 The Book That Saved the Earth Explanation, Line by Line, Meaning of Difficult Words, English CBSE Class 10 NCERT Footprints without Feet Chapter 10
THE BOOK THAT SAVED THE EARTH
Author : Clairo Boiko
(Explanation and Meaning of difficult words)
SCENE 1
Time during this scene of play is 25th Century. Place is The Museum of Ancient History in the Department of 20th Century on Earth. It is one of the planets of universe.
| Word | Meaning |
| Historian | An expert in history |
| Easel | A frame or a stand |
| Beside | Near |
Before raising of the curtain, a person stands up on the stage, a spot light shines on a Historian. She is sitting on right side of the stage. The table has a projector. There is a stand near her. Following is written on it – Museum of Ancient History: Department of the Twentieth Century. She stands up and bows her head to audience
| Word | Meaning |
| Curiosity | Eagerness to learn |
The historian greets audience with good afternoon. She welcomes audience to the museum and her department. She says that her department has the eagerness to learn about very old time of twentieth century. Which means a reader can get information about 20th century here.
| Word | Meaning |
| Often | Usually, Many times |
| Era of books | Period of books |
| Anteater | An animal that eats ants |
| Zulu | A tribe of South Africa |
The twentieth century was usually called the period or time of books. In those days there were books on every topic, on anteaters and on Zulu tribe of South Africa. From books people understood how to do something, when to do something, where to do something and why to do something
| Word | Meaning |
| Illustrated | Explained by pictures |
| Punctuated | Happened frequently |
| Martian | People living on Mars |
| Invasion | Attack |
The books explained with pictures, provided education. Books were frequently published and sometimes decorated also. But the strangest achievement through a book was to save the Earth. The historian asks if people have heard about an attack in 2040 by people living on Mars.
| Word | Meaning |
| Encyclopedia | Book containing information on many topics |
| Tome | A big book |
Nowadays this is not taught to children. Actually the attack did not happen because of one book. You may ask which book was that. Was it an encyclopedia or a big book or a secrete file. It was not any of these type of books.
| Word | Meaning |
| Historiscope | Instrument to record history |
| Projector | Instrument to show a film |
She says that details would be shown through a recording. She switched on the historiscope to show what had happened in 2024. She also switches on the projector. The film appears on left of the stage. The spotlight on the historian is switched off. In the film one can see a person named Think-Tank. He is sitting on a box. The box is quite high. His arms are folded.
| Word | Meaning |
| Robe | Dress |
| Apprentice | Trainee |
Think-Tanks has a big head. His head is of the shape of an egg. He is wearing a long dress which has stars and circles printed on it. A trainee is standing near him. Name of the trainee is Noodle. He is standing near a big switch board. An easel is placed near the Think-Tank. Following is written on it
It indicates that the scene is of Mars Space Station. The Think-Tank is the highest authority of it. Everybody is required to bow to him before entering the control room
| Word | Meaning |
| Peevishly | Angrily |
| Salutation | Greeting, Words used in the beginning |
Noodle bows before Think-Tank. Addresses him as the most powerful and most intelligent person of the universe and asks for his orders. Think-Tanks angrily says that apprentice Noodle has not spoken the complete greetings. So he should say the salutation again
| Word | Meaning |
| Singsong | In the style of a song |
Noodle says that he will repeat the complete salutation. In the style of a song he says the complete salutation. He runs out of his breath. He asks for the orders of think-Tank.
| Word | Meaning |
| Probe | Mission, |
| Ridiculous | Absurd, Funny, Silly |
| Generous | Kind hearted, Liberal |
Think-Tank appreciates Noodle. Think-Tank wants to talk to their manned mission to the small planet. They want to include that planet in their kingdom. He asks name of that silly planet. Noodle replies that it is called Earth.
| Word | Meaning |
| Insignificant | Very small |
| Fantastically | Extremely good, |
| Intellectually gifted | Intelligent |
| Pause | Stop, Short Break |
Think-Tank now recalls the name of the planet. He says that the planet is so small. But he first wants to do something important. He wants to talk to his mirror. Noodle brings the mirror. Think-Tank asks the mirror who is most intelligent person in the world. The mirror replies after a short time that it is you – meaning Think Tank.
