Tea should be prepared in teapot only. The teapot should be made of china or earthenware. Silyer or Britannia ware teapots produceinferiortea and enamel pots are worse; though curiously enough a pewter teapot is not so bad.

According to the author, tea without sugar gives the real taste. Sugar destroys the taste of tea. It is as good as adding pepper and salt. If we add sugar, we taste only the sugar, and not the tea.

The author says that one should select Indian or Ceylonese tea. China tea may be economical but there is not much stimulation in it. One does not feel wiser, braver or more optimistic after drinking it.

The boys did not want to reveal that they were earning to treat their sister suffering from tuberculosis. When the narrator went to Poleta with the boys he came to know about their problem. Once he asked the boys whether they were eaning to emigrate to the States, they said they had some other plan. So the narator understood they wanted to keep it as a secret. He did not viant to spoil their dignity and intrude into their private lives.

The two boys were sitting near a girl of about twenty. She wore a pretty lace jacket. Her eyes were soft and tender. She resembled the two boys. The nurse informed the author that she was Lucia, the sister of those boys and she was being treated for tuberculosis.

When the author and the boys reached a good looking villa the boys went inside. Out of curiosity the author followed them. He rang the bell, and a nurse opened the door. Now he realised that it was a hospital. The nurse took him to the cubicle.

On every Sunday the boys used to travel to a village Poleta, 30 kilometres from their place. They usually hired cycles to go there. Jacopo asked the narrator to take them to Poleta in his car. He readily accepted and took them to Poleta in his car.

1. Doctor prescribed medicine for the child.
2. The two organisations were proscribed by law.

1. Her humbleness stands out in the most eminent way among her peers.
2. A new trade agreement between India and China is imminent.

Priya asked Vijay (a) where he was going
Vijay replied (b) that he was going to the Railway station
Priya further inquired (c) why he was going there
Vijay stated that (d) he wanted to receive his uncle who was coming from Bengaluru

Toru Dutt begins the poem, 'Our Casuarina Tree' with the description of the tree. The casuarina tree is tall and strong, with a creeper winding around it like a python. The tree stands like a giant with a colourful scarf of flowers. Birds surround the garden and the sweet song of the birds is heard. The poet is delighted to see the casuarina tree through her casement. She sees a gray monkey sitting like a statue on top of the tree, the cows grazing and the water lilies springing in the pond. The poet feels that the tree is dear to her not for its gallant appearance but for the nostalgic memories of her happy childhood that it brings to her. She strongly believes that nature communicates with human beings. The poet could communicate with the tree even when she is in a far-off land as she could hear the tree lamenting her absence. The poet consecrates the tree's memory to her loved ones who are not alive. She immortalizes the tree through her poem like the poet Wordsworth who sanctified the yew tree of Borrowdale in verse. She expresses her wish that the tree should be remembered out of love and not just because it cannot be forgotten.

Edwin Muir, in his poem, 'The Castle', describes the confidence of the soldiers in the .beginning and the treacherous act of one warder which led to the fall of the castle. It is written in the form of a monologue. Throughout the summer season the enemy was trying to take over the castle. But the soldiers were watching the movements of the enemy from their defensive wall. They had enough provisions and more arms and other amenities. Their gates were very strong and their walls were very thick so no one could enter the castle .. The soldier was confident that no one could bribe them to open the gates because he thought that the captain was brave and the soldiers were true to their profession. But they were cheated by a warder who opened the gate for the enemy to enter the castle. They lost the castle without any groan. The famous castle was overthrown. No one can narrate this tale without shame. They could do nothing as they were sold out to the enemy. Their only enemy was gold and they had no weapon to fight against gold.

Toru Dutt begins the poem, 'Our Casuarina Tree' with the description of the tree. The poet says that the creeper has wound itself around the rugged trunk of the casuarina tree, like a huge Python. The creeper has left deep marks on the trunk of the tree. The tree is so strong that it bears the tight hold of the creeper. The tree is described as being gallant, and possibly brave, as very few trees could survive in the strangle-hold of this creeper. Toru Dutt says that it is not because of the majestic appearance of the casuarina tree that it is dear to her heart and soul, but also that she along with her siblings spent happy moments under it. Toru Dutt has brought out the theme of nature as something that shares feeling with humans that lightens the burden on the heart. The poet continues with a description of how strong the image of the tree is, even when in lands far away.

