MODULE 1: ‘Father’s Help’& The Night of the Scorpion’

RECAP — FATHER’S HELP

Dear teacher,The objective of this activity is to recap the major events of the story ‘Father’s Help. It

is arranged as a series of thoughts passing through Swami’s mind. A few sentences are left blank

for the students to complete. The matchstick drawings provide easy demonstration.

1.6 am

A Monday once again! What excuse can

I tell to escape school

L L L L L2. 9.30 am.

How Stubborn my father is !

Even a lurid account of Samuel’s cruelty did n’t work!......

Above all ……

This letter………..

LLLLL3.On the way to school

Samuel is not really that cruel!

I feel I am the worst perjurer on earth.

How can I justify this letter now!

K K K K K-1-

4.

Elicit the series of attempts by Swami to provoke Samuel

5.At School

LLLLL No chance! The letter is not justified yet! Any way let me wait till the last periodNo chance! The letter is not justified yet! Any way let me wait till the last periodNo chance! The letter is not justified yet! Any way let me wait till the last periodNo chance! The letter is not justified yet! Any way let me wait till the last periodNo chance! The letter is not justified yet! Any way let me wait till the last period

6.Last period

☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ Hurray........ I am getting punished at last!Hurray........ I am getting punished at last!Hurray........ I am getting punished at last!Hurray........ I am getting punished at last!Hurray........ I am getting punished at last!

7. On the way home

L L L L L What a bad luck! HM is on leave. What will I tell father...a lie again ?What a bad luck! HM is on leave. What will I tell father...a lie again ?What a bad luck! HM is on leave. What will I tell father...a lie again ?What a bad luck! HM is on leave. What will I tell father...a lie again ?What a bad luck! HM is on leave. What will I tell father...a lie again ?

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8. At home

KKKKKNote : If necessary supplementary points be added to ensure recap

Dear teacher,The objective of the following activity is to make the students familiar with ‘Analysing

Textual passages’.Two samples from the story ‘Father’s help’ are given.

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:

As he entered the school gate an idea occurred to him, a sort of solution. He wouldn’t deliver

the letter to the headmaster immediately, but at the end of the day- to that extend he would

disobey his father and exercise his independence. There was nothing wrong in it and Father

would not know it anyway. If the letter was given at the end of the day there was a chance that

Samuel might do something to justify the letter.

1. What was the idea occurred to Swami?

2. Do you think disobeying one’s father is an exercise of

independence? Justify your answer.

3. Complete the sentence suitably.

If he gives the letter at the end of the day, __________________ .

4. Find a word from the passage which means ‘remedy’.

What does father mean by ‘You deserve your Samuel’!What does father mean by ‘You deserve your Samuel’!What does father mean by ‘You deserve your Samuel’!What does father mean by ‘You deserve your Samuel’!What does father mean by ‘You deserve your Samuel’!

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words should consist of the expressions of sadness. Question tags,

interjections, other suitable discourse markers should be used.

Some possible conversations from other lessons:

1. Swami wants to reveal what happened at home after the school to his friend Rahul.

What would be the likely conversation between them?

2. If the narrator of the story ‘The Blue Bouquet’ engaged in a conversation with the

hotel keeper after the horrifying incident. What would be the conversation?

3. You are amazed by the observation power of Sherlock Holmes and you would like to

appreciate him. Suppose you meet him, what would you talk to him, Write an

imaginary dialogue between you and Holmes.

4. After learning ‘Teashops in Malayalam cinema’, you happen to meet a local teashop

owner, He has never noticed how teashops appear as a favourite location in

Malayalam movies. In the light of your new insight; you enter into a conversation

with him. Write the likely conversation.

5. The boy in ‘sunshine through the Rain’ returns home without meeting the foxes. He

talks about the beautiful, dream like scene that he had watched. Write the likely

dialogue.

6. The banker felt sorry for the cruel plan he had against the lawyer. Later he heard

that the lawyer had left the prison without claiming the money. Imagine that the

banker met the lawyer outside and expressed his feelings; write the dialogue

between the banker and the lawyer.

7. Ursula is a bit angry to see Balthazar in the morning. Write the possible dialogue

between them.

8. You were one of the audiences of Karl Paulnak’s speech. You could correct many of

your misconceptions regarding music. If you spoke to him after the speech what

would be the dialogue like?

Once Upon a Time

Read the following extract from the poem ‘Once upon a Time’ and answer the questions that

follow.

Once upon a time, son,

They used to laugh with their hearts

And laugh with their eyes

But now they only laugh with their teeth,

While their ice-block-cold eyes

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Search behind my shadow

There was a time indeed

They used to shake hands with their hearts

But that’s gone, son

Now they shake hands without hearts

While their left hands search

My empty pockets.

1. What does the word ‘they’ in second line refer to?

2. Can you laugh with your heart? How?

3. How do the people shake hands now? What does it indicate?

4. Pick out an example for alliteration.

Write-Up

A write-up can be a description of an incident, a thought or a situation. It can also be a discussion

on a statement of a theory connected to any of the lessons. A short paragraph on the subject is

expected.

Eg: ‘Ravi wanted victory and triumph-not a funeral.’ Prepare a write-up on Ravi’s

attempt and its result.

Scoring indicators:

• Idea conveyed

• Organization of ideas.

• Use of cohesive devices

• Language and style

Some possible questions to prepare write-up from other lessons.

1) ‘A lie follows another and ends in problems’. Prepare a write-up on this statement in the

light of the incidents in ’Father’s Help’.

