2.

TOO DEAR - Leo Tolstoy

Comprehension I

1.Why was ‘Monaco’ called a toy kingdom?

Ans. Monaca was a small kingdom with only population of seven thousand
people so it was called a toy kingdom.
2.Name the commodities taxed in Monaco?
Ans. The commodities taxed in Monaca were tobacco, wine, spirits and a poll-
tax.
3.What was the source of the king’s special revenue? Who were its
beneficiaries?
Ans. The source of the king’s special revenue was from a gaming house. The
Prince of Monaco, his courtiers and officials were its beneficiaries.
4.Why did the Germans stop gaming houses in their country and how did it
benefit Monaco?
Ans. The Germans forbade gaming houses in their country because it made
men to try their luck. It made men risk all things they had and lose it. In the
case of despair, they would drown or shoot themselves. In Monaco, the money
received from the gaming house was major revenue for the prince so it
benefitted the king of Monaco.
5.What was the punishment given to the murderer?
Ans. Initially the murdered was given the punishment of death sentence and
later life imprisonment…………………………….
6.The death sentence was converted into life imprisonment because
Ans. carrying out death sentence was expensive.
7.How much did the king spend annually on the criminal?
Ans. 600 Francs.
8.On what condition did the criminal agree to do away from the prison? How
was his demand fulfilled?
Ans. The criminal agreed to do away from the prison on one condition of
paying him 600 Francs as annual pension. His demand was fulfilled to avoid the
burden on the shoulders of the Prince.

Comprehension II

1.Though gambling is a dirty business, why does the king of Monaco resort to
it?
Ans. The king of Monaco ruled a tiny kingdom that had population of only
seven thousand people. He was a real kinglet and he had a palace, countries,
ministers, bishops, generals and an army which he had to look after. The
sources of income he had were sufficient to pay it to everyone and this is why
he earned revenue from a gambling house. He knew that the gambling is a
dirty business which risked lives of the people, but he had no other choice but
to collect from this business as it fulfilled the money needs of the people who
were with him.
2.Why did the king of Monaco keep changing his mind in dealing with the
criminal?
Ans. Initially the punishment for the criminal was of death sentence but the
only hitch in the matter was that they had neither a guillotine nor an
executioner. Then the matter was discussed in the ministers and a letter was
sent to the French government to lend the machine and inform its cost. It
would cost them 16,000 francs which was too much to spend for them. Then
the letter was sent to Italian government to lend the machine and a expert. The
Italian government asked to pay less than French government, i.e.12,000
francs, but it still was expensive for the king of the Monaco. Again the matter
was discussed by considering one the soldiers to cut the criminal’s head. But
the soldier couldn’t do it. Then they took the decision of changing the
punishment to life imprisonment. But soon the king realized that the
punishment cost him more than he expected. Finally to get rid away from him,
the criminal was paid pension of 600 francs annually.
3.Why was the criminal reluctant to go out of the prison?
Ans. The criminal was reluctant to go out of the prison because he felt that the
changing in the punishment ruined his character and people would turn their
backs on him. Also he had lost his way of working.
4.How did the criminal lead his life after his release?
Ans. After his release, the criminal received one-third of his annuity in advance.
Then he bought a bit of land across the frontier and started market-gardening.
In this way, he lived his life comfortably.

Comprehension III

1.‘You can’t earn stone palaces by honest labour.’ Justify with reference to the
story.
Ans. By just an honest means of earning, one cannot go beyond a certain limit.
The king of Monaco had many people to feed. What he earned from the tax
was a lit amount in which he had to take care of many people. The revenue he
earned from the gambling house was more than enough which was major
source of income not just for him but also for the other people. If one has to go
beyond certain limits, one has to start other ways of income too, which might
not be an honest ones. For the sake of the people and kingdom, and its
maintenance, he had no other choice but to retort to dirty business like
gambling.
2.Though the trail and imprisonment of the criminal is depicted in a comic
mode in this story, it does give rise to serious questions. What are they?
Ans. Though the events in the story are quite humorous, it does raise serious
questions on the law and order of the kingdom. How can a criminal get pension
for the wrong act he did? Was not there any other punishment for him?
3.Were there other ways of dealing with the criminal? Discuss in the light of
the story.
Ans. Unemployment raises the chances of criminal rates in the society. The
man didn’t do anything and gambled. This led to a series of serious things that
make the whole kingdom think over it. If there was a ban on such gambling
houses, obviously it would not allow such people to such illegal activity and risk
their and others lives. He could have given some serious work to do rather than
giving him pension and lead a happy life.

