Working with the text :-
Qus.A – Put these sentences from the story in the right order and write them out in a paragraph. Don’t refer to the text.
- I shall be so glad when today is over.
- Having a leg tied up and hopping about on a crutch is almost fun, I guess.
- I don’t think I’ll mind being deaf for a day — at least not much.
- But being blind is so frightening.
- Only you must tell me about things.
- Let’s go for a little walk.
- The other bad days can’t be half as bad as this.
Ans. Let’s go for a little walk. Only you must tell me about things. I shall be so glad when today is over. The other bad days can’t be half as bad as this. Having a leg tied up and hopping about on a crutch is almost fun, I guess. I don’t think I’ll mind being deaf for a day – at least not much. But being blind is so frightening.
Qus B – Answer the following questions.
1. Why do you think the writer visited Miss Beam’s school?
Ans. The writer visited Miss Beam’s school because he had heard a great deal about his school.
2. What was the ‘game’ that every child in the school had to play?
Ans. The ‘game’ that every child in the school had to play was that each term every child had one blind day, one lame day, one deaf day, one injured day and one dumb day.
3. “Each term every child has one blind day, one lame day…” Complete the line. Which day was the hardest? Why was it the hardest?
Ans. “ Each term every child has one blind day, one lame day, one deaf day, one injured day and one dumb day. The dumb day was the hardest. This was because the children’s mouths could not be bandaged, so they really had to exercise their will power.
4. What was the purpose of these special days?
Ans. The purpose of these special days was to teach thoughtfulness – kindness to others, and being responsible citizens. To make the children appreciate and understand misfortune, they were made to share in misfortune too.
Working with the language
Qus.A – Match the words and phrases with their meanings in the box below.
Paragraph numbers
- Homesick. (3)
- Practically. (4)
- It pains me. (7)
- Appreciate. (9)
- Thoughtless. (10)
- Exercise. (11)
- Relief. (13)
- Ghastly. (14)
Almost It hurts me Terrible Test the strength of |
Understanding the difficulties Wanting to be home. |
A welcome change Not very caring |
Ans. Homesick − Wanting to be home
Practically − Almost
It pains me − It hurts me
Appreciate − Understanding the difficulties
Thoughtless − Not very caring
Exercise − Test the strength of
Relief − A welcome change
Ghastly − Terrible
Qus.B – Re-word these lines from the story:
- I had heard a great deal about Miss Beam’s school.
- Miss Beam was all that I had expected — middle-aged, full of authority.
- I went to the window which overlooked a large garden.
- We can not bandage the children’s mouths, so they really have to exercise their will-power.”
Ans.
- I had come to know a lot about the school run by Miss Beam.
- Miss beam was everything I had thought her to be — in the middle years of her life and authoritative.
- I reached a window which opened in front of a garden of a large size.
- “The children’s mouths cannot be put into bandages, so an exercise of will power is required on their part.”