Std. XII Activity Work Book

Activity Work Book for XII New syllabus (With Marathi Translation) is available for sale. Do buy it as early as possible. Price Rs. 400 + 50 (Packing and Postage charges)= Rs.450. Discount is available on buying 25 and more copies < Contact Writer:- Prof. Tushar Chavan from Rashtriya Junior College, Chalisgaon Dist.Jalgaon. Whats app Number: 9850737199 , Cell 9850737199. Pages in the book- 400


English Grammar Activity Workbook First Edition (for class 8 to 12) is available for sale. Price Rs. 220 + Rs. 50 (Postage / Courier Charges) = Rs. 270. Discount is available for buying 30 or more books. Contact Writer: Prof. Tushar Chavan from Rashtriya Junior College, Chalisgaon Dist.Jalgaon Whats app Number: 9850737199

Search in This Blog

Saturday, 5 July 2025

The Call of the Soil

The Call of the Soil - A scent of Rice 

The Call of the Soil

The Call of the Soil: A Scent of Rice

Ice Breakers Activities :

A-1

Discuss the following with your partner and complete the following sentences. One is done for you.

Answer-

(a) Before eating apples brought from the market, I wash and peel them off.

(b) In a farmers’ market, we find vegetables and fruits.

(c) Food adulteration means adding small quantity of non – nutritious substances intentionally to improve the appearance, texture or storage properties of the food.

(d) Organic food is grown by using natural materials, methods and conditions.

(e) Organic fertilizer means the fertilizers derived from animal matter or wastes, human excreta, vegetable matter (e.g. compost and crop residues)

A-2

Complete the following web diagram:

Rice varieties available at my Grocer’s shop

Complete the following web diagram:

 -----------

 

 -----------

 

Rice variety available at my grocer’s shop

 

 -----------

 

 ------------

Answer-

Ambe Mohar

 

Basmati

 

Rice variety available at my grocer’s shop

 

Chinor

 

Indrayani


A-3

Find out from your grandparents or parents the names of vegetables and fruits they had eaten in their childhood and mention how the vegetables and fruits are different from the ones today.

Answer-

Name of the vegetables or fruit

Shape

Colour

Taste

Mango

Oval, heart shaped

Green – yellow

Sweet

Banana

C – shape

Green - yellow

Sweet

Lady’s finger

Oblong

Green

Crunchy


A-4

You might have learnt about organic farming. Make groups and discuss the difference between conventional farming and organic farming and write it down.

Answer-

Sr. No.

Conventional Farming

Organic Farming

1

Produce larger quantities of food

Produce lesser quantities of food

2

Less manual labour

More manual labour

3

Extra use of chemicals and pesticides may affect eco system

More ecological and good for health


The Writer-

Venkateshwaran (Venkat) Iyer:

He was born in 1966. Venkateshwaran (Venkat) Iyer is a science graduate and a certified project management professional. After seventeen years in the IT industry, he quit in 2004 to live on his organic farm in Peth village in Dahanu Taluka, Palghar District, Maharashtra.

Iyer did experiment of organic farming in Peth and tried to show its importance. He now delivers lectures on organic farming. He has also joined hands with organic farmers and NGOs working in the organic field to propagate organic farming.


The topic: The Call of the Soil

Venkateshwaran (Venkat) Iyer’s book 'Moong over Microchips' traces his transition from techie to farmer. It was not a career change, but a life style change for the writer.

He insisted on doing organic farming. He was firm in spite of numerous challenges which he faced. He became successful in his attempt.

The topic 'The Call of the Soil' describes his journey to become a farmer who does organic farming.


Activities given in the margin of the text book:


Activity No. 1

Guess the meaning of the word ‘lush’ in this context.

Answer:-

Meaning of the word ‘lush’:- rich, prolific or luxuriant


Activity No. 2

Find words related to agriculture.

Answer:-

Words related to agriculture:- green pods, crop, farmer, sowing, seeds, plough, farming, tractor, yield, chemical sprays, fertilizers, hybrid and desi variety, rice, moong etc.


Activity No. 3

The write disagreed with Moru Dada because-------

Answer:-

He did not want to spray some pesticides on the plants to give a higher yield. He did not think that it was essential to use such chemicals.


