CHSE Odisha Class 11 Alternative English Solutions Unit 2 Text B: My Mother

Odisha State Board CHSE Odisha Class 11 Approaches to English Book 1 Solutions Unit 2 Text B: My Mother Textbook Activity Questions and Answers.

CHSE Odisha Class 11 Alternative English Solutions Unit 2 Text B: My Mother

Section-B

Pre-reading Activity:
Mother is the fondest image impressed on our minds. In the following passage, Nirad C. Chaudhury who is considered an outstanding Indian writer in English and who lived most of his life in England gives an account of his mother.

Activity – 8

Understanding The Structure Of The Text
Scan, the gaped text (Text-B) and decide which of the following parts would fit into which numbered gap in the text. There is one extra part that does not belong in any of the gaps.

A. If she asked us to take a portion after dividing a sweet Or some other dish, we always said, “Give us a piece yourself, mother.” For we know of by any chance one of us took what appeared to be the biggest piece, she would look at him with meaning or at times even angry contempt.

B. She came back after nearly six months and the day after. She arrived. She again ordered my mother out. My mother who had stepped in the room for the whole period of absence of her mother-in-law went out smiling under her veil

C. If we groaned too much in times of illness or expected to be made much of, we were quietly and firmly told to try to go to sleep instead of making things worse by complaining.

D. Her eyes were large and liquid, her nose very regular and prominent, her lips well-cut tending towards fullness in the lower one. The real weakness of the face was the chin which though nearly shaped was net weighty enough for the upper part.

Activity-9

Understanding The Relation Of The Parts In A Text
Now read the complete text (that is with the gaps filled) and complete the diagram below so that the completed diagram represents the (descriptive) sequence in which the writer describes his mother. The completed diagram will give you an overall idea of the text organization.

Answer:
A. If she asked us to take a portion after dividing a sweet or some other dish, we always said, “Give us a, piece yourself, mother”, for we knew, if by any chance one of us took what appeared to be the biggest piece, she would look at him with meaning or at times even angry contempt. (It fits into paragraph no.3)

B. She came back after nearly six months and the day after she arrived, she again ordered my mother out. My mother, who had slept in the room for the whole period of absence of her mother-in-law,’ went and sent under her veil.

C. If we groaned too much in times of illness or expected to be made much of, we were quietly and firmly told to try to go to sleep instead of making things worse by complaining.

D. Her eyes were large and liquid, her nose very regular and prominent, her lips well cut tending towards fullness in the lower one. The real weakness of the face was the chain; which though nearly shaped was not weighty enough for the upper part (It fits into the paragraph giving an introduction of her physical features)

Answers Activity-9
(Understanding The Relation Of The Parts In A Text)
Now read the complete text (that is with the gaps filled) and complete the diagram so that the completed diagram represents the (descriptive) sequence in which the writer described his mother. The completed diagram will give you an overall idea of the text organization.

Extra Activity-9 (A)

Question 1.
This writer’s mother and father had common principles. They had also differences. What are they?
Answer:
The writer’s mother and father were different in appearance, temperament, and outlook

Question 2.
What does the writer say about his mother’s and father’s physique?
Answer:
The writer’s mother was slight and fragile, but his father was robust and strong-built. Her face was responsive but that of his father was impassive.

Question 3.
Could the writer’s mother hide her feelings?
Answer:
The writer’s mother wore her heart on her sleeve. She could not hide her feelings. Her children were able to see at a glance whether she was angry or pleased.

Question 4.
What does the writer say about his mother’s eyebrows?
Answer:
When his mother was young. there were two deep vertical wrinkles between her eyebrows which in normal cases would have signified a bent for thought

Question 5.
Do you feel the writer’s mother was an intellectual?
Answer:
The writer’s mother was not an intellectual. She was rather argumentative and devastatingly logical. She was also intuitive and introspective

Question 6.
What does the writer say about his mother’s forehead and face?
Answer:
The writer describes that his mother’s forehead was very well-shaped without being high. The oval of her face was broad in its upper half, but very quickly receding and tapering in the lower.

Question 7.
What qualities do her features indicate?
Answer:
Her physical features indicate an impression of unsleeping, alertness, and inexhaustible, animation. They speak volumes of openness, goodness, and generosity which were so natural in that countenance.

Question 8.
Why does the author say that “appearance was deceptive”?
Answer:
It was because her face did not show hardly indicated even, the immense strength of her normal convictions. Nobody could infer from her face that she was capable of such fanaticism

Question 9.
What did she do when some mishap befell her children?
Answer:
Although a high-strong woman she was capable of turning panicky on some mishap happening to any of her children, she restrained herself soon.

