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CHAPTER 1: A LETTER TO GOD By G.L.Fuentes
Lencho was a farmer, his house was the only house in the valley and on top of a hill.
Lencho's fields needed rain for a good harvest.
He looked expectantly at the sky and it did rain at last .
The drops of rain were like the coins for him, which would help him reap a good harvest and earn some money for his family.
But his happiness was short lived as very large hailstones began to fall after the rain and destroyed his crop.
There was a single hope -help from God, On the following Sunday ,he wrote a letter to God.
He needed a hundred pesos to sow his fields again and to live until the new crop came.
He wrote 'To God ' on the envelope and put the letter into the mail box.
The postman laughed heartily and took it to the postmaster ,the postmaster laughed too but soon he became serious.
He decided to reply the letter and help Lencho, as he did not want Lencho to lose faith in God.
Postmaster could collect seventy pesos only, from his employees and he himself also contributed a part of his salary.
He put the money in an envelope and posted it to Lencho.
Lencho was happy but not at all surprised when he received the money because he had an unbroken faith in God .
His happiness turned into anger as there were only seventy pesos instead of hundred pesos .
Lencho could never believe that God could ever deceive him .
So, he wrote another letter to God reminding him that he received only 70 pesos sent by him
He asked God not to send the rest of 30 pesos through the mail as the post office employees were a ' bunch of crooks.
1. Whom did Lencho write a letter? What did he ask for and why?
Lencho wrote a letter to God asking for a hundred pesos .His crops were destroyed by the hailstorm. He needed the money to sow his field again and survive till the new crops came.
2. What were Lencho's feelings when he found the letter with money in it? What did he do after opening it?
Lencho was angry after opening the letter because he found only seventy pesos inside the envelope. He had demanded a hundred pesos from God. Instead of getting angry on God, he got angry on the post office employees because he thought them to have misappropriated the money. He wrote another letter to God, demanding thirty more pesos.
3. Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho? Why does he sign the letter 'God'?
The postmaster sends money to Lencho so as to keep his faith in God alive and firm, as he was completely moved by it. When the postmaster reads Lencho's letter to God, he becomes serious. He decides that he wants to keep Lencho's faith intact, so he decides to answer the letter
4. What are the raindrops compared to and why?
Lencho compares the raindrops were like new coins because the raindrops help him to grow and harvest the crops, which results in more prosperity. Hence, he compares raindrops to new coins.
5. Who does Lencho think has taken the rest of the money? Describe the ironical ending of the story?
Lencho thinks that the post office employees have taken the remainder of the cash as he had demanded hundred pesos from God and within the letter, there was only seventy pesos. Lencho is certain that God couldn't have made an error and hence accuses the post office employees of stealing the money.
CHAPTER 2 : NELSON MANDELA : LONG WALK TO FREEDOM by Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
The inauguration ceremony of the first non-racial government was held in the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
Politicians and dignitaries from more than 140 countries attended the ceremony.
Nelson Mandela was then sworn-in as the President of Republic of South Africa.
For decades South Africa had been the seat of white supremacy .The blacks were considered as outlaws.
Their victory over “apartheid” was a common victory for justice, peace and freedom.
Nelson Mandela was overwhelmed with a sense of history.
The society based on racial discrimination was the harshest and the most inhuman society in the world.
The decades of oppression and exploitation of the blacks produced- heroes like Tambo's, Sisulu and others in South Africa.
Mandela learned the meaning of courage which does not mean absence of fear rather it means victory over fear.
Every man has twin responsibilities / obligations - towards his family and for his people and country.
If any black tried to live like a free human being, he was punished and isolated from his family and community.
Mandela realised that not only he but his brothers and sisters were deprived of freedom.
His desire for the freedom and dignity of his people made him a rebel. He realised that freedom is indivisible.
1. What did Nelson Mandela pledge when he was sworn-in as President?
He pledged to liberate all his people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination.
2. What is the greatest wealth of a country according to Nelson Mandel?
My country is rich in the minerals and gems that lie beneath its soil, but I have always known that its greatest wealth is its people, finer and truer than the purest diamonds.
3. What are the two obligations every man has in life?
Mandela mentions that every man has twin obligations. The first is to his family, parents, wife and children; the second obligation is to his people, his community and his country.
4. What according to Mandela is “true freedom”?
As per Nelson Mandela true freedom is when everyone is free. He mentions the events of his life which describes the meaning of true freedom.
