Past and Present Poem Exercise Class 10 Solved
1. Vocabulary in Use
Find the rhyming words for the following words from the poem:
Example:
white – light
born: morn sun: morn
day: away set: yet
swing: wing high: sky
joy: boy
ii. Fill in the blank spaces with the appropriate form of the words in the boldface from the poem.
a. The tree on which the poet's brother used
to set the laburnum is still there.
b.
The sun used to peep in the poet's house in the
morning through the little window of the house.
c. The poet used to think the air must rush
as fresh to swallows on the wings.
d. The poet used to think the slender
tops of the trees might touch the sky.
e. The poet said that his spirit
used to fly in feathers then but now it’s so heavy.
iii. Match
the words in column A with their meanings in B.
2.Reading comprehension.
Past and Present Poem Question Answers Class 10
Read the
poem again, and answer these questions.
a. Who composed this poem? (Past and Present poem)
Ans: Thomas Hood
composed the poem.
b. What is the poem about? (Past and Present poem)
Ans: The poem is
about the childhood memories and present events of the writer.
c. What does the poet remember in the first stanza? (Past and Present Poem)
Ans: The poet
remembers the house where he was born and the window through which the sunlight
entered the house in the first stanza.
d. What does he wish in the first stanza? (Past and Present poem)
Ans: He wishes if the night had borne his mouth away in the first stanza.
e. What does he remember in the second stanza? (Past and Present poem)
Ans: He remembers the roses, violets, lily cups, lilacs and laburnum in the second stanza.
f. How does the poet describe his childhood in the third stanza? (Past and Present poem)
Ans: The poet
describes his childhood in the third stanza as being very happy and energetic.
g. Was the poet really closer to heaven when he was a child? Why does he think so?
Ans: Yes, the poet was really closer to heaven when he was a child. He thinks so because of
his childhood ignorance.
ii. Fill in the gaps with suitable words or
phrases from the box.
in
the morning swing born cool spirit brother
present
slender childhood joy
Summary of Past and Present poem Class 10
In the poem ‘Past and Present’, the poet initially portrays his childhood and the house where he was born. Those beautiful days when the sun rays came peeping through his window in the morning are still vivid in his memory. In the second stanza, he remembers the days of his childhood where he used to see and feel the beautiful colours of roses and lilies and lilacs. In the same way, he talks about the tree in which he and his brother used to set the laburnum on his brother’s birthday.
The third and fourth stanzas show the contrast experience of his past and present. He vividly
remembers how he used to swing, enjoy the breeze and wind. In the same way, he
was all energetic and high in spirit. But now, he does not have the energy to
lift his spirit. The water in the pool was cool and pleasant but now it is not
cool enough to cool his fever. Finally, he says how he used to think in the
wildest manners about fir trees and their slender tops which could touch the
sky. Now he misses the joy of his childhood and realizes that nothing is
attainable.
My childhood days were filled with joy and happiness. I was the youngest member of my family, and I had the freedom to do whatever I wanted. I used to go to bed early and get up late. I used to cry loudly if I wasn't given the things I wanted. I used to watch cartoons a lot.
But now, everything has changed. I have to get up early, do homework, help my parents in their household chores and involve in different social activities. I read novels and watch sports on the television when I am free. My days at present are hectic and tiresome.
Discuss the table below with your friends, and match the activities in column A to the activities in column B.
Answer:
a. Now I play volleyball.
b. Now I sing modern songs.
c. Now I sleep alone.
d. Now I drink coffee.
e. Now I prepare the meal by myself.
f. Now I listen to music.
g. Now I put on school uniform.
h. Now I write stories myself.
Imagine you
have been to the nearest city after 5
years. Now write at least ten changes you have noticed there.
I live at
Shankarpokhari in Parbat. Last Saturday I went to Kusma. I found lots of
changes there. There used to be small houses with thatched roofs, but now there
are big concrete buildings. There were very few houses but now the city has
become bigger. There are many houses. There used to be small streets around the
small city but now they are widened and blacktopped. Very few people used to go
to school, but now every child goes to school.
There used to be only one school in the city but there are many private schools around the city with boarding facilities. The hospital used to be of the poor facility but different modern types of equipment have been added and people get advanced health services nowadays. People had more leisure time, but now everyone seems to be busy. New plants have been grown making the city green. People used to throw garbage everywhere in the street, but now the streets are clean. People used to be familiar with each other since the city was small, but they are indifferent to each other now.
Wangden has
been working as an interpreter in a trekking company for five years. He
prepares a report on how the company has undergone change over time. Complete
the report.
When I
joined the office, there used to be only 20 staff. Now there are 50. The
company used to have only one office here in Kathmandu, but there are 10 other
branches in different districts now. Nearly 2,000 tourists used to come to the
company annually, but now the number has exceeded to10,000 every year. The
company used to hire many employees on a seasonal basis, but now most of the
employees are made permanent. The company used to focus on business only, but
now it has been involved in different social and altruistic activities to
uplift common people's living standards. Now it has become one of the leading
companies in the field of trekking service in Nepal
Follow up
Activity
Recall the
first day of your school. Tell your friends at least five exchanges as you have
experienced.
: In the
beginning days of my school, I used to be shy and nervous. But now I am frank
and friendly to everyone. There used to be only three small buildings, but now
there are two big buildings with many rooms. And the rooms are well furnished
now. There did not use to be a playground, but now there is one. We used to
play indoor games only, but now we play different indoor and outdoor games.
There used to be very few teachers but there are sufficient teachers now. The
teachers did not use to be familiar with modern technologies, but now they use
multimedia and computers in teaching. There did not use to be a hostel, but now
there is a hostel facility for those who want to stay.
Time for
Writing
Do you remember your childhood days? Do you still have the same habits that you had in your childhood? Write an account of your childhood experience.
My Childhood Experience
As I was a member of a joint family, my desires were not fulfilled much. Thus I used to quarrel to make my dreams come true. Only during Dashain, my parents used to buy new clothes for me. During Dashain time, we used to wear new clothes and play swing for the whole day. We often used to go to Deusi and Bhailo in Tihar. My grandfather used to love me very much and my grandma used to tell good bedtime stories. Frequently, I used to sleep on the lap of my grandmother and my auntie used to bathe me. My mother used to help me do my homework but I used to be lazy to accomplish it without her help. Thus, I used to be punished very frequently. But I never used to tell lies. During that time, I did not play dust, marbles and other such games as many of my colleagues did. But my life has completely changed now. I have become a responsible person and care about my future. I cannot be indifferent to my duties and career as I was before.