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Bepin Babu was a loner. He was not f; a good mixer. He had only a few friends and l he didn’t like spending time in idle chat.

A Memorable Event in My Childhood

Life is full of events of all types – some are ordinary, some of special importance; some are pleasant, some unpleasant; some serious, some humorous. Of these, some events fade away from our memory, while we remember some forever. I distinctly remember one such event.

I was then about seven years old. We lived in a small town, where we had a small house of our own, with a verandah and a compound. In summer we usually slept in the compound under the open sky. Though the days were hot, the nights were cool and pleasant.

On one such summer night, I was asleep in my bed with a sheet over me. In the middle of the night, I had a vague feeling ‘ that someone had got into my bed and was lying beside me. In those days, it was usual ! for my kid brother to share my bed, as he was very fond of me. Sometimes he used to creep into my bed at any time of the night. So that night I thought it was he who wanted to sleep by my side. Unconsciously I stretched out my sheet and covered him.

I do not know for how many hours we lay there in the same bed. Early in the morning, a loud barking of dogs in the street disturbed my sleep. But when I heard a bark in my own bed, I woke up with a start. As I sat up and opened my eyes, out leapt a dog from the bed and rushed to the gate to join the barking dogs! A shiver rein down my spine. But it was for a moment only.

The next moment I realized how funny the whole situation was, and burst out laughing. So it was not my younger brother, but a dog who was with me in my bed. He must have entered the compound before the gate was locked at night; At breakfast, I narrated the night’s incident, and the whole family was highly amused. Even now, I chuckle to myself when I remember this hilarious incident. Those who listen to my midsummer night’s adventure roar with laughter.

1. The words And yet …‘ express surprise. Bepin Choudhury himself knew that he was working quite responsibly in a big firm where nothing had gone wrong so far for his forgetfulness that the other man wanted to prove.

2. The other man knew that Bepin Choudhury always carried a bag of books on his shoulder. He also knew that his wife had died and his brother was Insane.

3. According to Bepin Choudhury, during Durga Puja In ‘58 he was In Kanpur at his friend Haridas Bagchl’s place.

4. Bepin Choudhury dropped the Idea of writing to Haridas Bagchi because he remembered that Haridas had left with his wife for Japan some weeks ago, and he didn’t have his address.

1. This expression – ‘raised his eyebrows, bit his tongue’ – indicates confusion on the part of Bepin Choudhury.

2. The two evidences that the other man quoted as proofs that Bepin Choudhury was in Ranchi are :

i. That he had a fall in Hudroo and cut his right knee.

ii. That he had stayed in a bungalow with Dinesh Mukerji.

3. A bawarchi prepared meals at Dinesh Mukerji’s place.

4. Bepin Choudhury had an argument with Dinesh Mukerji on the moon landing.

1. 1. are… saying

2. had

3. brought

2. 1. noticed

2. was occupying

3. could make

This is a humorous story about a man named Bepin Choudhury who was made to think that he had completely lost his memory of a certain period in his life. Bepin Choudhury lived all alone and had few friends. He used to read books to pass his time. He was fond of reading crime stories, ghost stories and thrillers. Every Monday he visited a shop in the New Market to buy books. One Monday he found a man looking strangely towards him. He seemed surprised that Bepin Babu had not recognised him. He reminded Bepin of his Ranchi visit in 1958.

He introduced himself as Parimal Ghose and said that he was also with him. But Bepin Babu had never been to Ranchi. He tried to convince Mr Ghose of this, but he would not agree. He told Bepin Babu many details of his private life and claimed that he himself had told him all these things. He also narrated some incidents which occurred during his stay in Ranchi. Bepin Babu left the shop and tried to forget all about Mr Ghose but to no use. The man seemed to know some intimate details like the bag of books, his wife’s death, his brother’s insanity and so on.

But Bepin was dead sure that he had never visited Ranchi in all his life. Parimal Ghose had also said that Mr Dinesh Mukerji was in Ranchi at that time. Bepin Babu knew him well. So he thought of going to him. He, then, rejected the idea because it looked ridiculous and may even prompt Dinesh to suspect the soundness of his mind. Moreover, Bepin Babu feared that such a query would invite bitter sarcasm from Dinesh, who is known for his ruthless ways with the friends.

