UNSEEN COMPREHENSION

Comprehension 1

Following is an extract from the autobiography of Gandhiji ‘My Experiments with Truth’. In Tolstoy Farm, South Africa, he trained young minds in manners and morals and appreciating dignity of labour. Read this passage and answer the questions that follow.

My Experiments with Truth

But I had always given the first preference to the culture of the heart or the building of the character, and as I felt confident the moral training could be given to all alike, no matter how different their ages and their upbringing, I decided to live amongst them all the twenty-four hours of the day as their father. I regarded character building as the proper foundation for their education and, if the foundation was firmly laid, I was sure that the children could learn all the other things themselves or with the assistance of friends.
But as I fully appreciated the necessity of a literary training in addition, I started some classes with the help of Mr. Kallenbach and Pragji Desai. Nor did I underrate the building up of the body. This they got in the course of their daily routine. For there were no servants on the Farm, and all the work, from cooking down to scavenging, was done by the inmates. There were many fruit trees to be looked after, and enough gardening to be done as well. Mr. Kallenbach was fond of gardening and had gained some experience of this work in one of the Governmental model gardens. It was obligatory on all, young and old, who were not engaged in the kitchen, to give some time to gardening. The children had the lion’s share of this work, which included digging pits, felling timber and lifting loads. This gave them ample exercise. They took delight in the work, and so they did not generally need any other exercise or games. Of course some of them and sometimes all of them shirked. Sometimes I connived at their pranks, but often I was strict with them. All the same we got along, and at any rate they built up fine physiques, There was scarcely any illness on the Farm, though it must be said that good air and water and regular hours of food were not a little responsible for this.
A word, about vocational training. It was my intention to teach every one of the youngsters some useful manual vocation. For this purpose Mr. Kallenbach went to a Trappist monastery and returned having learnt shoe-making. I learnt it from him and taught the art to such as were ready to take it up. Mr. Kallenbach had some experience of carpentry, and there were another inmate who knew it; so we had a small class in carpentry. Cooking almost all the youngsters knew.
All this was new to them. They had never even dreamt they would have to learn these things some day. For generally the only training that Indian children received in South Africa was in the three R’s, reading, writing and arithmetic.
On Tolstoy Farm we made it a rule that the youngsters should not be asked to do what the teachers did not do and therefore, when they were asked to do any work, there was always a teacher co-operating and actually working with them. Hence, whatever the youngsters learnt, they learnt cheerfully.

1. What did Gandhiji think is the foundation of education?
2. How were the daily chores taken care of at the Farm?
3. How was vocational training taken care of at the Farm?
4. How did Gandhiji ensure a cheerful atmosphere within the
Farm?
5. Find words from the passage which mean the same as following:
a. to help (para1 )
b. to undervalue (para2 )
c. enough (para2 )
d. to allow something wrong to happen (para2 )

CLASS VII - REPORTED SPEECH

REPORTED SPEECH

I. Change the following into reported speech:
1. Amrita said, “It is awesome to visit Jaipur during the winters.”
2. Nikhil said, “Why don’t we take the evening train instead of the morning one.”
3. Nithya’s mother said, “I am planning to go to the temple in the evening.”
4. “Let’s not forget to pick up milk on our way back.” said Sudha
5. Rita said, “It is a cold day, better to wear warm clothes.”
6. Rajiv said to Sachin, “Why don’t you buy a new mobile before this old one completely stops working?”
7. The accountant said, “ I will show you how to open a bank account.”
8. The officer told the soldiers, “Camp here for the night.”
9. “Let’s go and have a look at the new swimming pool,” Mihir suggested.
10. Balbir smiled and asked, “Are you Mrs Robinson’s granddaughter?”
11. “I hope you don’t mind,” she said. (There is no need to write She said she hoped. She hoped will do)
12. “Where have you been?” the man asked her.
13. Prakash asked the boy, “If you never try a new thing, how can you know what it’s like?”
14. “Father, have you any idea at all of what’s going on?” Jasbir asked in a hushed voice.
15. “I don’t know what’s happening, Jasbir, but we are trying to find out,” replied his father.

