Gujarat Board GSEB Class 9 English Textbook Solutions Beehive Chapter 10 Kathmandu Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers, Notes Pdf.
Gujarat Board Textbook Solutions Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 10 Kathmandu
GSEB Class 9 English Kathmandu Text Book Questions and Answers
Thinking about the Text
Activity
Question 1.
On the following map mark out the route, which the author thought of but did not take to Delhi:
Question 2.
Find out the possible routes (by rail, road or air) from Kathmandu to New Delhi / Mumbai / Kolkata / Chennai.
Answer:
1.The route the author had thought of but did not take is given below:
Kathmandu – Bihar (Patna) – Uttar Pradesh (Benaras – Allahabad – Agra) – Delhi
2. Kathmandu to Delhi:
Rail Route : Kathmandu – Gorakhpur – Faizabad – Agra – Delhi Road Route : Same route as of train.
Kathmandu to Mumbai:
Rail / Road Route : Kathmandu – Gorakhpur – Lucknow – Kanpur – Indore – Dhule – Nashik
– Mumbai
Kathmandu to Kolkata :
Rail / Road Route : Kathmandu – Mithila – Darbhanga – Samastipur – Begusarai – Jamni
– Durgapur – Bardhaman – Kolkata
Kathmandu to Chennai:
Rail / Road Route : Kathmandu – Kawasoti – Campirganj – Basti – Faizabad – Barabanki – Zansi
– Lalitpur – Chhindwada – Nagpur – Hinganghat – Nirmal – Nizamabad
– Kamareddy – Miryalaguda – Narasaroapet – Kavali – Nellore – Chennai
I. Answer these questions in one or two words or in short phrases:
Question 1.
Name the two temples the author visited in Kathmandu.
Answer:
The two temples the author visited in Kathmandu were the Pashupatinath temple and the Baudhnath stupa.
Question 2.
The writer says, “All this I wash down with Coca-Cola.” What does ‘all this’ refer to ?
Answer:
‘All this’ refers to eating a bar of marzipan, a corn-on-the-cob roasted in a charcoal stove (rubbed with salt, chilli powder and lemon), and reading a couple of love story comics and a Reader’s Digest.
Question 3.
What does Vikram Seth compare to the quills of a porcupine ?
Answer:
Vikram Seth compares the fifty or sixty bansuris protruding in all directions from the pole of a flute seller to the quills of a porcupine.
Question 4.
Name five kinds of flutes.
Answer:
The reed neh, the Japanese shakuhachi, the deep bansuri of Hindustani classical music, the clear or breathy flutes of South America, and the high-pitched Chinese flutes.
II. Answer each question in a short paragraph:
Question 1.
What difference does the author note between the flute seller and the other hawkers ?
Answer:
The author notes that while the other hawkers shouted out their wares, the flute seller did not. He simply played a flute, slowly and meditatively, without excessive display.
Question 2.
What is the belief at Pashupatinath about the end of Kaliyug ?
Answer:
At Pashupatinath, there is a small shrine that protrudes from the stone platform on the river bank of Bagmati. It is believed that when the shrine will emerge fully, the goddess inside it will escape. The evil period of Kaliyug on earth will then end.
Question 3.
The author has drawn powerful images and pictures. Pick out three examples each of-
(i) the atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’ outside the temple of Pashupatinath (for example : some people trying to get the priest’s attention are elbowed aside…)
(ii) the things he sees
(iii) the sounds he hears
Answer:
(i) The author has drawn powerful images and pictures of the atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’ outside the temple of Pashupatinath. These include the following: a group of saffron- clad Westerners struggling to enter the main gate as only Hindus were allowed to enter the temple; a fight that breaks out between two monkeys; and a royal Nepalese princess for whom everyone makes way.
(ii) He saw that the Baudhnath Stupa’ had an immense white dome, which was ringed by a road. Small shops were there on the outer edge where felt bags, Tibetan prints and silver jewellery could bfe bought. There were no crowds there. On the busiest streets of Kathmandu, he saw fruit sellers, flute sellers, hawkers of postcards, shops selling Western cosmetics, film rolls, chocolate, copper utensils and Nepalese antiques.
