9th Std SONG OF THE RAIN

SONG OF THE RAIN Q/As

Read the following extracts and answer the
questions:

1. I am beautiful pearls
plucked from the crown of Ishter
by the daughter of Dawn
to embellish the gardens

(a) Who does ‘I’ refer to in these lines ?

Ans. ‘I’ is referred to the rain.

(b) What does ‘I’ compare itself to ?

Ans. I (the rain) compares itself to the beautiful pearls
plucked from the crown of Ishter (goddess of fertility)

(a) What is meant by the phrase ‘to embellish the
garden’ ?

Ans. It means to decorate the garden.

2. The field and the cloud are lovers
and between them I am
a messenger of mercy
I quench the thirst of the one
I cure the ailment of the other
(a) Why are the field and the cloud called lovers ?

Ans. The are called lovers as they are far away from
each other and desperately want to meet.

(b) How does the rain help the field and the
cloud ?

Ans. The rain helps them by acting as a messenger of
mercy. It quenches the thirst of one and cures the ailment
of the other.

(c) In these lines ‘messenger of mercy’ refers to
whom ?

Ans. It refers to ‘the rain’.

3. The voice of thunder
declares my arrival;
The rainbow announces my departure
I am like earthly life
which begins at
The feet of the mad elements and ends
under the upraised wings of death.

(a) What declares the arrival of the rain ?

Ans. The thunder announces the arrival of rain.

(b) How is the departure of the rain announced ?

Ans. The departure of the rain is announced by the
rainbow.

(c) How does the poet compare the rain to the
earthly life ?

Ans. Just like everything on the earth takes birth and
dies, so does the rain. It has a beginning and comes to an
end.

4. I touch gently at the windows with my

Soft fingers, and my announcement is a

Welcome song. All can hear, but only

The sensitive can understand.

(a) How is the arrival of rain announced?

The arrival of the rain is announced by a welcome song.

(b) Why is it welcomed?

It is welcomed because it is needed by all – men, animals, plants.

(c) What is the difference between hearing and understanding?

Hearing means hearing casually, whereas understanding implies hearing

something with understanding its meaning as well.

(d) Explain the line ‘All can hear hut only the sensitive can understand’.

The welcome song of the rain is heard by all. But only those who are sensitive

and can feel can understand its meaning and enjoy it.

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. What are the various comparisons that have
been made for rain? Discuss

Ans. The comparison made for rain are — dotted
silver threads — beautiful pearls — earthly life — sigh of
the sea — laughter of the field, the tears of heaven.

2. Discuss the theme of the poem ‘Song of the Rain’.

Ans. It is a song of the rain. The poet has described in
various beautiful ways calling it silver threads, messenger
of mercy, beautiful pearl drops, sigh of the sea, laughter of
the fields. The voice of thunder announces its arrival and
the rainbow announces its departure. It satisfies the thirst
of the field, it decorates the gardens. It makes the hills
happy. It is a divine gift of God.

3. Describe the cyclic nature of rain as described
by the poet. How does it differ from its scientific
version?

Ans. The poet describes the cyclic nature of rain
through — ‘Sigh of the sea’ refers to the process of
evaporation of sea water-forming clouds, ‘a tears of rain’
refers to falling of raindrops from the sky, Thunder is the
cry of the sky. The poet endows the rain with divine
attributes, earthly beauty, human emotions. The scientific
version is simply of evaporation, condensation and
precipitation.

4. Explain, “when I cry, the hills laugh, when I humble myself, the flowers rejoice.”

Rain’s cry refers to downpour. When it rains on the parched hills, they laugh

with joy at the arrival of a long awaited rain and flowers too rejoice, for they too

can bloom and make the nature beautiful once again.

5. How is rain the messenger of mercy? Whom does rain take the messages to?

Rain is a messenger of mercy between the field and the clouds. It is a

messenger of mercy rather than of love because rain is nature’s merciful

blessing for the earth.

6. How is rain the sigh of the sea?

Rain is the sigh of the sea because the sea heaves a sigh of pain at the

departure of a part of it but at the same time another sigh of relief with the

thought that it would return in the form of a rain.

Answer the following question in 80-100 words:

(a) ‘Song of the Rain’ is an autobiography of rain. Discuss.

‘Song of the Rain’ is an autobiography of rain. Rain is the speaker throughout

the poem. It describes its journey in the poem. It describes its birth, its

descending upon earth and departure; much like the cycle of birth and death of

living things. Rain says that it rises from the heart of the sea and reaches the

sky as clouds. The clouds are overloaded with water till it becomes unbearable.

