Tamilnadu Board

9th Standard English Unit 6 Supplementary The Christmas Truce Paragraph Book Back Answers

The Christmas Truce 9th Standard English 6th Lesson Questions and Answers

A. Choose the correct answer.

Question 1.
The story is set during the _________.
(a) World War I
(b) World War II
(c) Kargil War
(d) Indo-China War
Answer:
(a) World War I

Question 2.
The story is about the celebration of _________festival.
(a) Deepavali
(b) Pongal
(c) Ramzan
(d) Christmas
Answer:
(d) Christmas

Question 3.
Tom called the incidents happened there as a _________.
(a) fairy tale
(b) poetry
(c) tragedy
(d) comedy
Answer:
(a) fairy tale

Question 4.
The Germans had placed Christmas trees in front of their _________.
(a) houses
(b) trenches
(c) tanks
(d) cars
Answer:
(b) trenches

Question 5.
One of the German soldiers worked as a _________ at Victoria Station.
(a) tea-seller
(b) ticket-checker
(c) porter
(d) shop keeper
Answer:
(c) porter

MCQs- Additional

Question 1.
As I wrote before, there has been little serious _________ of late.
(a) argument
(b) fighting
(c) row
(d) quarrel
Answer:
(b) fighting

Question 2.
It _________ and cakes everything, and constantly sucks at our boots.
(a) splatters
(b) scatters
(c) splashes
(d) spreads
Answer:
(a) splatters

Question 3.
Through all this, we could not help feeling _________ about the German soldiers across the way.
(a) anxious
(b) happy
(c) curious
(d) proud
Answer:
(c) curious

Question 4.
I went to the dugout to rest and lying on my cot, I must have drifted _________.
(a) away
(b) asleep
(c) around
(d) above
Answer:
(b) asleep

Question 5.
This carol may not yet be _________ to us in Britain.
(a) similar
(b) popular
(c) familiar
(d) common
Answer:
(c) familiar

Question 6.
There in the trenches, we looked at each other in _________.
(a) astonishment
(b) bewilderment
(c) amazement
(d) excitement
Answer:
(b) bewilderment

Question 7.
A bonfire was built and around it we _________.
(a) surrounded
(b) gathered
(c) assembled
(d) mingled
Answer:
(d) mingled

Question 8.
He showed me a _________. of his family back in Munich.
(a) photo
(b) picture
(c) snap
(d) portrait
Answer:
(b) picture

Question 9.
What does it mean, this impossible befriending of _________?
(a) soldiers
(b) warriors
(c) enemies
(d) terrorists
Answer:
(c) enemies

Question 10.
All nations say they want _________.
(a) unity
(b) peace
(c) good wishes
(d) laurels
Answer:
(b) peace

B. Identify the Character, Speaker or both of the following lines.

1. Our first complete silence in months!
2. Come and see! See what the Germans are doing!
3. Hold your fire.
4. You no shoot, we no shoot.
5. My God, why cannot we have peace and all go home? Ans: Older German soldier

Answers:

1. Tom.
2. John.
3. The British Captain.
4. One of the German soldiers.
5. Older German soldier.

Identify The Character / Speaker – Additional

1. We have mostly stayed in our trenches and waited.
2. I am not lying to you.
3. “That you must ask your emperor”.
4. “But we must also ask our hearts”.
5. “Send officer to talk”.
6. “English, come over!”.
7. “Because many have worked in England”.
8. “Perhaps you did!”.
9. “Christmas Trees!”.
10. And now it seems, they felt the same.

Answers:

1. Tom
2. Tom
3. Tom
4. An older German soldier
5. One of the German Soldiers
6. One of the German Soldiers
7. One of the German Soldiers
8. Tom
9. John, Tom’s friend
10. The German Soldiers

C. Answer the following question in about 100 -120 words.

Question 1.
Narrate the Christmas celebration as happened in the war field.
Answer:
On Christmas eve, the soldiers had their first good freeze. Everything was tinged white with frost and a bright sun shone. It was perfect Christmas weather. Clusters of tiny lights were shining all along the German line and they had placed Christmas trees, lit by candles, lanterns, like beacons of goodwill. The Germans began singing, “ Stille nacht..” The British applauded the Germans. Both the troops crossed the barbed wires and were in No Man’s Land.

They shared their joy, greeted and wished each other. They exchanged wonderful presents with all that they had, badges, tea, coffee, buttons, knife, etc… The Christmas celebration was wonderful as joy prevailed everywhere and they longed for peace.

Paragraph : Additional Questions

Question 1.
Why did more of Germans know English? How did others converse?
Answer:
More of Germans knew English because many of them have worked in England. One of the Germans was a waiter at Hotel Cecil. Another German had been a porter at Victoria Station. He showed Tom a picture of his family back in Munich. It was so lovely. Tom told him that he would like to meet his family members one day.

The German happily gave him his family’s address. Even those who could not converse could still exchange gifts – tea for coffee, corned meat for sausages, badges and buttons from uniforms changed owners, spiked helmets, jack knife for a leather equipment belt.

Question 2.
What happened when all were starting back to their trenches?
Answer:
When all were starting back to their trenches after the celebration of Christmas Eve, an older German soldier clutched Tom’s arm and said why can’t they have peace and all go home. Tom gently told him that he must ask his emperor about this. The old German looked at him searchingly and said again that they must also ask their hearts.

It was such a heart rending incident. What does it all mean, this impossible befriending of enemies? The soldiers may be decent, but they had to follow the orders and not shirk their duties. If the leaders were to offer good wishes in place of warnings; songs in place of insults; gifts in place of reprisals, would not all ward end at once.

D. Think and answer.

Question 1.
Do you envision a similar truce taking place in any wars or fighting today? Explain.
Answer:
Yes. I feel the same enmity is between India and Pakistan borders. Both the countries were united before the British left India. People who lived as brothers and sisters are now partitioned and called different nationalities. The bond of ‘ brotherhood still exists.

Question 2.
Today, much of what we know about the truce comes from soldiers’ postcards home. In the postcard given below, write a short message home, imagine that you took part in the 1914 Christmas Truce.
Answer:
My dear Mom,

It was a wonderful Christmas this year. We had the opportunity of celebrating ‘ with our foes. Sorry, they are our friends now. We crossed boundaries, exchanged gifts and sang Christmas songs.

It’s all like a dream. I couldn’t believe that the Germans would be too kind, lovable. Hope all this truce ends soon. We long for peace.

Yours,
John.

Additional Questions

I. Short Questions And Answers.

Question 1.
What does this story highlight?
Answer:
It highlights the beauty of unlikely friendships and fellowship.

Question 2.
When was this letter written and to whom was it written?
Answer:
It was written on the Christmas day in the year 1914 by a British soldier, Tom to his sister Janet.

Question 3.
Why did the British soldiers not dared to lift their heads above the ground?
Answer:
In daylight, the British soldiers did not dare to lift their heads above the ground for fear of a sniper’s bullet.

Question 4.
What happened to a new recruit in the dugouts?
Answer:
As there was rain daily, mud accumulated in their trenches. One new recruit got his feet stuck in it and then his hands too got stuck, when he tried to get out of it.

Question 5.
How did Germans place their Christmas trees?
Answer:
The Germans had placed their Christmas trees in front of their trenches, lit by candle or lantern like beacons of good will.

Question 6.
What song did the Germans sing first? Who translated it?
Answer:
They sang ‘Stille nacht, heilige nacht’ in German. John translated it to English ‘Silent Night, Holy Night’.

Question 7.
What did the captain of the British announced?
Answer:
He announced that both the captains had agreed that there will be no shooting before midnight, till the next day.

Question 8.
Where did the soldiers meet for the Christmas Eve
Answers:
They built a bonfire and around it, over a hundred soldiers and officers of each side mingled and shook hands with each other.

Question 9.
Who showed a picture of his family to Tom?
Answer:
A German, who had been a porter at Victoria Station, showed Tom a picture of his family back in Munich.

Question 10.
How did the soldiers parted after the Christmas Eve?
Answer:
They parted with promises to meet again the next day, for a football match.

II. Read The Passage And Answer The Questions.

1. It is 2:00 in the morning and most of our men are asleep in their dugouts – yet I could not sleep before writing to you about what happened here on Christmas Eve. In truth, what happened seems almost like a fairy tale, and if I had not been through it myself, I would have scarce believed it. While you and the family sang carols before the fire there . in London, I did the same with enemy soldiers here on the battlefields of France! As I wrote before, there has been little serious fighting of late. The first battles of the war left so many dead that both sides have held back until replacements could come from home. So, we have mostly stayed in our trenches and waited.

Question (a).
At what time did Tom write his letter?
Answer:
He wrote His letter at 2.00 in the morning.

Question (b).
What day was it?
Answer:
It was Christmas day.

Question (c).
What did Janet and her family do in London?
Answer:
Janet and her family sang carols before the fire in London.

Question (d).
What happened during the first battles of the war?
Answer:
The first battles of the war left so many dead that both sides were held back until replacements came from home.

Question (e).
Where did they stay?
Answer:
They stayed in their trenches.

2. But what a terrible waiting it has been! Knowing that any moment an artillery shell might land and explode beside us in the trench, killing or maiming several men. And in daylight not daring to lift our heads above ground, for fear of a sniper’s bullet.

And the rain – it has fallen almost daily. Of course, it collects right in our trenches, where we must bail it out with pots and pans. And with the rain has come mud – a good foot »’ or deeper. It splatters and cakes everything, and constantly sucks at our boots. One new recruit got his feet stuck in it, and then his hands too when he tried to get out.

Question (a).
What was the terrible thing?
Answer:
Knowing that any moment an artillery shell might land and explode beside them in the trench, killing or injuring several men was the terrible thing.

Question (b).
Who is a sniper?
Answer:
A person who shoots accurately from a hiding place is a snipper.

Question (c).
Where does the rain water collect?
Answer:
The rain water collects in their trenches.

Question (d).
What splatters and cakes everything?
Answer:
Mud splatters and cakes everything and constantly sucks at their boots.

Question (e).
Who got his feet stuck in it?
Answer:
One new recruit got his feet stuck in it.

3. I went to the dugout to rest, and lying on my cot, I must have drifted asleep. All at once my friend John was shaking me awake, saying, “Come and see! See what the Germans are doing!” I grabbed my rifle, stumbled out into the trench, and stuck my head cautiously above the sandbags.

I never hope to see a stranger and more lovely sight. Clusters of tiny lights were shining all along the German line, left and right as far as the eye could see.

“What is it?” I asked in bewilderment, and John answered, “Christmas trees!”
And so it was. The Germans had placed Christmas trees in front of their trenches, lit by candle or lantern, like beacons of goodwill.

Question (a).
Who went to the dugout to rest?
Answer:
Tom went to the dugout to rest.

Question (b).
What did John tell Tom?
Answer:
John woke up Tom and asked him to see what the Germans were doing.

Question (c).
What was tom’s reaction for this?
Answers:
He grabbed his rifle, stumbled out into the trench and stuck his head cautiously above the sandbags.

Question (d).
What was the lovely sight?
Answer:
cluster of tiny lights were shining all along the German line, left and right as far as the eye could see.

Question (e).
What is a beacon
Answer:
A beacon is a fire or light set up in a high position as a signal.

4. I saw one of our men lift his rifle to the ready, and no doubt others did the same – but our captain called out, “Hold your fire.” Then he climbed out and went to meet the Germans halfway.

We heard them talking, and a few minutes later, the captain came back and announced, “We’ve agreed that there will be no shooting before midnight tomorrow. But sentries are to remain on duty, and the rest of you, stay alert.”

Across the way, we could make out groups of two or three men starting out of trenches and coming towards us. Then some of us climbed out too, and in minutes, there we were in No Man’s Land – over a hundred soldiers and officers of each side, shaking hands with men we’d been trying to kill just hours earlier!

Before long, a bonfire was built and around it we mingled – British khaki and German grey. I must say, the Germans were the better dressed, with fresh uniforms for the holiday.

Question (a).
What did the captain ordered his man?
Answer:
He ordered his men not to shoot.

Question (b).
Whom did the captain meat?
Answer:
He met one of the German officers.

Question (c).
Who ware coming towards the British soldiers?
Answer:
Groups of two or three German men started out of their trenches and were coming towards them.

Question (d).
What did they build In’No Man’s land’?
Answer:
They built a bonfire in ‘No Man’s land’.

Question (e).
What was the colour of the uniform of the British and the Garman?
Answer:
The British wore a Khaki uniform and the Germans had a grey uniform.

5. Only a couple of our men knew German, but more of the Germans knew English. I asked one of them why that was so.
“Because many have worked in England!” he said. “Before all this, I was a waiter at the Hotel Cecil. Perhaps I waited on your table!”

“Perhaps you did!” I said, laughing.

Another German had been a porter at Victoria Station. He showed me a picture of his family back in Munich. It was so lovely, I told him I would like to meet his family members someday. He happily gave me his family’s address.

Even those who could not converse could still exchange gifts – our tea for their coffee, our corned meat for their sausage. Badges and buttons from uniforms changed owners, and one of our boys walked off with a spiked helmet! I myself traded a jack knife for a leather equipment belt – a fine souvenir to show when I get home.

Question (a).
How many British soldiers knew German?
Answer:
Only a couple of British soldiers knew German.

Question (b).
Why did more of the Germans knew English?
Answer:
More of the Germans knew English because many had worked in England.

Question (c).
Who worked as a waiter?
Answer:
One of the Germans worked as a waiter at the Hotel Cecil.

Question (d).
Who traded a Jack knife for a leather belt?
Answer:
Tom traded a Jack knife for a leather belt.

Question (e).
How will he preserve it?
Answer:
He will preserve it as a fine souvenir to show his family members.

III. Mind Map

Question 1.

Answers:

1. little shelling from either side.
2. stopped entirely.
3. peaceful holiday.
4. off guard.
5.  to rest.

Question 2.

Answer:

1. fine harmonies.
2. applause of their own.
3. the words in Latin.
4. No Man’s Land.
5. more amazing.

VII. Write A Brief Description Of The Story In A Story Map Format.

Title: Christmas Truce
Author: Aaron Shepard
Characters:

1. Tom, the British Soldier
2. Jack his sister
3. John his friend
4. The British Captain
5. New recruit of the British
6. British Soldiers
7. German Soldiers
8. An elderly German

Settings: On the battlefields during the World War – II.
Plot: The British soldier’s letter to his sister Janet on how all enemity was forgotten as British and German soldiers celebrated Christmas together.
Theme: It highlights the beauty of unlikely friendships and fellowship.
End: If the leaders were to offer good wishes in place of warnings; songs in place of insults; gifts in place of reprisals, would not all wards end at once. All the nations want peace.

The Christmas Truce Textual activities

Warm Up

Question.
Name one festival which you like the most.
Answer:
The festival which I like the most is Navarathri.

Question.
How do you celebrate that festival?
Answer:
We celebrate the festival by arranging beautiful dolls as Kolu at home.

Question.
A Narrate a memorable incident which happened during that celebration?
Answer:
During a Navarathri Kolu, a press reporter took snaps of our doll arrangement. That week, we received a special prize for best Kolu. Our Kolu picture appeared in the newspaper.

The Christmas Truce by Aaron Shepard

Aaron Shepard was born on 7th October 1950. He was a professional story teller and performer in reader’s theater from 1985 to 1991. He had also worked as a publisher, journalist, computer programmer, musician, instrument maker and salesman. He is the award winning author of Savithri: A Tale of Ancient’India, the Legend of Lightning Larry, The Sea King’s Daughter and many more childrens books. Aarons speciality is retelling folktales and other traditional literature from around the world. His work has been honoured by the American Library Association, the National Council for the Social Studies, the American Folklore Society, the New York Public Library and the Bank Street College of Education.

The Christmas Truce Summary

This is a British soldier’s letter to his sister on how all enmity was forgotten as British and German soldiers celebrated Christmas together. It was World War -1 time and there was a war between British and German. It was Christmas eve while everyone sang Christmas Carols before fire place. Tom, the British soldier was on the battle field of France.

They had stayed in a long narrow ditch. It was terrible. The German’s trench was only fifty yards from them. Between them lay No man’s land bordered both sides with barbed wire. On Christmas eve the shooting stopped completely.

Their first complete silence in months. The German soldiers had placed Christmas trees lit by candles or lantern, like beacon of good will. Both of them agreed to stop shooting on Christmas. They both exchanged gifts and food and sang Christmas songs. Thus they celebrated Christmas in the midst of war. All nations say that they want peace. Yet on that Christmas morning he wonders if they want it quite enough.

The Christmas Cruce Main Characters  

1. The Narrator
2. His friend John
3. German Soldiers

The Christmas Truce Mind Map

The Christmas Truce Glossary

Tamilnadu Board Class 9 English Solutions

9th Standard English Unit 3 Supplementary Earthquake Paragraph Book Back Answers

Earthquake 9th Standard English 3rd Lesson Questions and Answers

A. Fill in the blanks with words from the text.

1. The name of the narrator is _________________ .
2. There were _________________ villages in the valley.
3. Brij went to Pauri to buy his _________________ .
4. The soldiers had set up a _________________
5. Bhuli had been buried under the debris for _________________  hours.

Answers:

1. Brij
2. six hundred and seventy
3. school books
4. makeshift hospital
5. hundred and sixteen

B. Based on your understanding of the story, choose the right answers from the options.

Question 1.
Brij started a tea shop because he wanted to _________________ .
(a) start a company.
(b) serve the people.
(c) go on a pilgrimage.
(d) become a tour guide.
Answer:
(b) serve the people

Question 2.
Molthi was completely devastated because of _________________ .
(a) a high intensity earthquake.
(b) thunder and hail storm!
(c) drought and famine.
(d) flash floods
Answer:
a high intensity earthquake.

Question 3.
The brother searched everywhere and looked dejected because _________________ .
(a) he couldn’t find his house.
(b) he couldn’t locate his sister.
(c) he was hungry and didn’t eat for a few days.
(d) he lost his school books.
Answer:
he couldn’t locate his sister.

Question 4.
The boy had great reverence and respect for Army officers as they _________________ .
(a) were brave and courageous,
(b) worked day and night
(c) saved his sister from death.
(d) all the above.
Answer:
saved his sister from death

Question 5.
Brij finally offered the traveller a _________________ .
(a) cup of milk
(b) cup of tea
(c) glass of water
(d) cup of coffee
Answer:
cup of tea

MCQs – Additional

Question 1.
Welcome to my humble roadside __________ .
(a) coffee shop
(b) snack shop
(c) tea shop
(d) fruit shop
Answer:
(c) tea shop

Question 2.
It looks rickety, but it will hold your __________ .
(a) height
(b) weight
(c) strength
(d) body
Answer:
(b) weight

Question 3.
The heat, the crowd, the __________ it was all too much.
(a) sun
(b) smoke
(c) water
(d) pollution
Answer:
(d) pollution

Question 4.
The earthquake lasted less than __________ minutes.
(a) three
(b) four
(c) five
(d) two
Answer:
(c) five

Question 5.
I had saved most of my __________ .
(a) vessels
(b) books
(c) instrument
(d) earnings
Answer:
(d) earnings

Question 6.
Its effects were felt as far away as Delhi and __________ .
(a) Agra
(b) Lucknow
(c) Kashmir
(d) Calcutta
Answer:
(b) Lucknow

Question 7.
It was a sheer chance that I was away that _________________ .
(a) evening
(b) morning
(c) night
(d) after noon
Answer:
(c) night

Question 8.
The __________ had set up a make shift camp.
(a) doctors
(b) soldiers
(c) people
(d) officers
Answer:
(b) soldiers

Question 9.
We spent the outside __________
(a) entire day
(b) entire night
(c) entire morning
(e) entire evening
Answer:
(b) entire night

Question 10.
I had gone to __________ to buy my school books
(a) Molthi
(b) Delhi
(c) pauri
(d) garhwal
Answer:
(c) pauri

Question 11.
He stood in the middle of a small __________.
(a) place
(b) door
(c) way
(d) hollow
Answer:
(d) hollow

Question 12.
__________ hours later, a soldier called out, ‘Sir!’
(a) Three
(b) Five
(c) Two
(d) Four
Answer:
(c) Two

C. Identify the character or speaker of the following lines.

1. Greetings, traveller. You looked tired and cold.
2. Tomorrow, we will go back to Pauri.
3. Whom are you looking for?
4. My men have been on their feet for days.
5. May God be with you!

