, over-
eating, unsuitable eating, insufficient sleep, excessive smoking and
drinking. People with disorder arising to self-medication and so add the
taking of pharmaceutical of the list. Advertiser go to great length to
catch this market. Clever advertising aim at chronic suffers who will try
anything because doctors have not been able to cure them, can induce
such faith in preparation, particularly if steeply prized, that is will
produce-by suggestion-a very real effect in some people. Advertisement
are also aimed at people suffering from mild complaints such as simple
cough and cold which clear up by themselves within a short time.
These are the main reasons, why laxatives, indigestion remedies, pain
killers, cough mixers, tonics, vitamins and iron tablets, nose drops,.
Ointments, and many other preparations are found in quantity in many
households. It is doubtful whether taking these things ever improves a
person's health, it may even makes it worse. Worse, because the
preparations may contain unsuitable ingredients; worse because the
taker may become dependent on them; worse because they might be
taken in excess; worse because that may cause poisoning and worst of
all because symptoms of some serious underlying cause may be asked
and therefore medical help may not be sought. Self diagnosis is a greater
danger than self medication.
(a) On the basis of your reading of the above passage, make notes
on it, in points only, using sub-headings. Also write at least 4
51
recognizable abbreviations, wherever necessary (minimum 4).

Use a format you can consider suitable. Supply an
appropriate title to it. 5 Marks
(b) Write a summary of the above passage in about 80 words.
3 Marks
PASSAGE-9
follow : 8 Marks
Medical experts have cautioned against extensive use of
aluminum cookware and foils, especially for acidic food
preparations containing tamarind, tomatoes and green leafy
vegetables which could lead to aluminum toxicity and consequent
nerve disorder. The use of aluminum cookware should be limited
and their use for making acidic food preparations should be
avoided as they increase aluminum leaching into food warn
scientists from National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad.
Chronic exposure to high levels of aluminum through food and
water could lead to nerve and brain disorder such as Alzheimer's
and Parkinson's disease, they say. Studies at NIN have shown that
chronic exposure of rats to high aluminum and calcium defiant
diets lead degeneration of nerves and impairment of some brain
functions.
Earlier studies too have linked high aluminum intake with
dementia and bone diseases. Keeping in view evidence of a link
between high aluminum content in drinking water and senile
dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, a reduced intake of aluminum
by kidney patients and elderly persons is advisable.
NIN scientists say in a report that they have also advised regular
monitoring of aluminum in blood for dialysis patients. Patients
with kidney disorders are particularly susceptible to aluminum is
present in water, soil, plants and cooking utensils. It is added to
drinking water as aluminum sulphate at the treatment plants,
while soil contamination with it leads to accumulation in
vegetables.
It is also used in medicine such as antacids, analgesics and anti-
diarrhoeals in food and food activities, foils, wrapping papers and
cookware and in water purification processes. NIN studies
showed especially green leafy vegetables, spices and in the form
of 'Sambhar' contribute significantly to aluminum uptake.
52
Aluminum containing food additives are generally used as

buffers, neutralising agents, dough strength emulsifying agents for
processed cheese and thinkers. Studies on experimental rats also
showed that deficiencies of certain minerals such as calcium and
iron enhances aluminum absorption and accumulation in tissues
over a long period.
Recent reports indicate that most individuals consume aluminum
daily from natural resources. Additional aluminum is injected
through pressure cookers, roasting pans, frozen dinner trays, foil
wrappers.
The use of aluminum in packaging food is on the increase and is
becoming a potential source of contamination.
Studies also show that certain dietary factors such as citrate and
nutritional deficiencies of essential minerals such as calcium and
iron significantly enhance aluminium absorption and
accumulation in tissues. Aluminium toxicity is greater when there
is calcium deficiency in the body.
notes on it using heading and sub headings. Use
recognizable abbreviations wherever necessary
(minimum 4). Your notes should be in points only.
(b) Write a summary of the above passage in 80 words only.
Suggest a suitable title.
PASSAGE-10
follow : 8 Marks
We have been talking about the evils of child abuse for the last 10
years in this country. But the number of working children seems
to be increasing. Instead of building up a groundwell of public
opinion against child labour and for compulsory primary
education, we are still talking about child labour as being
necessary for the survival of the family. The debate has not
changed radically in the last 10 years. The result is that children
continue to work in the most hazardous conditions and
compulsory education is still a dream.
The presence of child labour in hazardous industries is a gross
violation of human rights. If children are not dying in explosions,
they are dying a slow but sure death in the glass, brassware, lock,
slate, balloon, brick-kiln and other industries.
53
With their power employers of child labour get away scot-free. If

at all compensation is paid, it is the state that dishes out the cash.
Not only are children working in hazardous industry, they are also
engaged in the most hazardous processes in industries which
adults do not want to touch. In the glass industry children are
primarily engaged in removing molten glass from the furnaces.
Since the furnaces are designed for adults, the child's face is
almost touching the wall of the furnaces. It is not all.
Accidents happen all the time and most of them go unreported.
Doctors refuse to treat injured and severely ill patients. A
common complaint I heard from workers in all the industries I
studred- glass, lock, brassware, pottery and gemstone- was that
doctors tell them to come back to them for
treatment when they are better. Doctors refuse to treat severely
injured patients, as they have to necessarily report medico-legal
cases.
What then is going to be the fate of Indian children? Will Rohtak
become another statistic or yesterday's news? Are we still going to
justify child labour in India as an economic necessity for the
family? The children who are found working are those that are
able to work. What about the children
who are too ill or injured working in hazardous occupations? The
word "hazardous" is not defined anywhere, not in the Constitution
of India and in the Child Labour (prohibition and regulation) Act
1986. Child labour has to be banned uniformly.
Or will the state take notice only when it becomes an international
issue, as is the case with the carpet industry? Child labour in
hazardous industry at least needs to be banned by a residential
order or something dramatic and serious like that. The message
needs to get home to all employers of child labour that this
situation just cannot continue. Parents also cannot be allowed to
justify sending their children to work in such industries on the
grounds of poverty. A massive countrywide campaign needs to be
launched-like the campaign on the girl child-staling clearly the
punitive action which would be taken if children were found to be
employed.
We cannot wait for the perfect programme to be developed before
child labour is banned in hazardous employments. The word
"hazardous" needs to be defined and defined now. If all work is
considered hazardous then let all work be banned for children.
54
1. On the basis of your reading of the passage make notes

on it using subtitles and at least 4 abbreviations. Give
the passage a Title. 5 Marks
2. Write a summary of the passage in about 80 words,
using your notes. 3 Marks
55
SECTION – B
Advance Writing Skill
Question -3. Short Composition of not more than 50 Words- 5 Marks.
1. Notice
2. Designing Posters
3. Advertisement
4. Invitation
There will be a choice students will be asked to do one task out of two.
Notice
Format - 1 Mark
1. Name of the Institutions/Organization

2. The word NOTICE
3. Heading
4. Date of issue
5. Writer’s name
6. Writer’s Designation
7. The notice must be placed in a box.
Content - 2 Marks
The content should answer

1. What is to be organized
2. Who is organizing it ?
3. When is it being organized (Date & Time)
4. Where is it being organized (Venue)
5. Target group
6. Last date of submission of names and to whom(if applicable)
7. Agenda of the meeting (if applicable)
Expression - 2 Marks
56
Include coherence and relevance of the content with grammatical accuracy and
fluency.
Points to remember
1. The purpose of notice is to inform a large number of people, member of an
organization, participants of some event, children of school or even general
public.
2. It should be attractive
3. It should have a suitable eye-catching heading
4. It should have all information clearly & precisely given
5. The name and designations of the issuing authority should be reflected
6. Use of “I” and “You” should be avoided – use third person
7. The word limit exceeds only up to 25%. However beyond this Note that upto
1 mark may be deducted for exceeding the word limit. If a candidate exceeds
the word limit by one or two words, ½ mark should be deducted. If he/she
exceeds the word limit by three or more words, one mark should be
deducted.
Sample Notice
You are Raj Khosla, secretary of the English Literacy Association of Memorial
School Jaipur, Write out a notice for notice board inviting names of those who
would like to participate in the proposed Inter-House debate, oratorical and
elocution contest.
MEMORIAL SCHOOL, JAIPUR
NOTICE
4th June 2008

57
INTER HOUSE DEBATE COMPETITION
All students of classes VI – XII are hereby informed that English Literacy
Association of the school is organizing an Inter House Debate and Elocution
Competition on 23rd June in the school hall from 9 am Onwards. All House
prefects are requested to submit 4 names from each house to the undersigned.
Raj Khosla
Secretary
P.S. – Some notices may not adhere to the word limit as their purpose is to give
maximum information to the students.
You may touch upon the following topics.
1. Inviting names for participation in functions & competitions

2. Excursions and Trips
3. Informing students about Events
4. Seeking contribution, Cooperation, Attention
5. Lost & Found
6. Miscellaneous/general/outside school
(Announcements, Admissions, Submission of applications etc.)
7. Sales & Purchase (Tender Notice).
EXERCISES
1. Write a notice for the school notice board inviting contributions for the
Bomb Blast victims. Sign yourself as Secretary. Students union, DPS Jaipur.
2. In response to an appeal of the Prime Minister of India, you have arranged a
charity show in your school in the cancer patients of the country. Write out a
notice informing students about the school and seeking their cooperation for
the success of the Charity show.
3. The Student Council of your school has decided to organize an excursion to
Goa for the students of classes XI & XII during summer vacation. As
58
president of the council. Write a notice telling the students about this
excursion and inviting their names for joining it.
4. You are Rahul/Reena. As president of two students council of St. Francis Sr.
Secondary school, Surat. You have invites a visiting American Ballet Troupe
to give performance in your school on the occasion of its Golden Jubilee
celebrations. Write a notice informing the students about this event.
5. The Principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Jhunhjunu has asked The Head Girl
Shivani to put a notice on the school notice board requesting the students of
the classes VI-IX to maintain silence during The coming exams senior
students.
6. You are the sports captain of your school. Your school is playing against
Birla Public School Pilani is the Zonal Volleyball Finals. Write a notice for
your school notice board inviting your school students to come and watch the
tournament & cheer the team.
7. Mr. Kapil Poonia has lost a handbag is a bus while travelling to school in
from Mumbai Central to V.T. Bus-stop. He puts a notice in the” Lost &
found “column of a newspaper. Draft his notice giving all necessary
information.
8. The American Centre Library has changed its timings and days of opening
from 1st August 2008. The Library in-charge Mr. John puts up the notice
outside the library. Write the notice.
9. Imagine you are the secretary Basant Vihar Housing Society, Laxmi Nagar,
New Delhi. Write an ad for the local newspaper inviting tenders for sports
equipment and games for colony’s children. Mention all necessary details.
10. You are administrative officer of Bansal’s Academy, Kota. You have to draft
an admission notice to be inserted in a youth magazine inviting applications
for admission to various courses offered by the institutes. Write the notice
giving all the necessary information.
POSTERS
INTRODUCTION/FEATURES
Posters
1. Are part of notices and part of advertisements
2. Spread a social message/create awareness among the general public
about some event of common interest
3. Don’t have a fixed style or format
4. Are artistic and eye-catching
5. Don’t follow a strict grammatical pattern like advertisement.
59
6. Have emphasis on visual appeal and layout

7. Maintain brevity and clarity as the space is limited
8. Are used for highlighting cultural shows/exhibition/social problems or
any other issues.
(A) LAYOUT
 Eye-catching & visually attractive
 A catchy/suggestive title in the form of a slogan/short
verses/dialogues
 Matchstick figures
 Letters of different size and shape
 Proportionate spacing etc.
(B) CONTENT
 The theme or subject of the poster
 Details associated with the theme
 Essential details like time, venue and date (if applicable)
 Name(s) of the issuing authority, organizers etc.
(C) EXPRESSION
 Sequence of the matter
 Appropriate and accurate language
 Creativity in terms of content and design.
Q.No-1- Poster brought out by the Delhi Police to step up vigilance against bomb
explosions.
IS
THERE
A
BOMB
Ticking away
NEAR YOU
OBSERVE YOUR SURROUNDING CAREFULLY
REMAIN VIGILANT
IF YOU SPOT ANY SUSPICIOUS OR UNCLAIMES OBJECT AT A
CROWDED PUBLIC PLACE

60
INFORM POLICE IMMEDIATELY
DIAL : 100
DELHI POLICE
Police Public Cooperation for a Safer Delhi
E-mail : - delpol@del2.vsnl.net.in
Q.No.2- Design a poster against the ill-effects of plastics on the environment.

Suggest the alternative solution as well.
 NON BIODEGRADABLE
 BURNING CAUSES AIR POLLUTION
 DUMPING POLYBAGS POLLUTES
ENVIRONMENT
 TOXIC CHEMICALS CAUSE LUNG
CANCER
Instead use
 PAPER BAGS
 JUTE BAGS
 CLOTH BAGS
PROTECT ENVIRONMENT
STAY HEALTHY
ISSUED BY
PRESIDENT
ENVIRONMENT CLUB
DELHI
Solved Exercises
61
Q.No.3- You are going to contest the election for the post of the president of the
student’s council of your school. Design a poster for your voters impressing upon
them why they should vote for you. You may use slogans.
VOTE FOR
Mr. X
YOUR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
FOR
STUDENT’S COUNCIL
AND
GUARANTEE
۞ BETTER SPORTS FACILITIES ۞ BETTER DISCIPLINE
۞ IMPROVED INTERACTION WITH TEACHERS
۞ REGULAR STUDIES ۞ BETTER CANTEEN FACILITIES
SO
OPT FOR A FRIENDLIER PRESIDENT
YOUR OWN Mr. X
COME TO THE SCHOOL AUDITORIUM AT 9:00 A.M.
AND VOTE FOR KNOWLEDGE

62
Q.No.4- Design a poster in not more than 50 words about the Need for Regular
Exercise. You may use slogans.
Want to have
A Healthy Life
In Today’s
World of
Pollution
Then
EXERCISE-TODAY
AND
EVERYDAY
Once you decide, it’s not difficult
CHOICE is YOURS
YOU CAN
Some Benefits
* Walk – in a park, Lawn * A strong heart

*Jog – On the road, garden * More stamina
*Swim- in the nearest swimming pool * Better concentration
* Play- your favourite sport * Disease-free life
*Workout-Aerobics, machines
AND
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See yourself turn into a happier livelier human being

ISSUED BY – HEALTH FOR EVERYONE SOCIETY
Q.No.5- Make a poster in not more than 50 words on kindness to animals to be

displayed at main public places in your city. Make an appeal to people to show
kindness to all animals.
BE HUMAN BE KIND
BE KIND TO ANIMALS
THEY GIVE US SO MUCH
THEY CANNOT SPEAK
BUT THEY FEEL PAIN
AS MUCH AS WE DO
SO THAT YOU ARE
A HUMAN AND
NOT A BEAST
DO’S- YOU CAN DONT’S- DO NOT
*Take an injured animal to hospital * Tease stray animals
*Give water and food * Keep birds in cage
* Check others from being cruel and inhuman
*Be vegetarian
* Be kind to beasts of burden
Remember animals are an integral part of our ecological cycle.

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They add beauty and variety to our earth
ISSUED IN PUBLIC INTEREST BY WORLD WILDLIFE FUND
Q.No.6- Make a poster advising people to stay away from tobacco, smoking, drugs
and alcohol as they lead to addiction and poor health.
“SAY NO”….
TO ALCOHOL, DRUGS, TOBACCO AND CIGARETTES LET THEM NOT
TAKE YOUR LIFE AWAY THINK OF THE PRICE YOU PAY GIVE YOURSELF
A NEW DAY
Take charge of your life today
Think of your loved ones
Do not give them tears for everyday
IT LEADS TO STOP
*LUNG CANCER *SMOKING
*ORAL CANCER *DRINKING
*ASTHMA *TAKING DRUGS
*HEART FAILURE *CHEWING TOBACCO
*DEATH
ISSUED IN PUBLIC INTEREST BY PUBLIC FORUM ANTI-ADDICTION

65
Q.No.7- Make a poster advising people to follow Traffic Rules.
JUMPING RED LIGHTS
COULD
COST YOU YOUR LIFE
During 2007 hundred died in

Road accidents while jumping
Red Lights 200000 drivers
were prosecuted
Traffic Police Jaipur
ISSUED BY TRAFFIC POLICE JAIPUR

66
Q.No.8- Make a poster advising people not to pollute the air we breathe.
LET US NOT POLLLUTE THE AIR WE BREATHE

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY-5TH JUNE, 2007
WAKE TO A SPARKLING
MORNING
WHICH IS FULL OF
FRESH AIR AND
CLEANLINESS
BROUGHT OUT IN PUBLIC INTEREST BY JAIPUR TRAFFIC POLICE

67
EXERCISES FOR PRACTICE
1. Times Eye Bank wishes to increase awareness among youth about blindness
and the importance of donating one’s eyes. Draft a suitable poster.
2. Design a poster to launch cleanliness Drive Campaign in the area
surrounding your school.
3. As the manager of “Ample Coaching Centre” run by you, prepare a poster
calling attention of students desirous of attending IIT, CPMT, RPMT, AIIMS
Coaching to join your coaching centre.
4. Conservation of energy.
5. Blood donation Camp.
6. Save water, Every Drop is precious.
7. Eco-friendly Diwali.
8. Collection of funds for slum children.
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ADVERTISEMENTS
Word limit- 50 words
Marks – 5
INTRODUCTION
 To publicize some product or some service available with somebody.
 To be published in newspaper, magazines, aired on T.V. or radio.
Displayed on bill boards etc.
 Mean for max. Number of people.
 Content is brief, words limited and sentences not necessarily grammatically
correct.
 Information in digital, abbreviated and short forms is acceptable
 No designs or visuals.
 They are in square/rectangular format.
TYPES OF ADVERTISEMENT
CLASSIFIED DISPLAY/COMMERCIAL
1. Categorized into columns 1. Designed for commercial

according to different classes. purpose
2. Less space, more economical. 2. More space, more expensive
3. Written in short phrases and words. In terms of the advertising
4. Language- simple & concise. Costs.
3. Visually attractive with

catchy slogans, punch lines.
4. Witty expressions and picture

or sketches.
5. Varying font size or shape.
6. Language: colourful & lucid

69
ESSENTIAL DETAILS (Commercial Advrt.)

 Name of the company/ institute/ organizers, etc.
 Details regarding the product/event/educational course, etc.
 Special offers or discount, if any.
 Address of the company/institute/organizers, etc.
SAMPLE-(Classified Advertisement)
 Begin with wanted or “Required”. Wanted
 Post and no. of vacancies.
 Name of the company. A smart, confident PA/
 Age and sex of the candidate Stenographer for a leading export
 Qualifications & experience house graduate, 25-30 Yrs old,
 Other details (optional). typing speed 40 WPM, short hand
 Pay scale & Perks. 100 WPM, Preference to computer
 Mode of applying. expert, salary negotiable, Apply
 Contact address and phone no. with complete bio-data up to 15
May 2009 to Secretary, Orient
Export House, T.Nagar New Delhi-
110016
For Practice
1. You are personal Assistant to G.M. ABC Metal Tools Company. Your
General manager has asked you to draft an advertisement for local daily in
the classified column for the post of 2 Electrical Engineers.(in 50 words).
2. You are Sumita/Suresh running a telephone booth in the central Market,

Bhopal. Give a suitable advertisement for a telephone operator in “Situations
vacant “ column of “ Bhopal Times “offering attractive remuneration.
TO LET
2 TO LET
On rent Sanganer JDA, II Floor
 Begin with Two B/Rs, Lobby, Balcolony, fully
“Wanted “or Available furnished, well ventilated. Walking
distance from market, Expected
(On rent) (On rent) rent Rs 3000/- (Fixed) company
lease preferred, Contact Mahesh
Sekara 1A/21, Sanganer.
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 Type of accommodation
[I,II,III or ground floor B/Rm, lobby Balcolony etc.]
 Brief description (See “property”)
[ fully furnished, well ventilator walking distance from…..]
 Rent expected, etc.
[expected rent Rs…… fixed, negotiable, company lease preferred]
 Contact address and phone no.
[your add./mob.No./phone no. etc.]
For Practice
1. You want to let out a portion of your house, Draft a suitable advertisement
giving detail to be published in the “TO LET” column of a newspaper giving
your contact no.
2. You are Naresh/Nikita of 212, Malviya Nagar, Jaipur and wish to let out a
portion of your newly built house. Draft an advertisement in not more than
50 words for publication in the “TO LET” column of the Hindu, giving all
necessary details.
SALE & PURCHASE For PROPERTY/VEHICLES/HOUSEHOLD GOODS.

Begin with
[For sale/Purchase or Available/Wanted]
 Type of vehicle FOR SALE
* model/year of manufacturing Available Maruti 800 DX,
* colour, accessories etc. 2004, White sparingly used,
scratch less, self driven,
* condition/Mileage done stereo, AC fitted, beautiful
upholstery no expense,
 Type of property For sale Vaishali nagar, JDA Flat–
Negotiable, Contact Mahesh
* Size, Floor, No. of rooms SFS9828580061.
II, ground floor, Two
B/Rs,DID with full interiors, Car
* Fixtures & Fittings parking available, East/Park
* Location and Surroundings facing, Best location,
Reasonable price, contact
A.B.Singh 9814360028
 Household goods PROPERTY SALE/PURCHASE

Quick sale LG washing Machine
* Brand, model year of manufacturing
TC 1129, 2004 purchased,
White, excellent condition, fully
automatic, under warranty,
owner going abroad, Attractive
price, Contact – G.P. Sekra,
720086.
71
* Specify material
* conditions
* Price offered/expected/Negotiable
* Contact add. & Phone no.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
 Name of institution/ its past record
 Courses offered, duration
 Eligibility condition BITS, PILANI announces the
 Facilities & fee structure commencement of its courses in
 Last date for registration Japanese, French and Urdu, 3 month
 Contact address and phone no. duration, Eligibility- Sr. Sec.,
Excellent faculty, computerized
training, incentives for early birds,
send in your application by 28 July
2008 or Contact – Admission
MISSING(PETS)
Controller 596324.
 Begin with “MISSING”
 Brief physical description
MISSING
[Name, breed, age, colour of skin]
 Identifying features 2 Yrs old pet dog Scabies, white
 Since when/from where missing colour with black stripes for a
 Reward week, hole on left ear, limps neck,
 Contact address & phone no. informer suitably rewarded.
Contact- R.K.Gupta, 8/10 Bajaj
PERSON Nagar, Jaipur, Phone no.-259938
MISSING
 Begin with “MISSING”
My brother 10, 4’2”, fair
 Brief physical description and White complexion,
[Name, age, height complexion and built wearing blue shirt & white
shorts, grey stockings &
black shoes, since 15th
 Clothes and other identifying features August 2006, mole on left
check, speaks English
Fluently, robust health, look
handsome. Contact-
9414142614
LOST AND FOUND

FOUND! FOUND! FOUND!
A green coloured briefcase,

 Begin with “LOST” or “FOUND”
White line route No-420,
Laxminagar to Connaught Place
on Wednesday between 3 P.M.
to 3:30 P.M., Name inscribed in
golden letters.
Contact- Purnima 304,
Laxminagar, phone no.- 212356
72
 Specify item
 Brief physical description
 When/where found or lost
 Reward, if any
 Contact address and phone no.
TRAVELS AND TOURS

 Begin with “Package Available”
 Name of travel agency
TRAVELS & TOURS
 Destination and duration
AVAILABLE
 Details of package – food/boarding
Package for Mauritius, 3 nights 4
lodging, sightseeing etc. days, breakfast and dinner, stay at
 Cost and special discounts 5 star hotel, sightseeing included,
 Contact add. & phone no. Rs 10000 per head, special
discount for booking till 10 July,
2008. Contact- Laxmi Travels
4567092868
MATRIMONIAL
 Begin with “ALLIANCE INVITED”

 Brief description
MATRIMONIAL
[Caste(Girl/Boy), age, height, ALLIANCE INVITED
complexion, education, employment,
For Sikh girl 29/160, 5’6”,
salary] fair complexion, M.Sc.
 Contact address and phone no. Physics, Employed as
Professor, Salary in 5 digits,
No bar, send recent photo,
Box 1035, Indian express,
New Delhi.
Questions for practice
1. You are P.C.Jain of Dwarka, New Delhi. You want an English tutor for your
daughter. Write an advertisement to be published in the classified columns of
“The Times of India”.
2. You are R.L.Verma of C-204, Shakti Apartments, Sector no.-5, Dwarka, New
Delhi. Being a retired lecturer of English, you need part time tuitions. Write
73
out an advertisement to be published in the “SITUTATION WANTED”

column of the HINDUSTAN TIMES.
3. Your daughter is 23 yrs. Old. She is tall, slim, beautiful and fair
complexioned, trained PG teacher in English in a Govt. school of Rajasthan.
Draft a suitable matrimonial advertisement for her to be published in The
Hindustan Times, New Delhi.
4. You want to dispose off your land at Okhla near Delhi. Draft an
advertisement suitable to be published in The Hindustan Times, New Delhi.
You are Kirpal Singh/Maneesha of Chandni chowk, Delhi.
5. Write a suitable advertisement about letting your newly constructed house
invent all the necessary details.
6. You are Arjun/Anandi of 202, Lawarence road, New Delhi. You you’re your
briefcase while travelling by bus from Lawarance Road to Red Fort, Delhi.
Draft a notification to be published in The Indian Express under their column
“LOST & FOUND” including all necessary details.
COMMERCIAL ADVERTISEMENT
Main Characteristic :
 Design for commercial purposes
 More space, more expensive in terms of the advertising costs.
 Visually attractive with catchy slogans, punch lines, witty expressions
and pictures and sketches.
 Varying font size or shape.
 Language – colourful and lucid.
 Proportionate spacing with appealing overall arrangement.
Essential details :
 Name of the company/ institute/ organizers, etc.

 Details regarding the product/event/educational courses, etc.
 Special offers or discounts.
 Address of the company institute/ organizers, etc.
74
SOLVED EXAMPLE
1. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
WELCOME
TO
ORIENT CLASSES
………Where success is sure
Classes commencing from

Date : 25 July
Time : 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Venue : SS Block, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi.
 Excellent faculty
 Transport facility available
 Audio visual aids provided.
 Proven track record
75
Contact :- Orient Institute Pvt.Ltd. Ph:- 3629234
2. You have set up a clothes- washing soap unit recently. Draft a

suitable advertisement to be published in the Local Daily for the
promotion of your soap.
Now wash the whitest

with
NOORI SOAP
 Economic cheapest in the market

 Easily available in different sizes
 Does no harm to the clothes
 Cleanses the dirt and dust away
 Stock readily available
For Trade Inquiries, Contact:
M/S NOORI SOAD FACTORY

Jahazpul, Hissar (HARYANA)
Phone :- 016672-333303
Mob:- 9811884414
76
EXHIBITION/INAUGURATION
7th INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR- 2008
DATE : 23 JULY, 2008
TIME : 9 A.M. TO 8 P.M.
VENUE : PRAGATI MAIDAN
DISPLAY PROFILE
 Books For all age groups

 Computer software & CD ROMs
 Teaching Aids
 Audio – Visual Aids
15%
Disco
unt
Organizers Sponsored By
International Trade Authority All India Publishing House
77
QUESTION FOR PRACTICE

[Commercial Advertisements]
1. You want to launch a new Shampoo. Construct an advertisement giving

details of the product and launching after in about 50 words.
2. As a travel agent, construct a suitable advertisement offering an attractive
package to Kullu-Manali.
3. Construct a commercial advertisement for the inauguration of a
boutique/health club/sports complex, etc.
INFORMAL/FORMAL INVITATIONS & REPLIES

There are two types of letter of invitations
a. The formal letter of invitation

b. The informal letter of invitation
Attributes of the Formal letter of Invitation
i. It is written in Third Person.

ii. Simple Present Tense is used
iii. There is no signature
iv. The address is given on the right side at the bottom.
v. RSVP – a French word –(repondez sil vous plait)- please reply – is
written at the bottom left side.
vi. This category contains.
a. Name of the sender
b. Time and date of the event
c. Some formal expression – “request the pleasure of the company of “
or
“Solicite your gracious presence on the auspicious occasion of --------“
or
“Seek your auspicious presence at --------------- “
d. Venue
e. The reason of the invitation
78
Solved examples – formal Invitations.

1.
Mrs. and Mr. Satish Mehta
Solicit your gracious presence on the auspicious occasion
Of the marriage of their grand daughter
NISHI
(D/o Mrs. and Mr. Sharad Mehra)
NARENDRA
(S/o Mrs. & Mr. L.K.Kashyap)
On 18th October 2008
At 7:30 p.m.
At INVITATION BANQUET HALL
Model Town, Jaipur
RSVP With best complements from
Virendra Mehra All Relatives
7120011, 7210012
79
2.
Mrs. and Mr. Rajkumar Gupta

Seek your auspicious presence
At the
GRAND CELEBRATION
Of their son Rohit’s admission
To the
AIIMS
On
th
13 August 2008 at 6:00 P.M.
At
LISTAV BANQUET HALL
K-18 Shalimar Bagh
Delhi – 110052
RSVP Compliments from

L-18 Karol Bagh Friends and
Delhi 110058 Relatives
Ph- 7012131, 7025141
80
Question for practice (Formal)

1. Your school is organizing its Annual Sports Day. Draft an invitation to be
sent to the parents.
2. Your grandparents are celebrating the golden jubilee of their marriage.
Draft an invitation for friends and relatives.
3. A fast food restaurant has been opened in your colony’s shopping centre.
Draft an invitation card.
4. Swapana Srivastava is holding a birth day bash at her residence 6, Rouse
Avenue, Delhi. Draft an invitation to her friends.
REPLIES-ACCEPTANCE/REFUSAL [FORMAL INVITATION]
 Acknowledge the invitation

 Express thanks in Third person.
 Mention acceptance/refusal (specify reason)
 Be brief and specific
EXAMPLES
Refusal (Formal)
C-2, greater Noida

U.P.
26th June 2008
Mrs. and Mr. V.K.Nair thank Mrs. and Mr. Bhartiya for the invitation to the
inauguration of their showroom GALAXY on Sunday 30th June 2008 at 10:00 a.m.
at B-2 Pitampura, Delhi. However, they express their inability to be present on the
occasion due to a prior engagement.
With Best Wishes
Nairs
ACCEPTANCE (FORMAL)
81
15 Rose Gardens
Bangalore
26th June 2008
Mrs. and Mr. V.K.Nair have a great pleasure in receiving the invitation from Dr.
Kapoor for the workshop on ‘ Child Care’ being held on 30 th June 2008 at his clinic
B-9-UV, Keshav Puram, Delhi from 9:00 a.m. onwards. They confirm their presence
with thanks.
EXERCISE FOR PRACTICE
1. You have Abhinav/ Akrite. You have received an invitation card from your
close friend to attend the marriage his sister. But unfortunately, you cannot
attend it due to your precious commitment. Write him expressing your
inability to attend the marriage ceremony.
2. Your friend Mr. A.D.Bhalla has invited you to attend a marriage ceremony of
his daughter Sangeeta on Sunday, the 30th June 2008 at 8:00 P.M. Write a
formal reply accepting the above invitation.
INFORMAL INVITATION
REFUSAL, ACCEPTANCE
82
ATTRIBUTES OF INFORMAL LETTER OF INVITATION
 It is written in First person.

 Different tenses are used.
 The salutation is – Dear------ and Name.
 The complimentary close is – Your sincerely.
 The date of writing is given but no need to mention the year.
 Writers address is given
 There is no inside address
 No reply is asked for but the last sentence suggests that a reply is expected.
EXAMPLES
1. Suresh has been selected for Electronic Engineering in IIT, Delhi. He has
decided to have a party for his friends. Write an invitation giving details of
venue, time and date.
Dear Friends
Do join me for an Evening Bash at my residence 26, Rafi Marg, New Delhi
on Sunday, 29th May at 6 P.M. This is to celebrate my selection for Electronic
Engineering in IIT, Delhi. Looking forward to meet you all.
Suresh
2. Mamta grover is holding a get-together and lunch for all Mahila Samiti
members and friends at her residence on 1st November at 12:30 P.M. Draft an
invitation for the purpose.
Friends
I request the pleasure of your company at a get-together and lunch on
Saturday, the 1st November, 2008 at 12:30 P.M. at my residence. All the
Mahila Samiti members will be joining us for an informal chat on Sundry
topics regarding the welfare of colony.
Mamta
83
ACCEPTANCE (INFORMAL)
15, Tilak Palace

New Delhi
28th October, 2008
Dear Bantty
Many thanks for the invitation to the marriage of your daughter Sangeeta to
be held on 1st November, 2008 at 7:00 P.M. at Residency Hotel. We shall be
delighted to attend the same . in case, we can be of any service to you, do
write to us unhesitatingly.
Yours sincerely
Manav
REFUSAL (INFORMAL)
C-56 Ankur Bhawan

Jaipur
20th October, 2008
Dear Bantty
I would have loved to attend the marriage of your daughter Sangeeta on 1 st

November, 2008 at 7:00 P.M. at your residence but, unfortunately, I will be away to
Kanpur for a week during this period.
Kindly convey my heartiest blessing to the couple.
Yours sincerely
84
Manav
EXERCISE
1. Write an informal letter to your friend inviting him on the house-warming

ceremony of your newly constructed house.
(1.1) Write an acceptance and refusal letter to the above.
2. Write an informal letter of invitation to your friend inviting him and his
family to BHAGWATE JAGRAN.
(2.1) Write an acceptance and refusal letter to the above.
Report - A factual description
Can be written for i. Description of places

ii. Description of objects
i. School magazine iii. Description of a process
ii. Newspaper iv. Description of instructions &
Words limit – 100 to 125 words
directions
Marks allotted – 10 marks
Time available – 8-10 Min.
DISTRIBUTION OF MARKS
FORMAT - 1 MARKS
CONTENT - 4 MARKS
EXPRESSION - 5 MARKS
It should be written as a first person account –

A report gives a description of an event. Hence it should be prepared in the
same order in which the event has happened. A report should be to the print
and clear.
REPORT FOR A SCHOOL MAGAZINE
School activities may be published in a school magazine.
FORMAT
 Give a title/ heading to the report.
 Writer’s name, class & section.
85
CONTENT
 Factual information about the school activity/event, date time, venue.

 Sequence of programme, event.
 Information about chief guest/ judges/ participant.
 Highlights of the event.
 Kind of organization, people responsible for program arrangement.
 Result if describing a contest or conclusion.
REPORT FOR A NEWSPAPER
[ Political news, sports, accidents, natural disaster, crime etc. are usually
subjects for news reports]
FORMAT
A. Headline.
B. Date & place of occurrence before beginning the report
C. By a correspondent or an agency as its source.
LANGUAGE & STYLE
- Format
- Passive voice is preferred.
CONTENT - What, When, Where and how (highlights) and other relevant
information/ details.
EXPRESSION – Grammatical accuracy, appropriate words and spellings.
-Coherence & relevance of ideas and style.
SUGGESTED VALUE POINTS
1. Road accidents/Fire accidents, robbery, Train accident

 Headline
 What, When, Where.
 Give reasons.
86
 Details in brief.
 Eye-witness account
 Casualties, damages etc.
 Action taken – role of police, fire brigades, local people.
 Relief measures.
2. Cultural events/ Sports events/ celebrations

 What, When, Where
 Date, venue objectives
 Name of the competition, level, topic
 Chief guest, special invitees
 Inaugural ceremony, welcome.
 Audience response.
 Message by the chief guest.
 Vote of thanks.
3. Camps/ Visits/ Exhibition
 Place, destination
 Organizer
 Duration, date etc.
 Number of persons/ Visitors etc.
 Description as applicable.
- Theme & type of exhibits
- Sightseeing, scenic beauty, etc.
- Purpose and nature of camp.
- Activities undertaken.
4. SILVER/PLATINUM JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS.
 What
 When
 Where
 Platinum/ Silver jubilee celebrations
 Cultural progammes/inter-school competitions.
 Dignitaries present
 Audience response.
 Any other relevant details
Examples of a report for the school magazine
1.
87
EARTHQUA CAUSES INEXPLICABLE LOSS

BY LAV, XII-A
It was republic day when people were lost in gaiety and merry-making.
School children had gone to their school to participate in R’Day celebrations.
At about 10. A.m. We felt the earth shaking. The rumbling sound sent a
shiver round on spine. The earth quake lasted for two minutes but in these
two minutes lakhs of people in Bhuj, Surat Ahmedabad and Kutch Lost their
lives. It was of a very severe intensity. It shook almost the entire Northern
India Bhuj, being the epicenter of earthquake, was wiped off completely.
Huge buildings were raged to grounds. There was a heavy loss of life. People
were rendered shelterless in the cold winter. Govt. foreign countries and
social organizations rose to the occasion. They sent money, blankets, food,
clothes and medicines. Teams of doctors from all around and mechanical
paraphernalia to remove the debris reached the spot. But it was not sufficient.
People were in grave misery. They miserable condition was inexplicable.
2.
HOW I SAVED A BOY FROM DRAOWNING

By Anju, XII-B
On a hot summer day the students of our class decided to enjoy at the bank
88
of Karnal-lake. Reaching there on our bikes, we sat down under the cool shade of
the trees on the bank of the lake. Then we started running after the other. One of us
slipped and fell into the water. He was drowning. I, at once, ramped into the water
swam to the boy and brought him on the bank. His body was swollen with water. He
was unconscious. One of us ran to his parents, informed them and took him to the
hospital. The doctor pressed out the water out of his stomach. He praised us for
bringing the boy to the hospital well in time. A little delay could be fatal. The boy
came to this senses. His parents reached the hospital and thanked me profusely for
saving their child’s life. I felt an inner joy saving a precious life.
EXAMPLE OF A REPORT FOR THE NEWSPAPER
3.
Children Theatre Workshop Held.

