Professor Shonku Solutions

 

Chapter 10 : Professor Shonku

 Important Words 

1.  brilliant (ब्रिलियंट) - exceptionally clever or talented - प्रतिभाशाली
2. possesses (पोसेसेस) - own or have - रखता है
3. inventive (इन्वेंटिव) - having the ability to create or design new things or to think originally - आविष्कारशील
4. expertise (एक्सपर्टीज़) - expert skill or knowledge in a particular field - विशेषज्ञता
5. various (वेरियस) - different from one another; of different kinds or sorts - विभिन्न
6. incredibly (इनक्रेडिब्ली) - to a great degree; extremely - अविश्वसनीय रूप से
7. curious (क्यूरियस) - eager to know or learn something - उत्सुक
8. spectacular (स्पेक्टैक्लर) - beautiful in a dramatic and eye-catching way - शानदार
9. inventions (इन्वेंशन्स) - the action of inventing something, typically a process or device - आविष्कार
10. adventurous (एडवेंचरस) - willing to take risks or to try out new methods, ideas, or experiences - साहसी
11. exotic (एग्ज़ॉटिक) - originating in or characteristic of a distant foreign country - विदेशी
12. accompanied (अकम्पनीड) - go somewhere with (someone) as a companion or escort - साथ
13. trusty (ट्रस्टी) - able to be relied on as honest or truthful - विश्वसनीय
14. servant (सर्वेंट) - a person who performs duties for others, especially a person employed in a house on domestic duties or as a personal attendant - नौकर
15. embark (इम्बार्क) - to go onto a ship - जहाज पर चढ़ना
16. extra-terrestrial (एक्स्ट्रा-टेरेस्ट्रियल) - connected with life existing outside the planet Earth - पृथ्वी के बाहर जीवन से जुड़ा
17. escapade (एस्कपेड) - an exciting adventure - साहसिक कार्य
18. outer (आउटर) - on or from the outside - बाहरी
19. reaches (रीचेस) - the extent or limits of something; the range - पहुँच
20. discover (डिस्कवर) - find unexpectedly or during a search - खोज
21. thrilling (थ्रिलिंग) - causing excitement and pleasure; exhilarating - रोमांचकारी
22. accounts (अकाउंट्स) - a report or description of an event or experience - विवरण
23. unearthly (अनअर्थली) - unnatural or mysterious, especially in a disturbing way - अलौकिक
24. obtaining (ऑब्टेनिंग) - get, acquire, or secure (something) - प्राप्त करना
25. vanished (वैनिश्ड) - disappear suddenly and completely - गायब हो गया
26. trace (ट्रेस) - a mark, object, or other indication of the existence or passing of something - निशान
27. rumours (रूमर्स) - a currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth - अफवाहें
28. circulated (सर्क्युलेटेड) - pass from place to place or person to person - परिचालित
29. unfortunate (अनफॉर्चुनेट) - having or marked by bad fortune; unlucky - दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण
30. experiment (एक्सपेरिमेंट) - a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact - प्रयोग
31. vouch (वाउच) - assert or confirm as a result of one's own experience that something is true or accurately so described - पुष्टि
32. somehow (समहाउ) - in some way; by some means - किसी तरह
33. possession (पोज़ेशन) - the state of having, owning, or controlling something - कब्ज़ा
34. acquire (अक्वायर) - buy or obtain (an asset or object) for oneself - प्राप्त करना
35. enquiring (इन्क्वायरिंग) - ask for information from someone - पूछताछ
36. responded (रिस्पोंडेड) - say something in reply - जवाब दिया
37. grin (ग्रिन) - smile broadly - मुस्कराहट
38. approximately (एप्रोक्सिमेटली) - used to show that something is almost, but not completely, accurate or exact; roughly - लगभग
39. meteorite (मीटियोराइट) - a meteor that survives its passage through the earth's atmosphere such that part of it strikes the ground - उल्कापिंड
40. crashed (क्रैश्ड) - collide violently with an obstacle or another vehicle - दुर्घटनाग्रस्त
41. district (डिस्ट्रिक्ट) - an area of a country or city, especially one characterized by a particular feature or activity - ज़िला
42. centre (सेंटर) - the middle point of a circle or sphere, equidistant from every point on the circumference or surface - केंद्र
43. remarked (रिमार्केड) - say something as a comment; mention - टिप्पणी की
44. unsettling (अनसेटलिंग) - making you feel anxious and worried - बेचैन करने वाला
45. incident (इंसिडेंट) - an instance of something happening; an event or occurrence - घटना
46. weird (वियर्ड) - suggesting something supernatural; uncanny - अजीब
47. reflection (रिफ्लेक्शन) - the throwing back by a body or surface of light, heat, or sound without absorbing it - प्रतिबिंब
48. appearance (अपीयरेंस) - the way that someone or something looks - दिखावट
49. removed (रिमूव्ड) - take (something) away or off from the position occupied - हटाया हुआ
50. calendar (कैलेंडर) - a chart or series of pages showing the days, weeks, and months of a particular year, or giving particular seasonal information - कैलेंडर
51. hung (हंग) - suspend or be suspended from above with the lower part dangling free - लटका हुआ
52. jolt (जोल्ट) - a sudden, violent movement - झटका
53. tired (टायर्ड) - in need of sleep or rest; weary - थका हुआ
54. deeds (डीడ్स) - an action that is performed intentionally or consciously - कर्म
55. function (फंक्शन) - work or operate in a proper or particular way - समारोह
56. strange (स्ट्रेंज) - unusual or surprising; difficult to understand or explain - अजीब
57. departure (डिपार्चर) - the action of leaving, especially to start a journey - प्रस्थान
58. anxieties (एंग्जायटीज़) - a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome - चिंताएँ
59. fading (फेडिंग) - gradually grow faint and disappear - लुप्त होती
60. enthusiastic (एन्थुज़ियास्टिक) - having or showing intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval - उत्साही
61. attempt (अटेम्प्ट) - make an effort to achieve or complete (something difficult) - प्रयास
62. failed (फेल्ड) - be unsuccessful in achieving one's goal - विफल
63. accidentally (एक्सिडेंटली) - by chance; inadvertently - गलती से
64. winding (वाइंडिंग) - turn the crown of a clock several times to make it work - घुमावदार
65. causing (कॉज़िंग) - make (something, especially something bad) happen - कारण
66. delay (डिले) - make (someone or something) late or slow - देरी
67. complex (कॉम्प्लेक्स) - consisting of many different and connected parts - जटिल
68. project (प्रोजेक्ट) - an individual or collaborative enterprise that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim - परियोजना
69. counts (काउंट्स) - be significant - महत्वपूर्ण 