(iii) The sounds he heard were film songs that were blaring out from the radios, car horns, bicycle bells, vendors shouting out their wares. He also listened to flute music, calling it the most universal and most particular of sounds.
III. Answer the following questions in not more than 100 -150 words each:
Question 1.
Compare and contrast the atmosphere in and around the Baudhnath shrine with the Pashupatinath temple.
Answer:
The atmosphere at the Pashupatinath temple was noisy, and full of chaos and confusion. Worshippers were trying to get the priest’s attention; others were pushing their way to the front; saffron-clad Westerners were trying to enter the temple; monkeys were fighting and adding to the general noise; a corpse was being cremated on the banks of the river Bagmati; washerwomen were at their work, while children were bathing. In contrast, the Baudhnath stupa was “a haven of quietness in the busy streets around”. There was no crowd, which helped build the stillness and serenity at the Buddhist shrine.
Question 2.
How does the author describe Kathmandu’s busiest streets ?
Answer:
Along Kathmandu’s narrowest and busiest streets, there are small shrines and flower-adorned deities. Apart from these, there are fruit sellers, flute sellers, hawkers of postcards, shops selling Western cosmetics, film rolls, chocolate, those selling copper utensils and Nepalese antiques. The author hears film songs that were blaring out from the radios, sounds of car horns and bicycle bells, vendors shouting out their wares. He says that stray cows roam about on the roads. He also draws a vivid picture of a flute seller with many bansuris protruding from his pole. He describes how the serene music produced by the flute seller is heard clearly above all the other noise.
Question 3.
“To hear any flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind.” Why does the author say this ?
Answer:
The author considers flute music to be “the most universal and most particular” of all music. This is a musical instrument that is common to all cultures. We have the reed neh, the recorder, the Japanese shakuhachi, the deep bansuri of Hindustani classical music, the clear or breathy flutes of South America, the high- pitched Chinese flutes, etc. even though each of these has its specific fingering and compass yet, for the author, to hear any flute is “to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind”. This is because in spite of their differences, every flute produces music with the help of the human breath. Similarly, despite the differences in caste, culture, religion, region, all human beings are the same, with the same living breath running through all of them.
Thinking about Language
I. Read the following sentences carefully to understand the meaning of the italicised phrases. Then match the phrasal verbs in Column ‘A.’ with their meanings in Column ‘B’:
(1) A communal war broke out when the princess was abducted by the neighbouring prince.
(2) The cockpit broke off from the plane during the; plane crash.
(3) The car broke down on the way and we were left stranded in the jungle.
(4) The dacoit broke away from the police as they took him to court.
(5) The brothers broke up after the death of the father.
(6) The thief broke into our house when we were away.
| ‘A’ | ‘B’ |
| (1) break out
(2) break off (3) break down (4) break away (from someone) (5) break up (6) break into |
(a) to come apart due to force
(b) end a relationship (c) break and enter illegally; unlawful trespassing (d) of start suddenly, (usually a fight, a war or a disease) (e) to escape from someone’s grip (f) stop working |
Answer:
(1 – d), (2 – a), (3 – f), (4 – e), (5 – b), (6 – c).
II.
Question 1.
Use the suffixes -ion or -tion to form s nouns from the following verbs. Make 1; the necessary changes in the spellings S of the words:
Example : proclaim – proclamation
cremate …………..1…………
exhaust ………………3……………..
tempt …………..5…………..
direct ………….7…………
imagine …………..9………….
associate …………..11………..
act ………..2………
invent ………….4……………
immigrate …………..6…………..
meditate ……………..8………………..
dislocate ………………..10………………..
dedicate ………………..12…………………
Answer:
1. cremation
2. action
3. exhaustion
4. invention
5. temptation
6. immigration
7. direction
8. meditation
9. imagination
10. dislocation
11. association
12. dedication
Question 2.
