Modern Prose in English Notes -Book II Intermediate Classes- LEWM

 

1. THE DYING SUN

By Sir James Jeans

Words	Synonyms
Immense	Huge, vast, enormous, massive, gigantic, colossal
Substance	Material, Matter, Body, Constituent,
Rare	Unusual, erratic, sporadic, occasional, infrequent
Voyage	Journey, trip, cruise, Tour, navigate
Seldom	Not often, Occasionally, Infrequently, Rarely,
Tides	Currents, Flows, Streams, Rushes
Tidal	Of waves, of flows, of streams
Entirely	Completely, totally, wholly, utterly,
Humbly	Meekly, Simply, Unassumingly, Modestly,
Certainly	Surely, Positively, Definitely,
Frightening	Terrifying, Fearsome, Alarming,
Stretches	Expanses, Bounces, Gives,
Rarity	Infrequency, Shortage, Scarcity, Fewness,
Calculation	estimation, Control, scheming,
So far as	Up to a certain time
Appearance	Arrival, Entrance, Presence,
Scattered	Sprinkled, Dispersed, Distributed,
Scale	Level, balance
Unimaginable	Inconceivable, unthinkable, undreamed of
Milky way	Constellation, collection of stars
Narrow	Contracted, limited, restricted, thin slender, slim
Unusual	Uncommon, rare, scarce, unconventional, odd
Pack	Put into box/parcel
Spare	Extra, additional
Average	Typical, Normal, Regular,
Rare	Rare, rare, Rare, rare,
Radiation	Radiation, giving rays, emit rays,
Organism	The living body having parts depending upon others
Reproduce	Increase offspring, reproduce,
Complex	Difficult, complex, intricate, complex,
Planetary	Of planets, planets,
Space	That in which all physical things have their being, in open space

 Objective 

Q.1 How is it that a star seldom finds another star near it?

Ans. The universe is so big and vast. There is a distance of millions of miles between one star to another. Therefore, a star seldom finds another star near it. These millions of stars are wandering about in space.

Q.2 What happened when, according to Sir James Jeans, a wandering star, wandering through space, came near the sun?

Ans. Some two thousand million years ago a wandering star blindly through space came nearer the sun, the mountain on the surface of the sun rose higher and higher that one can hardly imagine it.

Q.3 what happened when the wandering star came nearer and nearer?

Ans. When a wandering star came nearer the sun, the mountain on the surface of the sun rose higher and higher. When this wandering star blindly through space began to move away from the sun, its tidal pull became so powerful that the mountain of the gaseous matter was torn to pieces. These pieces were scattered into the space.

Q.4 What are planets and how did they come into existence?

Ans. Planets are very huge, hot or cold solid masses. When a wandering star came nearer the sun, the mountain on the surface of the sun rose higher and higher. When it began to move away from the sun, its tidal pull became so powerful that the mountain of the gaseous matter was torn to pieces. These pieces were scattered into the space. They are called planets.

Q.5 Why is there no life on the stars?

Ans. Life is not possible on the sun and the other stars we see in space. Life needs some suitable physical conditions like water, air and a suitable temperature to exist. These are not present on the stars. They are extremely hot.

Q.6 Write a note on the beginning of life on the Earth.

Ans. According to Sir James Jeans life started on the Earth in simple organisms, whose living power consisted chiefly in their being able to reproduce themselves before dying. Then these humble beginnings came a stream of life which, growing ever more and more complex, has in the end produced beings whose lives are largely centred in their feelings and ambitions, their sense of beauty, and the religions in which lie their highest hopes and nobles desires.

Q.7 Why is the universe, of which our earth is a part, so frightening? Give as many reasons as you can.

Ans. In view of the vastness of the universe, James Jeans gives no importance to the earth and life on it. He has painted a very frightening picture of the universe. The reasons are as follows:

i.            Vast distances

ii.          Vast stretches of Time.

iii.        Extreme loneliness

iv.         Littleness of our Home &

v.           Blind movement of stars.

Q.8 What, in your opinion, should be the conditions necessary, for the kind of life we know to exist on other heavenly bodies? Do such conditions generally exist?

Ans. Life, like on our earth, can exist in some suitable physical conditions like water, air and suitable temperature, i.e. neither too hot nor too cold. In the absence of these conditions, the existence of life is not possible. The other heavenly bodies either have a very high temperature at which all solids melt, all liquids boil or have hundreds of degrees of frost.

Q.9 What is the difference between stars and planets?

Ans. The stars are the big burning balls of fire. They never lose their heat. They wander alone and blindly through space. At times a star throws off its pieces into space. These pieces begin to move around it. They are called its planets. With the passage of time, they lose their own heat.

Q.10 What is an absolute zero?

Ans.  It is the lowest possible temperature. It is the temperature at which a body would be wholly deprived of heat. It is the temperature at which a perfect gas would exert no pressure.   It is equivalent to about -237⁰C or 459⁰F

Q.11 Why is life possible only in a narrow belt in the universe?

Ans. Life to exist is possible only in a narrow belt in the universe because it is an area surrounding each star at a suitable distance where the temperature is neither too hot nor too cold for life. All such temperature belts added together make up less than a thousand million millionth part of the whole of the space.

