1.1 Three Questions Reading Comprehension Extracts Extract 1: “Remember then; there is only one time that is important and that time is “Now”. It is the most important time because it is the only time we have any power to act:” “The most necessary person is the person you are with at a particular moment, for no one knows what will happen in the future and whether we will meet anyone else. The most important business is to do that person good, because we were sent into this world for that purpose alone.” (i) Which is the most important time and why? (ii) Who is the most important person? (iii) What do we not know about? (iv) What is the most important business? (v) Why should we do good to a needy person? Ans: (i) “Now” is the most important time because this is the time when we have the power to act. (ii) The person you are with at a given moment is the most important person. (iii) We don’t know what will happen in future and whether we will meet that person again or not. (iv) The most important business is to do good to a person who is with you. (v) We should do good to a needy person because we have been sent to the world for this purpose alone. Extract 2: The king went up to the hermit and said. “I have come to you wise hermit, to ask you to answer three questions. How can I learn to do the right thing at the right time? Who are the people I need most? And what affairs are the most important?” The hermit listened to the king but did not speak. He just spat on his hands and began digging again. “You are tired.” said the king. “Let me take the spade and work in your place.” “Thanks,” said the hermit, giving the king his spade. Then he sat down on the ground. (i) Whom did the king go to and why? (ii) How did the hermit react to the questions? (iii) “You are tired.” Who was tired—the king or the hermit? (iv) What did the king offer to the hermit? (v) What did the hermit do when he heard of the king’s offer? Ans: (i) The king went to the hermit to know the answers to his three questions. (ii) The hermit went on digging without speaking a word to the king. (iii) The hermit was tired. (iv) The king offered to do the hermit’s work. (v) The hermit gave the king his spade and thanked him. 1
1.2 The Squirrel Reading Comprehension Extracts Extract 1: Read the stanza given below and answer the questions that follow. He wore a question mark for tail, An overcoat of gray, He sat up straight to eat a nut. He liked to tease and play, And if we ran around his tree, He went the other way. (i) Name the poem and the poet. (ii) Who is ‘he’ in the poem? (iii) What does the overcoat of gray refer to? (iv) Where does a squirrel live? (v) Why does the squirrel go away when one goes near him? Ans: i) The poem is ‘The Squirrel’ and the poet is Mildred Bowers Armstrong. ii) ‘He’ is the squirrel in the poem. iii) The overcoat of gray refers to the squirrel’s skin. iv) A squirrel lives on a tree. v) The squirrel goes away when we go near him because he is afraid of being caught. 2
PRACTICE SHEET - 1 (PS-1) Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passage) I. Read the following passage and answer the 6. He thought that the animal he was carrying questions that follow. on his shoulders might really be some sort of 1. Once, there lived a priest in a small village. He was ghost, because it transformed itself from the very innocent and a simple minded person. Once goat into a dog, from a dog into a dead calf and he was rewarded with a goat for his services by from dead calf into a donkey. The priest got a wealthy man. The priest happily hung the goat frightened to such an extent that he threw the over his shoulder and began the journey towards goat on the roadside and ran away. The three his home. tricksters laughed at the innocent priest. They 2. On the way, three cheats saw the priest, caught the goat and were happy to feast on it. carrying the goat. All of them were lazy and One should not be carried away by what others wanted to cheat the priest so that they could say. Don’t be fooled by those who want to take take away the goat. They discussed the matter advantage of you. amongst themselves and devised a plan to get the goat by fooling the priest. After deciding the 1. Complete the following sentences. plan, they got separated from one another and a. The first cheat asked the priest why _______ hid themselves at three different places on the __________________________________. way of the priest. b. Hearing the words of the third thug, ______ 3. As soon as the priest arrived at a lonely place, ___________________________________. one of the cheats came out of his hiding place c. The three tricksters caught the goat _______ and asked the priest in a shocking manner, “Sir, __________________________________. what are you doing? I don’t understand why a Ans: holy man like you need to carry a dog on your a. he was carrying a dog on his shoulder. shoulders?” The priest was surprised to hear b. the priest became really worried. such words. He screamed, “Can’t you see? It’s c. and were happy to feast on it. not a dog but a goat, you stupid fool”. The cheat replied, “Sir, I told you what I saw.” The priest 2. Answer the following questions in a sentence was angry but started his journey once again. each. 4. The priest had barely walked a distance, when a. What did the three cheats do after deciding another cheat came out of his hiding place and a plan? asked the priest, “Sir, why do you carry a dead b. Why did the priest think that the goat was a calf on your shoulders? You seem to be a wise ghost? person. Such an act is pure stupidity on your c. What do we learn from this story? part”. The priest yelled, “How can you mistake Ans: a living goat for a dead calf?” The second cheat replied, “Sir, you seem to be highly mistaken. a. After deciding the plan, they got separated Either you don’t know how a goat looks like or from one another and hid themselves at three you are doing it knowingly.” The second cheat different places on the way of the priest. went away smiling. The priest was confused but continued to walk further. b. Because it transformed itself from the goat 5. Again the priest had covered a little distance into a dog, from a dog into a dead calf and when the third cheat met him. The third cheat from dead calf into a donkey. asked laughingly, “Sir, why do you carry a donkey on your shoulders? People will laugh c. One should not be carried away by what oth- at you”. Hearing the words of the third thug, ers say. the priest became really worried. He started thinking, “Is it really not a goat? Is it some kind of a ghost?” 3
PRACTICE SHEET - 1 (PS-1) II. Read the following passage and answer the b. ____________________________________ questions that follow. ____ help in one’s personal development. 1. Sports are vital in one’s life as they help in making a person healthy and active. They c. Sports serves as the best also help to refresh our mind and in building icebreaker for fresh students and confidence and team spirit. Sports are very ______________________. important and everyone should play at least one sport in their life. They help in making a Ans: person physically fit. a. boost confidence and learn how to work in a 2. There are many kinds of sports that one can choose from. There are many outdoor games team of two. like cricket, football, badminton, table tennis, b. Playing different kinds of games and sports . basketball and many other games which have c. helps them to make friends. many benefits. These kinds of games involve 2. Answer the following questions in a sentence physical activities, thus making us physically fit each. and also help in building team spirit. One gets a. Mention any two benefits of playing an experience of losing and winning as well and learn how to deal with success and failure. outdoor games. Hence, playing any game can help us a lot. b. How do sports and games help us to think 3. Apart from the outdoor games, there are many indoor games as well like chess, carom which out of the box? also help a person to boost his confidence and c. What do studies say about the role of one learns how to work in a team of two. 4. Playing different kinds of games and sports sports and games in improving one’s help in one’s personal development. There academic performance? are a lot of games that one can choose from Ans: depending on one’s interest and energy level. a. By playing outdoor games, we can become Playing games and sports help to build the physically fit. They help us delete in building physical strength. They also make us alert. The team spirit. One gets an experience of losing other important aspect is that from playing and winning as well and learn how to deal games and sports we also learn how to handle with success and failure. (ANY TWO) difficult situations. They help us to think out b. They help us to think out of the box by open- of the box by opening up our mind to think ing up our mind to think of new ideas and of new ideas and solutions for various things. solutions for various things. Apart from all these benefits, for students, they c. Studies have shown that sports help in im- are the best way to get a break from day to day proving academic performance too, by build- life and divert your mind for a while, which in ing up the confidence of a child. return is useful. 3. Find suitable words from the passage which 5. Sports also results in improvement of mean the same to the following. confidence for some students who may not be a. Very important (Paragraph 1) good in studies. Studies have shown that sports b. increase (Paragraph 3) help in improving academic performance too, c. committed (Paragraph 5) by building up the confidence of a child. It also Ans: a. vital b. boost c. dedicated serves as the best icebreaker for fresh students 4. Find suitable words from the passage which and helps them to make friends. Therefore, mean the same to the following. looking at all the merits of sports, the schools a. thought of (Paragraph 2) should include sports environment with proper b. hardly (Paragraph 4) facilities, dedicated instructors and time to c. converted (Paragraph 6) help their students follow sports. Ans: a. devised b. barely c. transformed 1. Complete the following sentences: 4 a. Playing indoor games can help us to _____ ____________________________________ .
PRACTICE SHEET - 2 (PS-2) Writing: I. You are Ram Prakash, Monitor of class VII A in Blooming Buds Public School, Hyderabad. Write a letter to the principal of your school asking him/her to arrange for extra classes for Science subject. Give reasons why you need this. (Word limit: 100-120 words) Ans: Format: (Date The Principal Blooming Buds Public School Hyderabad Subject: Regarding extra classes for Science Sir/ Ma’am Body Thanking you Yours obediently Ram Prakash Monitor Class VIII A. Body: (VALUE POINTS: monitor of class VIII A-on behalf of my class-a request-Science teacher was on leave for a month-half year- ly exams approaching-syllabus not complete-if done in hurry, will not be able to understand the lessons fully-highly oblighed and thankful if extra coaching classes arranged for Science-get enough time to practice and learn our lessons fully-clear con- cepts) Expression: (Vocabulary and Grammar) II. Today your grandparents left after staying with your family for over six months. Express how you are feeling in a diary entry. (Word limit: 100-120 words) Ans: Format (date, time, dear diary) Content (VALUE POINTS: grandparents gone-feeling very sad and lonely-used to share lots of interesting stories-used to play with me-grandpa used to read newspaper and share the news with me-grand mom used to make delicious dishes-corrected me when I made mistakes-supported me and saved from dad’s anger-missing all the fun today) Expression (Vocabulary and Grammar) 5
2.1 A Gift of Chappals Reading Comprehension Extracts Extract 1: A smiling Rukku Manni threw open the door. Ravi and Meena rushed out, and Ravi pulled Mridu into the house. “Wait, let me take off my slippers”, protested Mridu. She set them out neatly near a pair of large black ones. Those were grey, actually, with dust. You could see the clear marks of every toe on the front part of each slipper. The marks for the two big toes were long and scrawny. (i) Who opened the door? (ii) What did Ravi do? (iii) Where did Mridu set her slippers? (iv) How were the marks on the large black chappals? (v) Give the meanings of the following words in English: a. neatly b. scrawny Ans: (i) Rukku Manni opened the door. (ii) Ravi pulled Mridu into the house. (iii) Mridu set her slippers near a pair of large black slippers. (iv) The marks on the large black chappals were clear. (v) a. orderly b. bony Extract 2: Mridu and Meena followed Ravi out. The beggar was already in the garden making himself quite at home. He had spread his upper cloth under the neem tree, and was leaning against its trunk, apparently prepared to take a little snooze while he waited for the alms to appear. ‘Go away!’ said Ravi sternly. ‘My Paati says it’s time you found another house to beg from!’ (i) Who followed Ravi out? (ii) Where was the beggar at that time? (iii) What did the beggar spread under the neem tree? (iv) What was the beggar doing under the neem tree? (v) Give the meanings of the following words in English. a. snooze b. apparently 6
