Solution of Chapter 7. A Visit to Cambridge (Honeydew Book)

“Cambridge was my metaphor for England.” To the writer,

(i) Cambridge was a reputed university in England.

(ii) England was famous for Cambridge.

(iii) Cambridge was the real England.

The writer phoned Stephen Hawking’s house

(i) From the nearest phone booth.

(ii) From outside a phone booth.

(iii) From inside a phone booth.

Every time he spoke to the scientist, the writer felt guilty because

(i) He wasn’t sure what he wanted to ask.

(ii) He forced the scientist to use his voice synthesiser.

(iii) He was face to face with a legend.

“I felt a huge relief…. in the possibilities of my body.” In the given context, the highlighted words refer to

(i) Shifting in the wheelchair, turning the wrist.

(ii) Standing up, walking.

(iii) speaking, writing.

Did the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking make the writer nervous? If so, why?

Did he at the same time feel very excited? If so, why?

Guess the first question put to the scientist by the writer.

Stephen Hawking said, “I’ve had no choice.” Does the writer think there was a choice? What was it?

“I could feel his anguish.” What could be the anguish?

What endeared the scientist to the writer so that he said he was looking at one of the most beautiful men in the world?

Read aloud the description of ‘the beautiful’ man. Which is the most beautiful sentence in the description?

‘If the lantern’ is the man, what would its ‘walls’ be?

What is housed within the thin walls?

What general conclusion does the writer draw from this comparison?

What is the scientist’s message for the disabled?

Why does the writer refer to the guitar incident? Which idea does it support?

The writer expresses his great gratitude to Stephen Hawking. What is the gratitude for?

Complete the following sentences taking their appropriate parts from both the boxes below.

(i) There was his assistant on the line…

(ii) You get fed up with people asking you to brave…

(iii) There he was……

(iv) You look at his eyes which can speak, ……

(v) It doesn’t do much good to know ……..

A

● tapping at a little switch in his hand.

● and I told him.

● that there are people

● as if you have a courage account

● and they are saying something huge and urgent

B

● trying to find the words on his computer.

● I had come in a wheelchair form India.

● on which you are too lazy to draw a cheque.

● smiling with admiration to see you breathing still.

● it is hard to tell what.

Fill in the blanks in the sentences below using the appropriate forms of the words given in the following box.

(i) I met a ______ from an antique land.

(ii) I need special _____ in mathematics. I can’t count the number of times I have failed in the subject.

(iii) The guide called Stephen Hawking a worthy _____ to Issac Newton.

(iv) His other problems ____ into insignificance beside this unforeseen mishap.

(v) The meeting was _____ by the youngest member of the board.

(vi) Some people say ‘yours ____ ‘ when they informally refer to themselves.

(vii) I wish it had been a ____ match. We would have been spared the noise of celebrations, at least.

Look at the following words.

Can you create a meaningful phrase using both these words? (It is simple. Add ‘ing’ to the verb and use it before the noun. Put an article at the beginning)…. a walking stick.

Now make six such phrases using the

words given in the box.

Use ‘all’ or ‘both’ in the blanks. Tell your partner why you chose one or the other.

(i) He has two brothers. ______ are lawyers.

(ii) More than ten persons called. _______ of them wanted to see you.

(iii) They ________ cheered the team.

(iv) _____ her parents are teachers.

(v) How much have you got? Give me ___ of it.

Complete each sentence using the right form of the adjective given in brackets.

(i) My friend has one of the _____ cars on the road. (fast)

(ii) This is the ____ story I have ever read. (interesting)

(iii) What you are doing now is ____ than what you did yesterday. (easy)

(iv) Ramesh and his wife are both ____ (short)

(v) He arrived ______ as usual. Even the chief guest came ____ than he did. (late, early)

Say the following words with correct stress. Pronounce the parts given in bold loudly and clearly.

● In a word having more than one syllable, the stressed syllable is the one that is more prominent than the other syllable(s)

● A word has as many syllables as it has vowels.

man (one syllable)

manner (two syllables)

● The mark (‘) indicates that the first syllable in ‘manner’ is more prominent than the other.

Underline stressed syllables in the following words. Consult the dictionary or ask the teacher if necessary.

Writing a notice for the School Notice Board.

Step 1

Discuss why notice are put up on the notice board. What kinds of ‘notices’ have you lately seen on the board? How is a notice different from a letter or a descriptive paragraph?

Step 2

Suppose you have lost or found something on the campus. What have you lost or found? You want to write a notice about it. If you have lost something, you want it restored to you in case someone has found it. If you have found something, you want to return it to its owner.

Step 3

Write a few lines describing the object you have lost or found. Mention the purpose of the notice in clear terms. Also write your name, class, section and date.

Step 4

Let one member of each group read aloud the notice to the entire class. Compare your notice with the other notices, and make changes, if necessary, with the help of the teacher.

OR

● Imagine that you are a journalist.

● You have been asked to interview the president of the village panchayat.

● Write eight to ten questions you wish to ask.

● The questions should elicit comments as well as plans regarding water and electricity, cleanliness and school education in the village.

In the first stanza, find words that show

(i) that it was very cold.

(ii) that it was late evening.

(iii) that the traveller was alone.

Something happened at Lyonnesse. It was

(a) improbable

(b) impossible.

(c) Unforeseeable

Pick out two lines from stanza 2 to justify our answer.

Read the line (stanza 3) that implies the Following.

‘Everyone noticed something, and they made

Guesses, but didn’t speak a word’.

Now read the line that refers to what they noticed.