10 STD English Prose Unit 4 The Attic

 10 STD English Prose Unit 4 The Attic

The Attic In Text Questions

a. When did Aditya leave the local school?
Answer:
Aditya left the local school, after he had passed the matriculation examination.

b. Why did Aditya think that the school would not be recognisable?
Answer:
It would not be recognisable, as it had undergone many changes during the passage of time.

c. Who were Aditya’s ancestors?
Answer:
Aditya’s ancestors were once the Zamindars.

d. How was the landscape through which they travelled?
Answer:
On either side of the road were paddy fields. Harvest was over.

e. What did Aditya visit?
Answer:
Aditya visited his school first. Beyond the iron gates were the playing field and the two-storeyed school building.

f. Where was Nagen uncle’s shop?
Answer:
Nagen uncle’s shop was next to a grocery shop and opposite to a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

g. Besides tea, what did Nagen uncle have in his shop?
Answer:
Besides tea, he had biscuits and savouries.

h. What did Nagen uncle tell about Sanyal?
Answer:
Nagen told them that Sanyal was short of sight and hearing. He had no money to buy spectacles.

i. In what way was Mr. Sanyal’s behaviour strange?
Answer:
Mr. Sanyal suddenly stood up, stretched himself, raised his lean right arm and with eyes wide open, began to recite a poem by Tagore – “Panraksha”. After reciting, he left the place making a gesture of Namaste to nobody in particular.

j. What did Nagen uncle tell about Sanyal’s past life?
Answer:
Sanyal had lost his wife and only son last year. He sold all his lands to get his only daughter married. Since then, he was somewhat changed and not really normal.

k. How did Sanyal show that he had a sense of self-respect?
Answer:
Sanyal had tea and biscuits in Nagen’s tea shop. But he never failed to pay for it. This shows that he had a sense of self-respect.

l. Why was the attic’a favourite place for the children?
Answer:
The attic had been a favourite place for the children because it was in the attic the children seemed to be in a world of their own.

m. What did Aditya do on reaching the attic?
Answer:
He searched for an article and found it on top of the packing case in the attic.

n. What did the jeweller say about the article?
Answer:
The jeweller said that it was an antique.

o. Was Sanyal happy about his visitors?
Answer:
No, he was not happy about his visitors.

p. Why did Sanyal recite the poem in the tea shop earlier?
Answer:
Sanyal recited the poem in the tea shop in order to make Aditya remember the incidents on the prize-giving day. He recited the same poem that he had recited on the prize-giving day.

q. What was engraved on the medal?
Answer:
Sriman Sasanka Sanyal – Special Prize for Recitation – 1948.

The Attic Textual Questions

A. Answer the following questions in two or three sentences.

1. Write a few lines about the owner of the shop.
The Attic Questions and Answer:
The owner of the tea shop was uncle Nagen. His age was over sixty. He was a little rustic in appearance, with his white neatly-combined hair and clean look. He was wearing a dhoti and a blue striped shirt under a green shawl.

Aditya Decided to Collect Question 2. What was the daily routine of Sanyal?
Answer:
Sanyal comes to the tea shop, has tea and biscuits and always remembers to pay for it as he has an acute sense of self-respect.

3. Why was there a sudden change in Aditya’s expression?
Answer:
While leaving the tea shop, Sanyal recited a poem, written by Tagore. It was the same poem Aditya heard at his school, twenty-nine years ago, on the prize-giving day. So, there was a sudden change in Aditya’s expression.

4. Why did Aditya decide to visit his ancestral home?
Answer:
Aditya decided to visit his ancestral house to take the medal from his attic.

The Attic 10th English Question 5. What was the condition of the attic?
Answer:
A portion of a wall of the attic had crumbled down. Through the created window, we could see the sky, the fields, a part of the rice mill, the tall structure of the old temple. In the whole house, the attic had probably been the worst hit by wind and weather. The floor was strewn with twigs, straw and pigeon droppings.

The Attic Story 10th Standard Question 6. When did Aditya heave a sigh of relief? Why?
Answer:
Aditya heaved a sigh of relief, when he had got what he had been looking for in the attic. It was a silver medal belonged to Sanyal. He took it from him twenty-nine years ago and lied that was lost. Now he wanted to return it to him.

