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Karnataka State Syllabus Class 9 English Prose Chapter 4 Mauritius
Mauritius Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes
Comprehension:
C1. Answer the following questions:
Question 1.
Where is Mauritius?
Answer:
Mauritius is a tiny Island situated below the Equator in the Indian Ocean. It is about 4,500 kms. away to the south-west of Mumbai.
Question 2.
Name the people of different origins found in Mauritius.
Answer:
Africans, Chinese, Indians, Dutch, Persians, Arabs, French and English are found in Mauritius. They co-exist peacefully here.
Question 3.
Who are referred to as the ‘buccaneering trinity’ of those days? Why are they so called?
Answer:
The ‘buccaneering trinity’ of those days are the Dutch, the French and the English. They are so called because they constantly waged battle for the possession of the island for its spices and sugar or just for the strategic position on the maritime route to the East.
Question 4.
List out some ‘very musical but unpronounceable names’ as found by the author.
Answer:
Some very musical but unpronounceable names found by the author are Trouaux Biches, Beau Bassin, Quarter Barnes, Curepipe, Ross Belle etc.
Question 5.
What are the ‘flora and fauna’ found in Mauritius?
Answer:
Mauritius does not have claim to any specific flora or fauna. The trees are all short and gnarled. It does not have any wild animals or snakes or even insects. The bat was the only mammal found when the Island was discovered.
Dodo which was an inhabitant of this Island has become extinct. The giant tortoises of Aldabra variety are found but are dwindling. The entire island is surrounded by gigantic underwater coral reefs and the underwater teems with a variety of marine creatures.
Question 6.
How is nature cruel to the people of Mauritius?
Answer:
Mauritius gets battered by storms very frequently. They are almost an annual event. The people are used to facing storms. But once in fifteen years, a cyclone of great magnitude called the King cyclone batters the Island and flattens almost the entire Island, smashing windows and doors, tearing up the rooftops, uprooting the trees and bringing down the buildings. The people rebuild their places after the cyclone, which gets redestroyed with the arrival of the King cyclone.
Question 7.
Name some aquatic creatures sighted by the author.
Answer:
Crabs, lobsters, snaky forms and fishes with hideous spikes, long tails and battered faces.
C2. Answer the following questions:
Question 1.
Why was it difficult for the author to locate Mauritius in his Atlas?
Answer:
It was difficult for the author to locate Mauritius in his Atlas because the World Atlas he had with him was an old one with many little dots and specks, resulting from weather conditions and cockroaches.
Question 2.
What is the reason for the people of different countries to settle in Mauritius?
Answer:
Though there are people of different nations in Mauritius, they are all happy to mingle with one another as they have a strange sense of oneness.
Question 3.
How does the author explain the absence of protocol among the government officials and ministers in Mauritius?
Answer:
The author points out that, in Mauritius, the Cabinet Ministers and others in high positions are unassuming, accessible, communicative and go about like ordinary people without protection and security. Moreover, the Prime Minister lives in a modest-looking flat in a busy street lined with shops and crawling traffic.
Question 4.
Give the description of mountains as given by the author.
Answer:
The beautiful blue mountains do not have the.traditional monotonous pyramidal shapes. Their outlines are freakish and whimsical with sweeps and perpendicular drops. The pin-pointed peaks have huge boulders standing very precariously on them.
Question 5.
How are the people of Mauritius fighting against the cruel jaws of Nature?
Answer:
Cyclones and storms are a regular occurrence in Mauritius. The king cyclone strikes once in fifteen years and literally flattens the Island. But people are used to it and once the cyclone passes they rebuild their homes and cities, replant the trees.
In fact they almost forget the ferocity of the cyclone and reconstruct the buildings with beauty and elegance. But at the end of fifteen years period, King cyclone appears and flattens the Island once again.
Question 6.
What would be the future of Mauritius as opined by the author?
Answer:
The author is doubtful whether Mauritius would be able to preserve its pristine charm. The entire economy is dependent on sugar and the government is nervous about the country’s complete dependence on a single commodity, namely sugar. It is eager to have foreign entrepreneurs start their industries on the Island.
But if that happens, then the cost of living will go up, there will be pollution, unemployment, slums, taxations, an increase in the price of land, etc., and this beautiful Island will also fall prey to these evils and lose its pristine beauty.
