Textbook 7
The Victory
Alexander the Great had won many battles. His desire was to conquer the
world.
“Proceed to the Golden Bird,” he ordered his brave generals.India was
known as the Golden Bird in the world at that time. With Alexander’s command,
the generals consulted the map and the army turned towards India. It crossed the
mighty Himalayas through the long terrain in the cold, entered the country and
reached the river Sindhu. There was a battle between Alexander’s army and the
army of King Puru of India. King Puru was defeated, and was made captive.
With the first victory in India, Alexander was very happy.
After the days’ battle when Alexander’s army was resting, he mounted his
horse Bucephalus and quietly slipped out of the tent to see more of the Indian
countryside. Alexander moved on the streets and drove his horse on and on. The
houses remained dark, without lights. The women were wailing, children were
crying. Alexander felt no pity. Instead he felt proud of his own victory.
Soon he turned his horse on the other side, towards the jungle. As he
moved further, he noticed a bonfire at a distance. He went closer and found
some Indian Saints performing the yagya (religious ritual) on the bank of the
Sindhu. He stood quietly behind the thick trunk of a tree.
It was winter time. The wind was blowing and it was extremely cold. The
saints wore no clothing on the upper parts of their bodies. Alexander said to himself,
‘Oh, they are poor and they do not have anything to cover their bodies.’ He
felt sorry for the saints, ‘l must do something for these naked fakirs.’ It was night
already. He went back to his tent, woke up his chief general and said, “Bring thick
woollen blankets and woollen clothes immediately. I need them urgently.”
Heaps of thick blankets and woollen clothes were brought. In no time they
were loaded on horses and Alexander himself led them, riding back to the jungle.
The caravan stopped where the saints were performing the yagya. Alexander
2
8 Textbook
found the saints were still busy chanting hymns. He moved his horse closer but the
saints took no notice of the presence of Alexander and his caravan. In order to get
their attention, Alexander patted his horse, and coughed. Still no one paid any attention.
Alexander got irritated now. He dismounted and proceeded towards the
oldest saint. The saint did not notice and Alexander felt totally ignored. Then he
approached one of the saints and called, “Fakir, listen, I am the famous Alexander
the Great.”
The saint looked up and asked coolly and very sweetly, “What do you want,
young man? What can I do for you?”
Alexander was taken aback with the question. He paused. “Well...well, I
don’t want anything from you. I am Alexander the Great, I have conquered your
Hindustan.” Alexander announced proudly. He continued, “When I saw you
people naked in this cold weather, I brought woollen blankets and clothes for all of
you.”
The saint threw a sharp glance at Alexander. He came closer and put his
hand on Alexander’s shoulder.
“Young man, so you are the famous Alexander, who conquers the countries
by robbing them?” The saint gave a loud laugh and asked, “Tell me, my child,
how can a robber be a conqueror and a giver?” And the saint looked deep into
Alexander’s eyes.
Alexander turned pale, not knowing what to say. He stood still like a
statue. The saint continued, “Well, my child if you really want to conquer the
world, first win the hearts of the countrymen with love. As for us, we have
renounced the world and we do not need anything. Whatever is left with us now,
we can give that too. Now tell me, what do you want?”
Alexander could not believe his ears. He had never seen or heard things
like this. The feeling of guilt made him sad suddenly. He saluted the saint.
Without saying a word, he mounted his horse and went back to his camp. The
caravan followed the master.
It was dawn and Alexander could hear the chattering of birds. He had
come to his decision, and, he stopped his forward march. He released King Puru
and put off his future plans to conquer other parts of India.
- Deepawali Debroy
Textbook 9
Glossary
victory /'vIktJri/ success
terrain /tJ'reIn/ piece of land, considered especially as a place
for a battle
wail /weIl/ cry out with grief
caravan /'k&rJv&n/ company of travellers across the desert
pat /p&t/ touch lightly with the flat hand
renounce /rI'naUns/ to give up
Exercises
Vocabulary
A. Find words in the lesson which have the meanings given below :
1 large fire made out of doors for pleasure or to burn dead leaves in a
garden
2 got down from a horse
3 part of the body between the neck and the top of the arm
4 success in battle or in a game
5 cloth shelter as used by soldiers
B Refer to a dictionary and find out the meanings of the following. Use
them in sentences. You can use the sentences given in the dictionary as
models.
