PSEB CLASS 10 ENGLISH MAIN COURSE BOOK SHORT QUESTION ANSWER

Here is the complete HTML code containing all the short questions and answers from Chapters 1 to 8 of the Main Course Book. It uses the HTML `

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L1. THE HAPPY PRINCE

1. Where did the statue of the Happy Prince stand?
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   Ans: It stood on a tall column/ pillar.

2. How was the statue decorated?
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   Ans: It was decorated with gold and a red ruby.

3. Where was the Swallow going?
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   Ans: The swallow was going to Egypt.

4. Why did the swallow put up between the feet of the Happy Prince?
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   Ans: Because it was a good position with fresh air.

5. Where were the drops coming from?
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   Ans: The drops were coming from the eyes of the Happy Prince.

6. Why was the Happy Prince crying?
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   Ans: Because he could see the problems of the people.

7. Describe the seamstress in the words of the prince.
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   Ans: She was poor. Her face was thin.

8. Why was the seamstress’ little boy crying?
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   Ans: Because he had fever. He was hungry also.

9. How did both the Happy Prince and the Swallow help the seamstress?
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   Ans: They helped her by giving her the ruby.

10. Why did the Swallow feel warm?
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    Ans: Because he had done a good action.

11. What troubled the young man in the garret?
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    Ans: Cold and hunger troubled him.

12. How was the young man helped?
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    Ans: He was helped with a sapphire.

13. Why was the match girl crying?
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    Ans: Because her matches were spoiled.

14. The Swallow said to the prince, “I will stay with you always.” Why?
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    Ans: Because Happy Prince was blind now.

15. How did the poor Swallow manage to live in so much cold?
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    Ans: The poor Swallow managed to live by flapping his wings.

16. Why was the statue of the Happy Prince pulled down?
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    Ans: Because it was not beautiful now.

17. What were the two most precious things in the city?
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    Ans: The lead heart of the Happy Prince and the dead swallow were the two most precious things in the city.

L2. WHERE IS SCIENCE TAKING US?

1. Why does the author of ‘Where is Science Taking Us’ say that Science is doing less than nothing?
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   Ans: Because it is doing nothing for non-material things.

2. What are machines doing for the humans?
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   Ans: Machines are saving man’s time and energy.

3. What is the greatest triumph of Science?
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   Ans: The greatest triumph of the Science is to provide food, clothing and shelter to all the people.

4. What are the consequences for war?
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   Ans: War causes death and destruction.

5. “Today the upper age group is overcrowded.” Why?
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   Ans: Because average life of human has increased.

6. What has happened to the ethics and morals in the modern world?
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   Ans: The morals and ethics are declining in the modern world.

7. What is really needed in the world today?
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   Ans: A small advance in charity, justice and mercy is needed today.

8. Why does the author of ‘Where is Science Taking Us’ wish to live another hundred years?
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   Ans: Because life is becoming more and more interesting.

L3. SECRET OF HAPPINESS

1. Which is the greatest day in any individual’s life?
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   Ans: When he begins to realize himself.

2. What enthralled the student in the Psychology class?
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   Ans: The student was enthralled to learn about the failure of average man.

3. Did the boy change as a result of the realization?
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   Ans: Yes, he changed.

4. What is there in the personality of every man?
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   Ans: There is a great store of unused power in the personality of every man.

5. How can weak personalities become strong?
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   Ans: Weak personalities can become strong with the use of inward power.

6. What would Chesterton preach if he had just one sermon to deliver?
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   Ans: He would preach against fear.

7. What are the different types of fear experienced by the people?
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   Ans: People experience fear of ill health, losing money and future.

8. What did the author of ‘Secret of Happiness’ find when he flung open the door?
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   Ans: He found a small Chipmunk/ rat.

9. How can one have a real escape from fear?
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   Ans: One can have a real escape from fear by having deep faith in God.

10. What was the priceless secret discovered by Mr Kagawa?
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    Ans: One can have a real escape from fear by having deep faith in God.

L4. A GIFT FOR CHRISTMAS

1. Why was Della crying?
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   Ans: Because she did not have enough money to buy present for her husband.

2. Describe the poverty of Della’s house.
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   Ans: The house was small. The sofa was small. Their clothes were old.

3. What type of present had Della planned for Jim?
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   Ans: She has planned for something nice and fine for Jim.

4. What were the two prized possessions of Jim?
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   Ans: Jim’s gold watch and Della’s long hair.

5. Describe the present Della bought for Jim.
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   Ans: She bought a platinum watch chain for Jim.

6. How did Della manage to buy the gift?
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   Ans: She sold her hair.

7. What did Della think when she looked at herself in the mirror?
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   Ans: She felt nervous.

8. What was Jim’s reaction on seeing Della’s hair gone?
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   Ans: He simply looked at her with a strange expression on his face.

9. What explanation did Della give to Jim for getting her hair cut?
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   Ans: She said she did not have enough money to buy present for him.

10. What was in the package that Jim had brought for Della?
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    Ans: A set of combs.

