Comprehension exercises
1. Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:
(a) The poet asks for a sail the colour of which would be
i) blue
ii) grey
iii) black
iv) white
Answer: iv) white
b) While going down to the sea, the poet wants to hear the crying of
i) seagulls
ii) cuckoos
iii) eagles
iv) swallows
Ans: i) seagulls.
c) The wind on the sea is like a whetted
i) sword
ii) axe
iii) knife
iv) spear
Ans: iii) knife.
2. State whether the following statements are True or False. Provide sentences/
phrases/words in support of your answer:
a) To steer the ship the poet needs the moon.
Ans: False.
Supporting statement: “And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.”
b) The call of the running tide is wild and clear.
Ans: True.
Supporting statement: “The call of the running tide is a wild call and a clear call.”
C) The poet is going out to the sea for the first time.
Ans: False.
Supporting statement: “I must go down to the seas again.”
3. Answer the following questions:
(a) During what time of the day does the poet wish to go down to the seas?
Ans: The poet wishes to go down to the seas at night.
b) What kind of day does the poet prefer for sailing?
Ans: The poet prefers a windy day With flying white clouds across the sky for sailing.
c) What does the poet prefer to hear from a fellow rover?
Ans: The poet prefers to hear a merry yarn from a fellow rover.
Grammar in use:
4. Do as directed:
a) What a shocking sight! (change into an assertive sentence)
Ans: It is a very shocking shight/The sight is very shocking.
b) I am sure of his success. (change into a complex sentence)
Ans: I am sure that she will succeed.
c) Snigdha is not only wise but also brave. (change into a simple sentence)
Ans: Snigdha is both wise and brave.
Writing activities:
5. Write a summary of the following passage (within 100 words):
Egyptian kings are called Pharaohs. Tutankhamun was an Egyptian king who ruled between 1532-1323 BC. Tutankhamun was very young when he became the king. He was only ten years old when he ascended the throne. He was the son of Akhenaten who was also a Pharaoh. As the king, Tutankhamun undertook many building projects. These building projects were centered around Thebes and Karnak. Tutankhamun built many temples and monuments. At that time many temples were in ruins. Tutankhamun ordered them to be rebuilt. Tutankhamun had various physical disabilities. He suffered from ill health for a long period in his life. Tutankhamun required the support of a cane to walk because of his physical disabilities.
In ancient Egypt, the body of a Pharaoh was preserved after his death. This preserved body was known as the mummy. The preserved body of Tutankhamun was discovered by Howard Carter, an Englishman. He discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922. The tomb was nearly intact when it was discovered. The discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb attracted wide interest all over the world. The discovery sparked an interest in ancient Egypt.
6. Write a newspaper report (within 100 words) on the incident of burglary in a flat in Kolkata using the following points:
date and place -time – occupants of the house- number of robbers-list of
articles stolen-police investigation.
Ans:
Burglary in a Flat
Kolkata, Jun 12: Some notorious (কুখ্যাত) burglars (সিঁধেল চোর) entered forcefully into a flat in Salt Lake Sector V yesterday. The robbers made off with valuable ornaments and cash amounting to Rs 5 lakhs. The police said that on 11 June, Mr. Basu Das complained that on Monday evening, when he returned home from the office, he found that his flat was ransacked and cleared out of all valuables. According to him, the incident occurred between 11 a.m. and afternoon. He had left for his office around 10.30 a.m. His wife was a teacher of a high school. She also had gone out for her school at 10 a.m. After their departure, the burglars broke into the main door. They broke open the locker of the almirah and took away all gold ornaments amounting to Rs 4 lakh and hard cash of Rs 1,00,000. The local police have started an investigation but none has been arrested yet.