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The Beggar Answers to Textbook Questions 1. Has Lushkoff become a beggar by circumstance or by choice? Lushkoff became a beggar by circumstance. Formerly, he sang in a Russian choir, but was sent away for drunkenness. This led him to beg. 2. What reasons does he give to Sergei for his telling lies? Lushkoff said that since he was fired for being an alcoholic, he had to tell lies. And, if he told the truth no one would give him anything. 3. Is Lushkoff a willing worker? Why, then, does he agree to chop wood for Sergei? No, Lushkoff is not a willing worker. He agrees to chop wood for Sergei not because he was hungry and wanted work but because of his pride and shame and since he had been trapped by his own words. His strength had been undermined by drinking too much vodka and he was unhealthy and did not feel the slightest inclination to do any work. 4. Sergei says, “I am happy that my words have taken effect.” Why does he say so? Is he right in saying this? When Sergei got Lus...

                                    If I Were You I. Answer these questions. 1. “At last a sympathetic audience.” (i) Who says this? The speaker of the given line is Gerrard (ii) Why does he say it? He says it as he is asked by the intruder to speak about himself. 2. Why does the intruder choose Gerrard as the man whose identity he wants to take on? Gerrard looks much like the intruder. The intruder is a murderer. The police are after him. He hopes he can easily impersonate Gerrard and escape being caught. 3. “I said it with bullets.” (i) Who says this? Gerrard says this. (ii) What does it mean? When things had gone wrong, the intruder had used his gun to shoot someone in order to escape. 4. What is Gerrard’s profession? Quote the parts of the play that support your answer. Gerrard is a playwright by profession. Several parts of the play that reflect this. Some of these are: O “Thi...

Comprehension Questions Short answer questions (answers in about 30–40 words each) "It takes much time to kill a tree. Not a simple job of the knife. Will do it...." Why does it take so much time to kill a tree? (ANS)It is not easy to kill a tree simply with a stroke of a knife. The tree has deep roots which anchor it to the soil. It has risen out of the earth and absorbed years of sunlight, air and water. In order to kill a tree, its root must be uprooted. If the roots are left to be scorched and choked in sun and air, then the tree dies. This process takes much time and it requires a lot of effort. Contrast 'bleeding bark' with 'green twigs'. (ANS)The poet has used the words and phrases very skilfully. 'Bleeding bark' is suggestive of deterioration whereas 'green twigs' suggest fresh growth. 'Bleeding' represents destruction; ‘Green’ shows the springing of life. 'Green' and 'bleeding' symbolize the change from des...

THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST Answers to Text book questions 1. Bill Bryson says, “I am, in short, easily confused”. What examples has he given to justify this? (Ans.)Bill Bryson supports his tendency to get confused easily by giving examples like his failure to find a lavatory in a cinema. Instead, he ends up standing in the alley on the wrong side of a self-locking door. Another example is about his returning to hotel desks two or three times a day and enquiring about his room number. 2.What happens when the zip on Bryson’s carry-on bag gives way? (Ans.)Bryson’s side of the bag opened abruptly and its contents got scattered all over when he pulled hard at its zip. Newspaper cuttings, loose papers, tobacco tin, magazines, passport, English money, film – everything inside the bag spread over an area about the size of a tennis court. 3. Why is Bryson’s finger bleeding? What is his wife’s reaction? (Ans.)Bryson’s finger is bleeding because he has gashed it on the zip of his carry-on ...

BOND OF LOVE Answers to Textbook Questions 1)On two occasions Bruno ate/drank something that should not be eaten or drunk. What happened to him on these occasions? (Textual) Once the narrator had brought home barium carbonate for killing rats in the library. Since the poison had been kept on the floor of the library, Bruno consumed it. This had a paralyzing effect on him. Bruno was rushed to the veterinary doctor who gave him two doses of the antidote. On another occasion, Bruno drank engine oil. 2)However, the engine oil did not have any effect on him. Was Bruno a loving and playful pet? Why, then, did he have to be sent away? Bruno was certainly a loving and playful pet. He had developed affection for everyone around him and was particularly attached to the narrator’s wife. However, he had to be sent away to the zoo because he had grown too big to be kept at home. He could be a threat to the people in the neighbourhood, especially children. 3)How was the problem of what to do...

Kathmandu I. Answer these questions in one or two words or in short phrases. 1. Name the two temples the author visited in Kathmandu. (Ans.) The author visited the Pashupati Nath Temple and the Budhnath Stupa. 2. The writer says, “All this I wash down with Coca Cola.” What does ‘all this’ refer to? (Ans.) All this’ refers to the eatables that the writer enjoys on the road surrounding the Budhnath stupa. It includes a bar of marzipan and a roasted corn-cob that he enjoys along with the fizzy, carbonated drink, Coca Cola. Besides, he also gets some love story comics and a copy of the Reader’s Digest magazine. 3. What does Vikram Seth compare to the quills of a porcupine? (Ans.) The flute seller had placed an attachment on top of a pole from which fifty or sixty bansuris protruded in all directions. They looked like the quills of a porcupine. 4. Name five kinds of flutes. (Ans.) Bansuri, Reed, Murli, Shakuhachi, and Neh. II. Answer each question in a short paragraph. 1. Wha...

Answers to Text book questions Thinking about the Poem 1)What is the snake trying to escape from? Ans.The snake is trying to escape an assault on him. He is being chased by a man with a stick in his hand. The snake fears that the man wants to kill him by hitting him with the stick. The snake intends to evade being struck by the stick. 2)Is it a harmful snake? What is its colour? Ans.The snake is green and small. It is absolutely harmless as it is non-poisonous. It is harmless even to the children and hence need not be feared or killed merely because human beings consider snakes as harmful creatures. The poet finds the snake beautiful. Find the words he uses to convey its beauty. The poet uses the words ‘beautiful and graceful’ to describe the shapes of the snake’s body. He uses the words ‘small and green’ to describe the snake’s size and colour respectively. All these words connote admiration. 3)What does the poet wish for the snake? Ans.The poet wishes that the snake be left ...

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 ...

I) Answers to Text book questions: 1. (i) “Beneath all uniforms…” What uniforms do you think the poet is speaking about? Ans)The poet is probably speaking about the uniforms that the soldiers wear at the time of  war. The word ‘uniform’ here could also mean the traditional dresses of a country. (ii) How does the poet suggest that all people on earth are the same? Ans)The poet suggests that all people on earth are the same as they breathe, wake, sleep, hate, love and labour in the same manner. When they die, they are buried under the same earth. The importance of the sun and air and water is equal for everyone. Everyone needs peace and suffers from starvation during wars. 2. In stanza 1, find five ways in which we all are alike. Ans) Each of us has a similar body, we breathe the common air, we walk on the same earth , we live and will die and be buried under the same earth. 3. How many common features can you find in stanza 2? Pick out the words. Ans)There are five commo...

This is for reference.  Comprehension Questions  What did the narrator pride himself on?  (ANS)The narrator prided himself on packing. Packing is one of those many things that he felt that he knew more about than any other person living.  How did the narrator intend to do the packing for their trip?  (ANS)The narrator had intended to be the boss for the job of packing. He wanted Harris and George to potter about under his directions.  His aim was to teach them.  What irritated him about the behaviour of Harris and George? (ANS) When the narrator told his friends that he would pack, George spread himself over the easy-chair, and Harris cocked his legs on the table. Their taking his suggestion that way irritated him. There is nothing that irritated him more than seeing other people sitting about doing nothing when he was working.  Why couldn’t the narrator sit still and see another man slaving and working? (ANS)The narrator couldn’t sit ...

Ch-7 packing Vocabulary Word Meanings • cocked - tilt something in a particular direction • superintend - oversee an activity • perspiration - sweat • loll - sit in a relaxed , lazy manner • squashed - crushed something with force • chaos - confusion • reigned - ruled • slammed - closed with force • light-hearted - carefree • squirm - wriggle or twist the body from side to side in discomfort • indignantly - in anger • stumble - fall over Answers to Text book questions I Discuss and answer each question in 30-40 words. 1.How many characters are there in the narrative? Name them. (ANS)There are four characters in the story - Jerome, George, Harris and the dog. 2.Why did the narrator (Jerome) volunteer to do the packing? (ANS)The narrator volunteered to do packing because he was of the opinion that he was the best at packing. He felt proud of his packing and wanted to show it. 3. How did George and Harris react to this? Did Jerome like their reaction? (ANS)George an...

Answers to text book questions. Answer these questions in one or two sentences each. 1. Where was Abdul Kalam’s house? Abdul Kalam’s house was on mosque street in Rameshwaram. 2. What do you think Dinamani is the name of? Give a reason for your answer. The fact that Abdul Kalam used to read headlines, to know about the war and the fact that his cousin was newspaper distributor indicate that Dinamani is the name of a newspaper. 3. Who were Abdul Kalam’s school friends? What did they later become? One of his friends Ramanadha Shastry became a priest in Rameshwaram, Aravindam went into a business of tour operator and Shivaprakasan became a catering contractor with Southern Railways. 4. How did Abdul Kalam earn his first wages? When there was a suspension of the train halt at Rameswaram, Abdul’s cousin asked him for help in collecting newspaper bundles which were thrown from the moving train. This task helped Abdul Kalam earn his first wages. 5. Had he earned any money befo...

A Legend OF the Northland Answers to Text book questions Thinking about the Poem I. 1.Which country or countries do you think “the Northland” refers to? (ANS)The Northland” could refer to any extremely cold country in the Earth's north polar region, such as Greenland, the northern regions of Russia, Canada, Norway etc. 2.What did Saint Peter ask the old lady for? What was the lady’s reaction? (ANS)Saint Peter asked the old lady for one of her baked cakes to satisfy his hunger. The lady tried to bake a small cake for the saint. 3. How did he punish her? (ANS)He punished the lady by changing her into a woodpecker that built “as birds do” and gathered scanty food by boring in the “hard, dry wood” all day long. 4. How does the woodpecker get her food? (ANS)The woodpecker gets her food by boring holes into trees. 5. Do you think that the old lady would have been so ungenerous if she had known who Saint Peter really was? What would she have done then? (ANS)No, the old lady ...

ARTICLE WRITING You decide to write an article in the school magazine on cleaning and rejuvenating the Ganga. Write an article in about 150-180 words. Cleaning and Rejuvenating the Ganga                           -Rajiv/ Radhika The Ganga is not merely a river for all the Indians and more particularly to the Hindus, but it is the lifeline of India and the physical and spiritual nourisher of crores of its people. It is a symbol of India’s great heritage, ancient traditions, cultures, songs and stories. We can’t think of India without the Ganga and the Himalayas. Unfortunately, the sacred Ganga has become one of the most polluted rivers of the world in recent years. Fortunately, the Modi government has shown its commitment to clean and rejuvenate the Ganga. Uma Bharti heads a specially created ministry for cleaning the holy river. Cleaning the Ganga will be an unprecedented national social effort. What makes the Ganga...

Descriptive Writing of an Event  Sample 1 : Milwaukee Native American Indian Festival The Milwaukee Native American Indian Festival is truly and amazing event. For three days in September every year, thousands gather in Milwaukee, USA, to celebrate Indian culture. Last year, I was lucky enough to attend the festival and experience it for myself. The preparations take months. Dance teams from all over the country practise to compete in the tribal Pow Wow dance contest. Indian craftsmen work to produce the many traditional items on display. Then, in the week before the festival, the stalls are put up and the food is prepared, so that everything is ready for the big day. The celebrations began at 4pm and there was plenty to see and do. I visited a traditional Indian village, watched skilled craftsmen carve totem poles, and even learned how to do tribal Indian dancing. It was also a great opportunity to sample some traditional native dishes. The festival was fun, entertaining a...