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Question
Form groups of 6-8. One person (leader) chooses one item - a picture, a paragraph, or a lesson from any one of the 9th standard textbooks and writes the reference on a slip of paper, and folds it. Others ask him/her questions and try to guess what it is, from his/her answers. Follow the rules given below.
- The maximum number of questions the rest of the group can ask is 20.
- You cannot ask a direct question like ‘What do you have in mind?’
- You can ask ‘Wh-’ questions or ‘Yes/no’ questions.
- The leader has to give truthful answers.
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Solution
List of Questions based on the poem 'Silver':
| Questions | Answers |
| Are there birds with white feathers around? | Yes. |
| The environment looks cool, is it daytime that the author is referring to? | No. |
| Is everything in the surroundings all quiet and calm? | Yes. |
| Does something appear to be silvery and shining? | Yes. |
| Is the writer referring to a ghost that is trying to haunt him? | No. |
| If it's not daytime and it is night time, can we hear dogs barking? | No. |
| Is someone staring at the trees and birds at this time of the night? | Yes. |
| Is the writer referring to a living being? | Yes. |
| Is the poet referring to something on earth? | No. |
| Is the writer talking about some unknown person walking the path, during night time? | No. |
| If not, a person, then is it some object that he speaks of? | Yes. |
| Does the writer experience some change around, every night? | Yes, absolutely! |
| What are some of those changes that he talks about? | The writer observes everything around him sparkling at night. |
| Is the writer talking of some shining insect, like fireflies at night? | No. |
| Which creatures does he speak of? | He observes various creatures like the doves along with dogs, mice, and fish. |
| Does the poet happen to be by any water body, during the night? | Yes. |
| How does the water look? | The brightness of the water seems to increase at night. |
| Is there an influence of that object on all our surroundings? | Yes. |
| From the picture of the landscape, is there some kind of "Reflection" that is affecting the area? | Yes. |
| Well, then, what is the poet talking about when he compares it to 'Silver'? | It's the moon that the poet is referring to, from the poem "Silver." |
RELATED QUESTIONS
Read the passage and complete the activities given below
B1 Complete the table :
A few facts about the Mehendi rituals during marriage ceremonies are given below :
Write them into appropriate columns :
(i) A simple family affair.
(ii) Song and dance performances accompanied by lavish food and entertainment.
(iii) Creative family members, apply Mehendi to the bride.
(iv) Beauticians are appointed to apply Mehendi to the bride.
Fill in the table as :
| Yesteryears | Present times |
| (i) | (i) |
| (ii) | (ii) |
Mehendi enjoys special attention during the wedding. In India, the day before the wedding is devoted exclusively to the elaborate ritual of applying Mehendi on the hands and feet of the bride. This practice is followed in Arab countries as well, except that it is held a few days prior to the wedding day. Songs are woven around the healing properties and lucky omens associated with mehndi are sung by the bride’s family and friends. An age-old belief handed down to generations lays great emphasis on the color of the bride’s Mehendi – a darker color suggests bountiful love and affection from the future in-laws and husband, and for this reason, brides take the pain to ensure that only the best quality henna is used for her wedding day.
The ritual of adorning the bride with henna is a sacred one and in some communities requires the initiation by the mother-in-law. A popular game during marriage function is the search for their names, by the bride and groom hidden within the elaborate pattern on the bride’s hands.
In certain parts of India, the bridegroom has his hands decorated with henna. The Mehendi function during marriages has evolved from simple family affairs of yesteryears to elaborate events of today. A lavish spread of food and entertainment in the form of song and dance performances have transformed it from a small function to a gala prelude. In earlier days, the task of applying Mehendi on the bride was the sole prerogative of creative family members. The demand for intricate and different style now, sees this job outsourced to beauticians skilled in this art. Beauty salons charge according to the style and complexity of pattern desired by the clients.
B2 What is the age-old belief related to the bride’s Mehendi color and its significance?
B3 Find the words :
Find the words from the passage :
| Noun | Verd | Adjectives |
| (i) attention | attend | _______________ |
| (ii) creation | _________________ | creative |
A lot of money is spent nowadays on marriage ceremonies. What is your opinion about it?
Mention the three phases of the author’s relationship with his grandmother before he left the country to study abroad.
Comment on the influence of English – the language and the way of life – on Indian life as reflected in the story. What is the narrator's attitude to English?
Astrologers' perceptions are based more on hearsay and conjecture than what they learn from the study of the stars. Comment with reference to the story.
Tick the item that is closest in meaning to the following phrase.
to meet one's match
You will probably agree that this story does not have breathless adventure and exciting action. Then what in your opinion makes it interesting?
Read the extract and state whether the following statement is true or false. Correct the false statement.
Growing in abundance is more important than the quality of the crop.
Select any one of the famous personalities mentioned in ‘Warming up 1’ on page no. 5. From the library or internet find out their success story. Write it in your own words in about 20 to 30 lines of your notebook.
Give your write-up a suitable title.
Read the story and complete the following.
Revathi won the prize for the ‘Best plant’ because, ____________.
Fibreglass kites led to creating power - driven aeroplanes.
The term 'Anaesthesia' in the poem means - 'The planner gives beautiful pictures of the new modern city'. Now find out what is Amnesia and Hypnosis in the given context.
Expand the idea inherent in the following proverb :
One should eat to live, not live to eat - Franklin.
Read the description of the Kabaddi match and do the following:
Describe, in your own words, the important events in the first half.
