👉PROSE:
1.“One of the most vivid memories of my early childhood is of the two men…”
(a) Whose childhood memories are being described here?
(b) Who are the two men mentioned in this context?
(c) What were they discussing during this encounter?
(d) What explanation did the narrator receive in response to his query about prayer?
Ans: (a) The childhood memories of APJ Abdul Kalam are being described here.
(b) The two men referred to here are Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry and Jainulabdeen.
(c) Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry, the high priest of the Rameswaram temple, shared a deep bond of friendship with Jainulabdeen, who was Dr. Kalam’s father. This close connection allowed them to discuss various spiritual matters in a harmonious and meaningful way.
(d) Their conversations often reflected their belief in unity and mutual respect. They engaged in discussions with an open mind and a pleasant atmosphere, free from any notions of division based on caste, creed, or community. To them, religion was an inclusive concept—one that embraced diverse ideas and provided space for people from all backgrounds to share their thoughts freely.
2.“I’m tired of people telling me I have a pretty face,” Who said, and to whom? What did the narrator reply to this? What does this statement reveal about the girl’s personality?
Ans: 👉 The girl said, “I’m tired of people telling me I have a pretty face,” to the narrator during their conversation in the train compartment.
👉The narrator responded by saying, “Well, an interesting face can also be pretty,” attempting to flatter her in a unique way.
👉This statement reveals that the girl values being appreciated for her individuality and uniqueness rather than merely her appearance. It reflects her desire for recognition based on deeper qualities, showing her self-awareness and inner depth.
3.What were the three questions that the Tsar sought answers to? Why did he consider these answers important? Why did the Tsar find the responses of the wise men unsatisfactory? Finally, whom did he choose to consult?
4.“Eat some more, son,”
Who is the speaker in this line, and to whom is it addressed? What food did the speaker offer? What aspect of the speaker’s personality is highlighted through this act?
5 “His answer filled me with a strange energy and enthusiasm.”
Who is the speaker in this line? Whose answer is being mentioned here? What was the content of the answer?
6 How was the wounded man revived and nursed? Why did he seek the Tsar’s forgiveness? What action did the Tsar take to win the man’s friendship?
7 “Then I made a mistake.”
What ‘mistake’ did the speaker make? Why was it considered a ‘mistake’? What cleared the speaker’s doubts? What did the speaker do after that?
8 “Our locality was predominantly Muslim.”
Who is the speaker of this line? How does the speaker describe the locality? What example of communal harmony is reflected in this description?
👉POETRY:
1 “But thy eternal summer shall not fade Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st;”
Whose ‘eternal summer’ is being referred to in this line? What does the term ‘eternal summer’ signify? What conclusion does the poet reach at the end of the poem?
2 What does Keats mean by ‘the poetry of earth’? Why does he claim that this poetry never ceases?
3 How does the poet describe the growth of a tree over the years? What are the various steps involved in killing the tree?
4 “…His smile Is like an infant’s…”
Whose ‘smile’ is being referred to in this line? Why is his smile likened to that of an infant? How does Nature nurture and care for him?
👉DRAMA:
1.“She’s like a love-sick cat.”
Who made this remark and about whom? How does the comment reflect the character of the person being referred to?
2.Describe the character of Natalya in detail.
3.“Oxen Meadows, it’s true, were once the subject of dispute, but now everybody knows that they are mine.”
Who is the speaker of this line? To whom is the speaker addressing? What explanation did the speaker provide to prove ownership of Oxen Meadows? How did the person being addressed respond to this claim?
4.Lomov came with a proposal to marry Natalya Stepanovna. What reasoning does he provide to justify his decision?
👉GRAMMAR:
A. Do as directed:
(i) Who doesn’t know Ramlal? (Rewrite as an Assertive sentence)
Ans: Everybody knows Ramlal.
(ii) “You have already been answered,” said the hermit to the Tsar. (Turn into Indirect speech)
Ans: The hermit told the Tsar that he had already been answered.
(iii) I wanted a pair of blue suede shoes. (Turn into a Complex sentence)
Ans: I wanted a pair of suede shoes that was blue in color.
(iv) The hermit was digging the ground. (Change the Voice)
Ans: The ground was being dug by the hermit.
(v) The man who had entered the compartment broke into my reverie. (Split into two Simple sentences)
Ans: The man had entered the compartment. He broke into my reverie.
(vi) This is the best time. (Use the Positive degree of best)
Ans: There is no other time as good as this.
(vii) “Then I won’t turn you loose,” said the woman to the boy. (Turn into Indirect speech)
Ans: The woman told the boy that she would not turn him loose.
(viii) I found the window. (Change the voice)
Ans: The window was found by me.
(ix) A man, getting into the compartment, stammered an apology. (Split into two simple sentences)
Ans: A man got into the compartment. He stammered an apology.
(x) This is not a correct approach. (Rewrite as an affirmative sentence)
Ans: This is an incorrect approach.
(xi) She was silent. (Rewrite as a negative sentence)
Ans: She was not talking.