2) Write short write-upon the ways Sherlock Holms came to the conclusion that the owner of

the stick was Dr.James Mortimer and that he was a house surgeon in Charing Cross

hospital?

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3) Prepare a write-up on the mysterious atmosphere like the climate,situation,words actions

etc. that the author employed in the story ’The Blue Bouquet’

4) ‘Customers were never belittled in teashop on account of their religion or caste’. Prepare a

write up on the secularism of a tea shop using instances given in different films as well

as in the lesson’ Tea shops in Malayalam Cinema’

5) The mother in the film ‘Sunshine through the Rain’ shuts the door on her son’s face and

asked him to ask forgiveness to the foxes or to kill himself. The boy walked towards the

rainbow. What could be the thoughts in his mind? Prepare a write-up on the thoughts in

the mind of the boy.

6) The servant in the play ‘The Beggar and the King’ is doing the role of a mediator between

the king and the beggar. Comment on the role of the servant.

7) Voluntary confinement is harder than the compulsory confinement. What is your view on

this statement? Prepare a write – up using some of the gestures of the lawyer in the

prison. The hints in the brackets may be useful (lawyer cried loudly – talked to himself –

drank wine excessively etc.)

8) ‘A thing of artistic value is identified only by the lovers of art’ .Prepare a write up of your

views on the statement taking instances from the story ‘Balthazar’s marvelous

afternoon’.

9) ‘Music is a basic need of human survival .Music is one of the ways we make sense of our

lives’. Make a write - up expressing your views on this statement taking examples from

the speech of Karl Paulnak.

MODULE 3: THE BLUE BOUQUET and THE HIMALAYAS

Dear teacher,

This activity is to recap the story ‘The Blue Bouquet’. The names of the characters of the story are

given in column A and their actions are given in column B. Match the characters with their

actions.

v Asked the narrator where he was going

v Warned not to move

v Asked for blue eyes to make blue bouquet for the love

v Got out of the hammock and walked bare foot across the room.

v Threatened with the machete

v Grabbed the hair and tried to pluck the eyes

v Suggested to stay in

The narrator

The hotel keeper

The stranger

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v Realizing the eyes are not blue, disappeared into darkness.

v Washed himself and went out into the darkness

v Heard the scuff of huaraches.

v Sitting at the door even at midnight.

v Caught by the stranger for the blue eyes.

v Escaped from the stranger and ran through the deserted street.

v Got out of the village.

Read the following extract from ‘The Blue Bouquet’ and answer the questions that follow.

When I woke up I was soaked with sweat. The floor of my room had been freshly sprinkled and a

warm vapour was rising from the red tiles. A moth flew around and around the naked bulb, and

dazzled by the light. I got out of the hammock and walked barefoot across the room, being careful

not to step on a scorpion if one had come out of its hiding place to enjoy the coolness of the floor. I

stood at the window for a few minutes breathing in the air from the field and listening to the vast,

feminine breathing of the night. Then I walked over to the wash stand, poured some water into the

enamel basin and moistened a towel. I rubbed my chest and legs with the damp cloth, dried myself

a little, and got dressed, first making sure that no bugs had got into the seams of my clothes. I went

leaping down the green painted staircase and blundered into the hotel keeper at the door. He was

blind in one eye, a glum and reticent man, sitting there in a rush chair, smoking a cigarette, with his

eyes half closed.

1) Why, do you think the narrator walked bare foot across the room?

2) “being careful not to step on a scorpion if one had come out”. What impression do you

get about the room from these words?

3) What was the hotelkeeper doing?

4) Pick out a word from the passage to mean ‘unwilling to talk about what one feel or what

one knows’

THE HIMALAYAS

Read the following extract from the poem ‘The Himalayas and answer the questions that follow.

His thick glasses don’t seem to work,

They only magnify his cloudy eyes.

Mornings he summons me

From the kitchen

And I read to him until lunch time.

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One day he tells me

“You can read your poems now.”

I read a few , he is silent.

Thinking he is asleep, I stop.

But he says , ‘continue’.

I begin a long one in which the Himalayas rise

As a metaphor.

Suddenly I am ashamed

To have used the Himalayas like this,

Ashamed to speak of my imaginary mountains

To a man who walked through

The ice and snow of Gangotri

bare foot

A man who lived close to Kanchenjunga

And Everest clad only in summer cotton.

I pause to apologise

But he says ,’just continue’.

1. Why does Swami summon the poet?

2. What do you think Swami means by ‘continue’?

3. What similarity do you find between Swami and the Himalayas?

4. Why does the poet apologize to Swami?

5. Can you see the Himalayas as a metaphor in this poem?

Newspaper Report

• Creative title.

• Idea conveyed.

• Proper beginning.

• Sequencing of idea

• Language and style

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Scoring indicators:

Creative title

Idea conveyed

Proper beginning

sequencing of ideas

Language and style

Points to ponder:• The headline of the newspaper report should be short and catchy.

• Omission of auxiliaries in passive sentences, use of short forms etc are

some ways to make it short

• Date a and place are mentioned

• The first sentence should be the expansion of the headline. The

following sentences should give the details according to the priority.

• The body of the report should follow an inverted pyramid structure

First sentence: explanation of the heading

Major details

Minor details

1. The incidents of strangers’ attacks have become a recurrent issue in Mexico City.

The attack on the narrator of the story ‘The Blue Bouquet’ is the latest one.

Prepare a newspaper report on the incident.

2. Rassul Pookutty won the Oscar award for sound editing in2008. All international

dailies reported the news. Prepare a news report on the commendable

achievement.

