NCERT SOLUTIONS Poem 2 Fire and Ice By Robert Frost

 Class 10 First Flight Poem 2 Fire and Ice By Robert Frost

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Question 1. There are many ideas about how the world will ‘end’. Do you think the world will end some day? Have you ever thought what would happen if the Sun gets so hot that it ‘bursts’ or grows colder and colder? There are definitely many ideas about how the world will ‘end’. I do believe that the world will end some day as anything that has a beginning will have an end. This stands true for the world also, if the Sun got so hot that it burst, the whole of the Earth would perish immediately as no part of the Earth can bear the heat of that intensity. But if the Sun grew colder and colder, everything will come to an end as without sunlight, life will end.

Question 2. For Frost, what do ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ stand for? Here are some ideas ‘Fire’ stands for greed, avarice, lust, conflict and fury. ‘Ice’ stands for cruelty, intolerance, rigidity, insensitivity, coldness, indifference and hatred.

Question 3. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem? How does it help in bringing out the contrasting ideas in the poem? The rhyme scheme of the poem is- a b a a b c b c b This rhyme scheme helps in bringing out the contrasting ideas of ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ presented in the poem. The poet mentions that both fire and ice are probable ends of this world. He talks about how fire represents desire and can therefore be a cause of the end of the world. Frost also mentions ice in between to symbolise that the coldness and indifference towards one another will be enough to end the world. In the second stanza, he says that he knows of enough hate in the world to be sure that even destruction through ice would be sufficient to bring about the end of the world.

EXPLANATION Class 10 Poem 1 Dust of Snow By Robert Frost

 Class 10 First Flight Poem 1 Dust of Snow By Robert Frost 

The way a crow Shook down on me 

The dust of snow From a hemlock tree 

Word meanings Shook- shake Hemlock- a poisonous tree with small white flowers The poem is set in a scene where the poet is in a bad mood and is walking by a tree, a hemlock tree. Hemlock tree is a poisonous tree. As he passes by, a crow happens to throw some snow dust on him. Whether it falls on his head or shoulders is unknown as there is no specific mention in the poem. Also, the readers are left in doubt about the bird’s specific action. Whether the crow was landing, shivering with cold, re adjusting itself on the branch or taking off, it happened to send some particles of snow upon the author. Here, the two agents of nature, the hemlock tree and the crow are signifiers of sadness and gloom just like the poet’s mood was in the opening scene. 

Has given my heart A change of mood 

And saved some part Of a day I had rued. 

Rued- held in regret For reasons unknown, the author was having a terrible day. But the falling of the snow on his head lifted his mood instantly. He had already spent his day in a bad mood but the rest of it was saved by the crow and the hemlock tree. Generally, hemlock tree and crow are used for negative references but the poet used them beautifully to portray that inauspicious things can bring joy and happiness too. One must not take things for granted and should be open and accept whichever way the nature chooses to bless us.

Dust of Snow Literary Devices 

i.Rhyme Scheme- abab cdcd Alliteration- the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. The instances of alliteration are as follows- i.Has given my heart ii. And saved some part ii.inversion - when the structure of a sentence is changed by the poet to create rhyme, this poetic license is called inversion. In stanza 1, inversion can be seen. iii. assonance - the prominence of a vowel sound throughout a line is called assonance. In stanza 1, line 2 - “Shook down on me” - ‘o’ sound is prominent. iv. enjambment - when the same sentence continues to the next line without the use of any punctuation marks, it is called enjambment. It has been used thorughout the poem.

NCERT SOLUTIONS Poem 1 Dust of Snow By Robert Frost

 Class 10 First Flight Poem 1 Dust of Snow By Robert Frost

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Question 1. What is a “dust of snow”? What does the poet say has changed his mood? How has the poet’s mood changed? The ‘dust of snow’ means the fine particles or flakes of snow. The sudden shower in the form of the dust of snow changed the poet’s mood. The poet’s mood changed from sad to happy. He felt refreshed and wanted to enjoy the rest of the day.

Question 2. How does Frost present nature in this poem? The following questions may help you to think of an answer.

i. What are the birds that are usually named in poems? Do you think crow is often mentioned in poems? What images come to your mind when you think of a crow?

Generally, poets take the birds and trees which are known for their beauty and good qualities like peacock, parrot, cuckoo, mynah and trees full of beautiful flowers and fruits, etc. But here Frost has taken a totally different approach.

He chose a crow, which is not often used in poems. Crow is black in colour with very harsh voice and is believed to be a symbol of bad omen. Thinking of a crow brings very depressing and sorrowful pictures to our mind.

ii. Again, what is ‘a hemlock tree’? Why doesn’t the poet write about more ‘beautiful’ tree such as a maple, or an oak, or a pine?

A hemlock tree is poisonous plant with small white flowers. The poet, Robert Frost, didn’t choose to use an oak, maple or pine tree. Instead, he chose the hemlock tree and left all the beautiful trees present in the world. Actually he did so to present his mood and feelings.

iii. What do the ‘crow’ and ‘hemlock’ represent-joy or sorrow? What does the dust of snow that the crow shakes off a hemlock tree stand for?

The crow and hemlock tree represent sorrow and depression felt by the poet in this materialistic world. The dust of snow is the symbol of natural joy and energy. The dust of snow that the crow shakes off a hemlock tree means passing through the sad and depressing moments the poet is entering into the time full of joy and optimism. Question 3. Have there been times when you felt depressed or hopeless? Have you experienced a similar moment that changed your mood that day? There have been innumerable times when I too have felt depressed and hopeless. Sometimes, such moments were aroused by other people’s behaviour and attitude and sometimes due to my own conduct. On one occasion when I was very upset. I went out for a walk. While walking in the park, I saw a girl playing with a puppy, embracing and feeding him. This little joy that they shared changed my mood and I felt very happy for the rest of the day. I also joined the two and played with them.

