Tamilnadu Board Class 9 English Solutions Prose Chapter 5 Water – The Elixir of Life

Tamilnadu State Board Class 9 English Solutions Prose Chapter 5 Water – The Elixir of Life

The Elixir of Life In – Textual Questions

Water the Elixir of Life Mind Map Question. What is the imaginary elixir of life?
Answer:
The divine Amrita is the imaginary elixir of life.

Question.
What according to the writer is the real elixir of life?
The Elixir of Life Question and AnswerAnswer:
According to the writer, water is the real elixir of life.

Question.
What is the ‘wonderful difference’ the writer talks about in the passage?
Answer:
On one side, was the visible sea of billowing sand without a speck of green or a single living thing anywhere on it. On the other side lay one of the greatest, most fertile and densely populated areas to be found anywhere on the earth, teeming with life and vegetation. This is the ‘wonderful difference’ that the writer talks about in the passage.

Water the Elixir of Life Question. What is the ‘cheering sight’ mentioned in the paragraph?
Answer:
The rain-fed tanks that are so common in South India are a cheering sight when they are full.

Question.
What does the writer compare water in a landscape to?
Answer:
The writer compares the water in a landscape to the eyes in a human face.

Question.
How does the water in rainfed tanks get its colour?
Answer:
The water in the rain fed tank carry slit or finely divided soil in suspension. This is the origin of the characteristic colour of the water in the rain fed tanks.

Question.
What is the main cause of soil erosion?
Answer:
The sudden burst of excessively heavy rain resulting in a large run of surplus water is the main cause of soil erosion.

Question.
What other factors add to the erosion of precious soil?
Water the Elixir of Life Questions and Answer:
The slope of land, removal of natural protective coat of vegetation, the existence of ruts along which the water can flow with rapidly gathering momentum and the absence of any checks of such flow are the other factors that add to the erosion of precious soil.

Question.
How can soil erosion be prevented?
Answer:
The terracing of land, construction of bunds to check the flow of water, the practice of contour cultivation and the planting of appropriate types of vegetation are the measures that can prevent soil erosion.

Question.
How does prevention of soil erosion serve a double purpose?
Answer:
The prevention of soil erosion would help to conserve and keep the water where it is wanted, in other words, on and in the soil. Thus it serves a double purpose.

Question.
What are the two sources of water?
Water the Elixir of Life By Cv Raman Question and Answer:
The two sources of water are rain and snowfall.

Water the Elixir of Life 9th Std Question. What happens to the rain water?
Answer:
The rain water flows down into the streams and rivers and ultimately finds its way to the sea.

Question.
What is the idea of civilized forest?
Answer:
The civilized forests would, directly and indirectly, prove a source of untold wealth to the country. They would check soil erosion and conserve the rainfall of the country from flowing away to waste and would provide the necessary supplies of cheap fuel, and thus render unnecessary the wasteful conversion of farmyard manure into a form of fuel.

Question.
How can you check soil erosion?
Answer:
The terracing of the land, the construction of bunds, the practice of contour cultivation and the planting of some types of vegetation are the measures that can be used to check soil erosion.

Question.
What is the cheapest means of transport?
The Elixir of Life Question and Answer:
The cheapest means of transport is by boats and barges through canals and rivers.

Question.
How can you make a difference in the countryside?
Answer:
The availability of electric power would make a tremendous difference to the life of the countryside and enable rural economy to be improved in various directions.

A. Answer the following questions briefly in one or two sentences.

Question 1.
What makes water one of the most powerful and wonderful things on earth?
Answer:
Water played a role of vast significance in shaping the course of the earth’s history and continues to play the leading role in the drama of life on the surface of our planet.

Question 2.
How does water help in the formation of fertile lands?
Answer:
The water has its power to carry slit or finely divided soil in suspension. The great tracts of land formed by slit thus deposited is evident on an examination of the soil in alluvial areas. Thus, water helps in the formation of fertile lands.

Question 3.
How does soil erosion happen and what are its main causes?
Answer:
The flow of water under certain conditions causes soil erosion. Sudden bursts of excessively heavy rain resulting in large run of surplus water are the principal factors in causing soil erosion.

Question 4.
What are some measures that are used to prevent soil erosion?
Answer:
The terracing of land and construction of bunds to check the flow of water, the practice of contour cultivation and the planting of appropriate types of vegetation are few measures to check erosion.

