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Karnataka State Syllabus Class 10 English Prose Chapter 6 The Eyes are not Here
The Eyes are not Here Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes
Pre Reading Activity:
Generally, we notice the physically challenged leading a normal life. Do the physically challenged accept their condition with resignation? Discuss in pairs.
Answer:
Most of the time, the physically challenged people do accept their condition with resignation., Day-to-day challenges force them to do so. In the beginning, they might pity themselves, but when they get sympathy from others, it makes them feel ashamed of themselves. But there may be times when they feel frustrated and resent the good condition of others.
When they compare themselves with normal people, they might feel they have been unnecessarily ‘punished’ by fate. This feeling is more pronounced when the ‘normal’ people make many mistakes which are a result of only their complacence. Hence, sometimes, physically challenged people might want to hide their weaknesses and pretend to be normal. Their urge to pretend so might also be the result of their fear of being ill-treated or cheated by ‘normal’ people.
Further, the very fact of their being physically challenged makes them more determined to go through life on their own, and face all problems with self¬respect. They do not like to talk about their problems. Many times, they would like to pit themselves against the normal ones and see who wins. It is usually the physically challenged ones who win on such occasions because the normal ones are too complacent to make extra effort, and they do not have the motivation to prove themselves to anyone which the physically challenged have.
II. Comprehension Questions:
A. Answer briefly the following questions.
Question 1.
The narrator guessed that the couple who saw the girl off at Rohana was probably her parents because of
a. they were middle-aged
b. they seemed very anxious
c. they accompanied the girl to the railway station.
d. they gave detailed instructions about the care she had to take.
Answer:
(d) they gave detailed instructions about the care she had to take.
Question 2.
Why did the narrator feel that he would never be able to discover something about the girl’s looks?
Answer:
He was blind and he did not want to ask any question that would reveal his blindness. Besides, the girl was going away.
Question 3.
The narrator was born completely blind. (Say True/False)
Answer:
False
Question 4.
What did the narrator infer when the girl was startled by his voice?
Answer:
The narrator inferred that like all people with good eyesight, even she had failed to see what was right in front of her.
Question 5.
The girl told the narrator that her aunt was meeting her at Saharanpur. She said this probably because,
a. She wanted to introduce her aunt to the narrator.
b. She wanted to convey a message that he couldn’t take advantage of her thinking that she was alone.
c. It was a casual remark.
Answer:
(b) She wanted to convey a message that he couldn’t take advantage of her thinking that she was alone.
Question 6.
How could the narrator, being blind, describe Mussoorie?
Answer:
Since he was not born blind, probably he had seen Mussoorie when he had eyesight.
Question 7.
With what intention did the narrator remark that the girl had an interesting face?
Answer:
He wanted to please her, and also pretend to be normal-sighted.
Question 8.
Hiding his blindness was a for the narrator, (challenge/game/child’s play). Choose the correct answer.
Answer:
(b) game.
Question 9.
The new fellow-traveler had made out that the girl was blind. (Say True/False.)
Answer:
True
Question 10.
The story ends with a revelation. What is the revelation?
Answer:
The narrator had thought he was playing a game and trying to fool a normal-sighted person. He came to know that he was actually trying to fool a person blind like him. He also realized that even she had played a similar game with him, hiding her blindness.
Question 11.
The narrator and the girl reveal something about themselves through their words and actions. The adjectives listed in the box below describe the narrator and the girl. Put each word either under the narrator or the girl (Note: some qualities may be common to both).
clever, smart, humorous, suspicious, sentimental, curious, emotional, romantic, careful, intuitive, pretentious, confident, guilty, inquisitive. |
Answer:
The Narrator
Clever, humorous
sentimental,
curious,
emotional,
romantic, careful,
pretentious, guilty,
inquisitive.
The Girl
Clever, humorous
suspicious
careful, intuitive
confident.
B. Close Study:
Read the following extracts carefully, discuss in pairs and then write the answers to the questions given below them.
Question 1.
“You may break, You may shatter the vase if you will, but the scent of the roses will linger there still….”
a. What is the figure of speech used in the passage above?
Answer:
metaphor
b. What is the vase compared to?
Answer:
a person
c. What does the shattering of the vase refer to?
