Words and Expressions Class 9 Solutions Unit 10

‘Kathmandu’ is an excerpt from the travelogue Heaven Lake written by Vikram Seth. The travelogue is an account of his travel from China, Tibet and Kathmandu to India. Vikram Seth beautifully describes the natural landscape, cultural richness and diversity among people from region to region.

Do you know?

A river in New Zealand has become the first in the world to be recognised as a living entity with the legal status of a person after a 170-year battle by the local Maori people.

The nation’s parliament passed a bill to allow Whanganui River – known by the Maoris as Te Awa Tupua – to represent its own interests and advocate on its own behalf.

This is a unique judgement for sustaining the health and well-being of the river.

(Source: Adapted from The Guardian International Edition, 16 March 2017)

1. Collect information on similar judgements being taken in the context of river Ganga, and discuss in class.

Swami Chidanand Saraswati, from Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, wants the Ganga river to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site. He shared the idea with Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma. The Ashram thinks this will help protect the river and the 500 million people who depend on it by recognizing its cultural importance.

2. Talk about the condition of Bagmati river in Kathmandu written by Vikram Seth.

The writer saw some monkeys playfully running down to the river. A corpse was being cremated at the shore. Women were washing their clothes on the banks. Some children were bathing and playing in the river. Someone threw dried flowers from a window into the river as the writer watched.

Reading Comprehension:

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.

Text – I

When we think of tourism, we think primarily of people who are visiting a particular place for sightseeing, visiting friends and relatives, taking a vacation, and having a good time. They may spend their leisure time engaging in various sports, sunbathing, talking, singing, taking rides, touring, reading or simply enjoying further. We may include in our definition of tourism people who are participating in a convention, a business conference, or some other kind of business or professional activity. Those who are taking a study tour under an expert guide or doing some kind of scientific research or study are also doing tourism.

These visitors use all forms of transportation from hiking in a wilderness park to flying in a jet to an exciting city. Transportation can include taking a chairlift up a Colorado mountainside or standing at the rail of a cruise ship looking across the blue Caribbean. Whether people travel by one of these means or by car, motor coach camper, train, motorbike or bicycle, they are taking a trip and thus are engaging in tourism.

(Adapted from Tourism: Principles, Practices, Philosophies by Charles R. Goeldner and J.R. Brent Ritchie, P. 4)

1. Tourism is about taking a tour _________.

(a) to a place under an expert guide

(b) for hiking in remote places

(d) All of the above ✔

2. By ‘hiking in wilderness’ the author means _________.

(a) taking a long distance walk in abandoned areas

(b) walk in the forest areas ✔

(d) sprinting in abandoned, uninhabited areas

3. A cruise ship is _________.

(a) a large ship that carries people on voyages of pleasure.

(b) a big ship that carries people and goods on special mission.

(d) a large ship that carries mail, goods and first aid facilities.

4. What all activities do tourists engage in?

Tourists engage in various activities based on their interest. Some like sightseeing, visiting friends, sunbathing, touring etc. Those who are more adventurous indulge in adventurous sports. Some tourists are participants in a business convention while some are on study tours.

5. What are the forms of transportation tourists use for visiting places?

Answer:

Tourists use different means of transport such as flying in a jet or hiking. They also use chairlifts in at high altitudes. Cars, motor coach camper, train, cruise ship, motorbike are some other means of transport used by them.

Read the excerpt and answer the following questions.

Text – II

Following is an excerpt from the travelogue, The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain. A little after noon on that distinguished Saturday I reached the ship and went on board. All was bustle and confusion. The pier was crowded with carriages and men; passengers were arriving and hurrying on board; the vessel’s decks were encumbered with trunks and valises; groups of excursionists, arrayed in unattractive traveling costumes, were moping about in a drizzling rain and looking as droopy and woebegone as so many molting chickens. The gallant flag was up, but it was under the spell, too, and hung limp and disheartened by the mast. Altogether, it was the bluest, bluest spectacle. It was a pleasure excursion – there was no gainsaying that, because the program said so – it was so nominated in the bond – but it surely hadn’t the general aspect of one.

