Parents often use SCERT Class 10 English Solutions Unit 2 Chapter 3 The Seedling Poem Questions and Answers Activities Notes Pdf to assist their kids with homework.
Class 10 English The Seedling Poem Question Answer Notes Kerala Syllabus
Std 10 English The Seedling Poem Question Answer
10th Class English The Seedling Poem Question Answer – Let’s rewind and rejoice
Question 1.
What triggered the seedling’s ‘work of life’?
തൈയുടെ “ജീവിതകൃതി ക്ക് പ്രചോദനമാ യത് എന്താണ്?
Answer:
The statement of the seedling – “I am not so very robust, but I’ll do the best I can”. triggered the seedling’s work of life.
“ഞാൻ അത്ര ശക്തനല്ല. പക്ഷേ എനിക്ക് കഴി യുന്നത് ഞാൻ ചെയ്യും. എന്ന തൈയുടെ പ്രസ്താവന തൈയുടെ ജീവിതകൃതിക്ക് പ്രചോ ദനമായി.
Question 2.
What is inspiring about the seedling’s attitude to life?
ജീവിതത്തോടുള്ള തെയുടെ മനോഭാവത്തിൽ പ്രചോദനാത്മകമായത് എന്താണ്?
Answer:Its humility, its willingness to do its best, and its optimism are inspiring about the 4. seedling’s attitude to life.
അതിന്റെ എളിമ, പരമാവധി കാര്യങ്ങൾ ചെയ്യാ നുള്ള സന്നദ്ധത, ശുഭാപ്തി വിശ്വാസം എന്നിവ തൈയുടെ ജീവിതത്തോടുള്ള മനോഭാവത്തിന് പ്രചോദനം നൽകുന്നു.
Question 3.
Why was the seedling in a hurry to come out of the earth?
തെ ഭൂമിയിൽ നിന്ന് പുറത്തുവരാൻ തിടുക്കം കാട്ടിയത് എന്തുകൊണ്ട്?
Answer:
The seedling was in a hurry to come out of the earth because the leaflet it had sent up into the light of day to examine the surroundings liked the prospect and told the stem about it.
ചുറ്റുപാടുകൾ പരിശോധിക്കാൻ പകൽ വെളി ച്ചത്തിലേക്ക് അയച്ച ഇലക്ക് അവിടത്തെ ചുറ്റു പാടും സാധ്യതകളും ഇഷ്ടപ്പെട്ടു. അത് തണ്ടി നോട് അതിനെക്കുറിച്ച് പറഞ്ഞപ്പോൾ തൈ ഭൂമി യിൽ നിന്ന് പുറത്തുവരാൻ തിടുക്കം കാട്ടി.
Question 4.
How is the growth of the plant described in the poem?
കവിതയിൽ പ്ലാന്റിന്റെ വളർച്ച എങ്ങനെ വിവ രിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു?
Answer:
The seedling sent a leaflet up into the light of day to examine the surroundings. The leaflet liked the prospect and told the stem about it. Then two other leaflets heard it, and they quickly followed it. The haste and hurry surely made the seedling sweat and pant. But 5. almost before it knew, it found itself to be a plant. The sunshine poured upon it. The clouds gave it water. The little plant kept growing till it produced a flower.
ചുറ്റുപാടുകൾ പരിശോധിക്കാൻ തൈ ഒരു തളി രില വെളിച്ചത്തിലേക്ക് അയച്ചു. ഇലക്ക് ആ കാഴ്ച ഇഷ്ടപ്പെട്ടു. അത് തണ്ടിനോട് പറഞ്ഞു. പിന്നീട് മറ്റ് രണ്ട് ഇലകൾ അത് കേട്ടു. അവർ പെട്ടെന്ന് അതിനെ പിന്തുടർന്നു. തിടുക്കവും തിരക്കും തൈയെ വിയർപ്പിക്കുകയും ശ്വാസം മുട്ടിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു. പക്ഷേ അത് അറിയു ന്നതിനു മുമ്പുതന്നെ അത് ഒരു ചെടിയായി മാറി. സൂര്യപ്രകാശം അതിന്മേൽ ചൊരിഞ്ഞു. മേഘ ങ്ങൾ അതിന് വെള്ളം നൽകി. ആ ചെറിയ ചെടി ഒരു പൂവ് വിരിയുന്നതുവരെ വളർന്നുകൊണ്ടി രുന്നു.
Question 5.
What message does the seedling give us?
തെ നമുക്ക് എന്ത് സന്ദേശമാണ് നൽകുന്നത്?
