Q.1. (A) Read the following passage and answer the questions given below :
| K |
antabai Wali laughs heartily as she declares she is an ‘angutha chhap’ who cannot even sign her name. Yet as this woman from one of the most backward regions of Maharashtra expounds on her latest business venture, cattle rearing, she demonstrates her ease in the world of micro-financing and marketing.
Kantabai is the president of the Nalanda Bachatghat Gat, a selfhelp group (SHG), that was loaned Rs. 4 lakh by the State Bank of Hyderabad in Parbhani. The money was shared among the 11 members of the group for various income-generating activities such as buffalo-rearing, goat-raising, welding, vermiculture and candle and aggarbatti making. Jayshree Pandurang Kamble, another recipient of the loan, sifts compost made from vermiculture through her fingers and announces that she will not only make a profit but carve out her own brand name. “I will not sell my compost to any company because no one will associate my name with the compost. Even if there is an initial loss I will sell it under my own name,” she declares.
These women of Kundi Village in Pathri taluka, who formed self-help groups two years ago, were able to translate their collective savings into a bank loan, thanks to ‘Sankalp Manav Sanstha’, a nongovernmental development organization.
Questions :
1. What is Kantabai Wali’s business venture?
2. Why does Jayshree Kamble not want to sell the compost to any company? What is her plan ?
3. Why does Kantabai Wali laugh?
4. (a) Kantabai laughs heartily. (Add a Question Tag)
(b) She is an angutha chhap, who cannot sign her name. (Analyse the Clause and state the relation)
5. (i) Write 2 compound words from the passage. (ii) Write the antonyms of : (a) profit (b) rural
6. Write down some qualities that are required for a small enterprise. Explain how these qualities would help the enterprise to grow.
Q.1. (B) Read the following passage and answer the questions given below :
| T |
hat Monday at school, Keryn sat with her chin propped up on one hand. "You're looking very thoughtful today, Keryn," said her teacher, Mrs.Ngeru. As soon as she got home, Keryn hurried to her bedroom mirror. The spot was bigger. She could see it even when she stood right back from her mirror, against her bedroom wall.
She took a book, curled up on the corner of the living room sofa, and tried to forget about her chin. She was still reading when her father came home from work half an hour later. "That's a nice little spot you've found there, love," he said. Keryn jumped up and slammed into her room. "What's the matter? What did I say?" She heard her father asking behind her.
At dinner that night, Keryn said she didn't want any lemon meringue, thank you. She'd just have a raw carrot instead. "You want to be careful of those raw carrots," Jason told Keryn while he ate her share of the lemon meringue. "They might be good for your skin, but they make your top teeth grow, and your ears get all long floppy,"
On Tuesday morning, Keryn got out of bed, washed her whole face hard with warm soapy water, and then looked in the mirror. The spot on her chin was even bigger than it had been the night before. "I'll never get rid of this spot before Thursday afternoon's prizegiving!" She wailed at breakfast time. "Isn't there anything I can do?" "You could try plastic surgery," suggested Jason, "or a flamethrower."
Questions :
1. What did Keryn do to try and forget about her chin?
2. How did Jason tease her about eating carrots?
3. Bring out Jason's sarcasm.
4. (a) "You want to be careful of those raw carrots," Jason told Keryn. (Use Reported Speech)
(b) She'd just have a raw carrot instead. (Make Negative)
5. (i) Give the noun form of : (a) thoughtful (b) grow
(ii) Supply homophones for the words given below : (a) sea (b) be
6. What type of relation do you find between the members of Keryn’s family?
Q.1. (C) Read the following passage and answer the questions given below :
| O |
tto Frank's vision of hope gave my husband and me the courage to become parents. We had two sons, Ethan and Jeese. My trip to Switzerland was the first time I had been away from them. The train was slowing. The conductor announced the stop and the doors flew open. I looked into the crowd and saw a man with a straight back and rugged face. Snow-white hair surrounded a balding head. A tall, elderly man, still strong and handsome. It was really him. Otto Frank.
"Cara! At last!" he said warmly. I was actually hugging him. A real bearhug. Thank God. No formal handshakes or polite hellos. Suddenly a little shy, he put his arm in mine. Fritzi linked my other arm, and we walked off.