Activity No. 4

The writer wanted to grow the traditional variety of rice because - 1)------ 2)-----

Answer:- 

1) The traditional varieties were quite strong and resisted pests.

2) They did not need very high inputs of fertilizers.


Activity No. 5

The writer almost gave up hope of finding the desi variety of rice because----

Answer:-

Most of the farmers in and around the village of Peth had switched over to hybrids. The younger generation of farmers considered planting desi variety as crazy thing. Writer’s visits to the villages around searching for a good traditional variety also did not give any results so he almost gave up hope of finding the desi variety of rice.


Activity No. 6

Mention the varieties of rice from the passage.

Answer:-

1) Kasbai     

2) Basmati


Activity No. 7

List ways in which the Government officer cooperated with the author.

1) ----------------

2) ----------------

3) ----------------

Answer:- 

1) Gave the names of a number of latest hybrid varieties.

2) Offered to give the writer some of the latest varieties free of cost for a trial.

3) Asked not to believe on the words of the villagers.


Activity No. 8

Find synonyms for ‘insipid’.

Answer:-

tasteless or flavourless.


Brainstorming

(A1) (i) Read the extract and state whether the following statements are true or false. Correct the false statements.

(a) Growing in abundance is more important than the quality of the crop.

Answer:-

False : Quality should be given more important.


(b) The author wanted to grow the desi variety of rice.

Answer:-

True


(c) The author did not succeed in finding Kasbai.

Answer:-

False : The author finally succeeded in finding Kasbai at Asarvari village.


(d) The aroma of the ‘desi’ rice would spread around the village.

Answer:-

True


(e) Newer hybrid crops have a great appetite for chemicals.

Answer:-

True


(f) The author is an example of ‘reverse migration’.

Answer:-

True


Activity:-

Complete the flow chart. Consider this as an example of

Note-Making.

Discovery of Kasbai rice.

Answer-

April 2005- Writer started search for Kasbai rice variety.

No help from Agricultural officer to find Kasbai variety.

Devu Handa knew about Kasbai variety.

Devu Handa suggested to visit Adivasi remote village Asarvari.

Got Kasbai from the Adivasi woman in the remote area.


Activity :- Read the text and fill in the blanks. One is done for you.

(a) The author wanted to grow organic moong.

(b) Moru Dada wanted to spray pesticides on the moong crop.

(c) Baban’s father and some elders mentioned the name of Kasbai, the desi rice variety.

(d) “Hybrids need more water, fertilizers and pesticides”, said Devu Handa.

(e) The author bought 10 kilos of rice from an Adivasi woman who lived in remote hills.


Online test on The Call of the soil : The Saint of Rice                               


Do solve the test to understand the topic.



See More-

Being Neighborly

On to the Summit- We Reach the Top

Pillars of Democracy

Mrs. Adis


The Call of the Soil- Activity sheet

Activity Sheet No. 1

Q. Read the extract and complete the activities given below.  (12)

The next thing Moru Dada wanted to do was spray some pesticide on the plants. He claimed that it would give a higher yield. This was something we did not want to do. We were clear that we would not use any chemicals and tried to explain it to him. He reacted as if we had suggested hara-kiri. It took a lot of convincing to ensure that Moru Dada and his friends did not use any chemicals on the farm. They refused to understand how crops could grow without sprays.

Contrary to what everyone had told us, nature did her job and she needed no bribes to get the work done. Soon it was harvest time and we managed a respectable 300 kilograms. An awful lot of moong and with it a lot of confidence. Now I was certain the land was fertile and that it was possible to grow crops without chemicals. It was a major morale booster.

The Scent of Rice               

The first year I was late for the rice-sowing season and had to resort to growing the GR4 variety that was short term and recommended by the agricultural officers at Kosbad. The next year we decided that we would start early and try to find some good traditional variety of rice to grow. We had read about traditional varieties of rice and knew that they did not require very high inputs of fertilizers. These varieties were also quite strong and resisted pests. We were sure that it was this type of rice that would grow well in our farm where we did not use any chemicals at all. Our previous year’s experience and low yield had taught us a lesson and we were sure we would not plant hybrids this year.

