Comprehension check:-

1 Which is the right sentence?“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.

Ans – (iii) Cambridge was the real England.

2. 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.

Ans – (ii) from outside a phone booth.

3. 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.

Ans – (ii) he forced the scientist to use his voice synthesiser.

4. “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

Ans – (i) shifting in the wheelchair, turning the wrist.

Working with the text :-

Answer the following questions.

Q1. (i) Did the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking make the writer nervous ? If so, why ?

Ans. Yes, the writer was anxious about meeting Stephen Hawking. The possibility of meeting the most brilliant and paralysed scientist, the author of the best-selling book “A Brief History of Time,” made him extremely anxious.

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

Ans. He was definitely very excited. He ran to the nearest phone booth. He disconnected the phone line and made a call to Stephen Hawking’s residence. He requested a meeting Hawking just only for ten minutes

Q 2. Guess the first question put to the scientist by the writer.

Ans. The first question asked by the writer was, “Have you been very brave?

Q 3. Stephen Hawking said, “I’ve had no choice”.  Does the writer think there was a choice ? What was it ?

Ans. The author believes that Stephen Hawking had a choice to live creatively despite his physical limitations.

Q 4. “I could feel his anguish.” What could be the anguish?

Ans. The author noticed Stephen Hawking struggling to find the words on his computer with his pale fingers. He was worn out and irritated. His suffering was this.

Q 5. What endeared the scientist to the writer so that he said he was looking at one of the most beautiful men in the world ?

Ans. Stephen Hawking stated that he finds it annoying if someone interrupts him while he is working, without being overly sentimental and silly. The scientist’s candour gave the writer the impression that he was staring at one of the world’s most attractive men.

Q 6. Read aloud the description of ‘the beautiful’ man. Which is the most beautiful sentence in the  description ?

Ans. The handsome man’s head sagged and twisted to the side. Inside the light blue shirt, the torso contracted. Even though he is still speaking, his eaves are saying something extremely important and urgent. The most lovely sentence is the final one.

Q 7. (i) If ‘the lantern’ is the man, what would its walls’ be ?

Ans. The walls of the lantern, if it were a man, would be a physical structure that resembled a skeleton.

(ii) What is housed within the thin walls ?

Ans. Within the frail walls resides the eternal soul.

(iii) What general conclusion does the writer draw from the comparison ?

Ans. The author concludes generally from this comparison that everything in this world is an accessory aside from the eternal soul.

Q 8. What is the scientist’s message for the disabled ?

Ans. With the exception of the eternal soul, the author draws the general conclusion from this comparison that everything in this world is an accessory.

Q 9. Why does the writer refer to the guitar incident? Which idea does it support?

Ans. The author uses the incident involving the guitar to bolster Hawking’s contention that people with disabilities should focus on their strengths. According to the author, he attempted to play the guitar but was unsuccessful, so he broke it.

Q 10. The writer expresses his great gratitude to Stephen Hawking. What is the gratitude for ?

Ans. The author wants to thank Stephen Hawking for giving him 30 minutes of his valuable time. He also thanks God for giving him the courage and assurance to act bravely and ingeniously lie.

Q 11. 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 be 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 from 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.

Ans.  (i) There was his assistant on the line and I told him I had come in a wheelchair from India.

(ii) You get fed up with people asking you to be brave, as if you have a courage account , on which you are too lazy to draw a cheque.

(iii) There he was tapping at a little switch in his hand, trying to find the words on his computer.

(iv) You look at his eyes which can speak and they are saying huge and urgent –  it is hard to tell what.

(v) It does not do much good to know that they are people smiling with admiration to see you breathing still.

Working with Language :-

1. Fill in the blanks in the sentences below using the appropriate form 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.

Ans. Traveller,  guidance, successor, paled, chaired, truly, drawn.

2. Look at the following words.

   Walk                stick

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.

read/session smile/face revolve/chair
walk/tour dance/doll win/chance

Ans. A reading session, a smiling face, a revolving chair, a walking tour, a dancing doll, a winning chance.

3. 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 person 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.

Ans.

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

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

(iii) They all cheered the fun.

(iv) Both her parents are teachers.

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

4. 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.

Ans.

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

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

(iii) What you are doing is easier than what you did yesterday.

(iv) Ramesh and his wife are both short.

(v) He arrived late as usual. Even the chief guest came earlier than he did.