2 UNSEEN PASSAGES (UNSOLVED)

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1 2 UNSEEN PASSAGES (UNSOLVED) PASSAGE 1 Science and techonology are the most important developments of this century. They have done a lot to change the face of this world. However, if science does not lead to peace it would mean a great disaster for us. Science has developed and should develop with a view to helping the people to find a better life, a happier life a more peaceful life. And if science, as I said, leads to the making of nuclear bombs or atom bombs the very purpose and objectives of science would come to naught. With the help of science we have to obliterate the differences which exist between one community and the other and between one country and the other. The world could not remain divided into a developed area and an undeveloped area or a few countries highly developed and other countries still in a developing stage. This gulf, this difference, has to be wiped out and science could be of immense help in this direction. 1. Science and technology has -(a) Done harm (b) changed the world (c) Done good - Choose the correct alternative What has to be wiped out? 1 3. What is the major task to be done with the help of science? 1 4. ( i) Science and technology are the most important developments of 1 this century. (Change the degree) (ii) Science has developed. (Rewrite in present perfect continuous tense) 1 5. ( i ) Write the words which mean destroy completely, a sudden misfortune. 1 (ii) Write the adjective form of : Science, disaster How useful do you think has science been to us so far? 2 PASSAGE 2 A letter can hardly take the place of a talk; at best it is a one-sided affair. So, if I say anything that sounds like good advice do not take it as if it were a bad pill to swallow. Imagine that I have made a suggetion to you for you to think over, as if we really were having a talk. In history we read of great periods in the life of nations, of great men and women and great deeds performed and sometimes in our dreams and doing brave deeds like the heroines of old. Do you remember how fascinated you were when you first read the story of Jeanne d Arc, and how your ambition was to be something like her? Ordinary men and women are not usually heroic. They think of their daily bread and butter, of their children, of their household worries and the like. But a time comes when all people become full of faith for a great cause and then 20 SCHOOL SECTION

2 MT EDUCARE LTD. English Grammar even simple, ordinary men and women become heroes, and history becomes stirring and epoch-making. Great leaders have something in them which inspires a whole people and makes them do great deeds. 1. Why can t a letter take the place of a talk? 1 2. What is the difference between great men and women and ordinary 1 people? 3. What is the purpose of the writer s letter to his daughter? 1 4. (i) A letter can hardly take the place of a talk. (Rewrite the sentence as a rhetorical question) 1 (ii) In history we read of great periods. (Rewrite using present perfect continuous tense) 1 5. (i) Give the meaning of - reveries, epoch - making. 1 (ii) Give the noun form of: inspire, imagine Did you have any childhood dreams? What are they? 2 PASSAGE 3 High up above the world, in the extreme north of Uttar Pradesh, the clouds swirl down to touch the Himalayas, smattering them with affectionate layers of fresh snow. Over the years the snow has accumulated into thick layers. This is Uttar Khand-the abode of sages and seers, munis and mahamunis, rishis and maharishis. This is Tapobhoomi-the land for meditation and penance and the birth place of two of our most sacred rivers-the Yamuna and the Ganga. The Yamuna and the Ganges hurtle down steep canyons and deep ravines, cross the plains, unite at Allahabad to become the mighty Ganga which finds solace in the oceans. In its long journey, the Ganga drains 9,75,900 sq.km of land- roughly a fourth of the country. It imparts fertility and prosperity to 300 million people making the Gangetic plain one of the most fertile and densely populated regions in the world. 1. Where do the Yamuna and the Ganga rush violenty to? 1 2. What is the importance of Uttar Khand? 1 3. How is the Gangetic plain helping various regions in the world? 1 4. (i) Over the years the snow has accumulated. 1 (Rewrite using the noun form of the underlined word) (ii) It imparts fertility and prosperity to 300 million people. 1 (Change the voice) 5. Write the word that means : 2 (i) flow at varying speed with twists and turns. (ii) Explain - to find solace. 6. Describe a place you have visited? 2 SCHOOL SECTION 21

