Prepositions are hard nuts to crack

Grammar Assignments for Everyone

Dear Students,
There is no doubt that this assignment is not easy but I look forward
to your solving the same on your PC. Copy and paste the exercise in
Word, solve it and post the answer to the Group e-mail id.
Alternatively, you may reply from the Group page itself, after
clicking on the reply tab on the page. I will provide you with the
right answers as soon as I can.
Thank you
Exercise
Fill in the blanks with appropriate prepositions:-
1. -----------------of making noise, pay attention --------what your
teacher is saying.
2.-------------the dint------------his diligence, he has been topping
the class every year.
3.------------accordance------------the teacher’s instructions, all
the students wrote a composition on what they could all do to counter
Pollution.
4. -------way of a prologue, the writer wrote a few absorbing pages
as-------how the seeds of the novel sprouted-----------her mind.
5.-----------the sake-------their convictions, the Parsees
emigrated-----------India.
6. -------------course of her research, Madam Corrie was fatally
exposed-----------radio-activity.
7. He finally accepted a much lesser amount-----------lieu-----------
his claim---------$10,000.
8.Whatever she does, she does-----------an eye-----------achieving
excellence.
9. Don’t loiter---------the school compound.
10. The noise comes------------ ----------------the street. (double
prepositions)

Blog-entry for ISC class XI Students: Contextual Questions-answers

Macbeth – A tragedy by William Shakespeare (1564-1660)
Question Courtesy – Xavier Pinto
Extract 3
Macbeth: Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more:
By Sinel’s death I know I am Thane of Glamis;
But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives;
A prosperous gentleman; and to be king
Stands not within the prospect of belief,
No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence
You owe this strange intelligence? Or why
Upon this blasted heath you stop our way
With such prophetic greeting? Speak, I charge you.

(i) Who are the ‘imperfect speakers’? Why are they termed ‘imperfect’?
The ‘imperfect speakers’ are the three witches.
They are termed ‘imperfect’ because what they say are unintelligible. Macbeth wonders how he can be the Thane of Cawdor because he does not yet know of the Thane’s treachery. As for kingship, that is simply incredible and hence, this reaction.
(ii) What have those speakers spoken to Macbeth earlier?
Having greeted Macbeth, the first witch has addressed him as Thane of Glamis; the second witch has greeted him as Thane of Cawdor; the third witch predicts that Macbeth shall be the king.
(iii) Which two doubts does Macbeth have now? Give reasons.
It seems to Macbeth that he should become king is as incredible as that he is Thane of Cawdor because Macbeth does not yet know that the previous Thane has already been stripped of his title.
(iv) Which two questions does he ask at the end of his speech? Write in your words.
Macbeth demands of the witches from where they have the extraordinary news that they are prophesying and why they have bidden them (Macbeth and Banquo) to stop at this god-forsaken place and what are the true meanings of their strange prophesy.
(v) What happens after this speech? How do Macbeth and Banquo react on that happening?
The witches simply vanish into thin air.
Macbeth seems to be seriously thinking about the witches’ prophesies while Banquo is not; on the other hand, Banquo says that the witches are like bubbles of water, and the strange creatures might have been merely fantasies.

The Sniper-A Short Story by Liam O’Flaherty ICSE Literature Paper - INDIA

The Sniper A Short Story by Liam O’Flaherty

ICSE Literature Paper - INDIA

Courtesy FrankSons Workbook

Glossary

Sniper – a hidden shooter; gleam – flickering brightness; parapet – low protective wall along a roof; turret – the rotating dome of an armourd car containing the gun; recoil – sudden or swallow;

Context Q. no. 2

“His face was the face of a student, thin and serious, but his eyes had the cold gleam of the fanatic. They were deep and thoughtful, the eyes of a man who is used to looking at death.”

(i) Who is being described here? Which party does he belong to and where is he?

The sniper, the protagonist of the story, is being described here.

He belongs to the Republican Party. He is on a rooftop near O’Connell Bridge in the city of Dublin in Ireland.

(ii) Explain ‘the eyes of a man who is used to looking at death.’

The sniper being actively engaged in a fierce civil war, has caused and seen death from close quarters. Besides he is a fanatic, fighting for his cause without questions and this explains why his eyes have that strange gleam even when he is shooting at the Free Staters who were but his own country-men.

(iii) What is the professional equipment he is carrying? What else does he have with him?

The sniper’s professional equipment includes his rifle, revolver, a pair of field-glasses, a first-aid box and a couple of sandwiches.

He has also a flask of whisky and a pack of cigarettes to steady his nerves when the going is particularly trying.

(iv) Why does he hesitate before smoking? What happens as soon as he lights a cigarette?

He does so lest the flash of the match-stick striking the match-box should be seen by a hidden enemy.

No sooner does he light up a cigarette than a bullet shot by an enemy secretly watching, flattens itself against the parapet of the roof on which the sniper has positioned himself.

(v) What happens as he carefully looks over the parapet from where he is hiding?

As soon as he looks over the parapet of the roof, there is a flash and a bullet whizzes over his head. The bullet is shot from the opposite side of the street from a rooftop.

N.B. Some of these free ICSE and ISC stories, poems and dramas contextual questions and answers authored by me can also be found at

http://groups.google.co.in/group/write-better-speak-better?hl=en-GB

Free As You Like It Contextual Questions Act I Scene I

Contextual Question no 2.

Question Courtesy-Xavier Pinto

Oliver: Know you before whom, sir?

