Vocabulary

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Vocabulary 

1. Relief (উপশম / আৰাম)
   👉 Medicine gave him great relief.
   (ঔষধে তেওঁৰ বহুত আৰাম দিলে।)

   Relieve (উপশম কৰা / আৰাম দিয়া)
   👉 The doctor relieved his pain.
   (ডাক্তৰে তেওঁৰ বেদনাটো উপশম কৰিলে।)

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2. Sweet (মিঠা / সুন্দৰ)
   👉 This mango is very sweet.
   (এই আমটো বহুত মিঠা।)

   Sweetly (মিঠাকৈ / মৰমেৰে)
   👉 The girl sings sweetly.
   (লৰালীৰে মিঠাকৈ গান গায়।)

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3. Refuse (অস্বীকাৰ কৰা / প্ৰত্যাখ্যান কৰা)
   👉 He refused my help.
   (তেওঁ মোৰ সহায় অস্বীকাৰ কৰিলে।)

   Deny (অস্বীকাৰ কৰা / নাকচ কৰা)
   👉 He denied the charge.
   (তেওঁ অভিযোগ নাকচ কৰিলে।)

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4. Principal (প্ৰধান / অধ্যক্ষ)
   👉 The principal of our school is very strict.
   (আমাৰ বিদ্যালয়ৰ অধ্যক্ষজনী বহুত কঠোৰ।)

   Principle (নীতি / মূলনীতি)
   👉 He is a man of high principles.
   (তেওঁ উচ্চ নীতিৰ মানুহ।)

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5. Tell (কোৱা)
   👉 Please tell me the truth.
   (অনুগ্ৰহ কৰি মোক সত্যটো কওঁ।)

   Say (কোৱা / বোলোৱা)
   👉 He said he was busy.
   (তেওঁ কৈছিল যে তেওঁ ব্যস্ত।)

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6. Late (পৰাহি / বিলম্বেৰে)
   👉 He came late to school.
   (তেওঁ বিদ্যালয়লৈ পৰাহি আহিল।)

   Lately (শেহতীয়াকৈ)
   👉 He has been ill lately.
   (তেওঁ শেহতীয়াকৈ অসুস্থ আছিল।)

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7. Elder (ডাঙৰ / বয়োজ্যেষ্ঠ)
   👉 My elder brother is a teacher.
   (মোৰ ডাঙৰ ভায়েটো এজন শিক্ষক।)

   Older (ডাঙৰ / বয়সত ডাঙৰ)
   👉 He is older than me by two years.
   (তেওঁ মোৰতকৈ দুবছৰ ডাঙৰ।)

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8. Doubt (সন্দেহ / সন্দেহ কৰা)
   👉 I doubt his honesty.
   (মই তেওঁৰ সততাত সন্দেহ কৰো।)

   Suspect (সন্দেহ কৰা / সন্দেহভাজন)
   👉 The police suspected him of theft.
   (পুলিচে চুৰিৰ বাবে তেওঁক সন্দেহ কৰিলে।)

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9. Oath (শপথ / প্ৰতিজ্ঞা)
   👉 He took an oath to serve the country.
   (তেওঁ দেশ সেৱা কৰাৰ প্ৰতিজ্ঞা কৰিলে।)

   Promise (প্ৰতিশ্ৰুতি / কথা দিয়া)
   👉 She promised to help me.
   (তেওঁ মোক সহায় কৰাৰ প্ৰতিশ্ৰুতি দিলে।)

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10. Sat (বহি আছিল)
    👉 He sat on the chair.
    (তেওঁ চেয়াৰখনত বহি আছিল।)

Seated (বসোৱা হৈছিল)
👉 He was seated by the window.
(তেওঁক জানলৰ কাষত বসোৱা হৈছিল।)

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11. Hard (কঠিন / কষ্টৰে)
    👉 This sum is very hard.
    (এই গণিতটো বহুত কঠিন।)

Hardly (মাত্ৰ / কদাচিৎ / প্ৰায় নহয়)
👉 He hardly comes to school.
(তেওঁ প্ৰায় বিদ্যালয়লৈ আহে নে নাই।)

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12. Room (ঘৰ / ঠাই)
    👉 There is no room in the bus.
    (বাচত ঠাই নাই।)

Place (স্থান / ঠাই)
👉 This is a beautiful place.
(ই এটা সুন্দৰ ঠাই।)

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13. Invent (আবিষ্কাৰ কৰা)
    👉 Edison invented the electric bulb.
    (এডিছনে বাল্ব আবিষ্কাৰ কৰিছিল।)

Discover (আবিষ্কাৰ / উন্মোচন কৰা)
👉 Columbus discovered America.
(কোলম্বাছে আমেৰিকা আবিষ্কাৰ কৰিছিল।)

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14. Rather (তুলনামূলকভাৱে / বৰং)
    👉 I would rather read than sleep.
    (মই ঘুমোৱাৰ পৰা বৰং পঢ়িম।)

