SSLC 2020 – 21

ENGLISH

DISTRICT INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING (DIET)

KOTTAYAM
A team work by ....

Sri Rajeev Joseph, St Thomas HSS Erumeli

Smt. Annie Cyriac, Amritha HS Moolavattom
Smt. Rehana A B, Muslim HSS Kangazha
Smt. Fathima I, Govt HSS TV Puram
Smt Devi P, NSS HS Chingavanam
Smt. Liny Jacob, MDS HSS Kottayam
Smt. Vineetha Nair H, NSS HS Chingavanam
Dr Jaison K Mathew, DIET Kottaym
 ADVENTURES IN A BANYAN TREE
Ruskin Bond

I. Read the passage and answer the questions that follow

It was to be a battle of champions. Hissing defiance, his forked tongue darting in and
out, the cobra raised three of his six feet off the ground, and spread his broad, spectacled hood. The
mongoose bushed his tail. The long hair on his spine stood up (in the past, the very thickness of his
hair had saved him from bites that would have been fatal to others).
Though the combatants were unaware of my presence in the banyan tree, they soon
became aware of the arrival of two other spectators. One was a myna, and the other a jungle crow
(not the wily urban crow). They had seen these preparations for battle, and had settled on the cactus
to watch the outcome. Had they been content only to watch, all would have been well with both of
them. The cobra stood on the defensive, swaying slowly from side to side, trying to mesmerize
marking a false move. But the mongoose knew the power of his opponent's glassy, unwinking eyes,
and refused to meet them.
Instead he fixed his gaze at a point just below the cobra's hood, and opened the
attack. Moving forward quickly until he was just within the cobra's reach, he made a feint to one
side. Immediately the cobra struck. His great hood came down so swiftly that I thought nothing
could save the mongoose. But the little fellow jumped neatly to one side, and darted in as swiftly as
the cobra, biting the snake on the back and darting away again out of reach. The moment the cobra
struck, the crow and the myna hurled themselves at him, only to collide heavily in mid-air.
Shrieking at each other, they returned to the cactus plant.
A few drops of blood glistened on the cobra's back. The cobra struck again and
missed. Again the mongoose sprang aside, jumped in and bit. Again the birds dived at the snake,
bumped into each other instead, and returned shrieking to the safety of the cactus.

1. Who were fighting each other?

2. How did the hair on his spine help the mongoose?
3. Who were the spectators at the battle and where did they sit?
4. The cobra was a good fighter. Pick out the sentence from the passage which proves the
same?
5. Was the mongoose an intelligent fighter? How do you know?

Answers

1. A cobra and a mongoose were fighting each other.

2. In the past the very thickness of his hair had saved him from bites.
3. A myna and a crow were the spectators of the battle. They sat on the cactus.
4. The Cobra stood on the defensive swaying slowly from side to side trying to mesmerize the
mongoose into making a false move.
 5. Yes it was. The cobra tried to mesmerize the mongoose to make a false move. But the
mongoose knew his opponent’s tricks. He fixed his gaze at a point just below the cobra’s
hood and opened the attack.
II. Read the passage and answer the questions that follow

The third round followed the same course as the first but with one dramatic difference. The
crow and the myna, still determined to take part in the proceedings, dived at the cobra, but this time
they missed each other as well as their mark. The myna flew on and reached its perch, but the crow
tried to pull up in mid-air and turn back. In the second that it took him to do this, the cobra whipped
his head back and struck with great force, his snout thudding against the crow's body. I saw the bird
flung nearly twenty feet across the garden, where, after fluttering about for a while, it lay still. The
myna remained on the cactus plant, very wisely refrained from interfering again!
The cobra was weakening, and the mongoose, walking fearlessly up to it, raised himself on
his short legs, and with lightning snap had the big snake by the snout. The cobra writhed and lashed
about in a frightening manner, and even coiled itself about the mongoose, but all to no avail. The
little fellow hung grimly on, until the snake had ceased to struggle. He then smelt along its
quivering length, and gripping it round the hood, dragged it into the bushes. The myna dropped
cautiously to the ground, hopped about, peered into the bushes from a safe distance, and then, with
a shrill cry of congratulation, flew away.
When I had also made a cautious descent from the tree and returned to the house, I told
Grandfather of the fight I had seen. He was pleased that the mongoose had won. He had encouraged
it to live in the garden, to keep away the snakes, and fed it regularly with scraps from the kitchen.
He had never tried taming it, because wild mongoose was more useful than a domesticated one.
From the banyan tree I often saw the mongoose patrolling the four corners of the garden,
and once I saw him with an egg in his mouth and knew he had been in the poultry house; but he
hadn't harmed the birds, and I knew Grandmother would forgive him for stealing as long as he kept
the snakes away from the house.

1. How did the crow push itself into trouble?

2. Why is the myna said to be wise?
3. Who won the battle?
4. How did he make sure that the snake is dead? What did the mongoose do?
5. How did the myna congratulate the mongoose?
6. Pick out a word that means “To twist the body”

Answers

1. The crow took part in the fight and missed his mark. As he tried to pull up the cobra
whipped with great force and the crow lost his life.
2. Because the myna remained on the cactus plant very wisely and refrained from interfering
again.
 3. Mongoose won the battle.
4. The mongoose smelt the cobra and made sure that the snake is dead. He smelt along the
cobra’s quivering length, gripping it round the hood and dragged it into the bushes.

5. The myna congratulated the mongoose by making a shrill cry.

6. Writhe

III. Read the passage and answer the questions that follow

The banyan tree was also the setting for what we were to call the Strange Case of the Grey
Squirrel and the White Rat. The white rat was Grandfather's - he had bought it from the bazaar for
four annas - but I would often take it from the bazaar for four annas - but I would often take it with
me into the roots and branches of the old tree. Banyan tree, where it soon struck up a friendship
with one of the squirrels. They would go off together on little excursions among the branches.
Then the squirrel started building a nest. At first she tried building it in my pockets, and
when I went indoors and changed my clothes I would find straw and grass falling out. Then one day
Grandmother's knitting was missing. We hunted for it everywhere but without success. Next day I
saw something glinting in the hole in the banyan tree. Going up to investigate, I saw that it was the
end of Grandmother's steel knitting-needle. On looking further, I discovered that the hole was
crammed with knitting. And amongst the wool were three baby squirrels-all of them white!
Grandfather had never seen white squirrels before, and we gazed at them in wonder. We were
puzzled for some time, but when I mentioned the white rat's frequent visits to the tree, Grandfather
told me that the rat must be the father. Rats and squirrels were related to each other, he said, and so
it was quite possible for them to have offspring--in this case, white squirrels!

1. From where did Grandfather get the white rat?

2. How did the white rat become familiar with the grey squirrel?
3. How did the boy come to know that the squirrel was building a nest?
4. Where did the boy find grandmother’s knitting needle?
5. What was the surprise in the hole?

Answers

1. Grandfather got the white rat from the bazaar.

2. The boy would take the white rat with him to the banyan tree.
3. When the boy changed his dress he found straw and grass falling out.
4. The boy found grandmother’s knitting needle in a hole in the banyan tree.
5. There were three white baby squirrels in the hole.
IV. Read the following passage from “Adventures in a Banyan Tree” and answer the
questions.

“Though the house and grounds of our home in India were Grandfather’s domain, the
magnificent old banyan tree was mine chiefly because Grandfather, at the age of sixty-five, could
no longer climb it. Grandmother used to tease him about this, and would speak of a certain
Countess of Desmond, an English women who lived to the age of 117, and would have lived
longer if she hadn’t fallen while climbing an apple tree. The spreading branches of the banyan tree,
which curved to the ground and took root again, forming a maze of arches, gave me endless
pleasure. The tree was older than Grandfather, as old as the town of Dehra, nestling in a valley at
the foot of the Himalayas.
My first friend and familiar was a small grey squirrel. Arching his back and sniffing into
the air, he seemed at first to resent my invasion of his privacy. But, when he found that I did not
arm myself with a catapult or air-gun, he became friendlier. And when I started leaving him pieces
of cake and biscuit, he grew bolder, and finally became familiar enough to take food from my
hands.
Before long he was delving into my pockets and helping himself to whatever he could find.
He was a very young squirrel, and his friends and relatives probably thought him headstrong and
foolish for trusting a human.

1. Where was the house situated?

2. What gave the author endless pleasure?
3. Who was the boy’s first friend from the nature?
4. What was the squirrel’s first reaction?
5. How friendly did the squirrel become?

Answers

1. At Dehra town, at the foot hills of Himalayas.

2. The scenery of the arching banyan tree.
3. A small grey squirrel.
4. He arched his back and sniffed into the air. The squirrel didn’t like the presence of the
boy.
5. The Squirrel became friendly enough to take food from his hands and even delved into
his pockets.
V. Read the excerpt from “Adventures in a Banyan Tree” and answer the questions.
In the spring, when the banyan tree was full of small red figs birds of all kinds would flock
into its branches, the red bottomed bulbul,cheerful and greedy; gossiping rosy pastors; and parrots
and crows, squabbling with each other all the time. During the fig season, the banyan tree was the
noisiest place on the road.
Half way up the tree I had built a small platform on which I would often spend the
afternoons when it wasn’t too hot. I could read there, propping myself up against the bole of the
tree with cushions taken from the drawing room.Treasure Island, Huckleberry Finn, The Mowgli
stories, and the Novels of Edger Rice Burroughs and Louisa May Alcott made up my bag of very
mixed reading.
When I did not feel like reading, I could look down through the banyan leaves at the world
below, at Grandmother hanging up or taking down the washing, at the cook quarrelling with a fruit
vendor or at Grandfather grumbling at the hardy Indian marigolds which insisted on springing up
all over his very English garden. Usually nothing very exciting happened while I was in the
banyan tree, but on one particular afternoon I had enough excitement to last me through the
summer.
That was the time I saw a mongoose and a cobra fight to death in the garden, while I sat
directly above them in the banyan tree.
It was an April afternoon. And the warm breezes of approaching summer had sent
everyone, including Grand father, indoors. I was feeling drowsy myself and was wondering if I
should go to the pond behind the house for a swim, when I saw a huge black cobra gliding out of a
clump of cactus and, making for some cooler part of the garden. At the same time a mongoose
emerged from the bushes and went straight for the cobra.
In a clearing beneath the tree, in bright sunshine, they came face to face. Cobra knew only too well
that the grey mongoose, three feet long, was a superb fighter, clever and aggressive. But the cobra
was skilful and experienced fighter too. He could move swiftly and strike with the speed of light,
and the sacs behind his long, sharp fangs were full of deadly venom.
It was to be a battle of champions.

1. What happens to the Banyan tree in the spring season?

2. Which are the different kinds of birds which appear on the Banyan tree in the fig
season?
3. Where did the boy spend the afternoons when it was not too hot?
4. What kind of books does he read?
5. What were the usual activities of people he observed from the tree?
6. What was the exciting experience he got on that day?
7. What was the cobra searching for?
Answers

1. The Banyan tree is full of small red figs.

2. Red-bottomed bulbul, rosy-pastors, parrots and crows.
3. On the platform built halfway up the tree.
4. Some of the books that he read were Treasure Island, Huckleberry Finn, The Mowgli stories
and the Novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs and Louisa May Alcott.
5. Mother, hanging up or taking down the washing, cook quarrelling with a fruit vendor,
Grandfather, grumbling at the hardy Indian marigolds.
6. The sight of mongoose and cobra fighting to death.
7. The cobra was searching for a cool place.

VI. Prepare a short profile of Ruskin Bond using the hints given below.

Birth : May 19, 1934, Kasauli, India

Education : Bishop Cotton School, Shimla
Famous as : Author, Poet
Works : First novel “The Room on the Roof”
First Children’s book “The Angry River”
Short story Collections “Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra”
Awards : John Llewellyn Rhys Prize (1957) Sahitya Akademi Award (1992)
Padma Shri (1999) Lifetime Achievement Award (2017)

RUSKIN BOND

Ruskin Bond is an eminent contemporary Indian writer of British descent. He was born on
May 19, 1934 at Kasauli in India. He was educated at Bishop Cotton School, Shimla. He is a
famous writer and poet. He wrote his first Novel “The Room on the Roof”, at the age of seventeen.
He got John Llewellyn Rhys Prize in 1957. His first children’s book was “The Angry River”. In
1992, he received the Sahitya Academy Award for his short story collection. ‘Our Tree Still Grow in
Dehra’. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 for his contributions to Children’s literature. He
was also honoured with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ in 2017.
VII. Imagine that the English club of your school has decided to conduct a special assembly in
connection with the World Environmental Day. Prepare a speech on “The Importance of
Conservation of Nature”.

Respected teachers and my dear friends,

A warm good morning to one and all. It is my pleasure to stand here in front of you on this
auspicious occasion. Although I am not an expert in public speaking. I would like to share my views
about Nature.
Can we imagine a life without Nature? We can’t. We live, breathe and die in Nature. Our
mother earth keeps us alive by showering her love and care. But how mercilessly we destroy the
same! Unscientific construction of buildings, plastic, pollution and global warming… all are
increasing day by day. I think it is high time that we should unite to find a solution to protect it. We
have inherited this beautiful nature from our ancestors and it is our duty to protect it for the future
generation. Air, water, vegetation, forest everything need to be kept and handed over to them. Wise
use of natural resources and reduced use of plastics can help us a lot in achieving our goal which is
a common plea.
Let’s take an oath to keep our life in harmony with nature. Let me conclude my words.

Thank You!

VIII. Prepare a character-sketch of Grandfather in the story ‘Adventures In a Banyan Tree’

Grandfather

The grandfather in the story is the eldest member of the family. He is sixty five. Yet he is
active and vigorous. He loves his grandson very much. He is happy at the victory of the mongoose
in the single combat. He encourages the mongoose to live in the garden. Because it would keep the
snakes away. He is a man of wisdom. He has never tried to tame the mongoose because he knows
that a wild mongoose is more useful than a domesticated one. When he sees the white baby
squirrels he is astonished and tells that the white rat must be the father. He is also a lover of nature
like the boy in the story.

