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)

Nelson Mandela - Answers to Textual Questions

 

Oral Comprehension Check - Page 18,19

1. Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstones?

The ceremonies took place on the campus of the Union Building of Pretoria, which was attended by dignitaries and leaders of many nations. In India; Rashtrapati Bhavan and Red Fort are buildings made of red sandstone.

2. Can you say how 10th May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?

Autumn season is the harvest season. It is symbolic of prosperity and new begging. May 10 is the beginning of the new chapter as the first democratic non-racial government is installed on the day.

3. At the beginning of his speech, Mandela mentions “an extraordinary human disaster”. What does he mean by this? What is the “glorious human achievement” he speaks of at the end?

By ‘an extraordinary human disaster’ Mandela means to state the practice of apartheid in South Africa. During this, there was racial segregation based on colour and the blacks suffered a lot. They were not allowed to demand freedom or any right. Mandela himself did spend many years on the infamous ‘Robben Island’ as a prisoner where he was beaten mercilessly. He considered it as a great glorious human achievement that a black person became the President of a country where the blacks were not even considered human beings and were treated badly.

4. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?

Mandela felt very privileged to welcome the international leaders at the swearing-in ceremony because not too long ago, the South Africans were considered outlaws. He thus thanks all of them for having come to witness the historical ceremony. This was a gesture of international recognition to a newly born free democratic nation and it could be considered as a common victory for justice, peace, and human dignity.

5. What ideals does Nelson Mandela set for the future of South Africa?

Nelson Mandela set the ideals of liberating people from the bondage of poverty, deprivation, and suffering. He also set the ideal for a society where there would be no discrimination based on gender or racial origins.

Oral Comprehension Check - Page 21

1. What did the military generals do? How did their attitude change and why?

The highest military generals of the South African defense force saluted Mandela and pledged their loyalty which was of great significance as during the apartheid era they would have arrested him. The change in their attitude was because of the struggle and sacrifices put in by many heroes of South Africa. This struggle not only ensured the freedom of a nation struggling with apartheid, but also brought a change in mindsets of many. He believed that love can also be taught and human being is naturally inclined towards love rather than hate.

2. Why were two national anthems sung?

One the auspicious occasion of the inauguration two national anthems: one by the Whites and the other by the Blacks symbolising the equality of the Blacks and the Whites were sung.

3. How does Mandela describe the systems of government in his country

(i) in the first decade, and

(ii) in the final decade, of the twentieth century?

(i) In the first decade of the century, the whites erected a system of racial domination against the blacks, thus creating the basis of one of the harshest and most inhumane societies the world had ever known.

(ii) In the final decade of the 20th century, the previous system had been overturned and replaced by one which recognised rights and freedom of all people regardless of color of their skin.

4. What does courage mean to Mandela?

For Mandela courage does not mean the absence of fear but a victory over fear. According to him brave men need not be fearless but should be able to conquer fear.

5. Which does Mandela think is natural, to love or to hate?

For Mandela, love comes more naturally to the human heart than hate.

Oral Comprehension Check -  Page 24

1. What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?

Mandela mentions that every man has twin obligations. The first is to his family, parents, wife and children; the second obligation is to his people, his community and his country.

2. What did being free mean to Mandela as a boy, and as a student? How does he contrast these “transitory freedoms” with “the basic and honourable freedoms”?

Like any other kid, for Mandela freedom meant to make merry and enjoy the blissful life. Once one becomes an adult, antics of childhood looks like transitory because most of the childish activities are wasteful from an adult’s perspective. Once you are adult, you have to earn a livelihood to bring the bacon home. Its only then when you get an honourable existence in the family and in the society.

Thinking about the Text

1. Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of?

To be the part of the inauguration, international leaders showed a gesture of solidarity from international community to the idea of end of apartheid. It was the significance of the victory of good over evil and triumph of a tolerant society without any discrimination.

2. What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply the sum of all those African patriots”, who had gone before him?

By saying that he is simply the sum of all those African patriots, Mandela wants to pay his tribute to all the people who have sacrificed their lives for the sake of freedom. He says that he is grateful to those who had gone before him because those heroes of past had paved the path of co-operation and unity for him. Therefore, he could try to come to power to bring equality for his people with their support.

3. Would you agree that the “depths of oppression” create “heights of character”? How does Mandela illustrate this? Can you add your own examples to this argument?

I agree with the statement that depths of oppression create heights of character. Nelson Mandela illustrates this by giving examples of great heroes of South Africa like Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, and others who were inspired to sacrifice their lives in the long freedom struggle.

