KSEEB Karnataka SSLC Solution Class 10 English First Language – The Gift of the Magi
Board |
KSEEB (Karnataka Board) |
Exam |
SSLC (Class 10) |
Subject |
English |
Language |
1st Language |
Part |
1 |
Chapter |
3 |
Chapter Name |
The Gift of the Magi |
Topic and Notes |
Solution of Question Answer/ Study Material |
The Gift of the Magi Class 10 English SSLC Study Material / Notes / Question Answer
LESSON 3
THE GIFT OF THE MAGI
II.) COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS :
A.) Answer briefly the following questions.
1.) How did Della save her one dollar and eighty-seven cents?
Answer: Della saved her one dollar and eighty-seven cents by bargaining with the grocer, the vegetable man and the butcher.
2.) The writer gives details of Jim’s flat. Pick out the details.
Answer: Jim’s flat was a furnished one at $8 per week. In the vestibule below was a letter-box into which no letter would go, and an electric button from which no mortal finger could coax a ring. Also there was a card bearing the name “Mr. James Dillingham Young” bearing on it.”
3.) The card bearing the full name of Jim now had only one letter ‘D’ on it. State whether the statement is true or false.
Ans – True
4.) What were the most precious possessions of Jim and Della?
Answer: Jim’s precious possession was his gold watch that had been his father’s and his grandfather’s. Della’s precious possession was her long hair. Her beautiful hair fell about her rippling and shining like a cascade of brown waters.
5.) How has the writer compared Della’s hair to Queen of Sheba’s jewels?
Answer: The writer compares Della’s hair by saying that had the queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out of the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty’s jewels and gifts.
6.) How has the writer compared Jim’s watch to King Solomon’s treasures?
Answer: Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him pluck at his beard from envy. In this way, the writer compares Jim’s watch too King Solomon’s treasures
7.) Why did Della decide to sell her hair?
Answer: Della wanted to buy a gift for Jim and she didn’t have enough money so she decided to sell her hair and get some money from it.
8.) How much money did she get for her hair?
Answer: She got twenty dollars for her hair.
9.) What did Della buy for Jim?
Answer: Della bought a simple platinum fob chain for Jim.
10.) How was the gift worthy of the watch?
Answer: The gift was as all good things should do. It had simple and chaste in design, properly proclaiming its value by substance alone and not by meretricious ornamentation.
11.) The writer says that the platinum chain was like Jim. How?
Answer: The platinum chain had its quietness value which were similar to Jim’s characterso the chain was like him.
12.) What did Della try to fix before Jim got home?
Answer: Della tried to fix her hair by curling her hair before Jim got home.
13.) What was Jim’s reaction when he saw Della without her lovely hair?
Answer: When Jim saw Della, he was shocked.He simply stared at her fixedly with that peculiar expression on his face.
14.) What was Jim’s gift for Della? Give a brief description of the gift.
Answer: Jim’s gift for Della was the set of combs, side and back, that Della had worshipped for long in a Broadway window. They were beautiful combs, pure tortoise shell, with jewelled rims – just the shade to wear in the beautiful vanished hair.
15.) Were the gifts useful to each other?
Answer: No, the gifts weren’t useful to each other.
16.) How did Della react when she saw Jim’s gift for her?
Answer: When Della saw Jim’s gift, there was an ecstatic scream of joy. But then there was a quick feminine change to hysterical tears and wails. She had craved and yearned over them. She hugged them to her bosom, and looked up with dim eyes and smiled. She told Jim that her hair would grow fast.
17.) Jim and Della both gave up something dear to them. What does it tell us about them?
Answer: Both Jim and Della had their precious possessions which were their pride. But they sacrificed their possessions to buy gifts for each other. This shows that how much they loved each other. Their sacrifice for each other tell gave them satisfaction.
18.) O. Henry’s stories often blend humour and pathos. The description of the card bearing Jim’s name is an example of this. Can you identify one more example from the story?
Answer: Jim put his hands under the back of his head and smiled when he looked at Della’s gif.
19.) Who were the Magi?
Answer: The Magi were the wise men who brought gifts to the new born Jesus. According to the Bible, the Magi were three kings (Caspar, Melchoior and Balthazar) who travelled to Bethlehem from somewhere in the East (probably Persia).
20.) What is the writer’s last word to the wise men of these days?
Answer: The writer’s last words are that these two (Jim and Della) were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the Magi.
B.) Close Study
Read the following extracts carefully. Discuss in pairs and then write the answers to the questions given below them.
1.) She got out her curling irons and lighted the gas and went to work repairing the ravages made by generosity added to love.
a) What does “generosity” refer to?
Answer: Della’s sacrifice of her beautiful hair to buy gift for Jim refers to “generosity.”
b) What repairing work was carried out?
Answer: She curled her hair to make it look beautiful.
c) Why was the girl repairing the ravages?
Answer: Della knew that Jim would be shocked to see her without her beautiful hair so she tried to repair the ravages so that Jim would not be disappointed.
2.) A mathematician or a wit would give you the wrong answer.
a) What is the question alluded to here?
Answer: Eight dollars a week or a million a year – what is the difference? This was the question that is referred here.
b) What is the “right” answer?
