NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 10 The Sermon at Benares

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 10 The Sermon at Benares

Thinking About the Text
(Page 135)

Question 1.
When her son dies, Kisa Gotami goes from house to house? What does she ask for? Does she get it? Why not?
Answer:
After the death of her only son, Kisa Gotami was overcome with grief. She carried the dead body of her son in her arms and went from door to door asking for medicine to cure her child, but nobody could provide any medicine. For there is no such medicine available which can bring a dead person back to life.

Question 2.
Kisa Gotami again goes from house to house after she speaks with the Buddha. What does she ask for? Does she get it? Why not?
Answer:
Gautama Buddha asks Kisa to bring a handful of mustard seeds from a house where death had never knocked at the door. Kisa Gotami went from door to door, but couldn’t find a single house where death had not taken a beloved away. She could not get it as death is ineritable and anyone who is born is bound to die one day.

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Question 3.
What does Kisa Gotami understand the second time that she failed to understand the first time? Was this what Buddha wanted her to understand?
Answer:
After failing to procure a handful of mustard seeds from a house where death had never knocked at the door, she sat down by the roadside feeling helpless. She saw the lights of the city that flickered and were extinguished. At last, it was darkness everywhere.
She realised that death was common to all and she was being selfish in her grief. Yes, this is what Buddha wanted her to understand, that everyone who is born has to die one day.

Question 4.
Why do you think Kisa Gotami understood this only the second time? In what way did Buddha change her understanding?
Answer:
Earlier, she could see only her grief. When she went from door to door the second time, she understood that everyone was dealing the with the loss of a beloved one. There was not a single house in the town, where death had not taken a father, a mother, a sister, a brother, son or a daughter. Everyone, at some point or the other, have experienced the death of their loved ones. 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.

Question 5.
How do you usually understand the idea of selfishness? Do you agree with Kisa Gotami that she was being selfish in her grief?
Answer:
A selfish person is one who only thinks about himself or herself, and to some extent Kisa Gotami was being selfish because we are humans and it is natural for us to die. We do not easily accept the death of our loved ones. Same has happened with Kisa Gotami. As it was her only child, she did not want him to die finally went to Buddha to ask for help.

Lines Written in Early Spring Summary

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 9 Madam Rides the Bus

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 9 Madam Rides the Bus

Oral Comprehension Check
Page 119

Question 1.
What was Valli’s favourite pastime?
Answer:
Valli’s favourite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house and looking at the street outside.

Question 2.
What was the source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest desire?
Answer:
The sight of the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town, filled each time with a new set of passengers, was a source of unending joy for Valli. Her strongest desire was to ride the bus.

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Question 3.
What did Valli find out about the bus journey? How did she find these details?
Answer:
Valli found out that the bus journey to the town took 45 minutes and the one-way fare costed 30 paisa. She listened carefully to the conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus and asked a few discreet questions here and there. This way she picked up various small details about the bus journey.

Question 4.
What do you think Valli was planning to do?
Answer:
Valli was planning to go to the town and then return back by the same bus. The fare was 30 paise one way and the ride took forty five minutes. In this way, she planned that she would be back by 2:45 pm if shf took the bus at 1:00 pm.

Page 122
Question 1.
Why does the conductor call Valli ‘madam’?
Answer:
The conductor called Valli ‘madam’ because she behaved like a woman. She declined his help and was very quick in her answers to the conductor’s questions. This made the conductor call him madam.

Question 2.
Why does Valli stand up on the seat?
(or)
What does she see now?
Answer:
Valli wanted to look outside the bus. She found her view blocked by the canvas blind that covered the lower part of the window. In order to have a better view she stood up on the seat and peered over the blind. She saw a canal, palm trees, grassland, mountains, green fields and the sky.

Question 3.
What does Valli tell the elderly man when he calls her a child?
Answer:
Valli replied that there was nobody in the bus who was a child. She told her that she had paid her fare of 30 paise like

Question 4.
Why didn’t Valli want to make friends with the elderly woman?
Answer:
Valli did not wanted to make friends with the elderly woman because she looked quite repulsive. She had big earholes and was wearing ugly earrings. Apart from this, she was chewing betel and her mouth was also filled with betel juice.

Page 125

Question 1.
How did Valli save money for her first journey?\Was it easy for her?
Answer:
Valli had very painstakingly saved every stray coins that came her way by resisting every temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons, etc. It had been very difficult for her. Even at the village fair she resisted the temptation to be on the merry-go-round. Thus, she had been able to save sixty paise for her first bus journey.

Question 2.
What did Valli see on her way that made her laugh?
Answer:
Valli saw a young cow, tail high in the air running very fast right in the middle of the road in front of the bus. The driver sounded his horn again and again so that the cow moves away. But the more he honked, the more frightened the animal became and faster it galloped. This all seemed very funny to Valli and she laughed and laughed till there were tears in her eyes.

