Gujarat Board GSEB Solutions Class 11 English Second Language Unit 10 Read 3 Confessions of A Born Spectator (Poem) Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.
GSEB Std 11 English Textbook Solutions Unit 10 Read 3 Confessions of A Born Spectator (Poem) (2nd Language)
GSEB Class 11 English Confessions of A Born Spectator (Poem) Text Book Questions and Answers
Comprehension
(Based on Textbook Contents)
Answer the following questions in three to four sentences each:
Question 1.
State whether the poet is a player or not.
Answer:
The poet is not a player. He is merely , a spectator watching sports. But he is the most committed spectator. He is ready to spend any amount for buying a ticket to watch any sports- event.
Question 2.
Is the poet ready to spend any amount ; of money to applaud his player-friends ?
Answer:
Yes, the poet is ready to spend any amount of money to applaud his player-friends.
Question 3.
List out the things the poet is ready to do with the players, and the things he does not like to do. (itd
Answer:
The poet is ready to drink (wine) to them (the players) or eat with them. He is ready to do anything for them. He is ready to buy very expensive tickets to watch them play in the stadium. But he would never swap his position with one of theirs. He would never be a player. He would be happy being a spectator viewer for ever.
Question 4.
Why does the poet call himself a ‘born spectator’?
Answer:
‘Born’ is an adjective applied to indicate ‘having qualities’ or aptitude from birth. And it is difficult to bring about a change or transformation in them. Here the poet likes to watch games and sports very much but he is timid by nature. He does not want to be a player because a player is always prone to physical injuries and the poet does not have that courage to tolerate them. He wants to remain as a spectator for ever.
Question 5.
Which parts of a human body are mentioned in the poem?
Answer:
The parts of human body mentioned in this poem are : heart, vertebrae and spine.
Write three to Jive sentences about:
Question 1.
The poet’s attitude towards the players
Answer:
The poet is full of praise for players. The poet says that some players play quite enthusiastically. But while playing, they suffer several physical injuries. Sometimes, the injuries are too serious. They play heroically and risk their lives, too. The poet is ready to buy expensive tickets to watch the athletes play on the field.
Question 2.
The advantages the players enjoy
Answer:
There are many advantages of being a player. A good player enjoys playing. He can also earn handsome money. Their dresses and heroic deeds are really enviable. They become famous the world around and gain many privileges. They win a lot of appreciation and get a number of awards. They play enthusiastically and turn to be role models for youngsters. In this age of e-media, a large number of people in the native country and abroad become their followers and get a large fan-following.
Question 3.
The physical injuries the players might
Answer:
While playing different games and sports, sometimes, players suffer serious physical injuries. In a boxing match, one boxer knocks down the other to the floor. In horse racing, he risks the injury to his vertebrae and spine. Thus the players) are very often seriously injured and sometimes they happen to lose their lives as well.
Additional Questions
Poetry Comprehension
Read the stanzas and answer the questions :
1. Now A runs ninety yards to score,
B knocks the champion to the floor.
C risking vertebrae and spine,
Lashes his steed across the line.
You’d think my ego it would please
To swap positions with one of these.
Questions :
- Which different sports are mentioned in this stanza?
- How would ‘C’ run risk ?
- When would the poet’s ego please ?
Answer:
- In the second stanza the sports mentioned are: (i) running race (sprint), (ii) boxing and (iii) horse race.
- While riding on a speeding horse in a race, one might hurt one’s vertebrae and spine for a lifetime.
- The poet’s ego would please when he himself takes part as one of the athletes on the field.
2. Well, ego might be pleased enough,
But zealous athletes play so rough,
They do not ever, in their dealings
Consider one another’s feelings.
I’m glad that when my struggle begins
Twixt prudence and ego, prudence wins.
Questions :
1. Why does the poet say that some athletes play very rough?
2. When is the poet glad ? Why ?
3. Pick out the lines that show that athletes are not sentimental ?
Answer:
1. The poet says that some enthusiastic athletes play very rough because while playing, they do not consider one another’s feelings. They s only think of winning at any cost.
