2 MARK QUESTIONS FOR X STD

Unit 1:
1. Why did the seagull fail to fly?
The seagull failed to fly as it was afraid to fly.
2. What did the young bird do to seek the attention of its parents?
The young bird pretended to fall asleep and uttered a low cackle and kept calling sadly.
3. What did the parents do when the young seagull failed to fly?
The parents scolded and threatened him to let him starve on the ledge.
4. How was the young seagull's first attempt to fly?
The young seagull ran to the brink of the ledge and attempted to fly. But out of fear, it failed to fly.
5. Why did the young bird utter a joyful scream?
His mother flew towards him with a piece of fish. So, he uttered a joyful scream.
6. What was the first catch of the young seagull’s older brother?
Herring was the first catch of the young seagull’s older brother.
7. What did the young bird’s family do when he started flying?
They flew around him happily and encouraged him.
8. How did the parents support and encourage the young seagull’s brothers and sister?
The parents supported and encouraged them by perfecting them in the art of flying and diving for fish.
Unit 2:
1. Where was the author when he heard the noise?
The author was in the bathroom when he heard the noise.
2. What did the narrator think the unusual sound was?
The narrator thought that it was a burglar or a ghost.
3. Who were the narrator’s neighbours?
Mr. Bodwell and his wife were the narrator’s neighbours.
4. What conclusions did grandfather jump to when he saw the cops?
Grandfather thought that the cops were deserters from Meade’s army.
5. Why did Herman and the author slam the doors?
Herman and the author slammed the doors because of the fear of ghost.
6. Who used the zither and how?
The narrator’s pet guinea pig used the zither to sleep on it.
7. How did the cops manage to enter the locked the house?
The cops broke the front door and entered the locked house.
8. Why do you think Mrs. Bodwell wanted to sell the house?
They were subjected to mild attacks and often disturbed by their neighbours.
9. What woke up the mother?
Slamming of the doors by the narrator and his brother woke up their mother.
Unit 3:
1. What does INSV stand for?
INSV stands for Indian Naval Ship Vessel.
2. Who is Tara-Tarini (or) Write a short note on Tara-Tarini.
Tara- Tarini is the patron deity of sailors. The sailors worship her for their safety at sea. The Indian
Navy’s second sailboat was named after the famous Tara-Tarini temple.
3. Where did the crew undergo their basic training?
The crew underwent their basic training at the Indian Naval Waterman ship Training Centre.
4. Mention the special features of INSV Tarini.
INSV Tarini encouraged the use of eco-friendly renewable energy resources. It collected data for
weather forecast by IMD and for monitoring marine pollution.
5. What does the term ‘circumnavigation’ mean?
The term ‘circumnavigation’ means to travel around the world in a ship.
 6. What sort of training did the crew undergo before that expedition?
The crew underwent some theoretical courses on navigation, communication and weather prediction.
They were trained to repair things and to deal with emergencies. They underwent some basic sail
training courses in Mumbai at INWTC.
7. What challenging tasks did the team face during their voyage?
The team encountered a severe storm in the South Pacific Ocean. They faced many critical situations
and set things right with great effort.
8. What factor motivated the crew to undertake this expedition?
The prayers and the moral support of the nation motivated the crew to undertake this expedition.
9. Mention the celebrations which the crew enjoyed during their expedition.
Diwali and three birthdays including the first birthday of the boat were the celebrations the crew
enjoyed during their expedition.
Unit 4:
1. When did Aditya leave the local school?
Aditya left his school after he had passed the matriculation examination.
2. Who were Aditya’s ancestors?
Aditya’s ancestors were the Zamindars.
3. What did Aditya visit?
Aditya visited his old school and Nagen uncle’s tea shop.
4. How did Sanyal show that he had a sense of self respect?
Sanyal showed his sense of self-respect by paying money for his tea and biscuits in the tea shop
regularly.
5. Why was the attic ‘a favourite place’ for the children?
The attic was a favourite place for the children because they seemed to be in a world of their own.
6. What was the daily routine of Sanyal?
Sanyal’s daily routine was going to the tea shop to have tea and biscuits.
7. Why was there a sudden change in Aditya’s expression?
When Sanyal recited the poem, Aditya recognized him as Sanyal whom he had deceived in his school
days.
8. What was the condition of the attic?
The attic’s wall had crumbled down due to wind and weather. The floor was strewn with twigs, straw
and pigeon droppings.
9. What did Aditya offer Sanyal?
Aditya offered Sanyal a sum of one hundred and fifty rupees.
Unit 5:
1. How many people in India suffer with disability?
Around 2.7 crore people in India are disabled. (or) According to the 2011 census, 2.21 percent of
India’s population is disabled.
2. Who is Kim?
Kim is an assistive technologist a Alisha’s school.
3. How does Kim help Alisha?
Kim helps Alisha to get trained to Dragon Dictate, a software which transfers speech to text.
