Tamilnadu State Board Class 9 English Solutions Prose Chapter 1 Learning the Game
Learning the Game In-Text Questions
Question.
Who were Sachin’s favourite players?
Answer:
Sachin’s favourite players were Sunil Gavaskar and West Indian legend Viv Richards.
Question.
What was special about Shardashram Vidyamandir in Mumbai?
Answer:
Shardashram Vidyamandir gave due importance to the game of cricket.
Question.
What was the opportunity that transformed the life of Sachin?
Answer:
When the coach Achrekar agreed to let Sachin join the camp, he was delighted. It was an opportunity that transformed his life.
Question.
What sort of conversations did Ajit and Sachin have while travelling?
Answer:
Ajit and Sachin would talk a lot about the precise changes of in batting.
Question.
What routine did Sachin follow in washing his clothes?
Answer:
Sachin’s routine was to wash his only one set of cricket clothes, as soon as he returned from his morning session. He would dry them and would wear them again in the afternoon. The pattern was repeated in the evening so that he could use the same set of clothes the following morning.
Question.
What did Achrekar inform Ajit?
Answer:
Achrekar informed Ajit that Sachin had the potential to be a good cricketer, if he practised all the year around.
Question.
What was the suggestion given by Achrekar to Sachin’s father?
Answer:
Achrekar suggested Sachin’s father to change his son’s school. He wanted him to come to Shardashram Vidhyamandir, where Achrekar was the cricket coach.
Question.
What acted as a safety valve?
Answer:
All of Sachin’s excess energies were getting channelled into cricket. This acted as a kind of safety valve to him.
Question.
What did Sachin do during the thirty minute break?
Answer:
During the thirty-minute break, Achrekar would often give Sachin some money to go and have a Vadapav, a popular Mumbai fast food.
Question.
What is the intense ‘fifteen minutes’ mentioned?
Answer:
Towards the last fifteen minutes, Achrekar would place a one rupee coin on top of the stumps and if Sachin managed to avoid getting out, the coin was his. In this session every bowler in the camp, would come and bowl to him with some sixty to seventy boys fielding. It meant that he had to hit every ball along the ground to survive those intense fifteen minutes.
Question.
What did Sachin’s father do just to make Sachin happy?
Answer:
Sachin’s father would always end up giving Sachin what he wanted just to see him happy.
Question.
What did embarrass Sachin in the bus?
Answer:
It was a challenge for Sachin to stand with his kitbag in the bus. The conductors would complain about Sachin taking up the space of another passenger. They were often rude to him and would sometimes ask him to buy two tickets. This situation was so embarrassing to Sachin.
Question.
What made Sachin forget, to go to the nets?
Answer:
Sachin felt that playing with his friends at home was such a fun that he would conveniently forget to go to the nets.
Question.
What did Achrekar advise Sachin?
Answer:
Achrekar would advise Sachin not to waste his time playing disordered games with the kids. Cricket is waiting for him at the nets. Practice hard and see what magic it can show.
A. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences.
Question 1.
What was coach Achrekar’s first impression on Sachin?
Answer:
Achrekar’s first impression on Sachin was that he felt he was too young to make the camp.
Question 2.
Why did Sachin feel that the schedule of the camp was ‘rigorous’?
Answer:
The camp involved a session every morning and evening at Shivaji Park. Sachin would practice between 7.30 am and 10.30 am. He would again go in the afternoon and practice till late evening. He would be exhausted at the end of the day. Thus the schedule was rigorous.
Question 3.
What did serve as a very personal coaching manual to Sachin?
Answer:
A note, which was given by his brother Ajit, served as a very personal coaching manual. It contained some thoughts about batting.
Question 4.
Why was Sachin asked to change the school?
Answer:
Sachin was asked to change the school, as the New English School did not have any cricket facilities.
Question 5.
What was the condition laid down by Sachin’s father for changing the school?
Answer:
The condition laid down by Sachin’s father for changing the school was that if Sachin is really serious about playing cricket, he would change his school.
Question 6.
How did the act with the one rupee coin help Sachin become a good cricketer?
Answer:
Winning the one-rupee coin used to give Sachin immense satisfaction and taught him to concentrate even after he was physically drained.
Question 7.
What did help Sachin to build his physical and mental stamina?
Answer:
As the last part of Sachin’s training, Achrekar would ask Sachin to run two full circuits of Shivaji Park with his pads and gloves on. Sachin would be completely exhausted by the end of it. It was a routine he would repeat right through his summer holidays. This helped him to build up his physical and mental stamina.
Question 8.
Which incident triggered the coach to be angry on Sachin?
Answer:
Once, Sachin avoided his daily evening practice to watch an inter-school cricket match. Least did he expect that his coach would be there. The coach became angry on Sachin and told him that people all over the world should watch him play.
Question 9.
Why do you think Achrekar punished Sachin?
Answer:
When the coach Achrekar was trying to teach a very important lesson, Sachin was inattentive and did not carry out his orders. So he was punished.