2. The poet admits that if he plays as a sportsman, his ego would be pleased. But because of his weak physique, his prudence prevents him from doing so. Thus, in the struggle between his ego and prudence, he is happy that his prudence I wins over his ego.
3. The lines that shows that athletes are not sentimental are: ‘They do not ever, in their S dealings Consider one another’s feelings’.
3. Athletes, I’ll drink to you or eat with you.
Or anything except compete with you.
Buy tickets worth their weight in radium.
To watch you gambol in a stadium
And reassure myself anew
That you’re not me and I’m not you.
Questions:
- What is the poet ready to do ?
- What is the poet not ready to do ?
- ‘That you’re not me and I’m not you.
What does the poet want to say?
Answer:
- The poet is ready to drink to the health of the winning sportsmen. He is also ready to eat with them. He is ready to buy tickets at any price.
- The poet is not ready to compete with sportsmen playing on the field.
- By ‘you’ the poet means ‘sportsmen’. He is happy that he is merely a spectator sitting safely in the stands and not an athlete who is prone to injury.
Here are the paraphrase versions of some lines of the poem, but they express the opposite meaning. Working with your partner, first of all, write them in true sense, then find the actual lines they reflect in the poem.
Question 1.
I deeply hate the players who struggle hard for money or want to be funny.
Answer:
The poet wholeheartedly admires (does not hate) those players who struggle very hard and watching them playing so earnestly, people seek fun.
The actual lines are :
‘With all my heart do I admire
Athletes who sweat for fun or hire.’
Question 2.
Mr X beats his donkey to reach at the line, in this action there is always a possibility of his backbone injury.
Answer:
In a Horse Racing, horses are trained and jockeys ride on them and people bet large amounts of money on them. They have to cover a set distance and cross the target line. In this type of riding, there is always a risk of vertebrae (backbone) injury. In this sport, horses are raced and not donkeys.
The actual lines are :
risking vertebrae and spine, Lashes his steed across the line.
Question 3.
When players play against each other, they become indifferent to each other.
Answer:
Every sport or game has an element of competition. One player in an individual game or a team in a group (team) game wants to take over the other at any cost. In such a fighting spirit it is very much likely that they miss out feelings like pity, compassion, kindness and sometimes honesty, too. Thus, they become indifferent to one another.
The actual lines are :
‘But zealous athletes play so rough,
They do not ever, in their dealings
Consider one another’s feelings.
Question 4.
I am ready to drink or eat with you, but I won’t support you.
Answer:
The poet accepts candidly that he is a born spectator and does not want to swap his position with that of an athlete playing on the ground. The reason is that he is timid by nature and not ready to endure any injury to his body. Of course, he is ready to support them by drinking in honour of them, eating with them or buying very expensive tickets to watch them play, but never play any game himself and invite injuries for him.
The actual lines are :
‘Athletes, I’ll drink to you or eat with you.
Or anything except compete with you.
Buy tickets worth your radium.
To watch you gambol in a stadium.’
Question 5.
I doubt myself now, whether I am you or you are me.
Answer:
Actually the poet does not have any doubt that he is merely a spectator or viewer enjoying watching athletes playing different sports and the players are just players and they are not spectators merely sitting in the stadium lounge and enjoying watching the sports with popcorn in hand. The poet is very much aware of this fact that he is only a spectator and those whom he is watching are players. So he cannot be a player and player would not be a spectator.
The actual lines are :
‘And reassure myself anew
That you’re not me and I’m not you.’
Select the correct option:
Question 1.
The poet says that he enjoys….
(A) athletes’ heroic deeds.
(B) athletes’ rough play.
(C) his competition with players.
(D) champion’s knocking to the floor.
Answer:
(A) athletes’ heroic deeds.
Question 2.
Which of the following games is not mentioned in the poem ?
(A) Horse riding
(B) Weightlifting
(C) Running
(D) Wrestling
Answer:
(B) Weightlifting
Question 3.
The poet is ready to do anything except with the athletes.
(A) eat or drink
(B) buy tickets
(C) compete
(D) watch the match
Answer:
(C) compete
Question 4.