Answer:
We may not be robust and perfect. But we should do our best and then surely God, Nature, will help us to bring bright blooms of success and contentment.
നമ്മൾ കരുത്തുറ്റവരും പൂർണ്ണരുമായിരിക്കില്ല. എന്നാലും നമ്മൾ നമ്മുടെ പരമാവധി ചെയ്യ ണം, അപ്പോൾ തീർച്ചയായും ദൈവം, പ്രകൃ തി, വിജയത്തിന്റെയും സംതൃപ്തിയുടെയും തിളക്കമുള്ള പൂക്കൾ പുറത്തേക്കു കൊണ്ടുവ രാൻ നമ്മെ സഹായിക്കും.
The Seedling Poem Activities
10th Std English The Seedling Poem Question Answer Notes – Let’s appreciate:
Activity 1
Question 1.
How does the poem relate to the challenges of life?
Answer:
The poem “The Seedling” by Paul Laurence Dunbar beautifully relates to the challenge of life. The poet uses the image of a young plant facing adversity to symbolize the struggles and resilience of human life, highlighting the importance of perseverance and the potential for growth despite hardships. Life is not a bed of roses. Tribulations and traumas trouble and torment us but perseverance and hard work help us to overcome them. A plant faces so many possible dangers – lack of sunlight, moisture, and manure and the danger from insects, birds and animals. But with optimism it grows. So should we. Adversities should not deter us from progressing in life.
Question 2.
What does the poem tell us about the importance of self-motivation to achieve success?
Answer:
There is a famous proverb in English which says: You can take a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. You can force a child to sit in the classroom, but he will study only if he wills it. You can force someone to enter a place of worship. But he will pray sincerely only when he is self-motivated. So, to achieve success we ought to be self-motivated. Nobody will impose success on us. All the successful people in the world are self-motivated and that is why they reached the heights they wanted to reach. The seedling is able to grow and produce blooms because it was self-motivated and then Nature helped it by giving it sunshine and rain.
Activity 2
Identify the poetic devices in the poem and complete the table below.
Answer:
| Poetic device | Examples from the poem | Explanation |
| imagery |
|
|
| Alliteration |
|
They all increase the musical quality of the poem |
| Rhyming scheme | abab and abcb | Adds to the lyrical quality of the poem |
Activity 3
Now, write an appreciation of the poem ‘The Seedling’, focusing on its theme and tone, and analysing the use of poetic devices. The following format may help you.
Appreciation of the poem using the format given
“The Seedling” by Paul Laurence Dunbar, a fine poem of hope and resilience, resonates with its simple yet poignant message of perseverance in the face of adversity, urging readers to embrace their potential despite challenges. The poet uses the image of a young plant facing adversity to symbolize the struggles and resilience of human life, highlighting the importance of perseverance and the potential for growth despite hardships. Life is not a bed of roses. Tribulations and traumas trouble and torment us but perseverance and hard work help us to overcome them. A plant faces so many possible dangers – lack of sunlight, moisture, and manure and the danger from insects, birds and animals. But with optimism it grows. Adversities should not deter us from progressing in life.
Dunbar uses certain poetic devices to derive his message home. The imagery is superb. We get so many vivid images in the poem. We see a quiet little seedling lay within its darksome bed of soil. We see it pushing out little leaflet up into the light of day to check the surroundings. Then we see two other leaflets followed by more and more leaves sprouting. The plant is growing. The sunshine pours upon it. Rains help the plant to grow. The little plant keeps growing steadily till it is able to bring forth bright flowers increasing the beauty of nature.
The poet has many alliterations like little leaflet, leaflet liked, haste and hurry, seedling sweat, found itself a flower, fair unfading flowers, and sun and showers. The poem is in thyme, with rhyming scheme abab, and abcb. The tone of the poem optimistic and also didactic.
The poem has a fine message. It tell us about the importance of self-motivation to achieve success, There is a famous proverb in English which says: You can take a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. You can force a child to sit in the classroom, but he will study only if he wills it. You can force someone to enter a place of worship. But he will pray sincerely only when he is self-motivated. So, to achieve success we ought to be self-motivated. Nobody will impose success on us. All the successful people in the world self-motivated and that is why they reached the heights they wanted to reach. The seedling is able to grow and produce blooms because it was self-motivated and then Nature helped it by giving it sunshine and rain. The same is the case with us. Do our duty and then the rest will happen.
