PROSE PARAGRAPH - 5 MARKS
QUESTION NUMBER - 41
PROSE PARAGRAPH - 1
Topic : The Portrait of a Lady
Author : Khuswant Singh
Genre : Autobiography
Theme : Bond between Grandma and her Grandson.
The author spent his childhood days in the village. His grandmother was very kind. She used to wake up the author and go
with him to school. Later they went to the city and joined with their parents. Slowly the friendship between them snapped.
When the author went abroad, she showed no emotions. She devoted her time in praying, spinning and feeding the
sparrows. She sang songs to celebrate the author’s homecoming. The next day she was taken ill and died. Even the
sparrows grieved over her death.
PROSE PARAGRAPH - 2
Topic : The Queen of Boxing
Author : M.C. Mary Kom
Genre : Autobiography
Theme : Perseverance and Determination
Mary Kom is an Indian woman boxer. She got a silver medal in 2001. She was not happy over silver. However, it relieved
her from financial problems. After she had won the gold, she got a government job. She won the world championships in
2004, 2005 and 2006. She succeeded due to her hard work. She was called “The Queen of Boxing” and ‘Magnificent Mary.
PROSE PARAGRAPH – 3
Topic : Forgetting
Author : Robert Lynd
Genre : Article
Theme : Forgetfulness is a natural thing
In his essay ‘Forgetting’ Lynd wonders at the efficiency of human memory. A person remembers telephone numbers,
addresses, appointments etc. But people forget because they wish to forget them. Forgetting to take medicines and post
letters are common. The author forgets books, walking-sticks and umbrellas most often. Sportsmen and anglers have
worse memories. Great writers and musicians have excellent memories.
PROSE PARAGRAPH - 4
Topic : Tight Corners
Author : E.V. Lucas
Genre : Narration
Theme : Overcoming Mental Tight Corner
The narrator narrated of his mental tight corner and rescuing from it by a sudden stroke of luck. The author was persuaded
by his friend to go to Christie’s, the auction house. They were selling Barbizon pictures on auction. The author started
bidding for fun. He had no trouble initially but was caught in tight corner soon. He added 50 more to 4000 guineas for a
picture. The picture was declared sold to him. No one was there to help him. Luckily another bidder offered him 100 more
guineas. Thus he was saved from humiliation.
QUESTION NUMBER - 42
POEM PARAGRAPH - 1
Name of the Poem : Once Upon a Time
Name of the Poet : Gabriel Okara
Literature : Narration
Theme : Fake Vs Reality
The poet wants to learn from his son. The poem speaks about the negative changes of human attitude. Once the people
laughed whole heartedly. Now they shake hands without hearts. They invite their friends without any sincerity. The poet
laments that he too has changed with time. His teeth resemble the fangs of a snake. He wants to unlearn everything. So, he
asks his son to show him how to laugh like a child.
POEM PARAGRAPH - 2
Name of the poem : Confessions of a Born Spectator
Name of the poet : Ogden Nash
Literature : American Literature
Theme : Be safe & Play safe
The poem tells about the spirit of the spectator. The poet enjoys watching the game safely from his seat. He never wants to
participate. The players play a rough game and hurt each other. He likes to share a drink and food with them. He admires
their spirit. But he is not ready to exchange places with them.
POEM PARAGRAPH – 3
Poem : Lines written in the Early Spring
Poet : William Wordsworth
Theme : We should enjoy nature Once, the poet was reclining in a grove. He had both pleasant and bitter thoughts. He
could associate himself with nature. Flowers enjoyed the air they breathe. Birds hopped around happily. The whole
atmosphere was pleasant. God created nature for all only to enjoy. But Irresponsible men exploit nature. Thus, he laments
“what man has made of man”.
POEM PARAGRAPH – 4
Poem : Macavity, The Mystery Cat
Poet : T.S. Eliot
Genre : Political Satire
Theme : Mysterious qualities of a vile cat
Macavity is a master criminal. He leaves no evidence after committing any crime. Even the Scotland Yard is unable to arrest
him. He breaks the human law as well as the law of gravity. He is a devil in the guise of a cat. He cleverly makes an alibi
every time. He can float in the air and also run very fast. All the notorious cats are none but the agents of Macavity.
QUESTION NUMBER - 43
SUPPLEMENTARY READER PARAGRAPH - 1
Title : After Twenty years
Author : O.Henry
Theme : Friendship
Bob and Jimmy were friends. They plan to meet at the same place, date and time after 20 years. Jimmy becomes a cop and
Bob becomes a criminal. Bob waits at the same place after 20 years. As a policeman Jimmy finds out that Bob is a criminal.
But he could not arrest his friend. So, he sends another man to arrest his friend.
SUPPLEMENTARY READER PARAGRAPH – 2
Title : A shot in the dark
Author : H. H. Munro
Pen name : Saki
Theme : Never pass judgment in Haste
Philip Sletherby travels by train to meet Mrs. Saltpen Jago. Bertie, her son, travels with him. He asks Sletherby to lend him
money. He has not brought his purse. Bertie uses a demi-lion crest. Further, he says that his mother has dark brown hair.
Sletherby suspects him to be a fraud. So he doesn’t give him money. Later he comes to know the truth and regrets for
being too smart.
SUPPLEMENTARY READER PARAGRAPH - 3
Title : The first patient
Author : C.V. Burgess
Genre : Humorous Play
Theme : Wrong guess or Misconception
The play takes place in the dentist’s clinic. The dentist arrives and calls for the first patient in. Soon, a nurse carries a hammer, a
pair of pliers and hacksaw. Patients are afraid of the noise from the room. They leave the clinic one by one. Joe, the first patient
comes out and explains. Actually, the dentist lost the key of his tools cabinet. The sounds were none but the efforts to open it.