IX. The grandfather and the boy were really surprised at the sight of the three baby squirrels.
It was a great surprise for all and the news spread across the village. The news appeared in
one of the local dailies. Prepare the likely News Report.
 Three White wonders in A Banyan Tree
Staff Reporter

Dehradun, 25 June : Three baby squirrels were found in a hole in the banyan tree in one of the
houses of a village in Dehradun.
In the village a grandfather and a grandson found three cute white baby squirrels in the hole
in the banyan tree in the yard. The boy found them while he was searching for his grandmother’s
missing knitting needles. He was surprised to see the needle in the hole and when looked further, he
discovered that the hole was crammed with knitting and among the wool were three baby squirrels-
all of them white. Even the grandfather was seeing the white squirrels for the first time. Many
people gathered to see the three little wonders of nature.

X. Imagine that the Nature Club of your school has decided to conduct a seminar on the topic
“Preservation of Nature” in connection with the World Environmental Day (June 5). As the
secretary of the club, prepare a notice for the same.

GOVERNMENT HSS KOTTAYAM

Notice
Seminar on “Preservation of Nature”

Dear Teachers and Friends,

The Nature club of our school has decided to conduct a seminar in connection with the
World Environmental Day. The programme will be conducted on 5 th June, 2021 at 11:00 am in the
school auditorium. The famous Environmentalist Prof. John has kindly consented to inaugurate the
function. We cordially invite you to the function.

All are welcome

Pala Sd/-
31/3/2021 Secretary

XI. The boy was so excited to see the white squirrels in the hole of the banyan tree. He decides
to scribble something in his diary. What would be his diary entry?
 Friday
12 January 9 pm
How miraculous nature is ! With full of hidden secrets and sights! The white squirrels! I have never
seen such a creature! It was really amazing. Still I can’t believe my eyes. The tiny squirrels are so
cute. But how is it possible? The squirrel whom I see everyday is not white. I have seen it making a
nest with grandmother’s knitting clothes in the banyan tree. Oh! now I remember…Grandfather has
a white rat and I have seen him near the Squirrel’s nest. Yes, it must be the father; Grandfather says,
the rats and squirrels are related to each other and it is quite possible for them to have offsprings –
in this case-white squirrels…wonderful nature…I feel so excited.

XII. After watching the deadly fight between the mongoose and the cobra the boy ran to his
grandfather and explained the whole incident. What would be the likely conversation between
them.
Grandfather : Why do you look so excited?
Boy : Grandpa, I have seen something very exciting.
Grandfather : What have you seen?
Boy : I have seen a mongoose and a cobra fighting to death in the garden.
Grandfather : Where were you then?
Boy : I was in the banyan tree.
Grandfather : I think you didn’t get frightened, did you?
Boy : No, I didn’t get frightened.
Grandfather : Who won the battle?
Boy : The mongoose won the battle.
Grandfather : It is a useful animal. You had better not disturb it.
Boy : OK Grandpa.

XIII. The boy was thrilled at seeing the fight between the cobra and the mongoose. You may
also have the same feeling. Narrate the fight-scene in your own words.

The boy was sitting on the platform half way up the tree. He saw a small mongoose and a
huge black cobra fighting to death beneath the banyan tree. Both of them were skilful fighters. At
first the cobra struck. But the mongoose avoided it and bit the snake on the back. In its turn the cobra
darted away out of reach.
The cobra struck again and missed the object. When the cobra was weakening the mongoose
vigorously took it by the snout. The cobra writhed and lashed about in a frightening manner. It even
coiled itself about the mongoose but all in vain. The mongoose hung grimly on until the snake had
ceased to struggle. It then smelt it and gripped around the hood and dragged it into the bushes.
Besides the boy, there were two other spectators, a myna and a crow. They tried to intervene
in the fight which led to the death of the crow. The myna wisely refrained from interfering again.

XIV. Imagine the boy in the story ‘Adventures In A Banyan Tree’ decides to write a letter to his
friend Arun about the deadly fight between the cobra and the mongoose. What would be the
likely letter?

Ivy Cottage
Landour Cautt
Dehradun
26 April 2020

Dear Arun,

Hope you are enjoying your vacation there. I am doing the same here, at grandpa’s house.
Arun, I am so excited to share an incident that had happened the last day. As you know, I
was sitting on the banyan tree reading some book. After sometime when I got bored I just looked
around the place and happened to witness a deadly fight between a cobra and a mongoose.
Both of them were skillful fighters. At first the cobra struck. But the mongoose avoided it
and bit the snake on the back. In its turn the cobra darted away out of reach.
The battle went on…When the snake was weakening the mongoose vigorously took it by the
snout. The cobra even coiled itself about the mongoose but all in vain. Really it was a battle of
champions…Arun. But after sometime the clever mongoose hung grimly on until the snake had
ceased to struggle. It gripped around the hood and dragged it into the bushes. Anyway this is an
unforgettable incident in my life.

Hope all of you are safe and healthy. My regards to all.

Yours lovingly,
Sd/-

XV. The Film Club of your school is screening a short film, ‘The Mangoose and Snake’ in the
School auditorium. Prepare a notice for the same
 GOVT HSS KOTTAYAM
NOTICE

“THE MONGOOSE AND THE SNAKE”

(Film Show)

Dear Teachers and friends,

The Film Club of our school has decided to screen the short film “Mongoose and the Snake”
in the school auditorium on Tuesday, 21st January 2020 at 10:00 am. We cordially invite everyone
to watch the film.

All are welcome!

14/10/2020
Kasaragod Secretary, Film Club

XVI. Complete the conversation between grandfather and grandmother.

Grandma : Hey, my dear,............................(a).............................?

Grandpa : I was there in the garden. What’s the matter?
Grandma : Our grandson has built a platform up on the banyan tree. .........(b)............?
Grandpa : No, I haven’t seen it. Why did he build it there?
Grandma : ................(c)......... If you want, you also can enjoy sitting there.
Grandpa : I can’t climb trees at this age of sixty-five.
Grandma : Sixty-Five is not too old an age. You’ve lost all your courage. Do you know
the Countess of Desmond?
Grandpa : ...........................(d).............................. Who is that?
Grandma : She was an English woman who used to climb tree till her death
at the age of 117.
Grandpa : Then, you’re my Countess! You go climbing trees; I can’t any more.
Answers
a. Where were you?
b. Have you seen it?
c. He says he likes sitting there and reading books.
d. No, I don’t know any Countess.
XVII. Answer the following

a). Grandfather : Who won the fight between the mongoose and the cobra?
Boy : The mongoose won the fight.

1. What did the grandfather ask the boy?

2. What was his reply?

Answers

1. Grandfather asked the boy who had won the fight between the mongoose and the cobra.
2. The boy replied that the mongoose had won the fight.

b). Boy: “There is a surprise for you,”

Grandfather: Wow! I haven’t seen white baby squirrels ever before.

Answers

1. Boy told grandfather that there was surprise for him.

2. Grandfather exclaimed that he hadn’t seen white squirrels ever before.

XVIII. Complete the following passage choosing appropriate phrasal verbs given in the box.

[put up with, get up, give up, put out, set out, get into]

Amal has never been able to…… (a)…… early from bed. Though his mother would set
the alarm clock, Amal simply turned it off and went back to sleep. Every morning, he would
…… (b)…… late to school. So he …… (c)…… the class late every day. Amal knew well that
his class teacher would not …… (d)…… with the situation.

Answers (a). Get up (b) set out (c) got into (d) put up with

XIX. Fill in the blanks choosing the right words from the brackets.

[a, to, the, above, in, and]

That was …… (a)…… time I saw …… (b)…… mongoose …… (c)…… a cobra fight
…… (d)…… death …… (e)…… the garden, while I sat directly …… (f)…… them …… (g)……
the banyan tree.

Answers (a) the (b) a (c) and (d) to (e) in (f) above (g) in
XX. Fill in the blanks choosing the right words from the brackets

(in, on, into, with, of, the)

...........(a)...........the spring, when the banyan tree was full of small red figs, birds .....
(b)......... all kinds would flock......(c)... its branches, the red-bottomed bulbul, cheerful and
greedy; gossipping rosy-pastors; and parrots and crows; squabbling.........(d)........ each other all
the time. During......(e).........fig season, the banyan tree was the noisiest place......(f)..........the
road.
Answers (a) In (b) of (c) into (d) with (e) the (f) on

XXI. Edit the following passage

‘Adventures In A Banyan Tree’ is a beautiful short story wrote by Ruskin Bond. This are a
story about what the author saw as a young boy when he is sitting in an old banyan tree in his
grandfather house. It was a fight among a mongoose and a cobra.
Answers (a) written (b) is (c) was (d) grandfather’s (e) between

XXII. Read the newspaper-headlines given below and answer the questions that follow:

a) Thailand Open : Saina Nehwal and rest of Indian contingent clear Covid-19 test.
b) UP doctors warns against Bird flu spreading to humans, asks to avoid chicken
consumption.
c) Regular Aspirin use may increase old people’s risk of dying from Cancer.
d) Crude Shock : Petrol price headed for a new high on tax boost.
e) National Cricket Academy to be set up in Sikkim : Chief Minister.

1. Which headline is related to the field of sports?

2. Which headline refers to the recent pandemic?
3. Which headline speaks about the Bird flu?
4. Which headline is related to medicine?
5. The headline that can upset a vehicle owner is................................…

Answers 1. e 2. a 3. b 4. c 5. d
XXIII. Construct a meaningful word pyramid with the word ‘man’ following the same pattern

Tree

A tree

A huge tree

A huge tree in the garden

A huge tree in the garden that attract birds
 The Snake and Mirror

Vaikom Muhammad Basheer

I. Read the following passages and answer the questions.

‘Has a snake ever coiled itself round any part of your body? A full-blooded cobra?’ All of us
fell silent. The question came from the homeopath. The topic came up when we were discussing
snakes. We listened attentively as the doctor continued with the tale.
It was a hot summer night about ten o' clock. I had my meal at the restaurant and returned to
my room. I heard a noise from above as I opened the door. The sound was a familiar one. One could
say that rats and I shared the room. I took out my box of matches and lighted the kerosene lamp on
the table. The house was not electrified; it was a small rented room.I had just set up medical
practice and my earnings were meagre. I had about sixty rupees in my suitcase. Along with some
shirts and dhotis, I also possessed one solitary black coat which I was then wearing

1) Why did the listeners fall silent?

2) What was the time then ?
3) Where did he have his dinner?
4) What did he hear when he opened the door?
5) What is an instance of humour here?
6) What were his only possessions?
7) Why were his earnings meagre?

Answers

1) Because the homeopath asked a terrifying question about a cobra.

2) Ten O’clock.
3) At a restaurant
4) The sound of rats
5) He says he shared the room with rats.
6) Sixty rupees, some shirts, dhotis and one black coat.
7) Because he had just set up medical practice.

II. Read the following passages and answer the questions.

I took off my black coat, white shirt and not-so-white vest and hung them up. I opened the
two windows in the room. It was an outer room with one wall facing the open yard. It had a tiled
roof with long supporting gables that rested on the beam over the wall. There was no ceiling. There
was a regular traffic of rats to and from the beam. I made my bed and pulled it close to the wall. I
lay down but I could not sleep. I got up and went out to the veranda for a little air, but the wind god
seemed to have taken time off.
I went back into the room and sat down on the chair. I opened the box beneath the table and
took out a book, The Materia Medica. I opened it at the table on which stood the lamp and a large
mirror; a small comb lay beside the mirror.

1) Why did he open the windows?

2) What was the regular traffic on the beams?
3) Why couldn’t he sleep?
4) Which book did he take out to read?
5) What were the other things on the table?

Answers

1) To get some fresh air.

2) Of rats moving
3) Because it was too hot in the room.
4) The Materia Medica.
5) A large mirror, a lamp and a comb.

III. Read the following passages and answer the questions.

One feels tempted to look into a mirror when it is near. I took a look. In those days I was a
great admirer of beauty and I believed in making myself look handsome. I was unmarried and was a
doctor. I felt I had to make my presence felt. I picked up the comb and ran it through my hair and
adjusted the parting so that it looked straight and neat. Again I heard that sound from above.
I took a close look at my face in the mirror. I made an important decision - I would shave
daily and grow a thin moustache to look more handsome. I was, after all, a bachelor, and a doctor! I
looked into the mirror and smiled. It was an attractive smile. I made another earthshaking decision.
I would always keep that attractive smile on my face . . . to look more handsome. I was after all a
bachelor, and a doctor too on top of it! Again came that noise from above.
I got up, lit a beedi and paced up and down the room. Then another lovely thought struck
me. I would marry. I would get married to a woman doctor who had plenty of money and a good
medical practice. She had to be fat; for a valid reason. If I made some silly mistake and needed to
run away she should not be able to run after me and catch me!

1) How did the doctor want to make his presence felt in the world?
2) What was the important decision taken by him?
3) What was the earthshaking decision to be taken by the doctor?
4) What was the lovely thought that the doctor had in mind?
 5) What kind of a wife did he want?
6) Why did the doctor want his wife to be fat?

Answers

1. He wanted the world to see him as a handsome, young bachelor.

2. He decided to shave daily and look more handsome and also to keep a thin moustache.
3. He decided to keep an attractive smile on his face, always.
4. To get married to a woman doctor who had plenty of money and a good practice.
5. A fat wife.
6. He wanted her to be fat so that she could not run after him and catch him if he made a
mistake.

