Balbharati solutions for इंग्लिश कुमारभारती [इंग्रजी] इयत्ता १० महाराष्ट्र राज्य मंडळ chapter 4.6 - The Gift of the Magi [Latest edition]

The moment you hear the word ‘Gift’, what feelings do you experience? Complete the web with those feelings.

‘Gifts’ need not be material gifts. They can be abstract and yet priceless. For example, favours, kindness, help in times of need etc.

Think of and enlist such unforgettable gifts given to you by Parents/Grand parents:

‘Gifts’ need not be material gifts. They can be abstract and yet priceless. For example, favours, kindness, help in times of need etc.

Think of and enlist such unforgettable gifts given to you by Siblings/relatives:

‘Gifts’ need not be material gifts. They can be abstract and yet priceless. For example, favours, kindness, help in times of need etc.

Think of and enlist such unforgettable gifts given to you by Friends:

‘Gifts’ need not be material gifts. They can be abstract and yet priceless. For example, favours, kindness, help in times of need etc.

Think of and enlist such unforgettable gifts given to you by Strangers:

Say whether the words underlined are infinitives/participles or gerunds.

The athletes wanted to take part in the running race.

Say whether the words underlined are infinitives/participles or gerunds.

Would you like to eat at the dinning table?

Say whether the words underlined are infinitives/participles or gerunds.

Reading is good for the mind and soul. So take up reading books.

Say whether the words underlined are infinitives/participles or gerunds.

I like to eat fruits rather than eating sweets.

Say whether the words underlined are infinitives/participles or gerunds.

Listening and speaking sharpen your language skills.

Della had saved ______.

Della wanted to buy ______.

Della’s beautiful hair tell about ______.

How much did Della save for Christmas? What does it show?

Why did Della take pride in the beauty of her hair?

Why and how did Della sell her hair? Do you think she did well?

Why did Jim sell his gold watch? Do you think he did well?

Why did Jim and Della want to present the gifts?

Why did Della feel sad on losing her hair?

What did Jim bring out from his coat? Describe the scene.

How beautiful was the gold watch chain? Would you have liked to own it?

How did the Magi want to celebrate their Christmas (OR) Who were the first people to give Christmas gifts?

What is the moral of the story?

Map the problems and solutions in “The Gift of the Magi” on the diagram below. Two problems have already been filled in.

Say WHAT

..... troubled Della on Christmas Eve?

Say WHAT

..... was the current family income?

Say WHAT

...... could have outshone Queen of Sheba’s jewels?

Say WHAT

...... was the cost of the fob chain?

Say WHAT

...... sent Jim into a trance, on his return?

Say WHY

...... did Della sell her lovely long hair?

Say WHY

..... was Della a bit apprehensive after she had sold her hair?

Say WHY

..... did Jim avoid checking the time in his gold watch, in a public place?

Say WHY

..... did Della’s scream of joy change to loud wails?

Say WHY

..... in the end, did Jim ask Della to put the chops on?

Say WHEN

..... had Jim added ‘Dillingham’ as his middle name?

Say WHEN

..... did a tear or two drop on the old red carpet?

Say WHEN

..... did Della go through goods in the stores?

Say WHEN

..... did Della say a silent prayer to God?

Say WHEN

.....did Jim try to divert their attention for ten seconds, at least?

Complete: Use the chart below to explain situational irony in ‘The Gift of the Magi’. For each character, identify what is expected to happen and what actually happens.

Word List:

Fill in each set of blanks with the correct word from the word list. The boxed letters will spell out something that Della receives.

Complete the following basic plot diagram:

Pick out from the story word that mean the following.

Against the consumer write (N) if it is a Noun (V) for Verb and (Adj) for Adjective.

reluctance to spend money 

Pick out from the story word that mean the following.

Against the consumer write (N) if it is a Noun (V) for Verb and (Adj) for Adjective.

relating to

Pick out from the story word that mean the following.

Against the consumer write (N) if it is a Noun (V) for Verb and (Adj) for Adjective.

urge

Pick out from the story word that mean the following.

Against the consumer write (N) if it is a Noun (V) for Verb and (Adj) for Adjective.

reduce in value

Pick out from the story word that mean the following.

Against the consumer write (N) if it is a Noun (V) for Verb and (Adj) for Adjective.

wisdom

Pick out from the story word that mean the following.

