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Haryana State Board HBSE 10th Class English Solutions First Flight Poem 5 The Ball Poem Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

Haryana Board 10th Class English Solutions First Flight Poem 5 The Ball Poem

HBSE 10th Class English The Ball Poem Textbook Questions and Answers

Thinking about the Poem

1. Why does the poet say, “I would not intrude on him”? Why doesn’t he offer him money to buy another ball?
Answer:
The poet says so because the boy has lost his ball. He is quite unhappy. He wants the boy to learn the meaning of loss on his own. He does not offer him money to buy another ball because according to him, money or another ball is worthless. The boy was trying to understand his responsibility because he had lost something, which could not be brought back.

2. staring down/All his young days into the harbour where/His ball went…”
Do you think the boy has had the ball for a long time? Is it linked to the memories of days when he played with it?
Answer:
Yes, it seems like the boy has had the ball for a long time. He had more affection with the ball. When it bounced into the water, all his memories of the childhood days flashed in his mind. This led to a realisation that those moments would not come back, just like the ball. He can buy new balls but the moments which had gone would never come again.

3. What does “in the world of possessions” mean?
Answer:
“In the world of possessions” means the materialistic world. Here everything and every action is made to possess something, whether it is the possession of land, property, money, or anything else. This would make the boy realise that this is the world of possessions where one can possess more things by buying them. One cannot buy what has been lost.

4. Do you think the boy has lost anything earlier? Pick out the words that suggest the answer.
Answer:
No, it seems that the boy has not lost anything earlier. The words that suggest so are ‘He senses first responsibility, in the world of possessions’.

5. What does the poet say the boy is learning from the loss of the ball? Try to explain this in your own words.
Answer:
The poet suggests that from the loss of the ball, the boy is just learning about the loss and how it hurts. The boy gets upset with this loss. The boy is learning what it means to lose something. Every man has to stand up after such losses. The boy too will learn how to stand up and leave the losses behind as he would have understood the true meaning and nature of loss.

6. Have you ever lost something you liked very much? Write a paragraph describing how you felt then, and saying whether — and how — you got over your loss.
Answer:
Yes, I have lost numerous things, but the loss of a dictionary really shocked me. The price of money does not matter here but the dictionary of Dr. Kamil Bulke – from English to Hindi really was an indispensable book to me, because I had leamt a lot of words and their uses from it. It not only enriched my vocabulary but also helped me learn idioms and phrases. I had bought it by saving my pocket money, that is why I really liked it much. Finally my loss was compensated. One of my friends suggested me to go to the store where I got an old piece of dictionary. I got really happy and purchased it. This way I overcome the loss.

HBSE 10th Class English The Ball Poem Important Questions and Answers

I. Short Answer Type Questions (20-30 words & 2 marks each)

Question 1.
How was the ball valuable for the boy?
Answer:
The ball was valuable for the boy is obvious from his reaction after losing it. He was much disappointed, dejected, shocked, fixed and stared at the place constantly where the ball had fallen.

Question 2.
What responsibility is the poet referring to?
Answer:
The poet is referring to the responsibility of the boy, who lost his ball and then stands up and bears the loss through self-understanding.

Question 3.
Write the sum and substance of the poem ‘The Ball Poem’.
Answer:
The poet, John Berryman tells us how quickly our childhood can go, like the pace at which the ball is lost in the poem and how at times we must face the hardships like loss unsuspectingly in our life.

Question 4.
What is the boy’s state of mind at the loss of his ball?
Answer:
The boy is very disturbed at the loss of his ball. He keeps staring at the ball with his desperate eyes.

II. Short Answer Type Questions (40-50 words & 3 marks each)

Question 1.
“And no one buys a ball back. Money is external.” What does these lines denote?
Answer:
These lines denote that no one can buy something that is lost for good. Here, the poet has compared money with an external thing. Nobody can buy the boy that very ball which he has lost. Money is a medium of possessing things. Even money cannot buy a ball back to the boy. The poet wants to make the boy aware of the loss.

Question 2.
What message does the poet want to convey through ‘The Ball Poem’?
Answer:
The poet has given a very positive message through the poem. He has tried to convey that gain and loss are the part and parcel of life. But one must be aware about the knowledge of loss. We may repent over the losses we have suffered from. But one must try to face even the adverse circumstances with good stead.

Question 3.
How did the boy react to the loss of the ball or was he fearful of something? Explain on the basis of the poem.
Answer:
When the ball of the boy lost, he was very upset. He was not fearful of anyone. He was really shocked, grief-stricken and disappointed. The ball might be a little thing and easily available, but the loss of the ball taught a lesson to the boy. Money can give only external happiness and satisfaction. It can not give us emotional satisfaction.

Question 4.
Write the theme of the poem, ‘The Ball Poem’.
Answer:
Each individual has fascination for something. But if we lose something that we love, we
should not feel disappointed, desperate and dejected. We should just try to bear the loss through our understanding. This is what the poem is all about.

Question 5.
Why does the poet say, “Balls will be lost always”?
Answer:
Here, balls symbolise man’s possession. These are dearer to us than the others. But nothing is permanent in this world. Everything is transitory. When we lose something, we suffer from a sense of loss. It happens in everyone’s life. That is why the poet says the ball will always be lost.

Question 6.
Why did the poet not console the boy?
Answer:
There are two reasons behind it. Firstly, the boy was too shocked and grief-stricken to know about the loss of the ball. Secondly, the boy was trying to bear the loss on his own through self-understanding which is much more lasting. Due to these reasons, the poet did not console the boy.

III. Long Answer Type Questions (100-120 words & 5 marks each)

Question 1.
What is the epistemology of loss in this world of possessions? How far has the child learned to stand up in life? Substantiate it on the basis of the poem.
Answer:
The poet has tried to show that gain or loss are the part and parcel of life. These are the two facets of the same coin. At the loss of his ball, the boy is very depressed and dejected. It is not only the matter of an ordinary ball but the boy’s association and memories with the ball. The ball once lost will be lost for ever. But what is the ultimate solution to this problem? In this materialistic world, it is the notion of people that money can buy everything. But this notion is totally wrong. Money has its own limitations. It can compensate the financial losses to certain extent but it can not compensate the losses that a person suffers emotionally or internally. No money can buy back that ball that has been lost for good. It cannot buy even the lost childhood. But even in the adverse circumstances, the boy will have to stand in good stead. He must not repent over the losses. On the contrary, he should have to go ahead in his life.

Question 2.
Elaborate the idea that “one should learn to accept and let go and not stick to something that we can not have.”
Answer:
It is important for everyone to experience to accept the loss and be bold and get on with life. Staying strong is the only way to survive. One should understand that the past is gone and will never come back. Sometimes loss helps us to grow up and we are able to face hardships like loss. We also leam to accept and let go and not to stick to something which we can not have.

Question 3.
Why is it important for everyone to experience loss and to stand up after it?
Answer:
It is important for everyone to experience loss and to stand up after it in order to be strong and to get on with life. One must be strong irrespective of how much it hurts inside. Staying strong is the only way to survive. Moreover, one needs to leam to accept and let go and not cling to something that they can never have. One should understand that the past is gone and it will never come back. Sometimes loss helps us to grow up and face hardships. So, we must look at it with positive perspective.

Question 4.
I would not intrude on him,
A time, another ball, is worthless. Now
He senses first responsibility
In a world of possession.
On the basis of the given passage, what message does the poet want to convey through this?
Answer:
Through this, the poet has tried to convey that this world is materialistic. The boy who has lost his ball must understand the profoundness or intensity of loss. Although the ball is a small thing and it does not matter if it gets lost, he must understand to take the responsibility from the very beginning of his life. Another ball is worthless for the boy. Because he has lost something dear to him. He suffers from a sense of loss. He senses responsibility when his possessed ball is lost. The main thing that the poet wants to convey to us is that money cannot compensate for the loss of boy. Through this the poet also realises what is his first responsibility in such a world. The boy must inculcate the value of loss or gain from his childhood because then only he can become a sensible and rational man in the latter part of his life.

Reference To Context

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. What is the boy now, who has lost his ball,
What, what is he to do? I saw it go
Merrily bouncing, down the street, and then
Merrily over – there it is in the water!

Paraphrase: In this paragraph, the poet is talking about a boy who has lost his ball while playing. He wants to know about him and his reaction after losing his ball. He said that the ball was bouncing and jumping up and down into the street. The ball skipped from the hands of the boy and lost into the water for ever.

Choose the correct option:

(a) Which thing was bouncing merrily down the street?
(i) Ball
(ii) Water
(iii) Poet
(iv) Boy
Answer:
(i) Ball

(b) Where did the ball go ultimately?
(i) Rooftop
(ii) Water
(iii) Road
(iv) Pit
Answer:
(ii) Water

(c) After bouncing, the ball went down the
(i) street
(ii) corner
(iii) home
(iv) nowhere
Answer:
(i) street

(d) “Merrily bouncing, down the street, and then
Merrily over-there it is in the water!”
Which literary device has been used here?
(i) Metaphor
(ii) Alliteration
(iii) Simile
(iv) Anaphora
Answer:
(iv) Anaphora

(e) About whom does the poet talk about?
(i) A boy who has lost his ball.
(ii) A boy who has lost his memory
(iii) A boy who has lost his pen.
(iv) A boy who has lot his school bag
Answer:
(i) A boy who has lost his ball.

2. No use to say ‘O there are other balls’:
An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy
As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down
All his young days into the harbour where
His ball went.

Paraphrase: There is no advantage of consoling the boy by saying that he will get another ball in lieu of the lost ball. The boy is very disappointed. He is shaking with grief. He is trembling with fear. He is staring at the ball that has gone into the harbour. The loss of the ball reminds him of his childhood days that have been lost in the harbour.

Choose the correct option:

(a) What fixes the boy unlimitedly?
(i) Happiness
(ii) Grief
(iii) Madness
(iv) Calmness
Answer:
(ii) Grief

(b) How is the boy standing?
(i) Laughing
(ii) Rigid
(iii) Fearful
(iv) Joking
Answer:
(ii) Rigid

(c) The boy is in because his ball has been lost.
(i) bad mood
(ii) anger
(iii) imagination
(iv) grief
Answer:
(iv) grief

(d) Where has the ball gone?
(i) Into the harbour
(ii) Into the room
(iii) Into the field
(iv) Nowhere
Answer:
(i) Into the harbour

(e) What is the condition of the boy?
(i) He is very happy.
(ii) He trembles with fear
(iii) He is in high temper.
(iv) All of these
Answer:
(ii) He trembles with fear

3. I would not intrude on him;
A dime, another ball, is worthless. Now
He senses first responsibility
In a world of possessions.

Paraphrase: The poet does not want to intrude on the boy. He cannot console the boy saying that he can buy him another ball. He says so because the new ball will not bring the sense of belonging to the boy. It is the time for the boy to learn the responsibility of taking care of the things. He must realise what is his first responsibility in this world.

Choose the correct option:

(a) What does the boy sense?
(i) Taste of ice-cream
(ii) A gust of wind
(iii) Presence of a dog in bushes
(iv) First responsibility
Answer:
(iv) First responsibility

(b) What is worthless here?
(i) Another bottle of milk
(ii) A dime for another ball
(iii) Company of friends
(iv) Putting efforts in something
Answer:
(ii) A dime for another ball

(c) The ‘world of possessions’ depicts that the world is .
(i) transient
(ii) materialistic
(iii) spiritual
(iv) none of these
Answer:
(ii) materialistic

(d) What should the boy realise?
(i) His first responsibility
(ii) His first priority
(iii) Both (i) and (ii)
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(i) His first responsibility

(e) What will the new ball not bring?
(i) Attitude
(ii) Belongingness
(iii) Manners
(iv) All of these
Answer:
(ii) Belongingness

4. People will take
Balls, balls will be lost always, little boy.
And no one buys a ball back. Money is external.
He is learning, well behind his desperate eyes,
The epistemology of loss, how to stand up
Knowing what every man must one day know
And most know many days, how to stand up.

Paraphrase: In this materialistic world, many of his belongings will be lost. The poet says that the boy is learning how to withstand the sense of losses. Once a ball has been lost, it can be replaced with another one. Here money is external. It can buy us ball but not the memories and emotions related with it. The boy with his hopeless eyes sees the nature of loss and also thinks how to come out of that situation. The poet says that one must learn to accept the miseries of life and stand up again. This is the truth of life.

Choose the correct option:

(a) What is the boy learning?
(i) How to gain
(ii) The epistemology of loss
(iii) How to become passive
(iv) How to compensate
Answer:
(ii) The epistemology of loss

(b) What must every person learn at the end of the day?
(i) To run away
(ii) To stand up even in odds
(iii) To cook
(iv) To laugh
Answer:
(ii) To stand up even in odds

(c) The boy sees this loss with _________ eyes.
(i) desperate
(ii) optimistic
(iii) gazing
(iv) all of these
Answer:
(i) desperate

(d) What is external here?
(i) Ball
(ii) Money
(iii) Harbour
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(ii) Money

(e) What does the poet say?
(i) One must accept the miseries of life.
(ii) One must not accept the miseries of life.
(iii) One must be ignorant from all these.
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(i) One must accept the miseries of life.

The Ball Poem Summary

The Ball Poem Introduction

About the Poet

• John Berryman was bom on October 25, 1914 in McAlester, Oklahoma in America. He was a renowned scholar and famous American poet.
• He was concerned with the literary movement, viz., Confessional Poetry.
• The Dream Songs’ is one of his notable works. It is an intensely personal sequence of 385 poems.
• He was bestowed with Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, Bollingen Prize, etc.
• He died on January 7, 1972.

Central Idea of the Poem

In this poem, the poet has described the grief of a boy over the loss of his ball. This is the world of materialism. In this materialistic world, the things which you love will not always remain with you. In this life, you will be forced to do things that you do not want to do and you will have to give up the things which you love the most. All these may happen due to circumstances. In spite of all the circumstances, you must have to stand in good stead. It does not matter how much does it hurt. It teaches us to leam to accept and do not cling onto something that you can never have.

The Ball Poem Summary

In ‘ The Ball Poem ’, the poet has narrated the desperation and disappointment of a boy who has lost his ball. It was more lovable to him. For a common man, the loss of a ball is of minor significance. But to a little boy, this is not so. Money is external; it cannot buy back our love. It can also not replace the things that we love. The loss of the ball will teach the boy a lesson. This way he will leam how to accept the loss with tolerance and pleasure. Everyone has to lose something or the other in this world if he has to survive and fulfil his obligations. It is the part and parcel of life. But if you lose something you will have to stand up to be strong and get on with your life.

Poem at a Glance

• This poem is about a boy who lost his ball while playing.
• He saw the ball bouncing down the street.
• But ultimately it fell down into the river and lost for good.
• All the incidents occur before the boy but he is unable to do anything.
• He only repents at the loss of a ball.
• Although the loss of a ball is considered to be an ordinary incident but the poet has given a deep thought to it.
• According to the poet, the loss of the ball is the loss of childhood and his dreams.
• If it is lost once, it never comes back again.
• The child is sad that the ball he has lost cannot be brought back.
• At last, change comes in the life of a boy.
• He draws this conclusion that loss is a part of human life.
• One should not grieve over one’s loss.
• The loss cannot break one’s spirits.
• One should face such losses with courage and determination.

The Ball Poem Word-Meanings

Haryana State Board HBSE 10th Class English Solutions First Flight Poem 3 A Tiger in the Zoo Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

Haryana Board 10th Class English Solutions First Flight Poem 3 A Tiger in the Zoo

HBSE 10th Class English A Tiger in the Zoo Textbook Questions and Answers

Thinking about the Poem

1. Read the poem again and work in pairs or groups to do the following tasks.
(i) Find the words that describe the movements and actions of the tiger in the cage and in the wild. Arrange them in two columns.
(ii) Find the words that describe the two places, and arrange them in two columns.
Now try to share ideas about how the poet uses words and images to contrast the two situations.
Answer:
table

(i) Movements and actions of Tiger in the cage | Movements and actions of Tiger in the wild Stalking
Lurking Hearing
Snarling Staring
Baring his white fangs Ignoring
Sliding, Terrorising
A Tiger in the Zoo
359

(ii)
Places in the cage Few steps of his cage Concrete cell
, Places in the wild Long grass Water hole Houses at the jungle’s edge
Locked
Behind bars
Village

2. Notice the use of a word repeated in lines such as these:
(i) On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
(ii) And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.
What do you think is the effect of this repetition?
Answer:
Repetition is a poetic device used by the poet in order to enhance the beauty of the poem.
‘Velvet quiet’ refers to the quiet velvet pads of the tiger’s paws. He can only walk around the limited space in the cage. The use of quiet rage’symbolises the anger and ferocity of the tiger. He wants to run out into the forest and hunt a deer, but his rage is quiet because he is caged and can not come out in the open. The use of ‘quiet’ has brought immense beauty to the poem. Similarly, the use of “brilliant for the tiger’s eyes as well as the stars also bring out the magnificence of these lines.

3. Read the following two poems – one about a tiger and the other about a panther. Then discuss:
Are zoos necessary for the protection or conservation of some species of animals? Are they useful for educating the public? Are there alternatives to zoos?

The Tiger
The tiger behind the bars of his cage growls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage snarls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage roars.
Then he thinks.
It would be nice not to be behind bars all
The time
Because they spoil my view
I wish I were wild, not on show.
But if I were wild, hunters might shoot me,
But if I were wild, food might poison me,
But if I were wild, water might drown me.
Then he stops thinking
And…
The tiger behind the bars of his cage growls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage snarls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage roars.
– PETER NIBLETT

The Panther

His vision, from the constantly passing bars,
has grown so weary that it cannot hold
anything else. It seems to him there are
a thousand bars; and behind the bars, no world.
As he paces in cramped circles, over and over,
the movement of his powerful soft strides
is like a ritual dance around a centre
in which a mighty will stand paralysed.
Only at times, the curtain of the pupils
lifts, quietly. An image enters in,
rushes down through the tensed, arrested muscles,
plunges into the heart and is gone.
– RAINER MARIA RILKE
Answer:
To some extent, zoos are necessary for the protection or conservation of some species of
animals. In the forest, they might be hunted down, poisoned by some wild food, or could be drowned in water. But, a zoo is not the correct alternative to a forest. In a zoo, an animal feels caged and bound. They cannot roam freely as in the wild. Only due to this reason, wildlife sanctuaries and national parks have been made in order to conserve several endangered species. These places provide protection as well as natural surroundings to these species. They can roam freely in their habitats and are safe too. The public can visit these parks and get educated about the animals and their lifestyles. The parks and sanctuaries are run using a strict set of rules, the most prominent being the ban on hunting. If animals roam in the open, visitors would not be able to feed them and would not misbehave or try to play with them as they are under strict supervision. Such incidents have been recorded in zoos where people irritate and tease the animals. Hence, a wildlife sanctuary is a good alternative for animals to be safe as well as free to move in their natural surroundings. Yes, they are quite useful for educating the public. The public may get proper information about them.

4. Take a point of view for or against zoos, or even consider both points of view and write a couple of paragraphs or speak about this topic for a couple of minutes in class.
Answer:
Hints:
• Teaches about the importance of nature.
• Provides recreation to the visitors.
• Scientists do study about wild animals.
• Saves from danger of extinction.

On the hints given above, the students may develop their views accordingly.

HBSE 10th Class English A Tiger in the Zoo Important Questions and Answers

I. Short Answer Type Questions (20-30 words & 2 marks each)

Question 1.
Enlist some of the activities of the tiger, as described in the poem.
Answer:
Some of the activities of the tiger are – walking along the cage, hearing the patrolling of cars, ignoring visitors and staring at the brilliant stars of the sky.

Question 2.
Why does the tiger express his anger quietly?
Answer:
The tiger expresses his anger quietly, because he is helpless. He can do nothing from behind the bars. He is no longer independent in the cage the way he was in the forest.

Question 3.
How does the tiger terrify the villagers?
Answer:
The tiger growls at the villagers who pass through that way. He also shows his white sharp teeth and ferocious claws to the villagers to terrify them.

Question 4.
Why does the tiger not take much interest in the visitors?
Answer:
The tiger is imprisoned in the cage. He feels uncomfortable and is in a rage. He wants to enjoy freedom. That is why the tiger does not take much interest in the visitors.

Question 5.
Why are the eyes of the tiger said to be brilliant? What is common between the tiger’s eyes and the stars?
Answer:
The eyes of the tiger shine brightly in the darkness of night. That is why they are said to be brilliant. And it is this brilliance that is common between the tiger’s eyes and the stars.

II. Short Answer Type Questions (40-50 words & 3 marks each)

Question 1.
Is living in the wild safe for tigers these days?
Answer:
It is ideal for tigers to live in the wild. But looking at today’s jungles where poachers are always on the hunt of innocent animals, frequent forest fires caused by men are on the rise, it is becoming less viable for wildlife to thrive in natural habitat.

Question 2.
How does the tiger hunt in his natural habitat, i.e., jungle?
Answer:
The ferocious tiger roams freely in his natural habitat. He is wary of catching his prey. He waits for his prey lurking invisibly in the shadow of trees. He slides through the long grass stealthily and unnoticed. He comes to the water hole where he can hunt his favourite prey, i.e., plump deer.

Question 3.
Why should the tiger snarl around houses at the edge of the forest?
Answer:
The tiger should snarl around houses at the edge of the forest so that the villagers do not disturb the peace of the forest and they do not kill the wild animals to fulfil their selfish motive.

Question 4.
What message does the poet want to convey through the poem, ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’?
Answer:
All creatures of the earth, i.e., human beings, animals, etc., want freedom. It is quite unwise and cruel to keep the wild animals in the zoo. They feel angry, and irritated there. So, their freedom should not be caged. The tiger should be allowed to live only in forests not in cages.

Question 5.
How does the poet make a contrast between the tiger in the cage with tiger in the forest?
Answer:
The poet makes a very beautiful contrast between the tiger in the cage with tiger in the forest.
In the cage, the tiger is not free. He is quite angry and irritated. While the tiger in the forest remains free and lives with ease. The tiger walks in the tall grass and hunts the deer that passes by the water hole.

III. Long Answer Type Questions (100-120 words & 5 marks each)

Question 1.
Love for freedom is the natural instinct of every living being. Comment.
Answer:
It is absolutely true that love for freedom is the natural instinct of every living being. Everyone prefers to live without restrictions and tends to deny any kind of confinement. Likewise, the caged tiger also longed for freedom. He was so fed up that he even ignored the visitors who would always be awestruck looking at him. He took to and fro steps inside the cage as if looking for an opportunity to escape the captivity. God has made all living beings equal and therefore the animals too have the right to freedom. They are not supposed to be caged. It is their right to enjoy their natural habitat in the wild. Hence, humans should not cage them out of sheer selfishness and respect them as well.

Question 2.
Do you agree that wild animals should be caged? Comment with reference to the poem.
Answer:
Wild animals should not be caged at any cost. This is a well-known fact that tiger is a royal species. They are on the verge of extinction. In ancient times, tigers moved around freely in the forests. But today, they are caged and left in the zoo for the entertainment of people. In fact, they are not meant for confinement only. The result is that their offsprings also do not learn how to hunt, when they are caged. Caging wild animals also leads to disturbance of ecological balance. So, wild animals should be left free. They belong to the forest. Cages are not meant for any wild animal, specially a tiger.

Question 3.
“Captivity is the greatest curse one suffers from. No creature likes to stay behind the bars.” Discuss with reference to the poem, ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’.
Answer:
Since the evolution of human civilization on the earth, we have been finding that man has tried to exploit others for his own benefit. The weak have been enslaved and made to bow before the master. A bird also does not want to live in a caged nest but wants to live and sing freely under the sky. Leslie Norris, the poet has depicted the irony of the situation for the tiger. A ferocious animal like tiger has to satisfy itself by moving in the closed bars. His strength is behind the bars where instead of terrorising, he himself is being terrorised.

Question 4.
But he’s locked in concrete cell, His strength behind bars, Stalking the length of his cage, Ignoring visitors. On the basis of the given passage, explain how the tiger looks like from the outside of the cage. What does the poet want to convey through this?
Answer:
The poet, Neslie Norris has given a vivid description of a tiger in the zoo. In the zoo, the tiger can’t lead his natural life. He remains helpless there. He remains locked in a cage, i.e., a concrete cell. His strength is locked behind bars. The tiger moves slowly and quietly along the length of the cage. He walks to and fro in utter helplessness. The tiger also ignores the visitors because he considers them devoid of feelings. Nobody tries to help him come out of the cage. He is under the strict surveillance of the curator. Actually, this is not the natural habitat of the tiger in which he is living. He is really helpless in the cage and draws pity for his condition. Through this, the poet wants to convey that everybody loves freedom whether it is a human being or an animal. Nobody wants to lead the life of bondage and slavery. God has made all living beings free. So their right to freedom must not be snatched at any cost.

Reference To Context

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.

Paraphrase: The poet has given a vivid description of the tiger. The tiger is confined in the zoo and roams in the cage. The stripes are visible on his skin. He walks quietly on the pads of velvet in his cage without showing his anger.

Choose the correct option:

(a) What does the tiger do in his cell?
(i) Hunts
(ii) Hides
(iii) Stalks
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(iii) Stalks

(b) How is the cage?
(i) It is very small.
(ii) It is very big.
(iii) Both (i) and (ii)
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(i) It is very small.

(c) The tiger stalks in his vivid
(i) zoo
(ii) cage
(iii) stripes
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(iii) stripes

(d) Why can one not hear the footsteps of tiger?
(i) Because the tiger has no feet.
(ii) Because he has very soft feet.
(iii) Because there is problem in his feet.
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(ii) Because he has very soft feet.

(e) What does the tiger do to control his anger?
(i) The tiger does nothing.
(ii) The tiger barks violently.
(iii) The tiger walks quietly in the limited area of his cage.
(iv) Both (ii) and (iii)
Answer:
(iii) The tiger walks quietly in the limited area of his cage.

2. He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass.

Paraphrase: According to the poet, had this tiger been free, he would have hid himself behind the long grass near the waterbodies and could have easily caught a deer in order to have its prey. But the tiger is not in a position to do so, because he is entrapped in a cage.

Choose the correct option:

(a) How should the tiger walk through the grass?
(i) Sliding through long grass
(ii) Jumping through long grass
(iii) Walking through bushes
(iv) Both (ii) and (iii)
Answer:
(i) Sliding through long grass

(b) Who passes by the water hole?
(i) Tiger
(ii) Rabbit
(iii) Langur
(iv) The plump deer
Answer:
(iv) The plump deer

(c) The tiger lurks in shadow to wait for his
(i) friend
(ii) prey
(iii) mother
(iv) none of these
Answer:
(ii) prey

(d) What is the rhyming scheme of the above stanza?
(i) aabb
(ii) abab
(iii) abcb
(iv) none of these
Answer:
(iii) abcb

(e) Had the tiger been free what would he have done?
(i) He would have hid himself behind the long grass.
(ii) He would have done nothing.
(iii) He would have attacked on the animals of the forest.
(iv) Both (ii) and (iii)
Answer:
(i) He would have hid himself behind the long grass.

3. He should be snarling around houses
At the jungle’s edge,
Baring his white fangs, his claws,
Terrorising the village!

Paraphrase: The poet says that if the tiger would have been free, he would have roamed around freely. The tiger would have been snarling around houses on the outskirts of the jungles. He would terrorise the village people with his sharp teeth and claws.

Choose the correct option:

(a) Whom does the tiger terrorise?
(i) The zoo people
(ii) The town people
(iii) The villagers
(iv) All of these
Answer:
(iii) The villagers

(b) How will the tiger terrorise the people?
(i) With sharp teeth and claws
(ii) With his nails
(iii) By roaring
(iv) By attacking upon them
(i) He would have hid himself behind the long grass.
Answer:
(i) With sharp teeth and claws

(c) The tiger should be snarling around the
(i) forests
(ii) zoos
(iii) houses
(iv) fields
Answer:
(iii) houses

(d) How would the village people feel?
(i) They would be scared.
(ii)They would be in panic.
(iii) They would feel happy.
(iv) They would be sad.
Answer:
(ii)They would be in panic.

(e) What are the ‘white fangs’ referred to?
(i) Claws
(ii) Jaws
(iii) Teeth
(iv) Nails
Answer:
(iii) Teeth

4. But he’s locked in a concrete cell,
His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.

Paraphrase: The tiger is inside the cage. He is confined in a concrete cell. His strength and ferociousness is also hidden behind the bars. He is stalked in the cage. The tiger is locked in
the cage, so he does not pay heed to the visitors.

Choose the correct option:

(a) Where is the tiger locked?
(i) Concrete cell
(ii) In the house of a hunter
(iii) In the forest
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(i) Concrete cell

(b) What is found behind the bars of cage here?
(i) Criminals
(ii) Children
(iii) Tiger’s strength
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(iii) Tiger’s strength

(c) The tiger is stalked in the
(i) cage
(ii) wall
(iii) waterfall
(iv) none of these
Answer:
(i) cage

(d) Along with the tiger what is also behind bars?
(i) Tiger’s ferociousness
(ii) Tiger’s nature
(iii) Tiger’s weaknesses
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(i) Tiger’s ferociousness

(e) Whom does the tiger ignore?
(i) Friends
(ii) Relatives
(iii) Visitors
(iv) All of these
Answer:
(iii) Visitors

5. He hears the last voice at night,
The patrolling cars,
And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.

Paraphrase: The tiger hears the sounds of the patrolling cars at night. He gazes at the shining stars with his eyes. It shows that the tiger is sad and he is confined in the cage.

Choose the correct option:

(a) With which eyes does the tiger stare?
(i) Tired
(ii) Sleepy
(iii) Ferocious
(iv) Brilliant
Answer:
(iv) Brilliant

(b) Where is the tiger staring at?
(i) Stars in the sky
(ii) Walls of the cage
(iii) Television screen
(iv) Visitors
Answer:
(i) Stars in the sky

(c) The tiger hears the voice of the
(i) animals
(ii) trains
(iii) human beings
(iv) patrolling cars
Answer:
(iv) patrolling cars

(d) How is the mood of the tiger?
(i) Happy
(ii) Sad
(iii) Nostalgic
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(ii) Sad

(e) What is the rhyming scheme of the above stanza?
(i) aabb
(ii) abab
(iii) abcb
(iv) none of these
Answer:
(iii) abcb

A Tiger in the Zoo Summary

A Tiger in the Zoo Introduction

About the Poet

• George Leslie Norris (May 21, 1921 – April 6, 2006), was a famous poet and short story writer. He was born in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales. He is considered one of the most important Welsh writers of the post-war period.
• Norris published his first poem in 1938. By 1943, he published his first book of poetry. His first collection of poetry was Finding
• Gold that was published in 1967. By 1980, Norris published three volumes in the Phoenix Living Poets.
• The Loud Winder, Sliding, The Girl from Cardigan, Holy Places, etc., are some of his important works.
• He was bestowed with Cholmondeley Poetry Prize, the Katherine Mansfield Memorial Award, the AML Award for poetry and many more awards. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and the Welsh Academy.
• Leslie died on April 6, 2006 in Provo.

Central Idea of the Poem

The poem ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’ deals with the feelings of a tiger inside the cage. He is not free to move freely as he is restricted to its boundaries. The animals, like tiger is meant to roam in the open terrorising the village with his paws and roars. He never harms anyone until provoked. He yearns to get out of the cage while watching the stars at night. The tiger values his freedom like humans do and we should not earn out livelihood at the expense of the freedom of animals.

A Tiger in the Zoo Summary

DO In the poem, ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’, the poet has presented a contrast between a tiger when it is in its natural habitat and when it is imprisoned in a zoo. The poet sees a tiger in a zoo on a starry night. The tiger moves slowly up and down in his cage. He is full of anger. The poet says that the tiger should have been in the jungle. He should have been lurking quietly in the shadows near some water hole, and waiting for a plump deer to pass that way. But he is locked in a concrete cell. He does not take cognizance of the visitors and is looking at the brilliant stars with his brilliant eyes. Now he is content with merely looking at the stars. He is no longer free to move in his natural habitat and look at the brilliant stars from there.

Poem at a Glance

The tiger is not free to roam.
It is confined to a caged habitat in a zoo.
There are dark spots on the skin of a tiger. It is visible from a distance.
The tiger walks quietly with his velvety soft feet.
But in the forest, the tiger terrorises the villagers by opening his white fangs, long teeth and the claws.
But the tiger has no intention of terrorising the villagers.
A lot of visitors come to see him in the zoo but he does not like the stares of the visitors.
He does not take much cognizance of the visitors.
Now, the tiger limits his movements only to the caged habitat.
Late night, he hears the noise of the patrolling cars moving around the zoo.
The tiger looks at the shining stars in the night.
He just watches the shining stars standing in the caged habitat.

A Tiger in the Zoo Word-Meanings

Haryana State Board HBSE 10th Class English Solutions First Flight Poem 2 Fire and Ice Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

Haryana Board 10th Class English Solutions First Flight Poem 2 Fire and Ice

HBSE 10th Class English Fire and Ice Textbook Questions and Answers

Thinking about the Poem

1. There are many ideas about how the world will ‘end’. Do you think the world will end some day? Have you ever thought what would happen if the sun got so hot that it ‘burst’, or grew colder and colder?
Answer:
The poet has presented two ideas about the end of this world. Nothing is permanent in this world and everything will perish one day. If the sun gets too hot, each and everything will turn into ashes. And, on the contrary, if the sun grows colder and colder, life from the universe will vanish. Nothing will remain in this world as the Sun is the source of life.

2. For Frost, what do ‘fire’ and `ice’ stand for? Here are some ideas:

greed
avarice
cruelty
lust
conflict
fury
intolerance
rigidity
insensitivity
coldness
indifference
hatred.
Answer:
“Fire’ stands for greed, avarice, lust, conflict and fury.
‘Ice’stands for cruelty, insensitivity, coldness, indifference and hatred.

3. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem? How does it help in bringing out the contrasting ideas in the poem?
Answer:
The rhyme scheme of the poem is as follows:
1st stanza: a b a a
2nd stanza: a b a b a

The contrasting ideas of ‘fire’ and `ice’are presented using this rhyme scheme. He mentions that both fire and ice are probable ends of this world. While he talks about how fire represents desire and can, therefore, be a cause of the end of the world, he also mentions ice in the poem to symbolise that the coldness and indifference towards one another will also be enough to end the world. In the second stanza, he says that he knows enough of hate in the world to be sure that even destruction through ice would be sufficient to bring about the end of the world.

HBSE 10th Class English Fire and Ice Important Questions and Answers

I. Short Answer Type Questions (20-30 words & 2 marks each)

Question 1.
Which underlying idea is represented in the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?
Answer:
The poet compares fire to ‘desire’and ice to ‘hatred’. Both of these are surging exponentially. If we don’t keep a check on their rapid growth, the world will perish. Therefore, we must control our desires and hatred.

Question 2.
Why did the poet say about the world perishing twice?
Answer:
The poet said about the world perishing twice because, at first if some parts of the world are left out of apocalypse through fire, the remaining parts would definitely be destroyed by ice.

Question 3.
How is ice sufficient to bring destruction?
Answer:
In the poem, ‘ice’ denotes hatred. It does not matter what type of hatred it is. There is much hatred in this world. It will certainly destroy.

II. Short Answer Type Questions (40-50 words & 3 marks each)

Question 1.
What do ‘fire’ and `ice’ stand for and what is the general opinion regarding the world?
Answer:
Fire stands for fury, hatred, anger, cruelty; ice stands for insensitivity, coldness and intolerance. In general, it is the opinion of some people that fire will destroy the world while some say that ice will destroy it.

Question 2.
What does the poet say regarding the end of the world?
Answer:
It is a universal truth that everything has a beginning and it will certainly come to an end. Either ‘fire’ or ‘ice’may cause the end of the world. Some day the existing world will certainly end.

III. Long Answer Type Questions (100-120 words & 5 marks each)

Question 1.
Why does the poet say he is in favour of fire ending the world?
Answer:
In this poem, the poet has used an analogy between fire and greed. In his opinion, the nature of fire is just like that of desire, greed, lust or avarice. The more we try to satisfy these, the more they grow. They spread like fire spreading throughout a forest and embracing trees, animals in its agony and leaving nothing but the ash. Likewise, the never-ending desires of humans pose a danger to this world. It can be seen from the past trends. The forest cover has been shrinking. Since the inception of Industrial Revolution, many animal species have become extinct and some are in endangered category. All this happened and is still happening because of human’s never satisfying greed. The poet could visualise the ramifications of uncontrolled desires and this is why he is in favour of fire ending the world.

Question 2.
How can ice end the world?
Answer:
The word ‘ice’ is a metaphor representing cruelty, hate, coldness, unkind nature and rigidity. Time has seen it all, how a feeling of hatred in one person spreads to thousands of them, wiping out an entire generation or a community, e.g., Hitler’s hatred for a particular faith inspired him for his infamous atrocities. There had been wars to become the ultimate superpower and the intention to carry out such cowardly acts was based on unkind nature of an individual.
So, considering all this in mind, the poet referred ice as a way of ending this world.

Question 3.
Is it possible to avoid the end of the world? How can we prevent the fire and ice to carry out the ending of this world? Answer:
Yes, it is possible to avoid the apocalypse. If we humans are responsible for the catasrophe so far, we also have the capability to deter. To save this world from fire and ice, we must act upon our necessities and not desires. We must go for inner engineering to know, observe, analyse and learn the ways this nature works. Moral education should be inculcated at a young age, knowledge about feeling of being content should be imparted, to control the feelings of anger, lust, hatred, we must practise meditation. All these little steps will produce a large return towards the benefit of
humankind and thus deter our world from evils.

Question 4.
Some say the world will end in
fire some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.
On the basis of the given passage, explain how will the world end? Substantiate.
Answer:
Through the given passage, the poet wants to convey two things about the world. According to some people, the world will end in fire. But some people also opine that the world will end in ice. Both of these are the contradictory opinions. But one similar thing between them is that both of them would destroy everything in the world. In the poem, fire stands for desire and ice stands for hatred.

So, the poet gives a clear message to us that nothing is eternal in this world. Everything will perish either in fire or ice. Hatred and desire will end this world. This fire of passions and desire will lead the end of the world. Cold reasoning and hate will lead this world to destruction. But the poet is with those who think that fire of passions and desires will lead to the destruction of this world.

Reference To Context

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. Some say the world will end in fire
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.

Paraphrase: The poet expresses that the world would end in two ways – either by ice or by fire. It is the opinion of some people that the world would end in fire. It denotes that fiery desires and passion will lead to the destruction of the world. On the other hand, some people opine that the world would end in ice. Hatred, jealousy etc. will lead to the destruction of this world.

Choose the correct option:

(a) Who are ‘some’ in the given stanze?
(i) Aliens
(ii) Martians
(iii) Humans
(iv) All of these
Answer:
(iii) Humans

(b) What does ‘fire’ here symbolise?
(i) Hatred
(ii) Desire
(iii) Satisfaction
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(ii) Desire

(c) The world would end in either of ways.
(i) one
(ii) two
(iii) three
(iv) none of these
Answer:
(ii) two

(d) What does the poet compare fire and ice with?
(i) Constructive features of human emotions
(ii) Destructive features of human emotions
(iii) Both (i) and (ii)
(iv) Neither (i) nor (ii)
Answer:
(ii) Destructive features of human emotions

(e) What is the rhyming scheme of the given extract?
(i) aaab
(ii) abab
(iii) aabb
(iv) abaa
Answer:
(iv) abaa

2. But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice

Paraphrase: If this world has to perish twice, ice would be stronger or more effective in doing this work. Hatred will lead towards the destruction of this world. Ice is sufficient enough to cause the destruction of this world.

Choose the correct option:

(a) What would be more effective in the end of this world?
(i) Fire
(ii) Ice
(iii) Fury
(iv) Intolerance
Answer:
(ii) Ice

(b) What poetic device has the poet used in the line, “To say that for destruction, ice is also great”?
(i) Imagery
(ii) Alliteration
(iii) Oxymoron
(iv) Metaphor
Answer:
(i) Imagery

(c) _______ is also good for destruction.
(i) Belief
(ii) Ice
(iii) Honesty
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(ii) Ice

(d) What would be a better option to end the earth?
(i) Ice
(ii) Fire
(iii) Both (i) and (ii)
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(iii) Both (i) and (ii)

(e) What would be the consequences if we don’t control our emotions?
(i) It will lead us on the verge of destruction.
(ii) It will lead us on the verge of death.
(iii) It will lead to chaos.
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(i) It will lead us on the verge of destruction.

Fire and Ice Summary

Fire and Ice Introduction

Central Idea of the Poem

It is a universal truth that nothing is permanent in this world. On the one hand, some people think that the world will end in fire while on the other hand, some people think that the world will end in ice. The poet equates the fire with desire and ice with hate. As the ice destroys the world melting slowly, in the same way hatred will also destroy the world. Because greed, hatred, strife, intolerance, etc., bring much destruction to the society. So, human beings should live peacefully.

Fire and Ice Summary

‘Fire and Ice’ is a short poem by Robert Frost. In this poem, the poet refers to two predictions of how the world will end. Some say it will end in fire whereas others say it will end in ice. According to the poet, ‘fire’ stands for desire, greed, avarice or lust. The more you try to satisfy them, the more they grow. There is no end to it. They spread rapidly like fire and engulf your whole life. One becomes selfish and sometimes cruel too. On the other hand, ‘ice’ according to the poet, stands for hatred, coldness and rigidity. One becomes insensitive and indifferent towards the feelings of others. The poet says that both fire and ice are growing with such a rapid pace that the world would soon perish either way, in fire or in ice.

Poem at a Glance

• It is the perception of poet that the world will certainly come to an end.
• This world will end either in fire or in ice.
• Fire has been compared to human emotion of desire or passions.
• Ice has been compared to hate.
• Fire or ice can destroy the world once but hatred can destroy it twice.
• So, we should try to live peacefully in this world.

Fire and Ice Word-Meanings

Haryana State Board HBSE 10th Class English Solutions First Flight Poem 1 Dust of Snow Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

Haryana Board 10th Class English Solutions First Flight Poem 1 Dust of Snow

HBSE 10th Class English Dust of Snow Textbook Questions and Answers

Thinking about the Poem

1. What is a “dust of snow”? What does the poet say has changed his mood? How has the poet’s mood changed?
Answer:
A “dust of snow” means particles of snow. The poet’s mood changed because of shaking down of something from the hemlock tree. He was holding the day in regret when this dust of snow fell on him and this simple little thing brought him some joy.

2. How does Frost present nature in this poem? The following questions may help you to think of an answer.
(i) What are the birds that are usually named in poems? Do you think a crow is often mentioned in poems? What images come to your mind when you think of a crow?
(ii) Again, what is “a hemlock tree”? Why doesn’t the poet write about a more ‘beautiful tree such as a maple, or an oak, or a pine?
(iii) What do the “crow’ and ‘hemlock’ represent – joy or sorrow? What does the dust of snow that the crow shakes off a hemlock tree stand for?
Answer:
(i) In poems, usually birds like nightingales and sparrows are mentioned. Frost has presented nature in quite an unconventional manner. The poet has used a crow in this poem. A crow is usually not mentioned in poems. A crow is usually considered to be dark, black and foreboding. That is why other poets usually mention singing nightingales or beautiful white doves in their poems.
(ii) A hemlock tree is a poisonous tree with small white flowers. The poet has not written about a more beautiful tree such as a maple, or oak, or pine because these trees symbolise beauty and happiness. Frost wanted to symbolise the feelings of sadness, despondency and regretfulness, that is why he has used a hemlock tree.
(iii) The crow and the hemlock tree represent sorrow and grief. The dust of snow that is shaken off by the crow stands for joy that Frost experiences. He has, therefore, used an unconventional tree and bird in order to contrast them with joy in the form of snow.

3. Have there been times when you felt depressed or hopeless? Have you experienced a similar moment that changed your mood that day?
Answer:
Several times I felt depressed or hopeless. One day, one of my classmates told me that I had got only 40 marks in English out of 80. At that time, I felt depressed and dejected. But after an hour, the result was announced and I got 75 out of 80. The English teacher also congratulated me on my success, and after this, I felt relaxed and happy.

HBSE 10th Class English Dust of Snow Important Questions and Answers

I. Short Answer Type Questions (20-30 words & 2 marks each)

Question 1.
What is the underlying message for us in our hectic life with reference to the poem, ‘Dust of Snow’?
Answer:
The underlying message for us in our hectic life is that we should enjoy nature more often and should have a positive attitude even towards simple acts because they can lead to the learning of greater lessons of enjoying life.

Question 2.
Why does the poet say that he had saved some part of the day he had rued?
Answer:
In the morning, the poet was sad and listless. He thought that the entire day would go waste. But, the falling of dust of snow on him changed his mood suddenly. It brought a ray of hope in him. This way he felt that he had saved some part of the day.

II. Short Answer Type Questions (40-50 words & 3 marks each)

Question 1.
Why did the poet use poetically uncommon bird and tree?
Answer:
The poet appears to be in a depressive and sorrowful mood. In this kind of state, one can not look at the beautiful things which nature has to offer, only gloomy and miserable thoughts strike in one’s mind. Therefore, the poet has used the poetically uncommon bird and tree which reflect his depressed state of mind.

Question 2.
Does the poet present a bright and pleasant side of nature in the poem?
Answer:
No, the poet does not present a bright and pleasant side of nature in the poem. He presented the situation as a dull and depressive cold day. The fall of fine dust of snow does bring a sudden change in the mood of the poet by uplifting his spirits and refreshing his mind.

Question 3.
What message does the poet want to convey through the poem ‘Dust of Snow’?
Answer:
The poet conveys that sadness, hopelessness and disappointment do come into the life of mankind. It makes them feel dejected and depressed. But there is always happiness behind sadness. If sadness comes, happiness is bound to come in our life. As the poet was sad and low in spirits in the morning but the falling of dust of snow on him brought a sudden change in his mood. So, we should not get disheartened in any circumstance.

III. Long Answer Type Questions (100-120 words & 5 marks each)

Question 1.
No matter how ordinary or unimportant an incident may be, it’s the reaction or the response that matters. Taking inspiration from the poet’s reaction write how inherent values can be picked up and learnt. Mention any two lessons for students like you that could be useful.
Answer:
Yes, response matters a lot. Inherent values can be picked up by adopting a positive attitude towards nature, because nature is a great teacher. Each little thing in nature can teach us some important lessons at times and even a small flake of snow has its own significance. We should not judge anything by its appearance. Although crow and hemlock tree are considered as bad omen but even then they can bring cheerfulness in uplifting poet’s mood. So nothing is useless in nature. Nature is very beautiful. One should live one’s present cheerfully.

Question 2.
Robert Frost opens before us a new world in which at times evil doer by chance do a good act before us. Discuss the philosophy of life with reference to the poem ‘Dust of Snow’.
Answer:
Robert Frost opened a different world before us through the poem ‘Dust of Snow’. It gives us a philosophy of life that at times when we are completely dejected and in bad mood, we get surprised. In fact, it also depicts his philosophy of life through which he passed. In the poem, ‘Dust of Snow’ the poet is wandering in a dejected mood. The whole mood changes when bad omen of crow is shown. Snow falls from the hemlock tree and mood of the poet changes. So evil is released by good luck.

Question 3.
In life, people feel sad and frustrated. It is his thinking that things will never change.
But suddenly change occurs in his life and his sadness is converted into happiness.
Discuss it on the basis of the poem, ‘Dust of Snow’.
Answer:
Life is full of miseries. The circumstances in life never remain the same. They keep on changing with the passage of time. So far the poem is concerned, the poet is in sad and frustrated mood. At the beginning of the day, he feels sad. He feels that his entire day has been wasted. But, it does not happen. The falling of the fine dust of snow on him brings a sudden change in his mood. He realises that all is not lost. Although he has lost the most part of the day. The change of landscape has changed his mood. His spirits are not listless. The sudden change has changed his heart and mood. So, we should not be sad and disappointed.
Life is a cycle. Happiness and sorrow are its two wheels.

Question 4.
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
of a day I had rued.
What type of change in the mood does the poet talk about? Discuss it with reference to the given passage.
Answer:
The famous poet, Robert Frost has given a vivid description about the change of his mood. The arrival of a crow and its sitting on the hemlock tree is not a very big incident. It is a very ordinary incident. The poet has used symbolism here. Here crow denotes an ‘ill omen’ and hemlock tree symbolises ‘Poison’. But these things create a deep impression on the mind of the poet. According to the poet, this is a dull and disappointing day and it is not good for him.

But the falling of flakes and dust of snow on him are good or welcome signs for the poet. This phenomenon has suddenly changed the mood of the poet. His mood is now better and spirits are highly enthusiastic. He realises that the whole day has not gone waste. The moment the snow falls on him is the most happiest moment of the day. They lift up his mood and also gladden his heart. Ultimately, he realises that at least some part of the day has been spent happily. Now the moment of disappointment has changed into a happier one.

Reference To Context

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree

Paraphrase: The poet was walking by a hemlock tree in the morning hour. He was perhaps in a bad mood. Hemlock tree is considered to be a poisonous tree. As he was walking, a crow threw some dust of snow on him. The “crow’ and ‘hemlock tree’ denote “sadness’ and ‘gloom’. The poet thought that day was not good for him.

Choose the correct option:

(a) Which tree is covered with snow?
(i) Acacia
(ii) Hemlock
(iii) Areca palm
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(ii) Hemlock

(b) Which bird shook down the tree?
(i) Sparrow
(ii) Ostrich
(iii) Crow
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(iii) Crow

(c) The crow was on a …………………. tree.
(i) hemlock
(ii) palm
(iii) coconut
(iv) mango
Answer:
(i) hemlock

(d) What is the rhyme scheme of the given extract?
(i) abab
(ii) cdcd
(iii) abcd
(iv) Free Verse
Anwer:
(i) abab

(e) What does “Dust of Snow” represent?
(i) The cool weather
(ii) The healing power of nature
(iii) The nature of mankind
(iv) The particles of snow
Answer:
(ii) The healing power of nature

2. Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.

Paraphrase: The falling of the snow on the poet’s head made his mood upbeat. Till now, he had spent his day in a bad mood but now his mood had changed and also saved some part of the day. The poet here emphasises that inauspicious things can also bring joy and happiness to us.

Choose the correct option:

(a) What did lift the mood of the poet instantly?
(i) Falling of the snow on his head
(ii) Falling of the leaves of trees on his head
(iii) Drizzling on his body
(iv) All of these
Answer:
(i) Falling of the snow on his head

(b) What does the poet talk about here?
(i) Change of his mood
(ii) Change of his nature
(iii) Change of his habits
(iv) All of these
Answer:
(i) Change of his mood

(c) The poet saved same part of the ……………… being rued.
(i) night
(ii) day
(iii) life
(iv) all of these
Answer:
(ii) day

(d) What can inauspicious things even bring too?
(i) Only sadness
(ii) Joy and happiness
(iii) Nothing
(iv) Our past memories
Answer:
(ii) Joy and happiness

(e) What does the poet suggest through this?
(i) Dust of snow is very useful.
(ii) Crow is an insignificant bird.
(iii) Hemlock tree has a lot of importance.
(iv) Small things can bring big changes in life.
Answer:
(iv) Small things can bring big changes in life.

Dust of Snow Summary

Dust of Snow Introduction

About the Poet

Robert Frost was born on March 26, 1874 in San Francisco, California, to journalist William Prescott Frost, Jr., and Isabelle Moodie. His mother was a Scottish immigrant, and his father descended from Nicholas Frost of Tiverton, Devon, England, who had sailed to New Hampshire in 1634 on the Wolfrana. Frost was a descendant of Samuel Appleton, one of the early settlers of Ipswich, Massachusetts, and Rev. George Phillips, one of the early settlers of Watertown, Massachusetts. His notable works are A Boy’s Will, North of Boston, etc. Frost’s father was a teacher and later an editor of the San Francisco Evening Bulletin (which later merged with The San Francisco Examiner), and an unsuccessful candidate for city tax collector. After his death on May 5, 1885, the family moved across the country to Lawrence, Massachusetts, under the patronage of Robert’s grandfather William Frost, Sr., who was an overseer at a New England mill. Frost graduated from Lawrence High School in 1892. Frost’s mother joined the Swedenborgian church and had him baptized in it, but he left it as an adult. Although known for his later association with rural life, Frost grew up in the city, and he published his first poem in his high school’s magazine. He attended Dartmouth College for two months, long enough to be accepted into the Theta Delta Chi fraternity. Frost returned home to teach and to work at various jobs, including helping his mother teach her class of unruly boys, delivering newspapers, and working in a factory maintaining carbon arc lamps. He did not enjoy these jobs, feeling his true calling was poetry. Frost was honoured frequently during his lifetime, receiving four of his Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry for his book “New Hampshire’. He became one of America’s rare “public literary figures, almost an artistic institution.” He was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1960 for his poetic works. On July 22, 1961, Frost was named poet laureate of Vermont. He died on January 29, 1963 at the age of 88 in Boston.

Central Idea of the Poem

Through this poem, the poet conveys that worst time often comes in the life of mankind. But a little good thing can change the entire course of action. The crow, dust and the hemlock tree symbolise bad things which make the people believe that something wrong is bound to happen. The poet is in quite disappointed mood. When he comes out of his home to wander in the snow, a crow shakes and snow falls on him. It makes him quite happy. So, the poet conveys that one should hope for the best even in the worst situation.

Dust of Snow Summary

The short poem by Robert Frost throws light upon the unimaginable healing power of nature and tiny things. From a bad mood to ill-health, there is nothing that can’t be cured by nature. The poet was experiencing one such bad day when a crow’s movement near a hemlock tree dusted snow upon him. The soft and cold touch of snow changes the poet’s mood from despondency to happiness. He starts feeling soothed and refreshed. In this way, a simple moment proves to be very significant and saves the rest of the day of the poet from being wasted and held in regret. The black crow is a symbol of death and fear.

Since the crow is not associated with goodness, it is ironic that in this poem, it is doing a good deed by shaking off the snow. The poet uses the elements of the fearsome crow and poisonous hemlock tree to do something good – shake the white, pure snow off the branches.

The poem, “Dust of Snow’ reiterates that the little things in life can make huge changes in our future. It also shows that if we can take the hard times of life in stride, eventually something will happen to change our situation into happier times. The simple things we do for others can make all the difference. Just think about those random acts of kindness we do and how much they brighten our day and sometimes change our future.

Poem at a Glance

On a winter day, the poet was quite upset and sitting under the hemlock tree.
Suddenly, a crow alighted on the hemlock tree.
The snowflakes fell down on the poet while he was sitting under the tree.
The falling of snowflakes on the poet made a tremendous effect on him.
Now, he was feeling refreshed.
It changed the mood of the poet and also his mental state.
A little thing saved the entire day of the poet.

Dust of Snow Word-Meanings

Haryana State Board HBSE 10th Class English Solutions First Flight Chapter 11 The Proposal Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

Haryana Board 10th Class English Solutions First Flight Chapter 11 The Proposal

HBSE 10th Class English The Proposal Textbook Questions and Answers

Before You Read 

Activity

1. The word ‘proposal has several meanings. Can you guess what sort of proposal the play is about?
(i) a suggestion, plan or scheme for doing something
(ii) an offer for a possible plan or action
(iii) the act of asking someone’s hand in marriage
Answer:
(iii) The act of asking someone’s hand in marriage

2. Do you think Indian and Russian weddings have any customs in common? With the help of a partner, fill in the table below.

Answer:

Thinking about the Play

1. What does Chubukov at first suspect that Lomov has come for? Is he sincere when he later says “And I’ve always loved you, my angel, as if you were my own son”? Find reasons for your answer from the play.
Answer:
Chubukov suspects that Lomov has come to borrow money. He is not at all sincere when he says so. He has decided that he will not give Lomov any money if he tries borrowing from him. If he had truly meant what he has said, then he would not have thought of not giving him money. He said so only because Lomov had come with the proposal to marry his daughter.

2. Chubukov says of Natalya: “… as if she won’t consent! She’s in love; egad, she’s like a lovesick cat…” Would you agree? Find reasons for your answer.
Answer:
Chubukov thought that Lomov was a very suitable candidate for his daughter. He had been waiting for this proposal for a long time. When Lomov expressed his doubt regarding Natalya’s consent to the proposal, Chubukov immediately told him that she was in love with him. However, this was not true. Natalya did not seem to be in love with Lomov at any point in the play. It seemed that she was more attached to her land, meadows and dogs than to Lomov. Their argument of trivial matters suggests that neither Lomov nor Natalya was in love with each other.

3. (i) Find all the words and expressions in the play that the characters use to speak about each other, and the accusations and insults they hurl at each other. (For example, Lomov in the end calls Chubukov an intriguer; but earlier, Chubukov has himself called Lomov a “malicious, doublefaced intriguer.” Again, Lomov begins by describing Natalya as “an excellent housekeeper, not bad-looking, well educated.”)
Answer:
(i) Lomov calls Chubukov – Intriguer, grabber
(ii) Lomov calls Natalya – Well educated, an excellent housekeeper, not bad-looking
(iii) Natalya calls Lomov – the rascal, monster
(iv) Chubukov calls Lomov – My precious

(ii) Then think of five adjectives or adjectival expressions of your own to describe each
character in the play.
Answer:
Chubukov – cunning, mean, insensible
Lomov – weak, frail, stupid, simpleton
Natalya – immature, foolish, parsimonious, miserly, mingy

(iii) Can you now imagine what these characters will quarrel about next?
Answer:
From the play, it is clear that they quarrel over petty matters and will do so even later on.

Thinking about Language

I. 1. This play has been translated into English from the Russian original. Are there any expressions or ways of speaking that strike you as more Russian than English? For example, would an adult man be addressed by an older man as my darling or my treasure in an English play?

1. Read through the play carefully, and find expressions that you think are not used in contemporary English, and contrast these with idiomatic modern English expressions that also occur in the play.
Answer:
Expressions not used in contemporary English

1. “my darling”; “my beauty”, “my precious”“my angel” (In this play, an older man is addressing to an adult man)
2. “…and so on…” (It is used to complete a sentence)
3. “…and all that sort of thing.”
4. “the scarecrow”; “the stuffed sausage”; “the wizen-faced frump” (derogatory remarks to insult each other)

Modern English expressions

• “Madam”, “my heart; “honoured Natalya Stepanovna” (used by Lomov for Natalya)
• “Honoured Stepan Stepanovitch” (used by Lomov for Chubukov)
• “My dear fellow” (Chubukov addressing Lomov)
• “malicious, double-faced intriguer”; “fool” (Chubukov insulting Lomov)

2. Look up the following words in a dictionary and find out how to pronounce them. Pay attention to how many syllables there are in each word, and find out which syllable is stressed, or said more forcefully.

palpitations
interfere
implore
thoroughbred
pedigree
principle
evidence
misfortune
malicious
embezzlement
architect
neighbours
accustomed
temporary
behaviour
documents
Answer:
Do it yourself.

3. Look up the following phrases in a dictionary to find out their meaning, and then use each in a sentence of your own.
(i) You may take it that
(ii) He seems to be coming round
(iii) My foot’s gone to sleep
Answer:
(i) You may take it that I am lying, but in fact it will help you in the long run.
(ii) He seems to be coming round after the trauma of his father’s death.
(iii) After the three hour long yoga session, my foot’s gone to sleep.

II. Reported Speech

A sentence in reported speech consists of two parts: a reporting clause, which contains the reporting verb, and the reported clause. Look at the following sentences.

(a) “I went to visit my grandma last week,” said Mamta.
(b) Mamta said that she had gone to visit her grandma the previous week.

In sentence (a), we have Mamta’s exact words. This is an example of direct speech. In sentence (b), someone is reporting what Mamta said. This is called indirect speech or reported speech. A sentence in reported speech is made up of two parts — a reporting clause and a reported clause.

In sentence (b), Mamta said is the reporting clause containing the reporting verb said. The other clause — that she had gone to visit her grandma last week — is the reported clause.
Notice that in sentence (b) we put the reporting clause first. This is done to show that we are not speaking directly, but reporting someone else’s words. The tense of the verb also changes; past tense (went) becomes past perfect (had gone).

Here are some pairs of sentences in direct and reported speech. Read them carefully, and do the task that follows:

1. (i) LOMOV : Honoured Stepan Stepanovitch, do you think I may count on her
consent? (Direct Speech)
(ii) Lomov asked Stepan Stepanovitch respectfully if he thought he might count on her
consent. (Reported Speech)
2. (i) LOMOV : I’m getting a noise in my ears from excitement. (Direct Speech)
(ii) Lomov said that he was getting a noise in his ears from excitement. (Reported Speech)
3. (i) NATALYA : Why haven’t you been here for such a long time? (Direct Speech)
(ii) Natalya Stepanovna asked why he hadn’t been there for such a long time. (Reported Speech)
4. (i) CHUBUKOV : What’s the matter? (Direct Speech)
(ii) Chubukov asked him what the matter was. (Reported Speech)
5. (i) NATALYA : My mowers will be there this very day! (Direct Speech)
(ii) Natalya Stepanovna declared that her mowers would be there that very day. (Reported Speech)

You must have noticed that when we report someone’s exact words, we have to make some changes in the sentence structure. In the following sentences fill in the blanks to list the changes that have occurred in the above pairs of sentences. One has been done for you.

1. To report a question, we use the reporting verb…………….asked……………. (as in Sentence Set 1).
2. To report a statement, we use the reporting verb
3. The adverb of place here changes to
4. When the verb in direct speech is in the present tense, the verb in reported speech is in the…………….tense (as in Sentence Set 3).
5. If the verb in direct speech is in the present continuous tense, the verb in reported speech changes to ……………. tense. For example, changes to was getting.
6. When the sentence in direct speech contains a word denoting respect, we add the adverb ……………. in the reporting clause (as in Sentence Set 1).
7. The pronouns I, me, our and mine, which are used in the first person in direct speech, change according to the subject or object of the reporting verb such as ……………., ………………. or ………….. in reported speech.
Answer:
1. To report a question, we use the reporting verb asked.
2. To report a statement, we use the reporting verb declared.
3. The adverb of place here changes to there.
4. When the verb in direct speech is in the present tense, the verb in reported speech is in the past tense.
5. If the verb in direct speech is in the present continuous tense, the verb in reported speech changes to past continuous tense. For example, am getting changes to was getting.
6. When the sentence in direct speech contains a word denoting respect, we add the adverb respectfully in the reporting clause.
7. The pronouns I, me, our and mine, which are used in the first person in direct speech, change according to the subject or object of the reporting verb such as he/she, him/her, their or his/her in reported speech.

III. Here is an excerpt from an article from the Times of India dated 27 August 2006.
Rewrite it, changing the sentences in direct speech into reported speech. Leave the other sentences unchanged.

“Why do you want to know my age? If people know I am so old, I won’t get work!” laughs 90-year-old A. K. Hangal, one of Hindi cinema’s most famous character actors. For his age, he is rather energetic. “What’s the secret?” we ask. “My intake of everything is in small quantities. And I walk a lot,” he replies. “I joined the industry when people retire. I was in my 40s. So I don’t miss being called a star. I am still respected and given work, when actors of my age are living in poverty and without work. I don’t have any complaints,” he says, adding, “but yes, I have always been underpaid.” Recipient of the Padma Bhushan, Hangal never hankered after money or materialistic gains. “No doubt I am content today, but money is important. I was a fool not to understand the value of money earlier,” he regrets.
Answer:
90-year-old A.K. Hangal, one of Hindi cinema’s most famous character actors, asked why we wanted to know his age. If people knew he was that old, he would not get work. For his age, he is rather energetic. We asked him what the secret was. He replied that his intake of everything was in small quantities and he walked a lot. He said that he had joined the industry when people retired. He had been in his 40s. So he did not miss being called a star. He was still respected and given work, when actors of his age were living in poverty and without work. He said he did not have any complaints, adding that he had always been underpaid. Recipient of the Padma Bhushan, Hangal never hankered after money or materialistic gains. He said that no doubt he was content at present, but money was important. He said regretfully that he was a fool not to understand the value of money before.

Speaking and Writing

1. Anger Management: As adults, one important thing to learn is how to manage our temper. Some of us tend to get angry quickly, while others remain calm. Can you think of three ill-effects that result from anger? Note them down. Suggest ways to avoid losing your temper in such situations. Are there any benefits from anger?
Answer:
Anger is a basic human emotion. It is usually experienced as an unpleasant feeling. When it gets out of control, it can lead to numerous problems, like ill-effects to health, tension, accidents, etc.

• Anger can result in domestic violence.
• It affects rational thinking. Hence, it leads to wrong decisions.
• It reduces emotional feelings and causes physiological arousal.

Tips to prevent Anger

Certainly, there is no benefit from anger. Following tips can be helpful.

• Meditation
• Sense of discipline
• Improve your analytical capacity
• Be sociable
• Be tolerant

2. In pairs, prepare a script based on the given excerpt from The Home and the World by Rabindranath Tagore. You may write five exchanges between the characters with other directions such as movements on stage and way of speaking, etc.

One afternoon, when I happened to be specially busy, word came to my office room that Bimala had sent for me. I was startled.
“Who did you say had sent for me?” I asked the messenger.
“The Rani Mother”.
“The Bara Rani?”
“No, sir, the Chota Rani Mother.”

The Chota Rani! It seemed a century since I had been sent for by her. I kept them all waiting there, and went off into the inner apartments. When I stepped into our room I had another shock of surprise to find Bimala there with a distinct suggestion of being dressed up. The room, which from persistent neglect, had latterly acquired an air of having grown absentminded, had regained something of its old order this afternoon. I stood there silently, looking enquiringly at Bimala.

She flushed a little and the fingers of her right hand toyed for a time with the bangles on her left arm. Then she abruptly broke the silence. “Look here! Is it right that ours should be the only market in all Bengal which allows foreign goods?”

“What, then, would be the right thing to do?” I’asked.
“Order them to be cleared out!”
“But the goods are not mine.”
“Is not the market yours?”
“It is much more theirs who use it for trade.”
“Let them trade in Indian goods, then.”
“Nothing would please me better. But suppose they do not?”
“Nonsense! How dare they be so insolent? Are you not…”
“I am very busy this afternoon and cannot stop to argue it out. But I must refuse to tyrannise.”
“It would not be tyranny for selfish gain, but for the sake of the country.”
“To tyrannise for the country is to tyrannise over the country. But that I am afraid you will never understand.” With this I came away.
Answer:
Sahib is sitting in his office room. It is afternoon. He seems to be very busy. All of a sudden, a messenger comes to him and says that Bimla had sent a message for him. Hearing this, he gets surprised.

Sahib asked the messenger suddenly. “Who did you had sent for me? The messenger speaks hesitatingly that the Rani Mother has sent me. Sahib tells Bara Rani? Messenger says, no, the Chota Rani Mother.

It seems that the Chota Rani had been sent for by her since ages. When the messenger entered the room, he gets surprised and asks Bimla to get dressed. The room was not properly arranged. The messenger stood there silently and enquired about Bimla.

Bimla flushed a little and the fingers of her right hand toyed with the bangles on her left arm. She broke the silence and told that it should be the only market in Bengal which allows foreign goods.

Sahib asked, “What would be the right thing to do?” The Rani Sahib ordered them to be cleared out. Sahib told that goods do not belong to him. It seems to be the trade done by the English merchants. But, let them sell Indian goods. Sahib does not approve it. He advocates for the traders. He seems a bit confused how to convey his thoughts to Rani Mother. He can’t stop selling foreign goods in Bengal. The Rani advocates for the country. But Sahib thinks it would be selfish to drive away the traders though he prefers ‘Swadeshi goods. Sahib fails to communicate and convey his feelings. Above all, he was busy and had no time to discuss over the matter for a long time. Taking an excuse he left the place, immediately.

3. In groups, discuss the qualities one should look for in a marriage partner. You might consider the following points.
Personal qualities
– Appearance or looks
– Attitudes and beliefs
– Sense of humour

Value system
– Compassion and kindness
– Tolerance, ambition
– Attitude to money and wealth

Education and professional background
Answer:
Marriage partner should be co-operative, compassionate, tolerant and kind. She should have
sense of humour. Education also plays a significant role. She should be professional, rational and active. Money and wealth also should be taken into consideration. Honesty and integrity, respect and affection, etc. should be there.

4. Are there parts of the play that remind you offilm scenes from romantic comedies? Discuss this in groups, and recount to the rest of the class episodes similar to those in the play.
Answer:
Do it yourself.

HBSE 10th Class English The Proposal Important Questions and Answers

Short Answer Type Questions (20-30 words & 2 marks each)

Question 1.
What was Chubukov’s reaction when Lomov told him the reason of his coming home?
Answer:
Lomov visited Chubukov to ask for her daughter’s hand for marriage. Listening that, Chubukov became overwhelmed with joy. He embraced and kissed Lomov and told him that he had expected that to happen. He further told Lomov that he had always loved him as his own son.

Question 2.
Why did Lomov want to marry Natalya despite knowing that Natalya was not his real love?
Answer:
Though Natalya was not Lomov’s real love, he still wanted to marry her. It was so because he was already at a critical age of 35 and wanted to lead a quiet and regular life. Moreover, he would never get married if he kept looking for an ideal love and also Natalya was beautiful and educated.

Question 3.
Who is Lomov and why does he visit Chubukov?
Answer:
Lomov is a landowner in Russia. He is about thirty-five years old which is a critical age for marriage. He visits Chubukov’s house in his best dress to put his proposal for Natalya. But Chubukov thought that he had come here to borrow money.