2.1 A Gift of Chappals Ans: (i) Mridu and Meena followed Ravi out (ii) The beggar was already in the garden. (iii) The beggar spread his upper cloth under the neem tree. (iv) The beggar was leaning against the neem tree’s trunk. (v) a. sleep b. clearly 2.2 The Rebel Reading Comprehension Extracts Extract 1: When everybody is greeting the rain, The rebel regrets the absence of sun. When everybody goes to the meeting. The rebel stays at home and reads a book. When everybody stays at home and reads a book. The rebel goes to the meeting. (i) When does the rebel regret the absence of sun? (ii) What does the rebel do when everybody goes to the meeting? (iii) When does the rebel go to the meeting? (iv) Give synonyms of the word ‘regret’. Ans: i) The rebel regrets the absence of sun, when everybody welcomes the rain. ii) When everybody goes to the meeting, the rebel stays at home and reads a book. iii) The rebel goes to the meeting, when everybody stays at home. iv) sorry, remorse 7
PRACTICE SHEET - 1 (PS-1) Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passage) I. Read the following passage and answer the 1. Complete the following sentences. questions that follow. a. Man has one thing, which other 1. Man, as a living being, is much weaker than living beings don’t have, which is, many other living beings. He does not have _________________. strength of an elephant, nor the speed of b. Man used fire to ______________________ a horse. But he has one thing which other ___________________ and to melt metals. living beings don’t have, which is superior c. The discovery of steam has intelligence. With the help of this, he has given rise to great towns, learnt to catch and use great natural forces as large_______________________. wind, water, fire, steam and electricity for his Ans: own ends. He has made these powers as his servants. a. superior intelligence. 2. Long ago, man invented sails. He used the b. cook his food, to keep him warm winds to carry him in the ships across the sea. c. industries and the widespread trade and By means of windmills, he forced the wind, too, to grind his corn, raise water by pumps business of the world. and drain wet land. In the same way, he 2. Answer the following questions in a sentence makes water drive the machinery in mills and factories. Before the discovery of the power each. of steam, most of the mills in England were a. What has man achieved with the help of his driven by the power of water. Today in America, the great Niagara Falls are used to generate superior intelligence? electricity. In India, the Cauvery Falls generate b. Give an example of use of water power in electric power which is carried to Mysore and Bangalore ninety miles away. India as given in the passage. 3. At a very early stage, man discovered the useful c. Give any two benefits of discovery of power of fire which he used to cook his food, to keep him warm and to melt metals. Fire also electricity in our lives as given in the gives man steam - the great power resource passage. of the world. The discovery of the power of Ans: steam led to the invention of the steam engine. From it, have come the railway engines, the a. With the help of his superior intelligence, man steamship and the big factories with its steam- has learnt to catch and use great natural forc- driven machineries. This has given rise to great es as wind, water, fire, steam and electricity towns, large industries and the widespread for his own ends. He has made these powers trade and business of the world. as his servants. 4. Finally, man has captured and learnt to use lightning. As the nineteenth century was the b. In India, the Cauvery Falls generate electric age of steam, this is the age of electricity. We power which is carried to Mysore and Banga- have electric light, electric heating and cooking lore ninety miles away. and refrigerating. We speak to each other at a distance by the electric telephone. Electricity c. We have electric light, electric heating and drives trains and cars for us, and makes cooking and refrigerating. We speak to each everything possible. other at a distance by the electric telephone. Electricity drives trains and cars for us, and makes everything possible. (ANY TWO) 3. Find suitable words from the passage which mean the same to the following. a. Greater (Paragraph 1) b. produce (Paragraph 2) c. caught (Paragraph4) Ans: a. superior b. generate c. captured 8
PRACTICE SHEET - 1 (PS-1) II. Read the following passage and answer the b. How does the sky look like at sunrise? questions that follow. c. Whom does Ali meet when the baskets are 1. Ali is a fisherman who lives in Kovalam, a fishing village on the east coast in the city of Chennai. His filled with the catch? day begins at dawn when it is still chilly and dark. Ans: While he gets ready, his wife Leela prepares coffee and cooks a simple rice meal of fish and vegetable a. Ali is a fisherman who lives in Kovalam, a fishing for breakfast. After eating a hurried meal, he heads village on the east coast in the city of Chennai. for the beach, where his boat is tied. His friend, Ishak, also arrives to help him, and soon they get b. The sky looks beautiful at sunrise with orange, to work, checking their fishing-nets, bait and sails gold, pink and blue tints. before setting out to sea. 2. As the first rays of the sun peep over the hills, they c. When the baskets are filled with the catch, he set off in their boat and sail out to sea. The chilly, meets the men who come in lorries to buy the fish refreshing breeze brushes against them and they and prawns and send them to the markets in the shiver a little. As the sails fill with air, the boat big towns to be sold. moves swiftly over the water. Soon, they are in the middle of the glimmering sea, and they begin to let 3. Find suitable words from the passage which down their nets. The sky looks beautiful at sunrise mean the same to the following. with orange, gold, pink and blue tints. They feel a. Rushed (Paragraph 1) glad the day will be sunny and bright and hope to b. quickly (Paragraph 2) get a good catch. c. mends (Paragraph 4) 3. Now and then, they pull their nets into the boat. Ans: Sometimes the nets are loaded with fish, prawns and crabs, but, at other times, they are empty. By a. hurried noon, they start rowing back to shore. Working in b. swiftly the hot sun is a tough job. As they reach the shore, c. repairs their families await them to help sort out the fish and prawns which are of different types or sizes. 4. Then, when their baskets are filled with their catch, they are ready to meet the men who come in lorries to buy the fish and prawns and send them to the markets in the big towns to be sold. In the afternoon, Ali sits under a shady tree and repairs his nets. He also spends some time attending to his vegetable plot behind his hut. Evening comes and this is the happiest time of the day for him as he can now relax with his family. 1. Complete the following sentences: a. While Ali gets ready for his work, his wife Leela ______________________________. b. _________________________________, the boat moves swiftly over the water. c. Evening is the happiest time of the day for Ali because __________________________ Ans: a. prepares coffee and cooks a simple rice meal of fish and vegetable for breakfast. b. As the sails fill with air c. he can now relax with his family. 2. Answer the following questions in a sentence each. a. Who is Ali and where does he live? 9
PRACTICE SHEET - 2 (PS-2) Writing: I. You are Ruhani Sharma, a student of ABJ Public School, Nizamabad. Write an application to your principal asking him/her to sanction you medical leave for two weeks. Give reasons why you need the leave. (Word limit: 100-120 words) Ans: Format: (Date The Principal ABJ Public School Nizamabad Subject: Regarding medical leave for two weeks Sir/ Ma’am Body Thanking you Yours obediently Ruhani Sharma Class VII C. Body: (VALUE POINTS: student of class VII C, suffering from dengue fever-admitted to Balaji Hospital-would like to apply for medical leave from 2nd September 2019 to 16th September 2019-kindly sanction the leave-do not fall of attendance during half yearly examination-enclosed medical certificate and prescription-shall be obliged to you.) Expression: (Vocabulary and Grammar) II. Assume that you are the school prefect of Bosco Public School, Kannur. Write a letter to your principal complaining about the bad quality of food served in the school cafeteria. You are Sudhanshu Malik of Class VIII A. (120-150 words) Ans: Format: Date The Principal Bosco Public School Kannur Subject: Regarding bad quality of food served in cafeteria Sir/ Ma’am Body Thanking you Yours obediently Sudhanshu Malik Class VIII A. Body: (VALUE POINTS: school prefect-canteen/cafeteria important part of school-many children eat there every day- food quality very bad-food not cooked properly-lack of variety-monotonous and boring-too much oil and spices-un- hygienic conditions-staff also not dressed in clean clothes nor wear gloves while servicing-incidents of children falling ill-look into the matter-arrange regular inspection-obliged and thankful to you) Expression: (Vocabulary and Grammar) 10
3.1 Gopal and the Hilsa Fish Reading Comprehension Extracts Extract 1: The courtier fell silent with downcast eyes. The king felt guilty. “I’m sorry. I lost my temper. It is the season for hilsa-fish and no one ... not even Gopal can stop anyone from talking about hilsa-fish not even for five minutes! (i) Why was the courtier silent? (ii) What made the king feel guilty? (iii) What did the king say to the courtier? (iv) What did Gopal say when he heard what the king had said? (v) Write meanings of the words: a. downcast and b. guilty. Ans: (i) The courtier was silent as the king asked him to stop talking about hilsa-fish. (ii) The king felt guilty after rebuking the courtier as everybody was talking about hilsa-fish those days. (iii) The king asked the courtier if he was a courtier or a fishmonger. (iv) Gopal accepted the king’s challenge saying that he could stop people from talking about hilsa-fish. (v) a. lowered towards earth. b. accused of doing something wrong. Extract 2: “Your majesty, you seem to have forgotten something.” “Forgotten something?” Strangely enough no one seems to be interested in hilsa-fish today from the market to the palace and in the court, not a soul has spoken a word about hilsa-fish.” (i) What had the king forgotten? (ii) Who is the speaker in these lines? (iii) Why was nobody interested in speaking about hilsa-fish? (iv) Was the king impressed with the speaker? (v) Write opposites of the words: a. forgotten b. interested. Ans: (i) The king had forgotten about the challenge posed before Gopal. (ii) Gopal is the speaker in these lines. (iii) People got distracted by looking at Gopal’s strange appearance. (iv) Yes, the king was very impressed. (v) a. remembered b. disinterested 11
3.2 The Shed Reading Comprehension Extracts Extract 1: I know that there isn’t really a ghost. My brother tells lies to keep the shed for his den: There isn’t anyone staring or making strange noises And the spider has been gone from his web since I don’t know when. I’ll go into that shed one day soon. But not just yet... (i) Why doesn’t the brother want the poet to go to the shed? (ii) What does the poet think? (iii) Does the poet know when the spider left its web? (iv) Why does the poet postpone his visit to the shed? Ans: i) Poet’s brother does not want him to go inside the shed because he has made it his own private place. ii) The poet thinks that there is no one inside the shed and there aren’t any strange noises anymore. iii) No, the poet does not know when the spider left its web. iv) The poet postpones his visit to the shed because he is still hesitant. 12
PRACTICE SHEET - 1 (PS-1) Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passage) I. Read the following passage and answer the Ans: questions that follow. 1. Black clouds gathered above us, but we were a. would go away so that they could continue too intent on playing football. We hoped that playing. the clouds would go away so that we could continue playing. Our hopes were ruined b. there was no other shelter available nearby. when suddenly heavy rain began to pour. In a c. the driver did not even see him/her. few seconds, we were all soaked to the skin. 2. Answer the following questions in a sentence To make matters worse, lightning flashed each. dangerously close to us. The deafening thunder a. Why couldn’t the narrator and his friends and loud wind did not help either. 2. We ran towards a large tree under which we take a shelter under the tree? had parked our bicycles. The tree provided b. What made the cycling difficult for the some shelter from the rain and we were interested to remain under it. However we narrator? knew that it was dangerous to stay under a c. Why did the narrator feel very small tree during a thunderstorm. So we got on our bicycles and pedalled off. vulnerable, and afraid? 3. There was no other shelter available nearby. Ans: So I decided to go home. Since I was already completely wet, I might as well to go home a. the narrator and his friends knew that it was instead to seeking shelter. It was just about dangerous to stay under a tree during a thun- the fiercest storm I had ever been in. The derstorm. driving rain made cycling difficult as I could not see more than a couple of metres in front b. The driving rain made cycling difficult since of me. A car flashed past me. It was too close he could not see more than a couple of me- for comfort. Perhaps the driver did not even tres in front of him. see me. So I thought it was better to stop somewhere before I got hit by another car. c. The narrator felt very small and vulnerable, 4. Luckily I found a bus-stop with a roof. I hurried even afraid because of an awesome display gladly under the roof even though I had to of power by nature. share it with a dozen other people who were also soaked to the skin. It was a bit of a squeeze 3. Find suitable words from the passage which but no one complained. For an hour, the storm mean the same to the following. lashed everything around us. We were silent a. loud (Paragraph 1) spectators to an awesome display of power b. very violent (Paragraph 3) by nature. To see that, I felt very small and c. weak (Paragraph 4) vulnerable, even afraid; but I could do nothing Ans: but watch. Finally the rain slowed down to a drizzle and the wind died down. I could still a. deafening hear distant thunder but the worst of the storm b. fiercest was over. So happily I got on my bicycle and c. vulnerable pedalled home. 1. Complete the following sentences. a. The narrator and his friends hoped that the clouds ______________________________. b. The narrator decided to go home since ___________________________________. c. A car flashed past the narrator too close for comfort because perhaps ______________. 13
