1.1 An
Astrologer’s Day
ICE BREAKERS
A1:- Discuss with your partner and
complete the activity. What are your strengths?
Ans:
|
Strengths |
Why do you
feel so? |
Dream career |
|
painting and drawing |
can visualise, express |
commercial artist, cartoonist |
|
dancing |
passion,
expression |
choreographer,
artist |
|
singing |
voice
modulation |
Singer |
|
music |
passion for
musical instruments or to get peace and relaxation |
music
composer / Musician |
|
acting |
enacting as per
situations |
actor |
|
making
various kinds of dishes |
love to make
food |
chef |
|
ask questions |
can raise
critical issues |
News anchor,
Journalist |
|
write stories |
can arrange
different ideas and events |
Writer |
|
persuade |
can convince
anyone |
salesman/ businessman |
|
weaving and
sewing |
can design
clothes |
dress
designer |
A2:- The scene in a local market of a
village/town/city is very attractive. People with different occupations sell
their wares. Discuss with your partner the variety of
activities at the local market.
Ans:
Ans:
1. selling flowers, selling grocery
2. selling garments and cloth
3. selling imitation jewellery and accessories
4. selling snacks and fast food
5. selling steel and earthenwares
2. selling garments and cloth
3. selling imitation jewellery and accessories
4. selling snacks and fast food
5. selling steel and earthenwares
A3:- In a village /town
/city it is quite a common sight to see an astrologer sitting by the
roadside with his professional equipment. Discuss with your partner and list the requirements for his
trade.
Ans:
Ans:
1. parrot, cards etc.
2. turban, beard, dhoti
3. dried leaves with writing on them
4. cloth with mystic signs to spread his cards
5. bead necklace, coins, shells, punching, etc.
3. dried leaves with writing on them
4. cloth with mystic signs to spread his cards
5. bead necklace, coins, shells, punching, etc.
A4:- There are certain unreasonable beliefs among people
living in our society. Certain common events are linked with superstitions. List such events; discuss the superstitions linked with
them and the means of their eradication.
Ans:
Ans:
1. A cat crossing your path (Something bad will happen)
2. Walking under a ladder (Something unfortunate will happen)
3. Wearing black clothes for an auspicious function (It will bring bad
luck to the hosts)
4. Spilling salt ( Unlucky for the person)
5. A Black crow cawing outside your window (You will be having guests)
Means of eradication:-
The only means of eradication is through education. Scientific attitude must be developed in society. Religious heads must counsel and guide their followers. The elders in the families must also get rid of old beliefs.
5. A Black crow cawing outside your window (You will be having guests)
Means of eradication:-
The only means of eradication is through education. Scientific attitude must be developed in society. Religious heads must counsel and guide their followers. The elders in the families must also get rid of old beliefs.
Questions given
beside the story on the pages:
1) If
the astrologer had stayed in the village then he would have carried on =Ans: the lifestyle of his forefathers like cultivation of land, marrying at the right age, grow old in the midst of his farm and ancestral home.
Ans: The astrologer had a working analysis of mankind’s troubles like marriage, money and the tangle of human ties. Long practice had sharpened the way he perceived things, and thus he could understand the problem in five minutes.
4) How could the astrologer tell the person about his life?
Ans: The astrologer gave a patient hearing to his client for ten minutes and in the process he could read his mind to help him with some obvious answers and advices. Then he pretended to look at his palm indicating that he was providing answers by reading his palm. He chose the answer according to his judgement of the character of his client who immediately reacted very positively, got emotionally moved to start liking the astrologer.
• tilting= to move into a sloping position.
• bluffing= deceiving, lying
6) Guess the meaning of :
• glimpse = to see someone or something for a very short time.
Ans: The man was left for dead as he had been pushed into a well near a field where nobody could rescue him unless some passer-by happened to peep into the well, just by chance.
• passer-by = a person who happens to be going past something or someone, especially on foot.
