History and Culture
Last Updated: August 2026
What you get on this page
Complete solutions for every textbook exercise in Reading I Pratap Malla and Reading II Flowers in Russian Culture. Answers are in the answer key sections.
Grammar explanations on past tenses and past perfect with rule formulas, tables of forms, worked examples and traps.
Writing format guides for the historical paragraph and the opinion paragraph. Every required part explained.
Practice questions in the SEE paper format. Answers not included.
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Teacher's Insight
What the unit is really testing
Grammar I: Past Tenses
Rules · formula · examples
Grammar II: Past Perfect
Rules · formula · examples
Reading I Answers
Pratap Malla · full solutions
Reading II Answers
Flowers in Russian Culture · solutions
Writing I: Paragraphs
Answers
Writing II: Stories
Answers
Practice Questions
SEE format · answers not included
Complete solutions for Class 10 English Unit 9 History and Culture. This page covers Reading I Pratap Malla and Reading II Flowers in Russian Culture with all textbook exercises, grammar on past tenses and past perfect and writing tasks for SEE 2083.
What this unit is really testing
Unit 9 pairs a historical biography with a cultural essay. Pratap Malla is about a ruler who shaped Kathmandu's architecture and literature. Flowers in Russian Culture is about how ordinary objects carry symbolic meaning in a society. The exam pairs these two because they test the same skill from different angles. Reading for historical facts. Reading for symbolic meaning.
The tricky part of Reading I is separating Pratap Malla the man from Pratap Malla the ruler. He imprisoned his own father. He also built temples that still stand today. The exam questions ask whether you can hold both facts at once without judging.
The tricky part of Reading II is remembering that flower meanings are cultural, not universal. Yellow means friendship in many countries. In Russia it means break-up. Red means love in most places. In Russia red carnations mean patriotism. The exam tests whether you notice the difference between what you assume and what the text actually says.
Exam weight of this unit. Past tense and past perfect appear in the grammar section. The story writing belongs to Free Writing I. The opinion paragraph belongs to Free Writing I or II depending on the year.
Where this unit's content types appear in the SEE paper
Reading 1 (5 marks). A short extract from either passage with one comprehension question type. Length about 100 words.
Reading 2 (10 marks). A short extract from either passage with two comprehension question types. Length about 200 words.
Reading 3 (10 marks) and Reading 4 (15 marks). Unseen passages of the same text types. A biography or a cultural essay can appear here. Reading 4 includes vocabulary items.
Grammar (11 marks). Past continuous and past perfect appear in the transformation section and in the multiple choice in context section.
Writing. The story belongs to Free Writing I (6 marks, about 150 words). The opinion paragraph also belongs to Free Writing I.
What to remember from this unit
Reading I in one sentence. Pratap Malla imprisoned his insane father, ruled Kantipur for thirty-three years, built temples and palaces that still stand, wrote poetry in five languages, and made Ranipokhari to console his grieving queen.
Memory device for Reading I. Father in jail. Kantipur in peace. Hanumandhoka at the palace gate. Ranipokhari for the queen. Kabeendra as his title. Thirty-three years of progress.
Reading II in one sentence. In Russia every flower carries a fixed meaning and giving the wrong flower to the wrong person causes offense.
Memory device for Reading II. Red carnation for patriotism. White carnation for bad luck. Red poppy for weak love. Yellow for break-up. Chamomile for medicine. White lily for death. Learn the six and you know the whole text.
Errors seen in real SEE scripts
- Judging Pratap Malla only by the imprisonment of his father. The text says his father was insane. The imprisonment was a political necessity, not cruelty. The answer must hold both facts.
- Confusing renovated with built. Pratap Malla renovated Pashupatinath. He built Pratappur at Swayambhu. The two lists are different.
- Mixing up the flower meanings. Red carnation is patriotism. White carnation is bad luck. Red poppy is weak love. Yellow is break-up. Chamomile is medicine. White lily is death.
- Assuming universal flower meanings. Yellow means friendship in most cultures. In Russia it means break-up.
- Using simple past where past continuous is needed. While-clauses take past continuous. "While Trishna was sleeping", not "while Trishna slept".
- Using past perfect incorrectly. Past perfect shows an action that happened before another past action. "I had had my breakfast before I went to work" is correct.
