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Animals NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Poem 7

Animals NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

Animals Thinking about the Poem

Question 1.
Notice the use of the word ‘turn’ in the first line. “I think I could turn and live with animals ”
What is the poet turning from?
Answer:
The poet is turning from the troubles of living like a human being towards a placid life of animals.

Question 2.
Mention three things that humans do and animals don’t.
Answer:
The animals don’t sweat like human beings. They do not disturb their sleep to regret about their sins. They believe in equality. Therefore, they do not kneel before the superior members of the group.

Question 3.
Do humans kneel to other humans who lived thousands of years ago? Discuss this in groups.
Answer:
Yes, the humans kneel before other humans who lived thousands of years ago. In the olden days, people used to bow before the superior members of the society like the sages and the kings to show that they respected them.

Question 4.
What are the ‘tokens’ that the poet says he may have dropped long ago and which the animals have kept for him? Discuss this in class.
(Hint: Whitman belongs to the Romantic tradition that includes Rousseau and Wordsworth, which holds that civilisation has made humans false to their own true nature. What could be the basic aspects of our nature as living beings that humans choose to ignore or deny?)
Answer:
The tokens are the tokens of being a human being, living in natural environment naturally like those who do not bother about petty things in life and remain undisturbed for the things which worry them. The poet feels that the human beings also lived a calm life like animals in olden times and they may have dropped their natural calm in the last few years.

Animals Extra Questions and Answers

Animals Reference-to-Context Questions

Read the stanza given below and answer the questions that follow:

Question 1.
I stand and look at them long and long.
They do not sweat and whine about their condition.

(a) Animals are content and never …………… about their condition.
Answer:
whine

(b) The poet tells us that animals are ………… to humans?
Answer:
superior

(d) Find the same meaning of ‘complain’ in the extract.
Answer:
whine

Question 2.
They do not sweat and whine about their condition,
They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins,
They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God,

(a) The animals do not sweep for their ………. because they happy and content.
Answer:
sins

(b) The animals live in the ………. of nature.
Answer:
lap

(c)Human beings are troubled and disturbed in doing their duties to God. (True/False)
Answer:
False

(d) Find the antonym of ‘smile’ in the extract.
Answer:
weep

Question 3.
Not one kneels to another, nor to his kind that lived thousands of years ago,
Not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole Earth.

(a) It is unique in the animal world that no one is ………….. or unhappy.
Answer:
respectable

(b) Humans …………. to other humans, but the animals do not.
Answer:
kneel

(d) Find the antonym of ‘disrespectable’ in the extract.
Answer:
respectable

Animals Long Answer Question

Question 1.
‘A friend’s eye is a good mirror’. How far does this apply to the relationships spoken about, between men and animals, in the poem, ‘Animals’?
Answer:
The author values a friendship with animals above the human relationship because animals impress him with their placid and self-contained demeanor. Unlike men, the poet justifies such friends as they do not labour and lament their condition or suffer self-mortification for their wrongs, as men do. They don’t hold discussions about Man’s duty towards God.

He admires the animals’ disinterest in owning things or kowtowing to seniors or ancestors. The animals he says accept him unconditionally, mirroring his primary self. He realizes that animals mirror his true nature of man and portray it in theirs, like tokens, making the poet enquire about whether he had carelessly dropped his natural characteristics some time in the past.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Poem 7 Animals Read More »

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 9 Madam Rides the Bus

CBSE Class 10 / Prasanna

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English

Madam Rides the Bus NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 9

Madam Rides the Bus NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

Madam Rides the Bus Oral Comprehension Check

Question 1.
What was Valli’s favourite pastime?
Answer:
Valli’s favourite pastime was standing in the front door of her house and watching what was happening in the street outside.

Question 2.
What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest desire?
Answer:
The sight of the village bus filled with a new set of passengers was a source of unending joy for Valli. Her strongest desire was to ride on the village bus at least once.

Question 3.
What did Valli find out about the bus journey? How did she find out these details?
Answer:
Valli found out that the bus went to the town which was six miles away from her village and took forty five minutes. She also found out that the fare was thirty paise one way. She picked up these details by listening carefully to conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus and by asking a few discreet questions here and there.

Question 4.
What do you think Valli was planning to do?
Answer:
It seems Valli was planning to fulfil her strongest desire of riding the village bus.

Question 5.
Why does the conductor call Valli ‘madam’?
Answer:
The conductor called the young child as ‘Madam’ because Valli told him that she was not a child.

Question 6.
Why does Valli stand up on the seat? What does she see now?
Answer:
She wanted to enjoy the beauty outside the bus but because of a canvas blind, she was unable to see outside, so she stood on the seat.

Question 7.
What does Valli tell the elderly man when he calls her a child?
Answer:
When the elderly man called her a child, Valli told him that she was not a child as she was able to take care of herself.

Question 8.
Why didn’t Valli want to make friends with the elderly woman?
Answer:
Valli did not want to make friends with elderly woman because she was looking very ugly an abominable.

Question 9.
How did Valli save up money for her first journey? Was it easy for her?
Answer:
Valli had managed to save a total of sixty paise by resisting every temptation such as buying peppermints, toys, balloons and the like. It had been difficult particularly on the day of the village fair as she had to stifle her strong desire to ride the merry-go-round.

Question 10.
What did Valli see on her way that made her laugh?
Answer:
Valli saw that a young cow, tail high in the air, was running very fast, right in the middle of the road. The horn of the bus frightened the animal and made it gallop still faster. This sight was very funny and Valli laughed heartily.

Question 11.
Why didn’t she get off the bus at the bus station?
Answer:
Valli did not get off the bus at the bus station as she had only thirty paise for her return journey and . she was too afraid to go alone.

Question 12.
Why didn’t Valli want to go to the stall and have a drink? What does this tell you about her?
Answer:
Valli was a wise little girl who did not want to mingle with strangers. Also she had no spare money. So she did not want to go to the stall and have a drink with the conductor. It shows that Valli had a fair share of self-respect and took her decisions cautiously.

Madam Rides the Bus Thinking about the Text

Question 1.
What was Valli’s deepest desire? Find the words and phrases in the story that tell you this.
Answer:
Valli’s deepest desire was to ride on the village bus even if only once. Here are the words from the text that describe this— ‘overwhelming desire’, ‘wistfully’, ‘kindle in her longings’, ‘dreams’, ‘hopes’, ‘wish became stronger and stronger’.

Question 2.
How did Valli plan her bus ride? What did she find out about the bus, and how did she save up the fare?
Answer:
Valli picked up various small details about the bus journey by listening to the conversations between the bus users and asking a few questions here and there. She found out about the 30 paise bus fare from a well-dressed man. She also came to know that the journey took 45 minutes, one way. She . chose afternoon time for her journey when her mother took a nap every day. Thus, she very carefully planned her bus ride.

Question 3.
Why does the conductor refer to Valli as ‘madam’?
Answer:
The conductor was a jolly man. He was surprised to see a little girl travelling all by herself. Moreover, the girl was confident and behaving like grown-ups. Therefore, he naughtily calls Valli as ‘madam’.

Question 4.
Find the lines in the text which tell you that Valli was enjoying her ride on the bus.
Answer:
Here are a few lines from the text which tell us that Valli was enjoying her ride on a bus—

“Valli devoured everything with her eyes.”
“Oh, it was all so wonderful!”
“gradually Valli too joined in the laughter.”
“Suddenly Valli clapped her hands with glee.”
“Somehow, this was very funny to Valli. She laughed and laughed until there were tears in her eyes.”
“Struck dumb with wonder Valli gaped at everything.”
“Valli wasn’t bored in the slightest and greeted everything with the same excitement she’d felt the first time.”

Question 5.
Why does Valli refuse to look out of the window on her way back?
Answer:
Valli was a sensitive girl. The image of the dead cow had dampened her enthusiasm. The memory of the lovable creature returned repeatedly to her mind so she refused to look out of the window on her way back.

Question 6.
What does Valli mean when she says, “I was just agreeing with what you said about things happening without our knowledge?”
Answer:
Valli returned back home with memory of the dead cow still fresh in her mind. So when she heard – her mother and aunt talking, she too agreed that one cannot understand the mysteries of life. But when questioned about it, she didn’t want to reveal her trip to the town. In order to cover the facts, she said the above-mentioned statement.

