Siblings hold a unique place in our lives—they’re our partners in mischief, our first friends, and often our lifelong supporters. Around the world, different cultures celebrate these bonds in their own ways. Two such celebrations are Siblings Day, observed in the US, Canada, and parts of Europe, and Raksha Bandhan, a centuries-old Hindu festival in India. Let’s explore these holidays and what makes them special.
World Poetry Day, celebrated each year on 21st March, is a special occasion dedicated to the art of poetry. Established by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) in 1999, this day aims to promote linguistic diversity, support endangered languages, and encourage appreciation for the beauty of poetry. The date was chosen to coincide with the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, symbolising renewal, creativity, and growth. Since its inception, World Poetry Day has evolved into a global celebration, uniting poets, readers, and educators to honour the timeless power of poetic expression.
Q1. Who is Mukesh and what is his dream?
Answer: Mukesh comes from a family of bangle craftsmen in Firozabad, where every household is involved in bangle production. They reside in incomplete dwellings and malodorous alleys. When questioned, Mukesh expresses, "I aspire to become a motor mechanic and learn to drive a car." This desire reflects his ambition to be independent and in control of his own destiny
Q1. What is Saheb looking for in the garbage dumps? Where is he and where has he come from?
Answer: Saheb, a scavenger and a rag picker hailing from Seemapuri, a suburban enclave in East Delhi, perpetually scours the garbage heaps in search of valuable items. For the children, rubbish holds a mystique, while for the adults, it represents a lifeline. It serves as the daily sustenance for scavengers like Saheb. Occasionally, he chances upon a rupee, or even a ten-rupee note, or a silver coin, fostering a perpetual hope for greater discoveries. Seemapuri is home to over 10,000 such scavengers. Saheb migrated from the verdant fields of Dhaka, where his abode and fields were ravaged by storms, leaving them bereft of adequate sustenance. However, in Delhi, they retire to bed without the pangs of hunger gnawing at their stomachs.
Sir Michael Gambon, the beloved actor who brought Albus Dumbledore to life in the Harry Potter films, died on Sep 29, 2023, at 82. He was a British-Irish actor and was a stage and screen icon for decades, but his role as the wise and benevolent headmaster of Hogwarts will forever be cherished by fans around the world.
Q1: The increasing number of vehicles on the city roads not only causes inconvenience to the people but also affects the health of millions of people. Write a letter to the Editor of an esteemed daily, giving your suggestions regarding checking the number of vehicles on roads. You are Rahul/Rubina of Bengaluru.
Subject: Increasing number of vehicles on the city roads
Q1. What is the theme of the story deep waters?
Answer: Deep Water teaches its audience that it is not death; rather, everyone is afraid of dying. Otherwise, the fear would overcome us, therefore we must battle it. Past memories can also have a permanent impact on a person's thinking.
"The Last Lesson" takes place during the Bismarck-led Franco-Prussian War. After defeating France, Prussia took control of the French provinces of Lorraine and Alsace.
About the Author:
Anees Jung is an Indian author, journalist and columnist for newspapers in India and abroad, whose most known work, 'Unveiling India' (1987) was a chronicle of the lives of women in India.
Books written by Anees Jung:
1. Unveiling India (Buy It)
2. Night of the New Moon: Encounters with Muslim women in India (Buy)
3. Seven Sisters
4. Breaking the Silence (Buy)
5. Lost Spring: Stories of Stolen Childhood (Buy)
6. Beyond the Courtyard (Buy)
"Lost Spring" examines the suffering (conditions) of street children who are denied the chance to go to school and are pushed into labour at a young age. Thus, it primarily discusses the extreme poverty and customs that doom young kids to a life of servitude.
Book: Flamingo (Prose)
Q1: Who is the author of 'The Last Lesson'?
Answer: Alphonse Daudet
Q2: What is the background of the story?
