HSC Science (Computer Science) १२ वीं कक्षा - Maharashtra State Board Question Bank Solutions

Cite various references (lines) from the extract that tell us about the time and period of the events.

How does the series of actions go from London to India? Explain by citing references from the extract.

The extract begins when Mary Morstan meets Sherlock Holmes at his house. After that Holmes, Dr. Watson, and Mary visit some places in London. Explain in detail the various places mentioned in the extract.

Basically the setting of the extract is in London but it has some references of India, too. Explain how the settings of the extract contribute to the theme of the novel.

Describe in brief the importance of the following place in the extract.

London

Describe in brief the importance of the following place in the extract.

Lyceum Theatre

Describe in brief the importance of the following place in the extract.

Edinburgh

Describe in brief the importance of the following place in the extract.

Agra

Describe in brief the importance of the following place in the extract.

Andaman Islands

Which places/cities in India and England are mentioned/have appeared in the extract? Also write about their importance.

Write in brief the theme of the extract of the novel ‘The Sign of Four’.

Write 4-5 sentences about the meeting of Miss Morstan with Holmes.

Write the central idea of the given extract of the novel, “The Sign of Four”.

Give reasons:

Elaborate the following line in the light of the novel/extract, “The Sign of Four” -

“You really are an automaton − a calculating machine.”

Elaborate the following line in the light of the novel/extract, “The Sign of Four” -

“The letter speaks of giving her justice. What justice can she have?”

Elaborate the following line in the light of the novel/extract, “The Sign of Four” -

“Our quest does not appear to take us to very fashionable regions.”

Following are some dialogues of the major characters in the extract. Find out who the speaker is, his/her tone, style, significance, etc. of the dialogue.

Expansion of Idea:

Expand the following idea in about 100-150 words by using the points.

'Beauty is truth, truth beauty'.

• Meaning of the proverb
• Significance of the proverb
• Add your own points.

Read the extract and complete the activities given below:

Punctually at midday, he opened his bag and spread out his professional equipment, which consisted of a dozen cowrie shells, a square piece of cloth with obscure mystic charts on it, a notebook, and a bundle of Palmyra writing. His forehead was resplendent (glorious) with sacred ash and vermilion, and his eyes sparkled with a sharp abnormal gleam (shine) which was really an outcome of a continual searching look for customers, but which his simple clients took to be a prophetic light and felt comforted. The power of his eyes was considerably enhanced by their position placed as they were between the painted forehead and the dark whiskers (mustaches) which streamed down his cheeks: even a half-wit’s eyes would sparkle in such a setting. To crown the effect he wound a saffron-coloured turban around his head. This colour scheme never failed. People were attracted to him as bees are attracted to cosmos or dahlia stalks. He sat under the boughs of a spreading tamarind tree which flanked a path running through the Town Hall Park. It was a remarkable place in many ways. A surging crowd was always moving up and down this narrow road from morning till night. A variety of trades and occupations was represented all along its way: medicine sellers, sellers of stolen hardware and junk, magicians, and above all, an auctioneer of cheap cloth, who created enough din all day to attract the whole town. Next to him in vociferousness came a vendor of fried groundnut, who gave his ware a fancy name each day, calling it “Bombay Ice Cream” one day and on the next “Delhi Almond,” and on the third “Raja’s Delicacy,” and so on and so forth, and people flocked to him. A considerable portion of this crowd dallied before the astrologer too. The astrologer transacted his business by the light of a flare which crackled and smoked up above the groundnut heap nearby. Half the enchantment of the place was due to the fact that it did not have the benefit of municipal lighting. The place was lit up by shop lights. One or two had hissing gaslights, some had naked flares stuck on poles, some were lit up by old cycle lamps, and one or two, like the astrologer, managed without lights of their own. It was a bewildering crisscross of light rays and moving shadows. This suited the astrologer very well, for the simple reason that he had not in the least intended to be an astrologer when he began life; and he knew no more of what was going to happen to others than he knew what was going to happen to himself next minute. He was as much a stranger to the stars as were his innocent customers. Yet he said things which pleased and astonished everyone: that was more a matter of study, practice, and shrewd guesswork. All the same, it was as much an honest man’s labour as any other, and he deserved the wages he carried home at the end of a day.

A1. State if the given statements are True or False. (2)

i. The astrologer used to have the preparation of his business in quite professional way.

ii. The physical appearance of the astrologer hardly created an impact on the customers.

iii. The place was busy with a variety of occupations.

iv. The astrologer’s style of handling the business lies in his skills.

A2. Complete the given web. (2)

A3. The astrologer was a shrewd judge of a character. Explain with some details from the extract. (2)

A4. We need to understand even the smallest details of the business in order to succeed. Write your views. (2)

A5. Do as directed. (2)

1) It was a remarkable place in many ways.
(Choose the correct alternative to rewrite the given sentence as an exclamatory sentence)

1. It was a remarkable place in many ways!
2. How a remarkable place in many ways it was!
3. What a remarkable place in many ways it was!
4. What remarkable in many ways the place it was!

2) He spread out his professional equipment, which consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.
(Choose the correct alternative to rewrite the given sentence as a compound sentence)

1. He spread out his professional equipment but it consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.
2. He spread out his professional equipment and it consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.
3. He spread out his professional equipment that it consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.
4. He spread out his professional equipment and it had consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.

A6. Find the synonyms for the following words from the passage. (2)

1. Confusing
2. hanging around
3. difficult to understand
4. magical effect