The Story of Cricket Class 7 Summary, Question Answers | Honeycomb Chapter 10

by | Mar 8, 2024 | CBSE Class 7 English Lessons Explanation, Notes, NCERT Question Answers | 0 comments

 

NCERT Solution for Class 7 English Honeycomb Book Chapter 10 The Story of Cricket Summary, Explanation, Question Answer

The Story of Cricket – NCERT Class 7 English Honeycomb book Lesson 10 The Story of Cricket Summary and Detailed explanation of the lesson along with the meanings of difficult words. Also, the explanation is followed by a Summary of the lesson. All the exercises and Questions and Answers given at the back of the lesson have been covered. Take Free Online MCQs Test for Class 7 Click Here

 

The Story of Cricket Introduction

This story is about the popular sport named Cricket and its history. In this chapter, we will learn about its origin and amazing facts.

The Story of Cricket Class 7 Video Explanation Part 1

The Story of Cricket Summary

The Story of Cricket Summary – Cricket is the name of the stick and ball game which was played in England 500 years ago. The word bat is derived from an English word which simply means stick or club. After many years, by the 17th century, Cricket had become a distinguishable sport. In the middle of the eighteenth century,  the shape of the bat was like that of a hockey stick which gave the batsman the best chance of making contact with the ball. The fact that a cricket match can go on for five days and still end up in a draw is one of the peculiarities of this sport. The rest of the sports take up less than half of the time. Another peculiarity of this sport is that the length of the pitch is specified but the size and the shape of the field is not. So the size of the field may vary from big to small and the shape may vary from round to oval. However these oddities are not meaningless, they have a historical reason behind them. Cricket was the first modern team sport to be given rules and regulations. The first rules and regulations, which are also known as “Laws of Cricket” were set up in the year 1744. In that, the number of umpires and the power they had, was mentioned. In addition to that, the height of the stumps, the width of the bail, the measurement of the ball and the distance between two sets of stumps was also given. The world’s first cricket club was formed in Hambledon in the1760s. After that, another club was founded  in the year 1787, which was called The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). Then, during the 1760s and 1770s, the manner of pitching underwent an evolution. It became common to pitch the ball through the air rather than roll it along the ground. This opened a new variety of possibilities to the cricket players. This led to new possibilities for actions like spin and swing. In response, batsmen had to master timing and shot selection. For  this  the cricket players  required a different type of bat therefore, this led to the evolution of straight bats. In addition to that, the weight of the ball was also changed and the width of the bat was also standardalised. In 1774, a new law was also published which was the first leg-before law. Around this time, a third stump became common as well. By 1780, three days had become the length of a major match, and this year also saw the creation of the first six-seam cricket ball. Cricket’s game equipment has greatly evolved over time, yet it has stayed fundamentally true to its history. The most important tools of cricket are made of natural, pre-industrial material. The material of the bat has had a different evolution, as earlier, it was cut out of a single piece of wood but now, it consists of two pieces, the blade which is made out of the wood of the willow tree and the handle. This handle is made out of the cane that became available as European colonialists and trading companies established themselves in Asia. Cricket, unlike other sports, has refused to let the equipment be industrially manufactured by harmful materials like plastic. However, the protective equipment has been greatly influenced by technology. The invention of vulcanised rubber led to the introduction of pads in 1848, and with the help of many other technological changes, protective gloves, helmet and other things have been invented, which are made out of synthetic and light material. Without these changes, the modern game would have been much different and difficult.