At the end of the poem, the poet accepts that…
(A) he is pleased with the athletes.
(B) his ego wins over his prudence.
(C) he is glad to fight in a stadium.
(D) he is not like an athlete and the athletes are not like him.
Answer:
(D) he is not like an athlete and the athletes are not like him.
Discuss these situations orally. (You can use your mother tongue to express your ideas.)
1. What do you want to be, a good player or a good spectator?
2. Did you find yourself perplexed anytime in your life ? What was your stand at last ?
3. Are you frank to admit your weaknesses openly ?
[Note: These questions are meant for oral discussion. So students will do it in their classrooms or with their friends / schoolmates in a group.]
Vocabulary :
Replace the underlined words with the words closest to the meanings given in the box:
regain, fragile, toil, recognize, overcome
Many years ago, I met a young weak girl in a primary school. She wanted to become a weightlifter. After some time, I went to see a weightlifting competition where I met a successful female player of weightlifting. I could not identify her because she had became a muscular lady – then. She had done hard work to get that body.
I asked her with surprise, “How could you win over your thin and weak body?” She answered with a smile, “I could do it by exercises and food-programme, but now it is not possible to get back that softness in my body.”
Answer:
Many years ago, I met a young fragile girl in a primary school. She wanted to become a weightlifter. After some time, I went to see a weightlifting competition where I met a successful s female player of weightlifting. I could not recognize her because she had became a muscular lady then.
She had done toil to get that body. I asked her with surprise, “How could you overcome your thin and weak body?” She answered with a smile, “I could do it by exercises and food-programme, but now it is not possible to regain that softness in my body.”
I am a word. But who am I ? Read my description and find me out from the lesson:
- I am a person, who has started something s successfully. People follow me on that path to get success in the field. I am a celebrity.
- I am a sportsperson. It is a part of my game to tight with the opponent with my fists. I am a boxer.
- I become helpful to learn the lessons but I am not a teacher. I just instruct the learner to sharpen her/his skills in the field. I am a coach.
- I am a player. I play to earn money from the game. I am a professional sportsperson.
- I am a platform. I am not round-shaped, yet I am popularly known as circular object. I am a ring.
- I am a written life story of a person. In this story, the story-teller is also the story-writer. I am an autobiography.
- I am also a life story of a person. But I display the story on a screen. I am a biopic.
Tick the nearest meaning:
1. Javelin:
[ ] sword
[✓] spear
[ ] hammer
[ ] stick
2. initially:
[ ] finally
[ ] permanently
[✓] of the beginning
[ ] of the ending
3. dedication:
[ ] refuse
[✓] devoted to someone or something
[ ] based on reasoning
[ ] offer something
4. scolding:
[✓] rebuke
[ ] to show unhappiness
[ ] reject
[ ] to give honour
5. opponent:
[✓] a player of the different side
[ ] enemy
[ ] classmate
[ ] co-worker
Frame a sentence using the words given in the group:
Question 1.
terrorist – innocent people
Answer:
A terrorist kills innocent people.
Question 2.
Lai Bahadur Shastri – hardship – study at Varanasi
Answer:
Lai Bahadur Shastri faced many hardships and studied at Varanasi.
Question 3.
You – overcome – obstacle – a successful person
Answer:
If you learn to overcome obstacles, you can be a successful person.
Question 4.
my friend – convince – school picnic
Answer:
My friend convinced me to join the school picnic.
Question 5.
in market – various – mobile phones
Answer:
Various mobile phones are available in the market.
Fill in the blanks using the words in the brackets :
(media, sensation, quota, outstanding, brand ambassador)
Shahid is a dancing sensation of our school. He has given many outstanding dance performances in various dance competitions and cultural programmes. For his superb dances he has been highlighted in media too. Due to his dancing skills, our principal has appointed him a brand ambassador of our school to promote the fame of our school in our town. He has also been selected in the district youth committee from the cultural quota.
In each of the following sentences, there is one word which does not fit in. Select the right word from the brackets and put it at a proper place to make the sentence meaningful.
