Exercise 1:

Tick the correct answer from the given alternatives:

1. The author was on his way from Faizabad railway station to -----

2. From the water pump the passengers were filling up their ----

3. The gentleman who came up to the author's compartment looked like a ----

4. The price the vendor asked for the bananas was----

5. The author drew the cartoon of----

Exercise 2:

Answer the following questions within fifteen words:

1) Where did the young monkeys sit?

2) What did the monkey do to the loin cloth of the pious person?

3) What did Shetji's luggage include?

4) Why, according to the fruit vendor,were the monkeys disturbing the passengers?

Exercise 3:

Answer the following questions within twenty-five words:

1) What was the businessman wearing?

2) What did the monkey do after accepting the fruit vendor's bargain?

3) How did the whole amusing episode end?

Exercise 4:

Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles and prepositions:

Exercise 5:

Change the voice of the following sentences:

a) Mr. Khan is Known to me.

b) Trina had composed a poem.

c) I will always remember you.

d) They have made him the President of the club.

Exercise 6:

Fill in the blanks with appropriate form of the given Verbs in brackets.

Exercise 7:

Change the mode of narration in the following sentences:

a) Rahul said, "Alas! Brazil has lost the match."

b) "Let us go for a walk," said Shabnam to Chandni.

c) "Good morning, madam," said the students to the teacher.

d) My father said to me, "Do not pluck flowers."

1) How is the sea when the lover sails out?
Ans:- When the lover sails out, the sea is in sleep and grey in colour.

2) Where does the beloved live?

Ans: The beloved lives in a farmhouse beyond the sea.
3)  "The grey sea and the long black land"- What makes the sea grey?

Ans: Mist, fog and darkness make the sea grey.
4) What makes the little waves startled? 

Ans: The sleepy sea expects no vessel at that hour and hence the waves rise in surprise.
5) How does Browning  describe the half-moon? 
Ans: Browning describes the half-moon as yellow, large and low.
6) "A tap at the pan"- Who gives a tap at the pane? 
Ans: The lover of the poem 'Meeting at Night' gives a tap at the pane.
7) Where does the lover's boat slow down? 
Ans: The lover's boat slows down as it reaches the slushy sand.
8) "Two hearts beating each to each!"- What does the expression suggest here?
Ans: The expression suggests that the two fast beating hearts are united in the supreme moment of love.
9) " As I gain the cove with pushing prow."- Who is the speaker? 
Ans:- The lover is the speaker.
10) What does the moon look like when the lover braves the sea? 
Ans: When the lover braves the sea, the moon is half in size and looks yellow, large and low.    

                          A Day in the Zoo
                           Gerald Durrel


Summary:-
                        Gerald Durrel was an English zookeeper and he devoted his whole life for the sake of animals. 'A Day in the Zoo' is a simple narration of the writer's experience inside the zoo. This is something different. An average zoo day starts when one is awakened by bird song just before dawn. The normal visitors visit the zoo and enjoy different types of animals and birds kept in the cage or enclosure. The work of the zoo starts at 8 a.m. with the arrival of the zoo staff. Their loud greetings and sound of brooms and buckets fill the air. A lot of activity is seen in the various cages of the zoo where the monkeys, birds and mammals live. The gorillas are let out of their cages as the cages are cleaned by the zoo staff. All the animals bustle about the cages excitedly. At 10 a.m. the zoo gates open for the visitors. Everyone has to be alert now as there are many people who exhibit inhumanity by torturing animals in an uncivilized way. Crowd moves out as the evening sets in. The nocturnal animals who spend the day hiding, come out.The environment comes to a  standstill.