 

 

The Story of Cricket Summary in Hindi

क्रिकेट स्टिक और बॉल गेम का नाम है जो 500 साल पहले इंग्लैंड में खेला गया था। बैट शब्द एक अंग्रेजी शब्द से लिया गया है जिसका सीधा अर्थ है छड़ी या क्लब। कई वर्षों के बाद, 17वीं शताब्दी तक, क्रिकेट एक विशिष्ट खेल बन गया था। अठारहवीं शताब्दी के मध्य में, बल्ले का आकार हॉकी स्टिक की तरह था जिससे बल्लेबाज को गेंद से संपर्क बनाने का सबसे अच्छा मौका मिलता था।

तथ्य यह है कि एक क्रिकेट मैच पांच दिनों तक चल सकता है और फिर भी ड्रॉ में समाप्त हो सकता है। बाकी खेलों में आधे से भी कम समय लगता है। इस खेल की एक और विशेषता यह है कि पिच की लंबाई तो तय होती है लेकिन मैदान का माप और आकार नहीं।

मैदान का माप बड़ा या छोटा हो सकता है और आकार गोल या अंडाकार हो सकता है । हालाँकि ये विषमताएँ व्यर्थ नहीं हैं, उनके पीछे एक ऐतिहासिक कारण है। क्रिकेट पहला आधुनिक टीम खेल था जिसे नियम और कानून दिए गए थे। पहले नियम और कानून, जिन्हें “क्रिकेट के नियम” के रूप में भी जाना जाता है, वर्ष 1744 में स्थापित किए गए थे।

उसमें अंपायरों की संख्या और उनके पास जो शक्ति थी, उसका उल्लेख किया गया था। साथ ही स्टंप की ऊंचाई, बेल की चौड़ाई, गेंद की नाप और स्टंप के दो सेट के बीच की दूरी भी दी गई। दुनिया का पहला क्रिकेट क्लब 1760 के दशक में हैम्बलडन में बनाया गया था। उसके बाद साल 1787 में एक और क्लब की स्थापना हुई, जिसे द मैरीलेबोन क्रिकेट क्लब (एमसीसी) कहा गया।

फिर, 1760 और 1770 के दशक के दौरान, पिचिंग के तरीके में एक विकास हुआ। गेंद को जमीन पर लुढ़कने के बजाय हवा के माध्यम से पिच करना आम हो गया। इसने क्रिकेट खिलाड़ियों के लिए संभावनाओं की एक नई विविधता खोली। इससे स्पिन और स्विंग जैसी गतिविधियों के लिए नई संभावनाएं पैदा हुईं। जवाब में बल्लेबाजों को टाइमिंग और शॉट सिलेक्शन में महारत हासिल करनी पड़ी।

इसके लिए क्रिकेट खिलाड़ियों को एक अलग प्रकार के बल्ले की आवश्यकता होती है, इसलिए सीधे बल्ले का विकास हुआ। इसके अलावा गेंद के वजन में भी बदलाव किया गया और बल्ले की चौड़ाई को भी मानकीकृत किया गया। 1774 में एक नया कानून भी प्रकाशित हुआ जो पहला लेग-बिफोर कानून था। इस समय के आसपास, एक तीसरा स्टंप भी आम हो गया। 1780 तक, तीन दिन एक प्रमुख मैच की अवधि बन गए थे, और इस वर्ष पहली छह-सीम वाली क्रिकेट गेंद का निर्माण भी देखा गया।

क्रिकेट के खेल उपकरण समय के साथ बहुत विकसित हुए हैं, फिर भी यह अपने इतिहास के लिए मौलिक रूप से सही है। क्रिकेट के सबसे महत्वपूर्ण उपकरण प्राकृतिक, पूर्व-औद्योगिक सामग्री से बने होते हैं। बल्ले की सामग्री का एक अलग विकास हुआ है, जैसे पहले, इसे लकड़ी के एक टुकड़े से काटा जाता था, लेकिन अब, इसमें दो टुकड़े होते हैं, ब्लेड जो विलो पेड़ की लकड़ी से बना होता है और हैंडल।। यह हैंडल बेंत से बना है जो यूरोपीय उपनिवेशवादियों और व्यापारिक कंपनियों के एशिया में स्थापित होने के साथ ही उपलब्ध हो गया था।