Fairly (যথেষ্ট / প্ৰায়)
👉 He did fairly well in the exam.
(তেওঁ পৰীক্ষাত যথেষ্ট ভাল কৰিলে।)

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15. Your (তোমাৰ / আপোনাৰ)
    👉 This is your book.
    (ই তোমাৰ বই।)

Yours (তোমাৰটো / আপোনাৰটো)
👉 This pen is yours.
(এই কলমখন তোমাৰটো।)

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16. Herd (পশুৰ দল)
    👉 A herd of cows is grazing in the field.
    (গোহালিৰ এক দল গৰু মাঠত চরিছে।)

Heard (শুনিছিল)
👉 I heard the news yesterday.
(মই কালিৰ খবৰটো শুনিছিলো।)

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17. Cast (উলিওৱা / নিক্ষেপ কৰা)
    👉 They cast their votes in the election.
    (তেওঁলোকে নিৰ্বাচনত ভোট পেলালে।)

Caste (জাতি / সামাজিক দল)
👉 People should not be judged by caste.
(মানুহক জাতিৰ ওপৰত নির্ভৰ কৰি বিচার কৰিব নালাগে।)

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More Vocabulary Pairs

1. Advice (উপদেশ – noun)
   👉 He gave me a good advice.
   (তেওঁ মোক ভাল উপদেশ দিলে।)

   Advise (উপদেশ দিয়া – verb)
   👉 The teacher advised me to study hard.
   (শিক্ষকে মোক কঠোৰ অধ্যয়ন কৰিবলৈ উপদেশ দিলে।)

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2. Rise (উত্থান হোৱা / উঠা)
   👉 The sun rises in the east.
   (সূৰ্য্য পূৰ্বতে উদয় হয়।)

   Raise (উঠোৱা / বঢ়োৱা)
   👉 They raised their hands.
   (তেওঁলোকে হাত উঠালে।)

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3. Borrow (ধাৰ লোৱা)
   👉 I borrowed a book from the library.
   (মই গ্ৰন্থাগাৰৰ পৰা এখন বই ধৰিলো।)

   Lend (ধাৰ দিয়া)
   👉 He lent me his bicycle.
   (তেওঁ মোক নিজৰ বাইক ধাৰ দিলে।)

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4. Loose (ঢিলা)
   👉 My shoes are loose.
   (মোৰ জোতা ঢিলা।)

   Lose (হেৰুৱা / হাৰ খোৱা)
   👉 I don’t want to lose the match.
   (মই খেলখন হেৰাব বিচাৰোঁ নে নাই।)

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5. Beside (কাষত / ওচৰত)
   👉 The girl sat beside her mother.
   (ছোৱালীগৰাকীয়ে মাকৰ ওচৰত বহি আছিল।)

   Besides (উপৰি / লগতে)
   👉 Besides English, he knows Hindi.
   (ইংৰাজীৰ উপৰি তেওঁ হিন্দীও জানে।)

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6. Affect (প্ৰভাৱ পেলোৱা – verb)
   👉 Smoking affects our health.
   (ধুমপানে আমাৰ স্বাস্থ্যত প্ৰভাৱ পেলায়।)

   Effect (প্ৰভাৱ – noun)
   👉 The medicine had a good effect on him.
   (ঔষধৰ ভাল প্ৰভাৱ পৰিল।)

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7. Quiet (শান্ত / নিৰৱ)
   👉 The class is very quiet today.
   (শ্ৰেণীখনে আজি শান্ত আছে।)

   Quite (সম্পূৰ্ণৰূপে / যথেষ্ট)
   👉 The film was quite interesting.
   (সিনেমাখন সম্পূৰ্ণৰূপে ৰোমাঞ্চকৰ আছিল।)

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8. Accept (গ্ৰহণ কৰা)
   👉 He accepted my gift.
   (তেওঁ মোৰ উপহাৰ গ্ৰহণ কৰিলে।)

   Except (বাহিৰে / বাদ দি)
   👉 Everyone came except Ramen.
   (ৰমেন বাদে সকলো আহিছিল।)

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9. Stationary (অচল / নচৰা)
   👉 The bus remained stationary for an hour.
   (বাচখন এখন ঘণ্টা অচল হৈ থাকিল।)

   Stationery (লেখাপত্ৰৰ সামগ্ৰী)
   👉 I bought some stationery from the shop.
   (মই দোকানখনৰ পৰা কিছুমান লেখাৰ সামগ্ৰী কিনিলো।)

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10. Desert (মৰুভূমি)
    👉 The Sahara is the largest desert.
    (চাহাৰা আটাইতকৈ ডাঙৰ মৰুভূমি।)

Dessert (মিষ্টান্ন)
👉 We had ice-cream for dessert.
(আমি মিষ্টান্নত আইচ-ক্ৰীম খাইছিলোঁ।)

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11. Human (মানৱ)
    👉 We should help human beings.
    (আমিয়েও মানুহক সহায় কৰিব লাগিব।)