Extra questions and answers:- 

1) How long does a zoo owner have to work?
Ans:- A zoo owner have to work twenty-four hours a day.
2) What do the peahens do in the early morning?
Ans:- On the velvet green lawns peahens search something in the dewy grass.
3) How do the gorillas behave when they are let out of their cages?
Ans:- The gorillas gallop about on the floor like high spirited children just out of school. They try to twist the electric heater from their sockets or break the fluorescent lights.
4) Who live in the upstairs of the granite house?
Ans:- Parrots, parakeets, mongoose, touracos, and armadillo live in the upstairs.
5) What is special with the parrots and parakeets?
Ans:- The Parrots and parakeets salute everyone with a cacophony of sounds. Suku, the greay parrot cries " I am a vey fine bird".
6) Why have the gorillas been let out of their cages?
Ans:- The gorillas have been let out of their cages because the cages are to be cleaned.

1) A local club arranged a blood donation camp at your school premises. You were present there as a volunteer. Now write a 'Report' on that event. Mention yourself as a 'Student Reporter'.

         BLOOD DONATION CAMP

Arambagh, July 10-  The local club Balaka Sangha organised a blood donation camp here in the premises of Rabindranath high School today. The camp was inaugurated by the noted physician of the area Dr. Dibakar Das 9 o' clock in the morning. In total sixty-five donors, including all the club members and a few teachers of the school donated blood in the camp. The donors  provided with light refreshment and a citation on behalf of the club authority. The camp was run under the watchful supervision of a number of a local doctors and the assistance of volunteers. As reported to this student reporter the collected bottles will be sent to Central Blood Bank, Kolkata by the club authority.

2) Write a report in about 120 for a newspaper on a road accident. 

 A BUS SKIDS- 3 KILLED AND 70 INJURED

Howrah, February 25- At least three persons were killed and seventy others were injured yesterday when a private bus skidded off the road and overturned. The accident occurred at 10 A.M. near a curve in front of Howrah Fire Brigade Station. The Howrah-bound private bus running at breakneck speed suddenly skidded off the road and overturned while negotiating the curve in front of the Fire Brigade Station. As a result, three persons were killed on the spot and 70 others were injured. The injured persons were removed to the Howrah general Hospital from where some were let off after they had been given first-aid. Others were hospitalised. An irate mob set fire to the passing vehicles. A contingent of police reached the spot and resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the angry crowd. Movement of traffic in the area was disrupted , resulting in traffic jam for about two hours before normalcy was restored.

3) Write a newspaper report about an old age home opened recently in Kolkata.

      OPENING AN OLD AGE HOME 

Kolkata, 4th March, 2020 - Older people who liked to stay in an old-age home may be pleased to know that an old-age home named 'Astha' was opened yesterday.
   The address of the home Astha is 251, Bidhannagar, Kolkata- 700017. It was opened with a grand celebration. The chief guest was the Vice Chancellor of Kalyani University. It is reported that the home can accommodate 75 people. The charge specified for the home isRs. 2000/- per head per month. Astha will avail of different facilities. There will be doctors once a week and library, amusement etc. are also specified for them. The interested candidates must apply in plain paper. Admission depends on authority.

4) Write a newspaper report on Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

      SWACHH BHARAT ABHIYAN 

Oct 2, 2014.New Delhi-  The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan organised by Narendra Modi, the primeminister of India. The occasion held at Rajghat in New Delhi. India. In the 150th birth of Mahatma Gandhi we are clean any garbage of India. In opening ceremony of India flagged by Pranab Mukherjee honourable Prime Minister of India. At this occasion the supporter saw very popular celebrities, like Anil Ambani, Sachin Tendulkar, Mary Kom, Salman Khanand many brother. Access for every Indian citizen of sanitation facilities. Waste management rate the objectives of this Abhiyan.



5) Write a report on the recent floods in North Bengal within 120 words. 

    NORTH BENGAL FLOODS KILL 100

Siliguri, February 25, 2020: The floods that have occurred in Jalpaiguri and Coocbehar have so far left a hundred people dead and over 16 lakh badly affected. In the recent devastating floods areas like Birpara, Falakata, Madarihat, Hasimara, and Alipurduar have been severely affected. Overflowing and breach of weak embankments following heavy rainfall during the last few days are the causes of this great natural calamity. Mud houses have been destroyed, standing paddy crops greatly affected and cattle washed away. The government along with different voluntery organisations has started relief and rescue operations on a war footing. Food and relief materials are being air- dropped by the helicopters. Steps are being taken to prevent epidemics in the flood-hit areas.

