Test No 1 Std 11 English

Q.1. Read the first activity, read the extract and then do all the activities: Marks 10


“What in the world are you going to do now, Jo?” asked Meg one snowy afternoon, as her sister came tramping through the hall, in rubber boots, old sacque and hood, with a broom in one hand and a shovel in the other.
“Going out for exercise,” answered Jo with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
“I should think two long walks this morning would have been enough! It’s cold and dull out, and I advise you to stay warm and dry by the fire, as I do,” said Meg with a shiver.
“Never take advice! Can’t keep still all day, and not being a pussy-cat, I don’t like to doze by the fire. I like adventures, and I’m going to find some.”
Meg went back to toast her feet and read "Ivanhoe"; and Jo began to dig paths with great energy. The snow was light, and with her broom she soon swept a path all round the garden, for Beth to walk in when the sun came out and the invalid dolls needed air. Now, the garden separated the Marches’ house from that of Mr. Laurence. Both stood in a suburb of the city, which was still countrylike, with groves and lawns, large gardens, and quiet streets. A low hedge parted the two estates. On one side was an old, brown house, looking rather bare and shabby, robbed of the vines that in summer covered its walls and the flowers, which then surrounded it. On the other side was a stately stone mansion, plainly betokening every sort of comfort and luxury, from the big coach house and well-kept grounds to the conservatory and the glimpses of lovely things one caught between the rich curtains. Yet it seemed a lonely, lifeless sort of house, for no children frolicked on the lawn, no motherly face ever smiled at the windows, and few people went in and out, except the old gentleman and his grandson.

A1.Order____ (2)

Rearrange the following statements in order as the events occur in the extract:

1) Meg went back to warm her feet and read a book.

2) Jo began to sweep the path in the garden.

3) Jo came tramping through the hall.

4) Meg asked Jo where she was going.

Ans: 1.Jo came tramping through the hall.

2.Meg asked Jo where she was going.

3.Meg went back to warm her feet and read a book.

4.Jo began to sweep the path in the garden.

A2. Complete: (2)
Complete the following statements:
1. Jo doesn’t want to be a pussy cat because -----------
2. Jo swept the path for --------------
3. An old brown house looking rather shabby belonged to ----------
4. Another house seemed lonely, lifeless because --------

Ans: 1. Jo doesn’t want to be a pussy cat because she doesn't like to be confined in home.
2. Jo swept the path for Beth to walk in .
3. An old brown house looking rather shabby belonged to Jo and her family.
4. Another house seemed lonely, lifeless because no child frolicked there.

A3. Write the different attitudes of Jo and Meg in your words. (2)
Ans: Jo is bold and like adventures. Meg is caring and likes to read .
A4. Vocabulary :
Match the pairs of the words in column ‘A’ with their meaning in column ‘B’ (2)
Column A                     Column B
1. Tramping                a. Road
2. Shovel.                     b. In a bad condition
3. Shabby                    c. Walking with heavy steps
4. Path                         d. A tool for digging

1. Tramping =c. Walking with heavy steps
2.Shovel     =d. A tool for digging
3.Shabby  =b. In a bad condition
4. Path   = a. Road

A5. Give your sister/brother an advice to stay at home during heavy rain with convincing reason. (2)
Ans: Listen to me. You should stay at home  because it is raining heavily . It is dangerous to walk outside in heavy rain . Roads and lanes are flooded . 
Q. 2 A Read the given extract and do all the activities that follow: Marks 8

Goats ate the leaves, the grass cutter scythe
Split it apart and a monsoon blight
Shrivelled the slender stem...... Even so,
Next spring I watched three new shoots grow,
The young tree struggle, upward thrust
Its arms in a fresh fierce lust

For light and air and sun.
I could only wait, as one
Who watched, wandering, while Time and the rain
Made a miracle from green growing pain.......
I went away next year-
Spent a season in Kashmir-
Came back thinner, rather poor,
But richer by a cherry tree at my door.
Six feet high my own dark cherry,
And I could scarcely believe it-a berry.
Ripened and jeweled in the sun,
Hung from a branch-just one!
And next year there were blossoms small
Pink, fragile, quick to fall
At the merest breath, the sleepiest breeze. .....
A1.True/ False:
Read the following statements and state whether they are true or false . (2)

1). Goats spare the leaves of the Cherry and eat grass.
2). There were three shoots the following spring .
3). The young tree was longing for rain, snow and moon.
4). The poet went to Kashmir to spend a season.

