CLASS 10 ENGLISH MOST

REPEATED & MOST

IMPORTANT QUE - ANS
( MCQs / Assertion-Reasoning / Case Based / VSA / SA / LONG Que. )

Channel Name: Vishal Kumar Jaiswal

https://www.youtube.com/@VishalKumarJaiswalEasyLearning

CBSE CLASS 10TH ENGLISH

MOST REPEATED QUESTIONS
1. School education turned Bholi from a dumb cow into a bold girl. How did
she save her father from a huge expense and become his support in his old age?
Ans:- Bholi, despite her name, slowly gained her confidence through her teacher.
With the help of her teacher, she got a good education. She understood how
society works and was brave enough to stand up against the evns present in
society. She saved her father from huge expenses and became his support in his
old age by refusing to marry Bishamber who was an old, lame man. She refused to
pay the dowry of five thousand. She stood up with courage and acted boldly
despite knowing that she may not get married. Bholi decided to serve her
parents in their old age and serve in the same school in which she studied.

2. Once we decide to achieve something, so many difficulties come in our way.

With focused attention we can make that achievement. How did Valli succeed in
fulfilling her desire of riding a bus?
Ans:- Eight-year-old Valli‘s desire was to take a ride on the bus that travelled
between her village and the nearest town. Her desire was so strong that it
made herd-overcome her fears prompting her to plan her trip meticulously. She
collected all the details of the journey and saved every coin that came her way.
She maintained her self-respect so much go for shopping. After taking all the
precautions to ensure that she has a safe journey, she fulfilled her dream of
riding in a bus. Despite her young age, she returned back home safely. Valli
taught us that once we decide to achieve something, many difficulties may come
our way but with courage and confidence, we can accomplish the task.

3. Which book did Ebright‘s mother get for him? How did it change his life?
Ans:- Ebright‘s mother got him a children‘s book titled ‗The Travels of Monarch
X‘. The book described how Monarch butterflies migrate to Central America.
This opened the world of science to yound and enthused collector, Ebright.

4. How did Horace get entry into the house?

Ans:- Horace had befriended the pet dog and he knew where the keys were
hung.

5. How did the young seagull‘s parents teach him the art of flying?
Ans:- The parents of the young seagull were very wise. On seeing that their
child was quite weak and scared and is afraid to fly, they, at once, decided to
be strict with him. They warned him that they would not feed him anymore
as he was a grown up seagull. He would starve to death if he did not fly.
They tempted him by showing flesh and eating it in front of him but they did
not offer it to him. Hunger provoked the young seagull to fly and ultimately,
he made efforts and was successful.

6. Did the letter reach God? Why did the postmaster send a reply go Lencho?
Ans: The letter was not delivered to the God because he didn't want to
jeopardize him great faith in God. The mailman responded to Lencho. As a result,
the postal delivered the 70 pesos to the Lencho. The postmaster and post office
staff gathered 70 from his own earnings and sent it to Lencho.

7. What does Mandela refer to as 'an extraordinary human disaster ?

Ans:- Nelson Mandela reffered to it as an extraordinary human disaster because
it was the practice of South Apartheid. During the apartheid government, people
were separated based on their skin colour. Black people lacked adequate
constitutional rights.
8. Why did Ebright lose interest in tagging butterflies?
Ans:- Ebright used to brand butterflies wings and then release them. In reality
thousands of monarch butterflies lived in the basement of his house . He began
to lose interest in it because it was a monotonous job with little feedback.

9. Describe how Horace Danby plan his work?

Ans:- Horace Danby was an intelligent and clever thief. He robbed a safe every
year which would suffice him for twelve months. He planned his robbery very
carefully. He studied the complete situation of the house at Shoover Grange for
two weeks. In the meantime, he had studied the situation of rooms, electric
wires,: path and its garden. He had studied the detailed plan of the drawing
room. He also knew about the keys as he had seen where the housekeeper hang
the keys every time. He befriended the pet dog to escape him while robbery.
Thus, he made all the security arrangements by ensuring that there was no
problem in breaking in there.

10. Write the character sketch of Helen, the young girl.

Ans:- Helen was a very industrious girl; she always did her best to learn. She had
such a natural, innate passion for learning which always motivated her. Manual
alphabet, reading, arithmetic, etc., all were formidable challenges for her
initially, but Helen overcame them.

11. What made the boys follow the footprints?

Ans :- The boys saw freshly made footprints on the mud but there was no one to
be seen leaving those footprints. This thing intrigued the boys and hence, they
decided to follow those footprints without feet which were actually left by
Griffin.

12. What were Lencho‘s feelings when the hail stopped ?

Ans:- When the rain began, Lencho was very happy. But, when hailstones
destroyed his crops completely he became very unhappy. After the hail stopped,
Lencho thought that God is the only hope to save his family. So he wrote a letter
to God.

13. How did Valli react when she saw the dead cow by the roadside ?
Ans:- Valli was extremely excited about her bus journey. She had carefully
planned and saved for this journey. On her return journey, when she saw the
dead cow on the roadside she became sad. She lost her enthusiasm to see the
dead cow. She became pensive and had negative views towards life.

