Somebody's Mother

 

Poem Appreciation

1. On the basis of your understanding of the poem choose the best option for the answer.

a. Where is the setting of the poem?

i. in an old age home      ii. in the poet’s neighbourhood iii. outside the poet’s school        iv. on the busy street

b. What was the woman’s fear?

i. her old age      ii. the traffic        iii. the winter     iv. all of the above

2. Why was it difficult for the woman to cross the road?

The woman was old, tired. It is cold and the road was slippery. She was afraid that the crowd, the horses, or the carriages might harm her.

3. Who helped the old lady?

An unknown schoolboy, who was the gayest of all the boys helped the old lady.

4. What was his reason for helping her?

The old lady was somebody’s mother. He hoped that someday, his mother would be helped by an unknown person in case he is far away from home and not in a position to help her himself.

5. What was the old woman’s reaction to being helped?

The old woman was very happy and grateful to being helped. That night prayed to God to look after the good boy, somebody’s son, who had helped her.

6. Pick a simile from this poem and explain it?

Writers use a simile to compare two things with words like ‘as’ and ‘like’. ‘Came the boys like a flock of sheep’ is the simile in this poem. Here the poet compares a group of boys who are coming out of their school to a flock of sheep. 

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”.

The Beggar

Summary

Lushkoff was a beggar. While begging he met an advocate Sergei. Sergei found out that he was telling lies to people in order to win their sympathy. He wanted to change the beggar and gave him work. Sergei asked the beggar to cut wood and directed the cook Olga to show him the shed where wood was kept. The beggar was too weak and was under the influence of alcohol. Olga scolded him and reported that the work was finished. Every month the beggar used to come to Sergei’s house and earn some money doing odd jobs.

When Sergei shifted his house, he employed the beggar to transport household articles.  Sergei noticed that the beggar had changed as he was sober that day. Satisfied that his efforts had paid in reforming a drunkard, Sergei recommended the beggar to a better job.

After two years, Sergei chanced to see Lushkoff at a theatre. Sergei came to know that Lushkoff was now working as a notary and earned 35 Roubles a month. Lushkoff revealed that it was not for Sergei but for his cook, Olga that he was a changed man. She would scold him, cry for him, and chopped the wood for him. Her behaviour transformed Lushkoff.

Think about it (Answers to the questions on Page 67)

1. Has Lushkoff become a beggar by circumstance or by choice?

Lushkoff was a middle-aged man and belonged to a choir group. He was sent out of the choir because of his drinking habits. He became a beggar by choice as he did not like to work hard.

2. What reasons does he give to Sergei for his telling lies?

Lushkoff told Sergei the truth and accepted that he was a liar. He said that he told lies to gain sympathy from others. He reasoned that if he had spoken the truth he wouldn’t be helped by anyone.

3. Is Lushkoff a willing worker? Why, then, does he agree to chop wood for Sergei?

No, Lushkoff was not a willing worker. He was too weak to work. He agreed to chop wood because of pride and shame and he had been trapped by his own words. So he had no other way but to accept Sergei’s offer.

4.Sergei says, “I am happy that my words have taken effect.” Why does he say so? Is he right in saying so?

Sergei looked satisfied with the transformation of the beggar and felt happy. But he was not right in saying so because Lushkoff had not developed the habit of working hard. He was still a lazy fellow.

5. Lushkoff is earning thirty five roubles a month. How is he obliged to Sergei for this?

Sergei played an important role in improving the condition of the beggar. It was because of Sergei that Lushkoff could earn thirty five roubles a month. He believed that the beggar was a changed man and sent him to one of his friends to do the job of copying. Later he became a notary.

6. During their conversation Lushkoff reveals that Sergei’s cook, Olga, is responsible for the positive change in him. How has Olga saved Lushkoff?

Olga realised the condition of Lushkoff and took pity on him. She tried her best to improve the same. She did the work of his part as she wanted to change him. She kept criticizing him in order to improve him. He understood her feelings towards him and a change took place in his heart. So, Olga was responsible for the positive change in him.