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I. Antonyms in a Word Grid
What is an antonym?
An antonym is a word with an opposite meaning.
strong ↔ weak · happy ↔ sad
I
The grid given below has the antonyms of the words from the text. Locate these words in the grid horizontally, vertically, and diagonally. One example has been done for you. You may refer to a dictionary.
Question 32
firm
meek
merry
kind
anxious
bent
| R | D | T | C | J | A | B | R | N |
| G | M | F | R | A | G | I | L | E |
| C | A | P | U | K | N | D | F | H |
| A | E | B | D | R | F | S | S | C |
| L | A | O | E | W | E | T | A | A |
| M | L | L | W | C | F | L | D | S |
| G | X | D | P | O | R | D | A | R |
| P | E | A | S | E | F | U | L | F |
| Q | S | N | O | I | V | E | E | T |
| S | T | R | A | I | G | H | T | L |
How to answer:
Find the opposite of each given word. Words may run horizontally, vertically or diagonally.
View Answer
| R | D | T | C | J | A | B | R | N |
| G | M | F | R | A | G | I | L | E |
| C | A | P | U | K | N | D | F | H |
| A | E | B | D | R | F | S | S | C |
| L | A | O | E | W | E | T | A | A |
| M | L | L | W | C | F | L | D | S |
| G | X | D | P | O | R | D | A | R |
| P | E | A | S | E | F | U | L | F |
| Q | S | N | O | I | V | E | E | T |
| S | T | R | A | I | G | H | T | L |
| Word from poem | Antonym found |
|---|---|
| firm | fragile |
| meek | bold |
| merry | sad |
| kind | cruel |
| anxious | calm |
| bent | straight |
II. Words in Context
Match by meaning
Do not match because two sentences use similar words. Match the meaning of the underlined phrase.
II
Match the words from the text given in Column 1 with the underlined phrases in Column 2.
Question 33
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1. hastened | (i) The mother heard the baby move slightly in the cradle at night. |
| 2. heeded | (ii) It is our duty to give support to the poor. |
| 3. stir | (iii) The students worked quickly to complete the project and submit it on time. |
| 4. lend | (iv) All the boxes were kept in a heap at one place. |
| 5. piled | (v) They came forward to help us when we were in need. |
| 6. offered | (vi) The stranded people were brought to safety because they paid attention to our advice. |
How to answer:
Replace each word mentally with the underlined phrase and check whether the sentence meaning matches.
View Answer
| Word | Correct match | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| hastened | (iii) | worked/moved quickly |
| heeded | (vi) | paid attention |
| stir | (i) | move slightly |
| lend | (ii) | give support |
| piled | (iv) | kept in a heap |
| offered | (v) | came forward to help/give |
III. Idioms Using “hand”
What is an idiom?
An idiom is a fixed expression whose meaning is not always the same as the literal words.
lend a hand
= help somebody
III
In the poem, the poet uses the idiom ‘lend a hand’ which means ‘help somebody’. Some more idioms using ‘hand’ are given in Column 1. Match these idioms with their meanings in Column 2. You may refer to a dictionary.
Question 34
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1. get out of hand | (i) do something new |
| 2. try your hand at something | (ii) applaud somebody |
| 3. give somebody a free hand | (iii) work together |
| 4. give somebody a big hand | (iv) become difficult to control |
| 5. work hand in hand | (v) be very busy |
| 6. have your hands full | (vi) allow somebody to do something with full freedom |
How to answer:
Think of the idiomatic meaning of the whole phrase, not the literal word “hand”.
View Answer
| 1. get out of hand | (iv) become difficult to control |
| 2. try your hand at something | (i) do something new |
| 3. give somebody a free hand | (vi) allow full freedom |
| 4. give somebody a big hand | (ii) applaud somebody |
| 5. work hand in hand | (iii) work together |
| 6. have your hands full | (v) be very busy |
IV. Analogies
How to solve an analogy
First identify the relationship in the second pair, then create the same relationship in the first pair.
old : aged = synonyms
whispered : shouted = opposites
whispered : shouted = opposites
IV
Complete the following analogy by filling in the blanks with the correct words from the poem.
Question 35
- ___________ : winter :: heat : summer
- hurt : ___________ :: old : aged
- whispered : shouted :: humble : ___________
- eyes : ___________ :: legs : walk
- having a lot of money: wealthy :: densely packed people: ___________
How to answer:
Identify whether the pair shows association, synonym, opposite or action.
View Answer
1.
chill
: winter :: heat : summer
Reason:
Chill is associated with winter; heat is associated with summer.
2.
hurt :
harm
:: old : aged
Reason:
Both pairs contain synonyms.
3.
whispered : shouted :: humble :
proud
Reason:
Both pairs show opposites.
4.
eyes :
glance
:: legs : walk
Reason:
The second word is an action associated with the body part.
5.
having a lot of money: wealthy :: densely packed people:
throng
Reason:
“Throng” means a closely packed crowd of people.
Using “lest”
Read the lines from the poem.
Lest the carriage wheels or the horses’ feet
Should crowd her down in the slippery street.
Lest the carriage wheels or the horses’ feet
Should crowd her down in the slippery street.
Meaning of “lest”
Lest is a conjunction used to show that an action is taken to prevent something bad or unpleasant from happening.
The textbook suggests replacing it with “just in case” to understand the meaning.
She showed all the documents
lest
we doubt her.
≈ She showed all the documents just in case we doubt her.
≈ She showed all the documents just in case we doubt her.
