The Palindrome
A Mother's Struggle
African Boyhood
In the Bazaars of Hyderabad
The Last Stonemason
An Island of Trees
Milkman of India
Secrets
The Microscope
The Gift of the Magi
My Wheelchair Had Wings
The Night the Roof Blew Off
Composed upon Westminster Bridge September 3, 1802
Tiger Pataudi
A Poison Tree
Friends and Flatterers
Where the Mind is Without Fear
All The World's a Stage
Rolihlahla was his tribal name, and he was born on July 18, 1918. In Xhosa, the language that his parents spoke, his name means "one who brings trouble on himself."
Hard Words:
Tribal (जनजातीय): Related to a tribe or tribes.
Xhosa (खोसा): A Bantu ethnic group from South Africa.
Explanation: Rolihlahla was the tribal name of a boy born on July 18, 1918. In Xhosa, the language his parents spoke, his name means "one who brings trouble on himself."
He grew up in a valley surrounded by grass-covered hills. His village, Qunu, was located in the Transkei Territory of South Africa. The youngest and only boy of four children, he and his father cared for the cattle and sheep, and Nelson helped when it was time to plough the fields. When his chores were done, he played soccer and learned to hunt and to fight with sticks.
Hard Words:
Territory (क्षेत्र): An area of land under the jurisdiction of a ruler or state.
Plough (हल चलाना): To turn up the earth with a plow, especially before sowing.
Explanation: He grew up in a valley with grassy hills in Qunu, a village in the Transkei Territory of South Africa. As the youngest and only boy among four children, he helped his father with cattle and sheep and assisted in plowing fields. After chores, he played soccer, hunted, and fought with sticks.
As much as anything, he enjoyed listening silently to his elders talk about the African history. At meetings, after the chiefs and other important persons from the surrounding areas had completed their business, they would sit and tell stories- stories of long ago, before the whites came to Africa, stories of wars between the white men and the black men and how the white men stole the black men's cattle and drove the black people away from their own land.
Hard Words:
Silently (चुपचाप): Without making any sound.
Elders (बुजुर्ग): Older people, often with a respected position in the community.
Explanation: He loved listening to his elders discuss African history. After meetings, chiefs and important people shared stories about the past, including the arrival of white people, wars between black and white people, and how the white people stole cattle and displaced the black people from their land.
His father was the chief counsellor to the Paramount Chief of their tribe- the Thembu. The Paramount Chief himself was related to him, and his great-grandfather had been a king. When he was twelve, his father died. Before he died, he saw to it that his son was placed in the care of an uncle, who was also a tribal chief. His parents had already seen how eager he was to learn, and his uncle was asked to provide him with good education.
Hard Words:
Counsellor (सलाहकार): An advisor.
Paramount (प्रधान): More important than anything else; supreme.
Explanation: His father was the chief advisor to the Paramount Chief of their Thembu tribe, who was also a relative. His great-grandfather had been a king. After his father's death when he was twelve, his uncle, also a tribal chief, took care of him and ensured he received a good education, recognizing his eagerness to learn.
Understandably, when he first arrived at his new village he kept to himself but soon he grew more comfortable. His uncle's wife loved him as much as she loved her own child, whose name was Justice. They became like brothers. They hunted birds, using slings, and romped in the fields. Best of all they enjoyed racing on horseback.
Hard Words:
Comfortable (आरामदायक): Feeling at ease.
Romping (कूदना-फांदना): Playing roughly and energetically.
Explanation: Initially reserved in his new village, he soon felt more comfortable. His uncle's wife treated him like her own child, Justice. They became like brothers, hunting birds with slings and playing in the fields, with horseback racing being their favorite activity.
As before, he worked hard, herding the cattle, milking the cows, and he was always ready to lend a hand. He was well-behaved and diligent in his studies.
Hard Words:
Herding (पालना): Looking after livestock.
Diligent (मेहनती): Showing care in one's work.
Explanation: He continued to work hard, herding cattle, milking cows, and always helping out. He was well-behaved and hardworking in his studies.
The church schools he attended were run by missionaries. Christian missionaries had been coming to Africa for over fifteen hundred years. Their mission was to convert Africans to Christianity. Some missionaries tried to convince the Africans to accept the foreign rule but many worked to provide them with western education. Sometimes, schools run by the missionaries were the only ones available, and in many cases, it included children of all races.
Hard Words:
Missionaries (धर्म प्रचारक): People sent on a religious mission.