1. Why is Saturday described as that distinguished Saturday?

(a) because the much awaited Saturday has come when the voyage has to start. ✔

(b) because Saturday was a holiday.

(d) because it is in the afternoon on Saturday that ship would start the voyage.

2. Who are excursionists?

(a) They are the research students.

(b) They are pilgrims.

(d) They are tourists on a leisure trip. ✔

3. What was the mood of the people on the ship?

The general mood of the people seemed a bit down. The travellers on the deck were wearing unattractive costumes and had an air of sadness. It was drizzling and the weather made the scene even’ more gloomy.

4. What was the author looking forward to?

The author was looking forward to having a pleasureable trip as the program said so. However the general aspect of his fellow travellers promised a gloomy excursion. There was a little or no excitement among them.

Answer:

1. Pier (e)

2. Deck (c)

3. Carriage (a)

4. Valise (b)

5. Mast (d)

Vocabulary:

Match the phrasal verbs in Column A,with the meanings in Column B.

A	B
(а) Look for	to try to find a piece of information
(b) Look upto	await eagerly
(c) Look forward to	having a great deal of respect for a person
(d) Look up	search

Answer:

(a) Look for – search

(b) Look upto – having a great deal of respect for a person

(d) Look up – to try to find a piece of information

2. Rewrite the following words by removing the suffix ‘age’.

(a) carriage - carry

(b) coverage - cover

(d) marriage - marry

3. Rewrite the following words by adding the suffix ‘ful’.

(а) beauty - beautiful

(b) colour - colourful

(d) revenge - revengeful

(e) help - helpful

(f) mouth - mouthful

(g) mercy - merciful

Tense:

Read the following passage carefully. What is the event described in the passage? Guess when it took place. Underline and name the tenses in the following passage.

This is a good place to enrich ourselves about plant species which are environment friendly. The residents could gather a lot of information about horticulture at the event. Several states from north India are represented at this event and the florists showcase the best of their horticulture at the show.

The organisers said that several events are lined up for Sunday and these include dance, drawing, painting and a fashion show competition, among others. As many as 85 stalls have been put up by florists, gardening equipment wholesalers and seed retailers. Entry to the show has been made free for all. However, this year, it’s the pollution control plants that have been grabbing all eyeballs.

All plants emit oxygen, but it was established in a study conducted by National Aeronautics and Space Administration back in 1989 that some indoor plants could be extremely useful in controlling the air pollution by acting as a Vacuum cleaner’ against the pollutants and absorbing them.

Detox plants, which act as Vacuum cleaners’ inside the house, are a hit in the ongoing event. Nature enthusiasts are preferring them for pollution control as well as interior decoration.

(Source: Hindustan Times, Saturday, 24 Feb. 2018)

Answer:

A horticulture event is described in the passage. It is an ongoing exhibition/show. It must be taking place in the month of July or August.

is- present

could - past

showcase- present

have been , has been- present perfect

was - past

Editing:

1. Punctuate the following passage with appropriate punctuation marks.

Kathmandu is vivid mercenary religious with small shrines to flower-adorned deities along the narrowest and busiest streets with fruit sellers flute sellers hawkers of postcards shops selling western cosmetics film rolls and chocolate or copper utensils and nepalese antiques film songs blare out from the radios car horns sound bicycle bells ring stray cows low questioningly at motorcycles vendors shout out their wares

Kathmandu is vivid, mercenary, religious from small shrines to flower-adorned deities along the narrowest and busiest streets; with fruit sellers, flute sellers, hawkers of postcards; shops selling Western cosmetics, film rolls and chocolate; or copper utensils and Nepalese antiques. Film songs blare out from the radios, car horns sound, bicycle bells ring, stray cows low questioningly at motorcycles, vendors shout out their wares.

Listening:

Listen to the passage and answer the questions that follow.

