Fire Buckets - New Mulberry Coursebook - Class 8 - English

Why did the news not have much distance of travel before everybody in Dibaru had heard it?

What were these sandy thingies in reality?

Who painted the buckets red?

This elevation did not make the bungalow the fulcrum here.

a. What elevation is being referred to here?
b. Why did the bungalow not become a fulcrum for Dilbaru?
c. Which place then was the natural fulcrum of Dibaru?

It was a bored community, and always on the lookout for excitement.

a. How does the author describe the community’s boredom?
b. What is the present source of excitement for the community?
c. How did the community prepare for Heinlein’s arrival?

They were a bright yellow! They still smelt faintly of fresh paint.

a. What is being referred to here?
b. Why were they bright yellow all of a sudden?
c. What happened when the doctor saw these things painted in yellow? What did the villagers do after that?

Describe why the PO’s wife was astonished at Dibaru’s visitors’ typical desire to look at bottles and antiseptics as opposed to the natural beauty of the place.

Why was Heinlein’s visit so important for the people of Dibaru?

What happened when the things that had been painted in yellow were re-painted in red? What does this say about the doctor?

Comment on the status the tribals have in the place which actually belongs to them. Is their role in civic life (as described hers) in Dibaru sufficient?

Describe the lives of the residents of Dibaru in your own words.

He had a say in policy matters, the ear of the governor, and though he was aware that pilfering and trading on the sly was common practice, it wouldn’t do to confirm it.

a. Who is referred to in this line?
b. What was his involvement in policy matters and his relationship with the governor?

How did Heinlein perceive the brightly painted buckets? What does this say about his character?

Choose participles from the box to complete the proverbs given below.

a.    ……………………. we stand, ……………………. we fall.
b.    ……………………. dogs seldom bite.
c.     A ……………………. Stone gathers no moss.
d.    A ……………………. Apple harms its neighbours.
e.    Rats desert a ……………………. Ship.

Use participles to combine the following pairs of sentences.
Examples:                    The elderly man walked up the stairs. He tripped and fell.
                                        Walking up the stairs, the elderly man tripped and fell.

                                        I opened a drawer. It was crammed with books.
                                        I opened a drawer crammed with books.
a.    I heard a noise. I turned around.
b.    The match was delayed by the rain. It started an hour late.
c.     The performer was delighted by the cheering. He sang one more song.
d.    My friend saw me across the room. She waved.
e.    We saw the golden oriole. It was sitting on the fir tree.

Complete the sentences using gerunds.
1.    In summer I enjoy ……………………………… but in winter I prefer ……………………………… .
2.    ……………………………… is unhealthy.
3.    ……………………………… is being environmentally responsible.
4.    ……………………………… is my favourite pastime.

Put a tick against the sentences that are correct and a cross against those that are not.
a. The cat will not let the rat to escape.
b. You need not to do it.
c. We are happy to help you.
d. The visitors are about to leave.
e. The coach made the players to warm-up.
Infinitives are useful to combine or synthesize sentences.

My grandfather goes to the park. He meets his friends there.
My grandfather goes to the park to meet his friends.

We stand up to bullies. We are not afraid.
We are not afraid to stand up to bullies.

Combine each pair of sentences given below into a single sentence using the infinitive (to + verb).
a. My grandmother goes to the park. She exercises there.
b. We go to the stadium. We watch matches there.
c. The candy is too hard. It cannot be bitten.
d. A janitor has been hired. He will clean the building.

Read the following sentences. How many of these can you combine using semicolons? Check your responses with those of your partner.
a. Come home this evening. Ria. We can try playing my new guitar.
b. We must go to the ruins outside the old city. They are known to be beautiful.
c. I am going out. Are you coming?
d. I thought you had left. I was wrapping up here.
e. We have done everything we could, I think you could trust us in this matter.
f. She did not respond. But, I think she will want to go come along with us.

Write a composition about the sudden visit of a distinguished person to your school. You can use the following points:
-      the flurry of preparations: description of the visit
-      things that went right and a few that perhaps did not
-      the feeling at the end of the visit