Going Places by A. R. Barton/ RBSE/ Question-Answers

Chapter – 10

Going Places                                                                                                                         A. R. Barton

Short Question Answers

Q. 1. What is Sophie’s dream about her future? Is her dream realistic?

Answer: Sophie’s dream was to open a boutique. Sophie thought of becoming a manager to get enough money to open a boutique. She also wanted to be a fashion designer and an actor. Sophie’s dream is not realistic as she belongs to a poor family with no resources to attain such higher goals.

Q. 2. Who was little Derek? What did he say about Sophie?

Answer: Little Derek was Sophie’s brother. He said that Sophie thought that money grows on the trees.

Q. 3. Why did Jansie discourage Sophie from entertaining such dreams?

Answer. Jansie discouraged Sophie from entertaining such dreams because she knew the financial condition of Sophie well. She knew that they were both earmarked for biscuit factories. With meagre resources, it would be near impossible for her to fulfil her dreams.

 Q. 4. Why was Sophie jealous of Geoff’s silence?

Answer. Geoff was Sophie’s elder brother. She was jealous of him because he spoke very little and didn’t share anything with her. When he wasn’t speaking, it was as if he was away somewhere in the world, in those places where she had never been.

Q. 5: How did Sophie include her brother Geoff in her fantasy of the future?

Answer. Geoff was an apprentice mechanic travelling to the far side of the city every morning. Sophie thought that Geoff would take her along with him to city. She would ride behind Geoff and people would applaud and rise to greet them.

Q. 6. Why did Sophie call Jansie nosey?

Answer: Sophie calls Jansie nosey because she wanted to know about the meeting between Sophie and Danny Casey. Jansie was eager to know everything about it.

Q. 7. Why was Sophie glad seeing the bicycle of her father standing against the pub wall?

Answer: Sophie was returning after the long wait for Danny Casey near the canal. She was happy to see her father’s bicycle near the wall of the pub because her father would not be there when Sophie came home.

Q. 8. Which was the only occasion when Sophie got to see Danny Casey I person?

Answer: There happened no personal meeting between Sophie and Danny Casey. Sophie saw him only on the ground while watching United’s match with her brothers and father.

 

Long Question Answers

Q. 9. Sophie and Jansie were classmates and friends. What were the differences between them that showed up in the story?

Answer. Sophie and Jansie were classmates and friends. But there were many differences between them. Sophie was lost in her strange dreams and fantasies but Jansie was realistic. Sophie dreamt that after leaving school she would open a fashionable clothing store in the city. She thought of becoming a manager to save that much money. She also thought of becoming an actress as she would have lots of money in that way. Jansie, on the other hand, knew the reality very well. She never indulged herself in any impractical idea. Instead of pursuing any wild fantasy, she accepted the reality and wished that Sophie could also understand that. Being Sophie’s classmate and friend She cared for her. Sophie would dream of Danny Casey and picture her meeting with him but Jansie had no such dreams.

Q. 10. Sophie’s real world is different from her fantasies. Explain.

Answer: Yes, Sophie’s real world is different from her fictional world. Sophie is not so wealthy as to match her dreams. She is a teenager and is always lost in dreams. She dreams of opening a boutique after leaving school. She plans to become a manager to collect enough money to open a boutique. She also dreams of becoming like Mary Quant, a fashion designer. In her imagination, sometimes she thought of becoming an actress as she would get a lot of money that way. But in reality, her economic condition was not very good. They didn’t have a good house. Her elder brother was an apprentice mechanic. Her father used a bicycle. The only future option available to them was perhaps the biscuit factory. She also fancied about Danny Casey but he was far beyond her reach. It is quite easy to understand that coming from a poor family, her dreams were a far cry for her.

Q. 11. What did Sophie tell her brother Geoff about Danny Casey?

Answer. Sophie told her brother Geoff that she met Danny Casey in the arcade. She was looking at the clothes in Royce’s window when somebody came and stood by her and surprisingly, it was Danny Casey. When Geoff asked how he looked like, she said that he had green and gentle eyes, and he was not so tall as one would think of him. She then thought of telling about his teeth but then she decided against it.  She said that she asked an autograph for little Derek but neither of them had any paper or pen and that he would give her an autograph if she cared to meet him the next day. She wished Geoff to believe all that.

Q. 12. Comment on the aptness of the title ‘Going Places’.

Answer: The title “Going Places” is quite apt for this story as it incorporates going places both physically and mentally. The story begins with Sophie’s returning home from school with her friend Jansie and along with that it describes her imagination travelling far and wide, from opening up a boutique to becoming an actress. At home, she imagines herself riding behind her brother on his bike and city people applauding and greeting them. She also pictures her meeting with Danny Casey at Royce’s and an autograph episode.  She cooks up a story about Danny going to buy a shop. The story also involves their visit to watch United’s match on Saturdays. Later she fantasizes about dating Danny. She moves across a canal where she used to play and sitting on a bench there, she fancies Danny coming there. Thus the story takes us from place to place in time and space.


The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet/ Question- Answers/ RBSE

Chapter - 9

The Last Lesson                                                                                                             Alphonse Daudet

Short Answer Type Questions 

Q. 1. Why was the narrator scared of going to school that morning?

Answer. The narrator was scared of going to school that morning because M. Hamel had said that he would question them on Participles and he didn’t know even the first word about them.

Q. 2. What did Franz see as he passed the town hall?

Answer. When Franz passed by the Town Hall, he saw a huge crowd there. Franz noticed that the crowd was looking carefully at the Bulletin board.

Q. 3. Who were the village people? How did they look?

Answer. There were Hauser, former mayor, postmaster and many others in the village. The old Hauser had three cornered hat. He came with primer. Everyone looked sad.

Q. 4. Why did Mr. Hamel say that it was the last lesson?

Answer. Mr. Hamel said so because he was a French teacher there and an order had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorrain.

Q. 5. How did Franz’s attitude towards his books and Mr. Hamel change?

Answer. When Franz heard that it was the last lesson of the French language. He was in shock. His books suddenly became his old friends. He forgot about M. Hamel’s cranky nature and his ruler.

Q. 6. Why had Franz not been able to learn much at school?

Answer. Franz was unable to learn much in school because he used to waste his time in finding birds’ eggs and sliding on the Saar. He did not like his books at all. They were a nuisance to him; heavy to carry.

Q. 7. What did Mr. Hamel say about the French language?

Answer. Mr. Hamel said that the French language is the world’s most beautiful language; it is the clearest and most logical language; that they should protect it; it is the key to their prison.

Q. 8. How did Mr. Hamel bid farewell to his school?

Answer. When the church is twelve in the clock then Mr. Hamel stood up. He tries to say something but he becomes emotionally disturbed. He wrote “Vive La French” on the blackboard. And by the hand gesture, he dismissed the school.

Long Answer Type Questions: 

Q. 9. It was the day of surprises for Franz. What surprises did he notice at school that day?

Answer. For Franz, the last day was the day of surprises. The first surprise was the silence in the class where usually it would be bustling with the different activities of children and teacher which could be heard out in the street. The teacher, M. Hamel too was very nice to him on that day which was quite unusual. Moreover, M. Hamel was wearing his beautiful green coat frilled shirt and black silk hat all embroidered over which he would wear only on inspection and prize days. The atmosphere was quite serene and the most surprising thing was, the back benches which were generally empty had been occupied by the village elders. Another big surpise was the announcement made by M. Hamel about German going to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.

