Maharashtra Board Class 8 English Unit 1 Chapter 1.4 Revathis Musical Plants Solutions

Warming Up

1. Discuss in groups and share your answers with the class:

 

Question 1. Can you name the famous musician in Emperor Akbar's court, who could perform miracles, when he sang different Ragas?

 

Question 2. What miracles could he perform with his music?
Answer: It is said that Tansen could create rain and fire just through his music. If he sang the Raga Deepak, the area around him would catch fire. If he sang Megha Malhar, it would begin to rain. If he sang an evening raga during daytime, the sunlight would diminish and it would look like it was dusk already. His mastery over ragas allowed him to manipulate natural elements and time itself.
In simple words: Tansen's music was so powerful that he could make it rain or start fires, and even change the time of day, just by singing different melodies.

🎯 Exam Tip: For questions about specific abilities, list each ability clearly and provide an example for each if available in the text.

 

Question 3. What impact does music have on ! human beings?
Answer: Music can make human beings happy, sad, nostalgic, mournful, etc. It can soothe them when they are stressed. It can also convey a lot of emotions like love, anger, etc. that may not be conveyed easily through words. Music truly touches the soul and influences our emotional state.
In simple words: Music deeply affects human emotions, making us feel happy, sad, or calm, and helps express feelings that are hard to put into words.

🎯 Exam Tip: When discussing impacts, list various emotional states and functions of music, showing a comprehensive understanding.

 

Question 4. Do you think that music can have an impact on animals, birds and even | plants?
Answer: Yes, definitely. It has already been proved by Jagdish Chandra Bose that plants respond to music. It is said that cows give more milk if they listen to good music. Our folklore is full of instances of snakes swaying to the music played by snake charmers. This shows music's universal influence across living beings.
In simple words: Yes, music affects animals and plants too; studies show plants respond to it, cows produce more milk, and snakes react to charmers' music.

🎯 Exam Tip: Support your opinion with specific examples from scientific findings or common folklore to strengthen your answer.

Affirmative And Negative Sentences:

Read the sentences below and spot the difference in their framing:
1. (a) I could not complete the work.
(b) I failed to complete the work.
2. (a) There is no sense in what you say.
(b) There is hardly any sense in what you say.

3. (a) He said he wouldn't go.
(b) He refused to go.

You will observe that sentences marked (a) and (b) convey the same meaning. But in all sentences marked (a) there are negative words (no, not, wouldn't) whereas the ones marked (b) do not have them.

Negative words are those that convey a negative meaning.
For example: never, no, neither, nor, not, cannot, don't, isn't, nothing etc.
If a sentence contains Negative words, it is called a Negative Sentence.
If a sentence does not contain any Negative word, it is called Affirmative sentence.

Note: While interchanging Negative and Affirmative sentence, the meaning and tense must not change.
You must use Negative words in the sentence, while transforming from Affirmative to Negative.
You may use words like hardly I fail to I refuse / reject / avoid / prohibit / without / ban etc., while changing Negative sentences to Affirmative.

Say Whether the Following Sentences Are Affirmative or Negative Ones:

 

Question 1. We must avoid hurting others.
Answer: Affirmative. This sentence encourages a positive action and does not contain any negative words.
In simple words: This sentence tells us to do something good and doesn't use words like 'not' or 'never'.

🎯 Exam Tip: To identify an Affirmative sentence, look for the absence of negative words like 'not', 'never', 'no', 'none', 'refuse', 'avoid', etc.

 

Question 2. She didn't offer me any help.
Answer: Negative. The word "didn't" (did not) clearly indicates a negative statement.
In simple words: The word 'didn't' makes this sentence negative because it means 'did not'.

🎯 Exam Tip: Contracted forms like 'didn't', 'isn't', 'wouldn't' always contain a negative element ('not') and make the sentence negative.

 

Question 3. Never give up hope.
Answer: Negative. The word "Never" is a strong negative word, indicating a prohibition or absence.
In simple words: The word 'Never' makes this sentence negative as it tells you not to do something.

🎯 Exam Tip: Words like 'never', 'no', 'nobody', 'nothing' are direct indicators of a negative sentence.

 

Question 4. You must keep away from bad company.
Answer: Affirmative. This statement is a positive command or instruction.
In simple words: An affirmative statement is one that confirms something or expresses agreement.

🎯 Exam Tip: When identifying sentence types, look for direct statements or commands that express a positive assertion.

 

Question 5. There is nothing in the bag.
Answer: Negative. The word "nothing" makes this statement negative.
In simple words: A negative statement uses words like 'no', 'not', 'nothing', or 'never' to deny something.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to keywords like 'no', 'not', 'nothing', 'never' to quickly identify negative sentences.

