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Question
Look for some more poems in the rain and see how this one is different from them.
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Solution
(1) ‘The Rainy Day’ by Rabindranath Tagore.
(2) ‘Song for the Rainy Season’ by Elizabeth Bishop
(3) ‘An Autumn Rain-Scene’ by Thomas Hardy
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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.
A1. Choose two sentences that appropriately mention the theme of the passage :
(1) The extract deals with the writer’s concern over Chaitanya's handicap.
(2) The extract depicts the writer’s proud feelings towards her son’s achievement.
(3) The extract deals with how Chaitanya made the writer see positively towards life.
(4) The extract deals with how the writer helps Chaitanya to buy the bus ticket.
Early in 1997-98, when he returned from state-level inter-school sports, he had two prizes to his credit and a silver medal. He had won his laurels in athletic events and the silver medal in a running race.
When I saw the prizes and read the citation Chaitanya had received, I was stupefied, in total disbelief, then–hugged him, kissed him and cried unabashedly to my heart’s content. That day, I cried for the first time out of joy and a sense of being vindicated. Without practice, he had competed with approximately 1,800 children drawn from various schools all over the state. He was subsequently selected for the marathon race, but he could not participate due to a health problem. “Maybe next year, he would”, I assured myself. And I, as his proud mother, would proudly chronicle his future achievements and success to inspire other - mothers of the world.
Looking back at my own life, I feel that it is the spirit with which we can accept our life gracefully is what
matters ultimately; and it is love that nourishes us. All other things are unimportant. Chaitanya has made me look inwards. His handicap doesn’t disturb me any longer. He and I shall live with it and still be happy. The mental strength which he has given to me is inexhaustible.
One day, as both of us got onto a public transport bus, Chaitanya offered to buy the tickets for us.
“One full, one half ”, he said to the conductor beaming with joy.
Looking at him, I wondered whether he was really only a half? An incomplete person? Was I really full?
Complete in all respects? Why do then normal people feel that they are ‘full’ and others like Chaitanya are ‘half’ or incomplete? Chaitanya’s world is complete in itself, pure and innocent while our lives are full of deceit, jealousies, ill-feelings.
A2. Point out -
Point out two instances where you find Chaitanya's victory over his disability.
A3. Give reasons -
Chaitanya’s silver medal in a running race was very special for the writer, because :
(i) __________________
(ii) __________________
A4. Vocabulary -
Match the pairs of the words in column ‘A’ with their meanings in column ‘B’:
| Column ‘A’ | Column ‘B’ | ||
| (1) | stupefied | (a) | official statement about the special act of courage |
| (2) | chronicle | (b) | record events in the order they happened |
| (3) | vindicated | (c) | surprised or shocked |
| (4) | citation | (d) | justified |
A5. Personal response -
Explain, your views about the ill-treatment the special children receive in society.
A6. Grammar -
Rewrite the following sentences in the ways instructed :
(i) He had won his laurels in athletic events and the silver medal in a running race.
(Rewrite the sentence using ‘not only...but also’.)
(ii) When I saw the prizes, I was stupefied.
(Rewrite the sentence using ‘No sooner.... than’.)
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.
What could these persons have done?
The poet refers to a dying fire. Who were sitting beside it and why?
Why did the men keep back their sticks?
What arc the poetic devices used in Maya Angelou’s poem “Caged Bird”?
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 amswer the question that follow.
How did the leader come and go?
Explain briefly how Abou Ben Adhem demonstrated his love for God.
Discuss how the author uses comic irony to describe the incident surrounding the statue?
What is the theme of all summer in a day by Ray Bradbury?
What is the theme of all summer in a day by Ray Bradbury?
(A) I am afraid you cannot get admission to the college without clearing the admission test.
(B) I am afraid you cannot be……………….
The best candidate should be appointed________the post.
Write a composition (350 - 400 words) on the following:
Write an original short story that begins with the words : “The day started off well enough, whoever thought it would ……….”
You walk home from school one afternoon to find the door unlocked and on entering you are shocked to see the house in total disarray. You call out but get no answer. Describe in detail what you saw, the reason behind your house being in total disarray and how you found your family. Mention also how the experience ended and what impact it had on your life.
Fill in the blank with an appropriate word:
He was …….. pressure to complete the work.
Inspite of having high fever the girl came to school...
(Begin: Despite ……………..)
Break time (recess) at your school is only for a duration of fifteen minutes. Write a letter to your Principal requesting an extension in the break-time from fifteen minutes to half an hour. Give reasons for your request and explain in what way an extended break would make a difference to you as a student.
Since her childhood, Meera has been good in Mathematics.
(End: ............................ childhood)
It is dangerous as well as illegal to drive a motorcycle without a helmet. (Begin: It is not ................................................. )
We have come across words like 'gale' and 'storm' in the account. Here are two more words for 'storm': typhoon, cyclone. How many words does your language have for 'storm'?
‘Catamaran’ is a kind of a boat. Do you know which Indian language this word is derived from? Check the dictionary.
Find out the correlates of Yin and Yang in other cultures.
You have not received your Roll Number card for the Class XII examination. Write a letter to the Registrar, Examination Branch, CBSE asking for it.
Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper expressing your views on the deteriorating law and order situation in your city.
A sadist is a person who gets pleasure out of giving pain to others.
Given below are some dictionary definitions of certain kinds of persons.
Find out the words that fit these descriptions.
1. A person who considers it very important that things should be correct or genuine e.g. in the use of language or in the arts: P...
2. A person who believes that war and violence are wrong and will not fight in a war: P...
3.A person who believes that nothing really exists: N...
4. A person who is always hopeful and expects the best in all things: O...
5. A person who follows generally accepted norms of behaviour: C...
6. A person who believes that material possessions are all that matter in life: M...
The author's comment on crime and punishment.