6) A football coaching camp was recently held. Write a report in about 80 words on this topic. 

         A FOOTBALL COACHING CAMP

Kolkata, March 06: A coaching camp for footballers was recently held at the Mohun Bagan ground. The camp was organised by the Indian Football Association. The fortnight- long coaching camp started on March 01 and ended on 05 March. Forty boys within 16 years joined this camp. The coaching everyday started at 3 p.m. and continued upto 5 p.m. The next coaching camp will be held between June 2 and June 16.

7) Write a newspaper report on Teachers' Day observed in High School. 

                     TEACHERS' DAY OBSERVED IN SCHOOL

 Teachers' was observed in the ABC High School today. For this a cultural funtion was organised by the teachers and the students of the school. The function started at 8 a.m. and continued for three hours. Renowned teachers, acting and retired, of the area were among the respectables present. The greatest attraction of the day was Biman Kumar Sen, the Rashtrapati Award Winner teacher of the school. The teachers and the students, in their nice speeches made the audience spell bound. The retired teachers of the school were then awarded by the present Headmaster Rathin Deb. This was followed by distribution of sweets among the students. The entire programme created enthusiasm among the students who took oath to be good citizens of the country in future.

Summary of "Autumn".

Clare's love of nature and close noticing mind gets expression in the poem 'Autumn'. A picture of wind blown autumn is presented here. Autumn is a season of dropping leaves, bare branches and strong winds, as after autumn the season winter will come. So autumn and winter create a complete gloominess in nature.

         The poem starts with the poet's announcement that he loves autumn for various reasons. The gust of wind blows all the time and shakes the casement all day. Again faded leaves continually fall from elm trees because of blowing wind. Those fallen leaves are carried by the strong wind, sometimes twirling by the window pane and then carried through the lane.

         Until night comes, the small twigs shake and dance in the presence  of strong wind. The poet loves to see all these. The sparrow, sitting on the cottage roof, chirp in spite of the cool sorrowfulness. This gives reminder to the poet about the seasons of spring and summer. Even in autumn, the poet can feel the warmth of spring and summer. The cottage smoke that curls upward through the leafless bare trees is an object of attraction and love for the poet. The pigeons are taking shelter round their nest, the cock is crowing, sitting casually on a dung-hill as if everything is all right. The windmills are are blowing gracefully and slowly with the help of strong wind.

            Lea or meadow is left with stubble after crops are harvested. From raven's breast feather is dropping on the lea. Oak fruits are falling on the ground, creating pattering sounds. It is happening near the old crow's nest. The pigs are running in hurry towards those fruits to eat.
So, this is a colourful picture of rural areas in autumn.

Short questions and answers :

1) Name the birds and their cries mentioned in the 'Autumn'. 
Ans: The birds like the pigeon, the cock, the raven and the crow are mentioned in the poem 'Autumn'. The sparrow chirps and the cock crows.
2) What is meant by the 'stubble lea' mentioned in the poem? 
Ans: A lea is a medow, a stretch of open grassland. Here the lea is full of corn left after harvest.
3) Where do the faded  leaves twirl? 
Ans: The faded leaves twirl by the window pane.
4) What happens with the cottage smoke?
Ans: The cottage smoke curls upward through the naked trees.
5) What happens to the leaves of the mossy elm-tree in autumn? 
Ans: In the poem 'Autumn' the leaves of the mossy elm-tree become faded. The gust of wind twirls them by the window pane. Then it carries them away.
6) What is the effect of the sparrow's chirp on the poet's mind? 
Ans: The sparrow's chirp creates an imaginary situation in the poet's mind. It reminds him the warm colorful days of summer and spring in autumn.

