PLUS ONE NOTES FOR LITERACY MISSION PLUS ONE ENGLISH NOTES UNIT 1 - UNIT 3

MODEL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

UNIT 1 PATHS OF GLORY        THE STORY OF MY LIFE         By HELEN KELLER

1. You are inspired by the way Anne Sullivan brought new light into the otherwise dark life of Helen Keller. Draft a SPEECH on the “Importance of Teachers in Today’s World” to be delivered on September 5^th, Teacher’s Day.

(Hints: teachers as mentors---guiding light ---source of inspiration---helps overcome difficulties----provides unfailing support----moulds the new generation)

Respected Principal, my dear Teachers and loving friends,

As you all know today September 5, we are celebrating Teachers’ Day in our School. On this auspices occasion, I would like to speak on the topic “The Importance of Teachers in Today’s World”.

Teacher plays an important role in a society. They are really moulding the character of the students. When teachers become weak, our society also becomes weak. They are the lamps that shatter the darkness. In present world teachers are described as mentors. They guide the students in the right path. They become the guiding light and a source of inspiration. Helen Keller’s teacher Anne Sullivan brought new light into the dark life of Helen Keller. Her teacher was very patient and loving. Her teacher helped Helen to overcome her difficulties and made her spirit free. Thus Anne could achieve great things in her life.

A teacher provides unfailing support for the students in their difficult times. As a whole a good teacher moulds the new generation. A perfect teacher is always fair and impartial with full of love.

Let me conclude my speech saying that Teachers play an important role in today’s world. So let’s all respect the teachers and become good people in the society

2. Helen Keller lived a normal life until she was nineteen months old. What happened to her after that?

A) Helen Keller got the strange illness in the dreary month of February. This disease closed her eyes and ears. She was plunged into the unconsciousness of a new-born baby. She suffered from the acute congestion of the stomach and brain.

3. Helen’s mother is writing her diary after the arrival of Anne Sullivan. What would she have written about the teacher and her child.

DAY                                                                        DIARY                                                                    TIME

                                                                                DATE

Today was a memorable day for me and my loving child Helen. A new teacher named Anne Sullivan stepped into our home….A lovable and God-like teacher ....I am doubtful of my child’s future. Now she can’t see and hear. I can’t look to my baby’s face. The doctor says that my daughter can’t live longer….Oh God what should I do!.

But now I feel happy at the arrival of her teacher. She seems to be an angel. I think this teacher is very loving and patient. I feel that she is really a source of support and inspiration to my child. I believe that she will really set her spirit free.

A POOR WOMAN LEARNS TO WRITE Poem    by Margaret Atwood

1. Prepare a critical appreciation of the poem “A Poor Woman Learns to write”.

A) The poem “A Poor Woman Learns to write” is a small descriptive poem written by Margaret Atwood.

It is a poem about the joy of learning for old men and women. This poem narrates the tension and fear of an old woman who is writing for the first time at the age of thirty. She has failed several times and apologized to her teachers. But she could write it well by her strong determination. Her face is glowing with the shine of victory. But that victory may not be precious to us. But for the old woman, it is victory over ignorance, darkness and illiteracy.

The old woman in the poem is seated bare feet, squatting. She is not described as a graceful woman. Her hands are lined and cracked. She is engaged in printing her name with a stick. The woman sits very confident in her work. Her face is described as a joyful flower. The Poet says very clearly that she is printing with a stick very laboriously. After several efforts, she is looking very confident. She smiles and her face became radiant like a joyful flower.

The Poet makes use of visual images, symbols and poetic devices to convey the theme. It helps the readers to understand the theme very easily. Visual images such as “skirt-tucked”, face lined, grey-dirt and joyful flower helps us to visualize the poor woman. The symbol ‘mud’ effectively convey the idea that the old woman is working hard for writing her name.

We can see metaphor in the line “Hands are lined and cracked” and in the line “Her face joyful flower?” The woman’s face is compared to a joyful flower.