*******

PROSE.2       USING THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

(By Darrel Bernard & Lon Edwards)

Words	Synonyms
Benefit	Value, use, gains, take advantage, better, profit, avail,
Maintenance	Upkeep, conservation,   preservation,  keep,
Communication	Announcement, E-mail, Message
Transportation	Carriage, carrying goods from one place to another
Critical	Analytical, logical, rational, accurate, discerning
Ancestors	Forefather, grandfathers, predecessors
Likely	Probably, possibly, maybe, perchance,
Undoubtedly	Indisputably, certainly, definitely, surely, absolutely
Fortunate	Lucky, favoured, happy, prosperous, blessed
Prevention	Avoidance, deterrence, elimination, safeguard
Sanitary	Hygienic, of cleanliness
Unpaved	Not covered with asphalt, stone etc.
Poorly	Badly, unwell, off-colour,
Garbage	Trash, rubbish, waste, sweepings, muck, filth
Sewage	Atter conveyed in sewers, dirt, mess, waste
Demonstrate	Reveal, show, explain, manifest
Unsanitary	Unhygienic, unhealthy, unclean, dirty, contaminated
Dysentery	An infection of the bowels causing severe diarrhoea
Bucketful	Pailful, a little amount
Sparingly	Carefully, cautiously, warily frugally, thriftily
Aqueduct	Canal, cannel, inland waterway
Deliver	Distribute, hand over, supply, yield
Canning	Preserving by putting into cans or bottle
Regardless	Irrespective, no matter, despite, notwithstanding
Nutritious	Nourishing, wholesome, healthful
Attitude	Manner, behaviour, viewpoint, outlook,
Open mindedness	Willingness, to accept new ideas, a liberal outlook
Charm	Talisman, amulet, fetish, good-luck piece
Superstitions	Fallacy, false notions, misleading notions, false ideas
Sound	Solid, accurate, genuine, real, fit
Evil spirits	Fiend, demon, devil, spirit
Astrology	The knowledge of celestial bodies
Fortune telling	Foretelling portending, forecasting, prophesy
Acceptable	Satisfactory, admissible, all right, passable
Assume	Presume, suppose, take for granted, infer

 

Q.1 How has the scientific method helped us in our fight against disease?

Ans.  The use of the scientific method has helped us a lot in our fight against diseases. Now, babies are born in hospitals. They are vaccinated to protect them against various diseases. People eat various fresh foods throughout the year. The discovery of many life-saving drugs has also reduced the death rate.

Q.2 Write a note on better sanitary conditions available in our cities today as compared to the past.

Ans. Today our sanitary conditions are much better. Our city streets are paved and well-drained. There is a sanitation department in every city to keep the streets and roads neat and clean. But a hundred years ago our streets were narrow and unpaved. Household garbage was lying everywhere which spread many diseases.

Q.3 What are the sanitary conditions like in our villages today and how would you improve them?

Ans. Sanitary conditions are not good in our villages even today. Dirty water flows in open drains. The streets are narrow and unpaved outdoor toilets are still common in far-off villages. We should set up a department of sanitation in our villages. It will improve the sanitation condition there.

Q.4 How has the scientific method helped us in the production and preservation of foods?

Ans.  The use of scientific methods has helped a lot in the production and preservation of foods. Today agricultural machines are being used in ploughing, sowing, reaping the crops. Now different methods, such as quick freezing, dehydration, pickling, grading, drying and canning are used for the better preservation of foods.

Q.5 Why do children not get diseases today as compared to the past?

Ans. Children do not get diseases today as it is due to medical discoveries and better modern medical facilities. Today babies are born in hospitals and vaccinated against various diseases. There is little likelihood of children getting a disease today as compared to the past.

 

Q.6 How did thrifty housewives preserve food in the past?

Ans. Thrifty housewives preserved food in the past by canning, pickling or drying. Meats were preserved by salting, drying or freezing in cold weather. This preserved food was used to eat in winter seasons.

 

Q.7 We are now generally less fearful than our ancestors. What were our ancestors afraid of?

Ans. Our ancestors were superstitious. They believed in the sign of good or bad luck. They feared black cats, broken mirrors, and the number 13. But now we are less fearful because we know that there is always some reason behind everything that happens to people.

Q.8 How has the scientific method enabled us to get over old fears?

Ans. The use of the scientific method has changed our attitude. It has developed positive thinking and open-mindedness in us. Now, we don’t accept things unless they are supported by facts of knowledge.

Q.9 How has science increased the average life span of a man?

Ans. Science has increased the average life span of man by devising treatments for diseases. These include vaccination, immunization and medicinal treatments. Children are born in hospitals and vaccinated. Many fatal diseases such as smallpox have been eliminated.

 

Q.10 What part did astrology play in the lives of men and women in the past? Give examples:

Ans. Astrology certainly played an important part in the lives of men and women in the past. They believed that their lives were influenced by the movements of the stars. It was quite common that diseases were caused by evil spirits. Fortune-telling and astrology were quite common in the past.

Q.11 Describe some of the superstitions still practised in our country.

Ans. Even today there are people who do not go on a journey on certain days. Some people cut off their journey if a cat crosses their way. They believe that a guest will come if a crow caws on the wall of their house. Superstitions like these are still common in our country. They cause undue fears sometimes.

Q.12 What do we mean by attitude. How has the scientific method enabled us to better our attitude?

Ans. By attitude, we mean the way we feel toward some idea or some event. The scientific method has changed the behaviour of modern man. He is less fearful and more critical now than our forefathers. This has become possible because he has realized that there is a strong scientific reason for everything that happens. 

