LITTLE STAR HR. SEC.

SCHOOL
English 1
Class 8

Lesson 2 - The Silver Lining

Learning material content created by Madam Monita, Teacher LSHSS
Edited by Madam Christina Neikhrienuo, Principal, LSHSS
Think of all the blessings that
God has granted to you and
write them down on a paper.

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 Now think of people who are physically
challenged, visually challenged, hearing and
speech impaired, etc) .

What are the challenges that they face

everyday?

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 Chaman Nahal commonly known as C Nahal,
also known as Chaman Nahal Azadi, was an
Indian born writer of English literature. He
was widely considered as one of the best
exponents of Indian writing in English and is
known for his work, ‘Azadi’, which is set on
India's Independence and her partition.
Born: 2 August 1927, Sialkot, Pakistan
Died: 29 November 2013, New Delhi
Books: Azadi, The Gandhi quartet, My true
faces

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 The Silver Lining is taken from a volume of short
stories written by Chaman Nahal titled, The Weird
Dance.

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In this lesson, you will learn
about the difficulties and
challenges faced by a girl
with hearing and speech
impairment and her family.

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 In particular story the main character are:

1. Mrs. Bhandari - The hostess of the guest house

2. Mr. Bhandari- The owner of the guest house
3. Pramodni - Their 8 year old daughter with hearing
and speech impairment
4. Mr. Dhanda - The narrator and a guest at the guest
house
5. Mr David - The stranger

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 1. Mr Dhanda comes to the guest house

2. The narrator gives a description of Mr. and Mrs.

Bhandari.

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Reading section 1- from the start…. to …as if I had known
the family for years.(page 30)

1.assess - evaluate or estimate the nature, ability or quality of.

2. gnawing - persistently worrying or distressing.
3.blissfully - in a manner characterized by extreme happiness or
joy.
4. recommended - advised or suggested as good or suitable.
5.Bony – so thin that the bones can be seen.
(some word meanings are given in the textbook glossary)
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 Reading section 1- from the start…. to …as if I had known
the family for years.(page 30)
Gist:
Mr. Dhanda, the narrator was advised to go on a holiday to a guest
house at a hill resort by his friend. The characters described in the
section are Mr and Mrs Bhandari and their charming little daughter.
1. Mrs. Bhandari from South India. She was pleasant looking and kind.
2. Mr. Bhandari from North India.
3. Pramodni was about eight years old with a Chinese crop, dressed in
Jeans and high boots. She was the centre of attraction to the
author.

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• Who recommended the Guest House to Mr Dhanda?
• What made the Bhandari Guest House a suitable place to stay?
• Give one line descriptions of both Mr and Mrs Bhandari.
• How did the Bhandaris welcome Mr Dhanda?

You don’t have to write down the answers.

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 1. The narrator while chatting with the Bhandaris
noticed that the girl was staring at him

2. He asked the girl her name and asked her to come

but she ran away with tears in her eyes.

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 Reading section 2- from While thus chatting… to
tears in her eyes…(page 30&31)

1. Settee- a long seat for more than two people that has a
back.
2. Miniature- very small of its kind.
3. Beckoned-make a gesture with the hand, arm, or head
to encourage or instruct someone to approach or
follow.
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• Give the description of the little girl.
• How does the girl react when Mr Dhanda beckons her?
• Predict – Why does the girl not respond to him?

You don’t have to write down the answers.

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1. Mr. Dhanda saw the painful look on Mr. Bhandari’s
face.

2. He apologized for his daughter’s behaviour and

told him that she did not come to him as she
cannot speak or hear anything.

3. Mr. Dhanda enquired more about her.

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1. The narrator found out that the Bhandaris had to
deal with this kind of situations everyday and
guests would always question about their daughter.

2. Mr Dhanda, the narrator came up with a plan

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 1. He decided to write a chit.