14. Don‘t you worry, Pitaji! In your old age I will serve you and mother‖.Through
this statement the narrator wants to highlight the moral values Bholi was
imbued with. Based on the reading of the lesson, what made Bholi aware of her
rights and how did she use them ?
Ans:- Bholi as a child was mostly ignored or made fun of. Her peers made fun of
their looks while her parents gave up on her finding a good home to marry. In the
end, they found a greedy old widowed man for her to marry. Bholi despite the
treatment meted out by her parents displayed utmost respect and concern for
them. She showed love and affection towards her parents and rarely disobeyed
their words. This attitude is noticed when despite knowing the attitude of her
to-be husband she willingly agrees to get married to him for the sake of her
parents. Bholi while being submissive was also a determined and confident girl
who gained her self-respect through her education. Her teacher during the
course of Bholi‘s education. Her teacher during the course of Bholi‘s education
made her aware of these rights. She wasn‘t ready to demean nerself but stood
up confidently against the proposal of the greedy
man and told her parents that she would take care of them.

15. Why did the postmaster reply to Lencho‘s letter?

Ans:- The letter did not reach God. The postmaster was a kind, generous,
helpful, and God-fearing man. The postmaster did not want to shake Lencho's
faith in God, and thus, replied to Lencho's letter by sending him money under the
name of God.

16. Why did Bholi not marry Bishamber ?

Ans:- Bholi was devoted to her parents and for their sake respect and pleasure
she agreed to marry Bishamber. When Bishamber wanted 5,000 rupees as dowry
and insulted her father, she refused to marry him in order to safeguard Ramlal's
dignity.

17. What excited Rajvir ? Why did Pranjol not share his excitement ?
Ans :- The beautiful secenery and wide range of green tea gardens excited
Rajvir. Pranjol did not share his excitement since he was bom and brought up in
Assam, a place familiar to him.
18. Why did Matilda (Mme Loisel) leave the ball in a hurry ? What does it show
about her character?
Ans:- Since no one noticed her shabby shawl, Matilda (Mme Loisel) left the
ball in a hurry. Her character depicts her false pride and vanity in material
things.

19. What lesson on death and suffering did the Buddha teach Gotami in the
chapter, ‗The Sermon at Banaras‘?
Ans:- In his sermon at Banaras, Buddha taught Gotami that the life of mortals is
brief, troubled and combined with pain. Death is common for all, it cannot be
avoided. He compared human life to ripe fruits that eventually decay or as
earthen vessels that will break someday. Neither a father nor his kinsmen can
save anyone.
Weeping or grieving cannot bring back the dead to life nor bring peace of mind
but only cause pain and suffering to the grieving body. One should accept death
without lamentation, complaint and overcome sorrow and grief thus, bringing
peace of mind, which is a blessing.

20. What do we learn about the financial condition of the bakers of Goa?
Ans:- The bakers of Goa led a prosperous life. Baking was a profitable profession
in the old days as bakers never starved. The families and servants of these
bakers always looked happy and prosperous. Their plum physique is an open
testimony of their prosperity.

21. In the poem ‗Trees‘, where are the trees? What are their roots, twigs, etc
trying to do?
Ans:- In the poem ‗Trees‘, the trees are inside the house. The roots work to
disengage themselves from the cracks in the veranda floor. When the tree
grows, it‘s leaves strain towards the glass. The small twigs and boughs try to
move to the doors while growing.

22.Why did Lencho write a letter to God?

Ans :- Lencho's crops were destroyed by the hailstorm. He wrote a letter to
God asking for a hundred pesos. He needed the money to sow his field again and
survive till the new crops came.
 CHAPTER WISE MOST IMPORTANT
QUE-ANS

A LETTER TO GOD (-by G. L. FUENTES)

Q. People get support from family and friends during bad times. How does
Lencho‘s family behave after the harvest is ruined?
Ans: Lencho‘s family is courageous. Despite losing the entire crop to the
hailstorm, they retain their faith in God. They believe that no one dies of hunger
and so, God will surely help them.

Q. ‗Lencho was an ox of a man, working like an animal in the fields, but still he
knew how to write.‘ What does this line tell us about the norm amongst
such farmers, then?
Ans: Lencho was an extremely hard working farmer. Unlike the other farmers,
he was literate and knew how to write. He decided to write a letter to God,
seeking help from him.

Q. What were Lencho‘s feelings when he found the letter with money in it? What
did he do after opening the letter?
Ans: Lencho was so confident that he did not show any surprise on seeing the
letter. Later, when he counted the money, he became angry because it was less
than the amount that he had asked for.

Q. ‗The field was white, as if covered with salt.‘ This is how the field is
described after the hailstorm. The pelting hailstones could have been easily seen
as sugar cubes. Do you think comparing it with sugar would have been more
appropriate? Why/ Why not?
Ans: The writer compares the hailstones to salt. This comparison is better
because when salt gets damp, it gains weight and settles down just like the
hailstones did. On the other hand, sugar cubes would have melted in the water
and the colour would not remain visible for long.
Q. The postmaster represents the people who still believe in helping others.
Mention those values of the postmaster which you would like to emulate.
Ans: The postmaster was a kind hearted man. He was moved by the poor
farmer‘s deep faith in God. He gave up a part of his salary and asked his
colleagues to donate as well. He collected 70 Pesos and gave it to Lencho in the
form of a letter from God, to retain his faith.

