Samacheer Kalvi Class 11 English Solutions Chapter 1 The Portrait of a Lady

Textual Questions:

1. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences based on your understanding of the story:

 

Question a. Describe the grandfather as seen in the portrait.
Answer: The author's grandfather looked very old, as if he was a hundred years old and had many grandchildren. He wore loose clothes and seemed too old to have a wife or children. His face showed many years of life experience.
In simple words: The grandfather in the picture looked very old, like a great-grandfather, with loose clothes and many wrinkles.

🎯 Exam Tip: When describing a character, always mention their appearance, clothing, and any specific details that hint at their age or personality.

 

Question b. Why was the author left with his grandmother in the village?
Answer: The author's parents moved to the city to find work and build a new life. So, they left the author with his grandmother in the village until they could settle down properly in the city. This was a common arrangement for families moving for work.
In simple words: The author stayed with his grandmother because his parents moved to the city for work.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always state the reason clearly when a "why" question is asked, linking it directly to the events in the story.

 

Question c. Where did the author study in his childhood?
Answer: The author went to school on the open porch, or veranda, of the village temple when he was a child. He learned to read and write the alphabet there from the village priest. This shows education was closely tied to religious places.
In simple words: The author studied in the village temple's veranda, learning from the priest.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to specific locations mentioned in the text, as they often provide important context for the story's setting.

 

Question d. Why did the grandmother accompany the author to school?
Answer: The grandmother was a very religious person. She walked to school with the author because the school was attached to the temple. This way, she could spend her time at the temple, sitting and reading her holy books while the author was in class. It was a good use of her time.
In simple words: The grandmother went with the author to school because the school was at the temple, where she could read her holy books.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining a character's actions, always connect them to their core traits or beliefs, like the grandmother's piety here.

 

Question e. What made the dogs follow the grandmother after school hours?
Answer: After school, when the grandmother and author walked home, she carried old, flatbreads (chapattis) with her. She would throw these chapattis to the village dogs on the way back. The dogs learned this routine and would growl and fight over the pieces of bread, following her all the way home. Sharing food is a kind act.
In simple words: The dogs followed the grandmother because she fed them stale chapattis on her way home from school.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember small, repeated actions in a story, as they often reveal character habits or important details about the setting.

 

Question f. What was the happiest time of the day for their grandmother?
Answer: The happiest time of the day for the grandmother was in the afternoon when she spent half an hour feeding the sparrows. This simple act of kindness brought her great joy and peace. She loved caring for these small birds.
In simple words: The grandmother was happiest in the afternoon when she fed sparrows for half an hour.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify key moments or routines that bring joy to a character, as these often highlight their values or inner world.

 

Question g. Why didn't the grandma feel sentimental when the author went abroad for higher education?
Answer: The text states that the half-an-hour in the afternoon when the grandmother fed sparrows was the happiest time of her day. However, it does not explain why she didn't feel sentimental when the author went abroad; in fact, later in the story, it is mentioned that the author thought she would be upset, but she hid her emotions. The prompt seems to connect her happiest time to her lack of sentimentality, which isn't explicitly stated. Perhaps her deep faith gave her strength to accept things calmly.
In simple words: The story doesn't directly say why she wasn't sentimental, but it does mention her happiest time was feeding sparrows. She was likely strong and religious.

🎯 Exam Tip: When the text does not directly answer a "why" question, interpret based on the character's known traits (e.g., strong, religious) and avoid adding information not present in the story.

2. Answer the following questions in three or four sentences each:

 

Question a. Describe the author's grandmother.
Answer: The author's grandmother was a short, slightly bent, and rather plump woman. Her calm and peaceful presence was compared to the quiet beauty of a winter landscape in the mountains, showing her inner tranquility. She was a deeply religious, loving, and caring person. These qualities made her a steady figure in the author's life.
In simple words: The grandmother was short, a little bent, and plump. She was very religious, loving, and kind, bringing peace to those around her.