89
Jaipur, May 19:
Natya Kala Sangam organized a Children’s Theatre workshop from 1st May to 18th
May. The age limit was from 7 yrs. To 17 yrs. There was no training fee and the
registration was open only on one day from 9 am to 11 am. Since there were only
limited seats available, registration was done on first come first served basis. As you
can understand I was one of the.
The children were divided into 2 groups according to their ages. The younger
children were taught the basics of only acting. How to deliver dialogues, where to
pause how to give modulation to one’s voice were some of the things included in it.
Older children were taught many more aspects of drama like creating the script of a
play from a story, innovating dialogues from imagination, basic of direction, stage
management, effective use of props etc. In the last week children were divided into
different groups, each was assigned a separate play which had to be put up. Parents
were invited and results were there for all to use.
--- Bhasker Correspondent
4.
5 Killed in Anaj Mandi-Fire in Ganganagar
By- Manjeet Bawa, staff reporter

News Times
Ganganagar, May 19: At least five people died in district Ganganagar on May 19
and many got injured when a fire engulfed five shops in the wholesale grain market
of Ganganagar on Thursday afternoon,
Onlookers said that it began with an explosion from a nearby transformer.

First there sparks in the transformer, which later, started flying into adjoining shops.
The blaze spread swiftly in the congested area trapping workers in the basement area
of the shops. The stored dry grains proved to be a fast medium for the spread of the
fire. The chief minister has announced Rs. 20000 as compensation to the kill of each
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dead. Those injured will also be compensated. An inquiry has been setup to look into
the cause of the explosion in the transformer.
5.
TRAFFIC JAM
Gurgaon : 23rd May, 2008
For students of D.A.V. Public school, Rohtak boarded a Haryana Roadways bus
(No- HNN 3369) at sample for Rohtak. When the bus reached near the school, the
said students pleaded that they be dropped down there. Instead, the driver
accelerated the speed and reached bus stand.
There was an exchange of hot words between the students and the
roadways staff thereupon, the students rushed to the school and raised a hue and cry
against the excesses done to them by the roadways staff. The students came out of
their classes, collected at national highway and jammed the traffic. They started
raising slogans against the general manager, Haryana Roadways. Some students
even threw stones at the glass panes of the buses. The police rushed to the spot. The
traffic could be resumed only after the S.P. and the Dy. Commissioner gave full
assurance to the students that the strict action would be taken against the errant
driver and the conductor.
-A report by Seema Chawla-Press Reporter
Times of India
6.
CAREER COUNSELLING PROGRAMME

(Atul – a reporter from Career Times)
Jaipur : 24th May, 2008

91
A one day Career Counselling programme was organized in our school by Careers
India, Jaipur on 23rd May, 2008 at 10:00 P.M. Students of class X, XI and XII some
of them along with their parents attended the programme. Students of Sr. classes
from some other schools also attended the lectures delivered by the experts in the
fields of food technology, fashion technology and media management.
Students of Science Stream took very little interest in food technology and
fashion designing. The students of Humanities stream and commerce stream showed
interest in media management. They were stick to learn of the vistas opened them.
They learnt that they could be journalists, editors and news telecasters. Some of the
parents put questions to know more of avenues opened for their words. It was a very
nice programme. All had a word of praise for it. In the end, the principal thanked the
professionals for sparing their valuable time for the students.
FACTUAL DESCRIPTION
Value points
1. Description of Places
Purpose – Travel, article, geography lesson, letter to a friend.
1.1 Spatial description in all its vividness so that it is easy to visualize as
location, features, special qualities, food, recreational activities, local people,
art and craft monuments of cultural, historical and religious importance of
language etc.
1.2 Language can be rich and figurative with the use of colourful adjectives,
verbs 2 phrases.
1.3 Be selective, don’t give unrelated details in paragraph.
2.
SCHOOL BUILT A NEW COMPUTER ROOM
By Snahil, XII-A
One week ago the school became the proud owner of 20 sophisticated sleek
computers. They are IBM compatible Models complete with Central Processing
92
Unit (CPU), key board, printer, terminal and mouse. They have various
applications running on the system like basic language programming, spread
sheet, word processor, etc. some video games have also been loaded to generate
interest among the students and teach them how to use the various units.
The machines are kept in air conditioned room which has to be kept dust-free.
So shoes are taken out and the main room is separated by a glass screen from the
entrance.
Two computer teachers have been appointed who have already started
teaching us the theoretical portions of the syllabus, mainly the computer
language. The other one is teaching us the keyboard and mouse.
When the school installed the machines many of us had seen the computers from
such close quarters for the first time. It was a thrilling experience.
2. DESCRIPTION OF OBJECTS
Purpose: Advertise a product, user’s manual, stolen goods to a friend
etc.
* Topic sentence
* External features/ look/ Colour/ design/ texture/ material
* Finer internal details- machinery, special benefits etc.
* How it is used.
EXAMPLE
NON STICK COOKWARE
Non stick cookware is made with a patented process by which the high quality
nonstick coating is affixed on to a hard anodized surface, which makes it most
durable. It comes in many useful shapes and sizes to suit your different cooking
needs. All are made from heavy gauge, pure virgin aluminum for fast and even heat
93
conduction. The pans are well balanced with sturdy, stay cool handles. The bottom
and outer sides ae hard anodized to give you a surface that will not tarnish, pit or
corrode and will stay looking new for years.
DESCRIPTION OFA PROCESS
Purpose : Scientific experiments, recipes; natural phenomena etc.
 Aim/purpose
 Stepwise details connected with appropriate sentence linkers.
 Introduce variety of verbs, both in active and passive voice, to mark different
stages in the process.
1. HOW TO OPEN A SAVING BANK ACCOUNT
First thing to do is to choose a bank which is in your campus or nearby and

get the saving account form, the form has to be filled neatly. You will need 3
passport size photos. So keep them ready. The form has to be introduced by
somebody who has an account in the bank. You can take help of one of your
teacher or a person from your locality. This signature and all your details will
be checked by bank people and then they will ask to deposit Rs. 500 to open
the account. You can go after two or three days and get your pass book and
cheque book. From then on, you can keep all your money in your bank
account.
2. ADMISSION PROCESS IN SCHOOLS
In Delhi the system of admission in various schools for KG classes is by lottery

or by screening through interviews. Advertisements start appearing in various
newspapers from November onwards for the availability of registration forms.
The age requirement is generally mentioned; some schools take children of 4 yrs
and above for KG classes while other accept children of 5 yrs and above for
class 1.
94
Schools have different process: some require the forms to be taken and filled
then and there itself while other give enough time to fill the details and submit
them proof of residence, birth certificate, photos of child are some of the
important documents required.
In metropolitan cities because of long distances, transportation is a great

problem. So many schools cater to areas within 10 Km. radius only, or many
screen in applications according to area mentioned. The child along with the
parents in then called for interview. General awareness, muscle control of hands,
confidence and ability to communicate are some of the qualities observed.
Selected candidates are then informed, either by post or told to check at the
school notice board.
This kind of composition can be handled in three styles depending on the

requirement of the question.
1). First Person narration: - If the question asks, “Describe how you prepared
a cup of tea,” first person narration will be required, style- casual and
language simple and clear intelligible.
2). As instruction: If the question asks for the description of a recipe or an
experiment, a direct style will be required, e.g. “Measure four cups of water
in a pan---“. The sentence will be relatively short.
3). In passive voice: If the question asks how tea is made, the process is
described in passive voice, e.g. “Four cups of water are measured in a pan--“
QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE
1. Your school has celebrated library week. As the Head/Boy Head girl
of your school, write a report on it to be published in your school
news letter.
2. During the kargil conflict the arts club of your colony had organized
various cultured activities to collect funds for the victims’ families.
As the secretary of the club. Write a report for your “Daily
Samachar “ about these activities and how you utilized the funds
collected.
95
3. Your school has added a new spacious and well stocked library to its
possession. Write a brief, factual description of it for the “This year’s
Addition “Column of your school bulletin.
4. Jagat’s father tells him the correct way of preparing for competition.
Write the instructions- and directions for him.
Hints:-
 Look out for ads.
 Get admission forms, prospectus by post.
 Study systematically.
 Don’t just read, practice a lot.
 Increase speed, concentration, accuracy.
5. Your clubs wants to stage a play during the school annual function.
Your teacher explains the process of staging a play to your class
mates. Write the process on behalf of her.
6. Write a report on “Price Hike of Essential Commodities” in about
125 words. (Factual description)
7. You have attended a meeting where in a number of people spoke
about the “increasing crime rate” in India. You are Pravesh/Parvati,
a reporter from “The Indian Express” Delhi.Write a report to be
published in about 100- 125 words expressing your views and
suggestions.
8. You are Rajan/Leela. As a responsible citizen you have organized a
campaign on “Say no to Polythene Bags” in your locality. Write a
report for publication in your school magazine.
9. Radha’s younger brother is going to take his Board Exam. He wants
to know how examination in written paper is held. Radha decides to
explain the process to him. Write the process description.
10. Write a brief description in about 125 words about your physics
laboratory.
Q.No. - 5.
LETTERS
Word Limit - 150 Words
96
Time available - 15 Minutes
Marks allotted - 10 Marks
Distribution of marks - Format - 2 Marks
Content - 4 Marks
TYPES
1. Personal letter
2. Business letter
3. Official letter
4. Letter to editors
5. Application for jobs.
Personal letters are informal letter written to Friends, Relatives and known persons.
As per our syllabus we have to study the following categories.
 Business or Official letter

 Letter to Editors
 Application for jobs.
BUSINESS OR OFFICIAL LETTERS (FORMAL)
Under this heading we study the following types of letters.
1. Letter for making enquiries, asking for and giving information.

2. Letters of complaints
3. Letters of placing orders & sending replies
4. Letter for making requests.
5. Miscellaneous business or official letter.
A GENERAL FORMAT OF BUSINESS/OFFICIAL LETTERS
1. Sender’s Address 1. Delhi Public Library

Shyama Prasad Mrkh-
&
Marg
Date
Delhi-110006.
2nd March, 2009

97
2. Addressee‘s 2. The Sales Manager

Address M/s Jiwan Publishing
House(P)Ltd. 24,
Ansari Road, Daryaganj
New Delhi-110002
Salutation 3. Sir/Madam
3.
4. Subject 4. Sub: Order for Books
5. It would be much obliged

5. Content
on your part if you could
kindly send me the following
books by VPP. These are
urgently required.
- ------------
- -- - - - - - - - - - -
- ------------
SUBSCRIPTION 6. Thanking you
7. Yours faithfully
SIGNATORY
Sd/
(Harish Kumar)
Chief Librarian
98
Enclosures
(if any)
REMEMBER
For salutation
For a friend : Dear Ashok/My dear Ashok
For a relative : Respected
For others : Dear-----
For strangers : Mr. Mittal
For official authorities : Sir/Madam
For business Letters : Dear Mr……./Mrs……..
For complimentary
close
For principal/Teachers : Yours obediently
For official, Business,

Editors,Unknown persons : Yours faithfully
For a friend : Yours sincerely, yours ever
For a relative : Yours affectionately

99
For acquaintances/
stranger : Yours truly
SOME USEFUL HINTS
1. Letters to the officials:
a. Reveal your identity

b. Write your purpose directly
c. Request for action/compliance etc.
2. Letters to the Editor:

a. Draw the attention (raise the issue)
b. Problem & its effect
c. Suggestion if any
3. Business letters:
a. Quoting reference number if any

b. Purpose/complaint/argument, etc.
c. Polite tone.
Don’t Forget
1. Sender’s address should be on the top left hand corner without any
punctuation marks.
100
2 Date can be written in the following way

1st March, 2008
March 1, 2008
3. The subject of the letter should not exceed 6 words. It should be the gist of
the entire letter.
4. Salutation in formal letter, the word “Dear” should not be used. Salutation
can be
Sir/Madam
5. The body of the letter should be in 3 or 4 Paragraphs. The language/words
used be simple. Be brief and to the point. Paragraphs should be linked to
each other with all necessary details.
6. There should be no apostrophe in “Yours” and “Y” should be capital and “f”
in “faithfully” should be small.
7. In case of enclosures, it should be written below the name [ subscription] as
“Encl.”.
8. If the content of the letter is totally irrelevant to the question asked, Zero will
be awarded even if the format is correct.
9. In the case of letter of complaint, the model number, date of purchased and
the nature of defect should be mentioned clearly.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
MAIN POINT
1. Must be lucid, to the print and precise.

2. Mention the problem-personal/social issues
3. Explain its intensity
4. How the problem affected people.
5. Why should the problem be solved at the earliest
6. Your suggestion.
101
Solved
1. Write a letter to the Editor of a newspaper about the commercial use of

residential premises in your city.
A-30, Rathore Enclave

Vikaspuri
New Delhi
2nd March 2008
The Editor
The Modern Times
New Delhi
Sub: Commercial use of residential premises in the colony

Sir
This is to bring to the notice of the concerned authorities that unrestricted
construction of shops and godowns is going on in the entire greater Kailash
are of the city. The basements are being converted into offices and the
ground floors are being renovated to become shops and markets. Very soon
the colony will go the way of Lajpat Nagar and face traffic sharks and noise
pollution. Already the security and peaceful living of the residents of the
colony is under threat from continuous inflow of unknown people.
The entire change of scenario is being done by a few unscrupulous
land owners with the active connivance of the building authorities. It seems
the laws have become redundant and are being violated with great regularity.
I expect the concerned authorities to take head of the matter
immediately before it becomes too late.
Yours faithfully
Sd/
(MAMTA JAIN)
Unsolved exercise
102
1. Write a letter to the Editor, The Times of India, Mumbai expressing your
views on how the standard of performance in sports can be improved in
India.
2. Write a letter to the Editor, The Hindustan Times Delhi giving your views
on frequent breakdown of electricity in your locality.
3. You are Ramesh/Reema of 20, Sarvodaya, Lucknow. Write a letter to the
Editor, Nagrik Times to draw the attention of traffic police Department to
the lawlessness among bus drivers and conductors.
LETTER OF COMPLAINT
MAIN POINTS
1. Reference to the receipt no. date of purchase, details of the items.

2. Nature of the problem
3. Reference to warranty
4. Request for repair/replacement at the earliest.
1. You are Anjan Sen/Anita Sen staying at 11, Subash Park, Allahabad. Last
month you got an inverter installed at your house through ”Small World” of
Lajpat Nagar, Allahabad. Now you find that the inverter is not working and
the local electrician who examined it at your request found some technical
defect. Write a letter to the dealer asking him to replace it immediately under
the terms and conditions of the deal.
Sol.
M, Subhash Park
Allahabad
March 4, 2008
103
The Dealer
M/S Small World
Lajpat Nagar
Allahabad
Sub: Defective inverter - regarding
Sir
On 12th February 2008, I got an inverter of “Electro-Com” make, model no

26 T 5 installed through your shop.
The first time the electricity went it took over but the very next day it refused
to function. The electricity who came to repair it cold that the inverter has
some technical defect and must be replaced.
I am sorry to say that after having spent so much of money, I am not

able to avail of the facility Kindly replace it immediately according to the
terms and conditions of the deal.
Hoping for early action
Yours sincerely
Sd—
(ANITA SEN)
1. You are Radha/Anil of 162, Kakataya Nagar, Hyderabad. Last week you
bought an automatic washing machine VIP from “Modern gadgets”
104
Nampalli, Hyderabad. Now you find that the machine is not cleaning well
and making an unbearable noise.
Write a letter to the dealer complaining about the same and requesting him to
change the washing machine at the earliest.
2. Write a letter to the commissioner of police requesting him for a ban on the
misuse of loudspeakers in your locality as it causes nuisance and
disturbance.
LETTER MAKING ENQUIRIES
1. Reference to the advertisement

2. Express interest in joining the course
3. Mention the information sought.
4. Reference to the enclosures of a self-addressed envelop and a bank draft.
1. You are Akshaya/Kajol of 123, Parade Ground Road, Secunderabad. You are
interested in doing short term course in computer programming during your
summer vacation. Write a letter to the Director, Computer World, Powar,
Mumbai, inquiring about the duration of such a course and the terms and
conditions for admission.
123, Parade Ground Road

Secunderabad
20th March 2008
105
The Director
Computer World
Powai(Mumbai).
Sub : Seeking information about computer course.
Sir
With reference to your advertisement in the Times of India offering short term
courses in computer programming I went to know certain details about the
same.
I have recently passed my XII examination in the humanities stream. I have a

very basic knowledge of computers and want to learn programming in my free time.
I want to know if I am eligible for the course which your institute is offering. Also
let me know about the duration of the course, fee structure and mode of payment.
Since I’m free in the evening only, can join an evening course, if you have one ?
Let me know all these details at the earliest so that I can decide accordingly
Thanking you
Yours sincerely
Sd—
(KAJOL)

106
1. You are Aman/Aarti of 119, Church Road, Kanpur. You are interested in
doing a short term course in Public Speeking for your personality enrichment
during your summer vacation. Write a letter to the Director, personal centre
Sector 22, Chandigarh, inquiring about the duration of such a course and the
terms and conditions for admission.
2. Your cousin Priyanka is just completing X Standard and had sought your
advice to opt for science orcommerce group. Write a letter giving guidance
to select the group in standard.
PLACING ORDERS AND SENDING REPLIES
MAIN POINTS
1. Reference to subject mentioned

2. Kind of order, details thereof (brand, size number, cost etc.)
3. Mode of payment.
4. Deadline for delivery of goods.
1. You are Mr. N. Madan, the manager of Hotel Akbar International,

Jaipur. You want to place an order for seeds and plants with Dilkhush
Nurseries, Jaipur. Write a letter of order.
The Manager
Hotel Akbar International
Jaipur
2nd March 2008
The Proprietor
107
Dilkhus Nurseries
Jaipur
Sir
Ref- Talk with your sales Representative regarding purchase of seeds,

plants and cut flowers.
Sub :- Placing order for seeds & Plants.
The hotel management is glad at the interest shown by your sales

Representative in negotiating the deal of supplying various flowers and
vegetable seeds to our hotel on a regular basis. We hereby place an order for
(1) seeds of seasonal vegetables (2) Seeds of exotic flowers (3) Indoor and
outdoor plants (4) cut flowers. (The details of each can be had from our
office-horticulture in-charge)
We believe that you are a reputed company dealing in many important and
exotic plants and your supply will be timely and of consistently good quality.
The payment shall be made on the last day of every month.
Thanking you
Yours Sincerely
Sd/
(N.Madan)
2. You placed an order with M/s Kanchan Hosiery Words, Railway Road,
Ludhiana for the supply of Sweaters, jerseys and other hosiery goods. The
peak season for the sale of hosiery goods is going to be soon over. But they
have delayed the execution of the order. Write a letter to them cancelling the
order.
108
M/s Tirupati Readymade Garments

Sec-6. Central Market
Dwarka, Near Delhi
1100067
16th February 2008
M/s Kanchan Hosiery Works

Railway Road
Ludhiana
Sir
Sub: Cancellation of the order no KNW/238 dated Jan 30, 2008
We placed an order with you on 30 Jan, 2008 for the supply of sweaters,
jerseys and other hosiery goods. We requested for the urgent supply. But we
regret to inform you that we have not yet received consignment till date. All
our requests and reminders in this connection have gone unheaded. You have
neither sent the goods nor have you accounted for this under delay. In this
way you have put us to a great inconvenience.
As it is peak season for the sale of hosiery goods, our customers are
returning away. This has affected our reputation a let. In these circumstances,
we have arranged for the goods from some other company.
You are therefore, requested to treat our order as cancelled. However, if you
premise to dispatch the goods in time in future, we may resume placing
orders.
Thanking you
Yours faithfully
Sd
(KRISHAN PAL)
PROPRIETOR
109
1. The Principal of Kendriya Vikyalaya No-5 Jaipur asks the Head of the
Music Department Mr. Mohammad Salim to place an order for buying
musical instrument with Jhankar Music Shop, Jaipur. Write the letter.
2. Ramona Jayadev of 6, Napean Road, Mumbai is a busy career women
having very little time for shopping. She orders from the Worlingoons
Home Shopping catalogue offer seeing their ad in the paper. Write the
letter.
APPLICATION FOR JOB
MAIN POINTS
 Source of information
 Request for job
 Bio-data
 Enclosures
COACHING INSTITUTE AT PITAMPUR

Advertisement-
Requires Part-Time Tutors for
primary/middle classes. Graduates/under
graduates with excellent academic record
can apply. Write to
Career Point, A-50, Pushp Enclave

Q. Sameer narang sees the above ad.New
In the “Morning News” and decides to apply
Delhi.
for the job. His address is 16, Jawahar Nagar, New Delhi.
Sol.
16, Jawahar Nagar

New Delhi.
17 Feb 2008
110
Career Point
A-50
Pushp Enclave,
New Delhi.
Sir
Sub: Application for the post of Tutors.
This refers to your advertisement published in the “Morning News” dated 13th
February,2003, I wish to submit my application for the post of tutor for primany
classes. I am doing my graduation B.Sc. and have taught primany school children
earlier also. I hope my interest in teaching and previous experience of the same will
hold me in good stead for the job. I would be happy to hear from you. I enclose
herewith my complete bio-data.
Thanking you
your faithfully
Sd
(Sameer Narang)
Bio-Data
1. Name : SAMEER NARANG

2. Father’s Name : Sh. A.K.NARANG
3. Mother’s Name : Mrs. NALINI NARANG
4. Date of Birth : 8th JUNE, 1988
5. Permanent Address : A-50 KAROL BAGH, DELHI
6. Postal Address : SHANTI TUTORIALS
G.T.ROAD, NEW DELHI
111
7. Qualification:
School level - X-65%, XII- 72%
College level - B.Sc. I year 68%
8. Professional Qualification : Computer knowledge
9. Experience : Taught tution to class IX and V
Children for two yrs.
10. Salary Expected : Rs. 10 / day (approx.)
11. Reference : a. Dr. Anik Sharma(BDK Hospital)
b. Dr. Rajesh Verma(BDK Hospital)
1. Ad.
JFC Finance requires female
receptionist, young, pleasant
personality,Apply withfull
particular to – Manager, S-
308,advertisement
Q.Monika Sah sees the above Dhaka chamber, Kolkata.
in Career Times and decides to apply
for the same. Her address is 6-Ganga Devi Market, Kolkata.
Lab attendant required for a Senior

2. Ad.
Secondary School. Applicant must
be Secondary pass. Apply to the
Chairman, Annie Sr.Sec. School,
Manipur.
Q.Kavita Nath of 9/8 Downer Street Sees this ad in the paper and decides to apply.
Write the application.
3. Ad. Required Boys/girls for “Have

all”department store. Young, active
and polite people preferred. Write to
manager, have all Departmental store.
112
Q.Sameena sees this advertisement published in the “Local News” Aurangabad. She
decides to apply. Her address is 38, Stadium Area, Aurangabad.
Advanced Exercises
1. The problem of corruption is increasing in India with a rise in consumerism

and inflation. Mr. S.K. Singh, a lecturer in Physics. Writes a letter to the
editor of “Our India” expressing this views on the steady decline in moral
values of Indians. His address in save India Forum, Patna.
2. Repeated strike of doctors leaves patients at the mercy of god. Mr. kaushal
who had a bitter experience recently when he fell sick and had to be admitted
to a hospital writes a letter to the Editor of “The patriot” narrating his tale of
woe and generating public opinion on “Why shouldn’t essential services be
banned from going on strike ?”.
3. Indian international public school, Kanpur, a privately run school has
increased fees twice in one session much to the inconvenience of the parents.
The parents write a letter to the school authorities through the Chairman,
parents Teachers Association, complaining about the un-proportionate like
and requesting them to reconsider their decision.
4. Sagar Chauhan writes a letter of complaint to the director, Telephone Nigam
because his phone has been out of order for several weeks and not been
attended even after several reminders, His address is 21/6 H Scheme Gomti
Nagar, Lucknow. Write his letter.
5. This summer vacation you are planning to visit shimla. Write a letter to
travel agency in shimla requesting them to book you a room in a five star
hotel. Give other detail of your journey and facilities you require there. Sign
your name as Leela/Mohan , c/5 Assam.
6. Ad.
SCHOLARSHIPS
April 30 : Inlaks Scholarships
Applications from graduates for scholarship by

Inlaks Foundation for projects or studies in any
subject in UK & USA. Contact : - Inlaks
Foundation, P.O.Box No. 2108 New Delhi.
113
Manisha is a very brilliant student who has completed B.Sc. Chemistry

Honors from Delhi University. Her friend shows her this newspaper cutting.
She enquires from them (in the form of a letter) more details about the
scheme. Her address is 63, Press Enclave N.D. write her letter.
7. Madhumita Rai of Nehru colony, Delhi is interested in taking up a career in
acting. She decides to send her resume to CINEVISTA FILMS,P.O. Street,
Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi. Write her letter.
8. You are Vinesh Jain of 27-G/Raja Mandi Agra. Write a letter to the president
of your Municipal committee drawing his attention to the problem.
9. Write a letter to the Editor of the Indian Express, New Delhi complaining
about the frequent break down in the supply of electricity in your locality.
10. You are Apoorva/Arpita. You bought a Mixie from Ganesh Electronics &
Electricals, Gandhi Marg, Nagpur. It does not function properly. Write a
letter to the Sales Manager of the shop complaining about the defect and
asking for immediate replacement or repair as necessary.
ARTICLE WRITING
Output may be descriptive or argumentative in nature. It could also be a speech, an

article for publications in a newspaper or a school magazine or an essay.
Word Limit - 150 -200 words
Marks allotted - 10 marks
Time available - 20 minutes
DISTRIBUTION OF MARKS
Format - 1 mark
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Content - 4 marks
Expression - 5 marks
Value Points
1. Organise your ideas on the subject concerned.

2. Add sub points to the main points
3. Draft or create from your own experience.
4. Substantiate your argument if you are writing on a debatable topic.
5. Transcode & incorporate diagrammatic information into your comnposition.
6. An argumentative composition generally contains
- Introduction to the issue.
- Causes/reasons of its occurrence.
- Facts and data related to the issue
- The outcome /results of it.
- Suggestions/ measures to improve the situation.
ARTICLE FOR A NEWSPAPER
It may express opinion on current affairs, national and international issues, social
matter, student related affairs. It explores and analyses the given subjects and draws
conclusions.
Format:
a. Heading
b. Three or four groups
c. Name of the writer.
Content:
a. Property structured
b. Opening paragraph should be introductory in nature.
c. Second para should contain the main discussion.
d. The last paragraph should include conclusion.
Expression :
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a. Grammatical accuracy, appropriate words and spelling

b. Coherence and relevance of ideas and style.
To enforce strict discipline in school and colleges is a great problem now a days. As
Mohan/Mohini Writes an article for the Hindustan Times Delhi. About the problems
and your views on punishment as a corrective measure.
DISCIPLINE
By Mohan
1. Discipline is a means of keeping things in order. It is absolutely to the

growth and development of an individual and health society. It is
indispensable for everyone in all spheres of life, i.e. at home, school,
playground, society, army, public life and everywhere.
It must be inculcated early in life. Student’s life is the seed time of life,
hence, the value of discipline in academic life can not be understands. the
value of discipline in the political ,social and a notion of discipline people
can size to the limits of the sky.
Earlier corporal punishment was awarded at school to bring an erring scholar

to the right track."Space the road and spoil the child" is not the maximum
now. Proper counseling and guidance.
By parents and teachers can help the students to maintain the discipline.
Punishment physical and financial cannot be a punitive way to reform the
students.
2. You are very much concerned about the wastage of money and manpower
due to the frequent election in your country. Write an article on the urgent
need to have a suitable Government.
ELECTION EVERY YEAR__WHO PAYS ?

By Somia.
This is a question which every sensible and thinking India is asking these
days who is paying for these repeated Elections? Of course, the people of
media. It’s the taxpaying money which is being spent, rather wasted on
unnecessary election expenditure. It seems bringing governments down and
announcing elections every now and then, has become a favourite pastime of
politicians.
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For months nothing happens in offices due to canvassing and discussion of

the politics.
Days are given off during election time, all machinery is employed in
conducting election and development of the country comes to a standstill.
Every new government inducts a mammoth ministry, announces several
populist policies at the cost of development and improvement of country’s
economy.
I think the citizens of India are also partly to be blamed. It is they who do not
give a clear mandate to the country. Coalition government only increases the
chances of buying and selling of ministers, encourage corruption and
instability. It is high time our citizens learn to elect honest, deserving
candidates who can give a clean, stable, five year government and take the
country into a new era.
3. Shatanu jain a student of G.V.A.Public School feels highly worried when

he wonders what he will do after 'his class XII exams. He writes an article for
a newspaper on "Education of today- How Relevant"?
ARTICLE FOR SCHOOL MAGAZINE
Format:-
a) Heading
b) Three or Four Paragraphs
c) Name, Class and Section of the writer
Content:- organize into introduction, main subject and conclusion as always in
essay like composition. Language & style should match the subject. Style may be
serious or light even humorous if the subject permits.
Ques:- You have organized a “Drug Addiction Rally” in your school in collaboration
with Lions Club. Write an article in about 150-200 word for your school magazine.
DRUG ADDITION
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By Radha.
Scientific and technological advancement has enabled man to attain many things
which were considered impossible in the past. Man is bringing joys as well as
sorrows for mankind. He invented many drugs which could treat and save us from
many horrible, deadly diseases. But becoming an addict to drugs and narcotics is to
fall into the death trap.
Most of the students start taking drugs as a matter of fashion or out of a craze
for experiment. They want to reach the dreamland of their imagination under the
intoxication of drugs. But once they become addict, they cannot stop their use.
Most of those who start taking drugs are socially maladjusted people. Some
people think that occasional use of drugs will not make them addicts but they end up
as habitual drug takers. Some students who do not come up to the expectations of
their parents, feel small and start taking drugs. Let us take a pledge to delight their
evil of drug addiction with truth and nail.
The sale of drugs in the open market should be banned. The government
should use all the advertising media to educate the people about the harmful offer of
intoxication drugs.
2. You are Malika/Manju of class XII. Write an article in 150-200 words for your
school magazine on “ Aping of western culture by younger generation. “
APING OF WESTERN CULTURE BY YOUNGER GENERATION.
By Malika/Manju
We are living is an age of globalization and liberalization. The industrial culture

which dominates the culture of the civilized world is materialistic by nature. Our
youth are bound to be affected by it. They cannot afford to live in isolation. The
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western culture is reflected in the attitudes of the people especially the younger
generation. The glamour of big cities attracts than to visit beer-clubs, pubs and late
night shows. Very easily in life, they exposed to too much violence and sex through
cinema, television or internet.
India, the birth place of RISHIS, MUNIS, and God has always been a source
of spiritual solace for the world. People from other countries especially from
England, America & Canada came to India to find peace of mind. But our modern
youths are hankering offer the western civilization and fashion like mad people.
They have no regard, no respect for our age long culture, customs and traditions. To
them these things have become old-fashioned and outdated.
Our youths have forgotten the real purpose of life. In their clothes they
cannot be distinguished whether he is a boy or a girl. They have no corner for
sympathy for poor parents and others. But the fault lies not with them but with us.
Our poverty, large scale prevalent corruption, communal tension and religious
fanaticism have led our youths to drift to western cultures.
SPEECH
It consists of the words spoken by a person to a gathering.
The “address”, the language and style are determined by the occasion and
audience.
As a concerned resident you are worried about the harmful effects of insanity
conditions in your truth. Write a short speech on the necessity of sanitation to
be given at the morning assembly time in your school.
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CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS
By Kishor Kala.
Hon’ble Principal, Judges, Teachers and my dear friends
I wanted like to draw your kind attention to the insanitary conditions that
prevail in our town. We throw our waste and garbage just outside the house. Huge
garbage dumps are formed, outside. These dumps attract mosquitoes, flies, pigs and
stray cows. This is a real ground for transmission of diseases. There are shallow
ponds infested with mosquitoes. This breeding ground of mosquitoes further adds to
the spread of deadly diseases like malaria, meningitis dengue etc. There is no
cleaning operation to remove all this garbage. The authorities seem to be indifferent
and least concerned to the plight of citizens.
The irony is that even the city hospital is not spread. All the waste from the
hospital is thrown just outside the gate which creates awful hygienic condition.
Basic civic amenities are not looked by the municipalities and the basic needs not
fulfilled. Insanitary conditions are appalling and incidents of deaths due to disease
are high. There is no sense of cleanliness among citizen.
There is a need to create awareness about the ill-effects of bad hygiene. The
non-governmental agencies should help to educate the ordinary citizens by arranging
one day programmes. We can also create this awareness by educating the people
living in slums near our schools and helping them to take up preventive measures.
The government should help by making an effort to fulfill the basic needs of food,
clothing and shelter for all citizens.
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1. You are Vinod/Vimla. You are worried about the hike in the prices of
essential commodities like gas, pulses vegetables etc. Write an article on this
in about 200 words for publication is a local daily, suggesting certain steps to
curb price hike.
2. You are Malik/Manju. You have interviewed many school students and their
parents regarding the hectic schedule of academic coaching that the students
undergo in different coaching centers. You are much concerned about the
neglect of the training is sports & Arts for the students. Write an article to be
published in a magazine on this issue.
3. You are Vaishali/Vinod. This year your school arranged a special cultural
programme on the theme ‘services and sacrifice’ in commemoration of the
International year of volunteers. Write an article about this cultural
programme for year school magazine.
4. You have just come back from a factory which employs children and have
witnessed the awful conditions of their workplace. Write an article
advocating a total ban on child labour which is to be published in the Times
of India.
5. You believe that India vast cultural diversity, multi-nationalism, regional

variations and contributions are enriching and contribute positively not only
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to the nation but at the international front also. Write an article on “India-her
Glorious Past and Golden Future” in about 200 words.
6. Aruna is the cultural secreting of her school. She has been asked to present a
brief report on the co-curricular activities of the school for the Annual Day.
Write an article for your school magazine in about 200 words.
SECTION-C
LITERATURE/TEXT BOOKS
FLAMINGO- (POETRY)- 10 MARKS
Q.No-7(a). One out of two extracts based on poetry from the text to text
comprehension and appriciation. 4 Marks
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Q.No-7(b). Three out of four short questions from the poetry section to test local
and global comprehension of text. 3x2=6 Marks
Content - 1 Mark
Expression - 1 Mark
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My Mother at Sixty-six
Kamala das
Gist of the poem:
The poet is on her way to the Cochin airport, after having visited
her ancestral house. She is accompanied by her aged mother. She
looked at her mother sitting by her side. The mother, advanced in
age, was dozing and seemed pale like a corpse. She was possessed by
fear and pain, but she managed to divert her mind by looking out of
the window of the vehicle. Outside the window, the trees by the road
side, seemed to be racing in the opposite direction. She also saw
happy children rushing out of their homes. Reaching the airport, the
poet was standing a little distance away from her mother. She looked
at her mother’s face again. She seemed as pale as a late winter
moon. The poet felt an ache, a fear, which, for the first time, she had
felt back in her childhood. She became speechless. She could only
manage to say “see you soon Amma” and she forced herself to smile.
Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow:
I. “Driving from my parent’s home to Cochin last Friday
Morning, I saw my mother……..
Put that thought away, and Looked out at young
Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling
Out of their homes,”

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1. What did the poet see?

2. What is the mother’s face compared to and why?
3. Why does the poet look out at the sprinting trees and the
merry children spilling out of their homes?
4. Identify and elaborate the figure of speech.
5. Why are the trees spoken of to be sprinting?
Answers:
1. The poet noticed her mother sitting beside her, dozing open-
mouthed, her face pale like that of a corpse.
2. The pale face of the mother is compared to that of a corpse,
dull and lifeless.
3. The poet is filled with pain, looking at the ashen face of her
mother. To distract her mind from these deadly thoughts, she
looks out at the sprinting trees and the merry children spilling
out of their homes.
4. The figure of speech is simile. The ashen face of the mother is
compared to a corpse.
5. Looking out of the window of the moving car, the poet
experiences a visual illusion. The trees seem to her to be racing
back
II. “after the airport’s

security check,
standing a few yards
away, I looked again at………….
………………..smile.”
1. What is the mother’s face compared to?

