CHAPTER ONE - Questions & Answers

ASSIGNMENT

Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each of them:

1. Why did he deprive you of your property?
Begin: Why were you deprived of your property by him?

2. No one ought ever to make so false an assumption.
End: So false an assumption ought never to be made.

3. It is usually found that the trouble is caused by overeating.
Use: One usually finds that overeating causes the trouble.

4. Three men are loading the cart.
Begin: The cart is being loaded by three men.

5. He was known to be a kind man.
End: People knew him to be a kind man.

6. Alas! We shall hear his voice no more.
Begin: Alas! His voice will be heard no more.

7. We must listen to his music.
Begin: His music must be listened to.

8. There is reason to believe that they have saved the crew.
Begin: It is reasonable to believe that they have saved the crew.

9. He will be elected Secretary by the group.
Begin: The group will elect him Secretary.

10. Short dresses are now being worn again.
Begin: Ladies are now wearing short dresses again.

D. PRACTICE PAPER-1

Question 1

Write a composition (300 - 350 words) on any one of the following:

(i) Write an original story based on a text message from an unknown number and the mystery about the message's sender.

Answer:
I was alone at home that night—my parents had gone out of town to attend a wedding—the silence felt heavier than usual—even the ticking of clock sounded loud enough to fill the room—I had just finished dinner and was about to sit down to study when my phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number—"Come to the park immediately"—I typed "who are you?"—"Don't waste time, come out" came the reply—I got scared—some instinct pushed me forward—I opened the door and walked out towards the park—almost instantly, the ground beneath my feet shook violently—a massive earthquake!—there were screams, dust and chaos around me—windows shattered, walls cracked, the power lines sparked—I stood frozen, watching helplessly as glass from windowpanes fell exactly where I had been standing a moment before—when the tremors stopped, I checked the message—the number looked strange, too many digits, an arrangement that did not match any known network—I tried calling it but failed—tried tracking it but found no clues—it was as if the sender did not exist—years have passed since that night, but the mystery remains.

(ii) You got an opportunity to meet a very important person whom you idolise as he/she was visiting your city. Narrate your experience and its impact on you.

Answer:
When I learnt that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was visiting our city to inaugurate the new centre for Digital Innovation, I felt elated—he is my idol—I was fortunate to be among the students who were invited to witness the ceremony—the atmosphere transformed the moment his motorcade entered the venue—as he entered, the crowd erupted in applause and a wave of excitement swept through the venue as people began chanting 'Modi, Modi' in unison—when he approached our group of students, I became the lucky one to greet him and present my handmade gift, a miniature model of our city's UNESCO designated heritage monument crafted from eco-friendly materials—he accepted it with genuine interest, looked at it carefully, smiled and said, "You have a wonderful talent; keep nurturing it"—hearing such words of appreciation from the Prime Minister left me overwhelmed with pride and joy—I also got the opportunity to take a selfie with him—throughout the programme, I felt he had an undeniable charisma—calm, confident, gracious and inspiring—meeting him was not just memorable but a defining moment that I would cherish forever.

(iii) 'Hybrid mode classes are not as ideal as they appear.' Express your views either for or against this statement.

Answer:
For the View: Hybrid classes are indeed not as ideal as they appear because—(i) the constant shift between online and offline classes breaks students' focus and daily rhythm; they struggle to adapt themselves to sudden timetable changes which affect their concentration and discipline; (ii) lessons started in offline mode may lose momentum when they are suddenly moved online, causing inconsistency in teaching and understanding; (iii) lessons taught in online mode may have to be taught again in offline classes as many students either do not attend the online class or do not understand them properly, resulting in wastage of time; (iv) when the shift of classes from offline to online mode depends on external conditions like weather, pollution or any emergency, students may become anxious or distracted, reducing overall productivity; (v) teachers have to constantly adjust lesson plans, timetables and teaching methods, which increases their workload and decreases the quality of teaching; (vi) students may not always be prepared with charged devices, stable internet and a dedicated study space, when classes shift unexpectedly to online mode.

