Odisha State Board CHSE Odisha Class 11 Invitation to English 1 Solutions Chapter 1 Standing Up for Yourself Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.
CHSE Odisha 11th Class English Solutions Chapter 1 Standing Up for Yourself
CHSE Odisha Class 11 English Standing Up for Yourself Text Book Questions and Answers
UNIT – I
Gist with Glossary:
Gist:
The author was alone and living in Moscow. His parents were separated. His father seldom sent letters to him. His mother was a geologist, but later she gave it up to become a singer. She was entertaining the troops. These circumstances drove the author to live in the street. The street was his world which taught him how to overcome his fear of the stronger.
Glossary:
divorced : (husband and wife) separated by a court of law
front: war front, a place where two armies are engaged in a battle (ଯୁଦ୍ଧକ୍ଷେତ୍ର)
geologist: a person who studies rocks and crust of the earth to know its history (ଭୂତତ୍ତ୍ବବିତ୍)
concert: musical entertainment
elegantly: neatly, showing a good sense of style (ସୁନ୍ଦର ଭାବରେ)
overcome : conquer (ଜୟ କରିବା)
Think it out:
Question 1.
Is the narrator a child or an adult narrating his childhood experiences?
Answer:
The narrator is an adult narrating his childhood experiences.
Question 2.
Does the narrator have happy experiences in his childhood? Why/Why not?
Answer:
The narrator has both happy and unhappy experiences in his childhood. His parents were divorced. His mother left him. These circumstances made him lonely. The street became his teacher. He cultivated all bad habits. Another good habit he developed was the spirit of fearlessness which he has kept intact till today.
Question 3.
What was his relationship with his father?
Answer:
The narrator’s father lived somewhere in Kazakhstan with his new wife and hardly he got letters from his father. In short, there was no genuine relationship between father and son.
Question 4.
How did his mother spend his time?
Answer:
His mother spent her time in singing and giving entertainment to the troops.
Question 5.
What does ‘my education was left to the street’ mean here?
Answer:
After the divorce, his father lived with his new wife and his mother spent time in singing and giving entertainment to the troops. As a result, he became lonely and the street became his master. It taught him both good and bad habits.
Question 6.
What were two habits that remained with him all his life?
Answer:
The two habits that remained with him all his life were his preparedness to face the battle of life at any moment and his spirit of fearlessness.
Question 7.
What in your opinion was the best lesson that the street taught to the writer?
Answer:
In my opinion, the best lesson that the street taught to the writer was the habit of fearlessness. It taught him not to fear anyone.
UNIT – II
Gist with Glossary:
Gist:
A boy named Red was the monarch of the street. He possessed a peculiar appearance. He with two or three of his lieutenants was a terror in the street. The whole street was in the throes of fear at the sight of Red.
Glossary:
masterfully : carelessly (ବେଖାତର ଭାବରେ )
gait : manner of walking (ଚାଲିବା ଢଙ୍ଗ)
peak: a lock of hair growing just above the forehead (ମୁଣ୍ଡ ଉପରେ ଥିବା ଜଟ)
tumble : fall (ପଡ଼ିଯିବା)
cascade : waterfall (ଜଳପ୍ରପାତ)
pock-marked face: face with marks left after the smallpox
lieutenants : (here) supporters (ସମର୍ଥକ)
impressively : (here) without the slightest hesitation (ଦ୍ବିଧାହୀନଭାବେ )
tripped : followed by walking or running (ଜୋର୍ ରେ ପାଦ ପକାଇ ଚାଲିବା)
knuckle-duster: metal covering for the knuckles, for attack or defense
Think it out :
Question 1.
What made Red look older than he really was?
Answer:
His big and broad shoulders made Red look older than he really was.
Question 2.
How did he roam in the street?
Answer:
He roamed carelessly in the street with his legs wide. He walked like a seaman on the floor of a ship.
Question 3.
How did he dress himself?
Answer:
He dressed himself in a peculiar manner. He put on a cap. From under his cap, the writer noticed its peak at the back of his head.
Question 4.
Did he intentionally dress and walk in the manner described?
Answer:
A villain as he was, Red intentionally dressed and walked in the manner described.
Question 5.
Why did his lieutenants also wear their caps back to front?
Answer:
His lieutenants also wore their caps back to front, because they, like Red, wanted to evoke fear in everyone’s mind.
Question 6.
What pet animal comes to your mind when you read the expression ‘tripped at his heels’?
Answer:
When we read the expression ‘tripped at his heels’, the pet animal that comes to my mind is a dog.
Question 7.
What was his way of forcing money out of other boys?
Answer:
His way of forcing money out of other boys was to stop them and say simply but firmly the one-word ‘money’.
Question 8.
How did he rule the street?
Answer:
He ruled the street by stopping any boy and saying simply but firmly nothing but the one word ‘money’. His hangers-on emptied his pockets, and they beat him ruthlessly in case he resisted.
Question 9.
Was the narrator afraid of Red? Quote the sentence from the text in support of your answer.
Answer:
The narrator was certainly afraid of Red. The line ‘So was /’ is a case in point.
UNIT – III
Gist with Glossary:
Gist:
The author wrote a poem about him which by the next day became very popular. The people got the poem by heart and were filled with joy in expressing their hatred for Red. The author became a victim of Red. The ruffian gave him a violent strike with his knuckle duster. The author suffered fierce wounds. He lay unconscious and was bedridden for several days. After some days he went out with his bandaged head. As soon as he saw Red, he sprang to his feet. The author’s reaction was one of disgrace. He made up his mind to face Red without any fear.
Glossary:
exulted : showed great joy and pride (ଗର୍ବ ଓ ଆନନ୍ଦ ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶନ କଲେ)
triumphant: showing great joy or satisfaction (ଅତ୍ୟଧ୍ଵ ଆନନ୍ଦ ଓ ସନ୍ତୋଷ ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶନ)
hatred : dislike exhibited with joy (ଘୃଣା)
bore : make a bore, (here) looked pointedly (ତୀକ୍ଷ୍ଣ ଦୃଷ୍ଟିରେ ଚାହିଁଲେ )
drawled : spoke slowly so that the sounds of the vowels are longer than as usual (ଧୀର କଣ୍ଠରେ ସ୍ଵର ଲୟେଇ କହିବା)
crookedly : dishonestly, shrewdly (ଚତୁରତାପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଢଙ୍ଗରେ)
remuneration: reward; (here the word has been used satirically) (ପାଉଣା )
pounding : beating heavily and repeatedly (ନିର୍ଘାତ ମାଡ଼ଦେବା)
impotent : helpless or powerless (ଶକ୍ତିହୀନ)
vanquishe : defeat completely (ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ପରାସ୍ତ କରିବା)
Think it out :
Question 1.
