HS 1ST YEAR ENGLISH NOTES
the thought was almost revolting – The thought that the author’s grandmother was once young and pretty raises a doubt in the mind of the author. He finds it too hard to believe.
an expanse of pure white serenity – It refers to the calm, peaceful and serene character and conduct of the author’s grandmother. She is compared to the peaceful winter landscape in the mountains.
a turning-point – It refers to the point where the author’s relationship with his grandmother changes drastically after they move to the city-house.
accepted her seclusion with resignation – This shows the author’s grandmother’s passive submission to her secluded life after she gradually loses touch with her grandson.
a veritable bedlam of chirruping – It refers to the noise, confusion and chaos caused by the chirruping of the sparrows that scattered and perched around the author’s grandmother.
frivolous rebukes – It refers to the casual and light-hearted rebukes of the grandmother to the sparrows.
the sagging skins of the dilapidated drum – It points to the shabby and deteriorated condition of the drum.
Page No: 6
1. Mention the three phases of the author’s relationship with his grandmother before he left the country to study abroad.
Answer
The three phases of the author’s relationship with his grandmother before he left the country to study abroad are given below.
The first phase was the period of the author’s early childhood. During this phase, he used to live with his grandmother in the village. The grandmother used to take care of him from waking him up and getting him ready to accompanying him to the school. Both shared a good friendship with each other.
The second phase was the time when the author and the grandmother moved to the city to live with author’s parents. This was a turning-point in their friendship because now they ‘saw less of each other’.
The third phase was the time the author joined University. He was given a room of his own and the common link of their friendship was snapped. The grandmother turns to wheel-spinning and reciting prayers all day long. She accepts her seclusion with silence.
The three ways in which the author's grandmother spent her days after he grew up are by spinning wheel, reciting prayers and feeding the sparrows.
4. Mention the odd way in which the author’s grandmother behaved just before she died.
Answer
The grandmother told the family that her end was near. She had omitted to pray, she was not going to waste any more time talking to us. She lay peacefully in bed praying and telling her beads.
5. Mention the way in which the sparrows expressed their sorrow when the author’s grandmother died.
Answer
The sparrows and the grandmother developed an intimate relationship in this manner. When the grandmother died thousands of sparrows expressed their sorrow by sitting scattered in the verandah in mourning while grandmother’s dead-body lay there. They did not chirrup. Author’s mother threw some pieces of bread but they did not eat them. When they carried grandmother’s corpse they flew away quietly. Thus, the sparrows mourned her death and paid their silent tribute to the grand old lady in a very unique manner.
Talking about the Text
1. The author’s grandmother was a religious person. What are the different ways in which we come to know this?
Answer
The author’s grandmother was a religious lady with a kind heart. Her one hand was always busy in telling the beads of her rosary. Her lips constantly moved in an inaudible prayer. She used to get up early in the morning. She did her morning prayer in “a monotonous sing-song”. Everyday, she went along with the author to his school and while narrator studied she sat in a temple and read scriptures Later, in the city she was unhappy that there was no religous teaching at school. Before dying, she stopped talking to her family members and turned to prayers, and counting the beads.
2. Describe the changing relationship between the author and his grandmother. Did their feelings for each other change?
Answer
The changing circumstances did have a bearing on the relationship between the author and his grandmother. Author and his grandmother lived as intimate friends in the village. A turning point came in their relationship when they came to the city to live with author’s parents. The author joined an English school in the city. She remained confined to home as here she could not accompany him to the school. In the new English school she could not help him in studies. She could not like the kind of education being given to the author at the English school. The grandmother became disturbed as there was no teaching about God and scriptures in the new school. She reconciled herself with spinning and taking to feed the sparrows. When the narrator grew up, he went up to university and then went abroad. The common link of friendship between the author and his grandmother was snapped. His grandmother accepted her seclusion with resignation.
No, their feelings for each other did not change though distances grew between them.
3. Would you agree that the author’s grandmother was a person strong in character? If yes, give instances that show this.