2. What is the poet’s childhood fear?
3. What is the ‘familiar ache’ the poet refers to?
4. Why does the poet smile?
Answers:
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1. The face of the poet’s mother looked wan and pale. It looked
dull like a late winter moon.
2. The childhood fear which the poet refers to is the fear of being
distanced from the companionship of the mother.
3. The ‘familiar ache’ is the poet’s childhood fear of being
separated from her mother. This ache now haunts her in
another way. The current fear is that the mother is very old
and that she is inching closer to death.
4. The ‘childhood fear’ threw the poet into disillusion. She tries to
compensate her wan mood by flashing a deliberate smile.
III. Short answer type questions: (30-40 words)
1. What did the poet do to recover from the death thoughts about
her mother?
2. How is death contrasted with life in the poem?
3. What is the ‘childhood fear’ which the poet speaks of?
4. How do you explain the ‘smile’ on the lips of the poet when she
waits at the airport?
Answers:
1. The wan and pale expression on the face of the her mother,
floods her mind with thoughts of her impending death. She
succeeds the necessity of switching her mind, by looking out of
the window of the car. Outside the car, she sees the trees
racing back in a direction opposite to the movement of the car.
2. The poet indirectly introduces symbols to contrast life with
death. The pale and corpse-like appearance of the mother is
analogous with death. On the contrary, life is demonstrated by
the introduction of the racing trees and the merry children
spilling out of their homes.
3. When she was a girl, the poet too had the customary fear of
being separated from her mother through marriage or through
other circumstances. This is a subconscious fear which lurks
within and haunts her without warning.
4. Thoughts of having to bade good bye to her aged mother,
throws the poet into inhibition. She finds it difficult to
accomplish the formalities associated with parting. Instinct
tells her it is probably that last time she sees her mother alive.
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She tries to compensate her incapacity and depression, by

flashing a deliberate smile on her lips.
IV. Extra Questions: Unsolved
1. What were the poet’s feelings at the airport? How did she hide
them?
2. The poem talks of a commonplace experience which has deep
significance. Comment.
An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum

-Stephen spender
Gist of the poem:
The poet pictures an elementary school classroom located within a

slum. The school is located in a slum notorious for unhygienic
atmospheric conditions. The children in the school are visibly poor
and dirty. Their carelessly attended faces resemble rootless weeds.
Their faces are gloomy. The poet picks out some individual children.
He sees a tall girl, whose head is drooping down. A thin boy, with
narrow eyes, resembling that of a rat, is reading aloud his lesson.
The skeletal boy has inherited a juvenile disease from his parent. At
the back of the class, the poet spots a sweet child, lost in dream. The
poet imagines that the dream is probably about a squirrel which
leads a carefree life within a tree-hole. The slum is a far cry from the
habitat of the squirrel. On the pale walls of the classroom are
displayed donated pictures which are a stark contrast to the slum.
The pictures are of different themes- Shakespeare’s head, a cloudless
sky at dawn, a gigantic dome and green, flowery valleys. There is also
a map, which is a profitless reminder to the inhabitants of the slum
that it is their world. The windows of the classroom are not
opportunities which open their lives to betterment. They are vague
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and expose only a narrow street within their slum, lying beneath a
nondescript sky. The slum lies far away from places of natural
beauty, like rivers and mountains. It is also out of reach for men like
politicians, who propose empty promises. Shakespeare, maps, ships
and sun are only temporary visual means of escape for these
children. They live within holes where the darkness of the night is
replaced by the darkness caused by fog. The children are skinny and
their skin expose their bones. Some of them wear crude, poorly
mended spectacles. They spend their maximum time in an
atmosphere of gloom. Only people like governor, teacher, inspector
or visitor can give them a relief from this ordeal. Without help, the
maps would not seem to them to be windows of opportunity. On the
contrary, they would only be tombs of loss of hope. The poet exhorts
us to break their shackles. He wants us to lead them to green fields,
set their foot on golden sands and open to them the world of books.
He concludes that history belongs to them, who live in the light and
not in darkness.
Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow:
I. “Far far from gusty waves these children’s faces.
Like rootless weeds, the hair torn around their pallor……
……………………other than this.”
1. How do the faces of the children look like?
2. How does the poet describe the tall girl?
3. Explain: ‘paper seeming boy with rat’s eyes’.

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Answers:
1.The faces of the children are dull and emaciated like rootless
weeds.
2. The tall girl has her head drooped down. Probably she is so
malnourished that she can’t hold her head upright. She is also
bowed down by the burden of responsibility.
3. The undernourished boy is thin as paper and has inane, narrow

eyes like that of a rat. His hungry eyes are greedily searching for
food.
II. “Unless governor, inspector, visitor,
This map becomes their window and these windows…..
……………………….history theirs whose language is the sun.”
1. What does the poet want the influential people to do?
2. Where does the poet want the children to be taken to?
3. What is the underlying message of the poem?
4. Explain: ‘history theirs whose language is the sun’.
Answers:
1. The poet wants the powerful people to release these children

from their vicious circle and expose them to the beautiful world of
opportunities which lie outside.
2. The poet wants that these children should be rehabilitated.

They should be accommodated in clean and healthy atmosphere.
They should be allowed to drink deep in the fountain of education.
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3. The poet is grieved at the gross injustice meted out to the slum
children. He expects the government and the society to give them
their due rights.
4. The poet concludes that only people with optimism and

perseverance will get etched in the annals of history. The sun stands
for optimism and perseverance.
III. Exercise: (unsolved)
“On sour cream walls, donations. Shakespeare’s head
Cloudless at dawn, civilized dome riding all cities…
A narrow street sealed in with a lead sky
Far far from rivers, capes, and stars of words.”
1. What are the things that the poet sees in the school
classroom in a slum? Where did they get them from?
2. What is the contrast between the classroom in a slum
and the donations in the room?
3. Briefly describe the plight of the slum children.
IV. “Surely, Shakespeare is wicked, the map a bad example,

With ships and sun and love tempting them to steal……”
1. Why is Shakespeare wicked and the map a bad example?

2. Comment on the description of the slum children by the
poet. What is his attitude towards these children?
V. Short answer type questions: (30-40 words)
1. Why is Shakespeare wicked and the map a bad example?

Shakespeare is a symbol of knowledge and the map is a
symbol of material progress. These are wicked because
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the slum children do not have access to both due to their

impoverished conditions.
2. What does the poet wish for the children of the slum?
The poet wishes that the slum children should be
removed from their world of inhibition and exposed to
fresh lands and better pastures. Social justice should be
meted out to them and education be made universal.
VI. Extra questions: (unsolved)
1. Give a brief description of the children in an elementary

classroom in a slum.
2. What is the dichotomy between the life of the slum
children and the world shown in the maps?
3. What does the poet wish to be done for the slum
children?
Keeping Quiet
-Pablo neruda
Gist of the poem:
In the opening lines of the poem, the poet exhorts all to keep still, for
a brief while. He asks us to cease all activity, at least for a time
period taken to count one to twelve. For the first time on the face of
the earth, no language should be spoken and even our arms should
not be moved. It would be an enchanting moment, without hurry and
animation, when all of us would experience a strange togetherness.
This static state should have impact around the world. Fishermen in
the deep waters, would not kill whales. The men gathering salt, will
get time to look at their miserable hands. Laborers, who toil in
hazardous industries, will wear clean dress and walk in the shade.
The poet clarifies that this silence should not be confused with
inactivity. He is all for life and not for death. He proposes only to stop
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our restless instinct for movement. If we sit still, perhaps a powerful

silence would prevail over us. It would provide us a relief from the
sadness of not knowing anything about us at all and our constant
companionship with death. In this regard, our earth can teach us a
valuable lesson. At night, a death-like stillness prevails over the
earth. However, it springs back to life by morning. The poet
concludes that it is time for him to go, but we should continue to be
still for a little while more.
I. “Now we will count to twelve

And we will all keep still…….
And not move our arms so much.”
1. Why does the poet want us to keep quiet?

2. How long does the poet exhort us to be silent?
3. What is the poet’s opinion of normal people?
Answers:
1. The poet wants us to keep quiet so that we can do a self

analysis.
2. The poet wishes that we become still only for a brief
time-only time taken to count one to twelve.
3. According to the poet, a temperamental mobility is
rampant in normal people. Nothing can force us to sit
quietly for some time.
II. “It would be an exotic moment

Without rush, without engines,…….
Would look at his hurt hands.”

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1. What does the poet mean by ‘an exotic moment’?

2. What kind of feeling would this ‘exotic moment’ evoke?
3. How does the fishermen harm nature?
4. What sublime impacts would keeping quiet have?
Answers:
1. A psychosomatic silence would have a transcendental

effect on us.
2. The ‘exotic moment’ will evoke a feeling of solidarity with
our brethren.
3. Fishermen harpoon whales. The whale population is
gradually getting depleted. It imbalances nature.
4. Keeping quiet would prompt us to introspect. It would
be a sublime moment, when we would identify ourselves
with nature and our fellowmen. Fishermen, who hunt
whales, would regret their folly and abstain from
causing ecological imbalance. It would consolidate and
unify all men.
“What I want should not be
Confused
With total inactivity…….
……threatening ourselves with death.”
1. According to the poet, what is the difference between

‘silence’ and ‘inactivity’?
2. What graceful experience would we have, if we ceased
our instinctive motion?
3. What do we fail to understand, although we live for a
long time on this earth?
4. To what does the poet compare lack of self awareness?
IV. Short answer type questions: (30-40 words)
1. What do you think the poem is about?

133
It is about a transcendental experience, which is

triggered by ceasing all mundane activities. Such
experiences would evoke feelings of solidarity with our
fellowmen and apathy for our reckless attitude towards
nature. It is an elementary stage in self-realisation.
2. What do we fail to realize when we get marooned in

mundane pursuits?
Men are too busy to find time to introspect. We pass
away without realizing ourselves. According to the poet,
this ignorance of our real worth, is a truck with death.
V. Extra questions (unsolved)

1. List a few rash activities that man indulges in.
2. Does the poet advocate inactivity? If not why?
3. What lesson can the earth teach us?
A Thing of Beauty
-John Keats
Gist of the poem:
The poem is a tribute to beauty. The poet says that a thing of beauty
is a source of joy for ever. The grace of beauty increases with the
passage of time. It would never lose its worth. Beauty is like a place
of solace and comfort, providing quiet rest, sweet dreams, health and
relaxation. On every new day, we fabricate fresh flowery links which
bind us to the beautiful earth. This is despite the depression, lack of
noble values, gloom, unhealthy experiences and darkish regimen
which we undergo every day. In the midst of all these negatives,
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there is always some beautiful thing in our life, which dispels the
darkness in our lives. The poet specifies a few stock objects of
beauty. They are the sun, the moon, a shady area providing
protection from heat to the simple sheep, the daffodils and the green
world they live in, cool streams which give relief from the hot season
and a clearing in the middle of a forest, rich with scented flowers.
Equally beautiful are the lives of great men who have passed away
and stories and legends which we have heard or read. Such things
are an endless source of immortality.
I. “A thing of beauty is a joy forever
Its loveliness increases, it will never
Pass into nothingness; but will keep………
……….bind us to the earth.”
1. What pleasure do we derive from a beautiful thing?
2. How does the poet prove that the value of a beautiful thing is
permanent?
3. What does ‘wreathing flowery bands’ mean?
4. How does a thing of beauty keep a quiet bower for us?
Answers:
1. A thing of beauty boosts our spirits and gives us joy. It has a

soothing impact on our mind.
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2. The value of a thing of beauty is eternal. It is never exhausted. It

will never fail to rejuvenate us when we feel the direst need.
3. We can never alienate ourselves from nature. Every day, we create

fresh bonds with the beautiful things on the earth.
4. Our lives are rife with pain, worry and suffering. A thing of beauty
comes as a pleasant interlude, refreshing and soothing us. Whenever
we want to be emotionally refreshed, the thing of beauty is ready at
hand.
II. “For simple sheep; and such are daffodils
With the green world they live in;…..
…………….fountain of immortal drink.”
1. List some beautiful things the poet has mentioned.
2. How are the ‘mighty dead’ immortalized?
3. Comment on the concluding lines of the poem.
Answers:
1. Some beautiful things that the poet speaks of are daffodils,

streams, mid-forest ferns, lives of great men and literature.
2. The lives of great men have an enchanting beauty about them.

This beauty has immortalized them and imprinted their presence in
history.
3. The poet concludes that things of beauty have the boon to

immortalize us. Unlike temporal things, the joy given by beautiful
things are eternal.
III. Exercise
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“Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
Of noble natures, of the gloomy days……
……………….dark spirits.”
1. What causes despondence in human beings?
2. How does a thing of beauty help us to be happy?
3. Explain the figure of speech in the lines.
1. How do things of beauty bind us to the earth?

Our lives are marred by pain and suffering. Things of joy will
revitalize our lives. Therefore we glue ourselves to the earth
which is abundant in such beautiful things.
2. How does the loveliness of a thing of beauty increase?

Things of beauty like nature, art and literature are deep
bountiful. The deep we dive into this world, the more we realize
their immortality perennial character. They can never be wiped
out from the face of the earth.
V. Extra questions: (unsolved)
1. How is the world of nature different from that of men?
2. List some beautiful things that give us eternal joy.

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A Roadside Stand
-Robert Frost
Gist of the poem:
Road side stands are crude constructions by the road side, selling
petty things to the commuters. The poet speaks of a shed which was
constructed by the road side, as an extension of an old house. It
stood beside a road on which traffic sped at great speed. The seller,
sitting in the road side stand expected some sympathy from the
traffic. He did not beg for a loaf of bread, but for some hard cash,
which could support his poor life. The traffic sped with a single
minded focus on some destination which lay ahead. The traffic never
stopped to express any interest in the items displayed for sale. At
times a vehicle would stop at the road side stand and the prospective
customer would only express disgust at the way the sign boards mar
the beauty of the countryside. The stand offered wild berries and
golden squash for sale. At times the commuters behave in a mean
manner to the sellers. The sellers say that they don’t like to promote
their business at the cost of humiliation. They explain that they have
set up their stand at a convenient distance from the city. They expect
only to get some cash which would expand their lives and enable
them to aspire the phenomenal life depicted in films. A piece of news
claims that these people are expected to be rehabilitated. They are to
be accommodated near to the theatre and the store in the city. The
rehabilitators claim that these poor do not have to think for
themselves any more. The industrial routine will teach them to sleep
all day and destroy their sleep all night. The poet experiences
tremendous pain, looking at the awesome expectation of the sellers.
They sit at their window, looking out with expectant air for some
prospective customers. At times a car would stop only to enquire
what the prices of the things are. Another would stop to turn his car
138
around or to ask for direction. Sometimes, a stray traveler would

stop to ask for a gallon of fuel. The poet wishes that he could put this
entire poor out of pain with one stroke. The plight of the poor puts
the poet out of ease. He prays that when his mind comes round, we
would help him to ease his pain.
I. “The little old house was out with a little shed

In front at the edge of the road where the
traffic sped….
………………..sinking and withering faint.”
1. Where was the shed put up and for what purpose?

2. Prove that the sellers were men of self respect.
3. What are ‘money’ and ‘cities’ compared to?
Answers:
1. The stand was put up as an extension of a house, by the

highway. The seller intended to earn some money.
2. The sellers did not demand charities. They asked the travelers
to give them some hard cash in return for their produce.
3. Money is compared to the sap that flows through plants and
cities are compared to flowers.
II. “Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits

That are calculated to soothe them out of
their wits……
…………………..sleeping at night the ancient

way.”
1. What will swarm over whom and why?

2. How did the greedy good-doers plan to exploit the poor people?
139
3. Why won’t the poor people have to think about themselves any
more?
Answers:
1. The greedy good-doers would entice the poor to sell their lands
with empty promises.
2. The greedy good-doers wanted to encroach into the material
and emotional privacy of the poor and settle them in crowded
unhealthy places.
3. The sponsors promise abundantly and vouchsafe to take care
of all their needs. These are mere snares to lure them into
danger.
“To put these people at one stroke out of their pain.
………………………out of my pain.”
1. How did the poet plan to remove the pain of the village
people?
2. The poem ends on a pessimistic note. Do you agree? If so
why?
1. What did the poor folk offer for sale? Did the city dwellers
stop to buy them?
The poor people offered wild berries and golden squash, but
the city men were not fascinated.
2. What did the ‘greedy good-doers’ plan to do to the poor

people?
The greedy good-doers planned to cheat the poor of their
lands and fling them into unhygienic and congested
140
territory. They would brainwash them and deprive them of

their clean habits.
V. Extra questions: (unsolved)
1. What was the aspiration of the poor people?

2. How can the pain of the poet be put an end to?
Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers

Adrienne -rich
Gist of the poem:
The poet speaks of an old woman named Aunt Jennifer. Aunt

Jennifer has curtains in her room, featuring exotic pictures. Etched
on them are tigers, leaping through deep green forests. They look
fearless and proud. Aunt Jennifer is doing some knitting job, moving
her fingers through the wool. In stark contrast to the power of the
tigers, she experiences weakness in her fingers and finds it difficult
to pull the knitting needle. The reason for the heaviness in her
fingers is the weight of her uncle’s wedding band which she still
wears on her hand. The poet concludes that even the corpse of Aunt
Jennifer, will continue to wear the symbolic objects, like the wedding
ring, connected with her marriage. They will continue to exert
authority and influence over Aunt Jennifer. Even death cannot
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release Aunt Jennifer from her bondage. On the contrary, the tigers
which she created on the panel, will continue to move swiftly-proud
and fearless even after Aunt Jennifer’s death.
Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow:
I. “Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen,

Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.”
1.How are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers described? What are they?
2. Why are the tigers called ‘denizens of a world of green’?
3. What do Aunt Jennifer’s tigers represent?
Answers:
1. Aunt Jennifer’s prancing tigers are talked of as denizens

of a green world. They are extremely agile and shine like
topaz. They are ignorant of fear and pace with purpose.
The ‘tigers’ the poet refers to, are pictures of tigers
created on a curtain.
2. The natural habitat of tigers is the thick, green forests.
3. The tigers represent freedom which everyone longs for.
Aunt Jennifer represents the marital constraints which
most women undergo. The tigers also stand for male
chauvinism.
II. “When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie

Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made

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Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.”
1. Why are the ‘hands’ talked of as terrified? What

figure of speech has been used?
2. Do you think that marriage was an ordeal for Aunt
Jennifer? Elaborate.
3. How does the poet contrast Aunt Jennifer with the
tigers?
Answers:
1.The poet wishes to signify that Aunt Jennifer was an enslaved

housewife. He uses the figure of speech transferred epithet-where
‘terrified hands’ in actuality stand for a terrified Aunt Jennifer.
2.The poet talks of Aunt Jennifer as a ‘terrified’ house wife. The

poet says that she was subjected to ‘ordeals’, to which she
willingly succumbed. Even death cannot release her from her
serfdom. She seems to be in a stunned calmness, even when she
lies in her death.
3.Aunt Jennifer was a terrified lady throughout her conjugal life.

Even in death she seems to be in a terrific meditation. On the
contrary, tigers are swift, brave and carefree. They are also
permanent, while Aunt Jennifer is temporal.
“ Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.”
1.Why does Aunt Jennifer find the task of pulling the ivory needle
very hard?
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2.Why is the wedding band referred to as ‘massive’?
3.What kind of a person was Aunt Jennifer?
1.What is the embroidery created by Aunt Jennifer symbolic

of?
Aunt Jennifer is a terrified and submissive lady. She finds

substitutes for her life of terror by creating things opposite to
her character. She releases her free spirit by embodying the
courage she lacks, on to the tigers. The embroidered tigers on
the screen are symbolic of courage and freedom.
2.What is the theme of the poem?
The theme of the poem is the notorious gender conflict. It is a

criticism of male chauvinism. It also brings out the concealed,
suppressed and vibrant inner life of Aunt Jennifer, which finds
expression in the creation of tigers.
V. Extra questions: (unsolved )
1. Draw a sketch of Aunt Jennifer.

2. The poem is not only a criticism of the gender struggle, but
also a revelation of the vibrant inner life of Aunt Jennifer.
Comment.
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COMMON LITERARY DEVICES USED IN

POETRY
1. SIMILE
It is a literary device used to bring out literary effect by comparing
two things using the words ‘as’, ‘like’ or ‘so’.
Example: “Her face ashen like that of a corpse……”
(My Mother at Sixty-six)
2. METAPHOR
It is a literary device in which the comparison is implied, and
comparison is made without using words ‘as’ or ‘like’.
Example: “The paper seeming boy, with rat’s eyes….”
(An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum)
3. CONTRAST
It is a literary device used to bring out literary effect by speaking of
the differences between two things.
Example: “A narrow street sealed in with a lead sky
Far far from rivers, capes and stars of words.”
(An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum)

145
‘Narrow street’ and ‘lead sky’ are contrasted with ‘rivers, capes and stars of
words’.
4. IMAGERY
It is a mental picture, created by using suitable words.
Example: “The merry children spilling out of their homes…”
(My Mother at Sixty six)
It creates a mental picture of happy children rushing out of their houses.
5. SYMBOLISM
It is a person, object or event representing a more general quality
or situation. It establishes a general association between two things.
Example: The ‘tiger’ in ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tiger’ is a symbol. The general

qualities associated with a tiger are courage and power.
6. PERSONIFICATION
It is a literary device, in which an inanimate object is spoken of
as having life.
Example: “And such are daffodils and the green world they live in”.
(A Thing of Beauty)
146
Usually animals or human beings are spoken of as ‘living’. Here the word ‘live’
is associated with daffodils.
7. TRANSFERRED EPITHET
It is a literary device used to highlight a thing, associating the
adjective or adjectival phrase with a part of the thing than the general thing.
Example: “Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass…….”
Here the adjective ‘selfish’ is meant to refer to the drivers of the ‘car’. However,
instead of drivers, the poet used the adjective in connection with the car.
(A Roadside Stand)
147
FLAMINGO-PROSE
1. THE LAST LESSON

-Alphonse Daudet
MAIN POINTS OF THE LESSON :
1. France was defeated by Prussia during the Franco Prussian war in

the year 1870.
2. Two French districts of Alsace and Lorraine passed into Prussian

hands.
3. Order came from Berlin to teach only German language in the

schools of Alsace and Lorraine.
4. The present master M. Hamel who had been teaching in the

school of Alsace delivered his last lesson.
5. The narrator, Franz, was very late for school that morning.
6. He was afraid of being scolded, Moreover he had not learnt his

lesson on participles.
7. He was tempted to play truant from school but finally decided to

go to school.
8. On arriving at school he was met with an unusual silence like

Sunday morning.
9. The whole school looked strange and solemn, Mr. Hamel wore his
best dress which he donned only on special occasions.
148
10.The village elders were seated on the usually empty backbenches.

Old Hauser, the former mayor, the former postmaster and several
others were present.
11.Mr. Hamel made a startling announcement that it was the last

lesson he would give them.
12.From the following day only German was to be taught in the

schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new master would come the
next day.
13.Franz could not say the rule for participles and stood silent.
however, Mr. Hamel did not scold him.
14.Franz understood the lesson that day and found French very easy
for the first time.
15.Mr. Hamel told all present that French was the most beautiful
language in the world, the clearest and the most logical. He asked
them to guard it among them and never forget it.
16.They had lesson in grammar, writing and in History.
17.At the stroke of twelve Mr. Hamel dismissed the school. Before
that he wrote on the black-board "Vive La France1" Long live
France.
SHORT ANS. TYPE QUESTIONS-SOLVED (30-40 WORDS.)
Q 1. Why according to you, was little Franz afraid of being

scolded?
Ans. Franz was afraid of being scolded that day because he had not
149
prepared his lesson on participles which Mr. Hamel was going to

test that day. Secondly, he had reached the school very late that
morning.
Q 2. What three things in school surprised Franz the most that day?
Ans. Franz was surprised to note that the school was unusually calm
and quiet as Sunday morning. Mr. Hamel wore his beautiful
occasional dress and thirdly the village elders sat quietly like
school children on the back benches that usually remained
empty.
Q 3. What used to be the usual scene at Franz's school?
Ans. Usually, when the school began, there would be great hustle and
bustle, opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated loudly in
unison, teacher's ruler rapping on the table. The noise could be
heard even out in the street.
Q 4. How was the learning of the boys like Franz neglected in

Alsace?
Ans. The people of Alsace would put off learning till tomorrow.
Parents put their children to work on a farm or at mills in order
to have more money. Mr. Hamel got his flowers watered or gave
them a holiday.
Q 5. Those who were in class, suddenly realised the importance of

French language. Why did this happen?
Ans. Mr. Hamel called French language as the most beautiful, the
most logical and the clearest language in the world. He said that
150
their language was the key to their prison. Then the people
realised the importance of French language.
SHORT ANS. TYPE QUESTIONS-UNSOLVED. 30-40 WORDS.
Q 1. Franz was very late for school that morning. What

was he tempted to do on being late?
Q 2. Why were even the villagers present in the school room on the
last lesson morning?
Q 3. What was put up on the town hall bulletin board on the

morning of 'The Last lesson'?
Q 4. How did the opinion of Franz about his teacher change?
LONG ANS. TYPE QUESTIONS-SOLVED ABOUT 125

WORDS.
Q 1. What in your opinion, is the main theme of the story

'The Last Lesson'? Do you think it has a universal
appeal?
Ans. The main theme of the story is linguistic chauvinism of the

proud conquerors who show an excessive or prejudiced support
for their own language. It also shows the pain that is inflicted on
the people of a territory conquered by them by taking away the
right to study or speak their own language and make them
151
prisoners in their own land of birth. The story also highlights the
attitudes of the students and teachers to learning and teaching.
The story theme has a universal appeal even though the story is
located in a particular village of Alsace in France which had
passed into Prussian hands. Taking away mother tongue from the
people is the harshest punishment.
TWO LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (POINTS)
Q 1. Describe the feelings, emotions and behaviour of Mr. Hamel

on the day of 'Last Lesson'.
Ans. (i) Mr. Hamel in the dress for ceremonial occasions.
(ii) Talked of the French language as a proud French man.
(iii) Explained everything with great patience grammar,

writing, lesson in History.
(iv) Sat motionless in the chair fixing everything around in

his mind.
(v) Thought of leaving next day made him sad, chocked,

his voice became emotional.
(vi) Mustered courage and wrote "Viva La France!"
(vii) leaning sadly against the wall dismissed the Class with
a gesture.
Q 2. What Order had come from Berlin that day? How did it effect
the life at school?
152
Ans. (i) The order was - only German would be taught in

the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.
(ii) Had far reaching effect on the life at school.
(iii) Mr. Hamel teaching French for the last forty

years would deliver his last lesson that day.
(iv) The teacher dressed in his best clothes.
(v) Old villagers quietly sitting at the back of class

room.
(vi) Everybody in class realised the importance of

French language.
(vii) Mr. Hamel solemn and used gentle tone.
(viii) Those present in class very attentive and eager

to learn.
(ix) Mr. Hamel's appeal to preserve French language.
(x) Mr. Hamel overwhelmed with emotions in the

end.
153
2.LOST SPRING
-Anees Jung
(STORIES OF STOLEN CHILDHOOD)
PART I-SOMETIMES I FIND A RUPEE IN THE GARBAGE.
1. Saheb a rag picker searches for gold in the garbage-nothing else

to do.
2. Came to Seemapuri in 1971 from Dhaka, Bangladesh as their

homes and green fields were swept away in storms.
3. Barefoot Army of boys roaming in streets every morning, seen by

the writer.
4. Staying barefoot not a tradition but the outcome of perpetual

poverty.
5. Seemapuri, colony of rag pickers, on the periphery of Delhi, but

still in wilderness.
6. Food more important than identity for survival.
7. Garbage to them is gold- they get their daily bread, and a roof
though broken.
8. Saheb works at a tea stall for Rs. 800/- but not his own master.
Part II - "I want to Drive a Car."
Mukesh wishes to be a motor mechanic.
Dreams a mirage in Firozabad.
Firozabad - famous for bangle making, generations engaged in the

job.
154
People unaware of the law, subdued, suppressed and exploited.
Living conditions miserable poverty stricken, unhygienic

surroundings.
People suffer health hazards and attribute to destiny.
Boys, girls of all ages along with parents engaged in bangle making.
Poverty kills initiative and the ability to dream.
The vicious circle of middle men, sahukars, police and politicians is

their world.
Children not allowed freedom of occupation.
Mukesh dreams and determines to become a motor mechanic.
SHORT ANS. TYPE QUESTIONS-SOLVED 30-40 WORDS.
Who was Saheb? What did he do for a living?

Ans. Saheb was a rag picker of Seemapuri and had migrated from
Bangladesh in 1971. Besides rag-picking, he used to look for
gold in the garbage dumps of the big city for a living.
What did living in Seemapuri actually mean?

Ans. Living in Seemapuri meant being subjected to extreme poverty.
People had lived there for thirty years without an identity,
without permit, only concentrating on the matter of food.
155
What does Anees Jung attempt to bring out in her story

'Lost Spring'?
Ans. Anees Jung wants to show the grinding poverty, traditions and
circumstances which compel and condemn the children to a life
full of misery and exploitation.
What is illegal that none of the bangle makers of

Firozabad know?
Ans. The bangle makers do not know that employing children in
bangle-making is illegal. If the law is enforced strictly 20,000
children will be released from working at hot furnaces with high
temperatures.
Why do the bangle-makers fail to organise themselves

into a co-operative?
Ans. The young bangle-makers have fallen into the vicious traps of
middlemen. They are afraid of the police. Moreover, there is no
leader among them to help them see things differently. Even their
fathers at home are tired.
156
Unsolved Questions-Short Ans. Type (30-40 words.)

Questions for practice.
Q 1. What was Saheb's full name? What is ironical

about it?
Q 2. Anees Jung says 'Saheb is no longer his own

master? What does she mean?
Q 3. 'Seemapuri is on the periphery of Delhi yet miles

away from it metaphorically'. What does the writer
mean by this?
Q 4. Which two distinct worlds of the bangle makers

does Anees Jung see?
Q 5. 'His dreams loom like a mirage'. Whose dreams are

being referred here and why are they compared to
a mirage?
157
LONG ANS. TYPE QUESTIONS (ABOUT 125 WORDS)
Q 1. Comment on the hardships of the bangle makers of

Firozabad with special emphasis on the forces that
conspire against them and obstruct their progress.
Ans. Life and poverty are synonymous for the bangle makers of
Firozabad. For generations these people have been engaged in
this trade working around hot furnaces with high temperatures.
In spite of hard labour throughout the day, some of them have to
sleep with empty and aching stomachs
Poverty and hunger, social customs and traditions stigma of caste

and the intrigues of powerful lobby that thrive on their labours
combine to keep them poor, uneducated and hungry. The money
lenders, the middlemen, the policemen, the keepers of law, the
bureaucrats and the politicians all are responsible for their abject
poverty. They fail to organise themselves into cooperative due to
lack of a leader. They can talk but not act to improve their lot.
158
TWO LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (POINTS)
Q 1. 'Saheb is no longer his own master Mukesh insists

on being his own master'. Discuss with reference to
'Lost Spring'.
Ans. (i) Saheb a young rag-picker from Seemapuri.
(ii) looking for gold in garbage dumps for survival
(iii) Roams the streets with his friends an army of barefoot

soldiers.
(iv) Poor, hungry but free like morning birds.
(v) Gets a job at a tea stall and has a regular income food
no problem..
(vi) But no longer his own master. lost the carefree look.
(vii) Works for longer hours - exploitation makes him sad.
(viii) Muksh, son of poor bangle maker of Firozabad.
(ix) No school education due to poverty.
(x) Dreams of being a motor mechanic.
(xi) Wants to drive a car.
(xii) Insists on being his own master in-spite of

unfavourable conditions.
Q 2. Describe the plight of child workers of Firozabad,
who are exposed to the worst health hazards.
Ans. (i) Firozabad - bangle making town.
159
(ii) Besides the grown ups, over 20,000 children illegally

engaged in bangle making.
(iii) No body cares for the law in Firozabad.
(iv) Employment of children in glass and bangle industry

continuous unabated.
(v) Children working in exceptionally high temperatures in

dingy dark rooms.
(vi) Eyes adjusted more to dark than the light outside.
(vii) Many losing eyesight before becoming adults.
(viii) Mind numbing toil killing all dreams and hopes of

child workers.
160
3.DEEP WATER III

-William Douglas

1. William Douglas talks about his fear of water and how be
overcomes it.
2. He decides to learn swimming.
3. Terror and hatred for swimming past childhood experience at

the beach of California, accounts of drowning from mother.
4. Opportunity at Y.M.C.A. pool safe, shallow with a gradual drop.
5. Paddled comfortably in the pool with the assistance of water

wings gained confidence.
6. One day, however, faced misadventure thrown by a strong boy

into deep water of the pool.
7. Nightmarish experience went down to the bottom, frightened

but not out of wits.
8. Made three vain attempts to rise to the surface the pool.
9. Panicked, felt suffocated, could not cry.
10.Fear immobilized him, limbs deaden and unresponsive, finally

fainted.
11.Blackness around, no terror, no fear, no-panic.
12.Revived found himself lying on stomach vomitting.
13.Avoided water for many years thereafter.
14.Again wanted to swim-haunting fear prevented him from fishing,

canoeing.
161
15.Engaged an instructor to learn to swim.
16.Piece by piece Douglas was made a swimmer.
17.Swam across lakes and islands to ensure terror had left.
18.Douglas conquered his fear of water.
19.'Will to live' is stronger than fear of death.
20.The narrative - a saga of courage, grit, patience and

determination.
Q 1. Why did Douglas decide to learn swimming in the

Y.M.C.A. Pool?
Ans. The Y.M.C.A. Pool was safe. It was only two to three feet deep
at the shallow end and nine feet deep at the other. Moreover, the
drop was gradual. So he decided to learn swimming in the
Y.M.C.A. pool.
Q 2. 'I had an aversion to the water when I was in it',

says Douglas. Why did he have an aversion to the
water?
Ans. At the age of three or four years Douglas Had visited the beach
in California along with his father. he had held his father tightly,
even then the waves knocked him down and swept over him. He
was buried in water and was breathless. He was terrified and
since then had an aversion to the water.
162
Q 3. What was the misadventure that happened with

Douglas?.
Ans. Douglas reached the pool early one day and was waiting for the
others. A big, stout boy came there and tossed Douglas in the
water and he began to drown.
Q 4. What made Douglas feel under water, that he was

alive?
Ans. Douglas felt paralysed under water, even the screams in his
throat were frozen. Only his heart and the pounding in head
made him realise that he was still alive.
Q 5. What valuable lesson did Douglas learn from his

terrifying experience in the pool water.?
Ans. Douglas learnt that there is terror only in one thing that is fear of
Death. All we have to fear is fear itself. Will to live is greater
Than fear of Death.
SHORT ANS. TYPE QUESTIONS-UNSOLVED 30-40 WORDS.

163
Q 1. What does Douglas mean to say by the words 'piece

by piece, he built a swimmer'?
Q 2. What did Douglas do to conquer the residual

doubts about his fear of water?
Q 3. The instructor was finished. But I was not finished?

What does this refer to? Explain briefly.
Q 4. Describe the series of emotions that Douglas

experienced while engulfed in the mass of yellow
water.
Q 5. How did Douglas feel when all efforts ceased?

164
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (ABOUT 125 WORDS)
Q 1. Describe how the instructor made a swimmer of

William Douglas?
Ans. The fear of water had become a handicap to Douglas. In order to
overcome this fear of water he engaged a trainer to learn
swimming. For the first five days he made him go across the
pool an hour a day with the help of a rope attached to his belt.
The trainer held on to the other end of the rope. Then he taught
him to exhale under water and inhale through raised nose. he
made him kick his legs to make them relax. Then he asked him
to swim. Finally he could command his legs. Thus piece by piece
he made a swimmer of William Douglas.
TWO LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (POINTS ONLY)
Q 2. How did Douglas conquer the fear of water?

Ans. (i) Douglas faced misadventure, terror set in.
(ii) Tried to over come fear.
(iii) Engaged an instructor.
(iv) Initially took help of ropes water wings, later left

them.
(v) Went fishing canoeing etc.
(vi) Frowned at terror, everytime it came.
(vii) Went all alone to Conrad Meadow.

165
(viii) Swam in Warm lakeshore and back.
Q 3. When did Douglas start fearing water?

Ans. (i) The water waves knocked down young Douglas and
swept over him at Californian beach.
(ii) Douglas filled with fear –age- three or four years.
(iii) Clung to his father, breath was gone, father laughed.
(iv) Douglas terrified at the overpowering force of water.
(v) His introduction to the Y.M.C.A. swimming pool.
(vi) Misadventure at the pool.
(vii) Thrown at the nine feet deep end of the pool by big
boy.
(viii) His efforts to rise to the surface failed.
(ix) Rescued in time.
(x) This experience further strengthened the hold of fear

on his mind.
166
4-THE RATTRAP
-Selma Lagerlob

1. A man went around selling small, wire rattraps.
2. Not profitable so started begging and stealing.
3. Dressed shabbily, hungry, given to meditation on his slow walks.
4. One day struck with an idea - The whole world a big rattrap.
5. Amused by the thought of people trapped circling around the bait.
6. One might the rattrap peddler sought shelter in old crofter's

roadside cottage.
7. Entertained by the crofter with card game and supper.
8. Next morning, crofter was away, peddler came and stole his
money.
9. Peddler escaped into the forest rattrap, heard sound, followed and
reached Ramsjo iron mill in the darkness of night.
10.Permitted for the night stay in the mill.
11.The rich owner of the mill on his routine round to the forge,
noticed the ragged man, mistook him to be Niles, his old
acquaintance.
12.In expectation of money, the peddler did not clear his mistaken
identity.
167
13.Refused iron master's invitation to his manor house.
14.Could not refuse iron master's daughter, reached the manor house
as the captain Von Stahle on Christmas Eve.
15.Iron master satisfied to have an old acquaintance.
16.When peddler clean shaven, well dressed looked different, iron

master realised his mistake.
17.Thought of calling the sheriff. Then ordered the peddler to get out
at once.
18.Daughter pleaded to allow the peddler stay and enjoy the festival
time.
19.Christmas eve passed, the peddler ate food and slept the time out.
20.Next morning the news of a rattrap seller robbing old crofter

reached the father and daughter.
21.Returned from the church sad and worried.
22.Valet informed stranger left, leaving behind Christmas gift for

Edla Williamson'.
23.A small rattrap with thirty kronors for the crofter.
24.Nice treatment returned with equally nice behaviour.

