KSEEB Solutions for Class 9 English Prose Chapter 5 A Question of Space

Students can Download English Lesson 5 A Question of Space Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes Pdf, Activity, KSEEB Solutions for Class 9 English helps you to revise the complete Karnataka State Board Syllabus and to clear all their doubts, score well in final exams.

Karnataka State Syllabus Class 9 English Prose Chapter 5 A Question of Space

A Question of Space Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes

Comprehension:

C1. Read the lesson silently. The sequence of the events in the lesson has been given below in a jumbled order. Rearrange them and complete the chart given below:

1. Anuj had started journalism on his own and took up photography later.
2. “It will help you witness your reactions as if they were happening to someone else.”
3. He felt he needed time to pursue his own interests and pleasures, especially after he met Anuj.
4. The conflict had acquired a distinct edge ever since he had met Anuj.
5. “If you still have not found out, when do you intend to enroll?”
6. Anuj had turned into a friend very quickly, a much older friend.
7. “It seems to me that the pressure is worse for children of doctors.”
8. His class grades had dropped; he has started skipping group tuitions.

Answer:
1 – 4, 2 – 6, 3 – 8, 4 – 1, 5 – 7, 6 – 2, 7 – 5, 8 – 3

C2. The extract given in the second column tells us about the persons mentioned in the first column. Write your response in the third column. The first one has been done for you. Discuss your responses with your partner

C3. Read the lesson and share your responses before answering the following questions in three or four sentences each:

Question 1.
Vikrant’s mother was harping on the importance of the year. What was she anxious about Vikrant?
Answer:
Vikrant’s mother was anxious that Vikrant was not spending enough time preparing for the medical entrance exams. She felt that class XI was an important year for getting a good grip on science and math and for viewing that year as foundation year for class XII, for using that period as a practice year for the XII Board exams and medical entrance exams.

Question 2.
Anuj had spun into Vikrant’s life like a ‘new universe’. Why did Vikrant feel so? Who was Anuj?
Answer:
Anuj had spun into Vikrant’s life like a new universe, on the jogging track. Anuj was a photo-journalist, who had dynamic ideas on photography, on the connectedness between human being and all other living species, on self- improvement as a part of human evolution on the cosmos.

Question 3.
The identity of Vikrant with Anuj created tension between Vikrant and his parents. How did it happen?
Answer:
For Vikrant’s parents, photography was a frivolous profession and did not hold the same prestige as medicine. Therefore they felt that Vikrant was wasting his time with Anuj who was according to them a Junkie and that Vikrant was losing his concentration over serious study.

Question 4.
Vikrant said, “Medicine is considered gives prestige.” Is this thought prejudicial? Do you agree with this opinion ?
Answer:
The thought is indeed prejudicial. No profession is to be considered superior nor inferior. Every profession is necessary for the society to evolve and grow. Every profession has its specific value and advantage. As long as one discharges one’s duty diligently, one need not feel ashamed of one’s profession.

Question 5.
What was the reply of Anuj when Vikrant asked him how would his suggestions help him?
Answer:
Anuj said that it will help him witness his reactions as if they were happening to someone else. By observing his body and its reactions, he can also distance himself from them. The distance will help him see and control his reactions.

Question 6.
When did his Vikrant start self-observation? What did he observe? (Refer para. 23 – 25)
Answer:
At night during dinner, Vikrant’s father started commenting on Vikrant’s wasteful spending of time with Anuj whom he considered a junkie. His father’s remark sent a strong wave of heat through his body, making him leave the room without another word.

Question 7.
How did Vikrant’s father try to convince him to join tuitions for medical entrance?
Answer:
Vikrant’s father said that tuitions for medical entrances were not mere tuitions. They were special coaching classes which coached students for that highly competitive exam, as one wrong answer could make all the difference.

Question 8.
What are the last two steps of self-observation suggested by Anuj to Vikrant?
Answer:
Anuj said that the moment an active feeling came which had to be controlled, he had to make note of it but not express it. Then the next and last step was to express an emotion opposite to what he felt. For example if he felt agitated, he had to express it calmly.

