Here we have presented NCERT Class 10 Words and Expression 2 unit 9 chapter The Proposal solutions. Enrich your English language Knowledge with this ost.
Lesson 9 The Proposal
Reading Comprehension
Text I
How to control Anger?
Do you get angry when your mother switches off the television? Do you get upset when you lose a game? Do you crib when your teacher does not pay attention to you? Most of us can have “yes” as an answer to one or more of these situations. Anger sometimes gets the better of us and leaves us to regret the consequences later. The questions is ‘How can we control anger?”
Anger is a normal and healthy emotion only if we know how to respond to it. Uncontrolled anger can often harm us directly or indirectly whether we realise or not. Before we learn to address
the issue, let us revisit the concept of anger. Anger is nothing but
absence of peace with oneself, people or situations around us. We express it either by being assertive or aggressive.
Let us all become the managers of our own anger. When angry, take a few moments to calm down (take five deep breaths, count up to ten, drink water, change your place) before responding. More often than not we do not have control over the situations that distress us. Getting physically active reduces stress. Funny dances, clapping, thumping your feet, a walk, making funny faces at the mirror, etc., go a long way in helping us let go of the anger or the frustration inside us. Once we have our feelings under control, go through all the aspects of the situation and try to see the same situation from different perspectives. If it is a
problem try to equip yourself with a few solutions before entering the same situation. Avoid holding a grudge with people and learn when to seek help from others. Realising your own shortcomings can become one of the greatest strengths of character over the years to come.
We can never control circumstances, people or situations as they are constantly changing. The only thing we can control is our response. So we have to increase our capacity to tolerate, ability to understand, and learn to nurture love for others.
Q. 1. What do you understand by the word ‘anger’?
Q. 2. List any four strategies to manage anger.
Q. 3. How can you develop strengths of character as given in the passage above?
Q. 4. Anger management helps you in (Tick the correct answer.)-
Q. 5. What is under our control? How can we make it a positive one?
Answers:
Q. 1. What do you understand by the word ‘anger’?
Anger is a normal and healthy emotion that occurs when we are not at peace with ourselves, people, or situations around us. It can be expressed assertively or aggressively. Uncontrolled anger can harm us directly or indirectly.
Q. 2. List any four strategies to manage anger.
- Take deep breaths and count up to ten before responding.
- Engage in physical activities like walking or clapping to reduce stress.
- Look at the situation from different perspectives and find solutions.
- Avoid holding grudges and seek help when necessary.
Q. 3. How can you develop strengths of character as given in the passage above?
We can develop strengths of character by realizing our own shortcomings, learning to tolerate, understanding others, and nurturing love for them. These actions help in managing our emotions better and building inner strength over time.
Q. 4. Anger management helps you in (Tick the correct answer):
- (✓) Understanding your emotions and responding calmly.
- ( ) Winning all arguments.
- ( ) Avoiding all difficult situations.
Q. 5. What is under our control? How can we make it a positive one?
Our response to situations, people, or circumstances is under our control. We can make it positive by increasing our capacity to tolerate, understanding situations from different angles, and fostering kindness and love for others.
Text II
On Violence
There is a great deal of violence in the world. There is physical violence and also inward violence. Physical violence is to kill another, to hurt other people consciously, deliberately or without thought, to say cruel things, full of antagonism and hate and inwardly, inside the skin, to dislike people, to hate people, to criticise people. Inwardly, we are always quarrelling, battling, not only with others, but with ourselves. We want people to change, we want to force them to our way of thinking.
In the world, as we grow up, we see a great deal of violence, at all levels of human existence. The ultimate violence is war—the killing for ideas, for so-called religious principles, for nationalities, the killing to preserve a little piece of land. To do that, man will kill, destroy, maim, and also be killed himself. There is enormous violence in the world, the rich wanting to keep people poor, and the poor wanting to get rich and in the process hating the rich. And you, being caught in society, are also going to contribute to this.
There is violence between husband, wife, and children. There is violence, antagonism, hate, cruelty, ugly criticism, anger—all this is inherent in man, inherent in each human being. It is inherent in you. And education is supposed to help you to go beyond all that, not merely to pass an examination and get a job. You have to be educated so that you become a really beautiful, healthy, sane, rational human being, not a brutal man with a very clever brain who can argue and defend his brutality. You are going to face all this violence as you grow up. You will forget all that you have heard here, and will be caught in the stream of
society. You will become like the rest of the cruel, hard, bitter, angry, violent world, and you will not help to bring about a new society, a new world.