7. Why did Aditya and his friend go to the jeweller?
Answer:
Aditya and his friend went to the jeweller to find out the weight of the article.

8. What did Aditya offer Sanyal?
Answer:
Aditya offered Sanyal one hundred and fifty rupees. It was the price of the medal, which Sanyal received in school for recitation.

9. “Your grievances are absolutely justified.” Who says this to whom? Why?
Answer:
Aditya said this to Sanyal, because Aditya was the cause for Sanyals grievances. .

Short Questions & Answer:wers – Additional

1. From where were Aditya and the narrator returning?
Answer:
They were returning from the site of their new factory at Deodarganj.

2. Where did Aditya continue his studies?
Answer:
Aditya continued his studies in Calcutta.

3. Why did Aditya wish to visit Bramhapur?
Answer:
He wished to visit Bramhapur to revive his old childhood memories.

4. Why did Aditya’s father decide to leave their ancestral home?
Answer:
Aditya’s father decided to leave their ancestral home because he had set up his own business in Kolkata.

5. What was written on the sign board over the tea shop?
Answer:
“Nagen’s Tea Cabin” was written on the signboard over the shop.

6. Was there any other customer, apart from Aditya and the narrator at the tea shop?
Answer:
There was only one customer sitting at a corner table with his head bent down.

7. What did Nagen remind him?
Answer:
Nagen reminded him to go home, as it was already 4 p.m.

8. What does the poem by Tagore ‘Panraksha’ mean?
Answer:
It meAnswer: ‘Keeping of a Promise.

9. Where does Sasanka stay?
Answer:
He stayed with a friend of his father named Jogesh Kabiraj.

10. How long was the medal hidden in the attic?
Answer:
The medal was hidden in the attic for twenty-nine years.

B. Answer in detail the following questions in about 100-150 words.

1. Give a detailed account of all thoughts and questions in the narrator’s mind while accompanying Aditya from the tea shop to Sanyal’s house?
Answer:
There were a lot of thoughts and questions in the narrator’s mind, while accompanying Aditya from the tea shop to Sanyal’s house. First, when they visited Nagen’s tea shop, he was surprised to see the strange behaviour of Sanyal. He noticed a sudden change in Aditya’s expression. When he asked him the reason for it, Aditya did not Answer:wer him. Aditya just collected information about Sanyal from Nagen and left to his ancestral house.

The narrator thought that Aditya wanted to see his house. But when he went there, he found a medal in the attic. He went to a jeweller to find out the weight of the medal. When the narrator questioned him what it was, he simply said that he would get to know about it very soon. Then they went to the house of Jogesh Kabiraj. The narrator was little curious to know. But he didn’t ask him. When they saw Sanyal, the narrator got the clear picture of Aditya’s actions.

2. Man does change with time’-What were the various changes that came about in Aditya?
Answer:
twenty-nine years ago Aditya was a child of a wealthy family. Sanyal and Aditya studied in the same school. Sanyal was always in the first position. Aditya was in the second position. Though he was a fairly good student, he could never beat Sanyal. He was jealous of Sanyal. One day, Sanyal got a medal as a prize for his recitation. Aditya could not bear it. He took the prize from Sanyal to show to his father. But he never returned it to Sanyal.

He told lies that there was a hole in his pocket and it had fallen through it. This attribute of Aditya angered Sanyal and he thought he could never forgive him for his misdeeds. At present, time has changed him. He repented for what he had done to Sanyal. He was the cause for all his grievances. He got a chance to rectify his mistakes. So he gave Sanyal 150 as the price for the medal. But Sanyal refused it, saying that he only wanted his lost glory back, the medal. He got it back.

3. Give a brief character sketch of Sasanka Sanyal.
Answer:
In his childhood, Sasanka Sanyal was a brilliant student. He always stood in the first position. He used to recite Tagore’s poems. Aditya, who studied with him, was jealous of him. Aditya could never beat him. One day, Sanyal received a prize for recitation of Tagore’s poem ‘Panraksha! Aditya could not bear it. He took the medal from him and never returned it. Sanyal was angry but did not show it out. After twenty-nine years, they met again in uncle Nagen’s tea shop. Sanyal led a cursed life. But he did not forget any incident of the past.

