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CLASS X
English Communicative
Sample Question Paper 2018-19

Time allowed: 3 hrs Max Marks: 80

General Instructions:
I. The question paper is divided into three sections :
SECTION A : Reading 20 MARKS
SECTION B : Writing and Grammar 30 MARKS
SECTION C : Literature 30 MARKS
II. All questions are compulsory.
III. You may attempt any section at a time.
All questions of that particular section must be attempted in the correct order.

SECTION – A

1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. Cricket is a global passion, played everywhere from Test match arenas
to village greens, tropical beaches and dusty back lots. Cricket is the
world's second most popular spectator sport after football.
2. The origin of cricket is somewhere in the Dark Ages. All research
concedes that the game derived from a very old, widespread and
uncomplicated pastime by which one player served up an object, be it a
small piece of wood or a ball, and another hit it with a suitably fashioned
club. Cricket was first recorded in 16th-century England, and it was played
in grammar schools, farm communities and everywhere in between. But
things really took off when 18thcentury nobles realised it was a great
sport.
3. The oldest surviving set of cricket laws date from 1744 – printed on a
handkerchief, naturally. It's now in the MCC Museum at Lord’s in London.
The oldest permanent fixture is the annual Eton v Harrow match, played
since 1805. A young Lord Byron turned out for Harrow in the first match,
though history doesn't record how poetic – or “mad, bad and dangerous” –
his bowling was.

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 5. The first international match was in 1877 when Australia beat England
in Melbourne. The match was dubbed a “Test”, since the grueling nature of
playing over five days was deemed the ultimate “test” for any side. But it
was Australia’s first win on English soil – in 1882 at The Oval in London –
that led to matches between the two nations being christened the Ashes.
Following the defeat, newspapers published an obituary mourning “the
death of English cricket”, adding that “the body will be cremated and the
ashes taken to Australia”.
6. A One Day International (ODI) is a form of limited overs cricket, played
between two teams with international status, in which each team faces a
fixed number of overs, usually 50. The Cricket World Cup is played in this
format. The international one-day game is a late twentieth century
development. The first ODI was played on 5 January 1971 between
Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. (344 words)

1.1 Attempt any eight of the following questions on the basis of the
passage you have read. (1 × 8 = 8)
a. According to the passage, how did the game of Cricket originate?
b. Where can we find the oldest sets of Cricket laws?
c. Which match did Lord Byron play?
d. When was the first international match played?
e. Which countries played that match?
f. Why the matches between Australia and England were titled “The
Ashes”?
g. In which format is the Cricket world cup played?
h. When did the ODIs begin?
i. Which word in paragraph no.5 means the same as “exhausting‟?

2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. Politeness has been well defined as benevolence in trifles. It is the
desire to put those whom we meet perfectly at their ease, and save them
from every kind of petty discomfort and annoyance. The limited part of
benevolence called politeness requires only an inclination to make them
happy temporarily, while they are in our presence, and when this can be
done without any sacrifice on our part or only with a slight sacrifice of
personal comfort.
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 2. Politeness is said to be one of the important characteristics of civilised
person. Politeness is the art of choosing among your thoughts. It must be
implemented in every walk of life. When we deal with people elder to us
we are polite. But, an honest polite person is polite with everyone, people
of lower status, workers and even children. Not only with humans but also
with animals we must be polite as they are our helpers.
3. Politeness is a skill. Like any other skill, you can master it with practice.
The greatest enemy of politeness is ego. To be a polite person, you have
to sacrifice your ego. It is difficult for an egoist to be polite. You have to
imply politeness in your thinking, speech and actions. Actions work more
than words. Polite actions will give fine results. Politeness will reduce your
stress and boost you to be productive. Apart from your present benefits,
you protect your future. Being polite makes you mentally healthy. In our
daily life we come across many incidents with people nearby and
ourselves.
4. Different rules of behaviour have to be observed, accordingly as we are
in the street or in the drawing- room, at home or at school, in the
company of friends or of strangers. There is also to be considered the
great diversity of social etiquette which distinguishes one country from
another.
5. Politeness, besides being a duty that we owe to others, is a valuable
possession for ourselves. It costs nothing, and yet may in many cases
bring much profit. The great advantage of this excellence of conduct was
very clearly expressed by Dr. Johnson, when he said that the difference
between a well-bred and an ill- bred man is that one immediately attracts
your liking, the other your dislike. (378 words)
(Abridged from: http://www.shareyouressays.com/3444/563-words-short-
essay-on-politeness and
http://syedasrarahmed.blogspot.in/2012/02/importance-of-
politeness.html)

