The Thief's Story

Vocabulary: 

approach [verb] come near or nearer to (someone or something) in distance or time.

Usage: The train approached Palakollu railway station with a thundering noise.

flattery [noun] excessive and insincere praise, given especially to further one's own interests

Usage: Some people use flattery to get things done.

modestly [adverb] n an unassuming manner; without vanity or arrogance;.in a humble way:

appealing [adjective] attractive or interesting.

Usage: His appealing manners impressed the principal.

cheating [gerund or present participle] [verb – to cheat] act dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage. -taking away dishonestly,

Usage: I don’t like cheating anyone for my gains.

opportunity [noun] a time or set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something; chance

Usage: The government’s new policy has increased opportunities for export.

crawled [verb] [past tense of crawl] move forward on the hands and knees or by dragging the body close to the ground

Usage: The thief crawled towards the iron safe like a cat.

hesitated [verb] [past tense of hesitate] pause in indecision before saying or doing something

Usage: Once you have made a decision you should not hesitate.

deserted [adjective] (of a place) empty of people

Usage: All the streets were deserted during the Covid – 19 pandemic.

Summary:

 

The story emphasizes basic human values and relationships. It is easier for a thief to burgle a greedy man. It is difficult even for a thief to burgle a careless and honest person.

 A young boy, a fifteen year old thief, becomes friends with Anil. He finds Anil gullible.  He wants to steal from him. Anil is a freelance writer, who earns off and on. Anil trusts him totally and employs him as a cook though he doesn’t know how to cook.

 The young thief calls himself Hari. He changes his name frequently to stay ahead of the police and old employers.Anil trusts Hari completely and wants to teach him how to read and write. Anil never minds Hari pocketing some money given to buy groceries and vegetables.

 One day, Anil gets a lump sum amount of Rs.600. Hari steals the money and tries to go away on a train. Before hopping into the moving train, he hesitates and changes his mind. He goes back to Anil’s room and keeps the money under the pillow from where he has taken it. He wants to learn how to read and write. He wants to become a respectable person.

Character Sketch:

Hari Singh Or The Thief

Hari Singh was a fifteen-year-old boy, who is an experienced and successful thief. He was clever and intelligent. So he was never caught. He used to change his name as and when he committed a theft. He was a careful planner. He trapped his victims with his appealing manners. He would then ask for some work. Once employed, he used to run away after stealing money or valuables. He got a job as a cook though he could not cook well. He was a greedy boy. He was prepared to rob a simple and trusting man like Anil. He was able to steal six hundred rupees from his house. However, he decided to return to Anil to have a dignified life and receive an education from Anil. 

Anil

Anil was an epitome of goodness in a human being. He was generous and friendly. He could not afford a servant, but he employed Hari Singh as a cook out of compassion. Hari did not know how to cook but Anil did not let him feel dejected. He also taught Hari how to read and write. He never minded Hari’s pocketing a rupee or two when he went out to buy supplies. He trusted Hari and did not hide the money. He evolved goodness in Hari. Hari stole the money but felt guilty. He could have boarded a train but did not. He decided to be with Anil and become an educated and respected man.

The Feathered Friend

 Reading :1

3. Why did Sven keep the bird a secret from his colleagues?

Sven kept the bird a secret as it is not usual to have a bird in a space station. However, there is no regulation against it.

4. How was the presence of the bird discovered?

The presence of the bird was discovered by the narrator. He heard her musical whistle beside his ear. He thought that the sound was from the intercom. Later he realized that it was from the bird. 

5. Why did the crew want to hide the bird from the VIPs from the Earth? How did they deal with the issue?

The crew wanted to hide the bird from the VIPs from the Earth as the bird had become a general pet to them. They didn’t want to risk the discovery of the bird as it might be taken away from them.

They dealt with the issue by keeping it in various hiding places of the space station. They had to explain the curious peeps and whistles of the bird as she got noisy when upset.

6. What was the alarm meant for? What had caused its failure?

The alarm was meant to warn the crew of the space station when the air quality becomes poor. A rare eclipse by the earth’s shadow made the equipment freeze and it caused the failure of the alarm.

7. How is life in space different from life on Earth?

There is no gravity or air in space. The environment is controlled. We need to acquire the skill of working under these conditions. The available air is limited and it is purified and recycled. 

