UPON THE WESTMINSTER BRIDGE by William Wordsworth: An Analysis

UPON THE WESTMINSTER BRIDGE by William Wordsworth: An Analysis
The Author:
William Wordsworth

William Wordsworth (1770-1850) belongs to the first generation of the English Romantic poets. He was born on 7th April, 1770 at Cockermouth, Cumberland in the Lake Districts of Northern England. He lost his mother only at the age of eight and his father at the age of thirteen. Thereafter he had to depend on the generosity of his relatives. He was sent to the Grammar School of Hawkshead in the heart of the Lake districts. In his boyhood he got close contact with the nature, which charmed him very much. At seventeen, he was sent to St. John’s College, Cambridge. He was a mediocre student and graduated from this college in 1791.
He had a great passion for travelling. During his student career, he traveled many places, including Cumberland, Yorkshire, France and Switzerland. However, he paid a second visit to France in November, 1791. The French Revolution was then at its height there and exercised a strong influence on his mind. He was filled with love and admiration for the ideals of the Revolution. But afterwards, he was greatly shocked by the bloody excesses of the Revolution. Disillusioned and depressed, he returned to England. Dorothy, his sister, accompanied him during his days of depression. She cheered him up and settled with him in a little cottage in Dorset. In 1795, he got a legacy of £900 settled upon him by a friend. It was enough to set him above want.
In the meantime, he met S. T. Coleridge and moved to Somerset in order to live near him. He left for Germany on a visit in 1798-99. Coming back he settled in the Lake District where he met Mary Hutchinson. He married her in 1802. Then in 1813, he moved with her and sister Dorothy to Rydal Mount where he lived for the rest of his life. But for his passion for travelling, he could not stay in peace. He visited Scotland several times.
Wordsworth began his poetic career in college life with Guilt and Sorrow (1791). While in university, he published An Evening Walk (1793). His first considerable work was the Lyrical Ballads (1798) published together with Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It is regarded as a milestone in the history of English poetry. His other notable works are: Michael (1798), Tintern Abbey (1798), The Excursion (1814), The Prelude (1850) and the prose Preface to the Lyrical Ballads (1800) where he supports the need for a new kind of poetry that would be closer to nature and common human experiences.
He was offered the honorary D.C.L. (Doctor of Civil Law) degree by the Oxford University in 1839. He was awarded a Civil List Pension of £300 a year in 1842. On the death of Robert Southey in 1843, he was appointed the Poet Laureate of England. He breathed his last on 23rd April, 1850 and was buried in Grasmere churchyard.
The Source:
The poet William Wordsworth was greatly charmed by the early morning scene of London watched from a coach while crossing the Westminster Bridge on the way to Dover on 31st July, 1802. He immediately wrote a poem reflecting his personal feelings, perceptions and fascinations. The poem was Upon the Westminster Bridge. The poem got its final form when Wordsworth and Dorothy were returning from France on 3rd September, 1802. Dorothy Wordsworth’s Journal supports these facts.
The Substance:
The poet is crossing the Westminster Bridge over the Thames in a coach early in the morning. The sun is just rising up and the great city of London is bathed in its first light. The poet is deeply moved by the beauty of the scene. It appears to him to be the loveliest sight. Nobody can ignore this unparalleled and splendid sight. And if there is any, he is definitely devoid of any sense of natural beauty. The city seems to wear a dress of golden sunbeams.
The city is totally silent and clearly visible. The sky is clear having no dust and no smoke. There is no noise in the atmosphere. All is calm and quiet. Everything of the city such as ships, towers, domes, theaters, temples etc is clearly visible even from the green fields that lie in distance in the unpolluted air of the early morning. All are brilliantly shining in the golden rays of the rising sun.
The valley, rock and hill look lovely at sunrise. But the city of London is the loveliest. The river (Thames) flows freely. Its course is not obstructed by the movements of boats or ships. The very houses seem to be sleeping. London, the heart of the country, remains calm and quiet as if a roaring giant is stilled. The poet makes an impassioned address to God, the creator of all beauty upon the earth, to express his sincere gratitude to Him.
The Features:
The poem Upon the Westminster Bridge is a perfect sonnet. It has a regular pattern following the Italian model. The simple diction, meter and style of the poem enhance the simplicity, frankness and beauty of the theme. The poem is a pleasant one to read and perceive. It is also a brilliant romantic poem. Wordsworth, a romantic poet, creates a purely romantic expression throughout the poem. Nature is all alive to him. The beautiful objects of nature stir his inner soul and make him fascinated towards them.

