Class 11

Odisha State Board CHSE Odisha Class 11 Invitation to English 1 Solutions Chapter 2 The Legend behind a Legend Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

CHSE Odisha 11th Class English Solutions Chapter 2 The Legend behind a Legend

CHSE Odisha Class 11 English The Legend behind a Legend Text Book Questions and Answers

UNIT – I
Gist with Glossary

Gist:
The writer walks down memory lane. Exactly 25 years ago, he had spent two days and two nights with Khairi, the tigress of Jashipur, and a collection of wild animals of Saroj and Nihar. A news item on the latest exploits of Khairi evoked his interest to visit the place. He came to know that Saroj Raj Chaudhury was taking care of Khairi. He wrote a letter to him and met with a prompt response. He was filled with great joy. Mr. Chaudhury invited him to Khairi-Jashipur, giving him particular directions on how to reach there. The writer apprised him of when and how he would visit him.

Glossary:
bandit queen : queen of the robbers (ଦସ୍ୟୁରାଣୀ)
menagerie : a collection of wild animals (ବଣ୍ୟଜନ୍ତୁ ମାନ ଙ୍କ ସଂଗ୍ରହାଳୟ)
exploits : some unusual thing that someone does that you think is brave, exciting or entertaining
domesticated : an animal trained to live with or work for humans (ଗୃହପାଳିତ)
struck : occurred (ମନେପଡ଼ିଲା)
gruff : unfriendly and cruel (ନିଷ୍ଠୁର ସ୍ବଭାବସମ୍ପନ୍ନ)
tough : strict and severe (ଶୃଙ୍ଖଳିତ)
brooked no nonsense : tolerated only important and necessary things (ବାଜେ କଥା ସହ୍ୟ କରିପାରନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ)
suffered no feels : did not tolerate stupidity in others (ନିର୍ବୋଧତାକୁ ପ୍ରଶ୍ରୟ ଦିଅନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ)
itnerant articles : articles published in different magazines (ବିଭିନ୍ନ ପତ୍ରିକାରେ ପ୍ରକାଶିତ ଅନେକ ଲେଖା )
shot in the dark : a hopeful attempt (ଏକ ଆଶାପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଉଦ୍ୟମ )
utter : great (ମାତ୍ରାତ୍ଵିକ)
delight : pleasure (ଆନନ୍ଦ)
precise : exact (ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦିଷ୍ଟ)
instructions : directions (ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶ )

Think it out:
Question 1.
Who is Khairi?
Answer:
Khairi is a legendary tigress of Jashipur.

Question 2.
How did the writer come to know about Khairi?
Answer:
The writer came to know about Khairi when he had read a small news item in The Statesman that threw light on the latest exploits of the tigress in the Similipal forests of Odisha.

Question 3.
Who was the foster father of Khairi?
Answer:
Saroj Raj Chaudhury was the foster father of Khairi.

Question 4.
Which State does the writer belong to?
Answer:
The writer belongs to Odisha.

Question 5.
What did he learn about Saroj Raj Chaudhury as a person?
Answer:
He learnt that Saroj Raj Chaudhury tolerated only important and necessary things, but not stupidity in others.

Question 6.
How did he contact Mr. Chaudhury?
Answer:
He contacted Mr. Chaudhury by writing a letter to him after getting his address.

Question 7.
Why did he refer some of his articles to Mr. Chaudhury?
Answer:
He referred some of his articles to Mr. Chaudhury in the hope of getting his response.

Question 8.
Did Mr. Chaudhury reply to the author’s letter? What did he write?
Ans.
Yes, Mr. Chaudhury replied to the author’s letter. The former wanted the latter to inform him in advance of the manner and the time of his arrival.

UNIT-II
Gist with Glossary

Gist:
The writer reached Khairi-Jashipur by an overcrowded bus. It was 4 a.m. He was soon provided with food and shelter. In other words, he was accorded fabulous hospitality, thanks to Saroj Chaudhury. Terror seized him when he heard the clear voice of the Tiger just outside the door. It did not last long before the bearer met him to serve hot tea and biscuit and assured him of the presence of Khairi who was making loving inquiries about the new guest in the house. He met Saroj Chaudhury, ‘a frail man in his fifties, slightly balding on the top; the latter greeted the former in a polite manner after asking Jambu, the bear, to get down because the animal holding on to Chaudhury’s waist. They conversed with each other. In Mr. Chaudhury, the writer found a humble and careful man. One of the most caring persons he had ever met in his life was Mr.

Glossary:
semidarkness: half-darkness (ଅର୍ଥ ଅନ୍ଧକାର)
click : sound (ଶବ୍ଦ)
detailed : was given minute instructions (ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ସୂଚନା ପାଇଥିଲେ )
escort : guide (ପଥ ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶନକାରୀ)
with a start : in fear (ଭୟଚକିତ ହୋଇ)
terror struck : the writer was seized with fear (ଭୟ ବିହ୍ବଳିତ)
sloth : lazy behaviour (ଆଳସ୍ୟ ସ୍ବଭାବସମ୍ପନ୍ନ )
frail : weak (ଦୁର୍ବଳ)
slightly : a little (ଅତି ଅଳ୍ପ)
gruff : rude, unfriendly
no-nonsense : doing things quickly and effectively without worring too much about people’s fear (ଲୋକଙ୍କ ମନ୍ତବ୍ୟ ପ୍ରତି ଉଦାସୀନ)
humane : caring people and animals ( ମାନବ ପ୍ରତି ସମ୍ବେଦନଶୀଳ)

Think it out:
Question 1.
How did the writer come to Bhubaneswar?
Answer:
The writer came to Bhubaneswar by train.

Question 2.
How did he go to Jashipur from Bhubaneswar?
Answer:
He went to Jashipur from Bhubaneswar in an over-packed bus.

Question 3.
How did the forest guard receive him?
Answer:
The forest guard received him in a very cordial manner. He guided the writer, took him to the guest house, and made him stay in the guest house, assuring him that the water was in the jug.

Question 4.
Why was he terror-struck?
Answer:
He was terror-struck because he heard the clear voice of the Tiger just outside his door.

Question 5.
What did the bearer tell him about Khairi?
Answer:
The bearer told him that Khairi was trying to know about the new guest in the house. There was a ring of friendliness about Khairi.

Question 6.
What was Mr. Chaudhury doing when the writer met him?
Answer:
When the writer met Mr. Chaudhury, he was sitting on a large chair.

Question 7.
How did Mr. Chaudhury greet the author?
Answer:
Mr. Chaudhury warmly greeted the author.

Question 8.
What was the name of the bear?
Answer:
The name of the bear was Jambu.

Question 9.
What was the physical appearance of Mr. Chaudhury?
Answer:
Mr. Chaudhury was a weak man in his fifties with a little baldness on the top.

Question 10.
What kind of man did the author find Mr. Chaudhury to be?
Answer:
In the author’s estimation, Mr. Chaudhury was friendly and responsive. Besides, he was caring to the core.

UNIT – III
Gist with Glossary

Gist:
This part begins with Mr. Chaudhury narrating a wonderful story to the writer. His house turned into a habitat for different species of wild animals. He conducted an experiment to exaggerate that the animals could exist with each other if they were together from childhood. He brought Khairi and one of the most dangerous snakes, krait close to her. The writer marked Khairi’s reaction – it was one of fondness for the strange creature. Whenever the krait got too close to Khairi, he would pull it by its back.

Once he became inattentive and was bitten by a krait. Some of its poison entered his blood and therefore, he was now a permanent patient of low blood pressure. As soon as Mr. Chaudhury finished this wonderful story Jambu tried to give the writer his bear hug, but the former’s stem warning prevented him from doing so. Mr. Chaudhury has a well-knit joint family that was living inside the compound. It comprised a mongoose, a pangolin, wild cat twins, a country dog, and a blind Hyena, each having a name.

Glossary:
emerged : became known (ଜଣାପଡ଼ିଲା)
sips : drink (something) by taking small mouthfuls (ଅଳ୍ପ ଅଳ୍ପ ପିଇବା)
debunked : exaggerated
co-exist : live together (ଏକତ୍ର ବାସ କରିବା)
infancy : childhood (ପିଲାଦିନ)
unmindful : inattentive (ଅମନୋଯୋଗୀ)
tied : bound (ବାନ୍ଧିଥିଲେ )
tourniquet : a piece of cloth bound tightly on an arm or leg to stop bleeding
hypo-glycaemia : condition of having a very low blood pressure (ନିମ୍ନ ରକ୍ତଚାପ)
astonishing : wonderful (ଆଶ୍ଚର୍ଯ୍ୟଜନକ)
take a fancy : to start liking someone (ଜଣକୁ ଭଲ ପାଇବାକୁ ଆରମ୍ଭ କରିବା)
hug : to put ones arms around someone to show love (ଆଲିଙ୍ଗନ)
dissuade : prevent (ବାଧା ଦେବା)
fondness : affection (ସ୍ନେହ, ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧା)
progressed : advanced (ଆଗେଇ ଚାଲିଲା)
intennittent : occurring occasionally (ସାମୟିକଭାବେ ଘଟୁଥିବା)
crackle : making shout sharp sounds (ସ୍ଵଚ୍ଛ ଅବଶିଷ୍ଟ ଉଚ୍ଚ ଶବ୍ଦ)
veritable : real (ବାସ୍ତବ)

Think it out:
Question 1.
What theory did Mr. Chaudhury prove wrong?
Answer:
The theory that Mr. Chaudhury proved wrong was that the different species of wild animals cannot co-exist unless they are together from childhood.

Question 2.
What was his first story about?
Answer:
The first story was about how his house became the habitat of different species of wild animals who all come at different stages of their lives. It also dealt with their coexistence and the close relationship between Khairi and krait, a dangerous snake.

Question 3.
Why is it so unique and amazing?
Answer:
It is so unique and amazing because, during this experiment, Khairi showed her reaction to the presence of krait, the most poisonous snake. Khairi was curious to know more about the krait as it was a stranger to her.

Question 4.
Why did Mr. Chaudhury allow Khairi to come near the krait?
Answer:
Mr. Chaudhury allowed Khairi to come near a krait to know how they dealt with each other.

Question 5.
What was Khairi’s reaction to the presence of the krait?
Ans.
Khairi’s reaction to the presence of a krait was one of curiosity to know more about the latter.

Question 6.
How did the experiment affect him?
Answer:
The experiment made him a permanent patient of low blood pressure.

Question 7.
What did the bear try to do with the writer?
Answer:
The bear tried to put his arms around the writer to show his love.

Question 8.
What prevented the bear from doing so?
Answer:
Mr. Chaudhury’s strict ‘no’ prevented the bear from doing so.

Question 9.
What kind of family did Mr. Chaudhury have?
Answer:
Mr. Chaudhury had a genuine joint family that comprised a mongoose, a pangolin, wild cat twins, a country dog, and a blind Hyena, each having a name.

Question 10.
What was his relationship with different animals?
Answer:
His relationship with different animals was quite familiar. His act of naming each of them is a case in point.

UNIT – IV

Gist:
Khairi was brought to Saroj Raj Chaudhury as a two-month cub who was hungry and confused. Veteran forester and instinctive lover of wildlife as he was, Saroj imitated the sounds of a mother tigress. It worked wonderfully. The tiger cub’s confidence was restored. Saroj became nostalgic. He recollected his birthday when his mother had presented him with a gun, with which he, as a young man, shot wildlife in a carefree manner. But, soon he realized that it was a mistake and happiness lies in the conservation of these harmless beautiful animals. As the Director of Project Tiger, Saroj was the first to introduce the Tiger Tracing Method of tiger census. For the night, both camped at a guest house deep in the jungle. Never before had the writer experienced one night in a magnificent wooden structure with rooms and a bath that stood 15 feet high from the ground.

Glossary:
cub : (here) a young tigress (ବାଘଛୁଆ, ଛୁଆ ବାଘୁଣୀ)
famished : very hungry (କ୍ଷୁଧାଉଁ)
confused : disturbed (ବିବ୍ରତ ହେଲା)
snarls: making angry sounds in one’s throat and showing teeth
veteran : experienced (ଅଭିଜ୍ଞ, ଦକ୍ଷ)
handle : deal with (ଆୟତ୍ତ କରିବା)
firmly : determindedly (ଦୃଢ଼ ଭାବରେ )
anchored : restored (ଶାନ୍ତ ହେଲା)
the legends : (here) Saroj Raj Chaudhury and Khairi (କିମ୍ବଦନ୍ତୀ )
tag along : accompanied someone (ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିବିଶେଷଙ୍କ ସହ ଯାତ୍ରା
snaked (v) : moved in or had a senes of long curves (ଅଙ୍କାବଙ୍କା ରାସ୍ତାରେ ଗଲା)
amidst: in the midst of (ମଝିରେ)
lush foliage: leaves of trees growing luxuriously
abandon : in an uncontrolled way (ଅବିଚାରିତ ଭାବେ)
conserving: preventing land, water, etc. from being damaged (ସଂରକ୍ଷଣ କରିବା)
wanton harm: reckless harm
authority : (here) Saroj Choudhury (କର୍ତ୍ତୃପକ୍ଷ )
pugmarks: the mark of the footprint of an animal (ପଶୁର ପାଦଚିହ୍ନ)
distinctive: very clear
meticulously: carefully attending to every detail
functional: practical and simple
build on stilts: build on one of a set of posts
a top: at the top of (ଉପରିଭାଗରେ )
magnificent : very beautiful (ଖୁବ୍‌ ସୁନ୍ଦର)

Think it out:
Question 1.
How and when did Mr. Chaudhury come across Khairi?
Answer:
Mr. Chaudhury came across Khairi when 12 Kharia tribals of Similipal brought her to him when she was a two-month cub. It was on October 5, 1974.

Question 2.
In what condition did he And it?
Answer:
He found it in a state of hunger and confusion.

Question 3.
How did he manage the hungry and confused cub?
Answer:
He managed the hungry and confused cub by copying the sounds of the mother tigress. Within minutes, she became firmly confident.

Question 4.
How did he treat wildlife in a young age?
Answer:
He treated wildlife uncontrollably in a young age.

Question 5.
What did he say about his change of attitude towards wildlife to the author?
Answer:
He said to the author that his change of attitude towards wildlife took place because of his realization that there was greater happiness in safeguarding the beautiful wild animals that do not cause reckless harm to man.

Question 6.
What was his contribution to the Tiger Project?
Answer:
His contribution to the Tiger Project was the introduction of the Tiger Tracing Method of tiger census. As a result, one can measure the pugmarks of each animal distinctly and record their characteristics very carefully.

Question 7.
What was the guest house like?
Answer:
The guest house was a wooden structure with simple rooms and a bath. It was built on one of the set of posts and was at a height of 15 feet.

Question 8.
What new experience did the author have in the Tiger Reserve area?
Answer:
The author experienced for the first time, one night stay in the Tiger Reserve area that was unique, especially on a very beautiful ‘machan’.

UNIT – V
Gist with Glossary

Gist :
The writer revisited Khairi-Jashipur after three months. His interest to know more about Khairi gained momentum. Besides Mr. Chaudhury’s old acquaintances, he caught sight of a young python. He focused on Mr. Chaudhury whose quest and passion was amazing. Meanwhile, Mr. Chaudhury got a message from the World Wildlife Fund. He went to New Delhi by air for an urgent meeting. The writer saw him off at the Dum Dum Airport, Calcutta. It was his last meeting with Mr. Chaudhury, a legend behind a legend. Khairi and Mr. Chaudhury are no more.

Glossary:
gracious: kind
in addition to besides
python: a very large snake that kills animals for food by wrapping itself around them and crushing them (ଅଜଗର ସାପ )
quest : search (ଅନ୍ଵେଷଣ)
legend: someone who very many people know about and admire (କିମ୍ବଦନ୍ତୀ ପୁରୁଷ)
unique : extraordinary (ଅସାଧାରଣ)
due: worth (ଯୋଗ୍ୟ)

Think it out:
Question 1.
After what interval of time did the writer visit Mr. Chaudhury for the second time?
Answer:
After three months, the writer visited Mr. Chaudhury for the second time.

Question 2.
What new addition to the Chaudhury family did he find there?
Answer:
The new addition to Chaudhury’s family he found there was an eight-foot-long young python.

Question 3.
Why did he get less time to interact with Mr. Chaudhury this time?
Answer:
He got less time to interact with Mr. Chaudhury because at that moment Mr. Chaudhury got a wireless message from the World Wildlife Fund to attend an important meeting at New Delhi.

Question 4.
Who died first, Khairi or Mr. Chaudhury?
Answer:
Khairi died first.

Question 5.
Who are the two legends the writer talks about?
Answer:
The two legends the writer talks about are Khairi and Mr. Saroj Raj Chaudhury.

Question 6.
Is the text more about Mr. Chaudhury or Khairi?
Answer:
The text throws much light on Mr. Chaudhury, yet Khairi does not lag far behind.

Question 7.
Can you guess now why the title of the text is “The Legend behind the Legend”?
Answer:
The title is aptly justified because the legendary passionate and instinctive lover of wildlife has been instrumental in transforming a two-month-old tiger baby into a legend. She is Khairi.

Post-Reading Activities:

I. Arranging in Order
Provided below are some events from the lesson. These are not in order. Arrange them in order as they occur in the lesson by putting numbers within the brackets provided against the items. One is done for you.
(a) Khairi played with the krait. ( )
(b) Khairi was brought to Mr. Chaudhury. ( )
(c) The writer sees Mr. Chaudhury off at Dum Dum Airport. (8)
(d) The writer reads a news item about Khairi. ( )
(e) Chaudhury writes a letter to the writer. ( )
(f) The writer reaches Jashipur by bus. ( )
(g) He stays with Chaudhury in a camp guest house in the forest. ( )
(h) The writer saw a python as a pet of Chaudhury. ( )
Answer:
(a) Khairi played with the krait. (6)
(b) Khairi was brought to Mr. Chaudhury. (5)
(c) The writer sees Mr. Chaudhury off at Dum Dum Airport. (8)
(d) The writer reads a news item about Khairi. (1)
(e) Chaudhury writes a letter to the writer. (2)
(f) The writer reaches Jashipur by bus. (3)
(g) He stays with Chaudhury in a camp guest house in the forest. (4)
(h) The writer saw a python as a pet of Chaudhury. (7)

II. Note-making
Notes-making helps you to develop your reading and writing skills. This lesson has, you know, two major themes – Khairi and Mr. Chaudhury. You have to read the lesson, make notes (in words and phrases) on these two, and then use these points to write about them. One has been done below on Khairi as a model. Make notes on Mr. Chaudhury.

Notes on Khairi
Para 1
→ Tigress of Jashipur
→ Made the forest famously
→ Domesticated tigress in the Similipal forest of Odisha
→ Writer reads a news item about Khairi
Para 5
→ Khairi roared to welcome the writer
→ He was terror struck
Para 9
→ On October 5, 1974, Khairi was brought as a cub, hungry, confused
Para 15
→ Chaudhury manages her imitating the sounds of a mother tigress.
The death of Khairi was followed by the death of Chaudhury.
With the help of these notes, write a paragraph on Khairi.
Khairi:
Khairi was a domesticated tigress. She made the Simmilipal forest and Jashipur famous. The writer read about her from a news item. Then he visited Jashipur to see Khairi and Chaudhury who had kept Khairi as a pet. He came to know from Mr. Chaudhury that Khairi was brought to Chaudhury on October 5, \91A by twelve Kharia tribals. It was then a small cub, hungry and confused. Chaudhury handled the cub well by imitating the sounds of a tigress. She grew up as a domesticated tigress under the loving care of Chaudhury. But she did not live long. Chaudhury also died soon after the death of Khairi.

Now write notes (from the lesson) and develop the notes into a write-up on Mr. Chaudhury.

Notes on Mr. Chaudhury
Para 3
→ Mr. Chaudhury was a very responsible person.
Para 4
→ Hospitable to the core
Para 6
→ A weak man in his fifties, slightly balding on the top
→ Nice and down-to-earth
→ One of the most humane beings
Para 7
→ His experiment concerning the co-existence of wild animals in the presence of Khairi and the krait
→ The latter is a dangerous snake
→ Noticed Khairi’s reaction of fondness
→ A permanent patient with low blood pressure
Para 8
→ Strict
→ Possessed a joint family of animals in his house
Para 9
→ An officer of the Indian Forest Service
→ Veteran forester and instinctive lover of wildlife
→ Showed skill in handling hungry and confused two-month-old tiger cub
→ Imitated the sounds of a mother tigress
Para 11
→ An authority on the tiger and Director of Project Tiger in India
→ Introduced the Tiger Tracing Method of tiger census
Para 13
→ Gracious
Para 14
→ Journey to New Delhi for an important meeting
Para 15
→ The writer’s last meeting with him in the Dum Dum Airport, Calcutta
→ A legend behind a legend
→ He is no more.
Mr. Chaudhury
Mr. Chaudhury, responsible, hospitable, and down-to-earth, was a weak person in his fifties. He was one of the most humane beings. He made an experiment by effecting contact between Khairi and the krait, one of the most dangerous snakes, to know about the co-existence of different wild animals. Khairi’s reaction, he noticed, was one of great love. Mr. Chaudhury, a veteran forester and an instinctive lover of wildlife possessed a joint family of different animals in his house. He was strict. He showed his skill in handling the hungry and confused two-month-old tiger cub by imitating the sounds of a mother tigress. Mr. Chaudhury, an authority on the tiger and Director of Project Tiger in India, was the first to introduce the Tiger Tracing Method of tiger census. The writer saw such a graceful legend off in Dum Dum Airport on his way to New Delhi, for the last time. Mr. Chaudhury is no more.

III. Doing with words Collocation
(a) Collocation in expressions means which words go with which other words. Collocations are fixed expressions. For example sweet dreams, daydreams, bad dreams, pipe dreams, hard-earned money, public money, extra money, and tax-payers money.

Answer:

(b) Find out five collocations from the test. (Example: to take a fancy).
Answer:
brooked no nonsense
suffered no fools
terror-struck
no-nonsense
hypo-glycaemia

(c) Which word in each line does not collocate with the headword?
(i) a theory: come up with, do, debunk, build
(ii) a debate: open, listen to, join in, find
(iii) legend: fresh, famous, well-known, sports
(iv) veteran: soldier, idealist, activist, man
(v) gracious: welcome, hospitality, building, smile
Answer:
(i) do
(ii) find
(iii) fresh
(iv) man
(v) building

CHSE Odisha Class 11 English The Legend behind a Legend Important Questions and Answers

I. Short Answer Type Questions with Answers

1. Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
Khairi made the entire forest where she lived famously. She was not a bandit queen but Khairi, the tigress of Jashipur. It was exactly 25 years ago when I spent two days and two nights with Khairi and the menagerie of Saroj and Nihar, I had read a small news item in The Statesman about the latest exploits of a domesticated tigress in the Similipal forests of Odisha. Suddenly, it struck me that this was happening in my own State. I thought, “why not attempt to experience it myself ?” I spoke to N.S. Ayyangar, a senior journalist in Berhampur, and a few other elders.

I was told that Khairi was under the care of a rather gruff and tough man called Saroj Raj Chaudhury who brooked no nonsense and suffered no fools. I got his address and wrote asking if I could visit him. For good measure, I referred to a few itinerant articles I had written for Indian magazines. It was a shot in the dark and I did not really expect to hear from him. But, to my utter delight, I got a letter within a week inviting me to Khairi-Jashipur, giving precise instructions about how to reach there. Mr. Chaudhury also asked me to let him know in advance how and when I was reaching. I gave him a date and said I would be taking a bus from Bhubaneswar on a particular night.

Questions :
(i) Why was the forest made famous?
(ii) “Why not attempt to experience it myself ?” What does ‘It’ refer to?
(iii) Why did the writer contact N.S. Ayyanger and a few others? What was the result?
(iv) Explain the expression “It was a shot in the dark.”.
(v) Suggest a suitable title to the extract.

Answers :
(i) The forest was made famous by Khairi, the tigress of Jashipur because it was her abode.
(ii) ‘It’ refers to the writer’s curiosity to be aware of the latest exciting things carried by a tigress in the Similipal forests of Odisha. She had been to live with and work for humans.
(iii) The writer contacted N.S. Ayyanger and a few other seniors to know about Khairi. He learned that Saroj Raj Chaudhury, who was rather an unfriendly and severe man, took care of the tigress.
(iv) The writer’s reference to a few articles he had written for Indian magazines was a sort of hopeful attempt to see Khairi and Saroj Raj Chaudhury’s positive response to his letter.
(v) The Writer’s Quest of Khairi

2. Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
I packed my bag, took the train, and boarded the overcrowded bus from Bhubaneswar. I arrived sometime before 4.00 a.m. wondering where to go in that semidarkness. To my utter surprise, within a minute there was the click of boots and a voice welcoming me to Khairi-Jashipur. The Forest Guard, detailed to escort me, took me to the guest house, put me in my room, and assured me that water was in the jug; I could sleep as long as I wanted and Saab would see me as soon as I was ready.

I think I had an hour of blissful sleep. I woke up with a start when I heard the unmistakable voice of the Tiger just outside my door. I was terror-struck. Within minutes, a bearer came to the room with hot tea and biscuits. He smiled at the expression on my face and assured me that it was only Khairi outside the door, making friendly inquiries about the new guest in the house. I finished my tea, had a quick shower and went to the main house.

Saroj Raj Chaudhury was sitting on a large chair. There was a sloth bear behind him, holding on to his waist and making gurgling sounds. He said, “Get down, Jambu, get down’’ and rose to greet me – a frail man in his fifties, slightly balding on the top. We got talking. I didn’t find a gruff and rough no-nonsense man. What I found was one of the most humane human beings I had ever met in my life.

