UNIT - 10 - Kathmandu ENGLISH - UNIT - 10 - Kathmandu

I look at the flute seller standing in a corner of the square near the hotel. In his hand is a pole with an attachment at the top from which fifty or sixty bansuris protrude in all directions, like the quills of a porcupine. They are of bamboo: there are cross-flutes and recorders. From time to time he stands the pole on the ground, selects a flute and plays for a few minutes.
The sound rises clearly above the noise of the traffic and the hawkers’ cries. He plays slowly, meditatively, without excessive display. He does not shout out his wares. Occasionally he makes a sale, but in a curiously offhanded way as if this were incidental to his enterprise. Sometimes he breaks off playing to talk to the fruit seller. I imagine that this has been the pattern of his life for years.
Questions:
Q.1. The meaning of the word ‘protrude’ is __________.
A. ‘extend outward’.
B. ‘project’.
C. ‘fixed’.
D. Both ‘A’ and ‘B’
Q.2. The sound of the flute played by the flute seller outdoes __________.
A. the noise of the traffic.
B. the cries of hawkers.
C. the sound made by temple bells.
D. Both ‘A’ and ‘B’.

At the Baudhnath stupa, the Buddhist shrine of Kathmandu, there is, in contrast, a sense of stillness. Its immense white dome is ringed by a road. Small shops stand on its outer edge: many of these are owned by Tibetan immigrants; felt bags, Tibetan prints and silver jewellery can be bought here. There are no crowds: this is a haven of quietness in the busy streets around.
Kathmandu is vivid, mercenary, religious, with small shrines to flower-adorned deities along the narrowest and busiest streets; with fruit sellers, flute sellers, hawkers of postcards; shops selling Western cosmetics, film rolls and chocolate; or copper utensils and Nepalese antiques. Film songs blare out from the radios, car horns sound, bicycle bells ring, stray cows low questioningly at motorcycles, vendors shout out their wares.
Questions:
Q.1. ‘Stupa’ is ………………..
A. a temple.
B. a church.
C. a shrine.
D. a mosque.
Q.2. The small shops surrounding the Baudhnath stupa are owned by………………
A. Baudh monks.
B. Tibetan immigrants.
C. local Tibetans.
D. Both ‘A’ and ‘B’.

I look at the flute seller standing in a corner of the square near the hotel. In his hand is a pole with an attachment at the top from which fifty or sixty bansuris protrude in all directions, like the quills of a porcupine. They are of bamboo: there are cross-flutes and recorders. From time to time he stands the pole on the ground, selects a flute and plays for a few minutes. The sound rises clearly above the noise of the traffic and the hawkers’ cries. He plays slowly, meditatively, without excessive display. He does not shout out his wares. Occasionally he makes a sale, but in a curiously offhanded way as if this were incidental to his enterprise. Sometimes, he breaks off the playing to talk to the fruit seller. I imagine that this has been the pattern of his life for years.
Questions:
Q.1. What is the arrangement of the flutes compared to?
A. in an artistic pattern
B. bamboo shoots
C. quills of the Porcupine
Q.2. Which of the following is incorrect?
A. The flute seller stands in a corner of the rectangular piazza
B. The flute seller has fifty or sixty flutes with him
C. The flute seller music rises above the noise of the traffic
D. The flute seller sells in an offhanded way

Name five kinds of flutes.

“To hear any flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind.” Why does the author say this ?

How does the author describe Kathmandu’s busiest streets ?

Compare and contrast the atmosphere in and around the Baudhnath shrine with the Pashupatinath temple.

What does Vikram Seth compare to the quills of a porcupine ?

I find it difficult to tear myself away from the square. Flute music always does this to me: it is once the most universal and most particular of sounds. There is no culture that does not have a flute—the reed, the recorder, the Japanese shakuhachi, the deep bansuri of Hindustani classical music, the clear or breathy flutes of South America, the high-pitched Chinese flutes. Each has its specific fingering and compass. It weaves its own associations.
Q.1. What does the author find difficult?
Q.2. What does the author mention here?
Q.3. What is the quality of Chinese flutes?

From time to time he stands the pole on the ground, selects a flute and plays for a few minutes. The sound rises clearly above the noise of the traffic and the hawkers’ cries. He plays slowly, meditatively, without excessive display. He does not shout out his wares. Occasionally he makes sales, but in a curiously offhanded way as if this were incidental to his enterprise. Sometimes he breaks off playing to talk to the fruit seller. I imagine that this has been the pattern of his life for years.
Q.1. The sound of the flute rises clearly above the noise of:
Q.2. How does he play the flute?
Q.3. Which of the following statements is true about the flute seller?
I. He does not shout out his wares.
II. He indulges in excessive display of his flutes.
III. He showed desperation to sell his flutes.
IV. He shouts harshly to attract customers.

