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प्रश्न
Using the mind map given below, write a brief summary of the story in your own words.

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उत्तर
Aksionov was a businessman. He lived with his wife and children. He was full of life. He sang and played the Guitar and occasionally drank too. Once he got ready to go to the fair. His wife tried to stop him saying that she had a bad dream. On his return from the fair, his hair had turned grey. It was ominous. But Ivan ignored his wife’s warning and went to the fair. As he liked cool weather, he left the inn early. He was intercepted by the police who searched his belongings. Finding a blood-stained knife in his bag, he was arrested on charges of murder. His wife’s petition for clemency to the Tsar was turned down. His wife’s unwillingness to trust him was more devastating than Tsar’s rejection of mercy petition. He was flogged. After the wounds healed he was sent to work in the mines of Siberia.
Staying 26 years in Siberia he grew a long beard. He became a grandfather to the prisoners. He read “The lives of saints” and was found praying and singing in the choir. He was respected both by his fellow prisoners and the jail authorities for his gentle behavior. Everyone in the jail believed in his innocence and unjust condemnation. One day a new convict namely Makar Semyonich came there. When Makar blurted out how the knife went to his bag kept under his head, Ivan recognized Makar as the real murderer of the merchant. Ivan had a chance to expose Makar to the jail authorities. But he kept quiet. Makar became remorseful and asked Ivan’s forgiveness. He forgave him. Makar confessed to the authorities. The order of pardon came but then Ivan was dead.
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संबंधित प्रश्न
Compare and contrast the main characters, Aksionov and Makar Semyonich, in the story
Imagine you are going on a trek or an adventure. It requires grit and a strong will to survive the odds and emerge unscathed. Most importantly, you should carry an emergency kit.
Choose the ten most essential items from the box below and complete the table.

| First–Aid Kit | ||||
Share your list with your friend.
Why was Pi not afraid of the hyena?
Describe Pi’s struggle to find drinking water.
How did the presence of Richard Parker help Pi?
Describe the lifeboat.
Sequence the following incidents logically to write the summary of the story ‘Life of Pi’.
- As he looked around, he was shocked to find Richard Parker on board.
- His search for water took him dangerously close to Richard Parker but nothing could stop him – neither Richard Parker nor the hyena.
- Pi left Richard Parker in a jungle and reunited with his family.
- Pi came back to life and his senses after drinking the elixir of life.
- He understood that it was Richard Parker who helped him survive for 227 days.
- He was pinned by weakness having had no food, water, or even sleep for nearly three days.
- Strangely his thirst overpowered his fear of Richard Parker and he went about exploring for freshwater.
- A little later, he succeeded in his search, when he found stacks of cans of drinking water.
- Pi was stranded in the Pacific on a lifeboat.
- Then, he realized that Parker who scared him earlier brought him peace, purpose, and wholeness.
We judge people around us, based on their qualities and actions. We brand some people as good and some bad. What qualities, do you think, characterise a gentleman? Some of them may be merely external and some others internal

When we see a few coins scattered on the ground, we would probably pick them up on the sly or walk away ignoring them. What if it was an envelope full of ` 2000 bills? How are people likely to react in such a situation?
Discuss with a partner and share your views.
Rearrange the following sentences in a meaningful sequence and write the summary of the play.
| a) Baldwin who returned home after meeting Gresham, informed his family that Gresham had offered a hundred thousand, if he would utter the words ‘I don’t remember’ in court, during the trial. |
| b) The family members tried to justify Gresham’s act and enticed Baldwin into accepting the money. |
| c) Thus ‘The Hour of Truth’ had dawned relieving Baldwin of the heavy burden and guilt. |
| d) Baldwin was an honest and upright man, working under John Gresham, in a bank. |
| e) To save Baldwin, Mr. Marshall, President of the Third National, visited him and informed him that Gresham had confessed his crime, in order to free him from betraying his trusted friend and testifying painfully against him. |
| f) Gresham and Baldwin had been thick friends for over 30 years and Baldwin had even named his son after Gresham. |
| g) Baldwin felt disgusted with himself and the attitude of his family members. |
| h) Gresham had been arrested for misappropriation of money at the bank and Baldwin was to testify against him. |
| i) Mr. Marshall also offered Baldwin a job in his Bank, to reward him for his honesty and integrity. |
| j) The family members who were initially against Gresham, changed their mind on hearing the huge sum offered by him. |
Why did Baldwin meet Gresham?
What had Donovan told John?
Explain the significance of the words ‘I don’t remember’.
Who do you think exhibits true friendship–Baldwin or Gresham? Justify your answer.
How had Max actually entered the room?
How did Ausable describe the balcony and the manner in which one could get into his room, through it?
Who was Fowler? Why did he meet Ausable?
Why was Fowler initially disillusioned with Ausable?
Fowler was thrilled when he entered Ausable’s room. Why?
The unexpected presence of a criminal wielding a gun triggers different reactions in the two men who entered the room. In this light, discuss the appropriacy of the title.
Given below are pictures of fictitious detective characters in English & Tamil short stories. Match them with the authors who created them.

Name a few things that make the earth a unique planet.

What was Margot waiting for? Why did William say that it was a joke?
How do the children react to the long awaited event in the story?
Based on your understanding of the story, complete the story map.

Complete the summary of the play, choosing the appropriate words from the list given below the passage.
Lord Weston was a (1)______ judge in England. Being pompous and vain, he told his secretary Roger that he had attained glory by hard work and (2)______. He expressed his displeasure over Roger’s request for a half-holiday. Suddenly, he discovered a piece of paper with the words (3)______ in his pocket, and he feared that the message was a warning conveyed by his enemies who had received legal punishments from him. As the message was sent on the 15th of March, (the day Julius Caesar was assassinated), he was (4)______ that someone affected by his fair judgement was plotting his murder. Sensing the definite attack, Lord Weston ordered his secretary to (5)______ all the doors and windows. But his wife remained (6)______ by the threat. So, Lord Weston was angered by her (7)______ reaction. He ordered Roger to send the cook and the (8)______ away. Both Weston and Roger took elaborate precautionary measures to thwart the (9)______ attempt. Finally, Weston was able to recollect that he had written the message “Remember Caesar” himself as a (10)______. Caesar was actually a gardener who had an appointment to visit Weston’s garden. The play revolves around Weston’s absent-mindedness which is the crux of the play.
| callous | unperturbed |
| well-known | gardener |
| reminder | zealous service |
| Remember Caesar | assassination |
| shut | convinced |
How did Lord Weston describe himself?
Why was the speaker keen to know what day it was?
Mention the immediate steps taken by Lord Weston to protect himself from his assassin.
What was the truth about the crumpled piece of paper?
