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Let us do these activities before we read.
I. Work in pairs. Recall a visit to a place that you liked. Discuss the details of that place and write about the following:
Answer:
I. A Visit to a Place I Liked
Name of the place: Andaman Islands
The person(s) I went with: I went with my parents and my cousin during the winter holidays.
The things I could –
See: Crystal-clear blue waters, white sandy beaches, tall coconut trees, colourful corals, and fish while snorkelling. I also saw the historic Cellular Jail in Port Blair.
Listen: The gentle sound of waves crashing on the shore, birds calling from the trees, and the hum of boats cutting through the sea.
Smell: The salty sea breeze, the scent of fresh seafood being grilled, and tropical flowers in full bloom.
Taste: Fresh coconut water; seafood like grilled fish, lobsters, squids; tropical fruits like mangoes, water melons, and pineapples.
Touch and feel: The warm sand under my feet, the cool water of the sea, the smoothness of seashells, and the wind brushing against my face during the boat rides.
II. How does this memory make you feel?
This memory fills me with immense joy and wonder. The islands were peaceful and breathtaking, and I felt lucky to have witnessed such pristine beauty.
III. Would the experience be different without sight or hearing?
Answer:
Yes, absolutely. Without sight, I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy the stunning views of the sea, the silver beaches, and spectacular sunsets. Without hearing, I would have missed the calming sound of the ocean and the songs of the birds. These senses enabled me to experience the beauty of the Andaman Islands fully and remember them so clearly.
Let us discuss (Page 31)
I. Work in pairs. Identify the statements that are true from the ones given below. Share your answers with the teacher.
1. The author expresses a deep longing to experience the world through the sense of hearing.
Answer:
False – The author expresses a deep longing to experience the world through sight, not hearing, though she values all five senses.
2. The author would like exploring the city only to observe how people are suffering.
Answer:
False – The author wants to observe all aspects of life, not just suffering. She mentions feeling happy, proud, and compassionate.
3. The author would spend the first day seeing the people whose kind-heartedness and friendship have enriched her life.
Answer:
True – On the first day, she wants to see the people whose kindness and companionship have made her life worth living.
4. The author acknowledges that even in three days, she would not be able to see everything.
Answer:
True – She acknowledges that she would not be able to see everything even in three days.
5. The author feels that everyone can find the greatest joy merely by the sense of touch.
Answer:
False – While she derives immense pleasure from touch, she believes that sight must be the most delightful of all senses.
6. The author advises those who can see to appreciate every moment as if they might lose their senses tomorrow.
Answer:
True – She advises everyone to appreciate their senses as if they might lose them tomorrow
7. On the third day, the author would like to observe people in their daily lives and understand their experiences.
Answer:
True – On the third day, she wants to observe people in their daily lives and understand them.
II. Complete the table given below with what Helen Keller wanted to do on the three days if she had sight.
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 |
| See the people, know her friends from the feel of their faces… | Arise with the dawn… |
Answer:
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 |
| See the people, know her friends from the feel of their faces, observe their emotions like laughter and sorrow, see into the heart of a friend through the “window of the soul”, the eye. | Arise with the dawn, watch the transformation of night into day, behold the panorama of light or sunrise, visit museums to see the history of Earth, view animals, ancient humans, dinosaurs, and mastodons. | Greet the dawn, visit the city, observe people in their daily lives, stand at a busy corner and watch faces, understand their emotions, see smiles, determination, and suffering. |
III. The author says that you need eyes to be able to ‘see’ the true self of a person. Therefore, she refers to the eye as ‘window of the soul’. How is the narrator able to understand the feelings of a person?
Answer:
The author, Helen Keller, is able to understand the feelings of a person through her sense of touch. Although she cannot see, she uses her fingertips to feel the outline of a person’s face. In this way she is able to detect laughter, sorrow, and other obvious emotions. Her heightened sense of touch allows her to connect with people and understand their emotional expressions.
