Samacheer Kalvi 9th English Solutions Prose Chapter 7 A Birthday Letter

Samacheer Kalvi 9th English Solutions Prose Chapter 7 A Birthday Letter

Tamilnadu Samacheer Kalvi 9th English Solutions Prose Chapter 7 A Birthday Letter

A Birthday Letter Warm Up:

Question 1.
Have you ever received a personal letter from your friends or relatives?
Answer:
Yes.

Question 2.
If yes, from whom and about what?
Answer:
I have received letters from my brother who stays in Coimbatore, enquiring about my health and well-being and also about how I spent my summer vacation.

Question 3.
Have you ever written a personal letter to anyone?
Answer:
Yes, I have.

Question 4.
If yes, to whom and about what?
Answer:
I have written letters to my cousin who stays in Kerala, enquiring about how she did in her annual examinations.

A Birthday Letter Intext Questions

Question 1.
From which prison did Nehru write this letter?
Answer:
Nehru wrote the letter from Central Prison, Naini, in Uttar Pradesh.

Question 2.
Did Nehru send any presents to Indira?
Answer:
No, he did not send any solid material presents.

Question 3.
Which historical character inspired young Indira?
Answer:
The historical character which inspired young Indira was Joan of Arc.

Question 4.
What helps the ordinary men and women to become heroes?
Answer:
History helps the ordinary men and women to become heroes.

Question 5.
Who is addressed as ‘Bapuji’?
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhiji is addressed as Bapuji.

Question 6.
What should the soldiers of India respect?
Answer:
The soldiers of India should respect India’s honour.

A Birthday Letter Textual Questions

A. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences.

Question 1.
Why could not Nehru send any presents to Indira?
Answer:
Nehru could not send any presents to Indira because he was in prison.

Question 2.
What cannot be stopped even by the high walls of prisons?
Answer:
Mind and spirit cannot be stopped even by the high walls of prisons.

Question 3.
Why did Nehru dislike sermonizing?
Answer:
Nehru has always thought that the best way to find what is right is not by giving a sermon but by talking and discussing.

Question 4.
What does history tell us?
Answer:
History tells us the life of nations, of great men and women.

Question 5.
What do ordinary men and women usually think of?
Answer:
Ordinary men and women are not usually heroic. They think of their bread and butter, of their children, of their household worries and the like.

Question 6.
When do ordinary men and women become heroes?
Answer:
A time comes when a whole people become interested in a great cause. Then history helps even simple, ordinary men and women to become heroes.

Question 7.
What does the phrase ‘great drama’ refer to?
Answer:
The great drama refers to India’s freedom movements.

Question 8.
Why are the freedom fighters under Gandhi not afraid of anything?
Answer:
The freedom fighters under Gandhi are not afraid of anything as there is no room for secrecy or hiding.

Additional Questions

Question 1.
Mention the topics that Nehru wrote about in his letters to Indira?
Answer:
In his letters to Indira, Nehru wrote about languages, trade, history, geography, science, epics and evolution.

Question 2.
What impact did the letters have on Indira?
Answer:
The letters written to the teenager contained Nehru’s understanding of the world which he wanted to impart to his daughter Indira. It is no wonder that such letters made her the strong personality our previous generation saw in her.

Question 3.
What did the great leaders in India do to the deprived?
Answer:
The great leaders helped to free those who were starving, those in poverty and the oppressed and make them happy.

Question 4.
What do you know of the great Freedom movement.
Answer:
The great Freedom Movement was under Bapuji’s leadership. There was no room for secrecy or hiding under his rule. They did not do anything in secret and hence they were undaunted in their spirit. They worked in the light and under the sun.

B. Answer the following in about 80-100 words each.

Question 1.
Explain the important elements of Nehru’s letter.
Answer:
Pandit Nehru was imprisoned in Naini jail. As he was not able to send a gift to Indira on her birthday, he sends her a letter. Though presents are appreciated, letters can equally be cherished as gifts. Nehru did not like to sermonize or give advice. We have learnt that it is important to do things without fear. We should recognize right from wrong. While facing problems, we can resolve them by discussing them with near and dear ones.

