Short Questions

1. Who is the poet of the poem “Vanilla Twilight”?
Ans:- The poet of the poem “Vanilla Twilight” is Adam Young.

2. What do the stars do to “you” in the poem?
Ans:- The stars lean down to kiss “you.”

3. What does the poet do while lying awake?
Ans:- The poet lies awake and misses “you.”

4. What does the poet ask to be poured on him?
Ans:- The poet asks for a heavy dose of atmosphere to be poured on him.

5. What will the poet miss even though he will doze off safe and soundly?
Ans:- The poet will miss the arms of his beloved around him.

6. Why does the poet want to send a postcard?
Ans:- The poet wants to send a postcard because he wishes his beloved were there.

7. What does the poet say about watching the night?
Ans:- The poet says he will watch the night turn light blue, but it’s not the same without his beloved.

8. According to the poet, what does it take to whisper quietly?
Ans:- According to the poet, it takes two to whisper quietly.

9. What makes the poet feel sad even though silence isn’t so bad?
Ans:-  The poet feels sad when he looks at his hands, because the spaces between his fingers are right where his beloved’s fingers fit perfectly.

10. How many days has the poet not slept, according to the poem?
Ans:- The poet has not slept in two days.

11. Where will the poet sit all night, and how does he describe himself?
Ans:- The poet will sit on the front porch all night, drenched in vanilla twilight, waist-deep in thought.

12. Why doesn’t the poet feel so alone?
Ans:- The poet doesn’t feel so alone because he thinks of his beloved.

13. What will the poet do as many times as he blinks?
Ans:- As many times as he blinks, the poet will think of his beloved tonight.

14. What will the poet do when violet eyes get brighter and heavy wings grow lighter?
Ans:- The poet will taste the sky and feel alive again.

15. What does the poet swear at the end of the poem?
Ans:- The poet swears that he won’t forget his beloved, even though he will forget the world that he knew.

Long Questions

1. Describe how the poet feels while lying awake at night, missing his beloved.
Ans:- The poet lies awake at night and misses his beloved, while the stars lean down to kiss her. He asks to be poured a heavy dose of atmosphere so that he can doze off safe and soundly, but even then, he will miss her arms around him.

2. Why does the poet want to send a postcard, and what does he wish for?
Ans:– The poet wants to send a postcard to his beloved because he wishes she were there with him. He watches the night turn light blue, but feels that it is not the same without her, because it takes two people to whisper quietly together.

3. Explain why the poet feels sad when he looks at his hands.
Ans:- Although the poet feels that silence isn’t so bad, he feels sad when he looks at his hands, because the spaces between his fingers are exactly where his beloved’s fingers used to fit perfectly. This shows how much he misses her physical presence.

4. Describe what the poet does on the front porch and how he feels.
Ans:- Even though the poet hasn’t slept in two days and cold nostalgia chills him to the bone, he finds repose in new ways. Drenched in vanilla twilight, he sits on the front porch all night, waist-deep in thought, thinking of his beloved, which makes him not feel so alone.

5. What will the poet do “as many times as he blinks”?
Ans:- The poet says that as many times as he blinks, he will think of his beloved tonight. This repeated phrase shows the depth of his longing and how constantly she remains in his thoughts throughout the night.

6. What happens when “violet eyes get brighter and heavy wings grow lighter”?
Ans:- When violet eyes get brighter and heavy wings grow lighter, the poet says he will taste the sky and feel alive again. This suggests a new day or a new sense of hope and freedom coming to him.

7. Will the poet forget his beloved? Explain with reference to the poem.
Ans:- The poet says that he will forget the world that he knew, but he swears that he won’t forget his beloved. This shows that no matter what changes around him, his beloved will always remain in his memory and heart.

8. What would the poet do if his voice could reach back through the past?
Ans:-  If his voice could reach back through the past, the poet says he would whisper in his beloved’s ear that he wishes she were here. This shows his deep longing to be with her and to express his feelings to her again.

9. How does the poet describe the difference between the night with and without his beloved?
Ans:- The poet describes that he will still watch the night turn light blue as usual, but it will not feel the same without his beloved, because whispering quietly and sharing the night takes two people. Her absence changes how he experiences even ordinary things like watching the night sky.

10. What is the overall feeling expressed by the poet in “Vanilla Twilight”?
Ans:- The poet expresses deep longing, love, and nostalgia for his beloved who is not with him. Even though he tries to find comfort by sitting on the porch, watching the sky, and thinking of new ways to find peace, he constantly misses her presence and promises that he will never forget her, wishing again and again that she were there with him.

Short Questions

1. Who is the poet of the poem “Growing”?
Ans:- The poet of the poem “Growing” is Brook Mueller.

2. Why is the poet leaving, according to the first line of the poem?
Ans:- The poet is leaving to slay (win over) the foe (enemy).

3. What does the poet want to fight?
Ans:- The poet wants to fight the battles, high and low.

4. Who is the poet talking to in the poem?
Ans:- The poet is talking to his/her mother.

5. What does the poet ask his mother to do before leaving?
Ans:- The poet asks his mother to wish him luck today.

6. What has the poet grown, according to the poem?
Ans:- The poet has grown his wings.

7. What does the poet want to seize?
Ans:- The poet wants to seize his victories where they lie.

8. What does the poet request his mother not to do?
Ans:- The poet requests his mother not to cry.

9. What does the poet want to do with his tears?
Ans:- The poet wants to smile his smiles and dry his tears.

10. What does the poet want to find, as mentioned in the poem?
Ans:- The poet wants to find his world and his dreams.

11. What does the poet want to carve and sew?
Ans:- The poet wants to carve his niche and sew his seams.

12. What does the poet ask his mother to remember?
Ans:- The poet asks his mother to remember him as he sails his streams.

13. What does the poet promise his mother at the end of the poem?
Ans:- The poet promises that he will love his mother all the way.

14. Find out the antonym of ‘defeat’ from the poem.
Ans:- The antonym of ‘defeat’ is ‘victory’.

15. What is the synonym of ‘terror’ as given in the glossary?
Ans:- The synonym of ‘terror’ is ‘fear’.

Long Questions

1. What is the young person leaving for, and what does he want to do?
Ans:- The young person is leaving to slay (win over) the foe and fight the battles, high and low. He has grown his wings and wants to fly, and he wants to seize his victories wherever they lie.

2. What does the poet request his mother, and why?
Ans:- The poet requests his mother to wish him luck as he leaves, and asks her not to cry, so that he can find his own way. He also asks her to let him speak his say, meaning to let him express and tell the world what he wants to tell, without stopping him.

3. What does “I’ve grown my wings” mean in the poem?
Ans:- “I’ve grown my wings” means that the poet has now become strong and capable enough to face the world on his own, just like a bird that has grown wings and is now ready to fly on its own.

4. Describe what the poet wants to see, touch, and experience in life.
Ans:- The poet wants to see, touch, and hear the world around him. Even though there are dangers and fears on the way, he is determined to smile through his smiles and dry his own tears, and wishes to be allowed to speak his mind freely.

5. What does the poet mean by “I’m off to find my world, my dreams”?
Ans:- This line means that the poet wants to leave home and go out to discover his own world and fulfil his own dreams. He wants to carve his niche (make his own special place) and sew his seams (shape and mould himself) through his own experiences.

