English Notes by Prashantha Uttangi

INYA : The Learning App
II PU ENGLISH NOTES AND GRAMMAR

S L NO CONTENT PAGE NO
1 Romeo and Juliet – William Shakespeare 1-5
2 Too Dear – Count Leo Tolstoy 6-11
3 On Children – Khalil Gibran 12-15
4 A Sunny morning – Serafin and Joaquin Alvarez Quinter 16-22
5 When you are old – William Butler Yeats 23-27
6 The Gardener – P. Lankesh 28-35
7 Heaven, if you are not here on earth – Kuvempu 36-39
8 Japan and Brazil through a traveller’s eye – George Mikes. 40-44
9 The voter – Chinua Achebe. 45-49
10 Where there is a wheel - P. Sainath 50-56
GRAMMAR
11 Report the following conversation 57-63
12 Appropriate Expressions (Phrasal verbs/Idioms and Phrases) 64-64
13 Speech writing 65-68
14 Pronouns [Extract refer to] 69-69
15 Jumbled segments 70-70
16 Dialogue writing 71-73
17 Report writing 74-78
18 Passive voice [ Right form of verbs] 79-80
19 Linkers 81-83
20 Note Making 84-93
21 Job Application’s 94-95
Name: Prashantha Uttangi (English Lecturer)

Email Id: prashanthauttangi1991@gmail.com
PRASHANTHA UTTANGI II PU ENGISH NOTES 8884794305
ROMEO AND JULIET

William Shakespeare
Summary:
William Shakespeare is an English playwright and poet, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the
English Language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist. He is well-known to the world through his
timeless characters that are universal in their appeal. The themes that he deals with also touch the human
lives across the globe. The extracts from William Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet “express the
implicit feelings of Romeo and and Juliet for each other.
He compares Juliet’s beauty to nature. Romeo says that even the bright light of a torch would look dull
before the brightness of Juliet. It looks like she hangs on the cheek of night. Romeo says that the beauty
of Juliet is like a jewel which is hung in the ear of an African woman.
Romeo says Juliet is too beautiful to belong to Earth. Juliet’s beauty is so vast that she cannot die and
be buried in the Earth. The earth cannot contain her beauty. He further says Juliet is like a white snow
which is flying with other common people who belong to the species of crows. Romeo just wishes t
express that Juliet belongs to divine world and living among the ordinary and common people.
Romeo proposes to find the place where Juliet stood and wants to touch her blessed hand and make his
own rude hand blessed. Romeo further asks a question whether he ever loved before. He feels this is the
true love. Romeo thinks he has never seen a beautiful woman like Juliet before this night.
Juliet is inviting the night. The night she is inviting is none other than Romeo himself. Juliet compares
Romeo to night. Juliet calls Romeo a day in the night. Juliet sees night as a bird with wings on which
Romeo would ride and come as a ‘New Snow’. Juliet calls the night as gentle night and a ‘Black –
Browed Night’.
Juliet wants nothing from the night except her love Romeo. Juliet has a realistic view of death and says;
even if she dies, she wants to make their love immortal. Juliet says that Romeo should from part of stars
in heaven. Juliet says, the presence of Rome among the stars would enrich the beauty of stars. Romeo
forms the important part of the night sky; the whole world would begin to fall in love with the night.
Romeo would shine so brightly in the night sky that it would even outshine the sun.
Comprehension I
1. What according to Romeo does Juliet teach to burn bright?
Torches to burn bright.
2. Who according to Romeo teaches the torches to burn bright?
Juliet.
3. Who according to Romeo seems to hang upon the cheek of night?
Juliet.
4. Who is compared to a “rich jewel in an Ethiopia ‟sear‟ by Romeo?
Juliet.
5. Who is compared to a „snowy dove‟ by Romeo?
Or
Who looks like a snowy dove to Romeo?
Juliet.
6. Whom does Romeo address as „yonder lady‟?
Juliet.
7. Whose beauty according to Romeo is too rich for use?
Juliet's Beauty.
8. When according to Romeo would his hand be blessed?
When he touches the Juliet’s hand.
9. After the dance is over, Romeo intends to
a) meet and talk to Juliet. b) touch Juliet’s hand. c) watch Juliet’s place of stand.
b) touch Juliet’s hand.
10 Whose rude hand would be made blessed by touching Juliet’s hand?
Romeo's hand.
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11. What according to Romeo will happen when he touches Juliet’s hand?
Romeo's rude hand will be blessed.
12. What according to Romeo was not seen by him until he saw Juliet?
Romeo had never seen the true beauty till that night.
13. Who are compared to crows by Romeo?
Co-dancers.
14. What does Romeo want to do after the dance?
Romeo wants to touch Juliet’s hand.
15. What does Juliet ask the loving, black browed night?
To bring her Romeo to her.
16. When does Juliet expect Romeo to come?
In the night.
17. Who according to Juliet will lie upon the wings of night?
Romeo.
18. Where according to Juliet will Romeo lie upon?
Upon the wings of night.
19. Who according to Juliet is whiter than new snow?
Romeo.
20. Who according to Juliet is „day in night‟?
Romeo.
21. When does Juliet want Romeo to be cut out in little stars?
After Juliet’s death.
22. What does Juliet want Romeo to be cut out into after her death?
Into a little star.
23. What according to Juliet will Romeo make so fine?
Romeo will make the face of heaven so fine.
24. When Romeo shines as stars in the face of heaven, the world will______ according to Juliet.
a) worship the garish sun b) fall in love with night c) keep staring at the heaven
b) fall in love with night
25. When according to Juliet would all the world be in love with night?
When Romeo is being cut into little stars, he will make the face of heaven so fine, then all the world
be fall in love with night.
26. When would the world pay no worship to „the garish sun‟ according to Juliet?
The world will pay no worship to the garish sun, when the face of heaven looks fine.
27. Whom does Juliet associate with the 'coming of the night’?
Juliet associates Romeo with the 'coming of the night’.
28. Who according to Juliet, would make the face of heaven so fine?
Romeo.
29. How does Juliet hang upon the cheek of the night?
Juliet hangs upon the cheek of night like a rich jewel in an Ethiopia’s ear.
30. Whom does the phrase 'true beauty' refer to in 'Romeo and Juliet’?
Juliet's Beauty.
31. To what does the Romeo compare the co-dancers/ women’s other than Juliet?
He compared them with the crows.
32. The Phrase, “teach the torches to burn bright” suggests:
C. her beauty surpasses the brightness of light.
33. “for earth too dear” this phrase suggests that the lady’s beauty is
b) rare
34. “the measure done”, connotes the completion of
b) dance organized by Lord Capulet.
35. The line, did my heart love till now? Suggests
c) Romeo feels this is true love.
36. The phrase, “new snow” suggests
b) description of Romeo’s charm.
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37. What do you think the phrase; “face of heaven” signifies?

