Circle of Learning • New NCERT textbook "Kaveri" (2026-27) • Reflect and Respond, Check Your Understanding, Critical Reflection, Vocabulary and Structures, Listening, Speaking, Writing, Learning Beyond the Text, and the poem "Bharat Our Land" – complete answers
Reflect and Respond
Complete the given word web: Why is it important to learn how to read and write?
Answer
Sample answer (any relevant points are acceptable):
(i) To become independent and not depend on others for reading letters, forms or news.
(ii) To gain knowledge and keep learning throughout life.
(iii) To enjoy stories, books, newspapers and magazines.
(iv) To get better jobs and manage money, bank work and digital payments safely.
(v) To understand our rights and duties and take part in society with confidence.
(vi) To communicate our ideas and feelings through writing.
Read the questions given below and share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
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Which language(s) do your grandparents or elderly relatives speak?
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How do they spend their time? How do you spend time with them?
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What is your favourite experience with them?
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What is something that the elderly in your family cannot do easily but enjoy watching you do?
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Sample answers (personal responses will differ):
1. My grandparents speak Hindi and our local dialect, and my grandfather also understands some English.
2. They spend their time reading the newspaper, praying, gardening and chatting with neighbours. I spend time with them in the evenings, listening to their stories and playing cards with them.
3. My favourite experience was a trip to our village fair with my grandmother, where she told me about the fairs of her childhood.
4. My grandmother cannot use a smartphone easily, but she loves watching me make video calls to our relatives and search for her favourite old songs online.
Read the following passage. Match the highlighted words with their meanings given in the box: 1. excitedly 2. believable 3. people living in one particular area 4. discussion 5. a part of a story 6. focus 7. main character 8. directed
Answer
Highlighted word | Meaning |
(i) protagonist | 7. main character |
(ii) debate | 4. discussion |
(iii) episode | 5. a part of a story |
(iv) community | 3. people living in one particular area |
(v) concentration | 6. focus |
(vi) eagerly | 1. excitedly |
(vii) convincing | 2. believable |
(viii) guided | 8. directed |
Check Your Understanding (Part I)
Complete the cause and effect table based on Part I of the story.
Answer
Cause | Effect |
1. The transport system in the village was not very good. | (i) The morning papers arrived late in the day and weekly magazines would come one day late. |
2. The grandmother, Krishtakka, never went to school. | (ii) She could not read, so the narrator read the next episode of Kashi Yatre to her every Wednesday. |
3. The grandmother had never gone to Kashi and identified herself with the old lady, the protagonist of Kashi Yatre. | (iii) She was deeply interested in the story and discussed it with her friends. |
4. The narrator went to a wedding for a week. | (iv) There was nobody to read the new episode to the grandmother; she could not read it herself, felt helpless and was in tears. |
5. She lost her mother when young and, in those days, people did not consider education essential for girls. | (v) The grandmother never went to school. |
6. The grandmother regretted not going to school. | (vi) She made sure that her children and grandchildren studied well. |
Do you think the narrator expected to see her grandmother in tears when she returned to the village? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Answer
No. The narrator says she "was surprised, for I had never seen her cry even in the most difficult situations." Her grandmother was a strong, cheerful lady who was "usually always smiling", so the tears were completely unexpected.
How might the narrator help her grandmother to fulfil her desire to learn to read and write?
Answer
The narrator could become her teacher. She could teach her the Kannada alphabet patiently every day, make her read and write simple words, give her homework and slowly move on to reading sentences from the magazine, so that she could finally read Kashi Yatre on her own.
Check Your Understanding (Part II)
State whether the following sentences are true or false.
Answer
Statement | True/False |
1. The grandmother wanted to learn the Kannada alphabet to gain independence. | True |
2. The grandmother asked someone in the village to read Kashi Yatre to her while the narrator was away. | False (she was too embarrassed to ask anyone) |
3. The narrator was the grandmother's first teacher and taught her how to read Kannada. | True |
4. The grandmother believed that there was no age limit for learning. | True |
5. The grandmother touched the narrator's feet as a mark of respect for her as a teacher. | True |
6. The narrator was disappointed with the progress her grandmother made in learning to read. | False (she felt her student "had passed with flying colours") |
Critical Reflection
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
Answer
Extract 1: "When I came back to my village, I saw my grandmother in tears ... Her affectionate hands touched my forehead."
