Resume Writing

 

    Resume is a French word that means ‘summary’ In English, it is used to refer to ‘an account or a summary of something’ ‘Resume’ pronounced as ‘razume’ should not be confused with the word, ‘resume’ which distinctly means ‘to begin again.

    A resume is a document that contains a summary of the personal details, relevance, job experience, education, skills, goals, achievements, and interests of an applicant. It is the first thing that an employer encounters regarding the job seeker to shortlist him/her for a job interview.

IMPORTANT POINTS

1. A resume is normally used for seeking employment in business, finance, especially in the private sector.

2. It is brief concise.

3. It has a freestyle and customarily enumerates a candidate’s data in reverse chronological order.

4. It highlights only the relevant credentials

Resumes are always position-specific and they cannot be identical for different posts.

ATTRIBUTES OF A GOOD RESUME.

1. Well displayed with proper formatting, spacing, and sufficient white space.

2. Factual, correct, and complete.

3. Information is categorized under headings and columns.

4. Use of appropriate concise style rather than using (I) repeatedly.

5. Coherent, uniform, and brief in presentation.

6. Highlights relevant areas starting from the recent ones.

7. Use of right words, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

STYLES OF RESUME

A. Reverse Chronological Resume:-This is the most commonly used format. The employers today are more interested in your recent achievements. Such resumes go well for both a fresher and beginner.

B. Functional Resumes:- This is basically, a skill profile that is used to focus on abilities. They are suitable for those who want to change their career have a wide work experience or are applying for jobs that require a clearly defined profile and personality traits.

Resume for a Fresh Applicant

In the absence of experience, employers would be more interested in aspects such as training, projects, education, skills, and achievements.

A. Career objective:- Express your broad career goals, the type of task you would like to do, and willingness to learn.

B. Training: - Mention about your training highlighting the training field and what you have gained from it.

C. Education: - Provide this information in a little detail, that is starting from the current, you may go back to matriculation.

D. Skills Strength: - At this stage, you cannot be very specific, mention your general capabilities and traits are relevant to the position.

E. Achievements, Activities Interests: - These should be emphasized as companies want people who are all-rounders, self-motivated, have a positive attitude, and are eager to take challenges.

 

Resume Sample

Name XXXXX

Contact: XXXXXXXXX

Mail Id: XXXXXX@xxxxxxxx

Career Objective

Seeking for an entry-level position in the teaching line to share my knowledge for the growth of the students as well as the organization.

Key skills

·         Have a quality for adopting new concepts of studies as well as responsibilities.

·         Able to achieve immediate and long-term goals.

·         Understand student’s needs.

·         Can create a comfortable learning environment.

·         Easily get involve with the new people.

·         Good explanation skills.

Qualification

·         Completed B. Ed from XXXX University in year XXXX.

·         Completed Bachelors degree of Arts with English literature from XXXX College in year XXXX.

·         Passed higher secondary from XXXX School in year XXXX with XX %.

 

·         Passed high school from XXXX School in year XXXX with XX %.

Training Undertaken

Six months training from XXXX School

·         Coordinate between the guardians and the other teaching stuff of the institute.

Hobbies

·         Reading novels & newspaper

·         Interacting with people

Personal Details

Date of birth:                           XX/XX/XXXX

Languages Known: Hindi and English

Address: XXXXX

 

Signature..............

Tags Questions

 

Tag Questions: A Tag question is a special construction in English. It is common in English to make a statement followed by a small question to it in order to confirm what is being said in the main sentence. These small questions which follow the main statement are called tag questions. They mean something like:

“Is that right?” or

 “Do you agree?”

The basic structure of a tag question is : Positive statement ------- negative tag. For example:

Mili is an intelligent girl, isn’t she?

 Kulbir is a very compassionate person, isn’t he?

Negative statement: positive tag. For example:

 Usha has not forgotten me, has she?

 You don’t like me, do you?

Note that the tag repeats the auxiliary verb (or the main verb when “be”) from the statement and changes it to negative or positive.