The night sky / the starlit night sky / the sky
Comprehension II
1 What simile does Romeo use to convey Juliet’s beauty and to what effect?
William Shakespeare is known for his deft use of language in his works. In “Romeo and Juliet” through
the character of Romeo we come to know how effectively similes are used to express intense feelings.
Romeo in his speech uses two similes to describe the beauty of Juliet. The first simile compares her
beauty to a rich jewel worn by an Ethiopian. The comparison here is so effective that the jewel shines
brighter against the dark skin background. Such a beauty is very expensive and rare to be seen on earth.
The second simile is used to compare Juliet’s beauty to a snowy dove which stands out as it troops with
crows referring to her companions. They are outshone by her heavenly beauty. This is how Romeo
conveys Juliet’s beauty.
2 How according to Juliet, would Romeo be immortalized to the world?
Shakespeare’s characters are timeless and his works are universal in appeal. The English language and
literature continue to grow mightier in his legacy. This element is manifest in “Romeo and Juliet”. Juliet
is fascinated by the charming personality of Romeo. She beseeches night to arrive so that she can meet
her Romeo. She calls night „gentle and sweet‟, for it brings charming Romeo to her. Juliet is so much
charmed by him that supposing she dies without him, she wishes night to cut Romeo in little stars and
decorate the sky beautifully. Thus, Romeo would be immortalized. People will then fall in love with the
starlit heavens of the night and pay no attention to the Sun.
Comprehension III
1. Comment on the imagery of “night-day, black-white” in the poem. What purpose do they serve
in highlighting the intensity of love?
This is from the extracts of “Romeo and Juliet”, the most popular romantic tragedy written by William
Shakespeare, an English playwright and poet, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English
Language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist. He is well known to the world through his timeless
characters that are universal in their appeal. The themes that he deals with also touch the human lives
across the globe. Love is the most recurring theme in his works. Here, in this poem, he presents Romeo
and Juliet as the epitome of true love emanating from eternal beauty. The poem is replete with a series
of imagery. The contrasting imagery of night-day and black-white underline the poetic techniques
employed by William Shakespeare to portray the unparalleled beauty of Juliet against the charming
presence of Romeo. The Night with its darkness is imposing throughout the poem. The contexts of
Romeo’s meeting with Juliet at a supper party and Juliet’s appointment with Romeo at her orchard at
night signify the prominence of night. For example, Romeo discovers the best beauties comparable to
night: cheek of night, rich jewel in an Ethiopia’s ear. The night-day imagery is more vibrant in Juliet’s
words as she compares Romeo’s charm to the day against night’s evident darkness. She further heightens
the importance of night when she wishes that the night sky be bedecked with the images of Romeo in a
constellation, thus reducing the day’s brilliance with the Sun. The black-white imagery is elaborate in
the words of Romeo and Juliet. The beauty of Juliet is glorified as she hangs like a bright jewel on the
cheek of night. This contrasting description continues with reference to snowy dove in the company of
crows. Even in the eyes of Juliet, Romeo appears like a new snow on a raven’s back. The imagery not
only highlights the charm and beauty of Romeo and Juliet but also culminate in an intense love.
2. Between Romeo and Juliet, whose love, do you think, is more passionate and intense?
This is from the extracts of “Romeo and Juliet”, the most popular romantic tragedy written by William
Shakespeare, an English playwright and poet, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English
Language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist. He is well- known to the world through his timeless
and universal characters. The themes that he deals with also touch human lives across the globe. Love
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is the most recurring theme in his works. Here, in this poem, he presents Romeo and Juliet as the epitome
of true love emanating from eternal beauty. Juliet’s love is undoubtedly more intense for the following
reasons. For Romeo, Rosaline was his first love before he saw Juliet on the dance floor at the supper
whereas Juliet felt prodigious birth of love for a man whom she saw for the first time. In her soliloquy
she admires the young and charming Romeo through striking comparisons. She invites night and Romeo,
for he is like day in night. He seems to ride the wings of night. He looks whiter than new snow on a
raven’s back. Juliet entreats night to arrive soon so that she can chance to see her Romeo. “Give me my
Romeo, and when I shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars.” These words of Juliet show her
intense love for Romeo. She further states that Romeo will beautify the night’s sky with his images
across the expanse of the sky. Juliet is so much filled with strong emotions that she declares that once
Romeo occupies the night’s sky, the world will be in love with night. No one will admire the sun any
longer. These words add to her glorification of Romeo’s charm. Thus, Juliet proves to be very intense
in her true love for Romeo.
Comprehension IV
Answer the following questions in a paragraph of 80 – 100 words each:
1. How does Romeo describe Juliet’s beauty?
Or
How does Romeo Glorify Juliet’s flawless beauty? Or What similes does Romeo use to convey
Juliet’s beauty?
Or
How does Romeo mesmerize by the eternal beauty of Juliet?
Or
why does Romeo say he never saw true beauty till that night? Explain.
William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616) is an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest
writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's
National poet and the “Bard of Avon”. His plays have been translated into every major living language
and are performed more often than those of any other playwright Romeo happens to see Juliet for the
first time at the grand supper hosted by Lord Capulet, Juliet’s father. Though Romeo belongs to the
Montague family and they are devoted enemies, he is strangely attracted towards Juliet. Romeo is
fascinated by Juliet’s beauty. Romeo feels that Juliet can teach the torches to burn bright. Juliet’s charms
more than the brightness of light. Juliet’s beauty seems to be too rare and splendid that seems to hang
upon cheek of night as rich jewel in an Ethiopia’s ear. Juliet’s beauty is too rich for use; too dear for
earth. Juliet appears to Romeo a white snowy dove and her companions appear to be crows. Romeo
wants to touch her hands and get his rude hands blessed by her soft and gentle touch. Romeo asks himself
whether his heart ever loved before this moment as he never saw such true beauty.
2. How does Juliet express her love for Romeo?
Or
How according to Juliet, would Romeo become immortalized to the world?
Or
How does Juliet draw attention towards ‘Gentle Night’ and ‘Garish Sun’ in ‘Romeo and Juliet’?
Or
Comment on the imagery of ‘Night – day’, ‘Black – White’ in the poem ‘Romeo and Juliet’?
Or
Juliet’s love was more intense than Romeo’s. Justify with reference to the imaginary and similes
used in the extract?
writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist.
Juliet asks the night to bring with it her Romeo. Romeo is a bright and a cheerful person. Juliet says that
Romeo looks bright like the new snow present on the Raven’s back. Juliet makes it very clear that she
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doesn’t want to give up Romeo even after her death. Juliet tells the night that after she dies, take her
Romeo and turn him into little stars. According to her, if Romeo is turned into stars, then the night will
be so beautiful and bright that the entire world will fall in love with the night and no one will look at the
Garish sun considering it to be harsh and glaring and start liking the night sky. This way Romeo always
lives and he will be immortalized. Furthermore, „When I shall die‟ and „Cut him out in little stars‟, and
“Heaven”are expression that clearly refer to death and immortality.
Comprehension V
Answer the following questions in about 200 words:
1. How is the intensity of love between Romeo and Juliet brought out in the poem ‘Romeo and
Juliet’?
Or
Between Romeo and Juliet whose love do you think is more passionate and intense? Why?
Or
Whose love, do you think, is more passionate and intense in ‘Romeo and Juliet’? Explain.
Or
How did Romeo and Juliet express their romantic love feelings to each other in the poem ‘Romeo
and Juliet’
writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist.
Romeo and Juliet express their passionate love each other very effectively. Romeo feels surprised and
glorifies his love, Juliet’s beauty to the essential as she looks beyond his imagination. He feels that her
beauty betters the brightness of colourful lights in that dark night. Through the simile, he compares
Juliet’s matchless beauty to a rich jewel in a black Ethiopia’s ear and she seems shining in the dark cheek
of night. Romeo is truly fascinated by her rare beauty and decides to watch her place of stand on the
dance floor which seems sacred spot after the dance. Though he is a handsome prince himself, he feels
his rude hand to be blessed by touching her smooth and shiny hands. Finally, he self-introspects himself
by asking whether his heart loved anybody before and clarifies that this is his first true love with Juliet.
This is how, Romeo brightly glorifies Juliet’s perfect beauty in his speech. Juliet also equally feels a
wonderful birth of love for Romeo, a man from the enemy family. She invites both the night and her
love, Romeo to come to her as soon as possible. She longs for the gentle night to fall. In Juliet’s
imagination, Romeo seems as a bright day, though it is dark night. She believes that he brightens her
life. He looks whiter than the new snow on a Raven’s back which is compared to the night and glows by
surpassing the dark night. She thinks that he definitely comes in the night to see her as he cannot see her
during day. She wishes to make her Romeo an immortal being by requesting the night to take him and
cut him out in little stars in the sky after her death, so that he will make the face of heaven so fine. She
convinces the night that Romeo replaces the garish sun by glowing in the night, then people stop to fear
for night. She feels that people fall in love with night and forget to worship the sun in the whole world.
In this way, Juliet expresses her implicit feelings towards Romeo and makes him an immortal and eternal
being. Juliet’s love Was much more passionate and intense than that of Romeo.
*************
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TOO DEAR
Count Leo Tolstoy
Comprehension I
1. Mention any one of the commodities that was taxed by the king of Monaco in ‘Too Dear’?
Tax on Tobacco/ Wine/ Spirits/ Poll-tax/ Gaming houses.
2. Name the special source of revenue in the kingdom of Monaco in ‘Too Dear!’?
Gaming Houses are the special source of revenue in the kingdom of Monaco.
3. What business does the King of Monaco monopolise in ‘Too Dear!’?
Gambling Business.
4. Mention one of the sources of the King’s special revenue in ‘Too Dear!’?
Gaming Houses.
5. What was the initial punishment given to the criminal by the council in ‘Too Dear!’?
Death Sentence / To cut off his head.
6. Mention one of the reasons for altering the death sentence to life imprisonment in ‘Too Dear!’?
There was no proper guillotine and executioner.
7. The King’s special revenue in ‘Too Dear!’ came from
a) gaming house. b) poll tax c) tax on tobacco
a) gaming house.
8. How many soldiers were there in the kingdom of Monaco in ‘Too Dear!’?
Only 60 Soldiers.
9. How much did the king spend on the criminal annually in ‘Too Dear!’?
600 francs.
10. Where is Monaco situated in ‘Too Dear!’?
Monaco is situated near the borders of France and Italy, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
11. How much would a guillotine and an executioner cost if supplied from France in ‘Too Dear!’?
16,000 francs.
12. The people of Monaco mentioned in ‘Too Dear!’ were
a) sociable. b) peaceable. c) fashionable.
b) peaceable.
13. What is the population of Monaco in ‘Too Dear!’?
About 7000 Inhabitants.
14. Who according to the Council was a brother monarch in ‘Too Dear!’?
King of Italy.
15. How much money did the Italian Government demand to supply guillotine and an executioner?
12,000 francs.
16. Name the ‘Toy Kingdom’ mentioned in ‘Too Dear!’?
Kingdom of Monaco.
17. Who is referred to as ‘a rascal’ by the king in ‘Too Dear!’?
Criminal.
18. Where did the criminal settle after emigrating in ‘Too Dear!’?
Criminal settled just across the frontier after emigrating.
19. What did the criminal do to earn his living after his release in ‘Too Dear!’?
The criminal bought a bit of land and started Market-gardening to earn his living after the release .
20. What was the new item of expenditure in ‘Too Dear!’?
Keep of the criminal was the new item of expenditure.
21. Which government is Republican and has no proper respect for king in ‘Too Dear!’?
The French Government.
22. Who was a ‘Brother Monarch’ in ‘Too Dear!’?
King of Italy.
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23. How much did the criminal receive as advance before leaving Monaco in ‘Too Dear!’?
One-third of his annuity in advance.
24. Which was the only place of gambling in Europe as mentioned in ‘Too Dear!’?
Monaco.
25. Who fetched the criminal’s food initially in ‘Too Dear!’?
The Guard fetched the criminal's food initially.
26. Where was the criminal’s food fetched from in ‘Too Dear!’?
From the palace kitchen.
27. How long was the criminal in the prison in ‘Too Dear!’?
For one year.
28. What does the keeper of the gaming house pay to the prince in ‘Too Dear!’?
Out of his profit he pays a large sum to the prince.
29. Who gains more from the gaming house in ‘Too Dear!’?
Prince of the Monaco gains more from the gaming house.
30. How much land would each inhabitant get if all the land in Monaco were divided?
Not be an acre for each inhabitant if all the land in Monaco were divided.
31. What was unusual about the murder committed in Monaco in ‘Too Dear!’?
Such a thing had not happened before in Monaco like 'murder’.
32. What work did the prisoner do after being released from the prison in ‘Too Dear!’?
Market-gardening.
33. The king had to find a special source of revenue because
a. the income from the taxes was insufficient. b. his people drank and smoked less.
c. the people of Monaco gambled a lot.
a. the income from the taxes was insufficient.
34. The death sentence in ‘Too Dear!’ was altered because
a. the king wanted to show mercy to the criminal. b. doing so would not be expensive.
c. no one was willing to execute the criminal.
b. doing so would not be expensive.
35. When the guard was dismissed, the criminal in ‘Too Dear!’
a. was happy and tried to run away. b. worried about the guard’s family.
c. did not show any sign of running away.
c. did not show any sign of running away.
36. The criminal in ‘Too Dear!’ agreed to go away from the prison after
a. he was offered pension. b. he was allowed to emigrate. c. the guard was dismissed.
a. he was offered pension.
37. What reason did the soldiers give for not accepting to execute the criminal?
The soldiers said that, they didn't know how to do it and they had not been taught to do so.
38. How much pension did the king offered to criminal?
The king offered a pension of 600 francs to the criminal.
39. "In war, they don't mind killing people”. Here, the word 'they' refers to
a) council b) commission c) soldiers
c) soldiers.
40. Where did the criminal go to fetch his dinner in 'Too Dear!’?
From the prince's kitchen /the palace kitchen.
41.Why was ‘Monaco’ called a ‘toy Kingdom’?
Monaco was called a toy Kingdom because it was a tiny little Kingdom with a population of only
seven thousand people.
42. Name the commodities taxed in Monaco.
The commodities taxed in Monaco were tobacco, wine, and spirits and there was also a poll-tax.
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43. What was the source of the King’s special revenue? Who were its beneficiaries?
The source of the King’s special revenue was from a gaming house, The King also called as the
Prince of Monaco, his courtiers and officials were the beneficiaries.
44. What was the punishment given to the murderer?
Initially a death sentence and later life imprisonment.
45.The death sentence was converted into life imprisonment because
a) Monaco had abolished the death penalty. b) Carrying out the death sentences was expensive.
c) Monaco wanted to show mercy on the criminal.
b) Carrying out the death sentences was expensive.
46.How much did the King spend on the criminal annually?
600 Francs.
47.On what condition did the criminal agree to go away from prison? Why was his demand fulfilled?
The Criminal agreed to go away if he were paid 600 francs annually to be paid regularly. It was
fulfilled to get rid of burdening the King’s treasury.
Comprehension II
1.Though gambling is a dirty business why does the king of Monaco resort to it?
Count Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) is a Russian prolific writer, who started his career with short stories and
novels, later he turned to write essays and plays.
Monaco is a tiny little kingdom of seven thousand inhabitants, which lies on the shore of the
Mediterranean Sea near the borders of France and Italy. Many a small country town has more inhabitants
than this kingdom. In spite of this, Monaco has a Kinglet, a palace, courtiers, Ministers, a bishop,
generals and an army, consisting of sixty men. The kingdom also levies taxes on its subjects on the use
of tobacco, wine and spirits and a poll-tax. Since this kingdom has very few subjects, the revenue drawn
from them was not sufficient. Therefore, the prince of Monaco had no other option other than resorting
to keep gaming houses for extra revenue. This is the reason why the prince of Monaco resorts to
gambling even though it's a dirty business.
2.Why did the king of Monaco keep changing his mind in dealing with the criminal?
The kingdom of Monaco had never encountered a crime like Murder in its domains. When this happened
the king and the law keepers did not know how to handle this crisis. Though the judges sentenced the
murderer to be beheaded, this was not possible, as the kingdom of Monaco had no means to execute the
murderer and they had to rely on their neighbouring country France to supply them a guillotine, a
machine to cut the heads off. But this cost them 16,000 Francs which was a heavy sum. So, the king
decided to enquire the cost of machine from Italy. Italy offered guillotine machine for a lesser sum of
12,000 Francs. Even this was too much for countries economy, therefore king decided to alter the death
sentence to one of imprisonment for life, which was cheaper than the earlier death sentence. After one
year king noticed that life imprisonment cost came up to more than 600 Francs which was heavy and at
last king resorted to paying a pension of 600 Francs annually to the prisoner and ordered him to leave
the domains of Monaco forever.
3. Why was the criminal reluctant to go out of the prison?
According to the advice given by the ministers to bring down the expenses incurred on the prisoner, the
prince decided to dismiss the special guard who was kept to watch over the prisoner. This would
indirectly give an opportunity for the prisoner to escape and the prince waited to see whether the prisoner
escaped but this never happened. The criminal was reluctant to go out of prison for two reasons. One
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because he was timely fed by the royal kitchen and second, he had no other place to go, as nobody would
offer him a job as he was a murderer. Therefore, he decided to stay in the prison instead of running away.
4. How did the criminal lead his life after his release?
It was agreed that the criminal would leave Monaco and its domain forever and for doing this he would
be paid 600 Francs annually. This somehow appeased the criminal and he readily agreed to do so. It was
only a quarter of an hour by rail and he emigrated, and settled just across the frontier, where he bought
a bit of land, started market gardening and lived comfortably. He always went at the proper time to draw
his pension and having received it, he spent two or three francs at the gaming table, winning sometimes
and losing sometimes and now lived peaceably well.
Comprehension III
1.You can't earn stone palaces by honest labour in what context is this statement made?
Monaco is a tiny little kingdom of seven thousand inhabitants, which lies on the shore of the
Mediterranean Sea near the borders of France and Italy. Many a small country town has more inhabitants
than this kingdom. In spite of this, Monaco has a Kinglet, a palace, courtiers, Ministers, a bishop,
generals and an army, consisting of sixty men. The kingdom also levies taxes on its subjects on the use
of tobacco, wine and spirits and a poll-tax. Since this kingdom has very few subjects, the revenue drawn
from them is not sufficient. Therefore, the prince of Monaco has no other option other than resorting to
keep gaming houses for extra revenue. Though kinglet of Monaco knows it is a dirty business, but what
is he to do? He has to live. He was much interested in all his ceremonies. He has his coronation, his
levees, his rewards, sentences and pardons. He also had his reviews, councils, laws and courts of justice,
just like any other kings, only on a smaller scale. King was more interested in leading a luxurious life
and also more concerned with all his financial gains and less concerned with his duties. So, he drew
revenue from all evil sources like gambling houses, tax on tobacco, wines and spirits which represents
the negative aspects of life. Income collected from the evil side of life may not lead us to good future.
Ill-gotten gain was spent in the ill-mannered way in the end.
2.Though the trial and imprisonment of the criminal is depicted in comic mode in this story, it
does give rise to serious question. What are they?
Or
Where their other ways of dealing with crime and the criminal? Discuss in the light of the story?
All is well in the kingdom of Monaco until a man commits a murder. The king had never had to deal
with a murderer before, and after the judicial process, the convict had been sentenced to death. But there
was only one hitch in the matter and that was they had neither a guillotine for cutting heads, off, nor an
executioner. So, they had to rely on their neighbouring country France. But this cost them 16,000 Francs,
which was a very heavy sum. The prince later enquired it with Italy, Italy offered it for a lesser sum of
12,000 Francs, and even this was too much burden. The decision was (reversed) revoked and the
murderer was imprisoned for life. Life imprisonment, however presented its own set of problems. There
need to be a guard at all times and the man had to be fed. The yearly costs were calculated to be more
than 600 Francs, which would still necessitate an increase of taxes. It was decided that the guard should
be dismissed, even at the risk of losing the prisoner. But the prisoner however does not try to escape and
when it was enquired, the criminal responds that he has nowhere to go in Monaco and that his reputation
was ruined. King finally decides to pay 600 Francs to the murderer as an annual pension by the
government to remain in exile. He presents this story in a most humorous way and concludes that king
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who was less concerned with his responsibilities and was earning profit from evil sources also tries to
save the expenses (from death sentences to life imprisonment) but it turns to be too expensive for the
kinglet. So, the title ‘Too dear’ is apt and the funny side is if the criminal was found guilty then he must
be convicted. But this particular criminal was treated in an innovative fashion, where he was pensioned
that is - a regular income by the government. It not only sets him free but also pensions him. But
unfortunately, in other parts of the world criminals are very badly treated. Once a criminal then he is
convicted for life. Real problem of each and every country is that they strive their level best to get rid of
such social evils. Criminals are also humans. But they are always ill-treated and executed in the most
barbaric manner. Guillotine, France origin where the device is used to behead the culprit or Spanish
origin Garrotte where iron collar is tightened around the prisoner's neck, or Lynch mob, where a group
of people kills someone by hanging them without a legal trial or electrocution killing the prisoner by
passing electricity through their body. The way the criminals are killed is nothing short of barbaric.
Criminals are also humans, and they should also be treated with basic human rights. It is every
government's legal responsibility to provide such offenders a second chance to improve.
Comprehension IV
1. Describe the different levels of punishment meted out to the criminal at different times?
as though to disrupt peace murder was committed in the kingdom. The council and the king sentence the
criminal to life sentence. But due to the lack of Guillotine and an executioner the sentence is reduced to
life imprisonment. After a period of six months the king notices a new item of expenditure and he notices
that the amount was spent on the criminal. Again, the council was summoned and they decide to dismiss
the guard so that the prisoner will run away from the prison but unfortunately the prisoner does not run
away but he takes food from the palace kitchen and again locks himself up in the cell. Finally, the council
asks him why he did not go away when there was no guard to watch over him and the criminal gives his
own reasons as to why he did not go away from the prison. Finally, the council and king pay pension to
the criminal and send his away from the prison. So, we see at various times the council and king give
different sorts of punishment to the criminal.
2. Why was the criminal reluctant to go out of the prison in Too Dear?
Or
Why was the murderer reluctant to run away from the prison?
Or
Why did the prisoner refuse to go out of imprisonment? Explain.
Or
Why was the prisoner reluctant to go out of the prison in the story Too Dear?
Or
Why was the criminal refuse to escape from the prison in Too Dear?
Or
Why did the murderer refuse to go out of the prison in Too Dear?
Or
Why was the murderer unwilling to run away from the prison in Too Dear?
Or
Mention the reasons stated by the prisoner in Too Dear for not going out of the prison.
The prisoner refused to escape from the prison because the judgment given by the king of Monaco had
ruined his character as he was termed ‘A Murderer’ and the people of Monaco would turn their backs
on him. Besides, nobody would employ him and he had to go without work. He felt that he was treated
10 | P a g e
badly and it was not fair to ask him to move out of prison. He said that, first as he was sentenced to
death, he must have been executed. It did not happen and he had not complained about the same. The
judgement was changed and he was sentenced for life and a guard was put to bring him the food, but he
too was removed with the changing judgement for the third time. This time, he was asked to go away
from the prison which he was not willing to do, as he found his life secured inside the prison.
3. in spite of all their efforts the king and his team failed in punishing the criminal. How is it
narrated in the story Too Dear?
Monaco is a small kingdom with hardly seven thousand inhabitants. The writer describes it as a ‘Toy
Kingdom’. But it had a king and ministers and his army. The problem is the kingdom started when a
murder was committed. The prisoner was tried in the court of law and was given death sentence. His
head was to cut off. But the state had neither Guillotine nor the executioner. So they thought of buying
it from France and Italy, their neighbouring countries. France asked for 16,000 Francs while Italy quoted
12,000 Francs. The king decided that it was too expensive and not worth it so the punishment was
changed to life imprisonment but after a year the king realized that they were spending 600 Francs on
the prisoner. Again, they found it too expensive and the prisoner was asked to run away, but he didn’t
till they promised him annual lifelong pension of 600 Francs. The decision of the king and the advice
given by the ministers, both were worth a laugh. Moreover, the maintenance of criminal in prison and
the amount spent by the state on them is also mocked at. To get rid of the criminal only after promising
a lifelong annual pension of 600 Francs. The criminal who was supposed to be punished by the state
now enjoyed his life on state’s money. He gambled in gaming house and spent a happy life thereafter.
4. What were the arguments put forth by the prisoner for not running away from the prison?
The Prisoner did not show any signs of running away and this got the ministers worried. The criminal
was brought the Minister of Justice. He suggested to the prisoner to run away. The prisoner told the
minister that he had nowhere to go and accused them of ruining his character by sentencing him to death.
The prisoner told them that having been confined to the prison, he had given up his habit of working.
He actually resented their action in not executing him. He finally told them that he would not like to
agree to their proposal that he should run away and escape. The ministers decided to pay the prisoner a
fixed sum of 600 Frans as pension. On receiving the news, the prisoner told them that he would go away
on that condition but they must undertake to pay it regularly. The prisoner received one-third of his
annuity in advance and left the king’s dominions.
5. Describe the attempts made by the ministers in solving the problems of cutting off the criminal’s
head?
Monaco, the kinglet though had well co – ordinated legal system but there was absence of means of
execution to cut off the criminal’s head. The king did not have a Guillotine machine and an executioner
in his kingdom so he tried buying it from France but that would cost 16,000 Francs. Then, the king
approached Italy, but Italy also quoted 12,000 Francs.
Both these amounts were too high and could not have been accepted so the king asked his general to
find a solider in his army who could cut the head roughly. But the solders replied that they were not
trained to do so. So the king changed his punishment to life imprisonment and kept a guard to watch
him. But after one year, the king met him in the prison. Then he was asked to run away but he refused
to do so till they promised him annual lifelong pension of 600 Francs.
****************
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ON CHILDREN
Khalil Gibran
I. Answer the following questions in a word, a phrase or a sentence each:
1. And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said,” Speak to us of children.” And he said:
Here 'he' Refers to the prophet
2. 'Your children are not your children' means
The children should have their own space.
3. They come through you, but are not from you' means
Though parents give birth to their children they do not own them
4. According to the prophet, what may be given to the children?
According to the prophet, only our love may be given to the children.
5. Their soul’s dwell in the house of tomorrow' means
a. Children belong to the future. c. Children have a different vision of life
6. Whom does the word bows refer to?
Parents
7. What does the phrase ‘living arrows’ refer to? Children 8. Who is the archer in the poem?
God
9. Whom does God use as his instrument to send living arrows to the earth?
God uses parents as his instrument
10.Why does God bend the parents with all his might?
God bends the parents with all his might to test them for stability and strength so that the arrows
(children) that they shoot travel far and reach their destination.
11.What brings children to the earth?
Life's longing for itself brings children to the earth.
12.Why shouldn't parents give their thoughts to their children?
Parents should not give their thoughts to their children because the children have their own souls and
a mind of their own and are free to think for themselves.
13.Who dwell in the house of tomorrow?
Children.
14.What do the children have with them?
Desires and thoughts.
15. In on Children’, ‘You may give them your love but not your________
a. Dreams b. thoughts c. gladness
b. thoughts
16.What according to the speaker can parents not visit in ’On Children"?
The parents cannot visit Tomorrow.
17.How does the arrow move?
Swift and far
18.Who sees the mark upon the infinite?
God the archer.
19. Bending in the archer’s hand be for________
Gladness.
20. How does the life go on?
Life always goes forward and never backwards.
21.What does ‘living arrows’ refer to in ‘On Children’?
Children.
22.Who are referred to as ’bows’ and’ arrows in the poem ‘On Children’?
‘Bows’ are the parents and ‘Arrows’ are the children.
23.Who is stable like the bow in ‘On Children’?
Parents.
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24.What shouldn’t the parents give their children, according to Khalil Gibran?
Their thoughts
25. What, according to the speaker, can parents not visit in ‘On Children’?
Mother Earth.
II. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of 80 – 100 words each:
1.Why does the prophet categorically state 'Your Children are not your children'?
Khalil Gibran was a Lebanese American artist, poet and writer. 'On Children' is a selection from 'The
Prophet' published in 1923. The Prophet is one of the bestselling books of all time. The Prophet offers a
critic of the usual expectations of parents about their children and urges them to introspect. He states
that a child's parents should not be controlling towards their child: rather they should give their children
the opportunity to succeed on their own. When it comes to child's thoughts and points of view, all that
the child needs from his parents are never ending support.
Your children are not your children” but many parents goad (pointed stick to drive cattle with
compulsion) their kids apparently without even sparing a glance as to what the child wishes or wants
“They come through you but not from you” And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you”
This quote means that we are all God's children. We belong not to a being on Earth. Rather we belong
to the man above.
Some parents fail to realize this. They have come through us for a purpose of their own and some of
them are very different from their parents, in thoughts, attitudes, wishes etc Kahlil says that they stay
with you, but they do not belong to you. Each one of us has to chart out our own paths and not one of us
resembles the other. God and nature are so brilliant that we cannot find even one fingerprint resembling
another. Parents should love their children without binding them with their own thoughts. Love is always
divine and self-less and free like bird.
2. What does the metaphor, bows and arrows signify with regard to parent children relationship?
Prophet' published in 1923. The Prophet' is one of the bestselling books of all time.
Parents can offer opinions as choices but freewill or ultimate decision should be given to children.
Parents should allow them to grow and transcend what personality they aspire. Parents should think that
children are our future and the future cannot be stagnant with the past. The future can only be better and
brighter because all beings (everybody) strive for perfection and that is not possible with reference to
the past because by focussing on the past, the present gets distorted. Here Kahlil compares parents as
bows, children as arrows and Archer as almighty. Bow has to stretch to shoot the arrows. In the same
manner parents have to stretch the limits of their thinking and living.
The respect that any adult gets, it should not be because of his age, but it should be because the next
generation feels they deserve it due to their thoughts which has become a foundation for their character
and one day parents should look at them and wonder, these were my thoughts but my child has surpassed
(excelled) them and parents should hope to become like their children. Kahlil insist that is the day when
any parent should be proud that the parenting has been good. No person truly belongs to another, each
person is unique. His fingerprints and mind is solely his own parents are the “bows” that send the
“arrows” of their children into future. Each is beloved to God who is their creator. The archer “God”
who cast the arrows wants it to go to a certain place; he really cannot make it go unless he holds the bow
stable. So that the arrow will go the way he wants. In other words, parents need to be good stable role
models for their children if they want them to stick to the path of success.
3. How should parents take care of their Children according to the speaker in ’On Children’?
Or
How should parents raise their children according to the speaker of ‘’On Children’?
Prophet' published in 1923. The Prophet is one of the bestselling books of all time.
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The Poem highlighting those parents do not own their children and they cannot control the desires and
thoughts of the children. The poet feels that children should be freely and lovingly allowed to grow into
independent individuals. Children too have their minds and their own thoughts. Parents are the” bows”
and the children are the” arrows”. Our Creator God uses the stable bow to send the arrows to a certain
place. In other words, parents need to be good stable role models for their children. Thus, the poet wants
parents to guide their children through love and not control them or their thoughts.
4. What should be the attitude of the parents towards their children, according to the prophet in
the poem “On Children”?
Or
According to the prophet, what attitude should parents have towards their children?
Or
What attitude should parents have towards their children, according to the prophet?
The poet stresses that the children are the continuation of life on earth, and should be freely and lovingly
allowed to grow into their individuality. The parents should love their children without binding them
with their own thoughts. Children have their own set of thoughts. It is true that parents protect the
children’s physical bodies but they can never bind their souls which live in the house of tomorrow. The
parents’ love could make them like their children but should not make their children become like
themselves because every child has his own inner personality. Thus, through this poem Khalil Gibran
conveys that child should be given love, care and affection but thoughts should not be imposed upon
them.
5. Why does the archer want his arrows to fly ‘swift and far’ in ‘On Children’?
God is the Archer; parents are the bows and Children are the arrows. The Archer wants His living arrows
to reach the target. He decides the target for His arrows by using the parents as bows to shoot the arrows.
If parents give their love and not their thoughts, the living arrows will reach the target as per the Divine
plan. God, the Supreme Power, uses parents as vehicle to bring children to this earth. Children have their
own thoughts and souls. Therefore, parents cannot possess them as puppets.
6. How does Khalil Gibran describe the role of the parents in the lives of their children in the poem
‘On Children’?
The poet feels that children should be allowed to freely and lovingly grow into independent individuals.
Children too have their minds and their own thoughts. Parents are the ‘bows and the children are the
‘arrows. Our Creator, God uses the stable bow to send the arrows to a certain place. In other words,
parents need to be good stable role models for their children. Thus, the poet emphasizes that parents
should guide their children through love and not control them or their thoughts.
7. How does the poet Khalil Gibran highlight the responsibility of parents in the poem
“On Children”?
God is their Creator and the parents are the instruments who continue creation on the earth. The poet
asks the parents to give the children their love and affection but not their thoughts. They should be
allowed freely and lovingly to grow into individuals. Children belong to the future and they are
independent personalities. The poet compares the parents to bows and children to arrows and God, the
Archer. God uses bows-parents--to bring children-arrows into the world. Parents should be gentle role
models and guide the children and not force them into doing something.
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8. The poem "On Children" does not focus merely on the lives of children but also talks about the
responsibility of parents. Explain.
The poem "On Children" does not focus merely on the lives of children but also talks about the
responsibility of parents. In the first part Gibran argues that children take birth as life’s longing for itself.
Since we do not create children, we cannot possess them. However, Gibran argues that parents do have
a role in the life of children. He says that we should give our children as much love as we can but never
our thoughts. The children must be let free to think for themselves, and parents must not aim their ideas
on them. Next, Gibran talks about the responsibility of parents. He states that God is the archer, and
parents are his bows. The archer decides on the target, bends the bow to suit his target and shoots the
arrows. The arrows are the children. Thus, the archer wants the parents to serve as his instrument. If the
bow remains rigid and inflexible, the arrows may not reach the desired destination. Therefore, as parents,
it is our responsibility to be flexible enough to allow our children to live their own lives.
9. How is the parent and children relationship brought out in Kahlil Gibran’s poem ’On Children?
Or
Why did the poet believe that children are not your children ‘but’ ’the sons and daughters of Life’s
longing for itself” Explain?
Gibran assumes Al Mustafa and speaks to the people with the intention of enlightening them about
‘children' and to guide them as to how they should bring up their children.
1. ‘Children’ are born to fulfil the ‘longing’ of life itself. They are a gift from the richness of existence.
God, the supreme power, uses parents as a vehicle or passage to bring children to this earth. Since parents
do not create ‘life', parents do not own children. They may house. their bodies but not their souls.
2. ‘Children’ have their own souls and are not non-living things. Therefore, parents cannot possess them
as puppets. Life’ s longing for itself brings forth children in the form of sons and daughters. Hence, our
sons and daughters do not belong to us though we have accepted them.
3. Parents bring children to this earth, they should also take care of children as stewards’ and protect
them, take care of their needs until they grow and mature and become fully developed individuals.
Parents should take care of their needs only and should not impose their thoughts and ideas on them.
10.Explain the views of the prophet On Children and parents in the poem ‘On Children’.
Or
What are the views of the Prophet on children in the poem ‘On Children’?
According to the Prophet, a child is a gift from the abundance of existence and it is eternal life’ itself.
Children are born as sons and daughters as ‘life’s longing for itself’. Parents do not create them and
hence cannot possess them. Parents serve as a ‘passage' or vehicle to bring the children to this world.
Further, children have their own thoughts because they have the free will to do as they please. Whereas
parents belong to the yesterdays, their children belong to the future. The children Will have their own
scriptures and saints; hence parents should only give them as much love as they can and not their
thoughts. Parents should not push their past as a tradition on their children but should let them grow
according to their own potential
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A SUNNY MORNING
by Serafin and Joaquin Alvarez Quintero
Characters,
Dona Laura
Petra – her maid
Don Gonzalo
Juanito -his servant
Introduction
“A Sunny Morning” is a one act play by Serafin and Joaquin Alvarez Quintero, brothers and celebrated
Spanish playwrights of the early twentieth Century. The story is centered on two old lovers now in their
70s meeting at a park and trying to recall their romantic past. The man is Don Gonzalo and the lady is
Dona Laura.
1.Do you think Laura was a regular visitor to the park? What makes you think so?
Yes. Her words, “I feared my seat would be occupied”, show that she was a regular visitor.
2.Why are Don Gonzalo and Laura annoyed with each other?
Because both want bench to themselves.
3.Dona Laura reads without her glasses as
(c) she knows every word by heart.
4.Gonzalo and Laura keep up humorous conversation because they:
(b) enjoy being with each other.
5.Laura and Gonzalo’s friendly conversation begins with
(c) a pinch of snuff.
6.Do you think Laura is an effective narrator?
Yes, she is.
7.Gonzalo does not reveal his identity because:
he looks grotesque and old.
8. How is Dona Laura able to read the poem without her glasses?
a. She has a keen eyesight b. She struggles but manages to read the poem
c. She knows every word by heart d. She is merely repeating what Gonzalo had earlier read
c.She knows every word by heart
9. Why does Don Gonzalo sit next to Dona Laura in the park?
a. He prefers to sit with her b. His legs are aching
c. He did not get any other bench to sit d. He owned the bench
c.He did not get any other bench to sit.
10. Dona Laura does not reveal herself to Gonzalo because
a. She no longer loves him b. Her appearance has changed a lot
c. He looks grotesque d. None of these
b.Her appearance has changed a lot
11. Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura had to part ways because of
a. His marriage to another lady b. Her appearance has changed a lot
c. Her father’s death d. Her fickle heart
b.Her appearance has changed a lot
12. How does the play end?
a. Gonzalo and Laura separate forever b. Gonzalo and Laura fail to recognize each other
c. Gonzalo and Laura promise to meet again d. None of the above
c.Gonzalo and Laura promise to meet again.
13. Who occupied Gonzalo’s usual bench?
Three Priests occupied Gonzalo’s usual bench.
16 | P a g e
14. Whose name, according to Gonzalo, was his cousin whispering at the time of his death?
Laura’s name
15. Name the villa Laura Llorente lived in.
Maricela
16. What did Dona Laura carry every day to feed the pigeons in ‘A Sunny Moring’?
Bread Crumbs.
17. Who is the caretaker of Don Gonzalo in the play ‘A Sunny Morning’?
Juanito
18. How did Laura feel coming to the park?
Tired but glad
19. Who accompanied Dona Laura or Who is Dona Laura’s Maid?
Petra
20. What quality of the birds does Dona Laura appreciate?
Gratefulness and paying attention
21. How did Gonzalo annoy Dona Laura?
Scaring the birds away.
22. What does Don Gonzalo expect a woman like Dona Laura to do sitting at home?
Knitting and counting beads.
23. How did Don Gonzalo greet Dona Laura?
By touching his hat.
24. What did Don Gonzalo use to brush the dust from his shoes?
His Handkerchief
25. What establishes peace between Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo?
A Pinch of snuff
26. Why did Gonzalo go to Aravaca?
To kill time and to hunt
27. Who was the gallant horseman in the play?
Don Gonzalo
28. What was Laura Llorente known in her locality?
The Silver Maiden
II. Answer the following questions in a paragraph.
1.Precisely at what point of time, do you think, Laura and Gonzalo begin to recognize each other?
OR
Trace the incidents where Laura and Gonzalo secretly guess about each other’s identity on the
play ‘A Sunny Morning’.
Serafin and Joaquin Alvarez Qunitero were the celebrated Spanish playwright brothers in the early
twentieth century. In this play, “A Sunny Morning”, they bring in the theme of long-lost love
rediscovered on a sunny morning.
Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo become friends soon after enjoying a pinch of snuff offered by Don
Gonzalo. While Don Gonzalo is reading a book aloud, he comes across a few lines of Spain poet.
Incidentally, he tells Laura that it is from Compomer’s works. Then Dona Laura expresses her sympathy
in her youth at the villa called Maricela, which is not far from the city Valencia. The name Maricela
surprises Don Gonzalo and he goes on to tell her that he has seen the most beautiful woman there. The
moment he tells her name Laura, both look at each other intently. Precisely at this point they begin to
recognize each other.
2.What were the circumstances that led Gonzalo to flee Valencia?
Serafin and Joaquin Alvarez Qunitero were the celebrated Spanish playwright brothers in the early
17 | P a g e
The protagonists Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo loved each other in their young. Every day in the
morning, he used to pass by on horseback down the rose path under the Laura's window. While passing,
Gonzalo used to toss up her balcony a bouquet of flowers, later in the afternoon while he was returning
by the same path, he would catch the flowers she would toss him. As days pass by, Laura's parents
thought of marrying her to well-known merchant in their locality. One unfortunate night, while Gonzalo
was waiting under her window to hear her songs, the merchant came there unexpectedly and insulted
him. This led to a quarrel and later turned into a duel. At the sunrise, the rich merchant was severely
wounded by him. The merchant was highly regarded in the locality as he was rich man in the city.
Gonzalo became apprehensive of consequence and he decided to conceal for a few days. Therefore, he
left the place as well his love.
3.Did Laura and Gonzalo pine for each other after they were separated by circumstances? Who
is more passionate? How do they react to each other now?
Serafin and Joaquin Alvarez Quintero were the celebrated Spanish playwright brothers in the early
twentieth century. In this play, “A Sunny Morning” they bring in the theme of long-lost love
The young lovers, Laura and Gonzalo pine after they separated. Soon after Gonzalo flees to Valencia,
then he joins the army in Africa and meets a glorious death on the Warfield. At this, Laura mutters about
the story which is concocted cleverly by him and she pretends to sympathize with him, saying that he
must have been distressed by the calamity. Taking it as a strong pinot, Gonzalo pretends saying that it is
indeed a calamity, but also tries to express his resentment and presumes that on the contrary Laura might
have forgotten him and she must have spent days in chasing butterflies in the garden without any regret.
Dona Laura protests saying no on his comment that it is a woman's way. She narrates a story of her
version that the silver maiden awaited the news of Gonzalo for a year. As she did not receive any letters
from him and one day she went to sea after sunset, wrote his name on the sand, sat on a rock. Knowing
the threnody of her the waves took her into the sea. He mutters himself that it is a worse lie than his.
They mutter themselves that they got married after breakup. From their conversation and reaction to
each other, we can conclude that Laura is more passionate as understood by the way she narrates the end
of her friend. Now they are very friendly and sweet to each other without unveil their true identity.
4.What makes Dona Laura conclude that Don Gonzalo is an ill-natured man?
Don Gonzalo is an old gentleman of seventy years old, gouty and impatient. He is found to be in an ill-
natured state at his first appearance itself. When he enters the park, he finds that the bench on which he
used to sit is being occupied by the three priests. So, he gets irritation and expresses his annoyance by
remarking that the priests are idling their time away instead of sitting in the church. Juanito suggests that
he could sit on the bench on which Dona Laura is seated. But he tells him that he wants a bench to
himself. This instance shows that he is an ill-tempered man. After having no alternatives, he decides to
share the bench. While, he comes towards the bench he scares the birds away. To this, Laura gets annoy
with him and criticize his actions but Don Gonzalo replied her with impolite manner. He seems to be
quite rude when he replies to her. The way he justifies his action shows her that he is indeed an ill-
natured person. Therefore, she assumes and questions that why must people get so fussy and when they
reach a certain age.
5.Laura and Gonzalo create stories about themselves so that they can
a. fools each other.
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Laura and Gonzalo create stories about themselves so that they could fool each other. When they meet
at a park, they are unknown and unwelcome to each other. Both of them express their share of emotions
which are characteristic of their senile age. This story takes a twist when they share a pinch of snuff.
They then mellow down to talk about interesting things. The reading of a poem “Twenty Years Pass”
ensures that they were the star-crossed lovers once in their prime youth, but now destined to meet at a
park. Though they have similar feelings, their grotesque and time worn physical appearances keep them
their identities under cover. Digging into their past, they just create stories to fool each other so that they
could continue on a new discovery of happiness.
6. Trace how the irony is built in the play. Did you guess the characters’ past even before they did
so?
This is from the one act play “A Sunny Morning” written by Serafin and Joaquin Alvarez Quintero the
celebrated Spanish playwright brothers in the early twentieth century. In the play A Sunny Morning,
irony has been built throughout the play. There are several instances of irony.
The protagonists in the play seem to be very old but their mentality serves like young in humorous way.
After settling on her bench, Dona Laura sends Petra to chat with the guard and makes fun of her. Later
when he cleans his shoe from his handkerchief, she mocks at him. Gonzalo starts reading lines aloud
from Compomer’s work, she again teases his sight. These three instances make readers to laugh. We
could guess the characters that they are the old lovers before they recognize each other. Gonzalo reads
aloud the lines that " all love is sad, but sad as it is" and " twenty years pass. He returns. And each
beholding the other exclaims can it be that this is he? Heavens, is it she? These lines are much relevant
to this play and taken as dramatic irony and also give a hint that they got separated and their love ended
with sad. After long years, they are meeting and unveiling their identity as Compomer’s lines. When
they unveil their identity, both start to conceal the emotions by narrating concocted story of their end.
Thus, a careful reading of the play reveals that there is a relationship between the old lady and the old
gentleman.
7.Why do Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo spin fictitious stories about themselves?
celebrated Spanish playwright brothers in the early twentieth century. In this play, they bring in the
theme of long-lost love rediscovered on a sunny morning. This play has elements of humour and irony
in it. Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura are the protagonists who accidentally meet at a park as two strangers
throwing banters at each other and eventually making amends.
Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo make up their differences on sharing a pinch of snuff. From this point
onward they soften in their tone and feeling towards each other. Talking about various things of their
interest they stumble upon reading books. This paves the way for the next twist in their story. Dona
Laura reads a poem from a book given by Gonzalo which surprises both of them that the two lovers of
several decades that they were talking about were actually they, themselves. However, they do not want
to disclose their true identities since they have lost the sheen of their early youth. They fear that it might
be embarrassing to know about each other in real. So, they spin fictitious stories where Laura identifies
herself as the friend of the Silver Maiden while he identifies himself as the cousin of Don Gonzalo.
8. Bring out the feelings of Laura and Gonzalo as they leave the park. Is it different from what
they felt about each other in the beginning of the play?
celebrated Spanish playwright brothers in the early twentieth century.
In the beginning of the play, the protagonists enter the park with their servants. The conversation between
these two seventy years old gets begun sarcastically with each other accusing the other of encroaching
on their private space. Later they start to criticize their actions each other as haters. However, their
feelings towards each other in the beginning of the play become more evident only when Don Gonzalo
walks towards her bench, he scares away all the birds. So, she warns him in rash, in return he arrogantly
replies which provokes her to make a personal comment later as he does so. After a few heated exchanges
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between them they take a pinch of snuff which makes them relief. Soon after taking snuff, they start
conversation friendly. By the end of the play, we find a total change in their attitudes towards each other.
In the course of their conversation, they discover that they were lovers once in their youthful days. But
neither of them is ready to disclose their identity. However, the animosity that we witness in the
beginning of the play is no longer there when they are ready to depart. Before taking leave of each other,
they formally thank each other for having met. Both think that it's been great pleasure to meet and ensure
that they are coming to the park the next day. Both of them wave farewell and leave the place as friends.
9.What do you think would have happened I they had revealed their identity? Do you think they
know who they are towards the end of the play?
This is from the one act play “A Sunny Morning” written by Serafin and Joaquin Alvarez Qunitero the
celebrated Spanish playwright brother sin the early twentieth century.
Don Once Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura realize that they are the same old young lovers of Maricela
who were separated in life by the fate, they make up fictitious stories and conceal their identity. If they
are revealed their identity both of them would have been utterly shocked and would have accused each
other of deceiving the other. They know that both of them had held the other in high esteem and both of
them had fallen deeply in love in their past. They wonder when both realize that they are the lovers of
Maricela. They have changed a lot in their appearance. Don Gonzalo has become seventy-year-old and
uses parasol and big glasses to read books. So called beauty, the silver Maiden has also become old and
her appearance has changed too. That is why, Dona Laura after listening to Don Gonzalo's praise of her
beauty as The Silver Maiden now feels ashamed to confess that she is the old silver maiden of Maricela.
Similarly, Don Gonzalo knows that he is grotesque and so wishes to keep his image as a gallant horseman
who everyday passed under her window by on horseback. Thus, they think that it would be better to
conceal their identity rather than complaining each other.
10. How is the title ‘A Sunny Morning’ justifiable? Discuss.
A Sunny Morning is a short play, written by Quintero brothers. It is a refreshingly new romantic comedy.
It tells the story of Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura, who are ardent lovers at their young age. But their
love is not a successful one as they had to part from each other in life. They meet each other in a park at
Madrid during their old age. The story is presented in a new pattern unlike the conventional romantic
stories. The play begins in a sunny morning at a park, the entire play occurs in an autumn sunny morning.
Here the title, sunny morning refers to the youthful of the day and weather seems to be very pleasant
and fresh. The main characters are old age, in spite of this, the way they think is very much similar to
the young minds. In the beginning of the play, she mocks at Petra and tells to chat with her lover.
Generally old age people don't support and talk about love unlike them. When Gonzalo enters to the
park, they sarcastically accuse each other like young people. This youthfulness metaphorically refers to
the title of the play.
11. What are the 'atrocious' lies that Laura and Gonzalo make up about their lives after their
separation?
Or
Don Gonzalo and Dona Laura outwit each other in weaving stories about their own deaths.
Elaborate.
Or
Narrate how, according to Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo, the sad love affair of her friend and his
cousin ended.
During the conversation with Dona Laura, Don Gonzalo gives a romantic description of the silver
maiden. Dona Laura realizes that the old man is none other than her former lover Gonzalo. Then, both
of them together narrate their romantic affair until they come to the end of their story. Don Gonzalo
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rounds it off telling her that his cousin had to hide himself for a few days and later to fly. At this point
Dona tells him that he seems to know the story well. Don Gonzalo also tells her the same. Dona Laura
tells him that she heard the story from her friend. Don Gonzalo picks up the same lie and tells her that
he heard the story from his cousin. Both of them are now convinced that they were the former lovers of
the romantic affair they had just reconstructed. Dona Laura wants to probe further into the affair.
Therefore, she demands an explanation about Gonzalo's vanishing from Valencia. In reply, Don Gonzalo
tells her that after staying hidden indoors in Valencia for some time, his cousin went to Seville and then
came to Madrid, where he wrote letters to Laura. But, since the letters were intercepted by her parents,
she did not get his letters at all and so she did not write back to him. He tells her that Gonzalo, then in
despair, believing that he had lost his love for ever, joined the army, went to Africa and there in a trench
met a glorious death grasping the flag of Spain and whispering the name of his beloved Laura.
Immediately, Dona also creates a story. She tells him that after waiting for a year for Gonzalo, she went
to the beach after sunset one evening. She wrote his name on the sand, and then sat down on a rock, her
gaze fixed upon the horizon. Then the waves slowly crept up to the rock, where the maiden was sitting
and the high rising tide rose with a boom and swept her out to sea. Thus ended the sad love affair.
12. 'The ways of providence are strange'. How is this true in the case of Don Gonzalo and Dona
Laura? Explain.
A Sunny Morning' presents the story of two young lovers who were once passionately attached to each
other. Their love would have ended in their marriage but they were separated by a cruel blow of fate.
Gonzalo was a young man living in Valencia. Not far from his house there was a villa near the sea,
known as Maricela. There lived a beautiful young lady Laura Lorente and everyone called her ‘The
Silver Maiden'. A romantic affair developed between the two. Gonzalo used to pass by on horseback
every morning down the rose path under her window and tossed up a bouquet of flowers to her balcony
which she would catch. Later, in the afternoon, when he returned by the same path, he would catch the
bouquet of flowers she tossed him. However, the parents of Laura wanted to marry her to a merchant
against her wish. One night when Gonzalo was waiting under her window her merchant-suitor came
there unexpectedly and insulted Gonzalo. Soon, there resulted a duel (fight) in which Gonzalo injured
the merchant. Since the merchant was well known in that locality, Gonzalo fled to Seville and then to
Madrid. Though, the lovers tried to contact each other through letters, their letters were intercepted and
they were separated for ever. However, the ways of fate being strange, both the lovers Dona Laura and
Don Gonzalo who are now in their 70's, meet again in a retired corner of a park in Madrid. Though
initially they make rude remarks about each other, they gradually discover that they were the very same
lovers of their youth when they were living in Maricela in Valencia.
13. How effectively does Gonzalo narrate the story of his cousin's love for Laura's friend?
Narrating his story as his cousin's, Dona Gonzalo said that his cousin loved the Silver Maiden every
morning, he would pass on horseback, tossing up a bouquet of flowers. She too, would toss them in the
evening. Once, when Gonzalo's cousin waited under her window to hear her singing, a merchant, whom
she was expected to marry, appeared and insulted the cousin. There was a quarrel that led to a duel. As
a result, the merchant was badly wounded. And so, his cousin had to conceal himself for a few days.
Fearing the consequences of a duel with a person highly regarded in that locality, he had to take refuge
in his house. He went to Seville and, then, to Madrid. He wrote many letters to Laura. None of the letters
ever reached her, so they went unanswered. He thought that he had lost his love forever, joined the army,
went to Africa and there in a trench, met a glorious death, grasping the flag of Spain and whispering the
name of his beloved, Laura.
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14. Everything is fair in 'Love and war'. How do you substantiate this statement relating to the
attitudes of Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo in the play 'A Sunny Morning'?
The play A Sunny Morning' is a romantic comedy which blends both the elements of romance and
comedy. The play deals with the love story of Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo and the dialogues of the
play are humorous and lively. The play begins in the park where Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo meet
when they are old. They both were lovers when they were young. But now, both do not recognize each
other. Once, when they start talking, they understand the reality but both do not want to reveal their
identities. One day when Dona Laura was feeding the pigeons with bread crumbs, Don Gonzalo, the old
man, comes with his servant and sits on the same bench. Laura gets angry with Gonzalo for frightening
the birds. Both get annoyed with each other. He starts reading poems from his book. Then, he tells her
that he belonged to Valencia, a city in Spain. Laura is surprised and tells that she too spent her youth
there in a villa called Maricela. When Gonzalo asks her if she remembered the name Laura, she lies to
him that she was a friend of Laura. They both discuss the story of Laura's friend and Gonzalo's cousin
which was really their own story. Laura tells him that her friend waited for her lover for many years and
later was married to a merchant. Gonzalo replies that his cousin joined army and died as a soldier. In the
play, we find that both the central characters do not reveal their true identity. They hope to meet every
morning there. The play ends on a positive note and we find a beautiful mix of romance and comedy,
last like a sunny morning cold and heat and depart from park. Here, we see that they do not acknowledge
the fact of being old but lost lovers; rather they prefer to think that they have befooled each other with
their fictitious stories. In fact, they do not want to remember their past and they want to be frozen in time
in each other's memories, as they once were. Their such an attitude makes us to think that everything is
fair in love and war'.
*************
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WHEN YOU ARE OLD

