Rain in the hills and rain in the desert present entirely different scenario. In the
hills it revitalises the greenery and freshens the vegetation; it waters the parched
land and relieves the thirsty and panting souls in the desert.
(i) This has been a year of scanty rains. Imagine how the rain would be welcomed
when it pours in the hills and in the desert after a long dry spell. Choose one such
place and describe
(a) What are you likely to see?
(b) What would happen to the rain water?
(c) What would be the scene before and after the rain?
(ii) How would you express rain as
Raining in the Hills
(a) The rain revitalises the greenery washing out all dust and dust particles from plants, trees and their leaves. The rain refreshes the vegetation which comes to life again with the arrival of the rain.
(b) The rain water flows from the tops of the hills into small channels and brooks and soon takes the shape of a river.
(c) No doubt, greenery and vegetation were there even before the rain. But its appearance was dull and dusty. After the rain, everything looks refreshed, more green and full of life.
Answer the following question briefly
Could the grandmother succeed in accomplishing her desire to read? How?
With your partner, discuss and narrate an incident about a person who likes to show off.
Check whether your classmates agree with you.
Answer the following question:
Why was Mrs. Bramble upset when she came to hear that Bill had decided not to fight?
Answer the following questions:
Why has the word ‘chatter’ been repeated in the poem?
Answer the following question briefly.
Does the speaker seem happy about his decision?
Answer the following question.
"When I cry the hills laugh;
When I humble myself the flowers rejoice;
When I bow, all things are elated."
Cry, humble and bow indicate different intensity with which the rain falls. Explain the
three in the context of the poem.
On the basis of your reading of the poem, complete the following table.
| Stages in the life of the poet | Activities | Consequences |
| Youth | eating toffees ____________ |
____________ |
| Adulthood | ____________ | gazing at the dentist in despair. |
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.”
‘Since’or‘For’
We often use the Present Perfect with time expressions using ‘since’ or ‘for’.
Which expressions go with since and which go with for? (Indicate with a tick). (The first two have been done for you.)
We use ‘since’ to express ______ in time, whereas ‘for’ is used to express ______ of time.
| since | for | |
| last week | ||
 |
 |
a short time |
| a decade | ||
| deepawali | ||
| the day before yesterday | ||
| centuries | ||
| june | ||
| 22 june | ||
| several weeks | ||
| 2009 | ||
| 6 months | ||
| ages |
The author uses many vivid and colourful expressions to describe the ocean, clouds, sky, waves and his own feelings. List the expressions that you like the most .
1)
2)
1) The sun looked out for the last time as if it was saying goodbye to me .
2)
1)
2)
Find at least two expressions under each heading .
In groups, work on one of the topics mentioned in 8(a)-(g). Research your topic by collecting relevant articles from the print and electronic media (like the National Geographic). Make a power point presentation of 10-12 minutes. You can also use film clippings to enrich your presentation.
(a) SOLAR MISSION
1) To promote the use of solar energy through solar photovoltaic and thermal systems for power generation .
2) To integrate other renewable energy technologies like biomass and wind. 
(b) ENERGY EFFICIENCY
1) To mitigate GHG through sector-specific and cross-cutting technology and fuel switch options.
2) To use more LNG and biomass fuels besides seeking tech transfer. 
(c) SUSTAINABLE HABITAT
1) To promote energy efficiency in the residential and commercial sectors through LPG use.
2) To manage municipal solid waste and urban public transport in a better way. 
(d) WATER MISSION
1) To promote efficient water use, augment supply in critical areas and ensure effective management of water resources.
2) To have better management of surface and groundwater,and conserve wetlands. 
(e) SUSTAINING HIMALAYAS
1) To enhance monitoring and conservation of the Himalayan ecosystems, empower local communities for management of ecological resources and promote sustainable tourism. 
(f) GREEN INDIA
1) To reduce fragmentation of forests, enhance public and private investments for plantation, upscale joint forestry management and promote conservation of biodiversity. Need to afforest degraded lands.