The readers enjoy this poem with its vivid description. It takes the readers into a joyful mood. This poem has contemporary relevance. When anyone achieves anything by hard work he or she will enjoy the fruit of his hard work.

2. Read the lines below and answer the questions that follow.

Her face lined and cracked

She looks old

Older than anything

a) Explain the above lines

A) The above lines written by the poet Margaret Atwood describe the joy of learning. She is not described as a graceful woman. Her hands are lined and cracked. The old woman’s face is lined and cracked. These lines convey the tension and fear of an old woman. She is writing for the first time at the age of thirty.

b) Who is the ‘she’ refers to in these lines?

A) She refers to the old woman who learns to write at the age of thirty.

c) What does the phrase ‘lined and cracked’ mean?

A) The phrase ‘lined and cracked’ means that the woman is very old.

THE STORY OF BROOKLYN BRIDGE 

1. You are impressed with the story of ‘Washington Roebling’ who overcame a lot of adverse conditions with sheer determination. Write a letter congratulating him on his success.

A)                                                                                                                                PLACE

                                                                                                                                    DATE

            My dear Friend,

I am Jackson working in Skyline Builders India. Recently I read your story. I am very much impressed by your strong determination in the midst of your adverse conditions.

It’s really easy to wish for the stars, but it takes more than wishes to be successful. Your life is really a good lesson to people all over the world. I am really proud of you for your positive attitude in the midst of your illness. It is really motivating to see your enthusiasm in the midst of hardships. I also congratulate your wife Emily Roebling who acted courageously along with your instructions. It is really note worthy to appreciate her patience. The Brooklyn Bridge is really a tribute to the victory of your father John Washington’s strong spirit, will power and determination.

Once again I congratulate you on your great achievements. May God bless you more to do great things.

                                                                                    Yours lovingly

                                                                                    Name & signature

2. You want to congratulate Emily Warren Roebling on the great task of completing the Brooklyn Bridge. Draft an e-Mail to be sent to her and her crew congratulating them on their sincere efforts and determination.

TO: emilywarrenroebling@gmail.com

subject: NOTE OF CONGRATULATION

I am Jackson working in Skyline Builders India. Recently I read your story. I am very much impressed by your strong determination and patience in the midst of your beloved husband’s illness. It’s really easy to wish for the stars, but it takes more than wishes to be successful. Your life is really a good lesson to people all over the world. I am really proud of you for your positive attitude in the midst of your husband’s illness. It is really motivating to see your commitment in the midst of hardships. I also congratulate your husband Washington who acted courageously. He was courageous enough to give you instructions in the midst of his illness. It is really note worthy to appreciate your patience. The Brooklyn Bridge is really a tribute to the victory of  Washington’s strong spirit, will power and determination. Once again I congratulate you on your great achievements. May God bless you more to do great things. With loving regards  Jackson@gmail.com

UNIT 2 SHRIEKS OF LAUGHTER

                                                            THE BOOR by Anton Chekhov

1. The Arts club of your locality has decided to dramatise the play “The Boor”. Draft an introductory announcement for the programme. You may also include the characters and the theme along with the time and venue of the programme.

A) Ladies and Gentlemen …………..

It’s with immense pleasure and gratitude that I am standing before you. The Arts Club of ABCD Village is going to dramatise the play “The Boor” on 5^th December 2018 in Sree Narayana Auditorium at 5 pm in the evening. The main actors are the famous artists of our locality. Elizabeth Jacob will take the role of Helena Ivanovich Popov, as a young widow.  Mr Gabriel Joseph will be acting as Grigory Stephanovitch Smirnov. Mathew Daniel will be doing the role of Luka the servant. Other minor roles of gardener, Coachman and several workmen will be done by other familiar faces of our village.

This drama is full of suspense and humour. The audience will be wondered at the reversal of feeling, unexpected twists and surprising end. Let’s enjoy the play of a young romantic and youthful sentimental lady named Mrs. Popov who remains truthful to her husband’s dead memory.

