ICSE Class 10 English

ICSE Class 10 English Solutions The Bet

Passage 1

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

The old banker was walking up and down his study and remembering how, fifteen years before, he had given a party one autumn evening. There had been many clever men there, and there had been interesting conversations. Among other things they had talked of capital punishment.

Who had thrown a party?

Answer:
An old banker had thrown a party fifteen years ago.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

The old banker was walking up and down his study and remembering how, fifteen years before, he had given a party one autumn evening. There had been many clever men there, and there had been interesting conversations. Among other things they had talked of capital punishment.

Who attended the party?

Answer:
The party was attended by many clever men who engaged in interesting conversations.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

The old banker was walking up and down his study and remembering how, fifteen years before, he had given a party one autumn evening. There had been many clever men there, and there had been interesting conversations. Among other things they had talked of capital punishment.

What is capital punishment? When is it used?

Answer:
Capital punishment is punishment by death sanctioned by government. Capital punishment is used by the government to punish criminals who have committed capital offenses.

Question 4.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

The old banker was walking up and down his study and remembering how, fifteen years before, he had given a party one autumn evening. There had been many clever men there, and there had been interesting conversations. Among other things they had talked of capital punishment.

What did the banker think about capital punishment as against life imprisonment?

Answer:
The banker thought that capital punishment was better than life imprisonment. While capital punishment killed a man at once, life imprisonment meant a slow death. He felt that life imprisonment drags the life out of a person in the course of many years.

Passage 2

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

“Both are equally immoral,” observed one of the guests, “for they both have the same object – to take away life. The State is not God. It has not the right to take away what it cannot restore when it wants to.”

What was equally immoral? Why?

Answer:
According to one of the guests, both capital punishment and life imprisonment were equally immoral. Both form of punishments had the same objectives – to take away life.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

“Both are equally immoral,” observed one of the guests, “for they both have the same object – to take away life. The State is not God. It has not the right to take away what it cannot restore when it wants to.”

What was the banker’s opinion on the two forms of punishments?

Answer:
According to the banker, death penalty was more humane and moral than imprisonment for life.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

“Both are equally immoral,” observed one of the guests, “for they both have the same object – to take away life. The State is not God. It has not the right to take away what it cannot restore when it wants to.”

Why did the banker feel that death penalty was more moral than life imprisonment?

Answer:
The banker was of the opinion that while capital punishment killed man at once, life imprisonment meant a slow death. He felt that life imprisonment drags the life out of a person in the course of many years.

Passage 3

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

“It’s not true! I’ll bet you two million you wouldn’t stay in solitary confinement for five years.”
“If you mean that in earnest,” said the young man, “I’ll take the bet, but I would stay not five but fifteen years.”
“Fifteen? Done!” cried the banker. “Gentlemen, I stake two million!”
“Agreed! You stake your millions and I stake my freedom!” said the young man.

Where and between whom did the above conversation take place?

Answer:
The conversation above took place between the banker and a young lawyer at a party which the banker had thrown.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

“It’s not true! I’ll bet you two million you wouldn’t stay in solitary confinement for five years.”
“If you mean that in earnest,” said the young man, “I’ll take the bet, but I would stay not five but fifteen years.”
“Fifteen? Done!” cried the banker. “Gentlemen, I stake two million!”
“Agreed! You stake your millions and I stake my freedom!” said the young man.

What were the terms of the bet?

Answer:
The banker placed a bet of two million which he would give the lawyer if he stayed in solitary confinement for five years. The lawyer claimed that he would stay alone for not five but fifteen years and still win those two million.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

“It’s not true! I’ll bet you two million you wouldn’t stay in solitary confinement for five years.”
“If you mean that in earnest,” said the young man, “I’ll take the bet, but I would stay not five but fifteen years.”
“Fifteen? Done!” cried the banker. “Gentlemen, I stake two million!”
“Agreed! You stake your millions and I stake my freedom!” said the young man.

What led to the two men betting their money and freedom respectively?

Answer:
There was a discussion at the party over which form of punishment – capital punishment or life imprisonment was better. The banker felt that death penalty was better than life imprisonment. However, the lawyer said that if he had to choose, he would choose life imprisonment as he felt that it is better to live anyhow than to not live at all. This led to an argument, which transformed into a bet.

Passage 4

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

The agreement provided for every detail and every trifle that would make his imprisonment strictly solitary, and bound the young man to stay there exactly fifteen years, beginning from twelve o’clock of November 14, 1870, and ending at twelve o’clock of November 14, 1885.

Between who was the agreement signed? What did it say?

Answer:
An agreement was signed between the banker and the lawyer. According to the agreement, the young lawyer had to stay in solitary confinement for fifteen years beginning from twelve o’clock of November 14, 1870, and ending at twelve o’clock of November 14, 1885.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

The agreement provided for every detail and every trifle that would make his imprisonment strictly solitary, and bound the young man to stay there exactly fifteen years, beginning from twelve o’clock of November 14, 1870, and ending at twelve o’clock of November 14, 1885.

What would happen if the lawyer broke any condition of the agreement?

Answer:
In the event of the lawyer breaking any condition of the agreement, he would lose the bet and also the two million decided upon.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

The agreement provided for every detail and every trifle that would make his imprisonment strictly solitary, and bound the young man to stay there exactly fifteen years, beginning from twelve o’clock of November 14, 1870, and ending at twelve o’clock of November 14, 1885.

What were the conditions of the solitary confinement?

Answer:
It was decided that the lawyer would stay in one of the lodges in the banker’s garden all alone under strict supervision. The lawyer would have no contact with human beings in any form. He would not talk to humans or hear their voice, or even receive letters and newspapers. The lawyer, however, was allowed to drink wine and to smoke, to write letters, and to have a musical instrument and reads books.

Question 4.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

The agreement provided for every detail and every trifle that would make his imprisonment strictly solitary, and bound the young man to stay there exactly fifteen years, beginning from twelve o’clock of November 14, 1870, and ending at twelve o’clock of November 14, 1885.

How did the lawyer complete his first year of solitary confinement?

Answer:
During the first year of confinement, the lawyer suffered severely from loneliness and depression. He was being referred to as a prisoner now. He played the piano continually day and night. The prisoner refused wine and tobacco as according to him, wine excited the desires. And it was very dreary to drink wine and meet no one thereafter. The tobacco, he said, spoilt the air of his room. In the first year, the books he sent for were principally of a light character; novels with a complicated love plot, sensational and fantastic stories, and so on.

Passage 5

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

In the fifth year music was audible again, and the prisoner asked for wine. Those who watched him through the window said that all that year he spent doing nothing but eating and drinking and lying on his bed, frequently yawning and angrily talking to himself. He did not read books. Sometimes at night he would sit down to write; he would spend hours writing, and in the morning tear up all that he had written. More than once he could be heard crying.

How did the lawyer become the prisoner? How many years did he have to spend in the prison?

Answer:
The lawyer entered into a bet with a banker in which he agreed to spend fifteen years of his life in solitary confinement. He was to receive two million at the end of the fifteen years if he kept all the clauses of the bet.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

In the fifth year music was audible again, and the prisoner asked for wine. Those who watched him through the window said that all that year he spent doing nothing but eating and drinking and lying on his bed, frequently yawning and angrily talking to himself. He did not read books. Sometimes at night he would sit down to write; he would spend hours writing, and in the morning tear up all that he had written. More than once he could be heard crying.

What did the prisoner do in the second year of his confinement?

Answer:
The prisoner stopped playing the piano in the second year and asked only for classics to read.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

In the fifth year music was audible again, and the prisoner asked for wine. Those who watched him through the window said that all that year he spent doing nothing but eating and drinking and lying on his bed, frequently yawning and angrily talking to himself. He did not read books. Sometimes at night he would sit down to write; he would spend hours writing, and in the morning tear up all that he had written. More than once he could be heard crying.

How was the prisoner’s conduct different in the first and the fifth year of his imprisonment?

Answer:
In the first year, the prisoner suffered severely from loneliness as one could judge from his brief notes. He played the piano continually and refused to have wine or tobacco. However in the fifth year, he asked for wine and those who watched him said that he sent all his time eating, drinking and lying on his bed. He would talk angrily to himself while frequently yawing in his bed. Sometimes at night he would sit down to write and after having spent hours writing, he would tear up all that he had written in the morning.