India is full of such examples, during our freedom struggle there was a galaxy of leaders of great characters and the oppression of the British rule created and encouraged people of noble characters like Mahatma Gandhi, Lala Lajpat Rai, JL Nehru, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Sardar Bhagat Singh, and many more. If we compare them with the quality of political leaders India is having today, then Nelson Mandela seems to be absolutely right;

4. How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and experience?

With age and experience, Mandela understood the real meaning of freedom. As a young boy, he thought that he was born free and believed that as long as he obeyed his father and abided by the customs of his tribe, he was free in every possible manner. As he grew older, freedom to raise a family and freedom to earn livelihood started dominating his thoughts. Gradually he realised that he was selfish during his boyhood. He slowly understood that it was not just his freedom that was being curtailed, but the freedom of all blacks. It was the freedom from fear and prejudice. Age and experience widened his perspective of freedom.

5. How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life?

Mandela realised in his youth that it was not just his freedom that was being curtailed, but the freedom of all blacks. This changed the fearful man into a fearless rebel.

He sacrificed the comforts of settled family life to fight for a greater cause. He joined the African National Congress and this changed him from a frightened young man into a bold one who fought against racial prejudice.

The Necklace

 About the Author

Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) was a French writer. He is known as a master of the short story form.

Introduction

The story is about a lady named Matilda, who is unsatisfied with her life. She wants a wealthy husband. As her family is unable to give dowry she is married to an ordinary clerk. She wants to lead a luxurious life.

Meanings

Error= a mistake.

Clerk= a person employed in an office or bank to keep records, accounts, and undertake other routine administrative duties

Dowry= an amount of property or money brought by a bride to her husband on their marriage

Petty= of little importance; trivial

Incessantly= without interruption; constantly

Delicacies= fineness or intricacy of texture or structure

Shabby= in poor condition through long use or lack of care

Tureen= a deep covered dish

Pot pie= a savory pie baked in a deep dish

Elegant= graceful and stylish in appearance or manner.

Exquisite= extremely beautiful and delicate.

Marvellous= causing great wonder

Convent= a school attached to and run by a convent

Elated= make (someone) ecstatically happy

M.= Mr. in French

Mme.= Mrs. in French

Delighted= feeling or showing great pleasure.

Spitefully= showing or caused by malice.

Murmuring= a low or indistinct continuous sound.

Stammered= speak with sudden involuntary pauses and a tendency to repeat the initial letters of words.

Stupefy= make (someone) unable to think or feel properly

Dismay= concern and distress caused by something unexpected

Weeping= shedding tears.

Vexation= the state of being annoyed, frustrated, or worried

Affair= an event or sequence of events of a specified kind

Colleague= a person with whom one works in a profession or business.

Grieve= feel intense sorrow.

Francs= the basic monetary unit of France

Pale= light in colour or shade; containing little colour or pigment.

Larks= a bird

Anxious= feeling or showing worry, nervousness

Vexed= annoyed, frustrated, or worried

Adorn= decorate, make more beautiful or attractive

Stricken= seriously affected by an undesirable condition or unpleasant feeling.

Chic= elegantly and stylishly fashionable.

Shabby= in poor condition through long use or lack of care.

Midst= in between

Admirable= arousing or deserving respect and approval.

Satin= a smooth, glossy fabric, usually of silk, produced by a weave in which the threads of the warp are caught and looped by the weft only at certain intervals.

Ecstatic= feeling or expressing overwhelming happiness or joyful excitement.

Embraced= hold (someone) closely in one's arms, especially as a sign of affection.

Elegant= graceful and stylish in appearance or manner.

Enthusiasm= intense and eager, interest

Admiration= respect

Salons= a reception room in a large house.

Furs= the short, fine, soft hair of certain animals used in garment making

Detain= keep (someone) from proceeding

Descend= move or fall downwards.

Coachmen= a driver of a horse-drawn carriage.

Shivering= shaking slightly and uncontrollably as a result of being cold, frightened, or excited.

Nightfall= the onset of night; dusk.

Wearily= with extreme tiredness.

Cloak= a sleeveless outdoor coat like garment that hangs loosely from the shoulders.

Cast down= sad or worried

Gown= a long elegant dress worn on formal occasions

Bewilderment= a feeling of being perplexed and confused

Frightful= very unpleasant, serious, or shocking

Clasp= grasp (something) tightly with one's hand

Dictate= state or order authoritatively

Chaplet= a garland or circlet for a person's head.

Ruinous= disastrous or destructive

Usurers= a person who lends money at unreasonably high rates of interest

Frigid= stiff or formal (in behavior or style)

Perceive= become aware or conscious of (something); come to realize or understand.

