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Question
State the central issue in the poem.
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Solution
The central issue dwells around the ironical fact that when a person is in search of shelter, the questions being asked are based on his skin colour and not the usual queries exchanged like that of the rent, the amenities provided, and other basic requirements in an apartment. The landlady is shown to have possessed a very shallow racist behaviour in the poem and ironically, the poet is shown to be sorry for something which he was born with. Discrepancies between what appears to be and what really creates a sense of verbal irony that helps the poem display the ridiculousness of racism.
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RELATED QUESTIONS
A1. Order
Arrange the following sentences in the chronological order as they appear in the passage:
(i) On celebrations, parents can invest Rs. 200 and plant a sapling of a tree representing the child’s birth star.
(ii) He wants to create Brihat Panchvati.
(iii) He has been able to increase the areas of the Pavitra VanaVana.
(iv) Plans are afoot to create a Saptaswara forest.
Today, Reddy is one of the most well - known environment specialists in India. With his influence, he has been able to increase the areas of the Pavitra Vana and has plans to bring about awareness of Puranic trees and flowers for the knowledge of the Indian citizen.
He wants to create near the Pavitra Vana, a Brihat Panchavati so that parents can show their children the forest where Shakuntala lived or Sita spent her final days. There will also be a hillock where people can meditate. Plans are also afoot create a Saptaswara forest, pertaining to different ragas in music. Scientists have found that certain plants react in a particular way to different ragas. So in such a forest, when a musician performs certain ragas, the plants will reach in such a manner that it will benefit the audience, the musician and the whole environment. The other idea is an ecopark for children. On celebrations, like birthdays, parents can invest Rs. 200 and plant a sapling of a tree representing the child's birth star. The plant will also carry the child's name. The Pavitra Vana also houses a garden of Prophet Mohammed, which has some plants mentioned in the Holy Quran. There is the date plant - sacred to Islam - and the Mimosops elengi, the latter a highly fragrant variety. There is also the garden of Eden for housing plants sacred to Christianity, but the Pavitra Vana authorities have to procure most of them in the new sections.
A2. Find specialities
Write down the specialities of the following:
(i) Brihat Panchavati: ........................ ..... . .
(ii) Saptaswara Forest: ..................... ..... .............. . .
(iii) Eco-park: ..................................... . .
(iv) A garden of Prophet Mohammed:
A3. Antonyms Find antonyms for the following words from the passage:
(i) same
(ii) decrease
(iii) destroy
(iv) lost
A4. Language study
(i) He wants to create near the Pavitra Vana, a Brihat Panchavati. [Pick out an infinitive from the given line and use it in your own sentence]
(ii) Reddy is one of the most well-known environment specialists in India. [Begin with: Very few ………]
A5. Personal Response
Do you think one person alone can create an awareness towards environment conservation ? Support, your answer with appropriate reasons.
Read the passage and complete the activities given below
B1 Complete the table :
A few facts about the Mehendi rituals during marriage ceremonies are given below :
Write them into appropriate columns :
(i) A simple family affair.
(ii) Song and dance performances accompanied by lavish food and entertainment.
(iii) Creative family members, apply Mehendi to the bride.
(iv) Beauticians are appointed to apply Mehendi to the bride.
Fill in the table as :
| Yesteryears | Present times |
| (i) | (i) |
| (ii) | (ii) |
Mehendi enjoys special attention during the wedding. In India, the day before the wedding is devoted exclusively to the elaborate ritual of applying Mehendi on the hands and feet of the bride. This practice is followed in Arab countries as well, except that it is held a few days prior to the wedding day. Songs are woven around the healing properties and lucky omens associated with mehndi are sung by the bride’s family and friends. An age-old belief handed down to generations lays great emphasis on the color of the bride’s Mehendi – a darker color suggests bountiful love and affection from the future in-laws and husband, and for this reason, brides take the pain to ensure that only the best quality henna is used for her wedding day.