When I stepped into the Frank's house, I felt that I was home. Otto took me into their little study. A pile of fresh mail lay stacked on his desk. He showed me wall-to-wall notebooks bursting with letters. Then Otto brought out another notebook. "These are your letters, Cara. I saved them all." I couldn't believe it. I was facing myself through twenty years of letters. I saw my twelve year old's scrawl evolve into an adult's script and then change to typewritten pages. Masses of exclamation points and underlinings, outpourings of feeling. Then Otto said, "You are not the only one to write all these years."
Smiling, he told me about some of the others. There was Sumi from Japan, who had lost her father. She read Anne's diary and was moved to write to Otto. She told him that she would like to become his "Letter-daughter" and signed all her letters "Your daughter, Sumi." Otto advised her through the years. Then there was John Neiman who, as a college student, reread Anne Frank : The Diary of a Young Girl and wrote to Mr Frank. Otto told him, "If you want to honour Anne's memory and the people that died, do what Anne wanted so very much-do good for other people."
Questions :
1. Besides Cara, whom did Otto write to?
2. How did Otto greet Cara?
3. Why had Otto saved all of Cara’s letters?
4. (a) Otto advised her through the years. (Change the underlined word into a noun form the sentence)
(b) It was really him. (Make it Interrogative)
5. (i) Write two compound words from the passage. (ii) Make sentences : (a) brought out (b) stacked on
6. How would you have felt in Cara’s place?
Q.1. (D) Read the following passage and answer the questions given below :
| D |
ad called out, "I thought you were going to bed." "I'm on my way," she said. She put some water into the dog's
dish and put the cat outside, then made sure the doors were locked and the verandah light was on. She looked in on each of the kids and turned out their bedside lamps and TV's hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework.
In her own room, she set the alarm; laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her six most important things to do list. She said her prayers, and visualized the accomplishment of her goals. About that time, Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular. "I'm going to bed." And he did… without another thought. What a beautiful piece and so true isn't it? I don't know who wrote it but it's someone who really observed his mother, and as I read it, tears came to my eyes as I remembered days and nights when my mother did exactly the same. Today I see the same in my wife, another mother. It'll be mother's day in a few days but today as I think of my
mother on her birthday far away in Baltimore, I thank God for all the mothers in our world. Women who said good night and took a long detour to bed…..!
Questions :
1. What does the narrator remember?
2. What did mother do in her room?
3. What precautions did mother take to secure the house for night ?
4. (a) I’m on my way. (Add a Question Tag)
(b) Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular. (Rewrite using ‘ing’ form of underlined word)
5. Match the column: -
| A | B |
| i. Yawn ii. Wash iii. Flossed iv. File | a. To make smooth and even b. To open mouth wide to take air into lungs c. Act of cleaning something with soap and water d. Clean teeth with fine thread |
6. Do you think, you should help your mother? Why?
Q.1. (E) Read the following passage and answer the questions given below :
| A |
t bedtime, we put a camp cot in the children's room for him.When I got up in the morning, the bed linens were neatly folded and the little man was out on the porch. He refused breakfast, but just before he left for his bus, haltingly, as if asking a great favour, he said, "Could I please come back and stay the next time I have a treatment? Your children made me feel at home. Grown-ups are bothered by my face, but children don't seem to mind." I told him he was welcome to come again. And on his next trip he arrived a little after seven in the morning. As a gift, he brought a big fish and a quart of the largest oysters I had ever seen! He said he had shucked them that morning before he left so that they'd be nice and fresh. I knew his bus left at 4 a.m. and I wondered what time he had to get up in order to do this for us. In the years he came to stay overnight with us, there was never a time that he did not bring us fish or oysters or vegetables from his
garden. From him we learned what it was to accept the bad without complaint and the good with gratitude to God.
Recently, I was visiting a friend, who showed me her flowers. We came to the most beautiful one of all, a golden chrysanthemum, bursting with blooms. But it was growing in an old, dented, rusty bucket. "I ran short of pots," she explained, "and knowing how beautiful this one would be, I thought it wouldn't mind starting out in this old pail."
"Here's an especially beautiful one," God might have said when he came to the soul of the sweet old fisherman. He won't mind starting in this small body.
