PREBOARD EXAMINATION

        AL AIN JUNIORS SCHOOL

  PREBOARD EXAMINATION (2015-16)

Subject: COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH                                                             Max Marks:

Grade: X                                                                                                                    Time: 3 Hrs

 Date:

 General Instructions:

·         (i) The Question paper is divided into three sections :

·         Section A —     Reading                                               20 marks

·         Section B —     Writing and Grammar                        25 marks

·         Section C —    Literature                                            25 marks

·         (ii) All questions are compulsory.

·         (iii) You may attempt any section at a time.

·         (iv) All questions of that particular section must be attempted in the correct order.

SECTION A - (Reading)                              20 marks

1. Read the following passage carefully                                                              (8 marks)

When SiddharthaDominic, owner of the CGH Earth group of hotels, wanted to give back to the land he had received from, he sifted through a range of possibilities before finally zeroing in on his big idea. He would soon incorporate the “50 mile diet” in the menu of his restaurant-also called 50 mile- at the spice village in Thekkady; Kerala. The idea was quite simple-source ingredients for the dishes from within a 50 mile radius. Dominic says it was a win-win concept from the word go. “It had the potential to reduce the carbon footprint, provide livelihood to local farmers and give our guests a chance to experience something different”. And the guests were, well, eating out of the palm of his hand. The food moreover was fresh and full of nutrients, which otherwise gets lost as the produce makes the journey from soil to the supermarket.

The movement for locally produces food is nothing new. Initiated a few years ago by local food enthusiasts –“locavores” – who insist on only eating food drawn from within a 100 mile radius of their home, it’s a concept that’s slowly picking up in India. “You can spot the difference in taste the moment you pop a locally grown fruit or vegetable in your mouth. It simply bursts with natural goodness that is difficult to find in commercially transported and frozen produce”. Says Ganesh, a copywriter and a die-hard locavore.

Most of our food now travels an average of 400 to 800 km before ending up on our plates. Besides adversely affecting health, this kind of food supply also has serious consequences on the environment and the community. In times of growing awareness about global warming and sustained living, going locavore is increasingly being seen a s the “correct thing to do”.

Karan Bakshi, former General Manager of Spice Village, the, man who conceptualized and implemented the 50 mile concept at the hotel says the success of the idea was also because guests became aware that they were doing their bit for the community and the environment. “Guests at the restaurant get “The Chef’s Note” showcasing the dish they have eaten, the name of the farmer who produced it and the distance of the farm from the hotel. This is signed by the chef and it’s something they can take back with them, a note that, in a way, certifies their dinner had helped reduce carbon footprint and helped the local community directly.”

Other restaurant’s, too, are thinking along similar lines. Rajesh Wadhwa, executive chef at New Delhi’s Taj Palace, says he is planning to start with hotel’s Indian restaurant Masala Art.”If the farmers are able to sustain, we may think about the gradual shift to the concept of the main kitchen.

Wadwa’s caution underlies what may perhaps be a major setback for an otherwise great idea: implementation of the concept may not be a practical possibility everywhere. In Spice Village for instance the forests of Periyar and the adjoining land have a rich biodiversity teeming with the native vegetables, spices and meat, with salt being perhaps being the only item sourced from outside the prescribed radius. Not all restaurants are so fortunate, especially those in big cities.

1.1 On the basis of your reading of the above passage, complete the following sentences with appropriate words/ phrases.                                                                                1x8=8

a) Siddhartha took a big decision by.......................

b)The idea behind Siddhartha’s decision was to reduce ………………………………………….. .

c)’Locavores’ are the people ……………………………………………. .

d)The food which travels long distance loses its …………………………………………… .

e)The chef Rajesh Wadhwa of Hotel Taj Palace said that …………………………………………. .

f) According to Karan Bakshi, former general manager of spice village, the idea became successful because…………………………………………………………………….. .

g)Wadhwa cautions that the great idea ………………………………………………………………. .

h)The guests are happy because they are able to …………………………………………………………….. .

2. Read the following passage carefully                                           12

Violence against Women

It doesn’t happen only in slums, but in marble mansions as well, and increasingly so. Women’s groups were therefore dismayed, when the last Lok Sabha allowed the Domestic violence Prevention Bill to lapse. But it was just as well that the Bill, with all its infirmities, wasn’t pushed through hurriedly. The ramifications of a law without sufficient teeth are all too familiar. Women’s organizations have been agitating to plug the loopholes. Their efforts seem to have paid off. The UPA government is working on a Bill to replace the lapsed Domestic Violence Prevention Bill 2002. New clauses to make the legislation more effective are being incorporated. These include a more specific definition of domestic violence and the court’s right to ask the perpetrator of violence to leave the house or pay the victim rent for an alternative accommodation. The court can also prohibit the abuser from entering the victim’s workplace and also stop him from accessing bank accounts lockers and other jointly held assets.

The proposed changes could make the life of thousands of battered women a lot better. Surveys by the international Centre for Research on Women estimate that 60 percent of women face violence at some point in their marriages. More than anything else, it is the fear of being rendered homeless which forces victims of domestic violence to put up with humiliation and pain. The creation of protection officers (to be drawn from among social workers, women activists and judicial officers) to help the battered is another progressive step. The most significant change, however, is with regard to the definition of domestic violence. The Bill, in its earlier avatar, did not specify the kind o f violence that amounted to abuse. Now that it has been identified- physical and sexual injuries, verbal, emotional and economic abuse- it will be easier to pin down an offender. It would be possible to book even an occasional offender, not necessarily a ‘habitual one’, as under the lapsed Bill. The move to grant temporary custody of children to the aggrieved woman will ensure that she is not blackmailed into withdrawing the case. Indeed, the need for legislation to afford protection to women in their own homes is a telling comment on the degree of their vulnerability. In our largely patriarchal society, where women’s rights are often denied, it is best to rule out any scope for ambiguity. The new Bill promises to be more specific in objective, wider in scope, and stringent in its punitive power,. It is hoped that it will be finalized and passed without the inordinate delay that has been the fate of legislation regarding women.

2.1 Answer the following questions briefly                                                                                                 2x4=8

(a) What were some of the loopholes in the previously proposed Domestic Violence Prevention bill?

(b) What are the suggestions that have been incorporated into the new bill?

(c)Why do most of the women not report the violence?

(d) What makes the new bill more effective and promising?

2.2 Choose the most appropriate meanings of the given words from the option provided:                   1x4=4

(a) Consequences

i) Infirmities                                                                ii) ramification

iii) Loopholes                                                              iv) Incorporated

(b) Powerless

i) without sufficient teeth                                           ii) effective

iii) paid off                                                                  iv) rendered homeless

c) plug the loopholes

i) to put a stop to something               ii) to use one’s power to stop something from continuing

iii) to look for an error in the way a law, rule, or contacts in written

iv) to stop possibility of wrong interpretation of a rule or law.

d) The word ‘perpetrator’ means

i) Executor                                                                  ii) achiever

ii) Wrong deed                                                            iii) crime

SECTION B- (Writing And Grammar)                             25 Marks

3. Read the following article and write a letter to the Editor of The Hindustan Time, New Delhi, commenting on the child abuse and pointing out some solutions to the problems. (120 words) (5)

Child Abuse Growing Reality Open your eyes to see kids cleaning utensils and serving in dhabas, some polishing stainless wares in polishing factories, some rag picking and some binding bricks on frivolous wage. The tale of child abuse is horrendous.

OR

You had visited Antarctica and had an opportunity to see the polar ice caps melting and realised that the threat of global warming is very real. Taking ideas from the MCB unit on Environment along with your own ideas, write an article in 100 – 120 words on what a student can do to preserve the environment. You are Rama/Ram.

4. Using the beginning provided write a story in 150-200 words:                                                 (10)

Robert looked out of his bedroom window. He was greeted by the sight of two gentlemen digging a hole in his front lawn. The taller of the two gentlemen had his back to Robert, but the shorter of the two was staring right up at Robert, lips pulled back from blackened teeth in a vicious grin that told Robert everything he needed to know about the purpose of that deep, dark hole............................

OR

Sometimes I think my friend has strange powers. Every time he’s around............................................

5. Read the passage given below and fill in the blanks by choosing the most appropriate options from the ones that follow:                                                                                                                                         1×3=3

While peeling the sweet lime and oranges (a)..........................careful so that the segments are not mashed. The lettuce leaves are (b).....................into pieces. They are kept in ice-cold water (c)..............ten minutes.

(a) i ) was                    ii) is                            iii) be                           iv) will

(b) i) broken                ii) break                       iii) breaks                     iv) broke

(c) i) with                    ii) for                           iii) on                           iv) during

6. The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each line against which a blank has been given. Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer sheet against the correct blank number as given in the example. Remember to underline the word that you have supplied.           0.5 × 8=4        

                                                                                                Error                Correction

Bernard Shaw or Chesterton were                                          Eg. or                 and

know to having jokes at each                                                 (a) ................   ....................

others expense. Once they faces                                             (b) ..............     ....................               

one other in a corridor. Chesterton                                         (c) ..............     ......................             

stood her ground and firmly said,                                          (d) ..............    ...................... 

“I did not give way to fools.”                                                 (e) .............      .....................

Shaw must not be easily browbeaten.                                     (f) ...............    .....................