🎯 Exam Tip: When describing a character, include both physical attributes and personality traits to give a complete picture.

 

Question b. What was the daily routine of the grandmother at home?
Answer: Every morning, the grandmother would wake the author with her sing-song prayers, hoping he would learn them by heart. She would then bathe and dress him for school. Together, they would walk to the village school, which was attached to a temple, where she would spend her time reading holy scriptures. In the evenings, she would feed stale chapattis to the village dogs. Her day was filled with spiritual practice and acts of care.
In simple words: The grandmother's routine included morning prayers, getting the author ready for school, reading scriptures at the temple, and feeding village dogs in the evening.

🎯 Exam Tip: List actions in chronological order to describe a daily routine clearly and completely.

 

Question c. How is school education in the village different from that in the city?
Answer: In the village school, education included regular subjects along with lessons about God and religious scriptures. This showed a focus on moral and spiritual development. City schools, on the other hand, focused more on Western science and academic learning, often without much emphasis on religious texts. The village offered a more traditional and value-based education.
In simple words: Village schools taught regular subjects and religious texts, while city schools focused more on science and Western learning.

🎯 Exam Tip: When comparing two things, highlight specific differences in categories like curriculum or teaching philosophy, as seen here with education types.

 

Question d. The grandmother appreciated the value of education. Give instances in support of your answer.
Answer: The grandmother clearly valued education. She personally looked after the author's early schooling, ensuring he went to the temple school. She also taught him good manners and encouraged love for all living beings, shown by her feeding of dogs and sparrows. Her approval of the author going abroad for higher studies further demonstrates her belief in education's importance. Education was not just about books for her, but about character too.
In simple words: The grandmother showed she valued education by helping the author with school, teaching good manners, and supporting his studies abroad.

🎯 Exam Tip: To support a statement, provide multiple specific examples or actions from the story that directly prove the point.

 

Question e. The grandmother was strong-minded. Justify.
Answer: The grandmother showed her strong will when the author left for higher studies abroad. She did not express her emotions or sadness openly, maintaining a calm demeanor. She also had clear personal preferences and opinions, indicating her independent nature. This quiet strength and inner contentment were defining parts of her character, allowing her to face life's changes with composure.
In simple words: The grandmother was strong-minded because she hid her emotions when the author went abroad and had clear personal opinions.

🎯 Exam Tip: Justifying a character trait requires giving concrete examples of their behavior or decisions from the story.

 

Question f. How did the grandmother spend the last few hours of her life?
Answer: In her last few hours, when she was on her deathbed, the grandmother chose not to talk with her family members. Instead, she lay quietly, praying and counting her prayer beads. She wished to spend her final moments in spiritual contemplation. This reflected her lifelong devotion and calm acceptance.
In simple words: In her last hours, the grandmother quietly prayed and counted her beads, choosing not to talk with her family.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the specific actions and their context to accurately describe how a character spends their final moments.

3. Answer the following in a paragraph of 100 - 150 words each:

 

Question a. The grandmother played a vital role in the author's formative year. Give your own example of how elders have a positive influence on the younger generation. Include examples from the story also.
Answer: The grandmother was very important in shaping the author during his early years. She was a good friend to him, much like many grandmothers who tell stories and fables. She made sure the author woke up early and listened to her morning prayers, which helped him gain moral and spiritual values. Elders in a family have a strong positive impact on younger generations. For example, my own grandparents taught me the importance of honesty and hard work through their daily actions and stories. They showed me how to respect others and be kind to animals, just like the author's grandmother fed dogs and sparrows. Growing up with elders teaches children patience, wisdom, and cultural traditions, guiding them to become good individuals. They serve as valuable role models and guardians, sharing life lessons that books cannot.
In simple words: The grandmother greatly influenced the author's early life by sharing moral and spiritual values through prayers and stories. Like her, elders teach important lessons, act as guides, and pass on good values to children, helping them grow.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked for a personal example, keep it concise and ensure it directly supports the point being made, linking it back to the story's context.

