Question

RELUCTANT ELEPHANT

1. "Where is Kesavan?" yelled the head priest as the time to take the idols
around the praharas was nearing. There was no sign of the bedecked
pachyderm at the tower gate.
2. The mahout came running to say that the animal was off-colour. It had
refused to come to the pond for the ritual bath or to take the food offered. It
would also not allow cloth to be thrown over it. The mahout told the priest
that he could not understand his ward's petulance. He could not get the
elephant ready for the day's procession.
3. The mahout returned to the elephant shed and found Kesavan still sulking.
What a contrast to the normal routine! Every day, it would be up on its feet
with a mere prod from his mahout. It would then walk to the pond and allow
the mahout to wash and scrub it. Back at the shed, it would eat sugarcane,
jaggery and fruits. Then it would let the mahout apply vibhuti and sandal
paste on its forehead and trunk. Then it would kneel and allow the cloth to
be thrown over it and a mount placed on its back. Once ready, it would walk
to the temple gopuram and wait with the mahout till the priests' call came.
4. People visiting the temple would offer it bananas and coconut. Some, who
wanted to be blessed, would offer it coins as it touched their heads lightly
with its trunk. When it was time for the procession, it would kneel so that the
idol could be placed on the mount. Then it would walk around the
compound led by the temple musicians and followed by the jostling crowd.
5. Today, Kesavan was in no mood to follow this daily regimen.
6. The mahout, unhappy at the failure of the morning's procession, went home
for breakfast. There he found Gopu, his son, still playing. He asked his wife
why Gopu had not gone to school. She explained that the child had just
returned from a holiday and needed a little break before resuming his
routine. Gopu was a good student and his mother was confident that he
would resume his schedule on his own.
COMPACTA - 9
Home Assignment #1

COVID-19
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Reading

7. Suddenly, the mahout understood why Kesavan had been so recalcitrant
that morning. It had just returned from a month-long camp at Mudumalai,
where it had a great time amidst vast open spaces unfettered by thronging
humans.
8. Kesavan, like Gopu, probably needed a period of adjustment before it
resumed its normal schedule.

C.G. Rishikesh

I. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions in
about 30 – 40 words each. (4 x 2 = 8 Marks)

(a) Why did the head priest yell at the mahout? What explanation was offered
by the mahout?
(b) What was Kesavan's daily routine before proceeding for the temple?
(c) How did Kesavan perform his duties as the temple-elephant?
(d) What made the mahout realise the cause behind Kesavan's uncooperative
behaviour?

II. Answer the following questions. (4 x 1 = 4 Marks)

(a) Which word in paragraph 2 of the passage means the same as 'bad-
temper'?

(b) Find a word in paragraph 3 of the passage that is the antonym of 'cheerful'.
(c) Which of the following means the same as 'regimen' (paragraph 5)?
i. a schedule of prayers
ii. a group of soldiers

iii. a physical exercise done
everyday
iv. a routine or a set of rules

(d) If someone is 'recalcitrant' (paragraph 7), he/she is
i. lazy
ii. disobedient

iii. hesitant
iv. disciplined

Answer 1

Answer:

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