Now fill in the blanks with suitable words from the ones that you have formed:
(1) Mass literacy was possible only after the …………….of the printing machine.
(2) Ramesh is unable to tackle the situation as he lacks …………… .
(3) I could not resist the …………….. to open the letter.
(4) Hard work and …………….. are the main keys to success.
(5) The children were almost fainting with ……………. after being made to stand in the sun.
Answer:
(1) invention
(2) direction
(3) temptation
(4) dedication
(5) exhaustion
III. Punctuation:
Use capital letters, full stops, question marks, commas and inverted commas wherever necessary in the following paragraph:
an arrogant lion was wandering through the jungle one day he asked the tiger who is stronger than you you O lion replied the tiger who is more fierce than a leopard asked the lion you sir replied the leopard he marched up to an elephant and asked the same question the elephant picked him up in his trunk swung him in the air and threw him down look said the lion there is no need to get mad just because you don’t know the answer
Answer:
An arrogant lion wa.s wandering through the jungle. One day, he asked the tiger, “Who is stronger than you ?” “You, O lion!” replied the tiger. “Who is more fierce than a leopard ?” asked the lion. “You sir,” replied the leopard. He marched up to an elephant and asked the same question. The elephant picked him up in his trunk, swung him in the air, and threw him down. “Look,” said the lion, “there is no need to get mad just because you don’t know the answer.”
IV. Simple Present Tense:
Study these sentences from the lesson:
- A fight breaks out between two monkeys.
- Film songs blare out from the radios.
- I wash it down with Coca-Cola.
The italicised verbs sire in the simple present tense. The writer is here describing what he saw and heard but he uses the present tense instead of the past tense. A narration or a story can be made more dramatic or immediate by using the present tense in this way.
Now look at the following sentences:
- A small shrine half protrudes from the stone platform on the river bank.
- Small shops stand on the outer edge of the Stupa.
We use the simple present tense to speak about what is usually or generally true. The sentences above describe facts. We also use the simple present tense in sentences depicting ‘universal truths’. For example:
- The sun rises in the east.
- The earth revolves round the sun.
We can also refer to habitual actions using the simple present tense.
- He usually takes a train instead of a bus to work.
- We often get fine drizzles in winter.
In these sentences words like everyday, often, seldom, never, every month, generally, usually, etc. may be used.
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in brackets:
(i) The heart is a pump that ……………1………… (send) the blood circulating through our body. The pumping action ……………2…………… (take place) when the left ventricle of the heart ………….3…………. (contract). This ……………..4…………….. (force) the blood out into the arteries, which ………….5………… (expand) to receive the oncoming blood.
Answer:
1. sends
2. takes place
3. contracts
4. forces
5. expand
(ii) The African lungfish can live without water for up to four years. During a drought it ……………1…………….., (dig) a pit and …………2…………. (enclose) itself in a capsule of slime and earth, leaving a tiny opening for air. The capsule …………….3…………… (dry) and …………4……….. (harden), but when rain ……………5………….. (come), the mud …………..6…………. (dissolve) and the lungfish …………….7……………… (swim) away.
Answer:
1. digs
2. encloses
3. dries
4. hardens
5. comes
6. dissolves
7. swims
(iii) MAHESH: We have to organise a class party for our teacher.
………1………….. (Do) anyone play an instrument ?
VIPUL: Rohit ……………2……….. (play) the flute.
MAHESH: …………3………….. (Do) he also act?
VIPUL: No, he , ……………4…………… (compose) music.
MAHESH: That’s wonderful!
Answer:
1. Does
2. plays
3. Does
4. composes
Writing
Diary entry for a travelogue:
Question 1.
The text you read is a travelogue where the author, Vikram Seth, talks about his visit to two sacred places in Kathmandu.
Imagine that you were with Vikram Seth on his visit to Pashupatinath temple, and you were noting down all that you saw and did there, so that you could write a travelogue later.
Record in point form:
- what you see when you reach the Pashupatinath temple
- what you see happening inside the temple
- what you do when inside the temple
- what you see outside the temple
- what your impressions are about the place.
Answer:
Today, being the first day of my trip, I have come to visit the Pashupatinath temple with my friend, Vikram Seth. It is a beautiful place.
- On reaching the temple, I notice a completely chaotic scenario. The priests, hawkers, devotees, tourists, cows, monkeys, pigeons and dogs are roaming through the grounds.
- The temple is crowded with huge number of devotees rushing to worship the deity. People are even pushing to enter.
- Inside the temple, we worship and offer a few flowers to the deity.
- Outside the temple, a signboard s declares that only Hindus could enter the premises of the temple.
- According to me, the place is chaotic and noisy, like most holy places in India.
(The above answers are only a sample provided for the student’s help. We recommend that students answer such questions using their own creativity and s understanding.)
Question 2.
Here is your diary entry when you visited Agra. Read the points and try to write a travelogue describing your visit to Agra and the Taj Mahal. You may add more details :
January 2003 – rise before dawn – take the Shatabdi Express at 6.15 a.m. from Delhi – meet a newly-married couple on train – talk about Himachal Pradesh – get off the train – enter the once – grand city, Agra – twisted alleys – traffic dense – rickshaws, i cars, people – vendors selling religious artifacts, plastic toys, spices and sweets – go s to the Taj Mahal – constructed entirely of white marble – magical quality – colour changes with varying of light and shadow – marble with s gemstones inside – reflection of the Taj Mahal in the pond – school-children, tourists – tourist guides following people.
Answer:
It was the January of the year 2003. I rose before dawn and hurriedly dressed up to reach the New Delhi railway station. I boarded the Shatabdi Express for Agra at 6:15 a.m. The journey was interesting as always. I met a newly-married couple on train. They had married a month ago and were going to Himachal Pradesh to visit a critically ill friend. We discussed the popular tourist attractions in Himachal Pradesh, such as Shimla, Kullu, Manali, Dalhousie and Dharamshala.
Soon I reached Agra. I bid the couple farewell and got off the train to continue further with my journey. I entered the once-grand city. The first few things that attracted me were the twisted alleys, dense traffic with lot of rickshaws, cars and people. These overcrowded streets were lined with many shops. Most of the vendors sold religious artifacts, replicas of the Taj Mahal, plastic toys, spices and sweets. I left my baggage at a hotel and headed straight to the Taj Mahal.
Constructed entirely of white marble with gemstones inside, it had a magical quality that mesmerised everyone. Its colour changed with the change in light and shadow. The reflection of the Taj Mahal in the pond attracted the school children and other tourists, who were being followed by the tourist guides.
GSEB Class 9 English Kathmandu Additional Important Questions and Answers
Reading Comprehension
Read the following passages and select the most appropriate answers for the questions given below them:
Question 1.
At the Baudhnath stupa, the Buddhist shrine of Kathmandu, there is, in contrast, a sense of stillness. Its immense white dome is ringed by a road. Small shops stand on its outer edge : many of these are owned by Tibetan immigrants; felt bags, Tibetan prints and silver jewellery can be bought here. There are no crowds: this is a haven of quietness in the busy streets around.
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.
Questions:
1. ‘Stupa’ is ………………..
A. a temple.
B. a church.
C. a shrine.
D. a mosque.
Answer:
C. a shrine.
2. The small shops surrounding the Baudhnath stupa are owned by………………
A. Baudh monks.
B. Tibetan immigrants.
C. local Tibetans.
D. Both ‘A’ and ‘B’
Answer:
B. Tibetan immigrants.
3. In what sense ‘this is a haven of quietness’ ?
A. ‘Silence prevails there’.
B. ‘There every activity goes on quietly’.
C. ‘That is a religious place’.
D. Both ‘A’ and ‘B’
Answer:
D. Both ‘A’ and ‘B’
4. The meaning of the phrase ‘blare out’ is …………….
A. ‘sound loudly and stridently’.
B. ‘muse inadvertantly’.
C. ‘entertain completely’.
D. ‘irritate strongly’.
Answer:
A. ‘sound loudly and stridently’.
Question 2.
