Diwali Holiday Assignment

Dear students,

Complete all the following questions in A4  page and submit me on 20th November.


1. ‘‘Academic excellence is the only requirement for a successful career.’’ Write a debate either for or against the motion. (120 – 150 words)                                                                                            10
                                                                           
 2. MMD School, Nashik, recently organised a science symposium on the  topic : ‘Effect of pollution on quality of life’. You are Amit/Amita Raazdan, editor of the school magazine. Write a report on the event for your school magazine. (120 – 150 words)

3. You are Neeraj/Neeraja Shekhar, Principal, Vasant Public School, Pune. Your school has just started a music department. Write a letter to the  Manager of Melody House, Pune, wholesale suppliers of musical instruments, placing an order for musical instruments for the school. Ask  for a discount on the catalogue prices. (120 – 150 words)                                                                            6
                                                                           
4. Bal Vidya Public School, Bhilai, urgently requires a post-graduate teacher  to teach political science for which they have placed an advertisement in The Bhilai Express. You are Sanjay/Sanjana Sharma from 21, Vasant  Marg, Bhilai. Draft a letter including a CV, applying for the advertised
post. (120 – 150 words)

5. Recent floods in many metropolitan cities of the country during the  monsoon season laid bare the hollowness of the claims of the civic authorities of their preparedness. The poor had to bear the brunt of the  problem while no one was ever held accountable. Write an article in   150 – 200 words on the common man’s woes during the monsoons and the  need for accountability of the officials concerned. You are Sumit/Smita Verma.                                                                                                          10
                                                                         
  6. You are Ali/Alia, Head girl / Head boy of your school. You are deeply  disturbed by the rising cases of aggressive behaviour of students in your  school. You decide to speak during the morning assembly about it. Write a  speech on ‘Indiscipline in Schools’. (150 – 200 words) 

The Ailing Planet by Nani Palkhivala

The Ailing Planet Summary Class 11th English

By Nani Palkhivala

The lesson, ‘The Ailing Planet: the Green Movement’s Role’ focuses on the deteriorating health of the Earth because of human being’s growing lust to exploit all its natural resources. A Zoo in Lusaka, Zambia calls the man as the most dangerous animal in this world. Fortunately, the Green movement launched in 1972 has been responsible for a new awareness that has dawned upon the human race. There has been an irrevocable shift from a mechanistic view to a holistic and ecological view of the world. There is a growing worldwide consciousness that the earth itself is a living organism -an enormous being of which we are parts. It has its own metabolic needs that must be respected and preserved. But, today, its vital signs reveal a patient in declining health. In 1987, the World Commission on Environment and Development popularized the concept of sustainable development – a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their needs.

According to Mr Lester R. Brown, there are four biological systems, namely fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands. They form the basis of the global economic system. They supply food to us and raw materials for our industries. But in large areas of the world, these systems are reaching unsustainable levels. Their productivity is being damaged.

For the first time in human history, we are concerned about the-Survival of not just the people but of the planet. In this era of responsibility, an industry can play a crucial role. Today, many industrialists and politicians have realized their responsibility in preserving the natural resources for the future generation.

The growth of world population is another factor distorting the future of our children. Development is not possible if population increases. The writer says that fertility falls as incomes rise, education spreads, and health improves. Thus, development is the best contraceptive.

Page No: 43

Notice these expressions in the text. Infer their meaning from the context. 

a holistic and ecological view 

 inter alia sustainable development  

decimated languish  

catastrophic depletion 

ignominious darkness 

 transcending concern 

Answer 

 a holistic and ecological view – It refers to the view that calls for the preservation of the planet. The holistic and ecological view refers to understanding the importance of earth’s resources and environment for the future generations sustainable development – A balanced development that meets the needs of the present while taking care of the needs of the future generations. 

 languish – lot of species are neglected or go unnoticed 

 ignominious darkness – disgraced or dishonoured as nobody has knowledge about them or is enlightened about them 

 inter alia – among other things 

 decimated – to reduce drastically in number 

 catastrophic depletion – a disastrous and harmful reduction in the number of something 

 transcending concern – a concern that surpasses generation, boundaries. It is not only about the present but also about future; not only about people but also about the planet.

Page No: 47

 Understanding the Text 

  1. Locate the lines in text that support the title. 'The Ailing Planet'. 

 Answer 

 The lines that support the title of the chapter are given below. 

 ► “The earth’s vital signs reveal a patient in declining health.” ► “Are we to leave our successors a scorched planet of advancing deserts, impoverished landscapes and ailing environment?” ► “…the environment has deteriorated so badly that it is ‘critical’ in many of the eighty-eight countries investigated”. 

2. What does the notice 'The world's most dangerous animal' at a cage in the zoo at Lusaka, Zambia, signify? 

 Answer 

 The notice signifies that there is depletion of resources and deterioration of environment. Man is responsible for this and his own survival is threatened. 

3. How are the earth's principal biological systems being depleted? 

Answer 

 There are four principal biological systems of the earth. These systems are fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands. However, due to the increasing demand of human beings to such an ‘unsustainable’ extent, the productivity of these systems is being hampered. The excessive demand results in deterioration and depletion of these resources. A country where protein is consumed on a large scale, overfishing is common, which leads to the collapse of fisheries in that area. Grasslands have been turned into deserts and production of crops is decreasing. The forests are destroyed in large proportions to obtain firewood. Depletion of tropical forests has also led to the extinction of several species. 

4. Why does the author aver that the growth of world population is one of the strongest factors distorting the future of human society? 

 Answer 

 Over-population is one of the strongest factors responsible for a nation’s poverty and unemployment. It disturbs the earth’s principal biological systems leading to degradation of environment. The author highlights the problem of over-population by pointing out the mental set-up of the poor who feel more children means more workers to earn money. They do not realise that more children only means more unemployed people. He argues that development is the best contraceptive, which includes spread of education, improvement of health and rise in income. Spread of education leads to awareness among people, which in turn results in a fall in the ‘fertility’ rate. The author makes a comment which emphasises the never ending circle of population and poverty by asserting that “The choice is really between control of population and the perpetuation of poverty.” 

Talking about the Text 

 1. Laws are never respected not enforced in India.

Answer 

 India, the biggest democracy in the world, is condemned for its easy attitude towards laws. Laws are constituted but never respected nor enforced in our country. For instance, the Indian Constitution mentions that casteism, untouchability and bonded labour shall be abolished; however, these evils flourish barefacedly even today. The author points out that Article 48A of the Indian Constitution, propounds that “the State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country”. However, little is done in favour of this. What we see is a near “catastrophic depletion” of forests over the last four decades. Forests are disappearing over the decades at the rate of 3.7 million acres a year. Areas that are officially designated as forest land, in reality, are treeless. The actual loss of forests is eight times the rate pointed by the government statistics. 

2. “Are we to leave our successors a scorched planet of advancing deserts, impoverished landscapes and an ailing environment?” 

 Answer 

 As we learn in the text, the first Brandt Report raised the above mentioned question about the deteriorating condition of the planet. Earth is like a “patient in declining health”. The depletion of forests, grasslands, fisheries and croplands are the result of excessive demand for resources. Overpopulation has led to a severe strain on the health of our planet. We must realise soon that in this “Era of Responsibility” it is solely our duty to preserve our planet. We must realise that the earth belongs as much to the future generation as much to us. Rather making it our property, we should do our best to preserve it for the generations we have “borrowed it from”. 