(xii) She did not leave the door shut. (Turn into affirmative sentence)
Ans: She left the door open.
(xiii) “We’ll soon be at your station,” I said to the girl. (Turn into Indirect speech)
Ans: I said to the girl that they would soon be at her station.
(xiv) My parents were widely regarded as an ideal couple. (Change the voice)
Ans: People widely regarded my parents as an ideal couple.
(xv) I was the most important man. (Rewrite the sentence using the positive degree of important)
Ans: No other man was as important as I.
(xvi) I do not recall the exact number of people she fed everyday. (Turn into an affirmative sentence)
Ans: I can hardly recall the exact number of people she fed every day.
(xvii) Mine was a very secure childhood. (Rewrite as a negative sentence)
Ans: Mine was not a very insecure childhood.
(xviii) The water dripping from his face, the boy looked at her. (Split into two separate sentences)
Ans: The water was dripping from his face. The boy looked at her.
(xix) “Was I bothering you when I turned that corner?”, asked the woman. (Turn into Indirect speech)
Ans: The woman asked if/whether she was bothering him when she turned that corner.
(xx) My father could convey complex spiritual concepts in very simple, down-to-earth Tamil. (Change the voice)
Ans: Complex spiritual concepts could be conveyed in very simple, down-to-earth Tamil by my father.
(xxi) As soon as she left the train, she would forget our brief encounter. (Turn into a negative sentence)
Ans: No sooner had she left the train than she would forget our brief encounter.
(xxii) I am the most unhappy of men. (Change to positive degree)
Ans: No man is as unhappy as I am.
(xxiii) But thy eternal summer shall not fade. (Change to affirmative sentence)
Ans: But thy eternal summer will remain unfaded.
(xxiv) I wished to kill you. (Use the underlined word as a noun and rewrite)
Ans: I had a wish to kill you.
(xxv) I don’t intend to give up what I have. (Use the underlined word as a noun and rewrite)
Ans: I don’t have any intention to give up what I have.
(xxvi) The Tsar said, “I come to you, wise man, for an answer to my questions.” (Change into indirect speech)
Ans: The Tsar said to the wise man that he had come to him for an answer to his questions.
(xxvii) The man would have attacked you. (Change the voice)
Ans: You would have been attacked by the man.
(xxviii) The door was open. (Turn into a negative sentence)
Ans: The door was not closed/shut.
(xxix) The sun began to sink behind the trees, the Tsar stuck the spade into the ground at last. (Turn into a complex sentence)
Ans: As the sun began to sink behind the trees, the Tsar stuck the spade into the ground at last.
(xxx) The most important thing in the world was science. (Change into positive degree)
Ans: No other thing in the world was as important as science.
(xxxi) The hermit was digging the ground. (Change the voice)
Ans: The ground was being dug by the hermit.
(xxxii) Lomov: I’ll show you the documents, Natalya Stepanovna! (Change into indirect speech)
Ans: Lomov told Natalya Stepanovna that he would show her the documents.
(xxxiii) There was a very old mosque in our locality where my father would take me for evening prayers. (Split into two simple sentences)
Ans: There was a very old mosque in our locality. My father would take me there for evening prayers.
(xxxiv) The poetry of earth is never dead. (Turn into an affirmative sentence)
Ans: The poetry of earth is alive forever.
(xxxv) He answered in a low deep voice. (Use the underlined word as a noun and rewrite the sentence)
Ans: He gave the answer in a low deep voice.
(xxxvi) The sun’s rays were bright. They lit up the valley. (Combine and turn into a simple sentence)
Ans: The bright sun’s rays lit up the valley.
(xxxvii) The most important thing in the world was science. (Change into positive degree)
Ans: No other thing in the world was as important as science.
(xxxviii) I don’t intend to give up what I have. (Use the underlined word as a noun and rewrite)
Ans: It is not my intention to give up what I have.
(xxxix) The door was open. (Turn into a negative sentence)
Ans: The door was not closed or shut.
(xl) The hermit was digging the ground. (Change the voice)
Ans: The ground was being dug by the hermit.
(xli) My father could convey complex spiritual concepts. (Change the voice)
Ans: Complex spiritual concepts could be conveyed by my father.
(xlii) As soon as she left the train, she would forget our brief encounter. (Turn into a negative sentence)
Ans: No sooner had she left the train, than she would forget our brief encounter.
OR
The Tsar said, “I come to you, wise man, for an answer to my questions.” (Change into indirect speech)
Ans: The Tsar told the wise man that he had come to him for an answer to his questions.
(xliii) “Was I bothering you when I turned that corner?” asked the woman.
Ans: The woman asked if she had been bothering him when she had turned that corner. / The woman asked him if she was bothering him when she turned that corner.
(xliv) The hills are covered with wild dahlias.
Ans: Wild dahlias covered the hills.
(xlv) The poetry of earth is never dead.
Ans: The poetry of earth is always alive. / The poetry of earth always continues.
(xlvi) It’s not true. I’ll prove it.
Ans: I’ll prove that it’s not true.