2.1 On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer any four of the
following questions in about 30-40 words each (2 × 4 = 8)
a. Why is politeness called as limited part of benevolence?
b. List some of the persons we should be polite to?
c. Why is it difficult for an egoist to be polite?

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 d. What are the benefits of being polite?
e. Which are the rules of behaviour to be observed?

2.2 On the basis of your reading of the passage, fill in any two of the
following blanks with appropriate words/phrases. (1 × 2 = 2)
a. Politeness is an art of choosing.
b. An honest polite person is polite with.
c. To others, we.

2.3 Find out the words that mean the same as under. Attempt any two of
the following: (1 × 2 = 2)
a. insignificant (Paragraph 1)
b. manners (Paragraph 4)
c. civil (Paragraph 5)

SECTION – B

3. You are Sonal/ Samkit of Vidyanjali Public School, Lucknow. You have seen
an advertisement in “The Times of India” related to new batches of
“Astronomy Club” initiated by National Science Centre, Lucknow starting
from the coming fortnight .You wish to join the Club. Write a letter to the
Director, enquiring about the venue, duration, fee- structure, activities,
transportation etc. Invent other necessary details (100-120 words) (8)
OR
You are the In-charge of the Medical Section of Gyanodaya Public School,
Nehru Vihar, Alwar. Your stock of medicines is about to finish .Write a
letter to the Director of Jambo Medicare, Delhi, ordering medical items like
glucose, crocin, bandages, tincture ,pain-healers, ointments etc. Ask for
discount on bulk order .Invent other necessary details. (100-120 words)

4. Write a short story, in about 200-250 words, with any one set of the
cues given in the boxes below. Give a suitable title to the story. (10)
Jasmine, Ali and two other friends decided to go on a picnic to a beach.
They packed their bags and were quite excited. They reached the picnic
spot and came across a small child who was crying ………..

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 OR
On October 4, we all were decorating our house to celebrate the most
long-awaited festival, Diwali. My heart was filled with excitement to meet
my father after a long gap of six years. But a call from the army
headquarters left us stunned…

5. Fill in any four of the following blanks choosing the most appropriate
option from the ones given below. Write the answers in your answer –
sheet against the correct blank numbers. (4)

6. In the following passage one word has been omitted in each line. Write the
missing word, in any four sentences of the given paragraph, along with the
word that comes before and the word that comes after it in the space
provided. (4)

7. Rearrange any four of the following word clusters to make meaningful

sentences. (1 × 4 = 4)
(a) rain water / flooding / helps/ harvesting / in / chances of / reducing
(b) storm / helps/ also/better/ water/ it / water management / in

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 (c) plant growth / in/storing /rainwater / can/ help / improving
(d) is/ from / stored/ natural and/ pollutants /rain water /free/ man- made
(e) out/ the/street/ earthquake/another/on/people/ came/ fearing/

SECTION – C

8. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. Write
the answer in your answer sheet in one or two lines only. (1 × 4 = 4)
(a) "We do many things, sir”, Nicola answered seriously. He glanced at us
hopefully.
i. What does the speaker mean by “We do many things”, sir?
ii. Whom is he addressing to?
iii. Why was Nicola serious?
iv. Find the synonym of “looked”.
OR
CAESAR: Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never
taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard. It seems
to me most strange that men should fear; Seeing that death, a necessary
end, Will come when it will come.
i. Whom does Caesar console and why?
ii. Which quality of the speaker is revealed here?
iii. Explain: Cowards die many times before their deaths.
iv. Give the synonym of „Gallant‟.

