Maharashtra Board Class 8 English Unit 4 Chapter 4.4 Ramanujan Solutions

Class 8 English Chapter 4.4 Ramanujan Textbook Questions And Answers

Warming Up:

 

Question 1. Discuss orally in your class:
In what subjects is knowledge of mathematics used, at school level and college university level. Name them.
Did you know maths is used in music and poetry also? Can you tell me how?
Answer: Mathematics is used in many subjects at school and university levels, including Physics, Chemistry, Biology (for data analysis and modeling), Computer Science, Engineering, Economics, Statistics, Finance, and Architecture. It is also surprisingly used in music to understand rhythm, harmony, scales, and patterns, and in poetry for meter, rhythm, and structural patterns.
In simple words: Math is essential in science, engineering, and finance, and it even helps create patterns and structures in music and poetry.

🎯 Exam Tip: When discussing the application of a subject like mathematics, provide specific examples across different fields to show a broad understanding. Mentioning less obvious applications like music and poetry adds depth to your answer.

(Points: knowledge of maths is used in science, physics, chemistry, economics, accountancy, etc. Poetry-rhymes, rhythm; music-beat, rhythm, etc.)

 

Question 2. Use the letters in the word MATHEMATICIAN to make 4 letters 5 letter and 6 or more letter words, within a time limit fixed by your teacher.
Answer: Mathematician: cinema, anthem, thematic, machine, attach, match, meant, mice, item, mime, hate, heat, them, team, etc. This exercise helps improve vocabulary and word formation skills.
In simple words: The task is to find as many words as possible using only the letters from "MATHEMATICIAN", sorting them by length.

🎯 Exam Tip: When forming words from a given word, systematically look for shorter words first, then longer ones, ensuring you only use the available letters.

 

3. Sentences Can Be Classified Into Three Types – Simple, Complex And Compound.

A Simple Sentence is one that has only one Subject and one Predicate. It has only one Finite verb. For example, She went home. In the morning, near my school, I saw a snake.

A Complex Sentence consists of one Main Clause and one or more Dependent or Subordinate Clauses. For example, She went home, after school was over. The boys found the book which had been lost.

A Compound Sentence consists of two or more Independent or Co-ordinate Clauses. They are joined by Co-ordinators. For example: and, but, so, or, for etc.

a. He finished his work and he left his office.
b. He is poor but he is honest.

 

Question. From lesson 4.2 pick out one example of each of the following.
(i) Simple Sentence: ..........
Answer: Modern techniques are used nowadays for anaesthesia. This sentence has one subject and one finite verb, making it simple.
In simple words: Find a sentence from the lesson that has only one main action and one subject.

🎯 Exam Tip: To identify a simple sentence, look for a single subject-verb pair that forms a complete thought without any connecting conjunctions for other clauses.

 

(ii) Complex Sentence:
Answer: Today, if you need to have heart surgery, you can choose from many fine doctors. This sentence shows a condition and its result.
In simple words: A complex sentence combines a main idea with a dependent idea, often using words like 'if' or 'when'.

🎯 Exam Tip: To identify a complex sentence, look for a main clause and at least one subordinate clause connected by a subordinating conjunction like 'if', 'when', 'because', 'although', etc.

 

(iii) Compound Sentence:
Answer: Over the years now, revolutionary steps have been taken in different types of complicated surgery and these have made such operations successful. This sentence joins two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction.
In simple words: A compound sentence joins two complete sentences (independent clauses) with a conjunction like 'and', 'but', or 'or'.

🎯 Exam Tip: Compound sentences connect two equally important ideas, each capable of standing alone as a sentence, using a coordinating conjunction.

1. A. Use The Following Words/Phrases To Make Sentences Of Your Own:

 

Question 1. enthusiasm
Answer: The hikers set off on the hike with great enthusiasm. Their excitement was clear to everyone.
In simple words: Enthusiasm means having a lot of excitement and strong interest in something.

🎯 Exam Tip: When using a word in a sentence, ensure the sentence clearly demonstrates the meaning of the word in context.

 

Question 2. loped off
Answer: The deer loped off easily after being freed from the trap. It moved with a relaxed, bounding gait.
In simple words: "Loped off" means to move away with long, easy strides or bounds.

🎯 Exam Tip: For phrasal verbs, create a sentence that shows the action clearly and naturally, as if describing a real event.

 

Question 3. fraud
Answer: The doctor was arrested by the police for being a fraud. He had been pretending to be a qualified medical professional.
In simple words: A fraud is someone who tricks others for personal gain, often by pretending to be something they are not.