IV. What were the thoughts of the doctor as he sat on the chair facing the mirror?

Wow! What a handsome look. But there is something really missing. I think its my hairstyle.
From today onwards, I will take a neat parting with the comb and make my hair look straight and
neat. That’s going to add to my handsome look. What about growing a thin moustache? People like
me are so lucky to be blessed with such an attractive smile on my face. This is for sure that I am
going to keep it always on my face so as to make my presence felt before the world.

V. Attempt a short paragraph on the use of contrasts to bring out humour in the story.

The story ‘The snake and the mirror’ is abundant with contrasting ideas which brings out
striking humour in the story. The homeopathic doctor considered himself as a handsome bachelor.
Moreover he also wanted to make his presence felt among others with his attractive smile and
appearance. In addition to that he wanted to grow a thin moustache and maintain his good looks so
that he could get a better partner.
But his real life was not as colourful as his dreams. His earnings were meager and he did not
have much money.
He thinks of himself as a bachelor and doctor proudly but when the snake coils around his
arm, he believes he was foolish not to have medicines in his room. He wanted a fat wife but in
reality he got a thin one.
VI. Prepare a profile of Vaikom Muhammed Basheer using the hints given below

Name : Vaikom Muhammed Basheer

Place :Thalayolaparambu, Kerala
Birth : 1908
Famous as : Freedom fighter, Short story writer and novelist
Notable works : Balyakalasakhi, Shabdangal, Mathilukal and Paathummayude Aaadu.
Award : Padmashri 1982
Death : 1994

Vaikom Muhammed Basheer

Vaikom Muhammed Basheer was born in 1908, at Thalayolaparambu in Kerala. He was a

freedom fighter, novelist and short story writer. His notable works include Balyakalasakhi,
Shabdangal, Pathummayude Aadu and Mathilukal. He was awarded the Padmashri in 1982. He
passed away in 1994.

VII. Imagine that the doctor writes a letter to his friend explaining his life in the rented room.
How would the letter be?

The Burrow
Rainbow Lane
Kozhikode
6 January 2001

Dear Raju,
How are you doing? How is your job? Hope your parents are in good health. Here
everything at my end is terrible. As you know, I have just started my medical practice and so my
earnings are also meagre. I have not been able to save much so all I could afford with my 1000
rupee salary is a small rented room. Though the room lacks luxurious facilities, never in my wildest
dreams did I expect all this. I share the room with rats who go to and from the beam above and
scare me.
I just have Rs. 60 in my suitcase, along with a few shirts and dhotis and a black coat. And do
you know something? I have to depend upon the wind god for a peaceful sleep as there is no fan.
There are two windows and the room faces an open yard. The room has a tiled roof and long
gables and beams. The absence of a ceiling makes the room warm and I also get a clear view of my
room mates, the rats. Apart from my cot, I just have a chair and a table on which I have kept a lamp,
a mirror and a comb. The Materia Medica is the only book I have which helps to kill time. And if I
run out of Kerosene, I may not be able to read. All these factors are stressing me out. I need to find
a way out. Please do find time to write to me. Convey my regards to all at home.

You lovingly,

Ruskin

VIII. Prepare diary entry of the doctor written on the night he escaped from the rented house.

Jan 14
Thursday
Oh, what a terrible day it was! The events seem to be unbelievable. It was such a narrow
escape from death.
I was actually happy, seeing my face in the mirror, enjoying my looks. I was lost in thoughts
or I would have felt the snake slithering up. What a fright I got seeing the cobra on my shoulder.
But thankfully I was too scared to move. But I prayed silently and God heard it. The snake’s
attention got diverted seeing its own reflection in the mirror and it left me.

IX. Character sketch of the Homeopath.

The homeopath was a jolly fellow with a good sense of humour and a skill in telling a tale.
So, it is with precision that he describes the small rented room that he shared with rats and tells us
about his meager earning and belongings. He was interested in making himself more handsome. He
was also ambitious. He wanted to marry a rich, fat woman doctor. But when the snake coiled around
his arm, he had the presence of mind to remain still, in spite of the pain. He was also a sociable
person with many friends who helped him in times of need.

X. The incident of a cobra coiling around the homeopath’s arm was reported in a daily, the
next day. What would be the news report?

Doctor in dilemma
Trichur: A full blooded poisonous cobra was reported to be seen in the small rented house of a
homeopath, yesterday. The house was not electrified and had rats living in it. The doctor says that
the snake had coiled around his arm and that its head was just four inches away. However the doctor
remained motionless and the snake slithered down and crawled on to the table on which was a
mirror. The snake seemed to stare at its reflection, taken in by its own beauty. The doctor ran for his
life in the darkness and returned the next day but the house was empty as it had been robbed. The
snake was not to be seen anywhere.

XI. Write a paragraph on the thoughts that passed through the homeopath’s mind when the
snake landed on his shoulder.

Hearing a dull thud, the doctor turned to find a snake on his shoulder. But he didn’t jump,
tremble or cry out. He just sat holding his breath seeing the spread-out hood of the cobra, just four
inches away from his face. He felt as though he had turned to stone. He could feel the presence of
the creator. In his imagination he wrote ‘O God’ outside his little heart. He wondered what he could
do when he felt the pain of the snake coiling around his arm. He thought he should not move. He
also thought of whether there were medicines in the room. He considered himself a poor, foolish
doctor for not keeping medicines there.When the snake turned to look in the mirror, the doctor
wondered if it was admiring its own beauty, thinking of growing a moustache or using eye shadow
and mascara. He also wondered about the gender of the snake as it unwound itself and left his arm.

XII. Read the conversions and answer the questions that follow:-
a. Friend : Is your wife very fat?
Doctor : She is a thin, reedy person.

1) What did the friend ask?

2) b. What was the doctor’s reply?

Answer

1) The friend asked if the doctor’s wife was very fat.

2) The doctor replied that she was a thin, reedy person.

b. Friend : Did you see the snake the next day?

Doctor : I have never seen it till today.
Answer
1) The friend asked if he saw the snake the next day.
2) The doctor replied that he had never seen it till that day.
XIII. Complete the conversation:

Reporter : Good morning sir,

Homeopath : Good morning, (a)
Reporter : I heard about the snake coiling on your arm.
Homeopath : Yes, it's true. You have come for an interview, (b)_______ ?
Reporter : ..............(c)?
Homeopath : Just, last night.
Reporter : If you can tell me the story, , (d)
Homeopath : Sure. You had better, (e)
Reporter : Okay, lets sit down and hear you.

Answers

a) What can I do for you?/ What do you want?

b) haven’t you?
c) When did you see the snake?
d) I will publish it.
e) sit down.

XIV. Edit the underlined errors from the passage.

I (a) go back into the room and (b) sit down on the chair. In those (c) day I was a great
admirer of beauty and I (d) believe in making myself handsome. I wanted to make my (e) precence
felt.

Answers a) went b) sat c) days d) believed e) presence

XV. Supply the missing words in the following passage :- (to, for, of, a, and)

The homeopath lit / (a) beedi / (b) paced up and down. He would get married / (c) a woman
doctor who had plenty / (d) money, he thought.

Ans. a) a b) and c) to d) of
XVI. Study the following sentences

a) He was a bachelor and a doctor

b) He could either cry out or sit like a stone.

The linker ‘and’ combines two noun phrase in the first sentence. In the second sentence ‘either’
combines it.

Frame two sentences of the similar pattern.

a) He was a singer and director.

b) She could either sleep or read the book.

Additional Questions

Paragraph 1,2 and 3

1. Who asked the question whether a snake had coiled around any part of their bodies?
2. What did the doctor do after entering the room?
3. Which line suggests that the house did not belong to him?
4. Where did the doctor keep his money?
5. Pick out a word than means “story”?

Answers
1. The homeopath
2. He lighted the kerosene lamp.
3. It was a small rented room.
4. In his suitcase.
5. Tale

Paragraphs 4, 5, 6, 7

1. What did he do to the clothes he took off?

2. Where was the wind god?
3. Where was the box kept?
4. Why did the doctor adjust the parting of his face?
5. Pick out a word that means an 'unmarried guy'?

Answers
1. He hung them up.
2. He seemed to have taken time off.
3. Beneath the table
4. To make it look neat and straight.
5. Bachelor

Paragraphs 8, 9, 10, 11

1. What word is used by the doctor to describe the decision he took?

2. What was the lovely thought that struck him?
3. Pick out a word that means happening at the same time ?
4. How far was the snake from the doctor’s face?
5. Where did the snake coil?

Answers
1. “earthshaking”
2. That he would marry
3. Simultaneous
4. Hardly three or four inches away.
5. Around his left arm above the elbow

Paragraph 12, 13, 14, 15

1. What does the doctor say that he turned into?

2. What did he try to write in his imagination?
3. What would have happened if he moved?
4. Why does the doctor say that death lurked four inches away?
5. Why did he smile feebly?
Answers
1. He says he turned to stone.
2. The words ‘O God!’
3. The snake would strike him dead.
4. The snake with its hood was just four inches away, ready to strike.
5. He smiled at the thought that he was foolish not to keep medicines in his room.

Paragraphs 16, 17, 18

1. What did the snake see?
2. Pick out a word that means a ‘substance put on a eyelashes to make it look black ’
3. Pick out a word that is an antonym for ‘coiled’
4. Where did the snake creep from the doctor’s lap?
5. Why did it seem to move towards the mirror?
6. What did the doctor do after reaching the veranda?
Answers
1. It saw its own reflection in the mirror.
2. Mascara
3. unwound
4. It crept on to the table, toward the mirror.
5. Perhaps to enjoy its reflection at close quarters.
6. He leapt into the yard and ran.
Paragraphs 19 and 20
1. What did someone ask the doctor after he paused while telling his tale?
2. Describe the doctor’s wife.
3. What did he smear over himself
4. When did the doctor go back to his room?
5. Did the doctor see the snake the next day?

Answers
1. Somebody asked if his wife was fat
2. She was thin and reedy with the gift of a sprinter
3. He smeared oil
4. At eight thirty, the next morning.
5. No, he says he had never seen it since.
 LINES WRITTEN IN EARLY SPRING

William Wordsworth

I. Read the following lines from the poem Lines Written In Early Spring and answer the
questions that follow. Each question carries one score.

I heard a thousand blended notes,

While in a grove I sate reclined,
In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts
Bring sad thoughts to the mind.

1. Who is the I referred to in the poem?

2. What does the poet mean by the expression ‘a thousand blended notes’?
3. What expression does the poet use to describe the sounds of nature?
4. Where was the poet sitting?
5. What does the expression ‘I sate reclined’ indicate about the poet’s state of mind?
6. Pick out pairs of rhyming words from the given lines and Write the rhyme scheme .
7. Pick out an example of auditory image from the given line

Answers

1. The poet (William Wordsworth) is referred to as I in the poem.

2. The sounds of Nature are indicated through this expression.‘
3. A thousand blended notes’ is the expression used by the poet.
4. The poet was sitting in a grove.
5. It indicates that the poet sits in a relaxed manner.
6. Notes – thoughts, reclined- mind. Rhyme scheme- ab ab.
7. A thousand blended notes.

II. Read the following lines from the poem Lines Written In Early Spring and answer the
questions that follow. Each question carries one score.

To her fair works did Nature link

The human soul that through me ran;
And much it grieved my heart to think
What man has made of man.
 1. Identify the lines that tell us Nature is linked to the soul of human beings?
2. What makes the poet happy?
3. What worries the poet?
4. What does nature do?
5. Pick out an expression which tells us about the feeling of the poet?
6. ‘And much it grieved my heart to think
What man has made of man.’ What do these lines tell us?
7. Pick out an instance of alliteration from the given lines.

Answers
1. ‘ To her fair works did Nature link
The human soul that through me ran;
2. ‘The harmony , beauty and love in nature make the poet happy.
3. The cruelties of man towards nature and his fellow beings make the poet sad.
( what man has made of man.)
4. Nature has linked the human soul to her fair works.
5. The expression ‘ And much it grieved my heart to think’ tells us about the
feelings of the poet.
6. Man’s cruelties towards nature and to his fellow beings destroy the harmony of
nature. This thought makes the poet sad.
7. What man has made of man.

III. Read the following lines from the poem Lines Written In Early Spring and answer the
questions that follow. Each question carries one score.

Through primrose tufts, in that green bower,

The periwinkle trailed its wreaths;
And ’tis my faith that every flower
Enjoys the air it breathes.

The birds around me hopped and played,

Their thoughts I cannot measure:—
But the least motion which they made
It seemed a thrill of pleasure.
 1. What does the poet say about each flower?
2. Why does the poet feel that the flowers enjoy the air they breathe?
3. Mention the names of some flowers mentioned in these lines.
4. What do the birds do?
5. Pick out the lines which state that even the smallest movement in nature gives the poet
happiness?
6. What does ‘the periwinkle trailed its wreaths’ imply?
7. Give an example of personification from these lines.

Answers

1. The poet says that the flowers enjoy the fresh air they breathe.
2. The gentle movement of the flowers, in the breeze makes the poet think so.
3. Periwinkle and primrose are the flowers mentioned here.
4. The birds hop and play around the poet.
5. But the least motion which they made
It seemed a thrill of pleasure.
6. It implies that the petals of the periwinkle blow in the wind.
7. Every flower enjoys the air it breathes, is an example of personification.

IV. Read the following lines from the poem Lines Written In Early Spring and answer the
questions that follow. Each question carries one score.

The budding twigs spread out their fan,

To catch the breezy air;
And I must think, do all I can,
That there was pleasure there.

If this belief from heaven be sent,

If such be Nature’s holy plan,
Have I not reason to lament
What man has made of man?