(i) The phrase 'never seen her cry in the most difficult situations' tells us that the grandmother was ______. (A. strong-willed B. understanding C. considerate D. bold)
A. strong-willed
(ii) Grandmother did not reply when the narrator asked if she was alright because she might have been too ______ (emotional/tired) to respond.
emotional
(iii) Identify the clue from the extract that indicates a rural setting with traditional customs.
"In the night, after dinner, we were sleeping in the open terrace of our house" – sleeping together on an open terrace on a summer night is a village custom. Calling the grandmother "Avva", as in the Kannada of north Karnataka, also shows a traditional rural setting.
(iv) Which lines of the extract establish a tender atmosphere?
Answer
"It was a summer night and there was a full moon. Avva came and sat next to me. Her affectionate hands touched my forehead."
(v) Which of the following aspects is NOT emphasised in the given extract? (A. the emotional turmoil of the grandmother B. the affectionate bond between the narrator and her grandmother C. the grandmother's regret over her lack of education D. the narrator's concern for her grandmother)
Answer
C. the grandmother's regret over her lack of education
Extract 2: "'I have decided I want to learn the Kannada alphabet from tomorrow onwards ...' ... 'For learning there is no age bar.'"
(i) What does the grandmother's statement, "I want to be independent," reveal about her character? (A. She wanted to be literate. B. She desires self-sufficiency. C. She wants to prove her intelligence to others. D. She feels pressured by society to learn.)
Answer
B. She desires self-sufficiency.
(ii) The grandmother's determination shows that learning has no ______. (age limit/gender bias/cultural barriers)
age limit
(iii) The narrator laughs at her grandmother's decision to learn the alphabet at the age of sixty-two because ______.
she thought her grandmother was too old to learn – her hair was grey, her hands were wrinkled, she wore spectacles and she was always busy working in the kitchen.
(iv) List any two qualities displayed by the grandmother.
Determination and hard work (also self-respect, patience and a positive attitude to learning).
(v) How can we say that the narrator is making assumptions about her grandmother?
Answer
The narrator judges her grandmother's ability only by her age and appearance – grey hair, wrinkled hands, spectacles and kitchen work. She assumes an old person cannot learn the alphabet, without considering her grandmother's strong determination, which later proves her wrong.
Answer the following questions.
Answer
Why do you think the grandmother felt embarrassed to ask someone else to read to her while the narrator was away?
Answer
She was a respected, well-off elderly lady, and asking someone else to read would have meant openly admitting that she could not read. Her pride and self-respect stopped her, which is why she says she "felt very dependent and helpless".
Why does the narrator initially laugh at her grandmother's determination to learn at the age of sixty-two?
Answer
As a twelve-year-old, the narrator believed that learning was only for the young. Seeing her grandmother's grey hair, wrinkled hands and spectacles, and knowing how busy she was in the kitchen, she "childishly" thought it was funny and impossible for her to learn the alphabet at that age.
What significance does the story of Kashi Yatre have in both the grandmother's life and the story?
Answer
In the grandmother's life, Kashi Yatre was a story she loved deeply because she identified with its protagonist, an old lady who never went to Kashi. When she could not read its new episode, she realised how helpless illiteracy made her, and this became the reason for her decision to learn. In the story, the novel connects the beginning and the end: the narrator gifts her the published novel, and the grandmother reading its title and publisher's name aloud proves she has succeeded. Like the old lady in the novel, who gives up her own wish for a greater good, the grandmother also shows a noble, determined spirit.
What does the grandmother's desire to learn the Kannada alphabet reflect about her?
Answer
It reflects her determination, self-respect and love for independence. She did not accept her limitations at sixty-two; she set herself a deadline (Saraswati Puja day during Dassara), worked very hard and believed that "for learning there is no age bar".
What lessons can we infer from the grandmother's action of touching the narrator's feet?