The description of the character is given below. Identify the character from the play. Find some sentences which support your choice.
He is a brave but irresponsible person.
Write a few lines about each character.
Read the following.
- I mean what I say. I say what I mean.
- I see what I eat. I eat what I see.
Use your imagination to write a funny sentence on this pattern.
Write about what you would like to do if ‘Time’ was your friend.
Complete the following sentence with reference to the passage.
It is believed that _________ Homer, who __________ and who ________ to all who __________________.
Find three lines, that contain images of nature in the autumn season.
At night
- ______________________
- ______________________
- ______________________
Summarise this poem in your own words in 8 to 10 lines, highlighting only the main points.
Write other meaningful words that begin/end with gentle-hearted.
What are the complaints of the animals?
Write what the lark does.
What was the grandfather wearing?
Identify the speaker/character.
‘ It’s Somu’s thoughtless ways that reduce me to tears’
Two scary events from this section are listed here. Write the events that take place in between in the correct order.
Gulliver was hailed as a hero because he ______.
Name the tools the farmer brought out. What did he do with them?
What happened to Dr. Karmugilan in the story?
Name the character or speaker.
"Why don't you do that yourself?"
Choose and write the adverbs to complete the sentence.
She won the game _____
Imagine your world and write its qualities in the cloud.
Write the rhyming word.
save- ______
Do you think Ani will be a good leader? Why?
What will you do if you have a gold plate?
______ had made Math easy for Bala.
Who are already awake?
Why is your nose important for you?
How did Alice reach Wonderland?
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
The Stationmaster’s Supreme Sacrifice by Sanchari Pal (Adapted)
- Thirty-three years ago, on the night of December 2, 1984, Bhopal was hit by a catastrophe that had no parallel in the world’s industrial history. An accident at the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal had released almost 30 tons of a highly toxic gas called methyl isocyanate, turning the city into a vast gas chamber. The result was a nightmare; more than 600,000 people were exposed to the deadly gas cloud that left thousands dead and many more breathless, blind and in agonizing pain. Few people know that during the Bhopal gas tragedy a heroic stationmaster risked his own life to save others.
- On the evening of December 3, 1984, Ghulam Dastagir was settling down in his office to complete some pending paperwork. This work kept him in his office till 1am in the night, when he emerged to check the arrival of the Gorakhpur Mumbai Express. As he stepped on to the platform, the deputy stationmaster felt his eyes burn and a queer itching sensation in his throat. He did not know that poisonous fumes leaking from Union Carbide’s pesticide factory were stealthily enveloping the railway station.
- Beginning to choke, Dastagir did not know then that twenty-three of his railway colleagues, including his boss, station superintendent Harish Dhurve, had already died. It was later reported that Dhurve had heard about the deadly gas and had immediately tried stopping the movement of trains passing through Bhopal before collapsing in his office chamber. His suddenly worsening health and years of experience told Dastagir that something was very wrong. Though he did not fully comprehend what was happening, he decided to act immediately when he did not get any response from the station master. He alerted the senior staff at nearby stations, like Vidisha and Itarsi, to suspend all train traffic to Bhopal.
- However, the jam-packed GorakhpurKanpur Express was already standing at the platform and its departure time was 20 minutes away. Listening to his gut instinct, Dastagir summoned his staff and told them to immediately clear the train for departure. When they asked if they should wait until the order to do so came from the head office, Dastagir replied that he would take complete responsibility for the train’s early departure. He wanted to ensure that the train left immediately, without any delay. His colleagues later recalled that Dastagir could barely stand and breathe as he spoke to them. Breaking all rules and without taking permission from anyone, he and his brave staff personally flagged off the train.
- But Dastagir’s work was not done. The railway station was filling up with people, desperate to flee the fumes. Some were gasping, others were vomiting, and most were weeping. Dastagir chose to remain on duty, running from one platform to another, attending, helping and consoling victims. He also sent an SOS to all the nearby railway offices, asking for immediate medical help. As a result, four ambulances with paramedics and railway doctors arrived at the station. It was winter and the gas was staying low to the ground, a thick haze poisoning everything in its path. Besieged by hordes of suffering people, the station soon resembled the emergency room of a large hospital. Dastagir stayed at the station, steadfastly doing his duty, knowing that his family was out there in the ill-fated city. That day all he had for his protection was a wet handkerchief on his mouth.
- Ghulam Dastagir’s devotion to duty saved the lives of hundreds of people. However, the catastrophe didn’t leave him unscathed. One of his sons died on the night of the tragedy and another developed a lifelong skin infection. Dastagir himself spent his last 19 years shuttling in and out of hospitals; he developed a painful growth in the throat due to prolonged exposure to toxic fumes. When he passed away in 2003, his death certificate mentioned that he was suffering from diseases caused as a direct result of exposure to MIC (Methyl Isocyanate) gas. A memorial has been built at platform No.1 to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty on the fateful night of December 3, 1984. However, Ghulam Dastagir, who died later, is not one of them. A forgotten hero whose sense of duty and commitment saved countless lives, Dastagir’s story deserves to be recognized and remembered by our fellow countrymen.
- Why was the accident at Union Carbide unparalleled in the world’s industrial history?
- How was Dastagir affected by the poisonous gas?
- What was the action taken by the station superintendent?
- How did Dastagir and his staff break rules?
- What was the cause of Dastagir’s death?
- Find words from the passage which mean the opposite of the following.
- safeguard (para 1)
- common or familiar (para 2)
- prompt (para 4)
- cause (para 6)