Answer:
a person’s going away
d. What does ‘the scent of the roses’ refer to?
Answer:
their memories.
Question 2.
“Once again, I had a game to play, a new fellow traveler”.
a. What kind of the game does the speaker play with his fellow, travelers?
Answer:
A game through which he tries to fool the other person into thinking that he is normal-sighted.
b. What do you understand from this about his attitude?
Answer:
He resents his blindness and also thinks that normal-sighted people are over-confident about their powers of observation.
c. Who had out-witted whom, in the game already played by the narrator?
Answer:
The girl had outwitted the narrator.
III. Paragraph Writing:
Discuss in pairs /groups of 4 each and answer the following questions. Individually note down the important points and then develop the points into one – paragraph answers.
Question 1.
Give instances to show that the narrator tried his best to impress that he was normal sighted during his encounter with the girl.
Answer:
- He starts the conversation with the girl.
- He says that even he didn’t see her but heard her.
- He vividly describes Mussoorie in October.
- He sits in front of the window and pretends to see outside, and makes a general comment about trees.
- He makes a non-committal remark about her face.
Paragraph: Initiating the conversation and hoping to keep her from realizing that he was blind, he described the scenery from his memories. He also asked the girl a question, and she told him to look out the window for himself. To continue the ruse, the narrator told the girl that she had an interesting face since he did not actually know how she looked.
Question 2.
Everyone thinks, he could out-wit anyone but sometimes, he himself is out-witted by others. Substantiate this with reference to the story.
Answer:
- The narrator plays this game of pretense with strangers.
- He never talks about his blindness and takes it for granted that the others are normal-sighted.
- Throughout the encounter, he is bothered about what he should say and hence doesn’t pay much attention to what the other person says.
Paragraph: After listening to the parent’s conversation with the daughter, the narrator could not distinguish any unusual advice or information that led him to believe the girl had any handicap herself. The narrator fooled himself. Apparently, he also misled the girl because she did not realize that her fellow traveler was blind either.
Question 3.
The story ends with the new fellow- traveler telling the narrator that the girl was completely blind. What do you think, would be the feelings and thoughts of the narrator after knowing the truth?
Answer:
- Narrator is still thinking about the girl who was left.
- when the new traveler comes into the compartment, the narrator is getting ready for another round of his favorite game.
- the surprising remark by the traveler would surely shock the narrator, and ultimately make him feel ashamed about himself.
Paragraph: Both the readers and the narrator ultimately learn a very valuable lesson about the influence of initial assumptions on the ways we perceive (or fail to perceive) the world and other persons.
IV. Vocabulary Exercises:
A. Make sentences using the following idioms and phrases. to see one-off, to pull out of, to take in, to call on, to break into, to be deprived of, in front of, to be covered with, to move away, to take up.
Answer:
- to see one-off:
We went to the train station to see Andy off. - to pull out of:
The aid workers have been advised to pull out of those regions where there is trouble. - to take:
The lecture was rather boring and I didn’t take in much of what was said. - to call on :
He’s planning to call on Katherine today. - to break into :
Two thieves broke into his house. - to be deprived of:
The court ruling deprived us of any share in the inheritance. - in front of:
The teacher didn’t want his authority challenged in front of the class. - to be covered with :
The field is covered with snow. - to move away :
I have to move away from the smoking section. - to take up :
She was asked to take up a project during vacation.
B. With the help of a dictionary, find out the difference between the following pairs of words and make sentences to bring out the difference. In the next class share your answers in pairs.
- anxious × curious
- praise × flattery
- lonely × alone
- change × alter
- vendor × hawker
- probable × possible
- look × see
- hear × listen
- loud × aloud
- hanged × hung
- break × brake
- desert (n) × desert (v)
×deserts (n)
× dessert (n)
Answer:
1. anxious × curious :
Anxious – experiencing worry or unease.
Curious – eager to know or learn something.
- I was anxious to know about my mother’s health.
- My friend was curious to know my marks.
2. praise × flattery :
Praise – sincere appreciative words about someone;
Flattery – excessive or false praise;
- My mother praised me for studying by myself and securing good marks in the examination.
- The Principal, worried about the accounts of the college, tried to please the Inspector vb flattering him repeatedly.