Question 5.
How, according to Sir C. V. Raman, can rainwater as well as the water of rivers be, prevented from going to waste?
Answer:
The systematic planting of suitable trees can prevent rainwater going to waste.

Short Questions and Answers : Additional

Question 1.
What has man sought in vain?
Answer:
Man has sought in vain for an imaginary elixir of life, the divine Amrita.

Question 2.
What do the Geologists tell us about the Nile?
Answer:
Geologists tell us that the entire soil of the Nile valley is the creation of the river itself, brought down as the finest silt in its flood waters, from the highlands of Abyssinia and from remote Central Africa and laid down in the trough through which the Nile flows into the sea.

Question 3.
Who brought about the wonderful difference on earth?
Answer:
The wonderful difference on earth is brought about by the water.

Question 4.
How was Egypt’s ancient civilization created?
Answer:
Egypt’s ancient civilization was created and sustained by the life-giving waters which come down year after year with unfailing regularity.

Question 5.
What plays a vital role in the South Indian agriculture?
Answer:
Rain fed tanks play a vital role in South Indian agriculture.

Question 6.
Why does the writer compare water in the landscape to the eyes in the human face?
Answer:
He makes this comparison because the water reflects the mood of the hour by being bright and gay, when the sun shines and turns dark and gloomy when the sky is overcast.

Question 7.
What Is one of the most remarkable facts about water?
Answer:
One of the most remarkable facts about water is its power to carry silt or finely divided soil in suspension.

Question 8.
What Is fundamental for human welfare?
Answer:
The conservation and utilization of water is fundamental for human welfare.

Question 9.
What can be considered as a source of untold wealth to the country?
Answer:
The systematic planting of suitable trees in every possible and even in impossible areas and the development of civilized forests would directly or indirectly prove a source of untold wealth to the country.

Question 10.
Mention any advantages of civilized forests.
Answer:
Civilized forests help in preventing soil erosion and conserve rainfall that otherwise would have gone waste.

B. Answer the following in about 80-100 words.

Question 1.
How does C.V. Raman show that water Is the real elixir of life?
Answer:
Raman tries to bring about the importance of water, which has a unique power of maintaining animal and plant life. Water, the elixir of life, is the commonest of all liquids. Without water the land will be barren like the deserts in Egypt. On one side it is a sea of sand. On the other side laid one of the greatest, most fertile, densely populated areas the valley of Nile.

It is separated by the river Nile flowing down thousands of miles away. The entire soil is the creation of river Nile. Egypt, in fact was made by its river. Water is the basis of all life. Every animal and plant contains water in its body. Water is essential for the body, moisture in the soil is equally important for the life and growth of plants and trees. The conservation and utilization of water is fundamental for human welfare.

Question 2.
Water exists in all plant and animal forms – Explain.
Answer:
If there is plenty of water and abundant rainfall, there will be good growth of plants. The population of animals depending on these plants will increase. On the other hand, if there is a drought, there will be a smaller supply of plants. The animals depending on these plants will decrease in population as a result of the decrease in the plant population. Water is the fundamental necessity for both animal and plant forms.

Question 3.
Life cannot exist on earth without water – Explain.
Answer:
Water is the basis of all life. Every animal and plant contains water in its body. Water is essential for the body, moisture in the soil is equally important for the life and growth of plants and trees. The conservation and utilization of water is fundamental for human welfare. Much of Indian agriculture depends on monsoon. It is clear that the adoption of techniques preventing soil erosion would help to conserve and keep the water where it is wanted. Without water, nothing is possible on earth. The collection of rain water and utilizing them is very important. Vast areas of land which at present are scrub jungle could be turned into fertile and prosperous country by courageous and well-planned action.

Paragraph Questions and Answers : Additional

Question 1.
How does C.V. Raman show that water is the real elixir of life?
Answer:
(a) Water exists in all plants and animal forms.
(b) Life cannot exist on earth without water.
(c) Water has the unique quality of carrying silt which helps in formation of fertile river valleys.
(d) Waterways can be used as means of cheap effective transport.
(e) Water can be harnessed for generation of hydroelectric power.

Man has since ages sought in vain for an elixir which can provide him with immortality. But he has failed to realize that water which is the commonest of all liquids comes closest to being an elixir. Human, animal and plant life cannot exist on earth without water. Water is present in all life forms on earth. Water in rivers carry silt which it deposits in troughs giving rise to fertile land. These fertile river valleys have been the cradle of civilization and innovations. Water in its different forms can be used as a cost effective means of transport and for generation of hydroelectric power.