Question 4.
What did Lomov say to Nataya and Chubukov to prove that he is the rightful owner of Meadows?
Answer:
Lomov told Nataya and Chubukov that his aunt’s grandmother had given the Meadows for free use of Chubukov’s grandfather’s peasants on temporary basis. That is why he is the rightful owner of Meadows.

Short Answer Type Questions (40-50 words & 3 marks each)

Question 1.
Was Lomov a quarrelsome person?
Answer:
Yes, Lomov was a quarrelsome person. He came to Chubukov’s house to ask Natalya’s hand for marriage but started arguing about the meadow. Later, he kept on proving that his dog Squeezer was better than Chubukov’s dog Guess. During all this, he did not care of his health and his proposal of getting married to Natalya.

Question 2.
How was Natalya not convinced that Oxen Meadows were owned by Lomov?
Answer:
When Lomov said that his Oxen Meadows touched Natalya’s birchwoods, a verbal duel started between them. Natalya asserted that they owned Oxen Meadows for nearly 300 years. It was ridiculous if somebody else claimed it to be his own. Natalya’s father, Chubukov also joined the quarrel.

Question 3.
Why did the marriage proposal remain unmade during Lomov’s first visit?
Answer:
The proposal of Lomov remained unmade during his visit to Chubukov’s house as he was very nervous. He did not understand how to put forward his proposal of marriage. But, somehow he told about it to Natalya’s father. When Natalya came, they began to quarrel on a piece of land. He got very much excited and left the room, cursing and threatening the old
man and his daughter. In this chaos, he forgot everything about his proposal.

Question 4.
What happened when Lomov was thought to be almost dead?
Answer:
Lomov had come with the proposal of marrying Natalya. When he fell unconscious in an armchair, both the father and the daughter got worried. Natalya started crying thinking Lomov to be dead. Chubukov called for a doctor and he threatned to shoot himself or cut his throat. When Lomov became conscious, Chubukov grabbed the opportunity to bless them for a happy married life.

Question 5.
What was the matter of controversy about dogs?
Answer:
Natalya claims that Squeezer, her dog, is better than Guess, who is the dog of Lomov. He claims that Guess is a first rate dog. Each one wants to dominate the other on dog. Lomov says that Squeezer is overshot. His lower jaw is shorter than the upper. But Natalya says that Guess is very old and ugly. This was the only matter of controversy. 6. What do you learn about Natalya from the play, “The Proposal?? Ans. Natalya is the only daughter of the landowner, Chubukov. She was very possessive about her land. She was a short-tempered lady. She used to quarrel with anyone even on petty matters. She always pinpointed the amount of help she had offered to her neighbours. She did not want to give a part of it to anyone.

Essay Type Question

Question 1.
Justify the title of the play ‘The Proposal’.
Answer:
The title of the play ‘The Proposal is very appropriate.A thirty-five year old bachelor, Lomov wants
to propose Natalya for marriage. He goes to her house with the same purpose. Being confused, he doesn’t propose at once. He beats about the bush. He talks irrelevantly. As Natalya doesn’t know that he has come to propose her, she thinks that he has come to claim Oxen Meadows as his own. She starts quarrelling. This results in one after another quarrel. After Chubukov’s interference, Natalya comes to know that he has come to propose her. Then atonce she forgets the issue of fighting. Then the proposal is made and accepted. Finally, they getengaged. Thus, it can be said that the title of the play is quite apt.

Question 2.
‘Discussions and disputes seldom solve a problem’. Describe the dispute between Natalya and Lomov over the dogs and their superiority.
Answer:
Natalya and Lomov had a hot discussion over the superiority of their dogs – Squeezer and Guess. Lomov was aware of the fact that despite many qualities, Guess had two major defects, i.e., the dog was old and short in the muzzle. Lomov was proud of his dog’s pure breed and its well sprung ribs. It was also a good hunter. On the other hand, Natalya’s Squeezer was a bad hunter. Natalya pointed out that her dog Squeezer was better than Guess. She remarked that Guess was old, ugly and a worn out cab horse. She also called Guess a lame dog. Though Lomov had come there to propose Natalya as he wanted to marry her, they involved themselves in silly arguments – that also over petty issues. Their main purpose was sidelined in the dispute. But such petty arguments should never come in the way of matrimony. Rather it is the attribute of tolerance and acceptance that paves the way to good relationship.

Question 3.
What are the main points of pleading between Chubukov and Lomov over Oxen Meadows?
Answer:
On hearing about quarrel between Natalya and Lomov, Chubukov comes at the spot.
Immediately Natalya asks her father about the ownership of Oxen Meadows. Chubukov too pleaded that these were the properties of theirs. But Lomov denied their ownership. He pointed out that it was his aunt’s grandmother who gave the meadows to the peasants of Chubukov’s grandfather on the pretext that they would prepare bricks for his aunt. 4. Neighbours must have a cordial relationship which Lomov and Natalya do not have.

Question 4.
Describe the first fight between them.
Answer:
Lomov and Natalya were next-door neighbours. One day, Lomov came to Natalya to propose
her. Natalya, who didn’t know that he had come to propose her, thought that he had come to claim Oxen Meadows as his own. When Chubukov, Natalya’s father, interfered with them and also pleaded that the Oxen Meadows were the properties of Chubukov, the fight aggravated. For a few moments, Lomov’s real purpose was overshadowed by that issue and he continued the bias that meadows belonged to his aunt’s grandmother who gave them to the peasants of Chubukov’s grandfather on the condition that they would prepare bricks for her. So how it would be considered as Natalya’s property. Though both Lomov and Chubukov, Natalya’s father, were very rich landlords, they quarrelled over a tiny piece of land, called, “Oxen Meadows. But that was not the end of quarrel. Natalya didn’t agree with Lomov’s explanation. Instead, she offered to make a present of it to Lomov who, in turn, rejected the suggestion. And the quarrel continued endlessly. Such first meeting of Lomov and Natalya had in itself seeds of things (quarrels over petty issues)
to be expected in their married life.

Question 5.
Natalya and Lomov lose their temper on trivial issues. It shows their poor skills at anger management. Suggest some ways that help you in maintaining cordial relationship with people around you.
Answer:
Anger is a basic human emotion. Someone controls over anger but someone gets outburst
within a very short span of time. Angry people even lose their temper on trivial issues. But anger should be controlled. It always leads to destruction. In the play, Natalya and Lomov lose their temper on petty issues. It could somehow be controlled by them. Some ways that help us in maintaining cordial relationships with people around us are:

• good behaviour
• etiquette
• manners
• give due respect to others
• be co-operative
• patience

Question 6.
“In the first place, I’m already 35-a critical age, so to speak. In the second place, I ought to lead a quiet and regular life. I suffer from palpitations. I’m excitable and always in my right eyebrow. But the very worst of all is the way I sleep.” On the basis of the passage given what does the author want to say through this?
Answer:
Through this passage, the author wants to highlight the physical features and mental state of Lomov. This is conversation between Lomov and Chubukov. Lomov was a funny man. He was physically weak but economically sound. He was a rich bachelor and he wanted to marry Natalya. He was 35 years old. He wanted to lead a quiet and regular life. But the worst things about him was the way he slept. He always suffered from palpitations. Sometimes he got upset. His tips also trembled with fear. At this critical age, be would never get married if he kept looking for an ideal life. So, the only intention of Lomov was to get married at any cost because he was just on verge of expiry of marriage. After getting married he wanted to lead a quiet and regular life.

Question 7.
“Don’t excite yourself, my precious one. Allow me, your Guess certainly has his good points. He’s purebred, firm on his feet, has well spring ribs, and all that. But, my dear man, if you want to know the truth, that dog has two defects he is old and he’s short in the muzzle.” In the given passage, what has been discussed here?
Answer:
Through this passage, the author has discussed the merits and defects of Guess, the dog.
Chubukov tells that Guess has numerous merits. He has certainly some good points. His bred is pure. He has very firm or strong feet on which he can stand at stretch. He has well-spring ribs. But that is not the reality of the dog. There are two defects in dog. The dog is short and old in the muzzle. So, Chubukov asks Lomov not to excite himself. Guess is loyal and obedient to his master. He keeps a strict vigil on his master’s house. His master also likes him and takes proper care of the dog. This way Guess is a the good and loyal servant to his master. Except a few defects, Guess is a fit and fine.

Reference To Context

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. CHUBUKOV : [aside] He’s come to borrow money. Shan’t give him any!
[aloud] What is it, my beauty?
LOMOV : You see, Honoured Stepanitch… I beg pardon Stepan Honouritch… I
mean, I’m awfully excited, as you will please notice… In short, you alone can help me, though I don’t deserve it, of course… and haven’t any right to count on your assistance….

Choose the correct option:

(a) What does Lomov need?
(i) Money
(ii) Help
(iii) Property
(iv) All of these
Answer:
(ii) Help

(b) Who has been referred to as ‘beauty’in the above extract?
(i) Lomov
(ii) Money
(iii) Natalya
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(iii) Natalya

(c) Lomov stutters while speaking to Chubukov because he is awfully.
(i) sad
(ii) excited
(iii) depressed
(iv) none of these
Answer:
(ii) excited

(d) Who does not rely on anyone’s assistance?
(i) Lomov
(ii) Chubukov
(iii) Natalya
(iv) Stepanitch
Answer:
(i) Lomov

(e) Find out a word from the passage similar in meaning to ‘support.’
(i) contradict
(ii) oppose
(iii) helpless
(iv) assistance
Answer:
(iv) assistance

2. I’ve been hoping for it for a long time. It’s been my continual desire. [Sheds a tear] And I’ve always loved you, my angel, as if you were my own son. May God give you both – His help and His love and so on, and so much hope… What am I behaving in this idiotic way for? I’m off my balance with joy, absolutely off my balance! Oh, with all my soul… I’ll go and call Natalya, and all that.

Choose the correct option:

(a) For how long has Chubukov been hoping?
(i) For 1 minute
(ii) For a long time
(iii) For 1 hour
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(ii) For a long time

(b) Who considers himself behaving in an idiotic way?
(i) Lomov
(ii) Natalya
(iii) Chubukov
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(iii) Chubukov

(c) Natalya getting married to Lomov has been Chubukov’s continual
(i) dejection
(ii) desire
(iii) inspiration
(iv) none of these
Answer:
(ii) desire

(d) Who is referred to as “angle’ here?
(i) Chubukov
(ii) Lomov
(iii) Natalya
(iv) Stepanitch
Answer:
(ii) Lomov

(e) Find out a word from the passage opposite in meaning to “despair.’
(i) decide
(ii) reject
(iii) hope
(iv) degrade
Answer:
(iii) hope

3. Natalya Stepanovna is an excellent housekeeper, not bad-looking, well-educated. What more
do I want? But I’m getting a noise in my ears from excitement. [Drinks] And it’s impossible for me not to marry. In the first place, I’m already 35 — a critical age, so to speak. In the second place, I ought to lead a quiet and regular life. I suffer from palpitations, I’m excitable and always getting awfully upset; at this very moment my lips are trembling, and there’s a twitch in my right eyebrow. But the very worst of all is the way I sleep. I no sooner get into bed and begin to go off, when suddenly something in my left side gives a pull, and I can feel it in my shoulder and head… I jump up like a lunatic, walk about a bit and lie down again, but as soon as I begin to get off to sleep there’s another pull! And this may happen twenty times…

Choose the correct option:

(a) Who is Natalya Stepanovna?
(i) An excellent orator
(ii) An excellent housekeeper
(iii) A good scholar
(iv) A good sportswoman
Answer:
(ii) An excellent housekeeper

(b) How old is Lomov?
(i) Twenty-five years old
(ii) Thirty years old
(iii) Thirty-five years old
(iv) Forty years old
Answer:
(iii) Thirty-five years old

(c) Lomov suffers from
(i) palpitations
(ii) asthma
(iii) influenza
(iv) none of these
Answer:
(i) palpitations

(d) What happens with Lomov while he goes for sleeping?
(i) He faints from time to time.
(ii) He gets one pull after another.
(iii) Both (i) and (ii)
(iv) Neither (i) nor (ii)
Answer:
(ii) He gets one pull after another.

(e) Find out a word from the passage similar in meaning to ‘maniac’.
(i) sensible
(ii) reasonable
(iii) sane
(iv) lunatic
Answer:
(iv) lunatic

4. But you can see from the documents, honoured Natalya Stepanovna. Oxen Meadows, it’s true, were once the subject of dispute, but now everybody knows that they are mine. There’s nothing to argue about. You see my aunt’s grandmother gave the free use of these Meadows in perpetuity to the peasants of your father’s grandfather, in return for which they were to make bricks for her. The peasants belonging to your father’s grandfather had the free use of the Meadows for forty years, and had got into the habit of regarding them as their own, when it happened that…

Choose the correct option:

(a) What were once the subject of dispute?
(i) Oxen Meadows
(ii) Oxen Shadows
(iii) Sea Springs
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(i) Oxen Meadows

(b) Oxen Meadows belongs to whom?
(i) Natalya
(ii) Lomov
(iii) Ivan Vassilevitch
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(ii) Lomov

(c) The peasants belonging to Natalya’s father’s grandfather made ………….. for her in return.
(i) bricks
(ii) cement
(iii) iron
(iv) plastic
Answer:
(i) bricks

(d) How many years did they make free use of the Meadows?
(i) Twenty years
(ii) Twenty-five years
(iii) Forty years
(iv) Fifty years
Answer:
(iii) Forty years

(e) Find out a word from the passage similar in meaning to “permanently’.
(i) temporarily
(ii) perpetuity
(iii) momentary
(iv) transitory
Answer:
(ii) perpetuity

5. What a surprise! We’ve had the land for nearly three hundred years, and then we’re suddenly told that it isn’t ours! Ivan Vassilevitch, I can hardly believe my own ears. These meadows aren’t worth much to me. They only come to five dessiatins, and are worth perhaps 300 roubles, but I can’t stand unfairness. Say what you will, I can’t stand unfairness.

Choose the correct option:

(a) What can the speaker not tolerate?
(i) People
(ii) Fairness
(iii) Unfairness
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(iii) Unfairness

(b) What is the cost of these meadows?
(i) 300 roubles
(ii) 400 roubles
(iii) 500 roubles
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(i) 300 roubles

(c) …………….. can hardly believe her own ears.
(i) Natalya
(ii) Lomov
(iii) Vassilevitch
(iv) Stepanitch
Answer:
(i) Natalya

(d) What is ‘dessiatins’?
(i) A unit of land measurement in Russia
(ii) A unit of land measurement in England
(iii) Both (i) and (ii)
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(i) A unit of land measurement in Russia

(e) Find out a word from the passage similar in meaning to ‘value.’
(i) frugal
(ii) worth
(iii) worthless
(iv) insignificant
Answer:
(ii) worth

6. I can make you a present of them myself, because they’re mine! Your behaviour, Ivan Vassilevitch, is strange, to say the least! Up to this we have always thought of you as a good neighbour, a friend; last year we lent you our threshing-machine, although on that account we had to put off our own threshing till November, but you behave to us as if we were gypsies. Giving me my own land, indeed! No, really, that’s not at all neighbourly! In my opinion, it’s even impudent, if you want to know.

Choose the correct option:

(a) What is the matter of dispute between both the characters?
(i) Land
(ii) Meadows
(iii) Cows
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(ii) Meadows

(b) Till which month did the narrator put off their own threshing?
(i) October
(ii) November
(iii) December
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(ii) November

(c) Last year Natalya lent Lomov their
(i) threshing-machine
(ii) binding-machine
(iii) washing-machine
(iv) all of these
Answer:
(i) threshing-machine

(d) How is the behaviour of Ivan Vassilevitch?
(i) Rude
(ii) Strange
(iii) Good
(iv) Ill-tempered
Answer:
(ii) Strange

(e) Find out a word from the passage opposite in meaning to “respectful.’
(i) impudent
(ii) sycophant
(iii) dissident
(iv) satisfied
Answer:
(i) impudent

7. Don’t excite yourself, my precious one. Allow me. Your Guess certainly has his good points.
He’s purebred, firm on his feet, has well-sprung ribs, and all that. But, my dear man, if you want to know the truth, that dog has two defects: he’s old and he’s short in the muzzle.

Choose the correct option:

(a) What are the major defects of Guess, according to the speaker?
(i) Old and short in the muzzle
(ii) Young and stout
(iii) Short and thin
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(i) Old and short in the muzzle

(b) What kind of breed is the dog?
(i) Purebred
(ii) Mixedbred
(iii) Monobred
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(i) Purebred

(c) Chubukov asks Lomov not to himself.
(i) oppress
(ii) enthuse
(iii) incite
(iv) excite
Answer:
(iv) excite

(d) What are the good points of Guess?
(i) Weak feet and well sprung ribs
(ii) Firm feet and well sprung ribs
(iii) Flexible feet and inflexible ribs
(iv) All of these
Answer:
(ii) Firm feet and well sprung ribs

(e) Find out a word from the passage similar in meaning to definitely’.
(i) excitedly
(ii) uncertainly
(iii) certainly
(iv) roughly
Answer:
(iii) certainly

The Proposal Summary

The Proposal Introduction

• Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (29 January, 1860 — 15 July, 1904) is considered one of the greatest writers of short fiction in history.
• He completed his school education in 1879.
• He was a physician, short-story writer and playwright of Russia.
• “The Seagull’, ‘Uncle Vanya’, ‘The Three Sisters’ and ‘The Cherry Orchard are some of his notable plays.
• He was bestowed with the coveted Pushkin Prize for the best literary production.

Gist of the Lesson

In ‘The Proposal, the author Anton Chekhov has given a detailed description of the marriage. Its theme is based on two people who love each other by fighting. It is a story about Stepanovitch Chubukov and his neighbour Lomov. Natalya is the daughter of Chubukov. The main purpose of the play is to increase their estates and land properties.

Lomov enters the house of Chubukov with a request. Chubukov thinks that Lomov has come to take some money. But that is not true. Instead Lomov has come to ask for Natalya’s hand. At this, Chubukov gets happy and embraces Lomov. Chubukov gives his consent and also tells him that Natalya is also in love with him. Natalya is beautiful and educated. So he wants to lead a happy and married life with Natalya.

When Natalya comes and asks about his visit, he changes the track of conversation. Lomov tells that he has great respect for his family. When Lomov talks about Oxen Meadows, birchwoods, there starts a verbal duel between the two. At this, Natalya refuses Lomov’s claim.

Lomov calls Chubukov a land grabber and threatens to drag Chubukov into the court. They start abusing each other. Chubukov calls Lomov the villain and the scarecrow. Natalya calls Lomov ‘a rascal’. They also quarrel over their dogs. They also want to prove each other’s dog superior. Lomov’s heart starts palpitating. But after a few moment, he regains his consciousness and Chubok tells him that Natalya is ready to marry. But ultimately they tie a nupital knot. And they start leading their married life.

The Proposal Summary

Lomov and Chubukov meet: Lomov in a formal evening dress comes to visit Chubukov. He is so excited about the purpose of his visit that he beats around the bushes rather than saying his purpose.

Lomov asks for Natalya’s hand: After gathering courage, Lomov finally speaks up to Chubukov that he has come to ask for Natalya, his daughter’s hand in marriage.

Chubukov calls Natalya: Chubukov becomes very happy at the proposal of Lomov and calls Natalya. Lomov asks Chubukov whether she will accept his proposal. Chubukov consoles him by saying that she is like a lovesick cat and will accept his proposal.

Lomov’s thoughts about Natalya: Lomov thinks that Natalya is an amazing house-keeper, educated and beautiful. He should not miss this opportunity of getting married at the age of thirtyfive.

Lomov’s reasons of getting married: Lomov suffers from serious diseases like palpitation, excitement and insomnia. Therefore, he wants to settle down and have a peaceful married life.

Natalya enters the drawing-room: Natalya sees Lomov in drawing-room and welcomes him. She compliments his dress which excites Lomov before he can tell his proposal.

Lomov’s claim of Oxen Meadows: Lomov starts talking how their families had good relations over many decades and also his Oxen Meadows touch their birchwoods.

Lomov and Natalya quarrel: Natalya opposes Lomov’s claim of calling Oxen Meadows his as the meadows belongs to her family. They both quarrel over the ownership of the Oxen Meadows. Lomov goes out after listening to the insults of her family.

Natalya gets to know the proposal: Chubukov enters the drawing room and gets angry on how Lomov dared to come with marriage proposal for his daughter and insulted him afterwards.

Natalya feels sad: After knowing about the proposal, Natalya becomes sad and repents for the fight she picked up with Lomov. Chubukov goes out to call Lomov.

Natalya pacifies Lomov: Natalya calms down Lomov by saying that the Oxen Meadows belongs to him. But Lomov is still disturbed and therefore, he starts praising his dog Guess, that he purchased for 125 roubles.

Another fight between Lomov and Natalya: Natalya says that her dog, Squeezer which she purchased for 85 roubles, is better than his dog Guess. They both start fighting over the qualities of their dogs.

Lomov falls unconscious: Chubukov also sides with his daughter rather than ending their quarrel. While throwing abuses at each other, Lomov falls into the armchair. Both Chubukov and Natalya think he is dead. She laments that her chance of getting married to Lomov has gone.

Lomov and Natalya decide to marry: After a few moments, Lomov regains his consciousness and without missing this opportunity, Chubukov tells him that Natalya is ready to marry him. He asks them to kiss each other. Later, they playfully debate over their dogs’ qualities again.

Lesson at a Glance

• Chubukov and Lomov are neighbours. They both are landowners.
• Lomov is thirty-five years old and he wants to live a peaceful married life.
• Lomov goes to Chubukov’s house to ask for his daughter Natalya’s hand in marriage.
• In Lomov’s opinion, Natalya is an amazing housekeeper and not bad looking either.
• After coming to her house, he forgets the purpose of his visit and starts fighting with Natalya over the ownership of Oxen Meadows.
• Chubukov enters and asks what the matter is about. He supports his daughter in the quarrel.
• Lomov threatens them to go to the court. They further abuse one another.
• Later, Natalya comes to know about the marriage proposal Lomov has come up with. She is annoyed with her father that he did not tell her about the proposal.
• She asked her father to bring Lomov back, else she would end her life.
• Lomov comes back and this time they start quarrelling over their dogs.
• Natalya asserts that her dog Squeezer is better than Lomov’s dog Guess.
• Chubukov also takes his daughter’s side and says that Squeezer is the best dog in the district.
• In between all this fighting, Lomov becomes excited and his palpitations start rising.
• He falls down in the chair and loses his consciousness.
• Chubukov gets confused and threatens to cut his throat or shoot himself.
• Gradually, Lomov regains his consciousness and Chubukov tells them to get married soon.

Character Sketch

Lomov: Lomov was a funny man. He was physically weak but economically sound. He was a rich bachelor who wanted to marry Natalya. He was not really in love with Natalya but wanted to marry her because he thought that she was a good-housekeeper and beautiful. Lomov said if he had desired for an ideal or real love, he would never have got married. It was his feeling that at the age of 35, he must lead a quiet and regular life. When he went to propose her, Natalya thought that he had come to claim Oxen Meadows as his own. That is why quarrel took place between them. They even quarrelled over their dogs. Before finally proposing to her, he fainted and after that shouted a lot but finally succeeded to get acceptance.

Chubukow: Chubukov was a landowner. He loved his daughter a lot. He was in search ofa good match for his daughter. He called Lomov, angel, treasure etc. He was a cunning man. Whenever Chubukov fought with Natalya, he supported his daughter. He even abused Lomov and told him to leave his house.

Natalya: Natalya was a very short-tempered girl. She was much concerned about the honour of her family and land. She had even hot discussion with Lomov about the ownership of Oxen Meadows and her dog, Squeezer. She was also ready to tie a nupital knot.

Word-Meanings

Haryana State Board HBSE 10th Class English Solutions First Flight Chapter 9 Madam Rides the Bus Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

Haryana Board 10th Class English Solutions First Flight Chapter 9 Madam Rides the Bus

HBSE 10th Class English Madam Rides the Bus Textbook Questions and Answers

Activity

1. Look at the words and phrases given below. Then put a tick against the ones you think you will find in the text.

______ a set of passengers
______ get on the bus
______ get off the bus
______ platform
______ Tickets, please
______ a roar and a rattle
______ a row of seats
______ slowing down to a crawl
______ blowing a whistle
Answer:
a set of passengers
get on the bus
get off the bus
a roar and a rattle

2. You must have travelled by bus more than once. What can you see from a fast-moving bus ? Given below are some suggestions. Speak briefly about some of these scenes, or about other such scenes that you have seen; or write a sentence or two about them.

rivers
roadside shops
moving trains
a crowd
green fields
market places
vehicles on the road
clothes in shops
hills
railway tracks
trees
animals
Answer:
Usually the following scenes can be seen from a fast-moving bus :

• green fields
• roadside shops
• market places
• grazing animals
• moving trees
• a crowd
• vehicles on the road
• crops in fields
• people walking on the road
• factories
• distant hills
• rivers
• valleys

The above scenes are generally visible when the bus is moving in the plains and passing through cities. When the bus leaves the city, we can see green fields on both side of the road. In these fields we can see the grazing animals, standing crops, etc. We also see the trees moving towards us when the bus runs. We also see factories and the people walking on the road. When the bus passes through the cities, we can see market places, crowds of people and roadside shops. But when the bus passes through a hilly area, we can see hills, far off mountains, rivers, valleys, etc. All these things look very charming and beautiful.

Oral Comprehension Check (Page 119)

1. What was Valli’s favourite pastime ? (वल्ली का प्रिय शौक क्या था?)
Answer:
Valli’s favourite pastime was to stand in the doorway of her house and watch what was happening in the street outside.
(अपने घर के सामने वाले दरवाजे पर खड़े होकर गली में घट रही घटनाओं को देखना वल्ली का प्रिय शौंक था।)

2. What was a source of unending joy for Valli ? What was her strongest desire ?
(वल्ली के लिए प्रसन्नता का कभी समाप्त न होने वाला स्रोत क्या था? उसकी सबसे मज़बूत इच्छा क्या थी?)
Answer:
The sight of the bus filled each time with a new set of passengers was a source of unending joy for Valli. Her strongest desire was to enjoy a ride on that bus.
(हर बार नए यात्रियों के समूह से भरी हुई बस का दृश्य वल्ली के लिए कभी समाप्त न होने वाला प्रसन्नता का स्रोत था। . उसकी सबसे अधिक मज़बूत इच्छा उस बस पर सवार होकर सफर करने की थी।)

3. What did Valli find out about the bus journey ? How did she find out these details ? (बस यात्रा के बारे में वल्ली को क्या जानकारी हासिल हुई? उसने ये जानकारियाँ कैसे हासिल की?)
Answer:
Valli found out about the bus journey that the bus fare was thirty paise one way.The town was six miles from the village. She found out these details after hearing the conversation between her neighbours and those who had travelled by the bus.
(वल्ली को बस यात्रा के बारे में पता चल गया कि बस यात्रा का एक तरफ का किराया तीस पैसे था। कस्बा गाँव में छह मील की दूरी पर था। उसने ये जानकारियाँ अपने पड़ोसियों और उन लोगों की बातचीत से हासिल की थीं जो बस की यात्रा कर चुके थे।)

4. What do you think Valli was planning to do? (आपके विचार में वल्ली क्या करने की योजना बना रही थी?)
Answer:
She was planning to save money so that she could ride on the bus. She could take the one-o’clock afternoon bus, reach the town at one forty-five and be back home by about two forty-five.
(वह पैसे बचाने की योजना बना रही थी ताकि वह बस पर सवार हो सके। वह दोपहर बाद एक बजे वाली बस ले सके, एक बजकर पैंतालिस मिनट पर कस्बे में पहुँच सके और दो पैंतालिस पर अपने घर लौट सके।)

Oral Comprehension Check (Page 122)

1. Why does the conductor call Valli ‘madam’?
(परिचालक वल्ली को ‘मैडम’ क्यों कहता है?) ।
Answer:
The conductor was amused to see the self-confidence of Valli. She behaved like a grown up woman. She was quick in her answers to the conductor’s questions. So he addresses Valli as ‘madam.’
(परिचालक वल्ली के आत्मविश्वास से अति प्रसन्न था। वह एक सयानी महिला की तरह व्यवहार कर रही थी। वह परिचालक के प्रश्नों का तेजी के साथ उत्तर दे रही थी। इसलिए वह वल्ली को ‘मैडम’ कहता है।)

2. Why does Valli stand up on the seat ? What does she see now ? (वल्ली सीट पर क्यों खड़ी हो जाती ? अब वह क्या देखती है?)
Answer:
Valli stands up on the seat because she couldn’t see outside as the bus curtain had covered the lower part of her window. Now she sees the outside scenes and is filled with wonder.
(वल्ली सीट पर खड़ी हो जाती है क्योंकि वह बस से बाहर नहीं देख सकती है क्योंकि बस में लगे पर्दो ने उसकी खिड़की के निचले भाग को ढक रखा है। अब वह बाहर के दृश्यों को देखती है और आश्चर्य से भर जाती है।)

3. What does Valli tell the elderly man when he calls her a child ? (वल्ली वृद्ध आदमी को क्या बताती है जब वह उसे बच्ची कहकर पुकारता है?)
Answer:
Valli feels angry when the elderly man calls her a child. She tells him that she is not a child and that she has a full ticket for the bus journey.
(वल्ली क्रोधित हो जाती है जब वृद्ध आदमी उसे बच्ची कहकर पुकारता है। वह उसे बताती है कि वह बच्ची नहीं है और उसके पास बस यात्रा का पूरा टिकट है।)

4. Why didn’t Valli want to make friends with the elderly woman ? (वल्ली वृद्ध महिला के साथ मित्रता क्यों नहीं करना चाहती थी?)
Answer:
Valli did not want to make friends with the elderly woman because she looked ‘repulsive’ and ‘smelled foul.’
(वल्ली वृद्ध महिला के साथ मित्रता नहीं करना चाहती थी क्योंकि वह ‘घृणित’ लग रही थी और उससे ‘बुरी गंध’ आ रही थी।)

Oral Comprehension Check (Page 125)

1. How did Valli save up money for her first journey ? Was it easy for her ?
(वल्ली ने अपनी पहली यात्रा के लिए धन कैसे बचाया? क्या यह उसके लिए आसान था?)
Answer:
Valli saved up money for her first journey by resisting the temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons, etc. It was difficult for her. She even suppressed her desire to enjoy a merry-go-round at the village fair.
(वल्ली ने पिपरमिंट की गोलियाँ, खिलौने, गुब्बारे इत्यादि खरीदने से अपने आपको रोककर धन बचाया। यह उसके लिए कठिन था। उसने गाँव के मेले में झूले का आनन्द लेने की अपनी इच्छा को भी दबाया।)

2. What did Valli see on her way that made her laugh ? (वल्ली ने रास्ते में क्या देखा जिससे वह हँसने लगी?)
Answer:
Suddenly a cow which came before the bus with her raised tail. The driver sounded the horn. But more he honked, the animal became more frightened and the faster it galloped. This made Valli laugh.
(अचानक ही एक गाय जिसने अपनी पूँछ उठा रखी थी बस के आगे आ गई। चालक ने हॉर्न बजाया। लेकिन जितना ज्यादा वह हॉर्न बजाता था, जानवर उतना ज्यादा डर जाता था और तेजी से भागने लग जाता था। इससे वल्ली हँस पड़ी।)

3. Why didn’t she get off the bus at the bus station? (वह बस स्टेशन पर बस से नीचे क्यों नहीं उतरी?)
Answer:
Valli didn’t get off the bus at the bus station because she was going back on the same bus. So she gave the money to the conductor for the ticket for her return journey.
(बस स्टैण्ड पर वल्ली बस से नीचे नहीं उतरी क्योंकि वह उसी बस से वापस जा रही थी। इसलिए उसने चालक को उसकी वापसी की यात्रा के टिकट के पैसे दे दिए।)

4. Why didn’t Valli want to go to the stall and have a drink? What does this tell you about her?
(वल्ली दुकान पर जाकर शीतल पेय क्यों नहीं पीना चाहती थी? इससे आपको उसके बारे में क्या जानकारी मिलती है?)
Answer:
Valli did not want to go to the stall and have a drink because she didn’t have the money for that. The conductor offered to pay for her. But she declined this offer. It tells that she was a wise and confident girl.
(वल्ली दुकान पर नहीं जाना चाहती थी और पेय पदार्थ नहीं लेना चाहती रो क्योंकि उसके पास इसके लिए धन नहीं था। परिचालक ने इसके लिए पैसे देने की पेशकश की। लेकिन उसने इस पेशकश को इंकार कर दिया। इससे पता चलता है कि वह एक बुद्धिमान और विश्वस्त लड़की थी।)

Thinking about the Text

1. What was Valli’s deepest desire ? Find the words and phrases in the story that tell you this.
(वल्ली की तीव्रतम इच्छा क्या थी? कहानी में से वे शब्द या वाक्यांश छाँटिए जो इसके बारे में आपको बताते हैं।)
Answer:
Valli’s deepest desire was to ride on the bus which ran from her village to the nearby town. The words and phrases which tell this are : ‘Day after day she watched the bus’, ‘she wanted to ride on that bus’, “This wish became stronger and stronger.’ ‘until it was an overwhelmin
(वल्ली की तीव्रतम इच्छा थी कि वह अपने गाँव से निकटतम कस्बे में जाने वाली बस की सवारी करे। जो शब्द या वाक्यांश हमें इसके बारे में बताते हैं कि-‘दिन-प्रतिदिन वह बस को निहारती थी’, ‘वह बस पर सफर करना चाहती थी’, ‘यह इच्छा मज़बूत-से-मजबूत होती गई’, ‘जब तक कि यह एक अनियंत्रित इच्छा नहीं बन गई।)

2. How did Valli plan her bus ride? What did she find out about the bus, and how did she save up the fare?
(वल्ली ने अपनी बस की यात्रा की योजना कैसे बनाई? उसने बस के बारे में क्या जानकारी हासिल की, और उसने किराया कैसे बचाया?)
Answer:
Valli planned her bus ride after knowing all the related facts like the fare, the time it took to reach the town, when it started to and fro. She found out all these details by listening carefully to conversation between her neighbours and the persons who had travelled by the bus. :
(वल्ली ने बस के बारे में सारे तथ्यों; जैसे किराया, शहर पहुँचने में लिया जाने वाला समय, यह यहाँ और वहाँ से किस समय चलती थी जानने के बाद अपनी बस यात्रा की योजना बनाई। उसने ये सारी जानकारियाँ अपने पड़ोसियों और उन लोगों की बातचीत को जो बस की यात्रा कर चुके थे ध्यान से सुनकर हासिल की थीं।)

3. What kind of a 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.
(वल्ली किस प्रकार की लड़की है? इस प्रश्न के उत्तर के लिए पाठ से निम्नलिखित वाक्य लो और खाली स्थान को भरो। जो शब्द आप भरेंगे वही आपके उत्तर के लिए संकेत होंगे।)
(i) “Stop the bus ! Stop the bus!” And a tiny hand was raised
(ii) “Yes,I .go to town,” said Valli, still standing outside the bus.
(iii) “There’s nobody here ______.” she said haughtily.“I’ve paid my thirty paise like everyone else.”
(iv) “Never mind,” she said, “I can ____ . You don’t have to help me. I’m not a child, I tell you,” she said,
(v) “You needn’t bother about me. I _____________. “Valli said, turning her face toward the window and staring out.
(vi) Then she turned to the conductor and said, “Well, sir, I hope ____.”
Answer:
(i) commandingly
(ii) simply have to
(iii) who’s a child
(iv) get on by myself
(v) can take care of myself
(vi) to see you again

4. Why does the conductor refer to Valli as ‘madam’ ?
(परिचालक वल्ली को मैडम क्यों कहता है?)
Answer:
The conductor was impressed by Valli’s self-confidence. She behaved like a grown up woman. She was quick in her answers to the conductor’s questions. She was self-dependent. So he addressed Valli as ‘madam.’

(परिचालक वल्ली के आत्मविश्वास से अति प्रसन्न था। वह एक सयानी महिला की तरह व्यवहार कर रही थी। वह परिचालक के प्रश्नों का तेजी के साथ उत्तर दे रही थी। वह आत्म-निर्भर थी। इसलिए वह वल्ली को ‘मैडम’ कहता है।) .

5. Find the lines in the text which tell you that Valli was enjoying her ride on the bus. (अध्याय में से पंक्तियाँ छाँटिए जो आपको बताती हैं कि वल्ली अपनी यात्रा का आनन्द ले रही थी।)
Answer:
The following lines tell us that Valli was enjoying the bus ride : ‘Suddenly Valli clapped her hands with glee,’ ‘Somehow this was very funny to Valli,’ ‘She laughed and laughed …,’ ‘Struck dumb with wonder, Valli gaped at everything.’

6. Why does Valli refuse to look out of the window on her way back ? (घर वापसी में वल्ली खिड़की से बाहर देखने से क्यों मना कर देती है?)
Answer:
On her way back, Valli sees the dead cow. It makes her sad. So she refuses to look out of the window on her way back because what was so beautiful a little while ago now looked so horrible. The memory of the dead cow haunts her. It dampens her enthusiasm.
(वापसी में, वल्ली एक मृत गाय को देखती है। इससे वह उदास हो जाती है। इसलिए घर वापसी पर वह खिड़की से बाहर देखने से मना कर देती है क्योंकि थोड़ी देर पहले जो कुछ इतना सुन्दर था अब इतना भयानक लग रहा था। मृत गाय की याद उसे परेशान कर रही है। यह उसके उत्साह को ठंडा कर रही है।)

7. What does Valli mean when she says, “I was just agreeing with what you said about things happening without our knowledge.”
(वल्ली का क्या भाव है जब वह कहती है “मैं तो सिर्फ आपकी बात से सहमत हो रही थी जो हमारी जानकारी के बिना चीजों के घटित होने के विषय में आप ने कहा था।”)
Answer:
Valli means to say that many things happen in our midst and in the world outside. We do not know about them all. Even if we know them, we can’t understand them completely.
(वल्ली के कहने का भाव है कि हमारे बीच में और बाहर संसार में बहुत-सी चीजें घटित होती हैं। हम उनके बारे में सब कुछ नहीं जानते। यदि हम उनके बारे में जानते भी हैं तो हम उन्हें पूर्णतया समझ नहीं सकते हैं।)

8. 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 ?
(लेखक चीज़ों का वर्णन उस रूप में करता है जिस रूप में एक आठ साल की लड़की वल्ली उन्हें देखती है। क्या आप अध्याय से कुछ प्रमाण ढूँढ सकते हैं जो इस कथन की पुष्टि करते हैं?)
Answer:
The following evidence from the text tells us that the poet describes the things that Valli sees from an eight-year old’s point of view :
“The most fascinating thing of all was the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town,’
“Valli devoured everything with her eyes,’
‘Oh, it was all so wonderful!’ palm trees, grassland, distant mountains, and the blue, blue sky,”
‘Valli’s stands to look outside as the bus curtain covers the lower part of her window,’
‘Somehow this was very funny to Valli’ (seeing the cow run ahead of the bus),
“She laughed and laughed until there were tears in her eyes.

Speaking

This story has a lot of people talking in it. The conductor jokes and laughs with Valli, some passengers try to show their concern for her, and her mother and her aunt spend time chatting.
Read the conversations carefully. Then think of similar people, or similar situations that you have experienced. Mimic a person or persons who spoke to you, saying what they said, along with your replies.
Answer:
I often travel by a bus. The memory of one such journey is till fresh in my mind. The conductor of the bus was a very jolly person. He was perhaps a man who could never be sad. He replied to every question in a humorous way. I saw the bus stand. I went near it asked the conductor where the bus would go. He looked at me and said, “How can the bus go? Do you find any legs attached to the bus?” Everyone laughed. I too enjoyed the joke. In the meantime someone had told me that the bus was going to Delhi. It was the right bus so I boarded it. After sometime a person asked the conductor as to what was the last stop of the bus. At this conductor replied, “The last stop of every bus is the junk dealer’s shop.” Again everybody laughed. At next stop, an old man boarded the bus. He was a stammered while talking. He said something to the conductor, who replied, “Sir, applying the brakes is the driver’s job. Why do you apply brakes when speaking?” Thus the conductor kept making humorous remarks. As a result, I and the other passengers had a good time.

Writing

Write a page—about three paragraphs on one of the following topics.

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:
What I Planned Entirely on My Own

I remember that once I planned a visit to the International book fair on my town, without taking any elders into confidence. I am a book lover. When I learnt that an international book fair was being held in Delhi, I could not resist the temptation of visiting it. I told my father that I wanted to visit my uncle who lived in Delhi. After some hesitation, my father agreed. A few days ago I had won a cash prize at a declamation contest held in our school. So I had money in my pocket for the books. My father gave me the bus fare. I was very happy. On reaching Delhi, I boarded a local bus for the Pragati Maidan. After one hour, I reached the book fair site. I was thrilled to see so many book stalls there. I kept money only for the return fare and spent the rest of money on the books. I purchased some very good books. I shall always remember that visit.

2. Have you made a journey that was unforgettable in some way? What made it memorable ?
Answer:
My Unforgettable Journey

Once I went to Ludhiana by bus. That journey will always remain fresh in my mind. Everything went wrong from the start to the finish. First of all I was late for the bus. I hired an auto-rickshaw for the bus stand. But the auto-rickshaw struck an electric pole and turned over. Luckily I escaped without any injury. I rushed to the bus stand and found the bus just leaving. I ran very hard and was able to catch it. But as I entered the bus, I collided against a lady who was standing. She asked me if I was blind. Everyone laughed at me. I was red in the face. Then the bus broke down on the way. After waiting for one hour for the bus to be repaired, I finally took another bus. I reached Ludhiana at night. Then I forgot the adder’s of my friend. I kept wandering in his colony. However, all is well that ends well. Luckily I found my friend coming in the street. I went to his room and heaved a sigh of relief.

3. Are you concerned about traffic and road safety ? What are your concerns ? How would you
make road travel safer and more enjoyable ?
Answer:
My Concern about Traffic and Road Safety

I am concerned about the traffic and the road safety. In India, the traffic rules are very commonly ignored. As a result, there are many accidents in which numerous people lose their lives.

We must follow the traffic rules for our own and others’ safety. We should keep to the left while driving on the road. We should use the zebra crossing while crossing the road. When we are driving a vehicle, we must slow it when we approach the zebra crossing. The most important thing is that public should be educated about traffic rules and traffic safety. The police must check the traffic violations strictly. Those who violate the traffic rules should be punished severely.

HBSE 10th Class English Madam Rides the Bus Important Questions and Answers

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Who was Valli?
Answer:
Valli was an eight years old village girl.

Question 2.
What was Valli’s favourite pastime ?
Answer:
Her favourite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house, watching what was happening in the street outside.

Question 3.
How old was Valli ?
Answer:
Valli was eight years old.

Question 4.
Who did Valli live with ?
Answer:
Valli lived with her mother.

Question 5.
What was the most fascinating thing for Valli ?
Answer:
The sight of the bus, filled each time with a new set of passengers was the most fascinating thing for Valli.

Question 6.
When would Valli be jealous ?
Answer:
Valli would be jealous when one of her friends described the sight of the town to her.

Question 7.
What did Valli carefully listen to ?
Answer:
Valli carefully listened to conversations of her neighbours who used the bus regularly.

Question 8.
How far was the town from the village ?
Answer:
It was at a distance of six miles.

Question 9.
What type of a man was the bus conductor ?
Answer:
The bus conductor was a jolly and fun loving type of person.

Question 10.
How much money did Valli save for the bus ride ?
Answer:
She saved sixty paisa for the bus ride.

Question 11.
What made Valli sad ?
Answer:
The sight of the dead cow made Valli sad.

Question 12.
What was Valli’s deepest desire?
Answer:
Valli’s deepest desire was to have a bus ride to the town.

Question 13.
What does the bus conductor call Valli?
Answer:
The bus conductor calls her ‘madam’.

Question 14.
What did Valli buy from the town?
Answer:
She bought nothing from the town.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Write down the conductor’s advice to Valli?
(परिचालक के द्वारा वल्ली को दी गई सलाह लिखिए।)
Answer:
Calling Valli a child, the conductor requested her to sit down. It will make her comfortable. Standing up again and again can make her fall and get hurt because the bus can make a sharp turn.
(वल्ली को बच्ची कहते हुए, परिचालक ने उसे नीचे बैठ जाने को कहा। इससे वह आरामदायक रहेगी। बार-बार खड़े होने से वह गिर सकती है और उसे चोट लग सकती है क्योंकि बस को तीव्र मोड़ काटने पड़ते हैं।)

Question 2.
How did Valli manage to leave the house?
(वल्ली ने घर से जाने का प्रबंध कैसे किया?)
Answer:
Valli knew that after lunch her mother would nap for about one to four or so. It was Valli’s habit to engage these hours for her excursions and move outside the village.
(वल्ली जानती थी कि दोपहर का खाना खाने के बाद उसकी माँ एक बजे से लेकर चार बजे तक हल्की नींद लेती थी। वल्ली की आदत थी कि वह इन घंटों का प्रयोग भ्रमण करने या गाँव में इधर-उधर घूमने में करती थी।)

Question 3.
What did Valli calculate and plan?
(वल्ली ने क्या गणना की और क्या योजना बनाई?)
Answer:
Valli calculated and planned that if she took one o’clock afternoon bus, she would reach the town at one forty-five. On reaching town if she stayed in her seat and paid another thirty paise she could return home by the same bus by about two forty-five.
(वल्ली ने गणना की और योजना बनाई कि यदि उसने दोपहर बाद एक बजे वाली बस पकड़ ली तो वह एक पैंतालिस पर शहर पहुँच जाएगी। शहर पहुँचकर यदि वह अपनी सीट पर ही बैठी रही और अतिरिक्त तीस पैसे का भुगतान कर दिया तो वह उसी बस से दो बजकर पैंतालिस मिनट तक घर पहुंच जाएगी।)

Question 4.
What type of person was the conductor?
(परिचालक किस प्रकार का व्यक्ति था?)
Answer:
The conductor was very wise man and knew how to tackle and talk with the passengers. He was fond of jokes and in his jolly tone interrogated Valli many times.
(परिचालक बहुत ही बुद्धिमान व्यक्ति था और जानता था कि यात्रियों से किस तरह व्यवहार किया जाना चाहिए। वह मजाक पसंद करने वाला था और उसने कई बार मजाक की मुद्रा में वल्ली से बात की।)

Question 5.
What did Valli’s mother say about the things happening without our knowledge?
(वल्ली की माँ ने हमारी जानकारी के बिना घटित होने वाली चीज़ों के बारे में क्या कहा?) ।
Answer:
Valli’s mother said that so many things happen amidst us and in the world outside. We cannot know about everything. Even when we know about something we often can’t understand it completely.
(वल्ली की माँ ने कहा कि कितनी सारी चीजें हमारे बीच में और हमारे से बाहर की दुनिया में घटित होती हैं। हम प्रत्येक चीज़ के बारे में नहीं जान सकते हैं। यहाँ तक कि यदि हम कभी किसी चीज़ के बारे में जान भी लेते हैं तो हम उसे पूर्ण रूप से समझ नहीं सकते हैं।)

Essay Type Question

Question 1.
Who was Valli? What was her overwhelming desire?
(वल्ली कौन थी? उसकी तीव्र इच्छा क्या थी?)
or
Who was valli? What was her favourite pastime?
(वल्ली कौन थी? उसका प्रिय शौंक क्या था?)
Answer:
Valli was an eight-year old girl. She was a curious girl. She wanted to know many things. She did not have playmates of her own age. Her favourite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house to see what was happening outside. The most fascinating thing of all was the bus that passed through the street each hour. The bus travelled between her village and the nearest town. The sight of the bus was a source of unending joy for Valli. It was a great joy for her to watch new sets of passengers everytime the bus passed through the street. As she watched the bus day after day, she developed a wish to have a ride on that bus. Her wish became stronger and stronger until it was an overwhelming desire.

(वल्ली एक आठ वर्ष की लड़की थी। वह एक जिज्ञासु लड़की थी। वह बहुत-सी चीजें जानना चाहती थी। उसके पास उसकी उम्र के साथी नहीं थे जिनके साथ वह खेल सके। उसका प्रिय शौक था अपने घर के सामने वाले दरवाजे में खड़े होकर गली में हो रही घटनाओं को निहारना। उसके लिए सबसे आकर्षक चीज़ थी गली में से हर घंटे गुजरने वाली बस। यह बस उसके गाँव और निकटतम कस्बे के बीच चलती थी। बस का दृश्य वल्ली के लिए कभी न समाप्त होने वाली प्रसन्नता का स्रोत था। जैसे-जैसे वह गली में से प्रतिदिन बस को गुजरते हुए देखती गई बस में सवार होने की उसकी इच्छा विकसित होती रही। उसकी इच्छा मजबूत-से-मजबूत होती रही, जब तक कि वह अनियंत्रित इच्छा में नहीं बदल गई।)

Question 2.
How did Valli plan to have a bus ride?
(वल्ली ने बस की यात्रा करने की योजना कैसे बनाई?)
or
How did Valli plan her visit to the town ?
(वल्ली ने अपने शहर जाने की योजना कैसे बनाई? व्याख्या करें।).
Answer:
Valli carefully listened to the conversations between her neighbours and people who had travelled on the bus or who regularly used it. She asked some casual questions also. She came to know that the town was six miles away from her village. It took forty-five minutes to reach there. The fare was thirty paise for one way. Valli planned her journey to the town and back. It would be her first journey out of her village. She saved every paisa by resisting her desire to buy icecream, toys, balloons, etc. She had also killed her desire to visit the village fair and have a ride in the merry-go-round. When she had saved sixty paise, she was ready for her first bus journey. Then she planned how she would slip out of house. She knew that her mother slept daily after lunch. She decided to use these hours for her journey.

(वल्ली अपने पड़ोसियों तथा उन लोगों के वार्तालाप को बड़े ध्यान के साथ सुनती थी जो बस की यात्रा कर चुके थे या बस का नियमित रूप से प्रयोग करते थे। वह कुछ सामान्य प्रश्न भी पूछती थी। उसे पता चल गया था कि कस्बा उसके गाँव से छह मील की दूरी पर है। वहाँ पहुँचने में पैंतालिस मिनट लगते हैं। एक तरफ का किराया तीस पैसे था। वल्ली ने शहर जाने और वापस आने की योजना बनाई। गाँव से बाहर की यह उसकी पहली यात्रा थी। उसने आईसक्रीम खाने, खिलौने खरीदने, गुब्बारे खरीदने इत्यादि की इच्छा को दबाकर पैसे बचाए। उसने गाँव के मेले में जाने और झूला झूलने की इच्छा को भी दबा दिया। जब उसने साठ पैसे बचा लिए, तो वह अपनी पहली बस यात्रा के लिए तैयार थी। तब उसने योजना बनाई कि वह घर से बाहर कैसे निकलेगी। वह जानती थी कि उसकी माँ दोपहर का खाना खाने के बाद सोती है। उसने इन घंटों का प्रयोग अपनी यात्रा के लिए करने का निर्णय लिया।)

Question 3.
What did Valli notice after she boarded the bus? (बस में सवार होने के पश्चात् वल्ली ने क्या देखा?)
Answer:
Valli looked around in the bus. It had soft and comfortable seats. It had a beautiful clock above the wind screen. The overhead bars shone like silver. Then she tried to look outside. She found her view cut off by a curtain that covered the lower part of her window. So she stood on her seat to enjoy the outside scene. The bus was going along the bank of a canal. She saw palm trees, mountains and the blue sky. On the other side, there were green fields. Suddenly an elderly man warned Valli not to stand on the seat. He called her a child and said that she could fall and get hurt. But Valli did not care for him. She told him proudly that she was not a ‘child’. She had paid the full fare like the others. The conductor told the man that Valli was a grown up madam. Valli looked at the conductor angrily and said that she was not a madam.

(वल्ली ने बस में चारों ओर देखा। इसमें नरम और आरामदायक सीटें थीं। हवा रोकने वाले शीशे के ऊपर एक सुन्दर घड़ी लगी हुई थी। ऊपर लगी हुई सलाखें चाँदी की तरह चमक रही थीं। तब उसने बाहर देखने का प्रयास किया। उसने पाया कि उसकी खिड़की के निचले भाग पर लगा हुआ पर्दा उसके बाहर देखने में बाधा बना हुआ था। इसलिए वह अपनी सीट पर खड़ी होकर बाहर के दृश्यों का आनन्द लेने लगी। बस एक नहर के किनारे-किनारे जा रही थी। उसने खजूर के वृक्ष, पर्वत और नीला आसमान देखे। दूसरी ओर हरे वृक्ष थे। अचानक ही एक वृद्ध आदमी ने वल्ली को सीट पर खड़ा न होने की चेतावनी दी। उसने उसे बच्ची कहकर सम्बोधित किया और कहा कि वह गिर जाएगी और चोट खा लेगी। लेकिन वल्ली ने उसकी बात पर ध्यान नहीं दिया। उसने उसे गर्व से कहा कि वह ‘बच्ची’ नहीं है। उसने भी दूसरों की भाँति पूरा टिकट खरीदा है। परिचालक ने उस आदमी को बताया कि वल्ली एक समझदार मैडम है। वल्ली ने परिचालक की ओर क्रोधपूर्वक देखा और कहा कि वह मैडम नहीं है।)

Question 4.
Describe Valli’s return journey. (वल्ली की वापसी यात्रा का वर्णन करो।) .
Answer:
The bus resumed its return journey. There were the same wonderful sights. Valli enjoyed the scene again. But suddenly she saw a young cow lying dead, by the roadside. It had been struck by a fast moving vehicle. She asked the conductor if it was the same cow they saw earlier. The conductor nodded. Valli became sad. It had been a lovable, beautiful creature just a little ago. But now the cow was without its charm and its life. The bus moved on. The memory of the dead cow haunted Valli. She no longer wanted to see out of the window. She kept sitting on her seat until her village came. She got down and wished the conductor to see him again. The conductor smiled. He told Valli that whenever she felt like riding the bus she could come and join them.

(बस ने अपनी वापसी की यात्रा आरम्भ की। रास्ते में वही अद्भुत दृश्य थे। वल्ली ने पुनः दृश्यों का आनन्द लिया। लेकिन अचानक ही उसने एक छोटी गाय को सड़क के किनारे मृत पड़े हुए पाया। इसको किसी तेज गति वाले वाहन ने टक्कर मार दी थी। उसने परिचालक से पूछा कि क्या यह वही गाय है जो उन्होंने पहले देखी थी। परिचालक ने हाँ में सिर हिलाया। वल्ली उदास हो गई। थोड़ी देर पहले तो वह एक प्यारा, सुन्दर जीव था। लेकिन अब गाय अपने आकर्षण और जीवन के बिना थी। बस आगे बढ़ गई। मृत गाय की याद वल्ली को परेशान कर रही थी। अब वह खिड़की से बाहर नहीं देखना चाहती थी। जब तक उसका गाँव नहीं आया वह सीट पर ही बैठी रही। वह बस से नीचे उतरी और परिचालक से पुनः मिलने की कामना की। परिचालक मुस्कराया। उसने वल्ली को बताया कि जब भी उसका दिल बस की सवारी करने को करे तो वह उनके पास आ जाए।)

Question 5.
Why does Valli refuse to look out of the window on her way back?
(घर लौटते समय वल्ली खिड़की से बाहर देखने से क्यों मना कर देती है?)
Answer:
On her way to the town Valli laughed heartily to see a young cow running at high speed in the middle of the road just in front of their bus. But on her way back, she saw a young cow lying dead near the road. She asked the bus conductor if it was the same cow that was running in front of the bus. The bus conductor nodded. She was shocked and sad. So she refuses to look out of the window on her way back because what was so beautiful a little while ago now looked so horrible. The memory of the dead cow haunts her. It dampens her enthusiasm.

(शहर जाते समय वल्ली अपनी बस के आगे-आगे सड़क के बीच में तेज गति से भागती हुई एक युवा गाय को देखकर खूब जोर से हँसी। लेकिन घर लौटते समय उसने एक युवा गाय को सड़क किनारे मृत पड़े पाया। उसने बस कंडक्टर से पूछा कि क्या यह वही गाय है जो बस के आगे दौड़ रही थी। बस कंडक्टर ने हाँ में सिर हिलाया। उसे आघात लगा और वह उदास हो गई। अतः वह घर लौटते समय बस से बाहर देखने से भी मना कर देती है क्योंकि थोड़ी देर पहले जो चीज इतनी सुंदर लग रही थी अब वह बहुत दर्दनाक दिख रही थी। मृत गाय की याद उसे परेशान कर रही है। यह उसके उत्साह को ठंडा कर रही है।)

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1.
How old was Valli ?
(A) eight years
(B) ten years
(C) twelve years
(D) fourteen years
Answer:
(A) eight years

Question 2.
Valli’s favourite pastime was :
(A) riding the bus
(B) visiting the town
(C) standing at her door
(D) all of the above
Answer:
(C) standing at her door

Question 3.
How far was the town from Valli’s village ?
(A) four miles
(B) six miles
(C) eight miles
(D) ten miles
Answer:
(B) six miles

Question 4.
Who did Valli live with ?
(A) her father
(B) her mother
(C) her aunt
(D) all of the above
Answer:
(B) her mother

Question 5.
What type of a man was the bus conductor ?
(A) jolly
(B) wise
(C) fun loving
(D) all of the above
Answer:
(D) all of the above

Question 6.
Valli had the strongest desire of :
(A) swimming
(B) riding on the bus
(C) playing
(D) dancing
Answer:
(B) riding on the bus

Question 7.
How much time the bus takes from her village to the town?
(A) forty-five minutes
(B) one hour
(C) an hour and half
(D) two hours
Answer:
(A) forty-five minutes

Question 8.
The conductor called Valli as :
(A) child
(B) madam
(C) baby
(D) auntie
Answer:
(B) madam

Question 9.
Who did Valli find in her home when she returned from the town?
(A) her father
(B) her teacher
(C) her aunt
(D) all of the above
Answer:
(C) her aunt

Question 10.
What did Valli buy from the town ?
(A) a set of bangles
(B) cold drinks
(C) a frock
(D) nothing
Answer:
(D) nothing

Question 11.
What made Valli sad?
(A) the cow running in front of the bus
(B) the dead cow
(C) the sights in the town
(D) all of the above
Answer:
(B) the dead cow

Question 12.
Who is the author of the lesson ‘Madam Rides the Bus’?
(A) Gavin Maxwell
(B) Vallikkannan
(C) Anton Chekov
(D) Arup Kumar Datta
Answer:
(B) Vallikkannan

Madam Rides the Bus Important Passages for Comprehension

Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow :

PASSAGE 1

There was a girl named Valliammai who was called Valli for short. She was eight years old and very curious about things. Her favourite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house, watching what was happening in the street outside. There were no playmates of her own age on her street, and this was about all she had to do.
But for Valli, standing at the front door was every bit as enjoyable as any of the elaborate games other children played. Watching the street gave her many new unusual experiences.
The most fascinating thing of all was the bus that travelled 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.

Word-meanings : Curious = eager (उस्तुक); pastime = hobby (शौका); elaborate = detailed (विस्तृत)

Questions :
(a) Name the chapter and its author.
(b) What was full name of Valli.
(c) What was Valli’s favourite pastime ?
(d) How many playmates of her age did Valli have ?
(e) Find words from the passage which mean the same as : (a) eager, (b) hobby.
Answers :
(a) Chapter : Madam Rides the Bus, Author : Vallikkannan.
(b) The full name of Valli was ‘Valliammai’.
(c) Valli’s favourite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house, watching what was happening in the street outside.
(d) She had no playmates of her own age
(e) (a) curious, (b) pastime.

PASSAGE 2

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. This wish became stronger and stronger, until it was an overwhelming desire. Valli would stare wistfully at the people who got on or off the bus when it stopped at the street corner. Their faces would kindle in her longings, dreams and hopes. If one of her friends happened to ride the bus and tried to describe the sights of the town to her, Valli would be too jealous to listen and would shout, in English: ‘Proud ! proud” Neither she nor her friends really understood the meaning of the word, but they used it often as a slang expression of disapproval.

Word-meanings : Gradually = slowly (धीरे धीरे); overwhelming = strong (मजबूत); wistfully = with longing (इचासे); disapproval = refusal (असहमति).

Questions :
(a) What was Valli’s ‘tiny wish’?
(b) What would Valli wistfully stare at?
(c) When were Valli’s longings, hopes and dreams kindled?
(d) When would Valli be jealous?
(e) Find a word from the passage which means “excite’.
Answers :
(a) Valli’s tiny wish was to travel by a bus.
(b) She would stare wistfully at the people who got on or off the bus.
(c) The sight of the bus passengers would kindle in her longings, dreams and hopes.
(d) She felt jealous when one of her friends described the sights of the town to her.
(e) “kindle.

PASSAGE 3

Over many days and months Valli listened carefully to conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus, and she also asked a few discreet questions here and there. This way she picked up various small details about the bus journey. The town was six miles from her village. The fare was thirty paise one way— “which is almost nothing at all,” she heard one well-dressed man say, but to Valli, who scarcely saw that much money from one month to the next, it seemed a fortune. The trip to the town took forty-five minutes. On reaching town, if she stayed in her seat and paid another thirty paise, she could return home on the same bus. This meant that she could take the one-o’clock afternoon bus, reach the town at one forty-five, and be back home by about two forty-five …

Word-meanings : Discreet = quiet (शांत); various = many (कई); scarcely = hardly (मुश्किल से )

Questions :

(a) What did Valli carefully listen to?
(b) What seemed ‘a fortune’ to Valli ?
(c) How much time did the bus take from Valli’s village to the city?
(d) How far was the town from the village?
(e) Find a word from the passage which means ‘hardly.’
Answers :
(a) Valli listened carefully to conversations of her neighbours who used the bus regularly.
(b) “Thirty paise’ seemed ‘a fortune’ to Valli.
(c) It took forty-five minutes.
(d) It was six miles away.
(e) ‘scarcely.’

PASSAGE 4

The conductor was a jolly sort, fond of joking. “Oh, please don’t be angry with me, my fine madam,” he said. “Here, have a seat right up there in front. Everybody move aside please – make way for madam.”.
It was the slack time of day, and there were only six or seven passengers on the bus. They were all looking at Valli and laughing with the conductor. Valli was overcome with shyness. Avoiding everyone’s eyes, she walked quickly to an empty seat and sat down.

“May we start now, madam?” the conductor asked, smiling. Then he blew his whistle twice, and the bus moved forward with a roar.
It was a new bus, its outside painted a gleaming white with some green stripes along the sides. Inside, the overhead bars shone like silver. Directly in front of Valli, above the windshield, there was a beautiful clock. The seats were soft and luxurious.

Word-meanings : Slack time = when there is not much work ( जब अधिक काम न हो); luxurious = comfortable (आरामदाकाया))!

Questions :

(a) How does the author describe the conductor?
(b) By what name did the conductor call Valli?
(c) What does the author mean by ‘the slack time of day’ ?
(d) How were the seats of the bus?
(e) Find a word from the passage which is the opposite of ‘serious’.
Answers :
(a) The conductor was a jolly sort of man.
(b) He called Valli ‘madam’.
(c) The author means that there were not many passengers riding the bus at that time.
(d) The bus had soft and luxurious seats.
(e) “jolly’.

PASSAGE 5

Valli devoured everything with her eyes. But when she started to look outside, she found her view cut off by a canvas blind that covered the lower part of her window. So she stood up on the seat and peered over the blind.
The bus was now going along the bank of a canal. The road was very narrow. On one side there was the canal and, beyond it, palm trees, grassland, distant mountains, and the blue, blue sky. On the other side was a deep ditch and then acres and acres of green fields—green, green, green, as far as the eye could see. Oh, it was all so wonderful!

Word-meanings : Devoured = looked attentively (ध्यान से देखना); peered over = looked over (ऊपर देखना); ditch = pot hole (खड्डा) !

Questions :

(a) How was Valli’s view cut off?
(b) Why did Valli stand up on the seat?
(c) There were fields on one side of the road. What was there on the other side?
(d) Was the road wide?
(e) Find a word from the passage which means ‘curtain’.
Answers :
(a) Vallli’s view was cut off by a canvas curtain.
(b) She stood up on the seat because a canvas blind cut off the view for her.
(c) There was a canal on the other side.
(d) No, the road was narrow.
(e) ‘blind.’

PASSAGE 6

An elderly woman came and sat beside her. “Are you all alone, dear?” she asked Valli as the bus started again.
Valli found the woman absolutely repulsive – such big holes she had in her ear lobes, and such ugly earrings in them! And she could smell the betel nut the woman was chewing and see the betel juice that was threatening to spill over her lips at any moment. Ugh! – who could be sociable with such a person?

“Yes, I’m travelling alone,” she answered curtly. “And I’ve got a ticket too.” “Yes, she’s on her way to town,” said the conductor. “With a thirty-paise ticket.”
“Oh, why don’t you mind your own business,” said Valli. But she laughed all the same, and the conductor laughed too.

Word-meanings : Absolutely = compulsive (पूरी तरह से); ugly = dirty (गंदी); betel = a chewing leaf (पान); spill over = fall (गिरना)

Questions :

(a) What did the elderly woman ask Valli?
(b) How were the woman’s ear lobes and earrings?
(c) What was the woman chewing?
(d) Did Valli like the elderly woman sitting beside her?
(e) Find a word in the passage which means “completely’.
Answers :
(a) She asked Valli if she was travelling all alone.
(b) Her ear lobes had big holes and her earrings were ugly.
(c) She was chewing a betel nut.
(d) ‘No, she found the woman repulsive.
(e) “absolutely.

PASSAGE 7

After she had enough money saved, her next problem was how to slip out of the house without her mother’s knowledge. But she managed this without too much difficulty. Every day after lunch her mother would nap from about one to four or so. Valli always used these hours for her “excursions’ as she stood looking from the doorway of her house or sometimes even ventured out into the village; today, these same hours could be used for her first excursion outside the village.

Word-meanings : Slip out = go to secretly (चुपके से जाना), excursion = a short journey (सैर), ventured ont = going somewhere (बहार निकलना)

Questions :

(a) What was her next problem?
(b) What time did she use for her excursions?
(c) What was Valli’s first excursion outside the village?
(d) Find the word from the passage which means ‘went cautiously’.
(e) Name the chapter and its author.
Answers :
(a) Her next problem was how to slip out of the house without her mother’s knowledge.
(b) When her mother would nap from about one to four or so.
(c) Going to the town by bus was her first excursion outside the village.
(d) Ventured
(e) Chapter : Madam Rides the Bus, Author : Vallikkannan.

PASSAGE 8

Sometimes the bus seemed on the point of gobbling up another vehicle that was coming towards them or a pedestrian crossing the road. But lo! somehow it passed on smoothly, leaving all obstacles safely behind.

Trees came running towards them but then stopped as the bus reached them and simply stood there helpless for a moment by the side of the road before rushing away in the other direction.
Suddenly Valli clapped her hands with glee. A young cow, tail high in the air, was running very fast, right in the middle of the road, right in front of the bus. The bus slowed to a crawl, and the driver sounded his horn loudly again and again. But the more he honked, the more frightened the animal became and the faster it galloped – always right in front of the bus.

Word-meanings : obstacles = hindrances (रुकावटें); honked = sounded (बजाया); galloped = ran (भागी) :

Questions :
(a) Name the chapter.
(b) What did the bus seem on the point of gobbling up ?
(c) Why did Valli clap her hands with glee?
(d) Why did the driver sound the horn again and again ?
(e) Find a word from the passage similar in meaning of ‘gobbling up.’
Answers :
(a) The name of the chapter is ‘Madam Rides the Bus’.
(b) The bus seemed on the point of gobbling up another vehicle that was coming up towards them.
(c) Valli clapped her hands with glee to see a young cow, tail high in the air, running fast in the middle of the road just in front of the bus.
(d) The driver sounded the horn again and again for the cow to get away.
(e) Swallow.

Madam Rides the Bus Summary in English

Madam Rides the Bus Introduction in English

This is a story about the first bus journey of an eight year old girl, Valli. She was a curious girl. She had a strong desire to go to the nearest town by riding on a bus. She saves money for this purpose. When she has money for the ticket, she boards the bus. She enjoys her first bus journey. She does not get down the bus in the town. She remains sitting at her seat. She pays another thirty paise for the ticket and reaches home back.

Madam Rides the Bus Summary in English

This is a story about the first bus journey of an eight-year old girl. Her name was Valliammai. She was called Valli for short. She was a curious girl. She wanted to know many things. She did not have playmates of her own age. Her favourite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house to see what was happening outside.

Watching the happenings in the street gave her many new unusual experiences. The most fascinating thing of all was the bus that passed through the street each hour. The bus travelled between her village and the nearest town: The sight of the bus was a source of unending joy for Valli. It was a great joy for her to watch new sets of passengers everytime the bus passed through the street. As she watched the bus day after day, she developed a wish to have a ride on that bus. Her wish became stronger and stronger until it was an overwhelming desire.

Valli carefully listened to the conversations between her neighbours and people who had travelled on the bus or who regularly used it. She asked some casual questions also. In this way, she learnt about small details about the journey. She came to know that the town was six miles away from her village. It took fortyfive minutes to reach there. The fare was thirty paise for one way. One could keep sitting in the bus and return to the village by paying another thirty paise. Valli planned her journey to the town and back. It would be her first journey out of her village. She saved every paisa by resisting her desire to buy ice cream, toys, balloons, etc. She had also killed her desire to visit the village fair and have a ride in the merry-go-round. When she had saved sixty paise, she was ready for her first bus journey.

