10-11-22: Thursday
Ans. Our Government has two options: (1) to
control the fast growing population (2) to make poverty the country’s permanent
feature.
If population is not controlled, it would bring
so many other problems associated with it. It is truly said that the
over-population is the mother of many other problems, like unemployment, rise
in prices, increasing crime-rate, traffic-jams on the roads, long queues
everywhere, crowd in markets, crowd in class-rooms, need for more houses, etc.
No single problem quoted above may be dissociated from over-population.
Over-population is the cause of
poverty also. If maximum people of a country remain unemployed, they will not
be able to educate their children properly. In this way, poverty will find a
permanent place in the huts of the poor section of society.
(C)Important Passages (Textual) for
Comprehensions
Passage 1
ONE cannot recall any movement in
world history which has gripped the imagination of the entire human race so
completely and so rapidly as the Green Movement which started nearly
twenty-five years ago. In 1972 the world’s first nationwide Green party was founded
in New Zealand. Since then, the movement has not looked back.
Q1.What is Green Movement?
Ans. Making the earth green but growing
more and more trees is called the Green Movement.
Q2. What special thing did this movement
do in world history?
Ans. It caught the attention of the entire human
race very quickly.
Q3. Where was the Green party first founded?
Ans . In New Zealand.
Q4. Write the synonym of the word
‘gripped’.
Ans. ‘caught’
Q1. Name the title of the lesson and its writer.
Ans. The title of the lesson is: The Ailing
Planet: the Green Movement’s Role and its writer is Nani Palkhivala
Passage 2
We have shifted — one hopes, irrevocably —
from the mechanistic view to a holistic and ecological view of the world. It is
a shift in human perceptions as revolutionary as that introduced by Copernicus
who taught mankind in the sixteenth century that the earth and the other
planets revolved round the sun. For the first time in human history, there is a
growing worldwide consciousness that the earth itself is a living organism — an
enormous being of which we are parts. It has its own metabolic needs and vital
processes which need to be respected and preserved.
Q1. What was the mechanical view
about the earth in the past?
Ans. It was to view the earth
as a dead planet that is to be used to fulfil human needs without paying
attention to preserve its treasures.
Q2. What ‘shift’ has occurred now in our views
towards the earth?
Ans. The shift in our outlook
to view the earth as a living organism, that has its own metabolism and vital
processes that need to be respected and preserved.
Q3.What did Copernicus teach mankind in the 16th century?
Ans. He taught mankind that the earth and
the other planets revolved round the earth.
Q4. Which word in the passage has the
following synonym ‘ changed ‘
Ans. ‘Shifted’
Passage 3
12-11-22: Friday
Passage 3
In the zoo at Lusaka, Zambia, there is a cage
where the notice reads, ‘The world’s most dangerous animal’. Inside the cage
there is no animal but a mirror where you see yourself. Thanks to the efforts
of a number of agencies in different countries, a new awareness has now dawned
upon the most dangerous animal in the world. He has realised the wisdom of
shifting from a system based on domination to one based on partnership.
Q1. What is notice placed at a cage in the zoo?
Ans. It reads ‘The world’s most dangerous
animal’.
Q2. What does the notice refer to?
Ans. It refers to Man, as the world’s most
dangerous animal.Q3. Q3.Why is Man called the world’ most dangerous animal?
Ans. Man considers being the ‘owner’ of the earth and the boss of all the
creatures found on it. It does not hesitate to do cruelty on any creature and
destroy anything that belongs to the earth.
Q4. What new awareness has dawned upon the most
dangerous animal of the world?
Ans. He has realised that he is not the owner
and the boss of the earth. He is a partner with millions of other creatures and
vegetation on the earth.
Q5. Use ‘dawned upon’ in your own
sentence.
Ans. Suddenly an idea has dawned upon me.
Passage 4.
Article 48A of the Constitution of India
provides that “the State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment
and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country”. But what causes
endless anguish is the fact that laws are never respected nor enforced in
India. (For instance, the Constitution says that casteism, untouchability and
bonded labour shall be abolished, but they flourish shamelessly even after
forty-four years of the operation of the Constitution.) A recent report of our
Parliament’s Estimates Committee has highlighted the near catastrophic
depletion of India’s forests over the last four decades. India, according to
reliable data, is losing its forests at the rate of 3.7 million acres a year.