In the case of imperative sentences, we normally use ‘will you?’ as the tag, regardless of the subject is a positive or a negative one:

Give me your book, will you?

 Don’t insult your sister, will you?

The tag ‘won’t you?’ suggests urgency. For example:

 Read the suggestions carefully, won’t you?

In the case of suggestions beginning with ‘let's, the tag, ‘shall we?’ is used:

 Let’s go to our old school, shall we?

 

Exercise:

Add appropriate tags to the following sentences. (Please remember that when a tag is added, the full stop is changed to a comma.)

 I do not like tea.

 The team reached the ground on time.

 We are always expected to do our duty.

 My journey to London was not an easy one.

There is no point in crying over spilled milk.

 Let’s go to watch a movie.

 That was not a very warm welcome indeed.

 Most of us do not like getting up early in the morning.

 Nisha loses her temper so often.

 None of the delegates liked our work.

 You needn’t worry all the time.

 Some of us could tell us the correct answer to the question.

Everybody can’t afford to go abroad.

 We shouldn’t forget that we are guests here.

 The shopkeeper wouldn’t allow us to buy in bulk.

Answers:

 I do not like tea, do I?

 Virat Kohli reached the ground on time, didn’t he?

 We are always expected to do our duty, Aren’t we?

 My journey to London was not an easy one, was it?

 There is no point in crying over spilled milk, isn’t it?

 Let’s go to watch a movie, shall we?

 That was not a very warm welcome indeed, was it?

 Most of we do not like getting up early in the morning, do we?

 Nisha loses her temper so often, isn’t it?

 None of the delegates liked our work, did they?

You needn’t worry all the time, do you?

 Some of us could tell us the correct answer to the question, could we?

 Everybody can’t afford to go abroad, can they?

 We shouldn’t forget that we are guests here, should we?

The shopkeeper wouldn’t allow us to buy in bulk, did he?

The Blind Dog (Question- Answers and Passages for Explanation)

 Passages

 

1.       He had spotty eyes and undistinguished carriage and needless pugnacity. Before he was two years old he had earned the scars of a hundred fights on his body. When he needed rest on hot afternoons he lay curled up under the culvert at the eastern gate of the market.

Reference to the context:  These lines are taken from the story, The Blind Dog written by R.K. Narayan. In this story, the writer describes in detail the relationship between a blind beggar and a street dog, who roams free here and there. The story is a perfect example of human greed and brutality towards animals.

Explanation:  In these lines, the writer says that the dog had dotted eyes and ordinary posture and quite often displayed useless aggression. Before he was two years old he had numerous scars of a hundred fights on his body. In the summer season during the hot afternoons, when he needed rest he lay curled up under the conduit at the eastern gate of the market.

 

2.       The dog was sleeping nearby. He was stirred by the smell of food. He got up, came out of his shelter, and stood before the blind man, wagging his tail and gazing expectantly at the bowl, as he was eating his sparse meal.

Reference to the context:  These lines are taken from the story, The Blind Dog written by R.K. Narayan. In this story, the writer describes in detail the relationship between a blind beggar and a street dog, who roams free here and there. The story is a perfect example of human greed and brutality towards animals.

Explanation:  In these lines, the writer says that the dog was sleeping nearby. The smell of food brought the dog to the beggar and he stood before the blind man, wagging his tail and staring hopefully at the bowl in which the blind man was eating his bare meal.

 

3.       "Death alone can help that dog," cried the ribbon-seller, looking after it with a sigh." What can we do with a creature who returns to his doom with such a free heart?”

Reference to the context:  These lines are taken from the story, The Blind Dog written by R.K. Narayan. In this story, the writer describes in detail the relationship between a blind beggar and a street dog, who roams free here and there. The story is a perfect example of human greed and brutality towards animals.

Explanation: In these lines, the writer says that the ribbon- seller was appalled at the condition of the dog and sobbed that only death could help this poor dog, who, wilfully, returned back to his doom by forgiving his freedom.