Q. There are two kinds of conflicts in the story: between humans and nature,
and between humans themselves. How are these conflicts illustrated?
Ans: The conflict between humans and nature is illustrated in the following way.
A farmer‘s healthy crop gets destroyed by the hailstorm lashed by nature. The
storm is so furious that not a leaf remains on the trees. The field turns white
with the hailstones. The farmer, Lencho is left with no crop, food and money.
Thus, nature‘s conflict with man has been illustrated in the story.
The conflict between humans is depicted in the following way. The postmaster is
moved by Lencho‘s faith in God. He tries to help him and to retain the faith,
collects money and gives it to Lencho. But when Lencho sees that he amount is
lesser than what he had asked for, he doubts the staff of the post office and
calls it a bunch of crooks. Thus, the man doubts those who helped him. Thus, we
get to see the conflict between humans.

Channel Name: Vishal Kumar Jaiswal

https://www.youtube.com/@VishalKumarJaiswalEasyLearning

NELSON MANDELA : LONG WALK TO FREEDOM

Q. Based on your reading of the lesson, what can you infer about Mandela as a
father and as a leader?
Ans: Mandela was a loving father. He wanted to provide everything to his family.
Not only this, he was a great leader. He felt for all his countrymen. So, he gave
up his family for the greater cause of gaining freedom for his countrymen.
Q. Mandela says that his country‘s greatest wealth is its people and not the
purest diamonds. Justify his statement.
Ans: The strength of a country lies in it‘s people. The great patriots of South
Africa were Mandela‘s comrades in the struggle for freedom. They fought for an
idea, went to prison, were pushed to their limits but did not give in. Such great
men achieved freedom which cannot be achieved by possessing the purest of
diamonds. Thus, these men are more precious than diamonds.

Q. How is 10th May, 1994 an ‗autumn day‘ in South Africa?

Ans: 10th May 1994 was an auspicious day for the country because the first
democratically elected government was formed. Dignitaries from all over the
world had gathered to extend their support to the nation.

Q. What did being free mean to Mandela as a boy and as a student?

Ans: As a boy, freedom meant his personal liberty. He was not restricted from
going anywhere, he could run in the fields, swim in the village stream. He wanted
the freedom to study and stay away at night.

Q. Struggles teach us many lessons. With reference to the times you struggled
with mastering a skill or learning a concept, write about the lessons you learnt.
Ans: Value points-
a) Struggles are very important.
b) Patience
c) Testing time
d) Consistency
e) Success is guaranteed.

Q. Prejudice based on race and colour or any other reason causes profound hurt.
Write about any one character from the chapters in First Flight who was
subjected to such prejudice? Discuss the consequence of this prejudice for the
character.
Ans: Value Points -
 Prejudice based on race and colour does cause a lot of pain and hurt.
Nelson Mandela was subjected to such prejudice.
 This change to the entire course of his life. converted a law abiding citizen
into a criminal.
 he gave up his family and became a monk. could not become a good
husband, father, son. give up his life for the cause of his countrymen.
served prison for almost 30 years

HIS FIRST FLIGHT (-by LIAM O’ FLAHERTY)

Q. Describe the young seagull‘s emotions when he flew over the sea.
Ans: It no longer felt afraid. The seagull felt his wings spread outwards. He
could feel the tips of his wings cutting through the air. He was not falling
headlong now. He was soaring gradually downwards, outwards and upwards.

Q. The Oxford Dictionary defines ‗hangry‘ as ‗bad-tempered or irritable as a

result of hunger‘. To what extent can the young seagull‘s motivation to fly be
attributed to being hungry? Support your stance with evidence from the text.
Ans: The seagull was extremely hungry. It had been twenty four hours since his
family had abandoned him on the cliff, to starve lest it should fly. The sight of
the mother seagull tearing a piece of fish maddened the bird. Finally, when the
mother flew towards it with the fish in its beak, and halted some distance away,
the young bird dived for it and thus, took its first flight.

Q. If you were the family member of the young seagull, would you also decide not
go near him? Elaborate with reason.
Ans: It would be a tough decision to remain strict but for the betterment of a
family member, I would not go near it. This decision of abandoning the bird
proved beneficial for it. We have to take certain firm steps which we think are
essential for achieving something.

Q. The young seagull ―failed to muster up courage to take that plunge‖. In what
way can the reference to the ‗plunge‘ here be both literal and metaphorical?
Explain.
Ans: Literally, the plunge means the dive in the air. Metaphorically, the plunge
refers to the first step that we take towards a new prospect. So, for the seagull
the plunge means both – literally and metaphorically. It was scared of diving into
the air as it feared the deep sea. Also, it was the first flight and so, it was
scared lest it would drown in the sea.

Q. The ‗fight or flight response‘, that is, to stay and face a situation or run from
it- is an automatic reaction to an event perceived as stressful or harmful. How
would you evaluate the young gull‘s response on finding himself off the ledge?
Ans: Initially, the seagull was terrorized. But the fear was momentary. The next
second, it flapped its wings and soared in the sky. It could feel the wings soaring
through the air. So, we can infer that the seagull‘s response was ‗fight‘ because
it overcame the terror and flew well.