6. What does the poet ask his mother to remember, and what does he promise her?
Ans:- The poet asks his mother to remember him as he sails his streams, meaning as he goes through his journey and experiences in life. He promises her that no matter where he goes, he will love her all the way, throughout his journey.

7. Explain the line “Fight the battles, high and low.”
Ans:- This line means that the poet is determined to fight against every kind of problem in life, whether small (low) or big (high). It shows his courage and readiness to face all difficulties that come his way.

8. Does this poem give a warning or encouragement? How?
Ans:- This poem gives encouragement. It encourages a young person to become independent, be brave, chase their dreams, and go out into the world to discover themselves, while still remembering and loving their mother throughout their journey.

9. How does the poet show love and respect for his mother even while wanting independence?
Ans:- Even though the poet wants to be independent and go out to face the world on his own, he still asks his mother to wish him luck, requests her not to cry, and asks her to remember him. At the end, he promises that he will love her all the way, showing that his desire for independence does not reduce his love and respect for his mother.

10. What message does the poem “Growing” give to young readers?
Ans:- The poem gives the message that growing up means becoming brave and independent enough to face life’s battles, dangers, and fears on one’s own, to find one’s own world and dreams, and to carve one’s own place in life. At the same time, it teaches that one should always remember and love one’s parents throughout this journey of growing up.

Short Questions

1. Who is the poet of the poem “Pencil”?
Ans:- The poet of the poem “Pencil” is Jayant Parmar.

2. Who translated the poem “Pencil”?
Ans:- The poem was translated by Baidar Bakht.

3. What does the little daughter light with a sharpener?
Ans:- The little daughter lights a pencil with a sharpener.

4. What is compared to the sky in the poem?
Ans:- The white paper is compared to the sky in the poem.

5. What happens to the sky of the white paper as the girl draws?
Ans:- The sky of the white paper begins to be filled with light.

6. What is flying away with the tree?
Ans:- The black bird is flying away with the tree.

7. What is on the eyes of the peacock?
Ans:- Glasses (spectacles) are on the eyes of the peacock.

8. What is flying in the air in the poem?
Ans:- The fire chariot is flying in the air.

9. Where is the airplane in the poem?
Ans:- The airplane is walking on the road.

10. Who is having a conversation with the cow?
Ans:- The lion is having a conversation with the cow.

11. What kind of sun is drawn on the black tree?
Ans:- A one-eyed sun is drawn on the black tree.

12. Where is the blue fish flying?
Ans:- The blue fish is flying on the forehead of the cloud.

13. What is the yellow butterfly doing in the poem?
Ans:- The yellow butterfly is swimming in the waterfall.

14. Who gives the girl homework?
Ans:- The schoolmaster gives the girl homework.

15. What does the angry girl break?
Ans:- The angry girl breaks the tip of the pencil.

Long Questions

1. Describe how the little girl begins her drawing on the white paper.
Ans:- The poet’s little dear daughter lights a pencil with a sharpener, which means she sharpens her pencil to begin drawing. As she starts drawing, the white paper is compared to the sky, and this “sky” of the white paper begins to be filled with light — that is, with her colourful and imaginative pictures.

2. Describe any four imaginary pictures drawn by the little girl.
Ans:- The little girl draws many strange and imaginative pictures. Among them, she draws a black bird flying away with a tree, glasses on the eyes of a peacock, a fire chariot flying in the air, and an airplane walking on the road. These pictures show how her imagination mixes things that are not normally seen together in real life.

3. What does ‘only the smoke remains on the sky of the white paper’ mean?
Ans:- When the girl breaks the tip of her pencil in anger, the “candle” of the pencil, which was lighting up her imagination, gets extinguished. Just as a candle leaves smoke behind when it is put out, only the smoke remains on the sky of the white paper. This means that her happy and imaginative drawing has come to an end, and only sadness is left behind.

4. Why does the little girl get angry, and how does she react?
Ans:- The little girl is happily and joyfully drawing strange, imaginative pictures on the white paper. But when the schoolmaster gives her homework, she gets angry because it disturbs her drawing and imagination. In her anger, she breaks the tip of her pencil, and as a result, her pencil (compared to a candle) gets extinguished.

5. How does the poet show his love for his daughter in the poem?
Ans:- The poet lovingly calls his daughter “my daughter,” “little dear daughter,” “my darling daughter,” and “my darling doll.” These affectionate words show how much the poet loves and admires his little daughter and enjoys watching her draw her imaginative pictures.

6. Explain the comparison of the pencil to a candle in the poem.
Ans:- In the poem, the pencil is compared to a candle. Just as lighting a candle gives light, “lighting” the pencil with a sharpener lets the girl fill the white paper (the sky) with pictures, like filling it with light. When she gets angry and breaks the pencil’s tip, the “candle” of the pencil is extinguished, just like a candle flame going out, and only smoke (unhappiness) is left.

7. Describe the strange and imaginative nature of the pictures drawn by the girl.
Ans:-  The girl’s pictures are strange because they mix up things that don’t normally go together in real life. For example, a peacock wears glasses, an airplane walks on the road instead of flying, a lion talks with a cow, and a fish flies on the forehead of a cloud instead of swimming in water. These unusual combinations show the free and boundless imagination of a child’s mind.

8. What does the girl draw related to the sky and clouds?
Ans:-  The girl draws a one-eyed sun on a black tree, with a patch of cloud over it. She also draws a blue fish flying on the forehead of the cloud. These pictures show her imaginative way of mixing the sun, tree, clouds, and fish together in one strange scene.

9. What is the girl’s mood while drawing, and how does it change?
Ans:-  While drawing her strange and imaginative pictures, the little girl is in “ecstasy,” meaning she is extremely happy and busy enjoying her creativity. However, her mood changes to anger when the schoolmaster gives her homework, which disturbs her happy world of imagination, leading her to break her pencil’s tip.

10. What message does the poem “Pencil” give us?
Ans:-  The poem shows how a child’s mind is full of imagination and creativity, seen through the strange and wonderful pictures the girl draws. It also shows how this happy, imaginative world can be disturbed by outside pressures like school homework, turning the child’s joy into anger, and putting out the “light” of her imagination, leaving only “smoke” behind.

Short Questions

1. Who is the poet of “My Song”?
Ans:-  The poet is Rabindranath Tagore.

2. Whom is the poet addressing in the poem?
Ans:- The poet is addressing his child.

3. What will the poet’s song do to the child, according to the first line?
Ans:-  This song will wind its music around the child, like the fond arms of love.

4. How will the song touch the child’s forehead?
Ans:-  It will touch the child’s forehead like a kiss of blessing.

5. What will the song do when the child is alone?
Ans:-  When the child is alone, it will sit by the child’s side and whisper in the child’s ear.

6. What will the song do when the child is in a crowd?
Ans:-  When the child is in the crowd, it will fence the child about with aloofness.

7. What will the song be like for the child’s dreams?
Ans:-  My song will be like a pair of wings to the child’s dreams.

8. What will the song do to the child’s heart?
Ans:-  It will transport the child’s heart to the verge of the unknown.

9. What will the song be like when dark night is over the child’s road?
Ans:-  It will be like the faithful star overhead when dark night is over the child’s road.

