Summary & Question-answers of The Chapter : 10- An Alien Hand with the concerned video

An Alien Hand Summary In English

Tilloo and his parents live on Mars. However, they do not live on the surface of the planet. They live beneath the surface under artificial conditions. Only some very skilled persons in special suits can go on the surface. They go with a reservoir of oxygen for important work. Tilloo’s father is one of them. He goes to work through a secret passage.Tilloo has always been anxious to go through the passage. However, he has been never allowed. One day Tilloo gets a chance. He gets hold of his father’s security card. Quietly he makes his way to the forbidden passage. He slips his father’s magle card into a slot. The door to the passage opens. Tilloo now looks forward to seeing the sun or the stars. He has never seen them before. But that was not to be. He moves hardly ten steps when the security staff gets hold of him. He is sent back to his mother.Tilloo’s father decides to brief him properly. He tells Tilloo that he cannot survive on the surface. The air is too thin and the temperature too low there. So he advises him not to try again to reach the surface of the planet.Tilloo’s father tells him that once upon a time their forefathers lived on the surface. But times changed. A slight change in the sun upset the balance of nature on the planet. First the birds became extinct. The animals followed. The fish also died. Human beings survived because of their superior technology. They used solar energy. Some of these machines which produce solar energy are on the surface. Tilloo’s father belongs to a special group. It is this group’s responsibility to look after these machines. He assured Tilloo that he could also join the team when he grew up. His mother however warned him that it was possible only if he obeyed his parents. Next day when Tulloo’s father went to work, he found the Control Room full of excitement. It was so because they had seen two space crafts. So far, it had been their belief that they were alone in the solar system. Although the conference room was full to capacity, nobody was speaking a word. They waited for the President to say somethingThe President looked at his paper carefully. After a pause he said that two spacecrafts were approaching their planet. While one of the two was orbiting the planet, the other was still far away. It was the President’s guess that they were from their neighbouring planet. Thereupon, he asked the opinion of his colleagues. Together, they had to deal with these spacecrafts. Number One was in charge of defence. He told what his reports had revealed. It was that the spacecraft did not contain any living beings. It had only instruments. He suggested that there was no need to destroy those spacecrafts. After their landing on Mars they could make them ineffective, if they so chose. Number Two also agreed With Number One. He added that by destroying those spacecrafts, they would be only revealing their existence.Number Three also agreed with what the other two had said. Just then the President’ got the message that the first spacecraft had landed.It was a red letter day in Tilloo’s life. His father had brought him to the Control Room. From here he could see the alien spacecraft on his TV screen. He looked with great interest at a panel with several coloured buttons on it. His father told him that this pane was very important. Through its buttons, they had power to make inert any part of the spacecraft. Suddenly there was some movement in the spacecraft. All eyes were now glued tp the TV screen. A mechanical hand was coming out of the spacecraft. It bent and tpuched the soil. Everyone in the control room was watching with great interest. lop could not contain himself. He pressed the red button on the panel. There was shirill whistle. His father pulled him away roughly. Then, he restored the red button its earlier position.But the damage was done. The mechanical hand of the spacecraft had ceased work.All this was happening on the Mars. On the earth NASA was holding a press Conference. The spacecraft had come from the earth. NASA had sent it. In the press qonference, it was said that everything was well with the spacecraft. Only the mechanical hand had stopped working. They, however expressed confidence that very soon everything will be set right.Soon after this, another press conference was held. It was informed that the mechanical hand had been reactivated. Soil samples were being collected. These samples would reveal whether there was life on Mars or not. This was the part of earth’s Viking Mission. The scientists behind the mission were disappointed. They found no signs of life on Mars.Comprehension Check (Page 69)

Question 1:

How does Tilloo manage to find his way to the ‘forbidden passage’?

Question 2:

What did Tilloo hope to see once he emerged from his underground home?

Question 3:

Why did Tilloo’s father advise him not to try to reach the surface of the planet?

Question 4:

What changes had occurred, which forced people to live in underground homes?

Answers:

One day Tilloo’s daddy was asleep. The boy picked up daddy’s I-card. Then he walked towards the forbidden secret passage. The card helped him open the door and enter the passage.