He moved aside and said on a                                                (g) ------------    -----------------

flourish at his hand, “ But I do”.                                            (h) ------------    ------------------ 

7. Rearrange the following words and phrases to form meaningful sentences:                                      1×3=3

a) is a/ ice-cream/that/tough business/selling/ he feels

b) there were/ varieties/ just two or three/different/a decade ago/to choose/ from

c) try/some people/a new brand/who/ come back/again and again/ for it.

SECTION C (Literature)                                                                 25

8. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that  follow:                                                       1x3=3

 In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud

It perched for vespers nine;

Whiles all the night, through fog-smoke white

Glimmered the white Moon-shine

a) What does ‘It’ stands for in the above extract?

b) Why did the sailor consider ‘It’ as a boon for them?

c) What happened to ‘It’ in the later part of the poem?

Or

O’ pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,

That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!

a) Who utters these lines? Whom does he seek pardon?

b) What does the phrase ‘thou bleeding piece of earth’ refer to?

c) Who are referred to ‘these butchers’?

9. Answer any four of the following questions in 30-40 words?                                                               2x4=8

(a) How did Decius Brutus interpret Calpurnia’s dream?

(b)Why did Patol Babu feel that those people were pulling his leg and the whole thing was ‘a gigantic hoax’?

(c) ‘Can we have one last try?’ What was Sebastian’s idea?

d) What does the expression ‘look upon my works, ye mighty, and despair’ reflect about Oxymandias?

e) The poet is filled with horror and protest when the snake prepares to retreat and bury itself in the ‘horrid black’, ‘dreadful’ hole. In the light of this statement, bring out the irony of his act of throwing a log at the snake.

10. We find every quality of practical man in Patol Babu. Do you agree to this? Write your opinion with reference to the story ‘ Patol Babu, Film Star’ in 80-100 words.                                                   4x1=4

OR

Shelley, through his poem ‘Ozymandias’ demonstrates that art and language outlast the other legacies of power. Explain in 80-100 words.

11. Answer the following in 150-200 words.                                                                                   10x1=10

Write a brief character sketch of Mr. Keith. What role did he play in the life of Helen Keller?

OR

What hurdles did Helen face in her progress at the Cambridge School?

A Shady Plot – Elsic Brown

I. EXTRACTS BASED QUESTIONS
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow :
1. “I am going back to my grandmother. My lawyer will communicate with you
later ?” (CBSE–SA-2–2012–61008)
(a) Who speaks the above lines ?
(b) Why is she going back to her grandmother ?
(c) What effect does the above extract have on the listener ?
2. “Well, I was not in a position to contradict Jenkins.”(CBSE–SA-2–2012–61023)
(a) Why was the narrator not in a position to contradict Jenkins ?
(b) Who was Jenkins ?
(c) What had Jenkins asked the narrator to do ?
3. “I sat staring at it and presently noticed something just taking shape. It was
exactly like watching one of these moving picture cartoons being put together.”
(CBSE–SA-2–2012–2018)
(a) What was the narrator staring it?
(b) How was the figure taking shape?
(c) Who was gradually taking a definite shape part by part?
4. “………. I just came to tell you stop bothering us for assistance; You ain’t going
to get it. We are going on strike!” (CBSE–SA-2–2012–2049)
(a) Who is the speaker of these lines?
(b) Who does ‘you’ refer to ?
(c) What does the speaker threaten to do ?
5. “I had hardly seated myself at the desk when there came a tap at the door and
a white slip of paper slid under it. I unfolded it and read : ..............”
(CBSE–SA-2–2012–61004)
(a) Who is ‘I’ ?
(b) Who had written the slip of paper ?
(c) What was written on it ?

ANSWERS
I. 1. (a) Lavinia.
(b) She has learnt that her husband is carrying on a clandestine love affair.
(c) He is devastated; his marriage is on the rocks.
2. (a) Because his magazine had been the only one to print his stuff.
(b) He was the publisher of the magazine.
(c) He wanted him to write a ghost story.
3. (a) The narrator John Hallock was staring at the shadow that started taking
a definite shape.
(b) The shape was like one of these moving picture cartoons being put
together.
(c) Helen’s ghost was gradually taking a definite shape.
4. (a) The ghost, Helen (b) John/ Narrator (c) to go on strike
5. (a) John Hallock (b) His wife, Lavinia
(c) She was going away – would seek a divorce.

II. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Answer the following questions in about 50-60 words :

1. Bring out the irony in the statement: ‘I did not specialize in ghost stories, but
more or less, they seemed to specialize in me’. (CBSE–SA-2–2012–2046)
Ans. The narrator was a writer who used to work for Jenkins, a publisher. He wanted
the narrator to write ghost stories because they were in more demand. The narrator did
not want to write ghost stories out of his choice. He wanted to write stories of other
genres, but his ghost stories were popular. It was the ghost of Helen, who helped him to
write ghost stories.
2. Why does John want the ghost to disappear before his wife appears on the scene ?
(CBSE–SA-2–2012–2017, 61024)
Ans. John did not want his wife to see Helen as the thought she would create troubles
for him. Lavinia was subject to hysterics. John thought if she would see Helen, the ghost,
she might start laughing or crying loudly. Moreover he was afraid of getting more
misunderstanding between them.
3. What made Lavinia buy a Ouija board? How did the narrator react to her doing?
(CBSE–SA-2–2012–61029)
Ans. Lavinia bought a Ouija board because it was at a bargain sale. She found it
duckliest and darlingest thing and couldn’t resist to buy it. Hallock asked her to exchange
it for something else. He got scared of the upcoming danger, of the anger of the ghost,
Helen. Secondly John was protective of Lavinia and did not want her to get into any
kind of trouble.
4. What is your impression of Mrs. Lavinia? (CBSE–SA-2–2012–61022)
Ans. Mrs. Lavinia was a spendthrift. She was unconcerned about John’s financial
problems. She didn’t bother that her husband was a writer and supplement his income
by his writings. She was not amenable to suggestions, hence refuses to get rid of the
Ouija board even though her husband insist on it. She was fond of parties. She didn’t
use to think much before reacting.
5. How did the narrator react to the appearance of the ghost?
(CBSE–SA-2–2012–61028)
Ans. The narrator’s attitude towards ghosts and horror stories was quite humorous.
The narrator and the second sherriff went ahead on horseback when they were being
chased. Suddenly the sound of the gunshot echoed in the air. Second sheriff groaned and
slumped back against him. He made the story interesting and refreshing.
6. Why was Helen, the ghost going on strike? What condition did she lay for providing
help? (CBSE–SA-2–2012–61030)

Or

Why was the ghosts angry with the Ouija board fanatics?
(CBSE–SA-2–2012–61027)
Ans. Helen and the other ghosts were very fanatics about the Ouija board because
people keep on calling up on ghosts to answer questions all the time. They were exhausted
and needed rest. Helen wanted the narrator to exert his influence and get all his
acquaintances to stop using the Ouija board.
7. What did the ghost tell us about herself before she became a ghost?
(CBSE–SA-2–2012–61018)
Ans. Helen told the narrator that when she was a human, she had worked as a
reader on a magazine. The quality of stories and other work had life difficult for her.
When she died she found other ghosts who had suffered similarly and they organized
‘The Writer’s Inspiration Bureau’ to help writers who were looking for inspiration.
8. What condition did the ghost put forth for providing continued help to John Hallock?
Why? (CBSE–SA-2–2012–61021)

Or

Why did Helen trouble the narrator of ‘A Shady Plot’? (CBSE–SA-2–2012–61001)
Ans. The narrator was very desperate for inspiration. Helen found his mind soft
enough to accept impression and helped him. She was going on strike because the new
fad of Ouija boards had people calling up on ghosts to answer questions all the time. She
was exhausted and needed rest. She wanted the narrator to exert his influence and get
all his acquaintances to stop using the Ouija board.
9. Why was the narrator not in a position to contradict Jenkins?
(CBSE–SA-2–2012–61017)
Ans. Jenkins was the publisher of the magazine which printed the ghost stories
written by the narrator. It was the only magazine that printed his stuff and hence he
could not contradict Jenkins. Secondly, the narrator was in need of money. Therefore, it
was more a necessity for him to come up with good stories whenever Jenkins demanded
them.
10. ‘Hallock’s ‘ghosts’ were ‘live propositions’. How could he pen down ghost-special
stories? (CBSE–SA-2–2012–2043)
Ans. John Hallock was a ghost story writer for Jenkins. He was not a specialist in
ghost stories but suddenly every time an idea would come mysteriously to his mind and
he would write a story. Helen told him that ‘The Writer’s Inspiration Bureau’ used to
help writers who were without ideas and had a soft mind on what to write.
11. How did Helen look when she first visited the narrator of ‘A Shady Plot’?
(CBSE–SA-2–2012–61002)
Ans. John was sitting to write down a ghost story. He was searching his mind for
inspiration but couldn’t find it. Suddenly, he heard a voice in the room and a figure
materialised out of thin air. It was the ghost of Helen. She had long angular fishy eyes
having spectacles, her hair were tied in a tight wad and had a solid jaw. She seemed
angry with him.
12. Why did Gladiola decide to leave her job at the Hallocks?
(CBSE–SA-2–2012–61004)

