Aditya left the local school after he had passed the matriculation examination.
Aditya thought that the school would not be recognizable because he was visiting it after twenty-nine years had passed since his departure. During such a long span of time, schools typically undergo significant changes including renovations, expansions, modifications to buildings and infrastructure, changes in layout and facilities, and updates to accommodate modern educational needs. Aditya expected that the physical appearance and structure of the school would be substantially different from what he remembered from his childhood and youth.
Aditya's ancestors were zamindars.
The landscape was dotted with paddy fields on both sides of the road.
Aditya visited several significant places during his journey. He visited his old school, which held memories of his childhood education. He also visited Nagen uncle's tea shop, a local establishment that was likely a gathering place in the community. Additionally, Aditya visited his ancestral home, which connected him to his family's heritage and history. He visited a jeweller's shop, suggesting he may have had business or personal reasons for this visit. Finally, he visited Jogesh Kabiraj's house, indicating a meeting with someone from his past or an important figure in the community. These visits collectively represent Aditya's reconnection with his hometown and the people and places that were significant to him.
Nagen uncle's shop was located next to a grocery shop and directly opposite Lord Shiva's temple. This strategic location made it a convenient meeting place for the local community, and the shop served as a gathering spot where people would come not only for refreshments but also to chat and exchange news about the neighbourhood.
Besides tea, Nagen uncle sold biscuits and savouries.
Nagen uncle said that Sanyal could neither hear nor see well and had no money to buy spectacles.
Mr. Sanyal's behaviour was strange because he suddenly stood up from his seat, stretched himself, and raised his lean right arm. With dilated eyes and an intense expression, he began reciting Tagore's poem 'Panraksha'. This unexpected outburst of emotion and recitation seemed out of place in the ordinary setting of a tea shop and caught everyone's attention.
Nagen uncle said that Sanyal had led a cursed life: he had sold his land for his daughter's marriage and had lost his wife and only son the previous year.
Sanyal showed self-respect by always paying for his tea and biscuits at the tea shop.
The attic was a favourite place for the children because it provided them with a sense of privacy and freedom from the adult world. In the attic, the children seemed to be in a world entirely of their own, away from adult supervision and interference. It was a space where they could play, explore, and engage in their own activities without restrictions, making it a special and cherished retreat for them.
On reaching the attic, Aditya pushed his hand through the ventilator and searched for the medal.
The jeweller said that the article was an antique.
No. Sanyal was not happy about his visitors.
Sanyal recited the poem 'Panraksha' in the tea shop so that Aditya would remember and recognise him. Through this recitation, Sanyal hoped that Aditya would realise his old mistake and understand the connection between them. The poem served as a trigger for memory and recognition, allowing Sanyal to communicate his identity and the significance of their past encounter without directly stating it.
The medal was engraved with: 'Sriman Sasanka Sanyal - Special Prize for Recitation - 1948.'
The tea-shop owner was over sixty and rustic in appearance, with neatly combed white hair and a clean look. He wore a dhoti, a blue-striped shirt and a green shawl.
Sanyal followed a consistent daily routine that revolved around visiting the tea shop. Every day, he would go to Nagen uncle's tea shop, order tea and biscuits, and consume them. Importantly, he always paid for what he consumed, demonstrating his sense of dignity and responsibility despite his difficult financial circumstances and personal tragedies.
Sanyal's recitation of the prize poem made Aditya suddenly recognise the man whom he had deceived long ago by stealing his medal twenty-nine years earlier. The shock of this unexpected recognition, combined with the overwhelming guilt of his past wrongdoing that had remained hidden for so many years, caused a sudden and dramatic change in Aditya's expression. His composure was shaken as he realised that the consequences of his theft were about to catch up with him.
At first Aditya wanted to revive childhood memories; after recognising Sanyal, he also wanted to recover the medal he had hidden in the attic.
The attic was the part of the house worst damaged by wind and weather. Its wall had crumbled and its floor was strewn with twigs, straw and pigeon droppings.
