The narrator describes hearing the strange noise while in bed; he then got up and went to investigate with his brother.
He was lying in bed (upstairs) in his room when he heard the noise.
On hearing an unfamiliar scraping/stepping sound he assumed someone had entered the house and might be a burglar, which prompted him to get up.
He thought it was an intruder/burglar (someone moving around in the house).
As they went downstairs the brothers noticed different eerie noises (footsteps, dragging or scraping sounds, and indistinct voices) which increased their alarm.
They heard scuffling and dragging noises, odd footsteps, creaking, and muffled voices — a variety of strange, unexplained sounds.
The story identifies the family next door as the Bodwells, who become involved when objects (a thrown shoe) land in their house and when the commotion spreads.
Their neighbours were the Bodwells (Mr. and Mrs. Bodwell).
When the shoe (thrown by the narrator's mother in alarm) landed in the Bodwells' house it caused the Bodwells to be startled and to react strongly, adding to the confusion and prompting neighbours/police involvement.
They were alarmed and upset; the incident startled them and led to an angry and anxious reaction (they came out/complained and the commotion escalated).
Hearing the mother's shout led the Bodwells to believe there was a real emergency, which motivated them to react and involve others.
They assumed something serious was happening — likely an intruder or attack — and became alarmed (they interpreted the shout as evidence of danger).
Grandfather was wearing a long flannel nightgown over long woollen pants, a nightcap and a leather jacket around his chest.
Grandfather was wearing a long flannel nightgown over long woollen pants, a nightcap and a leather jacket around his chest.
He concluded that the policemen were deserters from General Meade's army.
He concluded that the policemen were deserters from General Meade's army.
No. They were unwilling to leave without finding someone besides grandfather.
No. They were unwilling to leave without finding someone besides grandfather.
The reporter gazed at the author because the reply "We had ghosts" gave him no useful explanation; he looked at him like a slot machine into which a coin had been dropped without results.
The reporter gazed at the author because the reply "We had ghosts" gave him no useful explanation; he looked at him like a slot machine into which a coin had been dropped without results.
He was sorry because paying attention to the footsteps made him mistake them for a burglar or ghost and set off the night's confusion.
He was sorry because paying attention to the footsteps made him mistake them for a burglar or ghost and set off the night's confusion.
The footsteps seemed to be coming quickly up the stairs towards them, so they ran into their rooms and slammed the doors in fear.
The footsteps seemed to be coming quickly up the stairs towards them, so they ran into their rooms and slammed the doors in fear.
The slamming of the doors woke up the mother.
The slamming of the doors woke up the mother.
She was afraid to go downstairs but wanted the neighbours to summon help, so she threw a shoe through the Bodwells' window.
She was afraid to go downstairs but wanted the neighbours to summon help, so she threw a shoe through the Bodwells' window.
The disturbance frightened the Bodwells, and Mr Bodwell was prone to nervous attacks; therefore she wanted to sell the house and return to Peoria.
The disturbance frightened the Bodwells, and Mr Bodwell was prone to nervous attacks; therefore she wanted to sell the house and return to Peoria.
The policemen put their shoulders against the heavy front door and broke it open.
The policemen put their shoulders against the heavy front door and broke it open.
The narrator realized that it would be dangerous for the policemen to burst in on grandfather unannounced, but they reached the attic before he could intervene. Grandfather then mistook them for deserters, attacked them and forced them to retreat.
The narrator realized that it would be dangerous for the policemen to burst in on grandfather unannounced, but they reached the attic before he could intervene. Grandfather then mistook them for deserters, attacked them and forced them to retreat.
One policeman found and strummed the zither. The narrator explained that his former pet guinea pig had used it as a bed and would sleep nowhere else.
One policeman found and strummed the zither. The narrator explained that his former pet guinea pig had used it as a bed and would sleep nowhere else.
Grandfather imagined that the policemen were deserters from General Meade's army retreating under Stonewall Jackson's attack.
Grandfather imagined that the policemen were deserters from General Meade's army retreating under Stonewall Jackson's attack.
Late one moonless night the narrator, just out of the bath, heard rhythmic footsteps circling the dining-room table. He and his brother Herman, frightened, slammed doors and feared burglars or ghosts; their mother, awakened, screamed “Burglars!” and, in a frenzy, flung a shoe through the neighbouring Bodwells' window. Bodwell, startled and agitated, called the police. A large force arrived, smashed the front door, searched every room, and ransacked the house. In the attic the police startled grandfather, who, believing they were Civil War deserters, assaulted an officer and fired a gun. The whole series of misunderstandings — footsteps, a thrown shoe, an alarmed neighbour and the police raid — produced comic chaos.
