Unit 2 - Prose - I Can't climb the tree - Ruskin Bond
A. Based on your
understanding of the story, indicate either ‘T’ (True) or ‘F’ (False) against
the columns.
S.No. Statement T
/ F
1. The visitor had hidden a few old coins in the tree.
- True
2 .The jack fruit tree was still there. - True
3 .As a boy the visitor used to swing on the turnstile. - True
4. The visitor had sold the house. - True
5. A girl came out of the house. - True
6. The visitor’s grandfather used to sit on the stone
bench. -
False
7. The visitor was able to remember the music of a piano. - True
8. The visitor was able to climb the jack fruit tree. - False
9. The purpose of the visit of the narrator was to buy
his ancestral house back. - False
10. The visitor climbed over the wall easily. - False
B. Multiple Choice Questions
B. Based on your
understanding of the story, answer the following questions by choosing the
correct answer.
1. The story I Can’t Climb Trees Anymore highlights the
importance of ________
a) old age. b) youth. c) adulthood. d)
middle age.
Answer : b) youth
2. The house which was visited by the man____________
a) remained unchanged. b) was totally changed. c) was slightly repaired. d) was given a facelift.
Answer : c) was slightly repaired
3. Who said, “A blessing rests on the house where the
shadow of a tree falls”?
a) Grand mother b)
Uncle c) Grand father d) The visitor
Answer : a)
Grandmother
4. The visitor came back to the house because he
________________
a) wanted to see the jackfruit tree. b) was looking for his lost youth. c) wanted to look again at his old house d)
wanted to buy the house.
Answer : b) was looking for
his lost youth
5. The visitor gifted the _________ to the little girl.
a) iron cross b)
marbles c) bronze
medal d)
old coins
Answer: a) iron cross
C. Short Answer Questions
1.What did the visitor hide in the jackfruit tree?
He
hid marbles, a book, old coins, and the Iron Cross.
2.When did the visitor actually hide the Iron Cross?
He
hid it before leaving the house 25 years ago but forgot about it while packing.
3. What was the old house built with?
It
was built with solid blocks of granite.
4.Does the visitor still live in the house?
No,
he had sold the house long ago and was only visiting to relive his memories.
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1.
"Blessings rest on the house where the shadow of a tree
falls."
The
visitor’s grandmother believed that a house shaded by a tree would always
receive good fortune and blessings.
2. What
did the writer observe about the house?
The
house had not changed much, but there was a new outhouse, fewer trees, and the
turnstile was removed.
3. What
was the local superstition about trees?
It
was believed that if the shadow of a tree fell on a house, it would bring
blessings and good luck.
4. What
did the visitor do with the turnstile when he was a boy?
He
used to swing on the turnstile, going round and round until he felt dizzy.
5. Who
is the owner of the house now?
The
house now belongs to the girl's father, who is a colonel.
6. Why
did the visitor return to his old house?
He
wanted to revisit the memories of his childhood and feel young again.
7. How
did he get back the Iron Cross?
The
girl climbed the jackfruit tree and found it in the hollow of a branch.
8. How
did the grandfather get the Iron Cross?
The
visitor’s grandfather, who was British, got it from a German soldier during the
First World War.
9.
What did he do with the old Iron Cross?
He
gave it to the girl as a gift.
10. Where
had he left his childhood treasures?
He
had hidden them in a hollow part of the jackfruit tree.
D. Match the words in column
A with the meanings in column B by drawing a line as shown.
|
S.No. A |
B |
|
1. pruning |
- soaked |
|
2. chiming |
-shaky |
|
3.
drenched |
-flourishing, |
|
4. dizzy |
-lively |
|
5.
prosperous |
-ancient |
|
6.
sprightliness - |
trimming a
plant |
|
7.
treasure |
-emitting
a sound |
|
8. rusty |
-a
collection of precious things |
Answer :
|
S.No. |
Column A |
Column B |
|
1. |
pruning |
trimming a plant |
|
2. |
chiming |
emitting a sound |
|
3. |
drenched |
soaked |
|
4. |
dizzy |
shaky |
|
5. |
prosperous |
flourishing |
|
6. |
sprightliness |
lively |
|
7. |
treasure |
a collection of precious
things |
|
8. |
rusty |
ancient |
E. Read these shortened forms
of words and write the fullform for the remaining words and complete the table
given below.