Question 2.
What are the various causes of soil erosion? How can we prevent it?
(a) Excess rainfall
(b) Slope of the land
(c) Deforestation
(d) Terracing of land
(e) Contour farming

Answer:
Soil erosion is loss of top soil to different manmade and natural causes. Excess rainfall leads to more volume of water to flow on land taking away with it topsoil and leading to soil erosion. The slope of land, lack of natural protective coat of vegetation and existence of ruts promote faster flow of water and greater soil erosion. Soil erosion can be prevented by land terracing, contour cultivation and afforestation.

Question 3.
What does C. V. Raman say about rain-fed tanks?
Answer:

1. Rain fed tanks are common in South India.
2. They play a vital role in South Indian agriculture.
3. They are a cheering sight when full.

Shallow Rain-fed tanks are a common sight in South India and play an important role in agriculture. These tanks are shallow and some of them are pretty big. It’s a beautiful sight to see the sun set or rise over them. When full they are the cheering sight. At present they are neglected and in the decline.

C. Given below are some idioms related to water. Match the idioms with its meaning.

D. Water is a scarce resource. Discuss the causes, problems and solutions to water scarcity and write them below.

Listening

E. On the basis of the listening passage, choose the correct answer from the given options.

Question 1.
Severn Suzuki represents an organization called ECO which stands for _________.
(a) Ecological Cooperation.
(b) Environmental Coordinating Organization.
(c) Environmental Children’s Organization.
(d) Ecological Children’s Organization.
Answer:
(c) Environmental Children’s Organization

Question 2.
“I am fighting for my future.” The ‘fight’ refers to her ________.
(a) fight to win an election.
(b) fight to gain a few points in share market.
(c) fight against corruption.
(d) fight against environmental pollution.
Answer:
(d) fight against environmental pollution

Question 3.
Animals and fish are becoming extinct because ___________.
(a) they have no place to go.
(b) they die of diseases.
(c) their food and habitat are polluted.
(d) all the above.
Answer:
(d) all the above.

Question 4.
It is evident that Severn Suzuki is concerned about all other species too as,____________.
(a) she considers them all belonging to one world.
(b) they have nobody except her to speak for.
(c) they belong to her.
(d) they are all children.
Answer:
(a) she considers them all belonging to one world

Question 5.
Severn Suzuki condemns the people of her country for ____________.
(a) contributing large amounts of waste and not sharing the excess with the needy.
(b) being afraid of the poor.
(c) being angry with the poor belonging to other countries.
(d) being wealthy.
Answer:
(a) contributing large amounts of waste and not sharing the excess with the needy

Question 6.
Which of the following statements is not true? __________________.
(a) Canada is a rich country and people have in plenty.
(b) Canadian children are privileged.
(c) A Brazilian child was willing to share because she was rich.
(d) Northern countries will not share with the needy
Answer:
(c) Canada is a rich country and people have in plenty

F. Answer the following questions briefly.

Question 1.
What is the humble request of the twelve- year -old to the elders?
Answer:
She requests adults to change their ways and save nature for the future.

Question 2.
The dream of Severn Suzuki is
Answer:
She has dreamt of seeing the great herds of wild animals, jungles and rain forests, full of birds and butterflies.

Question 3.
The fear and agony of Severn Suzuki is
Answer:
We make so much waste.

Question 4.
How does she proclaim that she represents the future generation?
Answer:
She calls herself as one of the children starving in Somalia or a victim of war in the Middle East or a beggar in India.

Question 5.
The duties and responsibilities of the parents are
(a) to comfort their children saying that everything will be all right.
(b) _____________.
(c) _____________.
Answer:
(b) To teach children to respect others.
(c) To clean up their mess and not to hurt other creatures.

Speaking

G. You are the President of CO GREEN, the Environment Club of your school. On the occasion of World Environment Day, you have been asked to address the school on the topic, ‘The Nature of Our Future Depends on the Future of Our Nature’
Answer:

The Nature of the future depends on the future of the nature

Good morning, esteemed Chief Guest, the Headmaster, teachers, dear friends and all the invitees. I am Ankitha, the President of ‘GO GREEN’, the Environmental club of our school. Today, I would like to share my views on the topic :

‘The Nature of Future depends on the future of Nature”.

