song of the rain solutions.

SONG OF THE RAIN
4. On the basis of your understanding of the poem, answer the following questions by ticking the correct choice.
(a) The rain calls itself the 'dotted silver threads' as_________.
(i) the shimmering drops fall one after the other
(ii) it ties heaven and earth
(iii) it dots the earth with shimmering water
(iv) it decorates the fields
Answer :   (i) the shimmering drops fall one after the other
(b) The tone and mood of the rain in the poem reflect its_________.
(i) love for the earth.
(ii) desire to take revenge.
(iii) merriment as it destroys.                    
(iv) desire to look beautiful.
Answer : (i) love for the earth.
(a) Why is the rain divine?
 Answer:     The rain appears to be divine because it comes down from heaven. The shimmering drops of rain look like silver threads dropped from heaven from the gods. Moreover, it is a life-giving force that elates and smiles all flowers, fields and valleys.
(b) In this universe, rain performs many functions. What are those?
Answer :    The functions which are performed by rain are:
 > Rain quenches the thirst of fields.
 > It fills fields and valleys with a new life.
 > It produces sweet music as it beats against windows and the leaves of trees.
 > It fills every heart with joy.
 (c) "When I cry the hills laugh;
When I humble myself the flowers rejoice;
When I bow, all things are elated."
Cry, humble and bow indicate different intensity with which the rain falls. Explain the three in context.
Answer :
‘Cry’ indicates that rain falls heavily on the hills.
 'Humble' indicates that rain falls gently and softly
 'Bow' indicates sprinkle of rain.
(d) How do you think the rain quenches the thirst of the fields and cures clouds ailment?
Answer :     Naturally, when the rain falls it quenches the thirst of fields. The parched fields only wait for the rain. The rain cures the aliment of clouds. It means the clouds become heavy and want to burst. But when it rains, they empty themselves into showers and become light again to float in the sky.
 (e) Think about million little ways in which the rain embraces the trees. Mention a few of them.
Answer:    The poet says that the rain falls embraces the trees in about million little ways. It is just a hyperbolic expression. The rain embraces the trees when the showers or drops of rain fall on them. The showers fall on the trees and go deep into their roots. Even, rivers, lakes and drains carry rain water that reaches plants and trees.
 (f) "...All can hear, but only
The sensitive can understand”
What does the poet want to convey?
Answer :  According to the poet, everyone can hear its sound. But very few can sense or understand its blessed nature.Only a few like the poet are sensitive to the rain and are inspired by its every mood.
The poet, for example, appreciates its beauty and uses expressions like 'the sigh of the sea', 'the laughter of the field' and 'the tears from heaven' to describe the rain.
(g) (i) Notice the imagery built around 'sigh of the sea', 'laughter of the field' and 'tears of heaven'. Explain the three expressions in context of rain.
Answer :   The poet has used vivid imagery throughout the poem to express the moods and nature of the Rain.
► When the poet calls the Rain “sigh of the sea”, there is a relief expressed in the lines. The sea is relieved and sighs that now that it has rained there will be fresh water brought to it by the rivers that run down the hills and mountains.
► The poet calls the Rain “a laughter of the field” because when it rains the fields are nourished and it is a sign that there will be fertility. So, it brings greenery and prosperity and raises the productivity. So, the fields are happy and they laugh and make merry.
► The Rain is also called “tears of heaven” as when those silver threads pour down from the sky’s tomb, it feels as if the heaven is crying, and those drops are delivered to the nature on the Earth by the hands of God.
(ii) How would you express rain as − an agent of floods?
− a source of water for dams?
Answer :
► an agent of floods- When there are heavy rains, especially during rainy season, the rivers overflow and break leaves, there is water logging and the areas below the sea level are submerged causing floods.
  ► a source of water for dams- Rains cause the gullies in the mountains to fill with the water, these act as tributaries to a river. Thus, the more tributaries a river has, the more water it will carry. Thus, the dam on the river will have a healthy amount of water in its reservoir. So, there will be a healthy output of electricity.
(h) "I am like earthly life … "
Why does the poet call rain as earthly life?
Answer :    Just like everything on earth is born and dies, so does rain. It is referred to as earthly life because it has beginning and comes to an end too. It begins at the bottom of the mad elements and ends under the lofted wings of death.
(i) Explain the ending of the song.