Answer: 'The Last Lesson' is set during the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871), in which France was defeated by Prussia under Bismarck's leadership. Prussia was made up of what are now the countries of Germany, Poland, and parts of Austria. The French territories of Alsace and Lorraine have fallen into Prussian hands in this novel. This story also depicts the impact of the occurrence on routine school life. It also emphasises the suffering inflicted on the people of the territory by invaders who took away their rights to learn and speak their native tongue.
Question: Read the passage given below.
1. Maharana Pratap ruled over Mewar only for 25 years. However, he accomplished so much grandeur during his reign that his glory surpassed the boundaries of countries and time turning him into an immortal personality. He along with his kingdom became a synonym for valour, sacrifice and patriotism. Mewar had been a leading Rajput kingdom even before Maharana Pratap occupied the throne. Kings of Mewar, with the cooperation of their nobles and subjects, had established such traditions in the kingdom, as augmented their magnificence despite the hurdles of having a smaller area under their command and less population. There did come a few thorny occasions when the flag of the kingdom seemed sliding down. Their flag once again heaved high in the sky thanks to the gallantry and brilliance of the people of Mewar.
Invitations form an important part of social dealings. An invitation is a request to an individual or group of persons to come or go somewhere, or to do something. We need invitations for many social occasions such as celebrations of birthday, engagement, wedding, marriage anniversary, appointment, promotion etc.
Invitations can be both formal as well as informal.
CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) has released the Sample Paper for Class 10 12 Term 2 Exams 2022. CBSE released the sample papers on their official website for both the Classes 10th and 12th and these papers are in a subjective format.
Students can check the sample paper at https://cbseacademic.nic.in/
These papers are in a subjective format.
Author: Selma Lagerlöf
About the author:
Selma Ottilia Lovisa Lagerlöf 20 November 1858 – 16 March 1940) was a Swedish author and teacher. She published her first novel, Gösta Berling's Saga, at the age of 33. She was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, which she was awarded in 1909. Additionally, she was the first woman to be granted membership in The Swedish Academy in 1914.
Q1: What message does the story 'The Rattrap' convey?
Answer: Essential goodness in a human being can be awakened through understanding and love.
Q2: Justify the title 'The Rattrap'.
Q1: Who is the author of Deep Water?
(a) William Shakespeare
(b) William George Bernard Shaw
(c) William Wordsworth
(d) William Douglas
Q2: My introduction to the Y.M.CA. swimming pool revived unpleasant memories and stirred childish fears,"
It can be inferred that this was a clear case of
Q1: Who is the author of Lost Spring?
(a) Kamla Das
(b) Arundhati Roy
(c) Sudha Murthy
(d) Anees Jung
Q2: Why is the author calling garbage as gold in the story?
(a) Because of jewels in it.
(b) Because of gems in it.
(c) Because of gold in it.
(d) Because of its monetary value.
Q1: Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Driving from my parent’s
home to Cochin last Friday
morning, I saw my mother,
beside me,
doze, open mouthed, her face
ashen like that
of a corpse and realised with pain
that she was as old as she looked
but soon
put that thought away....
Q1: Who is the author of The Last Lesson?
(A) Jane Austen
(B) Rabindra Nath Tagore
(C) Sudha Murthy
(D) Alphonse Daudet
Q2: The story ‘The Last Lesson’ highlights which human tendency?
(A) Male Chauvinism
(B) Procrastination
(C) Courage
(D) Cowardice
POET: ADRIENNE RICH
Q1. How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tiger’s attitudes?
Answer: Like all beasts of prey, the tigers are the denizens of the forest. They live far away from human settlements. They are called ‘chivalric.’ This indicates the majestic and honourable position that they occupy in the world of animals. So, the use of the words ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ adds to our understanding of the tiger’s attitudes.
Q2. Why do you think Aunt Jennifer’s hands are ‘fluttering through her wool’ in the second stanza? Why is she finding the needle so hard to pull?
Answer: Aunt Jennifer is weaving tigers on the panel. Her hands are moving about her wool. She is finding the needle quite hard to pull. The weight of years of her married life is lying heavy on her hand. This makes the pulling of the needle so hard.
