NEB Grade XII Compulsory English Note | Language Development | Unit 17 Train to Pakistan

Unit 17

Train to Pakistan

Working with words

A. What do the underlined words in the following sentences mean? Tick the best answer.

a. The shouting and clamour would continue until long after the train had left the station.

i. clapping ii. music iii.a loud and confused noise✔ iv. train whistle

b. There were dozens outside perched precariously on footboards holding on the door handles.

i. not securely✔ ii. carefully iii. joyfully iv.prudently

c. The book had gone round the compartment for scrutiny.

i. appreciation ii. examination✔ iii. entertainment iv. religious ritual

d. But Jugga had run away, absconded.

i. committed suicide ii. killed a fellow friend iii. surrendered iv. hid somewhere secretly✔

e. His countrymen’s code of morals had always puzzled him, with his anglicized way of looking at things.

i. characteristics of Indians ii. characteristics of English✔ iii.characteristics of Pakistani iv. characteristics of Aryans

f. Iqbal felt a little silly for coming out with these platitudes.

i. commonplace remarks✔ ii. philosophical remarks iii.critical remarks iv.doubtful remarks

C. Add the given suffixes to the following words to make new words. Notice whether ‘e’ is retained or dropped.

a. change + -able / -ing / -ed / - less- changeable/ changing / changed / changeless

b. time + -ly / -ing / -ed / -less- timely / timing / timed / timeless

c. notice + -able / -ing / -ed- noticeable / noticing / noticed

d. praise + -worthy / -ing / -ed- praiseworthy / praising / praised

e. home + -less / -ing / -ly - homeless / homing / homely

Comprehension

Answer the following questions.

a. Why did Iqbal want to sleep in the afternoon?

Iqbal wanted to sleep in the afternoon because he had spent the night sitting on his bedroll in a crowded third class compartment.

b. How did people react with each other in the train?

People reacted with each other in the train annoying and arguing.

c. Why did the book Iqbal was reading bring commotion in the compartment?

The book Iqbal was reading bring commotion in the compartment because it was in English.

d. Why did Iqbal have to give clarification with his personal details?

Iqbal had to give clarification with his personal details because other passengers did the cross- examination, and he had to prove himself to be a Muslim.

e. Who was Meet Sing and what did he report to Iqbal?

Meet Singh was a priest. He reported that Jugga ran away after committing a murder, and robbing his own villager.

f. How, according to Meet Singh, was Jugga Sing different from his forefathers?

According to Meet Singh, Jugga Sing was different from his forefathers as they never robbed their own village folk, but Jugga did.

g. How does the author show contradiction in Meet Singh’s character?

What bothered Meet Singh was not that Jugga had committed murder but that his hands were soiled with the blood of a fellow villager. If Jugga had done the same thing in the neighbouring village, Meet Singh would gladly have appeared in his defense and sworn on the holy granth that Jugga had been praying in the gurdwara at the time of the murder. In this way, the author shows contradiction in Meet Singh's character.

h. Who was Hukum Chand and how did he succeed in his career?

Hukum Chand was the Deputy Sahib. He succeeded in his career by pleasing the sahibs.

Critical thinking

a. Iqbal is addressed as Babu Sahib by general folk simply because he knew English. Are Nepali people who can speak English taken with respect? Discuss the importance of learning English in the Nepali context.

For answer

b. Do you agree with Iqbal’s comments on crime and punishment? In your view, what should the state, society and individuals do for peace and order in social lives?

There is no crime in anyone’s blood any more than there is goodness in the blood of others. No one ever tries to find out why people steal and rob and kill. They put them in jail or hang them. It is easier. If the fear of the gallows or the cell had stopped people from killing or stealing, there would be no murdering or stealing. They punish a man every day. Criminals are not born. They are made by hunger, want and injustice.

Education is the key factor for promoting peace and order in social lives. Education helps people to be rational and logical. The state should treat its people equally when economic, political opportunities are available. People should not be discriminated on the basis of gender, caste, and economic status. Likewise, youths are encouraged to indulge in sports, community works and other creative activities. It is the duty of individuals to respect the social norms and values.

