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Question
What does the phrase 'as if he were on needles' mean? Can you think of another phrase with a similar meaning substituting the word 'needless'?
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Solution
The phrase actually is 'on pins and needles' which means to be nervously waiting to see what is going to happen.
Another phrase that has a similar meaning is 'on tenterhooks'.
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Maggu’s achievements are particularly noteworthy because – as is well known – academic institutions in India are less than sold on the idea of inclusive education. In fact, when Maggu lost her sight in class IV, her school (which she declines to name) expelled her while suggesting she attend a “blind school”. Though shocked, Maggu rejected the advice. “Attending a special school would have tarred me with a handicap forever, which was not how I saw my future. Therefore I did the rounds of other public schools with my father, a small – time merchant, explaining that my case was different Since I had vision till the age of ten,” she recalls.
Impressed by her persistence and ambition, Delhi’s Bluebells School not only admitted her but pulled out all the stops to support her in academics sporting events and also notched up a respectable 73 percent average in the class XII exam with the help of Braille, interactive textbooks and extra coaching.
The respectable average in her CBSE exam paved the way for admission into LSR where again she proved her mettle by winning medals in a slew of inter – collage events (100 200 and 400 metre sprints) high jump, long jump, javelin and discuss throw: resulting in her being declared ‘Athlete of the year’ 2003’ at a sports meet for 100 physically challenged athletes. And the cherry on the cake was the selection to the IBSA Games last year. “It was a tough regimen,” recalls Maggu. “I had to attend sports camps manage my studies and officiates as sports president. But I managed.”
Questions:
(1) What qualities of Maggu are highlighted in this passage?
(2) Why did Maggu refuse to attend a ‘blind school’?
(3) Quote the lines that show that Jyoti Maggu was good in academics as well as in sports.
(4) Use any two phrases in sentences of your own :
(a) To win laurels
(b) To pave the way
(c) To prove one’s mettle
(d) A tough regimen
(5)
(a) I did the rounds of other public schools with my father [Change the voice]
(b) though shocked Maggu rejected the advice [Rewrite as a simple sentence]
(6) Should the physically challenged be sent to special schools? Express your views.
There were many reasons for Helen Keller's embittered childhood. What were they and how were they overcome?
Attempt the following in 150-200 words.
What was the incident of the Frost King? How did it affect Helen?
Aunt Jennifer's tigers prance across a screen,
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.
(a) Why are the tigers called Aunt Jennifer's tigers?
(b) How are they described here?
(c) How are they different from Aunt Jennifer?
(d) What does the word, 'chivalric' mean?
After the convocation, Mrs. Mini, Rahul’s mother and Rahul have a conversation. Write the conversation and present it to the class in groups of three.
Give an example from the passage that proves the crow to be an intelligent bird.
Read the following passage carefully and do the given activities:
A.1) True or False:
Write the statements and state whether they are true or false:
(i) Those who choose to live well must help others.
(ii) If neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily improve the quality.
(iii) The farmer grew award-winning corn.
(iv) The reporter discovered that the farmer didn’t share his seed corn with his neighbors.
There once was a farmer who grew award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won a blue ribbon. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew it. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his sweet corn with his neighbors. “How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?” the reporter asked.
“Why sir”, said the farmer, “didn’t you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn.” He is very much aware of the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve unless his neighbor's corn also improves. So it is with our lives. Those who choose to live in peace must help their neighbors to live in peace. Those who choose to live well must help others to live well, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches.
The lesson for each of us is this: if we are to grow good corn, we must help our neighbors grow good corn.
A.2) Consequences:
Write the consequences:
(i) The farmer shares the corn.
(ii) The farmer doesn’t share the corn.
A.3) Antonyms:
Find out the words opposite in meaning from the passage:
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(ii) lost x _______
(iii) improve x _______
(iv) inconstantly x _______
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(i) We must help our neighbors. (Replace the modal auxiliary showing advice).
(ii) The wind picks up pollen from ripening corn and swirls it field to field. (Use “not only…….. but also” and rewrite)
A.5) Personal Response:
What do you learn from the story? Suggest a suitable title.
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to stand on one's feet
What distinguishes the tribal imagination from the secular imagination?
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any animal that catches mice ______
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Read the Preamble of the Constitution of India given in your textbook. Pick out a word that refers to the following.
Brotherhood
Pick out a word from the poem to complete the sentence meaningfully.
Stephen Hawking was a ______ (famous) Astrophysicist.
‘Never mind faded forests, Austin’. The word ‘faded’ means to become dim or faint. The word describes the forests that have become faint or dim in appearance. Now go through the poem again and complete the table.
| Describing word | Object | Explanation |
| 1. faded | forests | The forests have become faint or dim in appearance. |
| 2. silent | ||
| 3. unfading | ||
| 4. bright |
Say WHY. . . . . .
Ramanujan found the number 1729 very interesting.
Complete the following web diagram.
The description of the character is given below. Identify the character from the play. Find some sentences which support your choice.