Tilloo hoped to see the sun or the stars after getting out of his underground home.

Tilloo’s father told him not to try to go to the surface of the planet because he won’t be able to breathe in the thin air or withstand the low temperature there.

The changing heat of the sun created conditions that killed all animals and birds. The air became thin and human beings could freeze to death.

Comprehension Check (Page-71)

Question 1:

Why was everyone in the Control Room greatly excited?

Question 2:

Was the spacecraft manned or unmanned? How do you know it?

Question 3:

What did Number One and Number Two suggest should be done about the alien spacecraft?

Answers:

Everyone in the Control Room was greatly excited because they had seen two space­crafts coming towards their planet.

The spacecraft that landed on the surface was unmanned. It contained only in­struments. A mechanical hand tried to collect samples of soil.

The Number One was in charge of defence. He suggested that they should wait till the craft landed on the surface. Then they could easily make it ineffective. Number Two also suggested that they should wait and watch. It would be unwise to reveal their existence by attacking the spacecraft.

Comprehension Check (Page-73)

Question 1:

What do you think the mechanical hand was trying to do?

Question 2:

Tilloo pressed the red button and “the damage was done”. What was the damage?

Question 3:

Where had the spacecraft come from?

Question 4:

On which planet do Tilloo and his parents live?

Answers:

The mechanical hand that emerged from the alien spacecraft, was trying to collect samples of soil from the surface of Mars. The purpose was to study if there was life on it.

Tilloo pressed the red button. It is dad who made it neutral again. But the damage was done. The mechanical hand stopped working. It became inactive.

The spacecraft had come from the planet Earth. It was sent by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, America).

Tilloo and his parents live on a planet with thin air, freezing cold and no animals on surface.

Exercises (Page-73)

Discuss the following topics in groups.

Question 1:

If you had to live in a home like Tilloo’s , what parts of life would you find most difficult? What compensations might there be?

Answer:

Living underground in artificial conditions without the light/warmth of the stars and the sun, must be very troublesome and dull. The only compensation of such a home is safety and security, controlled light and heat.

Question 2:

What, if anything, might drive mankind to make their homes underground?

Answer:

If the Sun grows cold, life on earth would be in danger of extinction. The temperature will go below freezing point. People will be forced to live underground with assured supply of oxygen, light and heat. 

Question 3:

Do you think there is life on other planets? Can you guess what kind of people there may be on them? In what ways are they likely to be different from us?

Answer:

Scientists are trying hard to find out if there is any form of life on planets around the sun. So far they have sent spacecrafts to the moon and Mars, collected samples of soil and taken snapshots. But they have not found definite proof of life on them.

The kind of people, if they exist at all on any other planet, would be quite different from us. They must have adjusted themselves to strange and unfriendly environment there.

Summary & Question-answers of The Chapter : 10- The Story of Cricket with the concerned video

The Story of Cricket Summary in English

Part I

Cricket is a very popular game today. It entertains and attracts the young and the old alike. It has left hockey, football and tennis far behind. This lesson traces the history of this sport.

Cricket grew out of the stick-and-ball games played in England 500 years ago. It is played with a bat which means stick or club. Till the 18th century bats were shaped like hockey sticks. The reason was that the ball was bowled along the ground.

The strange feature of cricket is that a test match can go on for five days, and still remain undecided. A football match is over in an hour-and-a-half.

Another notable thing of cricket is its pitch. It has to be 22 yards in length, but there is no limit on the dimension of the playing ground as in hockey or football.

Cricket grounds differ greatly in size. Laws of cricket were first drawn up in 1744. It has two umpires. The stumps are 22 inches high, and the ball across them is six inches.

The world’s first cricket club was organised in 1760. The bat was made straight. In 1774, the first leg-before law was published. Even today both the bat and ball are hand made. Once the bat was cut out of a single piece of wood. Now it consists of two pieces, made out of the willow wood. Plastic, fibreglass and metal are not used at all.

The pads were introduced in 1848, followed by gloves. The modern game is not imagined without helmets, made of light weight materials.

