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Karnataka State Board Class 9 English Prose Chapter 4 Mauritius
Mauritius Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes
Comprehension:
C1. Read the lesson silently and answer the following questions:
Question 1.
Where is Mauritius?
Answer:
Mauritius is an island situated below the Equator on the Twentieth parallel, around 4,500 kms. south-west of Bombay.
Question 2.
Name the people of different origins found in Mauritius.
Answer:
Africans, Chinese, Biharis, Dutch, Persians, Tamils, Arabs, French, and English are the people of different origins found in Mauritius.
Question 3.
Who are referred to as the “buccaneering trinity” of those days? Why are they called so?
Answer:
The Dutch, the French and the English are referred to as the ‘buccaneering trinity’. In those days these three powers fought with one another continuously for possession of the island which had three advantages – spices and sugar, strategic position with regard to the maritime route and, advantageous position for piratical purposes.
Question 4.
List out some ‘very musical but unpronounceable names’ as found by the author.
Answer:
Trouaux Biches, Beau Bassin, Quarter Bomes, Curepipe, Ross Belle are some of the musical but unpronounceable names.
Question 5.
What are the ‘flora and fauna’ found in Mauritius?
Answer:
Centuries ago the bat was the only mammal before man went to Mauritius with monkeys and deer. In the present, the flora and fauna at Mauritius are typical of the place. The trees even in the interior of jungles are short and twisted, resembling overgrown bonsai.
The jungles have no wildlife at all. They don’t even have poisonous snakes and insects. Unfortunately, the number of birds is decreasing and dodo has gone extinct. Attempts are being made to preserve the Aldabra variety of giant tortoises as their number is also dwindling.
Question 6.
How is nature cruel to the people of Mauritius?
Answer:
Nature is cruel to the people of Mauritius because, in addition to the storms which are the annual feature of Mauritius, it devastates the island once in 15 years with the King cyclone as it did on February 6, 1975. The cyclone was a powerful 320 km. broad wind that moved in at 255 kms per hour. It ruined everything that came in its way for two days. However, people slowly forget the destruction and rebuild everything and also plant trees. But nature once again turns cruel and destroys everything with the King cyclone at the end of the 15-year period.
Question 7.
Name some aquatic creatures sighted by the author.
Answer:
Crabs, lobsters, fish coloured bright lemon yellow with black stripes, fishes with spikes all over their body, fish with long tails, fish with battered faces, shiny white blobs of sea creatures are sopie of the aquatic creatures sighted by the author.
C2. Answer the following questions:
Question 1.
Why was it difficult for the author to locate Mauritius in his Atlas?
Answer:
It was very difficult for the author to locate Mauritius in his Allas because his atlas was a very old one and the weather, time and lots of cockroaches had made a lot of damage by putting dots. Therefore finding the small speck of Island in the vast Indian Ocean was very difficult.
Question 2.
What is the reason for the people of different countries to settle in Mauritius?
Answer:
Mauritius is inundated with sugarcane fields and spices which was the reason for the people’s different countries to settle here. Added to this was the strategic position of this Island on the maritime route to the East and it was conveniently placed for piratical purposes.
Question 3.
How does the author explain the absence of protocol among the government officials and ministers in Mauritius?
Answer:
The people of Mauritius are very friendly and relaxed towards everyone. The same atmosphere is found even in the seat of the Government. One can find the cabinet Ministers and others in high positions in an airport lounge or in a hotel lobby. They are unassuming, communicative, and accessible and move about without the shield of security people. In fact, the Prime Minister’s residence is a modest flat in a busy market street.
Question 4.
Give the description of mountains as given by the author.
Answer:
The author describes the peculiarity of the mountains of Mauritius by pointing out that the mountains do not have the – traditional pyramidal shape. Their outlines are unusual with straight drops and pin-pointed peaks that dangerously balance large boulders.
Question 5.
