NARAYANA JR COLLEGE :: HYD-SARASWATHI-R1 ::KOHEDA BRANCH

JR ENGLISH QUESTION & ANSWERS (TERM-1)

PLAYING THE GAME (SHORT STORY)

About the writer:- The present short story is taken from “PLAYING THE GAME” by “ARTHUR
MEE”, was an English writer, journalist and also an eminent educator.
About the story:- The story ‘Playing the game’ is taken from My magazine”. This touching incident,
narrated by ‘Mee’, is about a school boy, Alan.
Topic:- Alan was a school boy. He was a cricket buff. His father also encouraged him to play cricket. He
practiced bowling with his father. He was selected for school cricket team. Alan’s father promised to buy
him a bicycle if his team won the match one day on his way to school, he saw a very old man.
The old man requested Alan to help him to see his home. Alan supported him to walk. But the old
man fell heavily on the ground. At last, a kind hearted policeman took the old man to the destination.
Alan reached his school late. Alan’s parents and his classmates appreciated Alan for his kind gesture.
Finally, he got a bicycle from his father as a gift.

THE FIVE BOONS OF LIFE (SHORT STORY)

About the writer:- The present short story is taken from “THE FIVE BOONS OF LIFE”, is popularly
known by his pen name “MARK TWAIN”. He was an American writer, humorist and lecturer. He is
greatly praised as the greatest humorist of the U. S. He is rightly called the father of American literature.
About the story:- It is a parable with his characteristic twist at the end. The main theme of the story is
the deceiving nature of human life.
Topic:- Mark Twain’s ‘The Five Boons of life’ Potrays the downfall of a wretched and self conceited
young man. When a fairy offers the young man one of her five (05) fights among Fame, Love, Riches,
pleasure makes him disappointed. His next choice is Love. He has spend his life living people who leave
this world one by one leaving him in grief.
Then he goes for Fame perceiving it to be something magnificent. But, in reality, it brings him
shame. On having chosen wealth later to deride his detractors, he becomes a pauper. Finally he realizes
that Death is the only gift which soothes him and pleads with the fairy to grant him that invaluable gifts
but in vain the fairy has already given Death to an innocent child.
Thus the man ends up seeing what he thought are great gifts are actually mere lendings
THE GREEN CHAMPION – THIMMAKKA (PROSE)
Introduction:- The above sentence is extracted from an inspiring internet based writing, “THE GREEN
CHAMPION – THIMMAKKA”.
About the lesson : It depicts the magnificent achievements of an ordinary woman with an extraordinary
commitment to conserve nature.
Topic:- Thimmakka was born poor. She wasn’t educated. She worked as a coolie. Her married life wasn’t
happy because she couldn’t become a mother till she was forty. Her husband was very cooperative.
Thimmakka and Chikkayya, started planting trees in their village in a stretch of 4 km. They planted to
banyan saplings in the first year and increased the number year after year. Now there are around 400
banyan trees in the area. They not only planted but also fenced, watered and guarded them.
The noble mission of preserving the environment is taken forward by Thimmakka’s faster son, Sri B. N.
Umesh. He has been planting and tending to trees along the roads, in schools, public places and on the
mountains and hilltops. He is also successfully running the “Prithvi Bachao” moment.
Thimmakka received many awards including the “Padma Shri”, thus she has become a role model
to the entire world with little “Saalumarada Thimmakka”.
 HAPPINESS – (POETRY)
Introduction:- The present poem is taken from “HAPPINESS” by “CARL AUGUST SANDBURG”, is a
famous American poet, Biographer, Journalist and Editor. He is the winner of three Pulitzer prizes. It is
extracted from his collection, “Chicago Poems”.
About the Poem:- The poem is an expression of the narrator’s search for what happiness is and how he
can get the ultimate realization.
Topic:- The narrator seeks to know what happiness is. He consults many persons, like professors for the
answer. He continues his search for an answer but in vain. The professors claim that they teach meaning
of life. Then he moved to the famous executives for the required answer. They simply shook their heads
and expressed their feelings the negative. They also doubted that the poet was trying to make them fools
by asking such a question.
One Sunday afternoon, he wanders along a river. He comes across a group of Hungarians,
including women and children. They are spending happy moments under a tree. He at once understands
what happiness is. Happiness is living in the present and feeling happy. Happiness is not wealth or
success or fame.
KEEP GOING (POETRY)
Introduction : The present poem
The wonderful words of valuable advice are taken from the popular poem “KEEP GOING it was written
by the well known people’s poet, “EDGAR GUEST”
About the poem : It is undoubtedly an inspirational poem of immeasurable value. The poet takes
everyday things that happen to him and makes simple of them.
Topic : The poem keeps advising the leader never to quit trouble may come and stay . goals may never
stand beyond your reach. One more effort may turn failure into success life may be a mixture of more
pains and less pleasures success may seem far away but if you try hard. It will come near. Sometimes life
may teach you strange experiences with its twists and turns.
The poem emphatically announces
That the faint see goals afar and the weak give up in the middle. fall is excusable but not trying to rise is
unpardonable it asserts that winners never quit it is no surprise that the world becomes it as a classic
inspirational poem.
FATHER, DEAR FATHER (Prose) -RAJ KINGER
Introduction : The present essay is taken from, “FATHER DEAR FATHER” by “ RAJ KINGER’ is a
famous writer. He writes articles for the press. This essay is an article published in the English daily “the
Hindu”.
A bout the essay: the essay is in the form a letter to a father it is an effective, thought provoking
commentary on the present day ‘education system’ it also highlights the defective thinking mindsets of
learners, parents, teachers and the government bodies.
Topic: Rahul is the class topper in his school. He letters to his father his first rank slipped to the second.
His father’s advice to think before studying, before answering the papers makes him think and think. the
word think makes him reflect on several issues including many pit falls In our education system.
The existing education system is not useful or meaningful. The parents always worry
about marks and ranks of their children. The teachers are unable to guide the students in proper way. they
simply force the learners and put to pressure in their studies but the learners feel that instead of living,
they are simply by passing their lives. They should not miss the real meaning of education and essence of
life. The teachers should not be cross or adamant they should give freedom to the learners to get pleasure
by living and experiencing.
 THE BEGGAR (POETRY)