 

Question 6. Entry is prohibited, without permission.
Answer: Affirmative. Despite the prohibition, the sentence structure itself is a positive declaration of a rule.
In simple words: Even if a rule restricts something, the statement of that rule can still be affirmative if it's a direct declaration.

🎯 Exam Tip: Distinguish between the meaning of a statement (prohibition) and its grammatical form (affirmative declaration).

 

1. Read The Story And Complete The Following

 

Question a. At first, Revathi's plants did not look normal and healthy because of ____
Answer: they had pale green leaves and their growth was stunted due to insufficient sunlight. Proper sunlight is crucial for plant health.
In simple words: Revathi's plants were unhealthy because they didn't get enough sunlight, which made them pale and small.

🎯 Exam Tip: When completing sentences based on a story, ensure your answer directly addresses the 'because' part with a clear cause-and-effect relationship.

 

Question b. When Revathi played her favourite raga, the plants began to move because ____
Answer: they liked the music she was playing. This shows the plants responded positively to the melody.
In simple words: The plants moved because they enjoyed Revathi's music, showing a unique connection.

🎯 Exam Tip: For questions about character actions or reactions, identify the direct cause mentioned in the story.

 

Question c. Revathi's grief knew no bounds because ____
Answer: she could not find her pot of balsam plants. Losing her beloved plants caused her immense sorrow.
In simple words: Revathi was extremely sad because her special balsam plants were missing.

🎯 Exam Tip: When describing emotions, link them directly to the event that triggered them, as described in the narrative.

 

Question d. Revathi was confident of proving her ownership of her pot of plants because ____
Answer: she knew her plants responded uniquely to her music, a trait no one else could replicate. This special bond was her undeniable proof.
In simple words: Revathi was sure she could prove the plants were hers because they reacted specially to her music, which was a secret only she knew.

🎯 Exam Tip: When a question asks about confidence or proof, look for unique characteristics or actions that only the main character could demonstrate.

 

Question e. Revathi won the prize for the 'Best Plant' because of _____
Answer: her plants were the best looking and the healthiest. Her dedication to them truly paid off.
In simple words: Revathi's plants looked the best and were the healthiest, which is why she won the prize.

🎯 Exam Tip: When answering fill-in-the-blank questions, ensure your answer directly completes the sentence and uses keywords from the text.

2. Answer In Your Own Words:

 

Question a. What did Revathi discover about her balsam plants?
Answer: Revathi discovered that her balsam plants were not only taller and healthier than the other balsam plants, but they had started flowering earlier too. The flowers were big and brightly coloured, and one of the plants had an unusual kind of flower. She also discovered that while the plants liked her favourite tune, they did not like the tune with a quick rhythm. This unique connection between music and plant growth was fascinating.
In simple words: Revathi found her balsam plants were taller, healthier, flowered earlier with big, bright, and unusual flowers, and they responded differently to her music.

🎯 Exam Tip: When describing discoveries, list all observed details to provide a complete answer, including both positive and negative responses.

 

Question b. Why did Revathi decide to keep her new knowledge 'a secret'?
Answer: Revathi decided to keep her new knowledge a secret perhaps because she felt that it was something only between her and her beloved plants, whom she considered her friends. Or perhaps she felt that nobody would believe her if she mentioned that her plants were music lovers. This personal bond was very special to her.
In simple words: Revathi kept her knowledge a secret because she felt it was a private bond with her plants, and she thought others might not believe her.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked for reasons behind a character's decision, consider both their personal feelings and their perception of how others might react.

 

Question c. How did the plants respond when Revathi played her favourite tune?
Answer: When Revathi played her favourite tune on her violin, the plants all bent their stems towards her even though there was no breeze. This showed a clear and direct response to her music.
In simple words: The plants bent their stems towards Revathi when she played her favorite tune, even without any wind.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the direct action and the conditions under which it occurred when describing a response or reaction.

 

Question d. How did the plants react to the fast rhythmic music?
Answer: When Revathi played a tune with a quick rhythm, the plants turned away from her as though they did not like what she was playing. This showed their clear dislike for the harsh sounds.
In simple words: The plants moved away from Revathi when she played fast, rhythmic music, showing they didn't enjoy it.

🎯 Exam Tip: When describing reactions, use descriptive words like "turned away" or "bent towards" to show understanding of the text.

 

Question e. How did Revathi prove to the organisers of the competition that the plants truly belonged to her?
Answer: When Revathi played her favourite tune, the plants bent their stems towards her as though they wanted to touch her in their happiness. This convinced the organisers that the plants were hers, as they responded uniquely to her music.
In simple words: Revathi proved the plants were hers by playing her favorite song, which made the plants happily bend towards her.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the specific action and the resulting outcome when explaining how proof was provided.