| Word | Meaning |
| Smack | To slap |
| Admire | To Appreciate |
| Martians | People living on Mars |
| Race | Tribe |
Think-Tank slapped the mirror and ordered it to give answers quickly because he hates slow mirrors. He looks in the mirror and appreciates himself. He says that people of mars are handsome people.
| Word | Meaning |
| Earthlings | People living on Earth |
| Balloon brain | Big brain |
Think-tank says that people of Mars are more attractive than people living on Earth. The earthlings have very small head. He asks Noodle to continue to exercise his mind. Then someday Noodle will have very big brain similar to that of Think-Tank
| Word | Meaning |
| Primitive | Underdeveloped, Elementary |
Noodle says he will try. He is very hopeful. Think-Tank asks noodle to contact the space mission. Think-Tank says that he wants to attack the underdeveloped ball of mud known as earth before lunch. Noodle tries to contact the space mission by adjusting levers on the switchboard. One can hear sound of beeps and buzzes. The curtain opens.
SCENE 2
Time is just a few seconds after completion of first scene of the play. Mars Space Control Room is at Mars and the Centerville Public Library is on Earth. In the library, Captain Omega is standing in the center of the library. She is trying to understand card catalogue stored in a drawer. Lieutenant Iota is standing at the left of Omega. She is counting books in a bookcase. Sergeant Oop is at the right. He is trying to understand what a book is. [These people from mars had never seen a library and books]
| Word | Meaning |
| Close sighting | Good view from close |
| Enormous | Very big |
Noodle says that he has a good view of space crew from very close. Think-Tank puts on a very big goggles and he starts watching the crew. Noodle says that the space crew is probably in some structure on the Earth. Think-Tank appreciates and asks Noodle to arrange a talk with the crew.
| Word | Meaning |
| Crew | Group |
| Come in | Speak, Contact |
Noodle speaks in a microphone. Mars Space Control calling crew of Probe One. He asks the crew to contact him. He asks Captain Omega to tell his location.
| Word | Meaning |
| Without any incident | Without any problem |
Omega speaks in a disc. It is tied with a chain. The chain is around her neck. She says that all three of them reached Earth without any problem. We have taken shelter in this square shaped place. Omega asks Iota if she knows where they were.
| Word | Meaning |
| Can’t figure it out | Cannot understand |
| Barn | Grains |
Iota is holding a book. She replies that she is not able to understand about the place. She says that she has counted two thousand of this strange item. [She has counted two thousand books. They have seen books for the first time]. She says it must be a place to store grains. Now Iota asks opinion of sergeant Oop about the place.
| Word | Meaning |
| Clue | Idea, Hint |
| Haberdashery | Shop that sells clothes, button etc |
Oop replies that he does not have any idea. I have been to seven galaxies but have not seen any place like this. He opens a book and places it on his head. He says that probably these are hats. Or probably this place is a haberdashery.
Omega bows her head. She addresses Think-Tanks as the great and powerful person. She requests Think-Tank to give his opinion about the place.
| Word | Meaning |
| Elementary | Simple, Ordinary |
| Undoubtedly | Certainly, Without any doubt |
| Crude | Undeveloped, Unsophisticated |
Think-Tank says that it is very ordinary thing. He asks Omega to hold the item in such a way that he can see it properly. After seeing the book Think Tanks says that now he has understood about the place. Since people living on earth are always eating, the place is an ordinary shop for refreshment. Eatables are placed in stands.
Omega informs to her colleagues Iota and Oop that Think-Tank says this place is a refreshment stand. Oop says that people of Earth have a strange diet. Think Tank says that the item in the hand of Omega is called a sandwich. Oop looks at the book and wonders if it is a sandwich.
| Word | Meaning |
| Staple | Main common food |
| Squints | Looks carefully |
Think-Tank says that sandwich is the main common food at Earth. He asks Omega to look at it carefully. Think-Tank explains that there are two slices of bread (hard cover of book) and some filling (papers) between these slices. Omega confirms. Think-Tank orders Omega to eat it. Omega is not ready to eat. So Think-Tank asks if Omega has a doubt about orders from powerful Think Tank.