William Butler Yeats
SUMMARY:
In W.B Yeats' poem "When You Are Old," narrator requests of a former lover to remember her youth
and his love for her. The poem tries to tell the tale of this unrequited love the narrative persona feels.
Unrequited love is the theme for this poem and is illustrated through a number of different techniques.
There are three stanzas in the poem and it is written in the form of an ode, it is written in second person
addressing a subject. The poem flows very softly which disguises some of the deeper, harsher meanings
of the words. The poet's language changes as the poem progresses from stanza to stanza. In his opening,
he instructs an "old and grey" woman "full of sleep" to "slowly read" a book of memories from her
youth. As he moves to the second stanza, Yeats reminds his former lover of her "glad grace" that was
loved by many. He tells her that many had loved her for her beauty (“how many loved” her looks) and
he alone, who loved her for her “pilgrim soul” and that he loved her even as she grew less beautiful and
as she changed in time. The once warm and reminiscent old woman is reminded of an eerie and faded
love that was never fully resolved, a faded love that may indicate a hidden feeling of remorse from the
narrator. The tone shifts with the language as Yeats describes the “sorrows”. Yeats calls the old woman
to "Murmur a little sadly" about those former days now that he is through with pacing “upon the
mountains overhead" and has now hidden “his face amid a crowd of stars." These details provide a peek
into the narrator's torn-apart heart as he evokes from her memories how patiently he waited for her as
sorrows of Time wore. This poem is more of a spiritual context of love evolving to a higher love. There
is true love of the man for the woman but with his emphasis of her as a pilgrim or loving the pilgrim
soul in her seems as though he is expressing a love that has been converted from or has now the element
of a higher love, a more spiritual love. "And paced upon the mountains overhead, and hid his face amid
a crowd of stars" - meaning the passionate and very human love he had for her became more selfless or
spiritual with an emphasis on loving the pilgrim soul in her or the part of her that was her true soul and
had nothing to do with her beauty. The crowd of stars speaks of more heavenly and eternal things. He
hid his face amid a crowd of stars, meaning he hid his very human love and loved her with a purer love.
The whole poem speaks of a melancholic mood of loss both his and of the woman's. The fact that his
love for this woman was rejected and speaks of both the love and her in the past, present and future,
shows how determined he was to gain her love even if that love had changed. This is an absolutely
beautiful declaration of love and lost neatly wrapped in a poetic cloth. Although the rhythm in which the
poem was written makes it appear that it may have been specific to the woes of love in Yeats own person
life, it still has a very universal meaning for its readers. It is a simple reference to life, love and growth.
It has been stated by many philosophers and poets alike that, "It is at the end of a man's life that he
realizes how foolish he was at the beginning". This poem is a true testament to the often ignorance of
young or new love which in many cases may lead to its destruction. Old age is like the magnifying
glasses of life. It is often in old age that you are left with the memories of both the mistakes and successes
of your youth. We must look at life with the eyes of truth and realize that true love is a gift that should
not be treated casually. Like any gift that is not taken in, it goes to the one who accepts it. This poem
offers a warning to its readers to be observant to true love and what it can bring because love that is
ignored and or not reciprocated can easily become a regret.
1. The poet is addressing
a young woman the poet has loved.
2. In line two, the word 'book' refers to
memories
3. The words 'glad grace' suggests
her physical beauty
4. Pilgrim soul' means the soul
which is questing for true love
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5. What does the phrase 'your changing face' suggest?

It suggests that her youth and beauty will fade away. When she grows old her face will get shrunk
and will look different.
6. Love fled' connotes
The fleeing of her lover to the mountains.
7. To whom is the poem 'when you are old' addressed?
The poem 'When you are old' is addressed to a young lady with whom the speaker is deeply in love.
8. What does the speaker want his beloved to do sitting by the fire?
The speaker wants his beloved to sit by the fire and reminisce (recall) her memories of the past.
9. Where, according to the speaker, had love hidden his face?
According to the speaker, 'love' had hidden his face amid a crowd of stars. It refers to the possibility
that the speaker could die due to disappointment and frustration and seek a place in the heavens.
10.Which is possible to infer about the speaker of 'when you are old'?
He is saddened by rejection
11. What does the phrase 'full of sleep' mean?
The phrases 'full of sleep' means that she is old, tired and is going to die in the near future. It suggests
lack of vitality and youthfulness.
12. Who does the speaker picture as 'nodding by the fire'?
The speaker depicts his lady love as an old woman sitting beside the fire, nodding her head.
13. What does the speaker want his beloved to dream of?
The speaker wants his beloved to dream of herself as an old and gray woman nodding by the fire.
14. What are 'your moments of glad grace'?
The phrase 'your moments of glad grace' refers to her elegance and beauty as a young woman. Here
it refers to the occasions when many suitors were mesmerized by her beauty and elegant youth.
15. What is the aspect of the beloved that the speaker feels affinity for? The speaker feels affinity for
her pilgrim soul which means her inner self and not her exterior beauty.
16. What does ' the sorrows of your changing face' refer to?
'The sorrows of your changing face' refer to the changes seen in her face as she grows older. Her face
will have shrunk and wrinkles which appeared on her forehead and face depict the difficulties and
sorrows faced by her over the years.
17. What does the phrase full of sleep mean?
The phrase ‘full of sleep’ has a symbolic meaning which means old age. It indicates the natural
drowsiness that comes in human beings as one grows old and approaches death
18. How is the poet’s love different from those who also loved his beloved?
The poet’s love stands different from those of the other lovers. Others loved his beloved for her soft
looks, charming eyes, and physical beauty. The poet loved his beloved for her pilgrim soul and inner
beauty. His love was spiritual, while as others was sensual.
19. What is Maud Gonne reminded of in the poem?
Maud Gonne is reminded of her youthful days when she was charming and energetic. She is also
reminded of her only true love who would love her for her pilgrim soul. Other’s love was short-lived
while as the poet’s love was persistent.
20. ‘But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you’ Explain.
The line describes that there was only one lover who loved Maud Gonne truly. He loved her for her
inner beauty which did remain intact for the whole life. His love continued even when she becomes
old and ugly while as those whose love was false distanced themselves when her physical charms
lived its days.
21. What images does the poet use in the poem?
The poet uses following images in the poem: grey hair, full of sleep, nodding by the fire, deep
shadows of eyes, sorrow of changing face, glowing bars etc.
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22. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?

The poem is written in iambic pentameter with the rhyme scheme ABBA CDDC EFFE which gives
a steady rhythm to the poem.
23. What does the poem infer about the power of poetry and the written word?
The poem infers that poetry lasts and remains as a constant reminder of what was. The speaker
suggests that poetry has the ability to contain a man’s life in its lines and, in turn, to ensure that the
life never dies.
24. The term “glad grace” is an example of what literary device?
The repetition of the ‘g’ sound suggests that it is an example of alliteration.
I. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of 80 – 100 words each:
1. Whose love in ‘When you are old’ is true and intense? Explain.
When You Are Old is a short love poem in which the poet uses a time frame in which the speaker
addresses his lady love in the present, takes her to an unreal condition in the future, and asks her to recall
her past memories.
It is the Poet's love that is entirely different from the love exhibited by the other suitors. He admits that
there are many suitors trying to court her but he knows for sure that their love for her is not genuine and
sincere. He believes that they only love the elegance and beauty of her youth which is transient. On the
other hand, the poet likes her inner self. He calls it her pilgrim soul. They will find her worth loving only
when she is young and beautiful. But as she grows older, and her face shrinks, depicting the differences
and sorrows faced by her, he will still continue to love her with all her sorrows as well. He does so
because he is in love with her inner self and not merely with her physical beauty.
2. How does the speaker distinguish his love from that of others in the poem? ‘When you are old’?
her past memories.
The speaker distinguishes his love from that of others by resorting to the depiction of contrast between
physical beauty and inner beauty. When his beloved was young and beautiful many suitors were after
her-praising her external beauty without caring for her feelings. Their love was transitory whereas the
speaker loved her pilgrim soul. He was the only one who cared for her, reciprocating (sharing) her
feelings, her likes and dislikes. He loved even the sorrows of her changing face. Here, he has presented
a real contrast between love and infatuation.
3. ‘True love is related to soul but not to the physical beauty’. How is this idea brought out in the
poem ‘When you are old’?
‘When You Are Old', is a love poem written by W. B. Yeats. The poet addresses the lady, he loved in
his youth. When she grows old, she will be sitting by the fire side and reading the book of poems written
by him. Reading the book, she will remember her past, her beauty and the many men who admired her.
While all the men loved her for her beauty, he loved her soul and her soul searches for something
meaningful. She will feel sad that love has vanished along with him. He loved her for her internal beauty.
His true love is permanent though her beauty has waned over the years.
4. How is the speaker’s passionate love for his beloved brought out in the poem ‘When you are
old’?
her past memories.
The poet asks his love, who is still young, to imagine a time when she is past her prime youth. She would
then be an old woman with Gray hair and sleepy eyes. When she is in such a state, he wants her to read
a book of memories from her youth. As the woman sits beside the fire, nodding her head and leaf’s
through her memories, she would recollect the 'soft looks' she once had and the sorrows she had suffered
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until then. When she recalls her faded beauty, she would also recall how she was admired by many
suitors who were infatuated with her physical charms. At the same time, she would also recall how there
was one man who loved her unique soul which was in search of true love. She would also realize that
her true love having lingered on for a while, disappeared from the earth and hid himself amidst a crowd
of stars in heaven.
5. Comment on the usage of time frame by the poet in When You Are Old
OR
The speaker addresses a young lady in her old age, Comment on the time sequence used by the
poet.
her past memories
He does so, in order to persuade her or warn her not to ignore him and make a wrong decision The poet's
point of view is the most compelling point of the poems. The narrator is calling upon a woman that is
not yet through with youth to, once past her prime, recall the days he was in her life and very much in
love with her: Obviously, he wants her to remember him for his unique and unconditional love for her,
and how she is choosing to ignore it in the present. By writing this poem in this fashion, the woman,
when the poet hopes that she grows old, will remember the days when she was young with happiness
but will grow regretful that she did not take advantage of his love Alternatively, the woman, in the
present will see what an opportunity she is missing by ignoring his love for her and leaving him to fade
into the past. The speaker fears that his lady love will not act upon his love for her and that she will only
remember him in the book of memories. He hopes that if, once old, she puts down the book of memories,
she will grow chilly and sorrowful that she did not foresee how steadfast his love was but how foolish
she was for taking no notice of it. He is already fearful that she will grow old without him, and this can
be seen as he requests that she remember him a little sadly and as a missed chance to have a happy future.
It is the time frame that the poet has used in this poem that facilitates the poet to write this sad and
reminiscent poem which is not designed primarily to make an old woman regretful, but to keep a young
woman from ignoring the narrator and making the wrong decision.
6. When You Are Old' is a poem of contrasts. What purpose do they serve?
"When You Are Old was written to show the true and unforgettable love from the writer. The theme is
a painful one of unrequited love, which the poet manipulates in an interesting manner.
Instead of focusing upon the present or the past, Yeats looks to the future, a future in which the two
people in the poem are destined to be forever apart. The poet visualizes an unreal condition that the
woman he loved became old and felt regret for refusing his true love. To depict such a theme, the poet
deploys elegant and quiet words and builds pictures of contrast. In the second stanza there is a contrast
between her many suitors who professed superficial love and the speaker or the lover who promises true
love for her in the third stanza there is a contrast between her many suitors who professed superficial
love and the speaker or the lover who promises true love for her. In the third stanza there is a contrast
between the fleeting or transient love represented by her many suitors and the personified love of the
poet There is a contrast between the sorrows of your changing face in the second stanza and r little sadly
of the third stanza the sorrows indicate passion or strong emotion seen 'murmur a in young people and
little sadly reflects the listlessness of old people. There is a contrast between the beauty and elegance'
sans her soul sought after by the suitors and the 'pilgrim soul in the same lady cherished by the speaker.
The many suitors who wanted to court her were attracted by her superficial beauty whereas this
lover/speaker was attracted by her pilgrim soul, which symbolizes her inner self. These contrasts serve
to build a strong argument to persuade the young lady not to ignore him now and regret later.
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7. How is the one man' different from the many others who loved the lady?
OR
how does the speaker distinguish/contrast his love from/with that of the others?
The narrator/speaker asks his lady love to presume that she has grown old and Gray and is sitting by the
fire nodding. Then he asks her to read from her book of memories and reminisce her past when she was
in her prime youth. While she is thus engaged in recalling her past, the poet reminds her that though she
undoubtedly had a great many suitors who admired her beauty and elegance and professed 'love' which
may be true or false, he alone loved her unconditionally. He says that he loved her inner beauty and even
the fading away of her youth and beauty. The phrase 'how many' in the first line (second stanza) stands
in contrast to 'But one man, in the third line (second stanza). While many suitors loved her beauty and
elegance, he alone loved her pilgrim soul as well as the sorrows of her changing face.
8. Does the poem bring out the transient nature of beauty as against permanence of love?
Yes. The poem, while making an attempt to persuade the young lady not to ignore him or his love, also
incidentally highlights the transient nature of beauty as against the permanence of love. In fact, the
speaker's argument is that, whereas all her suitors are merely attracted by her youthful beauty and
elegance, he is attracted by her pilgrim soul. Furthermore, he claims that the love exhibited by her many
suitors may not last long and might change as she grows old. On the contrary, his love will remain
constant and unconditional. He would love her 'pilgrim soul' as well as the changes in her face which
appear as one grows old. Thus, the poet, using the phrase 'your moments of glad grace' in the best line
of the second stanza in contrast with the phrase 'sorrows of your changing face' in the fourth line suggests
that 'beauty' is transient in nature whereas 'love' is permanent.
9. What is the image of old age that Yeats presents and what kind of love is depicted in the poem
“When You Are Old”?
When You Are Old is full of visual imagery The poet builds a picture of an old woman sitting beside
the fire nodding, using the words old and Gray. "Tull of sleep, nodding by the fire, 'slowly read the
quality of the visual imagery is enriched by the use of phrases which contrast with each other like
moments of glad grace vs sorrows of your changing face. The phrase 'pilgrim soul' suggests 'spirituality
which is normally associated with old age The poet tries argue with his lady love that time' and 'beauty'
are transient as against 'love' which can be permanent. He wants to convince her that her beauty will not
last forever. As years roll was, she will grow old and Gray, losing the vitality and elegance of her youth
According to the speaker, his love is entirely different from the love exhibited by other suitors. He admits
that there are many suitors trying to court her but he knows for sure that their love for her not genuine
and sincere. He believes that they only love the elegance and beauty of her youth which is transient. On
the other hand, the poet likes her inner self. He calls it her pilgrim soul They will find her worth loving
only when she is young and beautiful. But as she grows older, and her face gets shrunk depicting the
difficulties and sorrows faced by her, he will continue to love her including her sorrows as well. He does
saw because he is in love with her inner self and not merely her physical beauty.
10. How does the poet draw a contrast between the physical charms of his beloved in her youth
and the infirmity of the same woman when she has grown old?
According to the poet, the woman had elegance and beauty. Her eyes had a soft look of innocence and
youth and she exuded a glad grace' in her movements which showed her vitality. The poet tries to
persuade her telling her that this beauty is transient like time. As she grows elder, she will lose her charm.
The eyes will lose their dreamy soft look and will be replaced by deep shadows of difficulties and
sorrows reflecting the suffering she has undergone. She will also become grey stiff and infirm, and will
become drowsy She will sit beside the fire brooding over past memories.
*************
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THE GARDENER
P. Lankesh
Comprehension I
1. What qualities of the old man impressed the narrator?
The owner was impressed with the old man's physique. He was tall with greyish hair, a long beak like
nose and strong muscular arms. His eyes were suffused with strange memories and native intelligence.
2. Is it a significant factor that the old man came to the garden after walking hundreds of miles?
Yes, while narrating the story to the owner's wife he reveals that in order to punish Basavaiah, he
declared himself dead and renounced all his wealth and entity when he reached the coconut grove and
the place probably convinced him that he could live there comfortably.
3. The owner of the garden became lethargic because
c. There was nothing much left for the owner to do.
4. Why did the owner's wife start worrying about the strange ways of her husband?
Gardener helped his owner in every way and solved his financial crises. Once his worries disappeared,
he indulged himself in all possible vices among which adultery was one. This made the owner's wife to
worry about her husband's strange behaviour.
5. When did the old man decide to narrate his story?
Gardener helped his owner in every way and solved his financial crises. Once his worries disappeared,
he indulged himself in all possible vices among which adultery was one. This made the owner's wife
to worry about her husband's strange behaviour. Old man guessed that her husband's misconduct had
given her the worries. Therefore, he decided to narrate his own story and tried to caution her about
human behaviour.
6. Tammanna considers his rival, Sangoji /Basavaiah, an important possession because
c) Rivalry offers new possibilities of life for him.
7. No, his name was not Sangoji, but Basavaiah “told the old man because
c) He was fictionalizing his past.
8. What unique strategy was evolved by Tammanna to annihilate Basavaiah completely Basavaiah
forcibly acquired two hundred acres of Tamanna’s.
A fence was built around that land. Tammanna could not tolerate this invasion. Tammanna was
advised by his supporters about the various means available for getting back his land. There was the
court of law. One could also take recourse to the police. If you did not want that, there were many
numbers of persons ready to attack Basavaiah. But Tammanna was in search of a method that could
annihilate Basavaiah completely. He hit upon the idea of composing all his experiences and
Basavaiah's cruelty in the form of ballads and singing them.
9. Tammanna decides to give up everything and leave the place because
B. He wants to create an impression that he is dead
10. Why does Basavaiah start inviting scholars and musicians to his place?
Tammanna was in search of a method that could annihilate Basavaiah completely. He hit upon the
idea of composing all his experiences in the form of ballads and singing them. It brought him immense
name and fame which humiliated Basavaiah tremendously. So, he bedecked himself with gold,
diamonds and other precious stones and started living in a palatial mansion. But the visitors to his
house insisted him to buy Tammanna's book. Therefore, he started inviting scholar's poet and
musicians to his place with the intention of defeating Tammanna.
11. Tammanna forgets his songs and ballads because
B. he doesn't need them anymore
12. When, according to the narrator, does man lose his name?
According to the narrator, man loses his name after a particular age.
13. When did Tammanna forget all his songs and ballads?
Tammanna forgot all his songs and ballads after the death of Basavaiah.
14. Where was the coconut grove located?
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The coconut grove was located near Chennarayapatna.