Describe how the people of Mauritius fight against the cruel jaws of nature.
Answer:
The people of Mauritius seem to be the ones with resilience. Even after going through the suffering of the total devastation caused by King cyclone, they have the interest to rebuild everything. They seem to forget the enormous violence of nature and plant trees in congested areas, build tall structures, fix plateglass picture windows and put up rooftops with an eye for elegance. The author is surprised and sad that they forget the destruction caused by the King cyclone which promptly hits the’ island once in 15 years.
Question 6.
What would be the future of Mauritius, as opined by the author?
Answer:
The writer seems to be despondent about the future of Mauritius. He states that present Mauritius is idyllic with no problems of population and unemployment. However, the country is worried about its whole economy is dependent on the single commodity of sugar and wants to welcome foreign entrepreneurship. But the writer knows that with the introduction of industries, the population would grow and flats would come up resulting in pollution and congestion.
This would also mean increased cost of living, taxation, unemployment, slums, and a whole lot of associated problems. With the growth in industries, infrastructure also will have to change. Roads will have to be widened. With wise planning, all these problems can be tackled. But whether the leaders have the vision to preserve paradise is a question for which the writer has no answer.
C3. Compare and contrast the arriving and departing experience of the author during his flight.
Question 1.
Does it suggest anything to you?
Answer:
While the author was on his way towards the Island of Mauritius, he was full of admiration for its physical features, pristine lands viewed through acres and acres of clouds and curious about its odd mixtures of race and language but with a sense of oneness. He was full of admiration its unpolluted beauty. But, on his return flight the thoughts were all of fear and anxiety about the future of the Island.
He thought that if the foreign entrepreneurs started their industries, the Island would become polluted, with shines, increase in cost of living, unemployment etc. He was exited and enthusiastic during his arrival and was depressed and worried during his departure.
Additional Questions:
Question 1.
What was the condition of the world atlas which the writer had with him?
Answer:
It was old and it had many little dots and specks due to the passage of time, the weather and generations of cockroaches which had put them there.
Question 2.
How did the author perceive the ocean from the aircraft?
Answer:
From the aircraft, the ocean seemed to spread like a bluish-grey steel sheet.
Question 3.
What did the clouds resemble?
Answer:
The clouds seemed to resemble figures in the ancient legends of China, Rome, Greece and India.
Question 4.
What was far fetched, according to the writer?
Answer:
Drawing comparisons between what he observed from a height of 10,000 metres and what he learnt of Mauritius later seemed far fetched to the writer.
Question 5.
What was peculiar or rather special about Mauritius?
Answer:
Mauritius, though a tiny island, has an astonishing variety, strange juxtapositions, incongruities, odd mixtures of race and language. This is special about Mauritius.
Question 6.
Who ‘rub shoulders merrily’ in Mauritius as per the observations of the writer?
Answer:
Africans and Chinese, Biharis and Dutch, Persians and Tamils, Arabs, French and English – all rub shoulders merrily with one another in Mauritius.
Question 7.
Why did Radha Krishna Govindan surprise the writer?
Answer:
The writer thought that Radha Krishna Govindan was a Tamilian because he had a South Indian face and a name to go with it. But he responded in mangled English with a heavy French accent when spoken to. This surprised the writer.
Question 8.
Why were Radha Krishna Govindan’s ancestors brought to Mauritius?
Answer:
Centuries ago his ancestors were brought to the island of Mauritius as slaves or later as indentured labourers to work in sugarcane fields and factories or to cut timber in the jungle and haul it to the boats.
Question 9.
Who was the trinity referred to by the writer?
Answer:
The Dutch, the French, and the English.
Question 10.
Why did the trinity wage wars?
Answer:
The trinity battled for the possession of the islands for its spices and sugar and also for the strategic position of the islands on the maritime route to the East.
Question 11.
What is the attitude of the people of Mauritius towards strangers?