Question 7.
‘The author describes the things that Valli sees from an eight-year-old’s point of view.’ Can you find evidence from the text for this statement?
Answer:

Description of the bus—“It was a new bus soft and luxurious.”
Description of the sight outside—“The bus was going so wonderful.”
Description of the elderly woman—“Valli found the woman at any moment.”
“Sometimes the bus seemed on the point of gobbling another vehicle that was coming forward them or pedestrian crossing the road; But lo! Somehow it passed on smoothly, leaving all obstacles safely behind.”
Description of the market—“Such big, bright everything.”

Madam Rides the Bus Extra Questions and Answers

Madam Rides the Bus Reference-to-Context Questions

Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Question 1.
But for Valli, standing at the front door was every bit as enjoyable as any of the elaborate games other children played. Watching the street gave her many new unusual experiences.

(a) Watching the street gave Valli ……….. experiences.
Answer:
unusual

(b) Standing at the front door was every bit as ……….. as any of the games other children played.
Answer:
enjoyable

(d) Find the meaning of the words ‘different, not normal’.
Answer:
unusual

Question 2.
The most fascinating thing of all was the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town. It passed through her street each hour, once going to the town and once coming back. The sight of the bus, filled each time with a new set of passengers, was a source of unending joy for Valli.

(a) The most fascinating thing for Valli was the bus that ……… between her village and the nearest town.
Answer:
travelled

(b) The sight of the bus, filled with a new set of passengers, was a source of joy for Valli.
Answer:
unending

(c) The bus passed through Valli’s streat each hour, once going to the town and once coming back. (True/False)
Answer:
True

(d) Find the same meaning of the words ‘extremely interesting’ in the extract.
Answer:
fascinating

Question 3.
Day after day she watched the bus, and gradually a tiny wish crept into her head and grew there: she wanted to ride on that bus, even if just once. This wish became stronger and stronger, until it was an overwhelming desire. Valli would stare wistfully at the people who got on or off the bus when it stopped at the street corner.

(a) Gradually a tiny wish crept into Valli’s head: she wanted to on that bus.
Answer:
ride

(b) Valli would wistfully at the people who got on or off -the bus daily.
Answer:
stare

(d) Find the same meaning of the words ‘thinking sadly’ in the extract.
Answer:
wistfully

Question 4.
Their faces would kindle in her longings, dreams and hopes. If one of her friends happened to ride the bus and tried to describe the sights of the town to her, Valli would be too jealous to listen and would shout, in English: “Proud ! proud!” Neither she nor her friends really understood the meaning of the word, but they used it often as a slang expression of disapproval.

(a) The faces of the people who got on and off the bus would ………. her longing for the bus ride.
Answer:
kindle

(b) Valli was too …………. to listen the description of the bus ride by her friends.
Answer:
jealous

(c) Neither Valli nor her friends really understood ‘proud! proud!’ a slang expression of disapproval. (True/False)
Answer:
True

(d) Find the meaning of the words ‘kindle’ in the extract.

Question 5.
Over many days and months Valli listened carefully to conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus, and she also asked a few discreet questions here and there.

(a) Valli heard the conversations about the and the city.
Answer:
bus journey

(b) Valli wanted to know more and more about her and the bus.
Answer:
city

(d) Find the same meaning of the words ‘carefully’ in the extract.
Answer:
discreet

Question 6.
This way she picked up various small details about the bus journey. The town was six miles from her village. The fare was thirty paise one way – “which is almost nothing at all,” she heard one well-dressed man say, but to Valli, who scarcely saw that much money from one month, to the next, it seemed a fortune. The trip to the town took forty-five minutes.

(a) The town was ……….. from Valli’s village.
Answer:
six miles

(b) The trip to the town took …………… minutes.
Answer:
45

(d) Find the meaning of ‘chance or luck’
Answer:
‘fortune’

Question 7.
Well, one fine spring day the afternoon bus was just on the point of leaving the village and turning into the main highway when a small voice was heard shouting: “Stop the bus! Stop the bus!” And a tiny hand was raised commandingly.

(a) On a fine spring day the ……….. bus was just on the point of leaving Valli’s village.
Answer:
afternoon

(b) It was Valli whose tiny stopped the bus.
Answer:
voice

(d) Find the same meaning of the word ‘powerfully’ in the extract.
Answer:
Commandingly

Question 8.
The bus slowed down to a crawl, and the conductor, sticking his head out of the door, said: “Hurry then! Tell whoever it is to come quickly.”
“It’s me,” shouted Valli. “I’m the one who has to get on.” By now the bus had come to a stop, and the conductor said: “Oh, really! You don’t say so!” “Yes, I simply have to go to town,” said Valli, still standing outside the bus, “and here’s my money.” She showed him some coins.

(a) The bus slowed down to a ………….. and the conductor asked Valli to come quickly.
Answer:
crawl

(b) Knowing the fact that a small child was travelling alone ………… the conductor.
Answer:
surprised

(d) Find the same meaning of the phrase ‘a very slow speed’.
Answer:
crawl

Question 9.
“May we start now, madam?” the conductor asked, smiling. Then he blew his whistle twice, and the bus moved forward with a roar.

(a) The conductor blew his ……….. twice and the bus moved forward with a roar.
Answer:
whistle

(b) The conductor addressed Valli ……….. smiling.
Answer:
madam

(d) Find the meaning of the word, ‘a loud noise in the extract.
Answer:
roar

Question 10.
It was a new bus, its outside painted a gleaming white with some green stripes along the sides. Inside, the overhead bars shone like silver. Directly in front of Valli, above the windshield, there was a beautiful clock. The seats were soft and luxurious.

(a) The outside of the bus was painted a white with some green stripes along the sides.
Answer:
gleaming

(b) Inside the bus, the overhead bars shone like
Answer:
Silver

(d) Find the meaning of the word, ‘a glass screen’.
Answer:
windshield

Question 11.
Valli devoured everything with her eyes. But when she started to look outside, she found her view cut off by a canvas blind that covered the lower part of her window. So she stood up on the seat and peered over the blind.

(a) Valli everything with her eyes.
Answer:
devoured

(b) Valli started to look at the outside view very keenly because she wanted to every moment of her bus journey.
Answer:
enjoy

(d) Find the meaning of the word, ‘screen’ in the extract.
Answer:
blind

Question 12.
An elderly woman came and sat beside her. “Are you all alone, dear?” she asked Valli as the bus started again.
Valli found the woman absolutely repulsive—such big holes she had in her ear lobes, and such ugly earrings in them! And she could smell the betel nut the woman was chewing and see the betel juice that was threatening to spill over her lips at any moment.

(a) Valli found the elderly woman absolutely ……………
Answer:
repulsive

(b) The elderly woman asked Valli if she was going ……….
Answer:
all alone.

(c) Valli liked the elder woman’s big holes in her ear lobes, and such ugly earrings in them! . (True/False)
Answer:
False

(d) Find the meaning of the word, ‘strong dislike’ in the extract’.
Answer:
repulsive

Question 13.
“Do you know exactly where you’re going in town? What’s the street? What’s the house number?” “You needn’t bother about me. I can take care of myself,” Valli said, turning her face towards the window and staring out.

(a) An old woman enquired Valli about her
Answer:
whereabouts

(b) Valli turned her face towards the because she did not like the old woman.
Answer:
window

(d) Find the same meaning of the word, ‘gaze’ in the extract’.
Answer:
stare out

Question 14.
The bus slowed to a crawl, and the driver sounded his horn loudly again and again. But the more he honked, the more frightened the animal became and the faster it galloped—always right in front of the bus.

(a) The bus slowed to a crawl when a was running very fast ahead of it.
Answer:
young cow

(b) The cow was frightened by the repeated of the driver.
Answer:
honking

(d) Find the meaning of the word, ‘running very fast’ in the extract’.
Answer:
‘gallop’.

Question 15.
Struck dumb with wonder, Valli gaped at everything. Then the bus stopped and everyone got off except Valli.
“Hey, lady,” said the conductor, “aren’t you ready to get off? This is as for as your thirty paise takes you.”

(a) Struck dumb with wonder, Valli at everything.
Answer:
gaped

(b) The bus stopped and everyone got off except
Answer:
Valli

(d) Find the same meaning of ‘astomishment’ in the extract’.
Answer:
wonder

Question 16.
“Won’t your mother be looking for you?” the conductor asked when he gave the girl her ticket. “No, no one will be looking for me,” she said. The bus started, and again there were the same wonderful sights.

(a) Valli’s mother did not know where she was
Answer:
going

(b) The conductor asked her if her would be looking for her.
Answer:
mother

(d) Find the same meaning of ‘set off in the extract.
Answer:
started

Question 17.
Valli wasn’t bored in the slightest and greeted everything with the same excitement she’d felt the first time. But suddenly she saw a young cow lying dead by the roadside, just where it had been struck by some fast-moving vehicle.