NCERT SOLUTIONS Chapter 2 The Thief’s Story By Ruskin Bond

 Class 10 Footprints Without Feet Chapter 2 The Thief’s Story By Ruskin Bond

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Question 1. Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story? I refers to Hari Singh, the narrator of the story who is a 15 year old experienced thief.

Question 2. What is he “a fairly successful hand” at? He is a fairly successful hand at stealing. He is an experienced thief. He is so clean and swift in his work that he robs people without being caught.

Question 3. What does he get from Anil in return for his work? In return of Hari Singh’s work, Anil gives him food and a place to live in.

Question 4. How does the thief think Anil will react to the theft? According to Hari, Anil would be sad not because of the loss of money but because of the loss of trust he had in Hari.

Question 5. What does he say about the different reactions of people when they are robbed? Hari’s experience at theft had made him aware of differences in reactions of peofJle when they’re robbed. According to him, a greedy man shows fear; the rich, anger and a poor man, acceptance.

Question 6. Does Anil realise that he has been robbed? Yes, Anil realised that he had been robbed, as he gave a fifty rupee note to Hari which was still damp due to the night’s rain.

Question 1. What are Hari Singh’s reactions at the prospect of receiving an education? Do they change overtime? {Hint: compare, for example, the thought: ‘I knew that once I could write like an educated man there would be no limit to what I could achieve’ with these later thoughts: ‘Whole sentences, I knew, could one day bring me more than a few hundred rupees. It was a simple matter to steal and sometimes just as simple to be caught. But to be a really big man, a clever and respected man, was something else.’) What makes him return to Anil?

Answer: Hari was very happy and grateful when he learned to write his name. He was very

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excited when Anil promised to teach him to write whole sentences as well. He knew that being an educated man will add to his abilities and he could achieve anything. But when he left Anil’s house, he realised that stealing was simply a crime to indulge himself but being educated was an entirely different thing. He knew the respect, reputation and possibilities that would come to him once he was educated. And so his urge to receive education compelled him to return to Anil.

Question 2. Why does Anil not hand the thief over to the police? Do you think most people would have done so? In what ways is Anil different from such employers? Unlike others, Anil does not handover Hari to the police on theft charges. He knew about the theft but he did not thrash him nor even mentioned it in front of Hari. He was glad that Hari had realised his mistake and the importance of education in life. Anil wanted Hari to become a literate man and lead a respectful life. He is different from other such employers because he is very understanding. Hari’s return gave him the hope of a change in him.

Question 1. Do you think people like Anil and Hari Singh are found only in fiction, or are there such people in real life? People like Anil and Hari Singh are found only in fiction. Though exceptions might be there, these people are rarely found. Anil was a kind and considerate person who was concerned, about Hari’s education and future. And Hari was a thief whose heart changes after realising the importance of education for his future. People like these are imaginary in today’s world.

Question 2. Do you think it is a significant detail i story that Anil is a struggling writer? this explain his behaviour in any way Yes, it is a significant detail that Anil is a struggling writer. His lifestyle was simple and used to spend according to his pocket at all time His struggle sometimes gave him a lot of income while at other times he used to worry about the next payment. Hari’s observation about the discontinuation in his work justifies his behave regarding money.

Question 3. Have you met anyone like Hari Singh? Can you think and imagine the circumstances that can turn a fifteen year old boy into a thief? No, I haven’t met anyone like Hari Singh but the existence of such people is certain. A fifteen year old boy can be forced by circumstances to become a thief. It may be the

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need to feed the stomach, to satisfy illegal addiction, to maintain health, to fulfil luxurious demands etc

Question 4. Where is the story set? (You can get clues from the names of the persons and places mentioned in it). Which language or languages are spoken in these places? Do you think the characters in the story spoke to each other in English? The story is set somewhere in Uttar Pradesh near Lucknow. We can say so because the story mentions that there is a railway station for Express train to Lucknow. The presence of sweet shops and bazaars also indicate it to be a decent-sized town. No, the characters in the story do not speak to each other in English but probably in Hindi.

Class 10 Chapter 2 The Thief’s Story WORD MEANINGS

 Class 10 Footprints without Feet Chapter 2 The Thief’s Story by Ruskin Bond

1. betray (Disloyal)

2. though (Still)

3. fairly (Enough)

4. approached (Went near)

5. lean (Thin)

6. purpose (Objective)

7. flattery (False Praise)

8. modestly (Humbly)

9. lied (Told Lie)

10. ahead (Forward)

11. grunting (Roaring)

12. casually (Purposelessly)

13. appealing (Attractive)

14. stray (Street, Wandering)

15. never mind (Don’t worry)

16. achieve (Obtain)

17. fits and starts (Sometimes)

18. queer (Strange)

19. tuck (To press in)

20. pleased (Want)

21. rob (Cheat)

22. beam (Ray)

23. considering (Thinking over)

24. crept (Drag)

25. marks (Spot)

26. sighed (Moan)

27. startled (Worried)

28. crawled (Moved)

29. dashed (Rushed)

30. carriages (Compartments)

31. deserted (Lonely)

32. drizzle (Mild rain)

33. discomfort (Uneasiness)

34. damp (Wet)

35. undetected (Without Caught)

NCERT SOLUTIONS Chapter 1 A Triumph of Surgery By James Herriot

 Class 10 Footprints Without Feet Chapter 1 A Triumph of Surgery By James Herriot

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Question 1. Why is Mrs Pumphrey worried about Tricki? Mrs Pumphrey is worried about Tricki because he is unwell. He has refused to eat food and had bouts of vomiting. She feels that he is suffering from a serious health issue such as malnutrition.

