Summary of “Mrs. Adis” by Sheila Kaye-Smith

“Mrs. Adis” is a gripping short story set in the English countryside, exploring themes of morality, forgiveness, and maternal instincts.

The story begins on a stormy night when Peter, a poacher, arrives at Mrs. Adis’s cottage seeking refuge. He is on the run, believing he has shot and killed a policeman during a confrontation in the woods. Mrs. Adis, a widow, reluctantly lets him in, despite feeling uneasy about harboring a fugitive.

As Peter recounts the events of the night, a shocking truth emerges: the man he shot was not a policeman, but Mrs. Adis’s son, whom Peter did not recognize in the dark. Overwhelmed by this revelation, Mrs. Adis experiences a whirlwind of emotions—grief for her son and compassion for Peter, who was once her son’s close friend and is now devastated by his mistake.

Despite her heartbreak, Mrs. Adis does not betray Peter’s presence to the authorities when they come searching for him. She silently grapples with her loss and her choice, driven by a complex mix of maternal forgiveness and pity for Peter’s tragic error.

The story ends on an ambiguous note, leaving readers to reflect on Mrs. Adis’s extraordinary strength and moral dilemma. It highlights the complexities of human emotions and the challenge of navigating personal tragedy in the face of societal expectations.

Activities from the margin of the lesson Mrs. Adis

The writer describes Mrs. Adis as –

• a small woman
• Thin woman
• Brown hard face
• Hair like wrinkles

Mrs. Adis asks Peter crouch whether he has had a quarrel with the keepers. This shows that

1.  Peter Crouch is hot temper
2.  He gets into quarrel easily.
3.  Mr. Adis knew his nature.

List some characteristics of Mrs. Adis based on this incident.
Faithful , trustworthy, good , helpful , forgetful
Give reason :
Vilder guessed that Crouch has taken refuge at Mrs. Adis’ house because he was a friend of Mrs. Adis’s son Tom. Crouch didn’t know that he had shot Tom dead.

The row took place because the keepers scared Peter Crouch who fired the gun in darkness.

Mrs. Adis unlocked the door because she had forgiven Peter and wanted him to run away safely.

Guess the meaning: ‘wrung’ here means
Find the difference between: shivering and trembling

BRAINSTORMING of Mrs. Adis

(A1) (i) Discuss with your partner and describe the atmosphere in the woods when Peter Crouch was heading towards Mrs. Adis’s House. It was-
(a) a dark moonless night.
(b) a few stars in the sky
(c) windless , silent and clear night
(ii) Peter Crouch didn’t knock before entering Mrs. Adis’s house.
The reason was-
(a) Peter Crouch didn’t want to make noise.
(b) He wanted nobody to hear the noise of knocking
(c) He was in haste.
(iii) Go through the text again and find the reasons that forced Peter to shoot down a person.
(a) The keepers spotted him.
(b) He had fears of being caught.
(c) They were more in numbers.
(iv) Mrs. Adis didn’t hand over Peter Crouch to the keepers because-
(a) He was her son Tom’s friend.
(b) Tom would want her to stay by him.

(A2) The writer has used a phrase ‘Thudding Heart’ which means pounding, or beating of heart. Do you know ‘Thud’ is an onomatopoeic word which means a heavy sound made by an object falling to the ground. Discuss with your partner and make a list of Onomatopoeic words that you find in the text.
(a) crackling
(b) rustling
(c) bark

Activities other than the text 

A1 Choose the correct alternative and rewrite the following statements.
1) Peter/ Mrs. Adis was stooping over the fire.
2) Peter knocked the door/walked straight in the cottage.
3) Peter thought he killed/ shot a man.
4) Mrs. Adis was a woman with a hard/soft face.

Ans : 1. Mrs. Adis was stooping over the fire. 2. Peter walked straight in the cottage. 3. Peter thought he shot a man. 4. Mrs. Adis was a woman with a soft face.

A2. Complete the statement: Peter was in trouble because …………
A3. The kettle boiled over and Mrs Adis mechanically put it at the side of the fire. Find the deeper meaning of this statement.
A4. Imagine a young man comes to you pleading to protect him from police. Write how you will react.
A5. Language Study.
1. He did not knock, but walked straight in. (Rewrite into simple sentence.)
Ans. Without knocking he walked straight in.
2. I shot a man. (Rewrite into passive voice.)
Ans. A man was shot by me.
A6. Vocabulary.