Against the consumer write (N) if it is a Noun (V) for Verb and (Adj) for Adjective.

very huge

Pick out from the story word that mean the following.

Against the consumer write (N) if it is a Noun (V) for Verb and (Adj) for Adjective.

foolishness

Think and answer on your own in a few sentences, in your notebook.

What would you do if you ran short of money, to buy a birthday gift for one of your parents/siblings?

Think and answer on your own in a few sentences, in your notebook.

Think of two alternatives that could have prevented Della and Jim from selling their most precious possessions.

Think and answer on your own in a few sentences, in your notebook.

Justify the title of the story, ‘The Gift of the Magi’.

Think and answer on your own in a few sentences, in your notebook.

Gifts that you buy have fixed prices/rates. How can the buyer increase the value of a gift bought for someone very dear in the family?

Think and answer on your own in a few sentences, in your notebook.

What situation is the climax of the story? How does it end up as an Anti-climax?

Think and answer on your own in a few sentences, in your notebook.

If you share this story with some friends in a junior class, how would they react in the end?

Think and answer on your own in a few sentences, in your notebook.

Who were the very first people to give Christmas gifts? What had inspired them to do so?

Think and answer on your own in a few sentences, in your notebook.

At the end of the story, O Henry remarks that of all who give gifts, Della and Jim were the wisest. Think and explain this paradoxical remark.

Pick out and rewrite the exact sentence which indirectly imply the following:

Della was not too happy about bargaining for grocery etc.

Pick out and rewrite the exact sentence which indirectly implies the following:

The flat was in a dilapidated condition.

Pick out and rewrite the exact sentence which indirectly implies the following:

King Soloman would express his jealousy of Jim.

Pick out and rewrite the exact sentence which indirectly implies the following:

Della spent a joyful time, for two hours.

Pick out and rewrite the exact sentence which indirectly implies the following:

Della’s elated mood underwent a change as she opened her gift.

Pick out and rewrite the exact sentence which indirectly implies the following:

The weekly income amount does not matter.

Pick out and rewrite the exact sentence which indirectly implies the following:

Let us set aside our gifts and get ready for dinner.

Frame a wh-question to get the underlined answer.

Life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles.

Frame a wh-question to get the underlined answer.

Many a happy hour she had spent planning for something nice for him.

Frame wh-question to get the underlined answers.

Her hair reached below her knee.

Frame wh-question to get the underlined answers.

She was ransacking the stores for Jim’s present.

Frame wh-question to get the underlined answers.

At 7 o’clock the coffee was made.

Frame wh-question to get the underlined answers.

The magi were wise men.

Add an appropriate question tag.

Della leaped up, .........................?

Add an appropriate question tag.

You’ll have to look at the time, ......................?

Add an appropriate question tag.

They were expensive combs, ....................?

Add an appropriate question tag.

I just had to do it, ..........................?

Add an appropriate question tag.

I am still pretty, .............................?

Add an appropriate question tag.

Give it to me quick, .....................?

Add an appropriate question tag.

There was clearly nothing to do, ..............?

Add an appropriate question tag.

My hair grows so fast, .....................?

Add an appropriate question tag.

Let’s put our Christmas presents away, ......................?

Add an appropriate question tag.

She had a habit for saying a silent prayer, .......................?

Supply short answer (Pronoun + Auxiliary Verb).

Supply short answer (Pronoun + Auxiliary Verb).

Supply short answer (Pronoun + Auxiliary Verb).

Supply short answer (Pronoun + Auxiliary Verb).

Supply short answer (Pronoun + Auxiliary Verb).

Supply short answer (Pronoun + Auxiliary Verb).

Supply short answer (Pronoun + Auxiliary Verb).

Supply short answer (Pronoun + Auxiliary Verb).

Pick out the infinitives/gerunds/participles from the following sentence and state what one is.

I want to see how it looks.

Pick out the infinitives/gerunds/participles from the following sentence and state what one is.

I don’t like frightening stories.

Pick out the infinitives/gerunds/participles from the following sentence and state what one is.

We decided to settle in Pune.

Pick out the infinitives/gerunds/participles from the following sentence and state what one is.

Playing sitar is Arjun’s hobby.

Pick out the infinitives/gerunds/participles from the following sentence and state what one is.

It was a horrifying experience for all of us.