The value of the contribution of our leaders to fight for freedom and the value of qualities exhibited by these leaders. The two factors that make ordinary men heroes are, (i) full faith in a great cause and (ii) love and respect for the nation. Mahatma Gandhi inspired millions of people to fight for freedom. Nehru wants Indira to develop qualities like respect for her country’s honour, trust, patriotism, etc.

Question 2.
Imagine yourself as Indira and write a reply letter to your father, Nehru for the letter your received on your birthday.
Answer:

Mussoorie,
October 31, 1930.

My dear Papa,

Thank you so much for your wonderful birthday gift – a letter – a true gift though not solid or material. Your heartfelt wishes and your words mean a lot to me. Your mind and spirit guide me from wherever you are. Your letter isn’t an advice or a sermon, the words are powerful enough to trigger the potential within me to fight for our nation. I understand that Bapuji focuses on truth, courage, fearlessness, openness, hard work, peace, straight-forwardness and non-violence. I shall follow your words and grow up into a brave soldier in India’s service.

With all my love and good wishes,

Your loving daughter,
Indira.

Vocabulary:

C. Match the words with correct Synonym and Antonym from the table.

Answer:

D. Identify, whether the following statements are of OPINION or FCT.

Question 1.
On your birthday, you have been in the habit of receiving presents and good wishes. (Opinion / Fact)
Answer:
Fact

Question 2.
I have liked my talks with you. (Opinion / Fact)
Answer:
Opinion

Question 3.
The best way to find what is wrong and right is by discussing. (Opinion / Fact)
Answer:
Fact

Question 4.
A letter can hardly take the place of a talk. (Opinion / Fact)
Answer:
Opinion

Question 5.
For the desire to hide anything means that you are afraid. (Opinion / Fact)
Answer:
Fact

Listening:

E. “listen to the dialogue and answer the following questions.

Question 1.
Aadhav and Raghav are ________.
(a) brothers
(b) friends
(c) colleagues
(d) classmates
Answer:
(a) brothers

Question 2.
The brothers are planning to celebrate their ________wedding anniversary.
(a) uncle’s
(b) parents’
(c) grandparents’
(d) sister’s
Answer:
(b) parents

Question 3.
The wedding anniversary is on ________.
(a) March 2nd
(b) April 2nd
(c) May 2nd
(d) June 2nd
Answer:
(b) April 2nd

Question 4.
As part of the celebration, the brothers have planned to make their parents to ________.
(a) visit an orphanage
(b) donate some money
(c) plant a mango sapling
(d) conduct a game
Answer:
(c) plant a mango sapling

Question 5.
State whether the statement is true or false.
The brothers have decided to borrow money for the wedding anniversary celebration.
Answer:
False

Reading:

F. Answer the following questions based on the given reading passage.

Question 1.
What is the name of her diary?
Answer:
Kitty is the name of her diary.

Question 2.
Why did Anne want to exchange the book ‘Camera Obscura’?
Answer:
Anne’s sister Margot already has it. So, Anne wanted to exchange it.

Question 3.
Who baked the homemade cookies?
Answer:
Anne baked the homemade cookies.

Question 4.
What game did Anne choose to play?
Answer:
Anne chose to play the volleyball.

Question 5.
Which gift did Anne value the most?
Answer:
Anne valued the diary the most.

Speaking:

G. Imagine you are going to celebrate your forthcoming birthday at an orphanage/ bid-age home.
Deliver a short speech about your birthday celebration by using the following hints.

• The reasons for choosing an orphanage / old-age home.
• The people who accompany you.
• The food which you are going to offer them.
• The useful gifts / articles which you are going to give them.
• Other events like cake cutting, conducting games etc.

