Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions given below.
Maggu’s achievements are particularly noteworthy because – as is well – known academic institution in India are less than sold on the idea of inclusive education. In fact, when Maggu Lost her sight in class IV, her school (which she declines to name) expelled her while suggesting she attend a “blind school”. Though shocked, Maggu rejected the advice “Attending a special school would have tarred me the a handicap forever, which was not how I saw my future. Therefore I did the rounds of other public schools with my father, a small – time merchant, explaining that my case was different since I had vision till the age of ten,” she recalls.
Impressed by her persistence and ambition, Delhi’s Bluebells School not only admitted her but pulled out all the stops to support her in academics and in sports. Not surprisingly, she won laurels in inter – school sporting events and also notched up a respectable 73 per cent average in the class XII exam with the help of Braille, interactive textbooks and extra coaching.
This respectable average in her CBSE exam paved the way for admission into LSR where again she proved her mettle by winning medals in a slew of inter – college events (100, 200 and 400 metre sprints) high jump, long jump, javelin and discus throw, resulting in her being declared ‘Athlete of the year’ 2003 at a sports meet for 100 physically challenged athletes. And the cherry on the cake was the selection to the IBSA games last year. “It was a tough regimen”, recalls Maggu. “I had to attend sports camps, manage my studies and officiate as sports president. But I managed.”
1. What qualities of Maggu are highlighted in this passage?
Jyoti Maggu’s determination, persistence and ambition are highlighted in this passage.
2. Why did Maggu refuse to attend a ‘blind school’?
Jyoti Maggu refused to attend a blind school because doing so would have tarred her with a handicap forever.
3. Quote the lines that show that Jyoti Maggu was good in academics as well as in sports.
The line ‘Not surprisingly she won laurels in inter – school sporting events and also notched up a respectable 73 per cent average in the class XII exam.
4. Use any two phrases in sentences of your own:
a. To win laurels b. To pave the way c. To prove one’s mettle d. A tough regimen
Ans. a. Shyam and his brother won laurels in outdoor games for three consecutive years.
b. His association with his uncle paved the way for his entry into politics.
c. One can prove one’s mettle in various ways in life.
d. Managing studies and co – curricular activities on a daily basis is a tough regimen.
5. a. I did the rounds of other public schools with my father. (change the voice)
The rounds of other public schools were done with my father.
b. Though shocked, Maggu rejected the advice. (Rewrite as a simple sentence)
Ans. Inspite of being shocked, Maggu rejected the advice.
6. Should the physically challenged be sent to special schools? Express your views.
Ans. Yes, the physically challenged should be sent to special schools because they would get specialized care and handling. The staffs are trained to help them overcome their handicap.
For Practice
Q1. (A) Read the following passage and answer the following questions.
It was Dave’s sister Barbara, however, who steeled herself to be his toughest taskmaster. Even the time he’d left his Braille watch upstairs and asked her to retrieve it, she’d said, “Get it yourself. What do you think – that somebody’s always going to be around to wait on you?”
So David grew up considering blindness no tragedy – just an exasperating bother – and feeling he could do anything he set his mind to. Then at 13, he announced that he was going to be a doctor and unable to see the rueful headshakes that greeted this childish roclamation, he began preparing for his career. He insisted on leaving the local blind school, and enrolled at Havertown’s high school. He got good marks, won a place on the wrestling team, and was elected vice – president of the students council.
Still, as impressive as his accomplishments were, they had always fallen into the realm possibility. But David’s ambition to become a doctor, a psychiatrist, was not in that realm, his family believed. So, after seeing him off to college, the Hartmans felt they had not been frank enough with Dave, and they were afraid he was heading for grief.
At college, Hartman’s faculty advisers tried to reason with him. “Why not settle for something more within your capabilities, like history or psychology?” suggested biology professor Ralph Cavaliere.
1. What was the belief of David’s family? (1)
2. How did David consider his blindness? (1)
3. Why did Professor Ralph Cavaliere suggest that David should settle for History or Psychology? (2)
4. Why did the Hartmans feel that David “was heading for grief”? (2)
5. Do you feel Barbara was justified in being David’s toughest taskmaster”? (3)
6. Give the opposites of the following (1)
a. Impressive b. frank
7. Give Adjective forms of (1)
a. Accomplishment b. possibility
Q1. B. Read the following passage and answer the following questions.
