Madhyamik English; Lesson 3; The Passing Away of Bapu

                                       The Passing Away of Bapu

Nayantara Sehgal is one of the first female writers in English in India. Her writings mostly deal with the political crisis during the British Period.

The text, an extract from her memoir 'Prison and Chocolate Cake' tells vividly the sudden shock that the author and the whole India witnessed when they heard the sudden assassination of their beloved father, Bapu.

                                          Comprehension Exercise

1.Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:

a) Gandhiji had been shot on his way to
i) the Birla House
b) The author came to know of Gandhi's death by
ii) a telephone call
c) When one is faced with the shock of a loved ones death, one
i) whimpers

2. Fill in the chart with information from the text:
a) 30th January 1948
b) Birla House
c) Bapu was no more

3. State whether the following statements are True or False. Provide sentences/Phrases/words in support of your answer:

a) False
S.S - "I was having tea at the evening of 30th January ..."
b) True
S.S- " They jostled one another in a stampede to break into the house."
c) False
S.S- "It was the question in many of our hearts as we sat, still shocked and unbelieving."

                                                     Unit -2

4.Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:

a) Gandhiji's funeral was to take place
iii) one day after his death.
b) Padamsi was Mrs.Naidu's
iv) daughter
c) While walking, Bapu used to carry in his hand a
i) staff

5. Complete the following sentences with information from the text:

a) Thousands of people wept, trying to touch Bapu's feet.
b) The author was among people for whom walking with Bapu had a special meaning.
c) To walk is to make slow progress.

6. Fill in the chart with information from the text:

a) the crowd was very thick as thousands of weeping people gathered trying to catch Bapu's feet.
b) It was the last time that they would walk with Gandhiji.
c) there was not much means of journey available at that time. Transportation was very costly for average Indian.

                                                  Unit - 3

7. Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:

a) Gandhiji's ashes were taken to
ii) Allahabad
b) A huge crowd had gathered by the
i) Ganges
c) Gandhiji awakened people to one another's
iii) suffering

8. Complete the following sentences with information from the text:

a) people on the special train sang bhajans while going to Allahabad to immerse the last ashes of Gandhiji.
b) The author felt that she had grown up within a magical circle and with Bapu's sudden demise that circle had vanished.
c) Bapu had passed away but his India would continue to live in his children.

9. Fill in the chart with information from the text:

a) they could feel Gandhiji's presence amid the flowers and songs.
b) the author felt unprotected.
c) the author's values were not so week.

10. Join the following pairs of sentences into single sentences as directed:

a) I saw a snake. I ran away. (Use participle)
Ans- Seeing a snake I ran away.
b) He learns music. He listens to the chords. (Use preposition with gerund)
By listening to the chords, he learns music.
c) Gold is a precious metal. It is used to make ornaments. (Use Noun in apposition)
Ans- Gold, a precious metal, is used to make ornaments.
d) Ramu has some money. He can buy books. (Use infinitives)
Ans- Ramu has some money to buy books.
e) Rima completed her work. She went out. (Use nominative absolute)
Ans- Having completed her work, Rima went out.
f) The boy wrote the answer. The answer was incorrect.(use adverbial phrase)
Ans- The boy wrote the answer incorrectly.

11. Join the following pairs of sentences into single compound sentences as directed:

a) The old man is unwell. He cannot go out.(use illative conjunction)
Ans- The old man is unwell so he cannot go out.
b) He is honest. He is humble. (Use cumulative conjunction)
Ans- He is both honest and humble.
c) Sonali cannot write poetry. She keeps on trying. (Use adversative conjunction)
Ans- Sonali cannot write poetry yet she keeps on trying.
d) Study hard. You will not pass the examination. (Use alternative conjunction)
Ans- Study hard or you will not pass the examination.

12. Join the following pairs of sentences into single complex sentences as directed:

a) Rabindranath Tagore is a famous poet. He won the Nobel Prize.(use noun clause)
Ans- Rabindranath Tagore who is a famous poet won the Nobel Prize.
b) He returned home. Everyone in the family had fallen asleep. (Use adverb clause)
Ans - When he returned home, everyone in the family had fallen asleep.
c) The sun rises in the east. Everyone knows it.(use adjective clause)
Ans- The sun rises in the east which is known to everyone.

13. Join the following sentences into single sentences as directed:

a) It rained hard. The roads were not flooded. (Compound sentence)
Ans- It rained hard but the roads were not flooded.
b) He completed his work. He took rest. (Simple Sentence)
Ans- Completing his work, he took rest.
c) Rahul is a great singer. He can sing different kinds of songs.(complex sentence)
Ans- Rahul who is a great singer can sing different kinds of songs.
d) The time of departure of the train has changed. Alia knew it.(Complex sentence)
Ans- Alia knew the time of departure of the train which has changed.
e) I do not watch television. I do not listen to the radio.(compound)
Ans- Neither do I watch television nor do I listen to the radio.
f) The child was short. The child could not pick the guava from the tree.(simple sentence)
Ans- The child being short could not pick the guava from the tree.

14. Split the following sentences into two sentences:

a) It rained and I could not leave my room.
Ans- It rained.
          I could not leave my room.
b) He thought that he could win the race.
     He could win the race. He thought.
c) Having been informed of the trouble, the Principal left for home.
The principal was informed of the trouble.
He left home.
d) Nasir, who was the captain of the team, scored a century.
Nasir was the captain of the team.
He scored a century.

15. Write a biography of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (within 100words) based on the hints given below:

Born on 11 November 1888--- composed poetry in Urdu---- worked as a journalist, protested against British Raj ---- enthusiastic supporter of Gandhiji's ideas--- wrote many books ---- like 'India Wins Freedom', 'Ghubar -e-khatir'etc.--- first Education Minister of India--- birthday celebrated as National Education Day--- died on 22 February 1958.

                                 Maulana Abul Kalam Azad; A Great National Hero

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was a great national leader and patriot. He played a very crucial role in the freedom struggle of India against the British rule. This eminent scholar was born on November 11 1888 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. As a young man Azad composed poetry in Urdu language. At this time of his life he worked as a journalist and protested against British Raj. He became an enthusiastic supporter of Gandhiji's ideas and joined the National Congress. Amongst his famous books are 'India Wins Freedom', 'Ghubar - e- khatir'. He also played a leading role in shaping up India's educational scenario just after India's Independence. He was the first education minister of India.He is also credited with the establishment of the Indian Institutes of Technology and the foundation of the University Grants Commission, an important institution to supervise and advance the higher education in the nation. Today his birthday is celebrated as National Education Day all over the country.This great personality breathed his last on 22 February 1958.

16. Use the following flow-chart to write a paragraph(within 100 words) on how a building is constructed:

drawing of a plan of the building by the architect- getting the plan sanctioned by the corporation or municipal authorities- engaging masons and laborers- starting the construction with bricks, cement and sand- fitting doors and windows- plastering of walls-wiring-electric and water connections- painting-building completed-fit living.

                                    How Building is Constructed

Constructing a building is a pretty complex and lengthy process. Many things need to be considered before construction work. Firstly drawing of a plan of the building by the architect is done. Then the plan gets sanctioned by the corporation or municipal authorities. After sanctioning the plan it is time to build the structure. For that masons and labourers are engaged.They start the construction with brics, cement and sand. After that doors and windows are fixed. Next step is plastering of walls.All kinds of wiring like electric and water connections are done after that. Last step is painting. After painting is completed the building is fit for living.