"Past, Present, Future" is a short poem by Emily Brontë, a nineteenth-century English writer. It is a conversation between the poet and a happy child. The poet asks what the past, the present and the future are like, and the child answers with three pictures from nature.
Key points
The poem is written as a dialogue (question and answer).
The past is like a soft, mild autumn evening with a wind that sighs sadly – a pleasant time that has ended and cannot come back.
The present is like a green, flowery spray (small branch) where a young bird sits gathering strength to fly – a time to prepare for the future.
The future is like a huge, shining sea under a cloudless sun, stretching into infinity – unknown but exciting, with no end.
Brontë often uses nature to express thoughts and feelings.
Message: enjoy memories of the past, use the present to build strength, and look forward to the future with hope.
Important terms
thee – old form of "you".
mournfully – sadly.
spray – a small branch with leaves and flowers.
mighty – very big and powerful.
infinity – endless space or time.
Language study
Simile: compares two different things using "as" or "like" – as tall as a tree.
Metaphor: says one thing is another, without "as" or "like" – Time is money; Books are our friends.
The three metaphors in the poem: the past = an autumn evening; the present = a green and flowery spray; the future = a sea beneath a cloudless sun.
Adjectives in the poem: evening – soft, mild (autumn); spray – green, flowery; sea – mighty, glorious, dazzling.
5 important questions
Q1. Who are the speakers in the poem?
The poet and a smiling, happy child.
Q2. How does the child describe the past?
As a soft and mild autumn evening with a wind that sighs mournfully – a pleasant time that has ended.
Q3. Why does the young bird sit on the spray?
It is gathering its power (strength) to fly away – just as we prepare in the present for the future.
Q4. Write the adjectives used for the sea.
Mighty, glorious and dazzling.
Q5. Find the three metaphors in the poem.
The past is an autumn evening, the present is a flowery spray, and the future is a sea beneath a cloudless sun.
Exam tip
Learn the difference between a simile and a metaphor with one example each – it is a common grammar question.
"Odd One In" is an extract from a story by Tithi Tavora. Rima, a stylish and proud girl, makes fun of Malti, a new girl from another State, because of her oily hair, long skirt and weak English. Malti turns out to be a talented singer and a bright student. In the end Rima's own friends turn against her for being cruel, and Rima realises she behaved badly but is too proud to admit it.
Key points
Rima tells her parents that the new girl Malti is "funny" because she cannot speak much English.
Rima's father, Mr Sen, disapproves and says Rima's Hindi is no better than Malti's English. Her parents fear she is becoming a snob.
Rima's gang (Shahnaz, Clare, Neha) mock Malti's accent ("Gud marning"), oily hair and long skirt.
Malti answers questions correctly in class and wins first prize in the Hindi song competition with her melodious voice. Rima wins in English songs but feels no joy.
Malti is quiet, studious and good at sports; her forte is mathematics. Many girls start asking for her help.
When Malti politely asks Rima to help her improve her English, Rima insults her ("countrified types"). Malti bursts into tears.
Shahnaz, Neha and Clare call Rima's behaviour horrid. Rima is shocked and walks off in a huff.
Theme: never judge people by their appearance or accent; true worth lies in talent, kindness and character.
Important terms
insufferable – very hard to bear.
snob – a person who looks down on others.
forte – a person's strong point.
belied – gave a false idea of.
clique – a small group that does not let others join.
jeer – make rude remarks loudly.
Language study
Common nouns: general names – girl, town, river, pencil.
Proper nouns: names of particular persons, places or things – Rima, Nashik, Sahyadri. They always begin with a capital letter.
Proper nouns of more than one word: each main word is capitalised – Seva Hospital, The Times of India.
Adverbs ending in -ly from the story: quietly, sadly, rudely, cattily, snidely, cheerfully, stubbornly, mercilessly, roundly.
5 important questions
Q1. Why did Rima think Malti was not smart?
Because of her oily hair, bindi, long skirt and weak English accent.
Q2. What did Mr Sen say about Rima's attitude?
He said the same could be said of Rima's Hindi and feared she was turning into a snob.
Q3. Why did Rima feel no joy even though she came first?
Malti's beautiful singing won everyone's praise, and Rima was jealous.
Q4. How did Rima's friends react when Malti cried?
Shahnaz, Neha and Clare said Rima's behaviour was horrid and turned against her.
Q5. What is the message of the story?
We should not judge people by their looks or accent; we should respect and help everyone.
Exam tip
Practise a character sketch of Malti and Rima (appearance, studies, singing, attitude) – a likely question.
"In Time of Silver Rain" is a joyful poem by Langston Hughes, an American writer and activist. It describes how gentle spring rain (called "silver rain") brings new life to the earth – grass, flowers, butterflies, trees and children all seem to celebrate.
Key points
When the silver rain falls, the earth puts forth new life – green grass grows and flowers lift their heads.
The wonder of life spreads over the plain; the words "Of life" are repeated three times to show excitement.
Butterflies lift their silken wings "to catch a rainbow cry".
Trees put forth new leaves that "sing in joy" beneath the sky.
Boys and girls walking down the road go singing too.
The rain is the rain of spring, when spring and life are new – not heavy monsoon rain.
Hughes started a style of poetry where rhythm and spontaneous expression are important. The short lines make us notice every detail.
Theme: rain brings joy, freshness and new life to all of nature and to people.
Important terms
silver rain – light, shining rain.
puts forth – produces, brings out.
plain – a large area of flat land.
silken – soft and smooth like silk.
Language study
Alliteration: the same sound at the beginning of two or more words in a line – "Nayna needs new notebooks". Example from the poem: "Green grasses grow".
"The King's Choice" is a folk tale retold by Shankar. A greedy lion king appoints a fox (adviser), a leopard (bodyguard) and a vulture (messenger). They lead him into the desert to hunt a camel, where his paws get burnt. The clever fox brings the camel to carry the lion home. The selfish courtiers then plot to get the camel eaten, but the wise lion sees through them, drives them away and makes the loyal camel his friend.
Key points
The lion was big, strong and fierce; "the more the lion had, the more he wanted", so he set up a court.
Fox – wise and clever – adviser; leopard – watchful and swift – bodyguard; vulture – can fly high – messenger. They took an oath of loyalty.
The vulture praised camel meat. The fox and leopard, not wanting the vulture to seem wiser, said he should lead the way.
In the hot desert the lion's paws were burnt by the sand. The leopard wanted to run away; the vulture wanted to wait and eat the lion later; the fox made a plan.
The fox tricked the camel by saying the lion had killed his master; the camel carried the lion home.
The lion thanked the camel for saving his life and promised him protection – the courtiers were shocked.
The hungry courtiers planned to make the camel offer himself. The vulture, fox and leopard each "offered" to be eaten; the honest camel offered too.
The lion said he would eat them in the order they offered – the three ran away and never returned.
Moral: "To be king is good. But to be kind is better."
Important terms
fierce – violent, frightening.
court – the king and his officials.
oath of loyalty – a promise to be faithful.
in awe – with fear and respect.
lone – only one.
Language study
Countable nouns can be counted and have singular and plural forms – boy/boys, country/countries, watch/watches.
