Ghosts on the Verandah
Textual Questions & Answers
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Activity 1
Complete the following table with information from
the text:
|
Statement
|
Reason
|
|
(a) The author went to
stay at Anil’s house.
|
Anil’s father was out
of town.
|
|
(b) Anil’s mother told
them ghost stories
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Anil’s mother’s memory
was stored with incredible stories of spirits.
|
|
(c) The boy in the
classroom could stretch his hands four yards
|
He was a Jinn.
|
|
(d) Anil wished to be a
Jinn
|
He would get advantage
in volleyball matches.
|
Activity 2
Answer the following questions:
(a) What attracts a Jinn?
Ans: Long hair and
pretty black eyes attracts a Jinn.
(b) List the activities of an annoyed Munjia?
Ans: When a Munjia is
annoyed, he rushes out from his tree and upsets tongas, bullock-carts and
cycles and even buses.
(c) Why must one be careful while yawning under a peepul tree at night?
Ans: One must be
careful while yawning under a peepul tree at night because if someone does it without covering the mouth or snapping fingers
in front of the mouth, the Munjia will jump down one’s throat and completely
ruin one’s digestion!
(d) How did the boy in the class show that he was a Jinn?
Ans: When the teacher
asked the boy to fetch a book, sitting on his seat he merely stretched out his
hand about four yards, took the book from the cupboard, and handed it to the
teacher. This is how the boy showed that he was a Jinn.
Activity 3
Fill in the blanks by choosing appropriate words
from the box given below. You may need to change the form of the words:
[ incredible, fetch, cupboard, agility ]
(a) Since she is a
gymnast, she has great agility.
(b) Tuhin fetches a
bucket of water.
(c) Your story is incredible.
(d) The utensils are kept
inside a cupboard.
Activity 4
Complete the following comparisons by correctly
choosing the word from the box given below:
[ cold, hot, black, proud, brave, green, heavy, gentle,
firm, busy ]
(a) as black as
coal
(b) as brave as
a lion
(c) as busy as
a bee
(d) as gentle as
a lamb
(e) as proud as
a peacock
(f) as green as
grass
(g) as firm as
rock
(h) as heavy as
lead
(i) as cold as
ice
(j) as hot as
fire
Activity 5
Rewrite the following sentences using the adverbs
given in brackets in the appropriate place:
(a) This exercise
is too easy. (too)
(b) The train is fairly fast.
(fairly)
(c) The bottle is quite full.
(quite)
(d) We nearly won
the match. (nearly)
(e) Rather we
are late, let us hurry. (rather)
(f) She has just come
in. (just)
(g) He never makes
a mistake. (never)
(h) I always get
up early in the morning. (always)
(i) I am very sorry.
(very)
(j) He was
intelligent enough to solve the problem. (enough)
Activity 6
Complete the following sentences with information
from the text:
(a) Anil’s mother thought
that seeing a snake in the early morning was lucky.
(b) Kamal and the author
did not want to go to their room because they were afraid of ghosts.
(c) When Anil’s mother
saw the boys rushing about, she gave another scream and collapsed on
a cot.
(d) Kamal sang softly
because he wanted to raise their spirits.
Activity 7
Answer the following questions:
(a) Why did Anil and Mulia appear “pale and anxious ”?
Ans: Anil and Mulia
appeared “pale and anxious” because they were afraid after hearing Anil’s
mother’s ghost stories.
(b) What did Anil’s mother think when she saw the room empty?
Ans: When Anil’s mother
saw the room empty, she thought that the ghosts had carried the boys away along
with their beds.
(c) What was the effect of Kamal’s singing on the author?
Ans: Kamal’s singing
made the atmosphere more eerie for the author.
(d) Do you think Anil’s mother believed in ghosts? Give a reason for your Answer:
Ans: Yes, Anil’s mother
believed in ghosts. Anil’s mother took the pajamas as ghosts and gave a scream
and collapsed on a cot.
Activity 8
Fill in the blanks with suitable modals:
(a) I can speak
English.
(b) We eat so that
we may live.
(c) You may go
now.
(d) May you
have good luck!
(e) We will be
rewarded.
(f) I will not
surrender.
(g) You must be
able to do it in no time.
(h) We should help
the poor.
(i) Should I
never tell lies?
(j) Tomorrow we will have
a holiday.
Activity 9
Fill in the blanks with the correct tense of the
verb given in brackets:
(a) She ran so fast that
I could (can) not overtake her.
(b) I thought I saw (see)
you yesterday.
(c) He helps his
neighbours more than he helps (help) his family.
(d) When I saw her,
I spoke (speak) to her.
(e) The more he learned,
the more he wanted (want) to learn.
(f) There was a rumour
that he died (die) in the accident.
(g) We thought that
she would (will) succeed.
(h) I shall nurse her
that she may (may) recover.
(i) I left the place as
soon as I heard (hear) the news.
(j) Honesty is (be)
the best policy.
Activity 10
Fill in
the blanks by choosing the correct verb given in brackets:
(a) All that
glitters is (is/are) not gold.
(b) The great poet and
novelist is (is/are) dead.
(c) Each of the
boys was (was/were) given a prize.
(d) Salim as well as his
friend are (is/are) honest.
(e) Time and tide waits (wait/waits)
for none.
(f) Neither of the
girls has (has/have) brought her book.
(g) None but the
brave deserves (deserve/deserves) the fair.
(h) Three-fourths of the
meal was (was/were) eaten.
(i) Either you or
he has (has/have) done it.
(j) Slow and steady wins (win/wins)
the race.
Activity 11
Fill in the following gaps in the following table
with appropriate forms of adjectives:
|
POSITIVE
|
COMPARATIVE
|
SUPERLATIVE
|
|
good
|
Better
|
best
|
|
dark
|
Darker
|
Darkest
|
|
mild
|
Milder
|
Mildest
|
|
wise
|
Wiser
|
Wisest
|
|
hard
|
Harder
|
hardest
|
|
Soft
|
Softer
|
softest
|
|
high
|
Higher
|
Highest
|
|
bright
|
brighter
|
Brightest
|
|
little
|
Less
|
least
|
|
beautiful
|
more beautiful
|
most beautiful
|
|
bad
|
Worse
|
worst
|
|
intelligent
|
more intelligent
|
most intelligent
|
|
serious
|
more serious
|
most serious
|
|
less
|
Lesser
|
least
|
|
swift
|
Swifter
|
swiftest
|
Activity 12
Pick out the adjectives from the following
sentences and write their degree:
a. Which is the best book?
Ans: Best →
Superlative Degree.
b. December is colder than other months.
Ans: Colder →
Comparative Degree.
c. He is my eldest brother.
Ans: Eldest →
Superlative Degree.
d. Nothing moves as fast as light.
Ans: fast →
Positive Degree.
e. Success is sweeter than failure.
Ans: Sweeter →
Comparative Degree