Friendship (Prose)

Friendship

Warm up

1. Do you have any childhood friendship that is still strong today?
2. Do you befriend others easily?
3. Recollect an unforgettable incident that happened between you and your friend(s).

Section I – Reading

Vetri was once a successful businessman in Coimbatore. Vetri Constructions was once a leading construction company. The company constructed many shopping complexes, houses and a few apartments in and around Coimbatore. Everything went well, until his father died. After his father’s death, his brothers demanded to split the wealth as they wanted to start their business.

From then on Vetri found it difficult to establish his business. He took loans to run his company, but he could not pay the loan. So, he sold all his properties and paid the loans. Vetri’s family now lived in a very small house.

Vetri though found a job did not live a great life. Therefore, he always longed to start his own new construction firm. But, he did not know where to get money from to start a company. No one was ready to lend him money. One day, as he was discussing with his wife. His wife said,

“Why don’t you ask your friend Asif? You often say that he is your good friend.”

Vetri replied,

“Yes, but he is in Chennai. He is very busy with his business, I don’t think it would be easy to meet him.”

Wife asked,

“Why don’t you give it a try?”

Vetri said,

“I haven’t seen him for a long time. What will he think of me if I ask him to help now?”

Wife said,

“Then, forget the idea to start a new business.”

Vetri after deep thought decided to meet his friend. He told his wife about his decision and left for Chennai.

Glossary

• complexes – consisting of many different and connected parts
• demanded – ask authoritatively
• establish – set up on a firm and permanent basis
• decided – having clear opinion

Fill in the blanks

1. Vetri constructions was once a leading company.
2. He took a loan to run his company.
3. Vetri’s friend is Asif.

Section II – Reading

On the day of his travel, Vetri boarded the train, his memory went back to his schooldays. They lived in the beautiful village Keelakudi, near Coimbatore. Vetri and Asif studied in a middle school which was in the outskirts of the village. The students and teachers of the school would never forget Vetri and Asif and their friendship. They were always together learning and playing.

Their friendship started on the first day of school. When Vetri's parents dropped him at the school, he started crying. Asif consoled him with a chocolate and said,

“Don’t cry, let's play together.”

After that day, they stayed together, played together and even exchanged their food. Their friendship grew stronger over time. They were always good in studies and helped each other in studies. They also helped the others with their lessons.

One day there was a quarrel between Vetri and Asif’s families, and both families stopped talking to each other. To everyone's surprise they continued to be good friends. There was always a healthy competition between them. Surprisingly the exams or the results or the marks never affected their friendship. Their friendship continued till tenth standard. Then Vetri moved to Coimbatore and Asif to Chennai. Asif started his business in Chennai and settled there. Vetri always wanted to meet his friend but never had the chance to visit Chennai.

Glossary

• boarded – get on or into a vehicle
• consoled – comfort someone at the time of grief
• exchanged – give something and receive something
• competition – an event or contest
• affected – cause a change in someone or something

Say True or False

1. Vetri lived in Keelakudi. – True
2. There was a middle school in the middle of the village Keelakudi. – False
3. Vetri and Asif were not so good in studies. – False
4. Vetri never visited Chennai. – True (before this trip)
5. Asif was a businessman. – True

Section III – Reading

Vetri went straight to Asif’s office. As he reached the gate, the security stopped him,

“Who do you want to meet sir?”

Vetri nervously said,

“I want to meet Asif, I am his friend.”

The security was astounded,

“Mr. Asif is our MD. Are you sure you want to meet him?”

Vetri hesitatingly said,

“Yes, I am his friend, from his native place.”

The security said,

“Check with the people in the reception, Sir. I don’t know if you will get an appointment.”

Vetri walked to the reception. Receptionist asked him,

“How can I help you?”

Vetri said,

“Can I meet your MD? Please tell him that Vetri from Keelakudi has come to meet him.”

Suddenly, the receptionist rose from her chair. The door behind Vetri opened, Vetri got a pat on his back.

“Finally, you found me. I saw you on the CCTV camera,” said Asif.

Vetri was dumbfound. Vetri gathered,

“No, Asif, I never got the chance to visit Chennai. Now, I have come to attend my friend’s wedding. So, I thought of meeting you.”

