Class 7th. Chapter -1. Article & Determiner

 Grammar 2023-24

Chapter -1. Article & Determiner



Get Going

During the rehearsal of one of his plays, Oscar went to a place with Sir Herbert Beerbohm-Tree to have some lunch. He ordered a watercress sandwich, which in due course was brought to him. The sandwich was unusually thick and unwieldy, and the dramatist was somewhat inconvenienced. At the end of the meal, he informed the waiter thus: "Tell the cook of this restaurant with the compliments of Mr Oscar Wilde that these were the worst sandwiches in the world and that, when I ask for a watercress sandwich, I do not mean a loaf with a field in the middle of it."

Workout (Page 11)

1. a

2. a

3. a

4. an

9. an

5. an

6. a

7. a

8. a

10. an

11. a

16. a

12. an

17. a

13. a

18. an

14. a

19. a

15. an

20. an



Workout A (Page 15)

1. Why are you in a hurry to leave? Why don't you stay for some more days and enjoy

the beautiful view of the snow-covered peaks of the Alps? 2. About half an hour later, I saw an old truck park in front of the house. A rather strange-looking gentleman stepped out of the truck and gazed up at the window, where a silhouette of a woman was discernible.

3. It is not easy to become a Florence Nightingale or a Mother Teresa, but all of us can

extend a hand of compassion and help the poor and the needy.

4. The Managing Director was busy in an urgent meeting with the Business Head of the firm. I had to wait for an hour and a half before I could meet and discuss with him the tentative deadline for the current projects.

5. It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and the birds were singing. There was not a single cloud in the sky. I sat in the garden in the wee hours of the morning, watching the sunlight filtering through the leaves in the trees.

6. The lady who lives in that tiny white cottage in the woods is an artist by profession. She is an Indonesian married to a European. The two are leading a happy and contended life.

7. We have a beautiful lake behind our house. Every winter, the lake freezes over and we can go ice skating. When I was a child, I used to spend hours skating back and forth across the ice.

8. Not many people go to church regularly nowadays. I saw some tourists walking to the church last week, but they only wanted to take photos of it.

9. We stayed at an extraordinary inn in Manali. Not only did the room have a Jacuzzi and a beautiful fireplace, it also had a huge balcony with an unbelievable view over the town.

10. The meals we had weren't very appetising. We had breakfast in the hotel that wasn't too bad. We usually went out for lunch because the lunch they served us was always Chinese. And the dinner we had at the hotel on our first evening was awful, so we tried a few restaurants in the marketplace. On our last evening, we had a delicious meal in a Mexican restaurant. I regret not discovering the place earlier.



Workout B (Page 16)

1. Where there is a will, there is a way.

2. The electron is a part of every atom.

3. They walked through the park hand in hand.

4. He could tell at a glance what was wrong with the smartphone. 5. There isn't a grain of truth in those rumours.

6. Eggs were sold by the dozen.

7. Tania showed great courage in the face of danger.

8. The Times of India has a circulation larger than any other newspaper in the world.

9. Glass is made from sand.

10. A hearty breakfast is quite possibly the best way to start the day off right.

Workout (Page 17) 1. Reema: It's these scissors. They are rather blunt. Can I borrow yours?

2. Peter: What are those objects in the sky? 3. Rita: This bench isn't very comfortable, is it?

4. Depika: I know. Nothing ever happens in this neighbourhood.

5. Emma: I've had that mural on the dining room ceiling ever since I moved into the villa last year.



Workout (Page 17)

my; her; her; her; its; her; her; its; her; her

Workout (Page 18) 1. every

2. either

7. Either

3. each

4. neither

5. Each

6. every

8. either

9. Every

10. Neither

4. Whose



Workout (Page 19)

1. Which; How much 2. How many 3. Which

5. How much

9. Whose

6. How much 10. What

7. Which

8. What



Workout (Page 21)

1. Ravi is a fruit vendor. He has had very little education, and he does not earn much money. However, with the little money he earns, he is able to live comfortably and educate his two daughters.

2. I had to abandon my dream of living in my own house for lack of financial support. If I had received a little help from my siblings, I could have bought a house. However, the little help that I received from my few close friends wasn't enough and left me completely distraught.

