A FRIEND IN NEED
REACHING OUT WITH LOVE
Word Meaning
1. Broke the ice – introduced
2. Curious – interested, eager to know
3. Approached – came
4. Recess – short break
5. Indifferent – unconcerned, neutral
6. Faded – lost
7. Horizon – sky limit
8. Terrifying – dangerous, frightening
9. Hardly – almost not
10. Certain – sure, guaranteed
11. Bothering – disturbing
12. Withdrawn – taken
13. Plaza – area
14. Gliding – moving, racing
15. Evident – clear, obvious
16. Jetted – roll
17. Confessed – revealed, said
18. Sluggish – slow, dragging
19. Errands – task
20. Reunited – joining again
21. Gauge – judge
22. Benefits – profit
23. Assured – guaranteed
B.2 Read the story
a. Where
is Tromso?
ANSWER
ON PAGE 110.
b. What
is Polar night?
ANSWER
ON PAGE 111.
c. What
is circadian rhythm?
ANSWER
ON PAGE 112.
d. What
are the health benefits of regular exercise?
ANSWER
ON PAGE 113.
e. Why
did the writer want to help Nandita? What does this tell us about her?
Nandita was a new student in
the school. She was from India. This made Catherine curious to know more about
her culture, language and lifestyle back in India. But Nandita was quite
reticent and uncomfortable about her unusual surroundings of Polar region. It
saddened Catherine and she wanted to help her.
This helping nature of hers,
tells us that she was caring, kind and emphatic towards Nandita.
B.7 Answer the following questions.
a. Let
me tell you about the intriguing way in which I broke the ice with her. Briefly
describe how Catherine broke the ice with Nandita?
Catherine broke the ice with
Nandita after several efforts of trying to be friendly with her. First time
Nandita was quite reticent and gave short curt replies, when Catherine was
trying to know more about her culture. Following week Nandita showed no interest
towards any activity. In annual fete instead of celebrating, she kept herself
into her cocoon. Finally, Catherine herself approached Nandita to join the
skating competition and with this Nandita eventually began to open up to
Catherine and became her friend.
b. For
a newcomer this can be terrifying! What does the word this refer to?
Why can it be terrifying for a newcomer?
‘This’ refers to the
condition around Polar region when the sun is just at the horizon nearly for three
months. The sky is lit with a faded blue light throughout and there is no
difference between night and day.
This condition can be
terrifying for a newcomer, who comes from a tropical region and has never lived
in such severe, harsh and extreme condition. Such person physically and
mentally feels lonely, dull, sad and less enthusiastic.
c. Nandita
readily agreed to my proposition. What was the proposition? Why do
you think Nandita agreed readily?
The proposition was that
Nandita attends the skating lessons regularly as that might benefit her
physical and mental health.
Nandita agreed readily
because she could easily learn skating and it was the only activity she found
relatable at that moment in the unknown land.
d. Do you
think that Catherine is a kind-hearted person? Find evidence from the text to
support your answer.
Yes, Catherine is a
kind-hearted person. She was not only curious to know about her Indian culture
but also wanted to help her to come out of her reticent behaviour. When Nandita
did not turn up for the annual fete, Catherine was sad to know something was
bothering her. Then she approached her and took her to skating and with regular
skating lessons, eventually befriend to get habituated over the next one year
in Tromso.
e. Do you
agree that Reaching Out with Love is an apt title for this letter? Why/
Why not?
Yes, I agree that Reaching
Out with Love is an apt title for this letter. This letter contains a central
idea of a girl from India, Nandita struggling to adjust to a new harsh climatic
condition of Tromso and with love, care, kindness and empathy, the narrator,
Catherine makes genuine efforts to bring her out of the difficulties. She
herself reaches out to support Nandita and became a good friend.
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