Aditya heaved a sigh of relief when he found the medal in the attic because the medal he had stolen and hidden twenty-nine years earlier was still safe and intact. This discovery was crucial to him as it meant he could finally make amends for his past wrongdoing by returning or compensating for the stolen prize that had belonged to Sanyal.
Aditya and his friend went to the jeweller to learn the exact weight and monetary value of the medal so that Aditya could properly compensate Sanyal for the stolen prize. By determining its financial worth, Aditya could offer appropriate restitution to make amends for the theft that had occurred decades earlier.
Aditya offered Sanyal one hundred and fifty rupees.
Aditya says this to Sanyal. He admits that Sanyal's anger and grievance are absolutely justified because Aditya had stolen his prize medal twenty-nine years earlier and had failed to return it or make amends until now. By acknowledging the validity of Sanyal's complaint, Aditya takes full responsibility for his past wrongdoing and demonstrates genuine remorse for the harm he caused.
- A. so that
- B. in order that
- C. in case
'In case' expresses a precaution: 'Call me in case you need money.'
C
While accompanying Aditya from the tea shop to Sanyal's house, the narrator's mind was filled with confusion and unanswered questions. He wondered whether Sanyal was perhaps a little mad, and he noticed the sudden and inexplicable change in Aditya's expression when Sanyal recited the prize poem. The narrator could not understand why Aditya suddenly wanted to revisit his old house after so many years, what he was searching for in the damaged and neglected attic, why finding the medal brought him such relief, or why they needed to take it to a jeweller to determine its value. He was puzzled by Aditya's strange behaviour and the urgency of his mission. All these questions remained unanswered until they reached Sanyal's house, where Aditya finally confessed that he had stolen Sanyal's recitation medal twenty-nine years earlier and had returned to make amends for this long-hidden wrongdoing.
As a boy, Aditya had been jealous of Sanyal's recitation prize and had taken the medal without returning it. Twenty-nine years later, he recognised Sanyal, felt guilty and accepted that Sanyal's grievance was justified. He first offered the medal's value and, when Sanyal refused the money, returned the medal itself. His remorse and effort to repair the wrong showed how he had changed with time.
Sasanka Sanyal is a character of remarkable dignity and moral strength. Despite having suffered severe hardships including poverty and the tragic loss of his wife and only son, he retained strong self-respect and refused to be broken by his circumstances. He maintained his daily routine of having tea and biscuits, paying for them honestly despite his financial struggles. Sanyal possessed a sharp memory and recognised Aditya after many years, using the recitation of his old prize poem as a subtle but powerful reminder of the stolen medal. When confronting Aditya about the theft, he expressed his grievance directly yet politely, without resorting to anger or aggression. Most significantly, Sanyal refused the monetary compensation offered by Aditya, demonstrating that the medal and the recognition it represented mattered far more to him than its financial price. His character embodies the values of integrity, resilience, and the importance of honour and recognition over material wealth.
and
Use the correlative pair: 'Jaya teaches not only English but also Science.'
but also
Use 'or' in the correlative construction: 'Either Raghu or Bala will have to buy vegetables from the market.'
or
'My salary is low, but I find the work interesting.' — 'but' contrasts the two clauses.
but
Use the connector 'as' (or 'as soon as') to show simultaneous action: 'The passengers rushed to board the bus as it arrived.'
as
A compound word is formed by joining two words to make a new word (e.g., 'notebook', 'seashore'). Two additional compound words that fit are:
- newspaper (news + paper)
- bedroom (bed + room)
These are single words formed from two smaller words and are common compound nouns.
Two possible compound words: 'newspaper' and 'bedroom'.
1. Use contrast: 'but'. 2. Use sequence/temporal connector: 'after'. 3. Use temporal clause: 'when'.
1. We came late, but we did not miss the train. 2. After they checked the packet twice, they sealed it. 3. When Sita saw a snake, she ran away at once.
rainfall; snowball or snowfall; starlight; drawback; plaything or playback; lottery ticket; underworld; manhole; sidewalk or backside; footnote.
