Adventures in a Banyan Tree
1. Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow:
Though the house and grounds of our home in India were Grandfather's domain, the magnificent old banyan tree was mine-chiefly because Grandfather, at the age of sixty-five, could no longer climb it. Grandmother used to tease him about this, and would speak of a certain Countess of Desmond, an English woman who lived to the age of 117, and would have lived longer if she hadn‘t fallen while climbing an apple tree. The spreading branches of the banyan tree, which curved to the ground and took root again, forming a maze of arches, gave me endless pleasure. The tree was older than the house, older than Grandfather, as old as the town of Dehra, nestling in a valley at the foot of the Himalayas.
1. What was the narrator’s domain?
2. Why could the grandfather no longer climb the tree?
3. How did Countess of Desmond die?
4. What gave the narrator endless pleasure?
5. Identify a word that means ‘an area under one’s control’.
2. Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow:
It was an April afternoon. And the warm breezes of approaching summer had sent everyone, including Grandfather, indoors. I was feeling drowsy myself and
was wondering if I should go to the pond behind the house for a swim, when I saw a huge black cobra gliding out of a clump of cactus and making for some cooler part of the garden. At the same time a mongoose (whom I had often seen) emerged from the bushes and went straight for the cobra.
In a clearing beneath the tree, in bright sunshine, they came face to face.
1. Why had everyone, including Grandfather, gone indoors?
2. Where did the cobra come from and where was it making for?
3. Whom had the narrator often seen?
4. Where did the mongoose and the cobra come face to face?
5. ‘The warm breezes of approaching summer had sent everyone indoors’. Identify the subject Noun Phrase.
3. Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow:
Hissing defiance, his forked tongue darting in and out, the cobra raised three of his six feet off the ground, and spread his broad, spectacled hood. The mongoose bushed his tail. The long hair on his spine stood up (in the past, the very thickness of his hair had saved him from bites that would have been fatal to others). Though the combatants were unaware of my presence in the banyan tree, they soon became aware of the arrival of two other spectators. One was a myna, and the other a jungle crow (not the wily urban crow).
1. Who hissed defiance, the mongoose or the cobra?
2. ‘…that would have been fatal’. What would have been fatal?
3. Who were the other two spectators?
4. ‘The mongoose bushed his tail’. What is the pattern of this sentence?
5. Identify a word that is a synonym for ‘fighters’.
4. Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow:
When I had also made a cautious descent from the tree and returned to the house, I told Grandfather of the fight I had seen. He was pleased that the mongoose had won. He had encouraged it to live in the garden, to keep away the snakes, and fed it regularly with scraps from the kitchen. He had never tried taming it, because wild mongoose was more useful than a domesticated one. From the banyan tree I often saw the mongoose patrolling the four corners of the garden, and once I saw him with an egg in his mouth and knew he had been in the poultry house; but he hadn't harmed the birds, and I knew
Grandmother would forgive him for stealing as long as he kept the snakes away from the house.
1. Why was Grandfather pleased when the mongoose won the fight?
2. Why did Grandfather not try to tame the mongoose?
3. How did the narrator know that the mongoose had been in the poultry house?
4. Why would Grandmother forgive the mongoose for stealing eggs?
5. Identify an antonym (a word opposite in meaning) for ‘domesticated’.
5. Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow:
Then the squirrel started building a nest. At first she tried building it in my pockets, and when I went indoors and changed my clothes I would find straw and grass falling out. Then one day Grandmother's knitting was missing. We hunted for it everywhere but without success. Next day I saw something glinting in the hole in the banyan tree. Going up to investigate, I saw that it was the end of Grandmother's steel knitting-needle. On looking further, I discovered that the hole was crammed with knitting. And amongst the wool were three baby squirrels-all of them white!
1. Where did the squirrel try to build a nest at first?
2. What did they hunt for everywhere without success?
3. What was glinting in the hole in the banyan tree?
4. On looking further, what did the narrator saw in the hole?
5. ‘The squirrel started building a nest’. Identify the Verb Phrase.
6. Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow:
Grandfather had never seen white squirrels before, and we gazed at them in wonder. We were puzzled for some time, but when I mentioned the white rat's frequent visits to the tree, Grandfather told me that the rat must be the father. Rats and squirrels were related to each other, he said, and so it was quite possible for them to have offspring-in this case, white squirrels!