Large areas, officially designated as forest land, “are already virtually
treeless”. The actual loss of forests is estimated to be about eight times the
rate indicated by government statistics.
Q1. What does the article 48 A of the
Constitution of India say?
Ans. It says that “the State shall endeavour
(try) to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and
wildlife of the country.”
Q2. What causes anguish to the writer
regarding the laws?
Ans. It is the fact that the laws are neither
respected nor are they enforced in India.
Q3. What social evils does the writer talk about
in this passage?
Ans. The writer talks about casteism,
untouchablility and bonded labour and these are still present in our society.
Q4. What does the recent report of our
Parliament’s Estimates Committee say?
Ans. It says that India is losing forests at the
alarming speed of 3.7 million acres a year. The actual loss is about eight
times the rate indicated by the government.
13-11-22: Saturday
(C) Some Important Passages for Comprehension
Passage 1
“My dear Taplow, I have given you exactly what
you deserve. No less; and certainly no more.” Do you know sir, I think he may
have marked me down, rather than up, for taking extra work. I mean, the man’s
hardly human. (He breaks off quickly.) Sorry, sir. Have I gone too far?
Q1. Name the lesson and its writer.
Ans. The lesson is The Browning Version by
Terence Rattigan
Q2. Who is the speaker and whom is he speaking
to?
Ans. The speaker is Tallow. He is speaking to
Frank, a young teacher.
Q3. Who is referred to as ‘Sir’ in the above
passage?
Ans. The word ‘Sir’ is referred to Frank,
Tallow’s young teacher.
Q4. What is Tallow doing by speaking the quoted
words in the passage?
Ans. He is mimicking his teacher Crocker Harris.
Passage 2
Anyway, the Crock isn’t a sadist. That’s what
I’m saying. He wouldn’t be so frightening if he were — because at least it
would show he had some feelings. But he hasn’t. He’s all shrivelled up inside
like a nut and he seems to hate people to like him. It’s funny, that. I don’t
know any other master who doesn’t like being liked —
Q1. Who is a sadist?
Ans. The person who takes pleasure out of
others’ sufferings or troubles is called a sadist.
Q2. About whom the person is speaking and to
whom?
Ans. The person is speaking about Crocker
Harris, a teacher. He is speaking to Frank, a young teacher.
Q3. Who is the speaker in the above passage?
Ans. Tallow, a student is the speaker in the
above passage.
Q4. What does the speaker mean by saying that
‘he’ is “all shriveled up inside like a nut…”?
Ans. He means to say that his teacher has no
emotions.
Q5. What is meaning of ‘shrivelled’?
Ans. Wrinkled
Passage 3 TAPLOW: No, sir. I’m not. In
form the other day he made one of his classical jokes. Of course nobody laughed
because nobody understood it, myself included. Still, I knew he’d meant it as
funny, so I laughed. Out of ordinary common politeness, and feeling a bit sorry
for him for having made a poor joke. Now I can’t remember what the joke was,
but suppose I make it. Now you laugh, sir.
Q1. Who is ‘he’ in the above passage?
Ans. The pronoun ‘he’ stands for Crocker Harris.
Q2 Who had cracked the joke?
Ans. Crocker Harris
Q3. Why did not the students laugh?
Ans. They did not laugh because they did not
understand it.
Q4. Why did Tallow laugh?
Ans. He laughed to please his teacher. He showed
common politeness.
Q5. Why did Taplow feel sorry? Ans. He felt sorry for the joke was the poor
one, lacking in humour.
14-11-22: Sunday
Lesson 6: Birth by (from Snapshot)
(A) Short Answer-type Questions
Q1. Write something about Andrew Manson.
Ans. Andrew Manson is a young doctor who is an
assistant o Dr. Edward Page. He has recently started his medical practice. He
is in love with a girl whose name is Christine. Recently he has a quarrel with
her on some issue. So he is sad.