3. The film club of your school has conducted a film festival. Many films were

screened in it.Prepare a news report on the event.

4. The beggar rushed out of the palace after delivering some thundering words. The

king and the servant were shocked at this incident. If a newspaper reported the

events in the palace what would be the report? Prepare a news report on the

event.

5. The heated discussion on capital punishment and imprisonment for life ended in a

bet between the young lawyer and the Banker. Imagine that a newspaper reporter

was one of the participants of the discussions and reported the incident in the

following day’s newspaper. Prepare the likely newspaper report that appeared in the

daily.

6. Prepare a news report on the concert of Karl Paulnak in the nursing home. You

may use the hints in the brackets [ Started without introduction- a man in wheel chair

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began to weep- the song brought back the memories of his fellow pilot killed in world

war second- the song was really about him-power of music is amazing.

Official letter

The narrator of the story ‘The Blue Bouquet’ was terribly frightened by the attack of the stranger.

He submitted a letter to the commissioner of police requesting to strengthen the night patrol.

Write the letter that he would have written.

Scoring Indicators:

• Idea conveyed

• Language appropriate to a formal letter

• Organisation of ideas

• Format of a letter

Points to ponder

• No informal or colloquial word and expressions

• A request, a complaint, a letter to the Editor etc. fall in this category

• The purpose of the letter must be clear

• The format must be appropriate

• The content must be precise

Some possible official letter from other lessons

1) Swami’s father composed a letter to the Head Master. Write the likely letter written by

the father.

2) To justify his lie Swamy wrote a letter to the head master to complain against Samuel.

Write the letter written by Swami.

3) The servant in the Play, ‘The Beggar and the King was depressed by the event that has

taken place in the palace and decided to resign from his post. Prepare a letter of

resignation for the servant.

4) The lawyer experienced the hardship a prisoner faces in the prison. Though he was given

all the things he was terribly stricken by his loneliness’. After coming out of the jail, he

writes a letter to the Superintendent of The central jail requesting him to provide the

prisoners with necessary materials to keep them intellectually engaged. What would

be the letter written by the lawyer.

5) The film club of your school has successfully organized a film festival. One of the local

dailies has given exclusive coverage to the festival. Write a letter to the Editor

commenting on the reports.

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MODULE: 4 THE METHODS OF SHERLOCK HOLMES &SKIMBLESHANKS

Dear teacher,

The following is a recap of the story ‘The Methods of Sherlock Holmes’ Encourage the

students to fill in the missing parts.

When Holmes located the walking stick he visitor had left there with an inscription on it ‘To James

Mortimer, M.R.C.S. From his friends of the C.C.H.’ with the date 1884. What were the inferences

made about the owner of the stick by Holmes and Watson?

Holmes Materials Watson

Agrees with Watson James Mortimer Well esteemed elderly medical

man, a country practitioner

Charing Cross Hospital Friends of C.C.H Something hunt

——————— The present Presented by the members of the

local hunt for some surgical

assistance

He was an intern there Nature of service at C.C.H No inferences

Young fellow under thirty

, amiable,————,———, personality Elderly country practitioner

———

Larger than a ———— could not infer the presence

smaller than a---------- Dog of a dog

Read the following extract from The Methods of Sherlock Holmes and answer the questions

that follow:

‘The probability lies in that direction. And if we take this as a guess we have a fresh basis from

which to start our construction of this unknown visitor.’

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‘Well, then supposing that ‘C.C.H’ does stand for Charing Cross Hospital, what further inferences

may we draw?’

‘I can only think of the obvious conclusion that the man has practised in town before going to

the country.’

‘I think that we might venture a little farther than this.. Look at this in this light. On what

occasion would it be most probable that such a presentation would be made? When would his friend

s unite to give him a pledge of their good will? Obviously at the moment when Dr Mortimer

withdrew from the service of the hospital in order to start a practice for himself. We know there has

been a presentation. We believe there has been a change from a town hospital to a country practice.

Is it, then, stretching our inferences too far to say that the presentation was on the occasion of the

change?’

‘It certainly seems probable.’

1. ‘I think that we might venture a little farther than this.’ What does Sherlock Holmes means by

venture here?

2. What, according to Sherlock Holmes, was the occasion Dr.Mortimer received the presentation?

3. Sherlock Holmes and Watson make deductions on the features of Dr. Mortimer. If Dr. Mortimer

comes and intervene the conversation, what possible polite expression he would use.

4. Find out the word from the passage which means ‘clearly’

SKIMBLESHANKS: THE RAILWAY CAT

Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow

There is the whisper down the line at 11.39

When the Night Mail is ready to depart,

Saying, ‘Skimble where is Skimble has he gone to hunt the

thimble?

We must find him or the train can’t start.”

All the guard and all the porters and the station master’s

daughters

Thery are searching high and low

Sayng skimble, where is skimble for unless he is very

nimble

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The Night Mail just can’t go’

1. What is the whisper heard at 11.39?

2. How do the different people in the railway station react to the situation?

3. Why does the poet try to make special sound effect in the line ‘Skimble, where is

skimble for unless he is very nimble’?