Humane (মানৱীয় / দয়ালু)
👉 She is a very humane lady.
(তেওঁ বহুত দয়ালু মহিলা।)

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12. Price (মূল্য)
    👉 The price of rice is high.
    (চাউলৰ মূল্য বৰ উঁচু।)

Prize (পুৰস্কাৰ)
👉 He won the first prize in the race.
(তেওঁ দৌৰত প্ৰথম পুৰস্কাৰ জিকিলে।)

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13. Buy (কিনিব)
    👉 I will buy a new pen.
    (মই এখন নতুন কলম কিনিম।)

By (দ্বাৰা / কাষত)
👉 This poem was written by Tagore.
(এই কবিতা টেগোৰে লিখিছিল।)

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14. Fair (নিষ্পক্ষ / ন্যায়সঙ্গত, মেলা)
    👉 She has a fair complexion.
    (তেওঁৰ গাতৰ ৰঙ শীতল ধৰণৰ।)

Fare (ভাড়া)
👉 The bus fare is ten rupees.
(বাচৰ ভাড়া দশ টকা।)

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15. Then (তেতিয়া / তাৰপিছত)
    👉 He studied and then went to play.
    (তেওঁ পঢ়ি তাৰপিছত খেলিবলৈ গ’ল।)

Than (তুলনাত ব্যৱহাৰ হয়)
👉 Ramen is taller than Somen.
(ৰমেন সোমেনতকৈ ডাঙৰ।)

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The Midnight Visitor

A. Very Short Answer (One Sentence)

1. What features of Max suggested a fox-like appearance?
   → His crafty, pointed face made him look like a fox.

2. What report did Max want to take away?
   → He wanted the report on some new missiles.

3. How did Ausable explain the balcony?
   → He said the balcony belonged to the next apartment and extended under his window.

4. How long did Max say they had to wait?
   → Half an hour.

5. Who was Henry?
   → Henry was the waiter who brought drinks for Ausable.

B. Short Answer 

1. Why was Ausable angry with the hotel management?
   → Because the management had promised to block off the balcony through which someone had entered earlier, but they had not done it.

2. How did Ausable trick Max into believing the police had arrived?
   → When a knock was heard, Ausable calmly said that it was the police whom he had called for extra protection.

3. What made Fowler jump suddenly?
   → The sudden knocking at the door .

4. How did Max try to save himself when he thought the police had come?
   → He tried to escape by going out through the window and hiding himself in the balcony.

5. What was ironic about the waiter’s entry?
   → Ausable had mentioned “police” but it was actually the waiter, Henry, who entered with drinks.

C. Long Answer 

1. How did Ausable use his intelligence and presence of mind to defeat Max?
   → Ausable remained calm even when Max pointed a gun at him. He cleverly invented the story of a balcony and of the police’s arrival. Believing this, Max panicked and tried to escape through the non-existent balcony. This led to his fall. Thus, Ausable used his intelligence and presence of mind to defeat Max.

D. Reference to Context (RTC)

“That will be the police,” he said. “I thought that such an important paper as the one we are waiting for should have a little extra protection.”

1. Who is the speaker?
   → Ausable.

2. Who was he speaking to?
   → To Max (and Fowler was also present).

3. Why did he say “That will be the police”?
   → To scare Max into believing that the police had come.

4. Was it really the police? Who was it?
   → No, it was not the police. It was the waiter Henry.

E. True or False

1. Max entered the room using a passkey. → True

2. Ausable’s room originally had a balcony of its own. → False

3. The police knocked at Ausable’s door. → False

4. Max fell to his death because there was no balcony. → True

5. Fowler was an experienced spy. → False

THE MIDNIGHT VISITOR ( LONG QUESTION ANSWERS)

1. How does Ausable manage to make Max believe that there is a balcony attached to his room?

Ans : Ausable was a very clever and intelligent secret agent. When he saw Max with a pistol in his room, he did not panic but handled the situation calmly. He created a false story about a balcony outside his window. He told Max that it was the second time in a month that someone had entered his room through that balcony. Ausable spoke with such confidence that Max believed his words without any doubt. Later, when someone knocked at the door, Ausable added another story that the police had come for his protection. Thinking that the police would soon enter, Max tried to escape through the balcony which did not exist. Thus, with his presence of mind, Ausable made Max believe that there is a balcony attached to his room.

 OR

When Max entered Ausable’s room with a pistol, Ausable stayed calm and did not panic. He pretended to be upset with the hotel management and said that it was the second time someone had entered his room through a balcony. He explained that the balcony actually belonged to another apartment but extended under his window. He also told Fowler that the management had promised to block it, but they had not done so. Max listened carefully and believed every word because Ausable spoke with confidence. Thus  Ausable manage to make Max believe that there is a balcony attached to his room.