Question 4.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

In the fifth year music was audible again, and the prisoner asked for wine. Those who watched him through the window said that all that year he spent doing nothing but eating and drinking and lying on his bed, frequently yawning and angrily talking to himself. He did not read books. Sometimes at night he would sit down to write; he would spend hours writing, and in the morning tear up all that he had written. More than once he could be heard crying.

How did the prisoner’s behaviour change during the sixth year?

Answer:
In the second half of the sixth year the prisoner began to study languages, philosophy and history with zeal. The prisoner was so engrossed in his studies that the banker got very busy to get him the books that he ordered. In four years the prisoner asked for six hundred volumes and learned six languages perfectly.

Passage 6

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

“My dear Jailer, I write you these lines in six languages. Show them to people who know the languages. Let them read them. If they find not one mistake I implore you to fire a shot in the garden.

How was the prisoner able to write in six languages?

Answer:
In his sixth year, the prisoner took serious interest in studying languages. He engrossed himself in studying languages, philosophy, and history. It was because of this that he was able to write in six languages.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

“My dear Jailer, I write you these lines in six languages. Show them to people who know the languages. Let them read them. If they find not one mistake I implore you to fire a shot in the garden.

Why did the prisoner ask the banker to fire a shot in the garden?

Answer:
During the second half of the sixth year, the prisoner learnt many languages among other disciplines. To test if he had learnt well, he wrote a letter to the banker, whom he addressed as “Jailer” and in it wrote lines in six languages. He wanted the jailer to show them to people who knew those languages. He asked the jailer to fire a shot in the garden if all that he had written was correct. It was a signal that he had learnt the languages perfectly.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

“My dear Jailer, I write you these lines in six languages. Show them to people who know the languages. Let them read them. If they find not one mistake I implore you to fire a shot in the garden.

What did the prisoner understand after learning many languages?

Answer:
The prisoner understood that although geniuses from different lands speak different languages, the essence of their communication is the same. He was elated to have been able to understand the languages of the world.

Question 4.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

“My dear Jailer, I write you these lines in six languages. Show them to people who know the languages. Let them read them. If they find not one mistake I implore you to fire a shot in the garden.

What did the prisoner read in the last two years of imprisonment?

Answer:
In the last two years of his confinement, the prisoner read innumerable books indiscriminately. At one time he was busy reading natural sciences while at the other moment he would ask for Byron and Shakespeare. He demanded books on chemistry, a manual of medicine, a novel, and some treatise on philosophy or theology all at once.

Passage 7

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

The old banker remembered all this, and thought:
“To-morrow at twelve o’clock he will regain his freedom. By our agreement I ought to pay him two million. If I do pay him, it is all over with me: I shall be utterly ruined.”

Who is the ‘he’ in the above extract? Why would his regaining freedom ruin the banker?

Answer:
The word ‘he’ in the above extract refers to the lawyer. The agreement of 15 years of imprisonment was going to come to an end a day later as mentioned in the extract. The lawyer would win the bet and the banker would have to pay him two million. Fifteen years ago two million meant nothing to the banker. However, years of bad investment and gambling had made the banker poor. If the banker gave two million to the lawyer, he would go bankrupt and this would ruin him.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

The old banker remembered all this, and thought:
“To-morrow at twelve o’clock he will regain his freedom. By our agreement I ought to pay him two million. If I do pay him, it is all over with me: I shall be utterly ruined.”

What did the banker decide to do to avoid paying the lawyer two million?

Answer:
The banker decided to kill the lawyer in the dark of night to avoid paying him the amount. He decided to go to the lodge and stifle the lawyer with a pillow and imagined that it would be easy to kill the already half-dead man. He also thought that since the watchman guarded the lodge, the suspicion would fall on him.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

The old banker remembered all this, and thought:
“To-morrow at twelve o’clock he will regain his freedom. By our agreement I ought to pay him two million. If I do pay him, it is all over with me: I shall be utterly ruined.”

Where was the watchman when the banker came to the lodge?

Answer:
When the banker came to the lodge the watchman was inside the kitchen or the greenhouse seeking shelter from the rain.

Question 4.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

The old banker remembered all this, and thought:
“To-morrow at twelve o’clock he will regain his freedom. By our agreement I ought to pay him two million. If I do pay him, it is all over with me: I shall be utterly ruined.”

Describe the scene when the banker set out for the lodge.

Answer:
When the banker stepped outside to meet the lawyer, everyone was asleep in the house and nothing could be heard outside but the rustling of the chilled trees. It was dark and cold in the garden. It was raining and a damp cutting wind was racing about the garden, howling and giving the trees no rest. The banker strained his eyes, but could see neither the earth nor the white statues, nor the lodge, nor the trees.

Passage 8

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

Then the banker cautiously broke the seals off the door and put the key in the keyhole. The rusty lock gave a grating sound and the door creaked. The banker expected to hear at once footsteps and a cry of astonishment, but three minutes passed and it was as quiet as ever in the room. He made up his mind to go in.

With what intention did the banker open the door of the lodge after 15 years?

Answer:
The banker went to the lodge with the intention of killing the lawyer so that he wouldn’t have to pay him two million for winning the bet.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

Then the banker cautiously broke the seals off the door and put the key in the keyhole. The rusty lock gave a grating sound and the door creaked. The banker expected to hear at once footsteps and a cry of astonishment, but three minutes passed and it was as quiet as ever in the room. He made up his mind to go in.

Describe the financial condition of the banker at the end of the fifteen year period.

Answer:
The banker had been very rich when he had placed the bet fifteen years ago. However, after fifteen years, desperate gambling on the Stock Exchange and wild speculation had made him finally unstable to the extent that from a confident millionaire he had become a banker of middle rank.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

Then the banker cautiously broke the seals off the door and put the key in the keyhole. The rusty lock gave a grating sound and the door creaked. The banker expected to hear at once footsteps and a cry of astonishment, but three minutes passed and it was as quiet as ever in the room. He made up his mind to go in.

What did the banker see when he peeped into the lodge?

Answer:
The banker peeped through the little window of the lodge and saw a candle burning dimly in the prisoner’s room. The prisoner was sitting at the table and the banker could see nothing but his back. There were open books lying on the table, on the two easy-chairs and on the carpet near the table.

Question 4.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

Then the banker cautiously broke the seals off the door and put the key in the keyhole. The rusty lock gave a grating sound and the door creaked. The banker expected to hear at once footsteps and a cry of astonishment, but three minutes passed and it was as quiet as ever in the room. He made up his mind to go in.

What did the banker expect would happen as soon as he unlocked the door of the lodge? What actually happened?

Answer:
The banker thought he’d hear the footsteps of the lawyer whom he expected to come to the door in astonishment on hearing it open after 15 years. However, even after three minutes the room was as quiet as ever and there was no sign of the lawyer anywhere near the door of the lodge.

Passage 9

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

“To-morrow at twelve o’clock I regain my freedom and the right to associate with other men, but before I leave this room and see the sunshine, I think it necessary to say a few words to you. With a clear conscience I tell you, as before God, who beholds me, that I despise freedom and life and health, and all that in your books is called the good things of the world.

Between whom is the above conversation taking place?

Answer:
The conversation is taking place between the prisoner and the banker in the above passage.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

“To-morrow at twelve o’clock I regain my freedom and the right to associate with other men, but before I leave this room and see the sunshine, I think it necessary to say a few words to you. With a clear conscience I tell you, as before God, who beholds me, that I despise freedom and life and health, and all that in your books is called the good things of the world.

Why did the banker go into the prisoner’s lodge a day before the 15 year-period finished?

Answer:
The banker went into the prisoner’s lodge with the intention of killing him so that he wouldn’t have to pay him the two million which he had promised 15 years ago.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

“To-morrow at twelve o’clock I regain my freedom and the right to associate with other men, but before I leave this room and see the sunshine, I think it necessary to say a few words to you. With a clear conscience I tell you, as before God, who beholds me, that I despise freedom and life and health, and all that in your books is called the good things of the world.

How did the prisoner spend 15 years of solitary confinement?

Answer:
The prisoner spent 15 years of imprisonment by reading innumerable books from various disciplines, playing the piano, drinking wine, and writing letters.

Question 4.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

“To-morrow at twelve o’clock I regain my freedom and the right to associate with other men, but before I leave this room and see the sunshine, I think it necessary to say a few words to you. With a clear conscience I tell you, as before God, who beholds me, that I despise freedom and life and health, and all that in your books is called the good things of the world.

Why did the prisoner write a letter to the banker?

Answer:
The prisoner wrote a letter to the banker to tell him how his perspective on life had changed after spending 15 years alone. He said that he intently studied earthly life for fifteen years and experienced everything inside the lodge that he could do in the free world outside. In the books he had flung himself into a bottomless pit, performed miracles, slain, burned towns, preached new religions, and even conquered whole kingdoms. He explained that the books had given him immense wisdom to understand that the blessings of the world are all worthless, fleeting, illusory, and deceptive, like a mirage. He said that he was going to renounce the two million of which he once dreamed of as paradise and go out from the lodge five hours before the time fixed to break the agreement.

Passage 10

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

The banker went at once with the servants to the lodge and made sure of the flight of his prisoner. To avoid arousing unnecessary talk, he took from the table the writing in which the millions were renounced, and when he got home locked it up in the fireproof safe.

What did the watchman inform the banker the next morning?

Answer:
The watchman informed the banker that he and the others had seen the prisoner fleeing from the lodge in the morning.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

The banker went at once with the servants to the lodge and made sure of the flight of his prisoner. To avoid arousing unnecessary talk, he took from the table the writing in which the millions were renounced, and when he got home locked it up in the fireproof safe.

How did the prisoner lose the two million eventually?

Answer:
The prisoner decided to leave the lodge five hours earlier than the time decided in the agreement between him and the banker. By doing this, he lost the two million.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

The banker went at once with the servants to the lodge and made sure of the flight of his prisoner. To avoid arousing unnecessary talk, he took from the table the writing in which the millions were renounced, and when he got home locked it up in the fireproof safe.

What did the banker do after reading the letter addressed to him?

Answer:
The banker was overwhelmed after reading the letter addressed to him. After reading the note, he kissed the prisoner on the head and went back to his house weeping. He felt strangely defeated despite having won the bet. He had a feeling of self-contempt and guilt in him for having lured a young man into a bet that cost him his entire youth.

Question 4.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

The banker went at once with the servants to the lodge and made sure of the flight of his prisoner. To avoid arousing unnecessary talk, he took from the table the writing in which the millions were renounced, and when he got home locked it up in the fireproof safe.

What is the essence of the story?

Answer:
The story concludes with the lawyer renouncing the two million that he had almost won in the bet. It also shows that the banker isn’t happy either after having won the bet. The moral of the story is that material wealth is short-lived. All the wealth and the leisure in life are illusionary and fleeting. True happiness doesn’t come from what and how much you can amass. It comes from the ability to have a peaceful soul.

ICSE Class 10 English Solutions I Believe [Poem]

Passage 1

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

I believe if a pebble is thrown upwards
I can pierce the heavens
And see the angels at play.

I believe I can soar to the heights
Touch the silky clouds
And feel the stars.

Who is the ‘I’ mentioned in the poem? What is his/her belief?

Answer:
The ‘I’ mentioned in the poem is the poet Brucellish K. Sangma. She believes that if a pebble is thrown upwards, it has the ability to cut through the heaven. She also believes that she has the ability to fly to the sky above and touch the clouds and the stars in it.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

I believe if a pebble is thrown upwards
I can pierce the heavens
And see the angels at play.

I believe I can soar to the heights
Touch the silky clouds
And feel the stars.

How many things does the speaker believe she can achieve in this extract?

Answer:
In this extract, the speaker mentions believing five things in all. Being able to piercing the heavens with a single pebble thrown up, seeing the angles at play, soaring to the heights, touching the clouds and feeling the stars.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

I believe if a pebble is thrown upwards
I can pierce the heavens
And see the angels at play.

I believe I can soar to the heights
Touch the silky clouds
And feel the stars.

What is the symbolic meaning of the ‘heavens’ and the ‘clouds’ mentioned in the extract?

Answer:
The words ‘heavens’ and ‘clouds’ represent the highest points that one could reach. The word ‘clouds’ stands for physical heights while the word ‘heavens’ stands for spiritual heights. By mentioning them the poet expresses her belief that she has the ability to excel in all spheres.

Question 4.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

I believe if a pebble is thrown upwards
I can pierce the heavens
And see the angels at play.

I believe I can soar to the heights
Touch the silky clouds
And feel the stars.

Draw parallels between the speaker’s past life and the beliefs talked about in the extract.

Answer:
The speaker Brucellish K. Sangma hailed from a small community in Meghalaya. In the village where she was brought up she grew up with limited resources. Despite all odds she managed to acquire good education and become a poet. The beliefs talked about in the extract imply that nothing is impossible if a person set’s his or her heart and mind to achieving it.

Passage 2

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

I believe I can dive
Right into the depths
And swim with the sharks.

I believe I can claw into the earth’s belly
Pick up the priceless gems
And adorn myself with them.

Explain the first stanza of the extract.

Answer:
In the first stanza of the extract, the poet mentions diving to the bottom of the sea and swimming with the sharks; an act which is generally impossible. However, the poet says that she believes she can achieve this seemingly impossible task too. Through these words she stresses that nothing can stand as a limitation before a determined person.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

I believe I can dive
Right into the depths
And swim with the sharks.

I believe I can claw into the earth’s belly
Pick up the priceless gems
And adorn myself with them.

What does ‘clawing into the earth’s belly’ mean? What does the poet want to achieve by doing this?

Answer:
The earth’s belly is the center of the earth. It is the core of the earth which is not only a seat for molten lava but also is a store house of precious resources like minerals, metals and gemstones. The poet believes that she can dig into the earth and reach this core and use the gems she finds there to adorn herself.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

I believe I can dive
Right into the depths
And swim with the sharks.

I believe I can claw into the earth’s belly
Pick up the priceless gems
And adorn myself with them.

Does the poet come across as self-possessed in the second stanza of the extract? Justify.

Answer:
No. Though the poet’s wish to adorn herself with priceless gems may seem as a self possessed desire, it is important to note the phrase ‘claw into the earth’s belly’ preceding it. This phrase tells us that the poet is ready to strive towards achieving her reward which are the ‘priceless gems’.

Question 4.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

I believe I can dive
Right into the depths
And swim with the sharks.

I believe I can claw into the earth’s belly
Pick up the priceless gems
And adorn myself with them.

What do the above lines symbolise?

Answer:
The given stanzas talk about braving deadly sharks and clawing into the earth’s belly. This is symbolic of the difficulties that a person has to undergo in his or her life. The poet believes that she has the courage to face all the hardships that come her way just like a professional swimmer who would not fear swimming in perilous waters. She also believes that through her perseverance and hard work, she will be able to achieve great things (likened to priceless gems) in life.

Passage 3

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

I believe I can do many things
Amidst the human angels
Surrounded by the world’s treasures.

But I firmly believe I’ve to complete
The role assigned to me here
Where I dream and breathe.

Whom does the speaker refer to as ‘human angels’?

Answer:
IIn the first stanza the poet talks about reaching the heavens and seeing the angels living there. In the stanzas that follow she praises the beauty on earth and talks about achieving great things here. Therefore, we can conclude that the ‘human angels’ mentioned here are the humans who live on this beautiful earth.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

I believe I can do many things
Amidst the human angels
Surrounded by the world’s treasures.

But I firmly believe I’ve to complete
The role assigned to me here
Where I dream and breathe.

What is the final and the most important belief of the speaker?

Answer:
The final and the most important belief of the speaker is that she has a role assigned to her on this earth and that it is her duty to complete this role before dreaming about anything else.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

I believe I can do many things
Amidst the human angels
Surrounded by the world’s treasures.

But I firmly believe I’ve to complete
The role assigned to me here
Where I dream and breathe.

What does the final stanza of the poem tell us about the speaker?

Answer:
The final stanza of the poem reflects that the poet has a well-grounded character. Though she dreams about reaching the heavens and the depths of the earth and the ocean, she also believes in having a healthy relationship with the people around her and sharing a happy life with them. She strongly believes that every person has a role to play in this life and it is their duty to be true to that role.

