Class XII Compulsory English

I am going to post some useful materials on Compulsory English for the students of class XII

 1. Grandmother
 The poem, Grandmother, by Ray Young Bear is about his love and reminiscence for his grandmother. He has picturized his grandmother with help of few words in the poem. The different images created by the poet to draw the picture of his grandmother are really appealing to our senses. The poet would know his grandmother who would be in the purple scarf; and would go market holding a plastic shopping bag even if he saw her from a great distance. Here he has created a visual image of his grandmother that appeals to our eyes. He would feel the warm and damp hands of his grandmother when she caressed around his forehead. He has made an olfactory image those appeals to our skin. He would easily find the smell of roots that came from her hands quite familiar to his nose. He would know her voice and words even if they came from a rock (her gravestone). Her smooth and inspiring words would flow inside him like the light of a sleeping fire. Here he has created an auditory image that appeals our ears.

 Q1. How does the speaker feel towards his grandmother? Or What impression of grandmother does the speaker give in the poem? Ans. The speaker finds her grandmother all loving and inspiring. We can feel a great attachment between them. Grandmother’s warm hand around his forehead and her inspiring words prove that there is strong love between them. He finds his grandmother as source of love and inspiration throughout his life.

 Q2. What are the four things that Ray Young Bear remembers about his grandmother? Ans. The four things that the poet remembers about his grandmother are a purple scarf that she used to wear and a plastic shopping bag that she used to hold while shopping. Her warm and damp hands that used to caress him and the smell of roots that came from her hands are the other things he remembers about his grandmother. In the same way he remembers her voice and words that are source of inspiration for her.

Q3. What is the central idea of the poem?

 2.About Love
 The story About Love, by Anton Chekhov, is an attempt to show how love happens from the heart and flows through the veins. In the story three events are mentioned which are related with love but they are quite different from each other. The first one shows that Pelageya is madly in love with Nikanor, the cook in the house of Alyohin but she is not ready to marry with him though she expresses her sensual desire with him. He is deeply religious; so he would like to accept her only after the marriage. There is violence and conflict between them, that’s why love is not flowered in their hearts. The second one shows the romantic love between Alyohin and a beautiful girl. He fell in love with the girl when he was a student at college. He said that one could not know where love would lead to because one could be blind in love. He feels love is a hindrance and a source of dissatisfaction and irritation. Then he related the third events that revealed the fact that he fell in love with a married woman,Anna Alexeyevna from town. He was living a life of a farmer in Sofyino after being graduated at the university. But he had to go to the town to take part in the court session because he had been elected honorary magistrate many years before. He would meet educated people there. He had made many friends during his stay in the town. One day he was called to have dinner by his friend, Luganovich. He met Anna, the wife of Luganovich who seemed to be quite beautiful and intelligent in the eyes of Alyohin. She was young, lovely, fascinating and kind. He was greatly impressed by her in the first meeting. He would go to them time and again. Unknowingly his heart was filled with love for her. There developed a close intimacy between them. When he was at home, he could not keep her memory out of his mind. He felt she was in his left ventricle. In the late autumn, Alyohin went to the town to attend a charity show. He met Anna there. He found her really beautiful and lovely. He was invited at their house for dinner. He became one of the members of their house. He frequently visited the house. He talked with her for hours. He was really fascinated of her every thing. Her simplicity, beautiful eyes, long hair, soft voice and gaze impressed him. If she was not at home, he would wait her until she came. In fact Alyohin was sad because he could not marry Anna though he loved her much. Both of them loved each other but neither of them expressed it in words. He would like to hide his love because he did not want to spoil her family. He did not want to see her being unhappy. He wanted to give her happiness. All of sudden Anna’s behavior was changed. She became moody. She was dissatisfied with life. She could not find happiness with her husband and children. She left home and went to her mother and sister. Then she had to go to Crimea for the treatment. When she was ready to go, many people came to say good bye to her. She had forgotten to bring her basket. Alyohin brought it. When he handed it to her, their eyes came together. He could not control himself form showing his love to everyone at the railway station. He kissed her. She also leant her head against his chest and cried. Tears flowed from her eyes when he told her he loved her very much. He kissed her for the last time and separated from her for good. When the train moved, he went into another compartment and wept until he reached the next station. Then he came back home at Sofyino.

 Q1 What kind of love experiences are suggested by Alyohin in About Love. Ans. He has suggested three sorts of love experiences in the story. He has seen the beautiful girl, Pelageya falling madly in love with his cook, Nikanor. Though he beat her when he drank, she loved him more than herself. She did not hesitate to express her sensual love to him. It seems that their love is confined to the physical relation rather than spiritual one. Similarly we find romantic love between him and a beautiful girl when he was a student. He used to talk with her for hours in romantic mood. It seems that the girl loved him just for his money, so it was selfish love. Thirdly he shared his deep platonic love that his soul made for a married woman named Anna. He loved her spiritually.

