Chapter 6 – Once Upon A Time

Once Upon A Time

Very Short Answer Type Questions

B.1. Answer the following questions briefly

Question 1.
How was the old woman?
Answer:
The old woman was blind but wise.

Question. 2.
Who is the father of that old woman?
Answer:
The father of the old woman is a black American Slave.

Question. 3.
Where does the old woman live?
Answer:
The old woman lives alone in a small house outside of town.

Question 4.
How is her reputation for wisdom?
Answer:
Her reputation for wisdom is unquestionable and beyond any doubt.

Question 5.
What is her position in the neighbourhood?
Answer:
The honour she is paid and the respect she commands and held reach beyond her neighbourhood, to places far away.

Question 6.
What position she hold among her people.
Answer:
Among her people she holds both the law and its transgression (the person who violates the law).

Question 7.
What does the old woman know about those people?
Answer:
The old lady only knows the motive of those people. She is blind and cannot see her visitors. –

Question 8.
Who visited the old lady one day?
Answer:
One day some young people visited the old lady.

Question 9.
What was the purpose of visit of those people?
Answer:
The purpose of visit of those people was their inclination to prove wrong whatever they were seeing from their eyes, showing her up for the fraud they believed she was and to disclose her clairvoyance.

Question 10.
What was the plan of those people?
Answer:
There plan was simple. They entered her house and asked the answer of their question for which they had come.

Question 11.
What is the difference between the old woman and those people? Ans. There is a difference between the old lady and those people (visitors). She has deep inability due to her blindness, whereas those people have eyesight and are young.

Question 12.
What was the reaction of the young people when woman was silent for long?
Answer:
When woman was silent for long, the young people felt trouble in holding their langhter. They laughed at her.

Question. 13.
What was the answer of the old woman?
Answer:
The old woman replied that she did not know whether the bird he (the young boy) was holding was dead or alive. She further said that she only knew that the bird was in his hands.

Question 14.
The young visitors are reprimanded for which conduct of theirs?
Answer:
The young visitors are reprimanded (scolded severly) for parading their power and her helplessness.

Question 15.
What one understand by‘bird’ and woman in terms of the Nobel Laureate?
Answer:
In terms of the Nobel laureate the bird is language dnd the woman is a “practised writer”.

B. 2. Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Who are ‘they’ according to the writer’s perception?
Answer:
‘They’ are the young people, the visitors who come to the old blind woman.

Question 2.
According to the writer the future of language was in whose hands?
Answer:
According to the writer the future of language was in the hands of young visitors or the young generation.

Question 3.
What according to the writer could have been the purpose of visit of such young people?
Answer:
According to the writer, the purpose of visit of such young people to the old lady’s house could have been a fraud or a trick to get to be spoken to.

Question 4.
When one is young then how one sees language?
Answer:
When one is young he sees language as meditation.

Question 5.
How is language interpreted by the old woman?
Answer:
The old woman has interpreted the language to be the bird that is not in the hands of one of those young people.

C. 1. Long Answer Questions

Question.1.
Enumerate the traits of the old woman.
Answer:
The old woman is blind but wise, who is living alone in a small house, outside the town. She is the daughter of black American slaves. She is spending her life in a most simple way and her reputation is undisputedly far and wide for her wisdom. She had acquired undue honour, not only in her neighbourhood but even in far away city, She possesses extraordinary keen insight. She is a clarvoyant. The old woman does not feel irritated when some young people visit her and put some questions. Telling that one bird is in his hands he asks that whether it is living or dead.

The question was irrelevant as the old lady is blind. When he has repeated the same question she calmly says that she does not know whether, the bird is dead or alive. The only thing what she can say is that it is in his hands. The young visitors even scold her for her such reply, but she does not react. Thus, the old lady has much tolerance and justification. She does not loose her temper. As such she commands the respect and sympathy of all, those come in her contact.

Question. 2.
Have you recently heard a story which is interesting? Write down in 100 words?
Answer:
It is a fact that good and interesting story provides pleasure and substantial lesson. Such story imparts a deep impression which remains t throughout the life. “Gillu” written by Mahadevi Verma is most interesting and the real story of her life. I have gone through (he story in the text. “Gillu” was a tiny baby squirted. It had fallen down from the nest of a tree in her garden and was wounded. Out of her genercusity, she brought it in her room and gave it proper nursing and care. She arranged a flower basket, as its nest on her window.

It was given delicious and nutrient food like Kaju, biscuits etc. During the course of her indisposition he vould sit near her head and gently stroke her forehead by its bushy tail. She had so much affection for Gillu that it was most unbearable for her to lose its company. But unfortunately, Gillu died in about two years. It was great shock to her. But it was her belief that on some spring day she would find, Gillu in the guise of a tiny yellow flower. The story is the example of compassionate feeling of Mahadevi Verma and throw a light on the sense of humanity. Really, the art of story-telling is gradually going down.