Substitution= the action of replacing someone or something with another person or thing.

Necessity= the state or fact of being required.

Frightful= very unpleasant, serious, or shocking.

Lodgings= temporary accommodation.

Attic= a space or room inside or partly inside the roof of a building.

Odious= extremely unpleasant; repulsive.

Haggling= dispute or bargain persistently, especially over the cost of something.

Sous= small value coin in France

Crude= in a natural or raw state; not yet processed or refined.

Awry= out of the normal or correct position

Pails= a bucket.

Flattered= lavish praise and compliments on (someone)

Singular= denoting or referring to just one person or thing.

Astonished= greatly surprised or impressed; amazed.

Personage= a person (used to express importance or elevated status)

Recall= bring (a fact, event, or situation) back into one's mind; remember.

Loan= lend (a sum of money or item of property).

Decently= in a way that conforms with generally accepted standards of respectable or moral behavior.

Content= being in a state of peaceful happiness

Summary

Mme. Matilda Loisel lived in an apartment with her husband M. Loisel and was very unhappy with what life had given her. She was sad with the apartment’s shabby walls and the worn-out furniture. She dreamt of royal dinners served in exquisite silver dishes. They were neither rich nor poor. She had to marry a clerk in the office of the board of education just because her family couldn't afford to give her dowry. She also hated visiting her old friend Mme. Jeanne Forestier as she was a rich lady and Matilda envied her.

One day her husband got an invitation to a party at the house of minister of public instruction. Contrary to his expectation, Matilda was irritated and angry and threw the card away. She was upset because she didn't have anything to wear at such an extravagant party. Her husband gave her 400 francs to buy a new dress, that he had been saving to buy a gun so that he could go hunting with his friends. After buying the dress she was worried because she did not have jewelry. Upon her husband’s suggestion, she borrowed a necklace from her friend Mme. Forestier.

They went to the minister’s party and all the men admired her as she was looking gorgeous in her new dress and necklace. They returned at 4 in the morning in a carriage. Matilda realized that she did not have the necklace. Her husband went out to search the railway tracks for the necklace. He also went to the police station, cab offices and also gave an advertisement announcing a reward to the person who returned the necklace. Finally, they decided to replace it with a similar one. They found a similar necklace priced at 36000 francs. They had to take loans to pay for it.

It took them ten years to repay the loans.  They moved to a smaller apartment. She did all the household chores herself. Her husband did multiple jobs to repay the borrowed money. In these years, Mme. Loisel started looking much older. One day she met her friend Jeanne with a child and decided to tell her the truth and explained how she was indirectly responsible for her aged looks and her living conditions. She explained how she lost the borrowed necklace and had to take a loan for replacing it. On hearing this, Jeanne told Matilda that the necklace that she had borrowed was a fake one and was not worth more than 500 francs.

Textual Questions and Answers [Short Answer Questions - Word count around 30]

1. What kind of a person is Mme Loisel — why is she always unhappy?

Mme Loisel is an unhappy and unsatisfied person. She keeps on dreaming about how her life would have been if she were born in a rich house, married in a rich house. [33 words]

2. What kind of a person is M. Loisel?

M. Loisel is a caring and a loving man. He appreciates the little things of life. He wants to make his wife happy and ready to sacrifice his own needs. [31 words]

3. What fresh problem now disturbs Mme Loisel?

Mme Lionel’s husband agrees to buy her a dress worth 400 francs. Now she has a fresh problem as she is not having any jewelry to match her new dress. [30 words]

4. How is the problem solved?

Mme Loisel does not agree to wear flowers to the party. Then her husband suggests that she should try to borrow the jewelry from her rich friend Mme Forestier. [29 words]

5. What do M. and Mme Loisel do after losing the necklace?

M and Mme. Loisel make a lot of efforts to find the necklace. But they could not find the necklace. So they finally decide to replace the necklace with another similar looking necklace.  [33 words]

 6. How do they replace the necklace?

They buy a necklace from a shop for 36000 francs. They have only 18000 francs with them. They borrow the rest of the money by taking loans from a lot of lenders. [32 words]

Think About It (Answers to the questions given on Page 46)

1. The course of Loisel’s life changed due to the necklace. Comment.

It took Loisels a decade to pay back the money they borrowed to buy the necklace. They had to move to the poorest quarters of the city. With no maids or assistance, Matilda had to do all the work to save money. The husband worked overtime. Like this, their life changed. (51 words)

2. What was the cause of Matilda’s ruin? How could she have avoided it?

Matilda’s pride and false prestige had paved the way for her ruin. She could have avoided it by accepting her situation and being content with what she had. (28 words)

3. What would have happened to Matilda if she had confessed to her friend that she had lost her necklace?

Truth and honesty would have saved Matilda from her doom. If only she has been courageous enough to confess to her friend the truth of the necklace, she would have come to know that it was a fake one that cost a mere five hundred francs. Ten long years of crushing poverty, misery, and hard work would have been avoided.

