NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 4: From the Diary of Anne Frank (First Flight)

Activity

1. Do you keep a diary? Given below under ‘A’ are some terms we use to describe a written record of personal experience. Can you match them with their descriptions under ‘B’? (You may look up the terms in a dictionary if you wish.)

Ans: 

2. Here are some entries from personal records. Use the definitions above to decide which of the entries might be from a diary, a journal, a log, or a memoir:

(i) I woke up very late today and promptly got a scolding from Mum! I can’t help it − how can I miss the FIFA World Cup matches?

Ans:  Diary

(ii) 10:30 a.m.        Went to the office of the Director   

      01:00 p.m.        Had lunch with Chairman

      05:45 p.m.        Received Rahul at the airport 

      09:30 p.m.        Dinner at home

Ans:  Log

(iii) The ride to Ooty was uneventful. We rested for a while every 50 km or so and used the time to capture the magnificent landscape with my Handy Cam. From Ooty, we went on to Bangalore.

What a contrast! The noise and pollution of this once − the beautiful city really broke my heart.

Ans:  Journal

(iv) This is how Raj Kapoor found me − all wet and ragged outside R. K. Studios. He was then looking for just someone like this for a small role in Mera Naam Joker, and he cast me on the spot. The rest, as they say, is history!

Ans:  Memoir

Comprehension Check 

1. What makes writing in a diary a strange experience for Anne Frank?

Ans: Diary writing was a strange experience for Anne because she thought that neither she nor anyone else would be interested in reading the daily affairs of thirteen years old.

2. Why does Anne want to keep a diary?

Ans: Anne was an introvert and had no close friends to share her feelings with. Hence, she wanted to keep a diary to share her feelings. She felt that paper has more patience than people. She kept her name, Kitty.

3. Why did Anne think she could confide more in her diary than in people?

Ans: Anne lacked social skills and as a young teenager she had a lot of emotions to share.  She had about thirty people whom she could call friends and had loving parents and a sixteen-year-old sister. On the surface everything was good, but she didn't have a faithful friend. She felt a paper had more patience and space to hide and express her feelings.

4. Name the topic of the essay that was written by Anne.

(a) My Diary

(b) A Chatterbox

(c) A letterbox

(d) None of the Above

Answer: (b) A Chatterbox

6. How did Anne describe her father?

(a) She described her father as - Most Adorable father

(b) She described her father as - Most Angry Father

(c)She described her father as -  Most delicate Father

(d) None of the Above

Answer: (a) She described her father as - Most Adorable father

7. Whom did Anne call her long-awaited friend?

(a) Her pen

(b) Her cat

(c) Her diary

(d) Her Dog

Answer: (c) Her diary

8. How did Anne start her diary?

(a) Anne started her diary- By writing her name

(b) Anne started her diary- By giving an introduction

(c) Anne started her diary- By writing about her hobby

(d) None of the Above

Answer: (b) Anne started her diary by- By giving an introduction

9. On which date had Anne recorded the incident of Mr. Keesing’s class in her diary?

(a) 12 June 1942

(b) 21 June 1942

(c) 20 June 1942

(d) 22 June 1942

Answer: (c) 20 June 1942

Oral Comprehension 

1. Why does Anne provide a brief sketch of her life?

Ans: Anne provided a brief sketch of her life before beginning her diary because she felt no one would understand her diary if she jumped right into her present-day affairs.

2. What tells you that Anne loved her grandmother?

Ans: Anne used to light one candle for her grandmother during her birthday, just as a poignant reminder of her love. She stated that no one could understand the intensity of love she had for her grandma.

Oral Comprehension Check

1. Why was Mr. Keesing annoyed with Anne? What did he ask her to do?

Ans: Anne was a talkative student in the class. Her interactive nature was not appreciated by her teacher, Mr. Keesing. He even assigned her extra homework to draft an essay on the subject ‘A Chatterbox.’

2. How did Anne justify her being a chatterbox in her essay?

Ans: She justified her talkative nature very cleverly in her essay. First, she mentioned that it's a student’s trait to chatter in the class and second, it's an inherited trait and nothing could be done about it.

