Class-8 English Reader (Special) Lesson-13 Ahilyabai - A Great Indian Queen / M.P. Board

Lesson-13

Ahilyabai-A Great Indian Queen

Glossary

Entrance-  a door, gate, passage used for entering a room building or place

Piety-  the state of having or showing a deep respect for somebody or something specially for a religious reason

Harass- to annoy or worry somebody by putting pressure on them or saying unpleasant things to them.

Misuse-  to use something in the wrong way or for the wrong purpose

Territory-  the land that is under the control of a particular country or ruler

Strong minded-  having strong opinion that are not easily influenced by what other people think or say

in a fix-  unable to decide

Adjoining-  to be next to or joined to something

Patronise-  to help a particular person,  organisation or activity by giving money

Enterprise-  a company or business

Magnificent-  extremely attractive and impressive

Administrative-  connected with organising the work of a business or an institution

Sculptor-  A person who makes sculptures (a work of art that is solid figure, object made by carving for shaping wood/ stone / clay metal etc.)

Word Power

(A)  Solve the crossword puzzle with the help of the clues given. These words have been used in the lesson:

2

3

2

E

N

T

E

R

A

N

C

E

D

N

J

4

T

E

R

R

I

T

O

R

Y

5

P

E

O

P

L

E

I

R

7

N

6

P

A

T

R

O

N

I

S

E

I

R

C

N

I

U

G

S

L

E

8

P

I

E

T

Y

T

O

R

Clues:

Left to right

1. a door or gate

4. land that is under the control of a ruler

5. men, women and children

6. to help a particular person by giving him money

8. the state of having deep respect for God and religion

Downwards

2. To be next to or joined to something

3. a company or business

7. a person who makes figures by carving or shaping wood

Comprehension

(A) Answer the following questions:

Q1.       Who taught Ahilyabai?

Ans- Ahilyabai is father Mankji Shinde taught her to read and write.

Q2.       Where did Malhar Rao first see Ahilyabai?

Ans- Malhar Rao first saw Ahilyabai at the temple service in the Chondi village on his way from Malwa to Pune.

Q3.       When did Ahilyabai’s husband die?

Ans- Ahilyabai’s husband died in a battle in 1754.

Q4.       What did Gangadhar suggest Ahilyabai after the death of her son?

Ans- After the death of Ahilyabai’s son, Gangadhar suggested her to adopt a son who would be the ruler of Malwa as a woman could not rule a state property.

Q5.       What was Ahilyabai’s reply to her chief minister?

Ans- Ahilyabai replied to the chief minister that she did not require her advice, she could look after the state very well.

Q6.       What message did Ahilyabai send to Raghoba Dada?

Ans- Ahilyabai sent a message to Raghoba Dada that as soon as he dared to cross the river Kshipra, he would have to fight her Army. 

Q7.       Why did Raghoba Dada give up the idea of fighting and went back?

Ans- Raghoba Dada gave up the idea of fighting and went back because of the following reasons:

    (1) He was afraid that if he loses a battle against a woman, he would lose his name and fame as a warrior.

    (2) Nobody would praise him even if he won the battle.

Q8.       What did Ahilyabai build and renovate? Write at least five names.

Ans- Below are the things that Ahilyabai built or renovate:

1- the Vishwanath temple of Varanasi

2- Vishnupad temple of Gaya

3- Road from Varanasi to Kolkata

4- Many other roads and temples

5- Dozens of ghats, wells, tanks and rest-houses stretching from Himalayas to the Pilgrimage centres in South India

Q9.       Ahilyabai was not only a great ruler but a great human being also. How do you know that?

Ans- Ahilyabai was not only a great ruler but also a great human being. We know this from the public welfare works done by her and the affection and respect she got from people.

Fill in the blanks with the correct words to complete the sentences.

Ahilyabai’s palace was situated at…..

a.            Chondi

b.           Indore

c.            Maheshwar (✓)

d.           Beed

Ahilyabai’s husband's name was…..

a.            Malhar Rao

b.           Mankaji

c.            Gangadhar

d.           Khande Rao (✓)

 Let’s Learn

Read the following sentences carefully:

     I.        Great deeds are remembered even after hundreds of years.

    II.        Ahilyabai’s husband was killed in a battle in 1754. 

  III.        Ahilyabai is remembered with love and respect in all parts of the country.

We often prefer passive when the subject of a sentence is not important Also observe changes in the main verb. For example, the active voice form of sentence No.1 given above will be: People remembered great deeds even after hundreds of years. When changed to passive form; ‘remember’  becomes ‘remembered’ and ‘are’ is added before it; in sentence no. 3 ‘is’ is added. That is because of the number of the subject.