Question 3.
Do you think that language is crucial to a writer ? Give any three reasons.
Answer:
Yes, Language is crucial to a writer. It plays a dominant role in taking any decision by him. His course of action and tender sentiments are guided by the concept or general notion of the language. The three reason behind its being crucial may be cited by the following facts :

• it is language that tells us how to see without pictures. It means, we can know the situation of an event or incident through the language, without the help of the pictures,
• it is language which alone protects us from the frightening or causing fear of things,
• Language is the only means of meditation. It creates the act of meditating. Thus language is crucial to a writer for his profound expression of facts.

Question 4.
Quote a few lines from the text which highlights the plight of woman and depressed classes.
Answer:
The following few lines from the text, very well highlight the plight of woman and depressed classes

• “Old woman, I hold in my hand a bird, tell me whether it is living or r dead”.
• For parading their power and her helplessness, the young visitors are reprimanded, told they are responsible not only for the act of mockery’ but also for the small bundle of life sacrificed to achieve its aims. The – blind
• woman shifts her attention away from assertions of power to the instrument through which that power is exercised.
• Perhaps what the children heard was, “It is not my problem. ‘I am old female, black, blind. What wisdom I have now is in knowing I cannot help you. The future of language is yours.”
• Tell us what it is to be a woman sp that we may know what it is to be a man. What it is to have no home to this place. To be set adrift from the one you know; What if is to live at the edge of towns that cannot bear your company.
• Tellus about hwagonload of slaves, howthey sangso softly their breath was’ indistinguishable from the falling snow. How they knew from the lunch of the nearest Shoulder that the next stop would be their last.

These are the few lines from the text which highlight the plight of woman and depressed classes.

Question 5.
Write a paragraph on a character, in the story that has impresed you.
Answer:
I liked the character of the old woman. I like her reputation for wisdom which was without peer and without questions among the people she was both the laws and its trangression. The honour she is paid and the awe in which, she is held is reached beyond her nighbouthood to places far away to city where intelligence of rubral prophets is the source of much amusement.

C.2. Discussion

1 Discuss any modern story which highlights recent cultural events and development.
Answer:
Mrs. Kumud was the victim of neglect and ill-treatment by her husband Mr. S. Sinha, her son Goel and her daughter Priya. She discussed her problem with her fortunes-telling neighbour Mrs. Riya. The bold and firm neighbour advised her to take a bold step and refuse to dance to their tune. Since Mrs. Kumud was too weak and docile to displease her family. She did let her neighbour to the same.

They exchanged personalities for some time Mrs. Riya rebuked all the three and showed them their places. They were shocked and became subdued. They submitted meekly to the wishes of their mother. It was Mrs. Kumud’s day of victory. This story raises a vital issue that concerns in every modem house.

2. Stories that we bear as children are remembered for even. Relate any such story from your memory.
Answer:
I have heard some stories when I was a child. But one of them was extremely fine. The story teller’s description has magical charms, his imagination is delicate and fanciful His speciality lies in his capacity of transporting his listeners into the land of faries and dreams. The unreal became very real. The story produce both music and thrill.

The story. An old aunty alongwith the three children was travelling by a train. A young man was sitting opposite to her. The aunt started telling a story. She was unable to satisfy the curiosity of the children. The young man intervented and told a different kind of story. It fed the curiosity and imagination of the children- The good girl in the story was devoured by g wolf but the children felt delighted it is thrilling.

C. 3. Composition

1. You received a prize for writing story. Prepare a speech to be delivered while accepting the prize.
Answer:
Our revered Princpal, Teacher and Dear, Friends.

I feel privileged to got an opportunity to speak on he. occasion of haying received a prize for writing a story. I am proud of getting this award. It is also a matter of pride for our school. It was an inter school competition. The Headmaster of my school gave a grand tea party in honour of my brilliant success.

The memory of this day is still fresh in my mind.
Thank all of you.

2. Write a paragraph on a character from his story which impressed
Answer:
Only the character of old woman impressed me much.  A slave’s daughter was famous for her wisdom. Though she was old black and blind but wise. She was known to ail. Some young people visited her to make a mockery. But she was not nervous. She spoke to them in soft but stem voice. The visitors considered her as practiced writer.

D. 1. Word Study

Correct the spelling of the following words:
assersion, Instrument, speculison movee, riputation, Lach Slinece, vertion
Answer:
Assertion instrument speculation motive interruption latch Silence version.

D.2. Word Meaning.

Match the words or phrases in column (A) with their meanings in column (B)

A	B
Amusement	statement of account
Version	Pastime
Violate	mental view
Speculation	to break

Answer:
Amuseirent …….. pastime
version ………. statement of account
Violate ………… to break
Speculation ……… mental view.