What was the first thing the narrator did to overcome his fear of Red?
Answer:
The first thing that the narrator did to overcome his fear of Red was to write a poem about him.
Question 2.
How did the people in the street respond to the poem?
Answer:
The people in the street learnt the poem by heart. They were filled with great joy and excitement. Their hatred for Red ruled the most.
Question 3.
Explain the expression ‘triumphant hatred’.
Answer:
The narrator’s poem about Red filled the people in the street with great joy and excitement. They gave up their fear of Red and expressed their hatred for him with great satisfaction.
Question 4.
How did Red sneer at the narrator?
Answer:
Red addressed the narrator as a poet slowly with a mischievous smile on his face. He commented sarcastically that at last he wrote verses and asked if they rhymed.
Question 5.
What was the result of his first encounter with Red?
Answer:
Red struck the narrator’s head with a metal covering for the knuckles. As a result, he fell down with blood gushing out of his head and lost consciousness. He was confined to bed for several days. This was the result of his first encounter with Red.
Question 6.
‘This was my first remuneration as a poet’ – was the narrator happy with his reward as a poet?
Answer:
The narrator was not happy at all with his reward as a poet.
Question 7.
What was a more difficult situation for the narrator: to be injured by Red or to overcome his fear of Red when he saw Red after his injury?
Answer:
A more difficult situation for the narrator was overcoming his fear when he saw Red after his injury.
Question 8.
What was the result of his second encounter with Red?
Answer:
The result of his second encounter with Read was his determination to defeat the fear of Red despite suffering shame and experiencing futile anger at his cowardice.
UNIT – IV
Gist and Glossary:
Gist:
The author made up his mind to face Red without any fear. He trained himself with parallel bars and weights. He bought one textbook on ju-jitsu. After practicing the Japanese form of self-defense at home, he went out again. He encountered Red and his associates when they were absorbed in playing vingt-et-un. He went to them, kicked, and scattered the cards with utter contempt. The author’s rudeness made Red violently furious. Fierce fighting broke out.
Red was bewildered at his amazing fearlessness. He was disgracefully defeated. He was sobbing and wiping out his tears with his dirty hands. Red no longer became the monarch of the street. He learnt a great lesson from his encounter with Red. There is no need to be afraid of the strong. The strong can be challenged fearlessly, but one should be trained in the Japanese art of self-defense to overcome them. Besides, to be a poet, one should write not only poetry but abide by its essence.
Glossary:
parallel bars : pair of parallel bars on posts for physical exercise (ଶାରୀରିକ ବ୍ୟାୟମ ନିମନ୍ତେ ବ୍ୟବହୃତ ଏକଯୋଡ଼ ସମାନ୍ତର ଦଣ୍ଡ )
session : single meeting
miraculous : most remarkable ( ଉଲ୍ଲେଖନୀୟ )
ju-jitsu : Japanese art of self- defence (ଆତ୍ମରକ୍ଷା ନିମନ୍ତେ ଏକ ଜାପାନୀ କୌଶଳ)
vingt-et-un : a kind of card game (ଏକପ୍ରକାର ତାଳ)
impudence : utter disrespect
menacingly : in a threatening manner (ଧମକ ଦେବା ଭଙ୍ଗୀରେ)
divied into pocket : rushing quickly into pocket (ହଠାତ୍ ପକେଟ୍ରେ ପୂରାଇଲେ)
jabbing : aiming a sudden blow (ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟକରି ଦୃତ ଆଘାତ ଦେବା)
bewildered : puzzled, confused
grubby : dirty (ମଇଳା)
stand up for: back up (ସହାୟତା ଦେବା)
Think it out :
Question 1.
How did the narrator train himself to grow stronger?
Answer:
To grow stronger, the narrator trained himself with a pair of parallel bars meant for gymnastic exercises. Besides, he resorted to weights.
Question 2.
How did he get a textbook on ju-jitsu?
Answer:
He got a textbook on ju-jitsu in exchange of a week’s ration card.
Question 3.
How long did he train himself before the final encounter with Red?
Answer:
He trained himself for three weeks before the final encounter with Red.
Question 4.
Where did the final encounter take place? What was Red doing then?
Answer:
The final encounter took place on the lawn in their yard, when Red was lost in playing a card game called vingt-et-un with his hangers-on.
Question 5.
How did the narrator attack Red?
Answer:
The narrator kicked and scattered cards played by Red and his lieutenants.
Question 6.
How did Red react to the narrator’s attack?
Answer:
Red reacted to the narrator’s attack in a state of surprise and asked him mockingly if he was looking for more.
Question 7.
How did the narrator tackle Red?
Answer:
The narrator tackled Red by making a fast sudden blow to him. Confused, he came towards the former furiously. The narrator cut him to size by catching his wrist and squeezing slowly.
Question 8.
How did Red suffer at the hands of the narrator?
Answer:
Crying loudly in pain, Red rolled on the ground. His fingers suffered injuries. The narrator made him sob and rub the tears over his small-pox-marked face with his dirty fist.
Question 9.
What lesson did the narrator learn during his encounter with a bully like Red?
Answer:
During his encounter with a bully like Red, the narrator learns that one needn’t be afraid of the strong. Besides, it is imperative for all to know the technique of vanquishing them.
Question 10.
What career did the narrator prepare himself for?
Answer:
The narrator prepared himself for becoming a poet. Besides writing poems, he should defend their themes at any cost.
Question 11.
Which of these do you think is true: courage means not having fear at all or courage means conquering fear? Justify your choice.