Then she planned how she would slip out of house. She knew that her mother slept daily after lunch. She decided to use these hours for her journey. She decided to board the bus at one o’clock so that she could be back by two forty-five. So one fine spring day Valli boarded the bus. The conductor was surprised; but seeing her confidence, he allowed her to board the bus. He was a jolly fellow. He understood that Valli spoke with pride. He called her Madam and offered a seat. He asked others to make way for the ‘madam’. There were only six or seven passengers in the bus. They were all looking at Valli. They and the conductor were laughing. Valli overcame her shyness, quickly walked to an empty seat and sat down.

Valli looked around her in the bus. The bus had a fine painting of green stripes on the white. It had soft and comfortable seats. It had a beautiful clock above the wind screen. The overhead bars shone like silver. Then she tried to look outside. She found her view cut off by a curtain that covered the lower part of her window. So she stood on her seat to enjoy the outside scene. The bus was going along the bank of a canal. She saw palm trees, mountains and the blue sky. On the other side, there were green fields. Suddenly an elderly man warned Valli not to stand on the seat. He called her a child and said that she could fall and get hurt. But Valli did not care for him. She told him proudly that she was not a child’. She had paid the full fare like the others. The conductor told the man that Valli was a grown up madam. Valli looked at the conductor angrily and said that she was not a madam. The conductor told her that she should not stand on the seat. She could fall when the bus took sharp turns. But Valli ignored his remarks also.

On the way bus stopped and some new passengers got on. Afraid of losing her seat, Valli finally sat down. An elderly woman came and sat beside her. Valli looked at the woman. She found her repulsive. She had big and ugly earrings. She was chewing a betel. Valli could see that the betel juice was likely to spill over her lips. That woman asked Valli whether she was travelling all alone. Valli told her that she was alone and she had got a ticket too. Then the old woman asked her if it was proper for a child to travel alone. She also asked whether Valli knew exactly where she was going in town. Valli told the old woman that she need not bother about her. Then she turned her face towards the window.

The bus moved on across a bare landscape. Valli enjoyed the outside scene. Trees came running towards them. Sometimes, the bus seemed to strike the oncoming vehicle. But both passed safely. Suddenly Valli clapped her hands with joy. A cow was running in the middle of the road, in front of the bus. The bus slowed down. The driver sounded the horn again and again. But the cow became more frightened and continued running before the bus. Valli laughed and laughed until there were tears in her eyes. At last the cow moved off the road. The bus passed by the side of a railway crossing. Valli enjoyed the scene of trains. Then the bus entered the city area. There were huge crowds of people. Valli looked at different things with surprise. Then the bus reached the city bus stand and stopped. Everybody got off the bus except Valli. The conductor asked Valli to get down.

But she told him that she was going back on the same bus. He was surprised and asked her why she had come to the city. She replied that she just wanted to take a ride on the bus. He asked Valli if she would like to have look at the sights outside the bus. Valli said that she was afraid of that. He asked to have a cold drink. Valli said that she had not enough money for that. The conductor offered to pay for her drink. But Valli did not accept the offer.

The bus resumed its return journey. There were the same wonderful sights. Valli enjoyed the scene again. But suddenly she saw a young cow lying dead, by the roadside. It had been struck by a fast moving vehicle. She asked the conductor if it was the same cow they saw earlier. The conductor nodded. Valli became sad. It had been a lovable, beautiful creature just a little ago. But now the cow was without its charm and its life. The bus moved on. The memory of the dead cow haunted Valli. She no longer wanted to see out of the window. She kept sitting on her seat until her village came. She got down and wished the conductor to see him again. The conductor smiled. He told Valli that whenever she felt like riding the bus she could come and join them.

Valli reached home. She found her mother was awake. She was talking to her aunt who lived in the South Street. She was a chatterbox. She asked Valli where she had been. But Valli just smiled. Her mother and the aunt were discussing about the things outside the world. Her mother said that no one could know about everything. At this Valli remarked that there were many things happening without our knowledge. Her mother asked her what she meant. Valli’s aunt called her a chit of a girl She took interest in things which did not concern her. She behaved as if she were a grown up lady. Valli smiled to herself. She didn’t want them to understand her smile.

A Letter to God Summary in Hindi

Madam Rides the Bus Introduction in Hindi

(यह एक आठ वर्षीय वल्ली नाम की लड़की की पहली बस यात्रा की कहानी है। वह एक जिज्ञासु लड़की थी। उसकी तीव्र इच्छा थी कि वह बस में सवार होकर निकटतम कस्बे की यात्रा करे। इस उद्देश्य के लिए वह पैसे एकत्र करती है। जब उसके पास टिकट के पैसे हो जाते हैं, तो वह बस में सवार हो जाती है। वह बस की अपनी पहली यात्रा का आनंद लेती है। वह कस्बे में बस से नीचे नहीं उतरती है। वह अपनी सीट पर बैठी रहती है। वह टिकट के लिए और तीस पैसे का भुगतान करती है तथा वापस घर पहुँच जाती है।)

Madam Rides the Bus Summary in Hindi

यह कहानी आठ साल की एक लड़की की पहली बस यात्रा की है। उसका नाम वलियामायी था। उसे संक्षेप में वल्ली कहा जाता था। वह एक जिज्ञासु लड़की थी। वह बहुत-सी चीज़ों के बारे में जानना चाहती थी। उसके अपनी उम्र के खेल के साथी नहीं थे। उसका पसंदीदा शौक था अपने घर के दरवाजे में खड़ा हो जाना और देखना कि बाहर क्या हो रहा है।

गली की घटनाओं को देखने से उसे बहुत-से असाधारण अनुभव हुए। इनमें से सबसे अधिक आकर्षक चीज़ थी वह बस जो गली में से हर घंटे बाद गुज़रती थी। वह बस उसके गाँव और नजदीक के शहर के बीच चलती थी। बस को देखना वल्ली के लिए असीमित प्रसन्नता का स्रोत था। जब भी बस गली में से गुजरती थी तो वल्ली के लिए हर बार नए प्रकार के यात्रियों को बस में देखना एक बड़ी खुशी की बात थी। बस को दिन-प्रतिदिन देखते रहने से उसके अन्दर एक इच्छा पैदा हो गई कि वह भी बस की सवारी करे। उसकी यह इच्छा अधिक मज़बूत होती गई और एक दिन यह बहुत तीव्र इच्छा बन गई।

वल्ली अपने पड़ोसियों और उन लोगों के बीच की बातचीत को ध्यान से सुनती थी जो बस में सफर कर चुके थे या जो नियमित रूप से इसका प्रयोग करते थे। उसने कुछ सामान्य से प्रश्न भी पूछे। इस प्रकार, उसने यात्रा के बारे में छोटी-छोटी बातें भी जान लीं। उसे पता चला कि शहर गाँव से छह मील दूर है। वहाँ तक पहुँचने में पैंतालिस मिनट लगते हैं। एक तरफ का किराया तीस पैसे है। कोई व्यक्ति चाहे तो तीस पैसे और देकर बस में बैठा रह सकता है और वापस गाँव में आ सकता है। वल्ली ने शहर जाने और फिर वहाँ से वापस आने की यात्रा की योजना बनाई। यह उसकी अपने गाँव से बाहर पहली यात्रा होगी। उसने आईसक्रीम, खिलौने, गुब्बारे आदि खरीदने की अपनी इच्छा को दबाकर प्रत्येक पैसा बचाया। उसने गाँव के मेले में जाने और वहाँ पर झूले का आनन्द उठाने की अपनी इच्छा को भी दबाया। जब उसके पास साठ पैसे इकट्ठे हो गए तो वह अपनी पहली बस की यात्रा करने के लिए तैयार थी।।

तब उसने योजना बनाई कि वह घर से बाहर कैसे निकलेगी। वह जानती थी कि उसकी माता रोज़ दोपहर के खाने के बाद सोती है। उसने उन घंटों को अपनी यात्रा के लिए प्रयोग करने की बात सोची। उसने फैसला किया कि वह बस में एक बजे सवार होगी ताकि वह दो बजकर पैंतालिस मिनट तक वापस लौट आए। इस प्रकार, बसंत के एक सुंदर दिन को वल्ली बस में सवार हुई। परिचालक हैरान हो गया; मगर उसके विश्वास को देखकर, उसने उसे बस में सफर करने दिया। वह एक हँसमुख व्यक्ति था। वह समझता था कि वल्ली गर्व से बोल रही है। उसने वल्ली को ‘मैडम’ कहकर पुकारा और उसे एक सीट दी। उसने दूसरों को भी ‘मैडम’ के लिए रास्ता बनाने के लिए कहा। बस में केवल छह या सात यात्री ही थे। वे सभी वल्ली को देख रहे थे। वे और परिचालक हँस · रहे थे। वल्ली ने अपने शर्मीलेपन पर काबू पाया, जल्दी से एक खाली सीट पर गई और बैठ गई।

वल्ली ने बस में अपने चारों ओर देखा। बस में सफेद रंग पर सुंदर हरी धारियों का पेंट किया हुआ था। इसकी सीटें नरम और आरामदायक थीं। हवा रोकने वाले शीशे के ऊपर एक सुंदर दीवार घड़ी लगी हुई थी। ऊपर का डंडा चाँदी की तरह चमक रहा था। तब उसने बाहर झाँकने का प्रयत्न किया। उसने देखा कि बाहर का दृश्य एक पर्दे से रुका हुआ है जिसने खिड़की के नीचे के भाग को ढक रखा था। इसलिए बाहर के नज़ारे को देखने के लिए वह अपनी सीट पर खड़ी हो गई। बस एक नहर के किनारे के साथ-साथ जा रही थी। उसने खजूर के वृक्षों, पहाड़ों और नीले आसमान को देखा। दूसरी तरफ, हरे खेत थे। अचानक एक वृद्ध व्यक्ति ने उसे चेतावनी दी कि वह सीट पर खड़ी न हो। उसने उसे बच्ची कहकर पुकारा और कहा कि वह गिर सकती है और उसे चोट लग सकती है। मगर वल्ली ने उसकी परवाह नहीं की। उसने उसे गर्व से बताया कि वह ‘बच्ची’ नहीं है। उसने अन्य लोगों की तरह पूरा किराया दिया है। परिचालक ने उस व्यक्ति को बताया कि वल्ली एक विकसित मैडम है। वल्ली ने परिचालक को गुस्से से देखा और कहा कि वह मैडम नहीं है। परिचालक ने कहा कि उसे सीट पर खड़ी नहीं होना चाहिए। जब बस एकदम मोड़ लेगी तो वह गिर सकती है। मगर वल्ली ने उसकी बातों की भी उपेक्षा कर दी।

रास्ते में बस रुकी और कुछ अन्य यात्री सवार हुए। अपनी सीट को खो देने के भय से वल्ली आखिर बैठ गई। एक बुजुर्ग महिला आई और वल्ली के पास बैठ गई। वल्ली ने महिला को देखा। उसे वह महिला घृणित लगी। उसने बड़ी और गंदी बालियाँ पहनी हुई थीं। वह पान चबा रही थी। वल्ली ने देखा कि पान की पीक उसके होठों से कभी भी गिर सकती है। उस महिला ने वल्ली से पूछा कि क्या वह अकेली सफर कर रही है। वल्ली ने उसे बताया कि वह अकेली है और उसके पास टिकट भी है। तब उस बूढ़ी महिला ने पूछा कि क्या एक बच्ची के लिए अकेले सफर करना उचित है। उसने यह भी पूछा कि वल्ली जानती है कि शहर में वह निश्चित रूप से कहाँ जा रही है। वल्ली ने उस बूढ़ी महिला से कहा कि वह उसके बारे में चिंता न करे। तब उसने अपना चेहरा खिड़की की ओर कर लिया।

बस एक खाली भू-दृश्य के बीच से गुजरी। वल्ली ने बाहर के दृश्य का आनंद उठाया। वृक्ष उनकी तरह भागते हुए प्रतीत होते थे। कई बार, ऐसा लगता था कि बस सामने से आते हुए किसी वाहन से टकराने वाली है। मगर वे दोनों सुरक्षित गुजर जाते थे। अचानक वल्ली ने खुशी से तालियाँ बजाईं। एक गाय बस के आगे-आगे सड़क के बीचों-बीच भाग रही थी। बस धीमी हो गई। ड्राइवर ने बार-बार हॉर्न बजाया। मगर गाय और भी भयभीत हो गई और बस के आगे भागती रही। वल्ली तब तक हँसती रही जब तक उसकी आँखों में आँसू नहीं आ गए। आखिर गाय सड़क से हट गई। बस एक रेलवे फाटक के पास से गुजरी। वल्ली ने गाड़ियों के दृश्य का आनंद लिया। तब बस ने शहर के क्षेत्र में प्रवेश किया। वहाँ पर लोगों की बहुत भीड़ थी। वल्ली ने विभिन्न वस्तुओं को हैरानी से देखा। तब बस शहर के बस स्टैंड पर पहुँची और रुक गई। वल्ली के अलावा हर व्यक्ति बस से उतर गया। परिचालक ने वल्ली से उतर जाने को कहा।

मगर उसने उसे बताया कि वह उसी बस से वापस जा रही है। वह हैरान हो गया और पूछा कि वह शहर में क्यों आई है। उसने कहा कि वह केवल बस की सवारी करना चाहती थी। उसने वल्ली से पूछा कि क्या वह बस से बाहर के दृश्यों को देखना चाहेगी। वल्ली ने कहा कि उसे इन सबसे डर लगता है। उसने उससे कहा कि वह शीतल पेय ले ले। वल्ली ने कहा कि उसके पास इसके लिए पैसे नहीं हैं। परिचालक ने उसके पेय के लिए पैसे देने की पेशकश की। मगर वल्ली ने उसकी पेशकश को स्वीकार नहीं किया।

बस ने वापसी की यात्रा आरंभ की। वे अद्भुत दृश्य फिर से आए। वल्ली ने दृश्य का फिर से आनंद उठाया। मगर अचानक उसने सड़क के किनारे पड़ी एक मरी हुई गाय देखी। वह किसी तेज़ चलते हुए. वाहन से टकरा गई थी। उसने परिचालक से पूछा कि क्या वह वही गाय है जिसे उन्होंने पहले देखा था। परिचालक ने हाँ में अपना सिर हिलाया। वल्ली उदास हो गई। केवल कुछ समय पहले से यह एक प्यारी और सुंदर प्राणी थी। मगर अब यह गाय बिना आकर्षण और बिना जीवन के थी। बस चलती रही। मरी हुई गाय की याद वल्ली को बार-बार आती रही। अब खिड़की से बाहर देखने की उसकी इच्छा नहीं थी। वह तब तक अपनी सीट पर बैठी रही जब तक कि उसका गाँव नहीं आ गया। वह उतर गई और उसने परिचालक को कहा कि वे फिर मिलेंगे। परिचालक मुस्कराया। उसने वल्ली को बताया कि जब भी उसका बस में सफर करने का मन करे तो वह आ सकती है।

वल्ली घर पहुँची। उसने देखा कि उसकी माता जाग गई है। वह उसकी चाची से बात कर रही है जो दक्षिण गली में रहती थी। वह बहुत बातूनी थी। उसने वल्ली से पूछा कि वह कहाँ थी। मगर वल्ली केवल मुस्करा दी। उसकी माता और चाची बाहर के संसार की वस्तुओं के बारे में बात कर रही थीं। उसकी माँ ने कहा कि कोई भी हर चीज़ के बारे में नहीं जान सकता। इस पर वल्ली ने कहा कि ऐसी बहुत-सी बातें हो रही हैं जिनका हमें ज्ञान नहीं है। उसकी माँ ने पूछा कि उसका अभिप्राय क्या है। वल्ली की चाची ने कहा कि वह तो एक छोटी-सी लड़की है। वह ऐसी बातों में रुचि लेती है जिनसे उसका कोई वास्ता नहीं है। वह ऐसे व्यवहार करती है जैसे कि वह एक बड़ी स्त्री हो। वल्ली अपने आप में मुस्कराई। वह नहीं चाहती थी कि वे उसकी मुस्कराहट का अर्थ समझें।

Madam Rides the Bus Translation in Hindi

[Part I]

[PAGE 116] : यह उसके जीवन और मृत्यु का रहस्य है। वह इस बात के अंतर को समझती है कि हम मौत के बारे में क्या जानते हैं और क्या समझते हैं।

[PAGE 117] : वलियामायी नाम की एक लड़की थी जिसे संक्षेप में वल्ली कहते थे। वह आठ साल की थी और चीज़ों के बारे में बहुत उत्सुक रहती थी। उसका प्रिय शौक अपने घर के सामने वाले दरवाजे में खड़े होकर यह देखना था कि बाहर गली में क्या हो रहा है। उसकी गली में उसके साथ खेलने के लिए उसकी उम्र के साथी नहीं थे और वह तो बस यही करती थी।
लेकिन वल्ली के लिए, अपने सामने वाले दरवाजे पर खड़ा होना उतना ही आनंददायक था जितना कि अन्य लड़कों के लिए कोई विस्तृत खेल खेलना । गली में देखना उसे बहुत-से नए असाधारण अनुभवों का ज्ञान कराता था।

[PAGE 118] : उसके लिए सबसे अधिक आकर्षक चीज़ वह बस थी जोकि उसके गाँव और निकटतम कस्बे के बीच चलती थी। यह हर घंटे बाद उसकी गली में से गुजरती थी, एक बाहर कस्बे में जाते समय और एक बार वहाँ से वापस आते समय । हर बार नए यात्रियों से भरी उस बस का दृश्य, वल्ली के लिए निरंतर आनंद का स्रोत था।

दिन-प्रतिदिन वह बस देखती थी, और धीरे-धीरे एक छोटी-सी इच्छा उसके दिमाग में रेंगने लगी और वहाँ पैदा हो गई। वह बस पर सवार होना चाहती थी चाहे सिर्फ एक बार ही। यह इच्छा मज़बूत-से-मज़बूत होती गई, जब तक कि वह एक तीव्र इच्छा नहीं बन गई। वल्ली बहुत ही गहन इच्छा के साथ एकटक भाव से लोगों को बस में चढ़ते और उतरते हुए देखती थी तब वह गली के कोने पर रुकती थी। उनके चेहरे उसकी इच्छाओं, सपनों और आशाओं को प्रकाशित करते थे। यदि उसकी कोई सहेली बस में सवार हो जाती है और वह उसे शहर के दृश्यों के बारे में बताती, तो वल्ली को उससे इतनी ईर्ष्या होती थी कि वह उसकी बात नहीं सुनती थी और अंग्रेजी में चिल्ला उठती थी ‘घमंडी! घमंडी!’ न तो वह स्वयं और न ही उसकी सहेलियाँ इस शब्द का अर्थ समझती थीं लेकिन वे असहमति का भाव प्रकट करने के लिए इस शब्द का प्रयोग करती थीं।

बहुत-से दिनों और महीनों तक वल्ली सावधानीपूर्वक अपने उन पड़ोसियों और लोगों के बीच की बातचीत को सुनती थी जो नियमित रूप से बस में सफर करते थे और कभी-कभार वह उनसे कुछ शांत से सवाल भी पूछ लिया करती थी। इस तरह से बस की यात्रा के बारे में उसने कई छोटी-छोटी जानकारियाँ हासिल कर ली थी। कस्बा उसके गाँव से छह मील की दूरी पर था। एक तरफ का किराया तीस पैसे था–“जोकि लगभग न के बराबर था” उसने एक अच्छी पोशाक पहने हुए व्यक्ति को कहते सुना, लेकिन वल्ली ने इतना अधिक धन कभी नहीं देखा था। एक महीने से दूसरे महीने, उसके लिए तो यह बड़ी धन-सम्पत्ति था। कस्बे तक की यात्रा में पैंतालिस मिनट लगते थे। शहर पहुँचकर यदि वह अपनी सीट पर बैठी रहती और तीस पैसे का भुगतान कर देती, तो वह उसी बस पर गाँव लौट सकती थी। इसका अर्थ था कि वह एक दोपहर बाद एक बजे की बस ले सकती थी और एक बजकर पैंतालिस मिनट पर कस्बे में पहुँच सकती थी और लगभग दो बजकर पैंतालिस मिनट तक घर लौट सकती थी…।।
जैसे-जैसे वह गणना और पुनर्गणना, योजना और पुनर्योजना बनाती गई उसके मन में विचार चलते रहे।

[PART-II]

[PAGE 119] : बसंत ऋतु में एक सुहावने दिन को जब दोपहर बाद वाली बस में गाँव से जाने ही वाली थी और मुख्य मार्ग पर मोड़ मुड़ने ही वाली थी, एक छोटी-सी बच्ची के चिल्लाने की आवाज़ सुनाई दी, ‘बस को रोको! बस को रोको!’ और आदेशात्मक मुद्रा में एक छोटा-सा हाथ उठा।
बस की गति धीमी हो गई और परिचालक ने दरवाजे से सिर बाहर निकालकर कहा, ‘जल्दी करो! जो कोई भी आ रहा है उसे जल्दी आने को कहो।’
‘यह मैं हूँ,’ वल्ली ने चिल्लाकर कहा, ‘मैं ही अकेली हूँ, जिसे बस में चढ़ना है।’
अब तक बस रुक चुकी थी और परिचालक ने कहा, ‘ओह, सचमुच! तुम ऐसा नहीं कहते!’
‘हाँ, मुझे तो सिर्फ कस्बे में जाना है,’ वल्ली ने अभी भी बस से बाहर खड़े हुए कहा, ‘और ये मेरे पैसे हैं’ उसने उसे कुछ सिक्के दिखाए।
‘ठीक है, ठीक है, लेकिन तुम पहले बस पर तो चढ़ जाओ’, परिचालक ने कहा और उसने उसे ऊपर चढ़ाने में मदद करने के लिए अपना हाथ आगे बढ़ाया।
‘चिन्ता मत करो, मैं स्वयं ही बस में चढ़ जाऊँगी। आपको मेरी मदद करने की आवश्यकता नहीं है,’ उसने कहा। __ परिचालक एक हँसमुख स्वभाव का मजाक का शौकीन व्यक्ति था, “ओह, मेरी सुन्दर मैडम कृपया मुझसे नाराज मत होइए’ उसने कहा, ‘वहाँ सामने एक सीट ले लीजिए। कृपया सभी रास्ते से हट जाइए। मैडम के लिए रास्ता बनाइए।”

यह दिन का मंदी वाला समय था और बस में केवल छह या सात सवारियाँ थीं। वे सभी वल्ली की ओर देख रही थी और परिचालक के साथ हँस रही थीं। वल्ली को शर्म आ रही थी। सभी की नज़रों से बचते हुए, वह तेजी से एक खाली सीट तक गई और बैठ गई।

[PAGE 120] : “मैडम, क्या अब हम चल सकते हैं?” परिचालक ने मुस्कराते हुए पूछा। तब उसने दो बार अपनी सीटी बजाई और एक शोर के साथ बस आगे चल दी।
यह एक नई बस थी, इसके बाहर चमकदार सफेद रंग हुआ था जिस पर हरे रंग की कुछ पट्टियाँ बनी थीं। अंदर ऊपर लगी लोहे की सलाखें चाँदी की तरह चमक रही थीं। वल्ली के बिल्कुल सामने हवा रोकने वाले शीशे के ऊपर वहाँ एक सुन्दर घड़ी लगी थी। सीटें नर्म और आरामदायक थीं।
वल्ली ने अपनी नज़रों से सब कुछ खोजा। लेकिन जब उसने बाहर देखना शुरु किया, उसने पाया कि उसकी नज़र को मोटे कपड़े से बने एक पर्दे से रुकावट पैदा हो रही थी जो उसकी खिड़की के निचले भाग को ढके हुए था। इसलिए वह उठकर सीट पर खड़ी हो गई और पर्दे के ऊपर से झाँकने लगी।
अब बस एक नहर के किनारे के साथ-साथ जा रही थी। सड़क बहुत तंग थी। उसके एक ओर तो नहर थी तथा इसके पार खजूर के पेड़, घास के मैदान, दूरी पर पर्वत व नीला-नीला आसमान था। दूसरी ओर एक गहरी खाई थी और फिर कई एकड़ में फैले हरे खेत, चारों ओर जहाँ तक नज़र जाती थी हरियाली-ही-हरियाली थी।।
‘ओह, यह सब कुछ कितना अद्भुत था।
अचानक ही वह एक आवाज़ सुनकर चौंक पड़ी, “सुनो, बच्चे,” आवाज़ ने कहा, “तुम्हें इस तरह से खड़े नहीं होना चाहिए, नीचे बैठ जाओ।”।

[PAGES 121-122] : नीचे बैठते हुए, उसने यह देखने का प्रयास किया कि कौन बोला था। वह एक बूढ़ा आदमी था जो सचमुच में उसके प्रति परवाह कर रहा था, लेकिन वह उसके ध्यान की वजह से नाराज़ हो रही थी।
“यहाँ ऐसा कोई नहीं है, जो बच्चा है,” उसने घमंडपूर्वक कहा, “मैंने भी अन्य सभी की तरह तीस पैसे का भुगतान किया है।”
परिचालक बीच में बोल पड़ा, “अरे, श्रीमान जी, लेकिन यह तो एक बहुत ही व्यस्क मैडम है। आपके विचार में क्या मात्र एक लड़की अपना किराया खुद दे सकती है और बिल्कुल अकेली शहर जा सकती है?”
वल्ली ने क्रोधित नज़रों से परिचालक की ओर देखा और कहा, ‘मैं मैडम नहीं हूँ। कृपया यह बात याद रखना कि आपने अभी तक मुझे मेरा टिकट नहीं दिया है।”
“मैं याद रखूगा,” परिचालक ने उसकी आवाज़ की नकल उतारते हुए कहा। हर कोई हँसने लगा और धीरे-धीरे वल्ली भी हँसी में शामिल हो गई।
परिचालक ने एक टिकट पर नम्बर छेदे और उसे वल्ली को पकड़ा दिया, “अब आराम से बैठ जाओ। जब तुमने सीट के पैसे दे रखे हैं तो तुम खड़ी क्यों हो?” .
“क्योंकि मैं खड़ा होना चाहती हूँ,” उसने उत्तर दिया, फिर से खड़ी होते हुए।
“लेकिन यदि तुम सीट के ऊपर खड़ी होती हो तो तुम गिर सकती हो और तुम्हें चोट लग सकती है। जब बस कोई तेज मोड़ काटेगी। बच्ची यही कारण है कि हम चाहते हैं कि तुम बैठ जाओ।” .
“मैं एक बच्ची नहीं हूँ, मैं आपको बता देती हूँ”, उसने चिढ़ते हुए कहा, “मैं आठ साल की हूँ।” ‘निःसंदेह, निःसंदेह। मैं भी कितना मूर्ख हूँ! आठ साल! हे भगवान!’
बस रुक गई, कुछ नए यात्री अंदर आए और थोड़ी देर के लिए परिचालक व्यस्त हो गया। अपनी सीट के खो जाने के भय से वल्ली अंततः नीचे बैठ गई।
एक वृद्ध महिला उसके पास आकर बैठ गई। “प्रिय, क्या तुम बिल्कुल अकेली हो?” जैसे ही बस पुनः चली उसने वल्ली से पूछा।
वल्ली को वह औरत पूर्णतया घृणाजनक लगी। उसके कानों के तलवों में कितने बड़े-बड़े सुराख थे और उनमें कितनी भद्दी बालियाँ थीं तथा वह उस सुपारी की गंध सूंघ सकती थी जिसे वह महिला चबा रही थी और पान के उस रस को देख सकती थी जो किसी भी पल उसके होठों से गिरने का भय पैदा कर रहा था। ओह! इस तरह के व्यक्ति के साथ कौन मिलनसार हो सकता है?

[PAGE 122] : “हाँ, मैं बिल्कुल अकेली यात्रा कर रही हूँ” उसने तीखे स्वर में उत्तर दिया। “और मैंने टिकट भी लिया है।” “हाँ, वह शहर जा रही है’ परिचालक ने कहा, तीस पैसे का एक टिकट लेकर”। “ओह, आप अपने काम पर ध्यान क्यों नहीं देते हो?” वल्ली ने कहा। लेकिन वह फिर भी हँस पड़ी और परिचालक भी हँसने
लगा।
लेकिन बूढ़ी औरत ने अपनी बकबक जारी रखी। “क्या इतने छोटे व्यक्ति के लिए अकेले यात्रा करना उचित है? क्या तुम्हें सही-सही पता है कि तुम शहर में कहाँ जा रही हो? कौन-सी गली है? क्या मकान नम्बर है?”
“आपको मेरे बारे में चिंता करने की आवश्यकता नहीं है। मैं अपना ख्याल खुद रख सकती हूँ।” वल्ली ने खिड़की की ओर अपना चेहरा घुमाते हुए कहा और बाहर देखने लगी।

[PART-III]

उसकी पहली यात्रा इसके लिए उसको कितना ध्यानपूर्वक, परिश्रम के साथ और सोच-समझकर योजनाएँ बनानी पड़ी थीं! जो भी छोटे-छोटे सिक्के उसके हाथ लग जाते थे कितनी किफायत के साथ उन्हें बचाकर के रखा था और कैसे अपने-आपको पुदीने की गोलियाँ, खिलौने, गुब्बारे और इस तरह की अन्य चीजें खरीदने से रोककर रखा था और आखिरकार उसने 60 पैसे बचा लिए थे। यह सब कुछ उसके लिए कितना कठिन था, खासतौर पर गाँव के मेले वाले दिन लेकिन उसने दृढ़ निश्चय के साथ झूलों पर सवार होने की अपनी इच्छा को दबा दिया था, जबकि उसके पास पैसे भी थे।

उसने पर्याप्त धन बचा लिया था, उसके बाद उसकी अगली समस्या थी अपनी माँ को बिना बताए कैसे घर से बाहर निकले। लेकिन बिना किसी अधिक कठिनाई के उसने इसकी व्यवस्था कर ली। दोपहर का भोजन करने के पश्चात् उसकी माँ एक बजे से लेकर चार बजे तक हल्की नींद लिया करती थी। वल्ली इन घंटों का प्रयोग हमेशा अपने ‘सैर-सपाटे’ के लिए किया करती थी। जब वह अपने घर के दरवाजे पर खड़ी होकर बाहर देखती थी या फिर कई बार गाँव में भी जाने का साहस कर लेती थी। आज वह इन घंटों का प्रयोग गाँव से बाहर उसके पहले भ्रमण के लिए करेगी।

[PAGE 123] : कभी बस एक पेड़ रहित भूमि क्षेत्र, कभी किसी छोटे-से गाँव से भागती हुई तथा रास्ते के किनारे बनी किसी दुकान के पास से निकलती हुई आगे बढ़ रही थी। कई बार ऐसा प्रतीत होता था कि बस अपनी ओर आते हुए किसी दूसरे वाहन अथवा सड़क पार कर रहे किसी पद यात्री को निगल जाएगी। लेकिन यह तो सभी बाधाओं को सुरक्षित भय से पीछे छोड़ते हुए आराम से निकल जाती थी। वृक्ष उनकी ओर भागते हुए प्रतीत होते थे लेकिन जब बस उनके पास पहुँचती थी तो वे वहीं रुक जाते थे और सड़क के एक ओर एक पल के लिए असहाय हुए खड़े रहते और फिर दूसरी दिशा में भागने लगते।

अचानक ही वल्ली ने (खुशी से) अपने दोनों हाथों से ताली बजा दी। एक छोटी-सी गाय हवा में अपनी पूँछ को उठाकर बहुत तेजी से भाग रही थी, बिल्कुल सड़क के बीच में, ठीक बस के सामने। बस की गति धीमी हो गई और चालक बार-बार हॉर्न बजा रहा था। लेकिन वह जितना ज्यादा हॉर्न बजाता पशु उतना अधिक भयभीत हो जाता तथा और तेजी से भागता हमेशा ठीक बस के आगे।

[PAGE 124] : यह बात वल्ली को बहुत अधिक मनोरंजक लगी। वह तब तक हँसती रही जब तक कि उसकी आँखों से आँसू नहीं आ गए।
‘अरे युवती, क्या तुम बहुत ज्यादा नहीं हँस ली हो?’ परिचालक ने आवाज लगाई, ‘बेहतर होगा, कुछ हँसी कल के लिए बचाकर रख लो।’
अंततः गाय सड़क से हट गई और शीघ्र ही बस एक रेलवे क्रॉसिंग के पास आ गई। दूर से रेलगाड़ी एक छोटे-से धब्बे के समान दिखाई दे रही थी, जैसे-जैसे वह निकट आ रही थी, बड़ी और बड़ी होती जा रही थी। तब वह बहुत अधिक शोर और खट-खट के साथ क्रॉसिंग गेट को पार कर गई, बस को हिलाते हुए। तब बस चल दी और उसने स्टेशन को पार किया। वहाँ से उसने एक अच्छी तरह से सजी हुई दुकानों वाले बाजार को पार किया और मुड़ने के बाद एक अधिक चौड़े रास्ते पर आ गई। इतनी बड़ी, चमकदार दुकानें। वस्त्रों तथा बेचने की अन्य चीज़ों का कितना चमकदार प्रदर्शन हो रहा था। इतनी ज्यादा भीड़!
हैरानी के कारण मूक बनी वल्ली हर चीज़ को मुँह खोले देखती रही। ‘हे युवती,’ परिचालक ने कहा, ‘क्या तुम नीचे उतरने के लिए तैयार नहीं हो? तुम्हारे तीस पैसे तुम्हें यहीं तक ला सकते थे।’
‘नहीं, वल्ली ने कहा, ‘मैं इसी बस पर वापस जा रही हूँ।’ उसने अपनी जेब से और तीस पैसे निकाले तथा सिक्के परिचालक को सौंप दिए।
‘क्यों, क्या कुछ बात हो गई है?’ ‘नहीं, कोई बात नहीं है। मैं तो सिर्फ बस की सवारी करना चाहती थी और वह मैंने कर ली।’ ‘क्या तुम कुछ दृश्यों को नहीं देखना चाहोगी, अब तब तुम यहाँ आ ही गई हो।’ ‘बिल्कुल अकेली? अरे, मुझे बहुत अधिक डर लगेगा।’
लड़की के बोलने के ढंग से अत्यधिक प्रसन्न होकर परिचालक ने कहा, ‘लेकिन तुम्हें बस में आते समय तो डर नहीं लगा।
‘उसमें डर वाली कोई बात नहीं थी, उसने उत्तर दिया। ‘ठीक है, तो फिर तुम वहाँ उस दुकान पर जाकर कुछ पीना क्यों नहीं चाहोगी? उसमें तो डरने की भी कोई बात नहीं है।’ ‘अरे नहीं, मैं ऐसा नहीं कर सकती हूँ।’ ‘तो ठीक है, मुझे तुम्हारे लिए एक शीतल पेय लाने दो।’ .

[PAGES 125-126] : ‘नहीं, मेरे पास पर्याप्त पैसे नहीं हैं। बस मुझे तो मेरा टिकट दे दो, यही काफी है।’ यह मेरी तरफ से दावत रहेगी और इसका तुम्हें कोई खर्च नहीं करना पड़ेगा। ‘नहीं, नहीं’ उसने दृढ़तापूर्वक कहा, ‘कृपया नहीं।’
परिचालक ने अपने कंधे सिकोड़ लिए तथा वे प्रतीक्षा करते रहे जब तक कि बस की वापसी की यात्रा का समय नहीं हो गया। दोबारा बस में फिर से अधिक यात्री नहीं थे।

[PART-IV]

‘क्या तुम्हारी माँ तुम्हें ढूंढ नहीं रही होगी?’ परिचालक ने पूछा जब उसने उसे टिकट दिया। ‘नहीं, कोई भी मेरी तलाश नहीं कर रहा होगा,’ उसने कहा। बस चल दी और फिर से वहाँ वहीं अद्भुत दृश्य थे।
वल्ली का मन बिल्कुल भी नहीं ऊबा और वह प्रत्येक चीज़ का उसी उत्साह से स्वागत कर रही थी जैसा पहली बार देखने पर किया था। लेकिन अचानक ही उसने एक छोटी गाय को सड़क किनारे मृत पड़े हुए पाया, ठीक उसी स्थान पर जहाँ किसी तेज रफ्तार वाले वाहन ने उसे टक्कर मारी थी।
‘क्या यह वहीं गाय नहीं है जो शहर आते समय हमारी बस के आगे भाग रही थी?’ उसने परिचालक से पूछा।
परिचालक ने हाँ में सिर हिलाया और उस पर उदासी छा गई। कुछ ही समय पहले जो एक प्यारा, सुन्दर जीव था अब अचानक अपनी सुन्दरता और जीवन खो चुका था और इतना भयानक और डरावना लग रहा था। जब वह वहाँ पड़ा हुआ था, टाँगें फैली हुईं, बेजान आँखों में एक स्थायी टकटकी भरे हुए और सब जगह खून के साथ।
बस आगे चल दी। मृत गाय की याद उसे परेशान कर रही थी, उसके उत्साह को ठंडा कर रही थी। अब वह खिड़की से बाहर नहीं देखना चाहती थी।
वह अपनी सीट पर तब तक चिपकी हुई बैठी रही जब तक कि तीन चालीस पर बस उसके गाँव नहीं पहुंच गई। वह उठी और उसने एक अंगड़ाई ली। तब वह परिचालक की ओर मुड़ी और कहा, ‘अच्छा श्रीमान जी, मैं आपसे फिर मिलने की आशा रखूगी।’

[PAGE 126] : ‘ठीक है, मैडम,’ उसने उसे मुस्कराते हुए उत्तर दिया, ‘जब कभी भी बस की सवारी करने को तुम्हारा मन करे, तो हमारे साथ आ जाना और अपना किराया लाना मत भूलना।’
वह हँसी और उसने बस से छलाँग लगा दी। तब वह सीधी घर की ओर भाग गई।
जब वह घर में घुसी तो उसने अपनी माँ को जागा हुआ पाया और दक्षिणी गली में रहने वाली वल्ली की एक मौसी से बातें करते हुए पाया। वह मौसी वास्तव में एक बातूनी थी, यदि एक बार बोलना शुरु कर देती थी तो कभी अपना मुँह बंद नहीं करती थी।
‘और तुम कहाँ थी?’ उसकी मौसी ने पूछा जब वल्ली अंदर आई। वह बहुत बेरुखी से बोली, उसे उत्तर की आशा नहीं थी। इसलिए वल्ली सिर्फ मुस्कराई और उसकी माँ तथा मौसी अपने वार्तालाप को जारी रखती रही।
‘हाँ, तुम ठीक हो,’ उसकी माँ ने कहा, ‘कितनी सारी चीजें हमारे में और हमारे से बाहर की दुनिया में होती हैं। हम संभवतः हर चीज़ के बारे में कैसे जान सकते हैं और यदि हमें किसी बात के बारे में पता भी चल जाता है तो हम उसे पूर्णतया समझ नहीं पाते हैं, क्या समझ पाते हैं?’
‘ओह, हाँ!’ वल्ली ने सांस लेते हुए कहा।
‘ओह, वल्ली ने कहा, ‘मैं तो केवल उस बात से सहमति व्यक्त कर रही थी जो आप कह रही थी हमारी जानकारी के बिना घटित होने वाली बातों के बारे में।
‘एक छोटी-सी लड़की है वह,’ उसकी मौसी ने कहा।
‘और देखो वह हमारी बातचीत में बिना किसी मतलब के अपनी टाँग अड़ा रही है जैसेकि वह एक समझदार औरत हो।’
वल्ली स्वयं पर मुस्कराई। वह नहीं चाहती थी कि वे उसकी मुस्कराहट का अर्थ समझें। लेकिन फिर इसकी कोई ज्यादा सम्भावना भी नहीं थी, क्या थी?

Madam Rides the Bus Word-Meanings in Hindi

[PART-I]

[PAGE 116] : Induction = entry (प्रवेश); mystery = secret (रहस्य); gap = difference (अंतर)।
[PAGE 117] : Curious = eager (उत्सुक); pastime = hobby (शौक); elaborate = detailed (विस्तृत)।
[PAGE 118] : Fascinating = attractive (आकर्षक); gradually = slowly (धीरे-धीरे); overwhelming = strong (मज़बूत); stare = look fixedly (घूरना); wistfully = with longing (इच्छा से); kindle = create (पैदा करना, उकसानां); longings = strong desires (तीव्र इच्छाएँ); slang = informal language (अनौपचारिक भाषा); disapproval= refusal (असहमति); discreet = quiet (शांत); various = many (कई); scarcely = hardly (मुश्किल से); calculated = made a count (गिनती करना)।

Haryana State Board HBSE 10th Class English Solutions First Flight Chapter 7 Glimpses of India Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

Haryana Board 10th Class English Solutions First Flight Chapter 7 Glimpses of India

HBSE 10th Class English Glimpses of India Textbook Questions and Answers

Part I: A Baker From Goa

Discuss in class

1. What images of people and of places come to your mind, when you think of our country ? (जब आप अपने देश के बारे में सोचते हो तो आपके मन में लोगों और स्थानों की कौन-कौन सी तस्वीरें आती हैं?)
Answer:
When I think of my country the images of the variety of India come to my mind. I visualize people wearing different dresses, speaking different languages and having different customs. There is geographical variety also. I think of different places like snow-clad mountains, deserts, plains, forests, etc.
(जब मैं अपने देश के बारे में सोचता हूँ तो भारत की भिन्न-भिन्न तस्वीरें मेरे दिमाग में आती हैं। मैं लोगों को भिन्न-भिन्न तरह की पोशाकें पहने, भिन्न-भिन्न भाषाएँ बोलते और भिन्न-भिन्न रीति-रिवाज़ मनाते हुए देखता हूँ। इसमें भौगोलिक विभिन्नता भी है। मैं भिन्न-भिन्न स्थानों; जैसे बर्फ से ढके पर्वतों, मरुस्थलों, मैदानों और जंगलों इत्यादि के बारे में सोचता हूँ।)

2. What parts of India have you lived in, or visited ? Can you name some popular tourist destinations?
(आप भारत के किस भाग में रह चुके हैं या यात्रा कर चुके हैं? क्या आप कुछ प्रसिद्ध पर्यटक स्थलों के नाम बता सकते हो?)
Answer:
I have lived in the north of India. There are many popular tourist destinations in this part of India. These are : The Baradari of Patiala, The Red Fort of Delhi, The Taj Mahal in Agra, Qutub Minar, Humayun Tomb, Raj Ghat, etc. Forts, palaces and other monuments in Gwalior, Jaipur, etc.
(मैं भारत के उत्तर में रह चुका हूँ। भारत के इस भाग में बहुत-से प्रसिद्ध पर्यटक स्थल हैं। ये हैं-पटियाला की बारादरी, दिल्ली का लाल किला, आगरा का ताजमहल, कुतुबमीनार, हुमायु का मकबरा, राजघाट इत्यादि । ग्वालियर और जयपुर के किले, महल और अन्य यादगार चीजें।)

3. You may know that apart from the British, the Dutch and the French, the Portuguese have also played a part in the history of our country. Can you say which parts of India show French and Portuguese influences ?
(आप शायद जानते हो कि अंग्रेजों के अलावा डचों, फ्रांसीसियों और पुर्तगालियों ने भी हमारे देश के इतिहास में भूमिका निभाई है। क्या आप बता सकते हो कि हमारे देश के किन भागों पर फ्रांसीसियों और पुर्तगालियों का प्रभाव था?)
Answer:
We can see the French influence in Pondicherry because France ruled it for years. In the same way, we find the Portuguese influence in Goa as it was ruled by Portugal.
(हम फ्रांसीसी प्रभाव को पांडिचेरी में देख सकते हैं, क्योंकि फ्रांस ने उस पर वर्षों तक शासन किया था। उसी प्रकार से हम पुर्तगाली प्रभाव को गोआ में देख सकते हैं, क्योंकि गोआ पर पुर्तगाल का शासन था।)

4. Can you say which parts of India grow (i) tea, (ii) coffee ? (क्या आप बता सकते हो कि भारत के किन भागों में (i) चाय, (ii) कॉफी पैदा होती है?)
Answer:
Assam and Darjeeling in the north-east grow tea and Western Ghats grow coffee.
(उत्तर-पूर्व में आसाम, दार्जिलिंग में चाय का उत्पादन होता है और पश्चिमी घाटों पर कॉफी का उत्पादन होता है।)

Oral Comprehension Check (Page 86)

1. What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?:
(गोआ के बुजुर्ग किस बात का शौक के साथ वर्णन करते हैं?)
Answer:
The elders of Goa are nostalgic about the Portuguese and their famous loaves of bread.
(गोआ के बुजुर्ग पुर्तगालियों और उनकी पावरोटियों का शौक के साथ वर्णन करते हैं।)

2. Is bread-making still popular in Goa ? How do you know ?
(क्या पावरोटी बनाना गोआ में अभी भी प्रसिद्ध है? आप कैसे जानते हो?)
Answer:
Yes, bread-making is still popular in Goa. The furnaces where bread is made still exist there. The thud and jingle of the traditional baker’s bamboo can still be heard in the morning. This is clear from the sentences, : ‘The fire in the furnaces has not yet been extinguished…’ ।
(हाँ, गोआ में पावरोटी बनाया जाना अभी भी प्रसिद्ध है। भट्टियाँ, जहाँ पावरोटी बनाई जाती है, गोआ में अभी भी पाई जाती हैं। बेकर की धानी की ठक-ठक और झंकार प्रातःकाल के समय में अभी भी सुनी जा सकती है। यह बात इस वाक्य से स्पष्ट है’भट्टी की आग अभी तक भी नहीं बुझाई जा सकी है…..।’) .

3. What is the baker called ?
(बेकर को किस नाम से पुकारा जाता है?)
Answer:
The baker is called pader in Goa.
(गोआ में बेकर को पेदर के नाम से पुकारा जाता है।)

4. When would the baker come everyday ? Why did the children run to meet him ?
(बेकर हर रोज कब आता था? बच्चे उससे मिलने के लिए क्यों भागते थे?)
Answer:
He would come twice a day. Once in the morning and again after selling all his breads. The children ran to meet him because they were fond of the ‘bread-bangles’ sold by him.
(बेकर दिन में दो बार आता था। एक बार तो वह सुबह के समय आता था और दोबारा तब आता था जब उसकी सारी पावरोटियाँ बिक जाती थीं। बच्चे उससे मिलने के लिए दौड़ते थे, क्योंकि वे उसके द्वारा बेचे जाने वाले पावगजरों को बहुत पसंद करते थे।)

Oral Comprehension Check (Page 87)

1. Match the following. What is a must
(i) as marriage gifts ? – cakes and bolinhas
(ii) for a party or a feast ? – sweet bread called bol
(iii) for a daughter’s engagement ?- bread
(iv) for Christmas ? – sandwiches.
Answer:
(i) as marriage gifts – sweet bread called bol
(ii) for a party or a feast – bread
(iii) for a daughter’s engagement – sandwiches
(iv) for Christmas – cakes and bolinhas

2. What did the bakers wear : (i) in the Portuguese days, ?
(बेकर क्या पहनते थे? (i) पुर्तगालियों के दिनों में?)
(ii) when the author was young?
(ii) जब लेखक छोटा था?)
Answer:
(i) In the Portuguese days, the bakers wore the kabai. It was a single-piece long frock that reached down to the knees. (ii) When the author was young, the bakers wore a shirt and trousers which were shorter than full-length ones and longer than half pants.
(i) पुर्तगालियों के दिनों में बेकर कबाई पहनते थे। यह एक ही कपड़े से बनी लंबी फ्रॉक होती थी जो घुटनों तक पहुँचती थी।
(ii) जब लेखक छोटा था तो उन दिनों बेकर कमीज और पैंट पहनते थे जोकि पूरी पैंट की लम्बाई से छोटी होती थी और निक्कर से लम्बी होती थी।)

3. Who invites the comment —“he is dressed like a pader” ? Why? .
(किस पर यह टिप्पणी की जाती है “उसने पेदर जैसी पोशाक पहन रखी है”? क्यों?)
Answer:
Any one who wears a half pant which reaches just below the knees invites this comment because trousers like that used to be the typical dress of a baker or pader.
(कोई भी जो घुटनों से नीचे आने वाली निक्कर पहनता है, उस पर यह टिप्पणी की जाती है क्योंकि इस तरह की पैंटे बेकर अर्थात् पेदर के द्वारा पहनी जाती थी।)

4. Where were the monthly accounts of the baker recorded ?
(बेकर का मासिक हिसाब कहाँ दर्ज किया जाता था?)
Answer:
They recorded the accounts on some wall in pencil.
(वे हिसाब को किसी दीवार पर पैंसिल के साथ दर्ज करते थे।)

5. What does a jackfruit-like appearance’ mean?
(‘कटहल जैसा लगने’ का क्या अर्थ है?) ।
Answer:
It means fat and plump like the jackfruit itself.
(इसका मतलब है कटहल की तरह मोटा और गोल-मटोल होना।)

Thinking about the Text

1. Which of these statements are correct ?

(i) The pader was an important person in the village in old times.
(ii) Paders still exist in Goan villages.
(iii) The paders went away with the Portuguese.
(iv) The paders continue to wear a single-piece long frock.
(v) Bread and cakes were an integral part of Goan life in the old days.
(vi) Traditional bread-baking is still a very profitable business.
(vii) Paders and their families starve in the present times.
Answer:
(i) correct,
(ii) correct,
(iii) incorrect,
(iv) incorrect,
(v) correct,
(vi) incorrect,
(vii) incorrect.

2. Is bread an important part of Goan life ? How do you know this ?
(क्या पावरोटी गोआ के जीवन का एक अभिन्न अंग है? आप यह कैसे जानते हो?)
Answer:
Yes, bread is an important part of Goan life. It is clear from marriage gifts, cakes and bolinhas for Christmas, etc.
(हाँ, पावरोटी गोआ के जीवन का एक अभिन्न अंग है। यह बात शादी के उपहारों, केक, बोलिनाह, क्रिसमस इत्यादि से स्पष्ट है।)

3. Tick the right answer. What is the tone of the author when he says the following ?

(i) The thud and the jingle of the traditional baker’s bamboo can still be heard in some places. (nostalgic, hopeful, sad)
(ii) Maybe the father is not alive but the son still carries on the family profession. (nostalgic, hopeful, sad)
(iii) I still recall the typical fragrance of those loaves. (nostalgic, hopeful, naughty)
(iv) The tiger never brushed his teeth. Hot tea could wash and clean up everything so nicely, after all. (naughty, angry, funny)
(v) Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals. (sad, hopeful, matter-of-fact)
(vi) The baker and his family never starved. They always looked happy and prosperous. (matter-of-fact, hopeful, sad)
Answer:
(i) nostalgic, (ii) hopeful, (iii) nostalgic, (iv) naughty, (v) matter-of-fact, (vi) matter-of-fact.

Writing

I. In this extract, the author talks about traditional bread-baking during his childhood days. Complete the following table with the help of clues on the left. Then write a paragraph about the author’s childhood days.

Answer:

Author’s Childhood Days

The author remembers his childhood days. He recollects that the baker was an important part of the village in those days. He was called pader. He used to come twice a day to sell his bread. He carried a bamboo stick. With this stick he made a musical sound, jhang, jhang’ sound with his bamboo staff. He placed his basket on the vertical bamboo. He wished ‘Good morning’ to the lady of the house. The bread was usually bought by the maid servant of the house. The author as a child would climb a bench or the parapet to peep into his basket of loaves of bread. He and other children longed for bread-bangles which were sweet bread of special make. Bread was an essential part of every function. The bread-seller collected his bills at the end of the month. The accounts were generally written on a wall in pencil. The bread-sellers were well off. It was evident from their plump bodies.

II.

1. Compare the piece from the text (on the left below) with the other piece on Goan bakers (on the right). What makes the two texts so different ? Are the facts the same ? Do both writers give you a picture of the baker ?

Answer:
The two texts tell about the Goan Paders. But they are different because they differently about the same thing. The first text tells us about paders and the things with which they make bread. The
second text emphasises the fact that Portuguese bread vanished when Goa was liberated and the · Portugueses left Goa. The facts in both the texts relate to bread-making. The facts are almost the same. Both the writers give us a picture of the baker. But the first text gives a more elaborate picture than the one given by the second text.

2. Now find a travel brochure about a place you have visited. Look at the description in the brochure. Then write your own account, adding details from your own experience, to give the reader a picture of the place, rather than an impersonal, factual description.
Answer : For self-attempt.

Group Discussion

1. In groups, collect information on how bakeries bake bread now and how the process has · changed over time.
Answer:
For self-attempt.

2. There are a number of craft-based professions which are dying out. Pick one of the crafts below. Make a group presentation to the class about the skills required, and the possible reasons for the decline of the craft. Can you think of ways to revive these crafts ?
(i) Pottery,
(ii) Batik work
(iii) Dhurri (rug) weaving
(iv) Embroidery
(v) Carpentry
(vi) Bamboo weaving
(vii) Making jute products
(viii) Handloom
Answer:
For self-attempt.

Part II: Coorg

Thinking about the Text

1. Where is Coorg ?
(कुर्ग कहाँ पर है?)
Answer:
Coorg lies midway between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore. It is situated in the Karnatka state of India.
(कुर्ग मैसूर और तटीय नगर मंगलौर के मध्य मार्ग पर स्थित है। यह भारत के कर्नाटक राज्य में स्थित है।)

2. What is the story about the Kodavu people’s descent ? [B.S.E.H. 2019
(कोडावु लोगों के वंश के बारे में क्या कहानी प्रचलित है?)
Answer:
According to the story, a part of Alexander’s army moved south along the coast. As their return became impractical, they settled there. They married among the locals..
(कहानी के अनुसार, सिकन्दर की सेना का एक भाग तट के साथ-साथ दक्षिण की ओर चला गया। जब उनकी वापसी असंभव हो गई, तो वे वहीं बस गए। उन्होंने स्थानीय लोगों में शादी कर ली।)

3. What are some of the things you now know about
(i) the people of Coorg?
(ii) the main crop of Coorg?
(iii) the sports it offers to tourists ?
(iv) the animals you are likely to see in Coorg ?
(v) its distance from Bangalore, and how to get there?
(आप इनके बारे में अब कौन-कौन सी बातें जानते हो?) (कुर्ग के लोग?) (कुर्ग की मुख्य फसल?) (पर्यटकों के लिए यहाँ जो खेल हैं?) (आप कुर्ग में कौन-से पशु देख पाओगे?) (बंगलौर से इसकी दूरी और यहाँ पहुँचा कैसे जाता है?)
Answer:
I now know about all the things given from (i) to (v) here. The text gives the whole information in the following way:
(i) The people of Coorg are greatly independent. They are of Greek or Arabic descent.
(ii) The main crop of Coorg is coffee.
(iii) Coorg offers adventurous sports like river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing and mountain biking to tourists.
(iv) The animals one is likely to see in Coorg are Macaques, Malabar squirrel, langurs and loris.
(v) The distance between Bangalore and Coorg is around 260 km. One can reach Coorg by Air, by Rail and by Road.

(मैं इन सभी चीज़ों के बारे में जानता हूँ जो यहाँ (i) से (v) तक दी गई हैं। अध्याय में इन सभी बातों के बारे में निम्नलिखित जानकारी दी गई है-

(i) कुर्ग लोग पूर्णतया स्वतंत्र रहने वाले लोग हैं। वे यूनानियों और अरबों के वंशज हैं।
(ii) missing
(iii) कुर्गों के साहसिक खेल हैं जैसे रिवर रैफ्टिंग, नौका चलाना, रस्सियों के सहारे पहाड़ियों पर चढ़ना-उतरना, चट्टानों पर चढ़ना और पर्वतारोहण इत्यादि
(iv) कुर्ग क्षेत्र में दिखाई दिए जाने वाले पशु हैं-अफ्रीकी लंगूर, मालाबारी गिलहरियाँ, लंगूर और तोते।
(v) बंगलौर और कुर्ग के बीच की दूरी लगभग 260 कि०मी० है। कुर्ग में हवाई जहाज से, रेल से और सड़क मार्ग द्वारा जाया जा सकता है।)

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

Thinking about Language

Collocations

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.
(a) ‘How old are you?’
‘How young are you ?’
(b) a pleasant person
a pleasant pillow

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

(i) culture : unique culture, ancient culture
(ii) monks ……………………
(iii) surprise ……………………
(iv) experience : ……………………
(v) weather : ……………………
(vi) tradition : ……………………
Answer:
The following shall collocate together :
(ii) monks z serious monks, unique monks
(iii) surprise : terrible surprise, sudden surprise
(iv) experience : unique experience, terrible experience, unforgettable experience.
(v) weather : pleasant weather, terrible weather, unique weather
(vi) tradition : unique tradition, ancient tradition.

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 ?

(i) tales of……………………
(ii) coastal ……………………
(iii) a piece of ……………………
(iv) evergreen ……………………
(v) Plantations
(vi) ……………………bridge
(vii) wild ……………………
You may add your own examples to this list.
Answer:
(i) tales of valour
(ii) coastal town
(iii) a piece of heaven
(iv) evergreen rainforests
(v) coffee plantations
(vi) rope bridge
(vii) wild elephants

Some other examples :

Tales of heroism
hilly areas/terrains
river beds
Tibetan settlements
adventure sports

Part III: Tea from Assam

Thinking about Language

I. 1. Look at these words : upkeep, downpour, undergo, dropout, walk-in. They are built up from verb (keep, pour, go, drop, walk) and an adverb or a particle (up, down, under, out, in). Use these words appropriately in the sentences below. You may consult a dictionary.

(i) A heavy ___has been forecast due to low pressure in the Bay of Bengal.
(ii) Rakesh will ______major surgery tomorrow morning.
(iii) My brother is responsible for the ______of our family property.
(iv) The _______ rate for this accountancy course is very high.
(v) She went to the Enterprise Company to attend a _ ___ interview.
Answer:
(i) downpour
(ii) undergo
(iii) upkeep
(iv) dropout
(v) walk-in

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
updown

(i) The Army attempted unsuccessfully to ______ the Government. (throw)
(ii) Scientists are on the brink of a major ______ in cancer research. (break)
(iii) The State Government plans to build a ______ for Bhubaneshwar to speed up traffic on the main highway. (pass)
(iv) Gautama’s ______ on life changed when he realised that the world is full of sorrow.(look)
(v) Rakesh seemed unusually ______after the game. (cast)
Answer:
(1) overthrow (ii) breakthrough (iii) bypass (iv) outlook (v) downcast

II. Notice how these -ing and -ed adjectives are used.

(a) Chess is an interesting game. — I am very interested in chess.
(b) Going trekking in the Himalayas this summer is an exciting idea. — We are very excited about the trek.
(c) 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.

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 :

(i) a good detective serial on television ? _____
(ii) a debate on your favourite topic ‘Homework Should Be Banned’ ? _____
(iii) how you feel when you stay indoors due to incessant rain ? _____
(iv) how you feel when you open a present ? _____
(v) how you feel when you watch your favourite programme on television ? _____
(vi) the look on your mother’s face as you waited in a queue ? _____
(vii) how you feel when tracking a tiger in a tiger reserve forest ? _____
(viii) the story you have recently read, or a film you have seen ? _____
Answer:
(i) interesting
(ii) exciting
(iii) bored
(iv) thrilled
(v) excited
(vi) worrying
(vii) excited
(viii) interesting

2. Now use the adjectives in the exercise above, as appropriate, to write a paragraph about Coorg.
Answer:
A visit to Assam was really interesting. It was an invigorating. The magnificent scenery was invigorating. I felt excited and thrilled to visit this beautiful place. I was thrilled when I read that Assam tea is the best in the world. The wildlife and the panoramic view of the entire misty landscape excited me. A walk among the hills was thrilling. But the idea that man is creating pollution here also made me worried. However, the whole scene of tea plantations was breathtaking.

1. Read the following passage about tea.

India and tea are so intertwined together that life without the brew is unimaginable. Tea entered our life only in the mid-nineteenth century when the British started plantations in Assam and Darjeeling! In the beginning though, Indians shunned the drink as they thought it was a poison that led to umpteen diseases. Ironically, tea colonised Britain where it became a part of their social diary and also led to the establishment of numerous tea houses. Today, scientific research across the world has attempted to establish the beneficial qualities of tea-a fact the Japanese and the Chinese knew anyway from ancient times, attributing to it numerous medicinal properties.
[Source : ‘History : Tea Anytime’, by Ranjit Biswas from Literary Review, The Hindu, 1 October 2006]

Collect information about tea, e.g. its evolution as a drink, its beneficial qualities. You can consult an encyclopedia or visit Internet websites. Then form groups of five and play the following roles. Imagine a meeting of a tea planter, a sales agent, a tea lover (consumer), a physician and a tea-shop owner. Each person in the group has to put forward his/her views about tea. You may use the following words and phrases.

• I feel _
• It is important to know_
• I disagree with you _
• I think that tea _
• I would like you to know _
• I agree with _
• It is my feeling _
• I suggest _
• May I know why you _
• I am afraid _

Answer:
For self-attempt at class level. Students should consult an encyclopedia or visit some Internet sites for getting this information. Then they may form groups and play these roles.

2. You are the sales executive of a famous tea company and you have been asked to draft an advertisement for the product. Draft the advertisement using the information you collected for the role play. You can
draw pictures or add photographs and make your advertisement colourful.
Answer:
For self-attempt as in case of Question 1 above.

BSE 10th Class English A Baker From Goa Important Questions and Answers

Part I: A Baker From Goa

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
What do the elders of Goa remember nostalgically?
Answer:
They remember nostalgically the old Portuguese days and the loaves of bread.

Question 2.
What are the time tested things which still exit in Goa?
Answer:
The furnaces of the bakers of Goa are time tested things which still exist there.

Question 3.
When did the baker come daily?
Answer:
He came daily twice. Once in the morning when he set out for his selling and the other time after selling the breads.

Question 4.
What was the baker’s place in Goa is the author’s childhood days?
Answer:
In those days the baker was the friend, companion and guide.

Question 5.
How is the entry of the baker described?
Answer:
The entry of the baker is described as musical.

Question 6.
What did the author and the other children do to look into the baker’s basket?
Answer:
They would climb a bench or the parapet to look into the baker’s basket.

Question 7.
What is the name of the dress worn by baker in olden days?
Answer:
It was known with the name of kabai.

Question 8.
What is the baker called in Goa?
Answer:
The baker is called ‘pader’in Goa.

Question 9.
What is the financial status of a baker of Goa?
Answer:
A bakes of Goa is mostly in a sound financially position.

Question 10.
What is a kabai?.
Answer:
A kabai is a type of frock made out of single piece of cloth.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
What are the childhood memories described by the author in this extract?
(इस अध्याय में लेखक के द्वारा बचपन की किन-किन यादों का वर्णन किया गया है?)
Answer:
The author passed his childhood days in Goa. In this extract, he remembers his old days in Goa when the village baker occupied an important place in life. Although, with the passage of time, people do not . eat so much bread, yet the village bakers are still there.
(लेखक ने अपने बचपन के दिन गोआ में बिताए थे। इस अध्याय में वह गोआ में अपने बचपन के दिनों को याद करता है जब गाँव के बेकर का जीवन में महत्त्वपूर्ण स्थान होता था। यद्यपि समय बीतने के साथ-साथ लोगों ने पावरोटी खाना कम कर दिया है, फिर भी ग्रामीण बेकर वहाँ पर पाए जाते हैं।) .

Question 2.
What marks of the Portuguese way of life can still be seen in Goa?
(पुर्तगाली जीवन के तरीकों के कौन-कौन से संकेत अभी भी गोआ में देखे जा सकते हैं?)
Answer:
Goa was once occupied by the Portuguese. They were famous for preparing the loaves of bread. They left Goa long ago. But the traditional work of the bakers can still be seen in Goa. The furnaces in which the bread was baked still exist there.
(गोआ पर पुर्तगालियों का कब्जा था। वे पावरोटियाँ तैयार करवाने के लिए प्रसिद्ध थे। वे काफी समय पहले गोआ से चले गए। लेकिन गोवा में बेकरों का परंपरागत काम अभी भी देखा जा सकता है। जिन भट्टियों में पावरोटी पकाई जाती थी वे अभी भी वहाँ पर हैं।)

Question 3.
What does the author recall about the visit of the baker to his village?
(लेखक अपने गाँव में बेकर की यात्रा के बारे में क्या बातें याद करता है?)
Answer:
The author recalls that a baker used to visit the village twice a day. He used to be the author’s friend and guide. He used to carry a bamboo stick. The sound of this stick used to wake up the author and others from sleep.
(लेखक याद करता है कि एक बेकर दिन में दो बार उनके गाँव में आता था। वह लेखक का मित्र और मार्गदर्शक हुआ करता था। वह एक बाँस का डंडा उठाए रखता था। डंडे की आवाज़ लेखक और अन्य लोगों को नींद से जगा देती थी।)

Question 4.
How was the village baker very important for special occasions in the village?
(गाँव में विशिष्ट अवसरों पर गाँव का बेकर अति महत्त्वपूर्ण कैसे हो जाता था?) .
Answer:
The village baker was specially important for festive occasions. The villagers were much fond of the sweet bread known as ‘bol’. Marriage gifts were meaningless without these sweet breads. Sandwiches, cakes and bolinhas were a must for Christmas as well as other festivals. These were made with the bread.
(त्योहारों के अवसरों पर गाँव का बेकर अति महत्त्वपूर्ण हो जाता था। गाँव वाले उसकी मीठी पावरोटी ‘बोल’ के बहुत शौकीन थे। इन मीठी पावरोटियों के बिना शादी के उपहार अर्थहीन थे। क्रिसमस और अन्य त्योहारों के लिए सैंडविच, केक और बोलिनाह अति आवश्यक होते थे। ये पावरोटी से बनते थे।)

Question 5.
Describe the bread-seller’s dress. (पावरोटी विक्रेता की पोशाक का वर्णन करें।).
Answer:
The baker or the bread-seller wore a special, peculiar dress. It was known as the ‘kabai’. It was a single-piece long frock. It reached down to his knees. During narrator’s childhood Bakers wore trousers which were shorter than full-length and longer than half pants.
(बेकर अर्थात् पावरोटी विक्रेता एक विशेष और विचित्र किस्म की पोशाक पहनता था। इसे कबाई के नाम से जाना जाता था। यह एक ही कपड़े से बनी लम्बी फ्रॉक होती थी। यह घुटनों से नीचे तक जाती थी। लेखक के बचपन के दिनों में बेकर कमीज़)

Question 6.
When did the baker collect his bills? What showed that the bakers were prosperous?
(बेकर अपने बिलों का संग्रह कब करता था? किस बात से पता चलता था कि बेकर अमीर थे?)
Answer:
The baker usually collected his bills at the end of the month. In the household, the baker’s monthly accounts used to be recorded on some wall in pencil. Baking was a profitable business in those days. Their families never starved. Their plump bodies showed that they were prosperous.
(बेकर प्रायः महीने के अंत में अपने बिलों का संग्रह करता था। घर में बेकर के महीने के हिसाब को किसी दीवार पर पेंसिल के साथ लिख दिया जाता था। उन दिनों में बेकिंग का कार्य बहुत फायदे वाला था। उनके परिवार कभी भूखे नहीं मरते थे। उनके मोटे-ताजे शरीर दिखाते थे कि वे सम्पन्न लोग थे।)

Question 7.
When would the baker come everyday? Why did the children run to the baker?
(बेकर हर रोज किस समय आता था? बच्चे बेकर के पास क्यों भागे आते थे?)
Answer:
The baker would come twice a day. Once in the morning when he set out on his selling round, and then again after emptying his basket. In the morning the children ran to him to have bread-bangles.
(बेकर दिन में दो बार आया करता था। एक बार तो सुबह के समय जब वह अपनी बिक्री की फेरी पर निकलता था और दूसरी बार तब जब अपनी टोकरी खाली करके लौटता था। सुबह के समय बच्चे उसके पास से पाव-गजरे लेने के लिए भाग कर जाते थे।)

Question 8.
How did the baker make his entry in the morning?
(सुबह के समय बेकर अपना आगमन कैसे करता था?)
Answer:
In the morning the baker made his musical entry on the scene with the “jhang-jhang’ sound of his specially made staff. One hand supported the basket on his head and the other banged the bamboo on the ground.
(सुबह के समय बेकर दृश्य पर आगमन एक विशेष रूप से बनाई गई बाँस की लंबी छड़ी की ‘झंग-झंग’ जैसी संगीतमयी आवाज़ के साथ करता था। उसका एक हाथ सिर पर टोकरी को थामे रखता था और दूसरा हाथ जमीन पर बाँस को पटकता रहता था।)

Essay Type Question

Question 1.
How is the effect of the traditional bread bakers can still be seen in Goa of today?
(परम्परागत बेकरों का प्रभाव आज के गोआ में भी कैसे देखा जा सकता है?)
Answer:
The author remembers his old days in Goa when the village baker occupied an important place in life. Bread eating was very common in those days. Apart from eating bread daily, bread held an important place at the time of Christmas, marriages and other functions. Although, with the passage of time, people do not eat so much bread today, yet the village bakers are still there. The Portugueses were famous for earns the loaves of bread. They left Goa long ago. But the traditional work of the bakers can still be seen in Goa. The furnaces in which the bread was baked still exist there. The sound of the traditional bakers’ bamboo can still be heard. These bakers are known as Pader in Goa even today. . .