 

Question f. What helped Revathi to claim her plants her belief in magic or the belief in her convictions? Explain your choice.
Answer: Her belief in her convictions helped Revathi to claim her plants. She was sure that her plants were music lovers and would respond to her favourite raga as they had done before. There was no magic involved; it was a fact based on her consistent observation and understanding of her plants.
In simple words: Revathi's strong belief in what she knew about her plants, not magic, helped her claim them because she understood their real reaction to music.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly state your choice (convictions vs. magic) and then provide a logical explanation from the text to support it.

 

Question 3. A. An ord chain consists of words of a certain category that begin with the letter, that the previous word has ended with. Complete the word chain adding Four Nouns from the text. Music → courtyard → .........
Answer: music → courtyard → days → surprise → evening → grief. This chain correctly follows the rule of starting each new word with the last letter of the previous one.
In simple words: You need to find nouns from the story where each word starts with the last letter of the word before it, like a linked chain.

🎯 Exam Tip: When completing word chains, always double-check that each word starts with the exact last letter of the previous word and belongs to the specified category (e.g., nouns).

 

Question 3. B. Add the appropriate Prefix to make the following words opposite in meaning.
1. continue

 

Question. Give the opposites of the following words:
2. possible
3. certain
4. definite
5. believe
6. important
7. place
8. known
9. regular
Answer:
1. Discontinue
2. Impossible
3. Uncertain
4. Indefinite
5. Disbelieve
6. Unimportant
7. Displace/Misplace
8. Unknown
9. Irregular
In simple words: This section provides a list of words and their corresponding antonyms, which are words with opposite meanings.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked for opposites, think about prefixes like 'un-', 'im-', 'dis-', or 'in-' that can change a word's meaning. Always double-check the context to ensure the antonym fits correctly.

3. C. Use The Following Expressions To Make Sentences Of Your Own:

 

Question 1. make up one's mind
Answer: make up one's mind – One should think carefully before one makes up one's mind about anything important. It's important to consider all options before deciding.
In simple words: To "make up one's mind" means to decide something after thinking about it.

🎯 Exam Tip: When making sentences with idioms, first understand the idiom's meaning, then create a clear sentence that shows you understand how to use it naturally.

 

Question 2. struck as odd
Answer: struck as odd: My friend's continuous laughter on seeing her marks struck me as odd. Her reaction was quite unexpected given the situation.
In simple words: If something "strikes you as odd," it means you find it strange or unusual.

🎯 Exam Tip: For phrases like "struck as odd," ensure your sentence clearly conveys the feeling of surprise or peculiarity. Use descriptive words to enhance the meaning.

 

Question 3. knew no bounds
Answer: knew no bounds: My joy knew no bounds when I saw the little puppy on my bed. This phrase expresses extreme happiness or excitement.
In simple words: "Knew no bounds" means feeling incredibly happy or excited, so much that your joy cannot be contained.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked to use a phrase, provide a clear sentence that demonstrates its meaning in context. Ensure the sentence is grammatically correct and relevant.

 

Question 4. flash across one's mind
Answer: Flash across one's mind: When Sonam saw the tears in Dia's eyes, it flashed across her mind that there was some problem. This indicates a sudden thought or realization.
In simple words: "Flash across one's mind" means an idea or thought suddenly comes to you, often unexpectedly.

🎯 Exam Tip: For idiomatic expressions, use them in a sentence that clearly shows you understand their meaning, often implying a quick or sudden occurrence.

 

Question 5. to surmise
Answer: to surmise: When the teacher saw Naomi crying, she surmised that she had failed in the test. To surmise means to guess or infer something without strong evidence.
In simple words: "To surmise" means to make an educated guess about something based on the information you have, even if it's not fully proven.

🎯 Exam Tip: When defining or using a verb like 'surmise', ensure your sentence shows the action of making an inference or a guess based on observation.

 

Question 6. not to deter
Answer: not to deter: The loss of a leg did not deter Sudha Chandran from dancing. This means not to discourage or prevent someone from doing something.
In simple words: "Not to deter" means not letting something stop you or discourage you from achieving your goal.

🎯 Exam Tip: When using a phrase with 'not', make sure the sentence clearly illustrates the idea of overcoming an obstacle or continuing despite difficulty.