Q. 10. ‘Franz hated the school at first but he suddenly began to like it.’ Comment.

Answer: Franz was negligent towards his studies. He didn’t learn his lessons properly and instead of that he would go to seek birds’ eggs; would while away his time by sliding on the Saar. His books were a nuisance to him, heavy to carry. He didn’t like M. Hamel’s cranky nature and his using the ruler. Even his parents were not concerned about his studies and kept him away from learning by engaging him in earning. But when M. Hamel broke the news of German going to be taught in the school of Alsace and Lorraine and that it was going to be his last lesson, he realized the importance of his language and felt sorry for his cold attitude towards his own language, and at once developed a liking for the language, the school and the teacher.

 Q. 11. What ideas of Mr. Hamel’s character do you form after reading “The last lesson”?

Answer: M. Hamel was a French teacher. He was very strict so the students were scared of him. He would use ruler to frighten the students. He was respected by the villagers and though he was sincere and devoted to his duties yet at times, he neglected his duties as a teacher. He would send his students to water the plants in the garden. When he wanted to go fishing, he would give them a holiday. But he was a true nationalist and a good teacher at heart. His feelings for his country and language welled up when he received the order to leave his country. In the last class, he told the students that French is the most beautiful, the clearest and most logical language in the world. He told them to hold fast to it if they wanted to be free.


The Gift of Magi by O. Henry/ Question- Answers/ RBSE

Chapter – 8

The Gift of Magi                                                                                                                                                          O. Henry

Short Answers

Q. 1. How were Jim and Della planning to celebrate Christmas?

Answer: Jim and Della were planning to give gifts to each-other. They both wanted to give each-other some beautiful, nice and rare gifts.

Q. 2. What are the two possessions of James Dillingham Youngs in which Jim and Della took mighty pride? By whom was Jim possession transferred to him?

Answer: Jim had a gold watch which had been his father's and his grandfather's. He could make even King Solomon feel jealous of his precious possession and Della had long hair with which she could make even the queen of Sheba jealous of her.

Q. 3. Why did Della go to Madame Sofronie?

Answer: Della went to Madam Sofronie to sell her beautiful long hair. She wanted to purchase some beautiful gift for Jim and she had only one dollar and eighty seven cents which was insufficient to purchase anything worthwhile.

Q. 4. Jim said, “What a beautiful nice gift I have got for you.” What was the gift? How did Della react?

Answer: The gift was a set of combs that she had wished for long in a broadway window. They were beautiful combs made of tortoise shell with jewelled rims, just the shade of her hair. When she opened the package and saw the gift, she gave an ecstatic scream of joy and then a quick feminine change t hysterical tears and wails.

Q. 5. “It was not anger, nor surprise, nor disapproval, nor horror.” What explanation did Jim give for his reaction on Della’s hair?

Answer: Jim told Della that she shouldn't think that there was anything in the way of a haircut or a shave or shampoo that could make him like Della any less. But if she unwrapped the package, she might understand why she had made him go awhile at first.

 Long Answer Type Questions

Q. 6. Describe the anxiety of Della after she had sacrificed her hair.

Answer: After having the hair-cut when Della reached home, she got out her curling irons, lighted the gas and went to work repairing the ravages made by generosity added to love. She thought that if Jim didn't kill her before having a second look at her, he would say that she looked like a coney island chorus girl. She had a habit of saying silent prayers so she was praying, "Jim entered the house and his eyes fell upon her, there was an expression which terrified her which she could not understand. She wriggled off the table and went for him. She tried to make him understand that she had her hair cut because she couldn't live through Christmas without giving him a gift. She said that the hair on her head could be numbered but nobody could ever count her love for him.

Q. 7. Why does the writer refer to the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon? What do you understand by it? Explain.

Answer. The writer refers to the two legends to convey how much Jim and Della valued their possessions. They were very proud of them. Jim hada gold watch which had been his father’s and his grandfather’s and Della had very beautiful, long hair. If Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would hang her hair out of the window someday to dry just to just to depreciate Her Majesty’s gifts i.e. even the riches of Queen of Sheba were nothing compared to the hair of Della. On the other hand, had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his tresures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed just to see him pluck at his beard from envy i.e. even Solomon’s treasure was insignificant before Jim’s watch.

Q. 8. Throw light on the remarkable qualities that Jim and Della had.

Answer. Jim and Della loved each-other wonderfully. They did not like anything more than each other. They were ready to sacrifice their precious things to please each-other. They sacrificed their most beloved and precious possessions to buy Christmas gifts for each-other. They both were proud of these things. Both buy more expensive gifts than their financial ability to gift each-other on Christmas. Jim bought a set of combs for Della. But for this he had to sacrifice his gold watch which was given to him by his father and to him by his grandfather. Della sold her hair which was her proud possession and bought a platinum chain for Jim’s gold watch.

Q. 9. In the title “The gift of the magi” what does the phrase “the magi” stand for?

Answer: The Magi were the wise men in the court of King Herodotus. They were asked by the King to confirm the birth of Jesus Christ. Following his order, they went after a star and carried some gifts for the babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones; they could be exchanged to avoid duplication. Similarly, all those who can give and receive gifts are the Magi; who can love each-other are the Magi; Jim and Della who sacrificed their most precious possessions for each-other are the Magi.


Incident Vs. Incidence (Difference)

Dead Men's Path by Chinua Achebe/ Question-Answers/ RBSE

Chapter – 7

Dead Men’s Path                                                                                           Chinua Achebe

 

Short Question -Answers

Q 1. Why was Obi given the responsibility of the Ndume Central School?

Answer. Ndume Central School was an unprogressive school. Michael Obi was an energetic youngster with wonderful ideas. Moreover, he had had sound secondary school education. That’s why he was given the responsibility of Ndume central school as a headmaster.

Q 2. What are the two aims of Michael?

Answer. Michael Obi had two objectives. First,a high standard of teaching was to be insisted upon in Ndume Central School. Second, the school compound was to be turned into a place of beauty..

Q 3. What did the priest of Ani tell Obi about the path?

Answer. The priest of Ani told Michael Obi that the path was very old. The whole life of the village depended on the road. The dead relatives of the villagers were taken along the route and their ancestors visited by that route. But most importantly it was the path of children coming in to be born.

Q 4. Why was the path is important for villagers?

Answer. The route was important for the villagers because it connected the village shrine with their place of burial.

Q 5. What did the diviner suggest at the death of a young woman?

Answer. The diviner said that the fence used to bar the path was an insult to their ancestors. He suggested heavy sacrifices to calm the ancestors. 

Q 6. Describe the report prepared by the white supervisor?

Answer. The white Supervisor wrote a nasty report on the state of the premises but more seriously about the tribal-war situation developing between the school and the village, arising in part from the misguided zeal of the new headmaster.

Long Question Answers

Q 7. Describe the condition of Ndume central school before and after Michael Obi.

Answer. Ndume central school was an unprogressive school. When Michael Obi became the headmaster of the school, the level of education at the school was not good. Michael was a man of creative ideas. He increased the level of studies at school. He taught children the modern perspective; to laugh at the superstitious and irrational ideas. Michael closed the road, which passed to the burial place through the school campus. He and his wife turned the school campus into a beautiful place. To beautify the school campus, Michael Obi  grew beautiful hibiscus and allamanda flowers. 