168
Q 1. How did the rattrap seller manage to survive?
Ans. He made rattraps of wire and went around selling them. Since the business
was not much profitable, he would beg or steal in order to survive.
Q 2. How did the peddler repay the kindness and

hospitality of the roadside owner?
Ans. The peddler left the cottage but returned again, broke the window pane and
stole the thirty kroners from the pouch hung there.
Q 3. Why could the peddler not come out of the forest?
Ans. The forest was big and confusing. The paths turned back and forth. He
realised that he had been walking around in the same part of the forest.
Q 4. Why did the peddler decline the invitation of the

iron master?
Ans. The iron master mistook the peddler to be an old acquaintance. The peddler
did not want to clear his identity in expectation of money. He realised going
to the manor house would be inviting danger.
Q 5. What hospitality did the peddler enjoy at the

manor house?
Ans. The peddler was bathed, shaved, cleaned, dressed in a good looking suit,
was supplied whole shoes. He was served meals and allowed to share
Christmas festivities.
169
Short Ans. Type Questions-Unsolved. Word limit 30-40 words.
Q 1. What thought took hold of the tramp's fancy?
Q 2. What was the ambition of the Ramsjo iron mill owner?

what did he do to achieve it?
Q 3. What was the sentiment expressed by the tramp in the

letter that he left for Edla? Why did he sign himself Captain
Von Stahle?
LONG ANS. TYPE QUESTIONS (ABOUT 125 WORDS) SOLVED.
Q 1. The story 'The Rattrap', explores the idea that

human beings possess the innate tendency to
redeem themselves from their dishonest ways if
motivated. Discuss.
Ans. The inherent goodness can be aroused by love compassion and
understanding as in the case of the rattrap seller, who made his
living by stealing, thieving and begging. Once he happened to
stay at night in a crofter's cottage who was very nice and
hospitable to him but he stole the crofter's money and escaped
into the forest. He somehow reached the iron mill, where the iron
master mistook him for an old acquaintance and asked his
daughter to bring the peddler home. She took great pains, looked
after the peddler, fed him well and was kind to him. She gave
him a suit and invited him for the Christmas next. All this gave
rise to the virtues and humaneness innate in him and also helped
him to redeem himself from his dishonest ways of stealing and
begging.
170
LONG ANS. TYPE QUESTIONS (POINTS ONLY)
1. Bring out the contrast in the attitude and behaviour of the

ironmaster towards the stranger before and after he realises his
mistakes.
a. Ironmaster moved to see his old regimental comrade in a
pitiable state.
b. Insists that the old comrade should go home with him
c. The stranger declines the invitation.
d. The ironmaster sends his daughter Edla, with a big fur coat
to persuade him .
e. Just before breakfast the ironmaster thinks of feeding him
well and providing him some honourable job.
f. Iron master’s behaviour takes a U - turn seeing the well-
groomed stranger.
g. He expresses his displeasure on realising his own mistake
and demands explanation from the peddler.
h. Peddler defends himself well.
i. Ironmaster call him dishonest and threatens to call the
sheriff.
j. Finally asks the peddler to quit at once.
2. How did the rattrap seller amuse himself with the thought that the
word is a big rattrap?
Nursed the idea that the word is a big rattrap.

171
Amused by the idea that its riches and joys. shetter and food heat
and clothing acted as bait used in the rattrap.
Enjoyed thinking of people getting trapped or those circling

around the bait.
Stole crofter’s money and fell into the forest trap.
Later reached the ironmaster's house to be trapped by the sheriff.
Finally came out of the trap due to sympathy understanding and

love of the ironmaster's daughter.
5-INDIGO
-Louis Fischer

1. Author Louis Fischer visits Gandhi at Sevagram.
2. Mahatma Gandhi at national congress convention.
3. Raj Kumar Shukla a poor peasant wanted Gandhi to visit
Champaran.
4. Gandhi went to attend meetings at Cawnpore and other parts in
India.
5. Shukla accompanied him everywhere begging him to fix a date
for Champaran.
6. Finally both reached Patna by train .
7. Welcomed by J.B. Kriplani at Muzzafarpur.
8. Briefed by Malkani and other lawyers.
172
9. Sharecroppers to plant indigo on 15 percent of the holding for

rent.
10. Gandhi contacted the lieutenant governor.
11. Self reliance and courage taught the common men.
12. Gandhi got summons to appear in the court.
13. Demonstration of thousands of peasants around courthouse.
14. British officials called Gandhi for help.
15. Gandhi's trial postponed decision withheld for several days.
16. Gandhi protested against delay.
17. Took up humanitarian and national service.
18. Lieutenant Governor ordered to drop the case
19. An official commission was appointed to inquire in to the indigo
sharecropper's situation.
20. 25 percent money was refunded by the British planters and estate
were abandoned.
21. Upliftmentment of Champaran villagers - schools health and
sanitation of the community.
22. March to cleanliness.
23. Peasants freed from oppression of officials.
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (30-40 WORDS)

SOLVED
Q.1 Who was Raj kaumar Shukla ? why did he went to meet Gandhi?
Ans:- Rajkumar shukla was a poor peasant from Champaran he wanted

to meet Gandhi to complain about the injustice of the land lords in Bihar
he wanted Gandhi's help.
173
Q.2 Why did Gandhi decide to go to Muzzafarpur before going to

Champaran? What sort of reception did he get there and why was it
unusual?
Ans:- Gandhi decided to go to Muzzafarpur to obtain more and

complete information about the peasants conditions than Shukla was
capable of imparting he was given a warm and grand reception. The
unusual thing was that a government professor harboured him in his
house.
Q.3 Why had the sharecropper peasants to pay compensation?
Ans:- British landlords were interested in synthetic indigo to get more

profit .they asked the peasants to pay compensation for being freed from
the 15 present long term contract made earlier
Q.4 What made the British realize that the Indians could challenge their
might hitherto unquestioned?
Ans :-Gandhi was summoned to appear in the court at Motihari.

Thousands of peasants crowded around the courthouse in spontaneous
demonstration Gandhi helped the officials to regulate the crowd. The
British then realised the Indians could challenge their might hitherto
unquestioned.
174
Q.5 How did Gandhi teach his followers a lesson in self-reliance.
Ans:- During Champaran action Gandhi 's lawyer friends wanted C.F.
Andrews to help them. Gandhi opposed the Idea and motivated them to
rely upon themselves to win their unequal fight instead of showing the
weakness of their heart.
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (UNSOLVED) 30-40

WORD
Why did Gandhi chide the lawyers who represented the interests of
sharecroppers of Champaran?
Why did the prominent lawyers who had come primarily to advise
Gandhi change their agenda?
How did 'civil Disobedience triumph, the first time in modern

India?
Long Ans. type questions (125 words) solved.
Q 1. "Indigo sharecropping disappeared". Which factors helped to

achieve freedom for the fear-stricken peasants of Champaran?
175
Ans. Gandhi visited Champaran on receiving reports of exploitation of

poor sharecroppers at the hands of British planters. He began by trying
to get the facts. British landlords as well as commissioner of Tirhut were
non- cooperative. Gandhi and his lawyer friends collected depositions
by about ten thousand peasants. Notes were made on other evidence.
Documents were collected. After four protected interview with the
lieutenant governor an official commission of inquiry was appointed to
look into sharecroppers situation. The huge quantity of evidence went
against the planters. Finally, a settlement of 25 percent refund to the
farmers was agreed on. Peasants recognised their rights and learned
courage.
Within a few years the British planters gave up their estates. Thus
indigo sharecropping disappeared.
Q 1. What steps were taken by Gandhi to solve the problem of social

and cultural backwardness in the Champaran village?
Ans.
1. Made appeal to teachers.

2. Primary schools opened.
3. Got a doctor to improve health conditions.
4. Kept watch on Ashram's financial accounts.
5. Tough self-reliance and freedom from fear.
6. Paved Indian mind for an independent India.
176
7. Peasants were taught ashram rules on personal cleanliness

and community sanitation.
Q 2. Describe the sharecropping system in Chamapran.

Ans.
1. Big indigo estates in Champaran.

2. Owned by British planters and worked by Indian tenants.
3. Tenant peasants had to grow indigo on 15 percent of the land by
an old long-term agreement.
4. Entire product used as rent by landlords.
5. System irked the peasants who were helpless.
6. Later synthetic indigo reduced the price of natural indigo.
7. British planters forced Indian peasants to give compensation for
release from long-term contract, opposed by peasants.
8. Long struggle under Gandhi's leadership.
9. With British planters returning 25 percents compensation and
their leaving the estates, sharecropping system comes to an end.
177
6-POETS AND PANCAKES

-Asoka
Mitran
MAIN POINTS OF THE LESSON:

1. Gemini studio founded by S.S. Vasan, the most influential film
producing organization in the early day of film making
2. Truck loads of pancakes bought for use at Gemini studio .
3. Group of nationally integrated make-up men.
4. Make-up department worked in hierarchy, the chief, the senior
assistant and the junior.
5. The author Asokamitran stored newspaper cutting in files.
6. Subbu - the no.2 at Gemini studios
7. Subbu -a cheerful character - gave directions composed poems
wrote novels performed subsidiary roles had genuine love for
others and also close to the boss but on roll in the story
department
8. An extremely talented actress flew over the sets her career ended.
9. Story department closed as lawyer's film
10.Gemini studies - favourite haunt of poets and visitors.
11.Trunk Bushman's Re-armament Army consisting of 200 members
of different nations.
12.Presentation of two plays - 'Jotham Valley' and 'The Forgotten
Factor' - important, impressive features - showing sunrise, sunset
with a white background curtain.
13.Stephen spender, an editor and poet visited Gemini studies.
14.Audience dispersed in bafflement failing to understand the visitor.
15.Author out of Gemini studies - picked up 'The God that failed' for
fifty Paise.
178
16.Book written by six eminent writers.
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (30-40 WORDS ) SOLVED

Why was Gemini studies a place of national integration in
India ?
Ans. There were people from various communities. First, the make
up department was headed by a Bengali, then a Maharashtrian . He was
assisted by a Dharwar Kannadiga, an Andhra, a Madras Indian Christian
an Anglo Burmese and the local Tamils.
Why does Asokamitran call Subbu " a Charitable and

improvident man"?
Ans. Subbu had genuine love for anyone he came across. His
house was permanent residene for dozens of relations and
acquaintances. hence the writer calls him charitable and improvident.
How did the people of Madras and members of Gemini studios

respond to the plays staged by moral Rearmament Army?
Ans. People were terribly impressed. The two plays 'Jotham
valley' and 'The forgotten Factor' ran several shows. For some time to
come almost all Tamil plays presented the scene of sunrise and sunset in
the manner as shown in the plays.
What does the lesson convey about the literary taste of the staff of
Gemini studios as for as English poetry was concerned?
Ans. The staff at Gemini studios was quite simple. the only English
poets known to them were words-worth and Tennyson. The more literate
ones knew of Keats, Shelley and Byron. Very few knew about Eliot.
Why was Gemini studios a favourite haunt of the poets?
Ans. Gemini studios had an excellent mess which supplied coffee
whole day long and most of the night. It provided satisfying
entertainment required for poetry where everyone enjoyed and praised
Gandhi over a cup of coffee.
179
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (30-40 WORD )

UNSOLVED
Q 1. What was the fiery misery of those subjected to makeup?
Q 2. Why were all the people of Gemini studios against
communism?
Q 3. How was the mystery of the English visitor to the studio
solved?
Q 1. Subbu was a many sided genius, who gave definition and

direction to the studio in its golden years. Elaborate.
Ans. Subbu a man of genius had a separate identity at Gemini
studio. He was always cheerful and willing to work for others. He
was loyal to the principal and used all his creativity to his
advantages. He gave direction and definition to Gemini studio. he
composed story poems and novels and carved beautiful
characters. He was a highly capable literature writer. He was an
amazing character and actor but never aspired for leading roles.
Subbu was a charitable and important person. He supported
dozens of near and dear ones. He was quite close to the Boss and
was taken as No. 2 of the Gemini studio.
Q 1. The staff at Gemini studio enjoyed hosting the MRA while

the visit of the English poet remained an unexplained mistery.
Discuss.
Ans.
1. Saff of Gemini studio had nice time hosting MRA
2. MRA presented the plays 'Jotham valley' and 'The Forgotten
Factor'
180
3. Gemini family of six hundred saw the plays over and over
again.
4. The first-rate sets and costumers used in the plays were highly
appreciated.
5. They were terribly impressed by the manner the plays depicted
the scenes of sunrise to sunset.
6. A change from the usual collection of crowd players.
7. Visit of English poet just the opposite.
8. Poet very English, very serious, unknown to the staff of Gemini
studio.
9. No body understood what the poet said.
10. Audience dazed and silent by the unfamiliar accent.
11. The audience and the poet both parted in utter bafflement.
12. His visit remained an unexplained mystery.
Q 2. Asokamitran retired from Gemini studios, but retained his
taste for literature. How ?
Ans.
1. Asokamitran out of Gemini studio with plenty of free time on
his hands but no money.
2. Literature attracted him most .
3. Hunted for new books on footpath in front of the post office.
4. Found a pile of books for fifty paisa each - ' The God that faild'.
5. He read the essays printed in the book contributed by six
eminent men of letters.
181
7-THE INTERVIEW
-Christopher
Silvester

1. Interview - a commonplace of journalism - invented - invented
a little over 130 years ago.
2. For some people - interview - a source of truth while for others
- an intrusion in their lives.
3. Others feel interview diminishes them.
4. V.S. Naipaul feeds people lose a part of themselves.
5. For Kipling it is immoral, criminal and vile.
6. Despite drawbacks interview is supremely serviceable medium
of communication.
7. Brings clearest impressions of our contemporaries.
8. Interviewer holds unprecedented position and influence.
9. Interview extract of Umberto Eco.
10.His books stress on non-violence and peace.
11.His narrative style of writing - a marked departure from
regular academic style.
12.Umber to Eco wrote five novels and over 40 scholarly works.
13.Became famous after 'The name of the Rose'.
14.Associated with academic community.
15.'The Name of the rose' - a serious detective novel - enjoyed a
huge audience.
16.10 to 15 million copies. 'Miami Vice' or 'Emergency Room' on
T.V.
182
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (30-40 WORDS )

SOLVED
Q 1. How can the importance of interview be justified in modern

journalism?
Ans. The interview is the most serviceable medium of
communication today. It has become a commonplace of journalism. We
can know about celebrities through interview.
Q 2. What are some of the positive points about an interview?

Ans. It is supremely serviceable medium of communication. It
provides a vivid impression of our contemporaries. It equips one with
the things related to life and progress.
Q 3. 'Umberto Eco's written output is staggeringly large and

wide-ranging? How?
Ans. Umberto Eco is a versatile Genius, a prolific writer. He has
written on wide ranging subjects such as literary fiction, academic texts,
essays children's books and newspaper articles. He has 5 novels and 40
non-fiction works to his credit.
Q 4. How has Umberto Eco become popular among the general

public?
Ans. Umberto Eco's novels made him popular among the people
in general. Ten to fifteen million copies of the novel 'The Name of the
Rose' were sold.
Q 5. Why did the American publisher think that the novel 'The
Name of the Rose' Won't sell well in America?
183
Ans. The novel 'The Name of the Rose' Dealt with a period of
medieval history. The publisher did not expect very good response in
America because the Americans knew nothing about cathedral. People
were ignorant about the medieval part.
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (30-40

WORDS ) UNSOLVED
1. What does V.S. Naipaul feel about interview?
2. What secret does Umberto Eco point out to Mukund
Padmanabham?
3. What did Umber to Eco mean by empty spaces? How did he make
use of them?
Long Ans. type questions (points only)
Q 1. What kind of writer is Umberto Eco? What sort of writing

does he have to his credit?
Ans. Umberto Eco is a versatile writer. He had already acquired
formidable reputation as a scholar for his ideas on
semiotics literary interpretation and medieval aesthetics
before he turned to non fiction writing. He had a narrative
style of writing. He has writings like literary fiction,
academic texts, essays, children's books, newspaper articles
to his credit. He believes in non-violence and peace. He has
written five novels and more than forty non-fiction works.
184
Q 1. Why do some celebrities despise interview? Are they

justified? comment.
Ans.
1. Feel unwanted intrusion in their lives.
2. According to Naipaul people are wounded and lose a part of
themselves.
3. Lewis Carol is horrified by the name of interviewer.
4. Kipling terms it immoral, criminal.
5. H.G. Wells refers it as an ordeal.
6. To an extent justified - being victims.
185
8-GOING PLACES
-A.R.Barton
1. Schoolgirls, Sophie and Jansie returning from school.

2. Sophie wanted to open a boutique but Jansie doubted, as money
was required.
3. Sophie thinks to earn money by working as a manager, an actress
or a fashion designer.
4. Jansie advises Sophie to be sensible.
5. Sophie - imaginative, wished to go and see unknown places.
6. Told brother Groff - her meeting with Danny Casey - young
player.
7. Sophie shared secrets with Geoff.
8. Father chided Sophie but Geoff supported.
9. Family went on their weekly pilgrimage to watch the United.
10.Danny Casey scored the second goal for 2-0 victory.
11.Sophie in high spirits, Geoff happy, father celebrated at pub.
12.Jansie eager to know about Danny Casey, Sophie wanted Jansie to
keep it a secret.
13.Sophie walked down the canal waiting for Danny Casey imagined
him coming, was excited but there was no one.
14.Sophie dreams an imaginary meeting with Danny Casey - asking
for an autograph, remembered his sweet voice, shinny eyes and
his tall person.
186

SOLVED
Q 1. Why does Jansiewant sopline to sensible?

Ans. Jansieknew Sophie's family background and financial
position, She knew that both of them were earmarked for the biscuit
factory. Sophie's dreams were big and needed a lot of money and
experience for their fulfillment. Sophie had neither. So, Sophie asks her
to be sensible.
Q 2. Who was Danny Casey? Why did Sophie talk about him?
Ans. Danny Casey was a young Irish player of the first United
team. She was infatuated by this sportsman and took him to be her lover
and so wanted to date with him.
Q 3. Why was Sophie Jealous of Geoff's silence?

Ans. Geoff was grown up and spoke little. Sophie was jealous of
him as she wanted to share his secret thoughts. She craved for
his affection.
Q 4. Jansie and Sophie, in spite of being friends were poles
apart in their approach to life. How?
Ans. Jansie and Sophie were poles apart in thinking and
temperament. Sophie was an incurable dreamer and escapist.
On the other hand Jansie was realistic and practical she knows
big things require money and experience money and experience
which they didn't have.
Q 5. Why did Sophie not want Jansie to know anything about
her meeting with Denny Casey?
Ans. Sophie knew that Jansie was 'nosey'. She was very
inquisitive by nature. Sophie did not trust Jansie as she could
not keep a secret. She could spread the rumour in the whole
neighbourhood.
187

UNSOLVED
1. Did Sophie meet Danny Casey personally?

2. What was her father's reaction to her story as opposed to her
brother Geoff's?
3. Why did Sophie go to the canal after dark? Was she really going
to meet Danny Casey?
LONG ANS. TYPE QUESTIONS (100 WORDS) SOLVED
1. What impression do you form of Sophie on reading the Story

going places'?
Ans. Sophie is like any other teenager having her own dreams and
fancies. She is an escapist. She is an escapist. Her ambitions have
no relation with the harsh realities of life. She wants to have a
boutique, be an actress or a fashion designer.
She develops a romantic fascination for Danny Casey who is a

young Irish footballer. She indulges in hero worshipping. She
becomes sad when Casey does not come. She suffers because of
her dreams which are the creations of her own mind.
188
LONG ANS. TYPE QUESTIONS (POINTS ONLY) FOR

ELABORATION :
1. Comment on the social background and the life of the people in

'Going places'.
Ans.
1. Helpless, hardworking law abiding, middle class people.
2. Sophie's father and brother work hard at their jobs, mother busy
with the house hold chores.
3. Geoff is an apprentice mechanic. His jacket is shapeless.
4. Sophie's father lacks sophistication.
5. There is stove in the same room where dirty washing is piled in a
corner.
6. All these indicators confirm their lower middle class family
background.
2. Sophie was a dreamer, an escapist. How?
Ans Sophie was given to fantasies.
1. Walked by the canal along a shattered path in the late

evening.
2. Imagined Casey coming, excited.
3. Watched for him, imagined asking for an autograph.
4. Sad while waiting and knowing he would not come.
5. Inventing explanations to satisfy her family.
189
(VISTAS)
1.THE THIRD LEVEL

-Jack Finnery
In "The Third Level" Jack Finney describes how he found himself on the third
level at the Grand Central Station. The authorities as well as others swore that
there were only two levels at the Grand Central. But the narrator claimed to
have been on the third level and seeing the old world charms of 1984. His
psychiatrist friend called it "a waking dream wish fulfillment. The third level
was a medium of escape for Charley from the harsh realities of modern life. It
provided him a base where he could interweave fantasy and reality.
Q. 1 Do you see an intersection of time and space in the story "The

Third Level”?
A free play between fantasy and reality in "The Third Level" makes
the story transcend all barriers of time and space. Thus Charley
strays into 1894at the third level and then gets back to the 20th
century. Sam transports himself to Galesburg, Illinois in 1894 and
yet his communication with Charley in the 20th Century brings
about a convincing intersection of time and space.
Q. 2 How did the psychiatrist explain Charley's flight to the non-existent

"third level'?
The psychiatrist explained that Charley couldn't obviously have
reached the third level as it didn't exist at all. He was of the view
that fear, insecurity, war, worry and the like, made his tension-
ridden mind work out an escape route for himself. The third level
was a creation of his own imagination and waking-dream wish
190
fulfillment i.e. Charley's experience of the third level was a

rationalization of his dreams and unfulfilled wishes of the
subconscious mind. The flight never took place as the whole
episode was a figment of his imagination.
Q. 3 'Yes, I've taken the obvious stem. 'Why does Charley term meeting
he psychiatrist as an obvious step’?
The moment Charley talked about his coming across the non-
existent third level, everybody got alarmed and felt that he needed
to see a psychiatrist. Under the circumstances, it was plain and clear
that he should seek an expert's opinion to rule out any psychiatric
problem. Hence he terms it as 'an obvious step.'
Q. 4 Why did the psychiatrist's analysis make Louisa lose her temper
and how did the psychiatrist appease her?
Louisa and Charley were leading a happy married life. So, the wife
couldn't tolerate the psychiatrist's observation about Charley being
an unhappy man. However, her anger subsided when he moved on
to say that he was referring to modern man's unhappiness in
general.
Q. 5 What was Charley's state of mind as he comes back from the

office? Why did he decide to take the subway from the Grand
Central Station?
Having worked late at the office, Charley was fatigued and bored.
He wished to return to his loving wife, Louisa and to the comfort of
his home, as fast as possible. The bus would have taken longer to
cover the distance, so he decided to take the subway.
Q. 6 How did Charley reach the third level?

In his hurry to take a train back home, Charlie came to Grand
Central from Vanderbilt Avenue and took two flights of stairs to
191
reach the second level from where his train was to leave. He got
lost while ducking into an arched doorway, which led to the subway
and he found himself into a tunnel. The tunnel took him to another
flight of stairs at the end of which he found himself on the third
level at Grand Central Station.
Q. 7 What does 'the third level' symbolize?

Third Level symbolizes man's yearning to delve deeper into the
world of imagination as an escape from the world of harsh realities.
It stands for his quest for 'the fabulous ordinariness of a bygone
age' that was free from the modern razzle-dazzle, sophistication and
material comforts but exuded peace and tranquility.
Q. 8 What does Grand Central Station symbolize?

The Grand Central Station symbolizes the labyrinth that this world
is with its intricate and tangled pathways. The network of passages
is so complicated that rather than reaching the destination, one
keeps on moving up and down all one's life to look for entries and
exits.
Q. 9 'Now I don't know why this should have happened to me'. Charley
wondered why out of the whole tension-ridden world, he alone took
a flight to the 'third level'. Why do you think, it happened to him?
The level of sensitivity and power of imagination vary from person
to person. Caught in the web of monotony, dull routine and fast life,
Charley finds it difficult to cope with such a life. So on the wings of
imagination; he takes a flight to the non-existent world.
Q. 10 What does Charley compare Grand Central Station to? Why?

Charley compares Grand Central Station to a tree. Just like a tree
grows putting forth new leaves and branches and spreading its
roots, Grand Central Station seemed to him to be pushing out new
192
corridors and staircases. The comparison of the numerous

doorways, stairs and corridors of the station to the roots of the tree
is odd yet quite graphic and convincing.
Q. 11 Give a description of the 'third level'?

The general layout of the third level was more or less similar to that
of the second level. But it had comparatively smaller rooms, fewer
ticket windows and train gates. The information booth in the center
was wooden and it bore an old look. One could spot a small Currier
& Ives locomotive with a funnel-shaped stack on this level.
Everyone in the station was dressed like 'eighteen-ninety-
something.'
Q. 12 What sort of dresses and appearance did Charley come across on

the third level?
Charley came across men and women wearing 19 th Century dresses.
Men supported fancy moustaches, beards and sideburns. Tiny
lapels, four-button suits, derby hats and pocket gold watches
seemed to be in fashion. Women went about wearing fancy cut
sleeves, long skirts with high-buttoned shoes. Thus, at the third
level, Charley was puzzled to see people in old fashioned clothes
and hair-style.
Q. 13 If the third level was just a product of Charley's imagination, why

wasn't it rosier than reality?
Ordinarily imagination adds colour to reality and makes it look
larger than life. However, the non-existent third level was a
lackluster place because Charley's imagination took him to the past.
Somewhere at the back of his mind there was a yearning for the
fabulous ordinariness of the bygone days. He was looking for
193
tranquility and not any razzle-dazzle of the modern world. Hence it

lacked rosiness.
Q. 14 How did Charley confirm the specific date of the era that he had
passed into?
On reaching in third level, Charley was quite puzzled to see a
strange looking platform and an outdated locomotive. Even the
people seemed strange with their old-fashioned hair-styles, clothes
and shoes. To do a reality check, he looked at the newspapers on
sale at a kiosk and fond a copy of newspaper "The World" carrying
a lead story on President Cleveland. Clearly, he had got
'transported' to late 19th century. Later on, he confirmed from the
Public Library files that the newspaper was dated 11th June, 1994.
Q. 15 Why did Charley run back from the third level?

When Charley produced the modern currency to pay for the two
tickets to Galesburg the ticket clerk accused him of trying to cheat
and threatened to hand him over to the police. This made Charley
sense trouble and he turned away and got cut of the third level fast,
lest he was arrested and jailed.
Q. 16 Why could Charley not reach the third level again?

Charley could not reach the third level of Grand Central Station
because despite his best efforts he failed to locate the tunnel that
had taken him to this level earlier. A more rational explanation is
that he could never experience the same level of consciousness
which had transported him earlier to the third level of Grand
Central.
Q. 17 What do you understand by a first-day cover?

The value of a newly issued stamp increases if it has the postmark
of the date of issue on it. Therefore the stamp collectors buy new
194
stamps on the very first day of its sale and paste them on self-
addressed envelopes and post them. These envelopes are called the
first day covers. With just a blank paper enclosed inside, they are
never opened.
Q. 18 Why was Sam attracted towards Galesburg?

Sam, who was a typical city boy, was fascinated by Charley's
description of Galesburg, Illinois, as a wonderful town with big old
frame houses, huge lawns and tremendous trees lining the streets.
He was so bogged down by the tension and burden of modern life
that he thought of escaping to the 'peaceful world' of Galesburg of
1894 with long summer evenings and an easy going, peaceful life.
Q. 19 How did Charley come to know that Same hand found the third
level?
Charley came across first day cover that he had never seen in his
collection earlier. It had his grandfather's Galesburg address and it
contained a note written by Sam mentioning that he had found the
third level and was in Galesburg since two weeks. This was a solid
proof that Sam had found the third level.
Q. 20 Sam's letter to Charley from Galesburg showed that he was quite

happy there. He had taken a fancy to the quiet, simple and peaceful
life there away from the hurry and worry of New York. He liked the
way people enjoyed music, dance and socializing. It was a perfect
place for his hay feed and grain business. He even invites Charley
and Lousia to come over to Galesburg through the 'third level.'
Q. 21 Why did Sam buy eight hundred dollars of old-style currency?
What did he think of this bargain ?
What apparently seemed to be a foolish bargain was considered to
be very profitable by him as he had sold his materialistic earnings
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to buy fulfillment of his soul Moreover, eight hundred dollars was

enough to start hay, feed and grain business in Galesburg.
Q. 22 Why does Charley say, 'he (Sam) certainly can't go back to his old
business'?
Charley knew that though it was less profitable, the quiet business
of hay, feed and grain would given Sam a greater sense of
satisfaction. Moreover, being a psychiatrist he had no scope of
reverting to his own profession as in 1894 a psychiatrist would be
absolutely redundant. By 1894 the science of psychiatry was in its
infancy and psychiatrists were relatively unknown.
Q. 23 Do you think that the Third Level was a medium of escape for
Charley? Why?
War, Worry, insecurity and fear keep on gnawing at the modern
man's mind all the time. This helplessness and frustration leaves
man baffled and at a loss to know how to face life. It is then, that he
looks for 'a temporary refuge from reality.' Pursuit of hobbies like
stamp-collecting diverts his attention temporarily and gives him
some comfort.
The fast pace of life, overwork and subconscious apprehensions

had made Charley much too uneasy and restless. He yearned for
peace, tranquility and serenity. Like many and serenity. Like many
others, he too turned to philately but probably, the degree of relief
that this hobby provided, was not sufficient to calm him down
emotionally. Hence the redoubled efforts of his subconscious mind
for escape resulted in his flight to the third level-a level of
existence, which he associated with tranquility. His psychiatrist
friend, Sam, also diagnosed Charley's claim to have visited the third
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level, as 'a waking dream wish fulfillment.' Hence, the third level
was undoubtedly, medium of escape for Charley.
Q. 24 Bring out the contrast between the world the Charley lived in and
the one that he strayed into.
Charley lived in a world full of insecurity, fear, war and worry-a
world where the fast pace of life always left man running a race
against time. As a result everybody had in their mind, a desire for
escape. The world that he strayed into, on the other hand, lacked in
sophistication of the modern world but it was free from the
complexities of the modern life Simplicity, Tranquility, peace and
serenity pervaded this world. People lived in big old farm houses
with sprawling lawns. The streets were lined on both sides with
massive trees with their branches forming a canopy. People had
ample leisure time and liked to socialize with each other. There was
no mad rush and the world was not torn with war. In fact, even the
First World War was two decades away. The two worlds of Charley,
thus stood in complete contrast with each other.
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2.THE TIGER KING

-Kalki
As soon as the Tiger King was born, astrologers have foretold that one day he
would actually have to die. The chief astrologer predicted that the death of the
Tiger King would come from a tiger. He must be particularly careful with the
hundredth tiger. At the age of twenty the Maharaja started out on a tiger hunt.
His tiger hunt was highly successful and he was able to kill ninety-nine tigers.
There remained just one more tiger to complete his tally of hundred. On the
third birthday of his son, he brought a wooden tiger for his son. While playing
with that tiny little wooden tiger, one of the slivers pierced his right hand.
Infection flared in his hand he died after an unsuccessful operation. In this
way, the hundredth tiger took its final revenge upon the Tiger King.
Q. 25 Who was the Tiger King? Why did he get that name?
His Highness jamedar-General, Khiledar-Major, Sata Vyaghra
Samhari, Maharajadhiraja Visva Bhuvana Samrat, Sir Jilani Jung
Jung Bahadur, M.A.D., A.C.T.C. or C.R.C.K. who is the Maharaja
of Pratibanhapuram was better known as the 'Tiger King' because
he was crazy about killing tigers and had killed one hundred tigers
just to disprove an astrological prediction. Moreover, he was as
ferocious as a tiger.
Q. 26 Why do you think, the author goes into detailed identification of the
Tiger King through a variety of titles?
Does he really mean to honour him?
Kalki, the author of the story, has no intention of praising the king,
Infact, immediately after addressing him with a variety of titles, he
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brings an anticlimax by telling his readers that his name is

'shortened to the Tiger King'.Here is a perfect example of pathos.
Q. 27 Why does the author introduce the supernatural element in the story
and makes a child of ten days to speak?
The author introduces the supernatural element by making child of
ten days to speak to impress upon the reader that the prince is a
prodigious child and has extraordinary power. However, the strange
ending of the story tells us that the divine dictates must prevail.
Q. 28 Why does the ten-day-old prince Jung Jung Bahadur utter the
words "Let tiger beware"
When the astrologers predicted that death would come to the new
born future king of Pratibandapuram through a tiger, the new-born
prince growled, "Let tigers beware!". What he meant to say was
that he would not be afraid of tigers. Instead tigers would be afraid
of him when he grew up for he would wipe them out to disprove
the astrologer's prediction. Indeed when he comes of age he does
wreak havoc on the tiger population of his own kingdom and that of
his father-in-law.
Q. 29 Do you think the author of the story "The Tiger King" has faith in
astrology? Give reasons in support of your answer.
The State astrologer believes that '' the hour of the bull’’. Taurus,
the sign under which the prince is born and Tiger (Leo) are
enimical towards each other. So the prince should beware of tigers.
The king's death through a tiger shows that Kalki believes in
astrology.
Q. 30 What is the significance of child's utterance "Let tigers bewared"?

Do you find some oddity here?
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The statement "Let tigers beware!" becomes significant because

when the prince grows up he really becomes a terror for tigers and
in a short span of about fifteen years kills ninety-nine of them. The
oddity lies in the fact that a child barely ten days old speaks these
words.
Q. 31 What is the underlying idea behind the author's detailed description

of the bringing up of the Tiger King?
The princes during the pre-partition days almost all over India were
brought up on purely English lines because the Britishers wielded a
great deal of influence on the functioning of the princely states and
they wanted to impress upon them that only things belonging to the
English are the best and worth emulating. The author here satirizes
and ridicules the attitude of the Indian royalty.
Q. 32 Do you agree with the Maharaja's statement, "You may kill even a
cow in self-defence?" Did the king kill tigers purely in self-
defence?
The Maharaja's argument that one may kill even a cow in self-
defence is certainly justified and tenable. But the Maharaja did not
kill tigers in self-defence. He killed them with the express intention
of proving the State astrologer's prediction wrong which is
unreasonable and illogical.
Q. 33 What did the State astrologer say he would do if the hundredth tiger
were also killed?
The state astrologer was so sure of the veracity of his prediction
that he announced that he would cut off his ceremonial tuft, crop
his hair short and become an insurance agent if the king was able to
kill the hundredth tiger, too. The import of his words was that it was
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inevitable that the Maharaja's death would be caused by the

hundredth tiger.
Q. 34 Do you find any moral lesson in the warning given by the

astrologer against killing the hundredth tiger?
The astrologer's warning contains the moral lesson that there is a
limit to committing a sin. The Maharaja's cup of sin was full to the
brim with the death of the ninety-ninth tiger. So, the death of the
hundredth tiger was bound to be catastrophic.
Q. 35 Do you find any element of irony in the statement. "It was

celebration time for all the tigers inhabiting Pratibandhapuram?
kalki writes that, "It was celebration time" for the tigers of the State
because tiger hunting by anyone except the Maharaja was banned.
A proclamation issued to this effect stated that if anyone dared to
even fling a stone at a tiger, his entire wealth and properties would
be confiscated. However it was no celebration time for the tigers
because the king indulged in systematic wiping out of the tigers.
Thus the statement is ironical.
Q. 36 Comment briefly on the relations between the king and his subjects
citing instances from the story "The Tiger King."
There was no love lost between the king and his subjects. The king
was eccentric and whimsical and did not care for the welfare of his
subjects. Most of the officers and minion too were not really loyal
to the king and were busy grindling their own axe. That they were
cowards and obeyed him only out of fear can be proved by the
hunters decision to hide the truth about the death of hundredth tiger
and the dewan letting loose an old tiger in the forest for the king to
hunt, lest he (the dewan) lost his job.
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Q. 37 What did the high-ranking British officer wish to do? Was his wish
fulfilled?
The high ranking British officer wanted to kill a tiger to flaunt his
dare-devilry in front of his compatriots. In reality he was a
cowardly man. When he was denied the permission or hunting he
sent a word to the king that he would be quite happy if he was
allowed to get photographed with the dead body of a tiger killed by
a king. However, his wish remained unfulfilled.
Q. 38 Why did the Maharaja and the dewan of the state decide to send
gifts of expensive diamond rings to the Duraisani? How did the
Maharaja manage to save his throne?
The Maharaja had annoyed the visiting senior British officer over
the issue of tiger-hunting and 'stood in danger of losing his
kingdom itself.' So, the Maharaja and the dewan decided to placate
and pacify the officer through bribe by sending gifts of expensive
diamond rings to the 'Duraisani', the wife of the British officer.
Contrary to the kings' expectation, the lady kept all the rings and
sent him a note of thanks. Thus the Maharaja, though poorer by
three lakh rupees, managed to save his throne.
Q. 39 Why did the Maharaja's tiger killing mission come to a sudden

standstill?
What happened when the Tiger King had killed seventy tigers?
Within ten years Maharaja's tiger hunting spree had resulted in the
killing of seventy tigers however his tiger killing mission came to a
sudden standstill because the tiger population became extinct in the
forests of Pratibandapuram. Kalki jokingly remarks that the reason
for the disappearance of the tigers was that either they were
practicing birth control of committing hara-kiri or had probably fled
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from the forests of Pratibandapuram as they wanted to be killed by

the British hands only.
Q. 40 When the tiger king broaches the topic of marriage, what does the
dewan mean to convey by saying that the kings' "ancestors were
married to the sword."
Even in the state of mortal fear and bafflement, the dewan does not
fail to pay his compliments to the valour of the king's ancestors,
who were all brave warriors and skilled swordsmen and advises the
king to marry his gun i.e. be as valorous as his ancestors.
Q. 41 Why did the Maharaja suddenly decide to marry? Whom did he

wish to marry ?
What did the Maharaja do to find the required number of tiger to
kill?
The Maharaja suddenly decided to marry because firstly, he was of

marriageable age and secondly, he wanted to kill thirty more tigers
in his father in law's state in order to complete the tally of hundred
tigers. For this reason he wished to marry a girl in the royal family
of a state with a large tiger population.
Q. 42 Explain : "It seemed easier to find tiger's milk than a live tiger".
Milking a tiger is next to impossible for he beast would kill anyone
who dares to do so before he could reach anywhere near themilk
bag. Thus the expression to milk a tiger is used of a pice of work or
situation that is impossible. Kalki uses a hyperbole to suggest in a
comical way that finding a tiger in Pratibandapuram was more
unlikely than the possibility of milking one.
Q. 43 What were the two restricting outside forces that checked the kings
in those days from doing exactly what they wished ?
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The two outside restricting forces were the Britishers and the Indian
National Congress. The kings could not afford to annoy the
Britishes for fear of losing kingdom, and in the event of excessive
discontentment among their subjects they could fall a prey to the
Indian National Congress.
Q. 44 Why did Maharaja order the dewan to double the land tax ? How
did the dewan respond to this order ?
The Maharaja called the dewan and ordered him to immediately
double the tax of the villagers who had informed him of a tiger in
the forest because despite his best efforts he was unable to locate
the beast. This infuriated and frustrated the Maharaja.
The dewan was terrified out of his wits and requested the king to
review his orders because the doubling of taxes would result in
widespread is contentment among the people and there was a grave
danger of the State falling a prey to the Indian National Congress.
Q. 45 Why and how did the dewan take the tiger the tiger into the forest ?
The dewan had hidden at his home an old tiger which had been
brought from the People's park in Madras. He feared that if the
Maharaja did not get a tiger to hunt, the result would be
catastrophic and he would lose his job. Therefore he and his aged
wife dragged the tiger to their car, shoved it into the seat and took it
straight to the forest where the Maharaja was hunting.
Q. 46 Do you think the prediction made by the State astrologer "was

indisputable disproved"?
Give reason in support of your answer.
The State astrologer's prediction came out to be true, without doubt.

He had made two predictions, firstly, the prince is born in the hour
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of the Bull and "death comes" to him "from the tiger". At the later
stage he warned the king against killing the hundredth tiger. Both
the predictions came true.
Q. 47 Why does the king think of giving up tiger hunting after his
hundredth victim?
The capricious and the whimsical king resorted to tiger hunting
with the express intention of proving the State astrologer wrong.
Moreover, he was aware of the dangers involved in tiger hunting,
so he decided to stop tiger hunting after his hundredth victim.
Q. 48 How did the Maharaja feel on killing the hundredth tiger? How did
he decide to celebrate it ?
Why was the Maharaja overcome with elation when he thought he
had killed the hundredth tiger ?
The Maharaja was overcome with elation on having killed the

hundredth tiger because his vow had been fulfilled. By killing the
hundredth tiger, he thought the prophecy about his death had been
disproved. On his command, the dead body of the hundredth tiger
was taken in a grand procession through the town and buried. A
tomb was erected over it.
Q. 49 What did the hunter decide to do when they realized that the tiger
was not dead and why ?
or
Who actually killed the hundredth tiger ? Why ?
On finding out that the aged tiger had not die of the Maharaja's
bullet but had only fainted from the loud report of gun, the hunters
decided that the Maharaja should not come to know that he had
missed the mark. They feared that they would lose their jobs if the
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Maharaja came to know of the fact. So, one of the hunters shod
dead the tiger from a point of black range.
Q. 50 Why did the king go to a shopping center in Pratibandapuram ?

What did he buy there ? or What did the Maharaja but as birthday
gift for his son ?
The Tiger King went to the shopping center to buy a birthday
present for his three-year-old son. He wished to give his son a very
special gift on his third birthday. He bought a wooden toy tiger as a
perfect birthday gift for his son.
Q. 51 How did the king's arm become seriously infected ?

The King's arm had got infected from a prick caused by one of the
slivers on the wooden tiger. In one day, the infection got flared in
the Maharaja's right hand and in four days it developed into a
suppurating sore which spread all over the arm.
Q. 52 What are you comments about the life led by the minions ? Were
they loyal to their king or they just feigned to be so? Can a parallel
be drawn between them and the state of affairs in the modern
Indian political set up?
or
How would you describe the behaviour of the Maharaja's minions

toward him? Do you find them truly sincere towards him or are
they driven by fear when they obey him ? Do we find similarity in
today's political order ?
The ruling Indian class during the British regime was often
ruthless, atrocious, eccentric, whimsical and conceited. They were
idiosyncratic and refused to see reason. The Tiger King in no
exception. The king feels happy when he is informed about the
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presence of tiger would have completed his mission of killing the

hundredth tiger. He immediately announces a three year exemption
from all taxes for the villagers, but when the tiger is not traced for a
few days he thinks of doubling the taxes with immediate effect. The
mounting fury of the king at his failure makes many officers lose
their jobs. As a matter of fact there is no love lost between the king
and their subjects. Under such circumstances one can't expect the
minions and the officers to be sincere to the king.
The officers obey the king not because he is the sovereign authority
but because they are cowards and fear they would come to harm if
they disobeyed the king. They fawn before him obsequiously lest
the king dismisses them or have them arrested or killed, should they
earn his wrath and displeasure. For example, the dewan, in order to
save his job, brings an old tiger for the king to hunt and fulfill his
vow. Likewise the hunters choose not to inform him of the survival
of his hundredth victim and instead themselves kill it from a point
blank range fearing the king would be very furious if they broke the
news to him. Even the state astrologer is afraid of predicting the
king's death, till the king himself tells him to 'speak without fear'.
Thus most of the officers including the dewan are mere time servers
and air at grinding their own axe.
The situation today is virtually the same. Everybody in the ruling

class and the serving class is busy serving his own end Noody
exhibits the courage to bring forth the truth and ......... and
sycophancy are the order of the day. Hence a clear cut parallel can
be very conveniently drawn between then and now.
Q. 53 How did the Tiger King meet his end ?

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The wooden toy tiger the king had got as a birthday present for his
son had been carved by an unskilled carpenter. It had a rough
surface with tiny slivers of wood standing up like quills all over it.
One of those slivers pierced the Maharaja's right hand and although
the king pulled it, his arm got infected. In four days, it developed
into suppurating sore and spread all over the arm. The king died
while being operated upon.
The King's death is ironical but not surprising for the reader who is,
in fact, looking forward to it. Having 'killed' the hundredth tiger the
king is jubilant for he has fulfilled his vow and disproved the
prediction of the royal astrologer. He is now at ease for he think, he
cannot die of a tigers' attack. No wonder, he orders the 'dead' tiger
to be taken in a procession through the town and gets a tomb
erected over it. All this while he does not know that the hundredth
victim was not killed by him but by other hunters. That is indeed
quite ironical. Death is lurking around him and the king is unaware
of it. Again, it is ironical that a king who has killed one hundred
tigers and is bold and fearless dies of a mere 'sliver' on the body of
a wooden tiger. Thus, nemesis overtakes the king ultimately and
ironically death does come to him from a tiger.
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3.JOURNEY TO THE END OF THE EARTH

-Tishani Doshi
In the present chapter in "Journey to the End of the Earth" writer Tishani
Doshi is describing the journey to the coldest, driest and windiest continent
Antarctica in the world. According to the author Antarctica is a place that
trapped the world's Antarctica history. Even it provides inspiring educational
opportunities to the students also. It is a place to go to understand the earth's
present, past and future.
Q. 54 How did the author reach Antarctica? What hurdles did she have to
cross?
Ans The author reached Antarctica after travelling over hundred hours.
She had to travel by a car, an aero plane and a ship, 'Akademik
Shokalskiy'. In the process she had to cross nine time zones, six
checkpoints, three bodies of water and at least as many ecospheres.
Q. 55 According to your, what is the significance of the author's giving

details about the various hurdles crossed by the "Akademik
Shokalskiy" before reaching Antarctica?
The details of the hurdles like time zones, checkpoint, water bodies
etc. highlight the arduousness of the journey, which in turn raise the
curiosity of the reader to know more and more about the Antarctic
region.
Q. 56 What were the first emotions of Doshi on reaching Antarctica?

Why?
Ans On reaching Antarctica, Doshi's first emotion was relief to see its
expansive white landscape and uninterrupted blue horizon. The
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feeling of relief was followed by profound wonder at Antarctica's

immensity, its isolation and its strange relationship with India.
Q. 57 How would you describe Gondwana?

Ans Gondwana was a huge amalgamated super continent in the South
that circled around the present day Antarctica, six hundred and fifty
million years ago when human beings had not evolved as yet. The
present day India and South America continent are breakaway parts
of this continent. It had warm climate and thrived for 500 millions
of years, but change as we know is the law of nature. The entire
planet must have suffered sudden cataclysm (violent disaster)
resulting in Gondwana's disintegration and formation of present day
India, the Himalayas and the South America.
Q. 58 In your opinion, What could be the reason for the disintegration of

Gondwana?
Ans Gondwana Flourished for millions of years, but change as we know
is the law of nature. The entire planet must have suffered sudden
cataclysm (violent disaster) resulting in Gondwana's disintegration
and formation of present day India, the Himalayas and the South
America.
Q. 59 In what respect, Tishani Doshi's encounter with Antarctica is a

chilling prospect?
Ans For a sun-baked South Indian like Tishani, being face to face with
ninety percent of earth's total ice volume was a mind-boggling and
chilling prospect. It had a chilling effect not only on the blood
circulation and her metabolic functions, but also for her
imagination.
Q. 60 What makes Tishani Doshi write that she felt as if she was walking
into a giant ping-pong ball?
210
Ans Conditioned by the crowded streets of Madras, swarmed by

countless head of men and women and the riot of colours all round,
Doshi finds herself face to face with the whiteness of ice and its
plain smoothness, devoid of malls and billboards in just about
hundred hours of journey. Thus, her comparison of the snowy
surroundings with the whiteness and the smoothness of a ping-pong
ball is most appropriate.
Q. 61 Why does the author feel that the 'prognosis' for the human being is
not healthy?
What is the impact of human civilization on earth?
Ans Man has committed the unpardonable sin of defiling mother

earth. His dominance over nature, coupled with over population and
the’ unmitigated burning of fossil fuel" is creating a thick blanket of
carbon dioxide around earth, which is hazardous and life
threatening for all the flora and fauna.
The resultant increase in average global temperature, depleting

resources, receding glaciers, collapsing ice shelves and increasing
townships have only aggravated the problem. The future of
mankind, in fact, all life on earth is bleak. Hence, the author is
correct in saying that the prognosis for man is not encouraging and
healthy.
Q. 62 What are the indications for the future of mankind?

Ans Ever increasing villages, town, cities and mega cities, depleting
ozone and increasing carbon dioxide and global warming, melting
ice caps and shield - these and scores of other similar indicators
point to a grim future for mankind, indeed all life on earth. If
drastic steps are not taken immediately at the global level, the
world may be staring in the face of its inevitable end, too soon.
211
Q. 63 Why do you think Tishani Doshi considered her programmme

"Students on Ice" a success?
Ans It was on reaching Antarctica that Doshi felt really alarmed about
the threat of global warming when she saw with her own eyes the
polar ice-caps melting, the glaciers retreating and the ice shelves
collapsing. Hence the programme has been really educative for all,
and thus was a success.
Q. 64 How would your describe the process of photosynthesis?

Ans Energy is an essential constituent of flora as well as fauna. The
term photosynthesis is related to plants and it is the process with the
help of which they convert water and carbon into food by using
energy from the sunlight.
Q. 65 What will be the ill-effect of further depletion of ozone layer? or

What are phytoplanktons? In what way are they useful? Or
In what way can the further depletion of ozone layer disrupt the
entire food chain of the South Seas?
Ans Depletion of ozone layer, which protects us from the sun's harmful
rays, will adversely affect the activities of the phytoplanktons.
These single-celled plants nourish and sustain the food chain of
entire Southern Ocean and use the sun's energy to assimilate carbon
and synthesize compounds. Any further depletion in the ozone layer
will hamper their activity, which in turn is going to stand in the way
of the growth of marine animals and birds, and the global carbon
cycle.
Q. 66 In what respect is Tishani Doshi's experience of Antarctica full of

epiphanies?
212
Ans 'Epiphany' is a Christian festival in memory of the Magi visiting

baby Christ on January six every year. The Magi brought
memorable gifts for the baby. Doshi too goes back with memories
of Antarctica; she is never going to forget. So, her visit was an
epiphany.
Q. 67 At 65.666 degrees south, the 'Shokalskiy' could go no further. What

prevented the ship to go any further? What did the Captain instruct
all the passengers to do?
Ans At 65.666 degrees south, the 'Shokalskiy' could go no further
because it had got wedged into a thick white stretch of ice between
the peninsula and Tadpole Island. The Captain decided to turn
around and head back north but before that he instructed all aboard
to climb down the gangplank and walk on the ocean. Everyone
enjoyed this unique experience.
Q. 68 Why is it necessary to remain fully equipped while walking on ice?

Base you answer on the details of the kit given by the author?
Ans While walking on ice the troupe was fully kitted out with Gore-Tex
(type of spiked boots that help in walking on ice) and glares (sun
glasses). The spiked boots protect us from falling down on ice
which might result in injury and the glares protect the eyes because
the sun glare can injure our eyes particularly the retina.
Q. 69 Does your study of the article give you a feeling that man is his
own great enemy?
Ans In his 12,000 year long stint on the Earth so far Man has caused
untold harm to th planet, its environment and bio-diversity. His
activities and the so called progress of his civilization has spelt
doom for the flora and fauna so much so that his own existence is
endangered. If the ozone layer is depleting, global warming is
213
increasing, polar ice is melting, glaciers are receding, floods are

droughts are recurrent; Man is to blame for all this. Thus, it is not
unfair to say that man is his own great enemy-an impression we
form from Doshi's article "Journey to the End of the World."
Q. 70 "It was nothing short of a revelation: everything does indeed

connect. "What revelation is Doshi talking about?
Ans The scene of Crabeater seals stretching and sunning on ice floes
where Doshi and her school students landed on the Antarctica was a
revelation for her. Human beings and seals were as close to each
other as stray dogs are close to us in our towns and villages. Human
existence and the survival of 'all other species, is interrelated and
interdependent. The sooner Man learns this, the better.
Q. 71 "The world's geological history is trapped in Antarctica." How is

the study of this region useful to us?
Ans Antarctica landmass, which was an amalgamated southern super
copntinent called Gondwana-dates back to six hundred and fifty
million (10, 00,000 x 650) years. This landmass centered around
present day Antarctica. Human being was non-existent then for
their civilization is merely 12,000 years old. The climate then was
quite warm and the landmass flourished with a large variety of flora
and fauna. However, at a later stage when the dinosaurs got wiped
out and mammals began to appear, the landmass disintegrated into
countries and India, the Himalayas and the South America were
form and got fixed in their present position. This left Antarctica
frigid and desolate at the bottom of the earth. Today, it holds key to
the significance of cordilleran folds and pre-Cambrian granite
shields, ozone and carbon layers as well as evolution and
extinction. It can help us understand better the formation of
214
continents and mountains like the Himalayas as we find them in the

modern world.
Q. 72 What is Geoff Green’s reason for including high school students in

the "Students on Ice" expedition?
Ans Since the school student's impressionistic minds are more ready to
absorb, learn and most importantly act, Geoff Green thought of
taking high school students on a voyage to Antarctica. His aim was
to help the students study and examine the Earth's past, present and
future. The programme provided them with inspiring educational
opportunities so that the future generation of policy makes could
through this life changing experience foster a new understanding
and respect for their planet.
Q. 73 Why is Antarctica the place to go to, to understand the earth's

present, past and future?
Ans Six hundred and fifty million years ago the present day Antarctica
was surrounded by a giant amalgamated southern supercontinent
called Gondwana. Thus Antarctica belongs to ancient geological era
when human beings had not yet evolved, the climate was warm in
the continent and supported a huge variety of flora and fauna. The
dinosaurs had been wiped out and mammals were beginning to
evolve. At this juncture, the Gondwana got separated into countries
and shaped the globe as we see it today.
Today Antarctica, the mysterious white continent on the South Pole

holds the key to the past present and future of the planet. It is in a
way responsible for the formation of Cordilleran folds and pre-
Cambrian granite shields as well as the appearance of South
America, India and Himalayas on the face of the earth.
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No human markers - billboards and building are to be seen here, yet

this continent is live and kicking with a variety of living species
like the penguins, seals, midges and mites existing there and
countless marine species thriving in the salt water under its sheet of
ice.
Since the planet is unravaged by human population, and

civilization, it remains relatively pristine. Its ice-cores hold more
than half-million-year-old carbon records which are so crucial for
the study of the past, present and future of our planet. Thus it is a
perfect place to study how little changes in the environment can
have big repercussions. Thus, Tishani Doshi is very right when she
say, "If we want to study and examine the earth's past, present and
future, Antarctica is the place is to go".
4.THE ENEMY
-Pearl.S. Buck
It is the time of the World War II. Japan is at war with America. An American
prisoner of war gets washed away to the doorstep of a Japanese doctor Sadao.
The choice is very hard for Dr Sadao and his wife. Should they hand him over
to the police or save him from dying? Being a doctor, Sadao gives top priority
to save the life of a dying man. Not only does he save him but also helps in
escaping to freedom.
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Q. 74 Who was Dr Sadao ? Where was his house situated?

Dr Sadao was a renowned Japanese surgeon trained in America and
equally noted scientist who was perfecting a discovery which
would render wounds entirely clean. His 'square stone house' was
situated on rocks above a narrow beach that was outlined with bent
pines.
Q. 75 Give two reasons why Dr Sadao was not sent abroad with the
Japanese troops?
Dr Sadao was not sent abroad with the Japanese troops firstly
because the General was ailing and might need an operation any
time and secondly because Sadao was perfecting a discovery which
was likely to "render wounds entirely clean". So his presence in
Japan was indispensable.
Q. 76 Sadao "had waited to fall in love with her (Hana), until he was sure
she was Japanese." Why did his do so?
Sadao's father was a downright Japanese traditionalist. If Sadao had
made a wrong choice regarding marriage, his father would never
have given his assent to the marriage and would have never
forgiven Sadao. Sadao loved and respected his father and did not
want to annoy him. So he waited to make sure about Hana's identity
and did not want to marry her in a hurry in America without getting
his father's approval.
Q. 77 Who was the 'misty figure' that had been washed ashore in front of
Dr Sadao's beach house". How did the doctor and his wife establish
his identity?
Ans The 'misty figure' that had been washed ashore in front of Dr
Sadao's house was an American prisoner of war was fatally
wounded. It appeared that he had been badly tortured and shot and
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his flesh had been scraped by the dangerous spiky rocks near the
shore. Dr Sadao and his wife were able to establish his identity as a
U.S. sailor from the faint lettering on his battered cap that spelled
'U.S. Navy.'
Q. 78 Why did blood start flowing out of the wounded man as soon as
Sadao touched the wound with his fingers?
Ans The blood started flowing freshly from the wound as soon as the
doctor touched it because it was a gun shot wound which had
not been tended for quite sometime and had reopened as the rocks
on the shore had torn it further apart.
Q. 79 How and why did Dr Sadao stop the bleeding of the injured man on
the beach? What dilemma did Dr Sadao and his wife have to face
soon after?
Ans Medical instinct and ethics made Dr Sadao stanch the bleeding of
the American prisoner of war. He immediately packed the wound
with the help of wild sea moss to stop the bleeding momentarily.
But soon he and his wife found themselves in a dilemma-should

they save the mortally wounded man or hand him over as a
prisoner, for he belonged to an enemy country.
Q. 80 What makes Hana comment? "We must think of the children and
your position'?
Ans Hana is a devoted house wife and fears that the presence of the
American prisoner in their house could lead to their arrest as
traitors and bring shame for the family. It could also adversely
affect the children's future and the doctors' career. So she expresses
strong reservation about sheltering the American in their home.
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Q. 81 What makes Dr Sadao comment, "This man must have

extraordinary vitality"?
Ans The American prisoner of war was bullet-ridden and his survival
under all adverse conditions was nothing short of a miracle. Any
otherman would have collapsed due to gaping wounds, excessive
bleeding and excruciating pain. So the doctor rightly says that the
man has 'extraordinary vitality.'
Q. 82 Why do you thing Hana believes that the man (the American
P.W.W.) is a 'menace, living or dead'.
Ans By bringing the American prisoner of war in the house, Dr. Sadao
have given shelter to an enemy. Now whether be dies or survives,
they have rendered themselves liable for punishment. If he dies
Sadao will have failed as a doctor and if he survives, the doctor can
be arrested on charges of harbouring an enemy. Thus, Hana rightly
fears that under all circumstance the American is a menace.
Q. 83 "Could it ever be well to help an enemy"? What does you reading

of the story " The Enemy" tell you ?
Ans All the servants in the Sadaos household are critical of the
American's presence in the house which sets Hana thinking about
the wisdom of their decision to save and shelter Tom, the American
prisoner of war. But viewed from humanitarian grounds, the
decision to shelter the enemy, treat and nurse him was justified.
Q. 84 How did Hana wash the wounded man? Why did she have to do it
herself?
Ans After laying the wounded man's breast bare by untying the knotted
rugs, Hana soaked the small clean 'towel' with hot water and
washed the wounded man's face and body carefully. She kept on
washing him until his upper body was quite clean.
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Hana had to do all this herself because Yumi, the children's nurse
had categorically refused to wash a 'dirty white man'.
Do you agree with the observation of the American professor,

'Ignorance of the human body the surgeon's cardinal sin’?
I do agree with this observation. A surgeon's main field of activity

is the human body and if he does not have its thorough knowledge,
he has no right to operate on it and if he does so, he is committing a
"cardinal sin." It is nothing short of committing a virtual murder.
Q. 85 Why does Dr Sadao mutter the words 'My friend’ while treating the
American prisoner of war?
Ans What is ironical about his words? When one is deeply engrossed in
one's work, one becomes oblivious of the surroundings and often
mutters a few words aloud. It is often something going on in one's
mind. Dr Sadao also mutters the words 'My friends' in a similar
manner to the nearly unconscious American prisoner he is operating
upon. It is Dr Sadao's habit to murmur to his patients. All doctors
are trained to talk to their patients to elicit response from them and
to comfort them.
Q. 86 Give details of the two things that happened on the seventh day
after the wounded American was brought into the house by Sadao.
Ans On the seventh day two important things happened as far as the
Sadaos were concerned. Firstly, all the servants gathered their
belongings and departed in the morning without having discharged
their duties. Secondly, in the afternoon, Hana saw a uniformed
messenger enter the house with the General's message.
Q. 87 Why did messenger come to call Sadao? What did Hana think
about the visit of the messenger?
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Ans The messenger had called on Dr Sadao to inform him that the old
General was in pain again and needed his care. However, Hana
thought that the servants had betrayed them and the messenger had
come there to arrest them for sheltering as American.
Q. 88 Why does the General not want to be treated by a doctor trained in

Germany?
Ans According to the General, the Germans are ruthless and don't care
much about human life whereas the Americans are sentimental and
value life so he does not want to be treated by the doctors trained in
Germany and prefer Dr Sadao because of his dexterity as a surgeon
and his humaneness.
Q. 89 How did the General offer to help Sadao get rid of the American?
Ans The General offered to send his own private assassins to Sadao's
house to help him get rid of the American. He further informed the
doctor that they were capable assassins, and without much aid and
noise would kill the man by causing internal bleeding. They would
also dispose of the body, he assured Sadao.
Q. 90 What is an absolute state? Why was it necessary for the ruler to

keep assassins?
Ans An absolute state is an autocratic dictatorial state ruled by a despot
(a ruler with absolute power) where opposition of any kind is not
tolerated. Japan, during the days of the Second World War was an
absolute state and it was necessary for the rulers to keep assassins
to silence and wipe off discontent or opposition against their
dictates.
Q. 91 Why was Sadao not able to talk to the General about the assassins
for quite some time?
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Ans Dr Sadao was not able to speak to the General about the assassins
as he had been operated upon and the doctor was not sure whether
the patient would survive or not as his gall bladder was much
involved. However, when the General recovered after a week, there
was no need to talk about them as the American prisoner had been
made to escape by him.
Q. 92 Why did Sadao feel that the General was in the palm of his hand?
Ans Dr Sadao felt that the General was in the palm of his hand i.e. he
was under his control because he was indispensable for the
General's well-being and survival. The General did not trust any
other doctor. Thus, Dr Sadao safely confides in the General's well-
being and survival. The General did not trust any other doctor. He
knows that if he is arrested and tried for saving and sheltering an
enemy sailor, the General will in his own interest, see to it that no
harm comes to Dr Sadao. He feels that he is safe in informing the
General of the American prisoner's presence at his home.
Q. 93 Gazing out to the sea from where the young man had come, Sadao
was reminded of some other white men he had known. Who were
they and what did Sadao remember about them?
Ans As Dr Sadao stood gazing at the sea, after the wounded American's
escape he is remembered of a few persons he had met during his
stay in America. He is reminded of the dull professor and his silly
talkative wife where he had met Hana; his anatomy professor who
insisted on 'mercy with the knife' and his fat and slatternly landlady.
Q. 94 If you were Dr Sadao, what would you have done to the American
Sailor?
Ans I would have also done all I could to save the sailor from the jaws
of death. Once he was fully recovered, I would have handed him
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over to the police to let the law decide his fate. This way I would
have been true to both my profession and my country.
Q. 95 There are moments in life when we have to make hard choices

between our roles as private individuals and as citizens with a sense
of national loyalty. Discuss with reference to the story you have just
read.
Ans Sometimes an individual finds himself face to face with the
predicament of choosing between the needs of a helpless person
and his duties towards his country. The dilemma brings about
conflict of interest in this mind and he finds himself in Dr Sadao's
situation. As citizens of Japan, The Sadaos are expected to be loyal
to their country and thus surrender the American fugitive 'prisoner
of war' to the police, but there is a world beyond a narrow vision.
The doctor in Sadao cannot allow the wounded Tom to die in front
of his eye, if he can save him.
5.SHOULD WIZARD HIT MOMMY?

-John Updike
In 'Should Wizard Hit Mommy?" John Updike presents the worldview of a

little child. Jo warmly responds to her father's story-telling. But she can't
excuse Roger Skunk's mother for making poor little Roger smell bad again.
Her hero must smell like roses and must not stink at any cost. So she wants
her father to make a little change in the story. She wants him to tell a different
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story in which the wizard takes a magic wand and hits Roger Skunk's
mommy.
Q. 96 Father has felt empty after two years of story telling to Jo. What
idea do you form about his skill in the art of story telling ?
It would be wrong to say that Jo's father is a bad story teller. In fact,
with all his histrionics, sound effects and gestures, he is quite
effective in the art. His only problem is that his stories lack variety
and he ends up telling the same old story again and again with
slight variation here and there. He feels empty because he has been
telling stories for over two years now and has quite naturally run
short of ideas.
Q. 97 Do you think the father in the story is, more or less, an alter ego of
the author, as far as the childhood is concerned?
John Updike's childhood was tortured by 'psoriasis' and stammering
and he had to suffer humiliation and ridicule at the hands of his
classmates on account of this. Like him, Jo's father too recalls
certain moments of 'humiliation of his own childhood. ''Thus the
father more or less, was an alter ego of the author.''
Q. 98 What was Roger Skunk's problem? How did he get rid of it?
Roger Skunk was a delightful child. His only problem was that
he smelled awful. As a result nobody liked to befriend him and play
with him. He got rid of his bad smell with the help of wizard who
cast a magic spell to change the smell into that of roses.
Q. 99 Why did the woodland creatures avoid Roger Skunk ? How did
their behaviour affect Roger ?
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The woodland creatures avoided Roger Skunk because of his awful

smell. As soon as they saw him coming they would cry "Uh-oh,
here comes Roger Stinky Skunk and they would run away. Roger
Skunk would stand there all alone and weep silently.
Q. 100How was Jo affected by Jack's story telling ?

Jo would be immensely engrossed in the story. She liked the way
her father used to tell story particularly his dramatization of it,
through gestures and changing voices. She also liked the
predictable way the story would unfold for it allowed her to make
guesses, draw conclusions and ask questions. The whole world of
the story would come alive before her and she would twitch and
turn in excitement as the story progressed.
Q5 This was a new phase, just this last month. 'What new phase is
referred to here in the story "Should Wizard Hit
Mommy"?
Children's physical and mental growth is very speedy. Earlier Jo

used to accept father's word about magic etc, but now she has
started having apprehensions about such spells. She has become
more inquisitive and less credulous.
Q. 101What impression do you form about the little girl Jo when she
protests against her father's mistake of using the name Roger Fish
for Roger Skunk?
Joe, Like all children has a flair for listening to stories in rapt
attention. In fact she creates in her mind a simultaneous visual
image of the story her father is narrating to her. So, she can easily
detect any deviations or an error made by her father and does not
hesitate to check and confront him.
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Q. 102Why does the wizard instruct the Skunk to "Hurry up"?

The wizard asks Skunk to hurry up because he is used to living
alone and does not like company for a long time and secondly he
was keen to have his full payment for the task performed. Another
reason can be that he could not stand Skunk's smell for long.
Q. 103How did the woodland creatures react to the Skunk's new smell?
What did Skunk feel about the new change ?
The woodland creatures found Roger Skunk's new smell to be ''so
good''. They gladly took him in their fold as a friend and played
with him many games. Naturally, Roger was happy to have been
accepted by others as their friend Moreover, his inferiority complex
had disappeared.
Q. 104After the Skunk started smelling of roses Jo "thought the story was
all over." Why did she think so ?
Viewed from a child's angle, Skunk's smelling of roses is a befitting
ending for the story, because first, Skunk's long standing desire has
been fulfilled and secondly he is able to do what is dearest to his
heart-play with other woodland creatures.
Q. 105Why in you opinion is the smell of roses obnoxious for the Skunk
mother "or
How did Skunk's mother react to his new smell ?
Nature keeps its own balance and has its own way. The Skunk's
smell is obnoxious for other creatures, but certainly not for other
Skunks. Skunks are born with this particular smell and any
deviation is violation of Nature. So the mother Skunk does not like
the rose smell of Roger Skunk.. She believes that what is natural is
not disgraceful.
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Q. 106The Skunk accepts Mom's order like a tame lamb and follows her
to the wizard without demur, but Jo chooses to differ from her
father with regard to changing the rose smell. How would you
account for this difference in attitude between the two ?
Ans Roger Skunk as a character symbolizes Jack's own personality as a
child. He loved and obeyed his mother very much. She in turn
taught him courage and self-regard in dealing with his hurt and
humiliation on account of his psoriasis and stammering. Thus,
Skunk is as unquestioningly obedient as Jack himself was. Jo on the
other hand is a happy-go-lucky child of four who has no upset and
humiliation to deal with. She is naturally inquisitive and is curious
to know more and more. It is not surprising that she is full of
questions. The attitudes of both Skunk and Jo are shaped by their
life experience.
Q. 107Why did Jo not approve of Skunk's mother scolding him for his
new smell ?
Jo was very happy to hear that Skunk had got rid of his awful smell
and had been accepted by the woodland creatures. She did not like
Skunk's mother scolding him for his new smell because Jo thought
it was a pleasant smell and the one that had won Skunk so many
friends. Skunk's mother, she thought, was wrong in scolding him
for his new smell.
Q. 108What is the under lying idea behind the wizard's taking the beating
and tamely changing the rose smell?
Ans By making the wizard take his beating by Skunk's mother quietly,
Jack and through him the author wishes to bring home the idea that
mothers are always right and that we should accept what is natural.
The wizard also sees the point and tamely changes Skunk's rose
smell into his original Skunk smell.
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Q. 109Why does mother Skunk hug and pat her son as he prepares to
sleep ?
Ans The obedience shown by Roger Skunk impresses the mother and
she pats and hugs him as he prepares himself for sleep. The idea
behind her action is that obedient children will always be loved and
patted by mothers. The mother's gesture is also an expression of her
satisfaction at her little one getting back his Skunk smell.
Q. 110 What inference do you draw from the narrator's statement,

"eventually they (woodland creatures) got used to the way he (the
Skunk) was and did not mind it at all" ?
The woodland creatures learnt the lesson that what is natural is
not disgraceful and should be accepted as an integral part of one's
being. One should not hate or avoid others because of something
they cannot help. One should instead be courageous and tolerant
enough to accept is. This is how the woodland creatures got used to
the way Skunk smelled.
Q. 111 What is the moral issue that the story raises ?

Although "Should Wizard Hit Mommy?" reads like a typical bed
time story elders tell little children, it does raise a moral question -
Should parents always decide what is best for their children and
should children always obey their parents unquestioningly ?
Roger Skunk is a very obedient child but he feels very sad and
upset because he smells so awful that nobody wants to befriend him
and play with him. One day he gets a change to get his bad smell
replaced with the smell of roses. He feels excited about the change
for everyone likes his new smell and readily agrees to play with
him. However Roger's mother does not like the change. For her,
Roger was better off with his original smell. So, she makes the
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wizard restore Skunk's original smell. Roger meekly accepts his

mother's decision and other children get used to Roger's awful
smell and don’t complain about in any more.
But the narrow world view of the little girl, Jo likes to spell out the
slogan of equality for all. She believes in the axiom "Tit for Tat".
She feels that mothers is wrong in getting her son's original smell
back and wants her to be spanked by the wizard for her mistake.
Her father, who has modeled Skunk's story on his own story,
strongly defends the mother Skunk's decision.
Thus, the author through this story raises a moral question of how
much authority parents should exercise in teaching their children
what is wrong, what is right, what they should do and what not.
Since, there is no single correct answer to the question, he leaves it
for the readers to answer it on the basis of their beliefs, cultures and
values.
Q. 112Why is an adult's perspective on life different from that of a

child's ?
As the child grows into maturity his perspective and vision of life
change gradually. A child views things at superficial and sensory
level but a grown up's vision is realistic, reflective, philosophical
and even psychological. Viewed from the study of the story
"Should Wizard Hit Mommy?" Jo, a child of four, like most
children of her age, prefers to live in dreams and fantasies. She is
hostile by nature and would like to wreak vengeance on Skunk's
mother and wants the wizard to retaliate.
She is annoyed because the father refuses to accept her suggestion.

The father has a mature perspective and sees beyond the surface
and explores the philosophical and moralistic aspect of the entire
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situation. The wizard had unwittingly interfered with nature and

had thus done a great deal of harm and deserved to be punished.
According to him the punishment meted out to the wizard is well
merited and retaliation is out of the question.
Thus the story makes it clear that the perspective of a child and that
of an adult is totally different.
6. ON THE FACE OF IT
-Susan Hill
This is a play featuring an old man Mr Lamb and a small boy named Derry.
Derry suffers from a complex. He gets one side of his face burnt and always
remains withdrawn and defiant. He doesn't like to be near people as he can't
stand their uncharitable looks and remarks. Mr Lamb himself has a tin leg but
has a very positive attitude towards life and people. He shows the right way of
judging men, matters and life to young Derry.
Q. 113Why does Derek want to go back home as soon as he comes face to

face with Mr. Lamb?
Derek climbs over the wall to enter Mr. Lamb's garden hoping that
it is empty. However, when Mr. Lamb startles him with his
presence, Derek feels embarrassed at entering the garden without
its owner's permission. Moreover, he is afraid that like most other
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people, Mr Lamb will also find his scarry face repulsive. So, he
wants to go back as soon as he has come.
Q. 114What terrible complex does Derek suffer from ?

One side of Derek's face was severely burnt away by acid. As a
result he looked very ugly. Nod\body liked to look at him, love him,
be friend him and play with him. This made Derek suffer from an
acute lack of self-regard and rejection.
Q. 115Why does Derek feel that Mr Lamb has changed the subject? Do
you agree with Derek ? Give reason in support of you answer.
Derek feels that Mr Lamb has changed the subject because instead
of responding to Derek's conversation about being ugly and
unwanted, Mr Lamb starts talking about apple picking and jelly
making and asks for his help.
Q. 116Why does Derek not like being with people ?

