I. Tick the right answer.
1. The (Shehnai, pungi) was a 'reeded noisemaker'.
Answer. The pungi was a reeded noisemaker.
2. (Bismillah Khan, A barber, Ali Bux) transformed the pungi into a shehnai.
Answer. A barber transformed the pungi into a shehnai.
3. Bismillah Khan's paternal ancestor were (barbers, professional musicians).
Answer. Bismillah Khan's paternal ancestor were professional musicians.
4. Bismillah Khan learnt to play the shehnai from (Ali Bux, Paigambar Bux, Ustad Faiyaz Khan).
Answer. Bismillah Khan learnt to play the Shehnai from Ali Bux.
5. Bismillah Khan's first trip abroad was to ( Afghanistan, U.S.A., Canada).
Answer. Bismillah Khan's first trip abroad was to Afghanistan.
II. Find the words in the text which show Ustad Bismillah Khan's feelings about the items listed below. Then mark a tick (✔) in the correct column. Discuss your answers in class.
Bismillah Khan's feelings about:-
1. Teaching children music
Answer. Positive
2. The film world
Answer. Neutral
3. Migrating to the U.S.A.
Answer. Negative
4. Playing at temples
Answer. Positive
5. Getting the Bharat Ratna
Answer. Positive
6. The banks of the ganga
Answer. Positive
7. Leaving Benaras and Dumraon
Answer. Negative
III. Answer these questions in 30-40 words.
1. Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of the pungi?
Answer. Emperor Aurangzeb banned the playing of the musical instrument called pungi beacuse it had a shrill unpleasant sound. It also became the generic name of reeded noisemakers.
2. How is a shehnai different from a pungi?
Answer. Shehnai is a pipe with a natural hollow stem that is longer and broader than the pungi and had seven holes on the body of the pipe. The sound of shehnai, unlike pungi, is melodious and impressed everyone.
3. Where was the shehnai played traditionally? How did Bismillah Khan change this?
Answer. The shehnai was originally played in royal courts. It was also played in weddings and temples. Bismillah Khan brought this instrument at the classical stage with the opening of All India Radio.
4. When and how did Bismillah Khan get his big break?
Answer. With the opening of the All India Radio in Lucknow in 1938 came Bismillah's big break. He soon became an often - heard shehnai player on radio.
5. Where did Bismillah Khan play the shehnai on 15th August 1947? Why was the event historic?
Answer. On 15th August 1947, Bismillah played his shehnai from the Red Fort and became th first person to greet the nation with his Shehnai. This event was historic because on 15th August 1947, India got freedom from the British.
6. Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a shehnai school in the U.S.A.?
Answer. Bismillah Khan refused to start a shehnai school in the U.S.A. because he is exceedingly find of Benaras and Dumraon and they remain for him the most wonderful towns of the world.
7. Find at least two instances in the text which tell you that Bismillah Khan loves India and Benaras.
Answer. The first instance is when a student of his once wanted him to head a shehnai school in the U.S.A., and the student promised to recreate the atmosphere of Benaras by replicating the temples there. But Khansaab asked him if he would be able to transport River Ganga as well.
The second instance is when Shekhar Gupta asked him if he and his family will move to Benaras. To which he replied," Me, leave Benaras? Never!
Thinking about Language
I. Look at these sentences.
• Evelyn was determined to live a normal life.
• Evelyn managed to conceal her growing deafness from friends and teachers.
The italicesed parts answer the questions: "What was Evelyn determined to do?" and "What did Evelyn manage to do?" They begin with a to-verb (to live, to conceal).
Complete the following sentences. Beginning with a to-verb, try to answer the questions in brackets.
1. The school sports team hopes____(What does it hope to do?)
Answer. The school sports team hopes to win the race.
2. We all want ____(what do we all want to do?)
Answer. We all want to play basketball.
3. They advised the hearing-impaired child's mother _____ (what did they advise her to do?)
Answer. They advised that the child should be fitted with hearing aids and sent to a school for the deaf.
4. The authorities permitted us to _____ (what did the authorities permit us to do?)
Answer. The authorities permitted us to start the campaign.
5. A musician decided to _____ ( what did the musician decide to do?)
Answer. A musician decided to support us.
II. From the text on Bismillah Khan, find the words and phrases that match these definitions and write them down. The number of paragraph where you find words/phrases has been given for you in brackets.
1. The home of royal people (1) ______
Answer. The royal residence
2. The state of being alone (5) _____
Answer. Solitude
3. A part which is absolutely necessary (2) _____
Answer. Indispensable component
4. To do something not done before (5) ____
Answer. Invent
5. Without much effort (13) ____
Answer. Effortlessly
6. Quickly and in large quantities (9) ____and____
Answer. Thick and fast
III. Tick the right answer.
1. When something is revived, it (remains dead/lives again).
Answer. When something is revived, it lives again.
2. When a government bans something, it wants it(stopped/started).
Answer. When a government bans something, it wants it stopped.
3. When something is considered auspicious, (welcome it/avoid it).
Answer. When something is considered auspicious, welcome it.
4. When we take to something, we find it (boring/interesting).
Answer. When we take to something, we find it interesting.
5. When you appreciate somthing, you (find it good and useful/find it of no use).
Answer. when you appreciate somthing, you find it good and useful.
6. When you replicate somthing, you do it (for the first time/for the second time).
Answer. When you replicate something, you do it for the second time.
7. When we come to terms with something, it is (still upsetting/no longer upsetting).
Answer. When we come to terms with something, it is no longer upsetting.
IV. Dictionary work
• The Sound of shehnai is auspicious.
• The auspicious sound of shehnai is usually heard at merriages.
The adjective auspicious can occur after the verb be as in the first sentence, or before a noun as in the second. But there are some adjectives which can be used after the verb be and not before a noun. For example:
• Ustad Faiyaz Khan was overjoyed.
We cannot say: *the overjoyed man.
Look at these entries from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary (2005).
Consult your dictionary and complete the following table. The first one has been done for you.
Adjective:-
1.Indispensable - both before and after the verb be.
2. Impressed - both before and after the verb be.
3. Afraid - after the verb be.
4. Outdoor - only before noun and after the verb be.
5. Paternal - only before noun and both before and after the verb be.
6. Countless - only before noun.
7. Priceless - after the verb be.
Use these words in phrases or sentences of your own.
1. Indispensable
Answer. Salt is an indispensable ingredient for cooking.
2. Impressed
Answer. The teacher was impressed with the work of the student.
3. Afraid
Answer. He is afraid of the dark.
4. Outdoor
Answer. There is a huge outdoor concert tomorrow.
5. Paternal
Answer. I went to my paternal granparent's home.
6. Countless
Answer. I spent countless hours working on this project.
7. Priceless
Answer. That moment was priceless.