Questions :
(i) Describe the bus the writer had boarded.
(ii) When did he reach Jashipur?
(iii) Describe the treatment according to the writer in Jashipur.
(iv) How did a bearer react to the writer’s terror-stricken face?
(v) Throw light on Jambu.

Answers :
(i) The bus the writer had boarded was packed with passengers beyond its capacity.
(ii) The writer reached Jashipur sometime before 4 a.m. It was half-dark.
(iii) As soon as the writer reached Jashipur, the Forest Guard led him to the guest house, and showed him his room. He assured the writer of the presence of a jug filled with water. Later a bearer provided him with hot tea and biscuits in his room.
(iv) A bearer reacted smilingly to the writer’s terror-stricken face.
(v) The bear Jambu was seen in a lazy mood, behind Saroj Raj Chaudhury, and holding on to his waist making gurgling sounds.

3. Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
Here is the first story that emerged from this very unusual man between sips of coffee: “As you will see, I have different species of wild animals in this house. They all came in at different stages of their lives. I have debunked the theory that they cannot co-exist unless they are together from infancy. One thing I wanted to experiment with was the reaction of a young tiger to a snake. One day, when Khairi was much younger, we found a baby krait in the house. As you know, the krait is one of the most poisonous snakes.

I was noting Khairi’s reaction to its presence. Khairi was curious to know more about this strange new creature. Every time the krait got too close to Khairi, I would pull it back by its tail. This went on for some time. At some point, I must have been a little unmindful. It turned around and bit me. I immediately tied a tourniquet above that and got the poison out. I saw the doctor as soon as possible. Luckily it was a baby. Still, some of the poison got into my bloodstream and as a result, I am now a permanent patient of hypo-glycemia.”

By the time he finished this astonishing story, Jambu took a fancy to me and climbed behind to give me his bear hug. A stern ‘no’ from Saroj was enough to dissuade him from this expression of fondness. As the day progressed, between our conversations and the intermittent crackle on the VHF wireless set by which he was giving instructions to his men in the forests, I got to know a veritable joint family that was living inside the compound – a mongoose, a pangolin, wild cat twins, a country dog, and a blind Hyena. Each had a name.

Questions :
(i) When did Saroj narrate the first story to the writer?
(ii) What is the theory that Mr. Chaudhury has exaggerated?
(iii) ‘It turned round and bit me.’ What does ‘It’ refer to?
(iv) How was Mr. Saroj Chaudhury’s story?
(v) Throw light on Jambu.

Answers :
(i) Between sipping coffee, Saroj narrated the first story to the writer.
(ii) The theory that Mr. Chaudhury has exaggerated is that different species of wild animals cannot co-exist unless they are together from childhood.
(iii) ‘It’ refers to a krait, one of the most poisonous snakes.
(iv) Mr. Chaudhury’s story was wonderful.
(v) The bear Jambu was a picture of fondness. He started liking the writer climbing behind. The creature was interested to give a bear hug, but in vain, because of Mr. Chaudhury’s strict ‘no’.

4. Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
Khairi’s story started on October 5, 1974, when 12 Kharia tribals of Similipal brought a two-month-old tiger cub to Saroj Raj Chaudhury, an officer of the Indian Forest Service. Saroj noticed that it was a female – famished and confused. His first experience of what was to become his passion in life was angry snarls and scratching claws. But, the veteran forester and instinctive lover of wildlife knew how to handle a hungry, angry cub. He imitated the sounds of a mother tigress.

“Within minutes, her confidence was firmly anchored in the fostering human,” is how he recalled those first few minutes between the legends. Early the next morning, Saroj started his inspection of the Tiger Reserve area. I tagged along in the jeep that snaked through a narrow road in the woods amidst lush foliage. “My mother gave me a gun for my eighth birthday. As a young man, I shot wildlife with abandon. But soon, I realized that there is greater happiness in conserving these beautiful animals that do no wanton harm to man” is one of the things he told me about his life during that long travel.

At that time, he was an authority on the tiger and Director of Project Tiger in India. Saroj introduced the Tiger Tracing Method of tiger census where the pugmarks of each animal with distinctive measurements and characteristics are meticulously recorded. For the night, we camped at a guest house deep in the jungle. It was a wooden structure with functional rooms and a bath. It was built on stilts and stood a good 15 feet above the ground. I experienced for the first time, one night atop a magnificent machan.

Questions :
(i) What picture of Saroj Chaudhury do you get in the 1st para of the extract?
(ii) When did he go to inspect the Tiger Reserve area?
(iii) Describe his journey to this place.
(iv) When did Mr. Chaudury’s realization concerning the conservation of wildlife come?
(v) What was the writer’s experience of staying one night at the guest house a top?

Answers :
(i) In the first para of the extract, we learn that Saroj Chaudhury, an officer of the Indian Forest Service, was a veteran forester and instinctive lover of wildlife. The way he handled the two-year-old tiger cub is a case in point.
(ii) Early the next morning of his arrival, he went to visit the Tiger Reserve area.
(iii) In the course of his journey, Saroj Chaudhury in the jeep went through a narrow road in the woods amidst leaves of trees growing luxuriantly.
(iv) Mr. Chaudhury’s realization concerning the conservation of wildlife came when he, as a young man, had shot wildlife in a carefree life.
(v) The writer’s experience of staying one night at the guest house atop was very beautiful.

II. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with Answers
Choose the correct option.

Unit – I
The text
Khairi made ………………. night.

Question 1.
Who was the tigress of Jashipur?
(a) Nhairi
(b) Khairi
(c) Bhairi
(d) Shairi
Answer:
(b) Khairi

Question 2.
Where did Khairi live?
(a) Bhitarkanika
(b) Similipal forests
(c) Kanchanjanga
(d) National Zoo, Kolkata
Answer:
(b) Similipal forests

Question 3.
Who was N. S. Ayyangar ?
(a) a politician
(b) a senior journalist
(c) a zoologist
(d) a veterinary doctor
Answer:
(b) a senior journalist

Question 4.
Khairi was under the care of:
(a) N. S. Ayyangar
(b) Hariharan
(c) Saroj Raj Chaudhury
(d) Nihar Raj Chaudhury
Answer:
(c) Saroj Raj Chaudhury

Question 5.
Khairi was a :
(a) domesticated tigress
(b) wild tigress
(c) zoo tigress
(d) tigress of a circus
Answer:
(a) domesticated tigress

Question 6.
Who had invited the author to Khairi- Jashipur?
(a) Nihar Raj Chaudhury
(b) Saroj Raj Chaudhury
(c) N. S. Ayyangar
(d) Forest ranger
Answer:
(b) Saroj Raj Chaudhury

Unit – II
The text
I packed my bag, ……………… met in my life.

Question 7.
Who escorted the author to the guest house from the bus stop at Khairi- Jashipur?
(a) Forest Ranger
(b) Forest Guard
(c) Forest Guide
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(b) Forest Guard

Question 8.
What was Khairi doing outside the guest house when the author was inside the room?
(a) making friendly enquiries
(b) making fun
(c) searching for enemies if any
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(a) making friendly enquiries

Question 9.
Who was Jambu?
(a) a monkey
(b) a bear
(c) a sloth bear
(d) a donkey
Answer:
(c) a sloth bear

Unit – III
The text
Here is the first story……………..had a name.

Question 10.
The name of the snake living in Mr. Chaudhury’s house was :
(a) cobra
(b) Python
(c) krait
(d) rattlesnake
Answer:
(c) krait

Question 11.
Mr. Chaudhury was bitten by a snake and as a result, he became a permanent patient of
(a) diabetics
(b) hypo-glycaemia
(c) leukaemica
(d) high blood pressure
Answer:
(b) hypo-glycaemia

Question 12.
How did Mr. Chaudhury instruct his men in the forests?
(a) on the computer internet
(b) on the VHF wireless
(c) on the T.V.
(d) by the mobile phone
Answer:
(b) on the VHF wireless

Question 13.
What did Mr. Saroj Chaudhury do when he was bitten by a krait, the poisonous snake?
(a) immediately cut the biting place
(b) immediately applied for medicine
(c) immediately tied a tourniquet
(d) met a doctor
Answer:
(c) immediately tied a tourniquet

Unit – IV
The text
Khairi’s story…….. magnificent machan.

Question 14.
When did Khairi come to Mr. Chaudhury’s hands?
(a) Nov. 5, 1974
(b) Dec. 5, 1974
(c) Oct. 5, 1974
(d) Sept. 5, 1974
Answer:
(c) Oct. 5, 1974

Question 15.
Who got the baby tiger and handed it over to Mr. Chaudhury?
(a) 12 Kharia tribals
(b) 12 Gonda tribals
(c) 12 Santhal tribals
(d) none of them
Answer:
(a) 12 Kharia tribals

Question 16.
Who was Saroj Raj Chaudhury?
(a) Indian Police Service officer
(b) Indian Foreign Service officer
(c) Indian Forest Service officer
(d) a low cadre forest official
Answer:
(c) Indian Forest Service officer

Question 17.
What do you mean by the word ‘famished’?
(a) very tired
(b) very smart
(c) very careful
(d) very hungry
Answer:
(d) very hungry

Question 18.
How did Mr. Choudhury handle and consoled the hungry and angry cub?
(a) by giving it milk to drink
(b) by showing her the picture of a mother tigress
(c) by making the sounds of a mother tigress
(d) by leaving it all alone
Answer:
(c) by making the sounds of a mother tigress

Question 19.
Where does lie the greater happiness of Mr. Chaudhury?
(a) in killing animals
(b) in conserving animals
(c) in destroying animals’ habitat
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(b) in conserving animals

Question 20.
What do you mean by the word ‘wanton harm’?
(a) no harm
(b) less harm
(c) reckless harm
(d) secret harm
Answer:
(c) reckless harm

Question 21.
Who was then an authority on the tiger and Director of Project Tiger in India?
(a) Nihar Raj Chaudhury
(b) Bhasker Raj Chrudhury
(c) Saroj Raj Chaudhury
(d) N. S. Ayyangar
Answer:
(c) Saroj Raj Chaudhury

Question 22.
Which parts of speech is the word ‘meticulously’?
(a) noun
(b) verb
(c) adverb
(d) adjective
Answer:
(c) adverb

Question 23.
Which according to the author was a magnificent machan?
(a) a guest house deep in the jungle
(b) the building where Saroj Chaudhury lived
(c) the house where Khairi and other animals lived
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(a) a guest house deep in the jungle

Unit – V
The text
I went to ……………… 25 years hence.

Question 24.
When did the author come to Khairi- Jashipur again?
(a) after six months
(b) after four months
(c) after three months
(d) after seven months
Answer:
(c) after three months

Question 25.
What was the purpose of the second visit of the author to Khairi-Jashipur?
(a) to know more about Mr. Chaudhury
(b) to know more about Khairi
(c) to see the place again
(d) to enjoy the nature
Answer:
(b) to know more about Khairi

Question 26.
Which new animal do he saw in his second visit?
(a) a pangolin
(b) a blind hyena
(c) a rattlesnake
(d) a young python
Answer:
(d) a young python

Question 27.
What did the author search about in his second visit?
(a) about Saroj Chaudhury and his passion
(b) about World Wildlife Fund
(c) about the animals
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(a) about Saroj Chaudhury and his passion

Question 28.
Where came a wireless message to the Chaudhury?
(a) Department of Forest
(b) World Wildlife Fund
(c) Central Government
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(b) World Wildlife Fund

Question 29.
To whom the author has described a legend behind a legend?
(a) Khairi
(b) Mr. Saroj Chaudhury.
(c) Nihar Raj Chaudhury
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(b) Mr. Saroj Chaudhury.

Question 30.
Where did the author meet Mr. Chaudhury last time?
(a) at New Delhi
(b) in Dum Dum Airport
(c) at Mumbai
(d) at Jashipur
Answer:
(b) in Dum Dum Airport

Question 31.
Who made the forest famous?
(a) Mr. Chaudhury
(b) Khairi
(c) author
(d) tourist
Answer:
(b) Khairi

Introducing the Author:
Hariharan Balakrishnan excels in the art of writing articles on wildlife. He is also a columnist.

About the Topic:
‘The Legend Behind A Legend’, as the title suggests, deals with two legends: Mr. Saroj Raj Chaudhury and Khairi; the former was an authority on tiger and Director of Project Tiger, and the latter a magnificent famous tigress. Mr. Chaudhury was a foster father of Khairi. The writer showers accolade on both legends.

Summary:
The writer takes us back to the Similipal forests of Odisha, which served as the habitat of Khairi, the tigress of Jashipur. The place carved out a name for itself, thanks to this tigress. She was not a queen of the robbers. She was the queen of Jashipur. The writer goes down memory lane. 25 years have elapsed since he had spent two days and two nights with Khairi and other wild animals of Saroj and Nihar. A news item on the latest exploits of Khairi evoked his interest to visit the place. He came to know that Saroj Raj Chaudhury was taking care of Khairi.

He wrote a letter to him and met with a prompt response. He was filled with great joy. Mr. Chaudhury invited him to Khairi – Jashipur, giving him particular directions on how to reach there. The writer apprised him of when and how he would visit him. This was his meeting. The writer left Berhampur by train. He reached in Jashipur before 4 a.m. by an overpacked bus. The Forest Guard was present there to cordially welcome him. He made all comfortable arrangements for the writer. He spent an hour of sound sleep.

Terror gripped him when he heard the clear voice of the Tiger just outside the door. Within minutes, the bearer came to his room and served him with hot tea and biscuits. He smiled at the panic-stricken expression of his face. He assured the writer of the presence of Khairi who was making loving enquiries about the new guest in the house. He met Saroj Chaudhury, a frail man in his fifties, slightly balding on the top; the latter greeted the former in a polite manner after asking Jambu, the bear, to get down, because the animal holding on to Chaudhury’s waist.

They conversed with each other. In Mr. Chaudhury, the writer found a humble and careful man. One of the most caring persons he had ever met in his life was Mr. Chaudhury. While sipping tea, Mr. Chaudhury narrated a story to the writer. He drew the latter’s attention to the presence of different species of wild animals in his house. They all had not come at the same time. He exaggerated the theory that they could not exist with each other unless they were together from childhood. He conducted an experiment to ascertain the truth.

He brought Khairi and one of the most dangerous snakes, krait. The writer marked Khairi’s reaction – it was one of fondness for the strange creature. Whenever the krait goes too close to Khairi, Mr. Chaudhury would pull it by back by its tail. Once he became inattentive and was bitten by the krait. Some of its poison entered his blood and therefore, he was now a permanent patient with low blood pressure. As soon as Mr. Chaudhury finished this wonderful story, Jambu tried to give the writer his bear hug, but the former’s stern warning prevented him from doing so.

Mr. Chaudhury has a well-knit joint family that was living inside the compound. It comprised a mongoose, a pangolin, wild cat twins, a country dog, and a blind Hyena, each having a name. Khairi’s story dates back to October 5, 1974, when twelve Khaira tribals of Similipal brought a two-month-old tiger cub to Saroj Raj Chaudhury who was an IFS officer. He found the female cub in a state of hunger and confusion. He managed it by imitating the sounds of a mother tigress. Her anger and disturbance vanished at once.

She was in her element. Saroj became nostalgic. He recollected his birthday when his mother had presented him with a gun, with which he, as a young man, shot wildlife in a carefree manner. But, soon he realized that it was a mistake and happiness lies in the conservation of these harmless beautiful animals. As the Director of Project Tiger, Saroj was the first to introduce the Tiger Tracing Method of tiger census. For the night, both camped at a guest house deep in the jungle. Never before had the writer experienced spending one night in a magnificent Wooden structure with rooms and baths that stood 15 feet high from the ground.

It is three months since the writer last visited Khairi-Jashipur. Then he went there again for the second time to know more about Khairi. Saroj welcomed him in his characteristic gracious manner. This time the writer saw a python as a pet of Chaudhury. His passion for wildlife knew no end. In a response to a message from the World Wildlife Fund, he went to New Delhi by plane with a view to attending an important meeting. In just over three months, Khairi passed away. Saroj Raj Chaudhury did not survive for long. The topic comes to a close with the writer saluting Saroj Chaudhury. He is worthy of it.

ସାରାଂଶ:
“The Legend Behind A Legend’ ବିଷୟଟି ଦୁଇଟି କିମ୍ବଦନ୍ତୀକୁ ଆଧାର କରି ରଚିତ । ବାଘମାନଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ନିଜର ଦକ୍ଷତା ହାସଲ କରିପାରିଥିବା Project Tigerର ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶକ Mr. Saroj Raj Chaudhury ଏବଂ ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ମହାବଳ ବାଘୁଣୀ ‘ଖଇରୀ’ର ଜୀବନୀ ଉପରେ ଏହା ପର୍ଯ୍ୟବସିତ । ସରୋଜ ରାଜ ଚୌଧୁରୀ ଖଇରୀର ପାଳିତ ପିତା ଭଳି ଥିଲେ । ଶିମିଳିପାଳ ଜଙ୍ଗଲର ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ବାଘୁଣୀ ଥିଲା ଖଇରୀ । ସେ ଥୁଲା ଯଶିପୁରର ମହାବଳ ବାଘୁଣୀ । ଲେଖକ ସ୍ମୃତିଚାରଣ କରି କହନ୍ତି ଯେ ୨୫ ବର୍ଷ ପୂର୍ବେ ସେ ଦୁଇ ଦିନ ଓ ଦୁଇ ରାତି ଖଇରୀ ସହିତ ସରୋଜ ଓ ନିହାରଙ୍କ ବନ୍ୟଜନ୍ତୁ ସଂଗ୍ରହାଳୟରେ ସମୟ ଅତିବାହିତ କରିଥିଲେ । ଲେଖକ ଖଇରୀର ଅଦ୍ଭୁତ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକଳାପ ବିଷୟରେ ‘The Statesman’ର ଏକ ଖବରରୁ ଜାଣିପାରିଥିଲେ ଏବଂ ସେଇ ସ୍ଥାନକୁ ବୁଲିଯିବା ପାଇଁ ଆଗ୍ରହ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରିଥିଲେ ।

ସେ ଜାଣିବାକୁ ପାଇଲେ ଯେ, ଖଇରୀ ସରୋଜ ରାଜ ଚୌଧୁରୀଙ୍କ ତତ୍ତ୍ଵାବଧାନରେ ପାଳିତ ହେଉଛି । ସେଥ‌ିପାଇଁ ଲେଖକ ସେଠାକୁ ଯିବାର ଅନୁମତି ମାଗି ସରୋଜଙ୍କ ପାଖକୁ ପତ୍ର ଲେଖିଲେ । ସରୋଜ ଅତି ଖୁସିରେ ଲେଖକଙ୍କୁ ନିମନ୍ତ୍ରଣ ପତ୍ର ଲେଖୁଲେ ଏବଂ ଯିବାପାଇଁ ସମସ୍ତ ତଥ୍ୟ ସହିତ ତାରିଖ ମଧ୍ୟ ଜଣାଇଲେ । ଭୋର ୪ଟା ସମୟରେ ଲେଖକ ଏକ ଜନଗହଳିପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ବସ୍‌ରେ ବସି ଖଇରୀ-ଯଶିପୁରରେ ପହଞ୍ଚିଲେ । ତାଙ୍କୁ ଉତ୍ତମ ଆତିଥ୍ୟ ସତ୍କାର କରାଗଲା । ଖାଦ୍ୟ ଓ ବିଶ୍ରାମ ପାଇଁ ସବୁପ୍ରକାରର ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥା କରାଯାଇଥିଲା । ଲେଖକ ବିଶ୍ରାମ ନେଉଥ‌ିବାବେଳେ ଦ୍ଵାରଦେଶର ବାହାରେ ବାଘୁଣୀର ଗର୍ଜନ ଶୁଣି ଭୟଭୀତ ହୋଇଯାଆନ୍ତି । ଏହାର ଅଳ୍ପ ସମୟ ପରେ ଜଣେ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି ଚା’ ଓ ବିସ୍କୁଟ ଧରି ଆସିଲେ ଏବଂ କହିଲେ ଖଇରୀ ବାଘୁଣୀ ବାହାରେ ଥାଇ ଆନନ୍ଦରେ ଗର୍ଜନ କରି ନୂତନ ଅତିଥିଙ୍କୁ ସ୍ଵାଗତ କରୁଛି ।

ତା’ପରେ ଲେଖକ ସରୋଜଙ୍କୁ ସାକ୍ଷାତ କଲେ । ଦୁର୍ବଳ ଶରୀରଧାରୀ ପଚାଶ ବର୍ଷୀୟ ଏହି ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଜଣକ ଟିକେ ଚନ୍ଦା ଥିଲେ । ସେ ଲେଖକଙ୍କୁ ଅତି ଭାବରେ ସ୍ଵାଗତ କଲେ ଏବଂ ତାଙ୍କ ଅଣ୍ଟାକୁ ଧରି ଠିଆ ହୋଇଥିବା ଭାଲୁକୁ ବସିବାକୁ କହିଲେ । ପରସ୍ପର କଥାବାର୍ତ୍ତା ହେଲେ । ଲେଖକ ସରୋଜ ରାଜ ଚୌଧୁରୀଙ୍କଠାରେ ଭଦ୍ର ଯେଉଁ ବିନମ୍ର ସ୍ଵଭାବ ଦେଖିଥିଲେ, ସେ ତାଙ୍କ ଜୀବନରେ ଅନ୍ୟ କାହାଠାରେ ଦେଖିନଥିଲେ । କଥାବାର୍ଭା ସମୟରେ ଶ୍ରୀଯୁକ୍ତ ଚୌଧୁରୀ ମହାଶୟେ କହିଲେ ତାଙ୍କ ଘର କିଭଳି ଭାବେ ବିଭିନ୍ନ ଜୀବଜନ୍ତୁମାନଙ୍କର ଏକ ଆଶ୍ରୟସ୍ଥଳୀ ହୋଇଯାଇଛି । ଜୀବଜନ୍ତୁମାନଙ୍କୁ ଯଦି ଶୈଶବାବସ୍ଥାରୁ ଏକାଠି ରଖାଯାଏ, ସେମାନେ ପରସ୍ପର ସହିତ ମିଳିମିଶି ରହିପାରିବେ ବୋଲି ସେ କହିଥିଲେ । ଏହାର ପରୀକ୍ଷଣ ନିମନ୍ତେ ସେ ଖଇରୀ ନିକଟରୁ ତାଙ୍କ ଅଗଣାରୁ ଧରା ଯାଇଥିବା

ଏକ ବିଷଧର ନାଗସାପକୁ ଆଣିଥିଲେ । ସେତେବେଳେ ଖଇରୀ ଖୁବ୍ ଛୋଟ ଥିଲା । ଖଇରୀର ସେହି ସାପ ପ୍ରତି ପ୍ରତିକ୍ରିୟାକୁ ଲେଖକ ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟ କରିଥିଲେ । ଏଇ ବିଷଧର ସାପ ପ୍ରତି ଖଇରୀର ଆଗ୍ରହ ପ୍ରକାଶ ପାଇଥିଲା । ଯେତେବେଳେ ଏହି ସାପଟି ଖଇରୀ ଆଡ଼କୁ ଆଗ୍ରସର ହେବାକୁ ଚାହୁଁଥିଲା, ଲେଖକ ତାକୁ ଲାଞ୍ଜ ଧରି ପଛକୁ ଟାଣି ଦେଉଥିଲେ । ଥରେ ସେ ଅନ୍ୟମନସ୍କ ହୋଇ ଏହି ବିଷଧର ନାଗସାପକୁ ଟାଣିଦେବା ସମୟରେ, ସେ ଲେଖକଙ୍କୁ କାମୁଡ଼ି ଦେଇଥିଲା । ତାଙ୍କ ରକ୍ତରେ କିଛି ବିଷ ପ୍ରବାହିତ ହୋଇଯାଇଥିଲା । ତା’ପରଠାରୁ ସେ ନିମ୍ନ ରକ୍ତଚାପ ରୋଗରେ ପୀଡ଼ିତ ହୋଇଥିଲେ । ଏହି ସମୟରେ ଭାଲୁ ଲେଖକଙ୍କୁ କୁଣ୍ଢାଇବାକୁ ଆସୁଥିଲା । କିନ୍ତୁ ସରୋଜଙ୍କ କଡ଼ା ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶ ହେତୁ ସେ ସେଥୁରୁ ନିବୃତ୍ତ ରହିଲା ।

ସରୋଜଙ୍କର ଏହି ଯୌଥ ପରିବାରରେ ସମସ୍ତେ ଯଥା ନେଉଳ, ଗୋଧ, ପକ୍ଷୀ, ସାପ, ଦେଶୀ କୁକୁର, ବାଘ, ଭାଲୁ ସମସ୍ତେ ଉତ୍ତମ ବୁଝାମଣାରେ ଏକ ଶୃଙ୍ଖଳିତ ଜୀବନଯାପନ କରୁଥିଲେ । ଖଇରୀ ଯେତେବେଳ ଏକ ୨ ମାସର ବାଘଛୁଆ ଥିଲା, ସେତେବେଳେ ଶିମିଳିପାଳର ୧୨ ଜଣ ଖରିଆ ଆଦିବାସୀ ତାକୁ ସରୋଜଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ଆଣିଥିଲେ । ସେ ଥିଲେ ଜଙ୍ଗଲ ବିଭାଗର ଜଣେ ଅଧିକାରୀ ଥିଲେ । ଏହି ବାଘଛୁଆଟି ଥୁଲା ଭୋକିଲା ଓ ବିବ୍ରତ । ସେ ରାଗି ଗର୍ଜନ କରୁଥିଲା ଓ ତା’ର ପଞ୍ଝାକୁ ଘୋଷାରୁଥିଲା । ସରୋଜ ଏକ ମା’ ବାଘର ସ୍ଵରକୁ ଅନୁକରଣ କରିଥିଲେ ଯାହାକି ଖଇରୀକୁ ପୋଷା ମନେଇବା ପାଇଁ ଚମତ୍କାର ଭାବେ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରିଥିଲା । ସେଥ‌ିରେ ସେ ସଫଳ ହୋଇଥିଲେ ଏବଂ ଖୁସିରେ ବିଭୋର ହୋଇଯାଇଥିଲେ । ତା’ ପରଦିନ ସକାଳୁ ସରୋଜ ଲେଖକଙ୍କୁ ନେଇ ଏକ ଜିପ୍‌ରେ ବ୍ୟାଘ୍ର ସଂରକ୍ଷଣ ଅଞ୍ଚଳ ବୁଲିବାକୁ ଗଲେ ।

