Vocabulary & Meaning
A. Match the words with their meanings.
- a. Exhausted ➜ Drained of strength; extremely tired
- b. Apparent ➜ Easily seen, clear, or obvious
- c. Vista ➜ A broad, scenic view or perspective
- d. Undulating ➜ Moving in a smooth, continuous wave pattern
- e. Destined ➜ Bound by fate or predetermined to happen
- f. Stuffy ➜ Lacking adequate ventilation or fresh air
- g. Restrain ➜ To hold back, regulate, or keep in check
B. Write the meaning and word class of the following words. Then use them in sentences of your own.
1. Implore Verb
Meaning: To beg someone urgently or desperately.
Sentence: The villagers implore the governor to send immediate flood relief.
Meaning: To beg someone urgently or desperately.
Sentence: The villagers implore the governor to send immediate flood relief.
2. Despair Noun
Meaning: A complete absence of hope.
Sentence: Kindness from a stranger can lift a soul out of total despair.
Meaning: A complete absence of hope.
Sentence: Kindness from a stranger can lift a soul out of total despair.
3. Beseech Verb
Meaning: To request something earnestly and with passion.
Sentence: I beseech you to reconsider your decision before taking action.
Meaning: To request something earnestly and with passion.
Sentence: I beseech you to reconsider your decision before taking action.
4. Eloquent Adjective
Meaning: Expressing ideas fluently, persuasively, and clearly.
Sentence: Her eloquent presentation persuaded the board to fund the campaign.
Meaning: Expressing ideas fluently, persuasively, and clearly.
Sentence: Her eloquent presentation persuaded the board to fund the campaign.
5. Whirl Noun
Meaning: A rapid, dizzying motion or chaotic state.
Sentence: His mind was in a complete whirl after receiving the surprising news.
Meaning: A rapid, dizzying motion or chaotic state.
Sentence: His mind was in a complete whirl after receiving the surprising news.
6. Egoism Noun
Meaning: An excessive focus on oneself and individual self-interest.
Sentence: Driven by pure egoism, he ignored the feelings of his teammates.
Meaning: An excessive focus on oneself and individual self-interest.
Sentence: Driven by pure egoism, he ignored the feelings of his teammates.
7. Agony Noun
Meaning: Extreme physical pain or intense mental distress.
Sentence: Waiting for the medical test results caused her immense agony.
Meaning: Extreme physical pain or intense mental distress.
Sentence: Waiting for the medical test results caused her immense agony.
8. Delirious Adjective
Meaning: Experiencing wild excitement, confusion, or lightheadedness.
Sentence: The patient became delirious as his fever continued to climb.
Meaning: Experiencing wild excitement, confusion, or lightheadedness.
Sentence: The patient became delirious as his fever continued to climb.
9. Delusive Adjective
Meaning: Deceptive or giving a false belief.
Sentence: Short-term quick fixes often offer delusive hopes of lasting success.
Meaning: Deceptive or giving a false belief.
Sentence: Short-term quick fixes often offer delusive hopes of lasting success.
10. Compensate Verb
Meaning: To make up for a weakness, shortfall, or loss.
Sentence: His strong dedication compensates for his limited technical background.
Meaning: To make up for a weakness, shortfall, or loss.
Sentence: His strong dedication compensates for his limited technical background.
11. Mortgage Noun
Meaning: A property-backed loan secured from a financial provider.
Sentence: They secured a thirty-year mortgage to buy their dream home.
Meaning: A property-backed loan secured from a financial provider.
Sentence: They secured a thirty-year mortgage to buy their dream home.
12. Brood Noun
Meaning: A group of young offspring or a large family unit.
Sentence: The mother bird stayed close to her newly hatched brood.
Meaning: A group of young offspring or a large family unit.
Sentence: The mother bird stayed close to her newly hatched brood.
13. Prelude Noun
Meaning: An introductory event setting the stage for something greater.
Sentence: Calm discussion served as a necessary prelude to signing the treaty.