1. What is nature’s holy plan?

2. What does budding twigs indicate?
3. What are they reaching out for?
 4. Identify the poetic device in the given lines.
5. Does the poem end on a happy note or a sad note? Identify the line which justifies your
answer?
6. Complete the following sentences by choosing the best options.
The poet experiences sadness because -----------------------

i. the blended notes are jarring

ii. Nature is filled with negativity

iii. he is worried about the destruction caused to Nature

iv .natural calamities occur frequently

Answers
1. Nature fills everything with beauty , pleasure and peace.
2. Budding twigs indicate new life.
3. They are reaching out for happiness.
4. Personification
5. The poem ends on a sad note. The line ‘Have I not reason to lament ,what man has done
to man ‘ indicates his sadness.
6. He is worried about the destruction caused to nature.

V. Appreciation of the poem

‘Lines Written in Early Spring’ is a beautiful poem written by William Wordsworth. The poem
celebrates the relation between man and nature. The poet becomes happy in the sights and sounds of nature
and at the same time laments on what man has made of man.

The poet once sits in a grove in a very calm and relaxed mood. He hears lots of various sounds and
songs. The poet rejoices in those things . At the same time, some woeful thoughts come into his mind, and
he becomes pensive.

He sees the primrose and periwinkle make wreaths in the bower there. He believes that every flower
enjoys the air it breathes. The birds around him express their thrill of pleasure by hopping and playing in the
grove. He also notices the budding twigs spread out their tender leaves to catch the breezy air. In short, the
poet sees thrilling sights, hears pleasant songs in everything he looks at in the grove, and he experiences the
utmost pleasure in the world of nature.
 But when he thinks of the human world, he becomes sad. What man has done to mankind as well as
to nature makes him uneasy and unpleasant. The coexistence in perfect harmony is the holy plan of nature. If
the divine plan of nature is pleasurable and peaceful coexistence, he wonders why man has alone moved
away from this holy plan.

The poem becomes much appealing because of the simplicity of its theme and beauty of lines and the
abundant use of various poetic devices. The poem follows the rhyme scheme abab. The poet uses hyperbole
when he says that he heard a thousand blended notes. He addresses Nature as a person and calls it ‘her’. He
makes the flowers breathe the air, and makes the tender leaves of budding twigs catch the breezy air. All
these are perfect examples of Personification. A beautiful instance of Alliteration can be seen in the line
‘What man has made of man.’

Visual Images used in the poem add more beauty to it.

“ The birds around me hopped and played”,
The grove, the green bower, the flowers – primrose and periwinkle
Budding twigs…..are perfect examples of visual images.
“I heard a thousand blended notes” is an instance of auditory image.
 PROJECT TIGER
Satyajit Ray

I. Read the passage and answer the following questions

No one can beat Hollywood when it comes to making films with animals in them. I remember
films in my childhood - and there were quite a few of them – that had an Alsatian called Rin-tin- in.
This dog's acting was more impressive than a human's. Later, we got to see three or four other films
with a collie called Lassie. It seemed that the director could make Lassie do just about anything.
These trained dogs were famous stars in their own rights, and the money they earned was no less
than what a real film star got. Their owners could easily make as much as a hundred thousand
rupees from just one film.
I realised how reverently these animal-actors were treated when I happened to see the shooting
of a film twenty years ago in Disney Studio in Hollywood. The main character in this film was a
large dog. I reached the studio to find that the shooting had not yet started; the camera man was
getting the lights ready. It is customary for actors to be present when the lights are customary
arranged, for they have to show the cameraman how they'll walk, or where they'll stand, in a
particular shot. In the case of very famous stars, this job is done by their stand-ins. A stand-in is
usually a person who is physically similar to the real star. The stars themselves arrive only when the
lights are ready and it is time to take a shot.
Here, in Disney Studio, I noticed that a few actors were moving about in the set, and on one
side, standing quietly, was the protagonist - the same large dog. The cameraman shouted to
everyone to take their positions but the dog remained where it was. This puzzled me. Could it be
that it was not required in the next shot?
Before I could ask someone, a strange thing happened. From nowhere appeared a little dwarf,
followed by another man carrying a hairy dog-skin. Then, to my perfect amazement, the dwarf went
down on all the fours on a chalk mark on the floor, just like an animal, and the dog-skin was draped
over him. Then he crawled from one mark to another, and the cameraman got busy with the lights.
It finally dawned upon me that this dwarf was paid to be the dog's stand-in!

1. How does Hollywood excel in film making?

2. Mention the names of the trained dogs who became famous stars in their own rights.
3. What is this article about?
4. What is the topic sentence in the first paragraph
5. Satyajith Ray presents films he had seen in his childhood days. Which were they?
6. Pick out the word which is opposite in meaning to the word ‘notorious’.
7. Name the studio mentioned in the paragraph.
8. There was something customary in Hollywood. What was that?
9. What was the strange thing that happened at the shooting place?
10. What role did the dwarf play in the shooting?
11. Find out the word in the passage which has the same meaning as the word 'covered'
 12. What did the dwarf do?
13. Who is a stand in?
Answers

1. Hollywood excels others when it comes to making films with animals in them.
2. Alsalation called Rin-tin-tin and a collie called Lassie
3. Making films with animals
4. No one can beat Hollywood when it comes to making films with animals in them.
5. films with the stunning performance of a dog in the film Adventures of Rin-tin-tin and
another dog collie in Lassie Series.
6. Famous
7. Disney Studio in Hollywood
8. It was customary for actors to be present when the lights are arranged, for they have to show
the cameraman how they’ll walk, or where they’ll stand, in a particular shot
9. The strange thing happened at the shooting place was that from nowhere a little dwarf
appeared followed by another man carrying a hairy dog skin.
10. The dwarf played the role of a dogs stand in.
11. Draped.
12. The dwarf went down on all the four on a chalk mark on the floor, just like an animal and
the dog skin was draped over him. He then crawled from one mark to another.
13. Stand–ins are employed for famous film stars who physically resemble the real stars.

II. Read the passage and answer the following questions

Every animal in a Hollywood film is well-trained. It is not difficult to train a horse or a dog. But
have you ever heard of trained ravens ? Not just one or two, but nearly a hundred of them? Even
this was made possible in Hollywood, when the creator of some of the best suspense films in the
history of cinema, Alfred Hitchcock, decided to make a film called Birds. In the story, birds from all
over the world start attacking humans. Hitchcock needed a variety of birds, but what was required
in the largest number was ravens. Notices were placed in the press all over the United States, asking
people to contact the film maker if they knew how to get hold of trained ravens.
Someone replied within a few days. He was asked to bring his birds, and he arrived with
almost a hundred trained ravens. Admittedly, their training had not gone very bad. That is to say,
they could not do anything that might be seen as extraordinary. But if as many as fifty ravens are
told to perch quietly in a row on a specified spot, and if they obey this command instantly, isn't that
pretty impressive?
Needless to say, in our own country, it is not at all easy to find trained animals, although
some films have been made in Bombay and Madras that involved working with elephants, horses
and tigers. Their performance did suggest that they were used to obeying commands. In Bengal, it is
sometimes possible to find clever dogs, particularly police dogs which are quite intelligent. If one is
prepared to be patient, it is not altogether impossible to get good performances out of them as we
managed to do with Bhulo in Pather Panchali.

1. Name the director mentioned in the paragraph

2. Name the film made by Hitchcock mentioned in the passage.
3. What is the theme of the film ‘Birds’
4. What did Alfred Hitchcock want?
5. What did Hitchcock do to get ravens for his film?
6. What was taught to the birds for making the film?
7. Who is Bhulo?
8. According to Satyajit Ray how should the directors be to get good performance from animal
actors?

Answers

1. Alfred Hitchcock
2. ‘Birds’
3. The birds from all over the world start attacking humans is the theme of the film ‘Birds’
4. He wanted hundred trained ravens for the shooting of a film called ‘Birds’
5. Notices were placed in the press all over the United States, asking people to contact the film
maker if they knew how to get hold of trained ravens.
6. The birds were taught to perch quietly in a row on a specified spot.
7. Bhulo is an animal character in Pather Panchali. He was a clever Police dog
8. Directors should have patience.

III. Read the passage and answer the following questions

Yet, a dog might be difficult, not impossible to handle. What was one supposed to do if there
was a need for a tiger in a film? We had to deal with this problem, too, when we were shooting
Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne . In the film Goopy who is banished by the king wanders in the forest,
meets Bagha who is also banished. They see a tiger and freeze. But the tiger simply walks about in
the forest, without paying them the slightest attention.
Having thought of the scene, I simply had to shoot it. But where were we going to find a
tiger? The obvious thing to do was to look in a circus since they were likely to have trained animals.
As a matter of fact, one called Bharat Circus was visiting Calcutta at the time, holding shows in
Marcus Square. We sent someone to make an appointment with its Tamil manager and then went to
meet him one morning. He greeted us warmly and ordered South Indian coffee for us. The manager
heard the reason for our visit, then sent for one Mr Thorat. He turned out to be the ringmaster. He,
too, was a South Indian, very well built, with features somewhat like those of a Nepali. He was
perhaps no more than forty. He showed us an old scar on his forearm, which had been caused by a
tiger.
We told him what we wanted. The shooting was taking place near Shiuri in Birbhoom. We
wanted to show a tiger in a thick bamboo grove. All the animal was required to do was come out of
the bamboo grove into an open space, pace gently for a while, look at the camera if possible, and
then go back. Could a tiger from Bharat Circus do this job? Mr Thorat nodded. 'How long will you
need it for?' asked the manager. 'Perhaps a couple of hours for the shooting,' I replied. 'But that
would be in addition to the time it'll take to travel to and from Shiuri.' On being told that the travel
itself should take no more than two days, the manager agreed to put the tiger in its cage and send it
in a lorry. He invited us to take a look at the tiger. Do you think it's going to be easy to set the
animal free in the bamboo grove?' I couldn't help asking. What! Were all our plans going to go
down the drain? How could we let the tiger's trainer be seen with the animal? How could Goopy
and Bagha be petrified with fear if the supposedly ferocious animal was accompanied by a man?
No, we could not allow that to happen.

1. Whom did Ray approach to get the tiger for his film Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne?
2. Who is Mr. Thorat?
3. What did Ray Want?
4. Where was the shooting taking place?
5. What was the tiger supposed to do?

Answers

1. The manager of Bharat Circus company

2. Mr. Thorat was a ringmaster. He was a South Indian. He was very well built and has
features somewhat like those of a Nepali. He was in his forties. He has an old Scar on his
forearm which had been caused by a tiger.
3. Ray wanted a tiger for the shooting of the film Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne
4. Shiuri in Birbhoom
5. The tiger had to come out of the bamboo grove into an open space gently for a while, look at
the camera if possible and then go back.
IV. Read the passage and answer the following questions

Mr. Thorat found a solution. 'I'll tie a wire round the tiger's neck. It will be thin, but strong.' If the
wire was thin enough, perhaps it would remain invisible to the camera. But it was likely that the
hair on the tiger's neck would be flattened by the wire, which would give the whole thing away.
'What if we found a collar made of tiger skin, fixed the wire to this collar and then tied it round the
tiger's neck?' I said.
In a village called Notun Gram we found a suitable bamboo grove to film the first meeting
between Goopy and Bagha and the appearance of the tiger. Mr Thorat reached the shooting
location with the tiger. There were about twenty five people in the location. A few local people
took our permission to go with us to watch how we tackled the tiger. The cage on the lory was
covered. When the cover was removed we were surprised to see not one, but two well-fed and
robust tigers. We mounted the camera on its tr tripod that it faced the bamboo grove. The audience
was instructed to get behind the camera and to stand as far back as possible. We had to stay
relatively close to the bamboo grove, and Goopy and Bagha too, had to be within yards of the
camera, for it was necessary to have at least one shot that showed them together with the tiger.
Mr Thorat's men had fixed a five foot iron rod to the ground, about thirty feet from the area
where the tiger was supposed to take a walk. They took a thin, long wire and fixed one end to the
collar made of tiger-skin that the tiger was already wearing. The other end was tied firmly to the
visible portion of the iron rod. The door of one of the cages was unfastened and Mr Thorat called
out to the tiger. It responded almost at once and sprang out of its cage to land on the open space
outside. What followed was totally unexpected. One look at Mr Thorat's startled and helpless face
told us that he was as taken aback as the rest of us. Instead of walking sedately in a dignified
manner, the tiger started prancing tremendous enthusiasm. It leapt, it jumped, it rolled about,
dragging its poor trainer who was desperately clutching the wire tied to the tiger's collar in a futile
attempt to bring it under control. We stood around foolishly, watching a new and strange kind of
circus which we were getting to see for free! The camera was still standing on its three legs,
starring into the wood, but the tiger was showing no sign of making its way there.

1. What was Mr. Thorat’s suggestion to control the tiger?

2. Why should the wire be thin?What was the solution found?
3. Where was the setting for the shooting of the film?
4. How was the tigers brought to the location?
5. How many people crowded to see the shooting?
6. Who were the characters in the film?
7. What was the scene?
8. Why was Ray surprised when the cover of the cage was removed?
9. Why did Mr. Thorat bring two tigers instead of one ?
10. What were the precautions that the crew had made?
11. Something unexpected happened. What was it?
Answers

1. Mr Thorat suggested tying a thin strong wire round the tiger’s neck.
2. If the wire was thin enough, it would remain invisible to the camera. The solution was to
make a collar made of tiger skin and fix the wire to the collar.
3. In a village called Notun Gram.
4. The tiger was put in a cage and brought it in a lorry.
5. There were about twenty five people on the location
6. Goopy, Bagha and the tiger
7. The first meeting of Goopy, Bagha and the tiger.
8. There were two tigers instead of one.
9. If the First tiger couldn’t follow the instructions, he could use the second one.
10. The crew fixed the end of a wire to the collar which the tiger was wearing and the other end
was tied to a strong iron rod fixed on the ground.
11. When the tiger came out of the cage and it behaved frantically. It started to leap, roll and
jump, dragging the trainer. The trainer couldn’t control the tiger.