3. “We have not inherited this earth from our forefathers; we have borrowed it from our children”. 

 Answer 

 Over the decades, a change has come in the perception of the people in respect to the planet. The human perception has shifted to a “holistic and ecological view of the world”. Earth is a living organism that has limited resources. These resources will not last forever. The earth has its metabolic needs that require to be preserved. The need of the hour is “sustainable development” which propounds the need of meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising with those of future generations. The present problems are not necessarily fatal for us but they are a ‘passport for future’. This is the “Era of Responsibility” that calls for a responsible action from us. We must realise that the earth belongs as much to the future generation as much it belongs to us. 

4. The problems of over population that directly affect our everyday life. 

 Answer 

Over-population leads to the issues of poverty and unemployment. The vicious circle of population and poverty will continue unless the root cause i.e. population is taken care of. It hampers the development of a country. It leads to the consumption of the natural resources at a much faster rate. The fossils consumed, the resources depleted, the forests cleared, the heat produced, the global warming caused are all the repercussions of the fast-growing population. 

 Page No: 48 

 Thinking about the Language 

 The phrase 'inter alia' meaning 'among other things' is one of the many Latin expression commonly used in English. 

 Find out what these Latin phrases mean. 1.Prima face 2. ad hoc 3. in camera 4.ad infinitum 5.mutatis multanis 6.tabula rasa 

Answer 

 prima facie means ‘at first sight, before closer inspection’ 

 ad hoc means ‘for the specific purpose, case, or situation at hand and for no other’

 in camera means ‘in secret, in private’

 ad infinitum means ‘to infinity, having no end’ 

mutatis mutandis means ‘changing [only] those things which needs to be changed’, [only] the necessary changes having been made 

 Caveat means ‘a warning or caution’ 

 tabula rasa means ‘blank slate’, ‘without any prior experience or knowledge’

The Voice of the Rain By Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman: Poems Summary and Analysis of "The Voice of the Rain"

Summary:

In this poem, the speaker recounts a conversation he had with the falling raindrops. He asks the rain, "And who art thou?" and strangely, the rain answers, calling itself "the poem of the Earth." The rain goes on to describe how it rises intangibly (as vapor) out of the land and sea and floats up to heaven, where it changes form and becomes a cloud. Then it falls back to Earth to refresh the drought-filled land, allowing seeds to grow into something vital and beautiful. The speaker the equates the role of the rain to a poet's role in crafting this "song" (or poem, because Whitman refers to his poems as songs throughout Leaves of Grass). He goes on to write that the "song" is born in the poet's heart. It leaves the poet's soul and and changes form, but is always the same at its core and eventually returns to the poet as love from his readers.

Analysis:

Similar to most of Whitman's poems, "The Voice of the Rain" does not follow any specific form, rhyme scheme, or meter; it is written in free verse. It is made up of one stanza with nine distinct lines, but some of the lines are so long that they bleed into the next. The first two lines contain the speaker's question to the rain ("And who art thou?"). The rain's response makes up the remaining six lines. Whitman places the final line in parenthesis in order to separate the speaker's words from the rain's.

At the end of the poem, the speaker compares poetry to the rain - equating art with Earth's most essential element. Here, Whitman reveals the high level of importance he put on his poems (and poetry in general). Whitman treated his poems like his children. He put all of his emotional energy into his work and then released his poems into the world like water evaporating into the air. Each reader then has a different relationship with Whitman's words, which changes the effect of the poem while maintaining its spirit. Then, the readers rain praise, criticism, love, and hate back down onto Whitman. After that, the poem occupies a different role in the poet's life.

Whitman's comparison between poems and rain is demonstrative of his transcendental beliefs. Rather than associate his poetry with something modern and manmade, he instead chooses to associate it with the eternal cycles of the natural world. He did not write poetry for the purpose of making a splash. He wanted his work to be affecting, vital, and eternal - just like nature. He describes his audience as "drouths, atomies, dust-layers of the globe" as if reading Whitman's poetry is all they need to flourish and grow.

NCERT SOLUTION

Page No: 42

Think It Out

  

1. There are two voices in the poem. Who do they belong to? Which lines indicate this? 

2. What does the phrase “strange to tell” mean? 

3. There is a parallel drawn between rain and music. Which words indicate this? Explain the similarity between the two. 

4. How is the cyclic movement of rain brought out in the poem? Compare it with what you have learnt in science. 

5. Why are the last two lines put within brackets? 

6. List the pair of opposites found in the poem.  

Answer 

1. The two voices in the poem are the voice of the rain and the voice of the poet. The poem begins in a conversational tone. The lines are “And who art thou? Said I ……..” and ‘I am the poem of Earth’.

 2. The phrase ‘strange to tell’ means that it is an unusual and extraordinary answer given by the rain drops to the poet who asked who ‘it was’. 

3. 'I am the poem of Earth’ ‘For song, issuing from its birth place After fulfillment, wandering, reck’d or Unreck’d, duly with love returns. They both return to the place of their origin after fulfilling their tasks. 

4. The poet explains that the rain drops in the form of water vapour rise up from land and sea and then descend again on the earth and dry land in order to wash it down and hence comes back to its origin. This is the cyclic movement explained by the poet. 

5. The last two lines are put within brackets because they do not form the voice of the rain or the poet. They only contain a general observation made by the poet about the course of a song. 

6. (a) Day, night     (b) Reck’d, unreck’d     (c) Rise, descend 

2. Notice the following sentence patterns.

1. And who art thou? said I to the soft-falling shower. 

2. I am the Poem of Earth, said the voice of the rain. 

3. Eternal I rise 

4. For song…duly with love returns

Rewrite the above sentences in prose.

Answer 

1. I enquired the soft-falling rain about its identity. 

2. The voice of the rain introduced itself as the Poem of Earth. 

3. The voice of the rain explained its upward movement towards the sky as eternal. 

4. The poet says that, similar to the natural cycle of the rain, a song originates from the heart of the poet, travels to reach others and after fulfilling its purpose (whether acknowledged or not), it returns to the poet with all due love. 

Landscape of the Soul

                                           

  Summary of Landscape of the Soul

Chapter ‘Landscape of the Soul’ by Nathalie Trouveroy is about art. The chapter consists of two parts. The first part has been taken from ‘Landscape of the Soul: Ethics and Spirituality in Chinese Painting’; and the second part is from ‘Getting Inside ‘Outsider Art’, an article written by Brinda Suri in Hindustan Times.

  

The first part deals with the art of painting.

There is mention of two stories in it. The first story is about Wu Daozi, a famous Chinese painter, who lived in the eighth century. He was a master painter and had been commissioned by the Tang Emperor Xuanzong, to decorate a palace wall. He made a beautiful painting with  high mountains,  forests waterfalls, clouds floating in clear, big blue sky, men walking and working on hilly paths, birds in flight, and a cave situated at the foot of the mountain, where dwelt a spirit. As the painter was

showing the painting to the emperor, he clapped hands; the entrance to the cave opened, the painter got in; the painting vanished and Wu Daozi never came out.

The disappearance of the painting from the wall signifies the knowledge of the spiritual inner world. Only the masters know the way within and can go beyond any material appearance. 