Result of ICSE and ISC Exam, 2013: An Analysis

Result of ICSE and ISC Exam, 2013: An Analysis


The result of ICSE and ISC Exam, 2013 was declared on 17.05.2013 as expected. Here is some data on the overall result :

Rate of Success         India         West Bengal

 ISC                        95.15%         95.22%

 ICSE                      98.20%        97.82%


The marksheets of ICSE and ISC may be given on 21 May, 2013 and 23 May, 2013 respectively.

ALIAS JIMMY VALENTINE by O Henry: An Analysis

ALIAS JIMMY VALENTINE by O Henry: An Analysishttp://downloadpdfz.com/pdf/alias-jimmy-valentine-by-o-henry-51808707.html

EXAM RESULT

EXAM RESULT
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SCHEDULE OF MADHYAMIK PARIKSHA, 2014

SCHEDULE OF MADHYAMIK PARIKSHA, 2014
Madhyamik Pariksha, 2014 will possibly start from 24 Feb. The probable routine is given below :
24 Feb, 2014 – 1st Language, 1st Paper

25 Feb, 2014 – 1st Language, 2nd Paper
26 Feb, 2014 – 2nd Language
28 Feb, 2014 – History
1 March, 2014 – Geography
3 March, 2014 – Mathematics
4 March, 2014 – Physical Science
5 March, 2014 – Life Science
6 March, 2014 – Additional Subject

THE SICK ROSE by William Blake:An Analysis

THE SICK ROSE by William Blake:An Analysis
The Author:
William Blake

William Blake (1757-1827)
The Source:
The Sick Rose is taken from Blake’s memorable poetical work, Songs of Experience (1794), a collection of poems. Blake composed the poem sometime after 1789, and presented it with illuminated borders and illustrations.
The Substance:
The poem starts with an impassioned address to the rose by the poet. He is deeply mortified to see the rose sick. The unseen worm, which flies in the deep darkness of the stormy night, creeps in it. The worm makes its bed in the rose. It starts to bite the rose. The flower bleeds. With every bite of the worm, drop of blood is shed. The lively rose sickens. It does not know the danger it calls in by sheltering the worm. The worm thrives destroying the rose merrily. The rose gradually loses all its purity and beauty. Finally, the sickening rose meets death.
As a symbolic poem, it bears a deeper meaning. The rose stands for innocence, purity, love and beauty. The worm, on the other hand, is the symbol of experience, evil, jealousy and selfishness. The deadly bite of evil makes love sick. Innocence is destroyed by experience, beauty by jealousy. So was the case with Adam and Eve, the First Men. Their innocence and heavenly glories were spoiled by Satan’s evil devices.
The Features:
The Sick Rose by William Blake is a perfect lyrical poem. The subject matter is simply told. A rose is sick and destroyed by the evil design of a worm. But the poem has an underlying meaning. The sick rose and the joyous worm are two opposite aspects of life. One stands for innocence and the other for experience. The former is destroyed by the latter. In broad sense, they remind us of the Fall of Men. The poet uses imagery and symbol to correlate the two layers of meaning. The poem is also marked for its sound-rhythm, fineness of feelings and brevity. The expressions like ‘invisible worm’, ‘howling storm’, ‘crimson joy’, ‘secret love’ etc. are the perfect gems of poetry. The title is also significant. The word ‘sick’ reflects the theme of the poem. The poem has a rhyming scheme of abcb. As a whole, the poem is a typical one from the pen of Blake who keeps a mark of his poetic excellence in it.

KARMA by Khushwant Singh: An Analysis

KARMA by Khushwant Singh: An Analysis
The Writer :

Khushwant Singh (b. 1915)


