Tamilnadu Board Class 10 English Solutions Supplementary Chapter 2 Zigzag

Tamilnadu State Board Class 10 English Solutions Supplementary Chapter 2 Zigzag

Zigzag Textual Questions

A. Identify the speaker/character.

1. ‘Even though I clearly said no!’
Answer:
Dr. Krishnan

2. ‘ The one that spits deadly poison straight into its opponent’s eyes’
Answer:
Maya

3. ‘ Remember the. tiny penknife the gave me last year’.
Answer:
Maya

4. ‘ It’s Somu’s thoughtless ways that reduce me to tears’.
Answer:
Mrs. Krishnan

5. ‘Gome in, Zigzag, come in dear!’
Answer:
Visu, the old cook

Character or Speaker Additional

(a) ‘The beetle is called spitfire’.
Answer:
Arvind

(b) ‘You’re both quite mistaken’.
Answer:
Mr. Krishnan

(d) ‘No one but you, Maya.
Answer:
Mrs. Krishnan

(e)‘You can’t deny that it was a great hit with everyone’.
Answer:
Arvind

(f)‘Great hit indeed!’
Answer:
Mrs. Krishnan

(g) ‘Somu says we are sure to love Zigzag’.
Answer:
Mr. Krishnan

(h) ‘This is Zigzag!’
Answer:
Visu

(i) ‘Don’t worry children’.
Answer:
Visu

(j) The moment he fell asleep, he began to snore!
Answer:
Zigzag

B. Read the story again and write how these characters reacted in these situations:

1. You’re both quite mistaken.
Answer:
Dr. Krishnan hastened to explain.
Mrs. Krishnan was horrified on hearing about Zigzag.

2. It’s Somu’s thoughtless ways that reduce me to tears.
Answer:
Mrs. Krishnan spoke irritably.
Dr. Krishnan was hurrying to his clinic.

3. Just wait till zigzag settles down in this new home.
Answer:
Visu comforted everyone.
Arvind and Maya excited to listen to the bird’s talk.

4. Zigzag hardly never sleeps.
Answer:
Somu sent an e-mail to Dr.Krishnan about Zigzag.
Dr.Krishnan predicted it as ridiculously simple.

5. You are an absolute treasure……….
Answer:
Dr.Krishnan sighed and spoke to Zigzag
Zigzag didn’t bother to reply.

C. Complete the given tabular column.

D. Answer the following question in one or two sentences:

1. Why did Dr. Asholds cousin call him?
Answer:
Dr. Ashok Krishnans cousin Somu called him to shelter Zigzag, his pet bird, when he left for Alaska.

2. Mention at least two expressions which show that Mrs. Krishnan was not willing to have Zigzag at home?
Answer:
The following two expressions show that Mrs. Krishnan was not willing to have Zigzag at home.
(i) “I am going crazy with the sound of Zigzag snoring, plus all these angry telephone calls.”
(ii) “And my beautiful painting…”

3. What other various pets did Somu have?
Answer:
Somu had a giant green and gold fighting beetle and an African snake.

4. What was Mrs. Krishnan busy with?
Answer:
Mrs. Krishnan was busy with her paintings to be displayed for sale the following week.

5. What commotion did the boomerang cause in the neighborhood?
Answer:
Boomerang sliced through all the TV aerials in the neighborhood. It caused permanent damage to several cars in the parking lot. It also knocked out their watchman cold with the force thrown by Arvind.

6. What happened when Somu left Zigzag with the Krishnan’s?
Answer:
Zigzag transferred all the walnuts and the fruits to the Chandelier and on the blades of the ceiling fan. Then it perched on the curtain rod, went off to sleep.

7. How did Zigzag communicate with the Krishnan’s?
Answer:
Zigzag did not communicate with the Krishnan’s although everyone tried several times and in several languages to speak to him, he only slept and snored.

