Unit 1: Critical Thinking
Working with words
A. Find the words from the text that match with the following meanings.
a. Shuffle - walking by dragging one’s feet along or without lifting them fully from the
ground
b. Doodle - drawing pictures or patterns while thinking about something else
c. Plaque - a piece of flat metal with writing on it
d. Precepts - a general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought
e. Sneaky - move or go in a furtive or stealthy way
B. Consult your teacher and define the following thinking skills.
a. Convergent thinking
Convergent thinking is the type of thinking that focuses on coming up with the single, well-established
answer to a problem. It is oriented toward deriving the single best, or most often correct answer to a
question.
b. Divergent thinking
Divergent thinking is a thought process or method used to generate creative ideas by exploring many
possible solutions. Many possible solutions are explored in a short amount of time, and unexpected
connections are drawn.
c. Critical thinking
Critical thinking is the analysis of facts to form a judgment. The subject is complex, and several
different definitions exist, which generally include the rational, skeptical, unbiased analysis, or
evaluation of factual evidence.
d. Creative thinking
Creativity is the ability to generate a thought or an idea that is completely new, appealing, and
useful. Creative thinking is a skill that enables you to come up with original and unconventional
ideas.
Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
a. Who was Jack? How did he make children laugh?
Jack was a kind of kid other kids like and had a lot of friends. He made children laugh by saying
jokes.
b. Why are “Sharks” important to Reid?
Sharks are important to Reid because they keep ocean clean by eating dead organisms.
c. What does Mr. Browne think about the most important thing?
Mr. Browne thinks that the most important thing is to know oneself, or own character’s and evaluate
them to bring the best version of someone.
d. What is that has not been noticed by the student?
The thing that has not been noticed by the student is the message in the notice board of the school
entrance gate that writes - “Know Thyself”.
e. How did Jack make fun of the English class?
Jack made fun of the English class by saying that they were there to attend English class to the
teacher’s question “Why are you here?”.
f. What were the students going to do at the end of the month?
The students were going to write an essay on the basis of the Brownie’s percept at the end of
the month.
g. What particular act of students surprised a girl student?
Students used to come up with their very own personal precept, write it on a postcard, and mail it
to Mr. Brownie after their graduation, this thing surprised the girl student.
Critical Thinking
a. Have you made your own precept after you read this lesson? What is it? Share it with your
friends.
Yes, I have made my own precept after reading this lessons. They are as follows:
“Success is temporary but failure is permanent”
“Always stay Positive”
“Believe in Karma rather than fate”
“Anything that happens, happens for good”
b. According to Josh Lanyon, “If there was one life skill everyone on the planet needed, it was
the ability to think with critical objectivity.” Justify this statement with your logic.
Josh Lanyon’s statement regarding critical objectivity somewhat reflects the core idea related to the development of
human skills on this planet. He has presented the fact behind the skills of the people of this planet. Here, Josh
has related life skills of people of this planet with critical objectivity. According to him, the need for life
skills itself was the ability within people to think with critical objectivity.
People on this planet moved along with different life skills in their lives. From ancient times up to now, people
have been doing development in the sector of skill development and invention. The development of people on this
planet was possible due to their ability of critical objectivity which runs along with their life skills knowingly
and unknowingly.
Critical objectivity always moves along with life skills. People have applied various life skills in their lives
which means they can think with critical objectives. Behind all these life skills, the ability of thinking with
critical objectivity always remain with them.
Writing
Write an email to your friend explaining an interesting class you had.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Interesting class that I had
Dear Shristi,
I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I am doing pretty fine here. I am writing
to you in order to share my experience of my English classes.
Compared to any other classes I have taken during my school history, I feel that no other class could
give me so many joys, knowledge and pleasures than the English class could do. I learned it quite good
and, in every test, I got the best mark in the class. I learned not only a lot of Basic English
knowledge in my middle school but also the personal characteristics which lead my interests along
through my later education life.
When I was in my middle school, it used to be a great thing when I know that there would be an English
class tomorrow morning because I could enjoy another interesting 45 minutes during the class. Rather
than other classes, like Science, Nepali or Mathematics, I established my English-relative
interests’ group in social media, which give me a great benefit in my study in the university. I
believe no other class can inspire me so far to pursue a scientific result.
Another important thing I achieved through the English class is to collaborate with other students. I
think it certainly formed my teamwork sprite when I entered the career position as an engineer. I can
still clearly remember my English teachers of primary school and high school. They are all the people of
great patient and instructive characteristic. They told me not to quit when I failed again and again.
They give me a lot of confidence and disciplines of the mind toward success. Saying that English class
is the only class that I used to enjoy most, I would like to end this mail.