(लेखक गोआ में अपने पुराने दिनों की याद करता है जब गाँव के बेकर का उनके जीवन में महत्त्वपूर्ण स्थान होता था। उन दिनों में पावरोटी खाने का बहुत प्रचलन था। हर रोज पावरोटी खाए जाने के अतिरिक्त पावरोटी का क्रिसमस, शादियों तथा अन्य उत्सवों पर अति महत्त्वपूर्ण स्थान होता था। यद्यपि समय के बीतने के साथ-साथ लोग अब इतनी ज्यादा पावरोटी नहीं खाते हैं लेकिन अभी भी गाँवों में बेकर हैं। पुर्तगाली पावरोटियाँ तैयार करवाने के लिए बहुत प्रसिद्ध थे। उन्होंने काफी समय पहले गोआ को छोड़ दिया। लेकिन बेकरों का परम्परागत काम अभी भी गोआ में देखा जा सकता है। जिन भट्टियों में पावरोटी पकाई जाती थी अभी भी वहाँ पर हैं। बेकर के परम्परागत बाँस (धानी) की आवाज़ अभी भी सुनी जा सकती है। इन बेकरों को गोआ में आज भी पेदर के नाम से जाना जाता है।)

Question 2.
What was the importance of the baker in the village? What kind of dress did he wear?
(गाँव में बेकर का क्या महत्त्व होता था? वह किस तरह की पोशाक पहनता था?)
Answer:
The village baker was specially important for all occasions. The villagers were much fond of the sweet bread known as ‘Bol’. Marriage gifts were meaningless without these sweet breads. San and bolinhas were a must for Christmas as well as other festivals. These were made with the bread. Thus the presence of a baker’s furnace was very essential in each village. The baker or the bread-seller wore a special, peculiar dress. It was known as the ‘kabai’. It was a single-piece long frock. It reached.down to his knees. During narrator’s childhood bakers wore trousers which were shorter than full-length and longer than half pants. Even today if someone wears a half pant, he is said to be dressed like a pader.

(गाँव का बेकर सभी अवसरों पर विशेष रूप से महत्वपूर्ण होता था। ग्रामीण उसकी मीठी पावरोटी, जिसे ‘बोल’ कहा जाता था, के बहुत अधिक शौकीन थे। इन मीठी पावरोटियों के बिना शादी के उपहार महत्त्वहीन होते थे। सैंडविच, केक और बोलिनाह क्रिसमस तथा अन्य अवसरों के लिए अति आवश्यक होते थे। ये पावरोटी से बनाए जाते थे। अतः प्रत्येक गाँव में बेकर की भट्टी का होना बहुत जरूरी था। बेकर अर्थात् पावरोटी विक्रेता एक खास तरह की और विचित्र पोशाक पहनता था। इसे ‘कबाई’ के नाम से जाना जाता था। यह एक ही कपड़े से बनी लम्बी फ्रॉक होती थी। यह उसके घुटनों से नीचे तक जाती थी। लेखक के बचपन के दिनों में बेकर पैंटें पहनते थे जोकि पूरी पैंट की लम्बाई से कम और निक्कर की लम्बाई से अधिक होती थी। यदि आज भी कोई निक्कर पहनता है, तो ऐसा कहा जाता है कि उसने पेदर की तरह पोशाक पहन रखी थी।)

Question 3.
Give a pen-portrait of a Goan Village baker.
(गोवा के एक ग्रामीण बेकर का चित्रण कीजिए।)
Answer:
A Goan village baker used to sell all kinds of bread loaves. He used to come in the morning with a basket of breads loaves on his head. He made a musical entry on the scene with the ‘jhang-jhang’ of his bamboo stick. He used to wear a peculiar dress known as the ‘kabai’. It was a single-piece long frock reaching down to the knees. The baker usually collected his bills at the end of the month. Baking was indeed a profitable profession in the old days. The baker always looked happy and prosperous. He had a plump physique.

(गोवा का एक ग्रामीण बेकर सभी प्रकार के पाव बेचा करता था। वह सुबह के समय सभी प्रकार के पाव अपने सिर पर टोकरी में भरकर लाता था। वह अपनी बाँस की छड़ी की झंग-झंग की संगीतमयी आवाज़ के साथ दृश्य पर अपना आगमन करता था। वह एक विचित्र तरह की पोशाक पहनता था जिसे ‘कबाई’ कहते थे। यह कपड़े के एक ही टुकड़े से बनी विशेष प्रकार की फ्रॉक होती थी जो घुटनों से नीचे तक आती थी। बेकर महीने के अंत में अपने बिल एकत्र किया करता था। उन पुराने दिनों में बेकरी का व्यवसाय लाभ का काम था। बेकर हमेशा प्रसन्न और खुशहाल दिखाई देता था। शारीरिक रूप से वह गोल-मटोल होता था ।)

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1.
Where were bakers specially found in India ?
(A) Goa
(B) Karnataka
(C) Assam
(D) all of the above
Answer:
(A) Goa

Question 2.
Who ruled over Goa?
(A) British
(B) Portuguese
(C) French
(D) Dutch
Answer:
(B) Portuguese

Question 3.
In the olden days baker in Goa was known as :
(A) baker
(B) pader
(C) kabai
(D) bolinhas
Answer:
(B) pader

Question 4.
What did the children like to buy ?
(A) bread
(B) bangle-bread
(C) bol
(D) cake
Answer:
(B) bangle-bread

Question 5.
Which name is used for the sweet bread?
(A) bol
(B) kabai
(C) pedar
(D) cake
Answer:
(A) bol

Question 6.
The bakers used to wear…………
(A) kabai
(B) bol
(C) pedar
(D) all of the above
Answer:
(A) kabai

Question 7.
When were the bills collected?
(A) daily
(B) weekly
(C) fortnightly
(D) at the end of the month
Answer:
(D) at the end of the month

Question 8.
What type of people are bakers?
(A) poor
(B) prosperous
(C) both (A) and (B)
(D) starving
Answer:
(B) prosperous

Question 9.
How are bakers in their physique?
(A) weak
(B) sick looking
(C) plump
(D) all of the above
Answer:
(C) plump

Question 10.
The elders in Goa are nostalgic about :
(A) the portuguese people
(B) the good old Portuguese days
(C) their famous loaves of bread
(D) all of the above
Answer:
(D) all of the above

Question 11.
The baker used to come ………….. daily.
(A) only once
(B) twice
(C) thrice
(D) four times
Answer:
(B) twice

Question 12.
Who is the author of the lesson “A Baker from Goa’?
(A) Lucio Rodrigues
(B) Lokesh Abrol
(C) Arup Kumar Datta
(D) Gavin Maxwell
Answer:
(A) Lucio Rodrigues

A Baker From Goa Important Passages for Comprehension

Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow :

PASSAGE 1

Our elders are often heard reminiscing nostalgically about those good old Portuguese days, the Portuguese and their famous loaves of bread. Those eaters of loaves might have vanished but the makers are still there. We still have amongst us the mixers, the moulders and those who bake the loaves. Those age-old, time-tested furnaces still exist. The fire in the furnaces has not yet been extinguished. The thud and jingle of the traditional baker’s bamboo, heralding his arrival in the morning, can still be heard in some places. Maybe the father is not alive but the son still carries on the family profession. These bakers are, even today, known as pader in Goa.

Word-meanings : Reminiscing = remembering (याद करना); vanished = disappeared (गायब हो गया); moulders = those who mould (फफूंद बनाने वाले); extinguished = put out (बुझा देना); furnaces = ovens (भट्ठियाँ)

Questions :

(a) What do the elders remember nostalgically?
(b) Whom do the residents of Goa still have among them?
(c) What are the time tested things which still exist there?
(d) How are the bakers known as in Goa?
(e) Find a word from the passage which means “put out’.
Answers :
(a) They remember nostalgically the old Portuguese days and the loaves of bread.
(b) They still have the mixers, the moulders and bakers of bread.
(c) The furnaces of the bakers are the time-tested things which still exist there.
(d) The bakers are known as pader.
(e) ‘extinguished’.

PASSAGE 2

During our childhood in Goa, the baker used to be our friend, companion and guide. He used to come at least twice a day. Once, when he set out in the morning on his selling round, and then again, when he returned after emptying his huge basket. The jingling thud of his bamboo woke us up from sleep and we ran to meet and greet him. Why was it so? Was it for the love of the loaf ? Not at all. The loaves were bought by some Paskine or Bastine, the maid-servant of the house! What we longed for were those bread-bangles which we chose carefully. Sometimes it was sweet bread of special make.

Word-meanings : Greet = welcome (स्वागत करना); longed for = wished for (इच्छा करना)

Questions :

(a). What was the baker’s place in Goa in the author’s childhood days?
(b) What happened after the author woke up on hearing the baker’s jingling sound?
(c) Who bought the loaves?
(d) What did the narrator long for?
(e) Find a phrase from the passage which means “wished for’.
Answers :
(a) In those days the baker was the friend, companion and guide.
(b) He ran to meet and greet him.
(c) The maid-servant of the house bought the loaves of bread.
(d) The author longed for ‘bread-bangles’.
(e) ‘longed for’.

PASSAGE 3

The baker made his musical entry on the scene with the ‘jhang, jhang’ sound of his specially made bamboo staff. One hand supported the basket on his head and the other banged the bamboo on the ground. He would greet the lady of the house with “Good morning” and then place his basket on the vertical bamboo. We kids would be pushed aside with a mild rebuke and the loaves would be delivered to the servant. But we would not give up. We would climb a bench or the parapet and peep into the basket, somehow. I can still recall the typical fragrance of those loaves. Loaves for the elders and the bangles for the children. Then we did not even care to brush our teeth or wash our mouths properly. And why should we? Who would take the trouble of plucking the mango-leaf for the toothbrush? And why was it necessary at all ? The tiger never brushed his teeth. Hot tea could wash and clean up everything so nicely, after all!

Word-meanings : Supported = helped (सहारा देना); banged = beat with (ठक-ठक करना); greet = welcome (स्वागत करना); fragrance = smell (सुगन्ध) |

Questions :

(a) Who would push aside the kids and why ?
(b) Why did the kids climb the bench or the parapet ?
(c) What did the baker have for the kids and the elders ?
(d) How did the narrator brush his teeth ?
(e) What did the writer (as a child) think about brushing his teeth ?
Answers :
(a) The baker pushed aside the kids to deliver the loaves to the servant.
(b) They climbed the bench or the parapet to peep into the bakers’s basket.
(c) The baker had loaves for the elders and bangles for the children.
(d) The narrator brushed his teeth with a mango leaf.
(e) The writer thought that there wasn’t any need of brushing teeth as hot tea can do it so nicely.

PASSAGE 4

Marriage gifts are meaningless without the sweet bread known as the bol, just as a party or a feast loses its charm without bread. Not enough can be said to show how important a baker can be said to show how important a baker can be for a village. The lady of the house must prepare sandwiches on the occasion of her daughter’s engagement. Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals. Thus, the presence of the baker’s furnace in the village is absolutely essential.

Word-meanings : Feast = grand party (प्रीतिभोज, दावत); charmi = attraction (आकर्षण ); absolutely = completely (पूरी तरह ); essential = necessary (आवश्यक ) |

Questions :

(a) Name the chapter and the writer.
(b) What makes marriage gifts meaningless?
(c) When does a party or a feast lose its charm?
(d) What has the lady of the house to do on the occassion of her daughter’s engagement?
(e) What is a must for Christmas?
Answers :
(a) Chapter : A Baker From Goa.
Writer : Lucio Rodrigues.
(b). Marriage gifts are meaningless without the sweet bread known as the bol. . (c) A party or a feast loses its charm without bread.
(d) She must prepare sandwiches on such a occassion.
(e) Cakes or bolinhas are a must for Christmas.

PASSAGE 5

Not enough can be said to show how important a baker can be for a village. The lady of the house must prepare sandwiches on the occasion of her daughter’s engagement. Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals. Thus, the presence of the baker’s furnace in the village is absolutely essential.
The baker or bread-seller of those days had a peculiar dress known as the Kabai. It was a single-piece long frock reaching down to the knees. In our childhood we saw bakers wearing a shirt and trousers which were shorter than full-length ones and longer than half pants. Even today, anyone who wears a half pant which reaches just below the knees invites the comment that he is dressed like a pader !

Word-meanings : Furnace = an oven (बट्टी ); peculiar = strange (विचित्र ); childhood = the state of a child(बचपन)

Questions :

(a) Name the chapter.
(b) On which occasion must the lady of the house prepare sandwiches ?
(c) What is a must for Christmas ?
(d) When is one said to be dressed like a pader ?
(e) Find a word opposite in meaning to ‘partially’.
Answers :
(a) The name of the chapter is ‘A Baker from Goa’.
(b) The lady of the house must prepare sandwiches on the occasion of her daughter’s engagement.
(c) Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas.
(d) When one is wearing a shirt and trousers which were shorter than full length ones and longer than half pants, he is said to be dressed like a pader.
(e) Absolutely

Part II. Coorg

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Where is Coorg situated ?
Answer:
Coorg is situated midway between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore.

Question 2.
What are the people of Coorg a descent of ?
Answer:
The people of Coorg are a descent of Greek and Arab people.

Question 3.
Which crops grow in Coorg in plenty ?
Answer:
Coffee and spices grow in Coorg in plenty.

Question 4.
What is the best time of the year to visit Coorg ?
Answer:
The best time of the year to visit Coorg is between September and March.

Question 5.
Why did a part of Alexander’s army settle here?
Answer:
A part of Alexander army settled here because their return had become impractical.

Question 6.
What is so similar between the Kodavus and the Arabs ?
Answer:
The long black coat with an embroidered waistbelt is so similar to the one worn by the Arabs.

Question 7.
What kind of tales do the Coorg people tell their children ?
Answer:
They tell them the stories of bravery of their sons and fathers.

Question 8.
Who was the first chief of Indian Army?
Answer:
The first chief of Indian Army was General Cariappa.

Question 9.
Which river flows through Coorg ?
Answer:
The river Kaveri flows through Coorg.

Question 10.
Which hills are found there in Coorg ?
Answer:
The Brahmagiri hills are found there in Coorg.

Question 11.
What is the district headquarters of Coorg ?
Answer:
Madikeri is the district headquarters of Coorg.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
What does the writer say about Coorg ? (लेखक कुर्ग के बारे में क्या कहता है?)
Answer:
The writer says that Coorg is the smallest district of Karnataka. It is known as Kodagu also. Coorg lies between the coastal town of Mangalore and Mysore. It is a very beautiful place. The writer says that it must have come from the kingdom of God.
(लेखक कहता है कि कुर्ग कर्नाटक का सबसे छोटा ज़िला है। इसे कोडागु के नाम से भी जाना जाता है। कुर्ग तटीय नगर मंगलौर और मैसूर के मध्य मार्ग पर स्थित है। यह एक अति सुन्दर स्थान है। लेखक कहता है कि यह तो अवश्य ही भगवान् के राज्य से आया है।)

Question 2.
What is Coorg famous for ? What is the best season to visit Coorg ? (कुर्ग किसलिए प्रसिद्ध है? कुर्ग जाने के लिए सबसे बढ़िया मौसम कौन-सा है?)
Answer:
Coorg is famous for its coffee plantations, evergreen rainforests and spices. Thirty per cent of its area is covered with the evergreen rainforests. The best season to visit this place is from September to March. The air is full of coffee flavour.
(कुर्ग अपने कॉफी बागानों, सदाबहार वर्षा वनों और मसालों के लिए प्रसिद्ध है। इसके तीस प्रतिशत भू-क्षेत्र पर सदाबहार वर्षा वन पाए जाते हैं। इस क्षेत्र की सैर करने का सबसे बढ़िया मौसम सितंबर से लेकर मार्च तक है। हवा कॉफी की गंध से भरपूर होती है।)

Question 3.
What does the writer say about the people of Coorg ? (लेखक कुर्ग के लोगों के विषय में क्या कहता है?).
Answer:
The writer says that the people of Coorg are independent and brave. They are of Greek or Arabic descent. According to a story, a part of Alexander’s army did not return and was settled here. They married among the locals. This culture can be seen in the martial traditions, marriage and religious customs.
(लेखक,कहता है कि कुर्ग लोग स्वतंत्र और बहादुर हैं। वे यूनानियों और अरबों के वंशज हैं। एक कहानी के अनुसार, सिकन्दर की सेना का एक भाग वापस नहीं लौटा और यहीं पर बस गया। उन्होंने स्थानीय लोगों में शादियाँ कीं। यह संस्कृति उनकी युद्ध परम्पराओं, शादी और धार्मिक रीति-रिवाजों में झलकती है।)

Question 4.
What supports the theory that the people of Coorg originated from the Arabs ?
(इस सिद्धान्त को किस बात से बल मिलता है कि कुर्ग लोगों की उत्पत्ति अरबों से हुई है?)
Answer:
According to a theory, the people of Coorg originated from the Arabs. It is evident from the long, black coat worn by the people. It is like the kuffia worn by the Arabs and the Kurds.
(एक सिद्धान्त के अनुसार, कुर्ग लोगों की उत्पत्ति अरबों से हुई है। यह बात इन लोगों के द्वारा पहने जाने वाले काले लम्बे कोट से स्पष्ट होती है। यह अरबों और कुर्दो के द्वारा पहने जाने वाले कुफिया के समान है।)

Question 5.
What does the writer say about the bravery of the Coorgi people ? . (लेखक कुर्गी लोगों की बहादुरी के बारे में क्या कहता है?)
Answer:
The writer says that the Coorgi people are brave people. Their tales of bravery are famous. The Coorg regiment is one of the most decorated in the Indian Army. The first Chief of the Indian Army, General Cariappa, was a Coorgi. Even today, the Kodavus are the only people in India who are allowed to carry firearms without licence.
(लेखक कहता है कि कुर्गी लोग बहादुर लोग होते हैं। उनकी बहादुरी की कहानियाँ प्रसिद्ध हैं। भारतीय सेना की कुर्ग रेजिमेंट सबसे अधिक सुसज्जित है। भारतीय सेना का पहला मुखिया जनरल करियप्पा एक कुर्गी था। आज भी, भारत में कोडावु केवल मात्र ऐसे लोग हैं, जिन्हें बिना लाइसेंस के आग्नेयास्त्र रखने की अनुमति है।)

Essay Type Question

Question 1.
Where is Coorg situated ? What is it famous for ?
(कुर्ग कहाँ पर स्थित है? यह किसलिए प्रसिद्ध है?) ।
Answer:
Coorg is the smallest district of Karnataka. It is known as Kodagu also. Coorg lies between the coastal town of Mangalore and Mysore. It is a very beautiful place. The writer says that it must have come from the kingdom of God. Coorg is famous for its coffee plantations, evergreen rainforests and spices. Thirty per cent of its area is covered with the evergreen rainforests. The best season to visit this place is from September to March. The air is full of coffee flavour.

(कुर्ग कर्नाटक का सबसे छोटा जिला है। इसे कोडागु के नाम से भी जाना जाता है। कुर्ग तटीय नगर मंगलौर और मैसूर के मध्य मार्ग पर स्थित है। यह एक अति सुन्दर स्थान है। लेखक कहता है कि यह तो अवश्य ही भगवान के राज्य से आया है। कुर्ग अपने कॉफी बागानों, सदाबहार वर्षा वनों और मसालों के लिए प्रसिद्ध है। इसके तीस प्रतिशत भू-क्षेत्र पर सदाबहार वर्षा वन पाए जाते हैं। इस क्षेत्र की सैर करने का सबसे बढ़िया मौसम सितंबर से लेकर मार्च तक है। हवा कॉफी की गंध से भरपूर होती है।)

Question 2.
What does the author say about the people of Coorg ?
(लेखक कुर्ग लोगों के विषय में क्या कहता है?)
Answer:
The writer says that the people of Coorg are independent and brave. They are of Greek or Arabic descent. According to a story, a part of Alexander’s army did not return and was settled here. They married among the locals. This culture can be seen in the martial traditions, marriage and religious customs. According to an another theory Coorg people originated from the Arabs. It is evident from the long, black coat worn by the people. It is like the kuffia worn by the Arabs and the Kurds. Coorgi homes have a tradition of hospitality. They are brave people. Their tales of bravery are famous. The Coorg Regiment is one of the most decorated in the Indian Army. The first Chief of the Indian Army, General Cariappa, was a Coorgi. Even today, the Kodavus are the only people in India who are allowed to carry firearms without licence.
(लेखक कहता है कि कुर्ग लोग स्वतंत्र और बहादुर हैं। वे यूनानियों और अरबों के वंशज हैं। एक कहानी के अनुसार, सिकन्दर की सेना का एक भाग वापस नहीं लौटा और यहीं पर बस गया। उन्होंने स्थानीय लोगों में शादियाँ कीं। यह संस्कृति उनकी युद्ध परम्पराओं, शादी और धार्मिक रीति-रिवाज़ों में झलकती है। एक सिद्धान्त के अनुसार, कुर्ग लोगों की उत्पत्ति अरबों से हुई है। यह बात इन लोगों के द्वारा पहने जाने वाले काले लम्बे कोट से स्पष्ट होती है। यह अरबों और कुर्दो के द्वारा पहने जाने वाले कुफिया के समान है। कुर्गी लोगों की अतिथि-सत्कार की अपनी एक परंपरा है। वे बहुत बहादुर लोग हैं। उनकी बहादुरी की कहानियाँ प्रसिद्ध हैं। भारतीय सेना की कुर्ग रेजिमेंट सबसे अधिक सुसज्जित है। भारतीय सेना का पहला मुखिया जनरल करियप्पा एक कुर्गी था। आज भी, भारत में कोडावु केवल मात्र ऐसे लोग हैं, जिन्हें बिना लाइसेंस के आग्नेयास्त्र रखने की अनुमति है।)

Question 3.
What does the writer say about the natural beauty of Coorg?
(लेखक कुर्ग की प्राकृतिक सुंदरता का वर्णन कैसे करता है?)
Or
Write a note on the climate and natural wealth of Coorg.
(कुर्ग की प्रकृति और प्राकृतिक संपत्ति पर नोट लिखें।)
Answer:
Coorg is situated in Karnataka midway between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore. It looks like a piece of heaven that must have drifted from the kingdom of God. This is a land of rolling hills. It is a home of evergreen rainforests, spices and coffee plantations. Evergreen forests cover thirty percent of Coorg district. The river Kaveri flows through Coorg. Big elephants are also found here. Birds, bees and butterflies are there to give the visitors company. The climb to the Brahmagiri hills brings (the visitors) into a panoramic view of the entire misty landscape of Coorg. It is said that the people searching for the heart and soul of India visit Coorg.

(कुर्ग कर्नाटक राज्य में मैसूर और तटीय कस्बे मंगलौर के मध्य में स्थित है। यह स्वर्ग के एक अंश की तरह लगता है जो अवश्य ही भगवान के राज्य से भटक कर आया होगा। यह घुमावदार पहाड़ियों वाली भूमि है। यह सदाबहार-वर्षा वाले वनों, मसालों और कॉफी के बागानों का घर है। सदाबहार वन कुर्ग जिले के 30 प्रतिशत भू-भाग को घेरते हैं। कावेरी नदी कुर्ग से होकर बहती है। यहाँ पर बड़े-बड़े हाथी भी पाए जाते हैं। पर्यटकों को संगति प्रदान करने के लिए यहाँ पक्षी, मधुमक्खियाँ और तितलियाँ पाई जाती हैं। ब्रह्मगिरी पहाड़ियों की चढ़ाई चढ़ते समय हमें पूरे कुर्ग के धुंधले भू-भाग का नजारा नजर आ जाता है। ऐसा कहा जाता है कि भारत के दिल और आत्मा की खोज करने वाले भ्रमणकारी कुर्ग अवश्य आते हैं।)

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1.
In which state of India is Coorg situated ?
(A) Karnataka
(B) Goa
(C) Kerala
(D) Tamilnadu
Answer:
(A) Karnataka

Question 2.
Coorg is famous for its :
(A), coffee plantation
(B) evergreen rainforests
(C) spices
(D) all of the above
Answer:
(D) all of the above

Question 3.
The best season to visit Coorg is :
(A) September to March
(B) April to June
(C) July to August
(D) all the years
Answer:
(A) September to March

Question 4.
How much area of Coorg is covered by evergreen forests ?
(A) ten per cent
(B) twenty per cent
(C) thirty per cent
(D) forty per cent
Answer:
(C) thirty per cent

Question 5.
From which river do Coorg get water ?
(A) Krishna
(B) Kaveri
(C) Narmada
(D) Tapi
Answer:
(B) Kaveri

Question 6.
The Coorgi people are famous for the tradition of :
(A) enmity
(B) selfishness
(C) cleverness
(D) hospitality
Answer:
(D) hospitality

Question 7.
Coorg is descents of :
(A) Greeks
(B) Arabs
(C) Hindus
(D) both (A) and (B)
Answer:
(D) both (A) and (B)

Question 8.
Who was General Cariappa ?
(A) the first chief of Indian Army
(B) a great political leader
(C) a great coffee planter
(D) a british officer
Answer:
(A) the first chief of Indian Army

Question 9.
The freshwater fish of Coorg is :
(A) whale
(B) shark
(C) mahaseer
(D) dolphin
Answer:
(C) mahaseer

Question 10.
We can reach Coorg by :
(A) air
(B) rail
(C) road
(D) all of the above of the above

Question 11.
What is the district headquarter of Coorg?
(A) Mangalore
(B) Bangalore
(C) Mysore
(D) Madikeri
Answer:
(D) Madikeri

Question 12.
What is the distance between Bangalore and Coorg?
(A) 135 kms
(B) 260 kms
(C) 300 kms
(D) 335 kms
Answer:
(B) 260 kms

Question 13.
What is Nisargadhama?
(A) a river
(B) an island
(C) a city
(D) a coffee plantation
Answer:
(B) an island

Question 14.
Who is the writer of the lesson ‘Coorg’?
(A) Lucio Rodrigues
(B) Lokesh Abrol
(C) Arup Kumar Datta
(D) Gavin Maxwell
Answer:
(B) Lokesh Abrol

Coorg Important Passages for Comprehension

Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow :

PASSAGE 1

Midway between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore sits a piece of heaven that must have drifted from the kingdom of god. This land of rolling hills is inhabited by a proud race of martial men, beautiful women and wild creatures.

Coorg, or Kodagu, the smallest district of Karnataka, is home to evergreen rainforests, spices and coffee plantations. Evergreen rainforests cover thirty per cent of this district. During the monsoons, it pours enough to keep many visitors away. The season of joy commences from September and continues till March. The weather is perfect, with some showers thrown in for good measure. The air breathes of invigorating coffee. Coffee estates and colonial bungalows stand tucked under tree canopies in prime corners.

Word-meanings :
Coastal =of the coast (तटीय); drifted = carried along (बह जाना); inhabited = resided by (निवासी); canopies = hanging covers (छतरी) |

Questions :

(a) Where is Coorg situated ?
(b) What does the author say about the people of Coorg?
(c) Which crops grow in Coorg in plenty ?
(d) What is the best time of the year to visit Coorg?
(e) Find a word from the passage which means ‘health giving’.
Answers :
(a) Coorg is situated between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore.
(b) The author says that the Coorg is inhabited by proud race of martial men and beautiful women.
(c) Spices and coffee grow in Coorg in plenty.
(d) The best period to visit Coorg is between September and March.
(e) ‘invigorating.

PASSAGE 2

The fiercely independent people of Coorg are possibly of Greek or Arabic descent. As one story goes, a part of Alexander’s army moved south along the coast and settled here when return became impractical. These people married amongst the locals and their-culture is apparent in the martial traditions, marriage and religious rites, which are distinct from the Hindu mainstream. The theory of Arab origin draws support from the long, black coat with an embroidered waist-belt worn by the Kodavus. Known as kuppia, it resembles the kuffia worn by the Arabs and the Kurds.

Word-meanings : Fiercely = great (बहुत अधिक); descent = ancestry (वंश); apparent = clear (स्पष्ट)

Questions :

(a) What does the author say about the descent of the people of Coorg ?.
(b) Why did a part of Alexander’s army settle here?
(c) Which things show that their culture is distinct from the Hindu mainstream ?
(d) What is so similar between the Kodavus and the Arabs ?
(e) Find a word from the passage which means ‘different’.
Answers :
(a) The author says that the people of Coorg are possibly of Greek or Arabic descent.
(b) They settled here because their return had become impractical.
(c) Their martial traditions, marriage and religious rites show that they are distinct from the Hindu mainstream.
(d) The long black coat with an embroidered waist-belt known as kuppia or kuffia is so similar to the one worn by the Arabs.
(e) ‘distinct.

PASSAGE 3

Coorgi homes have a tradition of hospitality, and they are more than willing to recount numerous tales of valour related to their sons and fathers. The Coorg Regiment is one of the most decorated in the Indian Army, and the first Chief of Indian Army, General Cariappa, was a Coorgi. Even now, Kodavus are the only people in India permitted to carry firearms without a licence.

The river, Kavery, obtains its water from the hills and forests of Coorg. MaHaseer — a large freshwater fish — abound in these waters. Kingfishers dive for their catch, while squirrels and langurs drop partially eaten fruit for the mischief of enjoying the splash and the ripple effect in the clear water. Elephants enjoy being bathed and scrubbed in the river by their mahouts.

Word-meanings : Hospitality = reception of guests (मेहमान-नवाज़ी); recount = narrate (वर्णन करना) I

Questions :

(a) What kind of tales do the Coorgi people tell their children ?
(b) Which famous Coorgi is mentioned in this paragraph ?
(c) What does the narrator say about the Coorg Regiment ?
(d) Which wild animals are described here ?
(e) Find a word from the passage which means ‘many’.
Answers :
(a) They tell them the tales of bravery of their sons and fathers.
(b) The first Chief of Indian Army, General Cariappa, was a Coorgi.
(c) The writer says that Coorg Regiment has won many medals and awards for actions of bravery in battlefields. .
(d) Squirrels, langurs, kingfishers, elephants, etc. are described here. (e) ‘numerous’. .

PASSAGE 4

The climb to the Brahmagiri hills brings you into a panoramic view of the entire misty landscape of Coorg. A walk across the rope bridge leads to the sixty-four acre island of Nisargadhama. Running into Buddhist monks from India’s largest Tibetan settlement, at nearby Bylakuppe, is a bonus. The monks, in red, ochre and yellow robes, are amongst the many surprises that wait to be discovered by visitors searching for the heart and soul of India, right here in Coorg.

Word-meanings : Panoramic = beautiful (सुन्दर); misty = full of mist (धुंध भरा); landscape = land scene (धरती का दृश्य) ; bonus = plus point (अच्छी बात) |

Questions :

(a) Name the chapter and its author.
(b) What view is seen from the Brahmagiri hills?
(c) How can one reach Nisargadhama island?
(d) What is bonus for the visitors who visit Coorg ?
(e) Find words from the passage which mean the same as :
(a) view of wide area of land, (b) full of mist.
Answers :
(a) Chapter : Coorg.
Author : Lokesh Abrol.
(b) A panoramic view of the entire misty landscape of Coorg is seen from the Brahmagiri hills.
(c) One can reach Nisargadhama island having a walk across the rope bridge.
(d) India’s largest Tibetan settlement, at nearby Bylakuppe, is a bonus for the visitors who visit Coorg.
(e) (a) landscape, (b) misty.

Part III. Tea from Assam

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Which state did Pranjol belong to?
Answer:
Pranjol belonged to Assam a North-Eastern State of India.

Question 2.
What was Pranjol’s father?
Answer:
Pranjol’s father was the manager of a tea garden in upper Assam.

Question 3.
Where were Pranjol and Rajvir going ?
Answer:
They were going to Assam to visit Pranjol’s home in summer vacation.

Question 4.
What could Rajvir see as far as his eyes could see?
Answer:
There were tea bushes as far as his eyes could see.

Question 5.
According to Rajvir how many cups of tea are drunk daily throughout the world?
Answer:
According to Rajvir over eighty crore cups of tea are drunk daily throughout the world.

Question 6.
When was tea drunk first in China ?
Answer:
Tea was first drunk in China 2700 B.C.

Question 7.
Where was Pranjol’s father Tea Estate situated ?
Ans.
It was situated at Dhekiabari.

Question 8.
Where was tea first drunk ?
Answer:
Tea was first drunk in China.

Question 9.
Why did Bodhidharma cut off his eyelids?
Answer:
He cut off his eyelids because he felt sleepy during meditations.

Question 10.
When did tea come to Europe ?
Answer:
Tea came to Europe in the sixteenth century.

Question 11.
Who cut off his eyelids?
Answer:
Bodhidharma, an ancient Buddhist ascetic, cut off his eyelids.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Who were Pranjol and Rajvir? Where were they going? (प्रांजल और राजवीर कौन थे? वे कहाँ जा रहे थे?)
Answer:
Pranjol and Rajvir were friends. Pranjol belonged to Assam. He was studying in a school in Delhi. Rajvir was his classmate. Pranjol’s father was the manager of a tea-garden in Upper Assam. Pranjol invited Rajvir to visit his home during the summer vacation. Both of them travelled to Assam in a train.
. (प्रांजल और राजवीर मित्र थे। प्रांजल आसाम का रहने वाला था। वह दिल्ली के एक स्कूल में पढ़ रहा था। राजवीर उसका . एक सहपाठी था। प्रांजल का पिता ऊपरी आसाम के एक चाय-बागान का प्रबंधक था। प्रांजल ने ग्रीष्मावकाश में राजवीर को अपने घर आमंत्रित किया। दोनों ने एक रेलगाड़ी से आसाम की यात्रा की।)

Question 2.
What did Rajvir and Pranjol do after the train pulled out of the station? (जब रेलगाड़ी स्टेशन से बाहर निकली तो राजवीर और प्रांजल ने क्या किया?)
Answer:
When the train pulled out of the station, Pranjol became busy in reading a detective book. Rajvir was looking out of the train. It was green, green everywhere. He had never seen so much greenery before.
(जब रेलगाड़ी स्टेशन से बाहर निकली तो प्रांजल एक जासूसी किताब पढ़ने में व्यस्त हो गया। राजवीर रेलगाड़ी से बाहर देख रहा था। चारों ओर हरा-ही-हरा था। उसने पहले कभी भी इतनी हरियाली नहीं देखी थी।)

Question 3.
Which story of a Chinese emperor is associated with the discovery of tea? (चाय की उत्पत्ति के साथ चीनी सम्राट की कौन-सी कहानी जुड़ी हुई है?)
Answer:
According to one legend a Chinese emperor discovered tea by chance. He always boiled water before drinking it. One day a few leaves of the twigs burning under the pot fell into the water. As a result, the boiled water got a delicious flavour. It is said they were tea leaves.
(एक दंत कथा के अनुसार एक चीनी सम्राट् ने संयोगवश ही चाय की खोज कर दी। वह पानी को पीने से पहले हमेशा उबालता था। एक दिन बर्तन के नीचे जल रही टहनियों के कुछ पत्ते पानी में गिर गए। इसके परिणामस्वरूप, उबले हुए पानी से स्वादिष्ट गंध आने लगी। ऐसा कहा जाता है कि वे चाय की पत्तियाँ थीं।)

Question 4.
What is the Indian legend about the discovery of tea?
(चाय की खोज के बारे में भारतीय दंत कथा क्या है?)
OR
What is the Indian legend regarding tea ?
(चाय के बारे में भारतीय दंत कथा क्या है?)
Answer:
According to an Indian legend, Bodhidharma, an ancient Buddhist monk, felt sleep during meditations. So he cut off his eyelids. Ten tea plants grew out of the eyelids. The leaves of these plants when put in hot water and drunk banished sleep.
(एक भारतीय दंत कथा के अनुसार, बोधिधर्म, एक प्राचीन बौद्ध भिक्षुक को समाधि के दौरान नींद आती थी। इसलिए उसने अपनी पलकें काट दीं। इन पलकों पर चाय के दस पौधे उग आए। इन पौधों की पत्तियों को जब गर्म पानी में डालकर पिया गया तो नींद दूर भाग गई।)

Question 5.
Where was tea first drunk? When did tea come to Europe? (चाय पहली बार कहाँ पी गई? चाय यूरोप में कब आई?)
Answer:
It is believed that tea was first drunkinChina in2700 B.C.Words like chai’ and ‘chini areChinese. Tea came to Europe in the sixteenth century. At first it was used more as a medicine than as a beverage.
(ऐसा माना जाता है कि चाय पहली बार 2700 ई० पू० चीन में पी गई। ‘चाय’ और ‘चीनी’ जैसे शब्द चीन से संबंधित हैं। यूरोप में चाय का आगमन सोलहवीं सदी में हुआ। पहले-पहले तो इसका प्रयोग एक पेय पदार्थ की अपेक्षा एक औषधि के रूप में अधिक किया जाता था।)

Question 6.
What is the best season for tea Production? (चाय उत्पादन के लिए सर्वोत्तम मौसम क्या है?).
Answer:
Rajvir and Pranjol reached Assam in the sprouting season. This season lasts from May to July. The best tea is produced during this season.
(राजवीर और प्रांजल चाय के अंकुरण काल में आसाम पहुँचे। यह मौसम मई से जुलाई तक चलता है। इस मौसम के दौरान सर्वोत्तम चाय का उत्पादन होता है।)

Essay Type Question

Question 1.
Where were Pranjol and Rajvir going? What did Rajvir see when he looked out of the train on the way? .
(प्रांजल और राजवीर कहाँ जा रहे थे? जब राजवीर ने रेलगाड़ी से बाहर रास्ते पर देखा तो उसने क्या पाया?)
Answer:
Pranjol belonged to Assam. He was studying in a school in Delhi. Rajvir was his classmate. Pranjol’s father was the manager of a tea-garden in Upper Assam., Pranjol invited Rajvir to visit his home during the summer vacation. Both of them travelled to Assam in a train. When the train stopped on the way at a station, a vendor called, ‘chai-garam … garam-chai, they took tea and started sipping it. Rajvir told Pranjol that over eighty crore cups of tea are drunk every day throughout the world. Pranjol started reading his detective book again. But Rajvir looked out of the window of the moving train. There was beautiful scenery outside. Soon the soft green paddy fields were left behind and there were tea bushes everywhere. Rajvir was fascinated by the magnificent view of tea gardens.

(प्रांजल आसाम का रहने वाला था। वह दिल्ली के एक स्कूल में पढ़ रहा था। राजवीर उसका एक सहपाठी था। प्रांजल का पिता ऊपरी आसाम के एक चाय-बागान का प्रबंधक था। प्रांजल ने ग्रीष्मावकाश में राजवीर को अपने घर आमंत्रित किया। दोनों ने एक रेलगाड़ी से आसाम की यात्रा की। जब रेलगाड़ी रास्ते में एक स्टेशन पर रुकी तो एक फेरीवाले ने आवाज़ लगाई “चाय-गर्म, गर्म-चाय……”। उन्होंने चाय ली और पीना शुरु कर दिया। राजवीर ने प्रांजल को बताया कि पूरे विश्व में हर रोज 80 करोड़ से भी ज्यादा कप चाय पी जाती है। प्रांजल फिर से अपनी जासूसी किताब पढ़ने लग जाता है। लेकिन राजवीर चल रही गाड़ी की खिड़की से बाहर देखता है। बाहर सुंदर दृश्य था। शीघ्र ही धान के हरे-भरे खेत पीछे रह गए और चारों ओर चाय की झाड़ियाँ थीं। चाय के बागों के शानदार दृश्यों को देखकर राजवीर आकर्षित हो रहा था।)

Question 2.
What did Rajvir tell Pranjol about the discovery of tea ? (राजवीर ने प्रांजल को चाय की खोज के बारे में क्या बताया?)
Answer:
Rajvir said that no one really knows who discovered tea. He told Pranjol that there were many legends attached to discovery of tea. According to one story a Chinese emperor discovered tea by chance. He always boiled water before drinking it. One day a few leaves of the twigs burning under the pot fell into the water. As a result, the boiled water got a delicious flavour. It is said they were tea leaves. According to another Indian legend, Bodhidharma, an ancient Buddhist monk, felt sleep during meditations. So he cut off his eyelids. Ten tea plants grew out of the eyelids. The leaves of these plants when put in hot water and drunk banished sleep. It is believed that tea was first drunk in China in 2700 B.C. Words like ‘chai’ and ‘chini’ are Chinese. Tea came to Europe in the sixteenth century. At first it was used more as a medicine than as a beverage.

(राजवीर ने कहा कि वास्तव में कोई नहीं जानता कि चाय की खोज किसने की। उसने प्रांजल को बताया कि चाय की खोज के बारे में दंत कथाएँ प्रचलित हैं। एक दंत कथा के अनुसार एक चीनी सम्राट् ने संयोगवश ही चाय की खोज कर दी। वह पानी को पीने से पहले हमेशा उबालता था। एक दिन बर्तन के नीचे जल रही टहनियों के कुछ पत्ते पानी में गिर गए। इसके परिणामस्वरूप उबले हुए पानी से स्वादिष्ट गंध आने लगी। ऐसा कहा जाता है कि वे चाय की पत्तियाँ थीं। एक दूसरी भारतीय दंत कथा के अनुसार, बोधिधर्म, एक प्राचीन बौद्ध भिक्षुक, को समाधि के दौरान, नींद आती थी। इसलिए उसने अपनी पलकें काट दीं। इन पलकों पर चाय के दस पौधे उग आए। इन पौधों की पत्तियों को जब गर्म पानी में डालकर पिया गया तो नींद दूर भाग गई। ऐसा माना जाता है कि चाय पहली बार 2700 ई० पू० चीन में पी गई। ‘चाय’ और ‘चीनी’ जैसे शब्द चीन से संबंधित हैं। यूरोप में चाय का आगमन सोलहवीं सदी में हुआ। पहले-पहले तो इसका प्रयोग एक पेय पदार्थ की अपेक्षा एक औषधि के रूप में अधिक किया जाता था।)

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1.
Which state did Pranjol belong to ?
(A) Assam
(B) Goa
(C) Karnataka
(D) Delhi
Answer:
(A) Assam

Question 2.
Pranjol and Rajvir were student in a school in :
(A) Dhekiabari
(B) Mariani
(C) Delhi
(D) none of the above
Answer:
(C) Delhi

Question 3.
Pranjol and Rajvir go to Assam by :
(A) air
(B) train
(C) taxi
(D) ship
Answer:
(B) train

Question 4.
Assam is famous for the production of :
(A) tea
(B) coffee
(C) bread
(D) all of the above
Answer:
(A) tea

Question 5.
Tea was first drunk in ………..
(A) China
(B) Europe
(C) India
(D) America
Answer:
(A) China

Question 6.
What was Pranjol’s father ?
(A) a bank manager
(B) a school manager
(C) a tea-garden manager
(D) a transport manager
Answer:
(C) a tea-garden manager

Question 7.
Tea came to Europe in ……………………. century.
(A) fifteenth
(B) sixteenth
(C) seventeenth
(D) eighteenth
Answer:
(B) sixteenth

Question 8.
Tea was first drunk in China in :
(A) 2000 B.C
(B) 2300 B.C
(C) 2700 B.C
(D) 3100 B.C
Answer:
(C) 2700 B.C

Question 9.
How many cups of tea are drunk across the world daily?
(A) eighty thousand
(B) eighty lakh
(C) eighty crore
(D) eighty million
Answer:
(C) eighty crore

Question 10.
Tea was mainly drunk in Europe as ……..
(A) medicine
(B) sleep banishing drink
(C) soft drink
(D) all of the above
Answer:
(A) medicine

Tea from Assam Important Passages for Comprehension

Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow :

PASSAGE 1

The train pulled out of the station. Pranjol buried his nose in his detective book again. Rajvir too was an ardent fan of detective stories, but at the moment he was keener on looking at the beautiful scenery.
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.

Word-meanings : Pulled out = came out (बाहर आना); detective = suspenseful (जासूसी); dwarfing = making others look small (छोटा करते हुए)।

Questions :

(a) What was Rajvir looking at?
(b) What kind of a scenery was it ?
(c) What was there as far as the eye could see?
(d) What was there in the distance ?
(e) Find a word from the passage which means ‘spread’.
Answers:
(a) Rajvir was looking at the beautiful scenery outside.
(b) The scenery was very beautiful. There was greenery everywhere.
(c) There were tea bushes as far as the eye could see.
(d) In the distance there was an ugly building with smoke coming out of its chimney.
(e) ‘stretched’.

PASSAGE 2

“I have been reading as much as I could about tea,” Rajvir said. “No one really knows who discovered tea but there are many legends.”
“What legends?”
“Well, there’s the 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.”
“Tell me another !” scoffed Pranjol.“We have an Indian legend too. 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.

Word-meanings : legends = myths (किवदंतियाँ); twigs = branches (टहनियाँ); delicious = tasty (स्वादिष्ट)।

Questions :

(a) What kind of water did the Chinese emperor drink?
(b) What happened when a few leaves of the twigs fell into the water kept for boiling ?
(c) What did Bodhidharma cut off his eyelids ?
(d) What banished sleep ?
(e) Find a word from the passage which means ‘tasty’.
Answers :
(a) He drank boiled water.
(b) The water got a delicious flavour.
(c) He cut off his eyelids because he felt sleepy during meditations.
(d) The tea leaves when put in hot water and drunk banished sleep.
(e) delicious’.

PASSAGE 3

We have an Indian legend too. 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.

“Tea was first drunk in China,” Rajvir added, “as far as 2700 B.C.! In fact words such as tea, chai and chini are from Chinese. Tea came to Europe only in the sixteenth century and was drunk more as medicine than as beverage.”

Word-meanings : Meditation = deep thought (साधना चिन्तन); ascetic = monk (भिक्षु); banished = put off (दूर करना); beverage = a drink (पेय) |

Questions :

(a) Who cut off his eyelids and why?
(b) What kind of plants grew out of the eyelids?
(c) When was tea first drunk in China? When did it come to Europe?
(d) What purpose was tea drunk in Europe for?
(e) Find from the passage words that means :
(i) a story from the past that may or may not be true
(ii) any type of drink except water
Answers :
(a) Bodhidharma cut off his eyelids because he felt sleepy during meditation.
(b) Tea plants grew out of the eyelids.
(c) Tea was first drunk in China in 2700 B.C. Tea came to Europe in the sixteenth century.
(d) Tea was drink in Europe as medicine.
(e) (i) legend, (ii) beverage

A Baker From cha pater name Goa Summary

A Baker From Goa Introduction in English

This is a pen-portrait of a traditional Goan village baker who still has an important place in the society. What changes take place in the life of the baker with the passage of time a glimpse is presented in this extract.

A Baker From Goa Summary in English

In this extract, the author remembers his old days in Goa when the village baker occupied an important place in life. Although, with the passage of time, people do not eat so much bread, yet the village bakers are still there. The Portuguese were famous for preparing the loaves of bread. They left Goa long ago. But the traditional work of the bakers can still be seen in Goa. The furnaces in which the bread was baked still exist there. The sound of the traditional baker’s bamboo can still be heard. Someone in the baker’s family still carries on the business and the tradition. These bakers are known as Pader in Goa even today.

The author recalls that a baker used to visit the village twice a day. He used to be the author’s friend and guide. He used to carry a bamboo stick. The sound of this stick used to wake up the authors and others from sleep. The servants from the different houses bought loaves. But the author ran to the baker for buying breadbangles.

The baker’s bamboo stick was a special one. He made the sound “jhang, jhang’ by banging his bamboo on the ground. With one hand the baker supported the basket of bread on his head and with the other he struck the ground with the bamboo. Whenever, someone came to him buy bread, he placed the basket on the bamboo. The author and the others looked into his basket. In those times, it was a fashion to eat bread with hot tea. The author was so fond of bread that he would not even brush his teeth before eating it.

The village baker was specially important for all occasions. The villagers were much fond of the sweet bread known as ‘Bol’. Marriage gifts were meaningless without these sweet breads. Sandwiches, cakes and bolinhas were a must for Christmas as well as other festivals. These were made with the bread. Thus the presence of a baker’s furnace was very essential in each village. On all occasions the villagers needed one or another type of cake which could be baked in the furnace.

The baker or the bread-seller wore a special, peculiar dress. It was known as the “kabai’. It was a singlepiece long frock. It reached down to his knees. During narrator’s childhood, Bakers wore trousers which were shorter than full-length and longer than half pants. Even today if someone wears a half pant, he is said to be dressed like a pader.

The baker usually collected his bills at the end of the month. In the household, the baker’s monthly accounts used to be recorded on some wall in pencil. Baking was a profitable business in those days. The bakers used to be well off. Their families never starved. Their plump bodies showed that they were happy.

A Baker From Goa Introduction in Hindi

(गोआ के एक परम्परागत गाँव के बेकर, जिसका वहाँ के समाज में अभी भी एक महत्त्वपूर्ण स्थान है, का इस पाठ में पैन-चित्रण किया गया है। समय के बीतने के साथ-साथ उस बेकर के जीवन में क्या परिवर्तन आते हैं, इसकी एक झलक इस पाठ में दी गई है।)

A Baker From Goa Summary in Hindi

इस अंश में लेखक गोआ में अपने पुराने दिनों को याद करता है जब गाँव का बेकर (पावरोटी आदि बनाने वाला) जीवन में एक महत्त्वपूर्ण स्थान रखता था। यद्यपि, समय के बीतने के साथ लोग अब इतनी अधिक पावरोटी नहीं खाते, मगर गाँव में बेकर अब भी हैं। पुर्तगाली लोग पावरोटी बनाने के लिए प्रसिद्ध थे। वे गोआ को बहुत पहले ही छोड़ गए। मगर गोआ में बेकर के परम्परागत काम को अब भी देखा जा सकता है। वे भट्ठियाँ जिनमें पावरोटी बनाई जाती थी अब भी वहाँ विद्यमान हैं। परम्परागत बेकरों की बाँस की छड़ी की आवाज़ को अभी भी सुना जा सकता है। बेकर के परिवार में से कोई-न-कोई अभी भी उस व्यवसाय और परम्परा को आगे बढ़ाए हुए है। गोआ में इन बेकरों को आज भी पेदर कहा जाता है।

लेखक याद करता है कि एक बेकर गाँव में रोज दो बार आता था। वह लेखक का मित्र एवं पथ-प्रदर्शक होता था। उसने बाँस की एक छड़ी उठाई होती थी। इस छड़ी की आवाज़ से लेखक और अन्य लोग नींद से जाग जाते थे। अलग-अलग घरों के नौकर पावरोटी खरीदते थे। मगर लेखक पावगजरों को खरीदने के लिए बेकर के पास भाग जाया करता था।

बेकर की बाँस की छड़ी विशेष होती थी। उस बाँस को ज़मीन पर पटककर वह ‘बैंग-बैंग’ की आवाज़ पैदा करता था। बेकर एक हाथ से अपने सिर पर पावरोटी की टोकरी को सहारा देता था और दूसरे से वह बाँस को ज़मीन पर पटकता था। जब भी कोई उसके पास पावरोटी खरीदने के लिए आता था तो वह टोकरी को बाँस पर रखता था। लेखक और अन्य लोग उसकी टोकरी में देखते थे। उन दिनों में गरम चाय के साथ पावरोटी खाने का रिवाज़ था। लेखक पावरोटी का इतना शौकीन था कि वह इसे खाने से पहले अपने दाँत भी साफ नहीं करता था।

गाँव का बेकर प्रत्येक अवसर पर विशेष तौर पर महत्त्वपूर्ण होता था। गाँव वाले उस मीठी पावरोटी, जिसे ‘बोल’ कहा जाता था, के विशेष शौकीन थे। इन मीठी पावरोटियों के बिना शादी के उपहारों का कोई अर्थ नहीं था। क्रिसमस एवं अन्य त्योहारों पर सैंडविच, केक और बोलिनाह बहुत जरूरी होते थे। ये पावरोटी से बनाए जाते थे। इस प्रकार बेकर की भट्ठी का प्रत्येक गाँव में होना बहुत आवश्यक था। सभी अवसरों पर गाँव वालों को किसी-न-किसी प्रकार के केक की जरूरत होती थी जिसे भट्ठी में बनाया जाता था।

बेकर या पावरोटी बेचने वाला एक विशेष प्रकार की पोशाक पहनता था। इसे ‘कबाई’ कहा जाता था। यह एक ही टुकड़े की लम्बी फ्रॉक होता था, यह उसके घुटनों तक आता था। लेखक के बचपन के दिनों में बेकर ऐसी पैन्टें पहनते थे जो पूरी लम्बी पैन्ट से छोटी होती थीं और आधी लंबाई की पैन्ट से लम्बी होती थीं। आज भी अगर कोई आधी लंबाई की पैन्ट पहनता है तो कहा जाता है कि उसने पेडर जैसे कपड़े पहने हैं। बेकर अपना बिल आमतौर पर महीने के अन्त में लेता था। घर में बेकर के महीने भर के हिसाब को किसी दीवार पर पेन्सिल से लिखा जाता था। उन दिनों में पावरोटी बनाना फायदे का कारोबार था। बेकर लोग समृद्ध होते थे। उनके परिवार कभी भी भूखे नहीं रहते थे। उनके मोटे शरीर इस बात को दर्शाते थे कि वे प्रसन्न हैं।

A Baker From Goa Word-Meanings

[PAGE 85] : Traditional = conventional (परम्परागत); baker = one who bakes bread (पावरोटी आदि बनाने वाला); reminiscing = remembering (याद करना); nostalgically = fondly (स्नेह से); loaves = pieces of bread (पावरोटी); vanished = disappeared (गायब हो गया); moulders = those who mould (फफूंद बनाने वाले); exist = being still there (मौजूद होना); furnaces = ovens (भट्ठियाँ); extinguished = put out (बुझा देना); thud and jingle = falling sound along with musical sound (गिरने की संगीतमय आवाज़ के साथ)।

[PAGE 86] : Heralding = announcing (घोषणा करना); carries on = continues (जारी रखना); profession = occupation (व्यवसाय); pader = a kind of baker (एक प्रकार का बेकर); longed = wished (इच्छा की); staff = a long stick (लम्बी छड़ी); supported = helped (सहारा देना); banged = beat with (ठक-ठक करना); greet= welcome (स्वागत करना); vertical = straight (सीधी); mild = light (हल्का ); rebuke = chide (डाँटना); parapet = wall on the edge of roof (मुंडेर); peep = see (देखना); fragrance = smell (सुगन्ध)।

[PAGE 87] : Feast = grand party (प्रीतिभोज, दावत); absolutely = completely (पूरी तरह); peculiar = strange (विचित्र); starved = die of hunger (भूख से मरना); prosperous = well to do (खुशहाल); plump = having a soft round body (गोल मटोल); testimony = statement (कथन, सबूत); jackfruit = a kind of vegetable (कटहल)। .

A Baker From Goa Translation in Hindi

गोआ से एक बेकर

[PAGES 85-86] : यह गोआ के एक परम्परागत गाँव के बेकर का पैन से किया गया चित्रण है जिसका समाज में अभी भी महत्त्वपूर्ण स्थान है।
हमारे पूर्वजों को प्रायः पुर्तगाल शासन के उन पुराने अच्छे दिनों को शौक के साथ याद करते हुए सुना जाता है, पुर्तगालियों और उनकी प्रसिद्ध पावरोटियों को। उन पांवरोटियों को खाने वाले तो लुप्त हो गए हैं, परन्तु बनाने वाले अभी वहीं पर हैं। हमारे बीच में अब भी मिश्रण तैयार करने वाले, साँचों में ढालने वाले और उन्हें पकाने वाले अभी भी विद्यमान हैं। वे युगों पुरानी समय की कसौटी पर खरी उतरने वाली भट्टियाँ अभी भी हैं। उन भट्टियों की आग अभी तक बुझाई नहीं जा सकी है। बेकर की परम्परागत धानी की संगीतमय आवाज़ अभी भी बंद नहीं हुई है, जो प्रातःकाल के आगमन की उद्घोषणा करती है और कुछ स्थानों पर अभी भी सुनाई देती है। इन बेकरों को गोआ में अभी भी पेदरों के नाम से जाना जाता है।

[PAGE 86] : गोआ में हमारे बचपन के दौरान, बेकर हमारा मित्र (साथी और मार्गदर्शक) हुआ करता था। वह दिन में कम-से-कम दो बार आता था। एक बार जब वह सुबह के समय अपनी बिक्री की फेरी पर आता था तब और दूसरी बार तब, जब वह अपनी बहुत बड़ी टोकरी को खाली करके आता था। उसकी धानी (बाँस) की संगीतमय आवाज़ करती झंकार हमें नींद से जगा देती थी और हम उससे मिलने और उसका स्वागत करने के लिए भागते थे। ऐसा क्यों था? क्या यह पावरोटियों के प्रति प्यार के कारण था? बिल्कुल भी नहीं। पावरोटियाँ तो घर की नौकरानी पेस्किन या बेस्टिन के द्वारा लाई जाती थीं। जिस चीज़ की हमें इच्छा होती थी वे पावगजरे थे जिनका हम बड़ी सावधानी के साथ चयन करते थे। कई बार तो वह एक मीठी पावरोटी होती थी।

बेकर उस दृश्य पर अपना संगीतमय प्रवेश विशेष रूप से बनाई गई बाँस की लम्बी छड़ी की ‘झंग-झंग’ जैसी आवाज़ के साथ करता था। उसका एक हाथ सिर पर टोकरी को थामे रखता था और दूसरा ज़मीन पर बाँस को ठक-ठक मारता रहता था। वह ‘प्रातःकाल’ के साथ घर की महिला का अभिवादन किया करता था और तब अपने लम्बवत् बाँस (धानी) के ऊपर टोकरी को रख देता था। बच्चों को एक हल्की-सी डाँट के साथ दूर कर दिया जाता था और पावरोटियाँ नौकरों को सौंप दी जाती थीं। लेकिन हम हार नहीं मानते थे। हम किसी बेंच या मुंडेर पर चढ़ जाते और किसी-न-किसी तरह उसकी टोकरी के अंदर झाँकते। मैं अब भी उन पावरोटियों की विशिष्ट गंध को महसूस कर सकता हूँ। बड़ों के लिए पावरोटियाँ और बच्चों के लिए गजरे। उस समय हम अपने दाँतों को ब्रश से साफ करने या अपना मुँह धोने की भी परवाह नहीं किया करते थे। और करते भी क्यों? दाँतों के ब्रश के लिए आम के पत्तों को तोड़ने का कष्ट कौन करता? और यह किसी भी तरह से जरूरी क्यों था? बाघ कभी भी अपने दाँतों पर ब्रश नहीं करता है। गर्म चाय इन्हें अच्छी तरह से धो देती थी और साफ़ कर देती थी।

[PAGE 87] : मीठी पावरोटी जो ‘बोल’ के नाम से जानी जाती है शादी के उपहार निरर्थक हैं, उसी प्रकार के जैसे कोई पार्टी या दावत पावरोटी के बिना। इस बात को व्यक्त करने के लिए कि गाँव के लिए बेकर कितना महत्त्वपूर्ण होता है पर्याप्त नहीं कहा जा सकता है। घर की मालकिन को अपनी बेटी की सगाई पर सैंडविच अवश्य तैयार करने होते हैं। क्रिसमस और अन्य त्योहारों के लिए केक और बोलिनाह जरूरी होते हैं। इस प्रकार से गाँव में बेकर की भट्टी की उपस्थिति अति आवश्यक है।

उन दिनों में बेकर अथवा पावरोटी-विक्रेता की एक विशेष पोशाक हुआ करती थी जिसे कबाई कहा जाता था। यह एक ही कपड़े से बनी लंबी फ्रॉक होती थी जो घुटनों तक आती थी। अपने समय में हमने बेकरों को कमीज और पैंट पहने देखा था जोकि पूरी लंबाई की पैंट से छोटी होती थी और आधी लंबाई की पैंट से लम्बी होती थी। यहाँ तक कि अगर आज भी कोई घुटनों से नीचे तक की निक्कर पहनता है तो उस पर यह टिप्पणी होती है कि उसने पेदर जैसी पोशाक पहन रखी है।

प्रायः महीने के अंत में बेकर अपनी वसूली किया करता था। महीने का हिसाब किसी दीवार पर पेंसिल के साथ लिख दिया जाता था। पुराने दिनों में बेकर का धन्धा सचमुच लाभकारी होता था। बेकर और उसका परिवार कभी भूखे नहीं मरते थे। वह, उसका परिवार और उसके नौकर हमेशा खुश और खुशहाल नज़र आते थे। उनका गोल-मटोल शरीर इस बात का खुला प्रमाण हुआ करता था। यदि आज भी देखने में कोई व्यक्ति कटहल जैसा शरीर रखता है तो उसकी तुलना आसानी से एक बेकर के साथ की जा सकती है।

Coorg Summary

Coorg Introduction in English

Coorg is a coffee producing area in Karnataka State of India. It is situated midway between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore. This land is famous for it rainforests and spices.

Coorg Summary in English

Coorg is a small district of Karnataka. It is known as Kodagu also. Coorg lies between the coastal town of Mangalore and Mysore. It is a very beautiful place. The writer says that it must have come from the kingdom of God. It is the smallest district of Karnataka.

Coorg is famous for its coffee plantations, evergreen rainforests and spices. Thirty per cent of its area is covered with the evergreen rainforests. The best season to visit this place is from September to March. The weather is perfect. The air is full of coffee flavour. There are beautiful colonial bungalows in prime corners.

The people of Coorg are independent and brave. They are of Greek or Arabic descent. According to a story, a part of Alexander’s army did not return and was settled here. They married among the locals. This culture can be seen in the martial traditions, marriage and religious customs. Another theory says that these people originated from the Arabs. It is evident from the long, black coat worn by the people. It is like the kuffia worn by the Arabs and the Kurds.
Coorgi homes have a tradition of hospitality. They are brave people. Their tales of bravery are famous. The Coorg regiment is one of the most decorated in the Indian Army. The first Chief of the Indian Army, General Cariappa, was a Coorgi. Even today, the Kodavus are the only people in India who are allowed to carry firearms without licence.

There are a variety of natural scenes which can be enjoyed by the tourists. Kaveri, the only river of the area, gets its water from Coorgi hill. This river is full of Mahaseer, a large freshwater fish. One can see elephants, kingfishers, squirrels and langurs enjoying themselves in the lap of nature. Birds, bees and butterflies give one a good company here. Elephants enjoy being bathed here by their mahouts. The river and mountain offer various adventurous games like river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing and mountain biking. The trekkers find numerous walking trails in this area. From the Brahmagiri hills one can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire landscape of Coorg. There is a sixty-four acre island of Nisargadhama near by. It can be reached through a ropebridge. Buddhist monks are settled in Bylakuppe which is very close to this place. Their red, ochre and yellow robes are very attractive to look at.

Coorg Introduction in Hindi

(कुर्ग भारत के कर्नाटक राज्य का कॉफी उत्पादक क्षेत्र है। यह मैसूर और तटीय शहर मंगलौर के मध्य मार्ग में स्थित है। यह क्षेत्र वर्षा वनों और मसालों के उत्पादन के लिए प्रसिद्ध है।)

Coorg Summary in Hindi

कुर्ग कर्नाटक का एक छोटा-सा ज़िला है। इसे कोडागु भी कहा जाता है। यह तटीय शहर मंगलौर और मैसूर के बीच पड़ता है। यह एक बहुत सुन्दर स्थान है। लेखक कहता है कि यह अवश्य ही भगवान् के प्रदेश से आया होगा। यह कर्नाटक का सबसे छोटा ज़िला है।
कुर्ग अपने कॉफी के बागानों, सदाबहार जंगलों और मसालों के लिए प्रसिद्ध है। इस इलाके का तीस प्रतिशत भाग सदाबहार जंगलों से ढका हुआ है। इस इलाके में आने का सबसे अच्छा मौसम सितम्बर और मार्च के बीच में है। मौसम एकदम सही है। हवा कॉफी की सुगन्ध से भरी हुई है। हर सुन्दर कोने में सुन्दर अंग्रेजों के जमाने के बंगले हैं।

कुर्ग के लोग स्वतन्त्र और बहादुर हैं। वे यूनानी या अरब वंश के हैं। एक कहानी के अनुसार, सिकन्दर की सेना का एक भाग वापस नहीं लौटा और यहीं पर बस गया। उन्होंने स्थानीय लोगों के बीच शादियाँ कर लीं। यह संस्कृति बहादुरी के रीति-रिवाज़ों, शादी और धार्मिक कार्यक्रमों में नज़र आती है। एक अन्य सिद्धांत कहता है कि ये लोग अरबों के वंशज हैं। यह बात इन लोगों द्वारा पहने जाने वाले लम्बे कोटों से झलकती है। ये कोट अरबों और कुर्ड लोगों द्वारा पहने जाने वाले कुफिया की तरह होते हैं।

कुर्गी-घरों में मेहमान-नवाजी की परम्परा है। वे लोग बहादुर हैं। उनकी बहादुरी के किस्से प्रसिद्ध हैं। कुर्ग रेजिमेन्ट भारतीय सेना में सबसे अधिक सम्मानित रेजिमेन्ट है। भारतीय सेना का पहला चीफ, जनरल करियप्पा एक कुर्गी था। आज भी कोडावु भारत के एकमात्र ऐसे लोग हैं जिन्हें बिना लायसेन्स के आग्नेयास्त्र रखने की अनुमति है।

यहाँ बहुत-से प्राकृतिक नज़ारे हैं, पर्यटक जिनका आनन्द ले सकते हैं। इस इलाके की एकमात्र नदी कावेरी को अपना पानी कुर्ग की पहाड़ियों से मिलता है। यह नदी ताजे पानी की मछली महासीर से भरी है। यहाँ पर हाथी, किंगफिशर, गिलहरियाँ और लंगूर प्रकृति का आनन्द उठाते हुए देखे जा सकते हैं। यहाँ पक्षी, मधुमक्खियाँ और तितलियाँ अच्छी संगत देती हैं। हाथी अपने महावतों द्वारा नहलाए जाने का आनन्द लेते हैं। नदी और पर्वत रोमांचकारी खेलों, जैसेकि रिवर रैफ्टिंग (रेफ्ट किश्ती में सफर), नौका विहार, रैपेलिंग, पर्वतारोहण और पर्वत हाइकिंग का अवसर प्रदान करते हैं। भ्रमणकारियों को इस इलाके में कई अच्छे रास्ते मिलते हैं। ब्रह्मगिरि की पहाड़ियों से व्यक्ति कुर्ग के सारे इलाके का मनोरम दृश्य देख सकता है। पास में ही चौंसठ एकड़ का निसर्गधाम नाम का द्वीप है। इस तक रस्से के एक पुल द्वारा जाया जा सकता है। बाइलाकुपे में बौद्ध भिक्षु बसे हुए हैं जोकि पास में ही है। उनके लाल, गेरुए और पीले पहनावे देखने में बहुत आकर्षक लगते हैं।

Coorg Word-Meanings

[PAGE 90] : Coastal = of the coast (तटीय); drifted = carried along (बह जाना); inhabited = resided by (निवासी); martial= concerning war (युद्ध-सम्बन्धी); wild = untamed, natural (जंगली); spices = condiments (मसाले); plantations = big fields (बड़े खेत, बागान); pours = rains (बरसात); commences = begins (आरम्भ होना); showers = rains (बरसात); invigorating = strength giving (शक्ति देने वाला); tucked = placed (रखा पड़ा); canopies = hanging covers (छतरी); prime = of the best quality (सर्वोत्तम); fiercely = (here) great (बहुत अधिक); descent = ancestry (वंश); apparent = clear (स्पष्ट); religious rites = religious ceremony (धार्मिक रिवाज़); distinct = separate (अलग); origin = lineage (वंश)।

[PAGE 91] : Embroidered = work of needle and thread (कढ़ाई का काम); resembles = being similar (शक्ल का मिलना); hospitality = reception of guests (मेहमान-नवाज़ी); recount = narrate (वर्णन करना); numerous = many (कई); valour = bravery (बहादुरी); most decorated = most rewarded (सबसे अधिक पुरस्कृत); firearms = weapons, etc. (हथियार आदि); abound in = be in plenty (प्रचुरता में); partially = in part (आंशिक); ripple =round waves formed in water (लहरें); scrubbed = rubbed (रगड़ना); mahout = man who controls the elephant (महावत); converts = people who change (लोग जो बदल जाते हैं); adventure = risky work (जोखिम भरा काय); rafting = sailing in a raft (रेफ्ट किश्ती में सफर करना); canoeing = sailing in a canoe (नौका विहार); rappelling = going down a cliff by a rope (रस्सी के सहारे सीधी चट्टान से उतरना)।

[PAGE 92] : Trails = paths for walking (चलने के रास्ते); region = area (इलाका); trekkers = those who undertake walking tours (भ्रमणकारी); macaques = monkeys (बंदर); squirrels = a kind of animal (गिलहरियाँ); langurs = a,kind of monkey (लंगूर); panoramic = beautiful (सुन्दर); misty = full of mist (धुंध भरा); landscape = land scene (धरती का दृश्य); settlement = place of residence (रहने का स्थान); bonus = plus point (अच्छी बात); monks = mendicants (भिक्षु); ochre = a colour (गेरुआ, भगवा रंग); robes = dresses (पोशाक)।

Coorg Translation in Hindi

कुर्ग कॉफी, वर्षा वनों और मसालों के लिए प्रसिद्ध देश है।

[PAGES 90-91] : मैसूर और तटीय नगर मंगलौर के मध्य मार्ग में स्वर्ग का एक भाग रखा है जोकि भगवान के राज्य से कहीं भटककर आ गया है। उतार-चढ़ाव वाली पहाड़ियों का यह क्षेत्र वीर पुरुषों, सुन्दर स्त्रियों तथा वन्य जीवों का निवास स्थान है।

कुर्ग अथवा कोडागु, कर्नाटक का सबसे छोटा ज़िला सदाबहार वनों, मसालों और कॉफी के बागानों का घर है। इस जिले के 30 प्रतिशत क्षेत्र पर सदाबहार वन हैं। मानसून के दौरान यहाँ इतनी ज्यादा वर्षा होती है कि बहुत-से पर्यटक स्वयं को यहाँ से दूर ही रखते हैं। खुशियों का मौसम सितम्बर से शुरु होकर मार्च तक चलता है। मौसम हर तरह से ठीक रहता है, कभी कुछ ज्यादा वर्षा भी हो जाती है। हवा में शक्ति-वर्धक कॉफी की गंध भरी होती है। कॉफी पैदा करने वाले क्षेत्र तथा औपनिवेशिक काल के बंगले अति सुन्दर कोनों में वृक्ष रूपी छतरों के नीचे सुरक्षित खड़े नज़र आते हैं।

आक्रामक रूप से स्वतंत्र रहने वाले कुर्ग लोग संभवतया यूनानी या अरबी लोगों के वंशज हैं। एक कहानी के अनुसार सिकन्दर की सेना तट के साथ-साथ दक्षिण की ओर चली गई और जब वापसी असंभव हो गई तो वे लोग यहीं पर बस गए। इन लोगों ने स्थानीय लोगों में शादियाँ कर ली और इनकी संस्कृति सैनिक परम्पराओं, शादी और धार्मिक रीतियों में साफ दिखाई देती है, जो कि हिन्दू धर्म की मुख्य धारा से अलग है। अरबी वंश से उत्पत्ति के सिद्धांत को उनके लम्बे, काले कोट, जिस पर कढ़ाई वाली कमर-पेटी, जिसे कोडावु लोग पहनते हैं, से पता चलता है, कुपिया के नाम से प्रसिद्ध यह कुफ़िया जैसा लगता है, जिसे अरबी और कुर्द लोग पहनते हैं। .

