Vocabulary and Structures in Context (NCERT Kaveri pages 76–79)

Last updated at July 14, 2026 by

I. Read the following pairs of words from the text: exotic and stylish • villages and towns • thread and wool • silk and brass • ornate and encrusted • within and outside . Classify them into: Appearance, Place, Material. (One example done: within and outside → Place.)
How to answer: Read the pairs and decide: does each pair describe how something looks, where it is, or what it is made of?
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Appearance Place Material
exotic and stylish
ornate and encrusted 		within and outside
villages and towns 		thread and wool
silk and brass

Additional pairs from the text: cane and palm leaf (material); gold and silver (material); temples and courts (place).

Word pairs ko teen categories mein dalo: dikhne mein — exotic and stylish; jagah — within and outside, villages and towns; material — thread and wool, silk and brass.

II. Find the word pairs for the following fixed expressions. Fill in the table below, then match the meanings. (Note: The shortest word comes first — e.g. bread and butter , not butter and bread .)
Word 1 and Word 2 Fixed Expression Meaning
1. high and tear ____________ ____________
2. cut and fast ____________ ____________
3. fact and sundry ____________ ____________
4. all and thin all and sundry (v) everyone, not just a few special people
5. wear and figures ____________ ____________
6. time and run ____________ ____________
7. thick and again ____________ ____________
8. hard and dry ____________ ____________

Now, match the following meanings with the correct word pairs created above:

  1. (i) in a difficult situation, without help or money
  2. (ii) the damage to an object due to normal use
  3. (iii) accurate and detailed information
  4. (iv) even when there are problems or difficulties
  5. (v) everyone, not just a few special people
  6. (vi) often; on many or all occasions
  7. (vii) to make a quick or sudden escape
How to answer: Fixed expressions have a fixed order (shorter word first). Match each pair to its meaning.
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Fixed Expression Meaning
1. high and dry (i) in a difficult situation, without help or money
2. cut and run (vii) to make a quick or sudden escape
3. facts and figures (iii) accurate and detailed information
4. all and sundry (v) everyone, not just a few special people
5. wear and tear (ii) the damage to an object due to normal use
6. time and again (vi) often; on many or all occasions
7. thick and thin (iv) even when there are problems or difficulties
8. hard and fast strict and definite, without exceptions

Fixed expressions mein shorter word pehle aata hai (jaise "bread and butter"). Har expression ko iska matlab se match karo.

III. Read the conventional combinations (collocations) given below, then choose the appropriate word for each sentence (i)–(v).
  1. (i) The students have to (take / give) the English exam tomorrow.
  2. (ii) The interviewer asked the candidate to (take / have) a seat.
  3. (iii) My scooter (dashed against / ran into) a car.
  4. (iv) I must (take / own) responsibility for my success.
  5. (v) I would like to (tone up / improve) my grammar.

Sample collocations from text:

sustainable livelihood • aesthetically pleasing • appreciating the culture

Such combinations are called collocations — conventional word pairings with a natural fixed order.

Complete each sentence with the correct word from the bracket:
How to answer: Collocations are conventional word combinations. Choose the word that naturally pairs with the action.
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  1. (i) The students have to take the English exam tomorrow. ("take" an exam — student perspective)
  2. (ii) The interviewer asked the candidate to take a seat. (standard: "take a seat")
  3. (iii) My scooter ran into a car. ("ran into" = collided accidentally)
  4. (iv) I must take responsibility for my success. ("take responsibility" is the fixed collocation)
  5. (v) I would like to improve my grammar. ("improve grammar" is natural; "tone up" is for the body)

Collocations = woh words jo ek saath naturally use hote hain. Take an exam, take a seat, ran into, take responsibility, improve grammar.

IV Read the following sentences. Underline the verbs.

  1. In modern times, pankhas have become traditional craft items in India.
  2. Gujarat’s industrious home-based women workers have worked tirelessly in the handicraft of pankha-making.
  3. Many tribes in India have adopted this handicraft.
  4. Once made for personal use, this handicraft has transformed into a commercial business.
The underlined verbs refer to the past, but have relevance to the current or present time. This form of tense is called the present perfect tense . Recently completed actions also take the present perfect form of tense.

Now, fill in the blanks with the present perfect form of the verbs given in brackets. One example has been done for you.

Puppets have long fascinated audiences worldwide. Puppeteers (i) _______ (create) intricate characters and captivating stories with their skillful artistry. They (ii) _______ (master) the delicate movements that bring these lifeless figures to life, entertaining both children and adults. Over the years, puppetry (iii) _______ (evolve), using modern technology while preserving traditional techniques. Many puppeteers (iv) _______ (pass) down their craft through generations, ensuring its continuity. They (v) _______ (perform) in theatres, on television, and at festivals, conveying important cultural narratives.

Answer each blank below. Each card shows one sentence with the answer filled in and underlined.

IV. Puppeteers _______ (create) intricate characters and captivating stories with their skillful artistry.
How to answer: Present perfect = have/has + V3. Actions from the past that are still relevant today use this form.
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"Puppeteers have created intricate characters." The action of creating characters began in the past and the result is relevant today, so we use present perfect: have + created (V3 of "create"). We do not use simple past ("created") because the text emphasises the lasting result, not a specific past moment.

Present perfect = have/has + V3. Puppeteers ne past mein banaye aur abhi bhi relevant hain, isliye "have created".

V. They _______ (master) the delicate movements that bring these lifeless figures to life.
How to answer: Same present perfect rule: skill acquired in the past that is still relevant now.
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"They have mastered the delicate movements." "Master" is a V1; its V3 is "mastered". The puppeteers developed this skill over time and still possess it, so the present perfect is correct. Simple past "mastered" would only be used if referring to a specific completed point in the past.

"Have mastered" isliye kyunki skill past mein seekhi thi par abhi bhi relevant hai — present perfect: have + mastered.

VI. Over the years, puppetry _______ (evolve), using modern technology while preserving traditional techniques.
How to answer: Third person singular subject: use "has" + V3. "Over the years" signals ongoing change rooted in the past.
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"Over the years, puppetry has evolved ." Subject is "puppetry" (singular), so we use "has" not "have". V3 of "evolve" = "evolved". The phrase "over the years" confirms present perfect is needed, as the change began in the past and continues to the present.

"Has evolved" kyunki "puppetry" singular hai (has), aur "over the years" = past se abhi tak ka change — present perfect.

VII. Many puppeteers _______ (pass) down their craft through generations, ensuring its continuity.
How to answer: Plural subject "puppeteers" takes "have" + V3. The tradition of passing down craft is ongoing from the past.
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"Many puppeteers have passed down their craft through generations." "Puppeteers" is plural, so "have" is correct. V3 of "pass" = "passed". The phrase "through generations" shows this is a continuous, ongoing action from the past, requiring the present perfect.

"Have passed" kyunki "puppeteers" plural hai aur "through generations" = past se abhi tak chal raha hai.

VIII. They _______ (perform) in theatres, on television, and at festivals, conveying important cultural narratives.
How to answer: The list of venues (theatres, TV, festivals) shows ongoing, varied activity from the past to present.
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"They have performed in theatres, on television, and at festivals." "They" is plural: use "have". V3 of "perform" = "performed". Performing across multiple venues over time is an ongoing activity from the past, making the present perfect the appropriate tense.

"Have performed" kyunki past se abhi tak alag-alag jagah perform kiya hai — plural "they" + "have" + V3 "performed".

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