Q.13 Why do children and young people of today not catch disease?

Ans. Babies of today do not catch diseases as they are born in hospitals. Their chances of getting a disease are very little in hospitals. Young people might catch various diseases, but they are quickly treated with these diseases successfully.

*****

 

PROSE.3       WHY BOYS FAIL IN COLLEGE

(By Hebert E. Hawkes)

Words	Synonyms
Academic	Educational, erudite, scholarly
Get through	Pass, succeed, qualify
Make good	Succeed, do well , flourish
Native	Natural, innate, inborn, intrinsic
Concentrate	Focus, consider, put one’s mind
Uproot	Eradicate, terminate, eliminate, remove
Eradicate	Uproot, terminate, eliminate, remove, finish
Cultivate	Grow, develop, promote, foster, nurture
Poise	Dignity, composure, calmness,
Smother	Stifle, choke, strangle, suppress
Fidget	Fuss, reslelessness, nervousness, unease,
Mistaken	Wrong, false, misguided, faulty
Distinction	Excellence, worth, elegance
Mapped out	Designed, chalked out, scheduled
Counter	Opposite to, against, versus, contrary
Intend	Plan, design, aim, mean, destine
Long and short	Essential & necessary detail
Illustrator	Demonstrator, explanatory
Detest	Dislike, disdain, loathe, despise, abhor
Controversy	Disagreement, dispute, conflict, clash
Alive	Attentive, alert, observant, aware, watchful, vigilant
Application	Concentration, diligence, effort, hard work
Float through	Succeed, pass through, lead through
Pitiable	Pathetic, pitiful, piteous, deplorable
Keenness	Eagerness, intelligence, talent, genius
Receptive	Sharp, quick witted, bright
The rest of	Remaining, others, left-over
Adequate	Enough, suitable, proper, appropriate
Apparent	Obvious, clever, noticeable, evident
Enlightment	Awareness, education, information knowledge
Occasionally	Sometimes, seldom , now and then
Consent	Permission, approval, assent
Assert	Stress, declare, affirm, emphasize
Substitute	Alternate, replacement, second
Compel	Force, necessitate, pressurize, enforce
Owe	Be indebt to, be obliged
Consequently	As a result, so, accordingly, thus, hence
Nevertheless	However, yet, but, nonetheless, notwithstanding
Deteriment	Harmful, injurious, hurtful, damaging
Heartrending	Pathetic, pitiful, agonizing, tragic,
Spectacle	Scene, sight, incident occurring, phenomenon
Inevitable	Indispensably, unavoidably essentially
Alleviate	Ease, assuage, lighten, lessen
Perverted	Tainted, distorted, affected stained, spoilt
Sweep off one’s feet	Captivate, impress
Bluffer	Frank, outspoken, blunt, rude
Drift	Wander aimlessly, range, stroll, stray
Burden of prof	Obligation, duty, responsibility to prove
Calls far	Demand, need, require,
Steady	Persistently, constantly,
See it whole	See life in balance way

 

Question Answers:

Q.1 According to the writer there are some boys who fail because they do not try. Who are they?

Ans. The boys who do not try to pass the examination are those who suffer from some nervous habits. They cannot sit at the desk to work. They waste their time in useless activities. We cannot give them any help except to tell them the real problems. The boy can uproot such habit only himself. Write calls fidgets to these nervous habits.

Q.2 How does a mistaken ambition on the part of the boys and their parents lead to the failure of the boy?

Ans. The mistaken ambition of the parents proves wrong in the end. They force their son to study those subjects for which he has no interest. As a result, he does not work hard and then fails. The boy wants to be a theatrical manager, or a businessman, or a book-illustrator. So it is unreasonable for the shining students.

Q.3 There are some students who have done well at school but fail to make their mark at college. Who are they?

Ans. These boys are no doubt intelligent but are not hard working. They think that they can easily pass the exam at college with as little effort as they have made at school. They ignore their studies and thus fail to perform well in the exam. Yes, we have such boys in colleges in our country.

 

Q.4 How does financial pressure lead to the failure of the students described in the lesson? Do you have similar cases in your country?

Ans. Some poor parents ask their sons to earn a part of the college expenses. So, the students have to earn to meet their expenses. And much of their time is wasted in this way. As a result, they fail. Such students can be found in our country. Ours is no exception.

Q.5 To what extent does the question of health lead to failure at college? How far can the college authorize with their medical officers to help students?

Ans. The students suffering from bad health cannot pay heed to their studies. As a result, they fail. The college authorities and the college doctor should help such students. There should be a close co-operation between the teaching staff and the college doctor in this regard. Thus failure can be controlled.

Q.6 What place would you accord to sportsmen in college?

Ans. The main purpose of a college is to impart education. But the college should not ignore sports. If games are blocking the way of education, they should be banned. If a student is too much interested in games, he should be asked to become a professional player.

Q.7 There are some students who join college for the fun of it. Should they be allowed to stay?

 Ans. A college is meant for studies, if a student joins the college for fun or for some other purposes, he should be asked to mend his ways. And, if he does not leave his useless activities, he should not be allowed to stay in the college. Such black sheep can contaminate other students.

 

Q.8 Why is the bright boy the most pitiable object among our failing students?

Ans. The bright boy, who has always depended on his ability to get things quickly, is the most pitiable one among all the failing students. It is so because he has the ability to get through, but he does not work hard. Thus he is unable to produce an excellent results.