I look at the flute seller standing in a corner of the square near the hotel. In his hand is a pole with an attachment at the top from which fifty or sixty bansuris protrude in all directions, like the quills of a porcupine. They are of bamboo: there are cross-flutes and recorders. From time to time he stands the pole on the ground, selects a flute and plays for a few minutes.
The sound rises clearly above the noise of the traffic and the hawkers’ cries. He plays slowly, meditatively, without excessive display. He does not shout out his wares. Occasionally he ifaakes a sale, but in a curiously offhanded way as if this were incidental to his enterprise. Sometimes he breaks off playing to talk to the fruit seller. I imagine that this has been the pattern of his life for years.
Questions:
1. The meaning of the word ‘protrude’ is ………………..
A. ‘extend outward’.
B.‘project’.
C. ‘fixed’.
D. Both ‘A’ and ‘B’
Answer:
D. Both ‘A’ and ‘B’
2. The sound of the flute played by the flute seller outdoes ………………
A. the noise of the traffic.
B. the cries of hawkers.
C. the sound made by temple bells.
D. Both ‘A’ and ‘B’
Answer:
D. Both ‘A’ and ‘B’
3. The meaning of the phrase ‘in an offhanded way’ is ………………
A. ‘extemporaneously’.
B. ‘aggressively’.
C. ‘effortfully’.
D. ‘desperately’.
Answer:
A. ‘extemporaneously’.
4. The meaning of the phrase ‘breaks off’ is ……………..
A. ‘enters in argument with’.
B. ‘stops abruptly’.
C. ‘leaves the place suddenly’.
D. ‘forgets suddenly’.
Answer:
B. ‘stops abruptly’.
Question 3.
I find it difficult to tear myself away from the square. Flute music always does this to me: it is at once the most universal and most particular of sounds. There is no culture that does not have its flute-the reed neh, the recorder, the Japanese shakuhachi, the deep bansuri of Hindustani classical music, the clear or breathy flutes of South America, the high-pitched Chinese flutes. Each has its specific fingering and compass.
It weaves its own associations. Yet to hear any flute is, it seems to me, to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind, to be moved by music closest in its phrases and sentences to the human voice. Its motive force too is living breath: it too needs to pause and breathe before it can go on.
Questions:
1. The phrase ‘tear away’ here means …………………….
A. ‘to pull apart or into pieces by force’.
B. ‘to leave or depart very quickly’.
C. ‘to abandon’.
D. ‘to compromise with’.
Answer:
B. ‘to leave or depart very quickly’.
2. What kind of musical instrument is a flute?
A. Percussion instrument
B. Woodwind instrument
C. Stringed instrument
D. Electronic instrument
Answer:
B. Woodwind instrument
3. Flutes differ in their ………………..
A. specific fingering.
B. compass.
C. shape.
D. Both ‘A’ and ‘B’
Answer:
D. Both ‘A’ and ‘B’
4. The motive force of a flute is ……………….
A. living breath.
B. skill of the player.
C. its make.
D. its range.
Answer:
A. living breath.
Answer the following questions in three to four sentences each:
Question 1.
What does the signboard outside Pashupatinath indicate ?
Answer:
The signboard outside Pashupatinath indicates that the entry to the temple is restricted to Hindus only.
Question 2.
Who are elbowed aside? By whom?
Answer:
Those worshippers who are trying to
get the priest’s attention are elbowed aside by others who are pushing their way to the front.
Question 3.
What did the people do when a princess of the Nepalese royal house appeared ?
Answer:
When a princess of the Nepalese royal ‘ house appeared, everyone bowed and made way.
Question 4.
Why were the Westerners struggling for permission to enter Pashupatinath?