• peep = to look into something cautiously.
• overwhelmed = overcome.
• groaned = made a low sound of distress.
9) What was the load on the astrologer’s mind?
Ans: The astrologer thought that he had killed a man after a quarrel . he felt intensely guilty about this and had run away from his village. This feeling of guilt was the load on his mind.
BRAINSTORMING
(A1) :-(i) Given below are some descriptions. Discuss them with your partner and find out one word for each of them. An example is given for you.
(a) The scientific study of the universe and the objects in it, including stars, planets, nebulae and galaxies = Astronomy
(b) The study of the movements of the planets, Sun, Moon, and Stars in the belief that these movements can have an influence on people's lives = Astrology
(c) A prediction of what will happen in the future= Prophecy
(d) Scientific discipline that studies mental states and processes and behaviour in humans and other animals= Psychology
(ii) In the
story we are told that the Town Hall Park was a remarkable place in many ways
for an astrologer to build his business. Discuss it in a group and list
the exceptional qualities of the place.
Ans:
Ans:
1) A surging crowd
2) A variety of trades and occupations like medicine sellers and sellers of stolen hardware and junk.
3) Magicians.
4) Auctioneers of cheap cloth.
5) A vociferous vendor of fried groundnuts.
2) A variety of trades and occupations like medicine sellers and sellers of stolen hardware and junk.
3) Magicians.
4) Auctioneers of cheap cloth.
5) A vociferous vendor of fried groundnuts.
(iii)
The astrologer never opened his mouth till the other had spoken for
at least ten minutes. Discuss the reasons behind his act.
Ans:
Ans:
(a) He was good at reading the minds of the people and analyse their
problems.
(b) Ten minutes gave him
enough opportunity to frame his answers and advices.
(c) He became a good judge of human character by practicing for a long time.
(d) He could easily make himself likeable to people by saying things which they wanted to hear and the astrologer had picked up these questions and answers while listening to them attentively for ten minutes.
(c) He became a good judge of human character by practicing for a long time.
(d) He could easily make himself likeable to people by saying things which they wanted to hear and the astrologer had picked up these questions and answers while listening to them attentively for ten minutes.
(A2)
(i) The tactics used by the astrologer
to earn his wages are.........
(ii) An astrologer's appearance helps
to create an impression on his clients. Complete the following.
Ans:
(iii) Read the following sentences and choose the correct one.
(a) The astrologer says that if Nayak does not leave his village again,
he would -
(1) return the money
(2) face danger
(3) go back home and stop looking for the man who tried to kill him
(4) not find the killer.
(1) return the money
(2) face danger
(3) go back home and stop looking for the man who tried to kill him
(4) not find the killer.
Ans: (2) face danger
(b) According to the narrator the astrologer's success in his profession
is primarily due to –
(1) luck
(2) the bargains he drives
(3) his appearance
(4) his understanding of people.
Ans: (4) his understanding of people.
(1) luck
(2) the bargains he drives
(3) his appearance
(4) his understanding of people.
Ans: (4) his understanding of people.
(c) The story suggests that the
astrologer's comments and observations please people by –
(1) promising them success and good fortune
(2) proving, as time passes, to have been true
(3) flattering them or supporting their own views
(4) helping them to learn to solve their own problems.
Ans: (3) flattering them or supporting their own views
(1) promising them success and good fortune
(2) proving, as time passes, to have been true
(3) flattering them or supporting their own views
(4) helping them to learn to solve their own problems.
Ans: (3) flattering them or supporting their own views
(d)
Guru Nayak consults the astrologer because he wants to -
(1) understand the past
(2) find out who the astrologer is
(3) make some money through a bet
(4) get the answer to a specific question.
Ans: (4) get the answer to a specific question.
(1) understand the past
(2) find out who the astrologer is
(3) make some money through a bet
(4) get the answer to a specific question.
Ans: (4) get the answer to a specific question.
