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Speech Writing:
Write a short speech to be delivered in your college on 'Tree Conservation' on the occasion of 'The World Earth Day,' with the help of the following points (about JOO words):
(I) Air, water and noise pollution.
(2) Depletion of natural resources.
(3) Trees prevent soil erosion.
(4) Live in harmony with nature .
Concept: Speech Writing
Read the following extract and rewrite it as if the dentist is narrating it:
[You may begin as: I told George that I thought I had seen him somewhere before .......... ]
| Dentist: | I thought I'd seen you somewhere before. Why I know your father well! |
| George: | Do you, sir? |
| Dentist: | Yes, rather. He was only speaking about you the other night. You've been having some trouble with two back teeth, haven't you? |
| George: | (becoming suddenly nervous) N - no - that is not much. |
| Dentist: | Ah! Well, your father thinks you'd better have them out. It's strange you should have come in tonight because I shall be seeing you in the morning. Your dad's made an appointment for you. |
| George: | (obviously alarmed) N - no, not really? You - You don't mean this seriously, do you? |
| Dentist: | Why, yes. But perhaps I shouldn' t have mentioned it. Your dad told me you particularly hate having teeth out. Still, never mind, it's quite painless, you know. |
| George: | (gulping nervously) If there's one thing that gets me in a blue funk it's - (He realizes that Tom and Ginger are regarding him with eyes of triumph) |
| Tom: | George, old chap, we're joining your club tomorrow. |
| George: | Who says so? |
| Ginger: | ou said so yourself, George. You promised. you'd let us join that club if you showed a sign of fear before leaving this house. Well, you showed it right enough the moment you heard you'd got to have some teeth out; and you can't go back on your bargain now - can he, boys? |
| Tom and Alfie: | (in emphatic chorus) No fear! |
Concept: Narration
Read the following extract and convert it into a dialogue between Daisy and the captive lark in about 8 to 10 sentences :
[ you may begia with : Lark : Oh! how painful it is to be in the cage ! ]
And so the daisy stayed, and was brought into the lark cage. The poor. bird was lamenting its lost liberty, and beating its wings against the wires; and the little daisy could not speak or utter a consoling word, much as it would have liked to do so. So the forenoon passed.
"I have no water," said the captive lark, "they have all gone out, and forgotten to give me anything to drink. My throat is dry and burning. I feel as if I had fire and ice within me and the air is so oppressive. Alas! I must die, and part with the warm sunshine, the fresh green meadows, and all the beauty that God has created." And it thrust its beak into the piece of grass, to refresh itself a little. Then it noticed the little daisy, and nodded to it,'and kissed it with It.s beak and said , "You must also fade in here, poor little flower. You and the piece of grass are all they have given me in exchange for the whole world, which I enjoyed outside. Each little blade of grass shall be a green tree for me, each of your white petals a fragrant flower. Alas! You only remind me of what I have lost." .
('I wish I could console the poor lark," thought the daisy. It could not move one of its leaves, but the fragrance of its delicate petals streamed forth, and was much stronger than such flowers usually have
Concept: Dialogue Writing
Read the following extract and extend it by adding an imaginary paragraph of your own in about 120 words :
Someone was standing in the doorway. An elderly woman,
very fluffy, very pink. Her cheeks were pink, her dress was pink,
her hair was bunched up and white. She was straight out of Agatha Christie.
"Miss Marple!" I exclaimed.
''May I come in?" asked the pink lady.
"Please come in " said my mother. ''Do sit down. Do you
require a room?" '
''Not today, thank you. l'm staying with Padre Dutt. He insisted on putting me up. But I may want a room for a day or two - just for old times' sake."
"You've stayed here before."
"A long time ago. I'm Mrs Green, you know. The missing
Mrs Green. The one for whom you put up that handSome tombstone in the cemetery. I was very touched by it. And I'm glad you didn't add ' Beloved "wife of Henry Green ', because I didn't love him any more than he loved me."
Concept: Information Transfer
A1. Choose two sentences that appropriately mention the theme of the passage :
(1) The extract deals with the writer’s concern over Chaitanya's handicap.
(2) The extract depicts the writer’s proud feelings towards her son’s achievement.