(g) SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE :
1) To focus on four crucial areas - dry land agriculture, risk management, access to information and promoting the use of biotechnology.
2) To develop drought and pest resistant varieties. 
First, you will hear a local radio programme, read out by teacher / student which is given below which will give you ideas for your own programme. First, listen without writing anything.
Presenter 1: A very good day to all our listeners. This is your local radio station, Class IX Local Radio - bringing you up-to-the - minute news, current affairs, music, interviews, round-ups - and much much more.
Presenter2: Yes, and in today's programme we have a special report from Ketaki Lahiri on "Safety at School".
Presenter 1: Nikhil Gomes brings you his regular weekly review of "Beyond the Timetable",
Presenter 2: And Leena invites you to "Meet the Teacher".
Presenter 1: And lots more - jokes, news -you name it and we have it. We start with the round-up of School News by our roving correspondent - Anant Singh. Anant, over to you.
Anant: Good morning, everybody! The highlight of this weeks' School News is that our school football team lost every single match it played in the YMCA football tournament at league level. The physical education teacher is so livid that he has threatened to make the school team practice on a doubletime schedule from tomorrow. So, friends, it's "wake-up" at 4 a.m for all footballers henceforth.
In another school news, the tiny tots were taken on a visit to the zoo. Some, it is said, did not wish to return. One accompanying teacher, we are told, had a tough time convincing them that life outside is better!
Class XII put on a one-act play "Examination Fever" which was written, directed and produced by them. The proceeds from this show are being sent to "Prathyasha" - an organisation that helps handicapped children.
Look out next week for new faces around the school. A group of 20 students from Japan are arriving on a cultural exchange programme, We might even get one of them on our next edition ofThe Class IX Radio Show!
Presenter 1: So ... Lots happening at school, it seems,-and lots more on your Local Radio. It's time for jokes now. Over to you, Hafeez and Aarohi.
Aarohi: Waiter , Waiter , what's wrong with these eggs ?
Hafeez: I don't know. I only laid the table;
Aarohi: Waiter, waiter, what's this fly doing in my soup?
Hafeez: Breaststroke, I think, Sir,
Teacher: I wish-you would pay a little more attention.
Pupil: I'm paying as little as I can.
Teacher: You should have been here at 9 o'clock.
Pupil: Why, what happened?
Presenter 2: Thank you, Hafeez and Aarohi. And don't forget, listeners, to send in your jokes. Every original joke will win you a reward of RslO/- for each one played on your favourite radio programme - Class IX Local Radio - the station just for you.
Presenter 1 : And now to your regular spot "Meet the Teacher", in which Leena interviews one of your favourite teachers to discover the real person "behind the chalk dust".
So it's all yours, Leena.
Leena: Thank you ! I'm delighted today to be able to interview the Head of the Science Department, Mr Chirag Sharma. Mr Sharma, what all our listeners are dying to know is - are you as strict at home as you are at school?
Mr Sharma: (Laughs heartily). I don't have a bunch of forty naughty children at home.
Leena: Did you ever get into trouble when you were at school?
Mr Sharma : Have you ever thought about how I am able to catch you in your tricks? I was usually up to the same tricks at school! No, I'm afraid my teachers were not very happy with me.
Leena: How good were you in your studies, Sir?
Mr Sharma: Ah, that was my strong point. My work was always up-to-date and fairly good. I was naughty, but I was also keen to learn more.
Leena: How do you spend your evenings and holidays, Sir?
Mr Sharma: I like to spend time at home with my teenage children. We have common tastes in music.
Leena: Any message for our listeners Sir?
Mr Sharma: Yes. Fun and-play have their place in our lives. We must enjoy our play. At the same time, we must work with enthusiasm and sincerity.
Leena: Thank you, sir !
Presenter 2 : Thank you Leena for that fascinating interview. I'm sure we all know, now what makes Mr Sharma 1tick1• And now it's time for a break. It's "advert time".
