Question 2 - Chapter 8 - Kathmandu - Beehive - Chapters (Literature) - English Class 9

Read the extract and answer the following questions-

Extract : 

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)

Question (i)

 Which of the following is NOT an antonym for the word "stillness" in the given context?

• (a) Silence
• (b) Noise
• (c) Movement
• (d) Chaos

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

(a) Silence

Step-by-Step explanation of the answer:

•   An antonym is a word that has the opposite or nearly the opposite meaning as another word.
•  In the given context, the word "stillness" means the absence of movement or sound.
•  The words "noise", "movement", and "chaos" are antonyms for "stillness" because they mean the presence of loud or unpleasant sounds, motion or activity, or disorder or confusion.
•  The word "silence" is not an antonym for "stillness" because it means the absence of sound, which is similar to stillness.
•  Therefore, the correct answer is A. Silence.👎

Question (ii)

 Why is it fair to say that the narrator's tone, when he says "this is a haven of quietness in the busy streets around", is appreciative and peaceful? Answer in about 40 words.

Answer:

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Answer as written by the student:

The narrator's tone is appreciative and peaceful because he expresses his admiration and gratitude for the Baudhnath stupa as a place of calmness and tranquility in contrast to the hectic and noisy streets around it.

Step-by-Step explanation of the answer:

•  A tone is the attitude or emotion that a writer conveys through their words and style.
•  Appreciative is a quality of showing recognition or enjoyment of someone or something's good qualities or value.
•   Peaceful is a quality of showing calmness or serenity in one's feelings or thoughts.
•  In the given sentence, the narrator uses words like "haven" and "quietness" to indicate that he admires and enjoys the Baudhnath stupa as a place of calmness and tranquility. He also uses the word "this" to show his closeness and connection to the place.
•  He also uses the word "in contrast" to show how he compares and contrasts the Baudhnath stupa with the busy streets around it, which are hectic and noisy. He implies that he prefers and values the Baudhnath stupa more than the streets.
•  He does not use any words or phrases that show any criticism or dissatisfaction towards the Baudhnath stupa or the streets around it, such as boring, dull, annoying, or stressful.
•  He does not use any rhetorical devices or techniques, such as hyperbole, irony, or metaphor, to create any effect or impression on the reader.
•  Therefore, it is fair to say that the narrator's tone is appreciative and peaceful because he expresses his admiration and gratitude for the Baudhnath stupa as a place of calmness and tranquility in contrast to the hectic and noisy streets around it.😊

Question (iii)

What does the word “haven” mean in the context of the extract? Answer in one word.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

Refuge

Step by step explanation:

• 👉 To answer this question, we need to understand the meaning of the word “haven” and how it is used in the context of the extract.
• 👉 A haven is a place of safety or refuge, where one can escape from danger or trouble. It can also mean a place that is pleasant or comfortable.
• 👉 In the context of the extract, the author uses the word “haven” to describe the Baudhnath stupa as a place of quietness and peace in contrast to the busy and noisy streets around it.
• 👉 Therefore, the word that best matches the meaning of “haven” in this context is “refuge”, which is a synonym for haven. A refuge is a place that provides shelter or protection from something harmful or unpleasant.
• 👉 Hence, the answer is refuge. 🎉

Question (iv)

Identify and name the figure of speech used in this sentence from the extract: "Its immense white dome is ringed by a road."

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

 The figure of speech used in this sentence is metonymy .

Step-by-Step explanation of the answer:

•  A figure of speech is a word or phrase that uses language in an imaginative or expressive way to create an effect or impression on the reader or listener.
•  Metonymy is a figure of speech that involves using a word or phrase that is closely associated with something else to refer to it indirectly or suggestively.
•  In this sentence, the narrator uses metonymy to refer to Baudhnath stupa indirectly by using its most prominent feature: its immense white dome. The dome is closely associated with Baudhnath stupa because it represents its shape and significance as a Buddhist symbol. The narrator does not use the word "stupa" directly, but rather suggests it through its dome.
•  Therefore, the figure of speech used in this sentence is metonymy.👍

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