The poet draws conclusions about the family without having met them. He does this in lines such as :
Something went wrong, says the empty house
in the weed-choked yard ...
This is a style of English that is very suitable for a poem. But in ordinary speech or writing we use expressions such as :
|
So it is Therefore it is |
probable likely possible |
that |
| It |
seems appears |
that....... | because..... |
| This suggests that ... |
For example, we could say :
• There are large shoes in the farmhouse. So it is likely that the farmer was a big man.
• It seems that they had a child, because there is a sandbox made from a tractor tyre.
• The kitchen shelves were covered with oil cloth. This suggests that a woman lived in the farmhouse.
Make other sentences like this, using ideas from the poem.
In the first floor room there was a Bible , which suggests that the man was a god fearing one .
The farm was cluttered with boulders and the barn was ill maintained, so it can be assumed that the man did not have a knack for farming.
They were using preserved food which suggests they could not afford fresh food and were poor.
The narrow country road leading up to the farmhouse suggests that it was a lonely farmhouse.
Some jars were still sealed and toys were strewn all over. This suggests that something awfully wrong happened there.
Answer the following questions:
‘I make the netted sunbeam dance’. What does ‘the netted sunbeam’ mean? How does it dance?
'The Road Not Taken' is a biographical poem. Therefore, some personal
biographical information is relevant for the deeper understanding of the poem
we have read. Go to www.encarta.com and complete the following worksheet
about Robert Frost.
a) What "momentous decision" was made by Frost in 1912?
b) How old was he when took that decision?
c) Why was it so difficult to take that decision? Think and give more than one reason.
d) Was the "road" taken by Frost an easy one "to travel"?
e) Do you think he wrote "The Road Not Taken" before sailing from the USA to
England or after? Can you quote a line or two from the poem that can support your
answer?
f) Do you think Frost finally became popular in America as a poet?
Answer the following question.
"….All can hear, but only
The sensitive can understand'
What does the poet want to convey?
Select words from the box to describe the characters in the play as revealed by the following lines. You may take the words from the box given on the next page.
| Lines from the play | Speaker | Quality revealed |
| One hundred thousand francs if necessary and that’s only twice what it cost me. | greedy | |
| If you don’t want the house, tell me so at once and we ’ll say no more about it. | ||
| No! I am very fond of your family, but not quite so fond as that | Gaston | |
| Quite so. I have, but you haven’t. | ||
| I have never cared such a damned little about anybody’s opinion. | ||
| On the principle of people who like children and haven’t any can always go and live near a school. | ||
| The garden is not very large, but you see, it is surrounded by other gardens. | Juliette | |
| I will be philanthropic and let you have it for two hundred thousand. | ||
| I have been thinking a lot about your Papa and Mamma. You see, I am really unselfish. | clever |
Simple Past and Past Continuous
There was a burglary in your neighbourhood. You saw something suspicious.
Tell the police officer all about it by filling in the blanks choosing the correct
forms of the words from the options given below.
It (a) was raining last night. I (b) _________ TV. I (c) _________ a little restless. I (d) _________ to the window and was looking out when I (e) _________ that Mr Sharma, my neighbour (f) _________ near the door. I thought he had gone to shut it. I also (g) _________ Mrs Sharma walking up and down in her garden. Then I heard Mr Sharma calling his wife to come in. I (h) _________ back to my table and opened my book. I (i) _________ when I heard a thud and a scream. I (j) _________ out of the house and saw a man in a black coat and hat running towards the gate. Mr and Mrs Sharma (k) _________ in the street. I saw a car speeding away with the burglar.
(a) (i) raining (ii) was raining (iii) were raining (iv) rained
(b) (i) were watching (ii) watched (iii) was watching (iv) watching
(c) (i) has felt (ii) felt (iii) was feeling (iv) feel
(d) (i) had gone (ii) went (iii) was going (iv) gone
(e) (i) noticing (ii) was noticing (iii) were noticing (iv) noticed
(f) (i) stood (ii) were standing (iii) was standing (iv) were stood
(g) (i) seeing (ii) saw (iii) was seeing (iv) seen
(h) (i) had come (ii) was coming (iii) came (iv) were came
(i) (i) hadread (ii) was reading (iii) were reading (iv) read
m (i) rushed (ii) was rushing (iii) were rushed (iv) rushing
(k) (i) had screamed (ii) was screaming (iii) screamed (iv) were screaming
Look at the verbs in the box and put them in the correct columns in the table that follows
|
believe wish see belong |
hate own regret measure |
know understand forget touch |
weigh prefer hear
|
smell find imagine
|
think cost remember
|
suppose like taste
|
| thought | emotion | possession | perception (often used with can) | measurement |
Some verbs, like the ones mentioned above, are not normally used in the continuous (- ing) form. However, we do sometimes use such verbs in the continuous form. Look at the following examples.
1. “I can’t concentrate on my work because I’m thinking about that beautiful scene.”
2. “I think it is beautiful.”
