What lessons do we learn from such hazardous experiences when we are face-to-face with death?
Whenever we are face to face with death, an emotion gets generated in our mind is called fear. But if anybody is with us in that situation than self-confidence
and courage gets generated in ourselves. And with all support, presence of mind, courage, precautions, togetherness and an ease of survival can lead anyone to
come out from any panic situation.
How does the story suggest that optimism helps to endure “the direst stress”?
Why do you think people undertake such adventurous expeditions in spite of the risks involved?
Describe the shifts in the narration of the events as indicated in the three sections of the text. Give a subtitle to each section.
List the steps taken by the captain
(i) to protect the ship when rough weather began.
(ii) to check the flooding of the water in the ship.
What difference did you notice between the reaction of the adults and the children when faced with danger?
Here are the terms for different kinds of vessels: yacht, boat, canoe, ship, steamer, schooner. Think of similar terms in your language.
Describe the mental condition of the voyagers on 4 and 5 January.
Have you heard any boatmen’s songs? What kind of emotions do these songs usually express?
We have come across words like ‘gale’ and ‘storm’ in the account. Here are two more words for ‘storm’: typhoon, cyclone. How many words does your language have for ‘storm’?
‘Catamaran’ is a kind of a boat. Do you know which Indian language this word is derived from? Check the dictionary.
Give reasons for the following.
(i) King Tut’s body has been subjected to repeated scrutiny.
(ii) Howard Carter’s investigation was resented.
(iii) Carter had to chisel away the solidified resins to raise the king’s remains.
(iv) Tut’s body was buried along with gilded treasures.
(v) The boy king changed his name from Tutankhaten to Tutankhamun.
The three phases of the author’s relationship with his grandmother before he left the country to study abroad.
(i) Contrast the Chinese view of art with the European view with examples.
(ii) Explain the concept of shanshui.
Locate the lines in the text that support the title ‘The Ailing Planet’.
Comment on the attitude shown by Taplow towards Crocker-Harris.
(i) List the deeds that led Ray Johnson to describe Akhenaten as “wacky”.
(ii) What were the results of the CT scan?
(iii) List the advances in technology that have improved forensic analysis.
(iv) Explain the statement, “King Tut is one of the first mummies to be scanned — in death, as in life...”
Three reasons why the author’s grandmother was disturbed when he started going to the city school.
(i) What do you understand by the terms ‘outsider art’ and ‘art brut’ or ‘raw art’?
(ii) Who was the “untutored genius who created a paradise” and what is the nature of his contribution to art?
What does the notice ‘The world’s most dangerous animal’ at a cage in the zoo at Lusaka, Zambia, signify?
Does Frank seem to encourage Taplow’s comments on Crocker-Harris?
Locate the lines in the text that support the title ‘The Ailing Planet’.
Have you known someone like the author’s grandmother? Do you feel the same sense of loss with regard to someone whom you have loved and lost?
Which language do you use to talk to elderly relatives in your family?
Does Frank seem to encourage Taplow’s comments on Crocker-Harris?
The way in which the sparrows expressed their sorrow when the author’s grandmother died.
How would you say ‘a dilapidated drum’ in your language?
What is the language spoken in Flanders?
The author’s grandmother was a religious person. What are the different ways in which we come to know this?
The three phases of the author’s relationship with his grandmother before he left the country to study abroad.
Can you think of a song or a poem in your language that talks of homecoming?