Q.9 What is a heartrending/pitiable spectacle about the students who earn?

 Ans. To see a large number of students working from six o’clock in the evening till two in the morning, six days in a week, and to see them giving blood for money is a heartrending sight to the writer. Such students not only get a poor living but also get poor education.

Q.10 What is the role of the College Dean?

Ans. The role of a college dean is the same as that of a physician. A dean should be well informed of the problems faced by his students in the college. He should point out their shortcomings and provide them suitable solutions. Coordination with parents is also very important.

Q.11 Why do bright students fail?

Ans. The bright students who have passed the school examination with little effort are overconfident of their ability. They think that they would pass the college examination with little effort as they did in school. They do not apply real application of hard work and thus fail.

*******

PROSE.4       END OF TERM

by David Daiches

WORD	MEANING
Grind	Hard work, strain, toil,
Abundant	Plentiful, copious, ample
Fierce	Intense, stern, powerful
Press heavily	Rush heavily, squeeze, harshly
Dismal	Miserable, gloomy depressing, dreary
Grim	Terrible, horrible, dreadful
Attic	Upper floor, top storey
Funereal	Sad, sorrowful, doleful
Ominous	Threatening , warning, gloomy
Tread	Walk gait, pace, tramp
Herald	Proclaim, announce, declare
Summons	Orders, writ, decree
Damnation	Hel, ruin, doom torment
Anticipation	Foreknowledge
Oppressive	Harsh, repressive, despotic
Sensation	Feelings, awareness,
Flavor	Taste, relish, savor
Assigned	Allocated, allotted, consigned
Escaped	Run away, fugitive
respite	Break, interval, relief
Unforeseen	Unexpected, sudden, unpredicted
Dismissal	Discharge, release,
Few and far between	Seldom, once in a blue moon, of and on, occasionally,
Luxuriously	Lavishly, sumptuously, splendidly
Tragically	Sadly, unfortunately, disastrously, terribly
Fortnight	Two weeks, fifteen days,
Mislead	Misguided, deceive
Mere	Only, bare, plain
Look forward to	Anticipate, long for, expect,
Felicity	Happiness, pleasure, bliss
Savour	Taste, pleasure, joy
Conscious	Mindful, deliberate, knowing
Strenuous	Arduous, hard, laborious, tough
Roll away	Pass away, end, vanish
Longed for	Coveted, desired, preferred
Mythical	Legendary, fabulous, marvelous
Unspoilt	Pure, unused, flawless, complete
Desperately	Greatly, urgently, intensely
Materialize	Occur, happen, exist
Outskirt	Fringes, suburbs, outer edge
Miraculously	Amazingly, astonishingly, astoundingly
Glorious	Magnificent, splendid, superb
Inspire	Enthused, stimulate, stirred, moved

 

Questions Answers

Q.1 What was Daiches’s attitude towards the week-end as a school boy? Why did he long for it?

Ana. As a school boy David Daiches felt relaxed and delighted towards the week-end. He longed for it because its arrival ended the daily hard work of school; its abundant homework and its fierce competition. However, he actually enjoyed classroom work.

Q.2 What was his general view of school life?

Ans. The writer’s general view of school life was not good because he found it very tiring and boring. There was a tough competition among the students. That’s why they had to work very hard. They had no rest at all.

Q.3 Daiches liked holidays for their freedom --- freedom for what?

Ans. Holidays gave him freedom from the school’s boring work. He did not like the daily work of the school. However, a lot of homework, the hard competition and the sense of not being relaxed pressed him heavily. Therefore, he felt free during the holidays.

Q.4 How did Daiches spend his summer holidays?

Ans. For Daiches only summer holidays were “the holidays”. It seemed to him a period of great joy and permanent felicity because he was free from the daily grind of school and could enjoy his holidays freely at the places of his one choice i.e. Meadows (a public park in Edinburgh). (Edinburgh Capital of Scotland)

Q.5 Wishes don’t come true in this life, writes Daiches. What were the things he wished for but could not have?

Ans. Daiches longed for a tricycle and later for a bicycle. He bought his bicycle when he was twenty-one. He would often stand outside a sweet shop longing for a penny or two. He would stand near an ice-cream barrow longing for a free ‘cornet’ or a ‘slider’. But he could not have these things.

Q.6 Why was Friday morning rose-coloured for the writer?

Ans. Friday morning was rose-coloured for the writer because it was the last working day of the week, followed by a pair of holidays. The weekend relieved the writer from the tiring and burdensome routine of school days.

 

Q.7 What does Daiches mean by “blessed breaks”?

Ans. Sometime, he got an unexpected respite to attend a football match or the school got dismissed an hour or two before the usual time because of some crisis or celebration. Daiches would get a skating holiday in winter, if there had been a continuous hard frost for some days. These were blessed breaks in routine.

Q.8 How did Daiches feel on Sunday night?

Ans. As Daiches was very fond of holidays in his childhood. At every weekend Sunday night appeared dreadful to the writer as it was full of the threat of Monday morning. The daily grind of school, with its abundant homework, its fierce competition, the sense of never being able to relax always pressed heavily upon him.

Q.9. What were the unexpected respites?

Ans. Sometimes they had a half-holiday to see a football match. Sometimes the school was closed for an hour or two before its usual time because of some sudden crisis or celebration. These were unexpected respites.