5. Why did Nelson Mandela feel that both the oppressor and the oppressed are robbed of their humanity and hence both of them must be liberated?
Nelson Mandela doesn't think that the oppressor is free, because, in his opinion, an oppressor is a victim of hatred, and is behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. Mandela thinks that both the oppressor and the oppressed are robbed of their humanity and peace.
CHAPTER 3 : TWO STORIES ABOUT FLYING
PART I : HIS FIRST FLIGHT
The author Liam O'Flaherty displays the importance of family and friends in overcoming the fears in our life through the story of a young Seagull who was unable to take his first flight.
A family of seagulls had mother, father, three sons and a daughter.
The youngest son was fearful to take his first flight as he believed his small Wings would not support him, also he was afraid of the height of the Cliff from the Sea.
The parents cajoled him and kept him hungry to let him learn a lesson.
When the young Seagull couldn't take the Hunger and heat anymore the mother Seagull brought a piece of fish near him.
The young Seagull tried to grab the piece from his mother's mouth. In doing so he reached the edge of the Cliff and fell from there as the mother Seagull moved away from the edge.
Initially fear hovered him but soon he flapped his wings and soared and finally landed on the green sea taking his first flight. The whole family rejoiced and cackled.
1 Why did the baby seagull not take his first flight?
The young seagull was afraid to fly because it was its first flight .and he could not gather enough courage. It is a well known fact that doing something for the first time is challenging and frightening. Therefore, all young birds must be afraid to make their first flights.
2 Describe how the baby seagull took his first flight.
He saw his mother with a piece of fish in her beak, reaching to him at a little distance. The sight of the fish maddened him, so he dived at the fish without thinking about the result. He fell downwards, and at the next moment, he suddenly felt his wings spread outward and he started flying.
PART II: THE BLACK AEROPLANE
The narrator Frederick Forsyth was flying his Dakota from France to England to meet his family in holidays and enjoy a good English breakfast with his family.
When he flew at night the sky was clear and as instructed by Paris control he turned 12 degrees West after checking all instruments map and fuel tank.
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When he was about 150 kilometres away from Paris his saw the approaching storm looked like black mountains.
He took the risk and flew into it. The compass and other instruments stopped working.
The plane tossed and twisted in the air and he couldn't contact Paris control. Suddenly a black aeroplane appeared without lights on its wings.
The pilot waved him and signalled to follow him. It was strange that he flew for half an hour even when he had fuel left only for five or ten minutes.
Suddenly he saw the Runway and landed safely. He wanted to thank the pilot of the black aeroplane but was shocked to see no one there.
He went to the control room to enquire about him but found that no other aeroplane except his was there in the sky that night. He was awestruck at the miracle.
1 Why did the narrator take the risk to go through the storm?
The narrator took the risk of flying through the black clouds because he wanted to reach his home and meet his family. The desire to meet his family made him take the risk of flying in the dark stormy clouds.
2 What miracle happened with the narrator?
After the heavy storm the unknown pilot disappeared. When he landed safely and asked to the cabin lady about the plane. He shocked when she said there was no another plane.
CHAPTER 4 FROM THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK
Anne Frank was a 13 year old Jewish girl who wrote a diary while her family was hiding in Amsterdam from the Naziz who were incurring atrocities during World War II.
Anne wrote the diary to overcome loneliness in her life. She named it Kitty.
She couldn't confide in anyone and felt that paper has more patience. Also she thought nobody would be interested in the diary as she was a small girl.
Anne adored her father. She had an elder sister Margot and they lived in Frankfurt before they migrated to Holland for refuge. Her mother stayed behind with her grandmother.
She had sweet memories of Mrs. Kuperus at Montessori School. Her grandmother fell ill in 1941 and died in 1942. This broke her.
Anne considered teachers to be the most unpredictable creatures on earth. She had good relationship with all teachers except Mr Keesing who punished her several times for talking too much during the lessons.
She wrote an essay on A Chatterbox as punishment, saying that talking was a student's trait and she inherited it from her mother. Again as punishment she wrote an essay on An Incorrigible Chatterbox. Then she wrote an essay on Quack Quack Quack said Mistress Chatterbox.
Her friend Sanne helped her write it in verse. It said that father Duck beat the three ducklings to death as they quacked too much.
Mr Keesing took the joke in the right way and didn't bother Anne for talking thereafter and didn't give her any extra homework.
