PSEB CLASS 10 ENGLISH MAIN COURSE BOOK LONG QUESTION ANSWER

L1. THE HAPPY PRINCE

1. Why was the prince called the Happy Prince?
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   Ans: The Happy Prince was a beautiful statue. It stood on a tall column. When the prince was alive, he was always happy. He was never sad. Therefore, everybody called him the Happy Prince.

2. “I cannot choose but weep.” Why did the Happy Prince say so?
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   Ans: The Happy Prince was a beautiful statue. It stood on a tall column. When the prince was alive, he was always happy. But now he could see the problems of the people. But he could not help them. Therefore, he could not choose but weep.

3. Comment on the remark- ‘The living always think that gold can make them happy.’
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   Ans: Gold here means money. Money makes the mare go. The living thinks that money is the most powerful thing in the world. Therefore, the living always thinks that gold can make them happy.

4. Why did the Mayor dislike the statue so much?
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   Ans: The Happy Prince was a beautiful statue. It was decorated with gold. It stood on a tall column. He could see all the problems of the people. He gave away all his gold to help the people. He was no longer beautiful now. That’s why, the Mayor disliked the statue so much.

5. Write a short note on the sufferings of the poor people in the city?
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   Ans: The Happy Prince was a beautiful statue. It stood on a tall column. He could see the problems of the people in the city. The people in the city were very poor. The seamstress was poor. Her son was ill. Cold and hunger troubled the playwright. The little match girl was also very poor.

6. What is the message conveyed by the author?
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   Ans: The message conveyed by the author is that the service of people is the service of God. The living thinks that gold can make them happy. The Happy Prince also believed so when he was alive. But later, he realized that the real happiness lies in the service of people.

L2. WHERE IS SCIENCE TAKING US?

1. List the material triumphs of Science and the non-material necessities to make the world a better place.
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   Ans: The greatest triumph of Science is to provide food, clothing and shelter to all the people. Science has made machines. But Science is doing nothing for non-material things. The morals and ethics are declining in the modern world. A small advance in charity, justice and mercy is needed today.

2. What should be the ultimate aim of Science?
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   Ans: Science has provided food, clothing and shelter to all the people. Science has made machines. But Science is doing nothing for non-material things. The morals and ethics are declining in the modern world. A small advance in non-material things should be the ultimate aim of Science.

L3. SECRET OF HAPPINESS

1. Describe, in your own words, how the professor changed the total attitude of the student.
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   Ans: The student was good at sports. But he was not good at studies. One day the professor explained how an average man fails in his life. The student was enthralled to learn about the failure of the average man. Thus, the professor changed the total attitude of the student.

2. Write a small paragraph on ‘The Proper use of Human Energy.’
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   Ans: The author says an average man fails because he fails to control his powers. There is a great store of unused power in the personality of every man. Weak personality can become strong with the use of inward power.

3. Relate the incident of North Woods in your own words.
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   Ans: One day, the author was alone at home. He heard some noises outside his house. He thought there were some gangsters out there. But when he opened the door, there was a small rat.

4. Write, in brief, the message given by Mr. Kagawa.
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   Ans: People experience many fears like fear of ill health, losing money and future. Mr. Kagawa was a Japanese scholar. He says that one can have a real escape from fear by having deep faith in God.

L4. A GIFT FOR CHRISTMAS

1. Expenses has been greater than she had calculated. Why?
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   Ans: Della wanted to buy a Christmas present for her husband. She had been saving for several months. But she could save only one dollar and eighty seven cents. She could not save more because expenses had been greater than she has calculated.

2. Describe the incident of Della’s selling her hair in your own words.
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   Ans: Della wanted to buy a Christmas present for her husband. But she did not have enough money for that. She had been saving for several months. But she could save only one dollar and eighty seven cents. So she sold her hair to buy a Christmas present for her husband.

3. Why was Della pleased with her selection of the present for Jim?
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   Ans: Della wanted to buy a Christmas present for her husband. She had planned for something nice and fine for Jim. She searched the whole town. She found a platinum chain for Jim’s gold watch. It was simple but well made.

4. Why does the storywriter call Jim ‘a poor fellow’?
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   Ans: Jim was only twenty years old. His income was very small. He earned only twenty dollars a week. The rent of the house was eight dollars a week. The house was in poor condition. So, the story writer calls Jim ‘a poor fellow’.

5. What do you think about the expression in Jim’s eyes? Was it shock, surprise or anger? Why?
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   Ans: Della sold her hair to buy a Christmas gift for her husband. When Jim came home, he simply looked at her with a strange expression on his face. It was not shock, surprise or anger.

6. Both of them gave each other the gift of rare love. How? Explain.
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   Ans: Jim’s gold watch and Della’s long hair were the two most precious things in their house. Della sold her hair to buy a Christmas gift for Jim. Jim sold his watch to buy a Christmas gift for Della. Thus, both of them gave each the gifts of true love.