2. Briefly describe how Ausable defeated Max's scheme to take away the report.

Ans : Ausable defeated Max’s scheme not by strength, but by his intelligence. Max wanted to take away the secret report on missiles and pointed a pistol at him. Ausable remained calm and told a false story about a balcony outside his window. Max believed him. Later, when there was a knock at the door, Ausable said that it was the police whom he had called for extra protection of the report. Max panicked and decided to hide on the balcony until the police went away. Without knowing the truth, he jumped out of the window and fell to his death, as there was no balcony. In this way, Ausable cleverly defeated Max’s plan without using any force. Thus Ausable defeated Max's scheme to take away the report.

3. Give a description of Max's conversation with Ausable.

Ans : Max was a thin man with fox-like features. He entered Ausable’s room with a pistol and demanded the secret report about new missiles. He said the report would be safer in his hands than in Ausable’s. Ausable, however, acted very calmly and wisely. He complained about the hotel management and invented a story about a balcony through which people entered his room. He said that within a month two men had entered his room. Max was surprised to hear about the balcony and believed it. Later, when someone knocked at the door, Max became nervous. Ausable told him that the police had come for protection of his report. Max was frightened and decided to wait outside on the balcony. Thus, the conversation ended.

4. Who is Fowler? Give a description of his meeting with Ausable.

Ans : Fowler was a young writer who wanted to write about secret agents. 

          He was a romantic by nature and expected adventure, mystery, and thrill. When he met Ausable, he was disappointed because Ausable was fat, simple, and did not look like a spy. Fowler even felt bored after spending the evening with him in a French music hall. But his meeting became exciting when they went to Ausable’s hotel room. There, Fowler saw Max with a pistol, which gave him his first authentic thrill of the day and made him feel real fear for the first time. He was surprised when Ausable handled the situation calmly and fooled Max with his “balcony and police” story. Thus, Fowler’s meeting with Ausable began with disappointment but ended with a thrilling adventure.

5. Between Ausable and Max, who do you think is more intelligent and why?

Ausable was surely more intelligent than Max. Max was armed with a pistol and tried to frighten Ausable. But he was laking in wisdom and became nervous easily. On the other hand, Ausable had no weapon but he used his intelligence. He made up a false story about a balcony and police. Max believed the story without any doubt. Finally, he tried to escape by the balcony, which did not exist, and lost his life. Thus Ausable defeat Max intelligently. So, Ausable was much more intelligent than Max.

OR

Ausable was surely more intelligent than Max. Max was armed with a pistol and tried to frighten Ausable, but he was lacking in wisdom and became nervous very easily. On the other hand, Ausable had no weapon, but he used his sharp intelligence and presence of mind. He cleverly made up a false story about a balcony and also about the police arriving for the protection of the report. Max believed these stories without any doubt. Finally, in order to escape, he tried to hide himself on the balcony, which did not exist, and thus lost his life. In this way, Ausable defeated Max intelligently. Thus, Ausable proved himself to be much more intelligent and clever than Max.

 Dokchory learns about Panchayat (viii)

A. Very Short Answer Questions (1 mark)

1. Who is Dokchory’s father?
   → Konke Mili.

2. What is the meaning of the name ‘Dokchory’?
   → A necklace of beads the Misings usually wear during festival time.

3. What class does Dokchory study in?
   → Class VIII.

4. Which school does she study in?
   → Disangmukh Janajati High School.

5. How does Konke Mili take Dokchory to school?
   → On his bicycle.

6. In which time do the Misings usually wear the necklace called Dokchory?
   → Festival time.

7. What new thing did Dokchory notice at the Panchayat office?
   → A new sign board.

8. How many elderly men formed the old Panchayat system?
   → Five.

9. What were the elderly men in old Panchayat called?
   → Panch Gramin Pramukh.

10. At what minimum age can a person contest Panchayat elections now?
    → 21 years.

11. Name one tax from which Panchayat raises money.
    → Tax on vehicles. (Other correct answers: river ghats, bazaars, beels)

12. Which government department gives an annual grant to the Panchayat?
    → Panchayat and Rural Development Department.

13. Who can contribute substantially to the Panchayat funds apart from the government grant?
    → The local MLA or Ministers.

14. For whom did Panchayat build a house last year?
    → Dhaniram.

15. Why did Dhaniram leave his house?
    → After his mother died.

16. What special home is being built by the Panchayat?
    → A home for people with special needs.

17. What does Ba-bu advise young people like Dokchory to do for the special home?
    → Do volunteer work there.

B. Short Answer Questions (2–3 sentences)

1. Why does Dokchory enjoy the bicycle ride to school?
   → She enjoys it because she gets to know new things every day during the ride.

2. What was the role of Panch Gramin Pramukh in earlier times?
   → They were five elderly men who governed the village, and their word was respected as law, so there were no quarrels among villagers.

3. Mention any three powers or functions of the Panchayat as given in the passage.
   → Raising taxes, planning development schemes, and working for local development.

