RBSE Solutions Class 8 English Chapter 6 The Brave Lady of Rajasthan

Summary of the Lesson

This story is about a brave woman from a small village in Rajasthan. Her country was attacked by enemy soldiers. The enemy's army was ordered to kill everyone they met. To avoid fighting Indian soldiers directly, they moved through the desert. However, some local guards saw them coming. So, the nearby villages were emptied in time. When the enemy reached the village, it was quiet and empty. The Commander told his soldiers to be careful. As they moved deeper, they found bags of wheat and other foods spread around. Some food was still smoking, scattered on purpose so the enemy couldn't eat it. The enemy soldiers were very hungry and thirsty, but they found nothing to eat or drink. Angrily, they went to find the villagers, but the village was empty. Suddenly, they heard cries from the huts. The soldiers spread out, hoping to find food or water. The cries came from a one-year-old baby held by a young woman. She was then taken to the Commander.

A soldier told the Commander they found a woman with an old man who could not move. The woman wore Rajasthani clothes and looked scared. The Commander asked why she was alone. She bravely replied that she stayed to care for the old man, her grandfather. The Commander then asked why all the other villagers had left. She angrily asked if he didn't know why. She said they left to avoid being killed by the enemy. The Commander then asked about the burnt bread, wheat, and milk. She replied that so that the enemy could not find anything to eat or drink. Suddenly, happy shouts were heard. Soldiers arrived with some food they found in an underground hole. This hole was hidden by a straw bed where the old man was lying. The Commander was very happy but then remembered that all the wells and tanks had been poisoned. He asked about this. The lady said she had saved the clean water for themselves.

The Commander also asked about her husband. The woman said he was in heaven because he died for his country. The soldiers urged the Commander to eat, as they were very hungry and thirsty. But the Commander was unsure. He told the woman to drink the milk herself and give some to her child. Without any doubt, the lady did so. Then, the soldiers also ate the food. Soon, the child, and then the lady, turned pale, and foam came from the child's mouth. The Commander then understood that the lady had poisoned them. All the soldiers fell to the ground. After the war, people learned about the brave woman's heroic act. Everyone praised her sacrifice. They remembered her as someone who fought bravely for her country. Long live our motherland!

यह कहानी राजस्थान के एक छोटे से गाँव की एक बहादुर महिला के बारे में है। हमारे देश पर दुश्मन ने हमला कर दिया था। दुश्मन की पलटन को आदेश दिया गया था कि जो भी उनके रास्ते में आए, उसे मार दें। भारतीय सैनिकों के साथ खुली मुठभेड़ से बचने के लिए पलटन ने रेगिस्तानी इलाके को चुना। फिर भी, कुछ होमगार्डों ने दुश्मन की गतिविधियों को देखा, और इसलिए आस-पास के गाँवों को समय रहते खाली कर दिया गया। जब पलटन गाँव पहुँची, तो उन्हें कोई हलचल नहीं दिखी, पूरी खामोशी थी और कुछ भी नज़र नहीं आया। इसलिए कमांडर ने पलटन को सतर्क रहने को कहा। जब वे आगे बढ़े, तो उन्हें गेहूं के कुछ बैग व अन्य खाद्य सामग्री इधर-उधर बिखरी पड़ी मिली ताकि दुश्मन उसे प्रयोग में न ला सकें। कुछ सामग्री में से अब भी धुंआ निकल रहा था। दुश्मन की टुकड़ी भूख और प्यास से बेहाल थी परंतु उन्हें कुछ भी न मिला। नतीजन वे क्रोध से गाँव वालों को मारने के लिए दौड़े मगर उन्हें कोई न मिला क्योंकि गाँव पहले ही खाली करवाया जा चुका था। सहसा पास की झोपड़ियों से रोने की आवाज सुनाई दी। वे सभी इधर-उधर बिखरे गए कि शायद उन्हें अब कुछ खाने को मिल जाएगा। रोने की आवाज एक साल के बच्चे की थी जिसे एक युवा महिला ने अपनी बाँहों में उठा रखा था।