Answer:
|
Short Form |
Full Form |
|
won’t |
will not |
|
I’d |
I had / I would |
|
I’ll |
I will |
|
you’d |
you had / you would |
|
they’ve |
they have |
|
he’d |
he had / he would |
|
he’s |
he is / he has |
|
wasn’t |
was not |
|
isn't |
is not |
|
doesn't |
does not |
|
aren't |
are not |
|
wouldn't |
would not |
|
can't |
cannot |
Speaking
F. You are visiting the
primary school where you studied classes I to IV, after six
years. You get a chance to go to your standard two classroom and you are
permitted to sit at the same place where you used to sit.
1. What would you remember?
2. Describe your feelings at that time.
3. Who do you miss very badly, your friends or teachers?
4. Share your thoughts with the class.
A Visit to My Primary School
Visiting my primary school
after six years would be an emotional and nostalgic experience. As I step into
my old standard two classroom, memories would come rushing back.
1. What would I remember?
I would remember the small
wooden desks, the colorful charts on the walls, and the blackboard where my
teacher used to write with white chalk. I would recall the fun moments with my
friends—sharing lunch, playing during breaks, and taking part in classroom
activities. The sound of the school bell and the smell of old books would bring
back those childhood days.
2. My Feelings at That Time
I would feel a mix of
happiness and sadness. Happiness because I get to relive my childhood memories,
and sadness because those carefree days are gone. Sitting in my old seat, I
would feel like a little child again, remembering how I once dreamed about growing
up, unaware of how precious those school days were.
3. Who Do I Miss More – My
Friends or My Teachers?
I would miss both, but my
friends more. We used to laugh together, help each other, and share our little
secrets. Although my teachers were kind and supportive, friends made every
school day exciting and fun. I would wonder where they are now and what they
are doing.
4. Sharing My Thoughts
If I were to share this
experience with my classmates, I would tell them how important it is to cherish
every moment of school life. We may not realize it now, but these are the times
we will miss the most in the future. The laughter, the lessons, the scoldings,
and the friendships—each of them is special.
Conclusion:
Visiting my primary school would be a heartwarming journey back in time,
reminding me of the innocence, joy, and simplicity of childhood.
Writing
G. On seeing these pictures,
you would have gone down your memory lane. Write a paragraph in about 50 words
describing your favourite sport when you were young.
As a child, my favorite sport
was spinning tops. My friends and I would gather in the dusty lanes, competing
to see whose top spun the longest. The thrill of wrapping the string tightly
and launching it with precision was unmatched. The excitement of watching it
spin flawlessly remains a cherished memory.
H. Based on the story and your own ideas write your answers
in about 80 to 100 words each.
1. Imagine yourself as the writer. Narrate the story of
your visit to your ancestral house.
Returning to my ancestral
house after twenty-five years was an emotional experience. As I stood outside,
memories flooded my mind. The old jackfruit tree, the stone bench under the
mango tree, and the flowers my grandmother once cared for—all brought a sense
of nostalgia. A young girl living there now invited me inside, and as we
talked, I remembered my childhood treasures hidden in the jackfruit tree. To my
surprise, she found the Iron Cross I had left behind. Though I came to see the
house, I realized I was searching for my lost youth.
2. The man who came to the house gave the cross as a gift
to the girl. Why did he do this? What do you think would have happened if he
had taken back the cross with him?
The man gave the cross to the
girl because he realized that his true treasure was not the medal but the
memories and emotions tied to his past. By giving it to her, he symbolically
passed on a piece of history, ensuring that his childhood remained in the
house. If he had taken the cross back, it would have been just an object to
him. However, by leaving it with the girl, he preserved the magic of his past
and made a meaningful connection with the present.
I.
Write a letter to your friend describing
your ancestral house.
Letter to a Friend Describing My
Ancestral House
[Your Address]
[City, Date]
Dear Ram kumar,
I hope you are doing well. Today, I want to share
something special with you—my visit to our ancestral house after many years. As
I approached the familiar gates, nostalgia washed over me. The house, though a
little worn, still held its old charm. The large mango and jackfruit trees in
the garden stood tall, whispering tales of my childhood.