1. ‘Grandfather had never seen white squirrels before’. What do you think could be the reason?
2. Why did Grandfather think that the white rat must be the father of the white squirrel babies?
3. ‘It was quite possible for them to have offspring’. Identify a propositional phrase in the sentence.
4. ‘We gazed at them in wonder’. Replace the underlined word with a suitable one from the brackets. [ watched, saw, looked, noticed]
Answers to the textual passage-based questions
Passage 1:
The magnificent old banyan tree.
Grandfather was an old man of 65 years.
Countess of Desmond fell down while climbing an apple tree at the age of 117 and died.
The spreading branches of the banyan tree gave the narrator endless pleasure.
Domain
Passage 2:
1. The breezes of the approaching summer had been warm.
2. The cobra came out of a clump of cactus and it was making for some cooler part of the garden.
3. The mongoose.
4. In a clearing beneath the tree, they came face to face.
5. The warm breezes of approaching summer.
Passage 3:
1. The cobra hissed defiance.
2. Snake bites would have been fatal.
3. A myna and a jungle crow.
4. SVO.
5. ‘Combatants’ is a synonym for ‘fighters’.
Passage 4:
Grandfather had encouraged the mongoose to live in the garden to keep away the snakes. So, when it won the fight, he was happy.
Grandfather believed that a wild mongoose was more useful than a domesticated one.
Once the narrator saw the mongoose with an egg in its mouth, and then he knew that it had been in the poultry house.
Grandmother would forgive the mongoose for stealing eggs because it kept snakes away from the house.
‘Wild’ is an antonym for ‘domesticated’.
Passage 5:
At first the squirrel tried to build a nest in the narrator’s pockets.
They hunted for Grandmother’s knitting everywhere.
It was the end of the steel knitting-needle.
The narrator saw in the hole Grandmother’s knitting and three white squirrel babies among the wool.
The Verb Phrase: ‘started building a nest’.
Passage 6:
1. White squirrels are not so common to see.
2. Rats and squirrels were related to each other, and so it was quite possible for them to have offspring.
3. Prepositional Phrase: for them
4. Looked.
Completing Conversations
1. Complete the following conversation suitably.
Arun: Good morning, Rahul.
Rahul: Hi Arun, Good morning.
Arun: Let’s walk to school,.........(a)..........?
Rahul: Yes, of course. We can walk.
Arun: By the way, I heard you’ve got a few white squirrels, .......(b)......?
Rahul: Yes, I’ve got three white baby squirrels.
Arun: Wonderful! Can I see them?
Rahul: Yes, why not? If you come to my home,.............(c)................
Arun: ..............(d)..........................?
Rahul: No, sorry. Tomorrow morning I’ll be busy. I would rather you.........(e)......
Arun: Ok, I’ll come tomorrow evening after school. See you then, bye.
Rahul: Bye, Arun!
Answers:
a. shall we?
b. haven’t you?
c. you can see them. / I will show them to you.
d. Can I come tomorrow morning?
e. Came tomorrow evening.
2. Complete the conversation suitably.
Boy : Grandpa, where’re you?
Grandpa: I’m here, my son. Why are so excited?
Boy :I saw a frightening fight between a cobra a mongoose.
Grandpa: O, God! I think you’re okay,…a……?
Boy :Yes, I’m okay. If you want,………b……….
Grandpa: Tell me about the fight. ………c…………..?
Boy: The mongoose won the fight. I think you want him to be the
winner,….d......?
Grandpa: Of course, he is good to keep snakes away.
Boy : Then we had better………e……….
Grandpa: No need to tame him. A wild mongoose is better than a tamed one.
Answers:
a. aren’t you?
b. I will tell you about the fight.
c. Who won the fight?
d. don’t you?
e. tame him.
3. Complete the following conversation suitably.
Grandmother: Where is my knitting? Did you see it anywhere?
Grandfather: No, I didn’t see it. It was on the table yesterday,.....a...........?
Grandmother: Yes, I always keep it there.
Grandfather: There was a squirrel near it. If the squirrel had taken it,.....b....... .
Grandmother: We had better.........c........ .