- Writing stories with too much description. A story for SEE needs setting, characters, conflict, moral.
- Forgetting the moral in the moral story. Every moral story ends with the moral stated.
Grammar I: Past Tenses
English has four past tenses. Each one shows a different relationship between two past actions. The exam tests whether you can choose the right one for the sentence.
Rule formula
Subject + past form of verb + object.
Example: She + replied + to her teacher.
Subject + was/were + verb + ing + object.
Example: Trishna + was + sleep + ing.
Table of uses
| Tense | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple past | A completed action at a specific past time | I arrived home at six. |
| Past continuous | An action in progress at a past time | I was doing my homework at seven. |
| Past perfect | An action completed before another past action | I had finished before he arrived. |
| Past perfect continuous | An action continuing up to a past moment | I had been waiting for two hours. |
How to combine past tenses
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| when + simple past, simple past | One action, then another | When the alarm rang, he woke up. |
| when + simple past, past continuous | A longer action interrupted | When the phone rang, I was cooking. |
| while + past continuous | Two actions happening at the same time | While I was cooking, she was reading. |
| before + past perfect | An earlier action | He had left before I arrived. |
Worked example
Sentence: "The alarm ___ off when the telephone ___." Both actions are short and completed in the past. Both verbs take simple past. The correct forms are went and rang.
Sentence: "I ___ my homework while Trishna ___." The word while signals two actions in progress at the same time. Both verbs take past continuous. The correct forms are was doing and was sleeping.
Common traps
- While takes past continuous, not simple past. "While she slept" should be "while she was sleeping".
- When can take either simple past or past continuous. Depends on whether the action was short or long.
- Past perfect needs two past actions. Do not use it for a single past event.
Grammar II: Past Perfect
Past perfect shows that one past action happened before another past action. Form is had plus the past participle. It is the past of the past.
Rule formula
Subject + had + past participle + object.
Example: The train + had + left + before we reached.
Table of uses
| Use | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Before another past action | The earlier of two past actions | He had left before I arrived. |
| After a past moment | An action completed by a past time | By 2020, she had written three books. |
| With reported speech | To shift past to an earlier past | He said he had finished the work. |
| In third conditional | Unreal past | If I had known, I would have called. |
Time markers
| Marker | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| before | Past perfect + before + simple past | I had eaten before he came. |
| after | Simple past + after + past perfect | He came after I had eaten. |
| by the time | Past perfect + by the time + simple past | By the time I arrived, he had left. |
| already | Past perfect + already | She had already finished when I called. |
Worked example
Sentence: "Ramchandra ___ the ticket before he went to the cinema." Two past actions. Buying the ticket happened earlier. The correct form is had bought.
Sentence: "The train ___ before we reached the station." Two past actions. The train left earlier. The correct form is had left.
Common traps
- Do not use past perfect for a single past action. "I had gone to school yesterday" is wrong. "I went to school yesterday" is correct.
- Do not mix had with the simple past verb. "I had went" is wrong. "I had gone" is correct.
- Do not use past perfect with since or for. Those take past perfect continuous.
Historical Paragraph
Slot. Free Writing I. Marks. 6. Length. About 150 words.
Opening line. States what the paragraph is about. What period, what event, what change.
Chronological order. Events presented in the order they happened. Dates stated where they matter.
Key facts. Names of rulers, dates of events, outcomes. Precise. Not vague.
Closing line. States the significance of the events. What did the period change.
Tone. Formal. Past tense. No personal opinion.
Common mistake. Getting the dates wrong. Historical paragraphs must have accurate chronology.
Opinion Paragraph
Slot. Free Writing I. Marks. 6. Length. About 150 words.
Opening line. States your position clearly. Agree, disagree, or partial. No middle ground.
Supporting reasons. Two or three reasons with examples. Each reason gets two to three sentences.
Acknowledgment. One sentence showing you understand the other side. Optional but scores marks.
Closing line. Restates your position without repeating the opening word for word.
Tone. Firm but calm. Give reasons, not emotions.
Common mistake. Writing without a clear position. The examiner must know from the first sentence which side you are on.
