Maharashtra Board Class 10 English Chapter 4.4 The Height of the Ridiculous Solutions

Class 10 English Chapter 4.4 Question Answer Maharashtra Board

The Height Of The Ridiculous Poem 10th Std Question Answer

 

Question 1. The teacher writes incomplete sentences on the board. He/She asks the students to complete them in their notebooks.
(a) Today, I am happy because ...................................................
(b) Today after the class, I wish ...................................................
(c) Tomorrow, I feel that ...................................................
(d) I want to laugh because ...................................................
(e) Today, the class seems to be cheerful about ...................................................
Answer:
(a) my grandparents are coming for a holiday.
(b) to eat an ice cream.
(c) I will go for a movie.
(d) I am very happy.
(e) the forthcoming football match.
In simple words: This question asks students to complete sentences with their own creative and relevant endings, reflecting personal feelings or future plans.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on completing sentences meaningfully and grammatically, ensuring the additions logically extend the given context.

 

Question 2. The teacher writes an incomplete sentence and asks the students to complete it in a funny way.
Answer:
(1) Mother gave me cheese but the cat ate it.
(2) I went to the market and bought an elephant.
In simple words: Students are encouraged to use their imagination to finish sentences humorously, aiming for unexpected or absurd outcomes.

🎯 Exam Tip: Originality and a clear sense of humor are key to scoring well in such creative writing tasks.

 

Question 3. Give the words related to:

ℹ️ चित्र व्याख्या (Diagram Explanation): यह चित्र 'Humorous' शब्द से संबंधित विभिन्न विशेषण शब्दों को एक वेब या माइंड मैप के रूप में दर्शाता है। 'Humorous' केंद्रीय शब्द है, जिससे 'funny', 'amusing', 'comical', 'witty', 'hilarious', और 'droll' जैसे शब्द तीर के निशानों से जुड़े हुए हैं, जो इन सभी शब्दों के समान या संबंधित अर्थों को उजागर करते हैं।

Syllable
A syllable is a unit of spoken language made up of a single uninterrupted sound formed by a vowel and consonants. For example, single syllable - ant, two syllables - water, three syllables: Inferno.
Answer:

ℹ️ चित्र व्याख्या (Diagram Explanation): यह चित्र 'humorous' शब्द से संबंधित विभिन्न विशेषणों को एक फ्लोचार्ट या नेटवर्क डायग्राम के रूप में दिखाता है। केंद्रीय शब्द 'humorous' से 'funny', 'amusing', 'comical', 'witty', 'hilarious', और 'droll' जैसे पर्यायवाची शब्द तीर के निशानों द्वारा जुड़े हुए हैं, जो उनके समानार्थकता को दर्शाते हैं।
In simple words: This question asks for words that are synonyms or closely related to 'humorous', demonstrating an understanding of vocabulary related to laughter and amusement.

🎯 Exam Tip: Expanding vocabulary with synonyms and antonyms helps in improving descriptive writing and comprehension.

 

Question 4. Pick out the word from the given box and write it in the correct columns below.
jump, narrow, cable, live, queen, butter, tree, kitten, van, yellow, dale, happy, night, printer, star, sober, paper, cloud, pearl, within, bike, began, slender.
Here the focus is not on the spellings but the pronunciation of the words.

Words with one syllable	Words with two syllables

Answer:

Words with one syllable	Words with two syllables
jump, live, queen, tree, van, dale, night, star, cloud, pearl, bike	narrow, cable, butter, kitten, yellow, happy, printer, sober, paper, within, began, slender

In simple words: This task requires classifying given words based on the number of syllables they contain when pronounced, focusing on phonetic structure rather than spelling.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understanding syllables is fundamental for correct pronunciation, rhythm in poetry, and improving reading fluency.

 

Question 5. Count the syllables and circle the appropriate number in the box.