Q2.Why did Joe Morgan waiting anxiously for
Andrew Manson?
Ans. Joe Morgan, was waiting
for Andrew Manson anxiously because wife was about to deliver a child. She was
expecting that child after a long span of time of their married life. As
he saw the doctor coming, his face expressed relief..
Q3. What did Andrew notice on reaching his own house? What did he
do then?
Ans. Andrew was lost in his own affair till
then, so he had to come out of that. He saw that Joe Morgan was waiting for
him. His wife needed medical service for the delivery of her child. He brought
his bag from inside and set out with Joe to reach the address: Number 12,
Blaine Terrace.
Q4. Why was Andrew Manson sad and upset?
Ans. The writer says that Andrew usually remained
active and sharp-minded, but at that time, he felt dull and listless (lacking
in energy and enthusiasm). He had a quarrel with his beloved at Cardiff station
on some point. So he was feeling tired and upset.
Q5. Describe the bed-room in which Dr. Andrew
Manson entered?
Ans. Andrew went in by means of a
narrow stair which led him to a small bed-room. It was clean but somewhat
poorly furnished and lit by an oil lamp.
Q6. Who were the two women waiting near
the bed of the patient in the story ‘Birth’?
Ans. Two women were waiting beside Susan
Morgan’s bed. One was her mother. She was of about seventy years, tall and
gray-haired woman. The second woman was the midwife of that village.
Q7. Who was Christine? What might have been the
reason of her quarrel with Dr. Andrew Manson?
Ans. Christine was Dr. Andrew Manson’s beloved.
She had a quarrel with him at the Cardiff railway station. Some doubt about
their love relationship might have been the cause of the quarrel between them.
15-11-22: Monday
Q8. What did the old woman tell the doctor about
chloroform? What did the doctor say to her?
Ans. The old woman requested Dr. Andrew Manson
not to give chloroform to Susan as it might harm the child. He assured the old
woman that the anesthetic (substance that makes you not to
feel any pain) would not do harm to the mother and the child.
Q9. Why was the doctor shocked to see the
newborn child as it took birth? What was his state of mind then?
Ans. A shiver (a sensation/a
kind of shaking) of horror passed over Dr. Andrew as he gazed at the still
baby. He He was not able to decide as to whom he should try to save, the child
or the mother, who was in a desperate (hopeless) condition.
Q11. Describe how the child looked when the
dictor picked it from under the bed.
Ans. The texture (quality) of
the skin was very lovely, smooth and tender. The head of the child lay lolled (hung
down) on the thin neck. The limbs of the child seemed boneless.
Q10. How was Andrew Manson able to save the
child’s life? What was his last treatment?
Ans. First of all, the doctor immersed (wetted)
the child in hot and cold water alternately. Then he rubbed the child’s body
with a rough towel. After that, he pressed the child’s chest with his hands and
released pressure. He did it repeatedly. In this process, the child’s regained
his breath.
Q11. How did Andrew Manson feel after saving the
child?
Ans. Andrew felt a great relief when he was able
to regain breath into the child’s body. He thanked God for his grace. He was
extremely happy at his successful attempt of saving a stillborn child. Though
he was tired, yet he forgot all. He was proud of himself at that time.
(A) Long Answer-type Questions
Q1. About whom did Dr. Andrew Manson think about
while he was waiting for the delivery of a child in Joe Morgan’s house? How
those thoughts disturbing his mind?
Ans. The episode he had
watched at the railway station still disturbed his mind horribly. Then he thought about Bramwell, who was foolishly devoted to the
woman who deceived him sordidly (in a dirty manner). He
thought of another person, Edward Page, who was stuck to his quarrelsome wife,
Blowen. He also thought of Denny, who was living unhappily away from
his wife. He reached the conclusion that all of these three marriages were
utter failures. It made him wince (dismal, miserable) in his
present state. But soon, he comes out of this negative thinking and hope for
the best in his relationship with Christine.
16-11-22 Tuesday:
Q2. “I have done something; oh, God! I’ve done
something real at least.” Why does Andrew say this? What does it mean?
Ans. It was a very difficult situation in front
of Dr. Andrew Manson when he saw that a still born child was born to Susan
Morgan. First he dipped the child several times lukewarm and coldwater
alternately. Then he rubbed the child’s shin with a rough towel. Finally he
used an old method of bringing breath back. He started pressing the child’s
chest till it regained breath.
The following words came out of his mouth: “I
have done something; oh, God! I’ve done something real at least.” The words
show that he was proud of what did at Joe’s house. He was able to keep his
promise to Susan’s mother. He also thanked God for His blessings and Grace!
Q3. There lies a great difference between
textbook medicine and the world of practising physician.” Discuss.
Ans. Real-life-situations teach us a great deal.
Theoretical knowledge fails sometimes to solve the real-life problems. Same
thing has happened in this story ‘Birth’.
Dr. Manson was faced with the same type of
problem. Joe Morgan’s wife gave birth to a still-child. In his medical science,
he had no way to save the child. But he knew some treatment that he acquired
from his experience. Firstly, he dipped the child into lukewarm and cold water
alternately. He did so again and again. But he was not successful in that
method. Then he remembered about a typical method of reviving breath. He rubbed
the child with a rough towel. Then he applied pressure on the child’s chest and
released it. In this process, the child regained breath. He was extremely
happy.
Thus, we may conclude that there is a difference
between text book knowledge and the world of practicing physician.
17-11-22: Wednesday:
Lesson 5: MOTHER’S DAY
BY J. B. Priestley (from Snapshot)
(A) Short Answer-type Questions
Q1. What is the
position/status of Mrs. Pearson in her family? What issue does the writer raise
in this play?
Ans. Mrs. Pearson is
very polite and caring to her children and husband. She does all domestic work
in the family. But nobody in the family respects her. The writer has raised
this in this one act play.
Q2. What does Mrs.
Fitzgerald want to do to give Mrs. Pearson her due place in her family? What
does she advise her to do?
Ans. Mrs. Fitzgerald
advises her friend, Mrs. Pearson not to be so much lenient or soft on her
children. She should be harsh on them. Otherwise they would do emotional
torture on her. She also advises Mrs. Pearson to change her personality with
her to discipline her family.
Q3. Why does Mrs.
Fitzgerald take the help of magic? What does she do?
Ans. Mrs. Pearson was
not able to be harsh on the members of her family. So Mrs. Fitzgerald has to
take the help of magic. She holds Mrs. Pearson’s both the hands into hers. Then
she utters some magic words to enable their personalities to get interchanged.
Q4. How does Mrs.
Pearson behave after her personality is changed?
Ans. She behaves like
Mrs. Fitzgerald and becomes harsh on the members of her family. She smokes in
the manner Mrs. Fitzgerald does.
Q5. Who is Doris? What
changes does she notice in her mother? How does she react?
Ans. Doris is Mrs.
Pearson’s daughter. She is a pretty girl of more than twenty. She noticed that
her mother was playing cards and smoking a cigarette. She asked her mother for
tea and ironing her dress. But she got rude remarks from her mother.
Q6. What did Doris want
to do from her mother? What else did she demand from her?
Ans. Doris wanted to get
her yellow dress ironed by her mother. She also asked her if the tea was ready.
But Mrs. Pearson refused in a very odd manner to do so and advised her daughter
to do her work herself.
Q7.Who is Cyril? What
does he want from Mrs. Pearson to do for him?
Ans. Cyril is Mrs.
Pearson’s son. His mother had promised to him to put his things out. On
reaching home, he asks his mother if she has set his things right. But she
tells him that she does not remember anything.
18-11-22: Thursday
Q8. Who is Charlie
Spencer? What does Mrs. Pearson say about him?
Ans. He is Doris’s
friend, whom Mrs. Pearson hates. She calls him buck-teeth and half-witted boy.
Q9.Why did Mrs. Pearson
threatens to hit Doris with something?
Ans. Doris continued
commenting on her mother. She asked her if she had fallen down of if she had
hit herself with something on the head. Then Mrs. Pearson threatens to hit her.