Late one moonless night the narrator, just out of the bath, heard rhythmic footsteps circling the dining-room table. He and his brother Herman, frightened, slammed doors and feared burglars or ghosts; their mother, awakened, screamed “Burglars!” and, in a frenzy, flung a shoe through the neighbouring Bodwells' window. Bodwell, startled and agitated, called the police. A large force arrived, smashed the front door, searched every room, and ransacked the house. In the attic the police startled grandfather, who, believing they were Civil War deserters, assaulted an officer and fired a gun. The whole series of misunderstandings — footsteps, a thrown shoe, an alarmed neighbour and the police raid — produced comic chaos.
When Bodwell called, many policemen arrived — a Ford sedan, two motorcycles and a patrol wagon. They banged at the front door, shouted, and finally broke in. Flashlights swept the rooms while officers searched thoroughly: they opened windows, pulled furniture away from walls, dragged beds, yanked drawers, tore clothes from hooks, and pulled suitcases and boxes from shelves. One officer found an old zither and examined it. Several officers went up to the attic when they heard movement; in the attic they surprised grandfather, leading to a violent misunderstanding. The search was noisy, invasive and frantic, leaving the house overturned by the time it ended.
When Bodwell called, many policemen arrived — a Ford sedan, two motorcycles and a patrol wagon. They banged at the front door, shouted, and finally broke in. Flashlights swept the rooms while officers searched thoroughly: they opened windows, pulled furniture away from walls, dragged beds, yanked drawers, tore clothes from hooks, and pulled suitcases and boxes from shelves. One officer found an old zither and examined it. Several officers went up to the attic when they heard movement; in the attic they surprised grandfather, leading to a violent misunderstanding. The search was noisy, invasive and frantic, leaving the house overturned by the time it ended.
He must have got away. What did he look like?
He must have got away. What did he look like?
Look here, Joe.
Look here, Joe.
There is no sign of anything.
There is no sign of anything.
Back to the lines, you goddamn lily-livered cattle!
Back to the lines, you goddamn lily-livered cattle!
What was the idea of all those policemen running noisily around the house last night?
What was the idea of all those policemen running noisily around the house last night?
chair - chairs; box - boxes; eskimo - eskimos; lady - ladies; radius - radii; formula - formulas/formulae; child - children; deer - deer; loaf - loaves; hero - heroes
chair - chairs; box - boxes; eskimo - eskimos; lady - ladies; radius - radii; formula - formulas/formulae; child - children; deer - deer; loaf - loaves; hero - heroes
- a. Nagaland
- b. Thailand
- c. Finland
Thailand.
Thailand.
In a bush in his garden.
In a bush in his garden.
He wanted to sell the bird for a large amount of money.
He wanted to sell the bird for a large amount of money.
The bird loses its beauty and sweet voice and becomes black and crow-like.
The bird loses its beauty and sweet voice and becomes black and crow-like.
It offered Chulong three useful rules in exchange for its freedom.
It offered Chulong three useful rules in exchange for its freedom.
No. Chulong was not satisfied because he wanted still more riches.
No. Chulong was not satisfied because he wanted still more riches.
At first he planned to sell the bird. After his hopes were shattered, he wanted to kill and eat it.
At first he planned to sell the bird. After his hopes were shattered, he wanted to kill and eat it.
The bird is wiser. It kept its word and showed that Chulong had ignored all three rules.
The bird is wiser. It kept its word and showed that Chulong had ignored all three rules.
No. It was not a crow; only its appearance had changed.
No. It was not a crow; only its appearance had changed.
1. Never believe everything that others say. 2. Never be sad about something you do not have. 3. Never throw away what you have in your hand.
1. Never believe everything that others say. 2. Never be sad about something you do not have. 3. Never throw away what you have in your hand.
The text explains that before trips people would ask the narrator "Can you bring me back…?" and give various small requests (e.g. a vaccine, ceramic paint, lighters). Thus he was regularly asked to bring things back from his travels.
He was frequently asked by acquaintances to bring back small items or souvenirs for them when he travelled abroad.
The passage states: 'What Gilson asked me to buy was, in fact a little thing: a tie... He wanted a tie with a small embroidered G... Any colour would do, as long as it had his initial.'
A tie with a small embroidered initial 'G' (any colour would do, provided it had his initial).
The text says: 'It was only when I saw our airport bus waiting outside the hotel that I remembered the tie.' This places the memory at the time of departure.
He remembered the tie when he saw the airport bus waiting outside the hotel (just as they were leaving for the airport).
The passage describes him boarding 'panting' under the 'reproachful gaze of the other passengers' and notes 'Departure had been delayed because of me,' explaining why they were staring.
