CHAPTER 6 - Questions & Answers

Change the words in brackets to either the Simple Past or the Past Continuous Tense:

1. He was reading (read) a newspaper when I saw (see) him.
2. When he first met (meet) her, she was working (work) as a typist.
3. While he was digging (dig) in the garden, he found (find) an old coin.
4. She was living (live) with her parents when the war broke (break) out.
5. My sister was cooking (cook) the meal for our guests all afternoon.
6. What did (do) you do yesterday in the morning? I played (play) table tennis.
7. The night watchman was sleeping (sleep) when I passed (pass) by your house.
8. While I was learning (learn) French, I often made (make) tense errors.
9. The teacher came (come) into the library to see what we were doing (do).
10. I spent (spend) a lot of money on books yesterday.

Change the verbs in brackets to the Past Simple, Past Perfect or the Past Perfect Continuous Tense:

1. He had forgotten (forget) my name, so I reminded him.
2. After he had finished (finish) his studies he lived (live) in England for two years.
3. The artist finished (finish) the painting at exactly three o'clock.
4. The fire already had destroyed (destroy) much of the building when the firemen arrived (arrive).
5. She had been studying (study) French for two years when she went (go) to Paris.
6. He had taken (take) two degrees when he was (be) in England.
7. The shop had sold (sell) all the bread by the time I got (get) there.
8. She qualified (qualify) as a nurse and then got (get) married.
9. I had been wearing (wear) that jacket for a year when somebody stole (steal) it.
10. She had been cooking (cook) the meal for over an hour when we arrived (arrive) at the house.

Complete the following sentences, using going to wherever possible and will or shall in other cases:

1. I am going to read (read) a book tonight.
2. The sun will rise (rise) at half past five tomorrow morning.
3. It is very cloudy and I am sure it is going to rain (rain).
4. I am going to stay (stay) in the town for a month.
5. The President is going to give (give) a speech tonight.
6. The train will arrive (arrive) in fifteen minutes.
7. Tomorrow will be (be) the last day of the month.
8. The gardener will water (water) the lawn if we tell him.
9. He is going to clean (clean) his room this evening.
10. She will give (give) you change if you ask her.

Fill in the blanks with suitable tenses of the verbs given in brackets:

1. They were drinking (drink) coffee when I arrived.
2. When you arrive, you will have been travelling (travel) for two days.
3. After I had washed (wash) the car, I put it in the garage.
4. She often plays (play) tennis.
5. While he was reading (read) the milk boiled over.
6. He has been working (work) in Kolkata for three years now.
7. Ravi thinks he has lost (lose) his watch on the road.
8. You will stay (stay) here until you apologise.
9. I had seen (see) them on the platform before they left.
10. Next year we will go (go) to Paris.
11. When the war broke (break) out Mr Bhatnagar had been working (work) as a teacher for twenty years.
12. My brother recently entered (enter) the university.
13. Since 1900, science has progressed (progress) rapidly.
14. His opinion does not matter (not matter).
15. Although the event happened thirty years ago, he still recalls (recall) it clearly.

1. Write about a village that you know, placing it in its surroundings and describing the types of houses and the important buildings. You may include among the important buildings: a cinema hall, a shrine, a shop, etc.
   Answer: Nestled at the foothills of the Sahyadri mountains lies the serene village of Palampur. Surrounded by lush green terraced fields and dense forests, the village seems untouched by the rush of city life. The houses here are mostly traditional, built with mud and bricks, featuring sloped roofs covered in red terracotta tiles. In the heart of the village stands an ancient shrine dedicated to the local deity, shaded by a massive banyan tree where village elders gather in the evenings. Just down the narrow winding road is the village's only general shop, stacked with everything from grains to colorful glass bangles. Interestingly, at the edge of the village, a small, whitewashed cinema hall stands out as a modern addition, proudly displaying hand-painted posters of the latest regional movies. It acts as the primary source of entertainment, bringing the quiet community together every weekend.


