English : Unit 2 : Prose : I Can’t Climb Trees Anymore – by Ruskin Bond
Warm Up
a. Have you ever tried swinging from a tree?
b. Have you ever climbed up a tree to pluck fruits?
c. Think of other occasions when you have climbed up trees, either near your home or outside. Share your reasons with the class.
Prose: Question and Answers
What was the old house built with?
The old house was built with solid blocks of granite.
Does the visitor still live in the house?
No, the narrator does not live in the house still.
1. What did the visitor hide in the jackfruit tree?
The visitor hid his grandfather’s Iron cross in the jack fruit tree.
2. When did the visitor actually hide the iron cross?
The visitor actually hid the iron cross twenty-five years ago.
Glossary
turnstile (n) : a mechanical gate consisting of revolving horizontal arms fixed to a vertical post, allowingonly one person at a time to pass through
hollyhocks (n) : a tall Eurasian plant of the mallow family, with large showy flowers
colonel (n) : a rank of officer in the army
brigadier (n) : a rank of officer in the British army, above Colonel
trapeze (n) : a horizontal bar hanging by two ropes and free to swing, used by acrobats in a circus
muttered (v) : to utter words in a low tone
slithered (v) : slide or slip unsteadily on a loose or slippery surface
pruning (v) : the act of trimming aplant
bougainvillea (n) : an ornamental shrubby climbing plant that is widely cultivated in tropics
chiming (v) : making melodious ringing sounds typically to indicate the time
budgerigars (n) : a small Australian bird of the parrot family, often kept in a cage as a pet
cranking (v) : the act of turning ahandle to start an engine
sprightliness (n) : lively and full of energy
A. Based on your understanding of the story, indicate either ‘T’ (True) or ‘F’ (False) against the columns.
Statement
1. The narrator had hidden a few old coins in the tree. – True
2. The jack fruit tree was still there. – True
3. As a boy the narrator used to swing on the turnstile. – True
4. The narrator had sold the house. – True
5. A girl came out of the house. – True
6. The narrator’s grandfather used to sit on the stone bench. – False
7. The narrator was able to remember the music of a piano. – True
8. The narrator was able to climb the jack fruit tree. – False
9. The purpose of the visit of the narrator was to buy his ancestral house back. – False
10. The visitor climbed over the wall easily. – False
B. Based on your understanding of the story, answer the following questions by choosing the correct answer.
1. The story I Can’t Climb Trees Anymore highlights the importance of ________
a) old age.
b) youth.
c) adulthood.
d) middle age.
2. The house which was visited by the man____________
a) remained unchanged.
b) was totally changed.
c) was slightly repaired.
d) was given a facelift.
3. Who said, “A blessing rests on the house where the shadow of a tree falls”?
a) Grand mother
b) Uncle
c) Grand father
d) The visitor
4. The visitor came back to the house because he ________________
a. wanted to see the jackfruit tree.
b. was looking for his lost youth.
c. wanted to look again at his old house
d. wanted to buy the house.
5. The visitor gifted the _________ to the little girl.
a) iron cross
b) marbles
c) bronze medal
d) old coins
C. Answer the following questions in a sentence or two.
1. Explain: “Blessings rest on the house where the shadow of a tree falls.”
It was told by the narrator’s grandmother. It shows the importance of trees to a house. The tree keeps on yielding fruits and gives shade.
2. What did the writer observe about the house?
The house built with blocks of granite was not altered. There was a new out house. There were fewer trees.
3. What was the local superstition about trees?
The house that has many trees is considered to be blessed.
4. What did the visitor do with the turnstile when he was a boy?
As a boy the narrator would swing on the turnstile. He went round and round until he became dizzy.
5. Who is the owner of the house now?
The colonel is the owner of the house now.
6. Why did the visitor return to his old house?
The visitor returned to the old house looking for his youth.
7. How did he get back the Iron Cross?
The little girl climbed up the tree and brought him his Iron cross.
8. How did the grand father get the iron cross?
The grand father got the iron cross from a German soldier during World war I.
9. What did he do with the old Iron Cross?
The old iron cross was handed over to the girl.
10. Where had he left his childhood treasures?
He had left his childhood treasures in a hollow of the jack fruit tree.