(Source: ‘On Violence’, On Education by J. Krishnamurti)
Q. 1. What is the physical violence that J. Krishnamurti is talking about?
Q. 2. What is the violence that cannot be expressed?
Q. 3. War, the ultimate violence, could be due to (Tick the correct options)-
(a) difference of ideas
(b) religious principles
(c) nationalities
(d) the feeling to protect a little piece of land
(e) all of the above
(f) none of the above
Q. 4. How has J- Krishnamurti given the feelings of the rich and the poor in the given paragraph?
Q. 5. What is the role of education in a human being’s life?
Q. 6. How, as a student, will you create a new world?
Answers:
Q. 1. What is the physical violence that J. Krishnamurti is talking about?
J. Krishnamurti refers to physical violence as actions such as killing, hurting others deliberately or unconsciously, saying cruel things full of hate and antagonism, and engaging in war or conflict over ideas, religious beliefs, nationalities, or territory.
Q. 2. What is the violence that cannot be expressed?
The violence that cannot be expressed is inward violence, which includes inner quarrels, hatred, and criticism towards others and oneself. It manifests in the desire to change others or force them to adopt one’s way of thinking.
Q. 3. War, the ultimate violence, could be due to (Tick the correct options):
- (✓) difference of ideas
- (✓) religious principles
- (✓) nationalities
- (✓) the feeling to protect a little piece of land
- (✓) all of the above
Q. 4. How has J. Krishnamurti given the feelings of the rich and the poor in the given paragraph?
J. Krishnamurti explains that the rich want to maintain their wealth and status, while the poor feel resentment and hatred towards the rich, wanting to rise above their poverty. This dynamic creates a cycle of violence and antagonism between the two groups.
Q. 5. What is the role of education in a human being’s life?
Education is supposed to help individuals rise above violence and become rational, sane, and healthy human beings. It should guide them to not only pass exams or get jobs but also to develop a sense of inner beauty, peace, and morality, making them capable of transforming society.
Q. 6. How, as a student, will you create a new world?
As a student, I will create a new world by promoting kindness, understanding, and peace in my interactions. I will strive to rise above violence, learn to tolerate differences, and contribute to a society that values compassion and respect for others’ ideas and feelings.
Vocabulary
1. Some verbs are given below. Write their nouns and averb forms in the space provided.
| VERB | NOUN | ADVERB |
| encourage | ||
| excite | ||
| trouble | ||
| beautify | ||
| tremble |
Answers:
| VERB | NOUN | ADVERB |
|---|---|---|
| encourage | encouragement | encouragingly |
| excite | excitement | excitedly |
| trouble | trouble | troublingly |
| beautify | beauty | beautifully |
| tremble | tremor | tremblingly |
Grammar
Reported speech
1. Some, children are taken to a health clinic for a regular checkup. Rewrite the sentences they speak in reported speech. (Use complain, say, tell, ask, inquire, mention, etc. whenever necessary.)
Ashish : I feel sleepy all the time.
Neha : I get pain in my legs when I run.
Sonal : I’m fine.
Ritu : I had fever last week.
Akash : Why do I always cough?
Rehman : Should I walk everyday to keep myself fit?
Sumi : Oh, thank you, Doctor. Now I know the reason for my stomach-ache.
Though ‘tell’ and ‘say’ almost mean the same, there are differences in the usage of the two words. ‘Tell’ is always followed by an indirect object but ‘say’ is not.
Example
I told my sister that she was right.
Ashish said he worked hard to achieve success.
Example
My mother asked (me) if I was ready for the party.
Madhu asked (the tailor) whether her dresses were ready.
2. Use ‘said’ , ‘told’ or ‘asked’ to fill in the blanks in the following sentences. One has been done for you.
Shilpi : Father, I want to go on a trip to Uttarkashi.
Shilpi told her father that she wanted to go on a trip to Uttarkashi.
Archana : It is very hot in Jaisalmer.
Archana said that it was very hot in Jaisalmer.
(a) The Scientist __ that dinosaurs lived 230 million years ago.