- A. though
- B. but
'Though he was honest, he was punished.' — 'though' introduces a contrast and is correct here.
A
- A. whether
- B. that
- C. if
'I forgot that I had to meet the Principal.' — 'that' introduces the reported clause correctly.
B
'Walk carefully, or else you will fall down.' — 'or else' warns of the consequence.
or else
- A. when
- B. since
- C. though
'Though he is ninety years old, he is in the pink of health.' — 'though' shows contrast.
C
'My mother called me while I was playing football.' — 'while' indicates simultaneous actions; 'when' is also acceptable.
while
- A. or else
- B. and
- C. but
'Take an umbrella, or else you will get drenched.' — 'or else' shows the negative consequence.
A
- A. although
- B. nevertheless
- C. otherwise
'They faced many hardships; nevertheless they are always cheerful.' — 'nevertheless' correctly connects the contrast.
B
Common collocation: 'clean shave' — the blank is filled by 'shave.' Correct sentence: 'Siva visited the hair stylist to have a clean shave.'
shave (clean shave)
Common phrase: clothes / sarees are given for 'dry cleaning.' Correct sentence: 'Tharani had given the sarees for dry cleaning.'
dry cleaning
The correct term is 'greenhouse effect.' The blank is 'greenhouse.'
greenhouse (greenhouse effect)
Natural completion: 'Never wait for an alarm clock to wake you up.' 'Alarm' would also fit depending on intended phrasing.
alarm clock (or alarm)
Common collocation: 'traffic jam.' Correct sentence: 'The children were late to school as there was a traffic jam near the toll plaza.'
traffic jam
Fillings from the original passage: 'When I was alive and had a human heart,' 'for I lived in the palace where sorrow was not allowed to enter.' 'My courtiers called me the Happy Prince and Happy indeed I was. So I lived and so I died.'
When; for; where; and; so
practice - practical, impractical, malpractice; technology - technologist, technological; fashion - fashionable; different - indifferent, difference, differentiate; child - childish, childhood, childlike; national - nationally, nationality, international; origin - originally, originality, originate; enjoy - enjoyment, enjoyable. Sample sentences: Raja misunderstood me. Stephen is a computer technologist. We remember our childhood days. Wipro is an international company. Reading is an enjoyable hobby.
The noun form of 'accurate' is 'accuracy.'
accuracy
'Understanding' is the noun form of the verb 'understand.'
understanding
Correct adverb form: 'He was sleeping comfortably on his couch.' Note: preposition corrected to 'on' (not 'in').
comfortably
Correct noun: 'Kavya rides a bicycle to school.'
bicycle
Correct collocation: 'There was only a handful of people in the theatre.'
handful
Opposite/derived form used: 'It is illegal to cut sandalwood trees.' (negative form 'illegal' from 'legal').
illegal
Noun form: 'The arrival of the President has been expected for the last half an hour.'
arrival
'Normally' is the adverb form: 'The man behaved normally in front of the crowd.'
normally
The verb 'intend' changes to the noun 'intention' to fit the blank: 'Swathy had no intention of visiting the doctor.'
intention
From the root 'scope' the correct word is 'microscope': 'The bacteria are so small that you need a microscope to see them.'
microscope
Common noun forms: beautiful→beauty; breathe→breath; enter→entrance; know→knowledge; deafen→deafness; zealous→zeal; familiar→familiarity; accept→acceptance; dangerous→danger.
1. beauty 2. breath 3. entrance 4. knowledge 5. deafness 6. zeal 7. familiarity 8. acceptance 9. danger
Correct comparative structure: 'I am as + adjective + as + subject'.
I am as healthy as you are.
Arrange into a temporal clause plus main clause: 'Since today is your birthday' + 'put on the new dress.'
Since today is your birthday, put on the new dress.
Begin with concessive 'Though' followed by main clause.
Though Rani is allergic to dogs, she has six of them.
