Thinking about the Text
Q1. On the following map mark out the route, that the author thought of but did not take, to Delhi.
Ans:
- Kathmandu to Patna by bus & train
- Patna to Allahabad by boat/Ganges
- Allahabad to Delhi by boat/Yamuna
Page No: 132
I. Answer these questions in one or two words or short phrases.
Q1. Name the two temples the author visited in Kathmandu.
Ans: The two temples the author visited in Kathmandu were the Pashupatinath temple and the Baudhnath stupa.
Q2. The writer says, “All this I wash down with Coca-Cola.” What does ‘all this’ refer to?
Ans: ‘All
this’ refers to eating a bar of marzipan, a com-on-the-cob roasted in a
charcoal stove (rubbed with salt, chili powder, and lemon), and reading
a couple of love story comics and a Reader’s Digest.
Q3. What does Vikram Seth compare to the quills of a porcupine?
Ans: Vikram
Seth compares the fifty or sixty bansuris protruding in all directions
from the pole of a flute seller to the quills of a porcupine.
Q4. Name five kinds of flutes.
Ans: The
reed neh, the Japanese shakuhachi, the deep bansuri of Hindustani
classical music, the clear or breathy flutes of South America, and the
high-pitched Chinese flutes.
II. Answer each question in a short paragraph.
Q1. What difference does the author note between the flute seller and the other hawkers?
Ans: The
author notes that while the other hawkers shouted out their wares, the
flute seller did not. He simply played a flute, slowly and meditatively,
without excessive display.
Q2. What is the belief at Pashupatinath about the end of Kaliyug?
Ans: At
Pashupatinath, there is a small shrine that protrudes from the stone
platform on the river bank of Bagmati. It is believed that when the
shrine emerges fully, the goddess inside it will escape. The evil period
of Kaliyug on earth will then end.
Q3. The author has drawn powerful images and pictures. Pick out three examples of each of
(i)
the atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’ outside the temple of
Pashupatinath (for example: some people trying to get the priest’s
attention are elbowed aside…)
(ii) the things he sees
(iii) the sounds he hears
Ans:
(i)
The author has drawn powerful images and pictures of the atmosphere of
‘febrile confusion’ outside the temple of Pashupatinath. These include
the following: a group of saffron-clad Westerners struggling to enter
the main gate as only Hindus were allowed to enter the temple; a fight
that breaks out between two monkeys; and a royal Nepalese princess for
whom everyone makes way.
(ii) He saw that the Baudhnath Stupa had an immense white dome, which was ringed by a road. Small shops were there on the outer edge where felt bags, Tibetan prints and silver jewelry could be bought. There were no crowds there. On the busiest streets of Kathmandu, he saw fruit sellers, flute sellers, hawkers of postcards, shops selling Western cosmetics, film rolls, chocolate, copper utensils, and Nepalese antiques.
(iii)
The sounds he heard were film songs that were blaring out from the
radios, car horns, bicycle bells, and vendors shouting out their wares.
He also listened to flute music, calling it the most universal and most
particular of sounds.
III. Answer the following questions in not more than 100 − 150 words each.
Q1. Compare and contrast the atmosphere in and around the Baudhnath shrine with the Pashupathinath temple.
Ans: The
atmosphere at the Pashupatinath temple was noisy and full of chaos and
confusion. Worshippers were trying to get the priest’s attention; others
were pushing their way to the front; saffron-clad Westerners were
trying to enter the temple; monkeys were fighting and adding to the
general noise; a corpse was cremated on the banks of the river Bagmati;
washerwomen were at their work, while children were bathing. In
contrast, the Baudhnath stupa was “a haven of quietness in the busy
streets around”. There was no crowd, which helped build the stillness
and serenity at the Buddhist shrine.
Q2. How does the author describe Kathmandu’s busiest streets?
Ans: Along
Kathmandu’s narrowest and busiest streets, there are small shrines and
flower-adorned deities. Apart from these, there are fruit sellers, flute
sellers, hawkers of postcards, and shops selling Western cosmetics,
film rolls, chocolate, copper utensils, and Nepalese antiques. The
author hears film songs that are blaring out from the radios, sounds of
car horns and bicycle bells, and vendors shouting out their wares. He
says that stray cows roam about on the roads. He also draws a vivid
picture of a flute seller with many bansuris
protruding from his pole. He describes how the serene music produced by
the flute seller is heard clearly above all the other noise.
Q3. “To hear any flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind.” Why does the author say this?
