Q1.
In pairs, write down two questions you would like to ask Ila Sachani. 1. Look at two examples: Where were you born? Did you go to school? The Yes/No questions use a rising tone at the end. 2. Speak the example questions aloud as a peer activity at least five times. 3. Now, take turns to ask your questions to another classmate. Speak clearly and with the correct rising tone as shown in 1.
Answer
First understand the two kinds of question in the examples, because they are said in different tones.
| Kind of question | Example | Answer it expects | Tone at the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wh- question | Where were you born? | Information — “In Amreli, Gujarat.” | Falling ↘ |
| Yes/No question | Did you go to school? | Just yes or no | Rising ↗ |
Questions you could ask Ila Sachani:
- How old were you when you first threaded a needle with your feet? ↘
- Did your mother ever want to give up teaching you? ↗
- Which of the styles you learned — Kachhi, Kashmiri or Lucknawi — is your favourite? ↘
- Do you remember what you felt at the Surat exhibition? ↗
- What would you like to say to a child who thinks she cannot do something? ↘
Sample pair of questions to write down: (1) “How long did it take you to learn to thread a needle with your feet?” (2) “Were you nervous when your work was first shown at the state exhibition?” — the first is a Wh- question with a falling tone, the second a Yes/No question with a rising tone.
How to practise the rising tone: Say “Did you go to school?” and let your voice climb on the last word, as if you were surprised. Say it five times with your partner, then swap. If your voice falls at the end, the question sounds like an order instead of a question.