Reading I: Pratap Malla
Pratap Malla was one of the most famous kings of the Malla Dynasty. He came to the throne in a controversial way. His father Laxmi Nara Singh became insane so Pratap Malla imprisoned him and ruled as a regent in Kantipur. He was an able administrator and used his tact to keep Lalitpur and Bhaktapur playing against each other. Kantipur developed greatly during his reign and trade with India and China made Nepal prosperous. He built and renovated many temples. He erected the image of Hanuman at his palace gate and called it Hanumandhoka. He built Ranipokhari to console his grieving queen. He was a vastly learned king who composed poems in several languages and conferred on himself the title of Kabeendra.
Glossary
Q. no. A
| Q.no. | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. | regent |
| b. | renovated |
| c. | pinnacle |
| d. | replica |
| e. | conferred |
| f. | patronised |
| g. | invade |
Q. no. B
| Q.no. | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. | iii. Pratap Malla's father was insane. |
| b. | ii. Pratap Malla's diplomacy |
| c. | iv. Temple of Budhanilkantha |
| d. | iii. Invasion of Kantipur |
Q. no. C
| Q.no. | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. | India and China had trade with Kantipur. |
| b. | Pratap Malla kept his kingdom safe by making the kings of Lalitpur and Bhaktapur play against each other. Sometimes he sided with Bhaktapur and sometimes with Lalitpur. |
| c. | Pratap Malla placed the image of Lord Hanuman by the side of his palace gate. He placed it there to ward off evils. |
| d. | Yes, the title 'Kabeendra' suited Pratap Malla because he could compose poems in Sanskrit, Nepal Bhasa, Nepali, Bengali and Hindi. He also knew Arabic, Roman and English scripts. |
| e. | This indicates that Pratap Malla was a learned king who respected and patronised scholars of his time. |
Q. no. D
Pratap Malla contributed many cultural and architectural structures that still exist today. He built a beautiful temple at Guhyeshwari and fenced it. He renovated the temple of Pashupatinath and raised a pinnacle over it. At Swayambhu he built Pratappur, Kabeendrapur and many other temples. He also renovated the temples of Basuki Bhimsen, Taleju and Degutale. He erected an image of Hanuman by the side of his palace gate and called the palace Hanumandhoka. He also erected the golden gate of the palace. Inside the palace he set up Sundari Chowk and Mohan Chowk. He dug a pond at Bhandarkhal and filled it with water brought from Budhanilkantha. He also made Ranipokhari to console his grieving queen.
Grammar I: Answer Key
Q. no. A
| Q.no. | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| a. | The alarm went off when the telephone rang. | two short completed past actions |
| b. | As soon as the teacher asked the question, Brinda replied to her. | two completed past actions in sequence |
| c. | I was doing my homework while Trishna was sleeping. | while signals two actions in progress |
| d. | When the doors opened, the audience rushed into the stadium. | two completed past actions in sequence |
| e. | When we woke up, we saw the sun shining brightly. | two completed past actions in sequence |
Q. no. B
| Q.no. | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| a. | When I arrived home, my dad was preparing snacks for me. | when + simple past + past continuous |
| b. | That day, when we left home, the sky was overcast and it was drizzling. | simple past and past continuous mixed |
| c. | Last week, we booked a hotel online. The hotel was really wonderful. The staff were standing at the gate to welcome us when we reached there. | simple past and past continuous mixed |
| d. | Were the children sleeping when you reached home that night? | past continuous question + simple past |
| e. | Something very strange happened on my way home yesterday. I was walking along the way. Suddenly I saw my grandfather following me. | past continuous interrupted by simple past |
| f. | We were travelling to Chitwan when the police stopped us. According to them, there was a bomb there. So we had to wait for an hour. | past continuous + simple past + simple past |
Q. no. C
| Q.no. | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. | It began to snow while we were returning home. |
| b. | Kamal fell off while he was playing on the verandah. |
| c. | Amit was waiting for me when I reached the station. |
| d. | Simran took my photos while I was not looking at the camera. |
| e. | What were you doing yesterday when I called you? |
| f. | I broke the glass while I was washing it. |
| g. | The teacher entered the class while some students were dancing in the class. |
| i. | I found the lost purse while I was cleaning the room. |
| j. | Dipisha finished her homework while her brother was watching TV. |
Writing I: Answer Key
Q. no. A
Nepal's journey from Panchayat to Multiparty Democracy was long and difficult. On 1st Poush 2017 B.S., King Mahendra dismissed the elected government, suspended parliament and imprisoned the Prime Minister and Ministers. He banned political parties and activities and seized all power. On 22nd Poush 2017 B.S., he announced the partyless autocratic Panchayat System.