Part II

Indian cricket had its origin in Bombay. The Parsis were the first to adopt it. They founded the first Indian Cricket Club in 1848. It was funded by the Tatas and the Wadias. Initially they had some problem about the use of park or field.

Modern cricket is dominated by Test and One day internationals. C.K. Nayudu was an outstanding batsman of his times. He played for India in its first Test matches against England in 1932. India entered the world of Test Cricket in 1932, 15 years before it became an independent nation.

Part III

Television coverage changed cricket. It took the game to towns and villages. Children got the opportunity to watch International Cricket and learn how to play well. Cricket has got a global market. India has got the largest number of viewers for the game. Indian players are the best-paid and most famous in the game. They are paid professional. One day game has overshadowed Test Cricket.

Comprehension Check

Question1:

Cricket is originally a/an

Indian game.

British game.

International game.

Mark the right answer.

Solution:

2. a British game.

Question 2:

“There is a historical reason behind both these oddities.” In the preceding two paragraphs, find two words/phrases that mean the same as ‘oddities’.

Solution:

peculiarities

curious characteristic

Question 3:

How is a cricket bat different from a hockey stick?

Solution:

A cricket bat is thick and flat while a hockey stick is bent at the bottom.

Comprehension Check

Question 1:

Write True or False against each of the following sentences.

India joined the world of Test cricket before independence.

The colonisers did nothing to encourage the Parsis in playing cricket.

Palwankar Baloo was India’s first Test captain.

Australia played its first Test against England as sovereign nation.

Solution:

True

True

False

False

Check

Question 1:

A ‘professional’ cricket player is one who makes a living by playing cricket. Find the opposite of ‘professional’ in the last paragraph.

Solution:

Amateur

Question 2:

In “the triumph of the one-day game”, ‘triumph’ means the one-day game’s

superiority to Test cricket

inferiority to Test cricket.

achievement or success over Test cricket.

popularity among viewers.

Mark the right answer.

Solution:

4. Popularity among viewers

Question 3:

“ the men for whom the world is a stage”.

It refers to the famous cricket fields in the world.

It means that there are many cricket playing countries in the world.

It implies that cricketers are like actors and every cricket ground is like a stage on which the drama of cricket is enacted the world over.

Mark the right answer.

Solution:

3. It implies that cricketers are like actors and every cricket ground is like a stage on which the drama of cricket is enacted the world over.

Working with the Text

Question 1:

Name some stick-and-ball games that you have witnessed or heard of.

Solution:

Hockey, Polo, squash, golf.

Question 2:

The Parsis were the first Indian community to take to cricket. Why?

Solution:

Parsis were in the close contact with the British because of their interest in trade. They were the first Indian community to westernise and went up taking up the game of cricket.

Question 3:

The rivalry between the Parsis and the Bombay Gymkhana had a happy ending for the former. What does ‘a happy ending’ refer to?

Solution:

‘Happy ending’ refers to the defeat of the Bombay Gymkhana by the Parsi club in a cricket match held in 1889.Q

Question4:

Do you think cricket owes its present popularity to television? Justify your answer.

Solution:

Yes, cricket owes its popularity to television. It has expanded the audience of the game by taking cricket to villages and small town.

Children from these places now had the chance to learn the game seeing the international games and imitating their favourite cricketers.

Question 5:

Why has cricket a large viewership in India, not in China or Russia?

Solution:

Cricket is not played in communist countries like China and Russia so it has less viewership there. India is one of the oldest cricket playing nation which further adds to its large viewership in the country.

Question 6:

What do you understand by the game’s (cricket) ‘equipment’?

Solution:

The accessories like bat, ball, stumps and bells are the equipment used in playing the game. Pads, helmets and gloves are protective equipment used while playing cricket.

Question 7:

How is Test cricket a unique game in many ways?

Solution:

Test cricket is unique because it can go on for five days and still can end with a draw. No other game requires even half of this time to finish. A football match is played for 90 minutes.

Even nine innings of a baseball match gets over less than what it takes to finish a one-day match.

Question 8:

How is cricket different from other team games?

