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Question
Go to your school/college library and read some other stories by O’Henry like, ‘The Gift of the Magi’, ‘The Last Leaf’ and ‘After Twenty years’. Write the stories in short in your notebook.
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Solution
Do it yourself.
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Have you are wondered why soldiers are always clad in green? This is to enable them to camouflage themselves during wartime. Hiding in the jungles, their green attire blends into the surrounding trees and shrubs, making it difficult for the enemies to spot them.
Long before man-made use of camouflaging, insects have already adopted the tactic of disguise to escape from the clutches of their predators. By having body colour close to those of the rocks and dried leaves, they can escape from being pursued by the predators.
Butterflies and moths have developed a variety of camouflage strategies since they are quite defenceless and their predators are abundant. Possessing wings which resemble dried leaves help certain butterflies and moths to hide among heaps of dried leaves when predators are around.
Fortunately, not all insects choose the art of disguise to escape from their predators; otherwise, the world would be so dull and colourless. There are insects which assimilate the bright body colours of bees and wasps to escape from being pursued by their predator. Long ago, birds have already learnt to avoid brilliantly coloured wasps and bees in fear of their painful stings. Hence, over millions of years, many harmless insects have assimilated the bees and wasps by imitating. their bright body colours and shapes. In this way, they appear dangerous and hence ward them off.
The beefy, not only appears like the bumblebee in terms of body colour, even its hums sound similar too. The only difference is that the beefy does not have a stirring and is hence harmless. The hoverfly is another insect which imitates. the body colours of the wasps. Their bodies are striped yellow and black. The only deviations are that hoverflies do not have stings, and they have only one pair of wings each while wasps have two pairs each. These variations are hardly noticed by the predators and hence help them to escape.
A1. Complete the table with the information from the passage : (2)
| Insects | Similarity | Difference |
| Bumblebee - Beefy | ||
| Wasp - Hoverfly |
A2. Complete the tree diagram : (2)
A3. Find out : (2)
‘Nature has given a self-protection mechanism to insects’.
Find out at least two examples from the passage to prove this statement.
A4. Vocabulary - (2)
Find the words from the passage for :
(i) animal or bird that hunts other for food
(ii) to get free from danger
(iii) to prevent something from harming
(iv) to make a copy
A5. Personal response - (2)
‘Soldiers disguise themselves to prevent enemies to spot them’.
Give two more examples when the disguising technique is used by humans.
A6. Grammar - (2)
Rewrite the following sentences in the ways instructed :
(i) They have only one pair of wings.
(Make it negative without changing the meaning)
(ii) Insects have already adopted the tactic of disguise to escape from the clutches of their predators.
(Replace infinitive with gerund and rewrite)
(B) Summary : (3)
Summarise the above extract with the help of the points given and suggest a suitable title.
Camouflage of soldiers and insects - reason and ways for disguising - assimilation of insects - need of imitation.
Your class had to conduct a Morning Assembly. Write an account of how you prepared for it, what your role was and what you gained from the experience.
You want to start a new club at your school.
Write a letter to your principal requesting permission to start the club, explain your role in it and give reasons to prove that the club will be beneficial for the school.
Transform the following sentence as per the given instruction.
How cruel Shylock was to demand his pound of flesh!
(Begin: It was cruel………………….)
In the following items, sentence A is complete, while sentence B is not. Complete sentence B, making it as similar as possible to sentence A. Write sentence B.
(A) As soon as the bell rings, the children run out to play.
(B) No sooner __________________________________.
What point is the author trying to make?
What does Wordsworth compare the daffodils to? Is the comparison appropriate?
The caged bird sings with
A fearful trill of things unknown
But longed for still and his
Tune is heard on the distant hill
For the caged bird sings of freedom.
Read the above lines and answer the question that follow.
Explain with reference to the context.
Thus I entered, and thus I go!
In triumphs, people have dropped down dead,
"Paid by the world, what dost thou owe
Me?"....God might question; now instead,
'Tis God shall repay: I am safer so.
Read the above lines and answer the question that follow.
What does the rain imagery signify?
What kind of person was Abou Ben Adhem?
What is the central idea of the poem?
Show liow Narayan depicts women in the story and their role in a man’s life.
What is the theme of all summer in a day by Ray Bradbury?
You are the captain of your college cricket team. You have your final match on Sunday. Your teammates are nervous. Prepare a speech motivating them to face the challenge courageously. (About 100 words)
Write a composition (350 - 400 words) on the following:
Write an original short story entitled 'The, Gift'.
The ailing company was taken________by the government.
One day a millionaire went to a hotel in New York and________(ask) for the cheapest room they________(have)."What________(be) the price of the room?" he________(ask). The manager________(tell) him."Is that that the cheapest room you________(have)? I________(stay) by myself and only________(need) a small room." The manager said, "Why do you choose a poor room like that? Your son always_______(stay) in our most expensive room.""Yes," said the millionaire, "but his father________(be) a wealthy man; mine is not."
Sergius tells Bluntschli in the play "you're not a man, you're a machine." Do you agree with Sergius' assessment of Blunts ii? Give your views.
Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets. Do not copy the passage, but write in the correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space.
Example:
(0) One morning, I (0) ……. (see) the python curled up on the dressing table.
Answer: saw.
It was (1) ……. (gaze) at its own reflection in the mirror. I (2) ……… (go) for grandfather, but by the time we (3) ……… (return) to the room, the python (4) …….. (move) on. He was seen in the garden, and once the cook saw him, (5) ……… (crawl) up the ladder to the roof. Then we (6) …….. (find) him on the dressing table again, (7) (admire) himself in the mirror. “He’s trying to look better for Aunt Mabel,” I said. I (8) ……. (regret) this remark immediately because grandmother overheard it and held up my pocket money for the rest of the week!
Join the following sentence to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so.
Sunita opened her purse. She found the money missing.
Re-write the following sentence according to the instructions are given. Make other changes that may be necessary, but do not change the meaning of the sentence.
Father said to Sunil, “I can help you with your homework.”
(Begin: Father told Sunil……….)
The tree grew at a dangerous slant and had to be cut ________
I have never seen a film as bad as this. ·
(Begin: This is ........................................ )
Give reasons for the following.
Carter had to chisel away the solidified resins to raise the king’s remains.
Given below is an interesting combination of words. Explain why they have been used together.
funerary treasures
What do you like the most about the poem?
Given below is the dictionary meaning of
Smirk: to smile in a silly or unpleasant way that shows that you are pleased with yourself.
Look up the dictionary for the following words which are also related to facial expressions and write down the meaning of each
|
smile |
grin |
grimace |
sneer |
Locate instances of irony in the story.
Given below are some words that are spelt differently in British and American English. Fill in the blanks accordingly.
| British | American |
| 1. colour | ______ |
| 2. ______ | labor |
| 3. ______ | traveler |
| 4. counsellor | ______ |
| 5. centre | ______ |
| 6. ______ | theater |
| 7. ______ | organize |
| 8. realise | ______ |
| 9. ______ | defense |
| 10. offence | ______ |
The word ‘round’ usually means a kind of shape. What is its meaning in the story?
Look at the sentences given below. Find out which one is correct. If the sentence is wrong give reasons.
Discuss the following with your partner and complete the following sentence.
In a farmers’ market, we find _______________.
'Organic farming is the need of the time'. Write your views in favour of and against the statement.
| Views | Counterviews |
| 1. | |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. |
The cherry tree is a narrative poem. Features that make it a narrative poem are given below. Justify them with proper examples.
Different places are mentioned.
You have studied the lesson 'The Call of the Soil' from prose 1.3. Compare 'Cherry Tree' with 'The Call of the Soil' and find out the element of the joy of nurturing for the author and the poet.
Write a letter to your friend about the Great Indian Bustard. You may use the following points:
- Why we need to protect the bird.
- What you plan to do to help the bird.
Multinational companies expect a different type of Professional CV. Browse through the net to gather information about it.
Write a few lines about yourself - your name, appearance, family, the place where you live, your school, your friends, neighbours, relatives, your likes, dislikes, hobbies, what you are good at, etc.
Now create an imaginary ‘persona’ for yourself. It can be quite different from your real self. Or, you may choose a fictional character - a character from a novel, story, etc. Write a few lines about this imaginary persona and introduce yourself in that role.
| Real Self | Imaginary Persona |
|
Hi, I am ____________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ |
Hi, I am ____________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ |
Write a few lines about what Mathilde had and what she dreamt about.
Form groups of 5-8. Prepare short autobiographical speeches for each of these animals (10-15 lines). Use the following points :
- How the animal lives - It’s the only way he/she can.
- How he interacts with nature and other animals.
- How humans interact with that species - whether it is fair, necessary, or desirable, etc.
- The possible ill effects of the way human beings treat the animals, for the whole living world.
- The animal getting ready to bid farewell to this world.