Question 3.
Why didn’t she get off the bus at the bus station?
Answer:
Valli had planned that she only wanted to ride on the bus. She would spend thirty paise on her fare, go to the town and then come back by the same bus before her mother woke up. She didn’t 1 time or money to go to see the town.

Question 4.
Why didn’t Valli want go to the stall have a drink? What does this tell yo about her?
Answer:
Valli had saved only sixty paise for the trip.
She didn’t want to waste any money on the as she had to come back by the same bus at any cost. So, when the conductor suggested her to get down and have a drink she refused. He offet bring one for her but she still refused. This i that she was a well-mannered girl.

Thinking About The Text
(Page 127)

Question 1.
What was Valli’s deepest desire? Find the words and phrases in the story that tell you this.
Answer:
Valli’s deepest desire was to go on a bus ride. The words and phrases in the story that tell this are ‘source of unending joy’, ‘stare wistfully’, and ‘kindle in her longings, dreams and hopes’.

Question 2.
How did Valli plan her bus ride? What did she find out about the bus, and how did she save up the fare?
Answer:
Over many days and months, Valli listened carefully to conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus and asked a few discreet questions here and there. She came to know that the town was six miles from her village, the bus fare was thirty paise and the bus trip took forty-five minutes. She also thought that if she stayed in the bus and came back by the same bus it would only cost her sixty paise. She painstaking saved each and every penny she got, resisting all temptation to buy peppermints, toys, etc and even a ride on the merry-go-round at the village annual fair so as to save sixty paise. It was a secret trip which she had planned without the knowledge of her parents.

Question 3.
What kind of person is Valli? To answer this question, pick out the following sentences from the text and fill in the blanks. The words you fill in are the clues to your answer.
Answer:
Valli was a confident girl who did not think that her age was a limitation to her travelling alone to the town. She considered herself a grown up and acted like one.

Question 4.
Why does the conductor refer to Valli as ‘Madam’?
Answer:
The conductor called Valli ‘Madam’ as she behaved like a grown up and did not think that she was a child. She also refused his help and told him that she can manage on her own.

Question 5.
Find the lines in the text which tell you that Valli was enjoying her ride on the bus.
Answer:
Valli thoroughly enjoyed her ride in the bus. The following lines from the text tell us about it. She saw so many things on her way-a canal, palm trees, grasslands, distant mountains. “Oh! it was all so wonderful,” that’s what she felt. “Sometimes the bus seemed on the point of gobbling up another vehicle that was coming towards them or a pedestrian crossing the road. Somehow it passed smoothly, leaving all obstacles behind and then she saw a cow running very fast, infront of the bus. This all seemed very funny ro Valli and she laughed and laughed till tears flowed from her eyes.”

Question 6.
Why does Valli refuse to look out of the window on her way back?
Answer:
Valli refused to look out of the window on her way back as she saw the dead body of the cow who was running towards the bus when she was going to town. This made her sad and frightened.

Question 7.
What does Valli means when she says… “I was just agreeing with you what you said about things happening without our knowledge”.
Answer:
While making this statement, Valli was trying to hide the fact about her bus ride. She was also feeling elated at making a successful attempt at her plan.

Question 8.
The author describes the things that Valli sees from an 8 years old’s point of view. Can you find evidence from the text for his statement?
Answer:
Yes, for example when the author says, ‘she was fascinated by the bus’ and ‘watching the bus fill with a new set of people each time was a source of unending joy for her’. When the author describes the bus, he stresses on the colour and look of the new bus ‘like silver’ because a child is attracted towards colour. ‘The seats were soft and luxurious’. The description that the author gives when Valli looked outside are also typical of a 8 year old. ‘The blue sky’ and ‘acres and acres of green field’, show the enthusiasm a child. A cow running in front of the bus fascinated the child whereas the sight of dead cow brought tears in her eyes and she refused to look outside the window on her return journey. This’also describes the behaviour of an 8 year old child aptly.

Writing
(Page 128)

Question 1.
Have you ever planned something entirely on.your own, without taking grown ups into your confidence? What did you plan and how? Did you carry out your plan?
Answer:
It was during my summer vacations. I wanted to plan a special birthday for my mother. So, I roped in my younger sister in my plan to celebrate her birthday. We saved our pocket money and didn’t go for our weekly outings for some time. In this way, we were able to save five hundred rupees for the birthday party. Now, we had to arrange everything without our mother’s knowledge. On her birthday we pretended as if we didn’t remember her birthday at all. Instead we requested our father to take her to the market. In the meantime, we arranged everything like cake, decorations, flowers and even invited two of her best friends. When she came back she was surprised. It was the best birthday she ever had in her life.

Question 2.
Have you made a journey that was unforgettable in some way? What made it memorable?
Answer:
I have gone on many trips and excursions, but one journey which I can’t forget is my trip to Hemkund and Badrinath. The scenery over there was mesmerising and as you leave Delhi, you enjoy cool fresh air and see breath taking lush green fields. The bus ride takes you on winding narrow roads, with river flowing on one side and mountains on the other side. To reach Hemkund Sahib, one has to travel 14 kms by foot. Everywhere there are crowds of devotees, chanting holy names and moving up the hill. When I reached the shrine, it was enveloped in clouds. The water in the holy tank was ice cold. The moment you step in it your tiredness vanishes. After that we went to Badrinath by bus. It was also a very nice place. There were many hot springs over there.

