My Brother’s Great Invention

The correct order of occurrence is:

Step 1 – Identify the sequence of events from the story:
- First, Anita notices someone trying to break in and wakes Anand up.
- Then, the door swings open and they see Boppa with an evil grin.
- Next, Anand cleverly misleads Boppa into entering his room instead of his father's room.
- After that, Mrs. Sharma, her husband, and Dr. Mohan arrive and enter the house.
- Finally, when they search, Boppa is nowhere to be found, but his green scarf is lying near the time machine.

Correct Order:
4 → 1 → 5 → 3 → 2

Given: The phrase 'let me put you in the picture' is used by Anita at the very beginning of the story.

Answer: When Anita says, '...let me put you in the picture', she wants to introduce the situation for the benefit of the readers.

Reason: The phrase 'put you in the picture' means to give someone the background information they need to understand a situation. Since Anita is speaking at the start of the story, she is introducing the characters and context, not summarising.

Correct Option: C. repairing or improving

Justification: The word 'tinkering' means to make small repairs, adjustments, or improvements to something, often in an experimental or casual way. Anand fiddles with gadgets trying to fix or improve them, which matches option C.

Correct Option: B. creative and experimental

Justification: Anand loves tinkering with gadgets, creates inventions like a burglar alarm and a time machine, and shows his blueprints confidently. This clearly reflects a creative and experimental personality. He is not methodical (his inventions often go wrong), not shy, and not merely energetic and hasty.

Given: The extract is Anita's introduction of herself and her brother Anand.

Anita's view of Anand:
Anita thinks that Anand is a troublemaker who causes unnecessary chaos in the house. She says he 'thinks he is a scientist' — implying she does not fully believe he is one. She points out that his inventions 'never work out as they are supposed to', suggesting she finds him unreliable and bothersome, though she is not unkind about it.

Anand's view of himself:
Anand is fully convinced that he is a genius and a scientist. He takes his inventions very seriously, prepares blueprints, and is confident that his creations will work. At the end of the story, he is certain his time machine worked and has already launched a new project.

Comparison:
While Anita sees Anand as a well-meaning but troublesome boy whose inventions cause more problems than they solve, Anand sees himself as a brilliant inventor and scientist. There is a clear contrast between Anita's amused, slightly exasperated view and Anand's self-assured confidence.

Answer: Anita was angry with Anand because he had directed Boppa (the intruder) to his own room instead of their father's room, putting himself in potential danger and creating a risky situation without thinking it through properly.

Explanation: Anita had been about to direct the intruder upstairs (to their parents' room), but Anand quickly said 'The one next to this one,' which was his own room. Anita called him a 'silly goose' because she felt this was a foolish and dangerous thing to do.

Answer: Anand's presence of mind is shown when he quickly redirected the intruder (Boppa) to his own room — the one next to where they were — instead of their father's room.

Explanation: By doing this, Anand bought them precious time. He knew the intruder would take a while to find the light switch in the dark room, giving them an opportunity to think of a plan and call for help. This quick thinking in a dangerous situation demonstrates his presence of mind.

Correct Option: B. Anand's time machine getting activated

Justification: The strange noises — a crash, a loud scream, muffled thumps, an eerie whine, and a low humming sound — are unusual and mysterious. Since Anand's time machine was in his room and Boppa later disappears completely (with only his scarf found near the machine), the most likely cause is that the time machine got activated when Boppa stumbled into the room.

Correct Option: (c) C and E — tense and suspenseful

Justification: The extract describes a night-time break-in, children trying to outsmart an intruder, and mysterious noises coming from a dark room. This creates a tense and suspenseful atmosphere. There is nothing relaxing, peaceful, sad, or joyful about the situation.

Completed Table:

| Character | Traits | Evidence from the Text |
|---|---|---|
| Anand | 1. bothersome | And this is not the first time he's got on Papa's nerves or frightened someone half to death in the house. |
| 2. creative | He loves tinkering with all sorts of electrical gadgets, tools, dynamos, planks of wood, and things like that. And he keeps creating 'inventions' that never work out as they are supposed to. |
| 3. confident | 'Nothing will go wrong this time. I've planned it out carefully. See the blueprint.' |
| Anita | 1. responsible | 'We're old enough to look after ourselves, Ma...' |
| 2. curious | 'But how does the alarm know that a burglar is opening the door?' |
| 3. careful | 'Now clean up this mess before anyone gets home.' |

Explanation:
- Anand is creative because he constantly invents new things using various materials.
- Anand is confident because he assures everyone nothing will go wrong and shows his blueprint.
- Anita is responsible because she assures her mother they can look after themselves.
- Anita is curious because she asks a logical question about how the alarm works.
- Anita is careful because she tells Anand to clean up before their parents return.