10. Where will the song sit, according to the poem?
Ans:-  My song will sit in the pupils of the child’s eyes.

11. What will the song carry, and to where?
Ans:-  The song will carry the child’s sight into the heart of things.

12. What will happen to the song when the poet’s voice is silent in death?
Ans:- When the poet’s voice is silent in death, the song will speak in the child’s living heart.

13. What does “fond arms” mean, according to the glossary?
Ans:- “Fond arms” means affectionate open arms.

14. What does the glossary say “aloofness” means?
Ans:-  Aloofness means loneliness, detachment.

15. What does “on the verge of” mean, according to the glossary?
Ans:-  “On the verge of” means very close to experience.

Long Questions

1. How does the poet describe his song’s effect on the child when the child is alone or in a crowd?
Ans:-  The poet says that when the child is alone, the song will sit by the child’s side and whisper in the child’s ear, like a comforting companion. When the child is in a crowd, the song will fence the child about with aloofness, protecting the child from the crowd like a shield of detachment. In both situations, the song acts as a caring, protective presence for the child.

2. Explain the comparison of the song to “the fond arms of love” and “a kiss of blessing.”
Ans:-  The poet says his song will wind its music around the child like the fond arms of love, meaning it will embrace the child affectionately just as loving arms would. He also says the song will touch the child’s forehead like a kiss of blessing, comparing the gentle touch of the song’s music to a parent’s blessing kiss on the child’s forehead, showing deep love and good wishes for the child’s life.

3. How does the poet describe the song’s connection to the child’s dreams and heart?
Ans:-  The poet says his song will be like a pair of wings to the child’s dreams, helping the dreams to fly and soar. It will transport the child’s heart to the verge of the unknown, taking the child’s heart close to the experience of mystery and wonder that lies beyond ordinary understanding.

4. What role does the song play as “the faithful star overhead”?
Ans:-  The poet compares his song to a faithful star overhead when dark night is over the child’s road. This means that just as a star guides a traveller through darkness, the poet’s song will guide and comfort the child during difficult or dark times in life, always remaining constant and dependable.

5. How will the song affect the child’s sight, according to the poem?
Ans:-  The poet says his song will sit in the pupils of the child’s eyes and will carry the child’s sight into the heart of things. This means the song will influence the way the child sees and understands the world, helping the child look beyond the surface and perceive the deeper meaning or essence of things around.

6. What does the poet say will happen to his song after his death?
Ans:- The poet says that when his voice is silent in death, his song will speak in the child’s living heart. This shows that even after the poet’s physical death, his love and presence, carried through the song, will continue to live on within the child’s heart, guiding and comforting the child forever.

7. What kind of relationship does the poem show between the parent and the child?
Ans:-  The poem shows a deeply loving and protective relationship between a parent and child. Through the metaphor of a song, the poet expresses how a parent’s love accompanies the child at every stage of life—when alone, in crowds, in dreams, in darkness, and even after the parent’s death—showing that a parent’s love and blessings never truly leave the child.

8. Why does the poet use the image of “wings” and “a pair of wings to your dreams”?
Ans:-  The poet uses the image of wings to show that his song will support and lift the child’s dreams, helping them to take flight just as wings help a bird fly. This symbolizes how the poet wants his song (his love and blessings) to help the child’s hopes, imagination and ambitions to soar freely and reach great heights.

9. Explain the line “My song will sit in the pupils of your eyes, and will carry your sight into the heart of things.”
Ans:-  This line means that the poet’s song will become so deeply connected to the child that it will be present in the very way the child sees the world, as if living in the pupils of the child’s eyes. It will help the child not just to see things on the surface, but to understand and perceive the true, deeper meaning of things—the “heart of things.”

10. What is the overall message of the poem “My Song”?
Ans:-  The overall message of the poem is that a parent’s love, expressed through the song, is eternal and ever-present in a child’s life. It comforts the child in solitude, protects the child in crowds, inspires the child’s dreams, guides the child through darkness, shapes the child’s vision of the world, and continues to live in the child’s heart even after the parent has died. It expresses the timeless and unconditional nature of parental love.

Short Questions

1. Where was Lieutenant Blandford waiting, and for whom?
Ans:- He was waiting at the information desk in New York Grand Central Station for the woman he had been writing to for thirteen months.

2. How long had Blandford and Hollis Meynell been writing to each other?
Ans:- They had been writing to each other for thirteen months.

3. What had Meynell refused to give Blandford?
Ans:- She had refused all his requests for her photograph.

4. Why did Meynell refuse to send her photograph?
Ans:- She explained that if his feeling for her had any reality, her looks wouldn’t matter, and she didn’t want him to love her only for a pretty face or fear he was writing to her only out of loneliness.

5. What was the title of the novel Blandford had read in the training camp?
Ans:- The title of the novel was ‘Of Human Bondage’.

6. How did Blandford find Hollis Meynell’s address?
Ans:- He found her name inside the cover of the book and found her address in a New York telephone directory.

7. By what sign was Blandford supposed to recognise Meynell?
Ans:- He was to recognise his friend by a red rose.

8. What age had Meynell told Blandford she was?
Ans:- Meynell had told him she was thirty.

9. What was the girl in the green suit wearing, and how old did she appear?
Ans:- She was wearing a white rose and appeared to be about eighteen years old.

10. What did the girl in the green suit say to Blandford as she passed?
Ans:- She smiled sweetly and murmured, “Going my way, soldier?”

11. How did Blandford describe the woman wearing the red rose?
Ans:- She was a woman past forty, rather heavy, with greying hair pulled under an old hat, and a red rose on her untidy coat.

12. What book did Blandford hold to show who he was?
Ans:- He held the book ‘Of Human Bondage’.

13. What did Blandford decide their relationship would be, even if it was not love?
Ans:- He decided it would be something precious, a friendship for which he would always be grateful.

14. What did Blandford say to the older woman when he approached her?
Ans:-  He said, “I’m lieutenant John Blandford, and you — you are Miss Meynell. I’m so glad we could meet. May I take you to dinner?”

15. What did the older woman tell Blandford about the real Miss Meynell?
Ans:-  She said the young lady in the green suit had asked her to wear the red rose, and that if he invited her to dinner, she was waiting at the restaurant across the street, adding, “It is a test of some kind.”

Long Questions

1. How did the friendship between Blandford and Meynell begin?
Ans:- Blandford had read a novel titled ‘Of Human Bondage’ in the training camp, and throughout its pages were notes in a woman’s handwriting. He had never believed that a woman could understand a man’s thoughts so well. Her name was inside the cover of the book — ‘Hollis Meynell’. He found her address in a New York telephone directory, wrote her a letter, and she answered. The next day his army group moved overseas, but he and Hollis Meynell continued writing to each other for thirteen months.

2. Why did Meynell refuse to send Blandford her photograph?
Ans:- Meynell explained that if his feeling for her had any reality, her looks wouldn’t matter. She said that if she were beautiful, he would always have the idea that he was attracted by a pretty face, which would displease her. On the other hand, if she were not pretty, she would always fear that he was writing to her only because he was lonely. So she refused to send her picture and told him that when he came to New York, he would see her himself.