(b) The teacher _____________the students that she was going to conduct a new experiment.
(c) Could you please ___________me where the new bookshop is located?
(d) The student _ (the teacher) if it was possible is located?
(e) It is requested that he should ___________the truth.
(f) Father __(his son) whether he had paid his fees or not.
Answers:
Reported Speech
Ashish: I feel sleepy all the time.
- Ashish complained that he felt sleepy all the time.
- Neha: I get pain in my legs when I run.
- Neha said that she got pain in her legs when she ran.
- Sonal: I’m fine.
- Sonal mentioned that she was fine.
- Ritu: I had fever last week.
- Ritu said that she had had a fever the previous week.
- Akash: Why do I always cough?
- Akash inquired why he always coughed.
- Rehman: Should I walk every day to keep myself fit?
- Rehman asked if he should walk every day to keep himself fit.
- Sumi: Oh, thank you, Doctor. Now I know the reason for my stomach-ache.
- Sumi thanked the doctor and mentioned that she now knew the reason for her stomach-ache.
Use ‘said’, ‘told’, or ‘asked’ to fill in the blanks:
- Archana: It is very hot in Jaisalmer.
- Archana said that it was very hot in Jaisalmer.
(a) The Scientist said that dinosaurs lived 230 million years ago.
(b) The teacher told the students that she was going to conduct a new experiment.
(c) Could you please tell me where the new bookshop is located?
(d) The student asked (the teacher) if it was possible to get an extension for the project.
(e) It is requested that he should tell the truth.
(f) Father asked (his son) whether he had paid his fees or not.
Editing
Jumbled Sentences
1. Join the pairs of the sentences given below and write meaningful sentences.
(a) by giving ultimate/individual can transform everything/expression to /the inner determinations of an / the infinite potential of human being
(b) down how much a time/ but keep rising / that you may go / the Sun teaches us
(c) but how much love/much we give/we put into giving/it’s not how
(d) fit for human habitation/would mould the world/the citizens of tomorrow/into a globe
(e) you must hear/to be a great leader /and pains of people/ the unspoken joys
Answers:
(a) The infinite potential of a human being can transform everything by giving expression to the inner determinations of an individual.
(b) The Sun teaches us that you may go down at times, but keep rising.
(c) It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.
(d) The citizens of tomorrow would mould the world into a globe fit for human habitation.
(e) To be a great leader, you must hear the unspoken joys and pains of people.
Listening
1. You have read a play by Anton Chekov. Given below is a story by the same author. Listen and enjoy the recorded story or someone may read it aloud to you. Then answer the questions that follow.
Vanka
(Vanka Zhukov, a nine-year old boy, was made an assistant to Alyakhin, the Shoemaker. He didn’t go to bed on Christmas Eve. When everyone in the shop had gone to Church, he began to write on a crumpled sheet of paper. “Dear Grandfather Konstantin, he wrote”, I’m writing a letter to you. I wish you a Merry Christmas and all good things from the Lord God.
I’ve no father and mother, and you are all I have left.”)
Vanka raised his eyes to the dark windowpane. In his imagination he saw his grandfather Konstantin standing there. His grandfather was a night watchman on the estate of a rich man. Konstantin was a small, thin and lively old man of sixty-five whose face was always crinkling with laughter.
In the daytime the old man slept in the servant’s kitchen or cracked jokes with the cooks. At night, wrapped in a big sheepskin coat he made rounds of the estate, blowing his whistle at regular intervals. He was always followed by his dogs, Brownie and Eel. Eel was a particularly remarkable dog. He was extremely respectful and endearing and looked
lovingly on friends and strangers alike; yet no one trusted him. He would creep behind someone and bite his leg or run off with a peasant’s chicken. Many a time Eel was beaten mercilessly, yet he always managed to survive.
At this very moment, Vanka thought, grandfather was probably standing by the gates, looking up at the bright red windows of the village church and cracking jokes with the servants.
“What about a pinch of snuff?” he would say, holding out his snuffbox to the women.
The women would take a pinch and sneeze and the old man would feel happy about it. “Fine for frozen noses, eh!” he’d say.
The dogs, too, were given snuff. Brownie would sneeze, shake her head and walk away looking hurt. Eel, too polite to sneeze, only wagged his tail.
