1.What are the two strange things the guru and his disciple find in the Kingdom of Fools?

Ans: The two strange things that the guru and his disciple observe in the kingdom of fools are:▸ Everyone sleeps during the day and carry out their work at night▸ The cost to purchase anything from the market was the same, one duddu (one rupee).
Whether it was a measure of rice or a bunch of banana  it  cost the same

2. Why does the disciple decide to stay in the Kingdom of Fools? Is it a good idea?

Ans: The disciple decided to stay in the Kingdom of Fools because he was delighted that everything cost a single duddu and everything was very cheap. All that he wanted was good and very cheap food. According to the Guru, staying there was not a good idea as they were all fools and so he felt this situation would not last long and was not sure about what they would do in the future.

3. Name all the people who  are tried in the king’s court, and give the reasons for their trial.

Ans:  Following people were tried in the king’s court:▸ The merchant whose house was burgled: Because his house’s wall was weak and it fell upon the  burglar and killed him

▸ The  bricklayer who built the wall: Because he built a wall which was weak and which collapsed killing the burglar▸ The dancing girl: Because she distracted the bricklayer with her jingling anklets by walking up and down the road where bricklayer was laying the wall▸ The  goldsmith: Because he didn’t complete the dancing girl’s order on time and so she had to go to the goldsmith a dozen times.▸ The   merchant whose house was burgled (second time): because his father persuaded the goldsmith to finish his order first thereby delaying the dancing girl’s order. Since the merchant’s father died, the merchant had to be executed in his father’s place▸ The disciple: Because the merchant was too thin to be executed by the newly made stake and a fat man was required to fit the stake. The disciple  was very fat, hence he was caught

4. Who is the real culprit according to the king? Why does he escape punishment?

Ans: The real culprit according to the king is the merchant because although his old father was the real murderer he was dead and someone had to be punished in his place. He escapes the punishment because he is too thin to be   properly executed on the stake.

5. What are the Guru’s words of wisdom? When does the disciple remember them?’

Ans: The guru’s words of wisdom were that it was the city of fools. He advised the disciple to leave the city because he would not know what they would do next. The disciple remembers this when he was going to be executed.

6. How does the guru mange to save his disciple’s life?

Ans: The guru tries to confuse the king by expressing his desire to be  killed first. Then to  further confuse the king he tells the story of becoming the king in the next incarnation. Apparently it may sound like a case of pure lie to save your dear one’s life. But if we go deeper consciously or unconsciously the sage is trying to save everybody’s life in the kingdom. Ultimately  he is able to pull everybody out of the misery of living in the kingdom of fools.

Iswaran The Storyteller

In what way is Iswaran an asset to Mahendra?

Ans: Iswaran was a good domestic assistant for Mahendra. Apart from cooking and doing household chores he was a great entertainer for his master. He was good at managing resources as he could find vegetables out of nowhere also never had complain while accompanying his master.

2. How does Iswaran describe the uprooted tree on the highway? What effect does he want to create in his listeners?

Ans: Iswaran describes the uprooted tree on the highway with eyebrows suitably arched and hands held out in a dramatic way. He would begin by saying that the road was deserted and he was all alone. Suddenly he spotted something that looked like an enormous bushy beast lying sprawled across the road. He was half inclined to turn and go back. But as he came closer he saw that it was a fallen tree, with its dry branches spread out.
The effect he wants to create is suspense and a surprise ending to every small incident that he narrates to his readers.

3. How does he narrate the story of the tusker? Does it appear to be plausible?

Ans: He started the story of the elephant by giving a prologue in which he called elephants ‘huge well-fed beasts.’ He said that after escaping from the timber yard, the elephant started roaming about, stamped on bushes and tore up wild creepers. It then came to the main road of the town and smashed all the stalls selling fruits, mud pots, and clothes. It then entered a school ground where the children were playing. It pulled out the football goal-post, tore down the volleyball net, flattened the drum kept for water and uprooted the shrubs. All the teachers and students were so afraid that they climbed up to the terrace of the school building. According to Iswaran, he was studying in the junior class at that time. He grabbed a cane from the hands of one of the teachers and ran into the open. The elephant continued grunting and stamping its feet. It looked frightening. However, he moved slowly towards it. When the elephant was ready to rush towards him, he moved forward and whacked its third toe nail. It looked stunned and then collapsed.
This story does not appear to be plausible.