| Word | Meaning |
| Dubiously | With a doubt, |
Omega says that Iota has not taken her breakfast. So she orders Iota to eat the sandwich (book). Iota does not want to eat it. So she says that it would be a great honour to be the first person of Mars to eat a sandwich. But she does not want to eat before her Sergeant. So she orders Oop to immediately eat sandwich.
| Word | Meaning |
| Breathlessly | With fear, With excitement, Intently |
| Pantomime | To make a gesture, Make movements |
| Terrible | Very bad, Horrible |
Oop is hesitating. But Iota and Omega salute him and request him to eat the book for the sake of Mars. Oop opens his mouth and bites a corner of the book. He mouth moves as if he is chewing and swallowing the book. Expressions of his face are very bad.
| Word | Meaning |
| Pound | Pat, Strike with palm |
| Delicious | Tasty |
Oop coughs. Omega and Iota pat his back. Think-Tank ask him if it was not tasty. Oop agrees that it was not tasty. He does not understand how people of earth can eat sandwiches without water. These are as dry as sand of Mars.
| Word | Meaning |
| Insignificant | Very small, Unimportant |
| Trifling | Unimportant |
Noodle requests Think-Tank to excuse him. He says that he has some small amount of data about these sandwiches. Think-Tanks says that these data cannot be of any importance. He asks Noodle to tell about the unimportant data.
| Word | Meaning |
| Haughtily | Proudly, Arrogantly |
Noodle says that he had seen some films about those sandwiches. People of earth do not eat them. These are some kind of device which are used for communication. Think-Tank proudly says that this was his next point. These are actually communication sandwiches. Think-Tank is never wrong. He asks who is never wrong. Everybody say that Think-Tanks is never wrong.
| Word | Meaning |
| Puzzled | Confused |
| Intently | Carefully |
Now Think-Tanks orders them to listen to these books. All three are surprised. But Think – Tank again orders them to listen to books. Martians bow very low. Each of them take two books and hold close to their ears. They try to listen with attention.
Omega, Iota and Oop try to listen to the books. They ask each other if any sound is coming out of the books. Oop loudly says that he is not able to hear anything.
Think-Tank asks them to tell him what they have listened. They all say that they heard nothing. Omega says that probably the frequency of books is different. Iota says that probably people of earth have better ears. Oop says that probably these sandwiches do not make any sound at all.
| Word | Meaning |
| Cloudy | Unclear |
| Twirling | Revolving, Moving |
Think-Tank asks if they are trying to say that he has made a mistake. All three deny and say that they will continue to listen. Noodle says that some information has come to his mind but he is not sure about it. Think-Tank asks noodle to tell the information so that he can clarify it. Noodle says that earthlings did not listen to sandwiches. They opened it and looked at them.
Think-Tanks agrees with Noodle and clarifies to Captain Omega. He says that these sandwiches are not for communication through ears but for communication through eyes. He asks Omega to pick up a colourful book. He says that this book is important and asks Omega to tell him what Omega sees in the book. Omega picks up a very big book whose title is Mother Goose. Audience can see the title. Iota and Opp are standing on the sides of Omega. They try to look at the book.
| Word | Meaning |
| Squiggles | Short curved lines |
Omega says that the book contains pictures of earthlings. Iota says that the book contains some code. Think-Tank is now interested and asks them to describe the codes. Oop says that it has thousands of pictures. The codes are in the form of lines, short curved lines and dots on sides of pictures
| Word | Meaning |
| Primitive | Underdeveloped |
| Break the code | Find meaning of code, Decipher |
Think-Tanks says that probably earthlings are not as underdeveloped as we thought. We must find out meaning of the code. Noodle asks if the chemical department had given vitamin tablets to crew of their space mission. These tablets can increase their intelligence.
| Word | Meaning |
| Slowly unfold | Slowly become known or clear |
Think-Tank orders Noodles to stop speaking. He says that a very good idea has come to him. He reminds the crew that their chemical department had given them vitamin tablets. He orders them to immediately take those tablets and then to look into the sandwich. The meaning of the code will be slowly known to you.