दुश्मन उसे घसीटते हुए अपने कमांडर के पास ले गए और उसे बताया कि उन्हें वह महिला मिली है जो एक पूरी तरह लकवाग्रस्त आदमी के साथ थी। वह महिला राजस्थानी कपड़ों में थी जो पीली पड़ी हुई थी तथा डर से कांप रही थी। कमांडर के पूछने पर कि वह यहाँ अकेली क्यों रह गई थी. उसने निडरतापूर्वक बताया कि उसे उस लकवाग्रस्त आदमी, जो कि उसके दादाजी थे, की देखभाल करने के लिए रुकना पड़ा था, जब कमांडर ने बाकी गाँव वालों के बारे में पूछा तो उसने बताया जैसे कि वह जानता ही कि नहीं हैं कि गाँव वाले क्यों चले गए। वे सभी अपने प्राण बचाकर गाँव छोड़कर चले गए। फिर कमांडर ने जली हुई रोटियां व अन्य सामग्री के बारे में जानना चाहा तो उसने बताया कि दुश्मन उस सामग्री का प्रयोग न कर सके, इसीलिए वह सामग्री जानबूझ कर नष्ट कर दी गई थी। अचानक खुशी के ठहाके सुनाई दिए। दुश्मन सैनिकों को खाद्य सामग्री मिली थी जिसे उन्होंने जमीन के नीचे भूसे के विनर के नीचे, जिस पर वह लकवाग्रस्त आदमी लेटा हुआ था, उसे ढूंढ निकाला था। सभी कुँओं और टंकियों में जहर मिला दिया गया था। उसने महिला से इस बारे में पूछा। उसने बताया कि उसने वह सामग्री अपने लिए बचा रखी थी। कमांडर ने उसके पति के बारे में पूछा। उसने बताया कि उसके पति स्वर्ग में हैं।

जिन्होंने अपने प्राण अपनी मातृभूमि के लिए न्योछावर कर दिए। तब दुश्मन सैनिकों ने कमांडर से खाने-पीने की आज्ञा देने के लिए कहा क्योंकि वह भूख-प्यास से मर रहे थे। परंतु कमांडर को संदेह था। उसने उस महिला को तथा बच्चे को दूध पीने को दिया। उस महिला ने बिना किसी झिझक के वह दूध पी लिया तथा अपने बच्चे को भी पिला दिया। उसके बाद कुछ ही देर में सैनिकों ने भी वह खाद्य सामग्री समाप्त कर डाली। अचानक महिला का बच्चा झाग उगलने लगा तथा महिला भी ज्यादा देर खड़ी न रह पाई। कमांडर को अब तक पता चल चुका था कि उस महिला ने खाने की सामग्री में जहर मिला दिया था। जब तक वह कुछ समझ पाते, सभी सैनिक एक के ऊपर एक जमीन पर गिरने लगे। जब युद्ध समाप्त हुआ तो लोगों को उस बहादुर महिला के त्याग के बारे में पता चला। उन्होंने उसकी बहुत सराहना की। वह बहादुर महिला अमर रहे! वे सभी शहीद जिन्होंने अपने प्राण अपनी मातृभूमि पर न्योछावर किए, हमारी मातृभूमि दीर्घायु हो!

Glossary

Invade : to attack
Battalion : a large group of soldiers to face
Encounter : a dangerous opposition
Reign : to rule for a period of time
Provisions : food, drink and other supplies
Vengeance : revenge
Applaud : clap, to show your approval
Gallant : brave, heroic
Sacrifice : giving something very important or valuable

The Brave Lady of Rajasthan Textbook Questions Solved

Activity - I

A. Tick the correct alternative.

सही विकल्प पर निशान लगाइए।

Question 1. The soldiers went in different directions in order to:
(a) search out some food or water
(b) find out only water for themselves
(c) discovered a soldier who had lost their way
(d) attack the enemy
सैनिक अलग दिशाओं में गए :
(अ) भोजन और पानी की तलाश में
(ब) अपने लिए केवल पानी ढूंढने
(स) अपने भटके हुए सैनिकों को खोजने
(द) शत्रु पर हमला करने
Answer: (a) search out some food or water
In simple words: The soldiers were very hungry and thirsty, so they spread out to look for anything to eat or drink in the empty village.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always relate the options back to the main story events to pick the most accurate reason.

