Articles - Exercises with Solutions

 A. Fill in the blanks with 'a', 'an', 'the' or 'X'

1. The peacock is in danger of extinction.
   📝 Explanation: Use "the" before a singular noun that represents a whole class/species.
2. Could you get me a kilogram of tea, please?
   📝 Explanation: Use "a" before singular, countable nouns when mentioned for the first time.
3. There is a European and an Eskimo among the tourists.
   📝 Explanation: Use "a" before words beginning with a consonant sound (European sounds like "Yoo-ropean") and "an" before words starting with a vowel sound (Eskimo).
4. The Sally I know lives in Bhubaneswar.
   📝 Explanation: Use "the" when referring to a specific or previously known person with a proper noun to distinguish.
5. Sajita found a wallet on her way home. She took the wallet to the police station.
   📝 Explanation: Use "a" when introducing something for the first time and "the" when referring back to it.
6. We must work to save the tigers from becoming extinct.
   📝 Explanation: Use "the" before animal species when speaking about them as a group.
7. X Have you had breakfast?
   📝 Explanation: No article is used before meals when spoken about in general.
8. You must reach X school before 9 a.m.
   📝 Explanation: No article before institutions like school, college, hospital when used for their primary purpose.
9. It is an awe-inspiring sight to see the Brahmaputra in spate.
   📝 Explanation: Use "an" before vowel sounds (awe) and "the" before names of rivers.
10. This is a painting of the Western Ghats, and that is a photograph of the Mahabaleshwar peak.
    📝 Explanation: Use "the" before mountain ranges (Western Ghats) and well-known peaks.
11. X Mary will go to school when she is three.
    📝 Explanation: No article before school when used for its primary purpose.
12. Our library has three copies of the Mahabharata.
    📝 Explanation: Use "the" before names of epics, holy books.

B. Rewrite the sentences with correct use of articles

1. The oranges and lemons are citrus fruits.
   ✅ Answer: Oranges and lemons are citrus fruits.
   Explanation: "The" is not needed before general plural nouns when talking about things in general.

2. Asif is going to visit the Oxford University.
   ✅ Answer: Asif is going to visit Oxford University.
   Explanation: "The" is not used before most university names unless the name includes a phrase like University of...

3. The elephants and the lions are found in India.
   ✅ Answer: Elephants and lions are found in India.
   Explanation: We don't use "the" before animal names in general (plural) statements.

4. Have you been to Nilgiri hills?
   ✅ Answer: Have you been to the Nilgiri Hills?
   Explanation: Mountain ranges take "the" before their name.

5. History is not really Lisa's favourite subject, but she finds the history of the Greeks fascinating.
   ✅ Answer: (No change needed.)
   Explanation: "History" as a subject doesn't need "the," but "the history of the Greeks" is specific, so "the" is correct.

6. You can take Visaka Express to Mumbai.
   ✅ Answer: You can take the Visaka Express to Mumbai.
   Explanation: Train names generally use "the" before them.

7. The children have been sent to the bed.
   ✅ Answer: The children have been sent to bed.
   Explanation: "To bed" (meaning going to sleep) doesn’t use "the."

8. Gold you buy here is of the excellent quality.
   ✅ Answer: The gold you buy here is of excellent quality.
   Explanation: "The" is used before "gold" because it refers to a specific quantity. "Excellent quality" doesn’t need "the."

9. Manoj heard a old tale about an unicorn.
   ✅ Answer: Manoj heard an old tale about a unicorn.
   Explanation: Use "an" before vowel sounds like "old." "Unicorn" begins with a "yu" sound, so "a" is correct.

10. Philosophy discussed in this book is very difficult to understand.
    ✅ Answer: The philosophy discussed in this book is very difficult to understand.
    Explanation: Specific philosophy mentioned needs "the."

C. Fill in the blanks with indefinite articles where necessary

1.     She doesn't own a car.
✅ Explanation: "Car" is a singular countable noun; use "a" for general reference.

2.     He came from a humble beginning.
✅ Explanation: "Humble beginning" is a singular countable noun.

3.     I saw X bears at the zoo.
✅ Explanation: "Bears" is plural; no article is needed.

4.     He asked for X milk.
✅ Explanation: "Milk" is uncountable; no article is used.

5.     She didn't get an invitation.
✅ Explanation: Use "an" before vowel sound ("invitation").

6.     I saw an eagle fly by.
✅ Explanation: "Eagle" starts with a vowel sound; use "an".

7.     She was an English teacher. She taught at a European university.
✅ Explanation: "English" begins with a vowel sound (an), "European" sounds like "Yoo-ro"; use "a".

8.     He bought X milk, X butter, and a loaf of bread.
✅ Explanation: "Milk" and "butter" are uncountable; "loaf" is countable.

9.     The table is made of X wood.
✅ Explanation: "Wood" is uncountable; no article is needed.

10.  Dr Abdul Kalam was an honest man.
✅ Explanation: "Honest" starts with a vowel sound; use "an".

D. Insert articles wherever necessary

 1. There is book in my backpack. Book is very heavy.

Answer: There is a book in my backpack. The book is very heavy.
Explanation: "A" introduces something new; "the" refers to the same book already mentioned.

2. Do you know where I left car keys?
Answer: Do you know where I left the car keys?
Explanation: "The" is used for specific things known to both the speaker and listener.

3. I enjoy reading detective novels, especially ones by famous author Arthur Conan Doyle.
Answer: I enjoy reading detective novels, especially ones by the famous author Arthur Conan Doyle.
Explanation: "The" is used before well-known people or things that are specific.

4. French drink wine, while Americans drink beer.
Answer: The French drink wine, while the Americans drink beer.
Explanation: Nationalities used as collective nouns take "the".

5. Group of MBA students from university of Mumbai visited Harvard University in United States.
Answer: A group of MBA students from the University of Mumbai visited Harvard University in the United States.
Explanation: "A" for a general group; "the" for official institutions and countries like "the United States".

6. Bible was first book to be printed by Gutenberg in fifteenth century.
Answer: The Bible was the first book to be printed by Gutenberg in the fifteenth century.
Explanation: "The" is used with unique things, ordinals (first), and centuries.

7. I am fond of music of Mozart. My grandfather owns antique piano.
Answer: I am fond of the music of Mozart. My grandfather owns an antique piano.
Explanation: "The" for specific reference; "an" before a vowel sound (antique).