Q.1 Why did Anne think of writing a diary?
Anne thought of writing a diary because she did not have a “real” friend. She thought that paper had more patience than people.
Q.2 What joke did Anne play with the help of her friend on Mr. Keesing?
Anne wrote the essay in such a way that it became a joke on Mr Keesing himself. She wrote that in the form of a verse. It told the story of a mother duck and a father swan. The father bites his three ducklings to death because they quacked too much. The father in the poem is clearly Mr Keesing and the ducklings are the children of his class. Luckily Mr Keesing took the joke the right way. He liked the poem and read it to several classes. He stopped giving Anne any extra homework. He allowed her to talk in the class. He even started making jokes with the children.
3.Describe Anne’s love for her grandmother. [CBSE2016]
When Anne’s grandmother died, she stated that no one could understand her intensity of her love for her grandma. She also said that no one could imagine how much she thought of her. Lighting up extra candle for her during her birthday showed her love for grandmother.
CHAPTER 7 – GLIMPSES OF INDIA
I. A BAKER FROM GOA by Lucio Rodrigues
The Portuguese in Goa were lovers of bread.
Those eaters of bread have now gone but its makers still exist.
During the childhood days of the narrator, a baker used to be their friend, companion and guide.
The baker came twice a day- once in the morning and again while returning home after finishing his selling.
The jingling thud of the baker’s bamboo woke up the sleeping children.
The loaves were delivered to the servants of the house.
The children would peep into the baker’s basket for the bread bangles.
The children would eat bread with hot tea.
The marriages were incomplete without the popular bol bread.
Bolinhas was a must during Christmas and all other festivals.
The bakers wore a particular knee length frock known as kabai.
Baking was a profitable profession. Bakers had a plump physique testifying to this.
The bakers collected their bills at the end of the month.
1. How is a baker important to the Goan people?
A baker is very important and essential for a Goan village. He does not merely represent a profession but a highly admired Portuguese tradition.Bears and cakes are an integral part of everyday life and are also consumed on special occasions.
II. COORG by: Lokesh Abrol
Coorg or Kodagu, the smallest district of Karnataka, is a heavenly place.
The best season to visit it is from September to March.
The people living there are probably the descendants of Arabs or Greeks.
Their culture is apparent in their martial traditions, marriages and religious rites.
The Kodavus wear a long, black, embroidered coat called Kuppia.
The Coorg Regiment is one of the most decorated regiments in the Indian Army.
Kodavus are the only people in India permitted to carry firearms without a license.
The river Kaveri begins from the hills and forests of Coorg.
A variety of plants, birds and animals can be seen there.
The place offers a number of adventure sports for the tourists.
The Tibetan monks are amongst many surprises that can be seen there.
1. What is the story about the Kodavu's people’s descent?
It is said that the Kodavus are of either Greek or Arabic descent. According to one story, a part of Alexander’s army could not return to its homeland and so, settled there. As the traditional dress of the Kodavus, Kuppia is similar to the dress of the Arabs and Kurds, the Kuffia, it is said that probably the Kodavus are descendants of the Arabs.
III. TEA FROM ASSAM by: Arup Kumar Dutta
Pranjol and Rajvir were visiting Assam by train.
Rajvir was busy looking at the beautiful scenery outside the train.
It was green everywhere as far as the eye could see.
The soft green paddy bushes gave way to tea bushes.
Assam has the largest concentration of tea plantation in the world.
The Chinese are said to have discovered tea.
There is also an Indian legend saying that Bodhidharma discovered tea.
From China, tea came to the European countries and then to Asian countries.
Pranjol’s father managed Dhekiabari, a tea garden.
There were many tea pluckers around the tea bushes.
The best tea is obtained between May to July.
1. What are the various legends about the origin of tea?
There are several legends that have described the origin and discovery of tea. According to one story, tea was initially discovered in China. The Chinese legend stated that the Emperor used to only drink boiled water. Once, when water was being boiled, some leaves of a plant that was growing near the pot fell into it. After drinking this water, the Emperor found the flavor very delicious. These leaves were named as tea leaves and thus the process of tea making was originated.
According to the Indian legend, a Buddhist monk, Bodhidharma, fell asleep during meditation. Therefore, he cut off his eyelids.after sometime some tea plants then grew out of his eyelids, which when added to boiling water, drove away any traces of sleep and made the person fresh. Thus, tea was discovered.