4. If you were caught in a situation like this, how would you have dealt with it?

I would have avoided the trap of false prestige. If I was caught in such a situation, I would have been honest by telling the truth. (26 words)

The Nightingale and the Glow-worm

 Poem Appreciation

1. The speaker seems to show two contrasting sides to the nightingale's character in the course of the poem. What are these?

The speaker shows two contrasting sides to the nightingale’s character in the course of the poem. On one side the nightingale is shown as a tireless musician who cheers all the villages throughout the day. On the other side, the nightingale is shown as a ruthless predator who wants to hunt and eat the glow-worm.

2. Although the glow-worm is much tinier than the nightingale, he still talks about himself as being equal to the bird. Which four lines show this?

These are the four lines in the poem which show that the glow-warm talked about himself as being equal to the bird.

For ‘twas the self-same power Divine

Taught you to sing, and me to shine

That you with music, I with light,

Might beautify and cheer the night.

3. Do you think that the glow-worm makes use of flattery to save his life? Quote the line which shows this?

Yes. I think that the glow-worm makes use of flattery to save his life. It cannot run away or fight with the nightingale. It knows that it has no other chance than flattery. It has to convince the nightingale not to eat it.

Here are the lines which show it in the poem. ‘As much as I your minstrelsy and That you with music …….Might beautify and cheer the night.

4. When the glow-worm speaks of the ‘power Divine’, do you think he is truly glorifying God or is simply being very clever? Justify your answer.

The glow-worm cleverly uses ‘power Divine’ both for glorifying God and to convince the Nightingale that a glow-worm and a Nightingale are equally gifted by God. It convinced the Nightingale that both of them are created by God to ‘beautify and cheer’ the world.

5. Do you think that the glow-worm could really spoil the nightingale’s song? If yes, how? If no, why does he say so?

No. I don’t think that the glow-worm could really spoil the nightingale’s song. It was only trying to save itself. It wanted to flatter the nightingale.

6. Read the poem once again and write down the rhyme scheme used in it.

The rhyme scheme of the pome is:

aabbccddeeffgghhaaiiccjjkk

Reach for the Top - Santosh Yadav

Meanings to words and phrases:

contentment: satisfaction

affluent: wealthy, rich, well-to-do

inline with: following or in accordance with, according to, agreeing to

custom: tradition

politely: gently

urge: a strong desire

check it out: find out the truth, to know what is truth

answered in the affirmative: gave a positive reply, saying yes

no looking back: to progress without interruption or impediment, the progress continued

enrolled: took admission into, joined into

headed straight for: went towards, proceeded to

matured: developed, grown-up

resistance: the ability not to be affected by something, the capacity to endure

equipped: supplied with, having

physical endurance: strength

culmination: end, the final stage

scaled: climbed

annals: historic records

bestowed upon her: honored her with, awarded with

top honors: the highest award

Summary:

Santosh Yadav was born to wealthy landowners in Joniyawas, a village in Rewari district of Haryana. She was the youngest child, a sister to five elder brothers. She had to study in the village school as per the village traditions. Since childhood, she was opposed to the customs, preferred wearing shorts to the traditional dress.

At the age of sixteen, like other girls in the village, she was forced to get married but she resisted. She insisted on getting educated before getting married. She took admission in a school in Delhi but her parents refused to support her. She threatened them that she would work part-time to pay the school fee. Her parents accepted her desire to get higher education.

After high school, Santosh joined the Maharani college at Jaipur and lived at the Kasturba hostel. There she saw the villagers climb the Aravalli hills. She was curious and went to the hills. She found a group of mountaineers and wanted to join them in climbing the hills. They agreed and it was her first step in mountaineering.

Within four years, in 1992, she climbed Mount Everest. Her qualities of determination, physical and mental strength impressed her seniors. Her fellow climbers appreciated her concern for others and her willingness to work in a team. She saved the life of a fellow climber named Mohan Singh by sharing her oxygen cylinder with him. She joined an Indo-Nepalese woman expedition and climbed Everest twice, thus becoming the first woman in the world to climb the peak twice.