Across.                                                                         
2.  a line in the skin of face                               
3, overcrowded
4. too many to be counted

Down
       1. reluctant to do something

Activity Set A

Que. 1 A) Read the extract and complete the activities given below: (12)
In north-east Sussex a great tongue of land runs into Kent. It is a land of woods – the old hammer tongue of land: a long woods of the Sussex iron industry and among the stretch of land brunching woods gleam the hammerponds. Owing to the thickness of the woods, the road that passes Mrs. wood Adis’s cottage is dark long before the fields beyond. as That night there was no twilight and no moon, only a few pricks of fire in the black sky above the trees. But what the darkness hid the silence revealed. In the absolute stillness of the night, windless and clear, every sound was distinct, intensified. The distant bark of a dog at Delmonden sounded close at hand, and Delmonden: name of a the man who walked on the road could hear the echo of his own footsteps following him like a knell.
Every now and then he made an effort to go more quietly, but the roadside was a mass of thorns, and their crackling and rustling were nearly as loud as the thud of his feet on the road. Besides, they made him go slowly, and he had no time for that.
When he came to Mrs. Adis’s cottage he paused a moment. Only a small patch of grass lay between it and the road, and he looked in at the lighted, uncurtained window. He could see Mrs. Adis stooping over the fire, taking some pot or kettle off it. He hesitated and seemed to wonder. He was a big, heavy, working man, not successful, judging by the poverty his appearance. For a moment he made as if he would open the window, then he changed his mind and went to the door instead.




A1) Complete the following:
1)Mrs. Adis cottage is dark ……………………..
2) The dog’s bark thought distance, seemed,…………………..
1)Mrs. Adis cottage is dark long before the fields beyond.
2)The dog’s bark thought distance, seemed close at hand.

A2) Describe the atmosphere in the woods when Peter Crouch was heading towards Mrs. Adis’s house.
The atmosphere in the woods was dark, windless, and clear. The darkness hid everything, and the only light was a few pricks of fire in the black sky above the trees. The absolute stillness of the night intensified every sound, making it distinct.

A3) Why does the writer conclude that the man was not successful?
The writer concludes that the man was not successful judging by his appearance, which showed poverty.

A4) Do you judge a person by his outer appearance?
However, it is not fair to judge a person based on their outer appearance as it is not always an accurate reflection of their personality or circumstances.

A5) Vocabulary:
The sounds described in this extract are crackling, rustling, thud, and bark.

A6) Grammar:

When he came to Mrs. Adis’s cottage he paused a moment. (Clause: When he came to Mrs. Adis’s cottage)
Only a small patch of grass lay between it and the road. (Subject: Only a small patch of grass, Verb: lay)
1 B) 1 Do as directed/ Transformation of the sentences.
a) We have been in Sector 9, Jalgaon since 1990.
b) The information must be true. I do not know.
c) Listen, someone is singing a song.

Spot the error.

Electricity is cheap than coal.”
The error in the sentence is “cheap than.” The correct sentence is “Electricity is cheaper than coal.”

Dialogue: Seeking Help After a Grave Mistake

Me: Hey, you look really worried. What’s wrong? Is everything okay?
Friend/Sibling: Not really… I made a big mistake, and I don’t know what to do.


Me: Okay, take a deep breath. Tell me what happened.
Friend/Sibling: Well, I accidentally broke the college lab equipment while experimenting without permission. It was really expensive, and I’m afraid I’ll get into serious trouble. I don’t know how to fix this.


Me: Oh, that does sound serious. But hiding it won’t solve the problem. Have you told anyone about it?
Friend/Sibling: No, not yet. I’m scared they’ll punish me or even suspend me. That’s why I came to you. What should I do?

Me: I understand how you feel, but the first step is to take responsibility for your actions. Go to the teacher or the lab in-charge and explain what happened. Be honest and show that you regret your mistake.
Friend/Sibling: But what if they don’t forgive me?
Me: They might be upset at first, but they’ll respect your honesty. You could also offer to help pay for the damage or work on something to compensate for the loss. That will show that you’re serious about making things right.


Friend/Sibling: You’re right. I can’t keep running away from this. I’ll talk to the teacher tomorrow and explain everything. Thank you for guiding me.
Me: That’s the spirit! Mistakes happen, but it’s how you handle them that matters. Don’t worry; I’ll be here if you need more help.

Friend/Sibling: Thanks again. I feel a bit better now.

Link for Pillars of Democracy



Poetry Section
There is another sky.