Question 2. All of you will soon die and go to hell it shows .........
(a) firm determination and patriotism of young woman.
(b) feeling of sympathy towards enemies.
(c) weakness of young lady
(d) her disappointment
"तुम सभी जल्द ही मर जाओगे और नरक में जाओगे' दिखाता है.........
(अ) युवा महिला की दृढ़ता तथा देशभक्ति
(ब) दुश्मन के प्रति दया-भावना
(स) युवा महिला की कमजोरी
(द) उसकी निराशा
Answer: (a) firm determination and patriotism of young woman.
In simple words: This strong statement shows that the young woman was very determined and loved her country deeply, even ready to die for it.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the character's emotions and motives to understand what their words reveal about them.

बताइए निम्न कथन सही है अथवा गलत । ।

Question 5. The enemy battalion advanced for an open encounter with the Bhartiya Jawans.........
दुश्मन पलटन ने भारतीय जवानों से सीधी मुठभेड़ के लिए कूच किया।
Answer: False
In simple words: The enemy's army moved towards the desert to avoid a direct fight with Indian soldiers, not for an open encounter.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay close attention to action verbs like "advanced for" versus "avoided" in the text to correctly identify true or false statements.

Question 6. The Brave young lady did not know the provisions were poisoned.
बहादुर युवा महिला को यह नहीं पता था कि खाद्य सामग्री में जहर मिला हुआ है।
Answer: False
In simple words: The brave young lady knew the food was poisoned because she was the one who added the poison.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember key character actions; if a character performs an action, they usually know about it.

Question 7. Just as the soldiers drank and ate, they learnt that the provisions have been poisoned.
जैसे ही सैनिकों ने खाया-पिया, वैसे ही उन्हें समझ आया कि सामग्री में जहर मिला हुआ है।
Answer: True
In simple words: The soldiers realized the food was poisoned only after consuming it and seeing its effect on the child and the woman.

🎯 Exam Tip: Look for cause-and-effect relationships in the story to confirm when knowledge or events occurred.

Question 8. The Rajasthani lady was very proud of her husband's sacrifice.
राजस्थानी महिला अपने पति कस त्याग पर गर्वित थी।
Answer: True
In simple words: The Rajasthani lady was very proud that her husband gave his life for their country.

🎯 Exam Tip: Character's emotional responses, like pride, are often clearly stated or implied in descriptive texts.

C. Answer the following questions in 10 to 20 words.

निम्न प्रश्नों के उत्तर 10-20 शब्दों में दीजिए।

Question 1. What was the unexpected discovery?
अप्रत्याशित खोज क्या थी?
Answer: The soldiers unexpectedly found some sweets, many pots of water, and containers of milk and curd. They were surprised to discover this hidden food.
In simple words: The unexpected finding was some sweets, water pots, and milk and curd cans.

🎯 Exam Tip: List specific items mentioned in the discovery to give a complete answer.

Question 2. Where did the soldiers find things to eat?
सैनिकों को खाने का सामान कहाँ से मिला?
Answer: The soldiers found food hidden in an underground hole. This hole was covered by a straw bed where the paralyzed old man was lying.
In simple words: They found food in a hidden underground hole, covered by a straw bed.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention both the location and how it was concealed for full marks.

Question 3. What did the women say before dying?
मरने से पहले महिला ने क्या कहा?
Answer: Before she died, the woman bravely told the commander, "Yes, I have poisoned all of you. You will soon die and go to hell."
In simple words: She confessed, "I have poisoned you. You will all die and go to hell."

🎯 Exam Tip: Quote direct speech accurately if the question asks for exact words spoken by a character.

Question 4. Who did the soldiers take to the Commander?
सैनिक अपने कमांडर के पास किसे ले गए?
Answer: The soldiers brought a young woman to the Commander. She was found sitting next to an old man who could not move.
In simple words: The soldiers took a young woman to their Commander. She was with an old paralyzed man.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify the main character involved in the action and any other significant person mentioned with them.

Question 6. Why did the enemy march towards a little village?
दुश्मनों ने छोटे से गांव की ओर कूच क्यों किया?
Answer: The enemy's army moved towards a small village. They did this to avoid a direct fight with the Indian soldiers in an open area.
In simple words: They marched to a small village to avoid a direct fight with Indian soldiers.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always explain the 'why' by giving the reason or purpose behind the action.

Question 7. Who were there with the woman?
महिला के साथ कौन-कौन था?
Answer: The woman had her one-year-old baby and her old grandfather with her. Her grandfather was paralyzed and could not move.
In simple words: Her one-year-old baby and her old, paralyzed grandfather were with her.

