Beehive: 06. My Childhood: NCERT Solution

 Thinking about the Text

I. Answer these questions in one or two sentences each.

Q1. Where was Abdul Kalam’s house?

Ans: Abdul Kalam’s house was on Mosque Street in Rameswaram.

Q2. What do you think Dinamani is the name of? Give a reason for your answer.

Ans: Dinamani is the name of a local newspaper. It is so because Kalam traced the stories of the war in the head lives of Dinamani.

Q3. Who were Abdul Kalam’s school friends? What did they later become?

Ans: Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Shivaprakasan were Abdul Kalam’s school friends. Ramanadha Shastry became the high priest of the Rameswaram temple, Aravindan was a transport businessman and Shivaprakasan was the catering contractor for the southern railways.

Q4. How did Abdul Kalam earn his first wages?

 Ans: During the Second World War, the newspapers were bundled and thrown out of a moving train. Abdul Kalam earned his first wages by helping his cousin, who distributed newspapers in Rameswaram, to catch these bundles.

Q5. Had he earned any money before that? In what way?

Ans: Yes, Abdul Kalam had earned some money before he started helping his cousin. When the Second World War broke out, there was a sudden demand for tamarind seeds in the market. He collected the seeds and sold them at a provision shop on Mosque Street. Usually, a day's collection earned him one anna.

II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words).

Q1. How does the author describe

(a) His father

(b) His mother

(c) Himself?

Ans: 

(a) Kalam’s father, Jainulabdeen, was not a wealthy or educated person. However, he was an honest and generous man with great innate wisdom. He was self-disciplined and avoided all inessential luxuries.

(b) Kalam’s mother, Ashiamma, was an ideal helpmate to her husband. She believed in goodness and profound kindness and fed many people every day.

(c) The author describes himself as a short boy with undistinguished looks, who had a secure childhood. He is an honest and self-disciplined person who believes in goodness and deep kindness.

Q2. What characteristics does he say he inherited from his parents?

Ans: He says that he inherited honesty and self-discipline from his father. He further says that he inherited faith in goodness and deep kindness from his mother.

III. Discuss these questions in class with your teacher and then write down your answers in two or three paragraphs each.

Q1. “On the whole, the small society of Rameswaram was very rigid in terms of the segregation of different social groups,” says the author.

(a) Which social groups does he mention? Were these groups easily identifiable (for example, by the way they dressed)?

Ans: He mentions two social groups of Rameswaram – orthodox Brahmins and Muslims. Yes, these groups were easily identifiable.  

Example: by the way they dressed, Kalam wore a cap, which marked him as a Muslim. Ramanadha Sastry wore a seared thread, which marked him a Hindu.

(b) Were they aware only of their differences or did they also naturally share friendships and experiences? (Think of the bedtime stories in Kalam’s house, of who his friends were, and of what used to take place in the pond near his house.)

Ans:  No, they were not only aware of their differences, but also they naturally shared friendships and experiences. Kalam’s mother and grandmother would tell the children of his family bedtime stories about the events from the Ramayana and the life of the prophet. During the Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam ceremony, his family used to arrange boats with a special platform for carrying idols of the Lord from the temple to the marriage site, situated in the middle of the pond called Rama Tirtha near his house.

(c) The author speaks both of people who were very aware of the differences among them and those who tried to bridge these differences. Can you identify such people in the text?

Ans. The people who were very aware of the differences among them were the young teacher who joined the Rameswaram elementary school and came to teach Kalam’s class, the fifth standard, and his science teacher’s conservative wife, who refused to serve Kalam in her ritually pull kitchen. Those who tried to bridge these differences were Kalam’s science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, who invited, served, and dined with him to break social barriers so that people could mingle easily, and Lakshmana Sastry, who conveyed a strong sense of conviction to the new young teacher to reform him.

(d) Narrate two incidents that show how differences can be created, and also how they can be resolved. How can people change their attitudes?

