Imagine that you have just returned from Topo Island. The Editor of a local newspaper has asked you to write about your adventure. Write the article.
Some hints :
1) Very briefly, describe how you landed on the island, and the main features of the island.
2) Write about where you set up camp, describe one main adventure, and how you were eventually rescued.
3) Make the adventure part of your story exciting, with lots of action.
4) Include dialogue in the adventure part.
5) Try to create mystery and suspense, as in B.3.
6) Finally, give your adventure story a suitable heading.
7) Your story must be written in paragraphs and should carry your By line.
‘A Week on Topo Island’
We were on a trip to the Topo Island Suddenly, a sea storm came and swept our small ship to an unknown island. The entire ship now looked like a huge wreckage. The island was dotted with many palm and coconut trees. The beach was beautiful with golden sand. All of us looked around but could not find a sign of human civilization. It was getting dark. We decided to set up a camp. We tore seat covers from the ship, took out ropes, searchlights and canisters of diesel and water. With the help of some tree twigs and seat covers we erected a makeshift tent. Then with the help of diesel we lit a bonfire. We could find some coconuts strewn around which were enough for all of us as dinner. During night we decided to keep a watch for any upcoming danger.
While I was enjoying my early morning slumber, a cacophony disturbed my sleep. While rubbing my eyes I could see a group of strangely dressed men and women running towards us. They were incessantly beating drums. All of us were too frightened to react. Once they came closer, they surrounded us with their spears directed towards us.
Probably, they took us as harmless because of our age group. Later on, all of us were made to follow them. After a long trek of about an hour, we reached a small tribal village. We were offered fresh fruits and fishes to eat. All of us had had a sumptuous meal.
After much effort of making drawings in the sands, we could explain them about our plight. Their leader called a man who looked more modem as he was wearing a pair of trousers and shirt. He said that he was working for the government of India. After a long wait of about a week, the rescue helicopter landed which took us to the safe environs of our home.
Listen to a speech by the honourable former President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, on his 'Vision for India'. While listening, fill up the following details.
a . The following countries captured our lands and conquered our minds.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
b . His first vision had been that of ---------------
c . His second vision was -----------------------
d . The three scientists who worked with him at ISRO were -------------------------------------------
e . India leads in --------------------------- and is the second largest producer of ----------------------
With your partner, discuss and narrate an incident about a person who likes to show off.
Check whether your classmates agree with you.
Have you made choices that are acceptable and less ‘risky’ or have you followed the beaten track? Why?
Answer the following question briefly.
Does the speaker seem happy about his decision?
In the sixth line of the first stanza, we read:
"... and sings a melancholy strain,..."
This "s" sound at the beginning of sings and strain has been repeated. Poets often do
this. Do you know why? Do you know what this "poetic repetition" is called? Can you
find other instances of this, in The Solitary Reaper?
On the basis of your understanding of the poem, answer the following question
by ticking the correct choice.
All the world's a stage is an extended metaphor for________.
Answer the following question.
Why did the poet go to the dentist? How could she have avoided it?
Answer the following question briefly.
Do you think the Bishop was right in selling the salt-cellars? Why/ Why not?
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow by choosing the
correct options.
I offered to take her in here for a day or two, but she seemed to think it might distress
you.
(a) The Bishop wanted to take Mere Grngoire in because _________.
(i) she was sick.
(ii) she had no money.
(iii) she was unable to pay the rent of her house.
(iv) she was a close friend of Persome.
(b) Persome would be distressed on Mere Gringoire's being taken in because
________
(i) she did not want to help anyone.
(ii) she felt that Mere Gringoire was taking undue advantage of the Bishop.
(iii) she was a self-centred person.
(iv) she would be put to a great deal of inconvenience.
The term irony refers to a discrepancy, or disagreement, of some sort. The
discrepancy can be between what someone says and what he or she really
means. on verbal irony. The discrepancy can be between a situation that one
would logically anticipate or that would seem appropriate and the situation that
actually develops or situational irony. The discrepancy can even be between the
facts known to a character and the facts known to us, the readers or audience or
dramatic irony.