Answers:

1. Brij
2. Uncle
3. Army officer
4. Army officer
5. Brij

Identify The Character / Speaker – Additional

1. ‘Are you a stranger to these parts?’
2. ‘I started this tea shop two years ago’.
3. ‘They have taken the bodies to the river bank’.
4. ‘But we must find her ’.
5. ‘Come, you must perform the last rites before sunset.’
6. ‘Brij, get a grip on yourself’.
7. ‘Boy, it is no use’.
8. ‘My sister, Sir”.
9. ‘They have done all they could here.’
10. They laboured doggedly.

Answers:

1. Brij
2. Brij
3. Uncle
4. Brij
5. Uncle
6. Uncle
7. The Army Officer
8. Brij
9. The Army Officer
10. The three soldiers

D. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of about 80 to 100 words.

Question 1.
Explain the efforts taken by the Army Officer to save the baby.
Answer:
The officer came with three soldiers armed with spades and crowbars. Without a word, the men began to remove the debris. They laboured doggedly. When it was completely dark, some one brought a few lit petromax lamps. Two hours r later, a soldier called out, “ Sir”. He stood in the middle of a small hollow. The wall had caved in at that spot. Brij recognised a part of the door. Beneath it, was a little foot. Feverishly, the soldiers began to clear the hollow. Then they lifted the door. It was a miracle. They rescued the baby alive after a hundred and sixteen hours. A ragged cheer went up and she was carried to a make-shift hospital.

Question 2.
Brij has become a symbol of love and humanity. Explain.
Answer:
Brij was happy to have Bhuli after a tough rescue operation. The officer who helped him was never seen again. He wanted to thank that Army officer. He hoped that one day he would run into him again. So Bhuj offered special tea with love and care to all tired travellers, army officers and soon every person who went that way. He felt a surge of sheer joy. He considered it as a humble service. Brij has become an epitome of love and a symbol of humanity.

Paragraph Questions And Answers : Additional

Question 1.
What happened to Brij’s village ‘Molthi’?
Answer:
A terrible earthquake occurred, four years ago in the month of October in a Valley near the Himalayas. Its effects were felt as far away as Delhi and Lucknow. They were six hundred and seventy villages in the valley. Out of these, six hundred and two villages were destroyed. The earthquake lasted less than five minutes. But it was enough time to set the centuries old mountains, to crash, to reduce the villages to rubble and to snuff out hundreds of lives. Brij’s village, “Molthi” was also destroyed during this terrible earthquake. He lost all his family members, except his little sister Bhuli. Every single house had been flattened. Only stones, rubbles and dust remained.

Question 2.
What did Brij tell to the traveller about his family?
Answer:
Brij’s house was a two-storeyed stone building with a slate roof/His great grandfather had built that house. They were a small family. His father had died after an illness, just fourteen months ago. His mother took care of all her children. Brij was the oldest of all. His brother Nilu was ten years old. Bhuli, his two-year old sister was the baby of the family. His grandmother also lived with them. He had lost his family, when he went to Pauri to buy his school books. While he was leaving for Pauri, his family members stood at the doorway and waved out to him.

E. Answer the following questions based on the reading of the story. Do not forget to go back to the passage whenever necessary to find and confirm the answers.

Additional Questions

I. Rearrange The Following Jumbled Sentences In The Correct Order.

Question A.
1. While you warm yourself, I will prepare for you the best cup of tea in all Garhwal.
2. Anyway, whoever you are, come with me. Wait at my tea shop.
3. It will chase away the pinched, blue look from your face.
4. As you can see, I am carrying this can of milk to the shop.
5. In ten minutes, I will have a fire going.
Answer:
2,4, 5,1, 3

2. Anyway, whoever you are, come with me. Wait at my tea shop.
4. As you can see, I am carrying this can of milk to the shop.
5. In ten minutes, I will have a fire going.
1. While you warm yourself, I will prepare for you the best cup of tea in all Garhwal.
3. It will chase away the pinched, blue look from your face.

Question B.
1. By the grace of God, it provides me a decent enough livelihood.
2. I came back and with a little help, I started this shop.
3. Before that, I worked in a roadside shop outside Panipat.
4. I had saved most of my earnings.
5. The heat, the crowd, the pollution – it was all too much.
Answer:
3, 5,4, 2,1

3. Before that I worked in a roadside shop outside Panipat.
5. The heat, the crowd, the pollution – it was all too much.
4. I had saved most of my earnings.
2. I came back and with a little help, I started this shop.
1. By the grace of God, it provides me a decent enough livelihood.

Question C.
1. One night, the earth quaked.
2. We, who live here, are accustomed to tremors.
3. It was four years ago, in the month of October.
4. Yes, tremors are common in these parts.
5. These snows may seem eternal, the Himalayas may look solid, but the truth is, deep down they are unstable.
Answer:
3,1,4, 5,2

3. It was four years ago, in the month of October.
1. One night, the earth quaked.
4. Yes, tremors are common in these parts.
5. These snows may seem eternal, the Himalayas may look solid, but the truth is, deep down they are unstable.
2. We, who live here, are accustomed to tremors,

Question D.
1. I had gone to Pauri to buy my school books.
2. We felt tremors. We ran out into the open.
3. Again and again the tremors came. We spent the entire night outside.
4. It was sheer chance that I was away that night.
5. I stayed the night at my uncle’s house.
Answer:
4,1, 5,2, 3

4. It was sheer chance that I was away that night.
1. I had gone to Pauri to buy my school books.
5. I stayed the night at my uncle’s house.
2. We felt tremors. We ran out into the open.
3. Again and again the tremors came. We spent the entire night outside.

II. Read The Passage And Answer The Questions.

1. Here we are. Welcome to my humble roadside teashop. Make yourself comfortable on this wooden bench. It looks rickety but it will hold your weight. My name, Sir? I am called Brij. I am seventeen years old. I started this tea shop two years ago.

Question (a).
Where was Brij’s teashop?
Answer:
His teashop was by the roadside.

Question (b).
How was the wooden bench in his tea shop.
Answer:
It was poorly made and likely to collapse.

Question (c).
How old was Brij?
Answer:
He was seventeen years old.

Question(d).
When did he start the tea-shop?
Answer:
He started the tea shop two years ago.

Question (e).
Who did Brij invite to his tea shop?
Answer:
Brij invited a traveller to his tea shop.

2. Here, your tea is ready – strong, sweet, flavoured with cardamom. Enjoy it, Sir, while I get on with my chores. This is my daily routine. At sunset, I will shut my shop and walk back the three miles to my dwelling on the hillside.

The name of my village?
It was my village. The village of my ancestors.
It is no more. Molthi is gone.

Question (a).
How did Brij prepare tea for the traveller?
Answer:
He prepared strong, flavoured tea with cardamon.

Question (b).
What time does he shut his shop?
Answer:
He shuts his tea shop at sunset.

Question (c).
How many miles he has to walk to his dwelling?
Answer:
He has to walk three miles to his dwelling on the hillside.

Question (d).
What was the name of his village?
Answer:
Molthi was the name of his village.

Question (e).
Why does Brij say that his village ‘Molthi’ is gone?
Answer:
He says that Molthi is gone because it was destroyed by an earthquake.

3. It was four years ago, in the month of October. One night the earth quaked. Yes, tremors are common in these parts. These snows may seem eternal, the Himalayas may look solid, but the truth is, deep down they are unstable. We, who live here, are accustomed to tremors. But what happened that night was more than that. It was a terrible earthquake. Its effects were felt as far away as Delhi and Lucknow.

Question (a).
When did the earthquake occur?
Answer:
It occurred four years ago in the month of October.

Question (b).
Are tremors common in those parts of the valley?
Answer:
Yes, Tremors are common in those parts of the valley.

Question (c).
What did Brij say about the Himalayas?
Answer:
Himalayas may look solid and eternal, but deep down, they are unstable.

Question (d).
Are the villagers who lived there accustomed to Tremors?
Answer:
Yes, they are accustomed to Tremors.

Question (e).
How were the effects of the Tremor?
Answer:
Its effects were felt as far away as Delhi and Lucknow.

4. When the soldiers began to clear the debris, my uncle led me away. I was in a complete daze, too numb to feel anything. The soldiers had set up a makeshift camp. Someone gave me tea and biscuits. I don’t know how long I was there. Suddenly it was evening and uncle was standing beside me. “They have taken the bodies to the river bank,” he said gently. “Come, you must perform the last rites before sunset. Tomorrow, we will go back to Pauri.”

Question (a).
What was the state of Brij, after the devastation?
Answer:
He was in a complete daze, too numb to feel anything.

Question (b).
What did the soldiers set up?
Answer:
The soldiers set up a makeshift camp.

Question (c).
What did his uncle say to him?
Answer:
He said that they have taken the bodies to the river bank. So he must perform the last rites before sunset.

Question (d).
When the soldiers began to clear the debris, what did his uncle do?
Answer:
He led Brij away from that place.

Question (e).
What was given to Brij by someone?
Answer:
He was given tea and biscuits.

5. He stood in the middle of a small hollow. The wall had caved in at that spot. I recognized a part of a door. Beneath it, a small foot.
Feverishly the soldiers began to clear the hollow. Then, they lifted the door.
“She is alive!” someone said.

It was a miracle. She had been buried under the debris for a hundred and sixteen hours. She had survived the earthquake, the cold nights and the wild animals. A ragged cheer went up and the soldier wrapped her in a warm blanket and carried her to the tent, where a makeshift hospital had been set up. Bhuli lived. The next day, I went to thank the Army Officer. But he was gone. I did not even know his name.

Question (a).
Where did one of the soldiers stand?
Answer:
He stood in the middle of a small hollow.

Question (b).
When the soldiers saw a small foot beneath a part of a door, what did they do?
Answer:
Feverishly, the soldiers began to clear the hollow. Then, they lifted the door and found the little girl there.

Question (c).
How many hours was the little girl buried under the debris?
Answer:
She had been buried there for a hundred and sixteen hours.

Question (d).
What steps were taken by the soldiers to save Bhuli?
Answer:
The soldiers wrapped her in a warm blanket and carried her to the tent, where a makeshift hospital had been set up.

Question (e).
What made Brij to go to the area, where the soldiers were labouring?
Answer:
The next day, he went to the area, to thank the army officer for saving his sister.

III. Short Question And Answers.

Question 1.
What was Brij carrying to his shop?
Answer:
He was carrying a can of milk to his shop.

Question 2.
Where did Brij work earlier?
Answer:
He worked in a roadside shop outside Panipat.

Question 3.
How did he prepare the tea for the traveller?
Answer:
He prepared a strong, sweet flavoured tea with cardamom for the traveller.

Question 4.
How many miles did Brij walk everyday to his dwelling?
Answer:
He walked three miles to his dwelling on the hillside.

Question 5.
When did the terrible earth quake occur?
Answer:
It occurred four years ago in the month of October.

Question 6.
How many villages were destroyed?
Answer:
Six hundred and two villages out of six hundred and seventy villages in the valley, were destroyed.

Question 7.
With whom did Brij live?
Answer:
He was living with his mother, a brother, who was ten years old, a two year old sister Bhuli and his grandmother.

Question 8.
What did the Army officer do, after Brij requested him to search for his sister?
Answer:
Ten minutes later, the army officer was back with three soldiers armed with spades and crowbars.

Question 9.
Was Briji’s sister alive?
Answer:
Yes, she was alive. She had been buried under the debris for a hundred and sixteen hours.

Question 10.
Did Brij thanked the army officer? Why?
Answer:
No, he could not thank him, as he was gone, the next day.

Earthquake Textual Acitivies

Warm Up

Question.
When was the last time you helped someone? Write a few instances of your act of kindness.
Answer:
I helped an old lady recently when she was very hungry and I had just ten rupees for my favourite chocolate. But, I was happy to get her a bun, butter and jam and feed her. I felt relieved and happy when she wished me goodluck.

• I have offered to carry weight for an aunt with a child,
• I have offered my seat in the bus for elders,

Earthquake On Killing a Tree by Mahadevan

M. S. Mahac van, is a prolific South Indian English writer. His short stories are known for the lucid style and typical Indian conditions. The Mole, Daughter Daughter, 200 Metres, The Enemy are some of his famous short stories.

Earthquake On Killing a Tree Summary

Brij, a little boy of 17 years old, offers tea at free of cost to any of the army officers or tired travellers. On his way to his tea-shop, he looks happy and excited. He offers a tired traveller tea and tells the incident of an earthquake that killed almost all of his family four years ago. On that day Brij went to a nearby Village, Pauri, to buy his school books and stayed at his uncle’s house.

That day night, his hometown, Molthi, was shattered by a powerful earthquake. He could just see the corpse of all his family members except his little sister, Bhuli. Everyone believed that she would have been eaten by some wild animals. But Brij felt that she would be alive. He requested an Army officer to search. The officer brought a team of three soldiers and started removing debris, to search for the little child.

Fortunately they found Bhuli who survived 116 hours without food in between the ruckus. Brij was very happy to have his sister. He didn’t even thank the officer as he never met him again. From that day, he started to offer free tea and service to all tired travellers who went that side.

The main characters are : 1. brij, 2. army officer, 3.bhuli 4.A tirerd traveller

Earthquake On Killing a Tree Mind Map

Earthquake On Killing a Tree Glossary

Tamilnadu Board Class 9 English Solutions

10th Standard English Unit 3 Supplementary The Story of Mulan Paragraph Book Back Answers

The Story of Mulan 10th Standard English 3rd Lesson Questions and Answers

A. Choose the best answers.

1. Mulan goes to the battle instead of her father because ______.
(a) she wants to be a soldier
(b) she was asked to join the army
(c) her father is old
(d) her brother is sick
Answer:
(c) her father is old

2. What did Mulan do before leaving the house?
(a) took leave from her mother
(b) cut off her hair
(c) prayed
(d), made a dress for war
Answer:
(b) cut off her hair

3. What is the story about?
(a) winning
(b) friendship
(c) women empowerment
(d) patriotism
Answer:
(c) women empowerment

4. The emperor asked Mulan to stay with him in the palace as his ______.
(a) wife
(b) royal advisor
(c) army general
(d) friend
Answer:
(b) royal advisor

5. The emperor gave Mulan ______.
(a) six horses and six swords
(b) a death sentence
(c) gold
(d) six camels
Answer:
(a) six horses and six swords

6. How did people of the village react to Mulan after her return from the battle?
(a) cheered her
(b) mocked her
(c) punished her
(d) scolded her
Answer:
(a) cheered her

MCQ – Additional

1. Many years ago, China was _______of a great war.
(a) at the end
(b) in the middle
(c) at the beginning
(d) on the verge
Answer:
(b) in the middle

2. With her sword, she cut off her _______.
(a) hands
(b) favourite plant
(c) long, black hair
(d) father’s robe
Answer:
(c) long, black hair

3. “You showed me how to use _______.
(a) a sword
(b) knife
(c) tools
(d) weapons
Answer:
(a) a sword

4. Mulan swung the sword back and forth _______.
(a) with power
(b) with enthusiasm
(c) with might
(d) in a haste
Answer:
(c) with might

5. He tried to get up but had to hold on _______.
(a) a bench
(b) to his chair.
(c) to the wall
(d) to Mulan
Answer:
(b) to his chair.

6. When the doctor came out of Mulan’s tent, he _______.
(a) knew the truth
(b) was abused
(c) knew everything
(d) kept quiet
Answer:
(a) knew the truth

7. Mulan heard this from inside _______.
(a) her room
(b) her house
(c) her kitchen
(d) her tent
Answer:
(d) her tent

8. She was not yet strong but _______.
(a) proceeded
(b) stood tall
(c) determined
(d) mentally prepared
Answer:
(b) stood tall

9. It was such a big victory that _______ gave up at last.
(a) Chinese
(b) soldiers
(c) the enemies
(d) warriors
Answer:
(c) the enemies

10. He _______ the rule about being a woman.
(a) applied
(b) executed
(c) conducted
(d) set aside
Answer:
(d) set aside

B. Identify the character or speaker of the following lines.

1. I heard about it in town.
Answer:
Mulan’s father

2. I am your son now.
Answer:
Mulan

3. The General is a woman?
Answer:
The soldiers

4. Mulan, stay with me in the palace.
Answer:
The Emperor of China

5. You are too kind sire.
Answer:
Mulan

Character or Speaker – Additional

1. “Did you hear what the Emperor says each family must do?”
Answer:
Mulan

2. Well, I may as well go pack up.”
Answer:
Mulan’s father

3. “No, my daughter! You cannot do this!”
Answer:
Mulan’s father

4. “For years, you trained me in Kung Fu.”
Answer:
Mulan

5. “No one will find out, Father.”
Answer:
Mulan

6. “How can this be?”
Answer:
One of the soldiers

7. “She tricked us!”
Answer:
One of the soldiers

8. “A surprise attack is coming!”
Answer:
Soldiers

9. “Someone as smart as you would be a fine royal adviser.”’
Answer:
The Emperor

10. “Then at least take these fine gifts.”
Answer:
The Emperor

11. Well, I may as well go pack up
Answer:
Mulan’s father

12. What else can be done?
Answer:
Mulan’s father

13. Of course, that’s true
Answer:
Mulan

14. He is too little. But I have an idea
Answer:
Mulan

15. Please sit for a minute. I will be right back.
Answer:
Mulan

16. I will do my part for China.
Answer:
Mulan

17. Only so that you could stay safe!
Answer:
Mulan’s father

18. No one will find out.
Answer:
Mulan

19. She tricked us!
Answer:
Soldiers

20. The cost is for her to die!
Answer:
Soldiers

21. Stay away from our General!
Answer:
Soldiers

22. He set aside the rule about being a woman.
Answer:
The Emperor

23. Then at least take these fine gifts.
Answer:
The Emperor

C. Answer the following questions in a sentence or two.

1. What was the emperor’s order?
Answer:
The Emperor’s order was that one man from each Chinese family must leave his family. to join the army.

2. Where did Mulan’s father hear about the emperor’s order?
Answer:
Mulan’s father heard about the Emperor’s order in town.

3. Why couldn’t Mulan’s brother go to war?
Answer:
Mulan’s brother couldn’t go to the war because he was a child.

4. Why did Mulan disguise herself as a man?
Answer:
Mulan disguised herself as a man because women were not allowed to join the army.

5. How did the soldiers become sick?
Answer:
A bad fever swept through the army. So, many soldiers became sick.

6. How would she be punished if found guilty?
Answer:
if found guilty, she would be killed.

7. Why did the emperor give her fine gifts?
Answer:
The Emperor gave her fine gifts because she won the battle and saved China.

8. How did the soldiers come to know about Mulan’s real identity?
Answer:
When a bad fever swept the army, all the soldiers became sick. Even Mulan was affected by this fever. When the doctor examined Mulan in her tent, the doctor came to know that she was a woman and informed the soldiers.

D. Answer the following questions in a paragraph.

Question 1.
Sketch the character of Mulan.
Answer:
Mulan was a brave warrior who saved China from the enemies. She was determined, courageous and intelligent. She was unselfish too. The incident which best attests to this trait was after returning from the war, the Emperor offered her the post of royal advisor. She refused the post and simply told that she wanted to return home. Mulan’s determination helped her through her adventures defeating the enemies’ army. She never gave up in bad situations. At war, she was very intelligent and was a quick planner. This attitude won her the war for the Chinese. She fought in the battle for twelve years and gained high merit. She refused any rewards except for six fine horses and six fine swords.

Question 2.
Do you agree with Mulan’s decision to go to war? Justify.
Answer:
Yes, Mulan’s decision to go to the war was correct. She is a patriotic girl who wanted to fight for her country. When the Emperor of China insisted that one man from each family should join the army, she was ready to join the army disguised as a man. At first, her father decided to join the army. But Mulan protested that he could not go as he was old and sick. Her brother was a child. So she decided to join the army. Her father was afraid that the Emperor would kill her, if he knew that she was a woman. But Mulan was confident that no one would find her. She cut her hair like a man and picked up the sword. She bade him goodbye, climbed on a horse and went to join the Emperor’s army.

Paragraph Question & Answer – Additional

Question 1.
How did Mulan prove her ability in the army?
Answer:
In the army, Mulan proved to be a brave soldier. In course of time, she was put in charge of other soldiers. Her battles went on so well that she was put in-charge of more soldiers. Her battles kept on going well. After a few years, Mulan was given the top job. She was the General of the entire army. Not long after that, a very bad fever swept through the army. Many soldiers were sick. And Mulan, the General of the army, became sick, too. When the doctor came out of Mulan’s tent, he knew the truth. The soldier protested to kill Mulan, as she had cheated them. But when Mulan won another battle of a surprise attack, they calmed down. She guided them where to hide to attack the enemies and gave them support. The Emperor was glad. After that, no one cared that Mulan was a woman.