Now rewrite the following sentences without the agent. (Passive voice).

     1.     Somebody built this house in 1986.

Passive- This house was built in 1986.

     2.    We clean this room everyday.

Passive- This room is cleaned everyday.

     3.    Somebody clean this room yesterday.

Passive- This room was cleaned yesterday.

     4.    People don't use this road very often.

Passive-This road is not used very often.

     5.    They cancelled all flights because of fog.

Passive- All flights were cancelled because of fog.

     6.    Last night somebody broke into our house.

Passive- Our house was broken into last night.

     7.    They don't pay Mohan very much.

Passive- Mohan is not paid very much.

(B)

We use active verb to say what the subject does:

 Example-  My father writes stories.

We use passive words to say what happens to the subject.

 Example-  Stories are written by my father.

See the changes in the following sentences:

Active Voice	Passive Voice
My father writes stories.	Stories are written by my father.
My father is writing stories.	Stories are being written by my father.
My father wrote stories.	stories were written by my father.
My father has written stories.	Stories have been written by my father.

As in the examples, all the sentences in active voice have ‘doer subjects,’  “my father”. While changing the sentences into passive voice the objects are brought to the place of the subject and the two subjects are shifted to the place of object. Now the focus is on passive subjects.

Another important change is the use of III form of the verb that is past participle in passive voice along with appropriate form of verb ‘be’:

Simple Present Tense	is/am/are + III form of the verb
Present Continuous Tense	is/am/are + being + III form of verb
Simple Past Tense	was/were + III form of the verb
Present Perfect Tense	have/has + been + III form of the verb

2)A.  We often use ‘can’ expressing possibility or ability to do something.

Example-

I can speak four languages.

·           The negative is ‘can’t’. (cannot)

·           Could is the past form of can.

·           We often use ‘could’ for general ability in past. But if we talk about what happened in a particular situation, we use ‘was/were’ able to ….. or managed to ……..

Example-

1.   A house caught fire yesterday but everybody was able to escape.

2.   Raju was an excellent football player. He could beat anyone.

·        But negative ‘couldn’t’ is possible in all situations.

Now complete the sentences using can/could/can’t/couldn’t:

     1.   Mohan belongs to a well educated family. He can speak English very well.

     2.   My uncle was a very intelligent man. He could speak five languages.

     3.   I looked for the book everywhere but I couldn’t find it.

     4.   Monica can drive  but she hasn't got a car.

     5.   I can't meet you on Saturday but I can meet you on Sunday evening.

     6.   My grandmother loved music. She could play the piano very well.

     7.   Mala wasn't at home when I phone her but I could contact her at office.

     8.   I am afraid.  I couldn't come to your party.

B) We often use ‘will’ in these situations:

(i) offering to do something.

Is your trunk very heavy? I’ll help you.

(ii) When we decide to do something at the time of speaking.

What would like to eat? I’ll have fruit please.

(iii) Promising to do something.

I won’t tell anybody, what you have said.

(iv) Asking somebody to do something.

Will you shut the windows, please?

‘Would’ is used in these situations:

(i) Offering an invitation.

Would you like a cup of tea?

(ii) ‘Would’ is the past form of ‘will’.

I promised I wouldn’t go out.

Now complete the following sentences with ‘will’/would/won’t/wouldn’t.

     1.    Would you like tea or coffee?  I will have coffee, please.

     2.    You arranged to play football today. Now you decide not to play.  You say, “ I don't think I would play”.

     3.    You are on a bus. You have a seat but an elderly man is standing.    You offer him your seat.

 Would you like to sit down?

    4.     A friend of yours is interested in one of your books, you offer it.

    5.    Friend :  this book is very interesting.

    6.    You :  Yes it is very good. Would you like to borrow it?

    7.    Did you phone Mona?  Oh no, I forgot. I will phone her now.

    8.    Don't worry about your exam. I’m sure you will pass.

    9.      I’am sorry about what happened yesterday. It won’t happen again.

Let’s Write

Two students will come forward. Using the clues, they will ask questions and answers to each other using correct forms of verbs:

A: you / go through / the lesson / ?