15. What was stuck under the arm of the old man in the lesson The Gardner?
Newspaper
16. The owner's life was particularly upset about which vice of the owner?
The owner's wife was worried about his adultery.
17. Mention one of the means suggested to Tammanna through which he would get back his land from
Basavaiah?
To go to the court of law/ take recourse to the police/ attack on Basavaiah.
18. What was the most important possession of Tammanna?
His rival Sangoji was the most important possession of Tammanna.
19. What was the healthy competition between Basavaiah and Tammanna?
The healthy competition between Basavaiah and Tammanna was in buying lands of the village.
20. How many acres did Basavaiah acquire forcibly from Tammanna?
Basavaiah acquired two hundred acres forcibly from Tammanna.
21. What idea did Tammanna get to annihilate (defeat) Basavaiah completely?
Tammanna gets an idea to compose his experiences in the form of songs and ballads.
22. What were the themes of Tammanna's songs and ballads?
Tammanna's songs and ballads made a mention of Basavaiah’s cruelty and meanness.
23. What become raison-d' etre of Tammanna's life?
Art became the raison-d 'etre of Tammanna's life.
24. Whom did Basavaiah invite to his palace?
Basavaiah invited scholars, poets and musicians to his place.
25. How much of Tammanna's land did Basavaiah acquire forcibly?
Or
How much of Tammanna’s land did Basavaiah forcibly acquire at first?
Basavaiah acquired 200 acres of Tammanna's land forcibly.
26. What was Tammanna's idea to compete against Basavaiah?
The idea of composing ballads and singing them.
27. In the lesson 'The Gardener', the old man changed the name of Tammanna's rival from to Basavaiah.
Sangoji.
28. When did Tammanna forget all his songs and ballads?
After Basavaiah’s death, Tammanna forgot all his songs and ballads.
29. Whom did Basavaiah consider as his most important possession in ‘The Gardener’?
Tammanna
30. who was Basavaiah’s rival in ‘The Gardener’?
Tammanna
31. How many acres of land did Basavaiah encroach?
200 acres of land.
Comprehension II
1. Give an account of the things done by Basavaiah, to prove himself better than Tammanna.
As a Tammanna had started proving himself better than Basavaiah through his ballads, Basavaiah started
encroaching more and more into Tammanna's land which he did not even notice or give importance to.
Basavaiah, thus, shrank in humiliation. He started filling his life with all kinds of material wealth. He
got a palatial mansion built for himself. He appointed a number of persons just to praise him. He
bedecked himself with gold, diamonds and other precious stones. But yet, he was told by the people that
his palace was dull without Tammanna's books. Hence, he started inviting scholars, poets and musicians
to his palace. This was his way of investing his home with some meaning and, thus, tried to prove himself
better than Tammanna.
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2. Why was Tammanna in search of a method that could annihilate Basavaiah completely in 'The
Gardener'?
Tammanna had one thousand acres of land and Basavaiah had eight hundred. Basavaiah could not
tolerate this. He sent word to Tammanna asking him to sell two hundred acres. As expected, Tammanna
did not agree. He was ready to buy all the land belonging to Basavaiah. Basavaiah went along with his
people and acquired two hundred acres of Tammanna's land forcibly. Tammanna could not tolerate this
invasion. When Tammanna could not fight him back virtually, he thought of another method to
annihilate Basavaiah completely using his intellect. 3. How Basavaiah humiliated by Tammanna and
where was the measures taken by him to overcome this? Tammanna tried to avenge Basavaiah by
composing ballads that spoke of Basavaiah's cruelty and manners and singing them. Basavaiah tried to
do the same and was not successful. He built a palatial mansion for himself. He bedecked himself with
precious stones and appointed many people just to praise him. He invited scholars, poets and musicians
to his house. But nothing helped him to overcome this humiliation. Finally, he came to know that
Tammanna was ill and consoled himself that he had at least surpassed Tammanna in having good health.
4. When does human life become boring and reasonless, according to P. Lankesh?
According to the writer, though man has wealth, education, art and many more things, he lives for some
kind of unbearable vengefulness. Humans have become so wired to revenge and competition that without
it life becomes boring and reasonless. In the story “The Gardener', the writer described the life of
Basavaiah and Tammanna to justify his argument. In the story, these two persons were dead enemies.
Both were in extreme competition to defeat one another. At the end of the story, Basavaiah passed away.
At that time his rival Tammanna felt that he had no more reasons to live, and finally he left the village
forever and felt that he had become non-existent.
5. How does Tammanna take revenge on Basavaiah through invisible means?
When his supporters advised him to either go to the court or seek the help of the police or ask some
persons to attack Basavaiah and take back his land forcibly, Tammanna hit upon a unique idea of
annihilating Basavaiah through invisible means. He thought of getting all his experiences composed in
the form of ballads and singing them before the public. When Tammanna started singing ballads through
which he told the people about Basavaiah's cruelty and his meanness, he became very popular. Many
scholars of folklore and literary critics translated his songs and earned their share of fame. All this made
Basavaiah shrink in shame. This way, Tammanna took revenge on Basavaiah through invisible means.
6. How did Basavaiah try to surpass his rival in ‘The Gardener’?
When Tammanna came to know that the rivalry between him and Basavaiah had reached its peak he hit
on a plan of annihilating Basavaiah completely. He got all his bitter experiences with Basavaiah
composed in the form of ballads and started singing them before the people, announcing to everyone
Basavaiah's cruelty and his meanness. This way his reputation as an artist started spreading fast.
Basavaiah tried to surpass Tammanna's fame by filling his life with all kinds of material wealth. He got
a palatial mansion built for himself, wore gold, diamond and jewellery and other precious stones. He
invited a host of admirers in order to overshadow Tammanna, his rival. But he was not successful.
7. ‘Without vengefulness, there would be no reason for man’s existence’. How does ‘The Gardener’
bring this out?
In the beginning of the story 'The Gardener', there appeared to be a healthy competition between
Tammanna and Basavaiah. Tammanna did not take Basavaiah as his rival at all. Therefore, when
Basavaiah acquired fifteen admirers to outdo Tammanna's ten friends, it did not come to Tammanna's
notice at all. Tammanna did whatever he wanted without bothering about Basavaiah. But Basavaiah did
not keep quiet. When he came to know that Tammanna possessed one thousand acres of land. and he
had only eight hundred, he could not tolerate that. He sent words to Tammanna, asking him to sell two
hundred acres to him. Tammanna did not agree. On the contrary he offered to buy all the land that
belonged to Basavaiah. Therefore, he went along with his people and acquired two hundred acres of
Tammanna's land forcibly and got a fence built around it. Tammanna could not tolerate that invasion.
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Later, when his supporters suggested him that he could go to the court of law or the police or use his
Own people to attack him and forcibly wrest his land from him, Tammanna did not accept their
suggestion. He probably thought that competing with Basavaiah by physical means had no end to it. So,
he thought of putting an end to the unhealthy rivalry of Basavaiah by taking recourse to something
invisible. He took recourse to singing ballads and telling the people through them about the cruelty and
the meanness of Basavaiah.
8.How did the owner’s life style change after the arrival of the old man in ‘The Gardener’?
The old man was very useful, well-versed in agriculture and could understand the problems of the
workers. After his arrival, the petty thefts in the garden came to an end and the income from the garden
improved substantially. The farm which was originally ten acres, soon expanded beyond the owner's
expectations and this soon resulted in a visible change in the life-style of the owner who now kept away
from hard work. He became lazy as the old man did all the work for him. The farm expanded but the
owner was happily spending his time and money on wrong things. The owner's wife was worried about
her husband's adultery and vices. It was indeed, a matter of anxiety because life gradually got out of
hand.
9. How did Basavaiah start filling his life with all kinds of material wealth?
When Basavaiah saw how Tammanna was bringing discredit to his reputation through his ballads and
songs, he became humiliated. To overcome his humiliation, he decided to work more diligently on his
agricultural land. So, he purchased more land. Then he built a palatial mansion for himself and wore
more gold and diamond jewellery and filled his life with material possessions and a host of admirers in
order to over shadow. Tammanna and overcome his feelings of humiliation. He also started inviting
scholars, poets and musicians to his home to invest it with meaning but it was a futile attempt.
10. Write a note on the rivalry between Tammanna and Basavaiah as explained in ‘The
Gardener’?
In the beginning, there appeared to be a healthy competition between Tammanna and Basavaiah
Tammanna did not take Basavaiah as his rival at all. Therefore, when Basavaiah acquired fifteen
admirers to outdo Tammanna's ten friends, it did not come to Tammanna's notice at all. Tammanna did
whatever he wanted without bothering about Basavaiah. But Basavaiah did not keep quiet. When he
came to know that Tammanna possessed one thousand acres of land, and he had only eight hundred, he
could not tolerate this. He sent word to Tammanna asking him to sell two hundred acres to him.
Tammanna did not agree. On the contrary, he offered to buy all the land that belonged to Basavaiah.
Therefore, Basavaiah went along with his people and acquired two hundred acres of Tammanna's land
forcibly and got a fence built around it. Tammanna could not tolerate this invasion. Later, when his
supporters suggested to him that he could go to the court of law or the police or use his own people to
attack him and forcibly wrest his land from him, Tammanna did not accept their suggestion. Tammanna
probably thought that competing with Basavaiah by physical means has no end to it because it depends
on who is able to muster more muscle power. Muscle power has its own limitations. Secondly, muscle
power needs the involvement of many more people apart from Tammanna. Moreover, as long as both of
them were fighting by visible means people will not know who was trying to compete with whom. Until
then, Basavaiah was the first one to show to the people he had more land, more friends, more wealth,
etc. Tammanna never did anything to spite Basavaiah. Whatever Tammanna did, was on his natural
inclination and not to spite Basavaiah. Therefore, Tammanna realized the limitations of competing with
Basavaiah by physical means. That is why he thought of putting an end to the unhealthy rivalry of
Basavaiah by taking recourse to something invisible. He took recourse to singing ballads and telling the
people through them about the cruelty and the meanness of Basavaiah.
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11. A manipulator like Tammanna turns reflective towards the end of his life what does this tell
us about human nature?
When Tammanna fell ill, Tammanna heard this and felt happy. He found the means of surpassing him.
He considered health as wealth and his disease was Basavaiah’s health. On contrary Tammanna decides
to out beat his enemy so he renounces everything and settled in Chennarayapatana and contemplated his
death. As long as Tammanna was alive Basavaiah had a reason to live. Basavaiah died because he had
no reason to live. Until then both Basavaiah and Tammanna indulged in rivalry to satisfy their ego.
Tammanna lost his identity and he became a non-entity. This made Tammanna to reflect over human
nature and gave a reference to Russia's declaration to America that America was not their enemy and
would not wage a war against America; it was only a strategy by the writer to suggest that Tammanna
and Basavaiah belong to a postmodern society. A nation could withstand the strains. But a human being
could not. Tammanna lost all his enthusiasm for life. Basavaiah's death that was pricking his conscience
transformed him to be a virtuous person and motivated him to relate his own story to the owner's wife
and tried to caution her about her husband.
12. How did Tammanna react to Basavaih’s encroachment of his land?
When Tammanna-came to know that Basavaiah had forcibly taken away two hundred acres of his land,
he could not tolerate this invasion. When his supporters advised him to either go to the court or seek the
help of the police or ask some persons to attack Basavaiah and take back his land forcibly, Tammanna
hit on a unique idea, of annihilating Basavaiah. He thought of getting all his experiences composed in
the form of ballads and telling the people through them about the cruelty and the meanness of Basavaiah.
13. What advice did the supporters of Tammanna give for getting his land back?
Tammanna gained the more land and he had one thousand acres but Basavaiah could own eight hundred
only. So Basavaiah could not tolerate this. He sent word to Tammanna asking him to sell two hundred
acres. Tammanna did not agree. He was prepared to buy all the land that belonged to Basavaiah.
Basavaiah was mad with rage. He went along with his people and acquired two hundred acres of
Tammanna's land forcibly. A fence was built around that land. Tammanna could not tolerate this
invasion. By now, the quarrel between these two had sucked in all their supporters. Tammanna was
advised by his supporters about the various means to get back his land. There was the court of law. One
could also take recourse to the police. If he did not want that, there were many numbers of persons ready
to attack Basavaiah. Such a war had become virtually inevitable. But Tammanna was in search of a
method that could annihilate Basavaiah completely. He hit upon the idea of composing all his
experiences in the form of ballads and singing them. Now the rivalry between Tammanna and Basavaiah
started moving away from things that were visible, towards an invisible, abstract domain.
14. How did Basavaiah try to overcome his humiliation?
Tammanna was in search of a method that could annihilate Basavaiah completely. He hit upon the idea
of composing all his experiences in the form of ballads and singing them. It brought him immense name
and fame which humiliated Basavaiah tremendously. This was not tolerated by Basavaiah. He shrunk in
humiliation. Nevertheless, he started filling his life with all kinds of material wealth. He got a palatial
mansion built for himself. He appointed a number of persons just to praise him. He bedecked himself
with gold, diamonds and other precious stones and started living in a palatial mansion. But the visitors
to his house insisted him to buy Tammanna's books. Therefore, he started inviting scholar's poet and
musicians to his place to investing his home with meaning.
15. How does Tammanna adopt a counter-strategy to challenge the material wealth of Basavaiah?
When Tammanna came to know that the rivalry between him and Basavaiah had reached a peak and that
two hundred acres of his land had been forcibly taken away from him and had been even fenced up,
Tammanna hit on a plan of annihilating Basavaiah completely. He got all his bitter experiences with
Basavaiah composed in the form of ballads and started singing them before the people, announcing to
everyone Basavaiah’s cruelty and his meanness. This way his reputation as an artist started spreading
fast and critics and scholars of folklore thronged him and translated his songs
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Comprehension III
16. The rivalry between Tammanna and Basavaiah keeps moving from the visible domain to the
invisible. Comment.
In the beginning, there appeared to be a healthy competition between Tammanna and Basavaiah.
Tammanna did not take Basavaiah as his rival at all. Therefore, when Basavaiah acquired fifteen
admirers to outdo Tammanna’s ten friends, it did not come to Tammanna’s notice at all. Tammanna did
whatever he wanted without bothering about Basavaiah. But Basavaiah did not keep quiet. When he
came to know that Tammanna possessed one thousand acres of land, and he had only eight hundred, he
could not tolerate this. He sent word to Tammanna asking him to sell two hundred acres to him.
Tammanna did not agree. On the contrary, he offered to buy all the land that belonged to Basavaiah.
Therefore, Basavaiah went along with his people and acquired two hundred acres of Tammanna’s land
forcibly and got a fence built around it. Tammanna could not tolerate this invasion. Later, when his
supporters suggested to him that he could go to the court of law or the police or use his own people to
attack him and forcibly wrest his land from him, Tammanna did not accept their suggestion. Tammanna
probably thought that competing with Basavaiah by physical means has no end to it because it depends
on who is able to muster more muscle power. Muscle power has its own limitations. Secondly, muscle
power needs the involvement of many more people apart from Tammanna. Moreover, as long as both of
them were fighting by visible means people will not know who was trying to compete with whom. Until
then, Basavaiah was the first one to show to the people he had more land, more friends, more wealth,
etc. Tammanna never did anything to spite Basavaiah. Whatever Tammanna did, was on his natural
inclination and not to spite Basavaih therefore, realized the limitations of competing with Basavaiah by
physical means. That is why he thought of putting an end to the unhealthy rivalry of Basavaiah by taking
recourse to something invisible. He took recourse to singing ballads and telling the people through them
about the cruelty and the meanness of basavaih.
17. Tammanna turns reflective in the course of his life. What does this tell us about human nature?
‘The Gardener’ is the story of Tammanna, an old man, now employed in a coconut plantation. Though
the story is initially narrated by the author, Tammanna himself becomes the narrator later. Tammanna is
the protagonist in the story and he tells the story of the rivalry between two farmers Tammanna and
Basavaiah. Though Tammanna is one of the characters in the story, the narrator does not disclose his
identity till the end. The second narrator tells us that Tammanna was a farmer, had ten acres of land, a
comfortable house and people too ready to carry out his orders. Then he tells us about his rival Basavaiah.
We learn from the narrator that Tammanna did not perceive Basavaiah as his rival initially. Tammanna
led a normal life and became prosperous gradually and came to possess 1000 acres of land. Until some
point whatever Basavaiah did to keep himself on par with Tammanna was seen as healthy competition.
But, one day, Basavaiah asks Tammanna to sell him his two hundred acres of land and Tammanna
refuses. Basavaiah takes the land forcibly. Though there were various options available for getting his
land back, Tammanna searches for a method that could annihilate Basavaiah completely. Instead of
proving might is right or seeking justice from the court of law, Tammanna uses a different strategy. He
composes and sings ballads about Basavaiah’s meanness and cruelty. Very soon Tammanna becomes
very popular and Basavaiah has no answer to his brainy ideas. Secondly, Tammanna having found
meaningful engagement in ‘art’ forgets Basavaiah’s bad deeds. Just when Basavaiah is contemplating
what to do next to spite Tammanna, he comes to know that Tammanna is ill. Basavaiah is pleased with
the news. But their rivalry does not end there. Tammanna decides to out beat him by manipulating the
situation itself. He gives up everything and goes away to Chennarayapatna so as to spread the news that
Tammanna is dead. Later Basavaiah dies a natural death. When Tammanna comes to know about his
death, he becomes reflective. Though there is no cause-effect relationship between the rumour of
Tammanna’s death and Basavaiah’s real death, Tammanna is shaken out of his senses. Until then both
Basavaiah and Tammanna indulged in rivalry to satisfy their ego. With the death of Basavaiah,
Tammanna loses his identity and he becomes a non-entity. This makes Tammanna reflect over human
nature and comes to the conclusion that man needs some issue to fight for or cling on to. In this game,
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when the loser dies it is natural for the winner to feel guilty. He suffers from a sense of guilt that he was
responsible for Basavaiah’s death. Naturally, when Tammanna is accused by his own conscience, he
becomes reflective. When one becomes reflective, one tends to review one’s own actions objectively.
We do not normally attach emotions to our thinking and then we discover what went wrong and where.
Here, both Tammanna and Basavaiah have not done anything ‘bad’ intentionally. They only fought
imaginary battles and lived in a dream world of their own. Man is mortal and all the glory that man
believes to enjoy is created by our mind. Man is a dreamer and lives in a dream world of his own. Since
man’s life has its own limitations, man’s dream and reality rarely go in unison. When reality overtakes
man, the man comes to realize that he is only a puppet in the scheme of things and man is in reality
‘nothing’, but builds up his own image to boost his confidence so that life becomes meaningful as long
as he is alive.
18. How does the reference to Russia and America provide another dimension to the story?
‘The Gardener’ presents the story of two farmers who get actively involved in rivalry and each one tries
to overtake the other in earnings, wealth and social prestige. But, at one point, Basavaiah takes recourse
to force and forcibly occupies a part of Tammanna’s landholdings. Until now both of them had tried to
upstage the other using tangible means. But now Tammanna realizes the limitations of muscle power
and so uses his ‘intellect’ to unleash a strategy by which he wishes to annihilate Basavaiah completely.
He gets all his bitter experiences with Basavaiah composed in the form of ballads and songs and sings
them in public. Thus, Tammanna tries to give a fitting reply to Basavaiah’s use of physical force and so
their fight takes a psychological dimension. Basavaiah fails to match up to the manipulatory tactics of
Tammanna and shrinks in humiliation. However, he tries to console his wounded pride by indulging in
luxurious living. No matter what he does, he does not succeed in upstaging Tammanna. It is at this stage
higher forces play their own role. Tammanna falls ill and Basavaiah enjoys psychologically telling
himself that Tammanna’s disease is Basavaiah’s health. This way, Basavaiah gets the satisfaction of
finding a reason to keep himself happy. So, here the story has now passed from the physical dimension
to the psychological dimension.
At this stage, Tammanna comes out with another plan. He plans to use something beyond man’s life.
Tammanna thinks that as long as Basavaiah knows that he is alive, Basavaiah will continue to take him
as his rival. So, Tammanna hits on an idea which works at a level higher than the physical and
psychological level. His plan is to beat Basavaiah on another plane, which is beyond man’s limits. He
knows for sure that if Basavaiah comes to think that Tammanna is dead, Basavaiah will stop treating
him as his rival. Tammanna goes away to Chennarayapatna and spreads the news that Tammanna is
dead. It is sheer coincidence that Basavaiah dies a natural death. But Tammanna comes to feel guilty
that he was the cause of his death. This incident brings him back to his senses and he reflects over his
life. Now, after the death of Basavaiah, Tammanna has become a non-entity. When he reflects over their
mutual game plans, Tammanna realizes that man invents several reasons to make his life meaningful.
He also realizes that man can go on indulging in whims and fancies until a certain age only. Later, when
the man comes to confront reality, he comes to see the truth. Then he becomes spiritual. That is when a
man realizes his limitations. Thus, we see the plot taking several dimensions from physical to
psychological and then to spiritual.
But this story also takes another dimension. Earlier, stories that used to focus on man’s vices like cruelty,
meanness, greed, jealousy, rivalry, etc., used to be portrayed on a smaller canvas and the stories used to
be confined to people living in towns, cities and kingdoms. We are now in the post-modern society and
the common man is now being influenced by global forces. In traditional societies, solutions to man’s
mundane, existential problems used to be found locally. A king or a Lord or a chieftain or a zamindar
used to dispense justice. But this story is situated in a post-modern society.
When Basavaiah acquires Tammanna’s land forcibly, Tammanna’s followers offer three solutions – seek
the help of the police; seek a legal solution; or take recourse to use muscle power. The three strategies
suggested by Tammanna’s followers saturate this story in the post-modern scenario. Their thinking
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exhibits a modern world where police, law court and mafia exist. Even at the national and international
levels, big countries like Russia and America follow such strategies.
The fact that Tammanna makes a reference to Russia and America, is only a hint by the author that the
problems of ‘man’ in the modern society cannot be confined to the war between ‘virtues and vices’ of
the yesteryears but man’s problems are complex and are reflected at the global level also. Similarly,
when Tammanna makes a reference to Russia’s declaration to America that America is not their enemy
and she will not wage a war against America, it is only a strategy by the writer to suggest that Tammanna
and Basavaiah belong to post-modern society. One can also infer that a literary artist in the modern world
cannot be blind to man’s problems in general and try to suggest solutions at the local level. Man’s
problems are deep-rooted and have implications at different levels. Man’s problems go beyond a nation
and though problems of human society are the same, they assume different dimensions as human society
becomes more and more complex every day.
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HEAVEN, IF YOU ARE NOT HERE ON EARTH

Kuvempu.
Summary:
This poem is the English version of, “Swargave, Bhoomiyoliradire” Neenu, a poem in Kannada,
written by Kuvempu, one of the most revered poets of Karnataka. The poem makes an attempt to give
the reader a glimpse into the rationalistic outlook of the poet. The poet has tried to argue that concepts
like ‘Heaven’, ‘God’, ‘Nymphs’ etc., are man’s creations. Entities like ‘Heaven’ and ‘God’ exist only
on the Earth and you cannot find them anywhere else. The poet suggests that one should perceive divinity
and enjoy the heavenly bliss in the company of Nature itself. The poet strongly believes that
‘Heavenliness and worldliness’ are not distinct or two separate entities and argues that there is no
difference between worshipping or adoring Nature and worshipping or adoring God. In the first two
lines the poet addresses ‘Heaven’ and declares emphatically that if Heaven does not exist on the Earth
where else can it be. It only means that the reader need not look for ‘Heaven’ in the skies; if at all there
is an entity called ‘Heaven’ one must find it on the earth only and nowhere else.
The poet refers to our beliefs about ‘Gods’ and ‘heavenly nymphs’. The poet expresses his conviction
that there is no distinct or substantial entity called ‘God’ and it is Man himself who is God. Similarly,
there exist no entities called ‘heavenly nymphs. He firmly believes that we ourselves are the nymphs,
and the nymphs are to be found nowhere else but, on this earth, only.
The poet wants to dispel the popular notion that gods and nymphs live in heaven. The poet, who wants
to dismiss such beliefs, tells the reader that we ourselves should become gods and nymphs. The poet
wants us to give up our belief that we go to heaven after death where we find gods and nymphs.
The poet tries to introduce us to the different forms or parts of heaven that exist on the earth. He presents
a mesmerizing picture of ‘Nature’ in its pristine form. The poet states that the ‘bliss’ that we experience
when we look at the streams that are leaping down, roaring, from the top of the hills, the waves that
come rolling across the seas carrying surf at their edges, the tender rays of sunlight falling on the vast
expanse of green forests and the gentle sun warming up the earth make this Earth, ‘Heaven’.
The poet refers to the beauty of the harvest season and the moonlit night. He declares that one enjoys
heavenly bliss when one watches the splendour of harvest and the moonlit night. The poet ends the poem
saying that the poet who imbibes this heavenly bliss, spreads the nectar of Heaven through his poetry on
this earth. A poet is endowed with a higher degree of imagination and sensibility. With these qualities,
the poet appreciates nature’s beauty and in turn, the poet enables others to behold the heaven on earth.
To sum up, the poet argues that we do not need to seek heaven after death, but can enjoy heavenly bliss
even when we are alive, if only we have the ‘eyes’ to see ‘Heaven’ on this earth. ’Heaven’ exists only
on the earth and nowhere else. One is sure to enjoy the pleasures of heaven when one looks at the
splendour of Nature. The poet urges the reader to perceive the tremendous energy that lies underneath
the physical beauty of Nature. This idea can be taken as the message of the poem.
Comprehension I
1. According to the poet, ‘heaven’ is
On earth
2. The poet finds God in
Nature
3. What does the line ‘Heaven lies all over’ suggest?
On earth in nature everywhere.
4. Who creates ‘heaven on earth’?
The poet
5. Who creates heaven according to Kuvempu?
a. Man b. Poet c. God
(b) Poet
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6. Where is the heaven found?

OR
when does the poet see heaven?
Heaven lies all over.
7. Where does the sunshine lean?
The sunshine leans on verdant gardens.
8. What are the creations of human mind?
All divine entities like God, heaven and nymphs are the creation of human mind.
9. When according to the speaker can there be Gods in Heaven, if you are not on Earth'?
Only if we become Gods.
10. Who are heavenly nymphs?
We ourselves the human beings are the nymphs.
11. How is the stream presented in the poem?
The stream is roaring and rushing fast.
12. According to the poet we find heaven precisely in _________
a. Ourselves b. Nature c. Earth
(b) and (c)
13. What does heaven spill all around?
The heaven spills around the song of nectar.
14. How is sun described in the poet?
The sun is described as gentle.
15. According to the poet Kuvempu, 'Heaven' is ____________
a. within us b. on earth C. nowhere
b. on earth
16. According to the poet__________Makes this earth heaven.
a. heavenly nymphs b. gods c. gentle sun
c. gentle sun
17. 'In the splendour of harvest and of moonlight. Heaven lies all over!' the phrase refers to_______
a. harvest and moonlight are no match to heaven b. splendour is only in heaven
c. heaven can be seen in the harvest and moonlight
c. heaven can be seen in the harvest and moonlight
18. According to the speaker in ‘Heaven, If You Are Not Here on Earth’, if we ourselves aren’t heavenly
nymphs, the nymphs are not
a. everywhere. b. nowhere. c. elsewhere.
C. elsewhere.
19. Where does the tender sunshine lean on according to the speaker in ‘Heaven, If You Are Not Here
on Earth’?
The tender sunshine lean on the verdant gardens.
20. What does the poet imbibe and spill to create heaven on Earth according to the speaker in ‘Heaven,
If You Are Not Here on Earth’?
The poet imbibes and spills the song of nector to create heaven on earth.
21. Who according to the speaker imbibes and spills the song of nectar in ‘Heaven, If You Are Not Here
on Earth’?
The poet.
22. What could not be nowhere else but on earth according to the speaker in ‘Heaven, If You Are Not
Here on Earth’?
Heaven.
37 | P a g e
Comprehension II
1. Describe the beauty in nature that makes the earth a heavenly place
Or
Why does the poet feel that earth is more beautiful than heaven?
K.V. Puttappa is widely known by the pen name Kuvempu. He is the first among the eight recipients of
the Jnanpith Award for Kannada, also the second after M. Govinda Pai among Kannada poets to be
revered as 'Rashtrakavi', a national Poet. He was conferred 'Padmavibushana' by Govt of India and has
penned the State Anthem 'Jaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate'
This poem is the English Version of 'Swargave Bhoomiyoliradire Neenu' written by Kuvempu and
translated by Prof. C Naganna. In these 14 lined poems, the poet addresses Heaven in the first two lines.
He states that if Heaven does not exist on Earth, where else can it be. One need not have to look for
Heaven in the skies, when it exists here on earth says the poet.
The poet tries to argue that the concepts like ‘Heaven' 'God' and the 'Nymphs' are created by man. It is
simply man's imagination. Therefore, man himself is God and so also the heavenly nymphs. They are
not elsewhere best here on earth. The poet wants to dismiss the belief that God and nymphs live in
heaven and people go to heaven after then death and find the God and nymphs there. In the next stanza,
the poet describes 'the splendour of Nature' and makes us appreciate and enjoy the heavenly bliss, when
we are alive. When one looks at the streams roaring and leaping down from the top of the hills, the waves
that roll across the sea carrying surf at their edges, the tender rays of sunlight falling on verdant gardens
and the gentle sun warming up the earth reflect 'Heaven'.
The splendor of harvest and the moonlight nights creates a picture of 'Nature' in its pristine form The
poet who imbibes this heavenly bliss can spread the nectar of 'Heaven' through his poetry on the earth.
Natural things appear to be more beautiful than imaginary things. Therefore, the poet is of the opinion
that 'Heaven' exists only on the earth and nowhere else. The so-called pleasures of heaven could be very
well obtained on earth, when one enjoys and experiences.
2. How does the poet break the myth of heaven in this poem?
penned the State Anthem 'Jaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate' This poem is the English Version of
'Swargave Bhoomiyoliradire Neenu' written by Kuvempu and translated by Prof. C Naganna In this
poem, Kuvempu urges us to understand the power and beauty of nature which we see through our eyes.
The poet considers concepts like 'God', 'nymphs' and 'heaven' as myths are created by humans. In the
poem, the poet is quite radical in his approach that he is denying the existence of gods which we adore.
He strongly feels that God resides in everybody and we ourselves are gods. He believes that only humans
as gods live on this heavenly earth. For him heaven is not something beyond the boundaries of this
world, since earth itself possesses all that the so called heaven promises. In order to break the illusion of
heaven in man's mind, he presents before us charming sights of nature and argues that nothing can be
more heavenly than forms of nature which lie all over. In the first two lines, he makes a direct address
to nature and declares that if heaven does not exist on the earth where else can it be. He justifies his
statement referring to the streams that leap down roaring from the top of the hills, the rolling surf at the
edge of waves, the tender rays of sunlight falling on the green garden, thus sun makes earth a heaven.
3. How does the poem celebrate the power of the poet?
penned the State Anthem 'Jaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate’ This poem is the English Version of
'Swargave Bhoomiyoliradire Neenu' written by Kuvempu and translated by Prof. C Naganna.
The poet tells the reader that the poets who enjoy such heavenly sights imbibe the beauty of nature and
spill the nectar of heaven on earth and celebrates the joys of heaven through his poetry. The poet tells
38 | P a g e
that if at all there exists an entity called heaven, it exists only on this earth. The poet presents before the
reader’s beautiful imageries of nature. In the last stanza, the poet states that one visualizes scenes of
heaven lying all over in the splendour of harvest and of moonlight. He concludes the poem celebrating
poetic talent. Poetry is the rhetoric act. Poet brings beauty by using right poetic devices which surely
hypnotize the readers. Thus, we have been enjoying reading poems. There is a famous saying that poet
sees what can’t be seen by sun, it means poet has such a vision that he can go beyond the capacity of
sun. The poet can only bring the heavenly world in front of the readers. Thus, poet tells that poet imbibes
and spills the song of nectar over the readers. The nectar itself makes the works eternal and those works
pleases the minds who read. Therefore, the poet says that poet creates heaven on earth.
4. Heaven lies all over: How is this brought out in 'Heaven, if you are not here on Earth?
Or
How does Kuvempu show that heaven is here on earth?
Or
How does the poet recreate and capture the beauty and splendour of heaven on earth?
Or
Describe how the poem 'Heaven, if you are not on earth' visualises heaven in nature.
Or
Why does the speaker of 'Heaven, if you are not on earth' say that heaven is right here on earth?
Or
How, according to the speaker, does one find heaven on Earth?
Having convincingly argued that we do not need to seek heaven in the skies, and this very earth is
heavenly in reality, the poet presents the splendour of harvest and the beauty of the moonlit night. The
poet calls these chunks of heaven. The poet wishes the reader to bring to mind the harvest season when
in every bit of agricultural land do we see heaps of grains, covering the land. He then presents a beautiful
picture of the different forms of nature which make this earth a heaven. The poet claims that the roaring
streams that tumble down fast from the top of the hills, the rolling surf at the edge of the waves that
come rolling across oceans and seas, the tender rays of the sun bathing the vast green forests and the
gentle sun warming up the earth make this earth a heaven. Secondly, he mentions the moonlit night on
which, the whole earth seems to be bathed in silvery light. Finally, the poet tells the reader that the poets
who enjoy such heavenly sights imbibe the beauty of nature and spill the nectar of heaven through their
poetry. This way the poet creates heaven on earth and celebrates the joys of heaven through his poetry.
5. How, according to the speaker, can we create heaven on earth?
Or
Human effort alone can create heaven on earth. How is this brought out in 'Heaven, if you are Not
here on Earth?
The poet Kuvempu convincingly argues that we do not need to seek heaven in the skies because this
very earth is heaven-like in reality. He tries to prove this point by describing a roaring stream and the
sunlit verdant garden. The poet emphatically states that the bliss that one experiences while looking at
the streams that are leaping down, roaring from the top of the hills, the waves that come rolling across
the seas carrying surf at their edges, the tender rays of sunlight falling on the sprawling green forests and
the gentle sun warming up the earth make this earth a heavenly place. The poet presents two more
pictures of heaven on earth. They are the splendour of harvest and the beauty of the moonlit night. The
poet wishes that the reader brings to mind the harvest season, when in every bit of agricultural land do,
we see heaps of grains covering the land. Then he mentions the moonlight on which the whole earth
seems to be bathed in silvery light. Finally, the poet says that we (the poets) who enjoy such heavenly
sights, imbibe the beauty of nature and spill the nectar of heaven through our poetry and thus create
heaven on earth
*********************************
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JAPAN AND BRAZIL THROUGH A TRAVELER’S EYE

George Mikes
Comprehension I
1. Exquisitely well-mannered people' refers to
Japanese
2. What behaviour substitutes privacy in Japan?
Courtesy substitutes privacy in Japan.
3. The reference to public telephone suggest.
a. How the Japanese respect privacy
4. Why is bowing called 'quaint'?
The word 'quaint' means attractive in an old-fashioned way. He calls bowing 'quaint' because the
Japanese bow to each other with the ceremonious solemnity of a courtier yet with a great deal of
natural and inimitable grace.
5. Hierarchy in bowing demands
a. Youngsters bow to their elders b. Wife bow to her husband c. Sisters bow to their brothers
(b) and (c)
6. What is the sign of appreciation in eating soup?
When a person is eating soup offered by a host or hostess, he must make a fearful noise so as to show
his sign of appreciation; the host or hostess will think that the guest is ill-mannered.
7. How are pavements in Brazil decorated? What does it tell us about the people there?
The grey pavements in the streets of Copacabana are often decorated with beautiful black mosaics-
unique type of decoration. We can infer that the people are alive to the beauty in their surroundings
and who have plenty of time for contemplation during their meditative and ambulatory exercises.
8. What happens when leisurely people in Brazil get a steering wheel in their hands?
When leisurely people in Brazil get a steering wheel in their hands, they drive with great speed which
would then be inclined to believe that gaining a tenth of a second is a matter of grave importance for
all of them all the time.
9. Who do the drivers look out for when they are driving? Why?
The drivers look out for pedestrians. They notice a pedestrian step off the pavement, he regards him
as fair game, he takes aim and accelerates the vehicles. The pedestrian has to jump, leap and run for
their life’s.
10. What distinguishes the war between drivers?
The war between the drivers is murderous but good tempered. They cut in, overtake on both sides
and force the other person to brake violently and commit all the most heinous crimes. But they smile
at the other person without any anger, hostility or mad hooting.
11. What does Mikes call, 'A man's castle', in Japan?
George Mikes calls a man's telephone receiver his castle.
12. How long will it take for you to Japan to be convinced that you are among exquisitely well- mannered
people.?
It will take only a quarter of an hour in Japan for one to be convinced that one is among exquisitely
well-mannered people.
13. What should people on an overcrowded island do?
People who live on a hopelessly overcrowded island have to respect one another's privacy.
14. What are the twin functions of courtesy?
The twin functions of courtesy are being courteous to one another in speech and behaviour and
respecting one another's privacy.
15. Why does the writer say that a man's telephone receiver is his castle?
The author says that a man's telephone receiver is his castle because one can conduct one's most
confidential business transactions, their intimate love-quarrels in public in perfect privacy without
the least fear of being overheard by anyone else.
40 | P a g e
16. Where do the bowing girls stand in Japanese stores?