Answer
Yes, the author’s grandmother was a person strong in character. The instances to prove this are given below.
► The author’s grandmother was a person strong in character. She was a picture of contentment.
4. Have you known someone like the author’s grandmother? Do you feel the same sense of loss with regard to someone whom you have loved and lost?
Answer
Yes, I knew someone like the author’s grandmother. It was my own grandmother who passed away recently. The intense sense of loss is very heart-wrenching as I spent almost fifteen years of my life with her.
Answer
1. Make something known to someone in spoken or written words: I would tell her English words and little things of western science and learning.
2. Count while reciting: Her fingers were busy telling the beads of her rosary.
3. Be sure: At her age, one could never tell.
4. Give information to somebody: She told us that her end was near.
Page No: 8
2. Notice the different senses of the word ‘take’.
1. to take tosomething: to begin to do something as a habit
2. to take ill: to suddenly become ill
Locate these phrases in the text and notice the way they are used.
Answer
The instances where these phrases have been used in the story are given below.
1. “... she took to feeding sparrows in the courtyard of our city house”.
This phrase refers to the daily activity that the author’s grandmother took up when they shifted to the city.
2. “The next morning she was taken ill.”
This phrase refers to the author’s grandmother’s sudden illness.
3. The word ‘hobble’ means to walk with difficulty because the legs and feet are in bad condition. Tick the words in the box below that also refer to a manner of walking.
Answer
Chapter 1, Hornbill
THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY by Khushwant Singh
1.
Why was it hard for the author to believe that his grandmother had
once
been young and pretty?
2.
The author and his grandmother were good friends. Support your answer
with
suitable examples.
3.
Why was the grandmother distressed with education in city school?
4.
What change came over the grandmother when the author returned home from
abroad?
5.
How do the sparrows react at the death of the author’s grandmother?
6.
How do you know that the author’s grandmother was a religious lady?
7.
How did the grand mother pass her time in her city home?
8.
Why does the narrator call his grandmother a ‘winter landscape’?
Grandmother
has been portrayed as a strong lady and an affectionate grandmother.
Write
a brief character sketch of the grandmother in the light of above statement?
2.
How was grandmother’s life in the city different from her life in the village?
3.
Describe the three phases of the author’s relationship with his grandmother
before
he
went abroad for further studies?
Answers of NCERT English
Textbook Exercise (Important) Questions
Understanding
the Text
Q.1: Mention:
Three phases of the author’s relationship with his grandmother before he left
the country to study abroad.
Answer:
The first phase of the author’s relationship with his grandmother is the
author’s childhood when they lived together in the village. They enjoyed
intimate relationship and were good friends. His parents left him with her and
they went to live in the city. They were constantly together. She used to wake
him up in the morning and get him ready for school. Then she would fetch his
wooden slate, a tiny earthen inkpot and a red pen. After a breakfast she
accompanied him to the school. She carried several chapattis for the village
dogs. She used to stay in the temple that was attached to school. After school
hours they would walk back together.
The second phase
of their relationship began with their being called to the city. That was a
turning point in their friendship. He used to go to an English school in a
motor bus. The grandmother did not go to school with him. She remained confined
to home. As the years rolled by they saw less of each other. She did not like
the English school as there was no teaching about God and scriptures there. She
hated western science and music.
The third phase
of this relationship started with the author’s going to university. There he
was given a room of his own. The common link of their friendship was snapped.
His grandmother accepted her seclusion with
resignation.
Q.2: Mention:
Three reasons why the author’s grandmother was disturbed when he started going
to the city school.
Answer:
The narrator used to go to an English school in city. He used to go in a motor
bus. Here the author’s grandmother could not accompany him to the school as she
used to do in the village. She remained confined to home. The grandmother felt
quite disturbed.
Three most
disturbing reasons for her were –
1. Author’s
telling her the English words and western science which she did not understand
nor could she help him in his studies.
2. No teaching
about God and scriptures in the school.