Khushwant Singh (b. 1915) is a renowned Indian Journalist and writer. He worked as the editor of Illustrated Weekly, National Herald, Hindustan Times, etc. He wrote books like History of the Sikhs, Train to Pakistan, End of India, A Bride for the Sahib and Other Stories, Burial at Sea, In the Company of Women, Love, Truth and a Little Malice, etc. He was awarded both the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.
To know more about the writer click here.
The Source:
The present story Karma is taken from his book, The Collected Stories published in 1989.
The Summary:
It is a first class waiting room at the railway station. Sir Mohan Lal is found standing before the mirror. The mirror is worn-out and partly broken. He hates the mirror as he hates everything of India. But he admires his own appearance. He looks perfectly like a sahib. The train is yet to come. He calls the bearer and orders a drink.
Outside the waiting room, Lachmi, his wife is sitting on a small grey steel trunk. She is chewing a betel leaf. She is a traditional Indian woman and is commonly dressed. She requests a coolie to carry her luggage to the end of the platform. She will get into the inter-class woman compartment. She is not allowed to accompany her husband in the first class compartment, because her husband is a high government official, a barrister. He will meet many officials in the compartment. But Lachmi cannot speak English and does not know their ways. Obviously, she cannot travel with her husband. She hardly enjoys the company of her husband. He visits her rarely at night. Then Lachmi plays the role of a passive partner. They have no child.
The train arrives at the platform. Lachmi enters the inter-class compartment. It is almost empty. She prepares some betel-leaves and starts chewing one.
There is a lot of noise. Passengers are jostling on the platform. Sir Mohan Lal totally detests them. He is calm and quiet. He is still enjoying his drink. He has spent five years in Oxford University. He strictly follows the manners of the English. He rarely speaks Hindustani. He speaks in English with a foreign accent. He can talk on any subject like a cultured Englishman. Indeed, he always feels at home with the English. He expects some Englishmen as co-passengers. In that case it will be an enjoyable journey for him. But he shows no sign of urge to talk to the English like most of the Indians. He pretends to read The Times. He has already his Balliol tie. He orders whisky. And lastly, he opens his gold cigarette case full of English cigarettes. He knows well that all these things will automatically arrest the attention of the Englishmen. Now he recalls his five-year glorious life of England. He loves everything of the country. Even the prostitutes of England are more charming to him than his wife Lachmi.
However, Sir Mohan enters his reserved first class coupe. It is empty and so he is sad. He begins to read The Times. Just then two English soldiers appear. They are looking for a suitable compartment. Sir Mohan is ready to welcome them. The two soldiers ultimately choose Sir Mohan’s compartment. But they order him to get out from the compartment. Though it is reserved, the soldiers do not care for it. Sir Mohan protests mildly. His royal English, sahib like appearance and The Times come of no use. The soldiers throw all the belongings of Sir Mohan out of the train. Finally they push him out of the train. The train quickly passes the station leaving him on the platform. His wife, totally unaware of his condition, chews the betel leaves, spits and sends a jet of red dribble flying across like a dart.
The Features:
The word karma is a Sanskrit one and literally means destiny. It also has a Hindu theological idea, but it has been used as the title of the story only to speak about the identity crisis of a person who blindly imitates the western culture and fashion under the impact of British colonialism in India.
Irony forms one of the basic characteristics in Khushwant Singh’s style of writing. The consequence of Sir Mohan’s babu-culture is ironical. The irony lies in the fact that he is neither a British nor an Indian. He has no real identity. He himself has lost it. Khushwant Singh has portrayed a deep ironical view of the world around him through this story.
Mohan Lal and Lachmi are totally opposite characters though they are couple to each other. Mohan Lal is a blind follower of the English culture, whereas his wife Lachmi is a typical Indian woman. Finally, Mohan Lal loses his identity, but Lachmi has no such crisis.
Through this story, Khushwant Singh warns us against our false belief in foreign excellence. It teaches us not to cut our roots off with our own soil, men and civilization. Otherwise, we are sure to face humiliation and tragic doom.
The story shows Khushwant Sing’s art of presenting the psychological aspects of human beings nicely. His power to study of man is as remarkable here as the glamour of his linguistic style to present them vividly.
The Theme:
Imitation of foreign culture
Unhappy married life
Contrast of culture and life-style
Aristocracy and patriotism

BROTHERHOOD by Octavio Paz: An Analysis

BROTHERHOOD by Octavio Paz: An Analysis
The Author:
Octavio Paz (1914-1998)

