CLASS-7

L-6 Stone Soup in Bohemia

I.B

1.How did the soldier react to the unwelcoming attitude of the villagers?

Ans. The soldier was not at all disheartened at the unwelcoming attitude of the villagers. Rather he was very cheerful. He swept off his red cap, made a mock bow to the assembly, told the burgomaster that he would not ask even for a single thing. He asked him not to worry as he would spend night there and go away in the morning.

2. What according to the soldier was the specialty of the stones?

Ans.  According to the soldier, those two stones had the powers to brew the most delicious, the mouthwatering soup that ever a man tasted. It was a foreign recipe presented to him by a saint.

3 Why did the villagers initially hesitate to add anything to the soup?

Ans. The villagers initially hesitated to add anything to the soup, as they were suspicious about the soup. Nobody wanted to move first or to admit his curiosity .No villager wanted to make a fool of himself but suddenly a common impulse overcame them all .One by one they all slipped away and came back with a contribution to be added to the soup.

4 .What   comments   did the various villagers make on the quality of the soup?

Ans. The  villagers made various comments on the quality of the soup like Burgomaster called it exquisite ,portly merchant said it was magnificent , the woman called it real tasty and someone called it a miracle , a  marvelous gift from China.

II. HOTS

Q .What are the various methods that the soldier adopted to be friendly with the villages?

Ans. The various methods that the soldier adopted to be friendly with the villagers are he carried them along with a joke for an old woman, a dig at portly merchant, a little flattery for the Burgomaster and told a flood of anecdotes to the people sitting around him. He even praised the villagers by calling them friendly and called the village benevolent and hospitable.

III. Life Skills
'Presence of mind is more important asset than wealth or strength'. Explain.
 Presence of mind is more important asset than wealth or strength'
An intelligent person will use his money in good way whereas a foolish man will lose it in buying unnecessary things. If we are intelligent we can overcome our problems easily. Presence of mind can help us to achieve or get anything that we desire.

' And the soldier chuckled to himself’. Why did the soldier do so?

Ans. The soldier chuckled to himself because he had befooled the villagers and had his meal from the villagers .Although the villagers were unfriendly and unhospitable yet he managed to spend a night in the village and also satisfied his hunger using his wits.

Report Writing

MARVELLOUS STONE SOUP

Dec.24^th 2017/ Bohemia

Today, I visited a village in Bohemia and heard about the fame of the stone soup. Was amazed to know how a soldier used his wits to satisfy his hunger. The soldiers who returned from wars depended on the kindness of the people and partly on their wits to feed themselves. The soldier came to this village, felt the hostility of the people towards him. The Burgomaster told him that nobody would feed him. But the soldier did not lose heart. He took

Out two stones and popped them into the cauldron. He filled the container with water and waited for the soup to brew. He kept stirring the soup and said that the soup was pre historical recipe .These stones had the power to brew the most delicious and mouthwatering soup for him. He made the villagers curious and told them tales related to the stone soup. He further added that if some vegetables were added to the soup it would become more tasty. He was able to make people contribute a least some vegetables to the soup.

The villagers enjoyed the soup and called it magnificent, real tasty, exquisite, a miracle, a marvelous gift from China .In this way the soldier satisfied his hunger and the stone soup became famous in the village.

Class – VIII

Chapter-12  A Bad Dream

                  by Donn Byrne

A.

1. Why was Mr. Hill upset with Annie?

Ans. Mr. Hill was upset with Annie because she was a bad cook. She wasn’t able to prepare good coffee too. Mr. Hill felt embarrassed when people came to his house for dinner and got bad food.

2. What did Mr. Hill expect his wife to do in the parties? 

Ans. Mr. Hill was the manager of the bank. He wanted his wife to meet and socialize with people who came to his house for parties. He believed it would be good to make healthy relations with customers as it benefitted the bank.

3. How can we say that Mrs. Hill was a kind-hearted, considerate lady?

Ans. When Mrs. Hill told his wife that Annie should go and they must hire a new cook, she objected saying that Annie had worked with them for 20 years. She also tried to convince Mr. Hill that it would be difficult for her to find a new job at such an old age.

