Report Writing ISC

 

Question 2.

(a) Write a report for a local daily on a riot that broke out after a feud between the workers of two political parties. You may base your report on the following points.

Separate meetings - close location/venue - crowd gets split - noise on public address system group of workers raising slogans - brick batting from either side - police lathi-charge - markets closed- Rapid Action Force - appeal for peace.    [12]

Answer:

                              Riot Breaks Out-21 Arrested
                              (Senior Correspondent, TOI)

Monday, 23 December, 2021: A devastating riot broke out today at Gandhi Maidan at around 3 p.m. when the LDP and JWD workers burst into an altercation which eventually turned violent when it turned physical.

The two parties held separate meetings at Golghar premises and the other at Gandhi Maidan. Over the years, these two venues have been chosen for different groups and parties to hold a meeting. The LDP and JWD workers suddenly found themselves up in arms when the sound on the Public Address System from both sides started creating a noisy confusion. The crowd was shuttling between the two venues leading to utter chaos.

Suddenly, a gunshot in the air resulted in groups of people violently lashing out at each other. Slogans rent the air, with many waving their firearms. Mohan Das, an LDP leader, said, "It is politically motivated to drive our party workers from attending the meeting."

By 4:30 in the evening, there was brick batting, mudslinging and catastrophic damage to public property. A parked bus was set on fire. A torrent of uncontrolled anguish burst out, leaving all in a horrifying state of fear and dismay.

The RAF was soon pressed into action. The unrelenting workers from either side threatened the peace in the area, forcing the police to resort to a lathi-charge. Mrs. Jha, a resident, said, "These unruly mobs have become quite rampant these days ever since the announcement of dates of Panchayat elections."

The shutters of the shops were immediately pulled down by order of the District Administration. 21 arrests were made on the spot, and 30 people have been questioned in this regard. The mob was dispersed only after the jawans resorted to water cannons on the orders of the D.M.

The Chief Minister called for an immediate meeting with the higher officials to review what has been set to nab the miscreants. An appeal for restoration of peace was made by the C.M.

All Summer in a Day

 

All Summer in a Day

Questions and Answers Extract Based

Question 1.
“Ready?”
“Ready”
“Now?”
“Soon.”
“Do the scientists really know? Will it happen today, will it?”
“Look, look; see for yourself.” The children pressed to each other like so many roses, so many weeds, intermixed, peering out for a look at the hidden sun.
It rained.

(a) Where is the story ‘All Summer in A Day ’ set ? Why did the children living on the planet Venus seem to be happy ?

Answer:
The story ‘All Summer in A Day’ is set on the planet where the sun shines for only one hour once every seven years. The children were happy because they had heard from the scientists that the sun was going to appear for a short period.

(b) Why were the characters sent on the planet Venus ? Who came later on Venus and when ?

Answer:
The characters were sent on the planet Venus to set up civilization and live out their lives. It was Margot who had come on Venus five years ago from Earth.

(c) How has the writer depicted the planet Venus ? How do we come to know that the story belongs to the genre of science fiction ?

Answer:
The writer has depicted the planet Venus, as a place where it rains constantly and the sun emerges once every seven years and that too for one hour. The story falls into the genre of science fiction and we come to know this from the constant reference to scientists and their forecasts regarding the sun.

(d) Why were the children unable to remember about the sun ?

Answer:
All the children were nine years old. It means that the children would have been only two years old the last time when the rain stopped and the sun appeared seven years ago, hence the children were too small to remember how it looked and how it made them feel.

(e) What do the following lines ‘Do the scientists really know ? Will it happen today, will it ?’ Show ?

Answer:
These lines show that the children had doubts about the prediction of the scientists. They could not easily believe that the sun was going to appear after a very long time of seven years. They thought that the scientists could be wrong in making prediction.

(f) The story opens with the question ‘Ready ?’ What were the characters getting ready for ?

Answer:
The characters were getting ready to see the sun which was about appear
on Venus after a very long interval of seven years. The children living on the planet Venus seemed to be very excited to get a glimpse of the sun and feel it.



Question 2.
It had been raining for seven years; thousands upon thousands of days compounded and filled from one end to the other with rain, with the drum and gush of water, with the sweet crystal fall of showers and the concussion of storms so heavy they were tidal waves come over the islands. A thousand forests had been crushed under the rain and grown up a thousand times to be crushed again. And this was the way life was forever on the planet Venus, and this was the schoolroom of the children of the rocket men and women who had come to a raining world to set up civilization and live out their lives.

(a) What is setting of the story ? Describe the main idea of the story.

Answer:
The setting of the story is in the future on Venus in an elementary school where astronauts have raised their children. The main idea of the story is that life can be tough and it is not always fair.

(b) When did the sun appear last on the planet Venus ? Why could the children not preserve the memories of the sun?

Answer:
When the sun last emerged, all the children were just two years old. As they were very little when the sun shone seven years ago, it was difficult for them to preserve the memories of the sun. Hence they remembered nothing about the sun.

(c) How long had it been raining on the planet Venus ? What was the effect of the rain on the forests.

Answer:
It had been raining on the planet Venus for seven years. Several forests had been crushed under the rain and grown up a thousand times to be crushed again.

(d) How did most of the children feel about the weather on Venus ?

Answer:
Most of the children had accustomed to the constant rainy weather on Venus. They liked the rain because they could not remember ever seeing the sun. Margot thought they remembered the sun only in their dreams.

(e) What were the children doing as ‘All Summer in a Day’ was going to begin ? What do the details in the passage given below tell you about the writer’s purpose ?
‘It had been raining for seven year; thousands upon thousands of days compounded and filled from one end to the other with rain, with the drawn and gush of water.

Answer:
The children were peering out a window. In the passage given above, the writer wishes to create a mood. He wants the reader to be able to imagine the consequence of such event upon the characters within the story.

(f) What is the central conflict of the story ‘All Summer in A Day’ ?

Answer:
The main conflict is between Margot and her classmates on planet Venus. Her classmates resent her because they know that she was on Earth for a longer time, than they were; therefore she can remember the sun’s character better than they can.