Question 10.
7 owe my self to him’ – What does Sachin mean by this?
Answer:
Had it not been for the coach Ramakant Achrekar, Sachin would not be the cricketer he turned out to be. Achrekar was a strict disciplinarian and did everything, he could for Sachin. So Sachin says that he owes himself to Achrekar.
Short Questions and Answers : Additional
Question 1.
What did Sachin play from a very early age?
Answer:
Sachin played tennis ball cricket with his colony friends.
Question 2.
What did Sachin often tried to emulate?
Answer:
Sachin often tried to imitate (emulate) the mannerisms of his favourite players Sunil Gavaskar and Vivian Richards.
Question 3.
Where was he studying at first?
Answer:
At first, he was studying in the New English School in Mumbai.
Question 4.
When did the coach Achrekar started playing cricket?
Answer:
Ramakant Achrekar started playing cricket at the age of eleven in 1943.
Question 5.
What was the timing given to Sachin for his practice at Shivaji Park?
Answer:
The timings were between 7.30 am and 10.30 am in the morning.
Question 6.
Why did Sachin keep a note, given by his brother all throughout his career?
Answer:
Sachin kept a note given by his brother carefully, since it contained some thoughts about batting and served as a very personal coaching manual.
Question 7.
How many matches did Sachin play in his first year at Shardarshram?
Answer:
In the first year at Shardashram, Sachin played fifty-five practice matches during the summer break of sixty days.
Question 8.
What was Sachin’s regular demand, while going home with his father?
Answer:
Sachin would always ask his father to treat him to a special fruit cocktail at a juice centre near the club.
Question 9.
What was a great learning experience for Sachin?
Answer:
Taking the bus or train from Bandra to Church gate with a lot of embarrassing moments was a great learning experience for Sachin.
B. Answer the following in a paragraph of120-150 words:
Question 1.
‘Achrekar was a sincere coach’. Substantiate.
Answer:
Ramakant Achrekar coached young cricketers at Shivaji Park in Mumbai. At the age of twelve, Tendulkar would practice for hours and hours in the nets. If he became exhausted, Achrekar would put a one rupee coin on top of the stumps and the bowler who dismissed Tendulkar would get the coin. If Tendulkar passed the whole session without getting dismissed, the coach would give him the coin. Achrekar used to encourage Sachin at all times and gave him practice thoroughly. Tendulkar lauded his contribution to cricket and said his mentor looked after all players really well. During the training session, Achrekar worked sincerely and gave rigorous training to everyone in the camp. Had it not been for Achrekar, Sachin would not be the cricketer he turned out to be. The coach Achrekar was a strict disciplinarian and did everything he could for Sachin.
Question 2.
Narrate in your own words the hardships underwent by Sachin to become a great cricketer.
Answer:
Sachin started playing cricket at the age of eleven in 1984. He was trained at Shivaji Park by his coach Ramakant Achrekar, who worked in Shardashram Vidhyamandir. He ran summer camps too. Sachin had a vigorous training under him. He would practise between 7.30 am and 10.30 am in the morning. Then he would come back in the afternoon and practise till evening. The schedule was rigorous and he would be exhausted by the end of the day. During the bus journeys, he would have a conversation with his brother Ajit about the various changes in batting. He used to have only one set of cricket clothes.
So he had to wash the set after every session, to wear them for his next session. He had to face a lot of embarrassing moments while travelling in the bus to Shivaji Park. There was also an immense fifteen minutes training with a one rupee coin by the coach. Though his coach punished him on one occasion, the coach contributed a lot in the success of Sachin Tendulkar. Without the coach Achrekar, Sachin would not be the cricketer, he turned out to be. Sachin says he owes himself to Achrekar.
Question 3.
Quote the sentences which you find most inspiring from ‘Learning the Game’. How do they inspire you? Explain.
Answer:
The game would be most inspiring to the youngsters of today such ones are: “All my excess energies were getting channelled into cricket, which acted as a kind of safety valve”.’ My father always said that all he wanted me to do was give it my best effort without worrying about the results’. “Winning the one rupee coin used to give me immense satisfaction and taught me how to concentrate even when physically drained”. “Had it not been for Sir, I would not be the cricketer I turned out to be”. “I owe myself to him”.
All these sentences would inspire each and everyone who reads this extract as it reveals the determination, the will power, hard work and the difficulties undergone by Sachin Tendulkar and his family to achieve his goal as a cricketer. His family members also supported him and encouraged him throughout his career. The youngsters should learn a lot from this all-rounder.
Paragraph Questions and Answers : Additional
Question 1.
Narrate the incident of Sachin’s induction into the Mumbai Cricket circuit.