9. Answer any four of the following Questions in 30-40 words each.(2 × 4 = 8)

i. Although Calpurnia revealed her fear after nightmare yet Caesar decided
to go to senate house. Why?
ii. “Pen is mightier than sword”. Elucidate with reference to the poem “Not
Marble Nor Gilded Monuments.”
iii. Why was the, “Writer’s inspiration Bureau” formed?
iv. What message is conveyed by Vikram Seth through the poem “The
Frog and the Nightingale”?
v. How does the story “Two Gentlemen of Verona” give hope to the
society?
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10. Attempt any one out of the two following long answer type questions in
100-120 words. (8)
“Pride goes before a fall”. Justify the statement on basis of the chapter
Mrs. Packletide’s Tiger.
OR
“Only the bearer knows where the shoe pinches”. Elucidate the statement
with reference to the story The Letter.

11. A. Answer the following question based on prescribed novel text for
extended reading in about 200- 250 words. (10)
The Diary of a Young Girl
What are Anne’s views about the laws that restrict the Jew’s freedom?
OR
Write the pen portrait of Mr. Van Dann.

OR

11. B. Answer the following question based on prescribed novel text for
extended reading in about 200- 250 words.
The Story of My Life
In the life of Helen Keller, “Ms. Anne Sullivan acts as an inspiration”.
Justify with suitable instances from the text.
OR
Give a pen portrait of Dr. Alexander Graham Bell.

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 SOLUTIONS

1. (a) The game of cricket originated in the dark ages. It was a pastime
where one player served up an object, be it a small piece of wood or a
ball, and another hit it with a club.
(b) The oldest surviving set of cricket laws dates back to 1744. It was
found printed on a handkerchief.
(c) The Harrow match was played by Lord Byron.
(d) The first international match was in 1877.
(e) The match was played between Australia and England in Melbourne.
(f) The match between the two countries was Australia’s first win on
English soil. This led to it being titled “The Ashes”.
(g) The Cricket world cup is played in the international one-day format.
(h) The first ODI was played on 5 January 1971 between Australia and
England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
(i) Gruelling
“exhausting” means extremely tiring and demanding which is same as
“gruelling”.

2. 2.1 (a) Politeness is the desire to put those whom we meet at their ease
and save them from discomfort and annoyance. It is called a limited part
of benevolence because it makes the person happy temporarily that is only
while they are in our presence.
(b) We should be polite with people of higher status, people of lower
status, workers, children and also animals.
(c) Ego is the greatest enemy of politeness. One has to sacrifice his/her
ego to be a polite person as an egoist person cannot be polite. Politeness
is shown from ones thinking, speech and actions.
(d) Polite actions always give fine results. Politeness boosts productivity
and reduces stress. Apart from present benefits it also protects your
future. Being polite makes you mentally healthy.
(e) There are different rules to be followed when we are on the street, at
school, in our home, with friends or strangers as per the situation.

2.2 (a) Politeness is an art of choosing from your own thoughts.

(b) An honest polite person is polite with everyone.
(c) To others, we owe politeness as duty.

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 2.3 (a) insignificant (Paragraph 1) – petty
Petty means anything of little importance; trivial therefore insignificant.
(b) manners (Paragraph 4) – etiquette
Etiquette is the customary code of polite behaviour which means manner.
(c) civil (Paragraph 5) – well-bred
Well-bred means well brought up, courteous or civil.

3. B47 Diamond Complex

Diamond City
Lucknow
12.01.19

The Course Director

National Science Centre
27, M.G. Road
Lucknow

Sir/Madam,

Subject: Information regarding new batches of “Astronomy Club”

With reference to your advertisement published in the Times Of India
dated 10th January 2018 related to the new batches of “Astronomy Club”. I
am interested in joining the club. I have just passed my class 12
examination under CBSE board securing 92% marks. I am interested in
pursuing my higher education in science.
I shall be highly grateful if you send me the following information
pertaining to the club:
A. Venue of events for the club.
B. Brief profile of the senior members.
C. Registration fee and mode of payment.
D. Activities performed by the club.
E. Mode of transportation.
A self-addressed the envelope and a demand draft no. 12345 dated 12th
January towards prospectus fee is enclosed herewith. An early response
shall be highly appreciated.