Writing

A. Meet Singh says Jugga a badmash. There can be such people in your locality, too. Write a paragraph describing him / her.

A couple of years ago, Roshan Uncle went into business, married, and had two children. But one day, without informing his family members, he announced that he didn’t like work, and left his business. He wanted to enjoy himself. He had a little money and he spent two happy years in the various parts of the country. He certainly had a very good time. He borrowed money from his wife when he ran out of it.

Nowadays, he spends most of his time either in gossip or playing cards. His family members works very hard. He makes a steady income from his friends and he makes friends easily. But he always says that the money you spend on necessities is boring; the money that is amusing to spend is the money you spend on luxuries.

B. You may have travelled by bus or train. During your travel, you might have got different experiences. Write a letter to your friend describing about your unforgettable journey.

September 16

Dear Sanju,

Hope this letter finds you in the best of health and spirit. I am very excited to inform you that I have been to Chennai by train.

The ticket price was not much expensive and was reasonable. Meals expenses were included in the ticket pricing. People traveling along with me were so friendly that we sang, play cards, ludo, and chess while traveling and the time passed very easily.

The view from the window while it feels like trees running far from us looks so relaxing and calming. I enjoyed the view of the farmlands while the train was passing through green paddy fields. The train journey offered me an unforgettable experience.

Despite the journey being so long, I enjoyed every minute of it. Comfort is one of the biggest advantages of the train journey. Waterfalls going by our side, and fresh air coming through the window also add excitement to the journey. I think this is some experience everyone should have at least once in their whole lifetime.

The time I spent on the train was very comforting and enjoyable. I will certainly be making another trip plan in the coming days and will be asking you to join me. Till then, take care.

Yours lovingly,

Neetu

Grammar

C. Fill in the gaps with the suitable form of the verb in the brackets. Use past simple/past continu

ous / past perfect tenses. You may need to use negative too.

It was Sunday afternoon. I ………1.. (watch) a cookery programme on TV when I ………2…. (realise) how hungry I was. But of course, I was hungry; I ……3…. (eat) anything since lunch, and I ……4.. (run) a race in the morning. “Biscuits!” I ……5.. (think). My mother ……6……. (give) me a jar of delicious home-made biscuits.

I …7.. (go) into the kitchen, …8… (open) the fridge and ……9. (pour) some milk in a big glass. Then I ……10.. (look) for the kitchen chair but it …11… (be) there: somebody …12…. (take) it away. And there were no biscuits in the biscuit jar: somebody …13… (eat) them all! I was sure I …12… (put) the jar there the previous day and I ……14…. (eat) only one cookie. It was very strange.

A few minutes later, I ……15…. (drink) my glass of milk when I ……16…. (hear) a loud noise coming from the dining room. I ……17.. (go) there quickly and I …18…. (open) the door. I couldn’t believe my eyes. An enormous monkey ……19.. (eat) the biscuits excitedly on the kitchen chair.

Answers:

1. was watching

2. realised

3. hadn't eaten

4. had run

5. thought

6. had given

7. went

8. opened

9. poured

10. looked

11. wasn't

12. had taken

13. had eaten

14. had put

15. had eaten

16. was drinking

17. heard

18. went

19. opened

20. was eating

D. Rewrite the following sentences correcting the mistakes.

a. She played the flute and then she had sung in the choir.

she sang

b. I borrowed your car. Had you known about it?

Did you know

c. After the lessons had finished we run out of school.

we ran

d. Had you be there before? - Yes, the previous year.

Had you been

e. Did you liked the article in the magazine?

Did you like

f. I recognized him because I did see him before.

had seen

g. I hadn't gone out because I hadn't finished my homework.

didn't go out

h. We had done nothing like this at that time.

We did

i. It was quite difficult. I had had no idea what to do.

I had no idea

j. As far as I'd known she had always had some pets.

I knew

k. When I met Jim he was already a soldier for three years.

he had already been

l. He had gone to the office because somebody had told him.

He went