Accidents in big cities is a common phenomenon. Unfortunately, hardly anyone comes to the rescue of road victims because of fear of harassment by the police. Now that the Supreme Court has issued guidelines that people who take road victims to a hospital will not be questioned or detained, there is no reason why bystanders/passersby should hesitate to help road victims and thus discharge their duty as responsible citizens. Write a letter in 100-120 words to the editor of a national daily requesting him to make people aware of Supreme Court guidelines and urge them to help people in distress. You are shom / Shobha, 24, Raj Nagar, Kanpur.

Read the passage carefully

One would imagine that at the very sight of the panther, deer, antelopes, and its other preys would just run for their lives. Nothing of the sort. They all stand their ground and make such a loud noise that the panther is left with no other choice except to leave quietly. I have seen a tiny chital baby standing in the middle of an opening in the forest, stamping its feet on the ground and shooing away a tiger. With the white of its erect tail showing, it kept us its shrill call until the tiger made itself scarce. No tiger in its senses would attempt to catch such an impertinent brat, just as you would not dream of catching an offending crow cawing away in your verandah.

While the panther sticks to cover and hugs the edge of the forest, the game animals, on the other hand, like to assemble right out in open vast grazing grounds. Open spaces which the panther carefully avoids, are what the game animals deliberately seek.

It is difficult to describe the pandemonium kicked up by various animals when they spot or suspect a panther around. The chital strikes a shrill note, the kakar emits a deafening bark and the sambar rings a bell. The peacock on its perch, the jungle fowl on the ground, and the moneky on treetops, all join in the chorus of condemnation of the panther. They curse the panther in their own inimitable language. The resulting confusion of sounds is so irritating to the sharp ears of the panther that it is left with no other option except to go away.

The panther has thus to deal with its ever alert and watchful associates who show no mercy and expect none. It is a fight between finesse and flight, between clever attack and skillful defence.

Contrary to the common belief, the panther never springs upon its prey. It stalks as close to its victim as it can manage, and then makes the final dash by rushing at it at a lightning speed.

Answer the following questions :

(a) What strategy do animals like deer, antelopes, etc adopt to drive away the panther?

(b) How do the panther and the game animals (deer, antelopes, etc) react to open spaces?

(c) What effect does the loud noise made by birds and animals have on the panther?

(d) How does the panther kill its prey?

Read the passage carefully

One would imagine that at the very sight of the panther, deer, antelopes, and its other preys would just run for their lives. Nothing of the sort. They all stand their ground and make such a loud noise that the panther is left with no other choice except to leave quietly. I have seen a tiny chital baby standing in the middle of an opening in the forest, stamping its feet on the ground and shooing away a tiger. With the white of its erect tail showing, it kept us its shrill call until the tiger made itself scarce. No tiger in its senses would attempt to catch such an impertinent brat, just as you would not dream of catching an offending crow cawing away in your verandah.

While the panther sticks to cover and hugs the edge of the forest, the game animals, on the other hand, like to assemble right out in open vast grazing grounds. Open spaces which the panther carefully avoids, are what the game animals deliberately seek.

It is difficult to describe the pandemonium kicked up by various animals when they spot or suspect a panther around. The chital strikes a shrill note, the kakar emits a deafening bark and the sambar rings a bell. The peacock on its perch, the jungle fowl on the ground, and the moneky on treetops, all join in the chorus of condemnation of the panther. They curse the panther in their own inimitable language. The resulting confusion of sounds is so irritating to the sharp ears of the panther that it is left with no other option except to go away.

The panther has thus to deal with its ever alert and watchful associates who show no mercy and expect none. It is a fight between finesse and flight, between clever attack and skillful defence.

Contrary to the common belief, the panther never springs upon its prey. It stalks as close to its victim as it can manage, and then makes the final dash by rushing at it at a lightning speed.

Find the meanings of the words given below with the help of the options that follow :

(a) shrill (Para 1)

(i) rude

(ii) high

(iii) offensive

(iv) terrible

(b) deliberately (Para 2)

(i) immediately

(ii) cleverly

(iii) intentionally

(iv) naughtily

(c) condemnation (Para 3)

(i) disapproval

(ii) dismissal

(iii) revenge

(iv) annoyance

(d) associates (Para 4)

(i) rivals

(ii) neighbours

(iii) superiors

(iv) partners

Visiting new places and meeting new people enhance our understanding and knowledge besides being a source of great pleasure. Write an article in 100-120 words on ‘Travel, a Source of knowledge and Pleasure.’ You are Gopal/Govindi.

Write a story in 150 – 200 words with the help of hints given below :

While strolling in the park near my house, I spotted a cobra. I panicked but stood there like a statue. Frightening thoughts were arising in my mind and then …………..