Reflect and Respond (Page 1)
Q1. I Look at the pictures given below of persons engaged in the same profession. 
Discuss in pairs and share your answers with your classmates and teacher. 1. Which profession do they belong to? 2. Do they face any difficulties while doing their duty? 3. How does their profession affect the people they meet?
Answer:
Answers:
1. They belong to the profession of postal workers or postmen who deliver mail to people.
2. Yes, they face many difficulties such as extreme weather conditions, long distances, difficult terrains, and sometimes the risk of being attacked by animals.
3. Their profession helps people stay connected with their loved ones who live far away. They bring news, money orders, and important documents, which bring joy and relief to families.
Q2. II Discuss in groups. 1. How can 'words' be 'carried'? 2. Who could be a carrier of words? 3. What are the means for people to stay connected?
Answer:
Answers:
1. Words can be carried through letters, messages, emails, books, newspapers, or spoken words.
2. A carrier of words could be a postman, a messenger, a teacher, a writer, a speaker, or even a person who delivers news.
3. People can stay connected through letters, phone calls, emails, social media, video calls, and personal visits.
Q3. III. Read the words given in the box below and place them in their appropriate context in the following passage. 
We stepped out of the vehicle at the end of the road. Immediately, our body sent 1. _________ that our decision to visit the sand 2. _________ in the afternoon was insane. We had passed a few 3. _________ on our way to the desert. We could not find even a single soul outdoors, 4. _________the blazing sun. Even the camels were 5. _________ in the little shade offered by the khejri trees. In this remote place people relied on Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to connect to the world as the area was 6. _________ of any other network service.
Answer:
Completed Passage:
We stepped out of the vehicle at the end of the road. Immediately, our body sent signals that our decision to visit the sand dunes in the afternoon was insane. We had passed a few hamlets on our way to the desert. We could not find even a single soul outdoors, defying the blazing sun. Even the camels were slumped in the little shade offered by the khejri trees. In this remote place people relied on Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to connect to the world as the area was devoid of any other network service.
Check Your Understanding (Page 5)
Q1. I Khetaram needs to submit information about himself for getting an identity card. While reading the text, fill up the following information sheet for Khetaram.
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Khetaram |
| Position | |
| Employer | |
| Official address | |
| Mode of transport used | |
| Key responsibilities | ● ● ● ● |
Answer:
Completed Information Sheet:
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Khetaram |
| Position | Gramin Dak Sewak |
| Employer | India Post (Postal Department) |
| Official address | Somarad Branch Post Office, Rajasthan |
| Mode of transport used | Walking (on foot) |
| Key responsibilities | ● Delivering mail to far-flung hamlets and dhaanis ● Reading out letters to villagers ● Writing replies for villagers ● Delivering money orders |
Q2. II Discuss with your teacher. 1. Why do you think Khetaram has taken up this challenging job? 2. How do you think Khetaram would feel about taking up this challenging task every day?
Answer:
Answers:
1. Khetaram has taken up this challenging job because he needs to support his family of five. Famine is a way of life in his area, and one crop of bajra cannot feed his family. This job provides him with a regular income and a new lease of life.
2. Khetaram would feel proud and satisfied despite the challenges. He is grateful for the opportunity to serve people and earn a living. He delivers letters even in extreme heat and feels happy when people welcome him warmly.
Check Your Understanding (Page 8)
Q1. I Complete the table given below with the situations given in Column 1 and the reasons in Column 2.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| When the temperature is recorded as 50 degrees celsius and above, a state holiday has to be declared. | |
| Khetaram can dwell on any threshold. | |
| BSF always gave Khetaram a lift. |
Answer:
Completed Table:
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| When the temperature is recorded as 50 degrees celsius and above, a state holiday has to be declared. | Because working becomes extremely difficult and dangerous in such extreme heat. |
| Khetaram can dwell on any threshold. | People trust him and feel comfortable asking him to read letters and draft replies. |
| BSF always gave Khetaram a lift. | They respect his work and help him cover long distances in the desert. |
Q2. II Why was a piece of jaggery offered in the village when he brought news of a birth or weddings?
Answer:
Answer:
A piece of jaggery was offered in the village when he brought news of a birth or weddings because jaggery is considered a symbol of sweetness and happiness. People wanted to share their joy with Khetaram for bringing good news to their families.
Q3. III How would phone lines help Khetaram in his job?
Answer:
Answer:
Phone lines would help Khetaram in his job by making communication faster and easier. With phone lines, he could become a Gramin Sanchar Sewak, where his duty would involve carrying a cell phone and delivering mail from home to home. It would reduce his physical burden of walking long distances and allow people to communicate instantly.