3. On Children -Khalil Gibran

About the poet.

Kahlil Gibran is a Lebanese-American poet who brings out high philosophy of
life in his simple and beautiful poetic essays. His “On Children” is a critique of
the usual expectations of parents about their children. The poem is extracted
from Khalil Gibran’s renowned collection of poems “The Prophet”, through this
poem he offers to guide parents on the essence of parenting with love much
against the mundane expectations.

Central Idea
‘On Children‘ by Kahlil Gibran describes how parents should nurture their
children and what should be the mindset while upbringing a child. The poem
begins with a woman holding her child against her bosom and approaching the
prophet for his advice on growing children.

Explanation

Line 1-3

And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said,

Speak to us of Children.

And he said: Your children are not your children .

 The enquirer is a woman as well as a mother. She is holding her baby
and standing near Al Mustafa. She asks the prophet to speak about children to
which he replies and makes it clear that the children to whom one gives birth
are not their children.

Line 4-6

They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you,

And though they are with you yet they belong not to you .
According to the speaker, children are the sons and daughters of the
“Life’s longing.” which means that the creator of children is not a human but
the almighty. The prophet remarks that children come to this earth through
them and those parents are only mediums. Even though a child is made out of
their parents but they do not belong to their parents. Biologically it is correct.
But, from the spiritual aspect, this concept is wrong. Human beings can create
another being but it is God that infuses life into the body. So, parents are short-
term companions of children. Ultimately, the children belong to God.

Line 7-10

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,

For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls,

For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,

which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

The first line deals with the difference between selfless love and self-
centered love. The parents can shower all the love on their children but can’t
impose their thoughts in their children’s minds as they have their own minds
and thoughts. A parent gives shelter to the bodies of their children but not
their souls. According to the prophet, every soul has the same house, a
metaphorical reference to the universal spirit. This place is referred to as “the
house of tomorrow.” It hints at the place where the soul merges after the body
expires. This house cannot be visited as each soul has specific spots to fill in.
Parents’ souls have their respective places in the divine spirit. A human being
cannot even dream of that place. It is only revealed after bodily death.

Line 11-12

You may strive to be like them,

but seek not to make them like you.

For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

The parents may strive to be like their children but sadly, they cannot
revert the process. As a parent cannot be a child again, he tries to change
things according to his order. Therefore, the speaker warns parents not to make
their children like them. Once life moves forward, it cannot turn backward.
Besides, one cannot tarry with the thoughts of yesterday for living in the
present moment. Therefore, living in the present is the best way to live life
fully. If parents can develop this mindset, they will think twice before imposing
their thoughts on their children.

Line 13-14

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,

and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far
In the first line, the speaker uses the metaphor of bows. According
to him, parents are the mode from which the almighty sends forth their
children as “living arrows.” Bows and arrows have no use until they are
together. An arrow cannot move further without the acceleration provided by
the string of a bow and vice-versa. It needs a skilled archer to send an arrow to
the exact mark by using a bow, qualitatively firm and flexible. In this way, God is
compared to an archer metaphorically. He looks at the mark, a symbolic
reference to the divine spirit, that is placed upon the “path of the infinite.” It is
again a metaphor for the universal soul that has infinite power. After seeing the
mark, God bends the bow with all his might to send the arrows swiftly to the
mark placed far from the earth. So, parents should be flexible enough in their
thoughts. Then, their children can develop fully both mentally and spiritually.

Line 15- 16

Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;

For even as He loves the arrow that flies,

so He loves also the bow that is stable.

According to the speaker, “bending” refers to the flexibility of the
human mind. If parents don’t have rigidity in their thought process, they
become the ideal tool in a child’s spiritual development. The more a bow can
bend without breaking the swifter the arrow becomes. The archer loves both
the arrow and the bow. It means there is a place in God’s heart for the parents
as well as their children. But the parents have to be stable enough. When God
holds them, they should not tremble in fear or break apart. They have to stay
firm and bend accordingly so that their children can reach swiftly to the
ultimate destination.

Conclusion
In the poem “On Children” Khalil is trying to tell how parents
cannot act like their children are puppets. They will have the free will to do as
they please and have a mind of their own. They are free to think for
themselves. When Khalil writes “children are living in the house of tomorrow”
he is telling us how children are important to the future. Parents merely act as
“guiding lights” for their children. Children have the will to act as who they are
and not someone else, to lead their own life and not how their parents want
them to be. The child that comes from the parent is the gift from God but since
they merely “come through you but not from you” stating that the parents do
not own them.

