PROSE – 8
THE WOMAN ON PLATFORM 8
COMPREHENSION:
I.) Answer the following in two or three sentences each:
1.) What was Arun doing all alone on the platform? Why?
Answer: Arun’s parent’s thought that he is old enough to travel alone hence,Arun was waiting for Northbound train at Ambala station to go boarding school on eight number platform.
2.) What normally happens when a train arrives at the platform?
Answer: Normally when train arrives at the platform people rush like a wild crowd to board the train.
3.) “Are you all alone, my son?” How did Arun react when he heard the voice of a stranger? Why?
Answer: When Arun heard, “Are you all alone, my son” the soft voice from close behind he just looked up and saw a woman standing. She was having pale face, dark kind eyes, she was not wearing any jewels and dressed very simple white sari.
4.) How did the bond between Arun and the stranger develop?
Answer: Arun liked the simplicity of the dress of stranger and her deep and soft voice. He also liked serenity of her face. The lady took Arun to station dining room by holding his hand neither too firmly nor too lightly. Arun accepted her for what she had been to him – a quiet, kind and gentle woman who gave sweets to a lonely boy on a railway platform. Arun started linking the lady due to her dignity and affectionate approach and she was caring too.
5.) What was the reason behind Arun’s instinctive dislike towards Satish’s mother?
Answer: Satish’s mother was imposing opinions and giving suggestions to Arun which was made Arun dislike her.
6.) Why did Arun say, “I like strangers”?
Answer:Satish’s mother suggesting Arun to stay away from strangers without asking hence Arun felt annoyed with it and said that he like strangers. And the strange lady was also more pleasing than Satish’s mother and affectionate to him.
7.) How did Satish and Arun react to the advice of Satish’s mother saying “Never talk to strangers”?
Answer: When Satish’s mother was saying, “Never talk to stranger” then Arun said, “I like strangers.” And Satish was standing behind his mother grinning at Arun.
8.) What did Satish’s mother give and say to Satish as a parting advice?
Answer: Satish’s mother handed Satish a bag of fruits, a cricket bat and a big box of chocolates and also told him to share food with Arun.
9.) Why didn’t Satish’s mother think Arun’s “mother” a very capable person?
Answer: Arun’s mother was not talking too much like Satish’s mother. Arun’s mother also not giving him any eatables nor given any advice to Arun hence Satish’s mother thought that Arun’s mother is a very capable person.
10.) How did Arun repay the strange woman for her goodness?
Answer: Arun looked into eyes of the woman. The woman smiled in a gentle and understanding way. Arun leaned out of the window and kissed on her cheek and said, “Good bye mother!”
II.) Read the extracts and answer the questions that follow:
1.) “She drew me out very well.”
i) Who is the speaker?
Answer: Arun is the speaker of the sentence.
ii) What do you mean by the above sentence?
Answer: The above sentence means that the woman holds Arun’s hand and drew him little with dignified way.
2.) “Yes, I am Arun’s mother.”
i) Who is the speaker?
Answer: The strange lady said the above sentence.
ii) What do you think is the reason behind the speaker saying so?
Answer: Arun was alone and his friend Satish was with his mother. The woman didn’t want Arun to feel embarrassed hence she said that she is his mother.
3.) “These days one has to be very careful of strangers.”
i) Who said these words?
Answer: Satish’s mother said above sentence.
ii) Why did the speaker say so?
Answer: Satish’s mother was very suspicious about the people around hence she said above sentence.
IV.) Work in pairs and complete the table:
Who is the person from the story Extract from the story What it tells us about the person
i) Arun Anyway, I can travel alone Independent, confident.
ii) Strange lady Then come with me and have something to eat. Kindness, care, affection.
iii) Satish’s mother Its such a nuisance having to wait for the train right in the middle of the night. Impatient
iv) Strange Lady Arun can travel alone though Support and respect.
v) Arun I like strangers. Revolting.
vi) Satish’s mother Always listen to what your mother tells you. Imposing.
vii) Satish’s mother Never talk to strangers. Over protective
viii) Arun She smiled in a gentle, understanding way. I leaned out of the window, and put my lips to her cheek, and kissed her. Emotional
VII.) The sequence of events has been jumbled up. Rewrite them according to the sequence of the lesson:
1.) I looked straight into the eyes of the woman who held my hand, and she smiled in a gentle understanding way.
2.) I had already forgiven her for lying; and besides, I had taken an instinctive dislike to Satish’s mother.
3.) She stood there on the busy platform; a pale sweet woman in white, and I watched her until she was lost in the milling crowd.
4.) Now tired of this game and of ambling about the platform, I sat down on my suitcase and gazed dismally across the railway-tracks.
5.) She drew me out very well, and I had soon forgotten that we were strangers.
6.) She allowed me to share the benefit of her advice, as she probably didn’t think my “mother” a very capable person.
7.) We placed ourselves at the open windows, and the two women stood outside on the platform talking up to us.
8.) She told a coolie to look after my suitcase, and then she led me away down the platform.
9.) I looked from Satish’s mother to the woman who had given me tea and sweets and then back at Satish’s mother.
10.) Satish was standing behind his mother, grinning at me, delighting in my clash with his mother.
Answer:
4.) Now tired of this game and of ambling about the platform, I sat down on my suitcase and gazed dismally across the railway-tracks.
5.) She drew me out very well, and I had soon forgotten that we were strangers.