Given: Information from the story about Anand's motivation.

Answer: Anand was prompted to create the burglar alarm because there had been a series of burglaries in the neighbourhood. He wanted to protect his house from intruders and decided to put his love for tinkering with gadgets to practical use by inventing an alarm system that would go off the moment someone opened the door.

Given: The incident described in the story involving Papa and the burglar alarm.

Answer: Anand's father became the unintended target of the burglar alarm because he came home late one night and opened the door, which triggered the alarm. The alarm was set to go off the moment the door was opened, and since Papa did not know about it, he was caught completely off guard. The alarm drenched him with water (as part of its mechanism), leaving him sopping wet and scowling. This caused great embarrassment and anger, and Anand had to hide until his father cooled down.

Given: Various reactions described throughout the story.

Answer:
- Anand's father (Papa): Papa was often irritated and exasperated by Anand's inventions. He got on Papa's nerves more than once. When the burglar alarm drenched him, he was furious. He also dismantled the time machine because he thought it was not safe. However, he smiled indulgently when Anand claimed the time machine had worked, suggesting he was amused but did not take it seriously.
- Anand's mother (Ma): Ma was generally worried and flustered. She rushed in when she heard the racket caused by the burglar alarm. She was concerned about the children's safety during the break-in.
- Anita (sister): Anita was the narrator and had a mixed reaction. She found Anand bothersome and often got dragged into his schemes against her will. She called him a 'silly goose' when he misdirected the intruder. However, she also helped him and seemed to have a grudging affection for him, as she narrated his adventures with a sense of humour.

Given: Description of Anand's behaviour during his inventing phases.

Answer: When Anand was on his 'inventing binges', he became completely absorbed in his work. He would spread out all his tools, gadgets, dynamos, planks of wood, and other materials all over the place, creating a great mess. He would tinker endlessly, ignoring everything else around him. He was enthusiastic and single-minded, refusing to be distracted. He would also involve Anita in his projects, whether she liked it or not. During these times, the house would be in a state of chaos, and he would get on everyone's nerves.

Given: Mr. Sharma's reaction when Anand claimed Boppa had gone through the time machine.

Answer: Mr. Sharma did not believe Anand because:
1. Anand had a long history of failed inventions that never worked as they were supposed to.
2. The idea of a time machine actually working seemed completely impossible and far-fetched to a practical adult.
3. Mr. Sharma was used to Anand's wild imagination and grand claims, so he dismissed it with an indulgent smile, saying 'What an imagination this boy has!'

However, the narrator hints that Papa may have had 'a niggling suspicion that it worked', which is why he dismantled the machine — suggesting that deep down, even he was not entirely sure.

Creative Ending (Sample Answer):

Boppa, the neighbourhood sweeper who had turned to burglary, stumbled into Anand's dark room and tripped over the time machine. In his panic, he accidentally activated it. With a loud hum, a flash of light, and an eerie whine, the machine whirred to life — and Boppa vanished into thin air, leaving behind only his green scarf.

He was transported back to ancient India, to the time of the great mathematician Aryabhata. Confused and frightened, Boppa found himself in a world without electricity, cars, or modern comforts. He had no choice but to work hard and honestly to survive. Over time, he learned the value of hard work and honesty.

Meanwhile, back in the present, Anand remained convinced that his time machine was a success. He proudly told everyone that Boppa had been sent to the past as proof of his genius. As for Boppa — perhaps somewhere in history, there is a record of a strange, confused man who appeared out of nowhere and reformed his ways entirely.

Concept: Onomatopoeia refers to words that imitate the actual sounds they describe.

Completed Table:

| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (i) Crash | sudden loud sound of breaking |
| (ii) Humming | a continuous low and soothing sound |
| (iii) Hissed | whispered angrily |
| (iv) Hammering, sawing, clattering | constant and loud construction noises |

Explanation:
- Humming imitates a continuous, low, steady sound.
- Hissed imitates the sharp, angry sound of whispering through clenched teeth.
- Hammering, sawing, clattering all imitate the loud, repetitive sounds of construction work.

Concept: Binomials are expressions of two words in a fixed order, linked by 'and' or 'or'.

