English

In Question 3, You Read an Eye-witness Account of a Robbery. on the Basis of Your Reading of the Birlstone Tragedy, in About 125 Words, Write Dr Wood'S Account of the Discovery - English - Communicative

Advertisements
Advertisements

Question

In Question 3, you read an eye-witness account of a robbery. On the basis of your reading of the Birlstone tragedy, in about 125 words, write Dr Wood's account of the discovery of John Douglas's body. 

Answer in Brief
Advertisements

Solution

It was approaching midnight when I got a call from Mr. Barker that Mr. Douglas had been murdered. I rushed towards the scene. To my great surprise the drawbridge was down which should have been up at this hour of the night. When I reached the scene of the murder I could see Mr. Douglas’ body lying spread out near the fireplace. His head was towards the fireplace. There was Mr. Barker in the room but Mr. Douglas’ wife was in another room. She was too shocked to see the dead body.

When I asked Mr. Barker he said that the door was open when he arrived on the scene and it was he who lowered the drawbridge. He also said that usually at 6 pm the drawbridge was put up so that nobody could enter the manor during night. There was a doubt in my mind that somebody might have entered before 6 pm and hid himself somewhere in the manor to wait for the right time to execute the crime. Mr. Barker and Douglas’ wife needed to be investigate nobody can be beyond suspicion. Proper investigation needs to be done to solve this murder mystery.

shaalaa.com
Writing and Grammar
  Is there an error in this question or solution?
Chapter 5.3: The Tragedy of Birlstone - Exercise [Page 103]

APPEARS IN

CBSE English Communicative - Main Course Book Interact in English [English] Class 9
Chapter 5.3 The Tragedy of Birlstone
Exercise | Q 6 | Page 103

RELATED QUESTIONS

Answer the following question briefly.
What made Triveni a popular writer?


Answer the following question briefly.
Why did the grandmother depend on her granddaughter to know the story?


Here is a story about Swami and his grandmother. After reading the excerpt, change it into a conversation between Swami and his Grandmother.
After the night meal with his head on his granny’s lap, nestling close to her, Swaminathan felt very snug and safe in the faint atmosphere of cardamom and cloves. ‘Oh, Granny !’ he cried ecstatically. ‘You don’t know what a great fellow Rajam is.’ He told her the story of the first enmity between Rajam and Mani and the subsequent friendship.

‘You know, he has a real police dress,’ said Swaminathan. ‘Is it? What does he want a police dress for?’ asked Granny.

‘His father is the Police Superintendent. He is the master of every policeman here.’ Granny was impressed. She said that it must be a tremendous office indeed. She then recounted the days when her husband, Swaminathan’s grandfather, was a powerful sub-magistrate, in which office he made the police force tremble before him and the fiercest dacoits of the place flee. Swaminathan waited impatiently for her to finish the story. But she went on, rambled, confused, mixed up various incidents that took place at different times. ‘That will do, Granny,’ he said ungraciously. ‘Let me tell you something about Rajam. Do you know how many marks he gets in arithmetic?’

‘He gets all the marks, does he, child?’ asked Granny.
‘No silly. He gets ninety marks out of one hundred.’
‘Good. But you must also try and get marks like him…. You know, Swami, your grandfather used to frighten the examiners with his answers sometimes. When he answered a question, he did it in a tenth of the time that others took to do it. And then, his answers would be so powerful that his teachers would give him two hundred marks sometimes.

‘Oh, enough, Granny ! You go on bothering about old unnecessary stories. Won’t you listen to Rajam?’
‘Yes, dear, yes.’
‘Granny, when Rajam was a small boy, he killed a tiger.’
Swaminathan started the story enthusiastically : Rajam’s father was camping in a forest. He had his son with him. Two tigers came upon them suddenly, one knocking down the father from behind. The other began chasing Rajam, who took shelter behind a bush and shot it dead with his gun.

‘Granny, are you asleep?’ Swaminathan asked at the end of the story.
Now read the dialogue and complete the conversation:
Swarni:
 You don’t know what a great fellow Raj am is! In the beginning I could not get along with him but now he is my good friend. And you know, he has a real police dress.
Grandmother: Is it? What does he want a police dress for?
Swarni: His father is the Police Super­intendent. He is the master of every policeman here.
Grandmother: I think, it must be a tremendous office. Do you know, your grandfather was a powerful sub­magistrate and the Police Force trembled before him? Even the fiercest dacoits of the place fled.
Swarni: That will do, Granny. It’s so boring. Let me tell you something about Raj am. Do you know how many marks he gets in arithmetic?
Grandmother: He gets all the marks, doesn’t he, child?