3. Describe the words in Meynell’s letter that gave Blandford strength.
Ans:-  Meynell had written to him: “Of course there will be times when you are afraid; imagine you can hear my voice saying to you, I shall fear not even death in battle.” Blandford remembered these words, and they had given him new strength during his time in the war. Now he was going to hear her real voice for the first time.

4. Describe the girl in the green suit whom Blandford first noticed.
Ans:- A girl passed by Blandford wearing a white rose, though he was supposed to recognise his friend by a red rose. This girl was tall and slender, only about eighteen years old, while Meynell had told him she was thirty. Later, another young woman came towards him — tall and slender, with eyes as blue as flowers, lips and chin with a gentle firmness, wearing a green suit, looking like springtime itself. She smiled sweetly and said, “Going my way, soldier?”

5. Describe the older woman wearing the red rose.
Ans:- The woman was standing behind the girl in green — a woman past forty, with greying hair pulled under an old hat. She was rather heavy, but there was no mistake about the red rose on her untidy coat. Blandford could see that her pale, plump face was gentle and kind, and her grey eyes were warm and friendly.

6. What internal conflict did Blandford face when he saw the two women?
Ans:- Blandford’s attention was divided between the two women. He felt a strong urge to follow the young, beautiful girl in the green suit. Yet he also had a deep longing for the woman who had given him great courage and strength through her letters, and there she stood, the older woman with the red rose. He had to make a decision about which one to approach.

7. What did Blandford decide about his feelings before approaching the older woman?
Ans:- Lieutenant Blandford did not hesitate. His fingers held ‘Of Human Bondage’, which was to show who he was. He thought about their relationship and decided, “This would not be love, but it would be something precious. It would be a friendship for which he would always be grateful.” He then stood straight, saluted, and held the book towards the woman.

8. What did Blandford say to the older woman, and how did she respond?
Ans:-  Blandford said, “I’m lieutenant John Blandford, and you — you are Miss Meynell. I’m so glad we could meet. May I take you to dinner?” A smile appeared on the woman’s face, and she answered, “I don’t know who you are, young man. That young lady in the green suit asked me to wear this red rose on my coat.”

9. What message did the older woman give Blandford from the real Miss Meynell?
Ans:-  She said that if he invited her to dinner, she was told to tell him that the real Miss Meynell was waiting for him at the restaurant across the street, and added, “It is a test of some kind.”

10. What does the story of Blandford and Meynell teach us about true love and trust?
Ans:–  The story shows that Meynell tested Blandford’s true feelings by asking an older woman to wear the red rose instead of appearing herself, to see whether he would remain loyal to the values expressed in their letters rather than being drawn only by outward beauty. Blandford passed the test because, despite feeling a strong pull towards the beautiful young girl in green, he chose to approach the older woman with respect and gratitude, proving that his feelings were based on genuine friendship and honesty rather than mere physical attraction.

Short Questions

1. Who is the anchor of the seminar, and which school does he represent?
Ans:- Anuj Bhatt is the anchor, and he represents Anand Vihar School.

2. What is the title of the seminar?
Ans:-  The title of the seminar is “BRING OUT YOUR BEST.”

3. Who is Dr Nasir Mansuri, and from where is he?
Ans:- Dr Nasir Mansuri is a practicing clinical Psychologist from Vadodara.

4. Who is Dr Mrs. Shelat?
Ans:- Dr Mrs. Shelat is an eminent educationist, author and teacher trainer.

5. Who is Prof. Ray Mackey, and from where does he join the seminar?
Ans:-  Prof. Ray Mackey is online from University of Edinburgh, bringing his international experience of working with students and parents.

6. What problem does Bharat ask Dr Mansuri about?
Ans:-  Bharat says he reads almost six hours a day but hardly remembers anything at the end of the day, and asks how he can improve his retention.

7. What Chinese proverb does Dr Mansuri quote to Bharat?
Ans:-  Dr Mansuri quotes, “I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, and I do and I understand.”

8. According to Dr Mansuri, what should Bharat stop taking?
Ans:-  Dr Mansuri tells Bharat to stop taking brain tonics, saying they simply do not work anyway.

9. What problem does Mrs. Viraj Trivedi share about her son Shalin?
Ans:-   She says her son spends too much time playing games and watching TV, and because of that his study suffers.

10. According to Dr Mrs. Shelat, what should parents ensure regarding games and TV?
Ans:-  There should be a time limit for games and TV; total avoidance is cruel and unnatural, and there should be a balance between study and play hours.

11. What problem does Mrs. Suhani Mehta share about her daughter?
Ans:-  Her daughter seems to enjoy her studies but hardly shares anything about what happens at school and her studies, even though the parents ask her many times.

12. According to Dr Mackey, who is responsible if sharing is missing between children and parents?
A. Both children and parents are responsible if sharing is missing.

13. What food-related question does Priyanshi ask, and what does she love to eat?
Ans:-  Priyanshi says she loves Pizza with double cheese, Dabeli with butter or cheese, Burger, and crunchy wafers with cold drinks, and asks if there’s any relation between studies and the food she eats.

14. According to Dr Shroff, why does heavy food affect studies?
Ans:-  Heavy food directs the blood flow to the digestive system, resulting in slowing down of brain activity, making a person feel sleepy, lazy and drowsy.

15. What does Kandarp ask Dr Mansuri about?
Ans:-  Kandarp read somewhere “Tune up yourself for the board exam” and asks Dr Mansuri to explain what it means.

Long Questions

1. What is the purpose of the seminar “Bring Out Your Best,” and who are the panelists?
Ans:- The seminar is organized by Anand Vihar School’s Career and Counseling Cell to counsel students and their parents. Its purpose is to guide parents and students and come out with possible Dos and Don’ts during studies and exams, since unanswered questions of students and expectations of parents lead to stress, apathy and boredom for studies. The panelists are Dr Nasir Mansuri (a clinical Psychologist), Dr Mrs. Shelat (an educationist), Dr Manju Shroff (a dietician), and Prof. Ray Mackey (online from University of Edinburgh).

2. What advice does Dr Mansuri give Bharat to improve his retention?
Ans:-  Dr Mansuri tells Bharat that there is no fixed method of improving retention; he needs to identify the way in which he learns, since there are different learning styles like listening, writing, drawing flowcharts and diagrams, discussing, and reflective thinking. He explains that for writing an essay, one should brainstorm ideas, create a web, arrange ideas logically, and construct meaningful sentences. Adopting more than one style of learning helps in remembering for a longer duration and improves retention. He also tells Bharat to stop taking brain tonics since they simply do not work.

3. What advice does Dr Mrs. Shelat give Mrs. Trivedi about her son who plays games and watches too much TV?
Ans:- Dr Mrs. Shelat says it is quite normal at this age for students to get tempted to play and watch TV. However, there should be a time limit for the same. She personally feels that total avoidance of games and TV is not the solution—in fact, that would be cruel and unnatural. Rather, parents should make sure there is a balance between study and play hours, since games, music and entertainment are quite essential for physical and mental health and help reduce stress.

4. What does Dr Mackey say about sharing between parents and children?
Ans:- Dr Mackey says that if sharing is missing, both children and parents are responsible. Sharing is the glue that binds a family together. He explains that adolescents at this age find it uncomfortable to share all details related to their lives. Parents must consider this and decide their response to their children’s sharing, because negative response and preaching discourage children. However, children must also read the intention of parents, since not sharing anything may lead to serious problems.