INTRODUCTION: The poem is taken from THE BEGGAR;

Penned by ‘DR. AMMANGI VENUGOPAL; a popular Telugu poet He is the first recipient of ‘kaloji
Narayana Rao” award from Telangana government. The original Telugu poem “Bichchagadu” is rendered in
to English by Dr N. Surendra
About the poem: The poem portrays the pathetic plight of farmers in a touching way. Imagery and
repetitions are used effectively to highlight the struggles and sufferings of the farmers.
Topic: Farmers, the food providers to all of us, starve and struggle to survive. The dark eyes express their
sufferings and struggles. Their backs are bent, hands are soiled and feet bleed. yet they strive hard to produce
food for the others hunger and remain always active they feed millions of people but remain with empty
stomachs.
The poet expresses his agony and says that the modern society is contaminated and becomes responsible
for the hunger of farmers, at last, he reminds us to identify the poor farmers who come to our houses and wait
for alms. He requests, us to show concern and try to help them.

THE FIRST FOUR MINUTES (PROSE)

INTRODUCTION: The sentence is taken from the lesson “THE FIRST FOUR MINUTES” by “DR.
ROGER BANNISTER”, an English athletic and also a doctor He has become world famous with a single
athletic achievement.
About the story: Bannister was the first person to complete the race of mile in 3 minutes 59.4 seconds in
1954. He narrates his glorious moments second to second experiences while running for the goal.
Topic: Bannister says that failure is as exciting to watch as success this is possible only when the player exhibits his
sport genuinely and completely.
During the first lap of the race, Bannister looked at the flag as he lined up for the start, He felt complete
silence on the ground it seemed like a false start. He got angry. When the gun fired for the seemed time,
Brasher went into lead and he slipped in behind him It seemed his legs lost control of himself. He himself
shouter faster His worry increased when he heard the first lap time 57.5 seconds.
In that excitement his knowledge of pace had deserted him. But with all his strength he could succeed.
 THE SHORT - SIGHTED BROTHERS (SHORT STORY)

INTRODUCTION: The story “THE SHORT - SIGHTED BROTHERS”, is folklore, creates interest in
reading with gripping narration and excites the reader thoroughly.
About the story: The brief story effectively exposes the follies of the brothers, prompting many a reader to
introspect.
Topic: The story discussed the disability of three brothers The three aged brothers were selfish and greedy
The younger brother proposed to manage their financial activities by citing the elder brother’s weakness. All
of them are defective, yet each tried to outsmart the other.
They planned to test their own vision by reading the inscription above the door
way of a nearby monastery. So, they met a monk secretly and separately to know what was written on the
tablet. “Be honest at all times”. Was the quotation written on it. They pretended that they were reading
the inscription with their own eyes. then the monk revealed them that the tablet was not put up yet.