🎯 Exam Tip: List all individuals mentioned as being present with the main character.

D. Answer the following questions in 30 to 40 words.

निम्न प्रश्नों के उत्तर 30-40 शब्दों में दीजिए।

Question 1. Why did the young women stay back?
युवा महिला वहीं क्यों रुकी रही? ।
Answer: The young woman stayed behind to care for her old grandfather, who was paralyzed. He could not move to a safe place with the other villagers. So, she chose to remain with him to help.
In simple words: She stayed to look after her old, paralyzed grandfather because he could not move with the others to safety.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explain the reason for her stay and the condition of the person she stayed for.

Question 2. What was her plan to kill the enemies?
दुश्मनों को मारने की उसकी क्या योजना थी?
Answer: Her plan was to drink the poisoned milk herself and give it to her child without showing any doubt. This made the enemy trust that the food was safe, so they would eat it and die.
In simple words: She planned to drink the poisoned milk and give it to her child so the enemies would believe the food was safe and then eat it themselves.

🎯 Exam Tip: Describe the sequence of actions in her plan and its intended outcome clearly.

B. Fill in the blanks with the help of the words given in the box below.

marching, sacrifice, heroic, troops, costumes

Question. Fill in the blanks in the paragraph using the words provided.
On 26 January the parade began. The (1)__________ came in colourful (2)__________. We then recollected the days of (3)__________ deeds and great (4)__________ of brave bold Bhartiyas who died for the nation, and their (5)__________.
Answer: On 26 January the parade began. The troops came in colourful costumes. We then recollected the days of marching deeds and great heroic of brave bold Bhartiyas who died for the nation, and their sacrifice.
In simple words: The parade on January 26 featured soldiers in bright clothes. It made us remember the brave acts and great sacrifices of those who died for our country.

🎯 Exam Tip: Read the full paragraph to understand the context of each blank and choose words that best fit the meaning.

C. Read the following words and use them in your own sentences so as to bring out their meaning.

sand, send
dying, dyeing
of, off
whole, hole
reach, rich
so, sow

Answer:
sand - Children like to play in sand.
send - Shreya will send a gift for me.
dying - The beggar was dying of thirst.
dyeing - Dyeing hair is not good for health.
of - I am fond of mangoes.
off - Please switch off the light.
whole - The whole syllabus will come in exam.
hole - There is a hole in shirt.
deep - The well is very deep.
dip - Some people dip biscuits in tea before eating.
reach - We will reach Delhi tomorrow.
rich - Geeta is very rich.
but - Naman searched his room but he could not find his book.
butt - Birthday bumbs are given on butt.
so - He could not catch the bus, so he was late.
sow - Farmers sow different seeds in different seasons.
In simple words: This section shows how different words sound alike but have different meanings. Each sentence helps you understand the correct use of these similar-sounding words.

🎯 Exam Tip: When using homophones, always confirm the correct spelling for the intended meaning within the sentence.

Activity - III

A. Read the following sentence from the text and notice the use of 'as soon as'.

"As soon as the soldiers satisfied themselves, after all their toil and facing dangers, that no water or refreshment was to be obtained, they roared with rage but vengeance was within reach.”
'As soon as' is generally used to say that something happened after something or 'no sooner' something had happened 'than' the other thing took place. “As soon as' is interchangeable with 'no sooner ..........than'

Change the following using! ‘no sooner .......than'.

Question 1. As soon as the panchayat results were declared, people garlanded him.
Answer: No sooner were the panchayat results declared than people garlanded him.
In simple words: No sooner were the panchayat election results announced than people put garlands around him to celebrate.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember to invert the subject and verb after "No sooner" (e.g., "were the results" not "the results were").

Question 2. As soon as it started to rain heavily, people went inside their houses.
Answer: No sooner did it start to rain heavily than people went inside their houses.
In simple words: No sooner did the heavy rain begin than everyone quickly moved indoors to seek shelter.

🎯 Exam Tip: When using "did" after "No sooner," ensure the main verb remains in its base form.

Question 3. As soon as it rained, the farmers began to plough their fields.
Answer: No sooner did it rain than the farmers began to plough their fields.
In simple words: No sooner did the rain start than the farmers immediately began to prepare their fields for planting.

🎯 Exam Tip: Practice forming sentences with "No sooner... than" to show immediate actions following an event.