Working in groups of four complete the following table. Find instances of irony from the play
and justify them.
| Extract | Justification |
| I believe you want to convert me; save my soul, don’t you call it? Well, it’s no good………. see? I don’t want any damned religion. ● ________________________________ ●_________________________________ |
Later, the convict says, “its a queer thing to ask, but-could you, would you bless me before I go.” ●______________________________ ●______________________________ |
| ● Why the devil do you leave the window unshuttered and the door unbarred so that anyone can come in? ’ ●__________________________________ ●__________________________________ |
If the door had been barred the convict couldn’t have entered the house. ______________________________ ●______________________________ |
| ● My mother gave them to me on………………………. on her death bed just after you were bom, and…………….. and she asked me to keep them in remembrance of her, so I would like to keep them. ● _______________________________ ● _______________________________ |
Later he hands the convict the candlesticks and tells him to start a new life. ● _________________________ ● __________________________ |
Look at the map of Topo Island in B.2 and read the notes given below. Then complete the tourist brochure.
Notes
Visit Topo Island for the Holiday of a Lifetime!
Here is the perfect paradise for holidaymakers - Topo Island. You .......... Fishing ........... . If it's adventure that you're after,........... . Fruit trees found on most parts of the island ........... And the Lookout Point on the northern tip of the island ................. Come to Topo Island, an exotic place, where dreams come true.
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.”
(а) Mohan comes in wearing overalls and is covered in paint.
(i) _______________________________________
(ii) _______________________________________
(b) Ramesh comes in with a smile on his face. He is holding a trophy.
(i) _______________________________________
(ii) _______________________________________
(c) Monica returns home with lots of packets in her hands.
(i) _______________________________________
(ii) _______________________________________
(b) Sheela comes in with red eyes and a wet handkerchief.
(i) _______________________________________
(ii) _______________________________________
Carbon Footprint - Project Work
A carbon footprint is a representation of the effect human activities have on the climate in terms of the total amount of greenhouse gases produced (measured in units of carbon dioxide). So, it is a measure of the impact we make individually on the earth; by the choices we make regarding our lifestyle. Many activities generate carbon emissions, which contribute towards accelerating global warming and climate change.
Total carbon footprint/ emission quantification would include energy emissions from human activities - such as, from heat, light, power and refrigeration and all transport related emissions from cars, freight and distribution.
By measuring the carbon footprint through such tools as carbon calculators, we can get a better sense of what the individual impact is and which parts of our lifestyle deserve strict regulation.
In groups, choose and research any one aspect of how we are leaving carbon footprints and how can we modify our lifestyle. Each group will then make a project on the various aspects.
In each sentence four words are underlined. One of them is incorrect. Pick out the incorrect words and write them in the answer space against the correct number:
: Duties and Privileges
. In some schools the student - council members are assigned duties at the
beginning of every academic year.
Write a job description to be given to the newly elected Environment
Monitor of your school.
You may do this individually. Later your class as a whole can come out with one
duty list to be displayed on the soft-board. You may use the words given in the
box below.
can, may, can’t, mustn’t, must, should, have to.
In groups of four prepare a questionnaire for a pilot who has survived the Bermuda Triangle. Use the hints given below.
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 |
Listen to the following conversation adapted from 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' by J. K. Rowling.
While your teacher reads the excerpt, complete the following statements.
Aunt Petunia : Wizard, indeed!
Hany Potter : You knew? You knew I'm a - a wizard?
Aunt Petunia : (shouting angrily) Knew! Knew! Of course we knew! How cold you not be, my dratted sister being what she was? Oh, she got a letter just like that and disappeared off to that - that school - and came home every holiday with her pockets full of frog-spawn, turning teacups into rats. I was the only one who saw her for what she was - a freak! But for my mother and father, oh no, it was Lily this and Lily that, they were proud of having a witch in the family! (Drawing a deep breath) Then she met that Potter at school and they left and got married and had you, and of course I knew you'd be just the same, just as strange, just as - as - abnormal - and then, if you please, she went and got herself blown up and we got landed with you!'
Harry Potter : (Listens in shocked silence). Blown up? You told me they died in a car crash!'
Hagrid : (Angrily) CAR CRASH! (Jumping to his feet) How could a car crash kill Lily an' James Potter? It's an outrage! A scandal! Harry Potter not knowin' his own story when every kid in our world knows his name!'
Harry Potter : But why? What happened?
