1.1. An Astrologer's Day ( Part 1 )

Note : These answers are put here to help you (1) understand the text and (2) how to answer the questions asked.

Always encouraging you to try writing answers on your own.

A1.i. Given below are some descriptions...(see page 7 of std XII English textbook)

a.The scientific study of the universe......

Ans. Astronomy

b. The study of the movements.....

Ans. Astrology

c. A prediction of what...

Ans. Prophecy

d. Scientific discipline that studies mental....

Ans. Psychology

ii. In the story we are told that the Town Hall Park.....page 7

Ans. Exceptional qualities of the Town Hall Park.

1. A surging crowd

2.Narrow road

3. Variety of trades and occupations 

4. Bewildering crisscross of light rays

5. No municipal lighting

6. Loud and noisy

iii. The astrologer never opened his....page 7

Ans. The astrologer was stranger to astrology but was really good at reading people's mind. He listened to his clients attentively atleast for ten minutes which gave him enough time to understand what was going on in their life. Based on the information collected from the clients , he smartly framed his questions and gave them such answers and advices that they were amused and convinced happily.

A2.i. The tactics used by the astrologer...page 8

Ans. Tactics used by the astrologer :

1. Analysis of human troubles

2. Perception of the tangles of human ties.

3.accumulating information from clients and then giving advice

4. Attractive appearance

5. Asking general questions that are common to anybody

ii. An Astrologer's appearance helps to create..page 8 and 9

Ans. 

1.Saffron colour turban on his head.

2. Sacred ash and vermilion on his forehead.

3. Gleaming eyes which seem prophetic to the client.

4. Dark whiskers streaming down the cheeks

iii.  Read the following...page 8

A. The Astrologer says that if Nayak leaves his village again , he would face danger.

B. According to the narrator the Astrologer's success in his profession is primarily due to his understanding of people.

C. The story suggests that the Astrologer's comments and observations please people by flattering them or supporting their own views.

D. Guru Nayak consults the astrologer because he wants to get the answer to the specific question.

E. Guru Nayak is looking for the man who tried to kill him to take revenge.

F. The Astrologer's remark makes Guru Nayak feel all of the following except suspicious.

G. Reactions of the Astrologer's wife to his news suggest that she was unaware of his past.

iv. Read the following sentences and find out true and false...page 9

Ans. ( Please write complete sentence first then write if it's a true statement or false.)

A. True

( Note : If the sentence would be - The astrologer gave correct prediction about the client's past that.....then it's a false statement because what astrologer said was a known fact to him ( only he knew it ) and hence it was not a prediction but a fact. )

B. True

C. False - The astrologer wasn't ready to talk about the client's past and hence he tried to back out of the deal.

D. True

E. True

V. The astrologer has changed his appearance....page 9

Ans. The Astrologer has left his village as he thought he had committed a grave crime of killing a person. As he came to new place , he had to start from the scratch to earn his daily bread but he feared to be caught and hence he disguised himself and took on the appearance of an astrologer inspite of not having any prior knowledge about astrology. To attract clients convincingly,  he changed his persona , became a patient listener and practised guesswork to create an illusion of being a genuine astrologer.

Vi. The darkness load that was....page 9

Ans. Though the astrologer never shared his secret with anybody , but he always felt guilty of killing a man when he was a youngster. He understood what a grave crime he had committed. Though he might have done it unintentionally as he was badly drunk and had a terrible fight with the man , he always held himself responsible for the death of the man. But , one day when he saw the man alive , standing before him , he felt so relieved and happy because a big burden , from his heart ,of killing somebody was lifted. So , this day was special for his because he could finally enjoy peaceful sleep without any guilt.

Vii. The astrologer feels relieved...page 10

Ans. The astrologer feels relieved to see Guru Nayak because he thinks that he had murdered Guru Nayak and hence was living his life in guilt. He leaves his home to save himself from any kind of punishment. He was leading a very normal and disguised life in the place. However,  when he came to know that the man he thought he had killed is alive , he felt happy and at peace. A great burden of not being a murderer was lifted from his heart.

( Rest continues in part 2 )

Format of Writing Skills and their Bifurcation of marks ( Std XII )

1. Summary Writing ( Compulsory question )

A. Title 

B. Only one para ( summary needs to be written only in 1 paragraph )

C. Use of linking words to connect sentences.

D. Don't add your opinions , ideas , comments

C. Needs to be written only in 100 to 120 words

Summary - 03 marks 

Bifurcation of marks👇

1. Covering all important points ( includes title) - 02 mark

2. Language and Vocabulary - 01 mark

2. Mind mapping ( Compulsory question )

A. Appropriate design - use the same design if given in the question paper and if not given,  draw your own design.

B. Create central/main idea (from here the mind map begins) then add sub branches and twigs.

C.Only key words or short phrases to be written and not complete sentences.

Mind mapping 

Bifurcation 👇

1. Logical flow of ideas/thoughts/concepts - 02 marks 

2. Presentation - 01 mark 

3. Drafting a virtual message

 ( In option with Statement of purpose and group discussion)

A. Date and time 

B. Name of the person to whom the message is directed ( receiver's name)

C. Body of the message

D. Name of the sender

E. Only important details to be added and no new information should be added

F. Indirect or reported speech should be used.

G. Use polite language.

H. To be written in about 50( most probably) or 100 to 150 words ( read the question carefully and follow the instructions strictly.. )

Drafting virtual message 

Bifurcation 👇

1. Content - 02 marks

2. Sequence/ Flow of ideas - 01 mark

3. Appropriateness ( language usage ) - 01 mark

4. Statement of purpose ( SOP )

" Statement of purpose is an application made to a university to seek admission to a particular course."