D. Match the words in column A with the meanings in column B by drawing a line as shown.
E. Read these shortened forms of words and write the fullform for the remaining words and complete the table given below.
won’t: will not
I’d : I had/ I would
I’ll : I will
1. you’d : You had/You would
2. they’ve : They have
3. he’d : He had/would
4. he’s : He has/is/was
5. wasn’t : Was not
6. isn’t : Is not
7. doesn’t : Does not
8. aren’t : Are not
9. wouldn’t : Would not
10. can’t : Cannot
Speaking
F. You are visiting the primary school where you studied classes I to IV, after six years. You get a chance to go to your standard two classroom and you are permitted to sit at the same place where you used to sit.
1. What would you remember?
I would remember how I did my lessons and enjoyed the fun in the ciass.
2. Describe your feelings at that time.
I was happy and proud to come back to my standard two classroom to sit on the small bench after six years with the little kids.
3. Who do you miss very badly, your friends or teachers?
I miss both my friends and teachers.
4. Share your thoughts with the class.
I recall my memory. It is still fresh. I was too small. I used to sit in the front row. I remember the lots of sum we had to do in arithmetic. I was good at arithmetic. So I was my teacher’s pet. My classmates were very friendly as I stood first in my class. I am proud of my friends and teachers.
Writing
G. On seeing these pictures, you would have gone down your memory lane. Write a paragraph in about 50 words describing your favourite sport when you were young.
1. My Favourite Sport
Every one has a favourite sport. My favourite sport is football. It is a fun game to watch and play. I like every sport but football is my favourite because I love to play it. All my life I have been playing football, from the backyard to high school. Foot ball has also provided me with a lot of memories that I can never forget. One memory is winning the Junior football trophy in high school. That is something I will never forget. Also my family is a football family. My dad is also a football player.
H. Based on the story and your own ideas write your answers in about 80 to 100 words each.
1. Imagine yourself as the writer. Narrate the story of your visit to your ancestral house.
Lesson: I can’t climb trees anymore
Author: Ruskin Bond
Character: Self, Boy and Mother
Theme: A possibility becomes an impossibility at times
Here is the story of my visit to my ancestral house. My native place is a village called Udangudi. One day I had been to our ancestral house. It was old but strong. It had been built when my father was young. I waited at the gate. A boy came and asked about me. He took me into his house. His mother was there. My eyes searched for my precious things. I had left them when we left the house. I took the boy into an inner room. I climbed up the ladder and searched in the self. I found it atlast. It was my grandfather’s air-gun. I was allowed to take it. I thanked them and left the place
2. The man who came to the house gave the cross as a gift to the girl. Why did he do this? What do you think would have happened if he had taken back the cross with him?
Lesson : I can’t climb trees anymore
Author : Ruskin Bond
Character : Author and the girl
Theme : High expectations lead to high disappointments
The narrator came to the house. He remembered his olden days. The house was built with block of granite. There was a new out house. The visitor met a girl infront of the house. She allowed him to enter the house. He saw a jack fruit tree. He used to play with the trees. There was a hollow in a branch of a jack fruit tree. It was his secret place. He kept his treasures in it. He had an Iron cross. He kept the Iron cross in this secret place. The girl found and brought it. The narrator gave it to the girl. If he had taken it with him, the house and the cross would have been separated. The narrator felt that there is no use of an Iron cross. So he did not take the cross with him. So he gave it to her.
I. Write a letter to your friend describing your ancestral house.
25,New Colony,
WGC Road,
Nagercoil.
Dear Queency,
How are you? I am fine. Hope you are doing well. Last week I went to our native place near Karur. I would like to describe my ancestral house. I had gone there with my parents. It is an old house build with granite stones. There are lot of trees and garden plants in the garden. My grand parents still live there. There was an old swing beside the house. I remembered my childhood days. I wish to spend my vacation there. I like my ancestral house very much. Convey my love and regards to your family.
Yours lovingly
Shobi.
Address on the Cover
To Stamp
S. Queency,
D/O Mr. K. Sukumar
52, Dolly villa, Mahima Nagar,
Thakkalay.
PARAGRAPH FOR TOPPERS:
Synopsis:
• Introduction
• The ancestral house
• Meeting with a girl
• Treasures on the tree
• An Iron cross
• Conclusion
Introduction:
Ruskin Bond is an Indian author of British descent. He is renowned for his role in creating children’s book. In the lesson ‘I can’t climb trees anymore’ he recalls the days of his childhood.