Against the View: Hybrid classes are ideal because—(i) shifting to online mode during severe weather, pollution or natural calamity ensures students' safety without stopping learning altogether; (ii) it enables the students to adapt to changes, use technology effectively and become flexible, which also helps them later in life in their growth and development; (iii) students who might otherwise miss school due to local conditions can attend online classes; (iv) these online classes allow the students to study in the safe confines of their homes and therefore, pay more attention and remain focused; (v) the students can continue the lessons from the point where they had left in the offline mode, without any disruption in the continuity and learning process; (vi) hybrid learning allows teachers to use both physical classroom tools and digital materials, enriching the teaching experience.

(iv) 'A sunrise is the quietest celebration of life.' Describe an experience when you realised how profound this statement is.

Answer:
Last year, I had the opportunity to watch the sunrise, for the first time at Tiger Hill in Darjeeling, one of India's most famous sunrise points—as I stood there with my family members, in the early morning chill, the world appeared to hold its breath—the quote, 'A sunrise is the quietest celebration of life' came alive before my eyes—at first, the sky appeared as a soft grey curtain, but slowly delicate streaks of pink and gold began to emerge—the majestic Kanchenjunga range stood behind, dark and still waiting for the sun's first touch—when the first sliver of light emerged from behind the horizon, it felt as though the earth was being gently awakened—as the sun rose higher, the sky transformed into a glowing canvas of orange and rose-gold—the silence around me was not empty; it was filled with the flutter of distant birds, the rustle of leaves and the soft murmur of other visitors, who like me were totally mesmerised—the warmth of light on my face made me feel connected to everything around me—the moment felt pure and timeless and I realised that every sunrise is nature's gentle reminder that life quietly renews itself each day, inviting us to begin afresh.

(v) Study the picture given on the next page. Write a short story or a description or an account of what it suggests to you. Your composition may be about the subject of the picture or you may take suggestions from it; however, there must be a clear connection between the picture and your composition.

Answer:
Ramdeen had been walking under the scorching sun along the dried river bed, searching desperately for water—unable to find any, he reached a market—exhausted, he stopped outside an old antique shop and sat on the platform of the adjacent closed shop—on display at the antique shop were two brass statues—his eyes were fixed on the statue of the lady holding a tray in her hands on which someone had placed an empty bottle—his imagination took flight and he pictured the brass statue of the lady coming alive, stepping down gracefully from the pedestal and offering him cool water from the bottle—he was pulled out of his imagination by a sudden clap of thunder in the sky—within moments, a heavy downpour began—he lifted his hands as the rain quenched his thirst—but the real wonder unfolded beside him, on his way back home, he saw the dry riverbed filled with water—drenched but relieved, Ramdeen realised that sometimes nature answers when hope is at its lowest—later on, when he went to the market, the owner of the antique shop told him that the statue of the lady is believed to be of an ancient goddess of rivers and perhaps on that day she had answered Ramdeen's silent prayers for rain and water.

Question 2

Select any one of the following:

(i) You had gone to a mall with your sister. When you returned to the parking lot, both of you realised you had forgotten where your car was parked. Write a letter to your father, who is posted in another city, describing the incident.

Answer:
Dear Papa,

I hope you are well and comfortably settled in your new posting—I want to share with you an amusing incident that happened last Sunday when Ritu and I went to the DLF Mall—the parking lot was unusually crowded—we quickly parked the car in the first slot we saw—after a couple of hours of shopping when we returned to the parking area, we could not remember where we had parked the car—we kept pressing the car remote, but we were perhaps too far away for it to pick up the signal—for the next 20 minutes we wandered through every corner of the parking but in vain—finally, with the help of CCTV footage, we located the car behind a large SUV—what a relief it was—we could not stop laughing at how forgetful we had been—we missed the long lecture you would have given us—hoping to see you soon.

(ii) The museum in your city has recently reopened after being closed for two years. It has now become a centre of attraction due to its new-age technological gadgets and widespread media coverage. Write a letter to the Principal of your school requesting him/her for permission to organise a visit to it.

