NOTES PREPARED BY
ASHAQ HUSSAIN BHAT
TEACHER SCHOOL
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
JAMMU AND KASHMIR
8th English (PLAY) A STRANGE TRAIL
Working with the Text
1) What did Alice remember?
Ans. Alice recalled following a white rabbit that took her to an unfamiliar location.
She witnessed many strange beings who behaved strangely. She recalled going to
the Mad Tea Party and conversing with a king and a queen.
2) Why, according to the Gryphon. were the jurymen putting down their names?
Ans. Gryphon said that the jurors were writing down their names out of concern that they
would forget them before the trial was over.
3) The first witness was:
a) Alice b) White Rabbit c) King d) Mad Hatter
Ans. The first witness was d) Mad Hatter
4) ‘Give your evidence or I’ll have you executed whether you’re nervous or not.
a) Who says these words and to whom?
b) What do you mean by ‘I’ll have you executed’?
Ans. (a) The king says these words to the Hatter.
(b) It means, “I’ll have you killed.”
5) What, according to Alice, is the first wise thing that the King has said that day?
Ans. The hater's bad speech was the first insightful thing the king said that day, according to Alice.
6) Knave denies having imitated somebody’s handwriting. What evidence does he give?
Ans. He provided proof that the letter was signed without a name at the end.
7) What happens when the whole pack of cards and all the animals fall upon Alice?
Ans. Alice cries, flees in all directions, and vanishes when these descend on her.
8) A strange trial was a dream which Alice dreamt. (True/False)
Ans. True.
Language work
(A) Match the phrasal verbs on the left with their meaning on the right: A B put down i)
ii) pick up iii) send for iv) take off v) put on vi) stare at vii) hurry up viii) look at ix) fall
in x) hand over xi) beat off xii) hit out a) defeat b) to criticize strongly c) give d)
make a line e) make haste f) write down g) see h) wear i) take in hand j)
look at something continuously k) remove l) send someone a message asking them
to come to see you.
Ans. (i) – (F); (ii) – (i); (iii) – (l); (iv) – (k); (v) – (h); (vi) – (j); (vii) – (e);
(viii) – (f); (ix) – (d); (x) – (c); (xi) – (a); (xii) – b).
(B) In spoken English and written informal English , we use short forms /contractions
of certain words instead of full forms. In the play you have read, there are many short
forms. Here are the full forms of these words. Write the short forms of these words in the
space provided. Two have been done for you. You can find all the words in the text.
Full Form Short Form
I have = I’ve
I am = I’m
I am not = I’m not
That is wrong = That’s wrong
Let us try = Let’s try
That is all = That’s all
The trial is beginning = the trial’s beginning
It is happening = It’s happening
You have not met = You’ve not met
He is wearing = He’s wearing
She does not like = She doesn’t like
You had better = You’d better
They are putting = They’r putting
They would get = They’d get
It is not mine = It’s not mine
You would not = You wouldn’t
I cannot help = I can’t help
You have no right = You’v not right
Do not talk = Don’t talk
I did not = I didn’t
Shall not = shalln’t / shan’t
It is the oldest = It’s the oldest
There is more = There’s more
Here is a piece = Here’s a piece
You do not know = You don’t know
We have had = We have’d
You are nothing = You’r nothing
C) Look at the following sentence from the text: The King and Queen of Hearts sit on their thrones with the whole pack of cards around them. The underlined words show combination or collection. Now fill in the blanks. Choose words from those given in the box. Consult a dictionary if necessary.
bevy , brood, throng , staff , suite , cluster ,chest ,litter ,string, shoal, chain
A _____________ of fish.
A _____________ of ladies.
A _____________ of rooms.
A _____________ of stars.
A _____________ of officials.
A _____________ of people.
A _____________ of chickens.
A _____________ of puppies.
A _____________ of drawers.
A _____________ of camels.
A _____________ of mountains.
Ans. (1) Shoal; (2) Bevy; (3) Suite; (4) Cluster; (5) Staff; (6) Throng; (7) Brood;
(8) Litter; (9) Chest; (10) Chain; (11) Cluster.
(D) Look at these sentences:
That’s the most important piece of evidence we’ve had today. Of course,
I meant unimportant. The words italicized in the two sentences from the
play are antonyms i.e., words meaning the opposite of each other.
In the following sentences, choose the antonym of the italicized word
from the four options.
1. Honesty is the best policy.
a) sobriety c) uprightness b) deceit d) rectitude
Ans. (b)
2. The chairman initiated the proceeding with a brief speech.
a) complicated b) started c) closed d) confused
Ans. (c)
3. William Wordsworth is celebrated for his lucid style.
a) notorious b) unpopular c) unknown d) renowned
Ans. (b)
4. A faithful officer is always vigilant towards his duties.
a) innocent b) ignorant c) irresponsible d) careless
Ans. (d)
Let’s Write
The play is actually a dream which Alice had. Do you remember any dream?
Write a brief description of your dream in a paragraph.
Ans. I had an odd dream last night. I was crowned as a nation's king. It was a
developing nation. The early kings had mistreated the populace, and they were ignorant.
I was astounded to find that dishonest people were pillaging the area as I looked around.
Scams existed, and scams existed exclusively. The officials and politicians were so
crafty and avaricious that they had not even spared the dead bodies. They had dealt
with deceased people's kidneys and other organs. I gave my commander-in-chief the
order to apprehend everyone who might be culpable and have them sent to prison or exile.
The nation rose to prominence as the world's leading power in a matter of days. I joyfully yelled,
only to wake up in my bed.
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