They spoke about their schooldays and the fun they had. Then they discussed their business. Asif took Vetri to his home for lunch. Vetri was surprised to see that everyone knows him. Asif’s wife said,

“We all know you, but this is the first time we are meeting you in person.”

He stayed till the evening and Asif dropped him in the railway station.

Vetri reached home and told his wife everything in detail. She knew her husband so she didn’t ask anything else. Two days later, Vetri received a call,

“Am I speaking to Vetri?”

Vetri said,

“Yes.”

The voice said,

“Our MD Mr. Asif, has assigned a project to you. He wants to meet you. Will you be able to come to Chennai?”

Vetri couldn’t believe it.

Glossary

• nervously – in an anxious or uneasy manner
• astounded – shocked or greatly surprised
• hesitatingly – to be reluctant or wait to act because of fear
• dumbfound – speechless
• dropped – leave a person at a place

Read and Understand

A. Choose the correct answer

1. Vetri went to Asif’s b) office
2. Vetri came to Chennai to visit his b) friend
3. Asif saw his friend on the a) CCTV

B. Choose correct synonyms for the italic word

1. Vetri constructed a bungalow. – b) built
2. Asif consoled Vetri with the chocolate. – a) comforted
3. I am living in the outskirts of the village. – a) border
4. Asif quarreled with his friend. – a) fought
5. He stood astounded. – c) shocked

C. Choose correct antonyms for the italic word

1. Vetri’s wife replied angrily. – a) calmly
2. The vegetables look fresh. – b) dull
3. Vetri had a strong will to start a new business. – c) weak
4. Vetri was surprised by his friend. – a) unsurprised
5. He spoke nervously. – b) confident

D. Answer in one or two words

1. Vetri Constructions
2. To pay the loans
3. In Keelakudi middle school
4. Two days later

E. Answer in 100 words

1. How did Vetri lose his properties?
   After Vetri’s father died, his brothers demanded to split the wealth. Vetri took loans to run his company but could not repay them. Hence, he sold all his properties to clear the debts.

2. What did Vetri do after he lost all his property?
   He took up a job to support his family but always longed to start a new construction firm.

3. How did Asif react on seeing his old friend Vetri?
   Asif was overjoyed. He greeted Vetri warmly, took him home for lunch, and later offered him a project without Vetri even asking for help.

Vocabulary

Commonly Confused Words

Pair	Meaning
Advice (noun) / Advise (verb)	recommendation / to recommend
Complement / Compliment	part of something / a nice remark
Empathy / Sympathy	understanding feelings / feeling sorrow
Inquiry (US) / Enquiry (UK)	request for information
Stationary / Stationery	not moving / writing materials
Effect (noun) / Affect (verb)	result / to influence
Lie / Lay	recline / place something down
Rise / Raise	go up / lift something up

Complete the sentences using appropriate confusable words

1. The sugar had a negative effect on the science experiment.
2. I am going to lie down for an hour.
3. The gas prices continue to rise.
4. She always gives me good advice.
5. The war had no effect on oil prices.

Anagram

Exercise:
bowl – blow
march – charm
study – dusty
snail – nails
plum – lump
chin – inch
flow – wolf
eat – tea

Antigram

Exercise:
earliest – rateliest (no direct antonym anagram; accept retails)
festival – fatalise (no direct antonym; accept least if)
funeral – real fun (antigram sense: life celebration)
violence – nice love (antigram sense: peace)

Listening

(Refer to page 230 for the passage.)

1. Who is giving the speech?
2. What did Rahul engrave in his heart?
3. Who is lucky?
4. Who bagged the 'all-rounder' award?
5. Who was throwing a birthday party?

Speaking

Picture Description
Use the given descriptive words to describe the picture.

Writing

Forms

Steps to fill application forms
1. Take a photocopy of the application.
2. Use a pencil to fill in the photocopy first.
3. Fill entries in English/Regional language as required.
4. Use capital letters.
5. Write full address with pin-code.
6. Write legibly.
7. Do not overwrite or score out.
8. Give only required details.
9. Sign and get attestations where needed.
10. Mention the date of applying.
11. Double-check before making the fair copy.

H) Fill in the form given below.