4. Pick out an example of alliteration from the given lines

PROFILE

Value points:

§ Interpretation of the given data

§ Use of cohesive devices

§ Sequencing of ideas

§ Language used

Example 1

Name K. Sachidanandan

Born : 1946

Education : M.A. In English, University of Kerala,

Ph.D from University of Calicut

Career :taught for 25 years in Christ College, Irinjalakkuda, Later joined the Sahithya

Accademy as the editor of the literary journal: Indian Literature, became secretary

of the Sahithya Accademy in 1996

Major Works : Anchu Sooryan, English translations of his own poetry, translations of other poets

Example2

Name : Dr. C.S.Venkiteswaran

Birth : 1959, Irinjalakkuda, Thrissur, Kerala

Education : G.V.H.S. Irinjalakkuda, Christ College Irinjalakkuda,

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Ph.D.-University of Calicut

Career :National Institute of Bank Management, Pune

Centre for taxation study, Thiruvananthapuram

Director of School of Media Studies,Kochi from 2005

Fellow of Kerala Chalachithra Akademy

Major Works : Samantha Yaathrakal, Edited- A door to Adoor

Awards : National and state awards for direction and film study

Module: 5 Teashops in Malayalam Cinema

Dear teacher,

Here is an activity to recap the main points in the article ‘Tea shops in Malayalam Cinema’.

Imagine that Sri C.S Venkateswaran had delivered a speech on the relevance of tea shops in

Mlayalam cinema before he wrote the article. Sekhar, the reporter of ‘The Hindu’ has noted down

the following points. Students could be encouraged to complete the missing points.

Teashops played a crucial role in making ‘panthibhojanam’ a way of life in Kerala.

They were the products of two social changes

One was the increasing freedom of movement

The other was—————————————————————————————

Customers were never belittled at a teashop on account of their cast or religion.

The customer was regarded as an individual.

These individuals got dignity in teashops

It was a space for free interaction

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The tea shops represent a wide cross section of the society.

The variety of the customers and their activities make the tea shop an ideal place to reveal the

message/plot of the film.

Read the following passage and answer the following questions.

A customer at a tea- shop was regarded as simply an individual, not as a member of particular caste

or community. These individuals were also, in a sense, self-exiled from their families. Persons who

were considered worthless or insignificant in their families often achieved a certain dignity at a tea-

shop. In serving as a space for free interaction of individuals who come from diverse social

backgrounds, a tea-shop is no different from a cinema theatre. The atmosphere of a tea-shop often

becomes tastier than the tea and snacks served! It is, therefore, not surprising that tea-shops

played and continue to play, a significant role in energising the narrative of many Malayalam films.

1. How is the teashop is a secular place ?

2. In what way a tea-shop is different from a cinema theatre?

3. Which sentence in the passage expresses the view that the tea-often becomes

tastier than the tea and snacks served”—Do you agree with this view? Why?

4. Complete the following sentence using suitable subordinator chosen from the

brackets.

………………………………. tea-shop is a secular place, it is a favorite location for film

makers. (while, since , if , though)

ESSAY QUESTION

Eg: ‘Movies are meant for entertainment only’.do you agree with this statement?

Substantiate your view.

Scoring indicators

• Idea conveyed

• Organization of ideas

• Language and style

• Use of appropriate linkers

Point to ponder:

• Essay type questions vary in type like text based questions, extrapolatory

questions, narration change etc.

• The introductory paragraph must introduce the topic and should consist of a

generalist view of the topic.

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• The following paragraphs must be the explanation of the topic. It may include

agreement/disagreement, merit/demerit, use/misuse etc.

• The concluding paragraph should um up the above argument /statement

appropriately.

• Usually the hints are given.

Other possible essay questions

1. You have read the story ‘Father’s Help’ Rewrite the day’s incident in Swami’s words.

2. Do you think that all the events described in stories are real? Write an essay explaining

your view in the light of the story ’The Blue Bouquet’.

3. Narrate in your own words how Sherlock Holms deducted the details on James Mortimer

rightly.

4. Write a review on the film ‘Sunshine through the Rain’.

5. We see the beggar in ‘The beggar and the King’ beg for bread. But towards the end he

becomes more powerful than the king. Write an essay on this shift in the beggar’ character.

6. Narrate in your own word how the lawyer spent fifteen year in imprisonment

7. ‘Balthazar I a real artist who never sell his art for money do you agree with this statement?

Write an essay taking incident from the tory to substantiate your views

8. The common perception on music is that it I for entertainment. Karl Paulnak contradicts

this perception. How does he prove his point?

SPEECH

Points to Ponder:

• Proper salutation

• Introduction of the topic

• Idea conveyed

• Rhetoric questions and emphatic sentences

• Coherence

• Proper conclusion

Sample questions:

1. After reading the story ‘Father’s Help’ you realize the value of truthfulness. On October 2nd

you decide to deliver a speech in the Assembly on the troubles that lies put you in and the

value of truthfulness. Prepare the speech.

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2. Crimes are increasing in the society. Being the head of the School Protection Group, prepare

a speech to be delivered in the school assembly on ‘Remedies for increasing crimes.

3. The greatest kill in crime management is the power of observation. Sherlock Holmes delivers

a speech on the ‘importance of observation’ at the police academy.

4. Imagine C.S.Venkateswaran spoke to a group of students on ‘Tea Shops in Malayalam Cinema’

Write the speech.

5. Absolute power vested in one hand cannot last. Every country will one day arouse to

democracy. State your views in the form of a speech in the light of the play, ’The Beggar and

the Team’.

6. Life Imprisonment and death sentence are equally unbearable for any individual as man is

feeling life only when he I free. Prepare a speech expressing your views to be delivered on

Human Right day observed in a Jail.

7. You are the secretary of the art club of your school. Prepare a speech to be delivered on the

Arts Club Inauguration day on ’Art has a social obligation’.