[PAGE 91] : कुर्गी घरों में अति सत्कार की एक परंपरा है, और वे अपने बेटों तथा पिताओं की वीरता की कहानियों को सुनाने के लिए सदा तत्पर रहते हैं। कुर्ग रेजिमेंट भारतीय सेना की सबसे अधिक सुसज्जित रेजिमेंट है और भारतीय सेना का पहला मुखिया, जनरल करियप्पा एक कुर्गी था। आज भी भारत में कोडावु एकमात्र ऐसे लोग हैं, जिन्हें बिना लाइसेंस के आग्नेयास्त्र रखने की अनुमति है।

कावेरी नदी पहाड़ियों और कुर्ग के जंगलों से इस क्षेत्र का जल हासिल करती है। महासीर जो कि ताजे पानी की एक मछली है इस क्षेत्र में बहुत अधिक संख्या में पाई जाती है। राम चिरैया पक्षी अपना शिकार करने के लिए इसमें गोते लगाते हैं, जबकि गिलहरियाँ और लंगूर आधे खाए हुए फलों को इसमें गिराकर पानी की छपाक और छोटी-छोटी उठने वाली तरंगों का आनन्द लेते हैं। हाथी नदी में अपने महावतों के द्वारा नहलाए जाने और रगड़े जाने का आनन्द लेते हैं।

सबसे अधिक शांत स्वभाव वाले लोग भी बहुत ताकत वाले साहसिक कारनामें अपना लेते हैं जैसेकि नदी में रैफ्टिंग करना, नौका चलाना, रस्सियों के सहारे पहाड़ी पर चढ़ना-उतरना, चट्टानों पर चढ़ना और पर्वतारोहण करना। इन क्षेत्रों में अनेकों पगडंडियाँ पैदल चलने वालों की सबसे अधिक पसन्द वाली चीज़ हैं।

[PAGE 92] : यहाँ पर पक्षी, मधुमक्खियाँ और तितलियाँ आपकी संगति करने के लिए विद्यमान हैं। अफ्रीकी लंगूर, मालबारी गिलहरियाँ, लंगूर और पतले तोते वृक्षों के छत्रों में बैठे हुए आपको बड़े गौर से देखते रहते हैं। लेकिन जंगली हाथियों को देखने के लिए मैं एक तरफ होकर चलना पसन्द करता हूँ।

ब्रह्मगिरी पहाड़ियों की चढ़ाई करने के पश्चात् आप कुर्ग के सम्पूर्ण धुंधले भू-दृश्य का अवलोकन कर सकते हो। रस्सियों से बने एक पुल को पैदल पार करके आप चौंसठ एकड़ क्षेत्र में बने निसर्गधाम द्वीप पर पहुँच जाते हो। वहाँ पर भारत की सबसे बड़ी तिब्बती (बस्ती बाइलाकुप्पे) में भिक्षुकों से अचानक भेंट हो जाने पर आपको अतिरिक्त प्रसन्नता का लाभ प्राप्त हो जाता है। लाल, गेरुए और पीले परिधान पहने हुए भिक्षुक जो बहुत-से अजूबों के मध्य में हैं, जो आगन्तुकों द्वारा भारत की आत्मा और दिल की टोह की प्रतीक्षा करते हैं, यहाँ पर वे कुर्ग में ही हैं।

तथ्य संचिका
कैसे पहुँचा जाए
मादीकेरी, जिला मुख्यालय कुर्ग का केवल मात्र एक प्रवेशद्वार है। रहस्यमयी पहाड़ियों, हरे-भरे जंगलों और कॉफी के बागान आप पर जादू कर देंगे। सचमुच में एक कुर्गी अनुभव के लिए कोई पर्यटक विश्राम गृह, कॉफी बागान या किसी घर में ठहर जाइए।
हवाई जहाज से : निकटतम हवाई अड्डे मंगलौर 135 कि०मी० और बंगलौर 260 कि०मी० हैं। मंगलौर के लिए मुम्बई से उड़ान है, जबकि बंगलौर के लिए अहमदाबाद, चेन्नई, दिल्ली, गोवा, हैदराबाद, कोच्चि, कोलकाता, मुम्बई और पुणे से उड़ान है।
रेल से ; निकटतम रेलवे मुख्यालय मैसूर, मंगलौर और हासन में है। ,
सड़क से : बंगलौर से कुर्ग जाने के दो रास्ते हैं। दोनों की दूरी लगभग एक-समान (250-260 कि०मी०) है। मैसूर से होकर जाने वाला रास्ता अधिक प्रचलित है। दूसरा रास्ता नीलमंगल, कुनिगल, चनरायणापतना से होकर जाता है।

Tea from Assam Summary

Tea from Assam Introduction in English

This is a very short description of Assam, a North-Eastern State of India. This state is famous for its tea plantations. In this extract Pranjol, a youngster from Assam, is Rajvir’s classmate at school in Delhi. Pranjol’s father is the manager of a tea-garden in Upper Assam and Pranjol has invited Rajvir to visit his home during the summer vacation.

Tea from Assam Summary in English

Pranjol belonged to Assam. He was studying in a school in Delhi. Rajvir was his classmate. Pranjol’s father was the manager of a tea-garden in Upper Assam. Pranjol invited Rajvir to visit his home during the summer vacation. Both of them travelled to Assam in a train. When the train stopped on the way at a station, a vendor called, ‘chai-garam … garam-chai’. They took tea and started sipping it. Rajvir told Pranjol that over eighty crore cups of tea are drunk every day throughout the world.

Pranjol started reading his detective book again. But Rajvir looked out of the window of the moving train. There was beautiful scenery outside. Soon the soft green paddy fields were left behind and there were tea bushes everywhere. Rajvir was fascinated by the magnificent view of tea gardens. There were shade trees also. He was very excited. Pranjol didn’t share Rajvir’s excitement because he had been born and brought up on a plantation. He told Rajvir that Assam has the largest concentration of tea plantation in the world.

Rajvir said that no one really knows who discovered tea. He told Pranjol that there are many legends attached to tea, to discovery of tea. According to one story a Chinese emperor discovered tea by chance. He always boiled water before drinking it. One day a few leaves of the twigs burning under the pot fell into the water. As a result, the boiled water got a delicious flavour. It is said they were tea leaves. According to another Indian legend, Bodhidharma, an ancient Buddhist monk, felt sleep during meditations. So he cut off his · eyelids. Ten tea plants grew out of the eyelids. The leaves of these plants when put in hot water and drunk banished sleep.

Rajvir told Pranjol that tea was first drunk in China in 2700 B.C. Words like ‘chai’ and ‘chini’ are Chinese. Tea came to Europe in the sixteenth century. At first it was used more as a medicine than as a beverage. Both Rajvir and Pranjol reached Mariani junction. Pranjol’s parents received them on the platform. They took them in a car to Dhekiabari, the tea estate managed by Pranjol’s father. On both sides of the road there were acres and acres of tea bushes. Women with bamboo baskets on their backs were plucking the new tea leaves. They had come there in the sprouting season. Rajvir said that this season lasts from May to July The best tea is produced during this season. Pranjol’s father told Rajvir that he knew many things about tea plantations. He said that he would learn more about tea there..

Tea from Assam Introduction in Hindi

(यह भारत के उत्तर-पूर्वी राज्य आसाम का एक संक्षिप्त विवरण है। यह राज्य अपने चाय बागानों के लिए प्रसिद्ध है। इस अंश में प्रांजल, आसाम का एक छोटा लड़का दिल्ली के एक स्कूल में राजवीर का सहपाठी है। प्रांजल के पिता ऊपरी आसाम में एक चाय बागान के प्रबंधक हैं और प्रांजल राजवीर को ग्रीष्मावकाश में अपने घर पर आमंत्रित करता है।)

Tea from Assam Summary in Hindi

प्रांजल आसाम का रहने वाला था। वह देहली के एक स्कूल में पढ़ता था। राजवीर उसका सहपाठी था। प्रांजल का पिता ऊपरी आसाम में चाय के एक बाग का प्रबंधक था। प्रांजल ने राजवीर को गर्मी की छुट्टियों में अपने घर आने के लिए आमंत्रित किया। दोनों ने एक रेलगाड़ी से आसाम के लिए यात्रा की। रास्ते में जब एक स्टेशन पर गाड़ी रुकी तो एक चाय वाले ने कहा, “चाय गरम, गरम चाय”। उन्होंने चाय ली और उसे पीना आरंभ कर दिया। राजवीर ने प्रांजल को कहा कि सारे संसार में प्रतिदिन अस्सी करोड कप से अधिक चाय पी जाती है।

प्रांजल ने अपनी जासूसी पुस्तक फिर से पढ़नी आरंभ कर दी। मगर राजवीर चलती हुई गाड़ी से बाहर देखने लगा। बाहर का दृश्य सुन्दर था। शीघ्र ही धान के नर्म हरे खेत पीछे रह गए और चारों तरफ चाय की झाड़ियाँ थीं। राजवीर चाय के बागों के शानदार नज़ारे से आकर्षित हो गया। वहाँ पर छायादार वृक्ष भी थे। वह बहुत उत्तेजित हो गया। प्रांजल ने राजवीर की उत्तेजना में कोई भाग नहीं लिया क्योंकि उसका पालन-पोषण चाय के बागानों में ही हुआ था। उसने राजवीर को बताया कि आसाम में संसार के सबसे ज्यादा चाय के बागान हैं।

राजवीर ने कहा कि इस बात का किसी को पूरा ज्ञान नहीं है कि चाय की खोज किसने की। उसने प्रांजल को बताया कि चाय की खोज के साथ बहुत-सी किवदंतियाँ जुड़ी हुई हैं। एक कहानी के अनुसार एक चीनी सम्राट् ने संयोग से इसकी खोज कर दी। वह पानी सदा उबालकर पिया करता था। एक दिन बर्तन के नीचे जलती हुई टहनियों के कुछ पत्ते पानी में गिर गए। परिणामस्वरूप, पानी में स्वादिष्ट सुगंध आ गई। यह कहा जाता है कि वे चाय के पत्ते थे। एक अन्य भारतीय कहानी के अनुसार, बोधिधर्म, नाम के एक प्राचीन बौद्ध भिक्षु को, साधना के दौरान नींद आया करती थी। इसलिए उसने अपनी पलकों को काटकर फेंक दिया। उसकी पलकों से चाय के दस पौधे पैदा हुए। इन पौधों के पत्तों को गर्म पानी में डालकर पीने से नींद गायब हो जाती थी।

राजवीर ने प्रांजल को बताया कि सबसे पहले चाय को 2700 ईसा पूर्व चीन में पिया गया। ‘चाय’ और ‘चीनी’ जैसे शब्द चीन के हैं। चाय यूरोप में सोलहवीं शताब्दी में आई। शुरु में इसे पेय पदार्थ से अधिक एक दवाई के रूप में पिया जाता था। राजवीर और प्रांजल दोनों मैरियानी स्टेशन पहुंचे। प्रांजल के माता-पिता ने उनका प्लेटफार्म पर स्वागत किया। वे उन्हें कार में धेकियाबारी ले गए, जोकि चाय का बाग था जहाँ प्रांजल के पिता प्रबंधक थे। सड़क के दोनों ओर कई-कई एकड़ों तक चाय की झाडियाँ थीं। अपनी पीठ पर बाँस की टोकरियाँ रखे हुए औरतें चाय के ताजे पत्तों को तोड़ रही थीं। वे वहाँ पर नई पत्तियाँ उगने के मौसम में आए थे। राजवीर ने कहा कि यह मौसम मई से जुलाई तक चलता है। इस मौसम के दौरान सर्वोत्तम चाय उगती है। प्रांजल के पिता ने राजवीर से कहा कि वह चाय के बागों के बारे में बहुत कुछ जानता है। उसने कहा कि वह वहाँ पर चाय के बारे में और बहुत कुछ सीखेगा।

Tea from Assam Word-Meanings

[PAGE 94] : Vendor = seller (फेरी वाला, विक्रेता); high-pitched = sharp sound (तीखी आवाज़); sipped = drink with lips (चुस्की लेना); steaming = emitting steam (धुआँ छोड़ना); whew = word of exclamation (विस्मय का . शब्द); pulled out = came out (बाहर आना); detective = suspenseful (जासूसी); ardent = strong (तीव्र); keener = very much (बहुत अधिक); magnificent = beautiful (सुन्दर); backdrop = background (पृष्ठभूमि); densely wooded = thick forest (घना जंगल); stretched = spread (फैला हुआ); dwarfing = making others look small (छोटा करते हुए); sturdy = strong (मज़बूत)।

[PAGE 95] : Billowing out = coming out (बाहर आना); excitedly = with excitement (उत्तेजना से); concentration = with a large number (बड़ी संख्या में); legends = myths (किवदंतियाँ); twigs = branches (टहनियाँ); delicious = tasty (स्वादिष्ट); flavour = smell (सुगंध); scoffed = laughed (हँसे); ascetic = monk (भिक्षु); eyelids = the layers covering the eyes (पलकें); meditations = deep thoughts (साधना चिन्तन); banished = removed (दूर करना); beverage=adrink (पेय); clattered = made aclattering sound (खड़खड़ की आवाज़ करना); veered =moved (हिला); pruned = cut (काटना); aprons = outer dress (एप्रन); sprouted = grown (उगना)।

[PAGE 96] : Second-flush = second season (दूसरा मौसम); lasts == remains (रहना); yields = gives out (प्रदान करना)।

Tea from Assam Translation in Hindi

(PAGE 94] : प्रांजल, आसाम का एक छोटा लड़का, दिल्ली के एक स्कूल में राजवीर का सहपाठी है। प्रांजल के पिता ऊपरी आसाम में एक चाय बागान के प्रबंधक हैं और प्रांजल राजवीर को ग्रीष्मावकाश में अपने घर पर आमंत्रित करता है।

“चाय-गर्म, गर्म-चाय…….” एक फेरी वाले ने ऊँचे स्वर में आवाज़ लगाई। वह उनकी खिड़की तक आया और पूछा, “चाय, साहब?” “हमें दो कप दे दो,” प्रांजल ने कहा।
उन्होंने भाप उठाते हुए गर्म पेय पदार्थ के चूंट भरे। उनके विभाग में लगभग हर व्यक्ति चाय पी रहा था।
“क्या आप जानते हो कि हर रोज पूरे विश्व में 80 करोड़ से भी अधिक चाय के कप पिए जाते हैं?” राजवीर ने कहा।

हैरानी के साथ प्रांजल ने कहा, “चाय वास्तव में बहुत लोकप्रिय है।”
गाड़ी स्टेशन से बाहर आ गई। प्रांजल फिर से अपनी जासूसी की पुस्तक पढ़ने लग जाता है। राजवीर भी जासूसी की कहानियों का बहुत बड़ा प्रशंसक था, लेकिन उस समय वह सुंदर दृश्यों को देखने में रुचि ले रहा था।
चारों ओर हरियाली-ही-हरियाली थी। राजवीर ने पहले कभी इतनी अधिक हरियाली नहीं देखी थी। तब धान के हरे खेतों का स्थान चाय की झाड़ियों ने ले लिया।

यह एक शानदार दृश्य था। घने जंगलों वाली पहाड़ियों की पृष्ठभूमि के लिए चाय की पहाड़ियों का सागर वहाँ तक फैला हुआ था जहाँ तक नज़र जाती थी। बड़े और शक्तिशाली छायादार पेड़ों के नीचे चाय के छोटे पौधे थे जो क्रमबद्ध पंक्तियों के बीच में गुड़ियों जैसी छोटी तस्वीरों की भाँति झाड़ियों की तरह हिलते थे। दूर एक भद्दी-सी ईमारत थी जिसकी चिमनी में से धुंआ बाहर आ रहा था।

PAGE 95] : “अरे, चाय का बाग!” राजवीर ने जोश सहित कहा। प्रांजल जिसका जन्म और पालन-पोषण बागान में ही हुआ था, ने राजवीर की उत्सुकता में भागीदारी नहीं की। __“अरे, अब यह चाय का प्रदेश है” उसने कहा! आसाम संसार में चाय का सबसे बड़ा उत्पादन केंद्र है। तुम्हें यहाँ इतने बागान दिखाई देंगे कि इसमें तुम्हारा पूरा जीवन निकल जाएगा!
“मैं चाय के बारे में जितना पढ़ सकता था पढ़ता रहा हूँ,” राजवीर ने कहा। “कोई भी नहीं जानता कि चाय की खोज किसने की लेकिन बहुत-सी दंत कथाएँ प्रचलित हैं।”
“कौन-सी दंत कथाएँ?”
“अच्छा, इनमें से एक दंत कथा एक चीनी सम्राट् के बारे में है जो पीने से पहले अपने पानी को उबालता था। एक दिन बर्तन के नीचे जल रही टहनियों के कुछ पत्ते पानी में गिर गए जिससे इसमें एक स्वादिष्ट गंध आ गई। ऐसा कहा जाता है कि वे चाय के पत्ते थे।”

“मुझे कोई दूसरी कहानी बताओ!” प्रांजल ने मजाक उड़ाते हुए कहा।
“हमारे यहाँ एक भारतीय दंत कथा भी है। बोधिधर्म नाम का एक प्राचीन बौद्ध तपस्वी था। उसने अपनी पलकें इसलिए काट दी थीं क्योंकि उसको समाधि के दौरान नींद आ जाती थी। इन पलकों में चाय के दस पौधे उग आए। इन पौधों के पत्तों को जब गर्म पानी में डाला गया और पिया गया तो उससे नींद गायब हो गई।”
“चाय पहली बार चीन में पी गई,” राजवीर ने बात को आगे बढ़ाते हुए कहा, “2700 ई० पू० की बात है! ‘वास्तव में ‘चाय’ और ‘चीनी’ जैसे शब्द चीन से आए हैं। यूरोप में चाय का आगमन सोलहवीं सदी में हुआ था और इसे एक पेय की अपेक्षा दवाई के रूप में अधिक पिया जाता था।”
रेलगाड़ी मैरियानी जंक्शन पर प्रवेश कर गई। लड़कों ने अपना सामान उठाया और भीड़ भरे प्लेटफार्म से अपने रास्ते पर आगे बढ़ गए।

प्रांजल के माता-पिता उनकी प्रतीक्षा कर रहे थे।
शीघ्र ही वे धेकियाबारी की ओर यात्रा कर रहे थे, वह चाय बागान जिसका प्रबंधक प्रांजल का पिता था।
एक घंटे के पश्चात् कार ने मुख्य सड़क पर अचानक एक मोड़ लिया। उन्होंने एक पुल को पार किया और धेकियाबारी चाय बागान में प्रवेश किया।

पथरीली सड़क के दोनों ओर चाय की झाड़ियों के अनेक एकड़ खेत थे, सभी एक-जैसी ऊँचाई पर सफाई के साथ छांटकर काटी गई थीं, अपनी पीठों पर, बांस की टोकरियाँ लगाए चाय तोड़ने वालों की टोलियाँ जिन्होंने प्लास्टिक के एपरन पहने हुए थे, हाल ही में उगी हुई पत्तियों को तोड़ रहे थे।

(PAGE 96] : प्रांजल के पिता ने चाय की पत्तियों से भरे एक ट्रेलर को खींच रहे ट्रैक्टर के गुजर जाने के लिए, कार की गति कम कर ली।
“यह पौधों का दूसरी बार फूटना (अंकुरित होना) है, क्या ऐसा नहीं है, मि० बरुआ?” राजवीर ने पूछा। “यह मई से जुलाई तक चलता है और इसमें सर्वोत्तम चाय का उत्पादन होता है।”
“ऐसा लगता है कि आपने यहाँ आने से पहले पूरी तैयारी की है,” प्रांजल के पिता ने हैरानीपूर्वक पूछा।
“हाँ, मि० बरुआ,” राजवीर ने स्वीकार किया, “लेकिन मैं यहाँ रहते हुए और बहुत कुछ सीखना चाहता हूँ।”

Haryana State Board HBSE 10th Class English Solutions First Flight Chapter 6 The Hundred Dresses Part 2 Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

Haryana Board 10th Class English Solutions First Flight Chapter 6 The Hundred Dresses Part 2

HBSE 10th Class English The Hundred Dresses Part 2 Textbook Questions and Answers

Oral Comprehension Check (Page 74)

1. What did Mr Petronski’s letter say? (मि० पेट्रोंसकी के पत्र में क्या कहा गया था?)
Answer:
Miss Mason received a letter from Wanda’s father, Mr Petronski. The letter said that Wanda would not come to school any more. They were moving to a big city. In that city, there would be no more fun on names. There were plenty of funny names in the city.
(मिस मेसन को वाण्डा के पिता मि० पेट्रोंसकी का पत्र मिला। पत्र में कहा गया था कि अब वाण्डा स्कूल में नहीं आएगी। वे एक बड़े शहर में जा रहे थे। उस शहर में, नामों को लेकर मजाक नहीं किया जाएगा। शहर में बहुत सारे मजाकिया नाम पाए जाते थे

2. Is Miss Mason angry with the class, or is she unhappy and upset ?
(क्या मिस मेसन कक्षा से नाराज है, अथवा क्या वह दुखी और परेशान है?)
Answer:
Miss Mason is not angry with the class. She is unhappy and upset with the class. She feels sad that Wanda has left because the other students made fun of her. She calls it unfortunate. She advises the class to think and not hurt anyone’s feelings because of a longer name.
(मिस मेसन कक्षा से नाराज नहीं है। वह कक्षा के व्यवहार से दुखी और परेशान है। उसे महसूस होता है कि वाण्डा ने स्कूल इसलिए छोड़ा क्योंकि दूसरे विद्यार्थी उसका मजाक उड़ाते थे। वह इसे दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण मानती है। वह कक्षा से विचार करने और किसी के लंबे नाम के कारण उसकी भावनाओं को आहत न करने की सलाह देती है।)

3. How does Maddie feel after listening to the note from Wanda’s father? (वाण्डा के पिता के नोट को सुनने के पश्चात् मैडी को कैसा महसूस होता है?)
Answer:
Maddie is very sad. She feels greatly hurt. She has a very sick feeling in the bottom of her stomach. She has a feeling to go and tell Wanda that they hadn’t meant to make fun of her and hurt her feelings.
(मैडी बहुत उदास है। वह बहुत अधिक आहत महसूस करती है। अपने पेट के निचले हिस्से में वह बहुत अस्वस्थ महसूस करती है। वह वाण्डा के पास जाकर यह बताने की सोचती है कि उनका भाव उसका मजाक उड़ाने अथवा उसकी भावनाओं को आहत करना नहीं था।)

4. What does Maddie want to do? (मैडी क्या करना चाहती है?)
Answer:
Maddie wants to go to Wanda at once and feel sorry for her behaviour. She wants to tell her that they hadn’t meant to hurt her feelings. She wants to tell Wanda that they thought her to be smart and her dresses were beautiful.
(मैडी तुरंत वाण्डा के पास जाना चाहती है और अपने व्यवहार के लिए क्षमा माँगना चाहती है। वह उसे बताना चाहती थी कि उनका भाव उसकी भावनाओं को आहत करना नहीं था। वह वाण्डा को बताना चाहती है कि वे उसे चुस्त मानते थे और उसकी सभी पोशाकें सुंदर थीं।)

Oral Comprehension Check (Page 76)

1. What excuses does Peggy think up for her behaviour ? Why ?
(पेग्गी अपने व्यवहार के लिए कौन-से बहाने सोचती है? क्यों?)
Answer:
Peggy is also sad that Wanda has left the school. But she tries to make excuses for her behaviour. She says that she didn’t call her a foreigner. She also did not make fun of her name. She only thought that Wanda was dumb and had no sense to know that they were mocking at her.
(पेग्गी भी उदास है कि वाण्डा ने स्कूल छोड़ दिया है। लेकिन वह अपने व्यवहार के लिए बहाने बनाने का प्रयास करती है। वह कहती है कि वह उसे विदेशी नहीं कहती थी। वह उसके नाम का भी मजाक नहीं उड़ाती थी। वह तो वाण्डा को केवल गूंगी मानती थी और यह मानती थी कि उसमें इतनी बुद्धि ही नहीं थी कि वह यह समझ सके कि वे उसका मजाक उड़ा रहे थे।)

2. What are Maddie’s thoughts as they go to Boggins Heights ? (जब वे बोगिंस हाईट्स जाती है तो मैडी क्या सोच रही होती है?)
Answer:
Maddie goes to Boggins Heights in order to meet Wanda. On the way she hopes that they will find Wanda. She wants to tell her that they are sorry. The whole school thinks that she is just wonderful.
(मैडी वाण्डा से मिलने के लिए बोगिंस हाईट्स जाती है। रास्ते में वह सोचती है कि वह वाण्डा को ढूँढ़ लेंगी। वह उसे बताना चाहती है कि उन्हें खेद है। सारा स्कूल सोचता है कि वह सिर्फ एक अद्भुत लड़की है।)

3. Why does Wanda’s house remind Maddie of Wanda’s blue dress ? (वाण्डा का घर मैडी को उसकी नीली पोशाक की याद क्यों दिलाता है?)
Answer:
Wanda’s house is simple, shabby but clean. The house reminds Maddie of Wanda’s blue dress because both look similar. Wanda’s faded blue cotton dress was also shabby but clean.
(वाण्डा का घर सादा, भद्दा दिखने वाला लेकिन साफ है। वह घर मैडी को वाण्डा की नीली पोशाक की याद दिलाता है क्योंकि दोनों एक-जैसे दिखते थे। वाण्डा की रंग उड़ी हुई नीली पोशाक देखने में तो भद्दी थी परंतु साफ थी।)

4. What does Maddie think hard about ? What important decision does she come to ? (मैडी किस विषय में जोर लगाकर सोचती है? वह किस महत्त्वपूर्ण निर्णय पर पहुँचती है?)
Answer:
She decides that in future she will not just stand by see girls making fun of others. She will speak up if she finds someone treating others unkindly. She won’t mind even losing Peggy’s friendship for that. She will never make anybody unhappy.
(वह निर्णय लेती है कि भविष्य में वह लड़कियों को किसी दूसरे का मजाक उड़ाते हुए चुपचाप सहन नहीं करेगी। भविष्य में यदि वह किसी को भी किसी के साथ निर्दयता का व्यवहार करता देखेगी तो अपनी आवाज उठाएगी। वह इसके लिए पेग्गी की मित्रता के खो जाने की भी परवाह नहीं करेगी। वह कभी किसी को भी दुखी नहीं करेगी।)

Oral Comprehension Check (Page 79)

1. What did the girls write to Wanda ? (लड़कियों ने वाण्डा को क्या लिखा?)
Answer:
Maddie and Peggy wrote a letter to Wanda. In the letter, they wrote about Wanda’s pretty drawings. They asked her if she liked her new place and her new teacher. They had meant to feel sorry for their behavior. But in the end, it turned out to be just a friendly letter.
(मैडी और पेग्गी ने वाण्डा को एक पत्र लिखा। पत्र में उन्होंने वाण्डा के सुंदर चित्रों के बारे में लिखा। उन्होंने उससे पूछा कि क्या उसे अपना नया स्थान और नई शिक्षक पसंद आ गई है। वे अपने व्यवहार के लिए खेद प्रकट करना चाहती थीं। लेकिन आखिर में, वह केवल एक मैत्री पत्र के रूप में ही प्रतीत हुआ।)

2. Did they get a reply? Who was more anxious for a reply, Peggy or Maddie? How do you know?
(क्या उन्हें उत्तर प्राप्त हुआ? उत्तर के लिए कौन ज्यादा उत्तेजित हो रही थी, पेग्गी या मैडी? आपको कैसे पता चला?)
Answer:
No, they did not get a reply to their letter. Maddie was more anxious for a reply. Peggy had begun to forget the whole incident. But Maddie still couldn’t sleep properly. She tried to go to sleep making speeches
about Wanda.
(नहीं, उन्हें अपने पत्र का कोई उत्तर प्राप्त नहीं हुआ। उत्तर के लिए मैडी अधिक उत्तेजित थी। पेग्गी ने तो सारी घटना को ही भूलना शुरू कर दिया था। लेकिन मैडी अभी भी ठीक ढंग से नहीं सो सकती थी। वह वाण्डा के बारे में भाषण बना-बनाकर सोने का प्रयास करती थी।)

3. How did the girls know that Wanda liked them even though they had teased her ?
(लड़कियों को कैसे पता चला कि वाण्डा उन्हें पसंद करती थी यद्यपि वे उसे चिड़ाया करती थी?)
Answer:
In her letter Wanda wrote that two special drawings should be given to Peggy and Maddie. She wished all a merry Christmas. This shows that Wanda liked the girls.
(अपने पत्र में वाण्डा ने लिखा कि उसके दो खास चित्र पेग्गी और मैडी को दे दिए जाएँ। वह सभी को खुशहाल क्रिसमस की बधाई देती है। इससे पता चलता है कि वाण्डा लड़कियों को पसंद करती थी।)

Thinking about the Text

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?
(आपके विचार में वाण्डा का परिवार एक दूसरे शहर में क्यों गया था? क्या आपके विचार में उनके परिवार का जीवन एक भिन्न प्रकार का होगा?)
Answer:
It is possible that Wanda’s family moved to a different city in order to avoid the racial prejudice. In a big city people are busy with their own life and have no time to make fun of others only because of their funny names. Moreover, there are other people with funny names and Wanda will not feel isolated.
(यह संभव हो सकता है कि वाण्डा के परिवार ने जातीय भेदभाव से बचने के लिए दूसरे शहर में जाने का निर्णय लिया हो। एक बड़े शहर में लोग अपने जीवन के साथ ही व्यस्त रहते हैं और उनके पास दूसरों के मजाकिया नामों का मजाक उड़ाने का समय ही नहीं होता। साथ-ही-साथ वहाँ पर मजाकिया नामों वाले बहुत-से लोग होते हैं। इससे वाण्डा वहाँ पर अलग-थलग महसूस नहीं करेगी।)

2. Maddie thought her silence was as bad as Peggy’s teasing. Was she right?
(मैडी सोचती थी कि उसकी चुप्पी, पेग्गी के चिड़ाने जितनी ही बुरी थी। क्या वह सही थी?)
Answer:
Yes, Maddie thought that her silence was as bad as Peggy’s teasing. She thought that she was a cowards because she did not stop Peggy from teasing Wanda. Remaining silent amounted to supporting Peggy. She was right in thinking so.
(हाँ, मैडी सोचती थी कि उसकी चुप्पी भी पेग्गी के चिड़ाने के जितनी ही बुरी थी। वह स्वयं को कायर मानती थी क्योंकि वह पेग्गी को वाण्डा को चिड़ाने से नहीं रोकती थी। शांत रहने का मतलब पेग्गी को समर्थन देना था। ऐसा वह बिल्कुल सही सोच रही थी।)

3. Peggy says, “I never thought she had the 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 ?
(पेग्गी कहती है, “मैंने तो कभी सोचा भी नहीं था कि उसमें ऐसी बुद्धि भी है जिससे उसे पता चल जाएगा कि हम उसका मजाक उड़ा रहे थे। मैं तो उसे बिल्कुल गूंगी मानती थी। और हाँ, वह कितने अच्छे चित्र बना लेती है।” पेग्गी वाण्डा को गूंगी क्यों मानती थी? क्या बाद में उसने अपना दृष्टिकोण बदल लिया? ) ,.
Answer:
Peggy and other girls often teased Wanda. They made fun of her by asking her how many dresses she had. But Wanda never got angry. She would only draw her mouth tight. She would reply innocently that she had hundred dresses. She said everything silently and seriously. That is why Peggy thought that Wanda was dumb. Peggy changed her opinion later.
(पेग्गी और दूसरी लड़कियाँ प्रायः वाण्डा का मजाक उड़ाया करती थीं। वे उससे यह पूछकर कि उसके पास कितनी पोशाकें हैं उसका मजाक उड़ाती थीं। लेकिन वाण्डा को कभी गुस्सा नहीं आता था। वह केवल अपने मुँह को कसकर बंद कर लेती थी। वह भोलेपन से उत्तर दिया करती थी कि उसके पास एक सौ पोशाकें हैं। वह सब कुछ शांत और गंभीर भाव से कहती थी। यही कारण था कि पेग्गी वाण्डा को गूंगी समझती थी। पेग्गी ने बाद में अपने दृष्टिकोण को बदला।)

4. What important decision did Maddie make ? Why did she have to think hard to do so ?
(मैडी ने क्या महत्त्वपूर्ण निर्णय लिया? उसे ऐसा करने के लिए बहुत अधिक क्यों सोचना पड़ा?)
Answer:
Maddie decided that in future she would not just stand silently when someone was making fun of others. She would speak up even if that meant breaking Peggy’s friendship. She would not make anybody unhappy.
(मैडी ने निर्णय लिया कि भविष्य में वह उस समय एक मूकदर्शक बनकर खड़ी नहीं रहेगी जब कोई दूसरों का मजाक उड़ा रहा होगा। वह अपनी आवाज उठाएगी चाहे इससे पेग्गी की मित्रता ही क्यों न टूट जाए। वह किसी को भी दुख नहीं पहुंचाएगी।)

5. Why do you think Wanda gave Maddie and Peggy the drawings of the dresses ? Why are they surprised ?
(आपके विचार में वाण्डा ने मैडी और पेग्गी को पोशाकों के चित्र क्यों दिए थे ? वे हैरान क्यों हैं?)
Answer:
Wanda was a girl with a golden heart. Although Peggy made fun of her and Maddie kept silent, she never hated them. In her letter she asked her teacher to give a drawing each to.Peggy and Maddie. This shows that Wanda did not hate them. She was above petty things like dresses etc. She had great human qualities.
(वाण्डा एक सुनहरी हृदय वाली लड़की थी। यद्यपि पेग्गी उसका मजाक उड़ाया करती थी और मैडी उसे चुपचाप देखा करती थी, फिर भी वह उनसे नफरत नहीं करती थी। टीचर के नाम अपने पत्र में वह अपना एक-एक चित्र पेग्गी और मैडी को देने के लिए कहती है। इससे पता चलता है कि वाण्डा उनसे घृणा नहीं करती थी। वह पोशाकों जैसी छोटी-छोटी चीजों से कहीं ऊपर थी। उसमें महान् मानवीय गुण थे।)

6. Do you think Wanda really thought the girls were teasing her ? Why or Why not?
(आपके विचार में क्या वाण्डा सचमुच जानती थी कि लड़कियाँ उसे चिड़ा रही हैं? क्यों अथवा क्यों नहीं ?)
Answer:
Yes, she really thought so. She was an intelligent and sensitive girl. She had more understanding and maturity of mind than others. But she was very wise. She never hated even those who laughed at her. She forgave Peggy and Maddie and gifted them two of her drawings.
(हाँ, वह सचमुच में ऐसा सोचती थी। वह एक बुद्धिमान और भावुक लड़की थी। उसमें दूसरों की अपेक्षा अधिक समझ और मन की परिपक्वता थी। लेकिन वह बहुत बुद्धिमान थी। वह कभी उनसे भी नफरत नहीं करती थी जो उस पर हँसते थे। उसने पेग्गी और मैडी को क्षमा कर दिया और अपने दो चित्र उन्हें भेंट कर दिए।)

Thinking about Language

I. Here are thirty adjectives describing human qualities. Discuss them with your partner and put them into two word webs (given below) according to whether you think they show positive or negative qualities. You can consult a dictionary if you are not sure of the meanings of some of the words. You may also add to the list the positive or negative ‘pair of a given word.

kind, sarcastic, courteous, arrogant, insipid, timid, placid, cruel, haughty, proud, zealous, intrepid, sensitive, compassionate, introverted, stolid, cheerful, contented, thoughtless, vain, friendly, unforgiving, fashionable, generous, talented, lonely, determined, creative, miserable, complacent

Answer:
Meant for class level. These adjectives can be classified as given below :
im

II. 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, arrogant, cruel, haughty, proud, zealous, thoughtless, vain, unforgiving.
2. Wanda : kind, courteous, intrepid, sensitive, compassionate, introverted, contented, friendly, generous, talented, lonely, determined, creative, complacent.
3. Maddie : insipid, timid, placid, stolid.

III. 1. Find the sentences in the story with the following phrasal verbs.

lined up
thought up
took off
stood by
Answer:
(a) “Yeah, a hundred and all lined up,” said Wanda.
(b) Peggy, who had thought up this game, and Maddie, her inseparable friend, were always the last to leave.
(c) Miss Mason took off her glasses.
(d) She had stood by silently and that just as bad as Peggy had done.

2. Look up these phrasal verbs in a dictionary to find out if they can be used in some other way. (Look at the entries for line, think, take and stand in the dictionary.) Find out what other prepositions can go with these verbs. What does each of these phrasal verbs mean?
Answer:
Line with-
lined with trees
line up (form a queue)
line something up (arrange or organize)

Think up-
(make a plan)
think about (recall)
think ahead (anticipate)
think back (recall, reconsider)
Think over (reflect upon)

Take off-
(remove)
take on (assume)
take out (bring out )
take over (take charge of)
take away (bought)

Stand by-
(stand near, give support)
stand back (move back)
stand down (leave the witness box)
stand in (take someone’s place)
stand out (be prominent)

3. Use at least five such phrasal verbs in sentences of your own.
Answer:
(i) Line with : This road is lined with beautiful trees.
(ii) Think about : I thought about what I had done and felt regret.
(iii) Took off : He took off his shirt and jumped into the river.
(iv) Stood by : My friend has always stood by me through thick and thin.
(v) Take over : The new manager has taken over the charge of his office.

IV. Colours are used to describe feelings, moods and emotions. Match the following ‘colour expressions’ with a suggested paraphrase.

(i) the Monday morning blues — feel embarrassed/angry/ashamed
(ii) go red in the face – feel very sick, as if about to vomit
(iii) look green – sadness or depression after a weekend of fun .
(iv) the red carpet – the sign or permission to begin an action
(v) blue-blooded – a sign of surrender or acceptance of defeat, a wish to stop fighting
(vi) a green belt in an unlawful act; while doing something wrong
(vii) a blackguard a photographic print of building plans; a detailed plan or scheme
(viii) a grey area
land around a town or city where construction is prohibited
by law
(ix) a white flag :- an area of a subject or a situation where matters are not very clear
(x) a blueprint – a dishonest person with no sense of right or wrong
(xi) red-handed – a special welcome
(xii) the green light – of noble birth or from a royal family
Answer:
(i) the Monday morning blues – sadness or depression after a weekend of fun (ii) go red in the face — feel/embarrassed/angry/ashamed
(ii) look green – feel very sick, as if about to vomit
(iv) the red carpet – a special welcome
(v) blue-blooded – of noble birth or from a royal family
(vi) a green belt — land around a town or city where construction is prohibited by law
(vii) a blackguard – a dishonest person with no sense of right or wrong
(viii) a grey area – an area of a subject or a situation where matters are not very clear
(ix) a white flag – a sign of surrender or acceptance of defeat, a wish to stop fighting
(x) a blueprint – a photographic print of building plans; a detailed plan or scheme
(xi) red-handed – in an unlawful act; while doing something wrong
(xii) the green light – the sign or permission to begin an action.

Speaking

Role Play The story of Wanda Petronski presents many characters engaged in many kinds of behaviour (teasing, playing, sitting in class. ….). Form groups. Choose an episode or episodes from the story. Assign roles to each member of the group from that episode, and try to act it out like a play, using the words in the story.
Answer:
For doing at class level.

Writing

1. Look again at the letter which Wanda’s father writes to Miss Mason, Wanda’s teacher. Mr Petronski is not quite aware how to write a formal letter in English. Can you rewrite it more appropriately ? Discuss the following with your partner before you do so.

The format of a formal letter: How to begin the letter and how to end it; the language of the letter needs to be formal. (Avoid informal words like “holler” and fragments like “No more ask why funny name.”) Write complete sentences.
Answer:
For discussion with a partner at class level. The following language shall help in understanding the appropriateness of language for such letters. The formal letter shall be written like the one given below:

Dear Miss Mason
I am father of Wanda Petronski. I wish to inform you that my daughter, Wanda, shall not be able to come to your school any more. Jake is also leaving your school. We all are moving away to another city. In a big city nobody makes fun of someone because of his long and funny name. We hope that in that city we shall have good times.

Thanking you
Yours sincerely
Jan Petronski

2. Are you interested in drawing and painting ? Ritu Kumar, one of India’s best known dress designers, has no formal training in designing. She started by sketching ideas for her own dresses, and getting them stitched by a tailor. Ritu’s friends liked her dresses so much that they asked her to design clothes for them, and even paid her for it!

Imagine you are going to make a career out of your hobby. What sort of things will you need to learn ? Write a paragraph or two on this topic after consulting an expert or doing reference work on your chosen area.
Answer:
Students should themselves undertake such tasks.

3. Rewrite a part of the story as if Wanda is telling us her own story.
Answer:
I have left my old school as my family has moved to a big city. In that school, I had a very bad time. There was racial discrimination. Some girls laughed at me because of my strange and long name. They considered me a foreigner. Although, they did not say it openly, yet it was clear that they made fun of me because of my poverty. I came to the school daily in a blue faded dress. That is why they asked me how many dresses I had in my closet. I always tried to evade their answers. I said that I had a hundred dresses. And when my back was turned, I could hear their laughter and giggling. My teacher, Miss Mason was a kind and understanding teacher. The two girls, Peggy and Maddie also joined the girls in making fun of me. However, Maggie never said anything. But she did not stop Peggy either. My father was hurt when I told him these things. In the end, he decided to leave that city and move to a big city. Now, in this city, I am at peace. However, I often remember my school and my teacher.

HBSE 10th Class English The Hundred Dresses Part 2 Important Questions and Answers

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
What was the content of Mr Petronski’s letter ?
Answer:
The letter said that Wanda would come no more to that school because students made fun of her strange name.

Question 2.
Where was Wanda’s family moving ?
Answer:
Her family was moving to a big city.

Question 3.
Who read Mr Petronski’s letter to the class ?
Answer:
Miss Mason read Mr Petronski’s letter to the class.

Question 4.
What happened when Miss Mason read the letter ?
Answer:
There was a deep silence in the class.

Question 5.
What did Miss Mason say about the hurting of any one’s feeling ?
Answer:
She said that it was unfortunate and sad to hurt someone’s feelings.

Question 6.
Why did Maddie have a sick feeling at the bottom of her stomach ?
Answer:
Maddie felt it very bad of making fun of Wanda by Peggy for her poverty.

Question 7.
Where did Peggy and Maddie go that evening after the school hours ?
Answer:
They both went to the Boggins Heights to meet Wanda.

Question 8.
What did Wanda’s house remind Maddie of ?
Answer:
Wanda’s shabby but clean house reminded Maddie of her faded blue cotton dress.

Question 9.
Who did Maddie and Peggy write a letter to ?
Answer:
They wrote a letter to Wanda

Question 10.
What gift did Wanda give to Peggy ?
Answer:
She gave her the drawing of a dress with green colour.

Question 11.
What gift did Wanda give to Maddie ?
Answer:
She gave her the drawing of a dress with blue colours.

Question 12.
What did Maddie find when she looked at the drawing intently ?
Answer:
She found that the head and face in the drawing resembled her own.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Which drawing did Wanda ask to give to Peggy ? (वाण्डा ने पेग्गी को कौन-सा चित्र देने के लिए कहा?)
Answer:
Wanda wrote in the letter that she would like Peggy to have the drawing of the green dress with the red trimming.
(वाण्डा ने अपने पत्र में लिखा कि वह चाहेगी कि पेग्गी लाल गोटा लगी हुई हरी पोशाक का चित्र ले जाए।)

Question 2.
Where had Maddie pinned Wanda drawing in her bed room ? (मैडी ने वाण्डा के चित्र को अपने कमरे में कहाँ लगा दिया?).
Answer:
Maddie carried Wanda’s drawing carefully. She pinned her drawing over a torn place in the pinkflowered wall paper in her bedroom. The shabby room came alive from the brilliancy of the colours.
(मैडी वाण्डा के चित्र को सावधानीपूर्वक ले गई। उसने उस चित्र को अपने शयनकक्ष की गुलाबी फूलों वाले दीवारी कागज के एक फटे हुए स्थान पर लगा दिया। शानदार रंगों के कारण वह भद्दा-सा दिखने वाला कमरा सजीव हो उठा।)

Question 3.
What did Wanda do for the dresses ? .. (वाण्डा ने पोशाकों का क्या किया था?)
Answer:
Wanda gave away hundred dresses to the girls and blue as well as green to Maddie and Peggy respectively. .
(वाण्डा ने सभी सौ पोशाकें लड़कियों को दे दी और नीली तथा हरी पोशाकें क्रमशः मैडी और पेग्गी को दे दी।)

Question 4.
Mention the important conclusion of Maddie. (मैडी के द्वारा लिए गए महत्त्वपूर्ण निष्कर्ष के विषय में बताइए।)
Answer:
Maddie was deeply troubled. She took up an important decision. She found that if anyone speaks unkindly she would speak up. She would not make anybody unhappy again.
(मैडी बहुत अधिक व्यथित थी। उसने एक महत्त्वपूर्ण निर्णय लिया। उसने तय किया कि यदि कोई निर्दयतापूर्वक बोलता है तो वह उसके खिलाफ बोलेगी। अब वह कभी भी किसी को दुखी नहीं करेगी।)

Question 5.
How did Peggy and Maddie find Wanda house at Boggins Heights ? (पेग्गी और मैडी ने बोगिंस हाईट्स पर वाण्डा के घर को कैसे पाया?)
Answer:
They found that it was a little white house. Straws of old grass stuck up here and there along the pathway. The house and its little yard looked shabby but clean.
(उन्होंने पाया कि वह एक छोटा-सा सफेद घर था। पुराने घास के तिनके रास्ते के साथ-साथ लगे हुए थे। घर और उसका छोटा-सा आँगन भद्दे दिख रहे थे परंतु स्वच्छ थे।)

Question 6.
How was Room Thirteen decorated ? (कमरा नंबर तेरह कैसे सजाया गया?)
Answer:
Room Thirteen was decorated with Christmas bells and a small tree. (कमरा नंबर तेरह क्रिसमस घंटियों और एक छोटे-से पेड़ के साथ सजाया गया।)

Essay Type Question

Question 1.
What did Wanda’s father wrote in his letter ? How did Maddie feel after listening to that . letter ?
(वाण्डा के पिता ने अपने पत्र में क्या लिखा? उस पत्र को सुनकर मैडी को कैसा लगा?)
Answer:
In his letter, Wanda’s father had informed Miss Mason that Wanda would not come to the school any more. They were moving to a big city. In that city nobody would consider her name funny and laugh at her. The entire class became silent and felt bad about Wanda. Miss Mason understood their feelings. She told them that no one should hurt anyone’s feelings because his or her name was long or funny. She said that what had happened in the school about Wanda was bad. She asked them to think about that. Maddie listened to what Miss Mason said about Wanda. She could not concentrate on her studies. She had a sick feeling. It was true that she had never made fun of Wanda herself. But at the same time, she had not objected Peggy’s asking Wanda about her dresses. She felt that she was a coward.

(अपने पत्र में, वाण्डा के पिता ने मिस मेसन को सूचित किया था कि अब वाण्डा उस स्कूल में और अधिक नहीं आएगी। वे एक बड़े शहर में जा रहे थे। उस शहर में कोई भी उसके नाम को मजाकिया नहीं मानेगा और उस पर हँसेगा नहीं। सारी कक्षा शांत हो गई और उन्हें वाण्डा के बारे में बुरा लगा। मिस मेसन ने उनकी भावनाओं को समझ लिया। उसने उन्हें बताया कि किसी को भी दूसरे की भावनाओं को आहत नहीं करना चाहिए क्योंकि उसका नाम लंबा है अथवा मजाकिया। उसने कहा कि स्कूल में वाण्डा के साथ जो कुछ भी हुआ वह बुरा था। उसने उन्हें उसके बारे में विचार करने को कहा। मैडी ने मिस मेसन के द्वारा वाण्डा के बारे में कही गई सारी बातें सुनीं। वह अपनी पढ़ाई पर ध्यान केंद्रित न कर सकी। उसे एक अस्वस्थ भावना का अहसास हो रहा था। यह सच था कि उसने स्वयं कभी वाण्डा का मजाक नहीं उड़ाया था। लेकिन साथ-ही-साथ उसने कभी भी पेग्गी के द्वारा वाण्डा से उसकी पोशाकों के बारे में पूछे जाने का विरोध नहीं किया था। उसे लगता था कि वह तो कायर है।)

Question 2.
What did Maddie decide to do after listening to the letter from Wanda’s father ? (वाण्डा के पिता के पत्र को सुनने के पश्चात् मैडी ने क्या करने का निर्णय लिया?)
Answer:
Maddie wondered if she could do anything. She wanted to meet Wanda and tell her that she had never meant to hurt her feelings. She made up her mind to go to her house and tell Wanda that she had won the contest and her hundred dresses were beautiful. She decided that she would find out Wanda Petronski. She and Peggy would go to her house to meet her. When school was over, Maddie told Peggy to go to Wanda’s house. They walked towards her colony. On the way, Peggy said that she had never called Wanda a foreigner. She always thought that Wanda was a dumb girl. She never imagined that Wanda could sense the girls had been making fun of her. Maddie said nothing. She just wanted to meet Wanda and tell her that they were sorry for their rude treatment. She would request her not to move away.

(मैडी हैरान थी कि क्या वह कुछ कर सकती थी। वह वाण्डा से मिलकर उसे यह बताना चाहती थी कि उसका आशय कभी भी उसकी भावनाओं को आहत करना नहीं था। उसने अपना मन बनाया कि वह वाण्डा के घर जाएगी और उसे बताएगी कि उसने मुकाबला जीत लिया है और उसकी सौ पोशाकें बहुत सुंदर थीं। उसने तय कर लिया कि वह वाण्डा पेट्रोसकी का पता लगाएगी। वह और पेग्गी उससे मिलने के लिए उसके घर जाएँगी। जब स्कूल की छुट्टी हुई तो मैडी न पेग्गी से वाण्डा के घर चलने को कहा। वे उसकी कालोनी की ओर चले। रास्ते में पेग्गी ने कहा कि उसने वाण्डा को कभी भी विदेशी नहीं कहा है। वह तो हमेशा ही वाण्डा को एक गूंगी लड़की मानती थी। वह कभी भी ऐसा नहीं मानती थी कि वाण्डा को पता होगा कि अन्य लड़कियाँ उसका मजाक उड़ा रही हैं। मैडी ने कुछ नहीं कहा। वह तो केवल वाण्डा से मिलना चाहती थी और उसे यह बताना चाहती थी कि उन्हें अपने अभद्र व्यवहार का खेद है। वह उससे वहाँ से न जाने की प्रार्थना करेगी।)

Question 3.
What happened when Maddie and Peggy reached to Wanda’s house ? What decision did Maddie make ?
(जब मैडी और पेग्गी वाण्डा के घर पहुँचे तो क्या हुआ? मैडी ने क्या निर्णय लिया?)
Answer:
Peggy and Maddie found Wanda’s house in Boggins Heights. The house looked shabby but clean. It reminded Maddie of Wanda’s one dress. But there was no one in the house. Peggy knocked at the door. There was no response. Wanda and her family had already left the place. They came back. Peggy said that her asking Wanda about her dresses actually helped her. Otherwise, perhaps she might not have won the drawing contest. But Maddie was not satisfied. She could not sleep that night. She thought of Wanda, her drawings and her house. At last she made a decision. She decided that she would not keep quiet if someone made fun of anybody before her. She would not mind even she had to lose Peggy’s friendship. She had no way of making things right with Wanda, but now she would never make anybody unhappy.

(पेग्गी और मैड़ी ने बोगिंस हाईट्स में वाण्डा का घर खोज निकाला। घर भद्दा लेकिन स्वच्छ दिखाई दे रहा था। यह मैडी को वाण्डा की एक पोशाक की याद दिला रहा था। लेकिन घर में कोई नहीं था। पेग्गी ने दरवाजे पर दस्तक दी। लेकिन किसी ने उत्तर नहीं दिया। वाण्डा और उसका परिवार पहले ही उस स्थान को छोड़कर जा चुके थे। वे वापस आ गईं। पेग्गी ने कहा कि पोशाकों के बारे में उसके द्वारा पूछे गए सवालों ने उसकी बहुत अधिक मदद की है। वरना, शायद वह चित्रकारी मुकाबला नहीं जीत सकती थी। लेकिन मैडी संतुष्ट नहीं थी। वह उस रात सो न सकी। वह वाण्डा, उसके चित्रों और उसके घर के बारे में सोचती रही। अंततः उसने एक निर्णय लिया। उसने तय किया कि भविष्य में यदि कोई उसके सामने किसी का भी मजाक उड़ाएगा तो वह चुप नहीं. रहेगी। इसके लिए वह पेग्गी की मित्रता के खो जाने की भी परवाह नहीं करेगी। उसके पास वाण्डा के साथ मामलों को सही करने का कोई रास्ता नहीं था, लेकिन अब वह किसी को भी दुखी नहीं करेगी।)

Question 4.
What did Peggy and Maddie write to Wanda ? What happened on the last day of the school before Christmas ?
(पेग्गी और मैडी ने वाण्डा को क्या लिखा? क्रिममस से पहले स्कूल के आखिरी दिन क्या हुआ?)
Answer:
Peggy and Maddie wrote a letter to Wanda. They praised Wanda’s drawings. They wrote to her that she had won the contest. A number of days passed but there was no answer from Wanda. Peggy had begun to forget the whole incident. Maddie tried to sleep at night making speeches about Wanda. Then it was Christmas time. On the last day of the school, Miss Mason received a letter from Wanda. She showed the letter to the class and read it. Wanda had written that the girls could keep those hundred dresses because in her new house she had hundred new ones. She had gifted the green dress with the red trimmings to Peggy. She wrote that Maddie could have the blue dress. She wished merry Christmas to all. They accepted the drawings. On the way home Peggy and Maddie held their drawings very carefully:

(पेग्गी और मैडी ने वाण्डा को एक पत्र लिखा। उन्होंने वाण्डा के चित्रों की प्रशंसा की। उन्होंने उसे लिखा कि उसने मुकाबला जीत लिया था। बहुत दिन बीत गए परंतु वाण्डा का कोई पत्र नहीं आया। पेग्गी ने तो इस सारी घटना को ही भूलना शुरू कर दिया था। मैडी रात को वाण्डा के बारे में भाषण तैयार करते हुए सोने का प्रयास करती थी। तब क्रिसमस के त्योहार का समय आ गया। स्कूल में आखिरी दिन मिस मेसन को वाण्डा का एक पत्र प्राप्त हुआ। उसने वह पत्र कक्षा को दिखाया और उसे पढ़ा। वाण्डा ने लिखा था कि लड़कियाँ उन सभी सौ पोशाकों को अपने पास रख सकती थीं क्योंकि उसके नए घर में उसके पास सौ पोशाकें और
थीं। उसने लाल गोटे वाली हरी पोशाक पेग्गी को भेंट कर दी। उसने लिखा कि नीली पोशाक मैडी ले सकती थी। उसने सभी को क्रिसमस की शुभ कामनाएँ दीं। उन्होंने चित्रों को स्वीकार कर लिया। घर लौटते समय पेग्गी और मैडी अपने चित्रों को बड़ी सावधानी से सँभाल रही थीं।)

Question 5.
How did Maddie and Peggy realize that Wanda loved them ? (मैडी और पेग्गी ने कैसे महसूस किया कि वाण्डा उन्हें प्यार करती थी?)
Answer:
Maddie was missing Wanda too much. There were tears in her eyes. She felt sad to think that she would never see Wanda again. She felt that Wanda had been nice to her. She gazed at the drawing for a long time. Suddenly, she noticed the face and head in the drawing. It looked like her own head and face. She was excited to find that Wanda had made that drawing specially for her. She ran to Peggy’s house. She told Peggy that Wanda had drawn the drawing for her. Then they saw her drawing also. There was Peggy’s face in the drawing. Peggy was also happy to see that the face and head of the drawing looked like her. Peggy told Maddie that Wanda really liked them. There were tears in Maddie’s eyes every time, she thought of Wanda Petronski.

(मैडी को वाण्डा की बहुत अधिक याद आ रही थी। उसकी आँखों में आँसू थे। वह यह सोचकर उदास हो जाती थी कि अब कभी वह वाण्डा से नहीं मिल पाएगी। उसे लगता था कि वाण्डा उसके प्रति अच्छी थी। वह बहुत देर तक चित्र की ओर निहारती रही। अचानक ही उसने चित्र में बने चेहरे और सिर को देखा। यह उसके सिर और चेहरे जैसा था। वह यह जानकर उत्तेजित हुई कि वाण्डा ने वह चित्र खासतौर पर उसी के लिए बनाया था। वह भागकर पेग्गी के घर गई। उसने पेग्गी को बताया कि वाण्डा ने वह चित्र उसी के लिए बनाया था। तब उन्होंने उसका चित्र भी देखा। इस चित्र में पेग्गी का चेहरा था। पेग्गी भी यह देखकर खुश . . थी कि चित्र का चेहरा और सिर उसके जैसा दिखाई देता है। पेग्गी ने मैडी को बताया कि वाण्डा सचमुच ही उन्हें पसंद करती थी। जब भी मैडी वाण्डा पेट्रोसकी के विषय में सोचती थी तो हर बार उसकी आँखों में आँसू आ जाते थे।)

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1.
Who wrote a letter to Miss Mason ?
(A) Mr Petronski
(B) the headmistress .
(C) Peggy .
(D) Maddie
Answer:
(A) Mr Petronski

Question 2.
What was the content of Mr Petronski’s letter ?
(A) grant leave to Wanda for one month
(B) Wanda will not come to school any more
(C) Wanda will attend the school regularly
(D) none of the above
Answer:
(B) Wanda will not come to school any more

Question 3.
Who read Mr Petronski’s letter to the class ?
(A) the headmistress
(B) Peggy
(C) Maddie
(D) Miss Mason
Answer:
(D) Miss Mason

Question 4.
Who visited Boggins Heights that evening ?
(A) Peggy
(B) Maddie
(C) both (A) and (B)
(D) none of the above
Answer:
(C) both (A) and (B)

Question 5.
Where had Wanda’s family gone ?
(A) to a village
(B) to a big city
(C) to their own country
(D) none of the above
Answer:
(B) to a big city

Question 6.
Who has hurt the feelings of Wanda ?
(A) Peggy
(B) Maddie
(C) Miss Mason
(D) the whole class
Answer:
(D) the whole class

Question 7.
Who wrote a letter to Wanda ?
(A) Miss Mason
(B) the headmistress
(C) both Peggy and Maddie
(D) none of the above
Answer:
(C) both Peggy and Maddie

Question 8.
Where did Peggy and Maddie mail the letter to Wanda ?
(A) Boggirts Heights
(B) the big city
(C) Poland
(D) none of the above
Answer:
(A) Boggins Heights

Question 9.
How did Wanda’s house at Boggins Heights look ?
(A) shabby
(B) clean
(C) both (A) and (B)
(D) beautiful
Answer:
(C) both (A) and (B)

Question 10.
Who is Miss Mason ?
(A) headmistress
(B) teacher
(C) Wanda’s mother
(D) a student
Answer:
(B) teacher

Question 11.
Who did Wanda send a letter to ?
(A) Peggy
(B) Maddie
(C) the headmistress
(D) Miss Mason
Answer:
(D) Miss Mason

Question 12.
Who was really troubled over Wanda’s incident ?
(A) Peggy
(B) Maddie
(C) Miss Mason
(D) all of the above
Answer:
(B) Maddie

Question 13.
What drawing did Peggy get ?
(A) the green coloured dress with red trimmings
(B) the blue coloured dress the hundred dresses
(D) all of the above
Answer:
(A) the green coloured dress with red trimmings

Question 14.
What drawing did Maddie get ?
(A) the green dress with red trimmings
(B) the blue dress
(C) all the hundred dresses
(D) none of the above
Answer:
(B) the blue dress

Question 15.
Who did Maddie find in her bedroom drawing ?
(A) Peggy
(B) Wanda Petronski.
(C) Maddie herself
(D) an unknown girl
Answer:
(C) Maddie herself

The Hundred Dresses Part 2 Important Passages for Comprehension

Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow :

PASSAGE 1

While the class was circling the room, the monitor from the principal’s office brought Miss Mason a note. Miss Mason read it several times and studied it thoughtfully for a while. Then, she clapped her hands.
“Attention, class. Everyone back to their seat.”
When the shuffling of feet had stopped and the room was still and quiet, Miss Mason said, “I have a letter from Wanda’s father that I want to read to you.”
Miss Mason stood there a moment and the silence in the room grew tense and expectant. The teacher adjusted her glasses slowly and deliberately. Her månner indicated that what was coming—this letter from Wanda’s father—was a matter of great importance. Everybody listened closely as Miss Mason read the brief note.

Word-meanings : Circling = moving around (आसपास घूमना); shuffling = making sound of feet while walking (चलते समय पैरों से आवाज़ करना); tense = serious (गंभीर); deliberately = knowingly (जान-बूझकर); brief = short (संक्षिप्त )

Questions :

(a) What happened when the class was circling the room ?
(b) Why did Miss Mason read the letter of Wanda’s father several times ?
What happened when she said that she wanted to read the letter to the class ?
(d) How did Miss Mason treat the letter of Wanda’s father ?
(e) Find a word from the passage which means ‘showed’.
Answers :
(a) The monitor from the principal’s office came and brought a note to Miss Mason.
(b) She read it several times because it had important things about the class.
(c) The shuffling of feet stopped and the room became calm and quiet.
(d) She treated the letter as something very important.
(e) ‘indicated’.

PASSAGE 2

A deep silence met the reading of this letter. Miss Mason took off her glasses, blew on them and wiped them on her soft white handkerchief. Then she put them on again and looked at the class. When she spoke her voice was very low.
“I am sure that none of the boys and girls in Room Thirteen would purposely and deliberately hurt anyone’s feelings because his or her name happened to be a long, unfamiliar one. I prefer to think that what was said was said in thoughtlessness. I know that all of you feel the way I do, that this is a very unfortunate thing to have happened—unfortunate and sad, both. And I want you all to think about it.”

Word-meanings : Unfamiliar = unacuainted (अपरिचित); thoughtlessness = without thinking (बिना सोचे); unfortunate = unlucky (अभागा)

Questions :

(a) What happened when Miss Mason read the letter ?
(b) How did Miss Mason behave after reading the letter ?
(c) What did Miss Mason say about the hurting of anyone’s feelings ?
(d) What advice did she give to the class ?
(e) Find a word from the passage which means ‘injure’.
Answers :
(a) There was a deep silence in the class.
(b) She took off her glasses, blew on them and wiped them on her handkerchief. ”
(c) She said that it was ‘unfortunate and sad’ to hurt someone’s feeling. .
(d) She advised the class to think about the incident deeply.
(e) ‘hurt.

PASSAGE 3

The first period was a study period. Maddie tried to prepare her lessons, but she could not put her mind on her work. She had a very sick feeling in the bottom of her stomach. True, she had not enjoyed listening to Peggy ask Wanda how many dresses she had in her closet, but she had said nothing. She had stood by silently, and that was just as bad as what Peggy had done. Worse. She was a coward. At least Peggy hadn’t considered they were being mean but she, Maddie, had thought they were doing wrong. She could put herself in Wanda’s shoes.

Word-meanings : Closet = almirah (अलमारी ); coward = lacking courage (कायर); mean = with bad meantality (कमीना)

Questions :

(a) How did Maddie feel in the first period ?
(b) How did Maddie behave when Peggy teased Wanda ?
(c) What had Maddie not enjoyed ?
(d) Why did Maddie think that she herself was a coward & mean?
(e) Find words from the passage which mean the same as : (a) almirah, (b) lacking courage.
Answers :
(a) In the first period, Maddie had a very sick feeling at the bottom of her stomach.
(b) She felt very bad.
(c) She had not enjoyed listening to Peggy ask Wanda how many dresses she had in her closet.
(d) Maddie thought that she herself was a coward because she remained silent when Peggy teared Wanda.
(e) (a) closet, (b) coward.

PASSAGE 4

“I think that’s where the Petronskis live,” said Maddie, pointing to a little white house. Wisps of old grass stuck up here and there along the pathway like thin kittens. The house and its sparse little yard looked shabby but clean. It reminded Maddie of Wanda’s one dress, her faded blue cotton dress, shabby but clean.
There was not a sign of life about the house. Peggy knocked firmly on the door, but there was no answer. She and Maddie went around to the backyard and knocked there. Still there was no answer.
There was no doubt about it. The Petronskis were gone. How could they ever make amends ? ‘ They turned slowly and made their way back down the hill.

Word-meanings : Wisps = pieces (टुकड़े); kittens = young ones of cats (बिल्ली के बच्चे); sparse = not dense (पतला); shabby = simple and cheap (सादा एवं सस्ता)।

Questions :

(a) Why did Maddie and Peggy go Wanda’s house?
(b) How did Wanda’s house look ?
(c) What did Wanda’s house remind Maddie of?
(d) Were Maddie and Peggy able to meet Wanda ?
(e) Find a word from the passage which means ‘young ones of cats’.
Answers :
(a) They went to Wanda’s house to feel sorry what they had done to Wanda.
(b) Wanda’s house looked shabby but clean.
(c) Wanda’s house reminded Maddie of Wanda’s one dress, her faded blue cotton dress.
(d) No, they were not able to meet her as Wanda’s family had already moved to another city:
(e) ‘kittens’.

PASSAGE 5

Maddie turned this idea carefully over in her head, for if there were anything in it she would not have to feel so badly. But that night she could not get to sleep. She thought about Wanda and her faded blue dress and the little house she had lived in. And she thought of the glowing picture those hundred dresses made—all lined up in the classroom. At last Maddie sat up in bed and pressed her forehead tight in her hands and really thought. This was the hardest thinking she had ever done. After a long, long time, she reached an important conclusion.

She was never going to stand by and say nothing again.
If she ever heard anybody picking on someone because they were funny looking or because they had strange names, she’d speak up. Even if it meant losing Peggy’s friendship. She had no way of making things right with Wanda, but from now on she would never make anybody else that unhappy again.

Word-meanings : Faded = insipid (फीका); glowing = beautiful (सुंदर); conclusion = result (परिणाम); picking on someone = teasing someone (किसी को तंग करना) |

Questions :

(a) Maddie could not sleep that night. What did she think about ?
(b) What did Maddie do at last ?
(c) What was the hardest thing she had ever done ?
(d) What decision did Maddie take that night ?
(e) Find a phrase from the passage which means ‘teasing someone’.
Answers :
(a) She thought Wanda and her faded blue dress and her little house.
(b) She sat up in bed and pressed her forehead tight in her hands and really thought about the matter.
(c) Thinking really was the hardest thing she had ever done.
(d) She decided that from now onwards she would not make anybody unhappy again.
(e) “picking on someone’.

PASSAGE 6

Now it was Christmas time and there was snow on the ground. Christmas bells and a small tree decorated the classroom. On the last day of school before the holidays, the teacher showed the class a letter she had received that morning.
“You remember Wanda Petronski, the gifted little artist who won the drawing contest? Well, she has written me, and I am glad to know where she lives, because now I can send her medal. I want to read her letter to you.” The class sat up with a sudden interest and listened intently.