Question 5. As soon as it grew dark, the gates of city were closed for the night.
Answer: No sooner did it grow dark than the gates of the city were closed for the night.
In simple words: No sooner did darkness arrive than the city gates were shut for the entire night.

🎯 Exam Tip: Ensure that the past participle is used correctly after "did" if the sentence structure requires it, or the base verb for simple past.

Question 6. As soon as tiger rushed at me, I fired a shot.
Answer: No sooner did the tiger rush at me than I fired a shot.
In simple words: No sooner did the tiger charge towards me than I quickly fired my gun.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the two immediate actions in sequence when converting sentences to "no sooner...than" form.

Question 7. As soon as Prashant saw his mummy, he ran to touch her feet.
Answer: No sooner did Prashant see his Mummy than he ran to touch her feet.
In simple words: No sooner did Prashant see his mother than he quickly ran to touch her feet as a sign of respect.

🎯 Exam Tip: This structure is effective for describing sudden emotional responses or respectful gestures.

Question 8. As soon as Krishna saw Sudama, he hugged him and began to weep.
Answer: No sooner did Krishna see Sudama than he hugged him and began to weep.
In simple words: No sooner did Krishna see Sudama than he embraced him warmly and started to cry with emotion.

🎯 Exam Tip: This phrase effectively conveys a powerful, immediate reaction between individuals.

Question 9. As soon Ram asked Hanuman to seek Sita, he set out immediately.
Answer: No sooner did Ram ask Hanuman to seek Sita than he set out immediately.
In simple words: No sooner did Ram ask Hanuman to find Sita than Hanuman immediately started his journey.

🎯 Exam Tip: Use this structure to highlight the promptness of a character's response to an instruction.

B. Read the following sentences carefully.

You should come in uniform. You may join the parade.
You should come in uniform so that you may join the parade.
You should come in uniform in order that you may join the parade.
'so that' is used to talk about purpose. It is usually followed by a modal auxiliary verb such as can or will, that is used instead of 'so that' especially in informal style.

Question 1. Pramod takes exercises everyday to keep himself physically fit.
Answer: Pramod takes exercises everyday so that he can keep himself physically fit.
• Pramod takes exercises everyday in order that he can keep himself physically fit.
In simple words: Pramod exercises daily so that he can stay strong and healthy. He wants to keep his body fit.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember "so that" and "in order that" both express purpose and are often followed by a modal verb.

Question 2. Anurag is studying regularly to improve his English language.
Answer: Anurag is studying regularly so that he may improve his English language.
• Anurag is studying regularly in order that he may improve his English language.
In simple words: Anurag studies consistently so that he can make his English better. He aims to improve his language skills.

🎯 Exam Tip: Ensure the purpose clause clearly states the intended outcome of the action.

Question 3. Kamal ran fast to catch the thief.
Answer: Kamal ran fast so that he might catch the thief.
• Kamal ran fast in order that he might catch the thief.
In simple words: Kamal ran very quickly so that he could catch the thief. His speed was meant for this purpose.

🎯 Exam Tip: Use "might" or "could" in the 'so that' clause when the main action is in the past.

Question 4. Jyoti drove fast to reach home in time.
Answer: Jyoti drove fast so that she could reach home in time.
• Jyoti drove fast in order that she could reach home in time.
In simple words: Jyoti drove quickly so that she could arrive home on schedule. She wanted to be home by a certain time.

🎯 Exam Tip: Connect the action and its desired result logically using the appropriate conjunction.

Activity - IV

Pronounce each pair of words twice-in each pair the vowel sound of the first word is long and that of the

Answer:
I. beat बीट bit बिट
II. deep डीप dip डिप
III. feel फील fill फिल
IV. neat नीट knit निट
V. heat हीट hit हिट
VI. heal हील hill हिल
VII. lead लीड lid लिड
VIII. leave लीव live लिव
IX. scene सीन sin सिन
X. read रीड rid रिड
In simple words: This list shows word pairs that look similar but have different vowel sounds, making them sound distinct. It helps to understand how a small change in spelling affects pronunciation.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to vowel patterns; double vowels often indicate a long sound, while single vowels might be short.

