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Answers to Textbook questions What does the author notice one Sunday afternoon? What is his mother’s reaction? What does she do? One Sunday afternoon, the author noticed a strange smell. Then he saw smoke pouring in through the seams of the ceiling and filling the room very quickly. They could barely see anything. His mother reacted promptly and the two of them ran out into the front yard .By the time they ran out into the front yard, the roof was already engulfed in flames and was spreading very quickly. His mother ran back into the house. She brought out a small metal box full of important documents. She again ran back to bring her husband’s pictures and letters. Why does he break down in tears after the fire? After the fire, he broke down into tears because it suddenly struck him that he was suffering a big loss. He realized that his cat could not be seen anywhere. The cat and the author were emotionally attached to each other Then, everything hit him at once − the new school, ...

Weathering the Storm in Ersama Answers to Text book questions Think About It What havoc has the super cyclone wreaked in the life of the people of Orissa? (ANS) The super cyclone devastated everything in Orissa. Houses were destroyed, people lost their families, belongings and source of sustenance.  After the super cyclone, a raging deadly brown sheet of water covered everything. Only some fractured cement houses still stood in a few places. Bloated animal carcasses and human corpses floated in every direction. Even the huge old trees had fallen. When Prashant went towards his village along with two friends of his uncle, they had to push away many human bodies and carcasses of dogs, goats, and cattle. They could barely see a house standing. All the houses had been washed away.  How has Prashant, a teenager, been able to help the people of his village? (ANS) Prashant helped the people of his village by first getting a grip over himself because he was initially shocked on...

Reach For The Top Answers to Textbook Questions: 1. Why was the 'holy man' who gave Santosh's mother his blessings surprised? Ans)The 'holy man' had assumed that Santosh's mother wanted a son as the part of the society she belonged to regarded the birth of a son as a blessing. However, he was surprised when the unborn child's grandmother told him that they did not want a son. 2. Give an example to show that even as a young girl Santosh was not ready to accept anything unreasonable. Ans)Santosh, from the very beginning, lived life on her own terms. She was not content with the traditional way of life and was not ready to accept anything unreasonable. One example which proves this is that Santosh, unlike other girls who wore traditional Indian dresses, preferred wearing shorts. 3. Why was Santosh sent to the local school? An)Even though Santosh's parents could afford to send their children to the best schools, she was sent to the local villag...

On killing a tree Answers the following: 1. Can a ‘simple jab of the knife’ kill a tree? Why not? Ans)No, a simple jab of a knife cannot kill a tree because it takes many years for a tree to grow and rise out of the earth. Moreover, only a chop cannot kill it because it will slowly rise again and grow to its original size. 2. How has the tree grown to its full size? List the words suggestive of its life and activity. Ans)The unchecked growth of the tree has led it mature to its full size. It has consumed the earth and risen above it by absorbing years of sunlight, air and water from its crust. The words suggestive of its life and activity are- grown consuming rising feeding absorbing sprouting pain bleeding heal expand. 3. What is the meaning of ‘bleeding bark’? What makes it bleed? Ans)‘Bleeding bark’ refers to the area on the tree trunk where it has been hit with the axe. It bleeds because the wood cutter has wounded the tree by cutting and chopping it. 4. The poet s...

The Last Leaf 1)Answers to Textbook questions What is Johnsy’s illness? What can cure - the medicine or the willingness to live? Ans)Johnsy fell ill in November and developed pneumonia. It was autumn and the leaves on the ivy creeper were falling gradually. This depressed an already ill Johnsy and strangely enough she associated her falling health with the leaves. She believed that she would die when the last leaf fell. According to the doctor, Johnsy’s condition was worrisome because she did not show any signs of improvement despite good treatment. He thought that perhaps she had lost her will to live and no medicine could help her in this negative state of mind. 2)Do you think the feeling of depression Johnsy has is common among teenagers? Ans)Yes, the feeling of depression Johnsy has is common among teenagers. It is so because, like Johnsy, they too lack emotional maturity. They fail to understand that sorrows are as much a part of our lives as joys are. Certain situations in ...

THE DUCK AND THE  KANGAROO Short Answer Questions (to be answered in about 30–40 words each) 1. Why was the Duck fascinated by the Kangaroo’s hopping? Ans)The Duck was fascinated by the Kangaroo’s hopping because she herself could not hop.She had to lead a boring life swimming in a nasty pond, so she admired the Kangaroo’s continuous hopping over the fields as well as water bodies. 2. Why did the Duck call the pond ‘nasty’? Ans)The Duck called the pond ‘nasty’ because it was not interesting. It made the Duck’s life monotonous boring and devoid of excitement. The Duck disliked the pond because it restricted her. 3. What did the Duck promise the Kangaroo and why? Ans)The Duck promised the Kangaroo that if he took her around for a ride she would fully co-operate with him. She would sit on his back very still and quietly so that he would neither be distracted nor lose his balance. 4. What did the Duck wish to do after leaving her pond? What places did she wish to visit ...