3. Music lessons
given to the author in the school as she considered music is fit only for
harlots and beggars and not meant for gentle folks.
Q.3: Mention:
Three ways in which the author’s grandmother spent her days after he grew up.
Answer:
The intimacy between the narrator and his grandmother started to fade away
since they came to city where the author joined an English school. When the
narrator grew up, he went up to university and lived in hostel. After that the
common link of friendship between the author and his grandmother was snapped.
The grandmother accepted it as her fate and found out new ways of spending her
time:
1. She now spent
most of her time at the spinning-wheel from morning till evening. From sunrise
to sunset she sat by the spinning-wheel and rarely talked to anyone.
2. While
spinning, she continued reciting prayers and rarely talked to anyone.
3. The third way
in which the old lady spent her time was by feeding the sparrows. She would sit
in the verandah. She would break the bread into little bits and throw them
towards hundreds of little birds gathered around her. They came and perched on
her legs and shoulders. Feeding the sparrows used to be the happiest half-hour
of the day for her.
Q.4: Mention:
The odd ways in which the author’s grandmother behaved just before she died.
Answer:
Before the grandmother died, a change came over her. Her behaviour became quite
odd. She collected the women of the neighborhood, took a broken drum and sang
of home-coming of warriors the whole day. She did not pray that day which used
to be her daily work. She was very much excited. Other family members had to
persuade her to stop to avoid over straining. That was the first time that she
did not pray.
The next morning
she got a mild fever. She herself declared that her end was near and continued
praying without wasting any time by talking to others. She lay peacefully in
bed praying and telling her beads. Her lips stopped moving. The rosary fell
from her lifeless fingers. Her face turned pale. Everyone understood that she
was no more.
Q.5: Mention:
The ways in which the sparrows expressed their sorrow when the author’s
grandmother died.
Answer:
Feeding the sparrows was the happiest hour of the day for grandmother. The
sparrows and the old lady developed an intimate relationship in this manner.
When the grandmother died thousands of sparrows expressed their sorrow by
sitting scattered in the verandah in mourning while grandmother’s dead-body lay
there. They did not chirrup. Author’s mother threw some pieces of bread but
they did not eat them. When they carried grandmother’s corpse they flew away
quietly.
Thus, the
sparrows mourned her death and paid their silent tribute to the grand old lady
in a very unique manner.
Talking about
the Text
Q.1: The
author’s grandmother was a religious person. What are the different ways in
which we come to know this?
Answer:
The author’s grandmother was a highly religious lady. Her one hand was always
busy in telling the beads of her rosary. Her lips constantly moved in an
inaudible prayer. She used to get up early in the morning. She did her morning
prayer in “a monotonous sing-song”. In village, she accompanied the author to
the school and in stead of returning home, she used to sit in a temple reading
scriptures which was attached to the school.
It was because
of her religious nature that she could not like the new English school in the
city. She was unhappy because there was no teaching about God and scriptures at
the city-school. Being a religious lady and a widow, she could be seen hobbling
about the house in a spotless white dress.
When she
realized that her end was near, she stopped talking. She lay peacefully in bed
praying and telling her beads till she took her last breathes.
Q.2: Describe
the changing relationship between the author and his grandmother. Did their
feeling for each other change?
Answer:
The changing circumstances did have a bearing on the relationship between the
author and his grandmother. Author and his grandmother lived as intimate
friends in the village. A turning point came in their relationship when they
came to the city to live with author’s parents. The author joined an English
school in the city. She remained confined to home as here she could not
accompany him to the school. In the new English school she could not help him
in studies. She could not like the kind of education being given to the author
at the English school. The grandmother became disturbed as there was no
teaching about God and scriptures in the new school. She reconciled herself
with spinning and taking to feed the sparrows. When the narrator grew up, he
went up to university and then went abroad. The common link of friendship
between the author and his grandmother was snapped. His grandmother accepted
her seclusion with resignation.
No, their
feelings for each other did not change though distances grew between them.