Let us think and reflect (Page 32)
I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. I feel the delicate symmetry of a leaf. I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch, or the rough, shaggy bark of a pine. In spring, I touch the branches of trees hopefully in search of a bud, the first sign of awakening Nature after her winter’s sleep. Occasionally, I am very fortunate; I place my hand gently on a small tree and feel the happy quiver of a bird in full song.
(i) What does the ‘delicate symmetry of a leaf’ symbolise?
Answer:
The ‘delicate symmetry of a leaf’ symbolises the beauty, perfection and balance that exist in nature. It can also be a symbol for renewal and growth.
(ii) List two phrases from the extract that describe the texture of objects in nature.
Answer:
1. “smooth skin of a silver birch”
2. “rough, shaggy bark of a pine”
(iii) Complete the sentence appropriately.
The phrase ‘awakening Nature after her winter’s sleep’ refers to __________________.
Answer:
The phrase ‘awakening Nature after her winter’s sleep’ refers to the advent of spring when the bare trees are covered with fresh green leaves and colourful blossoms as if Nature awakens after its long winter slumber.
(iv) What is the tone of the writer in this extract?
A. nostalgic B. proud
C. admiring D. celebratory
Answer:
C. admiring – The author expresses her appreciation for the beauty of the natural world.
2. The next day I should arise with the dawn and see the thrilling miracle by which night is transformed into day. I should behold with awe the magnificent panorama of light with which the sun awakens the sleeping earth. This day I should devote to a hasty glimpse of the world, past and present. I should want to see the pageant of man’s progress, and so I should go to the museums.
(i) The word ‘thrilling’ has been used with ‘miracle’.
Which of the following words does not match with the word ‘thrilling’?
A. experience B. tale C. knowledge D. adventure
Answer:
C. knowledge – The word “thrilling” indicates something full of excitement and conveys strong feeling, while “knowledge” relates more to learning and understanding, which doesn’t usually excite the same emotional intensity.
(ii) Why does the writer refer to the earth as ‘sleeping earth’?
Answer:
The writer uses the phrase ‘sleeping earth’ to describe the dark stillness of the night before the sun rises and awakens the world with light and activity.
(iii) Complete the sentence with an appropriate reason.
The writer wishes to dedicate the day to a brief look at the present and past world because __________________.
Answer:
The writer wishes to dedicate the day to a brief look at the present and past world because she wants to view the achievements and also the history of humanity to understand how far mankind has progressed.
(iv) Why does the writer use ‘should’ multiple times in the extract?
Answer:
The writer uses the word ‘should’ multiple times to talk about an imaginary situation, giving details of actions she might take if she ever had the chance to see for just a few days.
II. Answer the following questions.
1. The sense of touch makes up for the loss of sight and hearing. Explain this statement with reference to the text.
Answer:
Helen Keller was both blind and deaf, so she relied on her sense of touch to explore and appreciate the world around her. Through touch, she sensed the patterns of leaves, the feel of tree barks, and even the gentle movement of a bird. This ability also enabled her to recognize people, detect emotions and experience the beauty of nature, making up for the absence of sight and hearing.
2. Why does the author believe that the sense of sight is the most wonderful?
Answer:
The author believes that the sense of sight is the most wonderful sense, as it enables people to observe the world’s beauty, colours, facial expressions, and motion. Sight allows individuals to instantly absorb and understand their surroundings. She imagines that having the ability to see would make life incredibly beautiful and deeply fulfilling.
3. How might the author’s opinion on making the most of our senses guide us to be kinder towards people with special abilities?
Answer:
The author’s opinion on making the most of our senses urges us not only to value our own faculties, but also to show more empathy toward those who are deprived of these delightful sensory experiences. It encourages us to be patient, caring, and respectful toward people with disabilities, appreciating their unique ways of experiencing the world.
4. What is the significance of imagining the loss of a sense, according to the author?
Answer:
According to the author imagining the loss of a sense can open people’s eyes to how valuable their senses truly are. It would encourage them to be more mindful, appreciative, and inspire them to enjoy and use their senses fully each day.