The Story of Mulan Additional Questions

I. Fill in the blanks.

1. Many years ago, (i) ________ was in the middle of (ii) ________. The Emperor said that (iii) ________ from each (iv) __________ must leave his family to (v) ________.
(a) one man
(b) China
(c) a great war
(d) join the army
(e) chinese family
Answer:
(i) (b) China
(ii) (c) a great war
(iii) (a) one man
(iv) (e) Chinese family
(v) (4) join the army

2. Mulan ran into the house. Her (i) ________ was sitting (ii) ________, carving (iii) ________ “Father!” she said. “Did you hear what the (iv) ________ says each (v) ________ must do?”
(a) family
(b) Emperor
(c) father
(d) a piece of wood
(e) in a chair
Answer:
(i) (c) father
(ii) (e) in a chair
(iii) (d) a piece of wood
(iv) (b) Emperor
(v) (a) family

3. Mulan went (i) ________. With her sword, she (ii) ________ her long, black hair. She put on her
(iii) ________. Going back to her father, (iv) ________ said, “Look at me. I am your son now. I will go (v) ________.
(a) Mulan
(b) in your place
(c) cut off
(d) into her room
(e) father’s robe
Answer:
(i) (d) into her room
(ii) (c) cut off
(iii) (e) father’s robe
(iv) (a) Mulan
(v) (b) in your place

4. The Emperor was (i) ________ that Mulan had (ii) ________ the long war. He (iii) ________ the rule about being a woman. “Mulan, stay with me (iv) ________,” he said. “Someone as smart as you would be a fine (v) ________”.
(a) set aside
(b) royal advisor
(c) ended
(d) so glad
(e) in the palace
Answer:
(i) (d) so glad
(ii) (c) ended
(iii) (a) set aside
(iv) (e) in the palace
(v) (b) royal advisor

II. Match the following.

Answer:
(i) (c)
(ii) (d)
(iii) (a)
(iv) (e)
(v) (b)

III. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.

1. Many years ago, China was in the middle of a great war. The Emperor said that one man from each Chinese family must leave his family to join the army. Mulan, a teenage girl who lived in a faraway vilļage of China, heard the news when she was outside, washing clothes. Mulan ran into the house. Her father was sitting in a chair, carving a piece of wood. “Father!” she said. “Did you hear what the Emperor says each family must do?” “Yes.said her old father, “I heard about it in town. Well, I may as well go pack up.” He put down his carving, stood up and walked very slowly to his room.

(a) What did the Emperor say?
Answer:
The Emperor said that one man from each Chinese family must leave his family to join the army.

(b) Who was Mulan?
Answer:
Mulan was a teenage girl who lived in a faraway village in China.’

(c) When did she hear the news?
Answer:
She heard the news when she was outside, washing clothes.

(d)What was her father doing?
Answer:
Her father was carving a piece of wood.

(e) Where did her father hear the news?
Answer:
He heard it in town.

2.“Father, listen please,” said Mulan. “For years, you trained me in Kung Fu. You showed me how to use a sword.” Mulan swung the sword back and forth with might. “Only so that you could stay safe!” said her father. “I never meant for you to go to war. If they find out you are a woman, you know as well as I do that you will die!” “No one will find out, Father,” said Mulan. She picked up her sword. “Mulan!” said the Father. He tried to get up but had to hold on to his chair. The daughter kissed him goodbye. “I love you, Father,” she said. “Take care of yourself. Tell my brother I said goodbye.” She climbed on a family horse. And off she went to join the Emperor’s army.

(a) Who trained Mulan in Kung Fu?
Answer:
Her father trained Mulan in Kung Fu.

(b) How did she swing the sword?
Answer:
She swung the sword back and forth with might

(c) Did Mulan’s father want her to go to the war?
Answer:
No, he did not want her to go to the war.

(d) What would the Emperor do, if he finds that she is a woman?
Answer:
If the Emperor finds that she is a woman, he would kill her.

(e) How did she go to join the army?
Answer:
She bade goodbye to her father, climbed on their family horse and went to join the army.

3. In the army, Mulan proved to be a brave soldier. In time, she was put in charge of other soldiers. Her battles went so well that she was put in charge of more soldiers. Her battles kept on going well. After a few years Mulan was given the top job – she would be General of the entire army. Not long after that, a very bad fever swept through the army. Many soldiers were sick. And Mulan, the General of the army, became sick, too.

When the doctor came out of Mulan’s tent, he knew the truth.

“The General is a woman?” yelled the soldiers. “How can this be?” Some called out, “She tricked us!” and “We will not fight for a woman!” They said, “Punish her! Make her pay! The cost is for her to die!” But others called out, in voices just as loud, “With Mulan, we win every battle!” They said, “Stay away from our General!”

(a) How did Mulan prove in the army?
Answer:
She proved to be a brave soldier.

(b) What duty was given to her?
Answer:
She was put in-charge of soldiers.

(c) What happened after a few years?
Answer:
After a few years, she was given the post of the General of the army.

(d) What swept through the army?
Answer:
A very bad fever swept through the army.

(e) How did the soldiers come to know the truth?
Answer:
When Mulan was sick, the doctor examined her and told the soldiers that she was a woman.

IV. Mind Map

1.

Answer:
(i) long, black hair
(ii) her part
(iii) going to the war
(iv) decided
(v) brave warrior

2.

Answer:
(i) the soldiers
(ii) for a woman
(iii) her pay
(iv) to die
(v) Mulan

3.

Answer:
(i) big victory
(ii) was saved
(iii) a woman
(iv) long war
(v) advisor

The Story of Mulan Main Characters

Mulan’s father – An old man
Mulan – A Teenage girl
Mulan’s brother – A child

The Story of Mulan Key Points

The story is about Mulan, a teenage girl, who saved China.
When there was a war in China, the Emperor announced that one man from each family should-join the army.
Mulan dressed herself as a man and joined the army as her father was old and her brother was a child.
In the army, she proved to be a brave soldier.
She became the General of the army.
One day, a bad fever swept the army.
Mulan was also affected by this fever.
When the doctor examined her, everyone came to know that she was a woman.
The soldiers became angry and shouted that she should be punished.
Just then a battle came. With a good plan, she attacked the enemy and won the battle.
When she saved China, everyone cheered her.
The Emperor was glad and gifted her with six fine horses and six fine swords.

The Story of Mulan Summary

The story of Mulan is based on the legend of Hua Mulan. It is about a brave girl, Mulan who had saved China. Many years ago, China was in the middle of a great war. The Emperor announced that one man from each Chinese family must leave his family to join the army. Mulan heard the news and told her father. Her father got ready to join the army, as his son was a child and Mulan was a girl. But Mulan stopped him saying that she would go, on behalf of him. She would dress herself as a man and join the army. Her father said that she could not do it. If the Emperor knew about it, he would kill her. Mulan was confident that nothing would happen. She had been trained in Kung-Fu by her father. So she bade good bye and joined the army. In the army, she proved to be a brave soldier. Her battles went so well that she was put in-charge of more soldiers. After a few years, she was given the post of a General of the entire army. After some days, a very bad fever swept through the army. Mulan, the General was also affected by this fever. When the doctor came out of Mulan’s tent, he told the truth to the soldiers.

The soldiers got angry and yelled that she should be punished. But some soldiers protested to this and said that they won every battle with Mulan as the General.

Just then, a soldier ran up and announced about a surprise attack. Mulan got up and proceeded towards the attack. She instructed the soldiers what to do and it worked. The battle was won by them. China was saved. After this victory, no one cared that Mulan was a woman. The Emperor was glad and requested Mulan to be his royal advisor. Mulan refused his offer, saying that she wished to return to her family. So the Emperor gave her six fine horses and six fine swords. She returned to her village and everyone cheered that she was safe.

The Story of Mulan Glossary

carving (v) – an act of cutting a shape or pattern into wood or stone.
robe (n) – a long, loose outer garment reaching the ankles
kung-fu (n) – a Chinese method of fighting that involves using your hands and feet and not using weapons
might (n) – great and impressive power or strength, especially of a nation, large organization, or natural force
bowed (adj) – bending the body forwards from the waist, especially to show respect for someone

Tamilnadu Board Class 10 English Solutions

10th Standard English Unit 5 Supplementary A Day in 2889 of an American Journalist Paragraph Book Back Answers

A Day in 2889 of an American Journalist 10th Standard English 5th Lesson Questions and Answers

A. Answer the following questions in two or three lines.

Question 1.
Why did Francis Bennett wake up with a bad temper?
Answer:
Francis Bennett woke up with a bad temper because he was feeling lonely and bored. It was eight days, since his wife had gone to France.

Question 2.
What was a mechanized dressing room?
Answer:
The machine in the mechanised dressing room washes a person, shaves him, dresses him and buttons him from top to toe on the threshold of his office.

Question 3.
How was food served to him?
Answer:
Food was served to him through a network of pneumatic tubes. It was an expensive system, but cooking was better.

Question 4.
Why was Bennett curious about astronomy?
Answer:
Bennett was curious about astronomy because one of the astronomers had just determined the
elements of the new planet ‘Gandini’. He was delighted to know about the accuracy of it.

Question 5.
Why did he visit Niagara?
Answer:
He visited Niagara to see his accumulator works. There after using the force of the cataracts to produce energy, he sold or hired it out to the consumers.

Question 6.
How did Bennett travel?
Answer:
Bennett travelled by aero-car which shot across space at a speed of about four hundred miles ‘ an hour. Within half an hour, he reached his works at Niagara.

Question 7.
Give three instances of how mechanization has changed life at home in 2889?
Answer:
At home through phonotelephote, vision and speech are transmitted. In two minutes, without the help of an attendant, the machine gets a person to be ready, to his office. Food can be served through pneumatic tubes. ri 5 ^ ,

Question 8.
How is advertising in this age different from what we have today?
Answer:
The gigantic advertisement signs are reflected on the clouds, so large that they can be seen all over the country. From that gallery, a thousand projectors were unendingly employed in sending to the clouds, on which they were reproduced in colour, these exorbitant advertisements.

B. Identify the character/speaker.

Question 1.
As soon as he woke up, he switched on his phonotelephote.
Answer:
Francis Bennett

Question 2.
Well, Cash, what have you got?
Answer:
Francis Bennett

Question 3.
‘Phototelegrams from Mercury, Venus and Mars, Sir.’
Answer:
Cash

Question 4.
‘Interesting! And Jupiter?’
Answer:
Francis Bennett

Question 5.
‘Not yet, Mr.Bennett.’
Answer:
Cash

Question 6.
‘No, it’s the inhabitants.’
Answer:
Corley

Question 7.
‘Where are we going, Sir?’
Answer:
Aero-coachman

Question 8.
‘Then, Sir, I shall really have discovered the absolute.’
Answer:
A young man/petitioner

Question 9.
‘Are you saying you’re going to be able to construct a human being?’
Answer:
Francis Bennett

Question 10.
‘I’m going to start this moment.’
Answer:
Edith

Character or Speaker – Additional

Question 1.
‘You dare tell me that the moon is uninhabited?’
Answer:
Francis Bennett

Question 2.
‘Complete… The only thing missing will be the soul!’
Answer:
The young man/petitioner

Question 3.
’‘Then you’ll be here?’
Answer:
Francis Bennett

Question 4.
‘No, no! … Centropolis time’.
Answer:
Edith

Question 5.
‘On the face it turns towards us, at any rate, Mr. Bennett.
Answer:
Corley

C. Choose the best answer.

1. Bennette’s wife was in_____ .
(i) Germany
(ii) Australia
(iii) France
(iv) Holland
Answer:
(iii) France

2. The data from the stellar world was gathered by _______.
(i) Bennette
(ii) astronomical
(iii) the computer
(iv) telephote
Answer:
(ii) astronomical reporters

3. The food was being delivered through _______ tubes.
(i) pneumatic
(ii) shallow
(iii) hollow
(iv) virtual
Answer:
(i) pneumatic

4. The wayfarers were carried to one place to another by the.
(i) bullet train
(ii) jet
(iii) moving pavement
(iv) heli-taxi
Answer:
(iii) moving pavement

MCQ – Additional

1. It will be to make the _____ of all forms of matter easy.
(i) wonders
(ii) creation
(iii) elements
(iv) aspects
Answer:
(ii) creation

2. A careful ______ was being kept for Francis Bennett to return for the daily audience.
(i) project
(ii) examination
(iii) look out
(iv) check
Answer:
(iii) look out

3. ______ Francis Bennett had reached his works at Niagara
(i) Immediately
(ii) Within half an hour
(iii) After three hours
(iv) After 295 minutes
Answer:
(ii) Within half an hour

4. ‘When do you expect to ________ Centropolis, dear Edith?’
(i) leave
(ii) get back to
(iii) go away from
(iv) come back from
Answer:
(ii) get back to

5. It brought in a daily average of ______million dollars.
(i) three
(ii) four
(iii) five
(iv) six
Answer:
(i) three

6. Francis Bennett, attracted by this project, agreed to take a _____ in it.
(i) ten percent share
(ii) twenty percent share
(iii) half – share
(iv) full share
Answer:
(iii) half – share

7. This was _____ since his wife had been in France.
(i) ten days
(ii) two months
(iii) one year
(iv) eight days
Answer:
(iv) eight days

8. He quickly jumped out of bed and went into his ______ dressing room.
(i) mechanized
(ii) large
(iii) luxurious
(iv) small
Answer:
(i) mechanized

9. The aero-car shot across space at a speed of ______ miles.
(i) two hundred
(ii) four hundred
(iii) six hundred
(iv) eight hundred .
Answer:
(ii) four hundred

10. One of the Earth Herald’s astronomers had just determined the elements of the new planet ______.
(i) Ashwini
(ii) Rohini
(iii) Gandini
(iv) Jovian
Answer:
(iii) Gandini

D. Fill in the story map given below.

A Day in 2889 of an American Journalist Additional Questions

I. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate phrases.

1. The year is (i)______, the date 25th July and the place is the office block of the Managing (ii) of the Earth Herald, the world’s (iii) ______ newspaper. In this futuristic story written in 1889, the writer (iv) ________ how he visualizes the world a (v) ______ years later.
(a)largest
(b) describes
(c) thousands
(d) 2889
(e) Editor
Answer:
(i) (d)2889
(ii) (e) Editor
(iii) (a) largest
(iv) (b) describes
(v) (c) thousands

2. His name, spoken by that (i)_____ voice, gave a happier turn to Francis Bennett’s (ii) ______ . He quickly jumped out of bed and went into his (iii) ______dressing room. Two minutes later, without (iv) _____ the help of a valet, the machine deposited him, washed, shaved, shod, dressed and (v) ______ from top to toe, on the threshold of his office.
(a) mood
(b) needing
(c) buttoned
(d) mechanized
(e) sweet
Answer:
(i) (e) sweet
(ii) (a) mood
(iii) (d) mechanized
(iv) (b) needing
(v) (c) buttoned

II. Match the following.
(a)

Answer:
1 – (d)
2 – (c)
3 – (e)
4 – (b)
5 – (a)

(b)

Answer:
1 – (c)
2 – (a)
3 – (d)
4 – (e)
5 – (b)

III. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.

1. That morning Francis,Bennett awoke in rather a bad temper. This was eight days since his wife had been in France and he was feeling ahttle lonely. As soon as he awoke, Francis Bennett switched on his phonotelephote whose wires led to the house he owned in the Champs-Elysees. He saw his wife appear in the telephotic mirror.

(a) Where did Francis Bennett’s wife go?
Answer:
She went to France.

(b) How many days was Francis alone at home?
Answer:
He was alone for eight days.

(c) What did Francis do, as soon as Jie awoke?
Answer:
As soon as he awoke, Francis switched on his phonotelephote.

(d) Where did he own a house?
Answer:
He owned a house in Champs-Elysees.

(e) What did he see in the telephotic mirror?
Answer:
He saw his wife in the telephotic mirror.

2. Francis Bennett went on into the reporters’ room. His fifteen hundred reporters, placed before an equal number of telephones, were passing on to subscribers the news which had come in during the night from the four quarters of the earth. In addition to his telephone, each reporter has in front of him a series of commutators, which allow him to get into communication with this or that telephotic line. Francis Bennett questioned one of the ten astronomical reporters – a service which was growing because of the recent discoveries in the stellar world.

(a) Where did Francis go?
Answer:
He went on into the reporters room.

(b) How many reporters were there?
Answer:
There were fifteen hundred reporters.

(c) What were they doing?
Answer:
They were passing on to the subscribers the news which had come in during the night from the four quarters of the earth.

(d) What does each reporter had in front of him?
Answer:
Each reporter had a telephone and a series of commutators in front of him.

(e) Whom did Francis question?
Answer:
Francis questioned one of the astronomical reporters.

IV. Mind map.
1.

Answer:
(i) Earth Herald
(ii) Switched on his phonotelephote
(iii) mirror
(iv) mechanized dressing room
(v) buttoned from top to toe

2.

Answer:
(i) run out of money
(ii) all forms of matter easy
(iii) a human being?
(iv) the soul
(v) scientific editorial department

V. Paragraph questions.

1. How does Francis Bennett spend his day on 25th July?
Answer:
Francis Bennett got ready on 25th July and started off to his day’s work. He went into the reporter’s room. His fifteen hundred reporters were passing on to the subscribers the news which had come during the night from the four quarters of the earth. Francis Bennett questioned one of the ten astronomical reporters about what he had got. They had just determined the elements of the new planet ‘Gandini’. The astronomer gave accurate information about it. Francis got delighted and moved to the gallery which was devoted to Publicity. He inspected that and had his meals. Then he went to his accumulator works at Niagara. He returned to receive the petitions from the public. He selected the best proposal and finally after the day’s work, he decided to take a bath.

Question 2.
What does the story of ‘A day in 2889 of an American Journalist’ convey to us?
Answer:
This story speaks about the people of the twenty-ninth century who live in fairyland. Overfed as they are with marvels, they are indifferent to the presence of each new marvel. To them, all seem natural: This story is about the world in the year 2889. It was written in 1889 by Jules Verne. The writer describes how he visualizes the world a thousand years later – a world of technological advancements, where newspapers are not printed but ‘spoken. The story takes place in the office block of the Managing Editor of the ‘Earth Herald’ the world’s largest newspaper. It’s about how Francis Bennett spends his time at home and office with the technological advancements.

A Day in 2889 of an American Journalist By Jules Verne

Jules Verne (1828 – 1905) is a French Novelist, poet and playwright. His adventure novels are part of a series. He draws inspiration from his own sailing adventures. He is one of the most translated authors in the world. He has been called the Father of Science Fiction and has had an incalculable influence on the development of science fiction writing. More interesting, perhaps, is his place as a prophet or predictor of technology which wasn’t to be invented until long after his death

A Day in 2889 of an American Journalist Main Characters

Francis Bennett – Managing Editor
Edith – Wife of Francis Bennett
Cash – Astronomical reporter
Corley – Astronomical reporter
Gandini – New planet
Earth Herald – World s largest newspaper

A Day in 2889 of an American Journalist Key Points

• This story takes place in the office of the Managing Editor of the Earth Herald, the world’s largest newspaper.
• In this story, the writer visualizes the world, a thousand years later. It is a world of technological advancements.
• Francis Bennett’s wife had gone to France eight days back. So Francis felt lonely and bored.
• He gets ready without the help of an attendant by switching on a button on the mechanised dressing room.
• He went to the reporter’s room and enquired about its proceedings.
• He gets the news from one of his astronomers about the new planet ‘Gandini’.
• Then he travels to his accumulator works at Niagara, inspects them and returns to Centropolis by 5 ’O clock.
• At the waiting room of the Earth Herald, he receives different proposals from the audience.
• Out of these, two young men’s proposals were brilliant. So he engages them at his office.
• His wife gives him the news that she is starting from Paris by‘tube’.
• The tube travels from Paris in two hundred and ninety-five minutes.
• Finally, he gets tired and touches a button to take a bath.

A Day in 2889 of an American Journalist Summary

The year is 2889 and the date is 25th July. The story takes place in the office block of the Managing Editor of the Earth Herald, the worlds largest newspaper. In this story, written in 1889, the writer describes how he visualizes the world a thousand years later. It is a world of technological advancements. Here newspapers are not printed but spoken.