Question 3.
Are you concerned about traffic and road safety? What are you concerns? How would you make road travel safer and more enjoyable?
Answer:
India has a wide network of roads. Everyday crores of Indians travel on these road by bus, car, cycle, cycle rickshaw, scooter, moped, truck, etc. Even pedestrians use these roads. As people don’t follow road safety rules, every year many people lose their lives due to fatal road accidents. It is also seen that 90 per cent of these fatal accidents involve youngsters who like to drive at very high speed, don’t wear helmets and seat belt, talk on mobiles while driving or love to do stunts inspired by movies. Despite many directions issued by the traffic police all their advice falls on deaf year. It is our duty to follow all the rules and regulations and to keep safety measures in our mind while driving. Safe driving is best driving and the rules are framed keeping our security in mind:

The Snake and the Mirror Summary

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 8 Mijbil the Otter

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 8 Mijbil the Otter

Oral Comprehension Check
Page 106

Question 1.
What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?
Answer:
The writer had gone to Southern Iraq in the year 1956. He took a fancy to the idea that instead of keeping a dog as a pet, he would go for an otter. Camusfearna was surrounded by water, so it would be an eminently suitable spot for this experiment.

Question 2.
Why does he go to Basra? How long does he wait there, and why?
Answer:
The writer went to Basra to collect and answer his mail from Europe.
He had to wait there for 5 days as his mail did not arrive.

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Question 3.
How does he get the otter? Does he like it? Pick out the words that tell you this.
Answer:
His friend bought the otter for him and sent it to the place where he was staying.
The author liked it. This is seen in “The second night Mijbil came on to my bed in the small hours and remained asleep in the crook of my knees….” “ I made a body-belt for him…”.

Question 4.
Why was the otter named ‘Maxwell’s otter’?
Answer:
The otter was named by zoologists as Lutrogale Perspicillata Maxwelli. Hence, it was called Maxwell’s otter in short.

Question 5.
Tick the right answer. In the beginning, the otter was
1. aloof and indifferent
2. friendly
3. hostile
Answer:
What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that?
In the beginning, the otter was aloof and indifferent.

Question 6.
What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that?
Answer:
When the author first took Mijbil to the bathroom, the otter first went wild with joy in the water. He plunged and rolled in it. He jumped up and down the length of the bathtub. He made enough slosh and splash. After two days, the otter suddenly disappeared and went to the bathroom to play in the water and opened the tap on his own.

Page 108

Question 1.
How was Mijbil transported to England?
Answer:
Mijbil was packed in a box as the airlines had directed the author. As British airlines did not allow pets on board the author had to book a ticket on a different airline from Iraq to Paris and then Paris to London.

Question 2.
What did Mij do to the box?
Answer:
The box was lined with a metal sheet. Mij didn’t feel comfortable in the box and tried to escape. In his attempt to escape, Mij tore into the metal lining of the box and in the process hurt himself.

Question 3.
Why did Maxwell put the otter back in the box? How do you think he felt when he did this?
Answer:
As there was no other way to carry Mij to London, Maxwell put in the box again. He must have felt pity on the way the otter hurt himself. Moreover, he must be worried as well.

Question 4.
Why does Maxwell say the airhostess was “the very queen of her kind”?
Answer:
The airhostess was very sympathetic after listening to Maxwell’s story. She understood how he might be feeling and then gave him permission to take the otter out of the box. Due to all this, Maxwell referred her as “the very queen of her kind”.

Question 5.
What happened when the box was opened?
Answer:
As soon as the box was opened, Mij ran out. Then it ran all over the place scaring all the passengers. It created a claos and most of the people in the plane got scared.

Page 110

Question 1.
What game had Mij invented?
Answer:
Mij invented a game of playing with the ball in a unique way. One of the author’s suitcase was damaged and had a slope on the top part. Mij would put the ball on the high end and run to catch it as it slided to the lower end.

Question 2.
What are ‘compulsive habits’? What does Maxwell say are the compulsive habits of
1. school children
2. Mij?
Answer:
Compulsive habits are usually strange act or behaviour which a person does without clear reason. For example a cricket player may put on his right shoes first as he believes it would bring him good luck or a kid jumping over a fence, instead of going through the passage way. Usually compulsive beahviour of children are full of childhood mischief and those of adults are of incorrigible type.
1. As per this story, children must place their feet squarely on the centre of each paving block; must touch every seventh upright of the iron railings, or pass to the outside of every second lamp post.
2. Mijbil while on its way to home would jump over the boundary wall railing and run at full speed throughout its length.

Question 3.
What group of animals do otters belong to?
Answer:
Otters belong to a comparatively small group of animals called Mustellines. The other animals of this group are badger, mongoose, weasel, stoat, mink and others.