Reading 2

1. Did Sven do the right thing by getting a bird into the spaceship? Why do you think so?

Yes. I think that Sven did the right thing by getting a bird in the spaceship. I think so because the bird made them realize that there was something wrong with the air in the space station. That knowledge saved all the people there. The bird became a general pet to all and there was no regulation against getting birds into the spaceship.

2. Based on your reading, justify the title of the story?

The title, “The Feathered Friend” is quite appropriate. A canary bird becomes a general pet of a spaceship crew. Canary birds cannot survive in poor-quality air. One day, the bird almost died. She is revived by the crew with help of oxygen. Then the crew found out that the quality of air in the spaceship is poor. Thus, the bird saves the crew and proves that a friend in need is a friend indeed. 

3. What according to you, is a better choice - carrying a canary or an alarm system? Why do you think so?

I think carrying a canary is a better choice. I think so because there is no foolproof alarm system. 

4. Who saved the lives on board: Sven or the Canary? Why do think so?

I think both Sven and the Canary saved the loves on board. Because of Canary’s illness, the crew came to know about the poor quality of the air. It was Sven who found the Canary in a near-death position. So, both saved the lives on board. 

Emperors on Ice

 2. What did the scientists want to establish after studying the eggs?

The scientists wanted to establish that the analysis of the emperor penguin’s embryos would reveal links between all birds and their reptile predecessors. It was incorrectly thought that the emperor penguin was one of the most primitive birds of our planet earth.

3. What additional benefits did they expect to achieve through this journey?

Henry Bowers, Edward Wilson, and Apsley Cherry-Gerrard took the journey to Cape Crozier. They wanted to bring some penguin’s embryos for some scientific experiments. Additionally, they would gain some knowledge to continue further pole journeys. They could try out various combinations of sledging rations under extreme filed conditions. They could collect data from the Great Barrier in winter to use in the predictions of weather.

4. What motivated Wilson to undertake this difficult journey?

The chance of continuing the study of the breeding biology of birds is the motivation for Wilson to undertake this difficult journey.

5. What was the curator’s first reaction when he saw the eggs?

The curator of the American Museum of Natural History insulted Cherry-Gerrard who presented the eggs by asking him who he was and informing him that the museum was not an egg shop.

Iswaran the Story Teller

 Summary

This is a story about Mahendra, a junior supervisor, and his cook, Iswaran. Mahendra had to keep moving from place to place as ordered by the head office. But he had, fortunately, an expert caretaker, Iswaran who cooked his meals, washed his clothes, and chatted with him at night.

Iswaran was very fond of reading Tamil thrillers during his spare time. As a result, he innovated his own thrillers and would tell them to Mahendra. Mahendra would listen and enjoy them without any criticism.

Iswaran told a story about how he paralyzed a mad elephant that had gone berserk. He told that there were timber logs loaded on trucks. But if an elephant went mad no mahout could control it. The elephant now entered a school ground where children were playing, breaking through the brick wall. Children and teachers ran helter and shelter to save their lives. The elephant was stunned when Iswaran then only a little boy took a cane and hit at the elephant’s third toenail. The secret was if the elephant is hit there, his nervous system gets paralyzed.

Finally, one day talking about spirits of the ancestors, Iswaran began to talk of ghosts. He said that the place where they had their shed was once a burial ground. He also had come across ghosts but he was not scared of them. He told Mahendra about a woman ghost seen only on a full moon night. She moaned and carried a fetus in her arms. This terrified Mahendra so much that he finally thought of that woman ghost on a full moon night. He could hear a low moan outside his window. He peeped from his window and there stood the ghost of the woman. He flung himself down and found that he was often dreaming of that woman ghost. He had forgotten all about it the next morning till Iswaran asked him, “Sir, you were angry with me the other day when I told you about the ghost but didn’t you see her yourself last night?” Mahendra felt that the place was really haunted by ghosts and decided to go away from the place.

Question and Answers

1. In what way is Iswaran an asset to Mahendra?

A. Iswaran is an asset to Mahendra as he accompanies him everywhere without complaining. He cooks food for him, washes his clothes, cleans the living place, and entertains him with his unique stories.

2. How does Iswaran describe the uprooted tree on the highway? What effect does he want to create in his listeners?

A. Iswaran would describe the uprooted tree dramatically by raising his eyebrows and making animated gestures with his hands. He would describe it as a huge beast lying on the road. Only after going near to it he realized that it was a fallen tree. He would say that its branches appeared to be the beast’s limbs that had spread out onto the road.

He wanted to create a scene in the listener’s mind so that he would get captivated in the story.