Questions 

1.    What happened to the dog once it became the blind man’s companion?

Ans: The life of the dog changed completely once it became the blind man’s companion. They met every day and the dog sat beside the blind man and watched him receive alms morning to evening. In course of time observing him, the dog understood that the passers-by must give a coin, and whoever went away without dropping a coin was chased by the dog, he tugged the edge of their clothes by his teeth and pulled them back to the old man at the gate and let go only after they dropped something in his bowl.

 

2.     How did the friendship between the dog and the blind man begin?

Ans: An old woman led the old man every day at the market gate early in the morning and seated him. She came up again at midday with some food. The dog was sleeping nearby. He was stirred by the smell of food. He got up, came out of his shelter, and stood before the blind man, wagging his tail and gazing expectantly at the bowl, as he was eating his meal. The blind man threw a handful of food which the dog ate gratefully. The dog went up and licked his hand. The blind man stroked its coat gently. This was the beginning of the friendship between the Old man and the dog.

 

3.     How did the dog guard the blind man from the village urchin?

Ans: A village urchin used to visit the market and liked to tease the blind man by calling him names and by trying to pick up the coins from his bowl. The blind man helplessly shouted and cried and whirled his staff. One day as the Village urchin appeared near the gate and began to take money out of the bowl. The dog sprang on him and snapped his jaws on his wrist. The boy extricated his hand and ran for his life. The dog bounded up behind him and chased him out of the market.

 

4.     Write a character sketch of the blind man?

Ans: The blind man was a poor beggar. An old woman used to bring him and seated him at the market gate. He used to beg the whole day seated at the market gate. The blind man cleverly befriended a stray dog. After the death of the old woman, the blind man forcibly tied and virtually imprisoned the poor dog. The blind man was cruel, selfish and greedy. His greed for money made him a devil. He forced the poor dog to roam all through the day. He denied freedom to the dog and ill-treated him. He used to hit and kick the dog every now and then.

 

5.    How did the dog’s life change after the death of the old woman?

Ans: Life for the dog changed completely after the death of the old woman. The dog lost its freedom completely. In a few days, the dog learned to discipline his instinct and ceased to take notice of other dogs, even if they came up and growled at his side.

 

6.    Describe the life the dog led after being set free from the blind man?

Ans: Life for the dog changed completely after the death of the old woman. The old man tied a white cord around its neck and he remained with the old man all day and night. When Tiger saw other dogs, friends, or foes, instinctively he sprang up, tugging the string, and this invariably earned him a kick from his master. It lost its original appearance. As months rolled on, bones stuck up at his haunches and ribs could be seen through his fading coat.

 

7.    What is your opinion about the dog’s behavior?

Ans: The dog is undoubted, man’s best and true friend. The dog, named Tiger, remained loyal and faithful to the poor, yet cruel beggar. The dog did not run away even after being freed by the perfumer He came back to the blind master.

'The Sleepwalkers' Question Answers

 Very Short Question Answers

Q1. What is a farce?

Ans A farce is a comedy that aims at entertaining the audience. It can be used as a satire to describe something that is supposed to be serious but has turned ridiculous.

Q2. Why are the Indian guests wearing masks?

Ans In the play, the guests are wearing masks on their faces. It is because they don’t have individuality. Before the American guests, they are all flatterers.

Q3. What kind of stories does Mr. Varma write?

Ans Mr. Varma tells Mr. Morris that his stories will be perfectly suited to his magazine. ‘Blank’. He writes stories that are totally without thought.

Q4. What are the usual themes of Miss Ganguli’s play?

Ans Miss Ganguli is a playwright. The themes for her plays are supplied by the government of India. These themes are mostly concerned with family planning.

Q5. Which reputed authors are referred to in the play?

Ans Miss Ganguli and Mr. Morris are talking to each other about literature. At that point, she refers to the American writer Hemmingway and Indian writer Rabindranath Tagore.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. Describe the incident where the sari of Mrs. Morris falls off?