Ans. Gladiola was the narrator’s cook. She decided to leave her job at the Hallocks
because she was fed up and scared of Ouija boards and Loodos. She was scared of ghosts
and spirits in the house. Lavinia, hence asked her to burn the Ouija board.
13. Why couldn’t John Hallock give his whole time to writing?
(CBSE–SA-2–2012–61033)
Ans. John Hallock was in need of money as he had many responsibilities. In order to
fulfill his needs he was doing the job of a book keeper in a lumbar company. Thus he
couldn’t give his whole time to writing.
14. What has the ghost got against Ouija boards? (CBSE–SA-2–2012–61008)
Ans. The ghosts were fed up with the Ouija boards because people who use Ouija
boards keep them terribly busy answering all sorts of questions. The ghosts didn’t like
to be controlled by them and hence wanted to get rid of those Ouija boards.
15. Why did John’s wife want to go to her grandmother’s house?
(CBSE–SA-2–2012–2045)
Ans. Lavinia, Mrs. John was angry with John because she suspected her husband
having an affair with a lady called Helen. She thought he was cheating on her as he
kept receiving calls from Helen frequently. This aroused her suspicion on him of doing
something wrong. Hence she decided to leave him and go to her grandmother’s house.
16. What did Jenkins ask John Hallock to do and why? (CBSE–SA-2–2012–61026)
Ans. Jenkins wanted John Hallock to write a ghost story for the magazine because
the public were eager to read ghost stories and the narrator’s skill in writing such stories
was exceptional. Jenkins thought his ghosts were live propositions and were more life
like than mere story characters.
17. What is an Ouija Board? How does it work? (CBSE–SA-2–2012–61016)
Ans. Ouija Board is a board on which are marked letters of Alphabet. Answers to
questions are spelt out by a pointer or glass held by finger tips of participants. Ouija
board is supposedly worked by spiritual forces who come out with the solutions of a
problem.
18. How did Lavinia face the ghost? (CBSE–SA-2–2012–2042)
Ans. Lavinia suspected her husband having an affair with a woman named Helen.
When she came to see him for the last time, she thought he was hiding some woman in
the room. Prepared for the worst she felt relieved on realizing that it was only the ghost.
She gave a broad satisfied smile. She fell forgivingly into Hallock’s arm.

III. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Answer the following questions in about 120-150 words :
1. Why did Lavinia decide to leave John Hallock? Describe the circumstances leading
to her decision? (CBSE–SA-2–2012–61002)
Ans. John Hallock was a ghost-story writer. Lavinia, his wife was very angry and
felt jealous when the Ouija board showed her husband a ‘traitor’. She thought that John
had been cheating on her with a woman named Helen. She suspected him of doing
something wrong and hence decided to leave John Hallock and go to her grandmother’s
house. Helen, the ghost was forcing the narrator to convince people to stop using Ouija’s
boards. But when his own wife held an Ouija party at home, he got scared of the ghost’s
anger. He knew that if Lavinia had the sight of the ghost she would get scared. But his
apprehensions of being protecting his wife proved the other way. Next morning when
Lavinia came to John’s room to say goodbye she found that he was trying to hide someone
in the room. She became more furious. But when she came face to face with Helen, she
felt relieved and a contentment spilled over her face on realizing that Helen was just a
ghost.
2. What role does the supernatural play in the lives of the Hallocks (John and
Lavinia)? (CBSE–SA-2–2012–61022)
Ans. At the Ouija board party at Lavinia’s house, Mrs. Laura’s Ouija board reveals
that a women by the name of Helen wants to communicate with John. The Ouija boards
of other women make a similar revelation. Helen’s attempt to communicate with John
(she wants him to tell his wife to get rid of the Ouija board) is misconstrued as a proof
of Liaison with Helen. Lavinia is smitten with jealousy; she decides to divorce her
husband. The ghost thus becomes the unwitting cause of a serious rift between husband
and wife.
The situation takes a dramatic turn. Lavinia enters John’s room to tell him that she
was leaving for good. John’s furtive glances and strange gestures aroused her suspicion
that he is hiding somebody. It can be none other than Helen, she thought. In a furious
mood she pushed her husband to confront Helen. She was pleasantly surprised to find
that Helen was a ghost and not a woman of ravishing beauty for whom her husband has
fallen. Her fears were allayed and she fell in the arms of her husband. The ghost this
time saved their marriage and reunited them.
3. John Hallock writes a letter to his friend, describing to him how Helen, the ghost
had almost ruined his domestic life, at the same time provided him with a plot for writing
a ghost story. (CBSE–SA-2–2012–2044)
Ans.
243-B
Chelsea House
London
Dear Ark,
How are you? I hope this letter of mine finds you in good health and high spirits.
Last week Jenkins had asked me to write another ghost story. I was without inspiration.
Suddenly, I heard a sound in the room and a figure materialized out of thin air. It was a
ghost whose name was Helen. She seemed angry and warned me about the recent trend
of Ouija boards. She said these boards had proved tiring for the ghosts as it calls them
to answer their questions and hence troubles them. She asked me to ask my friends to
refrain from using Ouija boards. But my wife Lavinia bought a Ouija board and arranged
for an Ouija board party. In the party all the boards screamed my name and said me a
traitor. Lavinia suspected me of having an affair with someone. Angrily she decided to
leave me. My cook also left the house. I was blaming Helen for ruining the happiness of
my family. Suddenly, Lavinia entered in the room and saw Helen; I thought she would
scream with fear but she understood everything and my life became normal once again.
And now I got a very good plot for my next story. I will tell you about my story in my
next letter. Till then Bye.
Your friend
John Hallock