क्रिकेट ने, अन्य खेलों के विपरीत, प्लास्टिक जैसी हानिकारक सामग्रियों से उपकरण को औद्योगिक रूप से निर्मित करने से मना कर दिया है। हालांकि, सुरक्षात्मक उपकरण प्रौद्योगिकी से बहुत प्रभावित हुए हैं। वल्केनाइज्ड रबर के आविष्कार ने 1848 में पैड की शुरुआत की और कई अन्य तकनीकी परिवर्तनों की मदद से सुरक्षात्मक दस्ताने, हेलमेट और अन्य चीजों का आविष्कार किया गया, जो सिंथेटिक और हल्के सामग्री से बने होते हैं। इन परिवर्तनों के बिना, आधुनिक खेल बहुत अलग और कठिन होता।

 

 

The Story of Cricket Class 7 Video Explanation Part 2

The Story of Cricket Explanation

I

Passage – Cricket grew out of the many stick-and-ball games played in England 500 years ago. The word ‘bat’ is an old English word that simply means stick or club. By the seventeenth century, cricket had evolved enough to be recognisable as a distinct game. Till the middle of the eighteenth century, bats were roughly the same shape as hockey sticks, curving outwards at the bottom. There was a simple reason for this: the ball was bowled underarm, along the ground and the curve at the end of the bat gave the batsman the best chance of making contact. 

 

the-oldest-cricket-bat-in-existence

 

Explanation of the Above Passage – There are many types of stick-and-ball games. Cricket also happens to be a stick-and-ball game that was played in England 500 years ago. The word ‘bat’ is an old English word that means stick or club. Cricket underwent through so many evolutions that by the seventeenth century, it successfully became a different game than a stick-and-ball game. The cricket bats were quite similar to hockey sticks – curved outwards at the bottom. There was a reason why the cricket bats were like hockey sticks. When the ball would be bowled underarm and along the ground, the curve at the end of the bat would give the batsman the best chance of making contact with the ball and getting a good score.

 

Passage – One of the peculiarities of cricket is that a Test match can go on for five days and still end in a draw. No other modern team sport takes even half as much time to complete. A football match is generally over in an hour-and-a-half. Even baseball completes nine innings in less than half the time that it takes to play a limited-overs match, the shortened version of modern cricket!

Word Meaning:
peculiarities: weird differences
draw: result of a game in which neither side wins or loses
baseball: game (populr in the U.S.A.) played with a bat and ball by two teams of nine players each on a field with four bases

Explanation of the Above Passage – Cricket has many strange variations that make it quite a weird sport. One of these peculiarities is that a test match can go on for five days and even after taking such a long time to complete the match, the result of the match can still be a draw (i.e. a tie between both the teams). No other modern team sport takes that much time. Actually the other modern team sports take half as much time to compete. For example – a football match takes only an hour-and-a-half unlike cricket which can go on for many days. Then comes baseball, a modern team sport which can complete nine innings in less than half the time of a limited-overs cricket match. Hence, baseball is known as the shortened version of modern cricket.

Passage – Another curious characteristic of cricket is that the length of the pitch is specified—22 yards— but the size or shape of the ground is not. Most other team sports such as hockey and football lay down the dimensions of the playing area. Cricket does not. Grounds can be oval like the Adelaide Oval or nearly circular, like Chepauk in Chennai. A six at the Melbourne Cricket Ground needs to clear much more ground than it does at Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi.

Word Meaning:
dimensions: length, breadth, etc.
oval: shaped like an egg

Explanation of the Above Passage – The second pecularity or curious characteristic of the sport cricket is that only the length of the pitch is specified and is 22 yards. The size or shape of the ground or the stadium is not specific. This is unlike almost all the other team sports such as hockey and football. Almost every team sport has specific dimensions of the playing area. However, cricket can be played on both an oval grounds like the Adelaide Oval and circular grounds like Chepauk located in Chennai. There are many changes which a cricket player needs to make in his or her game because the distance of a six varies due to varied shapes of the grounds. For example – a six at the Melbourne Cricket Ground will have to cover more distance than it will do at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi.

