“The Passing away of Bapu” is a lesson of Textbook “Bliss” approved by West Bengal Board of Secondary Education for Students of Class 10. Here all the Activity Questions are done by teachers.
The Passing away of Bapu : Unit 1
Comprehension Exercises
1. Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:
(a) Gandhiji had been shot on his way to
(i) the Birla House
(ii) the author’s house
(iii) a prayer meeting
(iv) a family gathering
Answer: Gandhiji had been shot on his way to – a prayer meeting.
(b) The author came to know of Gandhiji’s death by
(i) a letter
(ii) a telephone call
(iii) a telegram
(iv) a public broadcast
Answer: The author came to know of Gandhiji’s death by – a telephone call.
(c) When one is faced with the shock of a loved one’s death, one
(i) whimpers
(ii) laughs
(iii) claps
(iv) shouts
Answer: When one is faced with the shock of a loved one’s death, one – whimpers.
2. Fill in the chart with information from the text:
Answer:
| (a) date on which Gandhiji was shot dead | 30th January, 1948 |
| (b) place where Gandhiji breathed his last | At the Birla House |
| (c) information given by the broadcast | Bapu was no more |
3. State whether the following statements are True or False. Provide sentences/ phrases/words in support of your answer:
(a) The author received an urgent telephone call in the morning.
Supporting statement: _____________________
Answer: The author received an urgent telephone call in the morning. [False]
Supporting statement: I was having tea at home on the evening of 30th January, 1948, when I was called to Birla house by an urgent telephone.
(b) People attempted to break into the Birla House.
Supporting statement: _____________________
Answer: People attempted to break into the Birla House. [True]
Supporting statement: They jostled one another in a stampede to break into the house.
(c) The news of Gandhiji’s death did not shock the people.
Supporting statement:
Answer: The news of Gandhiji’s death did not shock the people. [False]
Supporting statement: It was the question in many of our hearts as we sat, still shocked and unbelieving.
The Passing away of Bapu : Unit 2
Comprehension exercises
4. Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:
(a) Gandhiji’s funeral was to take place
(i) on the day of his death
(ii) two days after his death
(iii) one day after his death.
(iv) a week after his death
Answer: Gandhiji’s funeral was to take place – one day after his death.
(b) Padmasi was Mrs. Naidu’s
(i) niece
(ii) sister
(iii) friend
(iv) daughter
Answer: Padmasi was Mrs. Naidu’s – daughter.
(c) While walking, Bapu used to carry in his hand a/an
(i) flag
(ii) staff
(iii) umbrella
(iv) cane
Answer: While walking, Bapu used to carry in his hand a – staff.
5. Complete the following sentences with information from the text:
(a) Thousands of people wept, trying ____________________________
Answer: Thousands of people wept, trying to touch Bapu’s feet.
(b) The author was among people for whom walking ____________________________
Answer: The author was among people for whom walking with Bapu had a special meaning.
(c) To walk is to __________________________
Answer: To walk is to make slow progress.
6. Fill in the chart with information from the text:
| Statement | Reason |
| (a) It was impossible to move. | There was a thick crowd and thousands of people were trying to touch Bapu’s feet. |
| (b) Padmasi declared that they would walk with Gandhiji in the funeral procession. | It was the last opportunity for them to walk with Bapu’s funeral procession. |
| (c) To walk was often the only way open to the average Indian. | Walking required no vehicle except one’s own body and cost one nothing but one’s energy. |
The Passing away of Bapu : Unit 3
Comprehension exercises
7. Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:
(a) Gandhiji’s ashes were taken to
(i) Ahmedabad
(ii) Allahabad
(iii) Delhi
(iv) Benaras
Answer: Gandhiji’s ashes were taken to – Allahabad.
(b) A huge crowd had gathered by the
(i) Ganges
(ii) Yamuna
(iii) Brahmaputra
(iv) Narmada
Answer: A huge crowd had gathered by the – Ganges.
(c) Gandhiji awakened people to one another’s
(i) indifference
(ii) jealousy
(iii) suffering
(iv) greed
Answer: Gandhiji awakened people to one another’s – suffering.
8. Complete the following sentences with information from the text:
(a) People on the special train _____________________________
Answer: People on the special train sang bhajans.
(b) The author felt she had grown up within ___________________________
Answer: The author felt she had grown up within a magic circle.
(c) Bapu had passed away but _________________________
Answer: Bapu had passed away but his India would continue to live in his children.
9. Fill in the chart with information from the text:
Answer:
| Cause | Effect |
| (a) People could feel Gandhiji’s presence amid the flowers and the songs. | People did not weep anymore. |
| (b) The magic circle vanished. | The narrator felt unprotected. |
| (c) The narrator’s values were not so weak. | The author felt that she wouldn’t lose courage so easily. |
10. Join the following pairs of sentences into single sentences as directed:
(a) I saw a snake. I ran away. (use participle)
Answer: Seeing a snake I ran away.
