Let’ s Begin

In the play ‘If I Were You’, you have read how Gerrard outsmarts the intruder with his ‘presence of mind’. The intruder wanted to steal Gerrard’s identity.

In our day-to-day life we share personal information like telephone number, house address, mobile number, date of birth, e-mail address, etc., everyday with people whom we may not know very well.

Don’t you think it is not safe to share information in today’s digital age? Someone like the intruder in the play ‘If I Were You’ might misuse your unique and personal identity details. This is called identity theft.

The cases of online identity thefts are increasing day by day. Collect information about cases of identity theft and share it in the class.

Reading Comprehension

Read the following text and answer the questions that follow.

Text I

Interview With A Detective

His appearance was clean, cool and deliberately ambiguous. Under the sanctuary of his aviators, his eyes silently scanned the room. He is a Manhattan-based, third-generation private detective who’s been in the business for more than three decades - specialising in surveillance and being an overall mystery-tinged badass. We asked him everything we’ve ever wanted to know about the profession.

surveillance: close observation, especially of a suspected spy or criminal

Interviewer : So, what exactly do you do?

Detective : I do a lot of surveillance. Basically, someone who wonders, “What is this other person up to?” If it’s insurance company (surveying someone on workers’ compensation), they’ll ask, “Is he back working?” Things like that.
Another very common request is locating people, and it could be for a lot of reasons. I had a case recently, a man hadn’t been in touch with his mother for 20 years and I helped him find her.

Interviewer : What kind of skills make for a good PI (Private Investigator)?

Detective : Patience- Number one. You have to pay attention. You have to be the kind of person, if you sit in front of a door watching it for six hours, and you haven’t seen your guy.

You have to plan accordingly, and be willing to make sacrifices in order to stay out there. It’s not a job for people who want to slack off.

Interviewer : If you needed to locate someone, what’s the ideal information you need to start?

Detective : Usually, this is what I tell people, “If you want to find someone, I need the name with the exact spelling, the DOB if you know it, the social security number, and a last known, official address where they’ve lived within the past 15 years.” Because that means they’ll be in our database.

Interviewer : Do most private investigators have a relationship with local police?

Detective : I would say that’s kind of a myth. Most cops wouldn’t even do it in the first place, because they know how serious a violation it is.

Interviewer : Do most private eyes carry guns?

Detective : I don’t think so. We don’t kill people but help them.

Interviewer : What do films and television shows get wrong about being a PI?

Detective : The big difference is, the things you see in films do happen to private detectives, but they’re shrinking down maybe 20 years of adventure into an episode. After 30 years, I probably have one good movie worth of experiences.

DOB: Date of Birth

1. What is the profession of the person being interviewed?
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2. Complete the following sentence.

As soon as the detective entered the room, he
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(a) examined the place carefully.

(b) was vague and uncertain.

(c) knew what he was doing.

(d) got ready for the interview.

3. Which of the following was not a part of the job of the detective?

(a) to wander about

(b) to find lost people

(c) to carry guns

(d) to keep a watch

4. According to the detective, there are some qualities that are essential in his profession. What are these and why are they essential?
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5. What information should the PI have in order to locate someone?
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6. In the sentence given below the word ‘aviators’ means sunglasses. Now choose the appropriate meaning for the underlined word from the options given.

Under the sanctuary of his aviators, his eyes scanned the room.

(a) shelter

(b) shade

(c) hideout

(d) refuge

Text II

Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay

Do you know who is Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay? He was a Bengali writer. He is remembered for his most famous creation of a fictional detective, Byomkesh Bakshi.

He was actively involved with Bengali cinema as well as Bollywood. He wrote different forms of prose: novels, short stories, plays and screenplays. Besides, he wrote many songs and poems. However, his forte was short stories and novels. He also wrote historical fiction and supernatural stories.

Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay started writing Byomkesh stories in 1932 at the age of 33 . He has written 32 Byomkesh stories. He continued to write till his death in 1970. He portrayed himself as a narrator of his stories named Ajit Bandhopadhyay who is also a companion of Byomkesh Bakshi. In some stories Ajit also investigates in the absence of Byomkesh. These stories are written in traditional Bengali language and have now been translated into other languages.

