1.4 Revathi's Musical Plants

• Can you name the famous musician in Emperor Akbar's court, who could perform miracles, when he sang different Ragas?
  Tansen was the famous musician in Emperor Akbar's court.
• What miracles could he perform with his music?
  It is said that Tansen could perform miracles like bringing rain by singing 'Raga Megh Malhar', and lighting oil lamps merely by singing 'Raga Deepak'. He could also soothe agitated animals with his music.
• What impact does music have on human beings?
  Music has a profound impact on human beings. It can soothe the mind, reduce stress, uplift the mood, evoke deep emotions, and improve concentration and focus.
• Do you think music can have an impact on animals, birds and even plants?
  Yes, various studies suggest that music can have a positive impact on animals and plants. For example, cows have been observed to produce more milk when exposed to calming music, and certain plants show better growth patterns when soft, classical music is played around them.

• (a) At first, Revathi's plants did not look normal and healthy because they had pale green leaves and their growth was stunted due to a lack of sunlight.
• (b) When Revathi played her favourite raga, the plants began to move because they loved to hear her favourite tune and responded to it by bending towards her.
• (c) Revathi's grief knew no bounds because her pot of plants was missing from the courtyard on the day of the prize distribution.
• (d) Revathi was confident of proving her ownership of her pot of plants because she shared a secret with them; she knew they were music-lovers and would respond to her favourite raga.
• (e) Revathi won the prize for the 'Best plant' because her plants were the best-looking and healthy, and she successfully proved they belonged to her.

Music — courtyard — door — rhythm — morning — grief

• make up one's mind: I have made up my mind to participate in the science exhibition this year.
• flash across one's mind: While writing the exam, the correct formula suddenly flashed across my mind.
• struck as odd: His sudden silence in the middle of the party struck me as odd.
• to surmise: From the dark, heavy clouds, we could surmise that it was going to rain heavily.
• not to deter: The steep climb did not deter the mountaineers from reaching the peak.
• knew no bounds: My joy knew no bounds when I found my lost puppy.

1. There were a few potted plants in the courtyard. (not many)
   Answer: There were not many potted plants in the courtyard.
2. They looked healthier than the other plants. (not as healthy as)
   Answer: The other plants did not look as healthy as them.
3. She refused to share her secret. (would not)
   Answer: She would not share her secret.
4. She went around asking everyone about her plants. (No one / did not)
   Answer: There was no one she did not ask about her plants.

1. There was no breeze. (hardly)
   Answer: There was hardly any breeze.
2. Their ridicule did not deter her. (failed to)
   Answer: Their ridicule failed to deter her.
3. Her mother knew nothing about it. (denied)
   Answer: Her mother denied knowing anything about it.
4. She did not give up. (refuse to)
   Answer: She refused to give up.

• What comes down but never goes up? — rain
• What has hands but cannot clap? — a clock
• Everyone has it and no one can lose it. What is it? — a shadow
• What has an eye but cannot see? — a needle
• I have teeth but I cannot bite. Who am I? — a comb
• What starts with P and ends with E and has more than 1000 letters? — post office
• Where does Friday come before Thursday? — in a dictionary
• We see it once in a year, twice in a week and never in a day. What is it? — the letter 'E'
• What can travel around the world while it remains in a corner? — a stamp

• (a) Reduplication: tick-tock, flip-flop, bye-bye, ding-dong, super-duper.
• (b) Blending: netizen (internet + citizen), spork (spoon + fork), motel (motor + hotel), bit (binary + digit), camcorder (camera + recorder).
• (c) Clipping: exam (examination), gym (gymnasium), photo (photograph), app (application), flu (influenza).
• (d) Acronym: ISRO, WHO, PIN, RADAR, PAN.