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Question
Notice these expressions in the poem and guess their meaning from the context:
| rancid breath | squelching tar |
| spectroscopic flight of fancy | |
| rearing on the thunderclap | brunette |
| peroxide blonde | clinical assent |
| raven black |
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Solution
- rancid breath: Rancid means a matter which is offensive or disagreeable. Thus, the voice in which the lady speaks to the poet is under an immensely nasty or insulting breath.
- squelching tar: The verb squelch means to strike or press with crushing force. Thus, the expression used here is that of a huge amount of compressed tar, the dark coloured product obtained after distillation of coal or wood, expressing the complexion of the poet.
- spectroscopic flight of fancy: The word spectroscopy originated from the concept of dispersion of visible light into seven different colours. Thus, the word explains the dispersed flow of thoughts of the lady after talking to the erudite poet. Her fancies of a “dark” man gained wings and attained new levels of interpretations when she had to submit to the fact that she knew lesser than the person on the other side of the line.
- rearing on the thunderclap: A thunderclap refers to something resembling the sudden occurrence of a thunder, as in loudness or unexpectedness.
- brunette: Brunette here refers to dark hair and, often, dark eyes and darkish or olive skin.
- peroxide blonde: This expression refers to a harsh or unnaturally bleached palm and sole of feet rather than a natural fair complexion. Peroxide is a chemical which is used as a bleaching agent.
- clinical assent: The voice of the lady in the poem seemed clinical while assenting to the poet's revelation. It refers to the concerned voice based on a vivid and actual observation of the poet, giving in to the situation after a lot of thought and inspection.
- raven black: Here, raven black is a metaphorical expression to describe the intensity of the colour black. Raven is supposedly a very large, dark-complexioned bird of the crow family. This metaphor is usually used to describe dark-skinned people.
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Read the following passage and do the activities:
B1 Match:
Match the areas given in Column ‘A’ with the description of Mehendi design given in Column ‘B’:
| 'A' | 'B" | ||
| (i) | North African | (a) | A mix of Indo-Pakistani and Arabic design |
| (ii) | Indian | (b) | Delicate loops and curves, paisleys, teardrops |
| (iii) | Arabic | (c) | Geometrical images |
| (iv) | South Asian | (d) | Local textiles, paintings, and architecture |
Henna comes from the leaves of the plant Lawsonia inertias. The plant grows in hot and dry climes and is native to North Africa, the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East. The leaves of the plant are dried and crushed to powder. Various additives such as coffee decoction, tea, lime juice, Mehendi and eucalyptus oil are mixed with the henna powder to increase the potency of the dry, this also helps to bind the powder to a paste-like consistency. The mixture is applied through cones in intricate patterns depending on the region of use.
Album of Patterns
Four major styles can be found in the vast dictionary of Mehendi designs. Earlier the application was restricted to hand and feet, but the adoption of Mehendi by different cultures throughout the world has seen experimentation on different body parts including the neck naval and back.
North African patterns rely on geometrical images to trace the shape of hands and feet, Arabic designs borrow heavily from local textiles, paintings, and architecture. These are more spaced out, to allow the design to stand out boldly from the skin parts left untouched by henna. The Indian style comprises of delicate loops and curves, paisleys, teardrops and flowers that give a dainty filigreed glow-like effect. Though intricate patterning is the name of the game today, this trend took off in India only during the 20th century. The patterns preferred by the South Asian countries are mixed with Indo-Pakistani and Arabic design schemes. Chinese and Celtic symbols now find a place in the vast repertoire of Mehendi designs as well.
B2 Complete:
Complete the following and write:
(i) The procedure before applying henna _______
(ii) The reasons for using additives _______
(iii) The suitable climatic conditions for the henna plant _______
(iv) Mehendi is used on _______
B3 Find words:
Look at the following description and find out proper words from the passage and write:
(i) Existing naturally in the place : - n _______
(ii) Consist of something: - c _______
(iii) Delicate decoration made from gold, silver and copper wire: - f _______
(iv) Substance that is added in small quantity : - a _______
B4 Language study:
Fill in the blanks with suitable subordinators given in the box:
| as well as, so that, however, which |
(i) The mixture is applied through cones in intricate patterns _______ depend on the region of use.
(ii) The intricate pattern is the name of the game of today _______, this trend took off in India, recently.
(iii) North African pattern relies on geometrical images ______ they can trace the shape of hands and feet.
(iv) The patterns preferred by the South Asian countries are mixed with Indo-Pakistani _______ Arabic design schemes.
B5 Personal Response:
Which Mehendi design do you like? Why?
Tick the statement that is true.
The places mentioned in the story are all imaginary.
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to give vent to
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Make groups and discuss the following:
Did they themselves suffer from those problems/setbacks?
Answer in your own words.
What did Revathi discover about her balsam plants?
Think and answer in your own words.
What exactly does the speaker in the poem crave for?
Make a list of the preparations made for an assault on Tiger Hill.
Bofors guns _____________.
The two best things the servants brought to God were gold and jewel stones.
Correct the following statement.
Sue and Johnsy were good neighbours.
Correct the following statement.
The last leaf was a real leaf that survived.
Say WHY. . . . . .
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Fill in the gap, choosing a word from the bracket to make an appropriate comparison.
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- crown
- round
- draw
- blind
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Stick
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How long does the whole event described in this passage take? Work it out by reading the passage.
Find the meaning of the following words or phrases :
- ridges
- brimming
- eddying
- babble
- fallow
- trout
- netted
List the phrases which have the expression 'many a ______'.
Name the following.
Did not let the passes go waste.
Read the word. Write the words that combine to make it.
gentle-hearted
Find two examples of the following from the lesson.
A Statement
What is ‘e-mail’ or electronic mail?
Guess the meaning of the following word.
beautify
How did the bird try to reach its parents without having to fly?
Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus, Ibn Battuta, Amerigo Vespucci, Xuanzang, Ferdinand Magellan, Bartolomeu Dias, Herodotus, Captain James Cook, Vasco De Gama.
What is common among these individuals? Browse Internet or refer books and share some information about them.
"That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." Neil Armstrong - Discuss
Read the following line from the poem and answer the question given below.
Nothing goes right with the folks you meet
Down on that gloomy Complaining Street.
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And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow rover.
What kind of human company does the poet want?
Vasantha made a lot of noise because ______
The turtles use their flippers and make a hollow for their nests.
Read the lines and answer the questions given below.
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in a blaze of heat with
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and dusty feet
- Does the poet welcome the summer? How do you know?
- Which line tells you that there is no rain in summer?
What is the setting of the story?
Imagine you are the girl and give a different ending to the story.
How can we make our nation proud?
Jaswant was helped by __________ tribal girls.
Identify the character/speaker.
"Grow the fish at home, Anbu."
Who is the hero of this story?
Answer the following yes or no question.
Did all visit the waterfall?
Who brought us to this world?
Leafcutter ants can carry leaves that weigh ______ times of their body weight.
Tenzin’s family first lived in ______.
Every year the children visit the______.
______will often say to be honest.
Who lived in the old house?
Nithin's mom said that Bala's father is a ______ magician.
Write the word with same meaning.
pants- ______
What does she paint?
Write the word with same meaning.
Flat
Why did he rub the circle again and again?
Who are already awake?
How did the jackal become blue?
Bertha was very good but very proud too.
