CBSE Class 10 English Revision Notes 2024-25 PDF

CBSE Class 10 English Language and Literature 1 A Letter to God by G.L.FUENTES Lencho’s hope of good rain to have a good crop. It rains but the rain soon changes into hailstones. Lencho has firm faith in God. Lencho writes a...

CBSE Class 10 English Language and Literature 1 A Letter to God by G.L.FUENTES Lencho’s hope of good rain to have a good crop. It rains but the rain soon changes into hailstones. Lencho has firm faith in God. Lencho writes a letter to God to help him. Lencho ask God to send him hundred pesos. Postmaster and other employees laugh at Lencho’s letter to God. Postmaster decides to help Lencho in his problem. Postmaster wants every employee to help in his noble deed. Postmaster collects seventy pesos and gives the envelope to Lencho himself. ·Lencho gets angry after getting seventy pesos amount as he asked for hundred pesos. Lencho calls the employees of post office a ‘bunch of crooks’ as he thinks that they have stolen the rest of amount. Lencho again writes a letter to God to send him rest of the money. 1/1  1 Dust of Snow poem by Robert Frost The poem, Dust Of Snow by Robert Frost, reiterates that the little things in life can make huge changes in our future. It also shows that if we can take the hard times of life in stride, eventually something will happen to change our situation into happier times. The simple things we do for others can make all the difference. Just think about those random acts of kindness we do and how much they brighten a person’s day and sometimes changes their future. The poem describes a very simple happening in very simple words. It tells us that sometimes even a small incident may prove to be of a larger significance. The poet is upset in the beginning of the poem but a small incident of falling of snow changes his mood totally. In the end of the poem the poet feels relaxed and thankful to the nature for saving his day from being wasted. Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 1/1  1 Fire and Ice by Robert Frost The poem "Fire and Ice" by Robert Frost explores the destructive potential of human emotions, comparing them to the natural forces of fire and ice. It ponders the question of how the world might end, suggesting that it could be consumed by either the intensity of desire or the coldness of hate. Ultimately, the poem concludes that both forces are equally capable of destroying the world, leaving the reader to contemplate the destructive power of human emotions.  2 Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela 10th of May was, a day of freedom for South Africa and there was huge gathering of international leaders and dignitaries. Inauguration ceremony or swearing in ceremony was held in Union Building in Pretoria and first non-racial government took the charge. Nelson Mandela gave speech on the victory for justice, peace and human dignity. Mandela pledged to liberate his people from poverty, suffering and discrimination. A colorful show by jets and helicopters to show military’s loyalty took place. Singing of two national anthems was done-the old ‘Nkosi Sikelel’ by the whites and the new ‘Die stem’ by the blacks. A new system that recognized the rights and freedoms of all people was formed. Mandela remembered and thanked the people who sacrificed their lives for the freedom. Salutation to some great freedom fighters – Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Chief Luthuli, Yusuf Dadoo and others. Mandela said in speech that a country is rich because of its people not because of the minerals. Courage is not the absence of fear but the victory over it. People should love others and not hate them due to color or religion. Love comes naturally not by force, which is the natural goodness. He also stated that a man should try to make a balance between his duties – duty to his family and duty to his community and country. A black person was treated badly and not allowed to perform his duties. According to Mandela, freedom has many aspects like – for a kid it is to run and play, for adult it is to fulfil the need of his own and his family. Real freedom means equal rights for everyone. Nelson Mandela joined African National Congress (ANC). He desired for people to live with dignity and respect. He wanted the oppressor and the oppressed to be liberated. Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 1/1  2 A Tiger in the Zoo by Leslie Norris This poem contrasts a tiger when it is in its natural habitat and when it is imprisoned in a zoo. On a starry night, the poet sees a tiger in a zoo. The tiger moves slowly up and down in his cage The tiger is full of rage but is quiet in his helplessness. The poet is moved to pity for the tiger The poet says that the tiger should have been in the jungle.. But sadly the tiger is locked behind bars in a concrete cell The tiger does not take any notice of the visitors The tiger is no longer free to move in his natural habitat.. Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 1/1  3 Two Stories about Flying I. His First Flight by Liam O'Flaherty Seagull family of 6 members. The young seagull afraid of flying. Family has concern of his food and fear of flying. Cajoling and provoking of him by family. Family leaves him alone at the rock. He cries because of heat and hunger. No one looks at him except the mother. Temptation by mother for a piece of fish. He pretends to sleep but nobody comes to him. Everybody taunts him for his cowardice. The young seagull dives to catch a fish to feed himself. He tries to spread his wings outwards. He begins to fly slowly downwards and upwards. He is now no longer afraid of flying and falling down in the sea. He soars with a joyous scream. Seagull family comes near to him an encourages him. He has made his first flight successful. II. Black Aeroplane by Frederick Forsyth Once the writer was in his old Dakota and it was one thirty in the morning, he was flying over France and going to England. After informing the Paris Control that he was on his way to England, he turned his plane 12 degree west towards England. He was dreaming of taking breakfast with his family. Suddenly he saw stormy black clouds before him. Paris was about 150 km away and he had not enough fuel. So he decided to fly Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 1/2 through the storm. In the middle of the storm, he could not see anything and all his instruments like compass, radio, etc. stopped working. Suddenly he saw another aeroplane without lights. Its pilot asked him to follow. After half an hour, he came out of the clouds and found a runway. Now he was safe and happy. He wanted to thank the pilot who helped him, but no one was there. He went to the control room and asked the woman who was on duty about the pilot. The woman looked at the writer surprisingly, laughed and told that there was no other plane in the radar. The writer was extremely surprised. Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 2/2  3 How to Tell Wild Animals by Carolyn Wells The poem "How to Tell Wild Animals" by Carolyn Wells is a humorous guide to identifying dangerous animals. Rather than providing traditional identification methods, the poet describes how you'd know you've encountered a specific animal, often through a rather gruesome encounter. For example, you'd know you met a Bengal tiger if it pounces and eats you, or a bear if it gives you a fatal hug. The poem uses this darkly humorous approach to highlight the fearsome nature of these animals and to entertain the reader with its unique perspective on identification.  3 The Ball Poem by John Berryman This poem, by John Berriman, is about losing something that you love, and learning to grow up. It is about a little boy, who, for the first time in his young life, is learning what it is like to experience grief at the loss of a much beloved possession-his ball. To us, the loss of a ball is of minor consequence, and our reaction to it is to say ‘O there are other balls’. But to a little boy, this is not so. A dime, another ball, is worthless. Money is external; it cannot buy back our love, nor replace the things that we love: the things that really matter. The little boy has lost his ball. He can buy many new balls but he has a very deep emotional attachment and memories associated with that ball. So he regrets over the loss of the ball. The poet is indirectly trying to tell us that we should learn how to cope up with the loss. And money is external i.e. we can’t buy memories with money. We all should learn our responsibility and learn to cope up with the loss. Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 1/1  4 From the Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank Anne Frank lived in Holland after Hitler invaded. His father and mother left her and her sister to her Grandma. She was gifted a diary on her thirteen birthday. She named it ‘Kitty’ and made it her best friend in her loneliness. She wrote every problem and happenings in her diary. She was very close to her Grandma, after her death she felt very much alone. They lived in hiding for many years to survive. She was lovable of every teacher except Mr. Kessing who taught Maths. Mr. Kessing got annoyed with her talkative nature. He punished her by giving her extra homework many a times. Her essay in verse form on topic ‘Quack, Quack, Quack’ said Mistress Chatterbox humiliated Mr. Kessing. He allowed her to talk and relieved her form any extra home work. Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 1/1  4 Amanda! poem by ROBIN KLEIN The narrator recalls moments as a five-or six-year-old girl when she would spend her days watching Amanda work at her sewing machine, transforming cloth into fantastic dresses, and spend her nights thinking about Amanda’s creations until she fell asleep Amanda was her connection to the world of creation, as well as a link to the larger social world that Amanda relayed to her through provocative gossip about the men and women she knew in South Texas. The narrator is not completely comfortable, however, in Amanda’s presence. Although she can speak freely with other people, with Amanda she is rendered almost speechless because she is sure that Amanda is indifferent to her. The narrator has other apprehensions about Amanda. It is rumored around town that Amanda and her friends Librada and Soledad are associated with magic. Although no one considers Amanda a real enchantress, her special powers make the children, at least, believe that she has little figurines that are exact replicas of everyone who had ever crossed her. When Librada visits the narrator’s house, she leaves behind a slimy substance in which the narrator puts her arm. The narrator and her mother both think the substance is associated with Librada’s status as a witch, so the mother takes the substance outside in newspapers and burns it. The narrator believes that Amanda is part of a complex plot that she cannot figure out. Although out of fear she... Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 1/1  5 Glimpses of India PART I A BAKER FROM GOA by Lucio Rodrigues 1. The Portuguese in Goa were lovers of bread. 2. Those eaters of bread have now gone but its makers still exist. 3. During the childhood days of the narrator, a baker used to be their friend, companion and guide. 4. The baker came twice a day- once in the morning and again while returning home after finishing his selling. 5. The jingling thud of the baker’s bamboo woke up the sleeping children. 6. The loaves were delivered to the servants of the house. 7. The children would peep into the baker’s basket for the bread bangles. 8. The children would eat bread with hot tea. 9. The marriages were incomplete without the popular bol bread. 10. Bolinhas was a must during Christmas and all other festivals. 11. The bakers wore a particular knee length frock known as kabai. 12. Baking was a profitable profession. Bakers had a plump physique testifying to this. 13. The bakers collected their bills at the end of the month. PART II COORG by Lokesh Abrol 1. Coorg or Kodagu, the smallest district of Karnataka, is a heavenly place. 2. The best season to visit it is from September to March. 3. The people living there are probably the descendants of Arabs or Greeks. 4. Their culture is apparent in their martial traditions, marriages and religious rites. 5. The Kodavus wear a long, black, embroidered coat called Kuppia. 6. The Coorg Regiment is one of the most decorated regiments in the Indian Army. 7. Kodavus are the only people in India permitted to carry firearms without a license. 8. The river Kaveri begins from the hills and forests of Coorg. 9. A variety of plants, birds and animals can be seen there. Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 1/2 10. The place offers a number of adventure sports for the tourists. 11. The Tibetan monks are amongst many surprises that can be seen there. PART III TEA FROM ASSAM by Arup Kumar Datta 1. Pranjol and Rajvir were visiting Assam by train. 2. Rajvir was busy looking at the beautiful scenery outside the train. 3. It was green everywhere as far as the eye could see. 4. The soft green paddy bushes gave way to tea bushes. 5. Assam has the largest concentration of tea plantation in the world. 6. The Chinese are said to have discovered tea. 7. There is also an Indian legend saying that Bodhidharma discovered tea. 8. From China, tea came to the European countries and then to Asian countries. 9. Pranjol’s father managed Dhekiabari, a tea garden. 10. There were many tea pluckers around the tea bushes. 11. The best tea is obtained between May to July. Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 2/2  5 The Trees poem by Adrianne Rich The poet wants to show that everything has deep desire to acquire freedom. It is necessary for our growth and well –being. We must confirm to the natural laws. Can there be a forest without trees? Where are the trees in this poem? And where do they go ! The “I,” the voice of the speaker of Adrienne Rich’s poem, “The Trees,” is a voice with a body engaged in activities and sensing intrusions that are not organic to the conventions of a nature poem. This is, in fact, an (un)natural poem that narrates the struggle of a population of trees to escape the confines of a greenhouse. In evoking the trees’ “strain,” the poem demonstrates the unsuitability of language itself as a greenhouse or container of nature. The speaker is a witness to the trees’ exodus, but distances herself from participating in the making of something out of the spectacle. She “sit[s]” and “writ[es]” but not poems, “long letters,” in which she “scarcely mention[s] the departure / of the forest.” Even though the speaker addresses an audience, her own “head is full of whispers”— she’s an audience as well. We, however, the audience to the poem, are compelled by the command: “Listen.” The speaker reaches across the barrier between poem and audience, a transaction that occurs on a page, and says: Listen, you. Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 1/1  6 Mijbil the Otter by GAVIN MAXWELL In the beginning of 1956, the author was in Iraq. One day on the way to Basra, he casually mentioned to a friend that he would love to have an otter instead of a dog as a pet. A few days later, the author got an otter from his friend. Two Arabs brought it for him in a sack. The author stayed in Basra for a few days. Very soon the otter became very friendly with the author. It loved to play with water all the time. It played with a rubber ball also. The author named his otter Mijbil. He made for it a body-belt. He would take it on a lead to the bathroom. There the otter would go mad playing with water. It could even turn the tap and make the water flow at full pressure. After some days, the author was to come back to London. The transporting of Mijbil became a problem. British airline did not permit animals on its flights. Another