V. Read the passage and answer the following questions

Once the tiger had calmed down, we managed to take the few shots we needed. This should
have been the end of the story. But, when we returned to Calcutta and looked at the scenes with the
tiger, we realised that the camera had failed to work properly. The shots were too dark, so much so
that the tiger was merging almost completely with the background of the trees and leaves. We had
to shoot the scenes all over again. We spoke to Mr Thorat and he agreed to give it another go. We
found another bamboo grove closer to Calcutta in a village called Boral. The lorry arrived once
more, with Mr Thorat, the tiger, the steel wire, the special collar and the iron rod. And with the
lorry came the whole village. We told the villagers that they should stand at a distance of seventy
feet. No one paid any attention to what they were told. The entire crowd moved as close to the
camera as they could. We could not afford to waste any more time explaining and arguing. So we
got the camera ready and signalled to Mr Thorat.
He opened the door of the cage. The instant the door opened with a clang, our tiger
emerged with a loud roar, and charged straight at the villagers gathered behind the camera. The
crowd, consisting of about a hundred and fifty people, melted away as if by magic. After that great
burst of energy, the tiger calmed down very quickly. Like an obedient child, it walked over to the
spot we had chosen, paced about quietly as it was led back to its trainer. required to, and then
ambled back to its trainer. Even the camera behaved this time, which we realised two days later,
when we returned to Calcutta and saw the scenes we had shot.
 1. What made them shoot the scene again?
2. When did they understand that the camera had failed to work properly?
3. Which was the new location?
4. What did the crew members ask the villagers to do?
5. What was the magic performed by the tiger?
6. What did the tiger do after the initial burst of energy?
7. How did the camera perform this time?

Answers

1. The camera had failed to work properly and the shots were dark. Tiger was merging
almost completely with the background of the trees and leaves.
2. They understood that all their efforts went in vain when they reached Calcutta.
3. The new location was in a bamboo grove closer to Calcutta in a village called Boral .
4. They told the villagers that they should stand at a distance of seventy feet.
5. The moment the door was opened the tiger charged straight at the villagers and all of
them melted away by the tiger’s magic.
6. After the initial burst of energy the tiger calmed down and obeyed the instructions.
7. The camera behaved well this time.

VI. Prepare a short profile of Satyajit Ray using the hints given below.

Born : May 2 1921, Kolkata

Known as : Indian film Maker
Famous : Writer producer, Screenwriter, lyricist, composer.
Awards : Academy Honorary Award, Bharat Ratna
Education : Viswa Bharati university, Presidency university,
Bally gunge Government High School
Died : April 23 1992, Kolkata

Satyajith Ray

Sathyajith Ray the renowned film director was born on 2nd May, 1921, in Kolkata. He was
known as a filmmaker. He was famous as a writer, producer, screenwriter, lyricist and composer. He
was honoured with the Academy Honorary Award and Bharat Ratna . He was educated at
BallyGunge. Government High School, Viswa- Bharati University and Presidency University
Kolkata. He passed away on April 23, 1992 in Kolkata.

VII. Complete the conversation between Satyajit Ray and Mr. Thorat

Mr. Thorat : Good Morning Mr. Ray

Ray : Good morning. You are Mr. Thorat………….:(a)…….?
Mr. Thorat : Yes ............(b)………………………?
Ray : I want a tiger for the Shooting of my film
Mr Thorat : ……………(c)……………………………….
Ray : I need it for a couple of hours.
Mr Thorat : Ok. I will bring the tiger.
Ray : Can you make the tiger act the scene?
Mr. Thorat : If I train the tiger ...........(d)……………………….
Ray : How will you bring the tiger
Mr. Thorat : .........(e)…………………………..
Ray : Yes You may bring the tiger in a lorry.

Answers a) aren’t You? b) What can I do for you? c)For how long will you need it?

d) It will act. e) I will bring it in a lorry

VIII. There are certain errors in the passage given below. They are underlined. Edit them.

Mr. Thorat’s men had fix (a) a five foot iron rod to the ground, about thirty feet from the
area whom (b) the tiger was supposed to take a walk. They took a thin, Long wire and fixed on
end to the collar maid (c) of tiger- skin that the tiger was already wearing. The other end were (d)
tied firmly to the visible portion of the iron rod.

Answers a) fixed b) where c) made d) was

IX. Alfred Hitchcock decided to make a film called ‘Birds’ Hitchcock needed ravens in large
numbers. Prepare a notice.

Notice
Donald film Company Requires Raven

Donald film Company has decided to make a film called ‘Birds’. It needs a variety of birds,
especially ravens in great numbers. Well trained ravens and other birds who can follow the
instructions will be paid reasonably. Those who have well trained ravens please contact Alfred
Hitchcock, phone number 123460789. For further details visit our website www.hitchcock
films.com.
Sd/-
19.01.2021 AlfredHitchcock
California. Proprietor

X. Imagine that Satyajith Ray writes a letter to one of his friends describing his efforts to
make a tiger act in one of his films. Prepare the likely letter.

Chennai17th
June 1950

Dear Gopalakrishnan Sir,

How are you? Hope you are fine. It has been a long time since we communicated last. You may be
busy with films. I write this letter to tell you about a wonderful experience I had recently. I needed a
tiger for my film ‘Goopy gyne Bagha Byne’ I went to Bharat circus in Calcutta for getting a tiger
for shooting. The manager of the circus company arranged the ring-master Mr.Thorat to help us
Mr.Thorat agreed to give a trained tiger. He brought the tiger in a lorry.
The shooting was arranged in a village called Noturn Gram. When the door was
opened, the tiger began to roll, jump and leap. The trainer couldn’t control the tiger. After sometime
we managed to take a few shots. When we reached Calcutta, we realized that the Camera had failed
to work. We had to shoot the scenes again. This time I decided to shoot in a village called Boral.
But the tiger jumped out with a loud roar and came to the front of the camera. The people who were
standing next to the camera disappeared as if by magic. I was able to shoot correctly this time.
I hope that the film will be a great success.
Your’s lovingly
Sd/-
Satyajith Ray

XI. Satyajit Ray writes a letter to the manager of Bharat Circus for providing a tiger for
shooting of his new film .Write the letter

From
Satyajit Ray
NO 83 Lane
Hill Palace, Calcutta,
20 June 1953

To
The Manager
Bharat Circus
Calcutta
Sir,
Sub: Providing a tiger for shooting.
We are engaged in producing new film “Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne”. The shooting site is set in
Shiuri in Birbhoom. In the story, a tiger plays a dominant role. We learned that your company is
holding shows in Marcus Square with tigers. It would be a great help if you could provide a trained
tiger for the shooting.
Hope you will co operate in our new venture
Yours Faithfully
Sd/-
Satyajit Ray.

XII. Attempt a character Sketch of Mr. Thorat.

Mr. Thorat was the ring-master in Bharat Circus. He was a South Indian. He was well built.
He had features somewhat like those of a Nepali. He was more than forty. He had an old scar on his
forearm which was caused by a tiger. He was not sure about the success of the plan of shooting a
scene with a tiger. He made a collar out of tiger skin and tied a wire to it, to control the tiger. He
brought two tigers for the shooting instead of one.
XIII. Prepare the diary of Satyajit Ray after the successful shooting of the scene with a tiger.

20 June 1950 Monday

It was an unforgettable day in my life. How relieved am I now! If I had failed in my attempt to
shoot the film I would have stopped it. I can’t imagine that…..The shooting was very difficult. Mr.
Thorat helped me a lot. If he was not there, I would not be able to complete it. He was really
helpful. How lucky we were! After all, we succeeded in shooting the film. Everyone praised us.
Anyway it was a great hit. It really was a memorable day in my life.
 THE BEST INVESTMENT I EVER MADE

Archibald Joseph Cronin

I. Read the following paragraph from the story ‘The Best Investment I ever Made’ and
answer the questions

On the second day, out from New York, while making the round of the promenade deck, I
suddenly became aware that one of the passengers was watching me closely, following me with his
gaze every time I passed. I wanted to rest, to avoid the tedium of casual and importunate ship-board
contacts. I gave no sign of having noticed the man.
Yet there was nothing importunate about him. On the contrary, he seemed affected by a
troubled, rather touching diffidence. He was in his early 40s, rather short in build, with a fair
complexion and clear blue eyes. His thin hair had begun to recede from his forehead. His dark suit,
sober tie and rimless spectacles gave evidence of a serious and reserved disposition. At this point
the bugle sounded for dinner, and I went below.

1. Who are the main characters mentioned in this passage?

2. Where did they start the journey from?
3. Identify the word which means 'a public place for walking' from the passage.
4. What did the author notice while making the round of promenade deck?
5. Which expression shows that the fellow traveller is watching the narrator?
6. Find out the synonym of the word 'boredom' from the passage.
7. Did the narrator like importunate contacts?
8. Pick out the word from the passage which means 'asking for many things many times in a
way that is annoying'
9. Which sentence tells that narrator did not like importunate contacts?
10. Why did the author give no sign of having noticed the man?
11. What did the narrator do when he notice the stranger looking at him?
12. Find out the antonym of the word 'confidence ' from the passage?
13. How did the narrator describe the man?
14. Pick out the word from the passage which means 'the natural qualities of a person's
character'.
15. Choose the most appropriate meaning of the word 'sober' from the bracket.
(very bright, colourful, plain and not bright, expensive)
Answers

1. The narrator and a fellow passenger.

2. They started their journey from New York.
3. Promenade.
4. He noticed that one of the passengers was watching him closely.
5. Following me with his gaze.
6. Tedium.
7. No, the narrator did not like importunate contacts.
8. Importunate.
9. I wanted to rest to avoid the tedium of casual and importunate ship-board contacts.
10. Because he did not like importunate contacts.
11. He gave no sign of having noticed the man.
12.Diffidence.
13. The man was in his early 40s, rather short in build,with a fair complexion and clear blue
eyes. His thin hair had begun to recede from his forehead. His dark suit , sober tie and
rimless spectacles, gave evidence of a serious and reserved disposition.
14. Disposition.
15. Plain and not bright.

II. Read the following paragraph from the story ‘The Best Investment I ever Made’ and
answer the questions

On the following forenoon, I again observed my fellow voyager watching me earnestly from
his deck chair. Now a lady was with him, obviously his wife. The situation by this time had begun
to intrigue me. I discovered from my steward that they were Mr and Mrs John S_ from a small
suburb of London. When another day passed without event, I began to feel certain that Mr S_ would
remain too shy to carry out his obvious desire to approach me. However, on our final evening at sea
Mrs S_ decided the matter. With a firm pressure on his hand and a whispered word in his ear, she
urged her husband towards me as I passed along the deck.
Excuse me, Doctor, I wonder if I might introduce myself.’ He spoke almost breathlessly,
offering me the visiting card he held in his hand and studying my face to see if the name meant
anything to me. Then, as it plainly did not, he went on with the same awkwardness. ‘If you could
spare a few minutes... my wife and I would like to have a word with you.’
A moment later I was occupying the vacant chair beside them. Haltingly he told me that this
had been their first visit to America. It was not entirely a holiday trip. They had been making a tour
of the New England states, inspecting many of the summer recreational camps for young people
there. Afterwards, they had visited settlement houses in New York and other cities to study the
methods employed in dealing with cases of backward, maladjusted and delinquent youth.
 1. What made the narrator notice the fellow voyager the next day?
2. Pick out the word from the passage which means 'to make a person very interested to know
about something'.
3. What information did the steward give the doctor about the man?
4. When did he finally decide to approach the doctor?
5. Pick out from the passage the expression that shows the nervousness of the man?
6. What did the man request the narrator?
7. Complete the sentence
a. If you spare a few minutes,..........................
b. If you spared a few minutes,............................
c. If you had spared a few minutes,........................
8. 'I observed my fellow voyager'. Begin the sentence with 'My fellow voyager'.
9. Which country is referred to as 'New England States'?
10. What was the purpose of their journey?
11. 'It was not entirely a holiday trip'. What is 'it'?
12. Which word in the passage means ''stopping and starting often'?
13. Why did they visit the settlement house?
14. Identify the word from the passage that means 'having mental and emotional problems
that lead to unacceptable behaviour'.
15.Pick out one word of ' showing a tendency to commit crimes' from the passage.
16.Who were the settlement houses meant for?

Answers

1. Because the fellow voyager and his wife were watching him earnestly from the deck.
2. Intrigue
3. The steward informed him that they were Mr and Mrs John from a small suburb of London.
4. Mrs John urged her husband towards him with a firm pressure on his hand and a whispered
word in his ear as he passed along the deck.
5. Breathlessly/ Awkwardness.
6. The man requested the narrator to spare a few minutes for him and his wife.
7. a. I will be happy.
b. I would be happy.
c. I would have been happy.
 8. My fellow voyager was observed by me.
9. America.
10. For inspecting many of the summer recreational camps for young people there.
11. A visit to America.
12. Haltingly.
13. To study the methods employed in dealing with cases of backward, maladjusted and
delinquent youth.
14. Maladjusted.
15. Delinquent.
16. The settlement houses were meant for the backward, maladjusted and delinquent youth.

III. III. Read the following paragraph from the story ‘The Best Investment I ever Made’ and
answer the questions

I was a young doctor at the time and had just set up a practice in a working-class district of
London. On a foggy November night, towards one o'clock, I was awakened by a loud banging on
the door Hurriedly, I threw on some clothes and went downstairs. It was a sergeant of police, in
dripping helmet and cape, mistily outlined on the doorstep. A suicide case, he told me abruptly, in
the lodgings around the corner-I had better come at once. We walked the short distance in silence,
even our footsteps mufffled by the fog, and turned into the narrow entrance of an old building. As
we mounted the creaking staircase, my nostrils were stung by the sick- sweet odour of illuminating
gas. On the upper storey the agitated landlady showed us to a bare little attic where, stretched on a
narrow bed, lay the body of a young man.