B: Yes / Ahilyabai / di / marvelous work / .

A: When / she / get / marry / ?

B: Perhaps / at the age of 8 or 9 /.

A: How / old / she / when / her / husband / die / ?

B: She / 29 /.

A: She / afraid of / Raghoba Dada / ?

B: No, / She / challenge / him / .

A: She / do / all the work / in her state only / ?

B: No/ she build / renovate / roads / temples / over India /.

A: Yes / she / was / great queen / ?

B: Yes / she / Was / .

Ans-

A: Did you go through the lesson?

B: Yes, Ahilyabai did marvelous work.

A: When did she get marry?

B: Perhaps at the age of eight or nine.

A: How old was she when her husband die?

B: She was 29.

A: Was she afraid of Raghoba Dada?

B: No, she challenged him.

A: Did she do all the work in her state only?

B: No, she built or renovated roads and temples over India.

A: Was she a great queen?

B: Yes, she was:

Let’s Read

Students!  you must have seen the pictures of an old lady hardly five feet tall with high cheek-bones, thin lips and a wrinkled face, clad in white saree with blue border covering the head. This is Mother Teresa, often called ‘the Gentle Mother’ for ‘the Angel of Mercy’.

Mother Teresa was born in Skopje, Macedonia on August 27 1910. Her family was of Albanian descent. Her original name was Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. At the age of eighteen, she renounced the world and joined the Loreto nuns in Ireland. She used to work from 4 a.m. to late night. The dying in Kolkata, the wounded in Vietnam, the starving in Ethiopia- all turned to this frail looking woman for support. She always embraced the needy and the suffering all over the world. The mission established by her is still busy in doing the same even after her death. She received a number of awards and distinctions, including the Pope John XXIII Peace Prize in 1971 and the Nobel peace prize in 1979.

Answer the following questions:

Q.1 Why was Mother Teresa called ‘the Angel of Mercy’?

Ans- Mother Teresa was called ‘the Angel of Mercy’ because she always embraced the needy and the suffering all over the world.

Q.2 What do you understand by the world ‘renounced’? Explain.

Ans- The world ‘renounced’ here means ‘gave up worldly pleasures voluntarily’.

Q.3 Explain the phrase, ‘frail looking woman.’

Ans-  The phrase, ‘frail looking woman’ mean ‘physically weak and delicate woman’.

Q.4 Fill in the blank spaces, choosing the correct word.

      Mother Teresa was born in ……

(a) Ireland

(b) Kolkata

(c)  Albania

(d) Macedonia (✓)

Q.5 Which award did she get in 1971 and 1979?

Ans- She got the Pope John XXIII Peace Price in 1971 and the Noble peace price in 1979.

Q.6 Write five adjectives occurring in the passage.

Ans- Five adjectives occurring in the passage are :

       1-  High

       2-  Thin

       3-  Wrinkled

       4-  White

       5-  Gentle

Let’s Write

Look at these pictures describing a recipe for a fruit custard. Read the clue words below the pictures. Write out the recipe listing the ingredients and the process of making fruit custard.

Things you will need:

1 tablespoon of corn flour

3 cups milk

2 tablespoon of sugar

½ teaspoon of vanilla essence

2 bananas

2 apples

2 pomegranates

1 pineapple

Few grapes

Few raisins and chopped nuts

Yellow colour

Step 1		Step 2		Step3
Wash fruits, chop finely		Boil milk		Add sugar and corn flour
Step 4		Step 5		Step 6
Mix, stir well no lumps, till thick and creamy		Take off, cool, add chopped fruits		Add vanilla essence drops and colour
Step 7		Step 8
Pour, bowl		Decorate with nuts and raisins, put in freezer

Begin like this:

Take milk in a saucepan and boil it.

Add sugar and corn flour to it. Mix well so that there are no lumps.

Keep stirring till it is thick and creamy.

Take it off the flame and let it cool..

Add chopped fruits.

Add a few drops of vanilla essence and colour.

Pour into the bowl.

Decorate with nuts and raisins.

Put in freezer.

Let’s do it

1.    Collect some pictures of the great queens of India and paste them in your notebook.

2.    Write about the achievements / rule / qualities of any queen other than Ahilyabai.

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