JUNIOR INTERMEDIATE ENGLISH .

COMMON ANNOTATION AND PARAGRAPH ANSWER

PROSE:
1. LETTER TO HIS SON’S TEACHER
-Abraham Lincoln.
COMMON ANSWER:
1. How is the teacher expected to inculcate honesty and worldly wisdom in the child? (Or)
2. How can the teacher instil faith, love and courage in Lincoln’s son? (Or)
3. What should the teacher do to help the child to tackle good and evil in the world?

Introduction: Abraham Lincoln is the 16th president of the USA. He is a great orator, writer and
statesman. He has become a martyr for the cause of freedom. The present lesson is a letter written
by him to his son’s teacher. It describes the role of a teacher in teaching human values to children.

The topic: Lincoln says that his son is going to school for the first time. He urges his son’s teacher
to teach the value of honesty, love, faith and courage to his son. He requests the teacher to teach his
son to be polite with good people and tough with rude people. There is a great honour in accepting
failures. His son should know that there is a friend for every enemy and a hero for every villian. He
must know that all men are not true. He needs to stay away from jealousy. He should have his own
ideas. He should be taught to gracefully lose and humbly win. At the end Lincoln urges the teacher
‘neither to be too gentle nor too harsh’ towards his son.
Conclusion: Lincoln says that his son feels fear to go to school for the forst time. Hence he requests
the teacher to remove the fear of school by taking extra care towards his son.
COMMON ANNOTATION:
1. ‘It is all going to be strange and new to him for a while and I wish you would reat him gently.’
2. ‘Teach him to learn how to gracefully lose and enjoy winning when he does win’.
3. ‘There can be glory in failure and despair in success’.
4. ‘Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him they are wrong’.
Introduction: These lines are taken from the lesson, ‘Letter to His Son’s Teacher’, written by
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the USA.
Context: The present lesson is a letter written by him to his son’s teacher. It describes the role of a
teacher in teaching human values to children.
Meaning: Lincoln says that his son is going to school for the first time. He urges his son’s teacher
to teach the value of honesty, love, faith and courage to his son. He requests the teacher to teach his
son to be polite with good people and tough with rude people. There is a great honour in accepting
failures. His son should know that there is a friend for every enemy and a hero for every villian. He
must know that all men are not true. He needs to stay away from envy. He should have his own
ideas. He should be taught to gracefully lose and humbly win. At the end Lincoln urges the teacher
‘neither to be too gentle nor too harsh’ towards his son.
Comment: Lincoln says that his son feels fear to go to school for the forst time. Hence he requests
the teacher to remove the fear of school by taking extra care towards his son.

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 2. SHE CONQUERED EVEREST.
- Dr. B. Sowjanya.
COMMON ANSWER:
1. Why was Arunima Sinha desperately trying to get into a job? (Or)
2. Describe the incident that led to the amputation of the left leg of Arunima. Describe the way she was
treated after she was found beside the tracks. (Or)
3. Did Arunima lose hope while she was on the hospital bed? What made her take such a huge decision of
climbing a mountain with amputated leg? (Or)
4. What are the difficulties faced by Arunima while climbing Everest? What do you learn from her story?
Introduction: The present lesson, ‘She Conquered Everest’, is taken from an internet article by Dr.
B. Sowjanya. It is an inspiring story of Arunima Sinha. She is the first Indian female amputee to
climb Everest.
The topic: Arunima Sinha is a resident of UP. She is a sports woman. She lost her father when she
was three. She did not participate in games for some time to help her family. Once she applied for a
job in CISF. She received a call letter but there was a mistake in her birth certificate. To get her
birth date corrected, she decided to go to Delhi. In the train she was harassed by the thieves. The
compartment was full of people but no one came to her rescue. The thieves threw her out from the
moving train. Later her left leg was removed from below knee to prevent gangreen. She decided to
climb Everest. She faced many problemes while climbing Everest. Her oxygen was completely
low. She thought she would die. Finally, With will power, Arunima Sinha climbed Everest on 21st
May, 2023 and she became an inspiration to all.
Conclusion: Arunima’s success story is an inspiration for all.