Answer:
I think courage means conquering fear. The narrator’s strong determination to defeat Red, the ruler of the street, bore a fruitful result and Red was defeated by him. This is a glittering example on point.
Post-Reading Activities:
Doing the Words
(A) In order to understand what you are reading from an English text, you need to guess the meaning of unfamiliar words/expressions from the context. Guess at the meaning of words from the way it is used in the sentences/text below. This will help you read faster and easier.
Question (i).
Alexander was so good with horses that he could ride any horse masterfully.
(clue: Did Alexander behave as a ‘master’ ?)
Answer:
skilfully
Question (ii).
His courage used to bewilder many including his father. One example was when he tried to master Bucephalus, an unruly horse, everyone was bewildered at his behavior.
(clue: Bigger words come from smaller ones whose meaning you would know: be + wild + er. ‘wild’ is something that we don’t know.)
Answer:
confuse
Question (iii).
He never worked as a lieutenant in the Greek army but was always its leader.
(clue: Is a lieutenant senior or junior to the leader of an army ?)
Answer:
sub-ordinate
Question (iv).
Alexander wanted to conquer the whole world. He actually conquered most of it.
(clue: Is it to rule or defeat ?)
Answer:
rule
Question (v).
Although he died very young, his military achievement was impressive.
(clue: Bigger words come from smaller ones that you may know, impress + ive. Was Alexander’s achievement remarkable or ordinary ?)
Answer:
remarkable
(B) Some words are in italics in each of the following sentences, and three different meanings are given below the sentence. Identify the meaning that best fits the words in italics.
Question 1.
What matters in the struggle for life is overcoming fear?
(i) present situation
(ii) have an important effect
(iii) problems
Answer:
(ii) have an important effect
Question 2.
Most of the play is written in verse.
(i) prose
(ii) dialogues
(iii) poetry
Answer:
(iii) poetry
Question 3.
We have decided to complete the project at whatever cost.
(i) no matter what the risk or loss may be
(ii) without considering how much money is needed
(iii) in the least expensive way
Answer:
(i) no matter what the risk or loss may be
Question 4.
I know for certain that daffodils bloom in Spring.
(i) want to make sure
(ii) know without a doubt
(iii) declare with confidence
Answer:
(ii) know without a doubt
Question 5.
She has made up her mind to buy a car this month.
(i) hoped
(ii) decided
(iii) thought
Answer:
(ii) decided
Question6.
We must stand up for what is right even if we are standing alone.
(i) defend
(ii) represent
(iii) face boldly
Answer:
(i) defend
(C) Mark the use of ‘heel’ in “Two or three lieutenants, in peaked caps back to front like Red’s, tripped at his heels.” Look up the word ‘heel’ in the dictionary. Study the meanings of ‘heel’ in the following idiomatic expressions. Use each of them in a sentence of your own.
(a) take to one’s heels – To run away
(b) on the heels of – Following closely behind somebody
(c) cool one’s heels – Completely controlled by somebody
(d) kick up one’s heels – To be relaxed and enjoy yourself
(e) turn on one’s heels – To turn around suddenly
(f) head over heels – Loving somebody very much
(g) come to heel – To agree to obey somebody and accept his order
(h) show a clean pair of heels
Answer:
(a) take to one’s heels – The two suspicious-looking men standing outside the jeweler’s shop took to their heels when the police car drew up.
(b) on the heels of – TV camera team arrived on the heels of the police.
(c) cool one’s heels – The interviewer hadn’t arrived, so the Secretary kept the four of us cooling our heels in the corridor for hours.
(d) kick up one’s heels – They were forced to keep up their heels for nearly an hour.
(e) turn on one’s heels – She turned on her heel and went back to her room.
(f) head over heels – They met in 2000 and felt head over heels in love.
(g) come to heel – A few government rebels refused to come to heel and had to be expelled from the party.
(h) show a clean pair of heels – Butler showed them all a clean pair of heels as he raced for the finishing line.
CHSE Odisha Class 11 English Standing Up for Yourself Important Questions and Answers
I. Short Answer Type Questions with Answers
1. Read through the extracts and answer the questions that follow.
In 41, I was living alone in an empty flat on a quiet Moscow street. My parents were divorced and my father was somewhere in Kazakhstan with his new wife and their two children. I seldom received letters from him. My mother was at the front. She had given up her work as a geologist to become a singer and was giving concerts for the troops. My education was left to the street. The street taught me to swear, smoke, spit elegantly through my teeth, and to keep my fists at the ready – a habit that I have to this day. The street taught me not to be afraid of anything or anyone – this is another habit I have kept. I realized that what mattered in the struggle for life was to overcome my fear of those who were stronger.
The ruler of our street was a boy of about sixteen who was nicknamed Red. Red was big and broad-shouldered beyond his years. Red walked masterfully up and down our street, legs wide and with a slightly rolling gait, like a seaman on his deck. From under his cap, its peak always at the back of his head, his forelock tumbled down in a fiery cascade, and, out of his round pock-marked face, green eyes, like a cat’s, sparkled with scorn for everything and everyone. Two or three lieutenants in peaked caps back to front like Red’s tripped at his heels. Red could stop any boy and say impressively the one-word ‘money’. His lieutenants would turn out the boy’s pockets, and if he resisted they beat him up hard. Everyone was afraid of Red. So was I. I knew he carried a heavy metal knuckle duster in his pocket.
Questions :
(i) Throw light on the writer’s father.
(ii) What bad habits did the narrator learn from the street?
(iii) Describe the physical appearance of Red.
(iv) How did his green eyes look like? What did they convey?
(v) What was the narrator aware of?
Answers :
(i) The writer’s parents were divorced. Then his father married again. He was living somewhere in Kazakhstan with his new wife and their two children.
(ii) The bad habits the narrator learnt from the street were smoking and spitting through his teeth in a nice manner.
(iii) Red had a round pock-marked face with green eyes.
(iv) Red’s green eyes looked like those of a cat. They conveyed his contempt for everything and everyone.
(v) The narrator was aware of the fact that Red carried a heavy metal covering for the knuckles in his pocket.
2. Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
I wanted to conquer my fear of Red. So I wrote a poem about him. This was my first piece of journalism in verse. By the next day, the whole street knew it by heart and exulted with triumphant hatred. One morning on my way to school, I suddenly came upon Red and his lieutenants. His eyes seemed to bore through me. “Ah, the poet,” he drawled, smiling crookedly. “So you write verses. Do they rhyme ?” Red’s hand darted into his pocket and came out armed with its knuckle duster; it flashed like lightning and struck my head. I fell down streaming with blood and lost consciousness. This was my first remuneration as a poet. I spent several days in bed. When I went out, with my head still bandaged, I again saw Red. I struggled with myself but lost and took to my heels. At home, I rolled on my bed, biting my pillow and pounding it in shame and impotent fury at my cowardice. I made up my mind to vanquish it at whatever cost.
Questions :
(i) When did the narrator suddenly meet Red?
(ii) Why did he faint?
(iii) ‘It flashed like lightning.’ What does ‘It’ refer to?
(iv) What happened to the narrator after Red had attacked him ruthlessly?
(v) Explain the expression ‘impotent fury’.
Answers :
(i) One morning when the narrator was going to school, he suddenly met Red.
(ii) He fainted because Red struck him on the head with his knuckle duster.
(iii) ‘It’ refers to Red’s knuckle-duster.
(iv) The narrator lay unconscious and was confined to bed after Red had attacked him ruthlessly.
(v) The expression ‘impotent fury’ signifies the narrator’s futile anger at his cowardice. He was incapable of encountering cruel and mischievous Red.
3. Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
I went into training with parallel bars and weights. After every session, I would feel my muscles they were getting bigger, but slowly. Then I remembered something I had read in a book about a miraculous Japanese method of wrestling which gave an advantage to the weak over the strong. I exchanged a week’s ration card for a textbook on ju-jitsu. For three weeks, I stayed at home, practicing with two other boys. Then I went out. Red was sitting on the lawn in our yard, playing vingt-et-un with his lieutenants. He was absorbed in the game.
Fear was still deep in me, urging me to go back. But I went up to the players and kicked and scattered the cards. Red looked up, surprised at my impudence after my recent flight. He got up slowly. “You looking for more ?” he asked menacingly. As before, his hand dived into his pocket for the knuckle duster. But I made a quick jabbing movement and Red, howling with pain, rolled on the ground. Bewildered, he got up and came at me swinging his head furiously from side to side like a maddened bull.
I caught his wrist and squeezed slowly, as I had read in the book until the knuckle-duster dropped from his limp fingers. Nursing his hand, Red fell down again. He was sobbing and smearing the tears over his pock-marked face with his grubby fist. That day Red ceased to be the monarch of our street. And from that day on, I knew for certain that one need not fear the strong. All one needs is to know the way to beat them. For every strong man, there is a special ju-jitsu. What I also learned on this occasion was that to be a poet, I had not only to write poems but know how to stand up for them.
Questions :
(i) What is the importance of a textbook on ju-jitsu?
(ii) In what state did the narrator attack Red?
(iii) Where did Red always keep the knuckle duster?
(iv) What quality in the narrator prevented Red from becoming the monarch of their street again?
(v) Suggest a suitable title to the extract.
Answers :
(i) The textbook on ju-jitsu deals with a miraculous Japanese technique of wrestling that gives benefits to the weak over the strong.
(ii) The narrator attacked Red in a state of great determination, though fear was still haunting him.
(iii) Red always kept the knuckle duster in his pocket.
(iv) The narrator’s firm determination to overcome the fear of the strong prevented Red from becoming the monarch of the street again.
(v) The value of fearlessness.
II. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with Answers
Choose the correct option.
UNIT-I
WARM-UP
Have you ever…………..up in the streets.
Question 1.
The author belongs to which of the following country?
(a) England
(b) America
(c) Russia
(d) Germany
Answer:
(c) Russia
Question 2.
The author is:
(a) a poet
(b) a novelist
(c) a dramatist
(d) all of the above
Answer:
(d) all of the above
Question 3.
In the Warm-up section there is a reference about a child, who is :
(a) given all comfort by parents
(b) deserted by parents
(e) looked after by a destitute center
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(b) deserted by parents
Question 4.
In the Warm-up para, the name of a movie is mentioned. The movie is:
(a) The Wizard Millionaire
(b) The Millionaire of London
(c) Slumdog Millionaire
(d) The Mumbai Crorepati
Answer:
(c) Slumdog Millionaire
Question 5.
Who is Danny Boyle?
(a) film producer
(b) film director
(c) film actor
(d) none of these
Answer:
(b) film director
Question 6.
Who is Loveleen Tandan ?
(a) a co-director of the film
(b) director of the film
(c) film producer
(d) film actor
Answer:
(a) a co-director of the film
Question 7.
The film in the Warm-up para is an adaptation of a novel. What is that?
(a) The Novel A and Q
(b) The Novel of the Young Generation
(c) The Fall of Paradise
(d) The Novel Q and A
Answer:
(d) The Novel Q and A
Question 8.
The adaptation of the novel is done by an Indian author and diplomat. Who is he?
(a) Vikash Swarup
(b) Akas Swarup
(c) Nancy Swarup
(d) Loveleen Tandan
Answer:
(a) Vikash Swaru
Question 9.
The story in the text is about :
(a) a French child
(b) an Indian child
(c) a Russian child
(d) a Chinese child
Answer:
(c) a Russian child
Question 10.
The child in the story is :
(a) a young film actor
(b) the author himself
(c) an English writer
(d) a storyteller
Answer:
(b) the author himself
The Text:
In 41, I was living alone ……….. were stronger.
Question 11.
Where did the boy live?
(a) in a bungalow in Moscow
(b) in a slum in London
(c) in an empty flat in Moscow
(d) in a modest house in Paris
Answer:
(c) in an empty flat in Moscow
Question 12.
What had happened to his parents?
(a) They were divorced.
(b) They were living together.
(c) They were always quarreling.
(d) They were dead.
Answer:
(a) They were divorced.
Question 13.
Where did his father live with his new wife?
(a) in Mumbai
(b) in Baluchistan
(c) in Kazakhstan
(d) in Moscow
Answer:
(c) in Kazakhstan
Question 14.