The next day in his office, the incident again came to his mind. He rang up Dinesh. To his surprise, Dinesh too confirmed his visit to Ranchi. In despair, Bepin Babu slammed the receiver and held his head with his hands.
Bepin Babu had a reputation for being a tireless worker in his firm. But that day he was feeling tired and giddy. He left his office and came home. When he lay in his bed, his servant told him that Chuni Babu wanted to see him. Though at first, he refused to meet Chuni Babu, the nagging thought about the to pass his time. He was fond of reading crime stories, ghost stories and thrillers.

Every Monday he visited a shop in the New Market to buy books. One Monday he found a man looking strangely towards him. He seemed surprised that Beptn Babu had not recognised trip which he had supposedly taken to Ranchi compelled him to seek confirmation about It from Chuni Babu. He hurried down the stairs. He asked Chuni Babu if he remembered something about the trip to Ranch!. Chunflal confirmed the facts In such a manner that It struck him like a hammer.

Bepin Babu sighed and shook his head. He decided to visit a specialist, Dr Paresh Chanda. After listening to his problem, Dr Chanda said that he must have been to Ranchi but due to some reason the entire incident had slipped out of his mind. He suggested Bepin Babu to go to Ranchi once again. The sight of place might remind him of the trip.

Bepin Babu, as suggested by the doctor, undertook a visit to Ranchi. He went from place to place but nothing came to his mind. His head was getting burdened and he felt more sure that he had never been there. So he fell down unconscious and came to himself only in the evening when he was discovered by a group of picnickers.

Next morning, Bepin Babu was back home. He was totally hopeless. He realised that he was going to lose the balance of his mind. He Immediately called Dr Chanda. Then after a shower, he got Into bed. Just then he received a letter from Chunilal. After reading It. he came to understand the entire episode. It was all planned by Chunilal who wanted to punish him for his unfeeling behaviour.

Now all the tension of Bepin Babu was gone. So when Dr Chanda came, he invented a funny excuse. He said that he was fine. He had sent for him only for a painkiller as his hip was In pain due to a fall In Ranchi.

(1) He had to buy at least five at a time so that they would last him through the week.

(2) Bepin Babu had hardly been to Ranchi.

(3) Everybody knows Bepin Choudhury.

(4) What an excellent memory he had!

(5) Though the river breeze was bracing, a slight discomfort lingered in Bepin Babu’s mind.

(6) Unless he had really been to Ranchi, what would Dinesh think?

(7) As Bepin Babu sipped a cold drink in his air-conditioned living room, he felt at ease again.

1. Bepin Babu asked the man which month in ’58 he was talking about. The man replied that it was October. Soon Bepin Babu declined and explained that he had spent Puja in ’58 with a friend in Kanpur. Then he added that he was making a mistake. He wished the other man goodbye.

2. Bepin Babu dialled a call to Dinesh and confirmed that the person on the other end was Dinesh. Then he introduced himself as Bepin. Dinesh from the other end soon recognised Bepin and asked him if there was anything for him to know. Bepin Babu told him that he just wanted to find out if he had recalled an incident which had taken place in ’58.

(1) A car was arranged for to take you to the Hudroo falls by me.

(2) Still a mistake is being made by you.

(3) What is being said by you?

(4) Can’t anything be recalled by you?

(5) You will be told more by me.

(6) Your family was spoken about by you. ,

(7) The books had been paid for by Bepin Babu.

(8) Such an incident should be forgotten by him.

June 24 was the first day of monsoon mist. All the birds fell silent as the mist climbed the hills. The author calls the mist melancholy because not only does it conceal the hills, it blankets them in silence too.

On June 25, there was some genuine early monsoon rain. It was warm and humid, contrary to the cold high-altitude weather that the author had been experiencing all year. It s seemed to the author that the plants knew it too, and the first cobra lily reared its head from the ferns. He described the weather as ‘a paradise that might have been’.

On August 2, it rained all night. There had been no storm or thunder. The author experienced a feeling of “being untouched by, and yet in touch with, the rain”. March 23 marked the end of winter. The blackest cloud he had ever seen spread over Mussoorie and – then it hailed marbles for half an hour, The hailstorm cleared the sky and he saw a rainbow forming.