He sold his lands to get his only daughter married. He lost his wife and his only son the previous year. Since then, he was somewhat changed. When Aditya offered him 150 as a price for the medal, he refused it. He only wanted his lost glory back – the medal. When he got back the medal, he was happy.

Paragraph Questions & Answer:wers – Additional

1. “Trying to revive old childhood memories may prove disappointing”. Why did Aditya say this?
Answer:
Aditya and the narrator were returning from the site of their new factory at Deodarganj. They were driving along the National Highway 40. They reached a point when the road separated into two paths. If they drove ten kilometres along the road that branched off to the right, they would reach Bramhapur. The narrator asked Aditya whether he was interested in revisiting the place of his birth, which he had left after he had passed the matriculation examination from the local school to continue his studies in Calcutta.

Aditya said that he had left his ancestral house almost twenty-nine years ago. The house was almost two hundred years old. He doubted that even the school building would have undergone many changes. It will not be recognisable any more. So he said that trying to revive old childhood memories may prove disappointing.

2. Why was Sasanka Sanyal angry with Aditya?
Answer:
During their childhood days, Aditya and Sasanka Sanyal studied in the same school. Sasanka Sanyal was a brilliant child. He used to recite the poems of Tagore very well. He always stood first in his class. Aditya was a fairly good student. He could never beat Sasanka in his academics. He came from a rich family. Sasanka thought that Aditya was a spoilt child of rich parents and that he used to tell lies. Really, Aditya was extremely jealous of Sasanka.

One day, Sasanka received a prize for his recitation of the poem by Tagore. He was given a medal for it. Aditya could not bear it. He took the medal from Sasanka to show to his father. But he never returned it. He said that there was a hole in his pocket and it had fallen through it. This made Sasanka angry and he never forgave him after that incident.

The Attic Vocabulary

Compound Words

C. Complete the following table with two more compound words.

Noun + Noun	kitchen garden apple tree, neck tie
Noun + Verb	mouthwash bus stop, sunrise
Verb + Noun	watchman driving licence; swimming pool
Preposition + Noun	overcoat underworld; onlooker
Gerund + Noun	bleaching powder washing machine; drawing room
Noun + Gerund	housekeeping horse riding; bird watching
Adjective + Preposition + Noun	good for nothing best of luck; easy to play
Noun + Preposition + Noun	mother-in-law father-in-law; brother-in-law

D. Combine the words in column A with those in column B to form compound words as many as you can.

rain	light
snow	thing
star	fall
draw	ball
play	back
lottery	ticket
under	walk
man	note
side	world
foot	hole

Answer:

rainfall

snowball

star light

drawback

plaything

lottery ticket

underworld

manhole

sidewalk

footnote

E. Form compound words from the boxes given below and fill in the blanks in the sentences that follow with the appropriate compound words.

waiting	out	income	green
sun	room	tax	alarm
dry	traffic	wall	house
clock	jam	glasses	hair
cleaning	cut	put	paper

1. Siva visited the hair stylist to have a clean hair cut
   
2. Tharani had given the sarees for dry cleaning
   
3. The green house is a natural process that warms the earth’s surface.
4. Never wait for an alarm clock to wake you up.
5. The children were late to school as there was a traffic jam near the toll plaza.
6. The government expects every individual to promptly pay the income tax
7. People usually wear sun glasses during summer.
8. The patients were asked to sit in the waiting room until the doctor arrived.
9. With teamwork we are able to multiply our output
10. The room was looking bright with the colourful wallpaper

F. (i) Form new words by adding appropriate prefix/suffix:

1. accurate inaccurate
2. understand misunderstand
3. practice malpractice
4. technology technological
5. fashion fashionable
6. different differently
7. child children
8. national nationality
9. origin originality
10. enjoy enjoyable

(ii) Frame sentences of your own using any five newly formed words.

1. Your information is inaccurate.
2. Don’t misunderstand what I am trying to say.,
3. The contractor was found guilty of malpractice.
4. During summer, he used to wear a fashionable hat.
5. We need to do things differently.