Q. The young seagull‘s parents wanted him to fly, like his brothers and sister.
How could the young seagull‘s newly flying siblings (Brother 1, Brother 2 and
Sister) have motivated him? Write a brief conversation among them.
Ans: Seagull: Alas! I am scared of flying.
Sister: Hey brother, don‘t worry. You can learn it. Look at me, I am younger than
you and can fly well.
Bro 1: Oh no, I don‘t think he can do it.
Bro 2: Why not? He has strong wings. He can fly too. Try it once. Don‘t be afraid.
Bro 1: No, he cannot fly, his wings are weak. He can drown in the sea.
Sister: Ignore him. You came with us. Let us fly. We will be with you and save you
in case of any danger.
Seagull: Ok, thanks for giving me confidence. I will try to fly.

Q. A noted author, Richard Bach wrote – ―For most gulls it was not flying that
mattered, but eating. For this gull, though, it was not eating that mattered, but
flight.‖ Evaluate this statement with respect to the young seagull.
Ans: (Value points)
 I do not support this statement.
 The young seagull was starved.
 The sight of fish maddened him.
 His mother was some distance away from him and he dived towards her to
snatch the piece of fish from her beak.
 So it was eating that mattered for the young seagull.

BLACK AEROPLANE (-by FREDERICK FORSYTH)

Q. Read the following paragraph carefully –

Imagine that the narrator shared his story with friends and family once he got
home. One of them, a spiritual leader, decided to incorporate the story as part
of his weekly sermon to the congregation. Another friend, a psychologist, worked
the story into his next lecture on survival instinct and crisis management.

Q. Do you think the two interpretations of the story would be different? If so,
how? What insights might the narrator get about his mysterious experience, if
he were to attend both the sessions?
Ans: Value points
Spiritual leader – destiny‘s role. God helped the man. He was saved because he
was destined to live. The mysterious black aeroplane was a messenger of God, he
appeared, rescued him, and disappeared.
Psychologist – narrator remained calm, was brave. Managed well, faced the crisis
with courage. Took help. The mysterious plane was nothing but the narrator‘s
soul which went out of his body and guided him out of the storm.
The narrator will get an answer to the mystery of the black aeroplane and the
pilot. He will realize that it was himself who appeared to be another person. It
was he only who guided himself out of the storm.

Q. In a parallel world, the pilot of the black aeroplane narrates his adventure in
a story titled ‗The Old Dakota‘. You come across an excerpt from the story,
which responds to the ending questions of ‗Black Aeroplane‘ and describes the
black aeroplane pilot‘s decision to fly away after watching the Dakota land.
Compose the said excerpt of the story employing relevant details from ‗Black
Aeroplane‘.
Ans: I was flying towards Paris when I saw an old Dakota flying in the opposite
direction. He flew into the storm. As I had escaped the storm some time back, I
knew it was dangerous. So, I turned back to help the pilot.
I flew parallel to him and signaled the lost pilot to follow me. The pilot of the
Dakota turned north and flew behind me. My lights were turned off so I flew
slowly so that he would not lose track. I guided him out of the storm and onto
the runway. Then I turned and headed back on my way to Paris.

Q. A few days after the experience, the narrator sat with his wife and recalled
a long conversation he‘d had with his young son the day before. The narrator‘s
son had spoken to him about his close friend, Freddie, and the many ways
Freddie helped him. When the narrator suggested inviting Freddie home for
lunch, his wife casually said, ―Freddie is like your friend in the black aeroplane!‖
That night the narrator decided to record his thoughts in his diary to clear his
head. As the narrator, write the diary entry.
Ans:
8 PM

Monday, 1 February 2021

Dear diary
Some days ago I was flying home when a strange incident occurred. It was night
time and the sky was filled with stars. There was no sign of clouds. I was flying
past Paris. Suddenly I saw black clouds in front of me. I thought of returning to
Paris but was eager to reach England and be with the family for breakfast. So I
took the risk and entered the storm.
To my astonishment, the compass stopped working and the fuel tank was almost
empty. Out of nowhere a black aeroplane emerged. The pilot signalled me to
follow him. I had no other way out, so I flew behind him. Suddenly, I was out of
the storm and the runway was in front of me. The black aeroplane vanished into
thin air. I wonder who the pilot was but he was a friend who saved my life that
day. He is like Freddie, the one who helped me and guided me to safety. I owe my
life to him.

Hope to meet my dear friend soon.

Bye dear diary.

Q. As a reader, do you feel betrayed or let down in the way the story ends?
Validate your opinion.
Ans: The author has ended the story abruptly. The questions remain unanswered
and create a lot of curiosity in the reader‘s mind. I feel that the writer should
solve this curiosity and give some valid point about the black aeroplane and its
pilot. I do feel disappointed as there is no clue about the mysterious plane.