(a) Happily, Valli greeted everything with the same
Answer:
excitement

(b) The scene of a cow changed her mood.
Answer:
dead

(d) Find the same meaning of ‘hit’ in the extract’.
Answer:
struck

Question 18.
“Isn’t that the same cow that ran in front of the bus on our trip to town?” She asked the conductor. The conductor nodded, and she was overcome with sadness. What had been a lovable, beautiful creature just a little while ago had now suddenly lost its charm and its life and looked so horrible, so frightening as it lay there, legs spreadeagled, a fixed stare in its lifeless eyes, blood all over.

(a) Death of the cow made her extremely
Answer:
sad

(b) Life looked and frightening due to the death of the cow.
Answer:
horrible

(d) Find the same meaning of ‘overwhelmed’ in the extract.
Answer:
overcome

Question 19.
“Yes you’re right,” her mother said. “So many things in our midst and in the world outside. How can we possibly know about everything? And even when we do know about something, we often can’t understand it completely, can we?”

(a) There were so many things in the world outside but we do not have of everything.
Answer:
knowledge

(b) According to Valli’s mother, her aunt was right to say that one cannot ………. anything completely knowing something. ”
Answer:
understand

(d) Find the same meaning of word ‘comprehend’ in the extract.
Answer:
Understand

Madam Rides the Bus Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
How did Valli react when she saw the dead cow by the roadside? [Delhi 2016]
Answer:
When Valli saw the dead cow by the roadside, she was overwhelmed with sadness. The memory of the dead cow haunted her, depressing her enthusiasm. She no longer wanted to look out of the window.

Question 2.
Who was Valliammai? What was her favourite pastime?
Answer:
Valliammai was an eight-year-old girl. She was a mature girl but did not have any playmate of her age. Her favourite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house, watching what was happening in the street outside.

Question 3.
What was the most fascinating thing that Valli saw on the street? [Delhi 2019]
Answer:
Valli did not have any playmate of her age. She had a pastime of watching outside in the street. She
used to watch the new passengers boarding the bus every day. The arrival of the bus was the most fascinating scene in the street for Valli. She watched the passengers boarding the bus and to listen to their conversation. The sight of the bus was a source of unending joy for Valli.

Question 4.
What did Valli wish? How did this desire creep in her mind?
Answer:
Valli wished to have a ride on the bus. She used to listen to the passengers’ conversation carefully. She heard about the city and many more things through them. A tiny wish crept into her mind and became a desire.

Question 5.
Why did Valli feel jealous of her friend?
Answer:
Valli had a strong desire to ride the bus. One of her friends had already visited the city. She wanted to describe her experience to Valli. Valli was so jealous that she did not listen to her and shouted ‘Proud! Proud!’

Question 6.
Why did Valli collect the information about the bus?
Answer:
Valli had a strong desire to ride the bus. She had to plan her journey to the city by the bus. So she started collecting information about the distance, time and fare of the journey.

Question 7.
What information did Valli collect about the bus journey?
Answer:
Valli collected some details of the journey. The city was six miles from her village. The fare was thirty paise one way. The trip takes forty five minutes one way. Now she could plan her journey by the bus in an easy way.

Question 8.
How did Valli slip away from her house?
Answer:
Valli had calculated that if she left her house at one o’clock she would be back by two forty-five. This was the time she could be away without the knowledge of her mother. She slipped from her house and boarded the bus.

Question 9.
How did the conductor treat Valli? How did Valli feel when the conductor called her ‘My Fine Madam’?
Answer:
When Valli got into the bus, the conductor treated her as a child. He asked her who was coming in the bus. Valli told him confidently that it was she only. She bought the ticket and the conductor called her ‘Madam’ jokingly. The conductor was a jolly fellow. Valli did not like him treating her as a child. Her temperament made the conductor call her ‘Madam’. Valli was overcome with shyness.

Question 10.
What did Valli see beyond the bank of a canal while on the busride?
Answer:
While on the bus ride, Valli saw beyond the canal through the window. There were palm trees, grassland, distant mountains and the blue sky. It was a wonderful scene for Valli.

Question 11.
What did the conductor advise Valli while on the bus?
Answer:
The conductor advised Valli to sit on her seat properly. She had taken a full ticket and need not stand on the seat. Moreover, she could have hurt herself while standing on the seat and watching outside.

Question 12.
Why did Valli rebuke the elderly woman on the bus?
Answer:
The elderly woman treated Valli as a child. She asked her many questions. She tried to make Valli feel that it was not proper for a child to travel alone. Valli did not like her appearance and unnecessary interference. She rebuked her saying that she was not a child and she could take care of herself.

Question 13.
Why did Valli not get down from the bus in the town?
Answer:
Valli did not get off the bus at the bus station because she had to come back to her village by the same bus. When the conductor asked her to get down, she refused to do so. She was afraid of moving alone. Moreover, she did not have money to buy things from there.

Question 14.
How did Valli react on seeing the cow for the first time?
Answer:
On her way to the city, Valli saw a small cow running in front of the bus. She was filled with joy. She laughed wholeheartedly until her eyes filled with tears. She saw life in the form of a cow.

Question 15.
Why did she become sad while returning from the town?
Answer:
She became sad while coming back from the city. She saw a dead cow on the road. It was the same cow that filled her with joy only a while ago. The scene of dead cow haunted her and she could not enjoy her back journey.

Question 16.
What did Valli find her mother doing when she came back?
Answer:
When Valli came back from the city, she found her mother standing and conversing with one of her aunts. They were discussing the things happening outside the world.

Question 17.
What was the topic of discussion between Valli’s mother and her aunt?
Answer:
They were discussing the things happening outside the city and they were unable to understand them.

Question 18.
What did Valli remark when she heard the conversation between her mother and her aunt?
Answer:
When Valli heard the conversation between her mother and her aunt, she remarked that she agreed with what they said about things happening outside without their knowledge.

Madam Rides the Bus Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
Valli got jealous every time one of her friends told her about the bus ride and the sights of the town. Do you think jealousy is a positive trait? What should be done to keep jealous thoughts away?
Answer:
Valli has a deep desire to visit the town and experience a bus journey. The world outside holds a charm for her. Whenever one of her friends tells Valli about her bus ride and the sights of the town, she gets jealous and tells them to shut up. Jealousy is not a positive trait. It’s a negative feeling that arises out of hatred and contempt for others. We must not ever be jealous of others instead, we must share the achievements and happiness of our friends. We should feel inspired by their accounts and try to achieve our goal with all our heart.

Question 2.
Valli posed herself to be very confident when the conductor offered her help to ride the bus. Later on she felt shy when all laughed at her. What does this tell you about Valli’s character? What do we learn from her character?
Answer:
Valli posed to be very confident in front of the conductor when he offered her help to ride the bus. This shows her confidence, intelligence and careful nature. But when everybody laughed at her, she felt shy. She was innocent too. Being aware of that fact that she was travelling for the first time, she was taking every precaution not to be fooled by anybody.

Although she should not have travelled alone yet it was wise on her part to behave confidently. Sometimes, situations arise when a child has to travel or live alone. In such a situation, it is necessary for children to get training in order to be self-confident. She teaches us to be confidant, compassionate and sympathetic towards others.

Question 3.
Valli dared to travel alone in the bus and behaved haughtily with everyone who showed care and concern for her. Why do you think she was behaving in such a way? Was it proper on her part to go to the city without the knowledge of her mother? What advice would you give to such children?
Answer.
As Valli was travelling alone in a bus for the first time, it was natural on her part to behave like this. Initially she seemed haughty but later on she joined other people, though maintaining a distance. In fact, Valli was a very confident and mature girl. She saved her pocket money and planned carefully for the journey. She knew that the world outside was strange to her so she was being extra cautious. I appreciate her sense of responsibility but it was also not proper on her part to go out alone without telling her parents. Children must confide in their parents in whatever they do. Our elders have experience and knowledge and under their guidance, we can make our life a success.

Question 4.
Valli sternly refused the conductor’s offer of a cold drink though she might be willing to have one. What lesson do you learn from her gesture?
Answer:
By the end of the journey, the conductor had got quite fond of Valli. When the bus reached its destination, the conductor went to the nearby stall to have something to drink. He offered to bring one for Valli as a treat from him but Valli refused sternly. She didn’t have much money and out of the feeling of self-respect she was not ready to take obligation either.