(e) Guru Nayak is looking for the man
who tried to kill him -
(1) to take revenge
(2) to get an apology
(3) to demand an explanation (4) to prove that the man was unsuccessful.
Ans: (1) to take revenge
(1) to take revenge
(2) to get an apology
(3) to demand an explanation (4) to prove that the man was unsuccessful.
Ans: (1) to take revenge
(f) The astrologer's remark makes Guru
Nayak feel all of the following except-
(1) relieved
(2) suspicious
(3) impressed
(4) disappointed.
Ans: (2) suspicious
(1) relieved
(2) suspicious
(3) impressed
(4) disappointed.
Ans: (2) suspicious
(g) Reactions of the astrologer's wife
to his news suggest that she -
(1) was unaware of his past
(2) has been worried about his safety
(3) has known him since he was young (4) is concerned about her future with him.
Ans: (1) was unaware of his past
(1) was unaware of his past
(2) has been worried about his safety
(3) has known him since he was young (4) is concerned about her future with him.
Ans: (1) was unaware of his past
(iv) Read the following sentences and
find out True and False sentences. Correct the False sentences.
(a) The astrologer gave a correct prediction to the client about his past that he was stabbed, thrown into a well and left for dead.
Ans: True
(a) The astrologer gave a correct prediction to the client about his past that he was stabbed, thrown into a well and left for dead.
Ans: True
(b) When the astrologer came to know that the man whom he killed is
alive he felt that he was relieved of his guilt.
Ans: True
Ans: True
(c) The astrologer tried to back out of the deal and talked about the
client's past.
Ans: False
Ans: False
:- The
astrologer struck a bargain with the client and then talked about the client’s
past.
(d) The astrologer rescued himself from Guru Nayak's revenge.
Ans: True
Ans: True
(e) The moral of the story is that we must be responsible about what
we have done and should not run away from our mistakes.
Ans: False :- The moral of the story is that we should never believe in superstitions.
Ans: False :- The moral of the story is that we should never believe in superstitions.
(v) The astrologer has changed his
appearance and his persona when he arrived in the city. Give specific
reasons.
Ans: The astrologer thought that he had killed a man after a quarrel. He was afraid that he would be arrested and jailed for this crime. Hence, to avoid detection he changed his appearance and his persona when he arrived in the city.
Ans: The astrologer thought that he had killed a man after a quarrel. He was afraid that he would be arrested and jailed for this crime. Hence, to avoid detection he changed his appearance and his persona when he arrived in the city.
(vi) 'The darkness load that was inside
the astrologer has disappeared'. Through this sentence, explain the
significance of the title 'An Astrologer's Day'.
Ans; The astrologer thought that he had killed a man after a quarrel. Hence, he had run away from his village, changed his appearance and his persona when he arrived in the city, and become an astrologer. However, he still felt guilty for what he had done. When he came to know that the man he thought he had killed was actually alive, the dark load inside him disappeared, and it made his day, i.e. he felt relieved and happy. This is the significance of the title ‘An Astrologer’s Day’.
Or
(vii)
The astrologer feels relieved that Guru is not dead as it relieves a
great burden from him. Critically justify the statement and explain it. Ans; The astrologer thought that he had killed a man after a quarrel. Hence, he had run away from his village, changed his appearance and his persona when he arrived in the city, and become an astrologer. However, he still felt guilty for what he had done. When he came to know that the man he thought he had killed was actually alive, the dark load inside him disappeared, and it made his day, i.e. he felt relieved and happy. This is the significance of the title ‘An Astrologer’s Day’.
(viii) The
astrologer wins/gets the sympathy of criticism of the reader in the end.
Express your opinion with the support of the main story.
Ans: I think I sympathize with the astrologer. He did not try to intentionally kill Guru Nayak; it had happened in the heat of the moment. Of course, he should not have tried to run away but should have accepted responsibility for his crime. However, he is genuinely sorry for what had happened. His words ‘a great load is gone from me today. I thought I had the blood of a man on my hands all these years’ indicates this. Hence, I sympathize with him and I am happy that he can now live in peace.