Grandfather: Yes. You can tell our son to look for it in the banyan tree,.....d.......?
Grandmother: ...............e...................?
Grandfather: No, I can’t climb the tree now.
Answers:
a. wasn’t it?
b. it would have been in its nest in the banyan tree.
c. look for it in the tree.
d. can’t you?
e. Can you climb the tree?
Cloze Test Questions
1. Complete the passage using appropriate words from the brackets.
Grandmother used ---a---tease him---b----this, and would speak of ----c----- certain Countess of Desmond, ----d---- English woman who lived to the age ---e--- 117.
( about, to, a, the, an, of)
Answers: a. to/ b. about/ c. a / d. an / e. of
2. Complete the passage using appropriate words from the brackets.
-----a----the spring, when ---b------ banyan tree was full of small red figs, birds ---c--- all kinds would flock---d--its branches.
(an, the, in, into, of)
Answers: 2. a. in/ b. the/ c. of/ d. into
3. Complete the passage using appropriate words from the brackets.
That was----a---time I saw a mongoose and ----b----cobra fight -----c--- death in the garden, while I sat directly ----d---- them in the banyan tree.
(to, a, the, on, above,)
Answers: a. the/ b. a/ c. to/ d. above
3. Complete the passage using appropriate words from the brackets.
The long hair ----a---- his spine stood up (in the past, the very thickness ----b---- his hair had saved him---c---bites that would have been fatal----c----others)
(in, on, from, to, of,)
Answers: a. on/ b. of/ c. from/ d. to
4. Complete the passage using appropriate words from the brackets.
The cobra stood ---a----- the defensive, swaying slowly ---b---side to side, trying---c----mesmerize the mongoose into marking----d----false move.
(for, a, on, to, from)
Answers: a. on/ b. from/ c. to/ d. a
5. Complete the passage using appropriate words from the brackets.
A few drops ----a----blood glistened ----b----- the cobra's back. The cobra struck again ----c-----missed. Again---d---mongoose sprang aside, jumped in and bit.
(the, of, on, in, and, a)
Answers: 6. a. of/ b. on/ c. and/ d. the
6. Complete the passage using appropriate words from the brackets.
The white rat was Grandfather's - he had bought it
----a---- the bazaar ----b----- four annas - but I would often take it ---c---- me into the roots----d----branches of the old tree.
(in, from, with, for, and, to)
Answers: a. from/ b. for/ c. with/ d. and
Reported Speech
1. Grandfather: What are you doing in the tree?
The Boy: I’m reading a book.
a. What did Grandfather ask the boy?
b. What did the boy reply?
Answers: a. Grandfather asked the boy what he was doing in the tree. b. The boy replied that he was reading a book.
2. Grandmother: Did you see my knitting?
Grandfather: No, I didn’t see it.
a. Grandmother asked Grandfather...............................
b. Grandfather replied.......................................
Answers: a. Grandmother asked Grandfather if he had seen her knitting. b. Grandfather replied (negatively) that he hadn’t seen it.
3. Grandfather: Don’t touch the baby squirrels.
The boy: I will not touch them.
a. What did Grandfather tell the boy?
b. What was the boy’s response?
Answers: a. Grandfather told the boy not to touch the baby squirrels. b. The boy’s response was that he would not touch them. Or, b. The boy responded that he would not touch them.
4. Grandfather: Let’s keep the mongoose in our garden.
Grandmother: Yes, he is helpful for us to keep snakes away.
a. What did Grandfather suggest?
b. How did Grandmother respond?
Answers: a. Grandfather suggested that they should keep the mongoose in their garden. b. Grandmother agreed and said that he was helpful for them to keep snakes away.
Phrasal Verbs
1. Replace the underlined words with suitable Phrasal Verbs from the brackets.
The boy found (a) three white baby squirrels in a hole in the banyan tree when he examined (b) it for his grandma’ knitting. He immediately stopped (c) searching and ran to his grandpa to explain (d) to him about the wonderful sight.
(put an end to, put across, go through, come across)
Answers: a. came across b. went through c. put an end to d. put across
2. Replace the underlined words with suitable Phrasal Verbs from the brackets.
The cobra and mongoose continued (a) their fight. A myna and a crow arrived (b) at the spot. They also decided (c) to participate (d) in the fight. The crow got killed. They myna wisely abandoned (e) participating any more in the fight.