 

Question b. As young Khushwant Singh, write a letter to your parents describing your daily routine along with your thoughts and feelings about staying in the village.
Answer:
Dear Dad and Mom,
I am doing very well here and I am so happy to share my thoughts and feelings about living in the village with Grandma. First, I want to thank you for leaving me with her when you moved to the city. Grandma is incredibly loving, and I can't imagine being without her. She wakes me up early every day, and even though her morning prayers are the same tune each time, I enjoy listening to her gentle voice. She helps me get ready for school and gives me delicious chapattis for breakfast. On our way to school, we often feed the street dogs with stale chapattis she brings along. These same dogs follow us all the way home after school, which is quite fun. Grandma also helps me with my studies. I really appreciate her love and care for me. The village atmosphere is wonderful, and I truly wish to stay here for a long time. I hope you can grant my wish soon.
Yours affectionately,
Khushwant Singh.
In simple words: The letter describes daily life with Grandma, including prayers, school, feeding dogs, and studying. The author expresses gratitude, love for Grandma, and a strong desire to continue living in the peaceful village.

🎯 Exam Tip: For letter writing tasks, adopt the character's perspective and include specific details about their daily life and emotions from the story, maintaining a friendly tone.

 

Question c. Animals are capable of empathy. Substantiate this statement with examples from the story as well as your own experiences.
Answer: Animals, often thought to lack a "sixth sense" of deeper feeling, actually show more empathy than many humans. In the story, the grandmother forms a loving bond with sparrows by feeding them bread crumbs every day. These birds show their affection by sitting on her shoulders, legs, and head. When the grandmother dies, the sparrows gather silently around her body, refusing the bread crumbs offered by the author's mother. They fly away only when her body is taken for the funeral, showing deep sadness. This proves their ability to feel and respond to sorrow. From my own experience, I've seen how dogs grieve for their owners, sometimes refusing to eat or becoming withdrawn, displaying true empathy. Animals often teach us about unconditional love and emotional connection through their actions. They feel and react to the emotions around them.
In simple words: Animals can feel empathy, as shown by the sparrows in the story who silently mourned the grandmother and refused food after her death. Dogs also show empathy when their owners pass away, proving their deep emotional connections.

🎯 Exam Tip: When substantiating a statement, use clear, specific examples from the provided text first, then add relevant personal experiences to strengthen your argument.

Vocabulary:

3a. Read the following words and choose the correct antonyms from the options given:

 

Question 1. moist
(a) marshy
(b) arid
(c) slimy
(d) sultry
Answer: (b) arid
In simple words: 'Moist' means slightly wet, while 'arid' means very dry. They are opposites.

🎯 Exam Tip: When finding antonyms, consider the core meaning of the word and choose the option that means the complete opposite.

 

Question 2. frivolous
(a) serious
(b) sad
(c) furious
(d) happy
Answer: (a) serious
In simple words: 'Frivolous' means not serious or important, so its opposite is 'serious'.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understand the nuances of words; 'frivolous' implies a lack of seriousness, not necessarily sadness or anger.

 

Question 3. omitted
(a) isolated
(b) rejected
(c) contracted
(d) included
Answer: (d) included
In simple words: 'Omitted' means left out, so the opposite is 'included', meaning put in.

🎯 Exam Tip: For words like 'omitted', think about its base verb ('omit') and then find the antonym of that action.

 

Question 4. protest
(a) promote
(b) apprehend
(c) accept
(d) project
Answer: (c) accept
In simple words: 'Protest' means to show strong disapproval, so the opposite is 'accept', to agree or take something.

🎯 Exam Tip: 'Protest' is about disagreement, so its antonym must be about agreement or allowance.

 

Question 5. serenity
(a) simplicity
(b) anxiety
(c) absurdity
(d) stupidity
Answer: (b) anxiety
In simple words: 'Serenity' means a state of being calm and peaceful, so its opposite is 'anxiety', which is a feeling of worry or unease.

🎯 Exam Tip: When dealing with abstract nouns, consider the emotional state they represent and find the opposing emotional state.