ICSE Class 10 English Solutions The Tiger in the Tunnel

Passage 1

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

Tembu, the boy, opened his eyes in the dark and wondered if his father was ready to leave the hut on his nightly errand. There was no moon that night, and the deathly stillness of the surrounding jungle was broken only occasionally by the shrill cry of a cicada. Sometimes from far off came the hollow hammering of a woodpecker, carried along on the faint breeze. Or the grunt of a wild boar could be heard as he dug up a favourite root. But these sounds were rare, and the silence of the forest always returned to swallow them up.
Baldeo, the watchman, was awake. He stretched himself slowly unwinding the heavy shawl that covered him. It was close on midnight and the chill air made him shiver. The station, a small shack backed by heavy jungle, was a station in name only; for trains only stopped there, if at all, for a few seconds before entering the deep cutting that led to the tunnel. Most trains merely slowed down before taking the sharp curve before cutting.

What errand did Tembu’s father run every night?

Answer:
Tembu’s father went out every night to check if the lamp was burning and to manually signal the upland mail and ensure that it had passed through the tunnel safely.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

Tembu, the boy, opened his eyes in the dark and wondered if his father was ready to leave the hut on his nightly errand. There was no moon that night, and the deathly stillness of the surrounding jungle was broken only occasionally by the shrill cry of a cicada. Sometimes from far off came the hollow hammering of a woodpecker, carried along on the faint breeze. Or the grunt of a wild boar could be heard as he dug up a favourite root. But these sounds were rare, and the silence of the forest always returned to swallow them up.
Baldeo, the watchman, was awake. He stretched himself slowly unwinding the heavy shawl that covered him. It was close on midnight and the chill air made him shiver. The station, a small shack backed by heavy jungle, was a station in name only; for trains only stopped there, if at all, for a few seconds before entering the deep cutting that led to the tunnel. Most trains merely slowed down before taking the sharp curve before cutting.

Describe the night when Baldeo got ready to leave on his errand?

Answer:
It was a moonless night when Baldeo got ready to leave on his errand. There was deathly stillness around the jungle except for the occasional cry of the cicada, or a grunt of a wild boar, or the hammering of the woodpecker. It was close to midnight and the chilling air made Baldeo shiver.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

Tembu, the boy, opened his eyes in the dark and wondered if his father was ready to leave the hut on his nightly errand. There was no moon that night, and the deathly stillness of the surrounding jungle was broken only occasionally by the shrill cry of a cicada. Sometimes from far off came the hollow hammering of a woodpecker, carried along on the faint breeze. Or the grunt of a wild boar could be heard as he dug up a favourite root. But these sounds were rare, and the silence of the forest always returned to swallow them up.
Baldeo, the watchman, was awake. He stretched himself slowly unwinding the heavy shawl that covered him. It was close on midnight and the chill air made him shiver. The station, a small shack backed by heavy jungle, was a station in name only; for trains only stopped there, if at all, for a few seconds before entering the deep cutting that led to the tunnel. Most trains merely slowed down before taking the sharp curve before cutting.

Why was the station said to be a station in name only?

Answer:
The station was said to be in name only because trains only stopped there if at all for a few seconds before entering the deep cutting that led to the tunnel. Most trains only slowed down before taking the sharp curve before the cutting.

Question 4.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

Tembu, the boy, opened his eyes in the dark and wondered if his father was ready to leave the hut on his nightly errand. There was no moon that night, and the deathly stillness of the surrounding jungle was broken only occasionally by the shrill cry of a cicada. Sometimes from far off came the hollow hammering of a woodpecker, carried along on the faint breeze. Or the grunt of a wild boar could be heard as he dug up a favourite root. But these sounds were rare, and the silence of the forest always returned to swallow them up.
Baldeo, the watchman, was awake. He stretched himself slowly unwinding the heavy shawl that covered him. It was close on midnight and the chill air made him shiver. The station, a small shack backed by heavy jungle, was a station in name only; for trains only stopped there, if at all, for a few seconds before entering the deep cutting that led to the tunnel. Most trains merely slowed down before taking the sharp curve before cutting.

Who was Tembu? Where did he live?

Answer:
Tembu was a 12 year-old tribal boy who lived in a tribal village with his mother and little sister on the outskirts of the forest. He would usually stay at home to help his mother and be with her as the village was three miles away from the station. They had a small rice felid which barely provided them with a living. Baldeo took up the job of a khalasi at the station to help the family financially.

Passage 2

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

Still drowsy, Baldeo groped for his lamp in darkness then fumbled about in search of matches. When he had produced a light he left the hut, closed the door behind him and set off along the permanent way. Tembu had fallen asleep again.

Why do you think Tembu wanted to accompany his father to the signal post?

Answer:
Tembu might have wanted to accompany his father to the signal post to avoid being left alone in the hut. It is also possible that Tembu wanted to give his father some company and help him at the signal post.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

Still drowsy, Baldeo groped for his lamp in darkness then fumbled about in search of matches. When he had produced a light he left the hut, closed the door behind him and set off along the permanent way. Tembu had fallen asleep again.

What did Baldeo carry with him when he left for the signal post? Why?

Answer:
Baldeo carried with him a steel axe to protect himself from the wild animals lurking around in the dark near the tunnel.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

Still drowsy, Baldeo groped for his lamp in darkness then fumbled about in search of matches. When he had produced a light he left the hut, closed the door behind him and set off along the permanent way. Tembu had fallen asleep again.

Why did Baldeo carry a shawl with him?

Answer:
It was very cold outside and Baldeo wrapped himself in his shawl to feel warm.

Question 4.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

Still drowsy, Baldeo groped for his lamp in darkness then fumbled about in search of matches. When he had produced a light he left the hut, closed the door behind him and set off along the permanent way. Tembu had fallen asleep again.

Why was Baldeo struggling about as he left the hut?

Answer:
It was close to midnight and Baldeo had forcefully woken up from his sleep to attend the signal post. He had joined as a khalasi just a month ago to earn more money for his family. During the daytime, he would work on his rice field. Baldeo was feeling tried and needed some sleep, but his work as a khalasi demanded that he remained awake throughout the night to guard the signal post. Tired and sleep deprived, Baldeo struggled about in his hut before leaving for the signal post.

Passage 3

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

He had heard many tales of the famous tunnel tiger, a man-eater, which was supposed to frequent this spot; he hardly believed these stories for since his arrival at this place a month ago, he had not seen or even heard a tiger. There had, of course, been panthers, and only a few days ago the villagers had killed one with their spears and axes. Baldeo had occasionally heard the sawing of a panther calling to its mate, but they had not come near the tunnel or shed.

Why is the tiger referred to as the tunnel tiger?

Answer:
The tiger is referred to as the tunnel tiger as it would often enter the tunnel from the jungle and wreak havoc in the lives of the people.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

He had heard many tales of the famous tunnel tiger, a man-eater, which was supposed to frequent this spot; he hardly believed these stories for since his arrival at this place a month ago, he had not seen or even heard a tiger. There had, of course, been panthers, and only a few days ago the villagers had killed one with their spears and axes. Baldeo had occasionally heard the sawing of a panther calling to its mate, but they had not come near the tunnel or shed.

Why didn’t Baldeo believe in the stories about the tiger?

Answer:
Baldeo did not believe in the stories about the tiger in the tunnel because it had been a month since he had joined as the khalasi but had not once seen or even heard a tiger.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

He had heard many tales of the famous tunnel tiger, a man-eater, which was supposed to frequent this spot; he hardly believed these stories for since his arrival at this place a month ago, he had not seen or even heard a tiger. There had, of course, been panthers, and only a few days ago the villagers had killed one with their spears and axes. Baldeo had occasionally heard the sawing of a panther calling to its mate, but they had not come near the tunnel or shed.

Which animals had attacked the village recently?

Answer:
The village had been attacked by a panther a few days ago. The villagers killed the panther with their spears and axes.

Question 4.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

He had heard many tales of the famous tunnel tiger, a man-eater, which was supposed to frequent this spot; he hardly believed these stories for since his arrival at this place a month ago, he had not seen or even heard a tiger. There had, of course, been panthers, and only a few days ago the villagers had killed one with their spears and axes. Baldeo had occasionally heard the sawing of a panther calling to its mate, but they had not come near the tunnel or shed.