Question 9.
‘He did this with awareness that it was the right thing for him to do.’ What does ‘awareness’ refer to here?
Answer:
The word ‘awareness’ here refers to his complete acceptance of preparing seriously for the medical entrance tests. He did this preparation without any resentment or despair. He did it because he wanted to do.

Question 10.
The word ‘Space’ in the title of the lesson has a significant reference. Comment on the title.
Answer:
The word ‘Space’ in the lesson does not refer to external space but to our mind. It means that we have to create a distance (a space) between us and an emotion only then can we observe the emotion impartially and find a solution for it. Space between us and our emotion gives us clarity of thought.

C4. Read the following extracts from the lesson carefully and explain each of them with reference to the context:

Question 1.
“Hey! What’s up? You look grim.”
Answer:
This sentence is taken from the lesson ‘A question of space’ written by ‘Neera Kashyap’. This is said by Anuj to Vikrant. Vikrant was feeling very much pressurized by his parents to excel and get a seat in medical college. One day, he was seated dejectedly in the park after jogging, when ‘ his friend Anuj who was also-exercising, saw him. He asked him this question, then.

Question 2.
“But tell me, how do you react to pressure?”
Answer:
This sentence is taken from the lesson ‘A question of space’ written by ‘Neera Kashyap’. This is spoken by Vikrant to Anuj. Vikrant was very depressed because he was being pressurized by his doctor parents to get into a reputed medical college through hard work. He was discussing this with his friend Anuj when he said the above sentence.

Question 3.
“Sure… Why not? Actually, our range of expression is quite limited.”
Answer:
This sentence is taken from the lesson ‘A question of space’ written by ‘Neera Kashyap’. This is spoken by Anuj to Vikrant. When Vikrant talks of getting frustrated due to intense pressure, Anuj advises him to observe his body and his reactions. Then Vikrant questions Anuj why should one observe only under pressure. Then Anuj says this. He says that one can experience and become familiar with all kinds of expressions.

Question 4.
“If you still have not found out, when do you intend to enroll?”
Answer:
This sentence is taken from the lesson ‘A question of space’ written aby ‘Neera Kashyap’. This is spoken by Vikrant’s father to him. One day at dinner time, Vikrant’s father asked him if he had found a suitable coaching centre for medical entrance tests. Vikrant replied that he hadn’t yet done that, for which his father spoke the above words.

Question 5.
“You cannot change anything till things are ready for change.”
Answer:
This sentence is taken from the lesson ‘A question of space’ written by ‘Neera Kashyap’. This advice was given by Anuj to Vikrant. Vikrant started noticing his bodily reaction whenever he was agitated but things did not change with his parents who still treated him like a child. When he spoke this to Anuj, Anuj told him that change can happen only when everyone is agreeable to change.

C5. Discuss the answers for the following questions in groups and then present your answers before the other group:

Question 1.
Compare and contrast the characters -Vikrant and Anuj. Who would you like to be Vikrant or Anuj? Justify your answer.
Answer:
Vikrant is a young boy studying in XI std. who is going through an intense period of pressure and depression as his parents expect him to excel in academics and become a doctor? Anuj is much older than Vikrant and is a photojournalist. He took journalism first and then branched out to photojournalism. Anuj chose his profession without any pressure and he chose it because he was very clear as to what he wanted to be.

He advised Vikrant to let go of his negative emotions, look at a certain situation quite objectively before coming to a conclusion. Vikrant heeded the advice of Anuj and became a calmer and more sensible human being. I would like to be Anuj because of his maturity of mind, clarity of thoughts, his sensible way of decision making, his contentment with his profession and his cheerful and positive attitude towards life.

