Chapter 10: The Great Stone Face - II

Comprehension Check

Page 132

Question 1: Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of the following statements.
1. Ernest’s words reminded people of the wise old sayings. ___________
2. Total strangers from far away, who visited Ernest in the valley, found his face familiar. _____________
3. The Great Stone Face confirmed Ernest’s view that the poet could be worthy of its likeness. ______________
4. When Ernest and the poet met, they respected and admired each other equally. ______
5. The poet along with Ernest addressed the inhabitants of the valley. ____________
6. The poet realised that Ernest’s thoughts were far nobler than his own verses. ________

Answer:
1. True
2. True
3. False - The Face did not answer.
4. True
5. False - Only Ernest addressed the inhabitants of the valley.
6. True

Working with Text

Question 1: How was Ernest different from others in the valley?

Answer: The wise thoughts of Ernest made him different from others in the valley. Ernest was well-known in his valley and had become famous even beyond the valley. College professors and even the active men of cities came from far to see and converse with him. He received them with gentle sincerity and spoke freely with them of whatever came uppermost or lay deepest in his heart or their own.

Question 2: Why did Ernest think the poet was like the Stone Face?

Answer: When Ernest read his poems, he hoped that the poet was like the Stone Face. The poet had celebrated the Great Stone Face in his poems. Ernest believed that the poet’s thoughts were worthy of him bearing resemblance to the Stone Face.

Question 3: What did the poet himself say about his thoughts and poems?

Answer: The poet said that Ernest could hear the distant voice of a heavenly song in his thoughts and poems. However, the poet felt that his own life had not corresponded with his thoughts. He had grand dreams, but they had been only dreams. Sometimes he even lacked faith in his own thoughts.

Question 4: What made the poet proclaim Ernest was the Stone Face?

Answer: When Ernest was addressing the inhabitants of the valley, the poet realised that the life and character of Ernest were nobler than his works of poetry. At a distance high up in the golden light of the setting sun, the Great Stone Face appeared with white mists around it, similar to the white hairs around the brow of Ernest. At that moment, Ernest’s face took on an expression so grand that the poet proclaimed that Ernest was the Stone Face.

Question 5: Write ‘Ernest’ or ‘Poet’, against each statement below.
(i) There was a gap between his life and his words.
(ii) His words had the power of truth as they agreed with his thoughts.
(iii) His words were as soothing as a heavenly song but only as useful as a vague dream.
(iv) His thoughts were worthy.
(v) Whatever he said was truth itself.
(vi) His poems were noble.
(vii) His life was nobler than all the poems.
(viii) He lacked faith in his own thoughts.
(ix) His thoughts had power as they agreed with the life he lived.
(x) Greatness lies in truth. Truth is best expressed in one’s actions. He was truthful, therefore he was great.

Answer:
(i) Poet
(ii) Ernest
(iii) Poet
(iv) Ernest
(v) Ernest
(vi) Poet
(vii) Ernest
(viii) Poet
(ix) Ernest
(x) Ernest

Question 6:
(i) Who, by common consent, turned out to be like the Great Stone Face?
(ii) Did Ernest believe that the old prophecy had come true?
What did he say about it?

Answer:
(i) By common consent, Ernest turned out to be like the Great Stone Face.
(ii) No, Ernest did not believe that the old prophecy had come true. Even though everybody had agreed that he was the likeness of the Great Stone Face, he himself hoped that some wiser and better man than himself would appear, bearing a resemblance to the Great Stone Face.

Working with Language

Question 1: Mark the meaning that best fits the word or a phrase in the story.

(i)	(sun) going down	(a) becoming smaller (b) weakening (c) setting
(ii)	brightening	(a) making (it) look bright and cheerful (b) lending (it) a special glow (c) causing (it) to appear hopeful
(iii)	spacious	(a) lonely and wild (b) big and wide (c) special and important
(iv)	prophecy	(a) proverb (b) prediction (c) rumour
(v)	marvellous	(a) wonderful (b) surprising (c) shocking
(vi)	proclaim	(a) reveal (b) declare (c) shout
(vii)	cease	(a) happen (b) stop (c) remain
(vii)	(a night’s) shelter	(a) stay (b) safety (c) hospitality
(ix)	gazed	(a) wandered about (b) stared at (c) thought of
(x)	took on (an expression)	(a) challenged (b) resembled (c) assumed

Answer:
(i) (sun) going down − (c) setting
(ii) brightening − (b) lending (it) a special glow
(iii) spacious − (b) big and wide
(iv) prophecy − (b) prediction
(v) marvellous − (a) wonderful
(vi) proclaim − (b) declare
(vii) cease − (b) stop
(viii) (a night’s) shelter − (a) stay
(ix) gazed − (b) stared at
(x) took on (an expression) − (c) assumed

Question 2:
(ii) Which form of the verb is more natural in these sentences?
(a) I’m not free this evening. I will work/am working on a project.
(b) Have you decided where you will go for your higher secondary? Yes, I have. I will go/am going to the Kendriya Vidyalaya.
(c) Don’t worry about the dog. It won’t hurt/isn’t hurting you.
(d) The weatherman has predicted that it will snow/is snowing in Ranikhet tonight.
(e) Swapna can’t go out this evening. Her father will come/is coming to see her

Answer:
(ii)
(a) I’m not free this evening. I am working on a project.
(b) Have you decided where you will go for your higher secondary? Yes, I have. I will go to the Kendriya Vidyalaya.
(c) Don’t worry about the dog. It won’t hurt you.
(d) The weatherman has predicted that it will snow in Ranikhet tonight.
(e) Swapna can’t go out this evening. Her father is coming to see her.

Question 3:
(i) Complete these pieces of conversation using will or going to with the verbs given.
(a) Rani : Why are you turning on the radio?
Ravi : I ___________ (listen) to the news.
(b) Rani : Oh, I can’t buy this book. I have no money.
Ravi : Don’t worry. I ___________ (lend) you some.
(c) Rani : Look at those dark clouds.
Ravi : I think it ___________ (rain).
(d) Rani : What shall we have for dinner?
Ravi : I can’t decide.
Rani : Make up your mind.
Ravi : All right, then. We ___________ (have) fried rice and dry beans.
(e) Rani : Why are you filling the kettle with water?
Ravi : I ___________ (make) coffee.
(f) Rani : We need some bread and butter for breakfast.
Ravi : All right. I ___________ (go) to the bakery and get some. (Before he goes out, Ravi talks to their father.)
Ravi : I ___________ (get) some bread and butter. Do you want any thing from the bakery?
Father : Yes, I want some salt biscuits.
Ravi : Fine, I ___________ (get) you a packet.

Answer: (i)
(a) Rani : Why are you turning on the radio?
Ravi : I am going to listen to the news.
(b) Rani : Oh, I can’t buy this book. I have no money.
Ravi : Don’t worry. I will lend you some.
(c) Rani : Look at those dark clouds.
Ravi : I think it is going to rain.
(d) Rani : What shall we have for dinner?
Ravi : I can’t decide.
Rani : Make up your mind.
Ravi : All right, then. We will have fried rice and dry beans.
(e) Rani : Why are you filling the kettle with water?
Ravi : I am going to make coffee.
(f) Rani : We need some bread and butter for breakfast.
Ravi : All right. I will go to the bakery and get some.
(Before he goes out, Ravi talks to their father.)
Ravi : I am going to get some bread and butter. Do you want any thing from the bakery?
Father : Yes, I want some salt biscuits.
Ravi : Fine, I will get you a packet.