3. The house that Emma inhabits is very small and does not have many modern facilities. She has only a few friends who visit her occasionally, and the few friends who visit her, often complain about her boring and uneventful life.

4. It's not good to eat too many cakes even though they are delicious. You'll have to practise a little self-restraint.

5. Sarah had painted many pictures of the landscape, but she did not take much pride in them.

6. I don't think you will have any trouble with this vehicle during your journey.

7. They encountered many difficulties because only a few of them were really experienced at mountaineering. The rest had only a little experience.

8. Since you have watched the documentary on 'The Great Wall of China' you can give me some information about this magnificent structure.


9. Ragini: I wonder why not many people applied for the job? Vinod: Well, I suppose, few people want to work so hard for so little money.

In Context

10. Most of the others have had their lunch. There are only a few pieces of fish and a little soup left for you. 1. For many days, he neither slept nor ate until he found a solution to the problem.

2. You should return this encyclopaedia to its owner immediately.

3. Have you any idea who invented the refrigerator?

4. There isn't any water left in the tank, not even a few drops.

5. There's a wonderful view from this office. Just come to the window.

6. We have received two proposals. Neither proposal is acceptable.

7. I know every line of this beautiful poem by heart. 8. Generally, Ram doesn't have much money with him, but whenever he goes to visit

his grandchildren in the village, he has many coins in his pocket.

9. Sunita added a little vanilla essence to the mixture. 10. Every day in the evening, I go for a swim.



Talking Point

1. Ann: How was your trip to the coast?

Tom: Wonderful. The sun shone all day. We had a great time.

2. Leena: We haven't got any bread. Rakesh: You'd better go to the shop, then. We need some tomatoes, too.

3. Sonam: It's a lot better than your/the last apartment, isn't it? Did you say there are four people living here?

Poonam: Yes, and we all have our own bedrooms.

Sonam: Does each person pay a quarter of the rent? Poonam: That's right. On the first of every month.

4. Heena: Did you and your friends have a nice holiday?

Priya: Yes, it was wonderful. We had the best holiday of our lives.

5. Mona: I don't think I can lift this box on my own. I need a little help.

Lara: Oh, well, I could have helped you, but I have this/an awful pain in my left shoulder.

The Lost Child. 9th English. Moments

                               The Lost Child 

WORD MEANINGS

Alleys - narrow passages
gaily - with joy
clad - clothed
receding - disappearing
tyrant's - of a cruel (fd);
dragon-flies - a kind of flies
gaudy - showy
abreast - side by side
teeming - full of
Cooing - singing of dove, nightingale etc
wild capers - wild playful movements
whirlpool - (here) moving of people in a circle
coiled - in a coil
rippling - moving/falling of water
coarse- -rough
roundabout-merry-go-round
dizzy - confused
flushed red in excitement
convulsed - made sudden, violent movements
wailed - cried bitterly
rage-anger
filmy - (here) having a thin layer of water
jostled - elbowed
hefty - strong, broad
surging - moving forward
steered - made way (); soothe - pacify
shrill - sharp



EXERCISE

THINK ABOUT IT

1. What are the things the child sees on his way to the fair? Why does he lag behind?

Ans. The things the child sees on his way to the fair are - toys, dragon flies, black bee, a shower of young flowers, sweetmeat shop, flower-seller, balloon-seller, snake- charmer, round-about etc.

He is lagging behind because he is repelled fascinated by all the above mentioned things, he sees on his way. He stands there looking at all these beautiful things.


2. In the fair he wants many things. What are they? Why does he move on without waiting for an answer?

Ans. In the fair he wants many things as - toys, sweets, a garland of gulmohur and a balloon.

He moves on without waiting for an answer because he knows as he begs that his plea won't be heeded. His parents will only say that he is greedy, things are cheap and he is too old to have the things. It means that he can see the old, cold stare of refusal in their eyes.


3. When does he realise that he has lost his way? How have his anxiety and insecurity been described?

Ans. When the child makes a bold request to his parents that he wants to go on the roundabout, and hears no reply, he realises that he has lost his way. He turns to look at his parents. They are not there, ahead of him. He turns to look on either side. They are not there. He looks behind. But there is no sign of them. A full and deep cry rises within his dry throat and with a sudden jerk of his body he runs from where he stands, crying in real fear. Tears start rolling down from his eyes. His flushed face is convulsed with fear. He feels helpless and runs here and there in all directions.