Word-meanings : Decorated = (here) beautiful (सुंदर), gifted = talented (गुणी), glad=happy (प्रसन्ना )

Questions :

(a) Name the chapter and its author.
(b) When and how was the classroom decorated?
(c) From whom did the teacher receive the letter and when?
(d) Why was the teacher glad to have this letter?
(e) How did the class react to what the teacher was saying?
Answers :
(a) The name of the chapter is ‘The Hundred Dressés-II’ and author is Eleanor Estes.
(b) The classroom was decorated with bells and small tree on the occasion of christmas.
(c) The teacher received the letter from wanda that morning.
(d) The teacher was glad to receive this letter because she came to know where Wanda lived.
(e) The class sat up with a sudden interest and listened intently.

PASSAGE 7

On Saturday Maddie spent the afternoon with Peggy. They were writing a letter to Wanda Petronski. It was just a friendly letter telling about the contest and telling Wanda she had won. They told her how pretty her drawings were. And they asked her if she liked where she was living and if she liked her new teacher. They had meant to say they were sorry, but it ended up with their just writing a friendly letter, the kind they would have written to any good friend, and they signed it with lots of X’s for love. They mailed the letter to Boggins Heights, writing ‘Please Forward’ on the envelope.

Days passed and there was no answer, but the letter did not come back, so maybe Wanda had received it. Perhaps she was so hurt and angry she was not going to answer. You could not blame her.

Word-meanings : Contest = competition (मुकाबला); mailed = sent by post (डाक से भेजना); maybe = perhaps (शायद); blame = censure (दोष लगाना)।

Questions :

(a) What did they write about in the letter?
(b) What did they mean to say by their letter ?
(c) What did they write to Wanda about her drawings ?
(d) Why did they write “Please Forward’ on the letter ?
(e) Find out a word from the passage similar in meaning to ‘Censure’.
Answers :
(a) They wrote about the painting contest and told Wanda that she had won.
(b) They meant to say sorry him their letter.
(c) They wrote to Wanda that her drawing were very pretty.
(d) They wrote ‘Please Forward’ on the letter because Wanda’s family was not living at Boggins Heights, now. They had moved to a new place.
(e) Blame.

The Hundred Dresses Part 2 Summary in English

The Hundred Dresses Part 2 Introduction in English

In this Lesson the author teaches us a lesson of not to hurt anybody’s feelings. All the girls in the school made fun of Wanda, a Polish girl. As a result she left the school. Then the feeling of repentance arose among the students who teased Wanda. Peggy and Maddie even goes to her house to stop her from leaving that place but they could not meet her as she had already left. They write a letter to her accepting their fault. Wanda sends a letter to Miss Mason on the eve of Christmas. She greets everybody ‘Merry Christmas’ and give them the gifts of her paintings.

The Hundred Dresses Part 2 Summary in English

The students were circling the room and admiring the dress designs made by Wanda. A notice from the principal’s office came. Miss Mason told the class that she had received a letter from Wanda’s father. She said that she was going to read it before the class. The students got ready to listen. In his letter, Wanda’s father had informed Miss Mason that Wanda would not come to the school any more. They were moving to big city. In that city nobody would consider her name funny and laugh at her.

The entire class became silent and felt bad about Wanda. Miss Mason understood their feelings. She told them that no one should hurt anyone’s feelings because his or her name was long or funny. She said that what had happened in the school about Wanda, was bad. She asked them to think about that. Maddie listened to what Miss Mason said about Wanda. She could not concentrate on her studies. She had a sick feeling. It was a true that she had never made fun of Wanda herself. But at the same time, she had not enjoyed Peggy’s asking Wanda about her dresses. On such occasions, she said nothing and stood silently. But that was also bad. She felt that she was a coward and never stopped Peggy from making fun of Wanda.

Maddie wondered if she could do anything. She wanted to meet Wanda and tell her that she had never meant to hurt her feelings. She made up her mind to go to her house and tell Wanda that she had won the contest and her hundred dresses were beautiful. She decided that she would find out Wanda Petronski. She and Peggy would go to her house to meet her. When school was over, Maddie told Peggy to go to Wanda’s house. They walked towards her colony. On the way, Peggy said that she had never called Wanda a foreigner. She always thought that Wanda was a dumb girl. She never imagined that Wanda could sense the girls had been making fun of her. Maddie said nothing. She just wanted to meet Wanda and tell her that they were sorry for their rude treatment. She would request her not to move away.

After sometime, Peggy and Maddie found Wanda’s house in the Boggins Heights. The house looked shabby but clean. It reminded Maddie of Wanda’s one dress. But there was no one in the house. Peggy knocked on the door. There was no response. Wanda and her family had already left the place. They came back. Peggy said that her asking Wanda about her dresses actually helped her. Otherwise, perhaps she might not have won the drawing contest. But Maddie was not satisfied. She could not sleep that night. She thought of Wanda, her drawings and her house. At last, she made a decision. She decided that she would not keep quiet if someone made fun of anybody before her. She would not mind even she had to lose Peggy’s friendship. She had no way of making things right with Wanda, but now she would never make anybody unhappy.

On Saturday, Peggy and Maddie wrote a letter to Wanda. It was just a friendly letter. They praised Wanda’s drawings. They wrote to her that she had won the contest. They mailed it to Boggins Heights with the request that it be sent to her new address: A number of days passed but there was no answer from Wanda. Peggy had begun to forget the whole incident. Maddie tried to sleep at night making speeches about Wanda.

Then it was Christmas time. On the last day of the school, Miss Mason received a letter from Wanda. She showed the letter to the class and read it. Wanda had written that the girls could keep those hundred dresses because in her new house she had hundred new ones. She had gifted the green dress with the red trimmings to Peggy. She wrote that Maddie could have the blue dress. She wished merry Christmas to all. They accepted the drawings. On the way home Peggy and Maddie held their drawings very carefully. They pinned the drawings in their bed rooms.

Maddie was missing Wanda too much. There were tears in her eyes. She felt sad to think that she would never see Wanda again. She felt that Wanda had been nice to her. She gazed at the drawing for a long time. Suddenly, she noticed the face and head in the drawing. It looked like her own head and face. She was excited to find that Wanda had made that drawing specially for her. She ran to Peggy’s house. She told Peggy that Wanda had drawn the drawing for her. Then they saw her drawing also. There was Peggy’s face in the drawing. Peggy was also happy to see that the face and head of the drawing looked like her. Peggy told Maddie that Wanda really liked them. There were tears in Maddie’s eyes every time she thought of Wanda Petronski.

The Hundred Dresses Part 2 Summary in Hindi

The Hundred Dresses Part 2 Introduction in Hindi

(इस लेख में लेखक हमें सबक सिखाता है कि हमें किसी भी व्यक्ति की भावनाओं को ठेस नहीं पहुँचानी चाहिए। स्कूल में सभी लड़कियाँ वाण्डा नाम की पोलैंड वासी एक लड़की का मजाक उड़ाया करती थीं। परिणामस्वरूप उसने स्कूल छोड़ दिया। तब उन विद्यार्थियों में, जो वाण्डा को चिड़ाया करते थे, पश्चाताप की भावना पैदा हुई। पेग्गी और मैडी तो उसके घर भी जाती हैं ताकि उसे वह स्थान छोड़कर जाने से रोक सकें लेकिन वे उससे नहीं मिल सकी क्योंकि वह पहले ही जा चुकी थी। वे अपनी गलती को स्वीकार करते हुए उसे एक पत्र लिखती हैं। वाण्डा क्रिसमस की पूर्व संध्या पर मिस मेसन को एक पत्र लिखती है। वह सभी को ‘क्रिसमस की शुभकामनाएँ देती है और उन्हें अपने चित्रों के उपहार देती है।)

The Hundred Dresses Part 2 Summary in Hindi

छात्र कमरे का चक्कर लगा रहे थे और वाण्डा द्वारा बनाए गए डिज़ाइनों की प्रशंसा कर रहे थे। प्रिंसिपल के कमरे से एक नोटिस आया। मिस मेसन ने कक्षा को बताया कि उसे वाण्डा के पिता से एक पत्र मिला है। उसने कहा कि वह इस पत्र को कक्षा में पढ़ने जा रही है। छात्र पत्र को सुनने के लिए तैयार हो गए। अपने पत्र में वाण्डा के पिता ने मिस मेसन को बताया कि वाण्डा अब स्कूल में नहीं आएगी। वे एक बड़े शहर में जा रहे हैं। उस शहर में कोई भी उसके नाम को हास्यपूर्ण नहीं समझेगा और उस पर हँसेगा नहीं।
सारी कक्षा शांत हो गई और उन्हें वाण्डा के बारे में बहुत दुःख हुआ। मिस मेसन उनकी भावनाओं को समझ गई। उसने उन्हें बताया कि किसी को किसी की भावनाओं को इसलिए ठेस नहीं पहुँचानी चाहिए क्योंकि उसका नाम लंबा या हास्यपूर्ण है। उसने कहा कि स्कूल में वाण्डा के बारे में जो कुछ हुआ वह बुरा था। उसने उन्हें कहा कि वे इस बारे में सोचें। मैडी ने उसके बारे में सोचा जो कुछ मिस मेसन ने वाण्डा के बारे में कहा। वह अपनी पढ़ाई पर ध्यान नहीं दे पाई। उसे बीमारी जैसी भावनाएँ महसूस हुईं। यह सच था कि उसने खुद कभी वाण्डा का मजाक नहीं उड़ाया था। मगर इसके साथ-साथ, उसने कभी भी पेग्गी को तब नहीं रोका था जब वह वाण्डा से उसकी पोशाकों के बारे में पूछती थी। ऐसे अवसरों पर वह कछ नहीं कहती थी और खामोश खडी रहती थी। मगर यह बात भी बुरी थी। उसने महसूस किया कि वह कायर है और उसने कभी भी पेग्गी को वाण्डा का मजाक उड़ाने से नहीं रोका।

मैडी को हैरानी हुई कि क्या वह कुछ कर सकती है। वह वाण्डा से मिलना चाहती थी और उसे बताना चाहती थी कि उसका इरादा कभी भी उसकी भावनाओं को ठेस पहुँचाना नहीं था। उसने फैसला किया वह उसके घर जाएगी और वाण्डा को बताएगी कि उसने प्रतियोगिता जीत ली है और उसकी सौ पौशाकें बहुत सुंदर हैं। उसने फैसला किया कि वह वाण्डा पेट्रोस्की को ढूंढ निकालेगी। वह और पेग्गी उससे मिलने उसके घर जाएँगी। जब स्कूल का समय खत्म हो गया तो मैडी ने पेग्गी से वाण्डा के घर चलने को कहा। वे उसकी कॉलोनी की तरफ चल दी। रास्ते में पेग्गी ने कहा कि उसने कभी भी वाण्डा को विदेशी नहीं कहा था। वह सदा सोचती थी कि वाण्डा बुद्ध लड़की है। उसने कभी कल्पना भी नहीं की थी कि वाण्डा को इस बात का आभास होगा कि लड़कियाँ उसका मजाक उड़ा रही हैं। मैडी ने कुछ नहीं कहा। वह तो केवल वाण्डा से मिलना चाहती थी और उसे बताना चाहती थी कि वे उसके प्रति किए गए अपने अभद्र व्यवहार के लिए शर्मिंदा हैं। वह उससे प्रार्थना करेगी कि वह उस शहर को छोड़कर न जाए।

कुछ देर बाद पेग्गी और मैडी को बोगिंज़ हाईट्स में वाण्डा का घर मिल गया। घर सस्ता मगर साफ था। इससे मैडी को वाण्डा की वह एकमात्र पोशाक याद आ गई। मगर घर में कोई नहीं था। पेग्गी ने दरवाजे पर दस्तक दी। कोई उत्तर नहीं मिला। वाण्डा और उसका परिवार पहले ही वहाँ से जा चुका था। वे वापिस आ गईं। पेग्गी ने कहा कि उसके द्वारा वाण्डा को उसकी पोशाकों के बारे में पूछने से वास्तव में उसे फायदा हुआ था। नहीं तो शायद वह ड्राइंग प्रतियोगिता न जीत पाती। मगर मैडी संतुष्ट नहीं थी। वह उस रात को सो नहीं सकी। वह वाण्डा, उसकी ड्राइंग और उसके घर के बारे में सोचती रही। अंत में उसने एक फैसला किया। उसने फैसला किया कि भविष्य में अगर कोई उसके सामने किसी का मजाक उड़ाएगा तो वह चुप नहीं रहेगी। अगर ऐसा करने से उसे पेग्गी की मित्रता भी गँवानी पड़े तो भी वह परवाह नहीं करेगी। उसके सामने वाण्डा से माफी माँगने का कोई रास्ता नहीं था। मगर वह अब किसी को भी दुःखी नहीं करेगी।

शनिवार को पेग्गी और मैडी ने वाण्डा को एक पत्र लिखा। यह केवल एक मित्रतापूर्ण पत्र था। उन्होंने वाण्डा की ड्राइंगों की तारीफ की। उन्होंने उसे लिखा कि वह प्रतियोगिता जीत गई है। उन्होंने वह पत्र बोगिंज़ हाईट्स के पते पर भेज दिया और साथ ही यह प्रार्थना भी लिख दी कि इसे उसके नए पते पर भेज दिया जाए। कई दिन बीत गए, मगर वाण्डा से कोई जवाब नहीं आया। पेग्गी ने सारी घटना को भूलना आरंभ कर दिया। मैडी रात को वाण्डा के बारे में भाषण बनाते हुए सोने का प्रयत्न करती थी।

फिर क्रिसमस का समय आ गया। स्कूल के अंतिम दिन, मिस मेसन को वाण्डा से एक पत्र मिला। उसने वह पत्र कक्षा को दिखाया और उसे पढ़कर सुनाया। वाण्डा ने उसे लिखा था कि लड़कियाँ उन सौ पोशाकों की ड्राइंगों को रख सकती हैं क्योंकि उसके घर में सौ नई पोशाकें हैं। उसने लाल सजावट वाली हरी पोशाक पेग्गी को उपहार में दी। उसने लिखा कि मैडी नीली पोशाक ले सकती है। उसने सबको क्रिसमस की बधाई दी। उन्होंने ड्राइंगों को स्वीकार कर लिया। घर के रास्ते में पेग्गी और मैडी ने अपनी ड्राइंगों को सावधानी से पकड़े रखा। उन्होंने अपनी ड्राइंगों को अपने-अपने बेडरूम में लगा दिया।

मैडी को वाण्डा की बहुत याद आ रही थी। उसकी आँखों में आँसू थे। उसे यह सोचकर उदासी हुई कि वह अब वाण्डा को कभी नहीं मिल पाएगी। उसे महसूस हुआ कि वाण्डा उसके प्रति अच्छी थी। वह ड्राइंग को बड़ी देर तक देखती रही। अचानक उसने ड्राइंग के सिर और चेहरे पर ध्यान दिया। यह उसके अपने सिर और चेहरे की तरह लगता था। उसे यह सोचकर उत्तेजना हुई कि वाण्डा ने वह ड्राइंग विशेष तौर पर उसके लिए बनाई थी। वह भागकर पेग्गी के घर गई। उसने पेग्गी को बताया कि वाण्डा ने उसके लिए ही ड्राइंग बनाई थी। तब उन्होंने पेग्गी की ड्राइंग भी देखी। ड्राइंग में पेग्गी का चेहरा था। पेग्गी को भी यह देख कर खुशी हुई कि ड्राइंग का सिर और चेहरा उससे मिलता है। पेग्गी ने मैडी को कहा कि वाण्डा सचमुच उनसे प्यार करती थी। जब भी मैडी वाण्डा पेट्रोंसकी के बारे में सोचती थी तो उसकी आँखों में आँसू आ जाते थे।

The Hundred Dresses Part 2 Translation in Hindi

[PAGES73-74] : जिस समय कक्षा कमरे का चक्कर लगा रही थी, मॉनिटर प्रधानाचार्य कार्यालय से मिस मेसन के लिए एक नोट लेकर आया। मिस मेसन ने उसे कई बार पढ़ा और थोड़ी देर के लिए उसका ध्यानपूर्वक अध्ययन किया। तब उसने अपने हाथों से ताली बजाई।
“सभी बच्चो, सुनिए, सभी अपनी-अपनी सीटों पर वापस चले जाएँ।” जब पैरों के रगड़ने की आवाज बंद हो गई और कमरा पूर्ण रूप से शांत हो गया, मिस मेसन ने कहा, “मेरे पास वाण्डा के पिता का पत्र है जो मैं आपको पढ़कर सुनाना चाहती हूँ।”
मिस मेसन एक क्षण के लिए वहाँ खड़ी रही और कमरे के अंदर की खामोशी तनावपूर्ण तथा उत्सुकतापूर्ण हो गई थी। अध्यापिका ने धीरे-से और जान-बूझकर के अपने चश्मों को ठीक करके लगाया। उसका भाव दिखा रहा था कि क्या होने जा रहा था यह वाण्डा के पिता की ओर से पत्र था। प्रत्येक ने बड़े ध्यान के साथ सुना। जब मिस मेसन ने उसे छोटे-से नोट को पढ़ा।

प्रिय अध्यापक,

अब मेरी वाण्डा आपके स्कूल में नहीं आएगी, जेक भी नहीं आएगा। अब हम एक बड़े शहर में जा रहे हैं अब हमें ‘पोलक’ कहकर पुकारा जाना और अधिक नहीं सुनना है। अब हमें और अधिक यह नहीं सुनना है कि यह मजाकिया नाम क्यों है। बड़े शहर में मजाकिया नामों वाले बहुत-से लोग होते हैं।

भवदीय
जॉन पेट्रोंसकी

इस पत्र को पढ़े जाने के समय गहरी खामोशी रही। मिस मेसन ने अपना चश्मा उतारा, उसने शीशों पर फूंक मारी और उन्हें अपने नर्म सफेद रूमाल के साथ पोंछ दिया। तब उसने चश्में को पुनः पहन लिया और कक्षा की ओर देखा। जब वह बोली तो उसकी आवाज बहुत धीमी थी।

“मुझे पक्का यकीन है कि कमरा नंबर तेरह में किसी भी लड़के या लड़की ने जान-बूझकर किसी की भावनाओं को इस कारण तो ठेस नहीं पहुँचाई होगी कि उसका नाम लंबा है अथवा अपरिचित है।

मैं यही सोचना पसंद करूँगी कि जो कुछ भी कहा गया है वह बिना सोच-विचार के कहा गया है। मैं जानती हूँ कि आप सभी भी मेरी तरह ही सोचते होंगे, और ऐसा घटित होना एक बहुत ही दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण घटना है दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण और दुखद दोनों, और मैं चाहती हूँ कि आप . सभी इसके बारे में विचार करें।”

पहला पीरियड पढ़ाई करने का पीरियड था। मैडी ने अपने पाठ तैयार करने की कोशिश की। लेकिन वह अपने दिमाग को अपने काम पर नहीं लगा पाई। उसे अपने पेट के सबसे निचले हिस्से में बहुत अस्वस्थता महसूस हो रही थी। सचमुच, उसे पेग्गी द्वारा वाण्डा को यह पूछते हुए सुनना बिल्कुल अच्छा नहीं लगा था कि उसके पास अलमारी में कितनी पोशाकें हैं, लेकिन उसने तो कुछ नहीं कहा था। वह तो चुपचाप खड़ी रहती थी और वह भी उतना ही बुरा काम था जितना कि पेग्गी ने किया था। उससे भी बुरा था। वह एक कायर थी। कम-से-कम पेग्गी ने ऐसा तो नहीं सोचा था कि वे नीचता वाला काम कर रही है, परंतु उसने, मैडी ने, ऐसा अवश्य सोचा था। वह स्वयं को वाण्डा की स्थिति में रखकर महसूस कर सकती थी।

हे भगवान! क्या वह अब कुछ भी नहीं कर सकती थी? काश वह वाण्डा को यह बता सकती कि उसका भाव उसकी भावनाओं को ठेस पहुँचाना नहीं था। वह पीछे की ओर घूमी और चोरी से पेग्गी की ओर देखा, लेकिन पेग्गी ने ऊपर आँख उठाकर नहीं देखा। वह अपनी पढ़ाई में गहराई से डूबी हुई लग रही थी। ठीक है, चाहे पेग्गी को अच्छा लगे या बुरा मैडी को कुछ-न-कुछ तो करना था। उसे वाण्डा पेट्रोंसकी को ढूँढना था। हो सकता है कि वह अभी न गई हो। शायद पेग्गी भी उसके साथ Heights पर चढ़ जाएगी, और वे वाण्डा को बताएँगी कि उसने, मुकाबला जीत लिया है, तथा यह कि वे उसे होशियार मानती थी और उसकी सौ पोशाकें सुंदर थीं।

[PAGE 75] : जब दोपहर बाद स्कूल से छुट्टी हुई, पेग्गी ने बनावटी लापरवाही के भाव से कहा, “अरे, आओ जाकर देखते हैं अतः पेग्गी के दिमाग में भी वही विचार था। मैडी खिल उठी। सचमुच ही पेग्गी ठीक कह रही थी।”

दोनों लड़कियाँ तेजी के साथ उस भवन से बाहर निकलीं और बोगिंस हाईट्स की ओर जाने लगी, नगर का वह हिस्सा जहाँ नवंबर मास की शाम को बूंदा-बाँदी वाली, नमीयुक्त, मनहूस डरावनी हवा चल रही थी।

“तो आखिर” पेग्गी ने कर्कश स्वर में कहा, “मैंने तो उसे कभी विदेशी नहीं कहा अथवा उसके नाम का मजाक नहीं उड़ाया। मैंने कभी ऐसा नहीं सोचा था कि उसमें इतनी बुद्धि होगी कि वह जान जाएगी कि हम उसका मजाक उड़ा रहे हैं। मैं तो उसे बिल्कुल गूंगी समझती थी और देखो वह कैसे चित्र बना सकती है।” ।

मैडी कुछ भी नहीं कह सकी। वह तो सिर्फ यह आशा लगाए थी कि उन्हें वाण्डा मिल जाए। वह उसे बताना चाहती थी कि उन्हें इस बात का खेद था कि उन्होंने उसके साथ ऐसा व्यवहार किया था और किस प्रकार से सारा स्कूल उसे एक अद्भुत लड़की समझता था और कृपया वह वहाँ से कहीं न जाए और हर कोई उसके साथ अच्छा व्यवहार करेगा।

दोनों लड़कियाँ जल्दी-से आगे बढ़ती गईं। वे अँधेरा होने से पहले पहाड़ी के शिखर पर पहुँचने की आशा लगाए थी।

“मेरे विचार में पेट्रोसकी यहीं पर रहते हैं,” मैडी ने एक छोटे-से सफेद घर की ओर इशारा करते हुए कहा। पगडंडी के साथ-साथ इधर-उधर पुरानी घास के छोटे-छोटे गट्ठर से लटक रहे थे जैसे कि वे बिल्ली के बच्चे हों घर और उसका छोटा-सा आँगन देखने में भद्दा परंतु साफ प्रतीत होता था। यह मैडी को वाण्डा की एक पोशाक की याद दिला रहा था, उसकी रंग उड़ी हुई नीली पोशाक जोकि देखने में भद्दी परंतु साफ लगती थी।

घर के आस-पास जीवन के होने का कोई संकेत नहीं था। पेग्गी ने दरवाजे पर जोर-से दस्तक दी, लेकिन कोई उत्तर नहीं मिला। वह और मैडी पीछे वाले आँगन की तरफ गए और वहाँ जाकर दस्तक दी। वहाँ भी कोई उत्तर नहीं मिला।

[PAGE 76] : इसके बारे में कोई संदेह नहीं था। पेट्रोसकी जा चुके थे वे कभी भी अपना पश्चाताप कैसे व्यक्त कर सकेंगी? वे धीमे-से मुड़ी और पहाड़ी से नीचे उतरने का रास्ता लिया।
“चलो, कुछ भी हो” पेग्गी ने कहा, “अब वह जा चुकी है, अतः अब हम क्या कर सकते हैं? इसके अतिरिक्त जब मैं उससे उसकी सभी पोशाकों के बारे में पूछ रही थी, तो संभवतः वह अपनी चित्रकारी के लिए अच्छे विचार प्राप्त कर रही थी। वरना शायद वह उस मुकाबले को जीत न पाती।” .

मैडी ने इस विचार को ध्यानपूर्वक अपने दिमाग में घुमाया क्योंकि यदि इसमें कुछ भी ऐसी बात थी तो उसे इतना बुरा लगना ही नहीं चाहिए था। लेकिन उस रात वह सो न सकी। वह वाण्डा और उसकी रंग उड़ी हुई नीली पोशाक और उस छोटे-से घर जिसमें वह रहती थी, के बारे में सोचती रही। और वह उन चमकदार सौ पोशाकों से बने नजारे के बारे में सोचती रही। सभी कक्षा के कमरे में एक पंक्ति में थीं। अंततः मैडी बिस्तर पर उठ बैठी और अपने माथे को अपने हाथों से कसकर दबाया और सचमुच में सोचने लगी। यह सबसे गहन विचार था जो मैडी ने कभी किया था। काफी देर के बाद वह एक निष्कर्ष पर पहुँची।

वह न तो कभी किसी ऐसी बात का साथ देगी और न ही कभी कुछ कहेगी। .
यदि कभी वह किसी को किसी के साथ अभद्रता का व्यवहार करता देखेगी सिर्फ इस कारण से कि वे दिखने में मजाकिया हैं, या, फिर उनके अजीबो-गरीब नाम हैं तो वह चुप नहीं रहेगी। चाहे इससे पेग्गी की मित्रता ही क्यों न खो जाए। अब उसके पास वाण्डा से रिश्ते सुधारने का कोई रास्ता नहीं बचा था, लेकिन अब के बाद से वह कभी भी दोबारा किसी को इतना दुखी नहीं करेगी।

[PAGE 77]: शनिवार के दिन मैडी ने दोपहर बाद का समय पेग्गी के साथ बिताया। वे वाण्डा पेट्रोसकी को पत्र लिख रही थी। यह एक मित्रता भरा पत्र था जिसमें उसे मुकाबले के बारे में और वाण्डा की विजय के बारे में बता रही थी। उन्होंने उसे बताया कि उसकी चित्रकारियाँ कितनी सुंदर थीं और उन्होंने उससे पूछा कि क्या उसे वह जगह पसंद आ गई थी जहाँ वह रह रही थी और कि क्या उसे अपनी नई टीचर पसंद आ गई थी। उनका कहने का भाव था कि उन्हें खेद है। किंतु अंत में यह एक मित्रों वाले पत्र के रूप में समाप्त हो गया, एक ऐसा पत्र जो वे किसी एक अच्छे मित्र को लिखती, उन्होंने इस पर प्यार के अनेक प्रतीकों के रूप में x अक्षर बनाकर इसे Boggins Heights के पते पर डाक में डाल दिया और लिफाफे पर लिख दिया, “कृपया अग्रेषित करें।”

कई दिन बीत गए परंतु कोई उत्तर नहीं आया लेकिन पत्र भी वापस नहीं आया, शायद वह वाण्डा को मिल गया हो। शायद वह इतनी आहत और क्रोधित हो कि पत्र का उत्तर ही न देना चाहती हो। आप उसे दोष नहीं दे सकते थे।

कई सप्ताह बीत गए परंतु वाण्डा ने अभी भी उत्तर नहीं दिया। पेग्गी ने इस सारे मामले को भूलना शुरू कर दिया था और मैडी रात को वाण्डा के बारे बातें करते हुए स्वयं को सुला लेती थी, उसे लड़कियों की भारी भीड़ों से बचाते हुए जो उसे यह कह कर सताने की कोशिश कर रही होती-“तुम्हारे पास कितनी पोशाकें हैं?” और इससे पहले कि वाण्डा अपने होठों को एक पतली रेखा के रूप में कसकर बंद कर लेती जैसा कि वह उत्तर देने से पहले किया करती थी। तब मैडी चिल्ला उठती, “बंद करो।” तब हर कोई शर्मिंदा महसूस करता जैसाकि वह स्वयं को किया करती थी।

अब क्रिसमस का समय था और जमीन बर्फ से ढक गई थी। क्रिसमस की घंटियों और एक छोटे-से वृक्ष ने कक्षा के कमरे को सजा दिया। छुट्टियों से पहले स्कूल के आखिरी दिवस को अध्यापिका ने कक्षा को एक पत्र दिखाया जो उसे उस सुबह ही मिला था।

[PAGE 78] : क्या आपको वाण्डा पेट्रोंसकी की याद है, वह छोटी-सी प्रतिभावान कलाकार जिसने चित्रकारी मुकाबला जीता था? हाँ, उसने मुझे पत्र लिखा है, और मैं यह जानकर प्रसन्न हूँ कि वह कहाँ रहती है, क्योंकि अब मैं उसे पदक भेज़ सकती हूँ। मै उसका पत्र आपको पढ़कर सुनाती हूँ।”

कक्षा एकदम से पैदा हुई रुचि के साथ ध्यान से सुनने के लिए बैठ गई।
प्रिय मिस मेसन,

आप और कमरा नंबर तेरह कैसे हैं? कृपया लड़कियों से कह दीजिएगा कि वे उन सौ पोशाकों को अपने पास रख सकती हैं क्योंकि मेरे नए घर में मेरे पास सौ नई पोशाकें हैं, मेरी अलमारी में सारी पोशाकें पंक्ति में रखी हैं। मैं चाहूँगी कि पेग्गी नाम की लड़की लाल गोटे वाली हरे रंग की पोशाक का चित्र रख ले; और उसकी सहेली मैडी नीले वाली पोशाक ले। क्रिसमस के समय मुझे उस स्कूल की बहुत याद आ रही है और नई शिक्षक आपकी बराबरी की नहीं है। आपको तथा सबको शुभ क्रिसमस।

आपकी अपनी
वाण्डा पेट्रोसकी

स्कूल से घर लौटते समय मैडी और पेग्गी अपने-अपने चित्रों को बड़ी सावधानी से पकड़े हुए थीं। सभी घरों की खिड़कियों पर मालाएँ और पवित्र पेड़ के पत्ते लटक रहे थे। करियाने की दुकान के बाहर क्रिसमस ट्री गड्डियों में बाँधकर रखे गए थे और खिड़की में मीठी पिपरमिंट और फूलों से भरे बर्तन जिनमें पारदर्शक चमकदार कागज लगे थे, वे बँधे हुए थे। हवा क्रिसमस की भाँति सुगंधित थी और प्रकाश की चमक बर्फ पर हर जगह भिन्न-भिन्न रंगों का प्रदर्शन कर रही थी।

“वाह!” पेग्गी ने कहा “इससे पता चलता है कि वह सचमुच हमें पसंद करती है। इससे पता चलता है कि उसे हमारा पत्र मिल गया था और यह उसका यह बताने का एक तरीका है कि सब कुछ ठीक ठाक है, और यही सब है।”

“मैं भी ऐसी ही आशा करती हूँ,” मैडी ने उदासीपूर्वक कहा। वह उदास थी क्योंकि वह जानती थी कि वह फिर कभी उस कसे हुए होठों वाली पोलैंड वासी लड़की को नहीं देख पाएगी और फिर कभी भी अपने बीच की बात को नहीं सुधार पाएगी।

वह घर चली गई और उसने अपने चित्र को सोने वाले गुलाबी फूलों वाली दीवारी कागज की फटी हुई जगह के ऊपर पिन लगाकर चिपका दिया। शानदार रंगों के कारण वह भद्दा-सा दिखने वाला कमरा चमक उठा। मैडी अपने बिस्तर पर बैठ गई और चित्र की ओर देखने लगी। वह पास खड़ी रहती थी और कुछ नहीं बोलती थी लेकिन फिर भी वाण्डा उससे कितनी अच्छी तरह से पेश आई थी।

[PAGE 79] : आँसुओं ने उसकी आँखों को धुंधला कर दिया और वह बहुत देर तक उस चित्र को देखती रही। तब जल्दी से उसने अपनी आँखों को रगड़ा और ध्यान से चित्र का अध्ययन किया। पोशाक में दिए गए रंग इतने स्पष्ट थे कि उसने चित्र में बने चेहरे और सिर की तरफ मुश्किल से ही कोई ध्यान दिया था। लेकिन वह उसके (मैडी) जैसा प्रतीत होता था। वह उसके अपने मुँह की भाँति दिखाई देता था। वह सचमुच में उसके जैसा क्यों दिखाई दे रहा था। वाण्डा ने सचमुच ही यह चित्र उसके लिए बनाया था। उत्तेजनापूर्वक वह भागकर पेग्गी के पास गई।

“पेग्गी।” उसने कहा, “मुझे अपने वाला चित्र देखने दो।”
“क्या बात है?” पेग्गी ने पूछा, जब वे खट-खट की आवाज करती हुई ऊपर उस कमरे में गई जहाँ वाण्डा का चित्र बिस्तर पर उल्टा पड़ा था। मैडी ने उसे ध्यानपूर्वक उठाया।
“देखो! उसने तुम्हारा चित्र बनाया है। यह तुम हो।” उसने विस्मयपूर्वक कहा। और चित्र का सिर और चेहरा पेग्गी की तरह दिख रहा था।
“मैंने क्या कहा था?” पेग्गी ने कहा, “वह सचमुच हमें पसंद करती थी, किसी भी तरह से।”
“हाँ, वह अवश्य ही पसंद करती होगी,” मैडी ने सहमति प्रकट की तथा उसने आँखें झपकते हुए उन आँसुओं को हटा दिया जो हर बार निकल आते थे, जब वह वाण्डा बारे मे सोचती थी कि वह किस तरह से स्कूल के प्रांगण में धूप वाली जगह पर अकेली खड़ी रहा करती थी। जब वह हँस रही लड़कियों के समूह को भावशून्य ढंग से देखने के बाद चल दी होती थी, यह कहने के बाद, “निश्चित रूप से एक सौ, और सभी एक पंक्ति में रखी हुई।”

The Hundred Dresses Part 2 Word-Meanings in Hindi

[PAGE 73] : Circling = moving round (आसपास घूमना); thoughtfully = thinking deeply (गहरा सोचना); shuffling = making sound of feet while walking (चलते समय पैरों से आवाज़ करना); tense = serious (गंभीर); deliberately = intentionally (जान-बूझकर); indicated = showed (दिखाया); listened closely = heard attentively (ध्यान से सुना); holler = cry loudly (जोर-से चीखना); pollack = a word suggesting anger (गुस्सा दर्शाने वाला शब्द); plenty = enough (काफी); unfamiliar = unacquainted (अपरिचित)।

[PAGE 74] : Thoughtlessness == without thinking (बिना सोचे); unfortunate = unlucky (अभागा); stood by = supported (सहारा दिया); coward = lacking courage (कायर); mean = with bad mentality (कमीना); stoleaglance = looked secretly (चोरी से देखा)।

[PAGE 75] : Pretended = showy (दिखावापूर्ण); casualness = carelessness (लापरवाही); glowed= became hopeful (आशावान); forbidding = bad (बुरा); drizzly = rainy (बरसात वाला); damp = wet (गीला); dismal = sad (उदास); gruffly = roughly (कठोरता से); dumb = unfeeling (बिना भावना के); gee = exclamation of joy (खुशी की अभिव्यक्ति); wisps = pieces (टुकड़े); pathway = footpath (फुटपाथ); kittens = young ones of cats (बिल्ली के बच्चे); shabby = simple and cheap (सादा एवं सस्ता)।

[PAGE 76] : Make amends = patch up (समझौता करना); probably = perhaps (शायद); glowing = beautiful (सुंदर); conclusion = result (परिणाम); picking on someone = teasing someone (किसी को तंग करना)।

[PAGE 77]: Mailed = sent by post (डाक से भेजना); defending = protecting (बचाना); tease = trouble someone (किसी को तंग करना); decorated = beautiful (सुंदर)।

[PAGE 78] : Gifted = talented (गुणी); intently = with attention (ध्यान से); trimming = decorating (सजाना); wreaths = garlands (मालाएँ); holly = a plant (एक पौधा); grocery = a provisions shop (किरयाने की दुकान); stacked = kept (रखा); candy = a sweet (मिठाई); cornucopias = decorative containers (सजावटी डिब्बे); shiny = bright (चमकीला); reflected = shown back (परावर्तित किया); brilliancy = brightness (चमक)।

[PAGE 79] : Blurred = unclear (धुंधला); gazed = looked intently (ध्यान से देखा); vivid = clear (स्पष्ट); stolidly = without any feeling (बिना सोचे)।

Haryana State Board HBSE 10th Class English Solutions First Flight Chapter 5 The Hundred Dresses Part 1 Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

Haryana Board 10th Class English Solutions First Flight Chapter 5 The Hundred Dresses Part 1

HBSE 10th Class English The Hundred Dresses Part 1 Textbook Questions and Answers

Before You Read

1. How do we judge the people around us by their money, wealth and possessions ? Or is there something of more enduring value to look for in a person ?
(हम अपने इर्द-गिर्द लोगों की परख कैसे करते हैं उनके रुपया-पैसा, धन अथवा संपत्ति से? या और कोई चिरस्थायी मूल्य वाली वस्तु है जिसके गुण किसी व्यक्ति में पाकर उसकी परख करते हैं?) .
Answer:
In today’s life we usually judge the people around us by their money, wealth and possessions. But it is not of enduring value. We should judge people by their human qualities. It is the most enduring and appropriate.
(आज के जीवन में हम अपने इर्द-गिर्द के लोगों की परख उनके रुपए-पैसे, धन और संपत्ति के आधार पर करते हैं। लेकिन ये चीजें चिरस्थायी महत्त्व वाली नहीं हैं। हमें लोगों की परख उनके मानवीय गुणों के आधार पर करनी चाहिए। यही सबसे अधिक चिरस्थायी और उचित है।)

2. This story is a sensitive aecount of how a poor young girl is judged by her classmates. Wanda Petronski is a young Polish girl who goes to school with other American children in an American town. These other children see Wanda as ‘different’ in many ways. Can you guess how they treat her ?
(यह कहानी एक रोचक वर्णन है कि एक छोटी गरीब लड़की की परख उसके सहपाठियों के द्वारा कैसे की जाती है। वाण्डा पेट्रोंसकी पोलैंड वासी एक छोटी लड़की है जोकि एक अमेरिकी कस्बे में अमेरिकी बच्चों के साथ स्कूल जाती है। ये दूसरे बच्चे वाण्डा को कई प्रकार से अपने से भिन्न पाते हैं। क्या आप अनुमान लगा सकते हो कि वे उससे कैसे व्यवहार करते हैं।) .
Answer:
These other children see Wanda as different’ in many ways. It may be because of her different physical appearance. Secondly her name is long and different from the names of other students. Thirdly, she wears the same dress everyday. So they make fun of her.
(ये दूसरे बच्चे वाण्डा को विभिन्न प्रकार से अपने से अलग पाते हैं। ऐसा उसकी शारीरिक बनावट की भिन्नता के कारण हो सकता है। दूसरे उसका नाम अन्य बच्चों की तुलना में लंबा और भिन्न है। तीसरे वह हर रोज़ एक ही पोशाक पहनकर आती है। इसलिए वे उसका मजाक उड़ाते हैं।)

3. Read the information in the box below. Find out more about this community (or about a related topic) from an encyclopedia, or the Internet.
(नीचे खाने में दी गई जानकारी को पढ़िए। इस समुदाय के बारे में विश्वकोष या इंटरनेट से और अधिक जानकारी हासिल कीजिए (या किसी और संबंधित विषय पर)

The Polish-American Community in the United States

The first Polish immigrants arrived in America in 1608, but the largest wave of Polish immigration occurred in the early twentieth century, when more than one million Poles migrated to the United States. The Polish State did not exist at that time, and the immigrants were identified according to their country of origin rather than to ethnicity. They were identified as Russian Poles, German Poles and Austrian Poles.

One of the most notable Polish-American communities is in Chicago and its suburbs; so Chicago is sometimes called the second largest ‘Polish’city in the world, next only to Warsaw, the capital of Poland. Polish-Americans were sometimes discriminated against in the United States, as were the Irish, Italians, and Jews.

According to the United States 2000 Census, 667,414 Americans of age Five years and older reported Polish as the language spoken at home, which is about 1.4 percent of the people who speak languages other than English, or 0.25 percent of the U.S. population.
Answer:
For self-attempt.

Oral Comprehension Check (Page 65)

1. Where in the classroom does Wanda sit and why ?
(कक्षा-कक्ष में वाण्डा कहाँ बैठती है और क्यों?)
Answer:
Wanda sits in the next to the last seat in the last row in Room Thirteen. She sits in the corner of the room. There is noise by the scuffling of feet and roar of laughter. Wanda is not rough and noisy. But she sits there as she does not mix with other students.
(वाण्डा कमरा नंबर तेरह में आखिरी पंक्ति की अंतिम सीट से आगे बैठती है। वह कमरे के कोने में बैठती है। वहाँ पर पैरों के रगड़े जाने और हँसी के ठहाकों का शोर है। वाण्डा अभद्र और शोर करने वाली नहीं है। लेकिन वह वहाँ इसलिए बैठती है क्योंकि वह दूसरे बच्चों के साथ घुली-मिली नहीं है।)

2. Where does Wanda live ? What kind of a place do you think it is ?
(वाण्डा कहाँ रहती है? यह किस तरह का स्थान है?) .
Answer:
Wanda lives at Boggins Heights. It is not a clean place. It is muddy. That is why, Wanda’s feet are usually caked with mud on her way to school daily.
(वाण्डा बोगिंस हाईट्स पर रहती है। यह एक साफ-सुथरा स्थान नहीं है। यह कीचड़ भरा है, यही कारण है कि वाण्डा के पाँव हर रोज़ स्कूल आते समय धूल से सन जाते हैं।)

3. When and why do Peggy and Maddie notice Wanda’s absence ? (पेग्गी और मैडी वाण्डा की अनुपस्थिति पर कब और क्यों ध्यान देती हैं?)
Answer:
Peggy and Maddie notice Wanda’s absence on Wednesday. It was because Wanda had made them late to school. They used to make fun of her for her muddy shoes.
(पेग्गी और मैडी बुधवार के दिन वाण्डा की अनुपस्थिति पर ध्यान देती हैं। ऐसा इसलिए था क्योंकि उस दिन वे वाण्डा के कारण स्कूल से लेट हो गई थीं। वे प्रायः उसके मिट्टी से सने जूतों के कारण उसका मजाक उड़ाती थीं।)

4. What do you think “to have fun with her” means ?
(इस कथन का क्या अर्थ है, “उसके साथ मजाक करें”?)
Answer:
“To have fun with her” means to laugh at her or to make a fool of her.
(“उसके साथ मजाक करें” का अर्थ है उस पर हँसे या उसको मूर्ख बनाएँ।)

Oral Comprehension Check (Page 67)

1. In what way was Wanda different from the other children ?
(वाण्डा दूसरे बच्चों से किस प्रकार भिन्न थी?)
Answer:
Wanda was different from the other children because her name was long and strange. Secondly, she always wore a faded blue dress. It didn’t hang right. She didn’t have any friends.
. (वाण्डा दूसरे बच्चों से भिन्न थी क्योंकि उसका नाम लंबा और अजीब था। दूसरे वह हमेशा हल्के नीले रंग की ही पोशाक पहनती थी। वह उसे ठीक प्रकार से नहीं पहनकर आती थी। उसका कोई भी मित्र नहीं था।)

2. Did Wanda have a hundred dresses ? Why do you think she said she did ? (क्या वाण्डा के पास एक सौ पोशाकें थीं? आपके विचार में उसने ऐसा क्यों कहा?)
Answer:
No, Wanda did not have a hundred dresses. She said this because she was making a hundred drawings of different kinds of dresses for the contest.
(नहीं, वाण्डा के पास एक सौ पोशाकें नहीं थीं। उसने ऐसा इसलिए कहा क्योंकि वह मुकाबले के लिए विभिन्न प्रकार की पोशाकों के चित्र बना रही थी।)

3. Why is Maddie embarrassed by the questions Peggy asks Wanda ? Is she also like Wanda, or is she different ?
(पेग्गी द्वारा वाण्डा से प्रश्न पूछे जाने पर मैडी क्यों घबरा जाती है? क्या वह भी वाण्डा की तरह है या उससे भिन्न है?)
Answer:
Maddie is embarrassed by the questions Peggy asks Wanda because she was also poor. She is like Wanda in temperament though she is an American
(पेग्गी द्वारा वाण्डा से पूछे गए प्रश्नों से मैडी घबरा जाती है क्योंकि वह भी गरीब थी। अमेरिकी मूल की होने पर भी उसका स्वभाव बिल्कुल वाण्डा जैसा है।)

Oral Comprehension Check (Page 70)

1. Why didn’t Maddie ask Peggie to stop teasing Wanda ? What was she afraid of ? (मैडी ने पेग्गी से क्यों नहीं कहा कि वह वाण्डा को चिढ़ाना बंद कर दे? वह किस बात से डरी हुई थी?)
Answer:
Maddie didn’t ask Peggy to stop teasing Wanda because she didn’t have the courage to say so. Secondly, she was afraid of losing her friendship with Peggy. Moreover, she shuddered to think what would happen if Peggy started making fun of Maddie instead of Wanda.
(मैडी ने पेग्गी से नहीं कहा कि वह वाण्डा को चिढ़ाना बंद कर दे क्योंकि उसके अन्दर ऐसा कहने का साहस नहीं था। दूसरे, उसे पेग्गी के साथ मित्रता टूट जाने का डर था। लेकिन फिर भी वह सोचकर काँपने लग जाती थी कि यदि पेग्गी ने वाण्डा के स्थान पर उसका मजाक उड़ाना शुरू कर दिया तो उसका क्या होगा।)

2. Who did Maddie think would win the drawing contest ? Why? (मैडी के विचार में चित्रकारी मुकाबला कौन जीतेगा और क्यों?)
Answer:
Maddie thought that Peggy would win the girls’ medal as she drew better than anyone else in the room.
(मैडी सोचती थी कि लड़कियों का पदक पेग्गी जीतेगी क्योंकि वह कमरे में अन्य सभी से अच्छे चित्र बनाती थी।)

3. Who won the drawing contest? What had the winner drawn ? (चित्रकारी मुकाबला किसने जीता? विजेता ने क्या बनाया था?)
Answer:
Wanda won the drawing contest. She had drawn the designs of one hundred dresses. These were all different and all beautiful.
(चित्रकारी मुकाबला वाण्डा ने जीता था। उसने एक सौ पोशाकों के नमूने बनाए थे। वे सभी भिन्न थे और सभी संदर थे।)

Thinking about the Text

1. How is Wanda seen as different by the other girls ? How do they treat her ? (दूसरी लड़कियाँ वाण्डा को किस प्रकार अलग देखती हैं ? वे उसके साथ कैसे व्यवहार करती हैं ?)
Answer:
The other girls see Wanda as different because of her origin and dress. She is Polish by origin. Her name is long and strange. She always wears the same faded blue dress. Her feet are usually caked with dry mud. The other girls often make fun of her.

(दूसरी लड़कियाँ वाण्डा को उसके जन्म और उसकी पोशाक के कारण भिन्न देखती हैं। जन्म से वह पोलैंड वासी है। उसका नाम लंबा और विचित्र है। वह हमेशा रंग उड़े हुए नीले रंग की एक ही पोशाक पहनती है। उसके पाँव हमेशा सूखी मिट्टी से सने रहते हैं। दूसरी लड़कियाँ प्रायः उसका मजाक उड़ाती रहती हैं।)

2. How does Wanda feel about the dresses game ? Why does she say that she has a hundred dresses ?
(पोशाकों वाले खेल के विषय में वाण्डा क्या महसूस करती है? वह क्यों कहती है कि उसके पास एक सौ पोशाकें हैं?)
Answer:
Wanda feels badly about the dresses game. She tells them that she has a hundred dresses at home. In fact, she doesn’t have these dresses. She says so because she is making a hundred drawings of dresses.
(पोशाकों वाले खेल के बारे में वाण्डा को बुरा लगता है। वह उन्हें बताती है कि उसके पास घर पर एक सौ पोशाकें हैं। वास्तव में उसके पास ये पोशाकें नहीं हैं। वह ऐसा इसलिए कहती है क्योंकि वह एक सौ पोशाकों के चित्र बना रही है।)

3. Why does Maddie stand by and not do anything ? How is she different from Peggy ? (Was Peggy’s friendship important to Maddie ? Why? Which lines in the text tell you this ?)
(मैडी पेग्गी का साथ क्यों देती है और वह कुछ नहीं करती है? वह किस प्रकार पेग्गी से अलग है। क्या पेग्गी की मित्रता मैडी के लिए महत्त्वपूर्ण थी? क्यों? अध्याय में कौन-सी लाइन आपको इसके बारे में बताती है?)
Answer:
In her heart Maddie does not like that Peggy should make fun of Wanda. But she stands by and does nothing because she doesn’t have the courage to do so. She does not want to lose Peggy’s friendship. She is different from Peggy as she doesn’t make fun of Wanda. Peggy’s friendship is important to her because she is the best-liked girl in the whole room. The lines are : “She was Peggy’s best friend and Peggy was the best-liked girl in the whole room. Peggy could not possibly do anything that was really wrong.”
(अपने हृदय से मैडी नहीं चाहती कि पेग्गी वाण्डा का मजाक उड़ाए। लेकिन वह उसका साथ देती है और कुछ नहीं करती है क्योंकि उसमें ऐसा करने का साहस नहीं है। वह पेग्गी की मित्रता को खोना नहीं चाहती। वह पेग्गी से अलग है क्योंकि वह वाण्डा का मज़ाक नहीं बनाना चाहती। पेग्गी से मित्रता उसके लिए महत्त्वपूर्ण है क्योंकि वह पूरे कक्ष में सबसे अधिक पसंद की जाने वाली लड़की है।
ये पंक्तियाँ उसके बारे में बताती हैं “वह पेग्गी की सबसे पक्की मित्र थी और पेग्गी पूरे कमरे में सबसे अधिक पसंद की जाने वाली लड़की थी। पेग्गी संभवतः कुछ भी ऐसा काम नहीं कर सकती थी जो गलत हो।”)

4. What does Miss Mason think of Wanda’s drawings ? What do the children think of them ? How do you know?
(मिस मेसन वाण्डा की ड्राइंग के विषय में क्या सोचती थी? बच्चे उसके बारे में क्या सोचते थे? आप कैसे जानते हो?)
Answer:
Miss Mason thinks of Wanda’s drawings as “exquisite”, “all different and all beautiful”. The children think of them as amazing’. They stop short and gasp when they look at these drawings. The reaction of children shows that the dresses were beautiful. They praise their dazzling colours and lavish designs.
(मिस मेसन वाण्डा की चित्रकारी को “शानदार” मानती है, “बिल्कुल भिन्न और सुंदर।” बच्चे उन्हें विस्मयकारी मानते हैं। जब उन्होंने उन चित्रों की ओर देखा तो वे रुककर हैरानी’ से देखने लगे। बच्चों की प्रतिक्रियाएँ दिखाती हैं कि वे पोशाकें बहुत सुंदर थीं। वे उनके चमकदार रंगों और शानदार नमूनों की प्रशंसा करते हैं।)

Thinking about Language

I. Look at these sentences :

(a) She sat in the corner of the room where the rough boys who did not make good marks sat, the corner of the room where there was most scuffling of feet, …
(b) The time when they thought about Wanda was outside of school hours …
These italicised clauses help us to identify a set of boys, a place, and a time. They are answers to the questions ‘What kind of rough boys ?’ ‘Which corner did she sit in ?’ and ‘What particular time outside of school hours ?’ They are ‘defining’ or ‘restrictive’ relative clauses. (Compare them with the ‘non-defining’ relative clauses discussed in Unit 1.)

Combine the following to make sentences like those above.

1. This is the bus (what kind of bus ?). It goes to Agra. (use which or that)
2. I would like to buy (a) shirt (which shirt ?). (The) shirt is in the shop window. (use which or that)
3. You must break your fast at a particular time (when ?). You see the moon in the sky. (use when)
4. Find a word (what kind of word ?). It begins with the letter Z. (use which or that)
5. Now find a person (what kind of person). His or her name begins with the letter 2. (use whose)
6. Then go to a place (what place ?). There are no people whose name begins with Z in that place.(use where)
Answer:
1. This is the bus which (that) goes to Agra.
2. ‘I would like to buy the shirt which is in the shop window.
3. You must break your fast when you see the moon in the sky.
4. Find a word which begins with the letter Z.
5. Now find a person whose name begins with the letter Z.
6. Then go to a place where there are no people whose name begins with Z.

II. The Narrative Voice

This story is in the third person’that is, the narrator is not a participant in the story. But the narrator often seems to tell the story from the point of view of one of the characters in the story. For example, look at the italicised words in this sentence. Thank goodness, she did not live up on Boggins Heights or have a funny name. Whose thoughts do the words ‘Thank goodness’ express ? Maddie’s, who is grateful that although she is poor, she is yet not as poor as Wanda, or as different’. (So she does not get teased; she is thankful about that.)

1. Here are two other sentences from the story. Can you say whose point of view the italicised words express ?

(i) But on Wednesday, Peggy and Maddie, who sat down front with other children who got good marks and who didn’t track in a whole lot of mud, did notice that Wanda wasn’t there.
(ii) Wanda Petronski. Most of the children in Room Thirteen didn’t have names like that. They had names easy to say, like Thomas, Smith or Allen.
Answer:
(i) The italicised words express the point of view of Peggy and Maddie.
(ii) These italicised words express the point of view of other children excluding Peggy and Maddie.

2. Can you find other such sentences in the story ? You can do this after you read the second part of the story as well.
Answer:
The other such sentences are there in the second part of the story which are as follows: “Goodness! Wasn’t there anything she could do ? If only she could tell Wanda she hadn’t meant to hurt her feelings.”

III. Look at this sentence. The italicised adverb expresses an opinion or point of view.
Obviously, the only dress Wanda had was the blue one she wore every day. (This was obvious to the speaker.)

Other such adverbs are apparently, evidently, surprisingly, possibly, hopefully, incredibly, luckily. Use these words appropriately in the blanks in the sentences below. (You may use a word more than once, and more than one word may be appropriate for a given blank.)

1. …………….., he finished his work on time.
2. ………………,it will not rain on the day of the match.
3. ……………., he had been stealing money from his employer.
4. Television is …………….. to blame for the increase in violence in society.
5.’ The children will …………………. learn from their mistakes.
6. I can’t ………….. lend you that much money.
7. The thief had …………. been watching the house for many days.
8. The thief …………….. escaped by bribing the jailor.
9. ……………… no one had suggested this before.
10. The water was ………………. hot.
Ans.
1. Surprisingly
2. Hopefully
3. Possibly
4. evidently
5. apparently
6. possibly
7. incredibly
8. luckily
9. Incredibly
10. incredibly

HBSE 10th Class English The Hundred Dresses Part 1 Important Questions and Answers

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Where did Wanda Petronski live ?
Answer:
She lived at Boggins Heights.

Question 2.
Where did Wanda use to sit in the class ?
Answer:
She used to sit in the seat next to the last.

Question 3.
Who was Peggy’s best friend ?
Answer:
Maddie was Peggy’s best friend.

Question 4.
Who was Miss Mason ?
Answer:
She was Peggy’s class teacher.

Question 5.
Why were Wanda’s shoes always mud caked ?
Answer:
Wanda’s shoes were always mud caked because she had to come on foot all the way from Boggins Height to the school.

Question 6.
What was strange about Wanda’s name?
Answer:
She had a long name which was a funny one.

Question 7.
What was the attitude of the other children towards Wanda ?
Answer:
They often made fun of her.

Question 8.
What was Wanda’s response to Peggy’s question about dresses?
Answer:
She said that she had one hundred dresses, all lined up in her closet.

Question 9.
How did Peggy react when she saw an animal mistreated ?
Answer:
When Peggy saw an animal mistreated, she would cry for hours.

Question 10.
What kind of dress did Wanda wear ?
Answer:
She always wore a faded blue dress.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Who was Maddie? (AST anta eft?)
Answer:
Maddie belonged to a poor family. She wore old clothes which were given by others. Her parents were not rich.’ They lived in a simple house.
(मैडी का संबंध एक गरीब परिवार से था। वह दूसरों के द्वारा दिए गएं पुराने कपड़े पहनती थी। उसके माता-पिता अमीर नहीं थे। वे एक साधारण मकान में रहते थे।)

Question 2.
What was the opinion of the judges about Wanda?
(वाण्डा के प्रति निर्णायकों का क्या मत था?)
Answer:
Wanda had drawn one hundred designs of dresses, which were all different and all beautiful. In the opinion of the judges any one of the drawings was worthy of winning the prize. So she was declared winner of the girls medal.
(वाण्डा ने पोशाकों के एक सौ नमूने चित्रित किए थे, जोकि सभी भिन्न और सुंदर थे। निर्णायकों के मतानुसार इन सभी चित्रों में से कोई एक पुरस्कार का पात्र था। इसलिए उसे लड़कियों के पदक का विजेता घोषित कर दिया गया।)

Question 3.
How can you say that Peggy was a soft girl ? (आप कैसे कह सकते हो कि पेग्गी एक सौम्य स्वभाव की लड़की थी?)
Answer:
Peggy was not really cruel. She protected smaller children from bullies. If she saw an animal mistreated, she would cry for hours.
(पेग्गी एक निर्दयी लड़की नहीं थी। वह छोटे बच्चों को धौंस जमाने वालों से बचाती थी। यदि वह किसी जानवर के साथ गलत व्यवहार होता देखती थी तो वह घंटों चिल्लाती रहती थी।)

Question 4.
Maddie wrote a note for Peggy but she tore it away. Why? (मैडी ने पेग्गी के लिए एक नोट लिखा परंतु उसने उसे फाड़ दिया। क्यों?)
Answer:
Maddie wanted that Peggy should stop teasing and making fun of Wanda. So she wrote a note to . Peggy. But she lacked courage to give that note to Peggy fearing lest she should lose Peggy’s friendship. So she tore the note.
(मैडी चाहती थी कि पेग्गी वाण्डा को चिढ़ाना और उसका मजाक उड़ाना बंद कर दे। इसलिए उसने पेग्गी को एक नोट लिखा। लेकिन उसमें इतना साहस नहीं था कि वह नोट पेग्गी को दे दे क्योंकि उसे पेग्गी की मित्रता के खो जाने का भय था। इसलिए उसने वह नोट फाड़ दिया।)

Essay Type Question

Question 1.
What does this story tell us about Wanda Petronski? (यह कहानी हमें वाण्डा पेट्रोसकी के विषय में क्या बताती है?)
Or
Give a brief character sketch of Wanda Petronski. (वाण्डा पेट्रोसकी का चरित्र-चित्रण कीजिए।) Or
What do you learn about Wanda Petronski from the stroy “The Hundred Dresses”? (“The Hundred Dresses” कहानी से वाण्डा पेट्रोंसकी के विषय में तुमने क्या सीखा?) Or
Answer:
Wanda Petronski was a Polish girl. Her family had immigrated to America. She studied in a school with other American students. She belonged to a very poor family. Daily she came to school in a faded blue dress. It was clean but not properly ironed. She used to sit in the corner of room number thirteen in the last row. This was a corner where the rough boys, who did not make good marks, sat. Wanda did not sit there because she was rough and noisy. On the contrary she was very quiet. But she came on foot from Boggins Heights area and brought a lot of dirt with her shoes. She was a reserve girl and did not speak much in the class. No one had ever heard her laugh.

(वाण्डा पेट्रोसकी पोलैंड मूल की रहने वाली थी। उसका परिवार अमेरिका विस्थापित हो गया था। वह अन्य अमेरिकी विद्यार्थियों के साथ एक स्कूल में पढ़ती थी। वह एक बहुत ही गरीब परिवार से संबंध रखती थी। हर रोज़ वह रंग उड़ी हुई एक नीले रंग की पोशाक में स्कूल आती थी। वह साफ तो होती थी परंतु उस पर सही प्रकार से प्रैस नहीं की होती थी। वह कमरा नंबर तेरह में आखिरी पंक्ति में बैठा करती थी। यह वह कोना था जिसमें वे लड़के बैठते थे जिनके अच्छे अंक नहीं आते थे। वाण्डा वहाँ इसलिए नहीं बैठती थी कि वह अभद्र और शोर मचाने वाली थी। इसके बिल्कुल विपरीत वह बहुत शांत थी। परंतु वह बोगिंस हाईट्स से पैदल स्कूल आती थी और अपने जूतों के साथ ढेर सारी धूल मिट्टी लेकर आती थी। वह एक आत्मकेंद्रित लड़की थी और कक्षा में अधिक नहीं बोलती थी। कभी किसी ने भी उसे हँसते हुए नहीं सुना था।)

Question 2.
Who were Peggy and Maddie? How did they and other girls make fun of Wanda? (पेग्गी और मैडी कौन थी? वे और दूसरी लड़कियाँ वाण्डा का मजाक कैसे उड़ाती थीं?)
Answer:
Peggy and Maddie were the two classmates of Wanda. Peggy was the most popular girl in the school. She was pretty and had curly hair. She belonged to a rich family. She had many pretty clothes. Maddie was her closest friend. Peggy and Maddie were not bad girls but they used to have some fun with Wanda Petronski. The students in Wanda’s class found her name funny. Wanda was always alone in her class. Peggy made fun of Wanda and asked her how many dresses she had in her closet. Wanda replied that she had one hundred dresses. Then Peggy would ask her whether the dresses were of silk or velvet. Wanda would reply that she had dresses of velvet as well as silk. The girls would ask her how many pairs of shoes she had. At this Wanda would tell them that she had sixty pairs of shoes. The girls would suppress their laugh while talking to her. But as soon as Wanda’s back was turned, they would burst into peals of laughter.

(पेग्गी और मैडी वाण्डा की दो सहपाठी थीं। पेग्गी स्कूल में सबसे प्रसिद्ध लड़की थी। वह सुंदर थी और उसके धुंघराले बाल थे। उसका संबंध एक अमीर परिवार के साथ था। उसके पास बहुत-से सुंदर कपड़े थे। मैडी उसकी सबसे निकटतम सहेली थी। पेग्गी और मैडी बुरी लड़कियाँ नहीं थीं लेकिन वे वाण्डा पेट्रोंसकी के साथ मजाक कर लिया करती थी। वाण्डा की कक्षा के विद्यार्थियों को उसका नाम मजाकिया लगता था। वाण्डा अपनी कक्षा में हमेशा अकेली रहती थी। पेग्गी वाण्डा को मजाक करती थी और उससे पूछती थी कि उसकी अलमारी में उसके पास कितनी पोशाकें हैं। वाण्डा उत्तर देती थी कि उसके पास सौ पोशाकें हैं। तब पेग्गी उससे पूछती थी कि क्या वे पोशाकें रेशम की हैं या मखमल की। तब वाण्डा उत्तर देती थी कि उसके पास रेशमी और मखमली दोनों प्रकार की पोशाकें हैं। लड़कियाँ उससे पूछती थीं कि उसके पास कितने जोड़ी जूते हैं। इस पर वाण्डा उन्हें बताती थी कि उसके पास साठ जोड़ी जूते हैं। उससे बातें करते समय तो लड़कियाँ अपनी हँसी को दबाकर रखती थीं लेकिन जैसे ही वाण्डा अपनी पीठ घुमाती थी, तो वे ठहाके लगाकर हँसना शुरू कर देती थी।)

Question 3.
What do you know about Maddie? (आप मैडी के विषय में क्या जानते हो ?)
Answer:
Maddie was one of the classmates of Wanda. She was Peggy’s best friend. Maddie herself was a poor girl. She used to wear the clothes given by other persons. So she was sympathetic to Wanda. She and Peggy were fast friends. That is why she never said anything when Peggy made fun of Wanda. But she herself never laughed at Wanda. She did not like Peggy’s asking Wanda about the dresses. Whenever, Peggy mocked at Wanda, Maddie felt bad. She wished that Peggy would stop teasing Wanda Petronski. Maddie decided to write a note for Peggy asking her to stop making fun of Wanda but she could not muster the courage to give the note to her.

(मैडी वाण्डा की एक सहपाठी थी। वह पेग्गी की सबसे पक्की सहेली थी। मैडी स्वयं एक गरीब लड़की थी। वह हमेशा दूसरे लोगों द्वारा दिए गए कपड़े पहना करती थी। इसलिए उसे वाण्डा के प्रति सहानुभूति थी। वह और पेग्गी पक्की सहेलियाँ थीं। इसलिए जब भी पेग्गी वाण्डा का मजाक उड़ाती थी तो मैडी कुछ नहीं करती थी। लेकिन वह स्वयं कभी भी वाण्डा पर नहीं हँसती थीं। वह पेग्गी के द्वारा वाण्डा को उसकी पोशाकों के बारे में पूछना पसंद नहीं करती थी। जब भी पेग्गी वाण्डा का मजाक उड़ाती थी तो मैडी को बुरा लगता था। उसकी इच्छा थी कि पेग्गी वाण्डा का मजाक उड़ाना बंद कर दे। मैडी ने पेग्गी के लिए एक नोट लिखने का भी निर्णय लिया जिसमें वह पेग्गी से वाण्डा का मजाक उड़ाना बंद करने को कहेगी लेकिन वह उस नोट को पेग्गी को देने के लिए साहस नहीं जुटा सकी।)।

Question 4.
When did Peggy and Maddie notice Wanda’s absence from school?
(पेग्गी और मैडी ने वाण्डा की स्कूल से अनुपस्थिति पर कब ध्यान दिया?)
Answer:
Wanda did not come to school on Monday. But nobody noticed her. She did not come on Tuesday also. But when she missed the school on Wednesday also, Peggy and Maddie noted her absence. They wondered why she had not come to school. Maddie remembered Wanda talking about one of her dresses which was pale blue with coloured trimmings. Then Maddie thought about the drawing and colour contest in the school. The girls were to design dresses and the boys were to design motorboats. Maddie thought that Peggy would win the contest as she was very good in designing.

(वाण्डा सोमवार के दिन स्कूल नहीं आई। लेकिन किसी ने भी उसकी ओर ध्यान नहीं दिया। वह मंगलवार को भी नहीं आई। लेकिन जब वह बुधवार को भी स्कूल नहीं आई तो पेग्गी और मैडी ने उसकी अनुपस्थिति पर ध्यान दिया। वे हैरान थीं कि वह स्कूल क्यों नहीं आई है। मैडी को वाण्डा की वह बात याद आ रही थी जब वह हल्के नीले रंग की गोटा लगी हुई पोशाक के बारे में बात कर रही थी तब मैडी ने स्कूल में होने वाले चित्रकारी और रंगों के मुकाबले के बारे में सोचा। लड़कियों को पोशाकों के नमूने बनाने थे और लड़कों को मोटर वाली किश्तियों के। मैडी सोचती थी कि पेग्गी ही चित्रकारी प्रतियोगिता का पदक जीतेगी क्योंकि नमूने बनाने में वह माहिर थी।)

Question 5.
Describe the scene where Wanda’s dress drawings are displayed? Who won the drawing contest for the girls ?
(उस दृश्य का वर्णन कीजिए जहाँ वाण्डा की पोशाकें प्रदर्शित की गई थीं ? लड़कियों के लिए चित्रकारी मुकाबला किसने जीता था ?)
Answer:
The next day it was drizzling. Peggy and Maddie hurried to their school as Miss Mason would announce the results of the drawing contest. They did not wait for Wanda. When the girls reached their school they were surprised. There were hundreds of designs of dresses displayed in the room. Then Miss Mason announced the names of the winners. Jack Beggles had won for the boys. She said that all the hundred designs of dresses had been made by one girl and she had won the Medal. Her name was Wanda Petronski. But Wanda was absent. The children clapped their hands in joy. Maddie asked Peggy to look at the blue dress about which Wanda had told them earlier. They appreciated the drawings made by Wanda.