C3. Compare and contrast the arriving and departing experience of the author during his flight:
Question 1.
Does it suggest anything to you?
Answer:
When the author arrives in Mauritius, he is full of expectations. He is amazed by the variety of race and language coexisting in the tiny island. There is a sense of wonderment in the observations he makes of the island. When he departs, there is a note of despondency about the future of Mauritius. He wonders whether it would continue to be the paradise that it has all along been if it goes in for foreign entrepreneurship.
Grammar and Usage:
G1. The order of adjectives:
When there are several adjectives to a noun, certain word order is followed as shown below.
- opinion
- size
- most other qualities
- age
- colour
- origin
- material
- type
- purpose
Arrange Adjectives for the Noun incorrect word order:
Question 1.
(eg.) vase – glass, old, lovely
Answer:
lovely old glass vase.
Question 2.
Basin – sugar, antique, silver
Answer:
antique silver sugar basin
Question 3.
Game – family, new, exciting
Answer:
new exciting family game
Question 4.
Computer – business, Japanese, powerful
Answer:
powerful Japanese business computer
Question 5.
Fire – electric, excellent, small
Answer:
Excellent small electric fire.
Question 6.
Chocolate bar – new, big
Answer:
new big chocolate bar.
Question 7.
Comedy – American, television, terrific
Answer:
Terrific American television comedy.
Question 8.
Doors – aluminum, garage, stylish
Answer:
stylish aluminum garage doors.
Question 9.
Shoes – modern, sports, wonderful
Answer:
wonderful modern sports shoes.
Question 10.
Phone – mobile, German, good.
Answer:
good German mob i le phone.
Ex: 2. Pick out the multiple adjectives used to describe the following:
1. Clouds like – funny shapes, odd, figures in the ancient legends
2. Trees – short, gnarled, overgrown bonsai
3. Cabinet ministers – unassuming, accessible, communicative
4. Mountains – freakish, whimsical, unexpected, perpendicular, pin-pointed
5. Lagoons – calm, turquoise – blue
G2. Modals:
A. Given below are some dialogues, underline the modals.
- a. A: Raju has fractured his arm.
B: But still he can write. - b. A: I have still some shopping to do. May I leave my bag in your store?
B: Yes, but please collect it before 8.00 pm. - c. A: The coffee is rather bitter. Would you please pass some sugar.
B: No, you must not take any sugar. - d. A: My feet get swollen in the evening.
B: Then you must consult a doctor. - e. A: I’ll not be able to finish my assignment in time.
B: Shall I do the drawings for you?
B. Match the Modals in column ‘A’ with their functions and attitude in column B.
Answer:
1 – g, 2 – c, 3 – e, 4 – a, 5 – h, 6 – f, 7 – b, 8 – d
C. Read the following letter and choose the most suitable alternative, from those given in brackets.
DearMohit,
It was pleasing to get your letter and to hear the good news that you are going trekking with your friends. You (ought to / would / should) have a break after your exams! You asked me what you (can / should /will) take. Well, you (might / can’t / mustn’t) fit everything in a backpack so you must be selective. You (will / can / must) take at least one sweater because it (ought to / should/can) get very cold in the mountains. You (needn’t / could / should) pack a gas stove because there (could /may / will) be plenty of firewood from dead trees.
I’m sure you (will / should / could) have a wonderful time but I (may /would / should) give you a word of warning. Don’t get stuck in the Laki Pass at night. Once you’re there, you (won’t be able to / can’t be able to / not be able to) get down and it is very dangerous at night. By the way, you (should / should have to / should have) told me earlier that you were going and I (should have / would have / will have) given you walking boots!
Anyway, look after yourself and enjoy your holiday.
with love
Daddy
D. Language skills: Complete the dialogue given below using appropriate modals.
- Sara: Excuse me, Madam, _1_ you repeat the explanation again, please?
- Teacher: Why do you want me to repeat it? You _2_ be very attentive when I am teaching.
- Sara: Sorry Madam, I _3_ hear you properly.
- Teacher: You _4_ have a hearing problem Sara, check your ears. You _5_ sit in the front row from tomorrow. I _6_ now explain it again. Pay attention.
- Sara: Thank you, Madam.
