Memories Of Childhood Extracts

Memories Of Childhood 

Directions: Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:

Extract 1

The first day in the land of apples was a bitter-cold one; for the snow still covered the ground, and the trees were bare. A large bell rang for breakfast, its loud metallic voice crashing through the belfry overhead and into our sensitive ears. The annoying clatter of shoes on bare floors gave us no peace. The constant clash of harsh noises, with an undercurrent of many voices murmuring an unknown tongue, made a bedlam within which I was securely tied. And though my spirit tore itself in struggling for its lost freedom, all was useless.

(a) The narrator of the above extract is

(b) What season is being observed in the above extract?

(i) Summer (ii) Rain

(iii) Winter (iv) Spring

(c) Where is the narrator going at the moment?

(d) What does 'bedlam' mean?

Extract 2

As I glanced at the long chain of tables, I caught the eyes of a paleface women upon me. Immediately | dropped my eyes, wondering why I was so keenly watched by the strange woman. The man ceased his mutterings, and then a third bell was tapped. Everyone picked up his knife and fork and began eating. I began crying instead, for by this time I was afraid to venture anything more.

(a) A paleface woman refers to…,..

(b) The breakfast started at the:..

(i) first bell (ii) second bell

(iii) third bell (iv) no bell

(c) Give an antonym of 'ceased'.

(d) Why was the narrator wondering?

Extract 3

But this eating by formula was not the hardest trial in that first day. Late in the morning, my friend Judewin gave me a terrible warning. Judewin knew a few words of English; and she had overheard the paleface woman talk about cutting our long, heavy hair. Our mothers had taught us that only unskilled warriors who were captured had their hair shingled by the enemy. Among our people, short hair was worn by mourners, and shingled hair by cowards!

a) What eating formula is being told by the narrator?

(i) Eating breakfast with table-manners

(ii) Eating breakfast within five minutes

(iii) Eating breakfast so early

(iv) Obeying the hostel warden

(b) What terrible warning was given to the narrator by his friend?

(c) Judewin is……

(d) What does 'coward' mean?

Extract 4

it would take me from half an hour to an hour to dawdle along watching all the fun and games that were going on, all the entertaining novelties and oddities in the streets, the shops and the bazaar.

(a) The narrator was humiliated because……..

(b) The narrator 'dawdled along' as she………

(i) enjoyed looking at the various sights

(ii) was getting late for school

(iii) she didn't like going home

(iv) she enjoyed haggling and shopping

(c) On the basis of the extract, choose the correct option with reference to the two statements given below:

I. The distance from school to home was very short.

II. She was feeling upset and so dawdled her way home.

(i) I can be inferred from the extract but II cannot.

(ii) Il can be inferred from the extract but I cannot.

(iii) Both I and II cannot be inferred from the extract.

(iv) Both I and II can be inferred from the

(d) The word 'novelties' in the passage most nearly means:

(i) colourful trinkets

(ii) wooden toys

(iii) unique and interesting items

(iv) expensive souvenirs

Extract 5

Just then, an elder of our street came along from the direction of the bazaar. The manner in which he was walking along made me want to double up. /wanted to shriek with laughter at the sight of such a big man carrying a small packet in that fashion. I guessed there was something like vadai or green banana bhajji in the packet, because the wrapping paper was stained with oil. He came along, holding out the packet by its string, without touching it. I stood there thinking to myself, if he holds it like that, won't the package come undone, and vadai fall out?'

(a) Why was the man carrying a small packet holding out it by its string?

(i) So that the packet should not fall down

(ii)So that the packet may not he polluted

(iii) So that the packet may stay in his hand

(iv) So that the packet may stay before his eyes

(b) Vadai is a food stuff which belongs to……

(c) Give a synonym of Shriek.

(d) Who is 'l’?

Extract 6

When I heard this, I didn't want to laugh any more, and I felt terribly sad. How could they believe that it was disgusting if one of us held that package in his hands, even though the vadai had been wrapped first in a banana leaf, and then parcelled in paper? I felt so provoked and angry that I wanted to touch those wretched vadais myself straightaway. Why should we have to fetch and carry for these people, I wondered. Such an important elder of ours goes meekly to the shops to fetch snacks and hands them over reverently, bowing and shrinking, to this fellow who just sits there and stuffs them into his mouth. The thought of it infuriated me.

(a) The above extract has been taken from the lesson……

(b) Why did the narrator not want to laugh now?

(i) She was afraid of the elderly man

(ii) She was shocked to see the social evils

(iii) She was afraid of the landlord

(iv) She was angry with the landlord

(c) Give a synonym of 'meekly.

(d) Give an antonym of 'infuriated'.

Answer 

Extract 1

Answers

(a) Zitkala-Sa

(b) (iii) Winter

(c) At the moment the narrator is marching into the dinning room.

(d) Bedlam means a scene of uproar and confusion.

Extract 2

a) the hostel warden

(b) (iii) third bell

(c) An antonym of 'ceased' is began or started.

(d) The narrator was wondering because she was being keenly watched by the strange woman.

 Extract 3

Answers

(a) (i) Eating breakfast with table-manners

(b) About cutting their long and heavy hair

(c) the narrator's friend.

(d) Coward means lacking in courage.

Extract 4

Answers

(a) they were teased, called names, and physically assaulted by a group of children from a higher caste.

(b) (i) enjoyed looking at the various sights

(c) (iii) Both I and II cannot be inferred from the extract.

(d) (iii) unique and interesting items

Extract 5

Answers

(a) (1) So that the packet may not be polluted

(b) South India

(c) A synonym of shriek is scream or screech

(d) Bama is. I

Extract 6

Answers

(a) Memories of Childhood

(b) (ii) She was shocked to see the social evils

(c) A synonym of 'meekly' is mildly or compliantly.

(d) An antonym of 'infuriated is pleased or comforted.