(3) The extract deals with how Chaitanya made the writer see positively towards life.
(4) The extract deals with how the writer helps Chaitanya to buy the bus ticket.
Early in 1997-98, when he returned from state-level inter-school sports, he had two prizes to his credit and a silver medal. He had won his laurels in athletic events and the silver medal in a running race.
When I saw the prizes and read the citation Chaitanya had received, I was stupefied, in total disbelief, then–hugged him, kissed him and cried unabashedly to my heart’s content. That day, I cried for the first time out of joy and a sense of being vindicated. Without practice, he had competed with approximately 1,800 children drawn from various schools all over the state. He was subsequently selected for the marathon race, but he could not participate due to a health problem. “Maybe next year, he would”, I assured myself. And I, as his proud mother, would proudly chronicle his future achievements and success to inspire other - mothers of the world.
Looking back at my own life, I feel that it is the spirit with which we can accept our life gracefully is what
matters ultimately; and it is love that nourishes us. All other things are unimportant. Chaitanya has made me look inwards. His handicap doesn’t disturb me any longer. He and I shall live with it and still be happy. The mental strength which he has given to me is inexhaustible.
One day, as both of us got onto a public transport bus, Chaitanya offered to buy the tickets for us.
“One full, one half ”, he said to the conductor beaming with joy.
Looking at him, I wondered whether he was really only a half? An incomplete person? Was I really full?
Complete in all respects? Why do then normal people feel that they are ‘full’ and others like Chaitanya are ‘half’ or incomplete? Chaitanya’s world is complete in itself, pure and innocent while our lives are full of deceit, jealousies, ill-feelings.
A2. Point out -
Point out two instances where you find Chaitanya's victory over his disability.
A3. Give reasons -
Chaitanya’s silver medal in a running race was very special for the writer, because :
(i) __________________
(ii) __________________
A4. Vocabulary -
Match the pairs of the words in column ‘A’ with their meanings in column ‘B’:
| Column ‘A’ | Column ‘B’ | ||
| (1) | stupefied | (a) | official statement about the special act of courage |
| (2) | chronicle | (b) | record events in the order they happened |
| (3) | vindicated | (c) | surprised or shocked |
| (4) | citation | (d) | justified |
A5. Personal response -
Explain, your views about the ill-treatment the special children receive in society.
A6. Grammar -
Rewrite the following sentences in the ways instructed :
(i) He had won his laurels in athletic events and the silver medal in a running race.
(Rewrite the sentence using ‘not only...but also’.)
(ii) When I saw the prizes, I was stupefied.
(Rewrite the sentence using ‘No sooner.... than’.)
Concept: Writing Skills
Read the following extract and then do all the activities that follow :
I rain into a stranger as he passed by
“Oh, excuse me please” was my reply.
He said, “please excuse me too; wasn't even watching for you.”
We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on out way and we said good-bye.
But at home a different story is told.
How we treat out loved ones, young and old.
Later that day, cooking the evening meal,
My daughter stood beside me very still.
When I turned, I nearly knoked her down.
“Move out of the way,” I said with a frown.
She walked away, her little heart broken.
I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.
While I lay awake in bed,
God's still small voice came to me and said,
“While Dealing with a stranger, common courtesy you use,
But children you love, you seem to abuse.”
A1. Order-
The incidents narrated in the extract are arranged in a jumbled manner here, Rearrange them in a proper order as they occur in the extract:
(i) The poet and the stranger went on their way saying good-bye.
(ii) Seeking excuse politely from the stranger, she went her way.
(iii) The poet ran into a stranger on the road.
(iv) The poet yelled at her daughter.
A2. Poetic device:
Make a list of rhyming pairs from the second stanza and note down the rhyme scheme of the same stanza.
A3. Personal Response:
Understanding and politeness are the essentials of out everyday life. Explain your views in brief.
A4. Creativity -
Frame two poetic lines on the following situation using a rhyming pattern with the help of clues given:
“While introducing great personalities, we praise them highly and talk about their qualities, but while speaking
about our friends we may not follow the same trend.”