ℹ️ चित्र व्याख्या (Diagram Explanation): यह चित्र शब्दों में अक्षरों (syllables) की संख्या को पहचानने का अभ्यास दर्शाता है। प्रत्येक शब्द (जैसे elephant, mirror, bus, kangaroo, rough, insect, telephone, monkey, bucket, biscuit) एक बॉक्स में लिखा है, जिसके नीचे '1 2 3' संख्याएँ दी गई हैं। छात्रों को शब्द के अक्षरों की सही संख्या को पहचान कर उसे गोला करना है। उदाहरण के लिए, 'elephant' के लिए '3' को गोला किया जाना चाहिए।
Answer:
ℹ️ चित्र व्याख्या (Diagram Explanation): यह चित्र शब्दों के अक्षरों (syllables) की सही संख्या को दर्शाता है। प्रत्येक शब्द एक बॉक्स में है, जिसके नीचे '1 2 3' संख्याएँ दी गई हैं, और शब्द में अक्षरों की सही संख्या को गोला किया गया है। उदाहरण के लिए, 'elephant' में 3 अक्षर हैं, इसलिए '3' को गोला किया गया है। इसी तरह, 'mirror' में 2, 'bus' में 1, 'kangaroo' में 3, 'rough' में 1, 'insect' में 2, 'telephone' में 3, 'monkey' में 2, 'bucket' में 2, और 'biscuit' में 2 अक्षरों को गोला किया गया है।
In simple words: This activity tests the ability to correctly count the syllables in various words by identifying the number of distinct vowel sounds.

🎯 Exam Tip: Practice sounding out words and identifying vowel sounds to accurately determine the syllable count, which aids in pronunciation and poetic meter.

 

Question 6. Write the names of any five of your friends and mention the number of syllables in each name.

Name	Number of syllables

Answer:

Name	Number of syllables
Rohan	2
Namrata	3
Poonam	2
Jai	1
Nilima	3

In simple words: Students are asked to apply their understanding of syllables to count them in common names, a practical application of phonetic knowledge.

🎯 Exam Tip: This exercise reinforces syllable counting and encourages observation of phonetic patterns in everyday language.

 

The Height Of The Ridiculous Class 10 English Workshop Questions And Answers Maharashtra Board

 

Question 1. Find out expressions from the poem that indicate funny moments.
For example, I laughed as I would die.
Answer:
(1) was all upon the grin
(2) the grin grew broad
(3) and shot from ear to ear
(4) He read the third; a chuckling noise
(5) The fourth; he broke into a roar
(6) The fifth; his waistband split;
(7) The sixth; he burst five buttons off;
(8) And tumbled in a fit.
In simple words: This question requires identifying specific phrases from the poem that describe humorous situations or reactions, showing an understanding of the poem's lighthearted tone.

🎯 Exam Tip: Quoting exact phrases from the text demonstrates strong comprehension and supports analysis effectively.

 

Question 2. Order of sequence : Arrange the following reactions in their proper order, as per the poem.
(a) His waistband split
(b) The grin grew broad.
(c) Sleepless eye.
(d) Was all upon the grin.
(e) He broke into a roar.
(f) He burst five buttons off.
Answer:
(d) Was all upon the grin
(b) The grin grew broad
(e) He broke into a roar
(a) His waistband split
(f) He burst five buttons
(c) Sleepless eye
In simple words: This task assesses the ability to recall and sequence events as they occur in the poem, ensuring a clear understanding of the narrative flow.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay close attention to the chronological order of events mentioned in the poem to accurately sequence the reactions.

 

Question 3. Form pairs and find out the various rhyming words in the poem and two of your own. Complete the following table.

Words	Rhyming words from the poem	Rhyming words more of your own
ear
within
man
split
way
him
die
mood

Answer:

Words	Rhyming words from the poem	Rhyming words more of your own
Way	Pay	Say, ray
Him	Limb	Dim, rim
Die	I	Fly, shy
Mood	Good	Food, wood
Ear	Hear	fear, dear
Within	Grin	sin, bin
Man	Can	fan, ran
Split	Fit	knit, lit

In simple words: This exercise involves identifying rhyming words used in the poem and then generating additional rhyming words, enhancing vocabulary and poetic understanding.

🎯 Exam Tip: Practice identifying rhyming patterns (like AABB, ABCB) and expanding your rhyming vocabulary to improve poetic analysis and creative writing.