L5. SOME GLIMPSES OF ANCIENT THOUGHTS AND PRACTICES

1. Why, according to the author, should those people be ashamed of themselves who believe in female foeticide?
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   Ans. According to the author, those people should be ashamed of themselves who believe in female foeticide. The status of women was very good in ancient India. She was worshipped as a goddess. Shiva ji bowed his head to restore the respect of a woman. The wars of Ramayana and Mahabharata were fought to protect the respect of women.

2. How does the author support the idea of the victory of the good over the evil?
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   Ans: Once gods were losing in a fight against demons. That caused desperation to the gods. They went to Lord Vishnu in desperation. He advised them to make a powerful sword. They went to saint Dadhichi. Saint Dadhichi sacrificed his life to defeat demons. Thus, the author supports the idea of the victory of the good over evil.

3. What is the basic difference between the position of women in society in the ancient times and now?
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   Ans: The status of women was very good in ancient India. She was worshipped as a goddess. The wars of Ramayana and Mahabharata were fought to protect the respect of women. Now, the status of women is not good. The woman is not worshipped as a goddess. She is fighting to protect her respect in the society.

4. What does the practice of ‘langar’ stand for? Explain.
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   Ans: The practice of ‘langar’ stands for equality. It gives the message that we should eat only after we have shared our meal with others. This idea of sharing is not for food only. All the resources and funds should be shared equally.

5. Give an example to prove that in ancient India, there was no discrimination on the basis of caste.
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   Ans: There was never any discrimination on the basis of caste, creed and profession in ancient India. Lord Rama ate tasted berries from a Bheel woman. This shows there was never any discrimination on the basis of caste.

L6. THE HOME COMING

1. How does Phatik feel when he is at Calcutta?
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   Ans: He does not feel happy from the first day in Calcutta. His aunt is not happy. She does not welcome him. When he loses his book, she is very angry. She scolds him. In school also, he does not feel happy. He is the most backward boy in the school.

2. Why does Bishamber want to take Phatik to Calcutta?
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   Ans: Phatik is the ring leader among the boys of the village. His mother is always angry with him. Bishamber wants to help her sister. She also wants to send him away to her brother’s house. She thinks he will put Makhan in some danger one day.

3. Who is responsible for Phatik’s death?
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   Ans: Phatik’s mother, his uncle and aunt are responsible for his death. His mother was always angry with him. That made him leave his home. Bishamber did not realize that a child of fourteen could not live without his mother. And at last, his aunt’s behaviour broke his heart.

4. Write a character-sketch of :
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   a. Bishamber: Bishamber is the brother of Phatik’s mother. He lives in Calcutta with his family. He loves his sister. He wants to help his sister by taking Phatik to Calcutta. But he cannot take care of Phatik in Calcutta.
   
   b. Makhan: Makhan is Phatik’s younger brother. He is his mother’s favourite. The mother always take his side. According to the mother, he is as good as gold. Makhan is a clever boy. He lies to his mother. He saves himself and puts Phatik in trouble.
   
   c. Phatik’s aunt: Phatik’s aunt lives in Calcutta. She has two sons. She does not like Phatik. She does not welcome him. She is rude with Phatik. When Phatik loses his book, she is very angry and scolds him. Her behaviour broke his heart.
   
   d. Phatik’s mother: She is a widow. She takes care of his two sons at her own. She is happy with Makhan. But she is unhappy with Phatik because she thinks he will put Makhan in danger one day.

5. Give a pen-portrait of Phatik.
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   Ans: He is the ring leader among the boys of the village. He does not like Makhan much because he always put him in trouble. He is very happy to go to Calcutta with his uncle. But he does not feel happy from the first day in Calcutta. He dies in the end.

6. Describe the quarrel between Phatik and Makhan.
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   Ans: One day, Phatik planned to roll away a log from its place. Makhan refused to obey Phatik. He sat on the log. Phatik ordered the boys to move Makhan and the log over together. The boys did that and Makhan fell off the log. He beat and kicked Phatik. Then he went home crying.

L7. THE MAKING OF THE EARTH

1. Write a short note of about 100 words on the making of the earth.
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   Ans: Earth was a part of sun. A bit of sun shot out and became earth. It was very small. So, it started to cool. After the Earth cooled down, the rain filled all the great hollows on the earth. Thus, ocean and seas were formed. The sun and the planets make a system which is called solar system. The heavenly bodies that move around the sun are called planets. The sun is a star. Eight planets move around this big star.

L8. THE RULE OF THE ROAD

1. What is the theme of the essay ‘The Rule of the Road’?
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   Ans: This is a very good essay. It gives a very good message. The writer says that we cannot do whatever we feel like doing. Thinking about the rights of others is the basis of social contract.

2. Describe, in your own words, how the writer was disturbed during his train journey.
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   Ans: Once the writer was travelling in a train. He was reading a Blue-book. He needed silence to read the book. But a man who talked much disturbed the writer. He was talking randomly on many subjects.

3. ‘Liberty is not a personal affair only, but a social contract.’ Explain in 50-60 words.
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   Ans: The writer says that liberty is not a personal affair only, but a social contract. The writer says that we cannot do whatever we feel like doing. Thinking about the rights of others is the basis of social contract.