Question 1

Given below are four different senses of the word 'tell'. Match the meanings to the uses listed above.

1. make something known to someone in spoken or written words
2. count while reciting
3. be sure
4. give information to somebody

Accepted Answer

The four uses of 'tell' are matched as follows:

3. At her age one could never tell. — 3. be sure
4. She told us that her end was near. — 4. give information to somebody
1. make something known to someone in spoken or written words — corresponds to the general meaning of 'tell' but not specifically numbered here
2. count while reciting — not used in the given examples

Explanation:
- 'At her age one could never tell' means 'be sure' (sense 3).
- 'She told us that her end was near' means 'give information to somebody' (sense 4).
- The other senses are listed for understanding but not directly matched to the examples given. — Step-by-step:
- Identify the context of each use of 'tell' in the text.
- Match the meaning that best fits the context.
- 'At her age one could never tell' implies uncertainty, so 'be sure' fits.
- 'She told us that her end was near' is direct communication, so 'give information to somebody' fits.

Question 2

II. Notice the different senses of the word 'take'.

1. to take to something: to begin to do something as a habit
2. to take ill: to suddenly become ill

Locate these phrases in the text and notice the way they are used.

Accepted Answer

The phrases 'to take to something' and 'to take ill' are used in the text to show different meanings of the verb 'take'.

- 'To take to something' means to begin a habit or liking for something.
- 'To take ill' means to suddenly become sick.

Students should locate these phrases in the text and understand their contextual usage. — Step-by-step:
- Identify the phrases in the text.
- Understand the context in which they are used.
- Relate the meaning of the phrases to their usage in the sentences.

Question 3

Tick the words in the box below that also refer to a manner of walking.

|  haggle | shuffle | stride | ride | waddle  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  wriggle | paddle | swagger | trudge | slog  |

Accepted Answer

Words that refer to a manner of walking are:
- shuffle
- stride
- waddle
- swagger
- trudge
- slog

Explanation:
- 'Shuffle' means to walk by dragging one's feet.
- 'Stride' means to walk with long steps.
- 'Waddle' means to walk with short steps, swaying from side to side.
- 'Swagger' means to walk with a confident or arrogant manner.
- 'Trudge' means to walk slowly and with heavy steps.
- 'Slog' means to walk with great effort.

Words like 'haggle' (to bargain), 'ride' (to sit on and control a vehicle or animal), 'wriggle' (to twist and turn), and 'paddle' (to move through water using a paddle) do not refer to walking. — Step-by-step:
- Understand the meaning of each word.
- Identify which words describe ways of walking.
- Exclude words that do not relate to walking.

Question 4

Infer the meanings of the following words from the context.

|  paddling | transient  |

Accepted Answer

Meanings inferred from context:
- 'paddling': walking or moving through shallow water by moving the feet.
- 'transient': lasting only for a short time; temporary.

Dictionary meanings:
- 'paddling': the act of moving through water by using the feet or a paddle.
- 'transient': lasting only for a short period; not permanent.

Explanation:
- 'Paddling' is used in the poem to describe the girls moving through water.
- 'Transient' describes the temporary nature of the feet being washed by the sea, emphasizing the fleeting moment. — Step-by-step:
- Read the poem carefully to understand how the words are used.
- Infer the meaning based on the context.
- Verify the inferred meaning with dictionary definitions.

Question 5

Think it out

1. What does the word ‘cardboard’ denote in the poem? Why has this word been used?
2. What has the camera captured?
3. What has not changed over the years? Does this suggest something to you?
4. The poet’s mother laughed at the snapshot. What did this laugh indicate?
5. What is the meaning of the line “Both wry with the laboured ease of loss.”
6. What does “this circumstance” refer to?
7. The three stanzas depict three different phases. What are they?

Accepted Answer

1. 'Cardboard' denotes the material on which the photograph is mounted or printed. It has been used to emphasize the physical, tangible nature of the photograph, a keepsake from the past.

2. The camera has captured a moment in time showing the poet's mother as a young girl with her cousins, smiling and holding hands at the beach.

3. The sea has not changed over the years. This suggests the permanence of nature contrasted with the transient nature of human life.

4. The poet’s mother’s laugh at the snapshot indicates a nostalgic remembrance of the past and perhaps an acknowledgment of the passage of time.

5. The line “Both wry with the laboured ease of loss.” means that both the poet and her mother express a bittersweet, somewhat ironic acceptance of loss, done with effort but also with a certain grace.

6. “This circumstance” refers to the fact that the poet’s mother has been dead nearly as many years as she lived as a young girl.

7. The three stanzas depict three different phases:
   - The first stanza describes the past moment captured in the photograph.
   - The second stanza reflects on the poet’s mother’s memory and laughter about that past.
   - The third stanza contemplates the present reality of her death and the silence surrounding it. — Step-by-step:
- Analyze each question in relation to the poem.
- Use textual evidence to support answers.
- Understand the thematic elements of memory, loss, and time in the poem.

Question 6

Which of the following best describes the physical appearance of the author's grandmother as portrayed in the narrative?

