Read the extract and complete the activities given below:

Punctually at midday, he opened his bag and spread out his professional equipment,
which consisted of a dozen cowrie shells, a square piece of cloth with obscure mystic
charts on it, a notebook, and a bundle of Palmyra writing. His forehead was
resplendent (glorious) with sacred ash and vermilion, and his eyes sparkled with a
sharp abnormal gleam (shine) which was really an outcome of a continual searching
look for customers, but which his simple clients took to be a prophetic light and felt
comforted. The power of his eyes was considerably enhanced by their position placed
as they were between the painted forehead and the dark whiskers (mustaches) which
streamed down his cheeks: even a half-wit’s eyes would sparkle in such a setting. To
crown the effect he wound a saffron-coloured turban around his head. This colour
scheme never failed. People were attracted to him as bees are attracted to cosmos or
dahlia stalks. He sat under the boughs of a spreading tamarind tree which flanked a
path running through the Town Hall Park. It was a remarkable place in many ways. A
surging crowd was always moving up and down this narrow road from morning till
night. A variety of trades and occupations was represented all along its way: medicine
sellers, sellers of stolen hardware and junk, magicians, and above all, an auctioneer of
cheap cloth, who created enough din all day to attract the whole town. Next to him in
vociferousness came a vendor of fried groundnut, who gave his ware a fancy name
each day, calling it “Bombay Ice Cream” one day and on the next “Delhi Almond,”
and on the third “Raja’s Delicacy,” and so on and so forth, and people flocked to him.
A considerable portion of this crowd dallied before the astrologer too. The astrologer
transacted his business by the light of a flare which crackled and smoked up above the
groundnut heap nearby. Half the enchantment of the place was due to the fact that it
did not have the benefit of municipal lighting. The place was lit up by shop lights.
One or two had hissing gaslights, some had naked flares stuck on poles, some were lit
up by old cycle lamps, and one or two, like the astrologer, managed without lights of
their own. It was a bewildering crisscross of light rays and moving shadows. This
suited the astrologer very well, for the simple reason that he had not in the least
intended to be an astrologer when he began life; and he knew no more of what was
going to happen to others than he knew what was going to happen to himself next
minute. He was as much a stranger to the stars as were his innocent customers. Yet he
said things which pleased and astonished everyone: that was more a matter of study,
practice, and shrewd guesswork. All the same, it was as much an honest man’s labour
as any other, and he deserved the wages he carried home at the end of a day.

A1. State if the given statements are True or False. (2)

i. The astrologer used to have the preparation of his business in quite professional
way.
ii. The physical appearance of the astrologer hardly created an impact on the
customers.

iii. The place was busy with a variety of occupations.

iv. The astrologer’s style of handling the business lies in his skills.

A2. Complete the given web. (2)

A3. The astrologer was a shrewd judge of a character. Explain with some details from
the extract. (2)

A4. We need to understand even the smallest details of the business in order to
succeed. Write your views. (2)

A5. Do as directed. (2)

1) It was a remarkable place in many ways.

(Choose the correct alternative to rewrite the given sentence as an exclamatory
sentence)

i. It was a remarkable place in many ways!

ii. How a remarkable place in many ways it was!
iii. What a remarkable place in many ways it was!
iv. What remarkable in many ways the place it was!

2) He spread out his professional equipment, which consisted of a dozen cowrie

shells.
(Choose the correct alternative to rewrite the given sentence as a compound sentence)

i. He spread out his professional equipment but it consisted of a dozen cowrie

shells.
ii. He spread out his professional equipment and it consisted of a dozen cowrie
shells.
iii. He spread out his professional equipment that it consisted of a dozen cowrie
shells.
iv. He spread out his professional equipment and it had consisted of a dozen
cowrie shells.

A6. Find the synonyms for the following words from the passage. (2)
 a. Confusing
b. hanging around
c. difficult to understand
d. magical effect
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SolutionShow Solution

A1.

i. True

ii. False

iii. True

iv. True

A2.

