Have you ever felt depressed and rejected? How did you overcome such feelings? Share your experience with your classmates.

What is Behrman’s masterpiece? What makes Sue say so?

Behrman has a dream. What is it? Does it come true?

Do you think the feeling of depression Johnsy has, is common among teenagers?

What is Johnsy’s illness? What can cure her, the medicine or the willingness to live?

“...whenever we are told to hate our brothers...” When do you think this happens? Why? Who ‘tells’ us? Should we do as we are told at such times? What does the poet say? I am a citizen, not of Athens as Greece, but of the World. —Socrates

How many common features can you find in stanza 2? Pick out the words.

In stanza 1, find five ways in which we all are alike. Pick out the words.

(i) “Beneath all uniforms . ..” What uniforms do you think the poet is speaking about? (ii) How does the poet suggest that all people on earth are the same?

Name the two temples the author visited in Kathmandu.

Find out the possible routes (by rail, road or air) from Kathmandu to New Delhi/Mumbai/Kolkata/Chennai.

On the following map mark out the route, which the author thought of but did not take, to Delhi.

Which of these words would you use to describe Santosh Yadav? Find reasons in the text to support your choices, and write a couple of paragraphs describing Santosh’s character.

The roll of honour of women who enjoyed life at the summit since everybody’s favourite player, Chris Evert, took her place in 1975.

Imagine that you are Santosh Yadav, or Maria Sharapova. You have been invited to speak at an All India Girls’ Athletic Meet, as chief guest.

I never thought of quitting. I knew what I wanted.

You have nothing. That makes you very determined.

He gave the little girl an apple. He took the computer apart.

What do you do after you finish the book? Perhaps you just throw it away.

Grandfather told me about the old days. All books were printed on paper then.

Working in small groups of 4–5 students, go back over the two passages on Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova and complete the table given below with relevant phrases or sentences.

Little Maria had not yet celebrated her tenth birthday when she was packed off to train in the United States. (Tells us when Maria was sent to the U.S.)

She decided to fight the system when the right moment arrived.(Tells us when she was going to fight the system.)

She left home and got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi. (Tells us what happened after the first action.)

Where other girls wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred shorts. (Contrasts her dress with that of others)

the power to endure, without falling ill (7):................

a strong desire arising from within (5):................

the usual way of doing things (3): ................

based on reason; sensible; reasonable (2): ................

took to be true without proof (1): ................

During the Everest expedition, her seniors in the team admired her ............... while ............... endeared her to fellow climbers.

When she finished college, Santosh had to write a letter of apology to her father because ...............

From her room in Kasturba Hostel, Santosh used to ...............

Santosh Yadav got into the record books both times she scaled Mt. Everest. What were the reasons for this?

How does she describe her feelings at the summit of the Everest?

What shows her concern for the environment?

What incidents during the Everest expedition show Santosh’s concern for her team-mates?

How did Santosh begin to climb mountains?

Why did Santosh’s parents agree to pay for her schooling in Delhi? What mental qualities of Santosh are brought into light by this incident? (4)

When did she leave home for Delhi, and why? (4)

Why was Santosh sent to the local school? (3)

Give an example to show that even as a young girl Santosh was not ready to accept anything unrea-sonable. (2)

Why was the ‘holy man’ who gave Santosh’s mother his blessings surprised? (1)

Think and write a short account of what life in Rameswaram in the 1940s must have been like.

Here is a topic for you to 1. think about; 2. give your opinion on. Find out what other people think about it. Ask your friends/seniors/parents to give you their opinion.

Oil from Seeds Vegetable oils (make) from seeds and fruits of many plants growing all over the world, from tiny sesame seeds to big, juicy coconuts.

From Rameswaram to the Rashtrapati Bhavan,...................................Life’s a mission for President Kalam. Put the passages together in the right order.

How Helmets Came To Be Used in Cricket

Our National Anthem (compose) Rabindranath Tagore.

Elections to the Lok Sabha (hold) every five years.

Second-hand books (buy and sell) on the pavement every Saturday.

On Republic Day, vehicles (not allow) beyond this point.

In spite of financial difficulties, the labourers (pay) on time.

In yesterday’s competition the prizes (give away) by the Principal.

Study the words in italics in the sentences below. They are formed by prefixing un – or in – to their antonyms (words opposite in meaning).

Match the phrases in Column A with their meanings in Column B.

Can you find the word undistinguished in your dictionary? (If not, look for the word distinguished and say what undistinguished mean)

What are the meanings of the word trace and which of the meanings is closest to the word in the text?

Find the sentences in the text where these words occur:

Find the sentences in the text where these words occur:

What do you think his words mean? Why do you think he spoke those words?

What did his father say to this?

Why did Abdul Kalam want to leave Rames-waram?

Narrate two incidents that show how differences can be created, and also how they can be resolved. How can people change their attitudes?

The author speaks both of people who were very aware of the differences among them and those who tried to bridge these differences. Can you identify such people in the text?

Were they aware only of their differences or did they also naturally share friendships and experiences?

Which social groups does he mention? Were these groups easily identifiable (for example, by the way they dressed)?

II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words) What characteristics does he say he inherited from his parents?

II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words) How does the author describe : (i) his father, (ii) his mother, (iii) himself?

I. Answer these questions in one or two sentences each. Had he earned any money before that? In what way?

I. Answer these questions in one or two sentences each. How did Abdul Kalam earn his first wages?

I. Answer these questions in one or two sentences each. Who were Abdul Kalam’s school friends? What did they later become?

I. Answer these questions in one or two sentences each.Where was Abdul Kalam’s house?