In another famous story, a famous Chinese painter refused to draw the eye of a dragon he had painted for he feared it would fly out of the painting.

The third story in the first part is about Antwerp, a master blacksmith called Quinten Metsys fell in love with a painter’s daughter. The father would not accept a son-in-law in such a profession. However, Antwerp had to accept Quinten Metsys as his son in law because he painted a fly on his panel with such delicate realism that it looked real one. 

The author also talks about Chinese philosophy shanshui, which means ‘mountain water’. The mountain represents ‘Yang’, the male principle; and water signifies Yin, the female principle.

In the second part the author writes about the concept of ‘art brut’, which means ‘the art of those who have ‘no right’ to be artists as they have received no formal training, yet show talent and artistic insight. They are artists who think out of the box. Their works are totally different from those of their predecessors. In simple terminology this art can be called ‘unorthodox art.’ In this section the author talks about Nek Chand’s creations. His creation of Rock Garden at Chandigarh is an expression of art brut. 

Reference : Brainly.in - https://brainly.in/question/1950725#readmore

NCERT QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS

Page No: 38 

Understanding the Text 

1. 

(i) Contrast the Chinese view of art with the European view with examples. 

(ii) Explain the concept of shanshui. 

Answer 

(i) The Chinese paintings are based on imaginative, inner or spritiual approach whereas the european paintings reproduce an actual view, of an external or real object. The painintgs of Wu daozi and mater painters of Europe illustarte the difference.

(ii) Shanshui, meaning “mountain-water”, refers to a style of Chinese painting that involves natural landscapes, the landscape which is an inner one, a spiritual and conceptual space. It represents the two complementary poles (`yin’ and `young’) reflecting the Daoist view of the universe.

2.  
(i)What do you understand by the terms ‘outsider art’ and ‘art brut’ or ‘raw art’? 

(ii) Who was the “untutored genius who created a paradise” and what is the nature of his contribution to art?

Answer 

'Outsiders art' refers to those art who have no right to be artists as they have recieved no formal training yet show talent and artistic insight. 'Art brut' or 'raw art' are the works of art in their raw state as regards cultural and artistic influences.

(ii) The “untutored genius” who created “paradise” was Nek Chand, an 80- year old creator-director who made the world famous rock garden at Chandigarh. His was an ‘outsider art’ in which he sculpted with stone and recycled materials. He used anything and everything from a tin to a sink to a broken down car to form an artistic piece. One of his famous creations are ‘Women by the Waterfall’.


Talking about the Text 

Discuss the following statements in groups of four. 

1.“The Emperor may rule over the territory he has conquered, but only the artist knows the way within.”

Answer 


This sentence explains the fact that even though an Emperor might rule an entire kingdom and have power over his conquered territory, only an artist would be able to go beyond any material appearance. He knows both the path and the method of the mysterious work of the universe. True meaning of his work can be seen only by means known to him, irrespective of how powerful an emperor is.

2. “The landscape is an inner one, a spiritual and conceptual space.” 

Answer 

This phrase explains The Chinese art from where a Chinese painter wants you to enter his mind rather than borrow his eyes. This is a physical as well as a mental participation. It is a landscape created by the artist to travel up and down, and back again, through the viewer’s eyes. The landscape is not `real’ and can be reached from any point.

Thinking about the Language 

1. Find out the correlates of Yin and Yang in other cultures. 

Answer

The Indian culture lays stress on Nature and God. Nature is the 'yen' or female part whereas God the creator, is the male part. This concept also known as 'Maya' or Brahma' The combination of two creates the whole world, all it objects and also inhabitants.

2. What is the language spoken in Flanders? 

Answer: 'French 'language spoken in Flanders which is a region in Belgium. 

Laburnum Top

Summary

Laburnum is a very strong tree. It is clad in yellow leaves and flowers in September. On the top of it there is a nest and in it are a few nestlings; babies of a goldfinch bird. The tree is strong and silent now. Suddenly it began to swing, move sideways and shake like a storm! What caused this sudden change? Who moved the strong tree? It was not by any wind or earthquake. It was by the little ones of the goldfinch who made this violent movement. This poem is all about the power of love. On one side the mother goldfinch that goes out early in the morning in search of food for its babies. After a while it returns with food and the young ones scramble for her, for the food she brought. We do not know which is stronger yet there is it – longing for the mother.

On the other there is a over protective mother goldfinch – who leaves her little ones in maximum safety – yellow birds in yellow foliage of the laburnum tree. Notice how she returns – as stealthily as a lizard, hiding her barred identity only once as a password for her little ones.

Stanza 1
 “The Laburnum Top is silent, quite still
 in the afternoon yellow September sunlight, 
A few leaves yellowing, all its seeds fallen. 

1. Why is the laburnum top silent? 
The top of the laburnum tree is silent because the goldfinch nestling(s) in the nest is/are anxiously awaiting its/their mother’s return with food.

2. What is the significance of ‘yellow’ in the poem?
 As the poem highlights the high security that the mother bird ensures for her babies, yellow has great implications in the poem. Both the laburnum tree and the goldfinch’s feathers yellow in color, the babies escape being noticed by any predator with the camouflaging effect.

3. How does the laburnum ensure security for the nestlings?

 Apart from the popular belief that the laburnum seeds and even its bark and leaves are poisonous, the laburnum top, rather than its bottom, is a safe area for the nestlings. With the yellow flowers and the yellowing leaves and a yellow breed of goldfinches, the babies are safer than elsewhere.

Stanza 2
 Till the goldfinch comes, with a twitching chirrup 
A suddeness, a startlement, at a branch end.
 Then sleek as a lizard, and alert and abrupt,
 She enters the thickness,and a machine starts up
 Of chitterings, and of tremor of wings,and trillings.

1. What happens to the laburnum when the goldfinch mother returns?
 On the mother’s return, a sudden movement stirs the tree. Her little ones are excited over her arrival and they start chirruping.

2. Why is the goldfinch stealing into her nest? 
The cautious mother goldfinch enters the tree with great care that no predator would spot her babies securely housed in the nest.

 3. What is the machine that starts up with the mother’s entry? 
The machine in the poem is the combined effect of the love for mother and for food born by the nestlings in the nest along with the excited chirrups that they create to welcome their mother and their food.

Stanza 3
The whole tree trembles and thrills
 It is the engine of her family. 
She stokes it full, then flirts out to a branch-end
 Showing her barred face identity mask.

1. What is the engine of the machine? What is its fuel?
 The nest is the engine of the goldfinch family. With the little ones inside, chirruping and eating and playing with each other, the mother bird gets her life of it. As fuel to an engine, the goldfinch family’s fuel is not just the food that the mother brings, it is the mother’s love as well.

2. Why does the bird flirt out to a branch end showing her barred face identity mask? 

The mother bird is over cautious about safety but at the same time it is eager to reveal her identity to her babies. A barred mark behind the neck is her mark of recognition. By showing them this identity mark, the mother bird is calling their attention to her, reminding them that she is their mother.

Stanza 4 Then with eerie delicate whistle-chirrup whisperings

 She launches away, towards the infinite

 And the laburnum subsides to empty” 

1. Where does the mother bird fly to? 

Probably the mother bird is leaving the babies for more fuel, food, before they grew hungry again.