3. How does he narrate the story of the tusker? Does it appear to be plausible?

A. He gave an introduction that his village was surrounded by a dense forest. The wood was processed at the timber yards and the logs of timber were transported onto the lorries by elephants. He added that the beasts were huge and in case one of them went mad, it could not be controlled even by an experienced mahout. He told about a tusker that had gone mad. He would get so caught up in the excitement of his own story that he would get up from the floor and jump about, stamping his feet in emulation of the mad elephant.

No. The story doesn’t appear plausible.

4. Why does the author say that Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of a TV in Mahendra’s living quarters?

A. Iswaran seemed to more than makeup for the absence of a TV in Mahendra’s living quarters because his stories were so entertaining that every night they made up for the absence of a TV in Mahendra’s living place. Mahendra would enjoy these stories which were full of adventure, suspense and horror.

5. Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination. What happens to him on a full moon night?

A. Mahendra scolds Iswaran and says that ghosts do not exist. On a full moon night, he woke up from his sleep as he heard someone crying. At first, he thought that it was a cat that was hunting mice but as the sound grew louder and harsher, he was tempted to peep out of the window. In the white moonlight, he saw a dark, shady figure holding a bundle in its arms. Initially, he got scared but overcame it as he felt that his subconscious mind had played a trick on him. The next day, the presence of the ghost was confirmed by Iswaran and Mahendra realized that he actually saw a ghost the previous night. He did not want to live at a haunted place and so, resigned from the job.

6. Can you think of some other ending for the story?

A. The story proved the narrating abilities of Iswaran. I think it would be interesting if both the characters Iswaran and Mahendra did some more investigation into the matter before coming to a conclusion. After all, the presence of the ghost was confirmed by the storyteller, Iswaran himself. There was no other proof. 

Rain on the roof - Slides

Prepared by Master Praneeth Surya Datta

 

Tiger Poems from First Flight

 A Tiger in the Zoo

The Tiger

The Tiger-2

Photos used here are by Efe Yağız Soysal, Keyur Nandaniya, Joshua Lee, by Sam, and Mohamed Elsayed, and these are downloaded from Unsplash.

The Making of a Scientist

 Read and Find Out (Page 32)

1. How did a book become a turning point in Richard Ebright’s life?

The book ‘The Travels of Monarch X’ opened the world of science for Richard. After reading it he became interested in tracking the migration of butterflies. This interest led to his other projects and experiments. Finally, he became a great scientist.

2. How did his mother help him?

Richard’s mother proved to be a great help. She took him on trips and bought scientific equipment for him. She spent all her time in setting up challenges for him. This helped him to learn a lot. She presented him with the book ‘The Travels of Monarch X’. The book changes Richard’s life forever.

Page 34

1. What lesson does Ebright learn when he does not win anything at a science fair?

Ebright exhibited slides of frog tissues at a science fair. He did not get any prize. He learnt an important lesson that science is not just about display. It is about projects and experiments. He began conducting experiments from that day onwards.

2. What experiments and projects do he do then undertake?

He undertook many projects and experiments. He worked on viceroy butterflies to show that they copied monarch butterflies. He studied bright spots on the monarch pupa and discovered a new hormone. Also, he found out how cells read their DNA.

3. What are the qualities that go into the making of a scientist?

There are three essential qualities that make a scientist. The first is a first rate mind. Next is the presence of curiosity. Last but not the least, it is the will to do the best and win.

Think About It (Page 38)

1. How can one become a scientist, an economist, a historian …? Does it simply involve reading many books on the subject? Does it involve observing, thinking and doing experiments?

Reading many books on a subject is not enough. One must develop the skill of observation and thinking. Experiments need to be done. One needs to have the curiosity to explore and find new things. Above all, one must work hard and not get upset by failures.

2. You must have read about cells and DNA in your science books. Discuss Richard Ebright’s work in the light of what you have studied. If you get an opportunity to work like Richard Ebright on projects and experiments, which field would you like to work on and why?

DNA carries the blueprint of life and heredity. They pass information from one generation to the other.

If I get an opportunity to work like Richard Ebright, I would choose to study diseases. By studying the DNA, I may find ways and means to cure many illnesses.

From the Diary of Anne Frank

 Oral Comprehension Check Page 51

3. What makes writing in a diary a strange experience for Anne Frank?

Writing in a diary was a strange experience for Anne Frank as she never had a diary. It was a gift on her 13th birthday. She considered it her best friend. She shared everything with it.