8. What was the e-mail message sent to Somu by Dr.Krishnan?
Answer:
Krishnan sent an e-mail to Somu, asking for instructions on how to stop Zigzag from snoring.

9. What did Aravind confess?
Answer:
Arvind confessed that for the first time in his life, he was actually looking forward to go to school. The school was as calm as a monastery compared to their house.

10. Why did Mrs. Jhunjhunwalla buy the painting?
Answer:
Mrs. Jhunjhunwalla bought the painting because she liked the new technique of painting.

E. Answer the following questions in about 100 -150 words:

Question 1.
Write in your own words the various commotions caused by Zigzag at Dr. Krishnan’s residence.
Answer:
When Visu, the old cook of Dr. Somu brought Zigzag to Dr. Krishnan’s house, all were surprised to see such a strange and a weird bird. It was a foot and a half tall. It was a multilingual talking- singing bird. It could talk and sing in twenty-one languages. When it refused to say a word, Arvind brought some juicy fruits and nuts for the bird. It did not eat them, but transferred one ‘ by one to the chandelier and on to the blades of the ceiling fan. Then it perched on a curtain rod, it sank his beak into a plumpy guava and then went off to sleep. Then he began to snore. The snore became louder and very louder. His snoring pounded their eardrums till their heads ached. When the fan was switched on by their maid, the painting of Mrs. Krishnan got spoilt by streaks of orange pulp spreading on it. His snoring troubled all the neighbours and they were complaining about it.

Question 2.
What was the turn of events when Zigzag was taken to the clinic?
Answer:
When Zigzag was taken into the clinic, he was asked to wait in the car by Dr. Krishnan. He warned him not to sleep and snore. But Zigzag was not accustomed to being kept waiting. So he made his way to the reception and perched himself on the nurse’s reception table. Krishnan had hardly walked through the swinging half-door that separated his clinic from the waiting room when he heard a voice. The voice was from Zigzag. It was clear and commanding. There was pin-drop silence in the room as everyone waited, open-mouthed, for Zigzag s next sentence. Dr. Krishnan was amazed. Zigzags bored and grumpy expressions were gone. Instead, the bird ‘ looked happy and alert as it went about the job. It had been trained for this job with the doctors. Thus Dr. Krishnan’s clinic, which was usually a noisy sea of tears and outbursts, was transformed into a calm, orderly place. He efficiently soothed the patients and naughty ones.

Question 3.
Narrate the story Zigzag in your own words.
Answer:
This story is about a multilingual weird bird, named Zigzag. Dr. Krishnan’s clinic usually sounded noisy because of the shouting and crying of children. His friend Dr. Somu requested him to shelter Zigzag, his pet as he was about to leave for Alaska. When Zigzag was brought to his house, it did not speak to anyone. It could sing and talk in 21 different languages. But it did not speak any word to them. Instead he transferred the fruits and nuts given to him to a Chandelier and to the blades of the ceiling fan. It perched on a curtain rod and went off to sleep. When the fan was switched on, all the fruits and nuts fell down. The papaya slice splattered on the painting of Mrs. Krishnan and spoiled it. Mrs. Krishnan was irritated and persuaded Dr. Krishnan to send the bird away to Visu s house. So Dr. Krishnan took the bird to his clinic. There it commanded everyone in an orderly way. He brought peace, calmness and a disciplined atmosphere in the clinic. The painting which had been spoilt by Zigzag was sold out for ₹ 5,000. It was bought because the new technique in painting was liked by the buyer. Thus Mr. Krishnan’s family invited Zigzag to stay with them for another week.