🎯 Exam Tip: When defining a noun like 'fraud', use a sentence that illustrates the consequence or nature of the person/act.

 

Question 4. clarity
Answer: The teacher told the student that there was no clarity in her answers. The explanations were confusing and hard to understand.
In simple words: Clarity means being clear, easy to understand, and free from confusion.

🎯 Exam Tip: To show understanding of a word like 'clarity', use a sentence where its presence or absence has a clear impact on communication.

 

Question 5. to come
Answer: The best is yet to come, so don't give up hope. This phrase often implies future events.
In simple words: "To come" refers to something that will happen in the future or is yet to arrive.

🎯 Exam Tip: When using common phrases, try to incorporate them into a sentence that reflects their typical usage and meaning.

 

Question 6. amiable
Answer: The Principal was happy that the new teacher was an amiable person. Her friendly nature made everyone feel comfortable.
In simple words: An amiable person is someone who is friendly and pleasant, making others feel comfortable around them.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked to use a word in a sentence, ensure the sentence clearly demonstrates the meaning of the word in context.

 

Question 7. to terms with
Answer: The doctor advised the woman to come to terms with her illness. Accepting the situation is often the first step towards healing.
In simple words: To "come to terms with" something means to accept a difficult or unpleasant situation and learn to deal with it.

🎯 Exam Tip: For idiomatic phrases, use them in a sentence that shows you understand their figurative meaning, not just the literal words.

 

Question 8. conveyance
Answer: The minister refused to come to the party unless he was provided conveyance. He needed a vehicle to travel to the event.
In simple words: Conveyance refers to a means of transport, like a car or bus, used to get from one place to another.

🎯 Exam Tip: When defining a word through a sentence, make sure the sentence provides enough context for the word's meaning to be clear.

 

1. B. The following words can be used us Nouns us well us Verbs: (visit / honour / report / watch / form / surprise) Make pairs of sentences of your own using them us u Noun in one and as a Verb in the other. For example:
(i) She gave a smile – Noun.
(ii) Babies smile when they see their mother – Verb.
Answer:
(1) visit:
(i) My grandmother came over for a visit yesterday, (noun)
(ii) "We must visit the zoo when we go to Hyderabad,” said Meera. (verb)
(2) honour:
(i) It was an honour to have such a great scientist visit our college, (noun)
In simple words: This exercise demonstrates how many English words can function as both nouns (names of things or ideas) and verbs (actions), depending on how they are used in a sentence.

🎯 Exam Tip: To score full marks, clearly label whether the word is used as a noun or a verb in each sentence, and ensure both sentences are grammatically correct and distinct in their usage.

(ii) "Let us honour those who have laid down their lives for the country," said the minister, (verb)

(3) report:
The class had to hand in their project reports by the end of the week. (noun)
(ii) The witness reported all that he had seen to the lawyer, (verb)

(4) Watch:
(i) Suman lost her new watch while travelling by train, (noun)
(ii) "Watch the house to see if the thief returns,” ordered the inspector, (verb)

(5) form:
(i) The boy's admission form was rejected by the college as it was incomplete. (noun)
(ii) We formed our own impression of the new corporator, (verb)

(6) surprise:
(i) "There is a surprise for you outside your door," said my friend. (noun)
(ii) The villagers surprised thief 1 when he was sleeping and caught him. (verb)

Say Why:

 

Question 1. Ramanujan's letter bored and irritated Hardy at first.
Answer: Ramanujan's letter was written in halting English and signed by a person unknown to Hardy. The script appeared to consist of theorems, most of them wild or fantastic-looking. Some of them though well-known were laid out as though they were original. There were no proofs of any kind. It seemed to be a kind of fraud, and hence bored and irritated Hardy. This initial reaction highlights the challenge of recognizing genius in an unconventional form.
In simple words: Hardy found Ramanujan's letter boring and irritating because it was in poor English, from an unknown person, contained strange theorems without proofs, and seemed like a trick.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining a character's reaction, always provide specific reasons from the text to support your answer.

 

Question 2. Hardy invited Littlewood for a discussion.
Answer: Hardy could not get the Indian manuscript out of his mind. It had wild theorems he found both baffling and intriguing, prompting him to seek a colleague's perspective.
In simple words: Hardy invited Littlewood because he couldn't stop thinking about the strange mathematical ideas in the Indian manuscript and wanted to discuss them.