Passage – There’s a historical reason behind both these oddities. Cricket was the earliest modern team sport to be codified. The first written ‘Laws of Cricket’ were drawn up in 1744. They stated, “the principals shall choose from amongst the gentlemen present two umpires who shall absolutely decide all disputes. The stumps must be 22 inches high and the bail across them six inches. The ball must be between five and six ounces, and the two sets of stumps 22 yards apart”. The world’s first cricket club was formed in Hambledon in the1760s and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) was founded in 1787. During the 1760s and 1770s it became common to pitch the ball through the air rather than roll it along the ground. This change gave bowlers the options of length, deception through the air, plus increased pace. It also opened new possibilities for spin and swing. In response, batsmen had to master timing and shot selection. One immediate result was the replacement of the curved bat with the straight one. The weight of the ball was limited to between 5½ to 5¾ ounces, and the width of the bat to four inches. In 1774, the first leg-before law was published. Also around this time, a third stump became common. By 1780, three days had become the length of a major match, and this year also saw the creation of the first six-seam cricket ball. 

Word Meaning:
codified: standardised with rules and regulations
length: the distance from the bastman at which the ball pitches
deception through the air: The ball is no longer rolled along the ground but sent through the air. Hence the possible variety or ‘deception’ in bowling.
shot selection: choice of strokes 

Explanation of the Above Passage – There is a historic reason behind both the strange rules which make cricket a logical sport. Cricket was the first modern team sport to have rules and regulations. The first written laws, also known as the ‘Laws of Cricket’, were drawn up in 1744. There were four main rules in it. The first one was that the principals would have to choose two umpires who would resolve all the conflicts between the two teams and decide what needed to be done. The second one was that both of the stumps must have a height of 22 inches and the bail should have a length of six inches. The third law stated that the cricket ball must weigh between five and six ounces. The fourth and last one was that the two sets of stumps should be 22 yards apart. The world’s first cricket club was formed in Hambledon in the 1760s. Then, in the year 1787, the Marylebone Cricket Club or MCC was founded. It was during these years (1760s and 1770s) that it became common to pitch the ball through the air and not to roll it on the ground. This unlocked many new techniques for the bowlers – length, deception through the air, plus increased pace, spin, swing, etc. Batsmen too had to change their gameplay as they now had to master timing and shot selection. This led to one immediate result – the replacement of the curved bat with the straight one. The weight of the ball too was now limited to between 5½ to 5¾ ounces, and the width of the bat to four inches. In 1774, two changes happened. First of all, the first leg-before law was published. Secondly, a third stump became common. In 1780, again two changes took place. Firstly, the length of a major match was three days. Secondly, the first six-seam cricket ball was formed.

a rough and ready cricket game being played in a village
Passage – If you look at the game’s equipment, you can see how cricket both changed with changing times and yet fundamentally remained true to its origins in rural England. Cricket’s most important tools are all made of natural, pre industrial materials. The bat is made with leather, twine and cork. Even today both bat and ball are handmade, not industrially manufactured. The material of the bat changed slightly over time. Once it was cut out of a single piece of wood. Now it consists of two pieces, the blade which is made out of the wood of the willow tree and the handle which is made out of cane that became available as European colonialists and trading companies established themselves in Asia. Unlike golf and tennis, cricket has refused to remake its tools with industrial or man-made materials: plastic, fibreglass and metal have been firmly rejected.

Word Meaning:
fundamentally: basically, essentially


Explanation of the Above Passage – A closer look at the sports items used indicate that although the sport changed with time, its basics remained firm to the roots. Even now, the important tools are made of natural, pre-industrial material – the bat of leather, twine and cork. The bat and ball are handmade although the material of the bat has changed slightly. Earlier it was one piece but now it has 2 pieces – the blade made of wood of the willow tree and the handle is made of cane which was made available by European colonists and trading companies who set up businesses in Asian countries. Cricket is different from golf and tennis which use industrial and man-made materials for the sports items. Cricket has refused to use materials like plastic, fibreglass and metal in its sports goods. This shows that cricket hasn’t moved from its origins in rural England. 