Q 8. Draw a character sketch of Michael Obi.

Answer. Michael Obi was the new headmaster of Ndume Central school. His body was weak but he was an energetic man. He had very great ideas in his minds. He had had a sound secondary school education. He was outspoken in his condemnation of the narrow views of the older and often less-educated ones. He was quite passionate and his mind was full of modern methods. Though he looked more than his age, he was not unhandsome. He had two aims for his school, One, he wanted high standard of teaching in his school. Two, the school compound was to be turned into a place of beauty. He blocked the way which passed through the school campus. He wanted his students to overcome superstitious and irrational ideas. He did not let anybody overpower him. When the Priest of Ani came to Obi, he didn't follow his advice rather he did what he had decided to do. All these things show that he was a main of strong character and determination. He was dutiful, honest and wanted to do the best for his school.


Q 9. Why were the school building and the hedges ruined?

 When Michael Obi became the headmaster of the school, He increased the level of studies at school and also made the school campus beautiful by planting several beautiful plants like Hibiscus, Allamanda etc. One evening when he was admiring his work, he was scandalized to notice an old woman from the village hobble across the compound through a marigold flower-bed and the hedges. On having a closer look, he found faint signs of an almost disused path from village. He discussed about it with the teachers and finally decided to block the path. Three days later he was visited by the priest of Ani who advised him to reopen the path. But Obi didn't budge from his decision. Two days later a young woman died in child birth. When the diviner was consulted, he said that it was due to their ancestors being insulted by the fence and prescribed heavy sacrifices. It resulted into the total ruin of the school building and hedges.



The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet

Chapter - 6, Trouble in Bohemia by A. C. Doyle/ Question - Answers/ RBSE

Chapter - 6

Trouble In Bohemia                                                                                                                A. C. Doyle

Short Question Answers

Q. 1. Why did the king want his letters and photograph back?

Ans. The king was about to marry the princess of a nearby country. Irene Adler had threatened the king of disclosing his love affair to her. She could use the letters and photos. So, the king wanted to get them back.

Q. 2. What were Sherlock Holmes disguises to solve the case?

Ans. Firstly, Sherlock Holmes becomes a cab driver and spends the whole day around the house of Irene Adler. Later he becomes a priest and pretends to faint.

Q. 3. Where did Miss Irene Adler hide the letters and the photograph?

Ans. Miss Irene Adler hid the letters written by King and his photo at a secret place of one of the walls of her house.

Q. 4. Why did the king write letters to Irene Adler?

Ans. When the King was on a visit to Warsaw, he fell in love with Irene Adler and the letters were an expression of love to her.

Q. 5. Why could the letters not be proved false?

Ans. The letters could not be proved false because they were in the King's own hand-writing and on his private paper.

Q. 6. Why was Sherlock Holmes interested in getting the letters and photographs at the earliest?

Ans. Sherlock Holmes wanted to get letters and photos at the earliest as he feared that the lawyer husband of Irene Adler could take advantage of it.

Q. 7. Why did the king come to Holmes for help?

Ans. The king came to Holmes for help to get back his love letters and photos from Irene Adler, an American actress with whom he was in love earlier. He was going to marry a neighbouring princess but Miss Adler was against it.

Q. 8. Why did Miss Irene Adler hide the letters and the photograph?  (Board Model paper, 2017-18)

Ans. Miss Irene Adler hid the letters and the photograph because her lover king was going to marry a princess. She had decided to show them to the princess.

 Q. 9. How was the man disguised when he came to see Holmes?

Ans. The man wore a mask and pretended to represent some other person. He was tall and handsome man who was dressed in the uniform of a foreign country.  But Holmes was quick to recognized the man.

 Q. 10. Why did Holmes address him as "Your Majesty'?

Ans. Holmes addressed him as 'Your Majesty" because he was really the king of Bohemia. Holmes recognized him at once and the king also admitted later on that he was the king of Bohemia.

 Q. 11. What made the king pay a visit to Holmes?

Ans. The king wanted Sherlock Holmes' help in a matter of great importance. He wanted to get back all his letters and the photograph which Miss Irene Adler had in her possession.

 Q. 12. What did the king suspect in case he did not marry Irene Adler?

Ans. The king suspected that Irene Adler might write to the princess, whom he was going to marry and tell her everything about their affair. If she would did that, their marriage would not take place or if it did, it would be a havoc.

Q. 13. Why did the king agree with his family and the members of his government to give Irene up?

Ans. The king agreed with them because he thought, his first responsibility was to his country. Irene Adler was not of royal blood. So, as a custom, he could not marry her.

 Q. 14. What efforts did the king make in the past to get the photograph?

Ans. He had her apartment searched by the police. She was stopped on the street and was searched while she was travelling. but nothing was found. She was cleverer than the officials.

 Q. 15. Why did Holmes think that he must get the photograph even though Adler was now married?

Ans. Holmes thought so because he suspected that Adler's husband, a lawyer might take an undue advantage of the photo. He suspected that she would write to the princess about it and tell her all.

Q. 15. What could Holmes not find about Adler's attitude towards the photograph?

Ans. Holmes could not find till the very end that she did not need it either to force the king to marry her or to harm his reputation. He misunderstood her.

Q. 16. At last, how can you say that Miss Adler did not want to create any trouble for the king?

Ans. Holmes discovered that Miss Adler and all her servants had left that home for good. She had also left a letter along with the photograph and the letter that the King wanted. She really loved the king and did not want to create any trouble for him

 Q. 17. What might Holmes be doing all day according to Watson?

Ans. According to Watson, Holmes might have spent all day talking with other cab drivers and with anyone who seemed to know anything about Miss Adler. He was collecting informations about her.

 Q. 18. What surprising fact did Holmes discover?

Ans. The surprising fact that Holmes discovered was Adler's marriage at five o'clock that day with a Mr. Godfrey Norton, her former lawyer. He never expected that she would leave the King so soon.

 Q. 19. How does Holmes express his distrust in Mr. Norton?

Ans. Holmes thinks that Adler's husband, Mr. Norton, a lawyer, may see an advantage in the photograph of Adler and the king together. He thinks that he may convey it to the princess or misuse it some other way.

 Q. 20. How can the letter be proved false?

Ans. The letter can be proved false by proving that the paper on which it is written is stolen and the handwriting of the writer is copied. It can be said that it is not written by the king.

 Q. 21.  Why did Holmes disguise himself?

Ans. Holmes disguised himself to hide his identity and to get the letters and the photograph of the king back from Irene Adler. He did not want to disturb the king's married life later on.

 Q. 22. What did Watson do at a signal from Holmes?

Ans. Watson threw some burning pieces of paper into the living room through the window, at a signal from Holmes. At that moment one of the servants cried that there was fire.

 Q. 23. Why did Miss Adler expect Holmes any day?

Ans. Miss Adler expected Holmes any day because she was so intelligent that she knew that the king wanted to get the photograph and he might go to him for help.

 Q. 24. Why was the photograph not important for Miss Adler later on?

Ans. The photograph was not important for Miss Adler later on because by that time she was married  to a man who was better than the king. They loved each-other very much and she wanted to forget all about her love affair with the King.