IV. QUESTIONS BASED ON VALUES AND KEY MESSAGES
1. What is the central idea of the story, ‘A Shady Plot’?
Ans. The story is about a writer’s struggle to find inspiration for his ghost stories.
He needs a plot, a storyline and the inspiration is hidden. As the events unfold, the
readers realise that the ghosts have been providing him with ideas and plotlines. The
story then moves forward to a point where the writer’s wife suspects him of having an
affair with a lady. The story reaches its finale when Lavinia comes face to face with the
ghost (the lady) and maintains her composure. The plot of the story is riveting and has
unexpected twists and turns. The author surprises the reader a number of times and
much humour arises out of the situations. Because of the shady nature of the plot, the
story manages to hold the interest of the reader.
The title of the story is quite apt and compliments the story beautifully. It does not
reveal the plot or give an indication but helps the author to keep the surprise element.
It also directs the reader’s expectation in a positive manner.
2. John wants the ghost to disappear before his wife appears on the scene. What
impressions of his wife’s character do you form from his words?
Ans. John was very protective of Lavinia, his wife. He knew that the sight of a ghost
in the house would scare her out of her senses. Hence he wanted the ghost to disappear
before his wife appears on the scene. He wished to protect Lavinia from the fear of
seeing a ghost. His apprehension revealed that his wife was a fragile, sensitive person
who cannot face fear. She seemed to be a vulnerable person but it was not so. Lavinia
did not shriek or scream when she saw the ghost. She talked to the ghost and kept hold
of her nerves. She was quite confident when talking to her. She displayed a strength
which John never dreamt of. Besides these characterics, Lavinia was a suspicious, jealous
and a manipulative person.
3. Do you agree that the supernatural beings in “A shady plot” are benign, harmless
creatures? (CBSE–SA-2–2012–61006)
Ans. The supernatural beings in ‘A Shady Plot’ are benign creatures. The ghosts
were trying to help writers starved of new ideas for their stories. They were very empathic
because in their other life they were also writer’s and hence better understood the plight
of the writers. They founded ‘The Writer’s Bureau’ with the specific purpose of assisting
writers. These good creatures are harrassed by Ouija board fanatics who call them out
of their beds a little too ten of and ask all sorts of questions. Helen asked John to ask his
wife to get rid of her Ouija board so that the ghost could help him with a good idea for
his story. The ghost can’t be blamed for causing a rift between John and his wife. It is
the women who is misinterpreted. Helen’s intentions should not be misunderstood. She
was the one who cleared the cloud of suspicion between John and Lavinia and reunited
them. Helen was a benign ghost who was always ready to help a writer.

Patol Babu The film star

Q2 :  

What was the news that Nishikanto Ghosh gave Patol Babu?

Answer :

Nishikanto Babu told Patol Babu that his brother-in law, who was in the film business, was looking for an actor for a film they were shooting. The character he described reminded Nishikanto Babu of Patol Babu so he gave him his address and asked him to get in touch with him.

Q3 :  

How did Patol Babu react? Why?

Answer :

Patol Babu was taken aback by the acting offer. He was surprised as it seemed unbelievable to him that a 52-year old nobody like him was getting a chance to act in a film.

Q4 :  

Why had Patol Babu lost his first job in Calcutta?

Answer :

The Second World War had resulted in Patol Babu being retrenched from his nine-year-old clerical job at Hudson and Kimberley.

Q5 :  

How does Patol Babu reconcile to the dialogue given to him?

Answer :

Initially, Patol Babu was shocked to see his monosyllabic dialogue. However, after rehearsing his dialogue, he felt that a true actor could make his mark even with a single syllable. His mentor's words rang in hismind who had once said that each word spoken in a play was like a fruit in a tree. Not everyone in the audience has access to it. So, the actor must know how to pluck it, get at its essence, and serve it up to the audience for their edification. These words helped Patol Babu perform the role assigned to him with conviction.

Q6 :  

Who was Mr. Pakrashi? How do his words help Patol Babu in enacting his role?