Matched Pairs:

| Column 1 | Conjunction | Column 2 |
|---|---|---|
| (i) safe | and | E. sound → safe and sound |
| (ii) odds | and | F. ends → odds and ends |
| (iii) make | or | A. break → make or break |
| (iv) pros | and | B. cons → pros and cons |
| (v) now | or | C. never → now or never |
| (vi) give | and | D. take → give and take |

Concept: Using binomials correctly in context.

Answers:

(i) This project will be a make or break moment for our team's success.

(ii) After a long journey, we were relieved to arrive home safe and sound.

(iii) Every friendship works well when there is a balance of give and take.

(iv) She organised all the odds and ends in the cupboard, to make space for new clothes.

(v) Before making a decision, it is important to weigh the pros and cons carefully.

(vi) This is our final chance to perform on stage, it is now or never.

Concept: Phrasal verbs — verbs combined with prepositions or adverbs that create a new meaning.

Note: The box in the original text appears as a word-search grid containing the letters for the phrasal verbs. Based on context, the appropriate phrasal verbs are identified as follows:

Completed Paragraph:

It had been raining and we (i) fell short of time to set up for the function, so we quickly (ii) put together / rigged up some decorations using whatever materials we had. We accidentally (iii) tripped the fire alarm because of the smoke from the bonfire. Thankfully, the rain (iv) let up just as the guests were arriving, and despite all the chaos, the function (v) turned out to be a huge success.

Explanation of phrasal verbs used:
- fell short of = did not have enough of
- tripped = accidentally set off/activated
- let up = stopped or became less intense
- turned out = resulted in / proved to be

Concept: Idioms are phrases whose meanings differ from the literal meanings of the individual words.

Answers:

1. Shekhar knew he would get a shelling for breaking his mother's favourite flower vase.
*(get a shelling = to be scolded severely)*

2. We fell over ourselves trying to help the injured dog and get it to the vet as quickly as possible.
*(fell over ourselves = tried very hard and eagerly)*

3. Faizy distracted Kanchan, leaving the coast clear for us to get inside the room to prepare the birthday surprise.
*(leaving the coast clear = making the way free of obstacles or people)*

4. The constant power fluctuations during meetings can get on our nerves.
*(get on our nerves = to irritate or annoy)*

5. When I am alone at home, any unexpected loud noise in the night can frighten me half to death.
*(frighten me half to death = to scare someone very badly)*

Concept:
- Past Perfect Tense = had + past participle (used for the action that happened earlier)
- Simple Past Tense = second form of the verb (used for the action that happened later)

(i) Ma had rushed in to see what the racket was all about and found Papa standing there, sopping wet and scowling.

- Past Perfect: had rushed
- Simple Past: was, found

(ii) Anand had vanished by this time and reappeared only after dinner when Papa had cooled down.

- Past Perfect: had vanished, had cooled
- Simple Past: reappeared

Concept: Past perfect is used for the action completed before another past action. Simple past is used for the later or main action.

(i)
- A. After Rohan had finished (finish) his homework, *(past perfect — earlier action)*
- B. he decided (decide) to go for a walk. *(simple past — later action)*
- C. He left (leave) the house *(simple past)*
- D. and realised (realise) *(simple past)*
- E. he had forgotten (forget) his keys inside. *(past perfect — this happened before he realised)*

(ii)
- A. By the time we reached (reach) the station, *(simple past)*
- B. the train had already left (already/leave). *(past perfect — happened before reaching)*
- C. We waited (wait) for the next one to arrive. *(simple past)*

Concept: When combining two past actions, the earlier (older) action uses the past perfect tense (had + past participle), and the later (newer) action uses the simple past tense.

(i) Rohan had packed his suitcase before he left for the airport.
*(Example already given)*

(ii) We had already started work when he arrived in the morning.
*(OR: By the time he arrived in the morning, we had already started work.)*

(iii) They had set up the tents before the others brought food and medicine.
*(OR: By the time the others brought food and medicine, they had already set up the tents.)*

(iv) The students had become quiet when they heard the teacher coming.
*(OR: By the time they heard the teacher coming, the students had already become quiet.)*

(v) The villagers had left the village before the flood submerged the entire area.
*(OR: By the time the flood submerged the entire area, the villagers had already left the village.)*

Note: This is a listening activity. The answers are based on the transcript provided to the teacher (pg. 136 of the textbook). Students should listen carefully to the audio/teacher reading the transcript.

True Statements:

2. Anita accepts Toby as her friend. — TRUE
3. Anita asks Toby about one of his facial features. — TRUE (she asks about his single eye)
4. Toby tells Anita that she had a banana for breakfast. — TRUE

False Statements:
1. Toby misses his school — FALSE (he misses his planet/home, not specifically school)
5. Toby shares that he can see much clearer with a closed eye — FALSE (he sees better with his one open eye; Martians have special vision)

Note: This is a listening activity based on the audio transcript (pg. 136 of the textbook). Students must listen carefully to fill in the exact words.