(turned up, made up their mind, gave up, take part, went on)
Answers: a. went on b. turned up c. made up their mind d. take part e. gave up
3. Complete the following passage using suitable phrasal verbs from brackets.
Grandfather -------(a) to the market. He -------(b) there a man selling white rats. He ---------(c) to buy one for his grandson. The boy was so happy that he could not------(d) his happiness in words.
(put across, made up his mind, set out, came across)
Answers: a. set out b. came across c. made up his mind d. put across
4. Replace the underlined words with suitable Phrasal Verbs from the brackets.
Grandmother had built (1) a poultry house. Frequently snakes would arrive (2) there and kill chickens. She could not tolerate (3) it. Grandfather suggested to keep a mongoose in the garden. In the beginning she rejected (4) the suggestion, but later she decided (5) to keep a mongoose in the garden.
(turn up, set up, turned down, put up with, made up her mind)
Answers: 1. set up 2. turn up 3. put up with 4. turned down 5. made up her mind
Editing
1. Edit the underlined errors in the following passages.
Though the house and grounds of our home in india (a) was (b) Grandfather's domain, the magnificent old banyan tree were (c) mine - chiefly because grandfather, at the age of sixty-five, could no longer climbed (d) it.
Answer: a. India b. were c. was d. climb
2. Edit the underlined errors in the following passage.
Halfway up the tree I had builded (a) a small platform on which I would often spent (b) the afternoons when it wasn't too hot. I could read their, (c) propping myselves (d) up against the bole of the tree with cushions taken from the drawing room.
Answers: a. built b. spend c. there d. myself
3. Edit the underlined errors in the following passage.
One was a myna, and the other an (a) jungle crow. They had seen this (b) preparations for battle, and had settle (c) on the cactus to watch the out come (d).
Answers: a. a b. these c. settled d. outcome.
4. Edit the underlined errors in the following passage.
I saw the bird flung nearly twenty foot (a) across the garden, were,(b) after fluttering about for a while, it lay still. The myna remind (c) on the cactus plant, very wise (d) refrained from interfering again!
Answers: a. feet b. where c. remained d. wisely
5. Edit the underlined errors in the following passage.
The white rat was Grandfathers (a)- he had bought it from the bazaar fore (b) four annas - but I would often take it with me into the routs (c) and branches of the old trea (d).
Answers: a. Grandfather’s b. for c. roots d. tree
6. Edit the underlined errors in the following passage.
But, when he found that I did not arm myselves (a) with a catapult or air-gun, he became friendlier. And, when started leaving him pieces of cake and biscuit, he growed (b) older, and finaly (c) became enough familiar (d) to take food from my hands.
Answers: a. myself b. grew c. finally d. familiar enough
Sentence Analysis
1. ‘My first friend and familiar was a small grey squirrel’. Identify the Noun Phrase in the subject position.
Answer: NP in subject position: My first friend and familiar
2. ‘The mongoose bushed his tail’. Identify the Noun Phrase in the object position.
Ans: NP in the object position: his tail
3. ‘The long hair on his spine stood up’. Identify the Noun Phrase in the subject area and complete the table.
NP in the subject position: | The long hair on his spine |
Head Noun: | hair |
Determiner: | the |
Adjective: | long |
Prepositional phrase: | on his spine |
Ans: Noun Phrase in the subject position: A few drops of blood
Verb Phrase: glistened on the cobra’s back.
Prepositional Phrases: of blood, on the cobra’s back
5. The spreading branches of the banyan tree, which curved to the ground and took root again, gave me endless pleasure. Identify the Verb Phrase and the Relative Clause.
Ans: The Verb Phrase: gave me endless pleasure
Relative Clause: which curved to the ground and took root again
Sentence Patterns
A) Identify the Pattern of the following sentences:
1. ‘The tree was older than the house’.
Ans: SVC
2. ‘Birds of all kind would flock into its branches’.
Ans: SVA
3. I had built a small platform halfway up the tree.
Ans: SVOA
4. I gave him pieces of cake and biscuit.
Ans: SVOO
5. The cobra was weakening.
Ans: SV
6. ‘The mongoose hadn’t harmed the birds’.