4. Why does Anne want to keep a diary?

Anne always feels lonely and distressed.  She wants to keep a diary to get off all the burden and pain. She finds a true friend in her diary as she has hardly any real friends.

5. Why did Anne think she could confide more in her diary than in people?

Anne felt that paper had more patience than people to listen to her plight. So, it was easier for her to write all kind of thoughts. Her personal diary was not meant for anyone else to read.

6. Why does Anne provide a brief sketch of her life?

By providing the brief sketch of her life, Anne wants to give an introduction of her family. This is to help the reader to develop a connection with the author.

7. What tells you that Anne loved her grandmother?

Anne lived with her grandmother for some time while her parents moved to Holland. She was very close to her Grandmother. She writes in her diary. “No one knows how often I think of her and still love her”. On her 13th birthday by lightening up one candle for Grandmother, she shows her love for her.

Page 54

8. Why was Mr. Keesing annoyed with Anne? What did he ask her to do?

Mr. Keesing was annoyed with Anne because she was very talkative. He punished her by giving her extra homework to write essays. The topics were related to her nature.

9. How did Anne justify her being a chatterbox in her essay?

Anne explained in her essay that her mother was very talkative and she had inherited the trait from her mother. She also wrote that talking is a right of a student. Thus she justified her being a chatterbox.

10. Do you think Mr. Keesing was a strict teacher?

No, Mr. Keesing was not a strict teacher. Any teacher would be annoyed if children keep on talking in the class. He had laughed at Anne’s funny arguments. At last he allowed her to herself in his class.

11. What made Mr. Keesing allow Anne to talk in class?

Anne’s last essay in the form of a poem showed Mr. Keesing the lighter side of a naughty child. He took it as a joke and laughed. From then onwards, he allowed Anne to talk in his class.

Thinking about the Text (Page 54)

1. Was Anne right when she said that the world would not be interested in the musings of a 13 year old girl?

Yes, Anne was right when she said so because most of the people don’t want to give importance to a child’s perspective toward the world. It is because they are too immature for the world. But Anne Frank has become one of the most discussed of all holocaust victims. Her ‘diary’ has been translated into many languages.

2. There are some examples of diary or journal entries in the ‘Before You Read’ section. Compare these with what Anne writes in her diary. What language was the diary originally written in? In what way is Anne’s diary different?

Anne’s diary was entirely different from most of the examples given before the text. It was somewhere closer to the memoir in which the name of Raj Kapoor has been mentioned. It was originally written in Dutch language. It has informal tone and it brings out the careful nature of a teenager.

3. Why does Anne need to give a brief sketch about her family? Does she treat ‘Kitty’ as an insider or an outsider?

Anne gave an introduction of her family in the ‘diary’ because it was hard to make others realize that a 13 years old teenager could write about her loneliness. Kitty was an ‘outsider’ which was gifted by her parents on her 13th birthday but she considered it her best friend and treated it as an insider.

4. How does Anne feel about her father, her grandmother, Mrs. Kuperus and Mr. Keesing? What do these tell you about her?

Anne has fond of memories of her father, grandmother, Mrs. Kuperus and Mr. Keesing, who have left indelible impressions on her mind and affected her life a lot. The way she represents all of them in her diary reveals that Anne was very good at understanding people and at developing interpersonal relations.

5. What does Anne write in her first essay?

Mr. Keesing asked her to write an essay on the topic ‘A Chatterbox’ as punishment. In the essay, she accepted the drawbacks of being talkative but argued that it was in her genes as her mother was also very talkative. It was difficult to give up the habit and it was also a student’s trait.

6. Anne says teachers are most unpredictable. Is Mr. Keesing unpredictable?

Initially, Mr. Keesing took Anne’s talkativeness seriously and gave her punishment. The punishment was to write an essay on a chatterbox. He laughs after reading the essay. His asked her to write another essay. When she wrote the essay in poetic form. He had taken it as a joke and he let her talk in her class.

7. What do these statements tell you about Anne Frank as a person?

1. We don’t seem to be able to get any closer and that’s the problem. Maybe it’s my fault that we don’t confide in each other.

2. I don’t want to write down the facts in this diary the way most people would, but I want the diary to be my friend.

3. Margot went to Holland in December and I followed in February, when I was plunked down on the table as a birthday present for Margot.

4. If you ask me, there are so many dummies that about a quarter of the class should be kept back, but teachers are the most unpredictable creatures on Earth.