(xlvii) Having taken leave of the wounded man, the Tsar went out into the porch and looked around for the hermit.
Ans: [i] The Tsar had taken leave of the wounded man. [ii] He went out into the porch. [iii] He looked around for the hermit.
(xlviii) The door was open.
Ans: The door did not open.
B.Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles and prepositions:
👉I have endeavoured ………(i)……… understand………(ii)………fundamental truths revealed ………(iii)………. me ………(iv)……. my father, and feel convinced that there exists ……….(v)……. divine power that can lift one up from confusion, misery, melancholy and failure and guide one ……..(vi)……. one’s true place.
Ans: (i) to, (ii) the, (iii) to, (iv) by, (v) a, (vi) to
👉I was prepared …………..(i)………….. sit there …………..(ii)………….. almost any length ………….(iii)………… time, just to listen ………….(iv)…………. her talking. Her voice had ………….(v)…………. sparkle ………….(vi)………… a mountain stream.
Ans: (i) to, (ii) for, (iii) of, (iv) to, (v) the, (vi) of
👉We lived …………..(i)………….. our ancestral house, which was built …………..(ii)………… the middle …………(iii)………….. the 19th century. It was a fairly large pucca house, made …………(iv)……….. limestone and brick, …………(v)……….. the Mosque Street ………. (vi)…….. Rameswaram.
Ans: (i) in, (ii) in, (iii) of, (iv) of, (v) on, (vi) in.
👉The Tsar turned round and saw …………..(i)………….. bearded man come running …………(ii)……….. ……….(iii)………….. the wood. The man held his hands pressed …………….(iv)………… his stomach and blood was flowing ……….(v)…………. …………(vi)……….. them.
Ans: (i) a, (ii) out, (iii) of, (iv) against, (v) from, (vi) under.
👉When my father (i) ______ the mosque after the prayers, people of different religions would be sitting outside, waiting (ii) ______ him. Many of them offered bowls of water (iii) ______ my father, who would dip his fingertips (iv) ______ them and say (v) ______ prayer. This water was then carried home (vi) ______ invalids.
Ans: (i) left (ii) for (iii) to (iv) in (v) a (vi) for.
👉I moved easily ……(i)……. the berth and felt ……(ii)……. the window ledge. The window was open and I faced it, making a pretence ……(iii)……. studying the landscape. I heard the panting ……(iv)…… the engine, the rumble of the wheels, and, ……(v)….. my mind’s eye, I could see telegraph posts flashing ……(vi)……..
Ans: (i) along (ii) for (iii) of (iv) of (v) in (vi) by.
👉When my father came out ……(i)…… the mosque after the prayers, people of different religions would be sitting outside, waiting ……..(ii)……… him. Many of them offered bowls of water ……..(iii)……. my father, who would dip his fingertips ……(iv)……… them and say ..……(v)……… prayer. This water was then carried home ..…..(vi)…….. invalids.
Ans: (i) of (ii) for (iii) to (iv) in (v) a (vi) for
👉The Tsar turned round and saw ……(i)……. bearded man come running ……..(ii)……. ……..(iii)……… the wood. The man held his hands pressed …….(iv)……… his stomach and blood was flowing …….(v)………. ……….(vi)……… them.
Ans: (i) a (ii) out (iii) of (iv) against (v) from (vi) under
👉They called their goodbyes and …………..(i)…………. pulled out …….(ii)…… the station. As I was totally blind …….(iii)………. the time, my eyes sensitive only ……..(iv)…….. light and darkness, I was only unable ………..(v)………… tell what …………..(vi)………… looked like.
Ans : (i) the (ii) of (iii) at (iv) to (v) to (vi) the.C.Correct the error in the following sentence by replacing the underlined word with the right one from the options given below:
(i)It could be a fascinated game, guessing what went on out there.(Options: fascinate, fascinating, fascination)
Ans: It could be a fascinating game, guessing what went on out there.
(ii) They seemed very ancient about her comfort.
Ans: They seemed very anxious about her comfort.
[Options: anxious / anxiety / anxiously]
(iii) Few girls can resist flattering.
Ans: Few girls can resist flattery.
[Options: flatter / flattery / flatterer]
(iv) His answers filled me with a strange energy and enthusiastic.
Ans: His answers filled me with a strange energy and enthusiasm.
[Options: enthuse / enthusiastically / enthusiasm]
(v) You might run that comb through your hair so you will look present.
Ans: You might run that comb through your hair so you look presentable.
[Options: presently / presentable / presenting]
(vi) I would say my was a very secure childhood.
Ans: I would say mine was a very secure childhood.
[ (i) I (ii) me (iii) mine ]
(vii) His answers filled me with a strange energy and enthusiastic.
Ans: His answers filled me with a strange energy and enthusiasm.
[Options: enthuse / enthusiastically / enthusiasm]
(viii) Few girls can resist flattering.
Ans: Few girls can resist flattery.
[Options: flatter / flattery / flatterer]
(ix) In fact, I would say mine was a very ______ childhood, materially and emotionally.[Options: secured, secure, security]
Ans: secure.