One often hears of the high prevalence of child labour in our country. Of the many reports I have read, perhaps the most disturbing was a report on the condition of children employed by Zari factories in Delhi, Mumbai and other parts of India. It grieves me to imagine children exposed to such inhumanity.
Robbing children of their childhood is a criminal act, and our society must weed this malaise out from the rood. But where does the root lie? Before you attempt an answer, let me give you an anecdote from the other end of the social spectrum.
A colleague in Wipro has a child studying in Standard IX in a reputed school in Bangalore. This child wakes up at 5 a.m. and studies for an hour before going to school. She returns from school at 4 p.m. and rushes for her IIT entrance exam coaching class. At 6 p.m. she has tuitions for two hours. After dinner, she spends an hour or more on homework. I asked her when she gets time to play. She replied that she did not play. She gets half an hour of free time each day, which she spends watching her favourite serial on television. She also added that board exams and entrance exams are very important, and that you only get one chance. Is the condition of this child different from the child in the zari factory?
1. What is the most disturbing report read by the writer? (1)
2. What is the reason for the writer’s grief? (1)
3. What is the duty of the society, according to the writer? (2)
4. Where does the child in the writer’s anecdote go immediately after school? (2)
5. What does the child do in her free time? (1)
6. Do as directed. (3)
a. Robbing children of their childhood is a criminal act. (Use infinitive)
b. The condition of this child is not different from the child in the zari factory. (Make the rhetorical question)
c. After dinner, she spends an hour or more for homework. (Frame a wh – type question to get the underlined part of the sentence as answer.)
7. Give Adverb forms of the following adding suffixes. (1)
a. Criminal b. Social
Q1. C. Read the following extract and draw a tree-diagram on the 'Types of Volcanoes':
The volcanoes of the world are divided into three types on the basis of period of eruption. The volcanoes which erupt frequently and constantly the molten lavas, gases, ashes and fragmental materials, are known as active volcanoes. Most of the active volcanoes are found along the mid-oceanic ridges. All volcanoes do not erupt regularly. These dormant volcanoes may not show any sign of activity for years together nor any type of indication for future eruptions. But they suddenly erupt very violently and cause enormous damage to human life and property. Visuvious (Naples in Italy ) volcano is the best example which erupted first in 1579 A.D. and then in 1631A.D. The subsequent eruption occurred in 1803, 1872, 1906, 1927, 1928 and 1929. A volcano which is neither active nor dormant and has not erupted within the last few thousand years is called as extinct or dead volcano. This type of volcano has no indications of future eruption. Lonar lake in Maharashtra and Kailash lake in Jammu and Kashmir (India) are the typical examples of extinct volcano.
1. D. Read the following poem and answer the following questions. (8)
BASKETFUL OF MOONLIGHT
From the city to my village
on the side of the path
I want to sow many
Small, small moons of light,
The whole village goes to the city
daily to work.
It becomes dark on its way back
As my village is quite far.
The route is tough and full of
snakes and scorpions.
Neither bus nor cart plies.
When my father returns home
I am asleep.
And he goes back early in the morning
While I am sleeping
O moon
Give me a basketful of moonlight
On loan.
I want to light the dark route
So that my father returns early.
I too want to hear fairy tales.
1. How does the boy ask the moon to give him a basketful of moonlight? (1)
2. Name one personal problems of the boy and one general problem of all the villagers, as indicated by the village boy in the poem? (2)
3. Can you identify yourself with the problems of the boy in the poem? (2)
4. What is the poetic device used by the poet to make the village – boy talk to the moon? (1)
5. Discuss the technique of the poet to handle some of the problems of the Indian village. (2)
2. Your college has organized a drive against saving fuel in your area. Prepare an appeal in the form of handout to create awareness with the help of the following points. (4)
- Prepare an effective slogan.
- Use a logo / picture.
- Stress the evils of smoking and chewing tobacco.
- Use attractive language.
3. Write a tourist leaflet of a place of your interest keeping in mind the following. (4)
a. Name of Place
b. Conveyance
c. Distance from Mumbai.
d. Climate
e. Things to do
4. Write an application letter for the post of College Librarian.