Q.3: Would you
agree that the author’s grandmother was a person strong in character? If yes,
give instances that show this.
Answer:
Yes, it is a fact that the grandmother was a very strong personality.
She was a highly
religious lady. She was a conservative lady who hated modern views and ways.
She had very strong personal likings and dislikes. Being a religious lady and a
widow, she could be seen hobbling about the house in a spotless white dress.
She used to get up early in the morning. She said her prayers in a monotonous
sing-song. One of her hands was always telling the beads of her rosary.
According to the author, she was a symbol of white serenity. She had peace and
contentment.
She had certain
rigid ideas about life. She liked the village school because it was attached to
the temple. She sat in the temple reading the scriptures. She hated the English
school in the city for various reasons. She was unhappy that there was no
teaching about God and the scriptures there. She was quite disturbed. They gave
music lessons at the school. She considered it fit only for harlots and beggars
and not meant for “gentle folks”. When the author returned from abroad after
five years, he found her in the same condition.
Before she died,
she herself declared that her end was near. There were some unique changes in
her behaviour. She lay peacefully in bed praying and telling her beads.
It is quite
difficult to show complete agreement with her outdated views. But she was a
strong and determined character. She led her own kind of life and never
compromised with her principals. She loved the narrator deeply but never tried
to be sentimental or emotional. She had a lasting
Short
Answer Questions
QUESTION.1: What
does Khushwant Singh describe in ‘The Portrait Of A Lady’ ?
Answer:
In ‘The Portrait Of A Lady’, Khushwant Singh draws a pen picture of his beloved
grandmother. He describes the relationship he enjoyed with her and the changes
that occurred in their bond with time, as the years passed.
QUESTION.2: How
could the grandmother be ‘beautiful’ without being pretty ?
Answer:
Grandmother was never a physically attractive women but she reflected a divine
beauty from within. She was a symbol of peace, serenity and contentment. Her
novel virtues gave her a spiritual beauty.
QUESTION.3: What
was the turning point of their friendship ?
Answer:
The narrator’s parents sent for them and they shifted to the city. It was the
turning point in their friendship. Grandmother could not accompany him to the
English or help him in his studies. She saw less of him and the distance grew.
QUESTION.4: What
opinion did the grandmother form of the English school in the city ?
Answer:
The grandmother did not like the English school in the city. She was sad that
they did not teach anything about God and the scriptures. Nor was she interested
in science. She hated music lessons given in the school.
QUESTION.5: How
were the grandmother and the narrator good and intimate friends in the village
?
Answer:
Grandmother woke her grandson up every morning and got him ready for school.
She gave him breakfast, got him his slate, ink-pot and accompanied him to
school. He was entirely dependent on her.
QUESTION.6: Why
did the grandmother hate music ?
Answer:
Grandmother considered that music was indecent and was meant for harlots and
beggars. It was not meant for gentle folk or school children from respectable
families.
QUESTION.7: How
did the sparrows mourn the death of grandmother ?
Answer:
The sparrows gathered in thousands around grandmother’s dead body. They did not
chirrup or touch the crumbs of bread thrown to them. They seemed to mourn her
death in silence and flew away when her body was taken away for
cremation.
QUESTION.8: How
did the grandmother celebrate the homecoming of her grandson ?
Answer:
Grandmother was overjoyed at the homecoming of her grandson. She collected the
women of neighborhood and was in the mood of celebration. She beat the drum and
sang for hours about the homecoming of warriors. She even forgot to pray.
QUESTION.9: Why
did the grandmother stop talking before her death ?
Answer:
The old lady was taken ill. She had a mild fever. The doctor told her that she
would be alright soon. But the grandmother declared that her end was near. She
forgot to pray the last evening. She was not going to waste anymore time
talking to them.
Long Answer Questions
QUESTION.1: Describe in brief the pen picture of the
narrator’s grandmother highlighting her noble qualities.
