1. The Portrait of a Lady (Khushwant Singh)
*1. Write a character sketch of Khushwant Singh's grandmother.*
Khushwant Singh’s grandmother was a very old lady. She was short,
fat and slightly bent. Her face was full of wrinkles. She had white hair. She
was very affectionate. She lived in the village with her grandson. She was
a caring grandmother. She would wake him early in the morning and get him ready
for school. She served him breakfast and took him to school. She waited for him
in the temple. She prayed while he studied. She returned with him. She was a
kind hearted lady. She used to feed dogs in the village. In the city, she took
to feed the sparrows. She was a religious lady. Her lips were always moving in
a silent prayer. She went to the temple and read the scriptures.
Although she was not formally educated, she was serious about author’s
education. She could not adjust herself to the western way of life, Science and
English education. She hated music. She was distressed to know that there was
no teaching about God and holy books at Khushwant Singh’s new English school.
In brief we can say that she was a nice, affectionate, kind hearted and
religious lady.
*2.
We’re not afraid to die … If We Can All Be Together (Gordon Cook and Alan
East)*
Long Answer
-Question
*1. Justify the title of the story:
“We’re Not Afraid to Die…”*
Ans. “We’re Not Afraid to Die…if We Can All Be Together” is the story of
courage that was shown by the narrator, his crewmen, his wife and children.
Everybody confronted the disaster with patience, courage and determination.
Even the children showed courage. They did not give up hope even till the last
moment. The narrator made all possible attempts to save their lives. Like his
father, Jon reacted very bravely that they were not afraid to die, but it would
be better if they died together. When the big wave hit the boat, it was
severely damaged and the narrator was badly injured. However, he did not pay
attention to it and held on to the wheel. Both Larry and Herb kept pumping out
water and did not stop. Jonathan called the narrator the best daddy and the
best captain in the world because they had reached the island lie Amsterdam. Hence,
the title is logically justified.
3. Discovery Tut: The Saga Continues (A.R. Williams)
Long Answer
*1. Who was Carter? What investigation did he do regarding Tut’s
mummy?*
Ans. Carter was the archaeologist who discovered Tut’s tomb in
1922. Carter spent a number of months to record the treasures of Tut’s tomb. He
investigated three coffins. In first coffin he found a shroud adorned with
garlands of flowers which are generally found in March/April. He tried to
remove mummy, but it was difficult for him because his body cemented to the
bottom of the solid gold coffin. So he set the mummy outside in the fierce
sunshine, hoping that the resins would melt. But it did not happen. So
there was no other choice but to cut the mummy free. There were very costly
thing in his tomb as precious collars, necklaces, bracelets, rings, amulets etc
all made of pure gold.
*2. Briefly describe the rein of King Tut and his dynasty.*
Ans. King Tut died more than 3300 years ago. King Tut’s death
was a big mystery. He was the last of his family. Amenhotep III, was his father
or grandfather. He was a powerful pharaoh. His son Amenhotep IV succeeded after
him. His rein was strangest period. He promoted the worship of the sun. He
changed his name to Akhenaten which mean the servant of the Aten. He
discontinued the worship of Amun, a major God of Egypt. He smashed his images
and closed his temples. After his death, a mysterious ruler named Smenkhkare
ruled. After him, king Tut became ruler. He changed his name to Tutankhamun
which mean, ‘Living Image of Amun’.
4.
Landscape of the Soul (Nathalie Trouveroy)
Long Answer
1. Contrast the
Chinese view of art with the European view with examples.
Ans.
The Chinese view of art is trying
to achieve the essence of inner life and spirit. The European view of art is to create illusionistic. The example
of Chinese art is the painting made by Wu Daozi in 8th century. It was commissioned by Tang Emperor Xuanzong.
The painter made a beautiful painting showing forests, mountains,
clouds, waterfalls, men and birds. There was a cave at the foot of the mountain
in the painting. The painter clapped his hands and the mouth of the cave
opened. As painter went inside the cave, the entrance closed and painting
vanished from the wall. The Example of European art is painting made by Quentin
Metsys. In 15th century he had
fallen in love with a painter's daughter: The father would not give his
consent. Quinten painted a real fly on canvas. It was so real that the painter
tried to swat it. When he realized and came to know the truth. He admitted
Quinten as his apprentice and married his daughter with him.