Solution:

Cricket is different from other team games because in cricket, the length of the pitch is mentioned as 22 yards however, the shape of the ground could be oval or circular. There is no specific measurement for the size of the ground as well.

It is the only game played for five days and can end without a specific result. Unlike cricket, many other popular games like hockey or football follows certain specification for grounds

Question 9:

How have advances in technology affected the game of cricket?

Solution:

Advancement in technology has been used in manufacturing protective equipment in cricket. The newly invented vulcanised rubber was used in pads and gloves. The helmets are made up of metal and lightweight synthetic materials.

Summary & Question-answers of The Poem : 9- Garden Snake with the concerned video

Garden Snake Summary in English

The poet saw a snake in his garden. He got terrified and ran away. He had heard people say that some snakes were very dangerous or poisonous. But his mother told him that the garden snakes were harmless. They ate up insects. She advised him to stand aside and make way for the garden snakes to pass. There was no need to fear or run away.

Working with the Poem

Question 1:

Answer the following questions.

Pick out the line that suggests that the child is afraid of snakes.

Which line shows a complete change of the child’s attitude towards snakes? Read it aloud.

“But mother says that kind is good…” What is mother referring to?

Solution:

“I saw a snake and ran away.”

“I’ll stand aside and watch him pass.”

The mother is referring to the garden snake.

Question 2:

Find the word that refers to the snake’s movements in the grass.

solution:

Wiggle

Question 3:

There are four pairs of rhyming words in the poem. Say them aloud.

solution:

(a) Good, food

(b) Pass, grass

(c) Away, say

(d) Mistake, snake

Question 4:

A snake has no legs or feet, but it moves very fast. Can you guess how? Discuss in the group.

solution:

A snake has no legs or feet. It wiggles on the surface.

Question 5:

Can you recall the word used for a cobra’s long sharp teeth? Where did you come across this word first?

solution:

A cobra’s long teeth are called fangs. I first came across this word on National Geographic Channel. to tremble with fear or run away.

Summary & Question-answers of The Chapter : 9- A Tiger in the House with the concerned video

A Tiger In The House Summary In English

One day, the narrator’s grandfather was walking down the forest path. His party was at a distance. He found a little tiger and brought him home. Grandfather was the only successful member of the hunting party. The narrator’s grandmother named the tiger cub, Timothy. She brought him up on bottle-milk. Later he was put on a diet of raw mutton and cod liver oil. Afterwards, he was put on the diet of pigeons and rabbits also.Toto, the monkey pulled the cub’s tail. Toto climbed up the curtain when Timothy lost his temper. He and a mongrel puppy were Timothy’s companions. When the narrator came to live with Grandfather, he became one of the tiger’s favourites. Initially, Timothy was afraid of the puppy. But finally the puppy was allowed to crawl and rest on his back. Timothy’s favourite amusement was to stalk his playmate. He also made a dash at the narrator’s feet. He pretended to bite his ankles. After sometime, he was of full size. Sometimes he pulled hard at his chain. The narrator kept up with him with great difficulty. He reclined on a long sofa in the drawing-room. He snarled at everybody. He had clean habits. He would scrub his face with his paws like a cat. He slept in the cook’s quarters. He preferred to be taken out in the morning for a walk. He grew less friendly when he became six months old. He also started eating small animals.A change came over him. He became less friendly, in fact more dangerous Then the grandfather took him to Lucknow. Timothy and grandfather travelled in a first class compartment. In Lucknow the grandfather presented him to the 200. After six months the grandfather went to see Timothy. He stroked the tiger’s forehead, tickled his ears and smacked him across the mouth. The tiger licked Grandfather’s hands. It sprang away only when a leopard in the next cage snarled at him. Many people watched the scene. A keeper of the zoo called the tiger bad tempered. He had no knowledge about the owner of the tiger. Grandfather wished the tiger to be transferred to some other cage. A leopard in the next cage would constantly rush at Timothy. However, he could not meet the superintendent. The Grandfather returned to the tiger’s cage. To say goodbye, he stroked and slapped the tiger. Another keeper observed him with alarm. He also recognised the Grandfather. He informed the Grandfather about Timothy’s death of pneumonia. He also informed the Grandfather that the dangerous tiger was trapped only last month. The tiger was still licking Grandfather’s arm. He was smelling fresh food. Grandfather somehow withdrew his hand from the cage. He gave the keeper a scornful look and bade the tiger “Goodnight’.