Answer
We learn that a teacher deserves respect "irrespective of the gender and age", that knowledge is more important than age or relationship, and that a true learner is humble and grateful. It also shows that respect should be given for what a person does, not just for who they are.
What does the following line tell us about the broader theme of the story? 'For a good cause if you are determined, you can overcome any obstacle.'
Answer
The line sums up the theme of the story: determination and hard work can overcome any obstacle, including age. The grandmother proves that it is never too late to learn, and that education is the key to independence and self-respect.
How effectively does the story highlight the value of education in supporting personal independence?
Answer
The story shows this very effectively through the grandmother's own experience. Although the family was well-off, she says, "what use is money when I cannot be independent?" When the narrator was away, she could not read her favourite serial and felt "dependent and helpless", too embarrassed to ask anyone for help. This painful moment makes the reader feel the real cost of illiteracy. Her decision to learn, her hard work and her final success, when she reads the title of Kashi Yatre on her own and says "Now I am independent", show how education gives a person freedom and confidence. Thus, through a simple, touching family incident, the story convincingly shows that education is not just about books but about dignity and independence.
Vocabulary and Structures in Context
Match the binomials in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2. Now, use any five of the above binomials in sentences of your own.
Answer
Column 1 | Column 2 |
1. sink or swim | (vii) succeed or fail without help |
2. on and off | (v) sometimes, occasionally |
3. mix and match | (i) put different things together to get a range of possibilities |
4. all or nothing | (viii) something to be done completely or not at all |
5. part and parcel | (ii) complete part of or belong to |
6. pick and choose | (iii) choose only the best (things, people, etc.) |
7. sooner or later | (iv) at some time in the future |
8. leaps and bounds | (vi) increase or develop very quickly |
Sentences:
(i) On his first day at the new job, Raju was left to sink or swim.
(ii) It rained on and off throughout the day.
(iii) You can mix and match these tops and skirts to create many outfits.
(iv) Hard work is part and parcel of a student's life.
(v) Sooner or later, you will have to tell your parents the truth.
(vi) My grandmother's reading skills improved by leaps and bounds.
(vii) We cannot pick and choose the rules we want to follow.
Make words by adding suitable prefixes (un, im, dis, in, mis, extra) to the words in Column 1.
Answer
Column 1 | Column 2 |
1. popular | (i) unpopular |
2. belief | (ii) disbelief |
3. important | (iii) unimportant |
4. respect | (iv) disrespect |
5. correct | (v) incorrect |
6. continue | (vi) discontinue |
7. understand | (vii) misunderstand |
8. ordinary | (viii) extraordinary |
9. interesting | (ix) uninteresting |
10. possible | (x) impossible |
Identify any five words with prefixes from the story and make sentences using each.
Answer
Words from the story: unhappy, unusual, unfortunately, independent, irrespective.
(i) unhappy – The child was unhappy because he lost his favourite pen.
(ii) unusual – It is unusual to see snow in Chennai.
(iii) unfortunately – Unfortunately, the match was cancelled because of rain.
(iv) independent – My elder sister became financially independent after getting her first job.
(v) irrespective – Everyone must follow the school rules, irrespective of their class.
Match the idioms related to 'learning' in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2. Now, use these idioms in sentences of your own.
Answer
Column 1 | Column 2 |
1. to hit the books | (iii) to study seriously |
2. to draw a blank | (v) to be unable to remember |
3. to learn the ropes | (vi) to understand how to do an activity |
4. to rack one's brain | (ii) to think very hard |
5. to learn by heart | (i) to memorise something |
6. burn the midnight oil | (iv) to study or work late into the night |
Sentences:
(i) With exams starting next week, it is time to hit the books.
(ii) When the teacher asked me the date of the battle, I drew a blank.
(iii) It took the new librarian a month to learn the ropes.
(iv) I racked my brain but could not solve the riddle.
(v) We had to learn the poem by heart for the recitation competition.
(vi) Meera burnt the midnight oil to finish her science project on time.
Read the sentences from the text and underline the verbs.
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Secretly, I bought Kashi Yatre which had been published as a novel by that time.