Answer:
Good morning everybody. I am going to speak about my birthday celebration this year. On my birthday, we decided to celebrate it in a different way, a day to remember. So we went to Mother Teresa Ashram in T.Nagar, Chennai.

First my younger sister and I played with the children there. We distributed them ” games materials like bat, ball, chocolates, etc. My parents decorated the hall with balloons and flowers. Then we celebrated the birthday cutting a cake. The mother and other sisters of the orphanage gave me blessings. The children presented me flowers to show their love.

Then, we had our lunch with them. We enjoyed there the whole day. It is our duty to help them. After coming back home, I felt a little sad on the plight of the people there. But I decided to go there and celebrate every year.

Thank you.

Writing:

H. Write a meaningful paragraph using the hints given below.

Mahesh – celebrates – 14th birthday – an old-age home – family, friends – informs home in advance – delegates tasks – friends buy things necessary – arrives home early – decorates place – balloons, colour papers – inmates gathered – cuts cake – sing song, claps – distributes cakes – expresses his feelings – gets blessings – offers things – bedsheets, footwear etc. needed – fun, entertainment – happy and content.
Answer:
Mahesh celebrated his 14th birthday at an old age home with his family and friends. His parents had informed the home in advance to delegate tasks. His friends bought all the necessary things for the inmates of the old age home. His friends arrived the home early, decorated the place with balloons and colour papers. The inmates gathered at the hall and Mahesh cut a cake. Everybody sang the birthday song and clapped happily. Mahesh distributed cakes to all. He expressed his feelings and got their blessings. He offered them things like bed sheets, footwear, etc. There was a lot of fun and entertainment programmes. He was very happy and contented.

Grammar:

A. Choose the Correct Determiner

Question 1.
Could you bring me_______tools I left in the garden? (this, those, these)
Answer:
Those

Question 2.
________Earth revolves around the sun. (the, a, an)
Answer:
The

Question 3.
I found ________one rupee coin in the playground while playing, (a, an, the)
Answer:
a

Question 4.
There aren’t ________students in the library, (much, many, a lot)
Answer:
many

Question 5.
It was ________unforgettable experience, (a, an, the)
Answer:
an

Question 6.
I haven’t got ________pictures in my bedroom, (some, any, many)
Answer:
any

Question 7.
He said that he wanted to become ________engineer, (a, an, the)
Answer:
an

Question 8.
Kokila gave a pen to ________ child in the classroom on her birthday, (any, all, each)
Answer:
each

Question 9.
I’ve got to solve math problems before I go to sleep, (all, some, any)
Answer:
some

Question 10.
India is largest democracy in the world, (a, an, the)
Answer:
the

Question 11.
My father doesn’t drink coffee, (much, many, a lot)
Answer:
much

Question 12.
I always keep ________ money in my wallet for emergencies, (any, every, some)
Answer:
some

Question 13.
This year we are celebrating my sister’s ________birthday, (a, two, second)
Answer:
second

Question 14.
I have ________ pencils with me. (a, three, third)
Answer:
three

Question 15.
‘What is that noise?’ I think it is ________ airplane, (a, an, the)
Answer:
an

B. Observe the following call-outs. Reporter (C) has reported the sentences of Speaker (A). Now, help Reporter (C) report the rest of the sentences of Speaker (A).

Answers:

1. He said that he won’t go to the party.
2. She asked when did you come?
3. She warned you not to touch the wire.
4. I’ll bring some coffee.
5. He said that he would bring some coffee for you.
6. Please sit down.
7. He requested you to sit down

C. Report the following sentences.

Question 1.
Banu said, “Do not spoil the eco-system.”
Answer:
Banu advised not to spoil the ecosystem.

Question 2.
Pranav said, “Have you booked the tickets to Delhi?”
Answer:
Pranav asked whether I had booked the tickets to Delhi.