This lesson shows four different ways of inviting people to the same event – the inauguration of the social-work project "Seeing Eyes, Helping Hands" at New Vision High School, Girgaon. We see a formal printed invitation, a notice on the notice board, a telephone call to a newspaper editor and an oral message from a student to his mother.
Key points
Event: inauguration of the project on Sunday, 9 July 2017, 10 am to 11 am, in the Assembly Hall.
Inaugurated by: Smt. Vimala Naik, former Principal and President of Sahayak Samaj.
Presided over by: Dr A. M. Chaudhary, Dean, New Life Medical College and Hospital.
Sent by: Principal Suhasini Ambekar, teacher-in-charge V. S. Ajinkya, student secretaries Komal Shelar and Nitin Valke.
A – Formal invitation: printed, polite ("We solicit your presence…"), covers all details – who, what, when, where, who inaugurates and presides.
B – Notice: put on the school notice board inviting Std VII students and their parents; written in the third person, gives the same facts.
C – Telephone call (oral, formal): Mr Ajinkya calls Mr Shashank, news editor of Girgaon Times, asking the paper to cover the function because the project will make students aware of their social responsibilities.
D – Oral invitation (informal): Sameer tells his mother about the function; she says one parent will go with him.
Aim of the project: students will visit places and work for others turn by turn.
Important terms
inauguration – the formal opening of a project or event.
solicit – ask for politely.
preside over – be in charge of a meeting or function.
venue – the place where an event happens.
notice – a written announcement put up for people to read.
Language study
A good invitation answers these points: who is inviting, what the programme is, the name of the project, who will inaugurate, who will preside, date and time, venue, and a polite request to attend.
Formal language: "We solicit your presence", "has kindly agreed to preside". Informal language: "Mummy, you and Daddy are invited…".
Telephone etiquette: greet, introduce yourself, ask for the person, state the purpose clearly, thank them.
5 important questions
Q1. Name the four types of invitations in the lesson.
A formal invitation, a written notice, a telephone (oral) invitation and another oral invitation from a student to a parent.
Q2. Who will inaugurate the project and who will preside?
Smt. Vimala Naik will inaugurate it; Dr A. M. Chaudhary will preside.
Q3. Why did Mr Ajinkya call the news editor?
To invite him and request that his paper cover the function prominently, so other schools might follow the idea.
Q4. What will the students do in the project?
They will visit places and work for others, turn by turn.
Q5. Write the date, time and venue of the function.
Sunday, 9 July 2017, 10 am to 11 am, in the Assembly Hall of New Vision High School, Girgaon.
Exam tip
Practise writing a formal invitation for a home function – include who, what, date, time, venue and a polite request.
"A Collage" is a one-page activity about Swami Vivekananda. It gives a short introduction to his life along with some of his inspiring quotes arranged as a collage, and asks students to make their own collage on a great personality.
Key points
Swami Vivekananda was born Narendra Datta.
He made the world aware of the greatness of Indian philosophy.
At the Parliament of World's Religions (Chicago), he began his speech with "Sisters and brothers of America!" and received a two-minute standing ovation.
He stressed selflessness and service to mankind; he is regarded as a patriotic saint.
"Arise! Awake! And stop not till the goal is reached."
Talk to yourself at least once a day, or you may miss meeting an excellent person – yourself.
Take up one idea, make it your life, think of it, dream of it, live on it – this is the way to success.
"Whatever you think, that you will be" – think yourself weak and you will be weak; think yourself strong and you will be strong.
Quotes shown in the collage (in simple words):
Activity: collect pictures, quotes and information about your favourite great historical personality and make a collage; hold a class exhibition.
Important terms
collage – a picture made by sticking together photos, cuttings and words.
philosophy – deep ideas about life and truth.
standing ovation – people stand up and clap to show great respect.
selflessness – thinking of others before yourself.
patriotic – having love for one's country.
Language study
Quotations are written inside inverted commas and usually begin with a capital letter: "Arise! Awake!"
Imperative sentences give advice or orders: Arise. Take up one idea. Stop not.
Exclamation mark (!) shows strong feeling.
A collage combines pictures, quotes and a brief description – use short, catchy lines.
5 important questions
Q1. What was Swami Vivekananda's original name?
Narendra Datta.
Q2. How did he begin his famous speech, and how did the audience react?
He began with "Sisters and brothers of America!" and received a two-minute standing ovation.
Q3. What values did Swami Vivekananda emphasise?
Selflessness and service to mankind.
Q4. What does "Whatever you think, that you will be" mean?
Our thoughts shape us – if we think we are strong, we become strong; if we think we are weak, we become weak.
Q5. What is a collage?
An arrangement of pictures, quotes and short descriptions put together on one sheet.
Exam tip
Remember two quotes of Swami Vivekananda and be ready to explain one in your own words.
"From a Railway Carriage" is a poem by R. L. Stevenson. The poet looks out of the window of a fast-moving train. Bridges, houses, fields, animals, people and stations rush past so quickly that each sight is seen only for a moment and then is gone for ever. The rhythm of the poem sounds like the beat of a running train.
Key points
The train is faster than fairies and witches.
Stanza 1 sights: bridges, houses, hedges, ditches, horses and cattle in the meadows, the hill and the plain, painted stations.
Animals seem to be "charging along like troops in a battle"; the sights "fly as thick as driving rain"; stations "whistle by" in the wink of an eye.
Stanza 2 sights: a child who clambers and scrambles gathering brambles; a tramp who stands and gazes; a green (grassy patch) for stringing daisies.
Stanza 3 sights: a runaway cart lumping along with a man and load; a mill; a river.
Lines beginning with "Here is" show things close to the train; "And there" shows things farther away.
Last line: "Each a glimpse and gone for ever!" – the sights pass so fast that we cannot see them again; this can make us a little sad.
The quick, regular rhythm imitates the sound of the train wheels.
Important terms
carriage – a coach of a train.
hedges – rows of bushes forming a fence.
ditches – long narrow channels dug in the ground.
clambers – climbs with difficulty.
brambles – thorny bushes with berries.
tramp – a homeless wanderer.
glimpse – a very quick look.
Language study
Simile (comparison using "like" or "as"): "charging along like troops in a battle"; "fly as thick as driving rain".
"The Souvenir" is a science-fiction story translated from the Marathi story 'Bhet' by Lakshman Londhe. In the future, a girl named Sayali goes on a school trip to the moon. She enjoys Sky Watch, a moon circus and Neil Armstrong's monument. Forgetting the instructions, she buys heavy-looking stone earrings for her mother from a roadside shop outside the settlement. Back on earth the earrings turn out to be far too heavy, because she had bought them under the moon's weak gravity.
Key points
Sayali travels in a space shuttle; the earth becomes smaller and the blue sky turns jet black.
The trip was exorbitantly expensive, but her mother sent her; earlier generations thought Europe, or even Delhi and Kolkata, was a long trip.
The shuttle orbits the moon once every 32 minutes; the dome-shaped settlements look like Eskimo igloos.
At the Neil Armstrong base, the receptionist gives two instructions: (1) the moon's gravity is 1/6 of the earth's, so be careful outside the settlements; (2) buy souvenirs only from shops inside the settlements, not from unauthorised shops outside.
