West Bengal Board
A King’s Tale
Activity 1
Tick the correct alternative:
(i) During the reign of King Uther-Pendragon, the people of Britain lived a
(a) Peaceful
(b) disturbed
(c)unhappy life.
(ii) Merlin, the prophet and Sir Ulfius, the brave knight, were trusted by the
(a) Opponents of the king
(b) members of the royal family
(c) counselors of the king
(iii) The royal baby was to be brought up by
(a) Sir Ulfius
(b) Merlin
(c) Sir Ector
(iv) After the passing away of King Uther-Pendragon, there was
(a) lawlessness
(b) prosperity
(c) development in Britain
Activity 2
Rearrange the following sentences in the correct order and put the numbers in given boxes:
(1) Sir Ector promised to obey Merlin and Sir Ulfius. [6]
(2) King Uther-Pendragon was loved by his people [1]
(3) There was trouble in Britain after the king and queen died. [4]
(4) Lady Igraine was the beautiful wife of King Uther- Pendragon [2]
(5) The two trusted counsellors placed in Sir Ector's hands the royal baby. [5]
(6) The royal baby was born to King Uther Pendragon and Lady Igraine. [3]
Activity 3
Answer the following question:
Question - Why do you think Merlin and Sir Ulfius entrusted Sir Ector with the baby of the king and queen?
Answer - Sir Ector was the trustworthy and a loyal subject of the king so Merlin and Sir Ulfius thought that he was the right choice to take care of the royal baby.
Activity 4
Complete the following sentences with information from the text:
(a) After King Uther- Pendragon, Britain had no king because none of the fighting barons had managed to become the king.
(b) The magnificent sword fixed one a large stone in a churchyard.
(c) Arthur was eighteen when he succeeded in lifting the sword.
(d) The beautiful arm that rose from the water held a sword set with rubies and emeralds.
Activity 5
Answer the following questions:
(a) What was written upon the stone on which the sword was fixed?
Answer - “Whoever pulls out this sword is by right of birth, the king of England.” – This was written upon the stone on which the sword was fixed.
(b) What happened on the bright May morning?
Answer - On the bright May morning, Arthur lifted the sword easily.
(c) Why did Arthur need a new sword?
Answer - Arthur needed a new sword because he had lost his royal sword in a battle.
Activity 6
Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false statement in the given boxes. Give supporting statements for each of your answers:
(a) The people of England were unhappy during Arthur’s rule. [F]
Supporting statement - King Arthur could gift peace and prosperity to England.
(b) Merline took King Arthur to the glided pavilion on his birthday. [F]
Supporting statement - On the wedding day, Merlin took him to a richly glided pavilion, painted crimson and dark blue.
(c) Fifty people could sit at the Round Table. [T]
Supporting statement - In the middle of the room was a huge, round oak table, richly carved, capable of seating fifty people.
(d) The goodness and the kindness of the knights were known all over the country. [T]
Supporting statement - The stories of their goodness and kindness spread throughout the country.
Activity 6
Answer the following questions:
(a) Who, according to Merlin, could possess the Excalibur?
Answer - According to Merlin, only an honest and fearless knight who protects the common people can possess the Excalibur.
(b) Describe the pavilion where the round table was placed?
Answer - The pavilion was richly glided, painted crimson and dark blue. The floor was marbled. In the middle of the room was a huge, round, oak table, richly carved, capable of seating fifty people.
(c) What did King Arthur’s devoted knights’ promise?
Answer - The King Arthur’s devoted knights promised that they would help the helpless, be gentle to the weak and to punish the wicked.
(d) Why did King Arthur smile when he was informed that the Excalibur was taken back into the lake by a beautiful arm?
Answer - King Arthur smiled when he was informed that the Excalibur was taken back into the lake by a beautiful arm because he had done his duty and realized that the Excalibur was back to its original place.
Activity 8 (a)
In the following sentences underline the groups of words that do the work of an Adjective:
(i) The king is wearing a crown which is made of gold.
(ii) He walked on the path that was stony.
(iii) He has a friend who is very helpful.