Poetic Devices
1.Oxymoron: A figure of speech, usually one or two words, in which seemingly
contradictory terms appear side by side. For example, “Your children are not
your children”
2.Personification: A poetic device where animals, plants, or even inanimate
objects, are given human qualities. For example, “life’s longing for itself”
3.Metaphor: A figure of speech in which a word or phrase denoting one kind of
object or action is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy
between them. For example, “their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow”
4.Symbol: Something that is generally recognized to represent a certain idea.
For example, “He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and
far”

Comprehension II

1.Why does the prophet categorically state ‘Your children are not your
children’?
Ans. Though a mother gives birth to a child, at some point in life, her child has
his/her own identity. Parents’ love and affection make a child help grow in life,
but ultimately he/she decided his/her future. Parents should not be over
possessive towards their children as it would make them discouraged. The
prophet says that at the end, children have right to decide their life and make
decisions accordingly. They are God’s children and this is why parents should
stop worrying about them too much.
2.What does the metaphor, bows and arrows signify with regard to parent-
children relationship?
Ans. In the poem, bows refer to arrows whereas arrows refer to children and
the God is the archer. It the God, who controls and decides everything. Though
the arrow is released from the bow, ultimately it decides it own direction.
Parents can guide their children, but children have their likes, dislikes and
choices and the ultimate choice should be decided only by them.
3.According to the Prophet, what attitude should parents have towards their
children?
Ans. The prophet advises parents not to be possessive towards their children.
Children have their own personalities and they have every right to take their
decisions. The God has created everyone and so he decides what is good for
the children. The children should be given freedom to choose whatever is best
for them. Too much of pressure would discourage them and thereby make
them depressed.

Comprehension III

1.In this poem, ‘parents’ could stand as a metaphor ……………………

Ans. for the older generation.
2. In the light of the poem, think of different levels of freedom children must
have in shaping their lives.
Ans. There are many factors that shape a child’s personality. Parents play a role
of a guide, who guides their children in their lives, but children have complete
right to choose what to do in their lives. If the right amount of freedom is given
to them, they can do many good things for themselves. Freedom also boosts
their confidence and creativity. If the children are given the freedom of choice,
they will be able to make better choices in the future.
3.The poem does not focus merely on the lives of children, but also talks about
the responsibility of parents. Discuss.
Ans. Parents give birth to their children and they feel that they own them. But
what parents need to understand is that children have their different
personalities and likes. Parents should not force something on their children as
this would only make them discouraged and under confident. The more the
pressure from their parents, the more they would lag behind. Parents need to
understand that at some point of live, they have their own individuality and
they have every right to choose what is best for them. Parents feel like they
own their children and start taking them for granted. They put them in such
pressure that many times, the children have to choose something that is not
liked by them. With the right amount of freedom, they will fly high and achieve
great amount of success. Parents should understand that though they have
given birth to them, they are not completely like them. There are many
differences between a parent and a child which make them unique.

4. Everything I Need To Know I Learned In The Forest – Vandana

Shiva

Comprehension I

1.Trace the childhood experiences that shaped the author’s interest in ecology.
Ans. Vandana Shiva’s ecological journey started in the forest of the Himalaya.
Her mother was a farmer, and her father worked as a forest conservator. It was
from the Himalayan forest and ecosystems that she learned most of the things
about ecology.
2.How does the scarcity of water, fodder and fuel affect women?
Ans. Scarcity of water, fodder and fuel meant longer walk for the women to
collect these basic things. These things put heavy burden on them.
3.What features of the ‘Chipko’ movement does the author highlight?
Ans. One of the main features of ‘Chipko’ movement was that it took place in
the Himalayas. Also it had major contribution of women peasants.
4.The real value of forest for women was
Ans. Source of basic needs.
5.List the activities that Vandana Shiva undertook after her involvement with
‘Chipko’ movement.
Ans. After becoming a volunteer, Vandana Shiva spent every vacation doing
pad yatras( walking pilgrimages), documenting the deforestation and the work
of the forest activities.
6.The conservation of biodiversity in agriculture leads to
Ans. More quality food and higher nutrition.
7.Why is it important to change the fossil fuel and chemical based
monoculture?
Ans. It is important to change the fossil fuel and chemical based monoculture
because it increases soil fertility.
8.What promoted the UN to initiate a discussion on the rights of Mother Earth?
Ans. The united nations general assembly inspired by the constitution of
Ecuador that has recognized the “Rights of Nature” and the universal
declaration of the rights of Mother Earth.
9.The conference organized by UN General Assembly aimed at transforming
domination of
Ans. People over nature.
10.What, according to the author, is eco-apartheid? Why is it essential to end
this?
Ans. Eco-apartheid means separateness of humans from the nature. Humans
don’t consider themselves as a part of the nature and hence they treat the
nature very differently. Humans damage the nature. It is essential to end this
because if humans keep harming the nature, then the nature will harm us. It is
important to protect and conserve the nature.
11.Which event in human history marked the beginning of separation of
humans from nature?
Ans. The industrial revolution marked the beginning of separation of humans
from nature.
12.How do Carolyn Merchant and Francis Bacon differ in their views?
Ans. Francis Bacon who is known as the father of modern science, was of the
view that science and inventions that do not ‘merely exert a gentle guidance
over nature’s course; they have power to conquer and subdue her, to shake her
to her foundations.” On the other hand, Carolyn Merchant was of the view that
“one does not readily slay a mother, dig into her entrails for gold, or mutilate
her body.”
13.What ideas of Tagore inspired the author to start the Earth University?
Ans. Rabindranath Tagore started a learning center in Shantiniketan in West
Bengal, as a forest school, both to take inspiration from nature and to create an
Indian culture renaissance. It teaches the value of freedom. We get lessons of
freedom from the nature and this is why Vandana got inspired to start the
Earth University.
14.How are unity and diversity related to each other?
Ans. Both unity and diversity are interrelated to each other. Without unity,
diversity becomes a source of conflict and rivalry. On the other hand, unity
without diversity becomes the ground for the external control.