3 English Grammar MT EDUCARE LTD. PASSAGE 4 Oh, world of free nations, on this day of our freedom, we greet you. Oh, world of nations not yet free, on the day of our freedom we pray for your freedom in the future. Ours has been an epic struggle, covering many years and costing many lives. It has been a struggle, a dramatic struggle. It has been struggle of heroes chiefly anonymous in their millions. It has been a struggle of women, transformed into strength and power like the Kali, the goddess of strength they worship. It has been a struggle of youth suddenly transfigured into power itself, sacrifice and ideals. It has been a struggle of young men and old men, of rich and poor, the literate, the illiterate, the stricken, the outcast, the leper and the saint. It has been the only revolution in the whole history of the world that has been without bloodshed, and for this we thank one man, one tiny person, who on this day that he has brought to us, is some where remote in a little far-off corner of India, wiping the tears of those who feel themselves exiled from our midst.mahatma Gandhi, our prophet of non-violence, our general of victory, he taught us a new way of deliverance from evil. He had no device on his banner excepting non-violence. He had no weapons for his legions excepting self-sacrifice and suffering. We marched to the tune of faith and hope and charity that forgives all sins of trepassers that ruined our country through the ages. We have to thank him, our leader, whose life is immutable, who has created a new civilization for the world to be based, in the years to come, on his gospel of love, truth and non-violence. 1. On what occassion was this speech given by Sarojini Naidu? 1 2. Why has our freedom struggle been an epic struggle? 1 3. Whom do we have to thank for our freedom? 1 4. (i) Life is immutable. (Make it interrogative) 1 (ii) It has been the only revolution without bloodshed. (Make it negative) 1 5. Write the words that mean - (i) whose names are not known. 1 (ii) liberation What do you know about the persona who brought to us our freedom? 2 PASSAGE 5 Early next morning Duryodhan went to Dronacharya in a state of bitterness and anger and, after the customary salutation, addressed him thus in the presence of a large number of generals: Esteemed brahmana, Yudhishitira was quite within your reach yesterday and, if you really wished to take him, no one could have prevented you, yet you didn t take him and to me the events of yesterday are inexplicable. I cannot understand what makes it hard for you to carry out your promise to me. Dronacharya was exceedingly hurt by this insulting insinuation. Duryodhana, he said, I am putting forth on your behalf all the strength and skill I possess. You entertain thoughts unworthy of a king. As long as Arjuna is 22 SCHOOL SECTION

4 MT EDUCARE LTD. English Grammar present, supporting Yudhishthira, it is impossible for us to seize him. I have told you that already. It is only if we manage somehow to get Arjuna out of the battlefield then we can hope to carry out this plan as you desire and I am devising ways to attain this objective. Thus did Drona nobly conquer his just anger and seek to comfort Duryodhana in his distress. On the thirteenth day, the samsaptakas again challenged Arjuna to battle and he accordingly went to attack them, where they were arrayed to the south of the main battlefront. The battle that was fought between the samsaptkas and Arjuna was the fiercest that ever had been seen or heard of till day. 1. What was the reason for Duryodhana s anger? 1 2. How did Drona comfort Duryodhana in his distress? 1 3. Do you think that the battle has already begun? Which famous epic is it? 1 4. (i) Dronacharya was exceedingly hurt by this insulting insinuation. (Identify the word class of the underlined word) 1 (ii) The battle fought between the samsaptakas and Arjuna was the fiercest. 1 (Change the degree) 5. (i) Which words mean - (a) respected (b) something which cannot be explained. 1 (ii) Give another word for - insult, devise Have you read or heard of this epic? What message did it convey? 2 PASSAGE 6 One morning, while I was sitting beside Grandfather on the verandah steps, I noticed the tendril of a creeping vine trailing nearby. As we sat there, in the soft sunshine of a North Indian winter, I saw the tendril moving very slowly towards Grandfather. We gazed at it in fascination. Twenty minutes later it had crossed the step and was touching his feet. There is probably a scientific explanation for the plant s behaviour - something to do with light or warmth perhaps - But I liked to think that it moved across the steps simply because it wanted to be near Grandfather. one always felt like drawing close to him. Sometimes when I sat by myself beneath a tree, I would feel rather lonely; but as soon as Grandfather joined me, the garden became a happy place. Gradfather had served many years in the Indian Forest Service and it was natural that he should know and like trees. When he retired, he built a bungalow on the outskirts of the town of Dehra, planting trees all around; lime, mango, orange, guava; also eucalyptus, jakaranda and the persian lilac. In the fertile Doon valley, plants and trees grew tall and strong. There were other trees in the compound before the house was built, including an old peepal that had forced its way through the walls of an abandoned outhouse, knocking the bricks down with its vigorous growth. Peepal trees are great showoffs. Even when there is no breeze their broad chested, slim waisted leaves will spin like, tops, determined to attract your attention and invite you into the shade. SCHOOL SECTION 23