(अगले दिन दा-बाँदी हो रही थी। पेग्गी और मैडी जल्दी से स्कूल गईं क्योंकि मिस मेसन चित्रकारी मुकाबले का परिणाम घोषित करने जा रही थी। उन्होंने वाण्डा की प्रतीक्षा नहीं की। जब लड़कियाँ अपने स्कूल पहुंची तो वे बहुत हैरान थीं। कमरे में पोशाकों के सैकड़ों नमूने प्रदर्शन के लिए थे। तब मिस मेसन ने विजेताओं के नामों की घोषणा की। जैक बेग्गल्ज़ ने लड़कों का पदक जीता था। उसने कहा कि पोशाकों के सारे सैकड़ों नमूने एक ही लड़की के द्वारा बनाए गए हैं और उसी ने ही पदक जीता था। उसका नाम वाण्डा पेट्रोंसकी था। लेकिन वाण्डा अनुपस्थित थी। बच्चों ने खुशी से तालियाँ बजाईं। मैडी ने वाण्डा से कहा कि वह उस नीली पोशाक को देखे जिसके बारे में वाण्डा ने उन्हें पहले बताया था। उन्होंने वाण्डा के द्वारा बनाए गए चित्रों की प्रशंसा की।)

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1.
Who was Wanda ?
(A) a Polish girl
(B) a French girl
(C) anAmerican girl
(D) an English girl
Answer:
(A) a Polish girl

Question 2.
Who was the most popular girl of the school ?
(A) Wanda
(B) Peggy
(C) Maddie
(D) Miss Mason
Answer:
(B) Peggy

Question 3.
Who was Peggy’s closest friend ?
(A) Wanda
(B) Maddie
(C) both (A) and (B)
(D) none of the above
Answer:
(B) Maddie

Question 4.
Wanda’s class used to sit in Room No. :
(A) ten
(B) eleven
(C) twelve
(D) thirteen
Answer:
(D) thirteen

Question 5.
Where did Wanda Petronski live ?
(A) Poland
(B) Boston
(C) Boggins Heights
(D) London
Answer:
(C) Boggins Heights

Question 6.
On which particular day was Wanda’s absence noticed ?
(A) Sunday
(B) Monday
(C) Tuesday
(D) Wednesday
Answer:
(D) Wednesday

Question 7.
How did the other girls treat Wanda ?
(A) they made fun of her
(B) they helped her in studies
(C) they sympathised with her
(D) all of the above
Answer:
(A) they made fun of her

Question 8.
What was the contest for the boys ?
(A) dress designs
(B) motorboats
(C) motorbikes
(D) all of the above
Answer:
(B) motorboats

Question 9.
Who was the first winner among the boys ?
(A) Thomas
(B) Smith
(C) Jack Beggles
(D) Bounce
Answer:
(C) Jack Beggles

Question 10.
What was the contest for the girls ?
(A) dress designs
(B) motorboats designs
(C) both (A) and (B)
(D) none of the above
Answer:
(A) dress designs

Question 11.
Who was the first winner among the girls ?
(A) Peggy
(B) Wanda
(C) Maddie
(D) Miss Mason
Answer:
(B) Wanda

Question 12.
Who decides to write a note to Peggy ?
(A) Maddie
(B) Wanda
(C) Smith
(D) Jack Beggles
Answer:
(A) Maddie

Question 13.
Who was Wanda’s friend in the school ?
(A) Peggy
(B) Maddie
(C) both (A) and (B)
(D) she had no friend in the school
Answer:
(D) she had no friend in the school

Question 14.
Who did Peggy protect small children from ?
(A) bullies
(B) clever
(C) foolish
(D) teacher
Answer:
(A) bullies

Question 15.
Where were Wanda’s designs at display?
(A) Room No. Ten
(B) Room No. Eleven
(C) Room No. Twelve
(D) Room No. Thirteen
Answer:
(C) Room No. Twelve

The Hundred Dresses Part 1 Important Passages for Comprehension

Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow :

PASSAGE 1

Today, Monday, Wanda Petronski was not in her seat. But nobody, not even Peggy and Madeline, the girls who started all the fun, noticed her absence. Usually Wanda sat in the seat next to the last seat in the last row in Room Thirteen. She sat in the corner of the room where the rough boys who did not make good marks sat, the corner of the room where there was most scuffling of feet, most roars of laughter when anything funny was said, and most mud and dirt on the floor.

Wanda did not sit there because she was rough and noisy. On the contrary, she was very quiet and rarely said anything at all. And nobody had ever heard her laugh out loud. Sometimes she twisted her mouth into a crooked sort of smile, but that was all.

Word-meanings : Rough = indisciplined (अनुशासनहीन); scuffing of feet = creating noise by thumping shoes (पैर पटककर शोर करना); on the contrary = on the other hand (इसके विपरीत); roars = cries (चीखे); rarely = very seldom (बहुत कम); crooked sort = awkward ( बेढंगी) :

Questions :

(a) Where did Wanda Petronski usually sit ?
(b) Did Peggy and Madeline notice Wanda’s absence ?
(c) How did most of the boys create fun in the classroom?
(d) What kind of a girl was Wanda ?
(e) Find words or phrases from the passage which mean the same as :
(i) on the other hand,
(ii) very seldom.
Answers :
(a) She usually sat in the corner next to the last seat in the last row.
(b) No, Peggy and Madeline did not notice Wanda’s absence.
(c) They created fun by scuffling their feet on the ground and laughing loudly.
(d) Wanda was a quiet and calm girl.
(e) (i) on the contrary, (ii) rarely.

PASSAGE 2

Nobody knew exactly why Wanda sat in that seat, unless it was because she came all the way from Petronski, once she sat in the corner of the room.
The time when they thought about Wanda was outside of school hours – at noon-time when they were coming back to school or in the morning early before school began, when groups of two or three, or even more, would be talking and laughing on their way to the school yard.
Then, sometimes, they waited for Wanda – to have fun with her.

Word-meanings : Caked with = covered with (से ढकी हुई); exactly = correctly (सही ढंग से) I

Questions :

(a) Where did Wanda come from ?
(b) What happened after Wanda sat in the corner of the room ?
(c) When did classmates think of Wanda ?
(d) Why did they wait for Wanda ?
(e) Find a word in the passage which means ‘precise’.
Answers :
(a) Wanda came from Boggins Heights.
(b) After she sat in the corner of the room nobody thought much of her.
(c) They thought of her outsides of school hours.
(d) They waited for her to have fun with her.
(e) exactly

PASSAGE 3

Peggy was the most popular girl in school. She was pretty, she had many pretty clothes and her hair was curly. Maddie was her closest friend. The reason Peggy and Maddie noticed Wanda’s absence was because Wanda had made them late to school. They had waited and waited for Wanda, to have some fun with her, and she just hadn’t come.

They often waited for Wanda Petronski – to have fun with her.
Wanda Petronski. Most of the children in Room Thirteen didn’t have names like that. They had names easy to say, like Thomas, Smith or Allen. There was one boy named Bounce, Willie Bounce, and people thought that was funny, but not funny in the same way that Petronski was.

Word-meanings : Popular = famous (प्रसिद्धा ); curly hair = wavy hair (घुंगराले बाल)

Questions :

(a) Name the chapter.
(b) Who was Maddie’s closest friend ?
(c) Why did most of the children not like Wanda’s name?
(d) Why had Peggy and Maddie waited for Wanda ?
(e) Find out a word from the passage similar in meaning to ‘famous’.
Answers :
(a) The name of the chapter is ‘The Hundred Dresses-i’.
(b) Peggy was Maddie’s closest friend.
(c) They did not like Wanda’s name because it was a long and funny name.
(d) They wanted to have some fun with Wanda.
(e) Popular

PASSAGE 4

Wanda didn’t have any friends. She came to school alone and went home alone. She always wore a faded blue dress that didn’t hang right. It was clean, but it looked as though it had never been ironed properly. She didn’t have any friends, but a lot of girls talked to her. Sometimes, they surrounded her in the school yard as she stood watching the little girls play hopscotch on the worn hard ground.

“Wanda,” Peggy would say in a most courteous manner as though she were talking to Miss Mason. “Wanda,” she’d say, giving one of her friends a nudge, “tell us. How many dresses did you say you had hanging up in your closet ?”
“A hundred,” Wanda would say.

“A hundred!” exclaimed all the little girls incredulously, and the little ones would stop playing hopscotch and listen.

Word-meanings : Didn’t hang right = not fit properly (ठिक से न आना ); ironed = pressed with iron (प्रेस करना); surrounded = circled (दायरा बनाना); hopscotch = a kind of game (एक प्रकार का खेल); incredulously = showing disbelief (अविश्वास प्रकट करते हुए) |

Questions :
(a) What kind of dress did Wanda wear ?
(b) How did Peggy make fun of Wanda ?
(c) Did Wanda have many friends ?
(d) What would Wanda say when Peggy questioned her about dresses ?
(e) Find a word from the passage which means “polite’.
Answers :
(a) She wore a faded blue dress.
(b) Peggy made fun of Wanda by asking a question about how many dresses she had at home.
(c) No, Wanda did not have many friends.
(d) Wanda would say that she had a hundred dresses lined up in her closet.
(e) courteous.

PASSAGE 5

Finally Wanda would move up the street, her eyes dull and her mouth closed, hitching her left shoulder every now and then in the funny way she had, finishing the walk to school alone.

Peggy was not really cruel. She protected small children from bullies. And she cried for hours if she saw an animal mistreated. If anybody had said to her, “Don’t you think that is a cruel way to treat Wanda ?” She would have been very surprised. Cruel ? Why did the girl say she had a hundred dresses ? Anybody could tell that was a lie. Why did she want to lie ? And she wasn’t just an ordinary person, else why did she have a name like that? Anyway, they never made her cry.
As for Maddie, this business for asking Wanda every day how many dresses and how many hats, and how many this and that she had was bothering her.

Word-meanings : Bullies = those who frighten the weaker persons (धौंसिया); mistreated = behaved cruelly (क्रूरतापूर्ण व्यवहार); cruel = unkind (निर्दयी); ordinary = simple (साधारण)।

Questions :

(a) Name the chapter.
(b) Who protected small children from bullies ?
(c) What was bothering Maddie ?
(d) What did Peggy think was clearly a lie ?
(e) Find out a word from the passage which means “those who use their strength to frighten weaker people’.
Answers:
(a) The name of the chapter is ‘The Hundred Dresses-l’.
(B) Peggy protected small children from bullies.
(c) The business for asking Wanda every day how many dresses, she had was bothering Maddie.
(d) Peggy thought that the girl’s saying that she had one hundred dresses was clearly a lie.
(e) Bullies.

PASSAGE 6

Sometimes, when Peggy was asking Wanda those questions in that mocking polite voice, Maddie felt embarrassed and studied the marbles in the palm of her hand, rolling them around and saying nothing herself. Not that she felt sorry for Wanda, exactly. She would never have paid any attention to Wanda if Peggy hadn’t invented the dresses game. But suppose Peggy and all the others started in on her next ? She wasn’t as poor as Wanda, perhaps, but she was poor. Of course she would have more sense than to say she had a hundred dresses. Still she would not like for them to begin on her. She wished Peggy would stop teasing Wanda Petronski.

Word-meanings : Mocking = making fun of (मज़ाक उड़ाना); embarrassed = ashamed of (शर्मसार होना); invented = discovered (आविष्कार किया); teasing = bothering (परेशान करना) |

Questions :

(a) How did Maddie feel and behave when Peggy mocked Wanda ?
(b) What made Maddie pay attention to Wanda ?
(c) What was the fear in Maddie’s mind when she saw Peggy mocking Wanda ?
(d) What did Maddie wish ?
(e) Name the chapter and its writer.
Answers :
(i) Maddie felt embarrassed and studied the marbles in the palm of hand, rolling them around but said nothing.
(ii) Peggy’s invention of the dresses game, made Maddie pay attention to Wanda. (iii) The fear in Maddie’s mind was that Peggy and other girls may start mocking her too.
(iv) Maddie wished that Peggy would stop tearing Wanda.
(v) Chapter : ‘The Hundred Dresses-l’. Writer : ‘Eleanor Estes’

PASSAGE 7

Today, even though they had been late to school, Maddie was glad she had not had to make fun of Wanda. She worked her arithmetic problems absent-mindedly. “Eight times eight-let’s see …” She wished she had the nerve to write Peggy a note, because she knew she never would have the courage to speak right out to Peggy, to say, “Hey, Peg, let’s stop asking Wanda how many dresses she has.” When she finished her arithmetic she did start a note to Peggy. Suddenly she paused and shuddered. She pictured herself in the school yard, a new target for Peggy and the girls. Peggy might ask her where she got the dress that she had on, and Maddie would have to say it was one of Peggy’s old ones that Maddie’s mother had tried to disguise with new trimmings so no one in Room Thirteen would recognise it.

Word-meanings : Absent-mindedly = without thinking much paused-stopped (बिना सोचे-समझे); shuddered = trembled (काँपने लगी); target = mark (निशाना); disguise = conceal (छुपाना) |

Questions :

(a) Why was Maddie glad ?
(b) How did Maddie want to ask Peggy not to make fun of Wanda ?.
(c) What made Maddie feel ‘shuddered’?
(d) How did Maddie think Peggy would humiliate her ?
(e) Find a word from the passage which means ‘trembled’.
Answers :
(a)Maddie was glad she had not had to make fun of Wanda.
(b) She wanted to ask Peggy not to make fun of Wanda by writing a note to her.
(c) She shuddered when she thought that Peggy would find Maddie a new target for making fun of her.
(d) She thought that Peggy would humiliate her by pointing out that she was wearing a dress given to her by her (Peggy’s) mother.
(e) ‘shuddered’.

The Hundred Dresses Part 1 Summary in English

The Hundred Dresses Part 1 Introduction in English

This is a beautiful story about a small girl Wanda by Eleanor Estes Ester. Wanda used to go to school on foot and sit next to the last bench in one corner of her room. All the girls of her class used to make fun of her poverty and funny name. She never quarrelled with anyone. She was always calm. When a drawing competition was held in her school, Wanda took part in that competition. He made design of one hundred dresses. All the designs were very beautiful. She was selected for the first prize. This surprised everyone very much.

The Hundred Dresses Part 1 Summary in English

This is a story about a Polish girl. Her name was Wanda Petronski. Her family had immigrated to America. She studied in a school with other American students. She belonged to a very poor family. Daily she came to school in a faded blue dress. It was clean but not properly ironed. She used to sit in the corner of room number thirteen in the last row. This was a corner where the rough boys, who did not make good marks, sat. They made a lot of noise. There was the most noise of the feet when some fun occurred. Wanda did not sit there because she was rough and noisy. On the contrary she was very quiet. But she came on foot from Boggins Heights area and brought a lot of dirt with her shoes.

She was an introvert girl and did not speak much in the class. No one had ever heard her laugh. Nobody really thought much about Wanda. Students thought of Wanda only outside the school hours. They waited for her while she was going to or coming from home. They waited for her in order to have fun with her. Two girls of her class, Peggy and Maddie, often talked to her and made fun of her. Peggy was the most popular girl in the school. She was pretty and had curly hair. She belonged to a rich family. She had many pretty clothes. Maddie was her closest friend.

Peggy and Maddie were not bad girls but they used to have some fun with Wanda Petronski. The students in Wanda’s class found her name funny. Wanda was always alone in her class. Wanda did not have any friend but a lot of girls talked to her. They surrounded her in the school yard. Peggy made fun of Wanda and asked her how many dresses she had in her closet. Wanda replied that she had one hundred dresses. These dresses were of different colours and designs. Then Peggy would ask her whether the dresses were of silk or velvet. Wanda would reply that she had dresses of velvet as well as silk. The girls would ask her how many pairs of shoes she had. At this Wanda would tell them that she had sixty pairs of shoes. The girls would suppress their laugh when talking to her. But as soon as Wanda’s back was turned, they would burst into peals of laughter.

Peggy was rich but she was not arrogant. She was not cruel. On the other hand, she saved younger girls from bullies. But she and other girls could not understand why Wanda told a lie about her dresses and shoes. But the girls only made fun of Wanda. They never made her cry.

Maddie herself was a poor girl. She used to wear the clothes given by other persons. So she was sympathetic to Wanda. She and Peggy were fast friends. That is why she never said anything when Peggy made fun of Wanda. But she herself never laughed at Wanda. She did not like Peggy’s asking Wanda about the dresses. Whenever, Peggy mocked at Wanda, Maddie felt bad. She wished that Peggy would stop teasing Wanda Petronski. Maddie decided to write a note for Peggy asking her to stop making fun of Wanda but she could not muster the courage to do so.

Wanda did not come to school on Monday. But nobody missed her. She did not come on Tuesday also. But when she missed the school on Wednesday also, Peggy and Maddie noted her absence. They wondered why she had not come to school. Maddie remembered Wanda talking about one of her dresses which was pale blue with coloured trimmings. Then Maddie thought about the drawing and colour contest in the school. The girls were to design dresses and the boys were to design motorboats. Maddie thought that Peggy would win the contest as she was very good in designing.

Next day it was drizzled. Peggy and Maddie hurried to their school as Miss Mason would announce the results of the drawing contest. They did not wait for Wanda. When the girls reached their school they were surprised. There were hundreds of designs of dresses displayed in the room. Then Miss Mason announced names of the winners. Jack Beggles had won for the boys. She said that all the hundred designs of dresses had been made by one girl and she had won the Medal. Her name was Wanda Petronski.
But Wanda was absent. The children clapped their hands in joy. Maddie asked Peggy to look at the blue dress about which Wanda had told them earlier. They appreciated the drawings made by Wanda.

The Hundred Dresses Part 1 Summary in Hindi

The Hundred Dresses Part 1 Introduction in Hindi

(यह वाण्डा नाम की एक छोटी-सी लड़की के बारे में Eleanor Estes द्वारा लिखित एक सुंदर कहानी है। वाण्डा पैदल स्कूल जाया करती थी और अपने कमरे के कोने में आखिरी सीट से पहले वाली सीट पर बैठा करती थी। उसकी कक्षा की सभी लड़कियाँ उसकी गरीबी और उसके मजाकिया नाम का उपहास उड़ाया करती थीं। वह कभी किसी के साथ झगड़ा नहीं करती थी। वह हमेशा शांत रहती थी। जब उसके स्कूल में एक चित्रकारी प्रतियोगिता का आयोजन किया गया तो उसने भी इस प्रतियोगिता में हिस्सा लिया। उसने एक सौ पोशाकों के चित्र बनाए। सभी चित्र बहुत ही सुंदर थे। उसे प्रथम पुरस्कार के लिए चुना गया। उसकी इस उपलब्धि से प्रत्येक बहुत हैरान था।)

The Hundred Dresses Part 1 Summary in Hindi

यह एक पोलिश (पोलैंड के मूल की) लड़की की कहानी है। उसका नाम वाण्डा पेट्रोंसकी था। उसका परिवार अमेरिका में आकर बसा हुआ था। वह एक स्कूल में अन्य अमेरिकी छात्रों के साथ पढ़ती थी। वह एक बहुत गरीब घर की लड़की थी। वह हर रोज स्कूल में मंद पड़े नीले रंग की पोशाक पहनकर आती थी। यह साफ-सुथरी होती थी मगर इस पर सही तरीके से इस्री नहीं की होती थी। वह कमरा नंबर तेरह की आखिरी पंक्ति में एक कोने में बैठती थी। यह वह कोना था जहाँ पर ऐसे लड़के बैठते थे जो या तो बहुत बातूनी थे या पढ़ाई में कमजोर थे। वे बहुत अधिक शोर मचाते थे। जब कोई मजाक की बात होती थी तो पैरों का बहुत अधिक शोर होता था। वाण्डा वहाँ इसलिए नहीं बैठती थी क्योंकि वह पढ़ाई में कमजोर और ज्यादा शोर मचाती थी। इसके विपरीत वह बहुत शांत थी। मगर वह बोगिंस हाईट्स के इलाके से पैदल आती थी और अपने पैरों के साथ बहुत अधिक मिट्टी लाती थी।

वह एक अंतर्मुखी लड़की थी और कक्षा में अधिक नहीं बोलती थी। किसी ने उसे कभी हँसते हुए नहीं देखा था। कोई भी वाण्डा के बारे में अधिक नहीं सोचता था। छात्र वाण्डा के बारे में केवल स्कूल के समय के बाद सोचते थे। जब वह घर को जा रही होती थी या घर से आ रही होती थी तो वे उसका इंतजार करते थे। वे उसका मजाक उड़ाने के लिए उसका इंतज़ार करते थे। उसकी कक्षा की दो लड़कियाँ, पेग्गी और मैडी, अकसर उससे बात करती थीं और उसका मजाक उड़ाती थीं। पेग्गी स्कूल की सबसे लोकप्रिय लड़की थी। वह सुंदर थी और उसके बाल घुघराले थे। वह एक अमीर परिवार से थी। उसके पास बहुत-सी अच्छी-अच्छी पोशाकें थीं। मैडी उसकी सबसे पक्की सहेली थी।

– पेग्गी और मैडी बुरी लड़कियाँ नहीं थीं मगर वे वाण्डा पेट्रोसकी का कुछ मजाक उड़ाया करती थीं। वाण्डा की कक्षा के छात्र सोचते थे कि उसका नाम मज़ाकिया है। वाण्डा कक्षा में सदा अकेली थी। वाण्डा का कोई मित्र नहीं था मगर उससे बहुत-सी लड़कियाँ बातें करती थीं। वे उसे स्कूल के प्रांगण में घेर लेती थीं। पेग्गी वाण्डा का मजाक उड़ाती थी और उससे पूछती थी कि उसकी अलमारी में कितनी पोशाकें हैं। वाण्डा उत्तर देती थी कि उसके पास एक सौ पोशाकें हैं। ये पोशाकें अलग-अलग रंगों और डिज़ाइनों की थीं। तब पेग्गी उससे पूछती थी कि क्या वे पोशाकें रेशम की हैं या मखमल की। वाण्डा उत्तर देती थी कि उसकी पोशाकें रेशम की और मखमल दोनों की हैं। लड़कियाँ उससे पूछती थीं कि उसके पास कितने जोड़ी जूते हैं। इस पर वाण्डा उन्हें बताती कि उसके पास साठ जोड़े जूते हैं। लड़कियाँ उससे बात करते समय अपनी हँसी को दबाए रखती थीं। मगर ज्यों ही वाण्डा की पीठ मुड़ती, वे ज़ोर-ज़ोर से हँस देती थीं।

पेग्गी अमीर थी मगर वह घमंडी नहीं थी। वह क्रूर भी नहीं थी। इसके विपरीत वह छोटी लड़कियों को धौंसिया लड़कियों से बचाती थी। मगर वह और अन्य लड़कियाँ यह नहीं समझ पाती थीं कि वाण्डा अपनी पोशाकों और जूतों के बारे में झूठ क्यों बोलती थी। मगर लड़कियाँ वाण्डा का केवल मजाक उड़ाती थीं। वे उसे कभी भी रुलाती नहीं थीं।

मैडी स्वयं एक गरीब लड़की थी। वह अन्य लोगों के द्वारा दिए गए कपड़े पहनती थी। इसलिए वह वाण्डा के प्रति सहानुभूतिपूर्ण थी। वह और पेग्गी पक्की सहेलियाँ थीं। इसीलिए जब पेग्गी वाण्डा का मजाक उड़ाती थी तो वह कुछ नहीं बोलती थी। मगर वह स्वयं कभी भी वाण्डा पर नहीं हँसती थी। वह इस बात को पसंद नहीं करती थी कि पेग्गी वाण्डा से उसकी पोशाकों के बारे में पूछे। जब भी पेग्गी वाण्डा पर हँसती थी तो मैडी को बुरा लगता था। वह चाहती थी कि पेग्गी वाण्डा पेट्रोंसकी को तंग करना बंद कर दे। मैडी ने फैसला किया कि वह पेग्गी को एक चिट्ठी लिखेगी और उससे कहेगी कि वह वाण्डा का मजाक उड़ाना बंद कर दे मगर वह ऐसा करने का साहस नहीं जुटा पाई।

वाण्डा सोमवार को स्कूल नहीं आई। मगर किसी को भी उसकी अनुपस्थिति खली नहीं। वह मंगलवार को भी नहीं आई। मगर जब वह बुधवार को भी स्कूल नहीं आई तो पेग्गी और मैडी को उसकी अनुपस्थिति का आभास हुआ। उन्हें इस बात पर हैरानी हुई कि वाण्डा स्कूल क्यों नहीं आई। मैडी को याद आया कि वाण्डा ने एक ड्रैस के बारे में कहा था जो हल्के नीले रंग की थी और जिसमें रंगीन सजावट लगी हुई थी। तब मैडी ने स्कूल में हुए ड्राइंग और रंग के मुकाबले के बारे में सोचा। लड़कियों ने पोशाकों के डिज़ाइन बनाने थे और लड़कों ने मोटरबोटों के चित्र बनाने थे। मैडी ने सोचा कि पेग्गी मुकाबले को जीतेगी क्योंकि वह डिज़ाइनिंग में बहुत अच्छी थी।

अगले दिन बूंदा-बाँदी आरंभ हो गई। पेग्गी और मैडी स्कूल जल्दी-जल्दी गईं क्योंकि मिस मेसन ने ड्राइंग के मुकाबले के परिणाम घोषित करने थे। उन्होंने वाण्डा का इंतज़ार नहीं किया। जब लड़कियाँ अपने स्कूल में पहुँची तो वे हैरान हो गईं। कमरें में पोशाकों के सैकड़ों डिज़ाइन प्रदर्शित किए हुए थे। तब मिस मेसन ने विजेताओं के नाम घोषित किए। लड़कों की तरफ से जैक बेग्गल्ज़ ने इनाम जीता था। उसने कहा कि पोशाकों के सभी सौ डिज़ाइन एक ही लड़की ने बनाए थे और उसी ने इनाम जीता है। उसका नाम है वाण्डा पेट्रोसकी।

मगर वाण्डा अनुपस्थित थी। बच्चों ने खुशी से तालियाँ बजाईं। मैडी ने पेग्गी से कहा कि वह उस नीली पोशाक को देखे जिसके बारे में वाण्डा ने पहले उन्हें बताया था। उन्होंने वाण्डा के द्वारा बनाए गए चित्रों की सराहना की।

From the Diary of Anne Frank Translation in Hindi

[PAGE 64] : आज, सोमवार वाण्डा पेट्रोंसकी अपनी सीट पर नहीं थी। लेकिन पेग्गी और मेडलीन सहित उन सभी लड़कियों ने जिन्होंने उसका मजाक उड़ाना शुरू किया था। किसी ने भी उसकी गैर-हाजिरी पर ध्यान नहीं दिया। आमतौर पर वाण्डा कमरा न० 13 में आखिरी सीट से आगे बैठती थी। वह कमरे के एक कोने में बैठती थी जहाँ पर अभद्र लड़के जो अच्छे अंक नहीं लेते थे बैठते थे, कमरे के इस कोने में अधिकतर बच्चे पैर रगड़कर शोर करते थे, अधिकतर बच्चे जरा-सी भी मजाक की बात होने पर जोर से हँसते थे और फर्श पर सबसे अधिक मिट्टी और धूल पड़ी होती थी।

वाण्डा वहाँ इसलिए नहीं बैठती थी कि वह अभद्र थी या शोर मचाती थी। इसके बिल्कुल विपरीत वह बहुत शांत थी और कभी-कभार ही कुछ बोलती थी। और किसी ने भी उसे कभी भी जोर से हँसते हुए नहीं सुना था। कई बार वह अपने मुँह को मरोड़कर हल्की मुस्कान भर लेती थी, बस इतना ही।

सचमुच में यह कोई भी नहीं जानता था कि वाण्डा उस सीट पर क्यों बैठती थी क्योंकि ऐसा था कि वह Boggins Height से सारे रास्ते पैदल चलकर आई थी और उसके पाँव सूखी मिट्टी से सने होते थे। लेकिन जब वाण्डा पेट्रोंसकी कमरे के एक कोने में बैठ जाती थी तो कोई भी उसके बारे में कुछ नहीं सोचता था।

वे वाण्डा के बारे में केवल स्कूल के समय बाद ही सोचते थे-या तो दोपहर के समय जब वे स्कूल में वापस आ रहे होते थे या सवेरे जल्दी स्कूल लगने से पहले, जब दो या तीन समूहों अथवा इससे भी अधिक स्कूल प्राँगण तक आते समय बातें करते रहते थे या हँसते रहते थे।

तब कई बार तो वे वाण्डा की प्रतीक्षा भी करते थे-ताकि उसके साथ मजाक कर सकें।
अगला दिन, मंगलवार था। वाण्डा उस दिन भी स्कूल नहीं आई थी। और फिर किसी ने भी उसकी अनुपस्थिति पर ध्यान नहीं दिया। लेकिन बुधवार को पेग्गी और मैडी जोकि बाकी बच्चों के साथ अगली सीटों पर बैठती थीं और अच्छे अंक प्राप्त करती थीं और जोकि मिट्टी वाले रास्ते पर चलकर नहीं आती थीं, उन्होंने देखा कि वाण्डा नहीं आ रही थी। पेग्गी स्कूल की सबसे प्रसिद्ध लड़की थी। वह सुंदर थी, उसके पास बहुत-सी सुंदर पोशाकें थी और उसके बाल घुघराले थे। मैडी उसकी सबसे नजदीकी सहेली थी। पेग्गी और मैडी ने वाण्डा की अनुपस्थिति का कारण इसलिए सोचा क्योंकि वाण्डा ने उन्हें स्कूल से लेट कर दिया था।

[PAGE 65] : वे बहुत देर तक वाण्डा की प्रतीक्षा करती रहीं, ताकि उसके साथ कुछ मजाक कर सकें, और वह आई ही नहीं। वे उसके साथ मजाक करने के लिए हमेशा वाण्डा पेट्रोसकी की प्रतीक्षा करती थी।
वाण्डा पेट्रोंसकी। कमरा नं० 13 में अधिकतर बच्चों के नाम इस तरह के नहीं थे। उनके ऐसे नाम थे जो आसानी से कहे जा सकें जैसे थॉमस, स्मिथ, अलैन। एक लड़के का नाम बाउन्स भी था-विली बाउन्स और लोग उसके नाम को मजाकिया मानते थे लेकिन उतना मजाकिया नहीं जितना कि पेट्रोंसकी को।

वाण्डा का कोई भी मित्र नहीं था। वह अकेली स्कूल आती थी और अकेली ही घर जाती थी। वह हमेशा ही रंग उड़ी हुई एक नीले रंग की पोशाक पहनती थी जो उसे ठीक से नहीं आती थी। वह साफ तो थी लेकिन ऐसा लगता था कि कभी भी उस पर ठीक प्रकार से प्रैस नहीं की गई थी। उसका कोई भी मित्र नहीं था, परंतु बहुत सारी लड़कियाँ उससे बात करती थीं। कई बार वह जब छोटी लड़कियों को टूटे-फूटे और कठोर मैदान में hopscotch(टप्पा) का खेल खेलते देखती थी तो दूसरी लड़कियाँ उसे घेर लेती थीं। _ “वाण्डा” पेग्गी अति विशिष्टता के साथ कहती थी जैसे कि वह मिस मेसन से बातें कर रही हो, वह अपनी एक सहेली को एक प्यार भरा धक्का देकर कहती थी “वाण्डा, हमें बताइए, तुम्हारे पास तुम्हारी अलमारी में कितनी पोशाकें लटक रही हैं।”

[PAGE66] : “एक सौ” वाण्डा कहती थी “एक सौ!” सभी छोटी लड़कियाँ अविश्वसनीय ढंग से आचंभित हो जाती थीं, और उनसे भी छोटी लड़कियाँ तो hopscotch का खेल बंद करके उसकी बात सुनती थी।
“हाँ, एक सौ, सभी एक पंक्ति में रखी हुई हैं” वाण्डा कहती थी और फिर उसके पतले होंठ खामोशी में इकडे मिल जाते थे।
“वे कैसी लगती हैं? सभी रेशमी हैं, मैं शर्त के साथ कह सकती हूँ, पेग्गी कहती थी।
“हाँ, सभी रेशमी हैं, सभी प्रकार के रंगों की हैं।”
“मखमली भी हैं?”
“हाँ, मखमली भी हैं, एक सौ पोशाकें हैं,” वाण्डा बिना किसी भावना के पुनः दोहराती, “सभी पोशाकें मेरी अलमारी में पंक्ति में रखी हैं।”

तब वे उसे जाने देती और तब जब वह अधिक दूर भी नहीं गई होती तो वे हँसी की चीखें और ठहाके लगाए बिना नहीं रह सकती थीं।
एक सौ पोशाकें! स्पष्टतया, वाण्डा के पास केवल एक ही नीले रंग वाली पोशाक थी जिसे वह हर रोज पहनकर आती थी। इसलिए वह क्यों कहती थी कि उसके पास सौ पोशाकें हैं? क्या कहानी है।

“तुम्हारे पास कितने जोड़ी जूते हैं?”
“साठ जोड़े! सारे जूते अलमारी में पंक्ति में रखे हैं?
बहुत बढ़ा-चढ़ाकर कही गई इस विनम्रता की चीखें इस उत्तर का स्वागत करतीं। “क्या सभी जूते एक-जैसे हैं?”
“अरे, नहीं, प्रत्येक जोड़ी अलग-किस्म की है। सभी रंगों के हैं। सभी एक पंक्ति में रखे हैं।”

पेग्गी और उसकी कभी जुदा न होने वाली सहेली मैडी जिन्होंने इस खेल के विषय में सोचा था, वहाँ से सबसे बाद में जाती थी। अंततः वाण्डा भी गली में आगे को बढ़ती उसकी आँखें नीरस और मुँह बंद होता तथा वह हर थोड़ी देर के बाद अपने कंधे को जैसी कि उसकी आदत थी झटक देती थी और स्कूल तक अपना रास्ता अकेले ही पूरा करती।

पेग्गी वास्तव में निर्दयी नहीं थी। वह छोटे-छोटे बच्चों की धौंस जमाने वालों से रक्षा करती थी। और यदि वह किसी जानवर के साथ दुर्व्यवहार होता देखती थी तो वह घंटों चिल्लाती थी यदि कोई उससे कहता, “क्या आपके विचार में कि वाण्डा के साथ ऐसा व्यवहार करना निर्दयी नहीं है? तो उसे बहुत हैरानी महसूस होती। निर्दयतापूर्वक? तो उस लड़की ने ऐसा क्यों कहा कि उसके पास एक थी? कोई भी समझ सकता था कि वह एक झूठी बात थी। वह झूठ क्यों बोलना चाहती थी। और वह एक साधारण व्यक्ति मात्र नहीं थी, वरना उसका ऐसा नाम क्यों था? कुछ भी हो वे उसे कभी रुलाती नहीं थी।”

जहाँ तक मैडी का संबंध है, वाण्डा से हर रोज यह पूछा जाना कि उसके पास कितनी पोशाकें, कितने टोप, कितनी ये चीजें, और कितने वे चीजें हैं, उसे परेशान करने लगी थी।

(PAGE 67] : मैडी स्वयं गरीब थी। वह प्रायः दूसरों के पहने हुए कपड़े पहना करती थी। भगवान का शुक्र है कि वह Boggins Height पर नहीं रहती थी और उसका मजाकिया नाम नहीं था।

कई बार जब पेग्गी वाण्डा से अपनी विनम्र और मजाकिया शैली में प्रश्न पूछती थी, तो मैडी परेशान हो जाती थी और अपने हाथ में पकड़ी गोलियों को गिनने लग जाती थी और उन्हें इधर-उधर घुमाने लग जाती थी और कहती कुछ नहीं थी। ऐसा नहीं कि वह वास्तव में वाण्डा के लिए दुखी हो रही थी। यदि पेग्गी यह पोशाकों वाला खेल न खेलती तो उसका वाण्डा की ओर कभी भी ध्यान न गया होता। परंतु मान लो पेग्गी और दूसरी लड़कियों ने अगली बार अपना निशाना बना लिया? शायद वह वाण्डा जितनी गरीब नहीं थी लेकिन वह थी गरीब । निसंदेह उसमें यह कहने कि उसके पास सौ पोशाकें हैं की ज्यादा बुद्धि थी। फिर भी वह नहीं चाहती थी कि वे उसी पर शुरू हो जाए। वह चाहती थी कि पेग्गी वाण्डा पेट्रोसकी को चिढ़ाना बंद कर दे।

यद्यपि आज उन्हें स्कूल से देर हो गई थी, मैडी प्रसन्न थी क्योंकि आज उसे वाण्डा का मजाक नहीं उड़ाना पड़ा था। उसने अपने गणित के प्रश्न अनमने ढंग से पूरे कर लिए ‘आठ गुणा आठ-कितना होता है’-इसकी इच्छा थी कि काश वह पेग्गी को एक पत्र लिखने का साहस कर सके क्योंकि वह जानती थी कि वह कभी भी पेग्गी को यह कहने का साहस नहीं कर सकेगी, “अरे पेग्गी,

आओ हम वाण्डा से यह पूछना बद कर दें कि उसके पास कितनी पोशाकें हैं। जब उसने अपने गणित के प्रश्न हल कर लिए तो उसने पेग्गी को एक पर्ची लिखनी आरंभ की। अचानक ही वह रुक गई और काँप उठी। उसने अपने मन में कल्पना की कि वह स्कूल प्रांगण में खड़ी है, और पेग्गी तथा उसकी सहेलियों के लिए एक नया निशाना है। शायद पेग्गी उससे पूछ ले कि जो पोशाक उसने पहन रखी है वह कहाँ से प्राप्त की है, और मैडी को शायद कहना पड़े कि वह पेग्गी की पुरानी पोशाकों में से एक थी जिस पर मैडी की माँ ने गोटा-पट्टी लगाकर छिपाने की कोशिश की थी ताकि कमरा नं० 13 में कोई उसे पहचान न ले।”

[PAGE 68] : काश पेग्गी अपनी इच्छा से ही वाण्डा का मजाक उड़ाना बंद कर दे। चलो छोड़ो, मैडी ने अपना हाथ अपने छोटे-छोटे सुनहरी बालों में फेरा जैसे कि वह बेचैन करने वाले उन विचारों को दूर भगा दे। इससे क्या अंतर पड़ना था? धीरे-धीरे मैडी ने उस परची जो लिखनी शुरू की थी के छोटे-छोटे टुकड़े कर दिए। वह पेग्गी की सबसे घनिष्ठ मित्र थी और पेग्गी पूरे कमरे में सर्वप्रिय लड़की थी पेग्गी सम्भवतः कोई भी ऐसा काम नहीं कर सकती थी, जो गलत हो, उसने सोचा।

जहाँ तक वाण्डा का संबंध था वह तो मात्र एक लड़की थी जो Boggins Height पर रहती थी और स्कूल के प्रांगण में अकेली खड़ी रहती थी। उसने कभी किसी से कुछ भी नहीं कहा था। एकमात्र समय जब उसने स्कूल प्रांगण में अपनी सौ पोशाकों के बारे में कुछ कहा था। मैडी को याद था कि किस तरह उसने अपनी एक पोशाक के बारे में बताया था, हल्के नीले रंग की जिस पर विभिन्न रंगों के गोटे लगे हुए थे और उसे एक और पोशाक की याद आ रही थी जो गहरे रंग की थी और जिसकी कमर पर एक पेटी बनी हुई थी “इसमें तो तुम एक क्रिसमस ट्री की तरह लगोगी।” लड़कियों ने प्रशंसा करने का नाटक करते हुए कहा।

वाण्डा और उसकी अलमारी में एक पंक्ति में रखी सौ पोशाकों के विषय में सोचते हुए, मैडी को हैरानी होने लगी कि ड्राईंग और रंगों के मुकाबले में कौन जीतेगा। लड़कियों के लिए पोशाकों के चित्र बनाने का मुकाबला था और लड़कों के लिए मोटर वाली किश्तियों के चित्र बनाने का। निःसंदेह लड़कियों का पदक पेग्गी जीतेगी। पेग्गी पूरे कमरे में सबसे अच्छा चित्रांकन करती.थी। कम-से-कम प्रत्येक के दिमाग में यही बात थी। वह किसी पत्रिका में दिए गए चित्र को देखकर उसके जैसा चित्र बना सकती थी या किसी फिल्मी सितारे के सिर का चित्र बना सकती थी जिसे देखकर आप उसकी पहचान बता सकते थे। ओह, मैगी को पक्का यकीन था कि पेग्गी ही जीतेगी। ठीक है, कल अध्यापक विजेताओं के नाम घोषित करेंगे तब उन्हें पता चल जाएगा।

अगले दिन बूंदा-बाँदी हो रही थी। पेग्गी का छाता लेकर मैगी और पेग्गी जल्दी-जल्दी स्कूल गईं। स्वाभाविक रूप से ऐसे दिन उन्होंने ओलिवर स्ट्रीट के कोने पर खड़े होकर वाण्डा की प्रतीक्षा नहीं की। उसके बाद की सड़क, जो दूर स्थित थी जो रेल की पटरियों के नीचे से होकर जाती थी और ऊपर पहाड़ी पर जाती थी वह Boggins Heights जाती थी। कुछ भी हो उस दिन वे स्कूल से लेट होने का मौका नहीं पाना चाहती थी, क्योंकि आज का दिन महत्त्वपूर्ण था।

[PAGE 69] : “आपके विचार में क्या आज विजेताओं के नामों की घोषणा मिस मेसन करेंगी?” पेग्गी ने पूछा। “हाँ मुझे ऐसी आशा है, जैसे ही हम प्रवेश करेंगे,” मैडी ने कहा, “निःसंदेह तुम ही जीतोगी, पेग्गी।”

“ऐसी ही आशा है,” पेग्गी ने उत्सुकतापूर्वक कहा। जिस क्षण उन्होंने कक्षा में प्रवेश किया तो वे अचानक ठहर गई और हाँफने लगी। सारे कमरे में चित्र-ही-चित्र थे, प्रत्येक सिरे और खिड़की के बाहर निकले शेल्फों पर, चमकदार रंग और शानदार तथा प्रभावशाली नमूने थे, सभी बड़े-बड़े लपेटने वाले कागजों के ऊपर बने हुए थे। उनकी संख्या लगभग सौ होगी और वे सभी एक पंक्ति में रखे थे। वे चित्र अवश्य ही मुकाबले के लिए रखे गए होंगे। वे मुकाबले के लिए ही थे। हर कोई वहीं रुक गया और सीटियाँ बजाने लगा या धीमे स्वर में प्रशंसा करने लगा।

जैसे ही कक्षा एकत्रित हई मिस मेसन ने विजेताओं के नामों की घोषणा की। लड़कों में जैक बेग्गल्ज़ ने मुकाबला जीता था, उसने कहा और उसका किश्ती के बाहर की तरफ लगी हुई मोटर वाला नमूना बारह नंबर कमरे में नुमाइश के लिए पड़ा था, वहाँ दूसरे लड़कों के चित्र भी पड़े थे। – ‘जहाँ तक लड़कियों की बात है,’ उसने कहा, “यद्यपि अधिकतर लड़कियों द्वारा एक या दो चित्र ही प्रस्तुत किए गए-एक लड़की ने और कमरा नंबर तेरह को इसके लिए गर्व करना, चाहिए- इस एक लड़की ने वास्तव में ही सौ चित्र बनाए थे। सभी विभिन्न प्रकार के और सभी सुंदर थे। जजों (निर्णायकमंडल) के दृष्टिकोण में उन चित्रों में से कोई-सा भी इनाम जीतने का पात्र था। मुझे यह कहते हुए अति प्रसन्नता हो रही है कि लड़कियों के पदक की विजेता वाण्डा पेट्रोंसकी है।

[PAGE70] : दुर्भाग्यवश, वाण्डा कुछ दिनों से स्कूल से गैर-हाजिर चल रही है और वह उस प्रशंसा को प्राप्त करने के लिए वहाँ नहीं है जो उसे मिलनी चाहिए। आओ आशा करें कि वह कल स्कूल आ जाए। अब इस कक्षा के विद्यार्थियों, आप चुपचाप लाइन बनाकर उस कमरे का चक्कर लगाएँ और उसके शानदार चित्रों को देखें।”

बच्चे एकदम से तारीफ करने लगे, और लड़के तो अपने पाँवों को फर्श पर पटकने का अवसर पाकर, अपनी उँगलियों को मुँह में डालने और सीटियाँ बजाने का अवसर पाकर प्रसन्न थे, यद्यपि उनकी पोशाकों में कोई रुचि नहीं थी।
“पेग्गी देखो” मैडी धीरे-से बोली “ये रही वह नीले वाली पोशाक जिसके बारे में उसने हमें बताया था। क्या यह सुंदर नहीं है?” “हाँ” पेग्गी ने कहा, “और वहाँ वह हरे रंग की पोशाक है, बच्चे और मैंने सोचा कि मैं भी इसे चित्रित कर सकती थी।”

From the Diary of Anne Frank Word-Meanings in Hindi

[PAGE 63]:Possessions =wealth/things kept (दौलत/पास रखी वस्तुएँ); enduring = long lasting (देर तक चलने वाली);account=detail (विस्तार);judged = assessed (मूल्यांकन किया);encyclopedia=book dealing with all branches of knowledge (fagachtgt); immigrants = settlers in another country (Farcit); occurred = took place (ufca ESTT); identified =recognised (पहचाना); ethnicity =pertaining to race (जाति संबंधी); treat= behave with (व्यवहार करना); notable = famous (प्रसिद्ध); suburbs = outskirts of the city (बाहरी बस्ती); discriminated = made discrimination (भेदभाव किया); census = counting of people (जनगणना)।

[PAGE 64] : Rough = (here) indisciplined (अनुशासनहीन); scuffling of feet = creating noise by thumping shoes (पैर पटककर शोर करना); roars=cries (शोर चीखें); on the contrary = on the other hand (इसके विपरीत); rarely = very seldom (बहुत कम); twisted=moved (हिले); crooked sort=awkward (बेढंगी); caked with =covered with (से ढकी हुई); curly hair = wavy hair (घुघराले बाल)।

[PAGE 65] : Faded = dim coloured (मद्धम रंग की); hang right= fit properly (सही ढंग से फिट होना); ironed = pressed with iron (प्रेस करना); surrounded = encircled (दायरा बनाना); hopscotch = a kind of game (एक प्रकार का खेल); courteous = polite (विनम्र); nudge = a gentle push (हल्का-सा इशारा करना)।

[PAGE 66] : Incredulously = showing disbelief (अविश्वास प्रकट करते हुए); velvet = a kind of cloth (मखमल); stolidly = without showing any feeling (बिना भावना के); peals of laughter = loud laughter (जोरदार हँसी); obviously = apparently (स्पष्ट रूप से); exaggerated = enhanced (बढ़ा-चढ़ाकर कहना); greeted = welcomed (स्वागत किया); inseparable = that which cannot be separated (अभिन्न); hitching = catching (पकड़ना); protected = saved (बचाया); bullies = those who frighten the weaker persons (धौंसिया); cruel = unkind (क्रूर)।

[PAGE 67] : Mocking = making fun of (मज़ाक उड़ाना); embarrassed = ashamed of (शर्मसार होना); exactly = correctly (सही ढंग से); invented = discovered (आविष्कार किया); teasing = bothering (परेशान करना); absent-mindedly = without thinking much (बिना सोचे-समझे); paused = stopped (रुकी); shuddered = trembled (काँपने लगी); target = person chosen for attack (निशाना); disguise = conceal (छुपाना)।

[PAGE 68] : Trimmings = ornamentation of a dress (पोशाक की सजावट); accord = wish (इच्छा); blonde hair = golden hair (सुनहरी बाल); scarcely = hardly (मुश्किल से ही); brilliant = shining (चमकता हुआ); sash = scarf (स्काफ); pretended = false (झूठ); admiration = praise (तारीफ); probably = perhaps (शायद); announce = declare (घोषणा करना); drizzling = light rain (बूंदा-बाँदी)।

[PAGE 69] : Eagerly with eagerness (उत्सुकता से); gasped = breathed with open mouth (खुले मुँह से साँस लेना); ledge = outer part (बाहरी भाग); windowsill = lower portion of a window (खिड़की का नीचे का भाग); dazzling = shining (चमकता हुआ); lavish = grand (भव्य); wrapping = outer cover of something wrapped (बाहरी कवर); contest = competition (प्रतियोगिता); murmured = muttered (बुड़बुड़ाना); admiringly = in a praising manner (प्रशंसात्मक रूप से); assembled = gathered (इकट्ठे हुए) exhibition = on show (दिखाना); sketches = drawings (ड्राइंग)।

[PAGE 70] : Unfortunately = unluckily (दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण); applause = praise (तारीफ); exquisite = beautiful (सुंदर); stamp = strike floor with feet (पैरों से फर्श थपथपाना); whispered = spoke in a low voice (काना-फूसी करना)।

Haryana State Board HBSE 10th Class English Solutions First Flight Chapter 4 From the Diary of Anne Frank Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

Haryana Board 10th Class English Solutions First Flight Chapter 4 From the Diary of Anne Frank

HBSE 10th Class English From the Diary of Anne Frank Textbook Questions and Answers

Activity (Page 49)

1. Do you keep a diary ? Given below under ‘A’ are some terms we use to describe a written record of personal experience. Can you match them with their descriptions under ‘B’? (You may look up the terms in a dictionary if you wish.)

Answer:

2. Here are some entries from personal records. Use the definitions above to decide which of the entries might be from a diary, a journal, a log or a memoir.
(i) I woke up very late today and promptly got a scolding from Mum! I can’t help it-how can I miss the FIFA World Cup matches ?
(ii) 10:30 a.m. Went to the office of the Director
01:00 p.m. Had lunch with Chairman
05:45.p.m. Received Rahul at the airport
09:30 p.m. Dinner at home
(iii) The ride to Ooty was uneventful. We rested for a while every 50 km or so, and used the time to capture the magnificent landscape with my HandyCam. From Ooty we went on to Bangalore. What a contrast! The noise and pollution of this once-beautiful city really broke my heart.
(iv) This is how Raj Kapoor found me all wet and ragged outside R.K. Studios. He was then looking for just someone like this for a small role in Mera Naam Joker, and he cast me on the spot. The rest, as they say, is history!
Answer:
(i) Diary,
(ii) Log,
(iii) Journal,
(iv) Memoir.

Oral Comprehension Check (Page 51)

1. What makes writing in a diary a strange experience for Anne Frank ? (किस बात ने डायरी में लिखना ऐनी फ्रैंक के लिए एक अद्भुत अनुभव बना दिया?)
Answer:
Writing in a diary is a strange experience for Anne because she has never writing anything before. Secondly, she thinks that no one will be interested in the thoughts of a thirteen-year-old-girl, except herself. So it was better to record those thoughts in her diary.
(डायरी में लिखना ऐनी फ्रेंक के लिए एक विचित्र अनुभव है क्योंकि उसने पहले कभी कुछ लिखा नहीं है। दूसरे वह सोचती है कि एक तेरह वर्ष की लड़की के विचारों में कोई भी रुचि नहीं लेगा, सिवाय उसके। इसलिए उन विचारों को डायरी में दर्ज करना उसके लिए बेहतर था।)

2. Why does Anne want to keep a diary?
(ऐनी डायरी क्यों रखना चाहती है?)
Answer:
Anne Frank wants to keep a diary because she has no friend in whom she can confide. Secondly, she cannot discuss her day-to-happenings with anyone. But she would be able to record these happenings in a diary.
(ऐनी इसलिए डायरी रखना चाहती है क्योंकि उसका कोई ऐसा मित्र नहीं है जिसमें वह विश्वास कर सके। दूसरे, वह अपने दैनिक जीवन में घटने वाली घटनाओं के बारे में किसी से चर्चा नहीं कर सकती है। लेकिन वह इन घटनाओं को डायरी में दर्ज करके रख सकेगी।)

3. Why did Anne think she could confide more in her diary than in people ? (ऐनी ऐसा क्यों सोचती थी कि वह लोगों की अपेक्षा डायरी में अधिक भरोसा रख सकती थी?)
Answer:
Anne Frank does not have a true friend. So she cannot confide her feelings in anyone. She thinks that her diary is her only true friend. So she thinks that she can confide in it better than in person.
(ऐनी फ्रैंक का कोई भी सच्चा मित्र नहीं है। इसलिए वह अपनी भावनाओं के लिए किसी पर भी भरोसा नहीं कर सकती थी। वह मानती है कि उसकी डायरी ही उसकी केवलमात्र सच्ची मित्र है। इसलिए वह मानती है कि वह लोगों की अपेक्षा डायरी पर अधिक भरोसा रख सकती है।)

Oral Comprehension Check (Page 51)

1. Why does Anne provide a brief sketch of her life? (ऐनी अपने जीवन के संक्षिप्त चित्रण का वर्णन क्यों करती है?)
Answer:
Anne thought that no one would believe a word in her entries in her diary, if she did not write about her life. So she provides a brief sketch of her life..
(ऐनी ने सोचा कि यदि उसने अपने जीवन का संक्षिप्त विवरण नहीं दिया तो कोई उसकी डायरी का एक पन्ना भी नहीं पड़ेगा। इसलिए वह अपने जीवन के संक्षिप्त चित्रण का वर्णन करती है।)

2. What tells you that Anne loved her grandmother ? (आपको कैसे पता चलता है कि ऐनी अपनी दादी से प्यार करती थी?)
Answer:
Anne lived with her grandmother for six months when her parents went to Holland. She loved her deeply. When her grandmother died, Anne felt sad. She often thought about her. So she was very close to her grandmother.
(जब ऐनी के माता-पिता हॉलैंड चले गए थे तो वह छः महीने तक अपनी दादी के पास रही थी। वह उससे बहुत अधिक प्यार करती थी। जब उसकी दादी की मृत्यु हुई तो ऐनी बहुत उदास हुई। वह हमेशा उसके बारे में सोचा करती थी। अतः वह उसके बहुत अधिक निकट थी।)

Oral Comprehension Check (Page 54)

1. Why was Mr Keesing annoyed with Anne ? What did he ask her to do? (मि० कीसिंग ऐनी से नाराज क्यों था? उसने उसे क्या करने को कहा?) [B.S.E.H. 2019 (Set-D), 2020 Set-A)]
Answer:
Anne Frank was a chatterbox. She talked and talked in the class. That was why her maths teacher, Mr Keesing was annoyed with her. As a punishment, he ordered her to write an essay on the topic ‘AChatterbox’.
(ऐनी फ्रैंक एक बातूनी लड़की थी। वह कक्षा में बहुत अधिक बातें करती थी। यही कारण था कि उसका गणित अध्यापक मि० कीसिंग उससे नाराज था। सजा के तौर पर उसने उसे ‘एक बातूनी लड़की’ विषय पर एक निबंध लिखने का आदेश दिया।)

2. How did Anne justify her being a chatterbox in her essay ? (ऐनी ने अपने निबंध में अपने बातूनी होने को कैसे सही ठहराया?)
Answer:
In her essay she justified her being a chatterbox. She said that talking was a student’s trait. She wrote that she would do her best to cure herself of this habit. Her mother also talked much. Nothing could be done about inherited traits.

(अपने निबंध में वह अपने बातूनी होने को सही ठहराती है। उसने कहा कि बातें करना एक विद्यार्थी का स्वाभाविक गुण होता है। उसने लिखा कि वह अपनी इस आदत को सुधारने का पूरा प्रयास करेगी। उसकी माँ भी अधिक बातें किया करती थी। वंशानुगत गुणों के विषय में अधिक कुछ नहीं किया जा सकता था।)

3. Do you think that Mr Keesing was a strict teacher ?
(क्या आपके विचार में मि० कीसिंग एक सख्त अध्यापक थे?)
Answer:
Mr Keesing was not a strict teacher. In fact he was a kind and jovial man. He believed that students should be taught practically.
(मि० कीसिंग एक सख्त अध्यापक नहीं थे। वास्तव में वह एक दयालु और खुशमिजाज व्यक्ति थे। वे मानते थे कि विद्यार्थियों को व्यवहारिक रूप से पढ़ाया जाए।)

4. What made Mr Keesing allow Anne to talk in her class ? (किस बात के कारण मि० कीसिंग ने ऐनी को अपनी कक्षा में बातें करने की अनुमति दे दी?)
Answer:
Mr Keesing allowed Anne to talk in the class. He admitted that the joke played by Anne was on him. He took the joke in the right spirit. He read the poem to the class and added his own comments to it.
(मि० कीसिंग ने ऐनी को कक्षा में बात करने की अनुमति प्रदान कर दी। उसने स्वीकार कर लिया कि ऐनी के द्वारा किया गया व्यंग्य उसके ऊपर ही था। उसने व्यंग्य को सही अर्थों में लिया। उसने कविता को पूरी कक्षा में पढ़कर सुनाया और उसमें अपने विचार भी जोड़े।)

Thinking about the Text

1. Was Anne right when she said that the world would not be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year-old girl ?
(क्या ऐनी का यह कहना सही था कि संसार एक तेरह वर्ष की लड़की के विचारों में रुचि नहीं लेगा?)
Answer:
Yes, Anne was right in saying so. The world is generally interested in reading things of great men. People seldom care for what a teenager has to say.
(हाँ, ऐसा कहने में ऐनी सही थी। दुनिया के लोग प्रायः महान् लोगों की कृतियों को पढ़ने में रुचि लेते हैं। लोग इस बारे मे बिल्कुल ध्यान नहीं देते हैं कि एक किशोरी ने क्या कहा है।)

2. There are some examples of diary or journal entries in the ‘Before You Read’ section. Compare these with what Anne writes in her diary. What language was the diary originally written in ? In what way is Anne’s diary different ?
(‘Before You Read’ वाले भाग में डायरी और रोजनामचों की प्रविष्टियों के कई उदाहरण हैं। इसकी तुलना ऐनी के द्वारा अपनी डायरी में लिखे लेखों से करो। इस डायरी को वास्तविक रूप से किस भाषा में लिखा गया था? ऐनी की डायरी किस प्रकार से भिन्न है?)
Answer:
Anne Frank uses her own genre of writing her diary. She mixes her diary writing with a few things ofjournals or memoirs. Anne’s diary was written originally in Dutch language. It is different as it doesn’t follow the appropriate format. In writing her diary, Anne Frank uses a mixture of a journal, memoir, diary and log.
(ऐनी फ्रैंक डायरी लेखन में अपनी खुद की शैली का प्रयोग करती है। वह अपने डायरी लेखन में रोजनामचों और अपने जीवन वृत्तांतों का मिश्रण करती है। ऐनी की डायरी वास्तविक रूप से डच भाषा में लिखी गई। यह भिन्न इसलिए है क्योंकि यह किसी एक विशिष्ट ढाँचे पर आधारित नहीं लिखी गई है। इसमें रोजनामचे, जीवन वृत्तांत, डायरी और अभिलेखों का वर्णन है।)

3. Why does Anne need to give a brief sketch about her family ? Does she treat ‘Kitty’ as an insider or an outsider ?
(ऐनी को अपने परिवार का संक्षिप्त रूप से वर्णन क्यों करना पड़ता है? क्या वह किट्टी को घर का सदस्य या बाहर वाला मानती है?)
Answer:
Anne thinks that no one will be interested in reading the diary of a thirteen-year-old school girl. She thinks her diary is only her real friend. So she needs to give a brief sketch about her family.
(ऐनी सोचती है कि कोई भी व्यक्ति एक तेरह वर्षीय स्कूल जाने वाली लड़की की डायरी में रुचि लेना पसंद नहीं करेगा। वह सोचती है कि उसकी डायरी ही उसकी सच्ची मित्र है। इसलिए उसे अपने परिवार का एक संक्षिप्त वर्णन देने की जरूरत पड़ती है।)

4. How does Anne feel about her father, her grandmother, Mrs Kuperus and Mr Keesing ? What do these tell you about her ?
(ऐनी अपने पिता, अपनी दादी माँ, श्रीमती क्यूपरस और मि० कीसिंग के विषय में क्या सोचती है? इससे उसके बारे में क्या पता चलता है?)
Answer:
From Anne Frank’s diary we know about many people. She considers her parents adorable’. She loves her grandmother deeply. She feels equally for her headmistress Mrs Kuperus. She also loves her maths teacher Mr Keesing though she calls him “old fogey’. These things tell us that Anne is an affectionate girl.
(ऐनी फ्रेंक की डायरी से हमें बहुत से लोगों के विषय में पता चलता है। वह अपने माता-पिता को ‘प्रशंसनीय’ मानती है। वह अपनी दादी माँ से बहुत प्यार करती है। उसकी यही भावनाएँ अपनी मुख्याध्यापिका श्रीमती क्यूपरस के प्रति हैं। वह अपने गणित अध्यापक मि० कीसिंग से भी प्यार करती है यद्यपि वह उसे ‘बूढ़ा व्यक्ति’ कहती है। ये सभी बातें बताती हैं कि ऐनी एक स्नेहमयी लड़की है।)

5. What does Anne write in her first essay ?
(ऐनी अपने प्रथम निबंध में क्या लिखती है?)
Answer:
In her first essay Anne justifies her habit of talking. She writes that talking is a student’s trait. She would do her best to keep talking under control. She writes that her mother also talked much. She thinks that she had inherited this trait from her mother. Not much can be done about inherited traits.
(अपने प्रथम निबंध में ऐनी बातें करने की अपनी आदत को सही ठहराती है। वह लिखती है कि बातें करना एक विद्यार्थी का गुण होता है। वह अपनी बातें करने की आदत को पूर्ण नियंत्रण में रखने का प्रयास करेगी। वह लिखती है कि उसकी माँ भी बहुत बातें करती थी। वह मानती है कि उसे यह गुण अपनी माँ से विरासत में मिला है। विरासत में मिले गुणों के बारे में अधिक कुछ नहीं किया जा सकता है।)

6. Anne says teachers are most unpredictable. Is Mr Keesing unpredictable.? How ?
(ऐनी कहती है कि अध्यापक सबसे अधिक ऐसे व्यक्ति होते हैं जिनके बारे में अनुमान नहीं लगाया जा सकता है। क्या मि० कीसिंग के विषय में भी अनुमान नहीं लगाया जा सकता है? कैसे?)
Answer:
Anne is right when she says that teachers are most unpredictable. Her observation is based on a study of her teacher, Mr Keesing. He is very unpredictable. He is annoyed with Anne Frank for chatting in the class. He gives her extra homework as a punishment. In her essay she justifies her habit of chatting. She fears that after writing the last essay, Mr Keesing would give her extra homework again. But instead he allows Anne to talk in the class. He also doesn’t give her extra homework again.
(ऐनी का यह कहना बिल्कुल सही है कि अध्यापक सबसे अधिक ऐसे प्राणी हैं जिनके बारे में भविष्यवाणी नहीं की जा सकती है। उसकी यह अवधारणा अपने अध्यापक मि० कीसिंग के अध्ययन पर आधारित है। उसके बारे में बिल्कुल भी अनुमान नहीं लगाया जा सकता। वह ऐनी फ्रेंक से इसलिए नाराज है कि वह उसकी कक्षा में बातें करती है। वह उसे सजा के रूप में अतिरिक्त गृहकार्य देता है। अपने निबंध में वह बातें करने की अपनी आदत को सही ठहराती है। उसे भय है कि अंतिम निबंध लिखने के पश्चात् मि० कीसिंग फिर उसे अतिरिक्त गृहकार्य देंगे। लेकिन इसके विपरीत वह ऐनी को कक्षा में बातें करने की अनुमति प्रदान कर देता है। वे उसे पुनः अतिरिक्त गृहकार्य भी नहीं देता है।)

7. What do these statements tell you about Anne Frank as a person ?
(ये कथन आपको ऐनी फ्रेंक के व्यक्तित्व के बारे में क्या बताते हैं?)
(i) We don’t seem to be able to get any closer, and that’s the problem. Maybe it’s my fault that we don’t confide in each other.
(हम एक-दूसरे के और निकट आते प्रतीत नहीं होते हैं, और यही एक समस्या है। हो सकता है कि यह मेरी गलती है कि हम एक-दूसरे पर भरोसा नहीं करते हैं।)
(ii) I don’t want to jot down the facts in this diary the way most people would, but I want the diary to be my friend. (मैं अपनी डायरी में तथ्यों को इस प्रकार से नहीं लिखना चाहूँगी जैसे कि अधिकतर लोग करते हैं, बल्कि मैं अपनी डायरी को अपनी मित्र बनाना चाहूँगी।)
(iii) Margot went to Holland in December, and I followed in February, when I was plunked down on the table as a birthday present for Margot. (मार्गट दिसंबर में हॉलैंड गई, और मैं फरवरी में गई, जब मुझे मार्गट के लिए जन्मदिन के एक उपहार के रूप में मेज पर रख दिया गया।)
(iv) If you ask me, there are so many dummies that about a quarter of the class should be kept back, but teachers are the most unpredictable creatures on earth. (यदि आप मुझसे ये पूछे तो हमारी कक्षा में इतने अधिक मूर्ख हैं कि लगभग एक चौथाई कक्षा को तो फेल कर दिया जाना चाहिए, लेकिन अध्यापक पृथ्वी पर पाए जाने वाले प्राणियों में सबसे अधिक ऐसे प्राणी हैं जिनके व्यवहार के बारे में कोई अनुमान नहीं लगाया जा सकता।)
(v) Anyone could ramble on and leave big spaces between the words, but the trick was to come up with convincing arguments to prove the necessity of talking. (कोई भी व्यक्ति इधर-उधर की बातें बोल सकता था और शब्दों के बीच में बड़ा अंतराल दे सकता है। मगर असली
बात थी कि बातें करने की आवश्यकता को सिद्ध करने के लिए तर्कपूर्ण तर्क दिए जाएँ।)
Answer:
(i) Anne is reserved,
(ii) She is self-confident and inventive,
(iii) She is humourous also,
(iv) She is intelligent,
(v) She has a sense of propriety and convincingness.
((i) ऐनी आत्मकेंद्रित है,
(ii) वह आत्म-विश्वासी और आविष्कारी है,
(iii) वह मजाकिया भी है,
(iv) वह तेज बुद्धि वाली है,
(v) उसमें मर्यादा और औचित्य की भावना का समावेश है।)

Thinking about Language

I. Look at the following words.

headmistress
long-awaited
homework
notebook
stiff-backed
outbursts

These words are compound words. They are made up oftwo or more words. Compound words can be:

1. nouns : headmistress, homework, notebook, outbursts
2. adjectives : long-awaited, stiff-backed
3. verbs : sleep-walk, baby-sit

Match the compound words under ‘A’ with their meanings under ‘B’. Use each in a sentence.

Answer:

II. Phrasal Verbs :

A phrasal verb is a verb followed by a preposition or an adverb. Its meaning is often different from the meanings of its parts. Compare the meanings of the verbs get on and run away in (a) and (b) below. You can easily guess their meanings in (a) but in (b) they have special meanings.
(a). She got on at Agra when the bus stopped for breakfast.
Dev Anand ran away from home when he was a teenager.
(b). She’s eager to get on in life. (succeed)
The visitors ran away with the match. (won easily)
Some phrasal verbs have three parts : a verb followed by an adverb and preposition.
(c) Our car ran out of petrol just outside the city limits.
(d) The government wants to reach out to the people with this new campaign.

1. The text you’ve just read has a number of phrasal verbs commonly used in English. Look up the following in a dictionary for their meanings (under the entry for the italicised word).
(i) plunge (right) in
(iii) ramble on
(ii) kept back
(iv) get along with

2. Now find the sentences in the lesson that have the phrasal verbs given below. Match them with their meanings. (You have already found out the meanings of some of them.) Are their meanings the same as that of their parts? (Note that two parts of a phrasal verb may occur separated in the text.)

(i) plunge in – speak or write without focus
(ii) kept back – stay indoors
(iii) move up – make (them) remain quiet
(iv) ramble on – have a good relationship with
(v) get along with — give an assignment (homework) to a person in authority (the teacher)
(vi) calm down – compensate
(vii) stay in – go straight to the topic
(viii)make up for – go to the next grade
(ix) hand in – not promoted
Answer:
(i) plunge in – go straight to the topic
(ii) kept back — not promoted
(iii) move up – go to the next grade
(iv) ramble on – speak or write without focus
(v) get along with – have a good relationship with
(vi) calm down – make (them) remain quiet
(vii) stay in – stay indoors
(viii)make up for – compensate
(ix) hand in – give an assignment (homework) to a person in authority (the teacher)

III. Idioms

Idioms are groups of words with a fixed order, and a particular meaning, different from the meanings of each of their words put together. (Phrasal verbs can also be idioms; they are said to be idiomatic when their meaning is unpredictable.) For example, do you know what it means to meet one’s match’ in English? It means to meet someone who is as good as oneself, or even better, in some skill or quality. Do you know what it means to ‘let the cat out of the bag’? Can you guess ?

1. Here are a few sentences from the text which have idiomatic expressions. Can you say what each means? (You might want toʻconsult a dictionary first.)

(i) Our entire class is quaking in its boots. ………….
………….
(ii) Until then, we keep telling each other not to lose heart. ………………
(iii) Mr Keesing was annoyed with me for ages because I talked so much. ………………….
(iv) Mr Keesing was trying to play a joke on me with this ridiculous subject, but I’d make sure the joke was on him. ………………..
Answer:
‘Let the cat out of the bag’ means ‘let the reality come out’.
(i) Our entire class is talking and talking too much.
(ii) Until then, we keep telling each other that we should not feel discouraged.
(iii) Mr Keesing was annoyed with me for a very long period because I talked so much.
(iv) Mr Keesing was trying to play a joke on me with this ridiculous subject, but I’d make sure that he himself would be the butt of that joke.

2. Here are a few more idiomatic expressions that occur in the text. Try to use them in sentences of your own.
(i) caught my eye
(ii) he’d had enough
(iii) laugh ourselves silly
(iv) can’t bring myself to
Answer:
(i) He tried to hide behind the curtain, but his feet caught my eye.
(ii) I tolerated his nonsense for some time, but then I told him that I had had enough of it.
(iii) When I we saw the fat man slip on a banana peel, we laughed ourselves silly.
(iv) I can’t bring myself to understand my faithful servant has stolen my purse.

IV. Do you know how to use a dictionary to find out the meanings of idiomatic expressions ? Take, for example, the expression caught my eye in the story. Where–under which word would you look for it in the dictionary ?

Look for it under the first word. But if the first word is a‘grammatical’ word like a, the, for, etc. then take the next word. That is, look for the first meaningful’word in the expression. In our example, It is the word caught.

But you won’t find caught in the dictionary, because it is the past tense of catch. You’ll find caught listed under catch. So you must look under catch for the expression caught my eye. Which other expressions with catch are listed in your dictionary ?

Note that a dictionary entry usually first gives the meanings of the word itself, and then gives a list of idiomatic expressions using that word. For example, study this partial entry for the noun ‘eye’ from the Oxford Advanced Learner’s dictionary 2005.

