An Astrologer’s Day Std 12 – Solution

Vocabulary on An Astrologer’s Day

• Sacred – holy

• Astonished – surprised

blotted out – hidden

careworn – tired and unhappy

crisscross – a pattern of crossing lines

deserted – made empty,

 disposed to – make someone to think something

enthusiasm – great enjoyment

equipment – items needed for particular purpose

escaped – got free

flanked – divided

flung –

Threw forcefully

gleam – faint light

grumbled – complained

sharpened – made sharp

surging – rushing

taken aback – surprised

vaguely – uncertain

vendor – seller

vermillion – red pigment

• Vocabulary Test

Summary

“An Astrologer’s Day” by R.K. Narayan is a short story that revolves around an astrologer who makes a living by reading people’s futures and pasts. The protagonist sets up his stall by a busy street and attracts clients with his confident demeanor and accurate readings. One evening, a man approaches him, seeking to find the astrologer who predicted his death. The astrologer realizes that the man is actually the person he thought he had killed years ago. This revelation leads to a twist in the story, showcasing themes of fate, redemption, and the complexity of human nature. Ultimately, the story explores the idea of second chances and the power of forgiveness.

 Activity Sheet 1 on  An Astrologer’s Day

Read the extract from ‘An Astrologer’s Day’ beginning with –  
” Punctually at Midday………the end of day’

A1. Complete the web chart.

A1. Complete the web chart.

A2. People were attracted to the astrologer as bees are attracted to cosmos or dahila stalks. Give reasons.

A2. People flocked to fried groundnut vendor. Give reasons.

A3 Insufficient light suited the astrologer’s business. Explain.

A3. Half the enchantment of the place was due to the fact that it did not have the benefit of municipal lightening. Explain 

A4. Astrologer’s by the roadside deserves no wages. Give your opinion.

A4. Describe your plan about earning while learning. 

A5 Rewrite as instructed.

1. The colour scheme never failed. (Make it affirmative.)

2. The place was lit up by the shop lights. (Identify the voice.)

A6. Vocabulary Match the pair

Column A                Column B 

1. Sacred.                   A. red pigment 

2. Vermillion             B. surprised  

3. Flanked.                 C. holy  

4. Astonished.           D. divided

Activity Sheet No. 2 on An Astrologer’s Day

A1. Put the statements in order as the events occur. 

1. A client showed his palm to astrologer with challenge.

2. The astrologer began to bundle up his paraphernalia.

3. The astrologer sensed a man as his client and pressed invitation.

4. The nuts vendor rose to go home.

A2. State whether the following statements are true or false.

1. A client looked careworn.

2. The astrologer was challenged.

3. He charged four pies for a question.

4. A client did not agree to pay the fees.

A3. Guess 

The astrologer recognised the client but didn’t show. Support the statements with proof from the extract.

A4. Opinion

Astrology is a truthful occupation. Give your opinion.

A5. Language Study.

1.) Choose the sentences of passive voice.

1. The nuts vendor blew out his flare.

2. The green shaft of light was blotted out.

3. This pact was accepted after a little further argument.

4. The astrologer caught a glimpse of his face by the match light.

2.) The astrologer felt very uncomfortable. ( Rewrite as exclamatory.)

6. Find the words from the extract which mean . a) seller b) hidden c) complained d) threw forcefully

Activity Sheet No. 3 on An Astrologer’s Day

A1. Complete the sentence by choosing an appropriate option. A client was surprised when….

• the astrologer advised him to go home
• the astrologer told him that the person he was looking for is dead.
• the astrologer uttered his name ‘ Guru Nayak’.
• he gazed at the astrologer.

A2. Write the thraits and advice the astrologer gave to the stranger. 

A3. ‘ A great load is gone from me today.’ Explain it with providing reasons. 

A4. Express the feelings when you come to know that you were not wrong.

A5. Language Study.

1. Never travel southward again, and you will live to be a hundred. ( Rewrite the statement as condition. Or Rewrite the statement using ‘ If ..not’)

2. It was nearly midnight when the astrologer reached home. ( Rewrite the statement without conjunction or Rewrite it as simple sentence.)

A6. Use the following words to complete the sentences meaningfully.

  (deserted, escaped, astrologer, stranger)

• When I opened the door, I saw a …….. .
• The stadium was ……. when the match came to an end.
• A man stretched his palm to an ………. to know what is wrong with him.
• A theif has …… from the jail.