Q.10 What did Daiches do with his pocket money?

Ans. Daiches, his sister and brother would get a few pence pocket money a week from their parents. They were not allowed to spend it according to their own will. Their parents asked them to save it. They had to put it into a money–box. Thus his wishes remained unfulfilled in his childhood.

PROSE.5       ON DESTROYING BOOKS

By J.C. Squire

 

WORD	MEANING
Volumes	Books, publications, manuscripts
Indigestible	Hard to digest, complex, impenetrable, dry
Non bookish	Not interested in reading books
Absurd	Ridiculous, silly stupid, idiotic, illogical
Merely	Only, just, simply, barely
Sort out	Choose, reshuffle, pick
Scaffold	Gallows, gibbet,
Heaven kissing	Upper story, lot, garret, attic
Accumulate	Gather, assemble, increase
Alternative	Option, choice substitute,
Evict	Remove, expel, throw out
Sole	Exclusive, singular, absolute,
Tenancy	Occupancy, habitation, occupation
Wipe off the map	Destroy, eliminate, annihilate
Scores of	Plenty, in large, abundant
Consume	Burn up, incinerate, cremate
Granite	Stone, rock, boulder
Consign	Hand over, assign, dispatch
Improvise	Arrange, get, obtain, arrange
Nip	Freeze, chill, coldness
Gleam	Shimmer, glitter, rays
Solitary	Isolated, sole, lone
Girders	Beams, rafters, supports
Suspicious	septic, doubtful
Swag	Stolen goods, loot, ransack
Detected	Noticed, identified
Furtive	Secretive, clandestine, sly, covert
Acquit	Release, absolve, liberate
Embankment	Bank, edge, guard
Implication	Consequences, inference, effects
Parapet	Ramparts, fortification, barricade
Fervently	Passionately, ardently, enthusiastically
Rumination	Meditation, contemplation, pondering
Pedestrian	Walker, strider, ambler
Tramp	Vagrant, vagabond, drifter
Fling	Throw, hurl, toss
Gruff	Hoarse, harsh, rough
Sneering	Sniping, mocking, sardonic
Quail	Recoil, shrink back,
Savagely	Fiercely, sternly, wildly
Resolute	Firm, determined, steadfast
Contemptible	Loathsome, disgusting, cheap
Torrent	Surge, stream, flow
Forlorn	Lonely , desolate, isolated
Unconscious	Unaware, oblivious, unmindful
Rag	Torn to pieces
Slime	Ooze, mud, sludge
Opaque	Obscure, shadow, murky
Deserve	merit, justify, be worthy,

Questions Answers

Q.1 What sorts of books were presented by the British to soldiers?

Ans.  Most of the books were quite ordinary and suitable. But some people sent useless books, they did not want, like old magazines, guide to the Lake District, and back number of Whitaker’s Almanac to soldiers.

Q.2 Was it interest in soldiers that prompted people’s action, or was it the wish to get rid of useless books?

Ans. People had no interest in troops. They sent them books as gifts not because they loved them but because they wanted to get rid of their worthless books. That is why the books sent to the troops were odd and absurd. It would be interesting to inspect those books.             

Q.3 Why should the bad books be destroyed?

Ans. It is not wise to keep the bad books. They should be destroyed. There are some benefits of destroying useless book. First, it makes room for the good and new books second, it saves one’s heirs from the trouble of sorting them out and storing them.

Q.4 Why is it difficult to destroy books?

Ans. Usually, it is not easy to destroy books. It is hard to burn them without opening them. The only way to burn a book is to burn it leaf after leaf. One may throw them into the river. But even this may not be easy.

Q.5 Why could the author not burn unwanted books?

Ans. The writer wanted neither to send the useless books to troops nor to burn them. Therefore, he decided to throw them into the river. He stuffed his books into a sack, put them on his shoulder, and went out to throw them into the river.

Q.6 How did the writer decide to get rid of them? How did the writer take the books to the river?

Ans. As the writer found no proper solution to get rid of these useless books as people get rid of their kittens. Finally, he decided to stuff them into a sack and threw it into the river at midnight.

Q.7 Describe the author’s midnight venture to throw the books into the river and the suspicions which his action were like to arouse.

Ans. The writer packed the useless books in a sack, put it on his shoulders, and stepped into the street. As it was about midnight, he was moving very slowly to avoid any suspicion. On the way he passed by a policeman. It made him frightened a bit. He looked around nervously and then threw the sack of books down into the river. A vast splash and then silence fell again. No one came there.

Q.8 How did he muster up courage at last to fling them into the river?

Ans. He rebuked himself by saying that he would not be able to walk straight if he failed to throw them into the river now. Finally, he reached the embankment of the river, mustered up his courage, and threw the sack of books down into the river. There was a vast splash and then silence fell again. No one came there.

Q.9 Did the writer come to have feelings for those books once he had got rid of them?

Ans. Yes, the writer felt a bit sad for the books which fell down into the cold surges. He also thought that they would settle down at the bottom of the river. They would lie there lonely and forgotten forever while the unconscious world of men went on.

Q.10 What difficulty brought the writer within the shadow of the rope?

Ans. The destroying of books proved a difficult task for him. The difficulty once brought him almost within the shadow of the Rope. He felt that he had reached on the verge of being caught and punished by the police.                                              

********

PROSE.6          MAN WHO WAS A HOSPITAL 

By Jerome K. Jerome

Q.1 How did Jerome K. Jerome come to suspect that his liver was out of order? What were the diseases he thought he was suffering from on reading a booklet on the treatment of disease?