Answer:
The Westerners could not convince the policeman that they were ‘Hindus’. Since the entry to the temple is restricted to ‘Hindus’, they were not allowed to enter the temple.
Question 5.
What is the belief about a small shrine protruding from the stone platform on the river bank ?
Answer:
It is believed that the small shrine when it emerges fully, the goddess inside will escape, and the evil period of the Kaliyug will end on earth.
Question 6.
Which two temples did Vikram Seth visit in Kathmandu ?
Answer:
Vikram Seth irisited the Pashupatinath temple and Baudhnath stupa in Kathmandu.
Question 7.
What is marzipan?
Answer:
Marzipan is a sweet made with grated almond.
Question 8.
Why did the writer not want to tear himself away from the square?
Answer:
The writer did not want to tear himself away from the square because he liked flute music too much and he did not want to leave the place when it was being played there.
Answer the following questions in five to six sentences each:
Question 1.
Describe the scenes at the Bagmati river.
Answer:
The holy Bagmati flows below the temple of Pashupatinath. A corpse was being cremated on its banks. Washerwomen were busy washing clothes and children were bathing. From a balcony a basket of flowers and leaves was being dropped into the river. Withered old offerings was also being dropped into the river. There is a small shrine half protruding from the stone platform on the river bank.
Question 2.
What was the writer’s idea of returning home ? Did it change ? How ? Why ?
Answer:
The writer was thinking what route he should take back home from Kathmandu. If he were enthusiastic enough to travel by himself, he would go by bus and train to Patna. Then he would sail up the Ganges past Benaras to Allahabad. Further he would be up the Yamuna, past Agra to Delhi. But he was too exhausted and homesick and wanted to reach home early, so he entered a Nepal Airlines office and bought a ticket for the next day’s flight.
Question 3.
Write a note on Vikram Seth’s interest and knowledge of flutes.
Answer:
Vikram Seth is greatly fond of flute music. He says that it is at once the most universal and most particular of sounds. There is no culture that does not have its flute. The different kinds of flutes are: the reed neh, the recorder, the Japanese shakuhachi, the deep bansuri of Hindustani classical music, the clear or breathy flutes of South America and the high-pitched Chinese flutes. Each of these has its specific fingering and compass. It weaves its own associations. For him, to hear any flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind, to be moved by music closest in its phrases and sentences to the human voice. Its motive force is living breath: it needs to pause and breathe before it can go on.
Vocabulary And Grammar
Vocabulary
Fill in the blanks choosing the correct words given in the brackets:
(1) (square, standing, hotel, look)
I ……………a…………. at the flute seller ……………..b…………. in a corner of the ……………c…………. near the ……………..d……………. .
Answer:
a. look
b. standing
c. square
d. hotel
(2) (pattern, sometimes, imagine, playing)
…………….a…………… he breaks off …………b………….. to talk to the fruit seller. I ………….c……….. that this has been the ………….d………… of his life for years.
Answer:
a. Sometimes
b. playing
c. imagine
d. pattern
Grammar
Rectify the errors in the passage:
(1)
Answer:
A fight breaks down between two monkeys.
One chases another, who jumps onto a shivalinga, then runs screamed around the temples and down to the river, the holy Bagmati, that flows under. A small Shrine half protrude from the stone platform on the river bank. When it emerged fully, the goddess inside will escape.
| Errors | Corrections |
| (a) breaks down | breaks out |
| (b) another | the other |
| (c) screamed | screaming |
| (d) under | below |
| (e) protrude | protrudes |
| (f) emerged | emerges |
(2)
Answer:
Kathmandu is vivid, mercenary, religion with small shrines to flower-adorn deities along the narrower and busiest streets; with fruit sellers, flute sellers, howkers of postcards; shops sold Western cosmetics, film rolls and chocolate; but copper utensils and Nepalese antiques.