Answer
I knew, then, that my student had passed with flying colours.
Answer
1. Verbs: bought, had been published
Verbs: knew, had passed
Answer
(i) Fill in the blanks with simple past and past perfect tense form of the verbs given in brackets.
A. When the delegates arrived at the conference, the keynote speaker had already begun the session.
B. After the students had learnt how to identify fake news online, they started verifying information before sharing it.
C. Before Kiran started using digital payment platforms, she had ensured her understanding of online fraud prevention.
D. By the time Varun recognised the importance of budgeting, he had exhausted most of his savings.
E. When Raghu logged in to the cybersecurity webinar, the instructor had already discussed the importance of strong passwords.
(ii) Fill in the blanks with the correct form of verbs given in brackets.
A. took B. reviewed C. had spent D. had discussed E. opened F. set G. had already introduced H. hurried I. had completed J. enjoyed
Completed passage: Last year, my parents and I took a financial planning course. When we reviewed our expenses, we realised we had spent too much on unnecessary purchases. After my parents had discussed ways to save, I opened a savings account. By the time we set our budget, the course had already introduced investment strategies. We hurried to take notes, but many participants had completed their financial plans. Despite that, we enjoyed learning how to manage money wisely.
Listen and Respond
You will listen to a speaker talk about digital literacy. Complete the sentences with one to three exact words that you hear.
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Literacy these days includes the ability to use ______.
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Digital literacy is also about protecting ______.
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Digital literacy enables the elderly to ______.
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Digital literacy encourages using the internet safely by helping us recognise ______ and ______.
Answer
The National Digital Literacy Mission helps people across the country by imparting ______.
Answer
1. digital tools
2. personal data
3. stay connected
4. misinformation and scams (the speaker also mentions cyber threats)
5. IT training
Speaking Activity
Turncoat debate: Choose your topic and speak 'for' and 'against' for not more than one minute each. Topic 1: It is important to learn a new language apart from your mother tongue. Topic 2: Learning can happen only when you are young.
Answer
Sample speech on Topic 2: "Learning can happen only when you are young."
For: To begin with, I would like to speak 'for' the topic. My first argument in favour of it is that young minds are fresh and curious, and they pick up new skills, languages and habits very quickly. Most importantly, I want to mention that children have fewer responsibilities, so they can give their full time and attention to learning. Moreover, I feel that habits formed in childhood stay with us for life. I strongly feel that the best years for learning are the young years.
Against: On the other hand, there are two sides to this topic. There's no doubt that learning is easier when we are young, but it is not limited to youth. If I could make a point here, the grandmother in "How I Taught My Grandmother to Read" learnt to read Kannada at sixty-two, in just a few months. I am pretty sure that many adults learn to drive, use computers or start new careers late in life. So, to put it in a few words, learning depends on determination, not age. As the grandmother says, "For learning there is no age bar."
Writing Task
Write a letter to the Editor of a local newspaper emphasising the importance of student participation in adult literacy camps. Discuss the benefits for students and society and suggest ways to spread awareness and encourage more students to volunteer.
Answer
Model answer:
Ananya Rao
Class IX, Green Valley Public School
12, Lake Road, Mysuru
15 July 2026
The Editor
The Mysuru Times
Mysuru
Subject: Students Can Promote Adult Literacy
Sir/Madam,
As a concerned citizen, I would like to draw your attention to the large number of adults in our city who still cannot read or write. Many of them depend on others to read a bus board, a bank form or a medicine label.
The issue at hand affects a large section of society. Students can play a big role in solving it by volunteering at adult literacy camps run by NGOs and government programmes. Such initiatives nurture a sense of responsibility and empathy in students and improve their communication and teaching skills. For adult learners, learning to read brings confidence, independence and protection from cheating and fraud.
A possible solution could be for schools to give credit for volunteering, hold awareness rallies and street plays, and use social media to share success stories of adult learners. Schools could also adopt nearby villages or slums for weekend classes.
I hope this letter gets published in the columns of your esteemed daily.
Yours truly,
Ananya Rao
Learning Beyond the Text
Complete the given table with words from any five Indian languages.