Rain helps them in floating light and fresh again. Rain falls on the flowers,

fields, trees and rejuvenates their souls. It gives them a fresh life. Nature looks

beautiful due to rain. Its arrival is welcomed with a happy heart by everyone.

The thunder announces its arrival while the rainbow signals its departure. Rain

wants to tell its readers that it is SONG OF THE RAIN.It is a boon to the mankind.

10th Std VIRTUALLY TRUE

VIRTUALLY TRUE Q/As

Answer the following in 30 to 40 words.

a) Why did the newspaper headline catch the eye of the narrator?

The newspaper headline was about of a boy named Sebastian Shultz who had

miraculously regained his consciousness after an accident. The newspaper also

carried the boy's picture and to Michael's surprise, he was the same Sebastian

Shultz he had rescued in the computer game.

b) What was the last message that the narrator (Michael ) received from Sebastian?

The narrator received an e mail from Sebastian in which he thanked Michael for

saving him and hoped to meet him soon. He tells Michael to keep the games

because he had earned them. The narrator shakes his head in wonder and

surprise.

c) Where and how did Sebastian first meet the narrator (Michael)?

The narrator first met Sebastian in the game called ‘Wildwest’ where Sebastian

appeared as a second sheriff and asked him not to go out and fight ‘Jed’ but to

follow him.

d) What does the newspaper headline say about Sebastian Shultz?

The newspaper headline tells about a fourteen-year-old boy named Sebastian

Shultz who met with an accident six weeks ago. He was playing computer games

on his laptop. . He was admitted to a hospital where his condition remains

stable, but he doesn't regain his senses. He goes into a coma. Doctors do their
best, but there is no improvement. It is feared that the boy will remain in coma

for ever. Yet he had a miraculous recovery.


e)According to the newspaper what had happened to Sebastian Shultz?

The newspaper with the headline “Miracle Recovery” highlighted the recovery of 

Sebastian Shultz from coma. He was a 14 year old lad from South London who was 

badly injured in a motorway accident six weeks ago. When he was brought to the 

hospital, doctors described his condition to critical but stable. Despite doctor’s 

hopes the boy did not win back his consciousness. He was in the state of coma.


f)‘Dad’s nutty about computers: What evidence is there to support the statement?

Indeed, dad is fanatic about computers. He knows how to be updated with the latest computer configurations and related gadgets. In his possession he is proud to have a computer of Pentium 150 Mh_z⁴processor, with 256 of RAM, a 1.2 Gb hard disk drive and 16 speed CDROM, complete with speakers, printer, modems and scanner. He is even crazy about games and related gadgets. Recently he bought a virtual reality visor, glove and a few interactive psycho drive games.

g)what way the second game seem very real?

With perfect realistic characterization and positive circumstances, the second game appeals us to be a real life one. When Michael reached Princess Aurora she squealed “my hero” and these “rescue me now” seemed to us to be authentic. And then when they were chased by the dragons in close pursuit, the anxious Sebastian’s call ‘quick’, “when there’s still time”, “ The dungeons, “They are our only hope “ take us into the real realm of the games.

h)The last game has tanks, jeeps, helicopters, guns and headings would you put this and the other games under?

In the last game ‘war zone’ we come across tanks, jeeps, helicopters, guns etc. the game starts in an unknown war zone where there are many tall buildings. The buildings were windowless and riddling. Machine gun raked the sky. Walls tumbled. Bombs exploded. Michael had to save Sebastian. They went to the helicopter in a jeep. A tank was behind them in close pursuit. The tank crashed against the jeep and threw Sebastian out saving him accidently. This game in particular and all other games can be put under the category of ‘psycho drive games’.

i)What was Michael’s theory about how Sebastian had entered the game ?

 Michael is the only one who accessed in and out of Sebastian’s existence. Michael is the only person who saved him in the game and found a possible explanation of his entering the game. As per him during the accident I Michael was busy in playing one of the psycho-drive games in his laptop. And when he had the accident, his memory got saved in the game and he himself went in coma. And Michael met with him when he bought those stolen games which he bought from the computer fair.

j)Narrate the incident that injured Sebastian Shultz.

Sebastian got badly injured in the game of ‘JAILBREAK’ Michacl and Sebastian got out of the prison cell using a skeleton swipe card . Then they dodged the guards climbed the stairs and came on the roof. Sebastian had already planned for a helicopter. But before their departure , guards appeared with vicious dogs which had dripping of jowls. Seeing the dogs   hurtling towards twin Sebastian got nervous and tried to move backwards. But he moved back and fell from roof in got himself badly injured.

k)Why did the news of the miracle recovery shock Michael ?