3. lonely × alone:
Lonely – the feeling of being isolated; the feeling can arise even when surrounded by many people;
Alone – the state of being physically all by oneself;
- Even when I am alone. I do not feel lonely if I have a good book to read.
4. change × alter :
Change – move from one system or situation to another;
Altar – make or become different;
- My opinions about wealth will not alter no matter how my situation changes in life.
5. vendor × hawker :
Vendor – sells one or two goods, most often in an establishment; Hawker – sells different types of goods and has no establishment;
- The vendors are not troubled much by policemen, whereas the hawkers are harassed daily by the policemen since they occupy and block the footpaths.
6. probable × possible :
Probable – likely to happen or be the ease;
Possible – capable of existing, happening or being done;
- They may probably come tomorrow. However, it will not be possible because they have not reserved their train tickets at all.
7. look × see :
Look – direct one’s gaze in a particular direction; usage is – look at (someone/something);
See – become aware of with the eyes;
- usage is – see (someone/something);
- On hearing a melodious sound, I looked up and saw a beautiful bird singing on the tree.
8. hear × listen :
Hear – become aware of (something) with the ear;
Listen – given one’s attention to a sound;
- Hearing is done with the ear, whereas listening is done with the mind.
9. loud × aloud :
Loud – producing much noise, is used as an adjective;
Aloud – audibly, so as to be heard, is used as an adverb.
- Read this aloud, but not in a loud voice. Papa is sleeping.
10. hanged × hung :
Hanged – used in the case of a living being;
Hung – used in the case of non-living beings.
- Nowadays, many criminals are being hanged.
- The picture was hung on the wall.
11. break × brake :
Break – to cut into pieces;
Brake – a device for slowing or stopping a moving vehicle;
- Don’t worry if the child breaks that toy. Anyway, it is old.
- She had to brake hard to avoid a milk float.
12. desert (n) × desert (v) × deserts (n) ×dessert (n):
Desert (n) – a place where there is little or no vegetation but only sand;
- The Sahara desert is the largest in the world.
Desert (v) – to leave someone without any help; - Poor women are often deserted by their husbands.
Deserts (n) – the reward or punishments that a person deserves; - When the police arrested the thief, he met his just deserts.
Dessert (n) – the sweet course eaten at the end of a meal. - Jamoon is usually served as the dessert these days.
C. Following is a list of words which refer to different sounds made by mouth and nose. Complete the sentences with the appropriate words from the list.
puff, pant, blow, sigh, sob, snore, yawn, splutter, stutter, stammer, sniff, cough, sneeze, hiccup |
- We ………. and ……….. when we are out of breath.
- We ………… if we fall into water unexpectedly.
- We ………… when we are bored.
- We ……….. and …………. when we have a bad cold.
- We ………….. or ………….. when we have difficulty in saying certain words.
- We …………. when we have no handkerchief and need to blow our nose.
- We …………. at night, if we lie with our mouths open and on our backs.
V. Language Activities:
Question 1.
Report Writing:
Here are the details of an itinerary, of the Prime Minister’s visit to Bengaluru on Saturday. Put all the details in a paragraph.
Time Programme
- 8.30 am * Arrival at HAL airport
* Chief Minister along with his. cabinet colleagues receive a PM - 8.50 pm * Breakfast – Hotel West End – Hosted by the Karnataka Government.
- 9.15 am * Dedicating the Metro Railway Service II stage.
- 10.00 am * Inauguration of the new block of Legislators’ House. Addressing a public rally at Palace Ground.
- 11:15 am * Laying the foundation stone for a Bio-Tech Park at Bannerghatta.
- 12.05 pm * Honouring the outstanding scientists at IISc
- 1.00 pm * Back to Delhi on a Special flight from Bengaluru International Airport.