ତାହା ଥିଲା ଏକ ସରୁ ଅଣଓସାରିଆ ରାସ୍ତା । ବାଟରେ ସରୋଜ ଅତୀତର ସ୍ମୃତିଚାରଣ କରି କହିଲେ, ତାଙ୍କୁ ଜନ୍ମଦିନରେ ତାଙ୍କ ମା’ ଏକ ବନ୍ଧୁକ ଉପହାର ଦେଇଥିଲେ ଯାହାଦ୍ଵାରା ଜଣେ ଯୁବକଭାବେ ସେ ବନ୍ୟଜନ୍ତୁମାନଙ୍କୁ ମୁକ୍ତଭାବେ ଶିକାର କରିଥିଲେ । ତା’ପରେ ସେ ଅନୁଭବ କଲେ ଯେ ପଶୁମାନଙ୍କୁ ମାରିବା ଏକ ଅପରାଧ। ଆନନ୍ଦ ଥାଏ ଏହି ନିରୀହ ସୁନ୍ଦର ଜୀବଜନ୍ତୁମାନଙ୍କୁ ସଂରକ୍ଷଣ କରିବାରେ । ବ୍ୟାଘ୍ର ପ୍ରକଳ୍ପର ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶକ ଭାବେ ସେ ପ୍ରଥମେ ବ୍ୟାଘ୍ର ଗଣନା ପ୍ରଣାଳୀ ପ୍ରଚଳନ କରିଥିଲେ । ସେହି ରାତ୍ରିରେ ଉଭୟେ ଘଞ୍ଚ ଜଙ୍ଗଲ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଥିବା ଏକ ଅତିଥୁ ଗୃହରେ ରାତ୍ରିଯାପନ କରିଥିଲେ । ଏହା ପୂର୍ବରୁ ଲେଖକ ଭୂମିଠାରୁ ୧୫ ଫୁଟ ଉଚ୍ଚରେ କାଠରେ ନିର୍ମିତ ଏକ ଘରେ ରହିବାର ଆନନ୍ଦ କେବେ ଅନୁଭବ କରିନଥିଲେ । ସେହିଘରେ କେତେଗୁଡ଼ିଏ କୋଠରୀ ସହ ଏକ ଗାଧୁଆଘର ଥିଲା। ତିନିମାସ ପରେ ଲେଖକ ପୁନର୍ବାର ସେହି ଖଇରୀ ଓ ଯଶିପୁରକୁ ବୁଲିବାକୁ ଗଲେ ।

ଖଇରୀ ବିଷୟରେ ଅଧିକ ଜାଣିବାର ଇଚ୍ଛା ତାଙ୍କୁ ସେଠାକୁ ପୁନର୍ବାର ଟାଣି ନେଇଥିଲା । ଶ୍ରୀ ଚୌଧୁରୀ ତାଙ୍କୁ ସ୍ଵାଗତ କଲେ ଏବଂ ଭାରି ଖୁସି ହେଲେ । ସେ ସେଠାରେ ଅନ୍ୟ ଜୀବମାନଙ୍କ ସହିତ ଏକ ଆଠ ଫୁଟ ଲମ୍ବର ଏକ ଅଜଗର ସାପ ଦେଖିଲେ । ତା’ପରେ ସେ ଚୌଧୁରୀ ଜୀବଜନ୍ତୁମାନଙ୍କୁ ସଂରକ୍ଷଣ କରିବାର ନିଶା ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣିବାକୁ ଆଗ୍ରହ ପ୍ରକାଶ କଲେ । ଏହି ସମୟରେ ଏକ ଜରୁରୀ ସଭାରେ ଯୋଗ ଦେବାପାଇଁ ବିଶ୍ବ ବନ୍ୟଜନ୍ତୁ ପାଣ୍ଠି ତରଫରୁ ଏକ ତାରବାର୍ତ୍ତା ଆସି ପହଞ୍ଚିଲା। ସେ କଲିକତାର ଦମ୍ଦମ୍ ଉଡ଼ାଜାହାଜ ପଡ଼ିଆରୁ ବିମାନ ଯୋଗେ ଦିଲ୍ଲୀ ଯାତ୍ରା କଲେ । ଏହା ଥିଲା ଚୌଧୁରୀଙ୍କ ସହିତ ଲେଖକଙ୍କର ଶେଷ ସାକ୍ଷାତ । ଏହାର ତିନି ମାସ ପରେ ଖଇରୀର ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ଘଟିଥିଲା । ତା’ପରେ ଖଇରୀ ବିନା ଚୌଧୁରୀ ମଧ୍ୟ ବେଶି ଦିନ ବଞ୍ଚୁରି ନ ଥିଲେ ।

Odisha State Board CHSE Odisha Class 11 Invitation to English 1 Solutions Poem 1 Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

CHSE Odisha 11th Class English Solutions Poem 1 Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening

CHSE Odisha Class 11 English Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening Text Book Questions and Answers

Think it out

Question 1.
How is ‘woods’ different from ‘forest’?
Answer:
‘Woods’ is different from the forest, because the former refers to an area of trees, smaller than a forest.

Question 2.
Where does the rider stop?
Answer:
The rider stops by some woods.

Question 3.
Why does he stop?
Answer:
The beauty of the woods tempts him to stop and enjoy the beauty of snow wood.

Question 4.
“He will not see me stopping here” – what does this expression mean?
Answer:
The expression ‘He will not see me stopping here’ means the owner of the woods living in the village will not see the poet stopping by the woods.

Question 5.
Why does the horse give his harness bells a shake?
Answer:
The poet, riding across the countryside, stops by snow-wrapped woods. The horse is accustomed to stopping at farmhouses, but on the present occasion, he finds it strange that though his master has stopped, there is no farmhouse nearby. Therefore, the horse gives his harness bells a shake as if to ask whether his master has stopped there by mistake

Question 6.
What is ‘the only other sound’ besides that of harness bells?
Answer:
The only other sound besides the harness bells is the sound of easily flowing wind and falling snow.

Question 7.
Why does the poet use the expressions ‘dark’, ‘deep’, and ‘darkest’?
Answer:
The poet uses the expressions ‘dark’, ‘deep’, and ‘deepest’ to express the fact that he is fascinated by the natural beauty of the woods.

Question 8.
How do the speaker, the owner of the woods, and the horse react to the beauties of nature?
Answer:
It may be noted that the fascination of the woods is felt only by the speaker, not by the horse (who is a sub-human) or by the practical man (the owner of the woods).

Question 9.
What picture of natural beauty do you get from the poem?
Answer:
The beauty we get from the poem is natural. It is one of near-silence. The lovely, dark, and deep woods prove this fact.

Question 10.
In the final stanza, the speaker says that he is not yet ready to ‘sleep’. What has he to do before he can take a rest?
Answer:
The poet has his routine duties to do before he can take a rest.

Question 11.
What does the expression, “The darkest evening of the year”, suggest? Does it mean ‘the longest night of the year’ or ‘the most depressing state of his mind’? Give a reasoned answer.
Answer;
The expression ‘the darkest evening of the year’ means the darkest night of the year. Because he has a long way to go. Besides, the poet’s delight in contemplating the woods filling up with snow seems to him to be an abandonment of his responsibilities when he realizes that he has an appointment to keep with his death.

Question 12.
A four-line stanza is called a quatrain. How many quatrains are there in the poem?
Answer:
There are four quatrains in the poem.

Post-Reading Activities.

Question 1.
Arrange the following sentences in their logical order to narrate the theme of the poem.
(a) He passes by the woods which are ‘lovely, dark and deep’.
(b) The poet is riding his horse to a destination.
(c) But he remembers that he has ‘promises to keep’ before he can rest.
(d) It is snowing and the wind blows gently.
(e) The beauty of the woods tempts him to stop and enjoy the sight.
(f) It is an evening in winter.

Answer:
(f) It is an evening in winter.
(d) It is snowing and the wind blows gently.
(b) The poet is riding his horse to a destination.
(a) He passes by the woods which are ‘lovely, dark and deep’.
(e) The beauty of the woods tempts him to stop and enjoy the sight.
(c) But he remembers that he has ‘promises to keep’ before he can rest.

Question 2.
Note the rhyme scheme in the first quatrain. It is AABA (‘know’, ‘though’, ‘here’ ‘snow’). What is the rhyme scheme in other quatrains?
Answer:
The rhyme scheme is BBCB (queer, near, lake, year), CCDE (shake, mistake, sweep, flake), and EEEE (deep, keep, sleep, sleep) in 2nd, the 3rd, and 4th quatrains respectively.

CHSE Odisha Class 11 English Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening Important Questions and Answers

A. short Answer Type Questions with Answers

1. Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.

Whose woods these are I think I know ……
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farm house near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep
But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep
And miles to go before I sleep.

Questions :
(i) Where does the owner of the woods live?

(ii) ‘He will not see me stopping here.’ Who is ‘He’ here?

(iii) Describe the woods.

(iv) What is the theme of the poem?

(v) Explain the significance of the repetition of :
‘And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.’

Answers :
(i) The owner of the woods lives in a village.

(ii) Here ‘he’ is the owner of the woods.

(iii) Robert Frost gives a beautiful description of the woods. They are lovely, dark, and deep. The sight of the woods being gradually covered with snow is so fascinating that the poet would like to watch it a little longer. The woods are outside the village and their owner does not live here. The poet knows him. Woods that constitute the essence of the poem suggests perilous enchantment.

(iv) The theme of the poem lies in the speaker’s delight in contemplating the woods filling up with snow seems to him to be an abandonment of his responsibilities when he realizes that he has an appointment to keep with death.

(v) The repetition of these lines is quite significant. It brings out the poet’s strong determination. He knows that death is the end of life. Instead of enjoying the fascinating beauty of the woods, he goes on to fulfill the mission of his life. He remembers that he has ‘promises to keep’, duties to perform, and a long journey to complete before he can rest. The repetition of these lines beautifully exemplifies this and indicates the depth of the poet’s feelings.

2. Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.

Whose woods these are I think I know …..
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep
But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep
And miles to go before I sleep.

Questions :
(i) Explain the expression ‘whose woods’.

(ii) What does the line ‘I think I know’ signify?

(iii) What interpretation does this extract admit?

(iv) What moment does the poem capture?

(v) ‘Besides going to sleep, the poet must perform duties.’ What else does the last stanza convey?

Answer:
(i) The implied question is whether the woods belong to the owner or the person who watches or enjoys them. Or is it of God?

(ii) The line ‘I think I know’ signifies characteristically a Frostian hovering between eloquence and silence, understanding and reticence.

(iii) This extract lends itself to a variety of interpretations: Why does the speaker stop by some woods? The reader may ask some pertinent questions: Does the speaker move on rather reluctantly? What is Frost’s attitude toward nature?

(iv) The poem captures a moment of pure delight in mid-winter – a fleeting mood of reflection on the beauty of snow-capped woods before the poet must go on with routine duties.

(v) The last stanza also conveys the poet’s death wish.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with Answers
Choose the correct option.
Warm-up
Do you know…… inspiring it is.
Question 1.
The poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” is written by :
(a) John Keats.
(b) Robert Frost.
(c) Thomas Hardy.
(d) William Wordsworth.
Answer:
(b) Robert Frost.

Question 2.
This poem was a great favorite of :
(a) R. N. Tagore.
(b) Sarojini Naidu.
(c) Jawaharlal Nehru.
(d) Khushwant Singh.
Answer:
(c) Jawaharlal Nehru.

Question 3.
The attraction in this poem is of :
(a) matter.
(b) nature.
(c) a great person.
(d) a great responsibility.
Answer:
(b) nature.

Question 4.
The speaker stops his horse by some_______on a snowy evening.
(a) forest.
(b) river bank.
(c) woods.
(d) sea beach.
Answer:
(c) woods.

Question 5.
The journey through the woods is suggestive of a journey through__________itself.
(a) sea
(b) life
(c) heaven
(d) hill
Answer:
(b) life

The Text
Stanza – I
Whose woods………. with snow.
Question 6.
‘Woods’ here means :
(a) forest.
(b) jungle.
(c) an area of trees, smaller than a forest.
(d) a hillside.
Answer:
(c) an area of trees, smaller than a forest.

Question 7.
From this line ‘Whose woods these are I think I know”, it is clear that these woods belong to :
(a) a person to whom the poet knows.
(b) the animals who live in it.
(c) the forest authority.
(d) none of the above.
Answer:
(a) a person to whom the poet knows.

Question 8.
The owner of the woods lives in a :
(a) town.
(b) hilltop.
(c) village.
(d) Riverside.
Answer:
(c) village.

Question 9.
He will not see me stopping here. In this sentence ‘He’ refers to :
(a) the author of the poem.
(b) the owner of the woods.
(c) the God.
(d) the Nature.
Answer:
(b) the owner of the woods.

Question 10.
The poet watchers that woods are covered with :
(a) snow.
(c) fruits.
(b) hilltop.
(d) Riverside.
Answer:
(a) snow.

Stanza – II
My little………. of the year.
Question 11.
My little horse must think it queer. In this sentence, the word ‘little’ means :
(a) small.
(c) nothing.
(b) humble.
(d) short.
Answer:
(b) humble.

Question 12.
What does the word ‘queer’ mean?
(a) Search.
(c) strange.
(b) stop.
(d) sound.
Answer:
(c) strange.

Question 13.
Where do they usually stop?
(a) at a guest house.
(b) at an inn.
(c) at a cottage.
(d) at a farmhouse.
Answer:
(d) at a farmhouse.

Question 14.
What has made the horse feel strange and uncomfortable?
(a) stopping on the way where there is no farmhouse.
(b) stopping in the mid of the forest where life is full of danger.
(c) stopping in a frozen land where life is at risk.
(d) none of the above.
Answer:
(a) stopping on the way where there is no farmhouse.

Question 15.
At what time of the day the poet was passing by the woods?
(a) morning.
(c) evening.
(b) afternoon.
(d) at night.
Answer:
(c) evening.

Stanza – III
He gives ………… downy flake
Question 16.
In the first line of stanza III, there is the word ‘harness bells’ which is tied to the neck of an animal. Which is that animal?
(a) ox.
(b) horse.
(c) bullock.
(d) donkey.
Answer:
(b) horse.

Question 17.
Why does the horse shake the harness bells?
(a) to show some fun
(b) to show some urgency
(c) to show some mistake
(d) to show that he is hungry
Answer:
(c) to show some mistake

Question 18.
Apart from the sounds of harness bells, there are other two natural sounds near the woods. What are they?
(a) sounds of animals and spring.
(b) sounds of stones and rustling of trees.
(c) sounds of easy wind and downy flake.
(d) sounds of spirits and ghosts.
Answer:
(c) sounds of easy wind and downy flake.

Question 19.
What do you mean by the word ‘downy flake’?
(a) down falling water.
(b) down falling stones.
(c) down falling logs.
(d) down falling snow.
Answer:
(d) down falling snow.

Stanza – IV
The woods are ………… before I sleep.

Question 20.
How were the woods according to the poet?
(a) dense, dangerous, and difficult.
(b) natural, attractive, and enjoyable.
(c) lovely, dark, and deep.
(d) none of the above.
Answer:
(c) lovely, dark, and deep.

Question 21.
Why is the poet not willing to stay near the wood?
(a) He has urgent work.
(b) He has promises to keep.
(c) He has no interest to stay.
(d) His horse is unwilling to stay.
Answer:
(b) He has promises to keep.

Question 22.
‘And miles to go before I sleep’. This statement of the poet indicates :
(a) a long journey of life before he leaves for heavenly rest.
(b) a long distance to be traveled by the poet.
(c) a long life of rest and sleep.
(d) none of the above.
Answer:
(a) a long journey of life before he leaves for heavenly rest.

Detailed Summaries and Glossary
Stanza – I (Lines 1-4)

Gist with Glossary
Gist :
The poet, who has to ride long distances in order to fulfill what he has promised, finds himself by the woods late in the evening. It is snowing. So he stops for a while to lose himself in the enjoyment of natural beauty. He thinks he knows the owner of the woods, and also that the owner cannot see him admiring the woods, as he lives in a village away from the woods.

Glossary:
woods: an area of trees, smaller than a forest ( ଛୋଟକାଟିଆ ଜଙ୍ଗଲ )
whose woods: These woods are outside a village and the poet knows the owner of the woods who lives in the village.

Stanza – II (Lines 5-8)

Gist with Glossary
Gist :
The poet’s horse cannot understand why there should be a stop when there is no firm house in sight and also in such an uncomfortable situation as it is snowing. The horse is accustomed to stopping at farmhouses. The master has, as a matter of fact, stopping not for rest but for a brief enjoyment of the beauty of the woods.

Glossary:
Little : humble and ordinary (ସାଧାରଣ ).
Queer : strange (ଆଶ୍ଚର୍ଯ୍ୟ) .
think it queer….. near: The poet says that the horse considers it surprising that the master stops in the midst of the woods and not near any farmhouse.
Frozen Lake : lake turned into ice (ବରଫ ପାଲଟିଥ‌ିବା ହ୍ରଦ).

Stanza – III (Lines 9-12)

Gist with Glossary
Gist :
The poet’s horse is not impressed by the woods. It does not understand why they have stopped in such a lonely place, especially as there is no sign of any farmhouse nearby. The horse shakes his harness bells as if to ask whether his master has stopped there by mistake. But the only sound that is there is the swift movement of the wind and the fall of the flakes of snow.

Glossary:
Harness Bells: small bells attached to a strap/band around the neck of a horse. (ଘୋଡ଼ା ବେକର ଘଣ୍ଟି )
Easy Wind: easily flowing wind. (ମୃଦୁ ପବନ)
Flakes: pieces of snow that are soft, light, and white. (ନ ର ମ ହାଲୁକା ଧଳା )
Downy Flakes: downfalling snow. (ତଳକୁ ଖସୁଥ‌ିବା ବରଫ)

Stanza – IV (Lines 13-16)

Gist with Glossary
Gist:
The beauty of the woods tempts the poet powerfully to stop the journey and to lose himself in the enjoyment of natural beauty. But he remembers that he has ‘promises to keep’, duties to perform, and a long journey to complete before he can rest. The intensity of the poet’s feeling finds a beautiful expression in this stanza.

Glossary:
Promises : assurance to perform certain duties and miles….. (କଉଁ ବ୍ଯ ପାଳନର ପ୍ରତିଜ୍ଞା)
before I sleep: the poet brings out the idea that he has to perform a long, long journey, and before it is completed, he can have no rest. The repetition is indicative of the depth of the poet’s feelings. ‘
Mile : a distane of 1.6 kilometres (1.6 କି.ମି. ଦୂରତ୍ବ)

Introducing The Poet

Robert Lee Frost, perhaps the best-loved of American poets, was born in San Francisco, California, on 26 March 1874. On the death of his father when he was only ten, he was taken to Lawrence, Massachusetts. Frost attended Lawrence High School and Dartmouth College, which he left after a few months. He taught in school, tried his hand at farming, and also worked as a newspaperman. In 1885 he married Elinor White, his former sweetheart at the high school. Though he enrolled at Harvard University as a special student in 1897 he left it after only two years.

In 1912 the Frosts moved to England. A Boy’s Will, Frost’s first book of poems, was published in England in 1913. North of Boston in 1914, contains some of the finest of Frost’s lyrics. In 1915 the Frosts returned to America and settled on a farm in New Hampshire. Other significant collections of his poems are Mountain Interval (1916), New Hampshire (1923), West-Running Brook (1928), A Further Range (1936), A Witness Tree (1942), and Steeple Bush (1947).

The complete poem of Robert Frost appeared in 1949. He gave public readings of his poems at several American Universities. In his later years, he achieved the status of a folk hero. He died in Boston in 1963. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for poetry four times in 1924, 1931, 1937, and 1943. Surprisingly however his first book of poetry was published in England in 1913. No American publisher had accepted it.

It is not difficult to understand why Frost is Americans’ favorite poet. He writes very simply about familiar, ordinary things. However, the simplicity is only on the surface, Frost’s poems actually talk about ideas and thoughts that are deep, not ordinary. The poems talk about truth, they teach you wisdom. Frost is a poet whose style is as fine as a goldsmith’s skill. His poems are delightful to read. Frost himself has said, that for him, a poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom.

About The Poem

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening presents the thoughts that pass through the poet’s mind as he stops his horse in wood on an evening when the snow has begun to fall. The poet conveys the idea that the beauties of nature can be very attractive but man has to perform his duties and keep his promises. He has to continue the journey of life and cannot afford to spend his time only watching the scenic beauties of nature. The poet brings out this message through a presentation of the conflict between the lovely woods and the promises that he has to keep.

Summary

The poem starts with a concrete situation arising from the ordinary life of a man but moves on to philosophic speculation about the relationship between man and nature. It is a dark and quiet evening of winter, and it is snowing. The poet, riding a horse to a destination, passes by woods that are lovely, dark, and deep. These woods are outside a village. The poet knows the owner of the woods who lives in the village.

The beauty of the woods tempts him powerfully to stop the journey and to lose himself in the enjoyment of natural beauty. He says that the horse considers it surprising that the master stops in the midst of the woods and is not near any farmhouse. The horse is accustomed to stopping at farmhouses, but on the present occasion, his reaction is natural.

He knows if his master, in the course of riding across the countryside stops at all, he stops at some farmhouse where both can find food and rest. The master has, as a matter of fact, stopped in such a lonely place not for the rest but for a brief enjoyment of the scenic beauty of the woods. The horse shakes his harness bells as if to ask whether his master has stopped there by mistake.

There are no other sounds except the swift movement of the wind and the fall of snowflakes which are soft, light, and white as feathers. The poem ends on a note of wisdom. In spite of wishing to enjoy the natural beauty, the poet cannot linger there. He moves on as he has to cover long distances in order to keep his promises. He cannot stay back the mission in his life still awaits completion. He remembers that he has ‘promises to keep’, duties to perform a long journey to complete before he can rest

ସାରାଂଶ:
ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଯେଉଁ ସମ୍ପର୍କ ବିଦ୍ୟମାନ, କବି ତାକୁ ଏକ ଦାର୍ଶନିକ ଦୃଷ୍ଟିଭଙ୍ଗୀରୁ ଦେଖୁଛନ୍ତି । ଶୀତକାଳର ଗୋଟିଏ ନୀରବ ସନ୍ଧ୍ୟା । ଅନ୍ଧକାର ପୃଥ‌ିବୀକୁ ଆଚ୍ଛାଦିତ କରିଛି । ଆକାଶରୁ ଝରିପଡ଼ୁଛି ବରଫରାଶି । କବି ଅଶ୍ୱାରୋହଣ କରି ତାଙ୍କର ସୁଦୂର ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟସ୍ଥଳ ଅଭିମୁଖେ ଯାତ୍ରା କରୁଛନ୍ତି । ଚାରିପଟରେ ଘନ ଜଙ୍ଗଲ । କବିଙ୍କ ଭାଷାରେ, ‘ସୁନ୍ଦର, ଅନ୍ଧକାରାଚ୍ଛନ୍ନ ଓ ଘଞ୍ଚ’’ ଗ୍ରାମାଞ୍ଚଳର ଉପକଣ୍ଠରେ ବିସ୍ତୃତ ହୋଇ ରହିଛି ସେହି ଅରଣ୍ୟ । ଏହି ଜଙ୍ଗଲର ମାଲିକଙ୍କୁ କବି ଜାଣନ୍ତି । ସେ ନିକଟସ୍ଥ ଗ୍ରାମର ଅସ୍ଵାସୀ । ଜଙ୍ଗଲର ସୌନ୍ଦର୍ଯ୍ୟ କବିଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରଲୁବ୍‌ଧ କରୁଛି । ଶକ୍ତିଶାଳୀ ତା’ର ଆକର୍ଷଣ । ଯାତ୍ରାକୁ ସ୍ଥଗିତ ରଖି ପ୍ରାକୃତିକ ସୁଷମା ଭିତରେ ନିଜକୁ ହଜାଇ ଦେବାପାଇଁ ସେହି ଅରଣ୍ୟ ତାଙ୍କୁ ଯେପରି ଆମନ୍ତ୍ରଣ କରୁଛି । ଯାତ୍ରା ବନ୍ଦକରି ବନାନୀର ଶୋଭା ଦର୍ଶନ କରୁଥିବା ମାଲିକଙ୍କୁ ଦେଖ୍ ତାଙ୍କର ଘୋଡ଼ା ବିସ୍ମିତ ହୋଇଛି । କାରଣ ରହିଯାଇଥ‌ିବାରୁ ଅଶ୍ଵଟି ବିସ୍ମିତ ହୋଇଛି । ଅଶ୍ଵଟିର ଏହି ପ୍ରତିକ୍ରିୟା ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ସ୍ଵାଭାବିକ । କାରଣ ଖମାରଗୃହ ପାଖରେ ଥିଲେ ଉଭୟ ମାଲିକ ଓ ସେ ଖାଦ୍ୟ ଓ ବିଶ୍ରାମ ପାଇ ପାରିଥା’ନ୍ତେ । ମାତ୍ର କବିଙ୍କର ଉଦ୍ଦେଶ୍ୟ ଭିନ୍ନ । ସେ ବିଶ୍ରାମ ଉଦ୍ଦେଶ୍ୟରେ ଏଠାରେ ଅଟକି ଯାଇନାହାନ୍ତି ।

ଅରଣ୍ୟର ନୈସର୍ଗିକ ସୌନ୍ଦର୍ଯ୍ୟକୁ ମନଭରି ଉପଭୋଗ କରିବାପାଇଁ ସେ ସେଠାରେ ଅଟକି ଯାଇଛନ୍ତି । ମାତ୍ର ଅବୋଧ ପଶୁ ସେ କଥା ବୁଝିବ କିପରି ? ଭାବୁଛି, ତା’ର ମାଲିକ ହୁଏତ ଭ୍ରମବଶତଃ ସେଠାରେ ଅଟକି ଯାଇଛନ୍ତି । ତାଙ୍କୁ ସେ କଥା ମନେପକାଇ ଦେବାପାଇଁ ଘୋଡ଼ାଟି ତା’ର ସାମ୍ପୁରେ ଲାଗିଥିବା ଘଣ୍ଟିକୁ ବଜାଇ ଦେଉଛି । ନିର୍ଜନ ଅରଣ୍ୟର ନୀରବତାର ରାଜତ୍ଵ । କେବଳ ବାୟୁର ମୁଦ୍ରା ପ୍ରବାହ ସେହି ନୀରବତାକୁ ଭଙ୍ଗ କରୁଛି । ନରମ, ହାଲୁକା ଓ ପକ୍ଷୀପର ଭଳି ମୁଲାୟମ ତୁଷାର କେବଳ ଝରିପଡ଼ୁଛି । କବିଙ୍କର ମୁଗ୍ଧସଭା ସେହି ଜଙ୍ଗଲର ଆକର୍ଷଣକୁ ଛାଡ଼ି ଆଗ୍ରସର ହେବାପାଇଁ ପ୍ରତିଜ୍ଞାବଦ୍ଧ । ଇଚ୍ଛା ଥିଲେ ବି ସେ ନିରୁପାୟ । କାରଣ ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟସ୍ଥଳରେ ପହଞ୍ଚିବା ପାଇଁ ତାଙ୍କୁ ସୁଦୂର ପଥ ଯାତ୍ରା କରିବାକୁ ହେବ । କାରଣ ତାଙ୍କୁ ତାଙ୍କର ପ୍ରତିଜ୍ଞା ପୂରଣ କରିବାକୁ ହେବ । ଯେପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ସେହି ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟ ହାସଲ ହୋଇନାହିଁ, ସେପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ତାଙ୍କର ବିଶ୍ରାମ ନାହିଁ । ତାଙ୍କର ଠିକ୍ ମନେଅଛି, ତାଙ୍କୁ ଗୋଟାଏ ଦୀର୍ଘ ପଥ ଅତିକ୍ରମ କରିବାକୁ ହେବ, ତାଙ୍କର କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟ ସାଧନ କରିବାକୁ ହେବ । ତା’ ପୂର୍ବରୁ ସେ ବିଶ୍ରାମ ନେଇପାରିବେ ନାହିଁ ।

Odisha State Board CHSE Odisha Class 11 Invitation to English 3 Solutions Writing Argument or Persuasion Textbook Activity Questions and Answers.

