Class 9 Words and Expressions Solutions Unit 5
Words and Expressions Class 9 Unit 5 Solutions
Class 9 English Words and Expressions Solutions Unit 5
Question 1.
Your have read the story ‘The Snake and the Mirror’. Now read the poems given in the textbook, Beehive, The Snake trying’ (page 125) and ‘Green Snake’ (page 126).
• Note the actions of these three snakes.
• Note the reactions of the story writer and the poets. What do they feel?
• Do you think any of the snakes wanted to do any harm?
• What is the human behaviour towards them?
Discuss all these points with your partner and together share with your other friends.
Answer:
a) In ‘The Snake and the Mirror’ the snake sees itself in the mirror, and seems to appreciate its reflection.
- In ‘The Snake Trying’ the snake is trying to escape to a safer place.
- In ‘Green Snake’ the baby snake is resting after swallowing a frog.
b) The reaction of the story writer of ‘The Snake and the Mirror’ is humorous. He feels
neither love nor hatred for it. However, he is deeply scared of the situation.
- The reaction of the poet in the poem ‘The Snake Trying’ is of a satisfaction that the snake is now safe in its hiding.
- The reaction of the poet in ‘Green Snake’ is that of feeling pity for the snake.
c) In none of the pieces on snake there is an indication that any snake wanted/wants to do any harm.
d) The human behaviour towards the snakes is that of killing them then and there because they cause death instantly if they bite any human. They symbolise painful death which may come sooner or later and is sure.
Reading Comprehension:
Text – I
Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow.
THE MIRACULOUS ESCAPE
I had been very wealthy and prosperous and was leading a very comfortable life. I had all the worldly
and was leading a very comfortable life. I had all the worldly pleasures with me. But soon I became bored of my idle life. The urge to go on a voyage became stronger and stronger day by day. It haunted me like anything. So, one day I boarded a ship and went trading from island to island with other merchats. When we started, the weather was fine and the sea was calm. But on the fourth day of our voyage, our ship was caught in a terrific/terrible hurricane and we wandered from our set course.
The tempest continued for several days and drove us near an island. The captain of the ship was reluctant to cast anchor at the port as it was a much-dreaded place. The violent waves of the sea had exhausted us. We were all tired and hungry so we went in search of food and water. We were fortunate enough to find fruit trees and a stream of fresh and cool water which gave us strength and energy and relieved us from hunger.
It had started getting dark. As we were tired, we went to sleep but were soon startled by a rustling noise which came from a very long and huge python like serpent gliding swiftly towards us. We ran to save our lives but the serpent was quick enough to swallow one of my companions. We kept running till we had covered a good enough distance from the serpent. We felt a bit relieved but at the same time sad as we had lost a friend of ours. We took shelter on the top of a tree and thought ourselves to be safe.
But we were mistaken for we had hardly slept a little time when we heard a hissing sound which alarmed and frightened us. Coiling itself round the tree, the serpent reached my other companion who was positioned somewhat lower than me on the tree. It swallowed him and went away. Terror stricken I clung to the branch of the tree tightly and I did not know when I feel asleep. It was daylight when I awoke. I climbed down. It seemed to me that I had no courage left. It took me no time to realise that if I would not think of a way to escape soon, I would be a dead man. It was just a matter of time when I would also be swallowed like my two other companions. The instinct to prevent one’s life is greater than any fear of frustration.
I thought I should spare no means to save myself. I collected a lot of dry wood and bushes and tied them into a bundle with reeds. I arranged them in a circular structure round the tree and tied some of them with the branches of the tree. In this way I made a tent like structure in which I sat after dusk and securely tied from within. I had the satisfaction that whatever I could do I did it to prevent myself. This time when the serpent arrived, he crept round the tree but he could not penetrate the defensive structure I had made around me. It just sat and waited the whole night like a cat that waits for the mouse to emerge out of its hole.
At dawn the serpent crept back but I dared not come out of my fortress. I lay there half dead and almost suffocated.
When the Sun began to shine, I came out of my wooden fortress. I was so desperate that I ran towards the seashore. When I was about to jump into the sea, I saw a ship sailing at some distance. I shouted wildly, I took off my shirt and waved it too, which attracted the sailors on th ship and a rescue boat was immediately sent for me. This was my miraculous escape from the deadly serpent.