stand at the top of escalators.
17. Which places does the Tokaido line connect?
Tokyo and Osaka.
18. What do the conductors in the Tokaido line do before checking the tickets?
Before the departure of the train, two conductors enter the carriage in a slightly theatrical scene. They
march to the middle of the coach, bow ceremoniously in both directions and then start checking the
tickets.
19. Where did the writer meet a deer?
The writer met a deer in one of the parts of Nara, which is a wild deer park in Japan.
20. Which animal bowed to the author at Nara in ‘Japan and Brazil through a Traveller’s eye’?
Deer.
21. What is extremely expensive in Brazil?
Vehicles
22. What is quainter, formal, oriental and infectious in Japan?
Bowing.
23. What is extremely expensive in Brazil?
Vehicles
24. What is the sign of appreciation while eating soup in Japan?
Making a fearful noise.
25. Whose life is becoming more hazardous every day in Japan?
The pedestrian's life.
26. Which comparison is used by the author to refer to a clash between the driver and a pedestrian?
Hunter and prey.
27. What do the driver and pedestrian finally do after the chase in Brazil?
Smile amicably at each other.
28. Who are the drivers in Brazil on the look-out for?
Pedestrians
29. Whose life is becoming more hazardous in Brazil every day according to George Mikes?
Pedestrian's life
30. What, according to George Mikes, do the driver and pedestrian finally do after the chase in Brazil?
Smile amicably at each other.
31. What is called as man's castle in Japan, according to Mikes?
A man's telephone-receiver
32. What did the conductors do as soon as they entered the train to check tickets in Japan?
They bowed in both directions.
33.What have the people of Brazil decorated the pavements with?
Beautiful black mosaic tiles.
34. What was George Mike's observation about the decoration of pavements in Brazil?
They were decorated with beautiful black mosaics.
35. Give an example which shows that the Japanese are well-mannered people.
They respect each other's privacy and bow to each other.
36. Who are easy victims of prey for the drivers in Brazil?
Pedestrians.
37. What are extremely expensive in Brazil?
Motor cars / Cars.
38.Why do Japanese make a fearful noise while eating soup?
As a sign of appreciation.
39. Name the animal that bowed the George Mikes in Japan.
Deer.
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40. What has more dangers than almost anything else in Japan?
Eating soup.
Comprehension II
1. Explain how even animals like deer follow the quaint custom of bowing in Japan, according to
George Mikes?
The people of Japan are famous for their mannerism. They show respect to elders and strangers too
by bowing. George Mikes was surprised to find people of all ages bowing to one another. He was all
the more surprised when he saw a deer in a place called Nara in Japan. He had a packet of food in
hand to offer to the animal. The deer came up to him, looked into his eyes and bowed deeply. It was
not an accidental gesture. It was a proper and courteous bow. It occurred to him that the animal had
learnt the habit of bowing after seeing people follow the custom very often. He also felt that it was
something genetic that made the deer bow to him. Then, it jumped at him and snatched the food
packet from his hand. This incident made him believe that even animals follow such courtesy.
2.Why is bowing in Japan a complicated process?
The author found bowing very difficult to learn because the act involved lot of intersections. Either
he bowed too deeply or not at all. He bowed to the wrong man at the wrong time. Either he clasped
his hands too tightly in front of him or not at all. Bowing in Japan has a complicated hierarchy: who
bows to whom, how deeply and for how long. If two Japanese bow, neither is to straighten up before
the other stands erect in front of him. The Japanese manage it without difficulty and even the smallest
difference in rank, standing, age, social position will be reflected in that split second, ore man's bow
is shorter than the other.
3. Do you think the author is finding fault with/making fun of the culture of bowing in Japanese
and speeding cars in Brazil.
The author is finding fault with bowing in Japan only to a slight extent because he finds it difficult to
understand how much to bow, for how long, and whom to bow to. He makes fun, in a light-hearted
manner, firstly, of the baby who bows from a majestic height, having been tied to its mother's back;
next, of the two conductors on the coach, who bow in both the directions and then start checking the
tickets. He certainly makes fun of the deer which he feels bowed deeply to him before snatching the
little bag from his hand. He pokes fun at the Japanese he compares the deer to the people in the bus-
stop. A bit sarcastically, he says that the deer is a true Japanese. Both of them, the deer and the people,
first bow ceremoniously and later behave violently. The deer jumps at the author and snatches the
food-bag from his hand. The people, as soon as the bus arrives, push each other, tread on each other's
toes and shove their elbows into each other's stomachs. With regard to finding fault with and making
fun of the speeding cars in Brazil, the author does both. He does joke about the way the drivers target
pedestrians stepping on to the road, but describes vividly how horrible the experience can be to a
pedestrian. He also remarks that, with the increase in the number of cars on the roads, the life of
pedestrians is becoming more hazardous every day. Similarly, he finds fault with the way the drivers
compete with each other. However, he finds it funny that the drivers can smile, in a good-humouredly
manner, at each other and at pedestrians whom they have terrified out of their skins. While finding
fault with the heavy traffic that does not allow pedestrians to cross the road, the author uses humour
to deal with the situation by saying that a fellow should be born on the other side to reach there.
Otherwise, there is no possibility of crossing the road on the main streets of Brazil.
4. Bowing in Japan is quainter; more formal, more oriental.' Do you agree?
The author, George Mikes, says that bowing as a form of greeting, is neither less nor sillier than
shaking hands or kissing the cheek, but it is quainter; more formal, more oriental. As the author,
himself a European, describes later on, bowing in the right manner takes some time to learn: either
you bow too deeply or not deeply enough; you bow to the wrong person or at the wrong time; you do
not clasp your hands in front of you which is bad; or you do which is worse. The Japanese have a
complicated hierarchy in bowing: who bows to whom, how deeply, and for how long. When two
42 | P a g e
Japanese bow, neither straighten up before the other stands erect in front of him. They manage this
without difficulty, and even the smallest difference in rank, standing, age, social position will be
subtly reflected in that split second one man's bow is shorter than the others. In many cases, there are
clear-cut differences in position but no difficulties in following them because there are the basic rules
inside the family: 'the wife bows to the husband, the child bows to the father, younger brothers to
elder brothers, the sister bows to all brothers of whatever age.’ The Japanese followed this practice
of bowing in all places - girls at the top of escalators, conductors on coaches and people at the bus
stop.
5. Describe how traffic in Brazil leads to humorous observations.
The writer first describes the habit of pedestrians not to hurry at all in Brazil. They do not bother
whether they reach their destination hour too soon, a day late or not at all. He then contrasts this
behaviour with their behaviour when they get a steering wheel in their hands. Then no speed is fast
enough for them. They drive as if gaining a tenth of a second is a matter of great importance for all
of them all the time. The author says that drivers care about pedestrians. The care they show is in the
form of targeting pedestrians who step off pavement, as if punishing them for doing so. The moment
the driver sees a pedestrian step onto the road, he aims at him straight and accelerates his vehicle. The
pedestrian has to jump, leap and run for dear life, Later, the writer reminds us humorously that both
the driver and the pedestrian -hunter and prey smile amicably at each other. Thus, the pedestrian's life
is becoming more hazardous every day. The author refers to the rivalry between drivers. With other
drivers, they are murderous and overtake on both sides, cut in and force the other driver to brake
violently and commit all the most heinous crimes of the road, and twenty times every hour. But they
keep smiling at the other drivers. There is no ill-will, hostility, anger or mad hooting. The writer
describes a particular place called Avenida Presidente Vargas where, if one tried to cross the road, it
would be almost impossible. Looking at the traffic, one would also wonder: how can crawling traffic
proceed at such terrifying speed? As hour after hour passes, without a ray of hope of the opportunity
to cross, one may witness a scene, something like this: a man, on your side of the Avenida Vargas
suddenly catches sight of a friend of his on the other side and starts waving to him, at the same time
looking completely mystified: "How on earth did you get over there?" he shouts across, trying to
make himself heard above the traffic. The other fellow is surprised by this naive question and yells
back: "How? I was born on this side!"
6. Explain with an example how Japanese respect others' privacy.
In the lesson, Japan and Brazil through A Traveler’s Eye', George Mikes describes the surprising
level of respect and privacy shown in Japan. He writes that, a quarter of an hour in Japan, would
convince any person about their presence among the exquisitely well-mannered people. People in
Japan live on a hopelessly over crowded island and so respecting each other's privacy becomes very
important. He considers the example of little red telephones in the streets, halls of hotels, where the
instrument is situated on a table or on a counter, as they do not have space to spare for booths. A
person conducts his most confidential business transactions, intimate love quarrels in public, but in
perfect privacy. Anybody could easily listen-in but nobody does so in Japan. A man's telephone
receiver acts as his castle.
7. Bowing in Japan is quainter; more formal, more oriental.' Explain with reference to Japan and
Brazil through a Traveler’s Eye'.
One can easily notice Japanese mania for bowing. Everybody keeps bowing to everybody else. It is
also infections. We can make out that the Japanese have a complicated hierarchy in bowing as who
the other stands erect in front of him. It's complicated to us but they manage it without difficulty.
Within a family, they have basic rules-wife bows to husband, child bows to his father, the sister bows
to all brothers of whatever age.
43 | P a g e
8. How do the people of Japan respect one another's privacy even in a crowded place?
George Mikes in his essay Japan and Brazil through Traveler’s Eye', states that the people of Japan
are extremely well-mannered people. They are very courteous even to strangers. Red telephones are
placed on a table or a counter in crowded streets or hotel halls as there is no space to spare for booths.
Even in such crowded places, people are allowed to use telephone peacefully. They are able to discuss
most confidential business transactions or their love-quarrels in public as there is no disturbance to
their privacy. No passer-by would listen to a single word of the conversation. A man's telephone
receiver is his castle and this courtesy is an amazing quality of the Japanese.
9. Bring out the culture of the Japanese as explained by George Mikes.
In his travelogue, George Mikes narrates four anecdotes which will help any foreign visitor to
understand the cultural traits of the Japanese people. The author first highlights how people's courtesy
serves a double function in Japan. He assertively states that a couple, with perfect confidence, can
carry on even their intimate love quarrels in public, in perfect privacy, without being apprehensive of
any passerby overhearing them. Next, he talks about the bowing mania of the Japanese people and
how the Japanese manage to show even the slightest differences in their hierarchy with a great deal
of natural and inimitable grace. Then, he narrates how, the very same people who, a few minutes ago
had bowed to each other with such ceremonious solemnity would behave like savages, push each
other aside, tread on each other's toes and elbow their way into the bus. Finally, he talks about soup-
eating in Japan. He says that, according to the Japanese, when eating soup one must make a fearful
noise so as to express his appreciation, otherwise the guest will be considered an ill-mannered lout.
10. Give an account of the crawling traffic in Brazil as mentioned by George Mikes.
To give an account of the crawling traffic in Brazil, George Mikes cites the examples of Avenida
Presidente Vargas. The reader can just imagine himself standing there for hours and trying to cross
the road without any success, wondering how crawling traffic can proceed at such a terrifying speed.
He, then asks the reader to visualize a scene where a man on his side of the road spots his friend on
the other side and asks him, how on earth, he managed to get over there and gets reply that he was
born on that side.
11. What are the views of George Mikes about Japanese 'Mannerism of Bowing'?
Or
Give an account of the complicated way of Bowing in Japan.
Or
Give an account of the Japanese mania for bowing as described by George Mikes.
Or
What is unique about bowing in Japan?
One can easily notice Japanese mania for bowing. Everybody keeps bowing to everybody else. It is
also infectious. We can make out that the Japanese have a complicated hierarchy in bowing as who
the other stands erect in front of him. One of the American states that an early traffic law which laid
down if two cars met at intersection, neither was to move before the other stands erect in front of him.
It's complicated to us but they manage it without difficulty Within a family, they have basic rules-
wife bows to husband, child bows to his father, the sister bows to all brothers of whatever age.
12. Why does bowing, a natural practice in Japanese culture, look so 'quaint' and puzzling to the
author?
Being a European, the author feels that bowing is more formal and oriental than shaking hands or
kissing the cheek. It is also infectious. What makes it look so 'quaint' to the author is the fact that
foreigners cannot get the bowing exactly right. They bow to the wrong man at the wrong time; they
do not clasp their hands in front of them which is bad; or they do clasp which is worse. The Japanese,
on the other hand, manage to show the subtlest difference in rank, standing, age and social position
in the degree and duration of their bowing. The writer found it very difficult to understand these
intricacies. *********
44 | P a g e
THE VOTER
Chinua Achebe
Comprehension I
1. Roof was a popular young man because he_________
a. had not abandoned his village.
2. Why was Marcus considered rich and powerful?
After becoming the Minister of Culture, Marcus bought two long cars and had just built himself the
biggest house anyone had seen. He christened his new house “Umuofia Mansion. He had entertained
his people slaughtering five bulls and countless goats to feed the people. He had installed a private
plant to supply electricity to his new home.
3. Marcus Ibe had earlier been_______
a school teacher
4. The fact that Marcus Ibe left the good things of the capital and returned to his village whenever he
could, shows.
b. he enjoyed all the comforts of the city in his village.
5. After the feasting was over, the villagers
c. realized Marcus's wealth
6. The 'whispering campaign ' is __________
c. clandestine distribution of money
7. The village elder Ezenwa tilted the lamp a little because
c. he wanted to confirm the amount paid to each.
8. Firewood refers to________
c. the benefits the elders received
9. Roof and the leader of the POP campaign team were
a. friends c. known to each other
10. Roof was mesmerized by
a. the red notes on the floor
11. Roof's act of inserting the torn ballot papers in two boxes signifies
c. absolving himself of his guilt
12. Where did Roof work as a bicycle repairer's apprentice?
Port Harcourt.
13. Who had formed the Progressive Organisation party?
The Progressive Organisation Party had been formed by the tribes down the coast.
14. To which village did Roof belong?
Umuofia.
15. Why was Roof popular in his village?
Roof was popular in his village because, unlike most of his fellows, he had not abandoned the village
in order to seek work in the towns.
16. What benefits came to Roof with leaving the occupation in Port Harcourt?
Roof became Marcus' election campaign manager and received a lot of money and gifts from Marcus.
He won a land case because he had been chauffeur-driven to the disputed site.
17. What proverb does the writer use to describe the opposition to Marcus Ibe?
The writer uses the proverb, “fly trying to move a dunghill", it describes strength of Marcus Ibe and
weakness of opposition party.
18. How many years did Roof spent as a bicycle repairer's apprentice in Port Harcourt?
OR
How long had Roof been a bicycling repairer’s apprentice?
OR
How long had Roof worked as a bicycle repairer’s apprentice in ‘The Voter’?
Two years.
19. Who did Roof campaign for in 'The Voter'?
Marcus Ibe
20. Who was the minister of culture in the outgoing government?
Marcus Ibe
45 | P a g e
21. What is the name of Marcus Ibe's new house?

Umuofia Mansions.
22. What was the warning given by Roof to the Minister before two months of the election?
Roof had warned him about the radical change that had come into the thinking of Umuofia.
23. How many shillings Ibe offered to his voters?
Two shillings.
24. Which are the two political parties mentioned in "The Voter"?
PAP (People's Alliance Party and POP (Progressive Organization Party).
25. Who is the opponent of Marcus Ibe in the election?
Maduka.
26. How much money POP campaign team offered to Roof?
Five pounds.
27. What is the name of the band which Ibe had hired from Umuru?
Highlife Band.
28. What is the symbol of PAP for the election?
Motor Car.
29. What had Roof become a real expert in?
Election campaigning.
30. What was Marcus Ibe in the outgoing Government in ‘The Voter’?
Minister of Culture.
Comprehension II
1. Trace the change in the attitude of the villagers before the second election. Give reasons.
Chinua Achebe is a Nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic. Achebe's novels focus on the
traditions of Igbo society, the effect of Christian influences, and the clash of western and traditional
African values during and after the colonial era.
In his “The Voter” he unravels the lapses of newly introduced Western democratic system in Africa
where the native people are innocent and do not understand the intricacies leading to corruption and
manipulation. The central theme of the story revolves around the second election scenario. When the
first election was held, the villagers had elected Marcus Ibe based on Rufus Okeke’s words without
any expectation. After Ibe became Minister of Culture, there was a dramatic change in his lifestyle
and social status. He owned two cars and had just built himself the biggest house. All these
developments made the villagers change their attitude. This time they were sure, they would vote
only by taking their share of the opportunity.
2. What was the justification for the formation of the POP?
POP stands for Progressive Organization Party. This party was formed by the tribes down the cast to
save themselves as the founders of the party proclaimed, from “total, political, cultural, social and
religious annihilation. The POP was a complete non entity in the first election. When tribal people
understood that there was no opposition to the ruling party they decided to come to power. In the
story, there was no hint about the objectives of the PAP, but the organizers of POP claimed that they
wanted to save the people from all aspects.
3. Roof is an intelligent manipulator. Justify with reference to the story.
Or
‘Roof is an intelligent Manipulator’. Justify with reference to the story ‘The Voter’.
Roof was the most trusted servant of Marcus. He was also popular with the villages of Umuofia. He
had become an expert in election campaigning. He could tell the mood of the electorate. After
conducting the whispering campaign successfully, he warned the minister that the villagers had
become more intelligent in the last five years, wondering how quickly politics had brought wealth,
46 | P a g e
titles and doctorate degrees to the elected leader. Meanwhile the opposition party 'Progressive
Organization Party (POP) with considerable money power plunges into election campaigning. One
night, the local camp leader pays a visit to 'Roof' and bribes him with five pounds’ money and asks
for his vote. When 'Roof' tells them he could not deceive Marcus, they assure him that they would
not reveal his treachery to any one and after 'Roof' takes the bribe of five pounds he is asked to swear
on the 'iyi' that he will vote for 'Maduka' the opposition leader. Even on the election day 'Roof'
campaigns for Marcus and when he goes into the voting booth to cast his vote he was torn between
his loyalty and the wrath of 'iyi'. So, he tears up his ballot paper into two pieces and casts one piece
each to both 'Marcus' and 'Maduka'. Hence, he resolves the issue diplomatically.
4. Describe the significance of meeting between Roof and POP campaign team in The Voter.
The meeting between Roof and POP campaign team highlights how voters are easily bought and
voters are induced to vote for monetary considerations, one night, the local camp leaders pay a visit
to Roof and bribes him with five pounds’ money and asks for his vote. When Roof tells them that he
can't deceive Marcus, they assure him that they would not reveal his treachery to anyone. After taking
the bribe of five pounds, Roof is made to swear on the 'iyi' that he will vote for 'Maduka', the position
leader. This meeting leaves him in confusion. So, when he goes into the voting booth to cast his vote,
he finds himself torn between his loyalty and wrath of 'iyi.
5.Describe Roof's role as an election campaigner in Chinua Achebe's story ‘The Voter’?
Or
Give an account of Roof's role as an election campaigner.
Or
To what extent was Roof the most trusted of the whispering campaigners in 'The Voter’?
Or
'Roof was the most trusted of the whispering campaigners.' To what extent is this true in 'The
Voter?
Or
Give an account of Roof's role as an election campaigner.
Roof, as expected, was in service of honourable minister and had become an expert in election
campaigning. He knew the mood of the electorate and had warned the minister that the villagers had
become more intelligent in the last five years, wondering how quickly politics had brought wealth,
titles and doctorate degrees to the elected leader. Meanwhile the opposition party 'Progressive
Organization Party (POP) with considerable money power plunges into election campaigning. One
night, the local camp leader pays a visit to 'Roof' and bribes him with five pounds’ money and asks
for his vote. When 'Roof' tells them he could not deceive Marcus, they assure him that they would
not reveal his treachery to any one and after Roof' takes the bribe of five pounds he is asked to swear
on the 'iyi' that he will vote for 'Maduka' the opposition leader. Even on the election day 'Roof'
campaigns for Marcus and when he goes into the voting booth to cast his vote he was torn between
his loyalty and the wrath of 'iyi'. So he tears up his ballot paper into two pieces and casts one piece
each to both 'Marcus' and 'Maduka'. He comes out of the voting booth relived. Roof was the most
trusted servant of Marcus. He was also popular with the villages of Umuofia. Being a popular person
'Roof' could judge the villagers, mood and inform Marcus accordingly. Before bribing two shillings
to a group of elders, he asks them that the people of Umuofia should be honoured to have a leader
like Marcus in their midst and the leaders of PAP also favoured their village. He, then, increases it to
three shillings and proclaims that if it is not enough for them, then they are free to vote for the
opposition. The elders agree to cast their vote in favour of Marcus.
47 | P a g e
6. How did Roof make the villagers agree to vote for PAP's Marcus Ibe?
Roof was a very popular man is his village. The people of Umuofia village had a lot of trust in him.
He was an expert in election campaigning. Marcus Ibe, the Minister, wanted Roof to work for him in
the upcoming elections. Roof had understood that people were not happy with Marcus and they might
not vote for him this time. He met a few villagers and explained to them that Marcus Ibe would bring
a lot of developments to their village. He made them believe that every honour that the village
received was due to the hard work of Marcus and they were favoured all the time by PAP, the People's
Alliance Party to which Marcus belonged. Finally, Roof tempted the villagers with money. He
promised them two shillings each if they along with their family members would vote for Marcus Ibe
in the elections.
7. Why did the villagers change their attitude towards Marcus Ibe before the second election in
the lesson 'The Voter’?
Marcus Ibe was the Minister of Culture in the outgoing government and he belonged to PAP, the
People's Alliance Party. Roof was the election campaigner for Marcus Ibe. He had already warned
Marcus about the change in the people's attitude. Though the villagers were innocent, they had seen
that Marcus had made a lot of money and acquired car and bungalow in those five years. He also had
a private power plant to supply power to his house, then the village had no running water or electricity.
The villagers realized that Marcus had made his life luxurious instead of taking care of the welfare of
the people. So, they decided not to give free votes to him in the forthcoming elections.
8. Rufus Okeke was truly skilled in politics. Explain with reference to the voter.
Rufus Okeke was popular in his village as a knowledgeable person. He was in the service of Marcus
Ibe, the minister for culture. He was a real expert in election campaigning at all levels, the village,
local and national. He could even tell the mood and temper of the electorate. The way he deals with
the elders of the village and convinces them to vote for Marcus is appreciable. He makes use of his
powers and gets expensive gifts from Marcus, much against the wishes of Marcus' wife. But later,
when he is approached by the leader of the POP, he makes use of the opportunity skilfully. He tries
to be very normal on the election-day, even influences people to vote for Marcus but tears his ballot
paper and votes for both Marcus and Maduka. This shows that he was truly skilled in politics.
9. Describe the scene on the election- day in Umuofia.

On the busy day of election, men and women in Umuofia village came to the voting booth with
enthusiasm. On the way, people found a lot of posters of both POP and PAP parties. PAP leader
Marcus Ibe had arranged a music hand to attract the attention of the people. Marcus was sitting in his
big green car watching and smiling at the villagers. The illiterate villagers shook hands with Marcus
and congratulated him even before they cast their votes. Roof was reminding the people to vote for
Marcus in the Motor Car symbol. He assured them that they would get rich to ride a car if they voted
for Marcus. It was his turn to go into the booth to vote. When he went inside, he was in a dilemma
whether to vote for Marcus or Maduka. Both the leaders had given him lots of money. So, he tore his
ballot paper into two and put one in each box. The election officials put a purple ink mark on his
finger
48 | P a g e
10. Describe, how Marcus Ibe in 'The Voter' had managed to become a 'Successful' Politician.
Earlier Marcus Ibe was a not-too-successful mission school teacher. When he was almost on the verge
of dismissal on the basis of a female teacher's complaint, he joined politics, got elected as a
representative of Umuofia and was made minister of culture. In a period of five years Marcus became
very wealthy, was given many chieftaincies titles and a doctorate degree and several other honours.
He had amassed a lot of wealth and power. To win the villagers, he threw a grand party to them as he
knew that it was their votes that would bring good fortune.
11. Everyone is full of praise for Marcus Ibe. What qualities and achievements attracted the people
to praise him in 'The Voter'?
Everyone praised Marcus Ibe, elderly people considered him as their son, he earned the reputation of
a good man. Earlier he was a missionary school teacher. He had wisely joined politics and acquired
two cars, a big house in a very short time. But he remained devoted to his people. He had installed a
private electricity plant to power his new house 'Umuofia mansions' and had entertained the people
of Umuofia by feeding them five bulls and many goats on its opening ceremony. So, the people of
Umuofia praised Marcus, for offering them such a feast.
Comprehension III
1. What comment does the story offer on electoral system? Is it relevant?
OR
‘Democracy is more than holding elections regularly.’ Do you think the story highlights this
statement?
“The Voter” is a story by Chinua Achebe, a Nigerian novelist, poet, professor and critic. In this he
unravels the lapses of newly introduced Western democratic system in Africa where the native people
are innocent and do not understand the intricacies leading to corruption and manipulation. The
background of Umuofia, its gullible people set the tone for the story. No doubt, Roof forms the
perfect manipulator. Throughout the story there are many instances where he proves his skills. He
stayed back in Umuofia to guide people thus winning their confidence. When politics made its entry
in his village, he capitalized his strength by supporting Marcus Ibe. After Marcus became the minister,
he took advantage of the situation. He got many favours through Ibe’s influence. When it was time
for the second election, he had already read the mood and mind of his villagers. He negotiated with
them over four shillings in return for their votes to Marcus Ibe. He made most of the situation when
an offer came from Maduka for five pounds. His attitude suits exactly how people and money operate
under the influence of politics. He is a quick decision maker and didn’t hesitate to tear his ballot paper
into two to strike a balance. Here the colonizers’ shadows still play spoilsport with their modern
systems of politics on the innocence of indigenous people.
*******************
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WHERE THERE IS A WHEEL

P. Sainath
Comprehension I
1. What does cycling as a symbol of social mobility mean?
Cycling as a symbol of social mobility means freedom, independence and mobility for rural women.
2. When Jameela Bibi says, “It is my right. We can go anywhere”, she is
a. asserting her right to move freely.
3. What does bicycle represent for the rural women?
For the rural women bicycle represents 'freedom'.
4. Who has cycling benefitted the most?
Cycling has benefitted the rural women the most.
5. What is common between neo-literates and neo-cyclists?
Cycling as a social movement was first popularized by the neo-literates. These neo-literates are the
ones who became neo-cyclists.
6. 'Enforced routine' and 'male imposed barrier' refer to
c. status of women in patriarchal society.
7. How did the men react to women taking to cycling?
Women had to put up with vicious attacks on their character. Some of the men made filthy remarks.
Social sanction from the Arivoli organization, made some menfolk less hostile and some of them
even encouraged the women to learn cycling.
8. What do the phrases 'flags on the handle bar' and 'bells ringing' suggest?
The phrases 'flags on the handle bar' and 'bells ringing' refer to the women's cycle rally organized on
the international Women's Day in 1992 in which 1500 female cyclists took Pudukkottai by storm.
9. Why did UNICEF sanction mopeds to Arivoli women activists?
The UNICEF sanctioned fifty mopeds to Arivoli women activists in appreciation of their work of
initiating more than 70,000 women from Pudukkotai who have taken part to display their cycling
skills at the public 'exhibition-cum-contests' in a single week in 1992.
10. Why is the cycle called 'the humble vehicle'?
The word 'humble' means 'poor', the lowest in rank. The writer calls it a humble vehicle because it is
the most common and it is seen even in the most remote places, a common man's vehicle.
11. Name the Arivoli activist who penned the famous cycling song.
Muthu Bhaskaran is the male Arivoli activist who penned the famous cycling song.
12. Name the place where the cycling movement takes place in the essay 'Where there is a wheel'.
Pudukkottai district in TamilNadu is the place where the cycling movement took place.
13. Why did the women of Pudukkotttai take to cycling?
The women of Pudukkottai took to cycling to break free from the maleimposed barriers. 'Cycling'
enabled them to achieve freedom, mobility and independence.
14. Name some of the women who have taken to cycling.
Jameela Bibi, Fatima, and N.Kannammal are some of the women who have taken to cycling.
15. What is Fatima by profession?
A secondary school teacher.
16. What does Arivoli Iyakkam mean?
Light of knowledge movement.
17. What is the literacy movement of Pudukkottai called?
Arivoli Iyakkam
18. Who was the brain behind the cycling movement?
Sheela Rani Chunkath, a popular former District Collector, was the brain behind the cycling
movement.
19. What did Sheela Rani add as a part of the literacy drive?
Sheela Rani added mobility as a part of the literacy drive.
20. When and why did Sheela Rani start the cycling movement?
In 1991 Sheela Rani Chunkath started the cycling movement in the Pudukkottai district with the
intention of training female literacy activists so that literacy would reach women in the interior.
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21. Who is Manormani? How old is she?