Answer:
Respected Sir/Madam—I, the Class Representative (CR) of Class IX, would like to request permission from you on behalf of all my classmates to organise an educational visit to the city museum, which has recently reopened after extensive repairs and renovation—it has added new features like new-age audio-guide gadgets for an enhanced listening experience and AR/VR headsets that allow visitors to explore exhibits through immersive visual display—the museum functions from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., which allows us to plan the visit comfortably within school hours—this visit would be extremely beneficial for us as it would enrich our classroom learning with interactive exposure to our history and culture—I, therefore, humbly request you to consider allowing us to arrange this educational trip for Class IX—we shall be truly grateful for this valuable learning opportunity.

Question 3

(i) Your school is organising an inter-school singing competition. Write a notice informing the pupils at your school about the event.

Answer:
Melody Magic
Annual Inter-School Singing Competition
on 10 September 20..
from 10.00 a.m. — 12.00 p.m.
at Harmony Hall, Rightways Public School
All pupils of Classes 9 and 10 who wish to register should give their names to their class teachers on or before 10 August 20..

(ii) Write an email to Shreya Goshal, the famous singer, requesting her to judge the event and be the Chief Guest.

Answer:
shreyagoshal123@gmail.com
Invitation to judge Annual Inter-School Singing Competition

Dear Madam,

We, the students of Rightways Public School, would like to invite you to judge 'Melody Magic', our Annual Inter-School Singing Competition. It would be our honour if you would be the Chief Guest and grace the occasion.

The competition will be held on 10 the September 20.. from 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. at the Harmony Hall, Rightways Public School.

We would be grateful if you accept our invitation.

Thank you,

Yours faithfully,

Krish Kapoor
(Head Boy)

Question 4

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

(i) For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options provided:
1. gusto (line 7)
(a) aversion
(b) apathy
(c) enthusiasm
(d) weariness
Answer: 1. (c)

2. unsullied (line 27)
(a) faultless
(b) stained
(c) polluted
(d) defiled
Answer: 2. (a)

(ii) Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word unconventional?
(a) decorous
(b) customary
(c) refined
(d) winsomeness
Answer: (b)

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words.
(a) What does the narrator want to convey when he says, "He always stands there—and has stood these thirty years"?
Answer: By saying, "He always stands there—and has stood these thirty years," the narrator wants to convey that his tailor's posture, routine and behaviour have remained exactly the same for the last three decades. This has given him a sense of familiarity and permanence that makes the tailor seem almost timeless.

(b) Why do the narrator and his tailor avoid talking about the bill?
Answer: The narrator and his tailor avoid talking about the bill because both of them find it awkward and uncomfortable to discuss money as they have known each other for the last thirty years and perhaps do not want to spoil the warm courteous tone of their meetings. Besides, the tailor prefers to deal with the bills only through correspondence.

(c) How would the narrator react if his tailor stopped asking about shirtings?
Answer: If the tailor failed to mention shirtings, the narrator would sense a loss of the comforting routine, which had become a part of their relationship.

(d) How does the tailor die?
Answer: The stress of his failing business and the subsequent financial strain became too much to bear. He died as a result.

(e) Why does the narrator regret not buying shirtings from this tailor?
Answer: The tailor faithfully ended every meeting by enquiring about the narrator's requirement of shirtings. The narrator refused each time. So after the tailor's death, he felt nostalgic and guilty for not buying shirtings from him.

(iv) The tailor's unchanging behaviour in the last thirty years created an illusion of permanence in the narrator's mind. Explain how it happened. Answer in not more than fifty words.
Answer: The tailor behaved in exactly the same manner for thirty years suggesting the same fabrics, repeating the same sentences, and ending each visit with identical questions. These unchanged habits made him seem permanent and dependable, creating in the narrator's mind the illusion that he would always remain and never disappear.

Question 5

(i) Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets. Do not copy the passage, but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space.
Example: (0) praised

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday praised Gen Z professionals for creating new technologies and for their risk-taking abilities and entrepreneurship.

Modi made these assertions after unveiling space startup Skyroot's first orbital rocket. He also virtually inaugurated Skyroot's Infinity Campus. The company's orbital rocket Vikram-I has the capability to launch satellites to orbit.