Question 2. What does she do to help him? Is she wise in this? Mrs Pumphrey starts giving him extra snacks like malt, cod-liver oil and Horlicks, apart from his main meals, to improve his condition. She also continues to satisfy his sweet tooth with cream cakes and chocolates. She does not give him any exercise, considering his listlessness as well. She is not wise in doing so because overfeeding Tricki is worsening his conditions instead of improving it. It has made him very fat and lazy.

Question 3. Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story? ‘I’ refers to the narrator, Mr James Herriot, a veterinary doctor.

Question 4. Is the narrator as rich as Tricki’s mistress? No, the narrator is not as rich as Tricki’s mistress, Mrs Pumphery. We can say so because the narrator seems fascinated by how lavishly Mrs Pumphrey spends on the well-being and maintenance of her pet. He is unusually surprised by the enriching items she sends for Tricki, as he cannot afford them for himself.

Question 5. How does he treat the dog? James Herriot treats Tricki just like he would treat an overweight and lazy dog, which Tricki is. He cuts down his food intake and keeps him under strict observation for the initial days at hospital. He gradually increases Tricki’s food and sets him free for physical activities to improve his health.

Question 6. Why is he tempted to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest? Mr Herriot is tempted to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest because of the good food and wine he is enjoying in Tricki’s name. He does not want to lose the luxurious inflow of fresh eggs, wine and brandy.

Question 7. Why does Mrs Pumphrey think the dog’s recovery is ‘a triumph of surgery’? Mrs Pumphrey thinks that Tricki’s recovery is a triumph of surgery because his illness

Class 10 Footprints Without Feet Chapter 1 A Triumph of Surgery

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was very serious. She was of the opinion that there were very few chances of Tricki to improve and he needed immediate medical attention. Thus, his revival without any medicinal treatment was a great achievement, according to her.

Question 1. What kind of a person do you think the narrator, a veterinary surgeon, is? Would you say he is tactful as well as full of common sense? The narrator, a veterinary surgeon, is a capable and wise doctor. He handles Tricki properly which shows that he is sincere about his profession. He does not operate upon the dog unnecessarily and cures him by altering his diet and activities.

He is a tactful person as he knew exactly how to convince Mrs Pumphrey to hospitalise Tricki for a surgery. His decision to inform Mrs Pumphrey to collect Tricki supports his sensibilities even though he was tempted to keep Tricki as a permanent guest.

Question 2. Do you think Tricki was happy to go home? What do you think will happen now? Tricki was happy to go back home as he really loved his mistress and the comfort of his lavish life. He didn’t have any friends at home like in the hospital, but he seemed equally excited at the sight of Mrs Pumphrey. I think that Mrs Pumphrey will now be careful about Tricki’s diet and health. She may also give him exercise daily as prescribed by the vet earlier.

Question 3. Do you think it is a real-life episode or mere fiction? Or is it a mixture of both? The story seems to be a mixture of both. It may be possible for rich persons to overfeed their pets due to love. It is not unusual for them to maintain a vast wardrobe for them either. But it is unlikely for a veterinary doctor to go out of the way and lie in order to save an animal. It is also unusual for anyone to consume food which is given in the name of a pet’s health.

Question 1. This episode describes the silly behaviour of a rich woman who is foolishly indulgent, perhaps because she is lonely. Do you think such people are merely silly or can their actions cause harm to others? Answer: Mrs Pumphrey’s actions had a harmful reaction on Tricki’s health. She was overparenting’ and overfeeding Tricki in the name of love. This worsened his condition to an extent that he had to be hospitalised. People like Mrs Pumphrey are not just merely silly but their actions can definitely have dangerous consequences for others.

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Question 2. Do you think there are also parents like Mrs Pumphrey? Yes, there are some parents like Mrs Pumphrey who spoil their children by pampering them. They overfeed their children/pets despite being aware of the harmful effects on their health. Parents like Mrs Pumphrey should maintain a healthy lifestyle of their family and pets.

Question 3. What would you have done if you were :

a member of the staff in Mrs Pumphrey’s household,

a neighbour? What would your life have been like, in general?

If I were a member of the staff in her household I would have not followed Mrs Pumphrey’s command to feed Tricki blindly. In fact, I would have fed him according to the vet’s advice. I would have also skipped sending the unnecessary stuff like toys, cushions etc to the hospital. My life would have been a very busy one, as I would have had to take care of the household chores and meet Tricki’s demands on time.

If I were Mrs Pumphrey’s neighbour, I would have advised her to consult a vet and follow his advice strictly keeping in mind Tricki’s deteriorating health. I would have also been supportive in their hard time when Tricki was hospitalised. My life as Mrs Pumphrey’s neighbour would have been full of surprises and gifts as Mrs Pumphrey was a loving lady.

Question 4. What would you have done if you were in the narrator’s place? If I were in the narrator’s place, I would have treated Tricki with a similar amount of compassion and love. I would have been equally caring as Mr James Herriot towards Tricki. I would have just been a little more stern while advising Mrs Pumphrey to put Tricki on a strict diet knowing her way of showing love. I would have also not consumed Tricki’s share of eggs, wine and brandy sent by Mrs Pumphrey.