🎯 Exam Tip: For questions about character actions, identify the underlying motivation or reason that drives their behavior.

 

Question 3. mother agreed to send Ramanujan to England.
Answer: Ramanujan's mother had a dream in which she saw her son seated in a big hall among a group of Europeans and the goddess of Namakkal had commanded her not to stand in the way of her son fulfilling his life's purpose. This divine instruction was a powerful motivator for her. Hence, obeying the command of the goddess of Namakkal, mother agreed to send Ramanujan to England.
In simple words: Ramanujan's mother had a dream where a goddess told her not to stop him from going to England to fulfill his destiny, so she agreed.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked about motivations for decisions, always include the specific reasons or events that led to the action, like the dream in this case.

 

Question 4. Hardy and Ramanujan could not talk freely with each other.
Answer: Ramanujan was an untrained genius. There was a big difference between Ramanujan's and Hardy's education. Ramanujan knew nothing of modern rigour; he did not know what proof was and Hardy was obliged to teach him some formal mathematics. Their differing backgrounds often created communication barriers. He was sometimes confused with Hardy's conversation when it was outside mathematics. Due to all these reasons, Hardy and Ramanujan could not talk freely with each other.
In simple words: Hardy and Ramanujan had different educational backgrounds and ways of thinking about math, which made it hard for them to communicate easily, especially outside of pure mathematics.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining communication difficulties between individuals, highlight differences in background, training, and understanding of core concepts.

 

Question 5. Ramanujan had to be hospitalized.
Answer: Ramanujan had to be hospitalized because he was ill. His health deteriorated significantly during his time in England. He later died of tuberculosis.
In simple words: Ramanujan became very sick and had to go to the hospital, eventually dying from tuberculosis.

🎯 Exam Tip: For questions about historical figures' health, state the illness and its consequence clearly and concisely.

 

Question 6. Ramanujan found the number 1729 very interesting.
Answer: Ramanujan found the number 1729 very interesting because it is the smallest number expressible as the sum of two cubes in two different ways. This unique property makes it a famous number in mathematics.
In simple words: Ramanujan liked the number 1729 because it's the smallest number that can be made by adding two cubed numbers in two different ways.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked about specific mathematical properties, always provide the precise definition or characteristic that makes it notable.

 

Question 3. Read the text and enlist the achievements and honours of Ramanujan, received in England.
Answer: Ramanujan's achievements and honour, received in England: He was recognized for his exceptional mathematical contributions at a remarkably young age.

• The Royal Society elected him a Fellow at the age of thirty (which, even for a mathematician, is very young)
• Trinity College elected him a Fellow in the same year.
• Ramanujan was the first Indian to be given either of these distinctions.

In simple words: Ramanujan received two major honors in England: being elected a Fellow of The Royal Society and a Fellow of Trinity College, making him the first Indian to achieve either.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked to enlist achievements, present them clearly, often using bullet points, and ensure all requested details (like location or age) are included.

4. Voice - Active And Passive

The form of a verb shows whether the doer of an action is in the Subject (Active voice) or the Subject has an action done to it (Passive voice).
For example, The thief stole the jewels. (Active voice).
The jewels were stolen by the thief. (Passive voice)
Note: While changing from Active to Passive voice, the verb form includes be + past participle.
In a sentence, when the doer of an action is significant, we use Active voice. In Passive voice, the doer of an action may not be mentioned.
For example, The thief was caught. (by the police)

(A) Underline The Verbs In The Following Sentences And State Whether The Sentences Are In Active Or Passive Voice:

 

Question a. England gave Ramanujan great honours.
Answer: England gave Ramanujan great honours. (Active) This structure clearly shows the subject initiating the action.
In simple words: In this sentence, "England" is the one performing the action of "giving," which means the sentence is in the active voice.

🎯 Exam Tip: To identify active voice, look for the subject performing the action directly. For passive voice, the subject receives the action, often with a form of 'to be' and a past participle.

 

Question b. A large untidy envelope was decorated with Indian stumps.
Answer: A large untidy envelope was decorated with Indian stumps. (Passive) The focus is on the envelope and what happened to it, rather than who did the decorating.
In simple words: Here, the "envelope" is receiving the action of "being decorated," indicating that the sentence is in the passive voice.

🎯 Exam Tip: Passive voice often uses a form of "to be" (was, is, were) followed by a past participle (decorated, stolen, caught). The doer of the action might be absent or mentioned with "by."