Answer :

Mr. Pakrashi was Patol Babu's mentor. He said, "Remember one thing, Patol; however small a part you're offered, never consider it beneath your dignity to accept it." These words influenced Patol Babu a lot and they helped him enact his role with confidence and determination. From these words, Patol Babu drew spirit, energy, inspiration and dignity to enact such a small role. He no more felt his role in the movie to be condescending.

Q7 :  

How do we know that Patol Babu was a meticulous man?

Answer :

Patol Babu was a meticulous man with a lot of perseverance. He was a very talented man who was gifted with the art of acting. He never lost faith in reality and overtook all challenges in life and faced all difficulties. He was offered a part in a movie in this story and he took it up. He was meticulous because he calculated the number of steps he needed to take before crashing into Chanchal Kumar. Similarly, he practised the variation in the dialogues with different tones. He was also a self concerned man because he ordered for a ginger tea with his wife the day before the movie was to be shot so that his voice will be loud and clear on the day of the movie. At last, he was a very grateful man and never gave up the responsibilities that were given to him even though he was a very mixed up man and a confused personality.

Q8 :  

Why did Mr. Mullick turn down Patol Babu's request for a rehearsal?

Answer :

Patol Babu suggested that he should rehearse his scene. But Mr. Mullick turned down his request for the rehearsal, showing impatience at his suggestion. This was because Mr. Mullick wanted to quickly shoot the scene in the sunlight and he could see a large patch of cloud approaching the sun, which was making him impatient.
 

Q9 :  

What were the special touches that Patol Babu gave to his role to make it more authentic?

Answer :

Patol Babu rehearsed the exact number of steps for colliding with the hero, added a small grey moustache to his look and held a newspaper open in his hand. These were the special touches which he gave to his look for making his role seem more authentic.

Q10 :  

'I hope the part calls for some dialogue?' Who says this? Why does he /she ask this question?

Answer :

These lines are said by Patol Babu. He had been a stage actor for many years before work forced him to come to Calcutta. He was a very passionate actor; in fact he was obsessed with acting. There was a time when people would buy tickets just to see him perform.

After many years, Patol Babu was offered a role in a film. He was both surprised and happy to receive this offer. He enquired about his role so that he could rehearse for it. He was told that his role was that of a pedestrian. He wanted to know if the role had any dialogues because he was very keen to show off his acting prowess.

Thanks, we will do the necessary correction soon !!!

Q11 :  

'Were these people pulling his legs? Was the whole thing a gigantic hoax?

A meek, harmless man like him, and they had to drag him into the middle of the city to make a laughing stock out of him. How could anyone be so cruel?' Why does

Patol Babu have these thoughts?

Answer :

The reason for Patol Babu having such kind of thoughts was that the dialogue that he was given shocked him. It was for the first time that Patol Babu has got an opportunity to act in a film. Till now he had acted on the stage. He was very excited. He reaches the shooting site at the designated time. After watching the film shoot for sometime, he asked for his dialogue so that he could memorise and rehearse it.

All he had to do was to collide with the hero and utter "oh". He was very disappointed. He expected a small role with some dialogues but here he just had to utter a monosyllable. Patol Babu was a very good actor and he thought that by giving him such an insignificant role they had made a mockery of him and his acting skills.

Q12 :  

Patol Babu is an amateur actor for whom walk-on part in a movie turns into an ultimate challenge. Discuss.

Answer :

Patol Babu is initially very disappointed because of the small role he had been given. Then he is reminded of his mentor's words that "however small a part, never consider it beneath your dignity to accept it". Motivated by these words, Patol Babu decides to rehearse his part before the final shoot. He chooses a reclusive spot to practice. As he practices, he realises that a monosyllabic exclamation could be said in different ways and carried different meanings. He also rehearsed how he would react physically when the collision took place - he would twist his face in pain, fling his arms, and crouch to show pain and surprise. He really worked hard at his part and performed it to perfection.

Q13 :  

Do you agree with the statement that Patol Babu is a practical man who comes to terms with whatever life has to offer? Give reasons for your answer.

Answer :

Patol Babu had a passion for acting. In fact, there was a time when people used to buy tickets just to watch him. But he left all this and moved to Calcutta from Kanchrapara because he was offered a job with a better salary. In Calcutta, he gave up his plans of starting a club in his neighbourhood and dabbled in various jobs to make his ends meet. When an acting offer came by, he readily agreed to do it. Though he was initially disturbed by the triviality of the role, he performed the part to perfection without taking any payment for it. Patol Babu believed it was not about whether the role that an actor plays is major or minor, rather performance of the actor mattered the most. Thus, we can say that Patol Babu was a practical man who accepted whatever came his way.

Q14 :  

Why does Patol Babu walk away before he can be paid for his role? What does this reveal about his character?

Answer :

Patol Babu executed his part to perfection. However, he wondered whether the immense effort he had put in to enact a small role would be appreciated by everybody or not. The film unit usually got hold of some people, made them do their parts and paid them a small amount. They were not bothered about the quality of performance.