G. Fill in the blanks by adding appropriate prefix/suffix to the words given in brackets.

1. He was sleeping comfortably in his couch. (comfort)
2. Kavya rides a bicycle to school. (cycle)
3. There was only a handful of people in the theater. (hand)
4. It is illegal to cut sandalwood trees. (legal)
5. The arrival of the President has been expected for the last half an hour. (arrive)
6. The man behaved normally in front of the crowd. (normal)
7. Swathy had no intention of visiting the doctor. (intend)
8. The bacteria are so small that you need a microscope to see them. (scope)

Grammar

A. Conjunctions And Their Functions Complete the sentences given below choosing the right connectors given in brackets.

1. Call me in case you need money. (so that, in order that, in case)
2. I forgot that I had to meet the Principal. (whether, that, if)
3. Though he is ninety years old, he is in the pink of health. (when, since, though)
4. It is raining. Take an umbrella or else you will get drenched. (or else, and, but)
5. They faced many hardships nevertheless they are always cheerful. (although, nevertheless, otherwise)

B. Fill in the blanks with the connector that goes with the underlined words.

1. Both the minister and the officers visited the affected areas.
2. Jaya teaches not only English but also Science.
3. Either Raghu or Bala will have to buy vegetables from the market.
4. No sooner did I enter the house. than it started drizzling.

C. Combine the pairs of sentences using appropriate connectors.

1. We came late. We did not miss the train.
Answer:
Although we came late, we did not miss the train.

2. They checked the packet twice. Then they sealed it.
Answer:
After they checked the packet twice, they sealed it.

3. Sita saw a snake. At once she ran away
Answer:
As soon as Sita saw a snake, she ran away.

4. Robert completed the project. He submitted it to the teacher.
Answer:
When Robert completed the project, he submitted it to the teacher.

5. Yusuf was running high temperature. He could not take part in the competition.
Answer:
Since Yusuf was running high temperature, he could not take part in the competition.

D. Tick the correct linker.

1. Though he was honest, he was punished.
2. Walk carefully otherwise you will fall down.
3. My mother called me while I was playing football.
4. My salary is low nevertheless I find the work interesting.
5. The passengers rushed to board the bus as soon as it arrived.

E. Supply suitable linkers.

1. “(1)………. I was alive and had a human heart,” answered the statue, “I did not know what tears were, (2) ……….. I lived in the palace (3) ……….. sorrow was not allowed to enter. My courtiers called me the Happy Prince, (4) ……….. Happy Indeed I was. So I lived and (5) ………. I died.
Answer:
(1) When
(2) for
(3) where
(4) and
(5) so

2. Many writers make incorrect sentences (1) ………. they try to put sentences together. They may make grammatic alerrors (2) ……… leave out important punctuation marks. Making such mistakes is quite common (3) ……….. preparing the first draft. (4) ………. he must carefully edit his final draft.
Answer:
(1) when.
(2) and
(3) while
(4) So .

3. In most large cities (1) …….. towns of our country, there are special schools for girls. (2) ……….. there are many co-educational schools (3) …….. girls (4) ………. study together. Most parents allow their daughters to attend these schools, (5)……….. there are some parents (6) ………… are against such schools for girls (7) …………….. the age of 14 or 15.
Answer:
(1) and
(2) Likewise
(3) where
(4) and
(5) but
(6) who
(7) after

F. Rearrange the words in the correct order to make meaningful sentences.

1. as /I/ healthy / are / you / am / as
Answer:
I am as healthy as you are.

2. your / today / put on / new / since / is / birthday / dress / the
Answer:
Since today is your birthday, put on the new dress.

3. allergic / dogs / Rani / though / is / to / of / six / she / them / has
Answer:
Though Rani is allergic to dogs, she has six of them.

4. speaks / Ruben / besides / German /languages / two
Answer:
Ruben speaks two languages besides German.

5. loan / apply / you / if / for / you/a/get / will / immediately /it/
Answer:
If you apply for a loan, you will get it immediately.

G. Write the noun forms of the following words.

1. beautiful – beauty
2. breathe – breath
3. enter – entrance
4. know – knowledge
5. deafen – deafening
6. zealous – zeal
7. familiar – familiarity
8. accept – acceptance
9. dangerous – danger

H. Complete the following sentences using the noun form of the words given in brackets

1. The boy had to give a proper explanation for being late. (explain)
2. They could make prediction about the future. (predict)
3. At one point in life, he had no choice but to trust his friend. (choose)
4. The monuments are to be preserved because of their historical significance. (significant)
5. It is very difficult to work with so many distractions. (distract)

I. Rewrite the sentences nominalising the underlined words. The first one has been done for you.

Attic Solutions Question 1. We succeeded in our attempt.
Answer:
We achieved success in our attempt.

