1.3 The Call of the Soil: A scent Of Rice

ICE BREAKERS

Venkat Iyer

Discuss the following with your partner and complete the following sentences. One is done for you.    
(a) Before eating apples brought from the market, I wash and peel them off
 (b) In a farmers’ market, we find grains, vegetables and fruits  .
 (c) Food adulteration means addition of something in food to increase the weight  .
 (d) Organic food is grown by using organic fertilizer.

 (e) Organic fertilizer means fertilizer made of animal matter , animal excreta, human excreta and dried  and green leaves . 

• Complete the following web diagram :

(i) Find out from your grandparents or parents the names of vegetables
and fruits they had eaten in their childhood and mention how the
vegetables and fruits are different from the ones today.
Name of the vegetable or fruit Shape Colour Taste
1.
2.
3.
(ii) You might have learnt about organic farming. Make groups and
discuss the difference between conventional farming and organic
farming and write it down.
Sr.No. Con

Word Definition

adjacent - nearby

advent - coming

alluring - enticing

appetite- hunger

awful -extremely

biodiversity -biological diversity

curse -a prayer for harm

damp -slightly wet

disappeared- vanished

ditch- a long narrow excavation

drifted- carried along

exhilarated very happy

fading disappearing

fences barriers made by posts and wires

fertile productive

harvest process of gathering harvest

hustle and bustle energetic activity

indication hint

insatiable impossible to satisfy

insipid tasteless

lamented regretted

pleasantries humourous act

ramshackle in a state of disrepair

recede move back

reminiscing remembering a story about a past event

resist exert force in opposition

rue regret

scowl a facial expressions of displeasure

tempted attracted

yield product

Test on Vocabulary

(A1) (i) Read the extract and state whether the following statements are true
or false. Correct the false statements.
 (a) Growing in abundance is more important than the quality of the
crop. False
Correct : Growing in abundance is not as important as the quality of the
crop
 (b) The author wanted to grow the desi variety of rice. True
 (c) The author did not succeed in finding Kasbai. False
Correct : The author found Kasbai rice at adivasi old woman's house in Boripada. 
 (d) The aroma of the ‘desi’ rice would spread around the village. True
 (e) Newer hybrid crops have a great appetite for chemical. True
(f)  The author is an example of 'reverse migration'. True 
(ii) Complete the flow chart.

(iii) Read the text and fill in the blanks. One is done for you.

 (a) The author wanted to grow organic moong.
 (b) Moru Dada wanted to spray ........... on the moong crop.
 (c) Baban’s father and some elders mentioned the name of .........
 (d) “Hybrids need more............. ”, said Devu Handa.
 (e) The author bought ..........of rice from an Adivasi
woman who lived in remote hills.
b) pesticide c) Kasbai d) chemicals e)  a basketful

(A2) (i) List the reactions of the agricultural officer to the author’s inquiry
about Kasbai rice seeds. One is done for you.
 (a) He had not heard of Kasbai.
 (b) He said that there was no rice by that name.
 (c) He offered to give the author latest hybrid seeds of rice free of cost .

(ii) Go through the text once again and note down Devu Handa’s fond
memories of Kasbai in your exercise book. One is done for you.

 Devu Handa has fond memories of Kasbai. They are as follows !

 (a) It needs rain.
 (b) People passing through the village would stop due to aroma of rice and ask for meal.
 (c) The entire village would grow Kasbai.
(A3) (i) The writer says he grew ‘an awful lot of moong’. Explain the word
'awful' in this sentence.

(ii) The word scent is different from its synonyms aroma, fragrance or
perfume. Explain how the word 'scent' in the subtitle ‘Scent of the
Rice’, has a deeper meaning than ‘perfume’ or ‘fragrance’. Tick
phrases having a similar meaning from the following:
 (a) In pursuit of
 (b) To smell a rat
 (c) To be keen
 (d) On the tail of
 (e) To feel under the weather

(A5) (i) Planting and growing more crops a year seems to be progress by
normal standards; but the chapter makes a case against it. Giver reasons.
Ans: Chemical fertilifer , pesticides and insecticide are used to yield more crop. Food grown in this process is unsafe . Consumption of such food leads to illness . Even the fertility  of the land gets damaged . So the author prefers less crop grown out of organic fertilifer. 
(ii) Describe in about 150 words your experience similar to the writer’s
when you pursued something and reached your goal.
(iii) The writer goes in search of an invaluable indigenous variety ofy
seeds. List three reasons for the importance of keeping records of
our indigenous agricultural practices.
Ans: 1. Keeping records of
our indigenous agricultural PRACTICES is necessary for the research on them. 
2. It helps the locals to understand the importance of indigenous agricultural practices. 
3. The indigindig agricultural practices are based on ecological knowledge such as agroforestry , water conservation. 
(iv) Write a blog in about 100 to 150 words on organic farming.