Eye

• Noun
• Part of Body 1 [C] either of the two organs on the face that you see with : The suspect has dark hair and green eyes.
• Ability to See 3 [sing.) the ability to see: A surgeon needs a good eye and a steady hand.
• Way of Seeing 4 [C, usually sing.) a particular way of seeing sth : He looked at the design with the eye of an engineer.
  Of Needle 5 [C] the hole in the end of a needle that you put the thread through. IDM be all eyes to be watching sb/sth carefully and with a lot of interest before lin front of sb’s (very) eyes in sb’s presence ; in front of sb : He had seen his life’s work destroyed before his very eyes. Be up to your eyes in sth to have a lot of sth to deal with : We’re up to our eyes in work.

Answer:
The various expressions of catch listed in my dictionary are: pt.pp caught, its various meanings, phrases like catch one’s breath, catch fire, catch somebody with pants/trousers, catch somebody out, catching/catchy (adj.), noun form, etc.

You have read the expression ‘not to lose heart in this text. Now find out the meanings of the following expressions using the word ‘heart’. Use each of them in a sentence of your own.
1. break somebody’s heart
2. close/dear to heart
3. from the (bottom of your) heart
4. have a heart
5. have a heart of stone
6. your heart goes out to somebody
Answer:

1. When I came to know that my best friend had deceived me, it will broke my heart.
2. Roy is very close/dear /near to Abhishek’s heart.
3. A person should love his parents from the bottom of his heart.
4. Have a heart and face the difficulties.
5. She had a heart of stone as she has deceived her best boyfriend.
6. My heart goes out to the poor people who suffer in life.

V. Contracted Forms:

When we speak, we use ‘contracted forms’ or short forms such as these : can’t (for can not or cannot)
I’d (for I would or I had)
she’s (for she is)
Notice that contracted forms are also written with an apostrophe to show a shortening of the spelling of not, would, or is as in the above example.
Writing a diary is like speaking to oneself. Plays (and often, novels) also have speech in written form. So we usually come across contracted forms in diaries, plays and novels.

1. Make a list of the contracted forms in the text. Rewrite them as full forms of two words.
For example : I’ve = I have
Answer:
doesn’t = does not
can’t = cannot
didn’t = did not
you’re = you are/ you were
I’m = I am
l’ve = I have
who’ll = who will.
I’d finished = I had finished
don’t = do not
l’d = I would
it’s = it is
who’s = who is

2. We have seen that some contracted forms can stand for two different full forms:
I’d = I had or I would

Find in the text the contracted forms that stand for two different full forms, and say what these are.
Answer:
I’d worry = I would worry
I’d finished = I had finished
who’s = who has/who is
there’s = there is/there was

Speaking

Here is an extract adapted from a one-act play. In this extract, angry neighbours who think Joe the Inventor’s new spinning machine will make them lose their jobs come to destroy Joe’s model of the machine. You’ve just seen how contracted forms can make a written text sound like actual speech. Try
written text sound like actual speech. Try to make this extract sound more like a real conversation by changing some of the verbs back into contracted forms. Then speak out the lines.
[The door is flung open, and several men tramp in. They carry sticks, and one of them, HOB, has a hammer]

HOB : Now where is your husband, mistress ?
MARY : In his bed. He is sick, and weary. You would not harm him!
HOB : We are going to smash his evil work to pieces. Where is the machine ? SECOND MAN : On the table yonder.
НОВ : Then here is the end of it!
(HOB smashes the model. MARY screams.)
HOB : And now for your husband!
MARY : Neighbours, he is a sick man and almost a cripple. You would not hurt him!
НОВ : He is planning to take away our daily bread … We will show him what we think of him and his ways!
MARY : You have broken his machine … You have done enough …
Answer:
НОВ : Now where’s your husband, Mrs ? MARY
In his bed. He’s sick, and weary. You’d not harm him!
HOB : We’re going to smash his evil work to pieces. Where’s the machine ?
SECOND MAN : On the table yonder
HOB : Then here’s the end of it!
(HOB smashes the model. MARY screams.)
НОВ : And now for your husband !
MARY : Neighbours, he’s a sick man and almost a cripple. You’d not hurt him !
HOB : He’s planning to take away our daily bread …… We’ll show him what we think of him and his ways !
MARY: You’ve broken his machine … You’ve done enough …

Listening

Your teacher will read out an extract from The Diary of Samuel Pepys (given on the next page (60) of the text book) about the great fire of London ! As you listen complete this summary of the happenings.

Summary

This entry in the diary has been made on (a) __by (b) _ . The person who told Pepys about the fire was called (c)__ . She called at (d) _____in the morning. Pepys went back to sleep because (e) __ . Pepys rose again at () __ in the morning. By, then about (8)_ _houses had been burned down. The fire had spread to (h)_ _by London Bridge. Pepys then walked to the (i)_ along with Sir J. Robinson’s (j)_
Answer:
(a) September 2nd (Lord’s Day), (b) Samuel Pepys, (c) Jane, (d) about three, (e) the fire was on the backside of Marke-Lane at the farthest, ) seven, (g) 300, (h) all fish market, (i) Tower, (j) little son.

Writing

Now you know what a diary is and how to keep one. Can you keep a diary for a week recording the events that occur ? You may share your diary with your class, if you wish to. Use the following hints to write your diary.

• Though your diary is very private, write as if you are writing for someone else.
• Present your thoughts in a convincing manner.
• Use words that convey your feelings, and words that “paint pictures’ for the reader. Be brief.

‘Diary language’ has some typical features such as subjectless sentences (Got up late in the morning), sentence fragments without subjects or verbs …too bad, boring, not good), contracted forms (they’re, I’ve, can’t, didn’t, etc.), and everyday expressions which people use in speech. Remember not to use such language in more formal kinds of writing.
Answer:
Yes, I can keep a diary for a week. In fact I keep a diary and record my day to day experiences in it. I like my diary. I have a diary of my own. I write it whenever I have a liking for it. My yesterday’s entry in the diary goes like this :
Today, the class teacher was pleased with me as I stood first in the December tests. Although I had fared well in the tests, yet I was a bit nervous when the teacher was returning our answer-books to us. My heart was beating and my legs were shaking. When my turn came, the teacher did not give me the answer-book at once. Instead, she asked me to come to her. I became very nervous. I thought that she would rebuke.
But my joy knew no bounds when she patted my back and announced that I had stood first. That was a memorable moment.

HBSE 10th Class English From the Diary of Anne Frank Important Questions and Answers

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
What prompted Anne to maintain a diary?
Answer:
Anne maintained a diary because he had no friend.

Question 2.
Who became Anne’s friend and what was the friend’s name?
Answer:
Anne’s diary became her friend and her name was Kitty.

Question 3.
For whom was Anne’s “a birthday present” and why ?
Answer:
She was a birthday present for her sister because she went to Holland later.

Question 4.
When did she make her first entry in her diary?
Answer:
She made her first entry in her diary on 20th June, 1942.

Question 5.
Which subject did Anne find difficult ?
Answer:
Anne found Mathematics difficult.

Question 6.
Why was Mr Keesing annoyed with Anne ?
Answer:
He was annoyed with Anne because she talked in the class.

Question 7.
What was a strange experience for Anne ?
Answer:
Writing in a diary was a strange experience for Anne.

Question 8.
How old was Anne ?
Answer:
She was thirteen years old.

Question 9.
According to Anne What has more patience than people ?
Answer:
According to Anne paper has more patience than people.

Question 10.
What was the name of Anne’s sister ?
Answer:
Her name was Margot.

Question 11.
What was the name of Anne’s maths teacher ?
Answer:
His name was Mr Keesing.

Question 12.
What was the topic of the first essay, Mr Keesing asked Anne to write ?
Answer:
‘A Chatterbox.’

Question 13.
What was the name of the essay on which Anne had to write the second time?
Answer:
‘An Incorrigible Chatterbox.’

Question 14.
Who helped Anne to write the essay in poetry ?
Answer:
Anne’s friend Sanne.

Question 15.
What was the title of the third essay?
Answer:
‘Quack, Quack, Quack, said Mistress Chatterbox.”

Question 16.
What was the name of Anne’s mother ?
Answer:
Her mother name was Edith Hollander Frank.

Question 17.
Who was Mrs Kuperus ?
Answer:
She was the headmistress of Anne’s school in 6th standard.

Question 18.
Where did Anne’s family migrate from Germany to ?
Answer:
Her family migrated from Germany to Holland.

Question 19.
Who was Kitty ?
Answer:
It was the name given to her diary by Anne.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Why did Anne think that she was alone ? Give reasons. (ऐनी ऐसा क्यों सोचती थी कि वह अकेली है ? तर्क कीजिए।)।
Answer:
Anne had loving parents and an elder sister. She had loving aunts and a good home. She had a number of friends also. But there was no one in whom she could confide. So she thought that she was alone.
(ऐनी के माता-पिता प्रिय थे एवं एक बड़ी बहन थी। उसकी प्रिय चाचियाँ थीं और एक अच्छा घर था। उसके बहुत-से मित्र भी थे। मगर ऐसा कोई नहीं था जिसे वह दिल की बात बता सकती। इसलिए वह सोचती थी कि वह अकेली है।)

Question 2.
How do you know that Anne was close to her grandmother ? (आप ऐसा क्यों सोचते हैं कि ऐनी अपनी दादी की प्रिय थी ?)
Answer:
Anne lived with her grandmother for some months when her parents went to Holland. She loved her deeply. When her grandmother died, Anne felt sad. She often thought about her. So she was close to her grandmother.

(जब उसके माता-पिता हॉलैंड में चले गए तो ऐनी कुछ महीनों तक अपनी दादी के साथ रही। वह उसे बहुत प्यार करती थी। जब उसकी दादी की मृत्यु हुई तो ऐनी बहुत उदास हो गई। वह अकसर उसके बारे में सोचती थी। इसलिए वह अपनी दादी की प्रिय थी।)

Question 3.
Where did Anne stay before going to Holland ? (हॉलैंड जाने से पहले ऐनी कहाँ रही ?)
Answer:
Anne’s parents migrated to Holland. They did not take Anne with them. So Anne stayed with her grandmother for some months.
(ऐनी के माता-पिता हॉलैंड चले गए। वे ऐनी को अपने साथ नहीं ले गए। इसलिए ऐनी कुछ महीनों तक अपनी दादी के पास रही।)

Question 4.
Why was Anne in tears, when she left the Montessori School ? (जब ऐनी ने मॉन्टेसरी स्कूल छोड़ा तो वह रो क्यों रही थी ?)
Answer:
When Anne was in the sixth form in the Montessori School, her teacher was Mrs Kuperus, the headmistress. Anne loved her teacher deeply. She also showed affection to Anne. So when Anne left the Montessori school, she was in tears.
(जब ऐनी मॉन्टेसरी स्कूल में छठी कक्षा में थी तो उसकी अध्यापिका श्रीमती क्यूपरस थी जो मुख्याध्यापिका भी थी। ऐनी को उससे गहरा प्यार था। उसने भी ऐनी के प्रति स्नेह दर्शाया। इसलिए जब ऐनी ने मॉन्टेसरी स्कूल छोड़ा तो वह रो रही थी।)

Question 5.
Why was the entire class quaking in its boots ? (सारी कक्षा की टाँगें क्यों काँप रही थीं (भय से) ?)
Answer:
The time for declaring the annual results was coming closer. Soon a meeting would be held. The teachers would decide whom to pass and whom to retain in the same class. That is why the whole class was quaking in its boots.
(वार्षिक परिणाम घोषित होने का समय निकट आता जा रहा था। शीघ्र ही एक मीटिंग होगी। अध्यापक फैसला करेंगे कि किसे पास किया जाए एवं किसे उसी कक्षा में रखा जाए। इसलिए सारी कक्षा की टाँगें भय से काँप रही थीं।).

Essay Type Question

Question 1.
“Paper has more patience than people.” Elucidate. (“कागज़ में लोगों से अधिक धैर्य होता है।” व्याख्या करो।)
Answer:
Anne Frank felt lonely in the world. She had loving parents, an elder sister and a number of friends. But she was not intimate with anyone. She could talk to them about common everyday matters. But she could not express her inner feelings to them. She wanted a patient listener with a sympathetic heart. But she found that people had no patience to listen to her. She could not relieve the feelings of her heart to anyone. Anne wanted to lighten the burden of ideas in her heart. So she decided to maintain a diary. A diary is not a human being. It has a lot more patience than man. One can express one’s thoughts freely. The diary does not get bored. It is a true friend. It never rejects the offer of friendship. That is why Anne Frank says that paper has more patience than people.
(ऐनी फ्रैंक स्वयं को संसार में अकेला महसूस करती थी। उसके प्रिय माता-पिता, एक बड़ी बहन और बहुत-से मित्र थे। मगर वह किसी के साथ घनिष्ठ नहीं थी। वह उनके साथ रोज के आम मामलों के बारे में बात कर सकती थी। मगर वह अपनी आंतरिक भावनाएँ उन तक व्यक्त नहीं कर सकती थी। उसे सहानुभूतिपूर्ण हृदय वाले किसी धैर्यवान श्रोता की चाहत थी। मगर उसने देखा कि लोगों के पास उसे सुनने का धैर्य नहीं है। वह अपने हृदय की भावनाओं को हर एक के आगे व्यक्त नहीं कर सकती थी। ऐनी अपने दिल के विचारों का बोझ हल्का करना चाहती थी। इसलिए उसने डायरी लिखने का निर्णय लिया। डायरी मनुष्य नहीं होती। इसमें मनुष्य से कहीं अधिक धैर्य होता है। व्यक्ति इससे अपने विचार स्वतंत्रता से व्यक्त कर सकता है। डायरी बोर नहीं होती। यह सच्ची मित्र है। यह कभी भी मित्रता की पेशकश को ठुकराती नहीं है। इसीलिए ऐनी फ्रैंक कहती है कि कागज़ में लोगों की अपेक्षा अधिक धैर्य होता है।)

Question 2.
Give a brief sketch of Anne’s life.
(ऐनी के जीवन का संक्षिप्त चित्रण करो।)
OR
Write the character – sketch of Anne Frank.
(ऐनी फ्रैंक का चरित्र-चित्रण लिखिए।)
Answer:
Anne Frank was a young Jewish girl. She lived with her parents in Germany. But Hitler’s Nazi Party was against the Jews. The Nazis were killing the Jews or forcing them to work in the concentration camps. The Frank family fled from Germany in 1933 and took shelters in Netherlands. But in 1940, Germany attacked Netherlands and captured it. Now the Nazis started arresting the Jews and sending them to the concentration camps. The Frank family went into hiding. They lived secretly in the upper floors of their business premises. They hid there for 25 months. Their non-Jewish friends gave them food.
Anne had started writing her diary before going into hiding. In August 1944, the Germans came to know of their hiding. They were arrested and sent to Germany. Anne, her sister, Margot and her mother soon died in a concentration camp. Her father survived and published part of Anne’s diary. In this diary,Anne gives a moving and tragic account of the difficulties faced by her family and the other Jews.
The part of the diary reproduced in this chapter is about the days when Anne was a schoolgirl and she and her family had not yet moved to the secret quarters.
(ऐनी फ्रैंक एक युवा यहूदी लड़की थी। वह अपने माता-पिता के साथ जर्मनी में रहती थी। मगर हिटलर की नाज़ी पार्टी यहूदियों के विरुद्ध थी। नाज़ी लोग यहूदियों को मार रहे थे या उन्हें यातना शिविरों में काम करने के लिए मजबूर कर रहे थे। फ्रैंक परिवार 1933 में जर्मनी से भाग आया और नीदरलैंड्स में शरण ली। मगर 1940 में जर्मनी ने नीदरलैंड्स पर आक्रमण किया और उस पर कब्जा कर लिया। अब नाज़ियों ने यहूदियों को कैद करना एवं उन्हें यातना शिविरों में भेजना आरंभ कर दिया। फ्रैंक परिवार छिप गया। वे अपने व्यापार के कार्यालय की ऊपरी मंजिल में गुप्त रूप से रहने लगे। वे वहाँ पर 25 महीने छिपे रहे। उनके गैर-यहूदी मित्रों ने उन्हें भोजन दिया।
ऐनी ने छिपने से पहले अपनी डायरी लिखनी आरंभ कर दी थी। अगस्त, 1944 में जर्मन लोगों को उनके छिपने का पता चल गया। उन्हें कैद करके जर्मनी भेज दिया गया। ऐनी, उसकी बहन मार्गट एवं उसकी माता की एक यातना शिविर में मौत हो गई। उसका पिता बच गया और उसने ऐनी की डायरी के एक भाग को प्रकाशित करवाया। इस डायरी में ऐनी अपने परिवार एवं अन्य यहूदियों द्वारा उठाई गई कठिनाइयों का मार्मिक वर्णन करती है।
यहाँ प्रस्तुत डायरी का अंश उन दिनों के बारे में है जब ऐनी स्कूली छात्रा थी और वह एवं उसका परिवार अभी गुप्त स्थान में छिपने के लिए नहीं गया था।)

Question 3.
Why did Mr Keesing punish her ? What was the punishment ? How did Anne finally stop Mr Keesing from punishing her ?
(श्रीमान कीसिंग ने उसे क्या सज़ा दी? सज़ा क्या थी? आखिर ऐनी ने श्रीमान कीसिंग को उसे सजा देने से कैसे रोका ?)
Answer:
Anne Frank was in the habit oftalking in the class. Mr Keesing was her Maths teacher. He was annoyed with Anne as she talked much in the class. He gave her several warnings but it had no effect. One day, he punished her by giving her extra homework. He asked her to write an essay on the subject“A Chatterbox”. Anne wrote the essay, giving very amusing arguments in it. Mr Keesing liked the essay. But Anne again talked in the class. So he gave the task of writing another essay. This time, the subject was, “An Incorrigible Chatterbox.’After that, for two lessons, Anne did not get any punishment. But during the third lesson, Mr Keesing saw Anne talking again. He was very annoyed. He asked her to write another essay. The subject of this essay was, “Quack, Quack, Quack, Said Mistress Chatterbox.” The whole class laughed. Mr Keesing was trying to play a joke on Anne. But she wrote the essay in an amusing way. Mr Keesing liked the essay and did not punish Anne after that.
(ऐनी फ्रैंक को कक्षा में बातें करने की आदत थी। श्रीमान कीसिंग उसका गणित का अध्यापक था। वह उससे इसलिए नाराज़ था क्योंकि वह कक्षा में बहुत अधिक बोलती थी। उसने उसे बहुत चेतावनियाँ दी मगर इसका कोई प्रभाव नहीं हुआ। एक दिन उसने उसे अतिरिक्त गृह-कार्य देकर सज़ा दी। उसने उसे ‘बातूनी लड़की’ विषय पर प्रस्ताव लिखने को कहा। ऐनी ने बड़े मनोरंजक तर्क देकर प्रस्ताव लिखा। श्री कीसिंग को प्रस्ताव पसंद आया। मगर ऐनी ने फिर से कक्षा में बात की। इसलिए उसने उसे एक अन्य प्रस्ताव लिखने को कहा। इस बार विषय था, “न सुधरने वाली बातूनी लड़की” उसके बाद दो पाठों तक ऐनी को कोई सजा नहीं मिली। मगर तीसरे पाठ के दौरान श्री कीसिंग ने ऐनी को फिर से बात करते देखा। वह बहुत नाराज़ हो गया। उसने उसे एक अन्य प्रस्ताव लिखने को कहा। इस प्रस्ताव का विषय था, “कुमारी बातूनी ने कहा, क्वैक, क्वैक, क्वैक” सारी कक्षा हँसने लगी। श्री कीसिंग ऐनी से मज़ाक करने का प्रयत्न कर रहा था। मगर ऐनी ने प्रस्ताव को बड़े मनोरंजक ढंग से लिखा। श्री कीसिंग को प्रस्ताव पसंद आया और उसने उसके बाद ऐनी को सज़ा नहीं दी।)

Question 4.
How do you assess Anne’s character ? You can choose appropriate words from the following box and write a paragraph.
Responsible; caring and loving; humorous; talkative; sensible; patient; mature for herage; lonely; accurate in herjudgement;childish; intelligent
(आप ऐनी के चरित्र का मूल्यांकन कैसे करते हैं ? आप निम्नलिखित बॉक्स से उपयुक्त शब्द चुन सकते हैं और एक पैरा लिखिए :
जिम्मेदार; परवाह करने वाली एवं प्रिय; हास्यपूर्ण; बातूनी; संवेदनशील; धैर्यवान; अपनी उम्र से अधिक परिपक्व; अकेली; अपने निर्णय में सही; बचकाना; अक्लमंद)
Answer:
Anne was a girl of thirteen years. She was very intelligent. She had a sharp brain. She was different from the other girls of her age. She could think clearly and deeply. She had deep thoughts and ideas that she wanted to share with some one. But she found that her friends were not able to understand her completely. Their mental level was not equal to that of Anne. They could talk to Anne about ordinary everyday matter only. She had loving parents, an elder sister and loving aunts also. But she could not share her deep thoughts with anyone. So she decided to make her diary her friend. She wrote down her inner thoughts and feelings in the diary. Anne had an argumentative mind. She argued in her first essay that parental traits are inherited by children. She had a good sense of humour. Her Maths teacher, Mr Keesing tried to play a joke on her. But she wrote the essay in verse in such a way that the joke was turned on him.

(ऐनी फ्रैंक तेरह साल की लड़की थी। वह बहुत अक्लमंद थी। उसका दिमाग तेज था। वह अपनी उम्र की अन्य लड़कियों से भिन्न थी। वह स्पष्ट एवं गहरे रूप से सोच सकती थी। उसकी सोच और विचार गहरे थे जिन्हें वह किसी के साथ बाँटना चाहती थी। मगर उसने देखा कि उसके मित्र उसे पूरी तरह नहीं समझ पाते थे। उनका मानसिक स्तर ऐनी के मानसिक स्तर के बराबर नहीं था। वे ऐनी से केवल रोज के साधारण मामलों के बारे में ही बात कर सकते थे। उसके प्रिय माता-पिता, एक बड़ी बहन एवं प्रिय चाचियाँ थीं। मगर वह अपने गहरे विचार किसी के साथ बाँट नहीं सकती थी। इसलिए उसने अपनी डायरी को अपना मित्र बनाने का फैसला किया। उसने डायरी में अपने आंतरिक विचार एवं भावनाएँ लिखीं। ऐनी का दिमाग तर्कशील था। उसने अपने पहले प्रस्ताव में तर्क दिया कि माता-पिता के गुण बच्चों को विरासत में मिलते हैं। उसमें हास्य की अच्छी भावना थी। उसके गणित के अध्यापक ने उसका मजाक उड़ाने का प्रयत्न किया। मगर उसने प्रस्ताव को कविता के रूप में इस प्रकार लिखा कि उसका मजाक उड़ गया।)

Question 5.
Why did Anne Frank maintain a diary? (ऐनी फ्रैंक ने डायरी क्यों लिखी ?)
Answer:
Anne Frank had loving parents. She had loving aunts and uncles. She lived in a good house. She had about thirty friends. Even then she felt lonely. She felt that there was no one with whom she could share her thoughts and feelings. There were a number of things, which she wanted to get off her chest. But she had no true friend. She could not talk to them about anything except ordinary everyday matters. She could have good time with them. But she had no intimate friend. She had no friend in whom she could confide her deeper feelings. So she decided to maintain a diary. She thought that she would treat her diary like her friend. She could note down all her thoughts and feelings in this diary. She named this friend, Kitty. The first entry that she made in the diary was dated 20th June, 1942.

(ऐनी फ्रैंक के माता-पिता प्रिय थे। उसके पास प्रिय चाचियाँ एवं चाचे थे। वह एक अच्छे घर में रहती थी। उसके लगभग तीस मित्र थे। फिर भी वह अकेलापन महसूस करती थी। वह महसूस करती थी कि कोई ऐसा नहीं है जिसके साथ वह अपने विचारों एवं भावनाओं को बाँट सके। ऐसी बहुत-सी बातें थीं जिनका बोझ वह अपने दिल से उतारना चाहती थी। मगर उसका कोई सच्चा मित्र नहीं था। वह उनके साथ रोज की साधारण बातों के अतिरिक्त किसी अन्य विषय पर बात नहीं कर सकती थी। वह उनके साथ अच्छा समय बिता सकती थी। मगर उसका कोई घनिष्ठ मित्र नहीं था। उसका ऐसा कोई मित्र नहीं था जिसको अपनी गहरी भावनाएँ बता सकती। इसलिए उसने डायरी रखने का फैसला किया। उसने सोचा कि वह अपनी डायरी के साथ मित्र जैसा व्यवहार करेगी। वह अपने सारे विचार एवं भावनाएँ इस डायरी में लिख सकती थी। उसने अपनी डायरी का नाम किट्टी रखा। उसने अपनी डायरी में पहली प्रविष्टि 20 जून, 1942 को की।)

Question 6.
What does Anne say about her parents, elder sister and her stay in the Montessori School ? (ऐनी अपने माता-पिता, अपनी बड़ी बहन एवं मॉन्टेसरी स्कूल में अपने समय के बारे में क्या कहती है ?)
Answer:
Anne calls her father very adorable. When her parents married, her father was thirty-six and the mother was twenty-five. Margot was Anne’s elder sister. She was born in Frankfurt in 1926. Three years later, Anne was born. She lived in Frankfurt until she was four. Her father migrated to Holland in 1933. Her mother, Edith Hollander Frank, went with him. Anne and her sister, Margot were sent to Aachenm to stay with their grandmother. Margot went to Holland in December and Anne went three months later. Anne started studying at the Montessori School. She stayed there until she was six at which time she was in the first form. When was in the sixth form, her teacher was Mrs Kuperus, the headmistress. Both loved each other. When she left the school, both Anne and her teacher were in tears.

(ऐनी अपने पिता को पूजनीय कहती है। जब उसके माता-पिता की शादी हुई तब उसके पिता छत्तीस साल के थे और उसकी माँ पच्चीस साल की थी। मार्गट ऐनी की बड़ी बहन थी। उसका जन्म 1926 में फ्रैंकफर्ट में हुआ था। तीन साल बाद ऐनी का जन्म हुआ। वह चार साल की उम्र तक फ्रैंकफर्ट में रही। उसके पिता 1933 में हॉलैंड चले गए। उसकी माता एडिथ हालैंडर फ्रैंक उनके साथ चली गई। ऐनी एवं उसकी बहन मार्गट अपनी दादी के साथ रहने के लिए Aachenm चली गई। मार्गट दिसंबर में हॉलैंड गई और ऐनी तीन महीने बाद गई। ऐनी ने मॉन्टेसरी स्कूल में पढ़ना आरंभ कर दिया। वह वहाँ छह साल की उम्र तक रही जब वह पहली कक्षा में थी। जब वह छठी कक्षा में थी तो मुख्याध्यापिका श्रीमती क्यूपरस, जो उसकी अध्यापिका थी, दोनों एक दूसरे से प्यार करती थीं। जब उसने स्कूल छोड़ा तो ऐनी एवं उसकी अध्यापिका दोनों ही रोने लगीं।)

Question 7.
Anne had loving parents and a number of friends. Even then she thought that she was alone. Why?
(ऐनी के प्रिय माता-पिता एवं बहुत-से मित्र थे। फिर भी वह सोचती थी कि वह अकेली है। क्यों ?)
Answer:
Anne Frank was a thirteen-year-old girl. She had loving parents and an elder sister. She had loving aunts and lived in a good home. She had about thirty friends also. Even then she felt that she was alone in the world. She had no intimate person. She had no true friend with whom she could share her feelings. She could not confide in anyone. She had a number of thoughts that she wanted to express to someone. But she could not get close to anyone. She could have good time with them. She could talk to them about ordinary everyday matters of life. But there was no one with whom she could share the deepest thoughts of his heart. Thus she felt lonely in the world. She wanted a true friend so she decided to make the diary her friend.

(ऐनी फ्रैंक एक तेरह साल की लड़की थी। उसके प्रिय माता-पिता एवं एक बड़ी बहन थी। उसकी प्रिय चाचियाँ थीं एवं वह एक अच्छे घर में रहती थी। उसके लगभग तीस मित्र भी थे। फिर भी वह महसूस करती थी कि वह इस संसार में अकेली है। कोई व्यक्ति उसका घनिष्ठ नहीं था। उसका कोई सच्चा मित्र नहीं था जिसके साथ वह अपनी भावनाएँ बाँट सकती। वह किसी को दिल की बात नहीं बता सकती थी। उसके बहुत-से विचार थे जो वह किसी को व्यक्त करना चाहती थी। मगर वह किसी की घनिष्ठ नहीं बन सकी। वह उनके साथ जीवन की साधारण रोज की बातों के बारे में बात कर सकती थी। मगर ऐसा कोई नहीं था जिसके साथ वह अपने दिल के गहरे विचारों को बाँट सकती। इसलिए वह संसार में अकेली महसूस करती थी। वह एक सच्चा मित्र चाहती थी। इसलिए उसने अपनी डायरी को अपना मित्र बनाने का फैसला किया।)

Question 8.
Why was the whole class shaking in its boots ? How does Anne Frank describe the behaviour of her classmates ?
(सारी कक्षा क्यों डर रही थी ? ऐनी फ्रैंक अपने कक्षा के व्यवहार का वर्णन कैसे करती है ?)
Answer:
The time of the declaration of the annual results was coming closer. The teachers were going to hold their annual meeting. In that meeting they were going to decide which of the students would be promoted to the next class and which of them would be kept back in the same class. As a result, the students were nervous because of the worries of their future. Half the class was making bets. Anne and her friend G.N. laughed heartily as their classmates C.N. and Jacques had staked their entire holiday savings on their bet. They were all the time speculating who would pass and who would not. Anne was angry with many of them. But they would not calm down. There were many dummies in Anne’s class. She felt that at least half of them should not be promoted to the next class. But she also felt that teachers are the most unpredictable persons on earth..

(वार्षिक परीक्षाफल की घोषणा का समय निकट आता जा रहा था। अध्यापक अपनी वार्षिक मीटिंग करने वाले थे। उस मीटिंग में वे इस बात का फैसला करने वाले थे कि किन छात्रों को अगली कक्षा में भेजा जाए एवं किन्हें उसी कक्षा में रखा जाए। परिणामस्वरूप छात्र भविष्य की अपनी चिन्ता के कारण परेशान थे। आधी कक्षा शर्त लगा रही थी। ऐनी एवं उसकी सहेली GN. बहुत हंसी क्योंकि उनके सहपाठी C.N. एवं जेक्स ने अपनी छुट्टियों की सारी बचत को शर्त में लगा दिया था। वे सदा शर्त लगाते रहते थे कि कौन पास होगा और कौन नहीं। ऐनी उनमें से बहुतों के साथ नाराज थी। मगर वे शांत नहीं होते थे। कक्षा में बहुत-से बुद्ध बच्चे थे। वह महसूस करती थी कि उनमें से कम-से-कम आधे अगली कक्षा में नहीं जाएँगे। मगर वह यह भी महसूस करती थी कि शिक्षक ऐसे व्यक्ति हैं जिनके बारे में कुछ भी अनुमान नहीं लगाया जा सकता।)

Question 9.
Describe the three essays written by Anne Frank. (ऐनी फ्रैंक द्वारा लिखे गए तीन प्रस्तावों का वर्णन करो।)
Answer:
Anne Frank was in the habit of talking in the class. Her Maths teacher, Mr Keesing was annoyed with her. One day, Mr Keesing gave her extra homework as a punishment. He asked her to write an essay on the subject, ‘A Chatterbox’. She gave amusing arguments in her essay. She wrote that it was a trait of a student to talk. Moreover, she could not cure herself of this habit as her mother also talked as much as she did. It was an inherited trait. Mr Keesing liked the essay. But Anne talked again the class. So he asked her to write another essay on the topic, ‘An Incorrigible Chatterbox.’ Now for two lessons, she did not get any punishment. But she talked again. This time, Mr Keesing asked her to write an essay on the topic, ‘Quack, Quack, Quack, Said Mistress Chatterbox.’ Anne wrote this essay in verse form. She wrote about a mother duck and father swan. They had three ducklings. But the father killed the ducklings because they quacked too much. Mr Keesing liked the essay greatly. He read it out to the class. He read it to other classes also. After that he stopped punishing Anne.

(ऐनी फ्रैंक को कक्षा में बोलने की आदत थी। उसका गणित का अध्यापक श्री कीसिंग उससे बहुत नाराज़ था। एक दिन श्री कीसिंग ने उसे सज़ा के तौर पर अतिरिक्त गृह-कार्य दिया। उसने उसे ‘बातूनी लड़की’ विषय पर प्रस्ताव लिखने को कहा। ऐनी फ्रैंक ने अपने प्रस्ताव में मनोरंजक तर्क दिए। उसने कहा बात करना छात्र का गुण है। इसके अतिरिक्त, वह स्वयं को नहीं सुधार सकती, क्योंकि उसकी माता भी उतना ही बोलती थी जितनी कि वह। यह एक विरासत में प्राप्त गुण है। श्री कीसिंग को प्रस्ताव अच्छा लगा। मगर ऐनी कक्षा में फिर से बोली। इसलिए उसे उसने एक अन्य प्रस्ताव ‘न सुधरने वाली बातूनी लड़की’ विषय पर लिखने को कहा। अब दो पाठों तक उसे कोई सज़ा नहीं मिली। मगर उसने फिर से बात की। इस बार श्री कीसिंग ने उसे इस विषय पर प्रस्ताव लिखने का कहा, “क्वैक, क्वैक, क्वैक कुमारी बातूनी ने कहा।” ऐनी ने यह प्रस्ताव कविता में लिखा। उसने बत्तख माता एवं हंस पिता के बारे में लिखा। उनके तीन बच्चे थे। मगर हंस पिता ने उन्हें मार डाला क्योंकि वह बहुत अधिक आवाज़ करते थे। श्री कीसिंग को प्रस्ताव बहुत पसंद आया। उसने इसे कक्षा में पढ़ा। उसने इसे अन्य कक्षाओं में भी पढ़कर सुनाया। उसके बाद उसने ऐनी को सज़ा देना बंद कर दिया।)

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1.
Anne Frank is …………………….. old.
(A) 10 years
(B) 11 years
(C) 12 years
(D) 13 years
Answer:
(D) 13 years

Question 2.
What does Anne decide ?
(A) writing a diary
(B) making friends
(C) not to write a diary
(D) not to make any friend
Answer:
(A) writing a diary

Question 3.
Who helped Anne to write the essay in verse ?
(A) Shiny
(B) Sanne
(C) Sandra
(D) Sony
Answer:
(B) Sanne

Question 4.
How many real sisters did Anne have ?
(A) one
(B) two
(C) three
(D) none
Answer:
(A) one

Question 5.
Anne had everything on this earth; except ……
(A) a friend
(B) loving parents
(C) a true friend
(D) a loving sister
Answer:
(C) a true friend

Question 6.
What name does Anne give to her Diary?
(A) Margot
(B) Sanne
(C) Kitty
(D) Edith
Answer:
(C) Kitty

Question 7.
Find out the name of Anne’s elder sister.
(A) Margot
(B) Sanne
(C) Kitty
(D) Edith
Answer:
(A) Margot

Question 8.
Anne was born in Frankfurt in Germany, when she was four, her father emigrated to ……….
(A) France
(B) Holland
(C) England
(D) Belgium
Answer:
(B) Holland

Question 9.
When was Anne born ?
(A) in 1929
(B) in 1933
(C) in 1934
(D) in 1935
Answer:
(A) in 1929

Question 10.
Who was Mrs Kuperus ?
(A) Anne’s mother
(B) Anne’s neighbour
(C) Anne’s friend
(D) Anne’s teacher in sixth form
Answer:
(D) Anne’s teacher in sixth form

Question 11.
On What date did Anne make her first entry in her Diary?
(A) 20 June, 1942
(B) 20 June, 1941
(C) 20 June, 1943
(D) 20 June, 1939
Answer:
(A) 20 June, 1942

Question 12.
Why was Anne’s whole class quaking in boots ?
(A) the teacher was going to check the homework
(B) the teachers were going to announce their annual result
(C) the teacher was going to punish them
(D) the Headmistress was going to visit their class
Answer:
(B) the teachers were going to announce their annual result

Question 13.
In what subject was Anne not sure about her performance ?
(A) Literature
(B) Science and Technology
(C) Computer Education
(D) Maths
Answer:
(D) Maths

Question 14.
Who was Mr Keesing ?
(A) Anne’s English teacher
(B) Anne’s Maths teacher
(C) Anne’s father
(D) Anne’s new neighbour
Answer:
(B) Anne’s Maths teacher

Question 15.
Why did Mr Keesing give extra homework to Anne ? :
(A) she did not do her homework
(B) for talking in Maths period
(C) she was very poor in Maths
(D) the teacher was bias for her
Answer:
(B) for talking in Maths period

From the Diary of Anne Frank Important Passages for Comprehension

Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow :

PASSAGE 1

‘Paper has more patience than people’. I thought of this saying on one of those days when I was feeling a little depressed and was sitting at home with my chin in my hands, bored and listless, wondering whether to stay in or go out. I finally stayed where I was, brooding : Yes, paper does have more patience, and since I’m not planning to let anyone else read this stiff-backed notebook grandly referred to as a ‘diary’, unless I should ever find a real friend, it probably won’t make a bit of difference.

Now I’m back to the point that prompted me to keep a diary in the first place : I don’t have a friend.

Let me put it more clearly, since no one will believe that a thirteen-year-old girl is completely alone in the world. And I’m not. I have loving parents and a sixteen-year-old sister, and there are about thirty people I can call friends. I have a family, loving aunts and a good home. No, on the surface I seem to have everything, except my one true friend.

Word-meanings : patience = forbearance (धैय); depressed = sad (उदास); brooding = thinking (सोचना); on the surface = outwardly (बाहरी रूप से)।

Questions:
(a) Name the chapter.
(b) What saying did she think about ?
(c) How does she refer to the diary?
(d) Why did Anne feel herself alone even after having thirty people around her ?
(e) Find out a word from the passage similar in meaning to ‘Calm’.
Answers :
(a) The name of the chapter is ‘From the Diary of Anne Frank’.
(b) She thought about the saying, ‘Paper has more patience than people.’
(c) She refers to the diary as a real friend.
(d) She did not have a true friend. (e) Patience.

PASSAGE 2

To enhance the image of this long-awaited friend in my imagination, I don’t want to jot down the facts in this diary the way most people would do, but I want the diary to be my friend, and I’m going to call this friend ‘Kitty’.

Since no one would understand a word of my stories to Kitty if I were to plunge right in, I’d better provide a brief sketch of my life, much as I dislike doing so.

My father, the most adorable father I’ve ever seen, didn’t marry my mother until he was thirty-six and she was twenty-five. My sister, Margot, was born in Frankfurt in Germany in 1926. I was born on 12 June 1929. I lived in Frankfurt until I was four. My father emigrated to Holland in 1933. My mother, Edith Hollander Frank, went with him to Holland in September, while Margot and I were sent to Aachen to stay with our grandmother. Margot went to Holland in December, and I followed in February, when I was plunked down on the table as a birthday present for Margot.

Word-meanings : Enhance = increase (बढ़ाना); jot down = write (लिखना); plunge = (here) start (आरंभ करना); adorable = loving (प्रिय); emigrated = went to live in another country (विदेश जाना)

Questions :

(a) Who is the writer of these lines ?
(b) What does she want her diary to be ?
(c) What name does she give to her diary?
(d) How old were her parents when they married ?
(e) Where did the writer live until she was four years old ?
Answers :
(a) Anne Frank is the writer of these lines.
(b) She wants her diary to be her friend.
(c) She called her diary ‘Kitty’.
(d) Her father was thirty-six and her mother was twenty-five.
(e) She lived in Frankfurt until she was four.

PASSAGE 3

Our entire class is quaking in its boots. The reason, of course, is the forthcoming meeting in which the teachers decide who’ll move up to the next form and who’ll be kept back. Half the class is making bets. G.N. and I laugh ourselves silly at the two boys behind us, C.N. and Jacques, who have staked their entire holiday savings on their bet. From morning to night, it’s “You’re going to pass”, “No, I’m not”, “Yes, you are”, “No, I’m not”. Even G.’s pleading glances and my angry outbursts can’t calm them down. If you ask me, there are so many dummies that about a quarter of the class should be kept back, but teachers are the most unpredictable creatures on earth.

Word-meanings : Quaking = shaking (हिलना ); forthcoming = imminent (आने वाला); staked = betted (शर्त लगाना ); unpredictable = one whose intentions cannot be guessed at (जिसके इरादों का अनुमान न लग सके)

Questions :

(a) Who is the writer of these lines ?
(b) Why is her entire class quaking in its boots ?
(c) Who have staked their entire holiday savings on their bet ?
(d) What does she think about her class ?
(e) What does she say about teachers ?
Answers :
(a) Anne Frank is the writer of these lines.
(b) The class is shaking in its boots because of the forthcoming results.
(c) C.N. and Jacques have staked their entire holiday savings on their bet.
(d) She says that there are many dummies in her class.
(e) She says that teachers are the most unpredictable creatures on earth.

PASSAGE 4

I get along pretty well with all my teachers. There are nine of them, seven men and two women. Mr Keesing, the old fogey who teaches maths, was annoyed with me for ages because I talked so much. After several warnings, he assigned me extra homework. An essay on the subject, ‘A Chatterbox’. A chatterbox –

what can you write about that ? I’d worry about that later, I decided. I jotted down the title in my notebook, tucked it in my bag and tried to keep quiet.

Word-meanings : Annoyed = angry (नाराज); chatterbox = one who talks a lot (बातूनी); jotted down = wrote (लिखा )

Questions :

(a) Who is the writer of these lines ?
(b) How many teachers were there in her school ?
(c) Who was Mr. Keesing ?
(d) Why was he annoyed with her ?
(e) What punishment did he give her for talking in the class ?
Answers :
(a) Anne Frank is the writer of these lines.
(b) There were nine teachers in her school.
(c) Mr Keesing was her mathematics teacher.
(d) He was annoyed with her for talking in the class.
(e) He asked her to write an essay on the subject ‘A Chatterbox’.

PASSAGE 5

Mr Keesing had a good laugh at my arguments, but when I proceeded to talk my way through the next lesson, he assigned me a second essay. This time it was supposed to be on ‘An Incorrigible Chatterbox’. I handed it in, and Mr Keesing had nothing to complain about for two whole lessons. However, during the third lesson he’d finally had enough. “Anne Frank, as punishment for talking in class, write an essay entitled ‘Quack, Quack, Quack, Said Mistress Chatterbox’.”

The class roared. I had to laugh too, though I’d nearly exhausted my ingenuity on the topic of chatterboxes. It was time to come up with something else, something original. My friend, Sanne, who’s good at poetry, offered to help me write the essay from beginning to end in verse and I jumped for joy. Mr Keesing was trying to play a joke on me with this ridiculous subject, but I’d make sure the joke was on him.

Word-meanings : Assigned = gave (देना, सौंपना); incorrigible = one who cannot be improved (जो न सुधरे); roared = laughed loudly (जोर-से हँसना); verse = poetry (कविता )

Questions :

(a) Who is the writer of these lines ?
(b) What was the title of the second essay assigned to the writer ?
(c) What was the title of the third essay ?
(d) Who offered to help the writer ?
(e) Why did the writer jump for joy ?
Answers :
(a) Anne Frank is the writer of these lines.
(b) The title of the second essay was, “An Incorrigible Chatterbox’.
(c) The title of the third essay was “Quack, Quack, Quack’Said Mistress Chatterbox.
(d) Her friend Sanne, offered to help the writer.
(e) She jumped for joy because she would make the joke on her teacher.

PASSAGE 6

I finished my poem, and it was beautiful! It was about a mother duck and a father swan with three baby ducklings who were bitten to death by the father because they quacked too much. Luckily, Mr Keesing took the joke the right way. He read the poem to the class, adding his own comments, and to several other classes as well. Since then I’ve been allowed to talk and haven’t been assigned any extra homework. On the contrary, Mr Keesing’s always making jokes these days.

Word-meanings : Ducklings = offspring of a duck (बत्तख का बच्चा); quack = voice of a duck (बत्तख की आवाज); on the contrary = on the other hand (इसके विपरीत) I

Questions :

(a) Who is the writer of these lines ?
(b) What was the poem about?
(c) How did the Mr Keesing take the joke ?
(d) What did he do with the poem ?
(e) What has the writer been allowed to do?
Answers :
(a) Anne Frank is the writer of these lines.
(b) The poem was about a mother duck and a father swan with three baby ducklings.
(c) He took the joke in the right way.
(d) He read the poem to class and to several other classes as well. . . (e) She has been allowed to talk.

From the Diary of Anne Frank Summary in English

From the Diary of Anne Frank Introduction in English

Anne Frank was a young Jewish girl. She lived with her parents in Germany. But Hitler’s Nazi Party was against the Jews. The Nazis were killing the Jews or forcing them to work in the concentration camps. The Frank family fled from Germany in 1933 and took shelters in Netherlands. But in 1940, Germany attacked Netherlands and captured it. Now the Nazis started arresting the Jews and sending them to the concentration camps. The Frank family went into hiding. They lived secretly in the upper floors of their business premises. They hid there for 25 months. Their non-Jewish friends gave them food.

Anne had started writing her diary before going into hiding. In August 1944, the Germans came to know of their hiding. They were arrested and sent to Germany. Anne, her sister, Margot and her mother soon died in a concentration camp. Her father survived and published part of Anne’s diary. In this diary, Anne gives a moving and tragic account of the difficulties faced by her family and the other Jews.

The part of the diary reproduced in this chapter is about the days when Anne was a schoolgirl and she and her family had not yet moved to the secret quarters..

From the Diary of Anne Frank Summary in English

This chapter is a part of Anne Frank’s diary. Here she tells us about the early days of her life. She says that she decided to start writing a diary because she did not have a friend. Anne was born on 12th June, 1929. She had a sister three years older to her. She lived in Frankfurt until she was four. Her father immigrated to Holland in 1933.

Anne Frank was sent to the Montessori school and stayed there until she was six. She started in the Ist form. When Anne was in the sixth form, her teacher was Mrs Kuperus, the headmistress. Both had great love for each other.

Anne had no one in whom she could confide the feelings of her heart. So she decided to make her diary her friend. She called it “Kitty’. On Saturday 20th June, 1942, Anne Frank made her first entry in her diary. It was in the form of a letter and was addressed to her diary ‘Kitty’. Anne describes her experiences with her Mathematics teacher, Mr Keesing.

Anne writes that one day, Mr Keesing punished her for talking in the class. He gave her extra homework. He asked her to write an essay on ‘A Chatterbox.’ Anne wrote it, but she again talked in the class. Now Mr Keesing asked her to write an essay on ‘An Incorrigible Chatterbox.’ Mr Keesing liked the essays written by Anne Frank.

But Anne could not give up the habit of talking in the class. So, as a punishment, Mr Keesing asked her. to write an essay on an unusual title. “Quack, Quack, Quack,’ said Mistress Chatterbox.” Anne wrote this essay in the form of a poem. It was about a mother duck and the father swan. The father bit the three ducklings to death because they quacked too much. It was a satire on Mr Keesing. But he took the joke in the right way. He read the poem to Anne’s class and other classes also. He allowed Anne to talk in the class and never again gave her extra homework.

From the Diary of Anne Frank Summary in Hindi

From the Diary of Anne Frank Introduction in Hindi

(ऐनी फ्रैंक एक छोटी यहूदी लड़की थी। वह अपने माता-पिता के साथ जर्मनी में रहती थी। मगर हिटलर की नाज़ी पार्टी यहूदियों के विरुद्ध थी। नाज़ी लोग यहूदियों को मार रहे थे या उन्हें यातना शिविरों में काम करने के लिए मजबूर कर रहे थे। फ्रैंक परिवार 1933 में जर्मनी से भाग आया और नीदरलैंड्स में शरण ली। मगर 1940 में जर्मनी ने नीद्रलैंड्स पर आक्रमण किया और उस पर कब्जा कर लिया। अब नाज़ियों ने यहूदियों को कैद करना एवं उन्हें यातना शिविरों में भेजना आरंभ कर दिया। फ्रैंक परिवार छिप गया। वे अपने व्यापार के कार्यालय की ऊपरी मंजिल में गुप्त रूप से रहने लगे। वे वहाँ पर 25 महीने छिपे रहे। उनके गैर-यहूदी मित्रों ने उन्हें भोजन दिया।

ऐनी ने छिपने से पहले अपनी डायरी लिखनी आरंभ कर दी थी। अगस्त, 1944 में जर्मन लोगों को उनके छिपने का पता चल गया। उन्हें कैद करके जर्मनी भेज दिया गया। ऐनी, उसकी बहन मार्गट एवं उसकी माता की एक यातना शिविर में मौत हो गई। उसका पिता बच गया और उसने ऐनी की डायरी के एक भाग को प्रकाशित करवाया। इस डायरी में ऐनी अपने परिवार एवं अन्य यहूदियों द्वारा उठाई गई कठिनाइयों का मार्मिक वर्णन करती है।

यहाँ प्रस्तुत डायरी का अंश उन दिनों के बारे में है जब ऐनी स्कूली छात्रा थी और वह एवं उसका परिवार अभी गुप्त स्थान में छिपने के लिए नहीं गया था।)

From the Diary of Anne Frank Summary in Hindi

यह पाठ ऐनी फ्रैंक की डायरी का भाग है। यहाँ वह हमें अपने जीवन के प्रारंभिक भाग के बारे में बताती है। वह कहती है कि उसने डायरी लिखना इसलिए आरंभ किया, क्योंकि उसका कोई मित्र नहीं था। ऐनी का जन्म 12 जून, 1929 को हुआ। उसकी एक बहन थी जो उससे तीन साल बड़ी थी। वह चार साल की उम्र तक फ्रैंकफर्ट में रही। उसका पिता 1933 में हॉलैंड चला गया।

ऐनी फ्रैंक को मॉन्टेसरी स्कूल भेजा गया और वह वहाँ छह साल की उम्र तक रही। उसने पहली कक्षा से पढ़ाई आरंभ की। जब ऐनी छठी कक्षा में थी तो मुख्याध्यापिका श्रीमती क्यूपरस उसकी शिक्षिका थी। दोनों को एक-दूसरे से बहुत प्यार था।

ऐसा कोई नहीं था जिसे ऐनी अपने दिल की भावनाएँ बता सकती। इसलिए उसने अपनी डायरी को अपना मित्र बनाने का फैसला किया। उसने इसका नाम ‘किट्टी’ रखा। शनिवार 20 जून, 1942 को ऐनी फ्रैंक ने डायरी में पहली प्रविष्टि की। यह एक पत्र के रूप में थी और उसकी डायरी ‘किट्टी’ के नाम थी। ऐनी अपने गणित के अध्यापक श्री कीसिंग के साथ हुए अपने अनुभवों का वर्णन करती है।

ऐनी लिखती है कि एक दिन श्री कीसिंग ने उसे कक्षा में बातें करने के लिए सज़ा दी। उसने उसे अतिरिक्त गृहकार्य दिया। उसने उसे ‘बातूनी लड़की’ पर प्रस्ताव लिखने को कहा। ऐनी ने इसे लिखा मगर वह फिर कक्षा में बोली। अब श्री कीसिंग ने उसे “एक न सुधरने वाली बातूनी लड़की’ पर प्रस्ताव लिखने को कहा। श्री कीसिंग को ऐनी द्वारा लिखे गए प्रस्ताव पसंद आए।

मगर ऐनी कक्षा में बातें करने की आदत को नहीं छोड़ सकी। इसलिए सज़ा के तौर पर, श्री कीसिंग ने उसे एक असाधारण विषय पर प्रस्ताव लिखने को कहा, “ ‘क्वैक, क्वैक, क्वैक’ कुमारी बातूनी ने कहा।” ऐनी ने यह प्रस्ताव कविता के रूप में लिखा। यह एक बत्तख माता एवं हंस पिता के बारे में था। पिता ने बत्तख बच्चों को काटकर मार डाला क्योंकि वह बहुत अधिक बोलते थे। यह श्री कीसिंग पर व्यंग्य था। मगर उन्होंने मज़ाक को सही रूप में लिया। उसने कविता को ऐनी की कक्षा तथा अन्य कक्षाओं में भी पढ़कर सुनाया। उसने ऐनी को कक्षा में बोलने की अनुमति दी और उसके बाद कभी भी उसे अतिरिक्त गृह-कार्य नहीं दिया।

From the Diary of Anne Frank Translation in Hindi

ऐनिलिज मेरी ‘ऐनी’ फ्रेंक (12 जून, 1929 – फरवरी/मार्च 1945) जर्मनी में पैदा हुई एक यहूदी लड़की थी जिसने, द्वितीय विश्वयुद्ध के दौरान जब जर्मनी नीदरलैंड पर कब्जा कर रहा था, अपरे परिवार तथा चार अन्य मित्रों के साथ एम्सटर्डम में अपने लेख लिखे। जब नाज़ियों ने जर्मनी में सत्ता हासिल की तो उसका परिवार एम्सटर्डम चला गया, परंतु जब नाजियों का अधिकार नीदरलैंड तक बढ़ गया तो वे सभी उसके जाल में फंस गए। जब यहूदी जनसंख्या के विरुद्ध अंकुश बढ़ गए तो परिवार जुलाई, 1942 में अज्ञात स्थान पर चला गया और ऐनी के पिता के ओटो फ्रेंक के कार्यालय के कमरों में शरण ली। दो वर्ष के अज्ञातवास के बाद इस समूह को धोखा दे दिया गया और उसे यातना शिविर में ले जाया गया जहाँ पर बर्गन-बेल्सन में टाइपस रोग के कारण ऐनी की मृत्यु हो गई, उसकी बहन मार्गट फ्रैंक के आगमन के कुछ ही दिनों के भीतर। उसके पिता ओटो ही समूह में अकेले जीवित बचे और वे युद्ध की समाप्ति के बाद एम्सटर्डम वापिस लौट आए यह देखने के लिए कि ऐनी की डायरी सुरक्षित भी है या नहीं। इस बात से विश्वश्त होकर कि वह एक विशिष्ट रिकॉर्ड है, उसने इसे अंग्रेज़ी भाषा में ‘The Diary of a Young Girl’ शीर्षक के तहत छपवाने के लिए कदम उठाए।

ऐनी फ्रैंक को डायरी उसके तेरहवें जन्मदिन पर दी गई थी। इसमें 12 जून, 1942 से लेकर 1 अगस्त, 1944 तक की प्रमुख घटनाओं का विवरण है। इसे स्पष्ट रूप से वास्तविक डच भाषा से अनेक भाषाओं में अनुवादित किया गया और यह दुनिया की सबसे अधिक पढ़ी जाने वाली किताब बन गई और इस डायरी पर आधारित अनेक फिल्मों, टेलीविजन और सिनेमा के लिए अनेक कार्यक्रम और यहाँ तक कि एक संगीत कार्यक्रम का भी निर्माण किया गया। इसे एक परिपक्व और अन्तर्दृष्टि दिमाग का कार्य बताते हुए यह डायरी नाज़ियों के अधिकार के जीवन में सबसे निकट परीक्षण का वर्णन है। ऐनी फ्रैंक एक प्रसिद्ध लेखिका है और उसने नाज़ी अत्याचार से पीड़ित लोगों का वर्णन किया है।

[PAGE 50] :डायरी में लिखना मेरे जैसे व्यक्ति के लिए सचमुच एक अजीब अनुभव है। केवल इसलिए नहीं कि मैंने पहले कभी कुछ नहीं लिखा है, बल्कि इसलिए भी क्योंकि मुझे लगता है कि बाद में न मैं न ही अन्य कोई तेरह साल की स्कूली छात्रा के विचारों में कोई रुचि लेगा। खैर, इससे कोई फर्क नहीं पड़ता। मुझे लिखने का शौक है और इससे बढ़कर मुझे अपने दिल से बहुत-सी चीज़ों के बोझ को हटाने की आवश्यकता है।

“कागज़ में लोगों से अधिक धैर्य होता है।” मैंने इस कहावत के बारे में उन दिनों में से एक दिन सोचा जब मैं कुछ उदास थी और मैं घर पर अपनी ठुड्डी को अपने हाथ पर रखकर बैठी थी, मैं उकताई हई एवं लापरवाह थी और हैरान हो रही थी कि घर पर रुकूँ या बाहर चली जाऊँ। अंत में, मैं वहीं रही जहाँ थी, और सोचती रही।

हाँ, कागज में अधिक धैर्य होता है, और क्योंकि मैं इस सख जिल्द वाली कॉपी जिसे चाव से ‘डायरी’ कहा जाता है, उसे किसी को नहीं पढ़ने दूंगी, हाँ, अगर मुझे कोई सच्चा मित्र मिल गया तो और बात है, इससे शायद ज़रा भी फर्क नहीं पड़ता।

अब मैं उस बात पर लौटकर आती हूँ जिसने पहले तो मुझे डायरी रखने के लिए प्रेरित किया, मेरा कोई मित्र नहीं है। लाओ, मैं इस बात को अधिक स्पष्ट रूप से कहूँ क्योंकि कोई भी व्यक्ति इस बात पर विश्वास नहीं करेगा कि एक तेरह साल की लड़की इस संसार में पूरी तरह अकेली हो सकती है। और मैं नहीं हूँ। मेरे माता-पिता बहुत स्नेही हैं और लगभग एक 16 वर्षीय बहन और तीस लोग ऐसे हैं जिन्हें मैं अपना मित्र कह सकती हूँ। मेरा एक परिवार है, प्रिय चाचियाँ हैं और एक अच्छा घर है। नहीं, बाहरी तौर पर तो ऐसा प्रतीत होता है कि मेरे पास सब कुछ है, सिवाय एक सच्चे मित्र के। मैं जब अपने मित्रों के साथ होती हूँ और वे आनंद उठा रहे होते हैं तो बहुत कुछ सोचती हूँ। मैं रोज के जीवन की साधारण वस्तुओं के अतिरिक्त किसी अन्य के विषय के बारे में बात नहीं कर पाती। ऐसा नहीं लगता कि हम एक-दूसरे के निकट आ रहे हैं और यही मेरी समस्या है। शायद यह मेरा कसूर है कि हम एक-दूसरे को दिल की बात नहीं बता पाते। जो भी है, मामला ऐसा ही है और दुर्भाग्य से इसके बदलने के आसार भी नहीं हैं। इसलिए मैंने डायरी लिखना आरंभ किया है।

इस चिर-प्रतीक्षित मित्र की छवि को अपनी कल्पना में सुधारने के लिए, मैं अपनी डायरी में तथ्यों को इस प्रकार नहीं लिखना चाहती जैसे अधिकतर लोग करते हैं, मगर मैं चाहती हूँ कि डायरी मेरी मित्र बन जाए और मैं इस मित्र को ‘किट्टी’ कहूँगी।

[PAGE 51] : क्योंकि अगर मैंने एकदम लिखना आरंभ कर दिया तो कोई भी व्यक्ति मेरे द्वारा किट्टी को कहा गया कोई भी शब्द नहीं समझ पाएंगा, अच्छा होगा अगर मैं अपने जीवन का संक्षिप्त वृत्तांत हूँ, यद्यपि मुझे ऐसा करना अच्छा नहीं लगता।

मेरे पिता जी, जो मेरे द्वारा अब तक देखे गए पिताओं में सबसे प्रिय थे, उन्होंने तब तक शादी नहीं की जब तक वे छत्तीस साल के नहीं हुए और मेरी माता जी पच्चीस साल की नहीं हुई। मेरी बहन, मार्गट का जन्म 1926 में जर्मनी में फ्रैंकफर्ट में हुआ। मेरा जन्म 12 जून, 1929 को हुआ। मैं तब तक फ्रैंकफर्ट में रही जब तक मैं चार वर्ष की नहीं हो गई। मेरे पिता जी 1933 को हॉलैंड चले गए। मेरी माता, एडिथ हॉलैंडर फ्रैंक, उनके साथ हॉलैंड सितंबर में गई और मुझे एवं मार्गट को हमारी दादी के साथ रहने के लिए आचेन भेज दिया गया। मार्गट हॉलैंड दिसंबर में गई और मैं फरवरी में, जब मुझे जल्दी से मेज पर मार्गट के जन्मदिन के उपहार में रखा गया।

मैंने फौरन मॉन्टेसरी नर्सरी स्कूल में पढ़ाई आरंभ की। मैं छह साल का होने तक वहाँ रही जब मैंने पहली कक्षा में प्रवेश लिया। छठी कक्षा में मेरी अध्यापिका थी मिसेज क्यूपरस, जो मुख्याध्यापिका थी। साल समाप्त होने पर हम दोनों आँसुओं से भरी थीं जबकि हमने एक-दूसरे से हृदय विदारक विदाई ली।

1941 की गर्मियों में दादी बीमार पड़ गई और उसका ऑप्रेशन करना पड़ा, इसलिए मेरा जन्मदिन बिना मनाए बीत गया।
दादी की मृत्यु जनवरी, 1942 में हो गई। कोई नहीं जानता कि मैं उनके बारे में कितना अधिक सोचती हूँ और अभी-भी उनसे प्यार करती हूँ। 1942 का यह जन्मदिन उस अन्य व्यक्ति की कमी को पूरा करने के लिए मनाया गया था और अन्य मोमबत्तियों के साथ दादी की मोमबत्ती भी जलाई गई।

हम चारों अभी-भी ठीक-ठाक हैं और यह बात मुझे 20 जून, 1942 की वर्तमान तारीख तक और मेरी डायरी के गंभीर समर्पण की ओर ले जाती है।

[PAGE 52] :

शनिवार, 20 जून, 1942
प्रियतम किट्टी
हमारी सारी कक्षा बुरी तरह काँप रही है। निस्संदेह कारण है हमारी आने वाली मीटिंग जिसमें अध्यापक यह फैसला करेंगे कि किसको अगली कक्षा में भेजा जाएगा और किसको इसी कक्षा में रखा जाएगा। आधी कक्षा शर्त लगा रही है। G.N. और मैं हमारे पीछे बैठे दो लड़कों C.N. और जैक्स पर हँस-हँसकर पागल हुई जा रही हैं जिन्होंने इस शर्त पर अपनी छुट्टियों की पूरी बचत दाँव पर लगा दी है। सुबह से रात तक यही होता रहता है, “तुम पास हो जाओगे”, “नहीं, मैं नहीं होऊँगा”, “हाँ, तुम हो जाओगे”, “नहीं, मैं नहीं होऊँगा” यहाँ तक कि ‘G’ की प्रार्थना करती हुई नज़रें एवं मेरा गुस्से से फूट पड़ना भी उन्हें शांत नहीं कर सकते। अगर तुम मुझसे पूछो तो इतने बुद्ध छात्र हैं कि लगभग एक-चौथाई कक्षा को इस श्रेणी में रखा जाना चाहिए, मगर अध्यापक इस दुनिया में सबसे अधिक ऐसे प्राणी हैं जिनके बारे में अनुमान नहीं लगाया जा सकता।

मुझे अपनी एवं अपनी सहेलियों की अधिक चिंता नहीं है। हम पास हो जाएँगी। एकमात्र विषय जिसके बारे में मैं निश्चित नहीं हूँ वह गणित है। खैर, हम जो कुछ कर सकते हैं, वह है इंतज़ार करना। तब तक, हम एक-दूसरे से कहते रहते हैं कि हमें हिम्मत नहीं हारनी चाहिए।

मेरी मेरे शिक्षकों के साथ काफी अच्छी बनती है। हमारे यहाँ नौ अध्यापक हैं, सात पुरुष एवं दो महिलाएँ। श्री कीसिंग बूढ़े व्यक्ति, जो हमें गणित पढ़ाते हैं, मेरे साथ काफी लंबे समय तक नाराज़ रहे क्योंकि मैं बहुत बोलती थी। काफी चेतावनियों के बाद उन्होंने मुझे अतिरिक्त गृह-कार्य दे दिया। ‘बातूनी’ विषय पर एक निबंध। बातूनी-आप इसके बारे में क्या लिख सकते हैं। मैंने फैसला किया कि इस बात की चिंता मैं बाद में करूँगी। मैंने अपनी कॉपी में शीर्षक नोट किया, उसे अपने बैग में डाला और शांत रहने का प्रयत्न किया।

उस शाम, जब मैं बाकी का गृह-कार्य समाप्त कर चुकी तो निबंध के बारे में नोट मेरी नज़रों में आया। पेन के कोने को चबाते हुए मैंने इस विषय के बारे में सोचना आरंभ कर दिया। हर व्यक्ति इधर-उधर की बातें बोल सकता है और शब्दों के बीच में बड़े-बड़े खाली स्थान छोड़ सकता है। मगर असली बात थी कि बात करने की आवश्यकता को सिद्ध करने के लिए विश्वासपूर्ण तर्क दिए जाएँ। मैं सोचती रही और अचानक मुझे एक विचार आया। मैंने वे तीन पृष्ठ लिखे जो श्री कीसिंग ने मुझे कहा था और संतुष्ट हो गई। मैंने तर्क दिया कि बातें करना एक छात्र का गुण है और मैं इसे नियंत्रण में रखने का पूरा प्रयत्न करूँगी।

[PAGES 53-54] : लेकिन मैं अपनी इस आदत को पूरी तरह दूर कभी नहीं कर पाऊँगी, क्योंकि मेरी माता जी अगर अधिक नहीं तो कम-से-कम इतना जरूर बोलती थीं जितना मैं बोलती हूँ और आप विरासत में मिले गुणों के बारे में अधिक कुछ नहीं कर सकते।

श्री कीसिंग मेरे तर्कों को पढ़कर बहत हँसे, लेकिन जब मैं अपने अगले पाठ के बीच बोलने लगी तो उन्होंने मुझे दूसरा निबंध दे दिया। इस बार यह था, “एक ठीक न हो सकने वाली बातूनी लड़की।” मैंने यह भी लिखकर दे दिया और श्री कीसिंग के पास अगले दो पाठों तक मुझे शिकायत करने के लिए कुछ नहीं था। लेकिन तीसरे पाठ के दौरान उसका धैर्य जवाब दे गया। “ऐनी फ्रैंक, मेरी कक्षा में बातें करने की सजा के रूप में निबंध लिखो”, “क्वैक, क्वैक, क्वैक, मिस बातूनी ने कहा।

कक्षा जोर से हँसी। मुझे भी हँसना पड़ा, यद्यपि बातूनी लोगों के विषय पर मेरा ज्ञान समाप्त हो गया था। अब समय था कि मैं कुछ और लिखें, कुछ मौलिक। मेरी सहेली सेन, जिसकी कविता अच्छी थी, उसने पेशकश की कि वह सारे निबंध को शुरू से लेकर अंत तक कविता में लिखने में मेरी सहायता करेगी। मैं खुशी से कूदने लगी। इस हास्यास्पद विषय के द्वारा श्री कीसिंग मुझ पर मज़ाक करने का प्रयत्न कर रहे थे, मगर मैं निश्चित रूप से उन पर मजाक करूँगी।

मैंने अपनी कविता पूरी की और यह शानदार थी। यह एक बत्तख माता एवं हंस पिता के बारे में थी जिनके तीन बच्चे थे जिन्हें पिता ने चबाकर मार डाला क्योंकि वे बहुत अधिक बोलती थीं। सौभाग्यवश श्री कीसिंग ने मज़ाक को सही रूप में लिया। उसने कविता को कक्षा में पढ़ा, उस पर अपनी टिप्पणियाँ जोड़ी और कई अन्य कक्षाओं में उसे पढ़ा। उसके बाद से मुझे बात करने की इज़ाजत है और कभी अतिरिक्त गृह-कार्य भी नहीं मिला। इसके विपरीत आजकल श्री कीसिंग सदा मज़ाक करते रहते हैं।

तुम्हारी, ऐनी।

From the Diary of Anne Frank Word-Meanings in Hindi

[PAGE 50) : Musings = thoughts (Paar); depressed = sad (UGIA); brooding = thinking (Hitaat); probably = perhaps (शायद); prompted = encouraged (प्रोत्साहित किया); on the surface = apparently (बाहरी रूप से); fault= mistake (दोष); enhance = increase (बढ़ाना); jot down = write (लिखना)।

[PAGE 51] : Plunge = start (आरंभ करना); adorable = loving (प्रिय); emigrated = migrated (विदेश जाना); plunked down = placed on (रखना); farewell = adieu (अलविदा); celebration = festivity (उत्सव); grandma = grandmother (दादी, नानी); solemn = serious (गंभीर); dedication = dedication (समर्पण)।

PAGE 52] : Quaking in its books = full of fear (डरना); forthcoming = imminent (आने वाला); silly = foolish (मूख); pleading = full of request (प्रार्थना करना); dummies = fools (मूख); quarter = one-fourth (एक-चौथाई); unpredictable=that which cannot be guessed about (जिसके बारे में अनुमान न लग सके); lose heart=feel discouraged (निरुत्साहित होना); get along = deal with (व्यवहार करना); annoyed = angry (नाराज); several = many (बहुत सारे); convincing = reasonable (तर्कसंगत); assigned = gave, entrusted (देना, सौंपना)।

[PAGES53-54]: Inherited = got from family (विरासत में मिलना); trait=feature (गुण); chatterbox=talkative (बातूनी); roared = laughed loudly (जोर-से हँसना); exhausted = finished (समाप्त करना); ingenuity = skill (कुशलता); proceeded = continued (जारी रहना); incorrigible = the one who cannot be improved (जो न सुधरे); ridiculous = mocking (हास्यास्पद); duck = a water bird (बत्तख); swan = a bird (हंस); ducklings = young ones of aduck (बत्तख का बच्चा); quack = sound of aduck (बत्तख की आवाज); on the contrary = on the other hand (इसके विपरीत)।