ASSIGNMENT – 1

Part A – Synonym & Antonym

Question – 1:
Below is a short narrative.
Replace the highlighted words with their possible synonyms keeping the meaning of the
passage intact.
Re-write the entire passage in the assignment notebook and underline the synonym you
use.

Those Three Bears

Ruskin Bond

Most Himalayan villages lie in the valleys, where there are small streams, some farmland,
and protection from the biting winds that come through the mountain passes in winter. The
houses are usually made of large stones and have sloping slate roofs so the heavy monsoon
rain can run off easily. During the sunny autumn months, the roofs are often covered with
pumpkins, left there to ripen in the sun.
One October night, when I was sleeping at a friend’s house in a village in these hills, I was
awakened by a rumbling and thumping on the roof. I woke my friend and asked him what
was happening.
‘It’s only a bear,’ he said.
‘Is it trying to get in?’
‘No. It’s after the pumpkins.’
A little later, when we looked out of a window, we saw a black bear making off through a
field, leaving a trail of half-eaten pumpkins. In winter, when snow covers the higher ranges,
the Himalayan bears come to lower altitudes in search of food. Sometimes they forage in
fields and because they are shortsighted and suspicious of anything that moves, they can be
dangerous. But, like most wild animals, they avoid humans as much as possible.
Village folk always advise me to run downhill if chased by a bear. They say bears find it
easier to run uphill than down. I am yet to be chased by a bear, and will happily skip the
experience. But I have seen a few of these mountain bears in India, and they are always
fascinating to watch.
Himalayan bears enjoy pumpkins, corn, plums, and apricots. Once, while I was sitting in an
oak tree hoping to see a pair of pine martens that lived nearby, I heard the whining grumble
of a bear, and presently a small bear ambled into the clearing beneath the tree.
He was little more than a cub, and I was not alarmed. I sat very still, waiting to see what he
would do. He put his nose to the ground and sniffed his way along until he came to a large
anthill. Here he began huffing and puffing, blowing rapidly in and out of his nostrils, so that
the dust from the anthill flew in all directions. But the anthill had been deserted, and so,
grumbling, the bear made his way up a nearby plum tree. Soon he was perched high in the
branches. It was then that he saw me.
The bear at once scrambled several feet higher up the tree and lay flat on a branch. Since it
wasn’t a very big branch, there was a lot of bear showing on either side. He tucked his head
behind another branch. He could no longer see me, so he apparently was satisfied that he was
hidden, although he couldn’t help grumbling.
Like all bears, this one was full of curiosity. So, slowly, inch by inch, his black snout
appeared over the edge of the branch. As soon as he saw me, he drew his head back and hid
his face. He did this several times. I waited until he wasn’t looking, then moved some way
down my tree. When the bear looked over and saw that I was missing, he was so pleased that
he stretched right across to another branch and helped himself to a plum. I couldn’t help
bursting into laughter.
The startled young bear tumbled out of the tree, dropped through the branches some fifteen
feet, and landed with a thump in a pile of dried leaves. He was unhurt, but fled from the
clearing, grunting and squealing all the way.
Another time, my friend Prem told me, a bear had been active in his cornfield. We took up a
post at night in an old cattle shed, which gave a clear view of the moonlit field. A little after
midnight, a female bear came down to the edge of the field. She seemed to sense that we had
been about. She was hungry, however. So, after standing on her hind legs and peering around
to make sure the field was empty, she came cautiously out of the forest.
Her attention was soon distracted by some Tibetan prayer flags, which had been strung
between two trees. She gave a grunt of disapproval and began to back away, but the fluttering
of the flags was a puzzle that she wanted to solve. So she stopped and watched them.
Soon the bear advanced to within a few feet of the flags, examining them from various
angles. Then, seeing that they posed no danger, she went right up to the flags and pulled them
down. Grunting with apparent satisfaction, she moved into the field of corn.
Prem had decided that he didn’t want to lose any more of his crop, so he started shouting. His
children woke up and soon came running from the house, banging on empty kerosene tins.
Deprived of her dinner, the bear made off in a bad temper. She ran downhill at a good speed,
and I was glad that I was not in her way.
Uphill or downhill, an angry bear is best given a very wide path.