Francis Bennett awoke in a bad temper, as it was eight days since his wife had been in France. He was feeling lonely. He saw his wife appear in the telephotic mirror. He quickly jumped off his bed went into the mechanized dressing room. Without any attendant, the machine performed all the tasks of getting him ready to his office,

Francis went to the reporter s room. His fifteen hundred reporters were passing on to the subscribers the news which had come in during the night from the four quarters of the earth. Francis went to the service room of the astronomical reporters and enquired about its proceedings. One of the Earth Herald s astronomers had just determined the elements of the new planet Gandini. It is at a distance of 12,841,348,284,623 metres and 7 decimetres. The next room was a broad gallery. It was devoted to publicity. It brought in a daily average of three million dollars.

Francis then went to his accumulator works at Niagara in his aero-car. After visiting that, he returned to Centropolis about 5’0 clock. After waiting in the room of the Earth Herald, there were different proposals given by the crowd. Out of these, two young mens proposals were brilliant. He assigned them work and went to have his meal. He gets the news from his wife that she is coming to Centropolis by tube which travels from Paris in two hundred and ninety-five minutes. He touches a button to take a bath and goes in.

A Day in 2889 of an American Journalist Glossary

audition room – demonstrating room
cataracts – water falls
Centropolis (n) – (in this story) the new name of New York in 2889.
Champs-Elysees (n) – a prestigious avenue in Paris, famous for the Cafes, cinemas and shops
conveying – carrying
gigantic – enormous
glimpse – quick look
immense – huge
impracticable – impossible to carrying out
inhabitants (n) – a person or animal that lives in or occupies a place.
inordinate – excessive
jovians (n) – inhabitants of planet Jupiter
petitioner – a person who presents a request to an authority
phonotelephote (n) – A means of transmitting and receiving both voice and picture for a personal conversation.
phototelegrams (n) – A telegraphic transmission including images
precision – accuracy
rumbling – a continuous deep sound
solitude – loneliness
stellar – relating to stars
surfeited – overfed
transmission – the process of passing on
unceasingly – never-endingly
valet (n) – a man’s personal male attendant, who is responsible for his clothes and appearance

Tamilnadu Board Class 10 English Solutions

10th Standard English Unit 4 Supplementary The Aged Mother Paragraph Book Back Answers

The Aged Mother 10th Standard English 4th Lesson Questions and Answers

A. Rearrange the sentences given below in the correct sequence.

1. The son made up his mind to take back his mother home.
2. A farmer decided to leave his old mother on top of a mountain.
3. The governor realized his mistake and abolished the law.
4. Once in Shining, a cruel ruler declared that all old people must be put to death.
5. Using the clever idea of his mother, the farmer made a rope of ashes.
6. When the farmer bade farewell, she advised him to return home with the aid of twigs.
7. Filled with dread, he hid his mother in his home.
8. The mother dropped the small twigs as markers on the way to help her son return.
Answer:
4,2,8,6,1, 7, 5,3

4. Once in Shining, a cruel ruler declared that all old people must be put to death.
2. A farmer decided to leave his old mother on top of a mountain.
8. The mother dropped the small twigs as markers on the way to help her son return.
6. When the farmer bade farewell, she advised him to return home with the aid of twigs.
1. The son made up his mind to take back his mother home.
7. Filled with dread, he hid his mother in his home.
5. Using the clever idea of his mother, the farmer made a rope of ashes.
3. The governor realized his mistake and abolished the law.

B. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences.

Question 1.
What was the cruel announcement made by the leader?
Answer:
The cruel announcement was to put to death all the aged people.

Question 2.
Why was the farmer filled with sorrow?
Answer:
The farmer was filled with sorrow because he loved his mother very much. So he did not want her to die.

Question 3.
What were the things carried by the farmer to the summit of the mountain?
Answer:
He took a quantity of unwhitened rice. He cooked and dried it. He tied it in a square cloth and swung it in a bundle around his neck. He also took a gourd filled with cool sweet water.

Question 4.
Why did the mother become anxious as they climbed up the mountain?
Answer:
The mother became anxious as they climbed up the mountain because her son did not know the mountains many paths and his return might be one of the dangers.

Question 5.
What did the mother drop along the way?
Answer:
She dropped a pile of twigs along the way.

Question 6.
What was the advice given by his mother for the safe return of her son?
Answer:
She advised her son to look carefully and follow the path which holds the piles of twigs. It will guide him to the familiar path farther down.

Question 7.
Why did the farmer’s burden seem to be light on his way back home?
Answer:
The farmer’s burden seemed to be light on his way back because he was happy to take his mother back to his home.

Question 8.
Where did the farmer hide his mother?
Answer:
The farmer hid his mother in a walled closet beneath the kitchen floor.

Question 9.
How did the farmer make the rope of ashes? On whose suggestion did he do it?
Answer:
Using the clever idea of his mother, the farmer made a rope of ashes. He made this by making a rope of twisted straw and burning it on a windless night.

Question 10.
How did the Governor realize his mistake?
Answer:
The Governor was pleased at the wit of the youth. So he demanded to know where he had obtained his wisdom. The farmer related the true story to him. He listened and meditated in silence. He realized his mistake and abolished his cruel law.

C. Answer each of the following in a paragraph of 120 to 150 words.

Question 1.
Narrate the circumstances that led to the abandoning of the aged in Shining.
Answer:
The country Shining was governed by a cruel leader. He was a warrior. But he had a great and cowardly shrinking from anything suggestive of failing health and strength. This caused him to send out a cruel announcement. The entire province was given strict orders to immediately put to death all aged people. Those were harsh days and the custom of abandoning old people ’• to die was common. The poor farmer loved his aged mother with tender respect. This order filled his heart with sorrow. But no one ever thought twice about it. So with many deep and hopeless sighs, the farmer prepared to give his mother the kindest mode of death. He decided to take her to the summit of the Obatsuyama mountain and leave her there.

Question 2.
Describe the farmer’s painful journey up the mountain.
Answer:
Just at sunset, the farmer took a quantity of unwhitened rice. He cooked and dried it. He tied it in a square cloth, which he swung in a bundle around his neck along with a gourd filled with cool, sweet water. He lifted his helpless old mother to his back and started on his painful journey up the mountain. The road was long and steep. The narrow road was crossed and recrossed by many paths made by the hunters and woodcutters. In some place, he lost the path and was confused. But he gave no heed to it. He blindly went upward towards the high bare summit of what is known as Obatsuyama. His mother was anxious, as her son did not know the mountains many paths. His return might be one of the dangers. So she dropped piles of twigs on their path upto the summit of the mountain. Weary and heart sick, the youth gently released his burden and silently prepared a place of comfort as his last duty to the loved one. This was the painful journey of the farmer.

Question 3.
‘The old are wise’. Prove this with reference to the story ‘The Aged Mother’.
Answer:
A cruel ruler of Shining in Japan proclaims an announcement that all old people should be put to death. A poor farmer s heart was filled with sorrow after hearing this, because he loved his mother very much. So he carried her to the top of the mountain with a lot of difficulties, as the path was confusing and dangerous. When he bid farewell to her, she advised him to follow the path where piles of twigs were dropped. It would be easier for him to find his way. Her sons heart broke at this attitude of his mother. He brought her back and hid her in a closet beneath the kitchen floor. His mother proved her wisdom, when the governor demanded a rope of ashes. She gave her son a clever idea to present a rope of ashes. The Governor was glad. He praised her sense of wisdom and abolished his cruel law.

Paragraph Question and Answer – Additional

Question 1.
What is the theme of this story and what are the literary techniques used?
Answer:
The story is about a mother s love. It is something that no one can explain because it is made with deep devotion, sacrifice, understanding and pain. The way that the aged mother made a way, so that she can have an assurance that her son can go home safely is amazing. She knew from the very start that she will be abandoned in the summit of the mountain. But she understood that it was for her own good. The literary technique used in the story of the Aged Mother is realism because the situation in the story had once happened in the history of Japan. It was not by putting to death the aged people, but abandoning them. It views the once history of a certain country and the simplicity of life. The story also contains a lesson and the language used was simple and comprehensive.

D. Identify the character / speaker.

Question 1.
He gave orders for the aged to be put to death.
Answer:
The governor of Shining

Question 2.
He considered the order to be the kindest mode of death.
Answer:
The farmer

Question 3.
She quietly dropped some twigs on the way.
Answer:
The farmer’s old mother

Question 4.
Let not thine eyes be blinded.
Answer:
The farmer’s old mother

Question 5.
Together we will follow the path, together we will die.
Answer:
The farmer

Question 6.
I will think. I will think.
Answer:
The farmer’s old mother

Question 7.
The truth must be told.
Answer:
The farmer

Question 8.
He listened and meditated in silence.
Answer:
The governor of shining

Question 9.
Shining needs more than the strength of the youth.
Answer:
The governor of shining

Question 10.
With the crown of snow, there cometh wisdom.
Answer:
The governor of shining

Character or Speaker – Additional

Question 1.
This caused him to send out a proclamation.
Answer:
The governor

Question 2.
She stretched forth her hand and snapping the twigs from brushes as they passed, and dropped them.
Answer:
The farmer’s mother

Question 3.
“The mountain road is full of dangers”.
Answer:
The farmer’s mother

Question 4.
‘Oh, honorable mother, your kindness breaks by heart!’
Answer:
The poor farmer

Question 5.
His demand was that his subjects should present him with a rope of ashes.
Answer:
The governor

Question 6.
“Make a rope of twisted straw”.
Answer:
The farmer’s mother

Question 7.
He demanded to know where he had obtained his wisdom.
Answer:
The governor

E. Choose the appropriate answer and fill in the blanks.

1. Shining was governed by a ______leader.
(a) strict
(b) kind
(c) cruel
(d) diplomatic.
Answer:
(c) cruel

2. The ________ was the principal food for the poor.
(a) wheat
(b) brown rice
(c) unwhitened rice
(d) millet.
Answer:
(c) unwhitened rice

3. The road was crossed and re-crossed by many path made by the .
(a) hunters and woodcutters
(b) robbers and thieves
(c) vendors and tradesmen
(d) wildlife photographers and trekkers
Answer:
(a) hunters and woodcutters

4. Gathering _____ he made a soft cushion and tenderly lifted his old mother onto it.
(a) dry leaves
(b) fallen pine
(c) broken twigs
(d) flowers
Answer:
(b) fallen pine

5. The governor demanded that his subjects should present him with a _______.
(a) basket of fruits
(b) rope of ashes
(c) flesh of animals
(d) bag of silverwares
Answer:
(b) rope of ashes

MCQ – Additional

Complete the following sentences choosing correct answers from the options.

1. The custom of abandoning old people to die was not _______.
(a) common
(b) illegal
(c) uncommon
(d) bad
Answer:
(c) uncommon

2. The order filled his heart with _______.
(a) happiness
(b) sorrow
(c) gaiety
(d) bliss
Answer:
(b) sorrow

3. The eyes of the old mother were not so .
(a) bright
(b) lucid
(c) shiny
(d) dim
Answer:
(d) dim

4. The path was dotted with tiny piles of twigs.
(a) wide
(b) extensive
(c) narrow
(d) spacious
Answer:
(c) narrow

5. The mother s voice was full of unselfish love.
(a) calming
(b) trembling
(c) steadying
(d) lasting
Answer:
(b) trembling

6. “Let not thine eyes be
(a) inspected
(b) observed
(c) outlooked
(d) blinded
Answer:
(d) blinded

7. The son’s eyes looked back over the path.
(a) surprised
(b) tired
(c) bored
(d) drained
Answer:
(a) surprised

8. “Together we will follow the path of twigs, and together we will
(a) live
(b) survive
(c) die
(d) stay
Answer:
(c) die

9. Once more he shouldered his burden and down the path.
(a) delayed
(b) hastened
(c) slowed
(d) dragged
Answer:
(b) hastened

10. The governor was at the wit of the youth.
(a) disgusted
(b) annoyed
(c) dejected
(d) pleased
Answer:
(d) pleased

The Aged Mother Additional Questions

I. Fill in the blanks with appropriate phrases.

1. Long, long ago, there lived (i)______ of the mountain a (ii) ______ and his aged,(iii)_______ . They owned a bit of land which (iv) _______ them with food, and they were humble (v) ______.
(a) peaceful and happy
(b) widowed mother
(c) supplied
(d) at the foot
(e) poor farmer
Answer:
(i) (d) at the foot
(ii) (e) poor farmer
(iii) (b) widowed mother
(iv) (c) supplied
(v) (a) peaceful and happy

The country (i)______ was governed by a (ii) ________who thought (iii) _______, had a great and cowardly (iv)______ from anything suggestive of failing (v)______ and strength.
(a) warrior
(b) shrinking
(c) shining
(d) health
(e) despotic leader
Answer:
(i) (c) shining
(ii) (e) despotic leader
(iii) (a) warrior
(iv) (b) shrinking
(v) (d) health

3. The poor farmer loved his (i) with tender (ii)_____ and the order filled his (iii)_____ But no one ever thought twice about obeying (iv)_______ of the (v) ______.
(a) reverence
(b) the mandate
(c) governor
(d) aged mother
(e) heart with sorrow
Answer:
(i) (d) aged mother
(ii) (a) reverence
(iii) (e) heart with sorrow
(iv) (b) the mandate
(v) (c) governor

4. The eyes of the old matter were not (i) _______ but that they noted the reckless hastening from one (ii) ______, and her loving heart (iii) ______ . Her son did not know the mountain’s (iv) _____and his return might be (v)______ .
(a) path to another
(b) so dim
(c) many paths
(d) one of dangers
(e)grew anxious
Answer:
(i) (b) so dim
(ii) (a) path to another
(iii) (e)grew anxious
(iv) (c) many paths
(v) (d) one of dangers

II Match the following.

1.
e
Answer:
i. – (d)
ii. – (c)
iii. – (e)
iv. – (b)
v. – (a)

2.

Answer:
i. – (c)
ii. – (e)
iii. – (d)
iv. – (b)
v. – (a)

III. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.

1. The country Shining was governed by a despotic leader who though a warrior, had a great and cowardly shrinking from anything suggestive of failing health and strength. This caused him to send out a cruel proclamation. The entire province was given strict orders to immediately put to death all aged people. Those were barbarous days, and the custom of abandoning old people to die was not uncommon. The poor farmer loved his aged mother with tender reverence, and the order filled his heart with sorrow. But no one ever thought twice about obeying the mandate of the governor, so with many deep and hopeless sighs, the youth prepared for what at that time was considered the kindest mode of death.

(a) By whom was the country Shining governed?
Answer:
It was governed by a despotic leader.

(b) What did the governor proclaim?
Answer:
He proclaimed that all the aged people should be put to death.

(c) Was this custom common in those barbarous days?
Answer:
Yes, the custom was common in those days.

(d) How did the poor farmer love his mother?
Answer:
The poor farmer loved his aged mother with tender reverence.

(e) What filled him with sorrow?
Answer:
The order filled him with sorrow.

2. Just at sundown, when his day’s work was ended, he took a quantity of unwhitened rice which was the principal food for the poor, and he cooked, dried it, and tied it in a square cloth, which he swung in a bundle around his neck along with a gourd filled with cool, sweet water.

Then he lifted his helpless old mother to his back and started on his painful journey up the mountain. The road was long and steep; the narrow road was crossed and re-crossed by many paths made by the hunters and woodcutters. In some place, they lost and confuse, but he gave no heed. One path or another, it mattered not. On he went, climbing blindly upward — ever upward towards the high bare summit of what is known as Obatsuyama, the mountain of the “abandoning of the aged”.

(a) When did he start his journey to the mountain?
Answer:
He started his journey at sunset,

(b) What did he carry for his mother?
Answer:
He carried some cooked unwhitened rice and some cool sweet water.

(c) How was the road on his journey?
Answer:
The road was long and steep.

(d) Who made many paths on the narrow road?
Answer:
The hunters and the woodcutters made many paths.

(e) What was the name of the mountain?
Answer:
It was named as Obatsuyama.

3. Once more he shouldered his burden (how light it seemed now) and hastened down the path, through the shadows and the moonlight, to the little hut in the valley. Beneath the kitchen floor was a walled closet for food, which was covered and hidden from view. There the son hid his mother, supplying her with everything she needed, continually watching and fearing she would be discovered. Time passed, and he was beginning to feel safe when again the governor sent forth heralds bearing an unreasonable order, seemingly as a boast of his power. His demand was that his subjects should present him with a rope of ashes.

(a) Where was the walled closet?
Answer:
The walled closet was beneath the kitchen floor.

(b) Was it covered and hidden from view?
Answer:
Yes, it was covered and hidden from view.

(c) Where did he hide his mother?
Answer:
He hid his mother in the walled closet beneath the kitchen – floor.

(d) What was that feared him?
Answer:
He feared that his mother would be discovered.

(e) What did the governor demand for?
Answer:
He demanded that his subjects should present him with a rope of ashes.

IV. Mind map

1.

Answer:
(i) pleased
(ii) demanded
(iii) must be told
(iv) meditated in silence
(v) strength of youth

2.

Answer:
(i) blinded
(ii) full of dangers
(iii) familiar path
(iv) looked back
(v) cried aloud

3.

Answer:
(i) so dim
(ii) reckless hastening
(iii) return
(iv) snapping the twigs
(v) climbed

The Aged Mother By Matsuo Basho

Matsuo Basho was a 17th century Japanese poet, considered to be Jfce, gate’s*, master V\\& ‘WavVxx’ – a. ‘staoft focm .
In Japan, many of his poems are seen on monuments and traditional sites. Basho was introduced to poetry at a young age and he quickly became well-known throughout Japan. He was a teacher at first. Later, he travelled throughout the country to gain inspiration for his writing. He died at the age of 50 on 28th November 1694.

The Aged Mother Main Characters:

The Governor – The country Shining Cruel leader Cruel proclamation Demanded rope of ashes
Poor farmer – loved his mother Heart with sorrow Climbed the mountain
Aged mother – dropped piles of twigs
Obatsuyama – Abandoning of the aged High bare summit

The Aged Mother Key Points

• This story is a folktale from Japan.
• The Country Shining was governed by a cruel leader.
• The governor proclaimed an order that all the aged people should be put to death/;
• The order filled a poor farmer with great sorrow, as he loved his mother so much.
• He decided to give his mother a kind mode of death.
• So he took his mother to the summit of Obatsuyama and planned to leave her there.
• The loving mother dropped some twigs on the path to serve as a guide on the way back.
• When the son bid farewell to her, she advised to be careful of the dangerous mountain path.
• She told him to follow the piles of twigs for his way back.
• Hearing this, her son’s heart, melted and he cried loudly.
• He changed his decision. He did not want to leave her at the mountain.
• He took his mother back and hid her in his house.
• Time passed. The governor now demanded that his subjects should present him with a rope of ashes.
• Using the clever idea of his mother, the farmer made a rope of ashes.
• The governor pleased with his knowledge, asked him how he got this wisdom.
• When the farmer stated the truth, die governor realized his mistake and abolished the cruel law.

The Aged Mother Summary

The story of the aged mother is a folk-tale from Japan. The governor proclaimed a law ordering that all the aged people should be put to death. The order filled the heart of the poor farmer with great sorrow because he loved his mother so much. Instead of putting his mother to death in the hand of a cruel law, he decided to give his mother a kind mode of death. He took his mother to the bare summit of Obatsuyama and planned to leave her there. On their way to the mountain, the heart of the loving mother grew anxious. It was because she knew that her son would have a hard time finding his way back. He was not familiar with the mountain paths.

So, she snapped the twigs of the bushes on their way and dropped them silently on the path to serve as a guide on the way back for her son. When the son reached the summit, he bid her farewell. She advised her son to follow the path of twigs to find his way back home. This attitude of his mother broke his heart and he cried loudly. He took her back home saying that together they can follow the path of twigs and together they can die. He hid his mother on a walled closet beneath the kitchen.

Time passed. One day, the governor again demanded the people of the valley to present him with a rope of ashes. His mother gave him a clever idea to the despaired farmer. She told him to make a rope of twisted straw and burn it on a windless night. The cruel ruler was pleased with what he had witnessed and asked the farmer where he had obtained that wisdom. The farmer stated all the truth to him. The governor listened and meditated in silence. He decided to abolish the cruel law and realised the importance of the elders to shape the
society. He said “with the crown of snow, there cometh wisdom”.

