Ahimsa

• ENGLISH
• Secondary Education
• Age 13

WHEN YOU THINK POSITIVE,

GOOD THINGS 

HAPPEN!

Expected Learning Outcomes

I WILL BE ABLE TO:

* recall the events and the ideas highlighted in the first five chapters of the novel ‘Ahimsa’.

* recall and share the meanings, the synonyms and the antonyms of new words used in the novel.

* answer the questions based on the first five chapters of the novel ‘Ahimsa’. 

Did Anjali do the right thing by painting a ‘Q’ outside Captain Brent’s property?

Absolutely yes! I would have done the same.

No, that wasn't right! I wouldn't have done that.

I am not sure if that was right or not.

It was both right and wrong at the same time.

'They wouldn't hang a ten-year-old girl, thought Anjali, clenching a small tin of black paint.
Which of the following words is synonymous to 'clenching'? (Page 7)

1. seizing
2. dropping
3. drooping

Getting caught ______________ would lead to quite the punishment under normal circumstances, but Anjali was about to do far worse. (Page 8)

1. vandalizing someone's property
2. plucking flowers from Captain Brent's bungalow
3. trespassing Captain Brent's bungalow

Captain Brent was a British officer who ________________
(Page 8)

1. was in charge of making sure the British Raj's orders were carried out in the town.
2. happened to be the former boss of Anjali's mother.
3. Both A and B

Anjali and Irfaan painted "Q" - short for "Quit India" believing may be then ______________
(Page 10)

1. the British would finally provide respectable jobs to Indians too.
2. the British would finally leave India for good.
3. the British would finally respect Indians.

Captain Brent was definitely one of the more intimidating British officers, ordering everyone around regardless of their caste, acting like all Indians were Untouchable.
Which of the following words is an antonym to 'intimidating'?
(Page 10)

1. forbidding
2. formidable
3. tranquillizing

'... but not before glancing back at the heavyset English officer seething at the defacement, his sunburned face turning even redder than usual.'
What does the word 'defacement' mean?
(Page 13)

1. rebuilding
2. deterioration
3. protection

'Putrid odors of rotting fish and open sewage floated around them as Anjali surveyed the area.'
Which of the following is not an antonym of 'putrid'?
(Page 14)

1. untainted
2. pristine
3. putrefied

Anjali tried to scratch ___________ off, but only a few shreds peeled away as ___________ led her up the stairs of his house, where ___________ stood waiting, arms crossed.
(Page 16-17)

1. the paint, Captain Brent, her mother
2. the paint, Irfaan, her father
3. the "Q", Captain Brent, Chachaji

"You little liar," thundered Captain Brent.
Which of the following literary devices has been used in the above remark?
(Page 18)

1. Alliteration
2. Personification
3. Simile

Captain Brent said to Anjali, "You must be the most disobedient child in this whole bloody town. Perhaps in the entire British Empire."

Which of the following literary devices has been used in the above remark?
(Page 18)

1. Hyperbole
2. Personification
3. Imagery

"There are a hundred little girls in this town who could be mistaken for her."
__________ said this to __________.
__________ is being referred to as 'her' here.
(Page 20)

1. Anjali's mother, Captain Brent, Anjali
2. Mrs Mishra, Anjali's mother, Anjali
3. Anjali's father, Mrs Mishra, Anasuya

In the front yard, below the concrete porch that wrapped around the large pastel yellow one-story bungalow, stood Anjali's father.
What is the meaning of the word 'pastel'?
(Page 23)

1. pasted
2. a soft and delicate shade of a colour
3. bright and vivid

'The long, crimped leaves of the mango tree would sway lyrically in the summer breeze as if they were dancing.'

Which of the following literary devices has been used in the above remark?
(Page 23)

1. Alliteration
2. Personification
3. Hyperbole

Anjali's mother always said the ________ was the only animal that actually showed human emotions.
(Page 24)

1. dog
2. cow
3. cat

'... finally erasing it from her arm. But not from her conscience.'
What does the word 'conscience' mean?
(Page 25)

1. ethics
2. confirmation
3. rejection

'She picked it up and slid her fingers across the stringy feather. It was as soft as fur.'
Which of the following literary devices has been used in the above extract?
(Page 26)

1. Alliteration
2. Simile
3. Imagery

'Ever since then, anytime Anjali had a bad day, she would search for ______________ and just know things would get better.'