Class 10 Chapter 1 A Triumph of Surgery Word Meanings

 Class 10 Footprints without Feet Chapter 1 A Triumph of Surgery By James Herriot

1. pampered (Spoiled with love)

2. overfed (Stuffed)

3. appearance (Condition)

4. bloated (Swollen,Balloon)

5. sausage (Meat)

6. bloodshot (Red)

7. rheumy (A watery discharge from the nose and eyes)

8. lolled (Hung out)

9. jaws (Mouth)

10. hastened (Hurried)

11. listless (Lazy)

12. energy (Strength)

13. malnutrition (Lack of proper diet, food)

14. malt (Barley grain)

15. Horlicks (Tonic)

16. relent (Give in)

17. tackle (Catch)

18. wondered (Thought)

19. mentioned (Referred)

20. lumbago (Rheumatic pain in muscles of lower back)

21. severe (Hard)

22. wrung (Twisted)

23. determined (Strong minded)

24. regime (Prescribed course of exercise and diet)

25. concern (Worry)

26. tweed (Woollen)

27. wardrobe (Cupboard)

28. drooping (Hanging down)

29. harness (Ornamental covering)

30. distraught (Upset)

31. bouts (Repetition)

32. rug (Carpet)

33. panting (Quick breaths)

34. fortnight (A period of two weeks)

35. observation (Inspection)

36. swooned (Fainted)

37. firm (Solid)

38. delay (Wait)

39. wailings (Crying)

40. wrapped (Covered)

41. roused (Wake up)

42. rushed (Hurried)

43. despairing (Full of disappointment)

44. glanced (Looked)

45. pathetic (Full of pity)

46. gasping (Breathing heavily)

47. patted (Touched)

48. wag (Shake)

49. lad (Child)

50. kick (Power)

51. surged (Crowded)

52. noisy pack (Gang of dogs)

53. sniffing (Making sound with the nose)

54. whimper (Muttering, crying)

55. trotted (Moved taking short steps)

56. engulfed (Get down)

57. greyhound (The hunter dog)

58. surplus (Over)

59. liable (Responsible)

60. jostling (Pushing)

61. rapid (Fast)

62. scrimmages (Fights)

63. tramped (Crushed)

64. squashed (Defeated)

65. shaggy (Rough)

66. hovered (Stay close)

67. anxiously (Worriedly)

68. bulletins (News)

69. dodged (Avoided)

70. convalescing (Gaining health)

71. convalescing (Gaining health)

72. dawn on (To appear)

73. enrich (To make rich)

74. ceremonial (In the manner of ceremony)

75. constitution (Physical construction)

76. inhaled (Breathed in)

77. reverently (Respectfully)

78. sustained (Maintained)

79. temptation (Attraction)

80. compelled (Forced)

81. awaiting (Waiting for)

82. gleaming (Shining)

83. black metal (Car)

84. drew (Came)

85. chauffeur (Driver)

86. clasped (Hold firmly)

87. trembled (Shivered)

88. fetch (Bring)

89. hurtling (Running with great speed)

90. midst (middle)

91. flapping (Waving)

92. lithe (Flexible)

93. stretching (Expanding)

94. chauffeur (Driver)

95. tremendous (Huge)

96. leap (Jump)

97. startled (Surprised)

98. swarmed (Climbed)

99. leaned (Bent)

100. shone (Shine)

101. triumph (Victory)

NCERT SOLUTIONS Class 10 First Flight Chapter 1 A letter to God

 Class 10 First Flight Chapter 1 A letter to God By G.L.Fuentes

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Question 1. What did Lencho hope for? Lencho hoped for a good rain as it was much needed for a good harvest.

Question 2. Why did Lencho say the raindrops were like ‘new coins’? Lencho compared the raindrops with new coins because they were promising him a good harvest resulting in more prosperity.

Question 3. How did the rain change? What happened to Lencho’s fields? The rain changed into hailstones as a strong wind began to blow and huge hailstones began to fall alongwith the rain. All the crops in Lencho’s field got destroyed because of the weather conditions.

Question 4. What were Lencho’s feelings when the hail stopped? Lencho was filled with grief after the hail stopped as everything was ruined and there was nothing that he could feed his family with. He could see a bleak future for him and his family.

Question 5. Who or what did Lencho have faith in? What did he do? Lencho had firm faith in God. He believed ‘ that God sees everything, even what is deep in one’s conscience and help everyone in one’s problems. He wrote a letter to God demanding him a hundred pesos to sow his field again.

Question 6. Who read the letter? Postmaster read the letter.

Question 7. What did the postmaster do after reading a letter? The postmaster laughed when he read Lencho’s letter but soon he became serious and was moved by the writer’s faith in God. He didn’t want to shake Lencho’s faith. So, he decided to collect ,money and send it to Lencho on behalf of God.

Question 8. Was Lencho surprised to find a letter for him with money in it? Lencho was not surprised to find a letter with money from God as he believed that God will help him.

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Question 9. What made Lencho angry? There were only seventy pesos in the envelope whereas Lencho had demanded a hundred pesos. The difference in the amount made him angry.

Thinking about the Text (Page 7,8)

Question 1. Who does Lencho have complete faith in? Which sentences in the story tell you this? Lencho has complete faith in God as he is instructed that God knows everything and helps us in our problems. There are few sentences which show this

But in the hearts of all who lived in that solitary house in the middle of the valley, there was a single hope help from God.

All through the night, Lencho thought only of his one hope: the help of God, whose eyes, as he had been instructed, see everything, even what is deep in one’s conscience.

“God”, he wrote, “if you don’t help me, my family and I will go hungry this year”.

He wrote ‘To God’ on the envelope, put the letter inside and still troubled, went to town.

God could not have made a mistake, nor could he have denied Lencho what he had requested.

Question 2. Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho? Why does he sign the letter God? The postmaster sends money to Lencho in order to keep Lencho’s faith in God alive and firm as he was completely moved by it. When postmaster reads the letter of Lencho to God, he becomes serious and does not want to shake his faith and decides to answer the letter. He gathers money with the help of his post office employees and friends on behalf of God and signs the letter ‘God’ so that Lencho’s faith does not get shaken.

Question 3. Did Lencho try to find out who had sent the money to him? Why or why not? Lencho did not try to find out who had sent the money to him because he never suspected the presence of God and had complete faith in God. He could not believe that it could be – anybody else other than him who would send him the money. His faith in God was so strong that he believed that he had sent money to him for his help in his problem.

Question 4. Who does Lencho think has taken the rest of the money? What is the irony in the situation? (Remember that the irony of a situation is an unexpected aspect of it. An ironic situation is strange or amusing because it is the opposite of what is expected).