Sky Watch: no atmosphere, so stars shine dazzling bright; the earth looks 13 times bigger and 70 times brighter than the moon seen from earth.
Moon circus: spectators sit inside a tent while the circus is outside; a gymnast jumps 27 metres high.
Third day: Neil Armstrong's preserved footprint and statue (landed there a hundred years earlier) with his famous words.
Outside, Sayali buys red earrings for one thousand rupees from a roadside seller.
On earth her mother asks how she can wear such heavy earrings – Sayali realises her mistake.
Message: follow instructions; think before you buy.
Important terms
souvenir – something kept as a reminder of a place.
panorama – a very wide view.
out of this world – extraordinary (here also literally "not on the earth").
exorbitantly – extremely (costly).
unauthorised – without official permission.
Language study
Collective nouns: a class of students, a herd of cattle, a flock of sheep, a team of players, a list of names. They have plurals too: classes, herds, teams.
Punctuation: full stop at the end of a statement or order and in abbreviations (B.A.); comma for a short pause and to separate items in a list.
5 important questions
Q1. What two instructions did the receptionist give?
Be careful outside the settlements because the moon's gravity is 1/6 of the earth's, and buy souvenirs only from shops inside the settlements.
Q2. What was special about the Sky Watch on the moon?
With no atmosphere, the stars shone very brightly and the earth looked thirteen times bigger and seventy times brighter.
Q3. Why was the circus seating unique?
The spectators sat inside a tent while the circus took place outside, where the moon's low gravity allowed huge jumps.
Q4. What mistake did Sayali make?
She ignored the instruction and bought earrings from an unauthorised roadside shop outside the settlement.
Q5. Why did the earrings become heavy on the earth?
She had bought them under the moon's gravity, which is only one-sixth of the earth's; on earth they weighed six times more.
Exam tip
Remember the numbers – 1/6 gravity, 32 minutes, 13 times bigger, 70 times brighter, 27 metres – they are often asked.
"Abdul Becomes a Courtier" is a short verse play adapted from 'Enter Mulla Do-Piaza' by Pratibha Nath. Abdul, the poor son of a schoolmaster, longs for knowledge. He works for a merchant and is rewarded with the right to read the merchant's books. The Emperor first puts him in charge of the royal Murgikhana (poultry house) and then the library. Through intelligence, honesty and hard work he saves money in both jobs and is finally made a courtier.
Key points
Abdul wants books, but his father, a schoolmaster, cannot afford them and fails to borrow any.
Abdul decides to serve the rich and get paid in kind. He works as a clerk for a merchant and asks only to read the books in his store.
He studies philosophy, astronomy, Arabic and Persian and becomes a great scholar.
The Emperor gives him the royal Murgikhana. Though disappointed, Abdul accepts it as an opportunity.
He feeds the hens on scraps, shells and waste from the royal kitchen – the birds are healthy and nothing is spent. Motto: "Waste not, want not."
The Emperor puts him in charge of the library. Abdul uses the silk, velvet and brocade bags in which formal requests came to make rich jackets for the books; the Royal Tailors stitch them free.
The Emperor is impressed and makes Abdul his courtier.
Message: wits, brains, perseverance, patience and determination bring success; treat every job as an opportunity and avoid waste.
Important terms
erudition – deep learning.
in kind – payment in goods or services, not money.
quench – satisfy (a thirst).
sagacious / astute – wise / clever at using situations.
zeal – enthusiasm.
in the pink of health – very healthy.
shirk – avoid (a duty).
brocade – rich cloth woven with gold or silver thread.
Language study
Concrete nouns – things we can touch or see: school, house, bags, child.
This lesson has two short poems: the original "How doth the little busy bee" by Isaac Watts and its funny parody, "How doth the little crocodile", by Lewis Carroll. Watts praises the hard-working bee; Carroll copies the same pattern to describe a lazy, sly crocodile that "welcomes" little fishes into its jaws.
Key points
Original (Isaac Watts): the busy bee improves each shining hour, gathers honey all day from every opening flower, skilfully builds her cell, neatly spreads her wax and works hard to store food. The bee stands for hard work and usefulness; tone – serious, moral.
Parody (Lewis Carroll): the crocodile "improves" his shining tail, pours the waters of the Nile on every golden scale, grins cheerfully, spreads his claws neatly and welcomes little fishes in "with gently smiling jaws" – that is, he eats them. Tone – comic, ironic.
Both poems have two stanzas of four lines and the same constructions: "How doth the little…", "How skilfully/cheerfully…", "How neat/neatly…".
A parody is a playful, comic imitation of a writer's style – like a verbal cartoon. Well-known works are parodied because people enjoy the joke better when they know the original.
The parody is funny because a fierce crocodile is described with gentle words like "little", "cheerfully" and "gently smiling".
Important terms
doth – old form of "does".
opening (flower) – blooming.
cell – a small six-sided compartment in a honeycomb.
scale – one of the small hard plates on a reptile's skin.
parody – a humorous imitation of a well-known work.
grin – a broad smile.
Language study
Subject: a bee / a crocodile (both animals).
Lines and stanzas: 8 lines, 2 stanzas each.
Similar constructions: "How doth the little…", "How … she/he …".
Tone: serious praise of work / humorous and mocking.
Comparison of original and parody:
Exclamatory sentences with "How": How skilfully she builds her cell! How cheerfully he seems to grin!
Irony: saying something gentle when the meaning is the opposite.
5 important questions
Q1. What does the bee do all day?
It gathers honey from every opening flower, builds its cell, spreads wax and stores food.
Q2. What does the bee stand for?
Hard work and making good use of time.
Q3. Why does the crocodile "welcome" little fishes?
To eat them – his "gently smiling jaws" trap them.
Q4. What is a parody?
A playful, comic imitation of a writer's style – a verbal cartoon.
Q5. Why does the parody sound funny?
A dangerous crocodile is described in sweet, gentle words copied from a poem about a hard-working bee.
Exam tip
Be ready to compare the two poems under subject, structure, constructions and tone.
"Learn Yoga from Animals" is an informative lesson. It explains that yoga, perfected in ancient India, is a discipline of body, mind and spirit, and that many yoga poses (asanas) copy animals – which makes yoga a kind of biomimicry. It gives basic precautions and describes some animal poses with their steps and benefits.
Key points
Since 2015, 21 June is celebrated as International Yoga Day.
Yoga is a culture of physical, mental and spiritual discipline perfected in ancient India; it involves the whole mind-body-soul complex.
As exercise, yoga improves concentration, focus, flexibility, balance and strength.
Biomimicry: "bio" = life, "mimicry" = to emulate (imitate) – solving human problems with solutions found in nature. In asanas we imitate mountains, trees, fish, cats and other animals; this helps with stiffness and back pain.
Precautions: beginners should learn from a yoga teacher; practise in a clean, airy, well-lit room on a level floor, preferably on a yoga mat; best time – morning before breakfast or evening before dinner.
Bhujangasana (Cobra pose) – a beginner's pose; tones back muscles and strengthens the spine, chest and shoulders. Lie face down, palms below shoulders, breathe in and slowly raise the head and upper body without a jerk.