D. 3. Phrase

‘Once upon a time’ is a phrase used in the text. Find out more phrases from the text and use in sentence of your own.
Answers:
(i) In the lorce of: This story is famous in the lore of many cultures.
(ii) Without question: He is known to all without question.
(iii) Responsible for: Ramu was the only man who was responsible for that work.
(iv) Mouth to mouth: Wine was passed from month to mouth.
(v) Glance into: They glanced into each other’s eyes.

E. Grammar

Ex. 1. Punctuation Marks are essential in the language composition. In class IX you have already studied about few punctuation marks. Here below few other punctuation marks are given. See them minutely and learn these marks
(1) !’ = Note of Exclamation
(2) ” ” = Inverted commas.
(3) ( ) = Bracket parenthesise

Now locate the punctuation marks from the passage given below
Raman: Hello! How do you do?
Ali: Hello! I am fine Raman. Well done! you have brought a laureate for the school.
Raman: Ali,’ I always remember your advice, perfection is essential for success in every walk of life my grandfather told me. “True devotion bear a delicious fruit”, it means (true) result.
Answer:
Raman: T Note of exclamation, interrogation mark.
Ali: T Note of exclamation (.) Full stop.
Raman: (‘) comma,”” inverted commas.

Ex. 2. Different punctuation marks have been used in this paragraph from the text. Identify in the passage given below
“Old woman, I hold in my hand a bird. Tell me whether it is living or dead”.
Now in the given passage use the punctuation marks to make meaningful sentences.
She does not answer and the question is repeated is the bird I am holding living or dead still she does not answer she is blind and can not see her visitors let alone what is in their hand she does not.

G. Translation

Translate into Hindi/your mother language:
One day the woman is visited by some young people who seem bent on disproving her clairvoyance and showing her up for the fraud they believe she is. Their plan is simple: they enter her house and ask the one question the answer to which rides solely on her difference from them, a difference they regard as a profound disability: her blindness. They stand before her, and one of them says, “old woman, I hold in my hand a bird. Tell me whether it is living or dead.”

Answer:
एक दिन कुछ नवयुवक बुढ़िया के यहाँ भ्रमण करते हैं, जिनका मकसद होता है – यह सिद्ध करना कि वह अन्तर्यामी नहीं है तथा एक धोखेबाज है। उसकी योजना साधारण है। वे लोग उसके घर में प्रवेश करते हैं और एक प्रश्न पूछता है। उसका उत्तर उन लोगों के विचार से पूर्णता भिन्न रहता है। इतनी भिन्नता कि वे उसकी अयोग्यता का कारण अंधापन मानते है। वे लोग उसके पास खड़े रहते हैं और उनमें से एक प्रश्न करता है, “बूढ़ी औरत, मैंने अपने हाथ .. में एक चिड़ियी पकड़ी है, मुझे बताओ, यह जीवित है या मृत।”.

Comprehension Based Questions With Answers

4 Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow each

1. “Once upon a time there was an old woman. Blind. Wise.”
In the version I know, the woman is the daughter of slaves, black, Ameri¬can, and lives alone in a small house outside of town. Her reputation for wisdom is without peer and without question Among her people, she is both the law and its transgression. The honour she is paid and the awe in which she is held reach beyond her neighbourhood to places for away; to the City where the intelligence of rurgl prophets is the source of much amusement.
Questions:
(i) Name the piece from which this extract has been taken.
(ii) Where does the old woman live?
(iii) How is her reputation for wisdom?
(iv) What is her position in the neighbourhood?
(v) Which word in the passage means ‘the violation of a law’?
Answers:
(i) This extract has been taken from the piece‘Once Upon a Time’.
(ii) The old woman lives alone in a small house outside of town.
(iii) Her reputation for wisdom is without peer and without question.
(iv) She is both the law and its violation among her people. She is honoured as a rural prophet in the neighbourhood.
(v) The word ‘transgression’ means ‘the violation of a law’.

2. One day the woman is visited by some young people who seem bent on disproving her clairvoyance and showing her up for the fraud they believe she is. Their plan is simple: they enter her house and ask the one question the answer to which rides solely on her difference from them, a difference they regard as a profound disability: her blindness. They stand before her, and one of them says.
“Old woman, I hold in my hand a bird. Tell me whether it is living or dead.”