 Q2. How did Alyohin define love? (long) Though most of people embellish love with poem, rose and nightingale, Alyohin defines love as hindrance and a source of dissatisfaction and irritation. He says when one is in love they can’t think where love leads to them. He feels love deprives one from the hunger and thirst of day and sleep of night. He thinks love makes one distressed and irritated. He thinks it is a hindrance to go ahead in the life.

 Q3. Write the character sketch of Alyohin. Alyohin is the main character of the story. He is an ordinary man. He is an educated person but lives the life a farmer in a village. His life as a farmer is full of sufferings and struggles. He looks unhappy because has been economically pressed. Though he is penniless, he does not like to borrow money from others. He has got the feeling of self esteem. He has got some experiences of love that he shares with his friends. He falls in love with a beautiful girl when he is a student. He has got the romantic experience of love with her. Later he happens to love a married woman named Anna who lives in town. He loves her spiritually.

 Q4. Sketch the character of Luganovich briefly.

 3. The Lamentation of the old Pensioner
 The poem, Lamentation of the old Pensioner by Yeats shows the poet’s reminiscences of the young life which become more agonising at the present state because the time has completely transfigured him into an old man. Before the time transfigured him, he would talk of love and politics with his friends. He was liked by beautiful girls. He was strong enough to fight against his opponents even in the dense forest. He would take the shelter of the trees in the jungle when it was raining. He would not care for hunger and thirst then. But now his youth is not with him. Lovely girls are not around him. His strength and brevity don’t flow through the veins of his blood. He feels all alone and ignored. He finds himself like an old tree that is going to fall down soon. He feels like the sun that is going to set in the west. He knows that time is his enemy which has changed him in the present state. He is furious with the time; however, he can not do anything except for lamenting for the youth that has been taken away form him. So he wants to spit into the face of time that has transfigured him into an old man.

 Q1. Why does the poet want to spit into the face of time? or Why is the poet angry with time? The poet wants to spit into the face of time because it has transfigured him into an old man. The time has taken away his youth from him. Beautiful girls are not around him. He is all alone and ignored now. His brevity and strength don’t flow through the veins of his blood. So he expresses his anger against the time.

 Q2. What is the poet lamenting on? 0r Mention the three things the old man laments about. Why is he sad about them?

 Q4. How and why does the poet lament?

 Q5. Write an essay on Youth and Age. (long)

 4. Hurried Trip to Avoid a Bad Star
 The two American geographers, Lilla.M. amd C. Bishop Barry present an exploration of Karnali Zone which they did on foot for 15 adventurous months. After Chiristmas the writers made a journey to Karnali Zone to see how it is economically linked with the lowland of the south ( Nepalganj). Their fellow travelers carried medicinal herbs, hashish, hand-knit sweaters and blankets to sell in Nepalganj. They met a beautiful Chhetri woman. She said that her husband didn’t return home for more than 15 years from Terai. She requested them to send him if they could meet him. They saw a party of eight or nine men processing Silajit in the forest of rhododendron. It is sold by 60 rupees per disc in Nepalganj and India. It is used for the medicinal purpose. As they descended to lower elevations, they saw the bare sal-trees. Women were chopping the remaining branches of the trees for their cattle. Finally they reached the Terai which is supposed to the Bread-Basket of Nepal because it contains the 2/3 of the country’s cultivated land. They saw the vehicles running on the way of Nepalgunj. All the hill people moved from shop to shop to buy the things they needed. Their fellow travelers sold the things brought from the hill and bought cotton cloth, aluminum, ironware, spice,
and jewelry etc. from there. In this way the writers completed their project work watching how karnali is economically linked with Nepalganj.

 Q1. Write an essay on an outing in which you were a participant. (long)

 Q2. How is Karnali linked economically with the lowland regions to the south?

The people of Karnali Zone depend economically on the lowland regions to the south. They carry medicinal herbs, hashish, hand-knit sweaters, and blankets to sell in Nepalganj. They sell silajit not only in Nepalganj but also in India. They go to Terai to seek job as well. When they return from there, they bring the things as they need like cotton cloth, aluminum, ironware, spice, and jewelry etc. They sell such things in Karnali. In this way Karnali is economically linked with the lowland regions to the south.

 Q3. What does the skeletal looking sal trees indicate about the exploitation of nature?
 Q4. What did the two writers learn about the life and culture of the people of karnali ?
 The writers learnt the life style and cultures of the people of Karnali. They have very simple life. They take domestic products like herbs, hashish, silajit, hand-knit sweaters and blankets to sell in Nepalganj and India from where they buy the things like cotton cloth, aluminum, ironware, spice, and jewelry. They carry those things back to Karnali and sell them there. Generally male members of the family go to Terai and India to earn money and women live in the village by taking care of children and cattle. They depend on farming and natural resources for their livelihood. They are uneducated and innocent. There are not the facilities of transportation, health, job and education etc. Their lifestyle is very difficult and poor.