5. Why does Dr Shroff advise Priyanshi to avoid heavy and fatty food?
Ans:-  Dr Shroff explains that there is a direct relation between the food a person eats and the activities of the brain via metabolism. Heavy food directs blood flow to the digestive system, which slows down brain activity, making a person feel sleepy, lazy and drowsy—this affects studies since an active brain is required for studying. She advises taking light and easy-to-digest food with enough soup, juice, daal, milk, and Chhash/Lassi, and eating raw vegetables and fruits, while avoiding overeating, since the student who eats light becomes bright.

6. How does Dr Mansuri explain the meaning of “Tune up for the board exam” to Kandarp?
Ans:- Dr Mansuri explains that tune up refers to preparing one’s mind and body for a particular task. For exams, one needs to know how the body and mind work in harmony. Students should first identify their strengths and weaknesses by observing themselves for a week or two, remembering that strengths are assets and one shouldn’t dwell on weaknesses. Secondly, body and mind should be tuned to the school time table before receiving the board exam schedule; once received, a new time table should be prepared based on energy levels, matching high energy periods with exam time slots.

7. What relaxation techniques does Dr Mansuri suggest to Kandarp for tuning up the body and mind?
Ans:- Dr Mansuri says it is important to relax to tune up the body and mind. He suggests simple relaxation techniques like Pranayam, Yogasan, Stretching, listening to light melodious music, taking a walk of about 10-15 minutes at a suitable time, or having a cup of green tea. He also suggests sparing some time for talking to friends or parents, and maintaining a cheerful mood without working in frenzy.

8. What do students commonly say are their difficulties before exams, as shown in the panel discussion?
Ans:-  In the discussion, Bharat says he cannot remember what he reads despite reading six hours a day; Shalin’s mother reports he spends too much time on games and TV; Suhani Mehta’s daughter does not share her school matters at home; Priyanshi admits she loves unhealthy, heavy food like pizza and burgers; and Kandarp is confused about how to prepare his mind and body for the board exam. These questions show a range of common teenage struggles related to memory, entertainment, communication, diet, and exam preparation.

9. How does the anchor Anuj Bhatt conclude the seminar?
Ans:-  Anuj Bhatt says the students enjoyed the programme, as shown by the big round of applause from the audience, and that it is impossible to express their gratitude in words. However, he thanks all the guests who made it convenient to spare time from their busy schedule, and says he is sure not only the students but the parents also gained a lot. He hopes everyone remembers the tips given by the experts and follows them, wishing everyone the best.

10. Why was Dr Manju Shroff invited to the seminar, and what growing concern does she address?
Ans:-  Dr Manju Shroff, a well-known dietician, was invited because special activities demand special food habits, and there is a growing concern over what people eat these days. Many doubt what food habit has to do with study habits and performance in exams. She addresses this concern by explaining the direct relation between food and brain activity through metabolism, advising students like Priyanshi to eat light, easy-to-digest food and avoid heavy, fatty foods to keep their brain active for studies.

Short Questions

1. What was Shubhangi’s family doing when the story begins?
Ans:- Shubhangi with her family was having tea and breakfast in their garden.

2. What did Shubhangi first mistake the tailor bird for?
Ans:- Shubhangi first mistook the tailor bird for a sparrow.

3. Why is the tailor bird called by that name?
Ans:- It stitches its nest with green leaves and fibres of trees, so it is called a tailor bird.

4. Why should the female bird be dull in colour, according to Devangi?
Ans:- The female bird should be dull to hide itself from hunters, as it is supposed to continue generations.

5. What is the Indian Grey Hornbill’s beak like?
Ans:- Its beak or bill has an extra portion like a horn, and that’s why it is called hornbill.

6. How does the female hornbill seal her nest, and who helps her?
Ans:- The female enters the nest hollow and seals it using mud-pellets supplied by the male.

7. Why is the hornbill called ‘Vahu ghelo’ in some areas?
Ans:- It is called Vahu ghelo for its caring behaviour towards the female, meaning one who takes extra care of his wife.

8. What is a weaver bird known as in Gujarati, and what does that name mean?
Ans:- It is known as ‘Sughari’ in Gujarati, meaning one who builds a beautiful house.

9. What kind of grass do weaver birds prefer for their nests?
Ans:- Weaver birds prefer long thread-like grass leaves to build their nests.

10. Why are vultures called scavengers?
Ans:- They are called scavengers because they clean our surroundings by eating the rotten dead bodies.

11. Why is diclofenac harmful to vultures?
Ans:- Diclofenac is very harmful for the vulture; after eating flesh treated with it, the vulture slowly dies within a few days.

12. Why have sparrows disappeared from human habitats, according to Devangi?
Ans:- They have left us because we have destroyed their homes by designing houses in such a way that birds cannot enter or nest in them.

13. Name some birds that come to India as migratory guests.
Ans:- Birds like pelicans, cranes, various ducks and rosy pastors travel thousands of kilometres to India.

14. When does the rosy pastor arrive in India, and when does it return?
Ans:- The rosy pastor arrives in India in June/July from Europe and returns in March/April.

15. In what shape do cranes, ducks and geese fly during migration?
Ans:- Cranes, ducks and geese fly in a formation of ‘V’ shape.

Long Questions

1. How did Devangi correct Shubhangi about the tailor bird, and how are the male and female tailor birds different?
Ans:-  Shubhangi exclaimed that a beautiful sparrow was chirping, but Devangi corrected her, explaining it was not a sparrow but a tailor bird, since its colour was yellowish green and it was smaller than a sparrow. Shubhangi then mentioned that the day before, the bird’s colour had been rust. Devangi explained that the yellowish-green one was a male and the rust-coloured one was a female, and that in almost all species, the female is dull in comparison with the male.

2. Why are female birds generally duller in colour than male birds?
Ans:-  According to Devangi, there are two major types of birds: birds of prey and small birds. Birds of prey hunt small birds for food. The female bird should be dull in colour so that she can hide herself from hunters, since it is her role to continue generations by laying eggs and raising young ones. This natural design helps protect the species.

3. Describe the Indian Grey Hornbill and its nesting habits.
Ans:-   The Indian Grey Hornbill is common in the Indian subcontinent. It has grey feathers all over the body with light grey and dull belly. Its habitat is both in the wild and in urban areas, especially large trees. Its beak has an extra portion like a horn, which is why it is called a hornbill. It nests in hollows of tall trees. The female enters the nest hollow and seals it using mud-pellets supplied by the male. The male takes care of the female and the newborn chicks by supplying food to them throughout the day.

4. Describe how weaver birds (Sughari) build their nests.
Ans:-  The weaver bird is known as ‘Sughari’ in Gujarati, meaning one who builds a beautiful house. Weaver birds prefer long thread-like grass leaves to build their nests. It is the male weaver bird that builds the nest, and it takes nearly 18 days to complete the nest building. When the nest is half completed, the male invites the female for pairing by singing. If she accepts the nest, both of them finish it together; if she doesn’t accept it, the nest is abandoned. A male often makes many nests during the nesting season.