The Aged Mother Glossary

abandon (v) – desert, give up completely
abolished – put an end to
barbarous (adj.) – extremely brutal or mercilessly harsh
blaze – flame
boast – talk with excessive pride
despotic (adj.) – tyrannical, cruel
distress – sorrow
dread – fear.
drifted – to be carried along by the currents of air or water
gravely (adv.) – seriously
hastened – hurried
heralds – forerunners
injunction (n) – an order restraining someone from performing an act
mandate (n) – an official order
proclamation (n) – announcement
province – district
reverence (n) – deep respect
shouldered – carried
shriveled (adj.) – wrinkled and contracted due to old age or due to strain
summit (n) – the topmost point of a hill or mountain

Tamilnadu Board Class 10 English Solutions

9th Standard English Unit 2 Supplementary The Fun They Had Paragraph Book Back Answers

The Fun They Had 9th Standard English 2nd Lesson Questions and Answers

Mcqs – Additional

A. Complete the following by choosing the correct answer from the options given.

Question 1.
Margie even wrote about it that night in her.
(a) book
(b) record
(c) diary
(d) text
Answer:
(c) diary

Question 2.
They turned the pages which were yellow and.
(a) crinkly
(b) neatly
(c) awkwardly
(d) dirty
Answer:
(a) crinkly

Question 3.
Our television screen must have had a million on it.
(a) texts
(b) words
(c) sentences
(d) books
Answer:
(d) books

Question 4.
What’s there to write about
(a) hospital
(b) school
(c) hotel
(d) home
Answer:
(b) school

Question 5.
Her mother sent for the county
(a) doctor
(b) police
(c) inspector
(d) dentist
Answer:
(c) inspector

Question 6.
He smiled at Margie and gave her an
(a) apple
(b) egg
(c) orange
(d) ice-ream
Answer:
(a) apple

Question 7.
The part Margie hated most was the slot where she had put homework and.
(a) question papers
(b) answer papers
(c) maths paper
(d) test papers
Answer:
(d) test papers

Question 8.
The mechanical teacher calculated the in no time.
(a) numbers
(b) sum
(c) marks
(d) words
Answer:
(c) marks

Question 9.
The geography sector was geared a little too.
(a) slowly
(b) quickly
(c) fast
(d) slow
Answer:
(b) quickly

Question 10.
Tommy looked at her with very eyes.
(a) inferior
(b) lofty
(c) heavy
(d) superior
Answer:
(d) superior

Understanding The Story

A. Identify the character or speaker of the following lines.

1. She was given test after test in geography.
2. He was a round little man with a red face and a whole box of tools with dials and wires.
3. She had been hoping they would take the teacher away altogether.
4. They learned the same things, so they could help one another with the home work and talk about it.
5. They had a special building and all the kids went there.

Answers:

1. Margie
2. County Inspector
3. Margie
4. Students of the old school
5. Tommy

Identify The Character / Speaker – Additional

Question 1.
“It’s not the little girl’s fault.”
Answer:
The Country Inspector

B. Fill in the blanks with the clue given below to complete the paragraph

Tommy and Margie found something about the (i) ____________ of the past. Tommy found a (ii) ____________ which has been printed on paper. The book was old and the pages were (iii) ____________ At present, the (iv) ____________ were moving on a television screen. The television had over 5. ____________ He had found the old book in the (vi) ____________ of his house. While reading Tommy found that it was about the old schools. Margie hated school because she was having problems with learning (vii) ____________ The mechanical teacher was black and large with a screen. Margie hated the slot where she had to insert her homework or (viii) ____________ Margie did not understand how a (ix)____________ could be a teacher and how the students were taught the (x) ____________ Then it was (Xi) ____________ for Margie and Tommy. Margie went to the schoolroom in her (xii) ____________ where the mechanical teacher stood. She was thinking about the old school and how much fun the children had, (xiii) ____________ time together
Answers:
(i) schools
(ii) real book
(iii) yellow and crinkly
(iv) words
(v) million of books
(vi) attic
(vii) geography
(viii) test papers
(ix) person
(x) same thing
(xi) time
(xii) house
(xiii) learning and spending

C. Bring out the difference between your school and Margie’s school in the given tabular column. An example is done for you.

Margie’s School	Your School
Teacher is a machine.	Teacher is a human being.
Book are on the television screen.	Books are in printed form.
School is at home.	School is at a special building.
There is no playground.	There is a playground.

D. Complete the following statements based on your reading.

1. The old book was found by ____________ .
2. Margie was surprised to see the old book because ____________ .
3. The mechanical teacher was giving Margie ____________ .
4. Margie had to study always at the same time every day, because her mother said little girls ____________ .
5. The geography sector in mechanical teacher was ____________ .

Answers:

1. Tommy
2. The words stood still, instead of moving
3. test after test in geography
4. learned letter, if they learned at regular hours
5. geared a little too quickly

Think And Write

E. On the basis of your reading and using your own ideas, answer the following in about 125 -150 words each.

Question 1.
Describe Margie’s mechanical teacher and her classroom in your own words.
Answer:
Tommy found the book on 17 May 2157. It was a very old book. The pages, were yellow and crinkly, and it was awfully funny to read the words that stood still instead of moving the way they were supposed to, on a screen. The mechanical teacher had been giving her test after test in geography and she had been doing worse and worse until her mother had shaken her head sorrowfully and sent for the county inspector.

Question 2.
Why did Margie hate her school? What was she thinking about at the end of the story?
Answer:
The part Margie hated most was the slot where she had to put homework and test papers. The geography sector was geared a little too quickly. She had been hoping that they would take the teacher away altogether. She was thinking about the old schools where the teacher told boys and girls things and gave them homework and asked them questions. The students had a special building and all the kids went there. All the kids learned the same thing.

Question 3.
What was strange about the ‘book’? Why did Margie find it strange?
Answer:
The pages of the ‘book’ were yellow and crinkly. It was awfully funny to read words that stood still, unlike moving on a screen. When Margie turned back to the previous page, the page had the same words on it, when she read it the first time. All these things were strange for Margie, as she used to read only telebooks through computer screen, without any knowledge of a real book.

Short Questions And Answers : Additional

Question 1.
When did Tommy find a real book?
Answer:
Tommy found the book on 17 May 2157.

Question 2.
Describe the book.
Answer:
The pages, were yellow and crinkly, and it was awfully funny to read the words that stood still instead of moving the way they were supposed to on a screen.

Question 3.
Did the words on the book move? Why?
Answer:
No. The book was not like a telebook that could be read on a computer. So the words didn’t move.

Question 4.
Where had Tommy found the book?
Answer:
Tommy found the book at the attic of his house.

Question 5.
Why did Margie hate school?
Answer:
The mechanical teacher had been giving her test after test in geography and she had been doing worse and worse until her mother had shaken her head sorrowfully and sent for the county inspector.

Question 6.
Describe the county inspector.
Answer:
County Inspector was a round little man with a red face and a whole box of tools with dials and wires.

Question 7.
What was it that Margie hated most?
Answer:
The part Margie hated most was the slot where she had to put homework and test papers.

Question 8.
What was the defect with the mechanical teacher?
Answer:
The geography sector was geared a little too quickly.

Question 9.
Why was Margie disappointed?
Answer:
Margie had been hoping that they would take the teacher away altogether.

Question 10.
Describe the teacher of olden days.
Answer:
The teacher was a human. The teacher told boys and girls things and gave them homework and asked them questions.

Question 11.
Describe the school of olden days.
Answer:
They students had a special building and all the kids went there. All the kids learned the same thing.

Paragraph Questions And Answers : Additional

Question 1.
Describe Tommy’s find and its special features.
Answer:
Tommy found a real book. It was very old and had belonged to his grandfather. The
pages were yellow and crinkly. The words stood still without moving, as they would on a computer screen. And then when turned back to the page before, it had the same words on it that it had earlier.

Question 2.
Why did Margie want her mechanical teacher to be taken away?
Answer:
Margie hated the slot where she had to put homework and test papers. The mechanical
teacher calculated the marks very quickly. Tommy’s teacher had been taken away once, for nearly a month because the history sector had blanked out completely. She thought her teacher too would be taken away in the same way.

Question 3.
Describe the fun that the children of the old school had.
Answer:
The children of the old kind of school had human teachers. They would give the children
homework and ask them questions. There was a special building and the children went there to learn. All children of the same age learned the same thing. They left the school at the same time. They shouted, sat together, helped one another. They had real him

The Fun They Had by Issac Asimov

Issac Asimov (1920 – 1992) was an American writer and professor of bio-chemistry at Boston University. He was known for his works of science fiction and popular science. He was born on 2nd January 1920, in Petrovichi, Russia. He was a prolific writer and edited more than 500 books, an estimated 90,000 letters and postcards. He wasTconsidered one of the best science fiction writers during his lifetime.

The Fun They Had Summary

The short story ‘The fun they had’ written by Isaac Asimov deals with a boy and a girl, Tom-my and Margie, who find out something about school in the past time. On 17th May 2157, Tommy, a thirteen year old boy finds a ‘real book’, which has been printed on paper. He is at the house of Margie, an eleven year old girl. They both take a look at it together. The book is really old and the pages are yellow and cranky.

In the year 2157, this kind of book doesn’t exist anymore. Tommy has found the old book in the attic of his house. While reading the book, Tommy says that it is about school. Margie hates school and cannot understand why someone would write about it. Now a days, in the year 2157, they read every thing on the computer. She was having problems with learning geography from her mechanical teacher, which was black, large and had a screen on it.

It teaches the students, gives them exercises and asks them questions, all in a special room in their own house. It can calculate the marks in no time. Marge hates the slot, where she has to insert her home-work or test papers. Once, the geography sector of her mechanical teacher was geared too quickly, and her marks got worse and worse. The county inspector rebuilt it after one hour.

Tommy informed Margie that the book, he found, was not about their type of school. It is about a school centuries ago. They had a human being as a teacher, who told different things, taught them to learn, gave them home-work and asked them questions. The children then had a special biding for this and all the kinds of the same age learned the same thing.

Margie thought that was a funny school and she wanted to read more about it, as she was told by tier mother that each kid has to be taught differently. Then it was time for Margie and Tommy to go to their school, which was right next to her bedroom. There the mechanical teacher was already on because the lessons were always at regular hours. She was thinking about the old school system and how much fun, the children must have had, learning and spending time together.

The Main characters are :
Margie, Tommy, Mrs jones, Mechanical Teacher and the County inspector.

The Fun They Had Mind Map

The Fun They Had Glossary

Tamilnadu Board Class 9 English Solutions

9th Standard English Unit 6 Supplementary Mother’s Voice Paragraph Book Back Answers

Mother’s Voice 9th Standard English 6th Lesson Questions and Answers

Mother’s Voice In text Questions

A. Choose the correct answer.

Question 1.
Mother was excited because __________.
(a) her son would be home in the spring
(b) her son was coming back to earth
(c) it was her first visit to the moon
(d) her son was going to another galaxy
Answer:
(c) it was her first visit to the moon

Question 2.
On weekdays, as Mother went about the chores __________.
(a) she constantly thought of her son
(b) she was always tired
(c) her singing would be soft and almost inaudible
(d) her singing was muted and a little sad
Answer:
(d) her singing was muted and a little sad

Question 3.
__________ occupies more than a hundred square kilometers on the moon.
(a) Selenopolis
(b) Metropolis
(c) Astrodrome
(d) Orchards
Answer:
(a) Selenopolis

Question 4.
The Community of Nations Square is where people __________.
(a) live on the moon
(b) work on the moon.
(c) walk on the moon
(d) of different nationalities come after work
Answer:
(d) of different nationalities come after work

Question 5.
They are planning an expedition to a neighbouring __________.
(a) galaxy
(b) country
(c) planet
(d) star
Answer:
(a) galaxy

Question 6.
The mother was not able to understand why people wanted to leave the moon because __________.
(a) it was better to remain as a part of solar-system
(b) it was better to remain on the earth
(c) it was not possible to come back
(d) it was a place to enjoy life
Answer:
(a) it was better to remain as a part of solar system.

MCQs – Additional

Question 1.
When she came to the moon, she looked around and __________ the moonscape.
(a) watched
(b) admired
(c) praised
(d) applauded
Answer:
(b) admired

Question 2.
His mother had still a young __________ voice.
(a) ringing
(b) soft
(c) sweet
(d) pleasant
Answer:
(a) ringing

Question 3.
He almost told her about the __________.
(a) journey
(b) voyage
(c) expedition
(d) tour
Answer:
(c) expedition

Question 4.
The words were __________ but the voice was worried.
(a) enthusiastic
(b) cheerful
(c) energetic
(d) joyful
Answer:
(b) cheerful

Question 5.
They’re walking towards the __________.
(a) river
(b) pond
(c) sea
(d) lake
Answer:
(d) lake

Question 6.
They looked quite__________ from a distance.
(a) big
(b) huge
(c) tiny
(d) small
Answer:
(d) small

Question 7.
These are very __________ spaceships Mother!
(a) dependable
(b) reliable
(c) expensive
(d) huge
Answer:
(b) reliable

Question 8.
He felt good __________ to her.
(a) speaking
(b) teaching
(c) listening
(d) preaching
Answer:
(c) listening

Question 9.
He __________ saw everything with different eyes.
(a) suddenly
(b) gradually
(c) abruptly
(d) always
Answer:
(a) suddenly

Question 10.
He __________ pushed a button and the went dark.
(a) picture
(b) image
(c) screen
(d) television
Answer:
(c) screen

B. Identify the character or speaker of the following lines.

1. It’s so easy to walk here, son!
2. They’re planning an expedition to a neighbouring galaxy.
3. Why should people go off into the unknown?
4. I don’t know when we’ll see each other again.
5. Operator on duty, ………. report to office.

Answers:

1. Mother
2. Son
3. Mother
4. Son
5. A voice from the loud Speaker

Identify The Character / Speaker – Additional

1. ‘It’s so easy to walk here, son! ’
2. ‘Back home the orchards are in bloom’.
3. ‘Let’s ride for a bit’.
4. ‘These are very reliable spaceships, Mother! ’
5. ‘You may be right, but… ’
6. ‘Do you know why people settle down on the Moon so easily’.
7. ‘When will you take your holidays?’
8. ‘At least try to come in the Autumn’.
9. ‘You think I don’t want to walk barefoot on the dewy grass?’
10. ‘They’ve deepened our pond; it’s full of fish now, You like fishing.

Answers:

1. Astronaut’s Mother
2. Astronaut’s Mother
3. The Young Astronaut
4. The Young Astronaut
5. The Young Astronaut
6. Astronaut’s Mother
7. Astronaut’s Mother
8. Astronaut’s Mother
9. The Young Astronaut
10. Astronaut’s Mother

C. Answer the following questions in about 100 -120 words.

Question 1.
Write a paragraph listing all the sentimental and the scientific reasons given by the mother against the expedition to neighbouring galaxy.
Answer:
The mother’s sentimental and scientific reasons against the expedition to the neighbouring galaxies are that the moon is a beautiful place, easy to walk on. There are lots of fruits on earth. The river Dnieper is better to swim. She asked her son why people should go off into the unknown and ask for trouble. She also suggested that it is advisable for people to settle on the moon first and then on the planets in the solar system.

She philosophized that the moon has the same gravitational field of their native earth, under the native sun. She sentimentally invited her son to come in the autumn for the apples, pears and the watermelons. She persuaded him to come to their deepened pond to fish and indicated that the pond was now full of fish.

Paragraph : Additional Question

Questin 1.
Describe the intimate relationship of the young astronaut with his mother.
Answer:
The young astronaut took his mother along the endless tunnels of Selenopolis, showing the tall structures which propped up the star studded sky. His mother still had a young ringing voice because she had been such a great singer. She had always liked singing. She sang cheerfully, when they had guests during the holidays. But on weekdays , when she was doing her work, her singing was muted and a little sad. When she spoke, it was also in a sing song manner. There was something unusual in her voice, when she stepped into the moon.

She was so excited may be because it was her first visit to the moon. He listened to her familiar voice that was so dear to him. There was worry in her voice, when she questioned her son whether he will come for a holiday in summer. He wanted to tell her about the expedition, but he checked himself, as he did not want to make her get more worried. He felt that she would have guessed of their parting and did not want him to go on an expedition to another galaxy.

D. Think and answer.

“The explorer in this story is travelling to another galaxy. The final destination is an unknown ‘ planet in another galaxy. The travel will take many years”. What qualities and lifeskills do you think an explorer like him must possess? Why? Do you have any of these skills and qualities? Explain.
Answer:
Space explorers work either as pilots who fly spacecraft or as mission specialists who conduct experiments. Regardless of their position, they need certain qualities to survive both NASA’s selection process and space travel itself. The qualities and life- skills needed are intelligence, adaptability, good physique, mental endurance and good ‘ knowledge. I have all these skills except the educational level which I would study as I grow up. ‘

Intelligence:
Astronauts need above-average intelligence and need quick thinking to A handle unexpected problems. They also need the intellectual creativity to dream up new avenues of space-based research into medicine, materials and processes for use N on Earth and in space. Curiosity is key, as are people skills and communication skills.

Adaptability:
Astronauts have many responsibilities in space. They need the flexibility to move from one task to another, different task. They also work on teams with astronauts from other countries and cultures, so they must be open-minded to diversity. They must be willing to change routines to accommodate new procedures.

Physical Condition:
The rigors of space travel are just about as intense as the rigors of space training. Astronauts need eyesight of20/100 or better uncorrected, correctable to 20/20 in each eye. Their blood pressure can’t be above 140/90. Candidates also must meet military water survival standards, which test for the ability to swim without stopping and to swim and tread water clothed in flight gear.

Astronauts also must be SCUBA-qualified to prepare for spacewalk training. Their bodies must respond well to high and low atmospheric pressures. They also must be prepared for the physical effects of zero gravity training up to 40 times a day. Space travel can last for months, during which the human body must function amid physical stress.

Mental Endurance:
Astronauts who make it through the physical demands of space travel must also grapple with isolation, fear and separation from loved ones. It’s not easy to live in close quarters with virtual strangers for three to six months or more. Astronauts must begin to cope with those long periods away from home during training, which takes two to three years and requires heavy travel to practice with international mission partners.

Education:
Astronauts need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in engineering, biological science, physical science and maths.

E. Based on the understanding of the story, discuss in groups and make a note of the following.

Additional Questions

I. Short Questions And Answers.

Question 1.
Why did the young astronaut’s mother had a ringing voice?
Answer:
She had a young ringing voice because she had been such a great singer.

Question 2.
Why was his mother excited?
Answer:
She was excited because it was her first visit to the moon.

Question 3.
What was an exotic experience?
Answer:
It was quite an exotic experience to have a swim on the moon.

Question 4.
Where were they planning to go?
Answer:
They were planning to go on an expedition to a neighbouring galaxy.

Question 5.
Describe the tunnels of Selenopolls?
Answer:
The endless tunnels of Selenopolis had tall structures and spacious caves with sparkling walls.

Question 6.
Who come to the community of Nations Square?
Answer:
People of different nationalities who work in Selenopolis come there after work. Some tourists also visit this place.

Question 7.
How did the young astronaut listened to his mother’s voice?
Answer:
He listened and listened to her as if drinking water from a spring on the earth in the shade of trees.

Question 8.
What did his mother say about people settling on the moon so easily?
Answer:
She said that people settle down on the moon so easily because they are in the gravitation field of their native Earth, under their native Sun.

Question 9.
What made his mother shrink?
Answer:
She shrank from the thought that her son might go off into space and be lost to his relatives forever.

Question 10.
What does the young astronaut often play on his screen?
Answer:
He often plays his recording of his mother on the moon and he feels, as if he is walking again with his mother, looking down at his native planet.

II. Read The Passage And Answer The Questions.

1. ‘It’s so easy to walk here, son! ’
His mother had still a young, ringing voice: perhaps because she had been such .a great singer! So long as he could remember her, she had always liked singing. On holidays, when they had guests, she sang cheerily and enthusiastically, but on weekdays, as she went about the chores, her singing was muted and a little sad. She even talked in a singsong manner. Now, too, there was something unusual in her voice – perhaps she was excited because it was her first visit to the Moon! As he listened to her familiar voice that was so dear to him, he wondered why it had this ringing sound.

Question (a).
What did his mother say, when she stepped into the moon?
Answer:
She said that she had never realized that it was such a beautiful place.

Question (b).
Where did the young astronaut take her?
Answer:
He took her along the endless tunnels of Selenopolis.