He received letters from his father :
(a) often
(b) seldom
(c) every month
(d) none of these
Answer:
(b) seldom
Question 15.
What was his mother?
(a) an anthropologist
(b) a stenographer
(c) a historian
(d) a geologist
Answer:
(d) a geologist
Question 16.
Why did she (his mother) give up her work as a geologist?
(a) to become an actress
(b) to become a politician
(c) to become a singer
(d) to become a dancer
Answer:
(c) to become a singer
Question 17.
What was she doing after leaving her work as a geologist?
(a) giving concerts for the troops as a singer
(b) giving training to the dancers
(c) giving guidance to the youth for social work
(d) working as a film director
Answer:
(a) giving concerts for the troops as a singer
Question 18.
What do you mean by the word ‘front’ here?
(a) the border of a state
(b) in front of a place or street
(c) place where two armies are fighting in a war
(d) all of these
Answer:
(c) place where two armies are fighting in a war
Question 19.
What do you mean by the word ‘concert’?
(a) cooperation
(b) confrontation
(c) musical entertainment
(d) mutual effort
Answer:
(c) musical entertainment
Question 20.
The word ‘troop’ refers to :
(a) dance party
(b) army
(c) group
(d) herd
Answer:
(b) army
Question 21.
The author’s parents were divorced when he was :
(a) a young man
(b) a boy
(c) a middle-aged man
(d) quite grown up
Answer:
(b) a boy
Question 22.
His fate pushed him to life :
(a) in the street
(b) in Luxury
(c) in danger
(d) none of these
Answer:
(a) in the street
Question 23.
To swear, smoke and spit were his :
(a) vice
(b) virtue
(c) good habits
(d) none of these
Answer:
(a) vice
Question 24.
What do you mean by the word “elegantly”?
(a) showing a bad sense of style
(b) showing a good sense of style
(c) attack somebody with style
(d) it is a style of dance
Answer:
(b) showing a good sense of style
Question 25.
Which habit he has kept to this day?
(a) smoking
(b) spit elegantly through his teeth
(c) keeping his fists at the ready
(d) all of these
Answer:
(c) keeping his fists at the ready
Question 26.
Another habit he had kept was :
(a) fearful
(b) fearlessness
(c) cowardice
(d) none of these
Answer:
(b) fearlessness
Question 27.
What kind of fear the boy had to overcome?
(a) fear of those who were stronger
(b) fear of losing friendship
(c) fear of being robbed
(d) none of these
Answer:
(a) fear of those who were stronger
Question 28.
What was the experience of the narrator in his childhood?
(a) unhappy
(b) happy
(c) feeling of danger
(d) none of these
Answer:
(a) unhappy
Question 29.
What in your opinion was the best lesson that the street taught to the narrator?
(a) spit elegantly
(b) to keep his fists at the ready
(c) not to be afraid of anything or anyone
(d) none of these
Answer:
(c) not to be afraid of anything or anyone
Unit – II
Warm-up
The Text
Do you think a duster……….. in his pocket.
Question 30.
The narrator was scared of someone in his childhood. Who was he?
(a) a boy nicknamed Robbin
(b) a man who was a murderer
(c) a boy nicknamed Red
(d) a friend of his who was a terror
Answer:
(c) a boy nicknamed Red
Question 31.
How old was Red?
(a) twenty years
(b) sixteen years
(c) eighteen years
(d) nineteen years
Answer:
(b) sixteen years
Question 32.
Who was called the ruler of our street?
(a) the child
(b) the author
(c) the boy Red
(d) none of these
Answer:
(c) the boy Red
Question 33.
How was Red look like?
(a) big and broad-shouldered
(b) short and fatty
(c) tall and slim
(d) all of these
Answer:
(a) big and broad-shouldered
Question 34.
What do you mean by the word ‘masterfully’?
(a) to behave like a master
(b) to do the mastermind work
(c) not caring for others
(d) none of these
Answer:
(c) not caring for others
Question 35.
What do you mean by the word ‘gait’?
(a) manner of standing
(b) manner of sitting
(c) manner of talking
(d) manner of walking
Answer:
(d) manner of walking
Question 36.
‘Like a seaman on his deck’ refers to :
(a) the author
(b) a seaman of the past
(c) the boy Red
(d) none of these
Answer:
(c) the boy Red
Question 37.
What do you mean by the word ‘peak’ here?
(a) the highest point
(b) lock of hair growing just above the forehead
(c) the top of a mountain
(d) all of these
Answer:
(b) lock of hair growing just above the forehead
Question 38.
What is the meaning of the word ‘cascade’?
(a) vast grassland
(b) waterfall
(c) a green belt
(d) the surface of the body of water
Answer:
(b) waterfall
Question 39.
How was the face of Red looked like?
(a) red flat face
(b) round pock-marked face
(c) black round pock-marked face
(d) none of these
Answer:
(b) round pock-marked face
Question 40.
His green eyes were compared with like that of a :
(a) monkey
(b) tiger
(c) cat
(d) deer
Answer:
(c) cat
Question 41.
Which word from the following is the synonym of the word ‘scorn’?
(a) angry
(b) contempt
(c) remark
(d) conserve
Answer:
(b) contempt
Question 42.
Lieutenants here refers to :
(a) assistants of Red
(b) friends of Red
(c) supporters of Red
(d) none of these
Answer:
(c) supporters of Red
Question 43.
What was Red demanding from the boys stopping them on the road?
(a) to obey him
(b) money
(c) to steal for him
(d) to rob people on the way
Answer:
(b) money
Question 44.
What did his lieutenants do if somebody resisted?
(a) beat him up hard
(b) keep him confined in a place
(c) leave him to go silently
(d) none of these
Answer:
(a) beat him up hard
Question 45.
What did Red always carry in his pocket?
(a) a knife
(b) a rifle
(c) a knuckle-duster
(d) a blade
Answer:
(c) a knuckle-duster
Question 46.
Why did he carry a heavy metal duster?
(a) to attack
(b) for defense
(c) both for attack and defense
(d)none of these
Answer:
(c) both for attack and defense
Unit – III
Warm-up
The text
Does the narrator ……………….. whatever cost.
Question 47.
What did the narrator want to conquer?