5. Why are vultures important, and why is their population decreasing?
Ans:-  Vultures are called scavengers because they clean our surroundings by eating the rotten dead bodies of animals, known as carcasses. Their beak is designed to tear the flesh from dead bodies. However, people now use medicine like diclofenac to cure sick cattle. When such treated cattle die and a vulture eats its body, the diclofenac proves very harmful, and the vulture slowly dies within a few days. As a result, nearly 97% of the vulture population has been lost.

6. Why have sparrows disappeared, and how can we bring them back?
Ans:- According to Devangi, sparrows have left human surroundings because we have destroyed their homes. We have designed our houses in such a way that birds cannot enter them, and we do not allow them to nest in our premises, so they no longer feel safe living with us. To bring them back, Devangi suggests preparing sparrow nests with cardboard boxes, not feeding birds harmful food like Ganthiyas, and putting grains like rice and millet along with water in a dish for them.

7. Describe the migratory birds that visit India and where they come from.
Ans:-   Every year, thousands of birds come to India as guests from Europe, Siberia and other cold countries. Birds like pelicans, cranes, various ducks and rosy pastors travel thousands of kilometres to fly to India. The rosy pastor, which looks like a myna with dull brown and pink colour, arrives in India in June/July from Europe and returns in March/April.

8. How do migratory birds travel without a map, and what patterns do they follow?
Ans:-  Migratory birds take help of the Sun to find their way while travelling. They travel in the early morning and, during their return migration, they fly in the evening. Migratory birds fly in different patterns—birds like cranes, ducks and geese fly in a formation of ‘V’ shape, while certain ducks, warblers and flycatchers travel in groups.

9. What tips does Devangi give for bird watching?
Ans:-  Devangi tells Shubhangi to remember these steps while birding: first, see the colour of the bird; second, observe its size; third, notice the shape and length of the bill and tail; and fourth, notice the place of sight, like whether it is perched on a tree or wire, in a water body, open ground, grassland or sky. She also suggests giving a close friend’s name to a bird whose nature or characteristic matches with the friend.

10. In what ways are birds helpful to us, according to Mitra?
Ans:-  Mitra tells Shubhangi that we need birds on the earth because they eat up insects that are harmful to our crops. They are also helpful in spreading seeds. They entertain us with their sweet calls, and we should take care of birds because they are the true indicators of a healthy environment.

Short Questions

1. Who were the Devs and the Asurs?
Ans:- The Devs were from amongst the gods, and the Asurs were demons.

2. What advantage did the Asurs have in their fight with the Devs?
Ans:- They had on their side a great saint and teacher, Shukracharya, who knew the mantra for bringing dead people back to life.

3. What did Brihaspati tell the Devs when they sought his help?
Ans:- Brihaspati said, “I do not know the science of giving life to the dead. Only Shukracharya knows it.”

4. Whom did the Devs choose to send to Shukracharya, and why?
Ans:-  They chose Kach, Brihaspati’s son, because they had nobody else to undertake such a difficult task.

 5. Who was Devayani?
Ans:- Devayani was Shukracharya’s beautiful daughter.

6. What work did Shukracharya assign to Kach?
Ans:- Shukracharya asked Kach to bring flowers from the jungle for his prayers, bring firewood for his sacrificial fire, and look after his cows.

7. Why did the Asurs decide to kill Kach the first time?
Ans:- They found out why Kach was staying with Shukracharya and did not want the secret of reviving dead people to be known to the Devs.

 8. What did the Asurs do with Kach’s body after killing him the first time?
Ans:- They cut his body into pieces and gave the pieces to wolves and jackals.

9. How did Shukracharya bring Kach back to life the first time?
Ans:- He silently said the secret mantra or magic formula, and Kach appeared before him.

 10. What did the Asurs do to Kach the second time?
Ans:- They killed him and, grinding his body into paste, mixed it with the waters of the ocean.

 11. How did the Asurs kill Kach the third time?
Ans:- They killed him, burnt his body, collected the ashes, and mixed the ashes with the divine wine that Shukracharya drank.

 12. What did Shukracharya say when Kach was dead the third time?
Ans:- A. He said, “Yes, Kach is dead and now it is difficult for me to bring him back to life. I am helpless now.”

 13. What secret did Shukracharya teach Kach before he came out of his stomach?
Ans:- Shukracharya taught Kach the secret mantra of bringing the dead back to life.

 14. What did Kach do immediately after coming out of Shukracharya’s stomach?
Ans:-  He immediately revived his teacher (Shukracharya) with his newly learnt mantra.

15. Why did Kach refuse to marry Devayani?
Ans:-  Kach said that he could not marry her because both of them came out of her father, Shukracharya, making her his sister, and his love for her was a brother’s love for a sister.

Long Questions

 1. Why did the Devs send Kach to Shukracharya?
Ans:-  In their fight with the Devs, the Asurs had an advantage because they had Shukracharya, who knew the mantra for bringing dead people back to life. The Devs had nobody who knew that mantra, so they went to their chief adviser, Brihaspati, for help. Brihaspati said he did not know the science of giving life to the dead and that only Shukracharya knew it. He suggested that somebody from their side should go to him and stay with him as his student to learn the secret. Since they had nobody else for this difficult task, they decided that Brihaspati’s own son, Kach, would be the best choice.

 2. How did Kach win the favour of Shukracharya?
Ans:-  Kach went to Shukracharya’s hermitage and requested to be his student to learn the Sanjivani vidya. Shukracharya agreed to help him. Kach lived with Shukracharya and served him with great devotion, doing all the work assigned to him, like bringing flowers, firewood, and looking after the cows. Because of his keen devotion and good service, he won the favour of Shukracharya.

 3. Describe how the Asurs killed Kach the first time and how Shukracharya revived him.
Ans:-  The Asurs found out why Kach was staying with Shukracharya and decided to remove him for good so that the secret of reviving the dead would not reach the Devs. One day when Kach was taking the cows to the jungle, the Asurs waylaid him and killed him. Fearing that Shukracharya might revive him, they cut his body into pieces and gave the pieces to wolves and jackals. When Kach did not return, Devayani was upset and told her father. Shukracharya felt that Kach was dead and said the secret mantra, and Kach appeared before the master, having come out of the wolves and jackals after tearing their bodies.

 4. What happened to Kach the second time, and how was he brought back to life?
Ans:-  One day Kach was in the jungle collecting flowers when the Asurs caught him. They killed him and, grinding his body into paste, mixed it with the waters of the ocean. When Kach did not return, Devayani was again in despair and told her father that she would not wish to live unless Kach was brought back. Again, Shukracharya, with his magic spell, brought Kach back.

5. Describe the third and final attempt by the Asurs to kill Kach.
Ans:-  The Asurs were very disappointed at their failures, so they thought of a plan to dispose of Kach in such a way that Shukracharya would never be able to bring him back to life. They caught Kach the third time, killed him, and burnt his body. They collected the ashes and mixed them with the divine wine that Shukracharya drank. This time, when Kach was missing, Shukracharya meditated and realized that Kach was dead and inside him, making it very difficult to bring him back to life.