 

Question c. The timetable was not altered.
Answer: The timetable was not altered. (Passive)
In simple words: This sentence describes an action where the timetable is the receiver of the action, indicating it's in the passive voice.

🎯 Exam Tip: To identify passive voice, look for a form of 'to be' (is, was, were) followed by a past participle (altered, seen, done).

 

Question d. She saw her son in a big hail.
Answer: She saw her son in a big hail. (Active)
In simple words: The subject 'She' performs the action of 'seeing', which means the sentence is in the active voice.

🎯 Exam Tip: In active voice, the subject performs the action. Ensure you can clearly identify who or what is doing the verb's action.

 

Question e. Hardy corrected his statement.
Answer: Hardy corrected his statement. (Active)
In simple words: 'Hardy' is the one doing the 'correcting', making this an active voice sentence.

🎯 Exam Tip: Active voice sentences are generally more direct and clear, with the subject performing the action.

 

Question f. Ramanujan was brought to England.
Answer: Ramanujan was brought to England. (Passive)
In simple words: Ramanujan is the receiver of the action 'was brought', indicating the sentence is in the passive voice.

🎯 Exam Tip: Passive voice often emphasizes the action or the recipient of the action rather than the doer, especially when the doer is unknown or less important.

(B) Change The Voice In The Following Sentences:

 

Question a. Hardy taught Ramanujan.
Answer: Ramanujan was taught by Hardy. This sentence clearly shows the subject and object swapping roles.
In simple words: To change from active to passive, make the object the new subject and use a form of 'to be' with the past participle of the verb.

🎯 Exam Tip: When changing voice, remember to identify the subject, verb, and object, and ensure the tense remains consistent in the transformed sentence.

 

Question b. He knew nothing of the modern rigour.
Answer: Nothing of the modern rigour was known by him.
In simple words: The object 'nothing of the modern rigour' becomes the subject, and the verb 'knew' changes to 'was known'.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay close attention to negative constructions when changing voice; ensure the negation is correctly carried over to the new sentence structure.

 

Question d. Hardy was bored by that manuscript.
Answer: That manuscript bored Hardy. This sentence effectively rephrases the original statement into the active voice.
In simple words: The question describes Hardy's feeling, and the answer flips the sentence to show what caused that feeling.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked to rephrase a sentence, identify the subject and object to correctly change the sentence structure, often involving active or passive voice.

 

Question e. Trinity supported unorthodox talent.
Answer: The unorthodox talent was supported by Trinity. This transformation puts the focus on the talent rather than the supporter.
In simple words: The question tells us who supported what, and the answer changes the focus to what was supported.

🎯 Exam Tip: To change a sentence to passive voice, use a form of 'to be' (e.g., was, is, are) and the past participle of the main verb, often followed by 'by' and the original subject.

 

Question f. He could not break the ban.
Answer: The ban could not be broken by him. This sentence clearly states that the ban itself was unbreakable by the person.
In simple words: The question says someone couldn't do something, and the answer explains that the thing itself couldn't be done by that person.

🎯 Exam Tip: When transforming sentences with modal verbs (like 'could not'), ensure the modal verb is retained in the new structure, especially in passive voice transformations.

 

5. Identify Whether The Following Are Simple, Complex And Compound Sentences:

 

Question a. When he opened it, he found sheets of paper.
Answer: Complex. This sentence contains an independent clause and a dependent clause, connected by a subordinating conjunction.
In simple words: This sentence has two parts: one that can stand alone ("he found sheets of paper") and one that can't ("When he opened it"), joined together.

🎯 Exam Tip: A complex sentence always contains a subordinating conjunction (like 'when', 'because', 'although') that introduces a dependent clause, which cannot stand alone as a complete thought.

 

Question b. He glanced at a letter.
Answer: Simple. This sentence contains only one independent clause and expresses a single complete thought.
In simple words: This sentence has just one main idea and one subject doing one action.

🎯 Exam Tip: A simple sentence has only one independent clause, meaning it contains a single subject and a single predicate, expressing one complete thought.

 

Question c. Hardy was not only bored but he was also irritated.
Answer: Compound. This sentence joins two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction.
In simple words: This sentence connects two complete thoughts ("Hardy was not only bored" and "he was also irritated") using a connecting word like 'but'.

🎯 Exam Tip: Look for coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So) connecting two independent clauses to identify a compound sentence.