4. Why does the author say that Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of a TV in Mahendra’s living quarters?

Ans: The author says so because Iswaran provided a great company to Mahendra. He would chat with Mahendra at night when he returned from his work. Iswaran would also entertain Mahendra by telling stories. Thus, with Iswaran around Mahendra never felt bored and never felt the necessity of having a TV for entertainment.

5. Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination. What happens to him on a full-moon night?

Ans: Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination because Iswaran informed him that they were living on a burial site and kept narrating to him stories of various ghosts he himself had encountered.
On one full moon night, Mahendra was woken up from his sleep by a low moan close to his window. At first he thought that it was a cat prowling around for mice. But the sound was too deep and guttural for a cat. He resisted looking outside as he did not want to witness a sight that might stop his heart beat. But the crying became louder and less subtle. He could not resist the temptation any more. Lowering himself to the level of the windowsill he looked out at the white sheet of moonlight outside. There, not too far away, was a dark cloudy form clutching a bundle. He broke into a cold sweat and fell back on the pillow, p

6. Can you think of some other ending for the story?

Ans: The story could have ended on a more positive note. Instead of resigning from his job, Mahendra could have been shown as a real courageous man and proving the ghost theory wrong.
Another ending can be of both Mahendra and Iswaran leaving the place together and in turn continuing their bond which is depicted earlier in the story. Iswaran has been explained as a man of all seasons for Mahendra.

A Legend of the Northland

 1. Which country or countries do you think “the Northland” refers to?

Ans: “The Northland”  refer  to any extremely cold country in the Earth’s north polar region, such as Greenland, the northern regions of Russia, Canada, Norway etc.

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2. What did Saint Peter ask the old lady for? What was the lady’s reaction?

Ans: Saint Peter asked the old lady for one of her baked cakes to satisfy his hunger. The lady tried to bake a small cake for the saint.

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3. How did he punish her?

Ans: He punished the lady by changing her into a woodpecker that built nests and gathered scanty food by boring in the hard, dry wood all day long.

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4. How does the woodpecker get her food?

Ans: The woodpecker gets her food by boring holes into trees.

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5. Do you think that the old lady would have been so ungenerous if she had known who Saint Peter really was? What would she have done then?

Ans: No, the old lady would not have been so ungenerous if she had known who Saint Peter really was. Instead, she would have tried to please him with her cakes for the fulfilment of her greedy desires.

6. Is this a true story? Which part of this poem do you feel is the most important?

Ans: No, it is not a true story; it is a legend.
I feel that the point in the story where the old lady is changed into a woodpecker is the most important. This is because the punishment meted out to the lady teaches us the value of generosity and charity.

7. What is a legend? Why is  this poem called a legend?

Ans: A ‘legend’ is a popular story from the past which is believed by many but one cannot prove whether it is true or not. It usually contains a message or a moral and is  narrated to children.
The poet himself says that he  doesn’t believe this tale to be true. This poem is  called a ‘legend’ because it preaches generosity towards fellow beings.

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8. Write the story of ‘A Legend of the Northland’ in about ten sentences.

Ans: Once Saint Peter stopped by an old lady’s cottage because he was feeling hungry and weak after the day’s fasting. The lady was baking cakes on the hearth. Since he was weak with fasting, he asked her for a cake from her store of cakes.
The selfish lady tried to bake small cakes but each time they seemed too big for her to give away. Finally, she baked one that was as thin as a wafer. Unable to part with it too, she put it on a shelf and did not give any cake to the Saint.
Saint Peter was very angry with her behaviour and said she was too selfish to live as a human and have food, shelter and a fire to keep her warm. He punished her by changing her into a woodpecker that would have to build a nest to live in, bore for food in the trunks of trees. Her clothes were  burned and she was left with her scarlet cap on her head as she flew out through the chimney.
Even today she still lives in the woods and is seen by all the country school  boys.

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My Childhood

I.             Answer these questions in one or two sentences each.

1. Where was Abdul Kalam’s house?

    1. Abdul Kalam’s house was on the Mosque Street in Rameswaram

2. What do you think Dinamani is the name of? Give a reason for your answer.

 2. Dinamani is the name of a local newspaper. It is so because Kalam traced the stories of the war in the head lives in Dinamani.