COMMON ANNOTATION:
1. She hung up her boots for a while and although she was a law graduate, she was facing the brunt of
unemployment.
2. The compartment is full of people, but no one came the rescue of the girl being robbed and attacked.
3. ‘Someday I will prove, without doubt, the truth of what happened to me’
4. ‘Her oxygen was critically low, and her Sherpa warned her that she might lose her life.’
Introduction: The present lesson, ‘She Conquered Everest’, is taken from an internet article by
Dr. B. Sowjanya.
Context: It is an inspiring story of Arunima Sinha. She is the first Indian female amputee to climb
Everest.
Meaning: Arunima Sinha is a resident of UP. She is a sports woman. She lost her father when she
was three. She did not participate in games for some time to help her family. Once she applied for a
job in CISF. She received a call letter but there was a mistake in her birth certificate. To get her
birth date corrected, she decided to go to Delhi. In the train she was harassed by the thieves. The
compartment was full of people but no one came to her rescue. The thieves threw her out from the
moving train. Later her left leg was removed from below knee to prevent gangreen. She decided to
climb Everest. She faced many problemes while climbing Everest. Her oxygen was completely
low. She thought she would die. Finally, With will power, Arunima Sinha climbed Everest on 21st
May, 2023 and she became an inspiration to all.
Comment: Arunima’s success story is an inspiration for all.
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 3. WHAT MAKES A NATION
- C. Rajagopalachari.
1. What is Rajaji’s advice to the students of higher learning? (Or)
2. ‘Citizens of character are future of the nation’, - Support your answer with the views of Rajaji.
Introduction: Chakravarthy Rajagopalachari is popularly known as Rajaji. The present essay, ‘What
Makes A Nation’, is his speech to the students of Laxmi Narayana Institute of Technology, Nagpur on
August 26, 1948. In his speech, Rajaji the young men and women to work hard for the development of the
country and the character of the citizen.
The topic: Rajaji says that character should be like a precious gold. We can adapt good qualities like
honesty and integrity with good character. He says that character is a national policy. It can be formed by
the best qualities. When we are very responsible in our conduct and honest in our minds, we can make a
glorious India. He says that mother India wants hard working boys and girls. India needs good leaders. Our
government hopes that the universities should produce thousands of leaders every year. Then India will
grow like a natural organic body.
Conclusion: Rajaji says that character is destiny.

COMMORN ANNOTATION:
1 Character is not merely a copy-book ideal. It is a wisest national policy that can be conceived by any
statesman.
2. ‘Mother India wants hardworking good boys and good girls’.
3. ‘Unless we are very strenuous in our conduct and honest in our minds, we cannot
make a glorious India.’
4. ‘Universities are the hopes of our national leaders’.
Introduction: Chakravarthy Rajagopalachari is popularly known as Rajaji. The present essay, ‘What
Makes A Nation’, is his speech to the students of Laxmi Narayana Institute of Technology, Nagpur on
August 26, 1948.
Context: In his speech, Rajaji the young men and women to work hard for the development of the country
and the character of the citizen.
Meaning: Rajaji says that character should be like a precious gold. We can adapt good qualities like
honesty and integrity with good character. He says that character is a national policy. It can be formed by
the best qualities. When we are very responsible in our conduct and honest in our minds, we can make a
glorious India. He says that mother India wants hard working boys and girls. India needs good leaders. Our
government hopes that the universities should produce thousands of leaders every year. Then India will
grow like a natural organic body.
Comment: Rajaji says that character is destiny.

