Chapter 3.4 Let us March! Solutions

Maharashtra State Board Class 10 My English Coursebook Solutions Chapter 3.5 The Alchemy of Nature

My English Coursebook Standard Ten Guide Chapter 3.5 The Alchemy of Nature Textbook Questions and Answers

Warming up:
Chit-chat:

1. Divide the class into five groups. Discuss in the group the following topics. (One question for each group.)

Question (a)
Seeds regenerate from another seed.
Answer:
Regeneration is the renewal of germplasm accessions by sowing seeds which will possess the same characteristics as the original population.

Question (b)
Plants and flowers wilt and become one with the other.
Answer:
Wilting is the loss of rigidity of non- woody parts of plants if they do not get water to thrive and soil is too dry.

Question (c)
Cacti (-Pidgd ) thrive in the desert region.
Answer:
Cacti (plural of cactus) lack leaves, instead they have spines which help preventing the loss of water and mineral content in the desert plants.

Question (d)
Bare nature turns green in spring.
Answer:
As temperatures warm and days get longer, forest ecosystem begins the transition from winter to spring.

Question (e)
Caterpillar turns into butterfly.
Answer:
It is truly a fantastic mechanism developed by nature. For a caterpillar to turn into a butterfly, it digests itself using enzymes triggered by hormones.
(Each group will present their discussion in front of the class.)

2. Role of Nature:

3. Look at the following things. Discuss with your friend, what you learn from them.

English Workshop:

1. Go through the text again and complete the web that highlights the various features of flower of ‘hibiscus’ plant. One is done for you.

2. The writer explains the contrast features of ‘water’ and ‘rock’ in the text. Write all the features of both water and rock in the given table:

3. Impossible itself says ‘I M possible’. Do you agree? Justify your answer by citing some examples from the text and some that you have experienced or heard from someone.

The example that comes to my mind as justification is that of Sudha Chandran, the dancer. Though her leg was amputated below the knee, with great grit and determination, she restarted dancing and went on to become a famous dancer and actress. This shows that one can do things which seem to be impossible.

4. Find synonyms from the text for the following words/phrases.

5. How can you prove this maxim to be incorrect-’Too many cooks spoil the broth.’ Write a counterview on the given topic. (clue-teamwork)

When there are a lot of people working on a project, then that project may not be completed to such a high standard because an individual can work better than many. It is the common perception of the people. But I think if a lot of people are working on a project, every one will use his talent, calibre, strength to take that project to higher level. So it will be completed on time with good standard.

Even when many cooks come together and try to make a single dish with their experience in different fields, it will become fantabulous. One dish will be prepared in variety of taste, colour and with varieties of combination. So it never gets spoiled. So I think the maxim too many cooks spoil the broth, is totally wrong in fact it adds flavour to that dish.

6. Make a list of all the words related to the word Ocean:

7. The author has very positively described the different things in nature. Add the special features of each one of them:

8. Your friend has his board exam. He studies for 14 hours a day, sitting at one place. Write a letter to him giving him tips to relax and be stress-free.

Dear Mahesh,

I received a call from aunty telling about your preparations for forthcoming board examinations. I am shocked to hear that you study for 14 to 15 hours a day sitting at one place. I don’t understand how do you bear it?

You might have heard about “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” It means without time off from work a person becomes both bored and dull. I know the board’s exams are around the corner, but if you work as usual with your tension, anxiety and pressure, it is going to be harmful to your health. Our body is not a machine. It needs some rest. It’s my advice to you to take some rest after certain l intervals. Watch T.V. for sometime, listen to music to refresh your mind, chat with your family members and friends, play with your friends. It will refresh your mind.

Take a break after 2-3 hours and give essential time to your mind and body. It will be good for you. I know you are a scholar and always get good marks in exam. But it doesn’t mean that you should ignore your health. Health is wealth. So concentrate on it, too. Hope you will try to understand what I mean to say and follow my tips rigorously.

Convey my regards to uncle and aunt and love to little Riya. Be in touch on mobile.

Your loving friend,
Vikas

9. You have an Environment Protection Week to be celebrated in your school. You have invited an environmentalist. You have to interview him/her about how to save environment. Frame about 10-12 questions for the interview.

10. Write a news report on ‘Environment Day’ celebrated in your school.

Nagpur, June 7: ‘World Environment Day’ was celebrated in New Era School with great funfare on June 5. The main purpose of the celebration was to spread awareness among people and students about the need to protect the environment and the ways to do it.

The day was flagged off by a tree plantation drive in the locality. 300 quick-growing trees, which do not need much water on a daily basis, were planted near the school compound wall and in the surrounding area. An eminent environmentalist, Mr. A. T. Ali, spoke on the ways to protect the environment. He also judged the ‘Posters and Photographs’ exhibition organized by the school students and gave away prizes for the best entries.