Question 2.
After following the advice of Anuj, we observe a change in the attitude and behaviour of Vikrant. Trace the chain of those changes.
Answer:
Looking at Vikrant being very upset, Anuj advised him to notice his body’s reactions whenever he was upset. Vikrant noticed that whenever he got upset, his mouth would get dry, his head-tight at the temples and his body slightly hunched. After Vikrant became aware of his body’s reaction to various emotions, Anuj gave him another piece of advice.

He advised him to display an emotion opposite to what he was feeling. For e.g., if he felt agitated, he had to speak calmly. Vikrant followed this advice diligently and found a change of attitude and behaviour in himself. Whenever his parents spoke to him in an upsetting manner, he used to respond in a calm manner, thereby a change came over them too.

Question 3.
What is the role played by Anuj in this lesson? What message does the author convey to the reader through his character?
Answer:
Anuj plays the role of a friend, philosopher and guide to Vikrant. Though he is thought of as a junkie by Vikrant’s parents, in fact he is the one who brings in a positive change in Vikrant. Anuj makes Vikrant realize that getting pressurized and bowing to that pressure is not the way of life, one has to detach oneself and see the problem and respond to that problem in a calm and composed manner.

Vikrant follows the advice and changes his attitude and chooses his path with confidence. The message we get through Anuj’s character is that one need not be highly educated or qualified to have common sense.

Question 4.
Assume yourself to be Vikrant. Write a letter to a friend discussing the ways in which you transformed yourself.
Answer:
No. 51, Shanti Dham
HSR Layout Sector IV
Bangalore
30th March 2017
Dear Vikram,

Received your letter and noted the contents well and wish the same with all of you there. Glad to note that you have joined the coaching center for Engineering in your city.

I too have joined the coaching center for the medical entrance exam here. The way and the manner I did it is very interesting. You know the pressure I had from my parents to get into a prestigious medical college. It used to make me frustrated and irritated. I met a friend Anuj in the jogging park. He is a photojournalist, much older to me. He saw me irritated and advised me to note the reaction of my body whenever I was upset.

I noticed that my mouth would go dry, body become hunched and headache and throbbing at the temples would start. Then he advised me that each time I felt that emotion, I had to respond with an opposite emotion. So every time I felt agitated, I used to speak in a calm manner. This brought a change in my parents’ attitude towards me also and they no longer nag me. Now I have enrolled at the coaching class because I want to, not because I’m forced to. I’m at peace with myself and the world now. I pass on this piece of advice to you also.
After all the entrance tests are over, let us r meet and spend a few days together. Please reply soon.
Yours sincerely,
Vikrant

To
Mr. Vikram,
102, Autin Towers,
M. G. Road,
Belgaum.

Question 5.
Do you have a dream/ or a desire to do something? If yes, say how you would like to realize the same in 10-15 sentences.
Answer:
Since this is individual work – hints are given – students to write using those hints.

• What is your dream / desire?
• Is it possible to achieve it?
• Do you have the support from family and friends for it?
• If yes, how are they supportive?
• If no, how will you make them see your point of view?
• How will you go about in the pursuit of a dream?
• How will you react upon achieving the dream/desire?

II. Language Activities:

Vocabulary:

V1. The nouns such as pleasure, spontaneity, excitement, etc., are used to express actions, emotions or feelings and the quality of actions.

Pick out such words from the lesson which express emotions and put them under as pleasant on unpleasant columns.

V2. Match the words in column A (they are words related to professions and the people who do them) with the corresponding meanings given in column B. You can use a dictionary to verify your answers.

Answer:
1 – b, 2 – c, 3 – a, 4 – e, 5 – f, 6 – g, 7 – d

V3. Phrasal Verbs:

A. Complete the following sentences with a phrasal verb that includes one of the adverbs and one of the verbs given below:

Adverbs: down, in, out, up
Verbs: turn, come, slow, let, go, drop, grow, warm, plug.