Ans.  As he read the symptoms of the disorder of life he found that he had got all the symptoms of the liver disease. Then he read a book on the treatment of diseases. He found that he was suffering from typhoid fever, St. Vitus’s Dance, Bright’s disease, cholera, diphtheria, gout, zymosis, disordered pulse rat, and scarlet fever.

Q.2 What was the disease he discovered he didn’t have?

Q.3 Was he pleased to find he didn’t have a housemaid’s knee?

Ans. The only disease the writer had not got was the housemaid’s knee. The writer was displeased for not having this disease. He felt rather hurt about this at first; it seemed somehow to be a sort of slight. He grew less selfish and determined to do without it.

Q.4 What was his first reaction when he read that he was suffering from all diseases.

Ans. The writer found himself to be in listless horror. He sat frozen with horror for sometimes. The more he read, the more shocked he was. He was surprised that how long he could survive.

Q.5 Why should he be an acquisition to the medical class?

Ans. The writer suggested to the medical students that they would not read to roam about the hospital for medical practice. They should just stand around him and learn all about various diseases. He was a hospital himself.

Q.6 Describe his visit to the medical man.

Ans. When the writer went to his doctor he looked down into his mouth. He felt his pulse. He hit him over the chest. Then he butted him with the side of his head. After that he sat down, wrote out the prescription and gave it to the writer.

Q.7 He thought he was doing the doctor good turn by going to him. Why?

Ans. The writer thought he was doing the doctor a favour to be a patient of all diseases. The main objective of a doctor is to get practice. He thought that the doctor would get more practice out of him than out of seventeen hundreds of ordinary patients.

Q.8 What was the prescription given to him by the doctor?

Ans. The Prescription was:

        “1 lb. beefsteak every 6 hours

        Ten-mile walk every morning,

Bed at 11 sharp every night,

And don’t stuff your head with things you don’t understand.”

 

Q.9 Describe his visit to the Chemist.

Ans. The writer went to the chemist and gave him the prescription. The man read it and returned it to the writer. He said that he did not have the required things. He said that he might have helped him if he had been a co-operative store and a family hotel combined.

Q.10 What is the significance of the doctor’s advice, “do not stuff your head with things you don’t understand?”

Ans.  It is an important advice. It means that we should not bother ourselves with things we do not understand. If we try to do the things about which we do not have proper knowledge, the result would be only confusion or destruction.

Q.11 What is the state of Leacock when he enters a bank?

Ans.  When the writer enters a bank he is very nervous and he looks round doubtfully and timidly. The expression ‘shambled in’ shows that he enters the bank staggeringly because of his inner fear. 

 

Q.12 How did J. K. Jerome get to know that his liver was out of order?

Ans. When the writer read the detailed symptoms of a disordered liver in a drug advertisement, he came to suspect that his liver was out of order. Then he got a book on the treatment of diseases and read it.

 

Q.13 How did the writer feel his pulse?

Ans. He felt his pulse, he could not at first find any pulse at all. Then, all of sudden, it seemed to start off. He pulled out his watch and checked it. He made it a hundred and 47 to the minute.

 

Q.14 Why did the writer go the British museum?

Ans. The writer went to the museum one day to read up the treatment of some slight ailment of which he had a bit hint. He imagined it was hay fever. He got down the book and read all he came to read.

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PROSE.7       MY FINANCIAL CAREER

By Stephen Leacock

 

WORD	Synonyms
Rattle	Perplexed, disturbed, confused, perturbed
Threshold	Doorstep, doorway, entranceway
Transact	Execute, execute, perform
Shamble	Falter, waddle, stagger, stumble, blunder
Timidly	Hesitatingly, nervously, shyly, reticently
Devil	Ill-tempered, knave, rouge, satan
Sepulchral	Melancholic, gloomy, somber, dismal
Solemnly	Gravely, seriously, earnestly
Grave	Composed, sober, serious
Crumpled	Folded, wrinkled, creased
Self-evident	Clear, obvious, protuberant, prominent
Alarm	Unease, panic, anxiety, fright
Awful	Alarming, dreadful, horrible
Presume	Conjure, think, assume, guess
Deductive	Spy, secret agent , emissary
Imply	purport, indicate , signify, infer, conclude
Rival	Contestant, opponent, adversary
Prompt	Motivate, incite, provoke, irritate
Poke	Shove, push, hurl, fling
Convulsive	Violent, abrupt, jolting
Conjuring	magic, tricky, fiddly
Ghastly	Appalling, grisly, horrible, terrible
Fit	Impulse, whim, quirk
Hollow	Low, dull, insincere
Vibrating	Shivering, shaking, shuddering, trembling
Invalid	Fallacious, fake, false, lame
Thrust	Chuck, hurl, shove, fling
Reckless	Careless, rash, nonchalant
Wretched	Miserable, worthless, low, unimportant
Temper	Nature, mood, disposition
Dryly	Flatly, drearily, curtly, rudely

 

PROSE.7       MY FINANCIAL CAREER

By Stephen Leacock

Questions Answers

Q.1 What do the following expressions: ‘looked timidly round’, ‘shambled in’ reflects Stephen Leacock’s state of mind?