 2. What happens to the laburnum with the mother’s departure?

 With the mother bird’s departure, the laburnum tree shrinks to silence again. 

NCERT Questions with Answers

Think It Out 

1. What do you notice about the beginning and the ending of the poem? 

 Ans: In the beginning of the poem the tree is calm & silent & in the ending it ends with motionless & empty level.  

2. To what is the bird’s movement compared? What is the basis for the comparison? 

Answer 

The goldfinch’s movement is compared to that of a lizard. The basis of the comparison is the sleek, abrupt and alert movements of a lizard. The same kinds of movements are observed when the goldfinch arrives on the laburnum tree. 

3. Why is the image of the engine evoked by the poet? 

Answer 

The engine is the source of energy to run machine. It is compared to bird as she is too a source of energy for her family. As without engine a machine can’t work in the same without a bird her family can’t survive. 

4. What do you like most about the poem? 

Answer 

I like the simplicity and pictorial presentation of the poem. The comparison between bird's movement with machine and Lizard made in nice way. Also chirruping & trilling of goldfinch. 

5.What does the phrase “her barred face identity mask” mean?

Answer

The phrase means that the bird’s barred or covered face becomes her identity mask recognition. 

Reference: 

1. https://www.studyrankers.com/2014/12/laburnum-top-class-11th-ncert-solution.html

2. https://www.kiddingtown.com/the-laburnum-top-ted-hughes-summary-line-by-line-explanation-questions-and-answers/

Detailed Analysis of Snapshot with Questions

                                                            SNAPSHOTS

                                     The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse.

1. Why was it difficult for Aram to believe the sight of his cousin Mourad with the beautiful white horse? 

Ans: When Aram looked through the window, he saw his cousin Mourad with a beautiful white horse and it was a sight which was very difficult for him to believe for two reasons: 

First, the whole of the Garoghlonian family to which the two boys belonged were extremely poor and therefore it was not possible for Mourad to buy that horse. 
Secondly, in that case, it would mean that Mourad had stolen that horse. But that was also not possible, because the Garoghlonian family was also very much famous for their honesty and therefore Mourad could not steal that horse either. 

2. Where had Mourad been hiding the horse? 

Answer: Mourad had been hiding the horse in the barn of a deserted vineyard which was owned by a farmer named Fetvajian. 

3. What did the farmer John Byro tell the two boys when one day they accidentally met him with his horse in their custody? 

Answer: The farmer examined the horse when one morning he found it with the two boys and he told them that he could swear that the horse was his very horse which had been stolen from him many weeks before if he did not know about their parents. He added that the fame of their family for honesty was very well known to him and therefore he liked to say that the horse could be the twin of his stolen horse. 

4. What did John Byro tell Aram’s mother and Uncle Khosrove when he got his horse back? 

Answer: After John Byro got his horse back mysteriously one day, he came to Aram’s house and told Aram’s mother and Uncle Khosrove that he did not know what to think about the whole matter. It was because the horse was stronger than ever and was better tempered too and therefore he thanked God. 


5. What were the two things for which the Garoghlonian family was famous? 


Answer: The Garoghlonian family was famous for the following two things: 

1. Their poverty  

2. Their honesty  

6. What points were put forward by Aram in defense of Mourad’s act of stealing the horse? 

Answer: Aram argued to himself that stealing a horse for a ride was not the same thing as stealing something else, such as money. And then he went a little ahead by saying that if one was so much crazy about horses the way Mourad and he himself were, it was not stealing at all. It would not become stealing until they offered to sell the horse and he was sure that was the last thing they would never be doing. 

7. Which excuses were given by Aram to himself for taking a ride on the horse despite knowing fully the truth about the theft of the horse by Mourad? 

Ans: Aram dismissed stealing a horse is not as much grave a crime as stealing money. Secondly, he believed that if it was something like a horse for which both he and his cousin were crazy then it couldn’t be stealing. Additionally, it was not going to become stealing until they offered to sell the horse. 

8. Why was Aram unwilling to return the horse so soon? 

Ans: Aram was crazy for the horse and he wanted to learn horse riding at all costs. The horse would not let him to ride over it and hence he was unwilling to return the horse at least till he would learn to ride it. 

Long Answer Questions 

1. Why did the two boys ultimately return the horse all of a sudden although they had planned to keep it at least for six months? 

Answer: Although the two boys had planned to keep the horse for at least six months, they returned it all of a sudden the morning after they accidentally met the farmer John Byro from whom Mourad had stolen the horse. The farmer examined the horse and told them that he could swear that the horse was his very horse which had been stolen from him many weeks before if he did not know about their parents. He added that the fame of their family for honesty was very well known to him and therefore he liked to say that the horse could be the twin of his stolen horse. What John Byro told them served as an eye opener for the two boys especially Mourad and they became conscious how precious and strong their family’s fame for honesty was and therefore they did not want to tarnish that name and prestige and immediately returned the horse. 


2. Mourad was the natural descendant of the crazy streak of uncle Khosrove. Explain the statement giving instances from the story, ‘The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse’. 

Ans: Uncle Khosrove was considered in the Garoghlanian tribe as one of the craziest persons. It was also believed that the tribe that Mourad was the natural descendant of the crazy streak in their tribe. Uncle Khosrove’s craziness was out of the world. He had the largest moustache in the surrounding. His talk was not less than roaring, which was but natural for him. Once when his son came running to tell him about his house on fire, he simply said, ‘It is no harm; pay no attention to it’. The barber who reminded him that it was his own house also got rebukes. Khosrove also asked John Byro not to worry about the horse or the loss of money or even for his paining legs and answered in the same way. 

Mourad was considered the natural descendant of this man though not a biological descendant mainly because of the crazy acts he was involved in. The act of stealing a horse because he was crazy about it is an example to prove the same. Like the punch line of uncle khosrove i.e. ‘It is no harm; pay no attention to it’ Mourad used to say that he had a way with the things, animals and even people. Thus Mourad said that he had a way with the horse, with the dogs and with the farmers too. 

3. ‘I knew my cousin Mourad enjoyed being alive more than anyone else who had ever fallen into the world by mistake.’ Explain the statement with help of the instances from the story. 

Answer: 

Value Points: 

-Mourad’s nature 

-His crazy deeds 

-Having a way with the things 

-Considerate towards animals 


-A true member of the tribe 

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE

 Answer these questions in 30-40 words.

1. When and why did Mourad come to Aram’s house?

2. How does Aram justify Mourad’s act of stealing the horse?

3. Where did the boys hide the horse everyday?

4. What do you learn about uncle Khosrove’s temperament after reading this story?

5. Who is John Byro? Why did he not accuse the boys of stealing his White Horse?

6. What happened when Aram rode the horse alone?

7. Why was Mourad considered the natural descendant of uncle khosrove?

                                       LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS :

1. Aram and Mourad belong the Gargholanian tribe. What are the hallmarks of their tribe?

2. Did the boys return the horse because they were conscience - Stricken or because they were afraid? Support your answer with suitable arguments.

3. Do you agree with Aram’s remark that Mourad was considered the natural descendant of Uncle Khosrove? Explain.

                                                         

                                                                     The Address

1. “I was in a room I knew and did not know.” Why does the narrator say that she was in a room which she knew and yet she did not know? 

