Master Direct and Indirect Speech: A Practice Quiz with Solutions

Direct and Indirect Speech Quiz

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Subtitling – A Complete Guide with Solved Examples for Class XI English Core

Subtitling is an important part of the Writing Skills section in Class XI English Core. It helps us break down long passages into smaller, readable sections. This blog post explains what subtitling is, how it works, and gives you solved examples and textbook activities from the NCERT Hornbill book.

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What is Subtitling?

Subtitling means giving suitable headings to smaller sections of a long passage. These short headings are known as subtitles or sub-headings. Each subtitle tells the reader what the section is about. It is like adding a title to every paragraph that follows a new idea or point. This helps the reader to follow the content easily, especially when the passage is long or has many details.

Subtitling also improves the appearance of the writing. It makes the passage look clear and well-structured. It breaks the monotony of reading a long piece of text without any breaks. In newspapers, reports, and even essays, subtitling is a common and useful skill. In your CBSE Class XI English exam, you may be asked to provide subtitles to given paragraphs. So, learning this skill is important.

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Three Examples Solved

Here are three simple examples of how to subtitle a paragraph. The subtitle is written after understanding the main idea of each section.

Example 1: Passage on Water Conservation
Passage:
In many Indian cities, people face water shortages. As a solution, rainwater harvesting has become popular. This method collects rainwater and stores it for later use. It is also helpful in recharging the underground water.

Subtitle: Rainwater Harvesting: A Smart Water Solution

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Example 2: Passage on Social Media and Youth
Passage:
Social media has changed how young people communicate today. It helps them stay in touch with friends but can also distract them from studies. Many students spend hours on social media and become less focused on academics.

Subtitle: Social Media and Its Effect on Students

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Example 3: Passage on Pollution in Cities
Passage:
Pollution is increasing in most urban areas. Vehicles, factories, and waste disposal problems are the main causes. People throw garbage in open drains, which leads to water pollution and foul smells.

Subtitle: Urban Pollution: A Growing Threat

These examples show how a short and meaningful subtitle can capture the main idea of a paragraph.

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Solved Activities from the NCERT Hornbill Book (Class XI)

In the NCERT Class XI English Core textbook (Hornbill), the subtitling activity is based on a newspaper article titled “A New Deal for Old Cities”. The article was written by G. Ananthakrishnan and published in The Hindu. It talks about the poor condition of Indian cities and compares it with a city in Brazil—Curitiba—that successfully improved its urban life using simple and low-cost ideas.

Let us now solve the activities one by one as given in the book.

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Activity 1: Identifying the Subtitle at the Top
The line at the top of the article is italicised and reads:

“The example of Curitiba in Brazil… shows that inclusive development models for urban renewal are workable.”

✅ This is the subtitle of the article and gives the central idea in just one line. It prepares the reader for what to expect in the full article.

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Activity 2: Dividing the Article and Giving Subtitles

The article can be divided into four parts based on the change in sub-topic or focus. Here are the subtitles for each section:

🔹 Section 1 – Urban Decay and Policy Failures
This part talks about poor civic conditions in Indian cities like Surat, especially during the plague in 1994. It explains how policies have ignored basic needs like waste disposal and sanitation.

🔹 Section 2 – Lack of Basic Services in Urban Areas
Here, the article discusses how millions of Indian homes lack toilets and proper drainage. It highlights the failure to provide clean water and a healthy environment to the urban poor.

🔹 Section 3 – Transport Issues and Unsafe Roads
This section shows how bad planning in transport systems has increased traffic problems. Pedestrians and cyclists are the most affected, and cities have ignored their safety in favour of motor vehicles.

🔹 Section 4 – Learning from Curitiba’s Urban Planning
The final part explains how Curitiba in Brazil made big changes with simple, low-cost ideas. These include creating parks, banning cars in busy areas, building good bus systems, and using empty land wisely. It shows that urban renewal is possible if planned well.

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Why Subtitling Matters

Subtitling not only helps the reader understand long texts better but also improves your writing in essays, reports, and summaries. In your exams, questions on subtitling may come as part of unseen passages or as part of note-making. Learning this skill now will help you both in school and later in college writing tasks.