8. Cloth is sold by metre. Metre of this fabric cost me moon.
Answer: Cloth is sold by the metre. A metre of this fabric cost me the moon.
Explanation: "The" before standard measurements; "a" introduces a single item; "the moon" is a fixed phrase.

9. Sun is at highest point in sky at noon.
Answer: The sun is at the highest point in the sky at noon.
Explanation: Use "the" for unique things (sun, sky) and superlatives (highest).

10. After humans, chimpanzee is most intelligent among animals.
Answer: After humans, the chimpanzee is the most intelligent among animals.
Explanation: "The" before species and superlative forms.

The Homecoming – Rabindranath Tagore

The Homecoming – Rabindranath Tagore

Phatik Chakravarti was the ringleader among the boys of the village. One day a plan for new mischief entered his head. There was a heavy log lying on the mud-flat of the river, waiting to be shaped into a mast for a boat. His plan was that they should all work together to shift the log by main force from its place and roll it away. The owner of the log would be angry and surprised, while they would all enjoy the fun. Everyone supported the proposal, and it was carried unanimously.

But just as the fun was about to begin, Makhan, Phatik’s young brother, sauntered up without a word and sat down on the log in front of them all. The boys were puzzled for a moment. One of them pushed him rather timidly, and told him to get up; but he remained quite unconcerned. He appeared like a young philosopher meditating on the futility of games. Phatik was furious. ‘Makhan,’ he cried, ‘if you don’t get up this minute, I’ll thrash you!’

Makhan only moved to a more comfortable position.

Now, if Phatik was to keep his real dignity before the public, it was clear that he must carry out his threat. But his courage failed him at the crisis. His fertile brain, however, rapidly seized upon a new manoeuvre which would discomfort his brother and afford his followers added amusement. He gave the word of command to roll the log and Makhan over together. Makhan heard the order and made it a point of honour to stick on. But like those who attempt earthly fame in other matters, he over-looked the fact that there was peril in it.

The boys began to heave at the log with all their might, calling out, ‘One, two, three, go!’ At the word ‘go’ the log went; and with it went Makhan’s philosophy, glory and all.

The other boys shouted themselves hoarse with delight. But Phatik was a little frightened. He knew what was coming. And he was not mistaken, for Makhan rose from Mother Earth blind as Fate and screaming like the Furies. He rushed at Phatik, scratched his face, beat him and kicked him, and then went crying home. The first act of the drama was over.

Phatik wiped his face, and sitting down on the edge of a sunken barge by the river-bank, began to nibble a piece of grass. A boat came up to the landing and a middle-aged man, with grey hair and dark moustache, stepped on shore. He saw the boy sitting there, doing nothing and asked him where the Chakravartis lived. Phatik went on nibbling the grass and said: ‘Over there;’ but it was quite impossible to tell where he pointed. The stranger asked him again. He swung his legs to and fro on the side of the barge and said: ‘Go and find out,’ and continued to nibble the grass.

But, at that moment, a servant came down from the house and told Phatik that his mother wanted him. Phatik refused to move. But on this occasion the servant was the master. He roughly took Phatik up and carried him, kicking and struggling in impotent rage.

When Phatik entered the house, his mother saw him and called out angrily: ‘So you have been hitting Makhan again?’

Phatik answered indignantly: ‘No, I haven’t! Who told you that I had?’

His mother shouted: ‘Don’t tell lies! You have.’

Phatik said sullenly: ‘I tell you, I haven’t. You ask Makhan!’ But Makhan thought it best to stick to his previous statement. He said: ‘Yes, mother, Phatik did hit me.’

Phatik’s patience was already exhausted. He could not bear this injustice. He rushed at Makhan and rained on him a shower of blows: ‘Take that,’ he cried, ‘and that, and that, for telling lies.’

His mother took Makhan’s side in a moment, and pulled Phatik away, returning his blows with equal vigour. When Phatik pushed her aside, she shouted out: ‘What! You little villain! Would you hit your own mother?’

It was just at this critical moment that the grey-haired stranger arrived. He asked what had occurred. Phatik looked sheepish and ashamed.

But when his mother stepped back and looked at the stranger, her anger was changed into surprise. For she recognised her brother and cried: ‘Why, Dada! Where have you come from?’

As she said these words, she bowed to the ground and touched his feet. Her brother Bishambar had gone away soon after she had married, and had started business in Bombay. She herself had lost her husband while he was there. Bishambar had now come back to Calcutta, and had at once made inquiries concerning his sister. As soon as he found out where she was, he had hastened to see her.

The next few days were full of rejoicing. The brother asked how the two boys were being brought up. He was told by his sister that Phatik was a perpetual nuisance. He was lazy, disobedient, and wild. But Makhan was as good as gold, as quiet as a lamb, and very fond of reading. Bishambar kindly offered to take Phatik off his sister’s hands and educate him with his own children in Calcutta. The widowed mother readily agreed. When his uncle asked Phatik if he would like to go to Calcutta with him, his joy knew no bounds, and he said: ‘Oh, yes, yes, uncle!’ in a way that made it quite clear that he meant it.

It was an immense relief to the mother to get rid of Phatik. She had a prejudice against the boy, and no love was lost between the two brothers. She was in daily fear that he would some day either drown Makhan in the river, or break his head in a fight, or urge him on into some danger. At the same time she was a little distressed to see Phatik’s extreme eagerness to leave his home.

Phatik, as soon as all was settled, kept asking his uncle every minute when they were to start. He was on pins all day long with excitement and lay awake most of the night. He bequeathed to Makhan, in perpetuity, his fishing-rod, his big knife, and his marbles. Indeed, at this time of departure, his generosity towards Makhan was unbounded.

When they reached Calcutta, Phatik met his aunt for the first time. She was by no means pleased with this unnecessary addition to her family. She found her own three boys quite enough to manage without taking anyone else. And to bring a village lad of fourteen into their midst was terribly upsetting. Bishambar should really have thought twice before committing such an indiscretion.