Questions :
1. What precaution had the old man taken to see that the oysters remained fresh ?
2. What did the narrator realise when she got up?
3. What might God have said when he came to the soul of the old fisherman?
4. (a) I was visiting a friend, who showed me her flowers. (Identify the clauses and state their kind)
(b) They were the largest oysters I had ever seen. (Change to the comparative degree)
5. (i) Explain : (a) gratitude (b) blooms
(ii) Complete the following table :
| Noun | Verb | Adjective |
| ------------ | ---------- | Beautiful |
| ------------ | Accept | -------- |
6. What, according to you, are the outstanding qualities of the fisherman?
Q.1. (F) Read the following passage and answer the questions given below :
| U |
nder this objective, the women in the leadership training were taught how to apply for bank loans. Kantabai Wali, one of those who underwent the special training programme, had already demonstrated her courage and leadership qualities years ago when she registered a case under the Atrocity Act against a shopkeeper who had harassed her. Her complaint was taken seriously by the local authorities who even provided her with protection of a plainclothes policeman.
Her application for a loan was sanctioned after an initial seed capital of Rs25,000 was given and the SHG demonstrated its ability to repay in time and generate more money. Ten of the women in the group were able to claim a special subsidy of Rs 10, 000 each because they were below the poverty line. Sankalp has helped a total of 22 SHGs in Aurangabad, Jalna and Parbhani to procure loans amounting to close to Rs.19 lakhs in one year. The increased income of anything between Rs.2,000 and Rs3,000 a month for each member has given the women a new sense of confidence. Besides, they have learned how to collectively anticipate challenges and work them out at a community level. Says Kantabai Wali, who bought buffaloes with her part of the loan, "We realized that if we all bought cattle we would have grazing
problems as there is very little land in our village. So Bhagwat Kadam decided she would buy a welding machine as her husband knows welding. They plan to setup a small shop in Shelu. Jayshree Kamble decided on vermiculture because she has extensive knowledge on the subject. We help each other particularly if someone is facing a financial crunch because we know the importance of repaying the loan in time. Like an army of ants, we can march ahead, even if one falls sometimes."
Questions :
1. How did the local police help Kantabai?
2. Why did the villagers take up different activities?
3. What is the purpose of this text?
4. (a) Her complaint was taken seriously by the local authorities. (Change the Voice)
(b) We can march ahead. (Pick out the Auxiliary and State its kind)
5. (i) Write the verb form of : (a) application (b) collective. (ii) Write a simile from the text.
6. What can we do to help the village women who are trying to seek self employment?
Q.1. (G) Read the following passage and answer the questions given below :
| T |
wo weeks later, I visited Mom, eager to show her a videotape of the home run. But when I walked into her room, I was shocked to see the physical condition of my dear mother. I knew that this would probably be the last visit I would ever have with her. We were both watching the tape for the first time, so I didn't anticipate the commentator's story that would unfold. After I hit the home run, the announcer, Harry Kalas, explained that it had been six long weeks since my last hit. Mom and I held hands and listened to Kalas continue,"John Morris had really struggled the second half of this season, and this couldn't have happened to a nicer guy." I could feel the tears building up inside the two of us, as he showed a slow motion replay of my dramatic home run. As the pitcher wound up, Kalas uttered the sweetest words my mom had ever heard. "John's
mom has been quite ill for some time," and as the ball connected with the bat, he finished, "and this one was probably for his mom."
Mom and I broke down. She hugged me as tightly as she could and whispered into my ear, "I love you son, and I'm very proud of you. I'm going to miss you very much." The season was ending the last weekend of September when I
received a call that Mom was not expected to make it through the weekend. That Sunday afternoon, the last out of the season was recorded, and on Monday morning she passed away with me at her bedside. It was as if she knew the season was complete, and that it was all right to let go.
Questions :
1. Why didn’t the writer anticipate the commentator’s story that would unfold?
2. What emotions did the writer and his mother go through while watching the tape together?
3. Point out the lines that indicate the most emotional moments between the writer and his Mom.
4. (a) I could feel the tears building up inside us. (Make Complex)
(b) This one was probably for his mom. (Rewrite as a negative sentence)
5. (i) Write meanings : (a) sensational (b) expect
(ii) Create a word register of four words specially related to the game mentioned in the passage above.
6. What do you think was the greatest moment of joy and pride for the narrator’s mother? Why?
Q.1. (H) Read the following passage and answer the questions given below :
| M |
y father was in UK between 1928 and 1931 working at his Ph.D in the University of London. He had taught history at Government College, Lahore. One day the professor, who was his guide, complimented him on his work. My father was so pleased that he decided to splurge a bit. He went to an expensive tailoring emporium on Saville Row and ordered a suit for himself. He was pleased with the result and wore that suit, with pride, for many years.