The Source:
The poem Brotherhood is a fine lyric created by Octavio Paz, a powerful modern writer.
The Substance:
The poem begins with ‘I’ which refers to the poet Octavio Paz himself. He says that he is a human being. It is his only identity. He knows that human life is very short and transient. Death comes to all to lead us to dust from where we come. We have a brief span of life on earth. But the life after death is unending. Then we go into the eternal darkness. Yet the poet is not sad. He looks up. He finds the writing of the stars. They write in light on the sky. They give the message of light and lustre.
A realization comes to him. He, as a poet, creates. In his creation he remains alive. He lives completely only when he is created anew in the hearts of the readers. He is written by his readers. He thinks that the moment when this realization comes to him is a very special and valuable moment of his life. He declares with strong confidence that someone is there to understand him well and to explain him correctly. Finally, he gains faith in the existence of the Almighty. He is happy to think that as an artist he will survive in the hearts of readers. Despite all his limitations, he will enjoy perfect kinship with God who spells all out. He knows all the desires and limitations of man. This firm belief turns the poet optimistic.
The Features:
Brotherhood is a poem of just eight lines. But it is rich in significance, philosophy and lyricism. The poet thinks over the condition of man on earth. His life is very short in comparison with the vastness of the dark death. He knows well that his end will come soon. But as a creative writer, he will be remembered through his writings.
Subjectivity is one of the essential characteristics of a lyric. The poet begins this poem, like a true lyricist, with ‘I am a man ...’ It is his personal emotions and thoughts which build the theme of the poem. Like a good lyric, it also has a lovely rhyming and lucidity of diction.
The poem expresses the simple philosophy of life. It begins with a tone of pessimism that the poet, as a man, will die soon. But it ends with an optimistic tone that the poet will live forever in the hearts of the readers through his writings.
The poet uses a very simple and suitable diction. The very brevity of the poem makes it effectively touching. The poem has a universal charm which increases its appeal to the readers.

LEELA'S FRIEND by R K Narayan: An Analysis

LEELA'S FRIEND by R K Narayan: An Analysis


The Writer:
Rasipuram Krishnaswami Narayan (10 October, 1906 -- 13 May, 2001) is one of the best Indian novelists writing in English. His famous novels are Swami and Friends (1935), The Bachelor of Arts (1937), The Dark Room (1938), The English Teacher (1946), The Guide (1958), The Man-eater of Malgudi (1962), etc. He also wrote many short stories and published them in volumes as Malgudi Days (1941), Dodu and Other Stories (1943), Cyclone and Other Stories (1944), etc. He is noted for his simple way of writing. He won numerous awards and honours for his works. He received the Sahitya Academy Award in 1961 for his novel The Guide. He was awarded the Padma Bhusan in 1964. In 1980, he was awarded the A. C. Benson Award by the Royal Society of Literature.

To know more about the writer click here.
The Source:
The present story Leela’s Friend is one of his best known short-stories and is taken from his Malgudi Days.
The Summary:
Mr. Sivasanker is deeply thinking about his servant-problem. Sidda, a homeless poor boy, comes to his gate just then in search of a job. Sivasanker looks at him and finds nothing objectionable. Yet he asks a few questions about his previous work. He calls then his wife who turns satisfied after meeting the boy. Leela, their five-year old daughter comes out and likes the boy. Sidda is selected on an agreement of two meals a day and four rupees a month. In return he is to wash clothes, tend the garden, run errands, chop wood and look after Leela.
Sidda is a likeable boy who gets on well with the family. He becomes a good friend with Leela. Sidda and Leela play together with a ball. Sidda throws the ball upward. When the ball comes down, he tells her that the ball has touched the moon. Even he has touched the moon many times from a coconut tree. The innocent girl believes every word of Sidda. She also expresses her desire to touch the moon. She is surprised to see that wherever they move, the moon is there. She claps in joy. Sidda informs her that he really knows the moon which follows up his command.
At day’s end Leela plays the teacher to Sidda. She tries to teach him with her little knowledge. She writes a letter or draws a kind of cat or crow, and asks him to copy it. But he is a very poor performer. Yet Leela does not give up her effort. She does not allow him to leave his task. The game of teaching goes on for a long time. Sidda gets relief only when he falsely tells her that her mother is calling her to dinner.
Every night Sidda tells a nice story to put Leela to sleep. Day by day he becomes her constant companion. A sweetening relationship is established between them.
One evening Sidda goes out to buy sugar and Leela accompanies him. When they come home, Leela’s mother noticed that the gold chain around Leela’s neck is missing. Being furious she slaps Leela and calls Sidda at once on suspicion. Sidda defends himself feebly but leaves the house stealthily.
At this Mr. Sivasanker and his wife are convinced that Sidda is the culprit. He lodges a complaint against him in the Police Station. But Leela is not ready to believe this. She longs for his company. She is deeply sorrowful. She thinks that her parents are responsible for her friend’s leaving their house. The loss of gold chain does not matter to her.
Mr. Sivasanker learns from the Police Inspector that Sidda has criminal records. He has been in jail for several times for stealing jewellery from children. He assures his wife that the police will arrest Sidda very soon. Four days later, the police Inspector and a constable brings in Sidda. Leela is very happy and runs to meet him. The Inspector stops her and presses Sidda to confess his guilt. Leela’s mother abuses him for his treachery. Sidda only replies that he has not taken the chain.
The Inspector tells his constable to take him back to the police station. Leela requests him to free Sidda. But nobody listens to her. She starts to shed tears.
A few days later, Leela’s mother discovers the lost gold chain from a tamarind pot. She comes to know that Leela has dropped it there and forgotten all about it. Mr. Sivasanker learns all and informs the police about the chain’s discovery, but does not allow Sidda to continue his job. Sidda’s position does not improve. He remains a confirmed criminal in his eyes.
The Features:
It is clear from the title Leela’s Friend that the story is about Leela and her friend Sidda. The story brings forth the class-conflict between the high and the low of the society. Sidda becomes the victim of that conflict. Poverty leaves a permanent wound to Sidda’s life. Though he tries to overcome his dark past and is proved guiltless at the end of the story, he is not either allowed to continue his job neither provided with an apology. The so-called society remains indifferent to his sorrows and sufferings.
Sidda’s punishment is unjust and also a blunder. But the protector of the law escapes counter punishment. This is not a case to Sidda only, but its roots lie in the every sphere of the society making it worse and gloomy. R. K. Narayan has raised his voice to protest against this through the present story. Herein lies his craftsmanship.
The Theme:
Betrayal of trust
True friendship
Poverty and exploitation
Cruelty of masters