In this world there is no worse nuisance than a boy at the age of fourteen. He is neither ornamental nor useful. It is impossible to shower affection on him as on a smaller boy; and he is always getting in the way. If he talks with a childish lisp he is called a baby, and if in a grownup way he is called impertinent. In fact, talk of any kind from him is resented. Then he is at the unattractive, growing age. He grows out of his clothes with indecent haste; his voice grows hoarse and breaks and quavers; his face grows suddenly angular and unsightly. It is easy to excuse the shortcomings of early childhood, but it is hard to tolerate even unavoidable lapses in a boy of fourteen. He becomes painfully self-conscious, and when he talks with elderly people he is either unduly forward, or else so unduly shy that he appears ashamed of his own existence.

Yes, it is at this age that in his heart of hearts, a young lad most craves recognition and love and he becomes the devoted slave of anyone who shows him consideration. But none dare openly love him, for that would be regarded as undue indulgence and therefore bad for the boy. So, what with scolding and chiding, he becomes very much like a stray dog that has lost its master.

His own home is the only paradise that a boy of fourteen can know. To live in a strange house with strange people is little short of torture; while it is the height of bliss to receive the kind looks of women and never to suffer their slights.

It was anguish to Phatik to be an unwelcome guest in his aunt’s house, constantly despised and slighted by this elderly woman. If she ever asked him to do anything for her, he would be so overjoyed that his joy would seem exaggerated; and then she would tell him not to be so stupid, but to get on with his lessons.

This constant neglect gave Phatik a feeling of almost physical oppression. He wanted to go out into the open country and fill his lungs with fresh air. But there was no open country to go to. Surrounded on all sides by Calcutta houses and walls, he would dream night after night of his village home and long to be back there. He remembered the glorious meadow where he used to fly his kite all day long; the broad river-banks where he would wander the livelong day, singing and shouting for joy; the narrow brooks where he could dive and swim whenever he liked. He thought of the band of boy companions over whom he was despot; and, above all, thoughts of even that tyrant mother of his, who had such a prejudice against him, filled his mind day and night. A kind of physical love like that of animals, a longing to be in the presence of the loved one, an inexpressible wistfulness during absence, a silent cry of the inmost heart for the mother, like the lowing of a calf in the twilight—this love, which was almost an animal instinct, stirred the heart of this shy, nervous, thin, uncouth and ugly boy. No one could understand it, but it preyed upon his mind continually.

There was no more backward boy in the whole school than Phatik. He gaped and remained silent when the teacher asked him a question, and like an overladen ass patiently suffered the many thrashings that were meted out to him. When other boys were out at play, he stood wistfully by the window and gazed at the roofs of the distant houses. And if by chance he espied children playing on the open terrace of a roof, his heart would ache with longing.

One day he summoned up all his courage and asked his uncle: ‘Uncle, when can I go home?’

His uncle answered: ‘Wait till the holidays come.’

But the holidays would not come till October and there was still a long time to wait.

One day Phatik lost his lesson book. Even with the help of books he had found it very difficult to prepare his lesson. But, now, it became impossible. Day after day the teacher caned him unmercifully. He became so abjectly miserable that even his cousins were ashamed to own him. They began to jeer and insult him more than even the other boys did. At last he went to his aunt and told her that he had lost his book.

With an expression of the greatest contempt she burst out: ‘You great, clumsy, country lout! How can I afford to buy you new books five times a month, when I have my own family to look after?’

That night, on his way back from school, Phatik had a bad headache and a shivering-fit. He felt that he was going to have an attack of malaria. His one great fear was that he might be a nuisance to his aunt.

The next morning Phatik was nowhere to be seen. Search in the neighbourhood proved futile. The rain had been pouring in torrents all night, and those who went out to look for the boy were drenched to the skin. At last Bishambar asked the police to help him.

At nightfall a police van stopped at the door of the house. It was still raining and the streets were flooded. Two constables carried Phatik out in their arms and placed him before Bishambar. He was wet through from head to foot, covered with mud, while his face and eyes were flushed with fever and his limbs were trembling. Bishambar carried him in his arms and took him inside the house. When his wife saw him she exclaimed: ‘What a heap of trouble this boy has given us! Hadn’t you better send him home?’

Phatik heard her words and sobbed aloud: ‘Uncle, I was just going home; but they dragged me back again.’

The fever rapidly increased, and throughout the night the boy was delirious. Bishambar brought in a doctor. Phatik opened his eyes, and looking up to the ceiling said vacantly: ‘Uncle, have the holidays come yet?’

Bishambar wiped the tears from his eyes and took Phatik’s thin burning hands in his own and sat by his side through the night. Again the boy began to mutter, till at last his voice rose almost to a shriek: ‘Mother!’ he cried, ‘don’t beat me like that……Mother! I am telling the truth!’

The next day Phatik for a short time became conscious. His eyes wandered round the room, as if he expected someone to come. At last, with an air of disappointment, his head sank back on the pillow.

With a deep sigh he turned his face to the wall.

Bishambar read his thoughts, and bending down his head, whispered: ‘Phatik, I have sent for your mother.’

The day dragged on. The doctor said in a troubled voice that the boy’s condition was very critical.

Phatik began to cry out: ‘By the mark—three fathoms. By the mark—four fathoms. By the mark—’ Many times had he heard the sailors on the river steamers calling out the mark on the leadline. Now he was himself plumbing an unfathomable sea.

Later in the day Phatik’s mother burst into the room like a whirlwind, and rocking herself to and fro from side to side began to moan and cry.

Bishambar tried to calm her, but she flung herself on the bed, and cried: ‘Phatik, my darling, my darling.’

Phatik stopped his restless movements for a moment. His hands ceased beating up and down. He said: ‘Eh?’

The mother cried again: ‘Phatik, my darling, my darling.’

Very slowly Phatik’s eyes wandered, but he could no longer see the people round his bed. At last he murmured: ‘Mother, the holidays have come.’

Great! I’ve read the story "The Home-Coming" by Rabindranath Tagore. I’ll now create 50 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) based on the story, followed by an answer key.

Please give me a moment to prepare them.