Watch and enjoy……..

2) Prepare a character sketch of Mrs. Popov in the play “The Boor”.

A) Mrs. Popov in the play “The Boor” written by Anton Chekhov is described as a lady remaining truthful to her husband’s dead memory. In the beginning of the play we can see her wearing mourning clothes. Mrs.Popov is described as a young, romantic and youthful sentimental lady. She decides to remain faithful to her unfaithful husband who died seven months ago. When Grigory Smirnov, the proprietor of a country estate falls in love with her and proposes her, she accepts the proposal of marriage by embrasing and kissing him. She doesn’t throw him out of her house. Thus she proves another ‘bear’ which is unable to hold back her basic instincts and human needs. Thus she falls an easy prey to Smirnov.

MY CHERRY TREE     by Ellen Balley

1. Read the stanza taken from the poem “My Cherry Tree” and answer the questions that follow.

I sat watching the birds in my cherry tree

There were so many they out-numbered the leaves

They would flint and flutter and fly all about

Stuffing my cherries in their little mouths.

a) Who is the speaker of the poem?

A) The speaker of the poem is the poet Ellen Balley.

b) Pick out the line which tells us that there were many birds in the cherry tree.

A) There were so many they outnumbered the leaves

c) What are the birds in the cherry tree doing?

A) The birds in the cherry tree are flinting and fluttering to stuff the poet’s cherries in their mouths.

d) What is the poetic device used in these lines.

A) The poetic device used in the third line is alliteration. Alliteration is the repetition of consonants. Flint and flutter is an example of alliteration.  The sound ‘f’ and ‘l’ are repeated .

2) Prepare an appreciation of the poem “My Cherry Tree”.

A) The fun filled poem named “My Cherry Tree” written by Ellen Bailey describes the humorous incident of the cherry tree owner. This poem satirizes the possessiveness of man and his attitude towards nature and its resources.

In the beginning of the poem we can see the poet watching the birds in his cherry tree. The poet humorously says that the birds outnumbered the leaves. They used to fly fast to his cherry tree and eat his cherries. The Poet describes the blue birds and red birds and sparrows. All of these birds came to his tree for the fruit. They made a lot of noise and expressed their happiness. It’s at this time the Poet was surprised and doubted. He doubted if he would get any cherries from his cherry tree.

In the third stanza we can see the poet’s efforts to plant and nurture that tree. The poet says that he watered and pruned the tree. He worked hard to protect it from the cold and other climatic attacks.

In the end the poet expresses his feeling that the feathered friends were so selfish. He even shouts at them to leave that tree.

The Poet makes use of different poetic devices to convey the theme well.  Alliteration is used in the third line of the first stanza. Flint and flutter is an example of alliteration.  “Nibbling and gobbling” is another example of alliteration. “Feathered friend” is an example of metaphor. In the third stanza we can see the poet makes use of good rhyme scheme.  Eg. Seed- need; cold-told;  In the last stanza we can see rhyming line “unheeded- needed”,  “chat-sat and cat”.

ON UMBRELLA MORALS                BY   A G Gardiner

1. Prepare a paragraph on the importance of generating values such as honesty and truthfulness.

It is a good saying that honesty is the best policy. Honesty and truthfulness are the important values of our life. We should behave honestly in our life. If we are not honest, our life will be miserable. If we have borrowed any books from library we should try to return it in time. In the beginning of the essay A G Gardiner says that we should not exchange other’s good umbrellas. We should not forget to return a book. If we don’t do truthfully we are really playing hide and seek with our own conscience. Similarly when we travel in a train, we should not travel in a first class railway carriage with a third class ticket in our pocket. If we are truthful and honest, others will respect us.

2. Imagine that one of your friends has the habit of stealing things. How will you correct him. Write a letter advising him to stop this habit.