Find out the information about the qualification and eligibility required in the profession related to wild life such as:
Wildlife photographer
Find out the information about the qualification and eligibility required in the profession related to wildlife such as:
Tour Manager
Use the phrase in a sentence of your own, after finding out its meaning.
blast off
Write the appreciation of the poem.
- About the poem/poet/title
- Theme
- Poetic devices, language, style
- Special features/novelties/focusing elements
- Values, message
- Your opinion about the poem
Gather information about the following insects. Draw their images or get pictures. On one sheet each, fix the image/picture and below it write the information. Compile these pages and make a file of ‘Insects - our friends’.
Insects: Bee/Praying mantis/Butterfly Beetle/Wasp/Dragon-fly
Note down ways in which you can make your life less ordinary in terms of nurturing relationships.
Read the following note from a school girl’s diary:
|
Miss Fernandes is our new class teacher. She is slim and fit even at the age of 50. With her grey hair, spectacles, and plain formal clothes, she looks so strict! But we discovered that her classes can be great fun. We begin each class with a simple two-minute game or activity. Today we had to write as many words beginning with 'a' as we could, within 60 seconds. I wrote 50! I got a pot on my back for making 'the best effort'! I feel on top of the world. |
Write diary entries for the interesting or important events that take place in your school. Write at least 3 entries.
Find the meaning of ‘anticlimax’.
Write what you think about the following thoughts and actions of Mathilde :
Mathilde told her friend about the lost necklace.
Think and respond with ‘YES’ or ‘NO’.
When you are faced with a very serious problem or some grave danger, what do you experience?
| Your feelings | panic | |
| wishing you were never born | ||
| hopelessness | ||
| helplessness | ||
| no emotion | ||
| calmness and composure | ||
| willingness to tackle it | ||
| Your reactions | break down and cry | |
| run away and hide | ||
| pray to God | ||
| ask for help | ||
| build up courage | ||
| take it as a challenge |
Now read the beginning and end of a sci-fi story given below and complete the story using your imagination.
|
‘The Magic Glasses’ After ten years of diligent experimenting on ‘light’, Jayant, a brilliant scientist, created a pair of eye-glasses which would enable him to see through all opaque objects, doors, walls, metal structures, etc. On Monday, he put on his ‘magic’ glasses and stepped into the busy street outside ____________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ And so, Jayant received the ‘State Award for Brave Citizens’ _____________________________________________ |
Write a letter to your Class Teacher or the Principal of your school to make any one of the two following requests.
You wish to start a news bulletin for your school/ class. It will be a one-page bulletin to be published every week. A different group of students will manage the preparation of the bulletin every time.
Write a short essay on the following.
What I would like to do for my country.
You are a volunteer in your locality to serve people who are affected by floods. How will you caution them to move to a safer place taking only their bare necessities? Describe.
Write a letter of enquiry for the following.
Your a librarian in a newly established school. Write a letter to the book dealer inquiring about the list of newly arrived English children's story books and various subject books relevant to 10-14 age groups.
Make a diary entry on the impact of a sports personality who is an inspiration to you.
Note
- Date your entry.
- Write naturally and truthfully.
- Use first person. (I read about Mithali, I like her playing style, etc.,)
- Make your entry informal and expressive.
- Use words that express feelings and write what you feel about it.
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.
- Find out how many people are there in our country.
- Do we have enough land for all people on this earth?
- Is there enough food and water for all people?
Malu lived with Malu’s parents in the North Pole. Malu had great fun with Malu’s seagull friends.
One day Malu’s father told Malu that the hunters had come to trap Malu and Malu’s family. Malu knew how to hide very well. Malu shut Malu’s eyes and curled up like a ball of snow.
The hunter searched for Malu and Malu's family everywhere but in vain.
We can avoid repeating the names by using certain other words in their place. Study the table below.
| Singular | Plural | |
| person speaking | I, me | we, us |
| person spoken to | you | you |
| other persons | he, him, she, her. | they, |
| places, things | it | them. |
Now rewrite the above paragraph using words from the above table.
Find one word from the story that means
happy d ______.
Complete the following stories by using an appropriate word from the box given below –
| my, his, he, your |
Sitting on a tree a crow was enjoying a piece of bread. A hungry fox wanted to have that bread. said very sweetly, “Dear brother, I've heard that ______ voice is very sweet. Please sing a song for me.” The foolish crow opened ______ beak and the piece of bread fell down. The fox picked it up in ______ mouth and ran away.
The grandmother was strong-minded. Justify
‘Seeing is believing’. How is this humorously disproved in this story? Bring out the irony in the situation.
Given below is a list of tools and equipment. Associate them with the appropriate profession and complete the table.
plough, hammer, oven, thermometer, voltmeter, wood, chisel, seed drill, voltage, detector, cutting boards, stone picker, spatula, cultivator, nail puller, wire strippers, framing square, fork, flashlight
| Farmer | Carpenter | Electrician | Chef |
| plough | hammer | ||
Are children afraid of visiting the dentist? Give reasons.
Write conversation on the following situation.
Between two friends about the uses of the internet
What would make Jack the owner instead of being the tenant?
Discuss the following and write the summary of your discussion in the form of bullet points.
- How are certain ideas/customs/knowledge passed on from one generation to the next?
- Is it necessary for children to follow the footsteps of their forefathers? If yes, why? Why is it sometimes necessary to change the old ways?
What might success mean to the following people? Think about it and write.
A student
What leads Mathew Arnold to tell his beloved, “Ah, love, let us be true’, in the last stanza of the poem, The Dover Beach? Write your answer in a short paragraph of 100-150 words.
Write a composition (in approximately 400 – 450 words) on the following subject.
Life