Such a conduct from an eight year old girl shows her good upbringing. We learn not to be greedy and live within our means. We must not get lured by the attractions, however strong they may be. It is always wise to spend money judiciously. Children must not waste their pocket money on unwanted items.

Question 5.
The sight of the dead cow filled Valli with sadness. The harsh reality of life and death are shown through this episode. What kind of life do you think one must have to live peacefully until death comes?
Answer:
On her way to the town, Valli saw a young cow running helter-skelter. She got very amused and laughed a lot. But while on her return journey to the town, she saw the same cow lying dead in a pool of blood by the side of the road. Valli got very upset and lost her enthusiasm of looking outside the window.

The episode reveals the fact that life is transitory. Death is uncertain. God has given us a very precious life so we must not waste it in doing wrong deeds. Our aim in life should be to live happily with our friends, neighbours and relatives. Leaving all the negative thoughts like anger, jealousy, greed and pride, etc. a person can feel calm, and peaceful at heart. Death is a harsh reality but life is beautiful. We must not lose an opportunity to live it to the fullest by getting entangled in the webs of life.

Question 6.
Valli’s journey to the town is also her induction into the mystery of life and death. Such real experiences of life make us mature. Do you agree? Elaborate.
Answer:
It is true that Valli’s journey to the town is also her induction into the mystery of life and death. While on her way to the town, Valli saw a cow running very fast in the middle of the road, right in front of the bus. Valli was very happy. She kept on laughing until her eyes welled up with tears. She saw life in the image of a cow.

This is what life gives us, happiness and enjoyment. On her way back home, she saw a dead cow lying on the road. It was killed in a road accident. Valli recognised it. It was the same cow which filled her life with happiness and joy a short while ago. She was upset and realised how death can change the things. Something that was lovable and charming a while ago had lost all the charms. Yes, such real-life experiences make one mature. It’s a great lesson of life.

Question 7.
Imagine you are Valli. On your return journey the sighting of a dead cow changed your mood. You were very upset. Write a diary entry expressing your feelings.
Answer:
Dear Diary,
Date: 17 July, Saturday
A dream came true today when a long cherished wish of riding the bus was fulfilled. It was a wonderful and exciting experience. While going to the city watching a small cow filled me with joy. I laughed wholeheartedly. It was funny to see her, running in front of the bus. On my journey back, I saw a dead cow lying on the road. I asked the conductor if that was the same cow. When I came to know that it was the same cow, I was so upset that I lost all the charm of the beauty outside. A cow that filled me with joy and happiness only a moment ago was lying dead! I could see the blood coming out of its nose. It was so haunting that I could not enjoy my journey back.

Question 8.
Valli is a very sensitive girl. She is different from ordinary people who are becoming more and more callous and insensitive to the joys and sufferings of the people around them. She grieves the accidental death of the young cow. Do you think the values of being sensitive and sympathetic are missing from our society? What do you learn from Valli?
Answer:
It is true that Valli is a very sensitive girl. She is different from ordinary people who are becoming more and more callous and insensitive to the joys and sufferings of the people around them. She grieves the accidental death of the young cow. She was very happy while going to the city. She was happy seeing the young cow and enjoyed her activity.

When she was back and found the cow dead, she was very upset and grieved by her death. It shows that she was very sensitive. No doubt the values of being sensitive and sympathetic are missing from our society. These values must be restored and inculcated in the new generation. Today we find people very callous and insensitive towards the victim of road accidents. In some cases, the victim is not given any help and dies on the road itself. We must be sensitive towards them. Valli gives us a lesson that we should be sensitive to our surroundings and people.

Question 9.
Curiosity is the mother of learning. If one has an urge to know more about anything, one learns many things. Valli also has an urge to know more and more about things and her surroundings which makes her an intelligent, confident and mature girl. What traits of her character make her so? What do you learn from her character?
Answer:
Curiosity is the mother of learning. If one has an urge to know more about anything, one learns many things. Valli also has an urge to know more and more about things and her surroundings. The people and surroundings are a good book to learn. Valli in the lesson, ‘Madam Rides the Bus’ learns a lot from others. She is a small inquisitive girl of eight years. She always enjoys standing in the front . door of the house to watch various activities going in the house. She is very confident.

She has a deep urge to travel by bus so she listened carefully to the conversation of the neighbours. She has a lot of questions and does not hesitate in asking them. She sometimes asks discreet questions to get details about the journey. While on her journey to the town she becomes friendly with the conductor who gives her a lot of information. Her curious nature makes her intelligent and confident. I, as a student, learn from her that we should have an urge to know more. It makes one confident and intelligent.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 9 Madam Rides the Bus Read More »

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Poem 6 Amanda

CBSE Class 10 / Prasanna

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English

Amanda NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Poem 6

Amanda NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

Amanda Thinking about the Poem

Question 1.
How old do you think Amanda is? How do you know this?
Answer:
Amanda is about eleven to thirteen years old because she is neither very old to take care of herself nor very young to ignore cleaning the room.

Question 2.
Who do you think is speaking to her?
Answer:
Her parents are speaking to her.

Question 3.
Why are the stanzas 2, 4 and 6 given in parenthesis?
Answer:
Para 2, 4 and 6 are given in parentheses because those thoughts are taking place in Amanda’s imagination and not in reality.

Question 4.
Who is the speaker in stanzas 2, 4 and 6? Do you think this speaker is listening to the speaker in stanzas 1, 3, 5 and 7 ?
Answer:
The speaker in stanzas 2, 4 and 6 is Amanda herself. Yes, the speaker of these lines is listening to the speaker of other lines as images are a reaction to the statements made by the parents.

Question 5.
What could Amanda do if she were a mermaid?
Answer:
If Amanda were a mermaid, she would drift aimlessly at the beautiful sea without any interference of others.

Question 6.
Is Amanda an orphan? Why does she say so?
Answer:
No, Amanda is not an orphan. She says so because she is fed up with her parents’ nagging all the time. She wishes to be like an orphan who does not have anyone to shout all the time.

Question 7.
Do you know the story of Rapunzel? Why does she want to be Rapunzel?
Answer:
Rapunzel is a beautiful princess living in a tranquil tower. She has beautiful long hair. She lets her bright hair down. A prince climbs on the tower through her hair. She wants to be Rapunzel because she wants to be left all alone like Rapunzel.

Question 8.
What does the girl yearn for? What does the poem tell you about Amanda?
Answer:
The girl yearns for her privacy. She wants to be left alone so that she could do whatever she wants to do without any interference from her parents. Amanda is a moody girl. She wants to lead a life free from bondages and she is very imaginative.

Question 9.
Read the last stanza. Do you think Amanda is sulking and moody?
Answer:
Amanda is a very moody child. She does not react to the demands of her parents.

Amanda Extra Questions and Answers

Amanda Reference-to-Context Questions

Read the stanza given below and answer the questions that follow:

Question 1.
Don’t bite your nails, Amanda!
Don’t hunch your shoulders, Amanda!
Stop that slouching and sit up straight,
Amanda!

(a) Amanda is asked not to bite her nails and her shoulders.
Answer:
hunch

(b) Amanda’s mother asked Amanda to stop and sit up straight.
Answer:
slouching

(d) Find the same meaning of the ‘drooping’ in the extract.
Answer:
slouching

Question 2.
(I am an orphan, roaming the street.
I pattern soft dust with my hushed, bare feet.
The silence is golden, the freedom is sweet.)

(a) Amanda imagines herself to be an
Answer:
orphan

(b) Amanda wants
Answer:
freedom

(d) Find the same meaning of ‘silent’ in the extract.
Answer:
hushed

Question 3.
Don’t eat that chocolate, Amanda!
Remember your acne, Amanda!
Will you please look at me when I’m speaking to you, Amanda.

(a) Amanda is not ready to leave the ………. of eating chocolates.
Answer:
habit

(b) Amanda is advised not to eat chocolate because she is suffering from
Answer:
acne

(d) Find the same meaning of ‘pimples’ in the extract.
Answer:
acne

Question 4.
Stop that sulking at once, Amanda!
You’re always so moody, Amanda!
Anyone would think that I nagged at you,
Amanda!

(a) Amanda is a …….. girl.
Answer:
moody

(b) Amanda is advised to stop
Answer:
sulking

(d) Find the same meaning of ‘pestered’ in the extract.
Answer:
nagged

Amanda Long Answer Question

Question 1.
‘Living with one’s head in the air’ is what Amanda epitomizes. Justify with examples from the poem.
Answer:
Instead of paying attention to the diktat of not biting her nails and sitting upright, Amanda daydreams about an emerald sea where she is the sole mermaid. Pensively, Amanda imagines herself a neglected urchin-cum-orphan, patterning soft dust with unshod feet. Instead of hearing the warnings about not eating the chocolate as it will bring on the acne, and listen attentively, Amanda imagines she is Rapunzel, with long tresses.