Derek is full of self-reproach and rejection on account for an acid-
burnt side of his face. He doesn't like being with people because
they constantly remind him of his ugliness and stay away from him.
He does not like to see people being afraid of him because he is
ugly Instead of feeling loved and wanted like the other children, he
feels rejected and unwanted.
Q. 117What does Derek feel Mr Lamb must think of him? How does Mr
Lamb surprise him in this context?
Derek feels that like other people Mr Lamb would also feel scared
by this burnt down face and pity him and out of repulsion would
want him to go away. However, he is in for a surprise when Mr
Lamb welcomes him to his garden and tells him that he is interested
in him.
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Q. 118How would you explain Mr Lamb's expression, "I'm old, and

you’re young? You've got a burned face. I've got a tin leg. Not
important."?
What Mr Lamb wants to make Derek understand is that everyone
has one or the other reason to hate and dislike oneself and feel
inferior to other but such a feeling is disastrous. It does not really
matter how one looks. What is important for one is to accept who
or what one is and live life fully. One must have a positive attitude
and not allow any complexes to block one's way to a life of
happiness and fulfillment.
Q. 119 Why do kids call Mr Lamb 'Lamey-Lamb'? How does he feel

about it ?
Mr Lamb has an artificial leg of tin. His real leg had been blown off
in a bomb explosion. Since he walks with a limp, children of the
neighborhood call him Lamey-Lamb i.e. lame Lamb. Initially he
must have felt bad now he feels that the name suits him and does
not trouble him. He has got over with the handicap.
Q. 120Do you think Derek's attitude towards life would have been
different had he been lame instead of having a burnt face?
Derek thinks that Mr Lamb can cover up his handicap by wearing
trousers, so his attitude towards life is different and if he had been
lame he would have led a normal life. But he is certainly wrong,
because his problem is psychological. People would still have made
fun of him and Derek would have remained frustrated because of
his lameness and negative attitude towards life.
Q. 121Why one green, growing plant is called a ‘weed’ and another

'flower'? What does Mr Lamb mean by this statement?
232
Mr Lamb is a staunch believer in the inherent oneness and equality

of all the species created by God and repudiates (rejects) man-made
differences these seem to be superficial and unimportant.
Q. 122"It's all relative. Beauty and the beast." what does Mr Lamb mean
by this statement.
Mr Lamb means to say that different people have different view-
points to look at the same thing. Some find a thing beautiful, others
find it ugly. It all depends on one's outlook and attitude. It is,
therefore, important to adopt a positive attitude to everything in life
just like the Princess Beauty who loved the monstrous Beast in the
fairy tale but the beast, although he was a prince, failed to discover
his reality. The point is that you are not what you look like, but
what you are inside.
Q. 123Why does Derek say he doesn't care if no one kisses him?

Derek suffers from an acute sense of self-hatred and rejection on
account of his burnt face. He feels he is too ugly to be liked and
loved by anyone. So out of frustration he says, "I don't care if no
one kisses me." He feels really bad when his mother, too kisses him
on the good side of his face because she has to as a mother and not
because she really loves him and accepts him as he is.
Q. 124"So you will. But the world won't. The world's got a whole face,
and the world's there to be looked at."
When Derek says that no one will ever love him because his is
going to continue to remain ugly on account of his scarry face, Mr
Lamb tries to comfort him by saying that it does not matter if
Derek's looks won't change for the better as it is quite possible that
people's attitude towards him will change and they may accept and
love him. Moreover it is no use for Derek to go on complaining of
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his being ugly when there is so much beauty in the world to be

explored and appreciated.
Q. 125What concept of the world does Mr Lamb propound when Derek

asks him if his old garden is a world ?
On Derek asking if his old garden is a world un to Mr. Lamb, the
latter replies in the affirmative saying it is his world when he is in
it. He then goes on to explain that his garden is not the only
'world', the world is where one is. That is a unique concept of the
world.
Q. 126How have people been sermonizing Derek about his burnt face?
How does Derek feel about this sermonizing?
Since Derek has a particularly low self-regard due to his burnt face,
people have been advising him to brave his handicap and change
his outlook. They have been advising him to take inspiration from
those who are in pain but never cry complain or feel sorry for
themselves. He is also advised look at those people who are more
severely handicapped than he is - the blind, the born deaf, the
mentally retarded and those confined to wheelchairs and think that
he is more fortunate than them. Derek does not like this
sermonizing for he feels that it, or for that matter anything else,
cannot make his face change from an ugly one to a handsome one.
Q. 127Do you think that through the incident to buzzing/humming of bees

the author wants to be tell us that life treats us the way we treat it.
Do your agree ? If so, why?
The author brings about the incident of buzzing/humming to bring
home the point that life treats us the way we take it. Music and
noise coexist and if we choose music in life we lead a life full of
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cheer and if we pay heed to the nose alone our life is a bundle of
frustration.
Q. 128Why does Mr Lamb narrate the story of a man who locked himself
in a room because he was afraid ?
Mr Lamb tells the story of a man who had locked himself in a room
because he was terribly afraid of everything in order that Derek
could realize that recoiling into oneself and building a shell around
does not help. What Derek needed to do was to shed his fear,
complex and self-hatred and live life fully.
Q. 129What is Mr Lamb's daily routine ?

Mr Lamb lives alone in a large house with a huge garden. During
the day he has neighborhood children visiting him for crab apples,
pears, toffee and jelly. So he is busy picking apples and pears,
tending his bees, making jelly and toffee. Apart form this, he likes
to talk to the children who visit him. He also likes to read books
and reflect.
Q. 130 Why doesn't Mr Lamb have any curtains at the windows ?

Unlike most people Mr Lamb does not have any curtains at the
windows of his house because he is not fond o f them. He believes
that curtains shut things out. Instead he likes to experience the
alternating phases of light and darkness and he likes to hear the
wind.
Q. 131Why does Mr Lamb feel Derek is not lost altogether ?

Mr Lamb has heard Derek only complain, bemoan and spitting
hatred for himself. He does not seem to like anybody or anything.
So, when Derek says that he likes when it is raining and hearing it
pitter-patter on the roof, Mr Lamb discovers that the boy does have
235
some interest in life and remarks, "So you're not lost, are you? Not
altogether" ?
Q. 132hat does Mr Lamb tell Derek he can do ?

Mr Lamb is sad to see Derek, a fourteen year old boy, give up on
life just because he got a side of his face burnt by acid. He tells
Derek that the latter has got two arms, two legs and eyes and ears, a
tongue and a brain with which he can get on in life like any other
boy. He could even do better than most others only if he so chose
and set his mind to it.
Q. 133Why does Derek ask Mr Lamb if he has any friends ? What answer
does Mr Lamb give him ?
Derek has noticed that Mr Lamb lives alone in a big house. He also
knows that the neighbourhood people are not very kind and friendly
to him and the children call him lamey-Lamb. So, out of curiosity
he asks Mr Lamb if the latter had any friends. In reply Mr Lamb
says that he has got lots of friends and that everybody knows him.
People come to him and sit in the garden in summer and in front of
the fire in winter. Kids come to him for toffee, apples and pears.
Q. 134"There are some people I hat." How does Mr Lamb react to this
statement of Derek ?
Mr Lamb believes that hatred is Man's worst enemy. So when he
hears Derek say, 'There are some people I hat, ' Mr Lamb remarks
that hatred would do Derek more harm than any bottle of acid for
acid had burnt only his face but hatred can burn him away inside.
Indirectly he tells Derek that hatred is unnatural and hence injurious
to mankind. The natural instinct is love which is a panacea for all
maladies.
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Q. 135"What kind of a world that be." Which world is Mr Lamb referring

to here ? Why does he disapprove of it ?
Here Mr Derek si questioning the rationale of a world as proposed
by one of Derek's neighbours when the boy had come home from
hospital. The neighbour, a woman, had said that Derek ought to
have stayed back in the hospital because he would have been better
off with others like himself. She believed that blind people only
ought to be with other blind people and idiot boys with idiot boys.
Mr Lamb strongly disapproves of such a world as it would do more
harm than good. According to him, it would make people with
handicaps more miserable and more hurt. They need a world of
compassion where those without handicaps accept them as their
own and love them and help them overcome and forget their
handicaps for fulfilling and wholesome life.
Q. 136Do you think Mr Lamb believes in universal brotherhood ? Give

reasons for your answer.
Mr Lamb makes a vital statement that he is prepared to share all his
belonging with others. He believes that everything one has is God's
bounty and God belongs to all. Thus it is not wrong to say that he is
a strong believer in universal brotherhood.
Q. 137What is Mr Lamb's fear about Derek's going back home ? What

light does this throw on Mr Lamb's life and character ?
Mr Lamb feels Derek would never come back to him. This is what
has been happening to all his little friends in the past. This
apprehension brings out the terrible loneliness Mr Lamb suffers
from and his desperate longing for company.
Q. 138How does Mr Lamb's conversation transform Derek ?

237
Drek is indeed a very sensitive but brave and courageous boy. His
long conversation with Mr Lamb helps him overcome his
inferiority complex and poor self-regard. He no longer hates
himself for his ugly face or others for disliking and avoiding him
for his ugliness. Now he feels what he thinks is important and
wants to explore and experience the world around him.
Q. 139What idea do you form about Derek's mother from your brief
encounter with her in the second part of the play ?
Derek's mother is an unintelligent lady whop has failed to
understand her son's tragedy. Derek clearly speaks a different
language having different nuances but she is not able to
comprehend them and fails to read between the lines. Like other,
she is also repelled by the burnt side of Derek's face and kisses only
the good side. s
Q. 140What makes Derek observe that,"….If I don't go back there, I'll

never go anywhere in this world again"?
Derek has rediscovered the joy of life thanks to Mr Lamb. He
strongly feels that he must do something for the lonely old man. He
makes the statement in question to tell his mom how important it if
for him to go to Lamb because he has promised to return unlike
other little friend of the old man. Moreover, Derek feels that he can
live a meaningful life only by furthering Mr Lamb's mission.
Q. 141What significance would you attach to Mr Lamb's silence at the end

of the play ?
Every individual in this world has special tasks allotted to him
which must be performed. The old and decrepit Lamb needed
someone to carry on the good work he had started. Fortunately for
him, he finds Derek as his successor. Now, a lot of burden is off his
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head and he can die peacefully. He becomes silent in order to

experience fulfillment and peace. He is silent because perhaps he is
already dead when Derek calls him.
Q. 142The actual pain or inconvenience caused by a physical impairment

is often much less than the sense of alienation felt by the person
with disabilities. What is the kind of behaviour that the person
expects from others?
Both Mr Lamb and Derek suffer form physical impairment. Mr.
Lamb has an artificial leg made of tin and Derek has a severely
burnt face-both the experiences must have been terribly painful for
the respective sufferers.
However, we see that Derek suffers not just on account of the paid
or inconvenience caused by his physical impairment but also from
an acutely low self-regard, self-rejection and his notion of how
much people hat him for being ugly. His loneliness and suffering
are aggravated by his feeling that nobody loves him and wants him.
He suffers pangs of alienation within his family, too. Even his
mother, he believes kisses him not because she loves him but
because she has to as a mother.
In some way or the other this behavior of people like Derek stems
from people's gross in difference to them, their hatred and dislike
for handicaps and deformities and their utter lack of concern and
compassion. The words of sympathy they utter are actually an
expression of their fear of looking at somebody so ugly and
horrible and not out of any genuine concern and empathy.
The victims of impairment do not want empty words of sympathy

and pity, for they feel more hurt when people continue to remind
them unwittingly of their being handicapped and impaired. Instead
239
they need time and space in which they can leave behind their
handicaps and live life as fully as possible. The best others can do
for them is to accept that handicaps and impairment do occur in life
and that they still can lead a highly productive and meaningful life.
People must not make fun of other's handicaps and impairment and
must never make a false display of their sympathy and concern for
those braving any impairment. Instead they should help such people
live as wonderful a life as possible by creating appropriate
opportunities and environment.
This is how Mr Lamb himself has successfully overcome his

impairment and the consequent mental block and complexes. This
is what he has done for Derek, too.
Q. 143What is the significance of Derek' words, "I thought it was empty

….. an empty house" in the play?
Derek says these words to Mr Lamb when the latter sees him
entering in his garden by climbing over the boundary wall. Mr lamb
is not surprised at this because he is quite used to children coming
to his garden to steal and eat apples, pears etc. But Derek has
ventured into the garden out of curiosity. He had supposed that the
garden was empty, but it was not. So when Mr Lamb accosts him,
Derek is embarrassed and wants to go back but not before
explaining that he had not come there to steal apples, an
explanation Mr Lamb very readily accepts.
Derek's words are significant in that they point out to his terrible
sense of frustration, loneliness and 'isolation' on account of his
severely burnt face. These words also prompt Mr Lamb to spill out
his loneliness, too, towards the end of the first scene. They go a
long way in Mr Lamb's, (and the reader's) understanding of Derek's
240
character and Mr Lamb's subsequent efforts in helping Derek come

out his inferiority complex, poor self-regard and self-rejection.
These words are a bitter reminder of the bitterness that has crept
into Derek's mind due to other people's dislike and hatred for his
ugly face. They are a desperate cry of a fourteen year old boy for
love and acceptance.
7.EVANS TRIES AN O-LEVEL

-Colin Dexter
In 'Evans Tries An O-Level' Colin Dexter describes how Evans proves that all
attempts of the prison officers like Jackson and Stephens and good-for-a-
giggle Governor failed to stop him from escaping. All precautions have been
made to see that O-Level German examination in prison arranged for Evans
doesn't provide him with a means of escape. But in spite of all this, it is Evans
who has the last laugh. 2
Q. 144What kind of a person was Evans?

Ans Evans was a habitual and 'congenital kleptomaniac'. Currently he
was serving a term in the Oxford Prison. He had been imprisoned
earlier also and had broken jail thrice He was a master planner. He
was very sociable and knew how to keep intimate contacts at the
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right quarters. In the words of Governor, he was a pleasant sort of

chap with no record of violence.
Q. 145How do you account for the fact that Evans selected German only
for his O-level examination.
Ans One can find two obvious reasons for this choice. First of all he was
the only candidate offering this subject and secondly he had an
excellent rapport with the German tutor who would eventually be
instrumental in his escape. So he rightly opts for German.
Q. 146What different queries does the Secretary of the Examinations

Board make from the Governor before conducting the examination
for Evans and why?
Ans Being apprehensive about the smooth and fair conduct of the
examination and the safety of the invigilator, the Secretary enquired
from the Governor regarding availability of a suitable room. He
also wanted to know if the candidate was violent and whether he
could be kept 'incommunicado.'
Q. 147 Why was Evans known as 'Evans the Break' by the prison officer ?
Ans The prison officers call Evans, "Evans the Break' because he is a
habitual jail breaker and before coming to Oxford Prison he has
broken jail thrice. However, the expression also serves the dramatic
purpose of giving a hint to the reader about the shape of things to
come.
Q. 148 Why do you think Evans does not become conversant with
German in spite of having been taught for more than six months?
Ans Evans does not seem to have learnt much about German as the
teacher has to explain the meaning of simple German expression
like "Guten Gluck" (Good Luck)s. This is because the teacher was
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an accomplice of Evans and as a matter fact; they were making

plans for his escape from prison. Learning German was a non-issue.
Q. 149Who were the two visitors Evans received in the morning of the
day of his examination?
Ans The two visitors Evans had at 8.30 a.m. on the day of the
examination were the two prison officers namely Mr. Jackson, the
senior prison officer of the Prison's D Wing and a burly, surly-
looking man called Stephens, who had been only recently recruited.
Q. 150Knowing fully well how sharp Evans is, shouldn't Jackson have
told him to remove his 'bobble hat' in his presence?
Ans Jackson is credulous and gullible and believes Evans when he tells
him that the 'Bobble hat' is a sort of a 'lucky charm' for him and
may stand him in good stead during the examination. So he does
not order Evans to remove it and thus commits a blunder, which
costs him dearly later on.
Q. 151What made Evans clip his hair short?

Ans Evan's escape from the prison was a well thought of plan. The
duplicate McLeery who was to invigilate during the O-level
German examination had short hair. In order to give a practical
shape to their plan Evan's hair had to look like McLeery's, hence
Evans clipped them short.
Q. 152Which traits of Evans' character are exhibited form his

understanding about Jackson that he had "a tiny core of compassion
for him"? s
Ans Evan's character analysis is superb. His psychological insight
coupled with keen sense of observation makes him rightly analyse
Jackson to be compassionate at heart, so he very correctly assesses
that Jackson has "a tiny core of compassion for him".
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Q. 153 Why do you think Jackson tells Evans, 'Nobody in his senses
would take any chance with you '?
Ans Brushing aside Evans's protest against bugging his cell, Jackson
tells him that chances could not be taken with him as he had already
broken the prison thrice and such a prisoner can never be depended
upon.
Q. 154Escape from the recreational Block would have been much easier.
Why did Evans not try to escape from there?
Ans Success of master-planning lies in surprise and doing the off-beat.
When the prisoners are in the Recreation Room, all prison
authorities must be extra alert. Evans wants to give an unexpected
jolt to make his plan a success, so he does not try to escape from
the Recreational Block.
Q. 155Why did the Governor instruct Jackson to search McLeery?

Ans The Governor asked Jackson to search MrLeery, the invigilator, just
in case he has brought something unwittingly which might prove to
be a potential weapon that Evans could use to hold him a as
'hostage and try escaping from prison.
Q. 156McLeery had a small semi-inflated rubber ring. What explanation

does McLeery give about it? What did it actually contain?
Ans Regarding the small semi-inflated rubber ring, McLeery tells
Jackson that he is suffering from hemorrhoids (piles) and the tube
helps him when he has to sit for a long time. Actually, the tube
contains pig's blood which was treated properly against
coagulation.
Q. 157The Governor granted Evans' request to shift Stephens from the cell
during the examination and it proved to be a big blunder. Do you
agree? Support your answer?
244
Ans Gullible as the Governor was, he saw logic in Evans' request to

shift Stephens from the cell to avoid distraction for the examinee.
Since all possible precautionary measures had been taken, the
Governor saw no harm in conceding to the request. However, it
proved to be big blunder as it gave opportunity to the criminals to
successfully execute their escape-plan.
Q. 158Who do you think made a call regarding a correction in the

question paper? What did it really want to convey?
Ans At 9.40 a.m. the Governor got a call from the Assistant Secretary
with special responsibility for modern languages regarding a
correction in the question paper. Presumably, it was an accomplice
of Evans in the office of the Secretary of the
Examinations Board who wanted to tell Evans that after his escape
from the prison he should go to Hotel Golden Lion. The
information was meant for McLeery also.
Q. 159What significance would you attach to the supposed phone call

from the Magistrates' Court? Was it genuine or just a ploy of Evans'
gang? What was the purpose of the call?
Ans The phone call was a hoax. The master planners had once again
misled the gullible Governor by telling him that it was a call from
the Magistrate's office demanding a prison van and a couple of
prison officers in connection with a remand case. As a matter of
fact the van was needed to make the final escape of Evans from the
hotel possible.
Q. 160Why did Evans drape a blanket round his shoulders? What did
Stephens think about it?
Ans In between intervals of Stephens' peeping into the cell, Evans was
changing into the parson's dress to look like McLeery. However, the
245
top collar and the black front of the dress kept slipping off the stud.
So, in order to conceal his efforts to keep them in place, Evans
draped a blanket round his shoulder. Stephens was misled into
believing that Evans was feeling cold.
Q. 161Three minutes before the examination was to be over at 11.22 a.m.

there is a call for Stephens from the Governor. Is the call genuine?
What is the underlying idea behind the call?
Ans The call was not genuine as the Governor tells later that at 11.22
a.m., he was busy trying to get in touch with the Examination
branch. The underlying idea behind the call was to take Stephens
away for some time to enable Evans to give finishing touches to his
make up so that he looked like McLeery.
Q. 162After having seen McLeery off, why did Stephens choose to have
one last look at Evans? What did he see in the Cell?
Ans Very conscientious and obsessive about his duties, Stephens
decided to have one last look at Evans before going for a cup of
coffee. A rude shock awaited him as he opened the peephole. He
saw a man with short hair presumably McLeery in a poor of blood
sprawling back in Evans's chair.
Q. 163What did Evans (disguised as McLeery) tell the Governor when the
latter offered to take him to the hospital? Why was the question
paper shown to the Governor?
Ans McLeery clamoured (demanded loudly) to be taken in the police
van to follow Evans as he knew where he had gone. He insisted that
he did not need to be hospitalized as he was all right. He showed
the question paper to the Governor to impress upon him that Evans
had befooled everybody.
246
Q. 164A photocopied sheet had been carefully and cleverly superimposed

over the last (originally blank) page of the question paper. What
was its real purpose?
Ans The real purpose of the cleverly superimposed photocopied sheet
on the question paper was to give the final details of the escape-
plan to Evans. It was also meant to make the authorities believe that
the wounded man was actually 'McLeery' and that he wanted to
help them rearrest the escapee.
Q. 165Jackson is really a 'Moron' and careless enough to mistake a

stranger's voice on phone to be the Governor's. Discuss.
Ans An officer, who is an important part of the prestigious Oxford
Prison, should have kept his eyes and ears wide open and shown
vigilance. His mistaking a stranger's voice on the phone to be the
Governor's and calling Stephens excitedly shows how immature he
is. He really is a moron, playing into the hands of the master
planners.
Q. 166Out of sheer frustration the Governor tells the police officer to take
the wounded man with him because, he's the only one 'who seems
to know what's happening.' Don't you think by doing so he is
behaving like a moron himself ?s
Ans The wounded man, Evans, is right before him. Agreed he is
disguised as McLeery, but the Governor who has spend a number
of years in this line should have learnt to examine criminals
minutely rather than getting flustered. Thus he plays the greater
moron than his subordinates by letting Evans escape.
Q. 167Who is Carter? What does the Governor want him to do and why?
Ans Carter is the detective Superintendent whom the Governor has
summoned after the supposed escape of Evans. Governor wants
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him to accompany the injured man as he is the only one who seems
to know what's happening and may be in a position to help in
locating the escapee.
Q. 168By presuming that Evans had kept the "clerical paraphernalia"

hidden in the cell, what obvious blunder is the Governor
committing?
Ans The Governor is still taking everything on its face value and is
thinking the thoughts fed to him by the criminals. It is surprising
that even, the most seasoned officer does not doubt the antecedents
of McLeery and fails to come to the conclusion that McLeery is an
accomplice of Evans and it is he who has smuggled in the clerical
paraphernalia.
Q. 169"Careless leaving that question paper behind ….." Was it really

careless on the part of Evans to have left the question paper in the
cell?
Ans It was certainly not a careless blunder. Everything was a part of the
master plan to confound the prison authorities, particularly the
Governor. He was allowed to trace Evans because the planners
knew that they have a cover for every eventuality and in the long
run Evans leaves the Governor wringing his hands and runs away.
Q. 170Is the Governor justified in considering Jackson as a stupid person?

Ans The Governor is not justified is considering Jackson as a stupid
person because he himself has become a victim of the master plan
of Evans and his accomplices. He wrongly believes that Jackson
has searched the cell carelessly and has failed to notice the clerical
paraphernalia and a weapon hidden there.
Q. 171 In spite of strict vigilance, how did Evans' friend manage to give
the material for disguise in the cell?
248
Ans Despite all vigilance, Evans' friend disguised as McLeery, the

invigilator, managed to smuggle the disguise material into the cell
with ingenuity. He came wearing two person's dresses with black
fronts and collars. Apart from it he also brought an extra pair of
spectacles with 'pebble lenses.' All this was passed on to Evans
when Stephens’s vigilant eyes were watching from the peep-hole.
Q. 172 How did the Governor mange to reach Evans in the hotel?
Ans The Governor finally realized that it was Evans who had gone out
with Carter and that he was impersonating McLeery. He thought
about the six digit reference (index number and center no.
313/271), put the two together and with the help of 'Ordnance
Survey Map for Oxford shire' reached the hotel.
Q. 173When Evans enters the hotel room after having had a stroll, he finds
the Governor sitting comfortably in the room. On seeing him he
feels he 'has just caught a glimpse of the Gorgon." Is his surprise
genuine or feigned? Give reason in support of your answer?
Ans The surprise is feigned because Evans himself had left the question
paper and the correction slip in the cell that led the Governor to the
hotel; as a matter of fact Evans was expecting him in the hotel.
However, he pretended to be caught unaware to befool the gullible
good-for-a-giggle Governor still further.
Q. 174Who do you think is the drive of the van who eventually takes
Evans to freedom?
Ans The driver of the prison van who finally throws dust into the eyes
of the Governor and leads Evans to freedom is McLeery because
whenever he utters a word; the writer does not fail to add that he
spoke in a 'broad Scots accent." The driver too has a 'broad Scots
249
accent.' Hence there is hardly any doubt about McLeery being the
driver.
Q. 175When Stephens Comes back to the cell he jumps to a conclusion

and the whole machinery blindly goes by his assumption without
even checking the identity of the injured 'Mcleery". Does this show
how hasty conjectures can prevent one from seeing the obvious?
How is the criminal able to predict such negligence?
Ans Hasty conclusion and conjectures can blind and rob one of one's
discretionary faculty. They steer the course of one's thinking into a
particular direction, logical or otherwise. Thus, when Stephens
hastily concluded that Evens had made good his escape, after
wounding Mcleery not even the most experienced officer saw the
whole incident, in any other light. The entire machinery, including
the Governor, sympathized with the supposedly injured McLeery,
sprawling in a pool of blood.
Smart, far-sighted, calculating and scheming as Evans was, he had

expected such a reaction from this pack of a 'good-for-a-giggle'
officers. He knew they would not use their brains and would see the
whole incident with Stephens' eyes. Having a good psychological
insight and being an experienced hand in working out such
maneouvers, Evans could predict such negligence on their part.
Q. 176While we condemn the crime, we are sympathetic to the criminal.

Is this the reason why prison staff develops a soft corner for those
in custody?
Ans Crime is condemnable, but not the criminal. Nobody is a born
criminal and invariably circumstances lead a person to crime. Most
of the prisoners in custody have one pitiable story or the other to
tell. Thus the prison staff, who meet the convicts daily and
250
constantly interact with them develop a rapport with the prisoner.

With the passage of time they begin to identify themselves with
their pains and suffering and usually become sympathetic towards
them. They tend to ignore their irregularities and do some
apparently harmless favours to them. Something similar has
transpired between Evans and the Oxford Prison authorities,
particularly the Governor and Jackson. The Governor has great
regard for Evans' intelligence and his presence of mind and in the
author's words Evans and Jackson are 'warm enemies' and that
somewhere in his heart Jackson had a tiny core of compassion for
Evans. Thus both have a soft corner for Evans. Their sympathetic
attitude towards Evans proves that though against crime they had
no aversion for the criminal.
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8. MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD
-ZITKALA-SA AND BAMA.
This unit presents a good account of two autobiographical episodes pertaining

to the lives of the two women. Both women belong to the marginalized
communities. In the first account there is a Native American woman, born in
the late nineteenth country while the other is by a contemporary Tamil Dalit
writer.
“The Cutting of My Long Hair” is the first part in which Gertrude Simmons
Bonin describes her heart-sending and woeful tali of cutting her long and
beautiful hair. She is dragged meralissly though the goes on crying making
forceful requests not to adopt such harsh attitude. According to the Indian
tradition the cutting of hair is worn either by the mourners or cowards. In
those days there was a reverse hatred and prejudice towards the Native
American cuture and women. Zitkala-sa wrote articles criticizing the unsocial
dogmas, prejudices and discrimination prevalent in the society.
In “We Too Are Human Beings” Bama is the pen name of Tamil Dalit women
from a Roman Catholic family. She has published three main works on
autobiography “Karukku”(1992), a novel “Sangati”(1994) and a collection of
short stories “Kisumbukkaaron (1996). This is the excerpt taken from
“Karukku” that mean palmyra Leaves which are like double edged sords. By
a feticitous pum, “The Tamil word Karukku” containing the word “Karu,”
embryo, or seed also means freshness and newness. She also suffers from
inequality and caste discrimination.
MAIN POINTS
1. THE CUTTING OF MY LONG HAIR
(i). In the Breakfast Hall, Gertrude simmons taken to

Carlisle Indian school, feed first day an embarrassing,
Breakfast sell sings, girls appear in the dining room in stiff
shoes and tight fitting dresses, unknown to the table
manners, feels uncomfortable, watched by a strange
252
woman. Third bell sings, everyone picks up his knife end

fork.
(ii). Cutting the long hair
Pale face women talks about long hair of Zudewin and

Zitkala-Sa, Judewin requests to submit & discuss their fate,
Zitkala-Sa decides not to submit but struggle.
(iii). Shingling the long hair
Zitkala-Sa creeps up the stairs, enter a large room

unnoticed, gets herself hidden in dim room, everybody
looks for her, women, girls enter the room, search and drag
out, carried downstairs, tied fast in a chair, cried & resisted,
at last gave in, long hair shingled like cowards, None to
console her.
2. WE TOO ARE HUMAN BEINGS- BAMA.
(i). FEELING THE UNTOUCHABILITY- not yet heard people

speak of untouchability, certain small events made her feel
untouchability, enjoyed all sights on her way to school.
(ii). SIGHT OF A LANDLORD- Sees the landlord watching

threshing activity, community people at work, Bama
watches everything, just then sees an elder carrying green
banana bhaji held by string without touching, elder goes to
the landlord, bends low; extends the packet, landlord starts
eating, Bama narrates the incident at home, her brother
Annan explains the man from a lower caste & landlord
from the upper caste, everybody believes they would be
polluted if touched by the low caste people.
(iii). HER REALIZATION- Bama in a rebellious mood, why

poor people bow before the rich; cruel persons, feelings of
human beings matters a little that they had amassed some
money & poor should bow before them.
253
(iv). HER BROTHER’S ADVICE- Birth in this community

never ives dignity, stripped of all that, study & progress can
throw away these indignities, “work hard & learn” left deep
impression on Bama, devoted to her studies and stood first
in class, people became friends, hard work helped Bama
fight against inequality.
SHORT ANS. TYPE QUESTIONS[SOLVED]

Word limit- (30-40 words)
1. Who was Zitkala-Sa? Where was she born?
Ans. She was native-American Indian woman. She suffered

discrimination on the basis of her caste and nationality. She
belonged to a marginalized community.
2. What does Zitkala-Sa mean by “Eating by

Formula”?.
Ans. It means a set pattern of eating. There go three small bell at

fixed intervals mean for completion of different activities before
students start eating. After a man addresses, the eating will start.
3- The Lesson depicts two different accounts of two distinct

cultures. Write down the commonality of theme between the two.
Ans. The first account refers to a bitter prejudice against the

Native Americans by the white skinned European settlers. They
treated them as herds of animals. In the second account, a Tamil
Dalit woman felt perturbed to see the upper caste people
humiliating lower caste people.
4- What advices did Annan give to Bama to get honour and

dignity for her people?.
Ans. Annan advised Bama to Study hard and learn all she could
since aducation was the only thing to do away with all
inequalities. She did the same and attained repute.
254
5- How did Bama feel when Annan told her about

untouchability?
Ans. Bama was restless and upset to see harsh treatment for
dalits. It was disgusting to consider some human beings as
untouchables. She hated the discrimination.
6- What is the theme of the extract ‘The cutting of my Long

Hair’?.
Ans. The narrator was Native American (Red Indian) woman.

She was a victim of severe prejudice which prevailed against
Native American culture and woman. She had long heavy braids
of hair which was not permitted in the school. Her, hair were cut
short. The extract is a protest- against that oppression.
7- What does the little “WE TOO ARE HUMAN BEINGS”

denote?
Ans. The narrator recalls her childhood days. She saw, felt and
experienced humility of being untouchable. The event of an elder
from her community who bends low before a landlord upset her.
She felt sad, disgusted and angry. She wanders why the elders of
her community should serve the upper caste landlords.
8- What does the little of the unit; “Memories of Childhood”

bring to light?
Ans. This unit presents autobiographical episodes from the lives

of two women. Both are from backward communities. Their
childhood gives us a picture of their relationship with the
previliged classes. The first account is by an American Indian
woman, the second is by a Tamil Dalit writer. There is
commonality of theme in both of them, the element of oppression
and injustice.
255
LONG ANS. TYPE QUESTIONS (SOLVED)
1. How did Annan advise his sister Bama regarding untouchability

and what was its effect on her?
Ans.- Bama narrated the funniest scene of an elder man holding

the packet by the strings. He bowed down before the Landlord.
This made Bama much angry. She thought that they were also
human beings like other human beings.
Bama’s elder brother was a University student. He told

Bama that they were born into the community of untouchables.
They were never given honour, respect, dignity and recognition.
He advised her if they worked hard and studied with care they can
go a long way. They can shun out all discrimination and other cast
inequalities since all are human beings. He encouraged Bama to
study hard to gain dignity and friends. His words had a magical
effect, many people became her friends.
2. What did Zitkala-Sa do when she came to know that they were
going to shingle her hair out? How was she overpowered?
Ans.- Zitkala-sa was an American Indian girl. She was troubled,

perturbed and embarrassed in her school since she was quite
unknown to the white people’s ways. When the dining started, she
ran upstairs as her friend Judewin had informed her about the
intentions of school authorities to cut the long hair of the students.
She decided to struggle hard herself under a bed in a dim room.
There the windows were covered with dark green curtains.
She lay huddled in Dark corner. Soon she heard voices

calling her names. Woman and girls entered the room. The room
was filled with light. But she was dragged downstairs and tied fast
in a chair. She cried loud and shock her head, forcefully they took
the scissors and Zitkala-Sa felt the blades scissors against her
neck. She heard them cut off one of her thick braids. Zitkal-Sa
256
lost her spirit and stopped struggling. But none came to console
her.
Questions For Practice

Short answer type questions (30-40 words)
1. What warning did Judewin give to Zitkala-Sa?
2. What did Zitkala-Sa do to escape from the ordeal of having the

hair shingled?
3. What are the indignities she had been subjected to after being
taken away from her mother?
4. What did it take Bama half an hour to reach home?
5. What is the secret of success in Bama’s life?
Long Ans. Type Questions
(Unsolved)
1. How did Zitkala-Sa resist in the cutting of “My Long Hair”?

How did she fed after her hair been shingled out?
2. How does Bama represent the issue of untouchability in the

lesson,”Memories of my childhood”? How does she get
success?
3. What evidence do you find that Zitkala-Sa was totally

unaccustomed to the ways of the whites?
257
English Core
Code No. : 301
Class XII
Sample Question Paper- I
Time Allowed: 3 hours Maximum Marks: 100
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:
(i) The paper is divided into three Sections-A, B and C. All the
sections are compulsory,
(ii) Separate instructions are given with each section and

question, wherever necessary. Read these instructions very
carefully and follow them faithfully.
(iii) Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the
questions.
(iv) Please write down the serial number of the question in the
answer sheet before attempting it.
SECTION-A (READING SKILLS)

20 Marks
follow:
12
1. The youth is a dynamo, an ocean, an inexhaustible reservoir of
energy. But this energy cannot be held in prison. Its basic
258
nature is to flow, to express itself. The youth energy on the

basis of the nature of its expression can be divided into four
categories.
2. The vast majority of the youth today are with the

establishment, whose formula of life is learn, earn, burn and
enjoy. It means that learn to operate the modern devices and
employ them to earn the maximum amount of wealth to the
point of burning the natural resources of the earth, as well as
yourself out, and then enjoy your own funeral. This category
of youth is intelligent, skilful and hardworking but it lacks
insight and foresight. They are self-indulgent and any sense of
a moral code of conduct is alien to their nature and something
foreign to their texture and way of life. Neither are they able to
see in depth, to find out whether there is a deeper meaning and
purpose to their human life, nor have they the capacity to look
beyond the tips of their nose to find out the consequences of
their way and approach, where it is leading them to. They are
the ends unto themselves and enjoyment is the motto of their
life.
3. The second category of youth in nature and approach is the

same but as it is less privileged and less qualified and skilled,
it has lesser opportunities for earning and enjoying. Such
youth rebel against the establishment for this gross injustice
being meted out to them. This opposition takes various forms.
When it is well organised and systematic it may take the form
of political opposition and even go to the extent of expressing
itself in violent ways. The various insurgent and terrorist
259
groups the world over are its manifestations. When the

opposition is not so intense and organised, it remains content
with giving verbal expression to its resentment periodically.
4. The third section of youth is a sober and thoughtful class of

people, which objectively observes and studies the phenomenon
of development and trend of the world. These youth find that
man in his insatiable thirst for consumption has become blind
and lost the sense of distinction between milk and blood. Today
man in his mad rush for exploitation is sucking the blood of
mother earth and nature, leading to their destruction and is
thereby digging his own grave. This responsible category of
young people is looking for an alternative model of
development based on co-operation between man and man.
This development based on mutual love, friendship and
harmony is not only sustainable but leading to endless
prosperity mutually. To bring about his natural revolution from
death-movement to life-movement is the aim of this group.
5. The fourth and most vital group of youth which is going to

usher humanity into the third millennium and act as the
pioneer for the future development of planetary life is
engaged in evolving a new way of life and releasing a new
principle of global consciousness through a fundamental
research in the science of life. The science of life is a new
branch (rather, stem or tree) of knowledge which takes the
whole man into account without dividing him into subjective
and objective halves of spirituality and physicality and does
not treat him either as a refined (thinking) animal or an
260
ethereal entity, having its base in some other non-physical

world. It, rather, recognises man as a basic unit of conscious
life which has got immense, practically inexhaustible,
possibilities and potentialities for evolution, development
and growth. As per the Vedic formula, man is the mirco-
cosmos and his fullest flowering and unfoldment lies in his
identification with the cosmos.
6. This is the perfection of human life which leads to the

realisation and establishment of harmony and order between
man and God, the divine, between man and nature, the earth
and between man and man, the entire creation. To the extent
and degree this new order enforces itself, the old disorder and
chaotic jumble created by mutilated vision of man recedes.
This process paves the way for the new and golden dawn
tomorrow with the advent of the third millennium.
7. This is a period of transition unprecedented in human history

where an old order, because of inherent contradictions, is
collapsing and a new one on the wings of a new vision and a
creative spirit is emerging, leading to the birth of a new
world in a new age. The burden of this golden future is being
borne by the sons of humanity, the sons of the earth and the
fathers of Gods that'our youth are. This is their privilege,
this is their glory, this is their destiny. The youth is
overwhelmed with this bestowment of grace in the form of
the crown of divine responsibility placed on his head by the
time. At the same time he is proud and confident of carrying
his mission of establishing
261
a new life order to utter fulfilment in the third millennium.

May God bless the divine flower of mother earth. —
J.N. Puri: 'The Tribune'
1.1 Answer the following questions briefly:
( i ) What is the most prominent quality associated with youth?

