A Visit to Cambridge   Textual Questions and Exercises Q1. “Cambridge was my metaphor for England.” To the writer, (i) Cambridge was a reputed university in England. (ii) England was famous for Cambridge. (iii) Cambridge was the real England Ans. Cambridge was the real England. Q2. The writer phoned Stephen Hawking’s house (i) from the … Read more

The Great Stone Face –I   Summary One afternoon, a mother with her son, Ernest, was at the door of their cottage. They were talking about the great stone face. It was clearly visible in the bright sunshine. Thousands of people lived there. Everybody there, was familiar with the great stone face. It was the … Read more

A Short Monsoon Diary   Textual Questions and Exercises   Q1. Why is the author not able to see Bijju? Ans. The author could not see Bijju because of the mist that concealed the hills. So he could hear the voice of Bijju but not see him. Q2. What are the two ways in which … Read more

Poem 8: On the Grasshopper and Cricket   Summary This is fine sonnet and symbolic poem in which the grasshopper is a symbol of hot summer and the cricket is of very cold winter. Every poet has been attracted towards the beauty of nature and so has Keats been. He finds nature beautiful in all … Read more

Poem 7: When I set out for Lyonnesse   Summary The poet is a young architect who went to Lyonnesse to supervise the renovation work of a dilapidated church. It was 100 miles away. It was winter season and snowfall was at the peak. He was in solitary state and during his journey he witnessed … Read more

Poem 6: The Duck and the Kangaroo   Summary The Duck and the Kangaroo, both were very good friends. As the duck lived in a pond and does not get a variegated life of visiting world, he wanted to have a pleasure tour all around the world. So he requested the kangaroo to allow him … Read more

Glimpse of the Past   Textual Questions and Exercises   Q1. Look at picture 1 and recall the opening lines of the original song in Hindi. Who is the singer? Who else do you see in this picture? Ans. The original song is “Ae mere watan ke logon….” The singer is Lata Mangeshkar. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, … Read more

The Tsunami Textual Questions and Exercises Q1.Say whether the following are true or false: 1. Ignesious lost his wife, two children, his father-in law, and his brother-in-law in the tsunami. (True) 2. Sanjeev made it to safety after the tsunami. (False) 3. Meghna was saved by a relief helicopter. (False) 4. Almas’s father realised that … Read more

The Best Christmas Present in the World By Michael Morpurgo   Summary The narrator went to a junk shop and purchased a roll-top desk which was in bad condition. The narrator started its repairing on Christmas Eve and found a letter in its drawer. He read the letter. It was from Jim Macpherson to his … Read more