Chapter 9
The Great Stone Face - I
Comprehension Check (Page 125)
Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of the following statements.
1. The Great Stone Face stood near where Ernest and his mother lived. ______
Answer:1. The Great Stone Face stood near where Ernest and his mother lived. – False
2. One would clearly distinguish the features of the Stone Face only from a distance. ______
Answer:2. One would clearly distinguish the features of the Stone Face only from a distance. – True
3. Ernest loved his mother and helped her in her work. ______
Answer:3. Ernest loved his mother and helped her in her work. – True
4. Though not very rich, Gathergold was a skillful merchant. ______
Answer:4. Though not very rich, Gathergold was a skillful merchant. – False
5. Gathergold died in poverty and neglect. ______
Answer:5. Gathergold died in poverty and neglect. – True
6. The Great Stone Face seemed to suggest that Ernest should not fear the general. ______
Answer:6. The Great Stone Face seemed to suggest that Ernest should not fear the general. – False
Working with the text (Page 126)
Answer the following questions.
Question 1:
(i) What was the Great Stone Face?
Answer:The Great Stone Face was a natural formation on the sheer side of a mountain, created by enormous rocks arranged in such a way that, from a distance, they appeared to form the features of a human face. Up close, however, the outline vanished, leaving only a pile of massive rocks. From afar, the face seemed almost alive, and the locals believed its gentle expression brought fertility and prosperity to the valley.
(ii) What did young Ernest wish when he gazed at it?
Answer: Whenever Ernest looked at the Great Stone Face, he felt as if it were smiling kindly at him. He wished it could speak, believing that a face so gentle must have a pleasing voice. He also vowed that if he ever met a person with a similar face, he would hold that person in great affection.
2:What was the story attributed to the Stone Face?
Answer: The tale associated with the Great Stone Face was that, in the future, a child would be born in the valley who was destined to grow into the greatest and noblest person of his era. When he reached adulthood, his face would mirror the features of the Great Stone Face perfectly.
3:What gave the people of the valley the idea that the prophecy was about to come true for the first time?
Answer: The people of the valley began to think the prophecy might come true when word spread that a remarkable man resembling the Great Stone Face had returned. Gathergold, a young man who had left the valley and become a wealthy merchant at a distant seaport, came back to spend his final years in his birthplace. His face was said to closely resemble the Great Stone Face, making the villagers believe the prophecy was on the verge of being fulfilled.
4:(i) Did Ernest see in Gathergold the likeness of the Stone Face?
Answer: Ernest did not find any resemblance to the Great Stone Face in Gathergold. The merchant’s face lacked the kindness and honesty that Ernest associated with the Stone Face, showing instead a look of cunning and self-interest.
(ii) Who did he confide in and how was he proved right?
Answer: Ernest shared his feelings with the Great Stone Face itself, expressing that Gathergold did not match its likeness. In the end, Gathergold’s wealth vanished, and he passed away in poverty and neglect, proving Ernest’s observation correct.
5:(i) What made people believe General Blood-and-Thunder was their man?
Answer: General Blood-and-Thunder, a native of the valley, had become a renowned military leader and wished to return home. The villagers, recalling his roots and noting his appearance, felt he resembled the Great Stone Face, which led them to believe he was the person destined to fulfill the prophecy.
(ii) Ernest compared the man’s face with the Stone Face. What did he conclude?
Answer: Ernest studied the General’s features closely and found no true likeness to the Great Stone Face. His intuition told him that this man was not the one the prophecy spoke of, and he realized that the truly greatest and noblest individual was yet to appear.
Working with language (Page 126-127)
Question 1:
Look at the following words.
like – likeness
punctual – punctuality
The words on the left are adjectives and those on the right are their noun forms.
Write the noun forms of the following words by adding -ness or -ity to them appropriately. Check the spelling of the new words.
(i) lofty ______________ (vi) enormous ______________
(ii) able ______________ (vii) pleasant ______________
(iii) happy ______________ (viii) dense ______________
(iv) near ______________ (ix) great ______________
(v) noble ______________ (x) stable ______________
Answer:
(i) lofty loftiness (vi) enormous enormity
(ii) able ability (vii) pleasant pleasantness
(iii) happy happiness (viii) dense density
(iv) near nearness (ix) great greatness
(v) noble nobility (x) stable stability
Answer by Mrinmoee