2. This chit would be handed to all the guest.

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The chit would read like this:

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 Reading section 3- from I suddenly became
aware…to…. thank you (page 32)

1. gasp - catch one's breath with an open mouth, owing to pain or

astonishment.
2. muttering - a privately expressed complaint or expression of
dissatisfaction.
3. Forwardness - boldness or over familiarity in manner.
4. Inquisitive - having or showing an interest in learning things;
curious/unduly curious about the affairs of others; prying.
5. Aghast - filled with horror or shock.
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• Why did Promodni run away when Mr Dhanda beckoned her?
• What was the issue with the Bhandari family?
• What suggestion did Mr. Dhanda give to the Bhandaris? Did
they promptly agree to his suggestion?
• What would be written in the chit?
• Do you think it was a good suggestion?

You don’t have to write down the answers.

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1. The new plan worked well.

2. One day a stranger came to the guest house.

3. He looked untidy and unkempt after his long tiresome

journey.

4. The Bhandaris thought he was arrogant since he did

not respond to their questions and only used gestures.

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 Reading section 4-from A line to the effect….to…to
their polite enquiries.(pg 32, 33)

1.hospitality-the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests,

visitors, or strangers.
2. ruse-an action intended to deceive someone; a trick.
3. unkempt-(especially of a person) having an untidy or dishevelled
appearance.
4. coincide-occur at the same time.

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• Why did Mrs Bhandari feel that the letter would not be
compatible with her spirit of hospitality?
• Give a description of the strange guest .

You don’t have to write down the answers.

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1. As soon as he read the chit, the stranger approached
the girl.

2. The Bhandaris were very upset by his behaviour.

3. Mr. Dhanda was also upset as he thought that the girl

would be embarrassed.

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 Reading section 5-from both the landlord and the
landlady….to …fail in this instance (page 33)

1.disconcerted-unsettled or confused.
2. infer- to form an opinion/ decide from the information you
have.
3. arrogance-the quality of being arrogant.

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• Predict –Why do you think the man behaved in such an odd
manner?
• Predict -Do you think he was really arrogant? If yes, then why
do you think he rushed to the little girl?
• Why were the Bhandaris and Mr Dhanda upset by his
behavior?

You don’t have to write down the answers.

The Bhandaris were amazed to see the girl
laughing.

They watched Mr. David and Promodni walk

hand in hand and then realised that Mr. David
was also hearing and speech impaired.

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Reading section 6: from After a few moments….to….he
was hearing and speech impaired too.(page 33 and 34)

1. Apprehensive- anxious or fearful that something bad might

happen.
2. Impending- be about to happen.
3. Reclining- leaning or lying back in a relaxed position with the
back supported.
4. Queer-strange; odd.

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• Why was the guest able to connect with the girl so well?
• What made the girl so happy?

You don’t have to write down the answers.

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1. Mr. David said that he had been educated abroad.

2. He wanted to open a school for the hearing and

speech impaired children.

3. Agreed to take Promodni as his first student.

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1. Mrs. Bhandari was very happy and laughed like a
carefree girl.

2. Mrs. Bhandari was the happiest woman in the world.

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 Reading section 7-from His strange ambiguous
silences…till the end.(page 34)

1.Gestures -a movement of part of the body, especially a hand or

the head, to express an idea or meaning.
2. Emphatically - without doubt; clearly.

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• What is Mr David’s plan?
• Why is Mrs Bhandari so happy?
• How does she express her happiness?

You don’t have to write down the answers.

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Now look at the questions and try to answer as many as you can. (page 36
onwards are textbook questions (Oxford) and the same as those in the back
of the lesson)
You can check your answers in the following pages.

Or you can go straight to the online quiz. Click Here.