II. A. Read this dialogue. Then write it in reported speech
Teacher : We are going to hold an exhibition next week. Student 1 : What’s the exhibition on, Madam? Teacher : It’s a science exhibition. I want all of you to help me. Students : We will, madam. Tell us what we have to do. B. “I am a doctor,” explained the young lady on her arrival at the house, “and I have come here in answer to a call I received this morning. Is this the right house?”

III Given below is a passage. Write it in direct speech.
Smita told her mother that she would be going to the market the next day as she needs to pick up lot of things. Smita told her that she could also come with her if she had some shopping to do as well. Smita’s mother replied that she would leave by 3p.m so she should be ready by then. Smita remarked that she planned to return from college by then so that was o.k. with her.

IV. Turn the following sentences into direct speech
1. The scientist commented that an aeroplane with a speed of 10,000 miles an hour had been built.
2. The people asked what the minister has to say about this.
3. The minister’s son asked why he should join any party.
4. The loudspeakers blared forth that people must be disciplined.
5. The doctors gave their unanimous verdict that the minister was out of danger.

CLASS VI AND VII - NOTICE WRITING

Notice Writing

A. Your school is planning to hold a ‘Tree Planting’ day where the Municipal Commissioner of your area will be the Chief Guest. As part of the ‘Environment Club’ you have been asked to put up a notice informing students about the event. Write the notice in about 50 words.

B. Imagine you are a student of St. Theresa School Pune. Your school is planning a ‘Charity Show’ for the benefit of the students of Blind School located in your area. Famous Cine actors will perform at the function. As the Cultural Secretary of your school write a notice asking students to volunteer for Prefect duties on the day of the show. The notice should be in not more than 50 words.

C. Your school is planning to organize a ‘School Sprucing Up’ day where all students would be taking up jobs related to cleaning up the school premises. This is being organized to create a feeling of belongingness as well as appreciating dignity of labour. Write a notice informing students about this activity. You are Rashmi/Rohit the Secretary of the Social Work committee in your school. Write the notice in about 50 words.

D. An NGO by the name SEWA plans to hold classes for children living in hutments outside the city. They need student volunteers for this project. Your Principal has asked you to put up a notice inviting students to join the initiative. Write the notice in not more than 50 words.

E. Your school is organizing a trek to the famous Valley of Flowers in the Himalayas. As the Secretary of the Outstation trip committee you have been asked to put up a notice informing students of classes 7-9 about the trek details in not more than 40 words.

Class X - Literature

Q.1 Choose one of the following extracts given below and answer the question.
Write the answer in your answer sheet in one or two lines only. Remember to number the answer correctly.
My mother only said
Thank God the Scorpion picked on me
And spared my children
(a) Name the poem and poet 1
(b) What do you mean by ‘picked on me’ 1
(c) Give two words that would best describe the mother 1
(d) Why did the mother thank God even after suffering such a great pain for
long twenty hours. 1
OR
The wedding-guest sat on a stone
He cannot choose but hear
And thus spake on that ancient man
The bright-eyed Mariner
(a) What does the wedding ‘guest’s sitting on a stone’ 1
(b) Explain ‘He cannot choose but hear’ 1
(c) What does ‘bright eyed’ mean? 1
Q.2 Read the extract below and answer the following questions. Write the
answer in your answer sheet in one or two lines only. Remember to number
the answers correctly.
‘That’s not much to boast about’
Said the heartless frog ‘Without
proper training such as I
-And few others-can supply
You’ll remain a mere beginner
But with me you’ll be a winner’
(a) What do the word ‘beginner’ and ‘winner’ suggest here? 1
(b) What should the nightingale not be boasting about? 1
(c) What tall claim did the boastful frog make? 1
Q.3 West Wind as presented by the poem ‘Ode to the West Wind’ by P.B. Shelley is the epitome of power, strength and vitality. Give evidence from the poem to show the omnipresence of the West Wind over the land, sky and water bodies. (Word limit 50-75 words)
OR
How has the mirror described itself in the poem, ‘The Mirror’. Bring out the
physical features and qualities.
Q.4 (a) Pen down scrooge’s attitude towards Christmas as portrayed in the initial part of the play ‘The Christmas Carol’.
(b) Why did Marley’s ghost visit Scrooge?

