NCERT Solutions For Class 11 English – Speaking Skills

NCERT Solutions For Class 11 English – Speaking Skills

Speaking

The student at XI class level is expected to acquire the competency to perform the following speaking tasks effectively:

1. Taking part in group discussions/interviews.
2. Making short oral presentations on given topics.
3. Other need-based functional activities requiring oral communication.

The students and teachers will find the text book English with a Purpose quite useful as it has been designed to impart higher order language skills as well as the skill of thinking.
Since one of the learning objectives is to develop need-based functional activities requiring oral communications, various language functions have been included. A conscious effort has been made to develop the ability to communicate in a variety of situations.
Students will find the five items on Conversation Technique useful. They deal with different situations. Moreover the activity suggested below each piece will provide sufficient practice in use of variety of expressions suggested under each situation. For the benefit of the students we are giving the full material on Conversation Techniques.

Conversation Techniques (1)

Requesting and Attracting Attention
Rahul : Well, what do you think of this, Amit? Do you like this restaurant?
Amit : Oh, it looks very nice. Let s see if we can sit over there by the window so we can get a lovely view of the river.
Rahul : Oh yeah, sure. Excuse me, Miss, could we have a table over there by the window?
Waitress : No, I m, sorry, we re closing that section. Would you mind sitting over here?
Amit : Oh, all right, sure.
Rahul : Mm ….. Well, OK, I wonder what’s on the menu.
Amit : I m starving.
Rahul : We don t have a menu card. There isn t one on this table.
Amit : Rahul, do you think you could ask those people over there….
Rahul : Oh, sure. Just a minute. Excuse me, I wonder if we could …. Oh, I m sorry … They don t have one either.
Amit : Oh, I ll ask the waitress. Waitress! We d like a menu card, please.
Waitress  : Oh, I m sorry. Yes of course, here you are.
Amit : Thank you.
Rahul : Well, could you tell me the      about your specials ?
Waitress  : Oh. Well, the special today is malai kofta.
Amit : OK. Well, give me a couple of minutes to look at the menu and decide.
Waitress  : OK. I ll be right back.
Amit : OK. Thanks.

Work in Pairs
Rehearse the above conversation with your partner.
Activity : Change this situation to a departmental store where you have gone shopping or to a library where you are asking for the catalogue.
Try to use a variety of expressions like:

• Excuse me
• Pardon
• I’d be glad to
• Yes, of course
• I am sorry, but
• I would like to, but
• I would really like to help you out, but

Answers

Activity 1. In a Departmental Store
Amit : Excuse me, I want to buy some cotton shirts and trousers of my size.
Salesgirl : What’s your collar size please.
Amit : Pardon, in cms or inches?
Salesgirl : In cms please.
Amit : OK Well it is 30.
Salesgirl : I’d be glad to show you some selected pieces. I hope you’d prefer them to be white.
Amit : Yes, of course. I love putting on white. shirts.
Salesgirl : Well, we have a variety of fine textures. I’m sure you’d like this one, Sir.
Amit : Fine. But let me see whether it’s within my budget.    .
Salesgirl : It’s quite reasonably priced. It costs only 280 rupees, Sir.
Amit : OK. Please get it packed.
Salesgirl : I’ll send it to the delivery counter. Kindly collect it from there after making payment. Here’s an identification slip.
Amit : I’m sorry to disturb you, but could you guide me to the counter where I can have good grey or blue trousers.
Salesgirl : Would you please go to the second floor?
Amit : Thank you very much. I’m going there.
Salesman : What can I do for you, Sir.
Amit : I want grey or blue trousers.
Salesman : I’m sorry, trousers of your size in grey or blue colours are out of stock, but you can try jeans of these colours, if you like.
Amit : I would like to, but I must go in for a pair of trousers only.
Salesman : I’d really like to help you out, but I’m sorry it’s not possible at the moment. Could you please visit us next week? I hope, then we’ll be able to provide you the stuff you need.
Amit : Thanks for your interest.
Salesman : You’re welcome, Sir. Patron’s service and satisfaction is our motto.