How did the villagers describe the tiger?

Answer:
The villagers had many stories about the tiger. Most of them called the animal the tunnel tiger because he would come towards the village through the tunnel. The tiger was also called the maneater as he would attack and kill people from the village.

Passage 4

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

For some time there was only silence. Even the usual jungle noises seemed to have ceased altogether. Then a thump and the rattle of small stones announced that the tiger had sprung into the cutting. Baldeo, listening as he had never listened before, wondered if it was making for the tunnel or the opposite direction the direction of the hut, in which Tembu would be lying unprotected. He did not have to wonder for long.

How did Baldeo know that the tiger had entered the cutting?

Answer:
There was a thump and a rattle of small stones in the tunnel indicating that the tiger had entered the cutting.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

For some time there was only silence. Even the usual jungle noises seemed to have ceased altogether. Then a thump and the rattle of small stones announced that the tiger had sprung into the cutting. Baldeo, listening as he had never listened before, wondered if it was making for the tunnel or the opposite direction the direction of the hut, in which Tembu would be lying unprotected. He did not have to wonder for long.

Why was Baldeo intently listening to the sound coming from the cutting?

Answer:
Baldeo was intently listening to the sounds coming from the cutting in order to find out where the tiger was coming from. He also tried to figure out whether the tiger was making for the tunnel or the opposite direction, where the hut was in which his boy lay unprotected.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

For some time there was only silence. Even the usual jungle noises seemed to have ceased altogether. Then a thump and the rattle of small stones announced that the tiger had sprung into the cutting. Baldeo, listening as he had never listened before, wondered if it was making for the tunnel or the opposite direction the direction of the hut, in which Tembu would be lying unprotected. He did not have to wonder for long.

Why was there no point in running?

Answer:
The tiger would spot Baldeo sooner in the dark if he attempted to run away as animals can see in the dark better than humans. The tiger’s eyes shone brilliantly in the light from the signal lamp. Also a tiger is faster than a man therefore Baldeo concluded that there was no point in running.

Passage 5

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

The tiger drew off and sat down licking his wounded leg, roaring every now and then with agony. He did not notice the faint rumble that shook the earth, followed by the distant puffing of an engine steadily climbing.

How did Baldeo position himself to fight the tiger?

Answer:
Baldeo stood with his back to the signal post, aware that the tiger was trotting in his direction. The beast was fearless, as it had been killing humans for a long time and knew the ways of men.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

The tiger drew off and sat down licking his wounded leg, roaring every now and then with agony. He did not notice the faint rumble that shook the earth, followed by the distant puffing of an engine steadily climbing.

What did the faint rumble indicate?

Answer:
The faint rumble was that of the arriving upland train which would soon enter the cutting and pass through the tunnel.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

The tiger drew off and sat down licking his wounded leg, roaring every now and then with agony. He did not notice the faint rumble that shook the earth, followed by the distant puffing of an engine steadily climbing.

Why did Baldeo decide to fight the tiger?

Answer:
It would have been very easy for Baldeo to run away from the scene. However, he chose to fight the tiger so as to stop him from moving towards the hut where his son Tembu was sleeping unprotected.

Question 4.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

The tiger drew off and sat down licking his wounded leg, roaring every now and then with agony. He did not notice the faint rumble that shook the earth, followed by the distant puffing of an engine steadily climbing.

How did the tiger get wounded?

Answer:
Baldeo was ready for the tiger. He was a tribal man and knew the ways of the jungle. When the tiger struck out at Baldeo with its right paw, Baldeo avoided the attack with his agile leap and brought his axe down on the tiger’s shoulder. He attacked the tiger fiercely with his steel axe and almost got the beast’s leg. The axe remained stuck in the bone, wounding the beast grievously.

Passage 6

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

At the next station the driver slowed down and stopped his train to water the engine. He got down to stretch his legs and decided to examine the head-lamps. He received the surprise of his life…

What happened to Baldeo when the tiger attacked him?

Answer:
Although Baldeo injured the tiger, the beast sprang on him, tearing down his broken body. Baldeo was killed by the tiger’s attack.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

At the next station the driver slowed down and stopped his train to water the engine. He got down to stretch his legs and decided to examine the head-lamps. He received the surprise of his life…

Why did the tiger feel trapped like a man?

Answer:
Although Baldeo succumbed to his injuries after the tiger attacked him, he had brought down his axe on the tiger injuring him badly. As the tiger sat licking his wound inside the tunnel, he heard the engine of the upland mail train approaching the tunnel. The wounded leg limited the animal’s ability to run, and therefore, the tiger felt as if it were trapped like a man in the tunnel.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

At the next station the driver slowed down and stopped his train to water the engine. He got down to stretch his legs and decided to examine the head-lamps. He received the surprise of his life…

What surprised the engine driver?

Answer:
When the engine driver got down at the next station to stretch his legs, he decided to examine the head-lamps of the train. To his surprise, he saw the major portion of the tiger just above the cow-catcher, cut in half by the engine.

Question 4.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

At the next station the driver slowed down and stopped his train to water the engine. He got down to stretch his legs and decided to examine the head-lamps. He received the surprise of his life…

Describe Baldeo’s encounter with the tiger.

Answer:
Baldeo avoided the paw of the tiger with his marvellously agile leap when the tiger struck him. He brought his axe down on the animal’s shoulder twice and on the second strike the axe got stuck to tiger’s shoulder bone, almost severing its limb. Baldeo was left without a weapon with the axe stuck in the animal’s shoulder. Taking advantage of this, the tiger sprang on Baldeo bringing him down and tearing his body. It was over in a few minutes and the night closed in on Baldeo forever.

Passage 7

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

He sat down in the darkness to wait for the train, and sang softly to himself. There was nothing to be afraid of – his father had killed the tiger, the forest gods were pleased; and besides, he had the axe with him, his father’s axe, and he now knew to use it.

What was the effect of Baldeo’s death on his family?

Answer:
Baldeo was the only earning member of his family. After his death, Tembu, his mother, and his sister were plunged in grief for two whole days.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

He sat down in the darkness to wait for the train, and sang softly to himself. There was nothing to be afraid of – his father had killed the tiger, the forest gods were pleased; and besides, he had the axe with him, his father’s axe, and he now knew to use it.

How was the atmosphere at the cutting different from that at the station?

Answer:
There was considerable excitement and conjecture at the station, as the driver had spotted a major portion of the tiger cut in half by the engine. However, back at the cutting there was no sound except for the sobs of Tembu who sat beside the body of his father. He sat there a long time guarding his father’s body from jackals and hyenas until the first faint light of dawn brought with it the arrival of the relief-watchman.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

He sat down in the darkness to wait for the train, and sang softly to himself. There was nothing to be afraid of – his father had killed the tiger, the forest gods were pleased; and besides, he had the axe with him, his father’s axe, and he now knew to use it.

What role did Tembu assume after Baldeo’s death?

Answer:
Baldeo’s family was plunged into grief for two whole days after Baldeo died in the tiger attack. However, life had to go on and the entire responsibility of supporting the family now fell on Tembu. Three nights later, he was at the cutting, lighting the signal-lamp for the overland mail. He sat down in the darkness to wait for the train, and sang softly to himself. He was not afraid of anything, for his father had killed the tiger, and he had his father’s axe with him which he knew how to use.

ICSE Class 10 English Solutions A Psalm of Life [Poem]

Passage 1

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.

Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.

Whom is the poem addressed to? What kind of approach does the poet have towards life? How do we know this?

Answer:
The poet HW Longfellow addresses this poem to all his readers in general. He has a positive and motivational approach towards life. He urges us to wake up from our slumbers and make our lives meaningful. He tries to explain to us that we have got the gift of life not to lay stagnant and take it to our graves. He further states that our lives will not unfold by itself and it is up to us what we make of it.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.

Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.

According to the speaker, what is not the goal of life? When will our soul really be dead?

Answer:
According to the speaker, dying without achieving anything is not the goal of life. Our soul will really be dead if we ignore our duties, not see things for what they really are and let ourselves slumber away to our ends.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.

Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.

Mention and explain the biblical references in the extract above.

