Question

It was evening in the picturesque seaside town side of Rameshwaram, on the
southern edge of Tamil Nadu. A cool breeze was gently blowing in from the sea.
Along with the sound of waves lapping against the shore could be heard the sweet
sound of birds circling overhead. Among the children playing on the beach was a
boy with wavy hair and dreamy eyes. This youngster was, Avul Pakir
Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam who later became the eleventh President of India.
While spending time with his friends, Abdul was attracted by the sound of the
birds flying above. The birds spread its wings, fluttered briefly and sprang up. The
air seemed to give the needed thrust for its take off! The birds soared up into the
sky it steered it pace and course with great ease. How Abdul wished he could fly
like those beauties in the air!. This passion for flying, aroused by the beautiful
birds, later inspired Abdul Kalam to design India’s first rocket which successfully
sent a satellite Rohini, into orbit on 18 July 1980.It was called the SLV-3(Satellite
Launch Vehicle). At the time when Abdul was growing up, no one dreamt of such
a happening. Rameshwaram where Abdul was born, was a small town with
narrow streets lined with old houses made of limestone and bricks. Abdul stayed
in the house with his father, mother, brothers and sister and led a secure and
happy childhood. During dinner they exchanged views on a variety of topics
ranging from family matters to spiritual subjects. The main income for Abdul’s
family came from ferrying pilgrims across the sea between Rameshwaram and
Dhanushkodi. However, a devastating cyclone lashed the shores of Rameshwaram
and their boat was destroyed. The family lost their only source of livelihood in
one swift, tragic stroke. The enterprising young Abdul wanted to help family

through the crisis. He realized that there was a great demand for tamarind seeds.
He decided to collect the tamarind seeds and sell them to a shop near his house.
Besides selling tamarind seeds, he helped his cousin Samsuddin to sell the
popular Tamil newspaper Dinamani to earn a little more money. Even decaded
later, he recalls earning his own money for the first time, with immense pleasure
with a sense of pride.

1. What inspired Abdul to design a rocket? (2)
2. What was the main income for Abdul’s family? How did the family lose the
source of livelihood? (2)
3. Describe the town where Abdul Kalam was born. Why was dinner a special meal
in the Kalam’s family? (2)
4. What were the two ways through which he decided to support his family? (2)
5. Frame sentences – (a)devastating (b) beautiful (2)

Answer 1

Answer:

I DONT KNOW                  .               .