Comprehension Check (Page 60)

Question 1:

“He had the distinction of being the only member of the party to have bagged any game.., The phrase in italics means

(i) Grandfather was the most distinguished member of the party.

(ii) Grandfather was, the only spoftsperson in the party.

(iii) Grandfather was the only successful member of the hunting party.

Mark the right answer.

Answer:

(iii) Grandfather was the only successful member of the hunting party.

Question 2:

Complete the following sentences.

(i) Toto climbed up the curtains when_______________________________________

(ii)_____________________________________________________________________________________ :_____________________________ .______________________________________________

_________________________________________________________ , I became one of the tiger’s favourites.

(iii) Timothy had clean habits,_________________________________________________________

Answer:

(i) Timothy lost his temper.

(ii) When I came to live with my Grandfather.

(iii) he would scrub his face with his paws exactly like a cat.

Comprehension Check (Page 64)

Question 1:

Grandmother’s prophecy was that the tiger

(i) would prefer Mahmoud’s bed to sleep in.

(ii) and the cook would disappear together from the house.

(iii) would one day make a meal of Mahmoud.

Mark the right answer.

Answer:

(iii) would one day make a meal of Mahmoud.

Question 2:

When Timothy was about six months old, a change came over him.

The phrase in italics means that

(i) Timothy had grown to his full size.

(ii) Timothy grew more friendly.

(iii) Timothy grew less friendly, in fact more dangerous.

Answer:

(iii) Timothy grew less friendly, in fact more dangerous.

Question 3:

Write “True ’ or ‘False ’ against each of the following statements.

(i) Timothy and Grandfather went to Lucknow in a special compartment.___________.

(ii) The compartment in which Grandfather and Timothy travelled had no other passenger ___________.

(iii) Timothy and Grandfather travelled in a first class compartment._________________.

(iv)All passengers in the compartment thought that Timothy was a well-fed and civilized tiger. _________________.

Answer:

(i) False (ii) True (iii) True (iv) False

Question 4:

Grandfather suggested that Timothy should be put in another cage. The reason was that

(i) the tiger had become very bad tempered.

(ii) a leopard, in the next cage would constantly rush at Timothy.

(iii) the cage was too small for a full grown tiger,

Answer:

(ii) a leopard in the next cage would constantly rush at Timothy.

Question 5:

The tiger was still licking his arm, with increasing relish The phrase in italics sug­gests that Timothy

(i) was good natured.

(ii) recognised an old friend.

(iii) smelt fresh food.

Answer:

(iii) smelt fresh food.

Exercise (Page 65)

Answer the following questions:

Question 1:

Where was the tiger cub hiding when Grandfather found him?

Answer:

The tiger cub was hiding among the intricate roots of a banyan tree in the Terai jungle near Dehra.

Question 2:

(i) What did Toto do to entertain Timothy?

(ii) What did he do when Timothy lost his temper?

Answer:

(i) Toto used to pull Timothy by the tail.

(ii) Toto climbed up the curtain if Timothy lost his temper.

Question 3:

“I became one of the tiger’s favourites.” Who is T in the statement? Why did he think so?

Answer:

T stands for the narrator, Ruskin Bond. He thought so because Timothy would come closer to him, roll over on his feet and pretended to bite his ankles.

Question 4:

Where was Timothy most comfortable during the day? Where was he during the night?

Answer:

During the day, Timothy was most comfortable on the long sofa in the drawing room. He slept at night in the cook’s quarters.

Question 5:

What was Grandmother’s prophecy about the cook? Did it come true?

Answer:

Grandmother’s prophecy was that Timothy would one day kill the cook Mahmoud, and make a meal of him. No, it did not come true.

Question 6:

What made Grandfather decide to transfer Timothy to the zoo?