3. Do you think Mr. Keesing was a strict teacher?

Ans: Mr. Keesing was a strict teacher and wanted all the students to practice discipline and be silent in the class while he was teaching. Someone talking, while he was teaching was not acceptable to him. He punished Anne for talking in the class and asked her to draft an essay on ‘A Chatterbox’. She wrote a convincing essay but when she started talking in the class again, he asked her to draft another essay titled ‘An Incorrigible Chatterbox’. When she further continued testing his nerves and talking in the class, he asked her to write on the topic ‘Quack Quack Quack, said Mistress Chatterbox.’ She wrote yet another great piece of art and he acknowledged her content. 

4. What made Mr. Keesing allow Anne to talk in class?

Ans: Anne cleverly kept her point for talking in the class every time Mr. Keesing punished her. She wrote her creative works cleverly and made him laugh through her work. He was impressed by the way she presented her arguments and finally, he had to accept that Anne would be this way and no punishment would change her. Hence, he allowed her to talk in the class.

Thinking about the Text

1. Was Anne right when she said that the world would not be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year-old girl?

Ans: Anne as a young teenager had no idea how the events of her life would eventually unfold. She thought no one would be interested I reading her diary but after her death, her diary was published by her dad and the entire world now reads her diary, with great zeal.

2. There are some examples of diary or journal entries in the ‘Before You Read’ section. Compare these with what Anne writes in her diary. What language was the diary originally written in? In what way is Anne’s dairy different?

Ans: Anne’s diary was originally written in Dutch. It became so popular that it was translated into many languages. She named her diary Kitty and it was very personal for her since she didn't write it with the filter of someone else reading it. The account, in the beginning, is a formal one. It's not personal and hence lacks that connection with the reader that the diary entries have. She used to start her entries with “Dearest Kitty” and would sign off as “Yours, Anne.”

3. Why does Anne need to give a brief sketch about her family? Does she treat ‘Kitty’ as an insider or an outsider?

Ans: Anne considered Kitty as a new part of her life. She started writing because she knew Kitty would listen to everything, and had more patience than any human. Since she was not there with her since the beginning, she wanted to sum up the notable events and people in her life. She was alone and had no friends. She does give a brief sketch of her close relationship with her father and grandmother. They both were kind and loving and held a prominent place in her heart. 

4. How does Anne feel about her father, her grandmother, Mrs. Kuperus and Mr. Keesing? What do these tell you about her?

Ans: Anne had a different opinion about everyone. For her, her father was the most adorable father she could have ever met. Her grandmother held a special place in her heart and she loved her dearly. She wrote about her in the diary and had an extra candle on her cake as a symbol of her presence. She loved Mrs. Kuperus. She was her teacher in the sixth form at Montessori Nursery School and was also the headmistress. They had a teary farewell. Mr. Keesing often troubled her with apology essays for her being a chatterbox in the class. He was the maths teacher and these punishments annoyed her. She was a lovable and smart person and emotionally attached to some people in her life.

5. What does Anne write in her first essay?

Ans: Anne knew the importance of words. She wanted to produce something convincing, instead of just penning an essay to complete the task. She wanted to present her point about the necessity of talking and how it's an important trait all students must possess. She also mentioned that she would do her best to keep it under control to avoid any further disturbance in class. She continued the essay by mentioning that it was an inherited trait and nothing could be done about it. Mr. Keesing was impressed by the points she did put forward and had a good laugh listening to the essay.

6. Anne says teachers are most unpredictable. Is Mr. Keesing unpredictable? How?

Ans: Anne showed signs of superior creative intelligence and she was quite analytic too. She felt that a quarter of her class was dumb. She also felt that her teachers were unpredictable and would randomly promote the kids and fail the ones they do not like. Mr. Keesing was predictable. He stuck with the rules he laid out for the class. He did not like disturbance while teaching and when Anne talked in the class, he gave her essays to write. Everyone would have known the punishment and maintained silence in the class. But in Anne’s case, each time she drafted the essay, he was impressed by her convincing skills, and by the third time he gave up.