Activity Sheet No. 4 on An Astrologer’s Day

8 Unique Vivid Interview Questions

1. Read the extract from An Astrologer’s Day and complete the activities given below: (12)

Punctually at midday he opened his bag and spread out his professional equipment, which consisted of a dozen cowrie shells, a square piece of cloth with obscure mystic charts on it, a notebook, and a bundle of Palmyra writing. His forehead was resplendent (glorious) with sacred ash and vermilion, and his eyes sparkled with a sharp abnormal gleam (shine) 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. The power of his eyes was considerably enhanced by their position placed as they were between the painted forehead and the dark whiskers (moustaches) which streamed down his cheeks: even a half-wit’s eyes would sparkle in such a setting. To crown the effect he wound a saffron-coloured turban around his head. This colour scheme never failed. People were attracted to him as bees are attracted to cosmos or dahlia stalks. He sat under the boughs of a spreading tamarind tree which flanked a path running through the Town Hall Park. It was a remarkable place in many ways. A surging crowd was always moving up and down this narrow road from morning till night. A variety of trades and occupations was represented all along its way :medicine sellers, sellers of stolen hardware and junk, magicians, and above all, an auctioneer of cheap cloth, who created enough din all day to attract the whole town. Next to him in vociferousness came a vendor of fried groundnut, who gave his ware a fancy name each day, calling it “Bombay Ice Cream” one day and on the next “Delhi Almond,” and on the third “Raja’s Delicacy,” and so on and so forth, and people flocked to him. A considerable portion of this crowd dallied before the astrologer too.

The astrologer transacted his business by the light of a flare which crackled and smoked up above the groundnut heap nearby. Half the enchantment of the place was due to the fact that it did not have the benefit of municipal lighting. The place was lit up by shop lights. One or two had hissing gaslights, some had naked flares stuck on poles, some were lit up by old cycle lamps, and one or two, like the astrologer, managed without lights of their own. It was a bewildering crisscross of light rays and moving shadows. This suited the astrologer very well, for the simple reason that he had not in the least intended to be an astrologer when he began life;  and he knew no more of what was going to happen to others than he knew what was going to happen to himself next minute. He was as much a stranger to the stars as were his innocent customers. Yet he said things which pleased and astonished everyone: that was more a matter of study, practice, and shrewd guesswork. All the same, it was as much an honest man’s labour as any other, and he deserved the wages he carried home at the end of a day.

A1. State if the given statements are True or False. (2)

i. The astrologer used to have the preparation of his business in quite professional way.

ii. The physical appearance of the astrologer hardly created an impact on the customers.

iii. The place was busy with a variety of occupations.

iv. The astrologer’s style of handling the business lies in his skills.

Ans : i. The astrologer used to have the preparation of his business in quite professional way. True

ii. The physical appearance of the astrologer hardly created an impact on the customers. False

iii. The place was busy with a variety of occupations. True

iv. The astrologer’s style of handling the business lies in his skills. True

A2. Complete the given web. (2)

1. Opened his bag and spread out professional equipment

2. Wound a saffron coloured turban around his head

3. Sat under the boughs of a spreading tamarind tree

4. Transacted his business of astrology

(Note : Draw a web chart and write these points in it.)

A3. The astrologer was a shrewd judge of a character. Explain with some details from the extract. (2)

Ans : He was punctual in his work. Though he did not intend to be an astrologer, he used professional equipment for astrology. He dressed as an astrologer and chose appropriate place for the transaction . He accepted that study, practice and shrewd guesswork helped him to please and astonish his customers.

A4. We need to understand even the smallest details of the business in order to succeed. Write your views. (2)

Ans : 

A5. Do as directed. (2)

1) It was a remarkable place in many ways.

(Choose correct alternative to rewrite the given sentence as an exclamatory sentence)

i. It was a remarkable place in many ways!

ii. How a remarkable place in many ways it was!

iii. What a remarkable place in many ways it was!

iv. What remarkable in many ways the place it was!

2) He spread out his professional equipment, which consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.

(Choose correct alternative to rewrite the given sentence as a compound sentence)

i. He spread out his professional equipment but it consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.

ii. He spread out his professional equipment and it consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.

iii. He spread out his professional equipment that it consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.

iv. He spread out his professional equipment and it had consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.

A6. Find the synonyms for the following words from the passage. (2)

a. Confusing b. hanging around c. difficult to understand d. magical effect             2

a. Confusing – bewildering 

b. hanging around –  dallied

c. difficult to understand – obscure

 d. magical effect   – enchantment