Nature is neutral. Man has taken from Nature, the power to make the world a desert or to make the deserts bloom. ‘There is no evil; only in man’s soul’. When you ’ drive down the National Highway, it is exciting with 4 to 6 high speed lanes. If you look around, you could see a large number of trees being uprooted now. When it is summer, it is hotter than ever before. Where is water to drink, when there are no tears in the eyes? It is rainy season now, but it is dry everywhere.

Increasing population, rapid urbanization, industrialization and excessive automation has generated pressure on our natural resources and led to the degradation of the environment such as heavy erosion of soil, failure, erratic rainfall and recurring floods.

We must learn to control and adjust the balance in nature. Environment has a rhythm and notion of its own. We must tune our lives to its rhythm. Every human being must volunteer and pledge to protect the environment and the earth. All the school children must get associated with the organizations which aim for a clean Environment in order to ensure a viable environment for our future.

So the human activities, which produce carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide ‘ should be reduced and this can be done by ‘Going Green’ in everyday of our lives, mostly by planting a tree.

So plant a tree, save the environment and the earth.

Thank you!

Project

Grammar
Simple present tense

A. Choose the correct form of the present tense verb from the options given.

1. All children something new every day. (learn / learns / learned)
2. A good student always hard, (work / works / worked)
3. Engineers bridges, (build / builds / built)
4. My sister is an architect. She skyscrapers. (design / designs / designed)
5. The Himalayas India from the cold winds. (protect / protects / protected)
6. It always here in the afternoon, (drizzle / drizzles / drizzled)
7. My mother in a factory, (work / works / worked)
8. Chella English very well, but she doesn’t understand Hindi. (speak / speaks / spoke)
9. Cows us milk, (give / gives/ gave)
10. The trains to Chennai always on time, (run / runs / ran)

Answer:

1. learn
2. works
3. build
4. designs
5. protect
6. drizzles
7. works
8. speaks
9. give
10. run

Present Continuous Tense

B. Make sentences in the present continuous tense using the verb given in brackets.

1. Who is that boy _________ on the table? (stand)
2. What are you _______? (do) I ________ (listen) to music.
3. My brother _________ (work) in London now.
4. I ________ (wait) for my mother.
5. It is better not to disturb her, she ___________ (work).

Answer:

1. standing
2. doing, am listening
3. is working
4. am waiting
5. is working

C. What are they doing? Use the verbs below and write sentences.

Answer:

1. Anu is singing.
2. Peter is watching.
3. Sudhan is playing.
4. Velu is reading.
5. Kalai is crying.

D. Look at the picture again and answer the questions.

1. Is Tom reading? __________.
2. Is Velu eating? _____________.
3. Is Kalai dancing? _____________.
4. Is Peter watching TV? _____________.
5. Is Anu crying? _____________.

Answer:

1. No, Tom is eating
2. No, Velu is reading
3. No, Kalai is crying
4. No, Peter is watching through a telescope
5. No, Anu is singing

E. Write the -ing form of the verbs.

1. Come _____________.
2. Take _____________.
3. Fly _____________.
4. Swim _____________.
5. Study _____________.
6. Read _____________.

Answer:

1. Coming
2. Taking
3. Flying
4. Swimming
5. Studying
6. Reading

F. Write negative sentences.

1. He is learning to read.
2. I am having a bath.
3. I’m reading a fantastic book.
4. Raja is driving a new car.
5. I’m looking for my bag.

Answer:

1. No, he isn’t learning to read.
2. No, I am not having a bath.
3. No, I am not reading a fantastic book.
4. No, Raju isn’t driving a new car.
5. No, I am not looking for my bag.

G. Write questions for the answers.
1. _________________?
No, they aren’t singing.
Answer:
Are they singing?

2. _________________?
Yes, She is writing a new book.
Answer:
Is she writing a new book?

3. _________________?
Yes, It is working.
Answer:
Is it working?

4. _________________?
No, he isn’t doing the project.
Answer:
Is he doing the project?

5. _________________?
Yes, We are planning to go.
Answer:
Are we planning to go?

H. Fill in the blanks with verbs in the present continuous.

1. You (listen) to the music.
2. He (cry).
3. I (swim) in the pool.
4. Latha (wait) for her daughter.
5. she (watch) TV?
6. Who he (help)?
7. Her father (not / cook) dinner.
8. Akila Y, (not /sing) a song.
9. My brother (not / do) his homework.
10. your mother (work) today?
11. Amutha and Praba (play) tennis.
12. Amith and Ravi (not / swim) in the lake.