2. Nalini leads a happy life.
Answer:
Nalini leads a life of happiness.

3. She failed and it disappointed her.
Answer:
Her failure gave disappointment to her.

4. India became an independent country in the year 1947.
Answer:
India got independence in the year 1947.

5. The child resembles her father.
Answer:
The resemblance of the child was like her father.

J. Combine the pairs of sentences given below into a single sentence using the noun form of the highlighted words.

Attic Boards Question 1. He is an honest person. Everyone likes him.
Answer:
Due to his honesty, everyone likes him.

2. Sathya gave an explanation. The police wanted her to prove it.
Answer:
When Sathya gave an explanation, the police wanted a proof for it.

Satyajit Ray The Attic Question 3. He speaks well. It attracts all.
Answer:
His speech gives him attraction from everyone.

4. Suresh is always punctual and regular. It has earned him a good job.
Answer:
The punctuality and regularity of Suresh earned him a good job.

5. The policeman arrived quickly. It made us happy.
Answer:
The arrival of the police quickly made us happy.

K. Complete the sentences in the paragraph using the appropriate form of words given in brackets.

1. My sister wanted to go to Mumbai last week. She made a (1)…….. (decide) to buy a ticket at once. As (2) ………(reserve) could be done online, she gave (3) ……….. (prefer) to book a ticket that way. First, she collected (4) ………. (inform) about the (5) ……. (arrive) and ………. (depart) of trains and airplanes.
Answer:
(1) decision
(2) reservation
(3) preference
(4) information
(5) arrival
(6) departure

2. A few days later, Androcles was captured by his master. He had to suffer all kinds of (1) ……. (punish). At last, he was thrown to a lion which was in great (2) …….. (hungry).It had been kept in an (3) ………. (enclose) and had not been fed for several days. His friends stood there with (4) …………. (tear) eyes as the lion rushed towards him. The lion stopped near him and stood for a while (5) ……….. (look) at him. Then it lay down by his side like a pet dog. (6) ………. (obvious), the lion recognized Androcles and the (7) ……. (help) he had given it.
Answer:
(1) punishment
(2) hunger
(3) enclosure
(4) tear
(5) looking
(6) obviously
(7) help

Phrases and Clauses

L. Identify the phrases in the following sentences and classify them as Adjective, Adverb or
Noun phrases.

The Attic School Question 1. The girl in blue saree is my sister.
Answer:
The girl in blue saree is my sister. (Adjective phrase)

2. Kohli hopes to win the trophy.
Answer:
Kohli hopes to win the trophy. (Noun phrase)

3. The train halts at every junction.
Answer:
The train halts at every junction. (Adverb phrase)

4. I have never seen such a picture.
Answer:
I have never seen such a picture. (Adjective phrase)

5. She worked in an enthusiastic manner.
Answer:
She worked in an enthusiastic manner. (Adverb phrase)

M. Identify the clauses and classify them accordingly.

1. Ram bought a pen that doesn’t write well.
Answer:
Ram bought a pen that doesn’t write well. (Noun Clause)

2. Come back as soon as possible.
Answer:
Come back as soon as possible. (Adverb Clause)

3. Most of her friends whom she had invited attended her wedding.
Answer:
Most of her friends whom she had invited attended her wedding. (Adjective Clause)

4. My brother visits my father whenever he comes to Chennai.
Answer:
My brother visits my father whenever he comes to Chennai. (Adverb Clause)

5. Call me in case there is an emergency.
Answer:
Call me in case there is an emergency. (Adverb Clause)

6. Until the sun sets, the old woman cannot step out of her house.
Answer:
Until the sun sets, the old woman cannot step out of her house. (Adverb Clause)

7. She knows where I go.
Answer:
She knows where I go. (Adverb Clause)

8. You can go wherever you want.
Answer:
You can go wherever you want (Adverb Clause)

The Attic Listening

Listen to the procedure to book on-line tickets carefully and fill in the blanks that follow. Listen to the recording twice.