Example:
The performer of the garden is a sincere lady, (care taker, photographer)
Answer:
The care taker of the garden is a sincere lady.
Question 1.
Our teacher won the Governor’s Award. We are very happy of him. (jealous, proud)
Answer:
Our teacher won the Governor’s Award. We are very proud of him.
Question 2.
The library is combining to the municipality office, (adjoining, admiring)
Answer:
The library is adjoining to the municipality office.
Question 3.
Cheteshwar has been included in the national team due to his clever performances in the Ranji Trophy Tournament, (brilliant, bright)
Answer:
Cheteshwar has been included in the national team due to his brilliant performances in the Ranji Trophy Tournament.
Question 4.
To make the edge of his performances normal, he practised a lot. (useful, sharper)
Answer:
To make the edge of his performances sharper, he practised a lot.
Question 5.
There is an age-old monument in Champaner. (memorable, ancient)
Answer:
There is an ancient monument in Champaner.
Add one suitable word to each series of the words given below:
(admire, anew, athlete, gaudy pomp, glad, rough, stadium, steed, struggle, swap)
- appreciate, respect, approve, admire.
- gymnast, player, sportsperson, athlete.
- horse, mare, domestic quadruped with mane and tail, steed.
- decorated clothes, track suit, field garments, gaudy pomp.
- exchange, interchange, barter, swap.
- fight, contest, battle, struggle.
- sports ground, open-air structure, sports premises, stadium.
- again, repeatedly, reoccur, anew.
- unpolished, severe, coarse, rough.
- happy, delighted, pleased, glad.
Question 1.
Remove the bold underlined words from the passage and replace them with their synonyms given in the box:
Zonal Athletics Meet
Last year, there was a grand sports meet organized in our school. The players from five neighbouring districts participated in the excellent event. Most of the participants were the players playing without any financial gain, whereas some referees and officials were the players who earned from the games. All the students of our school were very enthusiastic for the event.
There was a fixed share for the viewers inside the stadium, so we had registered for our entry tickets. Wewatched many matches in which the players did hard work to win the game. Their bodies were ull of perspiration. At the time of the result, some players were happy and some were sad. For the news coverage, the representatives of the news providers were there. They were taking) photographs of the delicate moments of the game. If they were not satisfied with the snap, they took it once again.
Answer:
Last year, there was a magnificent sports meet organized in our school. The players from five neighbouring districts participated in the outstanding event. Most of the participants were amateurs, whereas some referees and officials were professionals. All the students of our school were very zealous for the event. There was a quota for the spectators inside the stadium, so we had registered for our entry tickets.
We watched many matches in which the players toiled to win the game. Their bodies were full of sweat. At the time of the result, some players were happy and some were sad. For the news coverage, the representatives of the media were there. They were taking photographs of the fragile moments of the game. If they were not satisfied with the snap, they took it anew.
Question 2.
On the model of the above passage, write a passage, in your own words, in which you have to use the following words:
(ancient, confession, various, hardship, regain, autobiography, obstacle, superlative, edge, dealings, prudence, brand ambassador, overcome)
Answer:
Our Sources of Motivation
I used to hear stories from ancient scriptures about great strong men (bahubalis) who displayed their superlative performances and overcame a number of obstacles. I have also read some autobiographies of great men who faced various hardships and regained their edge with great prudence. There are confessions of successful persons who turned out to be brand ambassadors of great values through their dealings.
Function :
Compare these full sentences with the sentences with blanks in the opposite row. Now fill in the blanks to make them meaningful sentences:
Find out incorrect parts, correct them and rewrite the passage again:
Shooting is so difficult game that requires a high level of concentration. There are only a few gaqies such difficult to master. Such challenging games attract a small number of players. There are such many factors that disturb the players’ concentration. The players have to be so alert that a small mistake can detract them.
Ajjg Shooting is such a difficult game that requires a high level of concentration. There are only a few games so difficult to master. Such challenging games attract a large number of players. There are so many factors that disturb the players’ concentration. The players have to be so alert that a small mistake can detract them.
Fill in the blanks with so or such or such a /an:
- Mary Kom has achieved such a success that whole India can take pride for it.