Question 3.
“It’s stopping, it’s stopping!”
“Yes, yes!”
Margot stood apart from them, from these children who could ever remember a time when there wasn’t rain and rain and rain. They were all nine years old, and if there had been a day, seven years ago, when the sun came out for an hour and showed its face to the stunned world, they could not recall.

(a) What does the story *All Summer in A Day’ introduce?

Answer:
The story introduces a group of children living on Venus which is dominated by rainfall and the absence of the sun. In the story, Venus only receives sunlight for one hour every seven years.

(b) Who are the protagonist and antagonist of the story and why ?

Answer:
The protagonist is Margot because she has a conflict that needs to be solved. William is the antagonist because he caused the conflict.

(c) What was the momentous occasion ? Who were waiting for this occasion ?

Answer:
The momentous occasion was that the sun was going to appear in the sky for a brief period i.e., for one hour after seven years. A group of nine years old children was eagerly waiting for this occasion.

(d) How many times had the children seen the sun ?

Answer:
The children had only seen the sun once in their lives when they were two years old, but now they did not remember how it looked or felt.

(e) Why was Margot standing apart ?

Answer:
Margot was standing apart from other children and showed no interest to mingle and interact with them because the grey atmosphere of the planet Venus left great impact of her.

(f) Why had the other children forgotten about the sun ?

Answer:
The other children had been on Venus all their lives and they had been only two years old when last the sun came out for an hour. So they had forgotten colour and heat of the sun.



Question 4.
Margot stood alone. She was a very frail girl who looked as if she had been lost in the rain for years and the rain had washed out the blue from her eyes and the red from her mouth and the yellow from her hair. She was an old photograph dusted from an album, whitened away, and if she spoke at all her voice would be a ghost. Now she stood, separate, staring at the rain and the loud wet world beyond the huge glass.
“What’ re you looking at?” said William.
Margot said nothing.
“Speak when you’re spoken to.”
He gave her a shove. But she did not move; rather she let herself be moved only by him and nothing else. They edged away from her, they would not look at her. She felt them go away. And this was because she would play no games with them in the echoing tunnels of the underground city. If they tagged her and ran, she stood blinking after them and did not follow.

(a) Who was Margot ? Why did she have memories of the sun ?

Answer:
Margot was one of the children who lived on the planet Venus. She was different from the other children because she had lived in Ohio until she was five. So she had memories of the sun.

(b) How did the children make preparations for the coming summer ?

Answer:
In preparation for the coming summer, the class had spent the previous day studying the sun and writing about it. They had written small stories or essays or poems about it.

(c) Why was Margot totally misfit on Venus ?

Answer:
Margot had come to the planet Venus just five years ago, from earth. She was totally a misfit on Venus. She could not adapt herself to the conditions on Venus where it had been raining continuously for seven years, without the appearance of the sun.

(d) What continued to fascinate Margot ? Why did she not like to participate in any classroom activity ?

Answer:
Margot had many memories of the sun and the sun continued to fascinate her. She did not like to participate in any classroom activity that did not include the sun because she had been in a depressed state on Venus.

(e) What was the impact of constant rain on Margot’s physical appearance ?

Answer:
The constant rain made its first impact on Margot’s physical appearance. It seemed as if the rains had washed out the red colour from her face, the blue colour of her eye and the golden colour of her hair.

(f) How did Margot look like ? Give two instances of metaphor from the above extract ?

Answer:
Margot looked like a faded, whitened photograph from an old album. She looked pale and sick like a ghost. Margot’s appearance and voice has been described after years of relentless rain and devoid of sunlight as :

• ‘She was an old photograph dusted from an album ’

• ‘ if she spoke at all her voice would be a ghost.’



Question 5.
When the class sang songs about happiness and life and games her lips barely moved. Only when they sang about the sun and the summer did her lips move as she watched the drenched windows. And then, of course, the biggest crime of all was that she had come here only five years ago from Earth, and she remembered the sun and the way the sun was and the sky was when she was four in Ohio. And they, they had been on Venus all their lives, and they had been only two years old when last the sun came out and had long since forgotten the colour and heat of it and the way it really was. But Margot remembered.
“It’s like a penny,” she said once, eyes closed.
“No, it’s not!” the children cried.
“It’s like a fire,”she said, “in the stove.”
‘You’re lying, you don’t remember!” cried the children.

(a) What is fantastical element in the story ?

Answer:
The children’s living on Venus is fantastical element, because we do not know much about Venus but we do not believe at this time that it can sustain human life. In this story, not only do people live on Venus, but also it rains all the time there. The idea of raining on a planet for seven years is a fantastical element.

(b) How were Margot’s mental feelings affected by rains ?

Answer:
The rains affected Margot mentally. They gave her lonely feelings. She liked to live in an isolated state. She never mingled with the children. She neither played games with them nor sang songs of happiness.

(c) Why had the children forgotten the colour and heat of the sun ?

Answer:
The children had forgotten the colour and heat of the sun because when
last the sun came out, they were only two years old.

(d) Whose biggest crime is being talked about ? Why is it considered as a crime ?

Answer:
Margot’s biggest crime is being talked about. It was considered as a crime because Margot had come to live on Venus only five years ago from earth and she remembered the sun and the things related to the sun.

(e) How does Margot compare the sun ? Why did the children accuse Margot ?

Answer:
Margot compares the sun’s roundness and ‘flaming bronze’ to a ‘penny’, and its warmth to ‘a fire in the stove’. The children accused her of lying when she told them that the sun is round like a penny and hot like a fire.

(f) When did Margot sing along with the other children ?

Answer:
When the children sang songs about happiness and life and games, her lips barely moved, but when they sang about the sun and summer, she sang along with them.



Question 6.
But she remembered and stood quietly apart from all of them and watched the patterning windows. And once, a month ago, she had refused to shower in the school shower rooms, had clutched her hands to her ears and over her head, screaming the water mustn’t touch her head. So after that, dimly, dimly, she sensed it, she was different and they knew her difference and kept away. There was talk that her father and mother were taking her back to Earth next year; it seemed vital to her that they do so, though it would mean the loss of thousands of dollars to her family. And so, the children hated her for all these reasons of big and little consequence. They hated her pale snow face, her waiting silence, her thinness, and her possible future.