Question 4.
What guesses did the Londoners make about what Mij was?
Answer:
As otters are not found in England so Londoners made the wildest possible guesses about Mij. Their guesses ranged from a baby seal, a squirrel, a hippo to a brontosaurus.

Thinking about the Text
(Page 110, 111)

Question 1.
What things does Mij do which tell you that he is an intelligent, friendly and fun-loving animal who needs love?
Answer:
Mij invented his own game out of ping-pong ball and a worn down suitcase. He loved water, and once he understood that on opening the tap water came out of it, he would get into the tub and played with water.
He had gradually formed a special attachment with Maxwell. It giyw desperate when Maxwell left it in a box and wanted to come out as soon as possible.

Question 2.
What are some of the things we come to know about otters from this text?
Answer:
Otters belong to a comparatively small group of animals called Mustellines, shared by badger, mongoose, weasel, stoat, mink and others. They are found in large numbers in marshes. Arabs keep them as pets and tame them. Otters love to spread water and splash in it. Maxwell’s otter was of a race previously . unknown to science and was at length named by zoologists Lutrogale Perspicillata Maxwelli.

Question 3.
Why is Mij’s species now known to the world as Maxwell’s otter?
Answer:
Maxwell’s otter was of a race previously unknown to science and was at length named by zoologists Lutrogale Perspicillata Maxwelli, hence, it is known as Maxwell’s otter in short.

Question 4.
Maxwell in the story speaks for the otter, Mij. He tells us what the otter feels and thinks on different occasions. Given below are some things the otter does. Complete the column on the right to say what Maxwell says about what Mij feels and thinks.

What Mij Does How Mij Feels or Thinks
Plunges, rolls in the water and makes the water splosh and splash
Screws the tap in the wrong way
Nuzzles Maxwell’s face and neck in the aeroplane

Answer:

What Mij Does How Mij Feels or Thinks
Plunges, rolls in the water and makes the water splosh and splash He thinks it is a hippo and is very happy.
Screws the tap in the wrong way He chitters with irritation and disappointment.
Nuzzles Maxwell’s face and neck in the aeroplane He feels much comfort and content after its distressed chitter.

Question 5.
Read the story and find the sentences where Maxwell describes his pet otter.
Then choose and arrange your sentences to illustrate those statements below that you think are true. Maxwell’s description
1. makes Mij seem almost human, like a small boy.
2. shows that he is often irritated with what Mij does.
3. shows that he is often surprised by what Mij does.
4. of Mij’s antics is comical.
5. shows that he observes the antics of Mij very carefully.
6. shows that he thinks Mij is a very ordinary otter.
7. shows that he thinks the otter is very unusual.
Answer:
1. True
2. False
3. True
4. True
5. True
6. False
7. True

Thinking about Language
(Page 111)

Question I.
Noun Modifiers
Question 1.
Look at these examples from the text, and say whether the modifiers (in italics) are nouns, proper nouns or adjective plus noun
1. An offer fixation
2. The iron railings
3. The Tigris marshes
4. The London streets
5. Soft velvet fur
6. A four- footed soccer player
Answer:
1. Noun
2. Noun
3. Proper noun
4. Proper noun
5. Adjective plus noun
6. Adjective plus noun

Question 2.
Given below are some nouns and a set of modifiers (in the box). Combine the nouns and modifiers to make as many appropriate phrases as you can. (Hint: The nouns and modifiers are all from the texts in this book.)
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 8 MIJBIL THE OTTER
Answer:

1. Temple Stone temple
2. Gifts Ordinary gift, birthday gift.
3. Time First time, family time, college time
4. Crossing Railroad crossing
5. Physique Plump physique, ordinary physique
6. Girls Incorrigible girls, plump girls, college girls
7. Thoughts Uncomfortable thoughts, ridiculous thoughts, ordinary thoughts, good thoughts, invigorating thoughts
8. Scream Loud scream, heartbreaking scream
9. Subject Uncomfortable subject
10. Flight- First flight, ordinary flight, uncomfortable flight
11. Coffee Black coffee, ordinary coffee
12. Farewell Tremendous farewell, college farewell
13. Landscape Rough landscape,
14. Chatterbox Incorrigible chatterbox, ridiculous chatterbox
15. View Panoramic view, ordinary view
16. Dresses Ordinary dresses, birthday dresses, marriage dresses
17. Handkerchief White handkerchief, clean handkerchief
18. Profession Family profession
19. Celebration Birthday celebration, tremendous celebration
20. Roar Loud roar

Question II.