After many years, on 10th Jestha 2036 B.S., a referendum was announced. The election of the referendum took place on 20th Baishak 2037 B.S. The Panchayat System continued. Later, on 10th Jestha 2042 B.S., a non-violent civil disobedience movement started. The mass movement formally started on 7th Falgun 2046 B.S. Finally, on 26th Chaitra 2046 B.S., the multiparty system was restored.
Q. no. B
I believe that studying history is essential for every individual and society. Some people think history is a waste of time because they believe it only deals with the past. However, history is much more than that. It helps us understand who we are and where we come from.
History teaches us valuable lessons. By studying the mistakes of the past we can avoid repeating them in the future. For example, the history of Nepal shows how the Panchayat System suppressed democracy. Understanding this helps us value the democratic system we have today. History also preserves our culture and identity. It tells us about great rulers like Pratap Malla who contributed to art, architecture and literature.
Furthermore, history develops critical thinking skills. It teaches us to analyse events, understand causes and effects, and make informed decisions. These skills are useful in every profession.
In conclusion, history is not a waste of time. It is a valuable subject that helps us learn from the past, understand the present and prepare for the future.
Reading II: Flowers in Russian Culture
Flowers are a staple item in the gift-giving world. People gift flowers to express love and affection. In Russia, flower gifting is strictly guided by rules called flower etiquette. Red carnations symbolise patriotism and are connected to the 1917 February Revolution. White carnations represent bad omens. Red poppies symbolise weakness and fleeting love but poppy seeds are eaten at weddings as a symbol of happiness. Yellow flowers represent sadness and dishonesty and are gifted when someone wants a break-up. Chamomile is the national flower of Russia and has medical benefits. The white calla lily symbolises death and should not be brought to Russian weddings.
Glossary
Q. no. A
| Q.no. | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. | aroma |
| b. | palette |
| c. | immensely |
| d. | fleeting |
| e. | procreation |
| f. | encapsulate |
| g. | aromatherapy |
| h. | repellent |
| i. | foreshadow |
Q. no. B
gift-giving, heartwarming, cardboard, break-up, lesser-known, fortune-telling, newly-wed
Q. no. C
| Q.no. | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. | a pleasant aroma |
| b. | love and affection |
| c. | etiquette |
| d. | the revolution of February 1917 |
| e. | symbolises bad omen |
| f. | beloved ones |
| g. | a bunch of yellow flowers |
| h. | medicinal |
| i. | death |
Q. no. D
| Q.no. | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. | People gift flowers to others to express love and affection and as a thoughtful gesture of goodwill. |
| b. | People feel heartwarming when they are gifted flowers. |
| c. | The selection of flowers for gifting in Russia is determined by flower etiquette which is guided by a range of rules depending on the setting. |
| d. | The red carnation reflects the 1917 February Revolution in Russian history. |
| e. | Yes, a Russian likes to keep a white carnation under the pillow because it is believed to leave one inspired upon waking the next morning. |
| f. | The red poppy is connected with fragile love because it symbolises weakness and fleeting love in Russian culture. |
| g. | Russian people eat poppy seeds in their wedding as a symbol of happiness for a married couple. |
| h. | Yes, I prefer to grow chamomile in my garden because it offers medical benefits and acts as a mosquito and fly repellent. |
| i. | Chamomile has white petals with a bright yellow centre. |
| j. | Chamomile and Lily of the Valley are two flowers used for fortune telling. |
| k. | The white calla lily is the flower mostly used in Russian weddings. |
Q. no. E
Yes, I know several flowers that are commonly used for gifting in our culture. Red roses are gifted to express romantic love on occasions like Valentine's Day or anniversaries. Marigold flowers are commonly used in religious ceremonies and festivals like Tihar in Nepal. Jasmine flowers are gifted to show respect and are often used in weddings. Lotus flowers are offered in temples and religious rituals. Globe amaranth or Makhamali is used during Tihar for making garlands.