Nose versus Eyes



Drama Section
1. History of English Drama


2 The Rising of the Moon



*A Midsummer Night’s Dream*



An Enemy of the People

Vocabulary Test

Choose appropriate words from the given WORD BANK and  complete the test.

( intensified, innumerable, ceased, stooping over, stuffy, shrug, wrinkles, knell,

snap, deserved, huddled down,

on the threshold, escape, hesitated, anxiety, straining, refuge, fetch, beseechingly, close at hand)

1. What word MOST NEARLY means: stroke?

2. What word MOST NEARLY means: very near?

3. What word MOST NEARLY means: appealingly?

4.What word MOST NEARLY means: bend over?

5.What word MOST NEARLY means: shrink oneself?

6.What word MOST NEARLY means: streching?

7.What word MOST NEARLY means: make a sharp sound?

8.What word MOST NEARLY means: sharpened?

9.What word MOST NEARLY means: get free of?

10.What word MOST NEARLY means: bring in?

11.What word MOST NEARLY means: nervousness?

12 What word MOST NEARLY means: small ridges in the skin?

13. What word MOST NEARLY means: competent ?

14. What word MOST NEARLY means: boundary?

15. What word MOST NEARLY means: to delay momentarily?

16. What word MOST NEARLY means: lacking in vitality?

17. What word MOST NEARLY means: too many?

18. What word MOST NEARLY means: shelter?

19. What word MOST NEARLY means: stopped

20. What word MOST NEARLY means: lift the shoulders?

Online Test on Vocabulary

Cherry Tree

Pillars of Democracy is a speech delivered by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar has laid emphasis on the values of liberty, equality, and fraternity. According to him, these principles will make India a strong nation. He is of the view that hero-worship is a sure road to degradation and to eventual dictatorship and the collapse of a nation.

ICE BREAKERS on Pillars of Democracy

(i) Discuss with your partner and choose the correct alternative.
‘Government of the people, by the people and for the people, shall not perish from the earth’. This famous statement is made by –
(a) Mahatma Gandhi (b) Nelson Mandela
(c) Abraham Lincoln (d) Dalai Lama
(ii) A system where the government is elected and ruled by people is called-
(a) Bureaucracy (b) Aristocracy (c) Democracy (d) Autocracy
(iii) A democratic country is governed by, its-
(a) Military (b) Police (c) Politicians (d) Constitution
(i) The trinity of democracy comprises three principles. Complete the web to show the trinity of democracy.

(ii) Match the following.

Ans : 1.Constitution  ___ d. It is an aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organization or other type of entity and commonly determine how that entity is to be governed.     

 2.Liberty ____ a.  It is the freedom to go where you want,do what you want etc. 

3.Equality ____  b. It is the state of being equal, especially in status, rights or opportunities.       

4.Fraternity ____ c. It is the sense of common brotherhood.

(iii) Pillars form a support for concrete buildings. Metaphorically speaking a strong nation too depends on strong pillars. Discuss with your partner and explain the pillars of a democratic nation. Make a list of obstacles that are a threat to the progress of a nation.

Ans.
Democratic nation rests on four pillars. These are legislation, administration, judiciary and press. For the smooth running of democracy laws are made. It is done by legislative body. The implementation of laws and government policies is taken care of by administration. To assure people about justice there is judiciary department. When these three pillars tremors , the press keeps watch on them.A list of obstacles1. Corruption2. Population Explosion3. Environment degradation 

Glossary and Notes from Pillars of Democracy

Brainstorming on Pillars of Democracy

(A1) (i) Form groups and use the following topics for discussion. Take the help of your college library and your teacher.
• Need for democracy
• Features of the Constitution of India
• Freedom of speech
• Dictatorship Vs Democracy
• Qualities of an ideal politician
• Equality before law

(ii) Read the prose Pillars of Democracy and state whether the following statements are true or false. Correct the false statements.
(a) There is nothing wrong in being grateful to great men. True

(b) Hero-worship leads to dictatorship. True

(c) Liberty cannot be divorced from equality.True

(d) One man one vote and one vote one value. True

(e) Fraternity means common sense. False Correct : Fraternity means common brotherhood.

(iii) In his speech, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar has expressed his deep concern over the absence of two things in the then Indian society. Discuss with your partner and complete the web.

(A2) (i) Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar has cited the quotes by John Stuart Mill and Daniel O’Connel. Go through the lesson and write down 4 to 5 lines for each of them.
Ans: John Stuart Mill advocates not to loose liberty at any cost, not for anybody else. Liberty is a precious gift got with a strenuous struggle and assured with constitution. According to Irish Patriot Daniel O’Connel chastity is important for woman, honour for man and freedom for nation. Nothing is greater than these three principles in the life .  