Yours faithfully,
Sonal Sharma
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 OR
Gyanodaya Public School
Nehru Vihar
Alwar
12.1.19

The Director
Jambo Medicare
Delhi

Sir/Madam,

Subject: Order for medical items

Thank you for the catalogue of your collection of medical items. The
quoted price list matches our budget.

We wish to place an order for the supply of medical items like glucose,
crocin, bandages, tincture, pain-healers, ointments etc. The particulars of
items and the quantity to be supplied are given below:

We hope that you will make arrangements for delivering the items latest
by 25th January. Your payment will be made in cash. I hope you will
facilitate business by quoting the lowest possible rates. I am confident that
you will patronize us by giving some discount also. Further it must be
understood that we reserve the rights to reject any item either found
defective or beyond the expiry date.

Yours faithfully,
Vineeta Sharma
(In charge of medical section)

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4. A Beach Picnic
Jasmine, Ali and two other friends decided to go on a picnic to a beach.
They packed their bags and were quite excited. They reached the picnic
spot and came across a small child who was crying. They went towards
that child and asked him what he wanted. He was so young that he could
barely explain anything. As we turned around to look for his parents the
child suddenly disappeared. We asked people around if they had seen a
child or his parents or someone else with him. No one had a clue. They
were shocked to see the child disappear.
They looked around for some time but found no trace of the child. They
were worried and surprised at the same time. The water was gleaming like
a sapphire and gentle wave touched their feet as they ran on the soft
yellow sand. They spread a sheet on the sand and took out snacks and
drinks. They then enjoyed playing Frisbee when Jasmine tried to catch it
she came across a bottle within which she found a letter. She brought this
to the notice of Ali and her other two friends. They opened the bottle and
saw that the paper said ‘HELP’. They looked around but nobody in trouble
could be spotted. Everyone was quite happy and enjoying their beach
picnic. They immediately decided to inform the coast guard. The coast
guard did not react and said that it could be a prank since nobody was in
trouble. So next they informed the nearest police about whatever had
happened.
The police came to the beach and first questioned the coast guard for
being inattentive. Then they investigated the matter and concluded that it
could be a case of kidnapping. They took the matter in their hands and
investigated. We left the beach and returned to our home. A few days later
we were informed by the police that the child was found with another
family who took him away since he was alone, and his parents were also
found in a place near the beach where they were locked after being looted.
OR
The Phone Call
On October 4, we all were decorating our house to celebrate the most
long-awaited festival, Diwali. My heart was filled with excitement to meet
my father after a long gap of six years. But a call from the army
headquarters left us stunned. It was my father over the phone who said
that he would not be returning to us this Diwali because of some
emergency on the borders. He sounded much tensed and hurriedly left the
phone connected.

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 I continued to ask him what was wrong and kept pleading him to try to
come back to us soon, but we got no reply from the other side. All I could
hear was firing, bombing and people shouting. My heart started beating
faster and I couldn’t decide what I would say to mom and my younger
sister, Yamini.
I rushed to my mother and as tears rolled down my eyes, I tried to explain
to her all that happened over the phone. Yamini was at the neighbour’s
place playing with other children and we decided not to tell her anything. I
switched on the TV and turned to a news channel to find that there was a
mob attack at the Army Headquarters and all the reporters said was they
could hear constant firing and bombing with no clue of what was
happening inside. I could see the expression on my mother’s face
intensifying. She couldn’t hold back her tears anymore. I decided that I
couldn’t be weak and cry at this moment because I was the only one who
had to console mother and give her strength. I told her that father is a
hero and he will come back safe. In this tough situation sitting back at
home all we could do was pray to God. We did the Diwali puja and prayed
to God to keep my father and all other members of their team safe. I
remembered my grandmother telling me stories of war, of lives sacrificed
and families torn apart because of war, of children unable to feel the
warmth of the love of a father who had to be on duty, to fight for freedom
and the nation’s independence. All those stories and the emotions evoked
and came back to me today. Little do people realise the sacrifice of
soldiers who give their entire life to their nation. Today we feel safe in our
homes only because of the constant dedication of these heroes.
We somehow spent a few hours praying to god. Finally, the news channel
confirmed the news that no loss of life was reported and all the attackers
were killed. We took a sigh of relief. Sometime later we got a call from dad
and he said that he was fine and admitted to the hospital due to some
injuries. He also said that as soon as he would be discharged, he would
take the next flight to reach us. Yamini also returned back home
uninformed of the entire happenings. We lit diyas all around the house and
celebrated Diwali.