Activity 2. In a Library
Rahul : Excuse me, please. I want to borrow some books on ancient history. Could you help me, please?
Asstt. Librarian  : Yes, of course. Please come here and check the books you want from the catalogue?
Rahul :  Will you please guide me how to consult the catalogue?
Asstt. Librarian  : I’d be glad to accompany you, but there’s no one else at the counter.
Rahul :  Will you please tell me how to do it?
Asstt. Librarian  : Yes, of course. I ll do that gladly. These catalogues are title-wise as well as author-wise. You may consult either.
Rahul : I am sorry, .but could you spare just a minute to give me a practical example.
Asstt. Librarian  : I would like to, but then you ll have to wait for sometime. Let me see if some restorer is at hand.
Rahul : Thank you, Sir. I ll gladly wait.
Asstt. Librarian  : I would really like to help you out, but today we re short of staff.
Rahul : I m sorry. I didn’t know that. Anyway thanks for your concern and willingness.
Asstt. Librarian  : You re always welcome. It is my duty to help readers. I m sorry I had to ask you to wait. Here comes Mukesh. He will stand at the counter. Come on, this way.
Rahul : Thank you very much, Sir.

Conversation Technique 2

Dealing with  Moods and Feelings
Sukanya : Hi, Shobhit! How was your interview?
Shobhit : It s just been one of those days …….
Sukanya : What?
Shobhit : It s terrible.
Sukanya : What s the matter?
Shobhit : Ah, I couldn’t answer a simple question ….I m blamed for it.
Sukanya : Oh, well, come on, it can t be as bad as all that.
Shobhit : Well, It is,. I’ve got to  do something about my total approach.
Sukanya : Oh, well, may be there s another way to look at it. If you follow a routine it ll take some of the pressure off you.
Shobhit : Yeah … well, there s a point.
Sukanya : Hey, look! Guess what I’ve got for you?
Shobhit : What is it?
Sukanya : A ticket for The Lost World. How about that?
Shobhit : You re a sweet little friend. Are you trying to distract me?
Sukanya : That s right.

Work in Pairs
In each situation one of you will be angry and your partner will have to calm you down.

• Things went wrong and your friend lost his/her temper.
• You are really upset because you have been blamed for a thing that you have not done.

You can use a variety of expressions like’.
What a nuisance!
That s just what I needed!
I’ve had just about enough of It makes me sick the way they Good grief!
Take it easy!
There s no reason to get so upset.
I am sorry to hear that.
I can t take much more of this.
Cheer up!
Pull yourself together.

Answers

Vinit : Hey, Mohit! How are you?
Mohit : Not well at all. Now I know, what a nuisance people are!
Vinit : What happened? Why are you so angry?
Mohit : Oh, don t repeat that question! I’ve had just about enough of it. It makes me sick the way they try to feel sorry for me and end up making a fun of me!
Vinit : Good grief! You seem to have been hurt badly.
Mohit : Well, I did all I could for them and got ungratefulness in reward. It makes me sick the way they treated me.
Vinit : Take it easy.
Mohit : They are talking rot behind my back and that double talker complained to the boss against me who rebuked me. This broke the bonds of my anger against them!
Vinit : I m sorry to hear that. But if you reflect on the way of the world, you’ll find that there is no reason to get so upset. You are simply adding to the emotional strain.
Mohit : Well, you re a dear. But, frankly speaking I can t take much more of this.
Vinit : Forget your hatred. Cool down and try to cheer up.
Mohit : Well, that s the backing that s just what I needed!
Vinit : Be a man. Pull yourself together. Let bygones be bygones. Forget and forgive.

Conversation Technique 3

Complaining and Apologising
Model I
Kenny : Pinu! Pinu!
Pinu : Hi, Kenny! How are you?
Kenny : I am fine. Thank you. How are you?
Pinu : Fine.
Kenny : Listen, I m not exactly sure how to put this, but, um………. has my dog been digging up your backyard again?
Pinu : I don t think sot Well, I haven t noticed.
Kenny : Well, I hope he hasn’t I saw him running through your yard yesterday, and ….
Pinu : Oh, that s all right. Don t worry about it. I don t mind your dog running through my backyard. Anyway, it really is a shame that there is no open space for dogs to run in this neighbourhood.
Kenny : Oh, it s true, but that s still no excuse. I’ll try and keep him on a leash so he doesn’t bother you.