Accepted Answer

Old, wrinkled, short and slightly bent with silver hair — The author describes his grandmother as old and wrinkled for twenty years, short and fat, slightly bent, with silver locks scattered untidily over her pale, puckered face. This description emphasizes her age and serene beauty.

Question 7

What does the phrase 'an expanse of pure white serenity' most likely mean in the context of the grandmother's description?

Accepted Answer

A peaceful and calm presence symbolized by her white clothing and demeanor — The phrase describes the grandmother’s serene and peaceful nature, likened to a calm winter landscape covered in white, symbolizing purity and tranquility.

Question 8

Identify the three phases of the author's relationship with his grandmother before he left to study abroad.

Accepted Answer

The three phases are: (a) When the author attended the village school and the grandmother accompanied him daily, sharing a close bond; (b) When he went to the city school, their relationship changed due to cultural differences, and the grandmother no longer accompanied him; (c) When he went to university and later abroad, their contact diminished and the grandmother accepted seclusion with resignation. — The narrative clearly divides the relationship into three phases based on the author's schooling: village school with close companionship, city school with growing distance due to differing values, and university/abroad with minimal contact and acceptance of separation.

Question 9

Why was the author's grandmother disturbed when he started attending the English school in the city? Provide three reasons.

Accepted Answer

The grandmother was disturbed because: (a) She could not help him with lessons as they taught Western science and English words unfamiliar to her; (b) She was unhappy that there was no teaching about God and scriptures; (c) She disapproved of music lessons, associating music with immoral people and feeling it was unsuitable for gentlefolk. — The grandmother’s distress stemmed from cultural and religious differences between traditional teachings and the modern English school curriculum, which she viewed as lacking spiritual content and morally questionable.

Question 10

After the author grew up, list three ways in which his grandmother spent her days.

Accepted Answer

After the author grew up, the grandmother: (a) Spent most of her time sitting by her spinning-wheel, spinning and reciting prayers; (b) Fed sparrows in the courtyard, breaking bread into little bits; (c) Accepted her seclusion with resignation and rarely talked to anyone. — The grandmother’s daily routine became focused on prayer, spinning, and caring for sparrows, reflecting her peaceful acceptance of old age and solitude.

Question 11

Describe the unusual behavior of the grandmother just before she died.

Accepted Answer

Just before she died, the grandmother did not pray as usual. Instead, she gathered the neighborhood women, took an old drum, and sang songs about the home-coming of warriors, thumping the drum for several hours, which was the first time she did not pray since the author had known her. — This behavior was unusual because the grandmother was deeply religious and constantly prayed, but before her death, she expressed herself through song and music, which she had previously disapproved of.

Question 12

How did the sparrows express their sorrow when the grandmother died?

Accepted Answer

The sparrows, which the grandmother used to feed, sat silently scattered on the floor around her dead body without chirruping. When the family carried her corpse away, the sparrows flew away quietly, showing a silent expression of sorrow. — The sparrows’ silence and quiet departure symbolized mourning and respect for the grandmother’s death, reflecting the deep bond between her and the birds.

Question 13

The author’s grandmother was a deeply religious person. Which of the following is NOT a way we know this from the text?

Accepted Answer

She sang songs about warriors every evening — The grandmother sang songs about warriors only once, just before she fell ill, which was unusual and not part of her regular religious practices. The other options show her consistent religious devotion.

Question 14

Explain how the relationship between the author and his grandmother changed over time.

Accepted Answer

(a) Introduction: The relationship began as very close and affectionate during the author's early childhood.

(b) Early phase: The grandmother accompanied the author to the village school, helped him get ready, and shared daily routines.

(c) Middle phase: When the author moved to the city school, their relationship became distant due to cultural and educational differences; the grandmother disapproved of English education and music.

(d) Later phase: As the author went to university and abroad, contact diminished, and the grandmother accepted solitude with resignation.

(e) Conclusion: Despite the changes, their bond remained emotionally significant, symbolized by the grandmother's peaceful presence and care.

This evolution reflects generational and cultural shifts impacting family relationships. — The answer covers the three phases of their relationship, highlighting emotional closeness, cultural conflict, and eventual separation, with examples such as school accompaniment, disapproval of English education, and acceptance of seclusion.

Question 15

Do you agree that the author's grandmother was a person strong in character? Justify your answer with examples from the text.

Accepted Answer

(a) Introduction: The grandmother demonstrated strength of character through her acceptance of old age and seclusion.

(b) She accepted her solitude with resignation and continued her spiritual practices without complaint.

(c) Despite disapproval of changing times and the author’s new education, she maintained her beliefs firmly.

(d) Her singing and drumming before death showed courage and a break from convention.

(e) Conclusion: These instances illustrate her resilience, dignity, and strong will.

Thus, the grandmother was indeed strong in character, facing life's changes with grace. — The answer includes multiple examples such as acceptance of seclusion, religious devotion, disapproval of modern education, and the final act of singing, showing her strength and individuality.

The Portrait of a Lady A Photograph

The Portrait of a Lady A Photograph — Study Notes

1 The Portrait of a Lady

Understanding the text

Talking about the text

Practice Questions — The Portrait of a Lady A Photograph

All 12 Chapters in Hornbill