Answer:
The word ‘numbers’ in the first line of the poem refer to verses in the bible. The phrase ‘Dust thou art, to dust returnest’ is also a biblical reference. In the book of Genesis, God reminded Adam that he was made from the dust of the ground and that he shall return to dust.

Question 4.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.

Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.

Is the poet’s view of life influenced by Christian ideologies? Support your answer with phrases from the poem.

Answer:
Yes. The poet makes direct references to words in the bible (the second last line of the extract) to support his ideas. Also, other ideas like doing one’s duties, suppressing laziness and helping ones brother etc are influenced by Christian ideologies.

Passage 2

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.

What should we aim to achieve as we live each day?

Answer:
As we live each day, we should aim to move forward on our paths towards our goals instead of wasting our time on enjoyment or sorrow.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.

What does the speaker say about the human heart?

Answer:
The speaker says that though human hearts are stout and brave their beating is like a warning to each one of us that our end is nearing.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.

Why does the poet call art ‘long’?

Answer:
The poet calls art ‘long’ because once it is created it will never perish. It is timeless and immortal unlike human lives which will decay or perish.

Question 4.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.

Explain the line ‘Funeral marches to the grave.’?

Answer:
The steady beating of the human heart is likened to the constant beat of the drums in a funeral march in the line above.

Passage 3

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

In the world’s broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!

Trust no Future, how e’er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,- act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o’er head!

How does the poet want readers to face their battles?

Answer:
The poet wants readers to face life’s struggles like a soldier fights battles heroically. The poet calls life as the ‘world’s broad field of battle’.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

In the world’s broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!

Trust no Future, how e’er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,- act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o’er head!

What does the phrase ‘bivouac of Life’ mean?

Answer:
The phrase ‘bivouac of Life’refers to life as a temporary shelter. It re-emphasises that we are on earth only for a limited period of time and whatever we wish for should be achieved while we are alive.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

In the world’s broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!

Trust no Future, how e’er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,- act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o’er head!

What advice does the poet give about the past and the future?

Answer:
The poet advises us not to be tied up to our past or get mingled in worries or anticipations of the future. For this he says “Trust no Future, how e’er pleasant! Let the dead Past bury its dead!”

Question 4.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

In the world’s broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!

Trust no Future, how e’er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,- act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o’er head!

Explain the following lines from the extract.
Act,- act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o’er head!

Answer:
In the last two lines the poet urges us to live and act in the present and burn our past. He also advises us to stop worrying about the future. He says that our past or our future cannot help achieve our goals. We can only rely or trust the heart within our bodies and our God above to give us strength to live each day.

Passage 4

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;

Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.

What do sublime lives indicate? How do we know that we can make our lives sublime?

Answer:
Sublime lives indicate lives of great worth; ‘Lives’ which have achieved so much that they are looked up to and praised for these things. Learning from the example of the lives of many great leaders and people who have lived before us, we can be sure that it is not impossible to make our lives sublime or worthy of respect.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;

Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.

How can our life experience be a source of inspiration to others?

Answer:
As we live, we should face the hardships in our path with determination. Only our will and persistence will help us overcome the obstacles. Also, when we overcome our perils confidently, others who face similar adversities will get courage through our example and succeed in life.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;

Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.

What does ‘Sailing o’er life’s solemn main’ indicate?

Answer:
The words ‘solemn main’ indicate tough times in life; times when a person is low and finds it difficult to cope with situations on his own.

Question 4.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;

Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.

What is the symbolic value of the word ‘brother’ used in the second stanza?

Answer:
The poet uses the word ‘brother’ to highlight that selflessness is one aspect of a good and healthy life. Only when we treat others the way we want to be treated will we be able to grow personally. Being happy for someone else’s success gives us a positive approach to life which in turn helps us in our strife.

Passage 5

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.

What should we prepare ourselves for when we are ‘up and doing’?

Answer:
While we are ‘up and doing’, in other words, when we are actively striving to achieve our goals we should also prepare our hearts for failure. We need to understand that not all efforts bear fruit. We have to accept this fact gracefully and take it in our stride as we move on in life.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.

Explain the last two lines of the stanza.
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.

Answer:
In the last two lines, the poet says that we should work to achieve our goals in life and not while away time. We need to learn to work hard in life but also be patient enough to wait for the fruits of our labour.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow:

Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.

What kind of tone and language is used in the poem?

Answer:
In keeping with the name of the poem i.e. ‘A Psalm of life’ Longfellow uses a didactic tone to talk about life. The nine stanzas use allusions to the bible and different aspects of life which if kept in mind will help us live our lives more fruitfully.

ICSE Class 10 English Solutions Princess September

Passage 1

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

He cried bitterly when he said this, for he was extremely fond of the Queen. Of course it made the Queen very uneasy because she knew that it would distress the King very much if he had to cut off her head. And it would not be very nice for her. But it so happened that there was no need for either of them to worry because September was the last daughter they ever had. The Queen only had sons after that and they were called by the letters of the alphabet, so there was no cause for anxiety there for a long time, since she had only reached the letter J.

Why would the King have to cut off the Queen’s head?

Answer:
According to the King of Siam, twelve daughters were enough for a man. He did not want to go through the trouble of naming them again, and hence, he decided that if the queen gave birth to one more daughter, he would cut off her head.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

He cried bitterly when he said this, for he was extremely fond of the Queen. Of course it made the Queen very uneasy because she knew that it would distress the King very much if he had to cut off her head. And it would not be very nice for her. But it so happened that there was no need for either of them to worry because September was the last daughter they ever had. The Queen only had sons after that and they were called by the letters of the alphabet, so there was no cause for anxiety there for a long time, since she had only reached the letter J.

What made the queen uneasy?

Answer:
The queen knew that she was the king’s favourite. It made her sad to know that the king would be very distressed if he had to cut off her head.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

He cried bitterly when he said this, for he was extremely fond of the Queen. Of course it made the Queen very uneasy because she knew that it would distress the King very much if he had to cut off her head. And it would not be very nice for her. But it so happened that there was no need for either of them to worry because September was the last daughter they ever had. The Queen only had sons after that and they were called by the letters of the alphabet, so there was no cause for anxiety there for a long time, since she had only reached the letter J.

Is it abnormal for the queen to feel sad for the king? Why?

Answer:
The queen felt sad for the king who was going to cut off her head if she gave birth to one more daughter because they already had twelve daughters. She should have worried for herself as her life was in danger. However, she instead felt sad for the king.

Question 4.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

He cried bitterly when he said this, for he was extremely fond of the Queen. Of course it made the Queen very uneasy because she knew that it would distress the King very much if he had to cut off her head. And it would not be very nice for her. But it so happened that there was no need for either of them to worry because September was the last daughter they ever had. The Queen only had sons after that and they were called by the letters of the alphabet, so there was no cause for anxiety there for a long time, since she had only reached the letter J.

How were the daughters of the Siamese King and Queen named?

Answer:
The king and the queen named their first two daughters Night and Day. When they had two more daughters, they renamed the first two ones and called the four after the seasons, i.e. Spring and Autumn, Winter and Summer. In the course of time he had three others and he changed their names again and called all by the seven days of the week. Finally, when his eighth daughter was born, he named all of them after the months of the year.

Passage 2

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

The King of Siam had a habit which I think might be usefully imitated in Europe. Instead of receiving presents on his birthday he gave them and it looks as though he liked it, for he used often to say he was sorry he had only been born on one day and so only had one birthday in the year. But in this way he managed in course of time to give away all his wedding presents and the loyal addresses which the mayors of the cities in Siam presented him with and all his own crowns which had gone out of fashion. One year on his birthday, not having anything else handy, he gave each of his daughters a beautiful green parrot in a beautiful golden cage. There were nine of them and on each cage was written the name of the month which was the name of the princess it belonged to.

What habit did the King of Siam have?

Answer:
The King of Siam had the habit of giving gifts on his birthday instead of receiving them.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

The King of Siam had a habit which I think might be usefully imitated in Europe. Instead of receiving presents on his birthday he gave them and it looks as though he liked it, for he used often to say he was sorry he had only been born on one day and so only had one birthday in the year. But in this way he managed in course of time to give away all his wedding presents and the loyal addresses which the mayors of the cities in Siam presented him with and all his own crowns which had gone out of fashion. One year on his birthday, not having anything else handy, he gave each of his daughters a beautiful green parrot in a beautiful golden cage. There were nine of them and on each cage was written the name of the month which was the name of the princess it belonged to.