Fifty years later, in 1978, I attended an international teachers' programme in France; and from there, my wife and I proceeded to London. Despite the enormous increase in the price of almost everything, I decided to visit Saville Row and order a suit for myself, as my father had done decades earlier. I will not name the establishment, which I located after some effort. I walked in with a feeling of trepidation but was determined to go through with my resolve to order a suit. The shop's interior was a model of subdued elegance. The dapper gentleman, Mr. Robinson, who greeted me, was dressed in a dark suit and was affability itself. He seated me in comfortable chair and asked me what he could do for me. With some hesitation I mentioned my father's name and the fact that he had a suit stitched in 1930. The man smiled, said he would be back shortly and disappeared inside. He emerged 15 minutes later, still smiling, and told me he had successful in locating my father's order in his books. I was impressed and told of my desire to have a suit made for myself.
Questions :
1. Who complimented the writer’s father ? Why ?
2. What did the writer’s father do when the professor complimented him ?
3. Why must the writer have walked in with a feeling of ‘trepidation’ ?
4. (a) I will not name the establishment which I located after some effort. (Identify the Clause)
(b) He emerged 15 minutes later. (Make it Interrogative)
5. (i) Find words from the passage which mean : (a) anxiety (b) very large
(ii) Write antonyms of : (a) pride (b) expensive
6. Do you think splurging to be a good habit?
Q.1. (I) Read the following passage and answer the questions givenbelow :
| O |
ur next thoughts must-be of the unknown volunteers and soldiers of freedom who, without praise or reward, have served India even unto death. We think also of our brothers and sisters who have been cut off from us by political boundaries and who unhappily cannot share at present in the freedom that has come. They are of us and will remain of us whatever may happen, and we shall be sharers in their good and ill fortune alike. The future beckons to us. Whiter do we go and what shall be our endeavour? To bring freedom and opportunity to the common man, to the peasants and workers of India, to fight and end poverty and ignorance and disease; to build up a prosperous, democratic progressive nation, and to create social, economic, and political institutions which will ensure justice and fullness of life to every man and woman.
We have hard work ahead. There is no resting for any one of us till we redeem out pledge in full, till we make all the people of India what destiny intended them to be. We are citizens of a great country, on the verge of bold advance, and we have to live up to that high standard. All of us, to whatever religion we may belong, are equally the children of India with equal rights, privileges and obligations. We cannot encourage communalism or narrow-mindedness, for no
nation can be great whose people are narrow in thoughts or in action. To the nations and peoples of the world we send greetings and pledge ourselves to co-operate with them in furthering peace, freedom and democracy. And to India, our much-loved motherland, the ancient, the eternal and the ever-new, we pay our reverent homage and we bind ourselves afresh to her service. Jai Hind.
Questions :
1. How does Nehru describe our motherland?
2. What role does Nehru visualize for India in the world?
3. What is Nehru’s message to the people of free India ?
4. (a) They have served India. (Identify the tense)
(b) No nation can be great whose people are narrow in thoughts. (Make it Interrogative)
5. (i) Give the adjective form of (a) nation (b) economic (ii) Pick out two adverbs from the passage.
6. What objectives of the Constitution of India are reflected in Nehru’s message.
Q.1. (J) Read the following passage and answer the questions given below :
| I |
was trying to figure out a way to tell this fellow, without being too blunt, that he just wasn't what I had in mind at all. I asked him about his background. He said he had a degree in agriculture from Oklahoma State University and that he had been a ranch hand in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, for the past few years during the summers.
He announced that was all over now, he was ready to be a success in "biness," and he would just "shore appreciate a chance."
We continued to talk. He was so focused on success and how he would "shore appreciate a chance" that I decided to give him a chance. I told him I would spend two days with him. In those two days I would teach him everything I thought he needed to know to sell one type of very small telephone system. At the end of those two days he would be on his own. He asked me how much money I thought he could make. I told him, "Looking like you look and knowing what you know,
the best you can do is about $ 1,000 per month." I went on to explain that the average commission on the small telephone systems he would be selling was approximately $ 250 per system. I told him if he would see 100 prospects per month, that he would sell four of those prospects a telephone system. Selling four telephone systems would give him $1,000. I hired him on straight commission with no base salary. He said that sounded great to him because the most he had ever made was $ 400 per month. The next morning, I sat him down to cram as much of the telephone "business" I could into a 22-yearsold
cowboy with no business experience, no telephone experience and no sales experience. He looked like anything but a professional salesperson in the telecommunications business. In fact, he had none of the qualities I was looking for in an employee, expect one: He had an incredible focus on being a success.