5. How does the author encourage people to approach their everyday sensory experiences?
Answer:
The author encourages people to fully enjoy their everyday sensory experiences with the intensity they would if they thought that they might no longer possess them the next day. This means observing everything minutely, listening closely to every sound, delighting in the sensation of touch, fully enjoying different scents and relishing each tasty bite. Her goal is to inspire a deeper appreciation of our world through the senses that we often take for granted.
6. What do the author’s choices for the three days tell us about her values and priorities?
Answer:
The author’s choices for three days tell us that she prioritises relationships and affection (Day 1). She also values knowledge and the past (Day 2). The ordinary workaday world and people’s daily routines also appeal to her. (Day 3) These preferences demonstrate her compassion, curiosity, desire to learn, and the strong bond she has with the world around her.
Let us learn (Page 34)
I. Sensory words are descriptive—they describe how we experience the world: how we see, hear, smell, taste or feel something. Complete the following table with sensory words from the text in Column 2 for the five senses in Column 1. Add new words in Column 3.
| Column 1 | Column 2 (From the text) | Column 3 (New Words) |
| What you see | Panorama | |
| What you hear | Music | |
| What you smell | perfume | |
| What you taste | Relish | |
| What you feel | Rough |
Answer:
| Column 1 | Column 2 (From the text) | Column 3 (New Words) |
| What you see | Panorama, pageant, light | Glow, sparkle, dazzle, shadow, glisten |
| What you hear | Music, songs, strains | Hum, creak, clatter, whisper, shriek |
| What you smell | perfume | Aroma, fragrance, scent, stench, stink |
| What you taste | Relish, morsel | Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, fruity, bland |
| What you feel | Rough, smooth, shaggy, quiver | Soft, hard, prickly, silky, moist, wet, |
II. Read the following sentences from the text and underline the verbs.
• I should divide the period into three parts.
• On the first day, I should want to see…
• The next day I should arise with the dawn…
• I should behold with awe…
Answer:
• I should divide the period into three parts.
• On the first day, I should want to see…
• The next day I should arise with the dawn…
• I should behold with awe…
The words you have underlined are a combination of two verbs. In each of these sentences, ‘should’ is the modal verb (suggestion), and the second verb (divide, want, arise, behold) is the main verb.
| Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that express necessity, possibility, permission, or ability. They are used before the main verb to give additional information about the function of the main verb. Common modal verbs include can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must, and ought to. |
III. Identify the modal verbs in the following sentences. Choose the functions they express from those given in the box below.
| possibility | necessity | polite request | ability | Moral obligation |
1. You can learn a lot from this experience.
2. They might arrive late due to traffic.
3. She must finish her homework before dinner.
4. They ought to apologise for their mistake.
5. He would like to have some lassi, please
Answer:
| Sentence | Modal verb | Function |
| 1. You can learn a lot from this experience. | can | ability |
| 2. They might arrive late due to traffic. | might | possibility |
| 3. She must finish her homework before dinner. | must | necessity |
| 4. They ought to apologise for their mistake. | Ought to | Moral obligation |
| 5. He would like to have some lassi, please. | would | polite request |
IV. Read the situations in Column 1 and functions in Column 2. Fill in the blanks in the sentences in Column 4 with appropriate modal verbs from Column 3. After filling in the blanks, explain the function of each modal verb you used to your classmates and the teacher.