In April 2005, we started to look for a good variety of traditional rice. It was one of our neighbours in the village, a businessman from Mumbai who owned land, who suggested that we plant a local scented variety of rice. Most of the farmers in and around the village of Peth had switched over to hybrids. The younger generation of farmers thought I was crazy to ask for the ‘desi’ variety, as they called it. My regular visits to the villages around searching for a good traditional variety also did not yield any results and we were almost giving up hope.

A1. True or False  (2)

Rewrite the following statements and state whether they are true or false.

1) Most of the farmers used hybrid seeds for sowing.    

2) The writer needed traditional variety of rice.

3) The land of the narrator was not fertile.                    

4) The writer agreed to spray pesticides on the crop.

A2. Give reasons   (2)

The writer wanted to grow the traditional variety of rice because-------------------------

A3. Guess   (2)

The writer almost gave up hope of finding the desi variety of rice. Guess its reasons.

A4. Personal response.    (2)

Note down any two major problems faced by the farmer nowadays in your locality.

A5. Language Study     (2)

Do as directed.

1) It was a major morale booster.

(The correct transformation of this sentence into rhetorical question is----)

i) It was a major morale booster, wasn’t it?          

ii) What a major morale booster it was?

iii) Was it a major morale booster?          

iv) Wasn’t it a major morale booster?

2) In April 2005, we started to look for a good variety of traditional rice.

               (Choose the correct wh- type question giving the underlined words as answer)

i) Why did we start to look for a good variety of traditional rice?

ii) Where did we start to look for a good variety of traditional rice?

iii) When did we start to look for a good variety of traditional rice?

iv) How long did we start to look for a good variety of traditional rice?

A6. Vocabulary.    (2)

Match word given under ‘A’ with their meaning under ‘B’.

A

B

1) morale

a) try to prevent

2) resisted

b) capable of producing crops

3) traditional

c) confidence

4) fertile

d) conventional


Answer-

A1.

1) Most of the farmers used hybrid seeds for sowing. – True

2) The writer needed traditional variety of rice. - True

3) The land of the narrator was not fertile. - False

4) The writer agreed to spray pesticides on the crop. - False

A2.

The writer wanted to grow the traditional variety of rice because-

1) They did not require very high inputs of fertilizers.

2) These varieties were also quite strong and resisted pests. They didn’t need pesticides.

A3.

Most of the farmers in and around the village of Peth had switched over to hybrids. The younger generation of farmers considered planting desi variety as crazy idea. Writer’s visits to the villages around searching for a good traditional variety also did not give any results. So he almost gave up hope of finding the desi variety of rice.

A4.

In my area the farmers face the problem of scarcity of water for farming and there is no guarantee of good price for their products. These are the two major problems faced by the farmers nowadays.

A5.

iv) Wasn’t it a major morale booster?

iii) When did we start to look for a good variety of traditional rice?

A6.

A

B

1) morale

confidence

2) resisted

tried to prevent

3) traditional

conventional

4) fertile

capable of producing crops


 Ice Breakers

Activity:- Discuss the following with your partner and complete the following sentences. One is done for you.
(a) Before eating apples brought from the market, I wash and peel them off.
(b) In a farmers’ market, we find vegetables and fruits.
(c) Food adulteration means adding small quantity of non – nutritious substances intentionally to improve the appearance, texture or storage properties of the food.
(d) Organic food is grown by using natural materials, methods and conditions.
(e) Organic fertilizer means the fertilizers derived from animal matter or wastes, human excreta, vegetable matter (e.g.compost and crop residues)

Activity:- Complete the following web diagram :
Rice varieties available at my Grocer’s shop
Complete the following web diagram:

 
---------------------------------------------------


Prof. Tushar Chavan

Rashtriya Junior College,

Chalisgaon

Dist. Jalgaon 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

First Lecture-


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Second Lecture-

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Third Lecture-



-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fourth Lecture-



-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fifth Lecture-



-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Solve the online test based on The Call of the Soil