(ii) Discuss with your partner and make a list of steps that you feel are essential to unite the people of different castes, race, religions and languages in India.
Ans: Social equality as well as economic equality must be brought at the earliest possible. Secondly liberty for all to learn, to speak, to earn is one more step to unite people. A sense of common brotherhood over the language, caste, creed , race, region and religion. 

(iii) Write your views/opinions in brief on the following topics.
(a) We must always cast our vote.
(b) Liberty, equality and fraternity lead to an ideal nation.
(c) Steps to be taken to eradicate inequality.
(d) Role of youth in creating social awareness.
(A3) (i) Let’s use the Thesaurus.
Along with your partner, go to library or search the internet for a standard Thesaurus to complete the following table. One is done for you.

(ii) Homograph : Homograph is a word spelt and pronounced like another word but with a different meaning. For example: the word ‘fast’ has two meanings.
The different meanings are-
fast- hold firmly
 fast- to abstain from food
 fast- opposite of slow.
 Go through the text again and make a list of meanings of all the homographs that are found in the text. Also make a list of such words that you know, heard or read somewhere.

Examples of Homograph

Bat – a type of sports equipment
Bat – an animal.
Bass – a type of fish
Bass – a genre for music.
Bow – a weapon for shooting arrows
Bow – a formal way of greeting or showing respect.
Close – to be near something
Close – to shut.
Crane – a bird
Crane – a machine used at construction sites

Minute – small
Minute – a unit of time.
Park – a public play area
Park – to bring a vehicle to a stop and leave it temporarily.
Pen – an object which is used for writing
Pen – a small area in which animals are kept.
Tear – to rip something
Tear – the liquid that flows from the eyes when crying.
Saw – a sharp tool used
Saw – cutting hard materials or past tense for the word “see

Call of The Soil

 (A4) (i) Go through the statement taken from the text – 
‘The social democracy means a way of life which recognises liberty, equality and fraternity’.

 The italic part of the statement provides us some fact/information about social democracy. The remaining part or the sentence which is not italicized can be converted into a wh-question.

 What does social democracy mean?

 Now go through the italicized part of the statements/sentences given below and change them into questions by using the appropriate Wh-forms.

 (a) In Politics we will be recognizing the principle of ‘one man one vote’ and ‘one vote one value’.
Ans : Which principle will we  be recognizing in politics?
 (b) The politically minded Indians preferred the expression ‘the Indian nation’.
Ans: Which expression did the politically minded Indians prefer?
 (c) Fraternity means a sense of common brotherhood of all Indians.
Ans: What does fraternity mean?

More Activities on Pillars of Democracy Set 1

A1. Complete the table about a life of contradiction .

Ans;

A2. Fraternity leads to the social stability. Explain the statement.

A3. Mention two things to save democracy.
A4. Write antonyms of the following words :
1. deny 2. peril 3. common 4. unity 5. bless 6. importing 7. social 8. national
A5. Give your opinion about the need of democracy.
A6. Rewrite as instructed
1. Identify the type of questions.
a. How long shall we continue to live this life of contradiction ?
b. What does fraternity mean?
2. We must remove this contradiction at the earliest possible moment. ( Begin with – This contradiction …..)

Activity Set 2 on Pillars of Democracy

A1. Complete the following statements.

a) We must hold fast to ……………. to achieve our social and economic objectives.

b) …………………. are the Grammar of Anarchy.

c) John Stuart Mill has given caution regarding the maintenance of ………………..

d) No man can be grateful at the cost of his ………………..

A2   Give reason: The caution by the Irish Patriot Daniel is more necessary in India.

A3 Complete : 

Bhakti in religion —————-

Bhakti in politics  —————-

A4 Write two different meanings of following homophones.

1. form.               a.  ……….. b …………..

2. left                   a. ………… b …………..

A5. Suggest ways to make India strong nation.

A6. Language Study

Rewrite as instructed

1. There is nothing wrong in being grateful to great men. ( Rewrite as rhetorical question)

2. The sooner they are abandoned, the better for us. ( Explain the use of definite article ‘the’ )

Activity Set 3

Activity 1: True or False

Read the statements carefully and write True or False.