Chris: Do you spend any of your free time playing Xbox Live?
Kane: Not so much online anymore, because I live in an area where I don't get broadband, I get satellite. I used to play Halo 2 and Ghost Recon online quite a bit.
Chris: What other games do you play?
Kane: Right now I'm playing THQ's Raw vs. Smackdown 2006, our game on the PSP. I'm not actually playing all that much console stuff because I've been on the road quite a bit...
Chris: Do you always play as yourself?
Kane: Yeah.
Chris: Are you going to be at the Wrestlemania?
Kane: Oh yeah.
Chris: Do you know who you're going to face?
Kane: Not yet.
Chris: Seems to be back in the day, there used to be a lot of tag teams, especially back in the Eighties. It seems like that's fallen off. Why do you think that is?
Kane: I don't know. You're right, I think. I watching a videotape of I'm not sure which year it was... I think it was Summer Slam 1986 or 87. It was The Rock and Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty and stuff, The Quebecers. It was just different, because it was a tag team match and you don't see that much anymore. I don't know the reason for that. I just don't know. I think you're right to some extent.
Chris: When you were in college, were you always aspiring to be a wrestler?
Kane: Yeah. I remember when I was a kid, I was a wrestling fan, and then actually my local stations didn't broadcast it for awhile, and then when I got back into college that's when Hulk Hogan was at the height of his career, so I became a wrestling fan again. I was very active in college. I wanted to play athletics and then I looked at wrestling as being a viable option to do that.
Chris: Was Hogan the person who inspired you, or were there others?
Kane: Oh no. You had Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Ricky Steamboat, Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen, all those guys. Actually, when I was first getting into wrestling, the Undertaker was my favourite. Remember when he was building caskets for people and things like that? That was just classic... just awesome.
Chris: Did that play any role in your being cast as his half-brother?
Kane: No, that didn't. But I think it did play a role in the success that I have had, especially the way that I was introduced as the Undertaker's brother and all that, because I could relate to that. It was pretty natural for me.
Chris: How has the WWE changed in the past ten years?
Kane: In some ways, we've gone through an evolution. Actually, the biggest change I see, from when I first started with the company is our television products - we've become more and more television driven, and our television products have become stronger. When I first started with the company, the format of the show was a lot different than it is now. A lot of that was because of competition from formerly WCW. You know, we were able to overcome that... I think our television product's stronger. We've gone on to some of the best years the business has ever seen and it'll continue. I think the striking thing for me is that the television product has gone through such an evolution.
Chris: Are you happy with the way your character is shaping up?
Kane: Yeah, I've always been happy. Infact, it's been tremendous; more than I can ever hope for.
Chris: Were you scarier with the mask?
Kane: I get that question all the time. Actually I prefer it without the mask because as a performer I'm unlimited in what I can do, whereas with the mask I relied a lot more on body language. But, by the same token, the mask had a certain aura about it, there was mystery and all that stuff. I like it without the mask, but like you said, a lot of people like the mask, so it just depends... Of course, there are days, too, where I like the mask better. [Laughter]
Chris: Bret Hart is being inducted into the Hall of Fame. What's your favourite Bret Hart memory?
Kane: Oh, wow! I guess it would be the culmination when he beat Ric Flair for the World Championship, because that's the high point of someone's career. I'm glad to see Bret going into the Hall of Fame; I'm glad to see that happening.
Chris: With everything you've done in the world of wrestling, what more do you think you have left to accomplish?
Kane: I don't think I have anything left to accomplish, but the important thing for me is that I'm still having fun and that the people are entertained, and it's really gratifying for me now that our fans come up to me, and because I've stood the test of time, they have a respect for me. I may not be the hottest wrestler at the time, but I always knew that people are going to be with me because they've sort of grown up with me. So, I don't necessarily know that I've got a whole lot left to accomplish, but I'm still enjoying myself and I'm still entertaining the people, which to me is something basically you need to accomplish every night.