Sample Question Paper No.2 for the H.S. Exam 2014, Class-XII, English (Group-B), WBCHSE

Sample Question Paper No.2 for the H.S. Exam 2014, Class-XII, English (Group-B), WBCHSE
Time : 3 Hours 15 Minutes Full Marks : 100
1. Complete each of the sentences which follow, choosing the correct answer from the alternatives given : 1x4=4
i) “Rajam and Mani” has been taken from – a) My India, b) India: Development and Participation, c) Malgudi Days.
ii) Dr. Follicle’s patient finally came to the – a) shaving room, b) shoe-shining seat, c) shampoo section.
iii) “With me was a young man.” Here the ‘young man’ refers to – a) Ram Saran, b) Crosthwaite, c) the tobacco merchant.
iv) The growth rate of motorized vehicles in Delhi is increasing at more than – [ a) 10%, b) 15%, c) 20% ] per year.

2. Answer any two of the questions which follow (each in about 30 words): 3x2=6
i. How did Rajam impress the whole class on the very first day ?
ii.“In the old days of, say, twenty years ago, when a man got sick,
he went to a doctor.” – How did a doctor in ‘the old days’ treat his patient ?
iii.What was the first ‘snag’ that Ram Saran’s school faced and how was it solved ?
iv.“There is an aspect of what may be called ‘disguised violence’…” – What do Dreze and Sen mean by ‘disguised violence’ ?

3. Answer any one of the questions that follow (in about 50 words): 5x1=5
i.“Swaminathan felt at perfect peace with the world.” – Who was Swaminathan ? Why did he feel perfect peace with the world ?
ii.What is Corbett’s observation on labour unrest, strikes and communal disorders in modern day India ?
iii.Who was Dr. Follicle ? How did he examine the patient ? What was his diagnosis ?
iv.Show how environmental decline tells upon the basic requirements of sustainable development.

4. Which of the following statements are True and which are False? 1x4=4
i.In the first section of “The Moon”, the poet compares the moon to a healthy young lady.
ii.The ‘playthings’ has been mentioned allegorically in the poem “Nature”.
iii.“Move him into the sun…” – Here ‘him’ refers to the dead soldier.
iv.The word ‘where’ in “Where the Mind is Without Fear” refers to the heaven of freedom.

5. Answer any two of the questions which follow in about 30 words: 3x2=6
i.What is the moon compared to in the first section of Shelley’s poem ?
ii.“Nor wholly reassured and comforted” – Why is the child not wholly ‘reassured’ and ‘comforted’ ?
iii.“At home, whispering of fields unsown,” – What is suggested by the expression ‘fields unsown’ ?
iv.“Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection.” – What does the poet mean to say in this line ?

