His forehead was resplendent with sacred ash and Vermilion, and his eyes sparkled with a sharp abnormal gleam which was really an outcome of a continual searching look for customers, but which his simple clients took to be a prophetic light and felt comforted. The power of his eyes was considerably enhanced by their position placed as they were between the painted forehead and the dark whiskers which streamed down his cheeks : even a half-wit’s eyes would sparkle in such a setting. To crown the effect he wound a saffron-coloured turban around his head. This colour scheme never failed. People were attracted to him as bees are attracted to cosmos or dahlia stalks. He sat under the boughs of a spreading tamarind tree which flanked a path running through the Town Hall Park. It was a remarkable place in many ways. A surging crowd was always moving up and down this narrow road from morning till night. A variety of trades and occupations was represented all along its way : medicine sellers, sellers of stolen hardware and junk, magicians, and above all, an auctioneer of cheap cloth, who created enough din all day to attract the whole town. Next to him in vociferousness came a vendor of fried groundnut, who gave his ware a fancy name each day, calling it “Bombay Ice Cream” one day and on the next “Delhi Almond,” and on the third “Raja’s Delicacy,” and so on and so forth, and people flocked to him. A considerable portion of this crowd dallied before the astrologer too. The astrologer
transacted his business by the light of a flare which crackled and smoked up above the groundnut heap nearby.
Al. Choose TWO correct statements from the given alternatives.
- The astrologer sat on the path running through the Town Hall because……..
(i) a surging crowd moved up and down the narrow path from morning till night.
(ii) he had many friends there.
(iii) the place was very peaceful and quiet which helped the astrologer to concentrate on his work.
(iv) there was enough din to attract the whole town.
Ans (1) (i) a surging crowd moved up and down the narrow path from morning till night.
A2. Give TWO reasons for the astrologer’s to choose his place by the side of the groundnut seller.
(i)_________________________________
2)___________________________________
Ans :-1) because people flocked to him and considerable portion of crowd attracted towards astrologer.
2) The astrologer transacted his business by the light of a flare .
A3. The astrologer dressed himself up in a particular way. Explain the need for it.
A4 -Imagine you have visited a market which you find remarkable. Write in a few sentences the
reasonable thinking so.
Ans :- …………………………..——————————————–
Ans: There is lot of vociferousness of variety of sellers, people as a customer came to there to satisfy
there needs by buying things. A surging crowd was always there.
A 5 Do as directed.
(1) He sat under the boughs of a spreading tamarind tree.
(Choose the correct alternative to make the sentence, Past Perfect Continuous.)
(a) He is sitting under the boughs of a spreading tamarind tree.
(b) He was sitting under the boughs of a spreading tamarind tree.
(c) He has been sitting under the boughs of a spreading tamarind tree.
(d) He had been sitting under the boughs of a spreading tamarind tree.
Ans -(d) He had been sitting under the boughs of a spreading tamarind tree.
(ii) It was a remarkable place.
(Choose the correct alternative to make the sentence ‘Negative’ without changing the meaning.)
(a) It was not a remarkable place.
(b) It was not an extraordinary place.
(c) Was it not a remarkable place?
(d) It was not an ordinary place.
Ans d) It was not an ordinary place.
A6. Choose the meanings of the following words from the options provided.
(i) half-wit…..
(a) clever (b) foolish (c) smart (d) lazy
Ans: (b) foolish
(ii) stalk ————–
(a) Stem (b) flower. (c)leaf. (d) root
Ans –(a) stem
(iii)flank —————
(a) Cover (b) in the middle of. (c) on one side of (d) on top of
Ans ( c) on one side
(iv) din—————–
(a) Calm and quiet (b) hazy (c) a loud noise (d) not bright
Ans -( c ) a loud noise