Tamilnadu Board Class 9 English Solutions Prose Chapter 3 Old Man River

Tamilnadu State Board Class 10 English Solutions Prose Chapter 3 Old Man River (Drama)

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