- The story was so fascinating that the children didn’t make any sound.
- I’m glad you all had such a good time at the picnic.
- The sweater was so big that it touched her knees.
- It was such a lovely day that they decided to go swimming.
- He was such an intelligent boy that he was put into the advanced level.
- He ran into such a heavy rain that he could hardly see the road.
- They had never seen so many people at the beach.
- The contestants didn’t think they would have to face such difficulty.
- Wow! You are so intelligent!
Complete the dialogue with so or such or such a/an:
- Lajja: Hello Mary.
- Mary: Hi Lajja. It is nice to see you.
- Lajja : Thanks. I saw your match live on TV You played so well.
- Mary: OK. It was such a difficult match to play; my whole body was shivering due to winter.
- Lajja: Oh! But you hit such heavy punches to your opponent that she surrendered quickly. Now, tell me something about London.
- Mary: Yes. It is so huge and so beautiful. I was amazed to see it.
- Lajja : Most players never discuss such topics when they meet. But I think it is important to talk about the city too.
- Mary: Certainly. All the best, Lajja.
- Lajja: Thank you Mary. See your later.
Writing :
Cut out from a newspaper / magazine or download a photograph of your favourite sportsperson, entrepreneur / technocrat and freedom fighter. Paste them in your notebook and write a paragraph of 150 words about him / her.
[Note: This activity is to be done by the students.]
your school is planning to organise a rally on Environment Day. Prepare signboards and placards for the rally.
[Note: This activity is also to be done by the students.]
Write a letter of appreciation to the Chief Officer / Commissioner of your city regarding regular cleanliness, maintenance of roads and street lights, etc. of your ward /area.
Answer:
Man than J. Joshi
14, Sarvabhoomika Apts.,
Mukti Medan, Maninagar,
Ahmedabad – 380 008.
April 14, 2018
To,
The Commissioner,
Ahmedabad Municipality,
Raikhad,
Ahmedabad.
Sub. : Compliments for arranging system for regular cleanliness, maintenance of roads and street-lights.
Sir,
Quite candidly I, on behalf of majority of s citizens in my area, extend my compliments to you for doing special efforts to take care of the city and put back into good health.
Previously the condition of the city was so bad that heaps of garbage were found everywhere. In certain areas, if we happened to pass by, dumps were stinking beyond tolerance. The roads were 1; also having potholes and driving along had become an ordeal. A number of street lights along roads in almost every area were out of order and owing to the darkness, miscreants enjoyed carrying out their nefarious activities.
Now, because of your timely actions and needful efforts, the same machinery has become active and the changes are obvious. If this continues for a long time, we would surely get ‘clean city’ award and you deserve special credit for it. We have great hopes from you and we trust on you that you will always keep on all your best efforts. We are proud of you.
Truly yours,
Manthan Joshi
Activity :
John ‘A’ ‘B’
| ‘A’ | ‘B* | ‘C’ |
| John Milton | was completely blind | He wrote the great epic ‘Paradise Lost’. |
| Stephen Hawking | motor neuron disease | He is a British theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author and Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology within the University of Cambridge. |
| Nicholas James ‘Nick’ | born with the absence of all four limbs | He is a motivational speaker. |
| Helen Keller | was both deaf and blind | She was an American author, political activist and lecturer. |
| Sudha Chandran | lost one of her feet after a car accident | She is one of the most well-known dancers and TV actresses in India. |
Now frame sentences as this one:
Example :
- John Milton was completely blind. He wrote the great epic ‘Paradise Lost’.
- Stephen Hawking is a British theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author and Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology within the University of Cambridge. He is suffering) from motor neuron disease.
- Nicholas James ‘Nick’ was born with the absence of all four limbs. He is a motivational speaker.
- Helen Keller was an American author, a political activist and a lecturer. She was both deaf and blind.
- Sudha Chandran had lost one of her lower limb after a car accident. She is one of the most well-known dancers and TV actresses in India.
There are many people in the world who despite disability achieved a great height. Prepare’ a presentation / scrapbook and present it in the classroom.