Simhasana (Lion pose) – sitting position with the facial expression of a lion; a favourite with young people.
Marjaryasana (Cat pose) – good for the morning routine; gently stretches the spine.
Garudasana (Eagle pose) – improves balance and strengthens leg muscles.
Ustrasana (Camel pose) – strengthens the back and opens the shoulders and chest.
Important terms
emulate – imitate.
vibrant – full of energy and life.
posture – the position of the body.
tone – firmness of muscles.
biomimicry – copying nature to solve human problems.
Language study
Sahil and Rohan go to school together. (joins words)
We played well, but we lost the match. (joins clauses)
She has not come to school because she is ill.
Conjunctions join words or clauses: and, or, but, if, that, because, when.
"Chasing the Sea Monster" is adapted from 'Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea' by Jules Verne, the "Father of Science Fiction". Narrated by Professor Aronnax, it describes how the crew of the frigate Abraham Lincoln, led by Commander Farragut, chase a mysterious glowing "sea monster" for a day and two nights. Harpooner Ned Land finally strikes it, the "monster" crashes into the ship, and the narrator is thrown into the sea. (The "monster" is really a submarine.)
Key points
At night the creature came at double the frigate's speed, circled it and wrapped it in sheets of electricity like luminous dust.
Commander Farragut decided to wait for daylight instead of attacking blindly; the crew stayed awake all night.
Near midnight the light "went out"; at 12:53 a deafening hiss like a whale spouting water was heard; around 2 am the light reappeared five miles away.
At dawn the glow vanished; at 7 am thick mist; at 8 am Ned Land spotted the long blackish body "astern to port".
The frigate chased at full steam for hours but could not catch up; the creature always stayed just out of reach.
A cannon shot missed; Farragut offered 500 dollars to the man who could hit it. An old gunner hit it, but the shell bounced off – "covered with six-inch armour plate".
At 10:50 pm the light reappeared and the creature seemed motionless. The frigate crept close; Ned Land threw his harpoon, which rang as if it hit something hard.
The light went out, two huge waterspouts crashed onto the deck, there was a hideous collision, and the narrator was hurled into the sea.
Jules Verne wrote about rockets, space travel and submarines before they existed.
Important terms
frigate – a small, fast warship.
unearthly – strange, not of this earth.
luminous – giving out light.
cetaceans – sea mammals like whales.
harpoon – a spear used to hunt whales.
astern to port – behind the ship on its left side.
lurking – hiding.
Language study
Transitive verbs take an object: The boy kicked the football. (give, cook, buy)
Intransitive verbs take no object: We laughed loudly. (laugh, walk, cry)
Some verbs can be both: Birds fly. (intransitive) / Children fly kites. (transitive)
The passage uses many time references (near midnight, 12:53, 2 am, 6, 7, 8 am, 10:50 pm) to build suspense.
5 important questions
Q1. Who is the narrator and what is the name of the ship?
Professor Aronnax; the frigate Abraham Lincoln.
Q2. Why did Commander Farragut not attack at night?
He did not know what creature it was and did not want to take foolish risks in the darkness.
Q3. What happened when the old gunner's shell hit the animal?
It bounced off its rounded surface and vanished into the sea.
Q4. How did Ned Land attack the monster?
When it lay still, the frigate crept close and he threw his harpoon from about twenty feet away.
Q5. What happened to the narrator at the end?
After a hideous collision he was thrown over the rail into the sea.
Exam tip
Make a time–event chart of the chase; it helps answer "how long did the event take" questions.
"Great Scientists" tells the inspiring life story of Michael Faraday, one of the greatest scientists of modern times. Born poor, with a speech defect and little schooling, he became a bookbinder, fell in love with science after attending Humphry Davy's lecture, worked as Davy's secretary and assistant, and through perseverance invented the induction motor and the electrical generator, and worked on polarization and magnetic fields.
Key points
Faraday was born into a poverty-stricken family in a London suburb; he could not pronounce "r" (said "wabbit", "Fawaday"); he left school at twelve.
At thirteen he worked with a bookbinder and read books all night – reading became his obsession. A book on electricity made electricity his lifelong fascination.
In 1812 a friend gave him a free ticket to Davy's lecture at the Royal Institution. Faraday took such detailed notes that he bound them into a book; Davy became his role model.
After an explosion temporarily blinded Davy, he hired Faraday as secretary (for his memory); Faraday became indispensable and was promoted to lab assistant.
Davy and Wollaston could not make a current-carrying wire move continuously; Davy mockingly asked Faraday to try. Faraday solved it within days, creating the first induction motor (electricity → continuous motion) – the basis of fans, sewing machines, cars, trains and more.
Jealous, Davy gave him an "impossible" task – to reverse engineer Bavarian glass. Faraday failed after four years and kept a glass brick as a reminder.
After Davy died in 1829, Faraday headed the laboratory and found that moving a magnet produces current – the electrical generator (motion → electricity).
From 1840 he suffered memory loss but kept working; he used the same Bavarian glass to show polarization of light by a magnet.
He showed iron-filing patterns are due to invisible magnetic fields, but lacked mathematics; James Maxwell turned his ideas into Maxwell's equations.
Quote: "In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure."
Important terms
persevering – continuing despite difficulties.
obsession – something that fills your mind all the time.
mentor – an experienced guide.
indispensable – absolutely necessary.
reverse engineer – work out how something is made by taking it apart.
relentless – never giving up.
Language study
Subject: the part of a sentence that tells who or what does the action – The baby is laughing.
Predicate: the part that tells something about the subject – The baby is laughing. The glass fell from the table.
5 important questions
Q1. What odds did Faraday face in childhood?
Poverty, a speech defect, mockery from children and leaving school at twelve.
Q2. How did Faraday become Davy's secretary?
An explosion temporarily blinded Davy, and he needed an assistant with an excellent memory, so he remembered Faraday.
Q3. What was the induction motor and why was it important?
A machine converting electric current into continuous motion; it led to fans, sewing machines, cars, trains and many other devices.
Q4. How did Faraday turn his failure with Bavarian glass into success?
He later used the same glass to show the polarization of light in the presence of a magnet.
Q5. How did James Maxwell help Faraday?
He translated Faraday's ideas about magnetic fields into mathematical equations, now called Maxwell's equations.
Exam tip
Prepare a timeline of Faraday's life (12, 13, 1812, 1829, 1840) and his two big inventions.
"Tartary" is a dreamy poem by Walter de la Mare. The poet imagines what life would be like if he were the Lord of Tartary, an exotic, faraway land. He describes a rich and colourful life – an ivory bed, a golden throne, peacocks, tigers, trumpeters, music, a robe of beads and a car drawn by seven zebras – and ends by praising the natural beauty of Tartary.
Key points
Stanza 1: his bed of ivory, throne of beaten gold; peacocks flaunt in his court, tigers haunt his forests, great fishes slant their fins athwart the sun.
Stanza 2: trumpeters would call him to every meal; in the evening lamps would shine "yellow as honey, red as wine" while harp, flute and mandoline played sweet music.