Questions :
1. On what terms was Cowboy appointed on the job?
2. How much money could Cowboy make according to the writer?
3. Why did the writer want to spend two days with the cowboy?
4. (a) He was ready to be a success in biness. (Change the underlined word to an Adjective and Rewrite)
(b) I hired him on straight commission with no base salary. (Make it Affirmative)
5. (i) Make adjective : (a) appreciated (b) system
(ii) Write expressions meaning : (a) to think about (b) to be very frank
6. What impressed you the most about the cowboy from the passage?
Write a speech on "India of my dreams".
INDIA OF MY DREAMS
Respected Principal, teachers and my dear friends, A warm welcome to all of you to the awareness program of ‘India of my dreams’ I am honoured to express my feelings in front of everybody about a topic that is so close to my heart. I have often thought about this-India of my dreams’, everytime. I am sure each one of you must be having your own perception on how would India look like if things were really in shape. I first of all think of a hundred percent educated India with no
poverty and unemployment. Is that possible? Yes, I believe it is our attitude towards things that make things happen. Nothing is impossible. When I take a look at the railway tracks and the hutments nearby, from the train, with all the filth and rubbish
littered all around, it hurts me. Can’t we have garbage free India? A place where everybody feels fresh and relaxed, a place with no pollution, no corruption, no selfishness, no violence and of course, we know the list is endless. Wish all of us start understanding each other and have sensitivity towards each and every individual. Sensitivity towards nature is also of paramount significance. When you come to think of it , things are not difficult at all, we can make our country a better place to live in. India can reach the top pedestal and can do a great job in the field of science and technology.I always wish a day comes when, the foreign countries will be importing machineries, technicians, scientists, doctors and teachers and reporters give our example to the entire world to reach the path of progress and development. I hope you and me together can involve ourselves in as many social projects as possible for the good of our country. And a day will come where I will be able to proudly say, yes this is my India- a country of my dreams.
Write a report of about 100 words on the Diwali Festival highlighting the various artistic activities such as drawing Rangoli, makinglanterns etc.
The Excitement called Diwali
Mumbai, October 25 :
This year, Diwali came during the weekend, making it a joyous time for even those who normally couldn’t get off from their busy schedules. Shopping for new clothes and crackers was on the agenda even for the poorest of poor (according to their budget) and the annual bonus put a smile on even the meanest and stingiest of scrooges. Electric lights competed with earthen lamps lit in a row, to welcome Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth. Houses were cleaned and decorated with ‘torans’ and ‘rangoli’ paper lanterns were made to create a fairyland effect and everything/everyone seemed to be happy and gay. Having had a good monsoon and a bumper crop, the farmers had a truly ‘HAPPY DIWALI’. Businessmen opened new books of accounts hoping for a prosperous year. Savories and sweetmeats filled the air with an aroma of celebration. It was indeed a joyous Deepawali.
Write a dialogue between a manager of electronic store and yourself.
Manager : Good evening Sir, what would you like to see?
You : A 100 % Indian T.V. - the model that was advertised a couple of months ago.
Manager : Sorry Sir, I wish we had it here today but there is no stock.
You : But, just last month one of my friend had purchased it from this outlet.
Manager : That’s right, but we have sold all the models of that brand.
You : How sad ! I don’t believe this. Hasn’t the company despatched fresh stock?
Manager : Well you see, we will be receiving new stock next week.
You : Oh ! I will have to wait then.
Manager : I am extremely sorry. I would have helped you but I am helpess.
You : Well, it’s Ok. I’ll come again.
Write an Interview with your favourite star. Frame ten questions.
Interviewer : Hailing from a political family, how difficult was it for you to come to films?
Interviewer : Was there ever a time when you felt like quitting?
Interviewer : It is a wonder how effortlessly you convey the plight of the less fortunate characters. How do you do that?
Interviewer : On what basis do you choose your films?
Interviewer : We learnt that you have a degree in psychology. How does it help you understand the characters you play?
Interviewer : Your social work has never suffered at the hands of your film career. How is managing so much possible for you?
Interviewer : Most of your films are called moral science lessons by your critics. Is that a conscious effort?
Interviewer : Do you have any specific people in mind that you would like to work with?
Interviewer : As a youth icon, what is your message to them?
As an interviewer for the Press interview the forest keeper/officer of SGNP. Frame ten questions.