 

Question 4. Imagine there is a 'Best Plant' Competition in the locality /colony where you live. Frame a Notice about the same, in the form of an attractive poster. Cover the following points.
Name of the organisation.
Name of the Contest.
Day, Date, Venue.
Who can participate.
Prizes.
Contact details for further enquiry.
Answer:

[Your Locality/Colony Name] Residents' Welfare Association

NOTICE

BEST PLANT COMPETITION 2024

Dear Residents,

Get ready to showcase your green thumb! The Residents' Welfare Association is excited to announce the 'Best Plant Competition 2024' to encourage greenery and beautify our surroundings. We invite all plant enthusiasts to participate and make our colony greener.

Contest Details:

• Name of the Organisation: [Your Locality/Colony Name] Residents' Welfare Association
• Name of the Contest: Best Plant Competition 2024
• Day, Date, Venue: Sunday, October 27, 2024, at 10:00 AM, Community Garden Area
• Who can participate: All residents of [Your Locality/Colony Name] are welcome to participate.
• Prizes: Exciting prizes await the top three winners!

Let's celebrate nature together and make our community vibrant. Your participation will inspire others to nurture plants.

For further enquiry, please contact:
[Your Name/Designation]
Secretary, Residents' Welfare Association
Phone: [Your Contact Number]

[Date of Issue]

In simple words: This notice informs residents about a plant competition, giving all the important details like who can join, when and where it will happen, and what prizes are offered, encouraging everyone to participate.

🎯 Exam Tip: When framing a notice, ensure all required points are clearly addressed, use a formal yet inviting tone, and present the information in a well-structured, easy-to-read format with a clear heading and contact details.

5. Types Of Sentences:

Study the following sentences.

Set (A)

Revathi was a student of music.
The flowers were big and brightly coloured; indeed.
They were requested to believe her.

All the above sentences are statements or assertions, and called Assertive or Declarative sentences.

Set (B)

Wasn't Revathi a student of music?
How can we doubt her?
Do plants have ears?
The above sentences in Set (B) are Questions. They are called Interrogatie sentences.

Set (C)

Please believe me.
Let us rutch the fun.
Sit straight.
Excuse me.
In Set (C) the sentences are either requests, appeals, commands, suggestions etc.
Such sentences are called Imperative Sentences.

Set (D)

How big and bright the flowers were!
What a surprise!
Ah, what beautiful music that is!
Set (D) has sentences that express strong feelings. They are called Exclamatory Sentences

State The Kinds Of The Following Sentences:

• How happily she played the violin!
• They all bent towards her.
• Don't play that quick tune.
• She kept the knowledge a secret.
• How can plants enjoy music?
• How proudly did Revathi carry home her prize!
• What could have token my plants?
• The organisers were not convinced.

6. Make The Following Negative Using The Negative Words Given:

 

Question 1. There were a few potted plants in the courtyard. (not many)
Answer: There were not many potted plants in the courtyard. This transformation changes the sentence from affirmative to negative while retaining its core meaning.
In simple words: To make the sentence negative, we replace "a few" with "not many" as instructed, showing there weren't a large number of plants.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked to make a sentence negative using specific words, ensure you replace the original positive phrase with the given negative one accurately, maintaining the sentence's grammatical structure.

 

Question 2. They looked healthier than the other plants. (not as healthy as)
Answer: The other plants did not look as healthy as these plants. This transformation highlights the impact of dedicated care.
In simple words: The other plants were not as healthy as the ones being discussed.

🎯 Exam Tip: When converting sentences with "not as... as", ensure the comparison accurately reflects the original meaning, often by reversing the order of comparison.

 

Question 3. She refused to share her secret. (would not)
Answer: She would not share her secret. Her decision to keep it private was firm.
In simple words: She chose not to tell anyone her secret.

🎯 Exam Tip: To rephrase using "would not", identify the action being refused and state that the subject "would not" perform it.

 

Question 4. She went around asking everyone about her plants. (No one / did not)
Answer: She did not omit anyone when she went around asking about her plants. This shows her thoroughness in seeking information.
In simple words: She asked every single person about her plants.

🎯 Exam Tip: When using "did not omit anyone", ensure it conveys the meaning of including everyone, which is the opposite of omitting.

7. Make The Following Affirmutie Using The Words Given:

 

Question 1. There was no breeze. (hardly)
Answer: There was hardly any breeze. The air was almost completely still.
In simple words: There was almost no wind at all.

🎯 Exam Tip: "Hardly any" is used to express a very small amount or almost none, effectively making a negative statement affirmative in tone.

 

Question 2. Their ridicule did not deter her. (failed to)
Answer: Their ridicule failed to deter her. She remained steadfast despite their mockery.
In simple words: Their teasing did not stop her.

🎯 Exam Tip: To use "failed to", identify the action that was not achieved and state that the subject "failed to" do it.

 

Question 3. Her mother knew nothing about it. (denied)
Answer: Her mother denied knowing anything about it. This indicates a complete lack of awareness or involvement.
In simple words: Her mother said she didn't know anything about it.