Ans. “Looked timidly” means to look round nervously and frightfully. “Shambled in” means to walk slowly and awkwardly as one is afraid of something or hesitant to do something. Both the phrases show writer’s nervousness and fearfulness.

Q.2 Why did the manager come to think that Leacock had an awful secret to reveal?

Ans. The way the writer talked to the manager, the expression he bore on his face, the solemnity he revealed in his behaviour and the mysterious manners he manifested in his proceedings, all indicated that he was a detective and had an awful secret to reveal.

Q.3 What was the attitude of the manager towards Leacock on learning that he only wished to deposit 56 dollars in the bank?

Ans. The manager supposed him that the writer was a millionaire and wanted to open a big account. But when he heard that the writer wanted to deposit only 56 dollars, he became cold and harsh towards Leacock.

Q.4 What other blunders did Leacock commit after leaving the manager’s office?

Ans. First he entered the safe. Secondly, he gave the money to the accountant in a strange manner. Thirdly he deposited all his money. Fourthly he wanted to withdraw 6 dollars, he wrote 56. Fifthly instead he should admit his mistake he became angry.

 

Q.5 After this misadventure in the bank where did Leacock keep his money?

Ans. After this misadventure he kept his money in cash in his trousers pocket and his savings in silver dollars in a sock. Since then he banked no more.

Q.6 Give examples to show that Leacock was feeling completely lost in the bank all the time he was there.

Ans.  There he committed many mistakes, which showed that he was completely lost in the bank. First he saw the manager ‘alone’. He entered the safe. He deposited all his money. He wrote 56 instead of writing 6 dollars. Instead he should admit his mistake he became angry.

Q.7 How did the manger look?

Ans. When the writer met the manager. He looked to be a grave and calm man. The writer was very confused when he met the manager.

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(PROSE-8)              CHINA’S WAY TO PROGRESS

By Galeazzo Santini

Q.1 Why has the world changed its attitude towards China?

Ans. One-fourth of the world population made great progress in every field of life. They made the social and economic systems of their country an ideal success. All this has the world to change its attitude towards China.

Q.2 Discuss Chinese agriculture system.

Ans.  In China, agricultural production is growing through the system of communes. This is further divided into production brigades and teams. The Chinese still carry on their traditional labour. But agricultural machinery is also being used slowly and carefully.

Q.3 How does China rely on its own resources?

Ans. The Chinese follow Mao’s maxim:  “Rely on your own forces” and rely on their own resources. They use the local machines, which are easily available. They are cheaper than the foreign machines. They can produce faster, better and cheaper results.

Q.4 Describe a day in the life of a Chinese student?

Ans.  The day of Je Wen Siu, a Chinese student, breaks at 6 in the morning. She does a few household tasks, takes breakfast and goes to school at 8. She works there till 11, then returns home to eat lunch. She reaches the school again at 1:30 and works till 3 o’clock. Then she returns home and goes through the lessons for about an hour. She relaxes after four, reads the newspaper and listens to the radio.

Q.5 Write a brief note on the Chinese women.

Ans. The Chinese woman lacks femininity from a western point of view. They use no beauty cosmetics. They enjoy many social benefits and work 8 hours a day. They enjoy free hospitalization; get 56 paid holidays before childbirth.

Q.6 What are the social security benefits provided to the Chinese workers?

Ans.  In the agricultural communes, the housing and all medical treatments are free for the workers while their family members pay only 50 % of the charges. They do not pay for cinema and theatre. They get 6 months sick paid leave. After that they get only the 60%.

Q.7 “It is the people and not the things that are decisive.” Discuss

Ans. According to Miao if the people are a compact whole, they tend to become a power. The contribution of a dollar from each Chinese would make roughly 800 million dollars. The contribution of a day’s work from each Chinese would mean two million extra labourers for one year without any cost to the state.

Q.8 “The heart of the matter is the need to root our selfishness.” Discuss

Ans. The Chinese have proved Thomas Hobbes’s phrase:  “man’s condition is a condition of war with everyone against everyone” wrong. They are working for the benefit of all. They work for the collective benefit. So they have become a compact whole.

Q.9 Compare social historical background of China with that of Russia?

Ans. Russia was founded in 1917, while China was in 1949. Unlike China, Russia did not face the problems of terrible multi-colonial experience, sharp Western impact, split economy, split culture and split personality.

Q.10. How has the population of the cities been controlled in China?

Ans. Political control over the masses not only has controlled the migration of people from the countryside but also managed partly to reduce the population of cities.

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Prose 9-   Hunger & Population Explosion  

By Anna Mackenzie

Q.1 What does hunger mean on a large scale as viewed by the author?

Ans. Hunger does not mean missing one meal. It means never having enough to eat. After one meal there is no surety of another meal. When people are constantly worried about their meals; when they cannot manage to get enough food to satisfy their hunger, they are hungry.

Q.2 Describe some great famines of the world.

Ans.  The Nile remained dry for seven years and the Egyptians had to face a great famine. Similarly, China and England faced great famines and millions of people died in Russia because of famine in 1921. The worst famine of the century struck India in 1964-65.

Q.3 How does famine occur? What are the causes of famines?

Ans. Some are causes of famines are over population, failure of crops, shortage of food and lack of rains. If the available food is not enough for the people to eat there may spread a famine. In such cases, millions of people starve to death.

Q.4 What is the major cause of increase in population?

Ans. The major cause of increase in population is the difference between the death rate and birth rate. Birth rate is more than the death-rate. This causes of increase in population rapidly.