A Visit to Bhitarkanika:

The sun was warm but the sea breeze kept up its cooling effect all along. Soon the steamer turned away and anchored near a creek by the river. The muddy fringe and the mangrove vegetation declared the gateway to the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha. The steamer could not negotiate these creeks at low tide, so a similar motorboat was hired to ferry us to the Dangmal forest rest-house in the heart of the mangrove forest. From the motorboat we had a good look at a large crocodile basking in the sun.

The boat moved on, taking us deeper into the forest. Here we felt as though we had stepped into a time warp. In this awesome and mysterious place, birds of extraordinary plumage appeared before us. For the moment we revelled in the magnificence of nature which had us completely in its thrall. Among the birds, the kingfishers were the stars of the show. Crocodiles large and small, slid into the water at our approach. Through the foliage we could see chital deer delicately browsing on fresh outcrops of leaves.

A herd of wild boar was spotted searching for succulent roots. High above us, open-billed storks stood sentry-like following our progress through their remarkable kingdom. The evening sun was beginning to paint the tree-lined horizon crimson and gold and a brooding silence enveloped us all.

1. Where was the author going?

The author was going to the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha.

2. Where was the orest rest-house? How did the group manage to get there?

The Dangmal forest rest-house was in the heart of the mangrove forest. They travelled on a steamer and later hired a motorboat.

3. Which creature did they see first?

They saw a large crocodile basking in the sun.

4. What does the author mean by ‘the magnificence of nature’?

The author is referring to the extraordinary beauty of birds and natural surroundings which enthralled him.

5. How are the kingfishers and the open billed storks described?

The author believed that kingfishers were the stars of the show. The open-billed storks stood like soldiers, witnessing the tourists roaming around.

6. What were the chital deer and the wild boar doing when the motorboat went past them?

The chital deer was grazing on fresh leaves. A herd of wild boar was spotted searching for succulent roots.

Speaking:

Prepare a short speech on the following and share it in the school assembly.

“Travelling – it offers you a hundred roads to adventure, and gives your heart wings.”
“Travelling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” (Ibn Batuta, a 14th century traveller)
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” (Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad)

Dear Principal, teachers, and friends, I want to talk about traveling. Traveling is like opening a door to the world, making our hearts and minds happy. When we travel, we learn new things and have fun experiences. People travel for many reasons like seeing new places, going on pilgrimages, or for work. It's like leaving our cozy homes and exploring new and different things. Traveling helps us learn about languages, cultures, and places, making our minds bigger. It's like going to school but also having an adventure. We also get to see beautiful nature like lakes and mountains. Traveling is like a happy break from our usual routine, making us feel strong and happy. Traveling also helps us make friends and create memories that we'll always remember.

2. The tourism sector can be aligned with the policies of sustainable development.

Tourism is a big and growing industry where people travel for fun or work, spending a lot of money. But sometimes, too many visitors can harm the places they go to. For example, a hill station called Shimla had a water problem because of too many tourists. We need to be careful and use resources wisely when we travel. It's important to support local businesses that care about the environment and respect the local culture. This way, we can have fun trips without causing harm and help make tourism more responsible and sustainable.

Writing:.

1. Read/watch the advertisements on ‘ tourism. You can also watch the Kerala Tourism advertisement film ‘A Reading Room With a View’ which is on the cultural diversity of Kerala. The film is awarded the best film in 60 second category at the prestigious Kyoorius Awards.

Now create an advertisement for your city or state for promoting tourism.

Delhi:

Explore the walled city!

Gorge on parathas in purani Delhi !

Shop at Connaught place till you drop !

Visit the tombs and qillas !

We have something for everyone !

Come, explore the Capital and satiate your cravings!

2. Write a paragraph describing a journey, imaginary, or you have undertaken.

You can follow the steps given below :

1. Prepare an itinerary.

2. You can make use of the following expressions, phrases and proverbs frequently used by the travellers.

Jetlag, itchy feet, hit the road, time table, on the home stretch, call it a day, book in advance, travel over, travel through, travel light, any port in a storm, stopover, etc.