 5.I Have A Dream
Q1. What is the dream Martin Luther King has? (long) Though the Negro slaves were promised to give justice and freedom almost hundred years before in the Emancipation Proclamation, they were not treated equally. Though the constitution of USA has guarantied the right of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness for each American citizen, the Negro slaves were deprived of such rights. So it is the dream of King to uproot the racial discrimination prevalent in America. He dreams all the blacks of America will rejoice with the rights of equality, justice and freedom. The sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave-owners will sit together at the table of brotherhood. He dreams the total end of suppression and discrimination that is done on basis of color of skin.

 Q2. What is Martin Luther complaining about?
 Q3. To what extent does King’s Personal authority lend power to his words? Ans. Definitely his words in his speech are so powerful that they change his calm and quiet listeners into stormy and slowly make them in a climax. His metaphorical speech that is time and again referential to Shakespeare and Lincoln really lends power to his words.

 6.Traveling Through The Dark
 Q1. What is the central idea of the poem ‘Traveling Through the Dark’? The central idea of the poem is that emotion and responsibility are the two systems of life. When the poet sees the dead doe with an alive fawn in its womb, he becomes emotional and does not know what to do and what not to do. After thinking seriously he goes close to it and pushes into the river which is his responsibility. Here death of the pregnant doe is caused by human or so-called nature lovers themselves. They are responsible for the damage and loss of the environment. It is the problem created because they are not careful while driving through the dark in the jungle. When the poet sees the dead doe, he accepts it and throws the body into the river. He tries to seek the solution of the problem rather than worrying about it.

 Q2. Why do you think the reference to the alive but never-to – be born fawn sentimental? 7.God’s Grandeur Q. What is the central idea of the poem?

God’s Grandeur, by Hopkins, is a sonnet that praises the greatness and glory of god in the world. The whole universe is nothing more than an expression of god’s Grandeur. All the creatures living in the world are nothing more than the offspring of god. The poem strongly presents the view that god is nature and nature is god. So god is almighty and prevalent everywhere. But today’s so called modern and civilized people are not ready to accept the fact that god is almighty. They do not care for the punishment that god gives them if they commit sin. Day by day they are being destructive and sinner because of the ignorance of god’s prevalence in the universe. They forget that god is the central power to run the world. They think that they are almighty and greater than the god. But they can’t be as they think because they are destructive. Rather they are safe because they are in the hand of god. So the poet makes people aware that god is really great in the universe; and nothing happens without the will of god.

 Q2. Why are people being unaware of the greatness of God? Today’s people are unaware of the greatness of God because they think they do not have fear in their heart and mind. They can commit any crime for the sake of money. They are selfish enough to do anything for their own sake. They put their hands there where they can make profit. Because of what they forget the spiritual side of the world. They are so blind in the commercial world of today that they can see nothing but money. That’s why the feeling of selfishness and individuality of human being make them forget the greatness of God.