Model II
Salma : Ranjit, could I … could I talk with you for a minute?
Ranjit : Oh, Hi Salma!
Salma : Ranjit, I hate to bring this up, but that new music system you got…
Ranjit : Yeah?
Salma : You were playing it late last night … It kept me awake … a couple of hours.
Ranjit : Oh, I am sorry. I didn’t realise it was that loud.
Salma : Well, it was that loud and it was pretty late.
John : Yeah, its true. It was a bit loud, but … it wasn’t really bad …
Ranjit : I am very sorry. I’ll keep it down in future.
Salma : Thank you.

Work in Pairs

• A customer complaints about the bad products to a shopkeeper. The shopkeeper apologises and replaces the product.
• You have borrowed a book from your friend and you have not returned it in time. Tender your apology to him/her.

Try these expressions:
I wonder if you could help me
I am sorry to bother you
Oh, I’m awfully sorry
I’m extremely sorry, I didn’t realise
I can’t tell you how sorry I am
What seems to be the problem, Sir?
Excuse me, there is something you could help me with
Oh, that’s all right; don’t worry about it Oh, never mind, it doesn’t really matter.

Answers

Activity 1. Customer complaints : Shopkeeper apologises
Customer : Will you please spare a minute for me?
Shopkeeper : I am at your service, sir. What can I do for you?
Customer :  I am sorry to bother you, but I can’t check myself. I must bring it to your notice.
Shopkeeper : What seems to be the problem, sir?
Customer : It is this tape recorder. It gives a very jarring sound, although I had asked for a good quality of cassette.
Shopkeeper : Let me see it. Oh, I’m awfully sorry. The trouble is not with the tape recorder, but the tape—the cassette is an inferior one.
Customer : I bought it from you. I wonder if you could help me?
Shopkeeper : Of course, I’ll replace it. I can’t tell you how sorry I am. You had to come all the way. I have inserted the new cassette. That’s all right; don’t worry about it.
Customer : That’s OK. Thank you for the trouble.
Shopkeeper : You are welcome, Sir. Please do visit us again.

Activity 2 : Borrowed book, not returned : Tender apology
Tripti : Hi, Dipti. It’s long since I saw you.
Dipti : Hellow, Tripti. Where were you all these days?
Tripti : Oh dear, I was busy preparing for my unit tests. And that’s why I couldn’t return your maths book. I am awfully sorry. You must be quite annoyed with me.
Dipti : Not at all. Since you have explained it.
Tripti : But you must have faced a lot of problem revising your course. I am extremely sorry.
I didn’t realise you were also preparing for the unit tests.
Dipti : Oh, that’s all right. Don’t worry about it. I had everything ready in my notebook.
Tripti : I feel so annoyed with myself. What a selfish wretch I have been!
Dipti : You needn’t curse yourself. You have explained everything and I readily forgive you. You needn’t apologise.
Tripti : I can’t tell you how sorry I am.
Dipti : Oh, never mind, it doesn t really matter.
Tripti : It s awfully nice of you.

Conversation Technique 4

Preventing Interruptions and Interrupting Politely
Shieba : You know, Maneesh, I feel that the developers are using up the’ best farmland for building apartments.
Maneesh : Yes, you re right, but . . .
Shieba : Oh, but another thing. I mean, of course we need places for people to live.
Naseem : But, I am sorry to interrupt, do they have to take some of the best farmland to build it?
Maneesh : Well, I know, but let s face it. We have more people, and they need housing, and industry has to be developed.
Shieba : Yes, but the way I see it is that one shouldn’t take the best farmland to build apartments.
Naseem : You know, Shieba, I think you’ve got a good point there. Now, Maneesh, what you were saying is right too, but I think … it’s time for people to fight back.
Shieba : That s right. But the thing is, the developers have had their way long enough, and it’s ….
Maneesh : Rahul, you’ve been very quiet up to now. What do you think about all this?
Rahul : Well, you know, I would like to mind my own business …
Shieba : You mean you re not interested in belling the cat?
Rahul : Well no. I m really …
Naseem : I m sorry to interrupt, but it s time for lunch!