(a) Why did the other children resent Margot ?

Answer:
The other children resented her because she played no games with them in the tunnels of the underground city. If they tagged her and ran, she stood blinking after them and did not follow.

(b) How old was Margot when she moved to Venus ? How did the other children feel about Margot ?

Answer:
When Margot moved to Venus, she was four years old. The other children hated her because of her pale face, her constant silence, her thinness and because she wanted to go back to Earth next year.

(c) What did Margot remember and why ?

Answer:
Margot remembered the sun because she had spent four years of her life on the Earth. She knew very well how its colour was and how one could feel in its presence and what impacts could be seen in the atmosphere.

(d) What were all the children waiting for as they stood around the window ? What was Margot doing ?

Answer:
As the children stood around the class window, all they were curiously waiting for the sun which was about to appear on the planet Venus for a brief time. Margot was also waiting for the sun patiently as she too was eager to set a glimpse of the sun.

(e) For what does the word ‘vital’ stand ? Why does the writer use the word ‘vital’ here ?

Answer:
The word ‘vital’ stands for being necessary to the existence, continuence or well being of something and of critical importance. The word ‘vital’ has been used to describe the importance of her parents’ sending Margot back to Earth and it means it is necessary to Margot.

(f) What does the ‘shower’ serve to remind Margot ? Why does she rebel against it ?

Answer:
The shower only serves to remind Margot of the endless rain which she thoroughly tired of. She wanted to be dry, not wet. She wanted to bask the sun. She did not want to remain under the tyranny of a constant downpour, so she rebels against the shower. To her, the shower symbolises the constant rain she hates.



Question 7.
“Get away!” The boy gave her another push. “What’re you waiting for?” Then, for the first time, she turned and looked at him. And what she was waiting for was in her eyes.
“Well, don’t wait around here!” cried the boy savagely. “You won’t see anything!”
Her lips moved.
“Nothing!” he cried. “It was all a joke, wasn’t it?” He turned to the other children.
“Nothing’s happening today. Is it?”
They all blinked at him and then, understanding, laughed and shook their heads.
“Nothing, nothing!”
“Oh, but,”Margot whispered, her eyes helpless. “But this is the day, the scientists predict, they say, they know, the sun…”

(a) What is the symbolical significance of the sun for Margot ?

Answer:
For Margot, the sun is a reminder of her happy days on Earth before her family has relocated to Venus. It reminds her of the hope for the future that she and her parents will one day return to Earth.

(b) What did the children claim and how did they treat with her ?

Answer:
Margot knew better than any of the children what the sun was like because her family came to Venus from Ohio only five years ago. But the children claimed that she could not remember the sun and treated the quiet, reserved little girl very cruelly.

(c) Why did, the children resent her ? Why were they angry and jealous of her ?

Answer:
The children resented her for her past experiences on Earth with the sun and they were also angry and jealous of her because she had the opportunity to travel back to Earth regardless of the financial costs.

(d) What does Margot’s initial exclusion from the group show ?

Answer:
Margot’s initial exclusion from the group speaks to the difficulties of integrating immigrants into a community. Margot struggles to fit in everyday of her time on Venus and she does not get along with the other children.

(e) Who gave Margot another push and why ? How did Margot react at the boy’s rude behaviour ?

Answer:
A boy named Willian who seemed to be very cruel to Margot gave her another push. He did this act out of anger and jealousy for Margot. For the first time Margot turned and looked at him.

(f) Why did Margot’s eyes show when she looked at the boy ? Why did the boy say ‘you won’t see anything !’ ?

Answer:
When Margot looked at the boy, it was clearly visible in her eyes that she was eagerly waiting for the sun’s appearance. She also seemed to be very confident and patient while waiting for the sun’s appearance. The boy said that she would not see anything and her waiting for the sun’s appearance would be meaningless for her because the children had already planned to play a trick upon her as they did not want to let her see the glimpse of the sun.



Question 8.
“All a joke!” said the boy, and seized her roughly. “Hey, everyone, let’s put her in a closet before the teacher comes!”
“No, ” said Margot, falling back.
They surged about her, caught her up and bore her, protesting, and then pleading, and then crying, back into a tunnel, a room, a closet, where they slammed and locked the door. They stood looking at the door and saw it tremble from her beating and throwing herself against it. They heard her muffled cries. Then, smiling, they turned and went out and back down the tunnel, just as the teacher arrived.

(a) What did the boy say to dishearten her ? How did the other children react it ?

Answer:
The boy told her that it was all a joke and the sun was not going to appear that day. The other children also followed the boy. They showed their agreement with the boy and laughed at her.

(b) Why did Margot seem to be confident about the appearance of the sun ?

Answer:
Margot seemed to be confident about the appearance of the sun because she firmly believed in the prediction of the scientists. She knew well that the scientists could not be wrong as they predicted after scientific observation.

(c) What did Margot respond when the children were teasing her ? Why did Margot’s classmates feel jealous of her ?

Answer:
Margot said nothing, but she only whispered. She seemed to be helpless before the children who were very harsh and cruel towards her. Margot’s classmates felt jealous of Margot because she lived on the Earth and had seen the sun for a longer amount of time than her classmates. Morever she remembered what the sun was like.

(d) Who were the partners of William in the crime of locking Margot in the closet and how ?

Answer:
As William was the leader of the children, the children did the same they were asked to do. He convinced them to lock Margot in the closet. The children became partners in crime with William and forcibly locked Margot in the closet and thus prevented her from seeing and feeling the sun.

(e) How did Margot resist the children when they were taking her to lock in the closet ?

Answer:
When Margot was being taken to the closet by the children, she protested, pleaded and cried, but it was all in vain as they had crushed the humanity and morality under their feet and had grown stem and cruel against her.

(f) How did all the children react after locking Margot in the closet ?

Answer:
After locking Margot in the closet, all the children stood looking at the door and saw it trumble from her beating and throwing herself against it. They heard the muffled cries of Margot. Then they smiled at their inhuman act and turned and went out.