4. Why does the child lose interest in the things that he had wanted earlier?

Ans. The lost child loses interest in the things that he wanted earlier because he had lost his parents. These things have no meaning, no value, without his parents. He can't live without his parents. They are all-in-all for him.


5. What do you think happens in the end? Does the child find his parents?

Ans. The ending of the chapter doesn't tell us anything about what happens to the child. We can only guess that the lost child might have found his parents with the help of the man who rescues him and takes care of him. But this is only assumption.

                                       .........................

The Fun They Had 9th Beehive

 The Fun They Had

Thinking about the Text

I. Answer these questions in a few words or a couple of sentences each.

Question 1. How old are Margie and Tommy?

Answer: Margie is eleven and Tommy is thirteen years old.


Question 2. What did Margie write in her diary?

Answer: Margie wrote in her diary “Today Tommy found a real book!”


Question 3. Had Margie ever seen a book before?

Answer: No, Margie had never seen a book before.


Question 4. What things about the book did she find strange?

Answer: The things about the book that she found strange were:

i) The pages of the book were yellow and crinkly.

ii) The words stood still instead of moving.

iii) When they turned back to the previous page, it still had the same words on it that it had when they first read it.


Question 5. What do you think a telebook is?

Answer: I think the telebook must be a book that gets displayed on the screen of the television.


Question 6. Where was Margie’s school? Did she have any classmates?

Answer: Margie’s school was next to her bedroom.

                No, she did not have any classmates.



Question 7. What subjects did Margie and Tommy learn?

Answer: Margie and Tommy learnt Geography, History and Arithmetic.




II. Answer the following with reference to the story.

Question 1. “I wouldn’t throw it away.”

(i) Who says these words?

(ii) What does ‘it’ refer to?

(iii) What is it being compared with by the speaker?


Answer: (i) Tommy says these words.

(ii) “It” refers to the books.

(iii) The paperback book is being compared with the telebooks by the speaker.



Question 2. “Sure they had a teacher, but it wasn’t a regular teacher. It was a man.”

(i) Who does ‘they’ refer to?

(ii) What does ‘regular’ mean here?

(iii) What is it contrasted with?


Answer: (i) “They” refers to the students centuries ago.

(ii) “Regular” means the usual for the people in 2157. Here, regular teacher means the mechanical teacher.

(iii) The mechanical teacher is contrasted with humans as teachers of earlier times.



III. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words).

Question 1. What kind of teachers did Margie and Tommy have?

Answer: Margie and Tommy had mechanical teachers. The mechanical teachers had big screens on which all the lessons were shown and questions were asked. The children were taught through computer and television screens. They did not have humans as teachers.



Question 2. Why did Margie’s mother send for the County Inspector?

Answer: Margie’s mother sent for the County Inspector because the mechanical teacher of Margie was not functioning properly. It kept giving Margie Geography tests and Margie was performing worse every time. Margie’s mother was concerned and thus sent for the County Inspector.



Question 3. What did he do?

Answer: The County Inspector smiled at Margie and gave her an apple. He took the mechanical teacher apart from her. Then he fixed the mechanical teacher. He told Margie’s mother that the geography sector of the mechanical teacher was geared a little too quick and that he has slowed it up to an average ten-year level.



Question 4. Why was Margie doing badly in geography? What did the County Inspector do to help her?

Answer: Margie was doing badly in geography because the questions that were displayed on the screen of the mechanical teacher were too quick for her age.

The County Inspector slowed its speed to an average ten-year level so that Margie would be able to perform satisfactorily.



Question 5. What had once happened to Tommy’s teacher?

Answer: Tommy’s teacher had to be taken away altogether for a month as the history sector had blanked out completely.



Question 6. Did Margie have regular days and hours for school? If so, why?

Answer: Yes, Margie had regular days and hours for school because Margie’s mother believed that little girls learned better if they learned at regular hours.



Question 7. How does Tommy describe the old kind of school?