1. The dentist says John will have to let two teeth go.
2. Videos are cheaper now. Prices have actually come down since the 1980s.
3. He could play the guitar when he was six. I think he’s going to be a great guitarist when he grows up.
4. Slow down! You are driving much too fast!
5. Smoking is not allowed in here. Please drop that cigarette down.
6. You must be very cold. Sit by the fire and warm up.
7. There’s someone at the door. Can you let them in, please?
8. Look, there’s the plug on the floor. You haven’t plugged the television in.

B. Find the meanings of the following phrasal verbs and frame sentences of your own. You can use a dictionary:

come across, get on, take part, getaway, get through, keep out, think over, take down, look into.

Question 1.
come across –

1. to be understood
2. to meet or find someone by chance.

Answer:

1. He, spoke for a long time, but what he was trying to tell didn’t really come across.
2. She came across some old photographs in a drawer.

Question 2.
get on – be friendly
Answer:
The new student got on very well with his classmates.

Question 3.
take part – participate
Answer:
All the children took part in their school’s Annual Day Programmes.

Question 4.
get away –

1. To go somewhere;
2. to escape.

Answer:

1. We are hoping to get away for a few days at Christmas.
2. The thief got away after robbing the bank.

Question 5.
get through –

1. succeed
2. understand

Answer:

1. We got through the Board Exams in flying colors.
2. The man could not get through to the foreigner as both didn’t know each other’s language.

Question 6.
keep out –

1. to stay outside
2. to avoid

Answer:

1. Keep that dog out of my room.
2. Keep the baby out of the sun.

Question 7.
think over – to consider carefully
Answer:
The judge thought over very carefully, before passing the judgment.

Question 8.
take down – to write down
Answer:
The secretary took down the notes dictated by her boss.

Question 9.
look into – examine
Answer:
We have to look into the state of our finances, before buying a vehicle.

C. Using the dictionary match the meanings of the phrasal verbs in column A with their meanings in column B:

Answer:
(i) 1 – d, 2 – c, 3 – b, 4 – a.
(ii) Answered

II. Grammar and Usage Comparison:

G1. Comment on the information using a comparative and superlative adjective:

1. Venus has a diameter of 12,104 kilometers. It isn’t as big as the Earth, which has a diameter of 12,756 kilometers.
   • The Earth is bigger than Venus in diameter, (comparative) (No Superlative as only 2 planets are compared.)
2. The Mona Lisa is worth many millions of dollars. No other picture in the world is so valuable.
   • The Mona Lisa is the most valuable picture in the world. (Superlative)
3. Telecom Tower is 180 meters tall, but the Canada Tower in East London is 250 metres tall.
   • Canada Tower in East London is taller than the Telecom Tower. (Comparative)
   • Telecom Tower is not as tall as Canada Towers (Positive)
   • No superlative as only two towers are compared.
4. Cambridge University dates from 1284, but it is not as old as Oxford University, which dates from 1167.
   • Oxford University is older than Cambridge University.
   • Cambridge University is not as old as Oxford University.
   • No superlative degree as only two universities are compared.
5. Toby, who lived in New York, was a much¬loved dog. When his owner died, she left him $ 75 million, which made him a world
   • record breaker among wealthy dogs. Toby was the wealthiest dog in the world.
   • Toby was wealthier than any other dog in the world (Comparative)
   • No other dog in the world was as wealthy as Toby (Positive)

G2. A. The chart below shows information on the economics of the Annual Sports Meet. Study the chart carefully:

The total cost estimated for the Annual Meet is Rs. 90,500.

1. No. of events: 70 (50 Track and Field events and 20 Throws and Jumps)
2. No. of athletes: 750 (450 Girls + 300 Boys)
3. Staff on Duty: Teachers – 65 (25 men + 40 women), Support Staff 20 (10 men + 10 women) Staff on Parking and Security 15 (10 men + 5 women)
4. Medals: 70 Gold, 70 Silver, 70 Bronze
5. Best Athlete Trophies: Boys 3, Girls 3
6. Best House Trophies 4(1 for each category and 1 overall)

Assume your are the Sports Secretary in charge of the School Annual Sports Meet. Taking information from the chart, prepare an oral presentation for the Management Committee of the school. Use as many expressions of comparison as you can.