Which is your favourite ‘Nature’ poem from your mother tongue? Write the poem and try to translate it into English. Your translation can be in the form of a poem or a paraphrase.
The story is written in an informal, colloquial style - the way it would be told orally. Find and write the expressions where the author addresses the audience directly in the story - for example, ‘but we, O Best Beloved, will...’, ‘Now attend and listen !’
Write a letter to your Class Teacher or the Principal of your school to make the following request.
Your school library subscribes to a few newspapers. Your class wants old issues of the newspapers for some educational activity in the classroom. You are required to make cuttings / news clipping. Therefore, the papers cannot be returned to the library but you will use them in a responsible manner. Use the format of a formal letter given below.
Say ‘WHY’?
The writer grew less dogmatic and more open-minded.
Name the occasion or reason for which the announcements are being made. Then think of an occasion and prepare an announcement for it as a group activity.
Write a short book review of any one of your favourite books. Your review should include the following things.
- Title of the book
- Name of the author/authors
- Name of the illustrator (artist)
- The central idea of the book (what the book is about)
- The important characters in the book and what they do
- What you like about the book
- Why you want others to read the book/what you learn from the book
Dos and Don’ts for delivering a speech. Add some more points.
| Dos | Don’ts |
| Talk slowly | Don’t mumble |
| Emphasize keywords | Don’t look up/down |
Read the evidence/sentences given below and offer a possible explanation of what happened in this house? Make up some questions to gather more information.
Now collect all your evidences and write a story in your notebook. Give a suitable title.