 8.A Child is Born

Q1. What differences does the writer show between a traditional society and a modern society in matters of pregnancy, childbirth, and child bearing? Ans. The essay “A Child is Born” by Germaine Greer seems greatly successful to present the differences between a traditional society and a modern society in matters of pregnancy, childbirth, and child bearing. - In the East traditional society a woman has to do physical works even after she becomes pregnant. But she does not have any mental burden about managing the ritual customs of pregnancy because she is fully helped and cared by the family members. Whereas in the West modern society though a woman is free from physical works, she has got the mental burden of preparing herself for the delivery. She is cared only in the hospital by the doctors and nurses. She is beyond the family love during such a painful period. -In the traditional society death rate of the mother and child is often high because they are beyond the modern scientific technology. Traditional and unscientific equipments as well as untrained midwives cause the mortality rate higher. But in the modern society the mortality rate of mother and child is low because of the facility of the scientific equipments and methods for serving the delivery case. -In the traditional society, when the first child is born, the mother truly becomes a member in the family of her mother-in-low. She feeds her breast to the infant. There is love and intimacy not only between the child and mother but also among the family members. She is called by the name of her child’s name. Her rank grows higher in the family after bearing a child (especially a son). She is fully supported and becomes established in the society. She has to obey all the ritual in the society. The woman not having a child is neglected in the family. But in the modern society we can’t find love between the child and other members of the family. Even the relation between a child and a mother seems artificial. The mother prefers to feed artificial milk to the child. She is not emotionally supported by the family members. A woman is not neglected, however, she is childless. Thus the writer has shown the differences between a traditional society and a modern society in manner of pregnancy, childbirth and child bearing. Q2. What kind of treatment does a woman in Bangladesh receive during her pregnancy and after the childhood? Ans. We can find traditional society in Bangladesh, so a woman needs not to undergo mental burden during the period of pregnancy. She is cared by her family during this period. When she gives a birth to a child, her status in the family grows higher. Her child is looked after by all the members of the family. She takes him to the pond for a bath. The child is with her at bed time when she tells him fairytales to amuse him. 9.Purgatory Purgatory is a well known play by W. B. Yeats that is about the destruction of a family because of the corrupted and polluted career of the headperson of the family. In the play there are two characters: An Old Man and A Young Boy. They are father and son by relation. One day they reached near a house that seemed to have been burnt and destroyed. The old man stood in front of the house and told his son that he was born in the same house. Then he started telling the history behind the ruin of the house. He told him that the house belonged to a rich lady. There used to work a man as a groom at the stable. She fell in love with him. She got married to him despite many obstacles from her family. They had a son that was the same old man who was now telling the story to his won son. His father was irresponsible in the family. He used to give lots of physical and metal tortures to his mother. On the day he was born his mother was dead His father didn’t care for his study and betterment. He squandered a great deal of his wife’s property in gambling and prostitution. One day when he was heavily drunk, he set fire on the house and burnt it to ash. At that time the old man was 16 and he became furious at his father. He stabbed his own father to death. Then he threw the dead body to the fire so that other could not know he was murdered. Theo old man and his son stood in front of the house on the day of his mother’s wedding anniversary night. He saw the ghost of his father and his mother with his eyes. But his son did not believe and called him insane. Rather he demanded property with his father because he was also 16 years old. He grabbed the bag of his father’s money. Then his father asked him to look at the ruined window of the house. When he looked at the window, he stabbed his son to death as he did to his father with the same knife. He killed his son so as to stop the polluted blood of his father from spreading in the forth coming generation. And he killed his son to release the soul of his mother from the purgatory. His motive behind killing his own son was that he would not repeat the same polluted career of his grandfather. Q1 Why did the son kill his father? His father was irresponsible in the family. He used to give lots of physical and metal tortures to his mother. On the day he was born his mother was dead His father didn’t care for his study and betterment. He squandered a great deal of his wife’s property in gambling and prostitution. One day when he was heavily drunk, he set fire on the house and burnt it to ash. Q2 Why did the old man kill his won son? He killed his son so as to stop the polluted blood of his father from spreading in the forth coming generation. And he killed his son to release the soul of his mother from the purgatory. His motive behind killing his own son was that he would not repeat the same polluted career of his grandfather. Q3. We are always punished for our sins. Explain this statement. (long) 10.A Story Q1.How were boy’s uncle and aunt? Q2. How was the relation between uncle and aunt? A Story by Dillon Thomas is an attempt to see the world of adults and their activities through the eye of a child. Though the story has not apparent and important events in sequence, it is meaningful with the view point of humor. In the first part of the story the writer has not mentioned any things more than his uncle and aunt but in the second part of the story he has mentioned the uncompleted outing to Porthcawl made by uncle and his drunkard friends. He compares his uncle and aunt with physical, mental and social point of view. His uncle is too big to live in the small house. He has got the red hair and loud voice. It seems that he prefers his wine to his wife. When he drinks the wine, he forgets the rest of the world. He is not responsible and practical in the society. He wants to go out and enjoy all the time. He is not modest in the family. But his aunt is small and quiet like a kitten. She does every house work in a perfect way. She is practical and responsible in the family. She does not like to go outing. She becomes angry when her husband