CLASS 10 ENGLISH UNSEEN PASSAGE [12 MARKS]

1. Read the passage given below: [12]

I rested for a moment at the door of Anand Bhawan, on Market Road, where coffee-drinkers and tiffin-eaters sat still at their tables, uttering low moans on seeing me. I wanted to assure them, "Don't mind me, you hugging the cash box - you are a coward, afraid even to breathe. Go on, count the cash, if that is your pleasure. I just want to watch, that's all. If my tail trails down to the street, if I am blocking your threshold, it is because, I'm told, I'm eleven feet tip to tail. I can't help it. I'm not out to kill - I'm too full. I found a green pasture full of food on my way. I won't attack until I feel hungry again. Tigers attack only when they feel hungry, unlike human beings who slaughter one another without purpose or hunger."

To the great delight of children, schools were being hurriedly closed. Children of all ages and sizes were running helter-skelter, screaming joyously, "No school, no school. Tiger, tiger !" They were shouting and laughing and even enjoying being scared. They seemed to welcome me. I felt like joining them. So I bounded away from the restaurant door. I walked along with them, at which they cried, "The tiger is coming to eat us; let us get back to school!”

I followed them through their school gate while they ran up and shut themselves in the school hall securely. I climbed up the steps of the school, saw an open door at the far end of a veranda, and walked in. It happened to be the headmaster's room. I noticed a very dignified man jumping on the table and heaving himself up into an attic. I walked in and flung myself on the cool floor, having a special liking for cool stone floors.

As I drowsed, I was aware of cautious steps and hushed voices all around. I was in no mood to bother about anything. All I wanted was a little moment of sleep; the daylight was very bright.

On the basis of your reading of the above passage answer the following questions:

(a) How did the diners at Anand Bhawan react on seeing the tiger ?

(b) When do tigers attack ? In this context, how are human beings different from tigers ?

(c) Why were children happy and even enjoying being scared ?

(d) What was the tiger's opinion about the man at the cash counter ? What did the tiger assure him?

(e) Identify the word which means the same as ‘hugging’. (para 1)

(i) counting

(ii) hiding

(iii) rubbing

(iv) holding tightly in the arms

(f) Identify the word which means the same as 'delight' (para 2)

(i) pleasure

(ii) fear

(iii) Sorrow

(iv) nervousness

(g) Identify the word which means the same as 'dignified' (para 3)

(i) tall

(ii) honourable

(iii) terrified

(iv) tired

(h) Identify the word which means the same as 'heaving up' (para 3)

(i) hiding

(ii) running away

(iii) climbing

(iv) raising

ANSWER

(a) - all the coffee drinkers and tiffin-eaters stopped eating and drinking; wailed and uttered low moans

(b) - when they are hungry, but human beings kill or exploit one another to show off their pride, power and false prestige

(c) - the school closed, screaming with joy of having 'no school

- seemed the welcome the tiger

(d) - jumped on the table, raised himself up into an attic

- the tiger flung himself on the cool floor and drowsed, -special liking for cool stone floor

(e) (iv) holding tightly in the arms

(f) (i) pleasure

(g) (ii) honourable

(h) (ii) jumped forward