CHAPTER 3 - Questions & Answers

ASSIGNMENT

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the words given in brackets:

1. There are (is/are) two mistakes in your essay.
2. The captain, with all his team members, was (were/was) awarded.
3. Everyone of the troupe was (were/was) present.
4. Neither of my brothers has (have/has) any car.
5. Time and tide waits (waits/wait) for no man.
6. Fifty thousand rupees is (are/is) a big sum.
7. None but the brave deserves (deserves/deserve) the fair.
8. Which of these books is (are/is) yours?
9. The great leader and statesman is (are/is) dead.
10. Two and two makes (make/makes) four.
11. The teacher, as well as her students, is (are/is) present.
12. Three-fourths of the house was (were/was) constructed.

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ASSIGNMENT

Collect your ideas and write out a well thought-out plan for a composition entitled: Stubble burning — Degradation of the Environment; based on the picture given below.

Answer:
Plan (Wh- Plan):
- What? The practice of intentionally setting fire to the crop residue left after harvesting.
- Where? Primarily in agricultural fields across various states.
- Why? It is a quick and cheap method for farmers to prepare the field for the next crop.
- How does it affect the environment? Releases huge amounts of toxic smoke, causing severe air pollution, smog, and reducing soil fertility.
- Conclusion: Need for awareness and modern machinery to manage crop residue sustainably.

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D. PRACTICE PAPER-3

Question 1
(Do not spend more than 30 minutes on this question.)
Write a composition (300 - 350 words) on any one of the following:
(i) Write an original story in which the protagonist is an optimist as well as a hard worker.
(ii) Narrate an incident when you went to meet a friend but found yourself lost, without money or a mobile phone. State the challenges you faced and how you eventually managed to find your way back home.
(iii) 'Competition is good for the development of teenagers.' Express your views either for or against this statement.
(iv) Imagine a chance meeting with a friend after a gap of five years. Describe how your lives have changed over the course of these five years.
(v) Study the picture given below. Write a 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:
(Note: As an English teacher, I am providing a sample response for option (i) as only one option is required to be attempted in the exam.)

The Silver Lining
Rohan lived in a small, drought-prone village. While most farmers cursed the relentless sun and cracked earth, Rohan saw an opportunity. He was a staunch optimist and a relentlessly hard worker. When the monsoon failed for the third consecutive year, many gave up farming entirely and migrated to the city. Rohan, however, decided to stay.

He had read about rainwater harvesting and drought-resistant crops. With no money to hire help, he single-handedly began digging a large pond in his lowest field. Day after day, from dawn until dusk, he dug through the hard clay. His neighbors mocked his futile efforts, calling him a fool for digging a pond in a desert.

Rohan just smiled and kept working. "The rain will come," he would say, "and when it does, I'll be ready." It took him three grueling months to finish the pond. He then planted drought-resistant millet instead of the traditional wheat.

A few weeks later, an unseasonal, short but heavy downpour occurred. While the rainwater washed away from the hardened fields of others, Rohan's pond captured every drop. The water sustained his millet crop through the remaining dry season. While the village faced severe shortages, Rohan had a bountiful harvest. His unwavering optimism, coupled with backbreaking hard work, not only saved him from ruin but eventually inspired the entire village to adopt his methods.

Question 2
(Do not spend more than 20 minutes on this question.)
Select any one of the following:
(i) Write a letter to the Director of the Archaeological Survey of India requesting permission to visit a newly excavated historical site in your city that has recently been in the news.
(ii) Write a letter to your grandfather, who has recently retired from his position as a Judge of the High Court. Express your admiration for his years of dedicated service and convey your best wishes as he begins a new phase of life.

Answer:
(Sample response for option (i))

15, Civil Lines
New Delhi – 110054

16th September, 2025

The Director
Archaeological Survey of India
Janpath, New Delhi – 110011

Dear Sir,

Subject: Request for permission to visit the newly excavated site at Mehrauli.

I am writing to you on behalf of the History Club of Modern School, Barakhamba Road. We have been following the recent news regarding the incredible new excavations at the Mehrauli historical site with great enthusiasm.

As students of history, reading about these discoveries in the newspaper has been fascinating, but witnessing the excavation site firsthand would be an invaluable educational experience. We kindly request you to grant permission for a group of twenty students and two escorting teachers to visit the site on any working day in the coming month.

We assure you that we will maintain strict discipline and follow all safety and preservation guidelines laid down by your authorities during our visit.

Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
Rohan Sharma
(President, History Club)

Question 3
(i) Your school is conducting a Mock Parliament session to select students for the National Youth Parliament Festival. Write a notice for the school notice board informing the students about the event.

Answer:
MOCK PARLIAMENT SESSION
25th August, 2025

This is to inform all students from Classes IX to XII that our school is organizing a Mock Parliament session to select participants for the upcoming National Youth Parliament Festival. The session will be held on 5th September 2025 in the school auditorium from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Interested students must register their names with their respective class teachers by 30th August 2025. For further details regarding the topics and rules, please contact the undersigned.

Rahul Verma
(Head Boy)

(ii) Write an email to the MP of your area inviting him/her to the Mock Parliament session to be held in your school and to guide the students about the rules and procedures followed by the MPs during a Parliamentary session.

Answer:
To: sharmamp@sansad.nic.in
Subject: Invitation to preside over our Mock Parliament Session

Dear Sir,

I am writing to you on behalf of St. Xavier's High School. We are organizing a Mock Parliament session on 5th September 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in our school auditorium, to select students for the National Youth Parliament Festival.

It would be an immense honor if you could grace the occasion as our Chief Guest. Your vast experience in the parliament makes you the perfect person to guide our students regarding the actual rules and procedures followed by MPs during a parliamentary session.

We sincerely hope you will accept our invitation and inspire the youth of your constituency.

Yours faithfully,
Rahul Verma
Head Boy, St. Xavier's High School

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. monopolised (line 4)
(a) cornered (b) controlled (c) dominated (d) consumed
Answer: (b) controlled

2. arduous (line 22)
(a) easy (b) effortless (c) laborious (d) simple
Answer: (c) laborious

(ii) Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word 'repulsive'?
(a) enticing (b) elaborate (c) expensive (d) accounts
Answer: (a) enticing

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words.
(a) List the qualities of cinnamon that made it precious.
Answer: Cinnamon was highly valued for its warm flavour, enticing fragrance, and its medicinal and preservative properties.

(b) How did Arab merchants claim to have obtained the spice?
Answer: Arab merchants spun elaborate tales claiming that giant birds collected cinnamon bark from unknown trees to build their nests. The traders would leave large chunks of meat for the birds, causing the nests to break under the weight and the cinnamon to fall to the ground.

(c) Why was cinnamon a status symbol for the Romans?
Answer: It was a status symbol because it was incredibly expensive; a single pound of it cost the equivalent of five months' wages for a Roman labourer.

(d) Describe the process of obtaining cinnamon from trees.
Answer: The process is complicated and arduous. The outer bark of the cinnamon tree is first peeled off to expose the inner bark. This inner bark is then carefully peeled by hand using a knife, naturally curling into quills as it dries.

(e) Describe the plight of the Salagama community under the Dutch.
Answer: The Salagama community was trapped and heavily exploited. They were forced to work longer hours, their children were forced into labor, and they were flogged and fined if they attempted to flee. Additionally, decrees prevented them from marrying outside their community to keep them bound to cinnamon peeling.

(iv) How did Europeans establish a monopoly over cinnamon trade? Answer in not more than fifty words.
Answer: European fleets, starting with the Portuguese, arrived in Sri Lanka and set up trading stations, securing exclusive rights from the local king. Later, the Dutch ousted the Portuguese, forcing the local Salagama community into harsh, trapping labor conditions to mass-produce the spice, thereby establishing a highly profitable global monopoly.

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) patiently

Once a young man asked the wise man, Socrates, the secret to success. Socrates ....0.... (patient) listened to the man's question and ....1....(tell) him to meet him near the river the next morning for the answer. The next morning Socrates asked the young man to walk with him towards the river. As they went in the river, the water got up to their neck. But to the young man's surprise, Socrates ....2....(duck) him into the water.

The young man ....3....(struggle) to get out of the water, but Socrates was strong and kept him there until the boy ....4....(start) turning blue. Socrates ....5....(pull) the man's head out of the water. The young man ....6....(gasp) and took a deep breath of air. Socrates asked, 'What did you want the most when your head was in the water?" The young man ....7....(reply), "Air." Socrates said, "That is the secret to success. When you want success as badly as you wanted the air while you ....8....(be) in the water, then you will get it. There is no other secret."

