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प्रश्न
Certain words in the poem are in capital letters — why?
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उत्तर
Certain words in the poem which are in capital letters are: “HOW DARK?', 'ARE YOU LIGHT?', 'OR VERY DARK?', ' OR VERY LIGHT?'
These words exemplify the purpose of the poem which is to showcase the racist mentality of the fair-skinned. When a landlady talks to a tenant, the only matter of concern should be whether the person is suitable for staying with respect to his behaviour, financial position, etc. and not on his skin colour. These capital letters magnify the fact that it is more important for the landlady to know how dark-skinned the person on the other side of the phone is, rather than how erudite or intellectual or well-behaved he might be.
APPEARS IN
संबंधित प्रश्न
B1. Select
Fill in the blanks choosing the correct alternatives from those given in the bracket:
(i) The author was inspired and motivated to read ............................................ by the time she was eleven.
[Shakespeare, Chaucer, G.B. Shaw]
(ii) Every lesson .......................... ......... took was spiced with half a dozen or more anecdotes.
[Mrs. Rowlands, Sister Monica, Mr. A.N. Patil]
(iii) The teachers helped the narrator to become ..................................... . .
[confident, happy, independent]
(iv) Mrs. Cynthia Nesamani and Sister Monica gave .......................................... to the narrator.
[freedom to do what he wanted, advice to do something, instructions to produce better results]
In a way, one of the greatest gifts any teacher can give a student, I think, is to inculcate a curiosity to learn.
I've been incredibly lucky to have at least one such teacher at every stage in my life. The first was Mrs. Rowlands who taught me in primary school. She taught me to read without ever pushing me. She made me want to read more by giving 'me some of the most interesting children's books available. And although I still love to go back to those books from time to time, it was only because of her that I was able to read Shakespeare by the time I was ten, and Chaucer a year later.
In later years, it was Mr. A.N. Patil, my Marathi and Hindi Teacher who made a huge impression on me. Every lesson he took, was spiced with half a dozen or more anecdotes from a wide variety of subjects: among them history, politics, religion and sociology. I was, and still am in awe of his knowledge, which despite rather desperate attempts, I doubt I'll ever be able to match.
There have also been other teachers who helped me to try to become independent: to think and act for myself using my own judgement, which to my mind has been just as, if not more important, than actually learning anything.
After all, it's much too easy to become a completely useless repository of facts and little else.
Two teachers whom I remember in particular are Mrs. Cynthia Nesamani and Sister Monica, both taught me in school. The former, by and large, gave me a free rein to do what I wanted to do. I, being one of those people who dislike instructions, she helped me to produce much better results than I'd have otherwise done.
B2.Complete
Read the extract and complete the following:
The teacher can
(i) .............
(ii) ..............
(iii )..............
(iv).................
B3. Similar word
Look at the following sentences arid pick the word having similar meaning to the given word and rewrite:
(i) Spiced His conversation is always with a lot of humour. (made interesting, garnished, flavoured)
(ii) Repository
The library should not merely be a ................ of books. (store-house, reservoir, tank)
(iii) Inculcate
It is the responsibility of the parents and teachers to .......values in the child's formative years. (imbibe, give, show)
(iv) Incredibly
I have been .. lucky to have at least one such teacher at every stage in my life. (importantly, unbelievably, beautifully)
B4. Language study
(i) There have also been other teachers. They have helped me to try to become
independent. (Combine using 'who')
(ii) It was only because of her that I was able-to read Shakespeare.
(Rewrite beginning with: If it was not for her, ).
B.5 Out motivators
Look at the following table and complete it by presenting your own views
| Personalities | Influence on your life |
| (i) Teachers | |
| (ii) Parents | |
| (iii) Relatives | |
| (iv) Friends |
He asked. Boy, did he ask! First he asked me for a chance, then he asked nearly all the people he came across if they wanted to buy a telephone system from him. And his asking paid off. As he likes to put it, “Even a blind hog finds an acorn every once in a while.” That simply means that if you ask enough, eventually someone will say ‘yes’.
He cared. He cared about me and his customers. He discovered that when he cared more about taking care of his customers than he cared about taking care of himself, it wasn’t long before he didn’t have to worry about taking care of himself.
Most of all, Cowboy started every day as a winner! He hit the front door expecting something good to happen. He believed that things were going to go his way regardless of what happened. He had no expectation of failure, only an expectation of success. And I’ve found that when you expect success and take action on that expectation, you almost always get success.
Cowboy has made millions of dollars. He has also lost it all, only to get it all back again. In his life as in mine, it has been that once you know and practice the principles of success, they will work for you again and again.
He can also be an inspiration to you. He is proof that it’s not environment or education or technical skills and ability that make you success. He proves that it takes more: it takes the principles we so often overlook or take for granted. These are the principles of that Ya Gotta’s for success.
Question:
(1) What was the cowboy’s motto?
(2) What did the cowboy learn after he lost millions of dollars?
(3) Why did the cowboy firmly believe that asking would pay off?
(4) When you expect success and take action on that expectation you almost always succeed. [Name the part of speech of the underlined words]
(5)
(a) He cared about me and his customers. [Rewrite using ‘not only ……………….but also’’]
(b) Cowboy has made millions of dollars [Add a question tag]
(6) In what way is the cowboy a source of inspiration for you?
Anne's relationship with her mother was never simple. What created the tension and discord? Why
Complete the following statements :
(ii) Maharashtra depends on India, because ................
Read the following extract and complete the activities given below :
A1 Compare the old and new house and complete the table :
| Points | Old House | New House |
| Surrounding | razzle-dazzle | – |
| Size of the house | – | big |
I was thirteen, the year we moved to the Cantonment at Allahabad. In stark contrast to the razzle-dazzle of the city’s commercial areas like Katra and Chowk, the Cantonment was a quiet, orderly place with broad tree-lined roads that still carried the names of long-dead Britishers. Our bungalow was on a sleepy by-lane called MacPherson Road. When we first saw it, my brothers and I were delighted. It was by far the biggest house we had ever lived in. The task of furnishing those huge, echoing rooms daunted mother.
“Is a slightly smaller house not available?” she asked father, “We do not have enough curtains for this place. And the furniture seems a little inadequate. Why did they have to plan the kitchen at such a distance from the dining-room? It is like doing a route march. And who is going to help me keep this place clean and dusted?”
Her misgivings and objections were undoubtedly valid. But, seeing our crestfallen faces, she sighed and gave in. We made extravagant promises to help in the household chores. Keep our rooms tidy. Put away our toys and books. She smiled with amused disbelief, her mind already working out how many meters of curtain-cloth would be needed and so on.
A2 Complete :
Complete the following list of objections that the mother had with the new house :
(i) Inadequate _______
(ii) Do not have _______
(iii) Kitchen at a distance from _______
(iv) A very big _______
A3 Personal response:
Do you agree with the objections raised by the mother? Explain.
Answer the following in 200-250 words :
What are Helen's opinions about examinations?
Answer the following question in 200-250 words:
Helen had a great love for animals and birds. Write about this aspect of her character.
Tick the item that is closest in meaning to the following phrase.
to stand on one's feet
'On reading Shelley's A Defence of Poetry, the question insistently occurs why there is no similar A Defence of Science written of equal endowment.'
Which are the lines in the poem that impressed you the most and why?
How does the poem emphasise the physical prowess of the Hawk?
How is the idyllic juxtaposed with the pedestrian in the poem?
'Whose roots lay deeper than our lives' – what aspect of human behaviour does this line reflect?
Read the following words :
Brigadier, Commander, capture, evicting, enemy, defense
All these words are related to war affairs and war.
Find more such words from the passage.
Think and answer in your own words in your notebook.
Why does the poet appeal to us, to respect the life of a worm?
Discuss with your partner and complete the web, highlighting the sad and gloomy aspects of life mentioned in the first part of the poem.