10.) Satish was standing behind his mother, grinning at me, delighting in my clash with his mother.
1.) I looked straight into the eyes of the woman who held my hand, and she smiled in a gentle understanding way.
2.) I had already forgiven her for lying; and besides, I had taken an instinctive dislike to Satish’s mother.
8.) She told a coolie to look after my suitcase, and then she led me away down the platform.
9.) I looked from Satish’s mother to the woman who had given me tea and sweets and then back at Satish’s mother.
3.) She stood there on the busy platform; a pale sweet woman in white, and I watched her until she was lost in the milling crowd.
6.) She allowed me to share the benefit of her advice, as she probably didn’t think my “mother” a very capable person.
7.) We placed ourselves at the open windows, and the two women stood outside on the platform talking up to us.
VIII.) We use reporting verbs which summarise what was communicated while we change the speech. Some of the verbs which are commonly used are:
warn, ask, answer, promise, sympathise, refuse, regret, explain, request, blame, advise, apologise, order, greet, suggest, invite, encourage, say, congratulate, declare, announce, instruct etc.
Write appropriate statements as response to the questions with the help of the examples and clues given below:
Advice
She advised you to wash your hands before eating.
Regret
The student regretted that he had not committed the mistake.
Invite
The girl invited you to her house.
Warn
The mother warned them that do not go out of the house at night.
Enquire
The stranger enquired where my house was.
Request
The girl requested me to lend my book to her.
Exclaim
The boy exclaimed that he was undone.
IX) Read the conversation and complete the following :
1.) Ramani : Our new servant has a tendency to steal things.
Somu : Is anything missing?
Ramani : Yes, he has stolen one of our blankets.
Somu : Which one?
Ramani : It’s the one we took from Hotel Palm Beach.
i) Ramani told Somu that their new servant had a tendency to steal things.
ii) Somu asked Ramani if anything was missing.
iii) Ramani answered that he had stolen one of their blankets.
iv) Somu further asked her which one and Ramani replied that it was the one they took from Hotel Palm Beach.
2.) Child : I want a balloon, which I can release into the air.
Balloon Man : Which colour balloon do you want?
Child : Which colour balloon will take me up with it?
Balloon Man : It is not the colour of the balloon, it is what is inside that makes it go up.
i) The child told the balloon man that he wanted a balloon which he could release into the air.
ii) The balloon man asked him that which colour balloon did he want
iii) The child asked him which colour balloon would take him up with that.
iv) The balloon man told him that it was not the colour of the balloon but it was what was inside that makes itgo up.
3.) Father : Why were you late from school yesterday?
Ashwin : There was a friendly football match between our school and G.K. Public School.
Father : Why didn’t you inform us earlier?
Ashwin : I rang home but nobody picked up the phone.
i) Father asked Ashwin why was he late from school yesterday?
ii) Ashwin replied that there was a friendly football match between his schooland G.K. Public School.
iii) Father asked that why he didn’t inform themearlier.
iv) Ashwin replied that he rang up home but nobody picked up the phone.
4.) Man : You are becoming very lazy these days. Didn’t I ask you to get my breakfast ready by 8 O’clock?
Servant : I’m sorry sir. I got up very late today. That’s why I couldn’t make it on time.
Man : Didn’t you set the alarm before going to sleep ?
Servant : Yes, I did sir.
Man : Then, what happened?
Servant : I forgot to wind the clock.
i) The man scolded the servantfor becoming very lazy those days.
ii) He questioned himthat hadn’t he asked him to get his breakfast ready by 8 O’clock
iii) The servant apologised to him respectfully and explainedthat he had got up late that day and couldn’t make it on time.
iv) The man asked him that didn’t he set the alarm before going to sleep.
To this, the servant answered politely that he had done so. His master further inquired the reason for the delay.
v) The servant answered humbly that he had forgotten to wind the clock.
5.) Employer : Why did you leave your earlier job?
Applicant : That didn’t meet my requirement.
Employer : What salary do you expect here?
Applicant : I am expecting ` 5000 per month.
Employer : We can pay you just ` 3000 per month.
An applicant went for an interview in an office. The employer asked him why he had left his earlier job.
i) The applicant replied that that the previous job didn’t meet his requirements.
ii) The employer further enquired what salary does expect there.
iii) The applicant told him that he was expecting ₹ 5000 per month.
iv) The employer concluded by saying that they could pay him just ₹ 3000 per month.
6.) Customer : Please show me a good cap.
Salesman : What type of cap do you want, sir?
Customer : One that covers the face.
Salesman : It won’t be a cap then, it would be a mask.
i) A customer went up to a salesman and requested him to show a good cap.
ii) The salesman asked him that what type of cam did he want.
iii) The customer replied that he wanted the one that covers his face.
iv) The salesman, on hearing the request told him that it wouldn’t be a cap then, it would be a mask.
I.) Rewrite the following sentences in the reported speech:
i) He said, “Amuda was dancing”.
Answer: He said that Amuda had been dancing.
ii) My servant says, “Tea is ready”.
Answer: My servant says that tea was ready.
iii) “I never eat meat,” he explained.
Answer: He explained that he never ate meat.
iv) “I have found a flat,” he said.
Answer: He said that he had found a flat.
v) She said, “We will discuss the matter tomorrow.”
Answer: She said that we would discuss the matter tomorrow.
Dear Student, I appreciate your efforts and hard work that you all had put in. Thank you for being concerned with us and I wish you for your continued success.
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