Ans: I think I sympathize with the astrologer. He did not try to intentionally kill Guru Nayak; it had happened in the heat of the moment. Of course, he should not have tried to run away but should have accepted responsibility for his crime. However, he is genuinely sorry for what had happened. His words ‘a great load is gone from me today. I thought I had the blood of a man on my hands all these years’ indicates this. Hence, I sympathize with him and I am happy that he can now live in peace.
(ix) If we have
to eradicate the superstitions and other ill practices from our society,
what steps would you like to suggest?
Ans: To eradicate superstitions and other ill practices from our society the first and the most important step is education. Schools and colleges must help their students to develop a scientific attitude and think logically and rationally. Secondly, as people in India tend to listen to their religious heads, all religious heads should send out clear messages to their followers about the eradication of superstitions. And lastly, the older generation should change their opinions and ideas and get rid of silly superstitious beliefs.
Ans: To eradicate superstitions and other ill practices from our society the first and the most important step is education. Schools and colleges must help their students to develop a scientific attitude and think logically and rationally. Secondly, as people in India tend to listen to their religious heads, all religious heads should send out clear messages to their followers about the eradication of superstitions. And lastly, the older generation should change their opinions and ideas and get rid of silly superstitious beliefs.
(x) In the story, astrologer has a great
listening power. Listening helps in developing good relations with people.
Express your opinion.
Ans: Listening is a communication skill that needs to be developed by practice. Listening needs concentration which helps a person to understand the perspective and motive of the speaker. A good listener can plan his or her own strategy for moving ahead effectively as well as give proper answer to the speaker. Many disasters can be avoided if the problem is heard properly. Children should be trained to be attentive listeners so that they can accomplish the job with perfection. Listening definitely helps to build relationships since a patient listener is always respected.
(A3) (i) In the story, the following characters reveal their qualities through words and actions. Pick out the words that describe them from the box and write in the appropriate columns.
Ans:
Ans: Listening is a communication skill that needs to be developed by practice. Listening needs concentration which helps a person to understand the perspective and motive of the speaker. A good listener can plan his or her own strategy for moving ahead effectively as well as give proper answer to the speaker. Many disasters can be avoided if the problem is heard properly. Children should be trained to be attentive listeners so that they can accomplish the job with perfection. Listening definitely helps to build relationships since a patient listener is always respected.
(A3) (i) In the story, the following characters reveal their qualities through words and actions. Pick out the words that describe them from the box and write in the appropriate columns.
Ans:
(ii)
Match the suffixes with the words and make nouns. One is done for you.
Ans:
(iii) 'An Astrologer's Day' has ironic
elements where the astrologer pretends to have 'supernatural knowledge' that coincidently turns out to be the
truth. Irony means a situation or statement characterized by a significant
difference between what is expected and what
actually happens, or between what is understood and what is meant. Find out the examples of irony from the story and write
them down. One has been done for you.
Ans:
(a) He knew no more of what was going to happen to others
than he knew what was going to happen to himself the next minute.
(b) His eyes sparkled with a
sharp abnormal gleam which was really an outcome of a continual searching look for
customers, but which his simple clients
took to be a prophetic light and felt comforted.
(c) He knew no more of what was going to happen to others tha he
knew what was going to happen to himself the next minute.
(d) He was as much a stranger to the stars as were his innocent customers.
(e) He said things which pleased and astonished everyone: that was more a matter of study, practice, and shrewd guesswork.
(f) When he told the person before him, gazing at his palm, “in many ways you are not getting the fullest results for your efforts,” nine out of ten were disposed to agree with him.
(g) “Most of your troubles are due to your nature. How can you be otherwise with Saturn where he is? You have an impetuous nature and a rough exterior.” This endeared him to their hearts immediately, for even the mildest of us loves to think that he has a forbidding exterior.
