An Insult That Created an Empire

An Insult That Created an Empire

A. Answer the questions.

Q1. Where was Chanakya educated? What were the subjects that he was interested in?

Ans. First of all, Chanakya began his education in his father’s ashram. After that, at the age of sixteen, he was sent to Takshashila, a world famous university of that time. He was interested in studying the classics and contemporary politics.

Q2. How had the Nandas ascended the throne of Magadh? Was Dhan Nanda trusted by the people he ruled? Why did he want to open a daankendra?

Ans. The first Nanda king Sarvarthasidi ascended the throne by killing the king of Magadh. Dhan Nanda was not trusted by the people of Magadh.  He was very corrupt and put unjust taxes on people.

Q3.Who insulted Chanakya and how? What was Chanakya’s reaction?

Ans. Dhan Nanda insulted Chanakya. He ordered Chankaya to be dragged out of the court into the dust outside. Chanakya reacted angrily. He vowed to destroy the whole Nanda clan to take his revenge. He also decided not to bind the open topknot of his hair until he fulfilled his vow.

Q4.How did Chanakya find the king he was looking for? What were the qualities that attracted him?

Ans. One day, in the city of Ushara, Chanakya saw a group of boys playing a game. A boy was playing the role of a king holding his court. That boy was fair and just in his dealings in the court. The boy also had a kingly air about himself and he was full of the sense of justice. Thus he found the would-be king of his choice.

Q5.Who was Amatsya Rakshasa? Why was he given this name?

Ans. Amatsya Rakshasa’s real name was Kathayana. He was the chief minister and a brilliant general of king Nanda. He was given the name of Amatsya Rakshasa because he was fierce like a demon.

Q6. Who was Jeevsidhi? How did he help Chanakya?

Ans. Jeevsidhi was a Jain monk and also astrogloger. Chanakya’s  best student Indusarma  got many secrets about Dhan Nanda  from Chandragupta. After that he became a close confidante of Dhan Nanda in Jeevsidhi’s disguise. He sent all secrets to Chanakya and helped him.

Q7. Name the books written by Chanakya. What are they about?

Ans. His books are Chanakyaniti, Nitishashtra and Arthshashtra. These are world famous books and are read till now. These are about political science, administration and economics.

After Twenty Years

After Twenty Years (Class VIII)

A.   Answer the questions.

1.    Describe the policeman on the beat.

Ans. The policeman moved up the street of his beat (area of duty) in a very impressive manner. It was his natural style. He was keeping his alert eyes at the people’s movements on the main road. His strong figure with a slight swagger (to walk in a very showy and proud manner) made him a fine picture of a guardian of peace. He also kept twirling (spinning) his staff (stick) in a very artistic way while doing his duty

2.    What did the man in the doorway tell him?

Ans. The man assured the cop that he was not going to do any illegal activity there. He was just waiting for a friend who had made a promise to meet him there after twenty years back.

3.    How did Bob describe Jimmy?

Ans. Bob said that Jimmy Wells was his best friend and the finest person in the world. Both of them were raised (brought up) in New York. They were like brothers and he was of eighteen and Jimmy was twenty years at that time.

4.    How did the patrolman know that Bob has been doing well?

Ans. Bob pulled out a handsome watch having the lid set with small diamonds. Then the patrolman came to know that Bob had been doing well

5.    When did Bob realize that the man he was talking to was not Jimmy Wells? How did he react?

Ans. While talking, both of them came near a drug store. They could watch each other’s face clearly in the light. Suddenly, Bob’s eyes noticed that the other man’s nose was totally different from the one that Jimmy had. Bob reacted angrily and drew his arm back from the other man’s grip.

B.   Answer these questions with reference to the context.

1.    ‘He was a kind of plodder. Though good fellow as he was.’

a.    Who said this and to whom?

Ans. Bob said these words to the policeman.

b.    What does he mean?

Ans. Bob meant to say that Jimmy was slow at work. He had no big ambition to go out of New York in search of big fortune.

c.     Is the speaker criticizing his friend?

Ans. It does not seem that he was criticizing his friend.

d.    What is the meaning of plodder?