While introducing great personalities, — a
------------------------------------ — a
But while speaking about our friends, — b
------------------------------------ — b
Concept: Reading Skills
Read the extract and do the activities that follow:
The duke senior and his follower were sitting down to a meal one day when Orlando rushed out from among the trees, his sword in his hand. ‘Stop, and cat no more!’ he cried. The Duke and his friends asked him what he wanted.
‘Food,’ said Orlando. ‘I am almost dying of hunger’. They asked him to sit down and eat, but he would not do so. He told them that his old servant was in the woods, dying of hunger. ‘I will not eat a bite until he has been fed,’ Orlando said.
So the good Duke and his followers helped him to bring Adam to their hiding-place, and Orlando and the old man were fed and taken care of. When the Duke learned that Orlando was a son of his old friend sir Rowland de Boys, he welcomed him gladly to his forest court.
Orlando lived happily with the Duke and his friends, but he had not forgotten the lovely Rosalind. She was always in his thoughts andevery day he wrote poetry about her pinning it on the trees in the forest. ‘These trees shall be my books,’ he said, ‘so that everyone who looks in the forest will be able to read how sweet and good Rosalind is’.
Rosalind and Celia found some of these poems pinned on the trees. At first they were puzzled, wondering who could have written them; but one day Celia came in from a walk with the news that she had seen Orlando sleeping under a tree, and she and Rosalind guessed that he must be the poet. Rosalind was happy to think that Orlando had not forggoten her, because she loved him as much as he loved her.
A1. Complete - (2)
Complete the following sentences:
(i) Rosalind was happy to think _______
(ii) The Duke and his followers helped Orlando to bring _________
(iii) Orlando pinned the poems written about Rosalind on ______
(iv) When the Duke cam to know that Orlando was a son of his old friend, he _________
A2. Write a gist: (2)
Write a gist of the above given extract in about 50 words.
Concept: Reading Skills
Write a summary of the above extract with the help of the following points and suggest a suitable title.
Organic farming – depends on – ensures soil fertility by – organic agriculture promotes – difficulty for farmers because – burden on the consumer.
Concept: Summary Writing
Read the following extract and rewrite it from the point of view of Tom.
[You may begin with: I crossed from the right to the centre and said that it was a queer place ...... ]
| Tom: | (crossing R.C.). This is a queer place. I wonder if there's anybody in the house. |
| George: | You've picked three empty houses already, and you let us sing the whole of While Shepherds Watched outside the last one before you found out your mistake. |
| Tom: | Well, that's better than what you did -you picked the house where they had that bulldog. |
| George: | (contemptuously) I wasn't afraid. of the bulldog. |
| Tom: | No, maybe you weren't; but I'm not sure that the savage beast hasn't tom off a bit of young Alfie's suit, and if he has there won't half be a row! (Alfie fidgets nervously at the mention of his damaged suit.) |
| Tom: | (down R.C.) How much money have we collected? |
| Ginger: | (crossing C. to George) Let's have a look under the light. (After counting coppers with the aid of George's torch.) Eightpence halfpenny. |
| Tom: | (in a tone of disgust) Only eightpence halfpenny - between four of us - after yelling our heads off all evening! Crikey! Money's a bit tight round these parts, isn't it? |
| George: | I told you it was too early for carol-singing. It's too soon after Guy Fawkes' day. (Faint distant scream off R.) |
| Tom: | (startled) What was that? |
| George: | What was what? |
| Tom: | That noise - it sounded like a scream. |
| George: | Nonsense. |
| Alfie: | (L.) Let's go home. |
Concept: Narration
Read the following extract carefully and convert it into a dialogue between Daisy and Lark.