Answer:
- could
- must
- couldn’t
- may
- must
- will
Language skills:
Polite requests – situation and reaction
Question 1.
Your neighbour is playing too loud music, which is distributing you.
Answer:
Can you please reduce the sound level of music you are playing?
Question 2.
You could not visit your friend who was ill at the hospital.
Answer:
I’m sorry I couldn’t visit you at the hospital when you were ill.
Question 3.
You have lost the book you had ’ borrowed from your friend.
Answer:
I’m extremely sorry to have lost the book I had borrowed from you.
Question 4.
Your are late to the school by an hour.
Answer:
Excuse me Madam, I’m sorry that I couldn’t reach the school on time.
Question 5.
You are unable to help your friend financially in his need.
Answer:
I’m afraid I can’t help you financially in your hour of need.
L2. Listening and Speaking Activity:
Ex. 1:
Ex. 2: Change the vowel sound from /e/ to bleak sweat /i :/ to form new words.
- check – cheek
- red – read
- bet – beat
- men – mean
- sell – seal
- sweat – sweat
- bed – bead
- set – seat
- fed – feed
- led – lead
Ex. 3: Find a way from Start to Finish, by drawing a line. You may pass a square only if the word in it has the sound / i:/ you can move horizontally (↔) or vertically (↕) only.
Answer:
Route leave ➝ dream ➝ east ➝ seat ➝ team ➝ peace ➝ tea ➝ cream ➝ jeans ➝ reach ➝ meat ➝ cheat ➝ means ➝ steak ➝ heat ➝ peak ➝ beat ➝ leaf ➝ seen ➝ wheat ➝ wheel ➝ teach ➝ seem ➝ clean ➝ need ➝ speak ➝ lean ➝ beach ➝ please
Role Play:
The author and a man of Mauritius who has his roots in a foreign country:
- Author: Hello, I am from India. Pleased to meet you. Mauritius is a great place. I just love it.
- Radhakrishna Govindan: Hello! Actually my forefathers were from Madras, but my great grandfather was brought here by the British to work in the sugarcane fields.
- Author: Have your people been living here since then?
- RKG: Yes, my grandfather was able to buy a patch of land and we’ve been growing sugarcane since then.
- Author: What about you? Do you continue with the same work?
- RKG: No. No. I have a factory which converts the cane into sugar and I export it to the west.
- Author: What about your lands?
- RKG: My brother takes care of that.
- Author: When will you return to your native country?
- RKG: Mauritius is my native country. I am a natural-born citizen. I do not know anything about Madras, in fact, I can’t speak in Tamil fluently.
- Author: Oh I see! So you are actually a Mauritian rather than an Indian.
- RKG: Very true.
Writing skill (Example work given as an outline to be expanded):
The Elephant
Description:
- Great size and strength
- trunk – its uses
- big ears, a small tail, tusks (uses)
- movement – speed
Habitat:
- India and Africa
- lives in herds
- herbivorous
Use:
- Great use to man because of its strength and intelligence
- Draws heavy loads
- Piles logs
- used in hunting with a Mahout
- used in battles in the olden days
- used in temples for processions etc.
Elephant poaching:
- hunted for ivory
- caught alive to be tamed
Mauritius Additional Questions and Answers
Question 1.
How did the clouds resemble the author?
Answer:
The clouds resembled figures from the ancient legends of China, Rome, Greece, India etc.
Question 2.
What variety do you find in Mauritius?
Answer:
The tiny Island of Mauritius has an astonishingly similar variety, strange juxtapositions, incongruities, odd mixtures of race and language.
Question 3.
Why were the slaves brought to Mauritius?
Answer:
The slaves were brought to Mauritius as indentured labourers to work in sugarcane fields and factories or to cut trees in the jungle and transport them to the boats.
Question 4.
Name the buccaneering trinity of old days.
Answer:
The Dutch, the French and the English were the buccaneering trinity of those days.
Question 5.
How did the English gain control over the Island?
Answer:
The English, the French and the Dutch always waged battles for the possession of the Island. The English won in the battle of 1810 and the French surrendered after exacting a favour from the English that the French influence would remain intact.
Question 6.
Describe the behaviour of the natives of the Island.
Answer:
The people are extremely relaxed and warm towards strangers. They greet and smile at people as very good friends. People of various ethnicity live together amicably.