PRACTICE SHEET - 1 (PS-1) 1. Complete the following sentences. a. The author observed the behaviour of the II. Read the following passage and answer the elephants_____________________________ questions that follow. b. Female elephants are preferred to assist in 1. I had never encountered an elephant at translocation projects because ___________. close quarters until my visit to an Elephant c. It is vital to move the elephants to their new Relocation Centre. I observed their behaviour home else ___________________________ and how they interact with their trainers Ans: and each other. I think their intelligence is amazing. Elephants are highly intelligent with a. and how they interact with their trainers and thinking capabilities, can learn skill. They each other. also experience various emotions like pain, suffering, sadness, depression and grief. They b. their attitude is more suitable for translocation love to lie in mud and with grainy sand. As work. their skin is sensitive to the sun, the mud and sand act as sunscreen and protect them from c. they may die out of sadness and hopelessness. the sun’s harsh rays. In the cool, clear stream, 2. Answer the following questions in a sentence the elephants exhibit their playful nature by spraying water. each. 2. The Elephant Training Center in Kuala Gandah, a. Why do you think the writer says that the Pahang, is the headquarters for the Malaysian Elephant Translocation Team. It was set up in elephant’s intelligence is amazing? Give two 1974. Wild elephants are close to extinction possible reasons. in Malaysia and the team has managed to b. What is the specific duty of the five working increase the elephant’s population from 500 elephants of the Elephant Training Centre? to 1200 in the past 20 years. In 25 years, they c. What has led to the reduction of the have successfully relocated 400 elephants. At elephants’ natural habitat? the centre, there are five elephants ranging in Ans: age from 6 to 50 years old. These five are the working elephants specially trained to assist a. Elephants are highly intelligent with thinking in translocation projects. For this, only female capabilities, can learn skill. They also expe- elephants are kept and trained as their attitude rience various emotions like pain, suffering, is more suitable for translocation work. sadness, depression and grief. 3. In Malaysia, the elephant is a symbol of conservation. Due to widespread development, b. These five working elephants assist in translo- the habitat of elephants has been destroyed cation projects. because of plantations, estates and villages. This is where the translocation team comes in. c. Due to widespread development, the habitat The centre is often called to relocate elephants of elephants has been destroyed because of from unwelcome territories to national parks. plantations, estates and villages. Wild elephants do become afraid, angry and confused at being captured and chained. Thus 3. Find suitable words from the passage which the centre’s elephants are brought to give moral mean the same to the following. support to them. This they do by touching the a. Sorrow (Paragraph 1) trunk of the wild elephant, providing comfort b. grief caught (paragraph 3) and calm in a slow and delicate process. c. captured unkind (paragraph 4) cruel 4. It may seem cruel to have the elephants in Ans: heavy chains but a spokesman says that it is unavoidable. The trip to the national parks a. grief may take hours and is very stressful for the b. captured elephants. It is vital to move the elephants to c. cruel their new home as soon as possible as they may die out of sadness and hopelessness. 14
PRACTICE SHEET - 2 (PS-2) Writing: I. Write a diary entry describing “My favourite time of the day”. (Word limit: 100-120 words) Ans: Format (date, time, my dear diary, content, name. Content (My favourite time of the day-evening-sun is setting-air is cooling down-either go for a stroll, play some games or sit quietly watching-play games with my friends-help my parents with some work- many people come out of their houses to breathe in the cool evening air and to relax a bit-fields, parks and other recreational areas filled with people-relaxing time. Expression (Vocabulary and Grammar) II. You have been witness to an accident on the road in front of your house. You were shocked and shaken. Write a diary entry expressing your emotions. (Word limit: 100-120 words) Ans: Format (date, time, dear diary) Content (The road in front of my house -narrow & busy-few accidents already occurred-witness to one-happened just after school-lot of traffic- young boy made a dash across the road-loud blare of horn, a squeal of brakes-a boy knocked-Fortunately car not moving very fast-driver managed to stop the car-All traffic stopped-boy bleeding-man came and examined the boy-took him in a car, presumably to the hospital-driver surrounded by people-policeman came to calm things down-thank God no one hurt-terrible to witness) Expression (Vocabulary and Grammar) 15
4.1 The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom Reading Comprehension Extracts Extract 1: Then the covetous old fellow, with a spade, and the old crone, with a hoe, began to dig; but there was nothing but a dead kitten, the smell of which made them drop their tools and shut their noses. Furious at the dog, the old man kicked and beat him to death, and the old woman finished the work by nearly chopping off his head with the sharp hoe. They then flung him into the hole and heaped the earth over his carcass. (i) What did the old fellow and the old crone use to dig the ground? (ii) Why did they shut their noses? (iii) What did the old man do with the dog? (iv) Who finished the work by chopping off the dog’s head? (v) Give the meanings of the following words in English: a. covetous b. furious Ans: (i) The old man dug the ground with a spade and the old crone with a hoe. (ii) The foul smell of the dead kitten made them drop their tools and shut their noses. (iii) The old man kicked and beat the dog to death. (iv) The old woman finished the work by chopping off the dog’s head. (v) a. greedy b. angry Extract 2: The old man awoke and went at once to his wicked neighbour’s house, where he found the miserable old pair sitting at the edge of their square fireplace. in the middle of the floor, smoking and spinning. From time to time they warmed their hands and feet with the blaze from some bits of the mill, while behind them lay a pile of the broken pieces. (i) Where did the old man go early in the morning? (ii) Where was the miserable pair sitting? (iii) What were they doing? (iv) What lay behind them? (v) Give synonyms for the following words in English: a. wicked b. edge Ans: (i) The old man went to his wicked neighbour’s house early in the morning. (ii) The miserable pair was sitting at the edge of their square fireplace. (iii) They were smoking and spinning. (iv) There lay a pile of broken pieces behind them. (v) a. vicious, cunning b. border 16
4.2 Chivvy Reading Comprehension Extracts Extract 1: Sit up Say please Less noise Shut the door behind you Don’t drag your feet Haven’t you got a hankie? Take your hands out of Your pockets. (i) Give two ‘Dos’’ given in the stanza. (ii) Who says these things generally? (iii) What do such instructions teach? (iv) State one ‘don’t’ and one question given in the stanza. Ans: i) Two ‘Dos’ are - sit up and say please. ii) Generally mothers or elderly people give such instructions. iii) Such instructions teach good manners. iv) Don’t: Don’t drag your feet. Question: Haven’t you got a hankie? 17
PRACTICE SHEET - 1 (PS-1) Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passage) I. Read the following passage and answer the not just jump in. Instead, learn as much as you questions that follow. can, take in basic tips and tricks and take baby 1. We all have different kinds of hobbies to spend steps. Else all your attempts at gardening are our leisure time. Hobbies can be both relaxing bound to fail. You will find that when given and useful. Different people have different proper attention, a garden can soothe your hobbies. Some common hobbies enjoyed soul and gardening can calm and please you. by plenty of people are philately, swimming, 1. Complete the following sentences. photography and gardening. A hobby not only a. We all _______________________________ relaxes us, but also provides us with boosts of energy. ________________ our leisure time. 2. Gardening requires quite a bit of manual labour b. ____________________________________ on the part of the gardener. For this reason, some people doubt if it can relax you as a ________ is that it can be done anywhere. hobby. However, for people who like gardening, c. Gardening allows us to connect with ______ it can be relaxing just to feel the soil on your palms or getting quiet moments or even help __________________________________. you create beauty. By its very nature, gardening Ans: is a slow process. Therefore there is no quick satisfaction here. Instead, it yields its best a. have different kinds of hobbies to spend results when you take time over it and pay b. The best part about having gardening as a attention to details. The attempt takes time and energy on your part, but the end result is hobby beautiful to the senses. c. our environment and with nature. 3. Gardening also allows you to be in the presence 2. Answer the following questions in a sentence of nature even if that presence is a small potted each. plant. As the plant grows and thrives, you feel a. Name from the passage, any two hobbies satisfaction from a job well done. The hours that you put into your garden yield beautiful enjoyed commonly by people. results that please and satisfy your mind, b. What doubt does some people have lowering stress and allowing your mind to relax. regarding gardening as a hobby? 4. If you decide to take up gardening as a hobby c. What is the advice lent by the passage for and have no prior experience with it, it is best for you to research gardening. You can do those people who don’t have any prior this with the help of books on gardening and experience in gardening? online websites. Also keep in mind that caring Ans: for different plants can be easy or difficult, depending upon the plants. New gardeners can a. Some common hobbies enjoyed by plenty of get confused quite easily. However, following people are philately, swimming, photogra- a few basic tips helps enormously in growing phy and gardening. your garden. 5. The best part about having gardening as a b. Gardening requires quite a bit of manual la- hobby is that it can be done anywhere. If you bour on the part of the gardener. For this rea- have a yard, you can garden there. If your living son, some people doubt if it can relax us as a space is small you can arrange a few potted hobby. plants and take care of them. 6. Gardening is a great hobby for everyone from c. If you decide to take up gardening as a hobby students to working professionals to people and have no prior experience with it, it is best who are retired. It allows you to connect with for you to research gardening. You can do this your environment and with nature. However, with the help of books on gardening and on- it is important to remember that you should line websites. 3. Find suitable words from the passage which mean the same to the following. a. free time (Paragraph 1) b. previous (Paragraph 4) c. efforts (Paragraph 6) Ans: a. leisure b. prior c. attempts 18