 

Question d. Ramanujan turned out to be a poor clerk.
Answer: Simple. Ramanujan's life story is a testament to his extraordinary mathematical genius.
In simple words: The sentence is a simple statement about Ramanujan's profession.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify the main subject and verb to determine if a sentence is simple, complex, or compound.

 

Question e. If Ramanujan had been better educated, he would hove been even more wonderful than he was.
Answer: Complex. His natural talent shone through despite his limited formal education.
In simple words: This sentence has an 'if' clause and a main clause, making it a complex sentence.

🎯 Exam Tip: Look for subordinating conjunctions like 'if', 'when', 'because', 'although' to identify complex sentences.

 

Question f. Ramanujan was self-taught: he knew nothing of the modern rigour.
Answer: Compound. His dedication to mathematics was truly remarkable.
In simple words: This sentence has two independent clauses joined by a colon, making it a compound sentence.

🎯 Exam Tip: Compound sentences often use coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS) or semicolons/colons to join two complete thoughts.

 

Question 6. Interview Question: A brilliant student from your school has on a Mathematics Quiz at the National Level. Frame questions to intervie him / her when the school felicitates him / her. Follow the steps given below.

• Greeting
• Introduction of the interviewee and achievements.
• 2 or 3 questions about growing years.
• 4 to 6 questions about the achievements.
• 2 or 3 questions about future plans and prospects.
• Expression of thanks and good wishes.

Answer:
(1) Good morning, Rachana. First of all, let me offer you my Congratulations on winning the Mathematics Quiz, and that too, at the National Level. May I ask you a few questions about your achievement? It's truly inspiring to see such talent.
(2) Did you have great interest in mathematics in the early years of your childhood?
In simple words: This answer provides example questions for an interview, following the given steps to cover greetings, achievements, and future plans.

🎯 Exam Tip: When framing interview questions, ensure they cover all specified points (greeting, background, achievements, future, thanks) and are open-ended to encourage detailed responses.

(3) How did you develop this interest?
(4) How long did you prepare yourself before participating in this Quiz?
(5) Who helped you and guided you?
(6) Who encouraged you or motivated you at that stage?
(7) How did you feel when you were actually answering the questions?
(8) What is the next step from here?
(9) Do you plan to make a career in mathematics?
(10) Any message to others interested in mathematics?
(11) Thank you, and all the best for your future. Goodbye.

 

Summary:

• Read the first three paragraphs on Page 92. (From One morning upto a discussion after hail)
• Re-read the same noting down only Important points.
• Rewrite the Important points In your own simple language, In you notebook.
• Make certain that your summary Is less than half the length of the original passage.

 

The Manuscript

One morning in 1913, Hardy received an envelope from India. It contained many lines of symbols, written in non- English script. The letter with it, written in halting English and signed by an unknown Indian, wanted Hardy's opinion on the mathematical discoveries enclosed. These were only some known and unknown theorems, without any proofs. Hardy, bored and irritated, put the manuscript aside and went to play tennis. However, his pleasure in his game was interrupted by; the thought of the Indian manuscript with the wild theorems he had left behind. He wondered if the man was a genius. When he returned to his room, he took another look at the script. Then he sent word to Littlewood that they must have a discussion after hall.

Complete the Following:

 

Question 1. Hardy could not enjoy his game because ________
Answer: he kept thinking of the Indian manuscript that he had received that morning. This manuscript was a source of great intrigue for him.
In simple words: Hardy couldn't enjoy his game because his mind was preoccupied with the interesting Indian manuscript he had just received.

🎯 Exam Tip: When completing sentences, focus on the main reason or event directly related to the first part of the sentence.

 

Question 2. The manuscript contained ________
Answer: wild and fantastic-looking theorems and lines and lines of symbols in a non-English script. It presented a unique mathematical challenge.
In simple words: The manuscript was filled with unusual mathematical ideas and symbols written in a language other than English.

🎯 Exam Tip: Describe the contents accurately, highlighting both the nature of the theorems and the script used.

 

Question 3. The famous mathematicians mentioned in this extract are ________
Answer: Hardy and Littlewood. They were prominent figures in the mathematical community.
In simple words: The two well-known mathematicians mentioned are Hardy and Littlewood.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember the key names associated with the story, as they are central characters.

 

Question 4. The two English mathematicians realized by midnight ________
Answer: that the writer of the manuscripts was a man of genius. Their initial skepticism turned into profound admiration.
In simple words: By the end of the night, the mathematicians understood that the person who wrote the manuscripts was extremely brilliant.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the key realization or conclusion reached by the characters in the story.