Activity 4
The unit highlights the need for social entrepreneurship and the readiness to turn challenges into opportunities to solve social problems. In the light of your reading of the passages and the poem, write a paragraph on the importance of self-motivation for success in life.
Answer:
Self-Motivation:
Self-motivation is essential for success in life. Lazy and indolent people do not have the capacity to be self- motivated. To do anything satisfactorily and successful we need self-motivation. All the famous and successful people in the world were self-driven. James Watt invented the steam engine not because of any force from others. Orville and Wilbur Wright did not make the airplane because they were forced to do it. So were all inventions and discoveries. Did anybody force Mahatma Gandhi to fight for India’s freedom? They all were self-motivated. There is a famous proverb in English which says: You can take a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. You can force a child to sit in the classroom, but he will study only if he wills it. You can force someone to enter a place of worship. But he will pray sincerely only when he is self-motivated. So, to achieve success we ought to be self-motivated. Nobody will impose success on us. All the successful people in the world self-motivated and that is why they reached the heights they wanted to reach. The seedling is able to grow and produce blooms because it was self-motivated and then Nature helped it by giving it sunshine and rain.
10th English The Seedling Poem Question Answer – Let’s listen and enjoy:
Now, your teacher will play the audio of the poem, ‘It Couldn’t Be Done’, by Edgar A. Guest. Listen to the poem. Compare its theme with that of ‘The Seedling’. Try to relate these poems to the lives of Srikanth Bolla and Arunachalam Muruganantham. Now, present your findings in groups.
Answer:
For your convenience the poem “It Couldn’t Be Done” by Edgar A. Guest is given below:
IT COULDN’T BE DONE
Edgar A. Guest
Somebody said that it couldn’t be done,
But, he with a chuckle replied
That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.
Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;
At least no one has done it”;
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle it in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That “couldn’t be done,” and you’ll do it.
10th Standard English The Seedling Poem Question Answer Notes – Let’s play with words
Activity 1
Matching the words in column A with their meanings in column B.
Answer:
| humiliate | to shame someone |
| Exorbitant | expensive |
| Affordable | inexpensive, within one’s spending capacity |
| Perseverance | the continued effort to achieve something |
| Procure | to get something with an effort |
| Entrepreneur | one who starts an enterprise |
B. Complete the following passage, using the appropriate forms of words from the table above.
Education should aim for solutions to the burning issues of society, rather than prepare youth to beg for jobs. Today, the nation needs young ………………to create job opportunities and drive economic growth. With the cost of living rising to……………levels, financial stability has become hard to attain. Everyone wants essential goods at ……………… prices. The youngsters of today should show the courage to begin new enterprises to meet such social demands. Banks have eased the conditions for providing loans for ventures by the educated youth. However, entrepreneurs may still be ……………. by criticism and hostility from certain quarters. They would need foresight and …………….. to succeed. Young entrepreneurs should turn challenges into opportunities and achieve their goals.
Answer:
The words to be used are:
i) entrepreneurs
ii) exorbitant
iii) affordable
iv) humiliated
v) perseverance
Activity 2
Read the sentences given below.
“It took me two years of trial and error to figure out it was pinewood pulp and not cotton.”
Pick out a phrase from the sentence which means ‘to finally find a solution to, or understand something:” ………………………………………………………………………….
Read the following passage.
The Forest Post is an initiative by tribal communities that aims to sort out issues related to their livelihoods by promoting forest-based products. There is a growing demand for organic and natural goods. Making out the market trends, they worked out various ways to make use of the opportunity. They collect and process forest resources such as honey, medicinal plants, spices, and bamboo products. The Forest Post initiative set out on its journey with the support of the State Forest Department. Fearing they might run out of resources due to the unsustainable practices of others, the initiative focuses on the conservation and regeneration of forest resources. The venture has turned out to be a success, gaining recognition in local and other markets.
The following phrasal verbs have been picked from the passage. Find the meanings of the phrasal verbs from the context or by referring to a dictionary. Note the meaning in the space provided.
Now, let’s read about ‘Noorangu’, a tribal initiative from Wayanad. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate forms of the phrasal verbs given in the brackets.
(work out, make out, run out, turn out, set out, figure out)
In Thirunelli, Wayanad, a group of ten tribal women ………………(a)…………….. on a mission to preserve traditional varieties of tuber crops for the future. In an interaction with some children, they could……………(b)………………….. that the new generation knew nothing about the rich tradition of nutritious tubers. Therefore, they established the Noorangu Tuber Conservation Centre. With the support of the Kudumbasree Mission, these women conservationists have successfully ………………(c)………………… a plan to preserve their knowledge for posterity. The initiative ……………(d)……………. to be a great success, regenerating and preserving 180 species of tubers. The food festivals they conduct help the general public to ……………..(e)………….. the vital aspect of their heritage and to explore this treasure trove of nutritional diversity.