I consider what route I should take back home. If I were propelled by enthusiasm for travel per se, I would go by bus and train to Patna, then sail up the Ganges past Benaras to Allahabad, then up the Yamuna, past Agra to Delhi. But I am too exhausted and homesick; today is the last day of August. Go home, I tell myself: move directly towards home.
Q.1. What did the author think about?
Q.2. How was the author feeling?
Q.3. Why was he feeling so?

Kathmandu is vivid, mercenary, religious, with small shrines to flower-adorned deities along the narrowest and busiest streets; with fruit sellers, flute sellers, hawkers of postcards; shops selling Western cosmetics, film rolls, and chocolate; or copper utensils and Nepalese antiques. Film songs blare out from the radios, car horns sound, bicycle bells ring, stray cows low questioningly at motorcycles, vendors shout out their wares.
Q.1. Kathmandu has a religious look because of:
Q.2. What were the shopkeepers selling?
Q.3. What kind of utensils and antiques are sold in Kathmandu?

A corpse is being cremated on its banks; washerwomen are at their work and children bathe.
From a balcony a basket of flowers and leaves, old offerings now wilted, is dropped into the river.
A small shrine half protrudes from the stone platform on the river bank. When it emerges fully, the goddess inside will escape and the evil period of the Kaliyug will end on earth.
Q.1. Which river is being talked about here?
Q.2. What is being dropped into the river? And from where?
Q.3. How does the author indicate the water of the river is polluted here?

	Error	Correction
I consider that route I should take back home.
If I was propelled by enthusiasm for travel per se,
I will go by bus and train to Patna, then sail up
Ganges passed Benaras to Allahabad, then up the Yamuna,
past Agra to Delhi. But I am to exhausted and
homesick; today is a last day of August.

	Error	Correction
Kathmandu is vivid, mercenary, religion with
small shrines to flower-adorn deities along
,the narrower and busiest streets; with
fruit sellers, flute sellers, howkers of postcards;
shops sold Western cosmetics, film rolls and
chocolate; but copper utensils and Nepalese antiques.

	Error	Correction
A fight breaks down between two monkeys.
One chases another, who jumps onto a shivalinga,
then runs screamed around the temples and down to the river,
the holy Bagmati, that flows under.
A small Shrine half protrude from the stone platform on the river bank.
When it emerged fully, the goddess inside will escape.

The heart is a pump that sends the blood circulating through our body. The pumping action  ____ Q.1. ____  (take place) when the left ventricle of the heart contracts. This  ____ Q.2. ____  (force) the blood out into the arteries, which  ____ Q.3. ____  (expand) to receive the oncoming blood.

The African lungfish can live without water for up to four years. During a drought it  ____ Q.1. ____  (dig) a pit and  ____ Q.2. ____  (enclose) itself in a capsule of slime and earth, leaving a tiny opening for air. The capsule  ____ Q.3. ____  (dry) and hardens.

MAHESH : We have to organise a class party for our teacher.  ____ Q.1. ____  (Do) anyone play an instrument ?
VIPUL : Rohit  ____ Q.2. ____  (play) the flute.
MAHESH :  ____ Q.3. ____  (Do) he also act?
VIPUL : No, he , composes music.
MAHESH : That’s wonderful!

(square, standing, look)
I  ____ Q.1. ____  at the flute seller  ____ Q.2. ____ . in a corner of the  ____ Q.3. ____ near the hotel.

(sometimes, imagine, playing)
 ____ Q.1. ____  he breaks off  ____ Q.2. ____  to talk to the fruit seller. I  ____ Q.3. ____ that this has been the pattern of his life for years.

Kathmandu is vivid mercenary religious with small shrines to flower adorned deities along the narrowest and busiest streets with fruit sellers flute sellers hawkers of postcards shops selling Western cosmetics film rolls and chocolate or copper utensils and Nepalese antiques.

Gerrard: You’re not particularly decorative.
Intruder: No ! Well, that goes for you, too. I’ve only got to wear specs and I’ll be enough like you to get away with it.
Gerrard: What about your clothes ? They’ll let you down if you’re not careful.
Intruder: That’ll be all right. Yours will fit me fine.

There is no culture that does not have its flute. (Use ‘Every’.)

He does not shout out his wares. (Turn into Affirmative.)

The sound rises clearly above the noise of traffic and the hawkers’ cries. (Use ‘not only… but also’.)

I am too exhausted to go further. (Remove ‘too’.)

(the , A, By, and)
____ Q.1. ____ princess of ____ Q.2. ____ Nepalese royal house appears; everyone bows ____ Q.3. ____ makes way. ____ Q.4. ____ the main gate, a party of saffron-clad Westerners struggle for permission to enter.

(by , That, on ,a)
____ Q.1. ____ I can be so affected ____ Q.2. ____ ____ Q.3. ____ few familiar phrases ____ Q.4. ____ the bansuri, surprises me at first.