Being Neighborly

Std. XI - Prose - 1.1 Being Neighborly 


Being Neighborly

Brief story     
                         
It’s a snowy day, and Jo decided to go out and dig paths in the snow. The Marches’ house – a small, brown, shabby dwelling which lost its summer greenery. It was separated by a low hedge from Mr. Laurence’s large stone mansion. 
She saw Laurie sitting near one of the windows on the second floor. Jo felt sorry for the poor lonely boy. She threw a snowball at the window, grabbing Laurie’s attention. Laurie admitted that he had been sick with a cold, and he invited Jo to come over. Jo arrived soon after with an armful of offerings for Laurie: a plate of blanc- mange (a kind of custard) from Meg and kittens from Beth. 
Jo straightened up Laurie’s quarters, and offered to read out loud to Laurie. Laurie begged her to talk to him, and Jo told him about her family. Laurie revealed that he sometimes spied on the March family, but Jo saw that he only did it because he was orphaned (his parents died when he was young, so he was now with his grandfather) and felt lonesome. Laurie stepped out momentarily to see his doctor, and while he had gone Mr. Laurence, Laurie’s Grandpa came in and surprised Jo. Jo told him that she felt Laurie needed to spend more time around kids of his own age. 
Mr. Laurence invited Jo to tea. As he saw Jo and Laurie chatter, Mr. Laurence realized that there might be some truth to what Jo had told him. Jo revealed that Laurie said he’d been grateful for the “medicine” 
Mrs. March had sent over, and Meg remarked that Laurie was paying Jo a compliment. Jo is flustered, and chides Meg for being sentimental when all she wanted to do was befriend Laurie. Mrs. March gave Jo permission to invite Laurie over to their house.

Characters:-

1) Josephine March:- The protagonist of the novel and second oldest March sister. Jo, who wants to be a writer, is based on Louisa May Alcott herself, which makes the story semi- autobiographical. Jo has a temper and a quick tongue, although she works hard to control both. She is a tomboy and reacts with impatience to many limitations placed on women and girls. 

2) Meg March:- The oldest March sister. She is responsible and kind. She has a small weakness for luxury and leisure but the greater part of her is she is gentle, loving and morally vigorous. 

3) Beth March:- The third March daughter. Beth is very quiet and very virtuous. She does nothing but tries to please others. She adores music and plays the piano very well. 

4) Amy March:- The youngest March girl. Amy is an artist who adores visual beauty and has a weakness for pretty possessions. She is given to fits of temper and vanity but she does attempts to improve herself. 

5) Laurie Laurence:- The rich boy who lives next door to the March family. Laurie, whose real name is Theodore Laurence. He is charming, clever and has a good heart.

6) Mr. Laurence:- Laurie's grandfather and the Marches' next - door neighbour. He seems gruff but he is loving and kind.

7) Marmee:- The March girls' mother. Marmee is the moral role model for her girls. She counsels them through all of their problems and works hard. Her husband is at war.

8) Mr.March:- The March girls' father and Marmee's husband. He serves in the Union army as a chaplain.

9) The Hummels:- A family that lives near the Marches. The Hummels are poor and in bad health.

10) Aunt March:- A rich widow and one of the March girl's aunts. Although irritated and difficult, she loves her nieces and wants the best for them.

Icebreaker:-
An icebreaker is an activity, game or event that is used to welcome and warm up the conversation among participants in a meeting, training class, team building session, or another event. Any event that requires people to comfortably interact with each other and a facilitator is an opportunity to use an icebreaker. It is a kind of preparation activity. It relates the learners to the theme of the topic.


Brief Story in Marathi: Being Neighborly

कथेचा सारांश:

तो एक हिमवर्षाव होत असलेला दिवस होता आणि जो ने बाहेर जाऊन बर्फात रस्ता शोधण्याचे ठरविले. मार्च कुटुंबाचे घर - एक लहान, तपकिरी, खराब झालेले घर होती. तेथिल वेलींची हिरवीगार पालवी उन्हाळ्यात वळून गेली होती. हे घर श्री लॉरेन्सच्या मोठ्या दगडी हवेलीपासून लहान कुंपणाद्वारे विभक्त झालेले होते.

दुसर्‍या मजल्यावरील एका खिडकीजवळ ज्यो ला लॉरी बसलेला दिसला. जो ला त्या गरीब एकाकी मुलाबद्दल वाईट वाटले. तिने लॉरीचे लक्ष वेधून घेण्यासाठी खिडकीजवळ एक स्नोबॉल फेकला. जो शी बोलतांना लॉरीने कबूल केले की तो थंडीने आजारी होता आणि त्याने जो ला घरी येण्याचे आमंत्रण दिले.