Countryside, winter, chanting, taken aback, dawn
C Notice the past tense of verbs ending with ‘-ed’ are pronounced in three
different ways /t/, /d/ and /id/
Examples : asked /A:skt/
10 Textbook
charged /tSA:dZd/
counted /kaUntid/
Now pay attention to the pronunciation of the past tense forms of the following
words and pronounce them in the class.
ordered, consulted, entered, turned, slopped
D. Listen and put the following verbs in the correct columns.
lived, died, loved, stayed, finished, started, looked, liked, conquered,
announced, coughed, laughed, wanted
/t/ /d/ /id/
looked loved started
____________ ____________ ____________
____________ ____________ ____________
____________ ____________ ____________
____________ ____________ ____________
____________ ____________ ____________
Comprehension
A Answer each of the following questions in about 25 words.
1. Why did Alexander want to conquer India ?
2. What did Alexander see while moving around the countryside ?
3. Why did Alexander release King Puru and went back without winning
the rest of India ?
4. Who do you think was the real conqueror ?
5. What made India famous as 'the Golden Bird' ?
Textbook 11
B Answer each of the following questions in about 50 words.
1. Describe the incident of Alexander’s encounter with the saint.
2. Describe the last conversation between the saint and Alexander. What
was the effect of this conversation on Alexander ?
Grammar
A. Study the following sentences.
1. His desire was to conquer the world .
2. He ordered his brave generals.
3. It crossed the mighty Himalayas.
4. There was a battle.
5. Alexander moved on the streets and drove his horse on and on.
The underlined verbs are in simple past tense.
Now, put the verbs given in brackets into the simple past tense.
Alexander (mount) his horse and quietly (slip) out of the tent to see more of
the Indian countries. He (feel) no pity instead he (feel) proud of his own
victory. Soon he (turn) his horse on the other side, towards the jungle.
B. Study these sentences.
1. The women were wailing.
2. The children were crying.
3. The wind was blowing.
The underlined verb phrases are in past continuous tense.
12 Textbook
Now, put the verbs in brackets into the past continuous or simple past.
He (notice) at a bonfire at a distance. He (go) closer and (find) some Indian
saints. They (perform) the yagya on the bank of the Sindhu. He (stand) quietly
behind the thick trunk of a tree. Alexander (not know) what to say. He
(dismount) and (proceed) towards the oldest saint.
Speaking Activity
A Complete the following conversation orally. Clue words are given there
for your help.
Alexander to the -
Chief General : Bring ————————————— and —————
————Immediately———them————
Alexander to -
One of the saints: ————,————— I am ——————————
—————— the great.
The saint to
Alexander : ______do______ want, ________?
What _________________ for __________?
Alexander to Well........well, ____________________________
the saint : I am ——————, I have —————————
The saint to : _________, so you are ———————————
Alexander conquers___________________?
Tell me ——————— how —————————
and a ——————— ?
Textbook 13
B. Enact the above scene delivering the dialogues properly.
C. What is your opinion about :
• Alexander's invading India.
• Alexander's desire to conquer the world.
• The teachings of the Indian saints.
You can start expressing your opinion like this :
I agree / I disagree ————
I feel that ————————————
I am of the opinion that ————————
Friends, this is true that ———————
Well, let’s examine/think about ————
Writing Activity
A. Imagine that you are Alexander. Write the changes that took place in you
after meeting the Indian saints. (50 words)
B. Write a short note on the consequences of war. (150 Words)
Think it over
A. India was known as the golden bird in the olden days. It was because the
trade and commerce supported by agriculture flourished. The handicraft was
fine and the craftsmen skilled. Think about the present India.
14 Textbook
B. When Alexander was coming to invade India his teacher told him to take
blessings of Indian sages. Why ?
C. How can one win people's heart ?
Things to do
Convert the story into a one act play and try to enact it on the stage in the
annual function. Take the help of your teacher and friends.