After the rains, there come the scarlet minivets. They flit silently among the leaves like brilliant jewels. Even if they take shelter on leafy trees, they cannot conceal themselves because of their bright colour. Sometimes they plan to go unnoticed by remaining absolutely silent, but they don’t succeed in hiding themselves. A pair of drongos chase them away.

(i) My friend has one of the fastest cars on the road. 

(ii) This is the most interesting story I have ever read. 

(iii) What you are doing now is easier than what you did yesterday. 

(iv) Ramesh and his wife are both short. 

(v) He arrived late as usual. Even the chief guest came earlier than he did.

(i) He has two brothers. Both are lawyers. 

(ii) More than ten persons called. All of them wanted to see you. 

(iii) They all cheered the team. 

(iv) Both her parents are teachers. 

(v) How much have you got? Give me all of it.

(i) There was his assistant on the line and I told him I had come in a wheelchair from India. 

(ii) You get fed up with people asking you to be brave, as if you have a courage account on which you are too lazy to draw a cheque. 

(iii) There he was, tapping at a little switch in his hand trying to find words on his computer. 

(iv) You look at his eyes which can speak, and they are saying something huge and urgent − it is hard to tell what. 

(v) It doesn’t do much good to know that there are people smiling with admiration to see you breathing still.

The writer expressed his gratitude to Stephen Hawking because he had been an inspiration for him. He saw Stephen as the embodiment of his bravest self. He felt that if he had been as brave as Stephen, he would have achieved a lot. He felt he was moving towards that embodiment that he had believed in for many years. That is why he expressed his greatest gratitude to him as he had made him realise what great heights he could reach.

(i) Reading session 

(ii) Smiling face 

(iii) Revolving chair 

(iv) Walking tour 

(v) Dancing doll 

(vi) Winning chance

(i) I met a traveller from an antique land.

(ii) I need special guidance in mathematics. I can’t count the number of times I have failed in the subject.

(iii) The guide called Stephen Hawking a worthy successor to Isaac Newton.

(iv) His other problems paled into insignificance besides this unforeseen mishap.

(v) The meeting was chaired by the youngest member of the board.

(vi) Some people say ‘yours truly’ when they informally refer to themselves.

(vii) I wish it had been a drawn match. We would have been spared the noise of celebrations, at least.

When there is endless rain for days together, everything becomes damp and soggy. There is no place for anybody to go to. The hillsides are lush as late monsoon flowers such as wild balsam, dahlias, begonias and ground orchids begin to appear.

There is endless rain, so almost at the end of August lush monsoon growth has been in abundance. The seeds of the cobra lily have turned red. There are firm, green and upright ferns. Ground orchids have come up. Wild dahlias of red, yellow and magenta have raised their heads from the rocky crevices. Thus, monsoon growth has reached its peak.

storm, hail, lightning, thunder, rainbow, raincoat, etc.

1. 1. Above

2. In spite of

3. a

4. that

5. through

6. and

2. 1. that

2. but

3. who

4. a

5. to

6. the

When monsoon begins, the first cobra ; lily appears from the ferns. When the seeds of the cobra lily turn red, it signifies that the monsoon is coming to an end.

1. A leopard, and several thousand leeches were the seasonal visitors. They are so called because they come out only in the rainy season.

2. Bijju’s mother came screaming curses at the leopard and it ran away without attacking Bijju’s cows.

3. The writer will get soon used to a little bloodletting by leeches every day.

4. Minivets sometimes contrive to go unnoticed as they are aggressively chased by drongos.

D. Both ‘A’ and ‘C’

D. Both ‘A’ and ‘C’

i. The word ‘springing’ means ‘to develop suddenly’. The writer says that tin roofs, are prone to developing unexpected leaks.

ii. The writer was physically untouched by the rain as the tin roof stopped the rain from leaking in.

iii. The writer is in touch with the rain at the same time because he can feel the rain by listening to its drumming sound on the corrugated tin roof.

1. drummed

2. dripped

3. swished

4. tinkling

5. cawing

1. whom

2. the

3. under

4. Incidentally

5. a

6. of

In the first half of August, it rains continuously. There is no storm, no thunder. It is just the steady swish of a tropical downpour. It stops for a day or so, but again there is endless rain and a permanent mist. The sun is not seen for days together. Everything is damp and soggy.