The ritual of adorning the bride with henna is a sacred one and in some communities requires the initiation by the mother-in-law. A popular game during marriage function is the search for their names, by the bride and groom hidden within the elaborate pattern on the bride’s hands.
In certain parts of India, the bridegroom has his hands decorated with henna. The Mehendi function during marriages has evolved from simple family affairs of yesteryears to elaborate events of today. A lavish spread of food and entertainment in the form of song and dance performances have transformed it from a small function to a gala prelude. In earlier days, the task of applying Mehendi on the bride was the sole prerogative of creative family members. The demand for intricate and different style now, sees this job outsourced to beauticians skilled in this art. Beauty salons charge according to the style and complexity of pattern desired by the clients.
B2 What is the age-old belief related to the bride’s Mehendi color and its significance?
B3 Find the words :
Find the words from the passage :
| Noun | Verd | Adjectives |
| (i) attention | attend | _______________ |
| (ii) creation | _________________ | creative |
A lot of money is spent nowadays on marriage ceremonies. What is your opinion about it?
Read the following extract and complete the activities given below :
A1 Compare the old and new house and complete the table :
| Points | Old House | New House |
| Surrounding | razzle-dazzle | – |
| Size of the house | – | big |
I was thirteen, the year we moved to the Cantonment at Allahabad. In stark contrast to the razzle-dazzle of the city’s commercial areas like Katra and Chowk, the Cantonment was a quiet, orderly place with broad tree-lined roads that still carried the names of long-dead Britishers. Our bungalow was on a sleepy by-lane called MacPherson Road. When we first saw it, my brothers and I were delighted. It was by far the biggest house we had ever lived in. The task of furnishing those huge, echoing rooms daunted mother.
“Is a slightly smaller house not available?” she asked father, “We do not have enough curtains for this place. And the furniture seems a little inadequate. Why did they have to plan the kitchen at such a distance from the dining-room? It is like doing a route march. And who is going to help me keep this place clean and dusted?”
Her misgivings and objections were undoubtedly valid. But, seeing our crestfallen faces, she sighed and gave in. We made extravagant promises to help in the household chores. Keep our rooms tidy. Put away our toys and books. She smiled with amused disbelief, her mind already working out how many meters of curtain-cloth would be needed and so on.
A2 Complete :
Complete the following list of objections that the mother had with the new house :
(i) Inadequate _______
(ii) Do not have _______
(iii) Kitchen at a distance from _______
(iv) A very big _______
A3 Personal response:
Do you agree with the objections raised by the mother? Explain.
The narrative has many phrases to describe the scenic beauty of the mountainside like:
A flawless half-moon flated in a perfect blue sky.
Scan the text to locate other such picturesque phrases.
Tick the item that is closest in meaning to the following phrase.
to be wound up
Comment on the graphic detail with which the various passengers who took Iona's cab are described.
Explain the line:
Within a week it sickened to a raging fever and its pulse went up to a hundred and fifty in the shade.
Explain the significance of the lines ‘I tie this Ridin creeper To fasten your soul to your body.’
How did the author feel about her mother's passion to make her a dancer?
Read the following statement and mark those that apply to you.
I have a small group of close friends and have no wish to interact with anyone else.
Think and answer in your own words.
Why is the street light compared to a one-red-eyed-giant?
The tongue justifies the possession of the spectacles on behalf of the nose. Pick up the expressions from the poem that argues in favour of the Nose and complete the following web diagram.
Find out from a vet or from a website, what precaution a vet has to take when he/she is called to treat wild, dangerous animals?
Make point-wise notes of the same.
Human beings can learn from honey bees ______.
Say WHY. . . . . .
Mother agreed to send Ramanujan to England.
Draw a diagram to show a volcanic eruption from its description given in this passage. Label the diagram. Show the following in it :
Volcano; earth’s crust; crack in the earth’s crust; hot molten rock; red, hot lava; smoke; ash; burning chunks of rock.
What changes in the stage setting would you suggest.
Discuss and write 1-2 lines about the following.