Answer: The second time the narrator went to Mrs. Dorling’s house she was taken inside the house by Mrs. Dorling’s daughter. When the door of the living room was opened to her, she went inside and she was immediately horrified by whatever she saw inside the room. The room was full of all their belongings which had been taken away by Mrs. Dorling at the beginning of the war. She felt she ‘knew’ the room because it was full of all her belongings and as the room was not theirs but was a different room and the things were kept in a different manner she felt she 
 ‘did not’ know the room. 

2. Why does the narrator come back without claiming her belongings? 


Answer: The narrator came back without claiming her belongings. She says that the objects which are linked in our memory immediately lose their value when those objects are seen after some time in strange surroundings. All her belongings, the silver cutlery, the clothes etc. had lost their charm when they were seen in Mrs. Dorling’s house. She knew that if taken back they would again seem strange in her new small rented room. 

What change did the narrator notice in her rooms when she was home for a few days? 

She noticed that various things were missing. – Mother was surprised that she noticed so quickly 
 – told that Mrs. Dorling would keep things safely. 

3. Why did the narrator resolve to forget the address, No 46, Marconi Street? 

Narrator turns up to collect the belongings – they aroused nostalgic feeling – true owner no more 
 – the ‘stored’ things reminded the uncharitable Mrs. Dorling and her own tragic past – better to forget. 

4. Justification of the title 

Short story revolved around the No 46, Marconi Street – starts with the address where the Jewish family suffer – ends with the narrator forgetting the address. 

Long Answer Questions 

‘Have you come back?’ said the woman. ‘I thought that no one had come back.’ Does this statement give some clue about the story? If yes, what is it? 

Answer: The sentence uttered by the cruel woman Mrs. Dorling gives us clinching clues about the story.  
The story has been set on the aftermath of the destructive Second World War. By the end of the war in 1945, some 60 lac Jews who were staying in Germany and other territories occupied by the German Nazi forces, had been killed systematically by the German Nazi forces led by Adolph Hitler, something which is known as the Holocaust. Hitler and the other likeminded Germans had considered the Jews along with some other races of people as people of inferior racial quality and as enemies and threats to the German society and nation and that is why they targeted the Jews and robbed them of all human rights and first put them in confinement centers known as ghettoes and from the ghettoes they took them to the concentration camps which were built in many places in Germany and other occupied territories and killed them in millions by putting them in gas chambers and also by other all types of cruel methods. When the war ended in the year 1945, some of the Jews got liberated from the concentration camps by the Allied Armies. 


The narrator in the story is unmistakably such a survivor of the concentration camps. While others from her family had died she survived the war and came back in search of her belongings which had been taken away by Mrs. Dorling from her mother at the start of the war. By the quoted sentence Mrs. Dorling refers to the holocaust saying that she had thought that none of the narrator’s family members had been lucky enough to come back. 

 The story “The Address” is divided into Pre-War and Post-War times. What hardships do you think the girl underwent during these times? 

Answer: 

Value Points: 

-War affects the fortunes of many 

– Mrs. S and her family left their town for safety purpose  

–  she died – the daughter returned  

– told the tragic story.  

-Before the War the narrator returns home 

– finds things missing  

–  Mrs. Dorling takes things away  

–  – the narrator doubts Mrs. Dorling. After War narrator returns to take her belongings  

– – the uncharitable Mrs. Dorling’s behaviour and ‘stored’ things unsettles her – things reminds her mother’s memories  

– – Becomes nostalgic – wants to forget tragic past – resolves to forget the address and does not take things.  

3. “The Address” is a story of human predicament that follows war. Comment.  

Answer: 

Value Points: 

-Wars always bring death and destruction. Wars cannot end conflict. 
- In Holland a Jew family suffered 

– disrupted the life of Mrs. S and her 
family -before War left town for safety  

– Mrs. Dorling took chance  

– grabbed her costly things.  


-Mrs. S died – the daughter returns – visits Mrs. Dorling, No. 46, Marconi Street 

– she shows her uncharitable character – denies recognition  

–  in her second visit the narrator found the daughter of Mrs. Dorling  

– found her belongings – became nostalgic – recalled mother – felt sorry for her tragic death  

– – ‘things’ reminded the tragedy she had to undergo – resolved to leave things and forgot the address –  

–  War changed narrator’s life – lost mother and costly things.  

Questions for Practice

Short Questions 


1.  Highlight the pain of loss and frustrations and helplessness in the mind of the narrator.  
2. Is the story able to paint the horrible pictures of the inhuman Nazi atrocities on the European Jews during the Second World War?  
3. You find out that the narrator managed to come back from somewhere. Where has she managed to come back from? (From the Nazi concentration camps, the death camps, gas chambers, from the jaws of death)  
4. Why does the narrator say she knew and did not know the things? What does that mean?  
5. What changes of normalcy does the story speak about? (bread of a lighter colour, which was of a darker colour for Jews during the War etc.)  

6.Who is Mrs. Dorling? What opinion do you form about Mrs. Dorling on the basis of the Lesson “The Address”.

7. How was the narrator received by Mrs. Dorling when she visited her for the first time?

8. What arguments were given by Mrs. Dorling for taking away things from narrator’s house?

9. The narrator visited Mrs. Dorling many years after the War. Why did she wait so long?

10. Describe the narrator’s feelings when she found herself in the midst of her mother’s belongings?

11.Why did the narrator resolve to forget ‘the address’?

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS :

In what respect was the narrator’s second visit different from her first visit to Mrs. Dorling?

2. ‘The Address’ is a story of human predicament that follows war. Comment.

3. Justify the title of the story ‘The Address’?

                                                              Ranga’s Marriage

1. Ranga’s home coming was an important event for the villagers. Give reasons.  

Ans. It was because the village accountant was the first one who had enough courage to send his son to Bangalore to study. English was a priceless commodity to the villagers. That was why his home coming was a great event to them. 

3. Do you think that Ratna is a victim of the arranged marriage system? Give reasons.  

Ans. When the narrator arranged the marriage of Ranga with Ratna, we have a conversation of Ranga and the narrator about their views on the marriage in our society but Ratna was not asked for it once. It shows that she got married without her consent or opinion about her independent thinking at the age of just 11. 

Long Answer Questions: 

Answer the following question in 100 to 120 words 

Q.1. Do you think that Indian marriage system keeps Indian social fabric alive? How? 

Ans. Indian social fabric is based on the caste system. It has its own social hierarchy that is strictly maintained by one and all for their own convenience. The people like the narrator are ever ready to take initiatives to get the bachelors like Ranga married by arranging and compromising on traditions and rituals by virtue of their status in society and sometimes with the help of so-called customs i.e. seeking help from the Astrologers and Shastri. 

In the present story, when Ranga returned to his village from the city, his ideas about marriage were then quite different. He wanted to bring about changes in the marriage system as a sole right of the individual. But the narrator moulded his point of view to follow the beaten track of society that is marriage is a social institute not the individual’s choice. That’s why I think that 
 Indian arranged marriage system has been keeping Indian social structure alive for the century. 

Q.2. English integrates India as a nation or it belittles/ dwarfs the expression of native speakers. Elucidate. 