Answer:

When Timothy was about six months old, he grew less friendly and more dangerous. He chased the cats and ate up hens. He also followed Mahmoud with evil intentions. So Grandfather decided to shift him away to Lucknow zoo.

Question 7:

Why did Grandfather want Timothy to be put in another enclosure?

Answer:

Grandfather saw the leopard in the next cage rushing at and frightening Timothy every now and then. So he suggested the keeper to shift Timothy to some other cage.

Question 8:

What shocked Grandfather in the end?

Answer:

Grandfather was shocked to learn from the keeper that Timothy had died two months ago, and the tiger in the cage was very dangerous.

Summary & Question-answers of The Chapter : 10- The Comet - 2 with the concerned video

The Comet 2 Summary in English

The International Conference of Astronomers and Space Scientists discussed the ways to prevent the comet from hitting the Earth. Manoj Dutta was also invited. The issue was kept secret from the press and the people.

The experts suggested two ways to meet the challenge. The defensive measure was that the people should live in underground bunkers for safety. But it was not much practicable. The other course was to take offensive action. It meant that the comet should be given a push and made to change its path a little. This could be done by using nuclear explosion in space.

Finally a time table was drawn for the operation. It was code-named “Project Light Brigade’. On October 10, the spacecraft with nuclear material was to be sent. It would meet the comet on November 15 and try to destroy it. In case the experiment failed, the comet would hit the Earth on December 15. If it succeeded, this was the day the comet would pass by at a near but safe distance. Sir John Macpherson told Duttada that he would not buy any present for Christmas till 15 December.

Duttada returned home from England. He was welcomed warmly. But he was surprised to see some ceremony going on under a tent. Indrani Debi explained that they had arranged a peace Yajna. She called him first to get blessing of pundits because he had left the shores of India. Duttada’s brother explained that the Shanti Yajna would pacify the evil spirit behind the comet and save the Earth. Duttada tried in vain to convince them that comets had no relation with the evil spirit or any calamity on the Earth.

Since his return from England, Duttada was in regular touch with Sir John. The letters contained subtle hints about the progress of the project. The threat seemed veiy much real. In mid-October the operation began. Duttada kept constant watch on the comet. But he could not share his anxiety with any one.

On November 18, he received a message from Sir John that the operation was successful, and he was going to buy Christmas presents. On 15th December, the comet came closest to the earth, some 80,000 km. away. Millions saw it but no one knew the story.

Duttada told his wife with satisfaction that the comet had gone without causing any disaster. Indrani Debi gave all credit to the Shanti yajna performed by their grandson, eight-year-old Khoka on his behalf. Duttada now saw the gap between the scientific and the superstitious attitude. Perhaps human society would not grow out of blind beliefs and silly religious rituals.

Comprehension Check

Page No: 83

1:”For a moment James wondered if he had done his sums right.” Why was James doubtful about his sums and calculations?

Ans: James became doubtful about his sums and calculations when he looked up from his window and saw a star-studded night sky. He knew that somewhere amongst those stars was Comet Dutta, which was heading for a collision with the earth. It was hard for him to believe the calamity of the future on such a peaceful night.

2:What did the scientists at the conference say about James’s ‘sums’?

Ans: After rechecking James’ sum for the umpteenth time the scientist arrived at the horrifying conclusion that James was right. There was just a feeble chance of the comet scraping through the earth’s atmosphere. Even then also it would have caused great damage.

3:Immediate action was needed, the scientists decided. Give one example each of ‘defensive’ and ‘offensive’ action mentioned in the text.

Ans: The defensive action discussed by the scientists was to live in underground bunkers. The offensive action was to marginally deflect Comet Dutta from its path by giving it a push. This could be done by placing nuclear payload in a spaceship, sending it to intercept the approaching comet and detonating it by remote control.

4:“I am not buying any Christmas presents till December 15.” What did Sir John mean by that?

Ans: Sir John meant that he was not very sure that they would succeed in their operation. December 15 was the date when if the experiment failed, the comet would hit the earth.

1:What is Duttada expected to do on his return from London?

Ans: Duttada was expected to perform a shanti yajna on his return from London. This yajnawas to be performed to pacify the supposed evil spirit behind the comet.

