CHAPTER 7 - Questions & Answers

Combine each set of Simple Sentences into one Simple Sentence:

1. He finished his dinner. He went for a walk.
Having finished his dinner, he went for a walk.

2. It was very hot. We could not go out.
It being very hot, we could not go out.

3. He did not succeed. He had tried his best.
In spite of trying his best, he did not succeed.

4. You must help your friend. It is your duty.
It is your duty to help your friend.

5. Smriti is my friend. She is a great musician.
Smriti, my friend, is a great musician.

6. He escaped unhurt. He was lucky.
Luckily, he escaped unhurt.

7. He cannot afford a car. He is too poor.
He is too poor to afford a car.

8. I have examined the statement. I find many errors in it.
Having examined the statement, I find many errors in it.

Combine each set of Simple Sentences into a Compound Sentence:

1. You must make haste. You will miss the bus.
You must make haste, or you will miss the bus.

2. A bad boy disobeys his parents. A good boy obeys them.
A bad boy disobeys his parents, but a good boy obeys them.

3. The boy bought a kite. He took it home.
The boy bought a kite and took it home.

4. Fools shun truth. Wise men love it.
Fools shun truth, but wise men love it.

5. Some men are born great. Some achieve greatness.
Some men are born great, while others achieve greatness.

6. The Parliament refused money. The President wanted it.
The President wanted money, but the Parliament refused it.

7. Sharad is a rich man. He did not earn his wealth.
Sharad is a rich man, yet he did not earn his wealth.

8. The teacher is to blame. The pupils are to blame.
Not only the teacher but also the pupils are to blame.

9. I was annoyed. I kept quiet.
I was annoyed, still I kept quiet.

10. Is the baby asleep? Is the baby awake?
Is the baby asleep or awake?

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

1. You will be late. Hurry up. (Rewrite as one sentence, using 'if...............')
If you do not hurry up, you will be late.

2. He deceived his parents. They still trust him. (Rewrite as one sentence, using 'although ...............')
Although he deceived his parents, they still trust him.

3. Nehru was a leader. He was a writer. (Rewrite as one sentence, using 'besides ...............')
Besides being a leader, Nehru was a writer.

4. We stayed at home. It was raining. (Rewrite as one sentence, using 'as ...............')
As it was raining, we stayed at home.

5. Has he returned from Kolkata? Ask his son. (Rewrite as one sentence using 'whether')
Ask his son whether he has returned from Kolkata.

6. I got the message. Immediately I went to his house. (Rewrite as one sentence, using 'as soon as ...............')
As soon as I got the message, I went to his house.

7. It is very simple. Everybody can do it. (Rewrite as one sentence, using 'so ............... that')
It is so simple that everybody can do it.

8. Rakesh was running. He was being chased by a tiger. (Rewrite as one sentence, using 'because...............')
Rakesh was running because he was being chased by a tiger.

9. "You'll be ruined! Run away!" (Rewrite as one sentence and use 'If'.)
If you do not run away, you'll be ruined.

10. Nandu works hard. His aim is to win a scholarship. (Rewrite as one sentence, using 'that')
Nandu works hard so that he may win a scholarship.

11. He won a lottery. Then he bought a house. (Rewrite as one sentence using 'after...............')
After winning a lottery, he bought a house.

12. Alka is intelligent. Meera is equally intelligent. (Rewrite as one sentence using 'as ............... as')
Meera is as intelligent as Alka.

13. All will respect you. Be kind. (Rewrite as one sentence, using 'if')
If you are kind, all will respect you.

14. Do not steal. Stealing is a crime. (Rewrite as one sentence, using 'since')
Do not steal since stealing is a crime.

Express your views either for or against each of the following statements:

(i) School uniforms should be compulsory.
For: School uniforms should absolutely be compulsory because they promote a sense of equality and discipline among students. When everyone is dressed identically, the visible socio-economic barriers between students are eliminated, reducing peer pressure and bullying related to fashion. Uniforms also instil a sense of pride and belonging to the institution.

(ii) Living in the countryside is far more advantageous than living in the city.
Against: While the countryside offers peace, living in the city is far more advantageous due to the accessibility of essential resources. Cities provide superior healthcare facilities, diverse educational opportunities, and a vastly larger job market. Furthermore, cities offer modern public transportation systems and rich cultural experiences that simply cannot be found in rural areas.

Attempt one of the following:

(i) You have noted that the local bus service has become very inefficient in recent weeks. Buses are infrequent and sometimes three or four are going to the same place at the same time. On other occasions, buses with empty seats fail to stop for you. Write a letter to the General Manager of the Transport Corporation complaining about the service.
Dear Sir,

Subject: Inefficient and Irregular Local Bus Service

I am writing to draw your attention to the rapidly deteriorating state of the local bus service in our locality over the past few weeks.