4. What was Annie’s reaction when she came to know that Mr. Hill had lost his job?

Ans. When Annie came to know that Mr. Hill had lost his job, she told him that it didn’t matter if he couldn’t pay her. She’d continue working as she had a feeling of belongingness towards the house where she had worked for twenty years. She was understanding, sympathetic and considerate.

B.Read these extracts from the play and answer the questions that follow:

1. ‘How will she find a new job?’

a. Who is ‘she’ and why should she look for a new job?

Ans. ‘She’ refers to Annie. She should look for a new job because Mr. Hill wants her to go as he thinks she is a bad cook.

b. Why it will be difficult for her to find a new job?

Ans. It will be difficult for her to find a new job because she has grown old.

c. Why does the speaker react in such a manner?

Ans. Mrs. Hill reacted in such a manner because Annie has been working for them for twenty years. Mrs. Hill is a kind-hearted and considerate lady and understands Annie’s problem.

2. ‘We had to do it, sir. We were only thinking of the bank.’

a. Who does ‘sir’ refer to?

Ans. ‘Sir’ refers to Mr. Hill, the manager of the bank. ‘We’ refers to Briggs, the assistant manager of the bank and Winter, the cashier.

b. What did they have to do?

Ans. They had to tell Mr. Hill to resign from his job as the manager of the bank. They had taken permission for the head office to do so.

c. What was their reason for doing so?

Ans. They wanted Mr. Hill to resign because they felt that he was not doing his job sincerely. He was not nice to the people in the bank. Therefore, in the interest of the bank, they had to do so.

3. ‘But, George, why have you changed suddenly?’

a. What kind of a man was George earlier?

Ans. Earlier, George was a rude, insensitive, arrogant and self-centred man.

b. What changes have come over George?

Ans. George has become kind, considerate, sensitive and caring.

c. What is the reason for these changes?

Ans. A bad dream which he had in the afternoon made him realize his mistake and changed him into a compassionate man.

C. Compare and contrast the character of Mr. Hill with that of Mrs. Hill.

Ans. After Mr. Hill had got promoted as the manager of the bank, he changed completely. He had become rude, arrogant, indifferent, insensitive and self-centred.

Mrs. Hill, on the other hand, was kind, compassionate and considerate. She did not agree when Mr, Hill suggested that Annie should leave as she was a bad cook. Mrs. Hill said that Annie had been working in their house sincerely for twenty years and had grown old. She delayed telling Annie to find a new job. She knew that Annie considered herself as the member of the family and would be hurt.

HOTS

‘Mr. Hill had a bad dream’-was the dream really bad?

Ans. Annie, the cook at Mr. Hill’s house, had worked for the family for twenty years. She considered the home to be her own. It would be difficult for her to find a new job at her age. But Mr. Hill was inconsiderate and insensitive as he wanted her to go because she was a bad cook. His dream taught him a lesson. He dreamt that the staff of the bank had visited him and told him to resign as he did not work efficiently and he was not nice to the staff members. Mr. Hill was very upset and tried to reason them but failed. When he woke up, he realized that he had put Annie in the similar situation. He was regretful and his bad dream changed him into a good human being.

Writing Skills

Imagine you are Mr. Hill. Your unpleasant conversation with Mr. Briggs and Mr. Winter awakens your conscience and changes your attitude towards Annie. Write a diary entry expressing your feelings for her before and after your meeting with the visitors.

Ans. Dear Diary

It was really a strange day. I had a dream during my afternoon nap which has completely changed me. After becoming the bank manager, I had become rude and arrogant. I even wanted Annie, our cook for past years, to be dismissed as she made bad food. I was only concerned about my reputation among my guests. I did not even consider her old age. I just wanted to make my customers happy. But my dream awakened my conscience and changed my attitude towards Annie. In the dream, I saw that I had to resign as I hadn’t discharged properly and no one in the bank liked me. My dream made me realize Annie’s situation who is just like our family member. I felt very sorry and decided that I would keep her and bring some one else to help her in her work.