Convert (धर्म परिवर्तन करना): To change someone's religious beliefs.
Explanation: He attended church schools run by Christian missionaries, who had been in Africa for over 1500 years, aiming to convert Africans to Christianity. While some promoted foreign rule, many focused on providing western education. Often, missionary schools were the only available schools, including children of all races.
Like his mother, Rolihlahla became a good Christian. He studied English, the Xhosa language, History and Geography. His teachers were very good, and he received the education his father had hoped he would.
Hard Words:
Christian (ईसाई): A person who follows Christianity.
Geography (भूगोल): The study of places and the relationships between people and their environments.
Explanation: Following his mother's example, Rolihlahla became a good Christian. He studied English, Xhosa, History, and Geography, receiving a quality education as his father had wished.
When he was twenty, he enrolled at Fort Hare College, one of the few universities in Africa that allowed (full-time) black students. It was located in the quiet town of Alice, in the Cape province.
Hard Words:
Enrolled (नामांकित): Registered or signed up for a course.
Province (प्रांत): A principal administrative division of a country.
Explanation: At twenty, he enrolled at Fort Hare College in Alice, Cape province, one of the few African universities admitting full-time black students.
He was interested in politics and current affairs and thought he might become a lawyer. By studying law, he might be able to help his people obtain the rights denied to them by the white rulers. He studied hard at Fort Hare, although he still had time to learn the fox-trot and the waltz.
Hard Words:
Politics (राजनीति): Activities associated with governance.
Denied (वंचित): Refused to give something.
Explanation: Interested in politics and current affairs, he aspired to become a lawyer to help his people gain rights denied by white rulers. He studied hard at Fort Hare and learned dances like the fox-trot and the waltz.
It wasn't long, however, before he became involved in politics. He joined the Student's Representative Council, which was organizing a protest against the living conditions at the university. When the students decided to strike, he joined them and was expelled.
Hard Words:
Protest (विरोध प्रदर्शन): A statement or action expressing disapproval.
Expelled (निष्कासित): Forced to leave an institution.
Explanation: Soon, he got involved in politics, joining the Student's Representative Council to protest university living conditions. Participating in a student strike led to his expulsion.
His uncle wanted him to apologize to the university authorities. He urged him to abandon the student boycott and continue his studies. By then, it was clear to Rolihlahla that he was being groomed to take his rightful place as tribal chief some day.
Hard Words:
Apologize (माफी माँगना): Express regret for something.
Abandon (त्यागना): To give up completely.
Explanation: His uncle urged him to apologize to the university and abandon the student boycott to continue his studies. It was clear that Rolihlahla was being prepared to become a tribal chief one day.
His uncle also thought it was time for him to marry. According to the custom of the time, his relatives arranged the marriage. The bride had already been chosen. Rolihlahla had no choice. If he wanted to avoid the marriage, he had to run away. Like many boys of his age, he headed for the bright lights and the big city of Johannesburg.
Hard Words:
Arranged (व्यवस्थित): Planned or organized in advance.
Avoid (बचना): Keep away from something.
Explanation: His uncle believed it was time for him to marry. Following custom, his relatives arranged the marriage. To avoid it, Rolihlahla had to run away, heading for Johannesburg like many boys his age.
In Johannesburg, he sought a different destiny. He became a lawyer and worked to free his people. He used the European name his father had given him. The name by which he became known to people all over the world.
Hard Words:
Destiny (नियति): The events that will necessarily happen to a person in the future.
Lawyer (वकील): A person who practices or studies law.
Explanation: In Johannesburg, he pursued a different destiny, becoming a lawyer to help free his people. He adopted the European name given by his father, which became known worldwide.
SURPRISE TEST -1
DATE: 8/07/24
Identify the type of sentence: "What a beautiful painting this is!" a) Declarative
b) Imperative
c) Interrogative
d) Exclamatory
Choose the correct sentence structure: "Despite the heavy rain, the match continued." a) Simple
b) Compound
c) Complex
d) Compound-Complex
Select the sentence with the correct subject-verb agreement: a) The list of items are on the table.
b) Neither the students nor the teacher were prepared.
c) Each of the players have a unique skill.
d) A bouquet of roses is on the table.
Identify the sentence with the correct use of a modal auxiliary: a) She can to speak three languages.
b) You mustn't to enter without permission.
c) He might comes later.
d) They must finish their work by tonight.