Critical Reflection (Page 8)
Q1. 1. "Akaal or famine is a way of life here. In a good year, I get one crop of bajra. That cannot feed my family of five. We would starve without this job," he says. And for each family which resides in this arid land, survival is partly dependent on money orders remitted by a relative. (i) Complete the sentence given below with an appropriate reason. One crop of bajra makes a little difference for people like Khetaram because (ii) Why did Khetaram term famine as 'a way of life'? (iii) Give one reason why Khetaram had to take up a job to help his family to survive. (iv) Complete the analogy given below with a word from the extract. Other families: Money orders:: Khetaram: (v) What would 'a good year' signify?
Answer:
Answers:
(i) One crop of bajra makes a little difference for people like Khetaram because it is not enough to feed a family of five for the entire year.
(ii) Khetaram termed famine as 'a way of life' because the region faces drought and crop failure regularly, making scarcity a constant reality.
(iii) Khetaram had to take up a job to help his family survive because farming was not reliable and one crop of bajra could not feed his family.
(iv) Other families: Money orders:: Khetaram: Salary/Job
(v) 'A good year' would signify a year with sufficient rainfall, leading to a good harvest of bajra.
Q2. 2. There is one letter delivery he dreads. The envelope with the right corner torn off, which signifies that the missive bears news of death. "Ashubh Samachar cannot be carried into the house," says Khetaram. So, he stands outside, reads out the letter twice, then tears it to bits. "Bad news must be destroyed," he mutters philosophically. (i) Choose the correct option for the following question. Who could have torn the right corner of the envelope? A. Khetaram B. Sender of the letter C. Receiver of the letter D. The postmaster (ii) Complete the sentence with an appropriate reason. The most likely reason for Khetaram reading the letter twice is because (iii) What was Khetaram's philosophy regarding bad news, and how did he act upon it? (iv) State whether the following sentence is true or false. Khetaram's action of tearing the letter differed from his beliefs. (v) Mention any one aspect of Khetaram's temperament which is revealed through this extract.
Answer:
Answers:
(i) B. Sender of the letter
(ii) The most likely reason for Khetaram reading the letter twice is because he wanted to make sure he understood the news correctly before telling the family.
(iii) Khetaram believed that bad news must be destroyed and not brought inside the house. He acted upon this by standing outside, reading the letter twice, and then tearing it to bits.
(iv) False - Khetaram's action of tearing the letter followed his belief that bad news must be destroyed.
(v) One aspect of Khetaram's temperament revealed through this extract is that he is compassionate and sensitive to the feelings of others.
Q3. II Answer the following questions. 1. Justify the statement made by Postmaster-General, Rajasthan Western Region stating that the role of GDS is 'invaluable'. 2. How was the purpose of India Post different from that of the British postal system? 3. People trusted Gramin Dak Sewaks. Support this statement with any two instances from the text. 4. Infer the most likely reason that Khetaram was grateful to continue as GDS, even after the age of 60. 5. Explain why the author pays tribute to people like Khetaram.
Answer:
Answers:
1. The role of GDS is invaluable because they deliver mail to interior areas that are often inaccessible by any means besides foot. They serve as the sole link between remote communities and their families, delivering letters, money orders, and news in extreme weather conditions.
2. The British postal system was set up to relay company dak between administrative centres. After independence, the purpose of India Post was to bring the entire population within the mailing ambit, ensuring that even the most remote villages had access to postal services.
3. Two instances showing trust in GDS:
- People feel comfortable asking Khetaram to read letters and draft replies for them.
- Rural depositors entrust their monthly savings to the post office, reflecting their trust in the postal system.
4. Khetaram was grateful to continue as GDS even after the age of 60 because the job provides him with a stable income. Without this job, he and his family would starve as farming is unreliable in the arid desert region.
5. The author pays tribute to people like Khetaram because they work tirelessly in challenging conditions to connect people with their loved ones. Their dedication, hard work, and service to the community make them an integral part of our social fabric.
Vocabulary and Structures in Context (Page 10)
Q1. I Study the phrases given in Column 1 and match them with their meanings in Column 2.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1. crumbles into sand | (i) get a chance to continue living |
| 2. give a new lease of life | (ii) carrying letters to less populated areas |
| 3. turn into a trickle before drying out | (iii) disappears in the desert |
| 4. bearing words across this desolate geography | (iv) lessen gradually and then finally stop |
Answer:
Correct Matches:
| Column 1 | Correct Match |
|---|---|
| 1. crumbles into sand | (iii) disappears in the desert |
| 2. give a new lease of life | (i) get a chance to continue living |
| 3. turn into a trickle before drying out | (iv) lessen gradually and then finally stop |
| 4. bearing words across this desolate geography | (ii) carrying letters to less populated areas |
Q2. 1. Identify examples of alliteration and metaphor in the extract given below. Khetaram's khaki turban and uniform are his only protection against the desert's furies, the scorching summer winds and swirling sandstorms which turn him into a walking sandman.
Answer:
Answers:
Alliteration: 'scorching summer' and 'swirling sandstorms' - the repetition of the 's' sound.
Metaphor: 'desert's furies' - the desert is compared to something that expresses anger or fury, making it seem alive and dangerous. Also, 'walking sandman' - Khetaram is compared to a figure made of sand, suggesting he becomes covered in sand while walking through the desert.
Q3. III Match the words in Column 1 to what they suggest in Column 2 in the context of the chapter.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1. arid | (i) interest rate for the farmers |
| 2. concessional | (ii) corner of the world |
| 3. gaunt | (iii) farmland without much yield |
| 4. remote | (iv) desert stretching far and wide |
| 5. desolate | (v) farmer waiting for the rains |
Answer:
Correct Matches:
| Column 1 | Correct Match |
|---|---|
| 1. arid | (iii) farmland without much yield |
| 2. concessional | (i) interest rate for the farmers |
| 3. gaunt | (v) farmer waiting for the rains |
| 4. remote | (ii) corner of the world |
| 5. desolate | (iv) desert stretching far and wide |
Sentences:
- Arid: The arid land receives very little rainfall each year.
- Concessional: The government provides concessional loans to farmers.
- Gaunt: The gaunt farmer looked tired and hungry after a poor harvest.
- Remote: They live in a remote village far from the city.
- Desolate: The desolate desert stretched for miles with no sign of life.
Q4. IV Read the underlined verbs in the sentences given in Column 1 and their functions in Column 2.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1. She has found her book. | (i) finished actions (past event—present result) |
| 2. I have just eaten a mango. | (ii) recently completed action |
| 3. Have you ever seen a play before? | (iii) life experiences |
| 4. I have finished my project. | (iv) accomplishment |
| 5. Ajay has become a good bowler in five years. | (v) changes over time |
| 6. I have seen this book in the library many times. | (vi) multiple actions at different times |
| 7. I have studied in this school for six years. | (vii) action completed in the past but has its impact in present |
Answer:
Answers:
1. I have just got a collection of postage stamps from my grandfather. He 2. has collected these stamps over a period of 20 years. I 3. have studied most of the stamps in his collection and loved all of them. I 4. have begun my own collection of postage stamps. Grandfather 5. has truly inspired me.
Q5. V Study the sentences given below. 1. GDS delivers the mail at the border. When the subject does the action, the sentence is in active voice. 2. The mail is delivered by the GDS at the border. This implies that the 'mail' receives the action 'deliver'. This sentence is in passive voice because the subject is receiving the action. 3. Khetaram's nephew wants to join the GDS. He asks Khetaram how to prepare for it. Khetaram gives him the following advice. (i) You will need a lot of stamina for this job. (ii) Practise reading clearly as some of the villagers will expect you to read out the letters. (iii) Write words neatly as some villagers will ask you to draft replies. (iv) Wear full-sleeved shirts and trousers to protect yourself from the heat. Now, complete the following paragraph about the advice given by Khetaram. One example has been done for you. To begin with, a lot of stamina will be needed for this job. Next, reading clearly A. as you B. to read out the letters by some of the villagers. Words C. neatly as you D. to draft replies by some villagers. Full sleeved-shirts and trousers E. to protect yourself from the heat.
Answer:
Completed Paragraph:
To begin with, a lot of stamina will be needed for this job. Next, reading clearly will be needed as you will be expected to read out the letters by some of the villagers. Words will need to be written neatly as you will be asked to draft replies by some villagers. Full sleeved-shirts and trousers should be worn to protect yourself from the heat.
Listen and Respond (Page 13)
Q1. I You will listen to a girl talking about an event. As you listen, fill in the blank with the suitable word from the brackets. (Transcript for teacher on page 272) The speaker concluded her talk with a (suggestion/request/advice)
Answer:
Answer:
This is a listening comprehension activity. Students must listen to the audio and fill in the blank with the correct word.
Q2. II You will listen to the girl talking about the event again. As you listen, choose the correct option for the following questions. 1. What was the occasion that the speaker was talking about? (i) Letter writing carnival (ii) Philately day (iii) Indian Postal Day 2. India Post is famous for having the most extensive network (i) in India (ii) in the world (iii) among design institutes 3. Letter writing is being revived as this art form has been (i) celebrated (ii) appreciated (iii) forgotten 4. Which of the following will be a part of the letter writing carnival? (i) calligraphy and graphology (ii) origami and designing (iii) letter posting and philately 5. What will the postal department add to the event? (i) interactive demonstrations (ii) theatre and dance (iii) workshop for letter writing
Answer:
Answer:
This is a listening comprehension activity. Students must listen to the audio and choose the correct options.
Speaking Activity (Page 14)
Q1. I The postcard, inland letter, envelope, and money order form were engaged in a discussion on who the most important one was. In groups of four, select one each and reason with each other logically. You may use the points for discussion given in Column 1 and the cues given in Column 2 to express your opinion.
| Column 1 (Points for discussion) | Column 2 (Verbal cues to present opinion) |
|---|---|
| ● utility ● cost effective ● privacy ● space to write ● possibility of enclosures | It seems to me that... Some people say that... I would like to point out that... I totally agree that... That's one way to look at it but... |
Answer:
Sample Discussion:
Student 1 (Postcard): It seems to me that the postcard is the most important because it is cheap and easy to send. It is perfect for short messages and greetings.
Student 2 (Inland Letter): I would like to point out that the inland letter is more important because it offers more space to write and provides privacy as the letter is sealed.
Student 3 (Envelope): Some people say that envelopes are the best because they allow you to send enclosures like photographs, documents, or money orders along with your message.
Student 4 (Money Order Form): I totally agree that money orders are the most important because they help people send money safely to their loved ones, especially in remote areas where banking is not available.
Writing Task (Page 15)
Q1. A condolence message communicates your feelings to someone whose relative or a person close to them has just passed away. It mentions how sorry you feel for the loss and your prayers for strength to the family members. I Khetaram saw a letter with a torn corner. It had news about Bhawar Singh's uncle passing away. Read the condolence message that Sawant Singh sent to his cousin as a reply to the letter Now, on behalf of your parents draft an imaginary condolence message for your aunt on the recent passing away of her father.
Answer:
Sample Condolence Message:
Dear Aunty,
We were deeply saddened to hear about the passing of your beloved father. He was a kind and gentle soul who will always be remembered with love and respect.
We share your grief and pray to the Almighty to grant you and your family the strength to bear this irreparable loss. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. If there is anything we can do to help, please do not hesitate to ask.
With heartfelt condolences,
Your loving nephew and family
Learning Beyond the Text (Page 16)
Q1. I The unique 'Daakroom' carnival was conceptualised by the Ministry of Culture to re-introduce children and larger audiences to letter writing in innovative, creative, and engaging ways. It also hosted competitions and workshops around writing and post. The one-of-a-kind letter writing event, supported by India Post, Ministry of Culture, Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti is aimed to give a digital detox with the aim of reviving the art of letter writing in India.
Answer:
Answer:
This is a reading section about the 'Daakroom' carnival. Students should read the passage and discuss the importance of reviving letter writing as an art form. They can share their thoughts on how digital detox can help people reconnect with traditional forms of communication.
Q2. II Did you know? The study of postage stamps and postal history is called philately. It is possible to be a philatelist without owning any stamps. The stamps that you study may be rare ones and found only in museums. 1. Study the postage stamps given below and discuss who or what they depict. 
2. Work in groups of five. Find information about stamps on the following categories and note details as directed. personalities: name and the field they belong to celebrations: festivals/national events- name and significance centenaries: name of person/occasion and significance nature: name and significance our heritage: monuments/music/dance- name and significance Now, prepare a class board on 'Philately- Upholding Our Heritage' with your findings.
Answer:
Answer:
This is a group activity. Students should research and find information about stamps related to:
- Personalities: Mahatma Gandhi (Father of the Nation), Rabindranath Tagore (Nobel laureate)
- Celebrations: Independence Day stamps, Republic Day stamps
- Centenaries: 100 years of the Indian National Congress, 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda
- Nature: Wildlife stamps (Tiger, Peacock), Flower stamps (Lotus)
- Heritage: Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar, Indian classical dance forms
Students can create a class board display with pictures and information about these stamps.
Q3. III In the past, telegram was a mode of fast communication, commonly used to quickly send short and specific messages, such as greetings and condolences. Its pricing structure was based on the number of words to be transmitted, and therefore, needed to be precise. The following form was used for sending such telegrams.
Answer:
Answer:
This section explains the use of telegrams in the past. Students should discuss how communication has evolved from telegrams to modern methods like emails and instant messaging. They can also discuss the importance of being precise with words when sending telegrams.