                                                                                                                        Place

                                                                                                                        Date

My Dear Jenil,

How are you? I hope you are studying well. Recently I knew something about you. Is it true? I don’t think so. I heard that you have got a new habit of stealing things from your friends’ bag. I think it is a bad habit. If you do this kind of stealing you will not become a great man. If you want anything tell me honestly. I will give you what you want. If you have this habit, you will be called as a little robber. It will affect your life badly. So never steal anything from others. I hope you will obey me.

I hope you will come to my home soon. Expecting to meet you directly

Yours lovingly

Name & signature

3. Damaging public property and stealing others things are bad habits by all means. Make TWO HOARDINGS to be displayed in super markets asking people not to destroy things or steal things.

YOU ARE UNDER WATCHFUL EYES

PLEASE CARRY TRAY FOR SHOPPING

YOU ARE UNDER THE SURVEILLANCE OF CCTV

BE VIGILANT….YOU ARE WATCHED

UNIT 3    LORES OF LOVE

THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY        By  Khushwant Singh

1. Kushwant Singh’s memoir “The Portrait of A Lady” is the story of an old woman who finds comfort and peace in nature. Have you ever felt the same way? Narrate the incident in your life in which the nature played the role of a friend.

A) Yes I have felt the same way. It was when I was studying in tenth standard, I went for a picnic to Ooty with my family. I enjoyed my trip very much. When I reached there it was morning time. The atmosphere was very cold. I forgot all my troubles and sorrows from my heart. I felt nature as a medicine. It cured me of my boredom and sorrows.. I got much happiness and comfort. I could enjoy the little breez touching me gently. I spent two hours in the lap of nature. Ooty trip was so charming that I felt totally relaxed. I enjoyed the tea estate and Rose garden. It was really a wonderful feast for my eyes. My eyes got refreshed. Above all that trip took me to a greater height of tranquility.

2. Our state is now facing the grave problem of stray dogs. The local authority in your locality has decided to kill all the dogs which are dangerous. The animal lovers arrange a meeting to protest against this movement. Prepare a speech to be delivered at this meeting.

(Hints: The gravity of the problem…..suffering of people…..animal rights…..need to love the animals…..suggestion to solve the problem etc…)

A) Respected animal lovers and my dear friends,

We are                 gathered here to protest against the movement of killing all the stary dogs of our village.

According to me, it is an evil act to kill all the dangerous dogs of our locality. It will result in more problems. When they kill dogs, it will affect the life of all types of dogs. Some dogs will not be so dangerous. If they kill dogs, it will upset the right of other good dogs to live.  It is very important to love animals as they are the creations of God. If we love the animals, it will not become dangerous. Sometimes we throw stones at stray dogs and they attack the people. So we should stop hurting poor dogs. So my humble request is to conduct an awareness programme in the village. Let us start loving dogs and live healthily. With these words I conclude my words

Thank you

3. The memoir by Khushwant Singh details about his grandmother. Prepare a charcter sketch of the lady in not more than 70 words. You may make use of some of the traits given in brackets.

(Literate, loving, affectionate, religious, lazy, hardworking, friendly)

A) Kushwant Singh’s memoir “The Portrait of a Lady” brings out the charcter sketch of his grandmother in a vivid way.

She was an old literate woman. She was very loving and affectionate. She helped the author to go for School. She bathed him and dressed with great affection. She was fond of village dogs and carried several chapattis for them on her way to School with the author. She was very religious. She read scriptures with great devotion. She did not like the author’s education system. She did not like music in his School. She believed that music was the monopoly of harlots and beggars. Her lips always moved in prayer. Her fingers were busy telling the beads of her rosary. She was very friendly to the author. She was not at all a lazy grandmother.

4. The grandmother was an invisible, but strong presence in the family. What would have been the feelings of the grandson when he lost her?

Attempt a diary entry that he could have made.