Answer: Tommy says that the old kind of school had special buildings. All the kids went to that building for studying.



Question 8. How does he describe the old kind of teachers?

Answer: He tells Margie that the old kind of teachers were humans instead of machines. The human teacher would educate the boys and girls and give them homework and ask questions.




IV. Answer each of these questions in two or three paragraphs (100 –150 words).

Question 1: What are the main features of the mechanical teachers and the schoolrooms that Margie and Tommy have in the story?


Answer: The main features of the mechanical teachers that Margie and Tommy have are:

The mechanical teachers have big black screens on which lessons are displayed and questions are asked. The students need to put their homework and test papers in a slot that is present in the mechanical teacher. The students write answers in punch code and the mechanical teacher calculates the results right away.

The main features of the schoolrooms that Margie and Tommy have are:

In the story, the schools are there in the homes. For instance, Margie’s school was right next to her bedroom.

The students do not have classmates. They study subjects like arithmetic, history, geography, etc. The mechanical teacher would turn on at the same time every day except on the weekends.



Question 2: Why did Margie hate school? Why did she think the old kind of school must have been fun?

Answer: Margie hated school because she felt it boring. The mechanical teacher started the class at the same time regularly. Margie’s mechanical teacher was giving her test after test on Geography and she was performing badly.

Margie also did not like inserting homework and test papers in the slot on the mechanical teacher.

She thought that the old kind of school must have been fun because it would have had kids from various places of the neighbourhood. It would have been so interesting to sit together in the classroom and leave the school together at the end of the day. All the kids learned the same things so they could help each other in studies and homework.


Question 3: Do you agree with Margie that schools today are more fun than the school in the story? Give reasons for your answer.

Answer: Yes, I agree with Margie that schools today are more fun than the school in the story. In the story, the schools are in the students’ homes. This gives no space for interaction between students. Studying from screen and taking up tests sounds boring. Inserting homework and test papers in a slot on a mechanical teachers every day is monotonous. Writing answers in punch codes is even more draining.

Learning together in a class gives students a wider view of the people. Students also get familiar with others and learn how to interact and socialize. Getting taught by human teachers is way more dynamic than being taught by a machine. If there is any issue with any lesson or concept, the student can ask the human teacher then and there. But, mechanical teachers are programmed with a certain lesson and concept for a particular day. During the time when the student solves homework, he/she can get help from classmates. That’s how the schools today are more fun than the school in the story.



Thinking about Language

I. Adverbs

Read this sentence taken from the story:

They had once taken Tommy’s teacher away for nearly a month because the history sector had blanked out completely.

The word complete is an adjective. When you add –ly to it, it becomes an adverb.


Question 1. Find the sentences in the lesson which have the adverbs given in the box below.

awfully sorrowfully completely loftily carefully differently quickly nonchalantly

Answer:

awfully:

They turned the pages, which were yellow and crinkly, and it was awfully funny to read words that stood still instead of moving the way they were supposed to — on a screen, you know.

sorrowfully:

The mechanical teacher had been giving her test after test in geography and she had been doing worse and worse until her mother had shaken her head sorrowfully and sent for the County Inspector.

completely:

They had once taken Tommy’s teacher away for nearly a month because the history sector had blanked out completely.

loftily:

He added loftily, pronouncing the word carefully, “Centuries ago”.

carefully:

He added loftily, pronouncing the word carefully, “Centuries ago”.

differently:

“But my mother says a teacher has to be adjusted to fit the mind of each boy and girl it teaches and that each kid has to be taught differently.”

quickly:

“I didn’t say I didn’t like it,” Margie said quickly. She wanted to read about those funny schools.

nonchalantly:

“Maybe,” he said nonchalantly.



Question 2. Now use these adverbs to fill in the blanks in the sentences below.

(i) The report must be read ________ so that performance can be improved.

(ii) At the interview, Sameer answered our questions _________, shrugging his shoulders.

(iii) We all behave _________ when we are tired or hungry.

(iv) The teacher shook her head ________ when Ravi lied to her.

(v) I ________ forgot about it.

(vi) When I complimented Revathi on her success, she just smiled ________ and turned away.