drinks. When there is quarrel between them, she goes to her mother’s house; and he goes an outing with his friends. But she loved him when he was not drunk. As the writer’s aunt went to her mother’s by being angry with uncle, he including his other friends, made a plan to go an outing to Porthcawl. The writer was also included in the journey; although he was a small boy. They stopped their bus at a small public house where they could drink alcohol. The boy was asked to look after the bus. When they came out the bar, they could hardly balance themselves because they had emptied all the alcohol in the bar. On the way to Prothcawl there were other bars too. They stopped there and drank as much as they could. Then they went to the river and got wet. But they could not get to their destination because they were heavily drunk. All of them returned home from there being enjoyed and tired. Q3. How does the boy, the narrator, look at his uncle and his friends? Ans: The boy found them drunkard and impractical in the society. He felt all of them were good for nothing. He found what they did and said were weightless ridiculous because they were intoxicated. Q4What is the reason for which Will Sentry always followed Mr.Franklyn? Ans. Mr Franklyn had collected enough money for the annual outing. He had got the great deal of money that was sufficient to pay the fare of bus and to buy the twenty cases of light beer because of what Will Sentry never left him. He expected to get something from him so he always followed him. Q5.Give a description of the outing as Thomas would describe it. 11.The Tell Tale Heart Q1.Why does the narrator develop intense hatred against the old man? Q2. Describe the scene when the narrator killed the old man? Q3. What made the narrator confess his crime or guilt? Q4. How was the narrator betrayed by his own heart? “The Tell Tale Heart” is a story written by Poe Edgar Allan which is full of horrors and mysteries. The story shows how one can have psychologically negative impact towards other particular thing. The impact can lead one to commit any crime like murdering.In the story there are two characters: A Boy and An Old Man. The relation between them is not mentioned in the story. The boy was nervous and frightened when he saw the eyes of the old man. He had got the eye of a vulture – a pale blue eye. Whenever he saw his eyes, his blood ran cold. He hated his eyes. He wanted to get rid of them so he decided to kill him. But the old man loved him. He also liked the old man except for his eyes. So every night at mid time he entered into the bed room of the old man to kill him. His seven attempts to kill the old man ended in vain. It was his eights attempt to kill him. He opened the door and put his head into the room. When he tried to light the lamp, his thump made a little noise. As a result, the old man woke up. Then the boy stood still for almost an hour. The old man also seemed to be afraid. The boy was happy because he knew that the old man was also afraid at that time. After some times, he lit a lamp to the eyes of the old man. He saw the same fearful blue eyes. His anger ran through the vein of blood. His heart started beating faster. He pushed him on the floor and pressed him with a heavy bed until he took last breath. The night was going to end. He thought of hiding the dead body of the old man in a secret place. He cut off the head, legs, and arms of the old man and put all of them in a wooden box under the floor. He hid it there where nobody could see. When it was morning, police came there to search in the house because they were reported that the old man was screaming at night. He smilingly welcomed the police as if they were his guests. He took them to the room of the old man and showed all his treasures. They were untouched and safe. He answered confidently all the questions asked by the police. Then the police believed him and his remarks about the old man. As he was talking with them in a friendly way, suddenly he felt giddy and sick. His head began to weigh. He heard strange noise in the ears. The noise grew louder and louder. He began to act like a mad man. He cried loudly by moving here and there in the room. He felt uneasy because of the crime he committed. He felt like burning with pain and grief because of what he confessed the crime. Q4. Would you call the narrator mad? Give reasons for your answer. Though he tries to justify that he is not mad, his behaviors and activities are like that of a mad man. In fact he does not like the blue vulture-like eyes of the old man. He wants to kill him for the same reason. If he is not mad, he may not kill the old man. After he has killed him, he cuts off the dead body and hides under the floor in a wooden box that is not often done by a sane person. Suddenly he becomes abnormal because he thinks the police know he is the murderer. Then, he reveals the fact to the police. If he is not mad, he may not confess the crime in such a way. 12.Women’s Business Q1. What is the central idea of the essay,” Women Business” Ans. The essay “Women Business” is about some women from the USA who have been successful in business. In the essay, the essayist presents that the businesswomen make many promises of changing the society, economic problem, health problems, family conflict etc. when they start the business. But whenever they get success in business, they forget their promises. For eg. Lydia E. Pinkham, who led the women business for the first time, promised to change the women world. She threw many false promises to sell her vegetable compound but when she got success she forgot them. Later on she started on selling the alcohol herself. Many businesswomen followed footprint of the USA and got the goal. But everyone forget their promises of business. The regulatory agencies T.D.A. and F.T.C. found their promises wrong so they forced to withdraw their false promises. Q2. Why did Lydia Pinkham first begin to sell her products? 