A3. The astrologer was very good at figuring out people. He used to enhance his face
by applying sacred ash and vermilion. He knew this colour scheme would attract the
people. He also worked near the groundnut vendor intentionally because he knew the
huge crowd around the peanut vendor would someday dally towards him. The place
where he sat had minimal lighting and crisscross of lights streaming in. This gave his
place a mysterious aura which is needed for an astrologer. He said things which would
please and astonish the crowd. So the choice of his appearance and words coupled
with the location proves that the astrologer was a shrewd judge of character.

A4. Business is not everyone's cup of tea. It involves many process like marketing,
production and sales. One needs to understand every intricate detail about their
business in order to be a successful businessman. Imagine being CEO of a
Smartphone brand, but not been able to explain how your mobile is developed during
an interview will surely show you in poor light. Every aspiring entrepreneur should
remember that ‘the devil is in the details’.

A5.

1) What a remarkable place in many ways it was!

2) He spread out his professional equipment and it consisted of a dozen cowrie shells.

A6.

a. Confusing - Bewildering
b. hanging around - Dallied
c. difficult to understand - Obscure
d. magical effect - Enchantment

Concept: An Astrologer’s Day

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Q 1Q 2
Chapter 1: Section 1 : Prose - Set 1: Seen passages

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SCERT Maharashtra Question Bank 12th Standard HSC English Maharashtra State
Board
Chapter 1 Section 1 : Prose
Set 1: Seen passages | Q 1
2021-2022 (March) Model Set 1 Shaalaa.com (with solutions)
Q 1.A | 12 marks

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Read the extract and complete the activities given below:

He sat under the boughs of a spreading tamarind tree which flanked a path running through the
Town Hall Park. It was a remarkable place in many ways. A surging crowd was always moving
up and down this narrow road from morning till night. A variety of trades and occupations was
represented all along its way : medicine sellers of stolen hardware and junk, magicians and
above all, an auctioneer of cheap cloth, who created enough din all day to attract the whole
town. Next to him in vociferousness came a vendor of fried groundnut, who gave his ware a
fancy name each day, calling it "Bombay Ice Cream" one day and on the next "Delhi Almond;'
and on the third "Raja's Delicacy;' and so on and so forth, and people flocked to him. A
considerable portion of this crowd dallied before the astrologer too. The astrologer transacted
his business by the light of a flare which crackled and smoked up above the groundnut heap
nearby. Half the enchantment of the place was due to the fact that it did not have the benefit of
municipal lighting. The place was lit up by shop lights. One or two had hissing gaslights, some
had naked flares stuck on poles, some were lit up by old cycle lamps, and one or two, like the
astrologer, managed without lights of their own. It was a bewildering crisscross of light rays and
moving shadows. This suited the astrologer very well, for the simple reason that he had not in
the least intended to be an astrologer when he began life; and he knew no more of what was
going to happen to others than he knew what was going to happen to himself next minute.

A1. True/False (2)

Read the following sentences and state whether they are true or false. Correct the false
statements and rewrite them.

a. The sellers of stolen hardware and junk were the loudest in shouting to attract
customers.
b. The pathway running through the Town Hall wasn't lit by the municipal
lighting.
c. The astrologer managed to light his shop with naked flares stuck on poles.
d. It suited him well because he could foretell future with a high level of accuracy.

A2. Rearrange: (2)

Rearrange the following statements in the order of their occurrence in the extract.

a. A considerable portion of this crowd dallied before the astrologer too.

b. It was a remarkable place in many ways.
c. The place was lit up by shop lights.
d. It was a bewildering crisscross of light rays and moving shadows.

A3. Guess: (2)

Read the following sentences and write down what it means.

a. A considerable portion of this crowd dallied before the astrologer too.

b. And he knew no more of what was going so happen to others than he knew
what was going to happen to himself next minute.
A4. Suppose some people in your family consult an astrologer before taking any
decision in their lives. Describe your reaction to their superstitions and suggest some
ways to eradicate these from our society. (2)

A5. Language Study: (2)

1. Who doesn't like delicacies? (Make a declarative sentence)

2. Many promises have been given in spite of the drawbacks. (Frame a Wh-
question to get the answer underlined)

A6. Vocabulary: (2)

 surging
 moving
 manage
 intend