2.2 The Sower : Brainstorming

Ice breakers

Make a list of words related to agriculture.
Farm, crop, sowing, plough, cultivate, yield, seeds, grains, spade, scythe, sprout, pod, spray,

ii) Discuss the activities carried out by a farmer.

Ploughing    furrowing    sowing  cultivating 
iii) In our country engineering, teaching and medical field are much sought after. Other professions, occupations though they make a significant contribution to the society, do not get their due.

iv) ‘Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian Economy’ Fill in the boxes supporting this statement. Complete the web diagram.

Brain storming

(A1) There are a number of challenges a farmer in India faces. Discuss with your friend, how it is possible to improve the condition of farmers.

(A2) The poet has observed the sower closely. Express in your words the reverence the poet has for the sower.
Ans: The poet has great respect for the sower. The sower is described as hardworking and a man of patience. He is dominant.
(A3) The poet is prompted to call the sower an ‘august personality’ which means one who reached the highest position in his work place.
Explain this using the following points.
Hard work          Perseverance              Dedication
The sower is working hard. Though the working hours came to an end, he lingers in his work place. He sows the seeds and waits for the crop all the season. He works day and night to grow his crops.
(A4)I)  Pick out the examples of alliteration from the poem and write them down.

Ans: 1.  Sunlight, I see, dying fast - The consonantal sound 's' is repeated pleasingly.
         2. Darkness deepens. -The consonantal sound 'd' is repeated pleasingly.
II) 'Seems to touch the starry skies'. The poet has used word imagery. Describe
the idea and pick out other similar examples from the poem.
Ans:  The poet has created a mental picture of a farmer touching the sky filled with  stars .
Similar examples of word imagery are as follows: 1.Twilight hastens on to rule
     2. Marches he along the plain.
(A5) (i) Write an appreciation of the poem considering the following points:
 • About the poem/poet/title.
 • Theme
 • Poetic devices, language, style
 • Special features/ novelties/focussing elements
 • Values, message
 • Your opinion about the poem


(ii) Write a summary of the poem using the following points:
 • Title
 • Introductory paragraph (about the poem, type, nature, tone)

Activity sheet

A1. Complete the web chart about poet's observation.

A2. "Soon shall come a time to reap". Name and explain the figure of speech and find one another of similar type.

Ans: Inversion : The line is not in a correct prose order. Correct order - A time shall come soon to reap.

        Other examples of inversion :1. Marches he along the plain 2. Now to sow the task is set.
A3 Pick out the line that shows evening time.
Ans: The following lines indicate evening time
         1. Sunlight, I see, dying fast
         2. Twilight hastens on to rule
         3. Shadows run across the lands
A4. Compose a poem on farmer in 4 line in continuation to the following
         Waiting for the rain
         To grow the grain.
        Eager to take world's care.
        Does he get his fare?
        Sometimes rain makes him.
       Sometimes it takes him. 

Audio File of the Poem.

My Teaching Practices

*The way I dealt with 'Being Neighborly' in classroom.*
                    ✒Prafulla Mahure

I began with ice breaking activities. I got oral as well as written responses. Students came up with different responses. I accepted them. For the web diagram I drew it on the white board and asked students to complete. When they were unable to express in English, I allowed them to express in Marathi or Hindi and provided them with necessary words /expression and sentence structure in English.

Henceforth I introduced them with the writer and the write up in short. (I didn't read each line from introduction section, asked them to read at home.)

While dealing with the story my focus was on reading. I read the dialogue in a bit louder tone. I asked them to explain the meaning of simple sentences. I allowed them to discuss. I read and explained 4 to 5 sentences together. I explained in simple English with gesture and actions so that students may understand. I wrote meanings of words. I provided synonyms and antonyms whenever possible. I drew their attention to activities given in margin at the necessary time. I asked them to complete with the help of the text. I didn't feel the need of explaining each line in Marathi. *(In the beginning they did not understand still I explained in English. Within a month they will become habitual to listen in English. I strongly believe understanding a story or essay in mother tongue is of no use to learn English. )*
I reminded them the names of four sisters every now and then.
I asked them to identify the speaker of the dialogue when it is not mentioned (page no. 4, 11). I treated it as nuisances of spoken English. I introduced stress pattern for reading purpose . Here I didn't give explanation. I drew their attention towards the of phrases like *bag and baggage* and grammatical use *too..... to and exclamatory sentences .* I would ask some statements for true and false, to complete as ice breaker activities every next day. Activities in the margins helped me a lot to deal with the story. I made as much use of them as possible.
After completing the story I went for brain storming activities. We had discussion on it. I asked them to write completed activities in notebook at home. I summed up the story in short . 

