CBSE Class 10 Answered

1. When Helen began the second year at the Gilman school, during the first few weeks she was confronted with unforeseen difficulties. She had physics, algebra, geometry, astronomy, Greek and Latin. Unfortunately, many of the books she needed had not been embossed in time for her to begin with the classes, and she lacked important apparatus for some of her studies. The classes were very large, and it was impossible for the teachers to give Helen special instruction. Miss Sullivan was obliged to read all the books to Helen, and interpret for the instructors, and for the first time in eleven years it seemed as if her dear hand would not be equal to the task. Although it was necessary for her to write algebra and geometry in class and solve problems in physics, she could not do this until they bought a braille writer, by means of which she could put down the steps and processes of her work. Since she could not follow with her eyes the geometrical figures drawn on the blackboard, her only means of getting a clear idea of them was to make them on a cushion with straight and curved wires. She had to carry in her mind the lettering of the figures, the hypothesis and conclusion, the construction and the process of the proof. In short, every study had its obstacles.

2. . Helen Keller joined Radcliffe College in 1896.  The preliminary examination lasted sixteen hours and Helen had to face a lot of difficulties while taking it. Her first paper was German and she was given a typewriter. Since it could disturb the other students, she was made to sit separately. Mr. Gilman read out the papers t o her through manual alphabet sentence by sentence and then Helen repeated it to make sure she had understood it correctly. She then used the typewriter to write down her answers after which Mr. Gilman would read it again. She would then make the necessary changes. At Radcliffe, nobody read Helen’s papers once it was written. She had no opportunities to correct her errors unless she finished her papers before time. Even if she did finish it before time, she could only correct the mistakes she could recall in the last few minutes. Though she had to face a lot of difficulties during the examination, she managed to pass in German.