जो लॉरीच्या घरी जातांना त्याला खाद्य पदार्थ घेऊन आली. तो पदार्थ म्हणजे मेग ने बनवलेला ब्लँक-मॅंगेज (एक प्रकारचे कस्टर्ड) होता. सोबत तिने बेथच्या मांजरीचे पिल्लू ही नेले होते. जो ने लॉरीचे घर न्याहाळले आणि लॉरीला मोठ्याने पुस्तक वाचून दाखवण्याची ऑफर दिली. लॉरीने मात्र तिला गप्पा मारण्याची विनंती केली. जोने त्याला आपल्या कुटूंबाविषयी सांगितले.

लॉरीने प्रामाणिकपणे सांगून टाकले की तो कधीकधी मार्चच्या कुटूंबाची हेरगिरी करत राहतो. एकमेकांशी प्रेमाने राहणारे मार्च कुटुंब गुपचूप पाहणे हे लॉरीआवडते. जोने जाणून घेतले की केवळ अनाथ असल्यामुळे (आई वडील लहान असतानाच मरण पावले होते. म्हणूनच आता तो आजोबांसमवेत राहिला होता) आणि एकटे वाटले म्हणून तो हे करत होता.

लॉरी त्याच्या डॉक्टरला भेटण्यासाठी काही काळासाठी बाहेर पडला आणि जेव्हा तो गेला तेव्हा लॉरीचे आजोबा आले. त्यावेळी जो लॉरीच्या आजोबांचे पोट्रेट पहात होती. मागे न पहाता ती म्हणते की आजोबांचा चेहरा उग्र वाटत असला तरी त्यांचे डोळे प्रेमळ आहेत व त्यांच्यात दृढ इच्छा शक्ती आहे. ती पुढे म्हणते की ते जरी माझ्या आजोबांइतके देखणे नसले तरी मला ते आवडलेले आहेत. आजोबा तिचे आभार मानतात. त्यांना पाहून जो आश्चर्यचकित होते.

जो आजोबांना म्हणते की, तिला असे वाटते लॉरीला त्याच्या स्वत:च्या वयाच्या मुलांसोबत जास्त वेळ घालवणे आवश्यक आहे. श्री. लॉरेन्स यांना जाणवते की, जोने जे सांगितले ते सत्य आहे. ते जो ला सांगतात की एखाद्या दिवशी ते स्वत: श्रीमती मार्च ला (जो ची आई) भेटायला येतील. जो लॉरी व आजोबा यांचा निरोप घेऊन घरी जायला निघते. 


Textual Activities.

Activity :-

i) Complete the web diagram

Friendship to me means:-
1) Get moral support in difficulties.

2) Ready to sacrifice anything.

3) Relation beyond gives and gains.

4) Place to open your heart.

5) Sharing the secrets, happiness and sorrow.

6) Caring and sharing.

7) Ready to help every other in need.

8) Having long conversation.

9) Giving and receiving gifts.

10) Making lots of fun.

11) Accepting each other with vices and virtues.

12) Giving support to each other.

13) Caring each other.

14) Enjoying every moment.

15) Keeping in touch with each other.

Activity:-

ii) Complete the statement

If you see someone lonely or sad you will:-

1) I will help him in difficult times.

2) I will co-operate him in difficult situations.

3) I will be courteous to him.

4) I will overcome his sorrows by walking hand in hand.

5) I will give solution on any distress that the person is suffering from. I will remind him karma i.e. duty which we need to face.

6) I will befriend him or her and start topics in such a way that he / she will feel home.

7) I will ask him what wrong was happen with him.

8) I will talk with him and try to understand his problem.

9) I will offer him or her tea or snacks.

10) I will tell good jokes.

11) I will comfort him or her.

12) I will spend time with him or her.

13) I will try to make him or her forget his or her sorrow.

14) I will cheer him or her up.

15) I will never make him or her feel lonely.