Activity-V

Question 1. You must have heard about the valour and sacrifice made by the great Queen 'Padmini of Chittor?. Ask your teacher to acquaint you with the glorious history of ‘Mewar’and the valour of the lady. On the basis of the tips supplied by the teacher, write a paragraph on the queen "Padmini of Chittor”.
Answer: Queen Padmini, also known as Padmavati, was a legendary Indian queen from the 13th-14th century. She was a beautiful princess from the Singhal Kingdom. Ratan Sain, the Rajput ruler of Chittor, married her and brought her to Chittor. Alauddin Khilji, the Sultan of Delhi, heard about her beauty and attacked Chittor to capture her. Meanwhile, Ratan Sen died in a fight with Devpal, the king of Kumbhalner, who also admired Padmavati. To protect their honor before Alauddin Khilji could seize Chittor, Padmavati and her companions performed Jauhar, which means self-immolation.
In simple words: Queen Padmini was a beautiful and brave queen. To protect her honor from Alauddin Khilji, she and other women performed Jauhar, a sacrifice by self-immolation.

🎯 Exam Tip: When writing historical descriptions, include key figures, locations, and the significant events or acts they performed.

The Brave Lady of Rajasthan Additional Questions And Answers

A. Tick the correct alternative.

सही विकल्प पर निशान लगाइए।

Question 2. The battalion marched towards the little ..........
(a) school
(b) village
(c) building
(d) boy
पलटन एक छोटे से की तरफ बड़ी।
Answer: (b) village
In simple words: The army moved towards the small village. This was part of their plan to avoid a direct fight.

🎯 Exam Tip: Refer to the story's setting details to correctly identify where the characters moved.

Question 3. The battalion was avoiding an open encounter with..........
(a) lion
(b) villagers
(c) Indian jawans
(d) children
के साथ सीधे सामना नहीं करना चाहती थी।
Answer: (c) Indian jawans
In simple words: The enemy army wanted to avoid a direct fight with the Indian soldiers. They did not want to meet them on an open battlefield.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understand the military strategy described in the narrative to choose the correct party being avoided.

Question 4. The soldiers were..........of thirst and hunger.
(a) dying
(b) dyeing
(c) playing
Answer: (a) dying
In simple words: The soldiers were suffering greatly from not having food or water. They felt like they were dying from hunger and thirst.

🎯 Exam Tip: Choose the word that best describes the extreme suffering caused by lack of food and water.

Question 5. All the .......... had run away.
(a) dogs
(b) children
(c) inhabitants
(d) cows
Answer: (c) inhabitants
In simple words: The villagers left their homes to stay safe from the enemy soldiers. This is why the village was empty.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to the context of the story to determine who would have fled the village.

Question 6. The soldiers thus dispersed in hope of finding ..........
(a) cloths
(b) guns
(c) sweets
(d) food or water
Answer: (d) food or water
In simple words: The soldiers were very hungry and thirsty, so they spread out to look for something to eat or drink. They were desperate for supplies.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that soldiers on a march often face hunger and thirst, making the search for food and water a priority.

Question 7. The soldiers were dragging her to their.............
(a) Commander
(b) country
(c) car
(d) village
Answer: (a) Commander
In simple words: The soldiers found the lady and forcefully brought her to their leader. They wanted the Commander to question her.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understand the power dynamics in such situations; soldiers typically report to their superior officers.

Question 8. The old man .......... था।
(a) happy
(b) sad
(c) dead
(d) paralyzed
Answer: (d) paralyzed
In simple words: The old man could not move because he was paralyzed. This is why the young lady had to stay with him.

🎯 Exam Tip: The story highlights the lady's sacrifice in staying with her paralyzed grandfather, so knowing his condition is key.

Question 9. The commander recollected that wells and tanks were.
(a) poisoned
(b) filled
(c) empty
(d) dry
Answer: (a) poisoned
In simple words: The Commander suddenly remembered that the village's water sources had been poisoned by his own soldiers. This made him suspicious of the food they found.

🎯 Exam Tip: This detail about poisoned water is crucial for understanding the Commander's suspicion and the lady's plan.

Question 10. The lady's husband died for the ........
(a) food
(b) water
(c) motherland
(d) jewellery
Answer: (c) motherland
In simple words: The lady's husband had given his life protecting his country. His sacrifice showed her own strong love for their nation.

🎯 Exam Tip: The theme of patriotism and sacrifice is central to the story, and the husband's death reinforces this.