Inside, the wooden furniture and the ticking of the old
grandfather clock brought back memories of my grandmother’s stories and my
adventures around the house. The stone bench under the mango tree, where I
spent countless afternoons, was still there. I even found an old treasure I had
hidden in the jackfruit tree years ago!
This visit reminded me how deeply connected I am to this
place. I wish you could see it one day—I am sure you would love it as much as I
do. Write back soon and tell me about your childhood home!
Yours truly,
[Your Name]
A. Work with a partner and fill in the table with
information about your locality. You may add more information, if necessary.
When you finish filling the table, write a short paragraph comparing the two
places.
|
Locality |
Your Place |
Your Partner's Place |
|
-
proximity to the railway station |
|
|
|
-
proximity to the airport |
|
|
|
-number of
shopping centres |
|
|
|
- number
of temples |
|
|
|
-
important heritage centres |
|
|
|
- sea,
lakesrivers or ponds |
|
|
|
- traffic |
|
|
Answer
:
|
Locality |
Your
Place |
Your Partner's
Place |
|
-
proximity to the railway station |
2 km away |
5 km away |
|
-
proximity to the airport |
15 km away |
10 km away |
|
-number of
shopping centres |
3 |
5 |
|
- number
of temples |
6 |
4 |
|
-
important heritage centres |
1 (Old Fort) |
2 (Palace, Museum) |
|
- sea, lakesrivers
or ponds |
A small lake nearby |
A river flows nearby |
|
- traffic |
Moderate |
Heavy |
B. Give your opinion and compare the items in each
picture using -er, more, less, or an irregular form. Use the words. You may
form your sentences in more than one way.
1.
healthy,
wholesome, calorific
(a)____________________________________________________
(b)____________________________________________________
(c)____________________________________________________
2.
eco-friendly,
economical, safer
(a)____________________________________________________
(b)____________________________________________________
(c)____________________________________________________
3.
educational,
interesting, trendy
(a)____________________________________________________
(b)____________________________________________________
(c)____________________________________________________
4.
safe,
comfortable, quick
(a)____________________________________________________
(b)____________________________________________________
(c)____________________________________________________
5
cozy, costly,
sturdy
(a)____________________________________________________
(b)____________________________________________________
(c)____________________________________________________
Answer :
1. Healthy, wholesome, calorific
(a) Vegetables and fruits are healthier than pizza.
(b) Pizza is more calorific than vegetables and fruits.
(c) Fresh fruits and vegetables are more wholesome than fast food.
2. Eco-friendly, economical, safer
(a) A bicycle is more eco-friendly than a motorcycle.
(b) Riding a bicycle is more economical than riding a motorcycle.
(c) A bicycle is safer than a motorcycle.
3. Educational, interesting,
trendy
(a) A radio is more educational than a smartphone.
(b) A smartphone is more interesting than a radio.
(c) A smartphone is trendier than a radio.
4. Safe, comfortable, quick
(a) A bus is safer than a train.
(b) A train is more comfortable than a bus.
(c) A train is quicker than a bus.
5. Cozy, costly, sturdy
(a) A recliner is cozier than a wooden chair.
(b) A recliner is costlier than a wooden chair.
(c) A wooden chair is sturdier than a recliner.
C. Look at the bar-graph. Write five sentences using the appropriate degrees of comparison.
·
Bungee jumping
was the most popular adventure sport in 2017, with a higher popularity index
than any other sport.
·
Paragliding was
more popular in 2001 than in 2017, as its popularity index decreased over the
years.
·
Rock climbing
became more popular in 2017 compared to 2001, showing a significant increase in
interest.
·
Surfing remained
the least popular adventure sport in both years, with a lower popularity index
than the others.
·
Rafting was as
popular in 2017 as rock climbing was in 2001, showing a steady increase in its
popularity.
D. *Listen to the conversation between Leena and her
mother and list down a few new words. Using a dictionary find out the meaning
for those words.
|
New Word |
Meaning |
|
Versatile |
able to adapt to |
|
|
different activities |
|
Multifaceted |
Having many aspects or
features |
|
Proclaiming |
Announcing something
publicly or officially |
|
Brooding |
Deeply thoughtful or
serious |
|
Savour |
To enjoy something completely |
|
Bounty |
Generous supply of
something |
|
Dare-devil |
Recklessly bold or
adventurous |
|
Enquiries |
Questions asked to get
information |