Select the sentence that uses a modal auxiliary to express necessity: a) She can sing very well.
b) He will arrive by noon.
c) You must wear a seatbelt.
d) They might visit tomorrow.
Choose the sentence that uses a modal auxiliary to express a suggestion: a) You must see a doctor.
b) She can swim very fast.
c) We should leave early.
d) They will join us for dinner.
Identify the finite verb in the following sentence: "Swimming is a good exercise." a) Swimming
b) Is
c) Exercise
d) Good
Select the sentence with a nonfinite verb: a) She plays the piano beautifully.
b) They are planning a trip to Europe.
c) He finished his homework quickly.
d) We walked to the park.
Choose the sentence with a finite verb: a) To read is to understand.
b) Running is my favorite activity.
c) She has gone to the market.
d) I like to swim.
Identify the infinitive phrase in the following sentence: "To travel around the world is my dream." a) To travel
b) Around the world
c) Is my dream
d) Travel around
Select the sentence that correctly uses an infinitive: a) She decided go home.
b) He wants to play the guitar.
c) They plan visiting us.
d) We enjoy to read.
Choose the sentence with a split infinitive: a) He likes to quickly run.
b) She decided to go home.
c) They plan to visit us.
d) We enjoy reading.
Identify the gerund in the following sentence: "Jogging every morning is a good habit." a) Jogging
b) Every
c) Morning
d) Habit
Select the sentence that correctly uses a gerund: a) She loves to playing tennis.
b) He enjoys reading books.
c) They are going to shop.
d) We decided to swim.
Choose the sentence that uses a gerund as the subject: a) I like swimming.
b) Swimming is fun.
c) He is good at swimming.
d) She is swimming now.
16. ho is the boy speaking to in the passage?
A) His father
B) His friend
C) His mother
D) His sister
17. What did Eliza hope to achieve by going to the Ohio River?
A) To visit her relatives
B) To escape to freedom
C) To find a new job
D) To buy supplies
18. How did Eliza prevent attracting suspicion on the highway?
A) By hiding in the woods
B) By walking slowly and calmly
C) By putting the boy on the ground and adjusting her appearance
D) By asking for help from strangers
19. What method did Eliza use to encourage the boy to keep moving?
A) She told him stories
B) She sang songs to him
C) She rolled an apple for him to chase
D) She promised him toys
20. Where did Eliza and the boy stop for a break?
A) At a farmhouse
B) In a village
C) In a thick patch of woodland near a brook
D) On the open highway. .
21. Who took care of Rolihlahla after his father's death?
A) His mother
B) His uncle
C) His teacher
D) His grandfather
22. What activity did Rolihlahla and Justice enjoy the most?
A) Hunting birds
B) Milking cows
C) Racing on horseback
D) Herding cattle
23. Which of the following subjects did Rolihlahla study at the church schools?
A) Mathematics
B) Geography
C) Physics
D) Art
24. Where did Rolihlahla enroll when he was twenty?
A) A local village school
B) Fort Hare College
C) A school in the city
D) A missionary school
25. What career did Rolihlahla consider pursuing to help his people?
A) Doctor
B) Engineer
C) Lawyer
D) Teacher
d) Exclamatory
c) Complex
d) A bouquet of roses is on the table.
d) They must finish their work by tonight.
c) You must wear a seatbelt.
c) We should leave early.
b) Is
b) They are planning a trip to Europe.
c) She has gone to the market.
a) To travel
b) He wants to play the guitar.
a) He likes to quickly run.
a) Jogging
b) He enjoys reading books.
b) Swimming is fun.
16. Who is the boy speaking to in the passage?
C) His mother
17. What did Eliza hope to achieve by going to the Ohio River?
B) To escape to freedom
18.How did Eliza prevent attracting suspicion on the highway?
C) By putting the boy on the ground and adjusting her appearance
19. What method did Eliza use to encourage the boy to keep moving?
C) She rolled an apple for him to chase
20. Where did Eliza and the boy stop for a break?
C) In a thick patch of woodland near a brook
21. Who took care of Rolihlahla after his father's death?
B) His uncle
22. What activity did Rolihlahla and Justice enjoy the most?
C) Racing on horseback
23. Which of the following subjects did Rolihlahla study at the church schools?
B) Geography
24. Where did Rolihlahla enroll when he was twenty?
B) Fort Hare College
25.What career did Rolihlahla consider pursuing to help his people?
C) Lawyer