Expected Answers (based on the transcript):

1. Toby: I miss my planet and home.
2. Toby: Well, we Martians don't need to eat anything. We get our energy from the Sun.
3. Anita: Oh! Don't you ever feel like having ice creams and chocolates?
4. Anita: Okay, tell me one thing. How are you able to see with only one eye?
5. Toby: I can see beyond mountains and rivers, woods and even oceans.

*(Note: Students should verify these answers by listening to the actual audio provided by the teacher, as the exact words depend on the transcript on pg. 136.)

Concept: Words ending in –ough are pronounced differently depending on the word.

Sorted Table:

| Sounds like 'oo' | Sounds like 'off' | Sounds like 'o' | Sounds like 'ow' | Sounds like 'aw' |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| through | cough | dough | bough, plough | thought |

Explanation:
- through → rhymes with 'blue/too' (sounds like 'throo')
- cough → rhymes with 'off' (sounds like 'coff')
- dough → rhymes with 'low/go' (sounds like 'doe')
- bough → rhymes with 'cow/now' (sounds like 'bow')
- plough → rhymes with 'cow/now' (sounds like 'plow')
- thought → rhymes with 'saw/law' (sounds like 'thawt')

More words with similar sounds:
- Sounds like 'oo': although (no), borough (no) — *through* is the main one
- Sounds like 'off': trough (sounds like 'troff')
- Sounds like 'o': although, dough
- Sounds like 'ow': brow (different spelling), drought (sounds like 'drowt')
- Sounds like 'aw': bought, brought, fought, sought, ought

Sample Paragraph: The Vocation of a Chef

Among all the vocations I have come across, the one that fascinates me the most is that of a chef. I love this vocation because food has the power to bring people together and create moments of joy. A beautifully prepared meal can turn an ordinary day into a celebration.

To become a skilled chef, one needs proper training from a culinary institute, where one learns cooking techniques, food safety, nutrition, and kitchen management. Practical experience through internships in restaurants or hotels is equally important.

A chef requires various tools and equipment such as sharp knives, cutting boards, pots and pans, ovens, blenders, and measuring instruments. Keeping these tools clean and in good condition is essential.

In a professional kitchen, a chef works closely with sous chefs, line cooks, pastry chefs, and kitchen helpers. Teamwork is the backbone of any successful kitchen — every member has a specific role, and the meal reaches the customer only when everyone works in harmony and coordination.

Dealing with customers requires patience, a positive attitude, and a willingness to accommodate special requests or dietary needs. A good chef always takes feedback graciously and strives to improve.

I plan to pursue this vocation with dedication and pride by enrolling in a reputed culinary school, practising every day, and always putting my heart into every dish I prepare. I believe that cooking is not just a job — it is an art, and I intend to master it.

Famous Indian Inventors and Their Inventions:

1. Sushruta (6th century B.C.) — Pioneer of surgery; his work *Sushruta Samhita* described surgical procedures, instruments, and techniques that laid the foundation for modern surgery.

2. Aryabhata (476–550 A.D.) — Mathematician and astronomer who introduced the concept of zero and calculated the value of pi (π). He also explained the rotation of the Earth.

3. Dr. Janaki Ammal (1897–1984) — Botanist and cytogeneticist who made significant contributions to the study of plant chromosomes and genetics. She was awarded the Padma Shri.

4. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (1931–2015) — Aerospace scientist and former President of India. Under his leadership, ISRO launched India's first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III), placing the Rohini satellite in orbit in 1980. He is known as the 'Missile Man of India'.

5. Dr. Narinder Singh Kapany (1926–2020) — Known as the 'Father of Fibre Optics'. He invented fibre optic technology, which revolutionised telecommunications and medical imaging. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan.

6. C.V. Raman (1888–1970) — Physicist who discovered the 'Raman Effect' (scattering of light), for which he received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930.

7. Jagadish Chandra Bose (1858–1937) — Scientist who pioneered research in radio waves and also demonstrated that plants have feelings. He invented the crescograph to measure plant growth.

8. Homi J. Bhabha (1909–1966) — Nuclear physicist known as the 'Father of the Indian Nuclear Programme'. He founded the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).

Conclusion: India has a rich tradition of scientific discovery and invention. These inventors inspire us to be curious, creative, and dedicated in our pursuit of knowledge.