Q.5 Brutus was indeed motivated by a passionate urge of patriotism when he joined in the conspiracy to kill Julius Caesar. Attempt a charater sketch of Brutus as you can comprehend from his speech to the people of Rome
‘Romans, countrymen and lovers! hear me for my cause’ (50 words)
OR
Antony was indeed an excellent orator who would ignite the spirit of revenge in the minds of the Roman people. Describe how would he mould the mind of the Roman people and turn them against the conspirators. (50-75)
Q.6 ‘I shivered with the cold and my own ingratitude’ says Babuli who was immensely touched to see the process of division of the family property and the past flashed in front of his eyes. In what recollections of the past did he get engrossed? (50-75 words)
OR
How did Cutie Pie happer to be present in the planet Qutapi (50-75 words)
Q.7 In the story The Letter, Laksmi Das is touched when Ali gave five golden guineas to him to ensure that his daughter’s letter reaches his grave. He writes a letter to his wife describing Ali’s regular visit to the post office, the humiliation he had to encounter, also relating Ali’s handing over the five gold guineas to him. (150-175 words)
OR
Imagine yourself to be the narrator of The Ultimate Safari. You felt greatly
moved when grandmother spoke to the white woman. ‘There is nothing. No
home’ Write down your feelings in your diary, how are you spending your life in the refugee camp and what are your hopes and aspirations. (150-175)

Film Festival - Class IX

A Dark Hall
Rows and Rows of seats
Thousands of people
One Screen which enthralls them all – The Cinema

This is the magic of cinema, which was brought to India by Mr. Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, affectionately called, Dadasaheb Phalke.
This is the story of how he made the first film of India, which started the Indian Film Industry, which today employs over lakhs of people, generates crores of revenue, gives birth to stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Kajol, Madhuri Dixit, earns recognition for the country and most importantly reaches out to thousands and thousands of human beings all over the globe to fascinate them with the Magic of Cinema…..
Today, this feature film which tells the Story of How the First Feature Film of India was made, is India’s official entry to the Oscars this year.

