ICSE ENGLISH

Class VIII  English Grammar Chapter 19 Exercise 1. Exercise 2.

Extract I. Q1. Where does this scene take place? Whom does 'she' refer to in the first line of the extract? What is said about her in the extract? Ans. The scene takes place in a street in Venice. In the first line 'she' refers to the rumour or report which is personified as an old woman. When Salarino talks about Antonio's ship, Salanio wishes that rumour may prove to be a big liar in this case as any old woman who ever gossiped with our neighbours over her gingerbread cakes and made her neighbours believe that she mourned sincerely for the death of her third husband. Q2. What was said earlier about the place where a ship of Antonio was wrecked? Where did the news about the ship-wreckage spread? Ans. Earlier, it was told that Antonio's ship was wrecked in the sea, at a spot known as Goodwin. The news about the ship's wreckage spread at the Rialto, the place where the merchants met for transactions. Q3. Give the meaning of: "without any slips of prolix...

Act 2 - Scene 9 Extract 1. Q 1. What proper honour is given to Arragon to indicate that he is a prince? Ans. To honour Arragon as a prince, trumpets were sounded as he entered the room and Portia addressed him as 'noble prince.' Q 2. Enumerate the conditions in the oath which Arragon was supposed to take. Ans. Arragon is bound by oath to observe three conditions. First he must never reveal to any person which of the caskets has chosen. Second, if he does not win Portia, he should not woo any other lady. Third, if he chooses wrongly, he must depart at once without any further words. Q 3. Which conditions in the oath Arragon keeps at the end of the scene? Ans. Arragon kept the last condition, i.e. to leave at once without further saying anything, at the end of the scene. Q 4. How wise is it to arrange marriages through a lottery system where chance plays a significant role? How does Nerissa justify the system in Portia's case? Ans. It is not wise to arrange marriages through ...

Act 2 Scene 8 Extract I. Q 1. What is meant by 'a passion so confused, so strange, outrageous, and so variable'? Why was the Jew so excited? Answer: In the given lines, Salanio says that he has not seen such an outburst of anger, so confused, so strange, excessive and frequently changing as is shown by the Jew.  Shylock discovers that his daughter has eloped after robbing him of his money and jewellery. This makes him excited and furious with grief and despair.  Q 2. Earlier, how the jew troubled the Duke? Where did the Duke go and what were his findings? Answer: Earlier, Shylock disturbed the Duke with his complaints against Lorenzo and Jessica. He made such a huge disturbance that the Duke had to attend to his demands. He even accompanied the Duke to the docks to search for Jessica. By the time they reached the place, the ship had already sailed. The Duke was told by someone that Lorenzo and Jessica had been seen together in a gondola. Q 3. Besides money, what else did the J...

Act 2 Scene 7 Extract 1   1. Who is asked to draw aside the curtains? Who is asked to make his choice?   Ans: Portia asks one of her attendants to pull apart the curtains so that the different caskets are made visible. The prince Morocco is asked to make the choice.   2. What does Portia say later to the prince regarding the right casket? Ans: After reading the inscription on the three caskets, Morocco asks Portia how he will know if he chooses the right casket. Portia replies that her portrait will be in the right  casket. If he selects that one, then she will be his wife     3. Which casket does the Prince of Morocco finally choose? What are the reasons for his choice? Ans: The Prince of Morocco finally chooses the golden casket. Morocco argues that an ugly metal like lead cannot  contain the portrait of a saintly person like Portia. He also thinks that Silver is ten times inferior to gold , so it cannot contain Portia's portrait as sh...