Answer :    At the end of the poem, the rain declares affectionately that it is the sigh of the deep sea, the laughter of the colourful fields and the tears of the sky. When the rain falls in the sea, it (the sea) sighs. When the rain falls on the fields and quenches their thirst, the fields rejoice, become colourful and feel happy. When the cloud bursts, it becomes rain. The cloud dies and the drops of rain (tears of the heaven) fall on the earth.

Best seller class ix solutions.

BEST SELLER SOLUTION
3. Based on your reading of the story, answer the following questions by choosing the correct option.
(a) The narrator says that John was "______ of the suff that heroes are not often lucky enough to be made of." His tone is sarcastic because _________.
(i) he hated John      (ii) he felt that John was a threat to him.
(iii) John was not particularly good-looking     (iv) nobody liked John.
Answer :   (iii) John was not particularly good-looking.
(b) Pescud felt that best-sellers were not realistic as____________.
(i) American farmers had nothing in common with European princesses.
(ii) men generally married girls from a similar background.
(iii) American men married girls who studied in America.
(iv) American men did not know fencing and were beaten by the Swiss guards.
Answer : (ii) men generally married girls from a similar background.
(c) "Bully", said Pescud brightening at once. He means to say that _________.
(i) he is a bully.                  (ii) his manager was a bully.
(iii) he was being bullied by his co-workers.
(iv) he was doing very well at his job.
Answer : (iv) he was doing very well at his job
(d) The narrator says that life has no geographical bounds implying that __________.
(i) human beings are essentially the same everywhere.
(ii) boundaries exist only on maps.
(iii) one should work towards the good of mankind.
(iv) he was happy to travel to other countries.
Answer : (i) human beings are essentially the same everywhere
4. Answer the following questions briefly.
(a) One day last summer the author was travelling to Pittsburgh by chair car. What does he say about his co-passengers?
Answer:   The compartment was full of affluent people, men and women, sitting in their chair-cars. Women were fashionably dressed in brown silk dresses with laces and veils. Men appeared to be travelling on account of business.
(b) Who was the passenger of chair No.9? What did he suddenly do?
Answer:  The passenger of Chair No. 9 was a man from Pittsburgh named John, an old friend of writer.  He suddenly threw his book between his chair and window. The name of book was the 'The Rose Lady and Trevelyan', one of the bestselling novels of the present day.
(c) What was John A. Pescud's opinion about best sellers? Why?
Answer :  Pescud believed that the stories about best-sellers were not realistic. The themes revolved around romances between royals and commoners, fencing, imaginative encounters and all the stuff that never happens in real life. In real life, one would always select a prospective bride from a similar background.
(d) What does John say about himself since his last meeting with the author?
Answer : John, since his last meeting with the author was on the line of general prosperity. He had his salary doubled twice and had bought “a neat slice of real estate.” His company was to sell him some shares of stock the coming year. Much settled in life, he had even taken some time off to experience some romance of which he tells the author next.
(e) How did John's first meeting with Jessie's father go? What did the author tell him?
Answer  : John’s first meeting with Jessie’s father was successful, since it set the tone for a possible alliance in future. John not only made his proposal, stated his intentions in clear terms, but also made Jessie’s father laugh with his anecdotes and stories.
(f) Why did John get off at Coketown?
Answer :  Jessie had fancied some petunias in one of the windows and she wanted to plant them in her new house. So Pescud thought of dropping at Coketown to dig or get some cuttings of flowers for her.
(g) John is a hypocrite. Do you agree with this statement? Substantiate your answer.
Answer :    Yes, I believe that John is a hypocrite. The word hypocrite means the person tries to shows what he is not. John is such type of man. He said that he did not believe in the romance portrayed in best sellers. He believed the stories too good to be true. However, his own story was fantastical. His wife, the only daughter of the oldest family in Virginia, met him, an ordinary travel salesman of a plate glass company, in a journey where he would have least expected to find his life partner. Their courtship also was too fantastical, and even after all the episode, the fashion in which Pescud criticised love stories of best sellers proves him to be a hypocrite.
(h) Describe John A. Pescud with reference to the following points:
Physical appearance ...................................................................................
His philosophy on behaviour ........................................................................
His profession ..............................................................................................
His first impression of his wife ...........................................................................
His success ..........................................................................................................
Answer
•Physical appearance: John was not particularly good looking.