(The X STD students got an opportunity to interview the officer of SGNP)
1. What is the total area that has been allocated to SGNP?
2. What is your criteria for the selection of the care-takers?
3. How many animals are there in all in this National Park?
4. Which species of animals are there in the park?
5. Do you limit the number of people coming to the National Park on public holidays?
6. What problems are encountered by you and your care-takers just in case the number rises on public holidays?
7. What measures do you follow to discipline the crowd and make it less stressful for the animals?
8. What is the ratio of the care-takers to animals?
9. Do you get any extra funds for the maintenance of the National Park?
10. Do you think with the growing human population, you will be able to take care of the animals of this National Park?
Write a speech on ''Farewell to the senior students''.
Farewell To The Senior Students
Respected Principal, teachers and our dear students of class X whom we will miss immensely and my own fellow students,
The students of class X are all poised on the threshold of the next phase of their lives. In school we learn to walk, but in college they will have to learn to run to win in the race of the future. I remember the last sports day when you all won awards for different events like inter school sports and quizzes and made our school proud of you. You also took time off to coach us, your juniors, so that we could do better. Open house was a resounding success last year and every planning, organising and execution was so well co-ordinated by all of you. Academically, the percentiles and averages put up by your batch
is unmatched. Your score raises the benchmark for all of us and we all will have to work doubly hard to achieve your standard. As a class passing out, you will be passing on the baton of responsibility to us and your stellar examples will serve us well to emulate you. We wish you a fond adieu and farewell. With best wishes for your forthcoming Board exam.
Honesty Is The Best Policy
Honesty is the best policy is a maxim we have heard since our childhood. But is it really? Ask how honesty is helpful in a
world where money and power rule many people well, to those people I say that an honest person has an advantage over others. People who lie are always afraid of being found out. They can’t look people in the eye. Honest people aren’t afraid. They are confident and self-assured. This attitude makes them better suited for success. Dishonest people always look to exploit situations. But they don’t realize that they are wasting precious time and energy that could be utilized better in an honest manner. For example, a student who is looking to cheat in the exams spends valuable time preparing chits, time that he could have spent studying the lessons. Being honest would have meant he would score well in his exams on his own accord. This would have boosted his confidence and he would have remembered the lesson, which he may need later in his life. Thus, honesty is the best policy and a key to being successful.
Every Dark Cloud has a silver lining
Success comes to those who see opportunity in adversity. For it is only after being put through the heat of adversity that pure gold is brought out. From the womb of pain emerges a baby of hope. The difficult period is the time that an intelligent man will use to learn and equip himself to deal better with the next dark cloud and emerge on top. Yes, it is painful and difficult, but nobody said success could be achieved easily. Take the opportunity presented by the dark clouds to learn more about them, learn about others who have encountered such times and come out with the pearls of wisdom from the depths of their despair. Take time to re-examine your life and check your flaws and strengths. This will help you improve the quality of your life. For example, children who have braces on their teeth. Of course, it is torturous at first. The kids have to endure the ridicule of their classmates and friends. But kids who can bear the discomfort of public ridicule and physical pain end up with perfectly aligned teeth, stronger character and more tolerant personality. So never despair if dark clouds cast a shadow over your world. Wait, learn how to live in that state and you will never let gloom take control of your heart. After all, the dark clouds will lift sooner or later and sunlight will breakthrough and brighten your life.
TRAVEL BROADENS THE MIND
Travel is the rubber band that stretches your outlook of life. Travelling even if it is till that shop at the corner of your society
can teach you a lot. What? Next time you go to that shop observe the people. You will see that each individual has special mannerisms, one person scratches his head when nervous, another has the annoying habit of digging his nose. You may also see that they are handicapped and have only one leg but still managing a store. This single trip has taught you not to judge people at face value. Travelling introduces us to other people and helps educate us. It makes us more tolerant, especially if one is travelling by the Mumbai local trains. It opens our eyes to different cultures. For instance, if snakes and dogs are pets for you, well there are places in the world where people look on these as food items. Exposure to different values, ideas and cultures will thus inevitably make us more mature and broadminded.
Honesty Pays
To understand the maxim ‘Honesty Pays’ one has to just read another proverb, ‘crime never pays’. Dishonest people may succeed for a while, but would ultimately always get his just desserts. An honest person, on the other hand, may suffer the trials and tribulations of life but will in the final equation emerge a winner. An honest person puts in the effort to be successful and in the long run the effort always pays dividends. That is because an honest person is better equipped to overcome obstacles due to his training. Honest people are uncomplicated in their approach to life and their straightforwardness wins them a lot of friends. Finally it is people with true friends who are the winners in life.