1
(ii) Explain the formula learn, earn, burn and enjoy'.

2
(iii) Give the merits and defects of the pro establishment youth.
2
( i v) How does the energy of youth rebelling against government express

itself? 1
(v) What is modern man doing? How does the sensitive youth react
to it?
(v) How is humanity likely to be ushered in a new

millennium? 1
1.2 Find words in the above passage which convey a similar

meaning as the following:
3
( i) rebellious (Para 3)
1
(ii) that cannot be satisfied (Para 4)

1
262
(iii) spirituaiyfairly like (Para 5)

1
2. Read the following passage carefully and answer the

questions that follow: 8
The term dietary fibres refers collectively to indigestible

carbohydrates present in plant foods. The importance of these
dietary fibres came to the picture when it was observed that the
people having diet rich in these fibres, had low incidence of
coronary heart disease, cancer of intestinal tract, piles, obesity,
diabetes, hiatus hernia, diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome,
dental caries and gall stones.
These dietary fibres include cellulose hemicellulose, lignin,

pectin, plant gums and mucilages. All these dietary fibres have a
specific chemical structure but varying physical and chemical
properties. Some of these are water soluble, whereas the other are
insoluble in water.
The foodstuffs rich in these dietary fibres are cereals and grains,
legumes, fruits with seeds, citrus fruits, carrots, cabbages, green
leafy vegetables, apples, melons, peaches, pears etc.
These dietary fibres are not digested by the enzymes of the

stomach and the small intestine whereas most of other
carbohydrates like starch and sugar are digested and absorbed.
The dietary fibres have the property of holding water and because
263
of it these get swollen and behave like a sponge as these pass

through the gastrointestinal tract. The fibres add bulk to the diet
and increase transit time in the gut. Some of these fibres may
undergo fermentation in the colon.
In recent years, it has been considered essential to have some

amount of fibres in the diet. These are many reported beneficial
effects attributed to the dietary fibres are based on experimental
evidence and epidemiological data. These beneficial effects in
preventing coronary heart disease may differ in exhibiting the
properties but the mechanism of its action is attributed to its
binding to bile salts and preventing its reabsorption and in
decreasing cholesterol level in the circulation. These fibres like
gums and pectin are reported to decrease postprandial (after
meals) glucose level in blood. These types of dietary fibres are
often recommended for the management of certain types of
diabetes. Recent studies have shown that the "methi" seeds,
which contain 40 per cent gum, are effective in decreasing blood
glucose and cholesterol levels as compared to other gum-
containing vegetables.
Since dietary fibres increase transit time and decrease the time of
release of ingested food in colon, the diet having less fibres is
associated with colon cancer and the dietary fibres may play a
role in decreasing the risk of it.
The dietary fibres hold water so that stools are soft, bulky and
readily eliminated. Therefore, high fibres intake prevents or
relieves constipation.
264
The fibres increase motility of the small intestine and the colon
and by decreasing the transit time, there is less time for exposure
of the mucosa to harmful toxic substances. Therefore, there is less
time for bacteria to produce harmful substances. Pectin, mucilages
and gums retard gastic empting. Therefore, there is a less desire to
eat and the energy intake can be maintained within the
requirement range. This phenomenon helps in keeping a check on
obesity. Another reason, in helping to decrease obesity is that the
high-fibre diets have somewhat lower co-efficients of digestibility.
Thus, the net energy released to the body is a little less than that
from other diets containing high proportions of animal foods.
The dietary fibres may have some adverse effects on nutrition by

binding some trace metals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus,
zinc and others and, therefore, preventing their proper absorbtion.
This may pose a possibility of nutritional deficiency, especially
when diets contain marginal levels of mineral elements. This
may become important constraints on increasing dietary fibres.
The procedure adopted for dietary fibres estimation is cumbersome

and complicated andthe values may depend upon the method
used. All values for dietary fibre may be considered as
approximate. This is because dietary fibres are not a single entity
which can be chemically defined. It is suggestted that an intake
of 40 grams dietary fibres per day is desirable.
-Rakesh Singh, The Tribune'
2.1 On the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes
on it using headings and sub-headings. Use recognizable
265
abbreviations-minimum of four (wherever necessary).

5
2.2 Write a summary of the above passage in about 100 words. Also
give a suitable title to it. 3
SECTION-B (ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS) 35

MARKS
3. Sumit Bandopadhaya of 38, Salt Lake, Kolkata wishes to sell pet

dogs. He drafts an advertisement for publication in the Classified Ads
—'Dogs & Kennels' section of a newspaper. Write the advertisement
in not more than 50 words giving the details of breeds of dogs, their
age, number, range of rates and contact address.
5
OR
The International Book Fair is being held at Pragati Maidan between 14
Nov.-19 Nov. 2004. As the school librarian write a notice informing
students about it.
4. You are Mani Aiyyar of 19, Red Cross Road, Trichy. You have just
seen an autorickshaw full of school children overturn as it is hit by a
speeding truck. Write a report for a local newspaper including details of
number of people injured and the extent of damage caused. (Word limit:
100-125 words) 10
266
OR
You are Sunil Joshi, Head boy, City School Bangalore. The new wing
of your school has just been converted into a study centre, comprising a
spacious library and well furnished reading rooms. New books have
also been added. The Editor of your school magazine has asked you to
write a factual description of the library including details like its
seating capacity, facilities and the kind of books available. (Word limit
100-125 words)
5. Vinod Pinto sees an advertisement for career counselling in

vocational courses. He wants to know more about the various
vocational courses available after S.S.C.E. So he decides to write a
letter to Digital Informatics, 25, Temple Road, Indore to find out more
details about the courses available, fees, timings, mode of payment etc.
Write this letter. 10
OR
You are really concerned about the ways in which the advertisements
in the media are targeting children for their own ends. As Sudhanshu,
of 123 Diplomatic Enclave, New Delhi, write to the Editor of The
Hindustan Times protesting strongly against this hardcore marketing.
6. Priya sees a group of women protesters demanding reservation for

women. At home she notices pampering of boys by mothers. She feels
pained at the gender bias and decides to write an article on 'fair
treatment to girl child' for a social magazine 'Outlook'
(Word limit: 200 words)

10
267
OR
During this morning stroll his hears anxious parents deliberating about
the problems of their wards who are to take the public exam shortly. At
school canteen, he finds the ' harassed teenagers complaining of their
parents' phobia for better marks in examination. He ponders on the
question for whom are examination so trying—parents or students?
Write Mohit's article on the Burden of examinations on parents and
children for the school magazine 'Dawn' in not more than 200 words.
SECTION-C (TEXTBOOKS) 45
MARKS
7 (a). And such too is the grandeur of the dooms We have imagined for
the mighty dead; All lovely tales that we have heard or read; An
endless fountain of immortal drink, Pouring unto us from the heaven's
brink
Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet of these lines.
1
(b) Explain: 'the grandeur of the dooms'.

1
(c) What is lovelier than "all lovely tales that we have heard or read"?
1
(d} What is the source of the 'endless fountain of immortal drink'?
1
OR
On sour cream walls, donations. Shakespeare's head,
268
Cloudless at dawn, civilized dome riding all cities.
Belled, flowery, Tyrolese valley. Open-handed map
Awarding the world its world.
QUESTIONS
(a) What is the colour of the classroom walls? What does this colour
suggest? 1
(b) What do these classroom walls have?

1
(c) Which two worlds does the poet hint at? How is the contrast between
the two worlds presented? ?
(b). Answer any three of the following in about 30-40 words

each:
2x3 =
6
(a) Why are the young trees described as 'sprinting'?
(b) What alternative does Pablo Neruda suggest instead of indulging in

wars?
(c) How will cunning and greedy people soothe the rustics out of their
wits?
(d) What do you learn about Aunt Jennifer's tigers on reading the
poem?
269
8. Answer the following in about 30-40 words each:2x5 =

10
(a) How would you regard Mukesh's father's life and achievement?
(b) How far had Franz progressed in French? What factors were
responsible for this?
(c) How did Douglas initially feel when he went to the Y.M.C.A. pool?
What made him feel comfortable?
(d) How did the Indian peasants react to the new agreement releasing
them from sharecropping arrangement?
(e) What explanation does the author offer for Subbu having enemies?
9. Give an account of the peddler's meeting with the old crofter. How
does the peddler conduct himself? .What light does this episode throw
on human nature?
10
OR
How does Umberto Eco pursue his philosophical and academic
interests? How does he make use of 'interstices' ? What are the
distinguishing features of his non-fictional style?
10
10. How can you say that Dr Sadao's father was a Japanese to the core?
7
OR
What problem did Roger Skunk have? How was it solved?
270
11. Answer the following in about 30-40 words each:

2x4 =8
(a) What did the note inside the first-day cover reveal?
(b) How did the Dewan react to the Maharaja's declaration: "I have,
decided to get married"?
(c) Why does the author call her two-week stay in Antarctica ca chilling
prospect'?
(d) How, according to Mr Lamb, can one overcome sense of hurt or

humiliation caused by remarks at one's physical disability?
271
English Core
Code No. : 301
Class XII
Sample Question Paper- I
Marking Scheme
ANSWERS
1.1
(i) The most prominent quality associated with youth is energy.
(ii) It means 'learn' to operate the modern devices, 'earn' wealth by

employing them, 'burn' the natural resources as well as oneself and
'enjoy' one's own funeral.
(iii) They are intelligent, skilful and hardworking but they lack
insight and foresight. Being self-indulgent they do not follow any
moral code of conduct. They are confined to present joys and do not
think deeper.
(iv) It may take the form of political opposition. Sometimes these

rebels become violent and indulge in insurgent and terrorist
activities.
( v ) Modern man is exploiting mother earth and nature to the

extent of their destruction and consequently his own. The sensitive
youth are looking for an alternative model of development based
on mutual love, friendship, co-operation and harmony.
272
(vi) Humanity is likely to be ushered into the third millennium by

evolving a new way of life and releasing a new principle of global
consciousness through a fundamental research in the science of life.
1.2 (i) insurgent (ii) insatiable (Hi) ethereal.
2.1 Notes
1. Defn. of dietary fibres

2. Importance
(a) low incidence of .ieart liseases and cancer
( b ) removes constij>ation
(c) checks obesity, diabetes, caries etc.
3. Characteristics
(a) include cellulose, lignin, pectin etc.
(b) specific chem. structure
(c) solubility
( i ) some sol in water
(ii) others insoluble in H2O
4. Sources
(a) cereals and grains, legumes
(b) fruits with seeds, citrus fruits
(c) carrots, cabbages, green leafy vegs.

273
5. Properties
(a) not digested/absorbed by enzymes of stomach/small intestines
(b) hold water - get swollen - act like sponge
(c) add bulk to diet - increase transit time in the gut
(d) undergo fermentn in the colon.
6. Action Mechanism
(a) bind bile salts - prevent reabsorptn
(b) decrease cholesterol level in circuln
(c) decrease post prandial glucose level in blood
7. Adverse Effects
(a) preventg absorpon of metals
(b) nutritional deficiency - lesser minerals
2.2 ROLE OF DIETARY FIBRES
Dietary fibres are indigestible carbohydrates present in plant foods,

which result in low incidence of many diseases. These fibres include
cellulose, lignin, pectin, plant gums and mucilages. They have a
specific chemical structure but different physical and chemical j
properties. Some, are soluble in water while others are insoluble.
Cereals and grains, legumes, fruit with seeds, citrus fruits, carrots,
cabbages and green leafy vegetables are rich in fibres. Being
indigestible they add bulk to diet and increase transit time in the
274
intestines. Since they hold water, they get swollen and act like
sponge. Some fibres undergo fermentation in colon. They bind bile
salts and prevent its reabsorption. They also decrease cholestoral
level and glucose level in blood. Since they prevent absorption of
metals and minerals increased dietary fibres may result in nutritional
deficiency.
275
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENT
DOGS & KENNELS
Adult Pekinese and Dachshund, Scotch Terrier Pups, nine in all,
three each of a breed are available for sale. Age of pups - 3 to 6
months; adult dogs 1V£ to 2 years - fully trained and inoculated, both
male and female, imported blood line. Only genuine dog lovers need
Contact: Sumit Bandopadhayay, 38, Salt Lake, Kolkata.
Second Option
NOTICE
GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR
Book-lovers
The International Book Fair is being organised at Pragati Maidan as

per details given below:
Dates : 14 Nov. to 19 Nov. 200X
Time : 2 pm to 9 pm
Latest publications and rare books will be on display. All students are
requested to attend.
Chetan Swaroop
9 Nov. 2006
Librarian
276
4. SPEEDING TRUCK HITS AND RUNS
—Mani Aiyyar
Trichy, 7 March
In yet another hit and run accident, a speeding truck struck against
an autorickshaw full of school children. The head of driver of the
auto bumped into the wind screen. As he lost control, the vehicle
overturned and the road was littered with bags, books, waterbottles
etc. A number of children were thrown off and two hit the railing on
the pavement. People rushed to save them. Fortunately they had
received only minor injuries. The truck driver utilised the
opportunity and sped away.
—Second Option
THE NEW STUDY CENTRE

Sunil Joshi, Head boy
The school has added another feather to its cap by converting the new
wing to a Study Centre comprising a spacious hall for library with 90
stacks of open shelves and about 60,000 books. The three reading rooms
are well furnished with moulded chairs, gloss-top tables and velvety
carpets. One of the reading rooms is for newspapers and periodicals.
The other is for the faculty members. The third is reserved for self-study
where we can carry our books and read. All the reading rooms are well-
lit and have curtains to ward off the heat. The covers of newly arrived
books are displayed on a notice-board. The magazines and periodicals
277
have their beautiful, transparent covers and are placed at specifc places
and stands. Since the open shelf system has been introduced, it has
become easier to locate the books. In case it is not on the shelf, it can be
requisitioned with the help of catalogue card. The librarian is ever ready
to help us.
5. First Option: Attempt yourself.

Second Option .
123 Diplomatic Enclave
New Delhi
The Editor
The Hindustan Times

New Delhi
IS March, 200X
Sir
Sub: Hard Core Marketing
Through the columns of your esteemed daily, I wish to draw the

attention of the authorities and parents to the malpractices that are
being carried on by the media under the guise of marketing
strategies.
Advertisements are launched in such a way that children are the

targets of the advertised goods. Consumerism has made inroads to
such an extent that all out efforts are made to entice them into
278
becoming prospective consumers. Then there are numerous awards

attached to schemes - all very dear to the hearts of young children.
Parents who love and fondle their children yield to their insistence.
The child and through him the parents are easily exploited
by the advertisers of sports goods, shoes, confectionaries, textiles,

fast food and fizzy drink
Manufacturers.
I think, before approving the advertisements for public display the

authorities should take note of its precise effect on children and
check the errant agencies from committing such malpractices.
Yours truly
Sudhanshu
6. MAGAZINE ARTICLE
For centuries the girl child has been a victim of misplaced notions
and an object of ridicule and discrimination. Even educated people
consider boys superior to girls because they are stronger physically,
mentally and emotionally. The mothers fondle, cajole and coax the
boys and scold the equally intelligent, and rather more industrious
girls due to the misconceived notion that the family propagates
only with the male child. These orthodox and retrograde views
have forced the grown up women to raise the banner of protest and
demand reservation for women. In fact, women are so suppressed
and depressed in the countryside that any project of women uplift
is impossible without giving them special treatment. It is only in the
elite urban groups that the feats of girls and women are applauded.
279
In the educated middle classes we find girls and women competing

with boys and men in every sphere—studies, jobs, administration or
politics. Yet, the condition of girls in 60% urban homes and 90%
rural homes is still pitiable. Our constitution provides for equality
of sexes and no discrimination or gender bias should thwart the
progress of girl child. We have to change the social milieu and
force the traditional, orthodox, retrograde and backward looking
people to change their point of view and treat boys and girls
equally by providing them equal opportunities for studies, creative
sensibilities and developing physical stamina. They will find the
girl child more hardworking, patient and understanding.
Second Option
EXAMINATION PHOBIA
Examinations are an ordeal, a hellfire for the children as well as
their dear parents. They do not welcome it, yet they have to face this
necessary evil year after year. The aspirations of the children are
high and the parents are so involved with the performance of their
wards in examination that both are tense. Since the portals of
higher education and technical / professional education are open to
students with good grades, parents expect their children to perform
wonderfully well in the examination. They try to egg their wards on
by indulging in comparisons of the attainments of their siblings with
those of their friends or neighbours. Thus they cause a
psychological strain on themselves besides overburdening and
harassing their children. In their myopic state they forget that only
one student can top the class. Every child cannot get the highest
marks in each subject. Sometimes these pressures drive students to
280
the brink of mental breakdown. Many students commit suicide

because they fear that their performance may not match their parents'
expectations. The need is to inculcate proper perspective in parents
as well as students. Let the students try to display their real talent
and potential.
7(a).
(a) The poem is (A Thing of Beauty'. The poet is John Keats.
(b) The magnificence that we imagine for our mighty dead

forefathers on the dooms day.
(c) The beauty of daffodils, rills and musk-rose is more enchanting

than all lovely stories that we have heard or read.
(d) The endless fountain of nectar (immortal drink) pours into us

from the heavenly bliss of nature.
Second Option
(a) The colour of the classroom walls is 'sour cream' or off white.
This colour suggests the decaying aspect and pathetic condition of
the lives of the children in a slum-school.
(b) The walls of the classroom have pictures of Shakespeare,

buildings with domes, world maps and beautiful valleys.
281
(c) The poet hints at two worlds: the world of poverty, misery and
malnutrition of the slums where children are underfed, weak and
have stunted growth. The other world is of progress and prosperity
peopled by the rich and the powerful. The pictures on the wall
suggesting happiness, richness, well being and beauty are in stark
contrast to the dim and dull slums.
(b). (a) The poet is driving to the Cochin airport. When she looks
outside, the young trees seem to be walking past them. With the
speed of the car they seem to be running fast or sprinting. The poet
presents a contrast—her 'dozing* old mother and the 'sprinting' young
trees.
(b) Instead of indulging in wars, the people must come out in their
best dresses with their brothers. They should go out for a walk under
the shady trees and enjoy themselves doing nothing.
(c) The greedy people will pose as 'good-doers'. They will swarm
over the lives of the poor rural folk. They will make plans to extract
maximum profit from them. These people are more cruel than the
wild beasts of prey. Their only aim is to mint money and earn huge
profits by befooling the innocent rural people. They will themselves
'sleep all day' but 'destroy their sleeping at night'.
(d) Aunt Jennifer's tigers were created in the panel by her own
hands. They appeared to be prancing (.jumping) across a screen.
They looked sleek. They were bright like yellow topaz. They were
majestic and courageous. They didn't fear the men beneath the tree.
They paced in 'chivalric certainty'.
282
8.
(a) Mukesh's father was born in the caste of bangle-makers. His father
went blind with the dust from polishing the glass of bangles. He is an
old and poor bangle maker. He has worked hard for long years, first as
a tailor and then as a bangle maker. He has failed to renovate a house
or send his two sons to school.
(b) Franz hardly knew how to write. He had not learnt his lessons
properly. He wasted time on seeking birds' eggs or going sliding on the
Saar. Books seemed a nuisance to him and a burden to carry. He had
put off learning till the next day thinking he had plenty of time.
(c) Unpleasant memories of the past were revived and childish fears
were stirred. In a little while he gathered confidence. He paddled with
his new water wings. He watched the other boys and tried to imitate
them. He did so two or three times on different days. He began to feel
comfortable.
(d) The sharecropping arrangement was troublesome to the peasants.

Many of them signed the new agreement willingly. Some resisted and
engaged lawyers. Then they came to know about synthetic indigo. The
peasants wanted their, money back.
(e) The author suggests that it might be because of his intimacy with
the Boss or because his general demeanour resembled that of a
sycophant. It may have been due to his readiness to say nice things
about everything.
9. One dark evening the peddler reached a little gray cottage by the
roadside. He knocked on the door to ask shelter for the night. The
283
owner, an old man without wife or child, welcomed him. He was

happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness. He served him hot
porridge for supper and gave him tobacco for his pipe. Then he played
cards with him till bed time. The host told the peddler that in his days
of prosperity he worked on land at Ramsjo Ironworks. Now his cow
supported him. He sold her milk at the creamery everyday. He showed
the peddler the thirty kroner notes he got as payment that month. Then
he hung the leather pouch on a nail in the window frame. Next morning
the crofter went to milk the cow, and the peddler went away. However,
he returned after half an hour, broke the window pane, took the money
out of the leather pouch and put it back on the nail.
This episode shows that in loneliness, human beings crave for

company, for social bonding. Secondly, temptations can overpower the
greatest philosopher. The peddler who calls the world a rattrap is
himself tempted by thirty kronor.
284
SECOND OPTION
Umberto Eco has many philosophical interests. He pursues them

through his academic works and novels. Even his books for children are
about non-violence and peace. They are the same bunch of ethical and
philosophical interests. Eco has written more than 40 scholarly non-
fictional works. Among them is a seminal work on semiotics. He
prefers to be called an academician. He participates in academic
conferences and not in the meetings of pen clubs and writers. He
identifies himself with the academic community. He declares that he is
a university professor who writes novels on Sundays.
Umberto Eco shares a secret with the interviewer. He thinks that if we

eliminate the empty spaces from the universe the world will shrink. It
will become as big as a fist. Similarly we have a lot of empty spaces or
interstices in our lives. He works in these empty spaces and uses them
to his advantage.
Umberto Eco has evolved a distinct non-fictional style. It is different

from the regular academic style which is usually 'depersonalised and
often dry and boring.' Padmanabhan finds a certain playful and
personal quality about his scholarly work. Eco admits that his essays
have a narrative aspect. This narrative style of his scholarly works was
fully developed later on in his novels
10. Dr Sadao's father had high dreams about the future of Japan. There
was no limit to their future as it depended on what they made it. He
never played or joked with his only son. But he spent infinite pains
upon him. For the sake of the best possible medical education, he sent
285
his son to America. Sadao met Hana there, but waited to fall in love
with her until he was sure she was Japanese. His father would never
have received her unless she had been pure in her race. Their marriage
was arranged in the old Japanese way only after Sadao's father had
seen her when both of them had come home to Japan after finishing
their education. He was a Japanese every inch. The floor of his room
was deeply matted. He would never sit on a chair or sleep in a foreign
bed in his house. The quilt was covered with flowered silk and the lining
was pure white silk. In short, everything here had been Japanese to
please him.
SECOND OPTION
Roger Skunk smelled very bad—in fact so bad that none of the
other little woodland creatures would play with him. Whenever
Roger Skunk went out to play, all the other tiny animals would
cry: 'Uh-oh, here comes Roger Stinky Skunk/ Then they would
run away. Roger Skunk would stand there all alone. Two little
round tears would fall from his eyes. Roger Skunk walked along
very sadly and came to a very big tree. There was a huge, wise,
old owl on the topmost branch of the tree. He told the owl that all
the other little animals ran away from him because he smelled very
bad. The owl admitted that he did so. Skunk wanted to know what
he could do and cried hard. The owl advised Roger Skunk to go to
the wizard who lived in the dense forest over a little river. The
wizard too observed that the Skunk smelled awful. He asked what
he wanted. Roger Skunk told his problem. The wizard found his
magic wancf and asked Roger Skunk what he wanted to smell
like. Roger thought and said, "Roses". The wizard chanted a
286
magical spell. There was a smell of roses all around the wizard's
house. Roger Skunk now smelled of Roses.
11.
(a) The paper inside the first-day cover was not blank. It
contained a note by Sam, written from Galesburg on 18 July 1894
and addressed to Charley. It revealed that Sam had found the third
level and had been in Galesburg for two weeks, enjoying the
company of carefree, song and music loving people there. He
advised Charley to keep looking for the third level as it was worth
it.
(b) The reaction of the Dewan is quite funny and amusing. He

thinks that the Maharaja wants to marry him. He says that he has
already two wives. The Maharaja clarifies-that he does not want to
marry him. He wants a tiger. The Dewan interrupts him saying
that his ancestors were married to the sword. He might marry the
gun if he liked. He added that a Tiger King was more than enough
for that state. It did not need a Tiger Queen as well.
(c) It was a frightening possibility owing to the stark contrast in

physical parameters. The author, a South-Indian, lived under the
hot sun. Antarctica has 90 per cent of Earth's total ice. Not only
circulatory and metabolic functions but even imagination is
strained.
(d) Mr Lamb does not provide a straightforward solution. He says

that in the street kids shout "Lamey-Lamb" at him. Still they
come to his garden. They are not afraid of him because he is not
287
afraid of them. He simply ignores their comments. He concentrates

on other things.
SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER-II
SECTION – A [READING SKILLS] 20 Marks
1. Read the following passage carefully :
The word "ragging" conjures up visions of horror in the hearts of many a

prospective boarder of college-hostel. So many tales of torture and
humiliation have got associated with the practice of 'ragging" that it is
virtually impossible to look at this practice from any angle other than that of
disapproval. Ragging means perpetrating of insult, humiliation and torture
upon the freshers by the seniors. The former apprehend that they are in for a
series of practical jokes and constant teasing at the hands of the latter. There
is no way they can escape this unpleasant fate. The status of one's father or
the standing of one' family is no surety against rough handling of their body
and mind by the big guys of the hostels. These guys run the show in the
hostels and nobody-neither the principal nor the warden dares to interfere
with their ways.
Ragging has not always been the nightmare it has now become. Ragging
originated in the West as a sort of initiation rites. The fresh entrants to
colleges/hostels were initiated into the manners and way of life of the hostel
by their seniors. The latter had also gone through their share of ragging at the
time of entry. It was now their turn to have some amusement at the cost of
the freshers. They would tease the freshers about their look or about their
manners. Abnormally tall or short students would be easy targets as also the
fat and the lean. Students wearing glasses would have their glasses snatched
288
away and made to read for the seniors. Sometimes the seniors would insist
that the freshers bow before them and greet them with folded hands. The
fresher would face a major calamity when eatables brought by him from
home would be consumed by a battery of senior students within a few
minutes in his presence. His protests would invite teasing, ridicule and
charges of selfishness.
Ragging frequently consists of mock-interviews and mock-trials of the

freshers. The seniors would constitute themselves into an interview board
and would interview the freshers one by one. The latter would be asked
detailed questions. There would be probing questions about the sexual
experience or exploits of the freshers. Any attempt to evade the questions or
circumvent them will invite snubs and ridicule.
A fresher who resists the attempts of his seniors to ridicule him would
become a target for special harassment. He might be charged of stealing an
article of a senior and would be put on a mock-trial. The Jury constituted by
the seniors would act as the accuser, the judge and the punishing authority.
The accused may be pressurised by verbal instructions or physical threats
into admitting his guilt. Defiance would result in sure convictions. The
convict would be asked to polish the shoes of his seniors for a week or wash
their clothes. A boarder who dares complain to the warden would become a
target of guerilla warfare. He would be constantly harassed by some gang of
the seniors.
Ragging is indeed a nightmare for the subjects as they go through the ordeal.
But it does have some positive effects on the freshers. Those who endure it
with courage get emboldened. They get used to facing hardship and
unpleasant situations. They build up a reserve of fortitude in their
personality. The roughness and toughness of the impersonal environment do
not rattle them so easily.
It is not unoften that the perpetrators and the victims of ragging become best
of friends in course of time. Their friendship is all the more enduring for the
initial feelings of hostility they have experienced in their first encounters.
Ragging also enhances the self-awareness of many students who are too
much obsessed by their own ideals and pursuits such as cranks or book-
worms. A moderate amount of ragging induces the fresher to behave in
socially acceptable ways and abandon his eccentricity.
Of late, ragging has degenerated into simple torture of the innocent at the
hands of sadistic element among the senior boarders. The latter, who might
have been the products of unhappy childhood, would seek their revenge on
the emotional and sensitive youth by straining their nerves and endurance.
289
Ragging, an amusing practice in the olden days, has degenerated into an

unmitigated evil. It can no longer be put back on rails. Attempts of many
educationalists to temper ragging with affectionate banter and repartee have
not met with any notable success. It has become a synonym for torture.
(Discursive)
1.1 On the basis of your reading the passage answer the

following questions briefly:
(a) Why does the writer disapprove of ragging ? 1
(b) In the past ragging was merely a fun. How? 2
(c) What happens to a fresher who wears a brave face against his
seniors ? Give two instances of punishment. 2
(d) What is the better side of ragging for those who go through
this ordeal ? 2
(e) How has ragging degenerated into torture recently ? 3
1.2 Find out words and phrases from the passage which mean the
following : 3
(i) committing (para 1)
(ii) finding a way of overcoming or avoiding (para 3)
(iii) unusual behaviour (para 6)
2. Read the following passage carefully. 8 Marks
Noise is defined as 'sound without value' or any sound that is undesired by

the recipient. Noise can be measured by a sound meter and is expressed in a
unit called the 'decibel (DB). High intensity of Noise pollution is caused by
many machines man has invented during his technological advancement.
While modern household gadgets such as mixer-cum-grinder, vacuum
'cleaner, washing machine, coolers and air conditioners greatly enhance the
levels of sounds and the potentially harmful to health, loud speakers disturb
the students in their studies and the peace of the locality. Similarly, loudly
played radios, TVs, telephones and pressure horns are other major sources of
noise pollution. Printing presses, small scale industries, trucks, buses, trains,
autos, motorcycles, aeroplanes, social and politics gatherings, all contribute
to the noise problems in almost all the larger cities of India.
290
Noise causes disturbances in the atmosphere which in turn interferes with the
system of communications. They affect our peace of mind, health and
behaviour. Sudden loud noise can cause damage to the ear drum and the tiny
hair cells in the internal ear, whereas prolonged noise results in temporary
loss of hearing or even permanent impairment. It causes headache, irritability
and impairs reusing. It is known to flame the skin, constrict stomach muscles
and produce ulcers, heart disease, high blood pressure, nervousness and other
defects in sensory and nervous systems. It is difficult to completely get rid of
the malady of noise pollution in the current electronic age. However we can
adopt certain measures to minimize the intensity of the noise pollution.
Legislation and public awareness are essential. Nobody should be permitted
to create noise in silent zones or during night. Noise producing vehicles
should be prevented from plying on the roads and their use of pressure horns
should be entirely checked.
Here the horticulturist can help a lot. They can suggest adequate varieties of
vegetation which can be planted around factories, hospitals, educational
institutions, public library and. houses which may reduce sound pollution
and also may minimize the pollution. But lot of hue and cry due to pollution
is caused by pesticides that has been prevailing among the residents living in
the industrial areas and their surroundings and other inhabitable parts for a
long time. The genesis is that when the bad smell and the noise and other
machines in the manufacturing process become inevitable, the workers have
to suffer a lot. Pesticides do kill the harmful insects, rodents but plants are
adversely affected. These plants are rather helpful to absorb the extra noise
prevalent in the atmosphere. It is our moral duty to preserve the atmosphere
from noise so as the keep ourselves away from many harmful effects of noise
pollution. In reality man is responsible for his degradation.
2.1 On the basis of your reading of the above passage, make

notes using recognizable abbreviations and symbols. Use a
suitable format and write an appropriate title for it.
5 Marks
2.2 Write a summary based on your notes in about 80 words.

3 Marks
291
SECTION: B [ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS] 35 Marks
3. A part–time computer engineer offers his services for a

suitable part-time job. Prepare a classified advertisement for
a local newspaper in about 50 words.
5 Marks
OR
Design a poster advertising the opening of a new school called
Happy Academy. Highlight some of the facilities being
provided.
4. You are Pankaj/Parvi. The other day your happened to attend

a seminar on “Case of Reducing the Retirement Age in Public
Sector from 60 to 55,” organised by the Rotary club of your
district write a report on the seminar in about 100 words for
publication in the Times of India.
10 Marks
OR
You are Rajat/Ranjita. The other day you participated in an
inter-school debate competition as a contestant, orgznised by
Lions Club of your area, in which you spoke for the motion
and stood first. The topic for the debate was ‘In the opinion of
the house free education upto Secondary level is the
fundamental right of every Indian child’. Write a report on
this event in not more than 100 words for publication in your
school magazine.
5. You are Deep Chand/Deepa, a resident of 25, Vasant Vihar,

New Delhi, Write a letter to the editor of a national newspaper
criticizing lavish spending on marriages. (150 words)
10 Marks
OR
You are Deep Chand/Deepa, a resident of 25, Vasant Vihar,
New Delhi. Write a letter to the Director, Doordarshan, New
Delhi, suggesting some improvement in T.V. programmes.
6. You are Mansi/Manav. Write an article for your Vidyalaya

Journal ‘Science-Alert’ On the topic “Changing Life-style
Invites Diseases” word limit 200.
10 Marks
292
OR
You are Mansi/Manav. You feel that this age of consumerism
has given a boost to plastic money. Write a speech to be
presented in the morning assembly of your school on
“Advantages and Disadvantages of credit Cards”, Word limit
200.
SECTION : C [TEXT-BOOK] 45 Marks
7. (a) Read the lines given below and answer the questions that
follow:
“Perhaps the earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive.
Now I will count up to twelve
and you keep quiet and I will go”.
(i) What are the lessons that the earth can teach us ?
1
(ii) What symbol of nature does the poet use to make us
comprehend this lesson ?
1
(iii) What does the poet mean to achieve by counting upto twelve?
1
(iv) What is the significance of keeping quiet ? 1
OR
“When aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie.
Still singed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made,
will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.”
(i) Why are aunt Jennifer’s hands described as being terrified? 1
(ii) What impression does one get about the character of aunt
Jennifer? 1
(iii) How does the poet describe the tigers made on the panel by
aunt Jennifer?
1
(iv) What do the last two lines suggest? 1
7. (b) Answer any three of the following questions briefly: 3x2 = 6

(i) What are the things of beauty that the poet refers to in the
poem, ‘A thing of Beauty’ ? What is their gift to us ?
293
(ii) What is the reason for putting up a road side stand ? Did it
achieve its goal ?
(iii) What do the parting words of the poet to her mother and her
smile signify ?
(iv) Why is grandeur associated with the ‘mighty dead’?
8. Answer the following in about 30-40 words each.

5x2 = 10
(i) What are the circumstances that conspire to keep Mukesh
and families like his engulfed in poverty?
(ii) why was the British government baffled after having served
Gandhiji summons to appear in court ?
(iii) Who was subhu? What was it that distinguished him?
(iv) What is so distinctive about umberto Eco’s writing style ?
How does he find time to write so much ?
(v) How did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rat trap
and why did the idea amuse him ?
9.Answer one of the following in about 150 words. The story

‘Deep Water’ is a saga of courage and perseverance. Elaborate.
10 Marks
OR
Recount what made the peddler finally change his ways ?
10. Answer one of the following in about 150 words. 7

Though the play ‘On the Face on It’, ends tragically, yet it
leaves one feeling strangely optimistic. Elucidate.
OR
Describe the character of Jack as described in ‘Should
Wizard Hit Mommy.
11. Answer the following questions briefly : 4x2 = 8

(i) Why was Charlie filled with a longing to visit Galesburg ?
(ii) Why had Dr. Sadao Haki been retained in Japan and not sent
out with the troops ?
(iii) Why does the writer consider a visit to the Antarctic of great
significance ?
(iv) What was common about the experiences of Zitkala-Sa and
Bama ?
294
MODEL ANSWERS
SECTION : A [READING]
Answer :
1.1. (a) The writer disapproves of 'ragging' because it has

recently been
associated with torture, humiliation and persecution of
the freshers. 1
(b) In the past 'ragging’ was a fun because it was confined to
teasing of freshers by seniors. For example, spectacled
students would be compelled to read without their
spectacles or they would be asked to run errands for the
latter. 2
(c) A fresher who wears a brave face undergoes punishment.
One, he might be charged of stealing an article of a
senior and second, he would be asked to polish the shoes
of his seniors for a week or wash their clothes.
2
(d) The better side of ragging is that the freshers buildup a
reserve of fortitude and they develop the capacity not to
complain of rough and tough social environment later.
2
(e) Ragging has recently degenerated into torture because
there have been cases of deaths due to it.
2
1.2. (i) perpetrating (ii) circumvent (iii) eccentricity 3
295
2.1 Ans. A) Title : NOISE POLLUTION
1. Definition of noise
1.1 Snd. without value
1.2 msmt. decibel units
1.3 high pitch harmful
1.4 indust., vehicles, domestic appliances
2. Effects
2.1 disturb, in atmos.
2.2 harmful to health
2.3 damages nervous and sensory system
3. Remedies
3.1 creation of silent zones.
3.2 growing vegetation
3.3 preserving the atmosphere
Key to Abbreviations: -
1) Snd -Sound
2) msmt- Measurement
3) disturb.-Disturbances
4) atmos, -Atmosphere
2.2 Ans. Summary/Abstract on notes.