Answer:
Sachin loved watching cricket on television. In his games, he often tried to imitate the mannerisms of his favourite players. Seeing the interest of Sachin in the game of cricket, his brother Ajit took him to Ramakant Achrekar, the cricket coach. When Sachin was asked to bat by the coach, he felt nervous and failed to make an impact. His coach told Ajit that Sachin was too young to make the camp. He suggested that he should bring him when he was a little older. Sachin thought that his induction into the Mumbai cricket circuit could have ended in failure. But his brother requested the coach to give Sachin another opportunity. He also suggested that the coach should pretend to go away and then watch him play from a distance. The coach agreed and asked Sachin to bat again. Sachin felt more at ease without his coach near him. So he batted well and was delighted to join in the camp.
Question 2.
What made Sachin’s father agree to Achrekar’s suggestion?
Answer:
One evening, the coach Achrekar called Sachin’s father and suggested to change Sachin’s school. He told him to move Sachin to Shardarshram Vidhyamandir. His father and brother accepted that it was necessary to change the school, if cricket was to be Sachin’s priority. His father advised his son Sachin that he would change his school, if Sachin was really serious about playing cricket. Sachin assured that he was serious about it. His father always said that all he wanted Sachin to do was to give his best effort without * worrying about the results.
Vocabulary
C. Match the words in column A with their synonym in column B.
Answer:
1. (c)
2. (e)
3. (b)
4. (a)
5. (d)
D. Match the words in column A with their antonym in column B.
Answer:
1. (b)
2. (e)
3. (d)
4. (a)
5. (c)
Homonyms
E. Use the words given below in your own sentences so as to get different meanings. One is done for you.
Homophones
F. Consult a dictionary, to find the homophones for the given words.
Prefix and Suffix
C. Look at the prefixes and suffixes given and frame two new words for each one of them. One is done for you.
Listening
H. Listen to the passage on Paralympics and choose the correct answer.
Question 1.
The Paralympic games are for __________.
(a) children
(b) disabled people
(c) women
Ans:
(b) disabled people
Question 2.
The Paralympic games usually happen __________.
(a) in Greece
(b) every four years
(c) after the Olympic Games
Answer:
(b) every four years
Question 3.
The first true Paralympic Games happened in Rome in __________.
(a) 1960
(b) 1952
(c) 1848
Answer:
(a) 1960
Question 4’.
In 394 BCE, the __________ stopped the Greek Olympic Games, because they didn’t like them.
(a) Romans
(b) Greeks
(c) British
Answer:
(a) Romans
Question 5.
__________was a doctor at the Stoke Mandeville hospital in England.
(a) Pierre de Coubertin
(b) Sir Ludwig Guttmann
(c) Natalie du Toit
Answer:
(b) Sir Ludwig Guttmann
Speaking
Just a minute
Given below are five main qualities for true sportsmanship.
Get into groups of four. Each group will choose one quality to talk about to the whole class for about one minute. But before you talk, you have two minutes to think about it. You can make notes if you wish.
Sp. A : I feel determination is the essential quality of a champion. It is this determination that fills the player with a killer-instinct to win the match/game. When one is determined to win, nothing can stop that person from achieving the goal. “Where there is a will there is a way”. Hence friends, I feel determination helps a person to achieve his goal.
Sp. B : Dear friends, Optimization, according to me, is the essential keynote to success. We have to put in the maximum efforts and make use of the opportunities to the best. Hardwork and determination lead us to the path of success. It requires intelligence to optimise our resources and put them to full use. Hence there is no doubt that optimization leads to victory.
Sp. C : All determination and optimization cannot win without stamina. The mind should be strong and we should be doing enough to overcome challenges and face situations with confidence. A strong heart with unterminated courage has the ability to overcome any hardship and withstand the test of time. So it is the stamina that is the vital requirement for the sportsman.
Sp. D : Perseverance is very much required in our daily walks of life. It is a continuous effort to achieve our aim. We can learn great lessons on perseverance from the activities of bees, ants, etc. Robert Bruce learnt it from a spider and liberated Scotland. Successful people have the quality of perseverance which makes them assume impossible activities to be possible.
Sp. E : Decisiveness is the ability to decide with speed and clarity. In any situation the ability to decide is crucial. Without clear decisions there can be no action and no results. Being decisive is simply the most rational way to take on any problem. The best decision is the best one we can make with the information available at the time.
J. Prepare a speech in about 80-100 words for the morning assembly, stressing on the importance of games and sports in ensuring a healthy body and mind.:
Answer:
Importance of Games and Sports
‘A sound mind in a sound body’ is the adage. It is true and worthy. The mind when free of pain or physical stress thinks clearly and remains active. It has the ability to march # towards its goal as there are no stress psychologically and physically due to fear and ’ illness. Active exercises, fresh air, activities like cycling, swimming and walking refresh
the mind and keep it cheerful and relaxed. To overcome our stress we should play our favourite game, be it chess, cricket or any other game and remain calm and relaxed. Hence sports are an essential part of life.
Writing
K. Your friend who lives in another town/city has won his / her championship trophy in the recent sports meet. Write a letter congratulating him/her.