🎯 Exam Tip: When using "denied", ensure it clearly states what was being denied, often followed by a gerund or a clause.

 

Question 4. She did not give up. (refuse to)
Answer: She refused to give up, showing her strong determination.
In simple words: It means she kept trying and didn't quit, even when things were difficult.

🎯 Exam Tip: For questions asking to rephrase, ensure your answer uses the given word correctly while maintaining the original meaning.

 

Question 8. Imagine that Revathi's father is abroad on business and she wishes to convey the news of her prize-winning plants. Draft un email for the above subject.
Answer:

From	revathi@yahoo.com
To	shekhar@hotmail.com
Subject	My balsam plants

Hi Dad,
How are you? How is your trip? Have you done a lot of sightseeing the past weekend? Please don't forget to send some pics. I wish we could all have been in Paris with you.

I have some excellent news for you. Do you know those potted balsam plants in the corner of our courtyard? Well, I took one pot and gave it a lot of love and care. And guess what! It won the first prize in the 'Best Plant' contest in our colony!
But more important than that, Dad, is the fact that I have discovered that my plants love music, especially my favourite raga, Mohanam. They bend towards me when I play that raga on my violin, and move I away when I play some music with a quick rhythm. No, it is not my imagination; I proved it to the organisers of the contest, and they have praised me for my discovery.I They will certainly talk to you about it when you come back.
Dad, I want to prove my discovery to you too. Please come back soon. Rest everything is fine. Lots of hugs and kisses from all of us.

Revathi. This email effectively conveys her excitement and the unique discovery she made.
In simple words: This email is about Revathi telling her dad, who is away, that her special plants won a prize and that she found out they love music.

🎯 Exam Tip: When drafting an email, remember to include a clear subject line, a polite greeting, the main message, and a suitable closing. Ensure all key information requested in the prompt is included.

Class 8 English Chapter 1.4 Revathi's Musical Plants Additional Important Questions And Answers

Simple Factual Activity:

Fill in the Blanks:

 

Question 1. The instrument Revathi played was the ____.
Answer: violin.
In simple words: Revathi played the violin, which is a musical instrument with strings.

🎯 Exam Tip: For fill-in-the-blanks, ensure your answer directly completes the sentence logically and grammatically.

 

Question 2. Revathi's favourite raga was ____.
Answer: Mohanam.
In simple words: Revathi loved the Mohanam raga, which is a specific melody in Indian classical music.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember specific details like names and preferences mentioned in the story for direct recall questions.

 

Question 3. One day, she saw that there was a pot of ____ plants near the wall.
Answer: balsam.
In simple words: Revathi found a pot containing balsam plants growing near the wall.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to descriptive words and specific nouns used in the text, as they are often key to fill-in-the-blank answers.

 

Question 4. Revathi decided to participate in the ____ contest to be held in her colony.
Answer: Best Plant.
In simple words: Revathi chose to enter the Best Plant contest organized in her neighborhood.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify the main event or activity a character is involved in to answer questions about their actions or decisions.

 

Question 5. Use the expression 'to surmise' to make a sentence of your own :
Answer: When the teacher saw Naomi crying, she surmised that she had failed the test. To surmise means to guess something is true without having definite proof.
In simple words: To surmise means to guess or infer something based on available clues, like making an educated guess.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked to use an expression, create a clear sentence that demonstrates your understanding of its meaning in context.

Pick out the Conjunctions in the Following Sentences:

 

Question 1. Her mother said she knew nothing either about the pot or the plants.
Answer: either...or.
In simple words: The conjunctions "either...or" connect two choices or possibilities in a sentence.

🎯 Exam Tip: Conjunctions like 'either...or', 'neither...nor', 'both...and' are correlative conjunctions that always work in pairs to join similar sentence elements.

 

Question 2. The flowers were big and brightly coloured and one of the plants had an unusual kind of flower.
Answer: and, and.
In simple words: The answer simply provides the two connecting words that describe the flowers and the unique plant.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay close attention to descriptive details in the text to accurately fill in missing words or phrases.

 

Question. Complete the table and write who said the given words and to whom:
Answer:

The Words	Who said	To whom
(1) Do plants have ears?	The organisers	Revathi
(2) I know my plants.	Revathi	The organisers

In simple words: This table clarifies who spoke specific lines in the story and to whom they were addressed, showing the interactions between characters.

🎯 Exam Tip: When completing tables based on dialogue, carefully identify the speaker and the listener for each statement to ensure accuracy.