Question 1.
Match the words on the left with a word on the right. Some words on the left can go with more than one word on the right.
1. A portion of — blood
2. A pool of — cotton
3. Flakes of — stones
4. A huge heap of — gold
5. A gust of — fried fish
6. Little drops of — snow
7. A piece of — water
8. A pot of — wind
Answer:
1.A portion of fried fish
2. A pool of water
3. Flakes of snow
4. A huge heap of stones,
5. A gust of wind
6. Little drops of blood, Little drop of water
7. A piece of cotton, A piece of fried fish
8. A pot of gold

Question 2.
Use a bit of/a piece of/a bunch of/a lump of/a cloud of with the italicised nouns in the following sentences. The first has been done for you as an example.
1. My teacher gave me some advice.
2. Can you give me some clay please?
3. The information you gave was very useful.
4. Because of these factories, smoke hangs over the city.
5. Two stones rubbed together can produce sparks of fire.
6. He gave me some flowers on my birthday.
Answer:
1. My teacher gave me a bit of advice.
2. Can you give me a lump of clay please?
3. The bit of information you gave was very useful.
4. Because of, these factories, a cloud of smoke hangs over the city.
5. Two pieces of stone rubbed together can produce sparks of fire.
6. He gave me a bunch of flowers on my birthday.

Adventures in a Banyan Tree Summary

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 7 Glimpses of India

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 7 Glimpses of India

Part I A Baker from Goa
Page 86

Question 1.
What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?
Answer:
The elders in Goa are nostalgic about the good old
Portuguese days and their love of bread and loaves. The writer says that the eaters of loaves have left but the makers still exist.

Question 2.
Is bread-making still popular in Goa? How do you know?
Answer:
Yes, bread making is still popular in Goa. This is very clear from the narrator’s statement that the eaters have gone away leaving the makers behind. There are mixers, moulders and the ones who bake the loaves. The time tested furnaces still  exist there.

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Question 3.
What is the baker called?
Answer:
The baker is called a pader in Goa.

Question 4.
When would the baker come everyday? Why did the children run to meet him?
Answer:
The baker would come twice a day—once early in the morning and the second time when he returned after selling his stuff.
The children would run to meet him as they wanted to have bread-bangles.

Page 87

Question 1.
Match the following. What is a must
1. as marriage gifts? – cakes and bolinhas
2. for a party or a feast? – sweet bread called bol
3. for a daughter’s engagement? – bread
4. for Christmas? – sandwiches
Answer:
1. as marriage gifts – sweet bread called bol
2. for a party or a feast – bread
3. for a daughter’s engagement – sandwiches
4. for Christmas – cakes and bolinhas

Question 2.
What did the bakers wear :
1. In the Portuguese days
2. When the author was young
Answer:
1. The bakers were usually dressed up in a peculiar dress called kabai. It was a single piece long frock reaching down to the knees.
2. During his childhood days, the author saw the bakers wearing a shirt and trousers which were shorter than full length ones and longer than half pants.

Question 3.
Who invites the comment – “he is dressed like a pader” Why?
Answer:
Any person who is wearing a half pant which reaches just below the knees invites this comment. This is because the baker, known as a pader, used to dress like that.

Question 4.
Where were the monthly accounts of the baker recorded?
Answer:
Monthly accounts of the baker were recorded on some wall in the house with a pencil.

Question 5.
What does a ‘jackfruit-like appearance’ mean?
Answer:
It means having a plump physique, like a jackfruit.

Thinking About the Text      (Page 88)

Question 1.
Which of these statements are correct?
1. The pader was an important person in the village in old times.
2. Paders still exist in Goan villages.
3. The paders went away with the Portuguese.
4. The paders continue to wear a single-piece long frock.
5. Bread and cakes were an integral part of Goan life in the old days.
6. Traditional bread-baking is still a very profitable business.
7. Paders and their families starve in the present times.
Answer:
1. Correct
2. Correct
3. Incorrect
4. Incorrect
5. Correct
6. Correct
7. Incorrect

Question 2.
Is bread an important part of Goan life? How do you know this?
Answer:
Yes, bread is an important part of Goan life. It is needed for marriage gifts, parties and feasts. Bread is also needed by a mother for preparing sandwiches during her daughter’s engagement. Thus, it is necessary to have breads for every occasion, because of which the presence of a baker’s furnace in the vi .age is very important

Question 3.
Tick the right answer. What is the tone of the author when he says the following?
1. The thud and the jingle of the traditional baker ‘s bamboo can still be heard in some places, (nostalgic, hopeful, sad)
2. Maybe the father is not alive but the son still carries on the family profession, (nostalgic, hopeful, sad)
3. I still recall the typical fragrance of those loaves, (nostalgic, hopeful, naughty)
4. The tiger never brushed his teeth. Hot tea could wash and clean up everything so nicely, after all. (naughty, angry, funny)
5. Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals, (sad, hopeful, matter-of-fact)
6. The baker dnd his family never starved. They always looked happy and prosperous, (matter-of-fact, hopeful, sad)
Answer:
1. Nostalgic
2. Hopeful
3. Nostalgic
4. Funny
5. Matter-of-fact
6. Matter-of-fact

Part II Coorg
Thinking About The Text
(Page 92)

Question 1.
Where is Coorg?
Answer:
Coorg or Kodagu is the smallest district of Karnataka. It is situated midway between Mysore and the cbastal town of Mangalore.