airline agreed to take the animal if packed in a box The author made a small box for the otter. He had to face a lot of difficulty and it made him late for the plane. While in the plane, the otter escaped from the box. There was a lot of hue and cry. At last, the otter came back and settled on the author’s knees. After an eventful journey, the author and his otter at last reached London where he lived in a flat. The otter spent most of its time playing with its toys. Sometimes the author took it out for a walk. He would take it on a lead as if it were a dog. Opposite to the author’s flat, there was a primary school that had a low outer wall about thirty yards long. The otter would jump on to it and go running all the length of the wall. Different people made different guesses as to what animal it was. They would say it was a baby seal, squirrel, a walrus, a hippo, a beaver, a bear cub or even a leopard with spots. Very few Londoners had ever seen an otter. They were filled with surprise on seeing such a strange animal. One day a labourer was digging a hole in the street. Looking at the author’s otter, he exclaimed, “Here, Mister, what is that supposed to be?” Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 1/1  6 Fog poem by CARL SANDBURG The poem consists of 2 stanzas of variable length. The first stanza is made up of 2 lines. On the other hand, the second stanza is made up of 4 lines. Hence, the entire poem consists of 6 lines in total. In this stanza, the poet describes the arrival of the fog towards the city of Chicago. As we know, fog consists of tiny droplets of water suspended in the air. Hence, it is a fluid, and fluids move in a flowing manner. Their movement has no solid manifestation. That is why it seems to the poet that the fog is gliding towards the city. He compares this gliding movement to the movement of a cat. This is a very apt comparison Even though a gliding movement is also engaged in by other creatures, for example, the snake, the fog also has a substantial mass that is not present in any of these creatures other than a cat. Moreover, a cat is known to move surreptitiously. This is easy for the cat to do since the padding under its paws is very soft and it does not make any noise while the cat is moving. Similarly, the fog is also approaching Chicago silently but surely. In this stanza, the poet describes the way in which the fog comes to Chicago only for a while and then it retreats. He continues the comparison of the fog with the cat. He says that like a cat, the fog sits on its haunches for a while and looks over the city of Chicago and its harbour. A cat is generally a very cautious creature and therefore, it cannot sit and relax in one place. Unlike dogs, they never even rest their bodies entirely on any surface, choosing instead to squat on their haunches. The fog is also a temporary visitor to Chicago, and that shows very clearly in its movement. It does not settle down anywhere, like dust particles. Instead it only hovers over the city of Chicago. That the fog should naturally move towards a water body such as the Chicago harbour is no mystery, since fog attracts water particles. However, the fog is not there to stay. As silently and surreptitiously as it had come, it also leaves Chicago soon enough. Hence, even in its retreat, its movement resembles the movement of a cat. That is why the poet’s use of this extended metaphor is absolutely appropriate to describe the fog he has seen over Chicago. Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 1/1  7 Madam Rides the Bus by VALLIKKANNAN The story is about an eight year girl named Valliammai. She was very curious to know about things. Her favourite pastime was to stand at the front doorway of her house and see what was happening in the street outside. She would watch the bus that passed every half an hour from her village to the nearest town. She developed a desire to ride the bus. This became her deepest desire. Valli found out the details of the bus journey by listening carefully to the conversations between her neighbours and regular bus users. She came to know that the town was just six miles from her village and the fare was thirty paise one way. The trip took forty-five minutes. Valli planned her visit to the town. She saved sixty paise for the fare. Finally she took the one o’clock bus to the town. The conductor was a jolly short of person. He amused Valli with her light hearted remarks. He calls her MADAM by way of joke. Valli was very happy to have got into the bus. She saw outside through the window. She could see t6he canal, the palm trees, grassland, distant mountains and the blue sky. She met some passengers in the bus. She got annoyed when an elderly man called her a child. She disliked the elderly woman for her shabby look and didn’t prefer to talk to her. On the way to the town, Valli saw a frightened cow running right in front of the bus. She clapped gleefully as the cow ran faster. Valli did not get off the bus at the town. She did not want to go to the stall and have a drink because she had no money. She also declined the offer of a cold drink by the conductor. It tells u that she is a self-respecting girl and can overcome temptation. On the return journey, she saw the same cow lying dead by the roadside. This unpleasant sight made her very sad and She was a sensitive girl. The bus reached the village at three forty. She got down the bus and reached her home. Her mother did not come to know about her journey. Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 1/1  7 The Tale of Custard the Dragon poem by OGDEN NASH Belinda lived in a little white house, With a little black kitten and a little gray mouse, And a little yellow dog and a little red wagon, And a realio, trulio, little pet dragon. Now the name of the little black kitten was Ink, And the little gray mouse, she called her Blink, And the little yellow dog was sharp as Mustard, But the dragon was a coward, and she called him Custard. Custard the dragon had big sharp teeth, And spikes on top of him and scales underneath, Mouth like a fireplace, chimney for a nose, And realio, trulio, daggers on his toes. Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears, And Ink and Blink chased lions down the stairs, Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage, But Custard cried for a nice safe cage. Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful, Ink, Blink and Mustard, they rudely called him Percival, They all sat laughing in the little red wagon At the realio, trulio, cowardly dragon. Belinda giggled till she shook the house, And Blink said Week!, which is giggling for a mouse, Ink and Mustard rudely asked his age, When Custard cried for a nice safe cage. Suddenly, suddenly they heard a nasty sound, And Mustard growled, and they all looked around. Meowch! cried Ink, and Ooh! cried Belinda, For there was a pirate, climbing in the winda. Pistol in his left hand, pistol in his right, And he held in his teeth a cutlass bright, His beard was black, one leg was wood; It was clear that the pirate meant no good. Belinda paled, and she cried, Help! Help! But Mustard fled with a terrified yelp, Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household, And little mouse Blink strategically mouseholed. Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 1/1  8 The Sermon at Benares This lesson tells us about the life of Gautama Buddha, who was born in a royal family as Siddhartha. Once he saw a funeral processing, and monk begging for the alms. These sights moved them a lot and he decided to become a monk and started moving in search of enlightenment. He started meditation under a peepal tree and after seven days he got enlightenment and he became known as the Buddha (the Awakened or the Enlightened). He preached his first sermon at Benares. Once a woman came to him requesting to bring her dead son to life. Gautama Buddha asked the lady to bring handful of mustard seeds from the house were there had been no death. The lady moved from one house to another but she could not find a single house where no one has lost a child, husband, parents or friend. Then she came to know that death common to all and is the ultimate truth. Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 1/1  8 For anne Gregory poem by William Butler Yeats This poem is a conversation between a young man and a young woman. They were arguing about each other regarding the real beauty that lies in her. The poem is written for A. Gregory who might be having golden hair young man of lies love appearance and not the real person. he colour of the young woman hair is white as she can colour it brown, black or carrots. She can change it to brown, black or carrot. She wanted to do so to look attractive. By great honey coloured /Ramparts of your ear the poet means golden outer parts of ears of the young woman. He says that young men are thrown into despair by them because they look ugly. Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 1/1  9 The Proposal by Anton Chekov Lomov is received in Chubukov’s house Lomov tells him the purpose of his visit Chubukov consents Lomov thinks of Natalya as his own life Natalya and Lomov together talk Lomov starts talking of his land Lomov explains the ownership Argument continues Shouting starts Chubukov sides with Natalya Abuses exchanged Accusation exchanged Chubukov tells the purpose behind Lomov’s visit Fighting over dogs Fighting continues Personal accusation Lomov becomes unconscious Chubukov gives her daughter’s hand to Lomov Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 1/1  1 A Triumph of Surgery by James Herriot James Herriot stops his car and sees the poor health of Mrs. Pumphrey’s dog, Tricki. He advises Mrs. Pumphrey to put Tricki on a strict diet and make him exercise daily. Mrs. Pumphery continues to overfeed Tricki, which worsens his condition. She phones Herriot for help on noticing Triki’s deteriorating health. Herriot decides to hospitalize Tricki for a fortnight to treat him. Tricki’s hospitalization left Mrs. Pumphrey and helpers at home in tears. Tricki was kept on a strict diet in the hospital. His diet was increased according to the improvements he showed. Mrs. Pumphrey’s anxiousness about Tricki’s health went away on learning that Tricki was convalescing satisfactorily. She started to send eggs, wine and brandy for Tricki to enrich his blood and improve his health. These items were instead enjoyed by James Herriot and his partner. Tricki transformed from a weak fat dog to a hard-muscled and agile one. James Herriot calls Mrs. Pumphrey to come and take Tricki home. Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 1/1  2 The Thief’s Story by Ruskin Bond A small-time 15 year old thief, who calls himself Hari Singh, befriends a struggling author, Anil. Hari’s purpose is to steal Anil’s money. Anil is a good fellow who wants to teach Hari Singh how to read and write. Gradually, Anil develops trust in Hari Singh. But Hari Singh has been waiting for the right moment to make a killing by doing what he is best at, i.e. stealing. After stealing the money which Anil had earned by selling a book to a publisher, Hari Singh tries to run away forever. But some inner voice stops him from doing so. He returns to Anil because he realizes that he wants to live a life of respect. Anil does not show that he knew about the theft and accepts Hari Singh with open arms. Thus, a well intentioned person tries to reform a teenager who had strayed from the correct path Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 1/1  3 The Midnight Visitor by Robert Arthur Ausable was a smart secret agent, but did not look like one at all, being short and very fat. Fowler was a young writer who wanted to write about Ausable and so spent an evening with him. When both of them returned to Ausable’s sixth floor hotel room, another secret agent named Max was waiting for them with a gun so that he could take the important report on new missiles from Ausable. To ensure the reports and their own safety, Ausable invented a story about anybody his room easily through a balcony just below the window in his room. Actually there was no balcony. Suddenly there was a knocking on the door and Ausable pretended that it was the local police. When the knocking repeated, Max decided to wait in the balcony (which he thought existed) until the police went away. He stepped out of the window and fell to his death. When the door opened, a waiter came in with drinks which Ausable had ordered to be delivered to his room when he had returned to the hotel. Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 1/1  4 A Question of Trust by Victor Canning Horace Danby, who ran a business of making locks, had a good reputation in society. But he was not totally honest. His hobby was collecting rare and expensive books. Horace robbed one safe every year to finance his costly hobby. Horace had been studying the country house at Shotover Grange, whose owners normally lived in London, as he wanted to burgle the jewellery, worth about 15000 pounds, lying in the safe in his house. Horace entered the house when the servants were away. But Horace started sneezing because he had an allergy to flowers called hay fever. Suddenly he heard a young lady’s voice saying that she could cure him. He than saw her appear in the doorway. His first thought was to run, as the lady told him that she would telephone the police. Horace told her to let him go and forget she ever saw him. The lady agreed on one condition – he should open the safe for her, as she had to wear the jewels in the safe for a party the same night, but she had forgotten the combination to open the safe. So Horace opened the safe for her and handed her the jewels to get his freedom. After two days Horace was arrested for the jewel robbery at Shotover Grange. Horace’s fingerprints were found, as he had opened the safe without using his gloves. When he told the police that the lady of the house had asked him to open the safe, he was surprised to learn that the actual lady was a 60 year old woman. Horace then realized that the young woman was also a jewel thief who had used his skill to steal the jewels. Horace is now in prison. He understands now that the charming and clever young lady had simply tricked him. Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 1/1  5 Footprints without Feet by H.G.Wells Two boys on a London street were surprised to see fresh muddy footprints of bare feet without finding who was making them. These footprints had been made by Griffin, an eccentric scientist who had discovered how to make his body transparent. To get away after he had burnt his landlord’s house down, he had to remove his clothes so that he became invisible. Griffin entered unseen into a big store to get warm. When the store closed at night, he put on new clothes, consumed meat and coffee from the restaurant and went to sleep on a pile of quilts. He overslept and was seen by the shop assistants in the morning. He again took off his clothes to escape them. Then he entered a theatrical company, and wore bandages on his face, dark glasses, a false nose and bushy side-whiskers. He robbed the shopkeeper of his money and escaped to loping village by train to avoid being caught. He rented two rooms at an inn in the village. He explained to Mrs. Hall, it s owner, that he had an accident and did not want to be disturbed. Soon his money finished and so he robbed a clergyman’s house by using his invisibility. That same day, when Mrs. Hall entered his room, she and her husband were ‘attacked’ by the furniture. This made Mrs. Hall think that it was haunted by spirits. When the clergyman reported the burglary to the police, Griffin was suspected of having a hand in it. So the village constable, Jaffers came to arrest him on suspicion. Meanwhile, Mrs. Hall asked Griffin to explain all the unusual happenings. Griffin lost his temper and took off all his clothes (thus becoming invisible), knocked Jaffers unconscious and ran away. Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 1/1  6 The Making of a Scientist by Robert W.Peterson Richard H. Ebright grew up in Reading in Pennsylvania. In Kindergarten, Ebright collected butterflies. His mother would take him on trips, bought him telescope, microscope, cameras, mounting materials, and other materials required for learning. By the time he was in the second grade, Ebright had collected all twentyfive species of butterflies found around his hometown. His mother gave him a children’s book called “The Travels of Monarch X.”That book, which told how monarch butterflies migrate to Central America, opened the world of science to Richard. At the end of book readers were asked to tag butterflies for research by Dr. Frederick A. Urquhart of the University of Toronto, Canada. For several years his basement was home to thousands of monarchs in different stages of development. He would catch a female monarch, take her eggs, and raise them in his basement through their life cycle, from egg to caterpillar to pupa to adult butterfly. In county science fair his entry was slides of frog tissues, which he showed under a microscope. For his eighth grade project, Ebright tried to find the cause of a viral disease that kills nearly all monarch caterpillars every few years. The next year his science fair project was testing the theory that viceroy butterflies copy monarchs. This project was placed first in the zoology division and third overall in the county science fair.There he won third place for zoology. lndirectly, it also led to his new theory on the life of cells. This project won Ebright first place in the county fair and entry into the International Science and Engineering Fair. In his second year in high school, Richard Ebright began the research that led to his discovery of an unknown insect hormone. Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 1/1  7 The Necklace by Guy De Maupassant 1. Mathilde Loisel aspires to the wealth and prestige of the upper classes, and is frustrated by her lower-middle-class husband and plain surroundings. 2. Her husband finagles an invitation to one of the wealthy parties Mathilde longs to attend, and when Mathilde refuses, saying she has nothing to wear, he helps her purchase an expensive dress. 3. Mathilde is frustrated by her lack of jewelry; she borrows an extravagant diamond necklace from her friend Madame Forestier. 4. Mathilde has a wonderful time at the party, but afterward discovers the diamond necklace is lost. The couple spend their inheritance and take out loans to replace it. 5. After years living in penury and debt that ruin Mathilde’s looks, Mathilde runs into Madame Forestier, to whom she confesses the whole story; Madame Forestier, deeply moved, tells her the necklace was a fake. Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 1/1  8 Bholi by K.A.Abbas A Girl Sulekha called Bholi youngest daughter of number dar Ramlal. An Accident made her a backward child (10month old) and had pox marks on body (when 2 years old). She spokes first time (when 5 year old) and stammered. Parents did not care for her. Primary school opened (She was 7 year old). People did not want to marry educated girl. But she was sent to the school. Meeting with a kind hearted lady teacher. The teacher encouraged her to speak. She hoped for a new life. Years passed village became a small town. Bishamber nath a rich grocer was ready to marry Bholi. Marriage ceremony with, pomp and slender Bishmbhar Nath. He saw the pox marks on Bholi’s face. Demanded for thousands to marry her in the name of dowry. Ramlal requested him to marry his daughter and gave him the money with great difficulty. But now Bholi refused to marry him. First time she did not stammer and said “I can marry with a man of the age same to my father, who is even a lame but can’t marry with a greedy man and conceptive coward just for the sake of your izzat. People whispered. Bholi answered them smartly. Ramlal was tensed. Bholi asked him to not to worry about her & said “ I will teach in the school and serve both of you (parents) in your old age.” Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 1/1  9 The Book That Saved the Earth by Claire Boiko Think-Tank and Noodle contact Martian probe. Mars space control contacts probe on Earth. Think-Tank says the books in the Central Public Library are sandwiches. Oops is ordered to eat a book. Noodle suggests that the books are some sort of communication device. Probe one members swallow vitamins and reads the volume of Mother Goose. Omega reads out ‘ Mistress Mary’, quite contrary. Think-tank says earthlings have discovered how to combine agriculture with mining. Iota reads ‘Hey diddle diddle!’ Think-Tank pronounces the lines read by Iota that earthlings have taught their animals musical culture and space techniques. Oops reads ‘Humpty-Dumpty’ and shows the picture of Humpty Dumpty to Think- Tank. Think-Tank is frightened thinking that the earthlings are planning to capture him. Think-Tank orders probe one to leave at once. Think- Tank decides to evacuate the entire planet of Mars. Noodle replaces Think- Tank and earthlings resume friendly contact with Mars. Material downloaded from myCBSEguide.com. 1/1