Crossing the Bar

📖 Exercise

A. Match the words in column A with their meanings in column B.

B. Fill in the gaps with the words/phrases given below to complete the paraphrase of the poem.

=> Answer: The speaker observes the sunset and evening star and hears a distinct call inviting him toward the sea. As he prepares to begin this journey, he wishes for a peaceful crossing of the sandbar without the disturbing sound of waves breaking upon it. He would rather be carried gently by a calm tide that appears to be asleep and has become too quiet to produce any noise. In this way, he imagines returning to his original home in the vast and mysterious unknown.

As twilight arrives, the evening bell announces the approaching darkness. The speaker does not want his departure to be accompanied by sorrowful farewells. Although his journey will take him beyond the limits of the present time and place, he remains hopeful. He believes that, after crossing the bar and completing the voyage of death, he will meet God, his divine Pilot, face-to-face.

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C. Answer the following questions.

a. Where does the speaker have to go crossing the sandbar?

=> Answer: The speaker has to cross the sandbar and proceed toward the sea.

b. Why can’t the tide make a huge sound or create a lather?

=> Answer: The tide is unable to produce a loud sound or form foam because it is described as being so calm and still that it seems to be asleep.

c. What do the twilight and the evening bell suggest in the poem?

=> Answer: Twilight and the evening bell indicate that the day is coming to an end. At a symbolic level, they also point toward the speaker’s approaching death and the closing stage of his earthly life.

d. Where is the speaker going without accepting sad goodbyes?

=> Answer: The speaker is setting out on a sea journey toward the unknown, and he wishes to make this departure without sorrowful farewells.

e. Who is the only agent that helps the speaker to go far on his journey?

=> Answer: His Pilot (God) is the only agent that helps the speaker to go far on his journey.

f. Does the speaker fear death? Why/Why not?

=> Answer: No, the speaker does not appear to be frightened by death. He accepts it calmly because he has faith that death will lead him into the afterlife, where he will be able to meet his creator face-to-face. For him, death marks a passage from earthly existence to another form of life rather than a complete ending.

g. What does the pilot symbolise?

=> Answer: The pilot symbolises God (his creator).

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⚙️ Grammar II

A. Complete the following sentences with the correct adverbs from the brackets.

1. •

   I see one or two movies every week. I …. (often/never) ….. go to the movies.
   => Answer: often

2. •

   I let my roommate borrow my car just once. I ………… (sometimes/rarely) ……….. let my roommate borrow my car.
   => Answer: rarely

3. •

   Maria eats cereal for breakfast seven days a week. Maria …… (usually/always) …….. eats cereal for breakfast.
   => Answer: always

4. •

   Four out of five visitors to the museum stay for three hours or longer. Museum visitors ……… (usually/seldom) ….. stay for at least three hours.
   => Answer: usually

5. •

   We occasionally have quizzes in history class. The teacher ……… (always/sometimes) …….. gives quizzes in history class.
   => Answer: sometimes

6. •

   Subina always misses the morning assembly. She …… (rarely/ never) ……. arrives at school on time.
   => Answer: never

7. •

   In the desert, it rains only two days between May and September every year. It ……… (rarely/often) …….. rains there in the summer.
   => Answer: rarely

8. •

   Rohit asks me to go to the winter camp, but I don’t accept his invitation. I ……… (seldom/often) …….. go to the winter camp.
   => Answer: seldom

9. •

   Lisa and Samrat go fishing/ to dinner at least three times a week. They ……… (usually/seldom) ………. go out to dinner with each other.
   => Answer: usually

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B. Rewrite the following sentences with the correct alternatives from the brackets.

1. •

   Your friendship over the years and your support ……. (has/have) …….. meant a great deal to us.
   => Answer: have

2. •

   Hamilton Family Center, a shelter for teenage runaways in San Francisco, ……… (offers/offer) ………. a wide variety of services.
   => Answer: offers

3. •

   One of the major sources of income of Trinidad ……. (is/are) ……. tourism.
   => Answer: is

4. •

   The chances of your being promoted …. (is/are) …… excellent.
   => Answer: are

5. •

   There …………… (was/were) …………… a Pokemon card stuck to the refrigerator.
   => Answer: was

6. •

   Neither the professor nor his assistants …………… (was/were) ……………. able to attend the conference.
   => Answer: were

7. •

   Many hours at the driving range …… (has/have) ……. led us to design golf balls with GPS locators in them.
   => Answer: have

8. •

   Discovered in the soil of our city garden …….. (was/were) …… a button dating from the turn of the century.
   => Answer: was

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✉️ Writing II

A. Read the email below and write a reply to Asmita Praja. Express your sympathy and wish that she gets well soon.