Here are 50 Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) based on “The Home-Coming” by Rabindranath Tagore, followed by the answer key at the end:

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📝 Multiple-Choice Questions

1. Who is the main character in the story?
   A. Makhan
   B. Bishambar
   C. Phatik
   D. The mother

2. What is Phatik’s role among the village boys?
   A. Quiet observer
   B. Ringleader
   C. Teacher
   D. Newcomer

3. What mischief does Phatik plan with his friends?
   A. Break windows
   B. Hide the teacher’s book
   C. Roll a heavy log
   D. Climb trees

4. Who interrupts their plan with his presence?
   A. A stranger
   B. Phatik’s uncle
   C. The village guard
   D. Makhan

5. How does Makhan react when asked to leave the log?
   A. He runs away
   B. He refuses and stays
   C. He calls his mother
   D. He pushes Phatik

6. How does Phatik try to get rid of Makhan?
   A. Threatens him
   B. Calls their mother
   C. Rolls the log with Makhan on it
   D. Hides from him

7. What happens to Makhan during the prank?
   A. He laughs
   B. He runs away
   C. He falls and gets hurt
   D. He starts crying

8. What does Makhan do after falling?
   A. Laughs it off
   B. Cries and runs home
   C. Tells the boys to stop
   D. Hides in the forest

9. Who arrives while Phatik is sitting by the river?
   A. His cousin
   B. A teacher
   C. His uncle
   D. A stranger with a stick

10. How does Phatik treat the stranger at first?
    A. Politely
    B. Rudely
    C. With excitement
    D. With tears

11. Who is the stranger?
    A. A police officer
    B. His uncle Bishambar
    C. A teacher
    D. A trader

12. How does Phatik’s mother feel about him?
    A. Very loving
    B. Neutral
    C. Prejudiced
    D. Proud

13. Who is considered the “good” son by the mother?
    A. Phatik
    B. Makhan
    C. Bishambar
    D. The servant

14. What does Phatik give Makhan before leaving?
    A. Money
    B. A kite
    C. His fishing rod, knife, and marbles
    D. His clothes

15. Where does Phatik go with his uncle?
    A. Bombay
    B. Another village
    C. Delhi
    D. Calcutta

16. How does Phatik’s aunt react to his arrival?
    A. With joy
    B. With coldness
    C. With tears
    D. With laughter

17. What is said to be the worst age for a boy?
    A. Ten
    B. Fourteen
    C. Sixteen
    D. Twelve

18. Why is it hard to love a boy of fourteen openly?
    A. They are too emotional
    B. It is seen as indulgent
    C. They are always away
    D. They do not care

19. How does Phatik feel in his uncle’s home?
    A. Free and happy
    B. Unloved and unwelcome
    C. Excited
    D. Busy with studies

20. What does Phatik most long for in Calcutta?
    A. Better food
    B. To see his father
    C. His village and mother
    D. A friend

21. What is Phatik’s performance in school like?
    A. Excellent
    B. Average
    C. Worst in class
    D. Improving

22. What happened to Phatik’s lesson book?
    A. Torn by his cousin
    B. Lost
    C. Burned accidentally
    D. Given away

23. How does his aunt respond when he says he lost his book?
    A. Buys him another
    B. Scolds him harshly
    C. Cries
    D. Ignores it

24. What illness does Phatik seem to suffer from?
    A. Fever
    B. Malaria
    C. Typhoid
    D. Cold

25. Where is Phatik found after disappearing?
    A. At school
    B. In a police van
    C. At the riverbank
    D. At a friend’s home

26. What was the weather like when he was found?
    A. Dry and sunny
    B. Snowy
    C. Raining heavily
    D. Stormy and windy

27. How did the aunt react when Phatik returned sick?
    A. Cried and hugged him
    B. Asked to send him home
    C. Cooked for him
    D. Called a doctor

28. What does Phatik say when he returns wet and sick?
    A. “I want to eat.”
    B. “Uncle, I was just going home.”
    C. “Where is Makhan?”
    D. “I miss my mother.”

29. What did Phatik repeatedly ask his uncle during his fever?
    A. “Can I go home now?”
    B. “Do you love me?”
    C. “When do holidays come?”
    D. “Where is Makhan?”

30. Who does Phatik cry out for in delirium?
    A. Uncle
    B. Teacher
    C. Cousin
    D. Mother

31. What line does Phatik repeat from his memory of river boats?
    A. “Set sail.”
    B. “One, two, three, go!”
    C. “By the mark—three fathoms.”
    D. “Land ahead.”

32. What did the doctor say about Phatik’s condition?
    A. He will recover
    B. He is fine
    C. He is critical
    D. It’s just fever

33. How does his mother react upon seeing him in the end?
    A. Coldly
    B. With anger
    C. She cries and moans
    D. She doesn’t speak

34. What does Phatik say when he hears his mother call him?
    A. “Yes, I’m fine.”
    B. “Where’s uncle?”
    C. “Eh?”
    D. “Take me home.”

35. What are Phatik’s final words?
    A. “Mother, don’t leave me.”
    B. “The holidays have come.”
    C. “I’m tired.”
    D. “I’m sorry.”

36. What theme does the story highlight most deeply?
    A. Bravery
    B. Innocence
    C. Longing for love and home
    D. Competition

37. How does Tagore portray adolescence?
    A. As fun
    B. As awkward and painful
    C. As powerful
    D. As lonely but brave

38. What does Phatik symbolize in the story?
    A. Rebellion
    B. Misunderstood youth
    C. Intelligence
    D. Laziness

39. Who is to blame for Phatik’s suffering?
    A. His teacher
    B. His friends
    C. His family’s neglect
    D. His uncle

40. What does the mother realize too late?
    A. That Phatik was innocent
    B. That she wanted Makhan to leave
    C. That she should have gone with Phatik
    D. That she loved Phatik

41. Why does Phatik's aunt never warm up to him?
    A. He misbehaves
    B. She never wanted him
    C. He was too quiet
    D. She didn’t understand boys

42. What is Phatik’s relationship with his cousin brothers?
    A. Friendly
    B. Jealous
    C. Hostile
    D. Distant and bullied

43. What is the emotional climax of the story?
    A. Phatik asking about holidays
    B. His mother arriving
    C. Phatik crying in fever
    D. His final words

44. How does Bishambar show care for Phatik?
    A. By punishing him
    B. By sitting beside him at night
    C. By sending him away
    D. By ignoring the aunt

45. What is the tone of the story?
    A. Humorous
    B. Sad and emotional
    C. Angry
    D. Boring

46. How does the story depict rural vs urban life?
    A. Urban is kinder
    B. Rural is harder
    C. Urban is cold and alienating
    D. No contrast