Answer: The right answer was that it didn’t really matter as long as people living in the house loved each other.
c) What is the implied meaning of the statement?
Answer: True love is beyond materialistic things. It is about sacrifice and unconditional love for each other. Economical situation really doesn’t matter when there is true love. Just like Della and Jim who sacrificed their prized possessions to make each other happy.
III.) PARAGRAPH WRITING :
Discuss in groups of four each the answers to the following questions. Individually, note down the important points for each question and then develop the points into one-paragraph answers.
1.) Why are the gifts of Della and Jim compared to those of the Magi?
Answer: Della and Jim’s gifts were the wisest because they sacrificed their most valued possession. Magi were the three wise men who brought gift to the newborn Jesus. They traveled far just to give gift to Jesus. This shows their deep love for Jesus. In the same way, Della and Jim took efforts for each other and sacrificed their most valuable possession just to make each other happy. Their actions made them the wisest.
2.) Write on the appropriateness of the title.
Answer: Magi were the three wise men who gave gift to the newborn Jesus. Della and Jim were today’s magi who sold their prized possession. Jim sold his watch just to gift his beloved whereas Della chopped her beautiful hair and sold to buy gift for Jim. Their deep love for each other is above everything else. Though they are not economically strong, they sold their most loved things just to make each other happy. They were the wisest people to give such gifts to each other.
3.) Imagine that you are Della and write on the conflict you went through before you sacrificed your hair.
Answer: I feel bad to sacrifice my most loved thing- my beautiful hair. But I want to make Jim happy and I would do anything just to see him smile. I want to gift him something that would make him happy even if it mean to sacrifice the thing that I love the most. I feel sad for chopping my hair. I thought about my other options to arrange money, but all in vain. Chopping my hair is the only way I could do to get some money and buy the gift. Jim might be surprised or even shocked at my decision or the way I look but I know he loves me the most, so he would be fine with it.
IV.) VOCABULARY EXERCISES :
A.) Fill in the blanks with the phrases given in the box below.
1.) Della’s despair gave way to ecstatic joy.
2.) The take off was delayed on account of the bad weather.
3.) We are on the lookout for new opportunities.
4.) Her conduct is so strange that itbeggar description.
5.) I have some urgent work to attend to.
6.) At last we reached home.
7.) The burglar had turned the house inside out.
8.) Della and Jim were made for each other.
9.) The two of them must have been meeting on the sly.
10.) We looking for an improvement in our son’s performance this year.
B.) Fill in the blanks with the antonyms of the words underlined.
1.) The iron rails expand in summer and contract in winter.
2.) Writing a novel is a laborious process; it is not simple.
3.) We should remain calm in adversity as we do in times of prosperity.
4.) He is very proud of his team’s achievements, but is very humble/modest about his own glorious achievements.
5.) The former option would be much more sensible than the latter one.
6.) In Bengaluru, the value of properties has appreciated, but the quality of life has depreciated.
7.) Investing in shares requires prudence; investing all your money in shares is foolishness.
B.) Reporting:
Read the following dialogue between Della and Jim carefully and rewrite it in the reported speech.
“Jim darling,” cried Della, “don’t look at me that way. I had my hair cut off and sold it. It’ll grow out again. You won’t mind, will you? I just had to do it.”
“You have cut off your hair?” asked Jim laboriously.
“Cut it off and sold it,” said Della. “Don’t you like me as well anyhow? I’m me without my hair, ain’t I?”
“You say your hair is gone?” he said with almost an air of idiocy.
“You needn’t look for it,” said Della. “It’s sold, I tell you – sold and gone, too. It’s Christmas Eve, boy. Be good to me, for it went for you. Shall I put the chops on, Jim?”
Answer: When Jim looked at Della, she affectionately asked him not to look at her that way. She told him that she had had her hair cut off and sold it. She assured him that it would grow out again. She asked him not to mind her cutting her hair because she had to do it.
Jim once again asked Della if she had cut off her hair. Della repeated that she had cut her hair off and sold it. He asked him if he didn’t like her in spite of it. She asserted that she was the same Della without her hair. Jim once again asked her with an air of idiocy whether her hair was gone. Della emphasized and said that her hair was really sold and gone. She asked him not to look for it. She requested him to be good with her as it was Christmas Eve. She told him that her hair was gone for his sake. Then she asked him whether she should put the chops on.
D.) In the following set of sentences, the sequencing of events is jumbled. Rearrange them and complete the given flowchart.
Correct Sequence
3.) My mother is open-minded; she doesn’t stick to one idea.
1.) She listens to other people and changes her mind if it is necessary.
2.) My father, on the other hand, is very stubborn.
6.) If he has an opinion, he refuses to change it.
4.) I think they have only one personality trait in common.
5.) They are both very giving to my sister and me.
E.) Read the first paragraph of the story carefully. It has seven sentences. The first three sentences are very short (the first sentence has five words, the second, three, the third eight words). They are followed by quite a long sentence (34 words) and the next three sentences are again very short.
Such a mixture is a matter of style. It adds variety to the narration.
i) Can you pick up one more such example from the story?