(Source: Anonymous)
Discuss what effect did the story have on you ? What would you have done, if you were in the Discuss what effect did the story have on you ? What would you have done, if you were in the narrator’s place? Does it teach.you how to save yourself from danger ?
Now based on your reading of the story, answer the questions that follow.
Answer:
The story held me at bay. I was ever excited to continue reading the story till the end. If I were in the narrator’s place, I would have created a ring of fire around me so that the serpent could not enter it. Yes, the story teaches us to strive till our last breath to save our life.
Question 1.
What made the narrator go on a voyage?
(a) He was rich and satisfied with his life.
(b) He felt bored of his life.
(c) He had an urge to go on a voyage.
(d) He was adventurous.
Answer:
(b) He felt bored of his life.
(c) He had an urge to go on a voyage.
Question 2.
How did the narrator and his friends feed themselves?
(a) They ate fish.
(b) They could not find anything to eat.
(c) They ate fruits and drank fresh and cool water from a stream to survive..
(d) They ate the food they had brought with themselves.
Answer:
(c) They ate fruits and drank fresh and cool water from a stream to survive.
Question 3.
The narrator and his companions were on the tree. The serpent swallowed his companion but not the narrator. Why?
Answer:
The serpent swallowed the narrator’s companion on the tree as his companion was on a lower branch than the narrator himself and thus was the first person to whom the serpent reached.
Question 4.
How did the narrator save himself from the serpent?
Answer:
The narrator collected a lot of dry wood and bushes and tied them into a bundle with reeds, he arranged them in a circular structure round the tree and tied some of them with the branches of the tree. In this way, he made a tent like structure in which he sat after dusk and securely tied from within. .
Question 5.
Find the words in the story which mean the nearest to the words given below.
(a) rich (First para)
(b) moved (Second para)
(c) tired (Third para)
(d) scard (Fifth para)
(e) urge (Fifth para)
Answer:
(a) wealthy
(b) wandered
(c) exhausted
(d) frightened
(e) instinct
Question 6.
Now find words in the story which mean the opposite of the given words,
(a) poor (First para)
(b) weakness (Third para)
(c) enforce (Third para)
(d) insecurely (Sixth para)
(e) offensive (Sixth para)
Answer:
(a) wealthy
(b) strength
(c) relieve
(d) securely
(e) defensive
Vocabulary:
Question 1.
The story of Miraculous Escape has a number of words which describe the narrator’s feeling of fear and getting tired of the journey. List the words of the two feelings and experiences.
Answer:
| Fear | Getting Tired |
| Terrific, Haunted, Terrible, Reluctant, Dreaded, Startled, Alarmed, Frightened, Terror, Fear, Frustration, Dared, Half dead, Desperate. | Exhausted, Tired, Hungry, Suffocated |
Question 2.
Can you now add suffix which can mean or relate to the word ‘fear’ ? First one has been done for you.
Answer:
a) fearsome
b) fearful
c) fearless
d) fearlessness
e) fearfulness
f) feared
g) fearing
i) fearer
Grammar:
Reported Speech: Reporting questions
Question 1.
You have learnt how to report questions from direct to indirect speech. Here is a paragraph with direct speech questions. Read them carefully and report into indirect speech. Rewrite the paragraph in the space given below.
Once an old man asked a young boy, “Who do you think are the most intelligent people ?” The young man said in return, “Who do you think so ?” The old man said, “How can sons and daughters be intelligent without learning from their parents ?” The young man said, “How did you as a parent learn ?” The old man said, “Why are you hijacking my question by asking me back ?” The young man said, “Didn’t you know that you as a parent, now have learnt all the things on your own ?” The old man said, “How do you say that we all learnt from others ?” The old man said, “Why can’t I ask you because I have paid for the gadget you use ?”
Answer:
Once an old man asked a young boy whom he thought as the most intelligent people. The young man asked a question in return as to who the old man thought to be. The old man asked how sons and daughters could be intelligent without learning, from their parents. The young man asked how he had as a parent learnt.
The old man asked why he was hijacking his question by asking him back. The young man asked if he had not known that he as a parent, now had learnt all the things on his own. The old man asked how he said that they all had learnt from others. The young man asked why he asked him about how to operate electronic gadget all the time. The old man . asked why he couldn’t ask him because he had paid for the gadget he used.