CHSE Odisha 11th Class English Writing Argument or Persuasion

2.4 Argument And Persuasion

Argument is that form of writing the main purpose of which is to persuade your readers (or listeners) to adopt a certain attitude, point of view, or course of action.

Read the following views, expressed by six different speakers, on the importance of English in India, in a debate in Femina.

a. Years ago the sun did not set on the British Empire, but the sons and daughters of India still speak English. ‘Please’ and ‘sorry’ are very much a part of our vocabulary. In most’states higher education is imparted in the English language. The white man’s language still holds the same fascination today as they did a century ago. More Indians are speaking and writing in English than ever before. A separate class of Indo-English writers, acclaimed internationally, exists today. Telephone directories, advertisements, films, music, etc. are in English. Hence, the language has been integrated into our culture.

b. English is an important language in India today. For all important business transactions, paperwork and documentations is in English (like banking, shares, certificates). The gifts we have received from the British are the postal and telegraph services, railways and the English language. As the industrial revolution first took place in England, most of the mechanical engineering terminology is in English. For instance, there is no Hindi equivalent for the term ‘internal combustion’. It is very important to know English.

c. Knowledge of English language has helped me to communicate not only with my audience abroad but even with Indians of various states. English is an Indian language. If Indian states try and promote their languages, there is nothing wrong in it. But at the same time, English language and literature should not be neglected. It is an interesting language with a rich literature.

d. English is an Indian language. Any Indian who is slightly educated understands English, It is the langauge of science and technology. It connects us with the world. In India, people who know English often dominate non- English speaking Indians. There is no harm in learning and speaking in English, but to follow western culture along with the language is not appropriate.

e. English is one of the languages spoken by Indians. But it is wrong to believe that to achieve or to get a job one must know English. Most people in India feel that to earn their bread they should know English. In Germany, China and Japan people hardly understand English. Among the Indians the ‘mental slavery’ to English still exists.

f. It is a wrong belief that English is an important Indian language. Only two percent of Indian speak it. In fact, it is a language that often leads to complexes. I remember very well when the well-known Russian writer. Rasool Humzatov came to Delhi and narrated his poems, not in English or Russian, but in the regional language. Because he was proud of it. We Indians do not have enough respect and love for our language. Personality, even when I meet people who are well-versed in English, I speak in Hindi.

It is important to dispel the guilt complexes regarding Indian languages, that all of us have.
The main points raised by the speakers are noted below.
(i) English is the language of higher education.
(ii) The language of international communication.
(iii) Only 2% Indians speak English.
(iv) The language of science and technology.
(v) The belief that one can easily get a job or achieve success is not always true.
(vi) People in China, Japan and Germany hardly understand English.
(vii) Self-respecting people respect their mother tongue/dialect.
(viii) People in India need English.
(ix) Early education of a child must be in the mother tongue.
(x) Indian languages including Indian culture get neglected.
(xi) Language of communication inside India.
(xii) Language of business, commerce and advertisement.

Note that some of the arguments are in favour of English and others against English. Put them in two separate columns, as suggested below. The first one has been done for you. Think, and add your own points.

Answer:

Activity 36

We have a number of arguments here, both for and against English. Can you now reach a definite position of your own, after considering both sets of arguments ? Try to produce your own arguments to counter those presented by the speakers : for example, you could argue that English can be replaced by Hindi for the purposes of communication within India, etc. Write a paragraph on any one of these points.

Answer:
One of the main arguments in favour English is that people in India need English. But, in my view, this is not correct. We should know that people in China, Japan and Germany hardly understand English. Nevertheless, they are more prosperous than India. Of course, lately China has felt the importance of English. English is a foreign language and not one of the soil. Only 2% Indians speak English. English has become a medium of education in our colleges and universities.

This is doing an incalculable harm to the proper intellectual growth of students. A fast majority of students fail to understand the lessons imparted through English. The very thinking and understanding of the student is stunted under the weight of an incomprehensible language. The spread of English also hinders the growth of Indian culture. Lastly, though not the least, it can be said that there should be an end to ‘the mental slavery’ that still exists among the Indians.

Activity 37

(i) Given below are some of the views expressed by different speakers on the topic “The Reading habit is dying out” in Femina. Read through each of them.
(ii) Note that some speakers accept the proposition while others reject it. There is one speaker who offers suggestions to improve the reading habits of children. Try to identify the main points in each speech and arrange them under three headings :
(1) in favour of the proposition
(2) against the proposition and
(3) suggestions.
(iii) Add your own points. Be clear about the points you support and those which you do not support.
(iv) Before you start writing on the topic, think of an appropriate beginning. For this, see how the speakers begin their speeches. It will help you in starting your paragraph.

Now read the following speeches.

(a) I agree that reading is a dying habit. A lot has been already written about how television is rapidly stealing a march over reading. The sale of books is diminishing, while the launching of a new television channel has become a regular affair. A lot of children find other ways of passing their leisure hours because they have simply not discovered the wonderland of books and the pleasure it offers. At the age of two or three, they are taught how to read, but as they grow older, they are not taught to use reading for entertainment, information, and knowledge.

Brought up on a diet of textbooks, the child does not get to read anything else. Naturally, when a child finds that the textbooks he/she reads are dull and boring, he/she never feels like reading anything else. There is no addiction more pleasurable than getting hooked on books. Parents should encourage their children to read, but let me point out that most adults don’t read themselves; a cursory glance at the day’s newspaper is all the reading they seem to do. How can they expect their children to develop the habit of reading, when they themselves sit down in front of the TV set in their free time ?

(b) It is definitely true that reading is a dying habit, and one of the major reasons for this decline is the advent of the electronic medium. Even the reading of newspapers has been limited to that headlines and few introductory paragraphs. If one gets the news and can watch a few soap operas for entertainment just by pressing a few buttons, why should anyone then take the trouble of reading? But that’s very sad for we’re losing the very flavor of life.

Just sitting like robots in front of a box that gives us information like robots, like listening to it, watching it — these things kill our intellectual faculties. We’ve failed to realize that the lasting impact on the mind can be provided by the written word alone. Reading gives one time to ponder over things and it enriches our vocabulary too.

(c) The habit of reading is increasing day by day. There is a boom in publishing in India, and our sales have doubled in the last few years. Indian authors are creating ripples in the international literary scene. Our company has linked up with Harper Collins and Pan Macmillan, so international books are being made available to Indian readers at a reasonable price.

Access to technology and infrastructure has made things easier for publishers. It has led to innovations in packaging and graphics. Focused designs have made the appearance of books much more attractive. Printing quality too has improved vastly. The reader today has a good variety to choose from.

(d) I don’t totally agree with the statement that reading is a dying habit. As a librarian for nearly 27 years, I’ve seen students and research scholars. I feel that my reading habit has changed a lot. Students prefer to read magazines and newspapers rather than books. Earlier, during the summer vacations, many students did come to the library for general reading.

today, they have various other options like listening to music and watching television programs. But the library is never empty. Light reading may have declined, but academic reading related to assignments, references, and research, has not.

(e) I don’t think that reading is a dying habit – but that parents and teachers have to play a very important role in inculcating this habit, for they are the role models for children. Since the child has more grasping power than an adult, it is the right age to develop this habit. It is important for parents to spend quality time with their children, to read aloud to children, to listen to what they’ve to say, and answer their questions.

For the proposition	Against the proposition
(i) Television has adversely affected reading	(i) Students are not being encouraged to read
(ii) Children pass leisure hours in other ways than reading.	(ii) Reading leaves a lasting impression on the mind and enriches one’s vocabulary.
(iii) Dull text books discourage the reading habit.	(iii) Habit of reading is incresasing and sale of books proves this.
(iv) Adults don’t read them selves and thus are not good role models.	(iv) Books of varied kinds are being read now.
(v) Reading materials are prohibitive in costs.	(v) Parents should spend. their time with children; reading is not a dying habit.
	(vi) Light reading has declined but not academic reading.

The Reading is a dying habit:
Most people believe that the reading habit is dying out and they are right about it. Even a cursory survey among students reveals that they spend more time watching television than reading books, except during examinations. Besides, children spend their leisure in many other ways rather than reading books. In addition to this, today’s textbooks are so dull and boring and studying has been made such a burden that children or students don’t have the motivation to read books.

Moreover, adults themselves do not read many books. They don’t serve as role models, instead they too spend more time on the T.V. Last but not the least, the cost of books have today become prohibitive. On an average, a book costs seventy-five to hundred rupees. It is all these factors that have made reading a dying habit. It is right that students are not being encouraged to read, that reading is something worthwhile, but suggestion that since sale of books have increased and therefore reading has increased is to miss the point.

A comparative study of sales of electronic consumer items and that of books reveal that the sale of electronic goods is twice as much as those of books. Moreover, those engaged in academic reading are a very negligible minority and they can’t be counted with those who read for pleasure. Similarly the contention that varied books are 1 being read does not prove that there are many readers. This attests the fact that today interests of people have become diversified and therefore to cater to their needs various kinds of books are being published and sold.

For example, a century back we had no books on computers but today there isn’t any library or bookshop which does not possess books on computers. Thus, we can safely conclude that reading is a dying habit. The television is now reining supreme over the minds. The T.V. is ubiquitous even in the smallest of homes while illiteracy is rampant in a place like India.

Activity 38

1. The following are the main points that emerged in a debate on the topic “The presidential form of government is more suitable for our country than the parliamentary form”. But the points are all mixed up. Arrange them under two separate heads for and against.

a. Will ensure strong centre…. curb divisive tendencies.
b. Deprives people of power to elect, recall, approach representatives,
c. Will quicken change towards removal of poverty, equal opportunity, greater production, prosperity.
d. Makes ruling sections/groups more powerful….discourages loc*t! or minority talents, culture, distinctions,
e. Concentrates authority….leads to dictatorship.
f. Reduces expenditure on wasteful elections, political propaganda, party politics.
g. Denies fundamental freedom….curbs human rights; builds fear, cowardice.
h. Simplifies decision making and brings about uniformity, can lead to greater discipline, better economic achievements. Present system breeds inaction, indiscipline, strikes, poor results.
i. Suited to Afro-Asian temperament; recent events prove it too.
j. Is against Indian democratic traditions.

2. First, make up your mind regarding the line of argument that you would like to follow. Second, think how to begin. Then, develop the outline into a paragraph : you are free to add your own points to the given ones.

Answer:
For:
a. Will ensure strong centre… curb divisive tendencies.
b. Will quicken change towards removal of poverty, equal opportunity, greater production, prosperity.
c. Concentrates authority.., leads to dictatorship.
d. Denies fundamental freedom… curbs human rights: builds fear, cowardice.
e. Suited to Afro-Asian temperament; recent events prove it too.

Against:
a. Deprives people of power to elect, recall, approach representatives.
b. Makes ruling sections more powerful… discourages local or minority talents, culture, distinctions.
c. Reduces expenditure on wasteful elections, political propaganda, party politics.
d. Simplifies decision making and brings about uniformity, can lead to greater discipline, better economic achievements. Present system breeds. inaction, indiscipline, strikes, poor results.
e. Is against Indian democratic traditions.

The presidential form of government is more suitable for our country than the parliamentary form.

It is just about 50 years since our country has been an independent nation. And numerous problems have been plaguing our nation. This has set people thinking in some quarters that there is a need to change our form of government. That would be like throwing the baby with the bathwater. The nation is just a baby with a particular structure and it need not be changed just because it has not grown and matured. In short, the parliamentary form of government does not need to go.

It is argued that the presidential form of government will ensure a strong centre, curb divisive tendencies, quicken changes in economic, social and political spheres, avoid wasteful expenditure on elections and party politics, simplify decision making and lead to greater discipline. There is no denying this fact. A presidential system does quickly bring about such changes but in the long run, as history has time and again shown, proves counter-productive and disastrous.

The rules of Mussolini, Napoleon, Stalin and Hitler are all outstanding examples of this trend. The presidential form of government makes the state larger than the individual, makes personal freedom a dream and gradually stamps out human rights. Finally, it leads to totalitarianism and dictatorship. The fear of facing a 1984-like scenario is ever alive in a presidential form of government. Oligarchy, plutocracy, stratocracy, autocracy and despotism are ominous realities in a presidential form of government.

History amply records this truth. The KGB and the communist party in USSR, the Nazi Party and the storm troppers in Germany are good examples of what happens when power is concentrated in the hands of a few or in one man’s hand. Moreover, a presidential form of government will gradually crush minority talent and minority culture and impose a cultural homogeneity. This would be disastrous in a multiracial, multicultural, multi-lingual, pluralistic society like India.

Its ethos would take the beating and its beauty will be lost. india has existed for ages as a pluralistic society whose greatness has been its power to assimilate and unite in its fold diverse cultures and religions. Tolerance and non-violence have been its mainstay and to abandon them would mean going against the grain of our character as a nation. Such a forced change would prove disastrous for the nation. Hence the parliamentary form of government with its respect for individual right, and its inclination towards unity in diversity, should be given the thumbs up.

Activity 39

In several cities, television has come to nearly all homes. Some people welcome this while others find it a bad influence and an expensive addition to the drawing-room. Some believe it creates problems – indiscipline, loss of sleep, reduced attention to homework, the danger of bad movies as bad models. Others consider it a good ‘teacher’ – brings vividly a lot of new information, helps farmers, makes stories interesting, provides both entertainment and instruction, saves money spent on bad/indifferent films, food at restaurants, etc., keeps the family together at home. A television company has organised an “essay competition” on the subject ‘Television, your new friend’. At the same time, the ‘Society of Cinema-goers’ has invited essays criticising television. Write on each topic, presenting your views on television, and its uses/abuses.

Points for	Points against
i. ______________	i. ______________
ii. ______________	ii. ______________
iii. ______________	iii. ______________
iv. _______________	iv. _______________

Answer:

Points for	Points against
(i) A good teacher	(i)Creates problem, indiscipline, loss of sleep etc.
(ii) Provides both entertainment and instruction	(ii) Reduces attention towards homework
(iii) Leads to the togetherness of the family members	(iii) Bad movies act as bad models
(iv) Saves money spent on food at restaurants	(iv) An expensive addition to the drawing room

Answer:
Television: its uses and abuses :
Television has truly made the world a global village. Its all-encompassing reach to the remote comers of the globe has made omnipresent medium. Moreover, the fact that it is an audio-visual medium, makes it all the more effective as well as alluring. Thus, it could be put to a wide variety of use. But it is more abused than used. In a developing country like India, television has become the medium by which literacy is spread all over the nation.

Students tune into educative programmes like the country-wide classrooms of the University Grants Commission and Krishi Darshan Programmes cater to the needs of farmers. Similarly programmes on family planning, health awareness, AIDS, nutrition baby care are beamed across the country. Forecasting of weather and climate helps fishermen, farmers and all kinds of people to plan out their future course of action. Storm warning, earthquake warnings and flood warmings have had a greater impact because of visual and graphic details of facts.

Above all, television has become the supreme medium of infotainment. Watching the news or watching a soap opera, a cookery special or a sports channel, a movie or an engaging group discussion, a sermon or a song, the television has it all, controlling and dispersing knowledge all over the world. And yet unconsciously the television is ruling us, stealing our time and making morons out of us.

A couch potato is no more a rarity. A great thinker enumerates the abuses of television as follows. First, television makes people emotionally insensitive. The images of sex and violence that are projected on the screen gradually drive out all human feeling from us and renders us indifferent to such incidents in real life. We accept them as normal. A murder, a rape, a dead body no more shocks us as it did earlier generations. We are gradually being denuded of humane feeling.

Second, television makes viewers morally uncritical and impairs their sense of judgement. With a book, one reads and then ponders over what it has stated but the television gradually impairs this sense of evaluation in us. It hits us so powerfully and forcefully that it bypasses our head and rules our heart. Third, television destroys our ability to concentrate for long on anything. Kids who are brought up on fast moving scenes and cartoon characters thus do not find their teachers exciting, their books seen dull and boring.

Quickfix solutions, capsule presentations, ready-made notes, fast food are the order of the day and television is one great factor in enhancing the pace of life and thereby reducing concentration spans of people. Fourth, television sets up such role models and projects such lifestyles which young people follow with zeal. They are led to believe that all that life is about is having girl-friends, wealth, fame and power. Finally, T.V. is creating dislocations in centres of authority.

Most often a person becomes authoritative because he or she is well- known. Thus a cricket star or a hero tells you to keep away from AIDS and has your attention no matter what he does in his personal life. Thus, his voice is powerful while that of a celibate priest’s is not. As a result there is total psychological, moral and academic confusion in our culture. T.V. is not bad just as money is not bad. It’s the way one uses it that matters. Let the T.V. be our servant and not our master.

Activity 40

Here are a few more topics for argumentative writing. Prepare outlines and write on each topic.
i. Men and women should/should not be paid equal wages for equal work.
ii. Prohibition will save the country from destruction/Prohibition goes against individual freedom. (Prohibition-disallowing by law the making and sale of alcoholic drinks.)
iii. Cricket commentaries are a national evil./ Cricket commentaries provide entertainment and education.
iv. History breeds narrow-mindedness. It should not be taught in schools/colleges.
v. Driving licenses should not be issued to students in schools/colleges.
vi. Girls should not marry before they are twenty, boys before they are twenty-five.
vii. College education must be made free.

Answer:
(i) Men and women should be paid equal wages for equal work.
For:
(a) Equal pay for equal work ensured in the Indian Constitution.
(b) Women do not work lesser than men/women do equally good work as men.
(c) It is the quality of work which matters and not who did it/wages are given for task completed, and not because someone did the task.
(d) Pay hike and promotions are made on grounds of merit and not on basis of gender.

Against:
(a) Women are less intelligent than men.
(b) Women work less than men.
(c) Women cannot do certain kinds of work because they are not physically fit to do it.

Gender differences have curbed the rights of women in a patriarchal and male dominated society. As a result, in some quarters it is still held that women should not be given equal wages as men. This kind of primitive thinking is a result of male chauvinism and is not justified by facts at hand. It has nothing to do with the question of women receiving equal wages as men. Patriarchal society has always held women as inferior to men. As a result, women were thought to be less intelligent than men.

This argument was thus put forth in favour of giving lesser wages to women. The contention is however not borne out by facts. Women have proved themselves the equals of men in almost all professions and spheres of life whether in science and techlology or in the humanities and social science. As more and more opportunities are being given to them women are proving themselves equal for men in every sphere of life.

Admittedly they are biologically made less strong than men but now-a-days work requires more brain and, therefore, the question of equal pay for equal work arises in the context of what work woman is doing and not what she is not. Besides, women Boxers, wrestlers, athletes, weightlifters. Marathoners etc. have proved that they too can do things like men. However, a strong case can be made for the question of equal pay for equal work for women.

First of all, just as equal opportunity for all is enshrined in our Constitution, so also equal pay for equal work is enshrined in our Constitution. A just and fair society will always provide equal pay for equal work for that is the universal law of natural justice. Considerations of caste, creed, race and sex should never come in way of a person’s wages. Secondly, it is another natural axiom that the meritorious be rewarded. If the woman is equally qualified as man, if she does work equal to man, then she deserves a wage equal to it, as men do.

Pay hike and promotions are decided on merits of individuals and not on considerations of caste and creed or sex. Finally, it may be argued that women in many ways are better than men. They are more sincere, committed, honest, responsible and hard-working than men. Case studies of working men and women has proved this. Thus, women deserve equal pay for equal work because they are in no way inferior to men in their qualifications and in their work.

(ii) Prohibition will save the country from destruction / prohibition goes against individual freedom.
For:
(1) Drinkers are bread winners, drinking therefore denudes the bread supply.
(2) Drinkers are physically violent; they indulge in wife beating and also a general nusiance.
(3) Drinking leads to hazardous health problems, the cost of which has to be borne buy family / govt.

Against:
(1) Prohibition curbs freedom of an individual.
(2) Prohibition breeds illegal trade in liquour.
(3) Prohibition results in loss of revenue to state.

Prohibition will save the country:
Drinking and smoking are two-sides of the same coin. They are equally dangerous and hazardous not only for the individual but also for the nation as well. Therefore, it is necessary to implement and ensure prohibition, for this alone can save the country from destruction. The opponents of prohibition are of the view of that it curbs freedom of the individual. They are right but of course individual freedom has always been curbed by social limitations to ensure that every other individual enjoys his or her liberty.

A man has the right to walk on the road as long as he does not infringe anybody else’s right to walk on the road. If drinking results in social disharmony, then it must be prohibited. A doctor prescribes a bitter pill to heal a person in spite of the protests of an individual. A whole individual can be a useful citizen. Secondly, anti-prohibitionists talk of the breeding of illegal trade in liquor.

True indeed: prohibition breeds an illegal trade in sale of liquor and the very purpose of prohibition is thereby defeated. But illegal trade can be prevented, an alert police, a cooperative public can detect and stop this trade. This has been proved earlier in Andhra Pradesh where women enforced prohibition and curbed illegal trade. Finally, there is the loss of revenue to the state. This too is true. But it can be argued that the cost of having host of diseased drinkers is higher than that of loss on revenue due to prohibition.

It is fallaciously thought that the cost of treating a man with drinking related health hazards is borne by families of those individuals but the national loss in this context is not taken into account. Moreover, less corruption and generation of revenues in other trades can nullify the loss accruing from prohibition. Non-prohibition on the other hand, has high costs in terms of familial, societal and national loss.

Consumption of country liquor by males who are bread winners in lower income groups have left families bereft of the basic needs of food, shelter and clothing. Broken families, loss of childhood, denial of education and health are the result. The social costs in terms of crime, prostitution, child labour, drug addiction, and a host of other problems emerging from such households, are immense.

Moreover, drinkers gradually lose self-esteem, self-confidence and slowly lose skills. They become irresponsible and unfit for work. This happens even among people of higher income group. Their erratic behaviour, tendency to shimk from duty and going on unauthorised leave hurts sectors in which they work thereby adding to the national loss. Finally, it may be reiterated that the cost of rehabilitating a person with drink- related health hazards is exorbitant.

Whether it is the government that finances this, the company or the individual, all of them result in a national loss. On the other hand, the money saved by individuals on enforcement of prohibition results in per capita gain though it may not accrue to the revenue of the state. Prohibition is therefore a better option than the freedom to drink. For prosperity of the family leads to prosperity of the nation.

(iii) Cricket commentaries are a national evil / Cricket commentaries provide entertainment and education.
For:
– Is a waste of time
– A hobby of the leisure class
– Take too much air time and T.V. time.
– Does not benefit the state or nation.
– Denies equal weight to other sports.

Against:
– Commentary is an art.
– Commentary provides entertainment and education.
– Commentaries provide job and earn revenue.

