These eight questions use one original mini-story. Read it, then answer each question on paper before opening the explanation.
The set belongs to SPM subjects and learning resources. To time yourself, use the timed original practice session builder.
The mini-story
Selvi sold flowers at the bus stop. On rainy days the buses were late and so were her customers.
One evening an old man with no umbrella asked for a single jasmine string. She gave him two and held her own umbrella over him until his bus arrived. She was soaked when she walked home, but she was humming.
Questions
1. State two events from the story in one sentence each.
Answer
For example: Selvi gives the old man two jasmine strings instead of one. She holds her umbrella over him until his bus arrives. Each is something that happens, stated briefly with a name and a verb.
2. Choose the strongest detail to support the interpretation “Selvi puts other people’s comfort before her own”.
Answer
Holding her own umbrella over the old man, so that she walks home soaked. Giving two strings shows generosity, but the umbrella shows she accepts discomfort herself.
3. Write the significance of the event “she was soaked when she walked home, but she was humming”.
Answer
A sample: “It shows that helping made her happier than staying dry, so her kindness gives her a quiet joy, not regret.” The sentence says what the event shows, not only that it happened.
4. Is this sentence retelling or analysis? “Selvi gave the old man two strings of jasmine.”
Answer
Retelling. It states what happened and does not say what it shows. Add: “which shows she gives more than she is asked for.”
5. Plan a paragraph for the question: How does the writer show Selvi’s generosity? Give point, detail, explanation and link in note form.
Answer
Point: she gives freely, beyond what is asked.
Detail: two strings for the price of one request. Explain: the extra string is unasked, so it shows willingness to give more. Link: so the writer shows her generosity as natural and unforced.
6. Underline the key words in this question: “Explain how the writer shows that Selvi is content despite hardship.”
Answer
The verb is “explain how” and the thing asked about is “Selvi is content despite hardship”. Your answer must explain the writer’s method and be about contentment, not only kindness.
7. A student writes a four-short-sentence answer: “Selvi sold flowers, it rained, the man had no umbrella, she was nice.”
Review it against focus, evidence, explanation and link for the question in question 5.
Answer
Focus: the first sentence does not address generosity. Evidence: no specific detail about what she gave.
Explanation: missing. Link: “nice” is vague and does not use the question’s word. Rewrite starting from the plan in question 5.
8. Write a two-sentence answer to question 6 using one detail.
Answer
A sample: “The writer shows that Selvi is content by ending with her humming as she walks home soaked. Even though she is wet and has lost a customer’s full price, she is cheerful, which shows her happiness does not depend on comfort.”
If you got these wrong
- Questions 1 to 4: read distinguishing a narrative event from its significance.
- Question 2: read choosing evidence for an interpretation.
- Questions 5, 6 and 8: read planning a supported analytical paragraph.
- Question 7: read reviewing an original answer against its question.
Check your written answers with the structured-answer self-review tool. For one-to-one help, see online one-to-one Tamil Literature tuition.