Work in groups of three or four and discuss different aspects of human rights, animal rights and rights of children.
You can use these expressions:
Well, lets see now
You know
The thing is
Well
In fact
Sorry to Interrupt
That reminds me
By the way.

Answers  

Class-room Activity
One example is given : Rights of Children
Shaheen : You know, Anju, we children are suffering day by day.
Anju : Well, let s see what you want to say.
Shaheen : The thing is that the rights of children are being systematically ignored.
Anju : By the way, what do you mean by that?
Shaheen : At home parents order us about : Do this don’t do that and here the teachers they are just like non-commissioned officers. They never think of our rights.
Anil : Sorry to interrupt you, but have you ever thought of their concern as well?
Anju : Oh, that s their duty.
Anil : That reminds me of an old story. People always think of their rights and not of their duties.
Shaheen : But children must have some sort of freedom to do as they want, dress as they like and read what they desire.
Anil : OK. You’ll get all that as you finish your schooling and have vacations. Then do as you like.

Conversation Technique 5

1. Describing People and Places
Poesy : Hello?
John : Hi, Poesy! Its John Monty.
Poesy : Oh, hi, John. How are you?
John : Fine, thank you.
Poesy : I want to ask you some questions about Rohit Modi. You know him, don t you?
John : Well, sure.
Poesy : What s he like?
John : Well Rohit is a nice boy with a fine heart. He is about twenty-six, six feet, and has dark wavy hair.
Poesy : Oh, that sounds nice. Is he a formal kind of a guy?
John : Oh, no. He is a simple boy and loves to wear informal clothes and is very cooperative too.
Poesy : Oh, I see. A simple boy and with a great heart!
John : By the way, why are you asking about him?
Poesy : Oh, didn’t I tell you, we were expecting a new neighbour?
John : Oh yes, it was yesterday.
Poesy : That s right. Rohit will be my new neighbour.

2. You often visit different places. Before going there you ask Rohit many questions about the town, city, village, to the people who are familiar with these places.
Here are some of the questions you may need to ask.
Where is it?
What are the beautiful buildings and monuments there?
How does it look?
How do you get there?
What is interesting or unusual about it?

Answers

Priya : Hellow, Rohit.
Rohit : Hi, Priya! How do you do?
Priya : I m fine. Could you please tell me where Hawa Mahal is?
Rohit : It is in Jaipur. It is a wonderful facade. People admire it for its great quality of architecture and fine workmanship.
Priya : What are the other beautiful buildings and monuments there?
Rohit : You can visit Maharani s Palace, Sahelio ki Bari, Jantar Mantar and Amer Fort.
Priya : I’ve heard a lot about Jaipur? How does it look?
Rohit : Jaipur is called the Pink City. It is a beautifully planned city. All the buildings are pink coloured.
Priya : How do we get there?
Rohit : You may go by air, deluxe bus or train. The most enjoyable is a journey by Palace on Wheels.
Priya : What interesting or unusual about it?
Rohit : It is a luxury train with the old world atmosphere and modern amenities.
Priya : You have aroused my curiosity. By the way, which is the best time to go there?
Rohit : You may go there in October or in March. You will find the weather very pleasant then.
Priya : Thank you very much.
Rohit : You’re welcome.

Testing Speaking Skills

In order to test the speaking skills, the following types of tasks may be set:
A. Narration based on a sequence of pictures.
In this section the candidate will be required to use narrative language.
B. Description of a picture (can be pictures of people or places).
C. Speaking on a given topic to test recall of a personal experience.
Note:
•  The duration of the speaking test should not be less than 5 minutes for each candidate.
• At the start of the examination the examiner will give the candidate some time to prepare for the task.
• Once the candidate has started speaking, the examiner should intervene as little as possible.
• Topics chosen should be within the personal experience of the examine such as: relating a funny anecdote, retelling the theme of a book read or a movie seen recently.