Vanka looked through the window. The weather was glorious. The air was fresh. The night was very dark, but the roofs of the houses and trees were all covered with snow.
Stars twinkled in the sky and it appeared that they had been washed and placed there only for the holidays.
Vanka sighed, and went on writing: “Yesterday I was given a beating. That was because when I was rocking the baby in the cradle, I unfortunately fell asleep. Another day the mistress of the house asked me to clean the fish. I didn’t know how, so she rubbed the fish all over my face. My friends laughed at me. Then there’s nothing to eat. In the morning they give me bread, there is porridge for dinner and in the
evening only bread again. The master and the mistress eat all the good things themselves. I sleep in the corridor and when the baby cries, I don’t get any sleep at all because I’ve to rock the cradle. Dear Grandfather, please take me away from here, take me to the village, it’s more than I can bear.” Vanka rubbed his eyes with his fists and sobbed.
“I’ll grind your snuff for you, he went on”, I’ll pray to God to keep you healthy and if I ever do anything wrong, you can beat me as you like. If you think there’s no place for me then I can clean boots or even work as a shepherd boy.
Grandfather, it’s more than I can bear. I thought of running away to the village, but I don’t have any boots. If you’ll help me now, I’ll feed you when I grow up and when you die I’ll pray for your soul just like I do for my mother. “Dear Grandfather, when they put up the Christmas tree at the big house, please take down a golden walnut for me and hide it in the green box. Ask the young mistress Olga, and say it is for Vanka.”
Vanka sighed and gazed in the direction of the window. He remembered it was grandfather who always went to the forest to cut down a Christmas tree for the rich people, taking Vanka with him. They had a wonderful time together, the snow falling, the trees crackling and hares springing across the trees,
When the tree had been chopped down, grandfather would drag it to the big house and they would start decorating it. The young mistress Olga, Vanka’s favourite, was the busiest of all. Vanka’s mother, when alive, had worked as Olga’s maid. Then Olga had given him all the sweets and played a lot with Vanka. But after his mother’s death, Vanka was
sent to the kitchen to be with his grandfather and from there to Alyakhin, the shoemaker.
“Come to me, dear grandfather,” Vanka wrote on, “Please, take me away from here, have pity on me, a poor orphan. They are always beating me. I’m terribly hungry and so miserable that I’m always crying. Remember me to all my friends. I remain your grandson, Ivan Zhukov. Dear grandfather, please come soon.”
Vanka folded the sheet of paper and then put it in an envelope he had bought the previous day. He thought for a while, then wrote the address: To Grandfather in the Village. He added the words: Konstantin Makarich. He was happy that no one had disturbed him while he was writing his letter. He ran out to the street to post it. Vanka had been told by the clerks that letter were dropped in boxes from where they
were carried all over the world on mail coaches drawn by horse and driven by drunken drivers, while the bells jingled. Vanka ran to the nearest mailbox and put his letter in it. An hour later, lulled by sweetest hopes, he was fast asleep. He dreamed of a stove. His grandfather was sitting beside it, reading out his letter to the cooks. Eel, the dog, was walking round the stove, wagging his tail.
Anton Chekov
(a) Vanka went o bed early on Christmas Eve as
(b) Why, of all people, did he write a letter to his grandfather?
(d) Vanka was eaten __________________________times.
(e) Vanka was beaten because________________________.
(f) What was Vanka prepared to do for grandfather if he was taken away from the shoemaker?
(g) He was sent to Alyakhin, the shoe-maker, to
(h) Who does Vanka remember most at Christmas, next to his grandfather?
(i) How did he address the letter ?
(j) Did he sleep well after posing the letter? What did he dream?
Answers:
(a) Vanka did not go to bed early on Christmas Eve because he stayed up writing a letter to his grandfather, while everyone else had gone to Church.
(b) Vanka wrote a letter to his grandfather because his grandfather was the only family he had left, and he trusted him to take him away from the cruel life he was enduring with the shoemaker.
(c) Vanka was beaten multiple times as he mentioned in his letter, especially when he made mistakes like falling asleep while rocking the baby or not knowing how to clean the fish.
(d) Vanka was beaten because he fell asleep while rocking the baby, and once because he did not know how to clean the fish properly.
(e) Vanka was prepared to do many things for his grandfather if he was taken away from the shoemaker. He was ready to grind snuff, clean boots, work as a shepherd boy, and pray for his grandfather’s health.
