What does Anne write in her first essay?
'A Chatterbox' is the title of her first essay in which she wanted to write convincing arguments to prove the necessity of talking. She accepted the disadvantages of being talkative but argued that it's in her genes as her mother was also very talkative. It was difficult to change the habit suddenly. Mr Keesing laughed at her argument after reading her essay.
What made Mr Keesing allow Anne to talk in class?
Chubukov says of Natalya: “... as if she won’t consent! She’s in love; egad, she’s like a lovesick cat...” Would you agree? Find reasons for your answer.
Are there people like Lencho in the real world? What kind of a person would you say he is? You may select appropriate words from the box to answer the question.
greedy naive stupid ungrateful
selfish comical unquestioning
Why didn’t Valli want to make friends with the elderly woman?
Did Lencho try to find out who had sent the money to him? Why/Why not?
What ideals does Nelson Mandela set for the future of South Africa?
Anne says teachers are most unpredictable. Is Mr Keesing unpredictable? How?
How does Mandela describe the systems of government in his country
(i) in the first decade, and
(ii) in the final decade of the twentieth century?
Was Lencho surprised to find a letter for him with money in it?
Do you think Mr Keesing was a strict teacher?
What did the military generals do ? How did their attitude change and why?
Chubukov says of Natalya: “... as if she won’t consent! She’s in love; egad, she’s like a lovesick cat...” Would you agree? Find reasons for your answer.
Why does the conductor call Valli ‘madam’?
What group of animals do otters belong to?
Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration ? What did it signify the triumph of?
Have you made a journey that was unforgettable in some way? What made it memorable?
What was Valli’s deepest desire? Find the words and phrases in the story that tell you this.
Why was the young seagull afraid to fly? Do you think all young birds are afraid to make their first flight, or are some birds more timid than others? Do you think a human baby also finds it a challenge to take its first steps?
What did the postmaster do then?
Have you ever had a similar experience, where your parents encouraged you to do something that you were too scared to try? Discuss this in pairs or groups.