 

Question 5. The famous mathematicians mentioned in this extract are ________
Answer: Hardy, Ramanujan, Gauss, Euler and Kapitsa. These individuals represent a pantheon of mathematical brilliance.
In simple words: The famous mathematicians named in the text are Hardy, Ramanujan, Gauss, Euler, and Kapitsa.

🎯 Exam Tip: List all the names provided in the source text carefully to ensure completeness.

 

Question 6. The number 1729 is exceptional because ________
Answer:
In simple words: (The answer for why 1729 is exceptional is not provided in the source text, but it is known as the smallest number that can be expressed as the sum of two positive cubes in two different ways.)

🎯 Exam Tip: When a question asks for a reason, ensure your answer provides a clear and specific explanation for the given statement or fact.

 

Question 7. The famous mathematicians mentioned in this extract are _____
Answer: Galois, Abel, and Riemann, in addition to Hardy and Ramanujan. These mathematicians made significant contributions to various fields of mathematics.
In simple words: The text talks about famous math experts like Galois, Abel, Riemann, Hardy, and Ramanujan.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked to list names from an extract, ensure you include all mentioned individuals to score full marks.

Answer The Following

 

Question 1. Hardy invited Littlewood for a discussion.
Answer: Hardy could not get the Indian manuscript out of his mind. It had wild theorems he had never seen before or imagined. He wondered if it was an unknown mathematician of genius. He had another look at the script and then invited Littlewood for a discussion to clarify his doubts. This shows Hardy's deep curiosity and academic integrity, always seeking to understand new mathematical ideas.
In simple words: Hardy invited Littlewood to discuss the Indian manuscript because he was puzzled by its amazing, unfamiliar math ideas and wanted help understanding them.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always explain the 'why' behind an action when asked about an event in a story or extract.

 

Question 2. What qualities of Ramanujan does this extract bring out?
Answer: This extract brings out Ramanujan's passion for mathematics, his courage, and perseverance in sending his manuscript to a strange person across the seas, his efforts to put forward his ideas in spite of a lack of education, and his intelligence. His self-taught brilliance truly shone through his work, despite his limited formal education.
In simple words: Ramanujan was very passionate about math, brave enough to send his work far away, persistent even without much schooling, and very smart.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked about qualities, list specific traits and briefly explain how the extract demonstrates them.

 

Question 3. What were the two drawbacks of Ramanujan's career?
Answer: The two drawbacks in Ramanujan's career were the defects in his education and that he had come on the scene too late in the line of mathematical history. Despite these challenges, his contributions to mathematics were immense and continue to inspire.
In simple words: Ramanujan's career faced two main problems: he didn't have a complete formal education, and he came into the math world a bit late compared to other big discoveries.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify the key limitations or obstacles mentioned in the text when asked about drawbacks or challenges.

 

Question 4. What superstition did Ramanujan's mother believe in?
Answer: Ramanujan's mother believed in the superstition that she had to obey the commands. Such beliefs were common in many households during that era, reflecting cultural traditions.
In simple words: Ramanujan's mother believed in a superstition that she had to follow certain commands.

🎯 Exam Tip: For questions about beliefs or superstitions, state the belief clearly and precisely as described in the text.

 

Question 5. What surprised everyone one morning?
Answer: One morning, Ramanujan's mother said that she had a dream the previous night, in which she saw her son seated in a big hall among a group of Europeans. The goddess of Namakkal had commanded her not to stand in the way of her son fulfilling his life's purpose. This statement, coming from a woman who was very strict about her religious observances, surprised everyone. This revelation was particularly astonishing given her usual strict adherence to religious customs.
In simple words: Everyone was surprised when Ramanujan's mother, who was very religious, said she had a dream where a goddess told her to let Ramanujan go to England for his life's purpose.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked about surprising events, clearly state the event and explain why it was unexpected, referencing character traits or beliefs.

 

Question 6. Say why mother agreed to send Ramanujan to England.
Answer: Ramanujan's mother had a dream in which she saw her son seated in a big hall among a group of Europeans and the goddess of Namakkal had commanded her not to stand in the way of her son fulfilling his life's purpose. Hence, obeying the command of the goddess of Namakkal, mother agreed to send Ramanujan to England. Her deep faith in the goddess's command ultimately swayed her decision.
In simple words: Ramanujan's mother agreed to send him to England because she had a dream where the goddess of Namakkal told her not to stop him from achieving his life's goal.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining a character's decision, always link it back to their motivations or beliefs as presented in the text.