The Victory
Alexander the Great had won many battles. His desire was to conquer the
world.
“Proceed to the Golden Bird,” he ordered his brave generals.India was
known as the Golden Bird in the world at that time. With Alexander’s command,
the generals consulted the map and the army turned towards India. It crossed the
mighty Himalayas through the long terrain in the cold, entered the country and
reached the river Sindhu. There was a battle between Alexander’s army and the
army of King Puru of India. King Puru was defeated, and was made captive.
With the first victory in India, Alexander was very happy.
After the days’ battle when Alexander’s army was resting, he mounted his
horse Bucephalus and quietly slipped out of the tent to see more of the Indian
countryside. Alexander moved on the streets and drove his horse on and on. The
houses remained dark, without lights. The women were wailing, children were
crying. Alexander felt no pity. Instead he felt proud of his own victory.
Soon he turned his horse on the other side, towards the jungle. As he
moved further, he noticed a bonfire at a distance. He went closer and found
some Indian Saints performing the yagya (religious ritual) on the bank of the
Sindhu. He stood quietly behind the thick trunk of a tree.
It was winter time. The wind was blowing and it was extremely cold. The
saints wore no clothing on the upper parts of their bodies. Alexander said to himself,
‘Oh, they are poor and they do not have anything to cover their bodies.’ He
felt sorry for the saints, ‘l must do something for these naked fakirs.’ It was night
already. He went back to his tent, woke up his chief general and said, “Bring thick
woollen blankets and woollen clothes immediately. I need them urgently.”
Heaps of thick blankets and woollen clothes were brought. In no time they
were loaded on horses and Alexander himself led them, riding back to the jungle.
The caravan stopped where the saints were performing the yagya. Alexander
2
8 Textbook
found the saints were still busy chanting hymns. He moved his horse closer but the
saints took no notice of the presence of Alexander and his caravan. In order to get
their attention, Alexander patted his horse, and coughed. Still no one paid any attention.
Alexander got irritated now. He dismounted and proceeded towards the
oldest saint. The saint did not notice and Alexander felt totally ignored. Then he
approached one of the saints and called, “Fakir, listen, I am the famous Alexander
the Great.”
The saint looked up and asked coolly and very sweetly, “What do you want,
young man? What can I do for you?”
Alexander was taken aback with the question. He paused. “Well...well, I
don’t want anything from you. I am Alexander the Great, I have conquered your
Hindustan.” Alexander announced proudly. He continued, “When I saw you
people naked in this cold weather, I brought woollen blankets and clothes for all of
you.”
The saint threw a sharp glance at Alexander. He came closer and put his
hand on Alexander’s shoulder.
“Young man, so you are the famous Alexander, who conquers the countries
by robbing them?” The saint gave a loud laugh and asked, “Tell me, my child,
how can a robber be a conqueror and a giver?” And the saint looked deep into
Alexander’s eyes.
Alexander turned pale, not knowing what to say. He stood still like a
statue. The saint continued, “Well, my child if you really want to conquer the
world, first win the hearts of the countrymen with love. As for us, we have
renounced the world and we do not need anything. Whatever is left with us now,
we can give that too. Now tell me, what do you want?”
Alexander could not believe his ears. He had never seen or heard things
like this. The feeling of guilt made him sad suddenly. He saluted the saint.
Without saying a word, he mounted his horse and went back to his camp. The
caravan followed the master.
It was dawn and Alexander could hear the chattering of birds. He had
come to his decision, and, he stopped his forward march. He released King Puru
and put off his future plans to conquer other parts of India.
- Deepawali Debroy
Textbook 9
Glossary
victory /'vIktJri/ success
terrain /tJ'reIn/ piece of land, considered especially as a place
for a battle
wail /weIl/ cry out with grief
caravan /'k&rJv&n/ company of travellers across the desert
pat /p&t/ touch lightly with the flat hand
renounce /rI'naUns/ to give up
Exercises
Vocabulary
A. Find words in the lesson which have the meanings given below :
1 large fire made out of doors for pleasure or to burn dead leaves in a
garden
2 got down from a horse
3 part of the body between the neck and the top of the arm
4 success in battle or in a game
5 cloth shelter as used by soldiers
B Refer to a dictionary and find out the meanings of the following. Use
them in sentences. You can use the sentences given in the dictionary as
models.