Handsome is as handsome does
They say looks are deceptive yet people form opinions based on the outward appearence of an Individual. Instead we should
bear in mind that it is the character and the deeds of a person that should be given more importance. Inner beauty is more important than outward appearence. If we go through the pages of history we will realize that the greatest people, the most respected souls are known for their good deeds and inner beauty. For instance Mother Teresa who is even venerated as a saint today, didn’t have a beautiful face yet the compassion in her heart and the expression of earnest devotion to care for the down-trodden on her face makes her the most beautiful woman who lived on this planet; many other great name can be enumerated here like Mahatma Gandhi for his adherence to truth and non - violence and unswerving courage changed the
destiny of the Indians and he hardly falls in the parameters of so called handsome men. Great people like Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr. etc. too didn’t look impressive but left behind an impact on the world by the strength of their characters. Thus we can say that these great souls truly prove the saying ‘Handsome is as handsome does’.
A.1. (A) Read the following passage and answer the questions given below :
1. Kantabai Wali's business venture is cattle rearing.
2. Jayshree Kamble wants to create her own brand name so she does not want to sell the compost to any company because no one will relate her name with the compost.
3. Inspite of being an illiterate, Kantabai Wali has undertaken a business venture and also has knowledge of finance and marketing. Thus she laughs at the irony of the situation.
4. (a) Kantabai laughs heartily, doesn’t she? (b) She is an angutha chhap - Main Clause. who cannot sign her name - Adjective Clause qualifying the noun ‘an angutha chhap’.
5. (i) (a) cattle-rearing (b) income-generating. (ii) (a) loss (b) urban
6. For a small enterprise one should have a sound knowledge of business, should be ready to take risks, he should be hard-working, sincere and focused in his work. This will help the enterprise to grow to a great extent.
A.1. (B) Read the following passage and answer the questions given below :
1. To try to forget about her chin, Keryn curled up on the corner of the living room sofa and read a book.
2. Jason teased Keryn that though eating carrots might be good for her skin, it would make her top teeth grow and make her ears long and floppy like a rabbit.
3. By suggesting that Keryn could try plastic surgery or a flame thrower, Jason was only being sarcastic.
4. (a) Jason told Keryn to be careful of those raw carrots. (b) She would have nothing except a raw carrot instead.
5. (i) (a) thought / thoughtfulness (b) growth (ii) (a) see (b) bee
6. The relationship shared by the members of Keryn’s family seems to be like that of any other normal close knit family. They discuss matters while having meals together. They care for and support each other whenever required.
A.1. (C) Read the following passage and answer the questions given below :
1. Besides Cara, Otto wrote to Sumi from Japan and John Neiman, a college student.
2. Otto greeted Cara with a lot of warmth and eagerness and gave her a real bearhug. There were no formal handshakes or polite hellos as Cara had feared.
3. Otto had saved all of Cara’s letters as each person who wrote to him was significant to him.
4. (a) Otto gave her advice through the years. (b) Wasn’t it really him?
5. (i) (a) letter - daughter, (b) snow – white (ii) (a) brought out - The lawyer brought out all the documents, as evidence before the jury. (b) stacked on - Old newspapers were stacked on the sofa and all across the room.
6. I would have felt on the top of the world, absolutely elated on receiving such a warm welcome from Otto. It would have been like a father-daughter re-union. In Indian style, I would have touched Otto Frank’s feet as a mark of respect for an elder.
A.1. (D) Read the following passage and answer the questions given below :
1. The narrator remembers days and nights when his mother worked continuously like the mother in the write up.
2. Mother set the alarm, laid out clothing for the next day straightened up the shoe rack and said her prayers in her own room.
3. Mother made sure the doors were locked and the verandah light was on.
4. (a) I’m on my way, aren’t I ? (b) Turning off the TV, dad announced to no one in particular.
5. (i - b), (ii - c), (iii - d), (iv - a)
6. I think, I should help mother. This will give her some time for herself and also some respite from the numerous chores she has to perform. It will also make me independent.
A.1. (E) Read the following passage and answer the questions given below :
1. He had shucked them that morning before he left so that they’d be fresh.
2. The narrator realised that the bed linens were neatly foldedand the old man was out on the porch.
3. God might have said that the old man wouldn’t mind starting in his small body as he had a beautiful soul.
4. (a) I was visiting a friend - Main Clause who showed me her flowers-Subordinate Adjective Clause qualifying the noun ‘friend’ in the Main Clause. (b) They were larger than any other oysters I had ever seen.