The service has become highly unpredictable and inefficient. The frequency of buses has reduced, and quite bizarrely, when they do arrive, three or four buses heading to the identical destination arrive simultaneously. This bunching causes long waiting periods for passengers. Furthermore, on multiple occasions, buses with clearly visible empty seats have driven past waiting commuters without stopping, causing extreme inconvenience to daily office-goers and students who rely heavily on this public transport.

I kindly request you to look into this matter urgently and ensure that a regular timetable is maintained. Strict instructions should also be given to drivers to stop at designated stops when seats are available. Your prompt action will bring much-needed relief to all commuters.

Yours faithfully,
[Your Name]

Write a composition (300 - 350 words) on any one of the following:
(i) Write a short story in which sheer necessity drives the acquisition of an important skill.
Rohan had always been terrified of deep water. While his friends spent their summers diving into the village lake, Rohan would sit on the grassy banks, perfectly content to watch from a safe distance. He had firmly decided that swimming was a skill he simply did not need in his life.

However, life has a peculiar way of testing our boundaries. One monsoon evening, heavy rains battered the village for three consecutive days. The nearby river swelled past its banks, and floodwaters began to surge into the lower areas of the settlement. Rohan’s family lived in a small brick house near the edge of the farmlands. Before they could evacuate, the water levels rose alarmingly fast, trapping them on the roof of their home.

As the hours ticked by, the situation grew desperate. His little sister, Meera, developed a high fever, and their food supply was washed away. Rescue boats were patrolling, but they were far off in the main village square, unaware of the stranded family. It became painstakingly clear that someone had to cross the fifty yards of raging water to reach the higher ground and fetch help. Rohan's parents were elderly and frail.

Sheer necessity stared Rohan in the face. Swallowing his paralyzing fear, he tied a strong rope around his waist, secured the other end to the chimney, and plunged into the cold, murky water. Survival instinct took over. He recalled the frantic paddling motions he had watched his friends make for years. Fighting the current, he kicked his legs furiously, swallowing mouthfuls of muddy water but refusing to stop. Driven by the desperate need to save his family, he slowly but steadily closed the gap. When his hands finally grasped the sturdy roots of a Banyan tree on safe ground, he realized he had not just crossed a flooded field—he had conquered his greatest fear. That day, necessity did not just teach him how to swim; it taught him how to survive.

Select any one of the following:
(i) You intend to apply for a loan to support the expenses of your higher studies. Write a letter to the Manager of the local bank requesting an appointment to discuss the necessary procedures and formalities for obtaining the loan.
The Bank Manager,
State Bank of India,
Main Branch, City Centre.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Subject: Request for an appointment to discuss an education loan.

I am writing to formally request an appointment with you to discuss the possibility of availing an education loan. I have recently secured admission into the undergraduate Engineering program at the National Institute of Technology, and I am looking for financial support to cover my tuition and accommodation expenses.

I understand that your esteemed bank offers comprehensive student loan schemes. I would be highly obliged if you could grant me an appointment sometime next week so that I can understand the exact procedures, required documentation, interest rates, and repayment formalities associated with the loan.

I am attaching a copy of my admission letter for your reference. I look forward to hearing from you regarding a suitable date and time for the meeting.

Yours faithfully,
Ravi Sharma

(i) You are the Head Boy/Head Girl of your school. Write a notice to be put up in your school asking the students of Classes VIII to X to submit their names for an educational tour to Mount Abu to be organised by your school during the summer holidays.
ST. XAVIER'S HIGH SCHOOL
NOTICE
15th April 2024
EDUCATIONAL TOUR TO MOUNT ABU

This is to inform all students from Classes VIII to X that the school is organizing an educational tour to Mount Abu during the upcoming summer holidays from 10th May to 15th May. The trip will include visits to the Dilwara Temples, Nakki Lake, and the wildlife sanctuary. Interested students must submit their names along with a consent letter from their parents and a fee of Rs. 4,500 to their respective class teachers by 25th April.

[Your Name]
Head Boy/Head Girl

(ii) Write an email to a travel agency, enquiring about the tour package to Mount Abu for a group of about a hundred students from your school.
To: bookings@sunrisetravels.com
Subject: Enquiry regarding Mount Abu tour package for a school group.

Dear Team Sunrise Travels,

I am writing on behalf of St. Xavier's High School. We are planning a 5-day educational tour to Mount Abu during the second week of May for a group of approximately 100 students and 10 accompanying teachers.

Could you please provide us with a detailed itinerary and a quotation for a suitable tour package? We require safe budget accommodation, all meals, and dedicated bus transport for sightseeing within Mount Abu. Kindly also mention if you offer any special discounts for large school groups.