She does not answer, and the question is repeated. “Is the bird I am holding living or dead?” Still she does not answer. She is blind and cannot see her visitors, Let alone what is in their hands. She does not know their colour, gender or homeland. She only knows their motive. The old woman’s silence is so long, the young people have trouble holding their laughter. Finally she speaks, and her voice is soft but stem. I don’t know,” she says. “I don’t know whether the bird you are holding is dead or alive, but what I do know is that it is in your hands. It is in your hands.”
Questions:
(i) Who is the author of this extract?
(ii) Who came to the woman?
(iii) What was the purpose of the visitors?
(iv) What did one of them ask the woman?
(v) What does the word ‘clairvoyance’ mean?
Answers:
(i) Toni Morrison is the author of this extract.
(ii) Some young people came to the woman.
(iii) The purpose of the visitors was to show that the woman was a fraud who did not possess the power of seeing mentally what was happening.
(iv) One of them asked the woman whether the Bird which he was holding in his hand was living or dead.
(v) The word ‘clairvoyance’ means ‘the power of seeing mentally future events or things that are happening’.

3. For parading their power and her helplessness, the young visitors are reprimanded, told they are responsible not only for the act of mockery but also for the small bundle of life sacrificed to achieve its aims. The blind woman shifts attention away from assertions of power to the instrument through which that power is exercised.

Speculation on what (other than its own frail body that bird in the hand might signify has always been attractive to me, but especially so now, think¬ing as I have been about work I do that has brought me to this company. So I choose to read the bird as “language” and the woman as a “practiced, writer.”
Questions:
(i) Why were the young visitors reprimanded?
(ii) What did, the woman do?
(iii) What did the visitors think?
(iv) Find the word from the passage which means: affirmation.
Answers:
(i) The young men reprimanded for parading their power and her helplessness.
(ii) The woman derived her attention away from assertions of power
to the instrument through which that power was exercised.
(iii) The visitors thought that it was better they should read the bird as language and the woman as a practiced writer.
(iv) The word is assertions.

4. “Once upon a time “Visitors ask an old woman a question. Who are they, these children? What did they make of that encounter? What did they hear in those final words: “The bird is in your hands?” A sentence that gestures towards possibility, or one that drops aItch? Perhaps what the children heard was, “It is not my problem. I am old, female, black, blind. What wisdom I have now is in knowing I cannot help you.

The future of language is yours.” They stand there. Suppose nothing was in their hands. Suppose the visit was only a ruse, trick to get to be spoken to, taken seriously as they have not been before. A chance to interrupt, to violate the adult world, its miasma of discourse about them.
Questions:
(i) What did the old woman answer to the visitors questions?
(ii) How did the visitors feel?
(iii) What did interrupt the visitors?
(iv) Find the word from the passage which means: ‘unheaity envi-ronment.
Answers:
(i) The old woman replied that the children were not her problem, she was old female black and blind She further said that her wisdom did not help her because future language was theirs.
(ii) The visitors felt that nothing was in their hands. Their visit was merely a ruse.
(iii) Miasma of discourse about them interrupted them.?
(iv) The word is miasma.

5. “You, old woman, blessed with blindness, can speak the language that tells us what only language can: how to see without pictures. Language
alone protects us from the scariness of things with no names. Language alone is meditation. “Tell us what it is to be a woman r.o that we may know what it is to be a man. What moves at the margin. What it is to have no home in this place. To be set adrift from the one you knew. What it is to live at the edge of towns that cannot bear your company.
Questions:
(i) Name the lesson from which this extract has been taken.
(ii) Who was blind?
(iii) What can language do?
(iv) Who asked4he woman these questions?
(v) Which word in the passage means ‘lacking direction?
Answers:
(i) This extract has been taken from the lesson Once Upon a Time’
(ii) The old woman who was regarded as a wise person was blind.
(iii) Language can enable us tc see without pictures. It protects us from the scariness of thing’ with no names.
(iv) The young visitors asked the woman these questions.
(v) The word‘adrift’ means ‘lacking direction’.

6. “The girl offers bread, pieces of meat and something more: a glance into the eyes of the one she serves. One helping for each man, two for each woman. And a look. They look back. The next stop will be their last. But not this one. This one is warmed. It’s quiet again when the children finish speaking, until the woman breaks into the silence. “Finally,” she says. “I trust you now. I trust you with the bird that is not in your hands because you have truly caught it. Look. How lovely it is, this thing we have done together.”
Questions:
(i) Who is the author of this extract?
(ii) What does the girl offer?
(iii) Who is the woman referred to here?
(iv) What does she tell the children?
(v) Which word in the passage means ‘a quick look’?
Answers:
(i) Toni Morrison is the author of the extract.
(ii) The girl offers bread, pieces of meat and a glance into the eyes of the person she serves.
(iii) The woman referred to here is an old, blind and wise woman who is supposed to have the power of seeing mentally what is happening.
(iv) She tells the children that she trusts them with the bird that is not in their hands because they have truly caught it.
(v) The word ‘glance’ means ‘a quick look’.