What made the king sad about his birthday?

Answer:
The king was sad because his birthday came only once a year and he could not give away gifts more than once in a year.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

The King of Siam had a habit which I think might be usefully imitated in Europe. Instead of receiving presents on his birthday he gave them and it looks as though he liked it, for he used often to say he was sorry he had only been born on one day and so only had one birthday in the year. But in this way he managed in course of time to give away all his wedding presents and the loyal addresses which the mayors of the cities in Siam presented him with and all his own crowns which had gone out of fashion. One year on his birthday, not having anything else handy, he gave each of his daughters a beautiful green parrot in a beautiful golden cage. There were nine of them and on each cage was written the name of the month which was the name of the princess it belonged to.

What was the result of him giving away presents every year on his birthday?

Answer:
The king had the habit of giving gifts on his birthday. As a result of this, he had given away all his wedding presents and the loyal addresses which the mayors of the cities in Siam presented him with and even his own crowns which had gone out of fashion.

Question 4.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

The King of Siam had a habit which I think might be usefully imitated in Europe. Instead of receiving presents on his birthday he gave them and it looks as though he liked it, for he used often to say he was sorry he had only been born on one day and so only had one birthday in the year. But in this way he managed in course of time to give away all his wedding presents and the loyal addresses which the mayors of the cities in Siam presented him with and all his own crowns which had gone out of fashion. One year on his birthday, not having anything else handy, he gave each of his daughters a beautiful green parrot in a beautiful golden cage. There were nine of them and on each cage was written the name of the month which was the name of the princess it belonged to.

What did the king gift his daughters one year on his birthday? Why?

Answer:
One year on his birthday, the King did not have anything to give since he had already given away all that he owned to his subjects in the previous years. Therefore, he gave each of his daughters a beautiful green parrot in a beautiful golden cage.

Passage 3

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

And while she lay in her bed, crying still even though she felt rather hungry, she saw a little bird hop into her room. She took her thumb out of her mouth and sat up. Then the little bird began to sing and he sang a beautiful song all about the lake in the King’s garden and the willow trees that looked at themselves in the still water and the goldfish that glided in and out of the branches that were reflected in it. When he had finished, the Princess was not crying anymore and she quite forgot that she had had no supper. “That was a very nice song,” she said. The little bird gave her a bow, for artists have naturally good manners, and they like to be appreciated.

Why was Princess September crying?

Answer:
Princess September was crying because one day she found her parrot lying dead at the bottom of its golden cage.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

And while she lay in her bed, crying still even though she felt rather hungry, she saw a little bird hop into her room. She took her thumb out of her mouth and sat up. Then the little bird began to sing and he sang a beautiful song all about the lake in the King’s garden and the willow trees that looked at themselves in the still water and the goldfish that glided in and out of the branches that were reflected in it. When he had finished, the Princess was not crying anymore and she quite forgot that she had had no supper. “That was a very nice song,” she said. The little bird gave her a bow, for artists have naturally good manners, and they like to be appreciated.

What did the Queen say when she came to know that Princess September was crying?

Answer:
The Maids of Honour told the Queen that Princess September was sobbing uncontrollably. On hearing this, the Queen said that the death of the parrot was nonsense and not worth shedding tears. She heartlessly asked the Maids of Honour to put the princess to sleep without giving her supper.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

And while she lay in her bed, crying still even though she felt rather hungry, she saw a little bird hop into her room. She took her thumb out of her mouth and sat up. Then the little bird began to sing and he sang a beautiful song all about the lake in the King’s garden and the willow trees that looked at themselves in the still water and the goldfish that glided in and out of the branches that were reflected in it. When he had finished, the Princess was not crying anymore and she quite forgot that she had had no supper. “That was a very nice song,” she said. The little bird gave her a bow, for artists have naturally good manners, and they like to be appreciated.

How are the Queen and Princess September different from each other?

Answer:
Princess September was heart-broken on seeing her parrot dead. She wouldn’t stop crying and was indeed very sad. This shows that the princess was sensitive and emotional. On the other hand, when the Queen was told that the princess was sobbing uncontrollably over her parrot’s death, she said that the dead parrot was not worth shedding tears on and asked the Maids of Honour to put Princess September to sleep without giving her supper. The Queen was unfeeling and didn’t care for the pain of her daughter.

Question 4.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

And while she lay in her bed, crying still even though she felt rather hungry, she saw a little bird hop into her room. She took her thumb out of her mouth and sat up. Then the little bird began to sing and he sang a beautiful song all about the lake in the King’s garden and the willow trees that looked at themselves in the still water and the goldfish that glided in and out of the branches that were reflected in it. When he had finished, the Princess was not crying anymore and she quite forgot that she had had no supper. “That was a very nice song,” she said. The little bird gave her a bow, for artists have naturally good manners, and they like to be appreciated.

What pulled the princess out of her sadness?

Answer:
A little bird hopped into Princess September’s room and began to sing a beautiful song about the lake in the King’s garden and the willow trees that looked at themselves in the still water and the goldfish that glided in and out of the branches that were reflected in it. When the bird finished singing, the princess was no longer crying. The little bird was a nightingale and it pulled Princess September out of her sadness by singing her a beautiful song.

Passage 4

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

“My poor September,” they said. “We are sorry for the death of your beautiful parrot. It must be dreadful for you not to have a pet bird as we have. So we have all put our pocket-money together and we are going to buy you a lovely green and yellow parrot.” “Thank you for nothing,” said September. (This was not very civil of her, but Siamese princesses are sometimes a little short with one another.) “I have a pet bird which sings the most charming songs to me and I don’t know what on earth I should do with a green and yellow parrot.”

Who visited Princess September after the death of her parrot?

Answer:
The eight elder sisters of Princess September visited her after the death of her parrot.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

“My poor September,” they said. “We are sorry for the death of your beautiful parrot. It must be dreadful for you not to have a pet bird as we have. So we have all put our pocket-money together and we are going to buy you a lovely green and yellow parrot.” “Thank you for nothing,” said September. (This was not very civil of her, but Siamese princesses are sometimes a little short with one another.) “I have a pet bird which sings the most charming songs to me and I don’t know what on earth I should do with a green and yellow parrot.”

Why did the sisters come to visit their little sister?

Answer:
The sisters came to visit Princess September to express their condolences over the death of her parrot.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

“My poor September,” they said. “We are sorry for the death of your beautiful parrot. It must be dreadful for you not to have a pet bird as we have. So we have all put our pocket-money together and we are going to buy you a lovely green and yellow parrot.” “Thank you for nothing,” said September. (This was not very civil of her, but Siamese princesses are sometimes a little short with one another.) “I have a pet bird which sings the most charming songs to me and I don’t know what on earth I should do with a green and yellow parrot.”

What were the real intentions of the sisters?

Answer:
The sisters were jealous of Princess September’s little bird as it sang melodiously, as compared to the repetitive rant of their own parrots. Further, the song of the little bird was appreciated by the King too, this vexed the sisters further. Hence, they decided to separate September from the bird so that she wouldn’t be happier than all of them.

Question 4.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

“My poor September,” they said. “We are sorry for the death of your beautiful parrot. It must be dreadful for you not to have a pet bird as we have. So we have all put our pocket-money together and we are going to buy you a lovely green and yellow parrot.” “Thank you for nothing,” said September. (This was not very civil of her, but Siamese princesses are sometimes a little short with one another.) “I have a pet bird which sings the most charming songs to me and I don’t know what on earth I should do with a green and yellow parrot.”

How did September react to her sisters’ idea of giving her a parrot?

Answer:
The sisters pretended to be sad over the death of September’s parrot. They told her that they had decided to put all their money together and buy her a parrot. However, Princess September told the sisters that she already had a bird which sang better than the green and yellow parrot and that she didn’t need a parrot.