MODULE 6: SUNSHINE THROUGH THE RAIN &CELLUOID HEROES

Dear teacher,The objective of this activity is to quickly go through the main events in the

screen play ‘Sunshine through the rain’. A few parts are left blank for the students to fill up.

Scene I

Details of the setting.

Time :

Place : Front yard of a

traditional Japanese house.

Weather : Bright day

Characters : and

Costume :

Scene II

Images:

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Dear teacher,

Identify the images from the picture.

1. clouds of mist rising from the ground

2. thespecial background music

3. foxes wedding

..........................................................

..........................................................

Dear teacher ,

Scene III tells us the very important event. What is it?

Scene III

important event. The mother closes-------------------------------

Scene IV

The film comes to an end as we see: the boy goes ………………..

ANALYSING TEXTUAL PASSAGE

Read the following passage from ‘Sunshine through the rain’ and answer the questions

that follow.

Mother : They don’t usually forgive. You must be ready to die. Get going. Unless they . .

forgive you, I can’t let you in.

Boy : But I don’t know where they live.

Mother : You’ll find out. On a day like this, there are always rainbows. Foxes live under

. rainbows.

(The Mother closes the door on the boy’s face.)

i. Who is referred to as ‘they?’

ii. Where do foxes live?

iii. Why does the mother close the door on the boy’s face?

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iv. “The mother closes the door on the boy’s face” – Do you justify mother’s

action? Why?

CELLULOID HEROES

Read a few lines taken from the poem ‘Celluloid Heroes’ and answer the questions that

follow

I wish my life was a non – stop Hollywood movie show,

A fantasy world of celluloid villains and heroes,

Because celluloid heroes never feel any pain

And celluloid heroes never really die.

1.Who is the ‘I’ in the song? Justify your answer.

2. “Celluloid heroes never really die” Comment on it.

3. What do you mean by ‘non-stop Hollywood movie show?

4. What do you wish to become in your future? Why?

ANALYSING UNFAMILIAR PASSAGE

Dear teacher,

This exercise is to familiarize the students with analysing unfamiliar passage. One or two

sample passages are given here.

I. Read the following passage carefully and answer the following questions.

The worried house wife sprang to the telephone when it rang and listened with relief

to the kindly voice in her ear.

“How are you, darling?” it said.

“What kind of a day are you having?”

“Oh, Mother”, said the house wife, breaking into bitter tears, “I’ve had such a bad

day. The baby won’t eat and the washing machine broke down. I haven’t had a

chance to go shopping, and besides, I’ve just sprained my ankle and I have to hobble

around. On top of that, the house is a mess and I’m supposed to have 2 couples over

for dinner tonight”.

The mother was shocked and was at once all sympathy.

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“Oh,darling “, she said, “sit down , relax and close your eyes. I’ll be over in half an

hour. I’ll do your shopping, clean up the house, and cook your dinner for you. I’ll

feed the baby and I’ll call a repairman I know who’ll be at your house to fix the

washing machine promptly. Now stop crying. I’ll even call Shafeeq at the office and

tell him he ought to come home and help out for at once”.

“Shafeeq? Who’s Shafeeq?” said the housewife.

“Why, Shafeeq ! Your husband !....... Isn’t this 2231374?”

“No, this is 2321374”.

“Oh , I’m sorry. I guess I have the wrong number.

1. Give a suitable title to the story.

2. ‘I’ve had such a bad day” –Why was it a bad day?

3. Which number did the woman on the other end of the telephone , call ? Which

number did she want to call?

4. Why was the mother shocked?

5. Whose mistake do you think is it? Why?

II. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.

Almost everyone today wears blue jeans. Toddlers wear them. Kids wear them.

Teen-agers and adults wear them. Even grandparents wear blue jeans. Have you ever

thought about who invented blue jeans? Levi Strauss invented the first really tough

pair of jeans , about 100 years ago. Levi Strauss was a tailor who made pants for

miners. At first Mr. Strauss used tent canvas to make his pants. Soon his pants became

so popular that he had to find a new fabric to use. He ordered new fabric from a city in

France called Nimes (pronounced neem)Over time the fabric Mr. Strauss used to make

his famous pant became known as denim (de Nimes , which is French for ‘from Nimes).

We still call the fabric we use to make jeans by the name denim.

1. What was the nature of Mr Strauss’ work?

2. When were jeans invented?

3. Where did the fabric to make the jeans come from?

4. What is the origin of the word ‘denim’?

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5. Have you ever thought about being an inventor? Use your imagination to think

up Something new that might make a big change in our lives . Remember that

nothing is impossible.

DATA ANALYSIS

Dear teacher,

Understanding , comprehending and interpreting the given data is the objective of this type of

questions.

I. The following table gives you the details of the expenditure of Ravi’s salary.

Study it and answer the questions that follow.

Expenses Percentage

1. What does the major share of Ravi’s salary go for?

2. Ravi uses quarter part of his salary for……………………..

3. He spends the least amount for ……………………….

4. What are the items for which he spends the amount equally?.

House hold expenses 25

Rent 20

School fee 15

entertainment 20

transport 20

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DO YOU HAVE A BAD HANDWRITING?………….

want to improve !

Buy zodiac designer pens……

enter a new world of creativity

?????

Trendy ,Sm..oo..th fine tip

Proper firm grip

Buy one today !

…. and….

Get 100% marks for your …

HANDWRITING …!

1)What is the product advertised here?

2) What is the name of the product?

3) What are the special features of the product?