Ans. The story Ranga’s Marriage’s raises very important moral issues of a mode of communication in India and its consequences. In India English is playing a role of lingua franca without any doubt. It holds a composite dialogue among all Indians. It has brought all Indians together. It has opened the window of the world. India poses itself as a nation because of its integrity. Another side of it is the excessive use and making it a matter of dignity confuses the mind of common man. The middle class mentality thinks that English is the matter of dignity. For the sake of it they discriminate the expression of the native speakers. Common man’s expression in their mother tongue is being dwarfed because of the excessive value of English in upper class society. In the present story Ranga was sent to pursue his education in city because of the mode of communication that provides plenty of opportunities and gets dignity in society. On the other hand it is a priceless commodity for the villagers. It should have been a mode of communication only that bridges the gap between two social strata. 

1. Why did people rush to Ranga’s house?

2.What were Ranga’s views about marriage?

3. Who is Ratna? Why does the author consider her the most suitable bride for Ranga?

4. What did the writer tutor Shastri to do?

5. How has the author made fun of English Language in the story ‘Ranga’s marriage’?

6. Why did Ranga name his son as ‘Shyama’?

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS :

1. Describe the role played by the narrator in arranging Ranga’s marriage?

2. What kind of a person do you think the narrator is?

3. Do you think astrologers manipulate things in arranging marriages in modern times? Discuss.

4. Is the story an indirect comment on the worthlessness of Horoscopes and Kundlies which can be managed to serve individual purpose? Discuss.   
5. What social atmosphere does the story portray?  
6. What is the tone of the narration of the story? Is it ironical and satirical, sarcastically humorous or tragic? Discussion   

                                                        Albert Einstein at School

1. Why did Albert feel his medical certificate was burning a hole in his pocket? 

Answer: Before Albert could get an appointment with the head teacher to show him the medical certificate which certified him that he needed to be away from the school at least for six months because of nervous breakdown, the head teacher himself summoned him to his room and informed that he was being expelled from the school. Albert felt the certificate burning in his pocket as it was rendered worthless. 

2. What according to the head teacher were Albert’s faults? 

Answer: According to the head teacher, Albert was guilty of refusing to learn and not allowing others learn and of being in constant rebellion at school with his teachers. 

3. What was the atmosphere in Albert’s place of lodging which used to trouble him so much? 

Answer: The atmosphere was one of slum violence. His landlady used to beat her children regularly and every Saturday her husband came drunk and beat her. 


4. Why did Albert need a medical certificate so badly? 
Answer: Albert wanted to get rid of the school where he was studying and wanted to go to Milan to get admission in an Italian college or institute on the merit of his acknowledge expertise in Mathematics. However it was his father’s wish that Albert get a diploma in that school. He felt that his father would send him back to school if he left it that way. A medical certificate certifying that he could not continue in school because of health reasons could convince his father. 

5. What was the doctor’s reaction when Albert visited him? 

Answer: The doctor received Albert cordially and listened to his problem in a friendly manner. He even agreed that Albert was really in a state of nervous breakdown otherwise he would not have come to him for a certificate in that line. 

Long Answer Questions: 

1. Describe the exchanges between Albert Einstein and the history teacher. What characteristics of Einstein’s nature are highlighted by this exchange? 

Answer: This biographical piece first presents Albert in confrontation with his history teacher. When the teacher asks him in what year the Prussians had defeated the French at Waterloo, Albert flatly replies that he did not know and this leads to a heated exchange between them. When he is further asked why he did not try to learn them, he again replies honestly that there is no point in learning dates which could be checked in a book by anyone. This reply angers his teacher greatly who responds asking him again whether he saw no point in learning facts which forms the basis of school education at that time. To this again Albert honestly replies that he did not see any point in learning facts. Now his teacher becomes sarcastic and asks him to tell the class the Einstein theory of Education. Ultimately Albert opines that he did not see any point in learning dates of battles or which army killed more men but he would be rather interested to know why those soldiers were trying to kill each other. This made his teacher go mad with anger and he scolded Albert viciously and asked him to stay back after school for an extra period. 

 This exchange brings out the unthinking honesty of Albert as a child. He of course lacked tactfulness and was very straightforward. He spoke whatever was in his mind. Of course, he used to feel miserable in classes like that of history. His mind was a great mind of science which used to be in search of the true working of the universe and time and other dimensions. 

2. Describe the circumstances leading to Albert getting a medical certificate issued declaring him unfit to continue school. 

Answer: 


Value Points: 
-Albert used to feel miserable at school which basically taught arts 
subjects. -had regular confrontations with his teachers because of his 
honest replies. -The environment of his lodging place was also miserable. 

-Wanted to get rid of his school where he was because of his father’s wish 

-So wanted to have a medical certificate certifying that he needed to stay away from school because of nervous breakdown. 

-His friend Yuri helps him. 

-Albert is sent to a friend of Yuri who had freshly become a doctor. 
-He gets a certificate as suffering from nervous breakdown. 


-His medical certificate becomes useless as the school itself expels him. 

3. Describe the events leading to Albert’s expulsion from his school. 

Answer: 

Value Points: 

-Albert was disinterested with his school which basically taught arts subjects like History. 
Used to come into confrontation with teachers because of his unthinking honesty 

-Felt miserable at school and in his place of lodging which was full of chaos and domestic violence. 

-Wanted to go to Milan for studying in an Italian School or college on the merit of his acknowledged superior Mathematical expertise 

-Needed a medical certificate certifying him unfit to continue in school 
Manages such a certificate from a doctor referred by his friend Yuri -However 
the head teacher summons him before he gets an interview with him -He is 
informed that he has been expelled from school 

-Reasons- refusal to learn, constant rebellion against teachers. 


-Albert feels hurt in spite of the fact that he himself wanted to get rid of the school. 

QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE

1. Why did Einstein refuse to learn dates and facts?

2. Why did Albert feel miserable. When he left school after having an argument with the history teacher?

3. Why was Einstein not happy in his lodgings?

4. What did Mathematics teacher think of Einstein?

5. Who is Elsa? What advice does she give to Eintein to pass the examination?

6. What were the reasons given by the head teacher for expelling Einstein?

7. What was Einstein’s future plan for further education after leaving school at Munich?

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS :

The school system often curbs individual talents. Discuss this statement with reference to the lesson ‘Albert Einstein at School’.?

2. What do you learn about Einstein’s nature from his conversation with his history teacher, mathematics teacher and Yuri?

3. What was Einstein’s plan to get away from the school? How did Yuri help him?

4. What changes have been incorporated in the present education system? Describe in short.

                                                               Mother’s Day

The job of a mother in a family is actually a twenty four hour job and the mother does not have the luxury of even enjoying any weekend, any holiday. 

The popular conception is that only those who are in service have to work hard. The mother who stays at home has a leisurely life. 

The other members in the family always take the work that the mother does at home for granted and gives no credit for that. 

The children in a family go on to believe that the job of the mother is to keep herself in the beck and call of her children and so is the thinking of the husband of the family towards his wife. 

The mother needs to be harsh and assertive every now and then with her children and husband, reminding them that the work she does is a round the clock work and is valued much more than theirs. 

If the mother of the family turns out to be too soft with her attitude towards her children and husband, then the children are bound to be led astray and spoilt as is the case with Cyril and Doris Pearson. 


Always a little bit of caution, cold looks, strong words and body language from the mother help the atmosphere of the family ordered and the health wholesome. 