Place the phrase 'Besides German' at the start to show addition, then the verb and object.
Besides German, Ruben speaks two languages.
If you apply for a loan, you will get it immediately. This sentence uses the conditional structure with the conjunction 'if' to express a hypothetical situation and its likely consequence. The main clause 'you will get it immediately' follows the subordinate clause 'if you apply for a loan,' creating a cause-and-effect relationship. The future tense 'will get' indicates that the action of receiving the loan is dependent upon the condition of applying for it. This type of sentence is commonly used to express promises, predictions, or general truths about what happens when a particular condition is met.
Noun form of 'explain' is 'explanation'.
explanation
Noun form of 'predict' is 'prediction' (plural 'predictions' fits context).
predictions
Noun form of 'choose' is 'choice': 'no choice but to...'.
choice
Noun form of 'significant' is 'significance'.
significance
Noun form of 'distract' is 'distraction' (plural 'distractions' fits context).
distractions
1. Use noun 'honesty'. 2. Use noun 'explanation' to combine into 'wanted ... to prove her explanation.' 3. Use noun form expressing quality of speaking — 'eloquence' — to form a natural sentence.
1. His honesty makes everyone like him. 2. The police wanted Sathya to prove her explanation. 3. His eloquence attracts everyone.
Nominalisation is the process of converting verbs, adjectives, or other parts of speech into nouns or noun phrases. This grammatical transformation allows writers to express actions and qualities as abstract concepts rather than as dynamic processes. The given sentences demonstrate this technique effectively. In the first sentence, 'succeeded' becomes 'success,' transforming the verb into a noun that serves as the object of the preposition 'in.' The second sentence converts the adjective 'happy' into the noun 'happiness,' which now functions as the object of the preposition 'has.' The third example changes the verb 'decided' into the noun 'decision,' creating a more formal construction. The fourth sentence transforms 'failed' into 'failure,' which then becomes the subject performing the action of causing disappointment. Finally, 'became' is replaced with 'gained,' and 'independent' becomes 'independence,' allowing the sentence to express the concept of India's political transformation as a concrete noun. Nominalisation is particularly useful in formal writing, academic texts, and professional communication as it creates a more abstract and sophisticated tone.
Fill with appropriate noun/verb forms: She made a decision (decide → decision). As reservations (reserve → reservations) could be done online, she gave preference (prefer → preference) to booking that way. She collected information (inform → information) about the arrival (arrive → arrival) and departure (depart → departure) of trains and airplanes.
decision; reservations; preference; information; arrival; departure
1. decide → decision; reserve → reservations; prefer → preference; inform → information; arrive → arrival; depart → departure.
2. punish → punishments; hungry → hunger; enclose → enclosure; tear → tearful (with tearful eyes); look → looking (stood for a while looking at him); obvious → obviously; help → help.
1. decision; reservations; preference; information; arrival; departure
2. punishments; hunger; enclosure; tearful; looking; obviously; help
Phrases are groups of words that function together as a single unit but do not contain both a subject and a finite verb. They are classified based on their grammatical function within a sentence. In the first sentence, 'in blue saree' is an adjective phrase because it modifies the noun 'girl' and provides additional descriptive information about which girl is being referred to. The second sentence contains 'to win the trophy,' which is a noun phrase functioning as the object of the verb 'hopes,' representing what Kohli hopes to achieve. In the third sentence, 'at every junction' is an adverb phrase that modifies the verb 'halts' and indicates the location where the train stops. The fourth sentence includes 'such a picture' as a noun phrase serving as the direct object of the verb 'seen.' Finally, in the fifth sentence, 'in an enthusiastic manner' is an adverb phrase that modifies the verb 'worked' and describes how or in what manner she performed the action. Understanding these distinctions helps in analyzing sentence structure and improving writing clarity.
