Story
1. Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
During the reign of Emperor Akbar hundreds of years ago, Birbal, his wittiest courtier,
enjoyed a formidable reputation. This made Akbar’s brother-in-law extremely jealous of
Birbal. He convinced the emperor to dispense with Birbal’s services and appoint him in his
place. He assured Akbar that he would be more efficient and capable than Birbal. Before
Akbar could make-a-decision, this news reached Birbal. Birbal resigned and left the palace
that very day.
Akbar’s brother-in-law was made the minister in place of Birbal. Doubtful of his
capabilities, Akbar decided to test the new minister. Handing him three hundred gold coins,
he said, “Spend these gold coins in such a way that I get a hundred gold coins here in this
life, a hundred gold coins in the other world, and another hundred gold coins neither here
nor there.”
The minister was utterly confused. He spent sleepless nights worrying about how to
fulfil the emperor’s command, which felt like a hopeless puzzle to him. After a good three
nights of anxiety, he sought Birbal’s help. Birbal said, “Just give me the gold coins. I will
handle the rest.”
The next day, Birbal set out to solve this great puzzle. He noticed a rich merchant
celebrating his son’s wedding. Birbal bowed to him courteously, saying, “Emperor Akbar
sends you his good wishes and blessings for the wedding of your son,” and gifted him a
hundred coins. Honoured at the gesture, the merchant bade Birbal farewell with several
expensive gifts and a bag of gold coins as a return gift for the king.
As he walked on, Birbal entered a slum. There he bought food and clothing in exchange
for a hundred gold coins and distributed them among the poor in the name of the emperor.
When he came back to town, he organised a classical music concert on which he spent
another hundred gold coins.
The next day Birbal entered Akbar’s durbar and announced that he had done all that the
king had asked his brother-in-law to do. Curious, the emperor asked him to explain how hehad done it. Birbal repeated all the events that had occurred and then said, “The money I
gave to the merchant for the wedding of his son — you have got back while on this earth.
The money I spent on buying food and clothing for the poor — you will get it in the other
world. The money I spent on the musical concert — you will get neither here nor there.” At
this, Akbar’s brother-in-law realised why Birbal was the minister before him. He gracefully
relinquished the position and Birbal became the emperor’s minister again.
(a) Answer the following questions in 30 to 40 words. (3 marks)
i. Name the three characters in the story.
ii. Why did Akbar’s brother-in-law convince Akbar to make him the minister in place of
Birbal?
iii. How did Birbal use a hundred gold coins the second time?
(b) What challenge did the emperor give his brother-in-law after he became the minister?
Do you think the brother-in-law handled it well? Write why or why not in 60–80 words.
(2 marks)
Section B: Writing & Grammar
2. Imagine you are the Djinn who was in-charge of all the deserts. How would you
feel if the Horse, the Dog, and the Ox complained to you about the Camel who sits
idle all day? What would you do to get the Camel to change his ways? Write an
empathetic response in about 125 words. (6 marks)
3. Fill in the blanks with the pronoun that agrees with the antecedent. (2 marks)
a) Both the cats followed ______________ owner around the house.
b) I took some rice out of ______________ container and put it into the cooker.
c) The committee members should each explain ______________ reasons for the
passing of the resolution.
d) You are not allowed to leave ______________ belongings unattended.
4. Underline the incorrectly used indefinite pronouns in the following sentences and
replace them with the correct ones. (2 marks)
a) Has something seen Heena’s sweater? She is looking for it.
b) I have tried anything that I could to change her.
c) I have never been nowhere until now.
d) I didn’t ask nobody any questions.
Answers
Explanation:
Some useful results
1) Every natural number is a Rational No.but a rational no. need not be a natural number.
2) Zero is a rational no.
3) Every integer is a rational no. but a rational no. need not be an integer.
4) Every fraction is a rational no. but a rational no. need not be a fraction.
Answer:
1- Akbar the emperor, Birbal the minister of emperor,Akbar’s brother-in-law extremely jealous of birbal .
2- because he was jealous of Birbal, his wittiest courtier, enjoying a formidable reputation.
3- Birbal entered a slum. There he bought food and clothing in exchange for a hundred gold coins and distributed them among the poor in the name of the emperor.
4- Akbar Handed him three hundred gold coins,
he said, “Spend these gold coins in such a way that I get a hundred gold coins here in this life, a hundred gold coins in the other world, and another hundred gold coins neither here nor there.”
No he didn't Handed it well
he was utterly confused. He spent sleepless nights worrying about how to fulfil the emperor’s command, which felt like a hopeless puzzle to him.
5- a- their
b- my
c- their
d- your
6- a- something , someone
b- anything , everything
c- nowhere , anywhere
d- nobody, anyone
hope it's helpful to you