Let us study examples of each of the three types:

Type A : Narration Based On a Sequence Of Pictures
See the following sequence of pictures and then narrate the incident depicted by them:

Solved Examples

Example 1:

Answer:
A boy is walking by the roadside. He is eating banana. He is enjoying himself. He casually throws the banana skins on the road. The peals litter the road. An old man passes by that way. He happens to put his foot on one of the banana peals. And lo and behold the man slips as if on an ice rink. He has great difficulty in getting up. He walks away lamely. Evidently he is cursing the mischief maker. The boy enjoys the trick. He wants to have more fun. He throws more banana-skins there. Attracted by the smell, a bull comes there. It begins to eat them. Finding the boy near the bull, it charges for him. The boy runs for his life. He slips on banana peel and hurts himself. He shouts for help. The bull gores him with his horn and throws him aside. He lies there bleeding and crying in pain. He gets what he deserves punishment and not fun.

Example 2:


Answer:
Gopal and Arun are friends. Arun has come from the city to spend some days with Gopal in his village. One day Gopal’s cow strays in the field. The two boys go out in search of the cow. They see her grazing in the field. They move towards it. The cow is frightened. She begins to run. The boys give her a chase. Electric wires are going across the field. By chance Arun s hand touches a broken wire hanging down. He screams with pain. Gopal holds his shirt. He tries to pull Arun back. His effort is futile. He takes off his plastic slippers. He hits Arun’s hand. Arun is separated from the wire. The electric shock is severe. He falls down. Gopal does not feel panicky. He gives his friend first aid and revives his friend. The two friends smile and return to the village. The cow comes after them slowly and peacefully.

Example 3:


Answer:
Santa Singh is a taxi driver. He works very hard and sometimes he feels very tired. It is hot summer afternoon. He feels thirsty. Leaving his taxi on the road, he goes to a roadside restaurant (Dhaba) to have a glass of buttermilk (lassi). Carelessly, he leaves the vehicle in a running condition. Two kids of about 4-5 years see it empty and enter it. Out of fun and curiosity, they begin to tinker with the various switches. Suddenly, the taxi begins to run. A young girl working by the road sees it. She realises that the life of the children is in danger. She knows that the road slopes down and ends in a ditch. She takes courage and gets into the taxi. She does not know how to apply the brakes. So she holds the two kids and jumps out of the running vehicle. She hurts her leg but saves two precious lives. The taxi moves down the slope, falls in the ditch, and catches fire.

Example 4:

Answer:
A little negligence may sometimes prove quite costly. Little Shishir is exploding crackers on Diwali evening. His elder sister is with him. His parents are making preparations for Diwali worship. The two children are happy. Their fireworks leave a blaze of multi coloured light. The flying sparks and the loud sound of their bursting please their young hearts. One of the crackers fails to burst for some time. Shishir moves towards it. Suddenly it bursts. Instead of rising upwards, it moves towards Shishir. It strikes Shishir on his right thigh and then hits the curtain on the door. The cries of Shishir and flames of the burning curtain bring the parents and neighbours to the scene. Shishir s father holds him in his arms and rushes to a doctor. His mother with the help of neighbours extinguishes the fire. Luckily, the damage is not much, but it is an eye- opener Do not play with fire. Have a crackerless Diwali ƒ it seems to say.

Example 5:

Answer:
Train accidents have become very common these days. Just today I have witnessed a ghastly incident. The 2351 up the Yamini Express was on its way to Patna. Known for its speed and comfort, the train is always packed to capacity. Today, however, luck seemed to have run out. The driver reached the bridge across the Sone river. As the engine crossed it, he felt some vibrations. He applied the emergency brakes. Another coach crossed the bridge. Just then the bridge gave way.
What I saw was horrible. Two coaches fell headlong in the river. One was hanging precariously down the track. Three coaches had struck one-another with great impact. Two of them had telescoped into each other. The loud sound of the collision and cries of the wounded passengers rent the air. People from nearby village and army personnel travelling in the other coaches rushed to help the victims. They rescued many wounded persons. The railway relief team reached after two hours.