•His philosophy on behaviour: A man should be decent and law abiding in her/his hometown
•His profession: A travelling salesman for a plate glass company
•His first impression of his wife: A very fine girl, whose job was to make this world prettier just by residing in it
•His success: Much successful John had had his salary raised twice in the previous year and his company was to give him a few shares as well.
5. Complete the flow chart in the correct sequence as it happens in the story.
Hint: it begins from the time John Pescud first saw Jessie till the time they marry.
(1) Jessie takes a sleeper to Louisville.
 (2) Pescud sees a girl (Jessie) reading a book in the train.
 (3) Pescud speaks to the girl (Jessie) for the first time.
 (4) Pescud follows her but finds it difficult to keep up.
 (5) Pescud goes to the village to find out about the mansion.
 (6)  Jessie arrives at Virginia.
 (7)  Pescud meets Jessie's father.
 (8) They get married a year later.
 (9) Pescud instantly gets attracted to the girl (Jessie)
 (10) Jessie informs Pescud that her father would not approve of them meeting.
 (11) They meet alone two days later.
 Answer : (2) Pescud sees a girl (Jessie) reading a book in the train.
(9) Pescud instantly gets attracted to the girl (Jessie)
 (1) Jessie takes a sleeper to Louisville.
 (4) Pescud follows her but finds it difficult to keep up.
 (6) Jessie arrives at Virginia.
 (5) Pescud goes to the village to find out about the mansion
 (3) Pescud speaks to the girl (Jessie) for the first time.
 (10) Jessie informs Pescud that her father would not approve of them meeting.
 (7) Pescud meets Jessie's father.
 (11) They meet alone two days later
(8)  They get married a year later.
  6. Irony refers to the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of their literal meaning. Working in pairs, bring out the irony in the following:
(a) The title of the story, “The Best seller”.
 Answer:   The Best Seller is supposed to be most popular and likeable. But John Pescud throws the best seller “The Rose Lady and Trevelyan” to the floor of the chair car. He later says that all bestsellers have the same unrealistic romantic stories.
(b) Pescud's claim, “When people in real life marry, they generally hunt up somebody in their own station. A fellow usually picks out a girl who went to the same high-school and belonged to the same singing-society that he did.”
Answer :    Pescud told the author that unlike the stories of the bestsellers, in real life people marry somebody in their own place. Someone who has been educated in a similar type of school and has grown up in a similar background. Yet the irony behind his claim is seen in his own life history. The moment he saw the unknown girl on the train, he fell in love with her, without much knowledge about her. He followed her to her destination and even after finding out that she lived in Elmcroft, Virginia, in a 50 room mansion, belonged to the oldest family in the state and her father was a descendent of the belted Earls he did not give up his pursuit. In spite of coming from totally different walks of life-he being an ordinary travelling salesman, their paths met and he went on to marry her.
(c) The name Trevelyan.
Answer : Trevelyan is the hero of the bestseller novel “The Rose Lady and Trevelyan.” Pescud condemns such best sellers and makes fun of its unrealistic characters. But at the end of the story, the author calls Pescud a Trevelyan because he had behaved almost like the hero of the bestseller.

THE BISHOP'S CANDLESTICK DRAMA SOLUTION

THE BISHOP'S CANDLESTICK DRAMA SOLUTION
Q4. Copy and complete the following paragraph about the theme of the play in pairs:
          The play deals with a _______________and ________Bishop who is always ready to lend a _________________hand to anyone in distress. A _________________breaks into the Bishop’s house and is ______________________and warmed. The benevolence of the Bishop somewhat _____________the convict, but, when he sees the silver candlesticks, he ____________________ them, and runs away. However, he is _______________________and brought back. He expects to go back to jail, but the Bishop informs the police they are a _____________. The convict is__________by this kindness of the Bishop and before he leaves he seeks the priest’s blessing.
Answer :
 The play deals with a  ( kind) and  ( charitable) Bishop who is always ready to lend a (helping) hand to anyone in distress. A (convict)  breaks into the Bishop’s house and is (fed ) and warmed. The benevolence of the Bishop somewhat (confounds)  the convict, but, when he sees the silver candlesticks, he (steals) them, and runs away. However, he is (arrested ) and brought back. He expects to go back to jail, but the Bishop informs the police they are a (gift). The convict is (moved) by this kindness of the Bishop and before he leaves he seeks the priest’s blessing.