Stanza 3: he would wear a robe of beads – white, gold and green, clustered thick as seeds; before the morning star faded he would put on his robe and scimitar; seven zebras would draw his car through dark glades.
Stanza 4: he would be lord of Tartary's fruits, silver-pale rivers, hills, glen, thicket, wood and dale, flashing stars, scented breeze, trembling lake and bird-delighting citron-trees in purple vales.
The poem is full of colour, sound and images from nature; it shows a child-like dream of power and beauty.
"Compere a Programme" shows how a compère (anchor) conducts a school function step by step. The example is the inauguration of the School Art Festival at Balanand Vidyalaya, with the renowned artist Shri. Charudatta Diwan as chief guest. It shows the polite, formal language used at each stage of a programme.
Key points
Getting ready: the compère greets the audience ("Good morning friends!"), asks them to take their seats and to switch off mobiles or keep them on silent mode.
Arrival of dignitaries: requests everyone to be seated; the Head Girl Shubhada Murarka escorts the guests to the dais.
Commencement: addresses the dignitaries by name – Chief Guest Shri. Charudatta Diwan, President Shri. Avadhoot Pathak, Principal Dr Ajinkya Parakhi, Vice Principal Dr Shaila Singh – then guests, parents, teachers and friends, and states the purpose.
Lighting the lamp: a symbol of knowledge; one lamp can light a thousand others – knowledge "neither divides nor subtracts, it only adds and multiplies".
School song by Anagha Bhatia and her group.
Welcome of guests: "Atithi Devo Bhava" – guests are like gods. The chief guest is welcomed with books instead of flowers, because "flowers might perish but books can stay forever".
Then come speeches of the guests, the inauguration of the festival and finally a vote of thanks.
A good compère is polite, well-prepared, speaks clearly, links each item smoothly and keeps the programme on time.
Important terms
compère – the person who introduces items in a programme; an anchor.
festive – joyous.
dignitaries – important guests.
dais – a raised platform for guests.
auspicious – lucky, favourable.
renown / repute – fame.
vote of thanks – a short speech thanking everyone.
Language study
Object: the word or phrase affected by the action of the verb – Mother drives a scooter.
Direct object: directly affected by the action – He gave me a pen.
Indirect object: the person/thing to whom or for whom the action is done – He gave me a pen.
Polite formal expressions: "May I request you to…", "I would request our Principal to…", "It is indeed our proud privilege…".
5 important questions
Q1. Why does the compère request the audience to switch off their mobiles?
So that ringtones do not disturb the programme and everyone can enjoy it fully.
Q2. Why is lighting the lamp done at the beginning?
The lamp is a symbol of knowledge; just as one lamp lights many others, knowledge spreads and multiplies.
Q3. What does "Atithi Devo Bhava" mean?
Guests are like gods – Indian culture honours guests.
Q4. Why were books offered to the chief guest instead of flowers?
Flowers perish soon, but books last forever.
Q5. What are the qualities of a good compère?
Good preparation, clear voice, polite language, smooth linking of items and time management.
Exam tip
Practise writing a short compèring script for a school event: welcome, lamp lighting, guest introduction and vote of thanks.
"A Crow in the House" is from Ruskin Bond's "Grandfather's Private Zoo". The narrator and his Grandfather rescue a young crow that has fallen from its nest. The crow, named Caesar, recovers and refuses to leave. He becomes a lively, mischievous member of the house who talks, plays pranks and steals things from the neighbours. One day a neighbour throws a stick at him and breaks his leg; Caesar slowly weakens and dies, and the narrator buries him with his collection of stolen toothbrushes and clothes pegs.
Key points
The young crow was in danger of being crushed by a cart or tonga or seized by a cat. They fed it bread and milk by gently prising its beak open with a pencil, and sometimes Grandmother's home-made plum wine.
Offered freedom, the crow stayed and "took over the administration of the house". Grandmother, Aunt Mabel and some pets objected.
Pranks at home: danced on the dining table for his bowl of food, emptied match-boxes, tore newspapers, overturned vases, tugged at the dogs' tails, pecked at Harold the Hornbill's feet.
In a cage he cawed and flapped so angrily that he was given the run of the house. He did not mix with ordinary crows – Grandfather thought he was a jungle crow (a raven of sorts).
He learnt to say "Hello, hello" and "Kiss, kiss"; he knocked off Aunt Mabel's spectacles when she leant forward for a kiss.
Pranks outside: stole pens, ribbons, combs, keys, shuttlecocks, toothbrushes and false teeth; snatched sweets from children; stole clothes pegs. "Most of the neighbours were represented in our house by a toothbrush"; toothbrush sales and Grandmother's blood pressure went up.
While stealing a neighbour's beans, a stick broke his leg; he stopped talking, refused food and died.
Theme: love for pets, humour, and how "anti-social habits" can lead to trouble.
Important terms
tonga – a horse-drawn carriage.
gaping – wide open.
carrion crows – crows that eat dead flesh and garbage.
contemptuous – looking down on others.
engaging – charming.
pest – a nuisance.
Language study
Subject complement: describes the subject after the verb – I am hungry. My sister became a teacher.
Object complement: describes the object – The class made her the monitor. The teacher found my answer correct.
Antonyms from the story: motionless × restless; captivity × freedom; gentle × fierce; humble × snobbish.
5 important questions
Q1. How did the narrator and Grandfather feed the young crow?
They opened its beak gently with a pencil, pushed in bread and milk, and gave it occasional doses of home-made plum wine.
Q2. Why was Caesar not kept in a cage?
He objected with fierce cawing and flapping, so for peace of mind he was given the run of the house.
Q3. What happened when Caesar sat on Aunt Mabel's arm?
He said "Kiss, kiss", but when she leant forward he pecked at her shiny spectacles and knocked them off.
Q4. What is meant by "Most of the neighbours were represented in our house by a toothbrush"?
Caesar had stolen toothbrushes from almost every neighbour's house and collected them at home.
Q5. How did Caesar die?
A neighbour threw a stick that broke his leg while he was stealing beans; he grew weak, stopped eating and died.
Exam tip
Prepare a table of Caesar's pranks at home and outside, and a flow chart of his life story in sequence.
"The Brook" is an extract from a poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson. A small stream (brook) speaks about its own journey – starting from places where water birds live, rushing down valleys, passing hills, villages, bridges and fields, and finally joining a big river. The brook says that human life is short but its own flow goes on for ever.
Key points
The speaker is the brook itself (personification).
It starts from the haunts of coot and hern (water birds), makes a sudden sally, sparkles among the ferns and bickers down a valley.
It hurries past thirty hills, slips between ridges, flows by twenty thorpes (villages), a little town and half a hundred bridges, and finally by Philip's farm joins the brimming river.
It chatters over stony ways, bubbles into eddying bays and babbles on the pebbles; it wears away (frets) its banks while curving past fields and fallow land, and by willow-weed and mallow.
It carries blossoms, trout and grayling, foamy flakes, silvery waterbreaks above golden gravel.
It slips, slides, glooms and glances among skimming swallows, makes the netted sunbeam dance, murmurs under the moon and stars, lingers by shingly bars and loiters round its cresses.