296
Noise is sound without value and is measured by a sound meter

and is expressed in a unit called the Decibel. Noise pollution is caused
by domestic appliances, vehicles and industries. It disturbs the
natmosphere and damages nervous and sensory system of human
beings. This problem cannot be removed completely in this age of
technological development. Yet some remedial measures can be
adopted. During night silent zones can be created. Horticulturists can
suggest adequate and suitable noise absorbing vegetation to be planted
around crowded and noisy places. Legislation and general
awareness is essential.
SECTION : B [ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS]
3. Ans.
SITUATION WANTED
A well experienced computer engineer just returned from U.S.A.

seeks a part time job for repairing computers. He is well versed in
Hardware and Software techniques. All defects of machine can be
set correct within few seconds. Give a chance and avail of the best
opportunity. Please contact Gupta 4/5, Ashok Vihar. Phase I, Delhi
or ring 22940588.
OR
297
Ans.
OPENING! OPENING! OPENING

HAPPY ACADEMY, ALIGARH
An English Medium Kindergarten School, University Road,
Opening at Aligarh
Admission Open for:

Pre Nursery, Nursery and K.G. Classes
Special Features
* Centrally Located Building
* Well Furnished and Fully Ventilated Rooms
* Well Qualified, Experienced and Dedicated Staff
* Playway Method of Teaching
* Focus on Propogation of Human Values
* School Transport Facilities at Affordable Rates
* Reasonable School Fees
* Timing-.9.00 am to 2.00 pm.
Registration Open
Contact School office between 9 AM and 12 Noon
Principal
4. Ans.
SEMINAR ON RETIRMENT AGE
Pankaj/Parvi
Last week the Rotary Club of the district organised a seminar on 'Case
for Reducing the Retirement Age in Public Sector from 60 to 55' in Patel
298
Auditorium at 4 pm. The Cabinet Secretary and the President of CII

(Confederation of Indian Industry) and a few VIPs were present to
answer various queries raised by the reporters of some newspapers and
public men who attended the seminar. The Cabinet Secretary pointed out
that the reduction in the Retirement Age in Public Sector from 60 to 55
meant creating more jobs to fight the staggering rate of unemployment
in the country. The number of unemployed youth was increasing day
after day and they were facing great hardships. They became the easy
targets for vested interests who charmed them into anti-social activities.
A press reporter pointed out that generally people growing old beyond
55 had a vast experience which was beneficial for the organisation they
served. The Secretary clarified that they could become more beneficial
for their families and the public alike since by that time they could
sustain themselves economically. It was a question not of economic
progress but of survival for all.
OR
Ans.
OUR SCHOOL GETS FIRST PRIZE IN INTER-SCHOOL

DEBATE
It is a matter of great pride for the School that Rajat/Ranjita who

represented it in an inter-school debate as a contestant organized by the
Lions Club stood first. The competition was held in the Lions Club Hall
yesterday at 11 am. The topic for the debate was 'In the opinion of the
house, free education upto Secondary level is the fundamental right of
every Indian child'. Rajat/Ranjita stressed the need of education for all
because it was the key to all the evils and superstitions prevalent in the
society. If all knew their rights and duties, thousands of maladies
causing sufferings to the people would be eliminated. It was the moral
responsibility of the government as well to provide free education upto
this level because by this level, thousands of students drop out of school
299
for one reason or the other. India was a welfare state and it was in
keeping with it that the Goverment’s responsibility became all the more
desirable.
Rajat
5. Ans.
25, Vasant Vihar
New Delhi
Date : 2 March, 2008
The Editor
The Hindustan Times
New Delhi
Sir,
Subject : Wastage of money
You will earn sincere gratitude if you kindly publish my letter in 'Letters
to the Editor’s column of your esteemed newspaper. The letter pertains
to lavish spending on our marriages.
Lavish spending on marriages is a vulgar display of wealth. It benefits

nobody. A lot of money goes to dogs. Lavish spending creates a lot of
heart burning and inculcates unnecessary competition. Parents who can
not afford this are compelled to take loans and there by become slaves to
the banker. For a days show life long sufferings are invited. To keep up
300
respect and to maintain outward show money is wasted. Lavish

spending on marriages is a stigma and a curse for the poor. Moreover, it
increases the hunger and greed of the parents of the bridegroom.
Bickering and quarrels follow and they sometimes culminate into
divorce.
Despite many losses it goes unchecked. It is detrimental to our economy.

Hard earned money can never be spent lavishly. So it is black money
that makes the show go. So lavish spending on marriages is a social
stigma. It must be checked ruthlessly. Laws framed against- this must be
used harshly. The people who spend lavishly should face social boycott.
Multimedia should raise' its voice against this social evil. Young boys
and girls should come forward to register their resentment and protest
against this evil practice. I do hope publication of this letter will create
some right thinking in the minds of the parents and the Would be
couples.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
Deep Chand
OR
Ans.
25, Vasant Vihar
New Delhi
2 March, 2008
The Director
Doordharshan
301
Parliament Street
New Delhi.
Sir,
Subject : Suggestions for TV Programmes
I would like to bring to your kind notice the fact that many T.V
programmes telecast by Doordharshan have lost their interest
and effect. Many of these programmes were produced twenty
or thirty years before and have lost their appeal and relevance
in the changing scenario of familial and /or social- values.
Today, you'll agree, is the period of competitions, information
technology, globalization etc. If the viewers do not keep
themselves abreast of the changing topicality of the modem
things, they seem to lag behind in the mad race of life. Then the
invasion of cable TV has left many of us behind in the
innovative techniques of serials and the current topicality of
their themes. To elaborate, modern serials like Saas Bhi Kabhi
Bahu Thi, Kaun Banega Krorepati, Cheppar Phar Ke, have
been found to be more appealing than Nukkad and Buniyaad
etc. If a survey is conducted, Doordarshan serials will
definitely be least desired to be seen than those produced by
Star Plus, Sony, Zee TV. etc.
Consequently, I request you to take steps for some improvements in T.V
programmes telecast by Doordarshan in the light of what has been stated
above.
Thanking You
Yours sincerely
Deepa.
302
6. Ans.
Changing Life Styles Invite Diseases
Manav (Class XII)
There was a time when people did not even know about
diseases like hypertension, diabetes, heart attacks etc. But now
these diseases have become so common place that we need to
take the matter seriously and look for the root of causes. One of
the reasons why World Health Day is celebrated every year is
to create awareness about common health problems the world
over.
Doctor Markend Patel, MD (medicine), says," There are a no. of reasons
which cause a variety of diseases. Allergic problems, asthma, bronchitis.
skin allergies are the problems caused by the pollution of the
atmosphere which again is result of mindless cutting of tress. Hence, we
breathe in polluted air .
On the other hand, problems like hypertension, heart attacks, and

diabetes are caused due to mental stress. Disease may be any but reasons
are generally the same. Our changing life style is taking us towards a
slow death. Hectic schedules, change in food habits, smoking,
consumption of alcohol, lack of exercise are just a few reasons which
must be addressed in a right way. He further says," In order to take
preventive measures, one should exercise at least for half an hour four
times a week.Walking is the best form of exercise. There are so many
jogging parks in our city." Along with the exercise schedule, people
need to stop consuming alcohol and chewing tobacco. Even kids are
found to be addicted to cold drinks, chocolates, ice-creams etc. Due to
excessive consumption of sweets, they may develop diabetes in future.
303
Instead of cold drink, one can have fresh lime juice and coconut water.
Green leafy vegetables and fruits can keep you healthy.
People have become more conscious about their health .which is

positive sign. General awareness regarding prevention has increased due
to exposure in the media. There are many health clinics in city which
help- to prevent these diseases.
All said and done. ' Prevention is better than cure' should be our motto
to lead a good and healthy life.
OR
SPEECH :
Advantage and Disadvantages of Credit Cards

Ans.
Good morning, today I take this opportunity to express my

views on the advantages and disadvantages of Credit Cards.
Mobile phones and credit cards have more or less become
status symbols. But if public opinion taken they call credit
cards as a necessity. They are a boon for the ready convenience
when you go shopping or to a restaurant. Yes, just flash your
card sign and walk out.
But remember these credit cards generate 'easy money' syndrome and
lures us into the trap of consumerism and as a result into debts. But if
one is careful with ones expenses, these cards really come handy
without having to worry of carrying cash. Credit cards should not be
used as a 'Free Card'. Remember its just postponing payment and that
too with an interest amount. It is wise to settle a credit card bill in full,
as the credit charges tend to be extremely high ranging from 2% to 3%
per month.The biggest hurdle one faces is to choose the right card from
excess of offers from various 'financial companies and bands.
Before opting for a card just verify its acceptability, eligibility, fees,
other charges, credit period and cash advances etc.
304
Master and Visa cards arc widely accepted compared to Diners and
American cards. Global credit cards will be convenient for people who
are on frequent foreign tours.
Credit card users have to consider their need before going for a card.
Foreign and private banks give a higher credit limit so their cards
become a functional accessory while shopping or entertaining. Public
sector banks offer low entry fees, longer credit periods and lower credit
charges and their cards are liked by 'value for money' persons.
It is all very well to be a member of plastic age as long as we are a

prudent spender. Like all good things in life, a credit card privilege has
to be enjoyed.
Thank you.
Manav/Mansi
SECTION : C (TEXT BOOKS)

7. (a) Ans.
(i) The earth can teach us that a moment of calm and quiet
leads to better productivity. In the same way a monent of
inactivity leads us to better action.
(ii) The poet uses the earth and autumn as symbols to make
us comprehend this lesson.
(iii) By counting upto twelve and keeping quiet the poet
means to achieve a sense of togetherness. In the silence of
peace we will have time to introspect and give our lives a
purpose.
(iv) Keeping quiet is significant as it ends all destructive
activities and brings in a sense of togetherness.
OR
(i) Aunt Jennifer’s hands are described as terrified because
they tremble and refuse to work under the oppressive
authority of her husband.
305
(ii) She is feeble, submissive and oppressed at the male hand.

She wants to free herself from fear and oppressive
authority of her husband.
(iii) The tigers are described as powerful and fearless
creatures prancing and jumping around.
(iv) The last two lines indicate male chauvenism and that the
male in society will go on enjoying unrestricted authority
without any fear like tigers on the panel.
7. (b) Ans.
(i) The poet refers to the sun, the moon, old and young trees,
flowers, water streams, grandeur of the doom of heroes
etc. These beautiful things give us joy and remove the
pall of gloom from our spirits.
(ii) The poor villagers put up a road-side stand to earn and
feel some city money in their hands to improve their
lives. It did not achieve its goal as no passers-by stopped
their cars to buy things from the stand.
(iii) ‘See you soon Amma’, the poetess’ last words to her
mother and her smile are meant to assure her that here
was nothing wrong. She did not want her mother to feel
sad, depressed and ignored. She gave her hope to live.
(iv) Grandeur is associated with the death of great kings and
warriors who embraced death feartessly and sacrificed
their lives fighting in the battle-fields for noble cause.
8. Ans.
(i) The bangle makers of Firozabad have got stuck in the

vicious circle of proverty, injustice and exploitation.
Sahukars, middleman, keepers of law, bureaucrats and
politicians all expoit them together making the bangel-
makers helplessly resign to their miserable fate.
(ii) The news of Gandhiji’s summons to appear in the court
spread like wild fire and Champaram was black with
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peasants who had come to support their champion. The

British govt was baffled as it failed to control the huge
crowd without Gandhi’s help. It became impossible for
them to arrest Gandhi and put him behind bars.
(iii) Subbu was No. 2 at Gemini studio, always ready to serve
his boss. His ability to find a solution to any problem and
to keep a smile on his face even after having given a flop
distinguished him from others.
(iv) Essays and text books are generally written in impersonal
style. But Eco’s writings had a personal and playful
aspect in them. He found time to write so much as he
used ‘interstices’ (empty spaces) effectively.
(v) The rat-trap seller got the idea from his own rat-traps. He
thought as cheese and pork are baits to lure rats, so the
good things in life serve as baits to trap humans. This idea
of degrading the world as rate-trap amused him as the
world had never been kind to him. He had always been a
poor man.
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9. Ans.
The story 'Deep Water' is a saga of courage and perseverance.

It is an autobiographical account of William Douglas. The
author recounts his fear of water following an incident in which
he had been swept away by a wave. His fear was further
aggravated when a bully pushed him into the deep side of a
swimming pool and he nearly drowned. But slowly and
steadily he overcame his fear through determination and strong
will. His conquering this terror with an adamant and undeterred
single-mindedness and relentless efforts, reflects upon the
possibility of man's conquest over his destiny. The incident
stirred in him a sense of intrepidity and ignited in him a spark
of dauntless courage. The lesson also teaches us that it is not
death but the fear of death that terrorises us more. Moreover,
brooding over the past saps out all the confidence of an
individual. Perseverance can help us, not only take up the
challenges of destiny but also to defeat its evil designs.
Deliberate, planned efforts can help in getting over the feeling
of fear. It is therefore, imperative to make such efforts.
OR
Ans.
The peddler in the story, ‘The Rattrap', a tramp once, revealed a
completely different side of his character with a number of
changed factors. The ironmaster's daughter, Edla persuaded the
peddler, whom her father mistook to be a captain from his
regiment, to share his Christmas lunch at their house. She could
make out that he was no captain but a run-away from prison.
Even after he had been shaved, changed and bathed, he didn't
look a captain in anyway to the ironmaster-but his daughter
prevailed upon him to allow him to stay and share their
Christmas dinner with them.
She showed him sympathy and allowed him to stay in a place
where he could rest and feel secure. Even though she knew his
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real identity, she, made him feel like an honoured guest. Edla's
trust and compassion brought a drastic change in the peddler's
mind. His conscience urged him not to let her down. It was
evident from the fact that when the ironmaster and his daughter
returned from the church service, the attendant told them that
he had left thirty stolen kroner in a rattrap along with a letter.
He requested that the stolen money be returned to the rightful
owner and had also mentioned about her goodness the whole
day long and he didn't want her to be embarrassed in the
Christmas season by a thief. The rattrap was a Christmas
present from a rat who would have been caught is this world's
rattrap if Edla Willmanson had not treated him like a captain,
for once he realised that he too had an identity, he too was a
man worthy of concern and compassion.
10. Ans.
Though the play, 'On the face of It’ ends on a tragic note, yet it
leaves the reader with a sense of hope. Derry and Mr. Lamb's
meeting was a chanced meeting - a very short meeting but it
had a deep impact on Derry. Initially Derry was just
preoccupied with his disfigured face, had lost all self-
confidence and he sought solitude, away from the sneering
glances of the people. It was his meeting with Mr. Lamb that he
was motivated with the fact that beauty was relative and he
enjoyed everything that God made-even the weeds in the
garden' and the 'bees singing'. Mr. Lamb had infected him with
a love for life and the curiosity to discover the simple joys of
everyday living. Derry, was earlier withdrawn with the idea
that people were afraid of him because of his ugly face. It was
Mr. Lamb who made him feel that he had arms, legs, eyes,
ears, tongue and a brain-he could get on the way he wanted.
The old man had taught him that one can ignore the unpleasant
and learn to discover the beauty in things. Towards the end, it
was what he had heard Mr. Lamb saying that mattered to him
more than what his family had to say.
OR
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In the story, ‘Should Wizard Hit Mommy?' Jack has been

portrayed as a man who is neither very perceptive, nor very
sensitive. Self absorbed and self opinionated, the bed time
story that he tells his four year old daughter every night has
assumed the proportions of an irritating ritual He tells her a
story that follows one basic plot with different animal
characters.
The story of the skunk that did not have any friends reminds
him of his own lonely childhood with its humiliations and he is
irritated to find that Jo does not agree with the ending that he
has planned for the story.
This wonderful evidence of Jo's inquisitive progressing mind
and intellect completely escapes Jack, so intent on getting on
with the story as planned by him. His answers to her questions
are short and peremptory and he fails to notice that her
question about whether the old wizard could die could be a
sign of an inner fear. It is also apparent that in a way Jo's
constant questioning and her non-acceptance of Jack's ending
of the story appears to be a threat to his authority, for do not
adults know best! Jack feels threatened by Jo's attitude and
when he finds that she is restless after he has come downstairs,
he uses the ultimate weapon of adult authority-does she want
him to spank her, he asks.
Jack exemplifies the impatience and insensitivity that adults
display in their dealings with children and the intolerance they
exhibit if they feel that their authority is being questioned,
along with the adult habit of imposing their opinions on
children and discouraging any queries.
11. Ans.
(i) Galesburg was charlie’s dreamland. He had spent his
childhood there. He believed, 1894, it must have been a
haven of peace on earth. With summer evenings twice as
long, there was no rush, no hurry there. So the place held
a great fascination for him.
310
(ii) The old general had an ailment involving his gall bladder.
Dr. Sadao was treating him with medicine. But a surgery
could become necessary and the General did not have
faith on any other doctor. So, Sadao was kept in Japan.
(iii) Antarctica was the place to go to in order to understand
the earth’s past, present and future. The climate is
changing and Antarctica may become warm again. But a
visit to Antarctica makes us realise that the danger is real.
(iv) Though the two women were born in distant lands
separated by seven seas, they suffered exploitation,
injustice and humitiation at the hands of the rich and
powerful. Zitkala Sa’s long hair was cut against her will
and Bama was pained to see that the high caste people
treated the dalits like their salaves.
311
ENGLISH (CORE)
Time allowed: 3 Hours Max. Marks: 100
SECTION A: READING
1. Read the passage given below and answer the question that
follows.
12 Marks
 With technology leveling the field, women today have more
opportunities than ever before. When physical strength was a major
factor determining life, the masculine would dominate. Now, enabled
by technology, anyone can get empowered to go farther.
 Gender-based discrimination has seeped into every aspect of our

lives. Your functioning as a human being need not be determined by
your gender. But culturally, tradionally, we have established these
things insuch a hardcore, straitjacketed way that we think this is all
nature, whereas gender based segregation is a purely socialconstruct.
Women need to unburden themselves of the cultural baggage that
they have come to bear for thousands of years.
 Most importantly, women need to guard against the tendency to

‘become like a man’ just because of the cultural baggage that seems
to convey that anything masculine is somehow superior. Actually, the
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very idea of deciding what is superior or inferior is very masculine. If

you look at life, everything has a role to play.
 The reason why the masculine has been more important till now is
because all these thousands of years of our existence, our focus has
been survival. Just going and getting food was such a hard task. Now
you can just go into the supermarket and buy whatever you want.
 For the first time, we can relax our survival attitudes a little bit Once
we do that, we’ll find that what is naturally feminine reveals its true
significance. However, modern societies are not relaxing their
survival instinct; whether it is a car or a home or whatever, we are
just raising the bar.
 Right now the whole world is ruled by economics. When money is

the only important thing, the masculine becomes the most dominant
part of our social structure.
 For the feminine to really flourish if it has to flow, we need to create

a society where there would be room for music, art, love, care and
compassion; not just economics. A home, a social structure, a whole
is not complete unless the feminine also finds full expression.
 Today, everybody is ambitious. But there is a way to achieve success

without being fired society be ambition because that is a foolish way.
If you are concerned about everything around you, you will naturally
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do your best; you will not hold back anything. That is a woman’s
way of operating. That is the best way to operate in the world.
 When you operate out of personal ambition, you may do a lot of

things, but not necessarily towards your own or anyone else’s well-
being. Global warming, for example, is a consequence ofunbridled
human activity. If we continue like this without any concern for what
is around us, neither man nor woman will be left.
 If the feminine found more room for expression on this planet, may
be our stock market would not hit 20000, but generally people would
smile more, be a little more happy, a little more loving, life would be
a little more beautiful.
 After all, it is in pursuit of human wellness that all activity is done.

But that has been forgotten because that is the way of the masculine
that it just goes on in one way; it will not think about the
surroundings. The feminine is not trying to go anywhere; the
feminine is happy where it is. If these two aspects are in balance, we
will go somewhere but we will also enjoy where we are right now.
That is what needs to happen in the world.
(A)
314
(i) What has given to the women of today more opportunities than
before?
(1 Mark)
(ii) Why do women tend to ‘become like a man’? (1 Mark)
(iii) Why has the masculine been given more importance till now?
(1Mark)
(iv) What type of society shall we create so as to give feminine a chance

to flourish? (2 Marks)
(v) What is the women’s way of operating in this world? (2 Marks)
(vi) ‘If these two aspects are in balance’. Mention the two aspects that
need to happen in this world. (2 Marks)
(vii). Pick out words from the passage that mean the same as the
following.
a. To set apart or isolate (Para-2)

b. A feeling of sorrow and pity for someone in trouble
(Para-7)
c. Unrestrained (Para-9) (3 x 1)
follow. 9 Marks
315
Mobile telephony is increasingly taking the shape of a mass

movement in India. The country is adding eight million news
subscribers every month. With over 260 million consumers, we
are now the second largest market in the world. Today, the mobile
is an essential device for the masses, a sea change from the times
when it was regarded as a luxury.
Telecom is a rare sector where tariff have gone down despite

inflation reaching a three year high of 7.5 per cent. Call charges
have fallen by about 95 per cent from its 1997 level of Rs 16. At
Re 1 per minute, Indian mobile tariff is the lowest in the world,
despite the fact that taxes and levies still account for as high as 30
per cent of revenues. An average American pays around Rs 13 per
minute. UK and France have a rate of around Rs 7-8 Brazil,
which is often compared to India, has a call rate of more than Rs 6
per minute.
People often wonder how this seemingly impossible task of

cutting tariffs on a continuous basis has been achieved. The dream
story of Indian mobile industry has been about constant
innovations to achieve hyper growth and bringing down costs. In
2004, a unique business model of a outsourcing networks and IT
applications to strategic partners was tried out. This business
model not only helped optimize cost but made the cost structure
more predictable. Today, this has been replicated by other
operators in India and globally.
Rapid network roll-out and deep distribution has been the mantra
for Indian operators. Today, the mobile network covers over 70
316
per cent of India’s population. The mobile companies have been

able to create a deeper retail footprint than FMCG marketers.
What has also helped is that the price of handsets has also come
down tremendously.
Mobile tariff innovations over the years have played a beg role in
the rapid penetration. Free incoming calls, lifetime-prepaid cards,
recharge coupons as low as Rs 10 were all innovations which
opened the service to a huge mass of potential customers. Along
with the sharp drop in the rates, there has been increasing
simplification and transparency in the tariff plans.
It is not just the local tariffs that have beaten India’s inflation
though. Long distance and roaming rates has also seen bursts of
huge cuts. While national long distance rates have fallen from a
peak of Rs 24 to Rs 1.50, international long distance rates have
dropped from Rs 96 to a low of Rs 7. Roaming rates have fallen
from a high of Rs 10 to Re 1. Broadband rates too have been cur
rapidly. In fact, customer additions in broadband have taken off
by more than 50 per cent during the last one year alone.
Indians are heavy mobile phone users. An average Indian talks

more than 500 minutes in a month, which makes India second
among all nations on mobile phone usage. Two important
demographic changes have made this possible. For millions
migrating to urban cities, it is the only means of keeping in touch
with families and friends. The other important change lies in the
fact that 25 population lives in India.
317
Telecom continues to beat inflation hands down. But it’s not just
about beating inflation. The sector is effectively adding to
everyone’s purchasing power by slicing off cost of
communication continuously and significantly. Add to that the
sector’s ability to create opportunities for direct and indirect
employment all around. By making communication affordable
and widely available, the sector is aiding the productivity of even
the remotest farmer and shopkeeper in the country. In fact, we
have just started realizing the huge multiplier of speed, efficiency
and productivity effect that the sector has on other sectors of the
economy.
The telecom sector will face a stiff challenge of coping with

increasing inflationary pressures on all its input costs to maintain
the affordable tariff levels in the next few years. However, the
good news is that the sector will continue to overcome any
recessionary or slowdown trends in the economy, as there is still
another 800 million population to be covered as well as the pent-
up desire of a billion Indians to connect with each other.
(A). On the basis of your reading of the above passage,

make notes on it using headings and sub-headings. Use
recognizable abbreviations, wherever necessary. (Min. 4)
(5 Marks)
318
(B). Write a summary of the passage in 80 words using the

notes made and also suggest a suitable title.
(3 Marks)
SECTION B: ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS (35)
3. Aakash Dia, the Registrar of PG Regional College, Hyderabad

puts in an admission notice (Electronic Engineering) for
publication. Write the notice for him specifying eligibility, last
date of receipt of applications and other necessary information.
(5 Marks)
OR
Ravi Jakhar lost his original certificates in AP express while

coming back from his interview at Hyderabad to New Delhi. He
gives an advertisement in the Lost and Found column of a leading
English daily giving necessary details. His contact address is 101,
Kailashpur, New Delhi.
4. Animesh Choudhary, a staff Reporter with ‘Express News’ in

Delhi reports about a children’s film festival being held in the city
319
to mark the successful completion of ten years of Newspaper in

education programme of the Times of India. Write his report.
(10 Marks)
OR
You are Anagha/Abhishek. As a responsible citizen you have

organized a ‘Clean and Green’ campaign in your locality. Write a
report in not more than 125 words for publication in a magazine.
5. Parul Mishra of 173, Shastri Nagar, Kanpur, sees an

advertisement and decides to apply for the post. The requirements
for the job are graduation in any science subject, knowledge of
English and computer skills. Write the application to the Personal
Manager, Alisa Chemists, Pal Road, Bareilly.
(10 Marks)
OR
In your locality the road lights have not been working for the past
few weeks and also the drains are not covered, causing a lot of
inconvenience and posing danger to life. Write a letter to the
Health Department of Corporation of Chennai requesting them to
attend to the problem.
6. Prashant Mishra, a student of Delhi Public School feels highly

worried when he wonders what he will do after his class XII
exams. He writes an article for a newspaper on ‘Education of
today-How Relevant?’ Write the Article in about 200 words.
320
(10 Marks)
OR
Informtion technology has revolutinised the lives of the citizens on this

planet. India is also making rapid strides in this sphere. Being much
encouraged by this advancement Ritu/Himanshu writes an Article on
‘The Information Technology Revolution’. Write her/his article in about
200 words. (10 Marks)
SECTION-C : LITERATURE ( 45)

321
7. (A) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that
follow.
A thing of beauty is a joy forever

Its loveliness increases, it will never
Pass into nothingness, but will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
(I). How does a thing of beauty remain a joy forever? (2)
(II). Mention any two sources of joy which a thing of beauty

provides to us. (2)
OR
Fisherman in the cold sea
Would not harm whales
And the man gathering salt
Would look at his hurt hands
1. What does the poet expect of the fisherman and

why? (2)
2. What will the man gathering salt do? (1)
3. What do the ‘hurt hands’ imply? (1)

322
(B) Answer any three of the following questions in 30-40 words

each.
(i) What is suggested by the image ‘massive weight of uncle’s
wedding band’?
(ii). What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful
bounty of the earth?
(iii). The walls of the classroom are decorated with the picture of
‘Shakespeare’ ‘buildings with domes’ ‘world maps’ and
‘beautifal valleys’. How do these contrast with the world of
these children?
4. What do the parting words of the poet, Kamala Das

to her mother signify?
8. Answer the following questions in 30-40 words. (5x2=10)
 How is Mukesh’s attitude to his situation different from that
of his family?
 Why did Edla still entertain the peddlar even after she knew
the truth about him?
 Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of 25 percent refund to
the farmers?
 Subbu is described as a many side genius. List four of his
special abilities.
 Why do most celebrity writers despise being interviewed?
323
9. Answer the following question in 125-150 words: (10)

Why and how was the Moral Rearmament Army welcomed at the
Gemini Studio?
OR
What changes did the narrator find in the school when the order
from Berlin came?
10.Answer the following in 125-150 words. Draw a character sketch
of old Mr. Lamb.
OR
What precautions were taken for the smooth conduct of the ‘O’
level German examination in prison and why?
(7)
11.Answer the following questions in 30-40 words each. (4x2=8)
(A). Who is the hero of the story ‘The Tiger King’? How may he
be identified?
(B). What was the author’s first emotion on setting foot on the
Antaretica continent? What was it followed by and why?
(C). Name some of the novelties and oddities in the street that
attracted Bame.
(D). What arguments does Charley offer to show his disagreement

with the psychiatrists diagnosis?
MARKING SCHEME
SECTION A: READING
324
COMPREHENSION PASSAGE
NOTE : No mark(s) should be deducted for mistakes of grammar,

spelling or word limit. Full marks may be awarded if a student
has been able to identify the core ideas. If a student literally lifts a
portion of the given passage, as an answer to a question, no marks
to be deducted for this as long as it is relevant.
1. (A) i) – technology
ii) – because of the cultural baggage that conveys that anything
masculine is more superior.
iii) – because for thousands of years of our existence, our focus
has been survival.
iv) – create a society where there would be room for music, art,
love, care, compassion; not just economics.
v) – concerned about everything around, will naturally do best,
withhold back anything.
vi) – we will go somewhere
-- we will also enjoy where we are right now.
(B) i) Seeped
ii) Compassion
iii) unbridled.
2. Note :- If a student has attempted only summary or only notes,

due credit should be given.
 1 mark allotted for title be given if the student has written the title
either in Q2 (a) or Q2(b) part.
 Minimum 3 main headings and 3 sub-headings to form content.
325
Main distribution
Title
Abbreviations (Min 4 with or without key) (1)
Content (subheadings and notes) (3)
Summary should include all important points.
Content - 2 Marks
Expression - 1 Mark
SECTION – B : Advance writing skills
Note: The objective of the section on Advanced writing skills is to

test a candidates writing ability. Hence, expression assumes as
much importance as the content of the answer.
3. NOTICE :
format - 1 Mark
Content - 2 Marks
ADVERTISEMENT:
Content - 3 Marks
326
4. Report writing:
Format (title & reporter’s name) - 1 Mark
Content - 4 Marks
5. Letter Writing
Note : - No marks are to be awarded if only the format is given.
Credit should be given to the candidate’s creativity in presentation
of ideas. Mixing of both traditional and new format is not
permitted.
Format
1. Sender’s Address.
2. Date
3. Receiver’s address
4. Subject heading
5. Salutation
6. Complimentory close
Content - 4 Marks
Grammatical accuracy, appropriate words, spellings -2 Marks
Coherence & relevance of ideas and style - 2Marks

327
6. Article Writing
Format(Title and writer’s name) -1 Mark
Content - 4 Marks
Grammatical accuracy, appropriate words, spellings- 2.5 marks
Coherence & relevance of ideas and style - 2.5 marks
SECTION – C: LITERATURE
NOTE: The objective of the section on literature is to text a

condidate’s ability to understand and interpret the prescribed text
through short answer and long answer type. Questions, Hence
both content and expression in answer to the given question
deserves equal importance while awarding marks.
7. (a)(i) - a thing of beauty is a source or constant joy.

- Its beauty increases. -2 marks
- Never passes into nothingness/emptiness. (any two)
(ii). Sweet dreams, peaceful breathing, health and comfort.
-2 marks
OR
(i) - not to harm the whales -2 marks
- Peace/ togetherness may prevail/ to protect the earth

(ii)- he would look at his hurt hands introspect/ will stop all
328
Work. -1 Mark
(iii)- hurtful/hostile activities of man/symbolic of unending toil/

work. -1 mark
(B). Short answer type questions (poetry)
Content - 1 Mark
Expression - 1Mark
(Deduct ½ marks for two or more grammatical /spelling

mistakes.)
Value points-
1) -Signifies the ordeal of Aunt Jennifer

-it was the massive weight of the cruel experiences of her married
life.
OR
Symbolises the unbreakable bond of marriage between husband and

wife. (2 marks)
2) Wreathing a flowery bed, gloomy days, noble nature, dark spirits,

sprouting a shady bun, daffodils with the green world, sprinkling
of fair music rose blooms, mighty dead. (any four) (2 Makrs)
3) - They have no facilities to fulfil their dreams.
- live in slums which are a completely different world.
- they live in very miserable conditions cut off from any
assistance (2 Marks)
329
4) – emotional attachment with her mother

- reassure her that they would meet again (2 Marks)
8. (A) – Mukesh, an ambitious boy, wants to learn to drive a car and

be a motor mechanic.
- high aspirations, does not want to remain in his family
business. (2 Marks)
(B) – being sympathetic in nature, she thought that the man

needed love and sympathy.
- Thought that the peddler’s condition was caused by the

world’s attitude of neglect towards him. (2 Marks)
(C) – because he intended to defeat the landlords

- refund was less important than the fact that the landloards
had been obliged to surrender part of the money and with it, part
of their prestige. (2 Marks)
(D)- He was a good poet

- film making was a very easy task for him.
- he was an amazing actor.
- he had genuine love for everyone (2 Marks)
(E)- because they take it as an unwarranted intrusion into their

lives or feel that it somehow diminishes them. (2 Marks)
330
9.
Content - 5 Marks
Expression- 5 Marks
Value points
- Gemini studio was a warm host

- MRA was a counter movement to international
communism.
- MRA presented two plays- ‘ Jotham Valley’ and the
‘Forgotten Factor’
- The Gemini family of 600 saw the plays over and over
again.
- It was something different from their regular schedule of
Jamil drama.
- Mr Vasan played into the hands of MRA, so it was
welcomed.
- Any other relevant point. (any four) [10]
OR
- Order had far reaching effect on the life of the school.

- German to replace French language.
- School unusually quiet.
- M. Hamel in his best clothes.
- Hamel patient and not cranky as before.
- Villagers present in the classroom.
- Hamel patiently delivered his lectures
- Appealed to preserve French.
331
- Little Franz could understand easily.

- Everybody regretted not having paid attention to French
earlier. (any five)
10. Distributions of marks

Content - 4 Marks
Value points (any four) [7]
- Mr Lamb, protagonist, dominates the play from

beginning to end.
- Impresses us as a sensitive, watchful, kind, considerate
and sympathetic person.
- Quite gentle, accommodating and protective, more
concerned about boy’s wellbeing than apples.
- Victim of alienation due to his physical impairment.
- A modern communicator & psycologist who believes in
drawing out the best of an invidual.
- Has pragmatic approach.
- He exhibits Christ like grace even in his fall with the
ladder.
OR
- Known as ‘Evans the Brave’ had escaped prison three

times, was taking O-Level German exam in prison.
- The two heavy gates of D-wing of prison were locked
securely.
332
- Prison officer, Mr. Stephens watched his activities every

minute from the peep hole.
- Mr. Jackson, the Incharge, in constant touch with
governer on phone & the governer himself listened to
the conversation in cell.
- Evans not allowed to have any visitors or tellers
- All potential weapons such as knife, scissors, nail file
and razor removed from the cell.
- The contents of suitcase of invigilator, Reverend S.
Mcleery were also thoroughly searched. (Any Four)
11.
a. -The Maharaja of Pratibandhpuram is the hero.
-identified as His Highness Jamedar, General, Khiledar,
Major, Satyavyaghra, Samhard, Maharajadhiraj
Vishvabhuvana Samrat Sir Jilahi Jung Bahadur, MAD,
ACTC, CRCK. Tiger King.
(Any three titles) (2 marks)
b.- felt relief for she had been travelling for 100 hours.
- followed by wonder at the large size of the continent, its

loneliness and at how once India & Antaretica were the part
of same landmass. (2 Marks)
c.- the performing monkey, the snake charmer’s snake, the

cyclist who had kept on biking for three days the spinning
wheels, the Maanyaata temple and the huge bell ringing
333
there, the pongal offerings in the temple. (Any four) (2

Marks)
d. –almost everyone wants to escape from the stress,

tension, fear and worry of the modern world but these
people do not wander down into any third level or Grand
Central Station
-His grandfather, who started stamp collection didn’t need

any refuge from reality as during his time things were
pretty nice & peaceful. (2 Marks)

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1

SUBJECT: ENGLISH CORE

1. PATTERN OF QUESTION PAPER/SYLLABUS

2. BLUE PRINT OF QUESTIION PAPER

3. SECTION – A READING COMPREHENSION

4. SECTION – B ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS

5. SECTION – C LITERATURE/TEXT BOOKS

6. SAMPLE QUESTION PAPERS (SOLVED)

7. SAMPLE QUESTION PAPERS (FOR PRACTICE)

PATTERN OF QUESTION PAPER/SYLLABUS

ENGLISH CORE – XII

ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS

3. Short Composition 05 marks

iii. Advertisements (Classified & Display)

4. Report Writing 10 marks

6. Long Composition (Article/Speech) 10 marks

7. (a) Answer one extract out of two from poetry. 04 marks

7. (b) Answer three questions out of four from poetry. 06 marks

10. Answer one long answer type question out of two.

ENGLISH CORE - XII

Section Type of Question Marks Total marks Testing objectives

Q.3 (1s1 Option) Short Writing Skill 5M Providing factual

or or or details, organization, fluency and

or or Article (LWS) or fluency

(2nd option) 10M or

ENGLISH CORE - XII

ENGLISH CORE - XII

SECTION – A (READING COMPREHENSION)

1. Do not be panicky seeing a long passage.

REORIENTATION OF EDUCATIONAL IDEALS

Everybody knows that the education given at present in our universities

social position. It is possible for student to start in the common school

Education in America is frankly utilitarian as it is not either in England

The difference between American and Indian education is that Indian

On basis of reading the above passage, answer the following questions

b) On what grounds can we say that American education is

c) What is the great distinction between American and

d) Americans treat the gifted child on different norms. What

e) What can Indians learn from the American system of

Ans.) Education is birth right of every child. It should be

citizens capable of making an independent citizen.

g) Write the synonyms of the following words :

(i) Opportunity - chance

(ii) Miraculous - wonderful, supernatural, divine

(iii) Eliminated - removed

(ii) Businessmen generously give away large sums of

(iii) Not idealistic generosity-realizes that education helps

3. Since the Mahatma fell to the bullets of an assassin, no one else

(a) Answer the following questions : 9 Marks

(i) When do people generally pray ? Why ? 2 Marks

When individuals face dire situations, often they are led

(ii) What is the importance of the nation praying as a

(iv) How does the act of praying influence mind and

The very act of praying teaches one to empathise with those

(v) What lesson does the American example demonstrate to

The American example has several lessons for India which

b) Find words from the passage which mean the same as

(ii) conflict (para 4)

(iii) commendable (para7)

PASSAGES FOR PRACTICE

1. Read the following passage and answer the questions that

Three worrisome aspects of national life demand drastic measures as

1. Even as the country's population has crossed the one billion