10th English Guide Unit-2 Zigzag SUPPLEMENTARY
GLOSSARY
Book.Page.No. 56
1.aboriginal (adj.) - native, local
2.sarcasm (n) - use of irony to mock or convey contempt
3.fringed (v) - bordered
4.plumage (n) - a bird’s feather collectively
5.sludgiest (adj.) - wet mud
6.grumpiness (adj.) - bad tempered
7.squirt (n) - spray
8.coyote (n) - a wolf like wild dog native to North America
9.streaks (n) - line, strap
10.tantrum (n) - outburst, flare-up
11.crinkly (adj.) - wrinkly
A. Identify the speaker / character.
1. ‘Even though I clearly said no!’
Answer: Dr. Krishnan
2. ‘The one that spits deadly poison straight into its opponent’s eyes.’
Answer: Maya
3. ‘Remember the tiny penknife he gave me last year’.
Answer: Arvind
4. ‘It’s Somu’s thoughtless ways that reduce me to tears’
Answer: Mrs. Krishnan
5. ‘Come in, Zigzag, come in dear!’
Answer: Visu
B. Read the story again and write how these characters reacted in these situations:
1. You’re both quite mistaken.
- Dr. Krishnan said that Zigzag was a harmless bird and it was a treasure of Somu.Mrs. Krishnan felt very unhappy to keep Zigzag with them.
2. It’s Somu’s thoughtless ways that reduce me to tears.
- Mrs. Krishnan was very unhappy to have Zigzag with them.Dr. Krishnan wanted to maintain Zigzag because he was asked by another doctor Dr. Somu
3. Just wait till zigzag settles down in this new home.
- Visu said that Zigzag could speak well. Arvind started a conversation with Zigzag but it did not open its mouth. Visu wanted to pacify the children.Aravind and Maya were dejected that Zigzag did not speak a word
4. Zigzag hardly ever sleeps.
- Somu in his email message said that Zigzag did not sleep well. He was in Alaska so he asked Dr. Krishnan to give Zigzag to Visu.Dr. Krishnan could not find Visu so he took it to his clinic.
5. You are an absolute treasure………….
- Dr. Krishnan was happy to keep Zigzag in his clinic.
- Zigzag was happy to receive the toffee from Dr. Kexhibition
D. Answer the following question in one or two sentences:
B.P.No. 57
1. Why did Dr. Ashok’s cousin call him?
- His cousin wanted to go to Alaska. He wanted Dr. Ashok to take care of his pet bird Zigzag.
2.Mention at least two expressions which show that Mrs. Krishnan was not willing to have Zigzag at home.
- Mrs. Krishnan said that whatever was given by Somu were nuisances. She gave a sarcastic commentwhen Arvind praised the boomerang given by Somu
3. What other various pets did Somu have?
- Somu had an green and gold fighting beetle and insect eating plant.
4. What was Mrs. Krishnan busy with?
- Mrs. Krishnan was busy with her paintings for an exhibition
5. What commotion did the boomerang cause in the neighbourhood?
- The boomerang sliced many TV aerials and damaged many cars.
6. What happened when Somu left Zigzag with the Krishnans?
- Zigzag started sleeping and snoring when Zigzag was with the Krishnans.
7. How did Zigzag communicate with the Krishnans?
- Zigzag communicated with the Krishnans with the movement of eyes.
8. What was the e-mail message sent to Somu by Dr. Krishnan?
- Dr. Krishnan sent the email message to Somu asking him for clear instruction on how to stop Zigzag from snoring.
9. What did Aravind confess?
- Arvind confessed that for the first time in his life he was actually looking forward to going to school to avoid the snoring of Zigzag.
10. Why did Mrs. Jhunjhunwalla buy the painting?
- Mrs. Jhunjhunwalla was the art critic and she liked the orange stroke in the painting, sunset at Marina.