 Q. 25. How can you say that she was satisfied with her marriage?

Ans. She herself wrote in the message left for the king that she had married man much better than the king. She also wrote that her husband loved her deeply and she was in love with him.

 

Long Question Answers

Q. 26. What trick did Sherlock Holmes use to find the place where letters and photographs were hidden?

Ans. Sherlock Holmes disguised himself as a priest. When Sherlock Holmes was walking in front of Adler’s house, Irene Adler returned after a daily ride. When she got out of her taxi, Holmes pretended to be unconscious. Many people gathered near Holmes. Adler asked people to bring Holmes into the home. After Holmes was taken inside Adler's house, he signalled his friend, Mr. Watson who then  threw the burning pieces of paper in the house. Noticing it a servant cried “fire”! Adler ran towards the secret wall to save the photos. Everything happened according to Holmes’ plans. Thus Holmes knew the secret place and planned to come next day.

Q. 27. Discuss the character of Miss Irene Adler.

Ans. Irene Adler was a beautiful actress and an intelligent person at that. She was in love with the king of Bohemia. He too loved her but under the pressure of the family and the members of the government, he had to leave her and was to marry a princess from a neighbouring kingdom. Irene could not tolerate this cheating and threatened the King that she would disclose everything to the princess. The King was frightened as his prestige was at stake. He wanted his letters and photograph back from Irene so he took Sherlock Holmes' help. But she was so intelligent that she recognized Holmes even in disguise and understood all his tricks to gain entry into her house. She outsmarted Holmes' at every point. She was a wise and respectable woman as well. She didn't misuse the photograph and letters of the king and even returned them to the King at the end.

Q. 28. The story proves Sherlock Holmes to be less intelligent then Miss Irene Adler. Do you agree?

Ans. Yes, I accept that Irene Adler was more intelligent than Sherlock Holmes. Adler knew Holmes' every move well. She also knew that the King would definitely take the help of Sherlock Holmes that’s why she was expecting Sherlock Holmes any day. She recognized Sherlock Holmes as a cab driver and followed him to his apartment to be sure. She also understood Holmes' trick of gaining entrance into her house and forcing her to show the place where the photograph was hidden. She was always one step ahead of Holmes. She also once disguised herself as a young man but Holmes could not recognize her. Finally, she completely outwitted him by leaving her house and everything they wanted. 


Red Herring (Hindi Version)

Chapter - 5 Love across the Salt Desert by Keki N. Daruwalla/ RBSE/ Question-Answer

Chapter - 5

 

Love Across the Salt Desert                                                                                       Keki N. Daruwalla

 

Q 1. Why did the Rann look like ‘a paralysed monster’?

Ans. The Rann looked like a paralyzed monster, its back covered with scab and scar tissue and dried blister skin. The earth had cracked and it looked as if chunks of it had been backed in a kiln and then embedded in the soil crust.  It was all because it had not rained in the Rann for the last three years.

Q 2. What important incident occurred when Fatimah came into the village?

Ans. When Fatimah came to the village, the whole sky was overcast with clouds and it started raining. It started with lightening and huge isolated rain drops. The three years of drought ended with that.

Q 3. Why did Fatimah not like Mahfuz Ali?

Ans. Fatimah did not like Mahfuz Ali because of his slurred speech and grotesque stammer. Urchins would mimick him. It was just a step removed from being hounded like a madman pelted with stones.

Q 4. Why did Aftab open the door three times during the night? Was anybody knocking the door?

Ans. Aftab opened the door three times during the night because he thought that his son had come back. But there was nobody except wind.

Q 5. Why was it not easy to cross the boundary? How were people checked while crossing the border?

Ans. It was not easy to cross the boundary because Indus Rangers always kept a watch from their baboo watch towers and in heat everything became a mirage. Any movement was sure to be noticed through binoculars. The camel could die of fatigue.

Q 6. Why was Fatimah happy despite she was leaving her country as well as home?

Ans. Fatimah was happy despite leaving her country and home because first, she did not have to marry Mahfuz Ali. Second, she was running away with the person whom she loved..

Long Question Answers

Q 7. Discuss the aptness of the title “Love across the salt desert”.

Ans. The title “Love across the salt desert” is quite appropriate as the whole story revolves around love and desert. There are two main characters in this story:  Najab and  Fatima. Both live in different countries. The Rann of Kutch is spread between their villages. Fatimah was a beautiful girl who was under pressure to marry Mahfuz Ali. But she did not like Mahfuz Ali. Her father wanted  her to marry him. But she was attracted to the quiet, young boy, Najab. Later they both liked one another. Najab made illegal trips across the border with his father. Once he stayed at the house of Fatimah. In the evening, Najab hugs Fatimah.and promises to come back. One day he crossed the desert alone and takes Fatimah along with him to his village. Thus the whole story is about crossing the desert for the sake of love.

Q 8. Write about the rituals performed at panchmai pir?

Ans. Over a hundred years earlier Panchmai Pir roamed about the salt desert serving the people there. According to a legend, he would have a jackal for his company. He was a reclusive by habit so he would return to the thorn jungles after serving the people. In his honour a lamp was lighted every night on the hill top and flame could be seen all the way from Khavda. Anybody willing to cross the border would pay a homage to the Pir and leave some food on the hilltop. If the jackals materialized and ate the food, it would be considered a good omen to continue on the journey across the desert. The custom of feeding the jackals had lingered since then.

Q 9. The image of Rann has been used twice in this story: in the beginning and also in the end. How was it associated with love, joy, and harmony among the characters?

Ans. The first image of the rann is of a drought ridden land which lay like a paralyzed monster, back covered with scab and scar tissue and dried blister-skin The earth had cracked and it looked as if chunks of it had been baked in a kiln and then embedded in soil crust. The cattle became thin and emaciated. The oxen died. This image shows a land shorn of love, joy and harmony.

But the second image is full of love, joy and harmony as finally the love was brought to culmination by bringing Fatimah to Rann. The boundaries dissolved and love brought about a harmony between the two lands. The parents were happy because the son had returned ending the prolonged uncertainty and fear. The joy doubled as rain had ended three years of drought and brought relief to the people and land.

Q 10. Throw light on the difference of attitude between Najab’s mother and father when they came to know about his escaped?

Ans. When Aftab got to know that Najab had escaped, he was very furious. He ran into the camel enclosure and into the house to confirm. Moreover, when he found that Najab had not taken Tendu leaves with him, he got angrier as there would be nothing with him to do business. Zaman's accusations have made him more disappointed ant irritated. After Zaman's departure, Aftab went to his wife to break the news thinking she would faint at this. But she did nothing rather simply sat with her back against the mud wall. She did not even blink in surprise. She was waist-deep in this conspiracy along with her son and never even breathed a word about it. When questioned by Aftab, she said that he needn't worry, Najab would return with cloves.

Q 11. What difficulties did Najab face while crossing the border?

Ans.     Najab had to face lots of difficulties while crossing the border. He had to move against the strong south wind. He could not move during daylight as the Indus rangers would be looking from their bamboo watch-towers all the time. Allahrakha, his camel could die of fatigue. There were patrolling parties on both sides. He was chased. There was firing from behind. He had to walk on his feet which scraped the callus from his feet and scarred them with agonizing cracks. The hot tin sky was throwing up needles into his eyes. The Rann palpitated and haunted him with mirage, pools of shadow and half-moons of water. At Kaley Shah's house as well, he had to live with cattle during day time.