Ans. Mrs. Morris and Mrs. Raman have been talking to each other. Mrs. Morris likes Mrs. Raman's sari and wants to wear it. They go away for some time. When they come back, they have exchanged each other’s dresses. Now Mr. Morris is in a sari and Mrs. Raman is in the western dress. Mrs. Kapur tells her that her sari is a little too high. Mrs. Shan leans forward and gives the sari a tug from behind. At the same time Mrs. Kapoor gives a tug from the front. As a result, her sari falls off. The ladies shriek and men come forward to help them. Mrs. Morris gathers up the sari and runs out.

Q2. What happens when Mr. Morris tells the Indian guests about his magazine?

Ans. When the Indians listen to Mr. Morris, they all praise him. Some of them think that they can benefit from this magazine. When Mr. Morris says that he has four million subscribers, Mr. Raman offers himself to work as a correspondent for this magazine. Morris says that he will bring out editions in the Indian language also. At this Mr. Varma offers to publish his stories in this magazine. He says that his stories will be greatly suitable for it because there is no thought in his stories. Miss Ganguli is a Bengali playwright. She says that this magazine will be good for Bengal. Prof. Shah also says that Indians have reached a state of mind where the thought is unnecessary.

Q3. The person laughed at is separate from the person laughing. Explain.

Ans. Mr. Morris tells the Indians that there is no honour in his magazine. When we laughed, we laugh at somebody or something. The person laughed at is separated from the person who is laughing at him. This creates a division between them. The laughing of people at one another may lead to nations laughing at one another. This laughing of nations can cause conflicts. He says that laughter is not necessary for peace of mind. According to him, he who does not laugh, neither shall he weep. Thus he stresses that there is no need for humour or laughter in our lives.

Q4. How can the American magazine ‘Blank’ enable the readers to dispense with thinking?

Ans.  Mr. Morris says that his magazine ‘Blank’ will help people give up thinking. According to him, thought is very harmful. Mr. Raman asks him how it is possible to avoid thought completely. We cannot help thinking. Mr. Morris agrees that we cannot help thinking. He says that in modern times, there are many technological means for neutralizing thought. His magazine will help people give up thinking with the help of these means. Thus his magazine will be able to make people’s minds blank.

Q5. Bring out the significance of the title “The Sleepwalkers”.

Ans.  Nissim Ezekiel’s play is a satire on the so- called Indian intellectuals and scholars. This play laughs at their pretensions and hollowness. They pose to be scholarly but their knowledge is shallow. It is important to note that the Indian guests in this play are wearing masks. It means that they do not have any individuality. They are all alike. They behave as if they are walking in sleep. They are all flatterers of Americans that is why they all chant the praise of the Americans when Mr. Morris comes. So the title of the play is very appropriate

Book Review

 

A review is the personal reflection of the reviewer's opinion about the book, in which he\she communicates to the readers; such as was the book good and worth reading? Was it thought-provoking and informative? To whom it is recommended?

1. An introductory paragraph: - It describes the main theme and contribution of the book in the field. Thus basically it explains what the book is about. It also describes the pertinent information about the author and what’s his/her standing in the field.

2. The body of the review: - It describes the key points of the book. It is the responsibility of a reviewer to avoid too much detail and discuss only a few core points, and provide concrete evidence for assertions.

3. A Conclusion: - In this section, the reviewer critiques the book and point out the weaknesses and strength. For concluding the write-up, the reviewer is required to sum up the ideas to provide the reader an outcome regarding the book.

A good book review is considered a commentary on the book not a summary of the book. An effective review should be educational, attractive, and opinionated. Ideally, a book review should be written by an expert but anyone else who has some basic core knowledge of the subject, which the book covers, can also do this job and write a satisfactory review.

