Solved Questions- 3: Narrative Writing | Class 11 English Grammar PDF Download

Q.25. The deserted house on the’ top of the hill fascinates and frightens you as many stories are associated with it. Some say evil spirits visit it, others say that it is haunted by its owner, an old witch; still others say it is the den of thieves. You, a group of four adventurous boys, visited the house on a moonlit night. Describe the house, its atmosphere, sights and sounds and your reactions in about 150-200 words.

THE HAUNTED HOUSE
[by XYZ]

We a group of fearsome foursome decided to unravel the mystery of the haunted house atop the hill and put an end to all the tell-tale stories associated with it. We made full preparations and launched our mission on a moon-lit night. The ascent on the hill was not difficult, but the eerie atmosphere sent a chill down our spine. The creaky sound of the old tree and hooting of an owl frightened Vibhu, but Anshu encouraged us. With the help of a stick, we opened a window and crept in. What we saw inside amazed us. It was neat and clean and a printing machine and computer were there. As we examined closely we found wads of ₹ 500 notes in a box. I took out one of them. In the morning we reported the matter to the police. The house was raided and anti-social elements who printed and circulated fake currency were arrested. Thus the mystery of the haunted house was unravelled.

Q.26. You were coming back from the temple. You had some fruit and sweets in your basket. Suddenly a group of monkeys rushed towards you and tried to snatch your offerings. Narrate in about 150-200 words how you managed to save yourself from the monkeys.

HOW I ESCAPED MONKEYS’ ATTACK

Last Tuesday, I visited the Hanuman Temple as usual. I offered prayers and then some sweets as offerings. I distributed some fruits and sweets to the children who had gathered in the temple courtyard. While I was returning home, suddenly a group of monkeys surrounded me. Some of them rushed towards me and made menacing gestures. It seemed that they were trying to frighten me and snatch my offerings. A group of passers-by stood helplessly. An old lady threw some bananas towards the monkeys. Most of them rushed towards them. However, I did not get respite. One of the monkeys pounced on the balloon I had in my left hand. It burst with a loud sound. For a moment the monkeys were baffled. I saw my opportunity and moved away silently. Thus I managed to save myself from the monkeys.

Q.27. The markets in Indian cities and towns are always full of noise, movement and jostling. People from various walks of life come and do shopping or conduct business there. Sometimes strange incidents occur. You heard an explosion while shopping. Narrate in about 150-200 words how you and your mother behaved during the panicky situation and the stampede that followed thereafter.

BOMB EXPLOSION IN CENTRAL MARKET

Yesterday, I went with my mother to the central market to do some weekly shopping. The market was a hill of noise, movement, and jostling. We had almost completed making purchases. We were about to cross the road when we heard an explosion. There was a deafening sound. People ran here and there in panic. There was a stampede. My mother fell down. I shouted for help. I tried to lift her up but failed to do so. In the meanwhile, several people jumped across her. Some of them even trampled her with their feet. She lost consciousness. A stroke of good luck came in at the proper time. A group of young men saw my plight and helped me in carrying my mother to a taxi. I took my mother to the nearest hospital. The doctors examined her and gave her proper treatment. Soon mother regained consciousness. The doctor declared that she was ah right. I thanked the doctor and the young man who had brought her there. Then I took her home.

Q.28. You were travelling in a train. A group of animals came on the railway track. The driver applied emergency brakes. The sudden jolt upset many passengers. One of the derailed coaches caught fire owing to friction and short-circuiting. There was a panic. Narrate in about 150-200 words how you managed to save yourself as well as others.

Last week I was travelling to Ambala by the Kalka Mail. The train was running at over 150 km per hour. It was passing through the rural area. Suddenly a herd of buffaloes came on the railway track. The driver tried to scare them away by sounding long whistles. The animals not only ignored it but also squat on the track. Now the driver had no option but to apply emergency brakes. The impact was so sudden and severe that many persons fell down from the upper berths. The sudden application of brakes and the momentum of the coaches derailed two coaches. The friction caused by the brakes ignited some inflammable material in the coaches. The coach caught fire. There was panic all around. It was a dark moonless night. The electric supply of the derailed coaches had been disrupted. Extricating the passengers from the burning bogie became an uphill task. Some young men and young girls jumped through the doors, other passengers were given help and support to alight. Two persons had swooned. Their bodies had to be pulled across the floor wood then lowered down the door. They were given mouth-to-mouth respiration. Then rotated consciousness as the impact of the shock lessened.

Q.29. Anupama decided to write a story, but after some time, she could not complete the story as she lost interest. Complete her story on the basis of the beginning given below.(Word limit: 150-200)
“A rich merchant, who lived in the city, had a big mango garden in the countryside. He had employed watchmen to guard his mangoes, but… .”