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Lencho thinks that the post office employees have taken the rest of the money as he had demanded a hundred pesos from God and in the letter there was only seventy pesos and God cannot make such a mistake. So, he assumes that they have stolen the money. The irony in this situation is that Lencho suspects those people who helped him in his problem and tried to keep his faith alive in God.

Question 5. Are there people like Lencho in the real world? What kind of a person would you say he is? You may select appropriate words from the box to answer the question.

Greedy, Naïve, Stupid, Ungrateful, Selfish, Comical, Unquestioning.

It is almost impossible to find a person like Lencho as he is an unquestioning and naive kind of person. He is not stupid if he doesn’t know who has sent him money or a letter will reach God without any address. It is Lencho’s faith in God. In real world, people are selfish and greedy and Lencho is totally lovable and different.

Question 6. There are two kinds of conflict in the story between humans and nature and between humans themselves. How are these conflicts illustrated? Conflict between Humans and Nature: The conflict between humans and nature is illustrated by the destruction of Lencho’s crop by the hailstorm as Lencho was expecting a good rain to have good harvest as that was the only hope he had for his earning. He worked so hard to feed his family, but nature turned violent and destroyed everything. Conflict between Humans and Humans: The story also illustrated another conflict, between humans themselves as the postmaster alongwith his friends and staff sent Lencho money that Lencho demanded from God although they didn’t know Lencho. Lencho blamed them for taking away some amount of money. He called them “a bunch of crook”. This shows that man does not have faith in other man, thereby giving rise to this conflict.

Thinking about Language (Page 8,9,10,11)

1. There are different names in different parts of the world for storms, depending on their nature. Can you match the names in the box with their descriptions below, and fill in the blanks?

gale,, whirlwind,, cyclone,, hurricane,, tornado,, typhoon.

Question 1. A violent tropical storm in which strong winds move in a circle c__. cyclone

Question 2. An extremely strong wind __ a __. gale

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Question 3. A violent tropical storm with very strong wind __ p __. typhoon

Question 4. A violent storm whose centre is a cloud in the shape of a funnel __n__. tornado

Question 5. A violent storm with very strong winds, especially in the Western Atlantic Ocean __ r__. Hurricane

Question 6. A very strong wind that moves very fast in a spinning movement and causes a lot of damage __l__. whirlwind

Question 7. Match the sentences in column A with the meaning of ‘hope’ in column B. A B 1. Will you get the subjects you want to study in college? I hope so. (a) a feeling that something good will probably happen. 2. 1 hope you don’t mind my saying this but 1 don’t like the way you are arguing. (b) thinking that this would happen (it may or may not have happened.) 3. This discovery will give new hope to HIV/AIDS sufferers. (c) stopped believing that this good thing would happen. 4. We were hoping against hope that the judges would not notice our mistakes. (d) wanting something to happen (and thinking it quite possible) 5. 1 called early in the hope of speaking to her before she went to school. (e) showing concern that what you say should not offend or disturb the other person a way of being polite. 6. Just when everybody had given up hope, the fishermen came back, seven days after the cyclone. (f) wishing for something to happen, although this is very unlikely.

Answer: 1. (b) 2. (e) 3. (a) 4. (f) 5. (d) 6. (c)

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3. Join the sentences given below using who, whom, whose, which, as suggested. Question 1. I often go to Mumbai. Mumbai is the commercial capital of India, (which) I often go to Mumbai which is the commercial capital of India.

Question 2. My mother is going to host a TV show on cooking. She cooks very well, (who) My Mother who cooks very well, is going to host a TV show on cooking.

Question 3. These sportsperson are going to meet the President. Their performance has been excellent, (whose) These sportspersons, whose performance has been excellent, are going to meet the President.

Question 4. Lencho prayed to God. His eyes see into our minds, (whose) Lencho prayed to God, whose eyes see into our minds.

Question 5. This man cheated me. I trusted him. (whom) This man whom I trusted cheated me.

4. Find sentences in the story with negative words, which express the following ideas emphatically. (a) The trees lost all their leaves. (b) The letter was addressed to God himself. (c) The postman saw this address for the first time in his career.

(a) Not a leaf remained on the trees. (b) It was nothing less than a letter to God. (c) Never in his career as a postman had he seen that address.

5. In pairs, find metaphors from the story to complete the table below. Try to say what qualities are being compared. One has been done for you. Object Metaphor Quality or Feature Compared Cloud Huge mountains of clouds The mass or ‘hugeness’ of mountains Raindrops Hailstones Locusts An ox of a man An epidemic (a disease) (hat spreads very rapidly and leaves many people dead

Class 10 First Flight Chapter 1 A letter to God By G.L.Fuentes

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Answer: Object Metaphor Quality or Feature Compared Cloud Huge mountains of clouds The mass or ‘hugeness’ of mountains Raindrops Coins Money that a good crop will bring Hailstones Frozen pearls brightness of pearls Locusts a plague of locusts An epidemic (a disease) that spreads very rapidly and leaves many people dead Lencho An ox of a man strong

Class 10 Chapter 1 A letter to God Word Meanings

 Class 10 First Flight Chapter 1 A letter to God By G.L.Fuentes

WORD MEANINGS

1. delicately(Carefully)

2. poses (Causes)

3. crest (Top of a hill)

4. dotted (Spread in various places)

5. harvest (Ripe Crop)

6. downpour (Heavy rain)

7. intimately (Personally, Very well)

8. supper (Dinner)

9. predicted (Said in advance)

10. approaching (Coming nearer)

11. pleasure (Joy)

12. regarded (Looked steadily)

13. draped (Covered)

14. hailstones (Small balls of ice falling as rain)

15. resemble (Look like)

16. exposing (Leaving uncovered)

17. passes (Ends)

18. plague (Large number)

19. locusts (Species of Grasshopper)

20. solitary (The only one)

21. upset (Worried)