Question 10.
What were the most detestable things seen with the writer’s marriage?
Answer:
The things which the writer’s mother earnestly detested were a falsehood, dishonesty, moral cowardice, and meanness.

R. Choose the correct alternative to match the answers against each question:

i) The writer’s mother was : (beautiful, ugly, and pretty)
Answer:
Pretty,

ii) She was: (strong, well-built, robust, and fragile)
Answer:
fragile.

iii) She had two deep vertical wrinkles:(on her eyebrows, between her eyebrows)
Answer:
between her eyebrows

iv) She disliked? (dishonesty, pleasure, and love)
Answer:
dishonesty

v) She : (loved her children, did not love her children)
Answer:
loved her children

Extra Activity- 9 (B)

Comparison (1): Cheaper, More Expensive
A.Look at these sentences:
1. Let us go by car. It’s cheaper
2. Don’t go by train. It was more expensive.
‘Cheaper’ and ‘more expensive’ arc comparative forms. One can use ‘than’ after comparative.
Ex: 1. It’s cheaper to go by car than by train.
2. Going by train is more expensive than going by car.

B. The comparative form is er or more…,

i) We use ‘er’ for short words (one syllable)
cheap – cheaper, fast – faster,
large – larger
We also use ‘er’ for two-syllable words that end in ‘y’
lucky – luckier, easy- easier,
early- earlier
ii) We use ‘more’ for longer words (two syllables or more) more modem, more serious, and more expensive.
Ex: These people are more modern than we are

C. Adjective and Adverbs having irregular comparative forms: Good/well – better.

Ex. 1. The garden, looks better since we tidied it up.
2. I know him well, probably better than anybody else.
badly/bad- worse
Ex. 1. Is your headache better? No, it’s worse.
far- further (or farther)
Ex. It’s a long walk to the station – farther than/thought ‘further but not ‘farther’ can also mean ‘more’ of ‘additional’.
Ex. Let me know if you hear any further news (= any more news).

Comparison (2)
A. Before comparing you can use: much, a lot, far, a bit, a little, slightly
Ex. 1. Let’s go by car. It’s much cheaper.
2. Could you speak a bit more slowly?
3. This bag is slightly heavier than the other one.
4. Her illness is far more serious than we thought at first

B. You can use any and not + comparative (any longer/no bigger)

Ex. I’ve waited long enough. I’m not waiting any longer. This] house is not bigger than ours.’

C. Harder and harder; more and more. We repeat comparative like this to say that something is changing continuously.

Ex. It’s becoming harder and harder to find a job. Your English is improving. It’s getting better and better. These days more and more people are learning English,
Older and Elder: We can use elder (older) when we talk of members of a family.
You can say “my elder brother”.
Ex. Tom looks older than me.

Comparison (3) as … as/than

A. Study the following situation:
Ex. Surath, Sini, and Subas millionaires.
They are all very rich. Surath has Rs. 10 million, Sini has Rs. arc all 8 million and Subas has Rs.2 million. So: Sini is rich.
He is richer than Subas.
But he is not as rich as Surath.
Tom isn’t as old as he looks.
You can also say, ‘not so… (as):
Ex. It’s not warm but it isn’t as cold as yesterday. less… that is as similar to not as… (as):
Ex. 1. I spent less money than you.
2. The city center was less crowded than usual

B. You can use as … as but not ‘so… as’ in positive sentences and questions:

Ex. 1. I’m sorry. I’m late. I got here as fast as I could.
2. There’s plenty of food. You can have as much as you like.
3. Let’s walk. It’s just as quick as taking the bus.
4. Can you send me the money as soon as possible, please?

C. We say the same as (not ‘the same like’)

Ex. 1. Annis’s salary is the same as mine.
2. Tom is the same age as George.
3. What would you like to drink?
4. I’ll have the same as you,

D. Than me/than I am etc. we usually say:
1. You are taller than me.
2. He is not as clever as her.
Alter than/as. It is more usual to say me/ him/her/them/us when there is no verb, compare
Ex. 1. You’re taller than I am, but, you are taller than me.
2. They’re more money than we have, but, they have more money than us.
3. I can’t run as far as he can, but I can’t run as fast as him.