CHAPTER 7 –Mijbil the Otter by: Gavin Maxwell
- When Maxwell’s dog died, he became alone without a pet.
- In 1956, he travelled to Southern Iraq and there he thought of keeping an otter instead of a dog.
- His friend advised him to get an otter in Tigris marshes. They were found in plenty there.
- Two Arabs were squatting on the floor and a sack was lying beside them.
- They handed him a note from his friend. It read: “Here is your otter …”
- The narrator named the otter `Mijbil’.
- In the beginning, Mijbil was indifferent but started taking a keen interest in his surroundings.
- He came to his bed and remained sleep on Maxwell’s knees.
- Like every otter, Mijbil enjoyed splashing water like a hippo.
- Mijbil was successful in screwing up the tap to its full flow.
- The otter spent most of his time playing.
- It was really a difficult job to transport Mijbil from Basra to England.
- Mij was packed up in a small box.
- The air hostess was quite friendly and cooperative and suggested keeping the pet on his knee.
- As the box was opened, Mij was out of the box in a flash.
- Mijbil disappeared and later on, it was found beneath the legs of a turbaned Indian.
- Maxwell remained in London with Mijbil for nearly a month.
- Mij invented his own game with the ping-pong ball.
- Like school children, he would touch every block with his feet and touch every second lamp-post.
- The average Londoner could not recognise an otter and people started giving wild guesses about him.
- Mijbil was called ‘a baby seal’, ‘a squirrel’. ‘a walrus’, ‘a beaver’, etc.
1.What were the guesses made by the Londoners about Mijbil?
According to Maxwell, the average Londoner does not reclog another. Whosever saw Mijbil made different guesses about who he was. They go squirrel, a walrus, a hippo, a beaver, a bear cub, a leopard and a brontosaur.
2.What happened when Mij disappeared at speed down the aircraft?or What happened when Maxwell opened the box on the plane?
When Maxwell opened the box, Mijbil flashed out and disappeared at high speed down the aircraft. He caused a great hue and cry in the aircraft. There were sounds of shrieks across the flight.
3.How did Maxwell learn of Mijbil’s love for water?
Mij loved to play in the water. Only once did the author lead him to the bathroom. Mex$ time he went to the bathroom on his own. He went wild in water, plunged and rolled in e’, He shot up and down the bathtub and made enough slosh and splash in it.
Mij loved to play in the water. Only once did the author lead him to the bathroom. Mex$ time he went to the bathroom on his own. He went wild in water, plunged and rolled in e’, He shot up and down the bathtub and made enough slosh and splash in it.
CHAPTER 9 : MADAM RIDES THE BUS by Vallikkannan
The story is about an eight year old girl named Valliammai. She was very curious to know about things.
Her favourite pastime was to stand at the front doorway of her house and see what was happening in the street outside.
She would watch the bus that passed every hour from her village to the nearest town.
She developed a desire to ride the bus. This became her deepest desire.
Valli found out the details of the bus journey by listening carefully to the conversations between her neighbours and regular bus users.
She came to know that the town was just six miles from her village and the fare for the bus journey was thirty paise one way. The trip took 45 minutes.
Valli planned her visit to the town. She saved sixty paise for the fare. Finally, one day she took the one o’clock bus to the town.
Valli was very happy to have got into the bus.
On the way to the town, Valli saw a cow running right in front of the bus. She clapped as the cow kept on running towards the bus despite the continuous honking by the driver.
Valli did not get off the bus when it reached the town. She also declined the offer of a cold drink by the conductor.
On the return journey, she saw the same cow lying dead by the roadside. This unpleasant sight made her very sad.
The bus reached the village at three forty. She ran straight for her home after getting down the bus.Her mother did not come to know about her journey.
1. Why does the conductor call Valli “madam”?
The conductor called Valli 'madam' because she behaved like a woman. She declined his help and quickly answered the conductor's question, making the conductor call Valli as a madam.
2. “And even when we do know about something we often can't understand it completely, can we?” Elaborate with reference to the chapter Madam Rides the Bus.
It is absolutely true even when we do know about something we often can't understand it completely. Valli was so excited about the bus ride. She enjoyed it thoroughly. However, on the return journey, she saw a cow dead on the road. It was the same cow that had come in front of the bus while the bus was going to the town.
The sight of the cow lying dead in the middle of a pool of blood dampened her spirits. She became sad. The memory of the dead cow haunted her.
She learnt that everything about travelling on the road was not exciting. It could kill innocent animals as well.