Question 9.
“Ready, children1?” She glanced at her watch.
“Yes!” said everyone.
“Are we all here?” “Yes!”
The rain slacked still more.
They crowded to the huge door.
The rain stopped.
It was as if, in the midst of a film concerning an avalanche, a tornado, a hurricane, a volcanic eruption, something had, first, gone wrong with the sound apparatus, thus muffling and finally cutting off all noise, all of the blasts and repercussions and thunders, and then, second, ripped the film from the projector and inserted in its place a beautiful tropical slide which did not move or tremor. The world ground to a standstill. The silence was so immense and unbelievable that you felt your ears had been stuffed or you had lost your hearing altogether. The children put their hands to their ears. They stood apart. The door slid back and the smell of the silent, waiting world came in to them.

(a) What tends to cause conflict and resentment and why ? Explain it clearly in the light of story.

Answer:
Variations in people, lives and backgrounds tend to cause conflict and resentment due to lack of understanding. Margot migrated on the planet Venus from the Earth. On the Earth she lived in a atmosphere which was entirely different to that of Venus, hence she could not develop a mutual
understanding with those children who were born and brought up on the planet Venus.

(b) What made the children act audaciously against Margot ? What hateful act did they commit and why ?

Answer:
The children’s jealous feelings towards Margot overrode their moral decisions and made them act audaciously. In order to deprive her of seeing the sun’s appearance, they made an aggressive attack on Margot and forcibly locked her in a closet.

(c) What happened as the rain stopped ?

Answer:
As the rain stopped, an immense peace could be felt in the whole atmosphere of the planet Venus. It seemed as if in the midst of a film concerning an avalanche, a tornado, hurricane, a volcanic erruption, something had gone wrong with the sound apparatus and ripped the film from the projector and inserted in its place a beautiful tropical slide.

(d) Why did the teacher look at her watch ? What did she ask the children ? Where did the children gather ?

Answer:
The teacher looked at her watch because the time was approaching when the sun was about to appear. She asked the children if they were ready. The children gathered to the huge door.

(e) How did the children feel for sometime when rain stopped.

Answer:
When the rain stopped, the children felt an immense and unbelievable silence. They felt as if their ears had been stuffed with something or they had lost their hearing capacity completely.

(f) What did the children do when they felt extreme silence ? What came before them as the door slid back ?

Answer:
When the children felt extreme silence, they put their hands to their ears. As the door slid back, a picture of silent and waiting world came to them. In fact the sun had appeared.



Question 10.
The sun came out.
It was the color of flaming bronze and it was very large. And the sky around it was a blazing blue tile color. And the jungle burned with sunlight as the children, released from their spell, rushed out, yelling into the springtime.
“Now, don’t go too far,” called the teacher after them. “You’ve only two hours, you know. You wouldn’t want to get caught out!”
But they were running and turning their faces up to the sky and feeling the sun on their cheeks like a warm iron; they wore taking off their jackets and letting the sun burn their arms.

(a) Why did the children seem to be very eager to see the sun ?

Answer:
The sun appeared in every seven years on the planet Venus. So when the children were two years old, the sun appeared, but they did not have any recollections of that day. So when they heard about the prediction of the sun’s appearing, they seemed to be very eager to see and know about the sun.

(b) What caused the conflict between Margot and the other children ?

Answer:
Margot remembered the sun and other children didn’t. The other children were angry because she had a memory that they didn’t. Margot kept to herself because nobody liked her. It caused the children to bully her into the closet.

(c) How did the children react after the sun came out ? What warning did the teacher give to the children ?

Answer:
As the children were released with the appearance of the sun, they rushed out yelling into the spring time. The teacher warned the children not to go too far as they had only two hours.

(d) What games did the children play ? What did most of the children do?

Answer:
The children ran among the trees. They slipped and fell. They pushed each other. They played hide and seek and tag, but most of all they quinted at the sun until the tears ran down their faces; they put their hands to that yellowness and that amazing blueness and they breathed of the fresh air and listened to the silence which suspended them in a blessed sea of no sound and no motion.

(e) Do you think that the children paid any heed to the teacher ?

Answer:
It seems that the children were so much overwhelmed with joyous feelings at the sight of the sunshine that they did not pay any heed to their teacher’s warning but became wholly engrossed in their games and activities.

(f) How did the sun look like ? How did the appearance of the sun leave its impact on the sky and the ground ?

Answer:
The sun looked like a flaming bronze. It seemed to be very large. With its appearance, the sky around it was a blazing blue tile colour. The warmth or heat of the sun could be felt on the ground. The jungle seemed to be burning with the sunlight.



Question 11.
And then -In the midst of their running one of the girls wailed. Everyone stopped.
The girl, standing in the open, held out her hand.
“Oh, look, look,” she said, trembling.
They came slowly to look at her opened palm.
In the center of it, cupped and huge, was a single raindrop. She began to cry, looking at it. They glanced quietly at the sun.
“Oh. Oh.”
A few cold drops fell on their noses and their cheeks and their mouths. The sun faded behind a stir of mist. A wind blew cold around them. They turned and started to walk back toward the underground house, their hands at their sides, their smiles vanishing away. A boom of thunder startled them and like leaves before a new hurricane, they tumbled upon each other and ran. Lightning struck ten miles away, five miles away, a mile, a half mile. The sky darkened into midnight in a flash.

(a) How much time did the children spend ? When did they stop running ? What did the girl show them ?
Answer:
The children had been running and enjoying for an hour and they did not stop running until one of the girls wailed. The girl showed them a single drop of the rain at her palm.

(b) What reaction did the children make on hearing the cry of one of the girls ? What did the children see in her hand ?
Answer:
On hearing the cry of one of the girls, the children stopped running. They turned to the girl who was standing in the open with her stretched hand. The children came to her and saw a single rain drop at her opened palm.

(c) Why did the children look quietly at the sun ?
Answer:
The children looked quietly at the sun because it seemed to them that the sun was going to vanish behind the clouds and the violent storms and rains were about to approach soon.

(d) Where did the children start to move and in what mood ?
Answer:
The children’s smiles had vanished away. They felt greatly dejected and disappointed at the disappearance of the sun. With heavy hearts, they turned and started to walk back towards the underground house.

(e) What happened a little later when the children had seen the drop of rain ?
Answer:
A little later when the children had seen the drop of rain, they felt that a few cold drops fell on their noses, cheeks and mouths and a cold wind blew around them.