5. (A) Sanitation and hygiene are also important (a) for the well – being of
society and biodiversity conservation.
(B) The government has (b) initiated a programme.
(C) It aims to develop (c) the riverfronts.

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 (D) It will solve the problem of pollution (d) in the rivers.
(E) The need has been (e) felt for a long time.

6.

7. (a) Rain water harvesting helps in reducing the chances of flooding.

(b) It can also help with better storm water management.
(c) Storing rainwater can help in improving plant growth.
(d) Natural and stored rainwater is free from man-made pollutants.
(e) People came out on the street fearing another earthquake.

8. (i) The speakers meaning when he says ‘we do many things’ is that apart
from selling fruits they were engaged in a lot of other things like shining
shoes to earn a living.
(ii) The speaker is addressing Nicola in the given extract.
(iii) Nicola was serious because they thought that the narrator would ask
for their services and in return they would earn some good money.
(iv) Glanced.
OR
(i) Caeser spoke these words to his wife Calpurnia. He speaks these words
in response to Calpurnia’s pleadings that he should not go out of the house
as his life might be in danger.
(ii) Caeser’s wisdom is consumed in confidence. Caeser had become
overconfident and because of this he couldn’t understand there was a
threat to his life.

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 (iii) A coward person fears facing consequences in life and has an
assumption that he cannot do anything. This makes him die every time he
encounters a struggle or battle. On the contrary a brave person faces
whatever comes to him throughout his life and dies only once when he is
destined to.
(iv) valiant

9. (i) Calpurnia wishes that Caeser stay at home after seeing horrible dreams
but Brutus being a great flatterer is successful in persuading Caeser
because his arguments appeal to Caeser’s pride. According to him
Calpurnia’s dream signified Caeser’s power and influence. Caeser totally
got carried away by his words and decided to go to the Capitol.
(ii) The phrase “Pen is mightier than the sword” throws light on the
permanence of poetic art and immortality of verse. It talks about the
limitations of worldly glory and grandeur of the great monuments,
memorials and statues erected by rulers to perpetuate their memory are
subject to decay, destruction and deterioration. Only the powerful rhyme
of the poet and great poetry will survive the ravages of time.
(iii) The “Writer’s inspiration Bureau” was formed by Helen and other co-
ghosts in their afterlife to help out writers who lack new ideas for writing
stories. Helen used to help the narrator to write ghost stories as he would
often call on heaven and earth to help him for ideas.
(iv) The poem “The Frog and the Nightingale” portrays the truth where the
evil in the society has the upper hand over the innocent ones. The end of
the poem is pitiful it shows how the ‘innocence’ of the nightingale is killed
by the ‘cruel and crafty designs’ of evil symbolised by the frog.
(v) The story “Two Gentlemen of Verona” revolves around the life of two
boys who had lost their home and their father in the war. The war had led
them to the streets, exposed them to bitter cold and driven them to
extreme starvation. They found their sister suffering from tuberculosis of
the spine, got her admitted to a hospital and worked very hard to pay for
her treatment. The boys’ sacrifice, their devotion and the maturity they
displayed at such a young age promises new hope for the society.

10. Mrs. Packletide is full of vanity. She is a selfish person who seems to be
jealous of other people’s success. The story has humour laced with satire.
Mrs. Packletide had made up her mind to shoot a tiger and get her
pictures published in the newspaper to show off to Loona Bimberton.