NOTE: We generally use simple present tense, while reporting an itinerary. You may begin the report thus: The
Prime Minister arrives at the Bangalore HAL airport at 8.30 am on Saturday on a day’s visit to Bangalore
Answer:
The Prime Minister arrives at the Bangalore HAL airport at 8.30 am on Saturday on a day’s visit to Bangalore. The Chief Minister, along with his cabinet colleagues, receives the Prime Minister at 8.50 a.m, they have breakfast at Hotel West End which is hosted by the Karnataka Government, at 9.15 a.m., the Prime Minister dedicates the Metro Railway Service II stage. At 10.00 a.m., he inaugurates the new block of Legislators’ house. Half an hour later, he addresses a public rally at Palace Grounds at 10.30 a.m. At 11.15 a.m. he lays the foundation stone for a Bio-Tech Park at Bannerghatta. At 12.05 p.m., he honors the outstanding scientists at the IISc. Finally, at 1.00 p.m., he flies back to Delhi on a Special flight from Bengaluru International Airport.
Question 2.
Discuss the following in groups of 4 each. One among the four will note down the important arguments and share it with the neighboring group. Imagine that both the narrator and the girl admitted to each other that they were blind. How then, do you think, would the story end? Do you think such an end would make the story better? How?
Answer:
Points :
- The narrator confuses his blindness when the girl enters.
- The girl too confuses that she is blind.
- Both pity, and admire each other for being brave enough to travel all by themselves.
- Both exchange anecdotes regarding traveling alone and being blind.
- The girl goes away and the narrator continues the journey.
B. Informal Expressions used in Conversation:
Question 1.
The following list contains informal expressions commonly used in conversation. Use the expressions from the list to complete the sentences given below. Do it in pairs.
thank goodness, welcome, I’m afraid, I’d rather, I’d better, never mind, if you don’t mind, yes please, no thanks, of course, How do you do? oh dear! / dear me !, I wonder, how dare. |
Answer:
(Answers filled at the right place)
- Student: Sir, I’d like to know my test marks.
Teacher: I am afraid. I have not finished the valuation. - Stranger: Do you mind if I smoke?
Girl: Well, I’d rather you didn’t. - Wilma: I wonder if I could make a request to you.
Rekha: Please tell me what I can do for you. - Child (crying): I lost my pen in school.
Mother: Never mind I’ll buy you another. - Oh! dear. I think I left my mobile in the office!
- Ramesh (shaking hands with Rameez): How do you do?
Ramesh: How do you do? - Son: My bike skidded and both of us were thrown out.
Mother: Thank goodness, both of you are safe. - Kavya: Of course. You can take my notes home.
Zareena: Thanks.
Kavya: Welcome. - Surya How dare you to say that I copied from your answer paper!
- Rajesh I’d better take my studies seriously now on.
- Shyla: I’ll make some coffee for you if
you don’t mind. - Joshua: Would you like to have a piece of cake?
Noel: Yes, please.
Joshua : (after Noel ate a big piece) Can you have one more piece?
Noel: No. thanks.
Question 2.
Now, write sentences of your own using the above informal expressions and read them out to each other in pairs.
Answer:
- Thank goodness: So you are not hurt after that terrible fall? Thank goodness !.
- Welcome: Thank you, Rina, for helping me in my studies. Welcome, Shaila.
- I’m afraid: I’m afraid I have mislaid my notes. Can you please give me yours?
- I’d rather: Come out in this hot weather? I’d rather sit at home and read a good book.
- I’d better: It’s getting late. I’d better go home now.
- Never mind: I haven’t got any money! Never mind. I’ll pay.
- If you don’t mind: If you don’t mind, may I borrow your dictionary?
- Yes please: Shall I get you a cold drink? Yes, please.
- No thanks: Shall I drop you home? No thanks.
- Of course: Do you want to come to Ooty with me? Of course.
- How do you do? : Ram, meet my friend Govind.
Hello Govind, how do you do?
How do you do? - Oh! dear!: Oh dear! My new dress is torn!
- Dear me !: Dear me! I cannot bear to watch this sorrowful movie!
- I wonder: I wonder what will happen if there is no clear result at the elections.
- How dare: How dare you imply that I am lazy!
VI. Grammar Revisited:
A. Modals
How good is your knowledge of your class/ school?
Answer the following questions using only the expressions given below. Form groups of 4 each and read your answers to your group.
It could/might/maybe …………. (to express possibility)
It must be …………. (to express your conclusion.)
It can’t be ……………. (to express strong improbability)
- Who is the most intelligent boy/girl in your class?
- Who is the most diligent boy ‘/girl in your class?