(f) How was the sky changed ? Why did the children stop in the doorway ?
Answer:
The sky darkened into midnight in a flash. The children stopped in the doorway of the underground as they seemed to be reluctant to go inside until it rained heavily.

Question 12.
“She’s still in the closet where we locked her.” “Margot.”
They stood as if someone had driven them, like so many stakes, into the floor. They looked at each other and then looked away. They glanced out at the world that was raining now and raining and raining steadily. They could not meet each other’s glances. Their faces were solemn and pale. They looked at their hands and feet, their faces down. “Margot.”
One of the girls said, “Well…’?”
No one moved.
“Go on,” whispered the girl.

(a) Why did the children tumble upon each other and run ? What type of sound did they hear ?
Answer:
As the children were startled by a boom of thunder, they tumbled upon each other and ran. They heard the gigantic sound of the rain falling in tons and avalanches, everywhere.

(b) Why did the children look at each other ? Where was Margot ?
Answer:
The children looked at each other because they wanted to know whatever they had done with Margot was right or wrong. Margot was still locked in the closet.

(c) Why were the children’s faces solemn and pale ?
Answer:
The children were so much overburdened with the feeling of guilty that their faces had grown solemn and pale. The expressions of their faces clearly showed that they had nothing to say about their unpardonable deed.

(d) How were the feelings of the children changed when they set free Margot from the closet ?
Answer:
When they released Margot from the closet, they had known that Margot was true to her words about the sun. They had also known how beautiful and warm the sun is. This made them remorseful about locking her in the closet.

(e) What do the words ‘Go on’, whispered the girl, signify.
Answer:
All the children were so much ashamed that they had no courage to move on to the closet, but the girl who was also involved in this immoral deed, whispered that they should proceed to release Margot from the closet.

(f) Why did the other children lock Margot in the closet ? In what mood did the children return ?
Answer:
The other children locked Margot in the closet because they despised her. They did not like her as she had the recollections of the sun but they did not have. The children returned remorsefully to let Margot out of the closet.

(g) When do the people begin to feel detach themselves ? What is the significance of jealously ?
Answer:
When differing backgrounds cause turmoil, people begin to feel detach themselves from one another. Jealousy can sometimes override morality. The children’s jealous feelings towards Margot overrode their moral decisions and made them act audaciously.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
How do the other students feel about Margot in the story ‘All Summer in A Day ’ ?
Answer:
The story takes place in some future time where earthlings have somehow managed to travel to other planets and colonize them. One of these colonies is on Venus. Bradbury’s vision of Venus is a planet where it rains constantly. The incessant rain really gets to people. It is particularly hard for the children because they do not remember seeing the sun. They were too young when it last appeared for one hour.

Margot is nine years old girl. She is different from the other children because she is from the Earth. On Earth, apparently, the sun still comes out. Margot desperately misses the sun. She wants to go back to Earth in the worst way. Not only does Margot miss the sun, but she does not get along with the other children. They are jealous of her and think she is weird because she keeps herself apart from them. She does not fit in and does not try to. Whenever Margot is mentioned, she is described as being alone and apart from the other kids.

‘She was a very frail girl who looked as if she had been lost in the rain for years and the rain had washed out the blue from her eyes and the red from her mouth and the yellow from her hair. She was an old photograph dusted from an album, whitened away, and if she spoke at all her voice would be a ghost.’

The children feel excited because the sun is about to appear for the first time in seven years. This means that the other children were just two years old when it last emerged, and of course they don’t remember it. For this reason, they are even more stirred up. Just as the sun is about to come out, they decide to play a trick on Margot. They lock her in the closet.

Question 2.
Why was Margot unhappy on Venus ? Why did the children dislike Margot ? What inferences can you make about Margot’s feelings as she comes out of the closet at the end of the story ?
Answer:
The Reason of Margot’s Unhappiness and Children’s Disliking Her : Margot was unhappy on Venus because she remembered the sun from when she was four and lived on earth. Children disliked Margot because she told them that the sun was going to come out after seven years of straight raining and they thought she was lying. We know this because the boy from her class talks to Margot and says, ‘It was all a joke wasn’t it V He turned to the other children.

‘Nothings happening today. Is it ?’ Another reason why children disliked her was because she might be going back to earth. There was a talk that her father and her mother were taking her back to earth next year. And so the children hated her for all these reasons of big and little consequence. They hated her pale snow face, her waiting silence, her thinness and her possible future.

Inferences about Margot’s Feelings : We can infer that Margot felt frustrated towards her classmates when she got out of the closet because she was the only one who believed the sun was coming out on that day and was the only who did not see it. We know this when Margot talks to the boy: ‘But this is
the day, the scientists predict, they say, they know, the sun ’ At this the boy said that it was all a joke and seized her roughly. He called the other children and asked them to let her put in a closet before the teacher came. She was trying to explain to her classmates that the sun would come out but they thought she was lying. This might make her angry and aggressive when she was taken out of the closet.

Question 3.
How does Ray Bradbury develop the mood in ‘All Summer in a Day’?
Answer:
The Use of Leitmotif : Ray Bradbury creates a leitmotif that expresses repeatedly the idea of rain with recurring phrases; this repetition generates the major atmospheric effect, or mood, of his story. It is an oppressive mood of grey anxiety and cynicism. Here is an example of the use of leithmotif:
‘It had been raining for seven years; thousands upon thousands of days compounded and filled from one end to the other with rain, with drum and gush of water, with the sweet crystal fall of showers and the concussion of storms so heavy they were tidal waves come over the island. ’

The Effect of Unceasing Rain on Nature and Children: The monotony of this ever-present rain that has killed forests and flowers and any vegetation is rather overpowering. The effect of the grey atmosphere and unceasing rain is reflected in the children’s behaviour as well. They bully the one girl who has come from Ohio and seen the sun and remembered it. To the other children she has committed ‘the biggest crime of all’. So, in their envy and cynical doubt of Margot’s truth about the sun, the children lock her in a closet, causing Margot great anxiety.