Paragraph Writing:

At two in the morning, we began our journey to Guru Dongmar Lake, high up in the mountains at 18,000 ft. It was a little spooky driving in the dark, but as the light came, we saw frozen peaks, rivers, and even Chinese soldiers. When we reached the lake, it was amazing! The air was thin, so we walked slowly and stamped our feet to stay warm. The frozen lake looked beautiful, and there was a small temple nearby. We took pictures, enjoyed the view, and then headed back to Gangtok.

Project:

1. You have read about the mesmerising effect of the music of flute on Vikram Seth in ‘Kathmandu’.

Do you know the instruments for Sufi music differ from one culture to another? In Turkey, Iran and North Africa, the most prominent instrument is the ‘Ney’ which is the reed flute. In Sufi music the ‘Ney’ is accompanied by string instruments like saz, santoor, rubab, etc.

Create a class magazine on music and artists. Some suggestions are given below.

Collect information on the commonly used musical instruments in the following categories

Indian classical music

Ghazal singing

Bharatnatayam, Chau and Kathak dance

Folk music

Jazz

Collect photographs of musical instruments.

Prepare brief biographical sketches of musicians, dancers, costume designers, artists, etc. You can meet some of them or collect information from sources like books, Internet, magazines, newspapers, etc.

Give a suitable name to the magazine.

Class Magazine

Musical Instruments

Sources

www.culturalindia.net

wikipedia.org

www.swarganga.org

Musicians:

Ustad Zakir Hussain
Pandit Ravi Shankar
A.R. Rahman
L. Subramaniam
Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia
Amjad Ali Khan
Dr. L. Subramaniam
Vishwa Mohan Bhatt

Dancers:

Pandit Birju Maharaj
Shovana Narayan
Mallika Sarabhai
Alarmel Valli
Raja Radha Reddy
Yamini Krishnamurthy
Sonal Mansingh
Pt. Raja Mohan Maharaj

2. Plan a trip to the North-east region of the country by road. Explore the various possibilities of the travel. Also, create a map of your travel.

Itinerary: Road Trip to North-east India

Day 1-2: Guwahati, Assam

Start your journey from Guwahati, the gateway to the North-east.
Visit the Kamakhya Temple and Umananda Island.
Explore the Assam State Museum and enjoy the serene Brahmaputra River.

Day 3-4: Kaziranga National Park, Assam

Head towards Kaziranga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Embark on a safari to spot the one-horned rhinoceros and other wildlife.
Enjoy the lush green landscapes.

Day 5-6: Shillong, Meghalaya

Drive to Shillong, known as the "Scotland of the East."
Explore Shillong Peak, Elephant Falls, and Don Bosco Museum.
Take a day trip to Cherrapunjee, famous for its living root bridges and waterfalls.

Day 7-8: Mawlynnong and Dawki, Meghalaya

Visit Mawlynnong, the cleanest village in Asia.
Explore the nearby Dawki river for its crystal-clear waters.
Enjoy boating and breathtaking views.

Day 9-10: Kohima, Nagaland

Head towards Kohima, Nagaland's capital.
Visit the War Cemetery, Naga Heritage Village, and the Kohima Zoo.
Experience the rich Naga culture.

Day 11-12: Imphal, Manipur

Drive to Imphal, Manipur's capital.
Explore Kangla Fort, Loktak Lake, and the Ima Keithel Women's Market.
Immerse yourself in Manipuri dance and culture.

Day 13-14: Aizawl, Mizoram

Travel to Aizawl, Mizoram's capital.
Visit the Mizoram State Museum, Solomon's Temple, and Durtlang Hills.
Experience the unique Mizo culture.

Day 15-16: Agartala, Tripura

Head towards Agartala, Tripura's capital.
Explore Ujjayanta Palace, Neermahal, and Tripura Sundari Temple.
Enjoy the local cuisine.

Day 17: Return to Guwahati

Drive back to Guwahati to conclude your road trip.