The ancestral house:
The narrator visited his ancestral house. He remembered his olden days. The house was built with blocks of granite. There was a new out house. There were few trees. The visitor, as a boy would swing on the turnstile.
Meeting with a girl:
The visitor met the daughter of the owner. The present owner was a colonel. The girl allowed him to enter the house. She was kind and polite. The visitor told that it was once his grandmother’s house.
Treasures on the tree:
The Jack fruit tree was the visitor’s favourite place. He used to play with the tree. He used to collect marbles and old coins. There was a hollow in a branch of the jack fruit tree. He kept his treasures in it.
An Iron cross:
The visitor had an iron cross. It was a gift of a German soldier to his grand father. He kept the iron cross in his secret place. He is unable to climb the tree at present. The girl helped him by climbing the tree. She found and brought the Iron cross.
Conclusion:
The narrator gave it to the girl. The visitor felt that there is no use of an Iron cross. So he gave it to her. The visitor left the place with his golden memories.
PARAGRAPH FOR AVERAGE STUDENTS:
Lesson : I can’t climb trees anymore
Author : Ruskin Bond
Theme : Memories remain forever
The narrator visited his ancestral house. He remembered his olden days. The house was built with blocks of granite. There was a new out house. There were few trees. The visitor met a thirteen years old girl infront of the house. The girl allowed him to enter the house. The visitor told that it was once her grand mother’s house. The jack fruit tree was the visitor’s favourite place. He used to collect marbles and old coins. He kept his treasures in it. He had an iron cross. It was a gift of a German soldier to his grandfather. He kept the Iron cross in his secret place. The girl climbed the tree found the iron cross and brought it. The visitor gave it to the girl. The visitor left the place with his golden memories.
PARAGRAPH FOR LATE BLOOMERS:
• The narrator visited his old house.
• He remembered his olden days.
• A little girl invited him.
• There was a jack fruit tree.
• He kept his treasures in it.
• He kept the iron cross in it.
• The girl found and brought the iron cross and gave it to the visitor.
• The narrator gave it to the girl.
Grammar
Degrees of Comparison
Comparison can be made using the three forms of an adjective.
Adjective is a word that describes or qualifies a noun. It gives more information about a noun.
(e.g.)The tiger is a strong animal.
There are three degrees of comparison
(1) Positive (e.g.) Kumar is a kind man.
(2) Comparative (e.g.) Tsunami is more destructive than Cyclone.
(3) Superlative (e.g.) Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world.
Read the following examples.
The Positive Degree is used to express or describe a quality.
The Positive Degree of an adjective states the characteristic of the noun.
(e.g.) It is a tall building.
(e.g.) Mango is sweet to taste.
The Comparative Degree is used when two things (or two sets of things) are compared.
(e.g.)This building is taller than any other building.
(e.g.)Mango is sweeter than pineapple.
The Superlative Degree is used when more than two things are compared.
(e.g.) This is the tallest building.
(e.g.) Mango is the sweetest fruit.
Examples
Prabhu is young. (Positive Degree)
Prabhu is younger than Amirtha. (Comparative Degree)
Prabhu is the youngest of all. (Superlative Degree)
A. Work with a partner and fill in the table with information about your locality. You may add more information, if necessary. When you finish filling the table, write a short paragraph comparing the two places.
PARAGRAPH ON COMPARING TWO PLACES:
My place is Krishnapuram. My partner’s place is Vallanadu. The railway station is 4 km from my place and 5 km from my partner’s place. My place is nearer to the railway station. The nearest air port is at Tuticorin. My partner is nearer to the air port. There are two malls in my place but there is only one in my partner’s place. Temples in my place are more than my partner’s place. I am as far away as my partner from the sea. In my place there are three lakes. My Partner has five lakes in his place. The same over Thamirabarani flows in my place as well as my partners place. We have good road ways and railway facilities for our travel.
B. Give your opinion and compare the items in each picture using -er, more, less, or an irregular form. Use the words. You may form your sentences in more than one way.
