Std 10 English chapters › Unit 1
In short: The chapter explains how to set goals the SMART way: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound.
(हा धडा ध्येय कसे ठरवावे हे SMART पद्धतीने सांगतो: नेमके, मोजता येण्याजोगे, साध्य करता येण्याजोगे, वास्तववादी आणि कालमर्यादित.)
- Type: Prose (a motivational guide to goal-setting)
- Speaks to: The reader directly
- Unit: 1
1.4 Be SMART…! English Workshop Question Answers
Answers to every activity in the Std 10 English Kumarbharati textbook (Maharashtra Board), written by a practising English teacher. Read the lesson in your textbook first, then try each activity here before you check the answer.
Warming up: Is the word a noun, a verb or an adjective?
👉 The same word can be a noun, a verb or an adjective, depending on how it is used. Choose for each, then tap Check my answers.
Answer key
| Word and sentence | Word class | Why |
|---|---|---|
| walk: "I walk to school every day." | Verb | It shows an action done by "I". |
| walk: "I go for a walk every day." | Noun | It comes after "a" and names a thing. |
| gift: "They gave me a gift." | Noun | It names a thing that was given. |
| gift: "You can gift her a story book." | Verb | It is the action after "can". |
| gift: "It was sold as a gift pack." | Adjective | It describes the noun "pack". |
| house: "They bought a new house on 10th street." | Noun | It names a building. |
| leak: "The water-tanks leak a lot." | Verb | It is the action of the water-tanks. |
| houses: "The old-age home houses 100 aging people." | Verb | Here "houses" means "gives shelter to". |
| aging: "The old-age home houses 100 aging people." | Adjective | It describes the noun "people". |
मराठी टीप: शब्द वाक्यात कोणते काम करतो त्यावरून त्याचा प्रकार ठरतो. “a/an/the” नंतर आला तर बहुधा Noun; कर्त्याची क्रिया दाखवत असेल तर Verb; नामाचे वर्णन करत असेल तर Adjective.
Q1. Complete the web: components of success
✍️ Add at least 6 components of success first.
Show sample web
Components of success: setting goals · perseverance · sacrifice · never-give-up attitude · hard work · dedication · self-discipline · time management · self-confidence · a strong will · planning · learning from mistakes
Q2 (A). Pick out examples from the text that support these facts
- Goals should be achievable: Goals should be possible to complete within the set period and should act as stepping stones. For example, a student cannot become Prime Minister right now, but he can aim for it in the future.
- A time limit should be set: Every goal needs a time frame, so that we act within a deadline. A time limit increases focus and accountability.
- A specific field must be fixed: A goal should name a clear area to improve. For example, if you want to build a house, you must decide its size and how long it will take.
- Results depend on the quality and quantity of effort: Life is like a trumpet: if we don’t put anything in, we can’t get anything out. The energy we put in decides the results we get.
- A benchmark is needed to track progress: When goals are quantified (measured), we can track our progress and compare our performance during the goal period.
Q3. Complete the sentences
👉 Tap the correct ending.
SMART goals are ___.
Answer: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound. These five qualities make a goal clear and easy to follow.
Two valuable assets of setting goals are ___.
Answer: a sense of originality and a stepping stone to illuminate the path. This is how the lesson describes the two benefits of setting goals.
Q4. “If we don’t put anything in, we can’t get anything out.” Guess the meaning and find similar quotes
✍️ Write the meaning in your own words and find 3 more similar quotes first.
Show meaning and quotes
Meaning: We get out of life only what we put into it. Without effort, there can be no result. The more hard work and energy we put in, the better our results will be.
Similar quotes:
- You reap as you sow. (given)
- Input is equal to output. (given)
- No pain, no gain.
- Hard work is the key to success.
- There are no shortcuts to success.
Speech Writing: Q5 to Q8
Q5 and Q6. Planning and developing a speech
✍️ Discuss in your group first: format, procedure, important elements, how to start, length.
