Class 10th English First Flight Chapter 10 The Sermon at Benares Questions and Answers Gujarat Board

Thinking about the Ttext
Question 1. When her son dies, Kisa Gotami goes from house to house ? What does she ask for ? Does she get it ? Why not ?
Answer:
After the death of her only son, Kisa Gotami was overcome with grief. She carried the dead body of her son in her arms and went from door to door asking for medicine to cure her child, but nobody could provide any medicine. For there is no such medicine available which can bring a dead person back to life.

Question 2. Kisa Gotami again goes from house to house after she speaks with the Buddha. What does she ask for, the second time around ? Does she get it ? Why not ?
Answer:
Gautama Buddha asks Kisa to bring a handful of mustard seeds from a house where death had never knocked at the door. Kisa Gotami went from door to door, but couldn’t find a single house where death had not taken a beloved away. She could not get it as death is inevitable and anyone who is born is bound to die one day.

Question 3. What does Kisa Gotami understand the second time that she failed to understand the first time ? Was this what the Buddha wanted her to understand ?
Answer:
After failing to procure a handful of mustard seeds from a house where death had never knocked at the door, she sat down by the roadside feeling helpless. She saw the lights of the city that flickered and were extinguished. At last, it was darkness everywhere.

She realised that death was common to all and she was being selfish in her grief. Yes, this is what Buddha wanted her to understand, that, everyone who is born has to die one day.

Question 4. Why do you think Kisa Gotami understood this only the second time ? In what way did the Buddha change her understanding ?
OR
How did Buddha convey to Kisa the truth of life and death ? (March 20)
Answer:
First time Kisa was full of grief that she could not get a handful of mustard seeds from any house where death had never taken place. But when she went from door to door the second time, she understood that everyone was dealing with the loss of a beloved one. There was not a single house in- -the town, where death had not taken a father, a mother, a sister, a brother, a son or a daughter. Everyone, at some point or the other, have experienced . the death of their loved ones. Gautama Buddha helped her to understand all this, as he told her to bring a handful of mustard seeds from a house where death had never knocked at the door. This way she got aware that death is common to all human beings.

Question 5. How do you usually understand the idea of selfishness ? Do you agree with Kisa Gotami that she was being selfish in her grief ?
Answer:
A selfish person is one who only thinks about himself or herself, and to some extent Kisa Gotami was being selfish because we are humans and it is natural for us to die. We do not easily accept the death of our loved ones. Same has happened with Kisa Gotami. As it was her only child, she did not want him to die and finally went to Buddha to ask for help.

Thinking about Language 
Question 1. This text is written in an old-fashioned style, for it reports an incident more than two millennia old. Look for the following words and phrases in the text, and try to rephrase them in more current language, based on how you understand them.
(1) Give thee medicine for thy child
(2) Pray tell me
(3) Kisa repaired to the Buddha
(4) There was no house but someone had died in it
(5) Kinsmen
(6) Mark!
Answer:
(1) Give you medicine for your child
(2 ) Please tell me
(3) Kisa went to the Buddha
(4) There was no house where no one had died
(5) Relatives
(6) Listen

Question 2. You know that we can combine sentences using words like and, or, but, yet and then. But sometimes no such word seems appropriate. In such a case we can use a semicolon (;) or a dash (-) to combine two clauses.

She has no interest in music; I doubt she will become a singer like her mother.”
The second clause here gives the speaker’s opinion on the first clause.
Here is a sentence from the text that uses semicolons to combine clauses. Break up the sentence into three simple sentences. Can you then say which has a better rhythm when you read it, the single sentence using semicolons, or the three simple sentences ?
For there is not any means by which those who have been born can avoid-dying; after reaching old age there is death; of such a nature are living beings.
Answer:
The single sentence using semicolons has a better rhythm. This is because the three parts of the sentence are connected to each other in their meanings. The second clause gives further information on the ‘ first clause. The third clause is directly related to both the first and the second. Their meanings are better conveyed when they are joined by semicolons.







