English Medium इयत्ता १० - CBSE Question Bank Solutions

Answer the following question briefly.

John's apprehensions about his wife's reaction to her encounter with the ghost are
unfounded. Justify.

Answer the following question in detail:

After her reconciliation with her husband, John Hallock, Lavinia writes a letter to
her friend expressing how her relationship with him has almost been on the verge
of breaking and what has saved it. Write her a letter.

Answer the following question in detail:

John Hallock reflects upon his experience with Helen's ghost and in retrospect he finds it quite amusing. All the same he is relieved that he is no longer plagued by it. Ironically, the same ghost inspires his creativity and he writes a diary entry reflecting upon the comical aspect of his experience. Write his diary entry

The narrator and his wife reveal something about their character through their words and actions. We also learn about them from what other people say. Can you pick out the words that describe them from the box given below? Also, pick out lines and instances from the story to illustrate your choice.

There are hundreds and thousands of sports and games being played all over the world. However, we can place them under the following categories in order to know about them in a more convenient and systematic manner. Some of the categories are as follows :

1. Team Sports
2. Athletics
3. Gymnastics
4. Racquet Sports
5. Water Sports
6. Combat Sports
7. Target Sports
8. Motor Sports
9. Equestrian Events
10. Adventure, Fun and Indigenous Sports

Working in small groups of 4-5 students, discuss and place the sports and games given below in the category to which each of them belongs.

Paragliding               Go - Karting         hurdles         pommel horse           basket ball

windsurfing             Formula One         judo                 sculling                     fencing

 kayaking                 pole vaulting        dressage           squash                   kickboxing 

 kho - kho                  kung fu               malkham       snowboarding                 golf 

decathlon                   cricket                   soccer               snooker                   kabbadi 

Gladolia, the narrator's cook, is an African. The language she speaks is different from that of the others. This is known as Dialect. A dialect consists of words or phrases that reflect the regional variety of a language. An author often uses a dialect to make the dialogue more authentic. Initially, a dialogue may seem a little difficult to understand. However, as you continue reading, the language becomes more comprehensible.
Working in groups, write what Gladolia's words mean as shown.

Read and understand the following ghost phrases and expressions:

a) To give up the ghost-- to die or to stop trying
b) Aghost of a chance-- a poor chance, not likely to happen
c) The ghost at the feast-- something or someone that spoils your enjoyment by
reminding you of something unpleasant
d) Ghost town-- a town which most people have left, abandoned and deserted
e) Ghost-write- to write for someone else

f) Lay the ghost of something/somebody (to rest)-- to finally stop being worried
or upset by something or someone that has worried or upset you for a long time
g) Ghost image -- secondary image, especially. one appearing on a television
screen as a white shadow, caused by poor or double reception or by a defect in the
receiver
h) the ghost of a smile - faint trace of a smile
i) As white as a ghost- very pale or white in the face

Now complete the following story by using the appropriate phrases in the blanks
given below:
I was alone in a place that bore a deserted look like that of a ________________. I increased
the pace of my footsteps as I walked through the dark forest. I felt someone walking behind
me. I turned immediately and spotted the contour of a figure in the form of a ___________________ .It smiled at me wickedly .I started shaking with fear and perspiring
profusely when I felt its skeletal hand upon my neck. I woke up with a start, relieved that it was only a nightmare. This was not the first time I had had one. It had all started when I had watched the horrendous horror film with a eerie ghost character that had a scary ghost of a smile on its face.It had been almost a month. The strange thing was that I saw a similar face at the station the next morning. That was uncanny. I was to attend a dinner at my friend's at Northanger Abbey that night. I had decided to narrate my experience to the group that would assemble there. Although I knew, there was _________________________ that they would be convinced. After everyone had finished pouring their drinks to themselves, I cleared my throat and started narrating my spooky experience. However, every one of the group started accusing me of being _______________________ and held me responsible for spoiling the spirit of revelry. I gave up the ghost and sat quietly waiting for the party to be over. Back at home, the fears returned .I knew I had to talk about my experience to somebody to feel better. I have now decided to ______________ and publish my experience under a pseudonym. Only then can I ____________________.

Ghosts and haunting have fascinated the public for centuries. Although many doubt the existence of ghosts or other paranormal entities, many people dedicate their lives to searching and recording paranormal activity. Ghost tours, support groups and research societies, to name just a few, permeate our society and seek to answer questions about paranormal activity.   Interview your friends, relatives and people in your neighbourhood about whether they believe in the existence of ghosts. Ask them to tell you of any specific experiences they might have had in this context. In your groups, identify the most fascinating anecdote you have gathered on the basis of your interactions. Narrate it to the class

Given below are some qualities that a human being may possess. On the basis of your reading of the passage, pick three qualities that you think the ace Indian golfer Ashok Kumar possesses and using incidents or statements justify your choice in a short paragraph of around 100-150 words.

(a) pride
(b) frankness
(c) jealousy
(d) humility
(e) perseverance
(f) compassion
(g) goal orientation

Do you think a story has an atmosphere? Complete the following blanks to make
up your ghost story by choosing the correct options.

Now that you have shared a ghost story/anecdote as well as completed a guided story in the class, create your own ghost story on the basis of the starters given below:

a) Stephen knew he would never sleep. The noises, those horrid sounds, would keep him awake...

b) Tap, tap, tap. Was it the branches of the nearby tree, or fingernails against the window?

c) People often say, 'There's no such thing as ghosts....

You are familiar with the key elements of a short story viz setting, plot, conflict, character and point of view. Given below are specifics to be kept in mind while writing a ghost story. Also make use of the vocabulary that you have learnt from the story ‘A
Shady Plot’.

• Colours, sounds, feeling words
• Strong definite characters
• Creating suspense
• Setting the scene and the atmosphere

• Describing the weather
• Clear opening line
• Personal feelings
• Clear ending
• Describing the sounds
• Adding a dramatic element
• Mystery

While conventional Ghost stories are scary and gruesome, several modern versions are humorous. The Canterville Ghost, by Oscar Wilde, is one of the best ghost stories written in the vein of comic satire. The story that you just read is another example in case. Humour arises out of the narrator's ability to laugh at himself, clever use of language as well as comic situations. Discuss within your groups what makes the story, A Shady Plot humorous. Share your views during a class discussion.

The journalist has used some lovely words and expressions in the above ‘story’. Match the words or groups of words with the meanings given.

Use the above words and expressions in meaningful sentences of your own. You may use more than a sentence to bring out the meaning clearly.

Answer the following questions :

The Ghost loved the stormy weather because ….(Complete the statement by
ticking the correct option)

Answer the following question:

The Ghost was particularly angry with Washington and wished to frighten him
because…. ...................................................................(Complete the statement)

You must be fond of a sport or any hobby like painting or dancing or singing. Imagine that you have become a star in your field of interest. One day, you meet a poor boy with a lot of talent, but no resources to get himself the facilities to nurture his talent. As a successful person, who is very interested in nurturing his talent, you decide to become his mentor. How would you go about doing it ? Write a diary entry on any given date ten years from now about the feelings that the young but poor talented person evoked in you and the plans you thought of to develop his potential.

Answer the following question.

The Ghost was most angry with ….(Complete the statement by ticking the correct
option)

Write two striking qualities of the Ghost as revealed in this extract.
a) _____________________
b) _____________________