PRACTICE SHEET - 1 (PS-1) II. Read the following passage and answer the adversities. questions that follow. 1. Complete the following sentences. 1. Mary was a young girl. She had a negative attitude towards life so she used to get a. Mary had a negative attitude towards life annoyed with everything. Once, when she felt __________________________________. that life was unbearable and told her father that if she was able to manage and solve one b. The potato was cooked and was soft, the problem, another one followed quickly. Her egg _________________________________ father consoled her and took her to the kitchen. _. He asked Mary to take a potato, an egg and two spoons of tea leaves. Mary was surprised, and c. Father removed the potato from the pot __ asked her father, “Do you want me to cook?” _________________________________. “No,” her father said. 2. He then took three vessels and poured one Ans: cup of water in each vessel. The vessels were a. so she used to get annoyed with everything. placed on the stove. Once the water started to b. was boiled hard, and the tea carried a nice boil, he dropped the potato in a vessel, egg in the second one and the tea leaves in the third aroma. one. “Why are you doing all these things?” c. we should never judge anyone by their ap- Mary asked, really annoyed with her father. “Just wait fifteen minutes,” said her father. pearance. The impatient daughter managed to wait for 2. Answer the following questions in a sentence around 15 minutes. 3. Father removed the potato from the pot and each. placed in a plate. He did the same with the a. Why did Mary feel that her life was eggs. He filtered the tea decoction using a cup. Now, he placed the two plates, one with unbearable? the potato and the other with the egg, and b. What did the father do after the water the cup of tea in front of Mary. He asked Mary, “What do you see?” “Potato, egg and a cup of started to boil? tea,” said Mary. “No, you are wrong,” said her c. What did Mary learn out of this whole father. “Look at it closely and answer me.” Mary replied the same. “Now touch it and answer experience? me.” Ans: 4. The potato was cooked and was soft, the egg a. Mary felt that life was unbearable and told was boiled hard, and the tea carried a nice aroma. Mary couldn’t find the correct answer. her father that if she was able to manage Her father said, “The potato was so hard and and solve one problem, another one followed strong before it was boiled; now it has turned quickly. soft and smooth. Also, the egg was delicate but b. Once the water started to boil, he dropped after boiling it became hard. Sip the tea. It is the potato in a vessel, egg in the second one delicious!” and the tea leaves in the third one. 5. Mary asked, “What does it mean father? I c. Mary understood that we can create some- don’t understand!” “Each object responded thing new and unique even when we experi- differently to water. Each object was put under ence adversities. the same kind of circumstances, faced similar 3. Find suitable words from the passage which adversities, but reacted differently. The potato, mean the same to the following. when put in boiling water, became very weak. a. Intolerable (Paragraph 1) The soft egg became very hard when we put it b. angry (Paragraph 2) in boiling water. And the tea leaves are unique. c. situations (Paragraph 5) It changed the water itself, giving it a unique Ans: flavour and aroma! It gave something new.” a. unbearable Mary understood that we can create something b. annoyed new and unique even when we experience c. circumstances 19
PRACTICE SHEET - 2 (PS-2) I. Complete the story and provide a suitable title to the same. Ganesh-sent by father to bank-deposit cheque- sat down on a row of chairs-not many people- heard someone shout behind-looked around-two gunmen carrying handguns-telling to get down on the floor-Ganesh obeyed quickly-too stunned-heard harsh voices-sound of someone being hit-death threats- from corner of eye-sight of a pair of moving boots-felt fear-robbers making escape-two figures running out of the bank door-security guard ran out of bank-levelled his gun at the motorcycle with the robbers-deafening shot-robbers fell down on the road-out of the bank watching real-life action-guard then picked up bag- police arrived-too shocked to do anything-went back home. Ans: II. You are Tushar, studying in class VII C of Bright Kids Academy, Bangalore. Write an application to your principal requesting him or her to grant you fee concession as the financial condition of your parents is not good. (Word limit: 100-120 words) Ans: Format: (Date The Principal Bright Kids Academy Bangalore Subject: Regarding fee concession Sir/ Ma’am Body Thanking you Yours obediently Tushar 20
5.1 Quality Reading Comprehension Extracts Extract 1: It was over a year before I was again in London. And the first shop I went to was my old friend’s. I had left a man of sixty I came back to one of seventy-five, pinched and worn, who genuinely, this time, did not at first know me. “Do you wand any boods?” he said. “I can make dem quickly, id is a slack dime.” (i) How long did the author remain out of London? (ii) Where did the author go after his arrival in London? (iii) How old was the bootmaker when the author went out of London? (iv) What did the bootmaker ask the author? (v) Give the meanings of the following words in English: a. pinched b. slack Ans: (i) The author remained out of London for about a year. (ii) The author first went to his friend’s (Mr Gessler’s) shop. (iii) The bootmaker was sixty years old when the author left London (iv) The bootmaker asked the author if he wanted any boots. (v) a. pale b. slow Extract 2: ”Ah!” he said. “poor old man starved himself. Slow starvation, the doctor called it! You see he went to work in such a way! Would keep the shop on; wouldn’t have a soul touch his boots except himself. When he got an order it took him such a time. People won’t wait. He lost everybody. And there he’d sit going on and on. I will say that for him—not a man in London made a better boot. But look at the competition! He never advertised! Would have the best leather too and do it all himself. Well there it is. What could you expect with his ideas?” (i) According to the doctor, what caused Mr. Gessler’s death? (ii) Why did he lose his customers? (iii) What was the opinion of the speaker of these lines (new owner of the shop) about Mr. Gessler? (iv) What type of leather did Mr. Gessler use to make boots? (v) Give the meanings of the following words in English: a. starve b. competition Ans: (i) According to the doctor, slow starvation caused Mr. Gessler’s death. (ii) He took long to complete the order and people would not wait. So, he lost his customers. (iii) The speaker believed that not a man in London made better boots than Mr. Gessler. (iv) He used the best leather to make boots. (v) a. to die from lack of food b. a contest in which people take part in order to win or defeat others. 21
5.2 Trees Reading Comprehension Extracts Extract 1: Do Trees are to make cool shade in summer. Trees are to make no shade in winter. Trees are for apples to grow on, and pears: Trees are to chop down and call. “TIMBER-R-R!” Trees make mothers say, “What a lovely picture to paint!” Trees make fathers say, “What a lot of leaves to rake this fall!” (i) How do trees help us in summer? (ii) Why do trees make no shade in winter? (iii) For what purpose do we use timber? (iv) “What a lovely picture to paint!” Who says this and why? Ans: i) Trees help us in summer by giving cool shade. ii) Trees shed their leaves in winter, so they do not make any shade. iii) We use timber as building material. iv) Mothers say this because trees present a lovely scene. 22
PRACTICE SHEET - 1 (PS-1) Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passage) I. Read the following passage and answer the 1. Complete the following sentences. questions that follow. a. One night, they saw a firefly ____________ 1. Before several centuries, there was a very large, ______________________________ dense and dark forest. A group of monkeys b. catch the firefly and it escaped. __________ arrived at the forest. As the winter season ______________________________ started, the monkeys struggled hard to survive c. One monkey shouted at the owl _________ the freezing cold nights. They were hunting for ______________________________ fire to get warm. One night, they saw a firefly Ans: and considered it a dab of fire. All the monkeys in the group shouted ‘Fire, Fire, Fire, Yeah we a. and considered it a dab of fire. got fire!’ b. A couple of monkeys tried to 2. A couple of monkeys tried to catch the firefly c. ‘Hey old owl you don’t know anything about and it escaped. They were sad as they could not catch the fire. They were talking to how to make fire. Don’t disturb us!’ themselves that they couldn’t live in the cold if they didn’t get the fire. The next night, again 2. Answer the following questions in a sentence they saw many fireflies. After several attempts, each. the monkeys caught a few fireflies. They put a. What happened as the winter season the fireflies in a hole dug in the land and tried started? to blow the flies. They blew the flies very hard b. What did the monkeys do after catching a without knowing the fact that they were flies! few fireflies? 3. An owl was watching the activities of the c. What did the monkey finally realise monkeys. The owl reached the monkeys and and what step did they take to protect told them, ‘Hey those are not fire! They are themselves? flies. You won’t be able to make fire from it!’ Ans: The monkeys laughed at the owl. One monkey replied to the owl, ‘Hey old owl you don’t know a. as the winter season started, the monkeys anything about how to make fire. Don’t disturb struggled hard to survive the freezing cold us!’ The Owl warned the monkeys again and nights. asked them to stop their foolish act. ‘Monkeys, you cannot make fire from the flies! Please hear b. After catching a few fireflies, they put them in my words.’ The monkeys tried to make fire from a hole dug in the land and tried to blow the the flies. flies. 4. The Owl told them again to stop their foolish act. ‘You are struggling so much, go take your c. They became very tired and realized that the shelter in a nearby cave. You can save yourself words of the owl were correct. They sheltered from the freezing cold! You won’t get fire!’ One themselves at the cave and escaped from the monkey shouted at the owl and the owl left the cold. place. 5. The monkeys were simply doing the foolish 3. Find suitable words from the passage which activity for several hours and it was almost mean the same to the following. midnight. Finally, they became tired and a. Reached (Paragraph 1) realized that the words of the owl were correct b. ran away (Paragraph 2) and they were trying to blow a fly. They c. protected (Paragraph 4) sheltered themselves at the cave and escaped Ans: from the cold. a. arrived b. escaped c. sheltered 23
PRACTICE SHEET - 1 (PS-1) II. Read the following passage and answer the Gandhi’s feet? questions that follow. c. Why did Gandhi regard the coin as very 1. Mahatma Gandhi, honoured as the father of India, was a very special person. This story illustrates precious? one of the reasons for him to be called ‘Mahatma’ Ans: (great soul). a. This story illustrates one of the reasons for him to 2. Once, Gandhi was on a mission to collect funds from various cities and villages for an be called ‘Mahatma’ (great soul). organization to help the poor. He went to several b. After touching Gandhi’s feet, the lady took out places and finally reached Orissa. He organized a meeting in Orissa. There, he gave a speech to a copper coin kept in the folds of her saree and the public, requesting them to give him funds for placed it at his feet. the organization. At the end of his speech, a very c. She did not even have proper clothes and could old woman with bent back, torn clothing, white not afford good food. Still she gave everything hair, and shrunken skin got up. She requested the she had. That is why Gandhi regarded the coin as volunteers to allow her to reach Gandhi. However, very precious. the volunteers stopped her. She did not give up. 3. Find suitable words from the passage which She fought with them and reached Gandhi. mean the same to the following. 3. She touched the feet of Gandhi. Then she took a. Shows (Paragraph 1) out a copper coin kept in the folds of her saree b. assignment (Paragraph 2) and placed it at his feet. Then the old lady left the c. owned (Paragraph 5) stage. Gandhi very carefully took the coin. The Ans: treasurer of the organization for the poor asked a. illustrates Gandhi for the copper coin, but he refused to give b. mission it. c. possessed 4. “I keep cheques worth thousands of rupees,” said the treasurer. “Yet you won’t trust me with 24 a copper coin!” Gandhi said, “This copper coin is worth much more than those thousands. If a man has several lakhs and he gives away a thousand or two, it doesn’t mean much.” 5. Yes, the coin might have been the only thing that the poor old woman possessed. She did not even have proper clothes and could not afford good food. Still she gave everything she had. That is why Gandhi regarded the coin as very precious. Offering help when we have nothing or very little makes it more valuable. 1. Complete the following sentences. a. Mahatma Gandhi, _______________________ ___________, was a very special person. b. ___________________________________ nothing or very little makes it more valuable. c. ______________________________________ __________to allow her to reach Gandhi. Ans: a. honoured as the father of India b. Offering help when we have c. She requested the volunteers 2. Answer the following questions in a sentence each. a. What does this story illustrate to us? b. What did the lady do after she touched
PRACTICE SHEET - 2 (PS-2) Writing: I. Yesterday it was your first day in the school. You made new friends and the teachers were extremely good to you. You liked the infrastructure of your new school very much. Write about your feelings and experiences in form of a diary entry. (120-150 words) Ans: Format (date, time, dear diary) Content: (joined my new school-nice and exciting-new teachers very nice to me-introduced me to the entire class-sat with Neha-helped me in every way possible-gave me notebooks, shared lunch-helped me with my work-infrastruc- ture good-large library and playground-computer lab-looking forward to go to school tomorrow-though missing my old school and friends but excited at the same time-time to sleep) II. Complete the story with the clues given. a fine day-Mansa’s birthday-woke up-sure to see a present on the dining table-for the past 15 years- parents would place the present next to her glass of milk-slipped pictures of the mobile phone into his parents’ briefcases-nothing on the table-morning wishes-talked as if nothing special-mother reminded to clean her room-ran out of house-don’t want her parents to see her expression-disappointed-ran out-fine weather-bright sun-chirping of birds-walked with a spring to home-set about tidying her room-lying on her table-a set of illustrated encyclopaedia-message-better than a mobile phone-message-hope you are not disappointed-loved the present-thanked her parents. Ans: Students response 25