Answer: Khushwant Singh presents his grandmother as a symbol of
love, care and affection. She was a highly religious and conservative lady but,
a woman of generosity and nobility. she was like everybody’s grandmother,
loving her grandson immensely and caring for him with deep love and
concern. She was not physically attractive. She was old, fat and short with a
stoop and hobbled about the house with her hand supporting waist, reciting her
prayers and telling her beads. In the village, she was actively involved in her
grandson’s life but when they shifted to the city, the bond of friendship was
broken. Yet, she presented she presented a picture of peace and contentment
always.
Her love for animals was reflected in the way she fed the
dogs and sparrows. She did not like the English school but, never interfered.
She accepted every decision of her grandson regarding his life with a calm and
composed manner. Even in death, she achieved peace and
contentment.
QUESTION.2: Describe the intimate relationship of grandmother
with the sparrows. How did the sparrows mourn her death ?
Answer: Grandmother had love and compassion for animals. In the
village, she fed the street dogs with bits of chapattis. In the city, she took
to feeding the sparrows. She would sit in the verandah in the afternoons and
break the bread into small crumbs. She would throw these crumbs to the hundreds
of sparrows that gathered around her. They would perch themselves on her legs,
shoulders and even on her head and feel the air with their noisy chirruping. It
was the happiest half-hour of the day for her.
On the death of grandmother, the sparrows paid a silent
tribute to her. Thousands gathered around her dead body. They did not chirrup
or accept the bread crumbs given by mother. They mourned her death in silence
and flew away after her body was taken away for
cremation.
QUESTION.3: Describe the friendship between Khushwant Singh
and his grandmother.
Answer: Khushwant Singh’s grandmother was closely involved in
bringing him up when the author lived with her in the village during his early
life. She used to wake him up early in the morning. While bathing and dressing
him, she sang her prayers, she hoped that the young boy would learn it by
heart. She then gave him breakfast – a stale chapatti with butter and sugar.
Then they would go together to the temple and school. While the author learnt
his lesson, the grandmother would holy books. They returned home together.
A turning point came in their friendship when his parents
called them to city. Although they shared a room, she could not help him much.
She hated music, science and western education. The common link of their
friendship was gradually snapped.
r Class 11th: Ch 1 The
Portrait of Lady Hornbill English
By Khushwant Singh
Page No: 3
1.Notice these expressions
in the text. Infer their meaning from the context.
the thought was almost
revolting
an expanse of pure white
serenity
a turning-point
accepted her seclusion
with resignation
a veritable bedlam of
chirrupings
frivolous rebukes
the sagging skins of the
dilapidated drum
Answer
the thought was almost revolting – The thought that the author’s grandmother was once young and pretty raises a doubt in the mind of the author. He finds it too hard to believe.
an expanse of pure white serenity – It refers to the calm, peaceful and serene character and conduct of the author’s grandmother. She is compared to the peaceful winter landscape in the mountains.
a turning-point – It refers to the point where the author’s relationship with his grandmother changes drastically after they move to the city-house.
accepted her seclusion with resignation – This shows the author’s grandmother’s passive submission to her secluded life after she gradually loses touch with her grandson.
a veritable bedlam of chirruping – It refers to the noise, confusion and chaos caused by the chirruping of the sparrows that scattered and perched around the author’s grandmother.
frivolous rebukes – It refers to the casual and light-hearted rebukes of the grandmother to the sparrows.
the sagging skins of the dilapidated drum – It points to the shabby and deteriorated condition of the drum.
Page No: 6
Understanding the Text
1. Mention the three phases of the author’s relationship with his grandmother before he left the country to study abroad.
Answer
The three phases of the author’s relationship with his grandmother before he left the country to study abroad are given below.
The first phase was the period of the author’s early childhood. During this phase, he used to live with his grandmother in the village. The grandmother used to take care of him from waking him up and getting him ready to accompanying him to the school. Both shared a good friendship with each other.
The second phase was the time when the author and the grandmother moved to the city to live with author’s parents. This was a turning-point in their friendship because now they ‘saw less of each other’.