Amanda imagines that like the fairy-story character, she will dwell in the tower quietly and take care not to let down her hair lest the witch climbs up with its help. Ultimately, Amanda is given an ultimatum to stop being moody and sulking, whereas Amanda is simply daydreaming.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Poem 6 Amanda Read More »

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Poem 5 The Ball Poem

CBSE Class 10 / Prasanna

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English

The Ball Poem NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Poem 5

The Ball Poem NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

The Ball Poem Thinking about the Poem

Question 1.
Why does the poet say, “I would not intrude on him”? Why doesn’t he offer him money to buy another ball?
Answer:
The poet decides not to intrude on him. He does not want to intervene in the natural process of learning. He does not offer him money to buy another ball because he wants the child to learn his lesson of responsibility.

Question 2.
“staring down/All his young days into the harbour where/ His ball went.” Do you think the boy has had the ball for a long time? Is it linked to the memories of days when he played with it?
Answer:
Yes, the child has a long association with the ball. The ball is linked to the memories of days when he played with it. That is the reason why the child is upset at the loss of the ball.

Question 3.
What does “In the world of possessions” mean?
Answer:
It means that the world is full of materialistic things and people give maximum importance to these things. This is the reason why they are upset at the loss of things.

Question 4.
Do you think the boy has lost anything earlier? Pick out the words that suggest the answer.
Answer:
No, the boy has never lost anything earlier. It was his first loss. The line “He senses first responsibility” suggests it.

Question 5.
What does the poet say the boy is learning from the loss of the ball? Tty to explain this in your own words.
Answer:
According to the poet the child has learnt his first lesson. He has learnt the sense of responsibility. It is a learning process. He has learnt how to face the loss of something very important to us.

Question 6.
Have you ever lost something you liked very much? Write a paragraph describing how you felt then and saying whether —and how — you got over your loss?
Answer:
Classroom Activity.

The Ball Poem Extra Questions and Answers

The Ball Poem Reference-to-Context Questions

Read the stanza given below and answer the questions that follow:

Question 1.
An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy
As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down
All his young days into the harbour where
His ball went.

(a) The boy in the above stanza seems to be in a
Answer:
sad

(b) He stands stiff and trembling while staring at his
Answer:
ball

(c) The boy feels that with his ball that has fallen into a harbour, his childhood memories have also been washed off. (True/False)
Answer:
True

(d) The word that means same as ‘final’ is
Answer:
ultimate

Question 2.
I would not intrude on him;
A dime, another ball, is worthless.
Now He senses first responsibility
In a world of possessions.

(a) The poet does not want to ………. the boy’s thoughts.
Answer:
intrude

(b) According to the poet, from the loss of the ball, the boy would learn what it means to lose something in a ………..
Answer:
world of possessions

(d) The word in the stanza means same as ‘encroach upon’.
Answer:
intrude

Question 3.
Money is external.
He is learning, well behind his desperate eyes,
The epistemology of loss, how to stand up
Knowing what every man must one day know
And most know many days, how to stand up.

(a) Money is external as it cannot buy
Answer:
memories

(b) The boy is learning how amidst losses.
Answer:
to stand up

(d) ……………. in the stanza means ‘the study of the nature of knowledge it self.
Answer:
Epistemology

The Ball Poem Short Answer Question

Question 1.
‘He senses first responsibility’—What responsibility is referred to here? [2018]
Answer:
The ‘responsibility’ referred to here is relates to learning what it is like to experience grief at the loss of a much loved possession.

The Ball Poem Long Answer Question

Question 1.
‘Possession in nine-tenths of the law’ How far does the contents of the poem, ‘The Ball Poem’, illustrate this idiom?
Answer:
The boy in the poem has lost his ball as it went rolling down the street and into the water. The loss of the ball is a great educator about the value of possession and the responsibility of keeping one’s possessions safely. The boy’s personal life is shattered as his personal possession has slipped away and lies irretrievable, and encompassing all his consciousness.

Though he is consoled by others with the offer of a substitute ball, or a dime to buy a ball, these prove worthless, and the loss awakens in him a sense of responsibility. The boy learns to stand up for his rightful possessions, besides learning to look after them by striving to be a responsible guardian.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Poem 5 The Ball Poem Read More »

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 4 From the Diary of Anne Frank

CBSE Class 10 / Prasanna

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English

From the Diary of Anne Frank NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 4

From the Diary of Anne Frank NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

From the Diary of Anne Frank Oral Comprehension Check

Question 1.
What makes writing in a diary a strange experience for Anne Frank?
Answer:
First, she had never written anything like this before and secondly, she thought that nobody was going to read or would be interested in her diary.

Question 2.
Why does Anne want to keep a diary?
Answer:
Because she doesn’t have a friend with whom she can share her feelings.

Question 3.
Why did Anne think she could confide more in her diary than in other people?
Answer:
She could confide in a close friend but she didn’t have one, the friends she had were there to have more fun and good times rather than the ones in whom she could confide.

Question 4.
Why does Anne provide a brief sketch of her life?
Answer:
She thought that nobody would understand a single word without her giving the brief sketch of her life.

Question 5.
What tells you that Anne loved her grandmother?
Answer:
She often thought of her grandmother and still loved her.

Question 6.
Why was Mr Keesing annoyed with Anne? What did he ask her to do?
Answer:
Mr Keesing was annoyed with her because Anne talked very much in class. After several warnings he assigned her extra homework.

Question 7.
How did Anne justify her being a chatterbox in her essay?
Answer:
She gave two arguments to justify that she was a chatterbox, one that chatting was a student’s trait, and the other reason that nothing could be done about the inherited traits.

Question 8.
Do ybu think Mr Keesing was a strict teacher?
Answer:
Yes, he was a strict teacher because he wanted to set right Anne for talking too much in class.

Question 9.
What made Mr Keesing allow Anne to talk in class?
Answer:
When Anne had written her assignment – a long beautiful verse, Mr Keesing liked it. He read the poem to the class, added his comments to it and then he allowed her to talk.

From the Diary of Anne Frank Thinking about the Text

Question 1.
Was Anne right when she said that the world would not be interested in the musings of a thirteen- year-old girl?
Answer:
No, Anne was not right when she said that the world would not be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year-old girl.

Question 2.
There are some examples of diary or journal entries in the ‘Before You Read’ section. Compare these with what Anne writes in her diary? What language was the diary originally written in? In what way was Anne’s diary different?
Answer:
Anne started with a diary format but it became a memoir later on.

Question 3.
Why does Anne need to give a brief sketch about her family? Does she treat ‘Kitty’ as an insider or outsider?
Answer:
She feels she is very lonely and this feeling is with her despite the fact that she has a family. That is why she wants to give a brief sketch of her family. She treats Kitty as an insider.

Question 4.
How does Anne feel about her father, her grandmother, Mrs Kuperus and Mr Keesing? What do these tell you about her?
Answer:
Anne Frank loved her father too much. She described him as the most adorable father she had ever seen. She was deeply attached to her grandmother. She felt extremely lonely after her death and she even lit a candle for her on her next birthday. Anne got attached to her headmistress, Mrs Kuperous and became emotional when bidding farewell. Mr Keesing, her maths teacher was very strict and she got pretty well with him.

Question 5.
What does Anne write in her first essay?
Answer:
She wants to write convincing arguments on the essay A chatterbox’. She writes that it is a student’s trait and that she will try to keep it under control. But she says she wouldn’t be able to cure it as the trait has been inherited from her mother.

Question 6.
Anne says teachers are most unpredictable. Was Mr Keesing unpredictable? How?
Answer:
Yes, what she says is right. She couldn’t predict the reactions of Mr Keesing on her assignments.