5. (i) (a) thankfulness (b) flowers
| Noun | Verb | Adjective |
| beauty | Beautify | Beautiful |
| acceptance | Accept | acceptable |
6. The fisherman seems to be a man with loads of courage and positive attitude. He was a very humble person who considered life to be God’s most precious gift. Inspite of facing so many hardships he was grateful to God as he only looked at the positive aspect of life.
A.1. (F) Read the following passage and answer the questions given below :
1. Kantabai’s complaint was taken seriously by the local authorities who provided her with the protection of a plainclothes policeman.
2. They all realized that if they all bought cattle they would have grazing problems as there was very little land in their village, so each one of them decided to take up different activities.
3. The purpose of this text is to help one understand that one can be independent by starting a small enterprise and one has to empowerthe villagers to help them improve their conditions.
4. (a) The local authorities took her complaint seriously. (b) can - ability.
5. (i) (a) apply (b) collect (ii) Like an army of ants.
6. We can buy products made by them like the compost, handicraft items,etc. We can encourage everybody to buy products made by the villagers which will widen their business prospects. We can create awareness about the SHGs and problems of villages.
A.1. (G) Read the following passage and answer the questions given below :
1. The writer didn’t anticipate the commentator’s story as he was watching the tape for the first time with his mother.
2. The writer could feel the tears building up inside the two of them as they watched the tape of the dramatic home run. Both of them broke down as the commentator announced that the home run was for his mother.
3. The lines that indicate the most emotional moments between the writer and his Mom are, “I love you son, and I’m very proud of you. I’m going to miss you very much.”
4. (a) I could feel that the tears were building up inside us. (b) This one was probably for none other than his mom.
5. (i) (a) dramatic (b) anticipate (ii) home run, pitcher, foul, strike.
6. The narrator’s game had been affected as his mother’s condition had worsened. For six long weeks he had not been able to connect with the ball. This was also disturbing the mother. She could sense the pain that her son was going through. So the day, the narrator hit the home run, was the greatest moment of joy and pride for his mother.
A.1. (H) Read the following passage and answer the questions given below :
1. The writer’s father’s professor, who was his guide complimented him for his work.
2. When the professor complimented the writer’s father, he decided to splurge a bit and ordered a suit for himself from an expensive tailoring emporium on Saville Row.
3. The writer entered with a feeling of trepidation wondering whether he would be able to afford the suit due to the increase in prices.
4. (a) I will not name the establishment - Main Clause which I located after some effort - Subordinate Adjective Clause
qualifying the noun establishment in the Main Clause. (b) Didn’t he emerge 15 minutes later?
5. (i) (a) trepidation (b) enormous (ii) (a) humility (b) cheap
6. To splurge at times, to boost one’s ego or to celebrate a special occasion is fine but falling prey to such a habit is harmful. One must always spend within one’s means and save, too.
A.1. (I) Read the following passage and answer the questions given below :
1. Nehru describes our Motherland as much-loved, the ancient, the eternal and the ever-new.
2. Nehru visualizes Indias the role to co-operate with the world in furthering peace, freedom and democracy.
3. Nehru’s message is that Indians should live in equality, be aware of their rights, privileges and obligations and not indulge in communalism or narrow - mindedness.
4. (a) Present Perfect Tense. (b) Can any nation be great whose people are narrow in thoughts?
5. (i) (a) national (b) economical (ii) (a) equally (b) unhappily
6. The objectives of the Constitution of India that are reflected in Nehru’s message are : to bring freedom and opportunity, to build up a prosperous, democratic, progressive nation, and to create social, economic, and political institutions which will ensure justice and fullness of life to every man and woman and to have a secularistic attitude.
A.1. (J) Read the following passage and answer the questions given below :
1. Cowboy was appointed on straight commission with no base salary.
2. According to the writer, Cowboy could probably sell four telephone systems at the rate $ 250 per system thus making $ 1000 per month.
3. The writer wanted to spend two days with the cowboy to teach him everything he needed to know to sell one type of a very small telephone system as the cowboy had no experience in sales.
4. (a) He was ready to be successful in business. (b) I hired him on straight commission without base salary.
5. (i) (a) appreciative (b) systematic (ii) (a) to figure out (b) to be blunt
6. I am impressed about the cowboy’s incredible focus on being a success despite having none of the required qualification of a salesman. He was mentally prepared to be a success in business and had left his past behind him. His determination to move ahead with life is very inspiring.