22. instructed (Taught)

23. conscience (Soul, Heart)

24. an ox of a man (Man working like an ox)

25. following (Coming)

26. daybreak (Dawn, Morning)

27. pesos(Currency of several Latin American countries)

28. troubled (Worried)

29. dropped (Put)

30. employees (Workers)

31. boss (Manager)

32. heartily (Very greatly)

33. amiable (Friendly)

34. broke out (Started)

35. commented (Remarked)

36. correspondence (Exchange of letters)

37. shake (Weaken)

38. evident (Clear)

39. goodwill (Friendly feeling)

40. stuck (Remained determined)

41. resolution (Determination)

42. obliged (Grateful)

43. charity (Kindness)

44. following (Coming)

45. a bit (a little)

46. handed (Gave)

47. experiencing (Feeling)

48. Contentment (Satisfaction)

49. performed (Done)

50. slightest (Little)

51. he (God)

52. denied (Refused)

53. wrinkling (Crease)

54. brow (Forehead)

55. licked (Made wet With the tongue)

56. affixed (Fixed)

57. mail (Post)

58. bunch (Group)

59. crooks (Dishonest people)

Class 10 Footprints Without Feet Chapter 2 The Thief’s Story By Ruskin Bond

 Class 10 Footprints Without Feet Chapter 2 The Thief’s Story By Ruskin Bond

Question 1.
Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story?
I refers to Hari Singh, the narrator of the story who is a 15 year old experienced thief.

Question 2.
What is he “a fairly successful hand” at?
He is a fairly successful hand at stealing. He is an experienced thief. He is so clean and swift in his work that he robs people without being caught.

Question 3.
What does he get from Anil in return for his work?
In return of Hari Singh’s work, Anil gives him food and a place to live in.

Question 4.
How does the thief think Anil will react to the theft?
According to Hari, Anil would be sad not because of the loss of money but because of the loss of trust he had in Hari.

Question 5.
What does he say about the different reactions of people when they are robbed?
Hari’s experience at theft had made him aware of differences in reactions of peofJle when they’re robbed. According to him, a greedy man shows fear; the rich, anger and a poor man, acceptance.

Question 6.
Does Anil realise that he has been robbed?
Yes, Anil realised that he had been robbed, as he gave a fifty rupee note to Hari which was still damp due to the night’s rain.

Question 1.
What are Hari Singh’s reactions at the prospect of receiving an education? Do they change overtime? {Hint: compare, for example, the thought: ‘I knew that once I could write like an educated man there would be no limit to what I could achieve’ with these later thoughts:
‘Whole sentences, I knew, could one day bring me more than a few hundred rupees. It was a simple matter to steal and sometimes just as simple to be caught. But to be a really big man, a clever and respected man, was something else.’) What makes him return to Anil?

Answer:
Hari was very happy and grateful when he learned to write his name. He was very excited when Anil promised to teach him to write whole sentences as well. He knew that being an educated man will add to his abilities and he could achieve anything. But when he left Anil’s house, he realised that stealing was simply a crime to indulge himself but being educated was an entirely different thing. He knew the respect, reputation and possibilities that would come to him once he was educated. And so his urge to receive education compelled him to return to Anil.

Question 2.
Why does Anil not hand the thief over to the police? Do you think most people would have done so? In what ways is Anil different from such employers?
Unlike others, Anil does not handover Hari to the police on theft charges. He knew about the theft but he did not thrash him nor even mentioned it in front of Hari. He was glad that Hari had realised his mistake and the importance of education in life.
Anil wanted Hari to become a literate man and lead a respectful life.
He is different from other such employers because he is very understanding. Hari’s return gave him the hope of a change in him.

Question 1.
Do you think people like Anil and Hari Singh are found only in fiction, or are there such people in real life?
People like Anil and Hari Singh are found only in fiction. Though exceptions might be there, these people are rarely found. Anil was a kind and considerate person who was concerned, about Hari’s education and future. And Hari was a thief whose heart changes after realising the importance of education for his future. People like these are imaginary in today’s world.

Question 2.
Do you think it is a significant detail i story that Anil is a struggling writer? this explain his behaviour in any way
Yes, it is a significant detail that Anil is a struggling writer. His lifestyle was simple and used to spend according to his pocket at all time His struggle sometimes gave him a lot of income while at other times he used to worry about the next payment. Hari’s observation about the discontinuation in his work justifies his behave regarding money.

Question 3.
Have you met anyone like Hari Singh? Can you think and imagine the circumstances that can turn a fifteen year old boy into a thief?
No, I haven’t met anyone like Hari Singh but the existence of such people is certain. A fifteen year old boy can be forced by circumstances to become a thief. It may be the need to feed the stomach, to satisfy illegal addiction, to maintain health, to fulfil luxurious demands etc

Question 4.
Where is the story set? (You can get clues from the names of the persons and places mentioned in it). Which language or languages are spoken in these places? Do you think the characters in the story spoke to each other in English?
The story is set somewhere in Uttar Pradesh near Lucknow. We can say so because the story mentions that there is a railway station for Express train to Lucknow. The presence of sweet shops and bazaars also indicate it to be a decent-sized town. No, the characters in the story do not speak to each other in English but probably in Hindi.

Class 10 First Flight Poem 3 A Tiger in the Zoo By Leslie Norris

Class 10 First Flight Poem 3 A Tiger in the Zoo By Leslie Norris

Question 1.
Read the poem again and work in pairs or groups to do the following tasks.
1. Find the words that describe the movements and actions of the tiger in the cage and in the wild. Arrange them in two columns.

In the Cage	In the Wild
Stalks, Few steps of his cage, Quiet rage Locked in concrete cell, Stalking-the length of his cage Ignoring visitors. He hears the last voice Stares at the brilliant stars.	Lurking in shadow, Sliding through long grass, Snarling around houses, Baring his white fangs, his claws, Terrorising the village.