Twenty-two years old Manormani is a quarry worker and a Arivoli volunteer
22. To what has cycling by women been compared to?
Cycling by women has become a metaphor for freedom.
23. How has cycling helped small producers?
Cycling has helped small producers cut down on time wasted in waiting for buses. It has also helped
them to give more time to focus on selling their produce. It has also helped them to cover a large area.
24. How much did each cycle cost in the beginning?
It costed1200.
25. Who is the central coordinator of Arivoli?
Or
Who was the central coordinator of the Arivoli Iyakkam?
Or
Who was the central coordinator of the cycling movement in 'Where there is a wheel'?
N. Kannammal.
26. Which of the vehicles is called 'Humble' in 'Where there is a wheel'?
Bicycle / Cycle.
27. Why did some women prefer 'Gents' cycle?
Because they could seat a child on the additional bar / Shortage of ladies' cycle.
28. What had stunned the inhabitants of Pudukkottai on the International Women’s Day?
All women’s cycle rally in which over 1,500 female cyclists participated.
29. Which international agency sanctioned fifty mopeds for Arivoli women activists?
UNICEF
30. Who wrote the famous cycling song that has become the anthem of the cycling movement?
Or
Who wrote the famous cycling song in Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu?
Muthu Bhaskaran, a Arivoli activist.
31. What gave freedom to the women of Pudukkottai in Tamil Nadu?
Cycling.
32. What did UNICEF give the Arivoli women activists of Pudukkottai?
Fifty mopeds.
33. Why couldn't the rural women of Pudukkottai go by bus to other villages? Give any one reason.
Because buses were not frequent/poorly connected routes/could not afford it.
34. Name the owner of Ram cycles, a bicycle dealer in Pudukkottai.
S. Kannakarajan.
35. When did the cycling movement start?
In 1991
36. What does bicycling symbolize for most of the neo literate women?
A symbol of independence, freedom and mobility.
Comprehension II
1. What is the role of Arivoli in liberating women?
Palagummi Sainath is the Rural Affairs Editor of The Hindu, who focus on social problems, rural
affairs and globalization in India. This essay is taken from his book 'Everybody loves a good drought'.
Arivoli Iyakkam 'Light of knowledge Movement' liberated a vast majority of the rural women in
Pudukottai District by teaching them to read and write along with cycling.
The cycling movement was started by Arivoli. N. Kannammal, one of the Arivoli central co-
ordinators and one of the pioneers of the cycling movement says that cycling gave women confidence
and reduced their dependence on men. ‘Cycling Training Camps’ were conducted. Arivoli has
contributed a lot to train the learners. Arivoli has also conducted camps for women to exhibit their
cycling skills.
Arivoli Iyakkam – Light of Knowledge Movement organizes various activities benefitting rural
women and the disadvantaged people in society. It helps people become literate. One of the
remarkable initiatives taken up by Arivoli for the liberation of women in 1992 in Pudukkottai district
51 | P a g e
of Tamilnadu was cycling movement. It helped women gain confidence. They became independent:
they were able to fetch water; they could cart provisions from other places. Arivoli gave these women
a new lease of life. Cycling offered a way out of enforced routines, around male imposed barriers.
This cycling movement in turn enriched the literary movement. Arivoli composed songs to encourage
cycling. One of the lines goes like this: ‘O sister, come learn cycling, move with the wheel of time…’
Arivoli gave cycling social sanction and it gave women mobility.
2. What different ways does the cycle empower rural women?
affairs and globalization in India. This essay is taken from his book 'Everybody loves a good
drought'. Arivoli Iyakkam 'Light of knowledge Movement' liberated a vast majority of the rural
women in Pudukottai District by teaching them to read and write along with cycling.
Cycle for the rural women of Pudukkottai district stands as a symbol of independence, freedom and
mobility. It gave the women their right. It helped women to take up literacy even more vigorously.
Bicycle helped these women with confidence. The bicycle cut down on time wasted in waiting for
buses. It saved more time to focus on selling their produce. It gave women their leisure time. Earlier,
they had to depend on fathers, brothers, husbands or sons to reach the bus stop. They could cover
only a limited number of villages to sell their produce. They had to rush back early to tend to the
children and perform other chores. The bicycle now changed all these. It brought these rural women
a sense of self-respect.
3. Why does the author describe the Arivoli ‘cycling training camp’ as an unusual experience?
It is indeed an unusual experience for the author because all the prospective learners had turned out
in their Sunday best in Kilakuruchi village. They were very passionate about the pro-cycling
movement. They were excited to know that cycling offered them a way out of their enforced routines,
around male-dominated barriers. In fact, they wanted to ‘move with the wheel of time.’ A large
number of trained cyclists had come back to help new learners. They worked free of charge for
Arivoli as ‘master trainers. They felt it very strong that ‘all women ought to learn cycling.’ This
experience also helped them promote the literacy movement even more actively. Arivoli had a
massive influence on neo-literate women in learning cycling.
4. Do you think women taking up cycling is as significant as the literacy movement?
Yes. Neo-literate women in Pudukkottai district of Tamilnadu found this humble medium of
transport a catalyst in their life. They hit out at their backwardness expressing defiance by using
bicycle. The agricultural workers, quarry labourers and village health nurses took to cycling. Balwadi
and anganwadi workers, gem cutters and school teachers also joined the movement. Even gram
sevikas and mid-day meal workers were in the race. In fact, the vast majority had just then become
literate. As literacy gives women power, cycling gives them mobility. These neo-literate women
could now cover more distance reaching out to those disadvantaged women. In fact, literacy
movement accelerated its speed, thanks to bicycle.
5. How does Sheela Rani Chunkath, the district collector, promote the empowerment of women?
Sheela Rani Chunkath, former popular district collector came up with the idea of cycling for women
empowerment in 1991 in Pudukkottai district of Tamilnadu. This was to further train female activists
to reach literacy to the women in the interior. She included mobility as a part of the literacy drive.
She knew that lack of mobility among women had undermined their confidence. She pushed the
banks to give loans for the women to buy bicycles. She ensured that each block did its best to promote
52 | P a g e
the movement. She gave it personal attention as the top official in the district. This kind of motivation
is required to achieve something very big on the social plane.
6. How did the women react to the shortage of ladies’ cycle?
The women were very passionate to learn cycling. First, the activists learned followed by the neo-
literates. Every woman wanted to learn too. This resulted in the shortage of ladies’ cycles. However,
they were so passionate about cycling that they wouldn’t mind riding gents’ cycles. Some women
preferred the gents’ cycles as they had an additional bar from the seat to the handle. They could seat
a child on the bar. There was an incredible rise in the sale of ‘ladies’ cycles in one year. A lot of
women who would not wait for ‘ladies’ cycles, went in for men’s cycles. Thus, the spirit among the
women was very high over their new found joy.
7. Describe the Arivoli Iyakkam, Light of Knowledge Movement, from the lesson Where There
is a Wheel',
Pudukkottai district in Tamil Nadu is known for its vigorous literacy drive called Arivoli Iyakkam.
To spread the message of education, the cycling movement was started by Arivoli. A large number
of women learnt to ride bicycles here, Cycling became a symbol of social mobility. In rural
Pudukkottai, young women who had just become literates, moved fast on bicycles on the roads. The
increasing number of women cyclists indicates progress of society Cycling was liberating and gave
the women freedom and confidence to move on their own. So, women learning to ride bicycles has
become a significant part of the literacy movement.
8. How does cycling help the women of Pudukkottai for economic gains?
In his essay ‘Where There is a Wheel', P. Sainath describes the optimism that cycling has brought
about in the lives of women of Pudukkottai, a poor district of Tamil Nadu. The district's literacy
drive known as Arivoli Iyakkam, encourages women to learn cycling, they conduct cycle training
camps. Cycling has given them confidence along with mobility. It increases the income of the rural
women. Women sell agricultural products not only to their village people but also to the people of
other villages. They don't need to wait for buses which are not frequent. Cycling saves time. They
don't need to walk long distances. They finish their work easily and quickly. They carry their
children, the produce and two pots of water on their bicycles, thus, combining their difficult tasks.
9. Why does Palagummi Sainath state that Pudukkottai in Tamil Nadu remains unique among
the India districts?
In his essay 'Where There is a Wheel', P Sainath shares his observation that changes had taken place
in the poor district of Tamil Nadu known as Pudukkottai. The rural women have chosen cycling as
a medium. They have learnt cycling which has given them confidence, freedom and above all
mobility. Arivoli Iyakkam, the literacy drive has made the best use of this skill. Young girls could
continue their studies and women could move around without depending upon the male members of
their families. They have started selling their agricultural products carrying them on their cycles.
53 | P a g e
There was a passion among the women to learn cycling. Former District Collector Sheela Rani
Chunkath encouraged women to take loans from banks to buy cycles. Arivoli activist conducted
training camps to teach cycling to women. Thus, this humble vehicle made Pudukkottai a unique
district and an inspirational example for others.
10. List the activities taken up by Arivoli, to empower women through cycling.
Cycling is a social movement at Pudukkottai, a poor district in Tamil Nadu. It has given a new life
to many rural women. Cycling is a symbol of independence, freedom and mobility. It is supported
by the district's literacy drive, led by Arivoli. It was the brain child of popular district collector,
Sheela Rani Chunkath. The main intention behind this was to spread literacy among the rural women.
As a part of this, she pushed banks to sanction loans for women to buy bicycles. Arivoli has master-
trainers who train the interested activists and it conducts exhibition-cum-contests. In 1992, more than
70,000 women displayed their cycling skills at the public exhibition run by Arivoli. Being impressed,
UNICEF sanctioned fifty mopeds for Arivoli women activists. Arivoli training camps also train a
number of prospective learners. The neo-literates and the neo-cyclists even sing songs that encourage
bicycling.
11.Cycling as a movement has brought about a radical change in Pudukkottai. Explain.

Or
How has cycling benefitted the rural women of Pudukkottai?
Or
How has cycle transformed the lives of many women in Pudukkottai?
Pudukkottai, one of the poorest districts or Tamil Nadu, is a witness to a radical change, as the rural
women. especially the neo-literates have taken to cycling. It has become a symbol of independence,
freedom and mobility to them. Women agricultural workers, quarry laborers, teachers, all have made
cycling a passion. They proudly admit that their confidence has boosted and their dependency on men
has reduced. The bicycle even allows them to multitask. One can come across women carting
provisions, fetching water and even selling their produce, sometimes with their children on their
bicycles. Though it does not boost their economy directly, it does help them to earn more as they can
cover longer distances. So, invariably cycling has changed the lives of women of Pudukkottai.
12. On the basis of your reading of 'Wheel Brings Progress', can you say that cycling has proved
itself a social movement in Pudukkottai.
Yes, cycling is seen as a social movement in Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu. In 18 months over 1,00,000
rural women, most of them neo-literates, took to bicycling as a symbol of independence, freedom and
mobility. The cycling movement has given women the confidence. It has reduced their dependence
on men. Women saw a direct link between cycling and their personal freedom. Women can do many
things on their own without expecting help from men. But Arivoli movement gave cycling social
sanction. When women learnt cycling, they didn't need to depend on men of the family for moving
about. Sheela Rani Chunkath, former district collector, encouraged women to learn cycling for
mobility.
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13. Justify the statement 'Wheel brings progress' with reference to Where There is a Wheel'.
Cycling has enabled rural women to be independent, free and mobile. The productivity of these rural
women has increased due this new independence. Women no longer have to walk long distances to
fetch water or to sell their products or to bring provision. She no longer has to depend on public
transport, so the time saved can be utilized for other purposes like cooking and guiding children in
their studies. It has reduced fatigue. It has increased rural women's income by giving the women
freedom to sell more their products in and around other villages. It has increased their leisure time.
So that she can take adequate rest. It has contributed to their self-respect which is vital. Women
agricultural, laborers, quarry laborers, village health nurses, Balwadí and Anganwadi workers, gem
cutters and school teachers, gram sevika and mid-day meal workers and school and college students
have benefitted by cycling. Neo-literates and Neo-cyclist women have a direct link between cycling
and their personal independence P. Sainath describes the feelings of rural women who have learnt
'cycling'. They feel a new kind of independence, freedom and mobility has come to their monotonous
lives. It has given them confidence and reduced their dependence on men. Cycling has offered a way
out of enforced routines, around male-imposed barriers.
14. What benefits, according to P. Sainath, has cycling brought into the lives of rural women?
According to R Sainath, the introduction of cycling for women in Pudukkottai district has brought
about a tremendous change in the lives of the rural women. Cycling has empowered women
agricultural worker’s village health nurses, Balwadí and anganawadi workers, gem cutters,
Gramasevikas and school teachers, both economically and politically. Earlier, some of the women
who used to sell agricultural or other produce within a group of villages had to commute by bus. For
them, now the bicycle cuts down on time, earlier wasted in waiting for buses. Secondly, it gives them
much more time to focus on selling their produce. Earlier, they had to rush back early to tend to the
children and perform other chores like fetching water etc. Now, these women can combine different
tasks with non-challenge. Similarly, quarry workers had to go too far off places because their work
places were cut off from the main areas. Now, by learning cycling they have become mobile. Women
can now collect water as well as cart provisions from other places on their own.
15. Comment on how cycling reduced women's dependence on men with reference to 'Where there
is a wheel'.
Pudukottai District by teaching them to read and write along with cycling
Tens of thousands of neo-literate rural women in Pudukkottai district have discovered a new way of
overcoming their backwardness, of asserting themselves by learning to ride a bicycle. This simple
and humble vehicle has done wonders in their lives. It has empowered women by giving them
mobility and the opportunity to spread their wings. Knowing how to ride a bicycle made these women
self-confident, reduced their dependence on men, and helped them to break the social barriers
imposed on them by a male-dominated society. It helped to boost their income as these women could
sell their products even in far-flung areas, they saved time wasted in waiting for buses, they could
easily do several tasks simultaneously like shopping for provisions and collecting water. They were
able to save a lot of time, which they could use to take rest, spend with their children or in any manner
they chose. Thus, the drudgery of their lives was considerably reduced and most importantly cycling
gave them a sense of self-respect which is very important.
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16. How has bicycle brought a total change in the lives or rural women as in 'Where there is a
wheel'?
women in Pudukottai District by teaching them to read and write along with cycling
Pudukkottai, one of the poorest districts of Tamil Nadu, is a witness to a radical change, as the rural
women, especially the neo-literates have taken to cycling. It has become a symbol of independence,
freedom and mobility to them. Women agricultural workers, quarry laborers, teachers, all have made
cycling a passion. They proudly admit that their confidence has boosted and their dependency on
men has reduced. The bicycle even allows them to multitask. One can come across women carting
provisions, fetching water and even selling their bicycles. Though it does not boost their economy
directly, it does help them to earn more as they can cover longer distances. So, invariably cycling
has changed the lives of women of Pudukkottai.
Comprehension III
1. How does P. Sainath show that cycling brings about changes beyond economic gains?
OR
‘O sister, come learn cycling, move with the wheel of time…’ How does the song suggest that the
cycle could be an instrument of social change and progress?
The neo-cyclists wanted to ‘move with the wheel of time.’ They discovered a new identity through the
humble vehicle, bicycle. The rural women found a new way to assert their equivalent roles with men.
As the young women zipped along the roads on their bicycles, P. Sainath was mesmerized to witness
a social movement that took the entire Pudukkottai district by storm in 1992. Tens of thousands of neo-
literate rural women of the district chose to sun their backwardness by riding bicycle as a symbol of
independence, freedom and mobility. A young Jamila Bibi found cycling as her right. The rural women
just got addicted to this new phenomenon. Cycle has strong economic gains, no doubt. But, more than
anything, cycling gave these rural women their personal independence and confidence. Now the
women did not have to wait for the men. They could even cart provisions from other places on their
own. They felt that all women ought to learn cycling, for it would empower them with literacy and
mobility.
More than the economic aspect, cycling gave them the sense of self-respect. The women ride bicycle
for the goodness and independence. To P. Sainath, the humble vehicle appeared to be a metaphor for
freedom. For those rural women, ‘it’s a Himalayan achievement, like flying an aeroplane.’
*******************
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PRASHANTHA UTTANGI II PU ENGLISH GRAMMAR 8884794305

REPORT THE FOLLOWING CONVERSATION’S
Direct Speech:
Reporting exactly what someone has said is called “Direct speech” or ‘quoted speech”.
The actual words of the speaker appear within quotation marks (“………...”)
Example: Prakruthi said, “I am going to Mangalore”.
Indirect Speech:
In indirect speech, the words of the speaker are not reported, instead the meaning or substance of the
speech is conveyed.
Example: Prakruthi said that she was going to Mangalore.
Rules of the changing direct speech into indirect speech.
• General rules applicable to all kinds of sentence.
• Specific rules applicable to specific kind of sentences.
• General rules,
General rules,
1. Assertive sentence
Reporting verb Reported sentence
Said - Said (without an object)
Said to - Told (with an object)
Said - Replied, complained, answered, continued,
2. Interrogative sentence
Said - asked, questioned, enquired, questioned, wondered, demanded,
3. Imperative sentence
Said - ordered, requested, invited, commanded, Advised, suggestion, implored etc…
4. Exclamatory sentence
Said - exclaimed with surprise/ joy/pain/sorrow/wonder etc.…
Changes of Personal pronouns:
A. 1st person pronouns change according to the subject of the reporting verb.
B. 2nd person pronouns change according to Object of the reporting verb.
C. 3rd person pronouns – there’s no changes.
Changes of the Time and Place.
Direct Speech Indirect Speech
Here - There
This - That
These - Those
Now - Then
Today - That day
Tomorrow - The next day
Tonight - That night
Yesterday - The previous day / The day before
Last Year - The previous day/ The Year before
Thus - so
Next week - The following week/The week after
Changes of Tense.
Simple present tense - Simple past tense
Present continuous - Past continuous
Present perfect - Past perfect tense
Present perfect continuous - Past perfect continuous
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Simple past - Past perfect tense
Past continuous - Past perfect continuous
Past perfect tense - No changes
Past perfect continuous - No changes
Changes of Auxiliary verb
Does/Do - Did
Am/is/are - Was/were
Have/has - Had
Did - Had done
Shall - Should/would
Can - Could
Will - Would
May - Might
Must - Had to
Would/Should - No changes
Tense Direct Speech Reported Speech

present simple I like ice cream She said (that) she liked ice cream.
present continuous I am living in London She said (that) she was living in London.
past simple I bought a car She said (that) she had bought a car OR She said
(that) she bought a car.
past continuous I was walking along the street She said (that) she had been walking along the
street.
present perfect I haven't seen Juliet She said (that) she hadn't seen Julie.
past perfect I had taken English lessons She said (that) she had taken English lessons
before before.
will I'll see you later She said (that) she would see me later.
would I would help, but...” She said (that) she would help but..
can I can speak perfect English She said (that) she could speak perfect English.
could I could swim when I was four She said (that) she could swim when she was four.
shall I shall come later She said (that) she would come later.
should I should call my mother She said (that) she should call her mother
might I might be late She said (that) she might be late
must I must study at the weekend She said (that) she must study at the weekend OR
She said she had to study at the weekend
Direct Question Reported Question

Where is the Post Office, please? She asked me where the Post Office was.
What are you doing? She asked me what I was doing.
Who was that fantastic man? She asked me who that fantastic man had been.
So much for 'wh' questions. But, what if you need to report a 'yes / no' question? We don't have any
question words to help us. Instead, we use 'if':
• Direct speech: Do you like chocolate?

• Reported speech: She asked me if I liked chocolate.
Direct Question Reported Question

Do you love me? He asked me if I loved him.
Have you ever been to Mexico? She asked me if I had ever been to Mexico
Are you living here? She asked me if I was living here.
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Report the following conversation: -
1. Dona Laura : Are you coming Tomorrow?
Don Gonzalo : Most certainly, if it is sunny morning. And not only will I not scare away the
birds, but I will bring a few crumbs.
Dona Laura : Thank you very much. Birds are grateful and repay attention.
Dona Laura asked Don Gonzalo whether he was coming the next day. Don Gonzalo replied that he
would most certainly if it was a sunny morning. He also promised that he wouldn’t scare away the
birds, but would bring a few crumbs Dona Laura thanked him and added that birds were grateful
and repaid attention.
2. Don Gonzalo : I am fond of good verses. I composed some in youth.
Dona Laura : Were they good ones?
Don Gonzalo : Why do you ask me such a question?
Dona Laura : Don’t be angry.
Don Gonzalo said that he was fond of good verses. He said that he had composed some in his
youth. Dona Laura asked Don Gonzalo if they had been good ones. Don Gonzalo asked Dona Laura
why she asked him such a question Dona Laura told Don Gonzalo not to be angry.
3. Petra : The guard is waiting for me.
Dona Laura : Do you like to chat with your guard?
Petra : He is not mine.
Dona Laura : Wait a moment.
Petra : What does the Senora wish?
Petra said to Dona that the guard was waiting for her. Dona Laura asked Petra if she liked to chat
with her guard. Petra said that he was not hers. Dona Laura told Petra to wait a moment. Petra asked
her mistress what she wished for.
4. Dona Laura : You should have asked permission to sit on this bench.
Don Gonzalo : The bench here are public property.
Dona Laura : Why do you complain about the priests, then?
Don Gonzalo : Are you taunting me?
Dona Laura : Don’t grumble.
Dona Laura told Dona Gonzalo that he should have asked permission to sit on that bench. Don
Gonzalo Said that the benches here were public property. Dona Laura asked Don Gonzalo why he
had complained about the priests then. Don Gonzalo asked Dona Laura if she was taunting him.
Dona Laura told Don Gonzalo not to grumble.
5. Dona Laura : Do you use a shoe brush as a handkerchief?
Don Gonzalo : What right have you to criticize my actions?
Dona Laura : A neighbour’s right.
Don Gonzalo : I do not care to listen to nonsense.
Dona Laura : You are very polite.
Dona Laura asked Dona Gonzalo whether he used a shoe brush as a handkerchief. Don Gonzalo
retaliated asking what right she had to criticize his action. Dona Laura replied that hers was a
neighbour’s right. Don Gonzalo retorted that he did not care to listen to nonsense. Dona Laura
sarcastically remarked that he was very polite.
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6. Roof : I work for Marcus Ibe
POP Campaigner : We have plenty of work to do tonight.
Roof : Will it not be heard outside this room?
POP Campaigner : We are after votes, not gossip.
Roof expressed that he worked for Marcus Ibe. POP Campaigner told him that they had plenty of
work to do that night. Roof expressed his anxiety by asking ‘If it would not be heard outside that
room’. POP Campaigner replied that they were after votes, not gossip.
7. Dona Laura : Will you go to your bench tomorrow?
Don Gonzalo : No, I will come here.
Dona Laura : What will you bring for the birds?
Don Gonzalo : I will bring some crumbs for the birds.
Dona Laura asked Dona Gonzalo whether he would go to his bench the next day. Don Gonzalo
replied negatively and said that he would come there. Dona Laura asked Don Gonzalo what he
would bring for the bird. Don Gonzalo replied that he would bring some crumbs for the birds.
8. Don Gonzalo : That bench over there is mine.
Juanito : Three priests are sitting there.
Don Gonzalo : Rout them out. Have they gone?
Juanito : Still, they are talking.
Don Gonzalo told Juanito that bench over there was his bench. Juanito informed him saying that
three priests were sitting there. Don Gonzalo asked him to rout them out. Then he inquired him if
they had gone. Juanito replied that still they were talking.
9. Dona Laura : Do you hunt?
Don Gonzalo : Yes, every Sunday I go to one of my estates.
Dona Laura : I am Surprised!
Don Gonzalo : I really do. I can show you a wild boar ‘s head in my study.
Dona Laura questioned if he hunted. Don Gonzalo replied positively and further said that every
Sunday he goes to one of his estates. Dona Laura exclaimed that she was surprised. Dona Gonzalo
said that he did and further said that he could show her a wild boar's head in his study.
10. Don Gonzalo : I want a bench to myself,
Juanito. Juanito : But there is none.
Don Gonzalo : Who has occupied my usual bench?
Juanito : There are three priests sitting over it.
Don Gonzalo : Send them away.
Don Gonzalo said in a demanding manner that he wanted a bench to himself. Juanito replied that
there was none. Don Gonzalo stated that the one over there was his. Juanito pointed out that three
priests were sitting there. Don Gonzalo ordered Juanito to rout them out.
11. Juanito : You can sit here, there is only a lady.
Don Gonzalo : I won’t Juanito I want a bench to myself.
Juanito : But there is none.
Don Gonzalo : That one over there is mine.
Juanito : There are three priests sitting there.
Juanito told Don Gonzalo that he could sit there as there was only a lady. Don Gonzalo told Juanito
that he wouldn’t sit there and he wanted a bench to himself. Juanito said that there was none. Don
Gonzalo pointed out that one over there was his. Juanito informed him that there were three priests
sitting there.
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12. Don Gonzalo : Are you speaking to me, senora?
Dona Laura : Yes, to you.
Don Gonzalo : What do you wish?
Dona Laura : You have scared away the birds who were feeding on my crumbs.
Don Gonzalo respectfully asked Dona Laura if she was speaking to him. Dona Laura replied in
affirmative / positively and said that she wanted to speak to him. Don Gonzalo asked her what she
wished. Dona Laura complained that he had scared away the birds who had been feeding on her
crumbs.
13. Don Gonzalo : What do I care about the birds?
Dona Laura : But I do
Don Gonzalo : This is a public park.
Dona Laura : Then why do you complain that the priests have taken your bench?
Don Gonzalo told Dona Laura what he cared about the birds. Dona Laura said that she did. Don
Gonzalo remarked that it was a public park. Dona Laura asked why he complained that the priests
had taken his bench.
14. Dona Laura : What, you here again?
Don Gonzalo : I repeat that we have not met.
Dona Laura : I was responding to your salute.
Don Gonzalo : Good morning' should be answered by 'good morning' and that is all you
should have said.
Dona Laura asked Dona Gonzalo with surprise if he was there again. Don Gonzalo said that they
had not met before. Dona Laura clarified that she had been responding to his salute. Don Gonzalo
told that 'Good morning' should be answered by 'good morning' and that was all she should have
said.
15.Dona Laura : You should have asked permission to sit on this bench, which is mine.
Don Gonzalo : The benches here are public property.
Dona Laura : Why, you said the one priests have was yours.
Dona Laura complained that he should have asked permission to sit on that bench, which was hers.
Don Gonzalo replied that the benches there were public property. Dona Laura asked why, he had
said the one priests had been his.
16. Dona Laura : I thought you were taking out a telescope.
Don Gonzal : was that you?
Dona Laura : Your sight must be keen.
Don Gonzalo : Keener than yours is
Dona Laura told Don Gonzalo that she had thought he had been taking out telescope. Don Gonzalo
asked if that had been hers. Dona Laura said that his sight must be keen Don Gonzalo replied that
his sight was keener than hers.
17. Don Gonzalo : First I shall take a pinch of snuff. Will you have some?
Dona Laura : If it is good.
Don Gonzalo : It is of the finest. You will like it.
Dona Laura : It clears my head. The snuff has made peace between us.
Don Gonzalo told Dona Laura that first he would take a pinch of snuff and asked if she would have
some. Dona Laura replied that if it was good. Don Gonzalo assured her that it was of the finest and
she would like it. Dona Laura said that it cleared her head and the snuff had made peace between
them.
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18. Dona Laura : You cannot imagine how it affects me to see you reading with all those glasses.
Don Gonzalo : Can you read without any?
Dona Laura : Certainly.
Don Gonzalo : At your age? You are jesting.
Dona Laura told Don Gonzalo that he could not imagine how it affected her to see him reading with
all those glasses. Don Gonzalo asked if she could read without any. Dona Laura replied that she
could. Don Gonzalo asked if she could read at her age and said she was jesting.
19. The king said to the ministers, "you must find some cheaper way of dealing with this rascal"
"Gentlemen, in my opinion we must dismiss the guard", said one of the ministers. "Then, the
fellow will run", said another minister. "Let him run way and hanged said the first minister.
The king ordered ministers that they must find some cheaper way of dealing with the rascal, one of
the ministers addressed that in his opinion they had to dismiss the guard. Another minister said that
then the fellow would run. The first minister proposed that he should run away and be hanged.
20. Dona Laura : Have you been in America?
Don Gonzalo : Several times.
Dona Laura : You must have gone with Columbus.
Don Gonzalo : I am old. But I did not know Ferdinand and Isabella.
Dona Laura asked Don Gonzalo whether he had been in America. Don Gonzalo replied that he had
been to America several times. Dona Laura observed that he must have gone with Columbus. Don
Gonzalo said that he was old, but he hadn’t known Ferdinand and Isabella.
21. Don Gonzalo : Do you mind my reading aloud?