In his address, he highlighted the Government's 'historic' space reforms and said that opening up the space sector to private players has resulted in Skyroot and others coming up with such innovations.

(ii) Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.
(a) The policeman ran after the thief.
(b) Rohit put aside a good sum for his retirement.
(c) She is leaning against the wall.
(d) The soldiers carried out the orders of their officer.
(e) Shankar brought up an interesting point in the meeting.
(f) He cut off the rotten part of the apple.
(g) They got into trouble with the soldiers.
(h) The boat lay under several feet of water.

(iii) Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so. Choose the correct option.
1. Come first in the class. You will get the prize.
(a) If you will come first in the class, you would get the prize.
(b) If you would come first in the class, you will get the prize.
(c) If you come first in the class, you will get the prize.
(d) Come first in the class to be getting the prize.
Answer: (c)

2. She can go there. She has to tell her mother about it.
(a) She can go there if she has to tell her mother about it.
(b) She can go there provided she tells her mother about it.
(c) Unless she tells her mother about it, she can go there.
(d) If her mother tells her about it, she can go there.
Answer: (b)

3. I had left the office. He came later.
(a) No sooner I had left the office when he came.
(b) He came later when she had left the office.
(c) He came after I had left the office.
(d) I had left the office when he came later.
Answer: (c)

4. I am working hard. I want to succeed in life.
(a) I am working hard for succeed in life.
(b) I am working hard to succeed in life.
(c) I am working hard to being successful in life.
(d) I am working hard because I wanted to succeed in life.
Answer: (b)

(iv) Choose the correct option to rewrite the following according to the instructions given after each sentence.
1. Having considered the question of expansion carefully, the committee decided against the project. (Begin: Although the committee...)
(a) Although the committee decided against the project, it considered the question of expansion carefully.
(b) Although the committee had considered the question of expansion carefully, it had decided against the project.
(c) Although the committee considered the question of expansion carefully, it decided against the project.
(d) Although the committee considered the question of expansion carefully, it will decide against the project.
Answer: (c)

2. I never thought that he would win the prize. (Begin: Little...)
(a) Little I had though that he would win the prize.
(b) Little did I think that he would win the prize.
(c) Little I did think that he would win the prize.
(d) Little did I never think that he would win the prize.
Answer: (b)

3. You remembered to sign the contract, didn't you? (Begin: You didn't...)
(a) You didn't remember to sign the contract, didn't you ?
(b) You didn't remember to sign the contract, did you ?
(c) You didn't forgot to sign the contract, did you?
(d) You didn't forget to sign the contract, did you?
Answer: (d)

4. Once they refilled my glass, I realised it was broken. (Begin: Only when...)
(a) Only when they refilled my glass I realised it was broken.
(b) Only when they refilled my glass did I realised it was broken.
(c) Only when they refilled my glass did I realise it was broken.
(d) Only when they refilled my glass did I realise it was broken.
Answer: (d)

5. She could never have imagined that she would be elected. (Begin: Never...)
(a) Never have she imagine that she would be elected.
(b) Never she could have imagined that she would be elected.
(c) Never she could imagine that she would be elected.
(d) Never could she imagine that she would be elected.
Answer: (d)

6. He thought that the entrance examination would be held next Sunday. (Begin: He was under...)
(a) He was under the thought that the entrance examination would be helding next Sunday.
(b) He was under the impression that the entrance examination ought be held next Sunday.
(c) He was under the thought that the entrance examination had been held next Sunday.
(d) He was under the impression that the entrance examination would be held next Sunday.
Answer: (d)

7. He was known to be a learned man. (Begin: People...)
(a) People were known to be a learned man.
(b) People knew him as a learned man.
(c) People knows him as a learned man.
(d) People know he was to be a learned man.
Answer: (b)

8. That kind of drama does not entertain me. (End: ...any entertainment.)
(a) That kind of drama do not give any entertainment.
(b) That kind of drama does not give me any entertainment.
(c) That kind of drama did not give me any entertainment.
(d) That kind of drama have not given me any entertainment.
Answer: (b)