Ans. One who works slowly and steadily but without imagination.

2.    ‘You’re not Jimmy Wells!’ he snapped. ‘Twenty years is a long time, but not long enough to change a man’s nose from a Roman to a pug.’

a.    Who is the speaker?

Ans. Bob is the speaker here.

b.    Who is the speaker addressing?

Ans. The speaker is addressing to that person who came in place of Jimmy Wells.

c.     Why does the speaker say this?

Ans. Bob says this because he had come to know that the other person was not Jimmy Wells, his old friend.

“Wandering Singers” by Sarojini Naidu

L-16.   “Wandering Singers” by Sarojini Naidu  Class VII: Summary of the Poem

A.     Answer these questions.

1.      What is the song Wandering Singers about?     Ans. The song is about the band of folk singers who wander from town to town and from village to village to spread the message of love through their singing. They play the lute; a musical instrument as they roam from place to place.

2.      Do the singers stay at one place or do they wander about? What determines where they go?   Ans. They wander about from one place to the other. The call of the wind determines where they go.

3.      What do the singers sing about?   Ans. The song of the Wandering Singers is about the stories of ancient battles or of old kings. They also have songs about the beauty of women and about happy and sad things. All mankind are like their extended family and the world is their home.

Ex. B. Explain these lines from the poem.    1.Where the voice of the wind calls our wandering feet.

Ans. They go where the voice of the wind calls them.

2.All men are our kindred, the world is our home.    Ans. All human-beings are like their extended family and the world is their home.

3.Our lays are of cities whose luster is shed.    Ans. Their songs are about the cities whose glory has faded now.

4.What hope shall we gather, what dreams shall we sow?     Ans. Here the poetess seems to tell us about their sadness about their future. They do not stay at one place. So they cannot gather hope and have dreams about their bright future.

5.The voice of the wind is the voice of our fate.    Ans. It means that their movements depend on the call of the wind.

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Lesson 17: Tom Sawyer B. Answer these questions with reference to the context.

1.      I’ll show you my sore toe!

a.      Who says this to whom?

           Ans. Tom says this to Jim.

b.      Why does he say this?

Ans. He says this to engage Jim in the task of whitewashing.  Jim wanted to see Tom’s sore toe.

2.      Well, I don’t see why I oughtn’t to like it. Does a boy get a chance to white-wash a fence every day?

a.      Who says this to whom?

Ans. Tom says this to Ben.

b.      Does he really like what he was doing? Explain.

Ans. Tom does not like it. Actually he was showing to Ben that it was not a work. It was rather an art.

c.       What was his intention behind this remark?

Ans. His motive was to impress Ben so that he could start whitewashing the fence.

3.      Now, be powerful careful, Ben. I’m risking an awful lot just lettin’ you do that.

A.      Who is the speaker?

Ans. Tom is the speaker.

b.What does he ask Ben to be careful about?

Ans. He asks Ben to be careful in whitewashing.

c.What did he say he was risking? Was he really taking a risk?

Ans. Not at all. He was not risking anything. Actually he was a little bit afraid of Aunt Polly.

4.      If Ben gonna whitewash that last plank I gotta right, too. My kite’s worth more’n an old apple!

a.      Who says this to whom?

Ans Joe says this to Tom.

b.      Why is he ‘fighting’ to whitewash the fence?

Ans. There was a long line in waiting for the turn to brush a lick at the last plank of the fence. Joe also wanted to paint if Ben was given a chance.

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Macavity the Mystery Cat:  3. You’ll be sure……….division sums.” 

  Ans. These lines have been taken from the poem ‘Macavity, the Mystery Cat’ written by T.S. Eliot. The poet tells us that Macavity is the name of cruelty itself. He has broken all human laws. He has committed so many crimes, but he has not been convicted for them.

There is use no use of investigating the matter because Macavity would not be found responsible for those crimes. The Secret Service might say that it is done by Macavity, but that is of no use. He will be half a mile away from the place of crime and may be relaxing or licking his thumbs or may be busy in solving the complicated (difficult) sums of division.