Question – 2:
Come up with a table of the highlighted words and write at least one antonyms of each
word.

The Blue Umbrella

Ruskin Bond

In the quaint little village of Garhwal, nestled amidst the majestic mountains, there lived a
contented woman named Nirmala. Her vibrant blue umbrella was the prized possession of
the village. The villagers admired its radiant color and exquisite design, which contrasted
beautifully with the lush green surroundings. Nirmala was often seen walking with her
graceful gait, her cheerful demeanor brightening the dullest of days. However, beneath her
serene exterior lay a wistful longing for something more than her simple life.

Nirmala's breathtaking umbrella became the talk of the village. Children would often gather
around her, their innocent eyes wide with admiration as they watched the way the sunlight
danced upon its vivid fabric. The villagers, with their traditional ways, found joy in simple
pleasures, but Nirmala’s umbrella brought a touch of exotic charm to their mundane lives.

One stormy afternoon, as dark clouds loomed overhead, Nirmala sought shelter under a
gnarled tree, her heart fluttering with anxious anticipation. She watched as the angry winds
whipped through the valley, and a sense of foreboding filled the air. The once cheerful
landscape now appeared melancholy and desolate.

Part B – One word substitution & Words often confused

Question – 3:
Write a short essay of about 500 words discussing how national identity is formed and
expressed. Use at least 10 of the words from the list below. Underline the words when
they occur in your essay.

Culture Tradition Unity Belonging Language

Heritage Diversity Patriotism History Symbols
Narrative Citizenship Sovereignty Values Community

Question – 4:
Write a short essay of about 500 words discussing the relationship between personal
and community development. Use at least 12 of the words from the list above. Underline
the words as they appear in your essay.

Growth Collaboration Leadership Well-being Inclusivity

Empowerment Resilience Mentorship Innovation Skills
Vision Social Capital Networking Engagement Support

Question- 5:

Read the paragraph below and identify the errors related to commonly confused words.
Write down the paragraph with the correction. Underline your corrections.

1. Their going to the park this weekend, and I hope its not raining there. Last time
we went, the weather was perfect, but the kids were so noise that I couldn't
concentrate what their saying. I tried to maintain a calm atmosphere, but it was
harder then I expected. Each child had fewer patience than the last, and by the
end, I was completely exhausted. I told them to pay attention to the lesson, which
was about the principal of ecology. One child asked if it was ok to use scarce
paper during the project, and I said that it's a great idea. Another student wanted to
know weather the supplies were there for everyone to use, but I had to explain that
I couldn’t accept their request for more materials. I promised to provide more next
time, but they must remember to keep tracking of what they have. The sun was
 starting to settle, and I could see that some students were starting to loose interest.
I tried to infer that if they worked together, they would finish sooner, but I don't
think they understood. In the end, their enthusiasm was gone, and I felt a little
disappointing.

2. As I walked through the forest, I could hear the dear rustling in the bushes. It was
a beautiful cite, and I couldn’t help but glare at the amazed scenery. The sun was
setting, casting a warm light that made the leaves look like they were on fire.
Suddenly, I came after a whole heard of dear standing quitely by the stream. They
seemed to beware of my presence, but they didn’t run away. I decided to take a
few pictures to capture the moment. As I reached for my camera, I realized that I
had left it at home. I felt a wave of disappointment wash over me, knowing I could
not view my friends this incredulous site. I then took a moment to enjoy the peace
and quite of the forest. It was a perfect place to reflect on life and it’s many
complexities. I thought about how often we take for grant the simple things in life,
like the beauty of nature and the time spend with loved ones.

Instructions:
1. All assignment must be written by hand and in the assignment copy as informed in
class.
2. The last date for the submission / completion of the assignment is 23rd September
2024.
3. Write in good hand writing.
4. Consult Advanced learners Dictionary for assistance, if required.