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The significance of reading an autobiography lies in drawing lessons from another life. What is the significance of Kumudini's account for us as readers?

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The significance of reading an autobiography lies in drawing lessons from another life. What is the significance of Kumudini's account for us as readers?

Answer in Brief
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Solution

We as readers can understand many core issues of life by going through the account of Kumudini. Her training in dance in her initial years teach us the lesson that learning any art form requires dedication and hard work. It needs rigour to acquire the skills. Her account of going to the dance teacher's house show her sheer dedication to the art.

We can know about the value of discipline when Kumudini talks of her teachers in Queen Mary's college, Lahore. According to Kumudini, discipline in one's daily routine does bring discipline in thinking. This is really inspiring for the readers.

Kumudini's account of her days with guru Ram Gopal is inspiring. We can learn the lesson that one needs to perfect the technique with which one begins to experiment.

Her account teaches us that one should learn to adjust with a group of different personalities as in a family and a performance on the stage.

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Chapter 3.7: Bridges - Appreciation [Page 197]

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NCERT English Woven Words (Elective) Class 11
Chapter 3.7 Bridges
Appreciation | Q 1 | Page 197

RELATED QUESTIONS

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

The term dietary fibres refers collectively to indigestible carbohydrates present in plant foods. The importance of these dietary fibres came into the picture when it was observed that the people having diet rich in these fibres, had low incidence of coronary heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome, dental caries and gall stones.

The foodstuffs rich in these dietary fibres are cereals and grains, legumes, fruits with seeds, citrus fruits, carrots, cabbage, green leafy vegetables, apples, melons, peaches, pears etc.

These dietary fibres are not digested by the enzymes of the stomach and the small intestine whereas most of other carbohydrates like starch and sugar are digested and absorbed. The dietary fibres have the property of holding water and because of it, these get swollen and behave like a sponge as these pass through the gastrointestinal tract. The fibres add bulk to the diet and increase transit time in the gut. Some of these fibres may undergo fermentation in the colon.

In recent years, it has been considered essential to have some amount of fibres in the diet. Their beneficial effects lie in preventing coronary heart disease, and decreasing cholesterol level. The fibres like gums and pectin are reported to decrease postprandial (after meals) glucose level in blood. These types of dietary fibres are recommended for the management of certain types of diabetes. Recent studies have shown that the fenugreek (Methi) seeds, which contain 40 per cent gum, are effective in decreasing blood glucose and cholesterol levels as compared to other gum containing vegetables.

Some dietary fibres increase transit time and decrease the time of release of ingested food in colon. The diet having less fibres is associated with colon cancer and the dietary fibres may play a role in decreasing the risk of it.

The dietary fibres hold water so that stools are soft, bulky and readily eliminated. Therefore high fibre intake prevents or relieves constipation.

The fibres increase motility of the small intestine and the colon and by decreasing the transit time there is less time for exposure of the mucosa to harmful toxic substances. Therefore, there is a less desire to eat and the energy intake can be maintained within the range of requirement. This phenomenon helps in keeping a check on obesity. Another reason in helping to decrease obesity is that the high-fibre diets have somewhat lower coefficients of digestibility.

The dietary fibres may have some adverse effects on nutrition by binding some trace metals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and others and therefore preventing their proper absorption. This may pose a possibility of nutritional deficiency especially when diets contain marginal levels of mineral elements. This may become important constraints on increasing dietary fibres. It is suggested that an intake of 40 grams dietary fibres per day is desirable.

(Extracted from ‘The Tribune’)

(a) On the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes on it in points only, using recognizable abbreviations wherever necessary. Also suggest a suitable title. (5)

(b) Write a summary of the above in about 80 words. (3)


Read the following passage carefully and complete the activities given below: 
B.1)  Order :
Rearrange the following sentences in proper order:
(i)
Hanmant joined engineering.
(ii) Hanmant got his Diploma and secured a job in Philips.
(iii) Hanmant migrated to Pune when he was in class VI.
(iv) Hanmant took up a painting job to earn. 

            Hanmant Gaikwad was born in Koregaon in Satara district.
            “My native place is Rahimatpur, around 10 km from Koregaon. My father was a clerk in the court and we lived in a small, rented house.”
            Hanmant was a brilliant student especially good in mathematics. When he was in class six, the family shifted to Pune. They lived in Phugewadi near Dapodi in a tiny one-room house-10 by 10 feet. At this point, Hanmant realized the difference between himself and those who had money.
            Hanmant was then studying at Modern High School. He needed one rupee to buy a bus ticket to and from the everyday. Even that was hard to come by.
           Despite the hardships, Hanmant secured 88% in class 10. Hanmant completed his diploma and joined Philips as a trainee. But he wasn’t happy with the work he got there.
           The natural choice for a diploma engineer is to go for a B.Tech. But engineering colleges charge hefty fees. At the time, the family’s only source of income was a teacher’s salary of Rs. 2,300 a month……….
           And then I decided to also do some earning. “Khud Ka Kamana Chalu Kiya”.
          Hanmant took up painting jobs and quickly discovered it was excellent business.
          The young engineering student paid his own fees from the third year onwards. But his lifestyle remained frugal.
         Life was getting better, but Hanmant had his sights set higher. In the final year of engineering, he was attracted to the writings of Swami Vivekananda.
         “I felt Ki Kuch Alag Karna hai. What should I do, I did not know but in 1993 I formed an organization-Bharat Vikas Pratisthan.”