Santosh cannot describe the immense feeling of happiness and pride when she was on top of the world. As she hoisted the Indian flag, she felt proud to be an Indian. Being an environmentalist, she brought down five hundred kilograms of garbage from the Himalayas.

Textual Questions and Answers:

I. Answer these questions in one or two sentences each. (The paragraph numbers within brackets provide clues to the answers.)

Q1. Why was the ‘holy man’ who gave Santosh’s mother his blessings surprised? (1)

The holy man who blessed Santosh’s mother was surprised because Santosh’s grandmother said that they did not want a son. As her mother already had five sons, they only wanted to be blessed with a gifted girl child. The holy man was surprised because every mother wanted to give birth to a son, contrary to Santosh’s mother.

Q2. Give an example to show that even as a young girl Santosh was not ready to accept anything unreasonable. (2)

Santosh was not always content with her place in a traditional way of life. She began living life on her own terms from the start. Where other girls wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred shorts.

Q3. Why was Santosh sent to the local school? (3)

Although her parents were wealthy and could send her to a good school in the city of Delhi, they sent her to the village school because they followed the traditions.

Q4. When did she leave home for Delhi, and why? (4)

A. At the age of sixteen, Santosh left for Delhi and got admission in a school there. She wanted to get good education before getting married. Although her parents did not support her initially, they were forced by her determination and accepted her decision.

Q5. Why did Santosh’s parents agree to pay for her schooling in Delhi? What mental qualities of Santosh are brought into light by this incident? (4)

Initially, Santosh’s parents refused to support her financially. She accepted this and decided to work part-time to pay her school fee. Then, her parents softened and consented to support her. This shows she was determined and she was ready for anything to get what was right for her.

Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words).

Q1. How did Santosh begin to climb mountains?

When Santosh joined the Maharani college at Jaipur, she resided at the Kasturba hostel. It was located near the Aravalli hills. Every day she saw the villagers climb the hills and disappear behind them. She was curious. One day she joined a group of mountaineers. This way she started climbing mountains.

Q2. What incidents during the Everest expedition show Santosh’s concern for her team-mates?

Santosh tried to save a fellow climber but was unsuccessful at it. Later, she successfully saved the life of a fellow climber named Mohan Singh by sharing her oxygen cylinder with him.

Q3. What shows her concern for the environment?

Santosh Yadav is an environmentalist. She wanted to keep Himalayas garbage free. She brought down five hundred kilograms of garbage from the Himalayas. This shows her concern for the environment.

Q4. How does she describe her feelings at the summit of the Everest?

A. Santosh was full of happiness and pride when she was literally on top of the world. As she unfurled the Indian flag on the summit, she felt proud of being an Indian. She said that it was a spiritual moment for her.

Q5. Santosh Yadav got into the record books both times she scaled Mt Everest. What were the reasons for this?

The first time when Santosh climbed the Everest, she became the youngest woman to scale the Everest. When she climbed it the second time, she became the first woman in the world to have climbed the Everest twice.

Complete the following statements.

1. From her room in Kasturba Hostel, Santosh used to _________

2. When she finished college, Santosh had to write a letter of apology to her father because _________

3. During the Everest expedition, her seniors in the team admired her _____________ while ___________ endeared her to fellow climbers.

 Answers.

1. From her room in Kasturba Hostel, Santosh used to watch the villagers climb the Aravalli hills.

2. When she finished college, Santosh had to write a letter of apology to her father because she had enrolled for a mountaineering course at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi.

3. During the Everest expedition, her seniors in the team admired her determination while her concern for others endeared her to fellow climbers.

Pick out words from the text that mean the same as the following words or expressions. (Look in the paragraphs indicated.)

1. took to be true without proof (1): _________

2. based on reason; sensible; reasonable (2): ____________

3. the usual way of doing things (3): _______________

4. a strong desire arising from within (5): ____________

5. the power to endure, without falling ill (7): __________________

 Answers.

1. assumed

2. rational

3. custom

4. urge

5. resistance

 

Night of the Scorpion - Nissim Ezekiel

Summary

Stanza 1

In stanza 1, the poet says that he remembers well that night when her mother was stung by a scorpion. The poet is of the opinion that the heavy rain which lasted for 10 hours made the scorpion crawl beneath a sack of rice.

Stanza 2

In stanza 2, the poet says that after biting his mother with its diabolic tail, the scorpion went back to rain outside again. The poet here shows sympathy as well as anger towards the scorpion. He is angry when he talks about its biting and sympathetic when he talks about its going to rain again.

Stanza 3

Hearing about the incident, the villagers rush to the poet’s home. He compares them with swarms of flies buzzing the name of God a hundred times to paralyze the Evil One, the scorpion.

