Question

Read the following passage and do the activities:

B1. State whether the following statements are true or false.     [2]

1. Jim had purchased his gold watch when his income was good.
2. Queen Sheba was living in a flat across the airshaft of Della.
3. Della’s hair made itself almost a garment for her.
4. Jim valued his watch more than treasures King Solomon had.

Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Young in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim’s gold watch that had been his father’s and his grandfather’s. The other was Della’s hair. Had the queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window someday to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty’s jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him pluck at his beard from envy. So now Della’s beautiful hair fell about her rippling and shining like a cascade of brown waters. It reached below her knee and made itself almost a garment for her. And then she did it up again nervously and quickly. Once she faltered for a minute and stood still while a tear or two splashed on the worn red carpet. On went her old brown jacket; on went her old brown hat. With a whirl of skirts and with the brilliant sparkle still in her eyes, she fluttered out the door and down the stairs to the street.

B2. What do you think the reason why a tear or two splash from Della on the carpet?     [2]

B3. Give noun form for the following words.     [2]

1. Depreciate
2. Nervous
3. Brilliant
4. Accurate

B4. Do as directed.

1. She faltered for a minute.     [1]
   (Rewrite as interrogative sentence)
2. It reached below her knee and made itself a garment for her.     [1]
   (Rewrite as a simple sentence)
   

B5. Do you like to exchange gifts on special occasions? What things are you taking care of while selecting a gift?     [2]

Answer 1

B1. 

1. This statement is false.
   Explanation:
   It had been his father’s and his grandfather’s.
2. This statement is false.
   Explanation:
   She is mentioned as a hypothetical comparison.
3. This statement is true.
4. This statement is true.

B2. Della likely teared up because she felt the heavy emotional weight of the difficult sacrifice she was about to make. Knowing she had to cut her beautiful, long hair one of her two most prized possessions to afford a gift for Jim, she felt a moment of sadness and hesitation, reflecting the deep love and personal loss involved in her decision.

B3. 

1. Depreciation
2. Nervousness
3. Brilliance
4. Accuracy

B4.

1. Did she falter for a minute?
2. Reaching below her knee, it made itself a garment for her.

B5. Yes, I enjoy exchanging gifts as it is a wonderful way to express appreciation and strengthen bonds with loved ones. When selecting a gift, I primarily consider:

• Relevance: Whether the gift matches the recipient’s interests or needs.
• Sentimentality: Whether it holds a personal connection or marks a shared memory.
• Utility: Whether the item is something the person can actually use or enjoy in their daily life.
• Thoughtfulness: I believe the effort behind choosing the gift is always more valuable than the price tag.