Vocabulary:-

Glossary-

pussy cat- easy going, lazy or inactive person आळशी व्यक्ती

groves- small group of trees छोटी बाग

hedge- a row of bushes झुडूपांचे कुंपण

frolicked- overplayed, behaved in a playful way आनंदाने खेळणे

invalid dolls- dolls with broken limbs हातपाय तुटलेल्या बाहुल्या

stately- impressive भव्य

betokening- a sign of something दर्शक खुण

conservatory- glass room for delicate plants नाजूक रोपांसाठी काचेचे घर

scandalizing- teasing, to cause somebody to feel shocked by doing unusual things भावना दुखवणे

wistfully- longingly आशाळभूतपणे

croaked out as hoarsely as a raven- uttered a low hoarse sound like raven bird कर्कश आवाज

listless- lacking energy उदासीन

a little gentleman- small aged polite person or boy of etiquettes शिष्टाचार असलेला व्यक्ती

colored up- blushed चेहऱ्याचा रंग बदलणे, ओशाळणे

To wait on- to serve the needs of someone एखाद्याच्या गरजा पूर्ण करणे

gruffy- Rough voice घोगरा आवाज

good breeding- good manners, polite and socially correct behaviour चांगली वर्तवणूक

pranced- to move about with quick, high steps वेगाने चालणे

Hollow chairs- large and deep armchairs मोठ्या आरामखुर्च्या

wicked- morally bad, evil, here mischievous दुष्टपणे, खोडकरपणे

affair- work, action येथे काम


Brainstorming:-

A1. 
i) Jo’s decision to make friends with the lonely boy next door proves to be good one. Elaborate. You may begin with ‘Jo was a bold, friendly and warm person---------

Answer:- 
Jo was a bold, friendly and warm person. She knew that the next door boy Laurie was lonely and wanted to enjoy the fun with the persons of his age. So she had taken appropriate steps and met the lonely boy. She changed the life of the boy and he became neighbourly with others.

ii) Read the extract ‘Being Neighborly’ and complete the following statements:

a) To Jo the fine house seemed like a kind of enchanted palace, full of splendors and delights which no one enjoyed.

b) Jo swept a path around the garden for Beth to walk in when the sun came out and her broken limbs dolls needed air.

c) Jo entered the old stone house carrying blanc – mange surrounded by a garland of green leaves ant the scarlet flowers.

d) In order to tide the room, Jo needed to place the objects in a right place.

iii) Bring out the contrast between the two houses with the help of the following points.

House of March   

House of Laurence

1) Old, brown house                    
a) Stately stone mansion 
   
2) Robbed of the vines                 
b) Well-kept grounds

3) Children played all around      
c) Lonely and lifeless – no children playing

4) Loving and friendlier              
d) No motherly face smiled at the window

A2. The traits of the characters you meet in the extract are jumbled. Sort them out and write them in the appropriate columns.

(Shy, bold, guff, friendly, withdrawn, perceptive, empathetic, playful, lonely, happy, gentlemanly, frank, mature, dull, sharp, adventurous)

Jo
Laurie
Grandpa
bold
shy
guff
friendly
perceptive
withdrawn
playful
lonely
emphatic
happy
gentlemanly
dull
adventurous
frank

sharp
mature


A3.(i) Write down in your own words the way Laurie confirmed the names of the March sisters.
Answer:- Laurie described the rosy girl as Beth who stayed at home most of the time and sometimes went out with a little basket. He recognized the pretty girl as Meg while the curly – haired one as Amy. In this way Laurie confirmed the names of the March sisters.

(ii) Give a brief account of the interaction between Grandpa and Jo.
Answer:- Jo expressed her thoughts about Grandpa that he had kind eyes, tremendous will but he was not as handsome as her grandfather. She did not know that Laurie’s Grandpa was hearing her words. Grandpa thanked her hearing her expressions about him. She blushed and felt uncomfortable about what she had said about Grandpa. But Grandpa accepted her remarks and made her comfortable with soft words. He enquired about her presence with his grandson Laurie. She claimed that he needed to become friendlier with neighbours so he would never remain alone. Grandpa accepted her thinking.

A4. (i) Find proverbs, maxims and Idioms related to ‘friendship’.

(a) For example: Birds of a feather flock together.