(vii) The President of the Company is ________ busy and will not be able to meet you.

(viii) I finished my work ________ so that I could go out to play.


Answer:

(i) The report must be read carefully so that performance can be improved.

(ii) At the interview, Sameer answered our questions loftily, shrugging his shoulders.

(iii) We all behave differently when we are tired or hungry.

(iv) The teacher shook her head sorrowfully when Ravi lied to her.

(v) I completely forgot about it.

(vi) When I complimented Revathi on her success, she just smiled nonchalantly and turned away.

(vii) The President of the Company is awfully busy and will not be able to meet you.

(viii) I finished my work quickly so that I could go out to play.



Question 3. Make adverbs from these adjectives.

(i) angry (ii) happy

(iii) merry (iv) sleepy

(v) easy (vi) noisy

(vii) tidy (viii) gloomy


Answer:

(i) angry – angrily (ii) happy – happily

(iii) merry – merrily (iv) sleepy – sleepily

(v) easy – easily (vi) noisy – noisily

(vii) tidy – tidily (viii) gloomy – gloomily



II. If Not and Unless

Complete the following conditional sentences. Use the correct form of the verb.

1. If I don’t go to Anu’s party tonight, _________.

2. If you don’t telephone the hotel to order food, __________.

3. Unless you promise to write back, I __________.

4. If she doesn’t play any games, ___________.

5. Unless that little bird flies away quickly, the cat _________.


Answer:

1. If I don’t go to Anu’s party tonight, she will get irritated.

2. If you don’t telephone the hotel to order food, you will miss your meal.

3. Unless you promise to write back, I will not write you another letter.

4. If she doesn’t play any games, she will become lazy.

5. Unless that little bird flies away quickly, the cat will pounce on it and kill it.



Writing

Question: A new revised volume of Issac Asimov’s short stories has just been released. Order one set. Write a letter to the publisher, Mindfame Private Limited, 1632 Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi, requesting that a set be sent to you by Value Payable Post (VPP), and giving your address. Your letter will have the following parts.

• Addresses of the sender and receiver

• The salutation

• The body of the letter

• The closing phrases and signature


Answer:

416, Sector 18

Nagpur, Maharashtra

04/08/2020

Mindfame Private Limited, 1632

Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi

Dear Sir/Madam,

I recently came to know that a new revised volume of Issac Asimov’s short stories has been released. This is to request you to send me a set of the same by Value Payable Post (VPP) on my mailing address. I shall be highly obliged.

Yours sincerely,

Adwait Tiwari



Speaking

In groups of four discuss the following topic.

‘The Schools of the Future Will Have No Books and No Teachers!’

Your group can decide to speak for or against the motion. After this, each group will select a speaker to present its views to the entire class.

You may find the following phrases useful to present your argument in the debate.

• In my opinion . . .

• I/we fail to understand why . . .

• I wholeheartedly support/oppose the view that . . .

• At the outset let me say . . .

• I’d/we’d like to raise the issue of/argue against . . .

• I should like to draw attention to . . .

• My/our worthy opponent has submitted that . . .

• On the contrary . . .

• I firmly reject . . .


Answer:

For the motion

I would like to put forth my views in favour of the motion “The Schools of the Future Will Have No Books and No Teachers!”

The emergence of digital technologies like computers, laptops, mobile phones, etc. has brought about a lot of changes in the way education is imparted and received. Now itself, we can see how important the electronic gadgets and internet have become. We learn so many things through Google, YouTube and other platforms. The concept of online classes is getting more acknowledgement than ever. The internet speed is improving with time and usage. More and more people are being drawn towards the limitless possibilities of learning online. Gradually, we might see the schools teaching the students online with soft copies of books.

When the robots become a part of our lives, we shall see the time when the schools will have no real books and no human teachers, instead we will have online books and robots as
teachers! 

Class 8th. Chapter 1. The Sentence

 Chapter 1. The Sentence

Practice.