47. What literary device is used when Phatik dreams of his village?
    A. Irony
    B. Flashback
    C. Simile
    D. Foreshadowing

48. What is symbolized by Phatik’s final illness?
    A. A punishment
    B. His longing for home
    C. A test
    D. A gift

49. What does the title “The Home-Coming” suggest?
    A. Someone returns home
    B. A festival story
    C. Longing to return, even if through death
    D. Adventure

50. What is the most tragic part of the story?
    A. Phatik never wanted to leave
    B. He was sent away
    C. He died before being loved
    D. He hated his brother

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✅ Answer Key

1. C

2. B

3. C

4. D

5. B

6. C

7. C

8. B

9. C

10. B

11. B

12. C

13. B

14. C

15. D

16. B

17. B

18. B

19. B

20. C

21. C

22. B

23. B

24. B

25. B

26. C

27. B

28. B

29. C

30. D

31. C

32. C

33. C

34. C

35. B

36. C

37. B

38. B

39. C

40. D

41. B

42. D

43. B

44. B

45. B

46. C

47. B

48. B

49. C

50. C

Leadership Skills: Note Making - Note Taking, Summary, Question Answers

 Leadership Skills

The term 'soft skills' refers to a group of skills and personal qualities that present-day employers look for and value in their employees. Soft skills relate to excellent communication skills, both spoken and written, positive personality traits, social skills and personal attitudes. In this sense, soft skills complement hard skills, which have to do the technical requirements of a job. Hence, you may have the right professional qualifications, be academically brilliant and perhaps even have the required work experience, but you will be successful in an organisation only if you know, for example, how to work as part of a team or how to get along with both your senior and junior colleagues. In other words, soft skills are all about how you deal with people. They are very important in the present-day professional context that requires constant interaction and communication. Thus, it is not surprising that very often, an interviewer talking to two different candidates with equally impressive CVs, decides in favour of the one who seems relaxed, open, friendly and well-adjusted. Of course, neat personal appearance and pleasing personality also makes a positive impression in such situations.

While soft skills are acquired early in life and depend to a great extent on the environment in which you were brought up, they can also be consciously learnt. The process could begin either by asking someone who knows you closely to decide whether you possess the soft skills concerned or through an honest self-appraisal. You can begin by looking at some of the soft skills recommended by behavioural training experts.

In short, soft skills are personality traits that determine a person's interaction with others and the ability to be successful at work. Soft skills complement a person's professional skills and affect his or her performance at work, relationships with colleagues and career prospects. Some important soft skills employers look for in the people they employ are attitude, adaptability, goal setting, motivation, time management, stress management, critical thinking and problem solving, team work and leadership.

Read the above passage given above and answer the questions that follows:

1. List five skills that can be considered to be part of the soft skills repertoire of an individual.

Five soft skills mentioned in the passage are:

• Communication skills

• Teamwork

• Leadership

• Time management

• Problem solving

2. How do we acquire soft skills?

Soft skills are often developed early in life through our environment, but they can also be consciously learned. We can start improving them by:

• Asking for feedback from someone who knows us well

• Doing an honest self-evaluation

3. Why do you think relationships are important in the work environment?

Relationships are important because they help us work well with others, build trust, reduce conflicts, and create a positive and productive atmosphere. Good relationships with colleagues and superiors are key to teamwork and career success.

4. How does teamwork complement your soft skills?

Teamwork enhances soft skills such as communication, cooperation, adaptability, and leadership. It allows individuals to practice listening, sharing responsibilities, and solving problems together, which strengthens their ability to interact well in professional settings.

5. Give examples of soft skills mentioned in the passage.

Examples of soft skills from the passage include:

• Communication (spoken and written)

• Attitude

• Adaptability

• Goal setting

• Motivation

• Time management

• Stress management

• Critical thinking

• Problem solving

• Teamwork

• Leadership

6. Make notes of the key points and sub-points from the passage regarding soft skills.

Soft Skills – Key Points:

• Definition:
  Personal traits related to communication, attitude, and social behaviour.

• Importance:
  Crucial for career success, working with others, and maintaining relationships.

• Examples:
  Leadership, teamwork, adaptability, time management, problem solving.

• Acquisition:

  • Learned early in life through environment

  • Can be improved with feedback or self-assessment

• Role in Employment:

  • Complement technical (hard) skills

  • Help in selection when candidates have similar qualifications

  • Affect performance and growth in workplace

7. What qualities do you need for employment apart from your qualifications?

Apart from qualifications, you need:

• A positive attitude

• Good communication skills

• The ability to work in a team

• Leadership skills

• A pleasing personality

• Adaptability and problem-solving ability

8. State the relation between soft skills and work environment.

Soft skills help individuals to:

• Work well with others

• Communicate effectively

• Adapt to changing situations

• Manage time and stress
  These abilities create a harmonious and efficient work environment and are crucial for professional success.

9. Explain the following sentence in your own words:

“In other words, soft skills are all about how you deal with people.”

Explanation:
Soft skills are the qualities that help you communicate, cooperate, and behave respectfully and effectively with others in any situation, especially at the workplace.

10. Write down the meanings of the following words:

a. Professional: Someone who is skilled, trained, and qualified to do a specific job or task, especially in a workplace.

b. Team: A group of people who work together to achieve a common goal.

c. Skills: Abilities or talents that are learned or developed to perform tasks well.

11. Pick out words from the passage that convey the following meanings:

a. Addition: Complement

b. Conclusion: In short

c. Contrast: But / However (implied)

d. Comment: Appraisal

📝 Note Taking: 

• Soft skills = communication (written/spoken), attitude, social traits

• Complements hard skills (technical)

• Needed for team work, adjusting in workplace

• Recruiters prefer candidates with good soft skills

• Includes neat appearance, friendly personality

• Can be learnt via feedback or self-review

• Affects career growth, relationships

• Examples: motivation, leadership, time/stress mgmt, teamwork

📚 Note Making:

Topic: Leadership and Soft Skills at Work

1. Meaning of Soft Skills

• Set of interpersonal, social, and communication skills

• Related to attitude, personality, and interaction

2. Soft Skills vs Hard Skills

• Hard skills = technical qualifications

• Soft skills = human interaction, team dynamics

• Both are needed for success at work

3. Role in Career Success

• Help build good relations with colleagues

• Important for teamwork and communication

• Often the deciding factor in interviews

4. Developing Soft Skills

• Can be learned

• Methods: self-evaluation, feedback from others

5. Key Soft Skills Needed

• Positive attitude

• Adaptability

• Goal setting

• Motivation

• Time & stress management

• Critical thinking

• Problem solving

• Teamwork

• Leadership

🟢 Summary: Leadership and Soft Skills

Soft skills are how you talk, behave, and work with others. They include good communication, a positive attitude, and teamwork. These skills help you do well at work and get along with people. Employers like workers who are friendly, helpful, and easy to work with. You can learn soft skills by asking for feedback or checking yourself. Important soft skills are motivation, time management, problem solving, and leadership.