Give Reasons

 

Question 1. What shock did Revathi receive on prize distribution day?
Answer: On prize distribution day, Revathi saw her lost pot of plants on a bench, with the name of a distant neighbour of hers as the competitor. She got a shock when she saw this. It was a moment of disbelief and confusion for her.
In simple words: Revathi was shocked to find her own lost plants entered in the competition under someone else's name.

🎯 Exam Tip: For questions about a character's reaction, clearly state the event that caused the reaction and describe the character's emotional response.

 

Question 2. Explain how Revathi planned to convince the organisers that the plants were hers.
Answer: Revathi knew that her plants were music lovers. She planned to play the violin and show the organizers how her plants responded to her music and bent their stems towards her. This unique connection would convince them that the plants were hers.
In simple words: Revathi planned to prove ownership by playing her violin, expecting her plants to respond to her music by bending towards her.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining a plan, detail the steps Revathi intended to take and the specific outcome she hoped to achieve.

 

Question 3. The organisers refused to believe that Revathi's plants were music lovers.
Answer:
In simple words: The organizers found it hard to believe that plants could respond to music, as it's an unusual and scientifically unproven concept for them.

🎯 Exam Tip: When a question asks for a reason for disbelief, consider what common knowledge or expectations might be challenged by the statement or claim.

Punctuate the sentence:

 

Question. they asked her do plants have ears like ours to enjoy your music
Answer: They asked her, "Do plants have ears like ours to enjoy your music?” This punctuation makes the sentence a direct quote, clearly showing what was asked.
In simple words: Add quotation marks around the spoken words and a question mark inside the closing quote.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember to enclose direct speech in quotation marks and place punctuation (like question marks or exclamation marks) inside the closing quotation mark if it's part of the quoted speech.

Underline the nouns in the following sentence :

 

Question. There was her pot of plants on a bench, with the name of a distant neighbour written on a small piece of cardboard and placed in the soil.
Answer: There was her pot of plants on a bench, with the name of a distant neighbour written on a small piece of cardboard and placed in the soil. Identifying nouns helps understand the subjects and objects in a sentence.
In simple words: Nouns are words for people, places, things, or ideas. In this sentence, pot, plants, bench, name, neighbour, piece, cardboard, and soil are all nouns.

🎯 Exam Tip: To identify nouns, look for words that name something. You can often put "a," "an," or "the" in front of a noun.

Personal Response:

 

Question 1. What would have been your reaction if you had been in Revathi's place, and seen someone else's name on your pot of plants? What would you have done?
Answer: I would have been furious. I would have gone up to the person whose name was on my plants and shouted at her and tried to make her admit her theft. I would also have complained loudly to the organisers, hoping to shame her into admitting her guilt. It's important to stand up for what is rightfully yours.
In simple words: I would be very angry and confront the person who put their name on my plants, then complain to the organizers to get justice.

🎯 Exam Tip: For personal response questions, express your feelings clearly and explain the actions you would take, justifying them with logical reasons.

Rewrite the following sentences in the correct order of occurrence in the passage:

 

Question. Rewrite the following sentences in the correct order of occurrence in the passage:
1. The organisers were stunned.
2. The neighbour accepted that she had stolen Revathi's plants.
3. Revathi started playing her favourite raga.
4. Everyone applauded Revathi.
Answer: The correct order of occurrence in the passage is:
(i) Revathi started playing her favourite raga.
(ii) The organisers were stunned.
(iii) The neighbour accepted that she had stolen Revathi's plants.
(iv) Everyone applauded Revathi.
This sequence follows the natural progression of events in the story.
In simple words: First, Revathi played music, then the organizers were surprised, next the neighbor admitted stealing, and finally, everyone clapped for Revathi.

🎯 Exam Tip: When reordering sentences, look for chronological clues, cause-and-effect relationships, and the logical flow of events in the story to determine the correct sequence.

Complex Factual Activities

Give Reasons:

 

Question 1. No one suspected that the neighbour had stolen the plants.
Answer: The neighbour was a regular participant In the competition. Hence, no one suspected that she had stolen the plants. This made her actions seem above suspicion.
In simple words: The neighbour always took part in the competition, so no one thought she would steal the plants.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked for reasons, clearly state the cause-and-effect relationship from the story. Focus on the character's actions or reputation that led to the outcome.

 

Question 2. What is the happy end?
Answer: In the end, the neighbour admitted that she had stolen the plants, and that the plants were actually Revathi's. The plants got the first prize. Everyone applauded Revathi's discovery. Thus, the end of the story is a happy one, bringing justice and recognition.
In simple words: The story ends happily because the neighbour confessed, Revathi got her plants back, and they won the first prize.

🎯 Exam Tip: To describe a "happy end," summarize the resolution of the conflict and highlight the positive outcomes for the main character, including any recognition or rewards.