1. Who did bang the door?

2. Why did Sergeant come to meet A. J. Cronin?
3. Where was the suicide attempt made?
4. Where was the young doctor practising?
5. What smell did Dr. Cronin get while mounting the staircase of the old building?
6. Identify the word from the passage which means 'to make a sound less clear'.
7. Find out one word of 'a room or space just below the roof of a house'.

Answers

1.The sergeant banged the door.

2. He came to tell him about a suicide case.
3. In the lodging around the corner.
4. He was practising in a working class district of London.
 5. Sick-Sweet odour of illuminating gas.
6. Muffled
7. Attic

IV. Read the following paragraph from the story ‘The Best Investment I ever Made’ and
answer the questions
Although apparently lifeless, there remained the barest chance that the youth was not quite
beyond recall. With the sergeant's help, I began the work of resuscitation resuscitation. For an entire
hour we laboured without success. Despite our most strenuous exertions, it appeared useless. Then,
as we were about to give up, completely exhausted, there broke from the patient a shallow,
convulsive gasp gasp. Half an hour of redoubled efforts and we had the youth sitting up, gazing at
us dazedly. Slowly he seemed to be realizing the horror of his situation.
As he regained his strength, he told us his story. His parents were dead. An uncle had found
him a position as clerk in a London solicitor's office. He had been in the city only six months.
Utterly friendless, he had fallen victim to the loose society of the streets, had made bad companions
and like a young fool, eager to taste pleasure far beyond his means, had begun to bet on horses.
Soon he had lost all his small savings, had pledged his belongings and owed the book-maker a
disastrous amount. In an effort to recoup recoup, he had taken a sum of money from the office safe
for a final gamble that, he was assured, was certain to win. But this last resort had failed. Terrified
of the prosecution that must follow, prosecution sick at heart, sunk in despair, he had shut himself in
his room and turned on the gas.

1. What did the doctor do to save the life of the young man?
2. Did the young man die?
3. What did the young man tell doctor about him when regained his consciousness?
4. Identify the word which means 'the act of bringing someone back to consciousness'.
5. How long did they do the work of resuscitation?
6. What sign gave the doctor a hope?
7. What happened after half an hour of effort?
8. Where was the young man working?
9. Who helped him to find a job?
10.How long did he work in the solicitor's office?
11. How did he lose his money?
12. What did he do to gain back his money?
13. Where did he get the money for final gambling?
14. Did he succeed in the final gamble?
15. Why did the young man commit suicide?
 16. Pick out the word from the passage which means 'to get back an amount of money that
you have spent or lost'.
17. Identify the word which means 'the process of conducting legal proceedings against
someone accused of a crime'.

Answers

1.The doctor began the work of resuscitation with help of sergeant.

2.No, the young man did not die.
3.The young man told his story.
4.Resuscitation
5.One and a half hours.
6.A shallow, convulsive gasp from the patient.
7.The young man came back to life
8.He was working as clerk in a London solicitor's office.
9. His uncle helped him.
10.He worked there for six months.
11. He had made bad companions, had begun to bet on horses and ruined his life.
12. He had taken a sum of money from the office safe for a final gamble.
13. From the office safe.
14. No, he did not succeed.
15. He had taken a sum of money from the office safe for a final gamble but he had failed.
Terrified of the prosecution he committed suicide.
16.Recoup
17.Prosecution

V. Read the following paragraph from the story ‘The Best Investment I ever Made’ and
answer the questions

A long bar of silence throbbed in the little attic when he concluded this halting confession.
Then, gruffly, the sergeant asked how much he had stolen. Seven pounds ten shillings - the answer
sounded pitiful. For this paltr paltry sum he had almost thrown away his life.
There was a pause. The three of us, the sergeant, the landlady and me, as the sole witnesses
of the near tragedy, had the same unspoken thought in our minds. We decided to give the young
man a fresh start.
The sergeant, at considerable risk to his job, resolved to make no report upon the case, so
that no court proceedings would result. The landlady offered a month's free board until he should
get upon his feet again. While I, making perhaps the least contribution, came forward with seven
pounds ten shillings for him to put back in the office safe.
The ship moved on through the still darkness of the night. There was no need of speech.
With a tender gesture Mrs S_had taken her husband's hand. And as we sat in silence, I could not but
reflect that it was the best investment I had made in my life. It had paid me no dividends in worldly
goods, but had turned out to be immensely profitable. It stood out against all the bad investments I
had made throughout the years-those foolish speculations for material gain, producing only anxiety,
disappointment and frustration.

1. How much had the young man stolen from the office safe?
2. Who were the witnesses of the tragedy?
3. Pick out a word from the passage which means 'in a rough and unfriendly manner'.
4. What did they decide?
5. How did the sergeant help him?
6. what did the landlady do to help him?
7. What was the doctor's contribution?
8. What was the unspoken thought in the minds of the three?
9. Complete the sentence suitably
a. If the sergeant file the case,........................
b. If the sergeant filed the case,...........................
c. If the sergeant had filed the case,.........................
10.Why does the author say that it was the best investment he had ever made?

Answers

1. Seven pounds ten shillings.

2.The Sergeant, the landlady and A. J Cronin.
3. Gruffly.
4. They decided to give the young man a fresh start.
5. The sergeant resolved to make no report upon the case.
6. The landlady offered a month's free board until he regain his health.
7. The doctor gave him the money to put back in the safe.
8. To give the young man a fresh start.
9. a. the young man will be arrested.
b. the young man would be arrested.
c. the young man would have been arrested.
10.The author's timely action helped the man to change his bad ways.
VI. Attempt a CHARACTER SKETCH of Mr. John, the solicitor, in ‘The Best Investment I
Ever Made’.

Mr. John was a successful solicitor for the past fifteen years. Moreover he was a director of a
charitable organization, devoted to the rehabilitation of girls and boys from city slums. He visited
settlement houses in New York and other cities, to study the methods employed with backward,
maladjusted and delinquent youth. He was always assisted by his wife. He took derelict adolescents
from juvenile courts and placed them in healthy environment. They were given training in vocations
to lead a happy life. He too had such a past life, which acted as an inspiration. He too was a
gambler, who had even robbed money from his office safe. When he lost it, he tried to commit
suicide. All the past experiences helped him pave the way for the upliftment of the delinquent
youth. All the traumas which he faced in his life made him a rescuer for the youth. He turned them
to good and useful citizens, which was indeed a great responsibility to the society.

VII. Attempt a CHARACTER SKETCH of the doctor in the story 'The Best Investment I
Ever Made'.

The doctor in the story The Best Investment I Ever Made is a peculiar character. He seems to
be a little introvert and prefers not to befriend people during his journeys which is evident from the
way he avoids the looks of Mr. John when he tries to get the doctor's attention. But he is a good
human being. He stayed positive when he tried to the young man's life after that suicide attempt.
And when there was a decision to help the young man he gave the boy money to be put back in the
office safe. The doctor after sowing the seeds of virtue in the mind of the man leaves the scene and
resumes his life's journey. And at last when he understands the value of his deed he says that it was
the best investment he ever made in his life.

VIII. Attempt a CHARACTER SKETCH of the wife of Mr. John in the story 'The Best
Investment I Ever Made'.

The wife of Mr. John in the story 'The Best Investment I Ever Made' is a loving and caring
wife who stands with her husband. She became his partner in dealing with the backward,
maladjusted and delinquent youth. When he told her the turning point in his life she starts working
with him and in 15 years they could save hundreds of youngsters and their families. She travels with
him in his voluntary service for youth welfare. It would have become difficult for Mr. John to pick
derelict adolescents from the juvenile courts and without her this would have been lot more for Mr.
John.
IX. Make an imaginary DIARY entry made by the young man, on the day he was saved from
death.

London
14 -03-1924, Wednesday

Oh! The blackest Wednesday of my life. Why did I do so? What had come over me? Really,
a foolish decision indeed! If they had not come, I would have been dead. Look at them how good all
the three of them were. The sergeant..... I can’t imagine, he.... Did not register a case, and the Land
lady one month’s boarding free..... how will I thank her. And that doctor he too..... gave me that sum
which I took from the safe. How good were they all to me. And I foolish ..... no more betting on
horses... Ah! What a relief now, I have to start my life new and happy and no gambling. May Lord
bless all three of them. Feeling sleepy..…

X. A. J. Cronin pens down his thoughts in his DIARY about the unexpected incidents on the
ship. Prepare his DIARY.
OR
A. J. Cronin never thought that he would meet that young man again who he had saved from
death twenty five years ago. It was a boosting experience for him to know how the young man
was changed over the time. Imagine that he writes about the meeting in his DIARY. What
would be the likely diary entry.

28 December
Monday, 10 pm

How awesome the day was! I just could not believe myself. I was very much excited. It was
all messed up in the beginning. The couple staring at me made my nerves wreck. But a couple of
days later I understood that they were eager to talk with me. What began as a very usual
conversation took a twist. I was taken down the memory lane. With much hesitation he revealed that
I was the doctor who had given him a new life. I could not believe my eyes. Twenty five years back
I had rescued him from a tragedy and now he is before me, a vibrant young man ready to head
societal missions. My eyes welled up. I never knew that I would live up to witness such a great
transformation. May God bless him to live long and continue changing other's lives.
XI. The young man Mr. John was too excited to see Mr. Cronin who gave him a rebirth. He
writes his thoughts in a DIARY. Prepare a similar one.

19 May
Monday 10 PM

Today was the most unexpected day in my life. After a long gap of 25 years I was blessed to
meet my saviour. I was so happy that I was too shy to approach him. I hesitated several times. But
my wife insisted me. Rather she took the initiative to break the ice. I spoke everything with much
intensity. He was listening to us. I could never believe what was happening. I saw Mr. Cronin's face
blooming up. Yes. It was a dream come true moment for me. I really wanted to thank him for giving
me this most beautiful life. We sat still because I felt I have no words left in me to express my
gratitude. Oh God! Give this wonderful man a long and peaceful life.

XII. DIARY of A. J. Cronin/ The Sergeant/ Landlady (after saving the Young man Mr. John
from Suicide attempt)

5 August
Friday
Oh! an unforgettable day. Today I feel my life has got a new meaning. So happy that I could
save the young man. Poor fellow..He tried to end himself for seven pounds ten shillings. He should
never have forgotten that life on earth is the most valuable gift. How pitiful is his condition!
Without work or money. Can I help him? Yes I shall try my level best. Why are these young men
doing all these? Addicted to drugs and lost in bad company they live without any commitments to
the society. We have to do something to save these people. Anyway thank god for bringing me here
on time.

XIII. The young man felt happy after regaining his life from the suicide attempt. Prepare a
DIARY that he would have written that day.
OR

The young man in the anecdote ‘The best Investment I Ever Made’ has a wonderful escape
from death. Later after his recovery, he writes down his feelings in his diary. Prepare the
likely DIARY entry.

Thank God. I got my life back. How silly I was trying to kill myself only for seven pounds
ten shillings. Now I realize the value of god-gifted life. I am sure the doctor, the sergeant and the
landlady are the agents of God. What if they hadn't come on time? I just cannot think. It is all
because of my uncontrolled and lavish life. I wasted everything in vain. I should thank the landlady
for allowing me to stay here without rent. The sergeant is also great for not reporting my case. But
the doctor has given me a rebirth. I have learnt a lesson. Here after my life is for people like me
who need to be healed in mind and body.

XIV. A J Cronin was extremely happy by the incident he had in the ship. He writes a letter to
his friend. Prepare a similar LETTER.

Dublin
10.10.1924

Dear George,

I am really happy to write this letter to you. Last week during my journey to America, I
came across a very special couple on board. I was a little irritated at their staring initially, but later I
came to know that they were very eager to talk with me. I was slowly getting attracted to them and
finally I gave in. With much hesitation they told me about the projects they are into.

Repeatedly he asked me if I remembered him. The man reminded me of an incident that

took place a few years back. I saved the life of a young man, who had tried to commit suicide. He
had stolen money to pay his debts due to his wayward life. I gave him the money to repay his debts
so that he could begin his life afresh. It took me some time to realize that the same young man stood
before me as a transformed guy. A small investment that I made on that man has transformed him
and through him hundreds of youngsters and their families were saved. I feel that it was the best
investment that I have ever made in my life. Hope you would feel the same reading this letter.
Convey my love and regards to everyone.

Yours lovingly

Cronin
XV. Write a NEWSPAPER REPORT on the attempted suicide of the young man.

CLERK ATTEMPTS SUICIDE

Staff Reporter, London: A young man aged 21 attempted suicide in a suburb in London. The land
lady found the man unconscious from the nauseating smell that emerged from cooking gas. When
contacted with the doctor, he was brought back to life after one hour of strenuous resuscitation. He
said he robbed seven pounds shillings from the office safe. Addicted to gambling and after suffering
heavy loss financially, and terrified of prosecution and ill fame, the man attempted so. The man is in
observation in the City Hospital, and is said to be out of danger.

XVI. The transformation of Mr. John appears in a newspaper. Prepare a NEWSPAPER

REPORT on the same.
A PRICELESS INVESTMENT

Staff Reporter, Cardross: The crew and the shipmates on board a ship here narrated the story of a
young man named Mr. John and his unbelievable transformation. He was a suicide survivor 25
years before and was miraculously saved by A. J. Cronin. He was also given the money to repay his
debts by the kind doctor. Overwhelmed by the kindness bestowed on him by a stranger, the young
man had undergone a quick attitude change. He gave up his past lifestyles and has become a real
contributor to the society. He now works as a social worker specializing on maladjusted and
delinquent youth. He was given a warm reception on board the ship along with A J Cronin.