Because he arrived late and had delayed the departure; they looked at him reproachfully for making them wait.
The humour arises from irony and exaggeration: a small favour (an initialled tie) becomes a ludicrously overblown adventure — panic, frantic running, a needless purchase of ten ties, leaving the suitcase in the taxi and nearly missing the flight. This mismatch between cause and effect and the narrator's embarrassed predicament produce the comic effect.
Situational irony and comic mishap — the narrator's frantic efforts to buy a simple, inexpensive tie lead to absurd consequences (forgetting his suitcase in the taxi, rushing to the shop, buying ten ties to avoid waiting for change, missing the plane and being the object of the other passengers' reproach). The contrast between the triviality of the errand and the farcical outcome creates the humour.
Using the paragraph sequence in the story "The Tie that does not Bind":
- Para 1: narrator describes being asked to bring things when going abroad ("people will be people") → item 3.
- Para 2: narrator mentions stopping talk about travel to avoid being asked ("Don't let out your travelling dates") → item 2.
- Para 4: shops closed though ties were seen; initial hope and taxi details (things are not that easy) → item 5.
- Para 6: narrator begins active search for the shop (Search begins) → item 4.
- Para 7: narrator hurries, buys ten ties to avoid waiting for change (Hurry invites worry) → item 6.
- Para 8: narrator realises the taxi has gone with his suitcase — the ironic climax (Oh, No! But it happens!) → item 1.
1 → Paragraph 8
2 → Paragraph 2
3 → Paragraph 1
4 → Paragraph 6
5 → Paragraph 4
6 → Paragraph 7
Practical, exam-ready corrective actions:
1) Get full specifications and record them; arrange payment or buy earlier. 2) Prioritise the errand or use immediate alternatives (airport shops, concierge). 3) Act immediately—call a taxi and secure luggage at hotel. 4) Get exact directions or help rather than wandering; keep luggage with you or at reception. 5) When buying in a hurry, keep change, ask driver to wait, note taxi details and keep suitcase with you.
- When Gilson asked him to bring a tie: note exact requirements (initial, colour, where to buy), confirm price or advance payment, set a clear reminder.
- On arrival day with no time: buy at the earliest opportunity (airport shops, hotel desk, or ask concierge), or postpone the errand and inform Gilson.
- When he remembered as the bus was leaving: tell the group immediately and get a taxi straight away (do not take time to panic); leave luggage safely at hotel reception if needed.
- While searching for the shop: ask locals or hotel staff for exact location, use a map or phone to confirm address, do not leave suitcase unattended in a running taxi.
- When he rushed out with ties in a paper bag: keep small change ready, insist the driver wait or take the bag/receipt and the taxi number, and verify belongings (suitcase) before the taxi departs.
1. False — the narrator says he searched the suburbs of Paris for two days for ceramic paint (not three).
2. True — the narrator's travel plans include New York (others say "I've heard you're going to New York").
3. True — Gilson asked the narrator to bring a tie with his initial.
4. True — the taxi vanished, taking the narrator's suitcase with it.
1. False
2. True
3. True
4. True
A concise, well-structured speech including opening salutation, clear purpose of the event, acknowledgement of audience, use of vivid descriptive and emotive language, and a positive concluding call to support participants.
Respected Principal, Vice-Principal, teachers and my dear friends,
Opening: It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to the Annual Literary Association Celebration of our school. Today is a day of imagination, voice and expression — a day when we celebrate the power of words.
Purpose: The aim of this gathering is to honour young writers, poets and orators among us and to encourage a lifelong love for reading and writing. Literature broadens our minds, sharpens our thinking and helps us understand different lives and cultures.
Audience: This event is for everyone who loves stories, language and creativity — our bright students, dedicated teachers and supportive parents. We celebrate work from many genres: prose, poetry, drama and journalism.
Language (Describing words, emotive words, imagery): Today you will witness moving poems that touch the heart, humourous skits that bring pure delight, passionate speeches that stir conscience, and descriptive essays that paint vivid pictures. You will feel the hush of concentration, the warm applause and the proud glow on the faces of participants. Every performance is the result of patient practice, tender encouragement and fearless expression.
Call to action / Ending: Let us applaud every effort, encourage every novice and cherish every piece of work presented today. May this celebration inspire you to read more deeply, write more honestly and speak more confidently. Thank you all for being here and making this day memorable. Long live literature, and long live our Literary Association!
Filled all blanks with correct articles: 'the' for specific references, 'a' or 'an' for non-specific singular nouns; corrected punctuation where needed.
Nagarajan: Well, here we are, No. 8, Kaveri Street. I think this is the house we saw online. What do you think of the location?