6. Answer any one of the questions that follow in about 50 words: 5x1=5
i.What does Tagore mean by ‘narrow domestic walls’ ? How do they break up the world into fragments ?
ii.What, according to Longfellow, are the feelings of the child being led away to bed ?
iii.Describe how Shelley has personified natural phenomenon in the poem The Moon.
iv.“O what made fatuous sunbeams toil/ To break earth’s sleep at all ?” – Explain briefly why the sunbeams are called ‘fatuous’.

7.Complete any four of the sentences which follow, choosing the correct answer from the alternatives given : 1x4=4
i.The word ‘nincompoop’ means – a) silly fool, b) a beautiful lady, c) a witch.
ii.The ‘old witch’ refers to – a) Marie, b) Marie’s mother, c) Mere Gringoire.
iii.The word ‘bailiff’ means a – a) landlord, b) constable, c) landlord’s agent.
iv.“… they have been in our family for years.” Here ‘they’ refers to the – a) silver spoons, b) silver salt-cellars, c) silver candlesticks.
v.The Convict entered the Bishop’s cottage at around – a) 1 am, b) 12 o’clock at night, c) 1pm.
vi.‘He evidently desires it.’ Here ‘it’ refers to – a) supper, b) Persome’s company, c) the Bishop’s company.
vii.“Remember, my son, that she is holy.” Here ‘she’ refers to – a) the Convict’s wife, Persome, c) Virgin Mary.
viii.“… it’s a queer thing to ask…” Here the ‘queer thing to ask’ is – a) the Bishop’s blessing, b) the candlesticks, c) food.
8. Answer any two of the questions which follow (each in about 30 words) : 3x2=6
i.“If people lie to me, they are poorer, not I.” – Who is the speaker ? What does the speaker mean by these words ?
ii.“Ah ! I’m a fool, a child to cry …” – When and why does the speaker cry ?
iii.Who is Marie ? Give an example of the Bishop’s kindness to her.
iv.What is the parting advice of the Bishop to the Convict ?
v. Why did the Bishop sell the silver salt-cellars ?
9. Answer any one of the questions which follow (each in about 50 words) : 5x1=5
i.What role does the candlesticks play in “The Bishop’s Candlesticks” ?
ii.“Well, for my part I believe that charity begins at home.” – What does the speaker want to mean here ?
iii.Briefly describe how the Convict lived after he escaped from prison ?

10. A) Rewrite the following sentences as directed, without changing their meaning: 2x5=10
i.“Could it be postponed for a day or two more ?” he asked.
ii.This Rajam was a rival to Mani. (Use the noun form of ‘rival’)
iii.A fond mother, when the day is over, leads by the hand her little child to bed. ( Turn into a simple sentence)
iv.They gave me a devil in its place. (Change the voice)
v.Work at the start had been very strenuous for all of us. (Turn into exclamatory)

B) Fill in the numbered blanks with appropriate articles and prepositions: 3
One __i__ my first undertakings when I had __ii__ little time __iii__ myself and __iv__ few rupees __v__ my pocket, was to start a school __vi__ the sons of my workmen.

C) Frame a question with the following wh-word in such a way that the answer matches the given content: 1x2=2
i) How :
Content : Swaminathan felt at perfect peace with the world.
ii) Whom :
Content : The Convict seized the Bishop from behind.
11. a)Write a letter within 120 words to the Editor of an English daily about the harm that is caused to the environment by the use of plastic bags and plastic cups. 10
OR
b) Suppose your brother lives in a boarding school and reads nothing beyond his school books. Write a letter within 120 words to him advising him to read an English newspaper daily. 10
12. a) Write a report in about 150 words on the celebration of Independence Day in your school. 10
OR
b) Write a summary in about 100 words of the passages given below: 10
The test of a great book is whether we want to read it only once or more than once. We want to read a really good book the second time even more than we wanted to read it the first time; and every additional time that we read it, we find new meanings and new beauties in it. A book that a person of education and good taste does not care to read more than once is very probably not worth much. But we cannot consider the judgement of a single individual as final. We may doubt such a judgement. But there is no doubt possible with regard to the judgement of generations. Even if we cannot at once perceive anything good in a book, which has been admired and praised for hundreds of years, we may be sure that by trying, by studying it carefully, we shall at last be able to feel the reason of this admiration and praise. The best of all libraries for a poor man would be a library entirely composed of such great works only, books which have passed the test of time.