Do you have a pet?
Discuss in your class.
Name some gadgets and appliances that we use in day-to-day life?
Pick out the statements which aptly depict the theme of the poem.
- In the poem, the speaker memorises the past.
- In ‘The Planners’ the poet describes the unstoppable force of modernisation.
- The poet talks about the replacement of natural environment by the concrete jungle.
- The poet proposes to stop modernisation.
- The poet laments helplessly.
Honey-bees live an organized life like human beings. Discuss what work the following honey-bees do, as per the poem. Write it down in your own words, in your notebook.
- King/Emperor bee
- Magistrate bees
- Merchant bees
- Soldier bees
- Mason bees
- Civilian bees
- Porter bees
- Judge bee
The ______ bees make honey from nectar.
Comment on the given statement after reading the given dialogue -
It’s a pity some honest man not to be better of that ________________________________________________.
The description of the character is given below. Identify the character from the play. Find some sentences which support your choice.
He is smart as well as brave.
The description of the character is given below. Identify the character from the play. Find some sentences which support your choice.
He is the centre of the play.
Hold a mock trial for the following offence. There should be a complainant, a defendant, and lawyers to argue the case on behalf of them. The whole class can vote to pass the judgment. On what occasions will you plead for justice? What punishment will you suggest? When will you plead for mercy?
A poor man stole some ornaments from a rich girl.
How was the committee formed?
Listen and complete:
Close your books. The teacher will dictate some lines from the poem. She will say the first half and you have to write the entire line/verse.
- I know a funny ____________ As quiet as a ____________ Who does the mischief that is done ____________.
- There’s no one ever sees his face, And yet we all ____________ That every plate we break was ____________ By ____________.
Read the passage aloud playing the roles of the different characters.
Think and answer:
Is the poet talking about heavy rains in the rainy season or rain that has come after a long time?
Correct the following sentence using facts from the passage.
Achilles was killed by an arrow that pierced his heart.
Read: ‘The Open Window’ by H. H. Munro (Saki).
Listen carefully and guess how the sentence would end.
This step is broken. Please be ______.
Read the word. Write the words that combine to make it.
springtime
Guess the meaning of on the wing.
Guess the meaning of the following word.
pleasing
Have you ever been on an adventurous journey? If yes, share your experience.
The rich man was from...
Gilson asked the narrator to buy a tie.
Write down the word that alliterate in the poetic line below
Festival of Flowers.
He exercised with Louise every day.
Work in pairs and answer the following.
Pick out the alliterated words.
What did Grandmother feel about trees growing in the house?
Mother called ______.
Why did Muthu and his friends step out of the train?
When did the richest farmer get upset? Why?
Why does the poet fly out of the universe?
Why did the girl reply haughtily?
Why should we read?
Who is incharge of this case?
Who guessed the location of the real necklace?
Circle and write the adverbs.
I'm waiting here. ______
Parents help us to overcome our______.
Name the character or speaker.
"Did someone scold you?"
Name the character or speaker.
"Are you alright?"
Moles trap worms and store them.
Match with their storing places.

Read the passage three times on your own. Colour a Piggy bank each time you read.
Piggy bank is a coin box used by children. The real use of a piggy bank is to store coins. Piggy banks look like pigs. They come in many shapes and sizes. In Tamil, they are known as Hundial. It is a red, mud pot. We can drop the coins into the pot. Once the pot is full, we must break the pot and use the coins. Start saving with your hundial today!

Mugund learnt the art from his ______.
List three questions that the little boy asks.
- ______
- ______
- ______
What secrets did he learn about beasts?