He is a brave but irresponsible person.
Give reasons :
Oberon and Titania fight for the custody of the Indian boy because - Oberon wants __________________.
Show the three categories of volcanoes using the following tree diagram structure.
Prepare a table to show 'Caesar’s Pranks' at home and outside.
‘And calls our Best away’ is a gentle way of expressing the unpleasant idea of a loved one dying. It is an example of euphemism. Think and write down 3 or 4 ways in which we can express the idea of ‘death’ in a tactful and gentle manner.
- _________________
- _________________
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Correct the following sentence and rewrite it.
Papa Panov gave hot soup to the sweeper, milk to the young mother, and coffee to the beggars.
Correct the following sentence and rewrite it.
Papa Panov saw the sweeper, the young mother, and the beggars he had helped only once in the morning.
Find out when and where we get strawberries in Maharashtra.
Enact the play.
In what way can we help to reduce or minimize waste generation?
Discuss the issue in groups of 4 or 5 and note down all good suggestions.
Resolve to follow them yourself. Some have been given below for your reference.
- Don’t waste food.
- Take as much as you want but finish everything that’s on your plate.
- Don’t throw away broken or half-used things. Repair them and use them.
- Avoid things which can be used only once.
For example: thermocol (polysterene) cups, plastic glasses, etc. - Reuse!
- Recycle!
How did Helen overcome her handicaps?
Read the following incident carefully to answer the question that follow.
The tie that does not bind
“Oh, so you’re going abroad? Can you bring me back…..?” I’ve been asked to bring back a vaccine for a course. Once I searched the suburbs of Paris for two days for a special brand of ceramic paint. Having spent a lot of money for Cartier lighter refills, I had them confiscated at the airport just before boarding because the gas might be dangerous in the air.
Now, two months before a trip, I stop talking to people so they won’t suspect I’m about to travel. But someone always catches me.” I’ve heard you’re going to New York, and I want you to get something for me. It’s just a little thing you can find anywhere. I don’t know exactly how much it costs, but it shouldn’t be much. We’ll settle up when you get back”.
What Gilson asked me to buy was, in fact, a little thing: a tie. But not just any tie. He wanted a tie with a small embroidered G. Any colour would do, as long as it had his initials. Look, this is a special flight, I explained. We are only staying Saturday through Tuesday. On the day we arrived I didn’t have time to think about the tie, but strolling around on Sunday I did see ties bearing various letters in more than one shop window. They were cheap, just a dollar, but all the shops were closed.
On Monday, lunch lasted the whole afternoon. Then it was Tuesday morning, time to leave. It was only when I saw our airport bus waiting outside the hotel that I remembered the tie.
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When I finally thought I had located the right shop, I decided to go in and check. The driver refused to wait. Parking was prohibited, he said. I promised to double the fare, jumped out and ran into the shop. Was I going to miss the plane just for a damned tie?
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I ran to the corner, and hope flared up again: the taxi was waiting in the next street. Quick to the airport! As I settled down inside the taxi. I sighed with relief. Gilson was going to have enough initialized ties to last him a lifetime.
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“At least I hope you found your tie”, said one who knew the story.
“I did”, I answered triumphantly.
After making myself comfortable, I reached for the paper bag to show the ties.
I had left it behind; in the taxi.
Fernando Sabino.
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What was the writer always asked to do whenever he planned to go abroad?
Read the incident again and answer the following question.
When did the writer remember the fact that he had to buy something for Mr. Gilson?
Read the following line from the poem and answer the question given below.
Let us learn to walk with a smile and a song,
No matter if things do sometimes go wrong;
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- What should we do when things go wrong sometimes?
What is good or effective communication?
How should you speak with old people?
Read these lines and answer the question given below.
How cheerful he seems to grin
Who does ‘he’ refer to?
Who came to India from Portugal in search of pepper?
Discuss in groups and share your views in three or four sentences with others in the class.
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You can begin like this:
Gulliver was travelling in a ship. One stormy night, the ship was wrecked...
Read the lines and answer the questions given below.
Spring is pretty
but short and sweet
when you can smell the grass
from your garden seat
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The girl admitted to her brother that she was badly frightened.
Were the girl and her brother friendly with each other?
Did Santhosh enjoy his morning walk? How do you know?
Match the actions with the picture.
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| sows the grain |  |
| feeds the birds |  |
List out the questions to which you seek answer using 'Why?'
Divide the following word.
man
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The brown sparrow laid ________eggs.
______always stays to the last in our needs.
Which is as important as our health?
Fill in the blank
In which season is ice cream popular?
Choose the correct one.
Rooster
Match the rhyming words.
| 1. | say | fall |
| 2. | go | day |
| 3. | all | grow |
Write the word with same meaning.
purse- ______
What did his mother say in his dream?
Keep moving though your progress is ______.
What was different about the rabbit that Alice saw?
Choose the right word.
“Eat the leaves of the tamarind tree, and you’ll also sing like ______.
How does Tagore acknowledge Gandhi’s noble work?