 6. How did Shukracharya finally manage to save both Kach and himself?
Ans:-  Shukracharya was in a fix because Kach was within him, and both of them could not exist together. He said to Kach that since Devayani looked on him with such kindness, victory was his. He decided to give Kach the magic mantra, the secret of bringing the dead back to life, and told him to try the mantra on his own body when he came out. Shukracharya taught Kach the secret mantra and asked him to come out of his stomach. Kach appeared in all his brilliance, saw his teacher lying dead, and immediately revived him with his newly learnt mantra.

 7. What did Devayani ask Kach to do, and why did Kach refuse?
Ans:-  When Kach was preparing to return home after completing his studies, Devayani asked him not to go away and requested him to marry her, reminding him that she had loved him since he was a student. Kach replied that he respected her very much and considered her dearer than life, but said that she was his sister because both of them had come out of her father, Shukracharya. He said all his love for her was a brother’s love for a sister, and it would be a sin for him to agree to marry her.

 8. How did Devayani react when Kach refused to marry her, and what did she say?
Ans:-  Devayani reminded Kach that her love for him had saved him from death three times and asked why she had done that if not for love. She pleaded with him not to discard her and to accept her as his wife. But Kach said it would be a sin if he agreed to what she asked, and that they should continue their relationship as brother and sister, assuring her that he could not be tempted into sinning.

 9. What curse did Devayani give Kach, and how did Kach respond to it?
Ans:-  Devayani was so disappointed that she became angry and cursed Kach, saying that since he had betrayed her trust, whatever he had learnt would not be able to be practised. Kach replied that he refused her only because she was his sister and that he did not deserve her curse. He said that though she had done that because of her passion, what he had learnt would be useless for him, but he would impart it to someone else and make it useful.

 10. How does the story of Kach and Devayani end?
Ans:-  In spite of Devayani’s pleadings, Kach had to leave. He was received by the Devs with great honour and was greeted by Lord Indra himself. Thus, Kach successfully completed his mission of learning the Sanjivani vidya and returned to help the Devs, even though he could not fulfil Devayani’s wish to marry him, choosing instead to honour their relationship as brother and sister.

Short Questions

1. Who was Anne Sullivan?
Ans:- Anne Sullivan was Helen’s teacher, who was a teacher for the deaf and blind.

2. What happened to Helen Keller when she was very young?
Ans:- Helen Keller became deaf and blind when she was very young.

3. What did Miss Sullivan give Helen on the first day?
Ans:- Miss Sullivan led Helen into her room and gave her a doll.

4. What word was Helen spelling when she imitated her teacher’s finger movements?
Ans:- She was spelling d-o-l-l.

5. What did Miss Sullivan spell on Helen’s palm under the water tap?
Ans:- Miss Sullivan spelt w-a-t-e-r on her other palm.

6. What did Helen come to know through the water game?
Ans:- She came to know that everything had a name.

7. How did Miss Sullivan teach Helen to speak?
Ans:- She asked Helen to touch her lips and throat slowly, and Helen learnt to speak through the movements of the lips and the vibration in the throat.

8. What was Helen’s first spoken word like for her?
Ans:- When she uttered her first word, it gave her boundless delight.

9. What did Helen first read, and what did she read later?
Ans:- Helen first read raised letters and later on read with Braille.

10. Whom did Helen visit at the White House?
Ans:- Helen visited the president, Cleveland, at the White House.

11. In 1890, where did Helen move to, and at what age?
Ans:- In 1890, at the age of about ten, Helen moved to the Perkins Institution.

12. In 1896, which school did Helen move to?
Ans:- In 1896, Helen moved onto the Cambridge School for Young Ladies in Massachusetts.

13. Who edited the story of Helen’s life, and when was it published?
Ans:- The story of her life was edited by John Macy, and it was published in a magazine in 1903.

14. When did Helen graduate, and what was special about her achievement?
Ans:- She graduated from the Red Cliff college on 28th June, 1904, and became the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.

15. By which year did Miss Sullivan become completely blind?
Ans:- Miss Sullivan lost her eyesight completely and became blind by the year 1935.

Long Questions

1. Describe Helen’s first exciting experience with her teacher.
Ans:- Helen’s teacher, Anne Sullivan, came to Helen’s house, and the next day she led Helen into her room and gave her a doll. Helen played with it for a while. Then Miss Sullivan made some finger movements on her palm. It was an exciting experience for Helen. She got interested in that play and started imitating the movements her teacher made with her finger. When she finally succeeded in doing that correctly, she was thrilled, though she didn’t know that she was spelling d-o-l-l.

2. How did the sense of touch help Helen in learning words?
Ans:- Some days later, while Helen and her teacher were walking in the garden, Miss Sullivan suddenly put Helen’s hand under the water tap. As the cool flow of water ran over one hand, she spelt w-a-t-e-r on Helen’s other palm. They played this game every day, touching different objects, and it awakened Helen’s soul. She came to know that everything had a name, and each name gave birth to a new thought. Every object she touched seemed to throb with life, and she felt connected with the world through all the words.

3. How did Miss Sullivan satisfy Helen’s curiosity during their walks?
Ans:- Miss Sullivan used to take Helen for long walks every morning. Helen had a lot of questions to ask, so she would write something on her teacher’s palm, and in turn, the teacher would talk into her palm, the way people talk into a baby’s ear. Her teacher satisfied Helen’s curiosity, and everything around her became full of life, love and joy.

4. How did Helen learn to speak, and what did she do after uttering her first word?
Ans:- The second stage of learning was more difficult and was also based on the sense of touch. Miss Sullivan would speak a word and ask Helen to touch her lips and throat slowly. Helen learnt to speak through the movements of the lips and the vibration in the throat. When she uttered her first word, it gave her boundless delight. She then started talking with her toys, stones, trees and birds in the garden. She felt amazed and delighted when her sister ran to her when she called her, and her dog obeyed her commands. She was able to speak—it was a miracle!

5. How did Miss Sullivan make Helen’s serious studies feel like play?
Ans:- When Helen studied seriously, it seemed more like play than work. Whenever anything delighted or interested Helen, Miss Sullivan would talk about it as if she were a little girl herself. She taught subjects like science by making it so interesting that Helen remembered everything.

6. Describe Helen’s achievements at the Redcliff College.
Ans:- Helen remembered her first day at The Redcliff college in 1900. She knew there were challenges in her way, but she was eager to overcome them. The professors seemed far away, as if they were speaking through a telephone, and the lectures were spelled into her palms as rapidly as possible. She would note down whatever she remembered when she went back home. Here, she began to write about her life, both in Braille and on a normal typewriter, and on 28th June 1904 she graduated, becoming the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.

7. What goal did Helen set for herself, and why?
Ans:- Helen began to feel that she must educate people on ways to help the blind. Her prime goal in life was to spread awareness regarding the poor, neglected state of the blind, their innate abilities and their inspirations. She had to raise funds not only to sustain a living for herself but also to start projects to remove darkness and miseries from the lives of other blind people. She strongly felt that she must give others what she had gained from her teacher Anne.

8. What sacrifice did Miss Sullivan make for Helen, and how did Helen feel about it?
Ans:- Miss Sullivan’s eyesight was worsening day by day, and Helen was deeply concerned about it. Her teacher was brave enough to fight against her problem, but Helen was sorry because her teacher did not heed to her own eye problem and instead continued to help Helen. At last, her teacher lost her eyesight completely and became blind by the year 1935. Miss Sullivan sacrificed her eyesight for Helen, which Helen recognized as a great sacrifice.