- Which is the most useful subject of your study?
- Which is the most unhealthy food your friend eats?
- When will you get your progress card for the next exam?
- Who is the heaviest eater in your class?
- Who is the most responsible student in your class?
- Which is the busiest month of your academic year?
- Who will be the top scorer this year in your class?
- Who has the most creative bent of mind in this class?
Answers:
- It must be Vijaya.
- It may be the boy who sits in the 2nd row.
- It must be English.
- It must be Pizzas.
- It might be two weeks after the next exam.
- It can’t be Bhim.
- It may be Jagadish.
- It must be in the month of March.
- It must be Narendra.
- It may be Sunil.
B. Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate alternatives.
1. _________ our many faults, our parents love us.
a) Besides
b) Even though
c) In spite of
d) Having
Answer:
(c) In spite of
2. It’s late to go for a walk now; ________ it has started raining
a) in case
b) besides
c) however
d) even though
Answer:
(b) besides
3. Do you enjoy __________ cricket?
a) to play
b) to playing
c) for playing
d) playing
Answer:
(d) playing
4. We are really looking forward to _________ you again
a) to seeing
b) to see
c) see
d) seeing
Answer:
(a) to seeing
5. Esther __________ with the dog
a) befriended
b) made friends
c) made friend
d) made friendly
Answer:
(b) made friends
6.The balloon ___________ when the child stepped on it.
a) burst
b) bursted
c) has bursted
d) had bursted
Answer:
(a) burst
7. He would have attended the meeting if he __________ time
a) has had
b) had had
c) would have had
d) had
Answer:
(b) had had
8. There were ___________ guests today when compared to yesterday,
a) less
b) lesser
c) few
d) fewer
Answer:
(d) fewer
9. “Where are you? I have been ____________ you the whole morning.”
a) searching
b) searching for
c) searched d) searched for
Answer:
(b) searching for ENGLISH (First Language)
10. Reaching the top of the mountain, we _________ energy left for the descent.
a) had hardly any
b) hadn’t hardly any
c) had hardly no
d) hadn’t hardly no
Answer:
(a) had hardly any
11. Everyone brought __________ lunch to the picnic.
a) their
b) there
c) theirs
d) his/her
Answer:
(d) his/her
12. The package containing books and records ______________ last week.
a) is delivered
b) was delivered
c) are delivered
d) were delivered
Answer:
(b) was delivered
13. Which hand do you write ____________ ?
a) in
b) with
c) on
d) about
Answer:
(b) with
14. Noel, the little ‘Power Ranger’ shot _______________ the criminal but he escaped.
a) on
b) at
c) for
d) no preposition
Answer:
(b) at
15. I have been trying to learn to play the guitar for so many years, but I ____________ yet.
a) did not succeed
b) will not succeed
c) have not succeeded
d) had not succeeded
Answer:
(c) have not succeeded
16. It was difficult to see through the ___________ of the headlights of the vehicles.
a) brilliance
b) dazzle
c) shine
d) glare
Answer:
(d) glare
17. The idea of a balanced diet is very difficult to ___________ to anyone who is illiterate.
a) put through
b) put across
c) take in
d) makeover
Answer:
(b) put across
18. I had scarcely passed my twelfth birthday when I entered the inhospitable regions of examinations, through which for the next seven-year I __________ to journey.
a) will be destined
b) would be destined
c) was destined
d) destined
Answer:
(c) was destined
19. Growing up means ____________ getting larger, using our senses and brains to become more aware of the things around us.
a) neither nor
b) either or
c) not only.. but also
d) both as well as
Answer:
(c) not only but also
20. I am not too sure but I think these are those books
a) boys
b) boys
c) boys
d) boyes
Answer:
(a) boys
21.When asked about the mischief, the three boys looked at
a) each other
b) one another
c) the other
d) one other
Answer:
(b) one another
22. My first impression at the site was one of disillusionment.
a) on arriving
b) at arriving
c) while arriving
d) when arriving
Answer:
(a) on arriving
23. my good advice, Latha walked home in the rain
a) Rejecting herself of
b) Away from
c) Contrary to
d) With
Answer:
(c) Contrary to
24. If you ask nicely, a mother will probably the chocolate.
a) let you have
b) allow you have
c) allow that you have
d) let you have
Answer:
(d) let you have
25. Of the two toys, the child chose
a) the one most expensive
b) the less expensive
c) the least expensive
d) the most expensive of them
Answer:
(b) the less expensive.