While reviewing a book, one must look at the following points

1. Subject of the book

2. Quality of the contents

3. Single author or multi-author books

4. Chapters or sections

5. Preface

6. Foreword & who has written it.

7. References

8. Index

9. Highlighted important points

While reviewing any book, first of all carefully read its preface, it will give you the objective of writing that book and related information. It will help you a great deal and guide you about the authenticity of the issue's subjects discussed in the book, which is always covered by those writing the foreword.

The review should be as comprehensive as possible and not only give enough information about the book to the reader but also attract him/ her to buy and read the book.

Main Points while reviewing a book

1. What does the reader of the review need to be informed?

2. What was the purpose of the book?

3. What are the issues it explores& how well does it do this?

4. Did the authors accomplish that purpose?

5. What makes this book worth reading?

 

Characteristics of a good review

1. It should be unprejudiced, balanced, and professionally written.

2. Provide constructive feedback.

3. Create interest among the prospective readers about the book.

4. Be written in simple language

5. Be specific

6. Not be very long because readers have limited time.

7. Evaluate the book for its overall worth, thesis, and shortcomings.

Sleepwalkers (Summary) and Important Passages

 Summary

Most men and women of the elite Indian society profess to be progressive in their outlook. They profess to be liberal, modern, and advanced in their views. But in reality, they are all slavish in their behaviour. They blindly follow what western. The white skin is for them a sure mark of superiority. They have no confidence in themselves. They would cower and cringe in front of Britishers or Americans. They have no faith in their own ability and would seek recommendations and favours even for pretty things. It is this lot of the so-called liberal, modern advanced men, and women of progressive India that, the play, and ‘The Sleepwalkers' has a take on.

In this play, we have some light Indian guests who have been invited to a reception arranged in honour of an American editor and publisher, who has come to India to launch his new magazine. The Indian guests include Mr. and Mrs. Raman Mr. and Mrs. Shah, Mr. and Mrs. Kapur, Mr. Verma, and Miss Ganguli. Mr. Raman is a journalist who has studied journalism in New York. . Prof Shah is a poet and critic, Mr. Kapur is an editor, Mr. Verma is a short story writer, and Miss Ganguli is a Bengali dramatist. Thus all these are educated people and are supposed to have their own individual and independent views.

But the fact is quite opposite of it. The playwright doesn’t allow them to show their faces all through the play. He makes them wear masks because they are just types and have no distinct individuality of their own. We can see the likes of them everywhere in our society. We can see prof. Shah in our educational institutions who for their lectures use notes they had prepared as students decades ago. We can see Mr. Verma who can seek recommendations and influence to have their short stories published. We can see Miss Ganguli has no idea of the themes of their dramas. We see ladies whose husbands have whisky and meat while the ladies content themselves with orange juice and vegetables. Thus we are left with no doubts that the play is a satire on the servile and ludicrous behaviour of the so-called elite Indians.

Important Passages

1. Bengali has the most advanced literature in India, Mrs. Morris, according to foreign observers.

Reference to the Context: - These lines have been taken from the one-act play” The Sleepwalkers”, by Nissim Ezekiel. This is in the form of a force and satire where Indian men look upon the American or English as superior human beings.

Explanation:- Introducing Miss Ganguli to Mrs. Morris, Mr. West says that she is a Bengali playwright from Calcutta. In a vein of self-praise, Miss Ganguli says that Bengali has the most advanced literature in India. Miss. Ganguli doesn’t even know that literature is not a thing to be observed. And then foreign observers can’t be considered to be the ultimate judges of Bengali literature.

 

2.  India is culturally rich, Mr. Morris though economically backward. Our spiritual life is so much better compared to materialistic America.

Reference to the Context:- These lines have been taken from the one-act play, ‘The Sleepwalkers’, by Nissim Ezekiel. This is in the form of a force and satire.

Explanation- These lines have been spoken by Prof. Shah to Mr. Morris when Miss Ganguli and Mr. Varma talk of the great playwrights in Bengali and Hindi. In his attempt to impress Mr. Morris, Prof. Shah says that India is culturally rich though economically backward with an air of superiority, he says, “ Our spiritual life is so much better compared to materialistic America”. What a consolation for being economically backward!

