Each crowd had a language of its own and spoke among themselves without the fear of
being overheard. Something as ubiquitous as dal tasted alike sambar in the South, gaining its dalness as
we climbed up to Orissa; tea was called, chya, chai and sa, while coffee was kafi, kaapi, and koffee. For a
person with limited skills when it comes to learning and understanding new languages, this was my Train
of Babel.
But I was clearly in a minority. The train had in it soldiers from the south going back to patrol
borders far away from home, and workers from the east going back home on a much-need break – both
serving as the connection between various parts of the country. These were the polyglots, speaking in
tongues that had no relation with their own, at times in functional, curt phrases, or with flourish.
On the train, it was soon clear how important this was for those from the South and Northeast.
Every second passenger was a defence personnel, a majority of them belonging to the oldest regiment of
Indian Army, the Madras regiment, and the Assam Rifles. The other half was made up of labourers from
the east and further east – the seven sisters of the Northeast. The former protects, the latter serves.
The third kind of passengers were those from the North and Northeast, forced to come down
thousands of kilometers for quality medical care. P. Gupta, the patriarch of a family from Dimapur, suitable title of passage
Answers
Answer:
EXERCISE IN GRAMMAR-39
Name the Verbs in the following sentences, and tell whether they are in the Active or in the Passive Voice.
1. The cat killed the mouse.
14. His command was promptly obeyed.
2. We compelled the enemy to surrender.
15. Some of the cargo had been damaged by the sea water
3. The boy was bitten by a dog.
16. Nothing will be gained by hurry.
4. The thief was caught.
17. The dog chased the sheep.
5 The boy made a kite.
18. This letter was posted last night.
6. The ship was burned.
19. The field is ploughed.
7. The young man made a disturbance at the meeting.
20. The dog was teased by the boy.
8. The captive was bound to a tree.
21. The cat drank all the milk.
9. The bird was killed by a cruel boy.
22. A stone struck me on the head.
10. The sudden noise frightened the horse.
23. The old gentleman takes snuff.
11. He is loved by all
24. The money was lost.
12. The exhibition was opened by the Governor.
25. The letter has just been posted.
13. I see a dark cloud.EXERCISE IN GRAMMAR-39
Name the Verbs in the following sentences, and tell whether they are in the Active or in the Passive Voice.
1. The cat killed the mouse.
14. His command was promptly obeyed.
2. We compelled the enemy to surrender.
15. Some of the cargo had been damaged by the sea water
3. The boy was bitten by a dog.
16. Nothing will be gained by hurry.
4. The thief was caught.
17. The dog chased the sheep.
5 The boy made a kite.
18. This letter was posted last night.
6. The ship was burned.
19. The field is ploughed.
7. The young man made a disturbance at the meeting.
20. The dog was teased by the boy.
8. The captive was bound to a tree.
21. The cat drank all the milk.
9. The bird was killed by a cruel boy.
22. A stone struck me on the head.
10. The sudden noise frightened the horse.
23. The old gentleman takes snuff.
11. He is loved by all
24. The money was lost.
12. The exhibition was opened by the Governor.
25. The letter has just been posted.
13. I see a dark cloud.
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