6.1 Expert Detectives Reading Comprehension Extracts Extract 1: ‘I know I’m right, stupid; I told him. ‘By the way Seven, did you see his scars? I couldn’t, it was too dark, but I bet he got them during a shoot-out with the police or something.’ ‘Mummy told us quite clearly they were bum scars.’ Nishad said firmly. (i) ‘I know I’m right, stupid.’ Who spoke these words and to whom? (ii) Who does ‘I’ stand for in the opening sentence? (iii) What does Maya call Nishad? (iv) What is Nishad popularly known as? (v) Why does the speaker not see the scars on Mr Nath’s face? Ans: (i) Maya spoke these words to Nishad. (ii) ‘I’ in the opening sentence stands for Maya (iii) Maya calls Nishad ‘stupid’. (iv) Nishad is popularly known as ‘Seven’. (v) The speaker could not see the scars because it was too dark to see anything clearly. Extract 2: ’Ramesh told me something very strange Maya,’ Seven added. ‘Almost every Sunday, he carries two lunches to Mr Nath’s room and the same man is with him each time. He’s tall, fair, stout and wears spectacles. Ramesh says his visitor talks a lot, unlike Mr Nath who hardly speaks.’ (i) What did Ramesh tell Seven? (ii) ‘Ramesh told me something very strange.’ Who spoke these words and to whom? (iii) Describe the man who shares lunch with Mr Nath. (iv) Is Mr Nath very talkative? (v) Give the meanings of the following words: a. strange b. unlike Ans: (i) Ramesh told Seven that every Sunday a man visited Mr Nath. (ii) Seven spoke these words to Maya. (iii) The man who shares lunch with Mr Nath on Sundays is tall, fair and stout and wears spectacles. (iv) No, Mr Nath hardly speaks. (v) a. unusual b. different from others/not like others 26
6.2 Mystery of the Talking Fan Extract 1: Once there was a talking fan — Electrical his chatter. I couldn’t quite he what he said And I hope it doesn’t matter Because one day somebody oiled His little whirling motor And all the mystery was spoiled— He ran as still as water. (i) Name the poem and the poet. (ii) Why is the chatter of the fan called electrical? (iii) What stopped the chatter of the fan? (iv) What is the silent running of the fan compared to? (v) Give two pairs of rhyming words from the stanza. Ans: i) The poem is ‘Mystery of the Talking Fan’ and the poet is Maude Rubin. ii) The chatter of the fan is called electrical because it operates with electricity. iii) A little oiling of its motor stopped the chatter of the fan. iv) The silent running of the fan is compared to the silent flow of water. v) chatter-matter, oiled-spoiled 27
PRACTICE SHEET - 1 (PS-1) Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passage) I. Read the following passage and answer the paint the rooms. She was a great actress and it questions that follow. was very difficult to get tickets for her show. She Wages for work would reinforce occupational decided to give the painter two free tickets for her stereotyping by freezing women into their show. She hoped that this would make him work traditional roles. Unless women and men are better for her. The painter took the tickets without paid equally in the labour force and their is saying anything and she heard no more about no division of labour based on sex, women’s him. At the end of the month, she got the painter’s work in the home will have no value. Since bill At the bottom of it were the words. Three itsnot clear what constitutes housework, and hours watching Miss Hall sing and dance-Rs/60- we know housework standars vary greatly, with this note after 5pm. I charge Rs 20/- and hour it would be difficult to kow how to reward it. instead of 10/- Pay for housework might place homemakers (mainly wives) in the difficult position of having Choose the correct option to answer each their work assessed by their husbands. while question. in the case of single homemakers , it is not 1. Who was Miss Hall clear who would do the assessing . Wages for housework, dereived from spouse payments a. An old lady b. A beautiful actress overlook the contribution women make to the society by training children to be good citizens c. A great writer d. An ugly women and assume that their work is only beneficial to their own families. Finally, payment for 2. Why did Miss Hall rent a flat in the city? housework does not address itself to the basic reason why women with family responsibilities a. because she was very beautiful work to increasefamily income over that which the employed husband/father makes. Also, b. Because she did not want to go back to her single women with family responsibilities work house every night because they are the family breadwinners. c. Because she was afraid of going alone Complete the following: 1. Wages for housework would freeze women... d. Because she was a successful actress 2. At present, the various members of the labourforce are paid... 3. What did she do to make her house look nice? 3. The housework of wives would be assessed by... 4. Women with family responsibilities work to... a. She got the rooms painted 5. Single women work because... Ans: b. She bought new curtains 1. into their traditional roles. 2. unequally. c. She bought a new house 3. their husbands. 4. increase the family income. d. She kept a servant in the house 5. they are the family breadwinners. 4. Why did she give the painter two tickets? II. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. a. She thought the painter would work thus better Miss Hall, a beautiful actress, had her home in a b. She wanted to help the pooer painter small town but she did not want to go back there everynight. So she rented a flat in the center of the c. The painter had no money to buy ticktes for city. It was an old flat and needed repair. The walls himself looked shabby and and the old paint on them are peeling off. So the actress placed an order for d. The painter wanted to see her show some beautiful furniture and also hired a man to 5. What is the opposite of better? a. Best b. Bad c. Worse d. Worst Ans: 1. a 2. b 3. a 4. a 5. c 28
PRACTICE SHEET - 2 (PS-2) Writing: I. You are Sumit of 7A, Ravi Apartments, Sarita Vihar, New Delhi. You have lost your leather wallet containing your examination admit card while travellng by bus from Sarita Vihar to Punjabi Bagh. Write a notice innot than 50 words to be published in ‘The City Times’. 11th March,20xx LEATHER WALLET LOST A brown leather wallet of Woodland make containing a class XII examination admit card along with school identity card and ₹140 was lost while travelling by bus on 10th March around 1.30 pm from Sarita Vihar to Punjabi Bagh on a DTC bus route no. 479. Anyone who finds itis requested to please contact the undersigned immediately. The person will be suitably rewarded. Sumit, 7A, Ravi Apartments, Sarita Vihar, New Delhi Phone no.999999XXXX II. Imagine that you are Kusum living in Sikandra. Write a letter to your younger sister Rekha advising her to take care of her health. You may touch upon the following points: • your happiness at her good performance in the examination • worries about her poor health • importance of sound health • your suggestions to imporve health Ans: Examination Hall Sikandra 26th April 20xx Dear Rekha I have just got a letter from Mother. She says you have done well in your examination. I am very glad about it. But she has written about your poor health. It has made me sad. You should know that good health is the mose important thing in life. It’s truly said that, “Health is like money. We truly do not know its value until we lose it”. It’s ber too late to learn a lesson or two in life. Remember you should take part in games. Morning walk can do you a lot of good and give up your habit of eating junk food as it is very harmful for the body. I hop you will act upon my advice. With love Your loving sister Kusum 29
7.1 The Invention of Vita-Wonk Reading Comprehension Extracts Extract 1: But there’s no time to tell you about them all now, Charlie. Let me just say quickly that in the end, after lots of boiling and bubbling and mixing and testing in my Inventing Room, I produced one tiny cupful of oily black liquid and gave four drops of it to a brave twenty-year--old Oompa-Loompa volunteer to see what happened. (i) “But there is no time to tell you about them all now.” Who spoke these words and to whom? (ii) What did Mr Wonka produce in the end? (iii) Where did Mr Wonka perform the experiment? (iv) Who did Mr Wonka give the oily black liquid to? How old was he? (v) Give the meanings of the following a. produce b. tiny Ans: (i) Mr Wonka spoke these words to Charlie. (ii) In the end, Mr Wonka produced one tiny cupful of an oily black liquid which could make people old. (iii) Mr Wonka performed the experiment in his Inventing Room. (iv) Mr Wonka gave four drops of the oily black liquid to a brave twenty-year-old Oompa-Loompa. (v) a. make b. very small Extract 2: Mr Wonka said, “So once again I rolled up my sleeves and set to work. Once again, I squeezed my brain, searching for the new recipe. I had to create age ... to make people old ...old, older, oldest .... “Ha-ha” I cried, for now the ideas were beginning to come. “What is the oldest living thing in the world? What lives longer than anything else?” “A tree.” Charlie said. (i) Why did Mr Wonka roll up his sleeves? (ii) Why did Mr Wonka squeeze his brain? (iii) What do you understand by ‘create the age’? (iv) What was Charlie’s answer to Mr Wonka’s question? (v) Give the meanings of the following a. sleeves b. squeeze Ans: (i) Mr Wonka rolled up his sleeves to create another age defying drug. (ii) Mr Wonka squeezed his brain to search for a new medicine. (iii) ‘Create the age’ here means to make people old. (iv) Charlie replied that ‘a tree’ is the oldest thing in the world. (v) a. part of garments covering the arms b. exert pressure on 30
7.2 Dad and the Cat and the Tree Reading Comprehension Extracts Extract 1: But Dad landed wallop Back on the Deck. Mum said. “Stop it. You’ll break your neck!” “Rubbish!” said Dad. Now well try plan C. Easy as winking To a climber like me!” Then he climbed up high On a garden wall Guess what? He didn’t fall! (i) Why is Mum afraid? (ii) What does Dad think of himself? (iii) What did he do? (iv) Did Dad succeed with plan C? Ans: i) Mum is afraid as Dad has already fallen two times. ii) Dad thinks himself to be a great climber. iii) He then climbed up high on the garden wall. iv) Yes. Dad succeeded with plan C. 31
PRACTICE SHEET - 1 (PS-1) Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passage) I. Read the following poem and attempt the be as busy as the bee? questions that follow: e. What does the poet want to achieve at the How doth the little busy bee Improve each shining hour, end of each day? And gather honey all the day Ans: From every opening flower! a. The bee spends the whole day by gathering How skilfully she builds her cell! How neat she spreads the wax! honey. And labors hard to store it well b. Because she builds her cell so skilfully. With the sweet food she makes. c. The bee gathers honey from the every open- In works of labor or of skill, I would be busy too; ing flower. For Satan finds some mischief still d. So that he could be as productive as the bee. For idle hands to do. In books, or work, or healthful play, (Answer may vary) Let my first years be passed, e. Get a good report of all that he has done. That I may give for every day 3. Find the words which mean the same as Some good account at last. following 1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words: a. work hard b. devil The poet wonders how the __________ c. people who do not do any work improves each __________ by gathering honey all the day from every __________. Ans: She skilfully builds __________, spreads a. Labour __________, works hard to store it well and b. Satan makes honey out of it. The poet aims to c. Idle remain busy too in __________. Otherwise __________ will find some __________ for II. Read the following passage and attempt the idle hands to do. The poet want to spend his questions that follow: first years in __________ play and wishes 1. When Nyame, the Sky God lost his mother, he to give some good account at the end of wanted her funeral to a grand one. He knew __________. that the great drum of Osebo, the Leopard would make the ceremony truly magnificent. Ans: Osebo was the most powerful animal on earth. He would not willingly give up his great drum. The poet wonders how the little busy bee im- Nyame reflected upon it, but he could not proves each shining hour by gathering honey all imagine a way to get the drum. He arranged the day from every opening flower. She skilfully a meeting of all the animals and announced builds her cell, spreads the wax, works hard to that he needed the great drum of Osebo for store it well and makes honey out of it. The poet his mother’s funeral. The animals trembled aims to remain busy too in works of labour or of with fear at the thought of challenging Osebo. skill. Otherwise Satan will find some mischief for Finally, Elephant said he would try to get the idle hands to do. The poet want to spend his first drum, but he failed. Then Lion tried and failed. years in books, or work, or healthful play and Antelope, Crocodile, and Bear could not get wishes to give some good account at the end of the drum either. every day. 2. When Turtle said, “I will get the drum,” the 2. Answer the following questions in brief: other animals laughed at him. Turtle had a a. How does the bee spend the whole day? soft back, and moved as slowly as he does b. Why does the poet call the bee to be skilful? today. However, he was not at all worried c. What does the bee gather from the every about the challenge. So, moving very slowly, Turtle finally arrived at Leopard’s home. Osebo opening flower? called out, “Have you come to try to steal my d. Why do you think the poet also aspires to drum, too?” 3. “No,” said Turtle, “but all this talk of drums has increased my curiosity. I am to see just how great your drum is.” When Osebo 32