(f) Vanka was sent to Alyakhin, the shoemaker, after his mother passed away. His life was difficult there, and he was treated poorly.
(g) Next to his grandfather, Vanka remembered the young mistress Olga the most at Christmas, as she used to be kind to him and give him sweets when his mother worked as her maid.
(h) Vanka addressed the letter simply as “To Grandfather in the Village” and added the name “Konstantin Makarich.”
(i) After posting the letter, Vanka slept well and dreamed of his grandfather reading his letter by the stove, with Eel the dog wagging his tail.
Speaking
1. Enact the play in the class. Keep in Mind -dialogue delivery-tone, voice modulation, non-verbal communications -facial expressions, gestures, movements, etc. Many things are communicated through these non-verbal tools.
2. A communicated task is given below. Practice in Pairs or groups.
Task I
(Discussing, giving opinions, agreeing, and disagreeing)
Role Play
Smita : Well! What do you think about violence on television?
Romila : : If you ask me, there is too much violence on television. Children should not be exposed to it.
Smita : I don’t agree with you. Why do you say so?
Romila : It’s not wise to expose children to a lot of fighting, shooting, stabbing, and killing.
Smita : But children find it thrilling.
Romila : No, they don’t. On the contrary it brutalises them and makes them insensitive. They look upon violence and killing as common place
incidents.
Smita : But the young people now-a-days are quite violent.
Romila : Precisely. It is the influence of television. Wouldn’t it be better if through television we give them the message of peace and togetherness.
Pair or Group Work
Discuss with your friends the following topics—people going abroad for studies, building a dispensary in place of a playground, sports cannot be a profession, or any topic that is of interest to you and your friends.
Answers:
Activity 1: Enacting the Play
When enacting a play, consider the following elements for effective communication:
- Dialogue Delivery:
- Tone: Adjust your tone according to the situation or character. For instance, serious moments require a calm, low tone, while exciting moments need a higher, more energetic tone.
- Voice Modulation: Vary your pitch, volume, and pace to keep the audience engaged. Stress important words and slow down for dramatic effects.
- Non-verbal Communication:
- Facial Expressions: Show emotions like happiness, anger, or sadness clearly on your face.
- Gestures: Use your hands and body to express ideas. For example, if your character is explaining something, use your hands to show size or direction.
- Movements: Walk or move on stage according to your character’s mood. Confident characters walk with a straight posture, while shy or scared characters might shuffle or hesitate.
- Non-verbal Tools:
- Facial Expressions: These convey emotions. Smiles, frowns, and raised eyebrows can say a lot without words.
- Gestures: Use hand movements to emphasize points. For example, pointing to yourself when saying “I” or holding up hands in frustration.
- Body Movements: Stand straight for confident characters, or slouch for tired or bored characters. Your posture should match your character’s feelings.
Activity 2: Role Play Discussion
In the role play, you will practice discussing a topic, expressing opinions, agreeing, or disagreeing politely.
Role Play Example (Discussing Violence on Television)
Smita: Well! What do you think about violence on television?
Romila: If you ask me, there is too much violence on television. Children should not be exposed to it.
Smita: I don’t agree with you. Why do you say so?
Romila: It’s not wise to expose children to a lot of fighting, shooting, stabbing, and killing.
Smita: But children find it thrilling.
Romila: No, they don’t. On the contrary, it brutalizes them and makes them insensitive.
Smita: But young people nowadays are quite violent.
Romila: Precisely. It’s the influence of television. Wouldn’t it be better if we spread messages of peace and togetherness?
Task for Pair or Group Work:
Discuss the following topics with your friends. Make sure to express your opinions and agree or disagree politely.
Suggested Topics:
- People Going Abroad for Studies:
- Example: I think studying abroad provides great exposure and opportunities.
- Counter-Opinion: But it can also lead to brain drain where talented people don’t return to help their home country.
- Building a Dispensary in Place of a Playground:
- Example: I think it’s important to have a dispensary for health services in our neighborhood.
- Counter-Opinion: But we need the playground for children’s physical activities and social growth.
- Sports Cannot Be a Profession:
- Example: Sports are highly competitive and uncertain as a career.
- Counter-Opinion: Sports can be a great profession with dedication and proper support, just like other careers.