Orlando: Ay, better than him I am before knows me. I know you are

my eldest brother; and, in the gentle condition of blood, you

should so know me. The courtesy of nations allows you my

better, in that you are the first-born; but the same tradition

takes not away my blood, were there twenty brothers betwixt

us. I have as much of my father in me as you; albeit, I

confess, your coming before me is nearer to his reverence.

(i) Where are Oliver and Orlando? What have they been discussing just before the extract?

Oliver and Orlando are in the former’s orchard.

They have been having a duel of words between them. While Oliver was being rude and insolent to his younger brother, Orlando asked his wicked elder brother why he was treating him as if he were a spendthrift like the prodigal son in the Bible, to be reduced to this state of destitution.

(ii) Give the meaning of:

(a) Ay, better than him I am before knows me.

Yes, I realize that better than you realize who I am.

(b) your coming before me

You were born before me.

(iii) What is meant by the courtesy of nations? What does this courtesy allow Oliver?

This means the custom in most of the countries which acknowledges that an elder brother should be affectionate in his dealings with his younger brother and that the elder brother deserves respectful behaviour from his younger brother.

As Oliver was born before Orlando, Oliver is entitled to more of the respect that was due to their father.

(iv). What does his father’s will state, as far as Orlando is concerned?

The will of Orlando’s father bequeathed a thousand crowns to him and made him it a condition of his blessing to Oliver that he should bring Orlando up and educate him properly.

(v) State what happens after the extract.

Oliver strikes Orlando in a fit of temper when the latter holds him in a vicious grip. They exchange some heated words while Orlando keeps on gripping Oliver’s throat. Adam tries somewhat vainly to make peace between the two. Having forced his elder brother promise that he would pass on to him (Orlando) the small share of the property left to him by his father according to his will, he (Orlando) lets him (Oliver) go.

You may also read this free As You Like It contextual answers written by me at

http://groups.google.co.in/groups/write-better-speak-better?hl=en-GB

Contextual Questions - As You Like It - A Comedy by William Shakespeare

As You Like It: A Comedy by William Shakespeare

Act I: Scene I

Contextual Questions (Question Courtesy-Xavier Pinto)

1. Besides this nothing that he so plentifully gives me, the

something that nature gave me, his countenance seems to

take from me: he lets me feed me with his hinds, bars me the

place of a brother, and, as much as in him lies, mines my gentility

with my education. This is it, Adam, that grieves

me; and the spirit of my father, which I think is within me,

begins to mutiny against this servitude. I will no longer

endure it, though yet I know no wise remedy how to avoid it.

(i) Who speaks these lines? Where does the scene take place? Who else is present at the scene?

Orlando, the brave and chivalrous hero of the drama and the victim of the tyranny of his elder brother, speaks these lines.

The opening scene takes place in an orchard near Oliver’s house.

Adam, an old servant of Sir Rowland, Oliver, the malicious, eldest son of Sir Rowland de Boys, Dennis, Oliver’s servant, and Charles, Duke Frederick’s wrestler, are present at the scene.

(ii) Who is ‘he’ referred to in the extract? What injustice has he done to the speaker as far his inheritance and education is concerned?

In the extract, ‘he’ refers to Oliver, the unnatural brother of Orlando who hates him (Orlando) for his outstanding qualities.

Oliver has not only deprived Orlando of a gentleman’s upbringing as he (Oliver) should have done as his father’s will dictated him but has also purposely desisted from sending him to school.

(iii) What is said about the speaker’s father? How is the younger brother of the speaker better off than him?

It is said that Orlando’s father Sir Rowland de Boys is dead and that he entrusted Oliver, his eldest son to bring up all his children including Orlando as befitting to the members of the nobility.

The younger brother of Orlando, Jaques is better off than the former in the sense that arrangements have been made by Oliver for his education whereas Orlando is languishing unattended at home.

(iv) Give the meaning of the following:

(a) mines my gentility: undermines my noble birth

(b) to mutiny against this servitude: to rebel against the slavery (Orlando’s) to Oliver

(v) Give the comparison between the treatment of the speaker and the treatment of animals.

Orlando complains that the manner in which Oliver treats him is no better than an ox being kept by its owner at a stall in the stable. Even Oliver’s horses are fed with excellent fodder besides being trained by expert riders whereas Orlando is neither given good food nor provided with education or any kind of training befitting a noble man’s son.

(vi.) Summarise the grievances of the speaker as given in the extract.

Orlando is grieved at not having been given a gentleman’s upbringing and the rightful place of a sibling by his elder brother Oliver. He is also sorrowful that this is robbing him of his natural abilities. His father’s spirit within him has begun to rebel against the slavery he is being subjected to, although he does not know how to remedy the situation.

(vii) What does the extract show about the character of Orlando?

Orlando emerges as an unschooled yet well behaved, ill-bred yet learned young man in the extract. The extract also clearly shows him as an aggressive young man who will not be cowed down by his wretched condition.

N.B. You can also find this free As You Like It contextual answers at

http://groups.google.co.in/group/write-better-speak-better?hl=en-GB

The Magic of English Literature and Language

Dear Students,

Have you ever wondered why you have to study English Literature and Language throughout your school career? It is not only because you have to be an excellent communicator before you become an young adult but also to understand life in all its hues so that you can take mature decisions as you walk along not so smooth way of life.

Being a good speaker and writer is a great asset to make people agree to your point of view or to put across whatever you have learnt so far (for example, Science) convincingly and clearly and that itself makes you win half the battles of life. We are actually selling our ideas to people around us and so having command over a language (in Bengali, Hindi or English) matters quite a lot in making your life fulfilling in the true sense of the word.

All the best and thank our for your time.