13.The Child Who Wait Q1.Whom does Marsha Traugot refer to as the children who wait? Ans: Marsha Traugot refers to those children who are kept in the adoption agencies for the potential adoptive parents. The parentless non white and unhealthy children who are in need of adoptive parents are referred to the children who wait. Q2. Why was it difficult for the handicapped and black children to find foster family? And what had happened to the handicapped children in the past? Ans. Before 1960, it was difficult for the handicapped and black children to find foster family because the number of the white and healthy children in the adoption agencies was greater. If there were white and healthy children, the black and unhealthy children were beyond the matter of adoption. In fact the black and handicapped children were bitterly neglected as if they were the damaged goods. They had to wait for a long time to find a foster family, because of what they had to undergo the psychological tortures. So it was difficult for the handicapped and black children to find a foster family. Q3. According to Traugot, what changes are transforming American adoption scene? What factors are responsible for the changes? Ans. In America only white children were adopted by the upper or middle class white family but black and handicapped children were neglected. After 1960, the system of adoption has been changed due to different factors. The factors responsible for bringing the changes in the adoption scene are civil rights movements, birth control, changing social values, harsh economic reality etc. Because of the concept of family planning and legalized abortion system only few unwanted children are born as a result, there is the scarcity of the children for adoption. Because of the black civil right movements, people’s attitude towards the black children has been changed as a result; black children are also easily adopted. An unwed mother can keep her baby in the present time because there is not any objection for her to do so. Consequently there is the scarcity of the healthy white child so, unhealthy and black children are given attention for adoption. Q4. What kinds of parents were considered suitable for adopting children? What kinds of children were considered Inadaptable? Ans: In past, only upper or middle class white parents were considered suitable for adopting children. The black and single parent family could not adopt the children. Similarly, those children who were handicapped and black were considered inadaptable. They were considered as if they were the damaged goods. Q5. How do the adoption agencies find the potential parents? Ans: There are many adoption agencies working in America to find the potential parents for a particular child. The social worker writes down the characteristics of a child and the profile of the family it needs. Then he advertises it on the newspaper or TV. He holds meeting among the adoptive parents, children and other social worker so that the parents can learn more about the child that they want to adopt. If he thinks the family is suitable of the child, they can adopt the child. In this way, the adoption agencies find the potential parents. Q6. What is Fatal Alcoholic Syndrome? 14. The Boarding House Mrs. Mooney was a butcher’s daughter. She was married to a man who worked for her father. After her father had died, he started spending much money by drinking. He took all the money from the shop. He quarreled with her and wanted to kill her with a knife. She went to sleep in her neighbor’s home. Then they lived separately. Mrs. Mooney took the rest of the money from the shop and children with her. She started a boarding house in Hardwicke Street. Tourists came to stay there. Most of the visitors in her boarding house were workers and artists from the city. They sang beautiful songs on Sunday nights. Mrs. Mooney had a daughter who also sang beautifully. Her name was Polly Mooney. She was a thin girl with light soft hair and grey green eyes. She was so friendly that she talked to anybody in the house. The young visitors came there to talk to her. In fact, Mrs. Mooney also wanted her daughter to meet and talk with the young boys. When she found something between one of the visitors and Polly, she started to watch them secretly. He was Mr. Doran. Everyone in the house knew that there was an affair between them. Her mother also knew about it well but she remained silent until she got a right proof of their affair. Then one day she called her daughter to take interview about the matters with Mr. Doran. As she asked the questions, so Polly answered them openly. She thought he had taken the advantage of her daughter’s youth and inexperience. She thought he was enjoyed with her and took her virginity. So he had to pay reparation for it. The reparation for his sin must be marriage that could settle the problem. She thought she would win the case and could compel him to marry her. In fact he was serious and afraid of the scandalous talks that people made about his character. He wanted to be released from the sin that he committed but could not. He did not want to marry Polly because she did not have good family background nor did she know good English. Again he thought he only was not responsible for the things happened between them. It was Polly to wait him till midnight; and she used to heat his meal. When she was besides him, he almost forgot what he was eating. It was Polly to enter into his bed room wearing a loose and opened dress to light the candle while he was undressed to go to bed. Her soft skin and the perfume it gave up definitely tickled his senses. But he was in a great dilemma because he could not think what to do. When he was at his bed, Mary, the servant in the house came to call him down. He was called by Mrs. Mooney for the talk. He felt his legs were heavier than great stone. He wished he could fly to another country. But it was not possible. When he was about to climb down the stair, he heard Polly was crying. He went in and asked her not to cry because things would be all right soon. Finally he entered into the room of Mrs. Mooney. She talked with him for some times. Then she called her daughter, too. Mr. Doran would like to talk to her. Q1. Sketch the character of Mooney. Ans : Mrs. Mooney was a butcher’s daughter. She is determined and able woman. She was strong minded, disciplined and moral woman. She was a clever woman because She make plans and gets success. She could run her business herself. She was quite Responsible and capable to settle the problems of her son and daughter. 15Hansel and Gretel Q1. Write the symbolic meaning of bird and expanse water. Ans. The bird symbolizes the bridge or the supernatural power that takes Hansel and Gretel to the Witch. and the water symbolizes the new beginning of the prosperous and happy life after the trouble. Q2. How did Hansel and Gretel free from the witch? Hansel and Gretel is a fairy tale by Grimm Brothers. Once there lived a poor woodcutter at the edge of a forest. He had a wife and two children, Hansel (son) and Gretel (daughter). Their real mother was dead. So they lived with their father and stepmother. When there was famine, they had hardly anything to eat. The woodcutter was worried for the food. His wife suggested him to take the children to the thick forest and leave them there. Despite his love for the children, he had to do whatever his wife suggested him. Hansel and Gretel heard the plan that they had made. Gretel wept and Hansel consoled her. When his parents were asleep, he went out of room. The moon was shining brightly. He picked the glittered pebbles and put into the pocket of his jacket. Next day in the morning the woman woke the two children. She gave a piece of bread to each of them. Then she asked them to get ready to go to forest for wood. While going to the forest, he dropped the shiny pebble on the way. When they were in the middle of forest, they set a fire and asked the children to stay near it until