Write a newspaper article in about 100 words, comparing the achievements of the two sportswomen based on the information you have already collected.
Select three words that best describe Mr. Scotti.
clever / unlucky / stupid / successful / miserable / happy.
Read the telephonic conversation between Malar and Selvi. Malar needs to leave a message for her father.
| Malar: | Hello, my name is Malar. Could I talk to Mr. Rao, please? I’m his colleague Mr. Vishvanath’s daughter. |
| Selvi: | I’m sorry, my father is out for his morning walk. Do you want to leave a message for him? |
| Malar: | Yes, please. My father had to leave for Madurai all of a sudden since my grandfather is ill. So he won’t be able to come to work for a few days. It would be really nice if your father could inform the office. |
| Selvi: | Don’t worry, I’ll leave the message for my father. |
| Malar: | Thanks a lot. |
| Selvi: | You’re welcome. |
|
This is the message that Selvi left for her father the previous day. Write a similar message based on her conversation with Malar. ______ (Date) 4.30 p.m. (Time) Dear Papa, I have my music class at 5.00 p.m. so I am leaving now. I’ve prepared tea and samosa and kept it in the kitchen. Please come and pick me up at 7 p.m. |
|
Message ______(Date) ______(Time) Dear Papa, _____________________________________________________________ |
Create a poster for the following.
You are Sita/ Sudhan. Design a poster in not more than 50 words to focus on not wasting water. Be creative.
What are the themes of the singers’ songs?
Trees can help you recognise seasons. How do the trees look different in each season? Write a short paragraph with the clues given below.
- Summer - Trees stretch their leafy branches towards the sun.
- Spring - Branches are full of new green leaves.
- Rain - Trees absorb water and look green.
- Autumn - Trees shed their leaves.
______ is your birthday?
Fill up the withdrawal form to withdraw Rs.200 from your Savings Account.

Punctuate the following sentence.
she fed the baby washed the dishes put the lights off and went to sleep.
Alice follows the strange rabbit because she wants to know a number of things. Re-arrange the words to make the questions that Alice has in her mind, and put a question mark (?).
hurry is in a why he
The children in the picture are watching an exciting sporting event, where their school team is winning. Suggest suitable utterances reflecting their feelings:

Who was the tall man?
Why didn’t Jimmy Wells, being a cop himself, arrest Bob?
What was her first impression of America?
What difficulty did she experience while eating Chinese food?
Debate is an essential skill and your classroom is the best place to practice this skill. Your teacher will now divide the class into two groups and organize a debate on the topic “Fast food tastes better than nutritious food.” The following points may help you to participate and speak in a debate. One group will speak FOR the motion and the other group will speak AGAINST the motion. Now prepare a speech for the debate.
Why did Leacock assume that the photographer was praying?
The photographer told him to ______.
Suggest some ways by which we can maintain a calm temperament under all circumstances.
What was the knife that Miss Meadows carried with her?
The sun brought about a positive change in the attitude of the children. Illustrate the statement.
Attempt a description of the following process, in about 100 word each, either using the imperative or the passive.
Obtaining a demand draft from a bank
Write a composition in approximately 350 – 400 words on the following subject:
(You are reminded that you will be rewarded for orderly and coherent presentation of material, use of appropriate style and general accuracy of spelling, punctuation, and grammar.)
Write an original short story entitled: ‘The Missed Call’.
Read the given sentence and underline the no word.
There is nothing to do.
Write a dialogue between a student and teacher on 'Importance of Yoga'.
You are the editor of your school magazine. You want to bring about awareness among the students on the topic -Noise Pollution: A threat to all life forms. Write an article in about 300 words based on the following points:
Causes of noise pollution - effects on humans - effects on other living creatures - measures to reduce noise pollution - role of authorities - conclusion.
Prepare a speech to deliver in an interschool competition on ‘How to achieve success in life’ with the help of the following web chart.

Write a short note on your mother tongue and the attempts you make to study it well.
Can you think of any events in your own or someone else’s life to support the quote-
‘If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.’
What is likely to happen if you don’t tell the truth?’
Complete the dialogue.
| Anil: | Which is your favourite book? |
| Sunil: | ______________________ |
| Anil: | What type of book is it? |
| Sunil: | _____________________ |
Referring closely to any two instances from the Acts studied, show how music is used to influence the course of events/action in the play, Write your answer in a short paragraph of about 200-250 words.
As the school leader, you have been given the responsibility of organising a school trip for the students of classes XI and XII to a place of historical importance. Write a proposal in about 150 words stating the steps you would take to successfully organise the trip.