PRACTICE SHEET - 1 (PS-1) showed Turtle his drum, Turtle accepted that it large he can crawl inside it. was, indeed, a great drum. Then he said, “But c. Once Osebo was inside the drum, Turtle plugged Xiamen’s drum is larger. It is so large he can crawl inside it.” its opening. He then tied the drum to his back 4. Osebo objected in an aggressive voice, claiming and slowly dragged it back to Nyame. that his drum was certainly as large. To prove it, d. He got his hard shell as a reward from Nyame. Osebo climbed inside. Once Osebo was inside Fearing the other animals, Turtle asked for a the drum, Turtle plugged its opening. He then hard cover to protect his back. tied the drum to his back and slowly dragged it 3. Find the words which mean the same as back to Nyame. The animals were astonished at following: Turtle’s success. a. Outstanding (paragraph 1) 5. Turtle presented the drum to Nyame with Osebo b. interest (paragraph 3) inside it. In exchange for his freedom, Osebo c. burnt (paragraph 5) offered the drum to Nyame as a gift. As he Ans: hurried away, Osebo felll into the Sky God’s fire a. Magnificent and scorched himself in many places, leaving b. curiosity dark spots on his hide. As a reward, Nyame c. scorched offered Turtle anything he desired. Fearing the other animals, Turtle asked for a hard cover 33 to protect his back. And to this day, the turtle always travels with a hard shell on its back. 1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate phrases from the passage. a. The other animals laughed at the turtle when he claimed to get the drum because he _____ ______________________________________ ____ b. The animals when Nyame, the Sky God sought their help in getting Osebo’s drum. c. To prove that his drum was as large as Xiamen’s drum, Ans: a. had a soft back, and moved as slowly as he does today. b. trembled in fear c. Osebo climbed inside the drum. 2. Answer the following questions in brief: a. How did Nyame, the Sky God intend to make his mother’s funeral ceremony, a grand occasion? b. What did Turtle say when Osebo showed Turtle his drum? c. What did the Turtle do when Osebo crawled inside his drum? d. How did Turtle get his hard shell? Ans: a. Nyame, the Sky God intended to make his moth- er’s funeral ceremony, a grand occasion by get- ting the great drum of Osebo, the Leopard. b. The Turtle accepted that it was, indeed, a great drum when Osebo showed him his drum but added that Xiamen’s drum was larger. It was so
PRACTICE SHEET - 2 (PS-2) Writing: I. You are Madhu of class 7 A of Sunrise Public School, Hyderabad. Write a letter of complaint to the Principal of your school against a classmate who tries to bully you. Ans: Format: (Date The Principal Sunrise Public School Hyderabad Subject: complaint against a naughty boy Sir/ Ma’am Body Thanking you Yours obediently Madhu Class 7 A. Body: (VALUE POINTS: Student of class 7 A (Introduce yourself)-Vivek my class fellow-very naughty-makes mis- chief-teases me-calls me bad names-forcefully takes away my notebooks-disturbs me in my studies-request you to take an appropriate action Expression (Vocabulary and Grammar) II. Write an essay describing the various advantages of habit of reading among the youngsters. Write your composition in 120-150 words giving appropriate arguments in favour of your topic. Ans: Format: Title Content (VALUE POINTS: Disappointment-people don’t read books-widespread technology-past-books-primary source of entertainment-invention of radio, television, cinema- Internet and computer games-reading no longer a popular leisure activity-irreplaceable part-personal growth and development-expand our awareness-enrich our power to express-give inspiration-expand our knowledge- allow each reader to use imagination-allow us to experience whatever is narrated in the light of our own personal values, through our ideas and our imagination.) Expression (Vocabulary and Grammar) 34
8.1 Fire: Friend and Foe Reading Comprehension Extracts Extract 1: The discovery of fire and its uses helped early man to cope with nature better and gradually adopt a settled mode of life. Fire is still worshipped in many parts of the world. Fire is indeed a friend but as we know, it can be a dangerous enemy once it gets out of control. (i) What helped early man to cope up with nature better? (ii) How had fire helped early man? (iii) What is still worshipped in many parts of the world? (iv) If fire is a friend, how can it be an enemy? (v) Give the meanings of the following words: a. discovery b. gradually Ans: (i) The discovery of fire helped early man to cope up with nature better. (ii) Fire had helped early man to adopt a settled life. (iii) Fire is still worshipped in many parts of the world. (iv) Fire is indeed a friend, but it becomes an enemy when it goes out of control. (v) a. new finding b. slowly Extract 2: The second way of putting out a fire is to prevent oxygen from reaching it. No supply of oxygen means no fire. Small fires can be put out or ‘smothered’ with a damp blanket or a sack. This stops oxygen reaching the burning material. Sometimes, carbon dioxide is used to extinguish fire. It does not allow oxygen to reach the burning material. The third way of putting out a fire is to remove the heat. If the temperature can be brought down below the flash point, the fuel stops burning. (i) What happens if we prevent oxygen from reaching the fire? (ii) How can we put out small fires? (iii) How does a sack help to put out small fires? (iv) How does carbon dioxide help to put out fire? 35
8.1 Fire: Friend and Foe (v) Pick out from the passage, words which mean the same as: a. suffocated b. put out Ans: (i) If we prevent oxygen from reaching the fire, it is simply put out. (ii) Small fires can be put out by smothering the fire with a damp blanket or a sack. (iii) A sack stops oxygen from reaching the burning material which eventually puts out small fires. (iv) Carbon dioxide does not allow oxygen to reach the burning material and the fire is put out. (v) a. smothered b. extinguish 36
8.2 Meadow Surprises Reading Comprehension Extracts Extract 1: Explore the meadow houses The burrows in the ground. A nest beneath tall grasses. The ant’s amazing mound. (i) Name the poem and the poet. (ii) What is there in the ground? (iii) Where is the nest? (iv) Whom does the amazing mound belong to? Ans: i) The name of the poem is ‘Meadow Surprises’ and that of the poet is Lois Brandt Phillips. ii) There are burrows in the ground. iii) The nest is under tall grasses. iv) The amazing mound belongs to the ants. 37
PRACTICE SHEET - 1 (PS-1) Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passage) I. Read the following passage and attempt the and Irvine, the two men who had reached the questions that follow: highest point, lost their lives. Various other 1. In India, thousands of pilgrims go to the attempts have been made to conquer Everest mountain every year to visit famous temples. but without success. In the meantime, the School pupils and college students also climbers turned their attention to other peaks make expeditions to historical places in the like Nanda Devi and Kanchenjunga. mountains and have to do a good deal of 7. 1953 was the most glorious year in the history climbing to reach the top. They enjoy the of mountaineering. That year John Hunt led exercise immensely. But all this is far from his team and two of the climbers in the team, mountaineering in its true sense. Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, 2. Mountaineering in the modern sense has been set foot on the peak. The highest mountain defined as “the ascent of high mountains for peak in the world has been conquered, but sports and adventure.” However, churches, mountaineering goes on, in its true sense of monasteries and temples have been built sport and adventure. on high mountaintops for countless ages. 1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate phrases Mountaineering for sport and adventure has from the passage. developed into a fine art in the nineteenth a. Pilgrims go to mountains to visit century. 3. The Swiss have always been expert mountain famous temples and school and college climbers, and some of their achievements students go to mountains to visit in the Alpine ranges have earned them _____________________________. admiration of the world. Other European b. Mountaineering in the modern nations have also not been slow and many sense has been defined as teams from England and elsewhere have been _________________________ going to the Swiss Alps year after year. c. During the 1924 expedition, 4. As might be expected, the great Himalayas ________________, the two men who had in India have presented a challenge of their reached the highest point, lost their lives. own to expert mountaineers throughout the Ans: world. They present far greater difficulties a. the historical places and problems than the Alps. The climbers b. “the ascent of high mountains for sports and have to make their way through ice and snow, adventure.” and across dangerous glaciers; snowstorms, c. Malory and Irvine blizzards and avalanches. Another difficulty 2. Answer the following questions in brief: is that the climbers have to carry supplies of a. Who have been considered as expert oxygen with them and the additional weight mountain climbers in the world? slows down their progress. b. Mention any one difficulty which the great 5. Every expedition has to be planned very Himalayas in India present than the Alps. carefully. The party must carry enough stock c. What are the things which are essential of woollen clothes, fur gloves and caps, food to be carried during any mountaineering supplies, medicines and other necessities. expedition? Nowadays, even cameras and scientific d. Why is the year 1953 counted as the instruments form part of the equipment. most glorious year in the history of 6. Many attempts have been made to conquer mountaineering? the mighty peaks of the Himalayas. In 1924, Ans: an expedition came almost within reach a. The Swiss have always been considered as of the summit of Mount Everest. Standing expert mountain climbers. more than 29,000 feet above sea level, Mount b. The climbers have to make their way through Everest is the highest peak in the world. ice and snow, and across dangerous gla- The 1924 expedition had to finally give up ciers; snowstorms, blizzards and avalanch- as they could go no further on account of es. Another difficulty is that the climbers terrible snowstorms and blizzards. Malory 38
PRACTICE SHEET - 1 (PS-1) have to carry supplies of oxygen with them simple and innocent manner. The odd thing and the additional weight slows down their was changed into a subject of interest. The progress. . story centres round an action which cannot c. Stock of woollen clothes, fur gloves and be praised. The son and his wife presented a caps, food supplies, medicines and other ne- dinner party for the boss and friends hosted cessities. by Shamnaths. They tried to present an d. That year John Hunt led his team and two aristocratic and sophisticated atmosphere of the climbers in the team, Edmund Hillary in their home to impress the guests. They and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, set foot on the worked to make their house look orderly and Mount Everest beautiful. But they neglected their mother in 3. Find the words which mean the same as order to receive the guests. following: 1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate phrases a. Greatly (paragraph 1) b. powerful (paragraph from the passage. 5) a. Shamnath and his wife treated the mother c. famous (paragraph 7) Ans: ______________________ and tried to put a. Immensely b. mighty c. glorious _________________________________ . b. The boss treated Shamnath’s mother with II. Read the following passage and attempt the _______________________and the mother questions that follow: impressed him by her __________________ 1. Once, the boss visited Shamnath’s house on _____________. his invitation. Shamnath and his wife made c. The odd thing is changed into a subject an elaborate arrangement in their house to of interest. The odd thing here refers to host the guests. The guest was to arrive in the ________. evening. The officer would be accompanied by Ans: a few other people. When Shamnath finished a. as an odd thing in the house, her out of sight arranging everything for the reception of of the guests. the guest, he faced one problem. It was his b. respect and politeness, simple and innocent mother. Both the husband and wife thought of manner certain plans to avoid her during the officer’s c. The mother visit. 2. Answer the following questions in brief: 2. The wife wanted to send the mother to the a. What is the problem faced by Shamnath neighbour but the husband wanted the and his wife during the reception of their old mother not to be even seen in nearby guest and how they wanted to resolve it? vicinity. The mother was uneducated and b. Why weren’t Shamnath and his wife want she came from a rural background. She had the mother to be seen by the guests? no sophistication in the modern sense of c. What change in the attitudes of the two the term but she was simple, tolerant and generations is depicted by the story? accommodating. d. Describe the action which the author wants 3. Shamnath wanted to exhibit a sense of upper to criticise through his story. class by serving dinner to his guests. The Ans: husband and the wife had a desire to hide all a. The problem was the mother. Both the hus- their odd things among which their mother band and wife thought of certain plans to is one. They treated the mother as an odd avoid her during the officer’s visit. thing in the house and tried to put her out of b. The mother was uneducated and she came sight of the guests. The mother, on the other from a rural background. She had no sophis- hand, was very happy that some guests were tication in the modern sense of the term. going to be hosted by her son. Thus the story c. They treated the mother as an odd thing in depicts the change in the attitudes of the two the house and tried to put her out of sight of generations. the guests. The mother, on the other hand, 4. But the boss met the old mother by chance. was very happy that some guests were going He treated her with respect and politeness. to be hosted by her son. The mother impressed the guest too by her 39