Ans :1). Goats spare the leaves of the Cherry and eat grass. False
2). There were three shoots the following spring . True
3). The young tree was longing for rain, snow and moon. False
4). The poet went to Kashmir to spend a season. True

A2. Poetic Device :
“For light and air and sun.” Name and explain the figure of speech and find another example from the extract. (2)
Ans: Climax : Ideas are arranged in ascending order . 
Example - Pink, fragile, quick to fall
A3. Personal Response : Express your views about planting a tree. (2)
A4. Poetic Creativity: (2)
Compose 4 lines narrating any incident in your life.
Q 3 Grammar: Marks 3
A1 Spot the error. One is done for you.
I has to bring my ice axe down with me.
Correct Sentence: I have to bring my ice axe down with me.
1. My mind were absolutely clear.
2. I was carrying the Indian flag by me.
3. In my pocket I have four flag.

1. My mind was  absolutely clear.
2. I was carrying the Indian flag with  me.
3. In my pocket I have four flags .
Q 4. Expand the idea inherent in the following proverb. Marks 4
“A bad workman blames his tools.”

Download First Unit Test std 12

2.1 Cherry Tree

Cherry Tree by Ruskin Bond

(A1) (i) Find proof from the poem for the following.

(a) The poet has mentioned different seasons.
Summer,monsoon, spring,
(b) The poet’s minute observations of the steady growth of the cherry tree.

I found a tree had come to stay.
It was very small, five months child,
Lost in the tall grass running wild.

(c) The colour imagery in the poem.
Green growing pain, blossom small pink, blue blind sky,
(d) The struggle of the cherry tree for survival.

The young tree struggle, upward thrust
Its arms in a fresh fierce lust
For light and air and sun.

(ii) State whether the following statements are True or False. Correct the false
statements by finding evidence from the poem to support your remark.
(a) The cherry tree did not take long to grow. False
The cherry tree took eight years long to grow.
(b) Birds and insects were benefitted from the tree. True
(c) The poet was exalted at the sight of the cherry tree. True
(d) The poem has an underlying message about the importance of trees. True
(e) The poet repents planting the cherry tree. False The poet praised planting the cherry tree
(A2) (i) Discuss in groups, reasons/ consequences/ effects:
(a) The life of the cherry tree was threatened because of goats grazing, grass cutters and monsoon. The cherry tree has no leaves and stem. It gets dried. But as the spring arrives new shoots grow.The young tree struggles for light,air and sun.

(b) The cherry blossomed. : The cherry tree bore just one BERRY. It was unbelievable. But the next year the tree was blossomed. The poet, bees, moon moths and crickets were much excited.

(ii) A small thought, put in action, led to a great achievement. Pick out the
lines from the beginning and end of the poem and explain their significance.
Ans Lines from the beginning : Eight years have passed, Since I placed my cherry seed in the grass.
These lines signify that the poet had a strong desire to plant a tree so put a seed in the grassy ground. It also signifies that a cherry seed gets to long to get growing.
Concluding lines are :Yes, I praised Night and Stars and tree:That small, the cherry, grown by me. These lines are significant as these show the poet’s excitement at seeing the cherry tree grown by him.
(A3) The cherry tree has inspired the poet to compose the poem. Such poems,
describing Nature or aspects of Nature are called ‘Nature poems’. Find
out some expressions from the poem that bring out the elements of beauty
of Nature.
AnsExpressions from the poem that bring out the elements of beauty are as follows : running wild, slender stem, new shoots grow, arms in fresh fierce lust, bees in an ecstasy,the sun sank swiftly.
(A4) (i) Read the line.
Pink, fragile, quick to fall
Notice the arrangement of the words in the line:
They move from healthy to delicate
This figure of speech is called Climax where successive words, phrases,
sentences are arranged in ascending order of importance. Here, the cherry
blossom turns pink, ripens and is ready to be picked.
(ii) Find out examples from the poem.
Alliteration : 1. Its arms in a fresh fierce lust : A consonantal sound 'f' is repeated pleasingly.