A.         (Page Number - 12.)

1. Shobhit has ordered cake and biscuits for the office party.

2. They took the editors to see the printing press.

3. How cloudy it is today !

4. Did you read about the man who adopted a little girl ?

5. Close the window.

6. The Sharmas bought a new television set after the old one stopped working.

7. Where does Kavita live?

8. Apoorv had food from the cafe and got sick.

9. Our neighbours do not like people who speak loudly. 

10. Oh! How beautiful the rain is!

11. Pick it up right now.

12. Do not shout or run in the corridor.




B.         (Page Number - 13.)



1. She does not drink at least ten glasses of water everyday.

2. How stunning Yasha looks in her gown !

3. Did Jacob take his friends out for a treat ?

4. Please pass me the table salt.

5. How expensive this watch is !

6. Why have I no money in my wallet ?

7. It is very sunny today.

8. Why may I get late ?

9. Please be silent.

10. Black is darker than blue.

FINDING MY WAY Class 8th Chapter 1

                      FINDING MY WAY

A.

1. a
2. a
3. c
4. b



D.

1. When Venkat's father admitted him in school, the principal wanted to ensure that he was the right age. He asked Venkat to touch his left ear by taking his right hand over his head, since that was how age was determined. Venkat knew this, yet he held his ear the easy way. The principal was amused and impressed - he realized the boy was smart enough to start school, but he changed his date of birth to make him seem older and therefore eligible for school.


2. Daddi Singh Urveti and 'Labda' Sumer Singh Khusram were Jangarh's assistants. They filled a painting started by Jangarh with dots or lines, in patterns set by Jangarh. In contrast, Venkat drew patterns that looked like cracked earth.


3. Jangarh did not teach "directly" he taught his apprentices life; art just came along. Jangarh made a new apprentice grind about two kilos of smooth masala paste from red chillies, coriander seeds, cloves, cinnamon, chopped onion, garlic and ginger using the silbatta. He would monitor this from a distance and severely scold the apprentice if he did not do it right. Jangarh would start singing suddenly and expect the apprentice to sing along. 

Class 7th. Unit - 14. Prepositions

 Unit - 14. Prepositions

Exercise- 1.

Underline all the Prepositions in the passage -

I came across my friend near a tunnel. "Where are you going?" I asked him. "I am going to my house. Why don't you come with me?"

"Is it very far away?"

"No", he replied. "First you walk through this tunnel, then you go over a bridge and come to the foot of a hill. You can see my house from there. We only have to go along the hill and my house is the fifth one behind a big pine tree.


Exercise- 2.

1. at 

2. in

3. in                         at

4. at                         in

5. on



Exercise- 3.

1. Besides  

2. between   

3. under  

4. among

5. about



Exercise- 4.

1. before

2. from                    to 

3. on  

4. on                        at

5. at

6. at                        in

7. by

8. during

9. for

10. until



Exercise- 5.

1. across

2. against

3. on

4. beside

5. near

6. beside

7. on

8. on

9. beside

10. onto



Exercise- 6.

1. towards

2. into

3. through

4. into

5. around

6. towards

7. upon

8. from

9. against 

10. towards



Exercise- 7.

1. from       

2. whom

3. for

4. beside

5. among

6. with

7. at

8. on

9. on

10. at   for



Exercise- 8.

1. to                         for

2. to

3. over

4. on

5. to

6. of

7.for

8. on

9. for

10. at

11. from

12. to

13. to

14. with

15. against                   to   

........................................................................

Nine Gold Medals Poem

 

Nine Gold Medals Summary Treasure Trove and Questions

The Poem:
Only winning medals is not the sole purpose of sports. Sportsman spirit, compassion, sharing, competition and complementing are also very important. A real sportsman is the combination of all these qualities. In this poem Nine Gold Medals, David Roth has presented the idea of empathy and how human values are as important as the spirit of competition. In the poem, the contestants of a race leave aside their desire to win the medal to help a smaller and weaker contestant. They all go together to the finishing line. They have empathy – the ability to put oneself in another’s shoes. Gold medals were awarded to all the nine contestants and thus the authorities also honoured their display of empathy, sportsman spirit, helpful nature and human values.

The Poet:
David Roth, born on October 10, 1954 is an American rock vocalist, song writer, actor, author and former radio personality. He moved to California while he was a teenager. His passion for music was visible since childhood. He is best known as the lead singer of California based hard rock band: Van Halen.