B.2) Complete : 

Hardships faced by Hanmant Gaikwad 



B.3)  Rewrite the following sentence choosing the appropriate word/s for the underlined word/s : 
(i)
His lifestyle remained frugal:
(a) simple
(b) meager
(c) extravagant

(ii) Despite hardships, Hanmant secured 88% in class X:
(a) In spite of
(b) Regarding
(c) Affected

(iii) Hanmant took up painting jobs:
(a) assumed
(b) to continue
(c) accepted

(iv) Hanmant had his sights set higher:
(a) looked ahead
(b) lofty ambitions
(c) looked above 

B.4)  Do as Directed
(i) Hanmant secured 88% in class X.                                   ( Begin the sentence as-88%....................)
(ii) In the final year of engineering, he was attracted towards the writings of Swami Vivekananda.       (Frame a ‘Wh-question’ to get the underlined part as the answer.) 

B.5) “Today’s hardships lead to tomorrow’s success”-Justify.


Read the following extract and do the given activities: 
B.1) Fill in the Balloons with suitable ideas from the poem: 

“Oh, the value of the elderly! How could anyone not know?
They hold so many keys, so many things they can show.
We all will read the other side this I firmly believe
And the elderly are closest oh what clues we could retrieve.
For their characters are closest to how we’ll be on high.
They are the ones most developed, you can see it if you try.
They’ve let go of the frivolous and kept things that are dear
The memories of so sweet, of loved ones that were near.
As a nation, we are missing our greatest true resource,
To get to know our elders and let them guide our course.”

B.2) Find Evidence:
Pick out the line from the extract which supports the given ideas:
(i) The elders have many things to share.
(ii) Everybody knows the value of elderly people.
(iii) The elderly people have vast experience.
(iv) The elderly people are a boon to the nation. 

B.3) Write a pair from the extract that rhymes with the given word: 

Fear  ........................... ..........................

Answer the following question in 150-200 words:
Attempt a character sketch of Mr. Gilman.


Guess the meaning of the following word:
Drokba
In which language are these word found? 


'It is not an accident that the most discrimination literary criticism of Shelley's thought and work is by a distinguished scientist, Desmond King-Hele.' How does this statement bring out the meeting point of poetry and science?


Discuss the following in pairs or in groups of four:
'It is time to realise that unless we modify the established notion of literature as something written, we will silently witness the decline of various Indian oral traditions'


'Constancy' is the theme of the poem. Indicate the words, phrases, and images that suggest the theme.


How do you respond to these lines?

Light, chill and yellow,

Bathes the serene

Foreheads of houses


How is the idyllic juxtaposed with the pedestrian in the poem?


How does the poet juxtapose the human condition with the behaviour of the political class?


What does the reference to raw mythology imply?


Think and answer in your own words.

What could be the age group of the speaker in the poem?


Think and answer in your own words in your notebook.

‘Live and let live’ is a famous proverb. Which lines from the poem support this proverb?


Read the story and choose the appropriate meaning.

Wielded the brush ____________.


State the facts about the story.

  • Main characters:
  • Problem:
  • Attempts made to solve it:
  • Climax/Turning point:
  • Problem solved:
  • End:

Behrman was a hard-hearted person.


Answer the following question in short.

On what condition did Tenali Raman agree to take up the challenge?


Suggest what you would do in the following situation:

You realise that you no longer want to pursue your studies in the stream you have selected.


Write in short about what your parents/guardians feel when they send you to school. 


Find out the different processes by which fabrics are made. Find illustrations and write a few lines on each process.


Answer the following question in one sentence.

What does the man who misses all the fun do?


Does the traveller really have a magic stone? 


Imagine you are visiting the Science Fair. What other stalls (apart from the ones mentioned here) are you likely to find there? Try to list at least five more stalls.


Who is the speaker in the poem?


What time is being described in the poem?


An activity:
Speak fast, think faster! Form groups of 4-6. Discuss each of the following topics. Then each person in the group should choose a topic and speak about it for one minute. Try to say as many sentences as you can in that time.

Imagine you are watching a scene. For example, someone learning to ride a bicycle; or a cricket match. Give a running commentary on what you see.