Answer:
| Phrasal verb | meaning |
| sort out | find solutions, resolve |
| work out | find solutions |
| make out | understanding, finding out, realising |
| run out | finish |
| turn out | result in, become |
| set out | begin , start |
Blanks
a. set out
b. figure out
c. worked out
d. turned out
e. make out
The Seedling Poem Questions and Answers – Let’s analyse
Activity 1
A. Examine the following sentence.
1. I dropped out of school at the age of 14, because my father passed away unexpectedly.
2. Since my mother struggled to make ends meet, I had to work in a welding workshop.
3. As my mother had to care for two daughters and a son, she struggled to support our family.
In each sentence, a cause and its effect are mentioned. Can you identify the causes in the given sentences?
Note the cause and the effect in the following table. One has been done for you.
Now, identify the words that help to link the cause and the effect in each sentence.
1. Because
2. ……………………………………………………………….
3. ……………………………………………………………….
These are subordinating conjunctions.
Subordinating conjunctions connect ………………………………………….…………………………………
……………………………………….………………………………………………………………………….……………
Answer:
| Cause | Effect |
| my father passed away unexpectedly | I dropped out of school at the age of 14 |
| my mother struggled to make ends meet | I had to work in a welding workshop |
| my mother had to care for 2 daughters, and a son | She struggled to support our family. |
Identify the words that help to link the cause and effect in each sentence:
1. Because
2. Since
3. As
Subordinating conjunctions connect subordinate clauses with the main clause.
B. Find out other subordinating conjunctions and fill in the blanks.
Answer:
Some common subordinating conjunctions are: after, although, as, as if, because, before, even though, if, so that, once, since, so that, though, until, unless, when, whenever, where, whereas, and while.
C. Complete the given sentences using appropriate conjunctions. (Note: There are different possibilities here.)
1. ………………………….. it was raining, they decided to go for a hike.
2. …………………………. she studied hard, she passed the exam with flying colors.
3. …………………………. you practise regularly, you will improve your skills.
4. …………………………. I see a sunset, I feel at peace.
5. …………………………. he moved to a new city, he has made many friends.
6. …………………………. the task was difficult, they completed it on time.
7. …………………………. she was cooking, her phone rang.
8. …………………………. you hurry, you will miss the train.
9. …………………………. they finished dinner, they watched a movie.
10. ………………………… the bell rang, the students left the classroom.
Answer:
1. As
2. Because
3. Since
4. When
5. Since
6. Even though
7. While
8. Unless
9. After
10. When
Activity 2
A. Read the following sentences.
1. If Sreekanth had got admission to IIT, he would not have gone to the USA.
2. If Muruganantham had given up his dream, he would have failed in life.
3. If Bolla hadn’t been admitted to MIT, he wouldn’t have had a chance to follow his passion.
4. His wife would have stayed with him if Muruganantham had stopped his experiments.
5. The world would not have changed if these visionaries had not turned challenges into opportunities.
Let’s examine the sentences:
What is the condition stated in the first sentence?
‘If Sreekanth had got admission to the IIT’
Do you think that this condition can be fulfilled? Why?
…………………………………………………………… ( if clause)
What is its effect?
…………………………………………………………… (main clause)
Now, complete the table, picking the verbs from the if clause and the main clause in the given sentences.
Have you noticed the forms of the verb in the ‘if clause’ and that in the main clause? Note it in the table below.
Such ‘if clauses’ indicate an impossible condition. These conditions cannot be fulfilled because they refer to the past.
Answer:
All of them are examples of impossible conditions.
To make impossible conditions, we use the past perfect tense (had + past participle) in the if clause, and conditional perfect (would/might + have + past participle) in the main clause. These conditions can’t be fulfilled because they are referring to the past.