Dona Laura : You can read as loud as you please.
Don Gonzalo : Can you read without glasses?
Dona Laura : I can.
Don Gonzalo : I envy your wonderful eyesight.
Don Gonzalo asked Dona Laura whether she minded his reading aloud. Dona Laura replied that he
could read as loud as he pleased. Don Gonzalo further asked Dona Laura whether she could read
without glasses. Dona replied in the positively. Don Gonzalo remarked that he envied her
wonderful eyesight.
22. POP Campaigner : We want your vote
Rufus Okeke : How can I vote for Maduka?
POP Campaigner : Are you taking this money or not?
Rufus Okeke : Will it not be heard outside this house?
POP Campaigner : Don’t worry about it.
The POP Campaigner told Rufus Okeke that they wanted his vote. Rufus Okeke asked the
campaigner how he could vote for Maduka. The campaigner asked Rufus Okeke if he was taking
that money or not. Rufus Okeke asked the campaigner if it would not be heard outside that house.
The campaigner told Rufus Okeke not to worry about it
23. Alfano : what is blindness to you?
Borges : It is a way of life. In my case the visible world has moved away from my eyes.
Alfano : Have you thought of writing book on the history of the book?
Borges : It is an excellent idea.
Alfano asked Borges what blindness was to him. Borges replied that it was a way to life. He further
told that in his case the visible world had moved away from his eyes. Alfano asked him if/whether
he had thought of writing book on the history of the book. Borges told him that it was an excellent
idea.
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24. She sat thinking, ‘All this is none of my concern’. The old man went on, ‘His name was not
Sangoji, but Basavaiah. I am amazed at how facts take on such varied guises when it is
narrated as fiction’.
She sat thinking all that was none of her concern. The old man went on talking and said that his
name was not Sangoji. He further said that he was amazed at how facts took on such varied guises
when it was narrated as fiction.
****************************************************************************
VERB
Verb is a word which shows actions of the person, animals or things.
Examples:
• Ranganatha writes a story.
• The lion roars in the zoo.
• The car moves on the road.
VERB
Main Verb Auxiliary Verb (Helping verb)

Write, Walk, Read, Run,
Speak etc…
Primary Auxiliary Verb Secondary Auxiliary Verb

(Model Auxiliary verb)
Shall-Should,
Can-Could, May-Might
Will-Would, Must to
To “Be” form To “Have” form To “Do” form Ought to
Am Have Do
Are Has Does
Was Had Did
Were
Is
PERSONAL PRONOUN
Personal pronoun is a word used in place of the proper noun is called as a personal pronoun.
PERSON SINGULAR PLURAL
I PERSON I, My, Me, Myself We, Our, Us, Ourselves
II PERSON You, Your, You, Yourself You, Your, You, Yourselves
He, She, It They
His, Hers, Its Their
III PERSON Him, Her, It Them
Himself, Herself, Themselves

Itself
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APPROPRIATE EXPRESSIONS (Phrasal verbs/Idioms and Phrases)
Fill in the blanks by choosing the appropriate expressions given in the bracket:
1. Politics had ............... when Marcus Ibe was ............... being dismissed from his job as a
mission school teacher. (On the Verge of, to be in a fix, come to his rescue)
come to his rescue, on the verge of.
2. The telephones are situated on a table or a counter in Japan. Anybody, any passer-by could
................, but nobody does. The telephone-receiver can be ................ (one’s castle, all and
sundry, listen-in)
listen-in, one’s castle.
3. Blandford felt as though he were being ....................... when he saw the woman well past forty.
But he felt friendship was more precious than love. So, he ....................... and saluted the
woman holding the book "Of Human Bondage.” (To get hold of, squared his broad shoulders,
split in two)
split in two, squared his broad shoulders.
4. Julianne rubbed Vaseline on her body ...................... the maggots. But her efforts were
....................... So, she had to make a skewer to dig them out. (In vain, be equal to, to get rid of)
to get rid of, in vain.
5. Rukmini Devi ...................... when Anna Pavlova walked away in hurry. Her ......................
when Anna complemented her grace. (To feel a bit down, run out of, face lit up)
felt a bit down, face lit up.
6. The owner of the farm became lazy and wasted all his wealth. His wife was ...................... and
became apprehensive. Their life was gradually getting ................ (On cloud nine, out of hand,
in a fix).
in a fix, out of hand.
7. The young man ...................... on horseback every morning down the rose path under her
window and ...................... to her balcony a bouquet of flowers which she caught. (toss up, set
up, pass by)
passed by, tossed up.
8. The number of motor vehicles in Brazil is growing by ...................... almost as if cars were
distributed free of charge to.......................(all and sundry, leaps and bounds, fair game)
leaps and bounds, all and sundry.
9. After the arrival of the old man the owner of the Garden became lethargic and ......................
from hard work. Then gradually he was addicted to adultery and other vices. His wife became
helpless and had to....................... him. (Put up with, shield away, umpteen)
shield away, put up with.
10. Dirty remarks were passed by people when women …………cycling. Women like Jameela
and Fathima did not……... They zipped along the roads of Pudukkottai and continued to
inspire others. (Make up, give up, took to)
took to, give up
*************************
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SPEECH WRITING
1. Imagine that you are the secretary of your college union. On the occasion of ‘Annual Day
Celebration’, you are required to introduce the Chief Guest whose is given below.
Chief Guest : Dr. Rajagopalan
Native : Mysore
Education : M.A. English, Ph. D from Cambridge University.
Profile : Worked as head of the Department of English, Bangalore University for ten years.
Authored many books on social and literary issues. Recipient of Central Sahitya
Academy Award. Based on the information, write a speech in about 100 words to
introduce the guest at the function.
Good morning and a warm welcome to every one present here on this momentous occasion. Respected
Principal, Teachers and My Dear Friends.
I am honoured to have been given an opportunity to speak on the ‘Annual Day Celebration of our
college’. It is my privilege to welcome a gem of literature – Dr. Rajagopalan. After completion of his post
graduate degree course in English, he accomplished his Ph.D. from Cambridge University. Therefore, he
served at Bangalore University as a teacher. Highly regarded for his expertise and intelligence, he soon
climbed up the ladder of success and became the Head of the Department of English and worked at this
post for ten years.
In addition to teaching, he had flair and lifelong passion for writing books. He has authored many books
on social as well as literary issues. For his excellent writings, last year he was honoured with the Central
Sahitya Academy Award. Sir, you are requested to address the students.
Thank you.
2. Your college is celebrating ‘Sports Day’. You are required to speak on ‘The Importance of Sports
in a student’s life’. Write a speech in about 100 words. Your speech could include the following
points:
Physical fitness. Mental well - being Sound mind – sound body Recreation Sportive spirit Name and
fame Job opportunities
On the occasion of ‘Sports Day’ I would like to share with you the importance of sports in a student’s life.
Games are necessary for physical fitness as well as for our mental wellbeing. Hence, every student should
enthusiastically participate in one or another sports activity. They also help us to develop skills needed for
our future jobs as they make us popular not only among our friends but also among the other players and
therefore, among districts, states and countries also.
Many jobs’ opportunities come to us; even in the government sector, many seats are reserved for players.
So, I would like to request all of you to take part in at least once such activity of your interest.
Thank you.
3. Imagine that you are a member of the Social Service Unit in your city / town. You are addressing a
gathering of students and lecturers of your college on ‘The Importance of Social Service in Life’.
Write a speech in about 100 words about it. Your speech may include the following points.
A Selfless service to fellow human beings. Small, yet very significant.
Adds self – satisfaction and identity to life. Useful to develop good character.
Remain in the memory of the public.
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I am immensely pleased that I have been given the opportunity to speak before you on the importance of
social service of life. First of all, we may not know what is social service in life? It is a selfless service to
fellow human beings, without any motive of earning name or fame, without any temptation of money.
Though it may be small in its extent yet it is very significant.
It connects a man of the society to another man, increases love and empathy among them. It adds to his /
her self- satisfaction and gives identity to his life. He gets a purpose in his life. It is very useful to develop
a good character. A good and actual social worker always remains in the memory of the public due to the
service rendered by him / her. Let’s take oath that from today onwards we shall give a part of our day to
such noble causes.
Thank you.
4. Your college is celebrating ‘Road Safety Week’. You are asked to speak in your college assembly,
highlighting some of the traffic rules and mentioning the need to follow them. Write a speech in
about 100 words.
Your speech should include the following points.
Road accidents Negligence Use of Mobile phones While riding / driving Overtaking and speeding.
Today I would like to share some of my thoughts on ‘Road Safety’ with you. Every day in newspapers,
we read reports on road accidents. Most of the accidents are caused by the negligence of impatient drivers
who are in a hurry and hence jump signals. Another cause for accidents is over speeding or trying to
overtake other vehicles. The youth, in particular, drive recklessly neglecting the traffic rules. Moreover,
many riders use mobile phones while driving. These people not only risk their lives but also the lives of
the others. I implore you to take an oath today to follow the traffic rules and make this ‘Road Safety
week’ meaningful.
Thank you.
5. Imagine that you have organized a function to mark the ‘World Tourism Day’. You have to speak
on the importance of travelling. Use the following points and write a speech in about 100 words.
Travel – necessary – provides fun – entertainment – information – expands one’s understanding –
mental horizons – opportunity for visiting diverse places and people.
Today we have organized a function to mark the ‘World Tourism Day’. Travelling is necessary as it
provides not only fun and entertainment but also gives us a lot of information about the language and
culture of different places. Travelling helps to expand one’s mental horizon. Travelling also provides
opportunity for visiting diverse places and people. Thus, I would like to conclude my speech by saying
that travelling is necessary especially for today’s generation who are leading a highly stressed life and
have less time for leisure and exercise. Travelling provides the body a good exercise and fills the mind
with peaceful and positive thoughts.
Thank you.
6. Imagine you are the College Union President. You are given the responsibility of introducing the
guest on the college day. Use the following information.
Name : Dr. Jnana V.V Educational
Qualification : M.Sc., Ph.D. Work
Profile : Scientist in Astro physics, started career as a lecturer
Interest : Public awareness programmes on science.
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I Bharath, as the College Union President take the golden opportunity to introduce the Chief Guest for
today’s College Day Programme. Our Chief Guest is Dr. Jnana V.V who after the completion of his
M.Sc., Ph.D., started his career as a lecturer. Presently he is working as a scientist in Astro Physics. His
interests along with other scientific activities, is specifically in organizing public awareness programmes
on science. We are immensely grateful to have Dr. Jnana V.V with us today. On behalf of our college
authorities, staff and students, I would like to extend a warm welcome to our Chief Guest and thank you
for taking time from his busy schedule to be with us.
Thank you.
7. Imagine that you are the General Secretary of your college union. You have to introduce the guest
in the Annual Day function in about 100 words. His personal details are as below.
Name : Mr. Veda Murthy
Native : Davangere Educational
Qualification : M.A. English, KAS 2008 batch, served as lecturer in Chitra Durga
Present : Asst. Commissioner Food and Civil Supply Bellary.
As the General Secretary of our college union, I am glad to welcome one and all present here in the
Annual Day function of our college. It is an honour and privilege to welcome our Chief Guest, Mr.
Vedamurthy, who has spared his precious time for us from his busy schedule. Mr. Vedamurthy, a native
from Davangere, is a man of selfless service. He has done his M.A in English. Then he started his career
as a lecturer in Chitradurga. But he is a personality who never wants to stop. Being ambitious to serve the
society, he appeared in administrative exams and passed the same under KAS 2008 batch. It is our good
luck that he has been appointed as Assistant Commissioner, Food and Civil supply of our district, Bellary.
His other interests are photography, music and social work.
Sir, I would like to extend a warm welcome to you. I also thank you for being with us. We feel ourselves
very fortunate to have you here.
Thank you.
8. Imagine you are the secretary of your college. On the occasion of college day, you are given the
responsibility of introducing the chief guest to the audience. Write a speech in about 100 words
Using the points given in the profile.
Chief guest : Mrs.Sudha Murthy
Native : Shiggaov (Karnataka)
Education : B.E in Electrical Engineering from BVB College, Hubballi
Profile : First female engineer hired by TELCO–Chairperson of Infosys Foundation–Member
of public care initiatives of the Gates Foundation A teacher, Philanthropist and a
writer in Kannada and English awarded Padmashri in 2006.
We have gathered over here on the occasion of college day. I being the secretary of our college am proud
to stand before you to introduce the chief guest of today’s function to this august gathering. We are
extremely happy to have Mrs. Sudha Murthy as our chief guest. She is a native of Shiggov of Karnataka.
Her educational qualification is B.E. in Electrical engineering from BVB College, Hubballi. We are proud
to know that she is the first female engineer hired by TELCO. She became the Chairperson of Infosys
Foundation later. She is the member of public health care initiatives of the Gates Foundation. She is a
67 | P a g e

teacher, philanthropist and a writer in Kannada and English. She is awarded with Padmashri in 2006. We
extend our wholehearted welcome to the great personality.
Thank you.
9. Imagine that you are the president of the students’ council of your college and you have to speak
on spreading awareness about cleanliness. Using the points given below, write a speech in about 100
words.
Need for cleanliness – individual responsibility – cleanliness at home and public places – health
benefits – beautification of nation.
I am honoured to have been given an opportunity to speak on the ‘Sense of cleanliness’. We need to
practice cleanliness which is directly related health. Well maintained surrounding contributes not only to
physical health but also the peace of mind. So, it is the responsibility of every citizen to see to it that air is
not polluted. Fresh air and clean drinking water are as necessary as eating healthy food. Brushing teeth
twice a day, bathing every day and wearing clean clothes should be given priority.
The kitchen is the central part of any home. The kitchen is the central part of any home. If it is not kept
clean, it becomes the breeding center for germs. It is highly essential to keep the utensils germ free. We
need to dump garbage every day at the designated dumping sites. People should be made aware of
cleanliness through talks and campaigns. We should be very careful about the cleanliness of public
places. We should not litter here and there; garbage should be thrown in dustbins.
I would like to conclude my speech by reiterating that one only talks about cleanliness but also practice it.
Only then will the beautification of nation be possible.
Thank you.
Note
➢ 1. Mark for greeting - 1m
➢ 2. Marks for correct language usage - 2m
➢ 3. Mark for format - 1m
➢ 4. Mark for leaving taking - 1m
******************
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PRONOUNS
1. Basavaiah shrunk in humiliation. Nevertheless, he started filling his house with material wealth. But still
it still looked empty. Tammanna continued with the story. The owner’s wife did not stop him from
continuing with it.
He: - Basavaiah It: - Material Wealth Him: - Tammanna It: - Story
2. Born on June 12, 1929, in Frankfurt, Germany, Anne Frank lived in Amsterdam with her family during
World War II. Fleeing Nazi persecution of Jews, the family went into hiding for two years; during this
time, Frank wrote about her experiences and wishes. She was 15 when the family was found and sent to
the camps, where she died. Her work, The Diary of Anne Frank, has gone on to be read by millions.
Her: - Anne Frank This: - Word War II She: - Anne Frank Where: - Camps
3. Work done by an individual produces output which benefits others in the society. It helps to fulfil the
needs and purpose of life. A person who does the work feels happy and contended when his
achievements bring appreciation brings appreciation and satisfaction for his quality work. This provides
interest to do further work.
Which: - Outputs Who: - A person His: - A person This: - Quality work
4. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was born on 15th October 1931. He was elected as the 11th president of India.
His contribution to the field of Missile Technology was immense. The Second Nuclear Test was
conducted in Pokhram. It was a very successful mission. Pokhram became a very famous place all over
the world, where the nuclear test was conducted.
He: - Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam His: - Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
It: - Second Nuclear Test Where: - Pokhran
5. The Capulets and Montagues were noble families in Verona. They were dead enemies. Romeo and
Juliet had love at first sight. He compared her to a snowy dove. She compared Romeo to a new snow.
They: - Capulets & Montagues He: - Romeo Her: - Juliet She: - Juliet
6. Rukmini Devi Arundale learnt Sadir. It was the art of Devadasis. She learnt it for two years. She gave
her first performance under a banyan tree. George Arundale was her husband. He presented the dance as
a spiritual art. Rukmini Devi’s first student was her niece. Her name was Radha.
It: - Sadir She: - Rukmini Devi Arundale He: - George Arundale Her: - Radha
7. Sheela Rani Chunkath encouraged the rural women in her district to buy the bicycles. She ordered the
banks to sanction loans to them. Most of the women bought the bicycles. The bicycles help them a lot.
It is the symbol of progress. Sheela Rani was honoured for her support.
She: - Sheela Rani Chunkath Them: - Rural Women It: - Bicycles Her: - Sheela Rani Chunkath
8. Luisa’s parents did not approve of her marriage to a telegraph operator, and her son Gabriel, the oldest
of twelve children, was sent to live with his maternal grandfathers. Marquez later said that his love of
story – telling came from his grandfathers. After the riots he went to the university in Cartagena where
he took up journalism to support himself.
Her: - Luisa’s His: - Gabriel Marquez’s Where: - University in Cartagena Himself: - Gabriel
Marquez’s
9. Ravi designs the trophies handed over to the winners. These are presented to them with a grand
ceremony. Though Ravi was not a sports man, his passion for designing the trophies are outstanding. He
has his workshop in West Bengal where he has been living since childhood.
These: - Trophies Them: - Winners His: - Ravi Where: - West Bengal
*********
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JUMBLED SEGMENTS
Rearrange the following words/ phrases to form meaningful sentences.
1. extremely / expensive / in Brazil / motor cars / are
Motor cars are extremely expensive in Brazil
2. to us / given / all things / for a purpose / have been
All things have been given to us for a purpose.
3. is / our imagination / an extension / only the book / of / and memory
Only the book is an extension of our imagination and memory
4. seven thousand / in Monaco / there are / only / men
There are only seven thousand men in Monaco.
5. peace loving / was a / kingdom / Monaco.
Monaco was a peace-loving kingdom
6. is / it/ important/protect/ to / our/environment
It is important to protect our environment.
7. own/ every/ its/ language/ country/has
Every country has its own language.
8. divided/ countries/ continents/ the /is/ into/ and /world.
The world is divided into continents and countries.
9. very/ deforestation/ to be / can prove/ damaging to/ mother / earth.
Deforestation can prove to be very damaging to mother Earth.
10. to keep/ we / encourage/ must/ the / Earth green/ afforestation
We must encourage afforestation to keep the Earth green.
11. should/each individual/his/on / plant a tree/birthday.
Each individual should plant a tree on his birthday.
12. used/ as a/ to highlight/ newspapers/ are/ powerful/ weapon/ social problems.
Newspapers are used as a powerful weapon to highlight social problems.
13. sport/ and/ business/ world/ in the/ also/ rife/ is/ corruption/ of
Corruption is also rife in the world of sport and business.
14. old people/ helpful/ kind/ and / to / should be / one
One should be kind and helpful to old people.
15. every five years / held / their leaders / one in / to elect / elections are
Elections are held once in every five years to elect their leaders.
16. forest / the / of beauty / joy / is / source / and
Forest is the source of beauty and Joy.
17. knowledge / not just / the source of / was / and freedom / the forest
The forest was not just the source of knowledge and freedom.
18. to identity / competitions / in students / are held / talents / and appreciate
Competitions are held to identity and appreciate talents in students.
19. Change / is / the / in / world / password / that / unlocks / doors / driven / by / technology
The change in the world password unlocks door that in driven by technology.
20. write / be / intend / history / kind / me / I / to / for / to / will
History will be kind to me, for I intend to write.
*********************
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DIALOGUE WRITING
1.Teacher : You are late to class, Pradeep. (Complaining)
Padeep : Madam, ________I _______ the bus. the next bus was late (Apologizing)
Teacher : In that case you should ____________(Suggesting)
Pradeep : ____________(Agreeing, Leave taking)
Teacher : You are late to class, Pradeep. (Complaining)
Pradeep : Madam, I am sorry. I missed the bus. The next bus was late (Apologizing)
Teacher : In that case you should attend the next period (Suggesting)
Pradeep : Thank you madam.(Agreeing, Leave taking)
2. Akshay : Today we have to complete three units of Thermodynamics. What do you suggest?
Gagan : __________ (Agreeing)
Aravind : Shall we take a small break?
Akshay : ___________ (disagreeing)
Gagan : It is already 10 pm. I must finish studying what we had decided on.
Akshay : _____________ (asking about preferences)
Arvind : ____________ (leave taking)
Akshay : Today we have to complete three units of Thermodynamics. What do you suggest?
Gagan : Yes, we certainty have to (Agreeing)
Aravind : Shall we take a small break?
Akshay : No, we can’t waste even a minute (disagreeing)
Gagan : It is already 10 pm. I must finish studying what we had decided on.
Akshay : So, do you want to complete the chapter? (Asking about preferences)
Arvind : Well let us complete it. Good bye (leave taking)
3.Courier Assistant : Hello! Is it 9393935711
Pooja : ________ (replies)
Courier Assistant : There is a parcel for you. ___________(Enquires about locality)
Pooja : __________ (Gives direction)
Courier Assistant : I ‘ll__________________(replies)
Courier Assistant : Hello! Is it 9393935711
Pooja : Yes it is!
Courier Assistant : There is a parcel for you can you please tell me your locality
Pooja :Go straight and turn to the right immediately after the turn, you will find my house.
Courier Assistant : I’ll be there within a movement.
4. Sam : Hello Ram, Good evening.
Ram : ___________ (responds to greeting)
Sam : ___________ (enquires about his job)
Ram : I am working from home. What about you?
Sam : ___________ (replies)
Ram : _________ (leave taking)
Sam : Hello Ram, Good evening.
Ram : Hi, very Good evening
Sam : How your job is going on
Ram : I am working from home. What about you?
Sam : Same here
Ram : Ok, I am getting late for going home. Bye
Sam : Bye. See you some time.
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5. Salim : ___________is there a medical store nearby ?(starting conversation)
Sharat : Yes , there is one right across the street.
Salim : How _________(asking for distance)
Sharat : ___________ (giving information)
Salim : ____________ (expressing gratitude)
Salim : Excuse me , is there a medical store nearby ?(starting conversation)
Sharat : Yes , there is one right across the street.
Salim : How far is it from here ?(asking for distance)
Sharat : you just have to walk for two minutes.(giving information)
Salim : thank you for your help !(expressing gratitude)
6. Student :Good morning sir, I want an application form to___________ (giving purpose of visit)
Bank clerk :Good morning, to open an account you have to ______ (giving instruction)
Student : what else should I submit along with filled-in form?
Bank clerk :____________ (instruction to submit address proof)
Student : _____________ (giving thanks)
Student : Good morning sir, I want an application form to open a bank account.
Bank clerk :Good morning, to open an account you have to fill in the application form.
Bank clerk : You have to submit an address proof.
Student : Thank you very much sir, for your help.
7. Kiran : Good morning.
Javeed :_________ (Greeting)What can I do for you?
Kiran : Is __________(asking for information)
Javeed : Yes, the flat is still vacant.
Kiran : What is the rent?
Javeed :The rent ______________(giving information)
Kiran : ____________ (Leave taking)
Kiran : Good morning.
Javeed : Good morning. What can I do for you?
Kiran :Is your flat vacant?
Javeed :Yes, the flat is still vacant.
Kiran : What is the rent?
Javeed : The rent is 3,000 rupees
Kiran :O. K. Thank you. Bye.
8. Deepak :Rani ,today my boss told me that I could take a vacation.
Rani :Wow! ___________(congratulations)
Deepak : __________ (suggesting a place)
Rani : __________it will be too cold (Disagreeing)
Deepak : __________it will be lovely .(Giving an option)
Deepak :Rani ,today my boss told me that I could take a vacation.
Rani :Wow! congratulations
Deepak :Shimla
Rani :No, it will be too cold
Deepak :Nainital it will be lovely.
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9. Anitha : ________(Greeting) May I come in?
Vinitha :_______ (Responds to greeting)
Anitha : __________(Introduces herself) your next-door neighbour.
Vinitha : __________(Introduces herself) Please sir down.
Anitha : Hello, Good Morning. May I come in.
Vinitha : Good Morning, please come in.
Anitha : I am Anitha, your next-door neighbour.
Vinitha : I am Vinitha. Please sir down.
10. Stranger : Excuse me, __________ (ask for direction)
Resident : __________ (giving direction)
Stranger : Is it far?
Resident : ________ (approximate distance)
Stranger : _________ (express gratitude / leave taking)
Stranger : Excuse me, may I know how to reach Bannerghatta Biological Park
Resident : Go straight and turn to the right at the circle. Immediately after the turn, you will find
Bannerghatta Biological Park on your left.
Stranger : Is it far?
Resident : It’s approximately 2 kms from here.
Stranger : Oh, Thank You very much. You have been very kind.
11. Patient : Hello, is it 240042?