Passage – But in the matter of protective equipment, cricket has been influenced by technological change. The invention of vulcanised rubber led to the introduction of pads in 1848 and protective gloves soon afterwards, and the modern game would be unimaginable without helmets made out of metal and synthetic lightweight materials.

Explanation of the Above Passage – Even though the most important tools of the sport are made up of natural materials, the matter of protective equipment is entirely different. The protective equipment has been influenced by technological change. The invention of vulcanised rubber led to the introduction of pads in the year 1848. It then led to the introduction of protective gloves and helmets. The modern game would not be possible without metal and synthetic lightweight materials.

II

Passage – The origins of Indian cricket are to be found in Bombay and the first Indian community to start playing the game was the small community of Zoroastrians, the Parsis. Brought into close contact with the British because of their interest in trade and the first Indian community to westernise, the Parsis founded the first Indian cricket club, the Oriental Cricket Club, in Bombay in 1848. Parsi clubs were funded and sponsored by Parsi businessmen like the Tatas and the Wadias. The white cricket elite in India offered no help to the enthusiastic Parsis. In fact, there was a quarrel between the Bombay Gymkhana, a whites-only club, and Parsi cricketers over the use of a public park. The Parsis complained that the park was left unfit for cricket because the polo ponies of the Bombay Gymkhana dug up the surface. When it became clear that the colonial authorities were prejudiced in favour of their white compatriots, the Parsis built their own gymkhana to play cricket in. The rivalry between the Parsis and the Bombay Gymkhana had a happy ending for these pioneers of Indian cricket. A Parsi team beat the Bombay Gymkhana at cricket in 1889, just four years after the foundation of the Indian National Congress in 1885, an organisation that was lucky to have amongst its early leaders the great Parsi statesman and intellectual Dadabhai Naoroji.

Word Meaning:
polo ponies: horses used in the game of polo.
prejudiced: preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.
compatriots: fellow countrymen
pioneer: a person who is among the first to explore or settle a new country or area.

Explanation of the Above Passage – Indian cricket originated in Bombay. The first Indian community to start playing the game was the minor community of Zoroastrians which were the Parsis. The Parsis were brought into close contact with the British because of two interests – trade and cricket, the Parsis formed the first cricket club in India – The Oriental Cricket Club at Bombay in the year 1848. These clubs got financial support from Parsi businessmen – the Tatas and Wadias. The British high class who played cricket did not offer any support to these cricket clubs. Both these factions were opposed to each other. The Bombay Gymkhana, a whites only club and the Parsi cricketers had a fight over the use of a public park. The Parsis complained that the Bombay Gymkhana polo horses dug up the ground and left it unfit for playing cricket. However, as the authorities favoured the whites, the Parsis built their own gymkhana to play cricket. The tiff came to an end for the Parsi team when it won a match against the Bombay gymkhana in 1889, 4 years after the formation of the INC in 1885. One of the early leaders of the INC was Dadabhai Naoroji, a great leader and an intelligent man who was a Parsi.

Passage – Modern cricket is dominated by Tests and one-day internationals, played between national teams. The players who become famous, who live on in the memories of cricket’s public, are those who have played for their country. The players Indian fans remember even now are those who were fortunate enough to play Test cricket. C.K. Nayudu, an outstanding Indian batsman of his time, lives on in the popular imagination when some of his great contemporaries like Palwankar Vithal and Palwankar Baloo have been forgotten. Even though Nayudu was past his cricketing prime when he played for India in its first Test matches against England starting in 1932, his place in India’s cricket history is assured because he was the country’s first Test captain.

Word Meaning:
contemporaries: persons or things living or existing at the same time as another.
prime: the state or time of greatest vigour or success in a person’s life, youth

Explanation of the Above Passage – The main aspects of modern cricket are Tests and one-day internationals. Both are played between national teams. Then the players who become famous in matches and live on the audience or the spectator’s memories go on to play for their country in the main matches. Such players are not forgotten easily by Indian fans. For example – C.K. Nayudu was an outstanding Indian batsman of his time. Even though the other players of his time have been forgotten, C.K. Nayudu lives on in the popular imagination of die-hard Indian fans. He was the country’s first ever Test captain, which contributes to the reason why his place in India’s cricket history is assured even though Nayudu was past his cricketing prime when he played for India in its first Test matches against England starting in the year 1932.