N. Fill in the blanks :

1. Login into your irctc account.
2. Fill in the information asked to you in book your ticket section.
3. The starting point and destination of your journey must also be selected.
4. List of available trains will appear.
5. You must check on the availability and fare for the train of your choice.
6. Your personal details like name and date of birth are a must.
7. After filling information and captcha click on continue book.
8. You can make the payment either by credit/debit cards or e-wallets.

The Attic Reading

P. Answer the following questions :

1. What did the coach teach the child?
Answer:
The coach taught the child the basics of sports as well as special ways to improve and excel.

2. What values did the child learn?
Answer:
He learned the value of finishing what he started and the joy of personal accomplishment.

3. The parents noticed some changes in the child. What were they?
The Special Prize Class 6 Question Answer:
The child had transformed from a timid, doubting child to a strong, happy player willing to give all for a team.

4. Read the letter again and write a few lines on each of the following:

(a) things that the coach taught….
Answer:
Basics of sports as well as special ways to improve and excel.

(b) transformation in the child……..
Answer:
He was transformed from a timid, doubting child to a strong, happy player willing to give all for the team.

(c) things that amazed the writer……..
Answer:
The coach taught him the skills that will last a lifetime. He had kindled in them a desire to excel.

5. Find sentences /words from the text which express the following :

(a) The parent’s earlier view of the child
Answer:
He was a timid and doubting child.

(b) One of the qualities of the teacher
Answer:
Wise approach.

(c) Words related to prize
Answer:
Medals trophies and ribbons.

The Attic Writing

Q. Prepare notice for the following.

(i) You are the school monitor, of Modern Matriculation School, Villupuram. Your school Principal has requested you to inform the students about a trip to Yercaud for 3 days. Prepare a notice giving the details such as date of journey, mode of transportation, amount, dress code etc.
Answer:

(ii) You are the Secretary of Park Circus Residents Welfare Association. Write a notice to inform the residents of your colony of a Meditation program under the guidance of Dr. P. Ranjit with a view to understanding the self better. The program is exclusively for the residents. It will be conducted on the second Saturday of the following month from 7.00 a.m. to 9.00 a.m. at the children’s park nearby.
Answer:

(iii) You are Ganesh/Gayathri Head boy/Head girl, of your school. Write a notice for your school notice board informing the students about the ‘Fancy Fete’ that is going to be organised in your school campus on the 10th of next month.
Answer:

The Attic Article Writing

R. Write an article for the following

(i) You are Jansi/Avinash of Class X studying in GHSS, Chengalpet. You believe that physical activities improve our health and reduce the risk of sickness. It has got immediate and long term benefits. Write an article in not more than 150-200 words for your school magazine stressing the importance of physical activities in a students day to day life.
Answer:
Physical Activities By Jansi / Avinash

Physical activities improve our health and reduce the risk of sickness. It has got immediate and long term benefits. Physical exercise means: the regular movement of our limbs. It is necessary to keep our body fit and strong. The proverb goes ‘Health is Wealth Exercises help us to build good health. It helps in digesting food. There are different kinds of physical exercises. They are walking, swimming, running, cycling, etc. A person can be benefited in many ways by taking physical exercise.

A machine cannot work without regular and proper use. Human body is compared with machine. It becomes inactive and weak without regular and proper exercise. Physical exercises make our body active. We must remember that excessive of anything is bad. Over-exercise is also injurious to health. So we should abide by the laws of physical exercise. Everybody should take regular exercise with a view to enjoy sound health and sound mind. Therefore we should ourselves keep fit and healthy.

(ii) The service provided by the conservancy workers in your city is very poor. You find all the street corners dumped with garbage thrown by the residents of the locality. It causes a menace for the public at large. You are Ramya/Rajan of Class X, studying in TM Model School, Dharmapuri. Write an article in about 150-200 words to the editor of The Indian Express, about this and suggest ways by which the situation could be improved.
Answer:
Garbage Menace By Ramya / Rajan

Through this article, I would like to bring to the notice of the authorities concerned, the unsanitary conditions of the streets. The service provided by the conservancy workers in our city is very poor. You can find all the street corners dumped with garbage thrown by the residents of the locality. It causes a menace for the public at large. The sweepers absent themselves and the streets stink, with heaps of garbage. The garbage collecting vehicle never comes on its regular round. We made a complaint to the authorities followed by a reminder in the last two weeks, but all in vain. With the onset of the rainy season, the situation has worsened due to the garbagechoked streets. We, the students, are finding it difficult to go to our school. This is our humble request to the authorities to please lay attention to the cleanliness of Model Town and ensure regular cleaning. I shall be greatly obliged, if you publish my article in your column, so that it reaches the authorities concerned and steps are taken to solve the problem.

