The three ways in which the author’s grandmother spent her days after he grew up are:

• She lived alone in her room as she had accepted her loneliness quietly.
• She sat at her spinning wheel reciting prayers.
• In the afternoon, she would feed the sparrows for half an hour.

The bird’s (goldfinch’s) movement is compared to that of a lizard. The basis of the comparison is that the goldfinch’s movement is sudden and abrupt, which is quite similar to the movement of a lizard.

Mrs. Dorling was a greedy woman who did not return the belongings to the narrator. She herself had offered to take Mrs. S's things to her home to take care of them as long as they would be away. Mrs. S had entrusted the task of taking care of her things before leaving to save their life from Nazi soldiers. After the war when the narrator returned, and went to her house to take her mother's things back, she did not welcome her with a smile. She kept her standing at the door, and asked her to come some other day. Her selfish, inconsiderate and avaricious behavior hurt the already hurt narrator. Her intentions of misappropriating the author's mother's goods were quite clear.

Engine refers to the driving force that brings a machine to action. However, the engine also needs fuel to work. Similarly, with the arrival of the goldfinch, ‘a machine starts up’ as the entire tree livens up with the chitterings, singing, and commotion caused by the bird and its young ones. Thus, the tree is compared to a machine whose ignition is turned on by the arrival of the bird.

B. water

 Mountain is Yang, that is stable, warm, dry and reaches vertically towards the heaven. While the water is Yin that is fluid, moist, cool and horizontally resting on earth. Yang is masculine and Yin is the feminine aspect of universal energy, reflecting the fundamental notion of Daoism.  

The author‟s grandmother was disturbed when he started going to the city school because:  

(i) She could not help him with his lessons in English, science. She didn't believe in them.  

(ii) No teaching of God and scriptures in the author's English medium school.  

(iii) She was unhappy with the idea of music lessons being given at school. She considered music suitable only for the people with low dignity.

Shanshui literally means 'mountain water' that represents 'landscape'. Mountain is Yang, that is stable, warm, dry and reaches vertically towards the heaven. While the water is Yin that is fluid, moist, cool and horizontally resting on earth. Yang is masculine and Yin is the feminine aspect of universal energy, reflecting the fundamental notion of Daoism.  

Word-Notes

cardboard–the instant photo that comes out of the camera. It has the hard base of a cardboard; how it was–the situation at that time; paddling–walking with short steps on water, propelling a small boat for sport on water (पैर से चलाई जाने वाली नाव),संभलकर पानी में चल रही थी; holding–थामे हुए; big girl–the mother of  the poetess, was then only twelve years old.

Word-Notes

all three—the poetess’ mother and her two cousins; still—motionless; smile through their hair—with some hair strands falling over their eyes and face; a sweet face—the mother of the yet-unborn poetess looked charming with her innocent face; changed less—the sea over the years hasn’t changed at all or very little; washed—touched, पखार रहा था ; terribly—greatly, at fast speed; transient—unsteady, moving,चंचल I

Word-Notes

she–the mother of the poetess; snapshot–the photo; laugh at–finds her dress and appearance funny; Betty and Dolly–the two cousins; dressed us–put on a casual dress for the outing on the sea beach; beach–the three cousin sisters had gone to the sea beach for an outing or holiday

Word-Notes

sea holiday–an outing for pleasure, for merry-making on the sea beach. The three girls were escorted by their uncle who carried a camera to shoot their photos. The photo was some 30 years old. The poetess’ mother showed it to her own daughter, the poetess; was her past–the sea-holiday represented the mother’s childhood, a long time ago. mine is her laughter–the mother passed away. The poetess on seeing the same photo years after mother’s death feels sad. She misses the mother’s laughter; wry–sad, disappointed; both–the photo as well as the poetess; laboured ease of loss–both had suffered the ravages of time and bore the loss. The photo is fading and the poetess’ has learnt to bear the loss of her mother with the passing of time.

Word-Notes

she—the mother of the poetess. She passed away some 12 years ago; this circumstance—the period after the death of the mother, the loss and grief of the poetess; there is nothing to say at all—life has been dull and eventless after the mother’s death. The void created by her death is slowly becoming less painful. Time which passes silently but steadily weakens old memories of loss and grief.