 Short Answer Questions 

1. What is Mrs. Fitzgerald’s opinion about Charley Spence? 

Answer: Mrs. Pearson opines that Charlie Spence is buck-toothed and half-witted and she would not like to be seen dead with a fellow like Charlie Spence. 

2. What is Doris’ idea what might have happened that made their mother behave so strangely? 

Answer: Doris suggested to her brother Cyril that their mother could have hit her head against something and got a concussion and therefore she behaved in a strange way. 

3. What does Mrs. Pearson tell George Pearson what people’s conception about him in the Club is? 

Answer: Mrs. Pearson, who is actually Mrs. Fitzgerald, tell her husband that he is a standing joke for the other club members and they call him Pompy-ompy Pearson as they think he is very slow and pompous. 

4. What is Cyril’s prime fault as expressed by Mrs. Pearson? 

Answer: According to Mrs. Pearson, Cyril spends too much time and money at greyhound races and dirt tracks and ice shows. 

5. What is Mrs. Fitzgerald’s suggestion to Mrs. Pearson how she could maintain that atmosphere of discipline and realization that she created? 


Answer: Mrs. Fitzgerald suggested that Mrs. Pearson was not to start any explaining or apologizing or it would spoil the good work that was done. She was asked to just give her children and husband a look, or a tone of voice off and on to suggest that she might be tough with them if she wanted to be. 

Long Questions: 

1. What are the issues that the play, ‘Mother’s Day’ highlights? 


Answer: The play ‘Mother’s Day’ basically highlights the different real aspects related to the status of the mother in a family. In most families the mother is a house wife who stays at home while the father and in some cases the children go out for works. The popular concept is that only those who are in service have to work hard and therefore they need weekends and holidays for taking rest and after coming from work they need to be waited upon by the mother who is seen as living a life of leisure. The reality is that the job of mother in a family is a twenty four hour harsh job for which she cannot have the luxury of even enjoying any weekend and holidays. 

That is the case with Mrs. Pearson in this play. Her two grown-up children Cyril and Doris Pearson and her husband George Pearson always take the work that Mrs. Pearson does at home for granted and gives absolutely no credit to her for that and they want her to be at their beck and call. However it is Mrs. Pearson whose love and care and concern and soft attitude and lack of any assertion at all towards those three members of her family that has created trouble for her and has spoilt them perfectly. 

The mother needs to be harsh and assertive every now and then with her children and husband, reminding them that the work she does is a round the clock work and is valued much more than theirs. If the mother of the family turns out to be too soft with her attitude towards her children and husband, then the children are bound to be led astray and spoilt as is the case with 
 Cyril and Doris Pearson. Ultimately Mrs. Fitzgerald’s idea of changing bodies and personality with Mrs. Pearson brings reform to the errant family members. 


 2. How does Mrs. Pearson reform her spoilt family members? 

Answer: 

Value Points: 

-Mrs. Fitzgerald is Mrs. Pearson’s neighbour. 

-She is domineering, practical, quite opposite to the character of Mrs. Pearson. 

-Mrs. Pearson is soft, unassertive, too fond of her children and husband. 

-She knows about their mistakes but cannot be harsh with them. 

-Mrs. Fitzgerald compels her friend to agree to change body with her with magic to straighten her family members. 

-So they change bodies. 

-Mrs. Pearson first takes on her daughter Doris whom she scolds for her erratic behaviour. 

-Next she takes on her son Cyril whom she scolds scathingly for preparing to go out for late night parties. 

-Ultimately, she attends to her husband who has acquired very bad name in his club where he spends most of his time/ 

-Mrs. Pearson’s behaviour is puzzling for the three confused family members. 

-The three ultimately are made to be aware of Mrs. Pearson’s actual status in her home. 

-They promise to reform themselves. 

- Mrs. Pearson and Mrs. Fitzgerald change back their bodies.  

Make character sketches of Doris, Cyril and George Pearson.  

-Doris is perfectly spoilt./ wants to be waited upon by her mother/takes no permission for  
 going out with her boyfriend who according to her mother is worthless/ Weeps in every possible opportunity/highly immature. 

-Cyris is equally pampered and immature/ wants to be waited upon by his mother/engrossed in outdoor life/ late night partying and betting on horse racing/ 

-George Pearson is haughty, pompous, arrogant and self important and uncivil/ careless of domestic duties/ unconcerned about his wife’s wishes and pain/ engrossed in an outdoor life/ spends his time in the club where he has got a bad impression unknown to him/ ultimately is brought to the reality of his actual social situation. 

4. What is Magic Realism? How has the dramatist used the device of Magic Realism in making the plot of the play believable for the reader? 

Answer: 

Value Points: 

Magic realism is a modern method used in fiction where magical elements are intermixed with the realistic description of everyday affair in such a way that the magical elements are taken as realistic description which help in emphasizing some basic aspect where the writer wants to give focus. 

Popularized by writers such as Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Salman Rushdie, Milan Kundera etc. 

In this play, Mrs. Fitzgerald changes her body with Mrs. Pearson, something which is impossible in real life. 


However, the reader does not object to this fantastic aspect in the plot line because this element has been used in such a way in the plot line that the reader overlooks the impossibility as his real focus is the real issues of the play which is highlighted by the dramatist. 

5. Discuss some of the humourous situations of the play. 

Answer: 

Value Points: 

-First is the scene where Doris is scolded for preparing to go out with Charley Spence. 

-Mrs. Pearson’s comments on Charley Spence and Doris’ reaction to them/ Her weeping 

-Doris and Cyril’s hushed discussion between them as to the possible cause of -her mother’s strange behaviour 

-The scene where Mr. Person finds his wife drinking wine for the first time in his life and  Mrs. Pearson’s answers to his questions. 

-Mrs. Peasron’s comments about what others think about George in the club and George’s reaction to them. 

-Mrs. Pearson’s threatening to beat up her husband as reaction to her husband’s uncivil behaviour towards Mrs. Fitzgerald. 

Value Points 

                                                            BIRTH BY A. J. CRONIN

People’s sense of responsibility towards work.  
A doctor’s sense of duty, dedication, and humanistic approach towards his patients.  
The supreme joy of motherhood.  
The real sense of fulfilment and peace and joy that a piece of good work done brings to human mind.  
The real piece of work in human life lies in bringing joy in other people’s life. 
 The tremendous sense of expectation and anxiety that is caused in other family member’s heart when a baby is on the way. 
 The technical aspects of the resuscitation method as regards a new-born. 

Short Question Answers: 

1. What was the dilemma that Andrew faced after the baby was born? 

Answer: After the baby was born, Andrew was faced with the dilemma whether to attend to the baby which was still-born in order to try to resuscitate it or to turn his attention rather to the mother, Susan Morgan, who was in a desperate state of health because of loss of blood and labour pain. 

2.Why was Joe and Susan Morgan’s case special for Andrew? 

Answer: Joe and Susan Morgan’s case was special for Andrew because Joe and Susan were expecting their first child although they had been married for twenty years. 

3. What was Susan Morgan’s suggestion to Andrew which she informed through her mother-inlaw? 

Answer: Susan Morgan wished that she was not to be given the chloroform if it would harm the baby. 

