Overcoming physical disabilities (Evelyn Glennie) and the life of Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan

Bismillah Khan received the Bharat Ratna. In award-based questions, remember the highest honour.

He taught Evelyn to feel the vibrations of sound. Understand the teacher's role through this simple fact.

Bismillah Khan accepted music like devotion. In feeling-based questions, notice his dedication to music.

Evelyn fulfilled her dream despite difficulty. While writing the message, give a positive conclusion.

Despite her hearing loss, Evelyn learned music by sensing vibrations through her body and fingertips. Written notation alone could not replace this experience. Exam tip: link Evelyn Glennie with ‘vibrations’.

Evelyn's story inspires others to move forward. In summary questions, choose the most suitable word.

Earlier the shehnai was mostly linked with auspicious occasions. He gave it prestige on the classical stage.

Despite her hearing difficulty, Evelyn Glennie remained devoted to music and practised regularly and persistently. This determined practice helped her become a successful percussionist. Depending only on natural talent is incorrect because her achievement also required hard work and discipline. Exam tip: Remember determination, regular practice, and overcoming obstacles as key aspects of Evelyn’s character.

Bismillah Khan heard his uncle, Ali Bux, play the shehnai at the Vishnu temple in Varanasi. Ali Bux was a shehnai player there and strongly influenced Bismillah Khan’s musical training. Mosque is not correct because the chapter specifically identifies the Vishnu temple as his uncle’s place of performance. Exam tip: Remember the pair—Ali Bux and the Vishnu temple—for questions from ‘The Sound of Music’.

Evelyn Glennie could not hear in the usual way, but she learned to feel sound through vibrations in her body, especially through her fingers and feet. Therefore, she understood sound as vibrations. The lesson does not say that she understood sound as colours or pictures. Exam tip: Remember the link between Evelyn and vibrations.

His life shows deep dedication to music. In character-quality questions, notice his practice and love.

Evelyn showed that success is possible despite physical challenge. In hope-based questions, choose the inspiring effect.

Ustad Bismillah Khan was deeply attached to Banaras, its culture, and the places connected with his musical life. Although he received opportunities to perform and live abroad, another country could not replace the emotional meaning of his homeland. His love for the Ganga, the atmosphere of Banaras, and India’s cultural traditions remained closely connected with his music and identity. For him, success was not only a matter of comfort or international recognition.

Therefore, option A is correct: he deeply loved Banaras and India. The other options contradict the lesson. He loved music, he was able to travel, and he did not want to abandon the shehnai. His refusal to settle abroad shows strong attachment to his roots and respect for the culture that shaped his art.

Despite severe hearing loss, Evelyn Glennie continued to learn music and became a world-famous percussionist. Her message is to believe in one’s ability and work with determination. Option A is the closest distractor, but it expresses the opposite of her inspiring example. Exam tip: identify the lesson by linking a character’s struggle with their achievement.

He made the shehnai a respected classical instrument. In achievement questions, choose his contribution.

Evelyn Glennie did not experience music only through her ears. She felt vibrations throughout her body and kept her mind open to sound. Therefore, opening her body and mind to sound is correct. Hearing only loud sounds is incorrect because she also understood music through vibrations and touch. Exam tip: Remember “vibrations” as the key idea behind Evelyn’s way of hearing music.

The governing fact from The Sound of Music is Bismillah Khan’s historic association with India’s Independence Day. On 15 August 1947, when India became independent, he played the shehnai from the Red Fort. This performance gave the instrument and its maestro a memorable place in the cultural history of the nation. Therefore, option A is correct. The question asks for the occasion, not for a school celebration or a scientific event. Mathematics Day, Sports Day, and a science fair are invented distractors and have no connection with the event described in the chapter. Remembering the Red Fort, independence, and the shehnai together leads directly to the answer.

Ron Forbes gave her the right direction. In questions about a teacher's role, remember guidance.

His art gave India's shehnai worldwide recognition. In impact-based questions, look for wider recognition.

She practised and learned a new method of feeling sound. In reason-based questions, notice both effort and method.