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Question
How does the connection drawn between the tail and the eyes add to the descriptive detail of the poem?
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Solution
Sujata details the plumage of the peacock with finesse. The whole poem is a celebration of the beauty of the peacock. The vivid impressions on the feathers, the eyes of the peacock, are best seen when it fans its tail. The pattern actually resembles an eye, which she is appreciates immensely. The poet when tries to get a glimpse of the peacock, alert, it gathers its tail and eludes. Then the poet praises these eye impressions and calls that these violet fringed with golden amber, dark glowing eyes are always open, of course as they can not have eyelids. The poet calls them the 'eyes of the peacock'. She describes them violet fringed with golden amber. The shaking of the feathers is compared to the blinking of eyes like the eyes on the feathers will not blink any other way but by the shaking of the feathers.
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RELATED QUESTIONS
B1. Select
Fill in the blanks choosing the correct alternatives from those given in the bracket:
(i) The author was inspired and motivated to read ............................................ by the time she was eleven.
[Shakespeare, Chaucer, G.B. Shaw]
(ii) Every lesson .......................... ......... took was spiced with half a dozen or more anecdotes.
[Mrs. Rowlands, Sister Monica, Mr. A.N. Patil]
(iii) The teachers helped the narrator to become ..................................... . .
[confident, happy, independent]
(iv) Mrs. Cynthia Nesamani and Sister Monica gave .......................................... to the narrator.
[freedom to do what he wanted, advice to do something, instructions to produce better results]
In a way, one of the greatest gifts any teacher can give a student, I think, is to inculcate a curiosity to learn.
I've been incredibly lucky to have at least one such teacher at every stage in my life. The first was Mrs. Rowlands who taught me in primary school. She taught me to read without ever pushing me. She made me want to read more by giving 'me some of the most interesting children's books available. And although I still love to go back to those books from time to time, it was only because of her that I was able to read Shakespeare by the time I was ten, and Chaucer a year later.
In later years, it was Mr. A.N. Patil, my Marathi and Hindi Teacher who made a huge impression on me. Every lesson he took, was spiced with half a dozen or more anecdotes from a wide variety of subjects: among them history, politics, religion and sociology. I was, and still am in awe of his knowledge, which despite rather desperate attempts, I doubt I'll ever be able to match.
There have also been other teachers who helped me to try to become independent: to think and act for myself using my own judgement, which to my mind has been just as, if not more important, than actually learning anything.
After all, it's much too easy to become a completely useless repository of facts and little else.
Two teachers whom I remember in particular are Mrs. Cynthia Nesamani and Sister Monica, both taught me in school. The former, by and large, gave me a free rein to do what I wanted to do. I, being one of those people who dislike instructions, she helped me to produce much better results than I'd have otherwise done.
B2.Complete
Read the extract and complete the following:
The teacher can
(i) .............
(ii) ..............
(iii )..............
(iv).................
B3. Similar word
Look at the following sentences arid pick the word having similar meaning to the given word and rewrite:
(i) Spiced His conversation is always with a lot of humour. (made interesting, garnished, flavoured)
(ii) Repository
The library should not merely be a ................ of books. (store-house, reservoir, tank)
(iii) Inculcate
It is the responsibility of the parents and teachers to .......values in the child's formative years. (imbibe, give, show)
(iv) Incredibly
I have been .. lucky to have at least one such teacher at every stage in my life. (importantly, unbelievably, beautifully)
B4. Language study
(i) There have also been other teachers. They have helped me to try to become
independent. (Combine using 'who')
(ii) It was only because of her that I was able-to read Shakespeare.
(Rewrite beginning with: If it was not for her, ).
B.5 Out motivators
Look at the following table and complete it by presenting your own views
| Personalities | Influence on your life |
| (i) Teachers | |
| (ii) Parents | |
| (iii) Relatives | |
| (iv) Friends |
We sang our school fight song dozens of times – en route to Arlington National cemetery, and even on an afternoon cruise down the Potomac River. We visited the Lincoln Memorial twice, once in day – light, the second time at dusk. My classmates and I fell silent as we walked in the shadows of those 36 marble columns, one for every state in the Union that Lincoln laboured to preserve. I stood next to Frank at the base of the 19 foot seated statue. Spotlights made the white Georgian marble seem to glow. Together we read famous words from Lincoln’s speech at Gettysburg remembering the most bloody battle in the war between the status : “………….we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom………..”
As Frank motioned me into place to take my picture, I took one last look at Lincoln’s face. He seemed alive and so terribly sad.
The next morning I understand a little better why he wasn’t smiling. “Clifton,” a chaperone said, “could I see you for a moment?”
(1) When did the boys visit Lincoln Memorial?
(2) What made the Georgian marble glow?
(3) What did the words: “………. We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom …………” remind them?
(4) Do you believe in building memorials? What kind should they be, if your answer is ‘yes’? If no, give reasons why you do not believe in memorials?
Notice the following uses of the word ‘tell’ in the text.
1. Her fingers were busy telling the beads of her rosary.
2. I would tell her English words and little things about Western science and learning.
3. At her age, one could never tell.
4. She told us that her end was near.
Given below are four different senses of the word ‘tell’. Match the meanings to the uses listed above.
1. make something known to someone in spoken or written words
2. count while reciting
3. be sure
4. give information to somebody
Describe the shifts in the narration of the events as indicated in the three sections of the text. Give a subtitle to each section.
Divide the article into four sections based on the shifts in the sub-topics and give a suitable sub-heading for each section. One has been done for you in the article as an example.
Look at the following set of words and mention what is common to them both in form and meaning.
|
Snuffle |
snort |
sniffle |
snore |
How do Shahid and the writer react to the knowledge that Shahid is going to die?
Comment on the way in which the theme of the story has been introduced.
Examine the communication channels in the story between Paul's mother and his uncle.
Explain the phrase.
Time's fool
Name the world-famous personality who reached great heights despite of humble circumstances.