E. Answer the following questions in about 100-150 words:
1. Write a passage in your own words on various commotions caused by Zigzag at Dr.
Krishnan’s residence.
about a pet – Zigzag – Visu the cook – strange bird – talk well – Arvind’s conversation
– failed – nuts and fruits kept on chandelier and fan – perched on curtain rod – snored –
nuts and fruit pieces fell down – spoilt sunset at Marina – orange pulp and black seeds –
complaints from neighbours
Title :Zigzag
Author :Asha Nehemiah
Theme :Comic Commotions of a pet
- Theme short story ‘Zigzag’ was written by Asha Nehemiah. It is about a pet which made commotion at home. Zigzag was brought in by Visu the old cook. It was a strange bird with different coloured feathers. Visu talked high about Zigzag. He also reiterated that the bird could talk well. Arvind started a conversation with the bird but the bird did not say a single word. When some nuts and fruits were brought for it, the bird picked some of them and flew to chandelier and fan. It kept the nuts and fruits on them. Then it perched on a curtain rod and slept. Not only that, it began to snore. The snoring was so loud that it affected everyone. They tried to wake him up but they failed to do so. So they went to their bed room and shut them up there. When Lakshmi, the house maid came she put on the fan. All the nuts and pieces fell down. Some of them fell on the master piece of Mrs. Krishna, sunset at Marina. The painting had orange pulp and shiny black seeds all over it. By the time some of the neighbours came in to complain about that snoring of Zigzag.
2. What happened when Zigzag was taken to the clinic.
about pet – Zigzag – Visu the cook – strange bird – could talk well – Arvind conversation
failed – nuts and fruits kept on chandelier and fan – nuts and fruit pieces fell down – spoilt
sunrise at Marina – Dr. Krishnan took to clinic – controlled the patients – talked well –
phone from Mrs. Krishnan – sunrise at Marina sold for Rs. 5000 – orange colour and black
seed.
Title :Zigzag
Author :Asha Nehemiah
Theme :Comic Commotions of a pet
- The short story ‘Zigzag’ was written by Asha Nehemiah. It is about a pet which madecommotion at home.
- Zigzag was brought in by Visu the old cook. It was a strange bird with different coloured feathers. He reiterated that the bird could talk well.
- Arvind started a conversation with thebird but the bird did not say a single word. When some nuts and fruits were brought for it, the bird picked some of them and flew to chandelier and fan.When Lakshmi, the house maid came she put onthe fan.
- All the nuts and pieces fell down. Some of them fell on the master piece of Mrs. Krishna,sunset at Marina. The painting had orange pulp and shiny black seeds all over it. She could nottolerate it anymore. R. Krishnan took the bird to his clinic and left it in his car. It went to the clinic andcontrolled the patients.
- He was happy with the bird. Mrs. Krishnan phoned to Dr. Krishnan to comeimmediately. When he came home he could not convince his wife. So he took the bird to his clinic.
3. Narrate the story of Zigzag in your own words
.
about pet – Zigzag – Visu the cook – strange bird – could talk well – Arvind conversation
failed – nuts and fruits kept on chandelier and fan – nuts and fruit pieces fell down – spoilt
sunrise at Marina – Dr. Krishnan took to clinic – controlled the patients – talked well –
phone from Mrs. Krishnan – sunrise at Marina sold for Rs. 5000 – orange colour and black seed
Title :Zigzag
Author :Asha Nehemiah
Theme :Comic Commotions of a pet
- The short story ‘Zigzag’ was written by Asha Nehemiah. It is about a pet which madecommotion at home.
- Dr. Ashok T. Krishnan was a child specialist. One day his friend Somu asked himto keep his pet Zigzag for some days. Zigzag was brought in by Visu the old cook. It was a strangebird with different coloured feathers.
- He also reiterated that the bird could talk well. Arvind started a conversation with the bird but the bird did not say a single word. When some nuts and fruits were brought for it, the bird picked some of them and kept them on the chandelier and fan. Then it perched on a curtain rod and slept and snored.
- The snoring was so loud that it affected everyone. When Lakshmi, the house maid put on the fan. All the nuts and pieces fell down. Some of them fell on the master piece of Mrs. Krishna, sunset at Marina. The painting had orange pulp and shiny black seeds all over it. .