2:What is his reaction to the proposal?

Ans: Duttada reacted very angrily to the proposal and said that it was all superstition. So he refused to participate in the yajna.

3: (i) What does ‘Project Light Brigade’ refer to?

(ii) What does Sir John say about the Project in his letter to Duttada in October?

Ans: (i) ‘Project Light Brigade’ referred to the plans to deflect the comet’s path by nuclear explosion.

(ii) In his letter to Duttada in October, Sir John said that the charge of the Light Brigade had begun and that they hoped for the best. It meant that the spaceship with the payload had been launched on time.

4:Did Sir John buy Christmas presents on December 15? How did Duttada get to know about it?

Ans: Yes, Sir John bought Christmas presents on December 15. Duttada got to know about it in the letter that Sir John had written to him, saying that he was confident of buying Christmas presents on December 15, indicating that the project was successful.

5:Why, according to Indrani Debi, had the comet not been disastrous? Do you agree with her?

Ans: According to Indrani Debi, the comet had not proved to be disastrous because of theyajna that had been performed in their house. No, the yajna had no impact upon the comet. The project undertaken by the scientists prevented the comet from colliding with the earth, thereby saving earth and all its inhabitants from destruction.

6:Is Duttada’s general outlook

(i) rational?

(ii) moral?

(iii) traditional?

Choose the right word. Say why you think it right.

Ans: Duttada’s general outlook is rational. He is a scientist and he has a scientific outlook. He knows what the Comet are. He knows that there is no connection between the appearance of comets and misfortunes of the earth.

Summary & Question-answers of The Chapter: 9- The Comet -1 with the concerned video

The Comet- I Summary in English

The story Comet- I begins with a moonless night in December in which a cool breeze was flowing. There was a disturbance in the sleep of Indrani Debi due to this cool breeze. Indrani was the wife of Duttada, an amateur scientist.Duttada was at this time observing stars with his telescope whose name was Dibya Chakshu. Duttada had not closed the door nor was he wearing a sweater. This is because he was too busy with his telescope.To Indrani Debi, the telescope was like a cunning woman who took hold of her husband.  Duttada had a need for money to buy a telescope and spare time to observe the stars. Now at retirement, he had both.Duttada had the ambition to discover a new comet. Comets can be new because they come from far away places of the solar system. The longish tail of a comet shines in the sunlight when it comes near the sun.Duttada was optimistic about discovering a new comet because other professional astronomers were focusing more on galaxies. Then that night, Duttada was able to discover a new comet. Furthermore, there was no mistake in his calculations.There was the publishing of Duttada’s discovery in the ‘Ananda Bazar Patrika’. Duttada had informed the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore about the location of the comet. Afterward, IIA made a confirmation of this discovery and the comet was named comet Dutta.Duttada didn’t like many functions and receptions which he was made to attend due to his introvert nature. Furthermore, his wife said that comets bring bad luck and so she had a wish that this discovery never took place. Moreover, Duttada told her that comets had nothing to do with the problems on Earth.In King’s College, Cambridge, a letter was received by James, an astronomer, which was sent by John Macpherson. John told James that he would like to meet him that night and that this matter must be confidential.Sir John Macpherson gave James a typescript whose publishing was to take place in ‘Nature’. John told James that the editor of ‘Nature’ was his friend. This was an important manuscript whose publishing was to take place.James had made a prediction that Comet Dutta would collide with earth. This would certainly be a great catastrophe. He told Sir John that his calculations were very accurate. With the exception of some rare circumstances, the collision would certainly take place.This collision is going to take place in exactly ten months. This leaves living beings with only ten months only to survive. Sir John’s suggestion was that there should be a meeting of experts and that the matter must remain a secret to avoid panic. Sir John began to make preparations for an international conference.

Comprehension Check (Page 77)

Question 1:

Why does Indrani Debi dislike Duttada’s “hobnobbing” with Dibya?

