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Question
How is humour employed to comment on the pains that the author took to get his watch set right.
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Solution
It is funny how the author and his dear watch had to go through all the pain that was delivered by seven watch makers. In the end, it was all futile and no good was done to the watch. The seven episodes with the watch makers are humorous as while all the watch makers tried their hand on the watch, toying it all up and operating and exploring and dissembling and then assembling every inch of it, it all gave sheer pain to the author to whom the watch was so dear. Every time with all the hope and strength he took it to a new watch maker; however, not a single of all the tinkers could put it all back to place to make it function all properly. How strange it is that none of the seven watch makers could mend the watch while they all experimented and did all sorts of research and development on it.
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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?
Answer any four of the following in 30 − 40 words each :
(a) What does Saheb look for in the garbage dumps?
(b) How was Gandhi treated at Rajendra Prasad's house?
(c) Why does one feel 'a sudden strangeness' on counting to twelve and keeping quiet?
(d) Mention any two things which cause pain and suffering. (A Thing of Beauty)
(e) When was the Tiger King in danger of losing his throne?
(f) What role did the American professor play in bringing Hana and Sadao together?
Read the following extract and complete the activities given below :
A1 Compare the old and new house and complete the table :
| Points | Old House | New House |
| Surrounding | razzle-dazzle | – |
| Size of the house | – | big |
I was thirteen, the year we moved to the Cantonment at Allahabad. In stark contrast to the razzle-dazzle of the city’s commercial areas like Katra and Chowk, the Cantonment was a quiet, orderly place with broad tree-lined roads that still carried the names of long-dead Britishers. Our bungalow was on a sleepy by-lane called MacPherson Road. When we first saw it, my brothers and I were delighted. It was by far the biggest house we had ever lived in. The task of furnishing those huge, echoing rooms daunted mother.
“Is a slightly smaller house not available?” she asked father, “We do not have enough curtains for this place. And the furniture seems a little inadequate. Why did they have to plan the kitchen at such a distance from the dining-room? It is like doing a route march. And who is going to help me keep this place clean and dusted?”
Her misgivings and objections were undoubtedly valid. But, seeing our crestfallen faces, she sighed and gave in. We made extravagant promises to help in the household chores. Keep our rooms tidy. Put away our toys and books. She smiled with amused disbelief, her mind already working out how many meters of curtain-cloth would be needed and so on.
A2 Complete :
Complete the following list of objections that the mother had with the new house :
(i) Inadequate _______
(ii) Do not have _______
(iii) Kitchen at a distance from _______
(iv) A very big _______
A3 Personal response:
Do you agree with the objections raised by the mother? Explain.
Read the following passage carefully and complete the activities given below :
A.1) Complete the web :
Write the words from the passage on the web. 
We saw small bits of grass peeping through the small cracks in concrete pavement. It left us thinking: however impossible things may look, there is always an opening…………
We saw a tree bare of all leaves in the cold winter months. We thought its chapter was over. But three months passed, spring set in and the tree was back to its green majesty once again, full of leaves, flowers, birds, and life. What if we too had the conviction that, however difficult things are right now, it will not remain so forever. Remember, this too shall pass.
We saw an army of ants lugging a fly which was at least ten times the ant’s size. The ants organized themselves around the fly, lifted it on frail feelers and carried it to quite a distance. Their teamwork and perseverance were impressive. What if we too are consistent, organized, focused ……… Spider webs are delicate, yet very strong. A rainbow colors the entire sky. Oysters take in a grain of sand they open up with a pearl. Innumerable stars shine across the infinite sky. Clouds take new shapes with every passing moment. The wind makes trees dance with unhindered passion. Water, without a hint of ego, changes its form according to the dictates of the sun and the wind. When we see a caterpillar turn into a butterfly, a flower turns into a fruit, we experience the alchemy of nature ………. We touch it and become gold ourselves.
A.2) Finding meanings :
Write what you mean by :
(i) _______ there is always an opening.
(ii) _______ its chapter was over.
(iii) _______ the tree was back to its green majesty.
(iv) _______ this too shall pass.
A.3) Matching :
Match the words in Column ‘A’ with their synonyms in Column ‘B’:
| Column 'A' | Column'B" | ||
| (i) | conviction | (a) | strong feeling |
| (ii) | alchemy | (b) | delicate |
| (iii) | frail | (c) | mysterious/magical power |
| (iv) | passion | (d) | strong belief |
A.4) Language study :
Rewrite the sentence using the correct question tag given in the brackets :
(i) Water changes its form. (does it?, do it?, do they?, doesn’t it)
(ii) However impossible things may look, there is always an opening. (Rewrite using ‘but’)
A.5) Personal Response :
Nature is the best teacher. Explain.