So, by practically travelling, Valli completely understood it. Though she knew a lot about travelling, but it was by practically travelling, Valli completely understood it.
CHAPTER 10 : THE SERMON AT BENARES by Betty Renshaw
This lesson tells about the life of Gautam Buddha, who was born in a royal family as Siddhartha.
Once he saw a funeral procession and monk begging for the alms.
These sights moved him a lot and he decided to become a monk and started moving in search of enlightenment.
He started meditation under a peepal tree and after seven days he got enlightenment and he became known as the Buddha ( the awakened or enlightened)
The Buddha preached his first sermon at Benares. Once a woman named Kisa Gotami asked the Buddha to give her a medicine to bring her dead son to life.
The Buddha told her to bring him a handful of mustard seeds from a house where no one had died.
Kisa Gotami could not get the seeds as she did not find anyone who had not lost his family member.
She thought that she was really selfish in her grief. Death was common to all. Yet there lay a path. That led man to immortality if he surrendered all selfishness.
The Buddha told her that human life was brief and painful. All depart from life.
He who is off the lamentation and grief shall have peace of mind. One who has overcome sorrow will be free from sorrow and be blessed.
1. How did Gautam Buddha make Kisa Gotami understand the common truth of life that “Death is common to all”?
Gautama Buddha helped her to understand all this, as he told her to bring a handful of mustard seeds from a house where death had never knocked at the door. This way she got aware that death is common to all human beings.
2. What had happened to Kisa Gotami’s son? Why couldn’t she get a handful of mustard seeds from any house?
When her son died, Kisa Gautama went from house to house in order to ask for a handful of mustard seeds. She could not get the seeds as she did not find anyone who had not lost his family member.
3. According to Gautam Buddha, how can one become free from the grief of death and decay?
According to Gautama Buddha, the world is affected by suffering, death, and decay. Therefore, the wise do not mourn, knowing the terms of the world. Nobody can get peace of mind by weeping or mourning. Rather his pain will increase and his body will suffer.
CHAPTER 11: THE PROPOSAL by Anton Chekov
Lomov ,asks for Chubukov's daughter, Natalya’s hand in marriage, Chubukov gets filled with excitement .
Lomov is a 35 year- old gentleman who suffers from palpitations, gets upset very easily and doesn’t sleep well. According to him, Natalya is average-looking and a good housekeeper.
While talking about his property, Lomov somehow mentions about Oxen Meadows which earlier was a disputed property but is now his. Natalya believes that Oxen Meadows belong to her family. Both of them enter into a heated discussion.
Chubukov unintentionally reveals that Lomov had come with a marriage proposal for Natalya which surprises Natalya and she immediately regrets sending him out.
When Lomov returns, they enter into another argument involving their dogs. Everyone gets hyper and Lo- mov finally falls due to his palpitations.
It is only when Lomov moves a little bit, they feed him some water and Chubukov forcefully hands over Natalya’s hands to him, gives his blessings and asks them to kiss.
Lomov, still not fully conscious doesn’t understand what is going on. When he finally comes to his senses, he expresses his excitement and kisses Natalya’s hands.
Natalya, being childish as she is, once again, starts quarrelling on another issue.
1. Justify the title of the drama “The Proposal”.
The title of the play is 'The proposal' and it is a very apt one because the whole play is about Lomov proposing Natalya. Right from the beginning to the end of the play, the story revolves round a marriage proposal. Lomov comes to Natalya's house to propose to her but even before he does it, they both start fighting. As a result, Lomov becomes sick and leaves. Natalya's father informs her about the intention of Lomov and she starts lamenting over the loss. Lomov is called back and once again an argument ensues before proposing. Hence, we can say that the title is perfect for the play.
2. Describe how does Natalya react before and after knowing the real purpose of Lomov’s visit. Does she act sensibly?
Natalya greeted Lomov warmly when he arrived at her house. Soon they both ran into a heated argument about the ownership over the Oxen Meadows. They also argued over the names of their pets.When Natalya came to know that Lomov had arrived at her house with the proposal of marrying her, she immediately changed.She asked her father to call Lomov back. She happily accepted the proposal and stated that such types of arguments are very common among the neighbors.
3. Besides Oxen Meadows, what is the other important cause of quarrel between Lomov and Natalya?
Besides Oxen Meadows what is the other important cause of quarrel between Lomov and Natalya is their dogs guess and squeezer.
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