Answer:

1. are listening
2. is crying
3. am swimming
4. is waiting
5. is, watching
6. is, helping
7. is not cooking the
8. is not singing
9. is not doing
10. is, working
11. are playing
12. are not swimming

Present Perfect Tense

I. Make sentences in the present perfect tense using the verbs in brackets.

1. She to _______________ anybody, (never apologized, has never apologized, have never apologized)
Answer:
has never apologized

2. My mother to _______________ London, (has been, being in, have been)
Answer:
has been

3. I _______________ all the plays of Shakespeare, (read, had read, have read)
Answer:
have read

4. Have you _______________ your lunch? (finish, finished, had finished)
Answer:
finished

5. _______________ he brought his bike? (Had, Has, Have)
Answer:
has

J. Present perfect with “ever and never” Have you ever…?

Present perfect continuous tense

K. Make sentences in the present perfect continuous tense using the verbs in brackets.

1. How long _______________ ? (are you waiting, have you been waiting, have you waited)
Answer:
have you been waiting

2. She _______________ in the garden since morning, (is working, has been working, work)
Answer:
has been working

3. I _______________ this mobile for three years, (am using, has used, have been using)
Answer:
have been using

4. The children _______________ in the park, (has been playing, have been playing, had been playing)
Answer:
have been playing

5. The workers _______________ higher wages for a long time, (has been demanding, have been demanding, demand)
Answer:
have been demanding

SIMPLE PAST TENSE

L. Complete the story using the past tense of the verbs.


Answer:

1. Knew
2. could
3. was
4. said
5. had
6. found
7. told
8. hid
9. began
10. ran
11. was
12. thought
13. decided
14. fell
15. woke up
16. saw
17. was
18. was
19. ran
20. couldn’t
21. sat
22. got up
23. turned
24. won

M. Finish each clue by changing the verb within brackets to an irregular past-tense verb.
Then complete the crossword puzzle.

ACROSS

1. The lake (freeze) overnight.
3. Hema (buy) a new bicycle.
4. Aravind (give) me a slice of pizza.
5. We (drink) milk.
6. The dog (sleep) on the sofa.
7. He (write) a letter to his cousin in America.

DOWN
1. I (find) a coin on the ground.
2. Tony (teach) his cat to use the litter box.
3. Selvi (blow) out the candle.

Past Continuous Tense

N. Make sentences in the past continuous tense using the verb in brackets.

1. The children _________ (wait) for the bus.
Answer:
were waiting

2. The girls __________ (leam) their lessons.
Answer:
were learning

3. I ____________ (play) in the rain all evening.
Answer:
was playing

S. What is Amala going to do? Given below is Amala’s schedule for next week. Read it and answer the questions using the future continuous tense.

Amala’s Schedule

Question 1.
What will Amala do on Sunday morning?
Answer:
She will be visiting her grand mother.

Question 2.
What is Amala planning to do on Saturday afternoon?
Answer:
She will be preparing sweets.

Question 3.
Where is Amala going on Wednesday morning?
Answer:
Amala will be going to the library to return the books.

Question 4.
Who is Amala meeting on Tuesday morning?
Answer:
Amala will be meeting her friends.

Question 5.
What will she buy on Monday afternoon?
Answer:
Amala will be buying groceries for the week.

Future Perfect Tense

T. Match words from the different columns to make reasonable predictions. Then write them down in the space below. One has been done as an example.

Write the sentences.

1. In 50 years the ice cap will have melted.
2. In 10 years, the world’s population will have reached 10 billion
3. In 50 years, India will have become the world’s richest country.
4. In 10 years, women will have obtained equal rights with men.
5. In 10 years, Scientists will have discovered a complete cure for cancer.
6. In 50 years, India will have launched a space centre in moon.
7. In 50 years, U.K. will have become one country.

The Elixir of Life Textual Activities

Warm up

Question.
Do you think the living organisms in this planet can survive without water? Why?
Answer:
No. Living organisms can’t survive without water because water is essential to survive.

Water the Elixir of Life Question.
Where do you get your drinking water from?
Answer:
We get drinking water from lakes.

Question.
Is the drinking water you use in your home treated?
Answer:
Yes , it is reverse osmosis treated.

What According to the Writer is the Real Elixir of Life Question.
If not, how do you purify it?
Answer:
We boil our water, cool it and drink. By boiling, the microbes in it are destroyed.