Edwin Muir, in his poem 'The Castle', describes the confidence of the soldiers in the beginning and the treacherous act of one warder which led to the fall of the castle. It is written in the form of a monologue. The whole narration is done by a soldier. The castle was strong and no one could enter it. They had enough quantity of ration and more arms and provisions to take care of the soldiers. The narrator was confident that nobody could attack them. But a wizened warder had become a prey to greed. So it was easy for the enemies to bribe him with gold. The castle had very complicated way to reach it. But everything became useless because of the greed of the warder. He opened the gate to the enemies and they could use all the secret ways to reach the castle. This is an example to say that human greed will lead to the mighty fall of the citadel.

i. The creeper looks like a python.
ii. The trunk had deep scars on it.

i) One of the soldiers said these words.
ii) They were not afraid because they had enough arms to fight and food for many days.

i) The casuarina tree is the giant here.
ii) The scarf is colourful because it is made of crimson coloured flowers.

i) casuarina is referred to in the above lines,
ii) The tree is so strong that it bears the tight hold of the creeper.
iii) Toru Dutt uses the expression because really a creeper climbs on the casuarina tree.

i) The way to the castle was very strong. It was a maze of tunneled stone. But it became very weak and thin because of the treachery of the warder.
ii) The castle was captured by the enemies.

i) 'We' refers to the soldiers
ii) The soldiers spent the summer days watching the mowers and the enemies
iii) They could watch from the turret wall mowers in the hay and the enemies who were half a mile away.

Reference :
This line is taken from 'The Castle' written by Edwin Muir.
Context :
The poet says this to explain that they lost the battle because of avarice for gold.
Explanation :
The soldiers were very confident that the enemies could not enter their castle because they had very strong gates and thick and tall walls. Moreover they had enough and more amenities and provisions for the soldiers. They thought the enemies could never win over them. But a wizard warder after receiving gold from the enemies opened the gate to the enemies so the castle fell to the hands of the enemies. Their enemy was not human but gold. So they could not fight.

The lifeboat was three and a half deep, eight feet wide and twenty six feet long. The lifeboat was designed to carry thirty two people. Everything in the lifeboat was painted orange. It had tarpaulin, life jackets, lifebuoy and oars. The words Tsimtsum and Panama were painted on either side of the bow in black Roman capital.

Richard Parker, the tiger saved Pi's life

The police officer had sufficient evidence to convict Aksionov. Akisonov stayed in the next room. He left the inn early. He gave doubtful answers to the questions of the officers. The bloody knife was in his baggage.

Aksionoy's wife saw a bad dream. She saw that her husband's hair went grey. So she stopped him from going to the fair.

'Life of Pi' is an abridged version of the famous novel titled 'Life of Pi' written by Yann Martel. Pi was on his way to Canada with his father, mot er and animals of his zoo. But unfortunately the ship was wrecked and Pi escaped in a lifeboat. He managed the fear of the animals but he could not manage the thirst. His throat was parched. He was moving from one end to other to find out water. He thought that if he could not drink water, he would die. Finally he discovered that the life boat had enough water in cans. His heart began to pound at the prospect of drinking water. He unrolled the tarpaulin and found out the water which was enough for him for 124 days. He took a can and opened it with difficulty and poured the water into his throat. He felt that he got back his life with the water. So he says that it was the liquid of life. Water is the elixir which gives life to man.

Leo Tolstoy in his short story "God Sees the Truth But Waits" describes a good merchant who was punished wrongly for a murder due to circumstantial evidence. Even his wife wondered if he might have been involved, since the circumstantial evidence was so striking. When his wife suspected him he hid his face in his hand and wept. He said to himself that only God alone seemed to know the truth. It was only to Him alone he could appeal. Only from God could he expect mercy. Then he stopped writing any appeal for mercy to the government. He only prayed to God. In this story only God knows the true criminal but He 'allows the innocent Aksionov to suffer in prison. Aksionov also accepts the imprisonment. He spent nearly twenty six years in prison. God waits to reveal the truth. Now Makar the real culprit came to the same prison but refused to accept his hand in the murder. At the end he was made to surrender. Thus God knows the truth but waits to reveal it.

will be

had made

(1) Before the interview, Solomon was confident (2) of getting the job. He knew that he was qualified (3) for the job. He was interested (4) in discharging his duty perfectly. The interview panel was impressed (5) with his attitude and skills. So (6) after the interview, he was (7) on cloud nine.

So

So

The manager said that he would speak to me on Friday.

Priya said that she wanted to give her sister a present.

The pilot told passengers that the plane would land in Delhi at 9 p.m.