Answer
Language | 1. Kannada | 2. Hindi | 3. Tamil | 4. Bengali | 5. Marathi |
Grandmother | Avva / Ajji | Dadi / Nani | Paati | Thakuma / Dida | Aaji |
Grandfather | Ajja | Dada / Nana | Thatha | Thakurda / Dadu | Aajoba |
Mother | Amma | Maa / Mata | Amma | Ma | Aai |
Father | Appa | Pita / Papa | Appa | Baba | Baba |
Sister | Akka / Tangi | Behen / Didi | Akka / Thangai | Bon / Didi | Bahin / Tai |
Brother | Anna / Tamma | Bhai / Bhaiya | Anna / Thambi | Bhai / Dada | Bhau / Dada |
Do you know? (Information on NLMA, financial literacy, the Early Literacy Project and cultural literacy)
Answer
This section is for reading and information only. Students may visit https://dsel.education.gov.in/adult_education to learn more about adult education programmes in India.
Talk to your grandparents and find out which book or magazine they enjoy reading. Buy a copy of it and present it to them as a gift.
Answer
Sample response: I learnt that my grandfather enjoys reading a monthly Hindi magazine on farming and gardening. I bought the latest issue with my pocket money and gave it to him. He was delighted and read out an article to me about growing vegetables on a terrace.
Bharat Our Land (Poem) – Reflect and Respond
Recall the lines of the National Anthem and complete the table with the names of the states, mountain ranges, and rivers mentioned in it.
Answer
States/Provinces | Mountain Ranges | Rivers |
Punjab, Sindh (Sindhu), Gujarat, Maratha (Maharashtra), Dravida (South India), Utkala (Odisha), Banga (Bengal) | Vindhya, Himachal (Himalayas) | Yamuna, Ganga |
Discuss what the words 'जय हे' (Jaya he) in the last two lines of the National Anthem convey.
Answer
'Jaya he' means "Victory to thee". Repeated at the end, it is a joyful salute to the motherland, expressing our respect, pride and wish for India's everlasting glory and victory.
Choose the odd one out that does not correspond with the meaning of the underlined word.
Answer
1. peerless – valuable (incomparable and unmatched mean peerless)
2. sanctified – applauded (blessed and purified mean sanctified)
3. auspicious – fantastic (fortunate and favourable mean auspicious)
4. hoary antiquity – recent past (ancient times and time immemorial mean hoary antiquity)
Bharat Our Land – Check Your Understanding
Fill in the blanks by choosing appropriate words from the box to complete the summary of the poem.
Answer
1. historical greatness 2. Himavant 3. Ganga 4. Upanishads 5. warriors 6. sages 7. Brahma-knowledge 8. Buddha 9. peerless 10. praise
Complete the following features about the poem: 1. mood 2. tone 3. rhyme scheme 4. examples of personification
Answer
1. Mood: patriotic pride, admiration and reverence for India.
2. Tone: proud, celebratory and reverential.
3. Rhyme scheme: there is no regular rhyme scheme; the poem (a translation) is in free verse, held together by the refrain "she's peerless, let's praise her!"
4. Personification: "The generous Ganga ... which other river can match her grace?"; India is called "she" in "she's peerless, let's praise her!"; "Here Brahma-knowledge has taken root".
What is the impact of the refrain, 'she's peerless, let's praise her!'?
Answer
The refrain stresses the central idea that India has no equal. Repeating it creates a song-like, chant-like rhythm, builds a feeling of pride and invites the reader to join the poet in praising the motherland.
India is metaphorically described as 'this sunny golden land,' suggesting that it is ______.
Answer
bright, rich and prosperous – a warm, fertile and precious land full of abundance and glory.
Match the symbols in Column 1 to what they suggest in Column 2.
Answer
Column 1 | Column 2 |
1. Himavant | (v) strength and permanence |
2. Ganga | (iii) purity and generosity |
3. Upanishads | (ii) spiritual and philosophical legacy |
4. Gallant warriors and sages | (vi) courage and wisdom |
5. Brahma-knowledge and Buddha's Dhamma | (i) knowledge and enlightenment |
6. Sunny golden land | (iv) richness and glory |
Give any two examples of imagery from the poem.