(d) He was as much a stranger to the stars as were his innocent customers.
(e) He said things which pleased and astonished everyone: that was more a matter of study, practice, and shrewd guesswork.
(f) When he told the person before him, gazing at his palm, “in many ways you are not getting the fullest results for your efforts,” nine out of ten were disposed to agree with him.
(g) “Most of your troubles are due to your nature. How can you be otherwise with Saturn where he is? You have an impetuous nature and a rough exterior.” This endeared him to their hearts immediately, for even the mildest of us loves to think that he has a forbidding exterior.
(iv) In the story, many Indian words
are used.
• 'Cowrie shells'. This is an example of code-mixing.
Find out other such words from the story and write them down.
Ans: 1) turban 2) pies 3) anna 4) rupee 5) cheroot 6) jutka 70 Annas 8) pyol
(v) There are some phrases where the word crown is used with different shades of meaning. Use the following phrases to complete the sentences meaningfully. One is done for you.
To crown the effect, he wound a saffron-coloured turban around his head.
Ans:
• 'Cowrie shells'. This is an example of code-mixing.
Find out other such words from the story and write them down.
Ans: 1) turban 2) pies 3) anna 4) rupee 5) cheroot 6) jutka 70 Annas 8) pyol
(v) There are some phrases where the word crown is used with different shades of meaning. Use the following phrases to complete the sentences meaningfully. One is done for you.
To crown the effect, he wound a saffron-coloured turban around his head.
Ans:
(a) The works of Shakespeare are the crowning
glory of English drama.
(b) Amitabh has given us awesome movies throughout five decades. But his crowning achievement is his performance in the movie 'Black'.
(b) Amitabh has given us awesome movies throughout five decades. But his crowning achievement is his performance in the movie 'Black'.
(c) In her pursuit of
success, Radha has distanced herself from her family. Her fame has become
a real crown of thorns.
(d) They threw a wonderful party for me with costumes, games and to crown it all my favourite kind of ice cream.
(e) Medical science has great inventions, but organ transplantation is definitely a crowning achievement for human beings.
(d) They threw a wonderful party for me with costumes, games and to crown it all my favourite kind of ice cream.
(e) Medical science has great inventions, but organ transplantation is definitely a crowning achievement for human beings.
(A4) (i) Word Usage : Use the words given in the
brackets and rewrite the sentences.
(a) The power of his eyes was considerably enhanced. (enhancement)
Ans: There was considerable enhancement in the power of his eyes.
(b) He had a working analysis of mankind’s troubles. (worked)
Ans: He had worked out an analysis of mankind’s troubles.
(c) He knew what was going to happen to himself next minute.(happening)
Ans: He knew what could be happening to himself the next minute.
(a) The power of his eyes was considerably enhanced. (enhancement)
Ans: There was considerable enhancement in the power of his eyes.
(b) He had a working analysis of mankind’s troubles. (worked)
Ans: He had worked out an analysis of mankind’s troubles.
(c) He knew what was going to happen to himself next minute.(happening)
Ans: He knew what could be happening to himself the next minute.
(d) If you find my answers satisfactory, will you give me five rupees? (satisfaction)
Ans: If my answers give you satisfaction, will you give me five rupees.
Ans: If my answers give you satisfaction, will you give me five rupees.
(e) He shook his head regretfully. (regret)
Ans: He shook his head
with regret.
(f) It was a bewildering crisscross of light rays. (bewildered)
(f) It was a bewildering crisscross of light rays. (bewildered)
Ans: He was bewildered by the
crisscross of light rays.
(g) “I should have been dead if some passer-by had not chanced to peep
into the well,” exclaimed the other, overwhelmed by enthusiasm. (enthusiastically)
Ans: “I should have been dead if some passerby had not chanced to peep into the well,” exclaimed the other enthusiastically.
(h) You tried to kill him. (killing)
Ans: You tried killing him.