11. How had Jim managed to bring the present for Della?
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    Ans: He sold his gold watch.

L5. SOME GLIMPSES OF ANCIENT THOUGHTS AND PRACTICES

1. What caused desperation to the gods?
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   Ans: Gods were losing in a fight against demons. That caused desperation to the gods.

2. Who did the gods go to in desperation?
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   Ans: They went to Lord Vishnu in desperation.

3. What did the Lord advise them?
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   Ans: He advised them to make a powerful sword.

4. What was the sacrifice of Saint Dadhichi?
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   Ans: He sacrificed his life to defeat demons.

5. What is the real spirit behind the yajnas performed in our homes?
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   Ans: The real spirit behind yajnas is ‘This does not belong to me’.

6. What does the tradition of feeding birds and animals prove?
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   Ans: It proves Indians believe in the unity of life in all forms.

7. Why did some scholars laugh at Ashtavakara?
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   Ans: They laughed at his misshapen body.

8. How did Ashtavakara react?
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   Ans: He was very angry.

9. What did Vivekananda say to the lady who laughed at his simple dress?
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   Ans: He said character of a man makes him great not his clothes.

10. What was the status of women in the ancient India?
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    Ans: The status of women was very good in ancient India. She was worshipped as a goddess.

11. Why did Shivaji bow his head before the woman who was brought to him as a gift?
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    Ans: He bowed his head to restore the respect of the woman.

12. Why, according to you, were the wars fought in the Mahabharata and Ramayana sacred?
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    Ans: They were fought to protect the respect of women.

13. What does Lord Rama’s meeting with a Bheel woman and eating the tasted berries show?
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    Ans: This shows there was never any discrimination on the basis of caste, creed and profession.

L6. THE HOME COMING

1. Who was Phatik?
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   Ans: He was the ring leader among the boys of the village.

2. What was the new mischief Phatik thought of?
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   Ans: He planned to roll away the log from its place.

3. Why were Phatik and his friends annoyed with Makhan?
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   Ans: Because he refused to obey Phatik.

4. What was Phatik’s ‘new manoeuvre’?
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   Ans: His new plan was to move Makhan and the log over together.

5. Why did Phatik beat Makhan even in the presence of his mother?
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   Ans: Because he lied to the mother.

6. Was Makhan speaking the truth?
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   Ans: No, he was not speaking the truth.

7. Why did Phatik’s mother want to send him away to her brother’s house?
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   Ans: Because she thought he would put Makhan in danger one day.

8. How was Phatik received by his aunt?
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   Ans: His aunt was not happy. She did not welcome him.

9. Why couldn’t Phatik do well at school in Calcutta?
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   Ans: Because he was the most backward boy in the school.

10. How did Phatik’s aunt behave on learning about the loss of his book?
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    Ans: She was very angry. She scolded him.

11. What was the immediate reason for Phatik’s departure from his uncle’s house?
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    Ans: He had malaria. He did not want to upset his aunt.

12. Why did Bishamber send for his sister?
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    Ans: Because Phatik was very sick. He was looking for his mother.

13. What were Phatik’s last words?
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    Ans: His last words were, “Mother, the holidays have come.”

L7. THE MAKING OF THE EARTH

1. What are planets?
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   Ans: The heavenly bodies that move around the sun are called planets.

2. Define solar system.
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   Ans: The sun and the planets make a system which is called solar system.

3. How can you distinguish between planets and stars?
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   Ans: Stars twinkle but planets do not twinkle.

4. Why do the stars twinkle?
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   Ans: Because their rays pass through many layers of atmosphere.

5. How was earth formed?
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   Ans: A bit of sun shot out and became earth. It was very small. So, it started to cool.

6. How were oceans and seas formed?
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   Ans: After the Earth cooled down, the rain filled all the great hollows on the earth. Thus, ocean and seas were formed.

L8. THE RULE OF THE ROAD

1. Why was the stout old lady walking down the middle of a road?
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   Ans: Because she thought she was free to walk anywhere.

2. How was the stout old lady mistaken about liberty?
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   Ans: She thought she was free to walk anywhere.

3. What does the policeman at Piccadilly Circus symbolize?
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   Ans: He symbolizes freedom.

4. Can we do whatever we feel like doing?
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   Ans: No, we cannot do whatever we feel like doing.

5. What was the writer reading during the journey?
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   Ans: He was reading a ‘Blue-book’ during the journey.

6. Why did the writer of ‘The Rule of the Road’ need a reasonable silence in the compartment?
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   Ans: Because he was reading a ‘Blue Book’.

7. Who disturbed the writer of ‘The Rule of the Road’?
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   Ans: The person who talked much disturbed the writer.

8. What was the intruding passenger talking of?
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   Ans: He was talking randomly on many subjects.

9. What is the basis of social contract?
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   Ans: Thinking about the rights of others is the basis of social contract.

10. ‘We should be a judicious mixture of both.’ What does the writer of ‘The Rule of the Road’ mean by his statement?
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    Ans: The writer means that we must be a judicious mixture of anarchism and socialism.

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