Bharat is My Home by Dr. Zakir Hussain

Drought by Sharat Chandra Chatterjee/ RBSE/ Question-Answer

Chapter - 4

Drought                                                                                                         Sharat Chandra Chatterjee

 

Short Question Answers

Q 1. Many a time Gafur was forgiven by the landlord. Why?

Ans. Gafur was a poor man. Every time he would commit some offence, he would apologize to the landlord and he would be forgiven.

Q 2. Describe the two times one Gafur lost self-control?

Ans. For the first time when his daughter told him that there was no food and water in the house. The second time when the landlord's messenger spoke in an abusive language.

Q 3. What is penance? Why did Gafur think of doing it?

Ans. For your mistake, regret is penance. Gafur brutally killed his bull Mahesh and took his life. Therefore, Gafur thought of doing penance.

Q 4. What kind of life did poor Amina lead right from her childhood?

Ans. Amina has lived a life of difficulty, poverty, conflict and lack of love since her childhood. She was a motherless girl. Yet she was an affectionate, dutiful, calm girl.

Q 5. Why was there so much scarcity of water in the village?

Ans. There was no rain in the village for a long time. Two out of three tanks had all dried up. The little water that there was in the private tank of Shibu Babu was not for public.

Q 6. Why did Gafur lose his temper and kill Mahesh?

Ans. Gafur had been ill for some days. He had no work, nothing to eat and even no water. He was quite frustrated. Moreover, he was punished by the landlord as well. When he saw that Mahesh was drinking the water brought by Amina, he lost his temper and killed Mahesh.

Q 7. Write a character-sketch of Tarak Ratna?

Ans. Tarak Ratna was the village priest. He was flatterer, selfish, cruel and unfeeling to the poor people like Gafur. He would not help the needy even if he had enough.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q 8. Giving examples from the story, comment on the relationship between Shibu and Gafur.

Ans. The relationship between Shibu and Gafur was that of a landlord and a servant. Shibu was cruel to Gafur. He had no sympathy for the poor state of Gafur. Gafur was to receive his share of straw but Shibu Babu kept it on account of last year's rent. Shibu Babu gave him paddy to last only for two months. His share of straw was added to Shibu Babu's stock. He would often be punished by the landlord. Once, when he refused to obey Shibu Babu's orders, he was dragged to the landlord and badly beaten by his men. He was quite insensitive towards Gafur's plight and never helped him out. Finally, all helpless Gafur had to leave his village.

Q 10. Describe the attitude of Shibu Babu towards the villagers.

Ans. Shibu Babu was the Zamindar of a small village called Kashipur. He was a ruthless person. The villagers dared not stand up to him. He would care only to extort from the villagers and not help them in any way as in the case of Gafur, he did not give Gafur his share of straw rather kept it on account of last year's rent though Gafur had nothing with him. He had no sympathy and empathy for the poor villagers. He did not allow the villagers to draw water from his tank even when there was no water in the other two tanks of the village. He exploited the people of the village.

Q 11. Draw a character sketch of Gafur.

Ans. Gafur was a poor cultivator on the farms of Shibu Babu. He was a widower with only a daughter named Amina to take care of. He loved his daughter very much but due to extreme poverty, he was unable to take care of her well. He wanted to be a good father but his circumstances sometimes compelled him into sudden outbursts of anger. He had a bull named Mahesh who was like a family member for Gafur but he was unable to feed him even, Once, out of helplessness and poverty, he decide to sell Mahesh but he could not. When the buyers came to him, he sent them back. But the same Gafur killed Mahesh in a sudden fit of anger when he saw Mahesh drinking water brought by Amina. He was an emotionally charged man and could not control his emotions when compelled by the situations. A t the end of the story again he makes an emotional decision to go to Fulbere where he refused to go on earlier occasions on account of certain reasons.


Vocabulary Part 2

The Guitar Player & Svayamvara by Suniti Namjoshi/Question - Answer/ RBSE

Chapter - 3

The Guitar Player                                                                                                                            Suniti Namjoshi

Short Question Answers

Q 1. What feelings arose in the heart of the passers-by after listening to the music?

Ans. The passers-by fell in love with the girl after listening to the music. They went to the girl and expressed their love to her.

Q 2. According to the girl, did the passers-by give the right answer?

Ans. No, according to the girl, the passers-by did not give the correct answer. Each of them responded that he did not know the right answer and asked her for the right answer.

Q 3. How did the girl react to the reply of the passer-by?

Ans. When both the passers-by showed their unawareness about the answer and asked her the right answer, she said that she wouldn't tell them the right answer and went on playing her guitar.

Q 4. Why was the passer-by greatly perplexed?

Ans. The passersby were greatly perplexed because their answers were rejected by the girl. They did not know the correct answers to the girl’s question but They wanted to know the correct answer .

Q 5. What was the right answer according to the girl?

Ans. According to the girl if they loved her, they must love her altogether, just as she was, all her gifts, all her possessions, everything, she had been and everything she would be.

Long Question Answers

Q 6.what was the right answer according to the girl?

Ans. Once there was a girl who played on her guitar and it so happened that two men passing by listened to the music and fell in love with her. She asked them if it was her music they loved or her. The first one said that he didn't know the right answer. The second one also said the same and at last ventured to say that it was a beautiful instrument. The girl rejected their answers and went on playing. The two passers-by thought over it the whole night and the next day they approached the girl again. The first one said that he would love her even if she did not play a single note of music. The second one said that he would love her even if she didn't own a guitar. The girl said that she was a musician and if they did not care about her music, they couldn't love her. If they really loved her, they should love her altogether, as she was, all her gifts, all her possessions, everything she had been and she would be.

Q 7. Why did the girl choose to play a sad little tune and what did the writer want to convey through this?

Ans. The girl was quite a talented musician. She played the guitar very well. Listening to her music the passers-by fall in love with her but when they were asked what they loved, her music or she herself, they discarded her music and said that they would love her even without her music. They forgot to recognize the music which was the reason for them to fall in love with her. They wanted to marry only her female self not her virtues. This made her sad and she chose to play a sad little tune.

The writer has tried to convey that women should be treated as human beings rather than objects. They too have desires and qualities which should be given due regard. They deserve a fair and equal treatment from their male counterparts.


Svaymvara

Short Question Answers

Q 1. What is the meaning of the word ‘svayamvara’?

Ans. Svayamvara is a ritual in which the bride chooses her husband for her marriage. A test is taken to choose the right husband. The girl marries the one who passes in the examination.

Q 2. Why were the princess’s parents sad?

Ans. Her parents had asked her not to whistle. But she did not listen to them. That’s why her parents were sad because no one would marry a whistling woman.

Q 3. On what basis was the princess finally able to choose her husband?

Ans. The princess asked the suitors whether they were all ready to accept that they had been beaten fairly. At this, everyone refused to accept except one. Princess chose him as her husband.

Q 4. Why did the parents tell the princess not to whistle?

Ans. The princess’ parents forbade her to whistle. But the princess did not stop whistling. They thought how a man could marry a whistling girl. They thought that the princess would remain unmarried lifetime.