Passage – India entered the world of Test cricket in 1932, a decade and a half before it became an independent nation. This was possible because Test cricket from its origins in 1877 was organised as a contest between different parts of the British empire, not sovereign nations. The first Test was played between England and Australia when Australia was still a white-settler colony. Similarly, the small countries of the Caribbean that together make up the West Indies team were British colonies till well after the Second World War. 

Word Meaning:
sovereign : a supreme ruler, especially a monarch.

Explanation of the Above Passage – 1932 was the year when India entered the world of Test cricket. This was a decade and a half that is ten years and a half before it became an independent nation. India was allowed to participate in the Test matches as the Test cricket, ever since it originated in 1877, was organised as a contest between different parts or different colonies of the British empire. Hence, sovereign nations or nations which were not under the control of the British empire like America couldn’t participate in the Test matches.The first Test match was played between England and Australia. At that time, Australia too was a British colony. The small countries of the Caribbean, all which the British had control over, would join together to form the West Indies team. These countries were colonies under British power until the Second World War.

III

Passage – Television coverage changed cricket. It expanded the audience for the game by beaming cricket into small towns and villages. It also broadened cricket’s social base. Children who had never previously had the chance to watch international cricket because they lived outside the big cities, could now watch and learn by imitating their heroes.

Word Meaning:
coverage : reportage, footage
imitating : copying, mimicking

Explanation of the Above Passage – Television coverage was a changing point in the sport. This is because of the following reasons. First, it made the audience huger as the coverage could now be seen by people living in small towns and in villages. Secondly, it broadened the sport’s fan following as it gave children a new opportunity. It inspired them to imitate their heroes by watching and learning about them.

Passage – The technology of satellite television and the world-wide reach of multi-national television companies created a global market for cricket. Matches in Sydney could now be watched live in Surat. Since India had the largest viewership for the game amongst the cricket-playing nations and the largest market in the cricketing world, the game’s centre of gravity shifted to South Asia. This shift was symbolised by the shifting of the ICC headquarters from London to tax-free Dubai.

Word Meaning:
viewership: the audience for a particular television programme or channel.
center of gravity: point of major importance

Explanation of the Above Passage – After television coverage came the technology of satellite television, which ultimately resulted in the whole world seeing cricket through multi-national television companies. This created a global market for the sport, which is the modern version of cricket. India had the largest audience for the game amongst the cricket-playing nations and the largest market in the cricketing world. This was the reason why the game’s centre shifted from Europe to South Asia. This shift can be seen by the shifting of the ICC headquarters from London (in Europe) to tax-free Dubai (South Asia).

Passage – One hundred and fifty years ago the first Indian cricketers, the Parsis, had to struggle to find an open space to play in. Today, the global marketplace has made Indian players the best-paid, most famous cricketers in the game, men for whom the world is a stage. This transformation was made up of many smaller changes: the replacement of the gentlemanly amateur by the paid professional, the triumph of the one-day game as it overshadowed Test cricket in terms of popularity, and the remarkable changes in global commerce and technology.

Word Meaning:
amateur: someone who does something not for money or fame, but for enjoyment; unprofessional
triumph: victory

Explanation of the Above Passage – One hundred and fifty years ago, the Parsis, who were the first Indian cricketers, had to struggle for an open space to play in. However today, with the help of technology and the global market for the sport, Indian players are the best-paid and the most famous cricketers in the game, and for them there is no struggle for an open space as the whole world happens to a stage. Each and every option is available to them. This huge transformation was made up of many smaller changes. The first was the replacement of the gentlemanly amateur by the paid professional. In the international matches only paid professionals play which creates thrill and excitement among the audience. Second, the triumph of the one-day game as it overshadowed Test cricket in terms of popularity. One-day matches overshadowed Test cricket as it happened to become more popular among the viewers. Third, the remarkable changes in global commerce and technology. The global marketplace for the sport provides a large number of golden opportunities for the players.