they came back by bringing wood. They slept there and it was dark night when they woke up. But there parents did not come back. When the moon arose in the sky, the pebbles he dropped were shining on the way. By following the pebbles they came back home. Father was happy when he saw them coming back. Once again there was a famine in the village. They talked about taking the children into the deeper forest so that the wild animals would eat them. Now he could not put the pebbles in the pocket because the door of the room was locked by the woman. Next day in the morning they were given the pieces of bread and asked to get ready to go to the forest. Hansel crumbled his bread and dropped each piece on the way so that he could come back home following them. Now they were left in the deeper forest. They slept there and it was dark night when they woke. The moon arose in the sky. But this time Hansel could not see the pieces of the bread that he had dropped because they were eaten by birds. They were hungry, thirsty and tired. They were going into the deeper forest. Meanwhile they heard a beautiful white bird singing a pleasant song. The bird flapped its wings and flew from one branch to another branch. The bird led them to a little house which was made of bread and the roof was made of cake and the windows of sparkling sugar. When they were eating the roof and windowpane of the house, a witch came out from the room. She looked fearful, but welcomed the children lovingly. She had built the house out of sugar and bread to lure the children and eat them. Then she trapped Hansel into a little shed. She asked Gretel to help her in kitchen. She decided to eat him after he became fat. She always felt his finger to find out whether he was fat or not. But he showed a bone instead of his finger which was very thin. One day she wanted to cook and eat Hansel, however, he was not fat. She heated the oven. Then she asked Gretel to feel whether it was ready for baking bread or not. She said she did not know how to do so. When she went near the oven to feel the heat of the oven, Gretel pushed her into the flames of the fire. She came out from the room and freed her brother. They collected the witch's treasures and breads so that they could bring to home. On the way to home there was a small river. They could not cross it. There was a duck swimming in the river. They asked the duck to take them across the river. It took them across the river turn by turn. They came to home happily. There was their father to welcome them in the home. But the stepmother was dead. They lived happily then after. 16.Two Long Term Problems: Overpopulation and Deforestation. Q1. Write the causes of overpopulation and problems it brings with. Ans. Illiteracy is the major cause of overpopulation. Illiterate people think that children are the blessing of god. They tend to bear more children to make god happy. Similarly malnutrition also causes overpopulation. Most of the people in Nepal are living under the poverty line. They don’t have enough food to eat as a result they are unhealthy. They also bear unhealthy children and they die young. As a result they want to bear more children that cause overpopulation. Polygamy system also causes overpopulation. A man marries more than one woman and begets more children. Overpopulation brings the problems like natural disasters, crimes, unemployment, and poverty. A nation can’t invest the money for development rather It should spend for food. As a result it cannot progress. Q2. Write the causes of deforestation and problems it brings with. High population growth is the main cause of deforestation. When the number of people increases, then they need more places to live and more crops to eat. They start clearing the forest for both purposes. They cut the trees for firewood, building materials and furniture. Smugglers supply the timbers. Likewise they graze their cattle in the forest. As a result large area of the forest becomes destroyed. With the destruction of the forest, many problems like flood, drought, landslides, pollution, soil erosion, green house effect, ozone layer depletion and desertification come. Such natural disasters obstruct the eco-system of nature. As a result our life will be at a crisis. Q3. How can you solve the problems of overpopulation and deforestation? For the solution of problems of overpopulation and deforestation the following points can be considered. • people should be made aware and educated • laws should be made to preserve the forest • the concept of community forest can be applied Women’s Business 1. Lydia E. Pinkham: She sold a medicine called Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound which promises the relief from the falling of the wombs and all female weakness. 2. Helena Rubinsteint and Elizaneth Arden: They sold Make up goods or Cosmetics items. 3. Margaret Rudkin: She sold healthy food which she applied at first to her own asthmatic sick son. 4. Jennie Grossinqes: She ran a hotel business. 5. Gertrude Muller: She sold things for the people to help to look after their babies. 6. Annie Turnbo Malone: She was Black American. She sold a chemical for making hair coloured. She began a school for the improvement of Black Americans. Gretel By Garrison Keillor Narrator: Gretel Hansel: Brother Gladys: Stepmother Dad : Husband of Gladys Gretel a modern feminist woman of 21st century: Keillor’s Gretel represents a modern feminist woman of the 21st century. She is strong and bold. It is not Hansel to console her on the way to jungle but Gretel carries him on her back when he can walk. She says she does not feel any difficulty and pain in the jungle. It is Hansel who suffers in the jungle because he was living a luxurious life with his father before. He can’t struggle in the jungle so she has to take care of him everywhere until they reach the house of witch. She says her stepmother and witch are the two suffer much because they are female. Her father gives physical and mental tortures to her mother and stepmother because of what they are dead. Similarly the witch is alone in the jungle because she is excluded from the male dominated society. So she feels sorry for the witch because she gives shove to her. She saves the life of Hansel and brings him back to home. Thus we can see a bold and strong character of a modern feminist woman in her. 2. I think Mrs Mooney has compelled Mr. Doran to marry her daughter. In fact, he did not want to marry her but he had already made love with her. So, he was compelled to accept her even if she was not from good family background. At the end of the story, Mr. Doran met Miss polly while she was weeping ; and asked her not to cry. Here he seemed sympathetic to her. In the same way Mrs Mooney called her daughter and Mr Doran to talk about their affairs. When he was found to be involved in the physical relation with Polly, he should have married her. COMPOSITON Q1. Write a police description of the person who stole your golden