Q 5. Why was the king displeased when the princess beat the suitors at the whistling?

Ans. The king had announced to marry his whistling daughter to a person who would defeat the princess at whistling. But the princess defeated all the suitors. Now the princess couldn’t be married to any suitor. So the king was displeased.

Q 6. Whom did the princess choose as her husband and why?

Ans. The princess chose the person as her husband, who had accepted his defeat. There was only one person accepted that he was defeated fairly. She chose him because he thought of the girl on equal terms.

Long Question Answers

Q 7. Most of the suitors did not accept the fact that they were fairly beaten. Why? Explain how does it reflect the society?

Ans. Worried that nobody would marry the princess, the King organized a Whistling Competition. It was declared that whoever would defeat the princess in the competition would be given half of the kingdom and the princess in marriage. But nobody was able to defeat her as she was so much adept at that. The King was sunk in gloom. Seeing her father's condition, the daughter asked the suitors, if they accept that they were fairly defeated in the competition. But none of them agreed to it except one.

The story truly reflect the society as in this patriarchal society women have always played a second fiddle. Men have dominated and women have always been suppressed. It is considered unmanly and humiliating to be defeated by women even in today's educated world. It is believed that women should always be behind men following their footsteps and not leading them.

Q 8. Discuss the deeper meaning and significance of the story.

Ans. The first paragraph taken from the above one.

The story suggests that being born a man doesn't guarantee the right to rule or humiliate women. Women also have talents and skills which should be recognized and given due respect. The whistling in the story is the princess' talent but that is not accepted by the vain and egocentric men. They couldn't think of their defeat by a woman. It was low and insulting to them. They believed that it was possible only through some magic or trick. The story signifies that women instead of being tortured and dominated should be given an equal status. Their role is as important as men in the society. A society should be built on the principles of gender equality and not on gender bias.



The Silver Box by John Galsworthy (Hindi Version)

The Silver Box by John Galsworthy (English Version)

Chapter - 2 The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh/ Question-Answer/ Panorama

Chapter - 2

The Portrait of a Lady                                                                                                   Kushwant Singh

Short Question Answers

Q 1. “That was a turning point in our friendship.” What was the turning point?

Ans. The author’s parents were settled in the city properly. They asked the writer and grandmother also to come there. It was the turning point in their friendship.

Q 2. How did the grandmother help in the morning before going to school?

Ans. Grandma used to wake up her grandchildren in the morning. She got him ready for school. She bathed and dressed him. She would fetch his wooden slate already washed and plastered with yellow chalk, an earthen inkpot and a pen and tie them all in a bundle. Finally she would give him a breakfast of thick stale chapati with a little butter and sugar spread on it.Thus the Grandmother helped him in the morning.

Q 3. What were the grandmother’s views about learning music?

Ans. The grandmother thought that music was not meant for gentlefolk. It has lewd associations. So it is the subject of harlots and beggars.

Q 4. Describe the grandmother’s association with the sparrows.

Ans. The grandmother fed sparrows in the courtyard of the townhouse in the afternoon for half an hour. While she sat in the verandah breaking the bread into little bits, hundreds of little birds collected round her creating a veritable bedlam of chirpings. Some came and perched on her legs others on her shoulders. Some even sat on her head. She smiled but never shooed them away. It used to be the happiest half an hour of the day for her.

Q 5. What did the grandmother do on the eve of the author’s return from abroad?

Ans. On the eve of the author's return from abroad, she did not pray. She collected the women of the neighbourhood, got an old drum and started to sing. for several hours she thumped the sagging skins of the dilapidated drum and sang of the home-coming of warriors.

Long Answer Type Question 

Q 6. Write the character- sketch of the author’s grandmother.

Ans. The author’s grandmother was an old woman. Her appearance had not changed for almost 20 years. She was a beautiful and strong woman who took care of all the matters of the author when his parents left him with her. She had always been short and fat and slightly bent. Her face was a criss-cross of wrinkle running from everywhere to everywhere. She was so terribly old that she could not have grown older. She was a God-fearing lady and would visit temple daily.  Most of the time, at home, she would be busy telling the beads of a rosary in a spotless white sari. Her silver locks were always scattered untidily over her pale puckered face and her lips constantly moved in an inaudible prayer. She was like the winter landscape in the mountains, an expanse of pure white serenity breathing peace and contentment. She was quite kind and charitable. She fed the dogs in the village and in the city she took to feeding the sparrows when she could not find dogs.

Q 7. Everybody including the sparrows mourned the grandmother’s death. Discuss.

Ans. On the eve of the author's return from abroad, when the grandmother skipped her evening prayer, she had already realized that her end was near. She said that only a few hours were left with her to live. Her statement came true and she died. All the members of the house mourned her death. Sparrows were very dear to her grandmother. She had spent the happiest hours of her life with the sparrow. On the day of her death when  the sparrows came to her as part of their routine, her body was lying in the verandah; she was no more. Perhaps, the sparrows realized the fact and they too got involved in the mourning. They sat scattered on the floor. There was no chirping. Feeling sorry for them, when the author's mother threw some bread-crumbs to them, they took no notice of them and flew away quietly when her body was taken away.

Q 8. Trace the various phases of the author’s relationship with his grandmother.

Ans. The author and his grandmother were good friends. This friendship solidified when his parent left him with her in the village when they went to settle in the city. They lived together. Grandma would get him ready for school; she would bathe him; dress him; prepare his slate and other things; give him food and even would accompany him to school and back. 

In the second phase, when the author came to city with his grandmother, there came a turning point in their friendship. Grandma could not go to school because he went to school in a motor bus. She started feeding sparrows in the courtyard. She was unable to cope with the things taught in the English Medium school. She was very upset at the teaching of music at school. 

In the third phase, when the writer went to university, the common thread between them i.e. the room they shared, also snapped,because he was given a separate room. She busied herself with prayer, spinning wheel and sparrows. 

Finally when the author went abroad, she went to the railway station to see him off but she was not at all emotional. When he returned from abroad, she went to receive him and celebrated the evening.

Q 9. What was the common link of friendship between the author and his grandmother? How did the grandmother behave when their friendship was snapped?

Ans. The author and grandmother were good friends. The common link of friendship between them was the room they shared. But when he joined the university, he was given a separate room and thus the common link between them was snapped.

She accepted her seclusion with resignation. She would not care to talk to anyone. From sunrise to sunset, she sat by her wheel, spinning and reciting prayers. Only in the afternoon, she relaxed for a while to feed the sparrows. She would offer bread crumbs to them and they would come and create a veritable bedlam of chirpings. They would perch on her legs; others would be on her shoulders but she would never shoo them off. It would be happiest half an hour of the day for her.

Q 10. “She was like the winter landscape in the mountains, an expanse of pure white serenity-breathing peace and contentment.” How far do you agree with the author’s description of his grandmother as stated above?

Ans. I fully agree with the author’s description of his grandmother as stated above. She was really peaceful like the mountain landscape in the winter season. As white color is a symbol of peace, she always lived peacefully in a spotless saree. She was never angry. All the time, she would be busy telling the beads of rosary and praying. She never showed any anxiety or consternation for anything even if it was against her wishes. She accepted every situation with great calm and changed herself according to the situation. She would accept everything with great calm and equanimity.She did not like school teachings but she was never harsh or condemnatory about that.