Question (c).
What was his mother?
Answer:
She was a great singer.

Question (d).
How did she sing, when they had guests?
Answer:
She sang cheerfully and enthusiastically.

Question (e).
What was so dear to the astronaut?
Answer:
His mother’s voice was so dear to him.

2. He almost told her about the expedition. The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he checked himself. Why make her worry? Worry. That was it. There was worry in her voice. The words were cheerful but the voice was worried. Had she guessed that this was their parting!

‘It’s easy to walk here,’ he said, ‘but the distances are long. Selenopolis occupies more than a hundred square kilometers. Let’s ride for a bit’.

A moving pavement covered with green plastic strips rushed them through echoing tunnels and spacious caves with walls sparkling in the light of the quartz lamps. The elevator delivered them to the surface. She looked in silence at the enormous lily-shaped tent over a crater that was at least a kilometer in diameter.

Question (a).
What was there in this mother’s voice?
Answer:
There was worry in her voice.

Questionc (b).
What does Selenopolis occupy?
Answer:
It occupies more than a hundred square kilometers.

Question (c).
How were the caves?
Answer:
The caves were spacious with walls sparkling in the light of the quartz lamps.

Question (d).
Was it easy to walk there in Selenopolis?
Answer:
Yes, it was easy to walk there.

Question (e).
What was the diameter of the lily shaped tent?
Answer:
Its diameter was one kilometer.

3. ‘The community of Nations Square,’ he told her. ‘People of different nationalities who work in Selenopolis come here after work. And there are some tourists. They’re * walking towards the lake. It’s quite an exotic experience to have a swim on the Moon.’

‘I’m sure it’s better in the river Dnieper when you come to the Earth for your holiday.’
When they looked at the astrodome, where two spaceships the size of the Ostankino TV tower were pointed into the black void of the universe, she sighed again.

‘What are these?’

‘Long-range spaceships, Mother. They’re planning an expedition to a neighbouring galaxy.’
She screwed up her eyes to look at the rockets where assembly men were busy. They looked quite small from a distance.

Question (a).
Who come to the community of Nations Square?
Answer:
People of different nationalities who work in Selenopolis come here after work. Some of the Tourists also come there.

Question (b).
What is a exotic experience?
Answer:
To have a swim in the moon is quite an exotic experience.

Question (c).
How many spaceships were there?
Answer:
There were two space ships.

Question (d).
What were they planning to do?
Answer:
They were planning an expedition to a neighbouring galaxy.

Question (e).
Who were busy at the rockets?
Answer:
The assembly men were busy at the rockets.

4. He listened and listened as if drinking water from a spring on the Earth, in the shade of trees. His mother, looking in the direction of the vast blue globe, lowered her voice and continued:

‘Look, son, isn’t it a miracle? The Earth floats through space, all by itself. See the snow-cap on the pole, and the glittering ocean! The cradle of life. And you want to leave this fabulous beauty! ’

He suddenly saw everything with different eyes. He saw how beautiful his native planet was, a real wonder of nature.
He had never felt that way before. His heart ached.

Question (a).
How did the astronaut listened to his mother?
Answer:
He listened and listened, as if drinking water from a spring on the Earth in the shade of trees.

Question (b).
What is the fabulous beauty?
Answer:
The Earth is a fabulous beauty.

Question (c).
What was the real wonder of nature?
Answer:
The beautiful native planet was the real wonder of nature.

Question (d).
Who saw everything with different eyes?
Answer:
The young astronaut saw everything with different eyes.

Question (e).
How is the ocean on the earth described?
Answer:
It is described as the ‘glittering ocean’.

5. But he knew very well that there would be no holidays and that his mother was seeing him for the last time. The thought of such a tremendous journey was already sending a chill through his heart.

‘At least try to come in the Autumn, ’ she pleaded, ‘ in time for the apples and pears… and the water-melons.’
‘You think I don’t want to walk barefoot on the dewy grass?’

‘Of course, you’ll walk on the dewy grass. And you could visit your relatives and friends’.
She shrank from the thought that her son might go off into space and be lost to his relatives forever.
‘They’ve deepened our pond; it’s full of fish now, You like fishing… ’

‘Operator on duty, report to office,’ a voice bellowed from the loudspeaker.
He pushed a button and the screen went dark. His mother fell silent.

Question (a).
What thought worried the astronaut?
Answer:
The thought of such a tremendous journey was sending a chill through his heart.

Question (b).
What fruits can we see In Autumn?
Answer:
Apples, pears and watermelons are seen in the Autumn season.

Question (c).
Why did his mother feel sad?
Answer:
She felt sad that her son might go off into space and be lost to his relatives for ever.

Question (d).
Where did the voice come from?
Answer:
A voice roared from the loudspeaker.

Question (e).
How did the screen go dark?
Answer:
The screen went dark, when the astronaut pushed a button.

III. Mind Map

Question 1.

Answers:

1. admired the moon scape
2. a beautiful place
3. the tall structures
4. ringing voice
5. liked singing

Question 2.

Answers:

1. expedition
2. checked himself
3. voice was worried
4. parting
5. worry

Question 3.

Answers:

1. he was longing for
2. the selection commision
3. his departure
4. to get upset
5. so dear to him

IV. Write A Brief Description Of The Story In A Story Map Format.
Answer:
Title: Mother’s
Author: Voice Vasil Berezhnoy
Characters: A young Astronaut, his mother and some of the assembly men.
Settings: A scene in the Moonscape.
Plot: The spirit of discovery that prompts a young astronaut to go looking for another world.
Problem: The young astronaut’s mother did not approve the author’s journey to another galaxy because it was a such a tremendous journey which will take many years to return to the earth.
End: The young astronaut goes to another galaxy leaving his native Sun which was then just a 12th magnitude star, visible through the telescope.

Mother’s voice Textual Activities

Warm up

Answer:
Yes. If I am given an opportunity to go on a one-way trip to Mars, I will accept it. I shall also take my family and friends with me. I am ready

Mother’s Voice Summary

The story talks about the love and affection between mother and son. The explorer being a son, tries to convince his mother as he is parting from her to neighbouring galaxy where he would never return. He invites his mother to the moon and made her to admire the beauty of it. He showed her echoing tunnels and spacious caves and also showed the tent where the different nationalities work. At first he enjoyed her voice and also listened to her talk. Her talk made him a little diversion towards his native planet.

She highlighted the glittering ocean, snow cap on pole and the fabulous beauty of earth which tempted him! His heart started aching but it’s time to depart from his mother. She pleaded him to give a visit in holidays. But the explorer is not sure about his return to earth. His unlucky mother requested him to return in Autumn to enjoy his favourite fruits and sport. But the explorer heard a voice which would take him to a different world. He pushed the button and the screen went dark.

But he often plays back the recording of his mother’s voice and feels as if he is with his mother on the moon. But they started off to another galaxy to the distance where the sun looked as 12th magnitude star through telescope. They became invisible to the earth.

Mother’s Voice Mind Map

Mother’s Voice Glossary

Tamilnadu Board Class 9 English Solutions

9th Standard English Unit 3 Prose Old Man River Paragraph Book Back Answers (Drama)

Old Man River 9th Standard English 3rd Lesson Questions and Answers

A. Based on your understanding of the play, choose the correct answer and fill in the blanks.

Question 1.
The radio announced that ________.
(a) the river was above flood stage
(b) the Burnet Dam had given way
(c) there will be a cloud burst.
(d) they will be a cyclone.
Answer:
(a) the river was above flood stage

Question 2.
Mother couldn’t get home from Mrs. Brant’s because ____________.
(a) it was raining heavily.
(b) the bridges between home and the town were under water.
(c) there was an emergency at Mrs. Brant’s house.
(d) she has broken her leg.
Answer:
(b) the bridges between home and the town were under water

Question 3.
The Burnett Dam gave away as ______________ .
(a) it rained for days.
(b) the dam was weak.
(c) it rained heavily and the snow was melting.
(d) the maintenance was poor.
Answer:
(c) it rained heavily and the snow was melting

Question 4.
There was no power because ________________.
(a) the power house was out of commission.
(b) the power house was flooded.
(c) the dam gave away.
(d) there was fire.
Answer:
(a) the power house was out of commission

Question 5.
Why did they splint up Sara’s leg with pillows?
(a) She was unconscious out of fear.
(b) She has broken her leg below the knee.
(c) She was too lazy to walk.
(d) She was making a fuss.
Answer:
(b) She has broken her leg below the knee

MCQs- Additional

Question 1.
Who said, “We will be perfectly safe upon the roof.
(a) Jim
(b) Sara
(c) Betty
Answer:
(a) Jim

B. Based on your reading, answer the following in two or three sentences each.

Question 1.
Why did Jim run from school?
Answer:
Jim ran from school as there was a cloudburst and it was raining heavily.

Question 2.
Where was Amy’s mother?
Answer:
Amy’s mother was at her friend Mrs. Brant’s house.

Question 3.
Why did Amy ask Betty to fill in the water tubs?
Answer:
Amy asked Betty to fill in the water tub because the town supply of water may be
cut off or made unsafe to drink.

Question 4.
According to Jim what are the two things that a person should remember in times of *, emergency?
Answer:
Jim asked the girls to get organized. He asked Betty to look up her flashlight, candles, lamps, lanterns. He asked Rose to fill the tubs and pails and Amy and he will check on food, blankets and coats. He asked them to get first aid kit, quickly.

Question 5.
Why is Jim climbing on the roof?
Answer:
Jim climbed out on the roof and started waving the flashlight so that someone can see it and come for their help.

Question 6.
Who were there in the living room? What were they doing?
Answer:
Betty, Rose and Amy were in the living room. Sara was asleep. The three had candles. Betty tried to read.

Question 7.
Why were they going to sleep in the attic?
Answer:
Since the flood was rising near the house, they decided to sleep in the attic.

Question 8.
Who came in the boat?
Answer:
Mr. Tom Peters and Miss. Marsh from the Red Cross came in the boat to rescue.

Question 9.
Who is the founder of Junior Red Cross?
Answer:
Jean Henry Dunant is the founder of Junior Red Cross.

C. Match the following by drawing a line across column A and B.


Answer:

1. (e)
2. (c)
3. (h)
4. (g)
5. (i)
6. (d)
7. (j)
8. (f)
9. (b)
10. (a)

Short Questions and Answers : Additional

Question 1.
Describe the condition that prevailed outside due to heavy rain.
Answer:
The backyard of the house turned into a small lake. It had been raining heavily for three days and the area was likely to get flooded.

Question 2.
What did Amy’s mother tell her, over the phone?
Answer:
Amy’s mother told her to inform Rose’s mother over the phone that Rose would spend the night at Amy’s house. Betty, Amy were to fill all the bowls, tubs, pails and pitchers with fresh water in case the town supply is cut off or made unsafe to drink. She also expected Jim to stay back and help them.

Question 3.
What instructions did Jim give Amy, Betty and Rose?
Answer:
Jim asked Betty to set her flashlight and candles, lamps, lanterns. He asked Rose to fill the tubs and pails and Amy to check on food, blankets and coats and the first-aid-kit.

Question 4.
How had Sara got into the playhouse porch?
Answer:
Sara had followed Rose and got into the playhouse.

Question 5.
How did Jim succeed in bringing back Sara safe?
Answer:
Jim waded through the water and carried Sara back home.

Question 6.
Who came to the rescue of Amy and the others?
Answer:
Mr. Tom Peters and Miss Marsh, the Red Cross nurse came to their rescue.

Question 7.
What things did Amy rush to collect before going to the attic?
Answer:
Amy wanted to get her father’s most valuable books and mother’s jewel case.

Question 8.
What did Jim ask Amy to bring instead?
Answer:
Jim wanted her to get water and food more than books and jewels.

Question 9.
How did Sara meet with an accident?
Answer:
Sara had fallen off the step ladder. She hurt herself very badly.

Question 10.
Who were taken to safety first? What did Mr. Peter promise the others?
Answer:
Sara, Rose and Betty were taken to safety first. He promised to come back or send a boat for Jim and Amy.

Question 11.
Why was Jim thankful to the Disaster Committee?
Answer:
They were very alert and well-equipped. They had saved many lives and rescued many. So Jim was thankful to the Disaster Committee.

D. Based on your understanding of the text, answer the following in about 3 to 4 sentences each.

Question 1.
Describe the ‘home alone’ experience of the children.
Answer:
Rose, Amy and Betty were in the living room. Suddenly there was a cloudburst and Jim ran from his school to the house. The Burnett Dam gave way and the situation was bad. Mother was unable to come home from Mrs. Brant’s house, as the bridges were under water. Rose was also unable to go home. The children decided to fill fresh water in tubs and pails. They got flash light lantern and candles ready. Rose’s sister Sara was rescued by Jim from the playhouse porch. They arranged to cook in the kitchen. They slept in the attic. Jim also decided to climb the roof to wave a flash light so that someone would rescue them.

Question 2.
Elaborate the rescue operation undertaken by Mr. Peter.
Answer:
Tom Peters and Miss. Marsh came from the Red Cross in a boat. Mr. Peters found the children all alone. Sara had suddenly fallen off the step ladder and Peter carried her. Miss. Marsh, the nurse, fixed the hurt leg and made her comfortable. They decided to take her to the emergency Red Cross Hospital in the Armoury. Sara was taken carefully to the boat while Jim and Amy stayed behind.

Question 3.
How did Jim prove himself as a good rescuer in the flood situation?
Answer:
When Amy is scared, Jim narrates how he has served on the Junior Red Cross emergency squad during the war. When Sara, Betty and Rose leave with Mr. Peters and Miss. Marsh, Jim stays behind bravely with Amy promising Peter that they could take care of themselves. As the flood levels came down, Jim raises a coffee cup to Amy to toast the Coffee, lantern and rescue. He also got the entire situation organized with the help of the other girls and rescued Sara from the play porch when she was almost drowned in by the flood.

Question 4.
Briefly narrate the happenings of.the play in Scene II.

a. How did Amy manage the situation at home?
Answer: Amy, being the eldest in the family, managed the situation at home very diplomatically. She was a responsible girl, who did not show her fear to anyone. She managed the situation cleverly along with Jim, her neighbour.

b. How did the Marshal save the children?
Answer:
Tom Peters and Miss. Marsh came from the Red Cross committee in a boat and saved the children from the flooding situation. They also took Sara, who was hurt, to the Red Cross Hospital.

Paragraph Questions and Answers : Additional

Question 1.
Where did this play take place and what are the children talking about?
Answer:
This play ‘Old Man River’ takes place in the living room of the Marshall family in the late afternoon in March. Amy, Betty and Rose and sitting around the living room table. Amy and Rose are knitting. Betty is looking at pictures in a magazine. As it was raining heavily for the past three days, it was getting dark earlier. So Amy puts on the electric light. Rose comments that their backyard looks like a small lake. Betty joins them and says that the radio had announced that morning that the river was above flood stage. Rose says that the snow is also melting in the hills in the northern part of the state and that’s why there is water all over.

Question 2.
When Amy said that she was scared, how did Jim consoled her?
Answer:
When Amy said that she was scared of the situation over there, Jim, placed his hand on her shoulder and gave her confidence, saying that they had been through bad things before and come out safely. He reminded her about the school fire and how they managed to come out safely. He said that the first thing to be practised is that they must not let others see how scared they are and asked her to get all the things, they can together there – water, food, blankets, coats and lights. He also consoled her saying that if the water surrounds their house and sweeps into floor, they can climb into the attic and onto the roof.

Question 3.
Where was Sara and what happened to her after the lights went off?
Answer:
Sara was on the play house porch. Jim waded across the water and brought Sara back safely. After the power went off, Sara fell off the step ladder and her leg got hurt badly. But the nurse assured that they can fix it up and they could all get into the boat and take her home. She had broken her right leg just below the knee. So they splint her leg with pillows and umbrella and lifted her safely into the boat.

Think and answer

Question.
You are one of the survivors of an earthquake that has affected your city a lot. Share the trauma you underwent and what helped you to sail through it. Give a talk for two minutes.
Answer:
Ten years back, when we were in Andaman Islands, I experienced an earthquake which *, affected the city a lot. When we are all watching television, the building started shaking terribly. We ran, out of fear and I’ve witnessed the building coming to a crash. Since we were in the ground floor, we were all out safe. But most of our valuable things were destroyed. We have to run for our life to a safer place. The trauma that we all underwent was an unforgetful one.

E. Using a dictionary, find out the synonyms and the antonyms of the words given below. One has been done for you.

listening

The (i)________ South Indian floods resulted from heavy rainfall generated by the annual north east monsoon in (ii)________ 2015. They affected the (iii) ________ region of the South Indian states of (iv) ________ , and the Union Territory of (v)________,withTamilNaduandthecityof (vi)________ particularly hard-hit. Morethan (vii)________ people were killed and over 18 lakh people were (viii)________. With estimates of damages and losses ranging from nearly 200 billion rupees to over 1 trillion rupees, the (ix)________ were the costliest to have occurred in 2015, and were among the costliest natural disasters of the year. The flooding has been attributed to the 2014-16 (x)________
Answers:
(i) 2015
(ii) November, December
(iii) coromandel coast
(iv) Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh
(v) puducherry
(vi) Chennai
(vii) 500
(viii) displaced
(ix) floods
(x) El – Nino event

Writing

As a local government official working in the flood affected area you are talking to an old lady who has lost her belongings. Write a dialogue between you and the old woman. Complete the conversation.

You: Good morning Madam.
Old lady: Good morning sir
You: I am from the Fire and Rescue department. How can I help you?
Old lady: Sir, I have lost my belongings in the flood.
You: Oh, very pathetic. Where is your house?
Old lady: I live near the bridge. But right now, I have no home. It has been washed away.
You: My God! Where are you staying now?
Old lady: I am staying with a relative of my neighbour.
You: Have you enough food to eat?
Old lady: Sir, there are about eight of us in the house. We don’t have sufficient food or clothes.
You: I shall arrange for the transport to take you all to the flood relief camp. You can stay there until the position improves.
Old lady: Thank you sir.

Creative Writing

H. Write a letter to your friend about your experiences during the recent ‘Caja’ cyclone.
Answer:

25, November 2018.
Muthupet, Tiruvarur Dist.

Dear Rakesh,

I hope you are all fine there. You would have read in newspaper about the cyclone ‘Gaja’ and how had it played on the Cauvery delta region. Well, I had a bitter experience when the cyclone hit our town with full speed. Hundreds of trees were uprooted. There was no power supply for four days continuously. We ran shortage of water supply, as we could not switch on the motor. We had to get water from the trains. It was horrible. We could not go anywhere, as there were no transport facilities and the roads were damaged and blocked. There was slush and dust everywhere. Our neighbours fell sick with fever. I cannot forget that nightmarish week.

We are now slowly returning to normalcy. Don’t worry. We will meet soon.

Your loving friend,
R. Saravanan

I. Make a poster of any natural disaster, giving details about the devastations caused.
Answer:

J. Youareavolunteerinyourlocalitytoservepeoplewhoareaffectedbyfloods.How will you caution them to move to a safer place taking only their bare necessities? Describe.
Answer:

Cautions to the people affected by floods

1. Listen to all warnings issued for your area.
2. Do not walk or drive across flood waters.
3. Avoid recreational contact with flood waters due to the unknown amount of raw sewage, waste chemicals and the risk of drowning.
4. Stay away from floodwaters. If you come upon a flowing stream where water is above your ankles, stop, turn around and go another way.
5. Six inches of swiftly moving water can sweep you off your feet.
6. If you come upon a flooded road while driving, turn around and go another way.
7. Most cars can be swept away by less than two feet of moving water.
8. Do not walk near a transformer or an electrical post. Electrocution is also a major killer in floods.
9. Be more cautious at night because the impact of flood is more difficult to recognize in darkness.
10. Leam how flooding occurs and what you can do to minimize the damages to your property.
11. More importantly, getting educated about floodwaters could save you or your loved ones in the event of an emergency.

K. Given below are some qualities that the characters in the play displayed during the floods for survival. Identify and write the character with the qualities.

Scaling Heights

L. Based on your reading answer the following questions in a sentence or two.

Question 1.
Is mountaineering a dangerous sport? Why? (para 1)
Answer:
Yes, mountaineering is a dangerous sport because, as one climbs higher and higher, breathing becomes more and more difficult.

Question 2.
What is frostbite? (para 2)
Answer:
When the climbers climb on ice, chillness is so severe that their skin, feet, toes, fingers and tissues freeze, become numb and they may become a frostbite.