Paragraph Questions & Answer Additional

Question 1.
Describe Zigzag’s appearance and its trained skill.
Answer:
Zigzag was a strange and a weird multilingual bird that Krishnan’s family had ever seen. It was about a foot and a half tall. Its bald head was fringed with a crown of shocking pink feathers, while the rest of its plumage was in various shades of the wet muddiest brown. Its curved beak was sunflower-yellow and its eyes were the colour of cola held to sunlight. His full name was ‘Ziggy-Zagga-king-of -the-Tonga. He could talk so beautifully and could even recite French poetry. It was a multilingual talking-singing bird. It can talk and sing in twenty-one languages. At Krishnan’s home it did not eat anything. It only slept and snored loudly, disturbing everyone around him. It created such a commotion at their house. But when once Krishnan took the bird to his clinic, it brought calmness and order in it. This he did, due to his trained skill given by the doctors. He was an absolute treasure and a great help for the family.

Question 2.
Before Zigzag’s arrival into Krishnan’s house, what did the family was busy talking?
Answer:
Dr.Krishnans friend Somu requested him to shelter his pet Zigzag for some time as he was leaving for Alaska. The children were excited about hearing this news. Maya, his nine year old daughter guessed that Zigzag should be uncle Soniu’s prized giant-green and gold fighting beetle. It is the one that spits deadly poison straight into its opponent’s eyes. Her brother corrected her saying that the beetle is called Spitfire. He guessed that Zigzag must be uncle Somu’s pet snake, the African sidewinder. It slithered Zigzag all over his house. Their father intervened and said that they were both mistaken, Zigzag was a most harmless, unusual and lovable bird. It was Somu’s favourite pet. His wife Mrs. Krishnan contradicted him by saying that whatever possessions Somu had given, were absolute nuisances. She pointed out about the commotion created by the penknife, boomerang and the insect-eating plant. Dr. Krishnan soothed by saying that Zigzag is different.

Zigzag Additional Questions

I. Fill in the blanks:

1. D. Ashok T. Krishnans clinic usually (i) __________ more like an (ii) __________ Chinese torture(iii) __________ than a child specialist s (iv) __________. This was because the tiny children left outa variety of blood-curdling yells and (v) __________ sobs.
(a) chamber
(b) sounded
(c) clinic
(d) ear-splitting
(e) ancient
Answer:
(i) (b) sounded
(ii) (e) ancient
(iii) (a) chamber
(iv) (c) clinic
(v) (d) ear-splitting

2. Somu might be your (i) ______ friend, but most of these so called (ii) ______ possessions that he (iii) ______ us were absolute (iv) ______ countered Mrs. Krishnan (v) ______.
(a) favourite
(b) angrily
(c) best
(d) has given
(e) nuisances
Answer:
(i) (c) best
(ii) (a) favourite
(iiI) (d) has given
(iv) (e) nuisances
(v) (b) angrily

3.“Right! (i) ______ the tiny (ii) ______he gave me last year, the one with a (iii) ______ shark’s tooth (iv) ______hat’s been really useful; Maya joined the (v) ______.
(a) genuine
(b) blade
(c) penknife
(d) protest
(e) remember
Answer:
(i) (e) remember
(ii) (c) penknife
(iii) (a) genuine
(iv) (b) blade
(v) (d) protest.

4. About a foot and a half tall, its (i) ______ was fringed with a crown of (ii) ______ feathers, while the rest of its (iii) ______ was in various (iv) ______ of the muddiest (v) ______brown.
(a) shocking
(b) shades
(c) bald head
(d) sludgiest
(e) plumage
Answer:
(i) (c) bald head
(ii) (a) shocking
(iii) (e) plumage
(iv) (b) shades
(v) (d) sludgiest

II. Match the following.

1.

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

2.

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

3.

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

4.