(a) fear of God
(b) fear of ghost
(c) fear of himself
(d) fear of Red
Answer:
(d) fear of Red
Question 48.
What did he do to win over his fear of Red?
(a) wrote a poem about him
(b) prayed to God to give the strength
(c) decided to avoid him
(d) none of these
Answer:
(a) wrote a poem about him
Question 49.
This poem of the narrator was in the form of :
(a) poem
(b) verse
(c) dialogue
(d) dilect
Answer:
(b) verse
Question 50.
Which was the first piece of journalism of the narrator in verse?
(a) the first poem of the author
(b) the first article of the author
(c) the first short story of the author
(d) none of these
Answer:
(a) the first poem of the author
Question 51.
What do you mean by the statement “the whole street knew it by heart”?
(a) It was distributed to people of the street.
(b) The poem was popular among the people of the street.
(c) The street people sang the poem standing together.
(d) all of these
Answer:
(b) The poem was popular among the people of the street.
Question 52.
What do you mean by the word ‘exulted’?
(a) showed displeasure and unhappiness
(b) showed physical and mental strength
(c) showed great joy and excitement
(d) showed bad temperament and falsehood
Answer:
(c) showed great joy and excitement
Question 53.
What do you mean by the word “triumphant”?
(a) the feeling of victory with satisfaction
(b) the feeling of victory with anger
(c) showing bad manners by winning something
(d) all of these
Answer:
(a) the feeling of victory with satisfaction
Question 54.
What do you mean by the word phrase ‘triumphant hatred’?
(a) the feeling of victory over something or somebody you dislike
(b) feeling very bad after the victory
(c) showing bad manners after winning a match
(d) all of these
Answer:
(a) the feeling of victory over something or somebody you dislike
Question 55.
At what time the narrator one day met Red and his lieutenants?
(a) in the evening
(b) at night
(c) in the afternoon
(d) in the morning
Answer:
(d) in the morning
Question 56.
What is the meaning of the phrase ‘bore through’?
(a) to look at somebody aggressively
(b) to threaten someone to kill
(c) to stare in a way that makes somebody feel uncomfortable
(d) all of the above
Answer:
(c) to stare in a way that makes somebody feel uncomfortable
Question 57.
What do you mean by the word ‘drawl’?
(a) to say something speedily and angrily
(b) to say something slowly with longer vowel sounds
(c) to say something slowly with longer consonant sounds
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(b) to say something slowly with longer vowel sounds
Question 58.
What do you mean by the phrasal words ‘impotent fury’?
(a) fruitful anger
(b) futile anger
(c) fruitful with no anger
(d) none of these
Answer:
(b) futile anger
Question 59.
What do you mean by the word ‘vanquish’?
(a) defeat completely
(b) win completely
(c) break somebody’s power
(d) all of these
Answer:
(a) defeat completely
Question 60.
Who was smiling crookedly at the narrator?
(a) people in the street
(b) Red
(c) Red’s lieutenants
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(b) Red
Question 61.
Who told this to whom? “So you write verses. Do they rhyme ?”
(a) Red to his lieutenants
(b) Red to the people in the street
(c) Red to the narrator
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(c) Red to the narrator
Question 62.
What do you mean by the word ‘darted’?
(a) moved slowly
(b) moved suddenly
(c) moved secretly
(d) moved upward
Answer:
(b) moved suddenly
Question 63.
What is a knuckle-duster?
(a) It is an iron knife.
(b) It is an iron hammer.
(c) A metal covering for the knuckles for attack or defense.
(d) An axe-type weapon.
Answer:
(c) A metal covering for the knuckles for attack or defense.
Question 64.
What was the author’s first remuneration as a poet?
(a) a word of admiration by the people
(b) struck on his head with a knuckle-duster
(c) streaming with blood and lost consciousness
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(b) struck on his head with a knuckle-duster
Question 65.
Avoiding meeting Red in the second time, the author considers this act on his part as
(a) bravery
(b) cowardice
(c) cleverness
(d) wise
Answer:
(b) cowardice
Question 66.
What did he want to do at whatever cost?
(a) to conquer
(b) to win
(c) to vanquish
(d) to get rid of
Answer:
(c) to vanquish
Unit – IV
Warm-up
The text
Fear of Red ………….. stand up for them.
Question 67.
Which method of wrestling is an advantage to the weak over the strong?
(a) Chinese method of wrestling
(b) Japanese method of wrestling
(c) German method of wrestling
(d) French method of wrestling
Answer:
(b) Japanese method of wrestling
Question 68.
Which game Red was playing sitting in the lawn when the narrator went out to meet him?
(a) chess
(b) vingt-et-un
(c) length-ut-sn
(d) oxat-ut-bun
Answer:
(b) vingt-et-un
Question 69.
Which textbook on martial art did the narrator buy?
(a) on fu-fitsu
(b) on ju-jitsu
(c) on lu-litsu
(d) gu-bitsu
Answer:
(b) on ju-jitsu
Introducing the Author:
Yevgeny Yevtushenko is a promising Russian poet. His poetic career started with the publication of his first volume of poems in 1952. He represented the young generation of poets. He became the voice of the young poets who were bent upon seeing the old truths about socialist realism in a newer light. Flowers and Bullets, Freedom to Kill, and Stolen Apples testify to his poetic genius. Besides, he is a novelist, essayist, dramatist, screenwriter, actor, editor and director of films.
About the Topic:
The author’s parents were divorced when he was still a boy. The divorce plunged him into a state of loneliness. He turned this loneliness into a challenge. Thus his life began on a note of challenge. This topic is built around an incident in his boyhood while he was living in Moscow. It demonstrates that fear can be met effectively and successfully.
Summary:
The present essay gives a poetic description of the author’s bold encounter with a hoodlum while as a boy he was living in Moscow. The author injects realism in his narration of the incident. The essay begins with the author’s description of his divorced parents. Their divorce drove him into the street. His life started in the street. It became his home. He found his world in it. He describes his life in the street in a lighter vein. It was in the street that he swore and smoked. Here he learned the spirit of fearlessness.