| Column 1 | Column 2 (Function) | Column 3 Modal Verb | Column 4 Sentence |
| 1. You want to leave work early. | permission | can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will, would | (i) ______I leave early today if I finish all my tasks? |
| 2. You have an important deadline tomorrow. | obligation | (ii) I ________finish this report by tomorrow. | |
| 3. Your friend is thinking whether to join Art class. | advice | (iii) You ______ consider all the pros and cons before making a decision. | |
| 4. There are dark clouds in the sky. | possibility | (iv) It ________rain later today. | |
| 5. Asking someone to pass the salt | polite request | (v) _________you pass the salt, please? | |
| 6. Advising someone to apologise | moral obligation | (vi) You ________apologise for the mistake you made. | |
| 7. Deciding where to go for a picnic | suggestion | (vii) We ____go to any park nearby for picnic. |
Answer:
| Column 1 | Column 2 (Function) | Column 3 Modal Verb | Column 4 Sentence |
| 1. You want to leave work early. | permission | can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will, would | (i) May I leave early today if I finish all my tasks? |
| 2. You have an important deadline tomorrow. | obligation | (ii) I must finish this report by tomorrow. | |
| 3. Your friend is thinking whether to join Art class. | advice | (iii) You should consider all the pros and cons before making a decision. | |
| 4. There are dark clouds in the sky. | possibility | (iv) It might rain later today. | |
| 5. Asking someone to pass the salt | polite request | (v) Could you pass the salt, please? | |
| 6. Advising someone to apologise | moral obligation | (vi) You ought to apologise for the mistake you made. | |
| 7. Deciding where to go for a picnic | suggestion | (vii) We could go to any park nearby for picnic. |
Explanation of Functions:
(i) May – used for asking polite permission.
(ii) Must – shows a strong obligation or necessity.
(iii) Should – used to give advice or a recommendation.
(iv) Might – indicates a possibility.
(v) Could – a polite way to request something.
(vi) Ought to – expresses a moral responsibility or duty.
(vii) Could – used to make a suggestion.
Let us listen (Page 36)
You will listen to a conversation between a mother and son. As you listen, select four true statements from 1–7 given below.
| Statements | True or False |
| 1. Anuj finds the concept of Braille fascinating and wants to learn more about it. | |
| 2. Mother is unsure of the school’s efforts to include students with visual impairment. | |
| 3. Anuj initially thinks that Digital India is only about learning how to use computers. | |
| 4. Mother believes that screen readers are very effective for persons who are visually impaired. | |
| 5. Anuj already knew that persons who are visually impaired can use computers and smartphones. | |
| 6. Anuj wants to know about the effectiveness of assistive technologies for persons who are visually impaired. | |
| 7. Mother believes a right mindset is the best support for persons who are visually impaired. |
Answer:
| Statements | True or False |
| 1. Anuj finds the concept of Braille fascinating and wants to learn more about it. | True |
| 2. Mother is unsure of the school’s efforts to include students with visual impairment. | False |
| 3. Anuj initially thinks that Digital India is only about learning how to use computers. | True |
| 4. Mother believes that screen readers are very effective for persons who are visually impaired. | True |
| 5. Anuj already knew that persons who are visually impaired can use computers and smartphones. | False |
| 6. Anuj wants to know about the effectiveness of assistive technologies for persons who are visually impaired. | True |
| 7. Mother believes a right mindset is the best support for persons who are visually impaired. | False |
Let us speak (page 36)
Work in pairs. Take turns to speak for a minute on any one of the senses you
value the most. Use the given prompts to frame your response before you
speak.
• I value my sense of sight/ sound/ touch/ smell / taste the most because…
• One of my favourite experiences is…
• This is so because…
• I appreciate being able to see/ hear/touch/ smell/ taste…
• God forbid, if I were to lose the sense of sight/ sound/ touch/ smell /
taste, it would make me feel…
• I would not be able to…
• I thank God that I am able to see/ hear/ touch/ smell / taste.
Remember to
• speak clearly and confidently
• glance at your notes for reference rather than reading
• make eye contact
• use gestures if you wish to
• pronounce words clearly and avoid mumbling
• speak at a steady, moderate pace
Answer:
I value my sense of taste the most because as someone who loves food, the purpose of eating is more than just to stay healthy—it’s about enjoying different delicate flavours from around the world. Every exotic dish feels like a little adventure and an invitation to visit the country from which it originates.
One of my favourite experiences is trying out a dish which I have never tasted before and trying to tell what ingredients were used. It is like a guessing game which I like to play.