2. Made a miracle from green growing pain. : A consonantal sound 'g' is repeated rhythmically.

Antithesis : 1.
but cherries have a way of growing,
Though no one's caring very much or knowing. : Opposite idea of growing without caring is seen in the line.
Personification :1. A Tree had come to stay : A tree has attributed human quality of coming and staying.
2. sleepiest breeze : Breeze is given human quality of being sleepy.
(A5) (i) Cherry tree is a narrative poem. Features that make it a narrative poem
are given below. Justify them with proper examples.
The poem has a beginning, a middle and an end. It begins with a planting of a cherry seed. It struggles to survive. Finally it blossoms. The poet’s residence and Kashmir are mentioned. The poet, grass cutters, bees , cricket and moon moths are the characters referred to in the poem. Incidents are arranged in sequence. It is a time-bound poem.

(iii) Write an appreciation of the poem considering the following points :


The poem, “Cherry Tree” is written by Ruskin Bond. It is about his ecstasy over a tree. He is expressing his wonder at the ways of Nature and how the cherry blossoms are fragile and quick to fall. The tree gives him immense joy as he can see the stars and the blue sky through dappled green trees.
It is enriched with poetic devices. The use of alliteration and rhyming words adds musical effects. The use of personification makes the poem live. Color imagery renders pictorial quality.The focus of the poem is on nature and its elements.

The poem advises the planting of trees. The poet underlines importance of trees in human life.
The poem is interesting to read. It is a story like. It keeps the reader engaged. 

Audio File of the poem.

Review : Yuvakbharati English Std XI

The newly introduced English Yuvakbharti Std XI book is not just a textbook but a course book cum Activity workbook. The very design of the cover page gives idea of rich content inside. The book opens with preface addressing students. Dr. Sunil Magar, Director of M. S. Bureau of Textbook Production and Curriculum Research, Pune welcomes students and stresses the importance learning language. A message for teachers ‘Before We Teach….’ is a very good initiative to get the idea about how to deal with the course book. Expectations about the competencies are much higher but essential at this level to cope up with modern era. Basic skills LSRWC are much focussed. Language study also is given prime importance in the course book. Ice Breakers in activity forms encourage students to participate in learning process and lead towards the anticipation of the content. Introduction of the writer, speaker, poet and playwright is the unique feature brought back in the course book. The photos of the writer and poets add effect in the intro of them. It helps to understand the lessons, poems and scenes of dramas. Glossaries given on right/left sides with some activities to complete is also a welcome drive. Space given there can be used by students to note down meaning of new words given by teachers. Considering the fact that every page has margin, the length of the content seems to be more. The important word / expressions are given in bold letters. Brainstorming part is creative expecting students’ participation. It has a lot of activities to be done. Activities focus not only on learning language but absorbing the social awareness. Content covers the wide range of text from literary extract to renowned speech. It touches the most important aspects of modern world. Humanity, adventurous sport, agricultural need, governance, defence are the prime aspects focussed on in the text. It introduces the students with a lot of career opportunities. Thorough study of the course book will enable students to grab the career opportunities.
Poetry section is enriched with the work of great poets of English literature. Though it is tough for the students to comprehend, they will enjoy the beauty of poetic work with little more efforts.
Writing skill section included in the course book caters to the need of modern era. Due to inclusion of writing skill in the course book, there will be one single format all over Maharashtra. Expansion of ideas has scope to inculcate habit of thinking among the students. Blog writing, film review and the art of compering helps students to develop their personality and even to make their career.
Drama section gives the taste English Literature. It also facilitates to lift the spoken nuisances of English language. Reading span also is increased while dealing with dramas. Reading of drama captures the attention students for longer period of time.
Thus the book is a very good medium of implementing teaching learning process. The book is completely learner centred. After the completion of this course the students will be cured of English phobia.

Rewrite as instructed - Feb. 2019

Rewrite the following sentences as instructed.

i) The paddy is ripe enough to harvest. (Remove ‘enough’ and rewrite the sentence.)
Ans. The paddy is so ripe that it can be harvested.
Or The paddy is so ripe that farmers(one) should (can) harvest it.
(ii) How beautiful the sight was! (Rewrite as an assertive sentence. )
Ans. The sight was very beautiful.

(iii) When earthquake strikes, world trembles.
(Insert appropriate articles wherever necessary and rewrite it.)
Ans: When an earthquake strikes, the world trembles.
(iv) I spent my holiday _______ some friends ________ a wooden house.
(Fill in the blanks with appropriate prepositions.)
Ans: I spent my holiday with some friends in a wooden house.
(v) Radha said to the teacher, “I feel very happy to help my mother at home.”
Ans: Radha told the teacher that she felt very happy to help her mother at home.
(vi) India and Maharashtra can progress only when there is oneness of interest.
(Rewrite it using ‘unless’)
Ans. Unless there is oneness of interest, India and Maharashtra cannot progress.
Or
India and Maharashtra cannot progress, unless there is oneness of interest .

