CLASS VII H.H.W
A. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow it.
Many years ago, when the art of stunting plants was quite unheard of except in remote areas of India, Buddhist monks in isolated monasteries in Tibet stunted trees like oak and orange. They watched with excitement the trees flowering and bearing fruit regardless of this ‘deformity’. The trees looked so artistically beautiful and enchanted everyone. Some Chinese monks learnt the art from Tibetan monks and soon ‘Bonsai’ making became a popular hobby and art in China and every garden had at least six bonsais. India and China claimed rights to the art till Japan followed enamoured by its beauty. Today Japan leads in Bonsai making and has invented new methodologies to make the plants look aesthetic and artistic. The most beautiful is the cherry blossom that is breathtakingly attractive. Bonsais need constant pruning, watering, shaping and correct environment. The trees can be planted in colorful containers of your choice.
Numerous schools have mushroomed where the art is taught and cultivated. Best known among them is the Indian Bonsai Association. India has great demand for bonsais. Hotels, homes, farm houses, restaurants and guest houses use these decorative plants to adorn their lobbies, dining halls and drawing rooms. It is aptly said that a thing of beauty is a joy forever. Indeed the bonsai lasts in one’s imagination long after the plant has lived its life span.
Bonsai gardeners use methods including wiring branches, extreme pruning of roots and branches, root binding, grafting and custom soil and cinder mixtures. But perhaps the most important element of all is patience. Instructions for achieving the ‘roots over rock’ effect give insight into the work of a bonsai artist: trim the roots, place the rock, bind roots, then re-pot and wait for two years. Often a bonsai is created by many hands over the years – a highly priced tree is one where the hand and the ego of the artist become invisible as in the Zen concept of ‘artless art’.
Answer the following questions.
1. Who first began to stunt trees and plants?
2. Which bonsai is breathtakingly beautiful?
3. Which country leads in the art of stunting today?
4. How can we take care of bonsais?
5. Name a few places where bonsais are used for decoration
6. Why does the writer say ‘a thing of beauty is a joy forever’?
7. The word ‘enamoured’ means ………………..
B. Fill in the blanks to complete the summary of the poem “The River”:-
The river is given human qualities. As a wanderer, it _____________ (a) from place to place. Sometimes it can be a __________ (b) and has to beg as it flows. As it does not stay long at the same place, it does not set its _______________ (c) anywhere. While flowing, it twists and _______________ (d) through hills and valleys. Like any hoarder, it _________ (e) whatever treasures it comes across. It sometimes gurgles like a baby and makes ______________ (f) sounds. However, the river can be a ___________ (g) too for it _______________ (h) people who fall into it.
C. Change them into the passive voice:-
1. He usually buys the tickets.
2. We booked the flights.
3. He opened the bottle easily.
4. She cleans my shoes.
5. They arrested the burglars.
6. He wrote the note.
7. They washed the car.
8. She found the key.
9. He sold his coin collection.
10. We started a new system.
D. You are Shekhar/Tripta, a student of A.P Public School. Principals of two schools from London visited your school as part of a cultural exchange programme. Students of the school put up a cultural show in their honour. Write a report about it for your school magazine. (100 - 125 words)
Answers
Answer:
1. buddhist monk in isolated monasteries
2. cherry blossom
3. japan
4. by wiring branches , extreme pruning of roots and branches , root binding , grafting and custom soil and cinder mixtures , we can take care bonsai
5. hotels , homes , farm houses , restaurants and guest houses
6. coz it gives you happiness all the time . you amaze by seeing it every time . coz it's a beauty and beauty always give you joy.
1. the tickets are usually bought by him
2. the flights were booked by us
3. the bottle was opened by him easily
4. my shoes are cleaned by her
5. the burglars were arrested by them
6. the note was written by him
7. the car was washed by them
8. the key was found by her
9. his coin collection was sold by him
10. a new system was started by us.
was quite unheard of except in remote areas of India, Buddhist monks in isolated monasteries in Tibet stunted trees like oak and orange. They watched with excitement the trees flowering and bearing fruit regardless of this ‘deformity’. The trees looked so artistically beautiful and enchanted everyone. Some Chinese monks learnt the art from Tibetan monks and soon ‘Bonsai’ making became a popular hobby and art in China and every garden had at least six bonsais. India and China claimed rights to the art till Japan followed enamoured by its beauty. Today Japan leads in Bonsai making and has invented new methodologies to make the plants look aesthetic and artistic. The most beautiful is the cherry blossom that is breathtakingly attractive