Chapter- 1 The Tiger King by Kalki/ RBSE/ Question-answer/ Panorama

Chapter – 1

 

The Tiger King                                                                                                                                 Kalki

 

Short Question Answers

1. Who was the Tiger king? Why did he get that name?

Ans. The Maharaja of the Pratibandapuram was the tiger king. At the time of his birth, a royal astrologer had predicted that his death would be by a tiger. When he grew up, he hunted 99 tigers. He got this name for killing a lot of Tiger.

2. What miracle happened when the tiger king was just an infant?

Ans. When Tiger king was ten days old, hearing the prophecy by the chief astrologer, the Tiger King addressed them all saying "O Wise Prophets!" He told them that everybody who was born had to die one day so there would be more sense if he could tell him the manner of his death.

3. How was prince Jung-Jung Bahadur brought up?

Ans. The prince Jung-Jung Bahadur became taller and stronger day by day. He drank the milk of an English cow; was looked after by an English nanny; was tutored by an Englishman; and saw nothing but English movies. In this way, the Prince grew up.

4. “You may kill even a cow in self-defense.” What did this old saying mean to the tiger king?

Ans. The cow is a holy animal which is worshipped by people and has sentimental association. Killiing or harming a cow is something sacrilegious. But according to the saying, even killing a cow is justifiable if it is for self-defense. Therefore, for the Tiger King it was an open permission to kill the tigers.

5. How did the tiger king feel when he killed his first tiger? Why did he send for the royal astrologer?

Ans. When the king hit the first tiger, he was very happy. He called the chief astrologer and showed him the body of the dead tiger. He wanted to tell the chief astrologer that his prediction was proved wrong.

6. Why was tiger hunting in Pratibandapuram banned?

Ans. Maharaja of Pratibandapuram wanted to hunt all tigers. Because he was told by the royal astrologers that his death would be by the tiger only. He wanted to prove them wrong.

7. What steps did the king take to complete the mission?

Ans. Tiger King had decided to kill 100 tigers. He banned the hunting of tigers in his state except by him. It was announced that if anybody tried to fling so much as a stone at the tiger all his property and wealth would be confiscated..

8. Why did the tiger king decide to marry a girl of the royal family of a state with a large tiger population?

Ans. Tiger King had killed seventy tigers and now 30 tigers were left to be killed to match his tally of hundred. But now no Tiger was  left in his kingdom.

Therefore, he wanted to marry a girl from the royal family of a state where there would be a large tiger population  so that he could kill the remaining tigers.

 

Long Question Answers

 

9. How did the prediction of the royal astrologer about the king of Pratibandapuram come true?

Ans. The royal astrologers had announced that the cause of the death of the king would be only a tiger.When Maharaja grew up,  he killed the first tiger. The  astrologers said that even if he killed 99 tigers,he should be careful with the hundredth tiger. King decided to kill the hundredth tiger. When he shot the hundredth tiger, the tiger fell down but did not die.

The king did not know this thing and he considered himself safe. He bought a wooden toy tiger on his son’s third birthday. While playing with the tiger, one of the slivers on its rough surface pierced his hand. He didn't pay much attention to that but in three-four days the infection flared in the arm. Some eminent surgeons were called from Madras. They operated the King but could not save him. Thus the words of the royal astrologer came true.

10. How did the tiger king come in danger of losing his throne and how did he save his kingdom?

Ans. Once a high level British officer came  to Pratibandapuram. The officer liked tiger hunting  just like the king. But the Maharaja would not allow anybody to hunt the tiger. The officer sent a message through the Dewan that Durai wouln't kill the tiger, Maharaja could do the actual killing. He wanted just a photgraph of himself with the dead tiger. But Maharaja refused permission even to that. Therefore he stood in danger of losing his throne. 

He discussed this issue with the Dewan and as a result an order was sent to a British jeweller's firm in Calcutta to send samples of expensive diamond rings. Some fifty diamond rings arrived. Maharaja sent them all the Duraisani thinking she would make her choice and send the remaining back./But she kept all. Maharaja received a bill of 3 lakh rupees but he was happy that he could save his kingdom.

11. How was the hundredth tiger found and killed?

Ans. The king of Pratibandapuram ordered the Minister to find a tiger at any cost. A tiger from the People’s Park of Madras was there in the Minister’s house. At midnight when the town was sleeping peacefully, then Minister and his wife dragged the tiger to the car and put the tiger in the car. Minister ran the car and took the tiger into the forest near the place, where the king was hunting.

The next morning, the tiger was roaming in the presence of the king. The Maharaja carefully fired at the tiger. The tiger fell to the ground. The king was very happy. After the king’s departure, the hunters found the tiger alive and decided to kill the tiger from a distance of one foot.

12. What was the rumor rife in Pratibandapuram?

Ans. The rumor rife in the Pratibandapuram was that the prince was born in the hour of bull. Bull and Tiger Both are enemies. Therefore the death would be from a tiger. When the prince was ten days. Then he heard this, he shouted loudly. Terrifying words emerged from his lips,"Let the tigers beware!"

The king had decided to kill the tigers. The King did not want to take any risk of leaving the tigers alive. The king trusted the astrologer. . Soon this rumor spread throughout Pratibandapuram.


Water by C. V. Raman/ rbse/ question- answer

Chapter 1

Water                                                                                                                                                                   C. V. Raman

 

Answer the following questions. It should not exceed 20-30 words each:

 

Q. 1. How was Egypt made by the river Nile?

नील नदी द्वारा मिस्र का निर्माण कैसे किया गया था?

Ans. River Nile brought the soil of the valley as the finest silt from Abyssinia and Central Africa and deposited in the trough. This fertile valley proved a boon and it made the civilization of Egypt. Thus Egypt was made.

नील अबीसीनिया तथा मध्य अफ्रीका से बारीक गाद के रूप में घाटी की मिट्टी लाई थी और उसे गर्त में जमा कर ददिया। यह उपजाऊ घाटी वरदान सिद्ध हुई और इसने मिस्र की सभ्यता का निर्माण किया। इस प्रकार मिस्र का निर्माण हुआ।

  Q. 2. What made the wonderful differences between the Libyan Desert and the valley of the Nile?

लवियन मरुस्थल तथा नील घाटी के बीच किसने आश्चर्यजनक अन्तर किया?

Ans.. It was the presence and absence of the water of the river Nile that made the wonderful differences between the Libyan Desert and the valley of the Nile

यह नील नदी के जल की उपस्थिति और अनुपस्थिति थी जिसने लोवियन मरुस्थल तथा नील घाटी के योच आश्चर्यजनक अन्तर किया।

Q. 3. How does water add to the beauty of the countryside?

      देहात के सौन्दर्य में जल कैसे अभिवृद्धि करता है?

Ans. Water adds to the beauty of the countryside when it trickles over the rocks as a little stream or when it quenches thirst of cattle as a wayside little pond.

      देहात के सौन्दर्य में जल अभिवृद्धि कर देता है जब यह एक छोटी नदी के रूप में चट्टानों के ऊपर से धीरे-धीरे बहता है या एक रास्ते पर एक तालाब के रूप में मवेशियों की प्यास बुझाता है।

Q. 4. What role do water tanks play in South Indian agriculture?

दक्षिण भारतीय कृषि में तालाबों का जल क्या भूमिका निभाता है?