Q.5 What is meant by birth rate and death rate and how do they affect the population of a country?

Ans.  Birth-rate means the number of births per 1000 population while death-rate means number of deaths per 1000 population. When birth-rate is greater than the death-rate, population increases. Population also increases when death-rate is decreased.

Q.6 What have public health measures to do with increase in population?

Ans. Public health measures have controlled epidemics and fatal diseases. The discovery of medical treatments has also decreased death-rates. Population also increases when death-rate is decreased.

Q.7 How do you account for the high birth-rate in under developed countries?

Ans.  The birth rate is very high in underdeveloped countries. The illiterate do not learn the importance of family planning. They hold God solely responsible for all their needs and produce children. They do not think about their feeding and education.

Q.8 Why birth-rate is not so high in advanced countries?

Ans. The birth-rate is not so high in advanced countries because the people are educated. They know the importance of family planning and their responsibilities.

Q.9 Give a brief account for the poor economic conditions prevailing under-developed countries.

Ans. Poverty, illiteracy and diseases are the common factors in these countries. These countries have poor economy because they depend on the export of raw material. They do not have factories, any proper communication, public health and education system.

Q.10 What does famine mean?

Q.11 What is real hunger. Mention some characteristics of real hunger.

Ans. Hunger means having never enough to eat. It means that you have eaten something but still you are hungry and can eat more. Hunger on a large scale is called famine. People are constantly worried about their meals. People cannot manage to get enough food to satisfy their hunger, they are always hungry.

Q.12 Describe some great famines of the past.

Ans. There were seven years of famine in Egypt during the time of Joseph. From the birth of Christ to 20^th century, Europe faced many famines in 350 different years. England faced one major famine every 10 years. China had 90 famines in one century. In Russia, Bengal and India millions of people died in the great famines in 20^th century.

Q.13 What is a condition of the underdeveloped countries?

Ans. In underdeveloped countries, the birth rate is very high. The cities are full of beggars. The young men rush to the cities for earning. There is a lack of factories. Most of the people are illiterate.

Q.14 What is the main problem of the modern age?

Ans. The major problem is population explosion. The population of the world is increasing rapidly. There is a shortage of food for the baby boom. The situation is alarming and may cause a great famine. The solution of this problem is to control the population explosion.

*******

Prose 10             The Jewel of The World

By Philip K. Hitti

Q.1 Describe Add-al-Rehman dramatic escape and his adventure in Africa?

Ans. When Abd-al-Rehman saw the Abbasids were following him he jumped in the Euphrates River. He kept swimming and reached other bank of the river and saved his life. In North Africa, he barely escaped assassination at the hands of the governor. Moving from tribe to tribe, he reached Ceuta after five years. His maternal uncle lived in North Africa. They offered him shelter there.

Q.2 How did Abd-al-Rehman deal with the governor appointed by the Abbasid caliph?

Ans. He killed him, preserved his head in salt and camphor, wrapped it in a black flag and in the letter of his appointment sent it to the Abbasid caliph in Baghdad. At this, the Abbasid caliph assessed his bravery and power.

Q.3 What did the Abbasid caliph say on receiving the head of his governor?

Ans. On receiving the head of his governor the Abbasid Caliph was filled with horror and said, “Thanks to be to Allah for having placed the sea between us and such a foe.”

Q.4 What did Abd al-Rahman do to make himself strong and beautify the capital?

Ans. To beautify the Capital of Spain he introduced the system of pure water and new plants. He constructed a wall around it. He built a palace for himself, and a garden by its side. He founded the great mosque of Cordova. He developed highly-trained army of 40,000 or more Berbers.

Q.5 Give an account of the progress made by Abd-al-Rehman III.

Ans. During his reign, weaving, leather making, wool, silk, glassware, brass work, pottery, gold, silver and the art of sword making and inlaying steel and other metals flourished in Spain. Cordova became the most cultured city. It had paved streets and seventy libraries with a number of books.

 

Q.6 What did Al-Hakam do to promote learning and scholarship in his kingdom?

Ans. Al-Hakam was a learned man. He enlarged the University of Cordova. He invited professors from the East. They were paid very handsome salaries. He established a library with a collection of 400,000 books.

Q.7 Why was Cordova call “The Jewel of the World”?

Ans. In those days, Cordova was the capital of Spain. It was one of the great cities. It was one of the great and most cultured cities in Europe.

The population of Cordova was half a million. There were seven hundred mosques and three hundred public baths. It was second to Baghdad and Constantinople only.

 

Q.8 Describe the Royal Palace, Al-Zahra?

Ans. The royal palace, al-Zahra was the most beautiful palace in the world. Imported marble and other material were used in its construction. It had 400 rooms and apartments. Thousands of slaves and bodyguards of ‘Amir’ lived there.

Q.9 What was the condition of the leather industry in Spain?

Ans. The leather industry flourished in Spain during the reign of Muslims. The art of tanning and embossing leather was carried from Spain to other countries of Europe. First of all, it was carried to Morocco and from there it was taken to France and England.

Q.10 Why was “Generalife” so famous?

Ans. The “Generalife” comes from the Arabic work “Jannat al-arif”, which means “the inspector’s paradise”. It was one of the best-known gardens of Spain. It was famous because of its wide shades, falling waters and soft breeze. It was in the form of an amphitheatre and was irrigated by many streams.

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