The author gives a vivid account of ‘the ruler’ of the street. A boy about sixteen nicknamed Red was the hero of the street. He was a picture of panic to all. He was walking up and down the street careless of the people around him. His wide legs, fiery forelock, and green eyes dominated the street. He was always moving with two or three lieutenants. Red was a The author gives a vivid account of ‘the ruler’ of the street. A boy about sixteen nicknamed Red was the hero of the street. He was a picture of panic to all.
He was walking up and down the street careless of the people around him. His wide legs, fiery forelock, and green eyes dominated the street. He was always moving with two or three lieutenants. Red was a ruffian. His lieutenants could stop any boy unhesitatingly and empty out his pocket. The whole ‘street reacted in blatant fear. The author was also not free. But still, he was seized with a desire to conquer his fear of Red. He wrote a poem about the ruffian who always carried a heavy metal knuckle duster in his pocket.
The poem was on everybody’s lips. The whole street exhibited their dislike for Red with great joy. One morning on the way to school, the author accidentally met Red and his lieutenants. His eyes were fixed on the author with hatred and vengeance. He struck his head violently with his knuckle duster. He was unconscious and was confined to bed for several days. He again saw Red and tom in panic, he quickly escaped his notice. A sense of shame and cowardice overwhelmed him. He mustered the courage.
Fierce determination stared him in the face. He would defeat Red come what may. It was a challenge to him. He took to training with parallel bars and weights. He also remembered the Japanese method of wrestling which he had read in a book. He had to barter his ration card for a textbook on ju-jitsu which deals with the Japanese art of self-defense. He was engrossed in practicing this art with his friends for three weeks. He was filled with renewed confidence. He went out to meet the challenge of his life.
Sitting on the lawn, Red was lost in playing vingt-et-un with his lieutenants. In spite of lurking fear, he faced them with utter rudeness scattering their cards. Red flew into anger and before he used the knuckle-duster, the author crushed him. Writhing with pain, Red lay on the ground. He came to him like a maddened bull. What that writer had read in the book prompted him to deal with him without a shred of fear. He caught his wrist and squeezed him.
His knuckle duster could not help him. He fell down and was left to sob and wipe out his tears of defeat. The strong ruffian’s vanity and rule of the street were toms to pieces. The incident still clings to the author’s memory. His encounter with the monarch of the street taught him a lesson. One can easily overcome the fear of the strong, and the secret to beating them is to master the Japanese art of self-defense. Another lesson that he learned was that to be a poet one need not only write poems but to support their essence.