1. Dr. Ambedkar supports unconstitutional methods to achieve social and economic objectives.

2. According to the extract, Bhakti in politics can lead to dictatorship.

3. John Stuart Mill advised people to trust great men blindly with powers.

4. The extract suggests that political equality will be accompanied by social and economic equality.

5. The speaker warns against the dangers of hero-worship in Indian politics.

1.  False Dr. Ambedkar supports constitutional methods, not unconstitutional ones.

2.  He warns that Bhakti in politics can lead to dictatorship.True

3. False – Mill advises against blindly trusting great men with power.

4. False – The extract states that political equality will exist, but social and economic inequality will remain.

5.  He warns against excessive hero-worship in Indian politics. True


Activity 2: Choose the Correct statements


a) The extract emphasizes following constitutional methods to achieve social and economic objectives.

b) John Stuart Mill advised against surrendering liberties to great leaders.
c) The extract warns that Bhakti or hero-worship in politics can lead to dictatorship.
d) Political equality in India does not necessarily mean social and economic equality.

correct Statements:
✅ a) The extract emphasizes following constitutional methods to achieve social and economic objectives.

✅ d) Political equality in India does not necessarily mean social and economic equality.

Activity 3: Flowchart Completion

Complete the flowchart based on the ideas presented in the extract.

Step 1:
↓
Step 2: Avoid unconstitutional methods as they lead to anarchy.
↓
Step 3:
↓
Step 4: .
↓
Step 5:

1. Follow constitutional methods to achieve objectives.

2. Avoid unconstitutional methods, as they lead to anarchy.

3. Be cautious of blind devotion to great leaders.

4. Excessive hero-worship can lead to dictatorship and degradation.

5. India will experience political equality but social and economic inequality.


Activity 4: Do as Directed

1. “No nation can be grateful at the cost of its liberty.” (Rewrite as Interrogative Sentence or rhetorical question.)

Can any nation be grateful at the cost of its liberty?



2. “We must do is to hold fast to constitutional methods.” (Replace the modal auxiliary with another indicating advice. )

We should hold fast to constitutional methods.



Activity 5: Vocabulary

1. A system of government by a dictator – Dictatorship

2. A state of disorder due to the absence of authority – Anarchy

3. The ability to act freely without restrictions – Liberty

4. Showing deep respect and admiration – Devotion


Activity 6: Personal Response

(Answers may vary. Here are model responses.)

1. Why do you think Dr. Ambedkar warns against hero-worship in politics? Do you agree with his views?

Dr. Ambedkar warns against hero-worship because it leads to blind faith in leaders, allowing them to misuse power and weaken democracy. I agree because history has shown that excessive admiration for leaders can lead to dictatorship and corruption.



2. How do you relate the concept of political equality and social inequality in today’s India?

In India, democracy ensures political equality through voting rights, but social and economic inequalities still exist due to poverty, caste discrimination, and gender bias. Many people do not have equal access to education, healthcare, and job opportunities.



3. Do you think following constitutional methods is always the right approach to bring social change? Why or why not?

Yes, constitutional methods ensure stability and fairness, but sometimes reforms take too long. Non-violent protests, like Gandhi’s movements, have been effective in bringing change when legal methods were slow. However, violence or unconstitutional methods can harm society.



4. Can a nation progress without great leaders? Justify your answer.

While great leaders inspire and guide a nation, true progress depends on the participation of all citizens. A nation with strong institutions, educated citizens, and democratic values can progress even without relying on a single leader.

Test on Vocabulary from Pillars of Democracy

• Other Sources for Std.11
• Upon Westminster Bridge

FAQ

Which are the four pillars of democracy?

Ans. The four pillars of democracy are legislative, executive, judiciary and media. 

Which is the theme of pillars of democracy?

Ans. Importance of liberty, equality and fraternity. They are interdependent.

Who has written pillars of democracy’? 

Ans. Pillars of Democracy is a script of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s speech. 

What does 4 pillars mean?

Ans. As 4 pillars are needed to support the building, the nation also needs supporting pillars. In Indian democracy executive system, legislative system and judiciary system are the three strong pillars. The media is the fourth pillar. 

What is the definition of democracy?

Ans : A system in which the government of a country is elected by the people

ICE BREAKERS on The Call of the Soil

Discuss the following with your partner and complete the following sentences. One is done for you.    
(a) Before eating apples brought from the market, I wash and peel them off
 (b) In a farmers’ market, we find grains, vegetables and fruits  .
 (c) Food adulteration means addition of something in food to increase the weight  .
 (d) Organic food is grown by using organic fertilizer.

(e) Organic fertilizer means fertilizer made of animal matter , animal excreta, human excreta and dried  and green leaves . 