THE MERCHANT’S WATCHMEN

A rich merchant, who living the city, had a big mango garden in the countryside. He had employed watchmen to guard his mangoes, but his watchmen were not honest. They cheated him systematically. They ate the best mangoes, and sent inferior ones to the merchant. The latter felt upset but could not pinpoint the culprit. The merchant tried many watchmen, but all of them were found to be dishonest.
At last the merchant had an idea. He put two watchmen in his garden. One was lame, the other was blind. They watched the garden together. They could not pick the fruit. The merchant found them good watchmen and rewarded them.
One day the lame watchman noticed ripe mangoes on a tree. He said, “How sweet and delicious these must be!” The blind watchman said, “The smell is very pleasant. I wish I could taste one.” The lame watchman hit upon a plan. They should work as a team. He said, “O, brother! We can fulfil our desire. Please carry me on your shoulders. I will guide you.” The blind man did so. The lame watchman showed him the way. Then he picked the best mangoes. They ate them together.
Moral’. Necessity is the mother of invention.

Q.30. Last week you visited a restaurant and were amused to see the waiter catching hold of the owner and asking him to pay the bill. On being scolded, the waiter explained the whole incident.
On the basis of what you saw and heard, narrate in about 150-200 words how the three youngmen tricked the waiter.

THREE YOUNGMEN AND THE WAITER

Once there lived three young men in a town who lived by their wits. The three were good friends and were always on the lookout for entertainment. One of them, who was a short person, was exceptionally clever. They often played tricks on people and always had a good fun.
One day they went to a hotel and played a trick on the waiter. They had eggs, bread, fruit and coffee for breakfast. Then the bulky one said, “Bring the bill.” When the waiter brought the bill, each of them wanted to pay it. The short man said, “It is my turn today. I’ll foot the bill.” “No,” said the lanky one, “You paid for the dinner. Let me pay now.” The bulky one chipped in, “O smart fellows! You want to take all credit. I won’t let this happen. I insist that no one else but I will pay the bill.” The waiter as well as the other customers were surprised.
As the three youngmen were about to quarrel, the short man suggested a plan. He said to the waiter, “We shall blindfold you. Try to catch one of us. That one will pay the bill. Isn’t it simple?”
The waiter agreed to be blindfolded. He tried to catch them, but each of them slipped away. Just then the owner of the hotel came in. The waiter caught him and said, “Look! I have caught you. Now pay the bill.” The owner said, “O fool! What are you doing? Have you lost sense?” On being scolded the waiter released the owner and removed the cloth over his eyes. He looked around for the three youngmen. But it was too late now. The trick had worked.
Moral: Beware of sweet words.

Q.31. Sunday is a day of rest and repose, but some of us go on accumulating work and postpone it for Sunday. Once you were also ensnared in this web and discovered that it pays to be regular. Narrate in about 150-200 words the incidents that liberated you from the habit of procrastination and postponement.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON BLUES

Sunday is a day of rest and repose. People either stay at home and relax or go out in the company of family or Mends to enjoy themself. In either case, they get relief from the routine work of the week. There are, however, some of us who go on accumulating work and postpone it for Sunday. Right after breakfast, they get busy doing the work they have piled up for Sunday. The drudgery goes on till evening. Once I was also ensnared in this web of procrastination and postponement. That Sunday I started in right earnest and enjoyed doing some of the unfinished tasks. I had washed my clothes, cleaned the room, and arranged my books. The physical labour and fatigue took its toll on me. As I sat down in front of the computer to complete the assignments I had reserved for Sunday, I felt drowsy. There was no coordination between head, hand, and heart. Inept handling of computers further compounded the problems. Even simple problems became complicated and defied solutions. I committed some error in operations and had to start from the beginning In this state of utter confusion, I had no option but to retire for a couple of minutes. The post-lunch nap stretched to hours. I woke up only when my Mend arrived. Realising my predicament she offered help. Within an hour we were able to complete all the assignments. On being asked the secret of her success, my Mend explained that she did not postpone tasks. She devoted some extra time each day and kept her Sunday free for rest and repose. I took a leaf out of her book and resolved to give up the habit of procrastination and postponement.

Q.32. This year the monsoons were quite erratic. It rained incessantly and in plenty at certain places, whereas large tracts of the country had scanty rains. Suppose you live in an area which had a downpour that disrupted normal life. Narrate in about 150-200 words your activities on such a rainy day.