4. How does the Panchayat raise money for development works?
   → By collecting taxes on vehicles, river ghats, bazaars, beels, etc., and also receiving an annual government grant.

5. How did the Panchayat help Dhaniram earlier?
   → They built a house for him last year.

6. What activities will be available in the home for people with special needs?
   → Painting, reading, playing games, enjoying hobbies, and learning to do their own chores.

7. What does Ba-bu mean when he says such people can “live with dignity”?
   → He means they can lead normal, happy, and independent lives despite their disabilities.

C. Long Answer Questions (4–5 sentences)

1. Explain the difference between the old Panchayat system and the present Panchayat system.
   → In the old system, the Panchayat was run by five elderly men called Panch Gramin Pramukh, whose decisions were final and respected. In the present system, anyone above 21 can contest Panchayat elections. The modern Panchayat is a formal body empowered by the Constitution to raise taxes, plan schemes, and work for local development.

2. Describe the conversation between Dokchory and her Ba-bu about helping differently-abled people.
   → Dokchory asked why her father didn’t help poor Dhaniram, a man with no legs. Ba-bu explained that they had built him a house earlier, but he left after his mother died. He added that the Panchayat is building a home for people with special needs so they can live with dignity and independence, and encouraged Dokchory to volunteer there.

3. How does the Panchayat contribute to village development? Give examples from the text.
   → The Panchayat builds and repairs rural roads, bridges, and houses for the poor. It raises funds through taxes and receives government grants. It also undertakes welfare projects such as building homes for people with special needs.

D. Fill in the Blanks

1. Dokchory is a student of Class VIII of Disangmukh Janajati High School.

2. ‘Dokchory’ means a necklace of beads worn by Misings during festivals.

3. In the old Panchayat system, governance was done by five elderly men called Panch Gramin Pramukh.

4. Nowadays, anyone above the age of 21 can contest Panchayat elections.

5. The Panchayat raises taxes on vehicles, river ghats, bazaars and beels.

6. Dhaniram is the man with no legs.

7. The Panchayat is building a home for people with special needs.

E. True or False

1. Konke Mili takes his daughter to school on a motorbike. → False

2. The Panchayat can raise taxes for local development. → True

3. The old Panchayat system was run by five elderly women. → False

4. Dhaniram left his house after his mother’s death. → True

5. The Panchayat gets all its money only from government grants. → False

F. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. What did Dokchory notice at the Panchayat office?
   b) A new sign board ✅

2. The Constitution of India grants the Panchayat the power to:
   b) Raise taxes and plan development schemes ✅

3. What is one of the works done by the Panchayat mentioned in the passage?
   b) Building rural roads and houses for the poor ✅

4. Who can also contribute to the Panchayat funds apart from government grants?
   b) Local MLA or Ministers ✅

G. Match the Following

A	B
1. Panch Gramin Pramukh	c) Five elderly men in old system
2. Above 21 years	d) Minimum age to contest elections
3. Panchayat	b) Body for village development
4. Panchayat & Rural Dev. Dept.	a) Annual grant

H. Vocabulary / Meaning

1. Panchayat – A local self-government body at the village level.

2. Grant – A sum of money given by the government for a particular purpose.

3. Differently-abled – People having physical or mental disabilities.

4. Dignity – The state of being respected and valued.

I. Reference to Context

1. "Long ago Dokchory, Panchayat meant a system of governance by five elderly men called Panch Gramin Pramukh."
a) Who is speaking this line? → Konke Mili.
b) What was special about these five men? → Their word was respected as the rule, and villagers obeyed them without quarrels.

2. "We did build a house for him last year but he left it after his mother died."
a) Who is ‘him’ here? → Dhaniram.
b) Why did he leave the house? → Because his mother died.

Q.6. Who takes Dokchory to school every day?
👉 Her father, Konke Mili, takes her to school on his bicycle.

Q.7. What does the name 'Dokchory' mean?
👉 'Dokchory' means a necklace of beads that the Misings usually wear in festival time.

Q.8. Who were called Panch Gramin Pramukh?
👉 Five elderly men who governed the village in olden days were called Panch Gramin Pramukh.

Q.9. What power does the Constitution of India grant to the Panchayat?
👉 The Constitution grants power to the Panchayat to raise taxes, plan development schemes, and work for local development.

Q.10. Name two works done by the Panchayat.
👉 (i) Build and repair rural roads and bridges.
👉 (ii) Build houses for the poor.

Q.11. From where does the Panchayat raise some money?
👉 The Panchayat raises money from taxes on vehicles, river ghats, bazaars, and beels.

Q.12. Who gives the annual grant to the Panchayat?
👉 The Panchayat and Rural Development Department of the government gives the annual grant.

Q.13. What kind of help do differently-abled people need?
👉 They need help with their daily chores like cooking, cleaning, and managing their life.

Q.14. Where did Dhaniram start living after his mother died?
👉 He started living on the open verandah of the school building.