4. What devices help David to move from one place to another?
Liberator Communication Device, ACTIV Controller, AAC device and ECO2 with ECO Point are the
devices that help David to move from one place to another.
5. What are the benefits of the internet to the common man?
A common man can use the internet to learn new things, to communicate face to face, to reserve
tickets, to pay bills, to transfer money, to attend online classes etc.
6. Which devices are controlled using ACTIV controller?
T.V, Blue Ray and music players are the devices controlled by ACTIV controller.
7. Which software helps Alisha to overcome her difficulty in typing?
Dragon Dictate software helps Alisha to overcome her difficulty in typing.
 8. Why is technology important according to David?
According to David, Technology enables him to communicate with others, to be independent and to
control his environment.
9. Suggest ways of making our society inclusive.
To make our society inclusive, we should provide friendly atmosphere to the disabled people and
facilitate opportunities to bring out their skills.
Unit 6:
1. What kind of news was usually put up on the bulletin board?
The news of the lost battles, the draft and the orders of the Commanding officer
2. What was the usual scene when school began everyday?
When school began everyday, the usual scenes were opening and closing of the desks, repeating
lessons in unison and rapping of teacher’s ruler.
3. Why did M. Hamel say it was the last French lesson?
The order had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. So,
M. Hamel said that it was the last French lesson.
4. Why did M Hamel blame himself?
M. Hamel asked Franz to water his flowers and gave holiday to the class whenever he wanted to go
for fishing. So, M Hamel blamed himself.
5. What did M Hamel say about the French language?
M Hamel said that French language was the most beautiful and logical language.
6. Why did Franz dread to go to school that day?
M Hamel would ask Franz questions on participles. So, Franz dreaded to go to school that day.
7. When and how did M Hamel bid farewell to the class?
When the clock struck twelve, M Hamel wrote “Viva La France’ on the blackboard and bid farewell
to the class.
8. What were the various things that tempted Franz to spend his days outdoors?
Warm and bright outdoors, chirping of the birds and the drilling of the Prussian soldiers in the open
field were the various things that tempted Franz to spend his day outdoors.
9. What was Franz sorry for?
Franz was sorry for not learning his French lessons.
10. Why were the old villagers sitting in the last desk?
The old villagers were sitting in the last desk to honour and thank M. Hamel’s forty years of faithful
service and to show their respect for the country.
Unit 7:
1. Why didn't the land lady call the doctor?
Holmes didn’t allow the landlady to call the doctor.
2. What was the condition of Holmes when Watson saw him?
When Watson saw Holmes, he was listless, his eyes were reddish with fever, his cheeks were
flushed and his hands twitched all the time.
3. What according to Holmes was the disease he was suffering from?
According to Holmes, he was suffering from Tarpaunli fever or Black Farmosa Plague, a contagious
and deadly disease from Sumatra.
4. Why did Holmes want Smith to treat him?
Holmes wanted to trap Smith. So, he wanted Smith to treat him as he was the only man in London
who knew about the deadly disease.
5. Who is Mr. Culverton Smith?
Culverton Smith is a planter from Sumatra who killed his nephew in order to retain the property.
6. Why didn't Holmes let Watson examine him?
Holmes was acting as a sick person. If Watson examined him, he would find out the truth that
Holmes was not sick. So, Holmes didn’t let Watson examine him.
7. What did Holmes ask Watson to do before leaving his room?
Holmes asked Watson to light the gas lamp, only half on, to place some letters and paper on the
table and to keep the ivory box open on the table within his reach.
 2 Marks (Poem)
Unit 1
1) Why do you think the poet is not in a hurry?
The poet is moving towards his goal without a hurry. So, I think the poet is not in a hurry.
2) What should one not mourn for?
One should not mourn for the things that he/she had lost in the past.
3) What does the poet mean by the phrase ‘in the dim past’?
‘In the dim past’ means unhappy or unpleasant past experiences.
4) Is the poet afraid of future?
No, the poet is not afraid of future.
5) How should be the journey of life?
The journey of life should be joyful.
6) What did the poet seek as a boy?
As a boy, the poet sought new friendship, high adventure and a crown of success / fame.
7) How does he want to live his life?
The poet wants to live his life with forward face and unreluctant soul.
8) What does the phrase ‘unreluctant soul’ mean?
The phrase ‘unreluctant soul’ means a person who is willing to do something.
9) Whose ‘Youth and Age’ is referred to here?
The poet’s ‘youth and age’ is referred to here.
10) How can one travel on with cheer?
One can travel on with cheer by thinking of his / her memories of youth and old age.
11) How is the way of life?
The way of life is full of ups and downs. It is sometimes rough and sometimes smooth.
12) What is the poet’s hope?
The poet hopes that the last turn in his life’s journey will be the best.

