Thinking about the Text
I. Answer these questions in one or two sentences each.
- Where was Abdul Kalam’s house?
- Abdul Kalam’s house was on Mosque Street in Rameswaram.
- What do you think Dinamani is the name of? Give a reason for your answer.
- Dinamani is the name of a local newspaper. Kalam mentions tracing the war stories through its headlines, indicating it was a source of news.
- Who were Abdul Kalam’s school friends? What did they later become?
- Abdul Kalam’s school friends were Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Shivaprakasan. Ramanadha Sastry became the high priest of the Rameshwaram temple, Aravindan became a transport businessman, and Shivaprakasan was a catering contractor for the Southern Railways.
- How did Abdul Kalam earn his first wages?
- Abdul Kalam earned his first wages during the Second World War by helping his cousin catch bundles of newspapers thrown from a moving train.
- Had he earned any money before that? In what way?
- Yes, he had earned money by collecting and selling tamarind seeds during the war, making a small profit of one anna per day’s collection.
II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words).
- How does the author describe: (i) his father, (ii) his mother, (iii) himself?
- (i) Kalam describes his father, Jainulabdeen, as honest and wise but not wealthy or formally educated. (ii) His mother, Ashiamma, was kind-hearted and supportive, feeding many people daily. (iii) Kalam sees himself as a short boy with ordinary looks but possesses strong values of honesty and discipline.
- What characteristics does he say he inherited from his parents?
- He inherited honesty and self-discipline from his father and a belief in goodness and kindness from his mother.
III. Discuss these questions in class with your teacher and then write down your answers in two or three paragraphs each.
- “On the whole, the small society of Rameswaram was very rigid in terms of the segregation of different social groups.” (i) The author mentions two social groups: orthodox Brahmins and Muslims, easily identifiable by their attire. Kalam wore a cap, while Ramanadha Sastry wore a sacred thread. (ii) They were aware of their differences but also shared friendships and experiences. For instance, bedtime stories in Kalam’s family included tales from the Ramayana, and during festivals, their families collaborated. (iii) People aware of differences included a new teacher at the school and his science teacher’s wife, who refused to serve Kalam. Those bridging the gap were Kalam’s science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, and Lakshmana Sastry, who advocated for inclusion. (iv) An incident showing created differences was when the new teacher separated Kalam from his Hindu friend, which led to intervention from their parents. Conversely, Sivasubramania Iyer invited Kalam for meals, fostering unity. Attitudes can change through understanding and personal experiences.
- (i) Why did Abdul Kalam want to leave Rameswaram?
- Kalam wanted to leave for further studies at the district headquarters in Ramanathapuram. (ii) What did his father say to this?
- His father expressed that it was natural for Kalam to seek growth, comparing him to a seagull that flies alone without a nest. (iii) What do you think his words mean? Why do you think he spoke those words?
- His words encouraged Kalam to pursue his education while helping his mother understand the need for independence, highlighting parental love and foresight.
Thinking about Language
I. Find the sentences in the text where these words occur:
- erupt
- surge
- trace
- undistinguished
- casualty
Answer
- What are the things that can erupt? Use examples to explain the various meanings of erupt. Now do the same for the word surge. What things can surge?
- Erupt:
- Examples:
- Anger: “Her anger erupted during the argument.”
- Volcano: “The volcano erupted, spewing lava.”
- Riots: “Riots erupted in the city.”
- Surge:
- Examples:
- Waves: “The waves surged onto the shore.”
- Pride: “His pride surged when he received the award.”
- Army: “The army surged forward during the battle.”
- What are the meanings of the word trace and which of the meanings is closest to the word in the text?
- Meanings of trace include:
- To follow or discover the course of development of something.
- To find or discover through investigation.
- The closest meaning in the text is “to find or discover through investigation.”
- Can you find undistinguished in your dictionary? (If not, look for the word distinguished and say what undistinguished means.)
- The word undistinguished is derived from distinguished, which means “notable” or “eminent.” Thus, undistinguished means “ordinary” or “not remarkable.”
I. Match the phrases in Column A with their meanings in Column B.
| A | B |
|---|---|
| (i) broke out | (c) began suddenly in a violent way |
| (ii) in accordance with | (f) according to a particular rule, principle, or system |
| (iii) a helping hand | (d) assistance |
| (iv) could not stomach | (b) was unable to tolerate |
| (v) generosity of spirit | (a) an attitude of kindness, a readiness to give freely |
| (vi) figures of authority | (e) persons with power to make decisions |
II. Study the words in italics in the sentences below. Form the opposites of the words below by prefixing un- or in-.
| Word | Opposite |
|---|---|
| adequate | inadequate |
| acceptable | unacceptable |
| regular | irregular |
| tolerant | intolerant |
| demanding | undemanding |
| active | inactive |
| true | untrue |
| permanent | impermanent |
| patriotic | unpatriotic |
| disputed | undisputed |
| accessible | inaccessible |
| coherent | incoherent |
| logical | illogical |
| legal | illegal |
| responsible | irresponsible |
| possible | impossible |
III. Rewrite the sentences below, changing the verbs in brackets into the passive form.
- In yesterday’s competition, the prizes were given away by the Principal.
- In spite of financial difficulties, the labourers were paid on time.
- On Republic Day, vehicles are not allowed beyond this point.
- Second-hand books are bought and sold on the pavement every Saturday.
- Elections to the Lok Sabha are held every five years.
- Our National Anthem was composed by Rabindranath Tagore.
IV. Rewrite the paragraphs below, using the correct form of the verb given in brackets.
- How Helmets Came To Be Used in Cricket
- Nari Contractor was the Captain and an opening batsman for India in the 1960s. The Indian cricket team went on a tour to the West Indies in 1962. In a match against Barbados in Bridgetown, Nari Contractor was seriously injured and collapsed. In those days, helmets were not worn. Contractor was hit on the head by a bouncer from Charlie Griffith. Contractor’s skull was fractured. The entire team was deeply concerned. The West Indies players were worried. Contractor was rushed to the hospital. He was accompanied by Frank Worrell, the Captain of the West Indies Team. Blood was donated by the West Indies players. Thanks to the timely help, Contractor was saved. Nowadays helmets are routinely used against bowlers.
- Oil from Seeds
- Vegetable oils are made from seeds and fruits of many plants growing all over the world, from tiny sesame seeds to big, juicy coconuts. Oil is produced from cotton seeds, groundnuts, soya beans, and sunflower seeds. Olive oil is used for cooking, salad dressing, etc. Olives are shaken from the trees and gathered up, usually by hand. The olives are ground to a thick paste, which is spread onto special mats. Then the mats are layered up on the pressing machine, which gently squeezes them to produce olive oil.
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