Synonyms & Antonyms : Additional Questions

I. Choose the appropriate Synonym of the underlined words.

Question 1.
Man has through the ages sought in vain for an imaginary elixir of life.
(a) luxurious
(b) potion that cure all ills
(c) extremely comfortable
(d) expensive-looking
Answer:
(b) potion that cure all ills

Question 2.
On one side was visible a sea of billowing sand without a speck of green.
(a) swelling
(b) shrinking
(c) deflating
(d) flattening
Answer:
(a) swelling

Question 3.
… most fertile and densely populated areas to be found teeming with life and vegetation.
(a) barren
(b) deserted
(c) filled
(d) scarce
Answer:
(c) filled

Question 4.
… a little stream trickling over the rocks or a little pond by the wayside.
(a) pouring
(b) spraying
(c) deluging
(d) flowing slowly
Answer:
(d) flowing slowly

Question 5.
It has played a role of vast significance in shaping the course of the earth’s history.
(a) small
(b) great
(c) tiny
(d) little
Answer:
(b) great

Question 6.
The menace which soil erosion presents to the continuance of successful agriculture is an alarming one.
(a) safety
(b) comfort
(c) danger
(d) delight
Answer:
(c) danger

Question 7.
It is obvious that the aim should be to check the flow of water at the earliest possible stage.
(a) dubious
(b) doubtful
(c) obscure
(d) apparent
Answer:
(d) apparent

Question 8.
… an immense quantity of rain-water must necessarily run off the ground.
(a) little
(b) limited
(c) enormous
(d) diminutive
Answer:
(c) enormous

Another type of exercise

Choose the appropriate Synonym of the underlined words.

1. Man has through the ages sought in vain (i) for an imaginary elixir of life, the divine Amrita, a draught of which was thought to confer immortality (ii). But the true elixir of life lies (iii) near our hands; for it is the commonest (iv) of all liquids, plain water! I remember one day standing on the dine which separates (v) the Libyan Desert from the Valley of the Nile in Egypt.

i) (a) important
(b) useless
(c) significant
(d) useful
Answer:
(b) useless

ii) (a) eternity
(b) disaster
(c) doom
(d) fatality
Answer:
(a) eternity

iii) (a) frankness
(b) honesty
(c) untruth
(d) openness
Answer:
(c) untruth

iv) (a) universal
(b) specific
(c) uncommon
(d) abnormal
Answer:
(a) universal

v) (a) disconnects
(b) keeps
(c) combines
(d) unites
Answer:
(a) disconnects

2. On one side was visible (i) a sea of billowing (ii) sand without a speck (iii) of green or a single living thing anywhere on it. On the other side lay one of the greatest, most fertile (iv) and densely populated areas to be found anywhere on the earth, teeming (v) with life and vegetation.

i) (a) obscure
(b) concealed
(c) vague
(d) noticeable
Answer:
(d) noticeable

ii) (a) shrinking
(b) surging
(c) stabilizing
(d) deflating
Answer:
(b) surging

iii) (a) lot
(b) pile
(c) tiny bit
(d) bundle
Answer:
(c) tiny bit

iv) (a) barren
(b) productive
(c) sparse
(d) unfruitful
Answer:
(b) productive

v) (a) empty
(b) lacking
(c) filled
(d) needing
Answer:
(c) filled

3. Soil erosion occurs in successive (i) steps, the earliest of which may easily pass unnoticed. In the later stages, the cutting up and washing away of the earth is only too painfully apparent (ii) in the formation of deep gullies and ravines (iii) which make all agriculture impossible. Sudden bursts of excessively heavy rain resulting in a large run of surplus (iv) water are the principal (v) factors in causing soil erosion.

i) (a) disordered
(b) alternate
(c) consecutive
(d) non-linear
Answer:
(c) consecutive

ii) (a) unclear
(b) evident
(c) dubious
(d) mysterious
Answer:
(b) evident

iii) (a) gorges
(b) plains
(c) mountains
(d) deserts
Answer:
(a) gorges

iv) (a) scarcity
(b) shortage
(c) excess
(d) deficiency
Answer:
(c) excess

v) (a) minor
(b) ancillary
(c) unimportant
(d) main
Answer:
(d) main

II. Choose the appropriate Antonyms of the underlined words.

Question 1.
Every animal or plant contains a substantial proportion of free or combined water in its body,
(a) large
(b) massive
(c) insignificant
(d) significant
Answer:
(c) insignificant