5. (a) Working in pairs give antonyms of the following words:
1. kind- hearted   2. unscrupulous  3. forgiving    4. stern
 5.benevolent  6. credulous   7. generous        8.pious
 9.suspicious  10. sympathetic  11.understanding   12. wild
 13.innocent  14. penitent  15. clever  16. brutal  17. cunning
 18. caring  19. sentimental  20. trusting  21. protective
 22. concerned  23. honourable    24. embittered.
 Answer :
 (1)  Kind-hearted − nasty, unkind, cruel
 (2) Unscrupulous − ethical, moral, good
 (3) Forgiving − censure, charge, punish
 (4) Stern − cheerful, funny, lenient
 (5) Benevolent − greedy, malevolent, mean, selfish
 (6) Credulous − skeptical, suspecting, suspicious
 (7) Generous − greedy, mean, miserly
 (8) Pious - atheist, impious, irreligious
 (9) Suspicious − innocent, trustworthy, trusty
 (10) Sympathetic − callous, merciless, uncaring, unconcerned
 (11) Understanding − misunderstanding, intolerant
 (12) Wild − civilized, controlled, delicate, gentle
 (13) Innocent − bad, blameable, corrupt
 (14) Penitent − happy, unashamed
 (15) Clever − awkward, foolish, idiotic, ignorant,
 (16) Brutal − generous, humane, kind, nice
 (17) Cunning − gullible, kind, naive
 (18) Caring − disregarding, ignoring, neglecting
 (19) Sentimental − hard-hearted, indifferent, pragmatic, unemotional
 (20) Trusting- disagree, dispute, reject, renounce
 (21) Protective − attacking, harmful, hurtful, injurious
 (22) Concerned − happy, undisturbed, unperturbed
 (23) Honourable − not respectful, unhonourable
 (24) Embittered − pleasant, content, genial
6. Answer the following questions briefly:
(a) Do you think the Bishop was right in selling the salt-cellars? Why/why not?
Answer :  Yes, the Bishop was right in selling the salt-cellars because he was an ideal person. He could not bear the thought of an old and sick lady to be thrown out of the house due to non-payment of rent. He always helps people in times of need.
(b) Why does Persome feel the people pretend to be sick?
Answer : Persome is not as generous as her brother. She feels the people pretend to be sick in order to exploit her brother’s  magnanimity. People want the Bishop to be near them and help them financially.
(c) Who was Jeanette? What was the cause of her death?
Answer :  Jeanette was the convict’s wife. She died due to illness and starvation.
(d) The convict says, “I am too old a bird to be caught with chaff.” What does he mean by this statement?
Answer : The convict has suffered, he is embittered, he is experienced. So he couldn’t be tricked. He ordered the Bishop to stay put because he couldn’t trust anyone not to report to the police and get him arrested.
(e) Why was the convict sent to prison? What was the punishment given to him?
Answer : The convict was sent to prison for stealing a loaf of bread. He was sentenced to ten years in a prison hulk.
(f) Do you think the punishment given to the convict was justified? Why/ why not? Why is the convict eager to reach Paris?
Answer : The punishment given to the convict for a minor crime was too much and was unjustified. He did not commit a murder or indulge in any other major crime. His circumstances forced him to steal. He should have been given a light punishment in stead of ten years in a “hell”.
The convict is eager to reach Paris and get lost in the crowd. He wants top escape from the police which would be looking for him everywhere as he has not yet completed his sentence.     
(g) Before leaving, the convict asks the Bishop to bless him. What brought about this change in him?
Answer : The Bishop’s benevolent, kind and caring attitude had brought about a change in the convict. That is why before leaving for Paris, he asks the Bishop to bless him.
 7. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow by choosing the correct options.
A. Monseigneur the Bishop is a ------------ahem!’
(a) Why does Persome not complete the sentence?
(i) she used to stammer while speaking.
(ii) she was about to praise the Bishop.
(iii) she did not wish to criticise the Bishop in front of Marie.
(iv)she had a habit of passing such remarks.
Answer:  (iii) She did not wish to criticise the Bishop in front of Marie.
(b) Why is she angry with the Bishop?
(i) The Bishop has sold her salt-cellars.
(ii) The Bishop has gone to visit Mere Gringoire.
(iii) He showed extra concern for Marie.
(iv) She disliked the Bishop.
Answer :  (i) The Bishop has sold her salt-cellars.
 B. ‘She sent little Jean to Monseigneur to ask for help, and—’
(a) Who sent little Jean to the Bishop?