(iii) Recently while returning home from school you were knocked down by a speeding motorcycle. You escaped with minor injuries. You are Kishore / Kavitha of class XI, studying in GHSS, Coimbatore. Write an article to The Hindu, in about 150-200 words expressing your concern about the increasing number of road accidents due to reckless driving. Also stress the importance of following traffic rules.
Answer:
The Importance of following Traffic Rules By Kishore / Kavitha

The traffic rules are designed to protect all of us. By knowing the rules of the road, practising driving skills and generally taking care as a road user, you help play a vital role in preventing a crash. You will be making road safety policies more effective. Recently, while returning home from school, I was knocked down by a speeding motorcycle. I was very careful in crossing the road. Yet I was knocked down by the reckless driving and speeding of a motorcycle. I escaped with minor injuries. I am writing this article to bring to your notice the increasing number of road accidents due to reckless driving. We have to stress on the importance of following traffic rules.

People should follow the road signals. These signs have got a very important role to play in the traffic system and they are made for the safety of the people. People should not use their cell phones while driving or at the pedestrians crossing. We should always keep to the left, allowing the vehicles from the opposite direction to pass. We should also give way to traffic on your right, especially at road junctions and roundabout. While turning either left or right, give way to vehicles going straight. While turning left keep to the left side and turn close to the left side of the road to which you enter. These are some of the traffic safety rules which I know. I humbly request you to publish this article in your column, so that the public will be aware of it. Thus the best drivers are aware that they must beware!

The Attic Warm Up

Question
Pick out the qualities that you possess and qualities that you expect from your siblings / friends.
Answer:
The qualities that I possess are faith, compassion, sharing, love and commitment.
The qualities that I expect from my sibling or friends are the same as above. Further they should have helping and listening qualities.

Question
Working in pairs, find out the mutual qualities that you and your friends share. Justify your top priority with his / hers.
Answer:
The mutual qualities that my friends and I share are sharing, loving, friendship, faith, forgiveness, commitment, determination and victory. My top most priority is sharing. But my friend’s topmost priority is friendship. I would like to share whatever I have with my friends. My friend does anything for the sake of friendship. She shares and gives whatever she has.

Question
Discuss in groups the need for human values.
Answer:
The need for human values Human values are the virtues that guide us to take into account the human element, when we interact with other human beings. Human values are, for example, respect, acceptance, consideration, appreciation, listening, openness, affection, empathy and love towards other human beings. It is with these human elements that one becomes truly able to put into practice his / her ethical values in a critical situation.

The Attic By Satyajit Ray

Satyajit Ray was born in Kolkata on 2nd May 1921. He is an Indian film maker, screen-writer, writer, graphic artist, music composer and author. He authored several short stories and novels, especially for young children and teenagers. His first movie ‘Pather Panchali’ (1955) won several international awards. Its success set Ray as a world-class director. He received many awards including 32 national film awards by the Government of India. He received ‘Padma Bhushan’ in 1965 and the highest civilian honour ‘Bharath Ratna, just before his death. He died on 23rd April 1992.

Key Points

• The narrator and Aditya were returning from the site of their new factory at Deodarganj.
• On the way to Calcutta, they decided to go to Bramhapur, Aditya’s native place after 29 years.
• Aditya’s father left the ancestral home and moved to Calcutta to set up his own business there.
• After his father’s death, Aditya was looking after it. The narrator was his friend and business partner.
• They reached Nagen Uncle’s Tea shop, where they saw a man called Sanyal.
• Sasanka Sanyal led a cursed life. He sold his lands to get his only daughter married, and he lost his wife and only son last year. He stayed with his father’s friend Jogesh Kabiraj. He was very poor that he could not buy spectacles.
• Aditya went to his ruined, ancestral house, with the narrator.
• He went to the attic and searched for a silver medal, which is an antique.
• After getting it, they went to a jeweller’s shop to find out the weight of it.
• Then they went to meet Sanyal.
• Sanyal told Aditya that when they were studying in the school, Sanyal got the medal as a prize. But Aditya could not bear it, and he took it from Sanyal to show his father, but he never returned it to him.
• Now, after 29 years, Aditya gave Sanyal 150 as the price of the medal.
• But Sanyal refused to accept the money.
• Then Aditya gave the medal to Sanyal.
• On the medal was engraved “Sriman Sasanka Sanyal – Special Prize for Recitation – 1948”.