Question 3.
What are the qualities of a good climber? (para 3)
Answer:
A good climber must be in good physical condition, possess courage, perseverance and power of endurance.

Question 4.
What do climbers carry with them? (para 4)
Answer:
The climbers carry with them packs loaded with first aid supplies, food and extra clothing for sudden changes of weather.

Question 5.
Where is the Mountaineering institute situated in India?
Answer:
The Mountaineering Institute is situated in Darjeeling.

Question 6.
What qualities of humankind are brought out by this adventurous sport? (para 6)
Answer:
This adventurous sport brings the heroic qualities of human kind.

Question 7.
Why do mountaineers deserve praise? (para 6)
Answer:
Mountaineers deserve all praise for their courage and heroism.

Question 8.
What kind of visitors does Mt. Everest get? (para 6)
Answer:
Mt. Everest has been scaled several times by foreign climbers.

Poster Making

M. The Adventure Club of your school is organising an expedition to Kolli hills. Design an attractive poster for the same, giving relevant details.
Answer:

Grammar

Phrases and Clauses

A. Identify the dependent clauses or phrases in the following sentences and underline them.

1. Texting on his phone, the man swerved into a ditch.
2. It isn’t necessary to cram all night if you have studied a little each day.
3. We climbed up the hill to enjoy the view.
4. I enjoy painting during my holidays.
5. Whether he attends the party or not, I have decided to go.
6. I will stop playing the drums when you go to sleep.

B. Complete the following sentences using appropriate prepositional phrases.

Question 1.
I would like to order coffee _______ tea.
(a) instead of
(b) instead from
(c) instead to
Answer:
(a) instead of

Question 2.
______ the rains, we went out.
(a) In spite of
(b) In spite
(c) In spite on
Answer:
(a) In spite of

Question 3.
__________ fire, break the glass to escape.
(a) In case of
(b) In case
(c) In case with
Answer:
(a) In case of

Question 4.
I am standing here _______my friends.
(a) in behalf of
(b) on behalf of
(c) on behalf
Answer:
(b) in behalf of

Question 5.
We solved the problem _______ a new device developed by our engineers.
(a) by means of
(b) by means
(c) by means to
Answer:
(a) be means of

Question 6.
_______we are impressed with their performance.
(a) In general
(b) On general
(c) In generally
Answer:
(a) In general

Non-Finite Verbs

C. Look at the action words in bold. Identify whether they are either finite or non- finiteverb.

Infinitives and Gerunds

D. Read the following pairs of sentences.

Travelling might satisfy your desire for new experiences.
The study abroad program might satisfy your desire for new experiences.

Identify the subject in the first sentence Travelling.

They do not appreciate my singing.
They do not appreciate my assistance.
Identify the direct object in the first sentence Singing.

My cat’s favourite activity is sleeping.
My cat’s favourite food is salmon.
Identify the subject complement in the first sentence Sleeping.

The police arrested him for speeding.
The police arrested him for criminal activity.
Identify the object of the preposition in the first sentence Speeding.

E. You may role-play the conversation.

Teacher: This is Mr. Gerund. You may have seen him after these verbs ‘enjoy’, ‘finish’,
‘keep’, ‘mind’, ’suggest’, ’forgive’, ’excuse’, ‘postpone’,’go’
Gerund: I come after a Preposition too.
Teacher : Mr. Gerund comes in handy to describe a real action.
Infinitive: Hello friends, I am Infinitive. Words such as ‘like’, ‘refuse’ are followed by me.
Dinesh: I know you. I take your help to describe a general or future action.
(I think I need to get up early tomorrow to complete my grammar exercise.)
Divya: You have helped me to express ‘reason’, ’intention’,’ purpose’.
(I wish to finish my assignment by tonight.)
Gerund: Do you know, after verbs like ‘begin’,’ love’,’ continue’, ‘try’, Team’, ‘start’,
‘neglect’, you can use either of us?
Infinitive: But remember we mean different things when used after ‘stop’.
Dinesh: Divya,When we saw Rajesh at the mall, I stopped to talk to him.Why didn’t
you wait?
Divya: Don’t you know I stopped talking to him?
Gerund : I am also used after these phrases -‘It’s no use ‘ , ‘It’s no good1
Dinesh and Divya : Thank you, mam. Bye Mr. Gerund and Ms. Infinitive.

F. Now, work in pairs and help Dinesh and Divya complete the exercise given below. Write the gerund / infinitive form of verbs in the blanks.

Question 1.
The astronauts managed ________ (complete) their training in record time.
Answer:
to complete

Question 2.
They learned how _____ (survive) in space without gravity.
Answer:
to survive

Question 3.
The best astronaut almost quit (try) to learn the complex information.
Answer:
trying

Question 4.
Their mission appeared _____ (be) in jeopardy.
Answer:
to be

Question 5.
Then Marina encouraged him by saying, “It’s no good ______ (quit) the project right at the end.”
Answer:
quitting

Question 6.
Being an astronaut will enable you ______ (achieve) great success in life.
Answer:
to achieve

Question 7.
If you give up (study) now, our mission will be scrubbed.
Answer:
studying

Question 8.
Think of your fellow astronauts who wouldn’t hesitate ______ (help) you in time of trouble.
Answer:
to help

Question 9.
We astronauts must keep on ______ (prepare) for our space launch.
Answer:
preparing

Question 10.
Some say it’s no use_____ (travel) to distant planets, because it takes too long.
Answer:
travelling

Question 11.
But we really want ______ (visit) other planets and find out if life exists on them.
Answer:
to visit

Question 12.
Can you imagine _______(walk) up to a Martian and shaking hands and ____ (say), “Hello, how are you?”
Answer:
walking, saying

Question 13.
We really look forward _______ (meet) alien creatures and _____ (find) out what they are really like.
Answer:
to meet, finding

Question 14.
Many scientists have warned us not _______ (take) this dangerous journey, but we are not discouraged.
Answer:
to take

Question 15.
Travelling to far away planets involves ______ (risk) our lives for the thrill of discovery.
Answer:
risking

Question 16.
However, we won’t delay ______ (blast) off into space.
Answer:
blasting

Question 17.
Would you like __________ (accompany) us on our journey if you could?
Answer:
to accompany

Question 18.
During our training, we have got used to _____ (be) weightless and _____ (live) under difficult conditions.
Answer:
being, living

Question 19.
Scientists admit to _____ (be) intensely curious about life on other planets.
Answer:
being

Question 20.
I’m sure they would also enjoy _____ (travel) with our crew.
Answer:
travelling

Question 21.
We told them _____ (come) with us on our trip, but some of them think it is a waste of time ______ (search) for life that doesn’t exist.
Answer:
to come, searching

Question 22.
We have been taught how ______(endure) hardships during our training and now we can’t afford _____ (waste) money.
Answer:
to endure, to waste

Which planet are the astronauts heading to first? Add the infinitives.
Neptune-10, Venus-09, Mars-18, Jupiter-11
Answer:
The astronants are heading first o Mars – 18.

Old Man River (Drama)Textual Activities

Warm up

Look at these pictures of cyclone, floods, earthquake, tsunami and volcanic eruption.

A. Discuss in pairs for two minutes on any one of these natural disasters. You may use the following points.

• Causes
• Damages
• Precautions

Answer:
Earthquake is a terrible natural disaster. Unexpectedly, the earth gets split into cracks and wide craters are formed. Houses tumble down like packs of cards. Vehicles big and small get upturned. Trees get uprooted. Vehicles upturn. While cities are reduced into rubble and disintegrated particles, the earth gets cracked up and people are buried alive. It is very difficult to survive an earthquake. People are advised to run out into the open when there is a slight tremor marking the beginning of an earthquake. Many times tsunamis have caused earthquakes. Seismographs measure the intensity and level of earthquakes. A reading of 7 on the Richter scale indicates a severe earthquake.

B. Fill the word web with words related to natural disasters. One example has done for you.

C. Imagine a situation where your house is surrounded by water and answer the following.

Question (i).
What health hazards are caused when water stagnates around your place?
Answer:
During the floods in Chennai in 2015, our entire house was surrounded by knee-deep water on all sides. We found it difficult to wade through the water and go in and out. Sewage water got mixed with the flood water. People in the neighbourhood developed high fever and infectious diseases. Some suffered from diarrhea and other water-borne diseases. Mosquitoes started breeding in the dirty water. It was a horrible period of pollution, sickness and constant chillness.

Question (ii).
When there is a power shutdown for long hours during floods, what will you do?
Answer: I would rather consider the power-cut a boon, as I would find time to spend with my family. When there is no power supply, I would help my parents pump water from a pipe in the street and carry the pots home. I would gather my family members together and we would sit together and play cards, indoor games, sing songs, narrate incidents that took place in school and so on. Instead of fretting and cursing, I would regard things in an optimistic manner and utilise the situation to my benefit.

Question (iii).
What precautions would you take if there is an announcement about flooding in your area?
Answer:
We should choose a place that is higher than ground level, so that water does not enter the houses. We should be prepared to leave the house at anytime and collect our valuables so that they can be preserved in a safer place. We should turn off the main switches and should not use electrical equipments, to avoid electric shock. We should stay away from phone lines and electrical wires, to avoid electrocution.

D. List out the Human activities which have an impact on nature. Complete the tabular column. One is done for you.

Synonyms & Antonyms: Additional Questions

I. Choose the appropriate Synonym of the underlined words.

Question 1.
It must have covered the south meadows and the highway there.
(a) a main road
(b) a street
(c) a track
(d) a path
Answer:
(a) a main road

Question 2.
The river is rising fast.
(a) decreasing
(b) lowering
(c) running
(d) increasing
Answer:
(d) increasing

Question 3.
‘Betty’, you and I are to fill all the bowls, tubs, pails and pitchers with fresh water.
(a) mugs
(b) buckets
(c) large jugs
(d) bottles
Answer:
(c) large jugs

Question 4.
Everyone make it snappy.
(a) short and sweet
(b) fast
(c) pleasant
(d) long
Answer:
(a) short and sweet

Question 5.
Jim and Amy watch it a moment. Amy shudders.
(a) laughs loudly
(b) thinks cleverly
(c) shivers out of fear
(d) gets angry
Answer:
(c) shivers out of fear

Question 6.
Hark, what’s that?
(a) stand up
b) listen
(c) watch
(d) stay ahead
Answer:
(b) listen

Question 7.
There she is on the playhouse porch.
(a) verandah
(b) entrance
(c) a covered shelter at the entrance
(d) hall
Answer:
(c) a covered shelter at the entrance

Question 8.
Sara is sobbing softly.
(a) laughing
(b) crying
(c) smiling
(d) whispering
Answer:
(b) crying

Question 9.
We can split it with pillows and umbrella.
(a) attach
(b) support
(c) tied
(d) arrest
Answer:
(b) support

Question 10.
She helps Sara to her feet and quickly wraps a blanket around her.
(a) puts
(b) wears
(c) covers
(d) throws
Answer:
(c) covers

Another Type of Exercise

Choose the appropriate Synonym of the underlined words.

It isn’t only the rain. It’s the snow melting (i) in the hills in the northern part of the state. (The girls return to the table.) Oh, I hope (ii) we don’t have a flood here! (There is a noise (iii) of stamping feet and someone breathing hard (iv). The girls all look to the right, the direction (v) of the sounds.)

i) (a) freezing
(b) coagulating
(c) liquefying
(d) materializing
Answer:
(c) liquefying

ii) (a) wish
(b) doubt
(c) fear
(d) distrust
Answer:
(a) wish

iii) (a) peace
(b) sound
(c) quiet
(d) Serenity
Answer:
(b) sound

iv) (a) lightly
(b) easy
(c) heavily
(d) soft
Answer:
(c) heavily

v) (a) deviation
(b) justification
(c) invocation
(d) track
Answer:
(d) track

2. (Entering from right in shining (i) wet rain coat and rain helmet, which he drags off (ii) as he enters. He is panting (iii).) Gosh, girls, it’s a cloudburst!(iv) (He kicks off his shoes.) I’ve run every step of the ‘way from school to get here. The river is rising fast. The Burnett Dam gave way (v) an hour ago they say and it looks bad!

i) (a) dimming
(b) gleaming
(c) tarnishing
(d) darkening
Answer:

ii) (a) pushes off
(b) staves off
(c) pulls off
(d) rushes off
Answer:
(c) pulls off

iii) (a) breathing with short
(b) breathing with agony
(c) heaving
(d) longing
Answer:
(a) breathing with short

iv) (a) drizzle
(b) violent rainstorm
(c) sprinkle
(d) dripping
Answer:
(b) violent rainstorm

v) (a) closed for traffic
(c) broken down
(b) closed for repairs
(d) shutters closed
Answer:
(c) broken down

3. Hello. Yes, Mother – I know. Isn’t it awful (i)? How will you get home? Yes, mother, I’m listening carefully (ii). (Amy’s voice grows very serious) Yes – yes – yes, I will. No, mother, no, I won’t. Jim Hall is here and Rose Field too. Yes, all right, I’ll tell them. Goodbye. (Amy returns (iii) to the room. She is looking very scared (iv).) Mother can’t get home from Mrs. Brant’s. The bridges between here and town are under water. Rose, mother says you are to telephone your mother right away and tell her you will spend (v) the night here.

i) (a) excellent
(b) gorgeous
(c) terrible
(d) delicious
Answer:
(c) terrible

ii) (a) cautiously
(b) casually
(c) fearlessly
(d) recklessly
Answer:
(a) cautiously

iii) (a) leaves
(b) expenses
(c) forsakes
(d) comes back
Answer:
(d) comes back

iv) (a) brave
(b) frightened
(c) confident
(d) cooled
Answer:
(b) frightened

v) (a) pass
(b) conserve
(c) save
(d) hoard
Answer:
(a) pass

II. Choose the correct antonyms of the word underlined below:

Question 1.
The stage is not very bright.
(a) shining
(b) elegant
(c) dull
(d) sparkling
Answer:
(c) dull

Question 2.
The radio said the river was above flood stage this morning.
(a) ahead
(b) beyond
(c) upward
(d) below
Answer:

Question 3.
It’s the snow melting in the hills in the northern part.
(a) western
(b) eastern
(c) north-eastern
(d) Southern
Answer:
(d) Southern

Question 4.
She ought to be here soon.
(a) late
(b) immediately
(c) instantly
(d) suddenly
Answer:
(a) late

Question 5.
‘Yes’ mother, I’m listening carefully.
(a) minutely
(b) carelessly
(c) attentively
(d) interestingly
Answer:
(b) carelessly

Question 6.
She is looking very scared.
(a) confident
(b) afraid
(c) timid
(d) angry
Answer:
(a) confident

Question 7.
Mother says she hopes you will stay and help us Jim.
(a) believes
(b) expects
(c) despair
(d) understand
Answer:
(c) despair

Question 8.
Well, girls, let’s get organized.
(a) disorganized
(b) irritated
(c) arrogant
(d) displeased
Answer:
(a) disorganized

Question 9.
Remember the school fire?
(a) listen
(b) forget
(c) think
(d) analyses
Answer:
(b) forget

Question 10.
I’m glad I served the Junior Red Cross.
(a) happy
(b) merry
(c) sad
(d) angry
Answer:
(c) sad

Another Type Exercise

Choose the appropriate Antonyms of the underlined words.

1. Well, girls, let’s get organized (i). Betty, look up your flashlight and candles, lamps, lanterns or anything you’ve got. Rose, fill (ii) the tubs and pails and Amy and I will check on food, blankets and coats. Better get out the first-aid kit. Everyone make it snappy (iii). This is serious (iv), Amy. I don’t want to scare (v) you, but your house is in the direct line of the river.

i) (a) arranged
(b) disarranged
(c) formed
(d) coordinated
Answer:
(b) disarranged

ii) (a) refill
(b) stock
(c) empty
(d) replenish
Answer:
(c) empty

iii) (a) sluggish
(b) smart
(c) quick
(d) brisk
Answer:
(a) sluggish

iv) (a) grave
(b) severe
(c) difficult
(d) funny
Answer:
(d) funny

v) (a) terrify
(b) comfort
(c) alarm
(d) frighten
Answer:
(b) comfort

2. (Placing a hand on her shoulder) Steady (i), old pal(ii)! We’ve been through bad things before and come out safely. Remember (iii) the school fire? First thing, we must not let the others see how scared we are. Next, get all the things you can together here: water, food, blankets, coats, lights. I’m glad (iv) I served on the Junior Red Cross emergency squad during the war! It’s too bad (v) you live in a bungalow instead of a two-storey house.

i) (a) stable
(b) persistent
(c) unstable
(d) firm
Answer:
(c) unstable

ii) (a) foe
(b) friend
(c) guest
(d) brother
Answer:
(a) foe

iii) )(a) recall
(b) forget
(c) recollect
(d) remind
Answer:
(b) forget

iv) (a) happy
(b) delighted
(c) merry
(d) sad
Answer:
(d) sad

v) (a) wicked
(b) evil
(c) awful
(d) good
Answer:
(d) good

3. Yes, you have hurt it badly, Sara, but we can fix (i) it up and we will all get into the boat and take you home. You are going to be alright. She has broken her right leg just below (ii) the knee. We can splint it up with pillows and umbrella and lift (iii) her safely (iv) into the boat. I think we ought to take (v) her to the emergency Red Cross hospital in the Armoury.

i) (a) set
(b) break
(c) fasten
(d) attach
Answer:
(b) break

ii) (a) under
(b) bottom
(c) above
(d) down
Answer:
(c) above

iii) (a) drop
(b) rise
(c) raise
(d) elevate
Answer:
(a) drop

iv) (a) securely
(b) dangerously
(c) reliably
(d) surely
Answer:
(b) dangerously

v) (a) get
(b) accept
(c) receive
(d) give
Answer:
(d) give

Scene 1

Discuss with your partner and answer the following questions.

Question 1.
What were the girls doing in the living room?
Answer:
The girls were sitting and knitting in the living room. Betty was looking at pictures in a magazine.

Question 2.
Why was mother not able to come home?
Answer:
Amy’s mother took Dick to the dentist’s and was going to stop at Mrs. Brant’s for a recipe on her way home. So she was not able to come home.

Question 3.
How did Jim want the girls to ‘get organised’?
Answer:
Jim asked the girls to get organized. He asked Betty to look up her flashlight,
, candles, lamps, lanterns. He asked Rose to fill the tubs and pails and Amy and he will check on food, blankets and coats. He asked them to get first aid kit, quickly.

Question 4.
Which two important things did Jim want the girls to do to avoid getting scared?
Answer:
Jim wanted the girls not to let the others know how scared they were. Secondly he wanted all the necessary things like food, water, blankets, coats and lights to the brought.

Question 5.
Where did Jim want the girls to climb up? How was it going to help them?
Answer:
Jim suggested the girls that they could climb into the attic and onto the roof.
It might help them staying away from the flood before it reached them.

Question 6.
Who went to get Sara? Where was she?
Answer:
Jim went to get Sara. She was in the playhouse porch.

Scene 2

Discuss with your partner and answer the following questions.

Question 1.
What were the important objects that the girls and Jim try to move to the attic? Why?
Answer:
Food, water, father’s books and mother’s jewel case were moved to the attic.
They did so because water was rising.

Question 2.
Who came to rescue the children?
Answer:
Tom Peters and Miss. Marsh from the Red Cross came to rescue the children.

Question 3.
What happened to Sara?
Answer:
Sara had fallen off the step ladder and hurt her right leg just below the knee.

Question 4.
Who is Miss Marsh? How does she help Sara?
Answer:
Miss. Marsh is a nurse from the Red Cross. She tries to fix Sara’s right leg which was badly hurt. Miss. Marsh consoles Sara who cries with pain. She decides to carry Sara, with pillows and umbrella to put her safely in the boat.

Question 5.
Who were taken in the boat? Who were left behind?
Answer:
Sara, Rose and Betty were taken in the boat. Jim and Amy were left behind.

Question 6.
How does Red Cross help the children?
Answer:
Red Cross helped the children by taking them in the boat that had all the needs like food, lanterns and the rescue team.

Old Man River Summary

One late afternoon in March it was a rainy day. The rains were very heavy. It worsened and the bridges seem to be flooded. Amy Betty and Rose watched the heavy rain and heard from their mother that she wouldn’t come back home since the rain was heavy. Jim joins the three children at home. Amy’s father was in Chicago. The children decide to stay indoors. They fill fresh water in containers. They have lanterns and candles ready for a shut down of electricity. Telephones stop working.