I wish to present the estimation of expenditure for the Annual sports Meet. We have totally 70 events out of which we have 50 track and field events and 20 throws and jumps. Total number of athletes participating are 750. More girls are participating than boys 450 : 300 we have more teachers than support staff to help us. We have 65 teachers out of which 40 are women and 25 are man.

Support staff are 20 with 10 men and 10 women. We need equal number of Gold, Silver and Bronze medals ie. 70 each. We need 4 Best House Trophies, 1 for each category and 1 overall. The estimated cost comes to Rs. 90,500. As much as quarter of all the money will be spent on sports equipments. More than a quarter part of the money is kept aside for organizing cultural programmes during the opening and closing ceremonies.

B. Read the following article in which the writer compares the treatment of boys and girls. Complete the article by filling in the spaces with appropriate words from the box given below:

than few less much as many

Even the girls who are allowed to survive live with less of everything. Fewer girls are sent to a school than boys. They get less medical care, so many girls die. Boys get more nutritious food and also more time to play. Few jobs are open to girls, and even if they are employed, they are not paid as much as boys. Most of all, they get less respect. They are not given as many opportunities as boys to speak out on matters that concern them.

And yet a girl usually does twice as much work as a boy, not only in the house but also in the fields. This discrimination and bias must end, and end now! Can we count on your support?

C. Read at the information and complete the sentences using more, most, less, least, fewer, or fewest:

1. There isn’t as much crime in country areas as there is in cities.
   There’s less crime in country areas than in the cities.
2. No other state of the US has as much rain as Louisiana.
   Louisiana has the most rain among all states of the U.S.
3. The Green Party candidate didn’t get many votes. All the other candidates got more.
   The Green party candidate got the fewest votes.
4. There are lots of passengers on the buses in the daytime, but not so many in the evenings.
   In the evenings there are fewer passengers on the buses.
5. At the moment Arsenal has 42 points. No other club has more than 37.
   Arsenal has the most points.
6. Sellco has made very little profit. In fact, it has made less than any other supermarket.
   Sellco has made the least profit.
7. The accident rate among young drivers is higher than among older drivers.
   Young drivers meet with more accidents than older drivers.

D. Complete the conversation. Put in ‘less, least, more, most, or as’:

• Lobo: I’m going to Delhi next week, so I’ll have to book my flight. I think it’ 11 be more convenient to go by air than by train.
• Peter: I’d go by train. Trains are more comfortable than planes.
• Lobo: But the train fare is really expensive. The plane isn’t as expensive as the train, which always surprises me.
• Peter: I hate flying. It’s my least favorite means of transport.
• Lobo: Well, I don’t mind it. And I’m not as keen on trains as you are. A short flight is less boring than a long train journey, I find.
• Peter: I’d rather drive than fly.
• Lobo: I’m definitely not driving. No, thank you. Driving all that way would be the most stressful way of getting there.
• Peter: I don’t think driving is as stressful as flying.
• Lobo: Well, it is to me.
• Peter: And will you be able to get a flight at the right time? Planes are less frequent than trains, aren’t they?
• Lobo: Oh, there are plenty of flights. There’s one at ten in the morning. That’ll be the most convenient.

E. Comparatives with ‘the …the…’ Rewrite the sentences using the ….. the ……

Question 1.
How well I sleep depends on how late I go to bed.
Answer:
The later I go to bed, the better I sleep.

Question 2.
I don’t spend much time with my family because I work so hard.
Answer:
The harder 1 work, the lesser time I get to spend time with my family.

Question 3.
The traffic moves very slowly as more cars come into the city.
Answer:
The more cars come into the city, the slower the traffic moves.

Question 4.
How much you sweat depends on how hot you feel.
Answer:
The hotter you feel, the more you sweat.