Q. Based on your reading, would you call the narrator a family man? Justify your
stance.
Ans: We can conclude that the narrator was a family man. In the first
paragraph, we come to know that he was on a holiday and was looking forward to
spend his vacation with his family. He was eager to reach England and have
breakfast with them.
Q. James Lane Allen says, ―Adversity reveals character‖. What do you learn
about the narrator from the experience? Mention any two traits supported by
the textual evidence.
Ans: The narrator was a brave man. Although the plane‘s devices had stopped
working, he did not give up. He tried his best to escape out of the storm. Also,
he was a friendly person.
He obeyed the instructions of the pilot in the black aeroplane. This helped him
escape from the storm and land safely.

Q. How would you describe the mood of the story, ‗Black Aeroplane‘ as it begins?
Ans: The story starts on a happy note. The narrator is looking forward to being
with his family in England. He is flying from Paris to England, the sky is clear and
the stars are shining in the sky.

Q. Look at the given image. Briefly evaluate the narrator‘s decision to not go
back to Paris with reference to the image.
Ans: The narrator was heading towards England, flying over Paris when he saw
dark, black stormy clouds in front of him. He was heading into a storm and his
mind signaled that a threat was looming large in front of him. He thought of
flying back to Paris as it was an opportunity to save himself from the storm. But
he did not pay heed and flew straight into the storm, only to face the
consequences later.

Q. Do you think that after his experience, the narrator would be able to truly
enjoy the English breakfast he had yearned for? Why/ Why not?
Ans: I think that the narrator was puzzled because the Black aeroplane had
disappeared. Still, as he had landed safely, he would have the English breakfast
with his family. He would enjoy himself because he had survived a deadly storm.

THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK (-by ANNE FRANK )

Q. Do you agree with Anne when she says that teachers are the most
unpredictable creatures on earth? Rationalise.
Ans: Yes, I agree with Anne‘s opinion. We realize this when we analyse Mr
Keesing‘s reaction. He was a strict person but his sense of humour made him have
a good laugh at Anne‘s ideas and arguments put up as the reasons for her being
talkative. He even shared her poetry with other students, allowed her to talk in
class, and started cracking jokes too.

Q. Anne bid a ‗heartbreaking farewell‘ to Mrs. Kuperus. As Anne, write a brief

farewell note to Mr. Keesing after being promoted to the next class.‘

Ans:
Dear Mr Keesing
It has been a great year for me. I have learned a lot from you. You are a great
teacher. Thank you so much for taking my arguments positively. Your sense of
humor and acceptance of my writings made me feel confident. Gradually, I felt
the need of self-improvement and realized the importance of discipline. Now I
have started checking my habit of talking in class. This change has come due to
you.
Thank You Sir
Anne.

Q. Anne says that there were so many dummies in the class that about a quarter
of them shouldn‘t be promoted. Is she being rude or brutally honest? Evaluate.
Ans: Anne is being brutally honest. Many students in the class doubted if they
would be promoted to the next class. They remained anxious and would discuss
this all day. They would make bets on who would be promoted. CN and Jacques
had even staked their entire holiday savings on the bet.

Q. Enumerate any two reasons that justify Mr. Keesing‘s displeasure at Anne‘s
talking in class.
Ans: Mr Keesing was an old-fashioned or conservative person and was a strict
disciplinarian too. He wanted the students to be attentive. Anne was not in his
good books because she was very talkative. He wanted her to be more attentive
during the class because she was weak in Maths.

Q. Comment on the teacher-student relationship shared between Anne and Mr.

Keesing.
Ans: Mr Keesing was a strict and innovative teacher. He had a good sense of
humour also. To make Anne realize her indiscipline, he asked her to write essays
on chatterboxes. He appreciated Anne‘s arguments and poetry given in defense
of her being a talkative person.

Q. Anne wrote in her diary to get things off her chest. List any two reasons why
getting things off one‘s chest is recommended by counsellors as therapeutic.
Ans: Getting things off one‘s chest unburdens the person so he or she feels
relieved. If one is feeling worried, guilty or victimized, the person feels relaxed
once the matter is shared with someone else. Here, Anne writes all such things in
her diary and thus, feels relieved.

Q. Explain the emotion vested in Anne‘s statement, ―…I was plunked down on the
table as a birthday present for Margot.‖
Ans: Anne‘s emotion can be interpreted in two ways. We can infer that she had a
troubled childhood and was considered like a toy for Margot. We can also say
that this shows her humorous nature wherein she presented things in a funny
way.

GLIMPSES OF INDIA – A BAKER FROM GOA

Q. How did the baker become synonymous with celebrations and occasions in
Goa?
Ans: The baker had a lot of importance in Goan traditions. A feast was
incomplete without bread. Marriages meant preparation of a sweet bread called
‗bol‘. Sandwiches were prepared on a daughter‘s engagement. Cakes and bolinhas
were a must for Christmas.

Q. Do adventure sports like river rafting and rock climbing require a person to
possess just physical strength? Why/Why not?
Ans: Adventure sports require physical strength, alertness and mental toughness
too. As these sports are done in natural surroundings, one must be alert and
cautious while performing them. A person needs to have excellent judgement and
should have a quick response system.
Q. Pranjol buried his head in his detective book while Rajvir was eager to look at
the beautiful scenery during the train journey. Why was there a difference in
their attitude?
Ans: Pranjol belonged to Assam and had travelled on the route many times. So he
was not eager to see the scene outside. Whereas Rajvir was travelling to Assam
for the first time. So, rather than reading a book, he was interested in looking
at the scenery.

