English
Maharashtra State BoardSSC (English Medium) 10th Standard

A sparrow is a small bird which is found throughout the world. There are many different species of sparrows. Sparrows are only about four to six inches in length. - English (Second/Third Language)

Advertisements
Advertisements

Question

Read the passage and write a summary of it. Suggest a suitable title to the summary

A sparrow is a small bird which is found throughout the world. There are many different species of sparrows. Sparrows are only about four to six inches in length. Many people appreciate their beautiful songs. Sparrows prefer to build their nests in low places-usually on the ground clumps of grass low trees and low bushes. In cities, they build their nests in building nooks or holes. They rarely build their nests in high places. They build their nests out of twigs grasses and plant fibers. Their nests are usually small and well-built structures.

Female sparrows lay four to six eggs at a time. The eggs are white with reddish-brown spots. They hatch within eleven to fourteen days. Both the male and female parents care for the young. Insects are fed to the young after hatching. The large feet of the sparrows are used for scratching seeds. Adult sparrows mainly eat seeds. Sparrows can be found almost everywhere where there are humans. Many people throughout the world enjoy these delightful birds.

The sparrows are some of the few birds that engage in dust bathing. Sparrows will first scratch a hole in the ground with their feet then lie in it and fling dirt or sand over their bodies with flicks of their wings. They will also bathe in water or in dry or melting snow. Water bathing is similar to dust bathing with the sparrow standing in shallow water and flicking water over its back with its wings also ducking its head under the water. Both activities are social with up to a hundred birds participating at once and are followed by preening and sometimes group singing.

Answer in Brief
Advertisements

Solution

A sparrow – Its unique features and abilities

         A sparrow is a small bird which is found everywhere. They are only about four to six inches in length. They usually do not build their nests in high places. In cities, they find sheltered and secluded places for building their nests. Female sparrows have the ability to lay four to six eggs at the same time which hatch within fourteen days. Both the father and mother of the bird take care of their young ones. They are fed insects initially. The diet of adult sparrows consists of seeds. Sparrows generally bathe in water, dust, and dry or melting snow. They enjoy these activities by participating in large numbers. They also indulge in preening and group singing.

shaalaa.com
Reading Skills
  Is there an error in this question or solution?
Chapter 4: Section 4: Non-Textual Passages - English Activity Set 1

APPEARS IN

SCERT Maharashtra English (Third Language) 10 Standard SSC
Chapter 4 Section 4: Non-Textual Passages
English Activity Set 1 | Q 4. (B)

RELATED QUESTIONS

'The Address' is a story of human predicament that follows war. Comment


Discuss the following in pairs or in groups of four:
“Tribal arts are not specifically meant for sale.” Does this help or hamper their growth and preservation?


How does the connection drawn between the tail and the eyes add to the descriptive detail of the poem?


“I can see clear bridges between my life experiences and my work in dance.” How does Kumudini Lakhia weave episodes from the two realms in her account?


An acrostic is a poem or a write· up in which the first letter of each line forms a word. when it is read vertically.

For example, 
Faithful
Reliable
Inspiring
Encouraging
Noble
Dedicated

With your benchmate / group, complete the acrostic of BELIEVE and FAITH.
(Please note that the words / phrases should be more or less related to the topic. You can use a thesaurus.)

Be certain of
E ......................          
L ......................          
I ......................
E ......................
V ......................
E ......................
F ......................
A ......................
I ......................
T ......................
H ......................


Name the world-famous personality who reached great heights despite of humble circumstances.


Pick out words from the poem to fill in the web diagram. They should be related to the theme in the web.


Answer the given question in your own words.

What message do you get from this story?


Imagine that you are the peasant. Compose a short prayer to God, after having received the plate of gold. Write it using stylish handwriting.


List five of your favourite Hindi or Marathi poems or songs. Try to translate any one of them into English. 


Correct the given sentence with justification.

The play is restricted to only a part of the woods.


How do the following avoid giving anything to the traveller?

Motiram 
(Answer in one or two lines.)


On any one page, note against the speech of every character what feelings it should show to bring out the meaning best. For example, joy, fear, anger, nervousness, friendliness, dislike, surprise, wonder, excitement, politeness, rudeness, cunning, curiosity. 


Portia’s suitors chose the gold and silver caskets.


Put the following events in chronological order.

  1. The sword in the stone appeared in the churchyard.
  2. Lord Uther died.
  3. Lord Uther drove the barbarians away.
  4. The Lords and knights began to fight for the kingdom.
  5. Sir Kay left his sword behind at home.
  6. Merlin announced that Arthur was the son of Lord Uther.
  7. Arthur brought the sword from the churchyard.
  8. Ancient Britain was invaded by wild barbarians.
  9. Many knights tried to pull the sword out of the stone.
  10. Arthur grew up in Sir Ector’s house.
  11. Merlin entrusted a baby to Sir Ector.