Mr. Hill

Article writing class-8

Tolerance the need of the day

by abc.
As we all know that the 21^st century is marked with intolerance and hatred, People of different caste and creed cannot even stand each other. Virtues like mercy,  patience and sensitivity which our ancestors had, have been replaced by arrogance and rude behavior. Tolerance is the only hope for existence. So one must put up with people as well as they can.

It is true that we cannot   love everyone but we must try to tolerate the people who come  in  contact with us. Only if the  people  are  tolerant ,  a civilized  future can be built. Nowadays the moment we open the newspaper or switch on the television, we come across people killing  their  relatives , family members, close friends over trivial matters .Road rage and property disputes have become ordinary issues of killing others.

In order to build a progressive nation ,  we have to remove words like intolerance and impatience from our lives. In competitive and  stressful  lives, peace is the most needed requirement. As we have to live, we must learn to be tolerant towards each other. It has been rightly said that ‘Tolerance is the basis of humanity,’ so tolerance is needed for our existence.

• 
  

Article Writing

Caring for the Elderly

by abc

Someone has rightly said that childhood is a dream, youth is a blunder and old age is a regret. Many of the elderly citizens are strangled to death ,rendered homeless  and forced to live the last few years of their life in despair and loneliness. The younger generation do not want to be bothered with an elderly.As a result many of them are now opting for old age homes.They get much needed security ,peace of mind ,food and good company in these homes.

Many times,it  is the elderly who do not want to stay with their children as they are expected to look after their household chores.They see themselves as domestic help and feel disheartened .The younger generation must show sensitivity and love towards the elders.It is the duty of the young generation , the state and the society to take care of them in the evenings of their life.With the break up of joint families , a great problem has arisen for the senior citizens.

Although the government is doing a lot for them by paying pension as part of their retirement  benefit .The railways  and roadways has also started old age concessions on travel.Societies like ‘Helpage’ have sprung up to build houses for the old age. So, we must also do the best in making these elderly people feel important and loved.

CLASS-7

The Human Robot  

By Ira Saxena

1.Why did Prem Chopra go to Super Robots Plaza?

Prem Chopra  went   to Super Robots Plaza to buy an accomplice who would help him in his thefts or robberies. According to him this was the best way to invest his latest loot.

2. What all could Ram Singh do?

Ram Singh was  perfectly  programmed to function in the household, cleaning, arranging, collecting groceries from the supermarket ,tending the lawn, mailing letters ,relating your favourite  programmes  on the TV and selecting news of interest from the paper.

3. What were the three inbuilt principles in Ram Singh’s system?

Ans. The three inbuilt principles in Ram Singh’s system were :

     I.                 1.   the robot will obey his master.

   II.                   2.   it will not harm humans.

 III.                     3.  it will not harm to self.

 4. Why was Prem Chopra interested only in the first principle?

Ans. Prem Chopra was interested only in the first principle which stated that the robot will obey his master because he wanted to buy Ram Singh primarily for stealing goods from the shops .

5. Why was Ram Singh arrested ? Why was he summoned to the court  ?

Ans. Ram Singh was arrested because the computerised cameras capable of split second recording, clicked him stealing the precious gems from Jhaveli Brothers.

Ram Singh was summomed to the court as his memory tape could reveal all the information required to solve the case.

6.What happened to Ram Singh in the court ? Why ?

Ans. Ram Singh’s system disintegrated and defused in the court because Council Goel  forced him to reveal the information and warned him that he would harm innocent human beings if , he did not do so .On the other hand the instructions from Prem Chopra were not to be revealed. This led to the conflict between his two principles. He decided to break apart to telling a lie, hurting human beings or becoming unfaithful.

HOTS

Prem Chopra pleaded guiltyat the end of the chapter.Why do you think he did so ?

Ans. Pem Chopra was a hardened criminal who bought Raam Singh 070 tohelp in his crimes androbberies.He was extremely happy to know that his accomplice would never disobey his orders.However when he sawrobot Ram Singh 070 breaking apart he realised that the metallic robot was more human than him. He was shocked  and of grief to see the robot disintegrate for no fault of his. Prem Chopra realised his mistake pleaded guilty.