1) Describe the dog that was with the younger woman. 
Ans: The dog was a little Pekinese dog and it had beady eyes.
2) Why did the conductor stop the bus by pulling the bell? 
Ans: The conductor stopped the bus by pulling the bell because a younger woman boarded the bus with a little dog.
3) What kind of a night was it ?
Ans: It was a bitterly cold night with whetted east wind.
4) Why did the conductor stand triumphant? 
Ans: The conductor stood triumphant because the lady had to go upstairs.
5) What opportunity did the conductor seek?
Ans: The conductor sought the opportunity to show his power to the passengers.
6) How did the animal react to the problems caused by himself?
Ans: The little animal sat blinking at the dim lights, unconscious of the problems caused by himself.
7) Which rules should be applied for dogs?
Ans: Rules with a little good will and good temper should be applied for dogs.
8) Why was the conductor angry particularly?
Ans: The conductor was particularly angry with passengers who came and sat in his bus while he shivered at the door.
9) What is the 'gale' mentioned in the story? 
Ans: The 'gale' mentioned in the story was the protest of the passengers and the commotion created by their voices. It was because the conductor stopped the bus pulling the bell.
10) Why was the young woman reluctant to go to the top of the bus?
Ans: It was a bitterly cold night. The woman already had cough. So, she was reluctant to go to the top of the bus.

'All about a Dog' by Gardiner is a story that gives birth to some questions related to our society  and social rules and regulations.

        It was a very cold winter night. The passengers were all eager to reach home early. A young lady carrying a little dog boarded the bus. Immediately, the conductor asked the lady to go up to the uncovered top with the dog. But the other passengers were quite sympathetic towards the lady with the dog, considering the weather. Moreover, the lady was suffering from cough and cold. So they did not object to carrying the dog inside the bus. But the bus conductor would not disobey the rule so easily. He forced the lady to go to the top of the bus on cold night. Initially the lady was reluctant to do that and persisted on staying inside. She also argued with the conductor. But the conductor was strict in his decision. So he stopped the bus in the midway, creating trouble to everyone in the bus. Ultimately the lady have to obey the order of the conductor.

       After sometime when the bus developed some engine trouble, the passengers had to bear with the delay. But the conductor refused to compromise. All through the journey, the lady had to travel on the top of the bus. At the end the narrator of the story try to advise to the conductor that rules should be modified according to the circumstances and should be tempered with goodwill.

         Rules are formed for comfort what should not cause inconvenience. That is the essence of the rule. That means in our society the most important thing is not the rules and regulations but its application with humanitarian consideration.

1) where did Bhola grandpa live with his wife?
Ans: They lived at the western part of the narrator's village.
2) When was the narrator with others returning from festival?
Ans: The narrator with others was returning on a moonlit night from a festival.
3) What overshadowed Bhola grandpa's hut?
Ans: A large bokal tree overshadowed Bhola grandpa hut.
4) Who was with Bhola grandpa in the festival?
Ans: Bhola grandpa's grandson and a few villagers were with him.
5) Who buried the treasure in the sand dunes?
Ans: A gang of pirates buried the treasure in the sand dunes.
6) Who roamed freely in the jungle of Sundarbans?
Ans: Royal Bengal tigers freely roamed in the jungles of the Sunderbams.
7) How was the bokal tree?
Ans: It was a large bokal tree which overshadowed Bhola grandpa's hut.
8) What did Bhola Grandpa do when he saw the tiger?
Ans: When Bhola Grandpa saw the tiger, he instantly climbed up a nearby banyan tree. 

1. When did Bhola Grandpa let out a loud wail?

 

2. Where had the grandson found a cosy shelter?

3. What request did Bhola Grandpa make to the first man he saw on the mound?

4. How old was Bhola Grandpa's wife when he died?

5.Why was no real treasure found under the sand dunes?

6. What did the tiger do after Bhola Grandpa had climbed up the banyan tree? 

7.What was the reason of Bhola Grandpa's death according to his wife?