2. Find the words that describe the two places and arrange them in two columns.
Now try to share ideas about how the poet uses words and images to contrast the two situations.

Cage	Wild
Few steps of his cage,	Shadow, Long grass, Water
Locked, Concrete cell,	hole, Plump deer,
Behind bars, Visitors,	Houses at jungle’s edge,
Patrolling cars	Village

Question 2.
Notice the use of a word repeated in lines such as these
1. On pads of velvet quiet, In his quiet rage.
2. And stares with his brilliant eyes At the brilliant stars.
What do you think is the effect of this repetition?
This repetition is a poetic device used by the poet in order to increase the intensity of the tiger’s rage and his helpless silence. ‘Velvet quiet’ refers to the quiet velvet pads of the tiger, which cannot run or leap. They can only walk around the limited space in the cage. The use of ‘quiet rage’ symbolises the anger and ferocity that is building up inside the tiger as it wants to run out into the forest and attack a deer, but the rage is quiet because he is locked in the cage and is helpless. The repetition of ‘quiet’ has, thus, brought immense beauty to the poem. Similarly, the use of ‘brilliant’ for the tiger’s eyes as well as the stars also brings out the magnificence of these lines. The tiger stares at the brilliant stars with his brilliant eyes dreaming about how beautiful his life could be in the forest. The repetition thus, gives a wonderful effect to the poem.

Question 3.
Read the following two poems one about a tiger and the other about a panther. Then discuss:
Are zoos necessary for the protection or conservation of some species of animals?
Are they useful for educating the public? Are there alternatives to zoos?

The Tiger
The tiger behind the bars of his cage growls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage snarls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage roars,
Then he thinks.
It would be nice not to be behind bars all
The time
Because they spoil my view
I wish I were wild, not on show.
But if I were wild, hunters might shoot me,
But if I were wild, food might poison me,
But if I were wild, water might drown me.
Then he stops thinking
And…
The tiger behind the bars of his cage growls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage snarls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage roars.
                                                             – Peter Niblett
The Panther
His vision, from the constantly passing bars,
has grown so weary that it cannot hold
anything else. It seems to him there are
a thousand bars; and behind the bars, no world.
As he paces in cramped circles, over and over,
the movement of his p0werful soft strides
is like a ritual dance around a centre
in which a mighty will stands paralysed.
Only at times, the curtain of the pupils
lifts, quietly. An image enters in,
rushes down through the tensed, arrested muscles,
plunges into the heart and is gone.
                                           – Rainer Maria Rilke

Several species of animals are on the verge of extinction. Even tigers and lions are not safe in the forest due to poaching that is done for trade, etc. Zoos are, thus, necessary for the protection or conservation of these species. Zoos are safe and can also be used to educate the public about the importance of wild animals and their role in maintaining the ecological balance. Wildlife sanctuaries, reserves and national parks are some alternatives to zoos. These not only help in the protection and conservation of these species, but also provide them with a natural habitat.

Class 10 First Flight Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom By Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

Class 10 First Flight Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom By Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

Question 1.
Where did the ceremonies take place ? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstones?
The ceremonies took place in the campus of the Union Building of Pretoria, which were attended by dignitaries and leaders of many nations. In India; Rashtrapati Bhavan and Red Fort are buildings made of red sandstone.

Question 2.
Can you say how 10th May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?
As South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere, may falls in the autumn season. Thus 10th May is an ‘autumn day’.

Question 3.
At the beginning of his speech, Mandela mentions “an extraordinary human disaster”. What does he mean by this? What is the “glorious human achievement” he speaks of at the end?
By ‘an extraordinary human disaster’ Mandela means to state the practice of apartheid in South Africa. During this there was a racial segregation based on colour and the blacks suffered a lot. They were not allowed to demand freedom or any right. Mandela himself did spend many years on infamous ‘Robben Island’ as a prisoner where he was beaten mercilessly. He considered it as great glorious human achievement that a black person became the President of a country where the blacks were not even considered human beings and were treated badly.

Question 4.
What does Mandela thank the international leaders for ?
Mandela felt very privileged to welcome the international leaders at the swearing – in ceremony because not too long ago, the South Africans were considered outlaws. He thus thanks all of them for having come to witness the historical ceremony. This was a gesture of international recognition to a newly born free democratic nation and it could be considered as a common victory for justice, peace and human dignity.

Question 5.
What ideals does Nelson Mandela set for the future of South Africa?
Nelson Mandela set the ideals of liberating people from bondage of poverty, deprivation and suffering. He also set the ideal for a society where there would be no discrimination based on gender or racial origins.

Question 1.
What did the military generals do ? How did their attitude change and why?
The highest military generals of South African defence force saluted Mandela and pledged their loyalty which was of great significance as during apartheid era they would have arrested him. The change in their attitude was because of struggle and sacrifices put in by many heroes of South Africa. This struggle not only ensured the freedom of a nation struggling with apartheid, bur brought a change in mindsets of many. He believed that love can also be taught and human being is naturally inclined towards love rather than hate.

Question 2.
Why were two national anthems sung?
One the auspicious occasion of the inauguration two national anthems: one by the Whites and the other by the Blacks symbolising the equality of the Blacks and the Whites were sung.

Question 3.
How does Mandela describe the systems of government in his country
(i) in the first decade, and
(ii) in the final decade, of the twentieth century?

(i) In the first decade of the century, the whites erected a system of racial domination against the blacks, thus creating the basis of one of the harshest and most inhumane societies the world had ever known.
(ii) In the final decade of the 20th century, the . previous system had been overturned and replaced by one which recognised rights and freedom of all people regardless of color of their skin.

Question 4.
What does courage mean to Mandela?
For Mandela courage does not mean the absence of fear but a victory over fear. According to him brave men need not be fearless but should be able to conquer fear.