XVII. Prepare a NEWS PAPER REPORT about Mr. and Mrs. John and the work that they
are doing.

A REBIRTH TO REGAIN LIVES

Staff Reporter, New York: The world of selfishness is bowing before Mr. and Mrs. John, a couple
who have chosen to live for others. We can frequently see them in the summer recreational camps
for young people. They visit settlement houses to study the methods to deal with backward
maladjusted youth. They have been offering selfless service for 15 years in the field of youth
welfare. Professionally Mr. John is a solicitor but as the director of charitable institutions his life is
devoted to the welfare of boys and girls from the slums. They not only rescue them but also give
training in handicraft, rehabilitate them and bring them back to life. It is reported that Mr John got
inspiration from a doctor who once saved his life after a suicidal attempt. Hearing about this noble
work many eminent persons have offered their support to the mission.
XVIII. A short function to congratulate Mr. John is going to be held in the ship. You are one of
the shipmates who are asked to deliver a SPEECH. Attempt a similar speech.

The most respected writer A J Cronin, the hero of the day Mr. John, his wife, ladies and gentlemen,

This is a very special moment for all of us because as we know we are gathered here for a
special reason. The couple sitting just in front of us is really on a mission. Their purpose of this
voyage is different from ours. Now let me tell you that we are going to witness a rare moment in
the life of these wonderful people. We are always proud of doing this and that but let me confess,
that this achievement is beyond everyone's cup. Being humane and sympathetic may sometimes
sound easier, but changing someone's life is way tough. Mr. A. J. Cronin has proved that our values
are still alive. Twenty five years back he has helped this young man and now he is an accomplished
social worker who wholeheartedly embarked on a mission of taking care of maladjusted and
delinquent youth.
At this blessed moment I take full liberty to congratulate these outstanding people for their
endeavours. I extend my heartfelt wishes to Mr. A. J. Cronin as well. Once again I wish Mr. John,
the real hero for becoming a model to be emulated for the generations to come. Thank you everyone
for a memorable day.

XXIX. Based on the lesson 'The Best Investment I Ever Made'. Write a SPEECH on the grave
issue of drugs and its use among youth.

Respected teachers and my dear friends,

Today I am before you to express my deep concern over the grave issue of drugs and its use
specially among youth. I know pretty well that our school campus has never been a hub for drug
dealers and users. But at the same time I am too concerned about the condition of thousands of boys
and girls who fall victim to this drug monster.

Drugs and addiction continue to plague the conscience of our society even at this era where
people boast of novel inventions and newer gadgets that make life more comfortable. My dear
friends, let me take you to the grim world of those people who have lost everything they value due
to drug addition. Drugs are those stimulants when used at a milder level increases up your energies,
and yet a little more of it makes one dull and passive and withdrawn. A greater amount may lead
eventually to one's death. Drugs, when mixed with blood controls the whole body. Brain seems to
dysfunction and the person may not be able to fulfill even his daily chores. Right and wrong, day
and night are alike to them. Once a person becomes addictive, his demand for drugs increases and
ends up in searching for more. He reaches a state where he feels he couldn't survive without drugs
Drugs are introduced mostly by friends and relatives. It's an invitation that tests ones integrity, faith,
bravery and sometimes it would come as a temporary solution to ease out a troubled mental state.

So selecting friends is far more important. Many of the addicts said that it was their friends
who urged them to taste it. Some did it for adventure. In both cases a victim ends up in loosing his
family, relationship, and his future altogether.

The de- addiction centres help them to overcome from the clutches of drugs. But it is also a
very difficult task. It takes months and in some cases years to get cured from drug addiction. The
societal attitude towards the drug addicts remain unchanged even after they come back to normalcy.
They are denied decent jobs and aren't welcome at a joyous function. As a result they tend become
withdrawn and show signs of psychic preoccupations. Some commit suicide and others turn anti-
socials. Very few, with the love and assurance showered on to them by their friends and family
survive. We have learned the story of a young man who fell into bad company which led him to
commit suicide but was fortunately saved by Cronin. It was the timely advise and interference of
the doctor that changed his mind. He became a contributing member of the society in a short span
of time.
Hence my dear friends, I would like to warn you never to take this fatal mistake of playing
with your life. There may be thousands of friends but finally its your body that you are going to
assault. If you enjoyed, you also have to endure the pains. There is only one life, remember no
drugs have ever solved any of men's problems. Prevention is always better than cure.

Thank you for your patient listening.

XX. A. J. Cronin noticed a man staring at him for long. Prepare a CONVERSATION
between him and the couple.

Mr. John : Excuse me doctor, may I introduce myself? Can you spare a few minutes with me?
A. J. Cronin : I think we are meeting for the first time.
Mr. John : Yes. Please have a look at my visiting card.
A. J. Cronin : Oh ! OK. Sorry I can't recollect you.
Mrs. John : This is our first visit to U.S. We are here to visit camps for young people.
A. J. Cronin : Oh great ! How long have you been working in the field of youth welfare?
Mr. John : 15 years. I am a solicitor but more interested in the charitable organization for boys
and girls from the slums.
A. J. Cronin : What kind of work are you doing here?
Mr. John : We try to heal the maladjusted youth and rehabilitate them.
A. J. Cronin : Your work is really praise worthy. What brought you to this field?
Mr. John : It is you sir who brought me back to life. My life is your gift.
A. J. Cronin : Me? But how?
Mr John : I am the same person whom you saved years ago from a suicide.
A. J. Cronin : My God ! It's you? I am really happy to see you again.

XXI. One night A. J. CRONIN was suddenly awakened by a sergeant. Prepare a

CONVERSATION between A . J. Cronin and the sergeant of police.

OR
“On a foggy November night, towards one o'clock, I was awakened by a loud banging on the
door”. Imagine and write the CONVERSATION the sergeant and the doctor would make on
the occasion.

Cronin : Who is knocking there?

Sergeant : Mr. Cronin, I am the sergeant of police. Sorry to disturb you.
Cronin : Its OK. But what brought you here?
Sergeant : There is a suicide case in one of the lodgings around the corner.
Cronin : Who is it?
Sergeant : A young man.
Cronin : Has he been hospitalized?
Sergeant : No sir. He is still there.
Cronin : What is his condition now?
Sergeant : I think he is sinking.
Cronin : Then we shall hurry up.

XXII. Prepare CONVERSATION between A. J. Cronin and the young man after his coming
back to life.

Young man : I am so thankful to you sir for rescuing me.

A J Cronin : Thank God. But why did you do this?
Young man : I had no other way. I had lost everything.
A J Cronin : What happened to you?
Young man : After my parent's death I was working as a clerk. Then I started to be in bad
company, betting on horses, living lavishly.
A J Cronin : So you lost your wealth, didn't you?
Young man : Yes. So I took a sum of money from the office safe for gambling.
A J Cronin : You shouldn't have done it. Did you win?
Young man : No. I lost it and was afraid of the punishment. So I decided to commit suicide.
A J Cronin : Poor fellow. Don't worry. We can find a solution, but promise you won’t repeat it.
Young man : Sure sir. I have learned the value of life.

XXIII. Prepare a WRITE UP on the anecdote ‘Best Investment I Ever Made’ by A. J. Cronin.

Once A. J. Cronin , the famous Scottish novelist and Physician was travelling by a ship on
his way from New York. Then he saw a man in his early forties and his wife. From his appearance
Cronin assumed that he was a serious character. Mr. John wanted to speak to Cronin. But he was too
shy to approach him. At last, his wife pushed him forward and he spoke to Cronin.
He told Cronin that he visited settlement houses in New York and other cities to study the
methods of dealing with the backward, maladjusted and delinquent youth. He also told that he was a
solicitor and also director of a charitable organization. Cronin understood from their talk they took
adolescents from juvenile courts, placed them in healthy environment to heal them in mind and
body. And they were sent back into the world with new aspirations and hopes. Cronin asked him
what had directed his life into that channel. At this he revealed his story when he was saved by A. J.
Cronin. Cronin had then started medical practice in a working class district of London. One
November night a sergeant of police called him to attend a suicide case. They reached the lodge and
learned that a young man had turned on the gas. When Cronin saw the man he was almost lifeless.
He and the sergeant tried for about an hour and saved the man.
He told that his parents were dead, and his uncle found him a job as a solicitor’s clerk. Being
friendless, he fell a victim to the loose society and made bad companions. He began to bet on horses
and lost his savings. His debts increased. To recoup them he had taken a sum of money from the
office safe for gambling. But that resort too failed. Afraid of prosecution and dishonour he sank in
despair and shut himself in a room and turned the gas.
Hearing this story, Cronin, the land lady and the sergeant decided to help that youth. Cronin
gave him seven pounds, ten shillings to put back in the office safe. The sergeant promised not to
report the case and land lady offered a month’s free boarding.
 It was that help which became a turning point in the young man’s life and changed him. So
Mr. Cronin confesses to us that, it was the best investment he had made in his life. All other
investments were foolish and only for material benefits. This anecdote has a great message. A wise
and a gentle help made by the three people made a great impact in a man’s life. He later became a
messiah sent by lord in making the loose life of many children into worthy ones. Also that some
selfless helps made by others can perform miracles and can change a human life positively.

XXIV. Prepare a WRITE UP on how far the title is appropriate to the story ‘Best Investment
I Ever Made’ ?

The Best Investment I Ever Made is penned by the much celebrated Scottish writer A. J.
Cronin. Cronin shares one of his personal experiences with the readers through this story. The title
of the story is The Best Investment I Ever Made’. Usually we associate material gain with the word
investment, obviously an underlying hope of profit lingers with the term investment and it may
mean different things to different people. But the story by Cronin has a differently conceived
meaning because it wasn't anything related with money or profit. The author's personal integrity and
the values he had imbibed right from the beginning of his life made him what he was.

A doctor by profession, he rescued a suicide survivor and took pity on him. He helped the
victim with the money he needed to repay his debts. The doctor after sowing the seeds of virtue in
the mind of the man leaves the scene and resumes his life's journey little knowing about the
transformation he had made in the mind of the young man. The once wayward young man had
undergone a drastic change in his attitude and lifestyle that he had really become a contributing
member of the society. The money Cronin had put in was to repay the debts the young man had. But
it had really opened his otherwise blind eyes. The man had become an active social worker
specializing on maladjusted and delinquent youth.

The author was happy beyond words because this was an investment that he could never
have won even if he had put lakhs of money into share markets. So the title is too apt.

XXV. The best investment in life is not money but values. Prepare a WRITE UP
substantiating this view with the help of the story The Best Investment I Ever Made by A. J.
Cronin.
 THE VALUABLE INVESTMENT

A J Cronin, a well-known writer of novels, inspires us with a touching story “The Best
Investment I Ever Made”. Once while he was travelling in a ship he found a man watching him
anxiously many times. At first he felt annoyed. Later the couple came to him and introduced
themselves as Mr. and Mrs. John. They have been working among derelict youth for 15 years,
rehabilitating them and bringing them back to life. He became interested in the story. Then they told
him that he was the inspiration for them. They reminded him of an incident that happened years
ago. Years ago at midnight he was woken up from sleep by a Sergeant who came to him to inform
about a suicide case in a nearby lodging. When he reached there the room was filled with the smell
of a gas. At first he thought he was dead. Any way with the sergeant’s help he tried to revive him to
consciousness. After half an hour of redoubled efforts they succeeded in rescuing him. He told them
that he was a clerk in an office. Lost in bad company and luxuries he had wasted all his wealth. He
took money from the office for gambling which he couldn't replace. Being desperate he tried to
commit suicide.
A. J. Cronin learnt from him that he had taken only seven pounds and ten shillings. So he
gave him that money, the Sergeant promised not to report the case and the landlady offered one
month's free lodging till he got a new job. Thus the young man regained his life. He had given him
only a small amount but the investment was more than that. He had given him a rebirth which the
young man utilized for giving rebirth to many young men. Mr John has realized from his own
experience that life on earth is the most valuable of god's gifts. This he imparts to thousands of
youth. Here investment is also the values we imbibe in our lives, that would remain the best for
ever. So A. J. Cronin's statement is really meaningful and valid.
XXVI. Imagine the doctor is reporting the suicide incident to his friends. Prepare the
NARRATIVE.

UNFORGETTABLE INCIDENT

Today is an unforgettable day in my life. While I was sleeping at night a Sergeant came to
me and informed me about a suicide case in a nearby lodging. We hurried to the spot. When I
reached there the room was filled with the smell of a gas. I found a young man lying on a narrow
bed. At first I thought he was dead. Any way with the sergeant‟s help I tried to revive him to
consciousness. But I found it was useless. When we were about to return I heard a quick breath
from him. After half an hour of redoubled efforts we succeeded in rescuing him.
He told us that he was a clerk in an office. Lost in bad company and luxuries he had wasted
all his wealth. Then once he took from the office some money for gambling which he couldn't
replace. Being desperate he tried to commit suicide. Later I learnt from him that he had taken only
seven pounds and ten shillings. So I gave him that money, the Sergeant promised not to report the
case and the landlady offered one month's free lodging till he got a new job. Thus the young man
regained his life.

XXVII. Fill in the blanks with suitable phrasal verbs

1. While Dr. Cronin was walking on the deck he .......(a)........... a young man. The man wanted
to.......(b)........something to Cronin. Usually the doctor doesn't........(c)........ship board
contacts. So he deliberately.......(d).......from the young man.

[Turned away, Came across, Went through, Put across, Put up with]

2. Mr. John decided to........(a).......his bad habits that ruined him. He and his wife have set up
an organisation to........(b)....... delinquent youth. He.......(c)..........the narrator who saved his
life years ago. The narrator tried to.........(d)..........his request in the beginning. But finally
they started to.......(e)........better with each other.

[give up, come across, turn down, look after, get on]

3. I woke up when I heard a loud banging on the door. I..........(a)..........some clothes and went
down stairs. A sergeant of police was waiting for me outside he..........(b)...........to the next
apartment. When we.......(c).......in the apartment we.........(d).........a terrible scene. A young
man was lying unconscious.