 3. Who were Abdul Kalam’s school friends? What did they later become?      

 Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan and Shivaprakasan were Abdul Kalam’s school friends. Ramanadha Shastry became the high priest of the Rameshwaram temple, Aravindan a transport businessman and Shivprakasan was the catering contractor for the southern railways.

4. How did Abdul Kalam earn his first wages?

4. During the Second World War, the newspapers were bundled and thrown out of a moving train. Abdul Kalam earned his first wages by helping his cousin, who distributed newspapers in Rameswaram, to catch these bundles.

 Had he earned any money before that? In what way?

5. Yes, Abdul Kalam had earned some money before he started helping his cousin. When the Second World War broke out, there was a sudden demand for tamarind seeds in the market. He collected the seeds and sold them at a provision shop on Mosque Street. Usually, a day’s collection earned him one anna.

II    A   Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words)

.1.         How does the author describe: (i) his father, (ii) his mother, (iii) himself?

      

2.   (i) Kalam’s father, Jainulabdeen was not a wealthy or educated person. However, he was an honest and generous man, who possessed great innate wisdom. He was self-disciplined and avoided all inessential luxuries.

    (ii) Kalam’s mother, Ashiamma was an ideal helpmate to her husband. She believed in goodness and profound kindness, and fed many people every

3.   (iii) The author describes himself as a short boy with undistinguished looks, who had a secure childhood. He is an honest and self-disciplined person, who believes in goodness and deep kindness.

2. What characteristics does he say he inherited from his parents?

2. He says that he inherited honesty and self discipline from his father. He further says that he inherited faith in goodness and deep kindness from his mother.

III.         Discuss these questions in class with your teacher and then write down your answers in two or three paragraphs each.
1. “On the whole, the small society of Rameswaram was very rigid in terms of the segregation of different social groups,” says the author.

(i) Which social groups does he mention? Were these groups easily identifiable (for example, by the way they dressed)?

Ans: (i) He mentions two social groups of Rameshwaram – orthodox Brahmins and Muslims. Yes, these groups were easily identifiable. For example, by the way they dressed; Kalam wore a cap which marked him as a Muslim. Ramanadha Sastry wore a seared thread which marked him a Hindu.

(ii) Were they aware only of their differences or did they also naturally share friendships and experiences? (Think of the bedtime stories in Kalam’s house; of who his friends were; and of what used to take place in the pond near his

house.)
(ii) No, they were not only aware of their differences but also they naturally shared friendships and experiences.
Kalam’s mother and grandmother would tell the children of his family bedtime stories about the events from the Ramayana and from the life of the prophet. During the Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam ceremony, his family used to arrange boats with a special platform for carrying idols of the Lord from the temple to the marriage site, situated in the middle of the pond called Rama Tirtha which was near his house.

(iii) The author speaks both of people who were very aware of the differences among them and those who tried to bridge these differences. Can you identify such people in the text?

iii) The people who were very aware of the differences among them, were the young teacher who joined the Rameshwaram elementary school and came to teach Kalam’s class, the fifth standard; and his science teacher’s conservative wife who refused to serve Kalam in her ritually pull kitchen. Those who tried to bridge these differences were Kalam’s science teacher Sivasubramania Iyer who invited, served and dined with him to break social barriers so that people could mingle easily; and Lakshmana Sastry who conveyed the strong sense of conviction to the new young teacher to reform him.

(iv) Narrate two incidents that show how differences can be created, and also how they can be resolved. How can people change their attitudes?

 (iv) The first incident to show that how differences can be created is that when the new young teacher found a Muslim student sitting beside a Hindu student, he asked Kalam to sit in the last raw. His friend Ramanadha Sastry was heartbreaken. They informed their respective parents Lakshmana Sastry summoned the teacher and conveyed the strong sense of conviction which ultimately reformed him.

The other incident shows that how differences can be resolved. The author’s science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, though an orthodox Brahmin with a very conservative tried to bridge these differences.
People can change their attitudes by observing no difference in the way of Hindu’s and a Muslim’s eating of meals, drinking of water and cleaning of the floor.