13. Read the following passage:
The girl got up and began to collect her things. I wondered if she wore her hair in a bun, or if it was plaited, or if it hung loose over her shoulders, or if they were cut very short.
The train drew slowly into the station. Outside, there was the shouting of porters and vendors and a high-pitched female voice near the carriage door which must have belonged to the girl’s aunt.
“Good-bye,” said the girl.
There was some confusion in the doorway. A man, getting into the compartment, stammered an apology. Then the door banged shut, and the world was shut out again. I returned to my berth. The guard blew his whistle and we moved off. Once again, I had a game to play and a new fellow-traveller.
The train gathered speed, the wheels took up their song, the carriage groaned and shook. I found the window and sat in front of it, staring into the daylight that was darkness for me.
So many things were happening outside the window. It could be a fascinating game, guessing what went on out there.
The man who had entered the compartment broke into my reverie.
“you must be disappointed,” he said. “I’m sorry I’m not as attractive a travelling companion as the one who just left.”
“she was an interesting girl,” I said. “Can you tell me—did she keep her hair long or short?”
“I don’t remember,” he said, sounding puzzled. “It was her eyes I noticed, not her hair. She had beautiful eyes—but they were of no use to her. She was completely blind. Didn’t you notice?” [Adapted from The Eyes Are Not Here by Ruskin Bond]

A) Complete each of the sentences which follow, choosing the correct answer from the alternative given: 1x7=7
i. The high-pitched voice belonged to a – a) man b) woman c) child.
ii. The girl bade good-bye to -- a) the narrator b) her aunt c) the guard.
iii. The word ‘groaned’ evokes the image of – a) a hermit in meditation b) an animal in pain c) children at play.
iv. The narrator stared into the daylight which – a) looked like the light of Heaven on the earth b) was totally dark for him c) increased the pain in his eyes.
v. The word ‘reverie’ means – a) sleep b) day-dream c) anger.
vi. The new fellow-traveller – a) thanked himself for being an agreeable companion b) appreciated the narrator’s power of observation c) regretted that he was not an attractive companion.
vii. The narrator asked the man if the girl – a) had beautiful eyes b) kept her hair long or short c) was dressed gorgeously.

B) Answer the questions which follow (each in about 20 words) : 2x4=8
i) What did the narrator wonder when the girl got up to collect the things?
ii) What were the noises that came to the narrator in the station?
iii) What did the narrator do as the train groaned and shook?
iv) What did the man say about the girl’s eyes?

C) Rearrange the following sentences in their proper order: 5
i) The girl bade good-bye.
ii) The train drew into the station.
iii) The door was shut with a bang.
iv)The girl got up to collect her things.
v) A man got into the compartment.

Probable Schedule of Annual Exam, 2014 for Class-XI [Old Syllabus] under WBCHSE
Time : From 2 p.m. to 5.15 p.m. (AFTERNOON)

12.03.2014 WEDNESDAY -- Bengali (A), Hindi (A), Nepali (A), Bengali (B), Hindi (B), Nepali (B), Santali, Urdu, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Oriya, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Assamese, Modern Tibetan, Alternative English.
14.03.2014 FRIDAY -- English (A), English (B)
15.03.2014 SATURDAY -- Statistics, * Classical Languages, @ Modern Foreign Language, Agronomy
18.03.2014 TUESDAY -- Physics, Nutrition, Education, Business Organisation & Management
19.03.2014 WEDNESDAY -- Political Science, Geology, Sociology
21.03.2014 FRIDAY -- Mathematics, Philosophy
22.03.2014 SATURDAY -- Psychology, Geography, Economic Geography
24.03.2014 MONDAY -- History, Chemistry, Accountancy
25.03.2014 TUESDAY -- Anthropology, Economics, # Fine Arts & Crafts, # Music
27.03.2014 THURSDAY -- Biological Sciences, Home Management & Home Nursing, Business Economics including Business Mathematics
28.03.2014 FRIDAY -- Computer Science, Modern Computer Application.

The Examination will be held in only one paper on each day from 2 p.m. to 5.15 p.m. (3 hours and 15 minutes time is allotted both for reading question paper and writing answer ) except Fine Arts & Crafts and Music.
* Classical Languages: Sanskrit, Pali, Persian and Arabic
@ Modern Foreign Language: French
# The Examination of this subject will be of two hours duration.
All Practical Examinations will be held between 09.04.2014 to 23.04.2014.
Note : The Council may, if necessary, change the above dates with due intimation to all concerned.