Summary

The ‘Attic’ is a story that depicts a child’s psychology. While returning from their new factory of Deodarganj, the narrator with his friend and business partner Aditya drove along National Highway 40. At a point, they decided to take the road to the right. The road led to the ancestral house of Aditya at Bramhapur. His father was a landlord there. Later, he shifted to business at Calcutta. Aditya tried to recollect old memories – his two hundred years old big ancestral house, school, schoolmates and the tea stall of Nagen uncle. He feared that they had changed with time and the sweet memories of the past might disillusion him.

They reached the school. The change there was it had another floor now. They had a cup of tea at Nagen’s tea stall. There they met a stranger by name Mr. Sanyal. They were told that Mr. Sanyal was short of sight and hearing. He was a poor man. So he did not have money to buy spectacles. Mr. Sanyal left the tea shop, after reciting Tagore’s ‘Panraksha.

Uncle Nagen told Aditya that Mr.Sanyal was a mysterious person living with his father’s friend Jogesh Kabiraj. He had lost his wife and only son last year. He had sold all his lands to get his daughter married. He almost became a poor man. Aditya wished to meet him. Aditya went to his ancestral house and reached the attic of the house. The attic was damaged by the strong winds and weather. They could see the sky above, the paddy fields and the spire of the old temple.

He searched for something and at last found it. It was an antique. Then they went to meet Mr.Sanyal. Mr.Sanyal told Aditya that in school days, Aditya was jealous of him. He took his medal to show his father. But he never returned it. He lied that it had fallen from the hole in his pocket. Aditya felt sorry for what he did. He wished to give him one hundred and fifty rupees as the prize for the antique. But Sanyal wanted only his lost glory back. He didn’t want any charity from Aditya. So Aditya gave him the medal on which was engraved ‘Sriman Sasanka Sanyal – Special Prize for Recitation – 1948.

Glossary

affluent (adj.)           – wealthy
antique                    – a piece of work of art that has a high value
ascertained (v)         – confirmed
attic (n)                    – the space or room at the top of a building, under the roof
bifurcated (v)           – divided into two
charpoy                   – a small folding bed
crumbled (v)            – broken
dilated (v)                – widened than usual
overwrought (adj.)   – state of being upset
revive (v)                  – to bring something back to life
smacks (v)                – drive or put forcefully into or on to something
soothing (v)              – making someone feel calm
rustic (adj.)                – typical of the countryside
spire (n)                     – a tall, pointed structure on top of a building, especially on top of a church tower
unperturbed (adj.)     – undisturbed

Words	Synonyms	Antonyms
acute	sharp, smart	blunt, dull
affluent (adj.)	wealthy	poor
ancestral	inherited	–
ascertained (v)	confirmed	unconfirmed
bifurcated (v)	divided into two	united
created	developed, made	destroyed
crumbled (v)	broken	built
cursed	damned, doomed	blessed
dilated (v)	widened	contracted
essential	important	inessential
existed	remained	discontinued
heaved	produced	shrank, compressed
intently	carefully, closely	distractedly
normal	usual	abnormal
overwrought (adj.)	upset	calm, cool
.particular	specific	general
raising	lifting	dropping
reaction	response	question, inquire
recognisable	visible	unrecognisable
reminded	prompted	ignored
revive (v)	bring back, renew	destroy, abolish
rustic (adj.)	rural	urban
smacks (v)	put forcefully	–
soothing (v)	calming	disturbing
stretched	extended	contracted
strewn	scattered	gathered
unperturbed (adj.)	undisturbed, calmed	angry, uneasy
venting	letting out	blocking