2.i.Why did Abdul Kalam want to leave Rameswaram?

Ans: (i) Kalam wanted to leave Rameswaram for further studies. He wanted to study at the district headquarters in Ramanathapuram.

(ii) What did his father say to this?

(ii) Kalam’s father said that he knew that one day Kalam had to go away to grow. He gave him the analogy of a seagull that flies across the sun alone and without a nest. He then quoted Khalil Gibran to Kalam’s mother saying that her children were not their own children. They were the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. They come through their parents, but not from them. They may give them their love, but not their thoughts as the children have their own thoughts.

(iii) What do you think his words mean? Why do you think he spoke those words?

(iii) Abdul Kalam’s father’s words bear great meanings. First, he inspired his son to go ahead above giving the example of the seagull. Secondly, he explained Kalam’s mother to give his son opportunities to get higher education and to make progress. I think he spoke those words to encourage Abdul Kalam and to control the emotional attachment of his wife for Kalam.

The Little Girl (Beehive)

Question 1: Why was Kezia afraid of her father?

Answer: Kezia’s father was a strict person, who always used to give commands to everybody else in the house. He never seemed to smile. He was had an overpowering personality.  So  Kezia was always in awe of him.

Question 2: Who were the people in Kezia’s family?

Answer: Apart from Kezia and her father, there was Kezia’s mother, grandmother and a cook in the family.

Question 3: What was Kezia’s father’s routine?

(i) before going to his office?

(ii) after coming back from his office?

(iii) on Sundays?

Answer: (i) Before going to office the father used to give a casual kiss and ask her to say goodbye.

(ii) After  coming   back from office he would ask for newspaper and a cup of tea.

(iii) On   Sundays  he would sleep on the sofa with his face covered with his favourite cushion.

Question 4: In what ways did Kezia’s grandmother encourage her to get to know her father better?

Answer: Kezia’s   grandmother encouraged Kezia to get to know her father better by asking her to take off her father’s boots and she also sent her to the drawing room to talk to her parents on Sundays. She  also  suggested that  Kezia  should make a birthday gift for her father.  

 Write down the answers in two or three paragraphs each

Question 1: Kezia’s efforts to please her father resulted in displeasing him very much. How did this happen?

Answer:  Kezia’s  grandmother asked her to make a surprise gift for her father’s birthday. She decided to make a nice pin cushion for him. She wanted to stuff the cushion with some scraps. While searching for scrap she found some sheet of papers on the bed table . She used them to stuff the pin cushion .

But it was her sheer bad luck that those were not useless papers, but  was  a speech written by her father. He had to deliver that speech at some important function. This made her father very angry and he beat her up with a ruler. 

Question 2: Kezia decides that there are “different kinds of fathers”. What kind of father was Mr Macdonald, and how was he different from Kezia’s father?

Answer: Mr. Macdonald was of a friendly and loving  nature. He played around with his kids. On the other hand   Kezia’s father was never seen in a playful mood and was always serious. He always scolded Kezia  for minor mistakes. 

Question 3: How does Kezia begin to see her father as a human being who needs her sympathy?

Answer: When Kezia’s mother falls sick she was feeling lonely. When she had a nightmare her  father  takes her to sleep with him. While consoling her, he seems to be an affectionate person. Kezia also feels the warmth of her father’s hug. Now she feels quite safe and secure with her father. She realizes that because of his busy schedule, her father is unable to give enough time to the family. When her father falls asleep before her, she realizes that her father is also a human being and he too needs  sympathy.

L-2     MOMENTS

The Adventures Of Toto

 How does Toto come to grandfather’s private zoo?
Ans: Toto was in the captivity of a  tonga   owner. The grandfather gets sympathetic

to the monkey and thinks that his private zoo would be a better place for Toto. So he purchased Toto from the tongawallah  for five rupees.

2. “Toto was a pretty monkey.” In what sense is Toto pretty?

Ans: Toto was a pretty monkey. His bright eyes sparkled with mischief beneath the deep-set eyebrows, and his teeth, which were a pearly white, were very often displayed in a smile that frightened the life out of elderly Anglo-Indian ladies. But his hands looked dried-up as though they had been pickled in the sun for many years. Yet his fingers were quick and wicked and his tail, while adding to his good looks served as a third hand. He could use it to hang from a branch and it was capable of scooping up any delicacy that might be out of reach of his hands.

