Question

Read the following passage and do the activities:

B1. Complete the following sentences:  (2)

1. Meena stayed alone as ______.
2. Meena had the habit of ______.
3. The narrator was caught in ______.
4. Seeing Meena the narrator's first reaction was ______.

That was Meena. She stayed alone in an apartment as her parents lived in Delhi. She was an only child and had the habit of complaining about anything and everything. Naturally, she wasn't very pleasant company and nobody wanted to visit her. Then one day, Meena was transferred to Bombay and soon we all forgot about her. Many years later, I found myself caught in the rain at Bombay's Flora Fountain. It was pouring and I didn't have an umberella. I was standing near Akbarallys, a popular department store, waiting for the rain to subside. Suddenly, I spotted Meena. My first reaction was to run, even in that pouring rain. I was anxious to avoid being seen by her, having to listen to her never-ending complaints. However, I couldn't escape. She had already seen me and caught hold of my band warmly, What's more, she was very cheerful.

B2. Describe Meena's character.  (2)

B3. Find similar words:  (2)

1. pleasant
2. Heavy rainfall
3. well known
4. noticed

B4. Do as Directed:  (2)

(i) She wasn't a very pleasant company.  (Choose the correct question tag)

1. did she?
2. can she?
3. can't she?
4. was she?

(ii) I spotted Meena.   (Rewrite the sentence beginning with 'Meena....')

B5. Personal Response:  (2)

In your opinion, how should a friend be?

Answer 1

B1. 

1. Meena stayed alone as she stayed away from her parents who lived in Delhi.
2. Meena had the habit of complaining about anything and everything.
3. The narrator was caught in the rain at Bombay’s Flora Fountain.
4. Seeing Meena the narrator's first reaction was to run, even in the pouring rain.

B2. Meena was the sole child of her parents. She stayed alone away from her parents. She had a tendency to bemoan anything and anything. Nobody ever visited her as a result because she was unpleasant company.

B3. 

1. pleasant - enjoyable
2. Heavy rainfall - downpour
3. well known - famous
4. noticed - observe

B4. 

1. She wasn’t a very pleasant company, was she?
2. Meena was spotted by me.

B5. A friend, in my opinion, should be someone who is supporting and encouraging. They must be truthful and trustworthy. When one is feeling down, they should be able to make one grin. They should also refrain from passing judgement.