I introduced them  with  different activities . (I use printed activity sheet for std 12 ) 

Expansion of Ideas

If winter comes, can spring be far behind?

If winter comes, can spring be far behind? is a quote of a great nature poet P. B. Shelley. The quote means spring, a symbol of life and joy follows the winter, a symbol of death. It is symbolic of life. As there is cycle of seasons in nature, the life is a web of sorrow and happiness. Pain is not permanent. It is followed by gain of happiness. It makes us optimistic. It gives rise to hopefulness.

    The poet was undergoing a bad patch in poetry. Good poetry wasn't coming of his way. But he didn't give in. He strongly believed in his strength. He was hopeful of good poetry soon. Everyone of us has tough times in life. We should remember that there will be a good time sooner or later. Yuvraj Singh was diagnosed with cancer. He got treatment and came out with a new vigour to play cricket.

    Every cloud has silver lining.  One should have positive attitude towards life. If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you can't. Morning follows night. There is light after darkness.

Eat to live not live to eat'

'Eat to live not live to eat' is an idiom. It stands as an advice of doctor to obese.It is an advice for everyone of us in the age of fast food. Eat to live means eating for survival and to energize the body. Live to eat means taking interest only in food. It is giving more importance to the tongue and belly than to the whole body.

In the world of busy life schedule no one has much time to take care of health. One should not forget that 'Health is Wealth'
Those who live to eat fall prey to innumerable diseases. To much eating or eating all the time gives a shelter to disease. In the school and college students eat fast food. Such food is tasty so they keep eating as if they live to eat. Parents also bring such food at home. Nowadays going to restaurants for weekend,birthdays and anniversaries have become a status symbol. People are taking more interest in eating than jogging. They eat after morning walk; they eat before going to office; they eat during office hours and they eat while reaching home. After reaching they set out with family to eat. Their days are filled with eating and eating.

This practice is not healthy. So we should eat to fuel the body. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is a wise way to be healthy. The food we consume should have nutrients. Increase in diseases like obesity,cardiac arrest, blood pressure, sugar level, hypertension etc. is the effect of too much eating. To live a happy and healthy life we should remember the doctor's advice
'Eat to live not live to eat'.


Expansion of Idea

A bad workman blames his tools.*

One who fails in his efforts /work gives excuses. He/she assumes other things responsible for the failure. Instead of taking responsibility of uncompleted work some people find fault with the equipment. They blame the equipment for the their failure. They do not accept their fault.
My friend was repairing a cell phone. He put all the efforts. After a while he handed the phone to the owner. The phone persisted the same problem. When the owner complained, he told him that the cell phone was outdated. It was beyond repair. He suggested to buy a new one. The owner went to another repair store and got his phone repaired. Here it means that my friend had little knowledge of phone repairing and he could not repair it. But he blamed the cell phone itself.

On many occasions people consider them skilled and expert. In spite of their failure they blame on other or equipment. They blame always others for their unfinished work. It means such persons are bad workmen and they blame the tools they are using.

Activity Sheet on 'On To The Summit : We Reach The Top'

Extract : 'When we left Camp...................... not two individuals but a team."
A1 State true or false. Correct the false statements
1) The mountaineers left camp nine on Saturday morning
2) The mountaineers kept their places changing
3) Hillary would take the lead
4) The mountaineer had four flags in his pocket
5) Colonel hunt gave the mountaineer four flags


A1 Enlist the countries of which the mountaineer carried the flags
A2 Point out the patriotism of the mountaineer.
Ans: He was carrying the Indian flag with him. With the permission of Colonel Hunt he wanted to place the flag on top of the mountain. This shows his patriotism.
A3 Give reasons for the rope being called a symbol
Ans: Rope tied them together. They had to move together. Rope made them a team.
A4 Find the synonyms of : 1. Hill top 2. Vovage 3. Vertical 4. Pitch
A5 Express your liking or disliking for adventurous sport.
A6. Rewrite the following sentences as instructed.
1. I was carrying the Indian flag. (Begin the sentence with - ' The Indian flag.......)
2. This was slow and difficult.(Rewrite as exclamatory.)
3. I was not afraid to die that day. (Rewrite it as affirmative)
Activity No. 2
Extract " When we reached ........ her prized possessions"
A1. Rearrange the statements in order as the events occur in the extract.
1.) They made a pact.
2.) They reached Kathmandu.
3.) They signed their own statements.
4.) They discovered that a controversy had arisen.
Ans: 1. They reached Kathmandu.
2. They discovered that a controversy had arisen.
3. They made a pact.
4. They signed their own statements.