The very mention of cricket commentaries as a national evil gives rise to passions because the game of cricket is the favourite of a large majority of the upper and middle classes of people. Nevertheless a reasoned analysis of its pros and cons reveals that cricket as well as its commentary is a national evil. First of all cricket commentaries involve a colossal waste of time. During a cricket match, offices are deserted and so are schools and colleges.

People in factories and business establishments slow down work and sometimes even stop working. Moreover, a game of cricket takes a lot of time. A test match spans three to five days while the one day game consumes 8 hours. An avid fan of cricket who listens to its commentary pays little attention to work because the match is held mostly during office hours, school and college hours from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

Time is money and therefore the damage to the economy during a cricket match is irreversible. On an average if a man watches cricket for 4 hrs. a day for 60 days, there is a waste of 24 hrs or a total of 10 days in a year. If the number of those watching or listening to commentaries is even a minimum of 2 million then there is an astounding waste of 20 million days.

The corresponding loss to the economy is therefore colossal. Besides this, cricket commentaries occupy too much of air space as well as as visual space on the T.V. The radio and the television could be used to broadcast other | programmes of social interest during this time. An even greater lacunae is the unequal media coverage that other sports receive. The priority that is given to cricket by the media and T.V. networks does not encourage sportspersons of other games.

While sponsorers are available to- support cricket matches there are very few sponsorers to support the broadcasting of other sports. Further, the revenue generated from commentaries on cricket matches is mostly 1 deposited in the offices of the T.V. Network which has bought the rights to brodcast the match. Revenue to the state in this context is paltry. Opponents of this view that commentaries are a national evil hold that they are educative and entertaining.

But it may be reasonably shown that their educative value is minimal and marginal. As for entertainment that is a very transitory form Of entertainment. The same can be said of its value as an art. It is art of transitory value and does not have any permanent or lasting effect. As for the contention that it provides jobs, it can be said that employment opportunities as commentators are very minimal, limited only to a few individuals and that it is not to be taken as a profession. Thus after weighing the pros and cons it may be emphatically said that cricket commentaries are a national evil.

(iv) History breeds narrow-mindedness. It should not be taught in schools/colleges.
For:
(1) History breeds crude nationalist.
(2) It is full of crimes.
(3) It provides a confused heap of facts.
(4) It records popular beliefs.

Against:
(1) History is interesting and useful.
(2) It helps us to escape the burdens of life.
(3) It is a sound teacher.
(4) It provides us moral inspiration.
(5) It widens our intellectual outlook.

History generated crude nationalism among the students. It records the glory and achievements of some countries and the failures of others. Germany under Hitler was a case in a point. The students who read it learn nothing. History is a record of war and blood-shed. If we scan the pages of history, we learn a lot about many bloody battles fought among different nations. History takes us to a world where lies a confused heap of facts. It is difficult to understand and analyse them. These facts lack colour.

Above all, it acquaints us with some popular beliefs. There is nothing innovative about them. All these facts mentioned above adversely affect the minds of the people. Therefore, history should not be taught in schools/colleges. We should see the bright side of history. It launches man on a thrilling adventure of a journey to the past. It awakens in him the racial memories that he slumbering in the depths of time. The study of history strengthens one’s faith, however, wavering, in the ultimate decency of things.

History must not be read as a collection of dry and old facts and dates, but as living representation of the past which has a significance for the present. The study of history is interesting, useful and amusing. It helps us to escape the burdens of life. Moreover, history is a sound teacher. The records of the past interpreted in practical by noble men and women, supply moral tonic which must be administered to each generation. Study of this subject widens our outlook. Besides, history makes our intellectual horizon touch new heights. It also sensitizes our minds. Therefore, history should be taught in schools and colleges.

(v) Driving licenses should not be issued to students in schools/colleges.
For:
(1) Driving licenses make the students wayward.
(2) They become law-breakers.
(3) They live in a world of fancy.

Against:
(1) Issuing driving licences to school/college makes them responsible.
(2) They save their time.
(3) They become law-abiding.

Issuing driving licenses make school/college students carefree. They move freely in their bikes/four-wheelers without caring anybody. They become liberty drunk. They never feel the importance of why they have been issued driving licenses. They make use of their vehicles for a constructive purpose. They are young. In the full flush of their youth, they drive recklessly, flouting the traffic rules.

Sometimes they meet with accidents. Some die premature deaths, some escape with a miracle and others suffer fractures. These students find themselves cut off from the outside world when they drive their bikes or cars. On the other hand, we must not be blind to the other side of these facts. School/college students should be issued driving licenses, because they are mature. Fear of parents and accidents makes them responsible. They do not want to waste the latter’s money by misusing driving licenses.

They drive their vehicles very carefully. Time is precious. They save it as a result of using bikes or cars. These students become law- abiding. They are alive to the traffic rules. They understand why they have been given bikes/four wheelers by their parents. In view of these facts, driving licenses should be issued to school/college students.

(vi) Girls should not marry before they are twenty, boys before they are twenty- five.
For:
(1) Girls become highly educated.
(2) They get a chance to fulfil their dreams. .
(3) They enjoy empowerment.
(4) They become independent and are free from the drudgery of household work.
(5) They become ideal mothers and wife.
(6) Boys are no different.
(7) They want higher education.
(8) They become independent.

Against:
(1) They should be educated.
(2) Marriage before 20 makes them typical house-wives.
(3) They are immature to understand the ways of the world.
(4) They go astray.
(5) They are deprived of enjoying impowerment.
(6) Boys cannot be highly educated.
(7) They cannot be independent to the core.

Girls should be highly educated in word and spirit. Very few girls continue their studies after their marriage. They try their best to fulfil their dreams and achieve then- goals. Today we see many a woman enjoy empowerment. They have become high- profile entrepreneurs, bureaucrats and academicians. They are now successful political leaders. They brim with confidence. They become independent by earning their livelihood. Educated wives get a respite from the monotany of their household works.

Education makes them conscious of their duties to their husbands and children. They never become a burden on society. Boys are no different from the girls. A certain age is indispensable for building their career, but marriage before 25 puts bars in fulfilling the dreams, hopes and aspiration. Failures to achieve their goals drive them to a state of frustration. As a result of higher education, they earn handsome income and become assets to their families.

On the other hand, if the girls marry before twenty, they cannot enjoy the things they want. They become neither highly educated nor enjoy real empowerment. They become typical house-wives and don’t get a chance to experience what is happening in the external world. Frustration grips them. They don’t understand the language of independence. They often go astray and as a result, bring disgrace to society. Boys suffer the same fate.

Their marriage before twenty-five seldom allow them to go for higher education according to their will. They soothe with frustration for not achieving their goals. They fail to rise to the expectations of their parents. They are shorn of confidence. They can’t be fiercely independent. Therefore, girls should not marry before they are twenty, boys before they are twenty-four.

(vii) College education must be made free.
For:
(1) Scope for higher education, irrespective of caste, creed or colour.
(2) It makes everyone confident.
(3) It leads to independent among the students.
(4) It provides broader exposure to the outside world.

Against:
(1) Ordinary students have no value.
(2) Free college education creates indiscipline.
(3) Wastage of public money.
(4) There is no room for further academic development, there is no much fund for research.

Free college education provides a scope for higher education for all sorts of students, irrespective of caste, creed and colour. They all feel a state of what higher education is. This makes them brim with confidence. Some of the poor students get a chance to dream big and are determined to achieve someting in life. College education makes them independent, because, they get a chance to earn their livelihood.

They are now exposed to the happenings of the external world. As a result, they can contribute to the well-being of their country and fellow-beings. On the other hand, the issue has a darker side. Free college education encourages many ordinary students to sit in their classes. They should have been given vocational education. Instead of reading sincerely, they create indiscipline in the college and as a result, spoil the academic environment.

Besides, free college education costs our public exchequer beyond imagination. The common tax-payer’s money is injudiciously spent. Academic development suffers a serious jolt as a result of paucity of finance. Research work lags far behind. In view of these facts, college education should not be free.

Odisha State Board Elements of Mathematics Class 11 Solutions CHSE Odisha Chapter 14 Limit and Differentiation Ex 14(e) Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

CHSE Odisha Class 11 Math Solutions Chapter 14 Limit and Differentiation Exercise 14(e)

Question 1.

Find derivatives of the following functions from the definition :
(i) 3x² – \(\frac{4}{x}\)
Solution:

(ii) (4x – 1)²
Solution:

(iii) 2 + x + √x³
Solution:

(iv) x – \(\sqrt{x^2-1}\)
Solution:

(v) \(\frac{1}{x^{2 / 5}}\) + 1
Solution:

Question 2.
(i) cos (ax + b)
Solution:
Let y = cos (ax + b)
Then \(\frac{d y}{d x}\) = -sin (ax + b) × \(\frac{d}{d x}\) (ax + b) by chain rule.
= -sin(ax + b). a = -a sin (ax + b)

(ii) x² sin x
Solution:
Let y = x² sin x
Then \(\frac{d y}{d x}=\frac{d}{d x}\) (x²). sin x + x² \(\frac{d}{d x}\)
[ ∴ \(\frac{\mathrm{d}}{\mathrm{dx}}(u \cdot v)=\frac{d u}{d x} \cdot v+u \cdot \frac{d v}{d x}\)
= 2x sin x + x² cos x

(iii) \(\sqrt{\tan x}\)
Solution:
Ley y = \(\sqrt{\tan x}\) = \((\tan x)^{\frac{1}{2}}\)
Then \(\frac{d y}{d x}=\frac{1}{2}(\tan x)^{-\frac{1}{2}} \times \frac{d}{d x}\)(tan x)
= \(\frac{1}{2 \sqrt{\tan x}}\) sec² x.

(iv) cot x²
Solution:
Let y = cot x²
Then \(\frac{d y}{d x}=-{cosec}^2 x^2 \times \frac{d}{d x}\left(x^2\right)\)
= – cosec² x². 2x
= -2x. cosec² x²

(v) cosec 3x
Solution:
Let y = cosec 3x
Then \(\frac{d y}{d x}\) = -3 cosec 3x . cot 3x

Question 3.
(i) √x sin x
Solution:
Let y = √x sin x
Then \(\frac{d y}{d x}=\frac{d}{d x}\)(√x) sin x + √x. \(\frac{d}{d x}\)(sin x)
= \(\frac{1}{2 \sqrt{x}}\) sin x + √x. cos x

(ii) \(\sqrt{x^2+1}\)cos x
Solution:

(iii) tan x – x² – 2x
Solution:
Let y = tan x – x² – 2x
\(\frac{d y}{d x}\) = sec² x – 2x – 2

Odisha State Board CHSE Odisha Class 11 Invitation to English 3 Solutions Writing Exposition Textbook Activity Questions and Answers.

CHSE Odisha 11th Class English Writing Exposition

Expository Writing

Exposition is an orderly presentation of facts and ideas. It exposes or shows. All exposition is informative. In an exposition, you answer various questions that might be asked of an object, an event, or an idea – questions like these:
What is it?
What does it consist of?
What is it for?
How is it put together?
What good is it?
What does it mean?
What is the cause of it?
What will be the result of it?
There are several methods of writing an exposition of these, exposition by definition and exposition the rough analysis are the most important.

Activity 31

Develop paragraphs of your own, using the following plans. The given topic should form part of the opening sentence.
(a) Topic: There were several things I liked (disliked) about my high school.
Sentence 1: Topic sentence
Sentences 2, 3, 4, 5: The things I liked (disliked)
Sentence 6: Conclusion

(b) Topic: It is easier for someone to express himself in speech than in writing.

Answer:
(a) There were several things I liked in my high school. Firstly, we had good teachers who not only taught us well but were also very friendly with us. Secondly, we were never burdened with homework. Instead, we were asked to read what was taught in the class at home. Thirdly, there were a lot of extra-curricular activities which helped in developing our personality. Finally, we had an Old Boys Association which helped us keep in touch with our classmates and to know about the development of our school. Thus, my high school was really unique in many ways.

(b) Is it easier for someone to express himself in speech than in writing? Or is writing easier than speech? Linguists are divided in their views. Some say that speech is easier than writing because one learns to speak spontaneously without having to attend school. They also argue that speech takes less time to learn than writing. Others, however, dispute these views.

They contend that writing is easier than speech because it involves graphic images which the child can easily learn even before imitating speech. They also are of opinion that writing is accessible to speech-disadvantaged children and therefore, more universal. Thus, linguists are equally divided over the question of which is easier, speech or writing.

Activity 32

Write a paragraph on each of the following topics, using Chesterton’s model at page 39.
(a) Types of students
(b) Types of teachers
(c) Kinds of books we read
(d) Kinds of friends

Answer:
(a) Types of students :
Roughly speaking, there are three kinds of students in our college. The first may be called bookworms. They can always be seen pouring over books in the library when they travel by bus while having food and so on. This kind has no interest in games and most often they love to be indoors rather than play outside. The second sort may be called truants. These students take pleasure in not attending classes. They bunk college, go to films, play cricket and create a nuisance on the campus.

To them, we owe all the strikes and indiscipline in the college. The third kind is called Casanova’s. You can see them talking in hushed whispers with girls under a tree, in the corridors, accompanying them to the bus stop, or shadowing others who are not yet in their hold. The studies are secondary and they end up as unemployed youth who dream of their golden day in college.

(b) Types of teachers :
There are different types of teachers. Firstly, there are teachers who are dedicated to the core. They inspire their students to reach newer heights in the future. Their devotion to teaching is matchless. Secondly, there are teachers who just teach students for the sake of teaching. They are never serious about it. They lack dedication to their profession. Thirdly, there are those who pretend to be ideal teachers. They are dull. They always aim at earning money by paying lip service to their profession. These teachers bring disgrace to society.

(c) Kinds of books we read :
Books are of many types but they can be generally divided into good and bad. Good books are man’s most important teachers. They instruct and entertain, make men wise and ignorant, men of knowledge. Bad books, on the other hand, waste men’s time and introduce evil thoughts into their minds. They neither enlighten the mind nor broaden the imagination in the right direction. Thus good books ought always to be chosen over bad ones.

(d) Kinds of friends :
We have friends of several kinds. First, there is gossip. He can never keep our secrets and always lets us down by telling everything about us to others. Second, there is the coward. He is seldom able to stand on his own feet but that is not any danger. Keep him in the team for any enterprise and he’ll take off whenever he smells any danger to himself. Third, there is the flatterer. He always sings your praises and never tells you the truth. He is neither dependable nor trustworthy. He stays with one as long as he profits from his company and then he changes loyalty. Fourth, there is the slanderer.

This kind of friend feigns friendship but behind your back, he talks ill of you. Then there is the follower. This kind rarely takes his own initiative in doing anything for you. He’s a good supporter, a loyal disciple but you can’t hand him any responsibility and sit quietly. He needs nudging and guiding. There’s yet another kind called the parasite. He feeds on you, eats of you, borrows your notes, your money, your cycle, etc. He is always dependable. Finally, there is the one and only true friend. He is rare to find. But this is the kind of friend who is dependable, responsible, and trustworthy.

Activity 33

1. Write a paragraph ending with the sentence: “I’m afraid I didn’t like the film at all and wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.”
2. Write a short paragraph beginning with the sentence: “I had a very happy childhood.”
3. Write separate paragraphs from the point of view of the taxi driver and the truck driver, using the following outline. An accident between a truck and a taxi – an old man was killed – a buffalo was seriously injured – a policeman arrived on the scene – a doctor drove the dead body to the hospital.
4. Write a paragraph to be included in a letter to a pen-friend telling him/her how you celebrate Diwali.

Answer:
(1) Refugee is not worth watching. Its story is a stock one: Laila-Majnu, Romeo-Juliet like and perhaps borrowed from Daruwalla’s “Love in the Salt Desert.” There is no life in Abhishek Bacchan’s acting. As for action, there is not much that it has to boast off. Walking like a shepherd with a staff in his hand and a band around his head. Bacchan evokes pity rather than empathy, he does not inspire and he does not display much emotion, seems so wooden. Besides, photography, music, and choreography aren’t great either. In short, I’m afraid I didn’t like the film at all and wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

(2) I had a very happy childhood. Father, Mother, Grandpa, and Grandma, all of us lived together. Every morning, Grandma would play with me and tell me tales. In the evening Grandpa would take me on walks and in the night I used to huddle in my mother’s lap and sleep. Those days were wonderful. It was all play and no work, no worries, no fears, only love. And every summer we went off to Puri to frolic in the sun and sand, I wasn’t afraid of the sea. Daddy put me on his shoulders and walked into the sea. The smell of the surf and the thundering of the waves excited me then as it excites me now. Truly I can never forget the joys of my childhood days.

(3) The Truck-driver’s point of view: It was almost noon as I carried a truckload of bricks to be delivered at the Institute of Physics. I was on N.H.5 and had already neared Acharya Vihar Square. I was to take a right turn at the square to get into the road leading to Sainik School. Traffic was thin and a buffalo was standing right in the turn and urinating. A taxi was coming from the Sainik School road. I put on the dippers indicating a left turn. I slowed down as I had to avoid the buffalo.

Suddenly, the taxi emerged, flashing its lights. I had already taken the turn while the taxi was speeding straight ahead. I applied the brakes but the vehicle did not halt because of the load. Instead, it careened past the taxi, hit an old man standing serenely and rammed into the ditch beside the N.H.5. My head hit the steering wheel and I became unconscious. When I woke up I was in the capital hospital. The Taxi driver’s point of view: I was returning from Sainik School after dropping a fare.

It was noon and I was supposed to pick up my little children from the convent school. I should have been there by 11.30 a.m. but it was already half an hour behind. Hence I was rushing with thoughts of my children waiting hungrily at school. As I was approaching Acharya Vihar Square, I saw a truck coming toward me. It was turning into the road. I was in a hurry. I did not want to wait till the truck had turned and so did not slow down my speed.

Instead, I flashed my headlights requesting priority of way but the adamant truck driver did not heed to my signal, it was turning. I applied the brakes but it was too late, I rammed into- a buffalo, swerved sharply to the right, grazed past the rear of the truck’s body, and then hit a telephone pole against which the car stopped. Fortunately, I escaped unhurt with only minor pain in my back. But then my problems were, not over. A policeman arrived from nowhere, accosted me, and asked me to get out of the car.

Meanwhile, people who were crowded around informed us that an old man had fallen down unconscious. There was a doctor among them and he suggested that we take him to the hospital. As the old man was brought to my taxi, the doctor noted that he had already died. However, I requested the doctor to keep quiet and immediately drove to the hospital with the dead body. I was lucky not to have been manhandled by people. But I must say it is all the truck driver’s fault. I did not kill the old man.

(4) Paragraph included in the letter

121, Kharavel Nagar,
Bhubaneswar
20 August 20

Dear Joseph,
Greeting from India!
I received your letter and your picture postcard at the same time. I will cherish the card for a long time to come. The picture of the Millennium Dome is crystal clear. It looks very beautiful. Well, you had written to me about how everyone in England celebrates Guy Fawkes day. You did have a lot of fun, really. I could see that from your letter. Do you know, here, back in India we too celebrate something similar to Guy Fawkes? There it commemorates the gunpowder plot but in India, we celebrate a festival called Diwali, the festival of lights.

It symbolizes the victory of good over evil, of light over darkness commemorating the victory of the forces of Shri Rama over the evil forces of Ravana. The festival falls every year in the month of October or November. On that day, we offer Puja to Shri Rama, distribute sweets among friends and neighbors and prepare for the night. We purchase crackers of all sorts and dry them in the sun. We also prepare wick lamps. The lamps and wicks are purchased from the market.

Then oil is poured into the lamps and the wick is set on it. These are then kept in a row on terraces, the boundary wall, on window sills, and everywhere where there is space to keep them. When night falls, these lamps are lit. There must be thousands and thousands of lamps lit in every house, in every street, town, city, district, and state. The house is thus lit like a Christmas tree. It looks beautiful and gay. After this starts the ceremony of lighting fire-crackers. Everyone, from a child to an old man enjoys lighting fire-crackers and bursting them.

This goes on till the last hours of the morning. Often, Diwali is celebrated for two days. Of course, one of these days is only declared a national holiday but then there is no holding back for persons who enjoy Diwali. They take leave and enjoy this festival. This reminds of Guy Fawkes day, isn’t it? Well, do write to me about how you celebrate Christmas. I am eager to hear from you.

With warm regards.
Your loving friend,
Subrat Das.

Activity 34

Do you have friends whose mothers are working? What problems do they have? Put these problems in the blanks in the list ‘
1. Getting pampered
2. Bad company
3. Neglecting studies
4. Aggressive attitude
5. Too much TV
6. Psychological problems.
7. Widening communication gap
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
Answer:
They have a widening communication gap.
They have psychological problems.
They are getting pampered.
They neglect studies.
They have bad company.

The list below contains some advantages that children of working mothers enjoy.
Now think of other advantages and add them to the list. Are these advantages real? If not, why?
1. Complete freedom
2. No nagging for homework
3. Enjoy yourself freely
4. Have full privacy
5. Gain in confidence
6. Be more, independent
7. Do what you like
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
Answer:
These advantages are not real, because, without the mother’s presence at this stage, the children never feel the importance of their formative years which shape their future in a great measure.
They develop adaptability. 
They develop a sort of creativity.
They are free from worries.

Now write a passage of 2 or 3 paragraphs on ‘ Working mothers and their children
2. Dear ………………..,
My mother started working seven years ago. My first problem is that I have to keep ringing her up to find things in the house. Second, living with a ten-year-old sister is not as easy as it seems. My younger sister is supposed to take permission from me, but most of the time she doesn’t listen to me. Then I get angry and she rings up my mom who scolds me. Third, I don’t really have much freedom because I have to call my mother to take her permission. She has placed so many restrictions on me that I feel caged in. Fourth, Let me confess that at home I listen to music, watch TV and spend a lot of time with my friends, neglecting my studies. Besides, although my parents never pamper me, they always pamper my sister, my be because she is much younger. Very often I feel neglected when they do that. Lastly, I really wish that my mother or father were at home, especially some months before the boards.
3. Dear…………………,
I think it’s the best way. I don’t think I’d like to see more of my parents at home. I like my free time. At home I read, listen to music, fiddle around with the computer, play badminton and tennis, and even I have started writing because I don’t have any other entertainment. The other definite plus is that 1 get my own privacy, and I have also become more independent, in fact, when my maternal or paternal grandparents come over, then I feel closed in somehow. Since I do my own things, I am pretty confident about everything. But having someone at home is obviously a big advantage. I can never tell myself to study. I often wish my mother were at home to tell me
and help me. Worst of all, 1 waste a lot of my time worrying about security and about meals.

Answer:
Passage 3 throws light on the impact of a working mother on her child. Here the latter likes to be away from its parents. At home, the child enjoys reading, listening to music, playing badminton and tennis, and so on. Lack of any other entertainment makes the child start writing something. The most remarkable thing about it is its own privacy. As a result of its working mother, the child somewhat develops | closeness with its maternal or paternal grandparents. It becomes confident still, the child wishes the mother were at home for help. Worrying about security and about meals takes a lot of its time.

Activity 35

Read the following letters published in an issue of India Today. These letters \ tell us what is wrong with sports in India.

(a) The story on Indian sports (“A Shocking Mess”, August 15) reveals only the tip of the problem. Officialdom and corruption have so spoiled our system that every effort is made to stall an achievement. While sportsmen live like beggars, deprived of quality gear, the managers live like kings.
R. SINGH, NEW DELHI

(b) With neither motivation nor money to galvanize them, it’s no wonder that many players bid goodbye to sports once they get a sound footing elsewhere. It is high time that those who actually know about different sports are appointed at the helm of affairs.
MANI NATRAJAN, CHENNAI

(c) The fact that only 22 of the 46 probables for the hockey team reached the coaching camp shows the lack of commitment of the players. Though official mismanagement can be blamed, the athletes have to accept part of the responsibility.
B.C. PRAKAS, BANGALORE’

(d) If the story on India’s preparation for the Hiroshima Games had been published a year or two ago, it might have had some effect. To an extent, it is this lack of media coverage of sports, other than cricket and tennis, that is also responsible for India’s debacle in various events. MANISH PATHAK, NEW DELHI

(e) The sports mess is hardly surprising. After all, sports are also managed by the bureaucracy and the bigwigs. Like other plans and programs they implement, how could they deviate from their time-honored practice here – plan with fanfare, implement with nonchalance, forget the monitoring, and don’t worry about the results?
K G JAIN, NEW DELHI

(i) Read the letters again and make a list of the factors that are responsible for the sorry state of Indian sport is in.
(ii) If possible, think of and add your own points to the list.
(iii) Try to write 3 or 4 sentences on each point.
(iv) Write a short paragraph incorporating suggestions for improvement This should ideally conclude your topic. Now write on the topic “The Sorry State of Indian Sports.”

Answer:
Indian sports is in an extremely sorry state today. It is plagued by manifold problems to which there seems no end in sight. Officialdom and corruption have tarnished our sports bodies so much so that, every achievement is stalled. Moreover, while officials grab the limelight and the financial benefits accruing from an event, sportspersons who made it all possible, are handed over the crumbs. With such a state of affairs presiding, our sportsmen do not have any motivation to shine.

Leave alone prize money, they are often not even paid their due. And so, when they get a good job, they bid goodbye to the sports that they so much loved. After all, they also have to earn their livelihood to feed their families. Budding talents too are not spared. Companies would rather have an established player endorse their products than choose a greenhorn. As a result, young sportspersons take the help of their parents, friends, and relatives to hone their skills at meets both at home and abroad.

But when the money they had diminished to a trickle, they turn their back on sports and look for other options. Besides, the media is at fault too. Come cricket or tennis and they run to cover it. What about football, hockey, polo, kabaddi, handball, basketball, Choko, badminton, table tennis, chess, etc? Are they receiving equal coverage? This is a question that is better not asked by the media. They would shrink and then vanish. Then there’s the ubiquitous red-tapism of the bureaucracy and the official bigwigs.