chain yesterday night. Here is a police description of the person who stole my golden chain yesterday night. He is in his early thirties. Approximately he is five feet and four inches tall, is fully built. He has got a round face with pale complexion. His eyes are black and wide. He has got short dark hair. His chin is pointed. There is a mole on the right side of his forehead. He is in black T-shirt and jeans pants. While speaking we can hear an Indian accent on him. If anyone finds a person like him, they are requested to inform the police. Q2. Write advantages and disadvantages of having the telephone. Telephone is one of the most useful means of communication. It is a scientific invention which is used everywhere in the world. It is most useful to tell any message instantly. We need not to go from one place to another place to deliver the message. It saves our important time which can be spent for other creative work. It is most useful in the emergency cases, for example, to call the ambulance, police, fire engine (fire truck) etc. It is used in the hospital, bank, business house, college, school etc. to perform the tasks faster in an easy way. We can be in touch with anyone wherever they are in this world by means of the telephone. Moreover it can make us alert if we have set the alarm bell on it. Nowadays wireless cell phones with multiple features like taking photo, recording, surfing internet, are available in the market. They are portable so it's very easy for us to make a call at the time of need. Telephone has some disadvantages. We have to wake up when the bell rings on the phone set. People give missed call from the unknown number and disturb us. One of the disadvantages of having the telephone is that an unknown caller phones or send a message as if he/she has known us well. Strangers irritate us making a bluff call and sending fake message. We spend much money on phone purposelessly. In the context of Nepal it is expensive for common people but they have to buy it just to show others. Thus, having a telephone has both pros and cons. If we are able to use it by minimizing its drawbacks, it's a useful invention of the science. Q3. Write a review for a newspaper of a recent film, play or a book. A Film Review: Last week I watched a well known film on TV that is Titanic. It is one of the most successful love story films in the world. Every aspects of the film such as plot, narration, characters, action, and scenario are quite outstanding. The main actors are Jack (Hero) and Rose (Heroine) in the film. The whole love story of the film is narrated by Rose who is saved after a ship (Titanic) wreck by Jack. Jack is dead due to the extreme cold in the sea water. I find the performance of the characters quite real and live. All the songs of the film are quite heart touching and appealing to the ears. Real meaning of the true love is shown in the film in a perfect way. The scene in which Jack saves Rose by sacrificing himself makes one shed tears. To sum up it is not waste of time to spend almost three hours with the Titanic. Q4. Retell one of the stories that you told, heard, read or wrote. Once I had read an interesting story which was about an old blind lady and a dishonest physician. The lady called the doctor for the treatment of her eyes. She was rich so she said, "if you cure my eyes, I will give you money as you demand but if you can't, I won't give you a single penny." He agreed with her. He came to her daily but did not cure the eyes soon. Instead he was lured at furniture of the lady's room. He took the furniture one after another form the room. Finally he cured her eyes and demanded the money. But the lady said, "I can't give you money because my eye sight is not properly restored". Then the doctor brought the case to the court. The judge asked her why she would not pay him. She said," my eye sight is not properly restored. If it is completely restored, I can see the furniture of my room." The doctor was startled and the Judge came to the conclusion that he had taken away her furniture. So he was punished and she did not pay him. Q5 Write in about 120 words about the most exciting event in your life. Last year I took part in a quiz contest held in Nawayug English School, Geetanagar-6 that was organized by the school on the occasion of its first anniversary. There were 12 groups of the participants from different schools. Fortunately our group became winner in the contest and as a reward we were offered an elephant ride of two hours across the Forest of Chitwan National Park. We watched all the wild animals of the national park by being very close to them. We took lots of photographs of those animals. We encountered many dangerous animals like tiger, bear and rhino. We felt completely safe and secured on the back of the elephant. We enjoyed so much that I cannot forget the event throughout my life. It was the most exciting event of my life. Q6. Write a news report of the accident that you have seen recently. 21 KILLED IN A BUS ACCIDENT Kathmandu, 7th March A bus numbered BA 233 KA belonging to Makalu Travels going to Pokhara from Kathmandu was collided with a truck yesterday at about 11 a. m. near Naubise. The Truck numbered BA 234 GHA was coming to Kathmandu carrying the sacks of cement from Brijunj. It was reported that the bus driver was over speeding as a result he lost the control and the bus collided with the truck. The bus fell almost 34 fit down from the road. Immediately, local people and police were involved to rescue the passengers. According to the police source it was reported that 19 people were found dead on the spot and two were dead on the way to hospital. It was reported that rest of the injured passengers were under treatment in the Bir Hospital, Kathmandu. According to hospital source the condition of the five injured passengers is critical. The drivers of the bus and truck are now in custody. Q7. Computer Computer is a small but very important gift of science. It is an electronic device, which is guided by human mind. Although computer is a small product of science, it has got thousands of advantages and bright sides for human society. There are uncountable advantages of computer. It has served in many sectors of our society. It is very important for business sector. Without computer, a business can’t touch the height of the success. In fact computer is the over all brain of the business. It keeps records and saves data. It can be used in every part of business. It helps to collect new information and new techniques to challenge the modern problems of business. One computer can do the work of thousand hands. That is to say computer is the heart of business. Not only in business, but also for education sector, computer has helped very much. It is very important for education. It’s because computer can provide new informationl, new invention and new methodology in education. Computer is a central library for the students as well as the teacher. The end.