Unit 10: Home Life And Family Relationship Solution
(The Tattered Blanket)

Ways with words

A. Fill in the blanks with an appropriate words.

a. All my efforts to convince her for the tour were futile.

b. The lost traveller huddled up under a shelter made of branches and leaves.

c. Her rude behaviour was the main cause of irritation for him.

d. She moved awkwardly in the room, thinking that I was watching.

e. She is mumbling something, but I can’t hear her.

f. When I met my sister after a long time, she talked to me in a feeble voice.

B. Tick (√) the correct words that are similar in meaning to the underlined words.

a. Rupa studied Science reluctantly due to her father’s pressure.
ii. unwillingly

b. She moved her fingers exasperatedly through her hair.
iv. annoyingly

c. My grandmother is over eighty. She lifted her hands feebly.
iii. weakly

d. She is wearing a tattered shawl.
ii. torn

e. I have to work at two jobs to make ends meet in this expensive city.
iv. earn just enough money

D. Syllable

c. Consult an English dictionary and find the number of syllables in the following words.

bury : bur-y
2 syllables

development : de-vel-op-ment
4 syllables

syllabic : syl-lab-ic
3 syllables

Vowel : vow-el
2 syllables

education : ed-u-ca-tion
4 syllables

discipline : dis-ci-pline
3 syllables

examination : ex-am-i-na-tion
5 syllables

children : chil-dren
2 syllables

separately : sep-a-rate-ly
4 syllables

pronunciation : pro-nun-cia-tion
5 syllables

Comprehension

Answer the following questions

a. Why didn’t the mother recognise her son Gopi ?
Ans: The mother did not recognize her son Gopi because she was growing old and had weak memory Gopi had come to see her after five years.

b. Why is the sister living with her mother?
Ans: The sister is living with her mother because there is no one to look after her mother and she is also a widow.

C. What is the sister’s attitude towards her brother?
Ans: The sister thinks that her brother is selfish. He doesn’t think about his mother. He had not come there to meet her but he wanted his share from family property. He is indifferent to his mother.

d.Does the son love his mother very much? How do you know that?
Ans: No, the son does not love his mother. We know this because he doesnot stay with her. He had not come to see his mother for a long time. In fact this time too, he didn’t come to see his mother because of his love to her, but he came there to ask for his share from his family property.

e.What does the mother actually need: a blanket or the warmth of her son’s love?
Ans: Actually she needs wormth of her son’s love rather than blanket. Her desire for new, red blanket symbolizes her desire to get love from her son.

f. What does the phrase the ‘tattered blanket’ mean? Is it only the blanket that is tattered?
Ans: The phrase ‘tattered blanket’ is symbolically used here. Infact only blanket is not tattered but family relation is also tattered. The mother needs love from her son in this old age but he does not want to live there and care her. The tattered blanket symbolizes tattered relationship.

g.The son says, ‘Amma can’t remember who I am’. Do you think that he remembered his mother? Why didn’t he answer when his sister asked, ‘Do you remember your Amma?

Ans: No, I donot think that he remember his mother because he came to see his mother after five years. It was only mother’s property that brought him there. When his sister asked him if he remembered his mother, he did not answer because he was speechless. There was no point to claim that he rembered his mother. His arrival to see his mother after five years is the evidence that he does not remember his amma.

Critical thinking

a.What can be the expectations of the parents from their offspring at the old age?
Ans: The children are the light of hope for the parents. They expect a lot from their children. They want to be with their children. They do not want money or property. They want love and care from their children. Money cannot buy happiness, the children should give them happiness so that they get blessings from them.

b. Some children who live in a distance tend to be indifferent to the feelings of their parents. Why do you think they are like that? Discuss.