Their plans for the development of sports in the country sound grand, but they are seldom implemented. They go “bang”, and “bang” in speeches but their implementation always ends in a whimper. However, all blame cannot be laid at the doors of others. Sportspersons too are responsible for this state of affairs. They lack commitment and professionalism. A foreign trip is coveted more for the glamour and the sightseeing than as an opportunity to bring home medals.

Most often, groups lack team spirit and this is very obvious in their game. How can these problems be solved? It is easier said than done. Solutions may be suggested but who will implement them? First, perhaps there should be an attitudinal change among the people who run the sports in this country. They should take it seriously as something concurring with national honor and national pride. Secondly, eminent sportspersons should run sports bodies.

Third, sportspersons must be encouraged by monetary rewards, and their achievements recorded and honored by sports bodies as well as the government. Fourth, the government must ensure the sponsorship of budding talents for national and international meets. Fifth, media coverage should be given equally to all sports and finally, sportspersons must be inspired to total commitment and professionalism. If and only when these changes are implemented in India, will the scene of Indian sports change for the better?

Odisha State Board Elements of Mathematics Class 11 Solutions CHSE Odisha Chapter 14 Limit and Differentiation Ex 14(d) Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

CHSE Odisha Class 11 Math Solutions Chapter 14 Limit and Differentiation Exercise 14(d)

Question 1.

Find the derivative of the following functions ‘an initio’, that is, using the definition.
(i) 2x³
Solution:

(ii) x⁴
Solution:

(iii) x² + 1
Solution:

(iv) \(\frac{1}{x}\)
Solution:

(v) \(\frac{1}{3 x+2}\)
Solution:

(vi) \(\frac{1}{x^2}\)
Solution:

(vii) \(\frac{x}{x+1}\)
Solution:

(viii) t(t – 1)
Solution:

(ix) s² – bs + 5
Solution:

(x) √x
Solution:

\(\frac{1}{\sqrt{z}+\sqrt{z}}=\frac{1}{2 \sqrt{z}}\)

(xi) tan θ
Solution:

(xii) cos 2θ
Solution:

(xiii) x sin x
Solution:

Question 2.
Find the derivative of the following function from the definition at the indicated points. Test whether the following functions are differentiable at the indicated points. If so find the derivative.
(i) x⁴ at x = 2
Solution:

(ii) 2x² + x + 1 at x = 1
Solution:

(iii) x³ + 2x² – 1 at x = 0
Solution:
Let x³ + 2x² – 1
Then \(\left.\frac{d y}{d x}\right]_{x=0}\) = \(\lim _{h \rightarrow 0}\left[\frac{\left(h^3+2 h^2-1\right)-(-1)}{h}\right]\)
= \(\lim _{h \rightarrow 0}\) (h² + 2h) = 0

(iv) tan x at x = \(\frac{\pi}{3}\)
Solution:

(v) \(\sqrt{3 x+2}\) at x = 0
Solution:

(vi) In x at x = 2
Solution:

(vii) \(e^x\) at x = 1
Solution:

(viii) sin² θ at θ = \(\frac{\pi}{4}\)
Solution:

Question 3.
\(\frac{x+1}{x-1}\) at x = -1
Solution:
We know that a function f(x) is differentiable at a point
x = c if (i) L.H.D. exists
(ii) R.H.D. exists
(iii) L.H.D. = R.H.D
Let f(x) = \(\frac{x+1}{x-1}\)

Thus L.H.D. and R.H.D. both exist and L.H.D. = R.H.D.
Hence f(x) is differentiable at x = -1 and the derivative is –\(\frac{1}{2}\)

Question 4.
√x at x = 0
Solution:
Let f(x) = √x
Then f(0) = 0

Question 5.
f(x) = \(\left\{\begin{array}{r}
1-x, x \leq \frac{1}{2} \\
x, x>\frac{1}{2}
\end{array} \text { at } x=\frac{1}{2}\right.\)
Solution:

Question 6.
f(x) = \(\left\{\begin{array}{r}
\sin \frac{1}{x}, x \neq 0 \\
0, x=0
\end{array}\right.\) at x = 0
Solution:
f(0) = 0

Question 7.
f(x) = \(\left\{\begin{array}{r}
x^2 \sin \frac{1}{x^{\prime}}, x \neq 0 \\
0, x=0
\end{array}\right.\) at x = 0
Solution:
f(0) = 0

Odisha State Board CHSE Odisha Class 11 Invitation to English 3 Solutions Telegram, E-mail Writing Textbook Activity Questions and Answers.

CHSE Odisha 11th Class English Telegram, E-mail Writing

Telegram

An ordinary letter may take two or three days to reach the addressee; if the message is urgent we send a telegram. Telegrams are the most common means of sending urgent messages if has an advantage over the telephone in that a written communication will be available for future reference. When you write a telegram, you have to limit your meaning to, the fewest possible words, since the amount you have to pay depends on the number of words you use in your telegram. In reducing the length of a message, you should not make it vague.

Remember the following points :
1. You can leave out articles, prepositions, and similar words that do not carry meaning in themselves but help to construct grammatical sentences.
2. Time or quantity or number could be clearly specified.
3. The address must be complete.
4. When in doubt, add a word rather than omit it.
5. Use capital letters.

Activity 1

Here are some messages which need to be sent as telegrams. Go through them carefully, strike off the words you think unnecessary and rewrite each one in the form of a telegram.
The first one has been done for you.
1. (My) bag (has) (been) stolen. (I) (have) no money send Rs. 1000 immediately (in) (the) care (of) ELTI Hostel.

Hence, the telegram is to be written in the following manner:

Now convert the following messages into telegrams :
2. Money has been sent. You should contact the Warden on Wednesday. Write back. Father.
3. I am unable to arrive on Tuesday. There is a meeting on Wednesday. You may postpone it to Friday.
4. I am reaching you with my family on 20th February by the Konark Express.

Answer:
(2) MONEY SENT (.) CONTACT WARDEN WEDNESDAY (.) WRITE BACK. FATHER
(3) NOT ARRIVING TUESDAY (.) MEETING WEDNESDAY (.) POSTPONE TO FRIDAY
(4) REACHING WITH FAMILY TWENTIETH FEBRUARY KONARK

Activity 2

Here are some letters which you have to convert into telegrams. Go through them carefully and identify the main ideas, which the telegrams should contain. The main ideas of the first letter have been identified and underlined.

1. “We haven’t heard from you for more than two months. We have written a number of letters to you. but you haven’t written us back. We are extremely worried. We hope and pray you are not ill. Please send a wire immediately about your welfare. If we do not hear from you this week, we will come to
Rourkela.”
2. “There is nothing to worry. I’m perfectly well. I couldn’t write because I had gone to IIT, Kharagpur on a study tour. Then I visited a friend in Calcutta for a few days. I am sorry for not writing.”
3. “Last evening Grandmother complained of severe pain in the stomach. We sent for a doctor. He gave her an injection and asked us to move her to hospital. He said her appendix had to be removed. The operation is on 10th. Mother wants you to come.”
4. “Our college is organising an educational tour to South India for 15 days. The tour will be very useful. We will be visiting many temples, museums and art galleries. All my friends are going. Please send Rs. 3,000 immediately. On my return I’ll write about the places we have visited.”

Answer:
(1) NOT HEARD FROM YOU EXTREMELY WORRIED SEND WIRE IMMEDIATELY ABOUT YOUR WELFARE
(2) DON’T WORRY PERFECTLY WELL HAD GONE STUDY TOUR AND COULD NOT WRITE SORRY
(3) GRANDMOTHER HOSPITALISED APPENDIX OPERATION TENTH COME
(4) COLLEGE ORGANISING SOUTH INDIA EDUCATIONAL TOUR ALL FRIENDS GOING SEND THREE THOUSAND IMMEDIATELY

Activity 3

A number of situations have been described below. You are required to draft a telegram to suit each situation. A part of each telegram is given. Can you complete the telegram?
1. Three months ago, that is, on 15 October, you ordered a dictionary from the Modem Book Depot, Station Square, Bhubaneswar. You have not received the book. You want the shop to send the book without further delay.
2. You are appearing for the +2 Examination. Unfortunately, you have not received your Admit Card. You want the council authorities to allow you to take the examination pending receipt of the Admit Card.
3. You are returning home (from Bangalore) for the holidays. You had written to your father that you would arrive on Sunday morning, but as berths are not available, you have to change your travel plans. You will now arrive two days later, by a different train. Draft a telegram informing your father of the change.
4. Prof. Mishra is in Delhi on tour. He was supposed to return to Bhubaneswar for an important meeting but has been held up in Delhi because of bad weather. He wants to inform his office of what happened and to apologize for not attending the meeting. Draft a telegram for him.

Answer:
(1) DICTIONARY ORDERED FIFTEEN OCTOBER NOT RECEIVED SENT IMMEDIATELY
(2) PLUS TWO ARTS ADMIT CARDS NOT RECEIVED PERMIT APPEARING EXAMINATION PENDING RECEIPT
(3) BERTHS NOT AVAILABLE CHANGED PLANS ARRIVING TUESDAY HOWRAH MAIL
(4) STRANDED DUE TO BAD WEATHER AND UNABLE TO ATTEND MEETING APOLOGIES

Activity 4

Read the following situations and draft suitable telegrams for each.

1. Your brother has booked tickets by the Howrah Mail and will arrive from Madras on Saturday morning. On Thursday, there is an announcement on TV that a cyclone is likely to hit coastal Orissa in the next 48 hours. Draft a telegram to be sent to your brother asking him to cancel the journey.
2. You have received a 13-volume set of Brilliant Tutorials Elite 2009. But when you unpack the parcel you find that volume 10 is missing. Draft a telegram to the bookseller.

Answer:
(1) POSTPONE JOURNEY CANCEL TICKETS DANGEROUS CYCLONE HITTING ORISSA COAST SATURDAY
(2) RECEIVED BRILLIANT ELITE SET. VOLUME TEN IS MISSING SEND IT IMMEDIATELY

E-MAIL

E-mail is a medium that has revolutionized the way in which we communicate with each other. It is relatively now very popular E-mail makes it possible to communicate cheaply and almost instantly with people anywhere in the world – provided they have access to a computer. You can send any type of message, from a single word to a book-length document complete with pictures and sound files. The recipient can respond at once or think carefully before replying. You can communicate just with one person or with a large group, every member of which can participate as much or as little as they wish. E-mails inhabit a shape somewhere between personal meetings, telephones, and letters. Like telephones, they are quick and inexpensive. They are a fairly new technology. The format of e-mail is quite simple, just like the telegram form, but there is no room for capital letters in the former. Write e-mail IDs after TV: and from :

Now write e-mails for the 4 situations given in Activity 3.
Answer:
(1)
To: mbd@yahoomail.com
CC :
From: bckhuntia; g mail.com
Date: 20.11.2009
Re: Request for dictionary
Sir,
Despite my order to you in connection with a dictionary on 15 October, you haven’t sent it yet. I would request to despatch the same as soon as possible.
BC Khuntia

(2)
To : secretary council @ g mail.com
SC :
From : kunal patnaik@yahoo.mail
Date: 14.2.20
Re: Request for Admit card
Sir,
Since I have not received my admit card for the +2 Final Examination, I would request you to allow me to take the examination pending the receipt of Admit Card.
Kunal Patnaik

(3)
To : sckhuntia®yahoo mail.com
From : vedadya khuntia@g mail.com
Date : 11.9.20
Papa,
Since berths are not available, I cannot reach home on Sunday morning. I will arrive two days later, by a different train.
Ved

(4)
To: vice-chancellor, Ravenshaw college@yahoo mail.com
CC :
From: pmishra@g mail.com
Date: 4.11.20_
Re: Apology for not attending the meeting
Sir,
Since I have been stranded in Delhi, due to bad weather, I am unable to attend the meeting and beg apology for the same.
P Mishra

Odisha State Board CHSE Odisha Class 11 Invitation to English 2 Solutions Non-Detailed Chapter 4 The One and only Houdini Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

CHSE Odisha 11th Class English Solutions Non-Detailed Chapter 4 The One and only Houdini

CHSE Odisha Class 11 English The One and only Houdini Text Book Questions and Answers

Unit – I

Gist :
The writer takes us back to the swimming pool at New York’s Shelton Hotel. In response to Houdini’s declaration, a box is ready. After he enters inside, it will be tightly closed. The pool now becomes the scene of an incredible performance. Driven by curiosity, people are gathering here. The reporter finds a telephone and an alarm bell with batteries inside the box for eventualities. According to Collins, he is going without air for even an hour. Houdini is as good as words. In the mean time, Dr. MacConnell emerges on the scene. He has already checked Houdini’s blood pressure and pulse. Everything is fine. The reporter is interested to know how long he can live without air. To the doctor, it is a difficult question.

He comes to know of Houdini’s knowledge of breathing easily and saving the oxygen. His condition is stable, yet he is fifty-two. The doctor is sure of Houdini’s ability to cope with danger. Now Houdini clad in a black swimming suit appears, smiling and determined. He expresses his thanks to the ladies and gentlemen for coming to see his performance. He is going to explode the myth that a man can live only three minutes without air. Now we find Houdini in the box. Several men are engaged in sealing it tightly. Then the box was submerged in the swimming pool of Hotel Shelton. Joseph Rinn, the official time keeper is in charge of counting every minute of Houdini’s stay in the box. The reporter is optimistic.

Glossary :
edge : the sharp side of something (କୌଣସି ଜିନିଷର ତୀକ୍ଷ୍ଣ ପାର୍ଶ୍ୱ)
sealed: closed tightly (ଜୋରରେ ବନ୍ଦ)
soldered: firmly fixed with solder (solder is easily melted metal) (ସୋଲ୍ଡର ସହିତ ଦୃଢ଼ ଭାବରେ ସ୍ଥିର କରାୟାଇଛି)
trick : cheating, a fraud (ଠକେଇ, ଜାଲିଆତି)
emergencies : sudden happenings which make it necessary to act without delay (ଜରୁରୀକାଳୀନ ପରିସ୍ଥିତି)
And days : Houdini is as good as his words (ଏବଂ ଦିନଗୁଡିକ)
Concerned : anxious (t) (ଚିନ୍ତିତ)
signal (v): to give a sign (ଏକ ଚିହ୍ନ ଦେବାକୁ)
build (n): general shape or size of a person’s body (ଜଣେ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିର ଶରୀରର ସାଧାରଣ ଆକାର ବା ଆକାର)
He himself: Housini is firm in his determination (ସେ ନିଜେ)
motioning: making a sign (ଏକ ଚିହ୍ନ ତିଆରି କରିବା)
will : desire (ଇଚ୍ଛା)
rocked: moved backwards and forwards (ପଛକୁ ଏବଂ ଆଗକୁ ଗତି କଲା)
admire : praise (ପ୍ରଶଂସା)

Unit – II

Gist:
Five minutes have passed ever since he was in a sealed casket submerged in the swimming pool. In the meantime, the reporter probes his past. His real name is Ehrich Weiss. His native place is Appleton, Wisconsin. He was born in 1874. His father was a Jewish priest. Houdini, renowned for his remarkable magic tricks, has an astonishing control over his body. He excels in the art of putting his shoulders out of position. When he was working for a locksmith, Ehrich knew technique of opening handcuffs with small, sharp pointed instruments. He also took interest in reading about Robert Houdini, the renowned French magician. At last he relinquished his job and became a professional magician under the name of Harry Houdini.

The reporter gives a picture of Houdini’s married life. Bessie is his wife. She was a magician too. Houdini is known for his sensational escape acts. Bessie has stood by her husband through thick and thin. Rinn informs that twenty minutes have passed. Tension mounts. Houdini has a tension-ridden career. His underwater box escape is a case in point. Handcuffed and chained, Harry Houdini is placed in a wooden box which firmly shut with nails. The box is then left underwater. Houdini accepts the challenge in his characteristic tricky manner. He swims to the surface safe and sound in a few minutes. This also demonstrates his skill in using tricks. Rinn, the official time-keeper keeps on counting time. Twenty five minutes have gone. In Houdini, the reporter finds an unusual person. He admires Houdini’s incredible control of chest muscles. He excels others in the act of moving around inside the jacket at the time of relaxation. The reporter is lavish in his praise, ‘There’s only one Houdini.’

Thirty minutes have trickled by. The reporter sees one of the swimmers standing on the box lose his balance. Other swimmers are no better. The box has moved up quickly above the water level. The reporter is worried. He enquires of Mr. Collins, about his condition. Collins talks to Houdini and says that he is fine. Rinn announces that thirty minutes have passed since Houdini’s adventure. The reporter brims with confidence. Houdini’s rigorous training for three weeks seems to be rewarded. The reporter thinks of Houdini’s march to a spectacular success. Forty minutes have elapsed. Meanwhile, the reporter refers eloquently to Houdini’s wonderful stomach muscles, that have resisted the fists of big, strong men. Forty-five minutes have already gone.

Glossary:
amazing : astonishing ବିସ୍ମୟକର)
dislocate : put out of position (ପଦରୁ ବାହାର)
straitjacket(ଷ୍ଟ୍ରେଟ୍ ଜାକେଟ୍) : kind of garment once used to prevent madman from struggling
rabbi: Jewish priest (ଇହୁଦୀ ପୁରୋହିତ)
locksmith: one who makes locks (ଯିଏ ତାଲା ତିଆରି କରେ)
a bit picks : a little small, sharp-pointed instruments (ଟିକିଏ ବାଛି ନେଲେ)
quit: give up (ତ୍ୟାଗ କରିବା)
idol : somebody greatly admired or loved (ଆଦର୍ଶ)
catch sight of: see (ଦେଖିବା)
career : way of making a living; profession (ବୃଭି)
bobbed up : moved up quickly (ଦ୍ରୁତ ଗତିରେ ଉପରକୁ ଉଠିଲା)
paying off : rewarding (ପୁରସ୍କାର ପ୍ରଦାନକାରୀ)
sources : places from which information comes or is got (ସୂତ୍ର)
claims : says, declares (କହୁଛି, ଘୋଷଣା କରୁଛି)
punch (v) : strike hard with the fist (ମୁଠା ସାହାୟ୍ୟରେ ଜୋରରେ ପ୍ରହାର କରନ୍ତୁ)
tensed : stiffened or hardened (ଦୃଢ଼ୀଭୂତ)
withstand : resist (ପ୍ରତିରୋଧ କରିବା)

Unit – III

Gist :
Houdini’s well-being concern the people. Everybody seems to be nervous. The doctors seem especially panicky. The reporter enquires of Dr. MaConnell about Houdini’s present condition. The doctor is really not aware of anything about him. Fifty minutes have gone. Other reporters are furiously taking track of Houdini’s adventurous mission. Time does not wait for anybody. Rinn announces – “Fifty minutes !” A group of grim-looking doctors seem to arguing with James Collins, Houdini’s assistant. Collins pleads his helplessness. The doctor advises him to be sensible and pull Houdini out of the box when an hour is up. Collins is adamant. The doctor insists him on responding to his advise. Collins contacts Houdini and apprising him of the doctors’ pressure on him to bring him out of the casket and an hour has passed. He gives them good news. Houdini is doing well. But the reporter’s anxiety continues.

Now one hour and thirteen minutes are up. Collins learns that the box has developed a leak and only a little trickle of water is entering. Houdini tells him that he faces no danger. The reporter promptly responds: “Houdini has nerves of steel.’’ This section comes to a terrific end. In spite of spending one hour and thirty-one minutes, underwater without air, Houdini emerges victorious. His secret lies in making very few body movements while in the box and taking short breaths. Houdini knows no panic. He has trained to reconcile himself to any situation. We see him in the reporter’s eyes: ‘You ’re a fantastic man, Mr. Harry Houdini!’

Glossary:
on edge : nervous (ସ୍ନାୟବିକ)
exhaustion : tiredness (ଅବସାଦ)
superstitious: full of superstition (ଅନ୍ଧବିଶ୍ୱାସରେ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ)
grim : (here) anxious (ଉତ୍କଣ୍ଠିତ)
sensible : intelligent (ବିଚକ୍ଷଣ)
urging : persuading (ପ୍ରରୋଚନା)
sprung a leak : appeared to have a leak (ଲିକ୍ ହୋଇଥିବା ଜଣାପଡ଼ିଥିଲା)
trickle : thin flow (ପତଳା ପ୍ରବାହ)
dizzy : feeling as if everything is whirling (ସବୁ ଘୂରିବା ଭଳି)
panic (v) : a sudden fright (ହଠାତ୍ ଭୟ)
calm : quiet (ଶାନ୍ତ)
fantastic : wonderful (ଅଦ୍ଭୁତ)

Think it out :

Question 1.
What was the feat that Houdini took up in Hotel Shelton?
Answer:
The feat that Houdini took up in Hotel Shelton was to remain in a sealed casket or coffin submerged in a swimming pool. He was to stay inside the tightly closed box for an hour and that too without air. According to Mr. Collins, his assistant, Houdini was serious about being buried alive.

Question 2.
What were Houdini’s purposes behind doing this miraculous act?
Answer:
Houdini’s purposes behind doing this miraculous act were to disprove science and thereby, to show that determination can shake mountains. It is well-known that man can only live only three minutes without air, but he is going to stay without air for over an hour. Houdini is committed and according to Collins: ‘Houdini does what he says.’

Question 3.
Discuss how he prepared to do the act.
Answer:
Houdini undertook a rigorous training for three weeks at a stretch. He practised the habit of holding his breath in the course of his underwater escapes. He trained long and hard with great patience before doing the act. He developed a mastery over his body control. Determination, hard work and calm acceptance of any challenge were his forte.

Question 4.
Focus on the role of the reporter during Houdini’s performance.
Answer:
From beginning to the end, the reporter had a keen watch on Houdini’s, spectacular performance in New York’s Hotel Shelton. He is the first to communicate Houdini’s ordeal in the swimming pool of New York’s Hotel Shelton to the public. He always keeps on touch with Dr. McConnell, Collins, Houdini’s assistant and Joseph Rinn, the official time-keeper. He probes Houdini’s past. As minutes trickle by, the reporter’s reaction fluctuates from anxiety to confidence. Houdini’s incredible feat of remaining in a sealed box, submerged in the swimming pool of the Hotel Shelton, overwhelms him. His admiration of Houdini’s knows no bound.

Question 5.
Describe some of Houdini’s previous achievements.
Answer:
Houdini was an Austrian-Hungarian born. American stunt performer, noted for his sensational escape acts from handcuffs and jails in the length and breadth of the country and Europe. Once he was handcuffed to the bars in a jail cell. While kissing him for good luck, his wife Bessie passed a small lock tool from her mouth to his. Several minutes later Houdini took his jailers by surprise. His handcuff was no more. He walked freely into their office. His underwater escape is another achievement. Besides, Houdini became a professional magician under the name of Harry Houdini.

Question 6.
Why does the reporter say to Houdini, You’re a fantastic man?
Answer:
The reporter here is a keen observer of Houdini’s miraculous act of remaining in a tightly-closed box, submerged in the swimming pool of New York’s Hotel Shelton for one hour and thirty minutes. Houdini comes out with flying colours, putting an end to everyone’s fear, tension and anxiety. That he is able to survive so long in such a situation bears the stamp of his determination. Houdini states that he had trained himself to remain calm in the face of any situation. These facts make the reporter say to Houdini, ‘You’re a fantastic man.’

Question 7.
Bring out the important aspects of Houdini’s character.
Answer:
Harry Houdini is a many-faceted character. He is a magician. He is also known for his sensational escape acts. He is an incredible stuntman. His act of remaining in a sealed box, submerged in the swimming pool of New York’s Hotel Shelton for one hour and a half is indeed unprecedented. He is the epitome of commitment. He does not understand the language of fear. To maintain calmness in any situation is his forte. We see him through the doctor’s eyes: ‘Houdini’s an amazing man!’ The reporter aptly remarks, ‘You’re a fantastic man, Mr. Harry Houdini.’ Houdini’s life shows that an ordinary human being can achieve anything through determination and hard work.

CHSE Odisha Class 11 English The One and only Houdini Important Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.

Reporter Thanks, Mr. Collins. It’s hard to believe that a man can live without air for over an hour. Oh, here come the doctors. Dr. McConnell, have you seen Houdini?
Dr. MaConnell: Yes, I just checked his blood pressure and pulse rate. They’re both normal.
Reporter: How last without long do you think Houdini will air?
Dr. MaConnell: That’s a difficult question. When they seal the box, there will be enough oxygen inside for the average man to take fifty breaths. Houdini says he knows how to breathe easily and save the oxygen. He is in good condition, but still he’s fifty two years old. I’d guess he might be able to get by without air for fifteen minutes.
Reporter: And after that?
Dr. MaConnell: After that Houdini had better telephone for help or ring his alarm bell – if he still has the strength.
Reporter: Are you doctors worried?
Dr. MaConnell: Well, we’re concerned. Houdini’s no fool. He isn’t trying to kill himself. But there’s always the danger that he’ll pass out before he can signal for help.
Reporter: There’s Houdini now! He’s wearing a black swimming suit. For a man his age, his build is great. He’s smiling. He seems sure of himself. Now he’s motioning for silence!
Houdini: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming. As you know, it has often been written that a man can live only three minutes without air. I’m going to prove that that is wrong. If I die, it will be by the will of God and my own foolishness.
Reporter: Houdini’s in the box now. Several men are putting the iron cover in place. This is it! A man is soldering the cover. The box will be lowered into the shallow end of this pool. Then a team of swimmers will stand on the box to keep it level beneath the surface of the water. So far, the only person I’ve seen who doesn’t look nervous is Houdini. Well, they’re lowering the box. It’s under! Joseph Rinn, the official
timekeeper, has started the clock. Mr. Rinn, what are your plans?

Questions :
(i) Throw light on the conversation between the reporter and Dr. McConnell. What does it reveal?
(ii) What does the reporter tell us about Houdini’s imperial ordeal?