Passage 5

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

September felt her heart go thump, thump against her chest, and she made up her mind to take no more risks. She put up her hand and took hold of the bird. This he was quite used to, she liked feeling his heart go pit-a-pat, so fast, in the hollow of her hand, and I think he liked the soft warmth of her little hand. So the bird suspected nothing and he was so surprised when she carried him over to the cage, popped him in, and shut the door on him for a moment he could think of nothing to say. But in a moment or two he hopped up on the ivory perch and said: “What is the joke?” “There’s no joke,” said September, “but some of mamma’s cats are prowling about to-night, and I think you’re much safer in there.”

What fear did the eight sisters instil in September’s mind?

Answer:
The eight sisters were jealous of September and her bird who sang melodious songs to her. September did not cage the bird and allowed it to move freely in the palace at its will. However, on one such day when the bird was not present, the sisters visited September and told her that if she allowed the bird to move freely, it wouldn’t return one day. Indeed that day, the bird came back late, and this sowed the fear of losing the bird in September’s heart.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

September felt her heart go thump, thump against her chest, and she made up her mind to take no more risks. She put up her hand and took hold of the bird. This he was quite used to, she liked feeling his heart go pit-a-pat, so fast, in the hollow of her hand, and I think he liked the soft warmth of her little hand. So the bird suspected nothing and he was so surprised when she carried him over to the cage, popped him in, and shut the door on him for a moment he could think of nothing to say. But in a moment or two he hopped up on the ivory perch and said: “What is the joke?” “There’s no joke,” said September, “but some of mamma’s cats are prowling about to-night, and I think you’re much safer in there.”

What did Princess September do to ensure that the bird stayed safe with her?

Answer:
Princess September popped the bird into a golden cage to ensure the bird’s safety.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

September felt her heart go thump, thump against her chest, and she made up her mind to take no more risks. She put up her hand and took hold of the bird. This he was quite used to, she liked feeling his heart go pit-a-pat, so fast, in the hollow of her hand, and I think he liked the soft warmth of her little hand. So the bird suspected nothing and he was so surprised when she carried him over to the cage, popped him in, and shut the door on him for a moment he could think of nothing to say. But in a moment or two he hopped up on the ivory perch and said: “What is the joke?” “There’s no joke,” said September, “but some of mamma’s cats are prowling about to-night, and I think you’re much safer in there.”

What did the bird do after being put in the cage?

Answer:
When the little nightingale was popped into the cage, it first thought it was a joke. But when the princess refused to let it out, it started sobbing and pleading to the princess. The bird repeatedly told the princess that it couldn’t sing when it was caged and if it didn’t sing it would die.

Question 4.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

September felt her heart go thump, thump against her chest, and she made up her mind to take no more risks. She put up her hand and took hold of the bird. This he was quite used to, she liked feeling his heart go pit-a-pat, so fast, in the hollow of her hand, and I think he liked the soft warmth of her little hand. So the bird suspected nothing and he was so surprised when she carried him over to the cage, popped him in, and shut the door on him for a moment he could think of nothing to say. But in a moment or two he hopped up on the ivory perch and said: “What is the joke?” “There’s no joke,” said September, “but some of mamma’s cats are prowling about to-night, and I think you’re much safer in there.”

What reason did the princess give for caging the bird? What was the real reason for caging the bird?

Answer:
The princess told the bird that her mother’s cats were on prowl that night and that she feared they would kill the bird. However, the actual reason for caging the bird was the fear instilled in the princesses’ heart that the bird would fly away forever and that she would be left without a pet once again.

Passage 6

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

“I cannot sing unless I’m free and if I cannot sing, I die,” he said. The Princess gave a great sob. “Then take your freedom,” she said, “I shut you in a golden cage because I loved you and wanted to have you all to myself. But I never knew it would kill you. Go. Fly away among the trees that are round the lake and fly over the green rice-fields. I love you enough to let you be happy in your own way.” She threw open the window and gently placed the little bird on the sill. He shook himself a little.

What happened when the bird was caged by the princess?

Answer:
The bird grew sad and melancholic when it was caged. It could not see the trees outside nor could it enjoy nature. This made the bird weary and tired.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

“I cannot sing unless I’m free and if I cannot sing, I die,” he said. The Princess gave a great sob. “Then take your freedom,” she said, “I shut you in a golden cage because I loved you and wanted to have you all to myself. But I never knew it would kill you. Go. Fly away among the trees that are round the lake and fly over the green rice-fields. I love you enough to let you be happy in your own way.” She threw open the window and gently placed the little bird on the sill. He shook himself a little.

What did the princess do for the bird?

Answer:
The princess realised that her love and possessiveness for the little bird was hurting it. She decided to set the bird free. Although she did this unwillingly, she was happy that the bird would be free again.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

“I cannot sing unless I’m free and if I cannot sing, I die,” he said. The Princess gave a great sob. “Then take your freedom,” she said, “I shut you in a golden cage because I loved you and wanted to have you all to myself. But I never knew it would kill you. Go. Fly away among the trees that are round the lake and fly over the green rice-fields. I love you enough to let you be happy in your own way.” She threw open the window and gently placed the little bird on the sill. He shook himself a little.

What happened to the bird after it was set free by Princess September?

Answer:
Princess September opened the cage and gently placed the little bird on the sill. The bird gave itself a little shake and realised that that he had become stiff.

Question 4.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

“I cannot sing unless I’m free and if I cannot sing, I die,” he said. The Princess gave a great sob. “Then take your freedom,” she said, “I shut you in a golden cage because I loved you and wanted to have you all to myself. But I never knew it would kill you. Go. Fly away among the trees that are round the lake and fly over the green rice-fields. I love you enough to let you be happy in your own way.” She threw open the window and gently placed the little bird on the sill. He shook himself a little.

Did the bird return to the princess after being set free by her?

Answer:
Yes, the bird did return to the princess after being set free by her. The nightingale kept its promise of returning to the princess. When it came back after flying over the world, it sat on September’s shoulder and ate out of her hand and sang to her the beautiful songs he had learned while he was flying up and down the fair places of the world.

Passage 7

Question 1.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

September kept her window open day and night so that the little bird might come into her room whenever he felt inclined, and this was very good for her; so she grew extremely beautiful. And when she was old enough she married the King of Cambodia and was carried all the way to the city in which he lived on a white elephant. But her sisters never slept with their windows open, so they grew extremely ugly as well as disagreeable, and when the time came to marry them off they were given away to the King’s councilors with a pound of tea and a Siamese cat.

Why was the window of September’s room open night and day?

Answer:
Princess September kept her window open night and day so that the little nightingale could come into her room whenever it wanted to.

Question 2.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

September kept her window open day and night so that the little bird might come into her room whenever he felt inclined, and this was very good for her; so she grew extremely beautiful. And when she was old enough she married the King of Cambodia and was carried all the way to the city in which he lived on a white elephant. But her sisters never slept with their windows open, so they grew extremely ugly as well as disagreeable, and when the time came to marry them off they were given away to the King’s councilors with a pound of tea and a Siamese cat.

How did the open window help the princess?

Answer:
The open window allowed fresh air to enter September’s room. It made her livelier, healthier, more beautiful, and happy. The inflow of natural light and fresh air into the room enhanced September’s beauty and made her a sweet and a charming lady.

Question 3.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

September kept her window open day and night so that the little bird might come into her room whenever he felt inclined, and this was very good for her; so she grew extremely beautiful. And when she was old enough she married the King of Cambodia and was carried all the way to the city in which he lived on a white elephant. But her sisters never slept with their windows open, so they grew extremely ugly as well as disagreeable, and when the time came to marry them off they were given away to the King’s councilors with a pound of tea and a Siamese cat.

To whom did Princess September get married?

Answer:
Princess September was married to the King of Cambodia. She was carried all the way to the city in which he lived on a white elephant.

Question 4.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

September kept her window open day and night so that the little bird might come into her room whenever he felt inclined, and this was very good for her; so she grew extremely beautiful. And when she was old enough she married the King of Cambodia and was carried all the way to the city in which he lived on a white elephant. But her sisters never slept with their windows open, so they grew extremely ugly as well as disagreeable, and when the time came to marry them off they were given away to the King’s councilors with a pound of tea and a Siamese cat.

To whom were the eight sisters given away? Why?

Answer:
The sisters never slept with their windows open and hence, they grew ugly and disagreeable. When the time of their marriage came, they were given away to the King’s councilors with a pound of tea and a Siamese cat.