 

Question 4. Match the lines with the Figures of Speech.

Lines	Figures of Speech
1. In wondrous merry mood	Tautology
2. They were so queer, so very queer.	Alliteration
3. And saw him peep within	Onomatopoeia
4. The grin grew broad.	Repetition
5. And shot from ear to ear.	Hyperbole
6. He broke into a roar.	Repetition
7. Ten days and nights with sleepless eye	Transferred Epithet

Answer:

Lines	Figures of Speech
1. In wondrous, merry mood	Tautology
2. They were so queer, so very queer	Repetition
3. And saw him peep within	Repetition
4. The grin grew broad	Alliteration
5. And shot from ear to ear	Hyperbole
6. He broke into a roar -	Onomatopoeia
7. Ten days and nights with sleepless eye	Transferred Epithet

In simple words: This question requires matching poetic lines with the correct figures of speech, demonstrating an understanding of literary devices used in the poem.

🎯 Exam Tip: Knowing common figures of speech and their definitions is crucial for literary analysis and appreciating poetic techniques.

 

Question 5. Copy any two stanzas of the poem in the lines below. Using a coloured pen underline the stressed syllables in each line and put a stress-mark () over each.
Answer:
I wrote some lines once on a time
In wondrous merry mood,
And thought, as usual, men would say.
They were exceeding good.
In simple words: Students are asked to transcribe a stanza and then mark the stressed syllables, practicing their understanding of poetic rhythm and meter.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identifying stressed syllables helps in understanding the poem's rhythm and how it should be read aloud for better appreciation.

 

Question 6. Complete the lines of the poem by choosing proper pairs of rhyming words and make it meaningful.
- We returned home late, one ....................................,
In the window, there glowed a .....................................
Burglars !! was our very first ......................................,
For defence, sticks 'n stones we .....................................;
"Let's grab the loot and .....................................,"
was uttered soft, by .....................................
The door we softly .....................................
And then we were truly .....................................
Oops! Before, outside, we'd ......................................,
The television had been left .....................................
(run, shocked, gone, night, sought, on, someone, thought, light, unlocked)
Answer:
We returned home late, one night,
In the window there glowed a light.
Burglars! Was our very first thought,
For defence, sticks 'n stones we sought.
"Let's grab the loot and run.”
Was uttered soft, by someone.
The door we softly unlocked.
And then we were truly shocked.
Oops! Before outside we'd gone,
The television had been left on!
In simple words: This task involves completing a poem by selecting appropriate rhyming words from a given list to ensure both meaning and poetic structure are maintained.

🎯 Exam Tip: Read through the entire stanza before filling in the blanks to ensure the chosen words fit both the rhyme scheme and the overall context of the narrative.

 

Question 7. Form goups in your class and together compose a short humorous poem. Use jokes, experiences, etc. and convert it to a poetic form. Write and decorate it on chart-paper and put it up in your class, in turns.
In simple words: This is a creative group activity where students collaborate to write and present a humorous poem based on personal experiences or jokes.

🎯 Exam Tip: Teamwork and creative expression are valued here; ensure the poem has a clear theme, consistent humor, and a simple rhyme scheme.

 

Question 8. Go through the poem and write an appreciation of the poem in a paragraph format.
Answer:
Point Format
(for understanding)
The title of the poem: 'The Height of the Ridiculous'
The poet: Oliver Wendell Holmes
Rhyme scheme: abcb.
Figures of speech: Transferred Epithet, Hyperbole, Onomatopoeia, Tautology, Alliteration, etc.
Theme/Central idea: A funny poem to simply entertain the audience; written for Enjoyment.
Paragraph Format
The poem 'The Height of the Ridiculous' is written by Oliver Wendell Holmes.
The rhyme scheme of the poem is abcb. There are many figures of speech, like Hyperbole, Tautology, Onomatopoeia, Alliteration, etc. but the one that stands out is Transferred Epithet. In the line 'Ten days and nights, with sleepless eye', the adjective 'sleepless' should be for the man and not for the eye.
The poem is a humorous one written for enjoyment, with plenty of funny expressions. The main purpose of the poet is to simply entertain the reader.
In simple words: This answer provides a detailed appreciation of the poem, covering its author, theme, literary devices, and structure, first in point form for clarity and then in a paragraph.