Question 2.
… moisture in the soil is equally imperative for the life and growth of plants and trees.
(a) necessary
(b) inessential
(c) crucial
(d) important
Answer:
(b) inessential

Question 3.
The harnessing of our rivers, the waters of which now mostly run to waste, is a great national problem.
(a) controlling
(b) using
(c) exploiting
(d) unharnessing
Answer:
(d) unharnessing

Question 4.
The conservation and utilization of water is thus fundamental for human welfare.
(a) destruction
(b) preservation
(c) salvation
(d) safekeeping
Answer:
(a) destruction

Question 5.
Vast areas of land which at present are mere scrub jungle could be turned into fertile.
(a) prolific
(b) productive
(c) barren
(d) fruitful
Answer:
(c) barren

Question 6.
By far the cheapest form of internal transport in a country is by boats and barges through canals.
(a) economical
(b) reasonable
(c) costly
(d) nominal
Answer:
(c) costly

Question 7.
The availability of electric power would make a tremendous difference to the life of the countryside.
(a) enormous
(b) gigantic
(c) colossal
(d) tiny
Answer:
(d) tiny

Question 8.
Closely connected with the conservation of water supplies is the problem of afforestation
(a) tree planting
(b) lumbering
(c) deforestation
(d) arboriculture
Answer:
(c) deforestation

Another Type of Exercise

Choose the appropriate Antonyms of the underlined words.

1. Swiftly (i) flowing water can carry fairly large and heavy (ii) particles. The finest particles, however, remain floating within the liquid in spite of their greater (iii) density and are carried to great distances. Such particles are, of course, extremely (iv) small, but their number is also great and incredibly (v) large amounts of solid matter can be transported in this way.

i) (a) fleetly
(b) very fast
(c) slowly
(d) quickly
Answer:
(c) slowly

ii) (a) hefty
(b) light
(c) huge
(d) massive
Answer:
(b) light

iii)
(a) high
(b) major
(c) lesser
(d) larger
Answer:
(c) lesser

iv) (a) awfully
(b) moderately
(c) highly
(d) intensely
Answer:
(b) moderately

v) (a) amazingly
(b) especially
(c) uncommonly
(d) commonly
Answer:
(d) commonly

2. Contributory causes are the slope (i) of the land, removal (ii) of the natural (iii) protective coat of vegetation, the existence of ruts along which the water can flow with rapidly (iv) gathering momentum, and the absence (v) of any checks of such flow.

i) (a) slant
(b) ramp
(c) tilt
(d) upgrade
Answer:
(d) upgrade

ii) (a) expulsion
(b) withdrawal
(c) addition
(d) relocation
Answer:
(c) addition

iii) (a) normal
(b) abnormal
(c) logical
(d) native
Answer:
(b) abnormal

iv) (a) speedily
(b) hastily
(c) slowly
(d) briskly
Answer:
(c) slowly

v) (a) dearth
(b) deficiency
(c) lack
(d) presence
Answer:
(d) presence

3. On one side such was visible (i) sea of billowing sand without a speak of green or a Single (ii) living thing anywhere on it. On the other side lay one of the greatest (iii) most fertile (iv) and densely (v) populated areas to be found anywhere on the earth.

i) (a) able to see
(b) can not see
(c) can not hear
(d) understand
Answer:
(b) can not see

ii) (a) group
(b) lonely
(c) aloof
(d) family
Answer:
(a) group

iii) (a) biggest
(b) smallest
(c) largest
(d) shortest
Answer:
(b) smallest

iv) (a) barren
(b) wet land
(c) valley
(d) catchment
Answer:
(a) barren

v) (a) congested
(b) thickly
(c) scarcely
(d) surplusly
Answer:
(c) scarcely

4. Water is the basis of all life. Every animal or plant contains a substantial (i) proportion of free or combined water in its body, and no kind of physiological activity is possible in which the fluid does not play an essential (ii) part. Water is, of course, necessary for animal life, while moisture (iii) in the soil is equally (iv) imperative (v) for the life and growth of plants and trees.

i) (a) significant
(b) minor
(c) persistent
(d) considerable
Answer:
(b) minor

ii) (a) needless
(b) vital
(c) important
(d) necessary
Answer:
(a) needless

iii) (a) damp
(b) dryness
(c) wet
(d) humidity
Answer:
(b) dryness

iv) (a) evenly
(b) fairly
(c) unfairly
(d) justly
Answer:
(c) unfairly

v) (a) necessary
(b) important
(c) essential
(d) inessential
Answer:
(d) inessential