8. Reach for the Top - Part 1 - Santosh Yadav - Summary, Explanation & Q&A Solved - Beehive Class 9 NCERT English

Table of Content

1. Summary of Reach for the Top - Part 1 - Santosh Yadav
2. Thinking About the Text (Q&A)
3. 20 Multiple Choice Questions on 'Santosh Yadav'

Part 1 Santosh Yadav

Summary

The passage describes the inspiring journey of Santosh Yadav, the first woman in the world to scale Mount Everest twice. Born in a conservative society in Haryana where daughters were often not welcomed, Santosh defied traditional norms from a young age, choosing her own path in life. Determined to pursue education, she left home at sixteen when pressured to marry, enrolling herself in a school in Delhi despite her parents' initial resistance. Her passion for mountaineering began in college when she joined a group of climbers in the Aravalli Hills. With her strong will, physical endurance, and mental toughness, Santosh rapidly excelled in mountaineering, eventually becoming the youngest woman to climb Everest at the age of twenty. She displayed remarkable concern for her teammates during her expeditions, and her environmental consciousness was evident when she collected 500 kilograms of garbage from the Himalayas. Her achievements earned her the Padmashri award and a unique place in the history of mountaineering.

 Thinking about the Text

I. Answer these questions in one or two sentences each.

1. Why was the ‘holy man’ who gave Santosh’s mother his blessings surprised? (1)
   The ‘holy man’ was surprised because Santosh's grandmother told him that they did not want a son, which was unusual in their society where sons were generally preferred.

2. Give an example to show that even as a young girl Santosh was not ready to accept anything unreasonable. (2)
   Santosh wore shorts instead of the traditional Indian dresses worn by other girls, showing she was determined to live life on her own terms.

3. Why was Santosh sent to the local school? (3)
   Santosh was sent to the local school because it was the prevailing custom in her family, despite her parents being affluent enough to send her to a better school in New Delhi.

4. When did she leave home for Delhi, and why? (4)
   Santosh left home for Delhi when she was sixteen because she wanted a proper education and refused to get married at an early age.

5. Why did Santosh’s parents agree to pay for her schooling in Delhi? What mental qualities of Santosh are brought into light by this incident? (4)
   Santosh’s parents agreed to pay for her schooling when she informed them that she would work part-time to fund her education. This incident highlights her determination and independence.

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II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words).

1. How did Santosh begin to climb mountains?
   Santosh began climbing mountains when she saw mountaineers from her hostel room and decided to join them. She was encouraged by their positive response and soon developed a passion for mountaineering.

2. What incidents during the Everest expedition show Santosh’s concern for her teammates?
   During the Everest expedition, Santosh tried to save a dying climber and shared her oxygen with another, Mohan Singh, showing her deep concern and selflessness towards her teammates.

3. What shows her concern for the environment?
   Santosh showed her concern for the environment by collecting and bringing down 500 kilograms of garbage from the Himalayas during her expeditions.

4. How does she describe her feelings at the summit of the Everest?
   Santosh described her feelings at the summit as indescribable and spiritual. She felt immense pride as an Indian when she unfurled the Indian tricolour at the top of the world.

5. Santosh Yadav got into the record books both times she scaled Mt Everest. What were the reasons for this?
   Santosh set records by becoming the youngest woman to scale Everest at barely twenty and the first woman to climb it twice, securing a unique place in mountaineering history.

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III. Complete the following statements.

1. From her room in Kasturba Hostel, Santosh used to watch villagers going up the Aravalli Hills and disappearing after a while.
2. When she finished college, Santosh had to write a letter of apology to her father because she had enrolled in a mountaineering course at Uttarkashi without his permission.
3. During the Everest expedition, her seniors in the team admired her climbing skills, physical fitness, and mental strength while her concern for others endeared her to fellow climbers.

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IV. Pick out words from the text that mean the same as the following words or expressions. (Look in the paragraphs indicated.)