🎯 Exam Tip: A good poem appreciation includes the title, poet, central idea, rhyme scheme, and significant figures of speech, along with a brief explanation of their impact.

 

Question 9. Project:
Reading a poem.
Arrange the poetry reading competition. Select the poem of your choice.
- Read the poem silently.
- Repeat the reading of the poem.
- Focus on the pauses, stresses, intonation etc.
- Pay attention to the proper pronunciations.
In simple words: This is a project encouraging students to participate in a poetry reading competition, focusing on silent reading, repetition, and paying attention to vocal delivery elements like pauses, stresses, and pronunciation.

🎯 Exam Tip: Effective poetry reading requires understanding the poem's meaning, practicing pronunciation, and using appropriate intonation and pauses to convey emotion and rhythm.

 

Question 10. Choose the correct alternatives: (The answers are given directly and underlined.)
(1) The poet was in a very .................................... mood when he wrote the lines.
(a) tired
(b) happy
(c) bored
(d) wondering
Answer: (b) happy

(2) The poet was generally a .................................... man.
(a) humorous
(b) wonderful
(c) serious
(d) good
Answer: (c) serious
In simple words: This MCQ section tests comprehension of the poem's context and characterization, asking about the poet's mood and general nature when writing the lines.

🎯 Exam Tip: Read the poem carefully to infer the poet's sentiments and characteristics, as context clues are often embedded within the text.

 

Question 11. Explain:
(a) the contrast between the poet and his servant.
Answer:
The poet was a thin and slender man while his servant was strong and muscular.

(b) the poet's reaction when he read the lines.
Answer:
The poet laughed heartily when he read the lines. He laughed so hard he thought he would die.
In simple words: This question asks for an explanation of the physical contrast between the poet and his servant, and the poet's extreme reaction upon reading his own humorous verses.

🎯 Exam Tip: Provide clear, concise answers directly addressing the question, using specific details from the poem to support your explanation.

 

Question 12. Find out the expression from the extract that indicates funny moments:
Answer:
'I laughed as I would die'.
In simple words: This question requires recalling a specific phrase from the poem that vividly conveys a moment of intense humor.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identifying key phrases that illustrate central themes or emotions in a poem demonstrates close reading skills.

 

Question 13. Match the lines with the figures of speech:
Lines - Figures of Speech
(a) A sober man am I - (c) Tautology
(b) To mind a slender man like me - (d) Inversion
Answer:
(a) A sober man am I - Inversion
(b) To mind a slender man like me - Alliteration
In simple words: This question assesses the ability to correctly identify specific figures of speech, such as inversion and alliteration, within given lines from the poem.

🎯 Exam Tip: Reviewing definitions and examples of common figures of speech will help you accurately match them to poetic lines.

 

Question 14. Complete the following:
(1) There was a grin on the servant's face when ....................................
(2) The chuckling noise was heard when ....................................
(3) When he read the fifth line ....................................
(4) The grin grew from ear to ear when the servant ....................................
Answer:
(1) he read the first line.
(2) the servant read the third line.
(3) his waistband split.
(4) read the second line.
In simple words: This task requires completing sentences based on events in the poem, detailing when certain actions or reactions of the servant occurred.

🎯 Exam Tip: Accurate recall of sequential events from the poem is essential for completing these statements correctly.

 

Question 15. Describe the outcome of this experience on the poet.
Answer:
After this experience, the poet has never dared to write any more funny poems.
In simple words: The poet's experience of his servant's uncontrollable laughter led him to stop writing humorous poetry altogether.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understanding the lasting impact of events on characters or the narrator is key to analyzing character development and thematic elements.

 

Question 16. Which line suggests that the servant was totally out of control?
Answer:
The line 'And tumbled into a fit' suggests that the servant was totally out of control.
In simple words: The phrase "tumbled into a fit" clearly indicates that the servant's laughter had become so intense it led to a loss of physical control.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identifying vivid imagery or action verbs in the text helps in understanding the intensity of a character's emotions or actions.