2. What do you
understand by the term ‘outsider art’ and ‘art brut’ or ‘raw art’?
Ans. Art Brut (raw art) or Outsider Art is the term coined by French artist Jean Dubuffet in 1940. To refer to art made by individuals working outside of the established cultural mainstream. The 'outsider art' is the art of those people who have no right to be the artists as they have received no formal training, yet they show talent and artistic insight. The best example of outsider art is ‘Rock Garden’ created by Nek Chand in Chandigarh (India). It was made by waste material, stones and rocks. The Swiss Commission for Unesco honoured him by way of a European exposition of his works. The five month show, which began in October in 2005, was held at leading museums in Switzerland, Belgium, France and Italy. Thus an untutored genius crated a paradise (Rock Garden), the best example of Outside art.
Long Answer
1. Bring out the
fact that support the title, ‘The Ailing Planet’.
Ans.
The title 'The Ailing Planet'
comments on the deteriorating
condition of our planet. It speaks of the problems faced by our planet,
reasons for its poor condition and the changing view of the world for the
planet. The signs of the earth
connected with life necessary for staying alive show that the earth
is a patient in declining health. Its deserts are advancing, landscapes are
being impoverished and environment is ailing. The writer also focuses on overpopulation, deforestation and what should
be our responsibility towards the environment. It refers to the view that calls for the preservation of
the planet. The holistic and ecological view refers to understanding the
importance of earth's resources and environment for the future generations.
2. What is the
importance of forests? How the forests are being destroyed?
Ans.
The forests are one of the most important biological systems in the world. But
now the forests are disappearing at the high rate per year. When we destroy forests, we add to climate change because forests trap
carbon and help stabilise the world's climate. They purify the air we breathe. Forests
cover about a third of the earth's land area and are essential to the health of our environment.
For example, trees and forests absorb and store much of the carbon dioxide. We
need the rain forests to produce
oxygen and clean the atmosphere to help us breathe. We also know that
the earth's climate can be affected, as well as the water cycle. Rainforests
also provide us with many valuable medicinal plants, and may be a source of a
cure from some deadly diseases.
3. Briefly
describe the author’s views about the need to protect the environment.
Ans.
Restore damaged ecosystems
by planting trees on land where
forests have been cut down. Encourage people to live in a way that doesn't hurt
the environment. Establish parks to protect rainforests and wildlife. With the
cutting of forests, many species of animals have also become extinct. The
rapidly increasing population of the world is also responsible for the
depletion of natural resources. The green movement started its campaign to make
people aware of the need to preserve our environment. Now people have begun to
realize that the natural resources will not last forever. We have duty to leave
this world cleaner and better for the generation to come. Industry has an
important role to play in the preservation of environment. Mr. Lester Brown
said, “We have not inherited this earth from our forefathers; we have borrowed
it from our children.”
6. The
Browning Version (Terence Rattigan)
Long Answer
1. Write in
brief the summary of ‘The Browning Version’.
Ans. Taplow came
to school on the last day
of school because he was absent from school for few days due to illness. So Mr. Crocker Harris gave him
extra work to do in the evening after school. Mr. Crocker Harris was a strict teacher.
When Taplow was doing his work another teacher, Frank came there. Frank was jealous of Mr.
Crocker Harris because of his influence
over students. Mr. Crocker Harris was a strict teacher and all of his students
were scared of him and they follow his orders. In the Last Millie came
there. Millie
was Crocker-Harris's wife. She told Taplow that he should go home since Crocker-Harris had not
come. When he did not like that suggestion, she sent Taplow to get a prescription from a chemists' shop. She
did not want him to get bored of waiting for her husband Mr. Crocker Harris.
8.
Silk Road (Nick Middleton)
1. Describe the
writer’s experience at Darchen.
Ans.
When the writer reached at Darchen, he was disappointed there because he had some health problems as cold and cough. He was not able to
breathe well and his nostrils were blocked during the night. He felt that if he
slept, he would never wake up again. So he awake all night. The next morning,
Tsetan took him to the Darchen Medical College. There a Tibetan doctor gave him
some medicine. It had a good effect on him and he had sound sleep that night.
There were no pilgrimages in Darchen at that time. The place was dirty and
punctuated by heaps of garbage and refuse. Tsetan has also left him and
returned to Lhasa. So he was disappointed with Darchen.