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I. Answer the following questions.
a. Why does the author believe that it is difficult to assess the range and quality of human emotions.
b. In what ways was the Bhandari Guest House a suitable place to stay?
c. Which phrase tells us that the author is somewhat critical of North Indian men?
d. What makes the author say he felt as if he had known the family for years?
e. In what manner did the author try to make friends with Promodni? What was the reaction fro (i) Promodni (ii)her
parents?
f. Which phrase or statement tells us that the Bhandaris did not much care for the questions put by the visitors about
their daughter?
g. What first impression did the Bhandaris have about Mr David? How did they regard him at first and in what manner did their
opinion change? Use selected words and phrases from the text in your answer.
h. Mr Bhandari squeezed his wife’s arm and said apologetically, ‘I am sorry, Mr Dhanda.’ Why was he sorry? Give more than one
reason.
i. Why do you think the Bhandaris agreed, ‘ after some trepidation’, to try out the author’s suggestion of a way to deal with
the questions of visitors?

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 2. Comment on the italicized words in the following sentences.
1. Mrs Bhandari, the landlady, took me in hand the moment I arrived.
2. I couldn't help smiling.
3. And, at the very first meeting, or soon afterwards, they would run into the child..
4. ‘ He shouldn’t have ignored our request like this,’ the landlord put in, more mildly.
5. It took us time to digest the news.
6. And then both the parents broke into incoherent statements of profuse apologies….
7. She almost broke down with gratitude.
 3.Answer with reference with the context.
a. I vaguely felt I had wronged her and her parents.
i.Why did the speaker feel like this? What had he done?
ii. What did he do to make the situation better?
b. At this time he discovered the sealed envelope containing the typed chit lying on
the table, addressed to him by name.
i. Who discovered the envelope?
ii. What happened immediately prior to this?
iii. What was in the envelope, what did it say?
iv. What did the person do immediately after this?
c. She looked the happiest woman in the world.
i. Who is the statement about?
ii. Why was the person happy?
iii. What did she do to show her pleasure?
I. Answer the following questions.
a. Why does the author believe that it is difficult to assess the range and quality of
human emotions.
Ans: The author believes that it is difficult to assess the range and quality of human
emotions because it is usually not possible to tell what worm-like griefs people
hide within their hearts by merely looking at their outward appearance.
b. In what ways was the Bhandari Guest House a suitable place to stay?
Ans: The Bhandari Guest House was a suitable place to stay because it was
centrally located, near the bus-stand, market and post office. Yet it was far
enough from the common din. The view was pleasant, the food was good and
the hostess, charming.
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c. Which phrase tells us that the author is somewhat critical of North
Indian men?
Ans: In describing Mr. Bhandari, a north Indian, the author says: ‘there
was not a trace of untempered roughness which one finds in most men
hailing from the north'. This phrase tells us that he is somewhat critical
of North Indian men.
d. What makes the author say he felt as if he had known the family for
years?
Ans: From the minute he arrived at the Guest House, the author was put
at ease by the Bhandaris. Mrs Bhandari looked after his luggage, gave
instructions about his room, provided him with a cup of coffee and
chatted amiably. In this way the family won him over and made him
feel he had known them for years.
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 e. In what manner did the author try to make friends with Promodni?
What was the reaction fro (i) Promodni (ii)her parents?
Ans: The author asked Promodni what her name was, smiled at her
and beckoned her.
(i) Promodni: she reacted by blushing and running out of the room
with tears in her eyes.
(ii) her parents : her parents frowned with painful look on their faces.
Mr Bhandari then apologetically explained to the author, why the
girl behaved, the way she did; for she could neither hear nor speak.
f. Which phrase or statement tells us that the Bhandaris did not much
care for the questions put by the visitors about their daughter?