5. Anyone could ramble on and leave big spaces between the words, but the trick was to come up with convincing arguments to prove the necessity of talking.

1.A. Anne is reserved.

2.A. She is self-confident and inventive.

3.A. She is humorous as well.

4.A. Anne is intelligent.

5.A. She has a sense of propriety and convincing attitude.

 

The Thief’s Story

Read and Find Out (Answers to the questions given on Page 8)

1. Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story?

‘I’ refers to Hari Singh, the narrator of the story who is a 15-year-old experienced thief.

2. What is he “a fairly successful hand” at?

He is a fairly successful hand at stealing. He is an experienced thief. He is so clean and swift in his work that he robs people without being caught.

3. What does he get from Anil in return for his work?

In return for Hari Singh’s work, Anil gives him food and a place to live in.

Read and Find Out (Answers to the questions given on Page 10)

4. How does the thief think Anil will react to the theft?

According to the thief, Anil would be sad not because of the loss of money but because of the loss of trust he had. Anil had trust in Hari.

5. What does he say about the different reactions of people when they are robbed?

Hari’s experience as a thief had made him aware of differences in reactions of people when they’re robbed. According to him, a greedy man shows fear; the rich, anger, and a poor man, acceptance.

6. Does Anil realize that he has been robbed?

Yes, Anil realized that he had been robbed, as he gave a fifty rupee note to Hari which was still damp. The currency notes became wet the night before. 

Think About It (Answers to the questions given on Page 13)

1. What are Hari Singh’s reactions at the prospect of receiving an education? Do they change overtime? {Hint: compare, for example, the thought: ‘I knew that once I could write like an educated man there would be no limit to what I could achieve’ with these later thoughts:

‘Whole sentences, I knew, could one day bring me more than a few hundred rupees. It was a simple matter to steal and sometimes just as simple to be caught. But to be a really big man, a clever and respected man, was something else.’) What makes him return to Anil?

Hari was very happy and grateful when he learned to write his name. He was very excited when Anil promised to teach him to write whole sentences as well. He knew that being an educated man will add to his abilities and he could achieve anything. But when he left Anil’s house, he realised that stealing was simply a crime to indulge himself but being educated was an entirely different thing. He knew the respect, reputation and possibilities that would come to him once he was educated. And so his urge to receive education compelled him to return to Anil.

2. Why does Anil not hand the thief over to the police? Do you think most people would have done so? In what ways is Anil different from such employers?

Any other employer would have handed over the thief to the police. But, Anil was not among such employers. He Unlike others, Anil did not handover Hari to the police on theft charges. He knew about the theft but he did not thrash him nor even mentioned it in front of Hari. He was glad that Hari had realised his mistake and the importance of education in life. Anil wanted Hari to become a literate man and lead a respectful life. He is different from other such employers because he is very understanding. Hari’s return gave him the hope of a change in him. He came to know that the trust he had in Hari was not wasted.

Talk About It (Answers to the questions given on Page 13)

1. Do you think people like Anil and Hari Singh are found only in fiction, or are there such people in real life?

People like Anil and Hari Singh are found only in fiction. Though exceptions might be there, these people are rarely found. Anil was a kind and considerate person who was concerned, about Hari’s education and future. And Hari was a thief whose heart changes after realising the importance of education for his future. People like these are imaginary in today’s world.

2. Do you think it is a significant detail in the story that Anil is a struggling writer? Does this explain his behaviour in any way?

Yes, it is a significant detail that Anil is a struggling writer. His lifestyle was simple and used to spend according to his pocket. His struggle sometimes gave him a lot of income while at other times he used to worry about the next payment. Hari’s observation about the discontinuation in his work justifies his behave regarding money.

3. Have you met anyone like Hari Singh? Can you think and imagine the circumstances that can turn a fifteen-year-old boy into a thief?

No, I haven’t met anyone like Hari Singh but the existence of such people is certain. A fifteen-year-old boy can be forced by circumstances to become a thief. It may be the need to feed the stomach, to satisfy illegal addiction, to maintain health, to fulfill luxurious demands, etc

4. Where is the story set? (You can get clues from the names of the persons and places mentioned in it). Which language or languages are spoken in these places? Do you think the characters in the story spoke to each other in English?

The story is set somewhere in Uttar Pradesh near Lucknow. We can say so because the story mentions that there is a railway station for Express train to Lucknow. The presence of sweet shops and bazaars also indicate it to be a decent-sized town. No, the characters in the story do not speak to each other in English but probably in Hindi.