Receptionist : ___________ (giving information)
Patient : Could I speak to the doctor?
Receptionist : ___________ (Confirms absence)
Patient : Who am I speaking to?
Receptionist : __________ (giving introduction)
Patient : ___________ (fix an appointment for the same day)
Patient : Hello, is it 240042?
Receptionist : Yes. What can I do for you?
Patient : Could I speak to the doctor?
Receptionist : I am sorry. He is not around.
Patient : Who am I speaking to?
Receptionist : I am Anandi, the receptionist.
Patient : Could I get an appointment for this evening?
13. Agent : _________ (Greeting)
Mrs. Dixit : _________ (Seeking information regarding a trip to Greece)
Agent : _________ (Giving information)
Mrs. Dixit : _________ (Expressing gratitude)
Agent : Good Morning, Ma’am. Please have a seat
Mrs. Dixit : Good Morning, I want to get information regarding a trip to Greece.
Agent : Fine. We have very attractive foreign tour scheme. For further details, go through this
brochure.
Mrs. Dixit : Thanks a lot. Have a Nice Day.
**********************
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Report Writing
1. The following bar chart represents the results of a survey based on information about how rural
and urban women spend the hours of their day for some chosen activities on an average. Based on
this information, write a report in about 150 words.
Time spent on chosen activities by Rural and Urban Women

The bar graph indicates the time spent on activities like cooking, watching T.V., indulging in hobbies,
rearing children, and reading, by rural and urban women. Surprisingly, in all the five areas, the urban
women spend more time than the rural women. Perhaps the field work or other manual labor that the rural
women take up, leaves them with little time for the chosen activities. On cooking, if the rural women spend
less than one hour, the urban women spend nearly two hours. Similarly, if less than half an hour is spent on
watching T.V. by the rural women, the time indicated against the urban women is nearly one and a half
hours. If the rural women spend negligible time on their hobby, the urban women keep aside at least an
hour for the same. The biggest gap is seen in the time taken on rearing children. If the rural women spend
less than half an hour on rearing children, the urban women spend nearly two and a half hours on the same.
The entry for reading is the lowest of all the activities for both rural and urban women. Understandably the
urban women have a higher percentage in this area.
2. The pie chart given below represents the results of a survey conducted by a non – profit NGO to
understand how a rural family spends its income on various items. Based on the information, write a
report in about 200 words.
Spending Pattern of Rural Families

The pie chart above throws light on the spending pattern of rural families. The chart indicates that a typical
rural family spends the least, that is, 10% each of its income on savings and education. Entertainment and
health consume 15 % each. Next stands repayment of loan at 20%. the highest percentage, that is 30%, is
spent on food and clothing. It is clear from the chart that the people concerned need to be educated about
profitable saving plans and for this their educational level should also improve. Thus, it is surmised that a
campaign to improve the educational levels of the people of the rural areas might bring about progress.
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3. The line graph given below shows population growth during pre-independence and post-
independence period in India. Use the information to write a report on the trends of population
growth.
Comparative study of population growth in pre-independent and post-independent India Population growth
has been a perpetual problem in India. A comparative study of the population growth in the pre – and post-
independence India shows that population growth has been rapid in the post-independence era. In the pre-
independence era, between 1901 and 1940, there was a growth of only 0.5 crore. The growth was from 1
crore to 1.5 crore. However, in the post-independence era, on an average, in every decade there has been an
increase of one crore. From 1951 to 2010, the increase has been from about 2 to over 6 crores. No wonder,
India is a billion strong country.
From the situation it is crystal clear that the government should think of stringent ways with which there
can be an effective control over the population growth because for the economic growth of a country
population explosion would pose serious threats.
4.Given below is a vertical bar graph representing two kinds of data, viz., the number of employees
and the number of branches in the State Bank of India over the years. The Chairperson of the bank
presents a report tracing this trend. Prepare a report for him.
(Note: After the 90’s the banks have been progressively computerised.)
The above vertical bar graph represents two kinds of data viz, the number of employees and the number
branches of the State Bank of India from 1960 to 2000. In 1960 twenty thousand branches were there all
over India. The number of employees was 25 lakhs and it increased to 35 lakhs and 45 lakhs in 1970 and
1980 respectively. The number of branches in 1970 was thirty thousand and forty thousand in 1970 and
1980 respectively. After 1990 there was a drastic change-that the number of branches went on increasing
but number of employees started decreasing due to computerisation. In 1990, fifty thousand branches were
there and it remained same till 2000. But the number of employees decreased to forty thousand and thirty
thousand in 1990 and 2000 respectively.
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5. A survey was conducted by the Delhi based NGO (centre for media studies) to know how voters
are bribed during elections. Based on the data shown in the graph, write a report to the local
newspaper about how money matters during polling, in about 120 words:
A survey was conducted by the Delhi based NGO (Centre for Media Studies) to know how voters are
bribed during elections. It is a open secret that all the politicians in India bribe the voters to get votes in
their favour. The graph indicates the extent to which it is being practiced in various states in India. It was
found that Karnataka stood in the first place i.e 47%. of voters were bribed and Tamilnadu followed with
about 34%, Madhya Pradesh 33%, Andhra Pradesh 31%, Orissa 27%, other states like Delhi 25%, Uttar
Pradesh 18% and Maharastra 13% respectively. The survey revealed that we can find Karnataka as the
most corrupted state and Maharastra as the least one. It is very clear that money plays is a very important
role during the polling and the people who have enough money, would get power in their hands.
6. The given bar graph represents data about the favourite after-school activities of boys and girls in
Karnataka. Based on the information, prepare a report in about 120 words.
Comparative Study of Favourite After-School Activities of Boys and Girls The bar graph presents
interesting statistics about the favourite after-school activities of boys and girls in Karnataka. Of the five
activities, visiting friends is the most preferred after-school activity of boys as 80 percent of them choose to
do it compared to only 40 percent girls who have chosen this. Interestingly, talking on the phone is chosen
by both girls and boys to the same extent and 70 percent of boys and girls are fond of this activity.
If 60 percent of boys prefer both chatting online and playing sports, only 40 and 20 percent of girls indulge
in these two activities respectively. If watching TV is chosen by nearly 70 percent girls, only 30 percent
boys prefer this over other activities.
The preference of boys for outdoor activities could be because of the gender stereotypes. it is better that we
encourage girls to take up outdoor games as it is healthy.
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7. The following pie charts represent information about voter turnout in the general elections held in
post-independent India over a span of more than fifty years. Use this data to write a report on the
polling trends, in about 120 words.
The pie charts which show the voters’ turnout in the general elections in the post-independent India in fifty
years making a few interesting revelations. If we take the two charts as before and after fifty years, we see
that the percentage of male voters has remained constant at 45%. However, the female franchise has
increased from 25% to 35% and freshers’ voting from 10% to 15%. The only section wherein there is a
drop in the voting percentage is of senior citizens whose representation has dropped from 20% to 5%.
8. Given below is the bar graph that represents data showing the results of a survey on working
patterns of both rural and urban women. The chart provides information about how these women
spend the hours of their day for different activities. Based on this information, write a report in
about 150 words.
The bar graph indicates the time spent on activities like cooking, watching TN., indulging in hobbies,
rearing children, and reading, by rural and urban women. Surprisingly, in all five areas, urban women
spend more time than rural women. Perhaps the fieldwork or other manual labour that the rural women take
up leaves them with little time for the chosen activities. On cooking, if rural women spend less than one
hour, urban women spend nearly two hours.
Similarly, if less than half an hour is spent on watching TV. by the rural women, the time indicated against
the urban women is nearly one and a half hours. If the rural women spend negligible time on their hobby,
the urban women keep aside at least an hour for the same. The biggest gap is seen in the time taken on
rearing children. If rural women spend less than half an hour on rearing children, urban women spend
nearly two and a half hours on the same. The entry for reading is the lowest of all the activities for both
rural and urban women. Understandably urban women have a higher percentage in this area.
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9. The following bar graph represents information about the migration of people from rural areas to
cities during 2000-2015. Using the data prepare a report in about 120 words.
From Villages to Cities – In Search of Greener Pastures

Ever since the world became industrialized, there has been a steady exodus of people from villages to
cities. The graph is proof of this disturbing phenomenon and shows an increase in the number of people
coming to urban areas from rural areas. In 1970,11 only 20% migrated from the countryside to the cities, in
1980 the percentage rose to 30. Even in the next two decades, the same increase continued and hence in
2000, the increase went up to 50%. This trend is owing to the misconception that people can make easy
money in cities. It is also owing to the false notion that city life is easy and full of pleasures. Very often
people go through pathetic hardships in cities. But they don’t go back to villages because either they feel
ashamed to do that or they have nothing left in the village to go back to. The government should study the
problem and take appropriate steps to curb the inflow of people into the cities as it is against the
development of both cities and villages.
10. The following pie charts represent information about the voters’ turnout in the general elections
held in post-independence India over a span of more than fifty years. Use this data to write a report
on the polling trends in about 120 words.
The above pie charts represent information about the voters’ turnout in the general elections held in post-
independence India over a span of more than fifty years. The chart indicates the polling trend after
independence and at present. After independence, in the beginning, 45% of voters were male, 25% were
female, 10% were freshers and 20% of voters were senior citizens. But after 50 years, .i.e. at present, the
ratio has changed. 45% of voters are male, 35% are female.
The percentage of freshers and senior citizens are 15% and 5% respectively.
Thank you.
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ACTIVE VOICE & PASSIVE VOICE
Active voice: -
Active voice is that form of verb which shows what the subject does in a sentence. Here subject is the
doer of the action.
Examples: - I am reading a book.
She writes a letter.
Passive voice: -
Passive voice is that form of verb which shows what has been done to the subject in a sentence. Here
object is the doer of the action.
Examples: - A book is being read by me.
A letter is written by her.
While changing active voice into passive voice the following changes take place.
➢ Change in the position of subject and object in a sentence.
➢ Change in the function of subject and object in a sentence.
➢ Verb from changes from active verb to passive verb form. To be form +verb III (V3) form (past
participle)
➢ Change of subject of active sentence into object of passive is done as follows;
Active voice Passive voice

I Me
He Him
You You
We Us
She her
They Them
It It
Who Whom
➢ The change of verbs takes place as follows:
Sl No Tense Verb Verb be form+verb-IIIform

01 Simple present Write / writes Am / is / are + written
02 Simple past Wrote Was / were / + written
03 Simple future Shall / will write Shall / will be + written
04 Present continuous Is / am / are writing Is /am/are+being+written
05 Past continuous Was / were writing Was / were +being+written
06 Present perfect Has / have written Has/have+been+written
07 Past perfect Had written Had been written
08 Future perfect Will / shall have written Will/shall+have+been+written
Examples:
1.Active Voice: She writes a letter.
Passive Voice: A letter is written by her.
2.Active Voice: She wrote a letter.
Passive Voice: A letter was written by her.
3.Active Voice: She is writing a letter.
Passive Voice: A letter is being written by her
4.Active Voice: She was writing letter
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Passive Voice: A letter was being written by her
5.Active Voice: She has written a letter
Passive Voice: A letter has been written by her
6.Active Voice: She had written a letter
Passive Voice: A letter had been written by her
7.Active voice: She will write a letter
Passive Voice: A letter will be written by her
8.Active Voice: She will have written a letter
Passive Voice: A letter will have been written by her
Complete the following by filling the blanks using the right form of the verb given in
brackets:
1. Ministers ..................... (summoned) and it ....................... (decide) to sentence the murderer for life and a
guard..................... (place) to look after him.
Ans: - were summoned, was decided, was placed.
2. The kingdom neither had a guillotine nor an executioner. Therefore, a council ...................... (call). It
(decide) to write a letter to the French Government. The letter......................(send)
Ans: - was called, was decided, was sent.
3. The criminal ..................... (sentence) for life. A guard ..................... (place) over him. Every day the
food ......................(bring) by the guard from the palace kitchen.
Ans: -was sentenced, was placed, was brought.
4. The king of Monaco was looking over the accounts. A new item of expenditure (notice) by him. In order
to reduce this expenditure, the guard ..................... (dismiss) and the criminal ..................... (ask) to run
away.
Ans: -was noticed, was dismissed, was asked.
5. The kingdom of Monaco was a peaceful and peace-loving country. Once a murder............(commit)
there. They ............(force) to look for way to try and punish the criminal, at last, the criminal
......................(punish) for his crime.
Ans: - was committed, were forced, was punished.
6. The prince agreed to show mercy and so the matter.................(arrange). The only problem was that there
was no suitable prison for a person who ............ (sentence) for life. However, there was a small lock-up
where people ...........(keep) temporarily.
Ans: - was arranged, was sentenced, were kept.
7. The gaming houses ............... (keep) in German Sovereign, because the source of revenue ...............
(collect) from them, but a few years ago they ................(forbid) to do so.
Ans: - were kept, was collected, were forbidden.
8. Once a murder ............... (commit) in the kingdom of Monaco. The committee.................(force) to look
for the ways to punish the criminal. Finally, the punishment................ (give) to him.
Ans: - was committed, was forced, was given.
**************
80 | P a g e
LINKERS
Linkers help us establish our ideas explicitly. They make it easy for us to compare, contrast, illustrate,
define and summarize our thoughts and develop a coherent paragraph.
Connector Function
And addition
but contrast
because reason
in order to purpose
therefore summarise
If these words are missing, you can see that the paragraph does not convey the right meaning. These
words are called linkers. Linkers are words that relate one idea or sentence of the text with another.
Study the list of linkers and their functions.
Function Link Words

Addition and, also, besides, moreover similarly, and then, what is more, such as,
then, in addition (to), too, next.
Time when, while, as soon as, before, after, till, until, eventually, as long as,
since
Place after, where, wherever
Reason/cause because, as, that, since.
Purpose in order that, so that, lest,
Result so, such, consequently, in conclusion, as a result, in all, thus, finally
Concession though, although, even if, however,
Manner as, as if, as though
Comparison as- as, then, not so-as
Condition if, unless, supposing
Examples
1. Aesop is a figure, clouded in so much mystery and legend it is difficult to know can
be said about him. It is also strange to believe this world-famous man was born a slave in the
sixthcentury B.C. slaves were bought and sold frequently. Aesop’s Greek master gave him liberty
he was impressed by his learning and
wit.[because, that, what; when]
Answer: that, what, that, when, because.
2. Alok was happy he was selected to take part in the car race. He gladly went the
racewas to take place. He was given a car kit he could build the body of the car using small
piecesof wood. Alok asked Abhi he would help him. Abhi refused. Alok did not give up; he
set out to make the car.
[where, when, so that, however, if]
Answer: when, where, so that, if, however.
3. The rains had failed all the wells and tanks had run dry. overcome the problem,
themunicipal authorities sunk a number of bore wells. they could supply water to the
citizens. the situation was brought under control.[thus, so, therefore, in order to,]
Answer: therefore, in order to, so, thus.
81 | P a g e
4. In the summer, the rumor of a famine swept through the province _ was a baseless one the
crops were actually growing well the weather was perfect for a bumper harvest. on the
strength of that rumor, thousands of small farmers abandoned their farms and fled to the cities.
of this, crops failed, thousands starved the rumor about the famine proved true.
[and, which, because, as a result, moreover, but]
Answer: which, and, moreover, But, As a result, and
5. Using a word processor for writing has a number of advantages. One of the biggest advantages is
the writer can quickly, easily make changes in what has been written. using a
type writer, it is necessary to type large parts of the passage again changes need to be made.
with a word processor change can be made with very little
effort.[if, however, and, that, while]
Answer: that, and, while, if, however.
6. There was a King who had one eye and one leg. he asked all the painters to draw a beautiful
portrait of him. none of them could. How could they paint him beautifully with the defects
inone eye and one leg? one of them agreed and drew a classic picture of the King, it was
a fantastic picture and surprised everyone. He painted the King aiming for a hunt, targeting with one
eye closed and one leg bent. [and, but, eventually, however]
Answer: However, But, eventually, and.
7. , all this looked like healthy competition. , it rose to such a pitch that there was no
land to buy for Tammanna or Basavaiah.
[however, to begin with, either, gradually]
Answer: to begin with, however, gradually, either
8. There was a guillotine for cutting the heads of an executioner in Monaco. the
ministers wrote a letter asking the French Government whether they could lend them a machine
an expert to cut off the criminal's
head.[and, neither, so, nor]
Answer: neither, nor, so, and
9. The young man took refuge in Don Gonzalo's house. He went Seville, came to Madrid. He
wrote letters to Laura. they were intercepted by her parents. _ in despair, he joined
thearmy. he met a glorious death in the war.
[But, and, at last, then]
Answer: then, but, at last, and
10. Tammanna Basavaiah were rivals. If Tammanna bought four acres of land, Basavaiah _
followed suit. all this looked like healthy competition , gradually it rose to such a pitch
that there was no land left in the village for them to buy.
[also, and, however, in the beginning]
Answer: and, also, in the beginning, however
11. German kings used to keep gaming houses _some years ago they were forbidden to do so. They
stopped it these gaming houses did so much harm the Germans prohibited their rulers to
make money in this way. gambling is a dirty business, the king of Monaco had to resort it.
[because, although, so, but]
Answer: but, because, so, although.
12. Bachni Devi resistance against her husband had obtained a contract to cut trees. forest
official arrived at the forest; the women held up lighted lanterns stopped them. the
forester made fun of them, they were not discouraged.
[and, though, when, who]
Answer: who, when, and, though
82 | P a g e
13. Laura was so beautiful she was known as 'The Silver Maiden' in her locality. Laura was in love
with Gonzalo her parents did not approve of this they wanted her to marry a merchant.
There was a fight between the merchant and Gonzalo the merchant was badly wounded.
[but, instead, in which, that]
Answer: that, but, instead, in which
14. There was no executioner nor a guillotine to execute the criminal. it was decided to imprison
Him for life. the only problem was that there was no suitable prison for a man sentenced to
life. they found a small room kept the criminal there.
[and, hence, but, however]
Answer: But, hence, however, and
15. German sovereigns used to run gaming houses. some years ago, they were forbidden to do so
these gaming houses did so much harm. there was no one to stop the prince
ofMonaco he remained with a monopoly of the business.
[but, however, because, and]
Answer: however, because, But, and
**********
83 | P a g e

NOTE MAKING
Read the following passage and make notes by drawing and filling the boxes given below:
1. ‘Resource is derived from French, and it means tools. Natural resources are the raw materials and the
sources of energy present on the earth. They include the deposits of coal, crude oil, and natural gas. The
basic needs of our existence such as air, water and soil, which gives us food, also belong to resources
that we may be able to exploit in future.
Answer:
1. French 2. Tools 3. Coal 4. Crude oil
5. Natural gas 6. Air 7. Water 8. Soil.
2. The word ‘Oceans ‘implies the large water bodies of the world, namely the Pacific, Atlantic,
Indian and Arctic, as well as the Antarctic ocean where we find icebergs. Smaller seas are separated
from the oceans by island chains or under-water ridges which are called ‘bordering seas. These
include: ‘The North Sea, the Baltic sea, the Mediterranean sea and the Caribbean sea? The bordering
seas and the oceans have some common features: both contain salty water and restless sea beds.
Answer:
1. Pacific 2. Indian 3. Antarctic 4. The North sea
5. The Mediterranean sea 6. The Caribbean sea 7. salty water 8. restless sea beds.
84 | P a g e

3. Paper was discovered in China by an official named Tsai Lun. He discovered it in about AD 105.
Until then most of the documents in China had been written on parchment and Vellum. Parchment
was made from the skin of goats or sheep. Vellum was made from the skin of a calf. A number of
animals had to be killed to make a book. However, now we do not have to do that. We use wood
pulp, at present, for making paper.

Answer:
1. Wood pulp 2. Tsai Lun 3. AD 105 4. parchment
5. Vellum 6. Goats 7. Sheep 8. calf.
4. Blood is the essential red fluid that is pumped by the heart through the circulatory system. It is
complex in its composition and functions. Blood has two main constituents – the cells, comprising
about 45% and the plasma comprising about 55%. The blood cells comprise three main types – red
blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Each type of cell has its own function in the body. The
plasma is a complex colorless solution and it contains 90% of water. It also has fibrinogen, the
protein that aids in clotting.
Answer:
1. Heart 2. Cells. 3. Plasma 4. Red blood cells
5. White blood cells 6. Platelets 7. Water 8. clotting.
85 | P a g e

5. Vertebrate animals can be either warm-blooded or cold-blooded. A cold-blooded animal cannot
maintain constant body temperature. The temperature of its body is determined by the outside
surroundings. Cold-blooded animals are also called ‘ectothermic, which means outside heat. They
are reptiles, amphibians and fishes. Warm-blooded animals are able to regulate their internal
temperature. They have fur and feather to keep them warm. They are also called ‘endothermic’
meaning heat inside.They are birds and mammals.
Answer:
1. warm-blooded 2. cold-blooded 3. Ectothermic 4. reptiles
5. Amphibians 6. Fishes 7. Endothermic 8. mammals.
6. Algae are living organisms that are found all over the world. There are 27,000 different species of
algae. They belong to a group of living things called protists. Some algae, such as sea-weed, look
like plants. However, algae are neither plants nor animals. Algae are very important because, they
make much of earth’s oxygen which humans and animals need to breathe. They make their own
food through photosynthesis. Algae are commonly found in water but some species live in soil,
leaves, wood and stones. They even grow on animals such as turtles and polar bear. Water: animals
depend onalgae for food. The algae called kelp can reach.
Answer:
1. Algae 2. Sea-weed 3. Kelp 4. 200 feet
5. Photosynthesis 6. Protists 7. Plants 8. 27,000.
86 | P a g e

7. Krishnadevaraya ruled the Vijayanagara Empire. He gave good governance during his regime. Gold,
silver and diamond were sold on the streets of Vijayanagara. He respected men and women equally. In
his court, there was a clown called Tenali Rama who was known for his wit.
Answer:
1. Vijayanagara Empire 2. Gold 3. Silver 4. Diamond
5. Men 6. Women 7. Tenali Rama 8. wit.
8. A rickshaw puller is a common sight in India. He can be seen standing at public places like bus stands,
railway stations and road crossings waiting for passengers. He appears miserable and weak. He is not
treated well by the general public and is generally, overworked and unpaid. He is generally hated,
humiliated by everyone.
Answer:
1. India 2. public places 3. bus stands 4. railway stations
5. road crossings 6. Miserable 7. Weak 8. general public.
87 | P a g e

9. The most complex of all tissues is the bone. It serves as a framework, giving form to the body,
protecting the vital organs and bearing weight and strain. It is also a storehouse for calcium, which is
supplied to the blood.
Answer:
1. Bone 2. a framework 3. the body 4. vital organs
5. Weight 6. Strain 7. Calcium 8. the blood.
10. Books are a vital record of human life and achievement. They store the thoughts, beliefs and
experiences of individuals and societies. There are many kinds of books: religious works, fiction?
and non-fiction. The Chinese invented printing in the 9th century; it arrived in Europe in the 15th
century. Printing made it possible to mass-produce books and knowledge was spread more widely.
Today, publishing is a global industry.
Answer:
1. a vital record 2. Life 3. Achievement 4. Religious works
5. Fiction 6. the Chinese 7. the 15th century 8. a global industry.
88 | P a g e

11. Ten thousand years ago, the first farmers began to grow crops and breed animals for food. Earlier the
nomadic hunter-gatherers fed on berries, plants and wild beasts. With the emergence of farming, they
settled in one place giving rise to the world’s earliest civilizations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and
China. In the 18th century, a so-called agricultural revolution led to significant changes making farming
more mechanized.
Answer:
1. grow crops 2. the nomadic hunter-gatherers 3. Plants 4. wild beasts
5. Mesopotamia 6. India 7. the 18th century 8. more mechanised.
12. The process of buying and selling goods and services is called trade. There are two types of trade:
internal trade and international trade. The trade which is carried on within a nation is called internal
trade. It is also known as home trade or domestic trade. International trade is trade among different
nations of the world. It is also called foreign trade. It is considered as engine of growth.
Answer:
1. Trade 2. internal trade 3. international trade 4. a nation
5. Nations 6. home trade 7. domestic trade 8. foreign trade.
89 | P a g e
13. Hundreds of islands lie in the Caribbean Sea, east of the United States of America and stretch west
into the Atlantic Ocean. These Caribbean islands, also known as the West Indies, take their name
from the Caribs, the original inhabitants of the region until the Spanish arrived in 1492. The
inhabitants of most islands today are descendants of African slaves brought to work in plantations
between the 16th and 19th centuries. The islands have a tropical climate, turquoise waters, and fine
beaches and have developed booming tourist industry. Many people here depend on farming for their
living.
Answer:
1. the Caribbean Sea 2. the Atlantic Ocean 3. the West Indies 4. the Caribs
5. tropical climate 6. turquoise waters 7. tourist industry 8. farming.
14. Our earliest ancestors, the hominids, lived in Africa as they evolved into an upright posture and
learned to make tools, around 10,00,000 years ago. They became known as modern people or Homo
sapiens. These people are sometimes called prehistoric because they lived long before recorded
history. From fossil evidence, we know they found food by gathering and hunting, made simple
clothes and built shelters out of local materials. People lived like this for thousands of years. Around
9000 B.C., for the first time, people in West Asia started to produce their food by farming.
Answer:
1. the hominids 2. Africa 3. modern people 4. 10,00,000 years ago
5. Homo sapiens 6. Hunting 7. Food 8. 9000 B.C.
90 | P a g e
15. Read the following passage and make notes by drawing and filling the boxes given below: South
America’s habitats include tropical forests of the north, grasslands of the centre and South,
tributaries of the Amazon, the Andes Mountains in the west, deserts fringing the west coast, and
wetlands of Brazil. South America is rich in wildlife, much of it found in the rain forests. The
distinctive animals of South America, including anteaters, sloths, opossums and new world monkeys,
evolved when SouthAmerica was separated from North America and got isolated from the rest of the
world.
Answer:
1. tropical forests of the north 2. grasslands of the centre and south
3. tributaries of the Amazon 4. the Andes Mountains in the west
5. wetlands of Brazil 6. anteaters
7. Sloths 8. new world monkeys.
16. Read the following passage and make notes by drawing and filling the boxes given below:
Mongooses belong to a group of carnivorous mammals that also include civets, genets, the fossae
and binturong (or bear-cat). Mongooses live in southern Europe, southern Asia and much of Africa.
The banded and dwarf mongooses live in family groups, and are very sociable. Each one of them has
a special duty and enables the group to work together harmoniously. Female mongooses remain close
to their nest and look after the young, while males go hunting for food. These mongooses live in
burrows, which they dig themselves or take over from other animals such as termites.
Answer:
1. carnivorous mammals 2. Civets 3. Genets 4. binturong
5. southern Europe. 6. southern Asia 7. family groups 8. the young.
91 | P a g e

17. There are three components of population growth. They are births, deaths and migration. The rates of
these components are measured per 1000 people per year and they vary from one country to another.
The average birth rate of the world is 19.14. Niger has the highest birth rate in the world with 51.76
births and Japan has the lowest with 7.64. The average death rate of the world is 8.37. Sierra Leone
ranks first with 18 deaths and Qatar has the least death rate with just 1.53.
Answer:
1. Births 2. Migration 3. one country to another 4. 8.37
5. Niger 6. Sierra Leone 7. Japan 8. Qatar.
18. Human Development Index has three dimensions. The countries of the world are ranked based on
their performance in the areas of health, education and access to resources. In order to measure the
performance in health, life expectancy is taken into account whereas to measure the performance in
education, rate of literacy is considered. The standard of living is appraised while measuring the
performance in respect of access to resources. It is measured in terms of purchasing power in US
dollars.
Answer:
1. Human Development 2. Health 3. Education 4.access to resources
5. life expectancy 6. rate of literacy 7. purchasing power 8. US dollars.
92 | P a g e

19. Drip irrigation system was developed in Israel. This system uses a small amount of water for
irrigating crops. It is best suited in areas that face acute scarcity of water. It was introduced in India
in the 1970s. It is widely used by farmers in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. It is
mainly used for coconut, grape, vegetables and plantation crops. It is estimated that 6.3 lakh hectares
of land in India is irrigated under this system.

Answer:
1. Israel 2. small amount of water for irrigation 3. 1970s 4. Maharashtra
5. Tamil Nadu 6. Coconut 7. Grape 8. vegetables.
20. There are three methods of rice cultivation. They are broadcasting, drilling and transplanting. The
broadcasting method involves scattering of seeds by hand and it is practiced in less fertile hilly
areas. In drilling method, seeds are drilled into the soil. This method is confined to peninsular India.
The transplanting method uses seedlings grown in seed beds for four weeks. It requires abundant
supply of labor and water but gives higher yields.
Answer:
1. Broadcasting 2. Drilling 3. Transplanting 4. seeds
5. Hand 6. peninsular India 7. four weeks 8. higher yields.
************
93 | P a g e

JOB APPLICATION
1. Write a letter of application in response in the following advertisement which appeared in
“The Times of India” dated 20th March 2020. (Write XXX for Name andYYY for address.)
Reputed Multispecialty Hospital is looking out for a smart

Front Desk Manager.
Fluency in English and Kannada is must.
Candidate should be graduate with computer knowledge.
Apply within a week to: Republic Multispecialty Hospital, Langford gardens,Richmond Town, Mangalore.
XXX
YYY
20th March, 2020
REPUBLIC MULTISPECIALTY HOSPITAL
LANGFORD GARDEN,
RICHMOND TOWN
MANGALORE
Respected Sir/Madam,
Sub: Application for the post of smart Front Desk Manager.
Ref: Your advertisement in ‘The Times of India’ dated 20th March 2020.
In response to your advertisement mention above, I am applying for the post of Smart FrontDesk Manager.
I have passed my Graduation with a First Class. I am fluent in English and local languages.Besides I
have experience of one year as a Smart Front Desk Manager.
I have enclosed my resume with this application. I hope it will meet your requirement.
Thank You,
Yours Faithfully,
XXX
Curriculum Vitae/Resume
Name :XXX
Father’s Name : XYZ
D.O.B : 19/08/1991
Address : YYY
Phone Number : 96XXXXXX
Email Number : prashanthauttangi1991@gmail.com
Sex :Male/Female
Nationality : Indian
Language known : English, Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil.
Education Qualification:
SL no Name of the Examination Board / University Year of passing Percentage
/ CLASS (%)
01 SSLC KSEEB 2008 75
02 P.U.C Pre-University 2010 80
03 B.Sc. Bangalore university 2013 70
Experience : One years
Hobbies : Reading, Painting, Listening to Music
Declaration:
I hereby declare that the information submitted above is true to the best of myknowledge.
Thank You, Yours
Faithfully,
XXX
94 | P a g e
2. Write a letter of application in response to the following advertisement whichappeared in

“The Times of India” dated 10th May 2020. (Write XXX for Name and YYY for address.)
Reputed International school
requires teachers to teach Math’s/Science and EnglishPost graduates with B.Ed., preferred
Apply within 10 days with copies of marks card to the correspondent,
TO: Lion ‘s International Public School, Plot No. 260, North Zone Estates, Tumkur Road, Bengaluru
- 560089
XXX
YYY
10th May, 2020
Lion ‘s International Public School,
Plot No. 260,
North Zone Estates,
Tumkur Road,
Bengaluru - 560089
Respected Sir/Madam,
Sub: Application for the post of English Teacher.
Ref: Your advertisement in ‘The Times of India’ dated 10th May, 2020.
This is in response to your advertisement in the ‘The Times of India’, dated 10th May, 2020 for the post
of English Teacher. I have passed my Post Graduation with B.Ed. with a First Class. I am fluent in
English and local languages. Besides I have experience of three year as a teacher. I have enclosed my
resume with this application. I hope it will meet your requirement.
Thank You,
Yours Faithfully,
XXX
Curriculum Vitae/Resume
Name :XXX
Father’s Name : XYZ
D.O.B : 19/08/1991
Address : YYY
Phone Number : 96XXXXXX
Email Number : prashanthauttangi1991@gmail.com
Sex :Male/Female
Nationality : Indian
Language known : English, Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil.
Education Qualification:
SL no Name of the Exam / CLASS Board / University Year of passing Percentage
01 SSLC KSEEB 2008 75
02 P.U.C Pre-University 2010 80
03 B.A [H E E] Bangalore university 2013 70
04 B.Ed. Bangalore university 2014 89
05 M.A (In English) Bangalore university 2016 85
Experience : One years
Declaration:
I hereby declare that the information submitted above is true to the best of myknowledge.
Thank You,
Yours Faithfully,
XXX
*************
95 | P a g e

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INYA : The Learning App

II PU ENGLISH NOTES AND GRAMMAR

Name: Prashantha Uttangi (English Lecturer)

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ROMEO AND JULIET

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37. What do you think the phrase; “face of heaven” signifies?

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WHEN YOU ARE OLD

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5. What does the phrase 'your changing face' suggest?

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22. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?

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The coconut grove was located near Chennarayapatna.

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HEAVEN, IF YOU ARE NOT HERE ON EARTH

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6. Where is the heaven found?

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JAPAN AND BRAZIL THROUGH A TRAVELER’S EYE

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16. Where do the bowing girls stand in Japanese stores?

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