You may begin with: 'Daisy: Why are you singing so sadly, little bird?'
|
On the following morning, when the flower once more stretched forth its tender petals, like little arms, towards the air and light, the daisy recognised the bird's voice, but what it sang sounded so sad. Indeed the poor bird had good reason to be sad, for it had been caught and put into a cage close by the open window. It sang of the happy days when it could merrily fly about, of fresh green corn in the field, and of the time when it could soar almost up to the clouds. The poor lark was most unhappy as a prisoner in a cage. The little daisy would have liked so much to help it, but what could be done? Indeed, that was very difficult for such a small flower to find out. It entirely forgot how beautiful everything around it was, how warmly the sun was shining, and how splendidly white its petals were. It could only think of the poor captive bird, for which it could do nothing. Then two little boys came out of the garden; one of them had a large sharp knife, like that with which the girl had cut the tulips. They came straight towards the little daisy, which could not understand what they wanted. "Here is a fine piece of turf for the lark," said one of the boys, and began to cut out a square round the daisy, so that it remained in the centre of the grass. |
Concept: Dialogue Writing
Read the following extract and extend it by adding an imaginary paragraph of your own in about 120 words :
Orlando lived happily with the Duke and his friends, but he had not forgotten the lovely Rosalind. She was always in his thoughts and every day he wrote poetry about her, pinning it on the trees in the forest. 'These trees shall be my books', he said, 'so that everyone who looks in the forest will be able to read how sweet and good Rosalind is.'
Rosalind and Celia found some of these poems pinned on the trees. At first, they were puzzled, wondering who could have written them; but one day Celia came in from a walk with the news that she had seen Orlando sleeping under a tree. and she and Rosalind guessed that he must be the poet. Rosalind was happy to think that Orlando had not forgotten her, because she loved him as much as he loved her.
One day she and Celia met Orlando. He did not recognize them because of their stained faces and simple clothes. He thought they were a shepherd boy and his sister. He made friends with them.
Concept: Paragraph Writing
Read the following extract and convert it into a dialogue between Rosalind and Orlando:
[You may begin with: Rosalind: Dear Orlando, it's better not to fight with Charles.]
Next day, the wrestling match was arranged to take place in front of the Duke's palace. Celia and Rosalind happened to be there when the Duke and his lords arrived, so they decided to stay and watch the fight. Frederick spoke to Orlando and tried to persuade him not to fight the Wrestler, but Orlando was determined.
At last, Frederick turned to Rosalind and Celia and said: 'Speak to him, ladies; see if you can persuade him.'
Charles had just fought three other young men and had nearly killed them. It seemed certain that Orlando would be treated in the same way. And so the two girls spoke to the tall, good-looking young man, begging him not to fight. 'You have seen cruel proof of this man's strength', said Celia. 'We pray you for your own sake to give up this fight. Do not run such a risk!'
'Please do what we ask, young sir,' said Rosalind. 'No one will call you a coward: We will ask the Duke to stop the wrestling.' But Orlando answered: 'Please do not be angry if I refuse to do what you ask. It is not easy to say no to ladies who are so beautiful and gentle. But let your fair eyes and gentle wishes go with me to my trial. No one will be sorry if I am killed, because I have no friends to love me. I fill up a place in the world which may be better filled by another man if I leave it empty.'
Concept: Dialogue Writing
Write a news item on any one of the following headlines with proper dateline, lead/intro paragraph, and a short continuing paragraph:
(i) India wins T20 series.
{ii) Railway suspends two officials over derailment
Concept: Report Writing
Read the following counter-view section and develop a view section in about 120 words. Suggest a suitable title :
|
Counter-View Section "There is no need to celebrate World Earth Day" |
Concept: View and Counterview
Look at the table given below and write a short paragraph based on it in about 120 words :
The following table shows irregular rainfall causing low groundwater level in Nashik district, and Talukawise its worst hit villages.
| Drop in water level | Talukas | |||
| 0 to 1 meter | Nashik, Igatpuri, Niphad, Chandwad, Kalwan, Deola, Tryambakeshwar | |||
| 1 to 2 meters | Sinnar, Yeola, Nandgaon, Satana, Malegaon | |||
| Worst Hit Areas | ||||
| Talukas | Situation over coming months | |||
| Oct.-Dec. | Jan-Mar. | Apr.-June | Total | |
| Igatpuri | 01 | 06 | 49 | 56 |
| Malegaon | 31 | 54 | 37 | 122 |
| Nandgaon | 08 | 17 | 37 | 62 |
| Niphad | 01 | 04 | 47 | 52 |
| Source: Times of India, Nashik Times, City Edn. Date: Oct. 18, 2018 |
||||
Concept: Information Transfer
Imagine that you are going to interview a great social worker or reformer. Frame a set of 8-10 questions for the interview :
Concept: Interview Questions
Your college has organised 'A Health Awareness Programme' to emphasise the importance of healthy food and say goodbye to 'Junk food'.