 

A House is Not a Home

 Summary

The story is about a boy named Zan. He was sad as he had to go to a new high school. He missed his old friends. He was a new junior in his new school. His house caught fire. Other than a few papers and photos of his father they lost everything. His pet cat was also missing. They did not have any cash, credit cards, or identity proofs and had to borrow money from his grandparents.

Zan got depressed and did not want to attend school. One day at school, he was astonished to see a table full of things - books, stationery items, clothes, and so on. They were collected by his classmates to help him. He came out of the depression and realized that life was beautiful. Zan saw his house being rebuilt and felt that same was happening with his life too.

A kind woman returned his cat which had run away on being scared of the fire. Zan bounced back to life. He realized that life was not about material possessions but about love, affection, and being with one’s loved ones. This is what is meant by the title, ‘A house is not a home’.

Think about it (Answers to the questions given on Pages 54 & 55)

1. What does the author notice one Sunday afternoon? What is his mother’s reaction? What does she do?

The author was doing his homework. He noticed smoke pouring in through the seams of the ceiling. Soon the room was filled with the smoke. The author and his mother ran outside to save their life. His mother ran out of the house with a small metal box full of important documents. She became so crazy that she rushed back to the house again.

2. Why does he break down in tears after the fire?

The author’s house was completely burned down. Five hours later when the fire was finally put out, he realised he lost everything and his cat was also missing. He felt helpless as he had to go to the new school. So, cried and broke down in tears.

3. Why is the author deeply embarrassed the next day in school? Which words show his fear and insecurity?

The author was full of sorrow as he lost everything. He didn’t have proper dress or study material. He had no backpack. He was feeling insecure. He was shocked deeply and seemed frustrated. The words uttered by him “Was I destined to be an outcast and a geek all my life? I didn’t want to grow up, change or have to handle life, if it was to going to be this way. I just wanted to curl up and die” reveal his fear and insecurity.

4. The cat and the author are very fond of each other. How has this been shown in the story? Where was the cat after the fire? Who brings it back and how?

The author loved his cat very much. She used to sit with him when he did his homework and other household work. When the author found his cat back, he was overwhelmed. He grabbed her quickly and felt relieved. This proved that they were very fond of each other.

The cat ran over a mile away when the house was on fire. A lady brought it back.

5. What actions of the schoolmates change the author’s understanding of life and people, and comfort him emotionally? How does his loneliness vanish and how does he start participating in life?

His schoolmates bought him necessary materials like school supplies, notebooks, all kinds of different clothes. It was a matter of surprise for him and he could not believe it. People who were new now became his friends. He got all the things he needed. He started enjoying his life as usual.

6. What is the meaning of “My cat was back and so was I”? Had the author gone anywhere? Why does he say that he is also back?

Here the author wants to point out that life without love and affection is useless. He was depressed after a great loss in the fire. He was depressed and he had no interest in life. In the end, he received everything he lost with the help of his newfound friends. An unknown woman gave his cat back. He recovered from this gloomy state and bounced back to life. So he said, “My cat was back and so was I”.

Bond of Love

Summary:

In the story, the narrator tells about the emotional bond shared by his wife and their pet bear Bruno. He got the baby bear in an accident and presented it to his wife. She named the bear ‘Bruno’ and treated it like a baby. Bruno is a fun-loving, affectionate bear.

One day, accidentally, Bruno eats Barium Carbonate poison. The poison is kept in the library to kill mice and rats. Bruno suffers a stroke of paralysis and recovers with the help of a veterinary doctor. In another incident, he drinks a gallon of old engine oil which the narrator has kept to fight a termite attack. The oil could not affect Bruno in any way.

As days pass, Bruno grows bigger. Now his name is changed as ‘Baba’.  Baba has learned a few tricks. He wrestles with people, holds a stick as a gun, and cradles a wooden block as a baby As he is big now, he has to be chained because he could harm the tenant’s children.

Keeping the safety of children in view, they send Baba to the zoo at Mysore. The narrator’s wife misses Baba immensely. Baba also misses her. After three months, they visit Baba at the zoo. Baba recognizes her at once. The narrator wife cannot leave Baba in the zoo. So, she takes permission from the authorities and brings Baba back home.

They make a special island made for Baba to live on. It is surrounded by a deep dry pit. Baba has a box to sleep in, straw to keep him warm, his stick, and a piece of wood to play with.