Ans: The first incident to show how differences can be created is that when the new young teacher found a Muslim student sitting beside a Hindu student, he asked Kalam to sit in the last row. His friend Ramanadha Sastry was heartbroken. They informed their respective parents. Lakshmana Sastry summoned the teacher and conveyed a strong sense of conviction, which ultimately reformed him. The other incident shows how differences can be resolved. The author’s science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, though an orthodox Brahmin with a very conservative, tried to bridge these differences. People can change their attitudes by observing no difference in the way Hindus and Muslims eat meals, drink water, and clean the floor.

Q2. 

(a) Why did Abdul Kalam want to leave Rameswaram?

(b) What did his father say to this?

(c) What do you think his words mean? Why do you think he spoke those words?

Ans:

(a) Kalam wanted to leave Rameswaram for further studies. He wanted to study at the district headquarters in Ramanathapuram.

(b) Kalam's father said that he knew that one day Kalam had to go away to grow. He gave him the analogy of a seagull that flies across the sun alone and without a nest. He then quoted Khalil Gibran to Kalam's mother, saying that her children were not their children. They were the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through their parents, but not from them. They may give them their love, but not their thoughts, as the children have their thoughts.

(c) Abdul Kalam’s father’s words bear great meaning. First, he inspired his son to go ahead above, giving the example of the seagull. Secondly, he explained to Kalam’s mother to give his son opportunities to get higher education and to make progress. I think he spoke those words to encourage Abdul Kalam and to control the emotional attachment of his wife to Kalam.

Thinking about Language

I. Find the sentences in the text where these words occur

Look these words up in a dictionary that gives examples of how they are used.

Now answer the following questions.

Q1. What are the things that can erupt? Use examples to explain the various meanings of erupt. Now do the same for the word surge. What things can surge?

Ans: A few things that can erupt are anger, volcano, tooth, rash, riots, unrest, etc.  

Erupt has several meanings. Their explanation, with examples, is given as follows:

• Start unexpectedly.
  Example: Riots erupted in the city.
• It starts to burn or burst into flames.
  Example: The spark soon erupted into flames.
• Become active and spew forth lava and rocks.
  Example: The molten lava erupted out of the active volcano.
• Forceful and violent release of something pent up.
  Example: The difference in their views soon erupted in a fight.
• Sudden appearance on the skin.
  Example: On the party day, a pimple erupted on her face.
• Break out.
  Example: Eruption of the wisdom tooth causes a lot of pain.

Things that can surge are pride, anxiety, waves, boats, army, etc.

The several meanings it has can be explained with the following examples:

• Sudden forceful flow.
  Example: The boy drowned in the surging waves.
• Rise and move forward.
  Example: The army surged towards their enemy.
• Heave upward under the influence of a natural force.
  Example: The boat surged in the high tide.
• See one's performance improve.
  Example: Hard work helped to surge Sandra's scores.
• A sudden or abrupt strong increase.
  Example: The surge in the stock market left people in shock.
• Rise rapidly.
  Example: As time passed, her tension surged.
  
  

Q2. What are the meanings of the word trace and which of the meanings is closest to the word in the text?

Ans: The following are the meanings of the word trace:

• Follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something.
• Make a mark or lines on a surface.
• To go back over again.
• Pursue or chase relentlessly.
• Find or discover through investigation.
• Make one's course or travel along a path; travel or pass over, around, or along.
• Read with difficulty.
• The closest meaning of the word ‘trace’ in the text is ‘to find or discover through investigation’.
  

Q3. Can you find undistinguished in your dictionary? (If not, look for the word distinguished and say what undistinguished means.)

Ans: No, the word undistinguished does not exist in the dictionary.  However, its meaning can be derived from the meaning of the word ‘distinguished’, which denotes the ‘special or eminent appearance or behavior of a person’.  Thus, undistinguished symbolizes the ‘ordinary appearance or behaviour of a person.’

Page No. 76

II. 

Q1. Match the phrases in Column A with their meanings in Column B. 