 

3. My stories are perfectly suitable for your magazine, Mr. Morris, My critics say they are totally without thought.

Reference to the Context:- These lines have been taken from the one-act play, “ The Sleepwalkers”, by Nissim Ezekiel, This play has been written in the form of a force and a stature.

Explanation:- Describing the main feature of his magazine. Mr. Morris says, “ In my magazine, there is no thought”. Even without thinking, the Indian guests start praising the magazine for investing in this quality and investing themselves with ‘greatness’. These lines show how Indians become too willing to imitate even the absurdities of white-skinned people.

 

4. Real living, the living that matters is living by doing. The more we do the happier we are. But we cannot be doing all the time. Sometimes we relax. We watch television. We listen to radio of the record player. We read magazines.

Reference to the Context:- These lines have been taken from the play” The Sleepwalkers” written by Nissim Ezekiel. An American, Mr. Morris comes to India in order to promote his magazine ‘Blank’. At the airport, he tells them so-called Indian intellectuals that the aim of his magazine is to discourage thought.

Explanation:- In these lines an American, Mr. Morris is speaking. He continues speaking about his magazine. He says in real living only doing work is important. The light is not important. The more we do, the happier we will be. But we cannot do work all the time. We want relaxation also. At such times, his magazine will be very useful. People will be able to pass time by reading his magazine.

 

5. Unfortunately, these media which were originally used to abolish thought or to decrease it, are often used to provoke it. As long as people think they will come to different conclusions. These different conclusions are the true cause of division among human beings. When humanity doesn’t think, it is peaceful. Thinking divisions humanity into warring groups. In my magazine, there is no thought.

Reference to the context:- These lines have been taken from the play” The Sleepwalkers” written by Nissim Ezekiel. An American, Mr. Morris comes to India in order to promote his magazine’ Blank’. At the airport, he tells them so-called Indian intellectuals that the aim of his magazine is to discourage thought.

Explanation:- In these lines, Mr. Morris is addressing his Indian friends. He says that in the past, the aim of the media was to abolish thought or to discourage it. But now they often provoke thought. When people think they come to different conclusions. These can be the division among people. Humanity is peaceful only it doesn’t think. Because of thought, people are divided into violent groups. That is why there is no thought in his magazine.

 

6. We don’t analyze. We don’t separate one thing from another. We don’t make any distinction between what is important and what is unimportant. That makes for dis-comfort, Everything that happens is important and unimportant. They merge they become one. We merge with it. We are with it. We swing along. We swing along. We happen. In that way, we discourage ideas.

Reference to the context: - These lines have been taken from the play” The Sleepwalkers” written by Nissim Ezekiel. An American, Mr. Morris comes to India in order to promote his magazine’ Blank’. At the airport, he tells them so-called Indian intellectuals that the aim of his magazine is to discourage thought.

Explanation:- In these lines, Mr. Morris says that in his magazine, they don’t analyze. They don’t separate one thing from the other. His magazine does not differentiate between the important and unimportant matters of life. All the happenings of life are important as well as unimportant. They are actually one and his magazine also merges with them. They flow along with the happenings of the world. In this way, we are in the villages, and there’s no entertainment in the villages or anything like that. You know, the way you have nightclubs, and so on.

The Journey (Summary and Comprehension Passages)

 Summary

This story is about how the human spirit can fight and survive all-natural and man-made troubles if there is support and trust in each other. The little girl named Tinula had been brought home by the brother two months ago. Now she was on her way back to school. Early morning the squeaks of a small pig had woke her up and now her brother was guiding her back. There was a group of which the two were a part. There were thick jungles, wild animals, rugged mountains, rivers, and the approaching night. The brother asked her, again and again, to walk faster. They came across footprints of elephants and hurried ahead. After covering large parts of rugged terrain on foot, they reached the railway station. The train was packed with people and the two had to struggle hard to find space to sit. They could not even buy tickets. On the way, they had some tea and eatables. They de-boarded  from train at the last station and traveled by car thereafter as they were offered seats in it. By the time they reached the school, it was very late in the night. The Superintendent was angry at the arrival of the two at that hour. She asked the little girl to sleep alongside another girl named Winnie. This idea was not liked by that girl who found this sudden arrival very intrusive. She told Tinula that her boyfriend had a new girlfriend now. This amazed the little girl as she had no such feelings towards that boy. She slept crying though after some years she might not attach any importance to such are mark.