Link the items in the three columns properly.

A B C
The past A sea beneath a cloudless sun A pleasant time which has ended
The present hour A soft and mild autumn evening An exciting, thrilling time which has no end.
The future A green and flowery spray Where a young bird sits A time, full of life in which you gather strength

Prepare similar word chains using the following ideas.

waterbody - pool ____________.


Answer the following question and write in short, why the parody sounds funny.

Why does the bee work hour after hour?


Prepare a table to show 'Caesar’s Pranks' at home and outside.


Write in your own words.

What does the poet miss?


Find out how the following game is played.

Badminton


Who is a ‘netizen’?


Read the following incident carefully to answer the question that follow.

The tie that does not bind

“Oh, so you’re going abroad? Can you bring me back…..?” I’ve been asked to bring back a vaccine for a course. Once I searched the suburbs of Paris for two days for a special brand of ceramic paint. Having spent a lot of money for Cartier lighter refills, I had them confiscated at the airport just before boarding because the gas might be dangerous in the air.

Now, two months before a trip, I stop talking to people so they won’t suspect I’m about to travel. But someone always catches me.” I’ve heard you’re going to New York, and I want you to get something for me. It’s just a little thing you can find anywhere. I don’t know exactly how much it costs, but it shouldn’t be much. We’ll settle up when you get back”.

What Gilson asked me to buy was, in fact, a little thing: a tie. But not just any tie. He wanted a tie with a small embroidered G. Any colour would do, as long as it had his initials. Look, this is a special flight, I explained. We are only staying Saturday through Tuesday. On the day we arrived I didn’t have time to think about the tie, but strolling around on Sunday I did see ties bearing various letters in more than one shop window. They were cheap, just a dollar, but all the shops were closed.

On Monday, lunch lasted the whole afternoon. Then it was Tuesday morning, time to leave. It was only when I saw our airport bus waiting outside the hotel that I remembered the tie.

I told the group to go on. I would get a taxi to the airport. And so I went in search of a nearby shop where I had seen ties.

But I couldn’t find it. I walked further down the street-one, two, three blocks - all in vain. Back at the hotel, a bit anxious now, I took my suitcase, got a taxi and asked the driver to rush to the street where I had seen them.

The driver stopped at each shop we passed so I could look from the window. The stores had all sorts of ties, but not the kind I was looking for.

When I finally thought I had located the right shop, I decided to go in and check. The driver refused to wait. Parking was prohibited, he said. I promised to double the fare, jumped out and ran into the shop. Was I going to miss the plane just for a damned tie?

The salesman was unbearably slow. When I realized that the smallest change I had was a ten dollar note , I grabbed ten ties of different colours so I wouldn’t have to wait for change. I rushed out with the ties in a paper bag.

On the street I looked around. The taxi had vanished, taking my suitcase. What is more, I was going to miss the plane.

I ran to the corner, and hope flared up again: the taxi was waiting in the next street. Quick to the airport! As I settled down inside the taxi. I sighed with relief. Gilson was going to have enough initialized ties to last him a lifetime.

When I reached the airport, I paid the taxi driver the double fare and grabbed my suitcase. Panting, I boarded the plane under the reproachful gaze of the other passengers, all primly seated with their seat belts fastened. Ready to take off. Departure had been delayed because of me.

“At least I hope you found your tie”, said one who knew the story.
“I did”, I answered triumphantly.
After making myself comfortable, I reached for the paper bag to show the ties.
I had left it behind; in the taxi.

Fernando Sabino.

Read the incident again and answer the following question.

What was the writer always asked to do whenever he planned to go abroad?


Do you think this was a good idea?


Read the line and answer the question.

I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky

Where does the poet want to go?


When did Usha Rani start playing Kabaddi?


Read the lines and answer the question given below.

Here is a child who clambers and scrambles,

All by himself and gathering brambles;

  1. Where do you think the child is?
  2. What does ‘gathering brambles’ mean?

Work in pair, find answer for the question and share in the class.

When is it autumn in India? Why does the poet say this? Is there an autumn season in India?


Which line tells you that the girl was faster than the boy?


How did Santhosh know that the river was clean?


Look at the picture and Choose the correct word.


Connect and write the homophones in the box.

Sea

One

Flower


Write the rhyming word.

culture - ______.


Do you like this kind of world?


Try your own.


Hundial is a______ pot.


Whose word are these? Name the character.

“I am not rich enough to buy this plate. This is a gold plate.”


Write the word with same meaning.

purse- ______


Choose the right word.

Chintha Chettu is a tamarind ______.


Arrange a ‘Jokes’ session in the classroom where each student tells a joke. The jokes must be told in English.


Share
Notifications

Englishहिंदीमराठी


      Forgot password?
Use app×