Question 7.
What do these statements tell you about Anne Frank as a person?
(i) We don’t seem to be able to get any closer, and that’s the problem. Maybe it’s my fault that we don’t confide in each other.
(ii) I don’t want to jot down the facts in this diary the way most people would do, but I want the diary to be my friend.
(iii) Margot went to Holland in December, and I followed in February, when I was plunked down on the table as a birthday present for Margot.
(iv) If you ask me, there are so many dummies that about a quarter of the class should be kept back, but teachers are the most unpredictable creatures on earth.
(v) Anyone could ramble on and leave big spaces between the words, but the trick was to come up with convincing arguments to prove the necessity of talking.
Answer:
(i) Friendly and warm
(ii) Wants to be different and original
(iii) Witty
(iv) Humorous
(v) Intelligent

From the Diary of Anne Frank Extra Questions and Answers

From the Diary of Anne Frank Reference-to-Context Questions

Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Question 1.
Writing in a diary is a really strange experience for someone like me. Not only because I’ve never written anything before, but also because it seems to me that later on neither I nor anyone else will be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year-old school girl. Oh well, it doesn’t matter. I feel like writing, and I have an even greater need to get all kinds of things off my chest.

(a) Anne found her diary the best to share her thoughts and feelings with.
Answer:
companion

(b) The narrator thought that no one would be interested in the of a 13-year-old school girl.
Answer:
musings

(d) Give a synonymous word for ‘reflection of one’s thoughts’ from the extract.
Answer:
‘musings’

Question 2.
‘Paper has more patience than people.’ I thought of this saying on one of those days when I was
feeling a little depressed and was sitting at home with my chin in my hands, bored and listless, wondering whether to stay in or go out. I finally stayed where I was, brooding: Yes, paper does have more patience, and since I’m not planning to let anyone else read this stiff-backed notebook grandly referred to as a‘diary’, unless I should ever find a real friend, it probably won’t make a bit of difference.

(a) Paper has more than people.
Answer:
patience

(b) Anne was feeling a little bored and listless that time.
Answer:
Depressed

(d) Find a synonymous word for ‘thinking a lot about something’ from the extract.
Answer:
Brooding.

Question 3.
Now I’m back to the point that prompted me to keep a diary in the first place: I don’t have a friend. Let me put it more clearly, since no one will believe that a thirteen-year-old girl is completely alone in the world. And I’m not. I have loving parents and a sixteen-year-old sister, and there are about thirty people I can call friends. I have a family, loving aunts and a good home. No, on the surface I seem to have everything, except my one true friend.

(a) Anne had loving friends and a sister.
Answer:
16 year-old

(b) Anne seemed to have everything, except her one
Answer:
True friend

(d) Find a synonymous word for ‘motivate’ from the extract.
Answer:
‘prompted’.

Question 4.
All I think about when I’m with friends is having a good time. I can’t bring myself to talk about anything but ordinary everyday things. We don’t seem to be able to get any closer, and that’s the problem. Maybe it’s my fault that we don’t confide in each other. In any case, that’s just how things are, and unfortunately they’re not liable to change. This is why I’ve started the diary.

(a) When Anne was with her friends, she used to talk about everyday things.
Answer:
Ordinary

(b) Although Anne spent her time with her friends, she could not in them.
Answer: confide

(d) Find the synonym of ‘confess’ from the extract.
Answer:
Confide

Question 5.
To enhance the image of this long-awaited friend in my imagination, I don’t want to jot down the facts in this diary the way most people would do, but I want the diary to be my friend, and I’m going to call this friend ‘Kitty’. Since no one would understand a word of my stories to Kitty if I were to plunge right in, I’d better provide a brief sketch of my life, much as I dislike doing so.

(a) Kitty was the name of diary.
Answer:
Anne’s

(b) Anne decided to provide a brief of her life before sharing her thoughts with Kitty.
Answer:
Sketch

(d) Give the antonym of ‘emerge/rise’ from the extract.
Answer:
Plunge

Question 6.
My father, the most adorable father I’ve ever seen,didn’t marry my mother until he was thirty-six and she was twenty-five. My sister, Margot, was born in Frankfurt in Germany in 1926. I was born on 12 June 1929. I lived in Frankfurt until I was four. My father emigrated to Holland in 1933. My mother, Edith Hollander Frank, went with him to Holland in September, while Margot and I were sent to Aachen to stay with our grandmother. Margot went to Holland in December, and I followed in February, when I was plunked down on the table as a birthday present for Margot.

(a) Anne Frank was born on in Frankfurt in Germany.
Answer:
12 June 1929

(b) Anne’s mother was
Answer:
Edith Hollander Frank

(d) Find the synonym of ‘lovable’ from the extract.
Answer:
‘Adorable’

Question 7.
I started right away at the Montessori nursery school. I stayed there until I was six, at which time I started in the first form. In the sixth form my teacher was Mrs Kuperus, the headmistress. At the end of the year we were both in tears as we said a heartbreaking farewell.
In the summer of 1941 Grandma fell ill and had to have an operation, so my birthday passed with little celebration. Grandma died in January 1942. No one knows how often I think of her and still love her. This birthday celebration in 1942 was intended to make up for the other, and Grandma’s candle was lit along with the rest.The four of us are still doing well, and that brings me to the present date of 20 June 1942, and the solemn dedication of my diary.

(a) Anne stayed at the until she was six.
Answer:
Montessori nursery school

(b) Mrs. Kuperus was the of the Montessori nursery school.
Answer:
Headmistress

(d) Give the antonym of ‘jovial/joyous’ from the extract.
Answer:
Solemn.

Question 8.
Our entire class is quaking in its boots. The reason, of course, is the forthcoming meeting in which the teachers decide who’ll move up to the next form and who’ll be kept back. Half the class is making bets. G.N. and I laugh ourselves silly at the two boys behind us, C.N. and Jacques, who have staked their entire holiday savings on their bet. From morning to night, it’s “You’re going to pass”, “No, I’m not”, “Yes, you are”, “No, I’m not”. Even G.’s pleading glances and my angry outbursts can’t calm them down. If you ask me, there are so many dummies that about a quarter of the class should be kept back, but teachers are the most unpredictable creatures on earth.

(a) The entire class was quaking in its boots because at the meeting the teachers would declare result.
Answer:
Forthcoming

(b) Half of the class was making who will pass and who will not.
Answer:
Bets

(d) Give a synonym of ‘requested’ from the extract.
Answer:
Pleaded.

Question 9.
The only subject I’m not sure about is maths. Anyway, all we can do is wept. Until then, we keep telling each other not to lose heart. I get along pretty well with all my teachers. There are nine of them, seven men and two women. Mr Keesing, the old foget who teaches maths, was annoyed with me for ages because I talked so much. After several warnings, he assigned me extra homework. An essay on the subject, A Chatterbox’. A chatterbox what can you write about that? I’d worry about that later, I decided. I jotted down the title in my notebook, tucked it in my bag and tried to keep quiet.

(a) Anne’s performance was not good in …………..
Answer:
Maths

(b) Anne got pretty well with all her teachers except …………, her maths teacher.
Answer:
Mr Keesing

(d) Give an antonym of ‘relieved’ from the extract.
Answer:
Annoyed

Question 10.
That evening, after I’d finished the rest of my homework, the note about the essay caught my eye. I began thinking about the subject while chewing the tip of my fountain pen. Anyone could ramble on and leave big spaces between the words, but the trick was to come up with convincing arguments to. prove the necessity of talking. I thought and thought, and suddenly I had an idea. I wrote the three pages Mr Keesing had assigned me and was satisfied. I argued that talking is a student’s trait and that I would do my best to keep it under control, but that I would never be able to cure myself of the habit since my mother talked as much as I did if not more, and that there’s not much you can do about inherited traits.

(a) Anne argued that talking is a student’s
Answer:
Trait

(b) Anne wrote pages on the subject, ‘A Chatterbox’.
Answer:
Three

(c) Anne told her teacher that her habit of talking too much was an inherited trait from her mother. (True/False)
Answer:
True

(d) Give a synonym of ‘attributed’ from the extract.
Answer:
Trait

Question 11.
Mr Keesing had a good laugh at my arguments, but when I proceeded to talk my way through the next lesson, he assigned me a second essay. This time it was supposed to be on An Incorrigible Chatterbox’. I handed it in, and Mr Keesing had nothing to complain about for two whole lessons. However, during the third lesson he’d finally had enough. “Anne Frank, as punishment for talking in class, write an essay entitled — ‘Quack, Quack, Quack, Said Mistress Chatterbox’. The class roared. I had to laugh too, though I’d nearly exhausted my ingenuity on the topic of chatterboxes. It was time to come up with something else, something original. My friend, Sanne, who’s good at poetry, offered to help me write the essay from beginning to end in verse and I jumped for joy. Mr Keesing was trying to play a joke on me with this ridiculous subject, but I’d made sure the joke was on him.

(a) How did Mr Keesing react to her essay?
Answer:
Mr. Keesing had a good laugh at her arguments.

