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What is the central theme of the poem - ‘Time and again’?
Concept: Time and Time Again
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
| 1. | A fisherman, enfeebled with age, could no longer go out to sea so he began fishing in the river. Every morning he would go down to the river and sit there fishing the whole day long. In the evening he would sell whatever he had caught, buy food for himself and go home. It was a hard life for an old man. One hot afternoon while he was trying to keep awake and bemoaning his fate, a large bird with silvery feathers alighted on a rock near him. It was Kaha, the heavenly bird. “Have you no one to care for you, grandpa?” asked the bird. “Not a soul.” “You should not be doing such work at your age,” said the bird. “From now on I will bring you a big fish every evening. You can sell it and live in comfort.” True to her word, the bird began to drop a large fish at his doorstep every evening. All that the fisherman had to do was take it to the market and sell it. As big fish were in great demand, he was soon rolling in money. He bought a cottage near the sea, with a garden around it and engaged a servant to cook for him. His wife had died some years earlier. He had decided to marry again and began to look for a suitable woman. |
| 2. | One day he heard the royal courtier make an announcement. Our king has news of a great bird called Kaha,” said the courtier. “Whoever can give information about this bird and help catch it, will be rewarded with half the gold in the royal treasury and half the kingdom!” The fisherman was sorely tempted by the reward. Half the kingdom would make him a prince! |
| 3. | “Why does the king want the bird,” he asked. “He has lost his sight,” explained the courtier. “A wise man has advised him to bathe his eyes with the blood of Kaha. Do you know where she can be found?” “No…I mean …no, no…” Torn between greed and his sense of gratitude to the bird, the fisherman could not give a coherent reply. The courtier, sensing that he knew something about the bird, informed the king. The king had him brought to the palace. |
| 4. | “If you have information about the bird, tell me”, urged the king. “I will reward you handsomely and if you help catch her, I will personally crown you king of half my domain.” “I will get the bird for you,” cried the fisherman, suddenly making up his mind. “But Kaha is strong. I will need help. The king sent a dozen soldiers with him. That evening when the bird came with the fish, the fisherman called out to her to wait. “You drop the fish and go and I never get a chance to thank you for all that you‘ve done for me," he said. “Today I have laid out a feast for you inside. Please alight and come in. Kaha was reluctant to accept the invitation but the fisherman pleaded so earnestly that she finally gave in, and alighted. The moment she was on the ground, the fisherman grabbed one of her legs and shouted to the soldiers hiding in his house to come out. They rushed to his aid but their combined effort could not keep Kaha down. |
| 5. | She rose into the air with the fisherman still clinging to her leg. By the time he realised he was being carried away, the fisherman was too high in the air to let go. He hung on grimly, and neither he nor Kaha was ever seen again. |
Pick out the words/phrases from the passage which are opposite in meaning to the following:
- Take off (Para 1)
- Readily (Para 4)
Concept: Idioms and Phrases
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, following the direction given with the following question.
Lata said she would only go to the party if her mother bought her a new dress. (Use ‘UNLESS’)
Lata said she ______ her mother bought her a new dress.
Concept: Types of Sentences
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, following the direction given with the following question.
I'm sorry I didn't meet you at the airport - my car wasn't working. (Use ‘MET’)
I ______ at the airport if my car had been working.
Concept: Types of Sentences
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, following the direction given with the following question.
My uncle would call my dog 'the wolf' when he used to visit. (Use ‘REFER’)
My uncle would ______ 'the wolf' when he used to visit.
Concept: Types of Sentences
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, following the direction given with the following question.
Fifty years ago, cars were slower than they are nowadays. (Use ‘AS’)
Fifty years ago, cars ______ they are nowadays.
Concept: Types of Sentences
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, following the direction given with the following question.
Some shops try really hard to help you. (Use 'EFFORT’)
Some shops really ______ to help you.
Concept: Types of Sentences
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, following the direction given with the following question.
Have you got a belt that is cheaper than this one? (Use ‘LESS’)
Have you got ______ than this one?
Concept: Types of Sentences
Anne paid a heavy price for her recklessness.
(Begin: It........)
Concept: Types of Sentences
He does not intend to leave the company.
(Use: Intention...)
Concept: Types of Sentences
“Do you want some more ice cream or a slice of cake?” asked my aunt.
(Begin: My aunt asked.....)
Concept: Direct-Indirect Speech
Both the players are not adequately prepared for the tournament.
(Begin: Neither....)
Concept: Types of Sentences
That need not happen.
(Rewrite: using does)
Concept: Parts of Speech >> Verb
This horse is better trained than yours.
(Begin: Your…......)
Concept: Types of Sentences
The teacher asked, “How many of you think the answer is correct?”
(Rewrite the sentence using indirect speech)
Concept: Direct-Indirect Speech
She opened the kitchen door, and a cockroach ran out.
(End with ‘cockroach’)
Concept: Types of Sentences
Suresh suddenly thought of a splendid idea.
(End: .....to Suresh)
Concept: Types of Sentences
“I am sorry for insulting you,” said Lakshmi to Madhu.
(Begin : Lakshmi apologized.....)
Concept: Direct-Indirect Speech
Transform the following sentence as per the given instruction.
The librarian orders books for the school library every year. (Begin: Books…)
Concept: Grammar
Transform the following sentence as per the given instruction.
No one will deny that the children have worked very hard this year. (Begin: Everyone…)
Concept: Grammar