(Page 27)

1. Nandini
2. red roses
3. a peacock feather

'One of the socialites near the captain snickered .'

Which of the following words is not synonymous to 'snickered'?
(Page 28)

1. smirked
2. sneered
3. blubbered

'Their eyes were as blue as the sea, a sharp contrast to Anjali's eyes, dark as monsoon rain clouds.'
Which of the following literary devices has been used in the above sentence?
(Page 28)

1. Hyperbole
2. Simile
3. Imagery

"My very friendship therefore demands that I should try to save them from their mistakes..."
Who is the speaker? Whose mistakes is he referring to?
(Page 32)

1. Gandhiji is the speaker. He is referring to the mistakes of the British.
2. The radio announcer is the speaker. He is referring to the mistakes of the British.
3. Masterji is the speaker. He is referring to the mistakes of the young people of India.

According to the radio announcer, what had Gandhiji asked years ago?
(Page 32)

1. Each family must give one member to help the cause.
2. Each family must give at least two earning members to help the cause.
3. Each family must give at least two members to help the cause.

'Anjali had heard this plea before'.
What does the word 'plea' mean?
(Page 33)

1. accusation
2. condemnation
3. appeal

The Indian National Congress had passed the resolution demanding ___________, but nothing happened.
(Page 33)

1. well paid and respected jobs
2. internal freedom
3. immediate independence

According to Chachaji, the British did some developments too for our nation. What were those?
(Page 34)

1. Good business opportunities Better jobs A postal system
2. Good roads Nice railways A postal system
3. Better railways A transportation system Highly-paid and respected job opportunities

"Everybody, stop!!" Anjali shouted. "Please, I have to tell you something."
What was Anjali about to tell her parents?
(Page 35)

1. Anjali was about to tell her parents that she had painted the "Q".
2. Anjali was about to tell her parents that she wanted to join the national freedom struggle.
3. Anjali was about to tell her parents that Irfaan had painted the "Q".

Gandhiji was influenced by ________, but Gandhiji's practice of civil disobedience was ________, and was based on ________.
(Page 37)

1. Thoreau, peaceful, ahimsa
2. Aristotle, peaceful, disobedience
3. Swami Vivekananda, inspiring, faith

Who was going to join the freedom fight?

(Page 38)

1. Chachaji
2. Anjali's mother
3. Anjali's father

'It wasn't the light knocking of the rain on her windows.'

Which of the following literary devices has been used in the above sentence?
(Page 39)

1. Personification
2. Simile
3. Alliteration

'Rather than try to stop Ma, Anjali's cantankerous old great-uncle had huffily made his way to his bedroom for an early afternoon nap.'

Which of the following is not a synonym to 'cantankerous'?
(Page 40)

1. grouchy
2. peevish
3. easy

Which of the following was a policy that Anjali's father believed in?
(Page 42)

1. Take care of others before you take care of yourself.
2. Take care of your children before you take care of strangers.
3. Take care of strangers before you take care of animals.

What was the name of the little one-room schoolhouse on a hill where Anjali studied?
(Page 43)

1. Pragati
2. Unnati
3. Sampada

'Now they were all in the same boat.'
What does the idiom 'in the same boat' mean?
(Page 44)

1. to travel together
2. to be in a similar situation
3. to live under the same roof

'Finally her classmate exited the building, now dressed in a plain white ghaghra-choli.'
Who is Anjali following?
(Page 47)

1. Anasuya
2. Nandini
3. Irfaan's sister

"Are you spying on me?"
Who said this to whom?
(Page 47)

1. Anasuya said this to Anjali.
2. Suman said this to Anjali's mother.
3. Irfaan's sister said this to Captain Brent.

Let's share

Why were the British able to rule us for such a long period? What could have helped us gain independence even far earlier than in 1947?

SUCCESS CRITERIA
Now, I CAN:
* recall the events and the ideas highlighted in the first five chapters of the novel ‘Ahimsa’.
* recall and share the meanings, the synonyms and the antonyms of new words used in the novel.
* answer the questions based on the first five chapters of the novel ‘Ahimsa’.

Strongly agree

Agree

Not sure

I need some help.