His stories are very engrossing and consist of a series of events. Byomkesh solves cases from international drug racket to household mysteries and crimes. Byomkesh identifies himself as Satyanweshi meaning ’truth seeker’ rather than a detective. Where he stands out from other legendary detectives like Hercule Poirot or Sherlock Holmes is that he is more concerned with truth than with the law.

forte: a thing at which someone excels

Fun fact

a bolt of lightning
a deck of cards
a swarm of bees
a school of fish
a fleet of cars
a flock of birds
an army of caterpillars
a herd of cows

1. Who among the following is not a detective?

(a) Byomkesh Bakshi

(b) Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay

(c) Hercule Poirot

(d) Sherlock Holmes

2. Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay is known for his

(a) Short stories and novels

(b) Poems and songs

(c) Historical fiction

(d) All of the above

3. State whether true or false.

(a) Byomkesh is a ’truth seeker’.

(b) Byomkesh is a detective like Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes.

(c) Byomkesh is concerned with truth rather than with the law.

(d) Byomkesh follows law to solve his cases.

5. What is the role of Ajit in Byomkesh stories?
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6. Find the antonyms of the words given below. All of them are given in the text.

(a) natural _______________________

(b) fact _______________________

(c) passively _______________________

(d) discontinued _______________________

(e) presence _______________________

(f) modern _______________________

(g) unconcerned _______________________

Vocabulary

1. The following words and phrases occur in the passages. Try to guess the meanings. Match the words with their meanings. You may refer a dicitionary later.

2. The contextual meaning of ‘sanctuary’ in the comprehension passage I is ‘shade’. The same word ‘sanctuary’ is used in a variety of sentences given below. They have different meanings in different contexts. Refer to a dictionary and write the meanings.

(a) Banita’s home was a sanctuary for runaway kids.
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(b) The refugees found sanctuary when they reached India.
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(c) The sanctuary contains the altar of sacrifice.
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(d) I found sanctuary in the cave to save myself from the storm.
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(e) Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area for tigers.
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3. Use the following pair of opposites in sentences. One has been done for you.

lose/gain
You’ve nothing to lose, but what have you to gain?

(a) hot/cold
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(b) beautiful/ugly
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(c) smart/foolish
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(d) lonely/busy
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(e) great/little
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(f) live/die
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Grammar

An affirmative sentence can be changed into a negative sentence without changing the meaning of the original sentence. Look at the examples given below.

• You may be comfortable, but I am not. /You may not be uncomfortable, but I am.
• Few people take the trouble to visit me. / People generally do not take the trouble to visit me.
• Better be quick. / Better not be late.

Fun fact

Some words that go hand-in-hand
Blood-red
Sky-blue
Pitch-dark
Skin-deep
Lifelong
Worldwide
Heart-wrenching
Noteworthy
Bed-ridden
Homesick
Headstrong
Handmade

1. Change affirmative sentences into negative sentences without changing the meaning. One has been done for you.

I know all the answers. / There are no answers that I don’t know.

(a) All the members liked the programme.
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(b) Amritsar is colder than Delhi.
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(c) I am free to go places and do nothing.
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(d) The farmer was too weak to walk.
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(e) She is always on time.
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(f) The intruder was foolish to let Gerrard go.
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2. Let us look at the sentence given below.

I am glad you are pleased to see me.

Here, ’to see’ is an example of the infinite form of a verb. The infinite form of a verb is usually preceded by ’to’. Choose the words from the box and complete the sentences given below.

phone up, pay, assist, change, clear off, help, team up, stay

(a) Before we begin I would like you ________________ my place.

(b) I’ll be glad ________________ you.

(c) You mean ________________ with me?

(d) But are you sure it’s going ________________ you?

(e) Those are just the things I want ________________ .

(f) Be willing to make sacrifices in order ________________ out there.

(g) Anju asked Hemant ________________ Rs. 100 to avoid a scene.

(h) Well, tell him ________________ directly.

Fun fact

Once in a blue moon Rarely

Fun fact

Cutting corners Doing something poorly in order to save time or money

Editing

Some words are missing in the passage given below, indicated by ‘/’. Rewrite the passage by providing the missing words, and using appropriate punctuation marks in the space given below.