 (The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse)

Word-meanings and References

Pages 1-2

imaginable–that one can imagine. जिसकी कोई कल्पना कर सके ं; magnificence–grandeur, splendour, वैभव,शान; considered–thought to be,माना जाता था; mysterious–that cannot be explained. रहस्यमय; crazy–very enthusiastic, with strange habits, सनकी दीवाना; tapping–hitting gently, थपथपाते हुए; stuck out–projected, बाहर निकाला; Armenian–the language spoken by the people of Armenia,आर्मीनियन भाषा; make it quiet–hurry up, शीघ्रता करो; alive–lively, full of life. जीवंत; longings–desires, wishes ,इच्छाएं ; tribe–community,कबीला,समुदाय ; poverty-stricken–extremely poor, अत्याधिक निर्धन; amazing–surprising,हैरान कर देने वाली; comical–funny,हास्यवर; bellies–stomach,पेट,उदर ; take advantage of–deceive anybody, मूर्ख बनाकर लाभ उठाना; consequently–as a result, hence,अतएव,परिणामस्वरुप; stared–looked,देखा; pious stillness–holy silence, पावन चुप्पी; humour–the element of laughter, हास्य ; frightened–scared, terrified, डरा दिया  I

Page 3

hurry–make haste, be quick, शीघ्रता करो; leapt up–jumped,कूदकर बैठ गया; edge–outer fringe, बाहरी किनारा; country–rural area,ग्रामीण क्ष्रेत्र;  vineyards–grapes gardens,अंगूर के बाग; orchards–fruit garden,फलों के बाग; ditches–deep pits,खाई; trot–walk in a steady manner,दुलकी चाल चलने लगा ; craziest–most eccentric,सबसे अधिक सनकी; roar–sing in a loud voice,ऊँचे स्वर में गाने लगा; streak–trace or touch,सनक; descendant–offspring,वंशज; enormous–big-bodied, fat,मोटा-ताजा; furious–full of anger, fierce,आक्रोश वाला; temper–nature,स्वभाव; irritable–easily angered,चिड़चिड़ा ; impatient–rash, restless,उतावला; roaring–shouting,ऊँचा बोलकर; trimmed–being set and cut,छाँटी जा रही थी; practical–sensible,व्यवहार; capricious–whimsical,सनकी; vagrant–wandering soul,मौजी,स्वेच्छाचारी I

 Pages 4-5

have a way with–know how to control, understanding with,सिधाने की कला; Vazire–the nickname given to the horse,वज़ीरे,घोड़े का उपनाम; snorted–let out breath with force from the nostrils, फुफकार मारी; burst into a fury of speed–started racing very fast,वेग से दौड़ चला; awful–terrible, डरावना; reared–raised its hind part,पिछला शरीर उठाया ; be kindly–treat the horse gently,नरमी से पेश आना  ; come upon–meet by chance,संयोग से मिल जाए; hide–keep secretly,छिपाया; dawned on me–became clear to me,समझ में आ गया  I

Pages 6-7

barn–place for storing grain, खलिहान; deserted–lonely,वीरान,उजड़ा; alfalfa–a kind of grass,एक प्रकार की घास; behave–conduct,आचरण करना; understanding–fact, agreement,समझौता; parlour–sitting room. बैठक); irritated–angry,चिढ़ गए; surrey–light four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage,घोड़ा-गाड़ ी; spit on–hate,give no importance  to,थूकना; stalked out of–walked out with proud steps,अकड़कर निकल गए; slamming–closing or shutting noisily,धड़ाम से बंद करते हुए; repair–give first aid to, मरहमपट्टी करना; robin–a bird, small red-breasted,एक प्रकार का पक्षी ; nevertheless–still,फिर भी ;ran into–met unexpectedly,अचानक भेट हो गईं; studied–examined,जाँचा-परखा

Page 8

twin-born together,जुड़वा; suspicious–full of mistrust,संदेही; patted–thumped gently,थपथपाया I

a) mast

b) mainsail
c) boom
d) cockpit
e) stern
f) rudder
g) cabin
h) bow

Given on the next page is a picture of a yacht. Label the parts of the yacht using the terms given in the box.

1

The first and the most beautiful stage is the time when both lived in the village.
Author's parents had shifted to the city and the child was left behind in the village under the care and protection of his grandmother.
Both spent their time together, never leaving each other's side .
The grandmother paid all attention to him and looked after his needs.
Not only she helps him getting ready for school,she would also accommpony him there and help in his homework too.


On the way, she feeds the village dogs with stale chappatis.
The second stage of their relationship begins when the author joins an English school in the city.
The author now started to learn English, western science, and even music.
The grandmother could no longer accommpony him; nor could help him in studies.
Actually the second stage was the turning point in their life.
In the third stage, the conditions of their relationship got worsened when the author went to the university and was given a separate room in the house.
Until now, both got a lot of opportunity to talk as they shared the same room.
But the speration of rooms broken the common link of relationship.
They could hardly meet or talk to each other now.
Somehow,poor grandmother accepted her seculsion quietly and busied herself with her spinning wheel and feeding house sparrows.
 