TYPE B : DESCRIPTION OF A PICTURE
(Peoples / Places)
The description of a person may include:

1. physical features
2. character/general impression
3. something about his/her habits
4. comparison with others
5. identification

The description of a place, a building or a room could include:

1. some factual information
2. some impressions
3. some human interest

Note. While describing a place, writers generally bring in some reference to people or human activity. This adds a bit of life to the description. Otherwise mere factual description becomes dull and monotonous.
However, sometimes we are required to give only facts and nothing else, e.g., describing the layout of a building, going street directions, etc.
So try to stick to facts but make the description attractive.

Look at the pictures given below and write descriptions of each in the space provided:

Example 6:

Answer:

The Mall, Shimla

Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh. Before Independence, Shimla had the privilege of being the summer capital of British India. Patronised officially and socially, its fame spread for its soothing climate and glorious life. In those days except aristocracy, Indians were not allowed to use the Mall. The railway toy train between Kalka and Shimla covers about 100 km and passes through 103 tunnels.
Shimla has exhilarating climate and innumerable beauty spots. Shimla s Mall is now a feast to a visitor s eyes with its riot of colours. Scandal Point at the Ridge is Shimla s centre for gossip and informal discussion. The place between the Scandal Point and the Ridge forms the most attractive part of Shimla. There is a bench near the library on the Ridge. It is one of the first benches installed at the site. It commands a wonderful view. During the British rule people were allowed to occupy the bench only if they paid one taka (two paisa of those days). It is still known as the Taka Bench and is still a romantic rendezvous (meeting place). However, it is Shimla s Mall with its bright shop signs, neon lights and other attractions which has a fairy tale charm. Here you can meet young people from all over India.

Example 7:
Gandhiji The Father of the Nation

Answer:
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2nd October, 1869 at Porbandar in Kathiawad State of Gujarat. His father was the Diwan of the Kathiawad State. His mother was a pious lady. He was married at a young age while he was a student. After receiving his early education in India, he went to England for higher studies. He studied law there. He returned to India as a bar-at-law.0
Gandhiji went to South Africa to plead the case of a client. The Indian settlers and businessmen were treated very badly there. Gandhiji got a personal experience of racial prejudice there. He was thrown out of first class compartment despite possessing a valid ticket. Gandhi devised the tools of peace, truth, non-violence and non-co-operation to fight injustice and oppression. When he came back to India, he took an active part in the freedom struggle. He raised a voice of protest against the evil deeds of the Britishers, but he did not hate the individuals. His motto was hate the sin and not the sinner. He went to jail many times. He loved the downtrodden and the untouchables. He lived among them and called them Harijans. He worked for Hindu-Muslim unity. People called him Bapu, Mahatma and the Father of the Nation . He led India to freedom, but he was shot dead on 30 January 1948.

Example 8:

Taj Mahal

Answer:
The Taj was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal. It is made of white marble and stands on the bank of river Yamuna at Agra. It is said that twenty thousand skilled workers took 22 years to build it. The approach to the mausoleum is through a garden with a central water channel having fountains.
The pathways are lined with cypress trees.
The Taj stands on a raised platform. There are four white tapering minarets at the four corners. The main building has a magnificent white dome in the centre. The entrance to the tomb chamber is very charming. Verses from the Holy Quran are engraved in black on white marble. There are graves of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal within the grave chamber. A pierced marble screen surrounds the royal graves. These are decorative graves. The real ones are beneath them on the ground level. We find intricate designs and lattice work on marble screens and engravings near entrances. The mausoleum is extremely symmetrical. Every part is protionate to the whole. It is really a dream in marble.