PRACTICE SHEET - 1 (PS-1) d. Treating elders with disrespect/neglecting our elders (ANSWER MAY VARY) 3. Find the words which mean the same as following: a. Surrounding area (paragraph 2) b. displays (paragraph 3) c. cultured (paragraph 4) Ans: a. Vicinity b. depicts c. sophisticated PRACTICE SHEET - 2 (PS-2) Writing: I. Write a story beginning with the line: “By evening, Reena was running a high fever ...” Ans: Format (title, writer’s name. Content (By evening, Reena was running a high fever ...living in a lonely house-family members away for a family function-living miles away from the nearest town-no medical supplies-woke up from bed with a strange ache-condition seemed to be getting worse-running a high fever and in greater pain-started to lapse into uncon- sciousness-racked her brains-called up the neighbour next door-lady gently tucked Reena into the car-took her to the nearby hospital-admitted-parents came home-found it to be locked-got alarmed-the lady next door came and informed them-thanked her for her timely help and rushed to the hospital to see their daughter-importance of near help in times of crisis.)Expression (Vocabulary and Grammar) II. You were late to school one day and was reprimanded by your school principal. Express your feelings in the form of a diary entry. Ans: Format (date, time. Content (VALUE POINTS: CONTENT: cold winter morning-late to get out of my bed-already past eight-school starts at 8 a.m-did not eat breakfast-rushed to the school-complete silence-morning assembly already over-classes started-great confusion-stood at the door of my classroom-class teacher looked at me angrily- everybody watching me-ashamed for coming late-apologized-allowed me to join the class-made up my mind to be punctual in future.) Expression (Vocabulary and Grammar) 40
9.1 A Bicycle in Good Repair Reading Comprehension Extracts Extract 1: He said: “This front wheel wobbles.” I said: “it doesn’t if you don’t wobble it. “ It didn’t wobble, as a matter of fact—nothing worth calling a wobble. He said: “This is dangerous; have you got a hammer?” I ought to have been firm but thought that perhaps he really did know something about the business. I went to the tool shed to see what I could find. When I came back, he was sitting on the ground with the front wheel between his legs. He was playing with it, twiddling it round between his fingers; the remnant of the machine was lying on the gravel path beside him. (i) Did the front wheel wobble? (ii) Why did the narrator say ‘I ought to have been firm? (iii) Why did the narrator go to the tool shed? (iv) What was the narrator’s friend doing when he returned from the shed? (v) Write the meanings of the given words: a. remnant b. wobbles Ans: (i) No, the front wheel did not wobble. (ii) The narrator said so because if he would have been firm, he could have avoided the damage that was to happen. (iii) He went to the tool shed to bring a hammer. (iv) The narattor’s friend was playing with the front wheel which he had taken off the cycle. (v) a. remaining parts b. moved unsteadily from side to side Extract 2: I said, ‘Watching you do this is of real use to me. It is not only your skill that fascinates me it is your cheery confidence in yourself, your inexplicable hopefulness, that does me good.’ Thus encouraged, he set to work to refix the gear-case. He stood the bicycle against the house and worked from the offside. Then he stood it against a tree; and worked from the on side. Then I held it for him, while he lay on the ground with his head between the wheels and worked at it from below and dropped oil upon himself. Then he took it away from me and doubled himself across it till he lost his balance and slid over on to his head. (i) What does the narrator mention about his friend? (ii) What encouraged the narrator’s friend? (iii) To which game do the terms ‘offside’ and ‘on side’ refer? (iv) What dd the narrator’s friend drop upon himself? 41
9.1 A Bicycle in Good Repair (v) What happened to the narrator’s friend when he doubled himself across the bicycle? Ans: (i) The narrator mentions his friend’s cheery confidence and inexplicable hopefulness. (ii) The narrator’s praise encouraged his friend. (iii) These terms refer to the game of cricket (iv) He dropped oil upon himself (v) He lost his balance and slid over on to his head 9.2 Garden Snake Reading Comprehension Extracts Extract 1: So when he wiggles in the grass I’ll stand aside and watch him pass. And tell myself. “There’s no mistake. It’s just a harmless garden snake! (i) Name the poem and the poet. (ii) Which line shows a complete change in the child’s attitude? (iii) What wiggles in the grass? (iv) What will the poet do the next time he sees a snake? Ans: i) The name of the poem is ‘Garden Snake’ and that of the poet is Muriel L Sonne. ii) “I’ll stand aside and watch him pass.” iii) A snake wiggles in the grass. iv) The poet will stand aside and let the snake pass by. 42
PRACTICE SHEET - 1 (PS-1) Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passage) I. Read the following passage and attempt the uproot your kingdom, as you have uprooted questions that follow: this plant.” 1. Many years ago, a king ruled over a large 5. The prince understood the wise words of the kingdom. He was a pious king. He ruled wisely sage. He realized his mistakes and resolved and fairly. His kingdom was flourishing. His to mend his ways. He bowed down at the subjects were honest and kind and loved and sage’s feet and said, “O Holy one, from today respected the king. However, the king was not onwards, I will not give my father a cause happy. The cause of his unhappiness was his to worry. You have shown me a true path. I son, the future king of the kingdom. The prince shall try to become a just and kind king as my was brought up with great love and care. As father”. So from that day, the prince mended a result, he had turned into an ill-mannered his ways. He became a dutiful person who and irresponsible lad. He did not respect his ruled his kingdom fairly and wisely. father. Neither did he possess any quality 1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate phrases that a prince should have. He was cruel to the from the passage. subjects and showed disrespect even to his a. The king wanted to teachers. The king was greatly worried about him. improve_______________, so he decided 2. Years passed and the prince showed no signs to take him to____________. of improvement. The king was growing old. b. One day, the sage called the prince and He worried about the future of his kingdom. asked him to _____________and eat them One day, he heard about a wise, old sage He because ______________. decided to take the prince to him. The sage c. Finally the prince _______________ asked the king to leave the prince under his and became a dutiful person care for some days. Leaving his son with the who_________________. sage, the king went back to his kingdom. Ans: 3. The sage observed the prince for a few days. a. the prince, an old, wise sage One day, he called the prince to him and said, b. pluck some of the neem leaves, they were full “Dear prince, the young ‘Neem’ plant that of wisdom. you see over there, is full of wisdom. Please c. mended his ways, ruled his kingdom fairly go and pluck some of its leaves and eat them. and wisely You will then become as wise as your father. 2. Answer the following questions in brief: Then you will not get any scolding from him a. How has the king been described in this and everybody will respect you as they respect story? Mention any two traits of his. your father”. The prince obeyed the sage. He b. What were the characteristics of the prince plucked some leaves. Hardly had he bit the which were the cause of the king’s worry? leaves that he started vomiting. He grew angry c. What was the prince’s reaction after he ate and said, “The leaves are very bitter. You told the neem leaves? me that they are full of wisdom. These leaves d. The prince understood the wise words of cannot contain any wisdom; I must destroy the sage. What was the wisdom given by the plant, so that no other person ever tastes the sage to the prince? it again”. So saying, the prince pulled out the Ans: plant and threw it into the nearby river. a. He was a pious king. He ruled wisely and fair- 4. The sage smiled said, “Dear prince, you have ly. His kingdom was flourishing. (ANY TWO) destroyed this plant because it was bitter. b. He had turned into an ill-mannered and Just think about the bitterness inside you. irresponsible lad. He did not respect his fa- Your father is such a gentle and kind king. ther. Neither did he possess any quality that Everybody loves and respect him. But he is a prince should have. He was cruel to the worried because he thinks that his kingdom subjects and showed disrespect even to his will not flourish under you. You have made teachers. (ANY TWO) more enemies than friends. You have no c. Hardly had he bit the leaves that he start- sweetness in your voice. Your enemies will ed vomiting. He grew angry and said, “The 43
PRACTICE SHEET - 1 (PS-1) _______ to be true. Lots of vision rush to his _______ when he listens to the stories read by leaves are very bitter. You told me that they his _______. are full of wisdom. These leaves cannot con- Ans: tain any wisdom; I must destroy the plant, so When poet’s mother reads him the stories, the that no other person ever tastes it again”. So past seems real as every day. He is able to hear saying, the prince pulled out the plant and the tramp of armies vast, see the spears and threw it into the nearby river. lances cast. He is able to join the thrilling fray. He d. To get rid of his bitterness, he asked the prince also meets the brave knights and ladies, fair and to make friends instead of enemies else his en- proud. He goes to far lands. He crosses the des- emies will uproot his kingdom. erts’ gleaming sands or hunt the jungle’s prowl- 3. Find the words which mean the same as ing bands or sail the blue ocean. He scales the far following: heights, whose peaks, the cold mists shroud. The a. Prosperous (paragraph 1) poet longs to do noble deeds. He wants to help b. dig-up (paragraph 4) the right, redress the wrong. It seems so easy to c. decided firmly (paragraph 5) be strong and so simple to be true. Lots of vision Ans: rush to his eyes when he listens to the stories read a. flourishing b. uproot c. resolved by his mother. 2. Answer the following questions in brief: II. Read the following poem and attempt the a. In the line “The past seems real as every questions that follow: When Mother reads aloud, the past day”, how does the past seem real to the Seems real as every day; poet? I hear the tramp of armies vast, walk noisily b. Which far land does the poet refer to in his I see the spears and lances cast, poem? I join the thrilling fray (fight); c. Explain the line “Far heights, whose peaks Brave knights and ladies fair and proud the cold mists shroud”. I meet when Mother reads aloud. d. Mention any two noble deeds the poet longs When Mother reads aloud, far lands to do when he hears the heroic tales from his Seem very near and true; mother. I cross the deserts’ gleaming sands, (shining) Ans: Or hunt the jungle’s prowling bands, a. When he hears the stories narrated by his Or sail the ocean blue. mother, the past becomes real since he is able Far heights, whose peaks the cold mists shroud, to imagine/visualise those things. I scale, when Mother reads aloud. (climb). b. deserts’ gleaming sands, jungle’s prowling When Mother reads aloud, I long bands, the ocean blue For noble deeds to do... c. peaks of the mountain is covered with the To help the right, redress the wrong; clouds It seems so easy to be strong, d. To help the right, redress the wrong; So simple to be true. 3. Find the words which mean the same as Oh, thick and fast the visions crowd (images) following: My eyes, when Mother reads aloud. a. Massive 1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words: b. devil When poet’s mother reads him the stories, c. people who do not do any work the _______ seems real as every day. He is Ans: able to hear the tramp of _______vast, see the a. Vast b. Satan c. idle _______ and _______ cast. He is able to join the _______. He also meets the _______and 44 _______, fair and _______. He goes to far _______. He crosses the deserts’ _______ sands or hunt the jungle’s _______or sail the _______. He scales the _______, whose peaks, the cold _______ shroud. The poet longs to do _______. He wants to help the _______, _______ the wrong. It seems so easy to be _______ and so