VALUES

‘Robot Ram Singh is more human than Prem Chopra .’ Discuss.

Robot Ram Singh is more human than Prem Chopra because in the court he prefers to disintegrate to telling lies and harming innocent human beings or disobeying his master. Ram Singh 070’s concern for humanity make him more human than Prem Chopra .

---

 [ 

Class-VIII

Chapter-9  Couplets

By Alexander Pope

B.

1. What is the key to a successful life?

Ans. The key to a successful life is to tread the middle path and avoid leaning on the extremes.

2. What are the various forms of government? Which one is the best? Why?

Ans. The various forms of government are democratic, monarchy and dictatorship. The best form of the government is the one with the best administration where people enjoy their rights and are happy.

3. What should be the chief concern of the whole mankind? What other concerns divert people’s attention from this?

Ans. Charity should be the chief concern of the whole mankind. The other concerns which divert people’s attention from this are religion, faith, hopes and beliefs.

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

1. He knows to live, who keeps the middle state.

a. What do you understand by ‘middle state’?

Ans. ‘Middle state’ means the middle path or leading a balanced life.

b. How can the ‘middle state’ be achieved?

Ans. The ‘middle state’ can be achieved by avoiding leaning on the extremes.

c. Is this line relevant in a students’ life? Give an example.

Ans. Yes, this line is relevant in a student’s life.A student should tread on middle way i.e he should maintain a balance between his studies and sports.He should not be studying the whole day but should also pay attention to co curricular activities.

d. What other things are required to lead a virtuous life?

Ans. Patience , generosity ,compassion , prudence , justice ,fortitude and tolerance.

2. For modes of faith let graceless zealots fight.

a. Why do zealots fight?

Ans. Zealots fight over the types of religion.

b. Why are zealots ‘graceless’?

Ans. Zealots are ‘graceless’ because they fight over the superiority of their religion.

c. Whose life cannot be wrong? Why?

Ans. The person who does good deeds in life and is truthful his life cannot be wrong.

d. How can we help the zealots attain peace?

Ans. Peace is the most important virtue in today’s  world of violence and extremism. Zealots can attain peace by countering th forces of baseless hatred that unconditional and zealots love and pursuit of peace. By fostering and intensifying unity and brotherhood, peace can be attained.

HOTS

‘Half of the problems of the world will vanish if we realize that each person is right in their own perspective.’Discuss.

Most of the world’s problems are due to conflicts and contradiction of ideas and thinking People seem to be more obsessed when it comes to their own point of views .But one must realise that everyone has his/her own point of view and  most  of the time an opposite view or idea or thinking does not make it wrong. Everyone has his   own  perspective . We  must  realise  that  each person is independent in  his thinking and we can’t force anyone to act or think according to our wish. So, by simply respecting other’s perspective and thinking, the problem of the world will  be halved.

Life Skills

List five qualities that a good government should have other than good administration.

Good government should be accountable , transparent , follow the rule of law , effective and efficient.

CLASS VII   Friends and Flatterers

Read the extracts and answer the qs.:

Stanza 1

Every one that flatters thee
Is no friend in misery.
Words are easy, like the wind;
Faithful friends are hard to find:

Meaning

·         Flatter – Praise

·         Thee – You

·         Misery – Struggle; trouble; pain; difficulty

·         Faithful – Committed; loyal

Questions

1.   Name the poem and the poet.

     The poem is ‘Friends and Flatterers.’and the poet is William Shakespeare.

2.   Why shouldn’t we trust a flattering friend like a real friend?

We should not trust a flattering friend because they always leave us in our misery.These friends are only for good times.

3.   Why are words compared to wind?

Words are compared to wind as flattering friends use them quickly and easily.Their words

            meaningless and directionless   just like the wind.

4.   .What do you mean by ‘a friend in misery?’

A friend in misery is a real friend who will be with us in our good and bad times alike.

      5.   Name the poetic device in line-3.

 Simile.

Stanza 2

Every man will be thy friend
Whilst thou hast wherewith to spend;
But if store of crowns be scant,
No man will supply thy want.