Refrain: "For men may come and men may go, / But I go on for ever." – human lives are short, but nature (the brook) is eternal.
Important terms
haunt – a place often visited.
coot and hern – water birds (hern = heron).
sally – a quick journey.
bicker – run noisily.
thorpe – an old word for village.
sharps and trebles – musical sounds.
fret – wear out, gnaw.
fallow – land left unploughed.
grayling / trout – freshwater fish.
shingly – full of small round pebbles.
Language study
Personification: the brook does human actions – "I chatter", "I babble", "I bicker down a valley", "I linger", "I loiter".
Alliteration: "sudden sally", "bubble ... babble", "I slip, I slide, I gloom, I glance".
"Many a" phrases: many a curve, many a field and fallow, many a fairy foreland, many a silvery waterbreak.
"News Analysis" presents four short newspaper reports and asks us to think about each one – what it says, why it is news, whether it is reliable and how readers will react. It teaches students to read news carefully and critically.
Key points
(a) Closed shoes not allowed in examination halls (Bengaluru): Shivam Institute of Innovative Technology issued DOs and DON'Ts for its entrance test – no closed shoes, boots or socks, no mobiles, earplugs, calculators, gadgets, pouches, papers or even pens (pens given by invigilators). Purpose: to prevent copying.
(b) Ritika takes a break from acting (Mumbai): the famous, most highly paid Bollywood actress will not sign new films after her big-budget movie 'Ant'; she gave no reason, but sources say she wants to enter politics – a reported rumour, not confirmed.
(c) Most dangerous time in history (London): physicist Stephen Hawking warned that mankind faces huge challenges – climate change, overpopulation, epidemic diseases; "we have only one planet and we need to work together to protect it". He wrote it in the Guardian; other papers reported it as news.
(d) Quick cure for all ailments? (Kavathe): crowds queue at Ralewadi for Miribaba's "blessed" powder at Rs 25 a packet, claimed to cure all diseases. But Dr Karnik of Ambegaon Civil Hospital says the number of patients has actually increased. The question mark in the heading shows doubt; the doctor's statement is the reliable part.
Newspapers group news by region (city, state, nation, world) and type (political, cultural, science, financial, sports). Besides news they carry editorials, advertisements, letters, weather, etc.
When ill, we should consult a qualified doctor, not believe miracle cures.
Important terms
issued – officially given out.
candidates – people taking a test.
invigilators – people who supervise an exam.
big-budget – costing a lot of money.
sources – people who give information to reporters.
ailments – illnesses.
flock – gather in large numbers.
Language study
Formal letter format: sender's address, date, designation and address of the receiver, subject, salutation (Sir/Madam or Dear Mr/Ms …), body, closing (Yours faithfully / Yours sincerely), signature and name.
Use "Yours sincerely" when you know the person's name; otherwise "Yours faithfully".
News headlines are short, use the present tense and leave out small words: "Ritika takes a break from acting".
5 important questions
Q1. Why are closed shoes not allowed in the examination hall?
Candidates might hide notes or devices in them to copy.
Q2. Why is there a question mark in the heading "Quick cure for all ailments?"
The reporter doubts the claim that the powder cures all diseases.
Q3. Which part of the Miribaba news is reliable and why?
Dr Karnik's statement that patients in the hospital have increased – it comes from a qualified doctor with records.
Q4. What challenges did Stephen Hawking mention?
Climate change, overpopulation and epidemic diseases.
Q5. Is the news about Ritika entering politics confirmed?
No. She gave no reason; it is only what "sources close to her" say.
Exam tip
Practise a formal letter to the Principal requesting permission to start a weekly class news bulletin.
"Think Before You Speak!" is a thoughtful essay. It says that nature gave us two ears and one mouth so that we listen more and talk less. Words, once spoken, cannot be taken back. A story of a young man and his spiritual teacher, and Socrates' three questions, teach us to think carefully before speaking – especially in anger.
Key points
Benjamin Disraeli, a British statesman, said nature gave man two ears and one mouth; if we were meant to talk more, we would have two mouths and one ear. This is a light-hearted but effective message.
Ears are like funnels, always open; but a word must pass through two fences – the two rows of teeth and the two lips – so we should think at least twice before speaking.
"Of the unspoken word you are the master; of the spoken word you are a slave." Unspoken words are thoughts that remain in our mind.
Story: a young man hurt his friend with harsh words. His teacher told him to write the harsh words on paper, tear it into bits and throw them out of the window on a windy day, then collect them again. He could not find a single bit. Lesson: spoken words, like scattered bits of paper, cannot be gathered back.
Is it true? – if unsure, keep quiet; otherwise we spread untruth.
Is it pleasant? – avoid empty, vain remarks that hurt others.
Is it useful? – will it benefit, comfort or help the listener?
Socrates' three questions before speaking:
Speak only if the answer to all three is yes (affirmative).
Important terms
endowed – gifted with.
make amends – make up for a wrong.
counselled – advised.
affirmative – meaning "yes".
veracity – truth.
transmitters – people who spread something.
Language study
Word: You have run fast.
Phrase: We played on the playground.
Clause: I will go home when the bell rings.
Adverbial: a word, phrase or clause used as an adverb.
Same word as noun and verb: Many are the empty remarks (noun). A wise man once remarked (verb). Also: change, show, throw, return, benefit.
5 important questions
Q1. Why did Disraeli say nature gave man two ears and one mouth?
To show that we should listen more and talk less.
Q2. What are the two fences a word must pass through?
The two rows of teeth and the two lips.
Q3. Why couldn't the young man collect the bits of paper?
The wind had scattered them far and wide – just as harsh words, once spoken, cannot be taken back.
Q4. What are Socrates' three questions?
Is it true? Is it pleasant? Is it useful?
Q5. Explain "Of the unspoken word you are a master, of the spoken word you are a slave."
Before we speak we control our words; once spoken, we cannot change them and must face their results.
Exam tip
Practise rewriting the young man's story in the first person ("I went quickly to my spiritual teacher…").
"Under the Greenwood Tree" is a song by William Shakespeare from his play "As You Like It" (sung by the character Amiens in the Forest of Arden). The singer invites anyone who loves a simple, carefree life to come and live with him in the forest, where the only "enemies" are winter and rough weather.
Key points
The poet invites anyone who loves to lie under the greenwood tree with him and sing a merry song in tune with the sweet birds.
"Come hither" (come here) is repeated three times as a warm invitation.
In the forest there is "no enemy but winter and rough weather" – no human ill-wishers, jealousy or cheating.
The invitation is for a person who "doth ambition shun" – gives up the desire for wealth, power and fame.
Such a person loves to live in the sun (open air), seeks his own food and is pleased with what he gets – contented.
Message: a simple, natural life free from greed and ambition brings peace and happiness; nature's hardships are easier to bear than human enmity.
Shakespeare wrote his famous plays in the 16th–17th centuries.
Important terms
greenwood – a forest in leaf.
merry note – a happy tune.
unto – towards / to.
hither – here.
doth – does.
shun – avoid, give up.
ambition – strong desire for success, power or wealth.
Language study
Old words: unto = towards; hither = here; doth = does; i' the = in the.