 

Question 7. Hardy calls teaching Ramanujan an unusual experience.
Answer: Ramanujan was an untrained genius. Yet, because of the defects in his education, Hardy had to teach him some formal mathematics as though Ramanuja was a scholarship candidate at Winchester. Hardy found it strange teaching modern mathematics to someone who had the deepest insight but who had literally never heard most of it. Hence he says that teaching Ramanujan was an unusual experience. This unique blend of raw talent and lack of formal training made the teaching process truly extraordinary.
In simple words: Hardy found teaching Ramanujan unusual because Ramanujan was a brilliant natural mathematician who understood complex ideas deeply, but he lacked basic formal education in many areas, making it a strange mix to teach.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining a character's perspective, highlight the contrasting elements or unique circumstances that led to their particular viewpoint.

 

Question. Underline the finite verbs in the following sentence: She had a dream the previous night, in which she saw her son seated in a big hall among a group of Europeans and the goddess of Namakkal had commanded her not
Answer: The finite verbs in the sentence are: had, saw, had commanded. These verbs indicate the main actions or states within the clauses.
In simple words: Finite verbs are the main action words in a sentence that show tense and agree with the subject.

🎯 Exam Tip: To identify finite verbs, look for verbs that change form with tense (past, present) or subject (singular, plural).

Personal Response

 

Question 1. Do you believe in superstitions?
Answer: I don't believe in silly superstitions: like black cats crossing the path, walking under a ladder, etc. But I believe in God and that good things happen to good people. I also believe that 'God helps those who help themselves'. We must work hard if we want something, and not just sit back and expect God and 'luck' to do things for us. It's important to remember that effort often precedes success.
In simple words: I don't believe in common superstitions, but I do believe in God and that hard work leads to good outcomes, not just luck.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked for a personal response, clearly state your opinion and provide a brief, logical reason or belief to support it.

 

Question 2. Ramanujan did not have a proper formal education. Yet he became a famous mathematician. Does this mean that proper education is not necessary?
Answer: I think Ramanujan's case was a very rare case, where he became famous even though there were so many defects in his education. This was because he was very highly talented. However, if he had received a proper education, he would probably have done much, much more, and contributed more in the field of maths. A proper education always helps, and one must always go for it. Formal education provides structured learning and broadens one's perspective.
In simple words: Ramanujan was a rare genius, but proper education is generally very important as it helps everyone, even talented individuals, achieve more.

🎯 Exam Tip: When discussing the importance of education, acknowledge exceptional cases but emphasize the general benefits of formal learning for skill development and broader contributions.

 

Question 3. In the earlier days, people used to die of illnesses like tuberculosis and pneumonia. Do you think that is still the case?
Answer: Though these diseases are still prevalent, the rate of cure is high, and the percentage of people dying from them has gone down. Different medicines have – been found for them. Today people die of cardiac problems, cancer, etc. Medical advancements have significantly improved treatment outcomes for many historical diseases.
In simple words: While diseases like tuberculosis and pneumonia still exist, fewer people die from them now due to better medicines. Today, heart problems and cancer are more common causes of death.

🎯 Exam Tip: When comparing past and present health issues, mention both the persistence of old diseases and the emergence of new challenges, highlighting the role of medical progress.

Write If The Following Statements Are True Or False:

 

Question 1. Ramanujan was a bad-tempered person.
Answer: False. Ramanujan was known for his gentle and humble nature, not for being bad-tempered.
In simple words: Ramanujan was not bad-tempered; he was actually quite gentle.

🎯 Exam Tip: For True/False questions, always recall the character's personality traits or key facts from the text to determine the correct answer.

 

Question 2. Hardy thought that Ramanujan was an untrained genius.
Answer: True. Hardy recognized Ramanujan's extraordinary mathematical intuition despite his lack of formal training.
In simple words: Hardy saw Ramanujan as a natural genius who hadn't been formally taught.

🎯 Exam Tip: When answering questions about characters' opinions, focus on their direct statements or implied beliefs from the story.

 

Question 3. Ramanujan did not get admission to Madras University.
Answer: True. Despite his brilliance, Ramanujan faced academic difficulties in subjects outside of mathematics, which affected his university admission.
In simple words: Ramanujan couldn't get into Madras University because he struggled with non-math subjects.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember specific biographical details mentioned in the text, such as educational milestones or challenges, for factual questions.