A)                                                                           DIARY                                                                                   DATE

                                                                                                                                                                                TIME

Today I feel very sad. My loving grandmother is no more. I feel a total loss. She was really a source of comfort for me. Her presence in the family was very strong. She was caring, affectionate and just like a mother for me. Oh God, help me to go through my life with her loving memories. Her life was indeed a message. Oh God give her Eternal peace.

5. Nowadays the young generation casts away old people, resulting in a mushrooming of old-age homes. Do you think our youth lack love and compassion for the old? Visit an old-age home in your locality and hold an interview with an inmate. Prepare a report of your visit.

                                               

REPORT OF VISITING AN OLD-AGE HOME

It was in the last week of September I got an opportunity to visit an old age home in my locality. It was a great moment in my life to meet the old-age people. When we reached there it was morning time. He Director of the Old-age home welcomed us all. At first he made a brief introduction about the old –age home and the people living there. It was an old age home built ten years ago. The main aim was to protect the old-aged people in our village. Many of them are not well-cared by their family members. One of the inmates shared that he reached there when his son got job in foreign country. He was not ready to care his father. One day he brought me here and made arrangements with the director. I felt terribly sad at the poor condition of the people living there. They have all the comforts there. But they cannot see their sons. When everybody shared their sorrows, I felt very sorry. I thought of my loving parents. I was ashamed at the possessive attitude of the new generation. We conducted variety cultural programmes and made them happy. We also gave some stationary items and food materials. We returned in the evening with full of love to all of them. We made a pledge that we would not allow our parents to be in old-age homes.

5. Prepare an Interview with one of the inmates of the old-age homes.

A) I am Ramu from Prakoor village. I would like to spend some time with you.

Q1. How do you think of your life in this old-age home?

Response: I think my life in this Old-age home is very comfortable, but I feel very sad at heart thinking about my son whom I loved deeply.

Q2. Do you hate your son now?

Response: No, I don’t hate my son. I love him because he is my son.

Q3. Does any one from your son’s family visit you?

Response: Yes my son visits me every year with his family when comes for leave from Canada.

THE BOY AND THE SNAKE    BY CHARLES LAMB.

1. “The Boy and the Snake” is a poem that deals with a strange friendship. What story does Henry give his mother about his friend at first?

A) Henry told his mother that his friend was a grey pretty bird. He also said that his smooth and soft-like silk friend came every day and loved him and his milk.

2. Henry’s mother is shocked when she sees her son’s friend. Yet she doesn’t interrupt their meeting. Why? Justify her action in a paragraph.

A) Mother was really shocked when she saw her son’s friend. Yet she didn’t interrupt their meeting, because she loved her child very much. If she made the small noise, the tricky snake would be afraid. As a result the snake would inflict the venom on her child. She didn’t speak, move or even breathe. Besides she didn’t utter any sound. All these actions of the mother show that she loved her child very much.

3. Prepare an appreciation of the poem “The Boy and the Snake”.

A) The poem “The Boy and the Snake” written by Charles Lamb describes the compassionate nature of a boy named Henry to his friend snake. This poem highlights the theme “Innocence is the foundation of true friendship”.

Henry the boy takes his breakfast to a purling brook. In the beginning of the poem, we can see the attitude of the boy to nature. He loves nature very much. He spends his time with nature escaping his mother’s eye. His mother allowed him to go out. She was very happy to find the child’s delight to eat outside on the grassy seat. One day the child talked about his friend to his mother. He said it was a fine grey pretty bird. That bird loved him and his milk. Then the mother was anxious to see his new friend. The next morning, she followed him and understood that his friend was a snake. Then the mother didn’t make any noise to disturb his friend. She was very much conscious of her child’s friend. She was surprised when her child lifted his spoon and tapped the snake on his head. The snake obeyed the orders of the child and left the place slowly. The mother was amazed at the child’s behavior.

In this poem we can see the difference in the attitude of the mother and the son towards the snake. She is very worried and the child is very calm, quiet and innocent. The grown up’s attitude to nature and its creatures is very cruel. They are very much fearful to animals and they disturb the nature.