Question 2.
What is the story about the Kodavu people’s descent?
Answer:
The fiercely independent people of Coorg are descendents of Greeks or Arabs. A section of Alexander’s army moved South along the coast and settled here only when they were unable to return to their country. These people married among the locals. This is the story about the descent of Kodavu people.

Question 3.
What are some of the things you now know about?
1. the people of Coorg?
2. the main crop of Coorg?
3. the sports it offers to a tourists?
4. the animals you are likely to see in Coorg?
5. its distance from Bangalore and how to get there?
Answer:
1. They are fiercely independent people and have descended from the Greeks or the Arabs.
2. Coffee is the main crop of Coorg.
3. It mostly offers adventure sports which include river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing and mountain biking.
4. The animals likely to be seen in Coorg are macaques, Malabar squirrel, langurs, slender loris, elephants etc.
5. By road, it is around 250 – 260 kilometres from Bangalore.

Question 4.
Here are six sentences with some words in italics. Find phrases from the text that have the same meaning. (Look in the paragraphs indicated)
1. During monsoons it rains so heavily that tourists do not visit Coorg. (Para 2)
2. Some people say that Alexander’s army moved south along the coast and settled there. (Para 3)
3. The Coorg people are always ready to tell stories of their son’s and father’s valour. (Para 4)
4. Even people who normally lead an easy and slow life get smitten by the high energy adventure sports of Coorg. (Para 6)
5. The theory of the Arab origin is supported by the long coat with embroidered waist-belt they wear. (Para 3)
6. Macaques, Malabar squirrels observe you carefully from the tree canopy. (Para 7)
Answer:
1. to keep visitors away
2. As one story goes
3. are more than willing to recount
4. The most laidback individuals become converts to
5. draws support from
6. keep a watchful eye

Thinking About Language (Page 93)
Certain words ‘go together’. Such ‘word friends’ are called collocations. The collocation of a word is ‘the company it keeps’. For example, look at the paired sentences and phrases below. Which is a common collocation, and which one is odd? Strike out the odd sentence or phrase.
Questions.
1. ‘How old are you?’
‘How young are you?’
2. a pleasant person a pleasant pillow
Answers:
1. The odd sentence is ‘How young are you?’
2. The odd phrase is ‘a pleasant pillow’.

Question 1.
Here are some nouns from the text,
‘culture’ ‘monks’ ‘surprise’ ‘experience’ ‘weather’ ‘tradition’
Work with a partner and discuss which of the nouns can collocate with which of the adjectives given below. The first one has been done for you.
‘unique’ ‘terrible’ ‘unforgettable’ ‘serious’ ‘ancient’ ‘wide’ ‘sudden’
Questions.
1. culture : unique culture, ancient culture
2. monks : _____________
3. surprise: ___________
4. experience: __________
5. weather: ___________
6. tradition: ___________
Answer:
2. serious monks, unique monks
3. unique surprise, sudden surprise, unforgettable surprise, terrible surprise
4. unique experience, terrible experience, unforgettable experience, sudden experience
5. terrible weather, unforgettable weather
6. unique tradition, ancient tradition

Question 2.
2. Complete the following phrases from the text. For each phrase, can you find at least one other word that would fit into the blank?
                                            Missing                 Alternate word
1.  tales of                         __________         ___________
2.  coastal                         __________         ___________
3. a piece of                      __________         ___________
4.  evergreen                    __________        ___________
5. plantations                   __________         ___________
6. bridge                           __________        ___________
7.  wild                              ___________       ___________
Answer:

          Missing                           Alternate word      

  1. valour                                         bravery
  2. town                                          belt, village
  3. heaven                                          cake
  4. rainforests                                 jungle
  5. coffee                                        tea, banana
  6. rope                                         steel, concrete
  7. creatures                                    animals

Part III Tea from Assam

Thinking About Language       

(Page 96,97)
Question 1.
Look at these words: upkeep, downpour, undergo, dropout, walk-in. They are built up from a verb (keep, pour, go, drop, walk) and an adverb or a preposition (up, down, under, out, in). Use these words appropriately in the sentences below. You may consult a dictionary.
1. A heavy _____ has been forecast due to low pressure in the Bay of Bengal.
2. Rakesh will _____ major surgery tomorrow morning.
3. My brother is responsible for the ____ of our family property.
4. The ____ rate for this accountancy course is very high.
5. She went to the Enterprise Company to attend a _____ interview.
Answer:
1. downpour
2. undergo
3. upkeep
4. dropout
5. walk-in

Question 2.
Now fill in the blanks in the sentences given below by combining the verb given in brackets with one of the words from the box as appropriate.
‘over’ ‘by’ ‘through’ ‘out’ ‘up’ ‘down’
1. The Army attempted unsuccessfully to ____ the Government, (throw)
2. Scientists are on the brink of a major _____ in cancer research, (break)
3. The State Government plans to build a ____ for Bhubaneswar to speed up traffic on the main highway, (pass)
4.Gautama’s ____ on life changed when he realised that the world is full of sorrow, (look)
5. Rakesh seemed unusually _____ after the game, (cast)
Answers:
1. overthrow
2. breakthrough
3. bypass
4. lookout
5. downcast

Question 3.
Notice how these -ing and -ed adjectives are used.
1. Chess is an interesting game.
I am very interested in chess.
2. Going trekking in the Himalayas this summer is an exciting idea.
We are very excited about the trek.
3. Are all your School books this boring?
He was bored as he had no friends there.
The -ing adjectives show the qualities that chess, trekking or these books have: they cause interest, excitement, or boredom in you. The – ed /-en adjectives show your mental state or your physical state: how you feel in response to ideas, events or things.