Grammar II: Answer Key
Q. no. A
| Q.no. | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| a. | arrived | specific past time (five minutes ago) |
| b. | had bought | earlier of two past actions |
| c. | had conquered | earlier of two past actions |
| d. | was waiting | action in progress at a past moment |
| f. | was washing | while + past continuous |
| g. | knocked | short completed past action |
| h. | saved | repeated past habit |
| i. | had had | earlier of two past actions |
| j. | had left | earlier of two past actions |
Q. no. B
A young lady entered a shop in Birendranagar, Surkhet. She put a few items of food in a bag. She chose a time when not many people were there in the street. She waited for the moment when no one else would see her running away. When the shopkeeper was checking the goods, she gave him a thousand-rupee note. As soon as the shopkeeper opened the box, she snatched all the money from it. Meanwhile she ran out of the shop before the shopkeeper realised what had happened. When the shopkeeper checked the amount in the box, he found that the thief had taken only Rs. 450. As the thief left a thousand-rupee note behind, the operation cost her Rs. 550.
Writing II: Answer Key
Q. no. A
The Bat, the Birds, and the Beasts
Once there was a great conflict between the birds and the beasts. Two armies collected together for battle. The bat refused to join either side. When the birds asked him to join them, he said he was a beast. When the beasts requested him to join their side, he said he was a bird. He wanted to be on the winning side.
However, peace was made and no battle took place. There was great rejoicing among the birds and the beasts. The bat wished to join the celebration. He went to the birds but they turned against him. Then he went to the beasts but they also turned against him. Both threatened to tear him into pieces for being dishonest. The bat flew away in fear and hid himself in dark places. From that day, the bat only comes out at night.
Moral: Those who try to be on both sides end up having no friends at all.
Q. no. B
The Old Owl and the Grasshopper
One warm summer afternoon an old owl was dozing when a grasshopper disturbed it with a very raspy song. The owl was very annoyed. He opened his eyes and saw the grasshopper sitting on a branch nearby, singing loudly. The owl politely requested the grasshopper to stop singing but the grasshopper ignored him and continued his noisy song.
The old owl was wise. He thought of a plan. He praised the grasshopper and said that his song was so sweet that it deserved to be enjoyed with special nectar from the gods. He invited the grasshopper to come closer to his nest. The foolish grasshopper felt proud and flew down to the owl. As soon as the grasshopper came near, the owl caught him and ate him up.
Moral: Pride leads to downfall. We should be humble and respect others.
Questions beyond the textbook exercises
These questions follow the SEE paper format. All content is drawn from Unit 9 only. Answers are not provided.
True or False
- Pratap Malla ruled Kantipur for over thirty years.
- Pratap Malla built the temple of Budhanilkantha.
- White carnations are considered lucky in Russia.
- Chamomile is the national flower of Russia.
- Yellow flowers are gifted in Russia to express friendship.
Fill in the Gaps
- Pratap Malla conferred on himself the title of __________.
- He built the pond __________ to console his grieving queen.
- Red carnations in Russia symbolise __________.
- Red poppies in Russia symbolise __________ and fleeting love.
- The white calla lily symbolises __________.
Short Answer
- Why did Pratap Malla imprison his father?
- How did Pratap Malla use diplomacy to protect Kantipur?
- Why should white carnations not be gifted to performers in Russia?
- Why are yellow flowers gifted in a Russian break-up?
Grammar: Past Continuous
- While she __________ (read), her brother was playing outside.
- What __________ you __________ (do) at eight last night?
- The children __________ (play) in the garden when it started to rain.
- He __________ (not listen) when the teacher called his name.
- I __________ (walk) home when I saw an old friend.
Grammar: Past Perfect
- By the time we arrived, the film __________ (already start).
- She told me she __________ (never visit) Pokhara before.
- He __________ (finish) his homework before his friends came.
- The train __________ (leave) when we reached the station.
- I realised I __________ (forget) my keys at home.
Writing Task
Write a short story that ends with the moral: Honesty is the best policy.
- Write in about 150 words.
- Include a title, characters and a clear conflict.