Answer:

Duttada was very fond of star gazing and would enjoy spending a lot of time with his telescope “Dibya” trying to discover a comet in the night sky. Indrani Debi disliked Duttada’s “hobnobbing” with Dibya because she thought that the telescope was like a designing woman who had ensnared her husband and had grabbed all his attention.

Question 2:

She is complaining and smiling. Why is she smiling?

Answer:

Indrani Debi had complaints about the wretched Dibya, Duttada’s telescope ever since. However, she would often smile it off as she knew how utterly oblivious her husband was of the practical problems of living. Although his doctor had advised him to take special precautions against the cold, he wouldn’t remember to put on a sweater even if it was lying on his bedside chair.

Question 3:

(i) What was Duttada’s secret ambition?

(ii) What did he do to achieve it?

Answer:

Duttada was an amateur astronomer whose secret ambition was to find a comet one fine day. To him, the telescope marked the fulfillment of the ambition of a lifetime. He was optimistic that the professionals with their pre-assigned programmes might miss such an insignificant thing as a comet as they would be exploring faint stars and nebulous galaxies.

Being an amateur astronomer, Duttada had always longed to have enough money to buy a good telescope and enough spare time to gaze the night sky with it. He fulfilled his desire after his retirement and bought an eight-inch long telescope which he called as Dibya Chakshu or Divine Eye. Every night, Duttada would sit with Dibya and gaze at the star-studded sky with the hope of discovering a comet. This is because he was confident that the professionals might miss such an insignificant activity due to their pre-assigned space exploration programmes.

Question 4:

What is the difference between a planet and a comet, as given in the story?

Answer:

According to the story, comets are new objects that come from the remote corners of the Solar System. Like planets, comets also orbit round the Sun but their orbits are highly eccentric. Hence, once in a while a comet comes closer to the Sun. A comet has a longish tail that is lit brilliantly by the sunlight and then suddenly it recedes into darkness not to be seen again for years or for centuries.

Question 5:

Why was Duttada hopeful that he would discover a new comet soon?

Answer:

Duttada was hopeful that he would discover a new comet soon because he was aware that the professionals were extremely busy with their pre-assigned programmes while exploring faint stars and nebulous galaxies. In this process, they are mostly likely to miss such an insignificant thing as a comet since they might not expect to see it anyway. As a matter of fact, amateurs had often discovered new comets which the professionals had mostly missed.

Question 6:

Why does Duttada say — “I almost wish I had not discovered this comet.”?

Answer:

While returning from one such ceremony Duttada muttered to himself in disgust, “I almost wish I had not discovered this comet.” This is because the discovery of a new comet by Duttada brought in unwelcome publicity to him. There were numerous receptions and functions to attend. He was an introvert person and all these publicity stunts were not of his liking.

Question 7:

Why is his wife unhappy about the discovery?

Answer:

Duttada’s wife, Indrani Debi was unhappy about the discovery because she thought that comets bring ill-luck or cause unnatural calamities to Earth. More along, she was concerned that a good man like Duttada should not have been associated with the discovery of a comet.

Comprehension Check (Page 80)

Question 1:

How did Sir John get hold of James’ original manuscript?

Answer:

James’ original manuscript was published in the paper Nature. Sir John got hold of it from Mr. Taylor who was the editor of Nature and was also his friend.

Question 2:

What is the important point the paper makes?

Answer:

The important point that the paper makes is that Comet Dutta is likely to collide with planet Earth soon.

Question 3:

Why does Sir John say that James’ paper should not be published?

Answer:

Sir John told that James’ paper should not be published because he was fearful that the dreadful news of the inevitable collision of the comet with Earth might cause a lot of panic around the world.

Question 4:

What do the two men finally decide to do?

Answer:

The two men finally decide to organize an important secret conference of international experts to chalk out a plan to avert this impending calamity.

Winter Break English Homework for Class X A

1-Read & revise all the chapters taken up in the class and prepare all question-answers.

2-Write an analytical paragraph on Covid-19 in about 120 words.

3-Write a letter to the book seller placing an order for some important books & sample papers.

4-Write a letter to the Editor of the Times of India expressing your views over child labour in about 120 words.

5-Write a letter to the Superintendent of Police complaining about unsocial elements wandering in your street.