This is so because each flavour adds something special—salt makes things tastier; sugar makes us happy; sour makes things exciting; bitterness keeps things interesting,
I appreciate being able to taste things like the tartness of lemons, the strong flavour of mushrooms, the rich taste of dark chocolate, or the soft sweetness of a mango, the burst of sweetness when I bite into a gulab jamun. Every taste reminds me of something or someone.
God forbid, if I were to lose the sense of taste, it would be really sad—like a singer not being able to hear music anymore. I’d miss the fun and joy that food brings.
I would not be able to tell if food is cooked well or not—or really enjoy the flavours that make meals special and interesting.
I thank God that I am able to taste, because to me, taste brings back memories, in fact one of my earliest memories is about licking an ice cream cone. Food introduces us to different cultures, and makes life more fun—one bite at a time.
Let us write (Page 37)
A descriptive paragraph describes a person, place, object or event to create a memorable experience for the reader. Write a descriptive paragraph describing a place that you visited recently.
Follow the guidelines given below to draft this paragraph.
1. In the opening line, begin with something interesting to capture the reader’s attention. Introduce the place you visited.
2. In the supporting lines, describe the place using adjectives and specific details that appealed to your five senses—sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. You may include alliterations, similes, and personifications to hold the reader’s attention.
3. In the concluding lines, summarise the description to provide a final impression. Mention what was the most important thing about that place which others should also experience.
Answer:
Bharatpur Beach on Neil Island in the Andamans is a breathtaking blend of beauty and serenity. The sea is crystal-clear, shifting in shades from pale green near the shore to a rich emerald as it stretches toward the horizon. The beach forms a smooth curve, bordered by a belt of tall, shady trees that offer shelter from the blazing sun. They sway gently in the sea breeze, creating a cool, restful retreat for visitors.
As I looked around, I saw families relaxing on the beach under the canopy of trees soothed by the sea breeze and the peaceful rhythm of the waves. Some children were building a sand castle and shrieked excitedly as it crumbled down.
Though tempted to swim in the inviting waters, I was reminded that swimming had been forbidden due to a crocodile sighting just weeks earlier. Instead, I walked along the water’s edge, where small, sparkling waves washed my feet. The gritty sand pressed gently under my toes, and the cool water sent a shiver of delight down my spine. I bent down, scooped up a handful of water, and tasted its saltiness.
Bharatpur Beach is a peaceful paradise where nature’s beauty can be seen, heard, and felt all around. The sparkling green sea, the cool shade from the trees, and the soft sound of waves have a calming and relaxing effect. For me, it wasn’t just a beach—it felt like time slowed down, and every moment was special. It is a destination that deserves to be seen, savoured, and remembered.
Let us explore (Page 37)
I. Do you know how persons with visual challenges are able to read and write? They read through touch with the help of Braille, a code of raised dots that represents the letters of the alphabet. This tactile code was developed over a period of nine years by Louis Braille, who became blind at a very
young age due to an accident.
Study the code given below and write your name using it. You may use bindis or grains of daal to make the dots that you can touch and feel.
Answer:
Have fun doing it yourself. You can make greeting cards and sign your name in braille.
II. Have you heard about the International Day of Persons with Disabilities? Find out when and how it is observed in India. Write your findings on a sheet and put it up on the class board.
Answer:
Yes, I have heard about the International Day of Persons with Disabilities which is observed on 3rd December every year.
This day was declared by the United Nations in 1992 to promote the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also aims to raise the level of awareness and empathy for disability issues around the world.
In India, this day is marked through:
Awareness activities and accessible initiatives, led by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Events such as seminars, storytelling sessions, and stage performances that highlight the talents and challenges of people with disabilities.
The Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan), launched on December 3rd ,2015 is a nationwide campaign to make buildings, buses, and basic services barrier-free.
Significance of this day:
This day highlights that individuals with disabilities should be recognized not for their challenges, but for their strength and spirit. It urges us to create a kinder, more inclusive world where everyone has equal opportunities.
Let’s strive to shape a future where diversity is embraced and every person is treated with respect and fairness.
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