Answers :
(i) The reporter asks Dr. McConnell if he has checked Houdini. The doctor replies that his blood pressure and pulse rate are Both normal. The reporter asks the doctor how long he thinks Houdini will breathe. McConnell in his reply, states that the average man breaths fifty times in a sealed box, but Houdini is an exception. He knows the technique of breathing easily, but the doctor guessing he could remain without air for fifteen minutes. After that Houdini would be advised to seek help. The conversation between the two reveals their concern for Houdini.
(ii) The reporter apprises all of Houdini’s presence inside the box. After sealing it firmly, several men will put the box into the shallow end of the swimming pool. After that a team of swimmers will stand on it to maintain it level below the surface of the water. The reporter says that he has never seen such a person as Houdini, for he never looks nervous, despite this great ordeal. We also learn that Joseph Rinn, the official time-keeper has a look at the watch.

Question 2.
Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
Reporter: Well, Houdini is going past the limit suggested by Dr. Mc Connell! I wonder how his wife Bessie, is taking this. I haven’t been able to catch sight of her. She’s also a magician. After she married Houdini, they both had an act that played in many theatres. She dropped out after Houdini became famous for his escapes from handcuffs and jails throughout the country and in Europe. She still helped him, though. Once, after Houdini had been searched and handcuffed to the bars in a jail cell, she kissed him for good luck. It was more than good luck she offered. She also passed a lock pick from her mouth to his. Several minutes later, Houdini surprised his jailers by walking into their office.
Rinn: Twenty minutes!
Reporter: The tension here is growing. But tension has followed Houdini through most of his career. Take his underwater box escape, for example. He is handcuffed and chained. Then he’s put in a wooden box and it’s nailed shut. After that the box is dropped underwater. Minutes later Houdini swims to the surface. In that act, though, he uses tricks. He has lock picks and other special tools hidden on him or in the box. But there’s always the risk that the picks or tools will fail. Most people wouldn’t try Houdini’s escape tricks even if they knew how to do them.

Questions :
(i) Describe the part played by Bessie in Houdini’s life.
(ii) Describe of Houdini’s feat of underwater escape.

Answers :
(i) Houdini is widely known for his sensational escapes. Bessie, a magician, plays an important part in her husband’s life. Both had showed magic in many theatres. Houdini’s life is a saga of escape from handcuffs and jails in the length and breadth of the country and in Europe. Bessie stood by him through thick and thin. Once she kissed her husband for good luck. He was in a prison cell. In the course of offering her good luck, Bessie passed a small lock tool from her mouth to his. Several minutes later, the jailers, to their astonishment, saw Houdini walk into their office.
(ii) Houdini, handcuffed and chained, was put in a wooden box which was tightly sealed with nails. Then it was dropped underwater. After some minutes, Houdini swims to the surface safe and sound by using tricks, though he possesses lock picks and other special instruments not visible to others. This underwater box escape is one of Houdini’s wonderful feats.

Question 3.
Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
Reporter: Well, one can only wonder how he’s doing in the box. He still has a long time to go. Of course, he is unusual. Did you know that he can tie and untie rope with either foot? That won’t help him now, but it’s another example of his body control. He also has great control of his chest muscles. Before he’s bound into a straitjacket, he fills his chest with air. Later, when he relaxes, he can move around inside the jacket. Perhaps it sounds easy. But others have tried the same trick and failed. There’s only one Houdini!
Rinn: Thirty minutes!
Reporter: Oh – oh! There’s trouble! One of the swimmers standing on the box has lost his balance. He’s failing into the water! Now the other swimmers are falling, too. The box has bobbed up above the water level. I wonder if Houdini caused the box to move. Mr. Collins, is Houdini all right?
Collins: Quiet, sir, I’m calling Houdini. Harry, can you hear me?
Houdini: Yes.
Collins: The swimmers fell off the box. They’re getting back on now. That’s what caused the movement of the box. Are you all right?
Houdini: Fine.
Reporter: Mr. Collins, Houdini’s voice sounded faint. Is he well?
Collins: That’s what he said. I believe him.
Rinn: Thirty-five minutes!
Reporter: Houdini’s training seems to be paying off. According to sources around here, he has been training for three weeks. Also, he probably learned a lot about holding his breath while doing his underwater escapes. Anyway, it’s no secret that Houdini always trains long and hard before he does anything for the public. He wants to be sure that he can do anything he claims he will do. And right now he seems on his way to an amazing success.
Rinn: Forty minutes!
Reporter: When I was talking before about Houdini’s chest muscles, I failed to mention his stomach. Quite often, he lets local strongmen punch him in the stomach as hard as they can. Of course, his stomach muscles are tensed, but they have to be almost as hard as steel to withstand the fists of big, strong men.

Questions :
(i) Give an account of Houdini’s chest muscles and stomach muscles.
(ii) What picture of Houdini do you get in the extract?

Answers :
(i) The reporter presents a very clear picture of Houdini’s chest and stomach muscles. He eloquently refers to Houdini’s great control of his chest muscles. Before being bound into a straitjacket, he fill his chest with air. But, in times of relaxation, he has the ability to move around inside the jacket. The reporter then throws light on Houdini’s stomach muscles. Very often, he allows local strong men punch his Stomach in the hardest possible manner. His stomach muscles tensed, but they have to be as hard as steel to resist the fists of big, strong men.
(ii) We see Houdini through the reporter’s eyes, “Of course, he is unusual.” He has the ability to tie and untie rope with either foot. He is remarkable for his great control over his chest muscles. Before being bound into a straightjacket, he pumps air into his chest. In his moments of relaxation, he is capable of moving around inside the jacket. But others have tried the same trick but in vain. The reporter aptly remarks, ‘There ‘s only one Houdini.’ Houdini resorts to rigorous training before he does anything for the public.

Question 4.
Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
Collins: All right. Houdini, can you hear me? You have just passed an hour. The doctors are urging me to pull you out. What do you say?
Houdini I’ll let you know when I’m ready.
Rinn: One hour and one minute!
Collins: Well, you heard him, gentlemen. He seems to be doing well.
Reporter: Rinn’s going to be calling out each minute from here on. I’ll get back to him. Meanwhile, I’d like to hear from one of the doctors. Is this a world’s record, Doctor?
Doctor: As far as I know, it is. If I weren’t here, I don’t think I would believe it. Houdini’s an amazing man!
Reporter: He certainly is, Doctor, and thank you. Well, people are whispering to one another around the pool. When Houdini passed the hour mark, some of the crowd seemed to relax somewhat. Still Houdini is far from safe. I’m going to try to pick up the time.
Rinn: One hour and thirteen minutes!
Reporter: Did you hear that? What a man. Wait! Collins has a call from Houdini.
Collins: Had enough, sir?
Houdini: No. The box has sprung a leak. But there’s no danger. Only a slight trickle of water is coming in.
Collins: Are you sure?
Houdini: Yes.
Reporter: Houdini has nerves of steel. He’s under there with no air, and the water is leaking in on him. Yet he’s going to stay.
Rinn: One hour and twenty-five minutes.
Reporter: I must say, I wish he would come up. I’m probably more nervous than he is. Even Collins seems to be showing some concern.
Rinn: One hour and thirty minutes.
Reporter: This may be it! Collins has a call.
Houdini: Jim, get me up.
Reporter: They’re raising the box. Now they’re opening it. I wish they’d hurry.
Rinn: One hour and thirty-one minutes.
Reporter: Dr. McConnell has Houdini’s arms. He’s checking the magician’s pulse and blood pressure. How is he, Doctor?
Dr. McConnell: His pulse and blood pressure are very low. The man’s suffering from exhaustion.
Houdini: Nonsense! I feel a little dizzy, that’s all! If I do an hour or so of exercise. I’ll feel fine.
Reporter: Mr. Houdini, congratulations! How did you do it? Was it a trick?
Houdini: It was no trick. I took a series of deep breaths before the cover was soldered on. I made very few body movements while in the box and took short breaths. That’s all. I certainly hope that trapped coal miners and deep-sea divers take a lesson from this.
Reporter: How can they take a lesson from your performance. Mr. Houdini? You’re in perfect physical condition.
Houdini: They must learn not to panic. If you panic, your body needs more air. I have trained myself to remain calm in all situations. Everyone should do the same.

Questions :
(i) Describe Collin’s contact with Houdini.
(ii) What happens after Houdini comes out of the box?

Answers :
(i) The doctor and the reporter are concerned about Houdini, because there has been no sign from the man in the box yet. They insist on Collins, Houdini’s assistant, to talk to him. Collins informs him of the passage of an hour and the doctors pressure on him to pull him (Houdini) out. Collins waits for his reply. He learns that he is doing well and shares this information with them. Collins gets a call from Houdini concerning the leak in the box and a slight trickle of water coming in.
(ii) After Houdini comes out of the iron box in a triumphant fashion, the reporter congratulated him on remaining for one hour and thirty-one minutes in a sealed box and that too submerged in a swimming pool. He asks Houdini if he had resorted to a trick for his success. Houdini says that there was no trick. He had taken a series of deep breaths before the cover of the box was firmly fixed with solder. During his stay inside the box, he made few body movements and took short breaths. Above all, he has trained himself to remain calm in the face of any situation. In the reporter’s view, Houdini is a fantastic man.

Introducing the Author :
Dr. Robert Lado is one of the founders of contrastive linguistics which as a sub-disciple of applied linguistics served the purpose of improving language teaching material. He is a prolific writer. His works include over 60 books and many articles that deal with various topics ranging from linguistics to language testing and cross-cultural understanding.

About the Story :
‘The One and Only Houdini’, as the title signifies, throws light on Houdini’s miraculous act. Houdini’s second variation on Buried Alive was an endurance test designed to expose mystical Egyptian performer Rahman Bey, who claimed to use supernatural powers to remain in a sealed casket for an hour. Houdini bettered Bey on August 5, 1926, by remaining in a sealed casket, or coffin, submerged in the swimming pool of New York’s Hotel Shelton for one hour and a half. Houdini claimed he did not use any trickery or supernatural powers to accomplish this feat, just controlled breathing.

Summary :
It was August 5, 1926. All eyes were set on the swimming pool at New York’s Hotel Shelton. James Collins, Houdini’s assistant, Dr. Mc Connell and Joseph Rinn, the official time-keeper were present. People were gathering gradually at the pool. They were placing the iron box near the pool’s edge. It comprised a telephone and an alarm bell with batteries.

Harry Houdini clad in a black swimming suit appeared there. He was fifty-two, yet he was in good physical condition. Before getting inside the box, Houdini thanked everyone for coming to see his performance. He was going to disprove the theory that a man could live only three minutes without air. Houdini was inside the box now. Then it was tightly sealed. A team of swimmers would stand on the box before it was submerged in the swimming pool. The swimmers were instructed to keep the box level beneath the surface of the water as a result of which Houdini will not be moved backwards and forwards. The countdown started.

Houdini who was keen on going without air for an hour made him an object of attention. His success would come out in all newspapers all over the world. The reporter probed Houdini’s past. His real name was Ehrich Weiss, who was born in Appleton, Wisconsin. He was interested in magic. He became a professional magician under the name of Harry Houdini. He was married. Houdini was widely known for his sensational escape acts. Bessie had played a great role in her husband’s life. Minutes trickled by. Nobody knows what Houdini was doing inside the box. He had undertaken this ordeal after undergoing rigorous training for three weeks. Houdini possessed strong chest muscles. His tough stomach muscles resisted the fists of big, strong men.

With the passing of minutes, fear and anxiety gripped the people. There was no response from Houdini. The doctor in particular advised Collins to pull him out of the box when an hour was up. After interacting with Houdini, Collins declared that he seems to have smooth sailing. Doctor’s anxiety gave way to admiration. Houdini was an amazing man! Collins got a call from him. The box had developed a leak and only a slight trickle of water was entering. Everybody was understandably concerned. It was now one hour and thirty minutes. The box was opened. To everyone’s stunned disbelief, Houdini emerged out of it with flying colours. The reporter congratulated him. One key to his achievement lay in his ability to be calm in the face of any situation. The topic comes to close with the reporter’s fabulous remark, ‘You’re a fantastic man, Mr. Harry Houdini!’

ସାରାଂଶ :

Harry Houdini ଥିଲେ ଜଣେ ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ଯାଦୁକର । ତାଙ୍କ ସ୍ତ୍ରୀ Bessie ମଧ୍ୟ ଜଣେ ଯାଦୁକର ଥିଲେ । ସେମାନେ ଉଭୟ ଅନେକ ମ୍ୟାଜିକ୍ ସୋ ଦେଖାଇଛନ୍ତି । ତାଙ୍କର ସବୁଠୁ ଭଲ ସୋ ଥିଲା, Houdini ଙ୍କୁ ହ୍ୟାଣ୍ଟକପ୍ ପକାଇଦେଲେ ସେ ଆପଣାଛାଏଁ ହ୍ୟାଣ୍ଡକପ୍ ଖୋଲିଦେଇ ଚାଲିଆସୁଥିଲେ । ତାଙ୍କୁ ପାଣିଭିତରେ ବୁଡ଼ାଇ ରଖୁଲେ ସେ ଆପେ ଆପେ କୂଳରେ ଲାଗିଯାଉଥିଲେ । ତାଙ୍କର ଯାଦୁଖେଳର ୟୁରୋପରେ ଖୁବ୍ ନାଁ ଥିଲା । ଦିନେ Houdini ଘୋଷଣା କଲେ ଯେ ସେ ଗୋଟେ ନିବୁଜ ବାକ୍ସ ଭିତରେ ରହିବେ ଓ ବାକ୍ସଟି ପାଣିଭିତରେ ବୁଡ଼ାଯିବ । ବାକ୍ସ ଭିତରେ ଟେଲିଫୋନ୍, କଲିଂବେଲ ରହିବ । କିଛି ଲୋକ ବାକ୍ସଟିକୁ ପାଣିଭିତରେ ସ୍ଥିର ଭାବରେ ଧରି ରଖୁବେ । ବିଜ୍ଞାନ କୁହେ, ମଣିଷ ବିନା ବାୟୁରେ ମାତ୍ର ତିନିମିନିଟ୍ ରହିପାରିବ। ମାତ୍ର ସେ ପ୍ରମାଣ କରିଦେବେ ଯେ ସେ ବିନା ବାୟୁରେ ଏକ ଘଣ୍ଟାକାଳ ରହିପାରିବେ ।

Houdini ଙ୍କ ଅଲୌକିକ ଘଟଣା ଦେଖିବାକୁ ସେଦିନ ପୋଖରୀ କୂଳରେ ହଜାର ହଜାର ଲୋକ ଭିଡ଼ ଜମାଇଥାନ୍ତି । ତାଙ୍କ ସହକାରୀ Collins ସାମ୍ବାଦିକମାନଙ୍କୁ ତାଙ୍କ ଗୁରୁଙ୍କ ବିଷୟରେ ବୁଝାଉଥାଏ । Dr. Mcconnell ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତ ଥାଆନ୍ତି, କାଳେ କିଛି ଅଘଟଣ ଘଟିବ । Rinn ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତ ଥାଆନ୍ତି ସମୟ ଗଣିବେ । ପ୍ରତି ପାଞ୍ଚ ମିନିଟ୍‌ରେ ଥରେ ଲେଖାଏଁ ଘୋଷଣା କରିବେ । ଘଣ୍ଟାଏ ଡେଇଁଗଲାପରେ ଯଦି Houdini ନ ଆସନ୍ତି ଓ ଭଲ ଥାଆନ୍ତି, ତେବେ ସେ ତେଣିକି ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ଏକ ମିନିଟ୍ ଘୋଷଣା କରିବେ । Houdini ଧୀର ଓ ହସହସ ମୁହଁରେ ଆସିଲେ । ସେ ସମବେତ ଜନତାଙ୍କୁ ଅଭିବାଦନ ଜଣାଇଲେ ଓ କହିଲେ, ମୁଁ ଆଜି ବିଜ୍ଞାନର ନିୟମକୁ ଭାଙ୍ଗିବାକୁ ଯାଉଛି । ଯଦି ସଫଳ ହେଲି ଭଲକଥା । ଯଦି ମରିଗଲି, ତା ହେଲେ ଜାଣିବ, ଈଶ୍ବର ବୋଧହୁଏ ମୋର ମୁର୍ଖମିକୁ ସହିଲେ ନାହିଁ । Houdini ବାକ୍ସରେ ପଶିଲେ । ତା’ପୂର୍ବରୁ ଡାକ୍ତର ତାଙ୍କର ହୃତ୍‌ସ୍ପନ୍ଦନ ନାଡ଼ି ପରୀକ୍ଷା କରି ଦେଖୁଥିଲେ ଯେ ସେ ସଂପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ସୁସ୍ଥ ଅଛନ୍ତି । ଏଥର ବାକ୍ସକୁ ଭଲଭାବରେ ନିବୁଜ କରାଗଲା । ତାକୁ ପାଣିଭିତରେ ବୁଡ଼ାଇ ରଖାଗଲା ଓ କିଛିଲୋକ ବାସଟିକୁ ପାଣିଭିତରେ ସ୍ଥିରକରି ରଖୁଲେ । ଏଣେ Rinn ଗଣନା ଆରମ୍ଭ କଲେ ।

ମିନିଟ୍ ପରେ ମିନିଟ୍ ଗଡ଼ିଚାଲିଲା । ସାମ୍ବାଦିକ ଜଣକ Collins ଓ ଅନ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କଠାରୁ Houdini ଙ୍କ ବିଷୟରେ ବିଭିନ୍ନ ଖବର ସଂଗ୍ରହ କରୁଥାନ୍ତି । ସେ ଜଣେ ଦକ୍ଷ ଯାଦୁକର । ସେ ନିଜ ଦେହରୁ ହାତକାଢ଼ି ନେଉଥିଲେ । ସେ ୧୮୭୪ ମସିହାରେ Appleton ରେ ଜନ୍ମ ନେଇଥିଲେ । ତାଙ୍କର ପ୍ରକୃତ ନାଁ Enrich Weiss I ତାଙ୍କ ପରିବାର ଖୁବ୍‌ ଗରିବ ଥିଲା । ଏଣୁ ସେ ପିଲାଟି ଦିନରୁ ପରିବାର ପୋଷିବାପାଇଁ କାମ କରୁଥିଲେ । ସେତେବେଳେ ସେ ହ୍ୟାଣ୍ଡକପ୍ ଖୋଲିବାର କଳାକୌଶଳ ଶିଖୁଥିଲେ । ସେ ମଧ୍ୟ ବେଳେବେଳେ ଫରାସି ଯାଦୁକର Robert Houdini ଙ୍କ ରଚିତ କିଛି ବହି ପଢ଼ି ଖୁବ୍ ପ୍ରଭାବିତ ହେଲେ ଓ ନିଜ ନାଁ ବଦଳାଇ ନିଜକୁ Harry Houdini ନାମରେ ପରିଣତ କରାଇଲେ । ସମୟ ଗଡ଼ି ଚାଲିଥାଏ । Rinn ପାଞ୍ଚ, ଦଶ, ପନ୍ଦର, କୋଡ଼ିଏ ଏମିତି ଗଣିଚାଲିଥାଆନ୍ତି । ଯେଉଁ ଲୋକମାନେ ବାକ୍ସକୁ ଧରିଥିଲେ, ସେମାନେ ଖସି ପଡ଼ିଲେ । ଲୋକମାନେ ଉତ୍କଣ୍ଠିତ ହୋଇପଡ଼ିଲେ । ଭାବିଲେ, Houdini ବୋଧହୁଏ ବାହାରକୁ ଆସିବାକୁ ଚେଷ୍ଟା କରୁଛନ୍ତି । Collins ଟେଲିଫୋନ୍ ଲଗାଇ ପଚାରିଲେ Houdini! | 66 ଅଛନ୍ତି ? ସେ ଉତ୍ତର ଦେଲେ, ଭଲ ଅଛି’’ । ଡାକ୍ତରମାନେ ମତଦେଲେ, ବାକ୍ସଭିତରେ ଯେତିକି ବାୟୁ ଅଛି ସେଥ‌ିରେ ଜଣେ ଲୋକ ପଚାଶ ଥର ନିଃଶ୍ବାସ ନେଇପାରିବ । ତା’ପରେ ସେ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ଅଶ୍ୱସ୍ତି ଅନୁଭବ କରିବ । ସେ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ବାକ୍ସ ଖୋଲିବାକୁ କହିବେ । Collins କହିଲେ – ମୁଁ ତାଙ୍କୁ ଯେତିକି ଜାଣିଛି, ସେ ସମୟ କେବେ ଆସିବ ନାହିଁ । କାରଣ Houdini କୌଣସି କଥାକୁ ପାଞ୍ଚ ଦଶଥର ପରୀକ୍ଷା ନ କରି ଜଣଙ୍କ ଆଗରେ ପେଶ୍ କରନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ ।

ବେଳକୁ ବେଳ ସାମ୍ବାଦିକଙ୍କ ଭିଡ଼ ଜମିଲା । ଡାକ୍ତରମାନେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଆସି ପହଞ୍ଚିଲେ । ସେମାନେ କହିଲେ – ଏହା ଏକ ଆତ୍ମଘାତୀ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ । Houdini ଙ୍କୁ ଏଥୁରୁ ନିବୃତ୍ତ କରାଯାଉ । ଏହା ଭିତରେ ଘଣ୍ଟାଏ ବି ହୋଇଗଲା । ଲୋକମାନେ କିଛି ସମୟପାଇଁ ଖୁସି ଦେଖାଗଲେ । ଭାବିଲେ, ଏଥର Houdini ବାହାରକୁ ଆସିବାକୁ କହିବେ । ମାତ୍ର ସେମିତି କିଛି ହେଲା ନାହିଁ । ଡାକ୍ତରମାନେ ବାଧ୍ୟ କରିବାରୁ Collins ପୁଣିଥରେ ଟେଲିଫୋନ୍ ଲଗାଇ ପଚାରିଲେ – Houdini ! ଡାକ୍ତରମାନେ ବାଧ୍ୟକରୁଛନ୍ତି ବାହାରକୁ ଆସିବାପାଇଁ । Houdini ଉତ୍ତର ଦେଲେ – ମୁଁ କହିଲେ ମତେ ଉପରକୁ ନେବ । ଏଥର ଲୋକମାନେ କୁହାକୁହି ହେଲେ – Houdini ନିଃଶ୍ଵାସ ପ୍ରଶ୍ଵାସ ରୋଧ କରିବା ତାଲିମ ପାଇଛନ୍ତି । ସେ ବିନା ବାୟୁରେ ରହିବାର କୌଶଳ ଶିଖ୍ଯାଇଛନ୍ତି । ଏହା ଭିତରେ ଏକ ଘଣ୍ଟା ତିରିଶ ମିନିଟ୍ ହେଲା । ଏଥର Houdini ଙ୍କ ଠାରୁ ସଂକେତ ଆସିଲା ତାଙ୍କ ବାହାରକୁ ଆଣିବାପାଇଁ । ଲୋକମାନେ ଏକଘଣ୍ଟା ଏକତିରିଶ ମିନିଟ୍‌ରେ ବାକ୍ସ ଖୋଲିଲେ । ଡାକ୍ତରମାନେ Houdiniଙ୍କ ସ୍ବାସ୍ଥ୍ୟ ପରୀକ୍ଷା କଲେ । କିଛି ବ୍ୟତିକ୍ରମ ହୋଇନଥିଲା । ସାମ୍ବାଦିକମାନେ Houdiniଙ୍କୁ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ ଜଣାଇଲେ ।

ଏଥର ସାମ୍ବାଦିକମାନେ Houdini ଙ୍କୁ ପଚାରିଲେ ଏହା କେମିତି ସଂଭବ ହେଲା ? Houdini କହିଲେ ଏଥ‌ିରେ ଯାଦୁବିଦ୍ୟା ନାହିଁ । ଏହା ଏକ ସାଧନା ମାତ୍ର । ମୁଁ ନିଃଶ୍ଵାସ ରୋଧ କରିବା ଶିଖୁ ଯାଇଛି । ଏହା ମତେ ଏତେ ସମୟ ବାକ୍ସ ଭିତରେ ବଞ୍ଚାଇ ରଖୁ । ଶ୍ଵାସକ୍ରିୟା ଖୁବ୍ ମନ୍ଥର ଥିଲା । ସାମ୍ବାଦିକମାନେ ପଚାରିଲେ – ଆପଣ ଯୁବଗୋଷ୍ଠୀଙ୍କୁ କି ବାର୍ତ୍ତା ଦେବେ ? Houdini କହିଲେ – ସେମାନେ ଭୟ କରିବା ଛାଡ଼ି ଦିଅନ୍ତୁ । ସେମାନେ ଯେ କୌଣସି ପରିସ୍ଥିତିକୁ ସହଜ, ସରଳ ଓ ଶାନ୍ତ ଭାବରେ ସାମ୍ନା କରିବାକୁ ଶିଖନ୍ତୁ । ସମସ୍ତେ Houdini ଙ୍କର ଜୟଗାନ କଲେ ।

Odisha State Board CHSE Odisha Class 11 Invitation to English 3 Solutions Business Letter Writing Textbook Activity Questions and Answers.

CHSE Odisha 11th Class English Business Letter Writing

Business Letters

A business letter is written for a particular purpose. Its aim is to transact some particular business. For example The letter you write to a sports-goods firm asking for information about their products and the reply they send you are business letter.
A business letter normally has seven parts some of which are not found in personal letters.
1. Sender’s address at the top right-hand comer.