Margot’s Suffering from Oppression and Anxiety : In her imprisonment, Margot suffers her worst oppression and anxiety as she is denied the vision of a sunny sky, a vision for which she has long been anxious; she has always remembered and yearned for it. She is also prohibited from the added satisfaction of erasing the cynicism that looms over her from other children who are skeptical of her description of the sun. Certainly, too, the behaviour of these other children underscores the narrator’s tone of cynicism with regard to human nature.
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My Greatest Olympic Prize

My Greatest Olympic Prize

Extract 1

i) The games mentioned in the above extract are the Olympic Games which were held in Berlin at 1936. The author who is Jesse Owens wasn’t too worried about them.

ii) The nationalistic feelings were high during these games because of Hitler’s childish theory of Aryan-Superiority according to which Aryans were the master race and superior than any other race.

iii) The speaker expected to win a gold medal in long jump. He expected to win a gold medal because he trained himself and practised hard for six years to win a medal at the Olympics.

iv) The speaker saw a tall boy, who was a German athelete named Luz Long. Owens was told that Hitler had kept him under wraps. According to speaker if Luz Long won, it would add some new support to Nazi’s Aryan-Supiririty theory.

v)   Owens trained himself and practised hard for six years in order to succeed in the competition (Olympics).



Extract 2

i) The speaker of above lines is Jesse Owens. Feeling of hatred and anger for german athlete occupied Owens’ mind due to which he did not performed well. He thought that if Luz Long won than it would add some new support to Aryan-Superiority theory. So he became angry as he wanted to prove Hitler wrong.

ii)  a) Being Angry.
     b) Political title given to Adolf Hitler.

iii) Speaker was determined to go out in the field where long jump trails were held . He intended to prove Hitler’s Aryan-Superiority theory wrong.

iv) The speaker’s performance at the trials was faulty. Feeling of hatred and anger for german athlete occupied Owens’ mind due to which he did not performed well. He thought that if Luz Long won than it would add some new support to Aryan-Superiority theory. So he became angry as he wanted to prove Hitler wrong.

v)    Nazis believed in the theory of racial hierarchy, identifying Germans as a part of Aryan on Nordic master race. They belived that Germans are superiorior than any other race in the world.



Extract 3

i)    Feeling of hatred and anger for german athlete Luz Long occupied Owens’ mind due to which he fouled on his first two attempts. He thought that if Luz Long won than it would add some new support to Aryan-Superiority theory. He became angry as he wanted to prove Hitler wrong and fouled in his first to attempts and ended up fouling in his first two attempts.

ii)    The speaker walked few yards from the pit and kicked disguestly at the dirt.  Luz Long who was a German athelete affered him a firm handshake and comforted him and gave him a friendy advice which vanished Owens anger.

iii) Luz Long, who comforted and guided the speaker, was a tall and strinkigly handsome, chiseled face boy with blue eyes and blonde hairs. He had a lean muscular frame. His accent was german.

iv) It was said by Luz Long who was a german athelete. He said the above lines in order to comfort Jesse Owens.

v)  Luz advised Owens to play safe and jump a few inches before the usual take-off spot. Yes, the advice proved to be succesful as Owens qualified for finals.



Extract 4

i) Owens fouled on his first two attempts and was completely tensed at the thought of not being able to qualify for the final round, if he would give a similar performance in the third attempt. The humble and friendly advice of Luz Long released his tension.

ii) Jesse walked over to Luz Long’s room in the Olympic village to thank him. He sat togeher with Luz and talked for two hours.

iii)  Yes , I agree that if it hadn’t been for Luz Long , Owens probably wouldn’t have qualified for the finals. Luz Long was the man who encouraged Owens when he was undergoing frustration and mental agony. Luz helped him qualify for the finals by giving him valuable tips.

iv) In the finals, Luz broke his own past record. In doing so he pushed Jesse to a peak performance. Jesse won a gold medal and Olympic record of 26 feet 5-5/16 inches.

v) Luz Long was a true sportsman. Fair play and love of Games was more important for him than winning. Hence he wanted Owens to do his best even if that meant his own defeat.



Extract 5


i) Carat is a term used to measure the gold content or purity. 24 caract gold is also called pure gold, i.e. gold without traces of any other metal. Therefore 24-caract friendship signifies the true and pure friendship Owens felt for Luz Long, which was free of traces of hate , anger and malice.

ii) [Answer according to your understanding]

iii) As soon as Owens won, Luz Long congratulated him heartily. He was not disappointed for himself but happy for Owens. Despite the fact that Hitler glared at them, Luz did not hesitate and shook his hand hard.

iv) According to Coubertin the important thing in Olympic Games is not winning but taking part and the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.

v) The pure friendship of German athelete Luz Long is considered as the greatest Olympic prize.

Though Jesse won four gold medals in the Berlin Olympics 1936, Luz Long was the man who encouraged Jesse when he was undergoing frustration and mental agony. Luz helped him qualify for the finals by giving him valuable tips. They shared their thoughts and became good friends. And what was most striking, Luz Long showed genuine happiness when Jesse won the gold medal. Luz Long was an epitome of the true sportsmanship and true friendship. That is why Jesse felt that Luz’s friendship was the greatest Olympic prize he had won.

 

 

Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 9

Act 2, Scene 9

Extract 1

Nerissa:

Quick, quick, I pray thee…….

Portia:

Behold, there stand the caskets, noble prince.

1.     What proper honour is given to Arragon to indicate that he is a prince?

To honour Arragon as a prince, trumpets were sounded as he entered the room and Portia addressed him as ‘noble prince.’

2.     Enumerate the three conditions in the oath which Arragon was supposed to take.

Arragon is bound by the oath to observe three conditions. First, he must not reveal to any other person which  of the caskets  he has selected. Second, if he does not win Portia, he should not woo any other lady. Third, if he chooses wrongly he must depart at once without further words.

3.     Which conditions in the oath Arragon explicitly keeps at the end of the scene?

Arragon explicitly kept the last condition at the end of the scene.

4.     How wise is it to arrange marriage through a lottery system where chance plays a significant role? What does Portia feel in this regard?

It is not wise to arrange marriage through lottery system where chance plays a significant role. Portia initially feels that her fate is sealed by the lottery of caskets designed by her father. However, later she accepts her father’s will and asserts that she will abide by it and would remain a virgin like Dian if no suitor wins her in marriage.