Harishchandrachi Factory (Harishchandra Factory)
Director : Paresh Mokashi Year : 2009 Duration : 96 min
Country : India Language : Marathi Subtitles : Yes
• Synopsis
Year 1911. British rule in India. Leader of the Indian Freedom struggle Lokmanya Tilak was in Mandalay prison. Gandhi, Nehru and Ambedkar were yet to arrive in the Indian Political scenario. Things were at a nascent stage.
A simple man, deeply passionate about art and a student of the J.J. School of Art, was working with the Archeological Survey of India.
In 1905-1906, he like many other illustrious Indians gave up his government job, in protest of the Bengal Partition. Unemployed, he started a Printing Business, which he abandoned after a quarrel with his partner. He did not ask for any compensation; on the contrary, he gave his word to the worried partner that he would never enter into printing again and would never compete with him! As a result, Phalke was unemployed and struggling to survive. One day he accidentally came across a tent theatre that was screening silent motion pictures, an absolutely new concept, which no one knew existed. The idea struck him. He decided to make films himself.
With a hardworking wife and two enthusiastic kids by his side, he ventured into a field unknown to contemporary India. The making of India's first feature film, 'Raja Harishchandra', was an amazing adventure. Funny, crazy and grave situations- Phalke family overcame everything. With the help of their cast and crew, not only did they deliver the first Indian film, but also made sure that it became the first super hit film!
• Note on The Director :
Paresh Mokashi has been associated with theatre for the last twenty years. He started as an actor in the well known theatre organization, Theatre Academy, Pune. He was part of main stream Marathi drama as well as Grips theatre, (Berlin) & Theatre Academy coproductions
for children. Then he shifted to writing-directing and received good reviews from critics and tasted wide commercial success. Sangeet Debuchya Muli, Mukkam Post Bombilwadi and Lagnakallol are a few of his plays which are known for experimentations in vivid yet atypical humour. Apart from show business he is involved in objective research on ancient scriptures like
the Vedas, Ramayan and Mahabharat. 'Harishchandrachi Factory' is his debut film.
• Statement from Osian’s-Cinefan
Sometimes history appears right in front of you and you simply cannot ignore it. Harishchandrachi Factory is one such instance. A film, in fact the first film to narrate the story of how the first film of India, Raja Harishchandra, was made in 1913. Raja Harishchandra was
to be the beginning of the world’s largest film industry, churning out over 800 films a year.
So historical was the film – Harishchandrachi Factory – that it had to be the centerpiece of an Outreach Programme which seeks to involve children with cinema. What makes the film delightful is that it portrays the birth of cinema in the most simple, humourous and
enjoyable manner – so that the millions whom cinema has enchanted over the years are fascinated by the story of its birth too.
Harishchandrachi Factory is a tribute to the first feature Film maker of India – Dadasaheb Phalke. An interesting anecdote to mention here is that in the year 1914, after he had made three films, Dadasaheb Phalke had a special screening of his films in London. Following
this he received offers to make films and stay in London. But he refused all of them saying, “I must keep making films in India so that it gets established as an industry at home”. And the rest, as they say, is history…
FILM BRIEFING SESSION
The Wonder of Imagination
Imagine…
Dreams…
Think…
These are the emotions that propel man to go beyond himself. Every discovery, every invention, was a product of imagination & necessity. Without imagination man’s life would have been lifeless. The mind constantly imagines, is constantly lost in thought…
This imagination made man love stories – of Gods, Goddesses and Demons and People, of Places far and wide, of love, belief horror and magic. Stories which made man happy and sad; which inspired and empathized. Through stories man entered a world where his mind was engaged with thoughts – which inspired him to explore life further. This fascination for stories led to dance, drama, music, writing, poetry and ultimately to CINEMA
Today, all of us can make films – technology has made this possible. But what is cinema?
Cinema is the science of making still pictures move so that they appear to be in movement. How does this happen? This happens, because as the Roman poet Lucretius explained in 65 B.C., the human eye retains the image of every objects it sees for 1/25th of a second after it moves away also. That means, if you see a pen and if is moved away, you will still see it in front of you for 1/25th of a second. This helps create an illusion of motion in our vision while seeing things, which is the scientific principle of cinema.
So, is Cinema all Science?
No while the principle of cinema is scientific, the concept of cinema, which is storytelling is artistic. Thus cinema is a brilliant symbiosis of science and art where science has been utilized to its optimum to express artistic creativity.
Think of how cinema has mesmerized audiences all over the world. But, do we know that story? Harishchandrachi Factory is the very story of how the first film of India was made. Very simple, without jargon, it is at one level, the story of the struggle of a human mind to explore imagination and use it to bring joy and awe to thousands. At one level, that is what cinema is all about
The film, among other issues, also touches upon the subject of patriotism and duty to the nation. Often this is credited only to industrialists, national leaders and the defense forces. But Phalke demonstrated his own patriotism, much like what a common man can do. In 1906 he gave up his lucrative government job in protest of the Bengal partition of 1905. Later in 1914, after he made his first three films, he turned down an offer to stay and make films in England because as he said, “I must keep making films in India so that it gets established as an industry at home”.
So the next time you go to watch a film, do think of the man whose vision brought cinema to India – Dadasaheb Phalke.

Film Festival - Class VIII

Lights, Camera and ACTION!
Thus begins the action of films - full of energy, enthusiasm and unending passion, cinema is much
more than shooting scenes to narrate a story. While films narrate stories, do you know of
innumerable stories of films itself – of hope, passion, desire and persistence? One such story on the films is Supermen of Malegaon.
A vivid and endearing account of filmmaker Sheikh Nasir’s attempt to make Malegaon’s own version of the Hollywood blockbuster Superman, Supermen of Malegaon pays a tribute to all those passionate men and women in Malegaon who in spite of all difficulties have given creativity and art a chance in their lives!