"The Dispenser of Holy Water" by Guy De Maupassant: Finding Strength Through Positivity Skills

The Dispenser of Holy Water

by Guy de Maupassant

They lived formerly in a little house beside the high road outside the village. He had set up in business as a wheelwright, after marrying the daughter of a farmer of the neighborhood, and as they were both industrious, they managed to save up a nice little fortune. But they had no children, and this caused them great sorrow. Finally a son was born, whom they named Jean. They both loved and petted him, enfolding him with their affection, and were unwilling to let him be out of their sight.

When he was five years old some mountebanks passed through the country and set up their tent in the town hall square.

Jean, who had seen them pass by, made his escape from the house, and after his father had made a long search for him, he found him among the learned goats and trick dogs, uttering shouts of laughter and sitting on the knees of an old clown.

Three days later, just as they were sitting down to dinner, the wheelwright and his wife noticed that their son was not in the house. They looked for him in the garden, and as they did not find him, his father went out into the road and shouted at the top of his voice, "Jean!"

Night came on. A brown vapor arose making distant objects look still farther away and giving them a dismal, weird appearance. Three tall pines, close at hand, seemed to be weeping. Still there was no reply, but the air appeared to be full of indistinct sighing. The father listened for some time, thinking he heard a sound first in one direction, then in another, and, almost beside himself, he ran, out into the night, calling incessantly "Jean! Jean!"

He ran along thus until daybreak, filling the, darkness with his shouts, terrifying stray animals, torn by a terrible anguish and fearing that he was losing his mind. His wife, seated on the stone step of their home, sobbed until morning.

They did not find their son. They both aged rapidly in their inconsolable sorrow. Finally they sold their house and set out to search together.

They inquired of the shepherds on the hillsides, of the tradesmen passing by, of the peasants in the villages and of the authorities in the towns. But their boy had been lost a long time and no one knew anything about him. He had probably forgotten his own name by this time and also the name of his village, and his parents wept in silence, having lost hope.

Before long their money came to an end, and they worked out by the day in the farms and inns, doing the most menial work, eating what was left from the tables, sleeping on the ground and suffering from cold. Then as they became enfeebled by hard work no one would employ them any longer, and they were forced to beg along the high roads. They accosted passers-by in an entreating voice and with sad, discouraged faces; they begged a morsel of bread from the harvesters who were dining around a tree in the fields at noon, and they ate in silence seated on the edge of a ditch. An innkeeper to whom they told their story said to them one day:

"I know some one who had lost their daughter, and they found her in Paris."

They at once set out for Paris.

When they entered the great city they were bewildered by its size and by the crowds that they saw. But they knew that Jean must be in the midst of all these people, though they did not know how to set about looking for him. Then they feared that they might not recognize him, for he was only five years old when they last saw him.

They visited every place, went through all the streets, stopping whenever they saw a group of people, hoping for some providential meeting, some extraordinary luck, some compassionate fate.

They frequently walked at haphazard straight ahead, leaning one against the other, looking so sad and poverty-stricken that people would give them alms without their asking.

They spent every Sunday at the doors of the churches, watching the crowds entering and leaving, trying to distinguish among the faces one that might be familiar. Several times they thought they recognized him, but always found they had made a mistake.

In the vestibule of one of the churches which they visited the most frequently there was an old dispenser of holy Water who had become their friend. He also had a very sad history, and their sympathy for him had established a bond of close friendship between them. It ended by them all three living together in a poor lodging on the top floor of a large house situated at some distance, quite on the outskirts of the city, and the wheelwright would sometimes take his new friend's place at the church when the latter was ill.

Winter came, a very severe winter. The poor holy water sprinkler died and the parish priest appointed the wheelwright, whose misfortunes had come to his knowledge, to replace him. He went every morning and sat in the same place, on the same chair, wearing away the old stone pillar by continually leaning against it. He would gaze steadily at every man who entered the church and looked forward to Sunday with as much impatience as a schoolboy, for on that day the church was filled with people from morning till night.

He became very old, growing weaker each day from the dampness of the church, and his hope oozed away gradually.

He now knew by sight all the people who came to the services; he knew their hours, their manners, could distinguish their step on the stone pavement.

His interests had become so contracted that the entrance of a stranger in the church was for him a great event. One day two ladies came in; one was old, the other young--a mother and daughter probably. Behind them came a man who was following them. He bowed to them as they came out, and after offering them some holy water, he took the arm of the elder lady.

"That must be the fiance of the younger one," thought the wheelwright. And until evening he kept trying to recall where he had formerly seen a young man who resembled this one. But the one he was thinking of must be an old man by this time, for it seemed as if he had known him down home in his youth.

The same man frequently came again to walk home with the ladies, and this vague, distant, familiar resemblance which he could not place worried the old man so much that he made his wife come with him to see if she could help his impaired memory.

One evening as it was growing dusk the three strangers entered together. When they had passed the old man said:

"Well, do you know him?"

His wife anxiously tried to ransack her memory. Suddenly she said in a low tone:

"Yes--yes--but he is darker, taller, stouter and is dressed like a gentleman, but, father, all the same, it is your face when you were young!"

The old man started violently.

It was true. He looked like himself and also like his brother who was dead, and like his father, whom he remembered while he was yet young. The old couple were so affected that they could not speak. The three persons came out and were about to leave the church.

The man touched his finger to the holy water sprinkler. Then the old man, whose hand was trembling so that he was fairly sprinkling the ground with holy water, exclaimed:

"Jean!"

The young man stopped and looked at him.

He repeated in a lower tone:

"Jean!"