7. What do these statements tell you about Anne Frank as a person?

(i) We don’t seem to be able to get any closer, and that’s the problem. Maybe it’s my fault that we don’t confide in each other.

Ans: Anne had no close friend with whom she could trust and share her feelings. She felt at one point that it was because of her own lack of efforts that she had no close friend.

(ii) I don’t want to jot down the facts in this diary the way most people would, but I want the diary to be my friend.

Ans: Anne felt paper had more patience than other human beings. Since she had no friends to talk to about her feelings, she started writing a diary and named her Kitty to form a more intimate connection with her.

(iii) Margot went to Holland in December, and I followed in February, when I was plunked down on the table as a birthday present for Margot.

Ans: Anne was a fun-loving person and we see that in various instances in the text. Here also she jokes about being a surprise present for Margot.

(iv) If you ask me, there are so many dummies that about a quarter of the class should be kept back, but teachers are the most unpredictable creatures on earth.

Ans: Anne was confident that she was better than the rest of the class. She felt that a quarter of her class was dumb and the teachers were unpredictable. She felt it was their wish to fail or pass any student and randomly decide their fate to pass to the next class.

(v) Anyone could ramble on and leave big spaces between the words, but the trick was to come up with convincing arguments to prove the necessity of taking.

Ans: Anne had a good understanding of writing. When her teacher gave her absurd apology essays, she could still come out with brilliant creative pieces. She took on the work with full vigour and came up with convincing arguments to prove her point, instead of just filling up the space.

Thinking about Language

I.Match the compound words under ‘A’ with their meanings under ‘B’. Use each in the sentence.

Ans:

II. Now find the sentences in the lesson that have the phrasal verbs given below. Match them with their meanings.

(i) plunge in         –    speak or write without focus

(ii) kept back         –    stay indoors

(iii) move up         –    make (them) remain quiet

(iv) ramble on         –    have a good relationship with

(v) get along with   –    give an assignment (homework) to a person authority (the teacher)

(vi) calm down        –    compensate

(vii) stay in        –    go straight to the topic

(viii) make up for   –    go to the next grade

(ix) hand in        –    not promoted

Ans:

(i) plunge in − go straight to the topic

Since no one would understand a word of my stories to Kitty if I were to plunge right in, I’d better provide a brief sketch of my life, much as I dislike doing so.

(ii) kept back − not promoted

The reason, of course, is the forthcoming meeting in which the teachers decide who’ll move up to the next form and who’ll be kept back.

(iii) move up − go to the next grade

The reason, of course, is the forthcoming meeting in which the teachers decide who’ll move up to the next form and who’ll be kept back.

(iv) ramble on − speak or write without focus

Anyone could ramble on and leave big spaces between the words, but the trick was to come up with convincing arguments to prove the necessity of talking.

(v) get along with − have a good relationship with

 I get along pretty well with all my teachers.

(vi) calm down − make (them) remain quite

Even G.’s pleading advances and my angry outbursts can’t calm them down.

(vii) stay in − stay indoors

I thought of this saying on one of those days when I was feeling a little depressed and was sitting at home with my chin in my hands, bored and listless, wondering whether to stay in or go out.

(viii) make up for − compensate

This birthday celebration in 1942 was intended to make up for the other.

(ix) hand in − give an assignment (homework) to a person in authority (the teacher)

I handed it in, and Mr. Keesing had nothing to complain about for two whole lessons.

III. Here are a few sentences from the text which have idiomatic expressions. Can you say what each means? (You might want to consult a dictionary first.)

(i) Our entire class is quaking in its boots.

Ans: Our entire class is quaking in its boots, shaking with fear and nervousness

(ii) Until then, we keep telling each other not to lose heart.

Ans: Until then, we keep telling each other not to lose heart. Not to lose hope

(iii) Mr. Keeping was annoyed with me for ages because I talked so much. 

Ans: Mr. Keeping was annoyed with me for ages because I talked so much. Since a long time.