It was beyond imagination to Michael to come across with the ‘miracle recovery’ story because he never imagined that the character in the game i.e. Sebastian whom he saved, really did exist. He was in utmost shock because according to the article, the boy, Sebastian was so long in the coma where as Michael saved him in the game in the same duration.Michael’s meeting with Sebastian had been a chance meeting. 

l)Where had it taken place and how?

 Indeed, the meeting of Michael with Sebastian had occurred by chance and of course a positive one. After the accident of Sebastian, his games were stolen and coincidentally Michael bought those games. When Michael played one of the first games named, ‘wildwest’ he found Sebastian in the form of a sheriff and almost of his age.

Read the extracts and answer the questions that follow.

1. ‘It was while we were in hospital, someone stole the lot. I don’t know what happened to

them.’

a) Who is the speaker of the above lines?

Mr. Shultz, Sebastian’s father is the speaker of the above lines.

b) What is being referred to as ‘them’?

The computer games that they lost are being referred to as ‘them’.

c) What happened to ‘them’?

The computer games that were stolen from Sebastian ended up at the computer

fair and were resold to the narrator’s father.

d) Who was in the hospital and why?

The speaker’s son, Sebastian was in hospital because he had met with a car

accident and was in coma.

2. ‘That was my idea!’ said Sebastian excitedly. If only it would go a bit faster........

At that moment, the door behind us burst open.

a) What is being referred to as ‘it’?

The helicopter that Sebastian had called for to help them escape is being referred

to as ‘it’.

b) What happened when the door burst open?

When the door burst open, twelve guards with vicious dogs were standing there.

c) Who is referred to as ‘us’ and what were they trying to go?

The narrator and Sebastian were trying to escape from the jail cell.

Did they achieve what they wanted to do?

The narrator was able to escape using the helicopter but when the dogs came

hurtling towards them, Sebastian tumbled back and fell down.

3. Before I had a chance to say anything to him though, the helicopter flew into thick

cloud. It turned everything blinding white. I couldn’t see a thing 

until ‘Game Over’

flashed up.

a) Who did the speaker wish to communicate with?

The speaker wished to communicate with Sebastian who he had finally rescued.

The helicopter was taking them away from the ‘Warzone’.

c) What did the speaker see next?

After everything turned blinding white, the narrator couldn’t see a thing until

‘Game Over’ flashed up.

d) Give the meaning of the phrase - ‘Blinding white’ –

Very bright and likely to dazzle or cause temporary blindness.

 Answer the following in 80 -100 words.

a) What did the narrator do when he received the message – ‘I am stuck. Please help to retrieve me. Try Dragon quest ' Sebastian Shultz.’?
The narrator wanted to go straight back on the computer as requested but
he was half an hour past his bedtime. So, he started playing the next
morning. In the game, Michael had to play a knight and save Princess Aurora
from the wicked dragon. She was a young woman with long golden plaits. But
suddenly a second knight appeared who said, "Never mind her. It's me who
needs rescuing!" This second knight was the same Sebastian of the first game.
He leapt out of the window and told Michael to do the same. Just then the
dragon appeared. Michael swung his sword. But the dragon was only
interested in Sebastian. Michael could not save him from the dragon.

b) How does Sebastian Shultz memory enter the narrator’s computer?
The narrator theorizes that Sebastian had been plugged into the computer when
he banged his head in the accident. He had been playing the same psycho drive
games that the narrator had. The computer had saved his memory in its own.
While Sebastian was in hospital, his games were stolen and sold at the computer
fair. These games were bought by the narrator’s father. The weird versions of the
games that the narrator had been drawn into were attempts to retrieve that memory.

10th Std SNAKE

SNAKE Q/As

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. He reached down from a fissure in the earth-wallin the gloom
And trailed his yellow-brown slackness soft-bellieddown, over the edge
of the stone-trough
(a) From where had the snake appeared?
The snake had come from the inside portion of the earth-wall.
(b) Describe the path the snake took to reach the water.
The snake came out from the crack in the wall and came trailing on the
ground to reach the edge of the water trough
(c) Identify the poetic device in ‘slackness, soft-bellied’.
Alliteration
(d) Why did the snake come there?
The snake had come there to quench his thirst.


2.And flickered his two-forked tongue from his lips, and mused a moment,
And stooped and drank a little more,
Being earth-brown, earth-golden from the burning bowels of the earth
(a) Explain ‘mused a moment?
It means ‘it appeared to be thinking for some time’.
(b) What does the manner of the snake suggest?
The snake appears very relaxed and ‘unhurried’ and takes his time to drink
water.
(c) Why is the poet watching every action of the snake?
The snake has fascinated the poet with his majestic behaviour.
(d) What was the colour of the snake?
The snake was of golden brownish colour.