The third phase was the time the author joined University. He was given a room of his own and the common link of their friendship was snapped. The grandmother turns to wheel-spinning and reciting prayers all day long. She accepts her seclusion with silence.
2. Mention three reasons
why the author’s grandmother was disturbed when he started going to the city
school.
Answer
The author’s grandmother was disturbed when he
started going to the city school because:
(i) She could not help him with his lessons in English, science. She didn't believe in them.
(ii) No teaching of God and scriptures.
(iii) She was unhappy with the idea of music lessons being given at school. She considered music suitable only for the people with low dignity.
Page No: 7
3.Mention three ways in which the author’s grandmother spent her days after he grew up.
(i) She could not help him with his lessons in English, science. She didn't believe in them.
(ii) No teaching of God and scriptures.
(iii) She was unhappy with the idea of music lessons being given at school. She considered music suitable only for the people with low dignity.
Page No: 7
3.Mention three ways in which the author’s grandmother spent her days after he grew up.
Answer
The three ways in which the author's grandmother spent her days after he grew up are by spinning wheel, reciting prayers and feeding the sparrows.
4. Mention the odd way in which the author’s grandmother behaved just before she died.
Answer
The grandmother told the family that her end was near. She had omitted to pray, she was not going to waste any more time talking to us. She lay peacefully in bed praying and telling her beads.
5. Mention the way in which the sparrows expressed their sorrow when the author’s grandmother died.
Answer
The sparrows and the grandmother developed an intimate relationship in this manner. When the grandmother died thousands of sparrows expressed their sorrow by sitting scattered in the verandah in mourning while grandmother’s dead-body lay there. They did not chirrup. Author’s mother threw some pieces of bread but they did not eat them. When they carried grandmother’s corpse they flew away quietly. Thus, the sparrows mourned her death and paid their silent tribute to the grand old lady in a very unique manner.
Talking about the Text
1. The author’s grandmother was a religious person. What are the different ways in which we come to know this?
Answer
The author’s grandmother was a religious lady with a kind heart. Her one hand was always busy in telling the beads of her rosary. Her lips constantly moved in an inaudible prayer. She used to get up early in the morning. She did her morning prayer in “a monotonous sing-song”. Everyday, she went along with the author to his school and while narrator studied she sat in a temple and read scriptures Later, in the city she was unhappy that there was no religous teaching at school. Before dying, she stopped talking to her family members and turned to prayers, and counting the beads.
2. Describe the changing relationship between the author and his grandmother. Did their feelings for each other change?
Answer
The changing circumstances did have a bearing on the relationship between the author and his grandmother. Author and his grandmother lived as intimate friends in the village. A turning point came in their relationship when they came to the city to live with author’s parents. The author joined an English school in the city. She remained confined to home as here she could not accompany him to the school. In the new English school she could not help him in studies. She could not like the kind of education being given to the author at the English school. The grandmother became disturbed as there was no teaching about God and scriptures in the new school. She reconciled herself with spinning and taking to feed the sparrows. When the narrator grew up, he went up to university and then went abroad. The common link of friendship between the author and his grandmother was snapped. His grandmother accepted her seclusion with resignation.
No, their feelings for each other did not change though distances grew between them.
3. Would you agree that the author’s grandmother was a person strong in character? If yes, give instances that show this.
Answer
Yes, the author’s grandmother was a person strong in character. The instances to prove this are given below.
► The author’s grandmother was a person strong in character. She was a picture of contentment.
► She
had her own thoughts about the learning at school. She considered the teaching
of scriptures to be more fruitful than science and music.
► In her phase of loneliness and seclusion, she took to wheel-spinning and feeding sparrows.
She appeared composed and did not display any emotion when the author decided to go abroad for studies.
► Ignoring everyone who tried to stop her, she sang for several hours celebrating the home-coming of her grandson.
► During the last few hours of her life, ignoring the protests of her family members, she stopped talking to everyone and took to reciting prayers and telling her beads.