(b) Why did Mr. Keesing assign her another essay? What was it all about?
Answer:
She could not control over her habit of chatting in the class. As a punishment he gave her another essay an Incorrigible Chatterbox.

(c) What did he ask Anne to do as third punishment?
Answer:
Mr. Keesing, as punishment for talking in class, asked her to write an essay entitled ‘Quack, Quack, Quack, Said Mistress Chatterbox’.

(d) What was Mr Keesing trying to do this time by giving that subject?
Answer:
Mr. Keesing was trying to play a joke on her with that ridiculous subject.

Question 12.
I finished my poem, and it was beautiful! It was about a mother duck and a father swan with three baby ducklings who were bitten to death by the father because they quacked too much. Luckily, Mr Keesing took the joke the right way. He read the poem to the class, adding his own comments, and to several other classes as well. Since then I’ve been allowed to talk and haven’t been assigned any extra homework. On the contrary, Mr Keesing’s always making jokes these days.

(a) Who is I here? What did she do?
Answer:
I here is- Anne Frank. She wrote an essay in poetic form. It was an assignment given to her by her teacher, Mr Keesing.

(b) What was it all about?
Answer:
It was about a mother duck and a father swan with three baby ducklings who were bitten to death by the father because they quacked too much.

(c) How did Mr Keesing take it?
Answer:
Mr Keesing took the joke in the right way. He added his own comments in it and read the poem to the class.

(d) How did this change the whole situation?
Answer:
Mr Keesing allowed Anne to talk in the class and never assigned any extra work. He himself started making jokes.

From the Diary of Anne Frank Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
What prompted Anne to maintain a diary?
Answer:
After the death of her grandmother, Anne felt quite lonely. She started writing a diary to share her sorrows and joys.

Question 2.
Who became Anne’s friend, and what was the friend’s name?
Answer:
Anne’s diary became her friend. She named it ‘Kitty’.

Question 3.
For whom was Anne “a birthday present” and why?
Answer:
Anne was ‘a birthday present’ to her sister, Margot, because she came to England on Margot’s birthday and was plunked down on the table as the birthday present.

Question 4.
Why did Anne think that she was alone? Give reasons.
Answer:
Anne felt very lonely though she had loving parents and many other friends because she could not share her feelings with any one of them.

Question 5.
How do you know that Anne was close to her grandmother?
Answer:
Anne spent her early childhood with her grandmother. After her death she missed her a lot and often thought of her. She even lit a candle as a tribute to her deceased grandmother.

Question 6.
(i) Where did Anne stay before going to Holland?
(ii) Why was she in tears when she left the Montessori School?
Answer:
(i) Anne stayed at Aachen where her grandmother stayed.
(ii) When she parted with her loving teacher, Mrs Kuperus, she wept piteously.

Question 7.
Why was the entire class quaking in their boots?
Answer:
The entire class was quaking in the boots as they knew that their fate was going to be decided in a meeting. The teachers would decide who would pass and who would fail. This worried them a lot.

From the Diary of Anne Frank Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
What idea do you form of Mr Keesing as a teacher? What is that you like the most about him?
Answer:
Mr Keesing, the maths teacher, was very strict. He got annoyed with Anne as she talked too much. He warned Anne several times and after that he assigned her extra homework. When she completed it she was assigned one more essay by Mr Keesing. He found all the essays correct and laughed at her arguments. This shows his liking for Anne. At last, he tried to play a joke on Anne by giving her a ridiculous topic Quack, Quack, Quack, said mistress Chatterbox.

The poem written by Anne, completely transformed Mr Keesing. Now, he had started having fun with students and even allowed . them to talk. Mr Keesing was a good teacher. He was a very disciplined and concerned teacher. He wanted his students to be serious in his classes. However, he was a short tempered teacher who punished Anne without understanding her stand. When Anne cracked a joke on him, he took it in a positive way. This trait of his character is very impressive.

Question 2.
How does Anne feel about her father, her grandmother, Mrs Kuperus and Mr Keesing? How does Anne’s description of these characters reflect her own character? Is she fair, critical or biased about them?
Answer:
Anne Frank loved her father too much. She described him as the most adorable father she had ever – seen. She was deeply attached to her grandmother. She felt extremely lonely after her death and she even lit a candle for her on her next birthday. Anne got attached to her headmistress, Mrs Kuperous and became emotional when bidding farewell. Mr Keesing, her maths teacher was very strict and she got pretty well with him. Anne’s description of these characters shows that Anne herself is a good human being. She has respect for all. She does not hesitate in making her teacher realise that he is wrong. She is fearless but talkative. She is fair and critical in her approach. She is not biased.

Question 3.
Write a brief character sketch of Anne. How does she impress you? What will you learn from her?
Answer:
Young Anne was a very intelligent girl and had a flair for writing essays. She could write essays and convinced her teacher that the talkativeness was her birthright and that she had no control over her talkativeness as she had inherited the art from her mother. She outwitted her teacher by writing ‘ the essay. But when the teacher punished her again and asked her to write another essay, “The Incorrigible Chatterbox”, she composed a poem and gave a message through it to the teacher.

The teacher was so impressed by her little poem that he decided not to punish her. Thus, we see that she is capable of writing good essays and win the heart of Mr Keesing and make him realise his mistake. Her fearlessness, critical thinking, humility and unbiased approach are some of the values reflected in her personality. I like her creativity and humorous approach to deal with her strict maths teacher, Mr Keesing.

Question 4.
Do you think Keesing was justified in punishing Anne? Would you support such a punishment in your class? Why/Why not?
Answer:
Mr Keesing was a very strict teacher who could not tolerate Anne’s talkativeness and would punish her. He even did not try to find out why the girl was always talking in his class. He was not justified in punishing her because he should have tried to make his teaching more impressive and interesting. Anne was weak in Mathematics; naturally, she was not interested in learning in his class.

First, he insulted her and asked her to write an essay on a chatterbox. As a teacher he should have been careful enough not to insult a young girl in front of the class. He further punished her to write another essay. The children are loving young ones who should not be punished at all but treated affectionately. No, I will not support any kind of punishment. A teacher should not use punishment to control the class. He/she should understand the level of students and modify his/her method of teaching.

Question 5.
Anne was very much attached to her grandmother. What should be our attitude towards our elders? What do you learn from Anne?
Answer:
Anne Frank was a thirteen year old girl. She was born at Frankfurt in Germany. She lived there until she was four. Her parents emigrated to Holland and she was sent to stay with her grandmother. Anne was very close to her grandmother. She found her a lovely lady. She loved her the most.

After her death, Anne missed her very much. She remarks, “No one knows how often I think of her and still love her.” It shows that Anne was very much attached to her grandmother. We should be respectful and sympathetic towards our elders. We get love and wishes from our elders if we treat them respectfully. It is our duty to take a good care of our elders. We learn from Anne that if we love our elders we get love in return.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 4 From the Diary of Anne Frank Read More »

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Chapter 4 A Question of Trust

CBSE Class 10 / Prasanna

In this article, we have created the most comprehensive NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Chapter 4 A Question of Trust.

A Question of Trust NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Chapter 4

A Question of Trust NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

A Question of Trust Read and Find out

Question 1.
What does Horace Danby like to collect?
Answer:
Horace Danby is a voracious reader. He loves to collect rare and expensive books.

Question 2.
Why does he steal every year?
Answer:
He steals every year to be able to make his both ends meet and to be able to purchase expensive books.

Question 3.
Who is speaking to Horace Danby?
Answer:
The smart woman in red dress is speaking to Horace Danby.

Question 4.
Who is the real culprit in the story?
Answer:
The woman in the red is the real culprit in the story as she succeeds in befooling Horace Danby.

A Question of Trust Extra Questions and Answers

A Question of Trust Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
How were flowers hindering Horace in his work?
Answer:
Horace suffered from hay fever and was allergic to some flowers. On smelling the flowers, he started sneezing and was caught red-handed by another thief.

Question 2.
Why was it not difficult for Horace to open the safe?
Answer:
It was not difficult for Horace to open the safe because he was a perfect and experienced locksmith. He had collected all the information about the safe before entering the house.

Question 3.
What advice did the lady give Horace regarding his hay fever? Was she really interested in his health?
Answer:
The lady advised Horace that he could find a cure to the hay fever by trying to find which plant gave the disease. She was not interested in his disease or its cure, but she was rather making fun of him.

Question 4.
Why did Horace Danby feel sure of his success in that year’s robbery?
Answer:
Horace Danby felt sure of his success in that year’s robbery too, because he had planned his work carefully. He studied every detail of the house. He had chosen an appropriate place and time for the robbery.