Explain the following passages with reference to the context

1.       At the school, her brother first dropped the tin trunk over the top of the gate, then hoisted Tinula over it, and finally jumped in himself. He then proceeded towards the Superintendent’s bungalow. After much knocking, the lady herself opened the door to her office. She was annoyed at first for having been awakened at this unearthly hour but when she saw the shivering duo, she quietly went inside and came out with a torch saying to Temjenba, ‘You can go now.’ He merely nodded at his sister and without a word retraced his steps towards the gate and the dark night. 

Reference: These lines have been taken from the short story named “The Journey” written by Temsula Ao who is a writer from the North East. These lines describe the late-night scene when the two children arrive at the hostel where the girl studies.

Explanation: The brother helped his sister to get inside by carrying her up and placing her inside the school premises as the gate is shut. It is very late in the night and the in-charge seems unhappy at the late arrival. She ushers in the girl who is stricken with cold. Then she asks the boy to leave. There are no farewell words uttered and the boy goes away. The passage is very touching. The boy brings his sister to the school after a lot of trouble but has to leave unceremoniously.

 

2.     Soon after crossing the river, the road became steep, at first gradually but from a certain point, almost perpendicular. It was more than the girl could negotiate and she sat down on one of the stone steps and began to cry. The others had already gone quite far ahead, so they did not see this. But the brother was worried, he sat down with her for a while and soothed her, pointing to the sun moving towards the west and telling her once again of the dangers lurking in the jungle.

Reference: These lines have been taken from the short story named “The Journey” written by Temsula Ao. She is a writer from the North East. These lines describe the difficulties of the journey which the two children have to cover.

Explanation: Crossing the river, walking up the steep road, the fear of wild animals is some primary danger. The little girl feels tired and weak as the trials on this mountainous path are very demanding. However, the brother seems more practical and mature and coaxes his sister to keep moving as they have the fear of the wild animals in their minds as well. The passage gives an inside view into the life of the people from the hills who face all tests of nature but never give up on each other.

 

Comprehension Passage

Read the passage and answer the following questions

The winter sun was almost setting when Tinula and her brother reached the railway platform. There was no time to purchase tickets; so they simply jumped onto the train and immediately it chugged out of the station. It was one of those suburban trains which stopped at all kinds of stations, sometimes to take in a single passenger and once or twice it stopped even when there was no one. All this while she and her brother were standing, holding on to the window frames to keep from falling.

 

1.      What time was it when the two reached the station?

Ans: It was sunset time when the two reached the station.

2.       Did they purchase tickets? Why?

Ans: No they did not purchase tickets as they reached the station at the last moment when the train was about to leave.

3.      Where did the train halt on the way?

Ans: It halted at all the stations on the way.

4.      Did the two get a seat on the train?

 Ans: No they did not get a seat and had to keep on standing.

Question 1: Discuss the brother-sister relationship.

Ans: The brother-sister bond is very strong and withstands various vagaries of time. The brother is caring and considerate towards the sister and coaxes her to walk fast. He advises her not to waste food and also carries her atop his shoulders. He takes proper care of the sister all through the journey on foot and later by train and car. Although he is not communicative verbally, he takes pains to ensure safety and some comfort for his sister. He safely deposits her in the school and leaves quietly. The brother is mature beyond his years. He is brave and caring. The two share a silent understanding with each other. Their relationship is really strong.