Samacheer Kalvi Class 10 English Solutions Poem 5 The Secret of the Machines

A. Answer the Following Briefly.

Question 1. Who does 'we' refer to in the first stanza?
(a) Human beings
(b) Machines
Answer: (b) Machines
In simple words: The word 'we' in the poem is used by the machines themselves when they talk about what they do and how they are made. This helps the reader understand the poem from their perspective.

🎯 Exam Tip: When a poem uses pronouns like 'we' or 'I', always identify the speaker correctly as it sets the tone for the entire poem.

Question 2. Who are the speakers and listeners of this poem?
Answer: In this poem, the machines are the speakers. They are the clever creations of humans. The listeners of the poem are the readers, who learn about the machines' thoughts and feelings. This allows for a deeper connection with the inanimate objects.
In simple words: The machines are speaking in the poem, and we, the people reading it, are listening to their story.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identifying the speaker and audience is key to understanding the message and perspective of any poem.

Question 3. What metals are obtained from ores and mines?
Answer: Many metals come from ores and mines. Some examples include iron, copper, nickel, lead, tin, aluminium, gold, and chromium. These natural resources are essential for making various machines and tools.
In simple words: Metals like iron, copper, gold, and aluminium are dug out from the earth in ores and mines.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remembering specific examples helps to clearly answer questions about natural resources and their uses.

Question 4. Mention a few machines which are hammered to design?
Answer: Some machines that are shaped by hammering include the power lift, the cutting wedge, and the wheel and axle. These parts need to be strong and precisely made. Hammers are used to shape and strengthen metal during their creation.
In simple words: Machines like power lifts, cutting wedges, and wheels are made strong by hammering them into shape.

🎯 Exam Tip: List specific examples to demonstrate a clear understanding of how different machines are manufactured.

Question 5. Mention the names of a few machines that run on water, coal or oil?
Answer: Many machines use water, coal, or oil to work. Some common examples are generators, steam engines, and the turbines used in power plants. These energy sources drive the machines that make our lives easier.
In simple words: Generators, steam engines, and power plant turbines are machines that use water, coal, or oil to operate.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on machines that are directly powered by these energy sources, rather than those that use electricity generated by them.

Question 6. Mention a few machines used for pulling, pushing, lifting, driving, printing, ploughing, reading, and writing etc?
Answer:
For **Pulling**: Pulley, winch, elevator, windlass.
For **Pushing**: Motor engines.
For **Lifting**: Crane, hoist.
For **Driving**: Car, omnibus, caravan.
For **Printing**: Typewriter, computer printer, fax machine.
For **Ploughing**: Tractor.
For **Reading and Writing**: Computer, cellular phones.
All these machines help people do different tasks, showing how useful technology can be.
In simple words: Machines like pulleys, cranes, cars, typewriters, tractors, and phones help us pull, push, lift, drive, print, plough, read, and write.

🎯 Exam Tip: Organize your answer by function (pulling, pushing, etc.) and provide specific examples for each to make it clear and easy to read.

Question 7. Are machines humble to accept the evolution of the human brain? Why?
Answer: Yes, machines are humble. They understand that they are only creations of the human brain. They respect the intelligence that brought them into existence. This humility shows that even with their power, they know their place.
In simple words: Yes, machines are humble because they know they were made by people's clever brains.

🎯 Exam Tip: When answering "Why" questions, always provide a clear reason to support your initial 'yes' or 'no' statement.

Question 8. What feelings are evoked in us by the machines in this poem?
Answer: The machines in the poem make us feel a mix of pride and superiority because we created them. We also feel a sense of fear and a need for careful attention, knowing that any mistake in handling them could be dangerous. This combination of awe and caution highlights their dual nature.
In simple words: The machines make us feel proud because we made them, but also a little scared, reminding us to be careful when using them.

🎯 Exam Tip: When describing evoked feelings, mention both the positive and negative (or complex) emotions to show a complete understanding.