Question 5.
The idea becomes less attractive as I think about it more.
Answer:
The more I think about it, the lesser attractive the idea becomes.

Question 6.
How much petrol a car uses depends on the size of the engine.
Answer:
The bigger the size of the engine, the more petrol the car uses.

F. Superlatives:

Which of the following do you like the best? Write one or two sentences comparing your choices as shown in the example.

Question 1.
Fresh fruit juice, Coco cola, Maaza.
Answer:

• I like fresh fruit juice the best because it is good for health.
• I like coco-cola the best because it has a lot of fizz.
• I like maaza the best because it tastes like real mango.

Question 2.
Disco dance, Indian classic, Pop dance.
Answer:

• People enjoy disco dance, the best because it is very energetic.
• People like the Indian classic the best because it represents the greatness of our culture.
• Youngsters like pop-dance the best because there are not much steps involved in it.

Question 3.
Dance, singing, drama.
Answer:

• Dance is the best form of art because it expresses the feeling clearly.
• Singing is the best form of art because it involves melody and rhythm.
• Drama is the best form of art because it showcases a variety of emotions.

Question 4.
Fruit, Chocolates, ice creams.
Answer:

• I like fruit because it helps us to resist diseases.
• I like the chocolates because they are very tasty.
• I like ice-creams because they have got various flavours in them.

G. Error Correction:

Each sentence below contains an error. Identify and correct the error and rewrite the sentences correctly.

Question 1.
The faster land animal in the world is the cheetah.
Answer:
The fastest land animal in the world is a cheetah.

Question 2.
His grade is the same as mine.
Answer:
His grades are the same as mine.

Question 3.
Sarla is slightly taller to Suman.
Answer:
Sarla is slightly taller than Suman.

Question 4.
Our house is bigger as than yours.
Answer:
Our house is bigger than yours.

Question 5.
The Vidhana Soudha is most prominent building in Bengaluru.
Answer:
The Vidhana Soudha is the most prominent building in Bengaluru.

III. Speaking: Group Activity

S1. Class Activity

IV. Conversation

S2. Class Activity

A Question of Space Summary in English

Vikrant is the only child of a successful doctor couple who want him to become a doctor too. Vikrant studies in XI std and his day is filled with studies and more studies. His parents constantly harp at him to be serious about his studies as he has to get an admission into a premier medical college.

These conflicts intensify after Vikranth’s friendship with Anuj, a photojournalist whom Vikranth met in the jogging track. One day Vikranth asks Anuj if he was forced into his profession. Anuj replies that he took it up out of his own choice and asks Vikranth if he is pressurized by his people and how he reacts to the pressure.

Vikranth replies that he argues and walks out. Then Anuj advises him to keep track of how his body reacts when he in upset. Vikranth, then starts noticing that whenever he gets upset, his body starts clenching, mouth gets dry, his head tight at the temples. He feels it when his parents put pressure on him to join tuitions for media! entrance. Unable to bear the pressure he walks out again.

The next day, Vikranth tells Anuj that observing his body reactions and emotions is not helping him solve his problem. Then Anuj gives him the most important piece of advice. He asks him to express an emotion opposite to what he feels, says that if he is agitated, he should express as calmly as possible.

Vikranth tries this and finds that he is able to bear the pressure much better and also notices that his parents now willingly listen to his point of view and agree to support him. With the mental pressure off from him, Vikranth at the end of class XI enrolls for classes at a coaching centre for medical entrance tests with an awareness that he is doing the right thing.

Glossary:

• consistent: always behaving in the same way.
• rhythm: regular repeated pattern of movement, sound
• intense: extreme
• prestigious: respected, admired
• harping: talking in an annoying manner
• dismay: worry, sorrow
• flopped: sat or lay down heavily
• grouted: stuck
• hunched: the top part of the body bent forward
• bulldozed: forced into doing something
• spontaneity: unplanned action
• hostility: enmity
• stirrings: development, causing strong feelings
• interaction: communication