Question 1 - Chapter 8 - Kathmandu - Beehive - Chapters (Literature) - English Class 9

Read the extract and answer the following questions-

Extract:

At Pashupatinath (outside which a sign proclaims ‘Entrance for the Hindus only’) there is an atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’. Priests, hawkers, devotees, tourists, cows, monkeys, pigeons and dogs roam through the grounds. We offer a few flowers. There are so many worshippers that some people trying to get the priest’s attention are elbowed aside by others pushing their way to the front. A princess of the Nepalese royal house appears; everyone bows and makes way. By the main gate, a party of saffron-clad Westerners struggle for permission to enter. The policeman is not convinced that they are ‘the Hindus’ (only Hindus are allowed to enter the temple). A fight breaks out between two monkeys.

(Kathmandu)

Question (i)

 Match the following words from the extract with their meanings:

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

Step-by-Step explanation of the answer:

•  A match the following question is a type of objective question that requires choosing the correct pair of words or phrases from two given lists that have some relation or connection with each other.
•  In order to answer a match the following question correctly, one must read both lists carefully and compare them with each other and with the source.
•  In this case, the source is the extract from the chapter "Kathmandu".
•  In the extract, all four words are used to describe different people or animals that roam through the grounds of Pashupatinath temple. Their meanings are as follows:
•   Febrile means showing intense nervous excitement or emotion. It is used to describe the atmosphere at Pashupatinath temple, where there is a lot of chaos and confusion among priests, hawkers, devotees, tourists, cows, monkeys, pigeons and dogs.
•   Hawker means a person who sells goods, especially in the street. It is used to describe one of the groups of people who roam through Pashupatinath temple grounds, trying to make money by selling various items to visitors.
•    Devotee means a person who is very interested in or enthusiastic about a particular religion, cause, or activity. It is used to describe another group of people who roam through Pashupatinath temple grounds, showing their faith and devotion by offering flowers and prayers to Lord Shiva.
•     Princess means a member of a royal family, especially a daughter or granddaughter of a king or queen. It is used to describe a special visitor who appears at Pashupatinath temple grounds; everyone bows and makes way for her as she belongs to the Nepalese royal house.
• Therefore, the correct answer is as shown in the table above.👍

Question (ii)

 Identify and name the figure of speech used in this sentence from the extract: "Priests,hawkers, Devotees, Tourists, Cows, Monkeys, Pigeons and dogs roam through the grounds."

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

 The figure of speech used in this sentence is asyndeton .

Step-by-Step explanation of the answer:

•  A figure of speech is a word or phrase that uses language in an imaginative or expressive way to create an effect or impression on the reader or listener.
•   Asyndeton is a figure of speech that involves omitting conjunctions (such as and,
• Or, But, etc.) between words, Phrases, or clauses in a list or series. It creates a sense of speed, Urgency, or rhythm in writing or speech.
•  In this sentence, the narrator uses asyndeton to list all the different people and animals that roam through Pashupatinath temple grounds without using any conjunctions between them. He only uses commas to separate them. This creates a sense of speed and urgency in describing how crowded and chaotic Pashupatinath temple grounds are.
•  Therefore, the figure of speech used in this sentence is asyndeton.👍

Question (iii)

 If an actor were to enact this extract, what would he be required to focus on, while using his body language?

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

 An actor would be required to focus on showing curiosity,

Confusion, and amusement while using his body language.

Step-by-Step explanation of the answer:

•  An actor is someone who performs a role in a play, movie, or other form of entertainment.
•  Body language is the use of gestures, postures, or movements of the body that communicate emotions or attitudes through sight.
•  In order to enact this extract effectively, an actor would have to use his body language to show how he feels about Pashupatinath temple and its surroundings.
•  Some possible body languages that an actor could use are:
•   Turning his head or moving his eyes around to show curiosity about Pashupatinat temple and its various people and animals.
•   Shrugging his shoulders or raising his eyebrows to show confusion about Pashupatinath temple's rules and atmosphere.
•   Smiling slightly or shaking his head gently to show amusement at Pashupatinath temple's sights and sounds.
• Therefore, an actor would be required to focus on showing curiosity, confusion, and amusement while using his body language.😊

Question (iv)

Why is it fair to say that the narrator’s tone, when he says “We offer a few flowers”, is detached and indifferent? Answer in about 40 words.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

 The narrator’s tone is detached and indifferent because he does not show any emotion or interest in offering flowers at the temple. He uses a simple and brief sentence to state what he does, without any details or explanations.

Step-by-Step explanation of the answer:

• A tone is the attitude or emotion that a writer conveys through their words and style.
• Detached is a quality of being aloof or distant from someone or something, especially emotionally.
• Indifferent is a quality of having no particular interest or concern for someone or something; being neither good nor bad.
• In the given sentence, the narrator uses a simple and brief sentence to state what he does at the temple: he offers a few flowers. He does not use any words or phrases that show any emotion or interest in offering flowers, such as gratitude, devotion, joy, or curiosity.
• He does not use any details or explanations to describe how he offers flowers, such as what kind of flowers he offers, how many he offers, why he offers them, or how he feels about offering them.
• He does not use any rhetorical devices or techniques, such as hyperbole, irony, or metaphor, to create any effect or impression on the reader.
• Therefore, it is fair to say that the narrator’s tone is detached and indifferent because he does not show any emotion or interest in offering flowers at the temple. He uses a simple and brief sentence to state what he does, without any details or explanations.😊