As a class representative, prepare a speech in about 100 words to be delivered during the inaugural function. You may use the following points :
(1) Importance of healthy food.
(2) Regular and proportional diet, avoiding junk food.
(3) Importance of exercise.
(4) Add your own points.
Concept: Speech Writing
Rewrite the following extract as if the girl with an apple is the narrator :
[You may begin like this: A stranger said something, in a language. I didn't understand.... ']
I glanced around to make sure no one saw me. I called to her softly in German. "Do you have something to eat?"
She didn't understand. I inched closer to the fence and repeated the question 111 Polish. She stepped forward. I was thin and gaunt, with rags wrapped around my feet, but the girl looked unafraid In her eyes. I saw life. She pulled an apple from her woollen jacket and threw it over the fence. I grabbed the fruit and. as I started to run away, I heard her say faintly," I'll sec you tomorrow." I returned to the same spot by the fence at the same time every day. She was always there with something for me to eat a hunk of bread or, better yet, an apple. We didn't dare speak or linger. To the caught would mean death for us both.
I didn't know anything about her, just a kind farm girl, except that she understood Polish. What was her name? Why was she risking her lire for me? Hope was in such short supply), and this girl on the other side of the ranch gave me some. as nourishing in its way as thc bread and apples. Nearly seven months later. my brothers and I were crammed into a coal car and shipped 10 Theresienstadt camp in Czechoslovakia. "Don't return," I told the girl that day. "We're leaving."
Concept: Narration
Composition :
Rewrite the story extract as if Oliver is the narrator.
[ You may begin as: "I had no knowledge of where my brother was ..... "]
Oliver, therefore, had no knowledge of where his brother was, but Frederick refused to believe this. 'You have not seen him since the wrestling match!' he said disbelievingly. 'Sir, sir, that cannot be! You must find your brother, wherever he is. Do not dare to come back without him! If you do not bring him to me, dead or alive, within the year. I will take all your land and possessions and you will not be allowed to live anywhere within my dukedom'.
And so Oliver also set out for the forest of Arden, in search of his brother Orlando. Rosalind and Celia. with the faithful Touchstone, wandered through the forest for many days. They grew so tired and hungry that they felt they could go on no longer in search of Rosalind's father, but at last they met a shepherd who told them that his master had a cottage for sale. They thankfully
bought the cottage and lived there, wandering through the forest every day and returning to the little house at night.
Although Rosalind did not know it, her father was not very far away. He and the faithful lords who had accompanied him were happily settled in the forest. They had grown to love the simple
life they led. They found it safer and more sweet than the life of
the court, where people were often greedy and jealous and cruel.
They had enough food for their needs because they could 'hunt
the deer in the forest and grow their own fruit and vegetables.
They were full of contentment and good cheer.
Concept: Narration
Read the following extract and convert it into a dialogue (in about 8 to10 sentences):
[You may begin with: The first boy: ''Oh look! Here's a fine piece of..........."]
"Here is a fine piece of turf for the lark," said one of the boys, and began to cut out a square round the daisy, so that it remained in the centre of the grass.
"Pluck the flower off," said the other boy and the daisy trembled for fear, for to be pulled off meant death to it; and it wished so much to live, as it was to go with the square of turf into the poor captive lark's cage.
"No let it stay," said the other boy. "it looks so pretty."
And so it stayed and was brought into the lark's cage. The poor bird was lamenting its lost liberty, and beating its wings against the wires; and the little daisy could not speak or utter a consoling word. much as it would have liked to do so. So the forenoon passed.
"I have no water", said the captive lark," they have all gone out and forgotten to give me anything to drink. My throat is dry and burning. I feel as if I had fire and ice within me and the air is so oppressive. Alas! I must die. and part with the warm sunshine, the fresh green meadows. and all the beauty that God has created."And it thrust its beak into the piece of grass, to refresh itself a little.
Concept: Dialogue Writing