Answer:
The people of Mauritius are extremely relaxed and warm towards strangers. They always greet them with smiles as if one were a long lost friend.
Question 12.
Why was the writer ashamed?
Answer:
The writer was ashamed because being a city-bred man he could not even produce a warm smile. He had the pre-cast grim expression of a city-dweller and there was no warmth and spontaneity in his smile.
Question 13.
How are the cabinet ministers in Mauritius different from our own?
Answer:
The cabinet ministers in Mauritius do not behave as if they were born to grace the position they hold. They are unassuming, accessible,
communicative and above all, go about without a protective shield of security men.
Question 14.
Where was the residence of the Prime Minister of Mauritius situated?
Answer:
The Prime Minister’s residence was situated on a busy street lined with shops and crawling traffic. It was a modest-looking flat.
Question 15.
Whom does the writer remember when he sees Port Louis?
Answer:
Port Louis brings to the writer’s mind the memory of writers like Joseph Conrad and Somerset Maugham.3
Question 16.
How were the mountains in Mauritius formed?
Answer:
The blue mountains that ring the island of Mauritius are a volcanic happening of geological ages.
Question 17.
What is the area of Mauritius?
Answer:
The island of Mauritius is 64 km by 50 km in size.
Question 18.
What is the difference between the trees of the Andaman islands and those of Mauritius?
Answer:
The trees in the Andamans are gigantic. In Mauritius, however, they are short and gnarled even in interior jungles, looking like abnormally overgrown bonsai.
Question 19.
Name the flightless bird which was a native of Mauritius.
Answer:
Dodo.
Question 20.
Which are the water sports common in Mauritius?
Answer:
Scuba-diving, swimming, surf-riding, speed boat racing, yachting, and in some places horse-riding (in water).
Question 21.
What is the economy of Mauritius dependent upon?
Answer:
The economy of Mauritius is dependent upon sugar.
Question 22.
What is referred to as ‘paradise on earth’ by the writer?
Answer:
The island of Mauritius is referred to as paradise on earth by the writer.
Multiple Choice Questions:
Question 1.
In the World Atlas, Mauritius looked like
A) a big island
B) a big city
C) a tiny speck
D) a continent.
Answer:
C) a tiny speck
Question 2.
The ancestors of the natives of Mauritius were brought to the island as slaves or labourers
A) to work in sugarcane fields
B) to work in factories
C) to cut timber in the jungle
D) All of the above.
Answer:
D) All of the above
Question 3.
The phrase ‘buccaneering trinity’ refers to
A) the Americans, the Dutch and the French
B) the French, the Russians and the English
C) the Polish, the Kiwis and the French
D) the Dutch, the French and the English.
Answer:
D) the Dutch, the French and the English.
Question 4.
The buccaneering trinity constantly fought for the possession of the island for
A) its spices
B) its sugar
C) the strategic position
D) All of the above.
Answer:
D) All of the above.
Question 5.
The battle of 1810 for the Island ended in favour of
A) the French
B) the Dutch
C) the English
D) the Americans.
Answer:
C) the English
Question 6.
In Mauritius
A) it is common to be greeted and smiled at
B) people are hostile
C) people do not mix with outsiders
D) people fight among themselves
Answer:
A) it is common to be greeted and smiled at
Question 7.
The Cabinet Ministers and others in high positions
A) live in ivory towers
B) are high handed
C) are like ordinary people
D) like to show their power.
Answer:
C) are like ordinary people
Question 8.
The Prime Minister of Mauritius lives in
A) a bungalow
B) a modest flat
C) a palace
D) White house.
Answer:
B) a modest flat
Question 9.
The trees in Mauritius are
A) gigantic in size
B) like bonsai specimen
C) short and gnarled
D) tall and abnormal.
Answer:
C) short and gnarled
Question 10.
The ……………… was a native of Mauritius.
A) Stork
B) Eagle
C) Dinosaur
D) Dodo
Answer:
D) Dodo
Question 11.