Question 3.
Rekha said to Tilak, “When are we leaving to our native?”
Answer:
Rekha asked Tilak when they were leaving to their native.

Question 4.
Sujith said, “Ryan, you should get up early in the morning.”
Answer:
Sujith advised Ryan that he should get up early in the morning.

Question 5.
Vivaan said to his mother, “Can you, please, buy me a hot-chocolate?”
Answer:
Vivaan requested his mother to buy him a hot-chocolate.

Question 6.
“Tomorrow I have to take a test in English”, said Sudan
Answer:
Sudar said that he had to take a test in English the next day.

Question 7.
Pragathi said to her sister, “I need your help to arrange the books in the shelf.”
Answer:
Pragathi asked her sister’s help to arrange the books in the shelf.

Question 8.
“Why don’t you use crayons for colouring?” said Dhilip to his son.
Answer:
Dhilip suggested his son to use crayons for colouring.

D. Write a Diary entry each day for a month and compile them into a book. You may also name your diary as Anne Frank did.

1st February, 2018

Dear Kibu,
Being the first day of the month, I went to the temple before going to school. I asked God to be with me, guide and lead me this month.
I cannot forget the morning assembly. It was about Mother Theresa. The theme was Help the Needy. Time is fleeting. I must focus in my studies and get good marks. I must aim to be a doctor and help the needy.

2nd February, 2018

Dear Kibu,
Today I had the opportunity to go by the metro with my mom. The station was spic and span. There weren’t many commuters. Most of them were decent and disciplined. I could not find anyone littering the area. There was orderliness while buying the tickets. The announcements were meticulous. The doors opened and shut automatically. We realized that the mobile phones weren’t working inside the station. What amazed me was the time taken to travel even long distances! I doubt anyone would commute to far off places by buses when metros take us at short time.

3rd February, 2018

Dear Kibu,
My exam, starts tomorrow and I’m slightly scared. Tomorrow is my first exam. French isn’t tough for me. However, I’m so anxious these dayscause I want to get the first mark. Until my Math exam is over, I won’t be able to breathe properly. I have always had a very sound sleep and now I’m sleepless! I am sure I can overcome the stress and do pretty well with systematic studies, meticulous revision and God’s help.

A Birthday Letter by Jawaharlal Nehru About the Author:

Jawaharlal Nehru (14 November 1889 – 27 May 1964) was the first Prime Minister. He emerged as an eminent leader of the Indian independence movement under the tutelage of Mahatma Gandhi. He served India as Prime Minister from 1947 until his death in 1964. He is considered to be the architect of the modern Indian nation-state: a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic. His birthday is celebrated as Children’s Day.

He was a prolific writer in English and wrote a number of books, such as The Discovery of India, Glimpses of World History, and his autobiography, Toward Freedom. In 1955, Nehru was awarded Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour by the President Rajendra Prasad.

A Birthday Letter Summary:

The letters written by Nehru from the various prisons in British India to his daughter Indira, were published in 1942 as a book called “Glimpses of World History”. It is a collection of 196 letters on World History. This extract is about a letter written by Jawaharlal Nehru to his daughter Indira, when he was in the Central Prison at Naini. As he was not able to send a gift to Indira on her birthday, he writes to her. Though presents are appreciated, letters can equally be cherished as gifts. Nehru disliked giving sermons or advices because he believed that only by talking and discussing, sometimes a little bit of truth comes out.

The two factors that make ordinary men heroes are full faith in a great cause and love and respect for the nation. Mahatma Gandhi inspired millions of people to fight for freedom. He has helped to make the starving, the poor and the oppressed free and happy. If we are to be India’s soldiers, we have to respect India’s honour which is a sacred trust. He advises Indira not to do anything in secret or wish to hide anything. She should always stand bold and be brave always. Only then, she will grow up to be a child of the light, unafraid, calm and peaceful. He concludes finally by wishing her to grow up into a brave soldier in India’s service.

A Birthday Letter Glossary: