English X - Chapter No.22 - Questions-Answers and Text Book Exercise

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THE USES OF ADVERSITY (POEM)
Questions-Answers and Text Book Exercise

A. Questions and Answer:

Q.1 Write the message of this poem? OR What lesson does this poem bring to us? OR What role do adverse circumstances play in our lives? OR Adversity has its own advantages, comment
Ans. This poem teaches us the lesson / gives a message of perseverance and will-power. Troubles and difficulties in life make us perfect. The hardship of life develop our efficiency and ability. Success comes out of failures. As Francis Bacon says “The virtue of Adversity is fortitude, which is mortal in the more heroic virtue.”

Q.2: What does the word adversity mean?
Ans. It means misfortune. It also refer to unfavourable circumstances.

Q.3: who has composed this poem?
Ans. The name of the poet is unknown. That is why we call it an Anonymous poem.

Q.4: How does the poet clarify and explain his idea?
Ans. The poet explains and proves his idea with the help of two examples which are as follows.
a) A pen reed writes better and much clearer when it is trimmed or cut.
b) A lantern gives more light when the wick of the lantern is cut.
Similarly, a person becomes more efficient and powerful after passing through ups and downs in his life. Bitter experiences bring more knowledge and more wisdom to a person.

Q.5: Give other examples of the use, of adversity which you observe in daily life.
Ans. Blind people perform very well in studies. Disabled people are very good at doing skilled work. Poor people are very tough and hardworking.

Q.6: Would you prefer adversity to prosperity?
Ans. Prosperity might be a blessings from God. Adversity might also be a blessing for some people. A man should always hope for the best. However, he should be ready for the worst. One should always pray for the best.

B. Words and Meanings

S.No.	Words	Meanings
1.	Anonymous	the poet's name is not known.
2.	Manuscript	document written by hand.
3.	Reed	a pen made from a dried reed.
4.	Trimming	the point of the reed needs to be sharpened from time to time
5.	Wick	a bit of cotton or thread in a lamp on which a flame is lit
6.	Lustre	shining light
7.	Deficiency	reduced size

C. Idiomatic Structures explained:

1. "Only two out of ten people can read" means "Only one-fifth of the population can read."
2. "Instead of writing, you could phone" means you could use the telephone instead of writing."
3. "Inspite of three warnings, he continued to misbehave" means "He did not stop misbehaving though I warned him three times."
4. "Because of you we won the match" means "it was due to your efforts that we won the match."
5. "They died for the sake of the country" means "They died for the welfare of the country."
6. "He kept coming every now and again" means "He kept coming from time to time, or at frequent intervals."
7. "Now and again the car kept stopping" means "The car kept stopping frequently."
8. "He dropped ink on his note-book and had to write it all over again" means "He had to re-write his work which was spoiled by ink."
9. "1 warned you time and again not to disturb the class" means "I warned you several times not to disturb the class."

D. Idiom: 

1. In black and white: in writing.
Example: I will not accept your offer until I see it in black and white.
Exercise: I cannot accept Our oral complaint. It must be in writing. (Substitute the idiom)
I cannot accept your oral complaint. It must be in black and white.