Supermen of Malegaon (Supermen of Malegaon)
Director : Faiza Ahmad Khan Year : 2008 Duration : 79 min
Country : India Language : Hindi & Urdu Subtitles : Yes
• Synopsis
Over a hundred miles outside of Mumbai in the textile factory town of Malegaon, director Nasir has thrilled the local public with his homemade spoof films. In their most ambitious project to date, Nasir and his hard working group of actors, writers, and crew set out to shoot "Superman of Malegaon", a story about a hero sent down the river to save the town.
Documentary filmmaker Faiza Ahmad Khan chronicles Nasir's hilarious attempts to overcome a myriad of unseen challenges from dropping his camera in the water to his lead actor getting married. Through it all, Nasir and his team use their creativity to forge ahead. SUPERMEN OF MALEGAON will remind even the most cynical moviegoers of the sheer joy and excitement inherent in films and filmmaking.
• Note on The Director
Faiza Ahmad Khan completed a postgraduate diploma in Social Communications media from Sophia Polytechnic in May 2003, after which she worked as a production executive in an advertising company. In 2004 she began her freelance career as an assistant on short films and documentaries. She has worked with Manish Jha as chief assistant director for the feature film Anwar. This is her first full length documentary.
• Statement from Osian’s-Cinefan
This year, the focus of the School Outreach programme (Story of Cinema) was decided by two remarkable films which were submitted to the Festival – Harishchandra Factory & Superman of Malegaon. Both the films are on filmmaking, set in completely different times, yet not very different in its chronicling of filmmaking. Supermem of Malegaon was an inevitable choice – it simplifies the art of filmmaking to this nature that it can inspire everyone to embark on that path: of giving one’s own creativity a chance.
Creativity is inherent to all – it sees no barriers of age, caste, social standing, education or the like. But many of us in the grind of life and in our own nonchalance often ignore this God Gifted quality and allow it to decay. Supermen of Malegaon is above all a Tribute to Creativity and the passion to pursue it.
FILM BRIEFING SESSION
A superman within each of you!
Listen to this story…
In a corner of the country, in a small town, there are over one lakh power-looms. This city produces 1 crore meters of cloth daily with lakhs of people working in them. These people repeat the same mechanical action for over 14 hours everyday in hot, humid and difficult conditions. Very poor, this is their only source of livelihood. This is how life is for majority of the population in this town.
Every Friday is eagerly awaited, though. For it is the weekly off, when the power loom workers give vent to the tiredness of the week and relax. Though they have little money they engage in small pleasures which give them respite from the drudgery of the week. One such engagement is cinema. Films run house full in this town. Every other person is a film buff. Salons are specialized in giving Shah Rukh Cuts & Amitabh Hair makeover. Video parlours flourish. In this town there is a growing group of people who have take forward their passion for films – they have begun to make films. Innovative creative films, based on the Bollywood Blockbusters, have been the hits in this town. Everyone participates – the loom worker, tea shop owner, and grocer, tailor – become camerapersons, technicians, light men and production assistants – and go on to make films that are simply loved by the local audience. They face a lot of problems, though – financial constraints, outdated equipment, lack of knowledge – but still they move on in the belief that the film has to be made and their creativity has to be nurtured. They work on Fridays and many a times at low or no pay – for the satisfaction that the film gives them. Such is the story of creativity.
Listening to this story how many of you feel inspired to explore your own creative urges? We do not have such constraints, yet how many of us are willing to walk the extra mile to fulfill our hobbies? The story narrated above is that of Malegaon, a town which has seen over the years unemployment, communal tension, worker unrest, economic downturn, degradation of quality of life and more recently, as you would know, the horror of terror. Yet they stand up against all odds to make something that will make them happy and see life, even if for brief moments in a lighter shade.
This story is one which inspires each of us to give the Superman inside us a chance to express and explore – who knows where this journey may take us!

FILM FESTIVAL - CLASS VII

The whole of life is but a moment of time.
It is our duty, therefore to use it, not to misuse it.
Greek Scholar Plutarch