Class 10th English First Flight Poem Chapter 11 For Anne Gregory Questions and Answers Gujarat Board

Thinking about the Poem 
Question 1. What does the young man mean by “great honey-coloured/Ramparts at your ear ?” Why does he say that young men. are ‘thrown into despair, by them ?
OR
What does the man say to Anne about love ? (March 20)
Answer:
The young man in the poem praises the great honey-coloured hair of Anne. Anne’s hair have been called ramparts, meaning a wall. It is called so because they act as a wall, as they prevent young men from looking beyond that yellow hair and into her soul. Her hair is so attractive that young men cannot look at anything else. Anne’s yellow hair is so pretty i that young men hopelessly fall in love with her. She is so pretty that everyone wants her, which cannot happen; hence, they are thrown into despair.

Question 2. What colour is the young woman’s hair? What does she say she can change it to ? Why would she want to do so ?
Answer:
Anne’s hair are yellow, like the colour of honey. She says that she can change it to black, brown or carrot. She means that she can change it to any colour she wants. Anne says so to show that outer beauty is changeable and not permanent or real. She wants young men to look into her soul attid love her for her inner beauty. In order to do so, she needs to show them the superficiality of her external beauty.

Question 3. Objects have qualities which make them desirable to others. Can you think of some objects (a car, a phone, a dress ………….) and’ say what qualities make one object mqjre desirable than another ? Imagine you were trying to sell an object: what qualities would , you emphasize ?
Answer:
People desire objects because of their qualities that suit their need. The things we consume, goods we use such as a car, a phone, a dress, etc. physical qualities matter the most. Before buying anything, it is always considered that the object is durable and looks pretty. If I were to sell a dress, I would select the one that is very appealing to the eye and comfortable for the body. Then I would emphasise on the durability of the dress so that the customer feels that he/she is spending his / her money at the right place and on the right thing.

Question 4. What about people? Do we love others because we like their qualities, whether , physical or mental ? Or Is it possible to love someone “for themselves alone” ? Are some people ‘more lovable’ than others ? Discuss this question in pairs or in groups’, considering points like the following:

(1) A parent or caregiver’s love for a newborn baby, for a mentally or physically challenged child, for a clever child or a prodigy
(2) The public’s love for a film star, a sportsperson, a politician, or a social worker
(3) Your love for a friend, or brother or sister
(4) Your love for a pet, and the pet’s love for you.
Answer:
Each student may have a different opinion on what makes them like/dislike others. Students are recommended to answer the first part of the question based on their interpretation and experience.

• It is human nature to have favourites based on its perception of people and situations in life. Hence, it is only fair to say that some people may come across as more lovable than others.
• A parent or caregiver’s love for a newborn . baby, for a mentally or physically challenged child, for a clever child or a prodigy reflects affection and concern.
• The public’s love for a film star, a sportsperson, a politician or a social worker is full of awe.
• Your love for a friend or brother or sister is full of compassion and empathy.
• Your love for a pet, and the pet’s love for you is unconditional and selfless.

Question 5. You have perhaps concluded that people are not objects to be valued for their qualities or riches rather than for themselves. But elsewhere Yeats asks the question: How can we ..separate the dancer from the dance ? Is it possible to separate ‘the person himself or herself’ from how the person looks, sounds, walks and so on ? Think of how you or a friend or member of your family has changed over the years. Has your relationship also changed ? In what way ?
Answer:
Each student may have a different opinion on this question. Hence, it is recommended that they think about their friends and family members and then answer the question based on their interpretation and experience.
You may use the following hints:

• Think about a friend or family member. Is it possible for you to think about them as individuals or does their external appearance/behaviour overcome what they actually are ?
• Each person’s thought process changes with the coming of age. Have you remained the same or have you changed for better or worse ? You may ask your family about this.
• Each person is unique and hence, we must try and accept them as they are. Do you agree ?
• Our feelings for our loved ones may undergo change as time passes by. Why do you think this happens ?
• It is said that people should not be judged for what you see of them superficially. How far do you think this is true ?