Ans. Water tanks play a vital role in South Indian agriculture. In Mysore much of the rice is grown in them. It is beautiful to see sunrise or sunset over one of them.

तालाबों का जल दक्षिण भारतीय कृषि में एक महत्त्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाता है। मैसूर में अधिकतर चावल तालाबों के आस-पास हो उगाया जाता है।इनसे सुर्योदय और सूर्यास्त का दृश्य देखना अति सुन्दर होता है ।

Q.5. Describe the formation of silt by river water

नदी जल द्वारा गाद के निर्माण का वर्णन कीजिए।

Ans. River water carries with it the earth of the catchment area. The finest particles remain floating within the liquid. Thus, the silt is formed.

नदी जल अपने साथ अपने आसपास की मिट्टी को वहा ले जाता है। बारीक कण इस द्रव के अन्दर बहते रहते हैं। इस प्रकार गाद का निर्माण होता है।

Q. 6. What are the successive steps in the process of soil erosion?

भूमि कटाव की प्रक्रिया के क्रमबद्ध चरण क्या है?

Ans. Removal of the protective coat of vegetation, the absence of any checks, the slope of the earth, cutting up and washing away of the earth are the successive steps.

वनस्पति की रक्षा परत का विनाशरुकावटों का  होनाजमीन का बलवा होनाजमीन का कटना  बह जाना इसके क्रमबद्ध चरण हैं।

Q. 7. What are the various measures suggested to check soil erosion?

भूमि कटाव को नियन्त्रित करने के लिए विभिन्न उपाय क्या है?

Ans. Terracing of land, construction of bunds, practice of contour cultivation and planting of appropriate types of vegetation are the various measures suggested to check soil erosion.

      जमीन को सीढ़ीदार बनानाबांधों का निर्माण करनासमोच्च खेती का अभ्यास करना तथा उपयुक्त प्रकारों की वनस्पति का रोपण करना वे विभिन्न उपाय है जो भूमि कटाव को नियन्त्रित करने के लिए सुझाये गए हैं।

D. Answer to the following questions should not exceed 60-80 words each:

 

Q. I. Why does the writer compare water with elixir?

लेखकजल की तुलना अमृत से क्यों करता है?

Ans.. The writer compares water with elixir because ancient civilizations were nurtured by water. It has shaped the course of the earth's history. It is an important player for the drama of life on earth. It adds much to the beauty of the countryside. Water is the basis of all life. It gives life to all animals and plants on the earth. It has amazing powers. Life cannot be imagined without water. The conservation and utilization of water is thus fundamental for human welfare.

      लेखकजल की तुलना अमृत से करता है क्योंकि प्राचीन सभ्यताओं का पोषण जल द्वारा हुआ है। इसने पृथ्वी के इतिहास की दिशा को निर्धारित किया है। पृथ्वी पर जीवन रूपी नाटक में यह एक महत्त्वपूर्ण खिलाड़ी। पता है। यह देहात क्षेत्र की सुंदरता में बहुत कुछ जोड़ता है। जल समस्त जीवन का आधार है। यह पृथ्वी के सभी जानवरों एवं पौधों को जीवन देता है। इसकी शक्तियाँ आश्चर्यजनक हैं। बिना जल के जीवन की कल्पना असम्भव है। इस प्रकार मानव कल्याण के लिए जल का संरक्षण  प्रयोग आधारभूत है।

Q. 2. Why is water conservation necessary for our country?

हमारे राष्ट्र के लिए जल संरक्षण क्यों आवश्यक है?

Ans. Water conservation is necessary for our country because no life on earth is possible without water. No moisture in earth is possible without water. No agriculture is possible without water. No growth of life is possible without water. No kind of physiological activity is possible without water. It makes the development of hydro-electric power possible. It serves several other subsidiary purposes as well. Thus the conservation and the utilization of water is fundamental for human welfare.

      हमारे राष्ट्र के लिए जल संरक्षण आवश्यक है क्योंकि जल के अभाव में पृथ्वी पर जीवन सम्भव नहीं है। जमीन में नमी जल के बिना सम्भव नहीं है। जल के बिना कृषि सम्भव नहीं है जीवन में अभिवृद्धि जल के बिना सम्भव नहीं है। जल के बिना कोई भी शारीरिक गतिविधि सम्भव नहीं है।यह हाइड्रो-इलेक्ट्रिक पॉवर के उत्पादन को संभव बनता है। यह कई अन्य सहायक उद्देश्यों की पूर्ती भी करता है।अतमानव कल्याण के लिए जल का संरक्षण  प्रयोगआधारभूत आवश्यकता है।

 

Q. 3. Water is the basis of life. Elaborate with reference to human, animal and plant life.

जल जीवन का आधार है। मानवजानवर तथा पादप जीवन के सन्दर्भ में विवेचना कीजिए।

Ans. Every human needs water for drinking, bathing and washing. No kind of physiological activity is possible without water. Human body contains a substantial proportion of free or combined water. Every animal needs water for drinking. Water is the basis of life for aquatic animals. Animals need water for physiological activity. Plants need water for their life and growth. Agriculture fully depends on water. Moisture in the soil is due to water.

      प्रत्येक मानव को पीनेनहाने  धोने के लिए जल की आवश्यकता होती है। जल के बिना कोई भी शारीरिक गतिविधि सम्भव नहीं है। मानव शरीर में मुक्त या मिश्रित जल का एक अच्छा-खासा प्रतिशत होता है। प्रत्येक जानवर को पीने के लिए जल को आवश्यकता होती है। जलौय जानवरों के लिए तो जल जीवन का आधार है। शारीरिक गतिविधि के लिए भी जानवरों को जल की आवश्यकता होती है। पादपों को भी अपने जीवन  अभिवृद्धि के लिए जल की आवश्यकता होती है। कृषि तो पूर्णतजल पर निर्भर है। मिट्टी में नमीजल द्वारा ही दी जाती है।

Q. 4. What are the major uses of water for the development of modern age?

आधुनिक युग के विकास के लिए जल के प्रमुख प्रयोग क्या-क्या है?

Ans. The following are the major uses of water for the development of modern age. It is used for generating hydro-electricity, irrigating agricultural fields and farms, making available safe drinking water to people, developing the internal waterways, maintaining underground water level and so on. It is used for maintaining human, animal and plant life. It is used for water sports, entertainment and international trade. The availability of water can decide the economy of any place. Tapping the underground water can help overcome the difficulties arising from the irregularity or iadequacy of other sources of supply.

      आधुनिक युग के विकास के लिए जल के प्रमुख प्रयोग निम्न हैं इसका प्रयोग जल-विद्युत के उत्पादन मेंकृषि खेतों तथा फासं की सिंचाई मेंलोगों को सुरक्षित पेयजल उपलका कराने मेंसस्ते आन्तरिक जल-मार्गों के विकसित करने मेंभूमिगत जल स्तर बनाए रखने आदि में होता है। मानवजानवर  पादप जीवन को बनाए रखने में इसका प्रयोग होता हैI जलखेलोंमनोरंजन तथा अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय व्यापार में इसका प्रयोग होता है।


CBSE ENGLISH CORE CLASS XII MCQs

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