(iv) Mr. Keeping was trying to play a joke on me with this ridiculous subject, but I’d make sure the joke was on him.

Ans: Mr. Keeping was trying to play a joke on me with this ridiculous subject, but I’d make sure the joke was on him. He was outwitted by her.

2. Here are a few more idiomatic expressions that occur in the text. Try to use them in sentences of your own.

(i) caught my eye

Ans: A small red car passing by caught my eye.

(ii) he’d had enough

Ans: Tom had a challenging time raising enough money to build the orphanage he had promised to build.

(iii) laugh ourselves silly

Ans: One girl said something funny, and we laughed ourselves silly.

(iv) can’t bring myself to

Ans: I can’t bring myself to eat anything but muffins.

IV. You have read the expression ‘not to lose heart in this text. Now find out the meanings of the following expressions using the word ‘heart’. Use each of them in a sentence of your own.

1. break somebody’s heart

Ans: to upset somebody deeply

Sentence: It has, unfortunately, become extremely easy these days to break somebody’s heart.

2. close/dear to heart

Ans: something or someone who is near and close to you 

Sentence: The drawing given to me by my little daughter is remarkably close to my heart.

3. from the (bottom of your) heart

Ans: genuinely meaning or feeling something 

Sentence: She loved her son from the bottom of her heart.

4. have a heart

Ans: to evoke the feeling to help someone in distress

Sentence: The poor beggar asked the rich man to have a heart and give him something to eat.

5. have a heart of stone

Ans: to not feel anything or any sentiment

Sentence: The cruel property owner has a heart of stone as she beats up her children.

6. your heart goes out to somebody

Ans: to sympathize with someone else and understand his feelings and distress

Sentence: My heart goes out to the little girl who lost both her parents in a car accident.

V. Make a list of the contracted forms in the text. Rewrite them as full forms of two words.

For example:

I’ve = I have

Ans: 

1. I’ve − I have

2. Doesn’t − does not

3. Won’t − would not

4. I’m − I am

5. Don’t − do not

6. Can’t − cannot

7. it’s − it is

8. That’s − that is

9. I’d − I would

10. Didn’t − did not

11. Who’ll − who will

12. You’re − You are

13. We’ll − We will

14. There’s − there is

15. He’d − he had

16. Who’s − who is

17. Haven’t − have not

2. We have seen that some contracted forms can stand for two different full forms: 

I’d = I had or I would

Find in the text the contracted forms that stand for two different full forms, and say what these are.

(i) I’d − I had or I would

(ii) He’d − He had or he would

 Listening

Your teacher will read out an extract from The Diary of Samuel Pepys (given on the next page) about the great fire of London. As you listen completely this summary of the happenings. 

Summary 

This entry in the diary has been made on_____________ by ____________. The person who told Pepys about the fire was called _______________. She called at ________________in the morning. Pepys went back to sleep because_____________. Pepys rose again at______________ in the morning. By then about______________ houses had been burned down. The fire had spread to ____________by London Bridge. Pepys then walked to the_____________ along with Sir J. Robinson’s______________.      

Ans:

This entry in the diary has been made on 2nd September by Samuel Pepys. The person who told Pepys about the fire was called Jane. She called at about three in the morning. Pepys went back to sleep because the fire was on the backside of Market-Lane at the farthest. Pepys rose again at seven in the morning. By then about 300 houses had been burned down. The fire had spread to all fish streets by London Bridge. Pepys then walked to the tower along with Sir J. Robinson’s little son.

Conclusion

The English First Flight Chapter From The Diary of Anne Frank, Class 10, deals with the various anecdotes in the life of young Anne Frank. She is a powerful and smart young woman who sits in with everyone, and her life is filled with uncanny situations, interesting events, and more. Vedantu offers comprehensive NCERT Solutions to ‘From The Diary of Anne Frank Class 10 Question Answers. These solutions are compiled and vetted by top professionals and experts at Vedantu with years of experience dealing with the CBSE syllabus, thus ensuring their accuracy and relevance. 

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