5.     How does Nerissa justify the system in Portia’s case?

 Nerissa justifies the lottery of caskets saying that her father was a virtuous man, who must have had her well-being at heart. So, according to her father’s will she will be chosen by someone who will truly love her.

6.     It is said that Arragon is too proud and self-opinionated. Do you agree with this statement? Give two reasons to justify your answer.

Prince Arragon is too proud and self-opinionated. While making his selection, he calls the common people as ‘fool multitude’ and again as ‘barberous multitudes’. He says that he will not act according to what common men choose and put himself on the level of the ignorant and the foolish. Secondly, Arragon thinks himself to be most deserving  because of his  inherited nobility.

Extract II

Arragon:

What says the golden casket……..barberous multitudes.

1.     What does the inscription on the gold casket say? Which casket does the speaker choose?

The inscription on the gold casket says ‘who chooses me shall gain what man men desire.’ The speaker chooses the silver casket.

2.     How does Arragon interpret the meaning of ‘many men’ given on the gold casket?

Arragon says that the words ‘many men’ probably refer to the foolish majority, who are so slow-witted and who have so little wisdom that they judge only by appearances and outward glitter. Their untaught eyes never see the inner meaning of things.

3.     How does Arragon compare the martlet to the foolish multitudes?

Arragon compares the multitude to the martlet. The martlet, instead of seeking a sheltered  place for its nest, constructs it in the most  exposed places like the outer wall, unprotected  from, any stormy weather or any accident which may occur,. Similarly, the foolish common people who judge by the outside of things, fall into errors and calamities.

4.     Give the meaning of:

In the force and road of causality

Rank me with the barbarous multitudes.

A) open to disaster and in the very path of danger

b) I don’t put myself at the level of the ignorant and foolish common people                                                                   

5. How is the theme of appearance and reality brought out in the choice of caskets?

The theme is brought out in the choice of caskets. Arragon rejects lead calling it base lead because of its dull and plain appearance. He rejects gold casket saying that he will not choose what many men desire. He will not put himself at the level of ignorant common man. The word deserves meaning merit on the silver casket attracts Arragon and he selects it.

Extract III

Arragon: Why, then to thee, thou silver…..undeserved dignity.

1. What does the inscription on the silver casket say?

The inscription on the silver casket says, ‘Who chooses me shall get as much as he deserves.

2.     Why did the words of the inscription on the silver casket appeal to Arragon?

Words on the inscription on the silver casket appeal to Arragon because the word ‘deserves’ meaning ‘merit’ in the inscription appeals to him. He thinks himself to be the most deserving. He feels that there are many who succeed without having any inner merit. But he ‘deserves’ because of his inherited nobility.

3.     Give the meaning of:

To cozen fortune and be honourable

Without the stamp of merit?

To try to cheat fortune and win something without merit. It means no one ought to allowed to deceive and trick fortune by asking her for what he does not deserve.

4.     How does Arragon explain further the importance of deserving  before getting an honoured position?

Arragon further tells that no man should aspire to be honoured unless he deserves it. Arragon wishes that all the postions  of rank, dignity and offices were bestowed on the deserving , instead of being obtained dishonestly. If this happens, many low ranking people would be separated out from the ranks of the truly honourable.

5. Which casket did Arragon finally choose? What did he feel after making the choice?

Arragon finally chooses the silver casket. After making the choice, Arragon is dumb-founded and very disappointed with what he finds in the casket. He pauses silently for a long time before speaking. He says that there is such a difference between that creature and the picture he hoped to see. He asks Portia whether he deserves no more than the head of fool. He wants to know whether that is his prize and whther he deserves nothing more than that.

Extract IV

Arragon: Still more fool I shall……to bear my wroth

1.     After which incident does Arragon speak these words? In what mood is he? With which fool’s head did he come to woo?

Arragon speaks these words after opening the silver casket. He is in a mood of disappointment. He came to woo Portia with one foolish head of his own.

2.     Which second head did he get? Briefly state what was written on the schedule attached to the second head.

The second head he got was from the silver casket. The scroll attached to the second head says that silver metal of the casket was tested seven times by fire. A mind which never makes an error of judgement must be similarly tested seven times. Some people find their happiness in shadows and unreality. Their happiness is therefore only shadowy and unreal. There are many  living fools whose foolishness is hidden by their silvery-hair because they have the appearance of being venerable and wise. One of these is the fool’s head concealed in the silver casket. Arragon will always have a foolish head. He should now leave as his chance is over.

3.     Which casket does the speaker choose? Why did he choose that casket?

The speaker chooses the silver casket. The motto of the silver casket appeals to the speaker. It says ‘who chooses me shall get as much as he deserves. He feels that he deserves Portia because of his inherited nobility.

4.  After the departure of the prince, what did Portia say about him?

After the departure of the prince, Portia says that there is another moth which has burnt itself in the flame of the candle. These people, when they choose, the wisdom of their superficial knowledge makes them look utterly foolish and lead them to make the wrong choice.

4.     State the old saying uttered by Nerissa after the prince’s departure.

After the prince’s departure, Nerissa utters an old saying ‘Hanging and wiving goes by destiny.’ It means that it is fate that decides what happens to one , whether one is to be hanged or to be wedded.  It implies that it is destiny that has saved Portia from two unsuitable suitors and it is destiny that may give her a worthy suitor.

Extract V

Servant:

Madam, there is alighted at your gate……..comes before his lord.

1.     Where does this scene take place? Who has alighted at the gate?

This scene takes place in a room in Portia’s house at Belomont. Gratiano has alighted at the gate.

2.     The visitor brought gifts of rich value. What does this indicate in the context of the scene?

Gifts of rich value indicate that the great regard and love Bassanio has for Portia.

3.     Give the meaning of the last three lines of the extract.

In the last three lines, the servant says that he has not seen so generous an ambassador of love. Even a day in April, the sweetest spring day, coming to give people a foretaste of bright and bountiful summer, is not comparable to this gorgeous messenger, who rides in advance of his master.

