18 Feb 2021 10:58 am
ssc, English, kumarbharathi, chapter 6, The alchemy of nature, Maharashtra, board, full, solution,
Q1.Rearrange the good qualities in each set, so that the first letter of each of the words should make a meaningful word. Join the sets and get a message.
Set 1: Understanding/Adaptable/Tolerant/Neat/ Encouraging Resourceful.
– The word is _____________
Set 2: Selfless/Inspiring
– The word is ____________
Set 3: Youthful/Modest
– The word is ___________
Set 4: Affectionate/Compassionate/Empathetic/ Earnest/Honest/Reliable/Trustworthy
– The word is _____________
– The message is _______________
Set 1: Neat/Adaptable/Tolerant/Understanding Resourceful/Encouraging
Set 2: Inspiring/Selfless
Set 3: Modest/Youthful
Set 4: Trustworthy/Earnest/Affectionate /Compassionate/Honest/Empathetic/Reliable
The message is: Nature is my teacher.
Q2.Various aspects of Nature have special features that make them differ from one another.
For example, Birds:- appearance, shape, colour, size, food habits, habitat, sound etc.
Write such special features of each of the following.
Q3.Make a list of living creatures in the alphabetical order. You can write more than one beginning with the same letter.
A – Anaconda | N – Nighthawk |
B – Butterfly | O – Ostrich |
C – Crab | P – Penguin |
D – Dog | Q – Quail (Bird) |
E – Elephant | R – Rooster |
F – Frog | S – Sheep |
G – Goat | T – Tiger |
H – Horse | U – Umbrella Cockatoo (Bird) |
I – Iguana (Lizard) | V – Vulture |
J – Jellyfish | W – Whale |
K – Kangaroo | X – Xenopus (Frog) |
L – Lion | Y – Yak |
M – Monkey | Z – Zebra |
Q1.What things in nature teach us the following:
(a)Nothing is impossible to achieve ____________.
Nothing is impossible to achieve ants; small bits of grass peeping from cracks in the concrete.
(b)Problems are not permanent ___________.
Problems are not permanent trees that are bare in winter.
(c)Be humble and adjust ____________
Be humble and adjust water.
(d)Make the best use of time and opportunity__________.
Make the best use of time and opportunity Hibiscus flower.
(e)Be persistent ____________.
Be persistent water.
(f)Many hands make work light ____________.
Many hands make work light ants.
(g)Delicate structures are not a sign of weakness ______.
Delicate structures are not a sign of weakness spider webs.
Q2.Read the question from the lesson. What do they imply?
(a)Are you listening?
It implies that one must listen.
(b)What if we too had lived our lives, however short, to the fullest?
It implies that we too should live our lives to the fullest, however short they may be.
(c)What if we too are consistent, organized, focused…?
It implies that we too could do wonders if we were consistent, organized, focussed…..
Q3.Go through the lesson again and complete the flow-chart that highlights the life of a ‘hibiscus’ flower.
Q5.The writer explains the contrasting features of ‘water’ and ‘rock’ in the lesson. Write all the features of both water and rock in the given table.
Water | Rock |
1. | 1. |
2. | 2. |
3. | 3. |
4. | 4. |
Water | Rock |
1. gentle | 1. hard |
2. persistent | 2. humble |
3. persevering | 3. obedient |
4. determined | 4. adaptable |
Q6.The writer bas very positively described the different things in nature. Discuss with your partner the special features of coach one of them. Add on the list.
Part of Nature | Special feature | Value learnt |
1. Rainbow | ||
2. Caterpillar | ||
3. | ||
4. | ||
5. | ||
6. | ||
7. |
Part of Nature | Special feature | Value learnt |
1. Rainbow | cheer fulness; acceptance. | Even when there are problems in the surroundings, we must be cheerful and spread colour and happiness. |
2. Caterpillar | patience; acceptance | There is a bright and beautiful future ahead. |
3. hibiscus flower | optimism; cheer fulness | However short life may be, we must live it to the fullest. |
4. rocks | obedience to nature; adjustment; humility | Obey the commands of nature; adjust to the situation; be humble |
5. bits of grass | optimism; perse verance | However impossible things may look, there is an opening. |
6. bare tree | optimism, faith; conviction | However difficult things are in the present, it will not remain so forever. With conviction we should remind ourselves that this too will pass. |
7. water | perse verance; deter mination; humility | (i) Even colossal problems surmounted if we persist. can be(ii) Learn to adapt to others without any hint of ego |
Q7.Think and answer in your own words.
(a)How should you deal with difficulties and problems?
When I come across problems in life, I turn towards nature for inspiration. I try to understand how the different elements in nature deal with their difficulties and try to solve my own problems in the same way.
(b)‘An oyster turns a grain of sand into a pearl.’ What can we learn from this example?
We learn that there is a mysterious power or magic in nature that can change things dramatically.
(c)How does nature succeed in its ‘Alchemy’? What can it turn a small person into?
Nature succeed in its ‘Alchemy’ by changing things in a mysterious way. It can turn a small person into anything he/she wishes; one touches nature and becomes gold oneself.
(d)Which two aspects of nature teach us to accept change and adjust according to the situation?
With gentle humility, water changes its form according to the dictates of the sun and the wind. The bare trees wait patiently during the winter months for the arrival of spring, when they get fresh green leaves. These two aspects of nature teach us to accept change and adjust according to the situation.
(e)Why does the writer begin by quoting the lines from William Blake’s poem ‘Auguries of Innocence’?
These lines show that if we pause to reflect. there is much beauty in nature and plenty that we can learn from it. The write-up expands on the same idea. thus reflecting the philosophy of the poetic lines by William Blake.