Now, work individually, and with the help of the information in the box below, write six appropriate sentences.
| H | P | R | |
| Mrs Sharma | fever | Palatial house | brother-in-law living with them |
| Shyam | Sound health | Personal computer | dog |
Complete the introduction given below to the story The Story Teller by Saki (H.H. Munro), by using ‘a’ ‘art’ or ‘the’’:
The afternoon was hot, and so was (a)______ railway carriage. (b)_______ next stop was at Templecombe, nearly (c)______ hour ahead. In the carriage were a small girl, (d)______ smaller girl, and a small boy. (e)________ aunt belonging to (f)______ children sat in (g)_________ comer seat, and in (h)_______ further comer seat on (i)______ opposite side, was a man who was a stranger to them, but (j)_____ small girls and the small boys were (k)_________ ones who filled the compartment. The children chatted on and on to their aunt, like (l)____ housefly that refuses to be put off. Most of the aunt’s remarks seemed to begin with “Don’t”, and nearly all of (m)______ children’s remarks began with “Why?”
Here are a few questions and statements written down by the Cultural Secretary that she/ he needs to share. Tick the correct words from those given in brackets:
Work in pairs. You and your partner are made in charge of your school. What will you change?
Discuss and then write about the decisions you would make.
Use the various verb forms available for future time reference.
e.g. Now we are in charge of the school, we shall…
What comes next
Connectors are indicators or markers of what comes next in a text.
Look at these extracts from longer texts. Decide which marker/connector could be used in the blanks to indicate what comes next. e.g.
There are many good players in the cricket team: for instance, Tendulkar and Dhoni.
Here are a police constable's notes or his investigation or the murder at Manor House. After reading the notes, discuss where the murder could have taken place. What was the motive behind the evil act? How was the act committed?
| Murder at Manor House Birlstone : January 6th Manor House - state of wild confusion and alarm - white faced servants - frightened butler - man horribly injured- terrible marks - we have no clues yet |
Present perfect passive
Inspector Narayan has been called to investigate a burglary. When he arrives, there is total chaos in the room. He makes notes about what has been damaged. You are Inspector Narayan. Look at the picture and complete the description, using the Present Perfect Passive.
On the basis of your reading of the extract, tick mark the most appropriate meaning for the given word :
(i) Infatuated (Para 1}
• fond
• influenced
• disliked
• addicted
(ii) Melancholy (Para 2)
• happy
• sad
• worried
• disappointed
(iii) Petrified (Para 6}
• horrified
• motionless
• stunned
• anxious
(iv) Gravity (Para 7}
• mischievous
• seriousness
• joyfulness
• greatness
Imagine you are a famous person. Write a brief report (maximum 80 words) of a day in your life. Use the passive voice where you think it is appropriate. An example of how you might start is given below.
I woke up at 7 am and was given tea. It was a lovely cool morning so I decided to walk to the film studio. Normally I am driven____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Allen of MES Indian school has been asked to interview the Minister for Environment and Forests about the world's first zero - carbon city. Here is an extract of the taped interview. Write a short report in the given space.
Allen : It’s remarkable! A city of fifty thousand people and no cars!
Minister : I agree with you. Masdar city in Abu Dhabi will be the world’s first zero- carbon city.
Allen : How will you achieve this?
Minister : Our city will soon run entirely on renewable energy, including solar panels to trap the abundant resources offered by the desert sun.
Allen : So, you will be a shining model for other Governments. Congratulations, Sir.
Minister : Thank you. We are investing in our future. You may wonder how people would go about the city, don’t you?
Allen : I have wondered about it, Sir.
Minister : Our futuristic city will have people moving about in automated pods.
Allen : It’s unbelievable. Forgive me if I find it so fantastic.
Minister : Our Government assures you that this unique city will be ready for people to settle in by 2015. It will have a light railway line, transport pods and no carbon footprints.
Allen : We need air conditioners, don’t we? It’s impossible to live without them here.
Minister : Masdar city will take full advantage of the sea breezes. The city will have a perimeter wall that will protect it from the hot air.
Allen : I wish other countries could plan their expansion in this way.
Minister : In addition to what I have mentioned earlier, the city will be protected from the noise of the nearby Abu Dhabi Airport.
Uae plans futuristic city
by Allen Kuwana
The Zero-Carbon City Project, initiated by the government of the United Arab Emirates, is a milestone in mankind’s efforts to save its planet from the ravages of climate change. The Minister for Environment and Forests, Abu Dhabi, assures our readers that __________________
This description is taken from a well-known film. Can you guess which one?
A man in a red cape and blue tights is flying over a city. On his chest is the letter S. Below him a large crowd is pointing up at him.
Imagine a scene from a play, film or TV show you have seen.
Describe (a) where things and people are, and (b) any movement. Follow the example.
Show your description to your partner. Guess each other’s play or film.____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Study the map and the key given below carefully, and complete the sentences that follow.
Key
(a)
|
__________________________ Rampur
|
is is situated lies ____________ is located |
half-way along the west coast of Halsi Island.
on the south coast of the island, north of ___ |
(b) Now describe the position of the other eight places, using some of the words in
the box.
| at | along | among |
| to | next to | opposite |
| on | between | |
| in | above | |
| by | below | |
| over | ||
| under |
Class discussion
• Is a biography written in a particular order of events?
• Which is the most common tense?