A. Should be written in around 500 words.

B. Maximum 5 short paragraphs ( begin with your introduction , personal background then speak about why you wish to join the specific course , your area of interest then write about your qualities that will be helpful and suitable for this career goal then mention your experience in the field or any internship or project and finally conclude stating how admission to the particular course/university would be beneficial to you. ( check page 154 of std XII coursebook for more details)

Statement of purpose 

Bifurcation 👇

1. Content - 02 marks

2. Sequence/ Flow of ideas - 01 mark

3. Appropriateness ( language usage) - 01 mark

5. Group discussion

Please note : Evaluator will not be mentioned if there is a type of a question on G.D. like " The captain of the team is having group discussion during break time"

A. Evaluator gives the topic and asks "who would like to start ?"

B. 4 to 5 participants give their thoughts on the topic given. Few speak in favour and few against.

C. Evaluator tells to sum up.

D. One participant sums up everything that was discussed.

E. Needs to be written in a dialogue form. 

( check your std.XII English textbook for more details )

Group discussion 

Bifurcation👇

1. Content - 02 marks

2. Sequence/Flow of ideas - 01 mark

3. Appropriateness ( language usage) - 01 mark

6. Email writing 

( Email is in option with Report writing and Interview questions )

A. Template ( a design to be followed )

B. Salutation 

C. First paragraph ( Why writing the mail ? Reason ? )

D. Second paragraph ( explain in detail the reason of writing )

E. Third paragraph - Request/suggest/advise ( keeping in mind the question asked and write accordingly )

F. Fourth paragraph - conclude by saying thank you.

G. Sign off ( Yours faithfully/sincerely , obediently , name/email id , etc.)

Email Writing 

Bifurcation 

1. Content- 02 marks

2. Use of proper format -01 mark

3. Overall presentation - 01 mark

7. Report writing (written after witnessing something/visiting some place/after some program , etc.)

Points to remember :

A. Title ( topic on which you are writing report for example "Teachers" Day celebration in...... college")

B. Date and reporter's name ( Date of such reports will always be after the event..for example teachers' day is celebrated on 5th September so the date of writing report on it will be 6th or 7th September , etc.)

C. Don't change facts , write statements of chief guest ( if needed ) in "direct speech." , write the report sequentially.

Report writing 

Bifurcation 

1. Content-02 marks

2. Accuracy of language - 01 mark

3. Appropriateness - 01 mark

8. Interview questions

Format : (Note : Table needs to be drawn compulsorily...follow as discussed during lectures)

A. Interview with....

B. Introduction ( welcoming the guest )

C. 8 to 10 higher order ( WH type ) of questions.

D. Ask relevant questions and in sequence from past to present.

E. Conclusion ( thanking the guest )

Interview questions 

Bifurcation 

1. Appropriate framing of questions- 02 marks

2. Language and style - 01 mark

3. Overall impression - 01 mark

9. Speech writing ( Speech is in option with Compering and expansion of ideas )

A. Title

B. Introductory paragraph ( greetings and revealing the topic )

C. Main body ( generally 2 to 3 paragraph that include problems/reasons/effects/suggestions)

D. Concluding paragraph ( Thanking the audience )

E. In 100 to 120/150 words ONLY

Speech writing 

Bifurcation 

1. Logical sequence of ideas - 02 marks

2. Introduction- 01 mark

3. Conclusion - 01 mark

10) Compering ( if points are given in the question , use those points and develop your script for compering. Also, compering is preparing a script for some program mentioned in the question )

A.Greetings and welcome

B.Lighting of the lamp

C. Anchoring about the event ( one item after the other )

D. Closing address

E. Vote of thanks

Compering

Bifurcation 

1. Connecting events -02

2. Impressive introduction -01

3. Summing up -01

11. Expansion of ideas.

A. Title 

B. First paragraph ( Introduction- impressive beginning and elaborate)

C. Middle ( evaluate and elaborate the idea with examples/anecdotes)

D. Conclusion ( end with a proverb or quotation if possible and relevance of the given proverb)

E. Always stick to the topic sentence and keep your ideas floating around it only.

Expansion of ideas

Bifurcation 

1. Expansion of the idea - 02

2. Proper introduction - 01

2. Conclusion - 01

12. Review ( Film ) ( Review is in option with blog writing and appeal )

A.Story line

B.Producer , Director , Music Director

C. Characters/casting ( major and minor )

D. Setting/location

E. Conflict/climax

F. Message

Review ( Book )

A. Story

B. Author 

C. Characters ( main , major and minor )

D. Conflict

E. Message

Note : Review can also be asked on documentary,  magazines , etc.apart from book and movie.

Review 

Bifurcation 

1. Presentation of theme/storyline - 02 marks

2. Technical ( Novel) aspects - 01 mark

3. Overall presentation - 01 mark

13. Blog writing

A. Add a headline ( that is informative and catchy)

B. Introductory paragraph 

C. Main body

D. Concluding paragraph 

E. Add your personal experience if any ( related to the topic )

F. Keep paragraphs short and keep the sentences simple and short.

G. Write it in a box and follow a suitable design. Header , footer , navigation bar , etc. to be put/drawn too compulsorily.

Blog

Bifurcation 

1. Content- 02

2. Header/menu/navigation bar - 01 mark

3. Footer - 01 mark

14.Appeal

A. Use/write catchy punchlines/short phrases , etc.

B. Draw few objects related to the topic if possible ( with pencil only when question paper instructions allow use of pencil..or else draw with pen only.)

C. Write "Date , Time , Venue/website name for registration/contact details , etc.)

Appeal 

Bifurcation 

1. Presentation of content - 02 

2. Convincing language - 01

3. Inspiring and motivational message - 01