4. What did Andrew guess could be cause of the baby being still born? 

Answer: Andrew found out that the baby had turned white and it could mean only one thing: asphyxia which is suffocation or unconscious condition caused by lack of oxygen and excess of 

 carbon dioxide in the blood, accompanied by paleness of the skin, weak pulse, and loss of reflexes. 

5. What is your impression about Dr. Andrew as a doctor and a human being? 


Answer: The story ‘Birth’ is a comment on what a doctor should really be as a doctor and a human being. Dr. Andrew is an exceptionally dutiful and kind and passionate human being. Not only he sets aside mental and bodily fatigue to visit Joe Morgan’s house dead at night, but also he almost rebels against nature’s laws to keep trying to bring breath back to the still born baby wherein he succeeds.


Long Questions with answer and hints 

1. Describe the efforts that Andrew made in order to bring the still born baby back to life. 

Answer: After pulling the still born baby out from beneath the bed, Andrew could guess why the baby had lost its breath. The cause was asphyxia which is a condition in which insufficient or no oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged on a ventilator basis caused by choking or drowning. 

Therefore, he realized that there was point in trying to resuscitate the baby with the help of the traditional resuscitation methods applied in such cases. So he first laid the baby upon a blanket and began the special methods of respiration. Thus he poured hot and cold water in two basins and frantically went on pushing the baby into the water of both the basins alternately for almost half an hour. But no breath emerged from the baby and a sense of desperation and defeat set in his mind. Still he wanted to put in another last effort. So this time, he rubbed the baby with a rough towel and then he crushed and released the little chest with both his hands, trying to get breath into that lax body. And after this, the miracle happened and the tiny chest of the baby gave a heave and then another and then another and Andrew was victorious as the baby was finally revived. 

2. Why was Andrew so emotionally attached to his efforts to bring the lifeless baby back to life?  

Answer: Hints: 

-Joe Morgan and Susan Morgan were expecting the birth of their first 
birth -They were married for twenty years. 

-It was Dr. Andrew who had been handling the case. 

-Andrew had assured the couple of no complication and safe delivery of the 
baby. -All others in Morgan’s family were anxious 

-Susan Morgan feels labour pain before due date 

-Susan’s mother-in-law informs Andrew about Susan’s wish to go through labour pain without anesthesia in case the same would hurt the baby. 

-Andrew goes on with 
anesthesia -A still baby is born 

-Andrew has to do something to revive the baby because he had held a promise. 

3. Why does Andrew comment that he had done something ‘real at last’ in Blaenelly? 

Answer: Value Points: 

-Andrew Manson is a young doctor just out of medical school. 

-The place where he works is a small mining town named Blaenelly. 

-He had been handling the case of Joe and Susan Morgan who were expecting their first child after twenty years of marriage. 

-Andrew had assured the couple of no complication and safe delivery of the baby. 

-He visits Joe Morgan’s house dead at night as Susan Morgan has premature labour pain 

-In an atmosphere of anxiety and expectation, he works for the safe delivery of the baby 
-A lifeless baby is born and Susan is on the verge of death too 

-Andrew is crushed 

-He first helps Susan’s condition improve 

-Then he works massively for resuscitating the breathless baby 
-After half an hour’s harsh struggle, the baby breaths 

-At last Andrew can be true to the promise he had held. 

-Saving the lives of two this way and guaranteeing joy to a whole family is thus ‘ something real’ 

                                              QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE

1. Give any two instances from the Lesson to show that Mrs. Pearson was treated like a servant by her family?

2. How does Mrs. Fitzgerald help Mrs. pearson to get back her lost respect in her family?

3. What shocks Cyril when he comes back home?

4. Who is Charlie Spencer? How does Mrs. Pearson show her dislike for him?

5. What advice does Mrs. Fitzgerald give to Mrs. Pearson after they change back their personalities?

6. At the end of the play how does Mrs. Pearson plan to spend evening with her family?

7. Who was Andrew Manson? Why was Joe Morgan waiting for him?

8. What was the conflict in Andrew’s mind regarding marriage?

9. How did the child appear when it was born?

10. What last effort was made by Andrew to revive the child?

11.“I have done something ; Oh, Good! I’ve done something real at last.” Why does Andrew think so?

                                        LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS :

1.‘Mother’s Day’ is a humorous and satirical depiction of the status of the mother in the family? What are the important issues it raises? How does the play resolve the issues? 

2.. What difference do you find in the attitude and personalities of Mrs. Pearson and Mrs. Fitzgerald? 3 What change do you observe in the behaviour of Doris, Cyril and Mr. George? 

4. What problems are being faced by mothers these days? Have they become stronger and more independent than earlier?

5.  Compare and contrast Dr. Andrew’s contrasting emotional status at the beginning of the story and in the end.  
6. What does the story highlight about the essence of true happiness and joy and sense of fulfilment through Dr. Andrew’s experience.   
7. Is there any supernatural element about the baby being brought back to life from being dead? Or the writer has presented the phenomenon as natural in the story?  

8.Give an account of efforts made by Dr. Andrew Manson to revive the still born child? 

9. There lies a great difference between textbook medicine and the world of a practising physician? Discuss this statement with reference to the story ‘Birth’?     

Value based question 

 Do you feel that modern day doctors are rather mechanical medical machines without human emotions? Or it is rather a prejudiced opinion about these professionals who are also considered human gods?                                                           

                                                 The Tale of Melon City

Short-Answer Questions: 

1. How do you think a just and placid king would be after reading the first two lines? 

Ans: The qualities of justness and placidity fits a king. After reading the first two lines of the poem we feel that the king would be truth loving and serious about his administration. 

2. How did the king react when the people responsible for tumbling the king’s crown started blaming each other? 

Ans: The king started immediately accepting the other one’s statement and declaring punishment for them. 

3. Ultimately, who was held responsible in the matter of fixing the charges for insulting the crown? 

Ans: The king himself was held responsible for insulting the crown as no one was of the height to fit the rope. 


4. The Tale of Melon City is an irony. Describe giving instances from the poem. 

Ans: The instance of deciding the issue of the wisest man and the next king is an irony on the decision making process in modern government while the King’s getting executed by his own order is an irony on the nature of so called just laws. 

Long Answer Questions: 

1. Sometimes stressing too much on rules and regulations is also difficult for smooth functioning and may lead to chaos and anarchy. Explain in wake of the theme of the poem ‘Tale of Melon City’. 

Value points: 

-Rules are made for systematizing working 

-Following all rules in all conditions not possible 

-Need of change in rules as per circumstances 

-King’s stress on his just and placid nature 

-The disastrous result. 

Questions for Practice:  Long Questions: 

1. Describe the different twists and turns of the story. 
 2. What larger picture of politics does the story in the poem paint?  
 3. Describe the exercise undertaken by the king and his men to frame charges for the crown’s insult. What was its final result?  
4. How has the poet made fun of governance system by using the phrase ‘Just and placid’. 

Short Questions: 

1. Where and why did the King order the construction of an arch?

2. What happened when the king went down the thoroughfare?

3. Who was the wisest man? What was his verdict?

4. Why did the King order to hang someone immediately?

5. What was the criteria for choosing a person to be hanged? Who was found fit finally?

6. What do you learn about the ministers from their behaviour?

7. How was a melon crowned to be the new King of the country?

8. What does the melon being a King signify ?