Reporting Questions (The Ant & the Grasshopper)

Chapter: The Ant and the Grasshopper

Answer these questions.

a. Who was a black sheep in Ramsays’ family? Why?

Tom was a black sheep in the Ramsay family because he caused problems for his brother George and was a sore trial to him for twenty years.

b. What was a respectable profession to Tom?

Tom did not think that any profession was respectable.

c. Why was George Ramsay staring into the space?

George Ramsay was staring into the space because he was feeling down and upset, likely due to problems with his brother Tom.

d. Why did Tom leave his work and wife?

Tom left his work and wife because he wanted to enjoy himself and did not want to be tied down by responsibilities.

e. How did Tom manage his life when he ran out of money at first?

When Tom ran out of money, he began borrowing from his friends, including his brother George.

f. How did Cronshaw and Tom cheat George?

Cronshaw and Tom cheated George by conning him out of money through a dishonest scheme.

g. What forced George to realise that his brother would never settle down?

George was forced to realize that his brother would never settle down when circumstances made it clear that Tom would never change his ways and take on responsibilities.

Read the text again, and put the following sentences in the correct order.

a. He began to blackmail his brother for money.
b. He left his wife and his office.
c. When his money was spent, he borrowed it from friends and spent it on luxuries.
d. George continued to pay for his brother's expenses.
e. He bought a motor-car and some very nice jewellery.
f. Tom took help of Cronshaw to cheat his brother, and left for Mont Carlo.
g. He promised to make a fresh start.
h. The Ramsays were perfectly respectable people.
i. He never settled down.

In the correct order

h. The Ramsays were perfectly respectable people.
b. He left his wife and his office.
c. When his money was spent, he borrowed it from friends and spent it on luxuries.
d. George continued to pay for his brother's expenses.
e. He bought a motor-car and some very nice jewellery.
g. He promised to make a fresh start.
a. He began to blackmail his brother for money.
f. Tom took help of Cronshaw to cheat
his brother, and left for Monte Carlo. i. He never settled down.

Using the information above, summarise the story in a paragraph.

Tom Ramsay was a black sheep in the Ramsay family because he was a burden to his brother, George, for twenty years. He had a good start in life, with a business and a family, but one day he decided he didn't want to work or be married anymore. He left his wife and office and traveled to various European capitals, spending all of his money and borrowing more from his friends. He spent his money on luxuries and relied on his brother, George, to support him financially. When George realized that Tom would never settle down, Tom began to blackmail him for money. Tom nearly went to prison due to his dishonest actions, and George had to spend a lot of money and effort to settle the affair. Tom and a man named Cronshaw then cheated George and went to Monte Carlo together.

Grammar

Change the following into indirect speech.

a. Anupam says, “Where do you live?”
Anupam asks me where I live.

b. Sanjeeb says, “Can you solve the problem?”
Sanjeeb asks me if I can solve the problem.

c. Prabin said, “Does Pramila love me?”
Prabin asked Pramila if she loved him.

d. Dinesh said to his friends, “Who went to Muktinath for worshipping the God?”
Dinesh asked his friends who had gone to Muktinath for worshipping the God.

e. Navaraj said to Saraswoti, “Will you visit me in Australia?”
Navaraj asked Saraswoti if she would visit him in Australia.

f. Julia said to Pujan, “How is your husband?”
Julia inquired Pujan about her husband.

g. A stranger said to Astha, “What kind of music do you like?”
A stranger asked Astha what kind of music she liked.

h. Bharatlal said to Phiroj, “Aren’t you applying for a grant?”
Bharatlal asked Phiroj if he was applying for a grant.

i. Aritosh said to Durgalal, “Aren’t you in the office?”
Aritosh asked Durgalal if he was in the office.

j. “Didn’t you pay her?” he said.
He asked me if I had paid her.

Writing

Read the following essay, and discuss the questions given below.

a. How many paragraphs are there?
There are five paragraphs.

b. What is the first paragraph about?
The first paragraph introduces the topic of socialization in modern society and the idea of involving school graduates in community service.

c. Point out the main idea of the text.
The main idea of the text is that involving school graduates in community service is a good way to develop valuable life skills and minimize social problems.

d. What does the writer suggest at the end?
At the end, the writer suggests that the concerned authority should implement community service programs for school graduates.

e. Make a list of logical connectors like likewise, therefore, etc.
Logical connectors in the essay include "on the one hand," "on the other hand," "therefore," and "in conclusion."

f. Supply a suitable title for the essay.
A suitable title for the essay could be "The Benefits of Community Service for School Graduates."

Time for writing

Some people believe that students should be given a large amount of homework so that they can learn independently. Others disagree and think that they should be engaged in social activities rather than school work at home. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer, and include any relevant examples from your own experiences.

I agree that students should be given some amount of homework to learn independently, but I also believe that they should be engaged in social activities rather than excessive amounts of homework.

One reason I agree that students should be given homework is that it allows them to practice and reinforce the skills and knowledge they have learned in class. This can help them better understand and retain the material, and it gives them the opportunity to work on their own without the guidance of a teacher.

However, I also believe that students should be engaged in social activities because it helps them develop important life skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. It also allows them to have a well-rounded education, rather than just focusing on academics.

Furthermore, excessive amounts of homework can lead to stress and burnout, which can have negative effects on a student's mental and physical health. It is important to balance homework with other activities and give students the opportunity to relax and recharge.

In conclusion, while I think it is important for students to have some homework to practice and reinforce their knowledge, I also believe it is crucial for them to be engaged in social activities and have a balance between academics and other pursuits.