(i) "The mighty Himavant is ours" – a visual image of tall, majestic mountains.
(ii) "This sunny golden land is ours" – a bright image of a sunlit, golden, fertile land.
Answer
(Also: "The generous Ganga ... her grace" and "The divinest music has been heard here" – an auditory image.)
What is the impact of the use of hyphens in the first stanza? Select the options that are true.
Answer
True options: 1 (creates deliberate pauses to reinforce the sense of admiration and pride), 3 (lends to the lyrical quality giving it a measured, chant-like rhythm) and 5 (presents a key element of India's greatness before the hyphen and makes a strong assertion about its uniqueness after the hyphen).
Answer
The poet uses hyperbole in the poem. (Identify examples.)
Examples of hyperbole: "there's no equal anywhere on earth"; "which other river can match her grace?"; "what scriptures else to name with them?"; "The divinest music has been heard here"; "she's peerless". These exaggerations make India's greatness sound grand and unmatched.
The poem is an ode. Identify examples from the poem that correspond to it being an ode.
Answer
The poem expresses deep admiration and praise for India in grand, elevated language: "The mighty Himavant is ours- there's no equal anywhere on earth", "The sacred Upanishads are ours", "This sunny golden land is ours", "Gallant warriors have lived here", "The divinest music has been heard here", and the repeated cry "she's peerless, let's praise her!" All these celebrate the extraordinary qualities of India with enthusiasm and emotion.
Identify the matching allusions from the poem for the following explanations.
(i) Ancient Indian scriptures that form the philosophical core – "The sacred Upanishads are ours".
(ii) Spiritual knowledge associated with self-realisation and ultimate truth – "Here Brahma-knowledge has taken root".
(iii) Gautama Buddha's teachings – "and the Buddha preached his dhamma here".
Answer
Bharat Our Land – Critical Reflection
Read the extract ("The mighty Himavant is ours- ... what scriptures else to name with them?") and answer the questions.
Answer
The word 'mighty' refers to the ______ of the Himavant.
Answer
great size, height and strength (power)
The question mark at the end of the fourth and sixth line of the extract is used to ______.
Answer
(ii) emphasise a point (they are rhetorical questions)
The poet uses the word 'generous' to describe the Ganga. Why?
Answer
The Ganga gives freely – it provides water for drinking and farming, makes the plains fertile and supports the lives of millions of people, so it is described as generous.
Why has the movement of the river been described as graceful?
Answer
The Ganga flows smoothly, gently and majestically across the land, and its beauty and calm flow give it an elegant, graceful appearance.
The poet is implying that the Upanishads are ______ (unmatched/abundant) in their wisdom and spiritual depth.
Answer
unmatched
Answer the following questions.
Answer
How does the poem reflect a strong connection to cultural identity and heritage?
Answer
The poet repeatedly says "is ours" about the Himavant, the Ganga, the Upanishads and the land, showing a sense of belonging. He celebrates India's sages, warriors, music, Brahma-knowledge and the Buddha's dhamma, which are all part of India's rich cultural and spiritual heritage.
What can you infer about the poet's attitude towards India from the repeated phrase 'she's peerless, let's praise her!'?
Answer
The poet has deep love, pride and reverence for India. He believes no other land can equal her and wants everyone to join him in praising the motherland.
What does the line 'many a sage has sanctified this land' suggest about India's spiritual heritage?
Answer
It suggests that India has a long and rich spiritual tradition. Countless saints and sages have lived, meditated and taught here, and their presence has made the land holy and pure.
How does the poet connect warriors and music to India's greatness?
Answer
The "gallant warriors" show India's courage and history of bravery, while "the divinest music" shows its artistic and spiritual richness. Together, they show that India is great both in strength and in culture.
How does this poem foster a sense of national pride?
Answer
The poem celebrates India's natural beauty (the mighty Himavant, the generous Ganga), its spiritual wealth (the Upanishads, Brahma-knowledge, the Buddha's dhamma), its brave warriors, wise sages and divine music, and its ancient history. The repeated word "ours" makes the reader feel that all this greatness belongs to them, and the refrain "she's peerless, let's praise her!" invites everyone to take pride in the motherland.
Bharat Our Land – Vocabulary in Context
Complete the table by choosing words from the poem.
Answer
Suffix | Meaning | Example from the poem |
-ous | full of, having the qualities of kindness | 1. generous |
-ity | the state of being very old or ancient | 2. antiquity |
-est | superlative form | 3. divinest |
-less | without something | 4. peerless |
Complete the table by adding a different suffix to form new words. Also, create a sentence using the created word.
Answer
Suffix | Meaning | New word and sentence |
-tion | the action or process of | 1. celebrate – celebration: The whole school joined the Independence Day celebration. |
-ive | quality or nature of | 2. create – creative: Riya is a creative girl who makes beautiful paintings. |
-ment | the action or result of | 3. achieve – achievement: Winning the state quiz was a great achievement for our team. |
-ed | past-tense version of a verb | 4. preach – preached: The Buddha preached peace and compassion. |
Bharat Our Land – Listen and Respond
You will listen to four people talk about the places they like to travel to. Write the speaker number for the two pictures given.
Answer
1. Picture of a traveller walking with a selfie stick and microphone: Speaker 4 (the travel vlogger who shares videos of India's forests with subscribers)
2. Picture of a climber on a steep mountain rock: Speaker 2 (the adventure lover for whom the mountains are a playground)
Listen again and match the given statements to the speaker. There are two statements that you do not need.
Answer
Statement | Speaker |
1. The green surroundings look beautiful visually. | Speaker 4 (forests of India) |
2. The group visits make even the difficult areas seem easy. | Not needed |
3. The quietness of the environment here leads to a peaceful experience. | Speaker 1 (serene riversides, meditation, inner harmony) |
4. The risk and thrill in such an area is what is most appealing. | Speaker 2 (adventure in the mountains) |
5. The dry expanse promises to appeal to the spirit of exploration. | Not needed |
6. The sight of such beauty is very inviting and has to be captured. | Speaker 3 (the photographer who loves deserts) |
Bharat Our Land – Speaking Activity
In pairs, take turns to speak about the aspects of your village/town/city that you feel are an asset.
Answer
Sample response: One thing that I find truly wonderful about my city, Udaipur, is its beautiful lakes. If I had to describe my city in one word, it would be "royal". I have always been fascinated by the way the people of my city preserve their palaces, havelis and folk arts. When it comes to the scenery, my city truly shines because of the Aravalli hills reflected in Lake Pichola at sunset. What I want other people to know about my city is that it is warm and welcoming to every visitor. I feel a deep sense of pride when I think about my city's history and its colourful festivals like Gangaur.
Bharat Our Land – Writing Task
Write a paragraph about a place that you have visited which has stayed in your memory. (Why did you go there? Who did you travel with? How did you prepare? Where did you stay? What activities did you do?)
Answer
Model answer:
A Trip to Munnar
Last December, I visited Munnar in Kerala, a place that has stayed in my memory ever since. We went there to celebrate my grandparents' fiftieth wedding anniversary, and I travelled with my parents, my sister and my grandparents. Before the trip, we booked our train tickets, packed warm clothes, an umbrella and medicines, and read about the places to see. We stayed in a small homestay surrounded by tea gardens, where the owners served us delicious appam and stew. Every morning, thick mist covered the green hills. We visited a tea factory to see how tea leaves are processed, walked in Eravikulam National Park where we spotted the rare Nilgiri tahr, and went boating at Mattupetty Dam. The cool air, the endless green slopes and the happy time with my family make Munnar my most memorable trip.
Bharat Our Land – Learning Beyond the Text
Search for poems or songs dedicated to India in your regional language. Share them with your classmates and explain their meaning too.
Answer
Sample response: "Vande Mataram" by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay (in Sanskritised Bengali) praises the motherland as rich with sweet waters, fruits and cool breezes, green with crops and bright with moonlit nights. "Saare Jahan Se Achha" by Muhammad Iqbal (Urdu) says India is the best land in the world, guarded by the Himalayas and nourished by thousands of rivers. Like "Bharat Our Land", both songs express love and pride for the nation.
In groups of six, prepare an interdisciplinary project on India's major geographical features (mountains, rivers, deserts, valleys, islands, plateaus).
Answer
Sample project outline:
(i) Mountains – The Himalayas: in the north; source of rivers, protect India from cold winds; languages: Hindi, Kashmiri, Nepali, Ladakhi.
(ii) Rivers – The Kaveri: flows through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu; water for irrigation and drinking, supports rice farming; languages: Kannada, Tamil.
(iii) Deserts – The Thar Desert: in Rajasthan; known for camels, folk music and solar energy; language: Rajasthani, Hindi.
(iv) Valleys – Kangra Valley: in Himachal Pradesh; famous for tea gardens and Kangra paintings; languages: Kangri, Hindi.
(v) Islands – Lakshadweep: coral islands in the Arabian Sea; fishing, coconut farming and tourism; languages: Malayalam, Jeseri, Mahl.
(vi) Plateaus – The Deccan Plateau: covers much of south-central India; rich black soil for cotton, minerals; languages: Marathi, Telugu, Kannada.
Extra Important Questions
Short Answer Questions
Who was Triveni and why did the grandmother love her novel Kashi Yatre?
Answer
Triveni was a popular Kannada writer whose stories dealt with the psychological problems of ordinary people. The grandmother loved Kashi Yatre because she identified herself with its protagonist, an old lady who longed to go to Kashi, just as she herself had never been there.
Why did the grandmother cry when the narrator returned from the wedding?
Answer
While the narrator was away, the new episode of Kashi Yatre arrived, but the grandmother could not read it. She felt helpless and dependent, and this made her cry.
What deadline did the grandmother set for herself and why?
Answer
She chose Saraswati Puja day during Dassara as her deadline, because by that day she wanted to be able to read a novel on her own and become independent.
What gift did the narrator give her grandmother, and what did it prove?
Answer
She gifted her the novel Kashi Yatre. When the grandmother immediately read its title and the publisher's name, it proved that she had learnt to read and "had passed with flying colours".
Why was the narrator taken aback on Saraswati Puja day?
Answer
The grandmother bent down and touched the narrator's feet. Elders never touch the feet of youngsters, so the narrator was surprised by this unexpected act.
Long Answer Questions
Describe the character of the grandmother, Krishtakka.
Answer
Krishtakka is a strong, loving and determined woman. She lost her mother early, never went to school and married young, yet she made sure her children and grandchildren studied well. She was usually smiling and had never cried even in difficult situations. When she could not read Kashi Yatre, she did not give up; instead, at sixty-two, she decided to learn the Kannada alphabet and set herself a deadline. She worked very hard, reading, repeating, writing and reciting. She is also humble and grateful, as she touches her young teacher's feet to show respect. Her life proves her words: "For learning there is no age bar."
"Education gives a person dignity and independence." Discuss with reference to the story.
Answer
In the story, the grandmother had money and a respected position, yet she felt "dependent and helpless" when she could not read her favourite serial. She was too embarrassed to ask others to read for her, which shows how illiteracy hurt her dignity. Her question, "what use is money when I cannot be independent?", shows that education matters more than wealth. After months of hard work, she could read any novel confidently and proudly said, "Now I am independent." Thus, the story shows that education not only gives knowledge but also self-respect, confidence and freedom.
Bring out the significance of the title "Bharat Our Land" and the central idea of the poem.
Answer
The title expresses the poet's feeling that India belongs to all its people and is a source of shared pride. In the poem, Subramania Bharati praises India's natural wonders like the mighty Himavant and the generous Ganga, its sacred scriptures like the Upanishads, its gallant warriors and wise sages, its divine music, and the spiritual teachings of Brahma-knowledge and the Buddha. The repeated word "ours" and the refrain "she's peerless, let's praise her!" convey the central idea that India is an ancient, unmatched land, and that every Indian should love and honour it.