COPING WITH THE RAINS

Being drenched in the showers of rain looks good only in films. Children and young boys and girls like bathing in rain. To them, rain is fun. But constant downpour can be irksome. I discovered this unpleasant truth at my own expense last month. The monsoons had lashed our town with all its fury. It had rained non-stop all night. I had to attend an important meeting scheduled at 11.00 a.m. I had prepared hard for it. I came downstairs after getting ready to leave when a fresh burst of torrential rain greeted my arrival in the porch. As I inserted the ignition key to reverse the car on to the road, I was dismayed to find that the road had changed into a pool. The level of water went on rising, as I kept waiting in my car and hoping it to recede. At last, my patience gave in and I got out of the car. I tried to contact the organizers in order to acquaint them of my predicament, but could not contact anyone. In desperation, I went up to the terrace and began to watch the rain. The more I was eager for the rain to lessen its intensity, the bigger were the raindrops and greater was their speed. I lost all hope of going out. I was doomed to have a forced holiday. “Then why not enjoy the break,” said someone in my ear. Instantly my anxiety and worry evaporated in the air and like a teenager, I focussed on the rain. I discovered new beauty and enjoyed the thrill of a rain dance. The drops of rain had their own song. I listened and enjoyed it.

Q.33. You were reading stories of bravery and adventure. You chanced to go through the story of a strong bond a friendship between two youngmen—Damon and Pythias of Syracuse and their spirit of sacrifice as the cruel king Dionysius tried to test their friendship. Recount the story of the two friends of Syracuse in about 150-200 words.

THE TWO FRIENDS OF SYRACUSE

Two youngmen, Damon and Pythias lived in Syracuse, which was then ruled over by a cruel king named Dionysius. Once Dionysius heard that Pythias was calling him a cruel ruler. He ordered his men to bring Pythias before him. He said, “I find that you are my enemy; so you shall die.” He then ordered his men to take the young man away and kill him. But Pythias wanted to see his old father before his death. So he begged the king, “Give me two weeks. I will see my father and come back. Then you can put me to death”. Dionysius did not believe the young man’s words. He said, “Put a man in your place and then go. I will give you two weeks. Will anyone takes your place?”

Damon, who loved Pythias and regarded him as his brother, now came up and said, “I will take his place.” Dionysius looked at him and said, “Remember that you will be put to death in his place.”

Damon was taken to prison and Pythias went home. He saw his father, said good-bye, and left for Syracuse at once. On the way, he was caught in a storm and was not able to travel for several days.
When two weeks passed, the king went to Damon and asked him to get ready to die. Damon was happy to die because he wanted to save his friend. Pythias arrived at the last minute. The king was moved by their deep love. He said, “You are my friends from today. You are both free.”

Moral: True friendship overcomes all obstacles.

Q.34. The food we eat has many flavours—sweet, bitter, sour, tangy, saltish, etc. Children like the sweet taste and so do many grown-ups. However, it is salt that adds to the sweetness of sweets and makes the food palatable. Construct a story in about 150-200 words to highlight the relative importance of salt and sugar in our life.

SALT AND SUGAR

A rich old man had two daughters. He loved both of them. Once he asked them, “What is the sweetest thing in the world?”
“Sugar”, said the older girl.
“Salt”, said the younger one.
The old man thought that the younger daughter was mocking him. He said, “If salt is sweeter than sugar, you had better find another home where the cooking is more to your taste.” Saying so, he pushed her out of the house.
It was a beautiful summer night. The pretty maiden sat singing in the forest near the father’s country house, when a young prince, who had lost his way while hunting, came towards her. Struck by her beauty and gaiety, he fell in love with her. He took her to his palace and proposed to marry her. The girl agreed provided he held a banquet and got dishes prepared as she .directed. The prince readily agreed.
The young bride invited her father to the wedding banquet without telling him who she was. All the dishes were prepared without salt, and the guests began to murmur. “Oh,” said the bride’s father, “salt is truly the sweetest thing in the world. But when my daughter said so, I threw her out of the house. If only I could see her again and tell her how sorry I was!”
Drawing the veil from her face, the happy girl went up to him and hugged him. Then properly salted dishes were brought in, and all the guests ate their fill.

Q.35. All of us have to make choices in life. These choices have a far-reaching effect on the course of our life. Good choices build our careers and make us successful. Wrong choices pave our way with difficulties and lead to ruin. Narrate in about 150-200 words how the choices of the fairies of the forest regarding their dwelling places brought safety to some of them and suffering to the others.

THE FAIRIES OF THE FOREST

Once the fairies of the forest set out to choose their dwelling places. Some were wise in making their choices and some were foolish.
The wise fairies shunned the trees that stood alone in the open fields and settled in a thick forest. But the foolish ones said, “Why should we crowd together in a forest? Let us go and live in the lonely trees near the villages, where humans will bring us gifts.” So they settled there.
Time passed. Both the groups were happy at their choices. One night a great tempest swept over the country. The lonely trees were blown down, and the foolish fairies became homeless. But the great dense forest resisted the fury of the storm. The wise fairies lived unharmed. The foolish fairies came to the dense forest and sought shelter there.
The wise fairies said to the foolish ones, “People should stand together like a dense forest. It is only the solitary tree, growing unprotected in the open field that is overthrown by a silly thing like a storm.” The foolish fairies felt ashamed.
Moral: United we survive, divided we fall.