Refrain: "Come hither, come hither, come hither! / Here shall he see / No enemy / But winter and rough weather."
Inversion (unusual word order for poetry): "Who doth ambition shun" = who shuns ambition; "Here shall he see" = he shall see here.
Rhyming pairs: tree – me; note – throat; see – enemy; shun – sun; eats – gets.
5 important questions
Q1. Whom does the poet invite to join him?
Anyone who loves to lie under the greenwood tree, sing with the birds and live a simple life free of ambition.
Q2. What is the only "enemy" in the forest?
Winter and rough weather.
Q3. Which line means "who gives up his desire for wealth, power and fame"?
"Who doth ambition shun".
Q4. Which lines show that the person is happy with whatever he gets?
"Seeking the food he eats, / And pleased with what he gets".
Q5. What message does the poem convey?
A simple, contented life close to nature is peaceful and free from human enemies and greed.
Exam tip
Remember the play's name (As You Like It) and the meanings of the old words – both are common short questions.
"Unke Munke Timpetoo" is a short story by Sigrun Srivastava. Rohan badly wants a table tennis set for his birthday. His friend Muk says that if you run round a banyan tree at midnight chanting "Unke, Munke, Timpetoo" seventeen times, your wish comes true. The only banyan tree is in the garden of stern Mrs Groover, the former school principal. She catches the boys but lets Rohan finish. On his birthday a secondhand but fabulous table tennis set arrives "From Unke, Munke, Timpetoo". The boys realise Mrs Groover is kind and lonely, and they become her friends.
Key points
Rohan expected only shoes and a hand-knitted pullover; his mother said a table tennis set was "out of the question" this year.
Muk's cousin's charm: run round a banyan tree at midnight chanting "Unke, Munke, Timpetoo" seventeen times. Both boys say they don't believe it, but they still try it.
Mrs Groover had piercing pale green eyes; one look could silence bullies like Rinkoo Lal of Class X.
At ten to twelve the boys climbed into her garden. Rohan ran round the tree chanting; a dog barked, lights came on, and Muk climbed the tree in fright.
Rohan confessed everything. Mrs Groover listened without interrupting and told him to finish his rounds (he had six left) and leave by the front gate.
On his birthday a big parcel "To Rohan Khanna, From Unke, Munke, Timpetoo" held a table tennis set – not new, but fabulous. Muk and his parents denied sending it.
When Rohan visited Mrs Groover, she said she believed in the charm because she had wished for someone to come for tea – "and here you are!" She smiled and looked "almost human".
Theme: kindness and friendship are the real "magic"; don't judge people by their stern appearance. (Teachers should discuss that charms and chants are blind beliefs.)
Important terms
mocking – making fun.
desperately – with great need.
piercing – sharp, seeming to see through you.
ferocious – fierce and violent.
unleash – set free (from a lead).
stutter – speak with pauses and repeated sounds.
Language study
Adjectives from nouns/verbs: harm → harmful/harmless; continue → continuous; believe → believable; fear → fearful/fearless; thought → thoughtful; wish → wishful; question → questionable; courage → courageous.
Mood and atmosphere: words like "dark and silent", "dim light of the moon", "ghostly hour", "a crackle here, a swish there" create suspense.
5 important questions
Q1. What did Rohan desperately wish for?
A table tennis set.
Q2. Why were the boys afraid to enter Mrs Groover's garden?
She was the strict former principal whose piercing green eyes could silence even bullies.
Q3. How did Mrs Groover react when she caught Rohan?
She listened to him, asked if he believed in the charm, and told him to finish his rounds and leave by the front gate.
Q4. Who do you think sent the table tennis set? Why?
Mrs Groover – she knew Rohan's wish, and her reply about wishing for a tea guest hints that she played "Unke, Munke, Timpetoo" herself.
Q5. Is "Unke, Munke, Timpetoo" a charm or an act of friendliness?
An act of friendliness – Mrs Groover's kindness made the wish come true.
Exam tip
Be ready to write a different ending (funny or mysterious) and a character sketch of Mrs Groover.
"The Red-Headed League" is a Sherlock Holmes detective story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, told by Dr Watson. Mr Wilson, a red-haired pawnbroker, gets a strange, well-paid job from the "Red-headed League" – copying the Encyclopaedia Britannica in an office from ten to two. When the League is suddenly dissolved, he asks Holmes for help. Holmes discovers that Wilson's assistant Spaulding is really the criminal John Clay, who used the fake job to keep Wilson away while he dug a tunnel from Wilson's cellar to a bank full of gold. Holmes, the police and the banker catch the criminals in the bank's cellar.
Key points
Part I – Mr Wilson's story: an advertisement offered four pounds a week for nominal work to red-headed men; apply to Duncan Ross, 7 Fleet Street. Spaulding, who worked for half wages and often went to the cellar "to develop photographs", urged Wilson to apply.
Fleet Street was crowded with red-heads, but Duncan Ross chose Wilson at once. Work: copy the encyclopaedia starting with "A", 10 to 2, never leaving the office.
After eight weeks (Abbots, Archery…) a note said: "The Red-headed League is dissolved. Oct 9, 1880." The rooms had been rented under a false name.
Holmes asked about the assistant: small, stout, no facial hair, a white splash of acid on his forehead – "I thought as much."
Part II – Watson's account: Holmes thumped the pavement with his stick, noticed a bank behind the shop, and looked at the assistant's trouser knees (wrinkled and stained from digging).
At night Holmes, Watson (with revolver), Mr Jones of Scotland Yard and Mr Merryweather, bank chairman, waited in the dark cellar full of gold borrowed from the Bank of France.
A stone in the floor lifted; Clay and the red-haired Duncan Ross emerged. Holmes seized Clay and knocked away his revolver; the other escaped into the tunnel but police waited at Wilson's house.
Holmes's reasoning: half wages made him suspicious; the description matched Clay; the cellar visits meant digging; the bank's position showed the target; the knees confirmed it.
Important terms
league – an association of people.
pawnbroker – one who lends money against valuables.
nominal – very small, in name only.
apply in person – go yourself to apply.
dissolved – ended, disbanded.
cellar – an underground storage room.
foiled – prevented.
Language study
Modal auxiliaries: can, may, shall, will, could, might, should, would, must, ought to, used to, need, dare.
They show ability, possibility, permission, intention, duty: They can swim. May I come in? You must go. She ought to play.
Rules: no "to" after most modals (except ought to); no -ed or -ing; questions and negatives without do/be/have – Can he swim? He cannot swim.
5 important questions
Q1. What was the real purpose of the Red-headed League?
To keep Mr Wilson away from his shop every day so that Clay could dig a tunnel to the bank.
Q2. Why did Holmes become suspicious of the assistant?
He worked for half wages and kept going down to the cellar; his description matched the criminal John Clay.
Q3. Why did Holmes thump the pavement and look at the assistant's knees?
To find where the cellar or tunnel ran, and to confirm the digging from the wrinkled, stained trouser knees.
Q4. Why did Holmes expect the robbery that very night?
The bank and offices would be closed for the weekend, and the League had just been dissolved – the tunnel was ready.
Q5. How were the criminals caught?