(vii) This state of Maharashtra will work for the betterment of the common people of Maharashtra. (Rewrite it using modal auxiliary showing ‘obligation’)
Ans. This state of Maharashtra must work for the betterment of the common people of Maharashtra.
(viii) They have only one pair of wings. (Make it negative without changing the meaning)
Ans. They do not have more than one pair of wings.
(ix) Insects have already adopted the tactic of disguise to escape from the clutches of their predators. (Replace infinitive with gerund and rewrite. )
Ans. Insects have already adopted the tactic of disguise for escaping from the clutches of their predators.
(x) He had won his laurels in athletic events and the silver medal in a running race.
(Rewrite the sentence using ‘not only...but also’.)
Ans. He had won not only his laurels in athletic events but also a silver medal in running race.
(xi) When I saw the prizes, I was stupefied.
(Rewrite the sentence using ‘No sooner.... than’.)
Ans. No sooner did I see the prizes than I was stupefied.
(xii) He had learnt enough Greek and Latin to read the classics in the original.
(Rewrite using ‘as well as’.)
Ans. He had learnt enough Greek as well as Latin to read the classics in the original.
(xiii) Doting parents often stunt the natural growth of their children through excessive adulation.
(Rewrite the sentence changing it into passive voice.)
Ans. The natural growth of their children is often stunted through excessive adulation by the doting parents.

(xiv) Seeing the hungry market, Dell placed local advertisement.
(Make it a compound sentence)
Ans. Dell saw the hungry market and placed local advertisement.
(xv) He added features to improve performance.
(Frame ‘Wh’ question to get the underlined part as an answer.)
Ans. Why did he add features?

Vocabulary : HSC 2019

Vocabulary
College hall of residence = dormitory
large amount added to the cost price = hefty mark up
Quantity of goods in stock = inventory
with great intensity = with a vengeance



Antonyms
Gratitude × ingratitude
Clear × unclear
Believe × disbelieve
Significance × insignificance


Find the words from the passage (extract) for. 
I) animal or bird that hunts other for food = predator
II) to get free from danger = escape
Iii) to prevent something from happening = avoid, ward off
Iv) to make copy = imitate

Find out four similar meaning words for 'admiration'. 

1. Adulation
2. Doting
3. Praised
4. Lauded
Match the pairs
1. Stupefied - c)surprised or shocked
2. Chronicle - b) record events in the order they happened

3. Vindicated - d)justified
4. Citation - a) official statement about the special act of courage
Match the pairs
I) dangling - c) hanging freely

II) squeezing - d) pressing firmly
Iii) agrarian - a) connected with farming
Iv) captivate - c) attract the attention

Letter to the editor : Nuisances of loud speaker

             You are Tarun Nasake a resident of 96,Model Basti, Nagpur . Write a letterto  the editor of the Lokmat Times, telling him about the nuisance of loud speaker in your area.



Tarun Nasake
96,Model Basti,
Nagpur 440110.
12 Feb 2019.



The Editor,
The Lokmat Times,
Ramdas Peth,
Nagpur.

Sub : Nuisance of Loud Speakers

Sir,

     Kindly publish my letter in your esteem newspaper.

I am the resident of Model Basti, Nagpur  I would like to draw your attention towards the sound pollution in our area. Many students from our area are studying in Std 10, Std 12. Their board exam is scheduled in the next month. They need a peaceful atmosphere for study. But prayers in the nearby temple,   masjid and gurudwara are causing disturbancesd.   Because prayers are done through loud speakers at different times of the day .

     If the prayers are done silently or using headphones by the devotees, there would be no disturbances. Students would get peaceful time for study. Concerning authorities should declare this area as a silent zone during examination period . Kindly do the needful.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

Tarun Nasake

tarunnasake@gmail.com

Information Transfer

A survey was conducted about the reading habit of 800 teenage school children. The children read different types of books. 16% children prefer to read scientific fiction whereas 3% like to read fantasy. Adventure stories are favourite read of larger number of children i. e. 20%.Almost 18% teenagers are eager to read fairytale. Whodunit has less number of readers. 10% children showed interest in classics. Majority of children i. e. 25% school going kids read comics.