(b) He learns music. He listens to the chords. (use preposition with gerund)
Answer: By listening to the chords he learns music.
(c) Gold is a precious metal. It is used to make ornaments. (use noun in apposition)
Answer: Gold, a precious metal, is used to make ornaments.
(d) Ramu has some money. He can buy books. (use infinitive)
Answer: Ramu has some money to buy books.
(e) The sky was cloudy. We postponed our journey. (use nominative absolute)
Answer: The sky was cloudy, we postponed our journey.
(f) The boy wrote the answer. The answer was incorrect. (use adverbial phrase)
Answer: The boy wrote the answer incorrectly.
11. Join the following pairs of sentences into single compound sentences as directed:
(a) The old man is unwell. He cannot go out. (use Illative conjunction)
Answer: The old man is unwell so/therefore he cannot go out.
(b) He is honest. He is humble. (use cumulative conjunction)
Answer: He is both honest and humble.
(c) Sonali cannot write poetry. She keeps on trying. (use adversative conjunction)
Answer: Sonali cannot write poetry yet she keeps on trying.
(d) Study hard. You will not pass the examination. (use alternative conjunction)
Answer: Study hard or/otherwise you will not pass the examination.
12. Join the following pairs of sentences into single complex sentences as directed:
(a) Rabindranath Tagore is a famous poet. He won the Nobel Prize. (use adjective clause)
Answer: Rabindranath Tagore is a famous poet who won the Nobel Prize.
(b) He returned home. Everyone in the family had fallen asleep. (use adverb clause)
Answer: Everyone in the family had fallen asleep when he returned home.
(c) The sun rises in the east. Everyone knows it. (use noun clause)
Answer: Everyone knows that the sun rises in the East.
13. Join the following pairs of sentences into single sentences as directed:
(a) It rained hard. The roads were not flooded. (compound sentence)
Answer: It rained hard but the roads were not flooded.
(b) He completed his work. He took rest. (simple sentence)
Answer: After completing his work he took rest.
(c) Rahul is a great singer. He can sing different kinds of songs. (complex sentence)
Answer: As Rahul is a great singer, he can sing different kinds of songs.
(d) The time of departure of the train has changed. Alia knew it. (complex sentence)
Answer: Alia knew that the time of departure of the train had changed.
(e) I do not watch television. I do not listen to the radio. (compound sentence)
Answer: I neither watch television nor listen to the radio.
(f) The child was short. The child could not pick the guava from the tree. (simple sentence)
Answer: Being short the child could not pick the guava from the tree.
14. Split the following into two sentences:
(a) It rained and I could not leave my room.
Answer: (i) It rained. (ii) I could not leave my room.
(b) He thought that he could win the race.
Answer: (i) He could win the race. (ii) He thought it.
(c) Having been informed of the trouble, the Principal left for home.
Answer: (i) The Principal was informed of the trouble. (ii) He left for home.
(d) Nasir, who was the captain of the team, scored a century.
Answer: (i) Nasir was the captain of the team. (ii) He scored a century.
Writing activities
15. Write a biography of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (within 100 words) based on the hints given below:
born on 11 November 1888 – composed poetry in Urdu – worked as a journalist, protested against British Raj – enthusiastic supporter of Gandhiji’s ideas – wrote many books – like ‘India wins freedom’, ‘Ghubar-e-Khatir’ etc. – first Education Minister of independent India – birthday celebrated as National Education Day – died on 22 February 1958
Answer:
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, a prominent leader of the Indian freedom struggle. This great man was born on 11 November, 1888. He was a great writer in Islamic origin. He composed many poems in Urdu. He was a prominent journalist. He always protested against the British Raj with his works. He was a senior leader of Indian National Congress. He was an enthusiastic supporter of Gandhi’s ideas. In his lifetime he wrote many books such as ‘India win freedom’, ‘Ghubar-e-Khatir’ etc. This great man was the first Education Minister of Independent India. In India his birthday is celebrated as National Education Day. This great man passed away on 22 February 1958.
16. Use the following flow-chart to write a paragraph (within 100 words) on how a building is constructed:
drawing of a plan of the building by the architect – getting the plan sanctioned by the corporation or municipal authorities – engaging masons and labourers – starting the construction with bricks, cement and sand – fitting doors and windows – plastering of walls – wiring – electric and water connections – painting – building completed – fit for living
Answer:
Building Construction
A building is constructed through a number of steps. At first a drawing of a plan of the building is drawn by the architect. After that the plan should be sanctioned by the Corporation or Municipal Authorities. Next to erect the building masons and labourers should be engaged. Before starting the construction bricks, cement, and sand should be collected. After collection of the materials the construction work started. Then doors and windows are to be fitted. After that the walls should be plastered and electric wiring and water connections to be fixed. Thereafter the painting of the wall to be completed. Now the building is fit for living.