‘Monu is sitting on the bicycle. It has side wheels. Monu tries to push the pedal down - No - he stops. His uncle holds the seat in one hand and the handle in the other hand. He says, ‘Come on, Monu’... etc.


Complete the following sentence with reference to the passage:

He realised that making the body suffer was not ____________.


Find three lines, that contain images of nature in the autumn season.

At night

  1. ______________________
  2. ______________________
  3. ______________________

Choose the appropriate phrase to insert in the gap, to make the sentence meaningful. Use the appropriate form of the verb.

I ______ just as I was to receive my Report Card. 


Present Mr. Wilson’s story as it would be shown in a comic strip. Write what picture you will show in each frame along with the dialogues. Write the dialogue with the help of the story. Examples:


Why did Marouckla’s stepmother hate her?


Why did Holena and her mother go out in the snow themselves?


Find out how rice is cultivated. Describe the process with the help of pictures or diagrams.


Think about what you do and you must learn to do when you speak. Make a list of such 'Do's' and Don'ts' for yourself.


The following thing is mentioned in the poem.
Classify it as a happy and sad thing. 

flowers - falling leaves 


Write what the poet is doing. 
Does the poet like the experience? 
Write the line which tells us about it.


Write how the travellers crossed the second gulf.


What did he try to take the milk from?


Answer the following question in about 80 – 100 word.

Describe the journey of life as depicted in the poem by Henry Van Dyke.


Read the incident again and answer the following question.

What is the humour element in the above incident?


The author was going to New York.


Read the story again and write how these character reacted in these situation:

You’re both quite mistaken.
Dr. Krishnan ........…………………….
Mrs. Krishnan……....…………………


What does the poet mean by ‘Festival of flowers’?


Neerja leapt into action when she______.


The captain presented a gift to Vasantha because ______


Why did the girl scream?


Gulliver was hailed as a hero because he ______.


Where is the key?


Why did he grow crops?


Jana and her family moved to the village _______ ago.


When does the world become green?


Are you the first to protect the nature?


Read the passage three times and colour a dustbin each time.

I am Mani. I had to take a bus to nearby city. I crossed the road to reach the bus stand. I got the bus, sat down, and read a book. Before I started to read, I just looked at the people around me. The two men sitting next to me were talking loudly. Some were listening to music on their phone. I was unable to focus on reading. The men were talking about cleaning the city. As they were talking, they opened a pack of biscuits to eat. After some time I dozed off. When I opened my eyes, the bus had reached the city. The two men were not there but pieces of the biscuits and wrappers were there. I cleaned the wrappers and put them in the dustbin.

  1. What did Mani take out?
  2. What did Mani find on the seat when he woke up?
  3. If you were Mani, what would you do?

The king looked for a______.


One day Chris tried to draw a ______.


What is the one thing you will try and improve after reading the story? How?


Choose the right word.

Chintha Chettu is a tamarind ______.


What did the library door say?


Read the passage carefully and complete the activities: 

A1. Complete the following sentences.   [2]

  1. Female sparrows lay ______.
  2. Sparrows build their nest out of ______.
  3. The eggs are ______.
  4. In cities, sparrows build their nest in ______.

A sparrow is a small bird which is found throughout the world. There are many different species of sparrows. Sparrows are only about four to six inches in length. Many people appreciate their beautiful songs. Sparrows prefer to build their nests in low places-usually on the ground clumps of grass low trees and low bushes. In cities, they build their nests in building nooks or holes. They rarely build their nests in high places. They build their nests out of twigs grasses and plant fibers. Their nests are usually small and well-built structures.

Female sparrows lay four to six eggs at a time. The eggs are white with reddish-brown spots. They hatch within eleven to fourteen days. Both the male and female parents care for the young. Insects are fed to the young after hatching. The large feet of the sparrows are used for scratching seeds. Adult sparrows mainly eat seeds. Sparrows can be found almost everywhere where there are humans. Many people throughout the world enjoy these delightful birds.

The sparrows are some of the few birds that engage in dust bathing. Sparrows will first scratch a hole in the ground with their feet then lie in it and fling dirt or sand over their bodies with flicks of their wings. They will also bathe in water or in dry or melting snow. Water bathing is similar to dust bathing with the sparrow standing in shallow water and flicking water over its back with its wings also ducking its head under the water. Both activities are social with up to a hundred birds participating at once and are followed by preening and sometimes group singing.

A2. How do sparrows take a bath?   [2]

A3. Find out adjectives for the following nouns from the passage.   [2]

  1. ______ Song
  2. ______ Water
  3. ______ Bird
  4. ______ species

A4. Do as directed.   [2]

  1. A sparrow is a small bird which is found throughout the world.
    (Underline the subordinate clause)
  2. Female sparrows lay four to six eggs at a time.
    (Frame a ‘wh’ type question to get the underlined part as an answer.)

A5. ‘We have to save the birds.’ Do you agree with this statement? Why?   [2]


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