Question 9. 'And a thousandth of an inch to give us play; Which of the following do the machines want to prove from this line?
(a) Once Machines are fed with fuel, they take a very long time to start.
(b) Once Machines are fed with fuel, they start quickly.
Answer: (b) Once Machines are fed with fuel, they start quickly.
In simple words: The line means that machines are built so precisely that they can start working instantly with just a tiny amount of movement or energy.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to phrases that suggest precision or speed, as they often give clues about the machines' efficiency.

Question 10. And now, if you will set us to our task, We will serve you four and twenty hours a day!
(a) Who does the pronoun 'you' refer to here?
(b) Whose task is referred to as 'our task' here?
(c) Open conditional clause is used in the given line. Why is the future tense 'will set' and 'will serve' used both in the 'If clause' and in the 'main clause?'
(d) Do the machines serve us twenty-four hours a day?
(e) Rewrite the given lines with the ending '365 days a year.'
Answer:
(a) The pronoun 'you' refers to the industrialists and all the people who use the machines.
(b) 'Our task' refers to the work that the machines are made to do for the industrialists and human users.
(c) The future tense 'will set' and 'will serve' are used in both the 'if clause' and the 'main clause' to show certainty and future possibility. It highlights the machines' unwavering commitment to their purpose.
(d) Yes, the machines indeed serve us continuously, working round the clock without stopping.
(e) "Some water, coal, and oil is all we ask,
And a thousandth of an inch to give us play, lend us your ear:
And now, if you will set us to our task,
We'll serve you three hundred and twenty-four hours a year!"
In simple words: 'You' means the people who control the machines. 'Our task' is the job the machines do for people. The future tense shows that the machines are sure to work if people tell them to. Yes, machines work all day long. The rewritten lines show they work all year too.

🎯 Exam Tip: For passage-based questions, break down each sub-question and ensure your answer directly addresses the specific query using details from the text.

Poetic Appreciation:

Question 1. Read the following stanza and answer the questions.
"We were taken from the ore bed and the mine
We were melted in the furnace and the pit
We were cast and wrought and hammered to design
We were cut and filled and tooled and gauged to fit"
(a) Where are the ore-metals obtained from?
(b) Where are the metals melted?
(c) Who is the speaker here?
(d) How are the machine designed?
(e) Who does 'We' refer to?
(f) Find out the rhyming words from the above lines?
(g) What is the rhyme scheme of the above lines?
(h) What is the figure of speech employed in the above lines?
(i) What is the alliteration word in the 4th line?
Answer:
(a) The metals are taken from the ore-bed and mines deep in the earth.
(b) The metals are melted in very hot blast furnaces.
(c) The machines themselves are the speakers in these lines.
(d) The machines are made by casting (pouring into molds) and hammering the metal.
(e) 'We' refers to the machines.
(f) The rhyming words are: "mine – design" and "pit – fit".
(g) The rhyme scheme of these lines is 'abab'.
(h) The figure of speech used here is Anaphora because the phrase "We were" is repeated at the start of each line.
(i) The alliteration words in the 4th line are "filled - fit." This repetition of the 'f' sound adds to the rhythm.
In simple words: The metals come from mines. They are melted in furnaces. The machines are talking. They are made by shaping and hammering metal. 'We' means the machines. "Mine-design" and "pit-fit" are rhyming words. The rhyme scheme is abab. Repeating "We were" is Anaphora. "Filled-fit" is alliteration.

🎯 Exam Tip: For poetic appreciation, break down the stanza into individual lines and carefully analyze each aspect (speaker, rhyming, figures of speech) to ensure a complete answer.

Question 2. Read the following stanza and answer the questions.
"Some water, coal, and oil is all we ask
And a thousandth of an inch to give us play
And now, if you will set us to our task
We will serve you four and twenty hours a day?”
(a) What do the machines need to run?
(b) What does the mean "thousandth of an inch to give us play"?
(c) Who will set the task? (or) Who allots the tasks to the machines?
(d) Who will serve us twenty-four hours?
(e) Find out the rhyming words in the above lines?
(f) What is the rhyme scheme of the above lines?
(g) What is the figure of speech employed in the last line? / First line
Answer:
(a) The machines need water, coal, and oil to operate.
(b) "A thousandth of an inch to give us play" means that only a very tiny space is needed for the machines to move and work efficiently. This highlights their precision.
(c) Human beings are the ones who will set the tasks for the machines.
(d) The machines themselves will serve humans for twenty-four hours a day.
(e) The rhyming words are: "ask – task" and "play – day".
(f) The rhyme scheme of these lines is 'abab'.
(g) The figure of speech employed here is both Hyperbole (exaggeration of continuous service) and Anaphora (repetition of 'And' at the start of lines).
In simple words: Machines need water, coal, and oil to work. "A thousandth of an inch to give us play" means they need very little space to move. People will tell the machines what to do. The machines will work for us all day and night. "Ask-task" and "play-day" are rhyming words. The rhyme scheme is abab. Hyperbole and Anaphora are used.