Ans:

Q2. Study the words in italics in the sentences below. They are formed by prefixing un – or in – to their antonyms (words opposite in meaning).

• I was a short boy with rather undistinguished looks. (un + distinguished)
• My austere father used to avoid all inessential comforts.(in + essential)
• The area was completely unaffected by the war. (un + affected)
• He should not spread the poison of social inequality and communal intolerance. (in + equality, in + tolerance)

Now form the opposites of the words below by prefixing un- or in-. The prefix in- can also have the forms il-, ir-, or im- (for example illiterate –il + literate, impractical –im + practical, irrational – ir + rational). You may consult a dictionary if you wish.

Ans:

Page No. 77

IV. Rewrite the sentences below, changing the verbs in brackets into the passive form.

1. In yesterday’s competition the prizes (give away) by the Principal.

2. In spite of financial difficulties, the laborers (pay) on time.

3. On Republic Day, vehicles (not allow) beyond this point.

4. Second-hand books (buy and sell) on the pavement every Saturday.

5. Elections to the Lok Sabha (hold) every five years.

6. Our National Anthem (compose) Rabindranath Tagore.

Ans: 

1. In yesterday’s competition, the prizes were given away by the Principal.

2. In spite of financial difficulties, the laborers were paid on time.

3. On Republic Day, vehicles are not allowed beyond this point.

4. Second-hand books are bought and sold on the pavement every Saturday.

5. Elections to the Lok Sabha are held every five years.

6. Our National Anthem was composed by Rabindranath Tagore.

V. Rewrite the paragraphs below, using the correct form of the verb given in brackets.

Q1. How Helmets Came To Be Used in Cricket

Nari Contractor was the Captain and an opening batsman for India in the 1960s. The Indian cricket team went on a tour to the West Indies in 1962. In a match against Barbados in Bridgetown, Nari Contractor (seriously injured and collapsed). In those days helmets (not wear). Contractor (hit) on the head by a bouncer from Charlie Griffith. Contractor’s skull (fracture). The entire team (deeply concerned). The West Indies players (worry). Contractor (rush) to hospital. He (was accompanied) by Frank Worrell, the Captain of the West Indies Team. Blood (donated) by the West Indies players. Thanks to the timely help, Contractor (save). Nowadays, helmets (routinely used) against bowlers.

Q2. Oil from Seeds

Vegetable oils (made) from seeds and fruits of many plants growing all over the world, from tiny sesame seeds to big, juicy coconuts. Oil (produced) from cotton seeds, groundnuts, soya beans, and sunflower seeds. Olive oil (use) for cooking, salad dressing, etc. Olives (shake) from the trees and (gather) up, usually by hand. The olives (ground) to a thick paste which is spread onto special mats. Then the mats (layer) upon the pressing machine will be gently squeezed to produce olive oil.

Ans: 

1. How Helmets Came To Be Used in Cricket

Nari Contractor was the Captain and an opening batsman for India in the 1960s. The Indian cricket team went on a tour to the West Indies in 1962. In a match against Barbados in Bridgetown, Nari Contractor got seriously injured and collapsed. In those days, helmets were not worn. The contractor was hit on the head by a bouncer from Charlie Griffith. The contractor’s skull had fractured. The entire team was deeply concerned. The West Indies players were worried. The contractor was rushed to hospital. He was accompanied by Frank Worrell, the Captain of the West Indies Team. Blood was donated by the West Indies players. Thanks to the timely help, the Contractor was saved. Nowadays, helmets are routinely used against bowlers.

2. Oil from Seeds

Vegetable oils are made from seeds and fruits of many plants growing all over the world, from tiny sesame seeds to big, juicy coconuts. Oil is produced from cotton seeds, groundnuts, soya beans and sunflower seeds. Olive oil is used for cooking, salad dressing, etc. Olives are shaken from the trees and gathered up, usually by hand. The olives are ground to a thick paste which is spread onto special mats. Then the mats are layered upon the pressing machine, which will gently squeeze them to produce olive oil.