Meaning

·         Thy – Your

·         Whilst – While

·         Hast – Has

·         Wherewith – Money

·         Store of crowns – Money

·         Scant – Low

·         Supply – Give

·         Thy want – Your need

1.   When do we find ourselves surrounded by friends?
We find ourselves surrounded by friends when we have wealth and money to spend for them.

2.   When do flattering friends abandon us?
Flattering friends abandon us when we have less money to spend on them.

Stanza 3

If that one be prodigal,
Bountiful they will him call,
And with such-like flattering,
‘Pity but he were a king;’

Meaning

·         Prodigal – Spendthrift; over-spending;

·         Bountiful – Abundant

·         Such-like – As if

·         Pity – Sympathy

·         But he were a king – As if he were a king

1.   What does prodigal mean? OR Who is a prodigal person?
Prodigal is one who wastes money without giving any thought to the future.

2.   Whose company do people generally like?
People generally like the company of those who are prodigal and generously on them.

3.   How do people flatter a prodigal friend?

People flatter their prodigal friends by saying that they are sorry he is not a king. They repeatedly say that such qualities as his could  only be found in kings.

Stanza 4

But if Fortune once do frown,
Then farewell his great renown
They that fawn’d on him before
Use his company no more.

Meaning

·         Fortune – Luck

·         Frown – Be angry

·         Farewell – Depart, lose

·         Renown – Fame

·         Fawn’d – Flattered

1.   What happens to your flatterers when your luck turns bad?
When luck turns bad, our flatterers will bid farewell to us. They will not stay with us any more.

2.   What does the frown of fortune indicate?
Frown of fortune means bad luck.

3.   What does farewell his great renown mean?
It means losing all fame due to bad fortune. Fame here signifies being famous for spending money lavishly.

4.   Why do they fawn on him before?
They fawn on him before because earlier he had sufficient money to spend on them.

Stanza 5

He that is thy friend indeed,
He will help thee in thy need:
If thou sorrow, he will weep;
If thou wake, he cannot sleep;

Meaning

·         Sorrow – Worry

·         Weep – Cry

1.   What are the qualities of real friends according to the stanza?
The real friend is the one who cannot watch his friend go through trouble. He shares his friend’s worries and suffers as if it is his own worry.

Stanza 6
Thus of every grief in heart
He with thee doth bear a part.
These are certain signs to know
Faithful friend from flattering foe.

Meaning

·         Grief – Sadness

·         Doth – Does

·         Bear – Suffer

·         Foe – Enemy

1.   What does ‘every grief in heart mean?’

It means that everylittle sadness that we may have in our heart.

2.   Who is ‘he’ in the above lines?

‘He’ in the above lines refers to a real friend.

3.   Explain  the  term ‘flattering foe’?

A ‘flattering foe ’means a person who flatters you for his selfish needs. Such a person is not a friend but an enemy.

4.   Who according the poet is a true friend?

A true friend is someone who helps you in your need. He will be sad if you are in sorrow. He will not be able to sleep when you are awake.A true friend will ba a part of your grief and sadness.

HOTS

II. In  the  III stanza,the poet says, ‘Pity but he were a king,’ if a person is a  king, why is he to be pitied ?

If a person is a king, , he is to be pitied because he oes not realise that he is not a king in real sense .but he is being addressed so by the flatterers for their selfish motives as he has surplus money to

spend on them. The moment he loses money ,they will also leave his company and disappear.

IV. Values

Ther is a marked difference between the sincere appreciation of a faithful friend and the artificial flattery of a flattering foe. Discuss.

A true friend is like a solitaire. It is not easy to find a true friend because in this world we come across many people who pretend to be nice to us .By flattering us , they  remain our friend till we have money and leave us as soon as our treasures are over. But a true friend is like a shadow of our own. He will be always with us through our thick and thin. He will be happy when we are happy and depressed when we are sad. He will share the pain but never flatter us. He will tell our mistake in a fearless but decent manner. He will always be with us in our times of need. These are the qualities of a true friend  which we should   remember while choosing a friend. We should treasure our true friends as they are hard to find.