I.Complete the sentences using a comparative form (The first one is done for you)
1. It’s too noisy here. Can we go somewhere _________?
2. This coffee is very weak. I like it a bit ______.
3. The hotel was surprisingly big, I expected it to be ___.
4. The hotel was surprisingly cheap. I expected it to be _________.
5. The weather is too cold in this country. I’d like to live somewhere ___________.
6. My job is a bit boring sometimes. I’d like to do something ________.
7. I was surprised at how easy it was to use the computer. I thought it would be _________.
8. Your work isn’t very good. I’m sure you can do _______.
9. Don’t worry, the situation isn’t so bad It could be _________.
10. I was surprised we got here so quickly I expected the journey to talk _________.
11. You’re talking very loudly. Can you speak it a bit_____?
12. You hardly ever phone me. Why don’t you phone me _________?
13. You’re standing too near the camera. Can you move a bit _________?
14.You were a bit depressed yesterday but today ___________you today
Answer:
1. It’s too noisy here. Can we go somewhere quieter?
2, This coffee is very weak. I like it a bit stronger.
3. The hotel was surprisingly big. I expected it to be smaller.
4. The hotel was. surprisingly cheap. I expected it to be costlier.
5. The weather is too cold in this country. I’d like to live somewhere warmer.’
6. My job is a bit boring sometimes. I’d like to do something more interesting.
7. I was surprised at how easy it was to use the computer. I thought it would be much more difficult.
8. Your work isn’t very good. I’m sure you can do better.
9. Don’t worry, the situation isn’t so bad. It could be better and smoother.
10. I was surprised we got here so quickly. I expected the journey to talk more time.
11. You’re talking very loudly. Can you speak it a bit slower?
12. You hardly ever phone me. Why don’t you phone me more frequently?
13. You’re standing too near the camera. Can you move a bit farther?
14. You were a bit depressed yesterday but you look smarter today.

II.A. Read the situation and complete the sentences using a comparative form
1. Yesterday the temperature was nine degrees. Today it is only six degrees _______.
2. The journey takes four hours by car and five hours by train. It takes___________.
3. Viju and I went for a run, I ran ten kilometers. Viju stopped after eight kilometers. I ran________.
4. Ajay and Bijay both did badly in the examination. Ajay got 20% and Vijay got only 15%. Vijay did ________.
5. I expected my friends to arrive at about 4 O’clock. In fact, they arrived at 2.30. My friends_______.
6. You can go by bus or by train. The buses run every 30 minutes. The train runs every hour. The buses__________.
7. We were very busy at work today. We’re not usually as busy as that. We _______.
Answer:
1. The temperature has become lesser.
2. It takes less time by car than by train.
3. I ran more than Viju.
4. Ajay scored more than Vijay.
5. My friends reached earlier.
6. The buses are more frequent than the trains
7. We are busier at work today

II.B. Use the words in brackets to complete the sentences. Use ‘much/ a bit etc. + a comparative’ form. Use ‘than’ where necessary
1.Her illness_______we thought at first,(much/serious)
2. This bag is too small. I need something ________(much/big)
3. I’m afraid the problem is_______it seems, (much/complicated)
4. You looked depressed this morning but you look_ now. (a bit/happy)
5. I enjoy our visit to the museum. It was_____I expected (far/interesting)
6. You’re driving too fast, could you drive______ (a bit/slowly)
7. It’s_____to learn a foreign language in the country where it is spoken, (a bit/ easy)
8.I thought she was younger than me but in fact, she is_______(Slight/old)
Answer:
1 . Her illness was much, more serious than we thought at first
2. This bag is too small. I need something much bigger.
3 I’m afraid the problem is more complicated than it seems.
4. You looked depressed this morning but you look a bit happier now.
5. I enjoy-our visiting the museum. It was far more interesting than I expected.
6. You’re driving too fast, could you drive a bit slower
7. It’s a bit easier to learn a foreign language in the country where it is spoken
8. I thought she was younger than me but in fact, she is slightly older.

III. Complete the sentences using any/ not a comparative. Use ‘than’ where necessary.
1. I’m fed up with waiting I’m not waiting __________.
2. I’m sorry, I’m a bit late but I could not get here ___________.
3. This shop is. not expensive. The price is ___________ anywhere else
4. I must stop for a rest, I can’t walk _________.
5. The traffic is not particularly bad today. It’s______usually.
Answer:
1 . I’m fed up with waiting. I’m not waiting any longer.
2. I’m sorry I’m a bit late but I could not get here any. longer.
3. This shop is not expensive. The price is higher than anywhere else.
4. I must stop for a rest I can’t walk anymore.
5. The traffic is not particularly, lead today It’S work usually.

