Is Iswaran a fascinating storyteller ? Discuss with your friends the qualities of a good storyteller. Try to use these qualities and tell a story.

Can you think of some other ending for the story ?

Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination. What happens to him on a full-moon night ?

Why does the author say that Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of a TV in Mahendra’s living quarters ?

How does he narrate the story of the tusker ? Does it appear to be plausible ?

How does Iswaran describe the uprooted tree on the highway ? What effect does he want to create in his listeners ?

In what way was Iswaran an asset to Mahendra ?

Does everybody have a cosy bed to lie in when it rains? Look around you and describe how different kinds of people or animals spend time, seek shelter etc. during rain. All that I am or ever hope it be, I owe to my angel Mother. –Abraham Lincoln

Do you like rain? What do you do when it rains steadily or heavily as described in the poem?

When you were a young child, did your mother tuck you in, as the poet’s did?

Is the poet now a child? Is his mother still alive?

What is the single major memory that comes to the poet? Who are the “darling dreamers” he refers to?

What does the poet like to do when it rains?

What do the following phrases mean to you? Discuss in class. (i) humid shadows (ii) starry spheres (iii) what a bliss (iv) a thousand dreamy fancies into busy being start (v) a thousand recollections weave their air-threads into woof

Has your life been different from or similar to that of Kezia when you were a child? Has your perception about your parents changed now? Do you find any change in your parents’ behaviour vis-à-vis yours? Who has become more understanding? What steps would you like to take to build a relationship based on understanding? Write three or four paragraphs (150–200 words) discussing these issues from your own experience.

Was Kezia’s father right to punish her? What kind of a person was he? You might find some of these words useful in describing him:

This story is not an Indian story. But do you think there are fathers, mothers and grandmothers like the ones portrayed in the story in our own country?

The traffic police ............... all the passers-by to keep off the road.

“Let’s go and look at the school ground, ............... the sports teacher.

“Perhaps he isn’t a bad sort of a chap after all, ............... the master.

The children ............... that the roads were crowded and noisy.

“Leave me alone,” my mother ...............

“I am not afraid,” ............... the woman.

Underline the verbs of reporting in the following sentences : (vii)Ratan apologised for coming late to the party.

Underline the verbs of reporting in the following sentences : (vi)Ben told her to wake him up.

Underline the verbs of reporting in the following sentences : (v) I wondered why he was screaming.

Underline the verbs of reporting in the following sentences : (iv)He answered that the price would go up.

Underline the verbs of reporting in the following sentences : (iii)No one told us that the shop was closed.

Underline the verbs of reporting in the following sentences : (ii) Father mentioned that he was going on a holiday.

Underline the verbs of reporting in the following sentences : (i) He says he will enjoy the ride.

You are a big girl now. (older)

Use an appropriate word from the synonyms given above in the following sentences. Clues are given in brackets. (iv) The coach was ................ with his performance. (satisfied about)

Use an appropriate word from the synonyms given above in the following sentences. Clues are given in brackets. (iii) She was ............. at the birth of her granddaughter. (extremely happy)

Use an appropriate word from the synonyms given above in the following sentences. Clues are given in brackets. (ii) I was ................ to be invited to the party. (extremely pleased and excited about)

Use an appropriate word from the synonyms given above in the following sentences. Clues are given in brackets. (i) She was ................ by the news of her brother’s wedding. (very pleased)

How does Kezia begin to see her father as a human being who needs her sympathy?

Kezia decides that there are “different kinds of fathers”. What kind of father was Mr. Macdonald, and how was he different from Kezia’s father?

III. Discuss these questions in class with your teacher and then write down your answers in two or three paragraphs each. 1. Kezia’s efforts to please her father resulted in displeasing him very much. How did this happen?

In what ways did Kezia’s grandmother encourage her to get to know her father better?

What was Kezia’s father’s routine? (iii) on Sundays.

What was Kezia’s father’s routine? (ii) after coming back from his office.

What was Kezia’s father’s routine? (i) before going to his office.

Who were the people in Kezia’s family?

Why was Kezia afraid of her father?

I. Given below are some emotions that Kezia felt. Match the emotions in Column A with the items in Column B.