► In her phase of loneliness and seclusion, she took to wheel-spinning and feeding sparrows.
She appeared composed and did not display any emotion when the author decided to go abroad for studies.
► Ignoring everyone who tried to stop her, she sang for several hours celebrating the home-coming of her grandson.
► During the last few hours of her life, ignoring the protests of her family members, she stopped talking to everyone and took to reciting prayers and telling her beads.
4. Have you known someone like the author’s grandmother? Do you feel the same sense of loss with regard to someone whom you have loved and lost?
Answer
Yes, I knew someone like the author’s grandmother. It was my own grandmother who passed away recently. The intense sense of loss is very heart-wrenching as I spent almost fifteen years of my life with her.
OR
No, I have never known someone the way the author
knew his grandmother. Thus, I have never felt the sense of grief presented in
the story.
Thinking about the Language
1. Which language do you think the author and his grandmother used while talking to each other?
Answer
The author and his grandmother might have used their mother-tongue to converse with each other. As the author, Khushwant Singh, belongs to Punjab, the language used by them might be Punjabi.
2. Which language do you use to talk to elderly relatives in your family?
Answer
Your Mothertongue (Could be English, Hindi, Telgu, Bhojpuri etc.)
3. How would you say ‘a dilapidated drum’ in your language?
Answer
Know your meaning in mothertongue (In Hindi it is ‘phata-hua dholak’.)
Working with Words
1. Notice the following uses of the word ‘tell’ in the text.
Thinking about the Language
1. Which language do you think the author and his grandmother used while talking to each other?
Answer
The author and his grandmother might have used their mother-tongue to converse with each other. As the author, Khushwant Singh, belongs to Punjab, the language used by them might be Punjabi.
2. Which language do you use to talk to elderly relatives in your family?
Answer
Your Mothertongue (Could be English, Hindi, Telgu, Bhojpuri etc.)
3. How would you say ‘a dilapidated drum’ in your language?
Answer
Know your meaning in mothertongue (In Hindi it is ‘phata-hua dholak’.)
Working with Words
1. Notice the following uses of the word ‘tell’ in the text.
1. Her fingers were busy
telling the beads of her rosary.
2. I would tell herEnglish words and little things of Western science and learning.
3. At her age one could never tell.
4. She told usthat her end was near.
Given below are four different senses of the word ‘tell’. Match the meanings to the uses listed above.
2. I would tell herEnglish words and little things of Western science and learning.
3. At her age one could never tell.
4. She told usthat her end was near.
Given below are four different senses of the word ‘tell’. Match the meanings to the uses listed above.
1. make something known
to someone in spoken or written words
2. count while reciting
3. be sure
4. give information to somebody
2. count while reciting
3. be sure
4. give information to somebody
Answer
1. Make something known to someone in spoken or written words: I would tell her English words and little things of western science and learning.
2. Count while reciting: Her fingers were busy telling the beads of her rosary.
3. Be sure: At her age, one could never tell.
4. Give information to somebody: She told us that her end was near.
Page No: 8
2. Notice the different senses of the word ‘take’.
1. to take tosomething: to begin to do something as a habit
2. to take ill: to suddenly become ill
Locate these phrases in the text and notice the way they are used.
Answer
The instances where these phrases have been used in the story are given below.
1. “... she took to feeding sparrows in the courtyard of our city house”.
This phrase refers to the daily activity that the author’s grandmother took up when they shifted to the city.
2. “The next morning she was taken ill.”
This phrase refers to the author’s grandmother’s sudden illness.
3. The word ‘hobble’ means to walk with difficulty because the legs and feet are in bad condition. Tick the words in the box below that also refer to a manner of walking.
|
haggle
|
shuffle
|
stride
|
ride
|
waddle
|
|
wriggle
|
paddle
|
swagger
|
trudge
|
slog
|
Answer
The words that also refer to a manner of walking
are:
shuffle
stride
waddle
paddle
swagger
trudge
slog
shuffle
stride
waddle
paddle
swagger
trudge
slog