1) The clause 'that doesn't write well' has a subject 'that' (referring to pen) and verb 'doesn't write' → relative clause. 2) 'as soon as possible' contains no verb → adverbial phrase, not a clause. 3) 'whom she had invited' contains subject 'she' and verb 'had invited' → relative clause. 4) 'whenever he comes to Chennai' contains subject 'he' and verb 'comes' → adverbial clause of time.
Clauses are groups of words containing both a subject and a finite verb, and they are classified as either independent or dependent clauses. Dependent clauses are further categorized based on their function within the sentence. In the first sentence, 'that doesn't write well' is a relative or adjective clause because it modifies the noun 'pen' and provides additional information about its quality. This clause is introduced by the relative pronoun 'that.' In the second sentence, 'as soon as possible' is not actually a clause but rather an adverbial phrase of time, as it lacks both a subject and a finite verb. In the third sentence, 'whom she had invited' is a relative or adjective clause that modifies the noun 'friends' and is introduced by the relative pronoun 'whom,' which serves as the object of the verb 'invited.' The fourth sentence contains 'whenever he comes to Chennai,' which is an adverbial subordinate clause of time that modifies the verb 'visits' and indicates when the action occurs. Recognizing these distinctions is essential for understanding sentence structure and for identifying how different clauses contribute to the overall meaning of a sentence.
Suggested typical steps/words for online booking: 1) 'Log in to your IRCTC account.' 2) Fill information in the relevant section. 3) Select the source and destination of your journey. 4) A list of available trains will appear. 5) Check the arrival and departure (times) for your chosen train. 6) Personal details like name and age are required. 7) After filling details and captcha click on 'Continue booking' (or 'Proceed to payment'). 8) Payment can be made by credit card or debit card.
1. Log in to your IRCTC account.
2. the relevant section
3. source and destination
4. available
5. arrival and departure
6. name and age
7. Continue booking
8. credit card or debit card
Provide role-wise probable questions and concise model answers so students can practice: introductions, 2–3 likely journalist questions and 2–3 brief, professional responses for each role. Encourage students to alternate roles and follow-up questions.
Guidelines and sample prompts:
- Director (Mr. Anand Tony): Qs — inspiration for the film; challenges during shooting; message for viewers; future projects. A sample answer: "Poo was inspired by real-life events. We focused on authentic characters and minimalistic storytelling. The team worked under tight schedules, and I'm grateful for the audience response."
- Athlete (Ms. Pavithra Rao): Qs — training regimen; match strategies; mental preparation; diet. A sample answer: "I focused on footwork drills, stamina training and studying opponents' patterns. Staying calm under pressure and following a strict diet helped me perform consistently."
- CEO (GL Home Appliances): Qs — technology used; safety and cost; availability; environmental impact. A sample answer: "Our purifier uses a patented membrane desalination process that is energy-efficient. We have ensured safety and the product will be available in major outlets next month at an introductory price."
1. The coach taught the child the basics of the sport and special ways to improve and excel. 2. The child learned the value of finishing what he started and the joy of personal accomplishment. 3. He changed from a timid, doubtful child into a strong, happy team player. 4(a). The coach taught the sport's basics and ways to improve. 4(b). The child became strong, happy and willing to give his best for the team. 4(c). The writer was amazed that the coach taught skills that would last a lifetime. 5(a). 'a timid, doubting child'; 5(b). individual attention and a wise approach; 5(c). medals, trophies and ribbons.
NOTICE
MODERN MATRICULATION SCHOOL, VILLUPURAM
TRIP TO YERCAUD
16 November 2019
All students are informed that the school has arranged a three-day trip to Yercaud. Interested students should pay Rs. 500 on or before 20 November 2019. The school bus will leave at 8.00 a.m. on 25 November 2019. Bring casual clothes and sweaters.
Kamal/Kamala
School Monitor
NOTICE
PARK CIRCUS RESIDENTS WELFARE ASSOCIATION
MEDITATION PROGRAMME
17 November 2019
All colony residents are informed that a meditation programme under the guidance of Dr P. Ranjit will be conducted to help participants understand the self better. The residents-only programme will be held on the second Saturday of the following month from 7.00 a.m. to 9.00 a.m. at the nearby children's park.