Countryside, winter, chanting, taken aback, dawn
C Notice the past tense of verbs ending with ‘-ed’ are pronounced in three
different ways /t/, /d/ and /id/
Examples : asked /A:skt/
10 Textbook
charged /tSA:dZd/
counted /kaUntid/
Now pay attention to the pronunciation of the past tense forms of the following
words and pronounce them in the class.
ordered, consulted, entered, turned, slopped
D. Listen and put the following verbs in the correct columns.
lived, died, loved, stayed, finished, started, looked, liked, conquered,
announced, coughed, laughed, wanted
/t/ /d/ /id/
looked loved started
____________ ____________ ____________
____________ ____________ ____________
____________ ____________ ____________
____________ ____________ ____________
____________ ____________ ____________
Comprehension
A Answer each of the following questions in about 25 words.
1. Why did Alexander want to conquer India ?
2. What did Alexander see while moving around the countryside ?
3. Why did Alexander release King Puru and went back without winning
the rest of India ?
4. Who do you think was the real conqueror ?
5. What made India famous as 'the Golden Bird' ?
Textbook 11
B Answer each of the following questions in about 50 words.
1. Describe the incident of Alexander’s encounter with the saint.
2. Describe the last conversation between the saint and Alexander. What
was the effect of this conversation on Alexander ?
Grammar
A. Study the following sentences.
1. His desire was to conquer the world .
2. He ordered his brave generals.
3. It crossed the mighty Himalayas.
4. There was a battle.
5. Alexander moved on the streets and drove his horse on and on.
The underlined verbs are in simple past tense.
Now, put the verbs given in brackets into the simple past tense.
Alexander (mount) his horse and quietly (slip) out of the tent to see more of
the Indian countries. He (feel) no pity instead he (feel) proud of his own
victory. Soon he (turn) his horse on the other side, towards the jungle.
B. Study these sentences.
1. The women were wailing.
2. The children were crying.
3. The wind was blowing.
The underlined verb phrases are in past continuous tense.
12 Textbook
Now, put the verbs in brackets into the past continuous or simple past.
He (notice) at a bonfire at a distance. He (go) closer and (find) some Indian
saints. They (perform) the yagya on the bank of the Sindhu. He (stand) quietly
behind the thick trunk of a tree. Alexander (not know) what to say. He
(dismount) and (proceed) towards the oldest saint.
Speaking Activity
A Complete the following conversation orally. Clue words are given there
for your help.
Alexander to the -
Chief General : Bring ————————————— and —————
————Immediately———them————
Alexander to -
One of the saints: ————,————— I am ——————————
—————— the great.
The saint to
Alexander : ______do______ want, ________?
What _________________ for __________?
Alexander to Well........well, ____________________________
the saint : I am ——————, I have —————————
The saint to : _________, so you are ———————————
Alexander conquers___________________?
Tell me ——————— how —————————
and a ——————— ?
Textbook 13
B. Enact the above scene delivering the dialogues properly.
C. What is your opinion about :
• Alexander's invading India.
• Alexander's desire to conquer the world.
• The teachings of the Indian saints.
You can start expressing your opinion like this :
I agree / I disagree ————
I feel that ————————————
I am of the opinion that ————————
Friends, this is true that ———————
Well, let’s examine/think about ————
Writing Activity
A. Imagine that you are Alexander. Write the changes that took place in you
after meeting the Indian saints. (50 words)
B. Write a short note on the consequences of war. (150 Words)
Think it over
A. India was known as the golden bird in the olden days. It was because the
trade and commerce supported by agriculture flourished. The handicraft was
fine and the craftsmen skilled. Think about the present India.
14 Textbook
B. When Alexander was coming to invade India his teacher told him to take
blessings of Indian sages. Why ?
C. How can one win people's heart ?
Things to do
Convert the story into a one act play and try to enact it on the stage in the
annual function. Take the help of your teacher and friends.
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