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

III. Complete the following:

(i) The object of all this _______ was standing cool and unmoved.
(a) wonder
(b) praise
(c) surprise
(d) applause
Answer:
(b) praise

(ii) Bored eyes _______ momentarily as Zigzag picked up a walnut.
(a) illuminated
(b) stared
(c) glanced
(d) brightened
Answer:
(d) brightened

(iii) Zigzag’s snore pounded their ear drums till their heads _______.
(a) cooled down
(b) pained
(c) ached
(d) were anxious
Answer:
(c) ached

(iv) In vain, did they try to wake the _______ bird.
(a) snoring
(b) sleeping
(c) angry
(d) arrogan
Answer:
(a) snoring

(v) Lakshmi had apparently switched on the fan on which Zigzag had left _______.
(a) some eatables ·
(b) a piece of meat
(c) some fruit and nuts
(d) a little food
Answer:
(c) some fruit and nuts

(vi) Finally an_______ Mrs. Krishnan rang up her husband.
(a) excited
(b) elated.
(c) arduous
(d) exhausted
Answer:
(d) exhausted

(vii) On the seventh day _______ arrived
(a) Mr. Krishnan
(b) Dr. Somu’s email
(c) Mrs. Krishnan
(d) the baggage
Answer:
(b) Dr. Somu’s email

(viii) It was Zigzag’s voice, clear and _______.
(a) ordering
(b) sweet
(c) commanding
(d) beautiful.
Answer:
(c) commanding

(ix) Zigzag flew in and _______.
(a) sat on the table
(b) perched on the verandah
(c) looked at the clinic
(d) made a big chaos
Answer:
(a) sat on the table

(x) It was Mrs. Krishnan sounding very pleased _______.
(a) with things around her
(b) with herself
(c) with her son
(d) with everyone
Answer:
(b) with herself

IV. Read the passage:

‘You’re both quite mistaken,’ their father hastened to explain, seeing his wife’s horrified expression. ‘Zigzag is a most harmless, unusual and lovable bird. Apparently, it was bred by a genuine African witch doctor, who gifted it to Somu when he – being a child specialist like me – cured the witch doctor’s son while he was touring the deepest jungles of equatorial Africa last month. Somu says the bird is an absolute treasure and a real help. It’s his favourite pet, you know’.

(a) How was the expression of Mrs. Krishnan, after she heard about Zigzag?
Answer:
Mrs. Krishnan’s expression was horrified when she heard about Zigzag.

(b) Who is Zigzag?
Answer:
Zigzag is the most harmless, unusual and lovable bird.

(d) Who gifted Zigzag to Somu?
Answer:
A genuine African witch doctor gifted it to Somu.

(e) What did Somu say about the bird?
Answer:
Somu said that Zigzag was an absolute treasure.

2. Arvind, finding that Zigzag was sulkily refusing to say a word despite all their efforts at striking a conversation, dashed into the kitchen to return with a plate heaped hurriedly with juicy fruit slices and some nuts.

Bored eyes brightened momentarily as Zigzag picked up a walnut. But refusing to speak, he dropped one wrinkled eyelid in a solemn wink and flew clumsily to deposit the nut on the enormous chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Bit by bit, and in total silence, all the fruit on the plate was transferred to the chandelier and on to the blades of the ceiling fan (now switched off).

Then perching comfortably on a curtain rod, Zigzag dropped one wizened eyelid in another solemn wink as he sank his beak into a plump guava.

(a) Did Zigzag speak any word?
Answer:
No, it did not speak anything.

(b) What did Arvind bring for the bird?
Answer:
He brought a plate of fruit slices and some nuts for the bird.

(c) What did Zigzag do with the plates of fruits and nuts?
Answer:
Zigzag picked up a walnut and flew to deposit it on a chandelier.

(d) Where did it transfer all the fruits and nuts?
Answer:
It transferred all the fruits and nuts to the chandelier and on the blades of the ceiling fan.

(e) Where did it perch comfortably?
Answer:
It perched comfortably on a curtain rod.

3. They froze in horror. Lakshmi had apparently switched on the fan on which Zigzag had left some fruit and nuts. Half-pecked fruit streamed off the fan, dampening even Lakshmis enthusiasm as a guava landed on her cheek with a soft squish and one walnut hit her forehead with a loud smack. One slice of over-ripe papaya came whizzing off the fan and, as they watched it helplessly. Orange pulp splattered all over Mrs.Krishnans unfinished masterpiece, sunset at Marina, spreading streaks of gooey orange pulp and shiny black seeds all over it.

