Classes VI - X

Q1. “There is a historical reason behind both these oddities.” In the preceding two paragraphs, find two words/phrases that mean the same as ‘oddities’.  Ans. The two words/phrases that mean the same as ‘oddities’ are:  • peculiarities  • curious characteristic  Q2. How is a cricket bat different from a hockey stick?  Ans. A cricket bat is made flat and thick in shape, whereas the hockey stick is designed to be bent at its bottom. Q3. The Parsis' were the first Indian community to take to cricket. Why?  Ans. The Parsis were the first Indian community to take to cricket as well as adopt westernised ways because of their interest in trade with the British.  Q4. The rivalry between the Parsis and the Bombay Gymkhana had a happy ending for the former. What does ‘a happy ending’ refer to?  Ans. A happy ending refers to the victory of the Parsi Cricket Team over the Bombay Gymkhana in 1889, four years after the formation of the Indian National Congress....

Q1. What did the physicians ask Saeeda’s mother to do to get well? Did their advice help her? If not, why?  Ans. The physicians asked Saeeda’s mother to avoid normal food. She was given strict orders to stay confined to her small room with doors and windows fastened, in the lack of sunshine and fresh air to breathe.  Q2. What did the specialist prescribe in addition to medicine?  Ans. In addition to medicine, the specialist prescribed Saeeda’s mother to sit in the sun from eight to nine in the morning. He said that sunshine and fresh air are more important for good health than medicine.  Q3. What did Saeeda tell the sunrays to do?  Ans. Saeeda requested the sunrays to appear the next day in the morning with lots of warmth and brightness so that her mother could sit in the sun and get better.  Q4. Why were the sunrays keen to go down to the earth the next day?  Ans. The sunrays were keen to go down to the earth the next day because they had promised Sae...

 Q1. Who is the speaker in the poem? Who are the people the speaker meets? What are they doing?  Ans. The speaker of the poem is a school-going child. Every day he happens to meet the hawker who sells bangles, the gardener who digs the garden and a watchman who keeps a close watch on the streets the whole night.  Ans. What wishes does the child in the poem make? Why does the child want to be a hawker, a gardener, or a watchman? Pick out the lines in each stanza, which tell us this. Ans. The child in the poem has an innocent mind. He watches all the people around him keenly. He strongly wishes if he could lead his life in his own way and enjoy the freedom just as a hawker, a gardener or a watchman.  He observes that the hawker has nothing to hurry him, there is no fixed road he must take, no definite route he must go to and no allocated time when he must return home. Seeing this liberty, the young boy wishes he could become a hawker and enjoy all these thing...

 Q1. How do desert animals survive without water?  Ans. Desert animals make it possible to survive without water for days. For instance, Gerbils stay under holes to keep themselves cool. Beetles catch drops of water/moisture on their legs and then lift those drops in the air till the drops trickle down into their mouths. Q2. How do mongooses kill snakes?  Mongoose kills the snakes with their quick reactions through which they dodge the snake each time it strikes. They keep dodging the snake until it gets completely tired and then they dive in to kill the snake.  Q3. How does the hump of the camels help them to survive when there is no water?  Ans. The hump of the camel is full of fat. This fat nourishes the camel when food is less.

Q1. Why do you think Rasheed’s uncle asked him not to buy anything in his absence? (3)  Ans. Rasheed’s uncle asked him not to buy anything in his absence because he was aware that the shopkeepers could cheat him and take away all his money by tricking him.   Q2. Why was the shop called ‘Lucky Shop’? (4) Ans. The shop was called ‘Lucky Shop’ because it would tempt everyone to try their luck and win prizes. Q3. An old man won a clock and sold it back to the shopkeeper. How much money did he make? (5) Ans. The old man earned 15 rupees by selling the clock back to the shopkeeper.   Q4. How many prizes did the boy win? What were they? (6)  Ans. The boy won four different prizes each time. These included a comb, a fountain-pen, a wrist watch and a table lamp. Q5. Why was Rasheed upset? (7, 8, 9) Ans. Rasheed was upset because he hoped to win a big prize at the Lucky Shop, but he continued trying his luck again and again. However, every time he just got a tri...

Q1.  “Then the situation changed.” What is being referred to? (2)  Ans. The situation of the aunt in Jumman’s house changed. Earlier she was being taken care of but things changed and she was ill-treated.  Q2. When Jumman’s aunt realised that she was not welcome in his house, what arrangement did she suggest? (3)  Ans. She suggested that she gets monthly allowance from Jumman as she could not handle the insult any more. She wanted to cook separately.  Q3. What was the villagers’ reaction when the aunt explained her case to them? (4)  Ans. Villager’s gave mixed reactions. Some sympathized with her, some laughed at her and some others said that she should try to make up with Jumman and his wife.  Q4. Why was Jumman happy over Algu’s nomination as head Panch? (6)  Ans. Jumman was happy over Algu’s nomination as head Panch because Algu was his friend and he knew that he would not give a judgement that goes against him. Q5. “God lives in the heart of t...