Activities Based On Vocabulary

Write the noun forms of the following words:

• dejected
• favourite
• applauded
• submitted

Write The Adjective Forms Of The Following Words:
(i) argument
(ii) forgot
(iii) responding
(iv) proudly
Answer:
(i) argumentative
(ii) forgettable/forgetful
(iii) responsive
(iv) proud
In simple words: Adjectives describe nouns or pronouns, telling us more about them. Transforming words into their adjective forms helps to add descriptive detail to sentences.

🎯 Exam Tip: Practice identifying word roots and common adjective suffixes like -ive, -able, -ful, and -ous to quickly form adjectives from other parts of speech.

 

Activities Based On Contextual Grammar:

 

Underline The Adverbs In The Following Sentence:
She felt very dejected but was determined to win her plants back.
Answer: The adverbs in the sentence are 'very' and 'back'. 'Very' modifies the adjective 'dejected', indicating the degree, while 'back' tells us where she wanted to win her plants. These words add more information about the actions and feelings.
In simple words: Adverbs are words that describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, often telling us how, when, where, or to what extent something happens.

🎯 Exam Tip: To find adverbs, look for words that answer "how?", "when?", "where?", or "to what extent?" about the verb or adjective in the sentence. Many adverbs end in -ly, but not all do.

 

Underline The Conjunctions In The Following Sentence:
The authorities decided that Revathi's plants deserved the first prize as they were the best-looking and healthy.
Answer: The conjunctions in the sentence are 'that' and 'as'. 'That' introduces a noun clause, and 'as' explains the reason for the decision, connecting two parts of the sentence. These words help link ideas smoothly.
In simple words: Conjunctions are like glue words that connect other words, phrases, or clauses together in a sentence.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember common conjunctions like 'and', 'but', 'or', 'so', 'for', 'yet', 'nor' (coordinating conjunctions) and 'because', 'although', 'while', 'since', 'if', 'when', 'that', 'as' (subordinating conjunctions) to easily identify them.

Personal Response

 

What helped Revathi to claim her plants-her belief in magic or her belief in her convictions? Explain your choice.
Answer: Her belief in her convictions helped Revathi to claim her plants. She was sure that her plants were music lovers and would respond to her favourite raga as they had done before. This strong conviction gave her the confidence to assert her ownership. There was no magic involved. It was a fact.
In simple words: Revathi's strong belief in her plants' response to music, based on past experience, helped her claim them, not magic.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining choices, always refer back to the character's actions or beliefs as stated in the text to support your answer.

Grammar

Say whether the following sentences are Assertive, Interrogative, Imperative or Exclamatory:

 

Question 1. How happily she played the violin!
Answer: Exclamatory
In simple words: This sentence shows strong feeling or excitement, which makes it exclamatory.

🎯 Exam Tip: Exclamatory sentences always end with an exclamation mark (!) and express strong emotion or surprise.

 

Question 2. They all bent towards her.
Answer: Assertive
In simple words: This sentence simply states a fact or makes a statement, so it is assertive.

🎯 Exam Tip: Assertive sentences (also called declarative sentences) state facts or opinions and usually end with a full stop (.).

 

Question 3. Don't play that quick tune.
Answer: Imperative
In simple words: This sentence gives a command or instruction, making it an imperative sentence.

🎯 Exam Tip: Imperative sentences give commands, requests, or instructions and often start with a verb, sometimes implying 'you' as the subject.

 

Question 4. She kept the knowledge a secret.
Answer: Assertive
In simple words: This sentence states a fact directly, classifying it as assertive.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that assertive sentences are the most common type, simply stating information without asking, commanding, or exclaiming.

 

Question 5. How can plants enjoy music?
Answer: Interrogative
In simple words: This sentence asks a question, which means it is an interrogative sentence.

🎯 Exam Tip: To identify an interrogative sentence, look for a question mark at the end and words like 'how', 'what', 'who', 'when', or 'where' at the beginning.

 

Question 6. How proudly did Revathi carry home her prize!
Answer: Exclamatory
In simple words: This sentence expresses strong emotion or excitement, which makes it an exclamatory sentence.

🎯 Exam Tip: An exclamatory sentence always ends with an exclamation mark (!) and conveys strong feelings like joy, surprise, or anger.

 

Question 7. Who could have taken my plants?
Answer: Interrogative
In simple words: This sentence is asking for information about who took the plants, so it is an interrogative sentence.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that interrogative sentences are used to ask questions and typically start with question words or auxiliary verbs, ending with a question mark.

 

Question 8. The organisers were not convinced.
Answer: Assertive
In simple words: This sentence states a fact or an opinion directly, which means it is an assertive sentence.