Ans: The
author considers flute music to be “the most universal and most
particular” of all music. This is a musical instrument that is common to
all cultures. We have the reed neh, the recorder, the Japanese shakuhachi, the deep bansuri of
Hindustani classical music, the clear or breathy flutes of South
America, the high-pitched Chinese flutes, etc. Even though each of these
has its specific fingering and compass yet, for the author, to hear any
flute is “to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind”. This is
because, despite their differences, every flute produces music with the
help of the human breath. Similarly, despite the differences in caste,
culture, religion, and region, all human beings are the same, with the
same living breath running through all of them.
Thinking about Language
I.
Read the following sentences carefully to understand the meaning of the
italicized phrases. Then match the phrasal verbs in Column A with their
meanings in Column B.
1. A communal war broke out when the princess was abducted by the neighboring prince.
2. The cockpit broke off from the plane during the plane crash.
3. The car broke down on the way and we were left stranded in the jungle.
4. The dacoit broke away from the police as they took him to court.
5. The brothers broke up after the death of their father.
6. The thief broke into our house when we were away.
Ans:
II.
Q1.
Use the suffix −ion or −tion to form nouns from the following verbs.
Make the necessary changes in the spelling of the words.
Example: proclaim − proclamation
Ans:
1. Q2. Now fill in the blanks with suitable words from the ones that you have formed.
(i) Mass literacy was possible only after the ___________ of the printing machine.
(ii) Ramesh is unable to tackle the situation as he lacks ____________.
(iii) I could not resist the _____________ to open the letter.
(iv) Hardwork and ___________are the main keys to success.
(v) The children were almost fainting with ______________after being made to stand in the sun.
Ans:
(i) Mass literacy was possible only after the invention of the printing machine.
(ii) Ramesh is unable to tackle the situation as he lacks direction.
(iii) I could not resist the temptation to open the letter.
(iv) Hard work and dedication are the main keys to success.
(v) The children were almost fainting with exhaustion after being made to stand in the sun.
III. Punctuation
Use capital letters, full stops, question marks, commas and inverted commas wherever necessary in the following paragraph.
an
arrogant lion was wandering through the jungle one day he asked the
tiger who is stronger than you you O lion replied the tiger who is more
fierce than a leopard asked the lion you sir replied the leopard he
marched up to an elephant and asked the same question the elephant
picked him up in his trunk swung him in the air and threw him down look
said the lion there is no need to get mad just because you don’t know
the answer
Answer
An
arrogant lion was wandering through the jungle. One day, he asked the
tiger, “Who is stronger than you?” “You, O lion!” replied the tiger.
“Who is more fierce than a leopard?” asked the lion. “You sir,” replied
the leopard. He marched up to an elephant and asked the same question.
The elephant picked him up in his trunk, swung him in the air, and threw
him down. “Look,” said the lion, “there is no need to get mad just
because you don’t know the answer.”
Page No: 134
IV. Simple Present Tense
In these sentences words like every day, often, seldom, never, every month, generally, usually, etc. may be used.
1. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
(i) The
heart is a pump that ____________(send) the blood circulating through
our body. The pumping action ____________(take place) when the left
ventricle of the heart ____________(contract). This ____________(force)
the blood out into the arteries, which ____________(expand) to receive
the oncoming blood.
(ii) The
African lungfish can live without water for up to four years. During
drought, it ____________(dig) a pit and ____________(enclose) itself in a
capsule of slime and earth, leaving a tiny opening for air. The capsule
____________(dry) and ____________(harden), but when rain
____________(come), the mud ____________(dissolve) and the lungfish
____________(swim) away.
(iii) Mahesh: We have to organise a class party for our teacher. ____________(Do) anyone play an instrument?
Vipul:Rohit ____________(play) the flute.
Mahesh: ____________(Do) he also act?
Vipul: No, he ____________(compose) music.
Mahesh: That’s wonderful!
Ans:
(i) The heart is a pump that sends the blood circulating through our body. The pumping action takes place when the left ventricle of the heart contracts. This forces the blood out into the arteries, which expands to receive the oncoming blood.
(ii) The African lungfish can live without water for up to four years. During drought, it digs a pit and encloses itself in a capsule of slime and earth, leaving a tiny opening for air. The capsule dries and hardens, but when the rain comes, the mud dissolves and the lungfish swims away.
(iii) Mahesh: We have to organise a class party for our teacher. Does anyone play an instrument?
Vipul: Rohit plays the flute.
Mahesh: Does he also act?
Vipul: No, he composes music.
Mahesh: That’s wonderful!