Show planning notes
| Point | Notes |
|---|---|
| Format | Greeting → introduction of the topic → main body (2 or 3 points with examples) → moral or practical message → conclusion and thanks. |
| Procedure | Choose the topic, collect ideas, make an outline, write a draft, revise it, then practise speaking aloud. |
| Important elements | A clear topic, simple language, examples or short stories, a quotation, a strong ending. |
| How to start | Greet the chief guest, judges, teachers and friends. Begin with a question, a quotation or a short story. |
| Length and content | About 2 to 3 minutes (250 to 300 words). Stick to the topic. |
| Delivery | Speak clearly, keep good eye contact, use a confident and friendly tone. |
| Useful phrases | “Today’s topic is…”, “I will focus on…”, “Let me give you an example…”, “To sum up…”, “Thank you for listening.” |
Q7. Add more Dos and Don’ts for a speech
✍️ Add at least 3 Dos and 3 Don’ts first.
Show Dos and Don’ts
| Dos | Don’ts |
|---|---|
| Talk slowly. (given) | Don’t mumble. (given) |
| Emphasise key words. (given) | Don’t look up or down all the time. (given) |
| Maintain eye contact with the audience. | Don’t read the whole speech from paper. |
| Stand straight and smile. | Don’t speak too fast. |
| Use simple words and short sentences. | Don’t use difficult or slang words. |
| Practise in front of a mirror. | Don’t go over the time limit. |
Q8. Write a speech for an interschool elocution competition: “How to Achieve Success in Life”
✍️ Write your own speech first (about 250 words).
Show model speech
Respected judges, teachers and my dear friends,
Today I am going to speak on a topic that matters to every one of us: how to achieve success in life.
Everyone wants to be successful, but success does not come by chance. The first step is to set a clear goal. A goal should be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound. “I want to do well” is only a wish, but “I want to score 85 percent in English in the board exam” is a SMART goal.
The second step is hard work. Life is like a trumpet: if we don’t put anything in, we can’t get anything out. We must make a timetable and follow it every single day.
The third step is perseverance. We will fail sometimes, and that is perfectly fine. Thomas Edison failed many times before he made the electric bulb work. What matters is that we never give up and that we learn from every mistake.
Finally, success also needs discipline, good health and the support of our parents and teachers. Let us respect them and work honestly.
To sum up, set a clear goal, work hard every day, never give up, and success will surely be yours.
Thank you.
Q9. Project: make a SMART plan for your SSC exam
✍️ Fill in your own plan first, using your real marks.
Show a sample SMART plan
- Specific: I will improve my marks in English (4 units), Mathematics and Science.
- Measurable: In English I scored 52/80 in Test I, 58/80 in Test II and 61/80 in Semester I. I will check my progress after every unit test.
- Achievable: I will aim for 75 percent overall and 80 percent in English in the SSC exam.
- Realistic: I will make a study timetable and follow it regularly, solve one past paper every Sunday, and revise grammar for 30 minutes daily.
- Time-bound: English revision: 15 days; Mathematics: 25 days; Science: 20 days; full revision of all subjects: 2 weeks before the exam.
Language Study: Question Answers
1. Gerunds: rewrite the sentences using other gerunds
- Gardening is an art. → Painting is an art. / Dancing is an art.
- Cooking is a science. → Farming is a science. / Teaching is a science.
- I enjoy reading poems. → I enjoy writing poems. / I enjoy reciting poems.
- I like reading more than writing. → I like singing more than dancing.
मराठी टीप: Gerund म्हणजे -ing लागलेले क्रियापद जे नामासारखे काम करते (Swimming is good exercise).
2. Infinitives: find the infinitive
👉 Tap the infinitive in each sentence.
“It was funny to read words that stood still.” The infinitive is:
Answer: to read. An infinitive is “to” + the base form of a verb.
“To be or not to be: that is the question.” The infinitive is:
Answer: To be. “To be” appears twice in this sentence.