Q1. In groups of four discuss the following lines and their meanings.  (i) All that you do is match the words To the brightest thoughts in your head  (ii) For many of the loveliest things Have never yet been said  (iii) And everyone’s longing today to hear Some fresh and beautiful thing  (iv) But only words can free a thought From its prison behind your eyes  Ans. (i) The given lines mean that when someone has a thought in one’s head and does not know how to say it, one should just use English words to pick the most accurate words that express one’s thought in the best possible way.  (ii) Through these lines, the poet says that there are so many beautiful things that have never been written. It is wrong to perceive that everything that is good, has already been said by someone or the other.  (iii) A fresh thought or idea is always welcomed by people as everyone is waiting for it.  (iv) The human mind is a huge treasure where all the thoughts and i...

Q1. Where did the lady find the bear cub? How did she bring it up?  Ans. The lady found the bear cub in the forest, half dead of hunger. It was very small. The lady had to be brought it up on the bottle with the help of the cook.  Q2. The bear grew up but “he was a most amiable bear”. Give three examples to prove this.  Ans. The three examples that prove that he indeed was a most amiable bear are:  - He used to friendly watch the cattle grazing.  - The three dogs used to play with him, pull his ears and tease him.  - Children used to ride his back.  Q3. What did the bear eat? There were two things he was not allowed to do. What were they?  Ans. The bear ate the food same as the dogs- porridge, bread, cabbage, potato, turnip. He used to like fruits. He was not allowed to do the following: - Pluck apples from the apple tree. - Harm the beehives on the tree. Q4. When was the bear tied up with a chain? Why?  Ans. The bear was tied up on Sund...

 Q1. Why was Dad sure he wouldn’t fall?  Ans. Dad was sure that he wouldn’t fall because he thought that he was a great climber.  Q2. Which phrase in the poem expresses Dad’s self-confidence best?  Ans. The phrase in the poem that expresses Dad’s self-confidence best is: “Easy as winking to a climber like me.”  Q3. Describe Plan A and its consequences.  Ans. Plan A was to climb the tree with the help of a ladder. Although the ladder slipped and Dad fell on the ground. Q4. Plan C was a success. What went wrong then?  Ans. Plan C was a success. Dad reached the place where the cat was stuck. But, the moment he reached the place, the cat jumped onto the ground.  Q5. The cat was very happy to be on the ground. Pick out the phrase used to express this idea.  Ans. The phrase that expresses the idea that ‘the cat was very happy to be on the ground’ is: “Smiling and smirking”.  Q6. Describe the Cat and Dad situation in the beginning and...

 Q1. What do you understand by the ‘flash point’ of a fuel? Ans. Every fuel has a specific temperature at which it starts to burn. This specific temperature is called the flash point or kindling temperature of the fuel. Q2. (i) What are some common uses of fire? (ii) In what sense is it a “bad master”? Ans. (i) Some common uses of fire are: a) It is used to produce electricity b) It is used for cooking. c) It is also used to heat our home in winters.  (ii) Fire is a “bad master” because if it not under control, it can create huge damage to lives, properties, forests, etc. Q3. What are the three main ways in which a fire can be controlled or put out? Ans.  Three main ways in which a fire can be controlled or put out are: a) Stop the supply of the fuel b) Cool down the heat c) Stop the supply of oxygen  Q4. Why does a burning candle go out when you blow on it?  Ans. A burning candle goes out when you blow on it because when we blow ai...

Q1. Can anyone’s age be a minus number? What does “minus 87” mean?  Ans. No, anyone’s age cannot be a minus number. It is calculated from the day we are born. Minus 87 means that the person will have to wait for 87 years to take birth. Q2. Mr Wonka begins by asking himself two questions. What are they?  (i) What is _____________________?  (ii) What lives _____________________?  Ans. Mr Wonka begins by asking himself two questions. They are:  (i) What is the oldest living thing in the world?  (ii) What lives longer than anything else?’” Q3. (i) What trees does Mr Wonka mention? Which tree does he say lives the longest?  (ii) How long does this tree live? Where can you find it?  Ans. (i)Mr Wonka mentions the following trees: • Douglas fir • Oak • Cedar • Bristlecone pine. He says that the Bristlecone pine lives the longest.  (ii) This tree lives for over 4000 years. It can be found upon the slopes of Wheeler Peak in Nevada, U.S.A. Q4....