1. took to be true without proof (1): assumed
2. based on reason; sensible; reasonable (2): rational
3. the usual way of doing things (3): custom
4. a strong desire arising from within (5): urge
5. the power to endure, without falling ill (7): endurance

20 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) based on Part 1 'Reach for the Top'

1. What is Santosh Yadav known for?
   a) Being the first woman pilot in India
   b) Being the first woman to climb Mount Everest
   c) Being the first woman to climb Mount Everest twice
   d) Being the youngest woman to climb Mount Kilimanjaro
   Key: c

2. Where was Santosh Yadav born?
   a) New Delhi
   b) Rewari District, Haryana
   c) Jaipur, Rajasthan
   d) Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand
   Key: b

3. What unusual wish did Santosh's grandmother express to the holy man?
   a) She wanted twins
   b) She wanted a daughter instead of a son
   c) She wanted wealth for her family
   d) She wanted a son with good health
   Key: b

4. How many brothers does Santosh Yadav have?
   a) Four
   b) Six
   c) Five
   d) Three
   Key: c

5. Why did Santosh choose to wear shorts instead of traditional dresses?
   a) To conform to societal norms
   b) Because it was comfortable for mountaineering
   c) To assert her independence and reject traditional norms
   d) Because her family forced her to
   Key: c

6. Why was Santosh initially sent to a local school?
   a) Her family couldn't afford better schools
   b) It was the custom in her family
   c) She didn't want to leave her village
   d) There were no other schools nearby
   Key: b

7. At what age did Santosh leave home to pursue her education in Delhi?
   a) Fifteen
   b) Eighteen
   c) Sixteen
   d) Seventeen
   Key: c

8. What did Santosh threaten to do if she was not allowed to pursue education?
   a) She would never marry
   b) She would run away from home
   c) She would climb Everest
   d) She would refuse to eat
   Key: a

9. How did Santosh fund her education when her parents refused to pay?
   a) She received a scholarship
   b) She worked part-time
   c) She borrowed money from friends
   d) She sold her belongings
   Key: b

10. What inspired Santosh to take up mountaineering?
    a) Watching a documentary on Everest
    b) Observing villagers climbing the Aravalli Hills
    c) Reading about mountaineering in a book
    d) Her father’s encouragement
    Key: b

11. Where did Santosh receive her mountaineering training?
    a) Himalaya Institute
    b) Aravalli Institute of Mountaineering
    c) Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi
    d) Mount Everest Base Camp
    Key: c

12. What was Santosh’s achievement at the age of twenty?
    a) Completing her education in Delhi
    b) Becoming the first woman to fly a plane
    c) Becoming the youngest woman to climb Mount Everest
    d) Leading a mountaineering expedition
    Key: c

13. During her Everest expedition, how did Santosh display her concern for her teammates?
    a) By cooking for them
    b) By sharing her oxygen with a fellow climber
    c) By carrying extra supplies
    d) By arranging for medical assistance
    Key: b

14. Which climber did Santosh save during her Everest expedition?
    a) Mohan Singh
    b) Tenzing Norgay
    c) Edmund Hillary
    d) Ang Dorjee
    Key: a

15. What did Santosh do to contribute to environmental conservation during her expeditions?
    a) Planted trees on the mountain slopes
    b) Built shelters for animals
    c) Collected and brought down 500 kilograms of garbage
    d) Organized clean-up drives in her village
    Key: c

16. What honor did the Indian government bestow upon Santosh Yadav for her achievements?
    a) Bharat Ratna
    b) Padma Shri
    c) Arjuna Award
    d) Param Vir Chakra
    Key: b

17. How did Santosh describe her feelings when she was at the summit of Mount Everest?
    a) Fearful
    b) Exhausted
    c) Indescribable and spiritual
    d) Lonely
    Key: c

18. What record did Santosh set with her second climb of Mount Everest?
    a) First woman to reach the summit without oxygen
    b) First woman to climb Everest twice
    c) First Indian woman to climb Everest
    d) Fastest climb of Everest by a woman
    Key: b

19. What motivated Santosh to challenge traditional customs and pursue her own path?
    a) The support of her family
    b) Her rational and determined nature
    c) Financial incentives
    d) Peer pressure
    Key: b

20. What does the name "Santosh" mean?
    a) Courage
    b) Contentment
    c) Ambition
    d) Strength
    Key: b