Question 5.
How did Horace manage the small dog when he attempted to rob the house at Shotover Grange?
Answer:
Horace Danby was an expert thief who planned his mission without any fault. When he tried to rob the house in Grange, he encountered a dog. But Horace Danby calmed the dog by calling him by his name.

Question 6.
What story did the lady tell Horace to get the jewels?
Answer:
The lady told Horace an interesting story. She told that her jewels were lying in the safe which she, needed at once. She also told that she had forgotten the numbers to open the safe.

Question 7.
Did Horace get the jewels from the Grange safe? If not, why did the police arrest him?
Answer:
Horace was not able to get any jewels though he stole them. The young lady in red befooled him. But the police arrested him due to his fingerprints on the Grange safe.

Question 8.
How can you say that Horace Danby was good and respectable but not completely honest? [Delhi 2019]
Answer:
Horace Danby was not a typical thief. He used to rob every year enough money to last for twelve months to buy books which he loved to read. He is described as a good and respectable person but not completely honest because he could not curb his habit of stealing a safe every year.

Question 9.
Why did Horace rob every year? Was he a typical thief? If so, why? In what way could Horace’s arrest have helped the lady?
Answer:
He robbed every year enough money to last for twelve months to buy books which he loved to read. No, he was not a typical thief because he used to steal only to buy interesting books.

Question 10.
Did the young lady expect Horace to be caught after the theft?
Answer:
Yes, the young lady knew that Horace would be caught. As he forgot to put on his gloves. Naturally his finger prints would lead the police towards him. Horace’s arrest would not let anyone think that she was the thief. So she was to be benefitted by his arrest.

Question 11.
Was Horace a typical thief? Why/Why not?
Answer:
No, Horace was not a typical thief. He robbed only once in a year to have enough money to last for twelve months. He was fond of expensive books which he used to buy from the stolen money. Otherwise, he was considered as an honest and respectable person.

Question 12.
What do you think is the meaning of the phrase ‘honour among thieves’? Who lacked it?
Answer:
The phrase ‘honour among thieves’ means that even the thieves have some principles and they do not cheat each other. They trust other thieves and are honest in their dealings with each other. Obviously, it is the young lady in the Red, who lacked honour as she cheated and befooled another thief. She procured the booty whereas Horace went to the jail.

Question 13.
How did Horace get entry into the house?
Answer:
He was very keen in his observation. He was able to see that the housekeepef hung the keys to the kitchen door on a hook. He picked up the keys from there and opened the door.

Question 14.
How did Horace know about the safe behind the painting?
Answer:
A magazine article had described this house giving a plan of all the rooms and a picture of this room. Even the fact that the safe was hidden behind a picture was given there.

A Question of Trust Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
Horace was a thief who planned his work carefully. He was in a way a sucesssful thief. Should we call him a successful thief and appreciate his work? Why/Why not?
Answer:
Horace Danby was a good, honest citizen of about 50 years. He planned his work carefully. He was a meticulous planner. He used to observe and supervise the house to be burgled. He never acted in haste. He studied the map and other minute details of the house at Shotover Grange.

He had the details of electric wiring, dogs and servants of the house. He knew when it was the right time to strike. He did his work so well that there was no cause of his arrest. No doubt he was a successful thief but his act of theft can not be appreciated. Stealing is a vice which can not be appreciated. To fulfil our needs we should not resort to theft.

Question 2.
Do you think Horace Danby was unfairly punished or that he deserved what he got? Do you agree that honesty in wrong acts is not desirable?
Answer:
The story, A Question of Trust’ is a story of distrust. The lady in the red is the real culprit. She was a very clever lady and was successful in befooling Horace. She made him believe that she was the mistress of the house and told him a story with conviction. Horace had taken off his gloves, because he thought that the wife of the owner was with him. That was the biggest mistake of his life.

Horace Danby left his fingerprints and was arrested. He was not punished unfairly. He was not innocent as he entered the house with the intention to rob the house. Honesty in wrong acts can not be justified. It is not desirable at all.

Question 3.
Do intentions justify actions? Would you, like Horace Danby, do something wrong if you thought your ends justify the means? Do you think that there are situations in which it is excusable to act less than honest?
Answer:
Yes, intentions justify the actions. If any wrong act is committed unintentionally, it can be excused. But if the wrong act is done intentionally it is not excusable. Horace Danby had the intention to rob the house. This is an intentional crime. He helped the house lady by opening the safe, he had good intentions but that too, for his own motive of being free. I would not indulge in any wrong act even if it is justified. Mere justifcation of the wrong act does not serve the purpose. Yes, there are situations in which it is excusable to act less than honest. But the case of Horace Danby does not fall in that category.

Question 4.
Did you begin to suspect, before the end of the story, that the lady was not the person Horace Danby took her to be? If so, at what point did you realise this, and how? How will you appreciate the act of the lady?
Answer:
Yes, it is very natural to suspect that the lady was not the owner of the house as she did not express surprise on seeing a burglar in her house rather she promised him that she would not hand him over to the police. Secondly, she even did not know the number of the safe. But Horace was too nervous to notice all these things.

The lady in red was very clever. She was successful in befooling Horace Danby. She was a good actress and acted so smartly that Horace Danby was trapped in her scheme. She lacked honour. Her act cannot be appreciated as she trapped another person for her greed and bad intentions.

Question 5.
What are the subtle ways in which the lady manages to deceive Horace Danby into thinking she is the lady of the house? Why doesn’t Horace suspect that something is wrong? What are the negative aspects of her character?
Answer:
The lady is very smart and clever. She succeeds in befooling Horace Danby that she is the owner of the house. She is a well dressed, well planned and organised thief who drafted her trick so meticulously that a brilliant thief like Horace could not suspect her. The way she enters and talks to Horace Danby, he is unable to doubt her integrity. Even the dog did not bark on seeing her. The lady in red had some negative traits in her personality. She was not honest. She was a thief and befooled another thief. She lacked honesty, integrity and honour.

Question 6.
“Horace Danby was good and respectable – but not completely honest.” Why do you think this description is apt for Horace? Why can’t he be categorised as a typical thief? Should we call him a good human being?
Answer:
The statement is an apt statement for Danby. He was a respectable person, but he was a thief who in order to fulfil his desire used to rob once in a year. He had adopted a dishonest way to fulfil his desire. So he cannot be called an honest person.

Horace Danby is not a typical thief because he steals mainly to buy rare and expensive books. He planned his theft in such a manner that he could not be arrested so far. Being an introvert, he did not blurt about his theft to anybody. No, we can’t call him a good human being. He was a victim of the trick played on him. He is not completely honest. He entered the house with bad intention. He was a thief and a thief can not be called a good human being.

Question 7.
“Horace Danby was a meticulous planner but still he faltered.” Where did he go wrong and why? Negative values never pay in long run: Do you agree?
Answer:
Though Horace Danby was a brilliant thief, he was caught in the end. He faltered because he readily handed over jewellery to the so-called owner of the house. Horace Danby was befooled by the lady in red. She pretended to be the owner of the house and made him open the safe without gloves. Horace left his fingerprints. He failed in his plan and was caught for a crime that he did not commit.

Negative values never pay in the long run. Every criminal has his punishment. Sooner or later one is caught and punished. Horace Danby was no doubt a meticulous planner but he was on a wrong path. His intention had never been good. He planned to rob others and was ultimately paid for it.

Question 8.
The lady in red dress was a more professional thief than Horace Danby. Do you agree? Elaborate.
Answer:
The lady in red not only outsmarted Horace Danby rather she went one step forward to ensure that all the evidence went against Horace to establish him as the real culprit and the lady walked out freely and untraceably. The lady combined her female arrogance and confidence to prepare a perfect recipe to befool Horace as he could not suspect that she was not the real lady of house. The lady tricked Horace Danby to utilise his years of experience in theft for her own benefit and Horace on the basis of his fingerprints was put behind the bars.

Question 9.
How did Horace Danby plan his robbery of shot over Grange?
Answer:
Horace Danby was not a typical thief. He planned his act of burglary meticulously. He always studied his target carefully. He planned his robbery of Shotover Grange carefully. He studied the situation . of rooms, electric fittings and other aspects well in advance. He collected details from different magazines and articles. He was aware about the safe which had jewels worth fifteen thousand pounds.

He knew the family was on vacation in London. He also knew that all the servants had gone for a movie. He knew the place of the keys too. When the right time came he struck his plan but outwitted by the lady in red. His plan failed and he was arrested

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Chapter 4 A Question of Trust Read More »