“Can I read the book?” Here “read” is:
Answer: a bare infinitive (without "to"). After modal verbs like can, will and must, we use the infinitive without “to”.
3. Finite verbs: tense and number
👉 Tap the correct answer.
"Preeti even wrote about it." The verb "wrote" is in the:
Answer: Past tense. “wrote” is the past form of “write”.
"Today Sanjay found a new book." The verb "found" is in the:
Answer: Past tense. “found” is the past form of “find”.
"Rahul finds Maths easy." The verb "finds" is in the:
Answer: Present tense. “finds” is simple present, used with he, she or a singular name.
"Preeti was scornful." The verb "was" is:
Answer: Singular. The subject “Preeti” is one person.
"They are sportsmen." The verb "are" is:
Answer: Plural. The subject “They” is plural.
Change the subject:
- I don’t know. (She) → She doesn’t know.
- My father knows. (We) → We know.
- I am following in your footsteps. (He) → He is following in your footsteps.
मराठी टीप: Finite verb हे कर्ता (subject) व काळ (tense) बदलले की बदलते. Non-finite (gerund, infinitive, participle) बदलत नाही.
4. Gerund or infinitive?
👉 Is the -ing or to- form in each sentence a gerund or an infinitive? Choose, then tap Check my answers.
Answer key
| Form in the sentence | Type | Why |
|---|---|---|
| "Setting goals may appear easy." | Gerund | "Setting" is the subject of the sentence. |
| "Quantifying goals provides specific ways to track progress." | Gerund | "Quantifying" is the subject. |
| "It is important to create goals." | Infinitive | "to create" is "to" + verb. |
| "We need to bring our dreams down to earth." | Infinitive | "to bring" is "to" + verb. |
| "Finding the right footing … all depend on our efforts." | Gerund | "Finding" works as a noun (subject). |
5. Classify the words: parts of speech
👉 Choose the part of speech for each word, then tap Check my answers.
Answer key
| Word | Part of speech | Why |
|---|---|---|
| trumpet | Noun | "Life is something like a trumpet." |
| specific | Adjective | It describes a noun: a specific goal. |
| directly | Adverb | It tells how something is done. |
| tackle | Verb | It is an action: to tackle a problem. |
| we | Pronoun | It is used in place of nouns. |
| of | Preposition | It shows a relation: a sense of originality. |
| if | Conjunction | It joins two clauses. |
| oh | Interjection | It shows sudden feeling. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does SMART stand for in the lesson 'Be SMART…!'?
SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound.
What are the two valuable assets of setting goals?
According to the lesson, setting goals has two valuable assets: a sense of originality and a stepping stone to illuminate the path.
What is the meaning of 'Life is something like a trumpet'?
We get out of life only what we put into it. If we don't put in any effort, we cannot expect any results.
Why should a goal be time-bound?
A time limit increases focus and accountability, so that we act within a deadline instead of putting things off.
What is an example of a SMART goal for a student?
'I will score 80 percent in English in the SSC exam by revising one unit every week and solving one past paper every Sunday.'
Summary in English
The chapter says that talent alone is not enough: success also needs clear goals and steady effort. A goal gives our life direction and keeps us motivated.
It then explains a simple way to set good goals, using the word SMART. A goal should be Specific (clear and exact), Measurable (you can check your progress), Achievable (possible with effort), Realistic (suited to your present ability and situation) and Time-bound (with a deadline).
The main message is that what we get out of life depends on what we put into it.
मराठीत सारांश (Summary in Marathi)
हा धडा सांगतो की केवळ बुद्धिमत्ता पुरेशी नाही; यशासाठी स्पष्ट ध्येय आणि सातत्यपूर्ण प्रयत्न लागतात. ध्येय आपल्या आयुष्याला दिशा देते आणि प्रेरणा टिकवून ठेवते.
