EVENTS CONVENT HIGH SCHOOL
15/02/2021
CLASS-9 SLOT-2
English
Chapter-10
Kathmandu
_______________________________________
I. Answer these questions in one or two words or in short
phrases.
Question 1.Name the two temples the author visited in
Kathmandu.
Answer:Pashupatinath
and Baudhnath Stupa.
Question 2.The writer says, “All this I wash down with Coca
Cola.” What does ‘all this’ refer to?
Answer:Com-on-the-cob
and marzipan.
Question 3.What does Vikram Seth compare to the quills of a
porcupine?
Answer:The flutes
tied on the top of the flute seller’s pole.
Question 4.Name five kinds of flutes.
Answer:The reed
neh, the recorder, the Japanese shakuhachi, the deep bansuri, the breathy
flutes of South America, the high pitched Chinese flutes.
II. Answer each question in a short paragraph.
Question 1.What difference does the author note between the
flute seller and the other hawkers?
Answer:The author
finds a difference in selling the articles. The flute seller does not shout out
his wares. He makes a sale in a curiously offhanded way as if this was incidental
to his enterprise.
Question 2.What is the belief at Pashupatinath about the end
of Kaliyug?
Answer:People
believe that when a small shrine emerges fully on Bagwati river, the goddess
inside will escape, and the evil period of the Kalyug will end on earth.
III. Answer the following questions in not more than 100-150
words each.
Question 1.Compare and contrast the atmosphere in and around
the Baudhnath shrine with the Pashupatinath temple.
Answer:At
Pashupatinath there is an atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’. Priests, hawkers,
devotees, tourists, cows, monkeys, pigeons and dogs roam through the grounds.
There are so many worshippers that some people trying to get the priest’s
attention are elbowed aside by others pushing their way to the front. At the
Baudhnath stupa, the Buddhist shrine of Kathmandu, there is a sense of
stillness. Its immense white dome is ringed by a road. Small shops stand on its
outer edge. Most of the shops are owned by Tibetan immigrants. There are no
crowds and this is a haven of quietness in the busy streets around.
Question 2.How does the author describe Kathmandu’s busiest
streets?
Answer:The author
says that Kathmandu is vivid, mercenary, religious, with small shrines to
flower-adorned deities along the narrowest and busiest streets. There are fruit
sellers, flute sellers, hawkers of postcards, shops selling western cosmetics,
film rolls and chocolate or copper utensils and Nepalese antiques. Film songs
blare out from the radios, car horns sound, bicycle bells ring, stray cows low,
vendors shout out their wares. The author buys a com-on- the-cob roasted in a charcoal
brazier on the pavement. He also buys coca cola and orange drink.
Question 3.“To hear any flute is to be drawn into the
commonality of all mankind.” Why does the author say this?
Answer:The author
says this because he is aware of the fact that music appeals to senses. It
gives pleasure to every listener. The flute seller does not sell only one kind
of flute. He has various types of flutes that represent different customs and
culture. The flute seller is a wise sales person. He does not shout out his
wares. He plays melodious tunes which fascinate others. Mankind does not have
multiple appearances and shapes. It is universal and cosmopolitan. Music
soothes everyone’s heart irrespective of their caste, colour and creed. So the
author says that to hear any flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all
mankind.
Thinking about language
Question 1.Match
the phrasal verbs in column A with their meanings in column B.
A B
(i) break out (d)
to start suddenly, (usually a fight, a war or a disease)
(ii) break off (a)
to come apart due to force
(iii) break down (f)
stop working
(iv) break away
(from someone) (b) end a
relationship
(v) break up (e)
to escape from someone’s grip
(vi) break into (c)
break and enter illegally; unlawful trespassing
Question 2.Use the suffixes -ion or
-tion to form nouns from the following verbs. Make the necessary changes in the
spellings of the words.
Example: proclaim-proclamation
Question 3.Now fill in the blanks with suitable words from
the ones that you have formed.
1.
Mass literacy was possible only after the of the invention
printing machine.
2.
Ramesh is unable to tackle the situation as he lacks imagination
3.
I could not resist the temptation to open the letter.
4.
Hardwork and dedication are the main keys to success.
5.
The children were almost fainting with exhaustion after being made to stand in the sun.
