An Encounter of a Special Kind

An Encounter of a Special Kind

What was the profession of the writer’s father?

Ans : The writer’s father was a medical professional.

Describe the campus where the writer’s family lived?

Ans:  A large campus with green grass colourful flowers, and tall trees

How did the family relax after lunch? 

Ans: The family lay down for an afternoon nap and the narrator read stories.

 What wicked custom is practiced by animals who live in groups?

Ans: A powerful male usually does not allow another male baby or adult to survive within its group.  

What attempts helped the baby langur to revive?

Splashes of cold water, cleaning of wounds and offering of a peeled banana helped the baby langur to revive. 

When did baby langur finally find comfort?

The baby langur finally found comfort when his mother picked her up in her arms and held close to the bosom.

What truth about animal-human relationship did this incident reveal to the narrator?

Ans: 

What did the mother seem to convey to the narrator?

Communication and mutual trust between animals and humans is indeed a reality. Bond can be established between them by striking the right chord.

An Encounter of a Special Kind : Textual Activities

1. State whether you agree or disagree with the following statements. Justify your choice with proper reasons. 

(a) The compound where the writer was living, rich in nature’s bounty.  

Ans: I agree with this statement.

(b) Holidays provide us an opportunity to read various magazines and storybooks . 

Ans: I agree with this statement.

(c) The narrator made a mistake by saving the baby langur. 

Ans : I do not agree with this statement. Saving the baby langur he realised the feelings of animals.

(d) Animals cannot convey emotions. 

I do not agree with this statement.The Mother langur conveyed her gratitude by looking into the narrator’s eyes. 

(e) The narrator was fifty-five years old when this incident occurred. 

I do not agree with this statement. The narrator was fifteen years old at that time. He remembered this incident even after fifty five years. 

 2. Match the phrases given in Group ‘A’ with their meanings in Group ‘B’

Group A Phrases	Group B Meanings
(a) to be a part and parcel of	(1) to observe and give attention
(b) to be engrossed in	(ii) to be able to solve a problem
(c) to take notice of	(iii) to find comfort and peace
(d) to figure out	(iv) to think about seriously
(e) to ponder over	(v) to be completely occupied in
(f) to be overwhelmed by	(vi) to be an essential or integral part
(g) in a flash	(vii) to be affected emotionally in a powerful way
(h) to find a solace	(viii) very quickly

3. Write in your own words.

(a) Why did the narrator ignore the barking of dogs? 

(1) He was engrossed in reading

(2) He thought some dogs might have attacked a pig.

 (b) Why did mother-langur make no effort to grab her baby from the coop? 

Ans :  She was convinced that there was no harm  to her baby.

(a) What would you do, if you found an injured bird while returning from your school?

Ans: I would stop there I lift the injured bird. and Then I would offer water to drink. I would see the injury and take the bird home. I would caress the bird to soothe and apply turmeric powder on injury. However I would release the bird to fly.

Q. 2.(A) Read the following passage and do the activities: (10 marks)

A1. Write whether the following statements are ‘True’ or ‘False’ : (2) 

(1) After a hearty lunch, the narrator settled down with a storybook. True

(ii) The quiet afternoon presented the perfect backdrop for reading a mysterious story. False

(ii) The narrator ignored the commotion at first. True

(i) The narrator rushed to the veranda to see where his family was. False

After a hearty lunch, my parents and my younger sisters lay down for an afternoon nap and I settled down with a storybook. The quiet afternoon presented the perfect backdrop for reading an adventure story. The silence was occasionally broken by the sound of my family snoring, the intermittent chirping of house sparrows, the harsh cawing of a crow the shrill call of a kite flying high above the ground. Minutes ticked by. I became deeply absorbed in the book.

Suddenly, I heard a group of street dogs barking furiously in the distance. I chose to ignore the commotion thinking that the pack of dogs might have cornered a hapless pig. But soon, the barking became louder and more aggressive and the alarmed cawing of a flock of crows added to the cacophony. I also heard the disturbance approaching closer. Curiosity got the better of me. Leaving the book aside, I rushed to the veranda to see what was going on.

A2. Complete the following web :

A3. Match the describing words from the passage with the given noun below :(2)

A4.Do as directed

(1) I became deeply absorbed in the book.

(Rewrite it in Simple Present Tense).

I become deeply absorbed in the book.

(ii) I chose to ignore the commotion.

(Underline the infinitive)

I chose to ignore the commotion.