🎯 Exam Tip: For phrases or lines, always explain their meaning in the context of the poem, especially when asked about figures of speech.

Question 3. Read the following stanza and answer the questions.
"We can pull and haul and push and lift and drive
We can print and plough and weave and heat and light
We can run and race and swim and fly and dive
We can see and hear and count and read and write"
(a) What kind of works can machines do?
(b) What are the rhyming words in the above lines?
(c) What is the rhyme scheme of the above lines?
(d) What is the figure of speech employed in the third line? and first line?
Answer:
(a) Machines can perform many tasks, including pulling, hauling, pushing, lifting, driving, printing, ploughing, weaving, heating, lighting, running, racing, swimming, flying, diving, seeing, hearing, counting, reading, and writing. They are truly versatile.
(b) The rhyming words are: "drive – dive" and "light – write".
(c) The rhyme scheme of these lines is 'abab'.
(d) The figures of speech employed in the third and first lines are Personification (giving human actions like running, racing, swimming, flying to machines) and Oxymoron (for example, in lines that might imply contradictory actions, though Personification is more prominent here).
In simple words: Machines can do many jobs like pulling, pushing, driving, printing, and even seem to run and read like humans. "Drive-dive" and "light-write" are rhyming words. The rhyme scheme is abab. Personification is used when machines are shown doing human-like things.

🎯 Exam Tip: When listing actions, aim for comprehensive coverage from the provided stanza to show full understanding of the machines' capabilities.

Question 4. Read the following stanza and answer the questions.
"But remember, please, the law by which we live
We are not built to comprehend a lie
We can neither love nor pity nor forgive
if you make a slip in handling us you die!"
(a) What does the machine ask us to remember?
(b) Do machines purposefully harm us?
(c) What is the result of the mishandling machine?
(d) What are the rhyming words given in the above lines?
(e) What is the rhyme scheme of the above lines?
(f) What is the figure of speech employed in the third line?
Answer:
(a) The machines ask us to remember the rules by which they operate.
(b) No, machines do not intentionally harm us, as they have no feelings or will of their own. They simply follow physical laws.
(c) If machines are mishandled, the result can be fatal, meaning it can cause death.
(d) The rhyming words are: "live – forgive" and "lie – die".
(e) The rhyme scheme of these lines is 'abab'.
(f) The figure of speech employed in the third line is Personification, as machines are described as being unable to "love nor pity nor forgive," which are human emotions.
In simple words: Machines want us to remember their rules. They don't hurt us on purpose because they don't have feelings. But if we use them wrongly, it can be very dangerous. "Live-forgive" and "lie-die" are rhyming words. The rhyme scheme is abab. Personification is used because machines are given human feelings they don't have.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understanding the consequences of human actions, especially regarding technology, is crucial for safety and responsible use.