The cyclone that promptly appears and destroys Mauritius is the ………….. cyclone.
A) Trou aux Biches
B) King
C) Beau Bassin
D) Ross Belle
Answer:
B) King
Question 12.
The economy of Mauritius is dependent on
A) steel
B) sugar
C) natural gas
D) minerals.
Answer:
B) sugar
Language Activities:
Grammar And Usage:
G1. The order of adjectives:
When there are several adjectives to a noun, certain word order is followed. Here is the order:
- Opinion
- Size
- Most other qualities
- Age
- Colour
- Origin
- Material
- Type
- Purpose
Ex. 1. Arrange the adjectives for the nouns provided, in the correct word order.
- vase – glass, old, lovely
This is a lovely, old, glass vase.
(Most other qualities, age, material) - Basin – sugar, antique, silver
This is an antique, silver sugar basin.
(Age, material, type) - Game – family, new, exciting
This is an exciting, new family game.
(Opinion, age, type) - Computer – business, Japanese, powerful
This is a powerful, Japanese computer business.
(Most other qualities, origin, type) - Fire – electric, excellent, small
Excellent, small electric fire.
(Most other qualities, size, material) - Chocolate bar – new, big
Big, new chocolate bar.
(Size, age, material) - Comedy – American, television, terrific Terrific American television comedy.
(Most other qualities, origin, type) - Doors – aluminium, garage, stylish Stylish aluminium garage doors.
(Most other qualities, material, type) - Shoes – modem, sports, wonderful Wonderful, modem sports shoes.
(Most other qualities, age, purpose) - Phone – mobile, German, good Good German mobile phone.
(Most other qualities, origin, material)
Ex. 2. From the lesson, pick out the multiple adjectives used to describe the following:
- Clouds like ……………….
- Trees ……………….
- Cabinet ministers …………………
- Mountains do not have …………………
- Lagoons ………………
Answer:
- Clouds like – funny shapes, odd, abstract.
- Trees – short and gnarled, abnormally overgrown.
- Cabinet ministers – ordinary, unassuming, accessible, communicative.
- Mountains do not have – traditional, monotonous, pyramidal shapes.
- Lagoons – calm, turquoise blue.
G2. Modals:
A. Given below are some dialogues. Underline the modals.
a) A: Raju has fractured his arm.
B: But still he can write.
b) A: I have still some shopping to do. May I leave my bag in your store?
B: Yes, but please collect it before 8-00 p.m.
c) A: The coffee is rather bitter. Would you please pass some sugar?
B: No, you must not take any sugar.
d) A: My feet get swollen in the evening.
B: Then you must consult a doctor.
e) A: I’ll not be able to finish my assignment in time.
B: Shall I do the drawings for you?
B. Match the modals in bold in column A with their corresponding functions and attitude given in column B.
Answer:
- g
- c
- e
- a
- h
- f
- b
- d
C. Read the following letter and choose the most suitable alternative from those given in brackets. Underline your choice. Sometimes more than one alternative is suitable.
Dear Mohit
It was pleasing to get your letter and to hear the good news that you are going trekking with your friends. You (ought to / would / should) have a break after your exams! You asked me what you (can / should / will) take. Well, you (might / can’t / mustn’t) fit everything in a backpack so you must be selective. You (will /can/must) take at least one sweater because it (ought to / should / can) get very cold in the mountains. You (needn’t / could / should) pack a gas stove because there (could / may / will) be plenty of firewood from dead trees.
I am sure you (will / should / could) have a wonderful time but I (may / would / should) give you a word of warning. Don’t get stuck in the Laki Pass at night. Once you’re there you (won’t be able to / can’t be able to / not be able to) get down and it’s very dangerous at night. By the way, you (should / should have to / should have) told me earlier that you were going and I (should have / would have / will have) given you walking boots!
Anyway, look after yourself and enjoy your holiday.