Mrs.Krishnan groaned tragically and looked ready to shoot Zigzag, but he was saved by the bell. The telephone bell! They answered one call after another as all the neighbours rang upto demand what the awful KNGRRDRRWHEEZE sound was and if they could please have some peace.

(a) Who froze in horror when Lakshmi yelled?
Answer:
Mr. Krishnan’s wife, son and daughter froze in horror, when they heard Lakshmi yelling.

(b) What did she do?
Answer:
She switched on the fan on which Zigzag had left some fruits and nuts.

(c) What happened to Mrs. Krishnan’s painting?
Answer:
One slice of over-ripe papaya came whizzing off the fan and splattered all over the painting.

(d) Who was Lakshmi?
Answer:
Lakshmi was Mrs. Krishnan’s maid.

(e) What is the title of Mrs. Krishnan’s painting?
Answer:
The title was ‘Sunset at Marina.

IV. Mind map:

1.

Answer:
(i) keep Zigzag
(ii) Alaska
(iii) excited
(iv) happy
(v) nuisances

2.

Answer:
(i) fringed
(ii) various shades
(iii) sunflower yellow
(iv) Sunlight
(v) twenty-one

Zigzag By Asha Nehemiah

Asha Nehemiah was born in the year 1958 in Chennai. Now she lives in Bengaluru. She has always been interested in writing. While growing up, her love for books and reading, led her to study Literature in the college. Humour, fantasy, mystery and adventure are the strong elements in her work. One of her first collection of stories, “Granny’s Sari” has been. reprinted nine times. Her book “The Rajah’s Moustache” was awarded first prize in the competition for writers of children’s books by Children’s Book Trust. Her books have been translated into Bengali, Assamese, Hindi and Tamil. She believes that stories are a wonderful way to get children thinking and talking about various issues.

Zigzag Main Characters

Dr. Ashok T. Krishnan – Child Specialist
Somu – Krishnan’s friend Went to Alaska
Maya – Nine year old daughter
Giant beetle – Spitfire
Arvind – Krishnan’s son harmless bird
Arvind’s school – As calm as a monastery
Zigzag – harmless bird Talk and sing in 21 languages Trained by African witch doctor Snoring Monster
Visu – Somu’s old cook
Mrs. Krishnan – Talented artist Sunset at Marina
Lakshmi -Mrs.Krishnan’s maid
Mrs. Jhunjhunwala – Art critic
Boomerang – Sliced the TV aerials
Insect-eating plant – Amazonian rainforest
Sunset at Marina – Rs. 5,000/-
Tiny children – ear-splitting sobs

Zigzag Key Points

This is a story about Zigzag, a multilingual talking – singing bird.
Dr. Krishnan’s clinic usually sounded noisy because of the yelling and crying of children.
Dr. Krishnan’s cousin Dr. Somu asked him to keep his pet Zigzag with him for some time, as he went to Alaska.
Dr. Krishnan’s family was surprised to see the strange and weird looking bird. They had never seen such a strange and huge bird.
Somu’s cook, Visu said that the bird could recite French poetry. It can talk and sing in about twenty-one different languages.
Zigzag was about a foot and a half tall. Its head was bordered with a crown of shocking pink feathers. The rest of its plumage was in various shades.
Its curved beak was sunflower-yellow and its eyes were the colour of cola.
Arvind, the doctor’s son gave Zigzag a plate of juicy fruit slices and some nuts.
But Zigzag transferred all the walnuts and fruits to the chandelier and on the blades of the ceiling fan.
Next, it perched on a curtain rod and went to sleep. It snored loudly and then very loudly.
When Mrs. Krishnan’s maid switched on the fan in their studio, all the fruits and nuts fell from it.
One slice of over ripped papaya came whizzing off the fan and splattered on Mrs. Krishnan’s unfinished masterpiece.
It spread streaks of orange pulp and shiny black seeds all over it.
Mrs. Krishnan was upset and rang to her husband to take Zigzag away.
So Dr. Krishnan took the bird to the clinic.
There Zigzag started commanding everyone in the clinic. It was doing its job, for which he was trained earlier.
The clinic which was a noisy sea of tears, had transformed into a calm and orderly place.
It was the efficient skill of the bird. It was always busy and active.
Dr. Krishnan thought that it was really an absolute treasure.
The painting on which papaya fell was liked by the art critic Mrs. Jhunjhunwala and she bought it for ₹ 5.000/-.
So, Dr. Krishnan’s family invited Zigzag into their home.