- She could not tolerate it anymore. Dr. Krishnan had to come home. He could not convince his wife. So he took the bird to his clinic. He kept it in his car but Zigzag found its way to the clinic and started controlling the patients. Dr. Krishnan was surprised. The bird also looked happy. It was trained to do this job by the witch doctor and Dr. Somu. His clinic was in perfect order. By the time Mrs. Krishnan phoned to inform Dr. Krishnan that her sunset at Marina was bought by the art critic for Rs. 5000. The critic liked the touch of the orange colour. She was laughing happily. They decided to keep the Zigzag with Zigzag
ADDITIONAL EXERCISES
I. Rearrange the following sentences in coherent order.
I. 1. Zigzag was a special bird.
2. Dr. Krishnan was a child specialist.
3. Zigzag had colourful feathers.
4. Somu decided to keep his pet bird Zigzag with Dr. Krishnan.
5. It could speak well.
Answer: 2, 4, 1, 3, 5
II. 1. Zigzag kept the nuts and fruits on chandelier and fan.
2. Arvind started a conversation but the bird did not speak.
3. Visu, the cook brought Zigzag.
4. They gave nuts and fruits to Zigzag.
5. Maya and Arvind were happy to receive the bird.
Answer: 3, 5, 2, 4, 1
II. Identify the character.
1. ‘Don’t worry, children.’ – Visu
2. ‘I thought it was scientific fact that birds couldn’t snore.’ – Maya
3. ‘May I take Zigzag to school, Papa? – Arvind
4. ‘Great hit indeed!’ - Mrs. Krishnan
5. ‘African witch doctor’s birds don’t obey scientific rules.’ – Aravind
6. ‘It’s all because my patients were making much noise and crying.’ – Dr. Krishnan
7. ‘Isn’t that Uncle Somu’s prized giant green-and-gold fighting beetle?’ – Maya
8. ‘The beetle is called Spitefire.’ – Aravind
9. ‘She’s bought it for herself, for Rs. 5000!’ – Mrs. Krishnan
III. Comprehension.
Read the following passage and answer the questions given below.
1. They froze in horror. Lakshmi had apparently switched on the fan on which Zigzag had left
some fruit and nuts. Half-pecked fruit streamed of the fan, dampening even Lakshmi’s enthusiasm as
a guava landed on her cheek with a soft squish and one walnut hit her forehead with a loud smack.
One slice of over-ripe papaya came whizzing off the fan and, as they watched it helplessly, it oh horrors
splattered all over Mrs. Krishnan’s unfinished masterpiece, sunset at Marina, spreading streaks of
gooey orange pulp and shiny black seeds all over it. Mrs Krishnan groaned tragically and looked ready
to shoot Zigzag, but he was saved by the bell.
Questions :
1. Who switched on the fan?
2. What landed on Lakshmi’s cheek?
3. What is Mrs. Krishnan’s unfinished masterpiece?
4. What splattered on the unfinished masterpiece?
5. Who saved zigzag?
Answers :
1. Lakshmi switched on the fan.
2. A guava landed on her cheek.
3. Sunset at Marina is the unfinished masterpiece.
4. One slice of over-ripe papaya splattered on the unfinished masterpiece.
5. The bell saved Zigzag.
2. Never had a morning passed so quietly and peacefully for Dr. Krishnan. When the last patient
had left, he called Zigzag to his room. Zigzag flew in and sat on the table. Scratching the bird under
its beak, Dr. Krishnan sighed and said, ‘Somu was right, after all. You are an absolute treasure. I never
realized what he meant when he called you a great help. Why didn’t you tell me you’d prefer to be at
my clinic instead of snoring like that to show you were bored? What do we do now? No one wants you
back at home now; they want me to leave you with Visu.’
Questions :
1. What did Dr. Krishnan do after the last patient had left?
2. How did Zigzag go to Dr. Krishnan?
3. What did Dr. Krishnan realize?
4. What did Dr. Krishnan say to Zigzag?
5. Who was an absolute treasure?
Answers :
1. Dr. Krishnan called Zigzag to his room.
2. Zigzag flew in and sat on the table
3. Dr. Krishnan realized that Zigzag was a great help.
4.
Dr. Krishnan said that Zigzag was an absolute treasure.
5. Zigzag was an absolute treasure.