 

Question 6. scattered
(a) sprinkled
(b) multiplied
(c) gathered
(d) covered
Answer: (c) gathered
In simple words: 'Scattered' means spread out in different directions, while 'gathered' means brought together.

🎯 Exam Tip: Visualize the action of the word; 'scattering' is spreading, 'gathering' is collecting.

 

Question 7. monotonous
(a) interesting
(b) tiresome
(c) fragrant
(d) satisfying
Answer: (a) interesting
In simple words: 'Monotonous' means dull and repetitive, so 'interesting' is its direct opposite.

🎯 Exam Tip: 'Monotonous' implies a lack of change or excitement, so its antonym should reflect variety or engagement.

Listening Activity:

Read the following statements and the given options. Now, listen to your teacher to read aloud a passage or play it on a recorder. You may listen to it again if required, to help you choose the right options:

 

Question i. According to Napoleon 'Good mothers make good _______'.
(a) housewives
(b) jobs
(c) nations
(d) ideas
Answer: (c) nations
In simple words: Napoleon believed that strong, good mothers are key to building strong nations.

🎯 Exam Tip: For fill-in-the-blanks based on a listening activity, identify the key phrase or quote that completes the sentence accurately.

 

Question ii. Mothers exhibit _______ love.
(a) unauthorized
(b) unapproved
(c) unacceptable
(d) unconditional
Answer: (d) unconditional
In simple words: Mothers show 'unconditional' love, meaning love without any limits or conditions.

🎯 Exam Tip: Choose the word that best describes the type of love typically associated with mothers, often implying no boundaries or requirements.

 

Question iii. _______ mothers care much for their children.
(a) Adapted
(b) Adopted
(c) Adoptive
(d) Adaptable
Answer: (c) Adoptive
In simple words: 'Adoptive' mothers are those who have adopted children and care for them deeply.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay close attention to the prefixes and suffixes of similar-sounding words; 'adoptive' refers to the act of adopting children.

 

Question iv. _______ is the most important thing in the world.
(a) Wealth
(b) Power
(c) Love
(d) Influence
Answer: (c) Love
In simple words: The statement implies that 'love' is considered the single most important aspect of life.

🎯 Exam Tip: This question often refers to a common proverb or a general value; 'love' is frequently highlighted as paramount.

 

Question v. Love should be extended to _______ too.
(a) friends
(b) relatives
(c) countrymen
(d) creatures
Answer: (d) creatures
In simple words: This suggests that love should be shared not just with people but also with all living beings, including animals.

🎯 Exam Tip: When considering the broadest scope of love, 'creatures' encompasses all living things beyond just humans.

Reading:

Read the passage on 'Laughter Therapy' and answer the questions that follow:

1. Laughing is an excellent way to reduce stress in our lives; it can help you to cope with and survive a stressful life. Laughter provides full-scale support for your muscles and unleashes a rush of stress-busting endorphins. Since our body cannot distinguish between real and fake laughter, anything that makes you giggle will have a positive impact.

2. Laughter Therapy aims to get people laughing, in groups and individual sessions and can help reduce stress, make people and employees happier and more committed, as well as improve their interpersonal skills. This laughter comes from the body and not the mind.

3. Laughter Yoga (Hasya Yoga) is a practice involving prolonged voluntary laughter. It aims to get people laughing in groups. It is practiced in the early mornings in open-parks. It has been developed by Indian physician Madan Kataria, who writes about the practice in his 2002 book 'Laugh for no reason. Laughter Yoga is based on the belief that voluntary laughter provides the same physiological as well as psychological benefits as spontaneous laughter.

4. Laughter yoga sessions may start with gentle warm-up techniques which include stretching, chanting, clapping, eye contact, and body movements to help break down inhibitions and encourage a sense of playfulness. Moreover, laughter is the best medicine. Breathing exercises are used to prepare the lungs for laughter followed by a series of laughter exercises that combine a method of acting and visualization techniques. Twenty minutes of laughter is sufficient to augment physiological development.