Hagrid : (Anxiously) I never expected this. I had no idea, when Dumbledore told me there might be trouble gettin' hold of yeh, how much yeh didn't know. Ah, Hany, I don' know if I'm the right person to tell yeh - but someone's gotta -yeh can't go off to Hogwarts not knowin'. Well, it's best yeh know as much as I can tell yeh - mind, I can't tell yeh everthin', It's a great mystry, parts of it ... ' (Hagrid pauses for a moment. Sound of chair being dragged). It begins, I suppose, with - with a person called - but it's incredible yeh don't know his name, everyone in our world knows-'
Harry Potter : Who ?
Hagrid : Well - I don't like sayin' the name if I Can help it . No one does .
Harry Potter : Why not ?
Hagrid : Gulpin' gargoyles, Harry, people are still scared. Blimey, this is difficult. See, there was this wizard who went ... bad. As bad as you could go. Worse than worse. His name was .... (Hagrid gulps but no word comes out).
Harry Potter : Could you write it down ?
Hagrid : (in a whisper) Nah - can't spell it. All right - Voldemort. (shudders) Don't make me say it again. Anyway, this - this wizard, about twenty years ago now, started lookin' fer followers. Got 'em, too - some were afraid, some
just wanted a bit o' his power, "cause he was gettin' himself power, all right. Dark days, Harry. Didn't know who to trust, didn't dare get friendly with strange wizards or witches .. Terrible things happened. He was takin' over.' Course, some stood up to him - an' he killed" em. Horribly. One o' the only safe places left was Hogwarts. Reckon Dumbledore's the only one You-Know-Who was afraid of. Didn't dare try takin' the school, not jus' then, anyway. Now, yer mum an' dad were as good a witch an' wizard as I ever knew. Head Boy an' Girl at Hogwarts in their day! Suppose the myst'ry is why You-Know-Who never tried to get 'em on his side before ... probably knew they were too close to Dumbledore to want anythin' to do with the Dark Side. Maybe thought he could persuade 'em .. maybe he just wanted 'em outta the way. All anyone knows is, he turned up in the village where you was all living, on Hallowe'en ten years ago. You was just a year old. He came toyer house an' - an'-' (Blows nose with a sound like a foghorn). Soriy. But it's that sad - knew yer mum an' dad, an' nicer people yeh couldn't find - anyway"You-Know-Who" killed 'em. An' then - an' this is the real myst'ry of the thing - he tried to kill you, too. Wanted to make a clean job of it, I suppose, or maybe he just liked killin' by then. But he couldn't do it. Never wondered how you got that mark on yer forehead? That was no ordinary cut. That's what yeh get when a powerful, evil curse touches yeh - took care of yer mum an' dad an' yer house, even - but it didn't work on you, an' that's why yer famous, Harry. No one ever lived after he decided to kill' em, no one except you, an' he'd killed some o' the best witches an' wizards of the age - the McKinnons, the Bones, the Prewetts an' your parents Harry.
1. Aunt Petunia did not like her sister and brother-in-law as ____________
2. Harry's mother had met his father at _______________
3. Harry had been told that his parents had ___________This was not the truth as ____________
4. The name of the Wizard who killed Harry Potter's parents was __________
5. Hagrid was reluctant to name _______ and called him _______
6. Harry got the scar on his forehead when _________
Now prepare a graph based on the students' response to the survey you conducted in Question 2. Then write a report for the newspaper taking the help of Question 5, Question 3 and Question 6. You may follow this pattern:
Paragraph 1 : A suitable introduction as in B.4.
Paragraph 2 : Hours per week spent on different activities - classes VI, IX and XI compared.
Paragraph 3 : How extra time would be used - Classes VI, IX and XI compared.
Paragraph 4 : Boys and girls compared - Classes VI, IX and XI
The following words and phrases will be useful to you:
To express proportion
Most __
Many __
The majority of ___
A large number of ___
A small number of ___
Very few ____
Only a few ___
To express frequency
Most of the time ___
Frequently ___
Occasionally ___
Often ____
At times ___
To express comparison and contrast
__ compared with __
On the other hand, ___
In contrast, ___
By comparison, ___
___ however, ___
____ in comparison with ___
You may also find some of the phrases from B.5 useful.