Word-meanings

Page13

Set sail-started journey by sea. समुद्रीयात्रा प्रारम्भ क ी; duplicate-repeat, copy अनुसरण करन ा; voyage-a sea journey; In the wake of-afterwards. Just as Captain Cook had done; honing-improving, sharpening. सुधारना; seafaring–travelling by sea; hull–lower part of the ship; leg-stage, round,चरण; heading-sailing towards; crewmen-helpers, seamen; tackle–deal with, handle.निपटना; roughest–most stormy

Page 14

Encounter–meet, come across, face, सामना करना; gale–violent winds, आँधी – तूफ़ान; alarming–dangerous. Terrifying, व्याकुल कर देने वाल ी; main mast-central long pole, मस्तूल; despite–in spite of,के बावजूद; atrocious–rough, violent, क्रूर; reasoned–told ourselves; gigantic–huge, high,विशाल ऊँची; jib-a triangular staysail. तिकोना पाल; knots–a nautical mile; enormous–huge, विशाल; screaming–making sharp noise. चीख, पुकार; lashed–tied, fastened together; mooring-rope–a rope used for securing a boat on the coast, घाट पर बाँधने वाला रस्म; loop–noose, फंद ा; stern–back part of the ship. जहाज का पिछला भाग; life raft-a fleet made of logs, नदी पार करने के लिए तख्तों से बनाया गया बेड़ ा; spray–flying of small drops of water. फुहार; drill–exercise, practical training. अभ्यास; attached–joined,जोड़ दिय ा; donned–put on, पहन लिय ा; indication–sign, संकेत; impending–drawing near,आसन्न; disaster–ruin, mishap.तबाही ,विपद ा; dropped–stopped blowing; towered–mounted. ऊपर आ गय ा; aft–back, पीठ; horror–fear,भय; vertical–standing upright, लंब की भाँति; frightful–deadly. Dreadful.डरावन ी; crest–top; thunder–loud roar. गर्जन; tremendous–fearful; explosion–burst, विस्फोट; deck– the platform of a ship; torrent–a strong fast stream; smashed–hit, struck,टकराय ा; popped–rose, ऊthe पर उठ गय ा; capsizing–overturning.उलट रहा थ ा; horizontal–level. समानांतर; hurled–threw with force.वेग से उछाल दिय ा; jerked–moved; taut–tight; lifeline–a rope thrown to secure someone from drowning; Wavewalker– the name given to the boat; grabbed–caught firmly; guardrails–the horizontal pieces of iron or wood for security. Raithe ling; a boom–long pole. पाल दण्ड; subsequent–that came thereafter, बाद में आने वाल ी; tossed–threw, फैंक ा; rag doll–a doll made of a torn clothes, a toy,गुड़िय ा; ribs–chest bones, पसलियाँ; cracked–broke, चटक गई; hung on–trapped. लटका रह ा; abandon–leave.छोड़न ा; investigate–find out, पता लगाना I

Page 15

Screamed–cried; decks– platform, roof; smashed–broken; scrambled–tried to catch. झपट कर पकड़ ा; hatch–a small opening in a floor. ; timbers–wood used for building purpose,इमारती लकड़ ी; crazy –odd. बेढंगे तरीके स े; starboard–right-hand side of a ship,जलपोत का दाहिना भाग; bulged–swollen, फूल गया sloshed–moved around water, पानी चल रहे थ े; bunk–sleeping berth. शयन स्थान; a bit–a little bump–swelling.गुमड़ा ; hammer–a tool for driving nails, हथौड़ी; screws–a metal fastener. पेच ; canvas–water proof material, thick cloth of hemp or flax, किरमिच ; bashed open–struck open forcibly, आघात के कारण खुल गया ; stretch–spread out; hatch covers–the lids to cover the openings in the deck; gaping–open; deflected–turned to another direction, रास्ता मोड़ दिया; debris–scattered broken things, मलबा, कचरा ; threateningly–In an alarming manner. खतरनाक तरीके से; wrenched–pulled off, twisted.  खराब हो गया थ ा; dinghies–small boats on a ship; anchor–piece of heavy metal, लंगर; chartroom–where maps used for navigation are kept; dragged on–passed with difficulty; steering–the mechanism or wheel to control the direction; Mayday calls–radio signals used by ships in distress calling for help. Remote–far off; swollen– सूज गया थ ा; alarmingly–dangerously; enormous–big; sufficiently–enough, adequate; In rotation–turn by turn. बारी –बारी से; tremendous–big, अधिक; leak–opening, छेद I