5. A handful of small scale scientific studies have indicated that laughter yoga has some medically beneficial effects, including cardiovascular health and mood. This therapy has proved to be good for depressed patients. Laughter therapy also plays a crucial role in social bonding.

 

Question a. How does laughter help one to cope with stress?
Answer: Laughter helps people cope with stress by providing full support for their muscles and releasing a rush of stress-reducing endorphins. This helps the body relax and feel better. It acts like a natural pain reliever.
In simple words: Laughter helps with stress by relaxing muscles and releasing feel-good chemicals in the body.

🎯 Exam Tip: When answering "how" questions, identify the direct mechanisms or effects described in the passage.

 

Question b. Which word in the text (para 2) means the same as 'dedicated'?
Answer: The word in paragraph 2 that means the same as 'dedicated' is "Committed". This word implies a strong dedication or loyalty to something. When employees are committed, they are dedicated.
In simple words: The word "Committed" in paragraph 2 means the same as 'dedicated'.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always specify the paragraph number when the question asks for a word from a particular section of the text.

 

Question c. Why do you think voluntary laughter provides the same physiological as well as psychological benefits as spontaneous laughter?
Answer: The passage explains that our body cannot tell the difference between real laughter and laughter we choose to do (voluntary laughter). Because of this, anything that makes us laugh or giggle will have a positive effect on both our body (physiological) and mind (psychological). The brain doesn't differentiate the source of the happy signal.
In simple words: Our body can't tell the difference between real and fake laughter, so any laughter, even voluntary, gives the same good feelings and benefits.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked "why you think," base your answer on information or reasoning provided within the passage, not external knowledge.

 

Question d. 'Laughter is the best medicine' explains.
Answer: The phrase "Laughter is the best medicine" explains that laughter helps improve heart health and mood. It is also found to be beneficial for people who are feeling sad or depressed. This common saying highlights the healing power of joy. It suggests laughter has a strong positive impact on overall well-being.
In simple words: "Laughter is the best medicine" means laughing improves heart health, lifts mood, and helps people who are feeling down.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining a proverb or common saying, clearly state its meaning and provide examples of its effects or benefits.

 

Question e. Given below is a set of activities. Which of these are followed in the 'Laughter Yoga' technique?

• sitting on the ground with legs crossed
• body movements
• clapping
• closed eyes
• breathing exercises
• chanting
• stretching of arms and legs
• bending backwards
• running/jogging
• eye contact

Answer:

• Clapping
• Breathing exercises
• Chanting
• Stretching of arms and legs
• Body movements
• Eye contact

In simple words: Laughter Yoga includes clapping, breathing exercises, chanting, stretching, body movements, and eye contact.

🎯 Exam Tip: For questions requiring a list of activities, scan the passage carefully for specific actions mentioned as part of the technique.

 

Question f. 'Laughter therapy also plays a crucial role in social bonding How?
Answer: Laughter therapy is very important for social bonding because when people laugh together, it helps them develop good and warm relationships with each other. Sharing laughter creates a sense of closeness and improves their connection. This shared experience helps build stronger friendships and community ties. It also reduces stress and builds comfort among individuals.
In simple words: Laughter therapy helps people bond socially by making them laugh together, which builds good relationships and improves connections between them.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining how something plays a role, describe the cause and effect: how the activity leads to the stated outcome.

Based on the explicit directive: "Process and map ONLY the questions located between page 15 and page 24 of this PDF," a thorough review of the provided OCR content for pages 15 through 24 reveals no questions. Pages 15-22 contain headings such as "ஆசிரியரைப் பற்றி:" (About the Author), "பாடத்தைப் பற்றி." (About the Lesson), and "The Portrait of a Lady Summary in Tamil," followed by descriptive summary text in Tamil. Pages 23 and 24 contain navigation links and copyright information. None of this content constitutes a question. Therefore, strictly adhering to the instruction, there is no content to output in HTML format as no questions were found within the specified page range.