The two women looked at them without understanding.

He then said for the third time, sobbing as he did so:

"Jean!"

The man stooped down, with his face close to the old man's, and as a memory of his childhood dawned on him he replied:

"Papa Pierre, Mamma Jeanne!"

He had forgotten everything, his father's surname and the name of his native place, but he always remembered those two words that he had so often repeated: "Papa Pierre, Mamma Jeanne."

He sank to the floor, his face on the old man's knees, and he wept, kissing now his father and then his mother, while they were almost breathless from intense joy.

The two ladies also wept, understanding as they did that some great happiness had come to pass.

Then they all went to the young man's house and he told them his history. The circus people had carried him off. For three years he traveled with them in various countries. Then the troupe disbanded, and one day an old lady in a chateau had paid to have him stay with her because she liked his appearance. As he was intelligent, he was sent to school, then to college, and the old lady having no children, had left him all her money. He, for his part, had tried to find his parents, but as he could remember only the two names, "Papa Pierre, Mamma Jeanne," he had been unable to do so. Now he was about to be married, and he introduced his fiancee, who was very good and very pretty.

When the two old people had told their story in their turn he kissed them once more. They sat up very late that night, not daring to retire lest the happiness they had so long sought should escape them again while they were asleep.

But misfortune had lost its hold on them and they were happy for the rest of their lives.

Summary:

A wheelwright and his wife, once joyful in their small home, faced deep sorrow when their son Jean went missing after a circus visit. Despite their heartbreak, they remained hopeful and devoted to finding him. Their search took them to Paris, where they encountered the kindness of strangers and formed a friendship with an elderly holy water dispenser.

Through perseverance and love, they continued to believe in the possibility of a reunion. One day, in a church filled with light and hope, they spotted a young man who bore a striking resemblance to Jean. When the wheelwright called out his name, the young man responded, recalling his parents' names with joy.

Their reunion was filled with tears of happiness as Jean shared his remarkable journey. Despite the hardships he faced, he had been educated and raised by a caring woman, always holding onto the memory of his parents. 

This heartwarming reunion reminded them of the power of love and resilience. They celebrated their newfound happiness, embracing their family ties with gratitude. Together, they looked forward to a bright future, leaving behind years of sorrow and embracing the joy of being together once more. Their story ended on a note of positivity, showing that hope can lead to beautiful transformations in life.

Thinking about positivity skills:

1. What is hope?

Ans: Hope is the belief that positive outcomes are possible, even in difficult situations. It encourages us to stay motivated and look forward to better times ahead. Hope helps us maintain a positive mindset and inspires resilience.

2. What is optimism?

Ans: Optimism is the tendency to see the good in situations and expect positive outcomes. It involves focusing on possibilities and believing that challenges can be overcome. Optimism encourages a proactive attitude and helps build resilience in the face of adversity.

3. What is positivity?

Ans: Positivity is the practice of focusing on the good things in life. It involves seeing challenges as opportunities and maintaining a hopeful outlook. Being positive can improve mental health and strengthen relationships.

4. How are hope, optimism and positivity different?

Ans: Hope, optimism, and positivity are related but different concepts. 

        Hope is the belief that things can get better, even in tough times. 

        Optimism is a general outlook that good things are likely to happen in the future. 

      Positivity is about actively focusing on the good in situations and maintaining a cheerful attitude. While hope and optimism are more about beliefs about the future, positivity is about the mindset we carry in our daily lives.

5. Are any of these attitudes important in living a good life? What would they be and why?

Ans: Yes, these attitudes are important for a good life.

        Hope helps us stay strong during tough times and motivates us to keep going.

      Optimism encourages a positive view, making us open to new chances and experiences, which improves our mental health.

      Positivity helps us enjoy life, build better relationships, and handle stress. Together, they support happiness and fulfillment.

Workplace Skills:

1. Do employed people help other unemployed people find jobs? Why do you think they do so?

Ans: Yes, some employed people help others find jobs. They do this because they care or want to support friends and family. They may also know about job openings.

2. Does an unemployed person help an employee with his job? How so?

Ans: Sometimes, an unemployed person can help with small tasks. They may give advice or share ideas. They also help by filling in if needed.

3. How do you think being unemployed affects both the individual and the organisation? Are there different kinds of unemployment? What could some of them be?

Ans: Unemployment makes a person feel sad or stressed. It also means the organisation may lack skilled workers. Yes, there are types like seasonal, structural, and frictional unemployment.

4. How does an employer treat unemployment in candidates who apply for jobs, especially in less structured sectors such as agriculture, construction, etc.?

Ans: In less structured jobs, employers may not mind short unemployment. They look more at skills and experience. But long gaps may raise questions.

Case Study / Real Life Experience:

(In a paragraph of 150 words write about someone you know who had to face a lot of hardships in their professional life but managed to make the best of a bad situation with a positive attitude.)

I know a man named Rajesh who worked as a clerk in a small office. He lost his job during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was a very hard time for him. With no income, he had to sell his bike and borrow money to take care of his family. Many people would have given up, but Rajesh stayed strong. He decided to start a small business from home by selling homemade snacks. At first, he didn’t earn much, but he didn’t lose hope. Slowly, his snacks became popular in the neighborhood. He used social media to reach more customers. Within a year, he started earning more than he did at his old job. Rajesh now employs two helpers and plans to open a small shop. His story teaches us that with a positive attitude and hard work, we can turn tough times into success. He truly inspired me.