Question 5. Read the following stanza and answer the questions.
"Though our smoke may hide the Heavens from your eyes
It will vanish and the stars will shine again
Because for all our power and weight and size
We are nothing more than children of your brain"
(a) Who is the speaker of these lines?
(b) Who does ‘Children' refer to?
(c) What do machines give out when they run?
(d) Mention the major themes of the poem?
(e) What are the rhyming words given in the above lines?
(f) What is the rhyme scheme of the above lines?
(g) What is the figure of speech employed in the 1st line?
(h) What is the figure of speech employed in the last line?
Answer:
(a) The machines are the speakers of these lines.
(b) 'Children' refers to the machines themselves, highlighting their origin from human intelligence.
(c) When machines run, they give out smoke.
(d) The major themes of the poem include the significance of machines, the advancement of technology, and the power and limitations of human creation. It explores the relationship between humans and their inventions.
(e) The rhyming words are: "eyes – size" and "again – brain".
(f) The rhyme scheme of these lines is 'abab'.
(g) The figure of speech employed in the 1st line is Metaphor, as the smoke hiding the heavens is a comparison implying environmental impact.
(h) The figure of speech employed in the last line is Personification, as machines are called "children of your brain," giving them a human-like relationship to their creators.
In simple words: The machines are speaking. 'Children' means the machines themselves. Machines let out smoke when they work. The poem is about how important machines are and how much technology has grown. "Eyes-size" and "again-brain" are rhyming words. The rhyme scheme is abab. Metaphor is in the first line, and Personification is in the last line.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked about themes, try to identify the main ideas or messages the poet wants to convey about the subject of the poem.

Question B. Write your favourite stanza from the poem and find the rhyming scheme.
Some water coal and oil is all we ask
And a thousandth of an inch to give us play.
And now, if you will set us to our task
We will serve you four and twenty hours a day!
Answer: My favorite stanza is:
"Some water, coal, and oil is all we ask
And a thousandth of an inch to give us play.
And now, if you will set us to our task
We will serve you four and twenty hours a day!"
The rhyming words in this stanza are "ask" and "task", and "play" and "day". Therefore, the rhyme scheme is 'abab'. This stanza beautifully shows the machines' readiness to work.
In simple words: My favorite part of the poem is the one about what machines need to work and how ready they are to serve. The words "ask" rhymes with "task," and "play" rhymes with "day," so the rhyme scheme is abab.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked for your favorite stanza, present it clearly and then accurately identify the rhyming words and rhyme scheme to support your choice.

Question C. Read the poem and find the lines for the following poetic devices or write your own example.
(I) Personification:
(II) Alliteration:
(III) Assonance:
(IV) Hyperbole:
Answer:
(I) **Personification:** "We can pull and haul and push and lift and drive." Here, human qualities like driving and lifting are given to machines.
(II) **Alliteration:**
(a) "We can print and plough" - the alliterated words are 'print' and 'plough'.
(b) "We can run and race" - the alliterated words are 'run' and 'race'.
(c) "the law by which we live" - the alliterated words are 'Law' and 'live'.
(d) "We can neither love nor pity nor forgive" - the alliterated words are 'neither' and 'nor'.
(III) **Assonance:** "Some water, coal, and oil are all we ask." The words 'all' and 'ask' show assonance with the repeating 'a' sound.
(IV) **Hyperbole:** "We will serve you four and twenty hours a day!" This is an exaggeration to show the machines' continuous service. It means they never stop working.
In simple words: Personification is when machines do human things like "pull and drive". Alliteration is repeating the same sound at the start of words, like "print and plough". Assonance is repeating vowel sounds in nearby words, like "all we ask". Hyperbole is using exaggeration, like saying machines work "four and twenty hours a day" to show they work non-stop.

🎯 Exam Tip: To identify poetic devices, carefully read each line and look for specific patterns or techniques, such as repeated sounds (alliteration, assonance) or human traits given to non-human things (personification).

The Secret of the Machines Summary of the Poem

The poem "The Secret of the Machines" tells the story of how machines live and work. It talks about their simple nature and how they are made. Machines are created by processes like cutting, filing, and hammering. They work tirelessly for twenty-four hours every day. The machines remind humans that they follow the rules of physics. If humans do not handle them carefully, the results can be very bad. Machines also state that they cannot understand lies and do not have feelings like love or pity. In the end, the machines admit that they are just creations of the human brain, showing their dependence on human ingenuity. This poem offers a unique perspective from the machines themselves.

Glossary:

furnace (n) - a closed structure where materials are heated to very high temperatures.

wrought (adj) - beaten into shape by hammering.

gauge (n) - an instrument that measures how perfect something is in look and quality.

thousandth (adv) - a very small fraction, one part out of a thousand.

haul (v) - to pull or drag with effort or force.

comprehend (v) - to understand or grasp something.

vanish (v) - to disappear suddenly and completely.