Say why the speaker of the poem wishes to be a -
watchman
Find proof from the poem for the following.
The poet’s minute observations of the steady growth of the cherry tree.
Where do we find all types of wild animals in urban areas?
Given below are various professions in column A and in column B, the nature of work in respective professions. Match the columns.
| A | B |
| (i) Anaesthetist | (a) Specialist in the treatment of problems concerning the position of teeth and jaws. |
| (ii) Pharmacist | (b) A person who designs buildings and supervises the process of constructing them. |
| (iii) Orthodentist | (c) A person who is in charge of a newspaper or of a part of a newspaper. |
| (iv) Dermitologist | (d) The medical study of the skin and its diseases. |
| (v) Architect | (e) A person who has been trained to prepare medicines and sell them to the public. |
| (vi) Chartered Accountant | (f) A person whose job is to give drugs which makes the person not feel pain especially in preparation for a medical operation. |
| (vii) Editor | (g) A person who is engaged in the profession of accounting and examining the statements and records of accounts. |
Go through the poem and state whether the following statement is true or false.
Planners are concerned about the environment of the area.
Go through the poem and state whether the following statement is true or false.
Planners deliberately find drawbacks in the old city planning.
Form suitable groups and discuss the following.
You have heard/read stories of Akbar and Birbal, Tenali Raman, Mulla Nasruddin. Recollect and write down the names of those stories.
Pick out those aspects of a story that you find a common in all their stories.
- Humour
- Supernatural event
- Wisdom
- Suspense
- Magic
- Beauty of Nature
- Wit
- Play upon words
- Sadend
- Violence
Select the correct options :
A Midsummer-Night’s Dream is a ___________________.
- poetic drama
- comedy of errors
- a comedy based on fantasy
- a character play
- a revenge tragedy
- belongs to realm of dreams
Enact the advertisement:
Seven children wait in different places, striking a suitable pose as shown in the ad. The character ‘Krispy Krunchy’ comes in dancing. He goes near every child, singing the words shown in the ad. He offers a Krispy Krunchy piece to every child.
The child eats it and begins to smile and clap. At the end, the character faces the class, shows a big pack of Krispy Krunchy, and presents the last few lines.
Explain the use of the following property in the development of the play.
Stick
Discuss the following question after you have seen a presentation of the ‘ad’.
What would happen if you ate proper meals like rice and dal or dal-roti?
Have you seen how wheels move on different surfaces like sand, gravel, grass, or a proper road? What are the differences you see?
Visit a library:
Find more information/stories about scholars of the ancient world - Aryabhatta, Bhaskaracharya, Varahamihira, Charaka, Nagarjuna, Jeevaka.
Have you seen a newborn young one of an animal?
Talk to your parents and family members and write what you could do when you were a day old.
Write a short note on the following:
Prince Siddharth’s protected life.
Note that most of the time well-known works are parodied, because people can enjoy the parody better when they know the original. Try to find more examples of parodies in English or other languages.
Find the names of the exotic musical instruments and animals mentioned in the poem.
The story has a very heart-warming and touching end. Now try to change the end of the story to make it sound very funny.
Describe the following in one or two lines.
The nest.
Did Gopal Bhand have a field?
Why did Marouckla’s stepmother hate her?
Name the following.
Did not let the passes go waste.
List and say whether the following statement agrees with the passage or not.
When you want to make a speech, there’s no need to think about it in advance.
In what way can we help to reduce or minimize waste generation?
Discuss the issue in groups of 4 or 5 and note down all good suggestions.
Resolve to follow them yourself. Some have been given below for your reference.
- Don’t waste food.
- Take as much as you want but finish everything that’s on your plate.
- Don’t throw away broken or half-used things. Repair them and use them.
- Avoid things which can be used only once.
For example: thermocol (polysterene) cups, plastic glasses, etc. - Reuse!
- Recycle!
What does the poet want to know from the goldfish?
What part did Anne Sullivan play in Helen’s life?
The taxi driver took away the narrator’s suitcase.
Hamid’s heart sank because the price of the tongs was______for him.
What makes us happy and free, according to the poet?
Identify the character/speaker.
One side makes you big, the other side makes you small.
Neerja was sent to London based on______.
Identify the speaker/character.
Don't worry, Madam, it's only a warning.
A sea turtle camouflages its nest by tossing sand on it to ______.
Gulliver was set free because the emperor______.
When did the richest farmer get upset? Why?
In this story, what happened to the Earth?
Be humble like a _____.
What is our core?
Choose the odd one out.
Match their hobbies.
![]() |
swimming |
![]() |
cycling |
![]() |
gardening |
Name the character or speaker.
“Learn well, live well!”
Choose the correct answer.

Choose the correct answer.

Why did Jana’s friends stop her from going near the tree?
Write the word with same meaning.

tap- ______
Did the girl buy a picture book?