The poet uses simple language and familiar images of nature to convey the theme very effectively. Many images are taken from the nature. The images like brook, milk, grey bird, spoon, etc..  make the readers joyful to enjoy the poem .

The rhyming words at the end of every lines are very suitable and rhythmical. Eg fed-bread, took-brook, ran-can etc.

4) “Innocence is the foundation of true friendship” How far is it true in the light of friendship between the boy and the snake?

A) Charles Lamb’s poem “The Boy and the Snake” highlights the theme innocence is the foundation of true friendship. The boy named Henry is very innocent. He keeps company with a snake for his breakfast. Actually the child told his mother that his friend was a fine grey pretty bird. It was the boy’s innocence that helped him to be in friendship with a poisonous snake. If the boy was really grown up, he would never consider the snake as his friend. Then he will treat the snake as his enemy. The boy’s mother was very much afraid at the sight of the snake. Mother doesn’t have any innocence at her heart to treat the snake as the friend of her child. She is standing far away from her child and his friend. It means that if we are grown up, we will be guided by selfishness and cruelty.

5. Read the lines from the poem “ The Boy and the sanke” and answer the questions that follow.

“No sound she utters; and she soon

Sees the child lift up its spoon

And tap the snake upon the head,

Fearless of harm; and then he said,

As speaking to familiar mate,

Keep on your own side do, Grey Pate”

a) Pick out the rhyming words in these lines.

A) Soon-spoon ; head-said; mate-grey Pate”

b) Who is the grey pate referred to here?

A) The Grey-Pate referred to here is the snake.

c) What is the meaning of the phrase “keep on”?

A) Continue

6. Read the lines from the poem “The Boy and the Snake” and answer the questions.

When she saw the infant take

His bread and milk close to a snake

Upon the grass he spreads his feast

And sits down by his frightful guest

a) Who is the frightful guest referred to here?

A) The frightful guest referred to here is snake

b)Pick out the rhyming words from these lines.

A) take-snake; feast-guest

c) What is the name of the boy in this poem?

A) Henry is the name of the boy

7. Thither repairs until she heard

    Him talking of a fine grey bird

    This pretty bird he said indeed

     Came every day with him to feed

a) Who is the she referred to here?

A) The she referred to here is the mother of the boy

b) Who is the fine grey bird referred to here?

A)The fine grey bird referred to here is the snake.

c) Pick out the rhyming words.

A) Heard-bird ; indeed-feed.

                                                THE KITEMAKER   By Ruskin Bond

1. Prepare a charcter sketch of Mahmood the kite maker.

A) Mahmood was an old kite maker. He was a well-known kite maker. He was very loving. When he was younger he had fallen sick. Then everyone in the village came to visit him. The old man remained dreaming in the sun. His kite shop was gone. But still he made kites for his own amusement. He made kites for his grandson Ali. When Mahmood fell sick, no one visited him. Mehmood was like the banyan, his hands gnarled and twisted like the roots of the ancient tree. He was described as the young mimosa planted at the end of the courtyard.

2. You get a chance to meet Ruskin Bond the person who wrote the short story “The Kitemaker”. Write down three questions you would ask him regarding Mehmood and the possible answers he would give.

A) Q1. When did you meet Mehmood the kite maker for the first time?

    Resp. I met Mehmood when I was living in Simla with my family.

Q2. What qualities in Mehmood you like most?

     Resp. Mehmood was a hard working person. He was also patient.

Q3. Do you think that Mehmood was a man of dreams?

  Resp. Yes I think that Mehmood was a man of dreams. He used to sit under an old banyan tree. His grandson would come barefoot and dressed in torn shirt. His grandson would often complaint regarding his kites.

Q4. What about the kite shops in Gali Ram Nathan street now?

Resp. Now there are no kite shops. People are very busy. They don’t have time to enjoy kite flying. They enjoy cinema, social media etc.