 

Solutions to the Exercise Questions:

A. The statements given below are false. Write the correct statement for each.

1. Professor Shonku had vanished ten years ago.Correct Statement: Professor Shonku had vanished fifteen years ago.
2. Professor Shonku had sent his diary to the narrator.Correct Statement: Tarak Chatterjee had Professor Shonku's diary.
3. Professor Shonku screamed because there was a strange-looking man in the room along with him.Correct Statement: Professor Shonku screamed because he was surprised to see his own reflection in the mirror.
4. Prahlad had moved the time in the clock forward, helping the rocket to take-off easily.Correct Statement: Prahlad had moved the time in the clock backward, causing a delay of three and a half hours in the rocket launch.
5. Prahlad was super intelligent.Correct Statement: Prahlad was not intelligent.
6. Newton was very happy that Professor Shonku was leaving.Correct Statement: Newton was sad that Professor Shonku was leaving.

B. Answer the following questions.

1. What were the rumours about Professor Shonku's disappearance?Answer: Some people said that Professor Shonku had met with an unfortunate fate during an important experiment, while others believed he was still out there, alive and well.
2. What happened on 1 January?Answer: Professor Shonku was surprised by his own reflection in the mirror and screamed.
3. How did Professor Shonku come to realize that Prahlad should also accompany him on his adventure?Answer: Professor Shonku realized that Prahlad should accompany him because he was brave and had saved him from a dangerous accident in the lab.
4. Describe Mars as seen by Professor Shonku.Answer: Mars had a landscape unlike anything Professor Shonku had ever seen. The ground, trees, stones, and rocks all had a soft, rubbery texture, and the river looked like red guava jelly. It was quiet and had a strange and frightening atmosphere.
5. Describe the creature as seen by Professor Shonku on Mars.Answer: The creature was a mix of human, animal, and fish. It was tall, had legs and feet, but instead of arms, it had massive fins like a fish. It had a large head with a single, giant eye and a gaping mouth with no teeth. Its body was covered in fish scales.
6. What did Shonku's diary say about the inhabitants of Tafa?

Answer: The diary said that the inhabitants of Tafa were brilliant scientists who looked like giant ants. They had massive heads and eyes but frail limbs.

C. Answer the following questions with reference to the context.

  1. "It was like ambrosia, and a single sip removed all physical and mental fatigue."

   (a) What does 'it' refer to?

   Answer: 'It' refers to the river water on Mars.

   (b) Where is this 'it' found?

   Answer: It is found on Mars.

   (c) At first, Professor Shonku was hesitant but what convinced him to sip?

   Answer: Professor Shonku was convinced to sip the water after seeing Newton drink it without any issues.

 2.  "When I came to my senses, the rocket was already flying once more."

   (a) Who is 'l' referred to here?

   Answer: 'I' refers to Professor Shonku.

   (b) Why was 'l' unconscious?

   Answer: Professor Shonku was unconscious because something cold and damp hit his feet.

   (c) Where were they flying away from?

   Answer: They were flying away from Mars.

 3. "Their heads and eyes are massive, but their limbs are long and frail."

   (a) Which planet do these creatures belong to?

   Answer: These creatures belong to planet Tafa.

   (b) Guess one reason why their heads and eyes are massive and their limbs long.

   Answer: It might be because they are scientists and need bigger brains and eyes to see and do experiments. (This is a guess, the text doesn't explicitly state the reason.)

   (c) Is Professor Shonku happy with these creatures? Give one instance from the text.

   Answer: Professor Shonku doesn't seem very impressed with the creatures. He says he feels as though these beings are far behind human civilization and their way of life is primitive compared to humans.

Summary of the Chapter:

Professor Shonku, a brilliant scientist, embarks on a space adventure to Mars with his servant Prahlad, cat Newton, and robot Bidhushekhar. He records his experiences in a diary, which is obtained by the narrator from Tarak Chatterjee fifteen years after Shonku's disappearance. In the diary, Shonku describes his journey to Mars, where he encounters strange creatures and a unique landscape. After an encounter with the Martian creatures, Shonku and his companions leave Mars and land on another planet called Tafa. The inhabitants of Tafa are ant-like creatures who are scientists. Shonku decides to stay on Tafa and disco

ntinue his diary entries. The story ends with the narrator's account of the diary mysteriously vanishing, eaten by black ants.