(i) Mere Gringoire  (ii) Marie  (iii) Persome    (iv) Marie's mother
Answer :  (i) Mere Gringoire
(b) Why did she send Jean to the Bishop?
(i) so that he could pray for her
(ii) as she knew that he was a generous person
(iii) as she was a greedy woman
(iv) as she was a poor woman
Answer :  (ii) as she knew that he was a generous person
 C. ‘I offered to take her in here for a day or two, but she seemed to think it might distress you.”
The Bishop wanted to take Mere Grngoire in because _________.
(a) The Bishop wanted to take Mere Grngoire in because ______.
(i) she was sick           (ii) she had no money.
(iii) she was unable to pay the rent of her house
(iv) she was a close friend of Persome.
Answer :  (iii) she was unable to pay the rent of her house
(b) Persome would be distressed on Mere Gringoire's being taken in because ________.
(i) she did not want to help anyone
(ii) she felt that Mere Gringoire was taking undue advantage of the Bishop
(iii) she was a self-centred person
(iv) she would be put to a great deal of inconvenience
Answer :  (ii) she felt that Mere Gringoire was taking undue advantage of the Bishop
9. Identify the situations which be termed as the turning points in the convict's life?
Answer :  The Convict, when was caught and brought to the Bishop’s house, was asked to be released by the Bishop saying that he is a friend to him. The Bishop also gives him his mother’s only memory i.e. candle-sticks. This entire incidence makes convict believe that there still exists humanity. This is the turning point in the convict’s life.

OH, I WISH I’D LOOKED AFTER ME TEETH SOLUTION.

OH, I WISH I’D LOOKED AFTER ME  TEETH
4. On the basis of your understanding of the poem, answer the following questions by ticking the correct choice.
(a) The title ‘Oh, I wish I’d looked after me teeth’ expresses ____________.
(i) regret.         (ii) humour.          (iii) longing.            (iv) pleasure
Answer :  (i) regret
(b) The conscience of the speaker pricks her as she has_________.
(i) been careless                                (ii) been ignorant
(iii) been fun loving.                         (iv) been rude
Answer:  (i) been careless
(c) The speaker says that she has paved the way for cavities and decay by _________.
(i) eating the wrong food and not brushing
(ii) not listening to his mother
(iii) laughing at his mother’s false teeth
(iv) not listening to the dentist
Answer : (i)eating the wrong food and not brushing
(d) The tone of the narrator is one of ____________.
(i) joy.           (ii) nostalgia             (iii) regret                (iv) sorrow
Answer :  (iii) regret
5. Answer the following questions:
(a) “…But up-and-down brushin’
And pokin’ and fussin’
Didn’t seem worth the time - I could bite!”
What do these lines convey?
Answer :  These lines shows that the poet not realise the importance of regular brushing and proper hygiene, when she was child. She did not care for her teeth daily. She thought it was useless and worthless to clean her teeth after eating anything.
(b) Why did the poet go to the dentist? How could she have avoided it?
Answer :  The poet went to the dentist to get her teeth examined. She had developed cavities in her teeth due to unhealthy eating habits and irregular brushing of teeth.
 She could have avoided it if she had taken proper care of her teeth by brushing them properly and regularly.
(c) “If you got a tooth, you got a friend.” What do you understand from the line?
Answer : A tooth is like a friend. As a lost friend can never be regained, a lost tooth can never grows again. It cannot be regained or made naturally.
(d) With reference to the poem, how can you look after your teeth?
Answer : (i) Brushing proper twice a day.
 (ii) Rinsing after each meal, avoiding sweet and sticky food for better oral hygiene.
 (iii) Regular dental checkup to maintain healthy teeth.
(e) Given an appropriate proverb that conveys the message that this poem carries.
Answer : Appropriate proverb that conveys the message that this poem carried is“Prevention is better than cure."
Q7. In line 35 the poet has miss-spelt the word ‘amalgum’. Why do you think she has done that? Discuss.
Answer:    This mistake of ‘amalgum’ is a conscious one by the poetess. She wants us to read it so because –
-She wanted us to be conscious about the horrible outcome of carelessness about teeth resulting in amalgamation.
-This is deliberately to attract the children who love chewing gums as the word ends in ‘gum’
-This is used like “me teeth”, ‘me choppers” so that the readers will be attracted to the word thinking it to be wrong.