चांगले ध्येय ठरवण्यासाठी SMART ही सोपी पद्धत दिली आहे. ध्येय Specific (नेमके, स्पष्ट), Measurable (प्रगती मोजता येईल असे), Achievable (प्रयत्नाने साध्य होईल असे), Realistic (आपल्या सध्याच्या क्षमतेला साजेसे) आणि Time-bound (ठराविक मुदतीत पूर्ण करायचे) असावे.
मुख्य संदेश: आपण आयुष्यात जितके प्रयत्न घालतो, तितकेच फळ आपल्याला मिळते.
Theme and Message (मध्यवर्ती कल्पना)
Clear, well-planned goals and steady effort turn dreams into results.
स्पष्ट, नियोजनबद्ध ध्येय आणि सातत्यपूर्ण प्रयत्न यांमुळे स्वप्ने प्रत्यक्षात उतरतात.
Try It: Your Own SMART Goal for the SSC Exam
| Specific | I will improve my English grammar score. |
| Measurable | From 12 to 18 marks out of 20 in grammar. |
| Achievable | I will practise for 20 minutes every day. |
| Realistic | I already know the basic rules; I need regular practice. |
| Time-bound | Before the prelim exam. |
The free daily practice session takes about 10 minutes and remembers your weak topics, so it fits a goal like this.
Useful Words (शब्दार्थ)
| Word | मराठी अर्थ | Use it in a sentence |
|---|---|---|
| goal | ध्येय | My goal is to score 80 in English. |
| specific | नेमके, विशिष्ट | Give a specific answer, not a general one. |
| measurable | मोजता येण्याजोगे | Set a measurable target, like ten pages a day. |
| achievable | साध्य होण्याजोगे | Break a big task into achievable steps. |
| deadline | अंतिम मुदत | The deadline for the project is Monday. |
| effort | प्रयत्न | Success comes from regular effort. |
For the Exam (परीक्षेसाठी)
- You may be asked to expand the SMART letters or to write your own goal using them.
- The language activities cover gerunds, infinitives and finite verbs. A quick check: in Reading is fun, ‘reading’ is a gerund (a verb used as a noun); in I want to read, ‘to read’ is an infinitive; in She reads daily, ‘reads’ is a finite verb (it changes with the subject and tense).
Think and Write (विचार करा, लिहा)
- Write one SMART goal for this month.
- Why is talent not enough for success? Give an example.
- Which letter of SMART do you find hardest to follow, and why?
🎮 Practice Games: Be SMART…!
Extra practice for revision, beyond the textbook activities. Play every game, then check your total score and stars! (उजळणीसाठी खेळ.)
🎯 SMART goals
🧩 Match each letter of SMART with its meaning.
Letter → meaning
🧠 SMART or not?
👉 Which goal is SMART?
Pick the SMART goal.
Answer: It is specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and has a deadline.
‘I want to score better.’ What is missing?
Answer: Better: ‘I will score 80% in English in the March exam.’
🔤 Word meanings
🎯 Tap the English word and its Marathi meaning.
English ↔ मराठी
✏️ Gerund or infinitive?
🗂️ Gerund = -ing used as a noun; infinitive = to + verb.
Classify the underlined word
🎬 Make a SMART plan
Put the steps of making a goal in order.
Steps to reach a goal
- Decide exactly what you want to achieve.
- Set a target you can measure.
- Check that it is possible for you.
- Fix a deadline.
- Work steadily and check your progress.
Online test · 15 questions
1.4 Be SMART...!: Lesson Test
Multiple choice · instant score with answers · certificate for 80% and above · free, no login
शिक्षकांसाठी: धडा शिकवून झाल्यावर ही test वर्गाला पाठवा. प्रत्येक विद्यार्थ्याचे गुण तुम्हाला आपोआप मिळतील.
These are original study notes and answers by englishresources.in to help you revise. Read the chapter in your Balbharati textbook first: these notes do not replace it. Only short phrases from the lesson and the activities are quoted, for reference.