West Bengal Board
Sea Fever
Comprehension Exercises
1. Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:
(a) The poet asks for a sail the colour of which would be
(i) blue
(ii) grey
(iii) black
(iv) white
(b) While going down to the sea, the poet wants to hear the crying of
(i) seagulls
(ii) cuckoos
(iii) eagles
(iv) swallows
(c) The wind on the sea is like a whetted
(i) sword
(ii) axe
(iii) knife
(iv) spear
2. State whether the following statements are True or False. Provide sentences/ phrases/ words in support of your answer:
(a) To steer the ship the poet needs the moon. [False]
Supporting Statement -And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by
(b) The call of the running tide is wild and clear. [True]
Supporting Statement -for the call of the running tide is a wild call and a clear call that may not denied.
(c) The poet is going out to the sea for the first time. [False]
Supporting Statement -I must go down to the seas again.
3. Answer the following questions:
(a) During what time of the day does the poet wish to go down to the seas?
Answer - The poet wishes to go down to the seas at the time when the dawn is breaking.
(b) What kind of day does the poet prefer for sailing?
Answer - The poet prefers a windy day with the white clouds moving about the sky.
(c) What does the poet prefer to hear from a fellow rover?
Answer - The poet prefers to hear a merry yarn from a fellow rover.
Grammar in use
4. Do as Directed:
1. All I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by. (Complex/ Negative)
Answer - No sooner had I ask all is a tall ship than a star to steer her by.
2. I must go down to the seas again. I want to pursue the vagrant gypsy life. (Simple)
Answer - Certainly going down to the seas again I want to pursue the vagrant gypsy life.
3. I must go down to the seas again. I desire to go to the lonely sea and the sky. (Join using infinitive / simple)
Answer - I must go down to the seas again to go to the lonely sea and the sky.
4. The call of the running tide is a wild call and clear call. It may not be denied. (Complex)
Answer - It may not be denied that the call of the running tide is a wild call and clear call.
5. I must go down to the seas again to the vagrant gypsy life. (Split into two simple sentences)
Answer - (i) I must go down to the seas again. (ii) I must go down to the vagrant gypsy life.
6. All I ask is a merry yarn from a hanging fellow-rover. (Negative)
Answer - All I ask is not a sad yarn from a hanging fellow-rover.
Writing activities
5. Write a summary of the following passage within 100 words):
Egyptian kings are called Pharaohs. Tutankhamen was an Egyptian king who ruled between 1332-1323 BC. Tutankhamen was very young when he became the king. He was only ten years old when he ascended the throne. He was the son of Akhenaten who was also a Pharaoh. As the king, Tutankhamen undertook many building projects. These building projects were centered on Thebes and Karnak. Tutankhamen built many temples and monuments. At that time many temples were in ruins. Tutankhamen ordered them to be rebuilt. Tutankhamen had various physical disabilities. He suffered from ill health for a long period in his life. Tutankhamen required the support of a cane to walk because of his physical disabilities.
In ancient Egypt, the body of a Pharaoh was preserved after his death. This preserved body was known as the mummy. The preserved body of Tutankhamen was discovered by Howard Carter, an Englishman. He discovered Tutankhamen’s tomb in 1922. The tomb was nearly intact when it was discovered. The discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb attracted wide interest all over the world. The discovery sparked an interest in ancient Egypt.
Answer -
Egyptian kings were called Pharaohs. Tutankhamen, son of Akhenaten, became king at the age of ten ruled between 1332-1323 BC. He undertook many building projects. These building projects were centered on Thebes and Karnak. Tutankhamen built many temples and monuments. After death the king’s dead bodies were preserved as mummies. The discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb and mummy by the Englishman Howard Carter in 1922 made ancient Egypt the subject of attraction to the world.
6. Write a newspaper report (within 100 words) on the incident of burglary in a flat in Kolkata using the following points:
date and place – time – occupants of the house – number of robbers – list of articles stolen – police investigation
Kolkata, January 25:Kolkata is no longer safe for living।this was proved once again on Monday. A really daring burglary occurred in a flat at Salt Lake in Kolkata. It is a small flat where an old man with his family lives. It was about eleven in the morning. The old man was alone in the flat as all the other members had gone either to office or to school. The door-bell rang. The old man was expecting the arrival of the gas cylinder. As he opened the main door a gang of robbers entered the flat and made the old man absolutely helpless with their threats. Then opening the admiral they gathered ornaments and cash worth not less than three lakhs. After their departure, the man recovered himself within half an hour and called the police. Investigation has been started. According to the police, they have found some vital clues though the robbers and the stolen money and jewellery are yet to be traced.
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