Q. Coorgis belong to a valorous and hospitable race. Comment on this statement

with reference to the text.
Ans: Coorgis are of Greek or Arabic descent. Some say that a part of
Alexander‘s army moved south and settled here. Their garment kuppia resembles
the kuffia worn by Arabs and Kurds. They have martial traditions, marriage and
religious rites, different from Hindu culture. The Coorg regiment is one of the
most decorated in the Indian Army. They are the only race, permitted to carry
firearms without a licence.

Q. Rajvir did his study before his visit to the tea plantation. Is it good to do
one‘s research before the start of a new venture or does it take away from the
thrill of discovery? Elucidate your stance.
Ans: It is good to do research before starting a new venture. One gets an idea
about the destination and one can plan the journey accordingly. We can prepare
an itinerary according to the research. We can identify places or activities of
our interest. This helps in planning a better holiday. The practical experience can
be tallied with the research done before.

Q. Pen down a brief travelogue* entry, narrating any personal impression/s about
a visit to Coorg. Include your reflections about the differences between the
place where you live and the place you‘ve visited. (* A travelogue is a person‘s
account of a journey to another country or place. It can either be a written
report with many factual details or a narrative story about personal impressions
and experiences.) You may begin like this… As I stepped into the land of
evergreen forests, I was blown away by the pristine beauty and…………(continue).
Ans: Value points -
 As I stepped into the land of evergreen forests, I was blown away by the
 pristine beauty and calm atmosphere.
 Natural beauty versus concrete jungle
 Coffee plantations, fragrance
 Variety of flora and fauna
 Natural adventure treat
 Tibetan culture at Bylakuppe

Q. The narrator shares, ―Baking was indeed a profitable profession in the old
days.‖
a) What do you feel has changed now? Why?
b) State any one way, you feel, the paders can regain their lost glory.
Ans: Value points -
a) Younger generations – alternate careers – higher income
b) Prevent migration
c) Better lifestyle – more income – retain paders

Q. Comment on the significance of the bread baker in a traditional Goan village.

Ans: Value points -
 Bakers are an important part of Goan community.
 Baker considered as friend, companion and guide.
  Bakers would supply daily requirement of bread – loaves for elderly and
bangles for children.
 Bakers were a part of traditional Goan culture.
 Festivals and occasions were incomplete without different bakery
preparations.

Q. How is bread an important part of life in Goa? Is bread an important part of

Goan life? How do you know this?
Ans: Value points -
 Daily supply of bread loaves was delivered by baker at the doorsteps.
Visited twice a day. Loaves and bangles.
 Festivals and occasions were incomplete without different bakery
preparations.
 Bol, bolinhas, sandwiches, bread.

Q. What do we learn about the financial condition of bakers in Goa?

Ans: Value points -
Baking was indeed a profitable profession in the old days. The baker and his
family never starved. He, his family and his servants always looked happy and
prosperous.

Q. Who invites the comment — ―he is dressed like a pader‖? Why?

Ans: Value points -
Anyone who wears a half pant which reaches just below the knees invites the
comment that he is dressed like a pader.
Baker or paders wore a shirt and trousers which were shorter than full-length
ones and longer than half pants.

Q. Why is Coorg called the land of rolling hills?

Ans: Value points -
 (Rolling hills are small hills with gentle slopes that extend a long way into
the distance).
 Coorg is a hill station in the western ghats.
  The hill slope is gentle and elevation is not very high.
 So, it is called the land of rolling hills

Q. How is the Coorgi tradition of courage and bravery recognized in modern

India?
Ans: Value points -
 Coorgis are a proud race of martial men and beautiful women.
 They are very hospitable and entertain their guests by relating stories of
bravery of their sons and fathers.
 Coorgi soldiers are brave. Coorg regiment is one of the most decorated
ones in the Indian army.
 (General Cariappa) Coorgies are the only people who are permitted to carry
firearms without a license.

Q. What is the story about the Kodavu people‘s descent?

Ans: Value points -
According to one story, the Kodavu people are of Greek descent because a part
of Alexander‘s army moved south and finally settled there because returning
became impractical.

The people of Coorg are also known as the descendants of the Arab because of
the long black coat with an embroidered waist band worn by them. This is called
kuppia in Coorg and resembles the kuffia worn by the Arabs and Kurds.

Q. What scenery did Rajvir notice while sitting in the train and in the tea
estate?
Ans: Value points -
Scenery from the train – It was green, green everywhere. Rajvir had never seen
so much greenery before. Then the soft green paddy fields gave way to tea
bushes. It was a magnificent view. Against the backdrop of densely wooded hills
a sea of tea bushes stretched as far as the eye could see. Dwarfing the tiny tea
plants were tall sturdy shade-trees and amidst the orderly rows of bushes busily
moved doll-like figures. In the distance was an ugly building with smoke billowing
out of tall chimneys.