[The groups of words that you have underlined do the work of an Adjective and contain Subjects and Predicates of their own. Such a group of words is called an Adjective Clause.]
[An Adjective Clause is introduced by a Relative Pronoun and so it is called a Relative Clause.]
A Kings Tale Question Answer
Activity 8 (b)
In the following sentences underline the groups of words that do the work of an Adverb:
(i) He returned home when it was raining.
(ii) The knight fought in a manner which was brave.
(iii) The student could not understand the lesson as he was not present in the class.
[The groups of words that you have underlined do the work of an Adverb and contain Subjects and Predicates of their own. Such a group of words is called an Adverb Clause.]
Activity 8 (c)
In the following sentences underline the groups of words that do the work of a Noun:
(i) I expect that he will come.
(ii) That you behave like this, hurts me.
(iii) Mother was very happy that her child had succeeded.
Activity 8 (d)
Underline the Clauses the following sentences and state what kind of clauses they are:
(i) He was a man whom everyone admired.
Answer - Adjective clause
(ii) I hope that my uncle will visit me.
Answer - Noun clause
(iii) He could not walk further as he was tired.
Answer - Adverb clause
(iv) They live in a place where it is always cold.
Answer - Adverb clause
(v) My friends took me to a garden which was very beautiful.
Answer - Adjective clause
(vi) The artist hoped that he would win an award.
Answer - Noun clause
Activity 9
Find words in the passage that mean the following:
(a) To care for someone or something – Protect
(b) The state of being successful – Succeeded
(c) Having great love and being loyal – Devoted
(d) Died – Perished
Activity 10 (a)
Imagine you are Merlin, the wise counselor to King Arthur. Write a paragraph in about eighty words on the advices you would have given the king in his times of trouble.
Answer
In the times of troubles, only the trustworthy people can be counted on. I would advice my King to never give up in any situation. I would tell him to follow the path that has been laid down by many years ago. I would also advice my king to be firm and take proper action with having pragmatic attitude. I would advise him not to be haste in making decision and think twice before coming to the conclusion. Beyond everything else, I would assure him that I will be there for him no matter how the time gets.
Activity 10 (b)
Write a summary of the following passage:
Long ago during the reign of Khalifa Haroon-ul-Rashid, there lived a businessman called Ali. One day Ali went on a pilgrimage. He had five hundred gold coins which he put in a jar and filled the jar with oil. Ali left the jar with his neighbour Abdul. While Ali was away, one day, Abdul ran out of cooking oil in his house. He took out some oil from Ali's jar. As Abdul was pouring the oil several gold coins fell out from the jar. He became greedy. Abdul took out all the oil and the gold coins from Ali's jar. Then he replaced the oil in the jar from an oil-trader. Ali returned several months later. He did not find his coins. Abdul said he knew nothing of it. Ali went to the Khalifa. Khalifa Haroon-ul- Rashid heard Ali's complain. But there was no proof against Abdul. The Khalifa called an oil merchant. He tasted the oil and said it was two months old. Ali had been gone for seven months. He could not have put that oil in the jar. So, Abdul was caught. Ali got back his coins. (190 words)
Answer
Long ago, during the reign of Caliph Harun-ul-Rashid, there lived a merchant named Ali. He put five hundred gold coins in a jar and filled the jar with oil and left the jar with his neighbor Abdul then he went on pilgrimage. One day Abdul ran out of cooking oil in his house. He took out oil from Ali's pot. While Abdul was pouring the oil, several gold coins fell out of the pot. He became greedy. Abdul took out oil and gold coins from Ali's pot. Then he changed the oil in the jar from an oil merchant. Ali returned after a few months. He couldn't find his coin. Abdul said, he does not know anything about this. Ali went to Khalifa. Caliph Harun-ul-Rashid heard Ali's complaint. But no evidence was found against Abdul. Khalifa called an oil merchant. He tasted the oil and said it was two months old. Ali has been gone for seven months. He could not keep that oil in the container. So Abdul was arrested. Ali got his coins back.
A Kings Tale Question Answer
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