MCQs – Additional

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

Question 1.
There is nothing which adds so much to the beauty of the countryside as ____________.
(a) stream
(b) life
(c) water
(d) rain
Answer:
(c) water

Question 2.
The rain fed tanks Dlav a vital role in South Indian____________.
(a) industry
(b) fields
(c) harvesting
(d) agriculture
Answer:
(d) agriculture

Question 3.
Water may be compared to the eves in a ____________..
(a) person
(b) human face
(c) animal
(d) bird
Answer:
(b) human face

Question 4.
____________ flowing water can carry fairly large and heavy particles.
(a) slowly
(b) gradually
(c) swiftly
(d) heavily
Answer:
(c) swiftly

Question 5.
Soil erosion occurs in successive____________.
(a) steps
(b) ways
(c) methods
(d) means
Answer:
(a) steps

Question 6.
____________ is the basis of all life, ft
(a) Food
(b) Money
(c) Love
(d) Water
Answer:
(d) Water

Question 7.
The conservation and utilization of water is thus fundamental for____________.
(a) cultivation
(b) agriculture
(c) human welfare
(d) survival
Answer:
(c) human welfare

Question 8.
The systematic planting of suitable trees is one of the most ____________ needs of India.
(a) essential
(b) urgent
(c) possible
(d) added
Answer:
(b) urgent

Question 9.
Mere scrub jungles could be turned into fertile and prosperous country by courages and ____________.action.
(a) systematic
(b) immediate
(c) well planned
(d) severe
Answer:
(c) well planned

Question 10.
‘Amrita’ was thought to ____________ confer
(a) blessings
(b) life
(c) death
(d) immortality
Answer:
(d) immortality

The Elixir of Life In About the Author

Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (7 November 1888 – 21 November 1970) was an Indian physicist born in Tiruchirappalli. In 1904, he passed his B.A. exam, winning gold medals in Physics and English at Madras Presidency College. After completing his M.A. degree,’he worked as a Civil servant in the Indian Finance Department in Calcutta. In 1917, he became professor of Physics at the University of Calcutta.

He carried out ground breaking work in the field of light scattering, which earned him the 1930 Nobel Prize for Physics. He discovered that when light traverses a transparent material, some of the deflected light changes wavelength. This phenomenon, subsequently known as Raman scattering, results from the Raman effect. In 1954, India honoured him with its highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna.

The Elixir of Life In Summary

In this essay “Water-The Elixir Of Life”, Sir. C.V.Raman brings out how water is indispensable to plant and human life and how it also causes evils like soil-erosion. He also tells that excess of water can be preserved for good purposes.

In the first part of the essay, Raman talks poetically about the beauty of water. Water trickling down the rocks or water collected in small ponds that quench the thirst of passing cattle which is a beautiful sight. Big tanks play a vital role in South Indian agriculture. Rice is the major crop cultivated in the south region. It is a beautiful sight to watch the sun rise or set over them.

One of the most remarkable facts about water is that it carries silt to far-off places where it is finally deposited. The land where silt is deposited is usually very fertile. The silt that mixes with the salt water of the sea precipitates rapidly. The colour of the water changes successively from the muddy red or brown to yellow and green and finally to the blue of the deep sea. These varying shades are also fascinating.

The flow of water has undoubtedly played a great part in geological processes. Rapidly flowing water carries away the rich top layer of the soil. This phenomenon is called soil erosion. The problem of soil erosion is of major significance in various countries especially in India. Soil erosion in the initial stage is unnoticed. Later, it results in the formation of deep gullies, ravines and ruts. These things affect agriculture. The terracing of the land, the construction of bunds to check the flow of water, the practice of contour cultivation and the planting of some types of vegetation are the measures that can be used to check soil erosion.

’Water is the basic of all life. Every animal and plant contains water in its body. Water is essential for its body. Moisture in the soil is equally important for the life and growth of plant trees.

The conservation and utilization of water is fundamental for human welfare. At present streams and rivers wastefully empty themselves into the sea. It is clear that the adoption of techniques preventing soil erosion would help to conserve and keep the water where it is wanted.

The Elixir of Life In Mind Map

The Elixir of Life In Glossary

The Elixir of Life In Synonyms

The Elixir of Life In Antonyms

Tamilnadu Board Class 9 English Solutions