Page16

Rib–one of the ships curved timbers, घुमावदार लकड़ ी; smashed to the keel–completely broken; starboard hull–the lower part of the right side of the ship; calculated–estimated, अनुमान गलाय ा; pinpricks–very small dots or islands; abated–cooled down, grew less severe; hoist–flutter,फहराना ; slim–very little, thin, कम ; auxiliary–additional, अतिरिक्त; main mast–prime pole, प्रमुख मस्तूल ;pressure–pulls; rigging–ropes; pull apart–separate, अलग कर देना ; corned–saved from damage; respite–relief, interval of rest, विराम ; deteriorate–grow worse, worsen, बदतर होना ; dawn–daybreak; desperate–hopeless; respond–reply; heave-to–lift, raise with great effort, बलपूर्वक खींचन ा; improvise–to use whatever is available,काम चलाऊ; anchor–a heavy metal object which helps to keep a ship In one place लंगर; barrels–drums; paraffin–waxमोम; planks–long flat pieces of sawn timber, तख्ते; rode out–survived. बच निकल ा; easing–cooling down.

Pages 1 7-18

A sextant–an instrument for measuring,कोण की दूरी मापने का यंत्र; drift–slow currents. मंद बहाव ; slits–thin openings, झिरी ; caricature–funny representation of a person, व्यंग चित्र; compass–instrument with magnetised needle, क़ुतुबनुमा; variation–changes indicating direction; conviction–firm belief, दृढ़विश्वास; dozed off–slept; tousled–rough, disorderly, बिखरे बाल ; hug–embrace, आलिंगन; chorused–spoke jointly, एक साथ बोले ; stark–bare, stiff naked; bleak–cheerless; little vegetation–no greenery. Barren; anchored–dropped the heavy iron piece,जहाज का लंगर गिराये रख ा; off-shore–near the shore. तट के निकट; inhabitants–residents, निवास ी; optimistic–hopeful; direst–extreme, most horrible; stress–pressure, strain; crucial–critical; subsequently–coming after, बाद में; recurring–coming up again and again; clot–half solid lump, रक्त का थक्का l

Mourad was a poor Armenian boy. He was a cousin of Aram. Both of them belonged to the family of Garoghlanians. Mourad was proud of his family and its great and glorious traditions. For the last eleven centuries his tribe had been famous for its integrity and honesty. Mourad’s family was poverty-stricken. Sometimes it was even difficult for the members of their family to buy food for them. But nothing could shake their honesty and integrity.

Mourad was a dashing and bold young man. In this way, he resembled uncle Khosrove. Actually, he was considered to be the natural descendant of the ‘crazy streak’ in the family. Mourad was determined to achieve results. Once made a decision, he never wavered or hesitated in the middle.

Mourad had a passion for riding. He had ‘a way with a horse’. Even horses understood him. He would kick his heels into the horse’s muscles and shout: “Vazire run”. The horse would burst into a fury of speed. In this matter he was far ahead of Aram who was rather a bad rider.

Mourad loved his cousin Aram. He would come to invite him to ride. He knew Aram’s passion for riding. He would let him ride alone. He always cooperated with him and valued his advice.

In the end, Mourad was conscience-stricken. He didn’t want to bring a bad name to the family of Garoghlanians. Therefore, he and Aram decided to return the horse to its rightful owner John Byro.

15 – A

Green Enclave

City

October 13, 2019

The Editor

The Indian Express

Firoz Gandhi Market

City

Subject: The Problem of Severe Water Crisis Looming Large in India

Sir:

I am writing to your esteemed self to draw people and authorities’ attention towards the ever worsening problem of water shortage across the nation. Owing to so many factors water scarcity problem has become quite serious. The water supply in South India, Maharashtra, M.P., Delhi, U.P., etc. has fallen to minimum level. It is feared by 2020 the water tables underground will run dry.  

There is need of changing our attitude towards water conservation. People should not waste water at all. They should use it sagaciously and like a rare commodity. Apart from this the Government should also address the problem at the base level. Proper afforestation around the city, especially along the rivers and canals should be done.  

All the water resources in the country should be interlinked. Flood water-management by channeling it to water-shortage areas should be done. The sea water should be converted into potable water in coastal areas. This expertise can be sought from Israel.  

The Government should also make strict laws to conserve water and environment. People should be involved in water preservation and conservation campaigns. Without people’s participation water scarcity problem can’t be solved. I appeal to you to publish my views in your reputed daily. I also appeal to people and concerned authorities to look into the matter and shoulder their responsibilities in solving the problem. Thanking you.

Yours truly,

Shalini    

The village school education was quite different from the city school education. In village schools, students were taught the alphabet and the morning prayer and there was teaching about the God and the scriptures. But in the city school, the students were taught western science, English and music lessons.