In addition to performing at music festivals, clubs and venues across the US and Canada David leads singing, song writing and performance workshops. He has been the artist in residence for several years at New York’s Omega Institute leading adult education centres and recorded six albums of his works.

The Poem in Detail:
Stanza – 1, Stanza – 2 and Stanza – 3
Several athletes came from all over the country to win gold, silver and bronze medals. They were coming here to participate after weeks and months of training. The spectators in large numbers were present to cheer the contestants. Excitement grew high as the final event of the day was approaching. The blocks were all lined up on the racing ground. Nine determined athletes took position at the starting blocks and were ready for the signal for the race.

Stanza 4 and 5
The contestants began to run as soon as the pistol was fired. One of them – the smallest stumbled, lost his balance and fell on the track.
The athlete who fell cried out in sheer disappointment. He felt as if all his dreams and efforts of winning the race were broken and ruined.

Stanza 6 and 7
The running eight runners on seeing him fall, instead of continuing the race, stopped and turned back to help him. All of them had trained hard to contest and win the race but each of them stopped to help bring the young boy to his feet.

All the nine athletes joined hands and walked to finishing line together. The banner above read ‘Special Olympics’ was quite appropriate as the players’ behaviour was unique, making the event unique.

Stanza 8
The race ended with nine winners. Each of them was given a gold medal, as they had walked together to the finishing line. The audience was so touched by such behaviour that they gave them the standing ovation. The ‘Special Olympics’ turned out to be really special.

Literary Devices
The poem has eight stanzas, four lines each and there is no rhyming scheme but its rhythm heightens its effect.

Alliteration:
e.g. i) But the smallest among them, he stumbled and staggered.

Narration technique:
It is much more like a story. The poet is the narrator who gives us an account of a race organised in ‘Special Olympics’. The poem brings out the ideas of compassion, sportsman spirit and teamwork because of these ideas the Olympics in the poem become the Special Olympics.

Word meanings:
Athlete – persons who are trained in sports, games or exercises that require physical skill and strength.
Resolved – determined
Block – the two starting blocks because runners push their feet against at the beginning of the race.
Poised – ready
Stumbled – hit his foot against something while walking or running
Staggered – lost balance
Asphalt – black tarred road
Anguished – grief or pain
Dashed – ruined
Beaming – reflecting happiness

Assignments
Q1) Read the extract given below answer the questions that follow –
       The athletes had come from all over the country.
       To run for the gold, for the silver and bronze.
       Many the weeks and the months of their training.
       And all come down to these games.
       The spectators gathered around the old field.
      For cheering on all the young women and men.
      The final event of the day was approaching.
      Excitement grew high to begin.

1. Where did the athletes “come from all over the country? Why?
A1. The athletes from all over the country were coming to participate in the hundred yards race an event organised in the Special Olympics. They come to run in the race and wish to win the gold, silver or bronze medal.

2. What do the words gold, silver and bronze stand for in the extract? Do you think the contestants were prepared for the event? Give a reason for your answer.
A2. The words gold, silver and bronze stand for gold, silver and bronze medals. Yes, they were prepared well for the event. This line ‘Many the weeks and the months of their training’ shows they prepared well for the event.

3. Give the meaning of – ‘excitement grew high to begin’
A3. The spectators were highly excited as the event approached and the race started.

4. What event is being referred to?
A4. The event referred to is the Special Olympics, in which the contestants have some problems in a part of the body.

5. Why did the spectators gather around the field? Who is referred to as young women and men?
A5. The spectators gathered around the field to see the race and cheer up the participants. The young women and men are referred to the spectators who have come to see the race.

Q2) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
       The blocks were all lined up for those who would use them
       The hundred-yard dash was the race to be run
       There were nine resolved athletes in back of the starting line
       Poised for the sound of the gun
       The signal was given, the pistol exploded
       And so did the runners all charging ahead
       But the smallest among them, he stumbled and staggered
       And fell to the asphalt instead

1. Why were the blocks lined up? Who all are referred to as ‘those’ in the above extract?
A1. The blocks were lined up for those who would like to use them. The runners are referred to as ‘those’ in the above extract.