Answer:
14, Rajaji Street,
K. City 20th March, 2019.
Dear Rajesh,
My heartiest congratulations to you on winning the Trophy in Athletics at the Sports Meet. You had the traits of a champion always. Your hard work, determination and tireless efforts have enabled your win. I am sure that many more laurels are on your way. You shall soon become an international champion.
Never give up and keep reaping more and more laurels.
Your loving friend,
S. Naresh
Address on the envelope :
L. Collect information from newspapers, magazines, periodicals and books about any two famous sports women. Prepare their profiles. Use the following format.
Answer:
Learning the Game Creative Writing
M. Write a newspaper article in about 100 words, comparing the achievements of the two sportswomen based on the information you have already collected.
Two Women Icons
– An article by M. Adhitya, IX. ‘A’.
Answer:
We need sportswomen of generation to achieve the reigns and encourage the coming
generations. The efforts of such sporting personalities have yielded fruit. The female sensation in badminton today is World Ranking Topper Saina Nehwal and in Squash, it is Dipika Pallikal. While they are almost of the same age and have settled in South India, their growth in the sports arena is highly appreciable. They have received the ‘ prestigious Arjuna award and they have been ranked among the top 10. While Saina has been in World Rank 1 in 2015, Dipika was Rank 10 in 2012. The two young sports icons are embodiments of hardwork, sincerity and dedication.
A Talk Show
Question.
Work in groups of 4-6. Choose one folk art from, that is rarely or no longer performed. Find out the reasons for this and suggest practical solutions/steps that can be taken to prevent this. After discussion and research, conduct a talk show in the class on the topic FOLK ARTS – A REVIVAL. The following inputs will help you.
Each group will consist of the following members.
- The host
- A folk artist
- A representative from an NGO engaged in reviving some of the dying folk arts.
- A student
- A citizen from the city
Answer:
Host : Dear friends, I am going to talk to you about ‘ Silambattam’ – or tactics with sticks. It is a long forgotten art wherein the man who holds the stick rotates it so fast, that it flashes like a lightning before your eyes and is a plaything in his hands. Sometimes women too practise it. Let me now introduce you to Ms. Valliammaal, an expert in yielding the ‘Silambu’. She is from a village in Thanjavur and has inherited this skill from her grandfather. Over to you, Madam!
Valli: You folks of the city would be surprised to see a stick being used so rapidly and literally spinning before your eyes. It all depends upon precision and practice. 100% concentration is required in this art, also you stand a chance to get killed by a fatal blow or unable to move you limbs. In my village, even little children practise this art. But now-a-days, with more and more people migrating to the city, the interest in the art too has deteriorated. I convey my thanks to Mr. Saravanan, an NGO, who has offered me financial support to set up a school, for teaching this art to youngsters.
Student: Madam I am Suresh, a student of XYZ college. I am very much interested in this traditional art and interested to learn the technique from you.
Citizen: Yes, Madam, I am Sadasivam and I work in a bank. I admire the graceful movements. I would like my children learn this art. Will Mr. Saravanan arrange for some classes in the city and enable us to benefit learning this ancient folk-art?
A rep: Why not? Very soon I shall do so.
Citizen: Thank you sir, We are immensely grateful to you.
Grammar
A. Choose the most appropriate preposition from the brackets:
Question 1.
We have been living in Chennai _________ eight years. (for/since)
Answer:
for
Question 2.
Abdul has taken _________ his father. (after/at)
Answer:
after
Question 3.
Vimal generally goes to his workplace ________ bus. (by/on)
Answer:
by
Question 4.
The cricket ball was hidden ________ the leaves. (among/between)
Answer:
among
Question 5.
Mani divided his toys _____ his brothers and sisters. (among/between)
Answer:
between
B. Identify the prepositions in the given sentences and underline them.
1. Riya borrowed a dress from me and lent it to her friend, Mary.
2. When I moved back to the city, things had changed considerably.
3. The burglar found the keys under the pot in the balcony.
4. Prabhu was hiding behind the door when his sister came looking for him.
5. My dog sat on my hat and squashed it.
C. Complete the passage by filling in appropriate prepositions from the list- (with, out, to, in, from, during, of, for, by). Some prepositions may be used more than once.
In Tamil Nadu, a very interesting form of recitation named Villupattu developed
(a) _________ the 15th century. Villupattu means bow-song because a bow-shaped musical instrument (b) _________ strong high tension string is used (c) _________ placing it (d) _________ an earthen pitcher. It is believed that this narrative form was an invention (e) _________ Arasa Pulavar. The troupe gives its performance mostly (f) _________ temple festivals. There are seven to eight persons in a troupe who form a kind (g) _________ chorus that supports the main singer-narrator. When the chief narrator sings, the chorus takes (h) _________ the refrain (i) _________ the song and repeats it in unison. The whole party sits (j) _________ the ground and performs (k) _________ a lot (l) _________ gesticulation and facial expression to suit the narrative they have taken. The ballad style songs are composed (m) _________ the rural dialect which appeals (n) _________ the audience
who sometimes join the troupe (o) _________ suitable notes or words.