(i) I will prepare some nice stuff for her. (preparation)
Ans: I will make a preparation of some nice stuff for her.
(j) The other groaned on hearing it. (heard)
Ans: The other groaned when he heard it.
Ans: “I should have been dead if some passerby had not chanced to peep into the well,” exclaimed the other enthusiastically.
(h) You tried to kill him. (killing)
Ans: You tried killing him.
(i) I will prepare some nice stuff for her. (preparation)
Ans: I will make a preparation of some nice stuff for her.
(j) The other groaned on hearing it. (heard)
Ans: The other groaned when he heard it.
(A5) (i) Prepare a speech on Science
and Superstitions. (75 to 100 words) (Science and Superstitions वर भाषण लिहा)
Ans: विद्यार्थ्यांनी इंटरनेटवर स्वतः उत्तर शोधून लिहा.
(ii) Read the following proverbs. Share your views and expand the ideas. (75 to 100 words) (कल्पना विस्तार)
Ans: विद्यार्थ्यांनी इंटरनेटवर स्वतः उत्तर शोधून लिहा.
(a) Actions speak louder than words.
Ans:
(b) The face is the index of the mind.
Ans:
(c) Speech is silver and silence is golden.
Ans:
(d) Argument is the worst kind of communication.
Ans:
(e) Attitudes are the real figures of speech.
Ans:
(f) The wise man has long ears and a short tongue.
Ans:
(A6) (i) Bill Naughton has written a collection of wonderful stories which you can read in his book ‘The Goal Keepers Revenge and Other Stories’. Read all the stories and discuss their theme/s with your partner.
Ans: विद्यार्थ्यांनी इंटरनेटवर स्वतः उत्तर शोधून लिहा.
(ii) Read R.K. Narayan’s humorous collections of short stories and novels. Here are some titles you can read.
(a) ‘Under The Banyan Tree’
(b) ‘The Doctor’s Word’
(c) ‘Lawley Road’
(d) ‘A Horse and Two Goats’
(e) ‘Gateman’s Gift’
Ans: विद्यार्थ्यांनी इंटरनेटवर स्वतः उत्तर शोधून लिहा.
(A7) Surf the internet and find out the career opportunities in Astronomy.
Ans: विद्यार्थ्यांनी इंटरनेटवर स्वतः उत्तर शोधून लिहा.
Ans: विद्यार्थ्यांनी इंटरनेटवर स्वतः उत्तर शोधून लिहा.
(ii) Read the following proverbs. Share your views and expand the ideas. (75 to 100 words) (कल्पना विस्तार)
Ans: विद्यार्थ्यांनी इंटरनेटवर स्वतः उत्तर शोधून लिहा.
(a) Actions speak louder than words.
Ans:
(b) The face is the index of the mind.
Ans:
(c) Speech is silver and silence is golden.
Ans:
(d) Argument is the worst kind of communication.
Ans:
(e) Attitudes are the real figures of speech.
Ans:
(f) The wise man has long ears and a short tongue.
Ans:
(A6) (i) Bill Naughton has written a collection of wonderful stories which you can read in his book ‘The Goal Keepers Revenge and Other Stories’. Read all the stories and discuss their theme/s with your partner.
Ans: विद्यार्थ्यांनी इंटरनेटवर स्वतः उत्तर शोधून लिहा.
(ii) Read R.K. Narayan’s humorous collections of short stories and novels. Here are some titles you can read.
(a) ‘Under The Banyan Tree’
(b) ‘The Doctor’s Word’
(c) ‘Lawley Road’
(d) ‘A Horse and Two Goats’
(e) ‘Gateman’s Gift’
Ans: विद्यार्थ्यांनी इंटरनेटवर स्वतः उत्तर शोधून लिहा.
(A7) Surf the internet and find out the career opportunities in Astronomy.
Ans: विद्यार्थ्यांनी इंटरनेटवर स्वतः उत्तर शोधून लिहा.
