Interpreter of Maladies - English Access Coursebook - Class 8 - English

The events of the story are related from the point of view of:
a. Mr Das
b. Mr Kapasi
c. Mrs Das

Mr Kapasi is a:
a. Car driver
b. tourist guide
c. friend of the family

The story is:
a. a description of the Das family from the point of Mr Kapasi
b. a description of the adventures of the Das family on the way to Konarak
c. a description of how all tourists behave when they visit India

Fill in the blanks in the sentences below with details from the story.
Mr Das and his wife were born in … and they were on their way to the town of … in India to visit the … . They were accompanied by their children whose names were …, … and …… . They were being escorted by … year old Mr Kapasi, who drove a white … car and had been operating as a … . The children were very excited when one of the … crowding the trees along the road jumped onto their car. The girl seemed bored and played with her … during the journey, occasionally pestering her mother to … her nails with … .
Mr Kapasi learned that Mr Das was a middle school … teacher in the city of … . He was surprised to note that Mr and Mrs Das looked very …, not even … years of age.
Mr Kapasi felt that Mr and Mrs Das did not behave like … .To him they seemed to be like the children’s … .

Was the Das family visiting India as tourists or was there any other purpose for their presence in the country?

In an effort to portray her principal characters in a realistic way, the author takes great pains to describe details of their appearance, dress and behaviour.
In column b of the table given below, fill in the relevant details pertaining to the characters named in column A.

A B
a. Mr Das
b. Mrs Das
c. The children
d. Mr Kapasi

They were seated in groups along the branches, with shining black faces, silver bodies, horizontal eyebrows and crested heads. Their long grey tails dangled like a series of ropes among the leaves.

a. To whom or what is the author making reference with the word ‘they’? What name does Kapasi use to describe them?
b. What do ‘they’ do? How do the children react to them? How does Mr Das explain their reaction?
c. Contrast the reactions of Mr and Mrs Das to these creatures.

… She did not express irritation or embarrassment or react in any other way to the man’s declarations.

a. Who is the ‘she’ to whom the writer makes reference in the extract? Where was ‘she’ at this time?
b. Who is the man to whom the writer refers in the extract? What does the writer mean by the man’s declarations?
c. The writer implies here that Mr Kapasi expected that she would react somehow to what the man ‘declared’. Why did she not react at all? What does this tell you about the Das family?

What evidence can you find in the story to suggest that the Das children were visiting India for the first time?

Kapasi, at the end of the story, feels that Mr and Mrs Das did not behave as if they were the parents of the children accompanying them. He reflects it was hard to believe they were regularly responsible for anything other than themselves. Do you think he was correct in this assessment? Provide evidence from the story to Justify your point of view. ‘

Fill in the blanks in the following sentences with words selected.

1. As it is against school rules to bring cell phones to school, the principal confiscated our phones as a .................................... measure.

2. The ripe mangoes .................................... temptingly from the tree branches.

3. These football boots are more expensive than the others as they are more ............................ and will not need to be replaced soon.

4. There were no taxis available, so we .................................... gratefully into the back of the truck when the driver offered us a lift.

5. When we pleaded with our father once again, he finally .................................... and allowed up to go to the movie.

Identify the types of adverb in each of the following sentences.
1.            She is slightly taller than her sister.
2.            Revise your work thoroughly before submitting it.
3.            He has gone abroad for higher studies.
4.            Ever since he has joined a college in Mumbai, we rarely

Correct the errors (if any) in the following sentences.
1.            He is studying hardly for his examinations.
2.            I want to rest now; I will go to the market latter.
3.            This story is too interesting.
4.            Why are you walking so slow?
5.            Speak up. I can hardly hear you.

Use each of the following words in two sentences; once as an adjective and the second time as an adverb.
- ....He works best if he is motivated. (adverb)....
.....The best worker for the week was given an award. .....(adjective)
1. Fast                           2. Hard                 3. Daily                 4. Early                 5. Free

Fill in the blanks in each of the sentences below with either the given adjective or adverb.
1.    She plays tennis .........................................  . (good/well)
2.    He behaved in a ......................................... manner. (coward/cowardly)
3.    His performance in the exams was .........................................  . (bad/badly)
4.    Our journey is almost over; we are ......................................... there. (near/nearly)
5.    No one explained the maths problem to me as ......................................... as my English teacher. (clear/clearly)

Fill in the blanks in the sentences below with the correct phrasal verbs.

1. Don’t ......................................... the subject of postponement of the exams during our discussion with the principal. (bring out/bring up/come up with)

2. It would be advisable to ......................................... the suggestions given to you by your parents. (act upon/make do with/carry out)

3. With a little persuasion, I know he will ......................................... to our way of thinking. (drop by/come round/catch up on)

4. If you keep postponing the completion of your homework, you will soon ............................... everyone else in the class. (fall behind/back down/fall back on)

5. The thief ......................................... her, grabbed her cell phone and raced away. (fell behind/stole up on/came round)

Fill in the blanks in the sentences below with phrasal verbs that match the meanings given in brackets.

1. The Principal promised to ......................................... our complaint about poor food in the hostel. (examine the merit of)

2. They may have lost this match, but I am confident that they will ......................................... and win the tournament. (regain confidence)

3. To ensure that the programme is successful, you must ......................................... all the details of its organization. (carefully review)

4. We need to ......................................... an effective strategy to make a success of our business venture. (think of and create)

5. When I was young I had to ......................................... second-hand textbooks as my father could not afford to buy me new ones. (manage with)

6. She ......................................... some money from a box kept neatly in her steel trunk. (took out)

7. You should not ......................................... your responsibilities now that you are earning as much as your father. (ignore or avoid)

8. You should not ......................................... people who do not have as much money as you. (treat as an inferior)

Column A contains statements made by Rahul Column B contains responses by Rita. Match Rita’s responses in column B with Rahul’s statements. Underline the phrasal verbs used in her responses.