5 English Grammar MT EDUCARE LTD. Grandfather had wanted the peepal tree cut down but Grandfather said, Let it be. We can always build another outhouse. 1. What did the tendril do? 1 2. What do you get to know about the relationship between the author 1 and his grandfather from para 2? 3. What do you get to know about the peepal tree? 1 4. (i) As soon as grandfather joined me, the garden became a happy place. 1 (Rewrite beginning with... No sooner) (ii) Peepul trees are great show-offs. (Add a question tag) 1 5. (i) Explain - to gaze at in fascination. 1 (ii) Write the meaning of - abandoned, vigorous Do you think everyone who worked in the Indian Forest Service would 2 feel the same way about trees as the author s grandfather? Give reasons. PASSAGE 7 I think the crocodile is the most neglected in all God s creation. I have spent considerable amount of thought on this subject. Crocodiles have always fascinated me. I never miss a chance to watch the creature as it sprawls on its rock beside the dirtiest pond conceivable, looking a feological rather than a zoological specimen, unstirring as if held in a trance. I never miss any reference to them in the newspaper. I recently read of a crocodile shot in a river, which, when opened revealed a sad and significant collection of gold and silver jewellery worth several thousand rupees. Now to whom does this collection belong? To the state under the Treasure Trove Act? Or to the survivors if they can establish their claims? Or does it all go to the man who shot the crocodile? What does a crocodile think? I am sure it has its own values, triumphs, hopes and despairs. If it could speak, it would probably say: I am tired of people s reference to my tears. The worst thing about human beings is that they get into habitual ways of thinking and never outgrow them. Because some fool seems to have imagined us in tears, now no one can think of a crocodile without tears. Whose fancy it was at first I should like to find out sometimes, at least in my next birth. A mistiness comes over my eyes when I am excited. You will not believe it. For all my calm appearence my heart palpitates with anticipation when I hear footsteps approach the water s edge. My real tears stream down copiously only when I realise that the approaching feet have not proceeded but planted themselves on land. 1. On what has the writer spent considerable amount of thought? 1 2. What is the difference between Crocodile tears and tears of a crocodile? 1 3. Why does the author let the crocodile speak for it self? 1 4. (i) The crocodile sprawled on the rock unstirring as if held in a trance. 1 (Identify the clause) (ii) I am tired. (Add a question tag) 1 24 SCHOOL SECTION

6 MT EDUCARE LTD. English Grammar 5. (i) Explain - habitual ways of thinking. 1 (ii) Noun form of - establish, excite (i) Do you believe that all the animals have their own values, triumphs, 1 hopes and despairs? (ii) What makes you think so? 1 PASSAGE 8 Seeing it is said, is believing. This means that the best proof for anything is one s observation. Does everyone possess powers of observation? Or are they special gifts to scientists and artists? Can one train one s powers of observation and make them sharper? Yes! Surely. Here are a few useful tips to see without taking anything for granted. One device is simply framing. The world is too big to take in all at once. To make sense and beauty of it we have to look at small parts of it selectively, shutting the rest out, much as a photographer does when he peers through his view finder. In short, frame it. I visited an artist friend at his studio and looked at the pictures on his walls. They included strikingly dramatic forms, patterns, compositions, found in the most common place subjects and many of them had been taken while the photographer was walking at random. No matter where you go, you are surrounded by pictures, he told me. The trick is to recognize them. Look! He crumpled a large sheet of wrapping paper and threw it on the floor. I saw only a formless mass. But then my friend moved a frame over it - a piece of black cardboard with a rectangular opening - and I began to see interesting patterns of light and shade which had escaped me before. To enjoy such mental snapshots requires no camera, nothing more than the will to look, observe and appreciate. And the frame can be scaled to any size you like. Sometimes it is fun to see small! Did you ever, for example, peer deep inside a lily? Or observe the starburst in the centre of a wet ice cube? 1. Which is the simple device to make observation sharper? 1 2. What did the author discover when he visited his artist friend? 1 3. Look observe, and appreciate - what will happen if this order of seeing is 1 not followed? 4. (i) The best proof for anything is one s own observation. 1 (Change the degree) (ii) Frame it. (Change the voice) 1 5. (i) What part of speech is device in para 2? 1 (ii) Give the meaning of peer, strikingly Do you agree that seeing is believing? Give reasons. 2 SCHOOL SECTION 25