Question 2.
Now here is a set of sentences given in indirect speech, change them into direct speech.
a) Romesh asked Lata whether she could go with him for a picnic the next day.
b) Lata replied why he had asked her to join.
c) Romesh asked Lata why she was questioning him.
d) Lata replied that there was no use visiting the place she had seen before.
e) Romesh asked Lata what was wrong in visiting the same place again for the place was not the same.
Answer:
a) Romesh said to Lata, “Can you go with me for a picnic to¬morrow “?
b) Lata said, “Why have you asked me to join ?’’
c) Romesh said to Lata, “Why are you questioning me ?”
d) Lata said to Romesh, “There is no use visiting the place I have seen before”.
e) Romesh said to Lata, “What is wrong in visiting the same place again for the place is not the same “?
Editing:
Question 1.
Some of the prepositions are incorrectly used in the following story. Correct them and read the story aloud. Then rewrite the story in the space given below.
The Dog and His Bone Notes
A hungry dog while searching about food found a bone. He picked it out and held it tightly in his mouth and ran out into the woods, to a safe place to enjoy it in ease. He growled and frqwled at anyone who attempted to take it over. He chewed the bone for a very long time and this made him quite thirsty. He came to a stream to quench his thirst. He trotted around the foot bridge and happened to glance into the water. He saw his own reflection in the water. Thinking it was another dog with a bigger bone, he growled and scowled back. Being greedy by nature, he wanted that bone too. He snapped his sharp teeth at the image on the water. He barked at the other dog, hoping to scare him into giving that bone. His own big bone fell with a splash, went over of sight, the moment he opened his mouth to bite !
Answer:
The Dog and His Bone Notes
A hungry dog while searching for food found a bone. He picked it up and held it tightly in his mouth and ran toward the woods, to a safe place to enjoy it at ease. He growled and frowned at anyone who attempted to take it away. He chewed the bone for a very long time and this made him quite thirsty. He came to a stream to quench his thirst. He trotted over the footbridge and happened to glance into the water.
He saw his own reflection in the water. Thinking it was another dog with a bigger bone, he growled and scowled ai it. The reflection growled and scowled back. Being greedy by nature, he wanted that bone too. he snapped his sharp teeth at the image in the water. He barked at the other dog, hoping to scare him into giving that bone. His own big bone fell with a splash, went put of sight, the moment he opened his mouth to bite!
Question 2.
Rearrange each set of words to make sentences. Use appropriate punctuation marks.
a) when I gave her, the bad news, she turned pale
b) become rotten, as it has, the apple, don’t eat
c) great friends, last quarrel, after their, they became
d) first and only novel, after her, got a prize, she became famous
Answer:
a) She turned pale when I gave her the bad news.
b) Don’t eat the apple as it has become rotten.
c) They became great friends after their last quarrel.
d) After her first and only novel got a prize, she became famous.
Listening:
Question 1.
How brave are you ? Take a minute to think over this question. There are people who risk their lives to save someone’s life from danger. Here is a child who dared and saved lives. Let us listen to the story of a brave heart.
The Brave Hearts
On October 26, 2009, Jharlaram’s hut in the village Sameshwar in Rajasthan, suddenly caught fire. His two daughters, aged two-arid-a-half years and one year, as well as ten goats were in the hut at that time. Shrawan Kumar, a six-year old boy, was playing in his house at a distance, of about 200 feet. Seeing smoke coming out from Jhalaram’s house, he ran towards it. He saw the children sitting on a cot and screaming for help, and the goats caught in the flames.
Shrawan entered the house, lifted, the younger child in one arm and pulling the older one by the hand, brought them out safely. He took them to his house, then ran to inform his father and the children’s father. The elders rushed to the site. But by that time, the goats had died and the household belongings had been destroyed in the fire. It was Shrawan Kumar’s daring act that saved the lives of the two children.
(Shrawan Kumar, 6 years old, Sarneshwar, Rajasthan)
(Source: Children’s World, May 2012).
Your teacher will read out the story. Listen to the story carefully and answer the questions below. Ypu may ask the teacher to read out the story more than once.