Stanza 4

The poet then explains how the villagers searched for the scorpion. The villagers began searching for the scorpion and their shadows themselves seemed to be like a giant scorpion on the mud-baked walls.

The villagers begin searching for the scorpion because they believe that the poison spreads across the body with the movement of scorpion so if the scorpion is stopped and paralyzed, the poison effect can also be controlled.

Stanza 5

Having failed in finding the scorpion, they begin giving their own opinions about the biting of the scorpion. Some of them said that his mother’s sins which she committed in her previous birth have been forgiven.

Some others said that the pain that she is suffering from will decrease the troubles in her next birth. Some others put forward that her good deeds will be balanced against her bad deeds because of the suffering.

Stanza 6

Some others said that the poison will purify and refresh her flesh of desire and her spirit of ambition. All of them seemed to be in peace as they understood the pain and suffering of the poet’s mother

Stanza 7

More and more people come with candles and lanterns. His mother is however crying and rolling on the mat with severe pain. His father who is a sceptic, rationalist. He tries every possible cure for her pain.

His father uses powder, mixture, herb, and hybrid to help her recover from the pain. He even poured a little paraffin upon the bitten toe and then fires it up. The poet watches the flames of fire burning on the skin of his mother.

He also watches the holy man perform his rites to tame the poison with an incantation. His mother ultimately recovers from the poison after 20 hours.

Stanza 8

The last line is quite emotional and heart touching. The poet says that after recovering from the poison, his mother’s words were, ‘Thank God the scorpion picked on me and spared my children’.

Even in such a condition, his mother remains concerned about the safety and health of her children.

Answers to the textual questions:

2. Answer the following questions.

a. What did the villagers do to help the mother?

The villagers uttered prayers for the speaker’s mother. They searched for the scorpion with candles and lanterns. They spoke consoling words. They sat around her and tried to comfort her.

b. What were the steps taken by the father to save the mother? What does the speaker think about it?

The speaker’s father tried every blessing and curse. He used powders, mixtures and herbs. He even poured some paraffin over the wound and fired it. The speaker watched everything in silence. The speaker was not sure that the actions would make the mother comfortable.

c. Do you think it is odd that the speaker in the poem does nothing but stand and watch his/her mother suffer from scorpion sting? Give reasons for your answer.

No. It is no odd. The speaker may be too young at that time to participate in any action. The speaker could only observe the things that happened and hope that the mother would be well soon.

d. What kind of emotions do the last three lines of the poem convey?

The last three lines of the poem are very emotional. Despite all her suffering, the mother thought of her children. She was thankful that the scorpion had spared her children. We are moved by the motherly affection and love.

e. What is the poet trying to communicate to the reader through this poem?

The poet tells us about the innocence, superstitions, and common practices of the society. The poet tells us about how the peasants tried to help the mother. The poet communicated the love and affection of a mother at the end of the poem.

A Letter to God- Textual Questions

 

Textual Questions and Answers

1. Oral Comprehension Check: (Page 5)

Q1. What did Lencho hope for?

Lencho hoped for a rain shower for his cornfield.

Q2.  Why did Lencho say the raindrops were like 'new coins'?

Lencho was sure of good profits after the rain shower. He felt confident that his crop would give good yield. So, he referred to the raindrops as new coins.

Q3. How did the rain change? What happened to Lencho's fields?

Sometime after the rainfall had begun, the wind became strong and the rainfall had turned into a hailstorm. Lencho’s crop was damaged because of the hailstorm.

Q4. What were Lencho's feelings when the hail stopped?

A. Lencho was sad and disheartened after the hailstorm.

2. Oral Comprehension Check: (Page 6)

Q1. Who or what did Lencho have faith in? What did he do?

A. Lencho had unwavering faith in God. So, he decided to write a letter to God conveying his problems. He asked for 100 pesos for survival and for investing in the next crop.

Q2. Who read the letter?

A. A postman who was also an employee of the post office read the letter.

Q3. What did the postmaster do then?

A. The postmaster was amazed at Lencho's unshakeable faith in God. He didn’t want to shake Lencho’s faith in God. So, he decided to collect money for Lencho from his friends and colleagues. 

3. Oral Comprehension Check: (Page 7)

Q1. Was Lencho surprised to find a letter for him with money in it?

A. Lencho was not at all surprised on seeing the letter because this is what he was expecting. Instead, he was angry when he found that the amount was less than what he had asked for.

Q2. What made him angry?

A. Lencho was displeased and felt angry when he found that the money was less than what he had asked for.

Thinking About the Text: (Page 7)

Q1. Who does Lencho have complete faith in? Which sentences in the story tell you this?

