II.
Day 1: See the people, know her friends from the feel of their faces, and experience the emotions in their eyes.
Day 2: Arise with the dawn, witness the miracle of night turning into day, and visit museums to see the history of Earth, animals, and man’s progress.
Day 3: Observe people in the busy city, understand their daily lives, and experience the beauty and joy through all her senses.
III. The author says that you need eyes to be able to ‘see’ the true self of a person. Therefore, she refers to the eye as ‘window of the soul’. How is the narrator able to understand the feelings of a person?
Answer: The narrator, Helen Keller, understands a person’s feelings through touch. She can feel emotions like happiness, determination, or suffering by the expressions on their faces. Although she cannot see, she “reads” emotions through her sense of touch.
Let us think and reflect
I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. I feel the delicate symmetry of a leaf. I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch, or the rough, shaggy bark of a pine. In spring, I touch the branches of trees hopefully in search of a bud, the first sign of awakening Nature after her winter’s sleep. Occasionally, I am very fortunate; I place my hand gently on a small tree and feel the happy quiver of a bird in full song.
(i) What does the ‘delicate symmetry of a leaf’ symbolise?
Ans :- The 'delicate symmetry of a leaf' symbolises harmony, balance and the intricate beauty of nature.
(ii) List two phrases from the extract that describe the texture of objects in nature.
Ans :- 1. “smooth skin of a silver birch”
2. “rough, shaggy bark of a pine”
(iii) Complete the sentence appropriately.
The phrase ‘awakening Nature after her winter’s sleep’ refers to ______________.
Ans :- the beginning of spring when plants start to grow again after winter.
(iv) What is the tone of the writer in this extract?
A. nostalgic B. proud
.C. admiring D. celebratory
2. The next day I should arise with the dawn and see the thrilling miracle by which night is transformed into day. I should behold with awe the magnificent panorama of light with which the sun awakens the sleeping earth. This day I should devote to a hasty glimpse of the world, past and present. I should want to see the pageant of man’s progress, and so I should go to the museums.
(i) The word ‘thrilling’ has been used with ‘miracle’.
Which of the following words does not match with the word ‘thrilling’?
A. experience B. tale .C. knowledge D. adventure
(ii) Why does the writer refer to the earth as ‘sleeping earth’?
Ans :- The writer refers to the earth as ‘sleeping earth’ because everything is quiet and still during the night, just like sleep. In the morning, when the sun rises, the earth wakes up with light and life.
(iii) Complete the sentence with an appropriate reason.
The writer wishes to dedicate the day to a brief look at the present and past world because __________________________________________________.
Ans :- she knows she has very little time and wants to learn and see as much as possible in one day.
(iv) Why does the writer use ‘should’ multiple times in the extract?
Ans :- The writer uses 'should' multiple times in the extract because she is imagining what she would do if she had sight. The word “should” shows her plans or wishes in an imaginary situation.
II. Answer the following questions.
1. The sense of touch makes up for the loss of sight and hearing. Explain this statement with reference to the text.
Ans :- The sense of touch compensates for the loss of sight and hearing by allowing the writer to experience textures, forms, and emotions through physical contact, fostering a deeper connection to the world.
2. Why does the author believe that the sense of sight is the most wonderful?
Ans :- The author believes that the sense of sight is the most wonderful because it reveals the beauty, diversity, and vibrant colours of life that are otherwise inaccessible.
3. How might the author’s opinion on making the most of our senses guide us to be kinder towards people with special abilities?
Ans :- The author’s perspective encourages empathy and motivates people to value their senses, fostering a kinder attitude towards individuals with special abilities.
4. What is the significance of imagining the loss of a sense, according to the author?
Ans :- Imagining the loss of a sense makes people appreciate their abilities more, urging them to savour their sensory experiences to the fullest.
5. How does the author encourage people to approach their everyday sensory experiences?
Ans :- The author inspires people to fully engage with their senses and cherish the everyday beauty and pleasure these senses provide.
6. What do the author’s choices for the three days tell us about her values and priorities?
Ans :- The author's first wish is to see the people she loves, the second is to learn from nature and history, and the third is to watch everyday life of people. This shows she values love, learning, beauty, and understanding people’s lives.
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LET US LEARN
Answer :-
Column 1
Column 2
Column 3
What you see
panorama
smiles, dawn, museum
What you hear
music
voice, bird song, orchestra
What you smell
perfume
flower scent, fresh air, smoke
What you taste
relish
sweetness, saltiness, bitterness
What you feel
rough
smooth, soft, warm
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