Complete the sentences using the structure -er and -er.
1. It’s becoming________to find a job (hard)
2. That hole in your pull over is getting_________ (big).
3. My bag seemed to get _______ as I carried them (heavy)
4. As 1 waited for my interview, I became______ (nervous)
5. As the day went on, the weather get _______ (bad)
6. Travelling is becoming ________ (expensive).
7. Since she has been in Britain, her English has gotten___ (good).
8.As the conversation went on, he became _______(talkative).
Answer:
1. It’s becoming harder and harder to find a job
2. That hole in your pullover is getting bigger and bigger.
3. My bag seemed to get heavier and heavier as 1 carried them.
4. As 1 waited for my interview, I became more and more nervous.
5. As the day went on, the weather get worse and worse.
6. Travelling is becoming more and more expensive.
7. Since she has been in Britain, her English has gotten better and better
8. As the conversation went on, he became more and more,

V. Which is correct, older or elder? Or both of them?
1. My older/elder brother is a pilot.
2. I’m surprised Jane is only 25, 1 thought she was older/elder.
3. Anni’s younger sister is still at school. I let older/elder.
4. Martin is older/elder than his brother
Answer:
1. My elder brother is a pilot
2. I’m surprised Jane is only 25. 1 thought she was older.
3. Anni’s younger sister is still at school. Her elder sister,
4. Martin is older than his brother.

Activity-11

Grammar
Student tips: Look at the first sentence in paragraph 2 of Text-B. She was not handsome, but no more was she plain. You can easily see that in the first clause of the sentence, the verb “was” comes after the subject “she” which is the usual word order in English, but in the second clause there is an inversion (change of position) ‘was’ comes before the subject ‘she’.Notice again this sentence in paragraph 5: Not only did she condemn vice, (but) she almost equally despised the tacit acceptance of an advantage. Here, again in the italicized part, the auxiliary verb did come before the subject. She and there is an; inversion. Apart from its use in interrogative sentences (e.g. what do you want ? Inversion occurs) :

1. When a negative adverbial such as not only, never, and sooner. little, neither or nor begins a clause.
i) Not only- did she condemn vice, (but) she almost equally despised the tacit acceptance of an advantage
ii) Never have I seen a lovelier sunrise.
iii) No sooner had 1 entered the room, than the phone rang.
iv) Little did she know that he would never come back.
v)I have not understood a word he said neither/nor have I.

2. When time expression such as rarely*. seldom, hardly, barely, scarcely begin a sentence:
i)Rarely does, he visits us nowadays.
ii) Seldom has the Indian team given a better performance.
iii) Hardly had the train left the station, when there was an explosion.

3. When; the sentence begins with only: Only after posting the letter did 1 remember that I had forgotten to put on a stamp

4. When the sentence begins with phrases containing no or not such as – Under no circumstance, on no account; at no time, in no way, and not until.
i) On no account did the police open fire without a warning.
ii) No until then did 1 notice that 1 was carrying someone else’s umbrella

5. Wlÿen expletive there begins a sentence;
i) There were people near the cricket counter.
ii) There was someone giving them help with the reservation.

6. When so comes at the beginning of a clause in construction like the following: I had a good time and so did Mona. With this grammatical formation, you can do the following activities:

(a) These sentences are from the holiday postcard from Smita to her brother Sunil. Complete them by putting the words in the right order. Remember, you can use inversion only in sentences (ii) and (iii)
i) We are having __ (time-a-really here-at the moment-great)
ii) The weather has been brilliant, though ________(some clouds-there-in the sky were-in the morning)
iii) The hotel is not too bad, but ___________ (-there are – tourists – too many – and – fed up – are getting – the staff)
iv) The food, however, __ (is good exceptionally)
v) Tomorrow we hope to go ___ (and on a trip – organized – the local sights some – by the hotel – of- see)
Answer:
(i)We are having really a great time here at the moment.
ii)The weather has been brilliant, though there were some clouds in the sky. in ftejnomjng
iii)The hotel is not too bad, but the staff there is too many and getting the tourists fed up.
iv)The food, however, is exceptionally good
v)Tomorrow we hope on a trip organized by the hotel and see some of the local sights.