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POETRY:
1. COMMONWEALTH OF BEES
- William Shakespeare.
COMMON ANSWER:
1. According to Shakespeare, what are the lessons that human beings must learn from honey bees? (Or)
2. ‘Real results will emerge when we realize the power of combined individual actions’.
How can you justify this statement in the light of the poem, ‘Commonwealth of Bees’?
Introduction: William Shakespeare was a famous English play wright and poet. The poem
‘Commonwealth of Bees’ is taken from his play, Henry V, (Act 1, Scene 2). It is an advice given
by Archbishop to Henry V by taking bees’ life style as an example.
The topic: Shakespeare compares the kingdom of Henry V to a beehive. Bees are compared to
humans. He observes that in the bee hive, there are different classes of bees. They do their duty
honestly. Their main aim is to collect honey. They have a king and officers at various levels. Some
are like magistrate bees who punish the lazy ones at home. The merchant bees collect honey.
Soldier bees with their sharp teeth protect the beee-hive. Some like civil citizens convert the booty
into honey. Porter bees fill the chambers with honey. Mason bees cover those chambers with wax.
Like the bees, if his soldiers work honestly, the king can win the war.
Conclusion: Though bees are insects, they can teach the human beings the art of order, hard work, team
spirit and discipline.
COMMON ANNOTATION:
1. ‘Creatures that, by a rule in nature, teach the art of order to a peopled kingdom’.
2. ‘Others, like soldiers, armed in their stings.
Make boot upon the summer’s velvet buds’
3. ‘The poor mechanic porters crowding in
Their heavy burdens at his narrow gate’.
4. ‘So may a thousand actions, once afoot,
End in one purpose, and be all well borne without defeat’.
Introduction: These lines are taken from the poem, ‘Commonwealth of Bees’, written by William
Shakespeare. The poem is an extract from Shakespeare’s play, ‘Henry V’, (Act 1, Scene 2.)
Context: The poem is an advice given by Archbishop to Henry V by taking bees’ life style as an
example.
Meaning: Shakespeare compares the kingdom of Henry V to a beehive. Bees are compared to
humans. He observes that in the bee hive, there are different classes of bees. They do their duty
honestly. Their main aim is to collect honey. They have a king and officers at various levels. Some
are like magistrate bees who punish the lazy ones at home. The merchant bees collect honey.
Soldier bees with their sharp teeth protect the beee-hive. Some like civil citizens convert the booty
into honey. Porter bees fill the chambers with honey. Mason bees cover those chambers with wax.
Like the bees, if his soldiers work honestly, the king can win the war.
Comment: Though bees are insects, they can teach the human beings the art of order, hard work,
team spirit and discipline.

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 2. THIS IS MY PRAYER TO THEE, MY LORD!
- Rabindranath Tagore.
COMMON ANSWER:
1. How unique is Tagore’s prayer to God? (Or)
2. What kind of strength does Tagore seek and why? (Or)
3. What are Tagore’s views on equanimity?

Introduction: Rabindranath Tagore was popularly known as ‘Gurudev’. He won the Nobel
Prize for his ‘Gitanjali’ in 1913. The present poem is the 36 th song of ‘Gitanjali. In this song,
Tagore prays to God to bless all human beings.
The topic: Tagore’s prayer is unique. He prays for nothing for himself. He seeks for spiritual
qualities like love and kindness for everyone. He prays for the strength to bear the joys and
sorrows equally. He prays to God to remove poverty from his heart. Here poverty does not
mean materialistic. It is the weekness of the heart to be kind to the poor. He prays for the
strength to help the poor. He appeals for the strength never to be afraid of cruel leaders. He
prays for the strength to overcome petty problems of life. In the last lines, Tagore prays for
the strength to surrender himself to God with love.
Conclusion: Tagore’s prayer to God is universal. In this poem, the poet expresses noble
feelings such as kindness, love and worship.
COMMON ANNOTATION:
1. ‘Strike, strike at the root of penury in my heart’.
2. ‘Give me the strength to rise my mind high above daily trifles’
3. ‘Give me the strength to make my love fruitful in service’
4. ‘Give me the strength never to disown the poor’.

Introduction: These lines are taken from the poem, ‘This is My Prayer to Thee, My Lord!
This poem is the 36th song of the Gitanjali.
Context: In this song, Tagore prays to God to bless all human beings.
Meaning: Tagore’s prayer is unique. He prays for nothing for himself. He seeks for spiritual
qualities like love and kindness for everyone. He prays for the strength to bear the joys and
sorrows equally. He prays to God to remove poverty from his heart. Here poverty does not
mean materialistic. It is the weekness of the heart to be kind to the poor. He prays for the
strength to help the poor. He appeals for the strength never to be afraid of cruel leaders. He
prays for the strength to overcome petty problems of life. In the last lines, Tagore prays for
the strength to surrender himself to God with love.
Comment: Tagore’s prayer to God is universal. In this poem, the poet expresses noble
feelings such as kindness, love and worship.

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 3. AS I GREW OLDER.
- Longston Hughes