They came up through the floor of the bank cellar where Holmes and the others were waiting; Clay was seized and police waited at the tunnel's other end.
Exam tip
Practise explaining Holmes's chain of reasoning step by step – a favourite "how did Holmes find out" question.
"Home Sweet Home" is a famous song-poem by John Howard Payne. The poet is living far away from home. He says that even among pleasures and palaces, there is no place like one's own humble home. He misses his thatched cottage, singing birds, peace of mind and the love of his parents, and hopes to return home and never leave again.
Key points
Stanza 1: we may wander among pleasures and palaces, but however humble it is, there's no place like home; home has a heavenly charm found nowhere else in the world.
Stanza 2: for an exile (someone living away from home), splendour dazzles in vain; he wants his lowly thatched cottage, the birds that sang and came at his call, and peace of mind, "dearer than all".
Stanza 3: walking through a dreary wild place, he gazes at the moon and feels his mother is thinking of him while looking at the same moon from their cottage door, through the fragrant woodbine.
Stanza 4: it is sweet to sit under a loving father's smile and feel a mother's caress; let others roam for new pleasures – he wants the pleasures of home.
Stanza 5: he will return, tired and full of cares; home is the heart's dearest solace; he will never roam again.
Refrain: "Home, home, sweet, sweet home! There's no place like home."
People such as soldiers, sailors and workers abroad often have to stay away from home for long.
Important terms
roam – wander.
humble / lowly – simple, not grand.
hallow – make holy.
ne'er – never.
exile – a person forced to live away from home.
splendour – grandness.
drear – dreary, gloomy.
woodbine – a climbing plant with sweet-smelling flowers.
solace – comfort.
Language study
Refrain: lines repeated after each stanza to stress the main idea.
This second "Seeing Eyes Helping Hands" lesson continues the school project from Unit 1. It shows two ways of thanking people: a formal letter of thanks from the Home for the Aged to the school Principal, and a parent, Mr Bendre, thanking the Principal in person. It also gives the format of an informal letter.
Key points
A – Letter of thanks: written on 10 January 2018 by Kiran Somalwar, Secretary, Home for the Aged, East Street, Girgaon, to Ms Ambekar, Principal, New Vision High School.
The students visited the Home on 5 January – the first time school children had come to help.
They did all the planned tasks willingly and obediently; the residents enjoyed the story-telling sessions as much as the students.
The Home requests that a few students visit every month; the visit brightened up the whole week for the residents, and the "Helping Hands" lightened the staff's work.
B – Giving thanks personally: Mr Bendre, whose son and nephew study in the school, thanks the Principal for the S.E.H.H. project; he has seen changes in their thinking and behaviour and plans to congratulate the school at the next Parent Teacher Association meeting.
Message: social service develops personality; gratitude should be expressed both in writing and in person.
Important terms
the aged – old people.
residents – people who live in a place.
willingly – happily, without being forced.
appreciate – value and be thankful for.
personality development – growth of a person's character and abilities.
P.S. – post script, extra matter added after the letter.
Language study
Informal letter format: place and date (top right) → salutation "My dear/Dear …," → body → closing "With warm regards / Yours," → sender's name as known to the receiver → P.S. (optional).
Formal letter of thanks uses "Dear Ms …", "Yours sincerely", the writer's designation and the organisation's address.
Useful thanking phrases: "I am glad to inform you…", "I appreciate the good work…", "Thank you so much."
5 important questions
Q1. Who wrote the letter of thanks and to whom?
Kiran Somalwar, Secretary of the Home for the Aged, wrote to Ms Ambekar, Principal of New Vision High School.
Q2. What did the students do at the Home for the Aged?
They carried out the planned tasks willingly and obediently and took part in story-telling sessions.
Q3. What request did the Secretary make?
That a few students should visit the Home every month.
Q4. Why did Mr Bendre meet the Principal?
To thank her for the project, which had improved the thinking and behaviour of his son and nephew.
Q5. What is a P.S. in a letter?
A post script – extra matter added after the letter is finished; it is optional.
Exam tip
Practise an informal thank-you letter to an elder relative using the correct format.
"Papa Panov's Special Christmas" is a heart-warming story about an old, lonely shoemaker in a little Russian village. On Christmas Eve he dreams that Jesus will visit him the next day without saying who he is. All Christmas Day he watches for his special visitor while helping a cold road sweeper, a poor young mother with a baby, and beggars. At night he sadly thinks Jesus never came – then he sees all the people he helped and hears a voice saying that whatever he did for them, he did for Jesus.
Key points
Papa Panov was a cheerful village shoemaker whose wife had died and whose children had grown up and gone away; on Christmas Eve he felt lonely.
Reading the Christmas story in the family Bible, he wished Mary and Joseph had come to him – he would have given them his bed and his patchwork quilt.
Having no gift for baby Jesus like the wise men, he took down a dusty box with a perfect pair of tiny leather shoes – the best he had ever made.
In his dream, Jesus said, "Look for me tomorrow… but look carefully, for I shall not tell you who I am."
On Christmas morning he invited the miserable road sweeper in for hot coffee; the sweeper smiled and said Papa Panov deserved to have his dream come true.
He saw a tired young mother carrying a baby in a thin shawl. He warmed milk, fed the baby with a spoon and gave the baby the tiny shoes he had kept for Jesus. She was on her way to the next village to find work.
He gave hot soup and bread to beggars and greeted neighbours, always watching for the "Important Stranger".
At dusk he sadly thought it was only a dream. Then he saw the faces of the sweeper, the mother and baby, and the beggars, and heard a voice: when he fed the hungry, gave warmth and clothed the needy, he had done it for Jesus.
Message: serving people in need is serving God; kindness is the best gift.
Important terms
scurried – moved quickly with short steps.
muffled – made quieter, not clear.
laughter wrinkles – lines on the face of someone who laughs often.
shepherd (verb) – guide gently.
pinched – thin and pale from cold or hunger.
gurgled – made a happy bubbling sound (like a baby).
Language study
Descriptive details set the scene: lights in shops, children scurrying indoors, smells of Christmas cooking, raw cold and freezing mist.
Direct speech shows character: "Come in and have some hot coffee to keep out the cold!"
Questions in his thoughts show expectation: "Would he be a little baby… a grown man, a carpenter – or the great King?"
5 important questions
Q1. Why did Papa Panov feel sad on Christmas Eve?
His wife had died and his children had gone away; the festive sounds reminded him of happier Christmases.
Q2. What gift did Papa Panov decide to give Jesus?
A perfect pair of tiny leather shoes, the best he had ever made.
Q3. Why did he invite the road sweeper in?
The sweeper looked cold and miserable working on Christmas Day, so Papa Panov gave him hot coffee.
Q4. Why did he give the shoes to the baby though he had kept them for Jesus?
He saw the baby's cold little feet and the mother could not afford shoes; his kindness won over his plan.
Q5. Did Jesus visit Papa Panov? Explain.
Yes – in the form of the sweeper, the mother and baby, and the beggars; whatever he did for them, he did for Jesus.
Exam tip
Learn the order of Papa Panov's visitors (sweeper, mother and baby, beggars) and what he gave each one.