• Complete the following web diagram :

(i) Find out from your grandparents or parents the names of vegetables
and fruits they had eaten in their childhood and mention how the
vegetables and fruits are different from the ones today.
Name of the vegetable or fruit Shape Colour Taste
1.
2.
3.
(ii) You might have learnt about organic farming. Make groups and
discuss the difference between conventional farming and organic
farming and write it down.

Glossary and Notes

Sr.No. Con

Word Definition

adjacent – nearby

advent – coming

alluring – enticing

appetite- hunger

awful -extremely

biodiversity -biological diversity

curse -a prayer for harm

damp -slightly wet

disappeared- vanished

ditch- a long narrow excavation

drifted- carried along

exhilarated very happy

fading disappearing

fences barriers made by posts and wires

fertile productive

harvest process of gathering harvest

hustle and bustle energetic activity

indication hint

insatiable impossible to satisfy

insipid tasteless

lamented regretted

pleasantries humourous act

ramshackle in a state of disrepair

recede move back

reminiscing remembering a story about a past event

resist exert force in opposition

rue regret

scowl a facial expressions of displeasure

tempted attracted

yield product

Test on Vocabulary from The Call of the Soil: A scent Of Rice

Brainstorming

(A1) (i) Read the extract from The Call of the Soil: A scent Of Rice and state whether the following statements are true
or false. Correct the false statements.
 (a) Growing in abundance is more important than the quality of the
crop. False
Correct : Growing in abundance is not as important as the quality of the crop

 (b) The author wanted to grow the desi variety of rice. True
 (c) The author did not succeed in finding Kasbai. False
Correct : The author found Kasbai rice at adivasi old woman’s house in Boripada. 

 (d) The aroma of the ‘desi’ rice would spread around the village.  True
 (e) Newer hybrid crops have a great appetite for chemical. True
(f)  The author is an example of ‘reverse migration’. True 
(ii) Complete the flow chart.

(iii) Read the text The Call of the Soil: A scent Of Rice and fill in the blanks. One is done for you.

 (a) The author wanted to grow organic moong.
 (b) Moru Dada wanted to spray ……….. on the moong crop.
 (c) Baban’s father and some elders mentioned the name of ………
 (d) “Hybrids need more…………. ”, said Devu Handa.
 (e) The author bought ……….of rice from an Adivasi woman who lived in remote hills.
b) pesticide c) Kasbai d) chemicals e)  a basketful

(A2) (i) List the reactions of the agricultural officer to the author’s inquiry
about Kasbai rice seeds. One is done for you.
 (a) He had not heard of Kasbai.
 (b) He said that there was no rice by that name.

 (c) He offered to give the author latest hybrid seeds of rice free of cost .
(ii) Go through the text The Call of the Soil: A scent Of Rice once again and note down Devu Handa’s fond
memories of Kasbai in your exercise book. One is done for you.
 Devu Handa has fond memories of Kasbai. They are as follows !
 (a) It needs rain.
 (b) People passing through the village would stop due to aroma of rice and ask for meal.
 (c) The entire village would grow Kasbai.

(A3) (i) The writer says he grew ‘an awful lot of moong’. Explain the word ‘awful’ in this sentence.

(ii) The word scent is different from its synonyms aroma, fragrance or perfume. Explain how the word ‘scent’ in the subtitle ‘Scent of the Rice’, has a deeper meaning than ‘perfume’ or ‘fragrance’. Tick phrases having a similar meaning from the following:
 (a) In pursuit of
 (b) To smell a rat
 (c) To be keen
 (d) On the tail of
 (e) To feel under the weather
(A5) (i) Planting and growing more crops a year seems to be progress by normal standards; but the chapter makes a case against it. Giver reasons.
Ans: Chemical fertilizer , pesticides and insecticide are used to yield more crop. Food grown in this process is unsafe . Consumption of such food leads to illness . Even the fertility  of the land gets damaged . So the author prefers less crop grown out of organic fertilizer. 
(ii) Describe in about 150 words your experience similar to the writer’s when you pursued something and reached your goal.
(iii) The writer goes in search of an invaluable indigenous variety of seeds. List three reasons for the importance of keeping records of our indigenous agricultural practices.
Ans: 1. Keeping records of our indigenous agricultural PRACTICES is necessary for the research on them. 
2. It helps the locals to understand the importance of indigenous agricultural practices. 
3. The indigenous agricultural practices are based on ecological knowledge such as agroforestry , water conservation. 

Expansion of Ideas

On To The Summit – We Reach The Top