The Story of Cricket Question Answers

Comprehension Check
Q1. Cricket is originally a/an 

(i) Indian game. 

(ii) British game. 

(iii) international game. 

Mark the right answer
Ans. Option (ii) British game 

Q2. “There is a historical reason behind both these oddities.” In the preceding two paragraphs, find two words/phrases that mean the same as ‘oddities’.
Ans. Peculiarities and curious characteristics are the words and phrases that mean the same as ‘oddities’.

Q3. How is a cricket bat different from a hockey stick?
Ans. A cricket bat is straight in appearance whereas the hockey stick is curved at the end. The cricket bat can easily hit a ball in the air whereas the hockey stick can easily hit a ball rolling on the ground.

Comprehension Check
Q1. Write True or False against each of the following sentences. 

(i) India joined the world of Test cricket before Independence. ________

(ii) The colonisers did nothing to encourage the Parsis in playing cricket. ________ 

(iii) Palwankar Baloo was India’s first Test captain. __________

(iv) Australia played its first Test against England as a sovereign nation. ________

Ans. 

(i) True

(ii) True

(iii) False

(iv) False

 

Comprehension Check

Q1. A ‘professional’ cricket player is one who makes a living by playing cricket. Find the opposite of ‘professional’ in the last paragraph.
Ans. The word opposite of ‘professional’ in the last paragraph is ‘amateur’.

Q2. In “the triumph of the one-day game”, ‘triumph’ means the one-day game’s 

(i) superiority to Test cricket. 

(ii) inferiority to Test cricket. 

(iii) achievement and success over Test cricket. 

(iv) popularity among viewers. 

Mark the right answer.
Ans. (iii) achievement and success over Test cricket. 

Q3. “…the men for whom the world is a stage”. 

(i) It refers to the famous cricket fields in the world. 

(ii) It means that there are many cricket playing countries in the world. 

(iii) It implies that cricketers are like actors and every cricket ground is like a stage on which the drama of cricket is enacted the world over. 

Mark the right answer.
Ans. (iii) It implies that cricketers are like actors and every cricket ground is like a stage on which the drama of cricket is enacted the world over. 

Working with the Text
Q1. Name some stick-and-ball games that you have witnessed or heard of.
Ans. Some stick-and-ball games are as follows:-

  1. Cricket
  2. Baseball
  3. Hockey
  4. Stickball
  5. Gilli Danda

Q2. The Parsis were the first Indian community to take to cricket. Why?
Ans. The Parsis were the first Indian community to take to cricket because they were in close contact with the British because of their interest in trade. They then became the first Indian community to westernise and play against England.

Q3. The rivalry between the Parsis and the Bombay Gymkhana had a happy ending for the former. What does ‘a happy ending’ refer to?
Ans. ‘A happy ending’ here refers to the triumph of the Parsis Indian community over the Bombay Gymkhana in the year 1889 in a cricket match. 

Q4. Do you think cricket owes its present popularity to television? Justify your answer.
Ans. Yes, cricket definitely owes its present popularity to television. It was because of satellite technology that cricket matches were getting broadcasted to small villages and towns. This led to a worldwide audience and ultimately more popularity of the sport.

Q5. Why has cricket a large viewership in India, not in China or Russia?
Ans. Cricket, a British sport, has a large viewership in India, a former British colony. Indians have been playing the sport before the British introduced it to the whole world. Cricket is a common game in colonial countries, especially India. This case is not the same one in China or even in Russia, which happens to be a European country just like England. This is because these two countries were never under British rule, which is why they never developed an interest in it. Also, the sport is not common in other countries.

Q6. What do you understand by the game’s (cricket) ‘equipment’?
Ans. The game’s equipment means the tools and accessories used by the players to play the game. They are – bat, ball, pads, helmet, gloves and stumps. Although the game has been greatly influenced by technology, it still remains fundamentally true to its origins. The most important tools are still made up of pre-industrial material. The bat is made with leather, twine and cork. Both the bat and ball are handmade.

Q7. How is Test cricket a unique game in many ways?
Ans. Test cricket is peculiar in the following ways – 

  1. It may continue for five days and still end in a draw. While all other games are played for a shorter span of time, a test cricket match can go upto five days.
  2. Another curious characteristic of cricket is that the length of the pitch is specified—22 yards— but the size or shape of the ground is not. Most other team sports such as hockey and football lay down the dimensions of the playing area. Cricket does not. Grounds can be oval like the Adelaide Oval or nearly circular, like Chepauk in Chennai. 

 

Q8. How is cricket different from other team games?
Ans. Cricket is different from the other team games due to the following reasons:-

  1. The length of the pitch is specified to be 22 yards but the size or shape of the ground is not. 
  2. The dimensions of the playing area are specific in most games like hockey and football. However, this is not so in the case of cricket.
  3. Grounds can be oval like the Adelaide Oval or nearly circular, like Chepauk in Chennai. That is why a six at the Melbourne Cricket Ground needs to clear much more ground than it does at Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi. 
  4. A Test match can last for n number of days (where n can be any positive number). Even though it can last that long, it can still end up in a draw. No other modern team sport takes even half as much time to complete.

 

Q9. How have advances in technology affected the game of cricket?
Ans. Technology has affected the game of cricket in three ways:-

  1. Protective equipment has been influenced by the technology of vulcanised rubber. It led to the invention of pads in 1848 and soon the protective gloves.
  2. Television coverage expanded the audience for the game by beaming cricket into small towns and villages, and also broadened cricket’s social base.
  3. The technology of satellite television and the world-wide reach of multi-national television companies created a global market for cricket. A match happening in London could now be seen in some other country, which expanded its viewership.

 

Q10. Explain how cricket changed with changing times and yet remained unchanged in some ways.
Ans. Cricket changed with the changes in technology. Invention of protective equipment, television, and the creation of a global marketplace are the changes that came in the wake of technology. However, there are some things which stayed fundamentally true to its origins. 

  1. Cricket still has not specified a few things like the dimensions, shape and size of the playing area.
  2. The most important tools of the sport (tools excluding the protective equipment) are made up of pre-industrial material instead of being industrially manufactured.  The bat is made with leather, twine and cork. Both the bat and ball are handmade.

 

Working with Language

Q1. Add -ly to the italicised word in each sentence. Rewrite the sentence using the new word. See the examples first.

the story of cricket

(i) It is obvious that the work has not been done in a proper way. 

(ii) He made the statement in a firm manner. 

(iii) The job can be completed within a week in an easy way. 

(iv) You did not play in a serious manner, or else you would have won the match. 

(v) She recited the poem in a cheerful manner

Ans. (i) It is obvious that the work has not been done properly. 

(ii) He made the statement firmly. 

(iii) The job can be completed within a week easily. 

(iv) You did not play seriously, or else you would have won the match. 

(v) She recited the poem cheerfully.

 

Q2. Use the following phrases appropriately in place of the italicised words in the sentences given below.

the story of cricket

(i) Actually, I didn’t intend to come to your place. I reached here without planning. 

(ii) Sunil, there’s a letter for you in today’s post. There’s one for me also. 

(iii) Everybody thought I had composed the poem. The truth is my younger sister did it. 

(iv) The doctor told the patient to make sure that he took his pills on time. 

(v) It will be better for us to plan our trip before setting out. 

Ans. (i) Actually, I didn’t intend to come to your place. I reached here by accident. 

(ii) Sunil, there’s a letter for you in today’s post. There’s one for me as well. 

(iii) Everybody thought I had composed the poem. As a matter of fact, my younger sister did it. 

(iv) The doctor told the patient to see to it that he took his pills on time. 

(v) We had better plan our trip before setting out. 
 

 
Also See : 

Honeycomb Book Lessons

Honeycomb Book Poems

An Alien Hand Book Lessons

 

Submit a Comment