Question 7.
Describe the scene at. Port Louis harbour.
Answer:
Port Louis is a little port toAvn where the harbour is lined with merchant ships, trawlers, dinghies. The harbour is filled with sailors and dock-hands working or relaxing against the warehouse walls, smoking pipes.
Question 8.
Describe the jungles of Mauritius,
Answer:
The jungles abound with trees of various varieties. But they are all short and gnarled. There are no wild animals at all in the jungle nor can one find poisonous snakes or insects. With the arrival of humans monkeys and deer came to the Island. Before that only bat was found in the Island after the flightless bird Dodo got extinct.
Question 9.
How do the lagoons of Mauritius look?
Answer:
The calm turquoise blue lagoons of Mauritius are still and calm like lotus ponds and are a delight to those who like water sports. In some places the sea is so shallow, there is even horse – riding.
Question 10.
Name a few water sports available in the Island.
Answer:
Scuba-diving, swimming, surf riding, speed boat racing and yachting are a few examples of the water sports available in the Island.
Question 11.
How has the author described the underwater scenery of Mauritius?
Answer:
The underwater abounds in marine life of various species like crabs, lobsters, etc. One can find dense growth of coral reefs emitting various colours like violet, pink green, red etc. One can see shoals of fish of different varieties moving along the sea bed.
Annotations:
Question 1.
“I see shapeless ugly creatures crawling in the dark depths of the sea covers.”
Answer:
This sentence is taken from the lesson ‘Mauritius’ a travelogue written by R. K. Lakshman. This is said by the author when he describes the underwater scene of Mauritius.
People are taken in glass-bottomed boats to look at the coral reef growing under the water. As the boat goes deep into the sea, people can see a lot of marine creatures moving about the coral reefs.
Question 2.
“But the big ones come only once in 15 years”.
Answer:
This sentence is taken from the lesson ‘Mauritius’, a travelogue written by R. K. Lakshman. The author says this while describing the king cyclone.
Mauritius gets frequently battered by storms and cyclones and once in 15 years, the King cyclone strikes the island flattening the whole island smashing windows and doors – tearing up the rooftops, uprooting the trees etc. Every year, the people face storms but once in 15 years they fear the. brunt of the ki ng cyclone.
Mauritius Summary in English
Location:
Mauritius is a tiny Island situated below the equator on the Twentieth parallel in the Indian Ocean. Its capital is Port Louis. The total area of the country is 64 kms by 50 kms and the population is about 8,50,000 people.
Inhabitants and their major occupation: Africans, Chinese, Indians, Dutch, Persians, Arabs, French and English live here in amicable manner. Much earlier, the Island was ruled by the Dutch, the French and the English. But, in the battle of 1810, the Island was completely taken over by the English though the influence of other nations are still there.
The major agricultural growth is sugar cane and the Island is full of these fields. The people are very warm hearted, friendly towards strangers and even the people holding public positions do not have any attitudes. They merge with common population.
Physical features in and around Mauritius:
The mountains of Mauritius do not have the traditional pyramidical shape, but look a bit freakish with unexpected sweeps and perpendicular drops and pin-pointed peaks.
The trees are not gigantic, but are short and gnarled even in the interior jungles. There are no wild animals or snakes or insects here. The bat was the only mammal which was found here when humans arrived. The now extinct bird Dodo belonged to the Island. And so are the giant tortoises of the Aldabra variety, of which a few specimens have been brought and kept in an enclosure in the botanical gardens at Pompiemoussses.
A coral reef runs all round the Island parallel to the shore line. Tourists are taken in glass-bottomed boats into the sea and shown the rich underwater world teeming with coral reefs and variety of water animals. Tourists also enjoy a lot of water sports like scuba diving, swimming, surf riding, speed boat racing and yachting.
Very frequently, Mauritius gets battered by storms and cyclones. Once in 15 years, the king cyclone strikes the Island and almost flattens it. People recover from it and reconstruct their houses elegantly.
There is no railway in Mauritius. The mode of transport is by bus or car on the well-maintained roads. The entire country’s economy depends only on sugar fields. So it is eager to have foreign entrepreneurs start their industries here. The disadvantage of it would be the commercialization, industrialization pollution, shrinking of space etc.