2. The Date:
As in the personal letter, the date is written or typed on the right below the sender’s address.

3. The Inside Address:
The address is placed on the left, two or three lines below the line of the date (which is on the right). Each line of the address begins on the left margin. Here are some examples :
Shenai and Shenai
Auditors
Court Chambers
Chennai – 400020
The Divisional Superintendent
Central Railway
Vijayawada – 520001

4. The Salutation:
Dear Sir, Dear Sirs, and Madam – are the most common forms.

5. The body of the letter:
This part contains the actual message to be conveyed – make your letter brief, clear and courteous. The letter need not be stiff or cold. Avoid the old formulas which were fashionable. Here are some old phrases that are no longer used : Yours of ever date to hand at your earliest convenience.

6. The subscription of the complimentary close:
The most common forms in business letters are ‘Yours truly’, and ‘Yours faithfully’. In very formal letters such as letters to high dignitaries, you will find ‘Yours respectfully’, ‘Yours obediently’ or ‘Your obedient servant’. If you have used a personal name in the salutation, the subcription should be ‘Yours sincerely’.

7. The Signature:
The formal letter requires your full signature. Characteristics of a good business letter
1. A business letter must be courteous and considerable
2. It should be precise and clear.
3. It must be complete.
4. A business letter must be brief.

Activity 9

Here is a letter about the introduction of a new mosquito-repellant. Read it carefully, paying attention to the various points.

Quality Marketing Agency
27 Janpath, Bhubaneswar

4 March, 20

To
Mr. M.K. Pradhan
Managing Director
Home Products India Ltd.
Industrial Estate, Mancheswar, Bhubaneswar.
Dear Mr. Pradhan,
As requested by you, vide your letter No. MD/NS/2233 dated 2.2.20 we have carried out a market survey to check the public’s acceptance of the new mosquito repellant which your company plans to manufacture. We conducted an opinion poll covering 1000 families in the coastal districts of Orissa. Forty percent of these families use mosquito repellants, but most of them are unhappy with the existing products in the market. They find the electronic repellants too expensive while the coil-based ones emit too much smoke.

The preference is for an expensive product, preferably one that produces no smoke. Our study suggests there may be a good market for a new repellant, provided these requirements are kept in mind. We recommend that your company should concentrate on manufacturing an improved kind of smoke-free mosquito coil, preferably one that produces a pleasant fragrance.
Yours sincerely,
S.K. Patnaik Director of
Research Quality
Marketing Agency

Answer the following questions.
1. Who made the request for the study?
2. By whom was the study made?
3. What was the purpose of the study?
4. What kind of procedure was used for the study?
5. What were the findings from the study?
6. What was the conclusion arrived at?
7. What was the recommendation made?
Did you observe that Mr. S. K. Patnaik did not use the official letter format as he was using a printed letterhead?

Answer:
1. Mr. A. K. Pradhan, the Managing Director, of Home Products India Ltd, had made the request for the study.
2. The study was made by the Quality Marketing Agency.
3. The purpose of the study was to test the public’s acceptance of a new mosquito repellant.
4. The Quality Marketing Agency conducted an opinion poll covering a thousand families in the coastal district of Orissa to know their opinion on mosquito repellants available in the market.
5. The study revealed that people were not satisfied either with electronic repellants or coil-based ones. They showed a preference for a less expensive product and that which produces no smoke.
6. It was concluded that there is a market for a new repellant that is less expensive. Besides, it produces no smoke.
7. It was recommended that Home Products Ltd. should manufacture a smoke-free mosquito coil and one that produces a pleasant smell.

Activity 10

Imagine that you are the President of the Literary Society of your College. Your Society plans to publish a journal. You have asked the Secretary of the Society to contact all the printing firms in the town and to select one of them to print your journal.
Here is the letter that the Secretary submitted to you. Some parts of the letter are missing. Supply the missing parts.

LITERARY SOCIETY
………………… COLLEGE

5 February,

To
Prof. B. Pujari
President
Literary Society
Sir,
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
A team consisting of the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary of the Society contacted all five printing firms in the town and obtained quotations from them for the printing of the proposed journal. All the firms quoted the same price, that is, Rs. 5000/- for 1000 copies. Rasmita Printers, however, offered a discount of ten percent, provided we allowed them an extra period of fifteen days for printing.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Yours faithfully,
S. Pujari
Secretary

Answer:

Literary Society
B.J.B. College, Bhubaneswar

5 February, 20

To
Prof. B. Pujari
President
Literary Society
Sir,
As desired by you a team consisting of the Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the society contacted all five printing firms in town and obtained quotations from them for the printing of the proposed journal. A team consisting of the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary of the Society contacted all five printing firms in the town and obtained quotations from them for the printing of the proposed journal.

All the firms quoted the same price, that is, Rs. 5000/- for 1000 copies. Rasmita Printers, however, offered a discount of ten percent, provided we allowed them an extra period of fifteen days for printing. Since we do not need the copies of the journal till a month later, we could consider the offer of Rasmita Printers as it will cost us Rs. 500/- less than the offers quoted by other printing firms.
Yours faithfully,
Puja Udgata
Secretary

Activity 11

A customer approached a bank for a house-building loan. Before sanctioning the loan, the Branch Manager asked the Field Officer to examine the application and suggest whether the loan should be sanctioned. The following is the letter that the Field Officer wrote. Some parts of the letter are missing. Re-write the missing parts, using the hints supplied.

SBI PD BRANCH
CRP Square
Bhubaneswar

3rd March,

To
Mr. M. Mishra
Branch Manager
SBI PD Branch
CRP Square
Bhubaneswar.
Sir,
1. As described by you in your letter No. 254 dt. 24 February, I examined the application of Mr. J. K. Panda for a house-building loan. (inspection of the site – examination of documents – Mr. Panda interviewed)
2. My examination of the application and the relevant documents reveals : (ownership and size of the plot – whether the plot is a disputed one – Mr. Panda’s monthly income, and whether any other loan has been taken by Mr. Panda – Conclusion).
3. As Mr. Panda is a deserving party, the sanction of the loan is recommended.
Yours faithfully,
K.C. Panigrahy
Field Officer

Answer:

SBI PD BRANCH
CRP Square
Bhubaneswar

3 March, 20.

Prof. M. Mishra
Branch Manager SBI
PD Branch
CRP Square
Bhubaneswar
Sir,
1. As desired by you in your letter No. 254 dt. 24 February 20, I examined the application of Mr. J.K. Panda for a house-building loan. I also personally inspected the site, interviewed Mr. Panda, and examined the documents relating to the plot.
2. My examination of the application and the relevant documents reveal that the site is an undisputed one. To date, all land cess has been paid and the plot is litigation free. Mr. J.K. Panda is the owner of the plot and he has clear papers certifying its ownership. The plot is 112 decimals in size and its market value is around Rs. 8.00 lakhs. Mr. Panda also has a regular income of Rs. 15,000 and has no outstanding loan in his account.
3. As Mr. Panda is a deserving party, the sanction of the loan is recommended.
Yours faithfully,
K.C. Panigrahy
Field Officer

Odisha State Board CHSE Odisha Class 11 Invitation to English 3 Solutions Official Letter Writing Textbook Activity Questions and Answers.

CHSE Odisha 11th Class English Official Letter Writing

Official Letters

A letter written to an official, in most cases, deals with some problem that concerns the writer.
Characteristics of good official letters
(a) Introduction
(b) Information
(c) Conclusion
The problem of the writer is briefly introduced in the first person. It is then elaborated on and substantiated in the second section. concluding section throws light on a specific request for a solution to the writer’s problem.

Activity 5

Here is a letter written by a Ward Member of Berhampur Municipality to the local Police Station. Read it carefully.

From
Dr. N.T. Rao, Member
Berhampur Municipal Council
Ward – 1
Dated 1 June, 20
To
The Officer-in-Charge
Baidyanathpur Police Station
Komapalli Berhampur
Sub: Request for Night Patrol Sir,
I write to draw your attention to the frequent occurrence of thefts of house-breaking in our locality during the last couple of weeks. last night, my neighbor lost all his valuables in a case of house-breaking. After receiving an urgent call, he had gone to his village in the evening with his family. He had locked all the doors, but when he returned in the morning, to his dismay.

he found the back door broken and all his valuables stolen. Last week, another neighbor lost his scooter. Someone broke open the grill gate during the night and took away his scooter. Cases of bicycle lifting have rather become common in our locality. We have reasons to believe that there is a gang operating in this area. I request you to provide extra police patrol at night and take urgent steps to nab the gang.
Yours faithfully,
N.T.Rao

Now read the letter again and answer the following questions.

Who is it from?
What is the problem he is writing about?
In which paragraph does he provide the details?
What are they?
What is the request made?
Answer:
(a) The letter is from N. T. Rao.
(b) He is writing about frequent occurrences of theft and house-breaking in his locality.
(c) He provides the details in paragraph 2.
(d) They refer to his neighbor’s house-breaking and theft of valuables. Above all, Dr. Rao refers to frequent bicycle lifting and the theft of a scooter from his neighbor.
(e) He requests the police to provide extra patrolling at night to catch the gang involved in house-breaking and theft.

Activity 6

Complete this letter which Mr. Sahu writes to the Chief District Medical Officer about some problems in the local hospital.

From
Mr.Srinivas Sahu,
Sarapanch
Nua Patna Gram Panchayat
Tigiria, Cuttack
14 Mar, 20_
To
The Chief District Medical Officer,
Cuttack
Sub: Steps to improve facilities in the hospital Sir,
I wish to invite your attention to some serious problems that the local hospital in Nigeria has been facing for some time. (The problems: inadequate staff; vacant posts not filled; unsanitary conditions; garbage dumped all around; poor maintenance of buildings and equipment; shortage of essential medicines, etc.) (Action requested: Yours faithfully, (Srinivas Sahu)

Answer:

Nua Patna Gram Panchayat
Tigiria, Cuttack
14, March, 20

To
The Chief District Medical Officer
Cuttack
Sir,
I wish to invite your attention to some serious problems that the local hospital at Tigiria has been facing for some time. First of all, Tigiria has been plagued by a lack of adequate staff for the last five years. While the sanctioned strength of doctors is twelve, there are only two of them. Moreover, the two doctors now posted at Tigiria are only graduates. There is no one to man the different other departments established at the hospital’s foundation by the WHO.

One is tempted to ask what has happened to the funds/grants that are being sanctioned every year by the W.H.O. in lieu of the salary of doctors. Similarly, where there ought to be 20 nurses there are only 6; of 8 pharmacists only 2, and of 10 attendants only 1. With such a skeletal staff one wonders how such a large hospital with such a great inflow of patients, can be run.

Secondly, there is the unsanitary condition of the hospital. Wards are being cleaned only once a week. Sweepers complain about the non-availability of phenyl, bleaching powder, and other disinfectants. As a result, the environs of the hospital emit a foul smell. This is compounded by the garbage piled behind the hospital. Without an incinerator or some kind of waste disposal unit, the hospital is becoming a breeding ground for germs and viruses from which it is intended to protect people.

Thirdly, poor maintenance of buildings and equipment is having its toll on patients. The air-conditioner in the ICU is ‘under repair’ for the last year. The x-ray machine is out of order and so on. One does not know when the leaking wards will be repaired and how long it will be before the hospital is whitewashed. Finally, what is of great concern is the shortage of essential medicines.

Oral rehydration packets, Enteroquinol, Quinine, Primaquin, etc. are always in short supply thereby resulting in a number of deaths. I request you therefore to kindly visit the hospital and get a first-hand experience of the situation here. I would also request you ensure the supply of essential medicines immediately so that common deaths from dysentery and malaria do not recur. Doctors, nurses, and pharmacists may also be transferred from overstaffed city hospitals.
Yours faithfully,
(Srinivas Sahu)

Activity 7

Your friend wants to send a letter to the Chairman of the Municipality complaining about the neglect of roads and drains in your locality. As he is going out, he expects you to write a letter to him. He gives you the following points. Write a letter to him.

From
Mr. Sujit Mishra
Ward Member, Municipal Council
Sector – 3, Rourkela
Date – 20 Feb, 20
To
The Chairman Rourkela Municipality
Rourkela
Sub: Improvement of civil facilities.
Sir,
– neglect of roads and drains
– roads not swept
– piles of garbage
– drains blocked
– stagnant water
– mosquitoes and flies
– place unhygienic
– request to clean the roads and drains twice every week
Yours faithfully,
(Sujit Mishra)

Answer:

Sector – 3
Rourkela
20, February, 20

To
The Chairman
Rourkela Municipality
Rourkela
Sir,
I would like to draw your attention to the unsanitary conditions that plague our locality. There is complete neglect of roads and drains in our sector. The roads are seldom swept and piles of garbage can be seen at every comer. Moreover, as some of the garbage has been washed into the drains by the rains, the drains have been completely blocked.

As a result, there is at least two feet of standing water in the drain. This has thus become a suitable place for the breeding of mosquitoes and flies, thereby making the whole locality unhygienic. I request you therefore to kindly see that the roads and drains are cleaned and the garbage lifted regularly so that the place is free from mosquitoes and flies and a hygienic environment prevails.
Yours faithfully,
(Sujit Mishra)

Activity 8

(a) Write a letter to the District Transport Manager, OSRTC complaining about the rude behavior of bus conductors on your route.
(b) The walls of your locality are frequently disfigured by posters. Write a letter to the police authorities expressing your disapproval and giving suggestions for overcoming the problem.
(c) There are frequent unscheduled power cuts in your locality. It seriously affects your preparation for the ensuing CHSE Examination. Write a letter to the SDO (Electricals) of your locality requesting him to check these unscheduled power cuts.
Answer:
(a)

Plot No. 106,
Jaydev Vihar
Bhubaneswar
25 Sept., 20.

To
The District Transport Manager,
OSRTC
Cuttack
Sir,
I wish to invite your attention to the rude behavior of bus conductors on the BBSR-Cuttack route. I am a regular commuter to Cuttack as I study there. Every day I take the OSRTC Bhubaneswar-Cuttack ‘Students Special’ to Ravenshaw College. As a student I am entitled to a fifty percent concession in the fare which amounts to Rs. 3.50. But the conductor charges Rs. 4.00 every time. In spite of our repeated requests, he has been doing this regularly.

Yesterday, he stopped the bus mid-way and forced a few classmates of mine, out of the bus. He even threatened them with dire consequences if they reported him and did not pay Rs. 4.00 as fare. Moreover, he takes in passengers other than students on the bus and charges them Rs. 10.00/- for dropping them off near Ravenshaw. As a result, many bona fide students are deprived of this facility.

It is a well-known fact that this conductor is a goonda and therefore he treats the passengers with little respect and has the bus move according to his own whims and fancy with unscheduled stops and erratic timing. As a result other conductors to have become lackadaisical in their work and high-handed with passengers. I request you therefore to look into the matter and take action to transfer the conductor in question to some other zone so as to pacify and solve the problems of the students.
Yours faithfully,
Prabhat Mishra

(b)

College Square
Cuttack
30 July, 20

To
The Station House Officer Cantonment Police Station Cantonment Road Cuttack Sir,
I wish to invite your attention to the disfiguring of walls in our locality. As you are aware Cuttack Chandi is graced by the Chandi temple as well as many educational institutions like the Sailabala Women’s College and Christ College. It is sad that the walls of this temple that houses the goddess and the walls of these temples of learning are disfigured by posters of films, posters advertising meetings or Tutorials, etc. Right in front of the Chandi Temple, the wall of Sailabala College provides a convenient place for posters.

But the sight of nude film posters is not only disconcerting but also ugly to look at. Similarly, the walls of Christ College have been disfigured by posters. Walls of private houses paralleling the wall of Christ College also have not been left untouched. I, therefore, request you to kindly enforce the prohibition on pasting posters on the walls of the Chandi temple as well as the colleges and private houses. The citizens’ committee is also willing to provide bamboo screens at suitable sites chosen by you, for putting up the posters.
Yours faithfully,
Santanu Mohanty

(c)

Main Road
Angul
4 March, 20

To
The SDO
CESCO
Angul
Sir,
I wish to draw your attention to the unscheduled power cuts that frequently occur in Kunjakanta. I am a student appearing for die ensuing CHSE Examination. Like me, there are numerous other friends of mine here at Kunjakanta who are taking the CHSE Examinations. All of us are deeply concerned about the unscheduled power cuts that frequently occur in our area.

The power cuts occur so erratically and with such increasing frequency as well as for such long hours that our preparation for the examination is greatly hampered. Besides, we are not even able to sleep well so that we can appear for the Examination the following morning without feeling sleepy and tired. It would not be too far-fetched to say that the power cuts are indirectly affecting our performance in the examinations.

We are not against load-shedding but with unscheduled power cuts, we are unable to plan out when we could relax and when to give time to studies. On the other hand, if load-shedding is scheduled, even for a whole hour, we could spend that time relaxing, going on walks, and thereby refreshing our minds and body. I request you therefore to view this matter seriously and prevent unscheduled power cuts.
Yours faithfully,
Ramesh Jena

Odisha State Board CHSE Odisha Class 11 Invitation to English 3 Solutions Application Writing Textbook Activity Questions and Answers.

CHSE Odisha 11th Class English Application Writing

Applications

An important type of business letter is the letter of aplication. Usually it is written in reply to an advertisement. The following points should be borne in mind in writing a lttter of application.

A. Presentation:
The letter must be neatly written or typed. The envelope must be properly stamped and addressed.

B. Qualifications:
Your qualifications must be clearly stated, and related to the job you are applying for. You should not sound boastful, but, on the other hand, you should clearly show that you consider yourself eligible for the post.

C. Experience:
Here again give the information that is relevant to the post. If you have just completed your studies, don’t write – Experience : nil You should try to say something positive.

D. Testimonials:
These can be enclosed even if the advertisement does not ask for them.

Activity 1

Read the following advertisement and the letter of application that follows it.

Wanted Medical Representative (Male/Female) for various towns in Orissa. Write to Agrasen Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Sharma Lane, Banka Bazar, Cuttack within 7 days.

College Street
Puri
9 March, 20

Sir,
I read your advertisement in The Samaj of 8 March for the post of ‘Medical Representative’. I wish to apply for the post. I am 21 years old. I have passed +2 Science in the First Division. At present I am doing B.Sc. in BJB College with Chemistry as my Honours subject. I shall take the final Examination in April this year. I hope to hold a rank in the university. I am sorry to tell you that I have no experience as a medical representative. I am, however, quite familiar with different medicines, including their names and brands. My uncle runs a small shop in Puri, where I have worked part-time during my vacations. I speak Oriya, Bengali and Hindi. Being convent educated, I am quite comfortable in English. I am enclosing copies of my certificates. If necessary I can produce a testimonial from the Principal, BJB College at the time of interview. I look forward to meeting you for a personal interview at a time convenient to you.
Yours faithfully,
S Patnaik
Sudhir Ku. Patnaik.

In the box on the left, you have the main points of the application. Notice that they are not in order. Arrange them as they occur in the letter. Also put all the points of each paragraph in separate boxes on the right. The first one has been done for you.

Answer:

Activity 2

Read the following advertisement which appeared in The Samaj on 5 August, 2009 and the application of Miss Rani Das which is left incomplete. Complete the application by writing sentences for the information provided.

Padma Commercial Institute

Applications are invited from young graduates the post Clerk-cum-Typist at Padma Commercial Institute, Bajra Kabati, Cuttack. Applications should be sent to the Administrative Officer to reach him on or before 25 August 2009. Preference will be given to candidates having experience.

Lane 2
Gajapati Nagar
Berhampur Ganjam
16 August, 20

To
The Administrative Officer
Padma Commercial Institute
Bajra Kabati
Cuttack.
Sir,
I wish to apply for the post of Clerk-cum-Typist as advertised in The Samaj of
5 August, 20.
H.S.C. : First Division from De Paul School, Berhampur
B.A: Second class Honours in Economics from Berhampur University
Course in typing : Speed 45 words per minute.
Age : 27 years
Health : Sound
Post held : Clerk-cum-Typist
Experience : 6 months
Organisation : NM Tutorials New Bus Stand Berhampur
Salary : Rs. 8500 pm. (consolidated)
I enclose a testimonial from the Managing Director of NM Tutorials, Berhampur, I can get relieved from my present job in two weeks if I am selected for appointment. Your faithfully (Rani Das)

Answer:

Lane 2, Gajapati Nagar
Berhampur, Ganjam
16 August, 20

To
The Administrative Officer
Padma Commercial Institute
Bajra Kabati
Cuttack
Sir,
I wish to apply for the post of Clerk-cum-Typist as advertised in The Samaj of 5 August 20. I am 27 years old and possess sound health. As far as my educational qualifications are concerned, I have passed H.S.C. in the First Division from the De Paul School and have graduated from Berhampur University with second-class honors in Economics. Besides this, I have completed a certificate course in typing from the Hindustan Commercial Institute, Berhampur. My typing speed is 45 words per minute. I am working for the NM Tutorials, Berhampur as a Clerk-cum-Typist and am drawing a salary of Rs.8500 p.m. (consolidated). I have been working in this position for the last six months. I enclose a testimonial from the Managing Director, NM Tutorials, Berhampur, and attested copies of my certificates. I shall be relieved in two weeks if I am selected for an appointment.
Yours faithfully
(Miss Rani Das)

Activity 3

Here is an advertisement which your friend Girish Chandra Mohanty brought to you along with his personal details. He would like to apply for the post advertised. Can you help him ? Draft a letter of application for the job for your friend.

WANTED
SECURITY OFICER
below 50 : Apply in 15 days to
HOTEL MAYFAIR, Bhubaneswar.

Girish Chandra Mohanty
Nuapatana
Cuttack District
Orissa

– 47 years (Date of birth: 07.04.1962)
– H.S.C. (1978) Second division
– B.Sc. (1980) Second division
– Security Officer at Shakti Sugar, Baramba from 1984 to 1992
– DSP in Orissa Police from 1993 – 2008 (voluntary retirement in 2008)
– can read, speak and write Oriya, Hindi, and English
– good health, good eyesight
– gun license

Answer:

Anand Vihar
Nuapatna
Cuttack
23 Oct., 20

The Chief Manager
Hotel Mayfair
Nandankanan Road
Bhubaneswar
Sir,
I wish to apply for the position of Security Officer as advertised in The Samaj on 15 Oct., 20. I am 47 years old. I passed my H.S.C. in the Second Division in the year 1978, and B.Sc. in Second Division in 1980. At present, I am working as Security Officer at Shakti Sugar, Baramba, and have been in this position for the last 5 years. Prior to that, I had been working with the State Government as a Sub-Inspector of Police for 17 years from 1990-2006 and D.S.P. from 2006 to 2008. I took voluntary retirement in 2008. I am proficient in Oriya, Hindi, and English which I can read, write and speak. Besides this, I possess a sound physique and good eyesight. I enclose a testimonial from the Chief Executive Officer. Shakti Sugar and copies of my certificate as well as service records as S.I. of Police and D.S.P.
I shall be relieved in two weeks if I am selected for an appointment.
Yours faithfully,
(Girish Ch. Mohanty)

Activity 4

Write applications in response to the following advertisements :

(a) Wanted an experienced Lady Stenographer with good knowledge of English. Contact Box No. 998, The Samaj, Cuttack.
(b) Students ! Earn your pocket money during the holidays. Door-to-door visits to promote the sale of our Washing Powder Henko. Only for residents of Sambalpur. Apply to Box No. 446, The Samaj, Sambalpur.
(c) Wanted Lady Tutor for 3 Children of Convent School : 4th, 5th and 6th standanrd. Contact Deepak Mishra, Lane-3, Gajapati Nagar, Berhampur.

Answer:
(a)

27, Kharvel Nagar
Bhubaneswar
8 Dec., 20

To
Box No 998
The Samaj
Cuttack
Sir,
I wish to apply for the post of Lady Stenographer as advertised in The Samaj of 10 Dec. 2009.
I am 22 years old. I have passed the H.S.C. in the First Division. Besides this, I have passed a certificate course in Stenography from the Padma Commercial Institute, Bhubaneswar. Presently, I am working as Steno to the Manager, Home Products Ltd., Bhubaneswar, and am drawing a consolidated pay of Rs. 5500 p.m. I have been working in this capacity for the last year. I can read, write and speak Oriya, Hindi, and English. I enclose a testimonial from the Manager, Home Products Ltd., and attested copies of my certificate. I can be relieved within a week if selected for an appointment.
Yours faithfully,
(Ms. Snigdha Mohanty)

(b)

Daleipara
Sambalpur
20 Dec 20

To
Box No. 446
The Samaj
Sambalpur
Sir,
I wish to apply for the position of Door-to-Door promotional salesman as advertised in The Samaj of 17 Dec., 20. I am 20 years old. I have passed +2 Arts in the Second Division. At present, I am doing B.A. at G.M. College, Sambalpur with Political Science as the honors subject. I am in the first year of my graduation. This summer for 45 days I shall be completely free as the college is closing for vacations. Last summer after my +2 finals I worked as a newspaper delivery man and so am familiar with the lanes and by-lanes of many areas of Sambalpur. This experience I hope will stand me in good stead in door-to-door visiting. I have a cycle at my disposal and therefore going from one place to another will pose no problems. Moreover, I am fluent in Oriya, Hindi, and English which I can speak, read and write. I am enclosing copies of my certificate as well as a testimonial from the manager, of The Today News Agency, Sambalpur. I look forward to meeting you for a personal interview at a time convenient to you.
Yours faithfully,
(Shakti Das)

(c)

Hill Patna
Berhampur
14 Dec 20

To
Mr. Deepak Mishra
Lane – 3
Gajapati Nagar
Berhampur
Sir,
I am writing in connection with the advertisement which appeared recently in ‘The Samaj’, for a lady tutor. I am a trained Secondary School teacher and have taught in English medium schools. I would be interested in knowing further details about the post. I would be grateful if you could tell me what subjects the children are to be taught, for how long you expect to employ the tutor, and what salary you intend to pay. I am willing to supply full details of my qualifications and exposure. I look forward to hearing from you shortly.
Yours faithfully
S. Mishra (Miss)