 

Question 4. Ramanujan was sometimes confused with Hardy's conversation.
Answer: True. Due to cultural differences and Hardy's rapid speech, Ramanujan occasionally found it challenging to follow their conversations perfectly.
In simple words: Ramanujan sometimes found Hardy's way of speaking confusing.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to details about communication barriers or cultural differences between characters, as these often highlight important aspects of their relationship.

Do As Directed:

 

Question 1. Pick out two compound words from the lesson.
Answer: timetable, superhuman. These words are formed by combining two smaller words.
In simple words: Two words made by joining two smaller words are 'timetable' and 'superhuman'.

🎯 Exam Tip: A compound word is made of two or more words that create a new meaning; look for words that can be split into two meaningful parts.

 

Question 2. Make a word pyramid of at least four words beginning with U.
Answer:U
Up
Upon
Unusual
Understand
This pyramid shows words increasing in length, all starting with 'U'.
In simple words: A word pyramid builds up words, each starting with 'U' and getting longer.

🎯 Exam Tip: For word pyramids, ensure each word starts with the specified letter and that the words progressively increase in length, forming a visual pyramid shape.

 

Question 3. Give the noun forms of: amiable, fulfilling
Answer: amiability, fulfillment. Understanding these transformations helps in building a richer vocabulary.
In simple words: To find the noun form, you change the word's ending, like 'amiable' becomes 'amiability' and 'fulfilling' becomes 'fulfillment'.

🎯 Exam Tip: Practice identifying common suffixes for noun forms (e.g., -ity, -ment, -tion) to quickly convert adjectives or verbs into nouns.

 

Question 4. Find out four hidden words from the given word: miserably (Each word should have at least 4 letters.)
Answer: miserably: miser, able, miserly, bleary. This exercise improves word recognition and vocabulary.
In simple words: Look inside the longer word 'miserably' to find smaller words that are at least four letters long, like 'miser' or 'able'.

🎯 Exam Tip: When finding hidden words, systematically scan the letters in order and try different combinations, ensuring each found word has the minimum required length.

 

Question 5. Use the following word and its homophone in two separate sentences: sent
Answer:
(i) Harsha sent the little boy home immediately. This shows the action of dispatching someone.
(ii) The scent of the jasmine flowers was simply wonderful.
In simple words: 'Sent' means to dispatch something, while 'scent' refers to a smell. Both words sound the same but have different meanings and spellings.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always provide clear, distinct sentences for homophones to demonstrate your understanding of each word's unique meaning and usage.

 

Question 6. Rewrite as a negative sentence: It seemed impossible that he could break the ban and cross the water.
Answer: It did not seem possible that he could break the ban and cross the water. Converting sentences to negative forms often involves adding 'not' or 'no' and sometimes changing a word to its opposite.
In simple words: To make the sentence negative, change 'impossible' to 'not possible' while keeping the rest of the meaning the same.

🎯 Exam Tip: When converting to a negative sentence, ensure the meaning remains consistent with the original, often by using an antonym or adding 'not' to a verb.

 

Question 7. Underline the adjectives in the following sentence:

 

Question 8. Say whether the sentence is Simple, Compound, or Complex: If it had been summer, he would have walked down to Fenner's to watch cricket.
Answer: Complex
In simple words: This sentence has an 'if' clause ("If it had been summer") which depends on the main clause ("he would have walked down..."), making it a complex sentence.

🎯 Exam Tip: To identify complex sentences, look for subordinating conjunctions like 'if', 'when', 'because', 'although', 'while', which introduce dependent clauses.

 

Question 9. Change the voice: They needed a certain amount of help from a superhuman agency.
Answer: A certain amount of help was needed from a superhuman agency (by them). This transformation shifts the focus from the doer to the action itself.
In simple words: To change the voice, make the object of the active sentence the subject of the passive sentence, and use a form of 'to be' with the past participle of the main verb.

🎯 Exam Tip: When changing to passive voice, ensure the tense remains the same and the original object becomes the new subject. The "by [doer]" part is often optional if the doer is not important or obvious.

 

Question 10. Rewrite using the underlined word as a verb: He sent word to Littlewood that they must have a discussion.
Answer: He sent word to Littlewood that they must discuss. This makes the sentence more direct and action-oriented.
In simple words: To change a noun like 'discussion' into its verb form 'discuss', you often need to rephrase the sentence to make the verb the main action.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to the part of speech required. If a noun needs to be converted to a verb, identify the correct verb form and restructure the sentence accordingly.