Lesson 2.1 A Birthday Letter
Lesson 2.1> A Birthday Letter
Glossary
- sermon (n) – ceremony in which a priest gives a talk on a religious or moral subject
- fascinated (adj.) – extremely attracted
- deed (n) – a brave or noble act
- starving (adj.) – suff ering or dying from hunger
- oppressed (adj.) – governed in an unfair and cruel way and prevented from having opportunities and freedom
- sacred (adj.) – considered to be holy and deserving respect
- serene (adj.) – peaceful and calm
- unruffled (adj.) – not nervous or worried, usually despite a difficult situation
A. Questions within the lesson:
1. From which prison did Nehru write this letter?
Nehru wrote this letter from Central Prison, Naini in Uttar Pradesh.
2. Did Nehru send any presents to Indira?
No. But he mentioned that his messages in the letter were his presents. They can be of the mind and spirit.
3. Which historical character inspired young Indira?
The historical character ‘Joan of Arc’ inspired young Indira.
4. What helps the ordinary men and women to become heroes?
When people became interested in a great cause, then history helps the ordinary men and women to become heroes.
5. Who is addressed as ‘Bapuji’?
Mahatma Gandhiji is addressed as ‘Bapuji’. It means father in Hindi.
6. What should the soldiers of India respect?
The soldiers of India should respect the honour of India which is a sacred trust.
B. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences:
1. Why could not Nehru send any presents to Indira?
Nehru could not send any presents to Indira because he was imprisoned in Central prison, Naini.
2. What cannot be stopped even by the high walls of prisons?
Words of wisdom from a father cannot be stopped even by the high walls of prisons. They are the real presents to refine one’s mind and spirit.
3. Why did Nehru dislike sermonizing?
Talking and discussing are the best ways to find out what is right and what is not right, what should be done and what should not be done . Whereas sermons don’t pave the way to rectify our mistakes. So, Nehru disliked sermonizing. (or) The best way to find what is wrong and right is by discussing. So, Nehru disliked sermonizing.
4. What does history tell us?
History tells us the great periods in the life of nations, of great men and women.
5. What do ordinary men and women usually think of?
Ordinary men and women usually think of their bread and butter, of their children and their household worries.
6. When do ordinary men and women become heroes?
When people are interested in a great cause, then history helps ordinary men and women to become heroes.
7. What does the phrase ‘great drama’ refer to?
The phrase ‘great drama’ refers to Indian freedom struggle.
8. Why are the freedom fighters under Gandhi not afraid of anything?
The freedom fighters under Gandhi had nothing to hide and no room for secrecy. They worked in the sun and in the light. Their transparency made them not afraid of anything.
C. Match the words with correct Synonym and Antonym from the table
| Word | Synonym | Antonym |
| 1. wide | privilege | freedom |
| 2. noble | valiant | public |
| 3. oppress | valuable | coward |
| 4. honour | personal | ignoble |
| 5. worthy | gentle | dishonour |
| 6. private | broad | narrow |
| 7. brave | subdue | unworthy |
| Ans : 1 – f – F, 2 – e – D, 3 – g – A, 4 – a – E, 5 – c – G, 6 – d – B, 7 – b – C | ||
D. Identify, whether the following statements are of OPINION or FACT
1. On your birthday you have been in the habit of receiving presents and good
wishes. (Opinion/Fact)
Ans : Fact
2. I have liked my talks with you. (Opinion/Fact)
Ans : Opinion
3. The best way to fi d what is wrong and right is by discussing. (Opinion/Fact)
Ans : Fact
4. A letter can hardly take the place of a talk. (Opinion/Fact)
Ans : Fact
5. For the desire to hide anything means that you are afraid. (Opinion/Fact)
Ans : Opinion
E. Listen to the dialogue and answer the following questions.
1. Aadhav and Raghav are _____________.
- brothers
- friends
- colleagues
- classmates
Ans : brothers
2. The brothers are planning to celebrate their ___________ wedding anniversary.
- uncle’s
- parent’s
- grandparent’s
- sister’s
Ans : parent’s
3. The wedding anniversary is on _____________.
- March 2nd
- April 2nd
- May 2nd
- June 2nd
Ans : April 2nd
4. As part of the celebration, the brothers have planned to make their parents to ___________.
- visit an orphanage
- donate some money
- plant a mango sapling
- conduct a game
Ans : plant a mango sapling
5. State whether the statement is true or false.
The brothers have decided to borrow money for the wedding anniversary celebration.
Ans : False
Determiners
Choose the Correct Determiner:
1. Could you bring me __________ tools I left in the garden? (this, those, these)
Ans : those
2. __________Earth revolves around the sun. (the, a, an)
Ans : the
3. I found _________ one rupee coin in the playground while playing. (a, an, the)
Ans : a
4. There aren’t __________ students in the library. (much, many, a lot)
Ans : many
5. It was _________unforgettable experience. (a, an, the)
Ans : an
6. I haven’t got _________ pictures in my bedroom. (some, any, many)
Ans : any
7. He said that he wanted to become ________ engineer. (a, an, the)
Ans : an
8. Kokila gave a pen to ________ child in the classroom on her birthday. (any, all, each)
Ans : those
9. I’ve got to solve _________ math problems before I go to sleep. (all, some, any)
Ans : all
10. India is __________ largest democracy in the world. (a, an, the)
Ans : the
11. My father doesn’t drink ________ coffee. (much, many, a lot)
Ans : much
12. I always keep ______ money in my wallet for emergencies. (any, every, some)
Ans : some
13. This year we are celebrating my sister’s ________ birthday. (a, two, second)
Ans : second
14. I have ________ pencils with me. (a, three, third)
Ans : three
15. ‘What is that noise?’ I think it is _______ airplane. (a, an, the)
Ans : an
Reported Speech
| Speaker | Questioner | Reporter |
| I have to go. | What did he say? | He said that he wanted to go./ He said that he had to go. (say) |
| Can you hear me? | What did she say? | She asked if I (Reporter) could hear her. (ask) |
| Consult the doctor. | What did he say? | He advised you to consult the doctor. (advise) |
| I won’t go to the party. | What did he say? | He said that he would not go to the party. (say) |
| When did you come? | What did he say? | She asked him when I (Reporter) had come. (ask) |
| Don’t touch the wire. | What did he say? | She warned him not to touch the wire. (warn) |
| Did you sleep well yesterday? | What did he say? | He asked her if I (Reporter) had slept well the day before. (ask) |
| Please help me cross the street. | What did he say? | He requested her to help him cross the street. (request) |
Report the following sentences.
1. Banu said, “Do not spoil the eco-system.”
Banu advised not to spoil the eco-system
2. Pranav said, “Have you booked the tickets to Delhi?”
Pranav asked if he had booked the tickets to Delhi.
3. Rekha said to Tilak, “When are we leaving to our native?”
Rekha asked Tilak when they were leaving to their native.
4. Sujith said, “Ryan, you should get up early in the morning.”
Sujith told Ryan that he should getup early in the morning.
5. Vivaan said to his mother, “Can you, please, buy me a hot-chocolate?”
Vivaan asked his mother politely if she could buy him a hot-chocolate.
6. “Tomorrow I have to take a test in English”, said Sudar.
Sudar said that she had to take a test in English the next day.
7. Pragathi said to her sister, “I need your help to arrange the books in the shelf.”
Pragathi told her sister that she needed her help to arrange the books in the shelf.
8. “Why don’t you use crayons for colouring?” said Dhilip to his son.
Dhilp asked his son why he didn’t use crayons for colouring.
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