(b) A friend in need is a friend indeed.

(c) A friend in court is better than a penny in purse.

(d) Isn’t it pleasure to receive a friend from afar?

(e) A friend to everybody is a friend to nobody.

(ii) The extract deals with the atmosphere of two homes. Collect the words associated with-

(a) Home:- Old, brown house, bare and shabby, Stately stone mansion, big coach house, enchanted place, as dull as tombs etc.

(b) Library:- A fellow can’t live on books, lined with books, distracting little cabinets full of coins and curiosities, sleepy hollow chairs, queer tables, bronzes, open fireplace etc.

(c) Garden:- Groves, lawns, robbed of the vines, low hedge etc.

A5. Change into indirect speech.

(a) “Do you like your school?” asked the boy.
     “Don’t go to school; I’m a business man – girl. I mean,” answered Jo.
Answer:- The boy wanted to know whether she (Jo) liked school. To which , Jo answered rather emphatically that she did not go to school. She further added that she was a businessman, jovially corrected the gender.

(b) Jo flourished her broom as she called out….. “How do you do? Are you sack?”
Laurie opened the window and croaked out as hoarsely as a raven………
“Better, thank you. I’ ve had a bad cold and been shut up a week.
Answer:- Jo flourished her broom as she called how he (Laurie) was. She further inquired whether he was sick. Laurie opened the window and croaked out as hoarsely as a raven and giving thanks he confirmed her that he was feeling better. He further added he had been suffering from cold and had been shut himself up a week.

(c) “The pretty one is Meg and the curly – haired is Amy, I believe?” – Laurie.
“How did you find that out” –Jo
Answer:-Laurie confirmed that the pretty one was Meg and the curly – haired was Amy.
Jo (surprisingly) asked (him) how he had found that out.

(d) “I’m not afraid of anything,” returning Jo, with a toss of the head.
“I don’t believe you are!” exclaimed the boy.
Answer:- Returning Jo, with a toss of the head assured that she was not afraid of anything.
The boy exclaimed that he didn’t believe she was afraid of anything.


Other Activities

Activity:- Give information

Laurie has:

1. All the riches or physical pleasures

2. Stately stone mansion- full of splendors and delights

3. Servants, Grandfather, Tutor

Laurie doesn't have

1. Parents (mother and father)

2. Children of his age to play

3. Society and fun

Activity: Describe the effect of Laurie's words on Jo.

Answer:-
 When Laurie tells Jo about his real condition of being lonely; his grandpa lives among his books and do not bother about what happen outside of his house, his tutor does not stay there and he has no one to go about with him but to stop and get on as he can, Jo becomes cautious. She realizes in what condition, Laurie is going through. She advises him that he needs to make an efforts and go visiting everywhere. He will have plenty of friends, pleasant places to go. He should forget his shyness.

Activity: List the things that Jo notices in the portrait.
Answer:-

1) The old gentleman has got kind eyes

2) His mouth is grim (serious)

3) He looks as if he had a tremendous will of his own.                                                    

4) He is not as handsome as her (Jo's) grandfather.

5) She likes him.

Activity: 
In spite of Jo's apprehensions, Grandpa is

Answer:-

1) Pleased

2) Gives sharp laugh

3) Shakes hand with her

Activity: 

Discuss what Jo meant by this.
1) "Only trying to be neigbourly, sir"
2) seems a little lonely
3) splendid Christmas present                                                                       

Answer:-
1) Here she only meant that she is doing her duty as a good neighbor. She just wanted the boy of her age should not be lonely. He should get company of his neighbours.                                                                                                                     
2) The boy is alone as he doesn’t get company of his age persons.                                       

3) Here she reminded the kindness of Laurie's grandfather who had sent them the splendid Christmas present.


Activity:- Name and explain the figures of speech

I’m happy as a cricket here
Answer:-
Simile:-The girl Jo is directly compared as a cricket (insect) who is free from any fear and tension.

It’s as dull as tombs up here
Answer:-
Simile:-  The house of Laurie is directly compared with the tombs which are isolated and lifeless.

Activity:- Guess the meaning of the phrase in the context:
go on being neighbourly

In the context the phrase ‘go on being neighbourly’ means the isolated Laurence family (Laurie and his grandfather) is ready to make close and warm contacts with their neighbouring March family. There will be good and healthy relationship in between these two families.