[set out, put on, came across, turned up]

Answers

1. a. came across b. put across c. put up with d. turned away

2. a. give up b. look after c. came across d. turn down e. get on
3. a. put on b. set out c. turned up d. came across
XXVIII. Complete the given conversation suitably

1. Mr John : Hello good afternoon sir

Cronin : .................(a).....................
Mr John : You are Dr. A. J. Cronin,..........(b).............?
Cronin : Yes, I am. But I am sorry I can't recall you.
Mr John : You......(c).........lived in London for some years, hadn't you?
Cronin : Yes
Mr John :...........(d).................?
Cronin :Yes, Now I remember the boy who tried to commit suicide.
Mr John : If you weren't there at that time,.........(e).............
Cronin : That was my duty
Mr John : I owe my life to you sir

Answers
1. a. Good afternoon
b. aren't you?
c. Had
d. Do remember me now?
e. I would die

2. Landlady: sergeant!
Sergeant: ........(a)..........?
Landlady: The young man is dying, sir
Sergeant: He tried to commit suicide,............(b).........?
Landlady: Yes. He closed the door and let loose the gas and set fire.
Sergeant: ................................(c).............................?
Landlady: No. I don't know why he did it. You better...............(d)...............
Sergeant: If there is a doctor nearby..............(e)...........
Landlady: Please bring a doctor quickly. It look as if............(f).............
Sergeant: OK. I will go immediately.

Answers

2. a. What happened
b. didn't he?
 c. Do you know why he did this?
d. call a doctor
e. I will call him
f. he is dying

XXIX. When Mr. John met Dr. A J Cronin unexpectedly on the ship, he talked to his wife
about many past things that had happened in his life. Construct/Complete their conversation
suitably.

Mr. John : Darling, look at the gentleman walking along the deck.
Mrs. John : Why?................(a)...................?
Mr. John : He is Dr. A J Cronin, whom I’ve been in search of for the past 25 years.
Mrs. John : Why? What’s so special about him?
Mr. John : There is something special about him. If he hadn’t helped me then,.........(b)............
(alive now)
Mrs. John : Don’t create suspense. Please tell me everything in detail.
Mr. John : It’s a long story. We had better...............…(c)....................
Mrs. John : Ok, we can sit somewhere here.
Mr. John : I want to meet and talk to him, but I’m very tensed.
Mrs. John : Don’t worry; I’ll also come with you. Let’s go to him now,.........(d)............?
Mr. John : Yes, thank you dear!

Answers: a) who is that? b) I wouldn’t have been alive now. c) sit and talk.
d) shall we?

XXX. Supply the missing words

1. He .....(a).... his wife had been active....(b)....the past fifteen years....(c).....the field of youth
welfare. He was....(d).... profession, a solicitor, found time....(e)...... act as director of
charitable organisation.
[ to, by, and, in, for]

2. As he spoke .......(a)........ real feeling, I got.......(b).........vivid picture .........(c)......the work

these people were doing. They took derelict adolescents from the juvenile courts.....(d)......
placing them ...(e)...a healthy environment, healed them in mind and body and sent them
back.....(f).....the world.
[into, and, a, of, in, with]
3. I was a young doctor.......(a).........the time and had just set up a practice.......(b)........a
working class district..........(c).......... London. .........(d)......... a foggy November night, I was
awakened...........(e)....... a loud banging on the door
[by, on, at, in, of]

Answers

1. a. and b. for c. in d. by e. to
2. a. with b. a c. of d. and e. in d. into
3. a. at b. in c. of d. on e. by

XXXI. There are some mistakes in the following sentences. Correct them.

1. On the second day, out from new york (a), while making the round of the promenade deck,
I suddenly became aware that one of the passengers were (b) watching me close (c),
following me with his gaze every time I passed. I wanted to resting (d), to avoid the tedium
of casual and importunate ship-board contacts. I gave no sign of having notice (e) the man.

2. I am(a) a young doctor at that time and had just set up a practice in a working-class district
of London. On a foggy November night, I was awake(b) by a loud banging on the door.
Hurriedly I throw(c) on some clothes and go(d) downstairs.

3. A moment later I were (a) occupying the vacent (b) chair beside them. Halting (c) he told
me that this had been their first visit to america (d). It was not entirely a trip holiday (e)

Answers

1. a. New York b. was c. closely d. rest e. Noticed

2. a. was b. awakened c. threw d. went
3. a. was b. vacant c. haltingly d. America e. holiday trip
XXXII. Answer the questions

1. Mr John : “ Do you remember me?”

Cronin : “I can't recall you”.

a. What did Mr. John ask?

b. What was Cronin's reply?

2. Cronin : “ What do you want?”

Mr John : “ I want to talk to you”.

a. Cronin asked Mr John................................................

b. Mr John replied that.........................................................

3. Mr John : I took a sum of money from the office safe.

Cronin : I will give you the amount.

a. What did Mr John tell?

b. What was his reply?

Answers

1.a. Mr John asked Cronin whether he remembered him.

b. Cronin replied that he couldn't recall him.

2. a. Cronin asked Mr John what he wanted.

b. Mr John replied that he wanted to talk to him.

3. a. Mr John told that he had taken a sum of money from the office safe.
b. Cronin replied that he would give him the money.
XXXIII. Pick out the noun phrase, verb phrase and prepositional phrase from the following

1. I was a young doctor in a working class district of London.

2. They took derelict adolescents from the juvenile courts.
3. They had been making a tour of the New England states.

Answers

1. Noun phrase -I
Verb phrase - was a young doctor
 Prepositional phrase - in a working class district
- of London

2. Noun phrase - They

Verb phrase - took derelict adolescents
Prepositional phrase - from the juvenile courts

3. Noun phrase - They

Verb phrase - had been making a tour
Prepositional phrase - of the New England states.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

1. Drug abuse is a grave issue in the society nowadays. Your school is conducting an awareness
programme on this issue. Prepare a NOTICE for the programme.

2. After the night incident, imagine that Dr. A J Cronin, working as the city medical officer, decides
to conduct an awareness class on ‘The Abuse of Drugs’ for the workers and employees of the
London city. Prepare a NOTICE for him.

3. As part of observing anti-tobacco day in your school, the English club has decided to present a
skit based on the story ‘The Best Investment I Ever Made’. Prepare a NOTICE to invite the students
to the programme.

4. Write a short profile of A J Cronin using the details given below.

Born : 19 July 1896 Cardross, Scotland

Education : MD from University of Glasgow
Spouse : Agnes (A medical student)
Occupation : Physician, Novelist
Great works : The Citadel
Honours : National Book Award (US)
Special Interest : Travelling
Death : 1981 Switzerland

5. The narrator in the anecdote ‘The Best Investment I Ever Made’ on reaching home narrates to his
wife the touching story of the young man Mr Johns. Prepare the narrative in 120 words. You may
begin like this.
6. The best investment of A J Cronin costs him only seven pounds and ten shillings. Yet it had a
lifelong impact on the young man in the anecdote ‘The Best Investment I Ever Made’. Prepare a
WRITE UP on the strange and mysterious ways of life in about 60 words.

7. The best investment in life is not money but values. Substantiate this view in the light of the story
‘The Best Investment I Ever Made’.

8. After meeting Mr. John for a second time, Cronin makes a call to his wife to tell about the strange
meeting. Prepare their CONVERSATION.

9. Children and youth are the easy victims of the loose society in a city. The young man in the story
‘The Best Investment I Ever Made’ was one among them. Prepare a short SPEECH on the topic
‘Drug addiction and alcoholism among the youth’ to be delivered in the school Assembly.

10. Mr. John was saved by the landlady, sergeant and the doctor in the story ‘The Best Investment I
Ever Made’. Imagine that the story appears in a local news paper. Prepare the NEWSPAPER
REPORT.

11. After his wonderful recovery the young man in the story ‘The Best Investment I Ever Made’
feels extremely guilty. He decides to write a letter to the young doctor who saved his life expressing
his remorse and thankfulness. Prepare the likely LETTER.

12. Imagine that you are asked to write a letter appreciating Mr. John for his selfless service to
humanity. What would be the likely LETTER.

13. John in the story ‘The Best Investment I Ever Made’ writes a letter to his friend after his meeting
with the narrator. Prepare the likely LETTER.

14. Imagine the narrator in the story ‘The Best Investment I Ever Made’ writes about his meeting
with Mr and Mrs John in his diary. Write the likely DIARY entry.
 The Ballad Of Father Gilligan

William Butler Yeats

I. Read the lines from the poem ‘The Ballad Of Father Gilligan’ and answer the questions.

The old priest Peter Gilligan

Was weary night and day;
For half his flock were in their beds,
Or under green sods lay.

1. Pick out the line which says that the priest was very tired?
2. Why was Father Gilligan weary?
3. What does ‘green sod’ imply?
4. What does the word ‘flock’ in the context refer to?
5. What is the rhyme scheme followed in these lines?
6. Identify the visual images used in these lines.

1. Answers
1. The line ‘The old priest Peter Gilligan was weary day and night’ says that the priest
was tired.
2. Father Gilligan was performing his priestly duties day and night because half of his
parishioners were either sick or dead
3. It implies to the grave or the burial place covered over by green grass.
4. The word ‘flock’ refers to the people in the parish.
5. a b c b
6. Green sods, moth hour

II. Read the lines from the poem The Ballad Of Father Gilligan and answer the questions.

Once, while he nodded on a chair,

At the moth-hour of eve,
Another poor man sent for him,
And he began to grieve.

'I have no rest, nor joy, nor peace,

For people die and die';
And after cried he, 'God forgive!
My body spake, not I!'
 1. What does 'moth hour' indicate?

2. What was the complaint of the priest?

3. Why did the father seek forgiveness from God?

Answers

1. It indicates the time when moths come in swarms. It can either be evening or morning.
2. He complained that he had no rest, no joy and no peace.
3. Father Gilligan complained to God that he had no rest, no peace and no joy. He felt guilty
for his errant words.

III. Read the lines from the poem The Ballad Of Father Gilligan and answer the questions.

'Mavrone, mavrone! the man has died

While I slept on the chair';
He roused his horse out of its sleep,
And rode with little care.

He rode now as he never rode,

By rocky lane and fen;
The sick man's wife opened the door:
' Father! you come again!'

'And is the poor man dead?' he cried.

'He died an hour ago.'
The old priest Peter Gilligan
In grief swayed to and fro.

1. What did father Gilligan do after he woke up from his sleep?

2. Why did Peter Gilligan ride as he never rode?
3. Where did the father ride through?
4. Why did the priest ride his horse with ‘little care’?
5. What feeling did the sick man’s wife have when she saw the priest at her door
6. Identify the poetic device employed in the line ‘the old priest Peter Gilligan’.
7.Why did the father feel sad?
8. What had happened while the father slept in the chair?
Answers
1. He roused his horse and carelessly rode to the poor man's house.
2. He realized that he hadn’t done his priestly duties to the sick man. So he wanted to reach
the sick man’s house as early as he could.
3. He rode through rocky lane and fen.
4. The priest was in a hurry to reach the sick man’s house after he woke up from his sleep.
5. The sick man’s wife was surprised to see the priest again at her door.
6. Alliteration.
7. The priest felt sad because he understood that he failed to give the last prayers to the sick
man.
8. The sick man died.

IV. Read the lines from the poem The Ballad Of Father Gilligan and answer the questions.

'When you were gone, he turned and died

As merry as a bird.'
The old priest Peter Gilligan
He knelt him at that word.

'He Who hath made the night of stars

For souls who tire and bleed,
Sent one of His great angels down
To help me in my need.

'He Who is wrapped in purple robes,

With planets in His care,
Had pity on the least of things
Asleep upon a chair.'

1. Pick out an instance of simile from the given lines.

2. Comment on the line ‘He Who is wrapped in purple robes with planets in His care’.
3. Which lines give us the idea that God had made the night for the troubled humanity?
4. What did He do for Father Gilligan?

Answers
1. He turned and died as merry as a bird.
2. He who is wrapped in purple robes refers to God who takes care of the entire
universe.
 3. 'He Who hath made the night of stars
For souls who tire and bleed
4. God sent one of His great angels to do Father Gilligan’s priestly duties.

V. Appreciation of the poem 'The Ballad of Father Gilligan'

The Ballad of Father Gilligan is a touching narrative poem by W.B Yeats. The poem is
composed in the form of a Ballad. The poem is about a priest, father Gilligan who rendered selfless
service to the poor and the needy in his Parish. The ballad also tells us about the mercy of God to
his devotees . The poem is rich in imagery and follows a strict rhyme scheme abcb.
The old priest Father Gilligan was in charge of a parish. There was an epidemic in his area.
Almost half of his parishioners were either sick or dead. The priest was tired of doing his priestly
duties. One day after the day's busy schedule while he was sitting in his chair, a poor man sent for
him. The priest started complaining that he had no rest or joy. Suddenly he realized his mistake and
asked for God's forgiveness. He knelt and begged to God for forgiveness, and in the prayer he fell
asleep leaning over his chair. He woke up only in the following morning at the time of sparrow
chirp. Then he realized that he failed to do his priestly duties. So within no time he roused his horse
and went to the sick man's house. The sick man's wife informed him that the man died as merry as a
bird immediately after the priest left him.. On hearing this father Gilligan understood that God had
sent one of his angels to help him to do his duty. Father praised God for showing his benevolence
and kindness towards him. He expressed his gratitude to the merciful God.
Thus the poem beautifully narrates the story of God's timely intervention in the life of a poor
priest.
The poem is rich in imagery. ‘The green sods’ , ‘rocky lane’, ‘moth hour ‘etc are some of the
visual images. ‘The sparrow chirp’ and ‘the wind that shook the leaves’, are examples of auditory
image in the poem. ‘The stars began to peep’ is an instance of personification. The poetic device
simile can be seen in the line ‘The man died as merry as a bird ‘.The use of alliteration also adds
beauty to the poem.