Question 1.
1. Think of suitable -ing or -ed adjectives to answer the following questions. You may also use words from those given above.
How would you describe
1. a good detective serial on television? ____
2. a debate on your favourite topic ‘Homework Should Be Banned’? ____
3. how you feel when you stay indoors due to incessant rain? ____
4. how you feel when you open a present? ____
5. how you feel when you watch your favourite programme on television? ____
6. the look on your mother’s face as you waited in a queue? ____
7. how you feel when tracking a tiger in a tiger reserve forest? _____
8. the story you have recently read, or a film you have seen? _____
Answers:
(Sample answers are given; you may have a different answer.)
1. exciting
2. interesting
3. bored
4. excited
5. interested
6. disappointed
7. thrilled
8. thrilling

Question 2.
Now use the adjectives in the exercise above, as appropriate, to write a paragraph about Coorg.
Answer:
Do it yourself.

Maharana Pratap Summary

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 6 The Hundred Dresses – II

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 6 The Hundred Dresses – II

Oral Comprehension Check
Page 74

Question 1.
What did Mr Petronski’s letter say?
Answer:
Mr Petronski’s letter was to inform the principal and Miss Mason that Wanda would not come to school as she was fed up of being bullied in the school. They were going to shift to a bigger place where nobody would make fun of their last name.

Question 2.
Is Miss Mason angry with the class, or is she unhappy and upset?
Answer:
Miss Mason seems to be unhappy and upset rather than angry because she had never expected such a behaviour from the students. She wants everyone to think about it and asks them not to do look down anyone in the class.

More Resources for CBSE Class 10

Question 3.
How does Maddie feel after listening to the note from Wanda’s father?
Answer:
Maddie feels sorry and ashamed for the behaviour although she herself did not make fun of Wanda. She never tried to stop Peggy to do so and remained a silent spectator. She feels as a coward.

Question 4.
What does Maddie want to do?
Answer:
Maddie wants to amend her behaviour towards Wanda. She wants to meet her to apologise. She decides to find Wanda at her house at Boggins Heights. She also wanted to convey that all was meant in good humour and people really love her.

Page 76

Question 5.
What excuses does Peggy think of giving in justification of her behaviour? Why?
Answer:
Peggy tries to defend herself by saying that her
behaviour towards Wanda inspired her to explore her drawing skills as she sketches a hundred dresses and that makes her win the drawing contest.

Question 6.
What are Maddie’s thoughts as they go to Boggins Heights?
Answer:
Maddie was feeling ashamed and apologetic for being a silent spectator while Peggy humiliated Wanda. She was feeling upset and distraught for Wanda and herself. She was also repenting for not stopping Peggy for behaving badly with Wanda.

Question 7.
Why does Wanda’s house remind Maddie of Wanda’s blue dress?
Answer:
Wanda’s house was sparse, old and laded but neat and clean like her blue dress that she wore everyday to school. Thus, Maddie was reminded of the same old blue dress.

Question 8.
What does Maddie think hard about ? What important decision does she come to?
Answer:
Maddie thinks about not to be mute spectator anymore that she had been in case of Wanda. She promised herself about not letting any injustice happen to anyone even if she would have to lose a friend in this.

Page 79

Question 9.
What did the girls write in the letter?
Answer:
Maddie and Peggy wrote a friendly letter to Wanda. They wanted to apologise for their behaviour but they ended up asking her whether she liked her new school and teacher. They informed her about her sketches winning the drawing competition. They praised her drawing skills and also told how much other students liked her art. The letter was just a usual letter one may write to a good friend.

Question 10.
Did Maddie and Peggy get a reply? Who was more anxious for a reply? How do you know?
Answer:
No, they didn’t get a reply from Wanda. Maddie was more anxious for a reply than Peggy because she was very upset and feeling sad for Wanda. She had assumed that Wanda was deeply hurt so she was not replying and blamed herself for everything. Maddie used to have sleepless nights and saw frightful dreams about Wanda.

Question 11.
How did the girls know that Wanda liked them even though they had teased her?
Answer:
Both Maddie and Peggy realised that Wanda liked them although they had teased her because she had gifted them her two beautiful dresses, a green one with red trimmings to Peggy and the blue one to Maddie. She had even drawn their faces in the painting of the dresses they got.