Zigzag Key Summary

This is a story about Zigzag, a multilingual talking – singing bird. Dr. Krishnan’s clinic usually sounded noisy because of the yelling and cry of children. Dr. Krishnans cousin Somu asked him to keep his pet Zigzag with him for some time. Dr. Krishnan’s family were surprised to see the strange and weird looking bird. They had never seen such a strange and huge bird. Somu’s cook, Visu said that the bird could recite French poetry. It can talk and sing in about twenty-one different languages.

Zigzag was about a foot and a half tall. Its head was bordered with a crown of shocking pink feathers. The rest of its plumage was in various shades. Its curved beak was sunflower-yellow and its eyes were the colour of cola. Arvind, the doctors, son gave Zigzag a plate of juicy fruit slices and some nuts. But Zigzag transferred all the walnuts and fruits to the chandelier and on the blades of the ceiling fan. Next, it perched on a curtain rod and went to sleep. It snored loudly and then very loudly. Every member in Dr. Krishnan’s family tried to wake the bird but in vain. When Mrs. Krishnan’s maid switched on the fan in their studio, all the fruits and nuts fell from it. One slice of over ripped papaya came whizzing off the fan and splattered on Mrs. Krishnan’s unfinished masterpiece. It spread streaks of orange pulp and shiny black seeds all over it.

Mrs. Krishnan was upset and wanted to shoot Zigzag. She rang to her husband to take Zigzag away. Dr. Krishnan sent an email to Somu asking for clear instructions on how to stop Zigzags snoring. On the seventh day, he received a message stating that Zigzag hardly ever sleeps and he had never heard him snore. Mrs. Krishnan persuaded Dr. Krishnan to take Zigzag away. So Dr. Krishnan took the bird to the clinic. There Zigzag started commanding everyone in the clinic. It was doing its job, for which he was trained earlier. All its bored and grumpy expressions vanished. The clinic which was a noisy sea of tears, had transformed into a calm and orderly place. It was the efficient skill of the bird. It never slept or snored even for a second. It was always busy and active. Dr. Krishnan spoke to the bird and said that it was an absolute treasure. The painting on which papaya fell was liked by the art critic and she bought it for Rs. 5,000/-. So, Mrs. Krishnan was happy about and she invited Zigzag into their home. She wanted to shelter the bird for another week.

Zigzag Key Glossary

aboriginal (adj.) – native, local
absolute – complete
chamber – hall
commotions – confusions
coyote (n) – a wolf like wild dog native to North America,
crinkly (adj.) – wrinkly
curdling – clotting
dab – pat
deafeningly – ear-shatteringly
fringed (v) – bordered
grumpiness (adj.) – bad tempered
multilingual – using more than one language.
plumage (n) – a bird’s feather collectively
sarcasm (n) – use of irony to mock or convey contempt
slithers – moves smoothly over a surface with a twisting motion.
sludgiest (adj.) – wet mud
smack – slap
snorted – made a sudden explosive sound
solemn – majestic
squirt (n) – spray
sternly – strictly
streaks (n) – line, strap
sulkily – angrily
tantrum (n) – outburst, flare-up
tottered – jogged
unraveling – unwinding