Q.15. Why does Dokchory request her father to help Dhaniram?
👉 Because Dhaniram is a poor differently-abled man with no legs and spends cold December nights on the open verandah of the school.

Q.16. What will young people learn if they do volunteer work in the Panchayat home?
👉 They will learn how differently-abled people can live happily, do their own chores, paint, read, play games, enjoy hobbies, and become independent.

Q.2. Why does Dokchory love her bicycle ride to school? (1 mark)
👉 Because she gets to know new things every day during the ride.

Q.3. Who can contest Panchayat elections nowadays? (1 mark)
👉 Anyone who is above 21 years of age.

Q.4. What kind of work does the Panchayat do for the villagers? (1 mark)
👉 It builds and repairs roads, bridges, houses for the poor, and works for village development.

Q.5. Who were the Panch Gramin Pramukhs? (2 marks)
👉 In olden days, five elderly men who governed the village were called Panch Gramin Pramukhs. Their word was the rule, and villagers respected them.

Q.6. Why does Dokchory request her father to help Dhaniram? (2 marks)
👉 Because Dhaniram, a poor differently-abled man with no legs, spends the cold December nights on the open verandah of the school building.

Q.7. What works of development does the Panchayat do in the village? (3 marks)
👉 The Panchayat builds and repairs rural roads and bridges, constructs houses for the poor, raises money from taxes, and works for local development and social change.

 Class ix --- Adventure of Toto

A. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)

(Choose the correct option)

1. Who bought Toto from the tonga-driver?

   a) Grandmother

   b) The narrator

   c) Grandfather ✅

   d) An Anglo-Indian lady

2. How much did Grandfather pay for Toto?

   a) Three rupees

   b) Five rupees ✅

   c) Ten rupees

   d) Seven rupees

3. Where did the tonga-driver keep Toto?

   a) In a basket

   b) On a tree

   c) Tied to a feeding-trough ✅

   d) In a wooden cage

4. What was special about Toto’s tail?

   a) It was unusually short

   b) It was of a bright red colour

   c) It served as a third hand ✅

   d) It was injured

5. Why did Grandfather hide Toto from Grandmother?

   a) Because she was afraid of monkeys

   b) Because she always fussed when new animals were brought home ✅

   c) Because Toto was sick

   d) Because Toto was expensive

 B. Very Short Answer (VSA)

1.Who sold Toto to Grandfather?
Answer: A tonga-driver sold Toto to Grandfather.

2.How much did Grandfather pay for Toto?

Answer: Grandfather paid five rupees for Toto.

3.What colour was Toto?

Answer: Toto was a pretty monkey with bright eyes and pearly white teeth; his body was covered with brown fur and his face was almost hairless.

4.What frightened elderly Anglo-Indian ladies about Toto?

Answer: His bright pearly-white teeth displayed in a smile frightened elderly Anglo-Indian ladies.

5.Where was Toto kept before being shown to Grandmother?

Answer: Toto was kept in a little closet opening into the narrator’s bedroom.

C. Short Answer Questions

1.Describe Toto’s appearance.
Answer: Toto had bright, mischievous eyes, deep-set under his eyebrows, with pearly-white teeth often showing in a smile. His body was covered with brown fur and his face was almost hairless, adding to his expressive look.

2.How was Toto’s tail useful?

Answer: His tail was almost as good as a hand and could be used to hang from branches or lift things.

3.Why did Grandfather think a tail adds to a monkey's good looks?

Answer: Grandfather believed that a tail, besides being useful, completed the monkey’s appearance and enhanced its good looks.

4.Where and how did Grandfather and the narrator keep Toto hidden from Grandmother?

Answer: They kept Toto in a small closet in the narrator’s bedroom and tied him to a peg, ensuring Grandmother wouldn’t discover him immediately.

5.How were Toto’s hands described in the passage?

Answer: His hands were quick and clever, with fingers that could hold and manipulate things skillfully.

D. Fill in the blanks

1.Grandfather bought Toto for a sum of ________. → five rupees

2.Toto’s teeth were ________ in colour. → pearly white

3.Toto’s fingers were described as ________ and ________. → quick, wicked

4.The closet where Toto was kept opened into ________’s bedroom wall. → the narrator’s

E. True/False

1.Grandmother was happy when new animals were brought home. → False

2.Toto’s tail was only for balance. → False

3.The tonga-driver kept Toto tied to a feeding-trough. → True

1. Very Short Answer Questions (1 mark each)

1. What did Grandfather and the narrator find when they returned to release Toto?
   Answer: The ornamental paper was torn off, showing naked brick and plaster; the peg was pulled out, and the narrator’s blazer was in shreds.

2. Who had chosen the ornamental paper for the wall?
   Answer: Grandfather.

3. What happened to the peg in the wall?
   Answer: It was wrenched from its socket.

4. Whose blazer was torn by Toto?
   Answer: The narrator’s.

5. Where was Toto kept after being removed from the house?
   Answer: In a big cage in the servants’ quarters.

6. Name two other animals in the servants’ quarters.
   Answer: A tortoise and a pair of rabbits. (Also: a tame squirrel and a goat.)