Meaning: An introductory event setting the stage for something greater.
Sentence: Calm discussion served as a necessary prelude to signing the treaty.
D. Choose the correct word.
a. Sarita was shocked to hear about the earthquake.
b. I think rainy days in winter are depressing.
c. The football match was very exciting. I enjoyed it.
d. The meals at Delight Café are satisfying.
e. I have got nothing to do. I am bored.
f. Tanka is very good at telling funny stories. He can be very amusing.
g. The teacher’s explanation was confusing. Most of the students did not understand it.
h. He is such a boring person. He never wants to go out.
i. I will be surprised if she does well in her test.
j. Are you interested in politics?
E. Write the correct form of the adjective in the blanks.
a. They frustrate me, but they do not bore me. I never get bored when I study grammar.
b. If teachers want to interest the students, they must use interesting materials.
c. Certain stories interest almost everybody. For example, most students are interested in fairy tales.
d. Certain things frighten me, but I never get frightened when I speak English.
e. If I get a good grade, that excites me. If I get more than ninety percent, I am really excited.
Text Analysis & Comprehension
Understanding the Text: Answer the following questions.
a. Who was Nellie? What did she use to dream of?
Answer: Nellie was a young, attractive woman born to a local general and landowner. She frequently daydreamed about romance, finding a life partner, and building a household.
Answer: Nellie was a young, attractive woman born to a local general and landowner. She frequently daydreamed about romance, finding a life partner, and building a household.
b. What was she doing with the looking glass?
Answer: She was gazing intently into the mirror with tired, half-closed eyes, hoping to foresee her romantic future.
Answer: She was gazing intently into the mirror with tired, half-closed eyes, hoping to foresee her romantic future.
c. Why did she go to the doctor on a winter night?
Answer: She braved the freezing night to fetch medical assistance because her partner had fallen critically ill and urgently needed treatment.
Answer: She braved the freezing night to fetch medical assistance because her partner had fallen critically ill and urgently needed treatment.
d. What was Stepan Lukitch doing when she reached his bedroom?
Answer: Dr. Stepan Lukitch was resting in bed when she entered his room.
Answer: Dr. Stepan Lukitch was resting in bed when she entered his room.
e. Why was the doctor not ready to go and see her husband?
Answer: Exhausted and unwell after attending to typhus victims nonstop for three days, the physician lacked the physical stamina to go out.
Answer: Exhausted and unwell after attending to typhus victims nonstop for three days, the physician lacked the physical stamina to go out.
f. Why did Stepan Lukitch suggest that Nellie go to the Zemstvo doctor?
Answer: Recognizing his own physical collapse, he advised her to seek the Zemstvo practitioner who would be in a better condition to provide care.
Answer: Recognizing his own physical collapse, he advised her to seek the Zemstvo practitioner who would be in a better condition to provide care.
g. Nellie said, “Come, perform that heroic deed! Have pity on us!” What act of pity was she requesting?
Answer: She was pleading with the doctor to set aside his own exhaustion and travel with her to treat her critically sick husband.
Answer: She was pleading with the doctor to set aside his own exhaustion and travel with her to treat her critically sick husband.
h. When Nellie said, “I must have fallen asleep,” what did she mean?
Answer: She realized that the whole sequence of traumatic events had been a dream state brought on by nodding off in front of the mirror.
Answer: She realized that the whole sequence of traumatic events had been a dream state brought on by nodding off in front of the mirror.
i. What is the main theme of the story?
Answer: The narrative centers on themes of romance versus reality, duty, hidden emotional anxiety, vulnerability, and the harsh challenges that often accompany adult relationships.
Answer: The narrative centers on themes of romance versus reality, duty, hidden emotional anxiety, vulnerability, and the harsh challenges that often accompany adult relationships.
Critical Thinking: Answer the questions in detail.
a. “The looking glass” is used as a symbol in the story. What does it symbolise?