Ans: Some children who live in a distance tend to be indifferent to their parents because they do not understand their feelings. They do not realize that their parents need love, care and support in the old age. furthermore, they fail to understand that one day they would grow old too. some children think that giving some amount of money to their parents is enough. But it is not true. Money cannot buy happiness, love and care. Parents want their children’s care and support in their old age.
If the children are indifferent to their parents, they are irresponsible to them. It is our moral duty to look after our parents, but some people do not understand it. They do not understand their parents’ struggle and sacrifice to take them to their present position. They should understand that neglecting the parents is the biggest sin in the world, such children never get their parents’ blessings.

c.A mother’s love is everlasting and indispensable. Justify.
Ans: It is true that a mothers love is everlasting and indispensable because it cannot be compared with anyone’s love. others might have selfish desiers in their love but a mother’s love is selfless. she always wants her children’s progress. Her children’s success gives her happiness more than the children themselves. Even if she is unhappy with her children she never wants something wrong to them. A mother’s love to her children is everlasting which never fades or decreases but remains constant throughout her life. In our culture we belive that god could not go everywhere so that he created mother and her position is above anything. Therefore, a mother is always a true friend and well-wisher to her children and her love is everlasting and indispensable.

Writing

B. Suppose a child who lived in a city with his/her parents accompanied his/her father to visit an elderly grandmother in the village. Th grandmother was waiting for her son to come back to the village and look after her, but her son was not willing to do so. Write a diary on behalf of the elderly grandmother describing her feeling of not living with her children and grandchildren.

Ans: Thursday, April 1, 2021
Today is my son’s birthday. From today he is 48 years old. He lives faraway from me in the city. But he is never away from my heart. He sometimes calls me and promises to come to visit me. But he has not come to see me for a long time. His promise to come to visit me has become an April fool that consides his birthday.
I was eagerly waiting to see and visit him. I want his love, care and company in this old age. All the parents have expectations from their children. Nothing matters more than their children’s love to them. I have been living in this village with a dream to live with my son and grandchildren. Now I suppose that my son does not understand my feelings. He is not interested in living with me. He, sometimes sends me some money but it is not my expectation. Money cannot buy happiness. Isn’t it his responsibility to return village and look after me? How long should I live this miserable life in the village? I am tired of living this lonely and difficult life. But I still hope that one day my son will come to live with me, he will look after me and will support me in my old age. Hope to see him soon !

Grammar

B. Complete the following sentences with however, although or in spite of.
a. In spite of, the fact that he is an octogenarian; he still leads an active life.

b. I still enjoyed the week although, the weather was bad.

c. He has passed MA. However, he hasn’t got a job.

d. Although, I had a headache, I enjoyed the movie.

e. Ramila didn’t get the job, in spite of, the fact that she had all the necessary qualifications.

f. In spite of, the fact that he had no money, he bought the car anyway.

g. We can go to the park for lunch although, the weather report says it’s going to rain.

h. However, I speak English well, my first language is actually Maithili.

C. Combine the following sentences using the words given in brackets.

a. He was annoyed. He didn’t say anything. (although)
Although he was annoyed, he didn’t say anything.

b. Playing the stock market is exciting. It can be risky. (however)
Playing the stock market is exciting, however, it can be risky.

c. He works slowly. He never makes a mistake. (even though)
Even though he works slowly, he never makes a mistake.

d. It was raining. We still went to the park. (in spite of)
In spite of rain, we still went to the park.

e. Hark bought the watch. It was expensive. (despite)
Despite being expensive, Hark bought the watch.

f. He is very poor. He wears expensive clothes. (but)
He is very poor but wears expensive clothes.

D. Rewrite the following sentences using (a) although and (b) in spite of.

a. He had very little time, but he offered to help us.
– Although he had very little time, he offered to help us.
– In spite of having very little time, he offered to help us.

b. She is very poor, but she still wears expensive clothes.
– Although she is very poor, she still wears expensive clothes.
– In spite of being very poor, she still wears expensive clothes.

c. He’s a millionaire, but he lives in a very small flat.
– Although he’s a millionaire, he lives in a very small flat.
– In spite of being a millionaire, he lives in a very small flat.

d. They have a lot of money, but they are still not happy.
– Although they have a lot of money, they are still not happy.
– In spite of having a lot of money, they are still not happy.

e. The traffic was heavy, but we got there in time.
– Although the traffic was heavy, we got there in time.
– In spite of the heavy traffic, we got there in time.