4) If you buy one today, _______________ handwriting. ( complete suitably )

-20-

MODULE 7: THE BEGGAR AND THE KING& CACTUS

Dear teacher,The following activity is to recap the play ‘The beggar and the king’. Some points

are left out blank for the learners to fill up.

THE BEGGAR AND THE KING

Setting :

Characters: , and

Concepts of the play

1..........................................................................................................................

2. There will be resistance movements against those who are in the centre of power

3. Theatre can be used as a powerful media for expression.

Actions Reactions

1 The beggar sent away Returns again,crying louder

2 The beggar was lashed and ----------------------------------------

wounded with spears

3 Cut off the tongue ---------------------------------------------------

4 Put him to death ------------------------------------------------------

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solutions

King Servant Beggar

Suppresses Throw the---------- throw the------------

the marginalised through the window through the window

How does the ‘crust of bread affect the 3 characters

King servant beggar

Annoys ------------------ -------------------

TEXTUAL PASSAGE

Read the following extract from the play ‘The beggar and theKing’and answer the questions

that follow.

The beggar : Oh,King, thou hast commanded me not to beg in the streets for bread,for the noise of

my voice offends thee.Now therefore do I likewise command thee to remove thy crown from thy

forehead and throw it from yonder window into the street. For when thou hast thrown thy crown

into the street,then will I no longer be obliged to beg.

1. What did the king command the beggar?

2. Why did the king give such a command?

3. What was the command of the beggar to king ?

4. What does the beggar mean by asking the king to throw the crown into the street?

5. Pick out from the passage one word which means ‘cause displeasure or annoyance’.

CACTUS

Read the following lines and answer the following questions that follow.

One thorn for each rare drop of water.

I don’t tempt butterflies.

No bird sings my praise.

I don’t yield to droughts.

Problems

Poverty /

sufferings

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1. How does cactus use water?

2. What do butterflies refer to?

3. Why doesn’t any bird sing praise of cactus?

4. I don’t yield to drought. Comment.

REPORTED SPEECH

Dear teacher,Usually we see’ Reported Speech’ in almost all the question papers. Some model

questions are given below to refresh the various aspects of reporting.

Eg: Swami : What will the teacher think if I go so late?

Father : Tell him you had a head ache.

Ans. : Swami asked father what the teacher would think if he went so late.

Father suggested to tell the teacher that he had a head ache.

Now let’s try to answer some questions.

1. Father : Does he beat the boys ?

Swami : He is very violent, especially with boys who come late.

2. Hotel keeper : Where are you going, senor?

Narrator : It’s too hot to stay in my room.

3. Watson : How did you know what I was doing ?

Holmes : I have a well polished, silver plated coffee pot in front of me.

4. Boy : I don,t know where they live.

Mother : Go and find out.

DIALOGUE COMPLETION

Dear teacher,

Dialogue completion is a recurring question. Children should have a thorough knowledge of

different language elements like question tags, framimg questions, requests, conditional

sentences etc. to answer this type of questions. Some model questions are given below.

1. A friend of Swami was surprised by the behavior of Swami in the class. Later, they engaged in a

conversation and it is given below. But there are a few blanks. Fill them appropriately.

Mani : Hai Swami ……………………………………………………………………………………….. ?

Swami : Nothing happened. I did all intensionally.

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Mani : ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….?

Swami : I did so to provoke Samuel.

Mani : You are very clever, …………………………………………. ?

Swami : If you were in my place ,………………………………………………………………………

1. Dialogue between Balthazar and Pepe is given below . Supply the left out sentences or

words .

Pepe : Oh! You have brought me the cage ,………………………….?

Balthazar : Yes dear. ………………………………………………………………..?

Pepe : My father is there. But I don’t think he will give you money.

Balthazar : No matter. If you like it ……………………………………………..

Pepe : Thank you . The cage is ……………………………………

Balthazar : Thank you.

MODULE 8: THE BET & IN THE COUNTRY

Dear Teacher,

The development in the plot of the story ‘The Bet’ is recaptured in the form of a conversation between

two students. The students can be encouraged to complete the missing parts.

RAJEEV: Have you enjoyed the story ‘The Bet’ by Anton Chekhov?

PRIYA: Yes nice story

RAJEEV: I think the young lawyer shouldn’t have risked his life on such a bet.

PRIYA:It is the strength of a human heart

RAJEEV: Then which is immoral, death penalty or imprisonment for life?

PRIYA:it is out of question .But the strength that the young lawyer had to voluntarily be in confinement

is the striking thing to me

RAJEEV: But the banker thought that he could win in the bet . He is greedy .

PRIYA: He had only the capris of a pampered man .

RAJEEV: —————————————————————————————————?

PRIYA: It was fifteen years

RAJEEV: In the initial stages he suffered a lot didn’t he?

PRIYA: ————————.He yawned angrily talked to himself .

RAJEEV: What are the other activities he did till the sixth year ?

PRIYA: ————————————————————————————————————

RAJEEV:But after that he showed a fascination for books , didn’t he?

PRIYA : Yes he did .He studied many languages also

RAJEEV: What are the changes that came to him after the tenth year?

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PRIYA:—————————————————————————————————————

RAJEEV: But the last two years are important.

PRIYA: Definitely because—————————————————————————————

RAJEEV: How ever the banker was fortunate

PRIYA: More than that, I think the books made the prisoner wise and he recognized that this worldly

life is nothing .

RAJEEV: what do you think about the last letter written by the prisoner?

PRIYA: ———————————————————————————————

RAJEEV: The end of the story was astonishing, wasn’t it?