The teacher will ask the students to answer these questions based on an interview given above by the legendary WWE wrestler, Kane to Chris Carle of IGN. The students should be made to listen to the interview. Teacher /student will read it out for the class.

1. What were the video games that Kane liked playing earlier and which games later?

2. Who was Kane's favourite wrestler when he was first getting into wrestling and who were some of the other wrestlers who influenced him into taking up wrestling?

3. How according to Kane had the WWE changed in the past ten years?

4. Does Kane prefer performing with the mask or without the mask?

5. Why does Kane wrestle these days even though he has accomplished almost everything?

6. What is your impression of Kane as a person after you have heard this interview?


Answer the following questions:

‘I make the netted sunbeam dance’. What does ‘the netted sunbeam’ mean? How does it dance?


Answer the following question briefly.

The poet says “I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference.” What is ‘the difference’ that the poet mentions?


Simple Past and Past Continuous
There was a burglary in your neighbourhood. You saw something suspicious.
Tell the police officer all about it by filling in the blanks choosing the correct
forms of the words from the options given below.

It (a) was raining last night. I (b) _________ TV. I (c) _________ a little restless. I (d) _________ to the window and was looking out when I (e) _________ that Mr Sharma, my neighbour (f) _________ near the door. I thought he had gone to shut it. I also (g) _________ Mrs Sharma walking up and down in her garden. Then I heard Mr Sharma calling his wife to come in. I (h) _________ back to my table and opened my book. I (i) _________ when I heard a thud and a scream. I (j) _________ out of the house and saw a man in a black coat and hat running towards the gate. Mr and Mrs Sharma (k) _________ in the street. I saw a car speeding away with the burglar.

(a) (i) raining                  (ii) was raining                          (iii) were raining                      (iv) rained
(b) (i) were watching      (ii) watched                               (iii) was watching                    (iv) watching
(c) (i) has felt                  (ii) felt                                       (iii) was feeling                        (iv) feel
(d) (i) had gone              (ii) went                                    (iii) was going                          (iv) gone
(e) (i) noticing                (ii) was noticing                        (iii) were noticing                     (iv) noticed
(f) (i) stood                     (ii) were standing                      (iii) was standing                     (iv) were stood
(g) (i) seeing                   (ii) saw                                       (iii) was seeing                         (iv) seen
(h) (i) had come             (ii) was coming                          (iii) came                                  (iv) were came
(i) (i) hadread                 (ii) was reading                         (iii) were reading                       (iv) read
m (i) rushed                   (ii) was rushing                         (iii) were rushed                         (iv) rushing
(k) (i) had screamed      (ii) was screaming                     (iii) screamed                              (iv) were screaming


Another technique adopted by the writer is to use figures of speech such as a simile. A simile is used to express similarity between two things. e.g. He is as fast as lightning. The rain/ell heavily on the metal roof like a machine-gun. Similes usually start with 'like' or 'as'. 
Find two similes in the last section of the story. 


Now try to build your own similes for the following :

  1. The rock stood…
  2. The waves leapt…
  3. The sea shone …
  4. The sun set…
  5. The rain fell heavily …
  6. The birds soared …
  7. Dawn broke …
  8. The stars…
  9. The wind shook the trees …

Add other similes of your own and write them in your notebook. 


Imagine that you are conducting a research on the conservation of a few animal species in India. You have been asked by the Wildlife Trust of India to prepare a report on the future of the YAK that lives in the Ladakh region of the Himalayan mountains . In groups of four, discuss the issue and make notes for your report. Refer to the Question 2 and the information in the box given here. 

                          DOMESTIC YAK
herd animals 2-2.2 m tall
used in sports
kept for milk , fur , fibre , meat , drawing ploughs etc

                                  WILD YAK 
length:3-3. 4m 
habitat: treeless uplands 
killed for food 
insulated from cold by dense, close matted under hair , shaggy outer hair
hunted for similar reasons as the domestic ones

Within your group, discuss 
• What is the problem? How has it arisen? 
• What is the best way to preserve these species? 
• Why do we need to preserve these species? 
• What values need to be inculcated in the hearts of human beings? Why? 
• What actions would you recommend to the World Wildlife Federation? 
• How is global warming affecting these species? 