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Ans: The phrase, ‘…..which the parents, after much trepidation agreed to try’(
when the author gave suggestion of giving typed chits to new guests) tells
us that the Bhandaris did not much care about the questions asked by the
visitors about their daughter.
g. What first impression did the Bhandaris have about Mr David? How did they
regard him at first and in what manner did their opinion change? Use
selected words and phrases from the text in your answer.
Ans: The Bhandaris’ first impression of the young man was that he was proud
and arrogant since he did not reply to their polite enquiries.They found him
strange and rude when even after the written request to not to try to be
friendly with their daughter he ran out into the courtyard where Promodni
was playing by herself. They were however struck with ‘ wonder and
amazement 'when they found their little daughter Promodni sitting on his
lap and laughing the way she had not laughed in years.
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h. Mr Bhandari squeezed his wife’s arm and said apologetically, ‘I am
sorry, Mr Dhanda.’ Why was he sorry? Give more than one reason.
Ans: Mr Bhandari said sorry to Mr David for his daughter’s cold reaction
to his attempt to make friends with her, and for the fact that he had
not realized earlier that Promodni could not hear or speak.
i. Why do you think the Bhandaris agreed, ‘ after some trepidation’, to
try out the author’s suggestion of a way to deal with the questions of
visitors?
Ans : The Bhandaris thought that a note would not reflect their spirit of
hospitality. They felt it might be awkward giving a note to people
who were going to make the Guest House their temporary home.
Their unease about this led to their trepidation.
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 2. Comment on the italicized words in the following sentences.
1. Mrs Bhandari, the landlady, took me in hand the moment I arrived.
- Mrs Bhandari, the landlady, took charge of me the moment I arrived.
2. I couldn't help smiling.
- I couldn't stop myself from smiling.
3. And, at the very first meeting, or soon afterwards, they would run into
the child..
-And, at the very first meeting, or soon afterwards, they would come
across (meet)the child..
4. ‘ He shouldn’t have ignored our request like this,’ the landlord put in,
more mildly.
- ‘ He shouldn’t have ignored our request like this,’ the landlord
interrupted, more mildly.
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5. It took us time to digest the news.
- It took us time to understand (take in)the news.
6. And then both the parents broke into incoherent statements of
profuse apologies….
-And then both the parents started abruptly (speaking/
making)statements of profuse apologies….
7. She almost broke down with gratitude.
-She became very emotional with gratitude.

3.Answer with reference with the context.

a. I vaguely felt I had wronged her and her parents.
i.Why did the speaker feel like this? What had he done?
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Ans: The speaker, Mr Dhanda felt that he had wronged the family
because he did not really know what he was doing. He did not do
anything on purpose. He felt he had wronged the girl and her parents
because he had tried to make friends with her by speaking to her, but
had not realized she was hearing and speech impaired.
ii. What did he do to make the situation better?
Ans :To make the situation better, and to save the child from repeated
humiliation, he suggested that the Bhandaris provide new guests with
a chit bearing information about Promodni.

b. At this time he discovered the sealed envelope containing the typed

chit lying on the table, addressed to him by name.
i. Who discovered the envelope?
Ans: Mr David discovered the envelope.
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ii. What happened immediately prior to this?
Ans : Mr David paid the porter and made entries about himself in the
Guesthouse register, he was greeted by Mr Bhandari , prior to this.

iii. What was in the envelope, what did it say?

Ans : In the envelope was the information that Promodni, she was
hearing and speech impaired and that she should not be hurt by
strangers trying to befriend her too soon.

iv. What did the person do immediately after this?

Ans : Immediately after this, Mr David looked around astonished, saw
Promodni sitting outside in the garden, looked at the Bhandaris and
Mr Dhanda with a smile and darted out towards Promodni.
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c. She looked the happiest woman in the world.
i. Who is the statement about?
Ans: Mrs Bhandari.
II. Why was the person happy?
Ans :Mrs Bhandari was happy because Mr David had outlined to her and
her husband some plans for education and betterment of Promodni.
He had told her that there were schools for such people and that he
himself intended starting one and that Promodni could be his first
pupil.
iii. What did she do to show her pleasure?
ANS : Mrs Bhandari laughed like a carefree girl. She gave the guests an
extra helping of jam and butter and honey.
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