3. Why does grandfather take Toto to Saharanpur and how? Why does the ticket collector insist on calling Toto a dog?

Ans: Toto was a real menace for every living soul in the household. Other animals in grandfather’s zoo were at Toto’s mercy even during night. So, grandfather decided to provide some relief to other animals in the zoo and thought of taking Toto to Shaharanpur. The ticket collector was following his rulebooks. As there seems to be no rule for fixing a monkey’s fare so he equated Toto with dog. Ticket collector’s ingenuity tried to categorize all pets of a certain size as dogs.

4. How does Toto take a bath? Where has he learnt to do this? How does Toto almost boil himself alive?

Ans: Toto takes bath in a tub of warm water. He puts his legs in the water one by one and applies soap as well. As monkeys are good at aping others, so Toto has learnt proper steps of bathing while watching the narrator doing the same. Toto is fond of bathing with warm water. So once having tested the warmth of water in the kettle Toto sits in the kettle. Probably he is not intelligent enough to understand the risk of boiling water so he pops his head up and down in the kettle.

5 Why does the author say, “Toto was not the sort of pet we could keep for long”?

Ans: Though Toto was pretty and clever, he was very mischievous. He brought a lot of damage to the house by breaking dishes, tearing clothes and curtains. He also scared the visiotrs by tearing holes in their dresses. Furthermore, he didn’t get along well with other animals in the house too. One day Toto crossed the limits by picking up a dish of pullao and running on a branch to eat it. When scolded he threw off the plate and broke it. That’s when grandfather decided he had had enough of Toto because he couldn’t bear the losses that he incurred because of Toto’s mischief.

RAIN ON THE ROOF

 1. What do the following phrases mean to you? Discuss in class.
(i) humid shadows       (ii) starry spheres          (iii) what a bliss
(iv) a thousand dreamy fancies into busy being start
(v) a thousand recollections weave their air-threads into woof

Ans: 1. (i) “Humid shadows” refer to the dark clouds that produce rain.

(ii) “Starry spheres” refer to the night sky abounding in stars.

(iii) “What a bliss” refers to the happiness of the poet. When it rains poet gets into his cottage and enjoy the patter of rain upon the roof.

(iv)  This refers to the various imaginary thoughts and fantasies that are aroused in the poet’s mind.

(v) This phrase means that numerous memories intermingle to form a beautiful picture that the poet  recollects.

2. What does the poet like to do when it rains?

Ans: When it rains, the poet feels delighted to lie with his head pressed against the pillow of his cottage chamber bed and listen to the patter of the soft rain.

3. What is the single major memory that comes to the poet? Who are the “darling dreamers” here refer to?

Ans: The single major memory that comes to the poet is that of his mother and her fond look.
The “darling dreamers” are the poet and his siblings in their childhood  when  they were lovingly put to sleep by their mother

.4. Is the poet now a child? Is his mother still alive?

Ans: No, the poet is not a child now  .He is a grown up man. He remembers her when he is inside his cosy cottage and enjoy the pattern of rain on the roof. She might be alive but staying away from him.

II. 1. When you were a young child, did your mother tuck you in, as the poet’s did?

Ans: Yes, my mother used to tuck me in when I was a young child, just like the poet’s mother did. (Self-experience question)

2. Do you like rain? What do you do when it rains steadily or heavily as described in the poem?

Ans: Yes, I like the rain. When it rains steadily I get into my house and enjoy the weather with family. We enjoy tea. It is wonderful experience (self-experience question)

3. Does everybody have a cosy bed to lie in when it rains? Look around you and describe how different kinds of people or animals spend time, seek shelter etc. during rain.

Ans: No, everybody is not fortunate enough to have a cosy bed to lie in when it rains. Not everybody gets to enjoy the comfort of cosy homes during rain. I have seen animals seeking shelter under trees and under the tin roofs of the small roadside tea stalls. The people passing by shoo away these animals and try to shrink themselves under the limited space of these shops. The poor animals are left shivering and drenching on the roads. The shopkeepers of such stalls are delighted as the people waiting for the rain to subside often end up buying tea and snacks.