Why do you use the determiners? Match the determiners with their uses, using the clues given below:

  1. their; his; her; your;____  _________
  2. a few; a little; some;____  _________
  3. any ____  _________
  4. this; these; other___  _________
  5. two____  _________


Duties and privileges of an Environment Monitor.
e.g. You must ensure that the campus is clean.

Did you know?
should and ought to have similar meanings. They show obligation or duty. However there is a slight difference in meaning.
ought to has an objective meaning whereas should is more subjective.
We ought to / should save water.
We ought to save money but we are unable to. (In this sentence should will not be appropriate.).


On the basis of your reading of the extract, tick mark the most appropriate meaning for the given word : 

(i) Infatuated (Para 1} 
• fond
• influenced
• disliked
• addicted 

(ii) Melancholy (Para 2) 
• happy
• sad 
• worried
• disappointed 
(iii) Petrified (Para 6} 
• horrified
• motionless
• stunned
• anxious 
(iv) Gravity (Para 7} 
• mischievous
• seriousness
• joyfulness
• greatness 


Write a magazine article about both the boys, in which you bring out the similarities and differences in their lives. Use the table you completed in Question 3. Give your article a suitable title. Remember 'CODER'. 

Organise your article like this 

Paragraph 1 : Give their names and ages. Compare their families, parents and backgrounds. 
Paragraph 2 : Compare how each spends a typical day and their recreation/ hobbies. 
Paragraph 3 : Compare their hopes / dreams / ambitions and your assessment of their future. 


Each sentence has four words underlined. Select the one underlined word that is incorrect and write it in the box as shown.

  1. Machu Picchu is the pre-Columbian Inca site located 2430 mts above sea-level. [ The]
  2. It was situated on a mountain ridge in Peru. [_____]
  3. Machu Picchu was declared an UNESCO world heritage site in 1983.[_____]
  4. Before it was not plundered by the Spanish it is an important cultural site. [_____]
  5. This Peruvian historic sanctuary is considered a sacred place. [_____]

The song 'We Are the World' has been sung by many famous singers of the West. Do you know why it is called 'We Are the World'? Why was it recorded? What were the singers trying to do? Did they succeed? 

Student/ teacher can sing the song.

Listen to the song and check whether you have guessed right in Question 1.  Listen again until you are ready to sing along with it. 


Based on the information on your completed scorecard, write a short report for the Danapur local newspaper about the Annual Athletic Meet of the school. Remember 'CODER'. Some further advice ... 

• Give an interesting heading 
• By line (who has written the report) 
• Answer the 'WH' questions - Who? Why? When? Where? 
• Overall result 
• Aim of the Meet 


20 years from now, one of your class-mates becomes a famous sport-star. You have been asked to write his/her biography. Collect the necessary biographical details. Use your imagination to create his / her achievements in the sport concerned, and write the biography. Remember to write it in chronological order of events, and use the simple past tense as far as possible.


Adjectives and Prepositions
Look at the table below. Decide which of the adjectives in Column A commonly go with which preposition. Tick the table as shown. (There may be more then one tick for each adjective).

A at to about for
worried    
good        
bad        
surprised        
happy        
sensitive        
puzzled        
married        
clever        
suitable        
curious        
due        
qualified        
famous        

Edit the following magazine article about youth in sport.

The Great National Sports Talent Search (a) consist of workshops and tournaments arranged in (b) any different parts of (c) country. The talent scouts’ aim (d) are to look out for local talent in the age range of eight to eighteen years. Thus, it would be far (e) wise if young sportswomen and men (f) were help so that they have plenty of time to develop their talent. Sports academies normally only (g) having students whose talents (h) is already recognized. If India does not invest in sports it can not hope to perform well at the International level.

(a) (i) consisted
(ii) consists
(iii) is consisted
(iv) has consisted
(b) (i) much
(ii) few
(iii) little
(iv) many
(c) (i) the
(ii) these
(iii) an
(iv) some
(d) (i) is
(ii) being
(iii) has been
(iv) been
(e) (i) wisest
(ii) wiser
(iii) as wise as
(iv) too wise
(f) (i) were helped
(ii) were being helped
(iii) are helped
(iv) helped
(g) (i) are having
(ii) owning
(iii) have
(iv) has
(h) (i) are
(ii) has been
(iii) are being
(iv) have been

Share
Notifications

Englishहिंदीमराठी


      Forgot password?
Use app×