- Any Topic of Interest: Choose any other topic relevant to your group’s interest and follow the same format—discuss, agree, or disagree politely.
The main objective is to practice your speaking skills, use polite language, and learn to discuss and debate topics respectfully.
Writing
1. Letters in the olden times were carried by mail coaches driven by horses. How are they carried today? List the types of letter sent by different means of transport.
2. You have listened to the story of Vanka. Try writing an e-mail to your grandfather describing your life. Have you ever felt as bad as Vanka did? What did you do to feel happy again?
3. a) You have read ‘A Letter to God’ in your textbook First Flight. Lencho wrote a letter to God expressing his desire. Did it reach God?
b) Do you think Vanka’s letter reached his grandfather? What is the correct way to address a letter?
c) Suppose Vanka and Lencho meet. Create an interesting dialogue between the two. What encourage them to write letters to God anf grandfather?
Dialogue
Lencho : Hello! Vanka.
Vanka : Hello! How are you?
Lencho :
Vanka :
Lencho :
Vanka :
Lencho :
Vanka :
Answers:
1. Letters in the Olden Times and Today
In the past, letters were carried by mail coaches pulled by horses. Today, letters are carried through various modern means of transport and technology. Here is a list of types of letters and how they are sent:
- Regular Postal Mail: Letters are carried by trucks, motorcycles, and airplanes as part of the postal service.
- Speed Post/Express Mail: For faster delivery, letters are transported by air and special delivery vehicles.
- Courier Services: Private companies use vans, trucks, and airplanes to deliver letters and packages quickly.
- E-mails: Sent instantly over the internet, no physical transportation required.
- Registered Mail: Sent securely through the postal system, usually via trucks or air transport for tracking purposes.
2. E-mail to Grandfather
Subject: Sharing My Life With You, Grandfather
Dear Grandfather,
I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to share a bit about my life, just like Vanka wrote to his grandfather. Sometimes, I feel overwhelmed, especially when I face challenges at school or with friends. It’s tough when things don’t go as planned, and there have been moments when I felt quite low, almost like Vanka when he was lonely and sad.
However, I try to find happiness by talking to my family and friends, spending time outdoors, or diving into my favorite hobbies. Unlike Vanka, I have the support of my parents and friends, and this keeps me going. Whenever I feel down, I remind myself of the good things in life, like spending time with you during holidays.
I miss you and hope to see you soon.
With love, [Your Name]
3. a) Did Lencho’s Letter Reach God?
In “A Letter to God,” Lencho’s letter did not physically reach God, but the post office workers, touched by his faith, helped by collecting money to fulfill his request. Although it was not God, the kind actions of the postal employees made Lencho believe that his prayer was answered.
b) Did Vanka’s Letter Reach His Grandfather? Vanka’s letter, unfortunately, did not reach his grandfather because it was addressed incorrectly. He did not provide an accurate address, only writing “To my grandfather in the village.” The correct way to address a letter should include:
- The recipient’s full name
- The house number or street name
- The city or village
- The postal code
- The country (if sending internationally)
c) Dialogue Between Lencho and Vanka Let’s imagine Vanka and Lencho meet and talk about why they wrote letters to God and their grandfathers.
Lencho: Hello! Vanka.
Vanka: Hello! How are you?
Lencho: I’m doing well. I heard that you wrote a letter to your grandfather. Why did you do that?
Vanka: I missed him so much, and life was so hard where I lived. I thought if he knew, he would come and take me back to the village. I didn’t know who else to ask for help. What about you? You wrote to God?
Lencho: Yes, after the hailstorm destroyed my crops, I had no other choice. I believed God would help me. I was desperate, and writing the letter gave me hope.
Vanka: I understand how that feels. I was also desperate for help and thought my grandfather would be able to save me.
Lencho: Did your letter reach him?
Vanka: I don’t think so. I didn’t put the right address. But writing it made me feel better. It was my way of hoping for something better.
Lencho: I think we both found comfort in writing. Sometimes, just believing that someone will listen—whether it’s God or our family—gives us strength.
Vanka: Yes, you’re right. Writing letters gave us hope.
In this dialogue, both Lencho and Vanka find common ground in their belief that writing letters brings comfort during difficult times, even if the letters don’t always reach their intended recipients.
