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...........On Their Slag Heap, These Children Wear Skins Peeped Through by Bones and Spectacles of Steel - English Core

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Question

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:    

...........On their slag heap, these children
Wear skins peeped through by bones and spectacles of steel
With mended glass, life bottle bits on stones. 
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) Explain: 'slag heap'.
(c) What future awaits these children?
(d) Name the figure of speech used in the third line.
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Solution

a. The lines have been taken from the poem 'An Elementary Classroom in a Slum by Stephen Spender.
b. By slag heap, the poet refers to the malnourished and emaciated bodies of the children. The ashen pallor of their bodies, owing to the poor conditions of living, makes the comparison to slag leaves appropriate.
c. The poet hopes for a bright future for the kids. The poet hopes the authorities would realize their moral responsibilities and free these children from their grave-like entrapments (catacomb – cave). He wants all the barriers to be pulled down; barriers that keep away true education from them.
d. In the third line, a similie has been used. 

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Reading Skills
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2017-2018 (March) All India Set 1

RELATED QUESTIONS

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. 

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