Scenery at tea estate – On both sides of the gravel-road were acre upon acre of
tea bushes, all neatly pruned to the same height. Groups of tea-pluckers, with
bamboo baskets on their backs, wearing plastic aprons, were plucking the newly
sprouted leaves.

Q. What legends are associated with the origin of tea?

Ans: Value points -
Legends about the origin of tea

1) One about the Chinese emperor who always boiled water before drinking it.
One day a few leaves of the twigs burning under the pot fell into the water
giving it a delicious flavour. It is said they were tea leaves.
2) Indian – Bodhidharma, an ancient Buddhist ascetic, cut off his eyelids
because he felt sleepy during meditations. Ten tea plants grew out of the
eyelids. The leaves of these plants when put in hot water and drunk
banished sleep.

MADAM RIDES THE BUS (-by VALLIKKANNAN )

Q. Imagine you come across a little girl travelling alone in a bus. Write down any
two questions you would ask her and your reasons for asking them.
Ans: I would ask her where her parents were and why were they not
accompanying her. I would also ask her if she needed any help.
I would ask these questions to ensure that the girl was safe. It would be my duty
to assist a lonely child and help her in any way that I could.

Q. If you were to advise Valli on the two things she ought to take with her if she
were travelling alone for the first time, what would they be and why?
Ans: I would advise Valli to carry pepper spray so that she could spray it in the
eyes of any attackers. Another thing that Valli should carry is a mobile phone.
She can be in touch with her family and even call for help, if required.

Q. Do you think Valli‘s mother would have taken her for the bus ride if she had
requested her to do so? Why/ Why not?
Ans: I don‘t think that Valli‘s mother would have taken her for a bus ride. They
were not well off and her mother would consider this to be a wasteful
expenditure. So, she would refuse from the bus ride.

Q. Imagine Valli had to plan a day-long budget trip to a domestic destination for
her family all by herself. What things do you think she would keep in mind while
planning?
Ans: Valli was a mature and responsible girl so she would take care of various
issues while planning the trip. She would calculate the budget- the cost of
travelling, boarding, food and sight seeing. Then she would get information on
the places of interest. She would decide on the mode of conveyance too.

Q. Travelling teaches us many life lessons and enriches us with experiences. You
and your classmate have a discussion on this statement and your love for travel.
Write the dialogue.
You may begin like this… Friend: I think travelling is one of the best ways to
explore not just the world around you but also helps you introspect about life
itself. You: ………………………………………… Friend: Travelling enriches us with so many
varied experiences. You: ………………………………………
Ans: Friend: I think travelling is one of the best ways to explore not just the
world around you but also helps you introspect about life itself.

You: Yes, an it is therapeutic too.

Friend: Travelling enriches us with so many varied experiences.
You: Definitely. Travel is so much different from surfing the internet about the
destination. We get many new experiences.
Friend: The best part is the interaction with the locals.
You: Yes, we learn a new language, get to know the culture and traditions of the
place.
Friend: Tasting the local cuisine is the icing on the cake. I love learning the folk
dances too.
You: On my visit to Goa, I went to the Viva de Carnival. It was a memorable trip!

Q. What details did Valli pick up about the bus journey? How did she pick up
these details?
Ans: Value points -
 Bus fare
 Duration of trip
 Route of the bus
 Listening to conversations of passengers
 Asking neighbours discreet questions

Q. Give examples from the text to show that Valli was a meticulous planner.
Ans: Value points -
 She was intelligent and observant
 Listened to conversations of neighbours
 Asked discreet questions and gathered information about fare, route,
timings, duration of trip
 Saved every single coin

Q. How did Valli react when she saw the dead cow by the roadside?
How does the chapter throw light on the mystery of life and death? How does
Valli see the gap between our knowing that there is death, and our understanding
of it?
Ans: Value points -
 Mystery of life and death
 Valli saw a young cow alive and lively on her way to the town.
 She is cheerful and full of laughter on seeing the cow galloping in front of
the bus.
  Ride towards town is full of life, laughter.
 On return journey, same cow is seen dead, lying on side of the road.
 Splattered with blood, hit by a fast moving vehicle.
 Valli is sad and confused
 Valli is mystified by the concept of death.

Q. What was the most fascinating thing that Valli saw on the street?
Ans: Value points -
The bus service running between her village and the nearest town.

It passed through her street each hour, once going to the town and once coming
back. The sight of the bus, filled each time with a new set of passengers, was a
source of unending joy for Valli. Day after day she watched the bus, and
gradually a tiny wish crept into her head and grew there: she wanted to ride on
that bus, even if just once.

Q. Why does the conductor call Valli ‗madam‘?

Ans: Value points -
 Confidence
 Haughty behaviour
 Does not take help
 Mature
 Irritation and annoyance on being called a child
 The conductor good-humouredly pulls her leg

Q. The author describes the things that Valli sees from an eight-year-old‘s
point of view. Can you find evidence from the text for this statement?
Ans: Value points -
 Valli has no playmates. Stands on the main door and watches the street.
 Her fascination for the bus indicates the desire of an eight year old child.
 Thirty paisa fare is a big amount for her.
 Saves every single coin, resists temptations.
 Plans the trip timings, gathers information
  Her reactions and conversations reflect her child-like nature.
 Becomes sad on seeing the dead cow.