9. How did Helen become well-educated and confident?
Ans:- Miss Sullivan taught Helen to read, first raised letters and later Braille. Helen learnt to write with both ordinary and Braille type writers, so she was well on her path to becoming a well-educated person. She was provided all the possible opportunities to develop her abilities, and she made the maximum use of them. As a result, she developed great confidence and even visited the president, Cleveland, at the White House.

10. What does Helen say at the end about her teacher, and why?
Ans:- Helen says that if her teacher had not supported and encouraged her to learn, she would not have enjoyed the beauty of the world. She says she cannot think of herself apart from her teacher. Her heart always speaks: “I love you, teacher.” This shows Helen’s deep gratitude and love for Anne Sullivan, who transformed her life through patience, dedication and eventual sacrifice.

Short Questions

 1. What is one of our favourite festivals in India?
Ans:-  Deepavali, or Diwali, is one of our favourite festivals in India.

2. What is the science of fireworks technically called?
Ans:-  The science of fireworks is technically called ‘pyrotechnics’.

3. Where does the word ‘pyrotechnics’ come from?
Ans:-  It comes from the Greek word, ‘pyr’ meaning fire and ‘technics’ meaning an art.

4. Name the five pyrotechnic effects present in a household match.
Ans:- The five pyrotechnic effects are heat, smoke, light, gas and sound.

5. According to some historians, where was black powder invented?
Ans:-  According to some historians, black powder was invented in India.

 6. Who are generally considered the pioneers of pyrotechnics?
Ans:-  The Chinese are generally considered the pioneers of pyrotechnics.

 7. Who revealed the formula for black powder in the West, and when?
Ans:-  An English monk, Roger Bacon, revealed the formula for black powder in 1242.

 8. What is the basic formula (ratio) of black powder?
Ans:- It is a blend of potassium nitrate, charcoal and sulphur in the ratio of 75:15:10 by weight.

 9. Which metals improved the brilliance of fireworks?
Ans:-  The discovery of aluminium, magnesium and titanium improved the brilliance of fireworks.

 10. In what two ways are colours formed in fireworks?
Ans:-  Colours are formed in one of two ways: luminescence and incandescence.

 11. How is incandescent light produced?
Ans:-  Incandescent light is produced when a substance is heated so much that it begins to glow.

 12. What fuel does a firework use, and with what does it burn?
Ans:- The fuel used is gun powder, and it burns using oxygen.

13. What are the raw materials required to manufacture fireworks?
Ans:- The raw materials required are fuel, binders, and oxidizers (to make it burn), and a few other materials.

 14. From where did India import fireworks before the Second World War?
Ans:-  India used to import fireworks from China.

 15. Which city began manufacturing fireworks for Deepavali during the Second World War?
Ans:-   The safety match producers of Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu began manufacturing fireworks for Deepavali.

Long Questions

 1. What is pyrotechnics and what does it include?
Ans:-  Pyrotechnics is the science of fireworks, from the Greek word ‘pyr’ meaning fire and ‘technics’ meaning an art. It includes not only fireworks but also a whole range of devices that use similar materials and principles, from safety matches that we use every day to solid fuel rocket boosters of the space shuttle.

 2. Describe the development of black powder in India and its spread to the West.
Ans:-  Some historians say that black powder was invented in India. Shukranti, written more than two thousand years ago, has references to weapons similar to guns and projectile weapons. However, the Chinese are generally considered the pioneers of pyrotechnics, and they developed black powder more than one thousand years ago. It took at least two hundred years for the knowledge to spread to the West, and it was only in 1242 that an English monk, Roger Bacon, revealed the formula for black powder. He considered it such a dangerous substance that he wrote of it in a code language.

3. What is the basic formula of black powder, and why is it considered special?
Ans:- The basic formula of black powder, or gun powder, has remained unchanged for centuries. It is a blend of potassium nitrate, charcoal and sulphur in the ratio of 75:15:10 by weight. It is almost the perfect combination, and no further improvements or alterations need to be made. Experts say that this might be the only chemical product still using the same age-old proportions and manufacturing techniques.

4. How have light and colour effects in fireworks improved over time?
Ans:- With the development of modern chemistry, light and colour effects have become common in fireworks. In the last century, the discovery of aluminium, magnesium and titanium, which burn at high temperatures emitting bright light, dramatically improved the brilliance of fireworks. Similarly, colours are a recent development. The principal colour emitters in pyrotechnics were identified after decades of research, and these colours are formed in one of two ways: luminescence and incandescence.

5. Explain how incandescent light is produced.
Ans:- Incandescent light is produced when a substance is heated so much that it begins to glow. Heat causes the substance to become hot and glow, initially emitting infra red, then red, orange, yellow, and white light as it becomes increasingly hotter. When the temperature of a firework is controlled, the glow of its metallic substances can be manipulated to be the desired colour at the proper time.

 6. What is the principle behind a firework, and what is the actual manufacturing process?
Ans:-  The principle behind any firework is that when heat is applied to fuel (the gun powder), it burns using oxygen. Because the fuel is packed tightly to keep the heat in, the burning takes place all of a sudden, which causes the characteristic loud noise. The actual manufacturing process is simple: the raw materials required are fuel, binders, oxidizers (to make it burn), and a few other materials. The ingredients are ground and mixed well, the mixture is pushed through a machine from which it comes out as long rolls or strips, and then rolled in cardboard or old newspapers with a fuse.

7. What is the greatest danger of pyrotechnics, and what are scientists trying to do about it?
Ans:-  The greatest danger of pyrotechnics is that it deals with fire. The industry is notorious for its accidents, whether in the U.S.A., Japan or India. Though the mixture is stable if kept cool and dry, it can catch fire if heat is accidently applied, through too much friction sometimes, or from a spark or an impact. Scientists are looking for ways of making fireworks safer.

8. Describe how fireworks are manufactured in Sivakasi and the conditions there.
Ans:-  In Sivakasi, fireworks are manufactured in a number of small units. Three months before the festival is the busiest time for these units, and fireworks are transported to every nook and corner of the country. However, the working conditions of these units are far from satisfactory. There are very few testing facilities for quality or uniformity, and hardly any safety measures in force. This is why we hear of accidents in Sivakasi year after year. It is also very difficult to get information on how to manufacture fireworks because it is not considered safe to give everybody the details; only a very few reliable persons are taught this art.

9. Why is it important to observe safety rules while playing with fireworks in India?
Ans:-  In many countries, fireworks are not allowed to be used by individuals; only community displays, specially organized with the help of experts, are allowed with great care taken for safety. However, since even children are allowed to play with fireworks in India, it is important to observe certain safety rules so that accidents and injuries can be avoided.

10. What safety precautions should be taken while storing, handling and lighting fireworks?
Ans:-  Fireworks should be stored, handled and lit with care. They should never be stored or unpacked near a flame, gas cylinder or heater. One should never wear long, loose clothes or nylon clothes when lighting crackers, since the powder in crackers is poisonous and should never be carried loose in your pocket or hand. Fireworks should never ever be lit inside a house. One must never bend over a firework when lighting it and never use fireworks to frighten people. If in spite of being careful you get a burn, you should go to a doctor instead of applying oil or ointment.