Yonamine’s fight with Bushi (disguised as a bandit).
What time is being described in the poem?
Write a short note on the following:
Sujata’s offering
Read the passage and answer the following:
Who is the main character in the story?
Write a character sketch of each of the animals. Write about their actions and thoughts and the qualities that emerge through them. You may present the sketch in the form of a graphic.
Explain the use of the following property in the development of the play.
An envelope containing the letter
What do you like better - the original poem or the parody? Why?
Think of a play/skit which you have seen enacted on the stage and which has impressed you. Write the following details about it.
| Name of the play/skit: | ______________ |
| Important characters: | ______________ |
| Any famous actors/actresses: | ______________ |
| Theme: | ______________ |
| Climax: | ______________ |
| Ending: | ______________ |
| Use of lights and special effects if any: | ______________ |
| Use of background music and sound effects if any: | ______________ |
| Use of sets: | ______________ |
| The costumes, make up, etc. of the characters: | ______________ |
| How well the actors present the play and behave on the stage: | ______________ |
| Your own opinion about the play: | ______________ |
Read ‘The Story of the Amulet’ by E. Nesbit.
Write in your own words.
How does the poet describe his home in the second stanza?
Listen carefully and guess how the sentence would end.
This step is broken. Please be ______.
List 5 of the sounds that you like.
Find the meaning of the following word.
abused
List all the words and phrases in this story that indicate 'time'.
Identify the character or speaker.
I will soon move you.
Identify the character or speaker
He repented and implored his brother’s forgiveness.
Does Chulong want to earn money honestly?
Write a paragraph on ‘The Grumble Family’ and their attitude towards other folks.
From the poem ‘The Grumble Family’ what kind of behavior does the poet want the readers to possess?
Pick out the other examples for alliteration from the poem.
Read the comic strip and answer the following question.
What do you mean by cyber safety?
He woke up very late in the morning.
The captain presented a gift to Vasantha because ______
What did Grandmother feel about trees growing in the house?
What does the tamarind give?
Complete the mind map given below
Work in pair, find answer for the question and share in the class.
Name the seasons mentioned in the poem?
How did the third daughter use the grain?
What was the epidemic that broke out in the story?
Did Tabaqui receive a warm welcome from the pack of wolves? How do you know?
Robot asked Vicky to sell him to an ______ master.
Name the character or speaker.
"You want me to strain my back?"
What was the age of Robinson Crusoe when he left for sea?
People ran off when the seawater receded.
Circle and write the adverbs.
Suddenly the old man fainted. ______
Name the character or speaker.
"Why does Nandhini look so sad?"
What did the grandfather announce?
Read the passage and colour one bag each time you read.
There lived a poor but an honest farmer in a village. He supported himself, his wife and seven children using his small piece of land.
One day while he was walking in his field, he found a bag of gold.
He took it home and showed it to his wife. His wife told him to keep some of the gold. He told his wife that honesty is the best policy. He tried to find the person who lost it. At last, he found that the owner of the bag and gave it back. The rich man took the bag and thanked him.
The Delhi government did not allow blind children to study Science after ____________.
Why does the poet feel that the nose is a funny thing?
Activity: Live English: Packs, packets, pouches, wrappers
Given above is the picture of an imaginary food item’s packet. Let us see how to ‘read’ the matter on the packet as a vigilant consumer.
- Look at the wrapper and complete the sentences.
- The name of the food item is ______.
- It is made by ______.
- It is a ______ food item. (Veg/Non-veg)
- The ______ sign indicates whether it is a Veg or Non-veg food item.
- The ingredients are ______, ______, ______, ______.
- The date of packing is ______ and the expiry date is ______.
- It should be consumed before ______ from the date of manufacturing.
- Try and obtain more information about the various symbols printed on the packet.
- Discuss the following -
- Why the ‘recipe’ is given on the packet.
- Why the packet tells us to visit the website of the company.
- What ideas are used to make the packet attractive?
- How you will verify whether something is good for you to eat.