Activity Sheet No.1

Q. Read the extract and complete the activities given below.

What in the world are you going to do now, Jo?" asked Meg one snowy afternoon, as her sister came tramping through the hall, in rubber boots, old sack, and hood, with a broom in one hand and a shovel in the other.  

"Going out for exercise," answered Jo with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.  

"I should think two long walks this morning would have been enough! It's cold and dull out, and I advise you to stay warm and dry by the fire, as I do," said Meg with a shiver.  

"Never take advice! Can't keep still all day, and not being a pussycat, I don't like to doze by the fire. I like adventures, and I'm going to find some."  

Meg went back to toast her feet and read Ivanhoe, and Jo began to dig paths with great energy. The snow was light, and with her broom she soon swept a path all-round the garden, for Beth to walk in when the sun came out and the invalid dolls needed air. Now, the garden separated the Marches' house from that of Mr. Laurence. Both stood in a suburb of the city, which was still country like, with groves and lawns, large gardens, and quiet streets. A low hedge parted the two estates. On one side was an old, brown house, looking rather bare and shabby, robbed of the vines that in summer covered its walls and the flowers, which then surrounded it. On the other side was a stately stone mansion, plainly betokening every sort of comfort and luxury, from the big coach house and well–kept grounds to the conservatory and the glimpses of lovely things one caught between the rich curtains. Yet it seemed a lonely, lifeless sort of house, for no children frolicked on the lawn, no motherly face ever smiled at the windows, and few people went in and out, except the old gentleman and his grandson.  

To Jo's lively fancy, this fine house seemed a kind of enchanted palace, full of splendors and delights which no one enjoyed. She had long wanted to behold these hidden glories, and to know the Laurence boy, who looked as if he would like to be known, if he only knew how to begin. Since the party, she had been more eager than ever, and had planned many ways of making friends with him, but he had not been seen lately, and Jo began to think he had gone away, when she one day spied a brown face at an upper window, looking wistfully down into their garden, where Beth and Amy were snow–balling one another.        

"That boy is suffering for society and fun," she said to herself. "His grandpa does not know what's good for him, and keeps him shut up all alone. He needs a party of jolly boys to play with, or somebody young and lively. I've a great mind to go over and tell the old gentleman so!"

A1. True or false     (2)

Rewrite the statements and state whether they are true or false.

1) The atmosphere was cold and dull.

2) The wall separated the Marchs’ house from that of Mr. Laurence.

3) Beth and Amy were playing the game of snow ball throwing.

4) Laurie was isolated and needed to be socialized.

A2. Describe   (2)

Describe the house of Mr. Laurence.

A3. Guess        (2)

“That boy is suffering for society and fun.” (Guess the meaning of this statement.)

A4. Personal Response   (2)

If you see someone lonely or sad you will------- (Complete the information)

A5. Language Study        (2)

1) A low hedge parted the two estates. 

(Choose the correct passive voice of this sentence)

i) The two estates parted a low hedge.         

ii) The two estates are parted by a low hedge.

iii) The two estates were parted by a low hedge  

iii) The two estates had been parted by a low hedge.

2) "Going out for exercise," answered Jo with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

(Choose and write the correct reported speech for this sentence)

i) Jo answered with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes that she was going out for exercise.

ii) Jo answered with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes that I was going out for exercise.

iii) Jo answered with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes that he was going out for exercise.

iv) Jo answered with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes that going out for exercise.

A6. Vocabulary       (2)

Match the words given in ‘A’ with their meanings given in ‘B’.

AB
1) sacquea) dirty
2) dozeb) short jacket and hood
3) wistfullyc) sleep
4) shabbyd) longingly

See answer and more such useful activity sheets in the following book-

Activity Workbook for Std. XI English

Price Rs. 300 + Courier / Postage Rs. 50

Total Rs. 350

Send money by Phone Pay or Google Pay to 9850737199

Send address on whats app to -

Prof. Tushar Chavan- 9850737199

Std. XI English Activity Workbook

Std. XI Activity Workbook with model answers

See more-

English Grammar Activity Workbook with answers