Ans: SVO
7. The white baby squirrels made them puzzled.
Ans: SVOC
B) Construct sentences in the following patterns:
1. SV: (The cobra and crow died.)
2. SVO: (The mongoose stole eggs.)
3. SVC: (The snake was skilful.)
4. SVOO: (Grandfather gave the boy a white rat.)
5. SVA: (The crow was killed pathetically.)
6. SVOA: (The mongoose dragged the cobra into the bush)
7. SVOC: (The Mongoose’s victory made Grandfather happy.)
Discourses
Narrative
The boy was thrilled with the fight between the cobra and the mongoose. You may also have the same feeling. Narrate the fight scene in your own words.
Battle of Champions The boy was sitting on the platform he had made halfway up the tree. Sitting there, he used to read books and enjoy sights down in the garden. One April afternoon, when everyone was indoors due to the warm breezes of the approaching summer, he was sitting up in the tree as usual. Suddenly he saw a huge, black cobra gliding into the garden from a cactus clump. At the same time, a mongoose also emerged from the bushes nearby and went straight for the cobra. Both of them came face to face in a clearing beneath the tree on which the boy was sitting. The cobra defiantly darted his forked tongue in and out and raised three of his six feet off the ground. The mongoose bushed its tail, and the long hair on its spine stood up. They were ready to fight each other. Two other spectators- a myna and a jungle crow- also came to the scene. The mongoose moving forward, made a feint to one side. The cobra struck but missed the aim. Immediately the mongoose darted on the snake and bit on its back. At the same moment, the myna and the crow also dived at the cobra but collided themselves. The cobra started getting weaker and weaker as the mongoose attacked him vigorously and repeatedly. In the fight, the cobra and the crow collided each other forcefully, and the crow lost its life. Then, the myna wisely refrained from anymore interferences. Finally, the mongoose with a lightning snap had the cobra by his snout. The cobra struggled for a while and stopped moving. The winning mongoose dragged it into the bushes. The myna, with a shrill cry of congratulation, flew away!
|
Diary Entry
‘And amongst the wool were the three baby squirrels – all of them white!’ The boy couldn’t stop wondering about the white squirrels. If he scribbled down this unforgettable sight in his diary, how would t be?
18 March 2021, Thursday 11:00 pm What a wonderful sight! My white rat has become father of three little white squirrel babies. I’ve never seen white squirrels before. Even my grandpa hasn’t seen such wonderful creatures. My grandpa is a nice man. He loves nature and its creatures. I know he loves me too. I’m sure he bought the white rat for me. How many varieties of creatures are there in nature! We should do everything to protect the nature and its creatures. I’m proud of my grey squirrel, white rat and the white baby squirrels. I will bring all my friends here and show them these wonders of nature. |
Prepare a write-up on ‘Nature is for all living beings’.
Nature is for All But often human actions and plans are harmful to the ecosystem. We destroy nature for developments. We need infrastructural developments, but our development plans and polices should not destroy nature and undermine the ecosystem. Eco-friendly development plans should be promoted. We, the humans, do not have a particular right to overuse or exploit natural resources. We are one among the countless species on the earth. We should consider other creatures living in this world. When we are destroying nature we are actually denying the rights of others to live as well as damaging our own existence.We should accept that nature is for all, and do our maximum to protect it. |
The English Club of your school has decided to conduct an awareness programme on the topic ‘Save Our Planet’. Prepare a notice to announce the programme and invite all teachers and students.
ABC School, Kochi ‘Save Our Planet’ (Awareness Programme)
Human encroachment into the world of nature is undermining the ecosystem, and it has become a threat to life on the earth. The English Club of our school has decided to conduct an awareness programme on the topic ‘Save Our Planet’ as detailed below. Hon. Minister for Environment and Forest will inaugurate the programme. All are welcome. Date: 07 March 2021 Time: 10 a.m. Venue: School Auditorium Programme Details
Welcome Speech: Secretary, the English Club Presidential Address: The Principal Inaugural Address: Hon. Minister Keynote Address: President, the Environment Club Speech: English Teacher Vote of Thanks: The school Leader
Kochi Secretary, 01 Mar 2021 English Club
|
The boy was very much thrilled with the squirrel, white rat and white squirrel babies. He wrote a letter to his friend telling him about his new friends. Prepare the likely letter.