Give reasons for the following statement.
The author was disappointed with Darchen.
Considering that this is an excerpt from a lecture, how does the commentary provided by the speaker string the arguments together?
Adi Song for the Recovery of Lost Health' is in Miri Agom while Adi Agom is the Adi community's language for routine conversation. How does this reflect upon the high level of language sensitivity of the Adi? Can you think of other parallels in modern languages between the literary variety and the colloquial variety?
What are the criteria that Ruskin feels that readers should fulfil to make themselves fit for the company of the Dead?
The poetic effect is achieved in the poem through understatement and asides. Discuss this with examples.
What do the references to the birds and animals made in the poem suggest?
Identify the words that help you understand the nature of the poet's father.
Read the following statement and mark those that apply to you.
I have a small group of close friends and have no wish to interact with anyone else.
Which pictures reflect gender equality? Write their numbers.
State the facts about the story.
- Main characters:
- Problem:
- Attempts made to solve it:
- Climax/Turning point:
- Problem solved:
- End:
In the following sentence, point out the Main Clause and Subordinate Clause. Encircle the Subordinator.
Old Behrman was a painter, who lived on the ground floor.
Discuss in groups and share with one another.
The daily routine of your mother and father on working days.
Fill in the elements that you find in the drama script of ‘A Battle to Baffle.'
Characters:
- Background Scene:
- Crisis:
- Steps taken to resolve the crisis:
- Climax:
- The end:
India is famous for its handloom fabrics. Write the story of a handloom kurta in your own words.
Draw a diagram to show how life returned to the island. Label the diagram.
(Use the technique of drawing diagrams when you study science, geography, etc.)
Have you seen how wheels move on different surfaces like sand, gravel, grass, or a proper road? What are the differences you see?
Does the poet expect anything in return? What is the poet’s reward?
List the lines that begin with 'Here' or 'And here'.
Also, list the sentences or phrases that begin with ‘And there’.
These phrases and sentences tell us about things that appear one after the other as the carriage moves. Can we tell which ones are closer to the train and which ones are at a distance? How?
Answer the following question and write in short, why the parody sounds funny.
Why does the crocodile work?
Find the meaning of the following word.
delicious
Guess the meaning of the following word.
novel
Name the following.
Pounced on Dhyan Chand and hurt him.
What was the businessman looking for? Why?
Discuss what you can do to help other animals in your surroundings. Write down any three ideas you like from the discussion.
Write a short note on ‘money’.
Write what the lark does.
Guess the meaning of the following word.
fragrant
____________ had provided Prospero formerly with books and provisions.
Title summarises the story. Each paragraph is a part of the story. Look at the following expressions and find out the paragraphs that best suit these expressions.
- Oh, No! But it happens!
- Don’t let out your travelling dates
- Anyway, people will be people
- Search begins
- Things are not that easy
- Hurry invites worry
What was the e-mail message sent to Somu by Dr.Krishnan?
Underline the words or phrases that tell you what the wind does to the village.
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I must find out why he's in such a hurry!
Activity
It’s fun to help out in the kitchen. You can even practice reading aloud when reading the recipe. And you can learn a little math by figuring out how to measure. Here are a few fun items to make that are “Alice” themed.
He always had lunch with his family.
Write a summary based on the flow chart.
Read the story on your own. Discuss in a group and complete the story map below.
| A story map is the main events of the story given in a flow chart. |
When did Usha Rani start playing Kabaddi?
Where did the boys and girls go?
Gulliver was the captain of the ship.
Complete the sentence given below with word/phrase.
The buffalo ______ in the hole.
Read the lines and answer the questions given below.
Spring is pretty
but short and sweet
when you can smell the grass
from your garden seat
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- Which line tells you that the garden is fresh?
- Who does ‘you’ refer to?
In Mars ______ Earth days make a year.
We don’t use _________ in the soil.
Read the passage and colour one flag each time you read.
Our national emblem is taken from Ashoka’s pillar at Sarnath. It is found on all government documents, coins, currency notes, postcards, and envelopes. It consists of four lions standing back to back but, we can see only three lions at a time. There is a Dharma chakra in the centre of the base plate, with the figure of a bull in the right and that of a horse in the left. The entire structure is sitting on a lotus. The words ‘Sathyameva Jayate’ is written under it in Devanagari script. These words mean, ‘Truth alone Triumphs’.
Vicky’s father decided to change his son’s character.
Every ______ they would go fishing.
Look at the picture and tick choose the correct word.
Choose the best answer.
Suddenly there was a______.
What is the name of the girl?
People ran off when the seawater receded.
List the things that humans should save.
Fill in the blank with rhyming word.
tree- ______
Who is responsible for the society?
Choose the correct one.
Monkey