Answer: In Chekhov’s work, the mirror serves as a gateway between ideal hope and practical reality. Initially, it reflects Nellie's romanticized yearning for love and marriage. However, as the reflection deepens, it reveals the darker, unavoidable duties of adulthood—illness, panic, responsibility, and grief. Rather than showing a simple fairytale, the glass forces her to confront her subconscious anxieties and understand that commitment entails enduring suffering alongside joy.
Answer: In Chekhov’s work, the mirror serves as a gateway between ideal hope and practical reality. Initially, it reflects Nellie's romanticized yearning for love and marriage. However, as the reflection deepens, it reveals the darker, unavoidable duties of adulthood—illness, panic, responsibility, and grief. Rather than showing a simple fairytale, the glass forces her to confront her subconscious anxieties and understand that commitment entails enduring suffering alongside joy.
b. Chekhov uses an elegant transition from reality to imagination and back to reality in the story. Discuss its relevance to the lives of young people.
Answer: Chekhov’s fluid shift between real life and fantasy reflects the psychological journey many young adults navigate. Youth often idealize the future, focusing solely on success, companionship, and happiness while ignoring potential hardships. Nellie’s nightmare demonstrates how romantic ideals can collapse into anxiety when confronted by life's heavy obligations. Returning to reality at the end reminds readers that while dreaming is natural, maturity requires emotional resilience, practical awareness, and readiness for life's actual demands.
Answer: Chekhov’s fluid shift between real life and fantasy reflects the psychological journey many young adults navigate. Youth often idealize the future, focusing solely on success, companionship, and happiness while ignoring potential hardships. Nellie’s nightmare demonstrates how romantic ideals can collapse into anxiety when confronted by life's heavy obligations. Returning to reality at the end reminds readers that while dreaming is natural, maturity requires emotional resilience, practical awareness, and readiness for life's actual demands.
Grammar & Function Focus
B. Match the expressions with their functions.
- a. A: What do you want to take? / B: I will have tea, please.
➜ Function: Spontaneous decision - b. A: Are you free this evening? / B: No, I am going to meet my uncle.
➜ Function: Expressing a prior plan - c. The day will be lovely tomorrow.
➜ Function: Predicting a future action - d. There is no cloud in the sky. It is going to be a lovely day.
➜ Function: Predicting based on present evidence - e. Do not worry. I will not tell anyone.
➜ Function: Making a promise - f. I will take you to the movies if you like.
➜ Function: Making an offer - g. I will tell your parents what you did.
➜ Function: Expressing a threat
C. Choose the correct answer.
a. A: Are you busy this evening?
B: Yes, I am going to the movies.
B: Yes, I am going to the movies.
b. A: Where are you going for a holiday this summer?
B: I am not sure yet. Maybe I will go to Ilam.
B: I am not sure yet. Maybe I will go to Ilam.
c. I think you will like this movie.
d. I cannot join you at the party. I am going to be away for two weeks.
e. This exercise looks really difficult. I will help you.
f. A: Hello. Can I speak to Sima, please?
B: Just a minute. I will get her.
B: Just a minute. I will get her.
g. Perhaps she will pass the examination.
h. “I have not got my phone.” — “That is all right. I will lend you mine.”
D. Complete the sentences using will or be going to with the verbs given in brackets.
a. Hari: Did you call Bina?
Prem: Oh, I forgot. I will call her now.
Prem: Oh, I forgot. I will call her now.
b. Sunita: Have you got a ticket for the play?
Hema: Yes, I am going to watch it on Saturday.
Hema: Yes, I am going to watch it on Saturday.
c. “The alarm is ringing. It is making an awful noise.”
“Okay, I will switch it off.”
“Okay, I will switch it off.”
d. Do you think they will like the presents we bought for them?
e. “Lok is starting university tomorrow.” — “What is he going to study?”
f. If I meet him, I will tell him the news.
g. The phone is ringing. I will answer it.
h. If you do not stop bullying her, I will tell the teacher.