🎯 Exam Tip: Assertive sentences, also known as declarative sentences, simply make a statement and usually end with a full stop.

Do As Directed:

 

Question 1. Prepare a word register of about 4 words from the lesson for 'music'.
Answer: Music - rhythm, tune, violin, raga
In simple words: A word register is a collection of words related to a specific topic, and these words are all connected to music.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked for a word register, brainstorm words that are directly associated with the given topic, including related objects, actions, or concepts.

 

Question 2. Use the phrase 'pulled up' in your own sentence :
Answer: The watchman was pulled up for sleeping when he was on duty.
In simple words: To be 'pulled up' means to be reprimanded or scolded for doing something wrong.

🎯 Exam Tip: When using a phrase in a sentence, ensure the sentence clearly shows the meaning of the phrase and fits naturally into the context.

 

Question 3. Spot the error and correct the sentence :That evening, all her friends was going to the prize distribution ceremony.
Answer: That evening, all her friends were going to the prize distribution ceremony. The error was using "was" instead of "were" with the plural subject "friends".
In simple words: The sentence had a grammar mistake where "was" was used with "friends," which is plural, so it should be "were."

🎯 Exam Tip: Always check subject-verb agreement. If the subject is plural (like "friends"), the verb must also be plural ("were" instead of "was").

 

Question 4. Find out four hidden words from the given word : (Each word should have at least 3 letters.) displayed
Answer: displayed: display, play, plea, leap. These words are all found within the letters of "displayed".
In simple words: We found smaller words like 'play' and 'leap' inside the bigger word 'displayed'.

🎯 Exam Tip: When finding hidden words, look for common letter combinations and ensure each word has at least the minimum required number of letters.

 

Question 5. Make a pair of sentences to show the difference between two meanings of the following word (homographs) : stem
Answer:
(i) The stem of a plant holds it up to sunlight
(ii) "All your health problems stem from poor eating habits," said the doctor to Roshan. These sentences illustrate the two distinct meanings of the word "stem."
In simple words: The word "stem" can mean the main part of a plant or it can mean to originate or come from something.

🎯 Exam Tip: For homographs, create clear and distinct sentences for each meaning. Use context clues to highlight the different uses of the word.

 

Question 6. Underline the adverbs in the following sentence : They were slowly moving their stems, bending slightly towards her.
Answer: They were slowly moving their stems, bending slightly towards her. The adverbs "slowly" and "slightly" describe how the action is performed.
In simple words: "Slowly" tells us how they were moving, and "slightly" tells us how much they were bending.

🎯 Exam Tip: Adverbs often end in -ly and describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, telling us how, when, where, or to what extent something happens.

 

Question 7. Pick out the prepositions in the following sentence : She had been busy inside the house and had not been to the courtyard.
Answer: She had been busy inside the house and had not been to the courtyard. The prepositions "inside" and "to" show the relationship between the nouns and other words.
In simple words: "Inside" shows location, and "to" shows direction or destination.

🎯 Exam Tip: Prepositions usually indicate location, direction, time, or manner, and they always introduce a prepositional phrase.

 

Question 8. Rewrite using the verb form of the underlined word :
Answer: (The original sentence with an underlined word is missing from the prompt. Assuming a common example like "She made a decision.") If the sentence was "She made a decision," the verb form would be "She decided." This converts the noun "decision" into its verb form "decided."
In simple words: To rewrite using a verb form, you change a noun that describes an action into the actual action word.

🎯 Exam Tip: To convert a noun to its verb form, identify the action implied by the noun (e.g., 'analysis' implies 'analyze', 'creation' implies 'create') and restructure the sentence accordingly.

 

Question 9. Rewrite using the word 'normally' in the sentence: Plants need light for normal growth.
Answer: Plants need light to grow normally. This change makes 'normally' an adverb describing how plants grow.
In simple words: We change 'normal' (an adjective describing growth) to 'normally' (an adverb describing how they grow).

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to the part of speech required. 'Normal' is an adjective, while 'normally' is an adverb. Adverbs often end in -ly and describe verbs.

 

Question 10. She saw all her plants turn away from her as though they did not like what she was playing. (Rewrite as an affirmative sentence.)
Answer: She saw all her plants turn away from her as though they disliked what she was playing. Changing "did not like" to "disliked" makes the sentence affirmative while retaining the original meaning.
In simple words: To make the sentence affirmative, we replace the negative phrase "did not like" with the positive word "disliked."

🎯 Exam Tip: When converting a negative sentence to an affirmative one, look for a single word that conveys the opposite meaning of the negative phrase (e.g., 'did not like' becomes 'disliked').