Q. Describe Valli‘s first bus journey.

Ans: Value points -
 Valli‘s meticulous planning
 Boarded bus confidently
 Paid the fare
 Stood from the seat to enjoy the nature (add cow incident, co-passengers‘
conversations and reactions)
 Went till the town
 Did not get down from the bus

THE SERMON AT BENARES (-by BETTY RENSHAW)

Q. Elucidate any one quality that Siddhartha demonstrated when he gave up his
status and family. Explain your choice.
Ans: Siddhartha demonstrated compassion. He felt sympathetic towards others.
He wanted to know the reason behind people‘s suffering. He gave up the princely
life in search of the truth.

Q. Do you think being enlightened placed a far greater responsibility on the

Buddha than being king would have? Justify your stance.
Ans: As Buddha, he owned the responsibility of preaching and educating the
people about the truth that he had realized. Even a king takes care of his people.
But as Buddha, his responsibility was greater because everyone was affected by
it.

Q. The Buddha renounced his worldly life to attain enlightenment. How might the
sermon at Benares have helped Siddhartha Gautama‘s wife if she had heard it?
Ans: The sermon at Benares would help her just like it helped the other
disciples. She would also get to know the biggest truth of life.
Q. How can death be considered an equalizer?
Ans: Death ends suffering for the person. It is the ultimate truth because
everyone has to die one day. It ends all the materialistic needs and wants of a
soul. So, we can call it an equalizer.

Q. Kisa understood the temporality of life as she sat at the wayside watching
the city lights. Can you think of any other object or phenomenon, natural or
manmade, that might similarly reflect the fragile nature of human life? Justify
your choice.
Ans: Other natural phenomena which indicate the temporality of life are
earthquakes, floods, cloudbursts. These are sudden happenings and cannot be
predicted. The amount of damage and destruction caused can be immense. Thus,
they imply that life is temporary.

Q. Grief is often seen as a measure of love. Do you think the Buddha‘s sermon
undermines a mother‘s love? Justify your response.
Ans: Kisa was a mother who had lost her only child. She was in grief and was
unable to accept this great loss. Buddha‘s sermon does not undermine a mother‘s
love. It tries to make the mother realize the bitter truth of life. She has to
accept this harsh reality.

Q. What message might the Buddha‘s story hold for those who are in positions of
power and privilege?
Ans: The story gives a message that life is temporary and death is inevitable. It
can happen to anyone – rich or poor, old or young. So, we must do noble deeds,
help the downtrodden and not misuse our powers and privileges.

Q. Sermon at Benares could just as well be considered another glimpse of India.

If it were part of the story ‗Glimpses of India‘, what ideas, values, and/ or
experiences would it highlight? How would you present this historical part of
India?
Ans: We could present this Historical part of India as ―The Spiritual Benares‖.
  Benares city is considered holy due to the holy Ganga river.
 Gautam Buddha history can be added
 The first sermon was delivered at Benares.
 Add teachings and Kisa‘s story.
Conclude with Buddhism and India relation – Bodh Gaya, Benares, Sarnath.

Q. How did Kisa Gotami realize that life and death is a normal process?
Ans: Value points –
When Kisa did not find even a single home that had not lost a beloved to death,
she realized that death is inevitable. She realized that the entire world is in pain
and suffering. Acceptance is the only way out of this suffering.

Q. How did Buddha teach Kisa Gotami the truth of life?

Ans: Value points -
 Kisa‘s only child was dead but she was not able to accept this.
 She reached Buddha, he asked her to get a handful of mustard seeds. She
was glad that these would save her son. He added a condition that the
seeds should be from such a house that has not lost a child, husband,
parent or friend.
 She could not find any such house.
 Wherever she went, they said that she had reminded them of their
deepest grief.
 Thus, Kisa realized the ultimate truth of life, that death is inevitable,
every mortal has to die. Life is full of pain and suffering. Acceptance is the
only way to get peace of mind.

Q. What made Kisa Gotami compare the man‘s life with the lights of the city?
Ans: Value points -
 Kisa sat by the road, sad, weary, hopeless.
 Looked at the city pondering over the fate of mankind. Saw the flickering
lights followed by darkness.
 She drew a similarity between man‘s life and city lights – both grew,
flickered and extinguished.
  Thus, she became aware of the truth of life.

Q. Through ‗The Sermon at Benaras‘ Lord Buddha exhorts us that death is

inevitable and we need to overcome the suffering and pain that follows after the
death of a dear and near one. How did Gautam Buddha explain this truth of life
in his sermon?
Ans: Value points -
 Life – ripe fruits (danger of falling).
 Mortals in danger of death. Earthen pots bound to break.
 Dead do not come back to life by grieving or lamenting.
 Peace of mind by overcoming grief.
 Wise – do not grieve – life is temporary.
 Death is common to all – understanding this makes it easier to accept the
loss of a loved one.

Q. Why did Buddha choose Benaras to preach his first sermon?

Ans: Value points -
 Most holy place, on banks of sacred river Ganges
 Many people come to get rid of sorrows and sufferings, to repent for their
sins.
 Buddha wanted to lessen their sorrows and sufferings and so, he chose
Benaras.

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