Answer:
(a) in
(b) with
(c) by
(d) on
(e) of
(0 during
(g) of
(h) out
(i) from
(j) on
(k) with
(l) of
(m) in
(n) to
(o) by
Prepositional verbs
D. Frame sentences using the prepositional verbs given in the box.
1. The benefit from trees is immense.
2. I stood in for my friend at the discussion.
3. The children stayed at their grandmother’s house, during the vacation.
4. She went into a trance.
5. We are preparing for the exams vigorously.
6. Let me pay for the lunch.
7. I can’t rely on you.
8. The boys joked about their friend’s performance.
9. The class consists of 50 students.
10. The doctor attended to the patient day and might.
E. Given below is a picture of a carnival. Complete the factual description by filling in the blanks with appropriate prepositions.
A thiruvizha is a source of excitement and thrill for villagers. The village thoroughfare wears a festival look, as the open spaces are cleaned, spruced up and decorated (a) _________ colourful streamers. People throng the premises (b) _________ catch a glimpse (c) _________ their village deity (d) a magnificently decorated chariot, and pay their respects. There is a big crowd (e) _________ the food stalls that serve free piping hot sakkarai Pongal (sweet Pongal), lemon rice and curd rice.
People (f) _________ nearby villages and towns display their wares attractively, and call out loudly (g) _________ the people (h) _________ buy their wares. Cotton candy, cut raw mangoes smothered (i) _________ salt and chilly powder, boiled groundnuts, murukku, sweets, buttermilk etc are sold. Men, women, grandmas, grandpas and little children, dressed (j) _________ their best clothes, enjoy the Thiruvizha greatly.
You can hear the shrieks (k) _________ happy children enjoying the rides on ferris wheels and carousels, elders looking (l) _________ each other with smiles on their faces.
The entire day is spent (m) _________ fun and gaiety. All the village people irrespective of their age, look forward (n) _________ the thiruvizha every year.
Answers:
(a) with
(b) to
(c) of
(d) on
(e) in
(f) from
(g) to
(h) to
(i) with
(j) in
(k) of
(l) at
(m) in
(n) to
F. Write a letter to your friend, describing the joy of celebrating festivals in a village, with the inputs given above.
12, Netaji Street,
Chennai-23.
28-2-2019
Dear Balu,
I am fine and wish to hear the same from you. Last month I celebrated the Pongal festival in my native village “Chinna Thadakam” in Coimbatore district. My grandparents are living there. I had an unforgettable time with them. Since Pongal is the festival of harvest, the farmers bathed their cows and bulls and painted their horns. There was a village fair and bullock cart race. Jallikattu, the traditional bull taming spectacle, was also held as part of the four-day Pongal festival. I visited the village fair and enjoyed the simple pleasures of life like bathing in the river, strolling in the fields, eating food cooked in earthen utensils over firewood, sleeping on a cot on the terrace under the star-lit sky, visiting temple fairs and watching Karagattam presentation. I really enjoyed the rural life. Next year I wish to take you to our native village to celebrate Pongal.
Convey my love to your parents.
Yours lovingly,
R. Prashanth
Address on the Envelope :
Project
G. Your class has to stage a Puppet Show in the Assembly Open Forum on the topic ‘Child Labour’. Divide yourselves into groups and discuss the requirements for the presentation like storyline, characters, dialogues, choice of puppets and music for the interlude. Now complete the dialogues given below.
Ramesh: Let us present a Puppet Show on CHILD LABOUR for our Assembly Open Forum.
Mohammed: That is a very good idea! Let us start planning right away.
Geetha: But long talks on the topic would be boring and uninteresting.
Leema: I suggest we begin with the storyline first.
Mani: How do we decide the plot? How many characters can we choose?
Ramesh: We can have around five characters.
Mohammed: What would be the theme of the play?
Meena: We can focus on the problems of poverty and illiteracy as major reasons for child labour.
Ramesh: Can we present a puppet – show on the topic? It would really be a novel experience to the viewers.
Leema: I am good at making stick puppets. I will make them myself. But I require some help.
Mani: I shall help you with the dolls. Tell me, when can we start our work?
Leema: Thank you, Mani, Let us stay back after the meeting and discuss.
Ramesh: Have something interesting to attract the audience.
Meena: I think we should have some music for the interlude.
Geetha: That would make it really interesting. I will get my music group to start working on the tunes for our puppet show.
H. Now you are ready to start writing your script for Bommalattam on ’Child Labour’.
(To be done by the student)
Synonyms & Antonyms : Additional Questions
I. Choose the appropriate Synonym of the underlined words.
Question 1.
I often tried to emulate the mannerisms of my favourite players.
(a) disregard
(b) imitate
(c) overlook
(d) observe
Answer:
(b) imitate
Question 2.