What do the differently-abled people face in their routine life?
– Tie a handkerchief on your eyes and reach to the principal’s office.
– How will the students with disability in legs use the washroom?
[Note : To be done by the students.]
Confessions of A Born Spectator Summary in Gujarati
કોઈ પણ રમત રમવા માટે જરૂર છે મજબૂત મનની અને તંદુરસ્ત તનની. નબળો કે મધ્યમ બાંધો ધરાવતા લોકો માટે તો પ્રેક્ષાગાર જ સલામત જગ્યા છે. રમતને માણવા માટે રમતમાં સદેહે ભાગ લેવો જરૂરી નથી. જો ખડતલ શરીર અને પૂરી હિંમત ન હોય, તો દૂર રહીને રમતને નિહાળવી એ જ ઠીક છે. માયકાંગલું શરીર ધરાવતા આ કાવ્યના કવિનો અભરખો તો રમતવીર બનવાનો છે પણ ખેર ખુદાની કે તેમનું ડહાપણ તેમને તેમ કરતાં રોકે છે. પણ રમતમાં સક્રિય ભાગ લેતાં પોતાની જાતને રોકવા માટે કવિએ કરેલી કબૂલાતો આ કાવ્યમાં માણવા જેવી છે. હા, આપણે પણ વાંચ્યા બાદ જરૂર કબૂલીશું કે જૂજ લોકોને બાદ કરતાં આપણે પણ કવિની સાથે પ્રેક્ષાગાર(સ્ટક્સ)માં બેસીને રમતો માણવાનું જ વિચારીએ.
Glossary (શબ્દાર્થ)
ભાષાંતર :
હૃદયપૂર્વક હું પ્રશંસા કરું છું રમતવીરોની –
જેઓ પસીનો પાડે છે મજા કે મહેનતાણા માટે,
જેઓ ભભકાદાર વસ્ત્રોમાં મેદાનમાં ઊતરે છે.
અને રમતાં એકબીજાને ઈજા પહોંચાડે છે,
મારો ખોડંગાતો અને શરમાળ જુસ્સો પોરસાય છે
અન્યોનાં વીરતાપૂર્ણ પરાક્રમો પર.
હવે ‘આ’ દોડી રહ્યો છે નેવું વારનો સ્કોર કરવા,
‘બ’ આપી રહ્યો છે ચૅમ્પિયનને ભોં-પછાડ,
‘ક’ પીઠના હાડકાનું અને કરોડરજ્જુન ખેડી રહ્યો છે જોખમ, –
પાણીદાર ઘોડાને ચાબુક ફટકારીને ઘોડાને સીમારેખા ઓળંગાવવા
તમને લાગશે તેનાથી મારો અહમ્ સંતોષાશે –
આમાંના એકાદની સાથે તમારી) સ્થિતિની અદલાબદલી કરીને
વારુ, અહમ્ તો કદાચ સારો એવો સંતોષાય,
પણ ઉત્સાહી રમતવીરો એટલું અણઘડ રમે છે (કે)
તેઓ ક્યારેય, પોતાના વ્યવહારોમાં
એકબીજાની લાગણીઓની તમા રાખતા નથી.
હું ખુશ છું (એ વાતે) કે જ્યારે મારો સંઘર્ષ શરૂ થાય છે
વિવેક અને અહંકાર વચ્ચેનો, (ત્યારે) વિવેકની જીત થાય છે.
હે, રમતવીરો, તમારી સાથે સ્પર્ધામાં ઊતરવા સિવાય
હું તમારા માનમાં પીણું પીશ,
કે તમારી સાથે ભોજન લઈશ,
કે એવું કાંઈ પણ (કરીશ) –
(અને) રેડિયમની ભારોભાર કિંમતની ટિકિટો ખરીદી લઈશ
તમને સ્ટેડિયમમાં રમતના દાવ કરતા જોવા,
અને ફરી એક વાર મારી જાતને ખાતરી આપીશ
કે નથી તમે મારા જેવા અને નથી હું તમારા જેવો.
(સંક્ષિપ્ત)
– ઑન નેશ