7. Why was Toto taken to Saharanpur?
   Answer: Because he wouldn’t let the other animals sleep and Grandfather had to collect his pension there.

8. In what was Toto kept during the trip?
   Answer: A big black canvas kit-bag.

---

2. Short Answer Questions (2–3 marks each)

1. Why did Grandfather seem pleased with Toto’s mischief?
   Answer: Grandfather admired Toto’s cleverness and joked that given time, Toto could have tied the torn blazer into a rope to escape from the window.

2. Why did Toto have to be shifted from the servants’ quarters?
   Answer: He kept disturbing the other animals at night, not allowing them to sleep.

3. Describe the bag used for Toto during the trip to Saharanpur.
   Answer: It was a big black canvas kit-bag with straw at the bottom. When closed, it allowed no escape—Toto couldn’t push his hands through and couldn’t bite through the strong canvas.

4. How did Toto behave inside the kit-bag?
   Answer: He struggled to escape, making the bag roll on the floor or jump in the air, attracting the attention of onlookers.

5. What surprised the ticket-collector at the railway station?
   Answer: While Grandfather was showing his ticket, Toto poked his head out of the bag and grinned at him.

---

3. MCQs

1. What did Grandfather and the narrator find when they came back to release Toto?
   a) The cage was broken
   b) The wall was bare and blazer torn
   c) The window was open
   d) Toto was missing
   Answer: b) The wall was bare and blazer torn

2. Where was Toto kept after being removed from the house?
   a) In the garden
   b) In the servants’ quarters cage
   c) In Grandfather’s room
   d) In the kitchen
   Answer: b) In the servants’ quarters cage

3. Which animal was NOT mentioned as living in the servants’ quarters?
   a) Tortoise
   b) Rabbit
   c) Parrot
   d) Squirrel
   Answer: c) Parrot

4. What material was the travel bag made of?
   a) Leather
   b) Canvas
   c) Jute
   d) Nylon
   Answer: b) Canvas

5. How did the crowd on the railway platform react to Toto’s movements inside the bag?
   a) They ignored it
   b) They laughed
   c) They were curious
   d) They complained
   Answer: c) They were curious

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4. Long Answer / Essay-type Questions (5 marks)

1. Describe Toto’s mischief in the room before being moved to the servants’ quarters.
   Answer: When Grandfather and the narrator returned, they found the ornamental paper torn off the walls, revealing bare brick and plaster. The peg had been pulled out of the wall, and the narrator’s school blazer was shredded. Grandfather, instead of being angry, admired Toto’s cleverness and humorously suggested that Toto might have tied the blazer pieces into a rope to escape from the window.

2. Narrate the events of Toto’s journey to Saharanpur as told in the passage.
   Answer: Since Toto disturbed the other animals at night, Grandfather decided to take him to Saharanpur. He was kept in a big black canvas kit-bag with straw at the bottom, which was strong enough to prevent his escape. Toto’s attempts to get out made the bag roll and jump, attracting curious onlookers at the Dehra Dun railway platform. He stayed inside until Saharanpur, but as Grandfather showed his ticket, Toto suddenly popped his head out and grinned at the ticket-collector, startling him.

 The Midnight Visitor (1 st part)

VSA Questions with Answers 

1. What language accents could Ausable speak passably?
   Answer: French and German.

2. How did Ausable describe Fowler’s evening with him?
   Answer: Dull and boring.

3. What did Ausable say several men and women had risked their lives for?
   Answer: A quite important paper.

4. What was the first ‘authentic thrill’ Fowler experienced?
   Answer: Fowler saw a man with an automatic pistol in the room.

5. Who was standing in Ausable’s room when the lights came on?
   Answer: Max.

6. Where was Ausable’s room located?
   Answer: On the sixth and top floor of the hotel.

7. From where had Ausable brought his American accent?
   Answer: From Boston.

8. How long had Ausable been living in Paris?
   Answer: Twenty years.

9. What did Fowler imagine about a spy’s life?
   Answer: Mystery, danger, pistol shots, and secret meetings.

10. What did Ausable actually receive instead of secret messages from beauties?
    Answer: A prosaic telephone call.

11. What was the condition of the hotel corridor?
    Answer: Musty and gloomy.

12. Why did Fowler want to meet Ausable?
    Answer: He was a writer, young and romantic, eager to meet a spy and wanted to write spy story. 