VII. Fun with Language: Phrase Gems:
Fill in the middle of the jewels with a word which can be put after each of the other words in the jewel to make 5 two-word phrases. The first one is done for you:
1. Cell: Blood cell, stem cell, solar cell, padded cell, fuel cell
Answer:
1 – B – Room: Dining room, living room, restroom, smoking room, utility room.
C – Gallery: National gallery, press gallery, rogues gallery, shooting gallery, Tate gallery.
2. A – Belt: Bible belt, black belt, conveyor belt, fan belt, safety belt
B – Bag: stuffed shirt, sweatshirt, tee-shirt
C – Jacket: smoking jacket, bomber jacket, dinner jacket, donkey jacket, dust jacket
3. A-
B – Chart: Bar chart: organization chart, flow chart, control chart, pie chart.
C – Line: Assembly line: firing line, landline, party line, powerline.
4. A – Bag: Carrier -bag, body -bag, tea-bag, sleeping-bag, grow bag
B – Bath: Bloodbath, bubble bath, mudbath, swimming bath, steam bath.
C – Cup – Coffee cup, Davis cup, Egg cup, World cup, America’s cup.
5. A – Club – Country club, Jockey club, Luncheon club, Youth club, Book club.
Points to Remember:
- The blind narrator is sitting in a train compartment. He is not born blind, and can distinguish only between light and darkness.
- A girl enters the compartment at Rohana, having been seen off by a couple who were very concerned about her safety.
- The narrator likes the sound of her voice and her slippers. He begins a conversation with her.
- The girl is startled to know that there is someone else in the compartment.
- The narrator decides to hide his blindness from her, and speaks in a careful, clever manner.
- Both of them converse, making general comments about Mussoorie in October and the scenery outside.
- He tries to please her by saying that her face is interesting, and she calls him a very gallant young man.
- The train stops at her station. The girl is eager to go, but the narrator regrets her going.
- He is curious to know about her hairstyle but cannot ask her. Her perfume tantalizes him.
- There is confusion in the doorway as she leaves. A man comes into the compartment.
- The narrator asks about the hairstyle of the girl, and the man says that he did not notice that but he did notice that the girl was completely blind.
- The narrator succeeds in fooling both the girl and the man about his blindness, but is also fooled very successfully by the girl about her blindness.
The Eyes are not Here Summary in English
This is a very enjoyable and interesting story by Ruskin Bond. The narrator is traveling on a train. He is blind and can distinguish only between light and darkness. But he has not been blind from his birth. A girl comes into the compartment. The narrator cannot see her but hears her voice and the sound of her slippers. His regular game is to pretend to be normal-sighted and he starts the game with the girl too.
He opens the conversation by asking where she was going to. The girl is startled to know that there is someone else too in the compartment. She says that she is getting down at Saharanpur where her aunt is meeting her. The conversation proceeds in a general manner with both of them making remarks about Mussoorie in October and the scenery outside. The narrator tries to please the girl by saying that her face is interesting and the girl returns the compliment by saying that he is a very gallant young man.
Very soon her station arrives and she gets ready to go. The narrator regrets her going away and is also curious to know about her hairstyle. But she wishes him goodbye and goes. There is some confusion in the doorway and a man enters the compartment. Seeing the narrator serious, he apologizes for not being as attractive as the girl who left. The narrator immediately seizes the opportunity and asks him whether her hair was long or short. The man says that he hadn’t noticed not her hairstyle but her blind eyes.
He asks the narrator whether he hadn’t noticed that fact. Though the story ends at this point, the readers, along with the narrator, feel a sort of regret for not having understood this fact. All along the girl was clever and smart in her replies to whatever the narrator said. Just like the narrator, even she had never mentioned her blindness but had spoken in a very general manner to give the impression that she was normal-sighted. The narrator had succeeded in hiding his blindness from the girl and the man, but he had also been fooled by the girl. This twist at the end makes it a truly wonderful story.