Thinking about the Text
(Page 79,80)

Question 1.
Why do you think Wanda’s family moved to a different city? Do you think life there was going to be different for their family?
Answer:
Wanda’s family moved to a different city due to the racist and insulting behaviour of students towards Wanda and her brother. They were teased by other students for their funny name and blue dress. Life there in a different city was going to be different because people there did not have such a narrow mind and would not tease them because of their name or status.

Question 2.
Maddie thought her silence was as bad as Peggy’s teasing. Was she right ?
Answer:
Yes, Maddie thought that her silence was as bad as Peggy’s teasing because it is often said that turning a blind eye to a crime is worse than committing a crime. So by being silent she indirectly encouraged Peggy to do so.

Question 3.
Peggy says, “I never thought she had sense to know we were making fun of her anyway. I thought she was too dumb. And gee, look how she can draw!”What led Peggy to believe that Wanda was dumb ? Did she change her opinion later ?
Answer:
Wanda never replied to Peggy ‘s misbehaviour and pranks that she faced everyday. So, her neutral face and unusual behaviour led Peggy to think that Wanda was dumb. Wanda even described the hundred dresses she said about though she wore the same old faded blue dress everyday. But later Peggy’ changed her opinion after having a look on Wanda’s sketches and her gesture of gifting her a beautiful drawing from her collection.

Question 4.
What important decision did Maddie make? Why did she have to think hard to do so ?
Answer:
Maddie decided to go to Wanda’s house with Peggy to apologise and amend for all that had happened but Wanda had left her house with her family. She felt bad because she thought of herself as a coward who did not stop Peggy to insult Wanda. So, she decided to raise voice against injustice and bullying. She was firm of not being a mute spectator anymore.

Question 5.
Why do you think Wanda gave Maddie and Peggy the drawings of the dresses ? Why are they surprised ?
Answer:
When Maddie and Peggy wrote a letter to Wanda, she might have understood their feelings behind their letter and during the dresses game, she had observed both of them. So she requested Miss Mason to give two of her drawings to them and had taught them a lesson of life. Maddie and Peggy were surprised as she gifted them the drawings with their faces.

Question 6.
Do you think Wanda really thought the girls were teasing her ? Why or why not ?
Answer:
Wanda was aware of the misbehaviour of the girls who teased her everyday “but she remained calm. To keep them mum she fabricated a story of having a hundred dresses and sixty pairs of matching shoes in her closet. She taught them a lesson of life by the drawings of the hundred beautiful dresses she claimed to have.

Thinking about Language
(Page 80,81)

Question 2.
What adjectives can we use to describe Peggy, Wanda and Maddie? You can choose adjectives from the list above. You can also add some of your own.
1. Peggy ____
2. Wanda ____
3. Maddie ____
Answer:
1. Peggy Sarcastic, thoughtless, zealous, unforgiving arrogant, cruel, haughty, proud, vain
2. Wanda Kind, courteous, introverted, talented, lonely, determined, complacent, contented, generous, friendly, intrepid, sensitive, compassionate, creative.
3. Maddie Insipid, timid, placid, stolid

Question 3.
Find the sentences in the story with the following phrasal verbs.
lined up, thought up, took off, stood by
Answer:
1. Lined up She thought of the glowing picture of those hundred dresses all lined up in the classroom.
2. Thought up Peggy who had thought up this game and Maddie her inseparable friend, were always ‘the last to leave.
3. Took off Miss Mason took off her glasses, blew on them and wiped them on her soft white handkerchief.
4. Stood by She had stood by silently and that was just as bad as what Peggy had done.

Question 4.
Colours are used to describe feelings, moods and emotions. Match the following ‘colour expressions’ with a suggested paraphrase.
1. The Monday morning blues : feel embarrassed /angry /ashamed
2. Go red in the face : feel very sick, as if about to vomit
3. Look green : sadness or depression after a weekened of fun
4. The red carpet : the sign or permission to begin an action
5. Blue-blooded : a sign of surrender or acceptance of defeat; a wish to stop fighting
6. A green belt : in an unlawful act; while doing something wrong
7. A blackguard : a photographic print of building plans; a detailed plan or scheme
8. A grey area : land around a town or city where construction is prohibited by law
9. A white flag : an area of a subject or a situation where matters are not very clear
10. A blue print : a dishonest person with no sense of right or wrong
11. Red-handed : a special welcome
12. The green light : of noble birth or from a royal family
Answer:
1. The Monday morning blues : sadness or depression after a weekend of fun
2. To go red in the face : feel embarrassed /angry/ashamed
3. Look green : feel very sick, as if about to vomit
4. The red carpet : a special welcome
5. Blue – blooded : of noble birth or from a royal family
6. A green belt : land around a town or city where construction is prohibited by law
7. Black guard : a dishonest person with no sense of right or wrong
8. A grey area : an area of a subject or a situation where matters are not very clear.
9. A white flag : a sign of surrender or acceptance of defeat; a wish to stop fighting
10. A blue print : a photographic print of building plans; a detailed clan or scheme
11. Red-handed : in an unlawful act; while doing something wrong
12. The green light : the sign of permission to begin an action

Opportunity for Youth Summary