Question 5.
Which does Mandela think is natural, to love or to hate?
For Mandela, love comes more naturally to the human heart than hate.

Question 1.
What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?
Mandela mentions that every man has twin obligations. The first is to his family, parents, wife and children; the second obligation is to his people, his community and his country.

Question 2.
What did being free mean to Mandela as a boy, and as a student ? How does he contrast these “transitory freedoms” with “the basic and honourable freedoms”?
Like any other kid, for Mandela freedom meant to make merry and enjoy the blissful life. Once one becomes an adult, antics of childhood looks like transitory because most of the childish activities are wasteful from an adult’s perspective. Once you are adult, you have to earn a livelihood to bring the bacon home. Its only then when you get an honourable existence in the family and in the society.

Question 3.
Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/why not?
Mandela does not think that the oppressor is free because according to him an oppressor is a victim of hatred who is behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. He realises that both the oppressor and the oppressed are robbed of their humanity and peace.

Question 1.
Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration ? What did it signify the triumph of?
To be the part of the inauguration, international leaders showed a gesture of solidarity from international community to the idea of end of apartheid. It was the significance of the victory of good over evil and triumph of a tolerant society without any discrimination.

Question 2.
What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply the sum of all those African patriots”, who had gone before him ?
By saying that he is simply the sum of all those African patriots, Mandela wants to pay his tribute to all the people who have sacrificed their lives for the sake of freedom. He says that he is grateful to those who had gone before him because those heroes of past had paved the path of co-operation and unity for him. Therefore, he could try to come to power to bring equality for his people with their support.

Question 3.
Would you agree that the “depths of oppression” create “heights of character”? How does Mandela illustrate this? Can you add your own examples to this argument ?
I agree with the statement that depths of oppression create heights of character. Nelson Mandela illustrates this by giving examples of great heroes of South Africa like Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu and others who were inspired to sacrifice their lives in the long freedom struggle.
India is full of such examples, during our freedom struggle there was a galaxy of leaders of great characters and the oppression of British rule created and encouraged people of noble characters like Mahatma Gandhi, Lala Lajpat Rai, JL Nehru, Chandra Shekhar Ajad, Sardar Bhagat Singh and many more. If we compare them with the quality of political leaders India is having today, then Nelson Mandela seems to be absolutely right;

Question 4.
How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and experience?
With age and experience, Mandela understood the real meaning of freedom. As a young boy, he thought that he was born free and believed that as long as he obeyed his father and abided by the customs of his tribe, he was free in every possible manner. As he grew older, freedom to raise a family and freedom to earn livelihood started dominating his thoughts. Gradually he realised that he was selfish during his boyhood. He slowly understood that it was not just his freedom that was being curtailed, but the freedom of all blacks. It was the freedom from fear and prejudice. Age and experience widened his perspective of freedom.

Question 5.
How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life?
Mandela realised in his youth that it was not just his freedom that was being curtailed, but the freedom of all blacks. This changed the fearfulman to a fearless rebel.
He sacrificed the comforts of a settled family life to fight for a greater cause. He joined the African National Congress and this changed him from a frightened young man into a bold one who fought against racial prejudice.

Thinking about Language 

Questions
1. There are nouns in the text (formation, government) which are formed from the corresponding verbs (form, govern) by suffixing – (at)ion or ment. There may be change in the spelling of some verb – noun pairs ; such as rebel, rebellion; constitute, constitution.
Make a list of such pairs of nouns and verbs in the text

Noun	Verb
Rebellion	Rebel
Constitution	Constitute

1. Ans:

Noun	Verb
Rebellion	Rebel
Constitution	Constitute
Formation	Form
Government	Govern
Obligation	Oblige
Transformation	Transform
Discrimination	Discriminate
Deprivation	Deprive
Demonstration	Demonstrate
Oppression	Oppress
Imagination	Imagine

2. Here are some more examples of ‘the’ used with proper names. Try to say what these sentences mean. (You may consult a dictionary if you wish. Look at the entry for ‘the’)
(i) Mr Singh regularly invites the Amitabh Bachchans and the Shah Rukh Khans to his parties.
(ii) Many people think that Madhuri Dixit is the Madhubala of our times.
(in) History is not only the story of the Alexanders, the Napoleons and the Hitlers, but of ordinary people as well.

2. Ans:
(i) This means that Mr Singh regularly invites famous personalities as of the calibre of Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan to his parties.
(ii) This means that Madhuri Dixit is compared to a landmark in acting in the form of legendary actress Madhubala.
(iii) This means that history is not only the story of the great fighters and leaders such as Alexander, Napoleon and Hitler, but also of ordinary people.

3. Match, the italicised phrases in Column A with the phrase nearest meaning in Column B.
(Hint: First look for the sentence in the text which the phrase in column A occurs.)

A		B
1. I was not unmindful of the fact.	(i)	had not forgotten : was aware of the fact
	(ii)	was not careful about the fact
	(iii)	forgot or was not aware of the fact
2. When my comrades and I were pushed to our limits	(i)	pushed by the guards to the wall
	(ii)	took more than our share of beatings
	(iii)	felt that we could not endure the suffering any longer
3. To reassure me and keep me going	(i)	make me go on walking
	(ii)	help me continue to live in hope in this very difficult situation
	(iii)	make me remain without complaining
4. The basic and honourable freedoms of… earning my keep…	(i)	earning enough money to live on
	(ii)	keeping what I earned
	(iii)	getting a good salary

3. Ans:

	A		B
1.	I was not unmindful of the fact	(i)	had not forgotten;was aware of the fact not endure the
2.	When my comrades and I were pushed to our limits	(iii)	felt that we could not endure the suffering any longer
3.	To reassure me and keep me going	(ii)	help me continue to live in hope in this live in hope in this very difficult situation
4.	The basic and honourable freedoms of… earning my keep…	(i)	earning enough money to live on