A. Lencho has immense faith in God. These lines are evident to this fact: "Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on seeing the money; such was his confidence - but he became angry when he counted the money. God could not have made a mistake, nor could he have denied Lencho what he had requested."

 Q2. Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho? Why does he sign the letter 'God'?

A. The postmaster did not want to shake the writer's faith in God. So, with a good intention, decided to collect money for "an act of charity". He also signed the letter in the name of God to conceal his identity as he wanted Lencho to think that it was actually from God.

Q3. Did Lencho try to find out who had sent the money to him? Why/Why not?

A. No, Lencho did not try to find out the sender because he was very sure of the existence of God. His letter to God got a reply.  He believed that God had sent him the money. So, he didn’t try to find out who had sent the money.

Q4. Who does Lencho think has taken the rest of the money? What is the irony in the situation? (Remember that the irony of a situation is an unexpected aspect of it. An ironic situation is strange or amusing because it is the opposite of what is expected.)

A. Lencho thought that the postmaster or the employees of the post office had stolen the remaining amount. That is why he wrote God not to send money through the post office next time. Actually the postmaster and the employees had collected the money out of their good intention to keep Lencho's faith in God intact. But they were blamed for stealing the money. The irony here is that, the real helpers were blamed.

Q5. Are there people like Lencho in the real world? What kind of a person would you say he is? You may select appropriate words from the box to answer the question.

Greedy, naive, stupid, ungrateful, Selfish, comical, unquestioning

A. No, it is hard to find people like Lencho in reality. Lencho is naive and unquestioning because of his lack of understanding of the actual physical existence of God. He did not question receiving an actual reply from God. He is ungrateful because he is not happy with the 70 pesos he got. Instead, he complained about the missing 30 pesos and blamed the post office people.

Q6. There are two kinds of conflict in the story: between humans and nature, and between humans themselves. How are these conflicts illustrated?

A. The story "A Letter to God" depicts two types of conflicts; one between man and nature and the other among men themselves. In the beginning of the story, the farmer hopes for a rain shower for his cornfield. When it started raining, he becomes overjoyed and starts thinking about all the profit that would come in. Soon, his joy is turned into sorrow when the wind becomes strong leading to a hailstorm. This shows the disagreement between man and nature wherein humans want nature to act according to their aspirations. The second conflict arises when Lencho starts doubting the honesty of the post-office employees who actually helped him with the money anonymously. This is the conflict among men themselves, wherein, we are ready to trust in the idea of God's existence but we are not ready to trust each other.

The Making of a Scientist

 

Richard Ebright

Summary

The making of a scientist is a story of a curious child who is channelizing his curiosity to become a scientist. Richard Ebright was very close to his mother, and she plays a key role in developing his interest in science.

Richard Ebright began his journey by collecting butterflies. Later on, he did research on the purpose of gold spots on the pupae of monarch butterflies. His paper on the working of a cell got published in a scientific journal when he was only 22. He became famous. Ebright participated in many science exhibitions and won many awards. Apart from science, he had an interest in public speaking and debate.

Richard Ebright was a curious child. He had started collecting butterflies in his childhood and by the time he was in second grade, he had already gathered all the 25 species found in his hometown. Also, he collected coins, fossils, and rocks. One day his mother gave him a book named ‘The Travels of Monarch X’. It was a turning point in life as it introduced him to the world of science. When Ebright was in seventh grade he experienced real science in the county science fair. He understood that to win something he should do something extraordinary. He began to develop a competitive spirit and started working on Dr. Urqhart's ideas.

For his eighth grade, he selected the assignment of finding the cause of viral sickness that killed almost all the monarch caterpillars every year. He thought that the cause for this could be a beetle, so, he rose caterpillars with the presence of beetles. However, he was wrong. The next year his project for the science fair was testing the theory that Viceroy Butterflies copy Monarch Butterflies to save themselves from birds. His project got the first prize in the zoology division and third in the county science fair.

In his second year of high school, Richard Ebright's research led to his discovery of an unknown insect hormone which led to his new theory on the lives of cells. He tried to find the purpose of tiny golden spots on the back of the monarch pupa. This project won first place in a country science fair and a chance to work in the Walter Reed Army Institute of research.

As a high school student, he continued his advanced experiments at the laboratory of the Department of Agriculture. He was able to identify the hormones’ chemical structure. One day while looking at the X-ray photos of the hormone he got the idea of his new theory that tells cells can read the blueprint of their DNA. Ebright and his roommate constructed the plastic model of molecules to illustrate how cells are able to read DNA. It was a big leap forward and got published in a magazine. He graduated from Harvard with the highest honours.