Q8.(A)Pick out from lesson 10 examples of each.
For example, sand
For example, infinity
Q8.(B)Underline the verbs in the sentence and say whether it is Transitive (needing an Object) or Intransitive (need not have an Object).
1.One can witness and experience the beauty of Heaven
One can witness and experience the beauty of Heaven.
witness and experience are the verbs.
∴ It is Transitive.
2.It leaves me in complete awe.
It leaves me in complete awe.
leaves are the verb.
∴ It is Intransitive.
3.Nature soothes and nurtures.
Nature soothes and nurtures.
Soothes and nurtures are the verbs.
∴ It is Intransitive.
4.It withers completely.
It withers completely.
withers are the verb.
∴ It is Intransitive.
5.The flower comes to life only for a day.
The flower comes to life only for a day.
comes are the verb.
∴ It is Intransitive.
6.A rainbow colours the entire sky.
A rainbow colours the entire sky.
colours are the verb.
∴ It is Transitive.
7.It smiles and dances
It smiles and dances.
smiles and dances are the verbs.
∴ It is Intransitive.
Q9.(A)Compose about 8-10 sets of imaginary dialogue between a bird, a tree and its fruit regarding the effects of environmental changes. Write it in your notebooks.
Conversation between a bird, a tree and its fruit:
Bird: Hi there, tree! How are you doing?
Tree: Not too well. I can’t breathe. There’s too much of dust and smoke here.
Bird: What, here too? I’ve come here to escape just that!
Fruit: Wrong place, birdie. Look at me: do I look healthy? I’m not growing. Too many insecticides have been sprayed on me.
Bird: Oh, oh. Maybe I should leave this place too.
Tree: Oh, no! Something is happening! My roots are getting loose!
Bird: That’s called erosion. Soil erosion.
Tree: What happens next?
Bird: The next time it rains heavily-boom! Down you will go! And away I will fly.
Tree: Can’t someone help me?
Fruit: What about me?
Q9.(B)Prepare a Fact file of any of the following plants/trees, using the points given.
[coconut / neem / basil / cactus / apple]
Profile of the Coconut Tree and Fruit
Q10.’Impossible’ itself says ‘I M possible’. Do you agree? Justify your answer by citing something that you have experienced or heard from someone.
Yes, I agree. It is possible to do the most difficult of things providing we have the will and conviction to do so. The example that comes to my mind as justification is that of Sudha Chandran, the dancer. Though her leg was amputated below the knee, with great grit and determination she restarted dancing and went on to become a famous dancer and actress. This shows that one can do things which seem to be impossible.
Q11.You have an environment protection week celebration in your school. You have invited an environmentalist. Your friend interviews him/her about how to save the environment. Frame suitable Interview Questions
Jai interviews Mr. Ali, an environmentalist:
Jai: Good morning. Sir. Welcome to our school. would like to ask you a few questions for a write-up in your school magazine. My first question: What is your opinion about the concept of having an environment protection week’s celebration?
Mr. Ali: I think it’s a wonderful idea, though I would not call it a “celebration’.
Jai: Why is that, sir?
Mr. Ali: Well, you have a celebration when you are happy about something. In our town, the protection of the environment is so poor that I, as an environmentalist, am not at all happy about it.
Jai: Can you give us some tips to protect the environment?
Mr. Ali: Certainly, my boy. First of all, we should grow more trees wherever possible. It should be made mandatory for every factory, office. residential building, etc. to plant trees before starting construction. If trees have to be cut down for any purpose, efforts must be made to transplant them.
Jai: What about the menace of plastic, sir?
Mr. Ali: We cannot eliminate plastic completely: however, the thickness of plastic bags and the methods of disposal should be made clear to all. Air, water and noise pollution must be dealt with too.
Jai: Please expand on that, sir.
Mr. Ali: Well, industrial and vehicular pollution must be controlled: water bodies must be kept clean. Those who break rules must be penalized. Loudspeakers must be banned during the night hours. Oh, there are lots of things to be done, lots of things.
Jai: Thank you sir, for giving some of your precious time for this interview.
Q12.Write a News Report on the ‘Environment Day’ celebrated in your school.
Environment Day Celebrations
Nagpur, June 7 World Environment Day was celebrated in New Era School with great fanfare on June 5. The main purpose of the celebration was to spread awareness about the need to protect the environment and the ways to do it.
The day was flagged off by a tree plantation drive in the locality. 300 quick-growing trees, which do not need much water on a daily basis, were planted near the school wall and in the surrounding area. An eminent environmentalist, Mr. A.T. All spoke on the ways to protect the environment. He also judged the Posters and Photographs’ exhibition and gave away prizes for the best entries Environmentally-friendly articles like disposable plates and cups made from bamboo and banana stem, bags made from leaf waste, etc. were on sale. Students gave continuous powerpoint presentations on the threats to the environment. Last but not the least, was the spirited debate on the topic Man: The worst enemy of the Environment’.
All in all the day was a great success, and has certainly made a difference to the way we view our environment
– Josh Matthew New Era School
Q13.Just For Laughs! Enjoy!
Divide the class into two groups. On 12 to 15 slips of paper, Group A writes 12 to 15 conditional clauses beginning with ‘If’.
(For example, If I work very hard, )
Group B writes 12 to 15 main clauses.)
(For example, I would/shall have a pizza.)
Now, one student from Group ‘A’ reads the first conditional clause (possibility) and one student from Group ‘B’ reads the first main clause. It forms crazy sentences, just for laughter and fun. ENJOY!
Do it yourself.
COMPLETED