Example 9:
My Lovable Grandfather

Answer:
My grandfather is more than seventy years old, but he is quite hale and hearty. Like other old persons, he doesn t have many wrinkles on his face, rather he has a chubby face. He goes for a long morning walk daily. There sitting in the city park, he enjoys the company of his friends and gossips with them. He is a member of the citizen s forum and devotes most of his spare time to social welfare activities. However, he has made it a point to reserve a couple of evening hours for us, his grandchildren. Then he plays with us, listens to our difficulties, gives suggestions, solves our problems and gives us encouragement. We feel mentally refreshed in his company. He is ever smiling. He laughs a lot and makes others laugh. He has his share of sorrows as well.
But he does not brood over them. He has accepted them as part of life. Sometimes he feels very lonely and sad. Then he hears devotional music. He is teetotaller and leads a virtuous life. We love our grandfather most.

Example 10:
See the picture of Ajanta caves given below and using your own ideas write a brief description:
ARTISTIC CAVES OF AJANTA

Answer:
The Ajanta caves are 106 kms from Aurangabad (in Maharashtra). Local buses ply regularly. There are 30 caves in all. These caves are all Buddhist caves. It is said that these were excavated (dug out) between the 3rd and 7th century by Buddhist monks. These caves are among the greatest wonders of India. The caves are cut into a horse-shoe-shaped rock and generations of Buddhist monks worked here with their hammers and chisels. Many of these caves have the most elaborately carved facades (fronts) and rich sculptural ornamentation. These caves have the most perfect specimens of Indian mural painting and show the artistic excellence attained by the ancient Indian sculptors and painters. The frescoes are still bright and well defined.

TYPE C : SPEAKING ON A GIVEN TOPIC
(to test recall of a personal experience)

As per examination specifications, the topics chosen should be within the personal experience of the examinee such as relating a funny anecdote, retelling the theme of a book read or a movie seen recently.

HOW TO MAKE A SPEECH

A speech is an oral activity and as such listeners must be able to understand what is being said. Otherwise their attention is diverted. A good speaker has the ability to speak forcefully and convincingly.
The golden rule is think before you speak. Have the facts ready. Then comes order or sequence. While recalling a past personal experience, relate the actions in the order they took place. It must contain matter and words which should promote sustained interest.
The beginning of a speech should be forceful. The aim is to catch the attention of the audience. One may start with a question, a startling fact, a prominent statistics, making some personal references, etc.
Please remember that a speech and speaker are equally a part of each other. Your emotions and tonal qualities of the voice will make better impression if you match them with the words, matter and mood. Students are advised to go through the Conversations Skills Assessment Scale.

SOLVED EXAMPLES

Example 1:
Your new servant is in the habit of relating ghost stories. These frighten your younger brother and sister. They confide their problem in you. All of you decide to teach the cook a lesson. Relate what happened when you played the ghost.
Answer:

WHEN WE ENACTED THE GHOSTS

Sir/Madam,
I am very thankful to you for allotting me a topic which is very dear to me. It gives me a great pleasure to recall an incident in which I played the hero and which provided fun to all and harm to none.
One night we dedcided to teach Gopi, our cook, a lesson. We selected the darkest evening. It was cloudy and windy. We retired to bed on one pretext or the other. At 11 p.m. we entered the kitchen. All of us were wrapped in white sheets. We had put on dark masks with black eyes and face. We had specially designed bamboo sticks to walk on. We had also recorded the music of some horror films. At first, four of us switched our torches on and off five times at an interval of five seconds. Then we played the music. I pulled the sheet that covered Gopi.
He gave his body a jerk and opened his eyes. His body began to tremble. We increased the volume of music and the intensity as well as frequency of flashes of our torch. We surrounded him and began to dance. Poor Gopi, he imagined, he was in the grip of real ghosts. He gave a loud cry and fell down. We switched on the light and threw some water on his face. He was still amazed. Then we threw aside our masks and crutches. Gopi promised never to frighten the youngsters.