2. Write an account of a visit you have made to a factory or some other place of work. Concentrate on the place itself; do not describe the journey.
   Answer: The textile factory, located on the industrial outskirts of the city, was a beehive of non-stop activity. As I entered the main floor, the deafening roar of mechanical looms immediately overpowered my senses. The air was thick with the distinct smell of cotton dust and machine oil. Rows upon rows of enormous iron machines stood rigidly, their metal arms moving in synchronized, rhythmic precision to weave colorful threads into massive sheets of fabric. The workers, wearing protective masks and earplugs, moved skillfully between the machines, making quick adjustments and loading fresh spools of yarn. Despite the intense noise and the humid atmosphere, there was an impressive order to the chaos. Watching the raw, tangled threads transform into beautifully patterned textiles filled me with a sense of admiration for both the complex machinery and the relentless hard work of the laborers.


3. A ride in a bus through a busy road in the evening. Describe what you have seen during the ride, and say whether or not you enjoyed while you were in the bus.
   Answer: Boarding the crowded city bus at dusk offered a chaotic but fascinating view of the evening rush hour. Looking out through the dusty window, the busy road was a river of bright headlights and red taillights, moving at a snail's pace. The sidewalks were packed with office-goers rushing home and street vendors loudly calling out to sell hot snacks, their carts illuminated by harsh, glaring bulbs. The air was filled with a thick mixture of exhaust fumes and the tempting aroma of roasted peanuts. Honking cars, ringing bicycle bells, and the shouts of pedestrians created a continuous, overwhelming symphony of urban life. Though the ride was incredibly bumpy, sweaty, and suffocating due to the crowd inside the bus, I secretly enjoyed observing the vibrant energy of the city coming alive in the twilight.

Write a letter to the head of your District, Municipal or City Council asking for the provision of more amenities to the young people of your area.

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

(iii) 'The Government should provide an unemployment allowance until the unemployed get a job.' Express your views either for or against this statement.

Select any one of the following:

(i) As the President of the School Literary Society, write a letter inviting a famous author to your school's Literary Fest to moderate a group discussion on the importance of reading books. Your letter should give all the information that a guest speaker, unfamiliar with your school, would require.

(i) There is a severe cold wave prediction for this winter. The RWA of your colony is organising a drive to collect quilts, blankets and woollen clothes for the underprivileged living in a slum near your colony. Write a notice to be put up outside the RWA office informing the residents about the drive and requesting them to donate wholeheartedly.

(ii) Write an email to the Head of the NGO that works for the welfare of the slum dwellers, requesting him/her to collect the donated goods and distribute them to those who need them.

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. economical (line 1)
(a) thrifty      (b) wasteful      (c) extravagant      (d) prodigal

2. acquisition (line 10)
(a) dispossession      (b) procurement      (c) loss      (d) forfeiture

(ii) Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word 'wrecking'?

(a) tearing      (b) costing      (c) running      (d) mending

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words.

(a) How does the opening paragraph suggest that Mrs Oreille was a miser?

(b) Why was Mr Oreille ridiculed by his colleagues?

(c) What happened to the new umbrella when Mr Oreille brought it back from the office?

(d) What reply does Mrs Oreille give when the Manager questions her about not asking for damages amounting to five hundred francs but making a claim for mending an umbrella?

(e) What does the Manager finally advise Mrs Oreille and why?

(iv) How does the last line of the passage reveal a surprising shift in Mrs Oreille's behaviour and reflect irony in her otherwise miserly character? Answer in not more than fifty words.

(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.

The Delhi government ....0....(launch) Delhi AI Grind — a city-centric Artificial Intelligence (AI) ....1....(innovate) movement that aims to equip the youth with the skills ....2....(need) for an AI-driven future.