Looking forward to your prompt response.

Warm regards,
[Your Name]
Head Boy/Head Girl

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. indigenous (line 3)
(a) migrant (b) adventurous (c) native (d) imported
(c) native

2. watershed (line 12)
(a) turning point (b) region rained by a river (c) landmark (d) water divide
(b) region rained by a river

(ii) Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word 'freeze'?
(a) flows (b) mature (c) migrate (d) thaw
(d) thaw

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words.
(a) Why is the Yukon River home to many communities?
The Yukon River is home to many communities because it is a highly complex and culturally rich environment, where key species like salmon act as a vital central resource for both the people and local wildlife.

(b) Briefly describe the life-cycle of a salmon.
Salmon mature in the ocean and migrate upstream into freshwater to spawn. After laying their eggs, the adult fish perish. Once the eggs hatch, the young fish swim downstream back to the ocean to begin the cycle anew.

(c) How do historians write about a river? Why?
Historians generally write about a river as moving in a single, one-way direction—downstream into the ocean. They do this because they track the natural path of gravity and the physical flow of the water.

(d) What is the effect of the thawing permafrost on the Yukon?
The thawing permafrost alters the river's depth, turbidity, and how it erodes its banks. Furthermore, it releases high amounts of metals into the tributaries, which causes the waters to turn a bright orange color.

(e) How is global warming affecting the salmon population?
Global warming is causing the river waters to heat up. Because salmon are naturally cold-water fish, they are struggling to survive and having a very difficult time adapting to the warmer temperatures.

(iv) How is the Yukon a lung for the Arctic Region? Answer in not more than fifty words.
The Yukon River acts like a lung through a continuous exchange cycle. It empties freshwater and nutrients into the Bering Sea. This water evaporates, forms clouds, and returns inland as rain and snow, mirroring the inhaling and exhaling process of a lung for the surrounding ecosystem.

(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.

Ancient Chinese writings (write) offer (offer) fresh insight into what may be the earliest (early) known description of a solar eclipse and possibly the first written record of the sun's corona.
According to researcher (research) Hayakawa, the centuries-old text contains a striking observation (observe) that aligns with what modern astronomers (astronomy) recognise as the solar corona, the glowing outer atmosphere of the sun visible only when the moon completely blocks its light. "If this interpretation is accurate, it represents one of the oldest surviving (survive) accounts of the solar corona," he noted.
The only reason such a detailed (detail) eclipse record survives is that ancient Chinese scholars believed unusual celestial phenomena carried warnings for rulers. Eclipses, auroras, and other odd atmospheric events were often seen as signs of political missteps, prompting meticulous tracking of the sky.
According to the researcher's team, the findings also align with solar cycle patterns inferred from radiocarbon measurements (measure) in tree rings, offering another window into cosmic-ray activity from that era.

(ii) Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.
(a) He changed into his night clothes before going to bed.
(b) She dispensed with the services of her driver.
(c) The habit of gambling brought about his ruin.
(d) Home-made food is catching on very fast.
(e) The aeroplane flew above the clouds.
(f) Suman has a craving for more money.
(g) The pond abounds in fish.
(h) They set out late in the evening.

(iii) Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so. Choose the correct option.
1. Tina helped me in my time of need. I cannot forget it.
(d) I cannot forget that Tina helped me in my time of need.

2. It was evening. I was reading an interesting book at home.
(a) I was reading an interesting book at home in the evening.

3. She has three children. She has to provide for them.
(b) She has to provide for her three children.

4. This is the latest novel. Mona bought it yesterday.
(c) This is the latest novel which Mona bought yesterday.

(iv) Choose the correct option to rewrite the following according to the instructions given after each sentence.
1. Admitting that he is clever, he is proud. (Begin: In spite of...)
(b) In spite of being clever, he is proud.

2. Dhruv said that it was my fault; but that was unkind. (Begin: It was unkind...)
(a) It was unkind of Dhruv to say that it was my fault.

3. Decide fast, else you will miss the opportunity. (Begin: If...)
(d) If you do not decide fast, you will miss the opportunity.

4. He had much opposition, nevertheless he succeeded. (Use: ...despite...)
(c) He succeeded despite much opposition.

5. I am too excited to say anything. (End: ...cannot say anything further.)
(d) I am so excited that I cannot say anything further.

6. We must listen to his advice. (Begin: His advice...)
(a) His advice must be listened to.

7. He told him to keep on working till he returned. (End: ... till I return.")
(a) He said to him, "Keep on working till I return."

8. "Mala asked us to join her for a picnic on Sunday." (Use: ...invited...)
(a) Mala invited us to join her for a picnic on Sunday.