Short Answer Type Question

(a) How were the poet’s beliefs regarding snakes conditioned by society? 
Society ingrains certain preconceived notions in our mind and due to that we don’t judge situations by instinct — The poet was fascinated by the snake.
He appreciated the snake’s majestic and harmless nature but the earlier
instincts drilled in him by society force him to strike at the snake. He had
been taught to kill snakes.

(b) Why does the poet feel honoured by the presence of the snake?
The poet feels obliged that the snake had come all the way from the inner
depths of the earth to his water trough and this was a kind of honour.
Moreover, the snake is so regal and majestic in his bearing that the poet
feels honoured to have him as his guest.

(c) Why did the poet despise himself? Mention the three words that he uses to
describe his action.
The poet feels very guilty of trying to hit at the snake. He calls his act ‘mean’
‘petty’ and feels like making amends. The poet believes that he must
compensate for his unreasonable and undignified act. He uses the words ‘to
expiate’, which express his feelings.

(d) The poet has a dual attitude towards the snake. Why does he experience contrast
emotions on seeing the snake?
When the poet saw the snake drinking water from the water trough, he was
overpowered by the voices of human education and natural instinctive
fascination for the snake. On one hand, the voice of modern education
prompts the poet to kill the snake for golden brown snakes are poisonous.
On the other hand, his natural instinct fascinated him and he felt honoured
that the snake had sought his hospitality.

(e) “And I have something to expiate, a pettiness” is the last and most powerful line of
the poem. What does the poet expiate?
Expiate is such a strong word meaning repent or atone for a crime. The poet
wants to atone for his sin. He regrets throwing the log at the snake as he
realized that the snake was not going to harm him. He wants to repent his
pettiness and atone for the sin he has committed.

(f) The poet gives a vivid description of the snake. Describe accordingly.
The snake, which visited the poet, had a yellowish brown belly, which
drooped along the edge of the stone trough. He was resting his throat upon
the stone bottom and sipping water from the trough into his sleek long body.
After quenching his thirst, he raised his head and flickered his forked
tongue.

Long Answer Type Question

(a) What ideas and thoughts come to the poet's mind when he finds a poisonous

snake drinking water at his water trough?
After reaching his water trough on a very hot day,the poet finds a snake
drinking water from his water trough. He waits for the snake to finish
drinking water first since he is very particular regarding protocol. The snake
was brown in colour. The poet makes a frank confession that he really liked
the snake but educational and social conventions make the poet think that
the golden brown snakes were poisonous, so they must be killed. The inner
instinct of the poet makes him feel honoured that a snakehad come to seek
his hospitality from the deep recesses of the earth.
When the snake started to retreat back into the dark hole, the poet disliked it
and hurled a log at the snake.The snake vanished into the hole in great
haste. The poet was full of guilt. He really hated himself for such a mean act
and cursed the voice of education that had always taught him to kill snakes,
without any reason.

(b) Why does D.H Lawrence make an allusion to the albatross from Coleridge’s ‘The
Rime of the Ancient Mariner’?
The poet brings up a comparison with an event of the celebrated poem of
S.T. Coleridge, ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.’ He finds similarity of his
act to that of the mariner’s. In Coleridge’s poem, the mariner had killed the
albatross when it visited his ship for shallow reason and later the mariner
longed for its return. In this poem too, D.H Lawrence tried to harm the snake
by hurling a log without any proper cause and later had longed for its return
from the underworld.


(c) Describe the manner in which the snake arrived and departed.
The snake had come from the crack in the wall made of earth, from the
darkness, from the scorching inside portion of the earth. The snake did not
feel the threat of the poet’s presence, so its movement is very languid, very
relaxed and unhurried. It stretched its long and slack body, drank water with
great spells of flavor and enjoyment. It licked its lips; it mused and put his
head on the edge of the water-trough. Its departure was exactly the
opposite—quick, clumsy, abrupt like the speed of lightning.

(d) Bring out the irony in the poet’s act of dropping the stick that gave the snake an
undignified shiver.
The poet’s gentle behaviour with snake while it was drinking water from his
water trough was probably the only instance in the lives of the Sicilian
snakes in history. In Sicily, snakes never expect a man to behave gently with
them nor does a man let a snake go in a single piece. By behaving
benevolently, considering the snake as a fellow creature, a glorious king, as
God himself, the poet had brought the snake to a false security feeling.