| Errors | Corrections |
| (a) religion | religious |
| (b) flower- adorned | Flower-adorn |
| (c) narrower | narrowest |
| (d) howkers | hawkers |
| (e) sold | selling |
| (f) but | or |
(3)
Answer:
I consider that route I should take back home. If I was propelled by enthusiasm for travel per se,
I will go by bus and train to Patna, then sail up Ganges passed Benaras to Allahabad, then up the Yamuna, past Agra to Delhi. But I am to exhausted and homesick; today is a last day of August.
| Errors | Corrections |
| (a) that | what |
| (b) was | were |
| (c) will | would |
| (d) passed | past |
| (e) to | too |
| (f) a | the |
Fill in the blanks using article(s), conjunctions(s) and preposition(s) at the correct places:
(1) …………..a………… princess of ………….b………… Nepalese royal house appears; everyone bows …………..c……….. makes way. ………….d……….. the main gate, a party …………..e………….. saffron-clad Westerners struggle ……………f……………… permission to enter.
Answer:
a. A
b. the
c. and
d. By
e. of
f. for
(2) ……………a…………. I can be so affected ……………..b…………… ………….c………. few familiar phrases ………….d………… …………..e…………. bansuri, surprises me ………….f………… first.
Answer:
a. That
b. by
c. a
d. on
e. the
f. at
Punctuate the following passage:
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.
Answer:
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.
Convert the following into Indirect Speech:
Gerrard: You’re not particularly decorative.
Intruder: No ! Well, that goes for you, too. I’ve only got to wear specs and I’ll be enough like you to get away with it.
Gerrard: What about your clothes ? They’ll let you down if you’re not careful.
Intruder: That’ll be all right. Yours will fit me fine.
Answer:
Gerrard told the Intruder that he was not particularly decorative. The Intruder refused to believe that and in return he told him that he was also not so decorative. Then he added that he had only got to wear specs and he would be enough like him to get away with it. Gerrard raised doubt what he would do for his clothes. He warned him that they would let him down if he was not careful. The Intruder welcomed his suggestion and told that his clothes would fit him fine.
Rewrite as directed:
(1) Pashupatinath is the most sacred temple for Hindus. (Change the Degree.)
(2) A corpse is being cremated on the banks of the Bagmati river. (Change the Voice.)
(3) I am too exhausted to go further. (Remove ‘too’.)
(4) The sound rises clearly above the noise of traffic and the hawkers’ cries. (Use ‘not only… but also’.)
(5) He does not shout out his wares. (Turn into Affirmative.)
(6) 1 find it difficult to tear myself away from the square. (Turn into Negative.)
(7) There is no culture that does not have its flute. (Use ‘Every’.)
Answer:
(1) Pashupatinath is more sacred than any other temple for Hindus. OR No other temple for Hindus is so sacred as Pashupatinath.
(2) They are cremating a corpse on the banks of the Bagmati river.
(3) 1 am so exhausted that I cannot go further.
(4) The sound rises clearly not only above the noise of traffic but also above the hawkers’ cries.
(5) He sells his wares silently / without shouting.
(6) 1 do not find it easy to tear myself away from the square.
(7) Every culture has its flute.
Kathmandu Summary in English
Kathmandu Introduction:
Vikram Seth (Born June 20, 1952) is an Indian novelist and poet. He has written several novels and poetry books. He has received several awards including Padma Shri, Sahitya Akademi Award, Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, WH Smith Literary Award and Crossword Book Award. Seth’s collections of poetry such as ‘Mappings’ and ‘Beastly Tales’ are notable contributions to the Indian English language poetry canon.
Kathmandu Summary:
Vikram Seth once visited Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. In this chapter, he recalls some of his memories. He visited the famous Pashupatinath temple of Hindus. He also visited the Baudhnath stupa which is a famous Buddhist shrine. He visited many other small shrines in the busiest parts of the city. The writer had been away from home for many days. He began to feel tired and homesick. So he goes into a Nepal Airlines office.
He buys a ticket for the next day’s flight. When he comes out, he sees a man selling flutes. He gives a detailed description of this man, of his music and his flutes. The writer wonders how he noticed all these small details because on previous occasions, he had never felt any interest in them.