(b) Rewrite the following as indicated
making necessary changes:
i)There is nowhere a monument that surpasses the Taj Mahal. (No where_______)
ii)We had no sooner arrived than the storm broke. (No sooner _______ )
iii) Tulu arrived late and started complaining. (Not only__________)
iv) I’ll never invite him again
v)It started raining soon after the guests left (Hardly had ______.)
vi) The athletes were so exhausted that none of them finished the race. (So exhausted______ ).
vii) 1 realized that I had left my keys in the office only after reaching the station. (Only________).
Answer:
i) There is nowhere a monument that surpasses the Taj Mahal. Nowhere is there a monument that surpasses the Taj Mahal. ’
ii) We had no sooner arrived than the storm broke. No sooner had we arrived than the storm broke.
iii) Tulu arrived late and started complaining. Not only did Tulu arrive but started complaining.
iv) Til never invite him again. Never shall I invite him again.
v)It started raining soon after the guests left. Hardly had the guests left when it started raining.
vi)The athletes were so exhausted that none of them finished the race. So exhausted were the athletes that none of them finished the race.
vii) I realized that I had left my keys in the office only after- reaching the station. Only after reaching the station did I realize that I had left my -keys in the office.

My Mother Summary in English

However, the writer’s parents had equal principles, but they had opposite appearances, temperaments, and outlooks. His mother was trifling, and delicate, while his father was vigorous and strong and stout. Her face was responsive, on the other hand, his father’s face was entirely smart and energetic. She was rarely able to conceal her emotions and feeling. The children can easily understand in a flash whether she was angry or pleased. Although not, excited and thrilling, she was always elaborate and high-strong. Even when she was young, there were two vertical wrinkles between her eyebrows.

His mother although argumentative and logical was not intellectual. On the other hand, she was intuitive and introspective. She was not charming. Her forehead was very well-shaped and her face was oval. On the whole, she was alert and alive However, she got frightened at a mishap with her children like other Indian mothers AVho show their helplessness by giving out piercing streams or knocking their heads on the floor. She never paraded such emotion what she disliked most were a falsehood, dishonesty, moral cowardice, and meanness.

Analytical Outlines:

• The writer’s parents had equal principles.
• On the other hand, they had the opposite appearance.
• They had also opposite temperaments and outlooks.
• His mother was trifling and delicate.
• His father was vigorous, strong, and stout.
• Her face was responsive.
• On the other hand, his father’s face was entirely smart and energetic.
• She was rarely able to conceal her4 emotions and feelings.
• The children can easily understand in a flash whether she was angry or pleased.
• She was always elaborate and highly strong.
• On the other hand, she was not excited and thrilled.
• Even when she was young, there were two vertical wrinkles between her eyebrows.
• His mother although argumentative and logical was not intellectual.
• But she was intuitive and introspective.
• She was not charming.
• Her forehead was very well-shaped.
• Her face was oval.
• On the whole, she was alert and alive.
• She got frightened at a mishap with her children like other -Indian mothers.
• The Indian women show their helplessness by giving out piercing streams.
• They also knocked their heads on the floor.
• She never paraded such emotion.
• However, she disliked falsehood, dishonesty, moral cowardice, and meanness.

Meaning Of Difficult Words:

reverse – opposite, opposed to, change, or turn to opposite.
fregite -bristle, which can be easily broken.
responsive – strong and stout, strong-built, well-formed.
impassive – giving out a response, the person who reciprocates.
high-strung – smart, active, energetic, not passive.
hectic. – small waves of stagnant water.
robust – of weak mind, very nervous, excitable.
rippled – excited or rushed, intensely active.
devastatingly – frighteningly, dangerously.
propensity – temperament, inclination.
wrinkles – small creases on the face.
introspective – looking into one’s thoughts and feelings.
broadening – thinking deeply over something or somebody.
receding – move back as flood water to withdraw from agreement
tapering – became gradually thinner or smaller at one end
inexhaustible – which can’t be exhausted or consumed up.
animation – smart, lively, and quick in movement.
countenance – look, appearance, disposition.
fanaticism – the act of moving by force of enthusiasm
hideous – frightful, ugly, repulsive, arousing, fear or awe.
mourning ‘ – pathetic, lament, unhappiness on the assumption
on the assumption – on the supposition presumption.
exhibition – show, parade, display,
contemptuous – hateful, decisive, detracting.
epithets – attributive expression, descriptive, appellation, words used to characterize
chasten – punish in order to correct, discipline.
discreetly – openly, evidently, having proof.
patently – judiciously, using reasoning and thought.
intuitive – of direct knowledge or awareness of something without conscious attention or reasoning, the knowledge that is acquired in this way, is perceived immediately.