I wanted to pursue cricket seriously.
(a) assist
(b) retreat
(c) follow
(d) give up
Answer:
(c) follow
Question 3.
I felt somewhat overawed with so many people around.
(a) undaunted
(b) supported
(c) intimidated
(d) surprised
Answer:
(c) intimidated
Question 4.
My induction into the Mumbai cricket circuit could have ended in failure – but for Ajit’s insistence.
(a) dissolution
(b) rejection
(c) elimination
(d) inclusion
Answer:
(d) inclusion
Question 5.
The schedule was rigorous.
(a) easy
(b) severe
(c) gentle
(d) flexible
Answer:
b) s :re
Question 6.
He would talk to me about the nuances of batting.
(a) subtleties
(b) antiquity
(c) disgrace
(d) history
Answer:
(a) subtleties
Question 7.
I would always ask my father to treat me to a special fruit cocktail near the club.
(a) sauce
(b) cake
(c) mixed drink
(d) pav bhaji
Answer:
(c) mixed drink
Question 8.
Sir would spot me in the melee and virtually drag me out.
(a) peaceful place
(b) theatre
(c) harmony hall
(d) confused crowd
Answer:
(d) confused crowd
Question 9.
Practice hard and see what magic can transpire.
(a) stop
(b) remove
(c) vanish
(d) reveal
Answer:
d) reveal
Question 10.
He was a strict disciplinarian and did everything he could for me.
(a) lenient
(b) stem
(c) easy going
(d) tolerant
Answer:
(b) stem
Another Type of Exercise
Choose the appropriate Synonym of the underlined words.
1. From a very early (i) age, I played tennis-ball cricket with my colony friends. I loved watching cricket on television and in our games, I often (ii) tried to emulate (iii) the mannerisms of my favourite players, Sunil Gavaskar and the West Indian legend (iv) Viv Richards. Ramakant Achrekar Sir ran (v) summer camps too.
i) (a) late
(b) initial
(c) middle
(d) later
Answer:
(b) initial
ii) (a) rarely
(b) seldom
(c) sometimes
(d) frequently
Answer:
(d) frequently
iii) (a) disregard
(b) imitate
(c) overlook
(d) observe
Answer:
(b) imitate
iv) (a) unknown
(b) orthodox
(c) celebrity
(d) obscurity
Answer:
(c) celebrity
v) (a) rush
(b) moving fast
(c) hasten
(d) conduct
Answer:
(d) conduct
2. I had never batted in the nets before and felt somewhat overawed (i) with so many people around. When I was asked to bat, I was not at all comfortable (ii). With Sir watching me so closely, I failed to make an impact (iii). Sir called Ajit aside (iv) and informed him that I was perhaps (v) too young to make the camp.
i) (a) undaunted
(b) intimidated
(c) supported
(d) surprised
Answer:
(b) intimidated
ii) (a) cozy
(b) hard
(c) harsh
(d) unpleasant
Answer:
(a) cozy
iii) (a) agreement
(b) impression
(c) concord
(d) discord
Answer:
(b) impression
iv) (a) besides
(b) beside
(c) upside
(d) preside
Answer:
(b) beside
v) (a) unlikely
(b) impossibly
(c) may be
(d) emphatically
Answer:
(c) may be
3. The schedule was rigorous (i) and I would be exhausted (ii) by the end of the day. For the first few days, Ajit accompanied (iii) me, to get me used to the routine (iv). During the bus journeys, he would talk to me about the nuances (v) of batting, and I always enjoyed these
conversations a lot.
i) (a) easy
(b) flexible
(c) gentle
(d) severe
Answer:
(d) severe
ii) (a) tired
(b) active
(c) refreshed
(d) energetic
Answer:
(a) tired
iii) (a) abandoned
(b) stranded
(c) joined
(d) deserted
Answer:
(c) joined
iv) (a) different
(b) regular
(c) strange
(d) unusual
Answer:
(b) regular
v) (a) subtleties
(b) antiquity
(c) disgrace
(d) history
Answer:
(a) subtleties
4. There wqs never quite enough (i) time for the pockets to dry (ii) out completely, and for the entire (iii) duration of the camp I played with wet pockets. By the middle of the summer camp, Sir had started taking an active (iv) interest in my batting and at the end of the two months, informed Ajit that I had the potential (v) to be a good cricketer if I practised all year round.