MCQs – The Dispenser of Holy Water

1. What was the man’s profession at the beginning of the story?
   A) Farmer
   B) Priest
   C) Wheelwright
   D) Shopkeeper

2. Why were the couple unhappy at first?
   A) They were poor
   B) They had no children
   C) They lost their house
   D) They were sick

3. What was their son’s name?
   A) Pierre
   B) Jean
   C) Joseph
   D) Paul

4. At what age did Jean go missing?
   A) Three
   B) Five
   C) Seven
   D) Ten

5. Who took Jean away?
   A) Thieves
   B) School teachers
   C) Circus people
   D) Relatives

6. What was Jean doing when his father first found him with the mountebanks?
   A) Crying
   B) Laughing
   C) Sleeping
   D) Eating

7. What was Jean sitting on when his father first found him with the mountebanks?
   A) A bench
   B) The clown's knees
   C) A chair
   D) The floor

8. What did the parents do after losing Jean for the second time?
   A) Reported to police
   B) Went back home
   C) Sold their house
   D) Moved to the city

9. Why did the parents sell their house?
   A) To pay debts
   B) To go on a vacation
   C) To search for Jean
   D) To move closer to family

10. Where did they finally decide to search for Jean?
    A) In Paris
    B) In a nearby village
    C) In the circus
    D) In the mountains

11. How did the couple survive when their money ran out?
    A) Sold clothes
    B) Took loans
    C) Worked in farms and inns
    D) Stayed with relatives

12. What job did the old man get in the church?
    A) Bell ringer
    B) Priest
    C) Dispenser of holy water
    D) Cleaner

13. Who first held the job in the church before the old man?
    A) Jean
    B) A priest
    C) An old man with a sad history
    D) The old woman

14. What season caused the first holy water dispenser’s death?
    A) Summer
    B) Spring
    C) Monsoon
    D) Winter

15. What did the priest do after the holy water dispenser died?
    A) Closed the church
    B) Appointed the old man
    C) Asked Jean to return
    D) Hired a new priest

16. Why did the old man look at everyone entering the church?
    A) He was suspicious
    B) He wanted money
    C) He hoped to find his son
    D) He liked meeting people

17. What made the old man interested in a young stranger?
    A) His clothing
    B) His hairstyle
    C) His face looked familiar
    D) He donated money

18. Who helped the old man identify the stranger?
    A) Priest
    B) Wife
    C) Neighbors
    D) Children

19. What did the woman say about the young stranger's face?
    A) It looked tired
    B) It was like his father’s when young
    C) It was ugly
    D) It looked like a farmer

20. What name did the old man shout when he recognized the stranger?
    A) Paul
    B) Pierre
    C) Jean
    D) Joseph

21. How did the young man react when he heard the name “Jean”?
    A) He ignored it
    B) He ran away
    C) He cried and recognized them
    D) He argued

22. What two words had the young man never forgotten?
    A) Paris, Church
    B) Papa Pierre, Mamma Jeanne
    C) Holy Water
    D) His school name

23. Who had taken care of Jean after the circus disbanded?
    A) A rich businessman
    B) A police officer
    C) An old lady in a château
    D) A teacher

24. What did the old lady give Jean?
    A) Land
    B) A house
    C) Money
    D) Food

25. What did Jean try to do once he grew up?
    A) Travel abroad
    B) Become a priest
    C) Find his parents
    D) Join the army

26. Why couldn’t Jean find his parents earlier?
    A) He had forgotten their names
    B) He was too busy
    C) He had no money
    D) He didn’t want to

27. Whom did Jean introduce to his parents?
    A) His friend
    B) His uncle
    C) His fiancée
    D) His teacher

28. What was the fiancée like?
    A) Rude
    B) Arrogant
    C) Pretty and kind
    D) Quiet and shy

29. How did the parents react when they reunited with Jean?
    A) They fainted
    B) They cried with joy
    C) They ran away
    D) They blamed him

30. How did the ladies with Jean react to the reunion?
    A) Confused
    B) Uninterested
    C) Surprised and touched
    D) Angry

31. What made the couple stop sleeping the night of the reunion?
    A) Cold
    B) Happiness
    C) Illness
    D) Fear of theft

32. How had the old man changed by the end of the story?
    A) Sad and weak
    B) Healthy and angry
    C) Joyful and peaceful
    D) Rich and proud

33. What was the tone of the ending?
    A) Tragic
    B) Hopeless
    C) Joyful
    D) Mysterious

34. Which literary theme is strong in the story?
    A) War
    B) Betrayal
    C) Hope and reunion
    D) Magic

35. What type of narrator tells this story?
    A) First-person
    B) Second-person
    C) Third-person
    D) Jean himself

36. Why did the couple stay near churches in Paris?
    A) For food
    B) To ask for help
    C) To look for Jean
    D) To meet priests

37. What did they often do when they saw crowds?
    A) Ran away
    B) Watched faces
    C) Asked for food
    D) Sat quietly

38. What age was Jean when he got lost?
    A) Four
    B) Five
    C) Six
    D) Seven

39. What emotion is described most in the story?
    A) Anger
    B) Jealousy
    C) Love and sorrow
    D) Greed

40. Why did Jean’s parents start begging?
    A) They liked it
    B) They were tricked
    C) They had no other option
    D) They were punished

41. What memory helped Jean recognize his parents?
    A) Church visits
    B) Family photo
    C) Names he used as a child
    D) A necklace

42. Who noticed the resemblance to Jean first?
    A) Priest
    B) Wife
    C) Stranger
    D) Old lady

43. How does Maupassant create suspense in the story?
    A) Using magic
    B) Hiding the truth
    C) Revealing Jean slowly
    D) Telling jokes

44. What was the holy water used for?
    A) Cleaning
    B) Blessing people
    C) Drinking
    D) Cooking

45. What did the old couple do every Sunday?
    A) Go to temple
    B) Visit family
    C) Wait outside churches
    D) Sleep

46. Why was the old man excited about Sundays?
    A) He got paid
    B) More people came to church
    C) He had free food
    D) He could rest

47. What kind of job is a “dispenser of holy water”?
    A) Rich man’s job
    B) Beggar’s job
    C) Simple and humble job
    D) Dangerous job

48. What shows Jean was kind-hearted?
    A) He lived alone
    B) He forgot his past
    C) He cried and hugged his parents
    D) He ignored the couple

49. What role does Paris play in the story?
    A) Place of loss
    B) Place of reunion
    C) Dangerous place
    D) Unknown place

50. What message does the story give us?
    A) Life is short
    B) Money is power
    C) Hope and love bring people together
    D) Work hard to be rich

---

Answer Key

1. C

2. B

3. B

4. B

5. C

6. B

7. B

8. C

9. C

10. A

11. C

12. C

13. C

14. D

15. B

16. C

17. C

18. B

19. B

20. C

21. C

22. B

23. C

24. C

25. C

26. A

27. C

28. C

29. B

30. C

31. B

32. C

33. C

34. C

35. C

36. C

37. B

38. B

39. C

40. C

41. C

42. B

43. C

44. B

45. C

46. B

47. C

48. C

49. B

50. C