Kumar
Secretary
NOTICE
ST. JOSEPH'S COLLEGE HR. SEC. SCHOOL, TRICHY
FANCY FETE
21 November 2019
Our school will organise a Fancy Fete for all students on 10 December 2019 in the school auditorium at 3.00 p.m. Students who wish to participate in the competitions should enrol on or before 25 November 2019.
Ganesh/Gayathri
Head Boy/Head Girl
Provided a clear notice layout—title, dates, eligibility, transport, fee, dress code, deadline and contact—ready to be copied onto the notice board (adjust dates/amount if needed).
SCHOOL NOTICE
Modern Matriculation School, Villupuram
Date: [Insert date]
Trip to Yercaud (3 days)
This is to inform all students of Classes VI to X that a school trip to Yercaud is scheduled from 10th to 12th July. Mode of transport: AC coach. Fee: Rs. 2,500 per student (covers travel, lodging and food). Dress code: school tracksuit/comfortable clothes and school ID. Submit the consent form and fee to the office by 30th June. For queries contact the school office.
By order
School Monitor
Physical Activity: A Vital Part of Student Life
By Jansi/Avinash, Class X, GHSS, Chengalpet
Physical activity is essential for every student. Regular exercise boosts stamina, strengthens muscles and bones, and improves cardiovascular health. Short-term benefits include better concentration in class, improved mood and reduced stress—helpful during exams. Long-term, daily physical activity reduces the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
Students who engage in sports or simple exercises such as jogging, skipping or group games develop discipline, teamwork and time-management skills. Active bodies support active minds: studies show that exercise enhances memory and learning ability. Schools should allocate time for physical education, and parents should encourage outdoor play instead of prolonged screen time.
Incorporating even twenty to thirty minutes of moderate activity into the school day—morning exercises, short breaks with stretching, and after-school sports—will create healthier, happier students. Let us make physical activity a habit for life, not an occasional event.
To The Editor,
The Indian Express
Subject: Poor Conservancy Service — A Public Menace
By Ramya/Rajan, Class X, TM Model School, Dharmapuri
Sir,
The chronic negligence in conservancy services in our city has turned street corners into dumping grounds. Overflowing bins, uncollected garbage and indiscriminate littering have created health hazards and attracted stray animals. The stench and spread of disease risk the safety of residents, especially children and the elderly.
Improvement requires coordinated action. Municipal authorities must ensure regular, scheduled collection and increase the number of dustbins in busy areas. Public awareness campaigns should educate citizens about segregation of waste at source and penalties for littering. Introducing door-to-door collection, proper composting for organic waste and recycling centres will reduce landfill load. Private–public partnerships can improve efficiency; technology such as GPS-linked trucks ensures adherence to routes.
Immediate measures and sustained civic responsibility will restore cleanliness and public health. I urge residents and officials to act together.
Yours faithfully,
Ramya/Rajan
TM Model School
To The Editor,
The Hindu
Subject: Reckless Driving and Rising Road Accidents
By Kishore/Kavitha, Class XI, GHSS, Coimbatore
Sir,
I was recently knocked down by a speeding motorcyclist while returning from school. Though my injuries were minor, the incident highlighted the grave danger posed by reckless driving. Every day we see riders without helmets, vehicles overloaded, and drivers flouting traffic signals. Such behaviour endangers pedestrians, cyclists and fellow motorists.
To curb accidents we must enforce traffic laws strictly: fines for helmet-less riders, regular checks for overspeeding and driving under influence, and immediate action against repeat offenders. Schools should teach road safety, and local authorities must ensure safe pedestrian crossings near schools. Awareness campaigns and driving training can cultivate responsible habits among young riders.
Following traffic rules is not optional; it saves lives. I urge the community and authorities to join hands to make our roads safer for everyone.
Yours faithfully,
Kishore/Kavitha
GHSS, Coimbatore