i) (a) insufficient
(b) scarce
(c) adequate
(d) deficit
Answer:
(c) adequate
ii) (a) damp
(b) moistureless
(c) humid
(d) wet
Answer:
(b) moistureless
iii) (a) partial
(b) abridged
(c) complete
(d) flawed
Answer:
(c) complete
iv) (a) apathetic
(b) ignorant
(c) lethargic
(d) dynamic
Answer:
(d) dynamic
v) (a) limitation
(b) ineptitude
(c) capacity
(d) weakness
Am :
(a) capacity
II. Choose the appropriate Antonyms of the underlined words.
1. I wanted to pursue cricket seriously.
(a) continue
(b) give up
(c) follow
(d) chase
Answer:
(c) give up
2. It helped me to build up physical and mental stamina.
(a) strength
(b) vigour
(c) force
(d) weakness
Answer:
(d) weakness
3. Dirty clothes often added to the embarrassment.
(a) shame
(b) comfort
(c) awkwardness
(d) humiliation
Answer:
(a) comfort
4. Winning the one rupee coin used to give me immense satisfaction.
(a) extensive
(b) little
(c) enormous
(d) great
Answer:
(b) little
5. Practice hard and see what magic can transpire.
(a) reveal
(b) emerge
(c) result
(d) hide
Answer:
(d) hide
6. He was a strict disciplinarian.
(a) easy going
(b) stem
(c) tough
(d) draconian
Answer:
(a) easy going
7. Sir also punished me on one occasion.
(a) chastened
(b) exonerated
(c) birched
(d) penalized
Answer:
(b) exonerated
8. Don’t waste your time playing insane games with these kids.
(a) bizarre
(b) lunatic
(c) sensible
(d) crazy
Answer:
(c) sensible
9. I’d often take the bus or train from Bandra to Church gate.
(a,) usually
(b) rarely
(c) regularly
(d) frequently
Answer:
(b) rarely
10. When I was asked to bat, I was not at all comfortable.
(a) affluent
(b) uneasy
(c) contented
(d) cozy
Answer:
(b) uneasy
Another type of exercise
1. Choose the appropriate Antonyms of the underlined words.
1. Ajit was in the room with my father at the time and they both accepted (i) that it was necessary if cricket was to be my priority (ii). My father sat me down and explained that while he did not have any objections to my changing schools, I should do so only if I was really serious (iii) about playing cricket. I assured (iv) him I was, and so it was agreed (v) that I should move to Shardashram Vidhyamandir.
i) (a) endorsed
(b) approved
(c) rejected
(d) agreed
Answer:
(c) rejected
ii)
(a) prime concern
(b) unimportance
(c) preference
(d) supremacy
Answer:
(b) unimportance
iii) (a) arduous
(b) grave
(c) ambitious
(d) light minded
Answer:
(d) light minded
iv) (a) convinced
(b) repudiated
(c) ensured
(d) guaranteed
Answer:
(b) repudiated
v) (a) concurred
(b) conceded
(c) disagreed
(d) assented
Answer:
(c) disagreed
2. On days when I wasn’t so lucky (i), it was still a challenge just to stand with the kitbag, because the bus conductors would inevitably (ii) complain about me taking up the space of another passenger. It could be embarrassing (iii) because the conductors were often rude (iv) and would sometimes ask me to buy (v) two tickets.
i)
(a) fortunate
(b) prosperous
(c) happy
(d) unlucky
Answer:
(d) unlucky
ii) (a) unavoidably
(b) surely
(c) avoidably
(d) eventually
Answer:
(c) avoidably
iii) (a) shameful
(b) pleasant
(c) humiliating
(d) awkward
Answer:
(b) pleasant
iv) (a) polite
(b) impolite
(c) indelicate
(d) coarse
Answer:
(a) polite
v) (a) acquire
(b) procure
(c)get
(d) sell
Answer:
(d) sell
3. Even though I loved (i) cricket, there were still occasional days when playing with my friends at home was such fun (ii) that I would conveniently (iii) forget I was supposed (iv) to go to the nets. If I didn’t turn up, Achrekar Sir would jump on to his scooter and come (v) to find me. Sir would spot me in the melee and virtually drag me out.
i) (a) adored
(b) cherished
(c) hated
(d) esteemed
Answer:
(c) hated
ii) (a) amusement
(b) boredom
(c) enjoyment
(d) glee
Answer:
(b) boredom
iii) (a) suitably
(b) favourably
(c) desirably
(d) inconveniently
Answer:
(d) inconveniently
iv) (a) unlikely
(b) presumed
(c) likely
(d) assumed
Answer:
(a) unlikely
v) (a) arrive
(b) appear
(c) go
(d) enter
Answer:
(c) go
MCQs – Additional
Answer the following questions by choosing the correct answer.
Question 1.
From a very early age, I played ___________ cricket with my colony friends.
(a) tape-ball
(b) windball
(c) tennis-ball
Answer:
(c) tennis-ball
Question 2.
Ramakant Achrekar Sir was the cricket coach in ___________ .
(a) New English School
(b) Shardashram Vidhyamandir
(c) Modem School
Answer:
(b) Shardashram Vidhyamandir
Question 3.
Ajit took me to Ramakant Achrekar when I was ___________ years old.
(a) fourteen
(b) twelve
(c) eleven
Answer:
(c) eleven
Question 4.
Achrekar started playing cricket at the age of eleven in the year ___________.