13. What type of adventure did Fowler expect?
    Answer: Romantic adventure with excitement and danger. 

14. Where did Fowler and Ausable spend the evening before returning to the hotel?
    Answer: In a French music hall.

15. Where did Ausable think Max was before seeing him in the room?
    Answer: In Berlin.

16. What did Ausable say the paper might affect some day?
    Answer: The course of history.

17. What did Ausable do immediately after closing the door?
    Answer: Switched on the light.

MCQ Set from the Passage

1. Where was Ausable’s room located?
   a) Fifth floor
   b) Ground floor
   c) Sixth and top floor
   d) Seventh floor
   Answer: c) Sixth and top floor

2. What was Fowler’s first impression of Ausable?
   a) Smart and handsome
   b) Disappointing and unlike a secret agent
   c) Mysterious and dangerous
   d) Quick and energetic
   Answer: b) Disappointing and unlike a secret agent

3. Which best describes the corridor to Ausable’s room?
   a) Bright and cheerful
   b) Musty and gloomy
   c) Modern and stylish
   d) Large and spacious
   Answer: b) Musty and gloomy

4. Where had Ausable brought his American accent from?
   a) New York
   b) Boston
   c) Berlin
   d) London
   Answer: b) Boston

5. How long had Ausable been living in Paris?
   a) Ten years
   b) Fifteen years
   c) Twenty years
   d) Twenty-five years
   Answer: c) Twenty years

6. Why had Fowler wished to meet Ausable?
   a) He was a hotel owner
   b) He was a spy dealing in danger
   c) He was a famous singer
   d) He was a French writer
   Answer: b) He was a spy dealing in danger

7. What did Fowler imagine about a spy’s life?
   a) Luxury and leisure
   b) Mystery, danger, pistol shots, and secret meetings
   c) Simple and quiet life
   d) Writing and travelling
   Answer: b) Mystery, danger, pistol shots, and secret meetings

8. Where had Fowler actually spent the evening with Ausable?
   a) In a theatre
   b) In a French music hall
   c) In a café
   d) In a library
   Answer: b) In a French music hall

9. What did Ausable receive instead of secret messages from beautiful women?
   a) A coded letter
   b) A prosaic telephone call
   c) A mysterious package
   d) A pistol shot
   Answer: b) A prosaic telephone call

10. What important item did Ausable mention?
    a) A diamond
    b) A secret codebook
    c) A quite important paper
    d) A gold coin
    Answer: c) A quite important paper

11. What did Ausable say the important paper might affect one day?
    a) World peace
    b) The course of history
    c) His personal life
    d) The French government
    Answer: b) The course of history

12. What was Ausable’s physical build?
    a) Slim
    b) Fat
    c) Short and thin
    d) Tall and muscular
    Answer: b) Fat

13. How did Ausable speak to Fowler about his disappointment?
    a) Angrily
    b) Wheezily over his shoulder
    c) Politely with a bow
    d) Softly and shyly
    Answer: b) Wheezily over his shoulder

14. What was the first authentic thrill Fowler experienced?
    a) Hearing a knock on the door
    b) Seeing a man with a pistol in the room
    c) Reading the secret paper
    d) Walking through the hotel corridor
    Answer: b) Seeing a man with a pistol in the room

15. Who was standing in Ausable’s room when the lights came on?
    a) Fowler
    b) Max
    c) The hotel manager
    d) A police officer
    Answer: b) Max

16. What was Max holding in his hand?
    a) A knife
    b) A letter
    c) A pistol
    d) A glass of wine
    Answer: c) A pistol

17. Where did Ausable think Max was before seeing him?
    a) In London
    b) In Paris
    c) In Berlin
    d) In Boston
    Answer: c) In Berlin

18. What did Ausable do immediately after closing the door?
    a) Looked through the window
    b) Switched on the light
    c) Opened the window
    d) Sat on the bed
    Answer: b) Switched on the light

Short Answer Questions with Answers (Complete)

1. Why did Fowler feel disappointed when he met Ausable?
   Answer: Fowler expected an adventurous and glamorous spy, but Ausable was fat, slow-moving, and spoke with an American accent, living in a small, dull hotel room.

2. How did Ausable contrast Fowler’s expectations of a spy with reality?
   Answer: Ausable told Fowler he expected danger, gunshots, and romance, but in reality, he only got a dull evening and a routine phone call.

3. What important object did Ausable mention to Fowler, and why was it significant?
   Answer: He mentioned a paper for which several people had risked their lives, saying it might affect the course of history.

4. Where had Fowler spent the evening with Ausable before going to the hotel?
   Answer: They had spent it in a French music hall.

5. How did Ausable react upon seeing Max in his room?
   Answer: He blinked a few times and calmly asked why Max was there, mentioning he thought Max was in Berlin.

6. How long had Ausable been living in Paris, and where was he from originally?
   Answer: He had been living in Paris for twenty years and was originally from Boston, USA.

7. What kind of corridor led to Ausable’s room?
   Answer: It was a musty, gloomy corridor.

8. What romantic adventure had Fowler imagined before meeting Ausable?
   Answer: He imagined mysterious figures, pistol shots, and messages from beautiful women.

9. What did Ausable actually receive instead of a secret message from a dark-eyed beauty?
   Answer: A simple, prosaic telephone call making an appointment.

10. What did Ausable do after closing the door of his room?
    Answer: He switched on the light.