Sherlock Holmes is/ fictional private detective, the first scientific detective, created/ British author Sir arthur conan doyle. He is a ‘consulting detective’ in the stories written by Sir Doyle. Holmes is known for his skills of observation, knowledge of forensic science, / logical reasoning. He employs all these while investigating cases for/ wide variety of clients. Sir Doyle’s four novels and 56 short stories, excluding one, are set in the victorian or edwardian eras, between about 1880 and 1914 Most are narrated by Dr Watson, Holmes’s friend. he is also his biographer/ usually accompanies Holmes during his investigations/ often shares quarters with him at the address of 221B Baker Street, london, where many of the stories begin.

Sherlock Holmes is arguably/best known fictional detective, with guinness World Records listing him as the ‘most portrayed movie character’ in history The stories have been adapted into stage/ radio plays, television films video games, and other media for over one hundred years. Many have believed Holmes to be not a fictional character/ a real individual because of his popularity/ fame. widely considered a British cultural icon, the Character and Stories have had a profound/ lasting effect on mystery Writing and popular culture/a Whole.

Fun fact

Don’t cry over spilt milk

There is no reason to complain about something that can’t be fixed

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Listening

Listen to the story of Shibi Rana and answer the questions that follow.

There are many stories in our mythology when gods have disguised themselves in the forms of human beings, birds, etc. This is done either to test the efficiency and ability of the kings or to see if people are happy and contented on earth. This is another aspect of changing the identity. Let us listen to story of King Shibi.

There was a great king, Shibi Rana who had immense power then, even gods in heavens were amazed. They feared that Shibi might take away their kingdoms. They devised a plan to test his sense of justice. So they decided to reach Shibi’s kingdom in disguise.

One day, Shibi Rana was sitting on his throne. His courtroom was surrounded by majestic gardens. There came a scared dove flying to him and it was followed by a fierce looking eagle. The king gave shelter to the dove and saved her. The eagle argued that the king has taken away his food-the dove. It would starve. The king assured the eagle that he would give equal quantity of any other food. The eagle asked for King Shibi’s flesh. The magnanimous king agreed with a smile. A balance was brought in the court. It was soon found that with each addition of the king’s flesh the dove grew heavier. The equal balance was not arrived at. But the king remained calm and unperturbed.

The Gods in the guise of dove and eagle were assured of Shibi’s righteousness. The forms of the eagle and the dove soon disappeared. In their place stood Indra, the king of the Gods and Agni, the God of fire smiling and blessing the king for his benevolence and greatness.

magnanimous: generous or forgiving, especially towards a rival or less powerful person

benevolence: kindness, generosity and helpfulness

1. Why were the Gods in heaven afraid of King Shibi?
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2. What made the eagle angry?
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3. What did the eagle demand?
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4. Was the eagle satisfied?
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5. Who were in the disguise of the eagle and the dove?
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6. King Shibi was blessed for his:
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Fun fact

Let the cat out of the bag
Give away a secret

Fun fact

A stitch in time saves nine
Fix the problem now before it gets worse

Speaking

1. In a group of four, discuss and take down notes based on the discussion.

• Theft in the digital age. Theft that occurs when someone uses another’s unique personal details like his/her name, credit card numbers, without his/her permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.

2. You may talk to the manager of a Bank, Cyber crime cell, etc., about ‘online identity theft’ cases and measures to avoid them.

• Discuss this in groups of four in the class.
• Prepare posters on creating awareness about online identify theft.

Fun fact

Cross your fingers
For good luck

Writing

1. Sometimes we think about what we are like and how each of us is different. We all are interesting people with our physical differences and attitudes to life. Write in about 300-400 words what you are like, your identity and what you enjoy doing and how do you envision yourself in future.

2. Complete the following story. It has to be a scary story that terrifies people. Give a suitable title to your story.

I stopped my scooter in front of an old and dilapidated building. A haggered, skinny old man with drooping shoulders came towards me. “Don’t go in, Sir”, he whispered. “It is dangerous…”

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Project

1. Going digital means more transparency, saving of papers, accountability and ease of transaction. The Government has initiated the programme ‘Digital India’. Collect more information about this programme. You can interview people, collect photographs, anecdotes, data, etc. Prepare a report based on your findings.

2. Prepare a street play (nukkad natak) on how someone was duped by an unknown person when he/she was trying to withdraw money from the ATM. And how the bank manager helped him/her in getting back the money. What precautions did the bank manager suggest to avoid such incidents in future?

Enact the nukkad natak in your school assembly/ community hall/park, etc.

Fun fact

I’m all ears
You have my full attention.

Notes

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