With love
Daddy
Answer:
Dear Mohit
It was pleasing to get your letter and to hear the good news that you are going trekking with your friends. You should have a break after your exams! You asked me what you can take. Well. you can’t fit everything in a backpack so you must be selective. You must take at least one sweater because it can get very cold in the mountains. You needn’t pack a gas stove because there will be plenty of firewood from dead trees.
I am sure you will have a wonderful time but I would give you a word of warning. Don’t get stuck in the Laki Pass at night. Once you’re there you won’t be able to get down and it’s very dangerous at night. By the way, you should have told me earlier that you were going and I would have given you walking boots!
Anyway, look after yourself and enjoy your holiday.
With love
Daddy
Ex.4.
Sara does not understand a concept her teacher has just taught. Complete the dialogue given below using appropriate models.
- Sara: Excuse me, Madam, …………… you repeat the explanation again, please?
- Teacher: Why do you want me to repeat it? You ……………. be very attentive when I am teaching.
- Sara: Sorry madam, I ………….. hear you properly.
- Teacher: You ……………. have a hearing problem Sara, get your ears checked. You ……………. sit in the front row from tomorrow. I ………….. now explain it again. Pay attention.
- Sara: Thank you, madam.
Answer:
- Sara: Excuse me, Madam, could you repeat the explanation again, please?
- Teacher: Why do you want me to repeat it? You should be very attentive when I am teaching.
- Sara: Sorry madam, I couldn’t hear you properly.
- Teacher: You may have a hearing problem Sara, get your ears checked. You must sit in the front row from tomorrow. I will now explain it again. Pay attention.
- Sara: Thank you, madam.
Language Skills:
L1. Read the situations given in Column A and complete the likely responses to them in Column B.
| Situation | Likely Response |
| 1) Your neighbor is playing loud music, which is disturbing you. |
Can you please…………………. |
| 2) You could not visit your friend who was ill at the hospital. | I am sorry…………………….. |
| 3) You have lost the book you had borrowed from your friend. | I am Extremely sorry…………………. |
| 4) You are late to school by an hour. | Excuse me Madam, I am ………………….. |
| 5) You are unable to help your friend financially in his need. | I am afraid I cannot …………………… |
Answer:
| 1) | Your neighbor is playing loud music, which is disturbing you. | Can you please turn down the volume? |
| 2) | You could not visit your friend who was ill at the hospital. | I am sorry that I couldn’t visit you at the hospital. |
| 3) | You have lost the book you had borrowed from your friend. | I am extremely sorry that I have misplaced the book that I borrowed from you. |
| 4) | You are late to school by an hour. | Excuse me, Madam. I am sorry that I am late by an hour. |
| 5) | You are unable to help your friend financially in his need. | I am afraid I cannot be of help to you. OR I am afraid I cannot help you financially. |
L2. Listening and speaking:
Ex. 1. Classify into two groups according to the /i:/ and /e/ sounds:
Answer:
Ex. 2. Change the vowel sound from /e/ to /i:/ in these words and write the new words.
- check
- red
- bet
- men
- sell
- sweat
- bed
- set
- fed
- led
Answer:
- check cheek
- red read
- bet beat
- men mean
- sell seal
- sweat sweet
- bed bead
- set seat
- fed feed
- led lead.
Mauritius by R.K.Laxman About The Author:
R.K. Laxman was born on the 24th of October, 1921 in Mysore. His father was a headmaster and Laxman was the youngest of six sons. One of his elder brothers, R.K. Narayan, is a well-known novelist.
Laxman drew cartoons for The Hindu’, ‘Koravanji’ and later for ‘The Times of India’. He is known for his distinctive illustrations, most notably for ‘Malgudi Days’ written by R.K. Narayan.
He has won many awards that include the Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and the Ramon Magsaysay Award.
‘Mauritius’ is a travelogue adapted from ‘Idle Hours’ written by him.