ସାରାଂଶ:
ଲେଖକ ଯେତେବେଳେ ବାଳକ ଥିଲେ ସେତେବେଳେ ସେ ପିତାମାତାଙ୍କଦ୍ୱାରା ଉପେକ୍ଷିତ ହୋଇଥିଲେ । ଫଳରେ ସେ ଏକାନ୍ତ ଭାବରେ ନିଃସଙ୍ଗ ଅବସ୍ଥାରେ ଜୀବନ କଟାଇଥିଲେ । ମସ୍କୋର ରାସ୍ତା ହିଁ ଥିଲା ତାଙ୍କର ସଂସାର । ସେ କ୍ଵଚିତ୍ ବାପାଙ୍କଠାରୁ ପତ୍ର ପାଉଥିଲେ । ରାସ୍ତାର ଶିକ୍ଷା ତାଙ୍କର ଜୀବନକୁ ପ୍ରଭାବିତ କରିଥିଲା । ରାସ୍ତାରେ ଯେଉଁମାନେ ଜୀବନ କଟାନ୍ତି ସେମାନଙ୍କ ପରି ଶପଥ କରିବା, ଧୂମପାନ କରିବା ଏବଂ ହାତମୁଠା ଟାଣ କରିବା ସେ ଶିଖୁଥିଲେ । କୌଣସି କଥାକୁ ଭୟ ନ କରିବା ଏବଂ କାହାକୁ ଭୟ ନ କରିବା ମନୋଭାବ, ରାସ୍ତା ହିଁ ତାଙ୍କୁ ଶିକ୍ଷା ଦେଇଥିଲା । ସେ ଅନୁଭବ କରିଥିଲେ ଯେ ଯେଉଁମାନେ ତାଙ୍କଠାରୁ ବଳବାନ୍ ତାଙ୍କୁ ବଳରେ ଟପିଯିବା ହିଁ ଜୀବନର ଆବଶ୍ୟକତା । ସେ ସମୟରେ ରାସ୍ତାର ଦାଦା ଥିଲା ଜଣେ ଷୋହଳ ବର୍ଷ ବୟସର ତୁରଣ, ଯା’ର ଡାକ ନାମ ଥିଲା ‘ରେଡ୍’ ।
ବିଲେଇର ଆଖ୍ ପରି ତା’ର ଆଖ୍ ଦୁଇଟି ସବୁବେଳେ ଜଳୁଥିଲା । ତା’ ପାଖରେ ଦୁଇ କିମ୍ବା ତିନିଜଣ ସମପୋଷାକ ପରିଧାନ କରିଥିବା ପାଖଲୋକ ଥାଆନ୍ତି । ରାସ୍ତାରେ ଯାଉଥିବା ଯେକୌଣସି ପିଲାକୁ ସେ ଅଟକାଇ ପାରୁଥିଲା ଏବଂ ସେତେବେଳେ ତା’ର ଦୁଷ୍କର୍ମରେ ସହାୟକ ପାଖଲୋକ ଦୁଇଟି ତା’ର ପକେଟ୍ରେ ଥିବା ପଇସା କାଢ଼ି ନେଉଥିଲେ । ଯଦି ପିଲାଟି ବାଧା ଦେଉଥୁଲା, ତେବେ ସେମାନେ ତାକୁ ନିସ୍ତୁକ ମାଡ଼ ଦେଉଥିଲେ । ଅନ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କ ପରି ଲେଖକ ବି ତାକୁ ଭୟ କରୁଥିଲେ । ସେ ଜାଣିଥିଲେ ରେଡ୍ର ପକେଟ୍ରେ ଗୋଟିଏ ଓଜନଦାର ଧାତୁନିର୍ମିତ ଅସ୍ତ୍ର ଅଛି । ରେଡ୍ ପ୍ରତି ଭୟ କିପରି ଦୂର ହୋଇପାରିବ ଲେଖକ ସେହି କଥା ଚିନ୍ତା କରୁଥିଲେ । ସେ ତେଣୁ ତା’ ବିଷୟରେ ଗୋଟିଏ କବିତା ଲେଖୁଲେ ।
ତା’ପରଦିନ ରାସ୍ତାର ସମସ୍ତେ ତାହା ମନେରଖିଲେ । ଅନ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କ ପରି ଲେଖକ ବି ତାକୁ ଭୟ କରୁଥିଲେ । ସେ ଜାଣିଥିଲେ ରେଡ୍ର ପକେଟ୍ରେ ଗୋଟିଏ ଓଜନଦାର ଧାତୁନିର୍ମିତ ଅସ୍ତ୍ର ଅଛି । ରେଡ୍ ପ୍ରତି ଭୟ କିପରି ଦୂର ହୋଇପାରିବ ଲେଖକ ସେହି କଥା ଚିନ୍ତା କରୁଥିଲେ । ସେ ତେଣୁ ତା’ ବିଷୟରେ ଗୋଟିଏ କବିତା ଲେଖୁଲେ । ତା’ପରଦିନ ରାସ୍ତାର ସମସ୍ତେ ତାହା ମନେରଖିଲେ । ଦିନେ ସକାଳେ ସ୍କୁଲ ଯିବା ରାସ୍ତାରେ ସେ ରେଡ୍ ଓ ତା’ର ସହକର୍ମୀମାନଙ୍କର ସମ୍ମୁଖୀନ ହେଲେ । ରେଡ୍ ତା’ ପକେଟ୍ରୁ ସେହି ଓଜନଦାର ଜିନିଷଟି କାଢ଼ିଲା । ତାହା ଚିକ୍ ଚିକ୍ କରିଉଠିଲା । ରେଡ୍ର ଆଘାତରେ ଲେଖକ ଆହତ ହୋଇ ଶଯ୍ୟାଶାୟୀ ହେଲେ । ତାଙ୍କ ଭାଷାରେ କବିରୂପେ ଏହା ତାଙ୍କର ପ୍ରଥମ ପାଉଣା ।
ମୁଣ୍ଡରେ ବେଣ୍ଡେଜ୍ ଥିବା ଅବସ୍ଥାରେ ରେଡ୍ ସହିତ ପୁଣି ତାଙ୍କର ସାକ୍ଷାତ ହୋଇଥିଲା, କିନ୍ତୁ ସେ ଦୂରେଇ ଯାଇଥିଲେ । ଭୀରୁତାଜନିତ ବ୍ୟଥୀରେ ସେ ଅଧୀର ହୋଇ ପଡ଼ିଥିଲେ । ରେଡ୍ର ସମ୍ମୁଖୀନ ହେବାପାଇଁ ଶକ୍ତି ସଞ୍ଚୟ କରିବାକୁ ସେ ମନେ ମନେ ସ୍ଥିର କଲେ । ତାଙ୍କର ମନେପଡ଼ିଲା ଗୋଟିଏ ବହିରେ ପଢ଼ିଥିବା କଥା । ଜାପାନୀ ମୁଷ୍ଟିଯୁଦ୍ଧର କୌଶଳଦ୍ଵାରା କିପରି ବଳବାନ୍ଠାରୁ ଆତ୍ମରକ୍ଷା କରିହୁଏ ତା’ ଜାଣିବାପାଇଁ ନିଜୟ ପଡ଼ିକାର୍ଡ ବଦଳରେ ସେ ବହିଟି କିଣିଲେ । ତିନି ସପ୍ତାହ ଦୁଇଟି ପିଲାଙ୍କ ସହ କୌଶଳ ଅଭ୍ୟାସ କରିବା ପରେ ସେ ବାହାରକୁ ବାହାରିଲେ । ତାଙ୍କ ଭିତରେ ତଥାପି ଭୟ ଥିଲା । ସେ କିନ୍ତୁ ମନରେ ଦୃଢ଼ଭାବ ପୋଷଣ କରି ରେଡ୍ର ସମ୍ମୁଖୀନ ହେଲେ ।
ରେଡ୍ ପକେଟ୍ରେ ଥିବା ଓଜନଦାର ଅସ୍ତ୍ରଟି ତାକୁ ସାହାଯ୍ୟ କରିପାରି ନଥିଲା । ଜାପାନୀ କୌଶଳରେ ସେ ତାକୁ ଆଘାତ କଲେ । ଯନ୍ତ୍ରଣାରେ ରେଡ୍ ଭୂଇଁରେ ଗଡ଼ିଗଲା । ଗୋଟିଏ ପାଗଳ ଷଣ୍ଢ ପରି ରେଡ୍ ତା’ପରେ ତାଙ୍କୁ ଆଘାତ କରିବାକୁ ଆସିଲା; କିନ୍ତୁ ବହିରେ ପଢ଼ିଥିବା କୌଶଳ ଅନୁଯାୟୀ ସେ ତା’ର ମଣିବନ୍ଧକୁ ଏପରିଭାବେ ଚାପିଦେଲେ ଯେ, ରେଡ୍ର ହାତର ଅସ୍ତ୍ର ତଳେ ପଡ଼ିଗଲା । ସେଇଦିନଠାରୁ ରାସ୍ତାର ଦାଦାର ଗରିମା ରେଡ୍ର ରହିଲା ନାହିଁ ଏବଂ ସେହିଦିନଠାରୁ ଲେଖକ ଜାଣିଲେ ଯେ, ଜଣେ ବଳବାନ୍କୁ ଭୟ କରିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ । କେବଳ ବଳବାନ୍କୁ କିପରି ପରାସ୍ତ କରିବାକୁ ପଡ଼ିବ ତା’ର ଉପାୟ ଜାଣିବା ଉଚିତ । ଲେଖକ ପୁଣି ଶିକ୍ଷା କରିଥିଲେ ଯେ, କେବଳ କବିତା ଲେଖୁବା ସବୁକିଛି ନୁହେଁ, କବିତାର ମୂଲ୍ୟବୋଧକୁ ବଞ୍ଚାଇ ରଖୁ ବଡ଼ କଥା ।