1. healthy, wholesome, calorific
a) Fresh food is healthier than junk food.
b) Fresh food is more wholesome than junk food
c) Fresh food is more calorific than junk food
2. eco-friendly, economical, safer
a) Cycling is more eco – friendly than motor cycling
b) Cycling is more economical than motor cycling
c) Cycling is safer than motor cycling
3. educational, interesting, trendy
a) A mobile phone is more educational than a radio
b) A mobile phone is more Interesting than a radio
c) A mobile phone is trendier than radio
4. safe, comfortable, quick
a) Train journey is safer than bus journey
b) Train journey is more comfortable than bus journey.
c) Train journey is quicker than bus journey
5. cozy, costly, sturdy
a) A sofa is cozier than a chair
b) A sofa is costlier than a chair
c) A sofa is sturdier than a chair
C. Look at the bar-graph. Write five sentences using the appropriate degrees of comparison.
Answer:
1. Bungee jumping is the most popular adventure sports in 2017
2. Paragliding is as popular as surfing in 2001.
3. Rock climbing in 2017 is as popular as paragliding and surfing in 2011.
4. Surfing is the least popular adventure sort in the year 2017.
5. In the year 2011 Rafting is as popular as Bungee jumping.
D. *Listen to the conversation between Leena and her mother and list down a few new words. Using a dictionary find out the meaning for those words.
THE SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE
Leena has a great fascination for adventure. During her winter holidays she wishes to explore an adventure sport. Listen to the conversation between Leena and her mother and complete the dictionary activity.
Mother:
Leena, what are your plans for the winter vacation? I thought we could go to a heritage site in India.
Leena:
No Mom. This time, I wish to take up an adventure sport which I have been planning for long. But I am not sure whether we have good options for adventure sports in India.
Mother:
Why not! India is a versatile and multifaceted country and every part of it offers some new adventure to see, some new place to visit. Ranging from the wonderful treks on the powerful and the bold mountain ranges of Himalayas, sky diving adventures in the west, hill stations of the south, proclaiming beauty of the Karst caves to the desert trips in Thar, all the varieties are found in one nation.
Leena:
That’s great to know that with the brooding modern nation, you can savour all the adventures either in the midst of towns or surrounded with the nature’s bounty.
Mother:
But we must carefully choose the organization that offer such programmes. We should go for ones that are registered with Adventure Tour Operators Association of India and Ministry of Tourism.
Leena:
Ok, Mom. Let us see if any of those places have bungee jumping. I have been dreaming of doing this dare-devil jump for the past two years.
Mother:
If you are really ready for bungee-jumping, I suggest we go to Rishikesh. Apart from leaping off a cliff, you can do white-water rafting too. What do you say? Let’s talk to your father and ask him to do some enquiries.
Leena:
Yaayyy!!! I am so excited. I can’t wait for Dad to come back from office.
Answer:
New work : Meaning
(E.g) Versatile able to adapt to different activities.
i) heritage: the history, traditions and qualities that a country has for many years.
ii) adventure: an unusual experience, journey or series of events.
iii) multifaceted: having many different aspects to be considered.
iv) bounty: something provided in large quantities
v) dare-devil: a person who enjoys doing dangerous things.
E. Just a Minute
The class will be divided into groups of five. Each one of you will get a topic to speak on, which will be related to the theme of the unit. A preparation time of one minute will be given. Then, you have to speak for one minute continuously. The teacher will ring the bell to signal the end of a minute. Next person in the team will take over.
The challenges of the one minute speech are to speak without
* hesitation, stuttering and stammering.
* pauses, gesticulations and repetitions.
* deviating from the topic.
Sample Speech
Respected principal/Headmaster/Headmistress, teachers and friends.
We are all proud citizens of India. 26th of January is celebrated as Republic Day in India every year. On this day in 1950, India became a Democratic Republic. Celebrations are held every year on this day throughout the country.
On 26th January, 1950 the constitution came into force. We commemorate this day to recall and show respect to the day on which the foundation was officially laid in our country. This means that the people of our country rule them selves and all are equal and free. The government is ruled by elected representatives by the people of our country and hence the supreme power is held by the people of India.
A few suggested topics:
1. My school
2. My country
3. Friendship
4. Teachers Day
5. Independence Day
6. Children’s Day
7. Pongal celebration
8. Deepavali
9. Christmas
10. Forest and its uses.