Although Patol Babu performed a small role, he felt that taking money for it would be trivialising his performance. He was a true actor for whom creative satisfaction was foremost and not money.

Q15 :  

Do you think making a movie is an easy job? Discuss with reference to the story

Answer :

The story, Patol Babu, Film Star, describes a film shoot. Filmmaking is a long and tedious process. Every scene has to be rehearsed many times before it is finally shot. Plenty of heavy equipments and expensive cameras are used. Film actors have to shoot in extreme weather conditions, sometimes in front of large crowds. The noise and extreme weather can, at times, distract an actor. The production unit has to see minor details, arrange for actors for small roles, and arrange for props. In short making a film is a combined effort of many people.

Q21 :  

(a)	Then he had a job in a Bengali firm which he gave up in disgust when his boss began to treat him in too high-handed a fashion	stimulate the imagination
(b)	A faint memory was stirred up in Patol Babu's mind.	to surrender or relinquish
(c)	At first he opened a variety store which he had to wind up after five years.	staged
(d)	In Jatras, in amateur theatricals, to gain control over one's actions in plays put up by the club in his neighbourhood, Patol Babu was always in demand	to gain control over one's actions
(e)	Patol Babu was about to step forward when he was pulled up short by a voice shouting 'Silence!'	shut down
(f)	Patol Babu pulled himself together	Stopped

Answer :

(a)	Then he had a job in a Bengali firm which he gave up in disgust when his boss began to treat him in too high-handed a fashion	to surrender or relinquish
(b)	A faint memory was stirred up in Patol Babu's mind.	stimulate the imagination
(c)	At first he opened a variety store which he had to wind up after five years.	shut down
(d)	In Jatras, in amateur theatricals, to gain control over one's actions in plays put up by the club in his neighbourhood, Patol Babu was always in demand	staged
(e)	Patol Babu was about to step forward when he was pulled up short by a voice shouting 'Silence!'	stopped
(f)	Patol Babu pulled himself together	to gain control over one's action

Writing taskunit-5 : Solutions of Questions on Page Number : 69

Q1 :  

After Patol Babu returns home he recounts his experience in front of the camera to his wife. In pairs write out the exchange in the form of a dialogue and enact it before the class. You may start like this….

Patol Babu's wife: So what happened at the shooting today? Did you get to do your role?

Patol Babu: Oh, Yes, I had the time of my life____________

Answer :

Note: This question is to be answered on the basis of your own understanding, experience and thoughts. It is strongly recommended that you prepare the solution on your own. However, one sample solution has been provided for your reference.

Patol Babu's wife: So what happened at shooting today? Did you get to do your role?

Patol Babu: Oh, yes, I had the time of my life. Did you know that filmmaking is very different from stage production?

Patol Babu's wife: Oh really? Who was the director of the film?

Patol Babu: Baren Mullick. He has three hits in a row!

Patol Babu's wife: So what was your role in the film?

Patol Babu: Well….well… it was a very short role… but everybody loved my performance. Do you know there are cameras focused at every angle? You get a chance to rehearse your part. It is very different from stage.

Patol Babu's wife: So how many lines did you get to speak?

Patol Babu: Well… I forgot to tell you my role was with the hero of the film—Chanchal Kumar.

Patol Babu's wife: But you are not telling me anything about your role.

Patol Babu: I will…I will…but first give me something to eat. I am really hungry. I will take you to show this film when it is released. I promise. Come let's eat something.

Q2 :  

Patol Babu writes a letter to Nishikanto Ghosh to thank him for being instrumental in his getting a role in a film. He also shares his experience at the film shoot including the excitement and deep satisfaction that he derived from the same. Write the letter in about 200 words.

Answer :

Note: This question is to be answered on the basis of your own understanding, experience and thoughts. It is strongly recommended that you prepare the solution on your own. However, sample solutions have been provided for your reference.

Dear Nishikanto Babu,

How are you? Hope you are doing fine. It was indeed a pleasure meeting you the other day. I wanted to thank you for recommending me for that role.

At first, I was surprised that an acting offer would come my way after so many years. However, as you know how passionate I am about acting that I just couldn't refuse. When I reached the shooting site, I realised how different acting in a film was than acting on stage. I saw so many new things—cameras, lights, make up artists, production people, etc. It was a completely new experience for me. I must confess something—I was initially disappointed with my role and dialogue. It was a very small part with almost no dialogue. however, my mentor's advice motivated me and I rehearsed and performed my part to perfection. In fact I can say that it was my finest performance till date.

I am very grateful to you as it was because of you that I had this fantastic experience at the first place.

I must also add that your brother-in-law is a thorough gentleman. He took good care of me. Thanks again.

Yours truly,

Patol Babu