Environment-friendly articles, like disposable plates and cups made from bamboo and banana stem, bags made from leaf wastes, etc. were on sale. Students gave continuous power-point presentations on the threats to the environment. Last but not the least, was the spirited debate on the topic. ‘Man: The worst enemy of the Environment’.

All in all, the day was a great success, and has certainly made a difference to the way people view our environment.

11. Develop a story with the given ending. Give a suitable title and moral.

It was the world earth day celebration in Aditi’s school. Aditi was attending it with a least interest as she was not interested in listening to such a boring subject from anybody. She was sitting forcefully for the guest’s lecture with her friends.

The chief guest, who was a renowned environmentalist started with a good slogan based on the earth and emphasised that the earth is the only known planet in this universe where we get all the necessary requisites of life, but the healthy survival is possible for years and years only when we take care and love our earth. Aditi suddenly became curious and started listening with apt attention.

He continued saying “because of the advancement in the life style, industrialization and deforestation; the condition of the earth is deteriorating day by day. It is being full of pollution, global warming and greenhouse gases. There is an urgent need to save our earth because it is the planet where we live. We need to do nothing more in order to maintain the greenery of the earth.

We just need to plant more trees, grow them well, to reduce the pollution level, to maintain the temperature level and to save our mother planet. We should understand our responsibility towards our mother earth and the future of the next generations. As they would not survive on this earth if there will not be a clean and natural climate.”

Aditi realised it and thought a lot and decided to take a positive step very seriously to save the earth. She thought seriously over the solution and that was planting more and more trees. She decided to create awareness among the people as well. She told everyone…

Save earth; save life
No earth… No life
No earth, No birth
Plant trees, Save mother earth

She understood that there will be no human beings on this earth if there will be no trees. If we have to save our lives, we have to plant more and more trees. So, Aditi decided to plant many trees after listening to that effective lecture of the chief, guest.

12. Just for laughs!

Language Study

Live English

Be a Netizen

Question (a)
Read the extract and underline the words which suggest that emails are fast, cheap and an easy communication tool.
Answer:
Email stands for electronic mail. Slowly and gradually email has replaced the old postal mails or snail mails. Having an email address is like having a postal address in a global village of internet. If you do not have one, you do not exist in today’s virtual world.

The reasons for popularity of emails are many. Emails can be achieved, saved, retrieved. Email is eco-friendly as people rarely take printouts of the mails. The main reason is its ease of access as anybody can access it on phone at the cost of cheap internet, anytime, anywhere.

Email writing is easy but it’s different from writing text messages. Text message is informal and rapid sharing of thoughts between two acquaintances. Emails are written and read by professionals, however, both arrive in inbox.

Like a citizen has his own home address, let’s sign up for the email and be a netizen. There are many free email service providers like Google, Yahoo, Outlook, Rediff, icloud, etc.

Question (b)
Follow these five simple steps to write an effective email. Click Compose to start writing email.
Answer:
Steps for Writing a Formal E-Mail:
1. Begin with a greeting.
Example: ‘Dear Sunil”, “Dear Sir/Madam”
2. Thank the recipient.
If you are replying, say Thank you for contacting”, If you got a reply, say Thank you for your prompt reply”
3. State your purpose.
For new email, begin by saying “I am writing in reference to..”
4. Add your closing remarks.
Example: Thank You for…”, I look forward to hearing from you.”
5. End with a closing.
Example: “Best Regards, Sincerely, Thanks and Regards etc.,”

Steps for sending an email:

Question (c)
Read the following sample email formats and prepare your own.
Sample Email formats
Answer:

My English Coursebook 10th Digest Chapter 3.5 The Alchemy of Nature Additional Important Questions and Answers

Simple Factual Activities:

2. We find innumerable stars in the infinite sky.
(a) clouds
(b) crowds
(c) stars
(d) moons.

3. There is always an opening even in impossible things.
(a) opening
(b) closing
(c) enjoying
(d) singing

4. Water without hint of ego, changes its form according to the dictates of the sun and the wind.
(a) the earth
(b) the sun
(c) the moon
(d) the horizon.

Complex Factual Activities:

The grass is destroyed by the concrete but comes to life again. The tree is bare all through the cold winter months, but when the spring sets in, it is full of leaves, regaining its green majesty.

Activities based on Vocabulary:

Activities based on Contextual Grammar:

1. Frame Wh-questions to get the underlined parts as answers:

Use ‘not only……….but also’.

Personal Response:

Do as directed: