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All books/Class 10 English: Words and Expressions 2

Unit 3 (Two Stories about Flying)

Punctuation, riddles and writing

Punctuate a paragraph and solve logic riddles step by step.

One idea, one sentence. In the UFO paragraph, find where one complete idea ends. Put a full stop there and start the next with a capital: '...aliens from other planets. Some people have given evidence...'; 'Police were on red alert. Many community centres were set up.' Put a comma after an opening word or phrase: 'Gradually, the number of sightings fell.'

Comma with speech. "He is happy," the Principal said. / The Principal said, "He is happy."

Thinking aloud. As you solve a riddle, say every idea out loud, even the wrong ones. Others can follow your thinking, and you notice your own mistakes.

Riddle 1: the wolf, the goat and the cabbage. The goat can't be left with the cabbage, or with the wolf. The wolf and the cabbage are safe together. So:

  1. Take the goat across.
  2. Come back alone.
  3. Take the wolf across.
  4. Bring the goat back.
  5. Take the cabbage across.
  6. Come back alone.
  7. Take the goat across.

Seven crossings.

Riddle 2: the monkeys. Only the humans and the big monkey can row, and the boat holds two. The rule says humans must never be outnumbered by monkeys on either bank, 'at all times'. Try it aloud: read strictly, the rule cannot be kept. The puzzle only works if a bank with no humans on it counts as safe. Saying this is good thinking, not failure.

Writing.

  • Article: 'Rules are meant to be observed in spirit, not only in letter.' In 120–150 words, give a title, an introduction, two or three examples (traffic rules, smoking in public, cutting trees, rights of women) and a conclusion. Use the process approach.
  • Story: write about a time you learnt something hard, like riding a bicycle, as a short story. Points first, then an outline.
  • Project: collect 10–15 riddles from elders in their languages, and ask how such riddles began.
One idea, one sentence; think aloud to solve a riddle.

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