What are ‘compulsive habits’? What does Maxwell say are the compulsive habits of
(i) school children
(ii) Mij?
Compulsive habits are defined as a persistent or strange act which leads to an actual reward or pleasure.Usually compulsive behaviour of children is full of mischievous and naughtiness of childhood.
(i). As per this story, children should place their feet squarely on the centre of each paving block and pass to the outside of every second lamp post.
(ii). Mijbil would tug Maxwell when he was on its way home, jump over the boundary wall railing and run at full speed throughout its length.
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 ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?
What did the postmaster do then?
What did being free mean to Mandela as a boy, and as a student ? How does he contrast these “transitory freedoms” with “the basic and honourable freedoms”?
How is Wanda seen as different by the other girls? How do they treat her? you know?
“The sight of the food maddened him.” What does this suggest? What compelled the young seagull to finally fly?
Where did the ceremonies take place ? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstones?
Why did Lencho say the raindrops were like ‘new coins’?
There are nouns in the text (formation, government) which are formed from the corresponding verbs (form, govern) by suffixing – (at)ion or ment. There may be change in the spelling of some verb – noun pairs ; such as rebel, rebellion; constitute, constitution.
Make a list of such pairs of nouns and verbs in the text
Noun | Verb |
---|---|
rebellion | rebel |
constitution | constitute |
Why does Valli stand up on the seat? What does she see now?
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.