Stephen Hawking’s mind was active with many thoughts that he wanted to express. However, his thoughts came out in phrases, without reflecting his feelings or emotions. His sentences were mere lines, without any sentiment. The writer felt he could understand his anguish and frustration at that. His anguish could be the helplessness to express so many things which lie unexpressed in his mind because of his disability. Depending on the computer to express himself that to in part is really painful.

(ii) he forced the scientist to use his voice synthesiser.

The summer monsoon brings heavy ’ rains and creates a moisture-rich atmosphere, while the winter monsoon generated long periods of dry and arid conditions. The summer monsoon generally begins in April and lasts through late September, while the winter monsoon arrives in October and ends in March. Rainfall during the summer monsoon s can be very intense and may even cause flash floods. Winter monsoons are usually less powerful than summer monsoons and may bring high winds in addition to dry air.

When there is endless rain for days together, everything becomes damp and soggy. There is no place for anybody to go to. The s hillsides are lush as late monsoon flowers – such as wild balsam, dahlias, begonias and I ground orchids begin to appear.

The nephews reported to the Raja respectfully that the bird’s education had been completed. The Raja enquired if it hopped. t, The nephews replied loudly that it never hopped. Then the Raja enquired further if it s flew. Once more the nephews replied negatively.

1. The writer is alone in the house sitting in a liquid silence.

2. The writer is surrounded by the rhythm of rain. He feels the steady drift of water on leaves, on lemons, on roof. It is drumming on drenched dahlias and window panes. And the mist has held the house in a dark caress.

3. Through his window, the writer sees the rain stopping and then starting once again. The trees look grey.

4. There is the blackest cloud settle over Mussoorie and it hailed marbles for half an hour. Then the sky became quite clear after this.

1. by

2. the

3. although

4. to

5. a

6. yet

Mica is mostly found in the state of Jharkhand in India. The other two mica producing states are Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The writer asked Stephen Hawking if he found it annoying that someone like him came and disturbed him in his work. To this query, the scientist replied yes, frankly and honestly. Then, he smiled his one-way smile and this was what endeared him to the writer. The writer felt that he was looking at one of the most beautiful men in the world.Being disabled himself the writer knew that it is the soul which matters the most not the body, which it nothing but is accessory.

1. 1. mist

2. silent

3. climbing

4. melancholy

5. conceal

6. blankets

2. 1. drumming

2. corrugated

3. thunder

4. steady

5. tropical

6. awake

B. the writer goes to sleep.

(1) Harry walked through the kitchen and grasped up two cookies quickly on the way.

(2) You must hold the child away from her mother until the mother is infection-free. !

(3) He’s my brother, so I support him completely.

(4) The bright light saturated the leaves with a golden glow.

(5) The blackest cloud settled down over the city.

(1) They are blanketed in silence by it.

(2) His sister is being called to by Bijju.

(3) A certain privacy is afforded by the mist.

(4) I was asked to describe the hill-station by a school boy.

(5) The arrival of some seasonal visitors has been heralded by the rains.

(6) Sticks are being chopped up by a woman.

(7) The sun hasn’t been seen by us for eight or nine days.

1. have, seen

2. hailed

3. to clear

4. forming

The two main bauxite producing states are Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.

1. Tarapur-Along the border of Maharashtra, Gujarat.
2. Rawat Bhata-Near Kota in Rajasthan.
3. Kalpakkam-Tamil Nadu.
4. Narora-Near Buland Shahar (U.P.)

1. a reading session 

2. a smile face 

3. a revolve chair 

4. a walking tour 

5. a dancing dill

6. a winning chance.

1. traveller

2. guidance

3. successor

4. paled

5. chaired

6. truly

7. drawn

When Stephen Hawking said that things such as disabled Olympics were a waste of time, the writer agreed with him. He remembered the years which he spent trying to play a Spanish guitar that was considerably larger than he was. He was very happy when he unstringed it one night. It supports Stephen Hawking’s idea that the disabled should only concentrate on what they are good at, and not take up things which do not suit to their taste.

Answer is C. Disability