(a) 1943
(b) 1963
(c) 1953
Answer:
(a) 1943
Question 5.
With Sir watching me so closely, I ___________ to make an impact.
(a) emulated
(b) asked
(c) failed
Answer:
(c) failed
Question 6.
Ajit explained the coach that I was and ___________ asked to give one more opportunity.
(a) comfortable
(b) nervous
(c) unexcited
Answer:
(b) nervous
Question 7.
The camp’involved a session every morning and evening at ___________.
(a) Bandra
(b) Church gate
(c) Shivaji Park
Answer:
(c) Shivaji Park
Question 8.
During the bus journeys, Ajit would talk to me about the .
(a) mannerisms of players
(b) nuances of batting
(c) importance of exercises
Answer:
(b) nuances of batting
Question 9.
In my first year at Shardashram, I played practice matches during sixty days.
(a) forty
(b) fifty five
(c) twenty one
Answer:
(b) fifty five
Question 10.
By the middle of the __________ camp, Sir had started taking an active interest in my batting.
(a) summer
(b) winter
(c) autumn
Answer:
(a) summer
Question 11.
Sir would often give me some money to go and have a __________ .
(a) fruit cocktail
(b) vadapav
(c) bread toast
Answer:
(b) vadapav
Question 12.
Sir would place a __________ rupee coin on top of the stumps.
(a) one
(b) two
(c) five
Answer:
(a) one
Question 13.
I would always ask __________ to treat me to a special fruit cocktail at a juice centre.
(a) my brother
(b) my father
(c) Achrekar Sir
Answer:
(b) my father
Question 14.
It could be embarrassing because the conductors were often __________ .
(a) respectable
(b) polite
(c) rude
Answer:
(c) rude
Question 15.
Travelling to Shivaji Park took forty minutes from my house in __________ .
(a) Church gate
(b) Bandra
(c) Dadar
Answer:
(b) Bandra
Question 16.
Achrekar Sir would jump on to his __________ and come to find me.
(a) bike
(b) scooter
(c) bicycle
Answer:
(b) scooter
Question 17.
I’d often take the bus or train from Bandra to ___________.
(a) Shivaji Park
(b) Dadar
(c) Church gate
Answer:
(c) Church gate
Learning the Game About The Author
The retired Indian Cricket Player Sachin Ramesh Tendukar is considered as one of the greatest batsmen of all times. He was born on 24th April 1973 in Mumbai. He was introduced to cricket at the age of eleven by his brother Ajit Tendulkar. In 2005, he became the first cricketer to score 35 centuries (100 runs in a single inning) in Test play. In 20 IT, Tendulkar achieved his dream of winning the Cricket World Cup at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai. He is the only player to have scored one hundred international centuries and the first to score double century in a One Day International cricket.
He played 664 International Cricket matches in total, scoring 34,357 runs. In 2012, Tendulkar was nominated to the Rajya Sabha. He retired from Cricket on 16th November 2013. He is also the recipient of the Arjuna Award (1994), Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (1997), Padma Shri (1999), Padma Vibhushan (2008) and Bharat Ratna (2013).
Learning the Game Summary
Learning the Game’ is an extract from Sachin Tendulkar’s autobiography ‘Playing it My Way’. He played tennis ball cricket with his colony friends from a very early age. He loved watching cricket on television and tried to imitate the mannerisms of his favourite players like Sunil Gavaskar and Viv Richards. It wasn’t just about batsman that Sachin studied, but he also loved to bowl. Throughout his career, he had actually bowled a lot in the nets.
Sachin was studying in the New English School at Mumbai. But his brother Ajith wanted him to study in ‘Shardashram Vidhyamandir’ where Ramakant Achrekar was the cricket coach. This school gave more importance to the game of cricket. Ramakant Achrekar ran summer cricket camps. One day, his brother Ajit took him to Achrekar to get trained well. It was because, only Achrekar could decide who to accept for a trial at the camp. But there, Tendulkar failed to make an impact on Achrekar, the coach. So the coach informed his brother that Sachin was too young to get into the camp.
But Ajit insisted him to give his brother another chance, as he was nervous. So he was given another chance and the coach watched his batting from a distance. Seeing him batting well, the coach agreed to train him. It was an opportunity that transformed Sachin’s life. His coach Achrekar advised Sachin to change his school if he really wanted to pursue cricket seriously. In his first year, at Shradasram, Sachin played 55 practice matches during the summer break of 60 days.
Achrekar used to place a one rupee coin on top of the stumps and asked Sachin to bat. If Sachin remained not out, Achrekar Sir would gift the coin to him. Whenever Sachin tried to bunk practice session, Achrekar Sir came to take him to the ground. Had it not been for Achrekar Sir, Sachin would not be the cricketer he turned out to be. The coach was a strict disciplinarian and did everything he could for Sachin. Finally, Sachin says that he owes himself to Achrekar Sir.
Learning the Game Mind Map
Learning the Game Glossary