Speaking at the event, ....3....(educate) minister Ashish Sood said the initiative was designed in line with India AI Decade — country's ....4....(strategy) push towards a robust AI ecosystem — and ....5....(aim) to train young people in ....6....(structure) innovation, problem-solving, and responsible use of technology. The programme is open to participants aged 10 to 25 years, ....7....(encompass) schools, colleges and open categories. Participants can focus on ten critical sectors — transport, health, food systems, tourism, governance, energy, digital education, climate and environment, water and waste ....8.... (manage), and public services.

0. has launched
1. innovative
2. needed
3. Education
4. strategic
5. aims
6. structured
7. encompassing
8. management

(ii) Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

1. We built a strong wall around the house.
2. His lack of punctuality will be held against him.
3. She kept back nothing from me.
4. The chief guest gave away the prizes.
5. The ship is bound for Austria.
6. For want of funds, our scheme fell through .
7. I intend to bring up the issue in today's meeting.
8. They took him for a spy.

(iii) Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so. Choose the correct option.

1. I had worked hard. I bought this house.
(a) I had worked hard to bought this house.
(b) I had worked hard to buy this house.
(c) I will work hard to buy this house.
(d) Besides I had worked hard, I bought this house.

2. The hall is very big. It can accommodate all of you.
(a) The hall is so big to accommodate all of you.
(b) The hall is very big enough to accommodate all of you.
(c) The hall is big enough to accommodate all of you.
(d) The hall is so big that it cannot accommodate all of you.

3. The thief escaped. It was dark.
(a) The thief escaped under dark.
(b) The thief escaped before dark.
(c) The thief escaped when it was dark.
(d) The thief escaped in the dark.

4. I fell asleep. I was reading a novel.
(a) I fell asleep when reading a novel.
(b) I fell asleep while reading a novel.
(c) On reading a novel, I fell asleep.
(d) I was reading a novel to fell asleep.

(iv) Choose the correct option to rewrite the following according to the instructions given after each sentence.

1. The teacher said to me, "Keep this book on my table." (Begin: The teacher requested...)
(a) The teacher requested me to keep the book on her table.
(b) The teacher requested me to keep that book on her table.
(c) The teacher requested me to keep this book on her table.
(d) The teacher requested me to keep that book on my table.

2. No other student in the class was as intelligent as Anil. (Begin: Anil...)
(a) Anil is most intelligent of students in the class.
(b) Anil is more intelligent from other students in the class.
(c) Anil is more intelligent than many students in the class.
(d) Anil was the most intelligent student in the class.

3. Both the players are not prepared for the debate. (Begin: Neither...)
(a) Neither of the players is prepared for the debate.
(b) Neither of the players have prepared for the debate.
(c) Neither of the players are prepared for the debate.
(d) Neither of both the players is prepared for the debate.

4. Nobody can run as fast as Joe. (Begin: Joe...)
(a) Joe is the most fastest runner.
(b) Joe is the fastest runner.
(c) Joe can run faster than nobody.
(d) Joe is the fastest of all runner.

5. It looks as if Tapas has applied the wrong formula here. (Begin: Tapas seems...)
(a) Tapas seems to has applied the wrong formula here.
(b) Tapas seems to have applied the wrong formula here.
(c) Tapas seems to have applied for the wrong formula.
(d) Tapas seems to have applied by the wrong formula.

6. She agreed to attend the conference only after much persuasion. (Begin: Only...)
(a) Only after much persuasion she did agree to attend the conference.
(b) Only after much persuasion did she agree to attend the conference.
(c) Only after much persuasion she had agreed to attend the conference.
(d) Only after much persuasion she would have agreed to attend the conference.

7. Dinesh was unable to eat something until the following day. (Begin: Not until...)
(a) Not until the next day was Dinesh able to eat something.
(b) Not until the following day can Dinesh eat something.
(c) Not until the next day Dinesh was able to eat something.
(d) Not until the next day Dinesh could eat something.

8. It is a pity that I forgot my password. (Begin: I wish...)
(a) I wish I had not forgotten my password.
(b) I wish I had not been forgotten my password.
(c) I wish I had not forgot my password.
(d) I wish that had I not forgotten my password.