Mauritius Summary in English
The author comes up with a detailed description of Mauritius in his essay by the same name. He says that Mauritius is a tiny speck of an island situated below the Equator on the twentieth parallel some 4,500 km. south-west of Mumbai. The world atlas which the author had was very old and contained many little dots and specks. These dots were either the products of cockroaches or the adverse effects of weather. They had nothing to do with geography. So Mauritius could not be easily located by the author in his atlas. The author’s experience on his journey to Mauritius was exciting. He was curious to see the sight below the flying aircraft.
Different aspects of the country such as the bluish-grey steel sheet-like ocean, acres and acres of cloud and land structures resembling the legendary historical’ structures of ancient countries fascinated him. The author remarks that people of different origins are found in Mauritius. There are Africans, Chinese, Biharis, Dutch, Persians, Tamils, Arabs, French and English. Of these, the Dutch, the French and the English who constantly waged battle for the possession of the island for its spices and sugar were called the ‘buccaneering trinity’. They were called so as their interest in Mauritius was piratical in nature.
The reason for the people of different countries to settle in Mauritius was for its spices and sugar or just for the strategic position on the maritime route to the East.
In Mauritius, cabinet ministers and others in big positions do not act as if they were born to grace. They are all just like ordinary people. They are unassuming, accessible, communicative and without the protective shield of hangers-on and security men to repel casual approaches.
The blue mountains ring the islands, a volcanic happening of geological ages. These mountains do not have the traditional monotonous pyramidal shapes. Their outlines are freakish and whimsical with unexpected sweeps and have perpendicular drops and pin-pointed peaks.
The author finds some names from the French language such as Trou aux Biches, Beau Bassin, Quarter Bomes, Curepipe, Rose Belle and so on musical but unpronounceable.
The author extends his study to the flora and fauna in Mauritius too. He finds that the trees found in Mauritius are short and gnarled even in the interior of jungles just like overgrown bonsai. The fauna are the bats, monkeys, deer and giant tortoises of Aldabra variety.
Mauritius is prone to cyclonic storms and it is an annual feature. Big ones occur once in 15 years and leave a trail of destruction. People are used to cyclones and have learnt to live with them. King cyclone, a massive cyclone, had struck Mauritius on February 6,1975 leaving vast areas flattened. The island has recovered from the devastation. Trees are planted in congested areas. Tall buildings have come up, plateglass picture windows are fixed and rooftops are put up with an eye on elegance.
On a cruise in a glass-bottomed boat, the author gets to see sea-shells, crabs, shapeless ugly creatures crawling in the dark depths and a school of fish, coloured bright lemon yellow with black bars. Fishes with hideous spikes all over their body, fishes with long tails, fishes with battered faces are also found.
The Government is eager to have foreign entrepreneurs start their industries here. The author opines that with industrial growth, the living space will shrink. Cars and trucks will increase. Their roads will have to be widened to take the load. The price of land will go up and flats will appear. Cost of living, pollution, unemployment, slums, taxation, controls will appear.
During his return flight the author could not see those scenes as it was dark. But he could imagine future Mauritius in a changed situation – industrialization with wider roads, tall buildings, pollution, unemployment, slums etc. He hopes that enlightened people will guide the growth of Mauritius and preserve this paradise on earth.
Glossary:
bearing (v): carrying
albeit: although
juxtaposition: put side-by-side
incongruities: out of place, absurd
indentured: bound by
strategic: important
spontaneity (n): resulting from natural impulse; not forced or suggested or caused from outside
whimsical: capricious, fantastic
precariously (adv): dependent on chance; uncertain, risky
ubiquitous: omnipresent, seeming to be everywhere
sprawling: be of loose, irregular form
gnarled: ragged
dwindling: diminishing gradually
buccaneering: piratical
(buka-neering)
relentlessly: unrelenting
trinity: a whole consisting of three parts (here, the three countries)
avidity (n): eagerness