Unit 2
1) Where does the family live?
The family lives in the Complaining Street.
2) Why do you think the street is named as ‘Complaining Street’?
I think the people in the street always complain about everything. So, the street is named as
Complaining Street.
3) What does the word ‘growl' mean here?
The word ‘growl’ means ‘to make a low guttural sound’.
4) Why do they find everything amiss?
They find everything amiss because they are always unsatisfied.
5) What is the opinion about the folks you meet down the street?
The folks down the street always grumble about everything.
6) What does the word ‘gloomy’ mean here?
Gloomy means depressing or frightening.
7) What does the poet expect everyone to learn?
The poet expects everyone to walk with a smile and a song when something goes wrong.
8) What should we do when things go wrong sometimes?
When things go wrong, we should not worry.
9) What does station refer to?
Station refers to one’s position or status.
10) What do they growl at?
They growl at the rain and the sun.
11) What is the wisest thing that the poet suggests?
The poet suggests the readers to stay away from the grumble family.
12) What does the phrase ‘to keep our feet from wandering’ refer to?
It refers to stay away from the complaining street.

Unit :3
1) How is a woman?
A woman is beauty innate.
2) What does she symbolize?
She symbolizes power and strength.
 3) What is she strong about?
She is strong about her faith and belief.
4) How does she deal with the adversities in life?
She deals with the adversities in life with persistence.
5) Why is the woman compared to a lioness?
The woman is bold and strong like a lioness.
6) Who is a prankster?
A prankster is a mischievous person.
7) What does the word ‘summer’ mean here?
The word ‘summer ‘means hard times in a woman’s life.
8) How does she take life?
She takes her life optimistically.
9) Is she complaining about the problems of life?
No, she is not complaining about the problems of life.
10) Is the poet talking about the women of the previous generation?
No, the poet is talking about today’s women. (or) No, the poet is talking about the women of
present generation.

Unit: 4
1) What was the routine of the cricket?
Singing in the warm weather of summer and spring was the routine of the cricket.
2) Name the seasons mentioned here.
Summer and spring are the seasons mentioned here.
3) Who does ‘he’ refer to?
‘He’ refers to the cricket.
4) why was his cupboard empty?
His cupboard was empty as he did not save any food or grains for the winter.
5) Why was the ground covered with snow?
The ground was covered with snow as it was winter season.
6) What made the cricket bold?
Starvation and famine made the cricket bold.
7) Whom did the cricket want to meet? Why?
The cricket wanted to meet a miserly ant to borrow food from it.
8) Whose cupboard was empty?
The cricket’s cupboard was empty.
9) What couldn’t he find on the ground?
He couldn’t find any trace of food or grains on the ground.
10) Why did the cricket drip and tremble?
The weather was snowy and cold. So, the cricket dripped and trembled.
11. What would keep him alive?
Shelter and food from the ant would keep him alive.
12. Why do you think ants neither borrow nor lend?
Ants work hard and plan for the future. So, they never borrow nor lend.
13. The ant refused to help the cricket. Why?
The ant could not tolerate the laziness of the cricket. So, it refused to help the cricket.
14. Who is addressed to as “sir’?
The cricket is addressed to as ‘sir’.
15. What was the nature of the cricket? How do you know?
The nature of the cricket was to enjoy singing day and night. We know it from its reply ‘That I sang
day and night”.
16. What did the ant angrily tell the cricket to do?
The angry ant told the cricket to sing and dance in the winter too.
Unit:5
1) Whom does 'we' refer to?
‘We’ refers to the machines.
2) How are they made to fit?
Machines are made to fit by cutting, filing, assembling and gauging.
3) What does the poet expect us to remember?
The poet expects us to remember that machines are operated by the law of obedience without
thinking and feeling.
 4) What are the things that a machine can’t do?
Machines can neither comprehend a lie nor love or pity or forgive anyone.
5) Who does ‘we’ refer to?
‘We’ refers to the machines.

6) What do they ask for?

They ask for water, coal and oil and a little place to run.
7) Where are the metals melted?
Metals are melted in the blast furnaces.
8) Who will serve us for a whole day?
Machines will serve us for a whole day.
Unit 6
1) What is found beneath all uniforms?
A person is beneath all uniforms.
2) What is same for every one of us?
The air we breathe and the land we walk upon and lie are the same for every one of us.
3) Mention the season referred here?
The winter season is referred to here.
4) How are we fed?
We are fed by peaceful harvests.
5) What is common for all of us?
The sun, air and water are common to all of us.
6) Who does ‘their’ refer to?
‘Their’ refers to the people from other countries.
7) Where are we all going to lie finally?
We all are going to lie finally in the same land (grave)
8) What happened when we hate our brothers?
When we hate our brothers, we hate ourselves.
Unit:7
1. What is beside the house?
A tree is beside the house.
2. Why does it never grow leaves?
The tree never grows leaves as it is a mysterious tree.
3. What does 'it' refer to?
It refers to the mysterious house.
4. What happened inside it? (or) What is unknown to the poet?
What happened inside the house is unknown to the poet.
5. Does the poetess know what happened in the house?
The poet does not know what happened inside the house.
6. What is mysterious about the house?
No one knows what happens inside the house.
7. What happened in the house at night?
The lights in the house flicker on and off at night.
8. What does I refer to?
‘I’ refers to the poet.

Prepared by

N. Revathy, TGT, GHS, Kanuvapet

K. Senthil Kumari, TGT, GHS, Kanuvapet