PRACTICE SHEET - 2 (PS-2) Writing: I. You are Prakash Kumar of Class 7 A. Yesterday you spoke to your teacher in an offensive manner due to which she/he was hurt. Write an apology letter to your teacher with a promise that you will not repeat this ever. Ans: Format: (Date The Class Teacher Class 7 A Blooming Buds Public School Hyderabad Subject: Apology letter Sir/ Ma’am Body Thanking you Yours obediently Prakash Kumar Class 7 A. Body: (VALUE POINTS: I am sorry-offensive tone of voice in speaking with you-not my intention to offend you- swayed away by emotion-please forgive me-hope this unfortunate misstep will not jeopardize my image in your eyes-promise not to repeat) Expression: (Vocabulary and Grammar) II. Write a short essay on Why Fast Food should be avoided in 120-150 words. Ans: Format (title, writer’s name. Content (ever-increasing pace of life-no time for satisfying even basic needs-fast food restaurants crowded all the time-dangers of eating food from McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway, and similar places-obesity-higher risks of gaining extra weight-teenagers and children-bad ingredients-Conservatives and food preservatives-add an- tibiotics to animals’ nutrition-pumping your body with chemicals-kidney diseases-salty and greasy-blood pres- sure-soda drinks-unhealthy-processed fats-diseases like cancer-eat healthy food. Expression (Vocabulary and Grammar) 45
10.1 The Story of Cricket Reading Comprehension Extracts Extract 1: One of the peculiarities of cricket is that a test match can go on for five days and still end in a draw. No other moderm team sport takes even half as much time to complete. A football match is generally over in an hour-and- a-half. Even baseball completes nine innings in less than half the time that it takes to play a limited-overs match, the shortened version of modem cricket! (i) Mention an oddity of cricket. (ii) What is the duration of a football match? (iii) How much time does a baseball match take to complete nine innings? (iv) Which game is the shortened version of modem cricket? (v) Give the meanings of the following: a. peculiarity b. version Ans: (i) An oddity of cricket is that a Test match can go on for five days and still end in a draw. (ii) The duration of a football match is an hour-and-a-half. (iii) A baseball match completes nine innings in less than half the time that it takes to play a limited-over cricket match. (iv) Baseball is the shortened version of modem cricket (v) a. oddity b. special form Extract 2: The origins of Indian cricket are to be found in Bombay and the first Indian community to start playing the game was the small community of Zoroastrians, the Parsis. Brought into close contact with the British because of their interest in trade and the first Indian community to westernise, the Parsis founded the first Indian cricket club, the Oriental Cricket Club in Bombay in 1848. Parsi clubs were funded and sponsored by Parsi businessmen like the Tatas and the Wadias. (i) Where did cricket originate in India? (ii) Which was the first Indian community to start playing cricket? (iii) Which cricket club did the Parsis form? (iv) When and where was Oriental Cricket Club established? (v) Give the meanings of the following: a. founded b. funded 46
10.1 The Story of Cricket Ans: (i) In India, cricket originated in Bombay. (ii) ZoroastriAns: the Parsis, were the first Indian community that started playing cricket. (iii) The Parsis formed ‘The Oriental Cricket Club’. (iv) The Oriental Cricket Club was established in Bombay in 1848. (v) a. established b. provided with money 47
PRACTICE SHEET - 1 (PS-1) Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passage) I. Read the following passage and answer the time when the Old Sun dies and when the Sun questions that follow: of the New Year is born, framing the longest 1. What is the Winter Solstice? It’s the night of the year. The birth of the New Sun is astronomical moment when the Sun reaches thought to revive the Earth’s aura in mystical the Tropic of Capricorn. We have our shortest ways. It gives a new life to spirits and souls day and longest night of the year in the of the dead. The prehistoric monument, Northern Hemisphere. Regardless of what the Newgrange built in Ireland around 3200 weather is doing outside your window, the B.C., is associated with this festival. This site Solstice marks the official start of the winter consists of a large circular mound with a stone season. In 2018, the winter solstice occurred passageway and interior chambers. When the on Friday, December 21st. Sun rises, the chamber is flooded with sunlight 2. The term “solstice” comes from the Latin on the Winter Solstice. words sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still). 1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate phrases This is because, during the solstice, the angle from the passage. between the Sun’s rays and the plane of the a. The Winter Solstice is the astronomical Earth’s equator appears to stand still. So what does that mean, exactly? Upon the winter moment ____________________________. solstice, the Sun appears at its lowest in the b. Stonehenge in England is believed _______ sky, and its noontime height seems to stay the same for several days. During this, the ______________________________. Sun’s gradual decrease in the sky becomes c. The birth of the New Sun revives the Earth’s completely opposite. That is why many cultures believe it to be a “rebirth” of the Sun aura by giving ___________________. as the hours of daylight become longer. 3. While we celebrate the Winter Solstice, those Ans: living in the Southern Hemisphere will be, at a. when the Sun reaches the Tropic of Capri- the same time, marking the Summer Solstice. That’s because while our half of the globe corn. is inclined away from the Sun, their half is b. to keep track of the Sun’s yearly progress. inclined toward it. Being tilted away from c. it a new life to spirits and souls of the dead. the Sun, brings us shorter days and colder 2. Answer the following questions in brief: temperatures. a. Describe the origin of the term “solstice” as 4. Early man kept track of the days by observing the Sun as it “moved” across the sky and described in the passage. cast shadows during the day and at different b. Why do many cultures believe solstice to be times of the year. In fact, historians believe Stonehenge in England was erected to keep a “rebirth” of the Sun? track of the Sun’s yearly progress. The Winter c. What makes it possible the celebration of Solstice has played an important role in cultures worldwide from ancient times until Winter Solstice and the Summer Solstice at today. In fact, many of the customs, symbols, the same time? and rituals associated with Christmas are d. Which prehistoric monument is associated actually associated with Winter Solstice with the festival “Light of Winter,”? celebrations of ancient Pagan cultures. 5. “Light of Winter,” is one such seasonal festival. Ans: This festival is still celebrated by many people a. The word “solstice” comes from the Latin and is probably the oldest seasonal festival of humankind. In their traditions, the Winter words sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still). Solstice is thought of as a time of death and This is because, during the solstice, the angle rebirth when Nature’s powers and our own between the Sun’s rays and the plane of the souls are renewed. It marks the moment in Earth’s equator appears to stand still. b. Upon the winter solstice, the Sun appears at its lowest in the sky, and its noontime height seems to stay the same for several days. During this, the Sun’s gradual decrease in the sky becomes completely opposite. That is why many cultures believe it to be a “rebirth” of the Sun as the hours of daylight become longer. 48
PRACTICE SHEET - 1 (PS-1) c. This is because while our half of the globe is in- cooking for herself, she said – she had to cook clined away from the Sun, their half is inclined for someone. And although the cat and the dog toward it. appreciated her efforts, a good cook likes to have a boy to feed, because boys are adventurous and d. The prehistoric monument, Newgrange built ready to try the most unusual dishes. in Ireland around 3200 B.C., is associated with 6. Whenever Granny tried out a new recipe on me, this festival. This site consists of a large circular she would wait for my comments and reactions, mound with a stone passageway and interior and then make a note in an exercise book. These chambers. notes were useful when she tried it out on others. “Do you like it?” she’d ask, after I’d taken a few 2. Find the words which mean the same as mouthfuls. “Yes, Gran.” following: 1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate phrases a. On-going (paragraph 2) from the passage. b. set-up (paragraph 4) a. The fabulous thing about granny’s kitchen c. atmosphere (paragraph 5) was the ___________________________. Ans: b. The author called himself very lucky a. Gradual b. erected c. aura because _______________________________ c. The thing the author missed at his parents’ II. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow: place in spite of the tea gardens being fun was 1. Home is where the heart is. And the kitchen ________________________ with its delicious aromas is the heart of many a Ans: home. Ruskin Bond still remembers the aromas a. Good food like like kababs and curries, choco- of his Grandmother’s kitchen. As kitchens went, late fudge and peanut toffee, jellies and gulab it wasn’t that big. It wasn’t big as the bedroom or jamuns, and apple pies! the living room, but it was big enough, and there b. His grandmother could cook like an angel. was a pantry next to it. What made it fabulous c. That his parents couldn’t cook. They had em- was all that came out of it: good things to eat like ployed a khansama – a professional cook. kababs and curries, chocolate fudge and peanut 2. Answer the following questions in brief: toffee, jellies and gulab jamuns, meat pies and a. Why does the author say that “So Granny apple pies! wasn’t really alone.”? 2. Granny was the best cook in the world. If Granny b. What used to make Granny glad to have the was the best cook in the world, I must have been author with her? the boy with the biggest appetite and I was very c. Why does she use to take notes while trying lucky, because not every boy has a grandmother out a new recipe on the author? who can cook like an angel. Ans: 3. Every winter when I came home from boarding a. Because with grandmother there used to live a school, I would spend at least a month with gardener, Kanta, who lived in an outhouse. And Granny before going on to spend the rest of he had a son called Mohan, who was about the the holidays with my parents in Assam, where author’s age. And there was Suzie, the Siamese my father was the manager of a tea estate. The cat with bright blue eyes, and a mongrel dog tea gardens were great fun, but my parents called Crazy because he ran in circles round the couldn’t cook. They employed a khansama – a house. professional cook. b. Granny didn’t enjoy cooking for herself, she said 4. So I was always glad to go to Granny’s place – she had to cook for someone. And although for the holidays. She was glad to have me too, the cat and the dog appreciated her efforts, a because she lived alone most of the time. Not good cook likes to have a boy to feed, because entirely alone, though… there was a gardener, boys are adventurous and ready to try the most Kanta, who lived in an outhouse. And he had a unusual dishes. son called Mohan, who was about my age. And there was Suzie, the Siamese cat with bright blue 49 eyes, and a mongrel dog called Crazy because he ran in circles round the house. 5. So Granny wasn’t really alone. All the same, she was glad to have me. She didn’t enjoy
PRACTICE SHEET - 2 (PS-2) c. Whenever Granny tried out a new recipe on the Ans: author, she would wait for his comments and a. Aromas b. appetite c. unusual reactions, and then make a note in an exercise book. These notes were useful when she tried it out on others 3. Find the words which mean the same as following: a. Fragrances (paragraph 1) b. desire for food (paragraph 2) c. uncommon (paragraph 5) PRACTICE SHEET - 2 (PS-2) Writing: I. You woke up today and it seemed to be a usual day. You got ready to go to school but after that everything went wrong. Ans: Format (Date time. Content (VALUE POINTS: mother woke me up-no wish to go to school-very cold-no choice-got up-dressed up-mother gave breakfast-went to the bus stand-missed my school bus-reached school late-punished by the teacher-made to stand for two hours-came back to my class-class taken by the English teacher-forgotten to do her homework,-punished-lunch break-searched my bag-realised that forgotten to bring my lunch-left it at home-came back to home-had lunch and went off to sleep-really a bad day for me.) Expression (Vocabulary and Grammar) II. Write a story using the clues given in the box. Coming back-noticed two suspicious-looking men enter a shop-holding a big bag-three customers- one of them had a child with her-saw a public telephone booth-dialled the police emergency line-kept an eye on the movements-heard the terrified screams of the customers-robbery was in progress-police officers arrived-daily newspapers reported the capturing-reported by a mysterious girl who heroically called the police-did not want to brag-happy and relieved to know that nobody was injured. Ans: Format (title, writer’s name. Content (Clues are provided. Expression (Vocabulary and Grammar) 50
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