A2. List the ways in which Tenzing Norgay celebrates on reaching the top.
1. By offering prayer
2. By placing the offering he carried
3. By unfurling flags on the summit
A3. Tenzing and Hillary remained aloof from the controversy. Prove it.
Ans: When they discovered that the controversy had arisen about who reached the summit first, they agreed that the talk was childish. They made a pact mentioning they reached together and signed it.
A4. Give one word for the following expressions:
1. The things that are needed to do a particular work
2. The feelings of being grateful
3. A covering for the face of a part of it.
4. Having god’s help and protection
Ans: 1. Equipment 2. Gratitude 3. Mask 4. Blessed
A5. Write about any controversy you or your friend involved in.
A6. Rewrite as instructed
1. When we reached Kathmandu we discovered that a controversy had arisen. (Rewrite using ‘No sooner….. than’ by removing ‘when’)
2. We crossed over the south summit and moved along the summit ridge. ( Rewrite as simple sentence.)
ANS
1. No sooner did we reach Kathmandu than we discovered that a controversy had arisen.
2. Crossing over the south summit we moved along the summit ridge.


Grammar Activities
Spot the error. One is done for you.
I was not afraid for die that day.
Correct Sentence- I was not afraid to die that day.
(a) Tenzing and Hillary made an pact at the office of P M of Nepal.
Correct :Tenzing and Hillary made a pact at the office of P M of Nepal.
(b) I has to bring my ice axe down with me.
Correct :I had to bring my ice axe down with me.
(c) Tenzing have spent a night with Camp Eight.
Correct :Tenzing had spent a night with Camp Eight.
(d) Pact was signed from Tenzing and Hillary.
Correct :Pact was signed by Tenzing and Hillary.
(e) I and Hillary were in no mood of talking.
Hillary and I were in no mood for talking.

When Tenzing and Hillary reached the summit, Tenzing in utter joy said,
“We have done it.” In this sentence the subject (we) is the doer of the
action while it (achieving the feat) is the Object . The verb of passive voice
is formed by using the correct form of the verb ‘to be’ + past participle
of the main verb. Construct the sentences accordingly.
Now carefully go through the changes in both the sentences and do the
changes accordingly in the remaining sentences.
• We have done it.
It has been done by us.
(a) We made a pact.
A pact was made by us.
(b) I offered silent prayer in my heart.
Silent prayer was offered in my heart
(c) Colonel Hunt gave me three flags.
1.I was given three flags by Colonel Hunt.
2.Three flags were given to me by Colonel Hunt.
(d) I was carrying the Indian flag.
The Indian flag was being carried by me.
(e) I took photographs of Tenzing holding aloft the flags.
Photographs of Tenzing holding aloft the flags were taken by me.
(f) I remembered him.
He was remembered by me.
(g) We spent the night at Camp Eight.
The night was spent at Camp Eight by us.


Look at the sentences given below. Find out which one is correct. If the
sentence is wrong give reasons.
a. Sunita is the quieter of four sisters. Incorrect : Comparison is among four sisters.
b. Sunita is the quietest of the four sisters. Correct
c. Anil’s computer is more new than mine. Incorrect : Comparative adjective is newer.
d. Anil’s computer is newer than mine. Correct
e. I have the wonderfullest mother in the world. Incorrect : superlative adjective of wonderful is most wonderful.
f. I have the most wonderful mother in the world. Correct
g. Aditi is more carefuller than Mary. Incorrect : carefuller is wrong.
h. Aditi is more careful than Mary. Correct
When we compare two nouns, we use comparative adjectives. When we
compare more than two nouns, we use superlative adjectives.
For Example. – a. Milind is taller than John.
b. Zakir is the tallest of the three brothers.
Look at the following sentences and observe the changes in the three
sentences.
a. Atul is not as bright as Milind in studies. Positive Degree
b. The dining room is brighter than the kitchen. Comparative Degree
c. Anne is the brightest girl in class. Superlative Degree

• Fill in the blanks with comparative, superlative and positive forms of the
correct adjectives in the brackets.
a. You are very naughty. You are as clever as your brother (clever)
b. The tiger is the most dangerous animal in the zoo (dangerous)
c. This is the busiest road in town. (busy)
d. My new house is bigger than the one I used to live in. (big)
e. He is the most forgetful boy in class. (forgetful)

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.