1. ‘Hold fast to dreams for when dreams go, life is a barren field frozen with snow’. How did
Langston Hughes hold fast to his saying ‘as he grew older’? (Or)
2. What is the theme of the poem, ‘As I Grew Older’?
Introduction:Langston Hughes is a famous African-American writer. His present poem,
‘As I Grew Older’ brings out a theme that no matter what stands in the way of someone’s
dream he can always find his dream and fight for it.
The topic: The poet recalls his long forgotten dream. It was about equality. It was as bright
as the sun. As he grew older, ‘a tall wall’ of racism and inequality rose up slowly between
him and his dream. As a result, he had nearly forgotten his dream. It was just darkness all
round him. He hopes to shatter that darkness to see his dream again.
Conclusion:Thus, the poem brings out the message that we should believe in ourselves and
overcome all barriers to achieve our goals.
COMMON ANNOTATION:
1. ‘It was a long time ago,
I have almost forgotten my dream,
…. In front of me, bright like a sun-My dream’
2. And then the wall rose slowly, and slowly,
Between me and my dream. Rose until it touched the sky-
The wall. Shadow. I am black.
3. To break this shadow into a thousand lights of sun.
Into a thousand whirling dreams/ of sun!
Introduction: These lines are taken from the poem, ‘As I Grew Grow’ written by Langston
Hughes is a famous African-American writer.
Context: The present poem, ‘As I Grew Older’ brings out a theme that no matter what
stands in the way of someone’s dream he can always find his dream and fight for it.
Meaning: The poet recalls his long forgotten dream. It was about equality. It was as bright
as the sun. As he grew older, ‘a tall wall’ of racism and inequality rose up slowly between
him and his dream. As a result, he had nearly forgotten his dream. It was just darkness all
round him. He hopes to shatter that darkness to see his dream again.
Comment: The poem brings out the message that we should believe in ourselves and
overcome all barriers to achieve our goals.

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 1. ENGINE TROUBLE
-R. K. Narayan.
1. Give an account of the series of troubles the narrator experienced in the wake of winning
road engine. (Or)
2. The narrator said, ‘Nature came to my rescue in an unexpected manner.’ How did nature
help the narrator to get rid of his troubles?

R. K. Narayan is a famous short story writer. His stories are set in an imaginary place
called ‘Malgudi’. His present short story, ‘Engine Trouble’, humorously describes how a
prize won by a poor man proves to be an expensive headache for him.

Once, the narrator wins a road engine at the show. He feels thrilled at his prize. It is
not a short of prize to carry home. He tries to get help from different people but no use. He
dicides to sell but no one codmes. Then he decides to leave the engine on the grounds till the
end of the season. But the rent is very heavy for him.

The narrator is given twenty-four hours’ time to remove the road engine as cattle show
comes to the town. So, he hires the temple elephant, fifty men and a bus driver to move road
engine. On its move, the engine damaged the compound wall of a house. The owner of the
house slaps the narrator and keeps him in jail. After releasing from jail, the narrator plans to
leave the town.
Nature comes to his rescue in the form of an earthquake. The road ingine falls into a
unused well nearby. It fits it like a cork. The owner of the house requests the narrator to
leave it there. He agrees to pay all the expenses to the narrator. Thus the narrator gets relief
from the engine trouble in the end.

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 2. THE LAST LEAF
-O. Henry.
1. How is ‘The Last Leaf’ by O. Henry a story of hope, friendship and sacrifice? (Or)
2. Justify the statement, ‘A diseased mind is even more harmful than the actual disease
itself’ with reference to O. Henry’s Last Leaf.

O. Henry is the pen name of William Sidney Porter. He is a famous American short
story writer. His works are well known for surprise ending. His present short story,
“The Last Leaf” is about the value of hope, friendship and the unselfish sacrifice
of an old artist, Behrman who saves the life of a young artist, Johnsy dying of
pneumonia.

The story takes place in Greenwich Village, near New York. It is about
Sue and Johnsy. They are young women artists. They have come to New York to
make their living. When winter comes, Johnsy becomes a victim of pneumonia. She
is always lying on the bed. She sees, through the window, an Ivy plant on the wall
of opposite house gradually losing its leaves. She fears she is dying. She compares
her death with the fall of the last leaf. The doctor declares that she has ten percent
chances to live.

Sue is a loving and caring friend of Johnsy. She decides to save Johnsy. She
informs Mr. Behrman, an old unsuccessful painter, about the strang belief of
Johnsy. He has decided to save Johnsy. The next morning, after a heavy rain,
Johnsy sees the last leaf still hanging on the vine. Her hopes increases. She decides
to live. She feels it is sin to die. She recovers completely from her illness.

Some times later, Sue informs Johnsy that Mr. Behrman has died of pneumonia.
Both friends understand that Mr. Behrman climbs up and paints a green leaf on the
wall that rainy night when the last leaf fell. Sue remarks that Behrman has painted
his masterpiece, ‘The last leaf’. Thus, the story brings out the value of love, hope,
friendship and sacrifice.

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