Q10. What did Pearson
say to her husband, which hurt and made him angry?
Ans. Mrs.
Pearson told her husband that the members of his club made fun of him and
laughed at his back by calling him ‘Pompy-ompy’. It made her husband feel hurt
and angry.
Q11.What final advice
did Mrs. Fitzgerald give to Mrs. Pearson?
Ans. Mrs. Fitzgerald
noticed that the members of Mrs. Pearson’s family had started behaving
properly. Then she advised her to continue to be harsh on them.
Q12. How do Doris, Cyril
and George feel when Mrs. Pearson
smiles at them at last? How do they respond when she tells them to prepare
supper?
Ans. Finally, Mrs.
Pearson smiles at Cyril, Doris and her husband. They also feel happy and
relaxed at that. She tells her children to prepare supper. They also agree to
do so without protest.
Q13. What reason does
Mrs. Pearson give to Cyril for not preparing tea for him?
Ans. Cyril keeps on
asking for the reason as to why she has not prepared tea for him. Mrs. Pearson
tells her son that she wants some change in her monotonous (dull) life and so,
she has not prepared tea for him.
Q14. What did Mrs.
Pearson comment on Doris’ dress?
Ans. Mrs. Pearson
commented on her dress by saying that she looked terrible in her dress. She
also said that she would never dress up like that or show her face like that
even for Charlie Spence.
Q15. What conditions
does Mrs. Pearson put to Doris and Cyril when they request her to do some work
on Saturdays and Sundays?
Ans. She tells them that
she might do some work like making a bed or two and some cooking also. But that
will be done on conditions. They will have to request for it nicely and thank
her for everything she does for them, for which she has generally been mocked
at (laughed at).
19-11-22: Friday
Q1. Describe the
character of Mrs. Pearson.
Ans. Mrs. Pearson has
beenshown as a mother, who is maltreated by her husband as well as her children
Doris and Cyril. She is very submissive (obedient) and caring for her family.
She does every chore (odd job) in the house. She prepares meals, tea and even
irons the clothes. Even then, she is not getting her due respect from her
family members. Sometimes she thinks to revolt against all that, but she is
timid (coward) enough to do so. She does not want to spoil the peaceful
atmosphere of her home.
She remains in the four
walls of her house waiting anxiously for their arrival. It is her friend, Mrs.
Fitzgerald, who comes to her rescue. She changes her personality with that of
her and sets everything right. She also advises her to remain harsh on her
family members.
20-11-22: Saturday
Q2. Describe the
character sketch of Mrs. Fitzgerald.
Ans. Mrs. Fitzgerald is
Mrs. Pearson’s neighbor and friend. She is not gentle and meek like her friend
Mrs. Pearson. She is harsh in tone when she needs to show her strength and
attitude. She is well awakened to her rights and position in her family as well
as in society. She knows magic also. She tells Mrs. Pearson’s fortune also. She
knows how to deal with people who try to disregard (ignore) her. She is a true
friend of Mrs. Pearson. She is full of sympathy for those who are being exploited
by others.
She changes her
personality with that of her friend, Mrs. Pearson and sets them right. She
advises her that she must remain harsh on her husband and children; otherwise
they would take her for granted.
21-11-22: Sunday
Q3. Describe the difference
or contrast between Mrs. Pearson and Mrs. Fitzgerald.
Ans. There is no
exaggeration (overstatement) if we say that Mrs. Pearson and Mrs. Fitzgerald
are poles apart in their personality. Mrs. Fitzgerald is very strong while the
other, Mrs. Pearson, is meek and gentle. Mrs. Fitzgerald is well awakened to
her rights and Mrs. Pearson is not. Sometimes, she thinks of being strong and
scolds the members of her family for their being rude and ungrateful to her,
but she does not want to spoil the peaceful atmosphere of the house. So she
tolerates even the misbehavior of her husband and children. She does not enjoy
her life.
On the other hand, Mrs.
Fitzgerald enjoys life fully. She has strong decision-making power. But Mrs.
Pearson has no such decision making power. Thus we see a lot of difference
between these two characters.