(Form image placeholder – students to fill.)

I) Fill in the Form given below.

(Form image placeholder – students to fill.)

Picto Grammar – Reported Speech

Direct vs Indirect Speech

Direct: Smith said, “I will come tomorrow.”
Indirect: Smith said that he would come the next day.

Key Changes

• Tense back-shift (Present → Past)
• Pronoun shift (I → he)
• Time/place words (now → then, here → there)
• Reporting verbs: said, told, asked, ordered, requested

A) Change into Indirect Speech

1. “What do you want?” he said to her.
   → He asked her what she wanted.

2. He said, “How's your father?”
   → He asked how his father was.

3. “Are you coming home with me?” he asked.
   → He asked if she was coming home with him.

4. The poor man exclaimed, “Will none of you help me?”
   → The poor man exclaimed whether none of them would help him.

5. “Don't you know the way home?” asked I.
   → I asked if he didn’t know the way home.

B) Change into Indirect Speech (Commands & Requests)

1. “Bring me a glass of milk,” said the sage to the villagers.
   → The sage ordered the villagers to bring him a glass of milk.

2. “Sit down, boys,” said the teacher.
   → The teacher told the boys to sit down.

3. “Halt!” shouted the officer to his men.
   → The officer commanded his men to halt.

4. “Take off your hat,” the king said to the Hatter.
   → The king ordered the Hatter to take off his hat.

5. The teacher said to him, “Do not read so fast.”
   → The teacher advised him not to read so fast.

6. He said to me, “Wait until I come.”
   → He told me to wait until he came.

7. “Hurry up,” he said to his servant, “Do not waste time.”
   → He told his servant to hurry up and not to waste time.

8. “Run away, children,” said their mother.
   → Their mother told the children to run away.

9. He said, “Daughter, take my golden jug, and fetch me some water from the Well.”
   → He told his daughter to take his golden jug and fetch him some water from the well.

10. “Go down to the bazaar. Bring me some oil and a lump of ice.” ordered his master.
    → His master ordered him to go down to the bazaar and bring him some oil and a lump of ice.

D) Arrange the jumbled actual words in order

(b) “What are you reading, Pushpa?” asked Punitha.
(g) “I am reading Robinson Crusoe,” Pushpa told her.
(f) “What is it all about?” Punitha asked.
(c) “It is about a man wrecked on an island,” Pushpa said.
(h) “Who gave you the book, Pushpa?” Punitha then asked.
(e) “My uncle gave it to me at Christmas,” answered Pushpa.
(a) “May I borrow it?” inquired Punitha.
(d) “Of course I will lend it to you,” replied Pushpa.

E) Change into Direct Speech

1. Nevin asked his father when the next letter would come.
   → “When will the next letter come?” Nevin asked his father.

2. I wrote that I would visit him next day.
   → “I will visit you tomorrow,” I wrote.

3. I told them to be quiet.
   → “Be quiet,” I told them.

4. Lakshan asked me if I had anything to say.
   → “Do you have anything to say?” Lakshan asked.

5. An old mouse asked who would bell the cat.
   → “Who will bell the cat?” asked an old mouse.

6. Mervin said that he wanted to be a soldier.
   → “I want to be a soldier,” Mervin said.

7. Ebin asked me what I wanted.
   → “What do you want?” Ebin asked.

8. Bhagya said that she had seen that picture.
   → “I have seen that picture,” Bhagya said.

9. The stranger asked Nasrin where she lived.
   → “Where do you live?” the stranger asked Nasrin.

10. I asked Mary if she would lend me a pencil.
    → “Will you lend me a pencil?” I asked Mary.

F) Reported Speech – Postcard

Sherlyn tells Galen:
Pushpa has written that yesterday they visited Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. It has 84 elephants. She said that it is the biggest herd of elephants in the world that is living under human supervision. She also added that she is glad they came there because she is learning a lot. The Elephant Orphanage is truly worth visiting. She said that tomorrow they are going to the national park. She will be returning next week and added that she is looking forward to meeting her then.

Language Check

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
Jim and me are going to the beach.	Jim and I are going to the beach.	Use subjective pronoun I.
You better to consult a doctor.	You better consult a doctor.	No to after better.
They selected him as a leader.	They selected him a leader.	No as with verbs like selected.