Rose Garden Street No. 20 Kochi 18 March 2021 Dear Rahul, How are you Rahul? Hope you are enjoying your vacation. During this vacation, I am with my grandparents. I’ve lots of fun here. In my grandpa’s English model garden, there is a huge banyan tree. There many squirrels and birds in it. Recently I got a new friend here. Do you know who the new friend is? A cute squirrel! In the beginning he was a little scared of me. But now he is very friendly and familiar even to take food from my hands. I’ve built a platform half-way up the banyan tree, and I enjoy sitting there reading books and seeing sights. A few days ago, my grandpa brought home a white rat, which he bought from the bazaar. I often take it with me to the tree. Soon it made a friendship with one of the squirrels there. Meanwhile a strange thing happened. In a hole in the tree, we found three white squirrel babies. Grandpa says that the white rat will be their father. I invite you to come here. We can spend some time in the banyan tree. You may come with your sister and parents. They will also be happy to see my new friends. Convey my regards to all at home. Hope to see you soon. Yours lovingly, Sd/ Sharat.
|
News Report
White squirrels are a rare species. The arrival of whites squirrel babies gained news value. Prepare a news report about the wonderful gift of nature – the white squirrels.
White Squirrels - Wonderful gift of Nature 18 March 2021, Staff reporter Kolkata: Three white squirrel babies were found in an old banyan tree in a village ten kilometers away from the city. In a village almost ten kilometers away from Kolkata city, three white squirrel babies were found in an old banyan tree. White squirrels are not common in our areas. They are considered to be one of the rarest species. Though they are squirrels, their white colour makes them a feast for our eyes! In the village lives a sixty-five year old grandfather with his wife and a grandson. He has an English model garden and in it a huge and old banyan tree. The tree is as old as the Dehra town. The grandfather had recently brought home a white rat from the bazaar. His grandson always takes it into the banyan tree, where it made a friendship with one of the squirrels. “Rats and squirrels are related animals, so it’s possible for them to have offspring”, says the grandfather.
|
The boy in the story ‘Adventures in a Banyan Tree’ The boy, who is the protagonist in the story ‘Adventures in a Banyan Tree’, appears to be a lover of books and nature. He is enchanted by nature and likes to be in company with various creatures in nature. In his grandpa’s English model garden, there is an old magnificent banyan tree. The boy has made the tree his domain and built a platform half way up the tree where he spends his afternoons reading books. He likes various kinds of books including adventure stories and novels. Whenever he is not in a mood of reading he sits on the platform and enjoys the sights and sounds in nature. He loves all the creatures in nature and likes to have pet animals. He has made friendship with one of the squirrels living in the banyan tree, which delves into his pocket and takes food from him. He has also made a white rat his pet, which his grandfather bought from the bazaar. He often takes this white rat to the banyan tree and it mates with one of the squirrels there. Thus the squirrel gives birth to three white baby squirrels. The boy and his grandparents are in the thrill of having this nature’s rarest gift, a wonderful family in nature. The boy is proud of his new friends – the white rat, the grey squirrel, and the white baby squirrels.
|
Character Sketch of the Grandfather
The Grandfather in the story ‘Adventures in a Banyan Tree'
The grandfather in the story ‘Adventures in a Banyan Tree’ is a sixty-five year old man. He lives happily with his wife and their grandson in their house. He has made an English model garden near his house. In the garden there is a huge banyan tree which is older than him. He is sixty-five years old and he cannot climb the trees now. His wife often teases him about this. He is very loving and caring towards his grandson and at the same time fond of nature and its creatures.He maintains his garden well and sometimes talks and complaints to the plants growing there. He is happy to hear that the mongoose has won in the fight with the cobra. He wants the mongoose to be there in his garden to keep snakes away. He is a man who loves pets. Once he brings home a white rat which he bought from the bazaar. He amuses himself with it and at the same time wants to make his grandson happy. He seems to be a happy man as he gets enough delight and relief in his old age from his pet animals and plants in the garden. He lives comfortably with his wife and grandson loving and caring nature.