Each takes responsibility for cooking, food, blankets and coats. They expect the dam to give a way anytime. Sara, Rose’s sister is caught in the playhouse porch. Jim saves her. As Jim was wet, they decide to give Dad’s warm clothes to him. The river kept on rising. Jim decides to show the flashlight from the roof. An hour later, without any light, all the children try to keep, them safe.

Amy decides to save father’s books and mother’s jewel case. Jim says water and food is more important. By then Mr. Peters and Miss. Marsh a nurse, came for their rescue in a boat. Water was everywhere. By then Sara falls off the step ladder and hurt her knee. She was brought on to the boat. She was taken to the emergency Red Cross Hospital. Jim and Amy stay and send the others in the rescue boat. Jim and Amy decide to wait on the roof. Miss. Marsh relieves Sara’s pain. Jim and Amy sip their coffee feeling happy about their Disaster Committee from the Red Cross.

Old Man River Main Characters

Amy Marshall (17), Betty Marshall – Sisters
Jim Hall (17): Neighbour
Rose Field (16), Sara Field (9) – Sisters
Penny Marsh – Red Cross Nurse
Mr. Peters – Member Red Cross

Old Man River Mind Map

Old Man River Glossary

Synonyms

Antonyms

Tamilnadu Board Class 9 English Solutions

10th Standard English Unit 7 Supplementary A Dilemma Paragraph Book Back Answers

A Dilemma 10th Standard English 7th Lesson Questions and Answers

A. Read the given lines carefully and identify the character / speaker:

Question 1.
I suppose you think me queer. I will explain.
Answer:
Uncle Philip

Question 2.
Don’t come back. It won’t hasten things.
Answer:
Uncle Philip

Question 3.
He thought it simply a cruel jest.
Answer:
Tom’s father

Question 4.
He did not desire to do so.
Answer:
Professor Clinch

Question 5.
He would think it over and come back later.
Answer:
The collector

Character or Speaker – Additional

Question 1.
‘Now I repent of my wickedness to you all’.
Answer:
Uncle Philip

Question 2.
‘My jewels are in my safe. There is nothing else left’.
Answer:
Uncle Philip

Question 3.
‘I stood appalled, the key in my hand’.
Answer:
Tom

Question 4.
‘He said that, if my uncle had not lied, there was none that would not ruin the stones’.
Answer:
Tom

Question 5.
‘I spent all my spare hours at one of the great libraries reading about dynamite’.
Answer:
Tom

Question 6.
‘He, too, counselled me to cease thinking about it’.
Answer:
Tom’s father

Question 7.
‘I was delighted to assist them.’
Answer:
Tom

Question 8.
‘I was in constant fear of burglars.’
Answer:
Tom

Question 9.
‘You will have to pay for my funeral.’
Answer:
Uncle Philip

B. Based on your understanding of the story, answer the following briefly.

Question 1.
What did the uncle do as soon as he bought a stone?
Answer:
He carried it in his pocket for a month, looked at it now and then and then added to the collection in his safe.

Question 2.
What did the uncle bequeath to the narrator?
Answer:
The Uncle bequeathed an iron safe that contained precious gems and a dynamite that would explode when opened.

Question 3.
What was the condition laid by the uncle to inherit his property?
Answer:
The uncle asked Tom to open the box with relief and trust to increase his expectation and desire. If he doubted and opened the dynamite would explode.

Question 4.
Why do you think Tom happily looked forward to the expenditure for his uncle’s funeral?
Answer:
Tom thought he would become a very rich man after his uncle died when he inherited the box of gems.

Question 5.
Write a few words about the mechanism used in the iron box.
Answer:
The box contained an interesting mechanism. It will act with certainty as one unlocks it, and explode 9 Vi ounces of his improved, super sensitive dynamite. One must open without » doubting to desire a fortune. If they doubt, the person will be blown to atoms.

Question 6.
What was the counsel offered to the narrator?
Answer:
The counsel offered was to quit thinking about the box and its contents.

Question 7.
Why and when was the narrator shocked?
Answer:
The narrator was shocked when he opened the safe and found nothing but an iron box wondering whether it contained gems or it was a lie.

Question 8.
What was the doctor’s warning to Tom?
Answer:
The doctor warned him that he would lose his mind thinking a lot about the rubies.

Question 9.
Why didn’t Tom dare to assign the task of unlocking the box to someone?
Answer:
Tom felt a stranger had no right to be subjected to the trial that he dared not face. So he did not want a stranger to open the box.

C. Answer the questions given below in a paragraph of 150 words.

Question 1.
Describe briefly the contents of the letter written by Tom’s uncle.
Answer:
Tom’s uncle wrote that the box contained a large number of fine pigeon blood rubies and a lot of diamonds, one blue diamond, hundred of pearls, a famous green pearl and a necklace of blue pearls. Thinking of Susan, he insisted Tom to continue to have expectations and remember his dear uncle. Instead of leaving the stones to a charity he gave it to Tom. The letter instructed Tom about the mechanism of unlocking it. It would explode 9U ounces of improved, super sensitive dynamite. If he opened it doubtfully it would turn him to atoms. With faith if he opened it carefully, he would nourish hopes and expectations. He asks Tom to be very careful.

Question 2.
Explain the efforts taken by Tom to open the iron box. Did he succeed? Why?
Answer:
Tom went on thinking about it, finding people to advise, ransacked libraries, imagined wild plans like throwing it from a far off place to open it, after the explosion he could get the gems, but was sure he wouldn’t succeed. He thinks very hard in vain for weeks and months. His father dismisses it that it is a dirty joke by his deceptive uncle. His doctor advises him to stop thinking about the iron box with precious gems, as it would make him mad, he tries to put it in the bank, but withdraws because he is afraid of the burglary. He consults Professor Clinch about his dilemma who dismissed it as an altogether incredible tale. Thus Tom had to leave the box to the Society for the Preservation of Human Vivisection.

Paragraph Question & Answer Additional

Question 1.
What is the conflict of the story ‘A dilemma’?
Answer:
The conflict of the story is entirely internal and results in a huge dilemma of anxiety and self-doubt, as the protagonist decides and thinks whether to attempt to open the box or not. In addition, he fears that someone else may try to open the box with the key and he blown to shreds. He confronts a doctor about his dilemma and eventually moves away to a new place, changes his name and hides the box. It is incredibly fascinating to see how a small box and curiosity can drive a human being to so much trouble of anxiety and reluctance. The protagonist is a pure representation of human curiosity and how it can drive us to anxiety and mental instability. .

D. Fill in the blanks with the right option and write down the summary of the story ‘A dilemma’.

Question 1.
The narrator was sent for, by his uncle when he was _________ .
(on his deathbed / on his travels/ in his workplace)
Answer:
on his deathbed

Question 2.
The uncle had collected precious __________.
(jewels / stones /articles)
Answer:
stones

Question 3.
His uncle announced Tom as his heir and wanted* him to pay for his ________.
(rented house / marriage / funeral)
Answer:
funeral

Question 4.
Leaving an iron box for Tom, his uncle instructed him not to the box.
(throw / carry / shake)
Answer:
shake

Question 5.
The letter read that the box contained _____________ .
(a sensitive dynamite / jewels / money)
Answer:
a sensitive dynamite

Question 6.
He started thinking of all possible ways to open the box without being ______________ .
(wounded / killed / maimed)
Answer:
killed

Question 7.
He planned to explode the box at ______________ but dropped the plan ______________in fear of losing the
rubies.
(home / a safe distance / a waste land)
Answer:
a safe distance

Question 8.
His consultation with did ______ not yield him any fruitful solution.
(Uncle Philip / Professor Clinch / Susan)
Answer:
Professor Clinch

Question 9.
He failed in his attempts to open the box. His efforts to read about explosives led to________(hopes / confusions / suspicions) and he had to change his ________ .
(name and occupation /lodgings / appearance)
Answer:
confusions ,name and occupation

Question 10.
At last, he bequeathed the box to_______ .
(his offspring / his friends / the Society)
Answer:
the Society

A Dilemma Additional Questions

I. Choose the correct answer.

(i) He was a bachelor, lived alone cooked ________ and collected precious stones.
(a) his favourite food
(b) deliciously
(c) his own meal
(d) many dishes
Answer:
(c) his own meal

(ii) Then it was added to the collection in his safe at ___________ .
(a) trust company
(b) society
(c) bank
(d) chit company
Answer:
(a) trust company]

(iii) When I thanked him, he ___________ all over his lean face.
(a) laughed
(b) smiled
(c) grinned
(d) groaned
Answer:
(c) grinned

(iv) He died that day next week and was _____________ buried.
(a) handsomely
(b) readily
(c) immediately
(d) elegantly
Answer:
(a) handsomely

(v) You will have to pay for my ______________ .
(a) education
(b) studies
(c) funeral
(d) travel
Answer:
(c) funeral

(vi) , In my despair, I ___________ Professor Clinch about my dilemma.
(a) esquired
(b) approach
(c) asked
(d) consulted
Answer:
(d) consulted

(vii) I was afraid to be in the room with that _________________ box.
(a) huge
(b) terrible
(c) mysterious
(d) heavy
Answer:
(b) terrible

(viii) Many of the stones were well-known, and their enormous value _____________ me.
(a) stunned
(b) shocked
(c) irritated
(d) amazed
Answer:
(d) amazed

(ix) This I did to escape the ______________ of the reporters.
(a) anxiety
(b) majority
(c) curiosity
(d) severity
Answer:
(c) curiosity

(x) I was prompthy desired to _______________ it.
(a) take
(b) withdraw
(c) pull
(d) save
Answer:
(b) withdraw

II. Fill in the blanks:

1. I was just (i) ________when my Uncle Philip died. A week before that event (ii) __________ me; and here let me say that I had (iii) ______ on him. He hated my mother, but I do not (iv) ______. She told me long before (v) ______ that I need expect nothing from my father’s brother.
(a) his last illness
(b) thirty-seven
(c) know why
(d) he sent for
(e) never set eyes
Answer:
(i) (b) thirty-seven
(ii) (d) he sent for
(iii) (e) never set eyes
(iv) (c) know why
(v) (a) his last illness

2. At the time he sent for me I was (i) _________ , and poor enough. Remembering my (ii) _______, his message (iii) _____ , his sole relative, (iv) _______ ; but I thought it (v) ________ .
(a) no new hopes
(b) best to go
(c) mother’s words
(d) a clerk
(e) gave me
Answer:
(i) (d) a clerk
(ii) (c) mother’s words
(iii) (e) gave me
(iv) (a) no new hopes
(v) (b) best to go

3. The rubies are (i) ______________ . They are in my safe at the (ii) ___________ . Before you unlock the box, be (iii) _______________ to read a letter which lies (iv) ________ ; and be sure not (v) _______ the box.”
(a) trust company .
(b) on top of it
(c) to shake
(d) valuable
(e) very careful
Answer:
(i) (d) valuable
(ii) (a) trust company
(iii) (e) very careful
(iv) (b) on top of it
(v) (c) to shake

4. The old doctor, when I saw him again, (i) ___________ to give up all thought of (ii) ____________, and, as I felt (iii)______________ I was the slave of (iv) __________ , I tried to take the (v) __________thus given me.
(a) how completely
(b) one despotic idea
(c) good advice
(d) the matter
(e) begged me
Answer:
(i) (e) begged me
(ii) (d) the matter
(iii) (a) how completely
(iv) (b) one despotic idea
(v) (c) good advice

III. Match the following.

(a)

Answer:
1 – (d)
2 – (c)
3 – (a)
4 – (e)
5 – (b)

(b)

Answer:
1 – (e)
2 – (d)
3 – (a)
4 – (b)
5 – (c)

(c)

Answer:
1 – (d)
2 – (e)
3 – (a)
4 – (c)
5 – (b)

IV. Read the passage:

1. I was just thirty-seven when my Unde Philip died. A week before that event he sent for me; and here let me say that I had never set eyes on him. He hated my mother, but I do not know why. She told me long before his last illness that I need expect nothing from my fathers brother. He was an inventor, an able and ingenious mechanical engineer, and had much money by his improvement in turbine-wheels. He was a bachelor; lived alone, cooked his own meals, and collected precious stones, especially rubies and pearls. From the time he made his first money he had this mania. As he grew richer, the desire to possess rare and costly gems became stronger. When he bought a new stone, he carried it in his pocket for a month and now and then took it out and looked at it. Then it was added to the collection in his safe at the trust company.

(a) How old was the author?
Answer:
He was thirty-seven years old.

(b) Who sent for the author?
Answer:
Uncle Philip sent for the author.

(c) What was uncle Philip? ,
Answer:
He was an inventor and a mechanical engineer.

(d) What did uncle Philip use to collect?
Answer:
He used to collect precious stones.

(e) What was his desire?
Answer:
His desire was to possess rare and costly gems.

2. He died that day next week, and was handsomely buried. The day after, his will was found, leaving me his heir. I opened his safe and found in it nothing but an iron box, evidently of his own making, for he was a skilled workman and very ingenious. The box was heavy and strong, about ten inches long, eight inches wide and ten inches high. I stood appalled, the key in my hand. Was it true? Was it a lie? I had spent all my savings on the funeral, and was poorer than ever. Remembering the old mans oddity, his malice, his cleverness in mechanic arts, and the patent explosive which had helped to make him rich, I began to feel how very likely it was that he had told the truth in this cruel letter. I carried the iron box away to my lodgings, set it down with care in a closet, laid the key on it, and locked the closet.
(a) How was uncle Philip buried?
Answer:
He was buried handsomely.

(b) What did the author see in the safe?
Answer:
He saw nothing valuable in the safe, but there was an iron box in it.

(c) Describe the iron box.
Answer:
It was heavy and strong, about ten inches long, eight inches wide and ten inches high.

(d) On what did the author spend all his savings?
Answer:
He spent all his savings on the funeral.

(e) Where did he carry the iron box?
Answer:
He carried the iron box to his lodging and kept it in his closet.

3. At last I hung the key on my watch-guard; but then it occurred to me that it might be lost or stolen. Dreading this, I hid it, fearful that someone might use it to open the box. This state of doubt and fear lasted for weeks, until I became nervous and began to dread that some accident might happen to that box. A burglar might come and boldly carry it away and force it open and find it was a wicked fraud of my uncles. Even the rumble and vibration caused by the heavy vans in the street became at last a terror. Worst of all, my salary was reduced, and I saw that marriage was out of the question.

(a) Where did he hang the key?
Answer:
He hung the key on his watch guard.

(b) Why did he hide the key afterwards?
Answer:
He feared that the key would be lost or stolen. So he hid it.

(c) How long did this state of doubt and fear last?
Answer:
This state of doubt and fear lasted for a week.

(d) What was a terror for the author?
Answer:
Even the rumble and vibration caused by the heavy vans in the street became at last a terror for him.

(e) What is worst of all?
Answer:
Worst of all, the author’s salary was reduced and his marriage was out of the question.

V. Mind Map:

1.

Answer:
(i) next week
(ii) buried
(iii) was found
(iv) nothing
(v) heavy and strong

2.

Answer:
(i) his dilemma
(ii) ruin the stones
(iii) incredible
(iv) biggest
(v) desire to do

3.

(i) changed
(ii) curiosity
(iii) officials
(iv) reasonably
(v) delighted

A Dilemma By Silas Weir Mitchell

Silas Weir Mitchell (1829 – 1914) was an American physician and author who excelled in novels of psychology. As an army surgeon during the American Civil War, he became well known for his “rest cure.” Many honorary degrees were conferred upon him by several universities at home and abroad. In 1887 he was president of the Association of American Physicians and in 1908-09 president of the American Neurological Association. The American Academy of Neurology award for young researchers, the S. Weir Mitchell Award, is named for him. Crotalus mitchellii, the speckled rattlesnake, was named after Mitchell.

A Dilemma Main Characters

Tom – The narrator Poor clerk Uncle Philips sole heir
Philip – Tom’s Uncle, Brother of Tom’s father, Bachelor, Inventor, Ingenious Mechanical Engineer, Precious stones collector
Dr. Schaff – Uncle’s Doctor
Professor Clinch – Not desired to open the box
Susan – broke off an engagement with Tom

A Dilemma Key Points

• The narrator’s name was Tom.
• Uncle Philip was the brother of Tom’s father. He was an inventor and a mechanical engineer.
• When he died, Tom was 37 years old.
• His mother advised Tom not to expect anything from his uncle.
• Uncle Philip was a bachelor and lived a lonely life. He had a mania for precious stones collection.
• His collection was added to his safe at the trust company.
• Tom was sent for by his uncle who told him a strange story.
• He announced Tom as his heir and wanted him to pay for his funeral.
• Leaving an iron box for Tom, his uncle instructed him not to shake the box.
• Tom found a letter which read that the box contained sensitive dynamite.
• He started thinking of all the possible ways to open the box without being killed.
• He also consulted Professor Clinch, but did not yield any solution.
• His efforts to read about explosives led to suspicions and he had to change his name and occupation.
• At last he gave the box to the Society for the Preservation of Human Vivisection.

A Dilemma Summary

Uncle Philip died when Tom, the narrator, was 37 years old. His mother advised Tom not to expect anything from him. Uncle Philip was Tom’s Father’s brother, an inventor and a mechanical engineer. He was a bachelor and lived a lonely life. He collected precious stones. He had a manic for precious stones and became richer and richer. His collection was added to his safe at the trust company. Tom was a clerk. He was sent for by his uncle one day. He went to his uncle, who told him a strange story. He told how money minded he was and confessed his wickedness and hoped to live in the memory of at least one member of the family. Generally thought to be poor living on an annuity, uncle Philip had never parted with his precious stones.

He says Tom will have it as he is his only heir. He would be happy to make at least one man happy before he died. He asks Tom to pay for his funeral and that the safe with the precious gems was only his possession. Before Tom left him, his uncle said the rubies were in the safe and that he should read the letter on top of it carefully. And not to shake the box. He asked Tom not to come back. Uncle Philip died a week later and was handsomely buried. The day after, Tom opened his safe and found nothing but an iron box made by his uncle. It was very heavy. Now he was surprised whether his uncle’s words were true or not.

He spent all he had for his Uncle’s funeral and was poorer than before. Things seemed odd and his uncle’s cunningness seemed true. He took the strange box to his lodgings and carefully kept in a closet. The letter gave details about the contents of gems as well as a dynamite. A warning that he should open it with belief his expectations would grow. If he opened it with doubt he would be blown to atoms. He tried ways and means to open the box, thought about it for months and weeks as it was dubbed with terrible danger and a very great fortune. It confused him a lot. He met too many people for advice.

A doctor Schaff asked him to keep it aside and stop thinking or he would become mad. He went to Libraries for strong advice and knowledge about dynamites. He became a slave of one very strange idea. Between the leaves of the Bible he found the numbered list of stones and their cost. The variety of rubies and their worth were described with the threat of death. Biographies written by the uncle spoke of the evil of stones and the good of stones. One, a black pearl, was mentioned as ‘She’.

He was a clerk who knew only how to keep a ledger. Following the strange words of his uncle was too much and absurd to him. It was like a riddle. He was rich, holding the rubies but too poor unable to use it. He asked his father who told him that it was just a cruel joke of his uncle. He also advised Tom to stop thinking about its fortune. Two years went by and Tom continued to possess the fortune without being rich. Susan breaks off the engagement with Tom considering him mad.

Advertisements about the box in Journals brought out absurd schemes. He is asked to quit his house by the owner. He moves to the suburbs, hides the box, changes his name and occupation. He was happy to assist the government officials to collect tax for his uncle’s estate being his heir. He showed them his uncle’s letter, offered the key of the box and time to move away. The official said he would come later. Now Tom makes a will leaving the precious gems to the Society for the Preservation of Human Vivisection.

A Dilemma Glossary

appalled (adj.) – horrified, shocked
avarice (n) – extreme greed for wealth
closet (n) – cupboard
contrive (v) – cook up, hatch a plan by deliberate use of skills
despotic (adj.) – tyrannical, autocratic
incredible (adj.) – impossible to believe
ingenious (adj.) – clever, original and inventive
jest (n) – a joke
malicious (adj.) – spiteful, intended to harm or upset someone
mania (n) – an extensive, persistent desire, an obsession
oddity (n) – the quality being strange or peculiar
queer (adj.) – strange, odd
vivisection (n) – a surgery conducted on a living organism purposes

Tamilnadu Board Class 10 English Solutions