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 She offers a thousand rupees to the villagers to shoot a tiger. She also
acquires a paid companion, Louisa Mebbin, a witness to her extraordinary
feat. She managed to shoot an animal but it was the goat. The tiger died
of heart-failure. However she got her pictures published in the newspaper.
She buys a weekend cottage for Louisa Mebbin to prevent her from telling
anybody that it was not the tiger but a goat she had shot. This proves the
phrase that “pride goes before a fall” which means if you’re too conceited
something will happen to make you look foolish.
OR
Ali used to go to the post office daily. He used to go and sit at a particular
bench every day, waiting for his name to be called out. Ali went to the
post office after several days as he had fallen ill. Since he had not come
for many days as he had fallen ill, he enquired for his letter to the
postmaster. The postmaster was in a hurry to leave and lost his temper on
Ali and called him a pest. It was only when he experienced the same, that
is when he anxiously awaited the news of his ill daughter that he realized
the agony of Ali. Finally, when a letter for Ali arrived, he was told that Ali
was no more alive. He was filled with remorse for his attitude towards Ali.
He delivered the letter on Ali’s grave as was his last wish. Thus it is
absolutely true that only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches.

11. (A) Anne felt that the laws imposed on the Jews were inhuman. Trouble
started for the Jews after May 1940 as a series of anti-Jewish decrees
restricted their freedom. Some of these restrictions were that the Jews
must wear a yellow star to distinguish themselves from others. The Jews
were forbidden to use street cars, bicycles or personal cars. The only way
Jews could travel was on ferry. They had to carry out their shopping
during certain hours of a day and could only use Jewish-owned
barbershops. They were also forbidden to visit theatres, cinemas and other
places of entertainment etc. There was a separate school for Jew children.
Anne was unable to understand these restrictions. Anne got used to all
these restrictions and somehow managed to enjoy with her friends until
she went into hiding with her family. After they go into hiding in an attic in
Mr. Frank’s office building, their movements are now completely restricted.
Anne had bitter feelings now. She herself felt, a song bird without wings’
and a bundle of contradictions.

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 OR
Mr. Van Dann was a business associate of Otto Frank. According to Anne
he is intelligent, opinionated, and pragmatic. His wife appears to be more
dominating at least during the period while they were in hiding because Mr
Van Dann is mentioned mostly when he is fighting with his wife or trying
to pacify her. Once they were discovered, like the others, Mr. Van Dann
was taken first to Gestapo headquarters in Amsterdam for questioning,
and then he was sent to the Westerbork reception camp. He too made the
long journey by train to Auschwitz and after reaching there he was
separated from his wife, whom he never saw again.
OR
11. (B) Ms. Anne Sullivan was Helen’s dedicated caretaker, teacher and a life-
long friend. Anne taught Helen how to communicate using sign language
and this had a transformative impact on the young girl as it gave her
complete access to the world and human connections. Ms. Sullivan was
Helen’s lifeline. Without Anne Sullivan, Helen would have been walled in a
dark and hopeless world. When Anne began her learning Ms. Sullivan was
very patient with her. She made raised letters for Helen to learn the
alphabet. She also used real objects, such as fossils to teach about
dinosaurs so that Helen would have something to touch, allowing her to
make connections with the time period and concepts. Even Helen once
said, “All the best of me belongs to her”. Ms. Sullivan stood by Helen as a
defender in every situation. At Gilmer School when Helen became slightly
ill, Mr. Gilmer made such changes in her coursework that would prohibit
her from taking her final examination. Ms. Sullivan carried this incident to
Helen’s mother who withdrew Helen and her sister’s name from that
school. She also guided her in Radcliffe College where there were few
devices available for the blind. She would spell out what the professor said
on Helen’s hands. Even after she got married she didn’t leave Helen. After
Anne’s divorce she travelled along with Helen to tell people around the
world about Helen’s struggle and success stories.
OR
Helen’s association with Dr. Alexander Graham Bell started when she was
just 6 years old. It was a fortunate moment as her parents had
approached him to get his expert advice on how to educate Helen. Dr. Bell
advised them to contact the Perkins Institute for the blind. He remained a
friend of Helen and he accompanied her and Miss Anne Sullivan on a trip
to the world’s fair. Many things in the fair fascinated Helen.

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Dr. Bell showed her the telephones, auto phones and other inventions. His
attitude towards Helen was tender and sympathetic. He was a teacher of
the deaf and this passion and professional expertise made him develop on
the nature of the sound that enabled him to invent the telephone. He was
also poetic and humorous which made him work for the physically
challenged children. He remained a good friend of Helen throughout her
life.

×××

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