Question 1.
Where is the village of Sameshwar?
Answer:
The village of Sarneshwar is in Rajasthan.
Question 2.
Whose hut had caught fire?
Answer:
Jhalaram’s hut in the village had caught fire.
Question 3.
Who all were there in the hut when it caught fire?
Answer:
His two children aged two-and-a half years and one year, and ten goats were in the hut at that time when it caught fie.
Question 4.
Why did Shrawan run towards Jhalaram’s house?
Answer:
Six-year old Shrawan Kumar ran towards Jhalaram’s hut when he saw smoke cpming out of his house.
Question 5.
How did Shrawan save the two children?
Answer:
Shrawan entered the house, lifted the younger, child in one arm and pulled the older one by the hand. He brought them safely and took them to his house. He then ran to inform his father and children’s father.
Question 6.
What happened to the goats?
Answer:
The goats had died in the fire.
Speaking:
Question 1.
Imagine yourself as the narrator in the story ‘The Miraculous Escape’ and describe your experience during your voyage. Jot down the points you want to speak on. Then narrate your experience to your partner. You may begin like this:
I have been thinking of going on a voyage.
And here came the
opportunity to sail on a ship! I enjoyed the
blue sea,
the silence all around, amazing sunrise for a week.
Then suddenly one day….
Answer:
I have been thinking of going on a voyage. And here came the opportunity to sail on a ship! I enjoyed the blue sea, the silence all around, amazing sunrise for a week. Then suddenly one day, our ship was caught in a hurricane. We got lost and reached near an island. The captain cast anchor at the port. All of us were tired and hungry. We went in search of food and water and found fruit trees and a stream of fresh water.
We ate the fruits and quenched our thirst. We felt strengthened again. Soon it started getting dark. With our tiring experience, we went to sleep. Suddenly, we heard a hissing sound. Before anyone of us could understand and react, a long and huge python like serpent appeared and swallowed one of our companions. We immediately ran for our life and climbed a tree. We were not aware that the snakes can climb trees ” also. As soon as we started feeling safe, the same hissing noise again started and another companion of mine who had settled at a lower branch was also swallowed by the python.
His hunger seemed to be satisfied by two of my companions as it went away after that. In spite of all the fear, I soon fell asleep. When I woke up, it was broad daylight. I realised my position and understood that if I do not find a way to secure my life, I will also meet the same fate as my companions. I climbed down. I collected a lot of dry wood and bushes and tied them with branches of a tree to make a tent like structure. I secured myself inside this structure at dusk. Soon, I heard the same hissing noise as the previous day.
The python seemed to go round and round the tent like structure and trying way to enter it. Finding no way, it settled down and waited for me to come down. I kept my patience and courage and waited for the python to go away. Around dawn, I heard the python moving away. Taking no chances, I waited for the daylight. When the sun rose high, I came out of my tent and ran towards the shore. Upon reaching the shore, I was about to jump into the water when I noticed a ship some distance away. I removed my shirt. Then, I shouted and waved my shirt to catch their attention. I was lucky enough as one of the sailors in the ship noticed me. They sailed the ship to my shore and helped me to board the ship. It all appeared to be a miracle.
Writing:
Question 1.
A group of pictures are given here. They make a story. This story is from the Tales of Panchatantra.
Answer:
The Clever Rabbit
Once upon a time, in a forest, there was a lion. The lion used to kill many animals every day for food. The animals were afraid and assembled together. They met the * lion and requested that they will themselves come one by one daily as its food. The lion agreed. The animals sent an animal each day. One day, it was the turn of a rabbit.
It feared to die and thought of a plan. It went to the lion and told there was another lion who lived in the forest well. The lion was angry. It came to the well along with the rabbit. It looked into the well and saw its own reflection. It roared and jumped into the well. The lion could not swim and as a result died. The moral of the story is that wit is superior to brute force.
Question 2.
Courage needs no age and comes after we let go of all our fears. Every year, on the Republic Day, National Bravery Awards are given to selected children for their act of bravery against all odds. These children are able to achieve this glory as they overcome their moments of fear and do their best to save precious lives.
Make a list of any five such children and their actions for which they have been awarded the National Bravery Award. Write a few paragraphs on each child. Keep your writings in the Class Library or the Reading Club for all your friends to read.