Complete the table:
| Sentence | Cause | Effect |
| 1 | had got | would not have gone |
| 2 | had given up | would have failed |
| 3 | hadn’t been admitted | wouldn’t have had |
| 4 | had stopped | would have stayed |
| 5 | had not turned | would not have changed |
B. Now, complete the following sentences using the appropriate forms of the verbs given in brackets.
1. If she had known about the meeting, she(attend)_____________ it.
2. If they had left earlier, they (catch)___________ the train.
3. I (reply)_________ immediately if I had seen the mail.
4. If he had practised well, he (win)_______ the competition.
5. If we had bought tickets, we (go)_________ to the concert.
6. He (miss) ________ the flight if he (arrive)_______earlier.
7. If she (tell) ________ me about the problem, I ________ (help) her.
8. If I (read) ________ the instructions, I (understand) _______ the task.
Answer:
1. If she had known about the meeting, she would have attended it.
2. If they had left earlier, they would have caught the train.
3. I would have replied if I had seen the mail.
4. If he had practised well, he would have won the competition
5. If we had bought the tickets, we could have gone to the concert.
6. He wouldn’t have missed the flight if he had arrived earlier.
7. If she had told me about the problem I would have helped her.
8. If I had read the instructions, I would have understood the task.
C. Match the beginning and end of each conditional sentence and write them down.
Answer:
If she had studied harder, she would have passed the exam.
If I were rich I would travel around the world.
If I see her at the mall, I will buy her the dress.
If we win the game, we will celebrate tonight.
If you had told me you were not well, I would have visited you.
Class 10 English The Seedling Poem Question Answer – Let’s Converse:
Interviewer : Good morning, Srikanth.
Srikanth : Good morning. Hope we will have a fruitful time together today.
Interviewer : Sir, would you say that your childhood was a hard time for you?
Srikanth : Of course, my friend. First of all, my birth was a shock to my parents. I was born blind, you know.
From the conversation above, let’s pick out some expressions that you could use to seek information, explain things, or to convince others about something.
Here are some expressions that would help you conduct interviews, surveys, and conversations. You may add more to the list.
Now, fill in the bubbles in the picture story given below, choosing appropriate expressions from the table.
Answer:
Seeking information: Hope we will have……; Would you say
Explaining to or trying to convince someone: Of course……………. First of all ………….
Filling in the bubbles.
Top Row, Bubble 1: Sir, would you please tell us….
Bubble 2 I recently discovered that.
2nd Row, Bubble 3: You said there is a great demand? ………..
Bubble 4: I conducted a survey.
3rd Row, Bubble 5 Is that so? …..
Bubble 6 There is a good reason for that.
4th Row, Bubble 7: To keep your farm products free from pesticides and preservatives, ….
Bubble 8: Pesticides and preservatives are dangerous for our health; ……
Let’s team up: (p. 71)
You have come to know that social entrepreneurship is a solution to many of the problems of the world. As the ‘Pad man’ has mentioned, education is not for seeking jobs but to find solutions to the problems of society. Is there anything we can do on our part?
Let’s form four groups in the class.
Step 1
You may conduct a survey on market demands. Each group may choose one of the following sectors.
Sector 1 – Food and drinking water
Sector 2 – Home and interior
Sector 3 – Fashion and clothing trends
Sector 4 – Communication Technology/Digital Literacy
Sector 5 – Travel and tourism
Sector 6 – Entertainment
Sector 7 – Healthcare for the weak and the elderly
Sector 8 – …………………………………………………………….
- Prepare a questionnaire for the survey. Include questions relating to problems of availability, demand and supply, and public opinion.
- Choose a sample from your neighbourhood.
- Discuss the findings in groups. Suggest solutions to the problems.
- Prepare the survey report.
Step 2
Conduct a seminar on the topic ‘New Start-Ups for a New Kerala’. Your teacher will help you invite experts from organisations like ‘Kerala Startup Mission’. You may present the papers prepared by each group in the seminar. Include your innovative ideas in the papers.
Answer:
Group Projects – To be done in groups.
The Seedling Poem Extra Questions and Answers
Question 1.
What did the seedling say to itself when it lay within the darksome bed?
Answer:
When it lay within the darksome bed, the seedling said to itself, “I am not so very robust, but I’ll do the best I can,”
Question 2.
Why did it push up a little leaflet into the light of day?
Answer:
It pushed up a little leaflet into the light of day to examine the surroundings and show the rest the way.
Question 3.
Why did the seedling sweat and pant?
Answer:
The seedling sweated and panted cause it was hastening and hurrying.
Question 4.
What things helped the seedling to grow?
Answer:
The sunshine and the rain helped it to grow.
Question 5.
What lesson can children learn from the seedling?
Answer:
The children can learn to do the best they can. Every child must share life’s labour just like every man.
Question 6.
What do you like in the poem?
Answer:
I like the positive message in the poem. It tells me that if I do my work sincerely, I will be successful. It reiterates the teaching in the Bhagwat Gita which tells people “Work is thy duty, reward is not thy concern.”