Practice Practice Exercises

1. Do you have any childhood friendship that is still strong today?

2. Do you befriend others easily?

3. Recollect unforgettable incident that happened between you and your friend (s) .

1. “What do you want? ” he said to her.

2. He said, “How's your father? ”

3. “Are you coming home with me? ” he asked.

4. The poor man exclaimed, “Will none of you help me? ”

5. “Don't you know the way home? ” asked I.

1. “Bring me a glass of milk,” said the sage to the villagers.

2. “Sit down, boys,” said the teacher.

3. “Halt ! ” shouted the officer to his men.

4. “Take off your hat,” the king said to the Hatter.

5. The teacher said to him, “Do not read so fast.”

6. He said to me, “Wait until I come.”

7. “Hurry up,” he said to his servant, “do not waste time.”

8. “Run away, children,” said their mother.

9. He said, “Daughter, take my golden jug, and fetch me some water from the Well.”

10. “Go down to the bazaar. Bring me some oil and a lump of ice.” ordered his master.

1. Punitha asked Pushpa what she was reading.

2. Pushpa told her that he was reading Robinson Crusoe.

3. Punitha asked her what it was all about.

4. Pushpa said it was about a man wrecked on an island.

5. Punita then asked her friend who had given her the book.

6. Pushpa answered that her uncle had given it to her at Christmas.

7. Finally Punitha inquired if she could borrow it.

8. Pushpa replied that she would certainly lend it to her.

1. Nevin asked his father when the next letter would come.

2. I wrote that I would visit him next day.

3. I told them to be quiet.

4. Lakshan asked me if I had anything to say.

5. An old mouse asked who would bell the cat.

6. Mervin said that he wanted to be a soldier.

7. Ebin asked me what I wanted.

8. Bhagya said that she had seen that picture.

9. The stranger asked Nasrin where she lived.

10. I asked Mary if she would lend me a pencil.

1 constructions was once a leading company.

2. He took a to run his company.

3. Vetri’s friend is .

Hello, Galen Today I received a postcard from Pushpa. Remember I had told you that She has gone to Sri Lanka on a holiday?. Well, she has written from Colombo. She has written that Orphanage. It elephants. She said that it is the biggest herd of elephants in the world that is living under human supervision. She also added that she because . The Elephant Orphanage . She said that national park. She next week and added that then.

1. Vetri lived in Keelakudi.

2. There was a middle school in the middle of the village Keelakudi.

3. Vetri and Asif were not so good in studies.

4. Vetri never visited Chennai.

5. Asif was a businessman.

1. Vetri went to Asif’s

a) home

b) office

c) room

2. Vetri came to Chennai to visit his .

a) father

b) friend

c) brother

3. Asif saw his friend on the

a) CCTV

b) window

c) glass

a) designed

b) built

c) demolished

d) destroyed

a) comforted

b) upset

c) distress

d) troubled

a) border

b) amidst

c) center

d) among

a) fought

b) amicable

c) peace

d) pleased

a) casual

b) excited

c) shocked

d) usual

a) calmly

b) annoyed

c) irritated

a) rotten

b) dull

c) new

a) compelling

b) powerful

c) weak

a) unsurprised

b) expected

c) predictable

a) agitated

b) confident

c) anxious

1. What was the name of Vetri’s company?

2. Why did he sell his properties?

3. Where did Vetri and Asif meet?

4. When did Vetri receive a call from Asif’s office?

1. How did Vetri lose his properties?

2. What did Vetri do after he lost all his property?

3. How did Asif react on seeing his old friend Vetri?

1. The sugar had a negative on the science experiment. (effect / affect)

2. I am going to down for an hour. (lie / lay)

3. The gas prices continue to (raise / rise)

4. She always gives me good (advice / advise)

5. The war had no on oil prices. (affect / effect)

bowl –

march –

study –

snail –

plum –

chin –

flow –

eat –

earliest –

festival –

funeral –

violence –

1. Who is giving the speech?

2. What did Rahul engrave in his heart?

3. Who is lucky?

4. Who bagged 'all-rounder' award?

5. Who was throwing a birthday party?