Comprehension II

1.How did the women, led by Bachni Devi, put up resistance to felling of trees?
Do you think it was effective?
Ans. Bachni Devi led resistance against her own husband, who had obtained a
contract to cut trees. When officials arrived at the forest, the women held up
lighted lanterns in a broad daylight. They told the foresters that they had come
to teach them forestry and sang in chorus about the importance of the forest.
It proved to be effective.
2.Why is it important to promote biodiversity intensive farming? How did the
author achieve it?
Ans. The author’s ecological journey started in the forest of the Himalaya. Then
she started saving seeds from farmer’s fields and then realized that they
needed a farm for demonstration and training. This made her start Navdanya
Farm in 1994 in the Doon valley, located in the lower elevation Himalayan
region of Uttarakhand Province. She raised and preserved hundreds of other
species in addition to 150 different types of wheat and 630 different varieties
of rice. They engage in and advocate for a method of agriculture that
maximises biodiversity and yields more food and nutrients per acre. The
conservation of biodiversity is the answer to the food and nutrition crisis.
3.“Rights of Nature” means
Ans. the duty of human beings to conserve nature.
4.What does the concept of the Earth University convey? How is this different
from that of the other universities?
Ans. The Earth University believes in teaching Earth Democracy, which is the
freedom for all species to evolve within the web of life, and the freedom and
responsibility of humans, to respect, preserve, and acknowledge the rights of
other species as fellow members of the Earth family. In the Earth University,
participants learn to work with living seeds, living soil and the web of life.

Comprehension III

1.“Tagore sees unity with nature as the highest stage of human evolution.” Do
you think consumerism and accumulation of wealth come in the way of
realizing Tagore’s vision of human evolution?
Ans. Yes, I agree with Tagore’s viewpoint that consumerism and accumulation
of wealth come in the way of realizing Tagore’s vision of human evolution.
2.“The conservation of bio-diversity is the answer to the food and nutrition
crisis.” Discuss.
Ans. The practice of biodiversity-intensive form of farming promotes and
produces more food and nutrition per acre which in turn help in solving the
issue of food and nutrition crisis.
3.“Conservation of diversity is crucial for the sustenance of both nature and
human society.” Discuss.
Ans. Diversity is the key in preserving and conserving the nature. Both nature
and human society are interrelated to each other. If we preserve nature, then it
will help the human society to develop ecologically. Diversity helps in solving
the food and nutrition crisis by ensuring that basic needs are solved. Organic
farming helps in conserving biodiversity. Biodiversity also helps in reducing the
rate of pollution. Also it is good for the soil and also it helps in the sufficient
rainfall. Sufficient rainfall ensures providing basic needs that human need
which in turn keep the human society balanced. If we protect our nature, it will
give us back many things and the human society will be safe.
4.In the light of this essay how can one synthesize the wisdom of the past with
the modern knowledge systems?
Ans. Past wisdom still serves importance in the modern science too. Even
though there is technological progress, past wisdom gives us the deep
knowledge about many things. Past wisdom didn’t use chemicals and still it
prospered in many ways. The techniques used in the past were more natural
and effective. We need to use such cost-effective past methods in the modern
times too.

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