The narrator’s wife visits Baba on the island by swinging on a rope tied to a mango tree. She lets the big bear sit in her lap for hours and pats him affectionately.

(Answers to the questions given on page no:119)

II. Answer the following questions.

Q1. “I got him for her by accident.”
(i) Who says this?
(ii) Who do ‘him’ and ‘her’ refer to?
(iii) What is the incident referred to here?

A.
(i) The narrator says this.
(ii) ‘him’ refers to the bear and ‘her’ refers to the narrator’s wife.
(iii) The incident referred to here is when the narrator’s companion shot a bear dead and they found that the baby bear was alive. They caught the baby bear and took it along with them.

Q2. “He stood on his head in delight.”
(i) Who does ‘he’ refer to?
(ii) Why was he delighted?

A.
(i) ‘he’ refers to Baba.
(ii) Baba was delighted to see the narrator’s wife.


Q3. “We all missed him greatly: but in a sense we were relieved.”
(i) Who does ‘we all’ stand for?
(ii) Who did they miss?
(iii) Why did they nevertheless feel relieved?

A.
(i) ‘we all’ stands for the narrator, his wife, his son, the Alsatian dogs and the tenant’s children.
(ii) They missed Baba.
(iii) They nevertheless felt relieved because Baba was a big bear now and keeping him at home was inconvenient for them.

III. Answer the following questions in 30 to 40 words each.

Q1. On two occasions Bruno ate/drank something that should not be eaten/ drunk. What happened to him on these occasions?

A. In the first incident, Bruno ate the poison Barium carbonate. The narrator kept the poison to kill rats. Bruno was struck by an attack of paralysis. The narrator took him to a veterinary doctor who injected medicines twice to revive Bruno.
In the second incident, Bruno drank the old engine oil. It was drained out of the sump of the narrator’s old car. He kept it to fight a termite attack. The oil had no effect on Bruno at all.

Q2. Was Bruno a loving and playful pet? Why, then, did he have to be sent away?

A. Yes, Bruno was a loving and playful pet. He was sent away because as he had grown into a big bear. It was not safe to keep him in a household where there are children. Bruno could harm people. The narrator, his son, and their friends convinced his wife who was particularly attached to Bruno and finally, it was sent to the zoo at Mysore.

Q3. How was the problem of what to do with Bruno finally solved?
A. The problem of what to do with Bruno was finally solved by sending him off to the zoo at Mysore. They wrote a letter to the zoo in charge at the zoo at Mysore. Upon his consent, Baba was packed in a cage and was sent away.

Amanda - Answers to Textual Questions

Thinking about the Poem. Answers to the questions given on Page 62.

1. How old do you think Amanda is? How do you know this?

I think Amanda is around 12 or 13. It is clear from the ‘acnes’ she has. Usually, boys or girls at this age have them on their faces.

2. Who do you think is speaking to her?

One of her parents is speaking to her. Maybe, it is her mother. The range of instructions suggests that the speaker is Amanda’s mother.

3. Why are stanzas 2, 4, and 6 given in parenthesis?

Stanzas 2, 4, and 6 are given in parenthesis because they reflect the inner thoughts of Amanda. They can be taken as the reaction of the child to the instructions given in other stanzas.

4. Who is the speaker in stanzas 2, 4, and 6? Do you think this speaker is listening to the speaker in stanzas 1, 3, 5, and 7?

Speaker of the stanzas 2, 4 and 6 is the child, Amanda. No, she is not paying any attention to the speaker of stanzas 1, 3, and 5 as she is lost in a world of her own.

5. What could Amanda do if she were a mermaid?

Amanda could swim in the calm emerald sea blissfully if she were a mermaid.

6. Is Amanda an orphan? Why does she say so?

No, Amanda is not an orphan, though she wishes to be one. She is so much stressed with the continuous nagging of her parents that she imagines herself to be better without them. She wishes to roam around the streets and draw patterns with her bare feet.

7. Do you know the story of Rapunzel? Why does she want to be Rapunzel?

Rapunzel is a character in a fairy tale. She lives on a high tower.  She is happy and satisfied. She has long golden hair, using which a prince comes to meet her.  Amanda wants to live lonely like Rapunzel. So, she would never let her hair down for anyone to climb to her.

8. What does the girl yearn for? What does this poem tell you about Amanda?

The girl wants freedom. She wants to lead her life the way she likes. She has certain natural habits. Everyone has these at that age. But her parents do not like these to be there in her.

Amanda has these habits. But she is an obedient and understanding girl. There are certain restrictions in her life as in every household.

9. Read the last stanza. Do you think Amanda is sulking and is moody?

Amanda is sulking as it is given in the last stanza. But it is ‘sulking’ for the speaker only. Amanda herself is not sulking. It is clear in the sentence “Anyone would think … at you”. It means the speaker is conscious that the girl is ‘nagged’ unnecessarily.

A Tiger in the Zoo

Thinking About the Poem (Page 30)

1.Read the poem again and work in pairs or groups to do the following tasks.

1. Find the words that describe the movements and actions of the tiger in the cage and in the wild. Arrange them in two columns.

2. Find the words that describe the two places and arrange them in two columns.

Now try to share ideas about how the poet uses words and images to contrast the two situations.

Here are the words that describe the movements and actions of the tiger in the cage and in the wild arranged in two columns.

Tiger in the Cage	Tiger in the Wild
Stalks, Few steps of his cage, Quiet rage Locked in concrete cell, Stalking-the length of his cage Ignoring visitors. He hears the last voice Stares at the brilliant stars.	Lurking in shadow, Sliding through long grass, Snarling around houses, Baring his white fangs, his claws, Terrorising the village

Here are the words that describe the two places arranged in two columns.

Cage	Wild
Few steps of his cage.	Shadow, Long grass, Water
Locked, Concrete cell	hole, Plump deer
Behind bars, Visitors,	Houses at jungle’s edge
Patrolling cars	Village

The poet uses these words to create an apt contrast. This contrast is between the cage and the jungle. He is able to create apt pictures of these places in a real sense. These words clearly show the life of the tiger in a cage and in a jungle.

2. Notice the use of a word repeated in lines such as these:

1. On pads of velvet quiet, In his quiet rage.

2. And stares with his brilliant eyes At the brilliant stars.

What do you think is the effect of this repetition?

 This repetition is a poetic device used by the poet to describe the intensity of the tiger’s rage and his helpless silence. ‘Velvet quiet’ refers to the quiet velvet pads of the tiger, which cannot run or leap. They can only walk around the limited space in the cage. ‘Quiet rage’ tells about the anger of the tiger as he wants to run out into the forest and hunt, but the rage is quiet because he is locked in the cage. ‘Brilliant is used to describe the tiger’s eyes and the stars. The tiger stares at the brilliant stars with his brilliant eyes dreaming about how beautiful his life could be in the forest. The repetition gives a wonderful effect to the poem. (123 words)

 3. Read the following two poems one about a tiger and the other about a panther. Then discuss:

Are zoos necessary for the protection or conservation of some species of animals?

Are they useful for educating the public?

Are there alternatives to zoos?

 The Tiger

The tiger behind the bars of his cage growls,

The tiger behind the bars of his cage snarls,

The tiger behind the bars of his cage roars,

Then he thinks.

It would be nice not to be behind bars all

The time

Because they spoil my view

I wish I were wild, not on show.

But if I were wild, hunters might shoot me,

But if I were wild, food might poison me,

But if I were wild, water might drown me.

Then he stops thinking

And…

The tiger behind the bars of his cage growls,

The tiger behind the bars of his cage snarls,

The tiger behind the bars of his cage roars.

                                                             – Peter Niblett

 The Panther

His vision, from the constantly passing bars,

has grown so weary that it cannot hold

anything else. It seems to him there are

a thousand bars; and behind the bars, no world.

As he paces in cramped circles, over and over,

the movement of his p0werful soft strides

is like a ritual dance around a centre

in which a mighty will stands paralysed.

Only at times, the curtain of the pupils

lifts, quietly. An image enters in,

rushes down through the tensed, arrested muscles,

plunges into the heart and is gone.

                                           – Rainer Maria Rilke

 It is a sad fact that several species of animals are on the verge of extinction. Even ferocious and powerful animals like tigers and lions are not safe in the forest due to poaching and encroachment of forests. So zoos are necessary for the protection or conservation of these species. Zoos can also be used to bring awareness in the public about the importance of wild animals and their role in maintaining the ecological balance. Yes. There are alternatives to zoos. Wildlife sanctuaries, reserves, and national parks are some alternatives to zoos. They offer protection and conserve these species. They provide animals with natural habitat. Just like humans, animals have also a right to live on the earth. (119 words)