"Buy two but pay for one!"
Ruchita of VIIC has a fabulous offer. Two pencil boxes for the price of one. Pay Rs 5 / for the bargain.
Lost - A Keltron calculator. Krishna of Class XIIA has offered a treat in the school canteen to the finder.
Presenter 1: And now, a very serious subject. Ketaki has been researching the topic 'Safety at School'. She has come up with some very disturbing findings. This is the report. Ketaki?
Ketaki: As I went around the senior school I was alarmed to find a number of broken electric sockets with exposed wires. Beware of this hidden danger, senior students. That brings me to another danger - this time in the primary block. The lid of the ground level water tank is broken. Till it is repaired, students are warned not to go anywhere near it.
Presenter 2 : Well, time1s up boys and girls of Class IX Local Radio - bringing you news and entertainment of interest to you, in your school and locality. Until next week ...
The teacher/ student will read out the Radio programme again. Fill in as much information as you can in the following table. Then exchange information with your partner to complete the table.
RADIO SHOW
| Content of programme | Details |
| 1. School News | . |
| . | |
| . | |
| . | |
| 2. Jokes | . |
| 3. 'Meet the Teacher' | . |
| . | |
| . | |
| 4. Advert Time | . |
| . | |
| . | |
| 5. Safety at School | . |
| . |
Discuss in groups
(a) Have you heard of the Bermuda Triangle? If so, what have you heard about it?
(b) Have you ever heard of an airplane or a boat disappearing without a trace?
(c) Can you think of an explanation for an airplane or a boat that disappeared without a trace?
The following note comes from an army booklet, “Advice to New Recruits.” Complete the instructions by filling in the blanks with suitable modals.
Welcome to Ranor Barracks!
Follow the rules, accept the advice and you will find your life in the army interesting and fulfilling.
You ________ have your hair cut very short in the first month. After that you ________
grow it longer but it ________ never touch your collar. Your uniform ________ be kept clean and tidy. Boots and buttons ________ be polished daily. You ________ use cell phones on the campus but you ________ switch them off during the training sessions. Before joining you ________ have a medical check-up. You ________ undergo medical examinations once a year during service.
In Question 3, you read an eye-witness account of a robbery. On the basis of your reading of the Birlstone tragedy, in about 125 words, write Dr Wood's account of the discovery of John Douglas's body.
Convert these sentences into headlines
(i) The sealink between Bandra and Worli has been inaugurated.
(i) _______________________________________
(ii) Twelve non-stop superfast trains have been introduced in the recent railway budget.
(ii) _______________________________________
(iii) One more case of swine flu has been confirmed in Hyderabad.
(iii) _______________________________________
Prevention is better than cure.
Swine flu has been declared (as) a pandemic.
In groups of four discuss the following.
(a) What has been done by the authorities to cope with the problem?
(b) What are the consequences of such a major world-wide infection?
Write out the answer to the questions as a flowchart using the passive form of the verb.
Rearrange the jumbled words to form meaningful sentences. Rewrite the sentences using appropriate punctuation marks:
(a) in 2004 / the Nobel Peace prize / Dr. Wangari Maathai / was awarded
_______________________________________________
(b) towards sustainable development / the award / was in / her service / recognition of
_______________________________________________
(c) Nairobi’s Uhuni Park / in 1989 / saved / single-handedly / she
_______________________________________________
(d) which is an NGO / she is / the Green Belt Movement / the founder of
_______________________________________________
(f) has earned / Dr. Wangari Maathai / “Tree Mother of Africa” / the title
_______________________________________________
Group the prepositions in the box below to indicate their use as prepositions of place (P), movement (M) or time (T). There may be more than one category for each.
| between ________ along ________ since ________ up ________ among ________ in front of ________ after ________ |
past ________ on ________ behind ________ round ________ for ________ across ________ through ________ |
before ________ until ________ beside ________ out of ________ at ________ under ________ during ________ |