| Word | Meaning |
| Stiffly | Tightly |
| Pop | Take without breaking |
| Gulp | Swallow |
| Decipher | To find meaning |
| Frown | Look |
Omega says that orders of Think-Tank shall be obeyed. All three people take vitamin tablets. Their eyes are wide open, their heads shake and they put their hand on their foreheads. Think-tank appreciates them and asks them to find out meaning of code. They all agree to do so. The start looking in the book. They are turning pages of the book.
| Word | Meaning |
| Transcribe | To write or speak exactly as written |
| Cockle | A sea animal with hard shell |
| Contrary | Opposite |
Omega. Iota and Oop start laughing. Think-Tank asks them to tell him immediately what they had read. He asks Omega to read what is written. Omega reads half sentences. [No meaning can be understood by these sentences]
| Word | Meaning |
| Levity | Joke, Fun |
| Invasion | Attack |
| Fleet | Group of vehicles or people |
| Invasion Fleet | Army for attack |
Oop laughs at imagining that pretty maid are growing in a garden. Think-Tank asks him to stop laughing. You should understand this serious discovery. The Earthlings have combined agriculture with mining. They are able to grow crop of rare metals like silver. They can also grow cockle shells. They are growing explosives also. He asks Noodle to contact Martian forces of attack.
| Word | Meaning |
| Take over | Capture, Win |
| Hold on | Wait |
Noodle says that the force is ready to go and capture Earth. Think-Tank asks Noodle to tell the force to wait for some time because some more information has been received about earth. He asks Iota to narrate the information.
| Word | Meaning |
| Gravely | Seriously |
Iota seriously reads from the book. It is a poem. Oop laughs at listening that dish had run away with the spoon.
| Word | Meaning |
| Cease | Stop |
| Desist | Avoid, Control |
| Alarming | Dangerous |
| Humourous | Funny |
| Interplanetary | One planet to another |
| Notify | Inform |
| Invasion | Attack |
Think-Tank orders Oop to stop laughing and to avoid laughing. This is very dangerous. The Earthlings are highly advanced. They have taught music and space technology to their domestic animals. Their dogs are also funny. At present they are starting attack on other planets by millions of cows. He asks to inform the attacking force not to attack today. He asks Oop to read further.
Oop reads another poem. It is of Humpty Dumpty. He asks Think-Tank to look at the picture of Humpty Dumpty. Audience and Think-Tank can now see the picture.
| Word | Meaning |
| Screaming | Shouting |
| Capsule | A small plane |
| Traces | Signs |
Think-Tanks shouts and hold his head in his hands. He says that the picture is of him. It is my own great balloon brain. The Earthlings have seen me and they want to kill me. They want to capture the Mars Central Control and me. He orders Noodle to prepare a space plane for himself. He wants to escape without any delay. He then orders his people at the earth to immediately leave earth after removing all signs of their visit. The Earthlings should not know that I know their plan. The team starts putting back the books in the shelf.
| Word | Meaning |
| Evacuate | Vacate |
Noodle asks where they should go. Think-Tanks replies that they would go one hundred million miles away from Mars. He orders the invasion crew to vacate the entire planet. He declare that all will go to Alpha Centauri which is hundred million miles away. Omega, Iota and Oop run towards right, Noodle helps Think-Tank to move towards left. The curtain falls. The spotlight is now on historian.
| Word | Meaning |
| Dusty | Dull, Simple |
| Chuckling | Laughing |
| Resumed | Restarted |
The historian says that this is how an old simple book of nursery rhymes saved the world from attack by people of Mars. After five hundred years from that incident, in the twenty-fifth century we once again contacted mars. And we became friends of each other.
| Word | Meaning |
| Wonderful | Very nice |
By twenty-fifth century the great and most powerful Think-Tank was not head of Mars. Noodle, who was wise and a very nice person, had become head of Mars. We, the people of earth, taught Martian the difference between a sandwich and a book.
The historian says that we taught the Martian how to read. We established a model library in the capital of Mars – Marsopolis. But Martians do not want to read one particular book. Your guess is right, its title is Mother Goose. The historian bows and goes from the stage.
Curtain falls.
****
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