4.     What were the reactions of Portia  and Nerissa to the announcement of a new suitor?

Portia asks the servant to stop speaking because he is so generous in his praise that she is dreading to hear him say that he is some relative of his. Then Portia tells Nerissa to come  quickly along with her to meet this messenger of Cupid, who has arrived in such a courteous manner. Nerissa prays to Cupid, the god of love, that the lord announced be Bassanio if such is his will.

5.     Why does Portia say to the servant to be silent and not to praise the young Venetian further?

Portia tells the servant to be silent because he is too extravagant in his praises that she is dreading to hear him say that he is some relative of his.

6.     Explain how the plot makes progress in the scene.

This scene proves that only the person, who rightly loves, will choose rightly. This scene also reveals to the audience which is the right casket. It will heighten the suspense during Bassanio’s selection later. It keeps up the theme of appearance and reality.

Merchant of Venice, Act 2, Scene 8

 Merchant of Venice, Act II, Scene 8

Extract I

Salanio: I never heard a passion…….bags of ducats.

1.     What is meant by ‘a passion so confused, so strange, outrageous, and so variable’? Why was the Jew so excited?

In the given lines, Salanio says that he has not seen such an outburst of anger, so confused, so strange, excessive and frequently changing as is displayed by the Jew. Shylock discovers that his daughter has eloped after robbing  him of his money and jewellery. This makes him excited and furious with grief and despair. He gives vent to it by an exhibition of passionate excitement and anger which is strange, excessive and frequently changing.

2.     Earlier, how did the Jew trouble the Duke? Where did the Duke go and what were his findings?

Earlier, Shylock roused the Duke with his complaints against Lorenzo and Jessica  for robbing him and eloping. He made such a disturbance that the Duke was obliged to attend to his demands. He even accompanied the Duke to search for Lorenzo and Jessica on board Bassanio’s ship. By the time they reached the place, the ship had already set sail. The Duke was told b someone that Lorenzo and Jessica had been seen sitting together in a gondola.

3.     What did the Jew utter in his excitement? Besides money, what else did his daughter steal?

In his excitement, Shylock utters confused cries for his daughter, who had eloped with a Christian, taking with her, his ducats and jewellery. He wants justice from the law.

Besides money, Jessica has taken away from Shylock some jewels, precious stones and diamonds.

4.     Give the meaning of:

Double ducats: coins of double ducats

A sealed bag: a bag that is securely sealed to ensure the security of its contents.

5.     Explain how Shylock’s lamentations add to the humour in the play.

Shylock’s lamentation add to the humour in the play. He is depicted as a comic character in the scene. The manner in which he laments the loss of his daughter and his ducats amuses the audience; Shylock’s repetition of ‘O my daughter!’ O my Christian ducats!’ indicate his greedy nature and shows that Jessica  is another possession for him like the ducats. The manner in which all the boys of Venice follow him and repeat his words of lamentation in a tone of mockery and jeer at him further add to the humour in the scene.

6.     In his excitement, Shylock utters confused cries for his daughter, who had eloped with a Christian, taking with her, his ducats and jewellery. He wants justice from the Jew.

Extract II

Salanio: Let good Antonio…..

Salarino: ……silence that it were not his.

1.     What is meant by: Let good Antonio keep his day? What could be the consequence if Antonio failed to ‘keep his day’?

‘Let good Antonio keep his day’ means let worthy Antonio make sure that he has the money to pay Shylock on the appointed day. If he fails to keep his day, Shylock would take his revenge on Antonio.

2.     What did Salarino hear from the Frenchman, the previous day? Why was the news quite startling?

In his conversation with a Frenchman, Salarino heard that a richly laden ship from Italy had been wrecked in the narrow channel which divides England and France. The news was startling because Salarino thought of Antonio’s ship and wished that it might not be one of his ships.

3.     After hearing the news from the Frenchman, what did Salarino whish?

Salarino wished that the wrecked ship might not be one of Antonio’s ship.

4.     What advice does Salarino give to Salarino regarding Antonio?

Slanio advises Salarino to tell Antonio what he has heard about the shipwreck. However, he advises him not to tell Antonio about the news immediately for it may make him sad.

5.     Explain how the news given by the Frenchman creates suspense in the story. What would be Shylock’s reaction after hearing the news?

The news given by the  Frenchman creates a suspense in the story. The possibility of the wreckage of one of Antonio’s ship casts a gloom since it may imply that Antonio would not be able to  make payment of the loan on the day the bond is due. After hearing the news, Shylock is happy that he could take his revenge on Antonio. He calls him a bankrupt and insists on the execution of the bond.

6.     What role do Salanio and Salarino play in this scene?

Salanio and Salarino provide the information about recent events. They reports Shylock’s fury and parody his behaviour. They are worried about Antonio and go quickly  to look for him and cheer him up. They do not  take part in the action of the play, but keep the action going when the chief characters are absent.

Extract III

Salarino:

Of his return, he answered, ‘Do not……………….become you there.

1.     In what context has Antonio said the words given in quotation? Who quotes his words here?

Antonio has said these words at the time of bidding farewell to Bassanio, when the latter was about to embark on his journey to Belmont. Salarino quotes his words here.

2.     Give the meaning of:

A) Bassanio, do not spoil your plan for my sake.

b) But stay as long as it would be necessary to attain your objective.

3.  What advice did Antonio give to Bassanio about the latter’s stay in Belmont and his love affair?

Antonio advises Bassanio to stay at Belmont as long as it would be necessary for winning  Portia and tells him not to bother about the bond. He advises Bassanio to be cheerful  and devote himself entirely to win his lady-love in a most suitable manner.

4. Describe how Antonio parted from Bassanio. What does it show about their relationship?

While parting, Antonio’s eyes were filled with tears. He turned his face away and extended his hand behind him. Then, moved by his love, he held the hands of Bassanio and they parted from each other. It shows that there is great love and affection between them.

5. What do Salanio and Salarino decide to do at the end of this scene?

Salanio and Salarino provide the information about recent events. They report Shylock’s fury and parody his behaviour. They are worried about Antonio and go quickly to look for him and cheer him up. They do not take part in the action of the play. But keep the action going when the chief characters are absent. At the end of the scene, Salanio and Salarino decided to look for Antonio and raise his low spirits with some amusement.
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