2. Show how the suspense was built up before the competition began.
A2. As it was the final event, the excitement was building up. The spectators were shouting to cheer up the competitors. The contestants were excitedly waiting for the pistol to be exploded and for the race to start. The atmosphere was such that naturally the suspense was building up.

3. What did the pistol signify?
A3. The pistol signified that as soon as it exploded, the race would begin. The firing of the pistol was the signal for the race to start.

4. During the race who had the bad luck? What happened to him? What were his feelings then?
A4. During the race, the smallest among them had the bad luck. He stumbled and fell. He felt that not only did he fall on the dirt but all his dreams also fell on the dirt and vanished forever. Now, he felt, he had no chance to win the race.

5. What happened after he fell? Did the rest of the runners go on running?
A5. When he fell, the runners looked back. No, they did not continue their race. They stopped to help the runner who had fallen and pulling him up again continued the race taking him with them.

Q3) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
       He gave out a cry in frustration and anguish
       His dreams and efforts all dashed in the dirt
       But as sure as I am standing here telling this story
       The same goes for what next occurred
       The eight other runners pulled up on their heels
       The ones who had trained for so long to compete
       One by one they all turned round and went back to help him
       And brought the young boy to his feet

3. State in your words what the other eight runners did. What did their action reflect on their attitude?
A3. The other eight runners, when they saw the ninth runner fall, stopped and one by one they turned to the fallen runner. They helped him to stand up and walked towards the finishing point along with the ninth runner who had fallen. This action of those eight players shows their empathy, attitude of co-operation, unselfishness and above all, the real sportsman spirit and humanity.

4. How do these lines bring out the main theme of the poem?
One by one they all turned around and went back to help him
And brought the young boy to his feet
A4. The poem’s main theme is that caring and sharing are more important than winning and losing. Sports is not only about winning medals but also about learning the values of sympathy and co-operation. By bringing the young boy, the eight contestants showed that they cared about winning medals but they cared and believed more in humanity, co-operation and compassion. These lines bring out the main theme of the poem and show that these athletes were sportsmen in the real sense of the word.

5. Give the meaning of frustration and anguish.
A5. Frustration means the feeling of extreme helplessness and anguish means extreme suffering and pain.

Q4) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
       Then all the nine athletes joined hands and continued
       The hundred-yard dash now reduced to a walk
       And banner above them said “Special Olympics”
       Could not have been more on the mark
       That’s how the race ended, with nine gold medals
       For they came to the finish line holding hands still
       And the standing ovation and nine beaming faces
       Said more than these words ever will

1. Why did the nine athletes join hands?
A1. The nine athletes joined hands and this joining of hands shows their friendliness, kindness, teamwork, co-operation and unselfish attitude. The race was reduced to a walk because the ninth athlete who fell, could not run and they did not want to leave him. Therefore, the race was reduced to a walk.

2. Give the meaning and significance of:
“And the banner above that said,” Special Olympics”
Could not have been more on the mark”
A2. The poet says that the banner above said ‘Special Olympics’ and it was not possible to have a more appropriate banner for that occasion.

3. The significance of the above lines is that the Olympics was named Special Olympics and it became more special because of the incident of a runner’s fall and the other runners’ sacrifice of their own desires to win the contest and helping their fellow runner. That’s why the poet has said the banner saying ‘Special Olympics’ could not have been more on the mark.
How did the race end: in what way was the ending appropriate?
A3. The race ended with nine gold medals awarded to nine participants. The ending was appropriate as the authorities also honoured their display of empathy and human values by awarding each participant a gold medal.

4. How did the contestants feel when they crossed the finish line together? Which words in the extract indicate their mood? How did the spectators react?
A4. The contestants felt happy and contented when they crossed the finishing line. The following line in the extract shows their mood “For they came to the finish line holding hands still”.

5. This phrase in the next line “nine beaming faces” also reflects their mood.
The spectators were also very happy and excited. They gave standing ovation showing their feelings.
Why is this race conducted every two years? Who conducts it?
A5. The hundred-yard race is an event organised by Special Olympics. Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organisation for people with disabilities. This organisation helps people to build self-confidence and social skills. These games are conducted every two years and children and adults with intellectual disabilities are provided year-round training. As a global movement, it aims at making this world a better, healthier and happier place.