B. Answer The Following Questions In 10 To 20 Words.

Question 1. By whom was our country invaded?
Answer: Our country was attacked by the enemy. They came with a large army to fight against us.
In simple words: The enemy invaded our country.

🎯 Exam Tip: For simple direct questions, provide a clear and concise answer using the key term "enemy."

Question 2. Why did the battalion march towards a little village?
Answer: The enemy battalion moved towards a small village because they wanted to avoid a direct fight with the Indian soldiers. They hoped to bypass strong resistance by taking a different path.
In simple words: The battalion marched to a small village to avoid a direct fight with Indian soldiers.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining reasons, clearly state the action and its purpose, like avoiding conflict.

Question 3. What did the battalion notice on reaching the village?
Answer: When the battalion reached the village, they noticed there was no movement and no noise at all. The village was completely silent and seemed empty.
In simple words: The battalion found the village silent with no one moving.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on descriptive words like "no movement" and "no noise" to convey the sense of emptiness.

Question 4. Whom did the woman carry in her arms?
Answer: The woman carried her one-year-old baby in her arms. She tried to protect the child during the difficult situation. The child was very young and needed her care.
In simple words: The woman carried her one-year-old baby in her arms.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always relate questions about characters to their actions and relationships as described in the story.

Question 5. How was the paralyzed old man related to the woman?
Answer: The paralyzed old man was the woman's grandfather. She stayed behind to care for him because he could not move on his own.
In simple words: The old man was the woman's grandfather.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify family relationships accurately as they often explain characters' motivations and actions.

Question 6. What did the Commander give the woman and her child to drink?
Answer: The Commander gave milk to the woman and her child to drink. He wanted to see if the milk was poisoned before his soldiers drank it.
In simple words: The Commander gave milk to the woman and her child.

🎯 Exam Tip: Note the Commander's intention behind giving them milk - it was a test of trust.

C. Answer The Following Questions In 20 To 30 Words.

Question 1. Where was the provision hidden?
Answer: The food and supplies were hidden in a secret underground hole in the earth. This hole was covered by a straw bed where the old man was lying, making it very hard to find. This clever hiding spot kept the provisions safe.
In simple words: The food was hidden in an underground hole covered by the old man's straw bed.

🎯 Exam Tip: Describe both the location and the method of concealment for a complete answer.

Question 2. Why was the village vacant?
Answer: The village was empty because some homeguards noticed the enemy soldiers approaching in time. They warned the villagers, who then left their homes and moved to a safe place to avoid being caught by the enemy.
In simple words: Homeguards saw the enemy coming, so the villagers left to be safe.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explain the cause-and-effect relationship: homeguards detected, so village was vacated.

Question 3. What did one of the soldiers ask the Commander about the provisions?
Answer: One of the soldiers asked the Commander for permission to eat the provisions. The soldiers were very hungry and thirsty, so they wanted to consume the food they had found immediately.
In simple words: A soldier asked the Commander if they could eat the food because they were hungry.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the soldiers' immediate need (hunger/thirst) and their request to the commander regarding the food.

Question 4. What did the woman say when the Commander asked about her husband?
Answer: The woman told the Commander that her husband was in heaven because he had died fighting for his motherland. She also mentioned that she had no other family connection besides her child. Her husband's sacrifice inspired her.
In simple words: She said her husband died for his country and was in heaven. She only had her child left.

🎯 Exam Tip: Highlight both the husband's patriotic sacrifice and the lady's remaining family connection, as these details are important for her character.

D. Answer The Following Questions In 30 To 40 Words.

Question 1. Why were sudden shouts of joy heard?
Answer: Sudden shouts of joy were heard because some soldiers found hidden food and water. They came back carrying sweets, pots of water, and cans of milk and curds, which they had discovered in an underground hole covered by a straw bed. This find brought them great happiness.
In simple words: Soldiers found hidden food and water in an underground hole, making them very happy.

🎯 Exam Tip: Detail what was found and where it was hidden to fully explain the soldiers' sudden joy.

Question 2. What happened when the war was over?
Answer: After the war ended, the brave actions of the young woman became known to everyone. People praised her great sacrifice and courage, recognizing that she had given her life for her country. She would always be remembered as a hero for her noble deed.
In simple words: After the war, everyone learned about the woman's brave act and praised her sacrifice for the country.

🎯 Exam Tip: Emphasize the recognition of her heroic deeds and the lasting impact of her sacrifice.