Dhanalakshmi: It is in a nice neighbourhood. And it's close to the railway station.
Nagarajan: And the bus stop is not too far away.
Dhanalakshmi: How many rooms are there?
Nagarajan: There are three rooms, a kitchen and a balcony.
Dhanalakshmi: There is a lawn behind the house, right?
Nagarajan: That's right. The lawn is actually quite large. Did you see any photos of the living room online? What does it look like?
Dhanalakshmi: The living room looks great. It looks bright and airy. It has a nice view of the hills. But the kitchen looks a little small.
Nagarajan: And, I remember you said there isn't a store room, right?
Dhanalakshmi: No, but there is an attic, where we can store things.
Nagarajan: I hope this house is a better option.
Dhanalakshmi: Let's wait for the real estate agent. She said she would be here at three o'clock.
Nagarajan: Look. There she is!
Added appropriate articles: 'a', 'an', 'the' at required places (e.g., 'a very interesting place', 'an apartment building', 'a small supermarket', 'the street', 'a post office', 'a bank', 'a small pond', 'the park', 'a great time', 'an elementary school', 'the third grade', 'a really great place').
My neighbourhood is a very interesting place. My house is located in an apartment building downtown near many stores and offices. There is a small supermarket across the street, where my family likes to go shopping. There is also a post office and a bank near our home. In our neighbourhood there is a small Green Park where my friends and I like to play on weekends and holidays. There is a small pond near the park and there are many ducks in the park. We always have a great time. In addition, there is an elementary school close to our home where my little brother studies in the third grade. There are so many things to see and do in my neighbourhood; that's why I like it. It's a really great place.
- a. in addition to
- b. because of
- c. cause of
Correct phrase: 'because of earth's gravitational pull.' 'Because of' indicates reason; 'cause of' is ungrammatical here.
b
- a. in accordance with
- b. due to
- c. despite of
'in accordance with the procedure of law' is the correct legal phrase meaning 'following the procedure of law.'
a
- a. in back of
- b. apart from
- c. in front of
Correct idiom: 'There is a temple right in front of my house.'
c
- a. instead of
- b. result of
- c. apart from
Correct phrase: 'As a result of his hard work, he achieved the target.'
b
- a. effect of
- b. consequence of
- c. reason of
'Consequence of' is the natural collocation: 'Failure is often the consequence of negligence.'
b
- a. on top of
- b. in addition to
- c. due to
'In addition to sweets' correctly indicates toys are given as well as sweets.
b
- a. because of
- b. in case of
- c. in spite of
'In case of any indiscipline' means 'if any indiscipline occurs' — correct usage here.
b
- a. consequence of
- b. due to
- c. except for
Correct: 'He didn't turn up due to his busy schedule.' 'Due to' expresses the reason.
b
- a. an effect of
- b. in spite of
- c. in addition to
'Global warming is an effect of the greenhouse emissions' — option (a) is correct (note: 'greenhouse' is usually one word).
a
- a. due to
- b. in spite of
- c. because of
'In spite of several warnings, he continued to swim.' expresses that he ignored the warnings.
b
due to → because of
except for → with the exception of
with reference to → referring to
in spite of → disregarding the difficulty / regardless of
in addition to → added to / in addition to
referring to → with reference to
in place of → as a substitute for
regardless of → irrespective of / disregarding the difficulty
in the interest of → for the sake of
because of → due to
as a substitute for → in place of
with the exception of → except for
for the sake of → in the interest of
(disregarding the difficulty is a meaning phrase that corresponds to "in spite of" or "regardless of")
due to → because of
except for → with the exception of
with reference to → referring to
in spite of → disregarding the difficulty / regardless of
in addition to → added to / in addition to
referring to → with reference to
in place of → as a substitute for
regardless of → irrespective of / disregarding the difficulty
in the interest of → for the sake of
because of → due to
as a substitute for → in place of
with the exception of → except for
for the sake of → in the interest of
(disregarding the difficulty is a meaning phrase that corresponds to "in spite of" or "regardless of")
Replaced incorrect prepositional phrases with correct ones: 'In the opinion of her teachers' (for teachers' view); 'In spite of her poverty' (contrast); 'because of her simplicity' (reason); 'Besides/ Apart from her studies' (additional activity); 'regardless of age and gender' (ignoring those distinctions); 'Rather than taking leave' (instead of). Minor grammar fixes ('the next day').
Janu is studying in class X. In the opinion of her teachers, she is a disciplined student. In spite of her poverty, she is always neat. Many students like her because of her simplicity. Besides her studies, she also participates in sports. She gets on with everyone regardless of age and gender in the school. Rather than taking leave, she ensures that she completes the work given before she goes to school the next day.