Example 2:
Your uncle recently presented a book to you. Your mother found you poring over it and asked you to tell her in brief about it. Tell her its theme in about 200 words:
Answer:

THE BOOK I READ RECENTLY

Recently uncle Anurag presented me a copy of Animal Farm written by George Orwell. It is an excellent animal fable and a masterpiece in its own right. The animals Major, the pig; Clover, the mare; Boxer, the horse, dogs, cows, pigs, sheep, hen, cats, rats etc.
Animal Farm is a powerful political satire on dictatorship, more particularly on Stalinist regime that exploited the naive co-operation of the masses and defeated the cause of Russian Revolution. The allegory is full of shrewd and subtle shafts directed at the cunning and cynical communist manipulation of common masses, events and facts. The book sustains the reader s interest by its good humour, witty dialogues and lively descriptions.*
The opening chapter itself sets the key-note. It dwells on the need for a rebellion against the tyranny of Man. The speaker is Major, a pig of twelve, near his death. He wants to confide to the animals the dream he had the last night. Before it, he speaks about their miserable life and holds man responsible for their ills and problems. The animals here stand for the exploited and oppressed the have-nots or the underprivileged class. They are exhorted to rebel against the oppressor, the exploiter, the Haves or the capitalist class.

Example 3:
You have recently seen a movie The Pedestrian. Retell in 200 words the theme of the film:
Answer:

THE PEDESTRIAN

The Pedestrian is based on science fiction. It describes how much progress science is likely to make in the next century and influence the lifestyle, manners, behaviour, thinking and actions of man in the highly developed scientific society.
The scientific society has developed to such an extent that it fulfils the basic needs of people easily and has extended their leisure hours. People have all physical means of comfort. Their cars move smoothly and fast during day time but at night there is no traffic on the roads. People stay in doors and enjoy television programmes. People like Mead who stroll at night on the roads of the city are exceptions. The authorities consider such a person mentally deranged. He has no profession as he does not make any meaningful contribution to the society. He claims to be a writer, but has written no books for the last so many years. The reason is obvious. People do not read books printed on paper. This highly developed city has no law and order problem as there are no crimes. The unmanned Police Patrol Car asks Mead to get in and drives him to a Psychiatric Research Centre. The book presents a facet of the dehumanised society we may have in the near future.

Example 4:
Yesterday you missed the school bus and had to travel in an overcrowded city bus from your residence in Jal Vihar, across the Yamuna to your school, Air Force Central School, Dhaula Kuan, Delhi. On being asked by the teacher to explain the cause of your being late, you relate your experience:
Answer:
Sir,
You will forgive my being late when you listen to my ordeal in an overcrowded bus. As ill luck would have it, I missed the school bus and had to travel from Jal Vihar to Dhaula Kuan in an overcrowded city bus. It was 8 a.m. on a hot Monday morning in rainless July. The pushing and jostling of the passengers made life uneasy for a thinly built person like me. The sudden stop by emergency brakes added to our problems. The passengers got such a sudden jerk that they fell forward. The heads of two or three persons struck against the iron bars and started bleeding. Some little children were trampled under the feet. I tried to pick¬up a child. Someone elbowed me so hard that I fell between the seats. It was with great difficulty that others extracted me. When I was able to move my hands, I found to my horror that my pocket had been picked. Luckily, I had some loose coins in my trousers inner pocket. I bought a ticket and struggled to reach the front door. My soiled and creased clothes would amply confirm what I have related above.

Example 5:
On the occasion of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations your school organised a Blood Donation Camp also. You were one of the donors. Relate your experiences:
Answer:
A Blood Donation Camp was organised in our school last week. It was the auspicious occasion of the Silver Jubilee of the Foundation Day of our school. The Camp was in-augurated by the Deputy Commissioner. He was the first to donate blood. Many prominent persons of the city also volunteered to donate blood. Then came the turn of parents, teachers and other non-teaching members of the staff. Students of the senior classes did not lag behind. The example of our Principal inspired many young boys and girls to come forward and spontaneously offer to donate blood.
The team of doctors first checked the haemoglobin and only then collected samples of blood. All the donors were given milk and apples. By 4 p.m., 350 persons had donated blood. The Blood Donation Camp was a hit. Everybody termed it a great success.
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