ENGLISH

[Reader and Supplementary Reader]

Standard X

A Publication under
Government of Tamilnadu
Distribution of Free Textbook Programme
(NOT FOR SALE)

Untouchability is a sin
Untouchability is a crime
Untouchability is inhuman

TAMILNADU
TEXTBOOK CORPORATION
College Road, Chennai - 600 006

i
© Government of Tamilnadu
First Edition-2004
Reprint - 2006 Chairperson
Thiru R. S ANKARA SUBRAMANIAN
SG Lecturer in English,
Govt. Arts College, Nandanam, Chennai - 600 035
Overall Reviewer
Thiru S.GOMATHINATHAN,
Special Officer, ELT/Reader, D.T.E.R.T. (Retired),
W - 5 (Old 302), 19th Street, Annanagar Western Extension,
Chennai-600 101
Reviewers
Thiru R. Venkata Krishnan Thiru R. Sundaravadivelu
Principal PG Assistant
T.I. School Govt. Higher Secondary School
Ambattur, Chennai - 600 053 MGRNagar, Chennai - 600 078
Authors
Tmt.K. LeenaAnil Thiru V. Unni Krishnan
Research Scholar Junior Lecturer
Dept. of English Govt. Teacher Training Institute
University of Madras, Coimbatore.
Chennai-600 005
Thiru Samuel Moses Chelliah Tmt. Meera Ravishankar
Head Master 16, Karpagam Flats,
W.P.A. Soundara Pandia Nadar Thiruvengadam Street,
H.S. School, Chennai - 600 023. R.A. Puram, Chennai - 600 028
Ms. Priscilla Josephine Sarah S.
Consultant (ELT)
c/o. S. Gomathinathan
Chennai.

This book has been prepared by the Directorate of School Education

on behalf of the Govt. of Tamilnadu.
This book has been printed on 60 G.S.M. paper.
Printed by web offset at:
Manivasagar offset Printers, Chennai - 600 081.

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 THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
FULL VERSION
Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka jaya he
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Punjaba-Sindhu-Gujarata-Maratha-
Dravida-Utkala-Banga
Vindhya-Himachala-Yamuna-Ganga
Uchchhala-jaladhi-taranga
Tava Subha name jage,
Tava Subha asisa mage,
Gahe tava jaya-gatha.
Jana-gana-mangala-dayaka jaya he
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he
Jaya jaya, jaya, jaya he.
SHORT VERSION
Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka jaya he
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he
Jaya jaya, jaya, jaya he.
AUTHENTIC ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people,
Thou dispenser of India’s destiny.
Thy name rouses the hearts of the Punjab, Sind,
Gujarat and Maratha, of Dravid, Orissa and Bengal.
It echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas,
mingles in the music of the Yamuna and Ganges
and is chanted by the waves of the Indian Sea.
They pray for Thy blessings and sing Thy praise
The saving of all people waits in Thy hand,
Thou dispenser of India’s destiny.
Victory, Victory, Victory to Thee.

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 THE NATIONAL INTEGRATION PLEDGE

“I solemnly pledge to work with dedication to preserve and

strengthen the freedom and integrity of the nation.”

“I further affirm that I shall never resort to violence and

that all differences and disputes relating to religion, language, region

or other political or economic grievances should be settled by

peaceful and constitutional means. “

INVOCATION TO GODDESS TAMIL

Bharat is like the face beauteous of Earth clad in wavy seas;

Deccan is her brow crescent-like on which the fragrant ‘Tilak’

is the blessed Dravidian land.

Like the fragrance of that ‘Tilak’ plunging the world in joy

supreme reigns Goddess Tamil with renown spread far and wide.

Praise unto ‘You, Goddess Tamil, whose majestic

youthfulness, inspires awe and ecstasy.

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 FOREWORD

Language is a dynamic social interactive phenomenon. The

importance of communication in the modem world cannot be under-

estimated.

The ability to read and interpret the language correctly and express

effectively, and articulating both in person and on paper is becoming

more important. So the overriding purpose of this book is to make the

children feel comfortable in all the four major skills and the subskills of

the language.

We have given a great deal of original thought to ensure that we

have the best selection of pieces and the most interesting communicative

tasks. The book offers special treatment to those who are suffering

from language handicap, for want of exposure and throws a challenge

or two for those with some exposure.

This will be an agreeable companion both to the children and the

teachers.

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 NOTE TO THE TEACHER

This book has been prepared in accordance with the revised

syllabus which has specified the various competencies to be acquired
in the tenth standard, through the seven pieces. The list of competencies
handled in each unit has been elaborately enunciated at the beginning of
the unit.

The prose piece in each unit helps learners to acquire the

competencies in diverse ways. The poem, with questions on
understanding the figures of speech will help learners enhance their
appreciation skills.

The supplementary reader contains six pieces and each piece

takes care of a few skills so that the skills acquired already with the help of the
prose pieces could be refined and strengthened.

For the ‘listening’ section of each unit, and the ‘study

skills’ section in Unit-V, the teacher is to refer to the passages to
be read aloud to the students that are appended to Part-I of the
leader.

Through the book we have conveyed that grammar is not a

collection of hard and fast rules. It helps to choose the use of the forms
of language best suited to each particular occasion.

Hope you will find the book interesting and useful in many ways
as a reliable, trusted linguistic guide for your teaching.

A book is only as good as its users. After all, good teaching

results from a passionate engagement with the language and results in
caring for the children.

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 NOTE TO THE PARENT

This book is offered with warmth and confidence to your children.

It will supply in full measure, that information on the language which is

required at their level for comprehensive use of the language in their

day to day life, both inside and outside the class room.

It is qualitatively new in the sense that after going through the

book your children will say,

‘When people tell me

English is difficult,

I show my dimple ,??

English is simple!’
bg‰nwh®fˋ ftd¤â‰F

M§»y bkhÊƋ mo¥gil¤âw‹fisí« mij x£oa

ãwâw‹fisí« KGikahf »u»¤J tF¥giwÆY«
rKjha¤âY« ï‰j bkhÊia K>ikahf¥ ga‹gL¤â
gydilí« tifƚ ï¥ò¤jf¤ij c§fŸ FHªiffS¡F
fÅîlD« e«ã¡ifílD« mË¡»nwh«. M§»y« f‰gJ
fodkšy, vd c§fŸ FHªijfŸ cz®th®fŸ.

vii
 CONTENTS

PART I-READER

Unit Title Page

I PROSE - THE MASTER BLASTER 5

POEM - SIX AND OUT 25

II PROSE - THE BENEVOLENT BISHOP 31

POEM - NOBLENESS ENKINDLETHN
OBLENESS 50

III PROSE - SAMBU IN LONDON 56

POEM - THE PROFESSOR 77

IV PROSE - TRAVELLING FAR 81

POEM - THE ROAD NOT TAKEN* 99

V PROSE - HIS FIRST TEST 105

POEM - HONEST THOUGHT AND
SIMPLE TRUTH * 122

VI PROSE - TOMMY FINDS A BOOK 127

POEM - THE TABLES TURNED* 148

VII PROSE - MY DEAR PC 154

POEM - THIS EXCELLENT MACHINE 171

APPENDIX 174

* Memoriter Poems

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 PART II – SUPLEMENTARY READER

Unit Title Page

1 Mrs. INDIRA GANDHI 181

2 HELEN KELLER 188

3 SAROJINI NAIDU 194

4 AUNG SAN SUU KYI 200

5 DR. MUTHULAKSHMI REDDY 206

6 JOAN OF ARC 215

PHONETIC SYMBOLS 221

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PART - I
READER