The essence of life is to keep trying to better what you are, better what you have, so that when you come to the end of it you have made the best of life. This is what every human being tries to achieve in this journey called life. Since childhood one is taught to work hard, avail every opportunity, make best of every available resource so that you climb a step above where you were when you were born.
The aspirations from this struggle are different –
A child in a well to do family in a metropolitan city aspires to establish a business when he grows;
For an old woman in the rugged landscape of Afghanistan, this never went beyond being able to buy a blanket to protect her from the cold winds at night; For a landless labourer in the deep interior villages of India, it is to have a small piece of land he can call his own And
In Belitong Island, Indonesia: for two dedicated teachers and a group of ten motley students it was all about having an opportunity to make education a part of their lives…
And they build the story of the Rainbow Troops!
Rainbow Troops (Laskar Pelangi)
Director : Riri Riza
Year : 2008
Duration : 124 min
Country : Indonesia
Language : Bahasa Indonesia
Subtitles : Yes
• Synopsis
The island of Belitong, Indonesia. Two teachers, Muslimah and Harfan, eagerly await the beginning of the new school year and the arrival of their new pupils. At least ten pupils need to attend their Muhamaddiya Islamic primary school, otherwise the educational authority will close them down. No wonder they are both nervous. Fortunately, ten students end up registering for school - most of them being children from families of poor day laborers at the tin factory. Muslimah decides to call the group of first graders the "rainbow troops." Following the children over a period of five years, we observe as these children struggle for the right to make their
dreams a reality.

• Note on The Director :
Born in 1970, Riri Riza graduated from the Jakarta Arts Institute in 1993, where he majored in film directing. His final film project, Sonata Kampung Bata, won third place in the 1994 Oberhausen short film festival. He has worked on several documentaries, music videos and TV films. Riza directed his first feature film, Kuldesak, in 1998, collaboratng with Mira Lesmana, Nan Triveni Achnas and Rizal Mantovani. His solo debut project was Sherina's Adventure. Together with Mira Lesmana, he has also become a film producer. Riza studied screenwriting in
England, and then wrote his first screenplay Eliana, Eliana. His other films include Gie, Untuk Rena and Three Days to Forever.

• Statement from Osian’s-Cinefan
The true nature of life is to exceed oneself in all of our efforts. Rainbow Troops, is chronicles the endless efforts of the children and teachers at the Muhammadiyah elementary school to make the best out of life and to live it to the fullest. Their ups and downs, achievements and
failures are reminiscent of the struggle that each of us undertake to fulfill our dreams in life. And this commonality establishes a universal understanding of one man for another and an empathy for each other’s dreams, aspirations and struggles. This film has been chosen not for the educational component which is the crux of the story but for the larger emotions and journeys it portrays – which in due course of time become the true lessons of life.

FILM BRIEFING SESSION
Reach for the Rainbow
Many of you would have asked yourself or been asked this question: What do you want to be in life? Doctor, who can help everyone get better; or Teacher who would impart knowledge to others; Engineer, and build great buildings and superb machines; or probably a Filmmaker, and make films that mesmerize audiences. Some will not have an answer just as yet – nothing specific they would say, but something good…
We all need a purpose in life – a purpose that motivates us, inspires us to work hard to attain it. Do you remember how hard you worked to come first in the exams, or your endless practice sessions for the dance competition; or how many books you read for the Quiz Competition or the endless practice sessions and workouts for the cricket tournament. Through all this you would have encountered numerous obstacles, which you would have tried your best to solve and move ahead. Think of all these things when you see the children in Belitong work hard to fulfill their dreams… Do you find any similarity in their and your struggles?
Do you remember that friend who while taking a brilliant catch injured his hand and could never play in the school team again? Or the young boy who works in your neighbour’s house as a servant so that he can earn money for his family in a remote village in the country? Have you seen laborers tolling in the heat of the day to build flyovers whose children can never go to school since their parents are perennially being displaced? Do you think that they have failed in life?
What is the true meaning of success? Is it being able to attain your dreams? Or is success something which can only be understood in relative terms, and never judged? Ask your parents if they have ever left a dream they had? Why did they do it, what were the reasons?
Many things are taken for granted in our life – a happy home, loving parents, good education, tasty food, birthday gifts, enjoyable outings and much more. But there are many children in many parts of the world who do not have these things for granted. In fact these very things are a luxury for them. Do you wonder what life for them must be like?
Look around, think about how different life appears for you, the boy form the nearby slum who begs at the traffic signal, the old aunty who sells tea at her small shop in the corner of the road and your parents who have been able to give you the life you live today.
Doesn’t life seem very different to you now? Yet what is similar in all these lives? That one keeps trying keeps working so that when we come to the end of life we feel that it is a time well spent.
This is the premise of Rainbow Troops!