Ebright says that his high school social teacher Mr. Weiherer had opened his mind for new ideas. Curiosity, first-class mind, and the ability to do the best are the essential ingredients to make a scientist and Ebright had these qualities.

He has other interests also like public speaking, debate and is also a canoeist and an outdoor person. Also, he was competitive but in a good sense and always want to do his best. Moreover, he possesses all the traits of becoming a good scientist.

The story teaches us that with perseverance, dedication and hard work any dream is achievable.

Meanings for some words and phrases:

Curiosity- a strong desire to know or learn something.

Encouraged- give support, confidence, or hope to (someone).

Equipment- the necessary items and tools for a particular purpose.

Species- a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding.

Monarch butterflies- a large migratory orange and black coloured butterfly that occurs mainly in North America.

Collector- a person who collects things of a specified type, professionally or as a hobby.

Migrations-  seasonal movement of animals from one region to another.

Adhesive- able to stick fast to a surface or object; sticky.

Flock- a number of birds of one kind feeding, resting, or travelling together.

Life cycle- the series of changes in the life of an organism including reproduction.

Tedious- too long, slow, or dull; tiresome or monotonous.

County- region

Subject- a person or thing that is being discussed, described, or dealt with.

Stack- a pile of objects, typically one that is neatly arranged.

Viral- of the nature of, caused by, or relating to a virus or viruses.

Starling- a gregarious Old World songbird with a straight bill, typically with dark lustrous or iridescent plumage but sometimes brightly coloured.

Zoology- the scientific study of the behaviour, structure, physiology, classification, and distribution of animals.

Research- the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.

Hormone- a regulatory substance produced in an organism and transported in tissue fluids such as blood or sap to stimulate specific cells or tissues into action.

Assumed- supposed to be the case, without proof.

Ornamental- serving or intended as an ornament; decorative, cosmetic

Sophisticated- advanced

Blueprint-  a design plan or technical drawing.

Nucleus- the central and most important part of an object, movement, or group, forming the basis for its activity and growth.

Heredity- the passing on of physical or mental characteristics genetically from one generation to another.

Roommate- a person occupying the same room as another.

Researcher- a person who carries out academic or scientific research.

Debater- a person who argues about a subject, especially in a formal manner.

Canoeist- A canoeist is someone who is skilled at racing and performing tests of skill in a canoe.

Exhibits- manifest clearly (a quality or a type of behaviour).

Admire- regard with respect or warm approval.

Competitive- relating to or characterized by competition.

Ingredients- a component part or element of something.

 Some Question with Answers

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

Richard had collected all the 25 species of butterflies that were found in his surroundings. He thought that it would be an end to the butterfly collection. Then his mother bought him a book, ‘Travels of Monarch X’. The book was written by Dr Urquhart, a Canadian Zoologist. It described how the butterflies migrated to Central America. The book aroused an interest in him for exploring more and led to his scientific curiosity. Like this, a book became a turning point in Richard Ebright’s life.

2. How did his mother help him?

Richard Ebright’s mother played a major role in his life. She encouraged him by buying telescopes, microscopes, cameras, and mounting equipment.  She tried to help him learn various things in the evening when he had free time. She also used to take him out on field trips. She gave him a book called ‘Travels of Monarch X’ which led to his scientific curiosity. Thus, Ebright’s mother helped him to become a scientist.

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

 Ebright had presented slides of Frog tissues at the fair. He realized that by simply presenting something was not enough to be a winner. He had learned that it is important to do real experiments.

4. What experiments and projects does he then undertake?

Ebright did an experiment to see the cause of the viral disease that kills nearly all the monarchs after every few years and also took up a project to prove that the viceroy butterflies copy monarchs to survive by behaving like them.

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

According to the lesson, ‘The Making of a Scientist’ there are three qualities that a person needs to become a scientist. The first quality is a first-rated mind, the second quality is curiosity and the third quality is the will to win for the right reasons.

Think About It (Answers to the questions on 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?

One should have passion in the chosen field. By reading many books on the subject is not enough. One must develop the skill of observation and thinking. One should have the curiosity to explore and find new things. (37 words)

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?

Cells are the building blocks of all life forms. There are different kinds of cells that perform different kinds of roles. DNA is an essential component that directs cell growth. It carries the blueprint of life and heredity. DNA passes 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. A new branch of medicine involving DNA modifications is known as genetic engineering. I would like to study genetics and find ways to make humans more immune and disease-proof. (109 words)