Answer:
The students may collect relevant information about:
- Bharat Award
- Kunwar Divyansh Singh (2018)
- Nazia (2017)
- Kumari Mahika Gupta (2013)
- Gaurav singh Saini (2009)
- Sanjay Chopra Award
- Karanbeer Singh (2017)
- Om Prakash Yadav (2011)
- Karan Nishad (2009)
- Geeta Chopra Award
- Kumari Gunjan Sharma (2014)
- Renu (2012)
- Mittal Mahendrabhai Patadiya (2011)
- Bapu Gaidhanl Award
- Tushar Verma (2016)
- Akanksha Gaute (2012)
- Aditi Gopal (2011)
Project:
Question 1.
Hie stories of‘The Snake and the Mirror’ and ‘The Miraculous Escape’ show how people face danger and are scared of animals. As children, many of us fear stray dogs. Both adults and children are scared of snakes. Fear exists in most of us. Some fears have bases and others do not. Let us conduct a survey of what people fear about. You may follow the guidelines given below.
• Form groups of four, and select an area for your survey. It may be your classmates, teachers or people in your neighbourhood.
• Develop a questionnaire to collect information about the fears people have. You may have at least eight to ten questions.
• Decide how many people you will ask the questions for the survey.
• Ask people the questions.
• Write their opinions in tabular form.
• Now write the first draft of the report.
• You may add graphic representations of the information and the data collected.
• Edit and write the report to make it final.
• Present it in a report form to the class.
• You can also make a PowerPoint presentation.
Answer:
1. Introduction:
Fear is a feeling induced by perceived danger or threat that occurs in certain types of organisms, which causes a change in metabolic and organ functions and ultimately a change in behaviour.
Such behaviours include : fleeing, hiding or freezing from perceived traumatic events. It may occur in response to a specific stimulus, occurring in the present, or in anticipation or expectation of a future threat i.e., a risk to body or life. It exists in most of us.
Types : Some fears have bases and others have not. In this way, fear is judged as rational or appropriate and irrational or inappropriate. An irrational fear is called phobia.
2. Purpose and Aim:
The main purpose of our study is to know about fears. We have to conduct a survey by enquiring people from different walks of life on the symptoms, causes, effects and measures to control it. The aim of this project is to know what people fear about.
3. Methodology :
The methodology adopted for this project to work for the purposes and the aim set before is based on the primary data. We have formed groups of four and selected an area for our survey. We have collected information about the fear from more than 500 people from different walks of life on the basis of following questionnaire.
Questionnaire:
- May I know your name, please?
- What is your contact number?
- Have you ever felt fear?
- Share your experience about the incidence?
- How will you categories various types of fear? What are its symptoms?
- What do people fear about?
- What do you think about the causes of the fear?
- What are its impacts?
- Is there a close relationship between fear and anger?
- Why do you think fear has its own importance?
- Suggest some measures to controf various types of fear?
On the basis of the survey, we have drawn the following information regarding the fear.
4. Report:
In simple terms, fear is an anxious feeling caused by bur anticipation of some imagined event or experience. This is an emotional response induced by a perceived threat, which causes a change in brain and organ function, as well as in behaviour. Fea,r can lead us to hide, to run away, or to freeze in our shoes.
According to the survey, some of the most common fears are of demons and ghosts, the existence of evil powers, terrorist attacks, death, cockroaches, spiders, dogs, snakes, heights, water, enclosed spaces, failure, war, tunnels, bridges, needles, social rejection, examinations and public speaking.
Fear is often the base emotion on which anger floats. Oppressed people rise at their oppressors because they fear loss of autonomy and even ego-death. Although, fear suppresses our potential and progress but on the other hand, it is beneficial for us also. This valid emotion builds our character and teaches us what we have within us, and how to act with courage.
Thus, fear has a place in our lives. But we should not allow it to dictate our lives. The following measures can be adopted to control it:
- We should accept and admit our fear.
- We should build the courage to face the situation.
- We should address it head on.
- We should collect facts regarding the situation.
- We should take away negative thoughts from our mind and have positive thinking to wards the win.
In short, we have to say that the feeling of fear is human, but conquering it would make us feel empowered, courageous and proud.