Answer: Jim’s. It was like him. Quietness and value – the description applied to both. Twenty-one dollars they took from her for it, and she hurried home with the 87 cents
ii) Can you try writing a paragraph on one of the following using a similar style :
c) Sacrifice-
Sacrifice- a word that might be easy to say but difficult to do. To sacrifice is to do thing that is beyond one’s imagination. Not everyone sacrifices and one who does is a great human. To sacrifice is to love someone above everything else.
F.) Letter writing
Imagine that you are a Social Service volunteer and have been camping in a village for ten days. Write a letter about your experience to the Editor of a daily.
Nisha Sharma
Seven Roads
Bengaluru
To
The Editor
Daily Express
Bengaluru
Dear sir,
I’m writing this to share my experience that I had recently. I want your readers to read this and experience the change.
I served as a Social Service Volunteer in a small village for ten days. It was an experience to remember. I came across many humble people who helped me in my task. But what made this camping worth remembering is that all the children were going to school regularly especially girls. This is something that I cannot forget my entire life. Though in the village it didn’t have posh and big schools as we have in the city, all the children went to school with much enthusiasm. I was pleased to see the different face of a village it was something beyond I had thought.
This experience made me realize that there is a massive change in the villages too. Education is a key priority in rural areas too. I was a great opportunity to be a volunteer and witness a big change.
Thank you
Yours faithfully
Nisha Sharma
Discuss and write down:
a.) The moral of the story
Answer: Together we can solve many problems. Co-operation is the key.
b.) A title or a caption for the story.
Answer: Better together
IX.) GRAMMAR REVISITED :-
A.) Subject-verb agreement (Refer to Appendix II before doing this exercise)Fill in the blanks with the suitable forms of the verbs given in brackets :
1.) The number of visitors was (was/were) really large in the last week’s School Day celebrations.
2.) The rapidity of these movements is (is/are) beyond expectation.
3.) Time and tide waits (wait/waits) for none.
4.) Honour or reputation /is (are/is) dearer than life.
5.) The ship with all the passengers was (were/was) sunk by the enemy.
6.) Intelligence as well as industry is (are/is) essential for success in today’s competitive world.
7.) Neither the hens nor the cock is (is/are) in the yard.
8.) Either James or I am (is/am) going to get the prize.
9.) Twenty thousand rupees is (is/are) the price of a good mobile.
10.) The staff is(is/are) in a meeting.
11.) Mathematics is (is/are) my favourite subject.
12.) More than one person says (say/says) so.
13.) Many a flower withers (wither/withers) unseen.
14.) The most readable part are (are/is) the last three chapters.
15.) Ship after ship are (are/is) leaving for America.
16.) The secretary and treasurer has (have/has) called me to the office.
17.) He is one of those who trusts (trusts/trust) everyone.
18.) Each of the boyssings (sing/sings) well.
19.) Every one of the chocolates was (was/were) stale.
20.) All of the pies are (is/are) spoilt.
21.) Some of the pie is (is/are) missing.
22.) None of the garbage was (was/were) picked up.
23.) Either of us is (is/are) capable of solving the problem.
24.) None but fools have (has/have) ever believed it.
25.) One of the students is (is/are) absent.
26.) Not only the soldiers but also the officer was (were/was) drunk.
27.) The politician along with the newsman, is (is/are) expected shortly.
28.) The pair of scissors belongs (belong/belongs) to my uncle.
29.) A lot of work has (has/have) to be done.
30.) I wish I knew (knew/know) her address.
Make sentences using the following phrase openings. All of them require inversion.
1.) Not only does she teaches to drawing but also maths very well.
2.) Not even once has it mattered to me.
3.) On no account would he borrow some money.
4.) Only by running at full speed will he reach at time.
5.) On no occasion have I made mistake deliberately.
6.) So badly was my leg hurt that I cancelled my trip.
7.) Seldom does he take of his parents.
8.) In no circumstances should you be lying to your parents.
9.) Nowhere could I find my lost sunglasses.
10.) To such a pitch called my friend to me that I could heard from my room too.
11.) Only on that account did I make promise you for lending you money.
12.) Only by paying double the money would you get your Adhar card renewal done.
C.) Add suitable question tags to the following statements.
1.) You like me just as well, don’t you?
2.) Let’s be happy on this Christmas Eve, shall we?
3.) You like this gift, don’t you?
4.) None can ever count my love for you, can they?
5.) It’s dandy, isn’t it?
6.) Give it to me quick, will you?
7.) Come in, won’t you?
8.) Their gifts were no doubt wise ones, weren’t they?
9.) They loved each other very much, didn’t they ?
10.) I look like a Coney Island chorus-girl, don’t I?
How fast can you recall at least ten palindromic words?
Answer: Bob, peep, deed, wow.,etc.
B.) The following boxes conceal meaningful phrases. Use your imagination and decipher them.
The answer for the first box is : Half an hour.
Between just you and me
Talking in sleep
One in a million
Spilt banana
Deep into the sea
Upstairs
What goes up must come down
Spilt decision
Face to face
Good afternoon
Hand in hand
Reading between the lines
Pain in the neck
Just in time
Mind over matter