PRIYA: Yes it was

Read the extract from ‘The Bet’ and answer the questions follows

Then after the tenth year, the prisoner sat immovably at the table and read nothing but the Gospel.

It seemed strange to the banker that a man who in four years had mastered six hundred learned

volumes should waste nearly a year over one thin book easy of comprehension. Theology and histories

of religion followed the gospels

Shakespeare. There were notes in which he demanded at the same time books on chemistry, and a

manual of medicine, and a novel, and some treatise on philosophy of

In the last two years of his confinement the prisoner read an immense quantity of books quite

indiscriminately. At one time he was busy with the natural sciences and then he would ask for Byron or

theology. His reading suggested a man swimming in the sea among the wreckage of his ship and

trying to save his life by greedily clutching first at one spar and then at another.

1. ‘It seemed strange to the banker———‘Why?

2. How was prisoner‘s reading in the last two years?

3. What did his reading suggest?

4. Give on word to ‘the study of religion, or religious philosophy’

In the CountryCan I admire the statue great,

When living men starve at its feet?

Can I admire the park’s green tree,

A roof for homeless misery?

When I can see few men in need,

I then have power to help by deed,

Nor lose my cheerfulness in pity-

Which I must do in every city.

1. What does the statue stand for?

2. Who uses green tree as a roof?

3. What must the poet do in every city?

4. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?

PHRASAL VERBSDear teachers

Phrasal verb is an integral part of language as well as question paper. Some frequently asked

phrasal verbs are given below.

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Come across : meet by chance

Come up with : emerge

Get at ; find or reach

Get back : obtain or return

Get on : continue

Get over : recover from a disease

Get up : awake ,rise

Give away :to distribute

Give in :yield

Give over :overcome

Give up : to abandon

Go off :explode

Go on to continue

Go for :attack

Go through : examine

Give over :overcome

Give up : to abandon

Go off :explode

Go on to continue

Go up :rise in price

Keep away : stay away

Keep on :continue

Keep up : continue in the present state

Put in : use

Put on :to wear

Put off :extinguish

Put up : establish

Put up with : to tolerate

Set out :start

Set in :begin

Turn down :refuse

Turn on : to switch on

Turn off :to switch off

Turn out :happen

Turn over :turn the pages

Turn to :look forward to

Turn up : to arrive at aplace

Editing

Dear teacher,

Editing is a comprehensive exercise which demands mastery over many language elements.

A sample question is given below.

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MODULE-9 ‘ BALTHAZAR’SMARVELLOUS AFTERNOON’ & ’THE

MASTER’

Dear teachers,

The major events of the story, ‘Balthazar’s Marvellous Aternoon’ are given below. There are a

few statements which do not belong to the story line. Our students would be able to locate them.

1. Balthazar put in two weeks of hard work and completed the most beautiful cage in the

world.

2. Ursula, his wife was a little greedy and she urged him to charge 50 pesos.

3. The news about the beauty of the cage spread and people crowded in his house to see the

cage.

4. Balthazar put it for auction.

5. Dr.Octavio Giraldo, the old physician, was so impressed by the beauty and perfection of the

cage that he wanted to buy the cage. But Balthazar told that it was already sold to Jose

Montiel’s son.

6. The interested crowd accompanied Balthazar when he took the cage to Montiel’s house.

7. Jose Montiel was not ready to buy the cage, may be because he could not afford it.

8. Balthazar got angry when Montiel disagreed to buy the cage.

9. Jose’s son Pepe, had ordered for it, but Jose scolded the boy.

10. Balthazar went back sadly.

11. Pepe started screaming and rolling on the floor. Balthazar gifted it to him and went back.

12. He told the waiting crowd that he had sold the cage for 60pesos.

13. The crowd cheered.

14. But Balthazar was really sad.

15. In the pool hall, he got completely drunk and in the delirium started talking senselessly.

16. Balthazar had to pawn his watch, his shoes were stolen, but he was in a sweet sensation.

Last summer, I spend days in garden watching thousand of ants crawling up the trunk of my peach

tree. The tree has grow against a warm wall on a sheltered side of the house. I especially proud of it

not only if it has survived several severe winters, but because it occasionally produces luscious peaches.

During summer I notice that the leaves of the tree were begin to wither. Clusters of tiny insect called

aphids were to be found on the underside of the leaves.

-27-

17. It was the first time that Balthazar had got drunk like that.

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow

The child had remained motionless, without blinking; until Balthazar looked at him

uncertainly with the cage in his hand. Then he emitted a guttural sound, like a dog’s growl, and threw

himself on the floor, screaming.

Jose Montiel looked at him, unmoved, while the mother tried to pacify him. ‘Don’t even pick

him up’, he said, ‘Let him break his head on the floor’. The child was shrieking tearlessly while his

mother held him by the wrists.

‘Leave him alone’ Jose Montiel insisted.

‘Pepe’, said Balthazar,

He approached the child, smiling, and held the cage out to him. The child jumped up, embraced the

cage which was almost as big as he was and stood looking at Balthazar through the wire work

without knowing what to say. He hadn’t shed one tear.

‘Balthazar’, said Jose Montiel softly. ‘I told you already to take it away’.

‘Give it back’, the woman ordered the child.

‘Keep it’, said Balthazar. And then to Jose Montiel,’After all that is what I made it for.’

1. The father and the mother respond very differently to the situation. Use appropriate adjectives

to describe them. ( Eg.Stern father, loving mother)

2. “until Balthazar looked at him uncertainly with the cage in his hand. Then he emitted a

guttural sound…..” Do you think the boy is a little too cunning? Justify your answer.

3. ’After all that is what I made it for.’ What does Balthazar mean?

4. Do you think Balthazar was happy to gift it to Pepe? Justify your answer

5. Rewrite the sentences beginning with ‘He’

Jose Montiel looked at him

His mother held him by the wrist.

Read the stanza from ‘The Master’ given below and answer the questions that follow

And he installed himself and his brushes amid the dung

and the flies

and studied the horses-their bodies’ keen alertness –

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eye- sparkle of one, another’s sensitive stance,

the way a third moved graceful in his bulk-

and painted at last, the emperor’s favourite,

the charger named ’Nightshining white’

Whose likeness after centuries still dazzles.

a) Why did he install himself in the stable?

b) Which was the painting that he made from the stable?

c) “Whose likeness after centuries still dazzles.” What could be the secret of its dazzling

beauty?

d) “Everything on earth has some defects; art tries to bring in perfection” Comment on

this in the light of ‘The Master’

Passive voice is rarely asked directly now a days, but being an integral part of language,

it is better to brush up the child’s concepts about passive voice.

Lang. Elements

Read through the recipe to prepare cucumber sand witch.

Ingredients: Sandwich bread: 8slices, Butter: 100gm, Cucumber: 3, Mint chutney: 3table

spoon

Method: Wash and slice the cucumbers. Cut the edges of the bread. Spread a thin layer of

butter and mint chutney on each slice of bread. Keep the sliced cucumber on one slice and

cover it with the other.

Sona has prepared the sandwich. Here she is explaining the process of preparation to

Shana. Complete it.

First of all, the cucumbers were washed well. All the three cucumbers were peeled and

sliced. The edges of the sandwich bread were……………………………………………

.Each slice was taken and a thin layer each of butter and mint chutney ……………….The

slices …………

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Module10: ‘Art that Heals’ & ‘The Arrow and the Song’

Dear teacher,

This section attempts to recapture the major arguments that Karl Paulnack puts forward in

‘Art that Heals’ ,it is presented in contrast to the common man’s perception of the role and

functions of Music, for that matter, any art.You may encourage the students to fill in the

missing parts.

Imagine that Karl Paulnak interacts with his audience before his speech to find out what their

perceptions about music are. The general view was that the basic function of art is

entertainment. Their arguments are listed below.

Ø Music is not a great career option, as there is uncertainty in it. If people do not like

your music, you may go without in come

Ø Art is not a basic necessity, it is a beautifying addition once the basic needs are met

Ø It is the luxury that people who are comfortably placed in life can afford.

Ø It feeds your mind, not your heart.

Ø Music connects people through language.

Ø A good artist is not only an entertainer, but also a good sales man who knows to

market his art.

Ø Art can make people happy as it is an entertainment, but it can serve no greater

purpose

Now tell how Karl Paulnak responds to it through ‘Art that Heals’.

v Many of us do not know the real value and purpose of music. Serious music has

nothing to do with entertainment. In fact, it is the opposite of entertainment

v Olivier Messiaen, the French composer composed the Quartet for the End of Time in

the Nazi concentration camp. If art is a recreational thing, such a profound musical

composition wouldn’t have emerged in a concentration camp where the basic human

necessities are not met

v It is not a luxury, or a—————————, music is a basic need of human survival.

v Music helps us to understand things with our —————when we can’t do with our

————

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v The most important concert in my life in a nursing home———————————

————————————————————————. This proves that music

can connect.

v A serious musician is not an entertainer nor does he have anything to sell. He is more

of a fire fighter or ——————————————

v Art is not a business of making people happy. A real artist can save the planet by

bringing in ————————————

Read the extract from ‘Art that Heals’ and answer the questions

Well, friends, some day at 8pm someone is going to walk into your concert hall and bring

you, a mind that is confused heart that is overwhelmed, a soul that is weary. Whether they

will go out whole again will depend partly on how well you do your craft. You’re not here to

become an entertainer, and you don’t have to sell yourself. The truth is, you don’t have

anything to sell; being a musician isn’t about dispensing a product. I’m not an entertainer; I

am a lot closer to the fire fighter, a rescue worker, a sort of therapist.

1. The musician is not an entertainer. Do you agree with this argument? Justify

your answer.

2. How does the musician become a fire fighter?

3. If the musician does his craft well, ———————————————

4. Pick another word from the passage which means ‘to sell’

5. ‘a mind that is confused heart that is overwhelmed, a soul that is weary.’ Rewrite

these noun phrases in the adjective + head noun pattern.

Read the extract from ‘The Arrow and the Song’ and answer the questions

I shot an arrow into the air,

It fell to the earth, I knew not where;

For, so swiftly it flew, the sight

Could not follow it in its flight.

a) Pick out a pair of rhyming words. What is the rhyme scheme followed in

the four lines?

b) What do you expect to happen to the arrow? Why do you expect so?

-30-

c) Why couldn’t sight follow the arrow’s flight?

d) Could that arrow have done something good? If so, what?

A few exercises to refresh the student’s concepts about relativisation are given below.

Encourage the students to complete the sentences using appropriate relative clause.

Eg: This is the house which John bought recently.

a) This is my friend who ———————————————————————————

b) This is the place ——————————————————————————————

c) Christmas is the season ———————————————————————————

d) This is the man whom ———————————————————————————

e) Here is a medicine that ———————————————————————————

Meet Geetha whose ——————————————————————————————

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