Answer:

1. told
2. ducked
3. struggled
4. started
5. pulled
6. gasped
7. replied
8. were

(ii) Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

1. He impressed upon me the value of silence.
2. The Vice-Principal took over the charge of the school.
3. He let down his friends in the dispute.
4. Do not brood over your failure.
5. The army put down the rebellion.
6. He cannot turn against his friend.
7. The meeting has been fixed for next Sunday.
8. The Chairman will preside over the meeting.

(iii) Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so. Choose the correct option.
1. The brakes could have failed. How would you have stopped the car then?
(a) If the brakes could have failed, how would you have stopped the car then?
(b) If the brakes could have failed, how will you have stopped the car then?
(c) Supposing the brakes have failed, how would you have stopped the car then?
(d) Supposing the brakes had failed, how would you have stopped the car then?
Answer: (d) Supposing the brakes had failed, how would you have stopped the car then?

2. Let us hope your father will agree. If so, we will go out for a picnic.
(a) If your father will agree, we will go out for a picnic.
(b) If your father will agree for a picnic, we will go out.
(c) Provided your father agrees, we will go out for a picnic.
(d) In case your father agrees, we would go out for a picnic.
Answer: (c) Provided your father agrees, we will go out for a picnic.

3. My car broke down. I hired a taxi to reach the office.
(a) I hired a taxi to reach the office if my car broke down.
(b) I hired a taxi to reach the office while my car broke down.
(c) Since my car broke down, I hired a taxi to reach the office.
(d) My car broke down when I hired a taxi to reach the office.
Answer: (c) Since my car broke down, I hired a taxi to reach the office.

4. The strike was called off. The employees went back to work.
(a) The strike was called off because the employees went back to work.
(b) Since the strike was called off, the employees went back to work.
(c) Since the strike was called upon the employees went back to work.
(d) The employees went back to work until the strike was called off.
Answer: (b) Since the strike was called off, the employees went back to work.

(iv) Choose the correct option to rewrite the following according to the instructions given after each sentence.
1. We can go out, provided you come home early. (Begin: We cannot go...)
(a) We cannot go out lest you come home early.
(b) We cannot go out if you come home early.
(c) We cannot go out unless you come home early.
(d) We cannot go out provided you come home early.
Answer: (c) We cannot go out unless you come home early.

2. As soon as the bell rang, I opened the door. (Begin: No sooner...)
(a) No sooner did the bell ring then I opened the door.
(b) No sooner had the bell ring than I opened the door.
(c) No sooner had the bell rung than I opened the door.
(d) No sooner the bell had rung than I opened the door.
Answer: (c) No sooner had the bell rung than I opened the door.

3. Besides being active, he is wise. (Use: not only...but also)
(a) He is not only being active, but also wise.
(b) He is not only active but also wise.
(c) Not only he is active but also is wise.
(d) He is not only active but also being wise.
Answer: (b) He is not only active but also wise.

4. The culprits have been caught. (Begin: The police...)
(a) The police have caught the culprits.
(b) The police had caught the culprits.
(c) The police has caught the culprits.
(d) The police has the culprits caught.
Answer: (a) The police have caught the culprits.

5. The cricketer performed exceptionally well on the field. (Begin: The cricketer's...)
(a) The cricketer's performance is exceptionally well on the field.
(b) The cricketer's performance had been exceptionally well on the field.
(c) The cricketer's performed exceptionally well on the field.
(d) The cricketer's performance on the field was exceptional.
Answer: (d) The cricketer's performance on the field was exceptional.

6. After their parents' death, their uncle took care of them. (Use: ...brought up...)
(a) They are brought up by their uncle after their parents' death.
(b) They were brought up by their uncle after their parents' death.
(c) They were brought up to their uncle, after their parents' death.
(d) Their uncle brought up them after their parents' death.
Answer: (b) They were brought up by their uncle after their parents' death.

7. "You should focus on your batting, Ajay," the coach said. (Begin: The coach advised...)
(a) The coach advised Ajay to focus on your batting.
(b) The coach advised Ajay that he should focus on his batting.
(c) The coach advised Ajay to focus on his batting.
(d) The coach advised Ajay that you should focus on your batting.
Answer: (c) The coach advised Ajay to focus on his batting.

8. Everything comes if one works hard. (End: ... hardworking person.)
(a) Everything comes to a hardworking person.
(b) Everything comes by to a hardworking person.
(c) Everything comes for a hardworking person.
(d) Everything comes to if one is a hardworking person.
Answer: (a) Everything comes to a hardworking person.