Regards,
Binod Kumar
Grammar
Rewrite the following sentences adding appropriate question tag.
a. Gill does not know Ann, does he?
b. I’m very patient, aren’t I?
c. They’d never met me before, had they?
d. Listen carefully, will you?
e. Let’s have a break, shall we?
f. Let us invite them, will you?
g. Hari used to live in France as a boy, didn’t he?
h. You’d better not take a hard drink, had you?
i. Sheep eat grass, don’t they?
j. Mr. Pande can speak nine languages, can’t he?
k. She’s finished her classes, hasn’t she?
l. She barely managed to reach the goal, did she?
m. Don’t let him swim in that pond, will you?
n. There are lots of people here, aren’t there?
Read the following situations. What do you say in these situations? Use question tags.
a. The sky is full of cloud. You can see lightning and hear thunder.
It’s going to rain soon, isn’t it?
b. You want to pay the taxi fare but you are short by 100 rupees.
Shyam, you have to lend me Rs. 100, haven’t you?
c. You have met a stranger at a party and you want to have a chat with him/ her.
We will talk later, won’t we?
d. You came out of the film hall with your friend. You enjoyed the film.
The film was very enjoyable, wasn’t it?
e. You and your friend listened to a comedian on the stage and felt spellbound by his/her
performance.
He gave an excellent presentation, didn’t he?
f. You think your friend’s father has arrived from the US but you are not sure.
Your father has not arrived from US, has he?
g. You think Susan will join the new job tomorrow but you are not sure.
Susan will go to her new job tomorrow, won’t she?
h. Your friend’s hair looks too short.
You have got too short hair, haven’t you?
i. You want to go for a picnic with your friends in class.
Let’s go to picnic, shall we?
j. You want permission from your father to go for a walk.
Let me go for a evening walk, will you?
Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
a. Who was Jack? How did he make children laugh?
Jack was a kind of kid other kids like and had a lot of friends. He made children laugh by saying
jokes.
b. Why are “Sharks” important to Reid?
Sharks are important to Reid because they keep ocean clean by eating dead organisms.
c. What does Mr. Browne think about the most important thing?
Mr. Browne thinks that the most important thing is to know oneself, or own character’s and evaluate
them to bring the best version of someone.
d. What is that has not been noticed by the student?
The thing that has not been noticed by the student is the message in the notice board of the school
entrance gate that writes - “Know Thyself”.
e. How did Jack make fun of the English class?
Jack made fun of the English class by saying that they were there to attend English class to the
teacher’s question “Why are you here?”.
f. What were the students going to do at the end of the month?
The students were going to write an essay on the basis of the Brownie’s percept at the end of
the month.
g. What particular act of students surprised a girl student?
Students used to come up with their very own personal precept, write it on a postcard, and mail it
to Mr. Brownie after their graduation, this thing surprised the girl student.
Critical Thinking
a. Have you made your own precept after you read this lesson? What is it? Share it with your
friends.
Yes, I have made my own precept after reading this lessons. They are as follows:
“Success is temporary but failure is permanent”
“Always stay Positive”
“Believe in Karma rather than fate”
“Anything that happens, happens for good”
b. According to Josh Lanyon, “If there was one life skill everyone on the planet needed, it was
the ability to think with critical objectivity.” Justify this statement with your logic.
Josh Lanyon’s statement regarding critical objectivity somewhat reflects the core idea related to the development of
human skills on this planet. He has presented the fact behind the skills of the people of this planet. Here, Josh
has related life skills of people of this planet with critical objectivity. According to him, the need for life
skills itself was the ability within people to think with critical objectivity.
People on this planet moved along with different life skills in their lives. From ancient times up to now, people
have been doing development in the sector of skill development and invention. The development of people on this
planet was possible due to their ability of critical objectivity which runs along with their life skills knowingly
and unknowingly.
Critical objectivity always moves along with life skills. People have applied various life skills in their lives
which means they can think with critical objectives. Behind all these life skills, the ability of thinking with
critical objectivity always remain with them.
Writing
Write an email to your friend explaining an interesting class you had.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Interesting class that I had
Dear Shristi,
I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I am doing pretty fine here. I am writing
to you in order to share my experience of my English classes.
Compared to any other classes I have taken during my school history, I feel that no other class could
give me so many joys, knowledge and pleasures than the English class could do. I learned it quite good
and, in every test, I got the best mark in the class. I learned not only a lot of Basic English
knowledge in my middle school but also the personal characteristics which lead my interests along
through my later education life.
When I was in my middle school, it used to be a great thing when I know that there would be an English
class tomorrow morning because I could enjoy another interesting 45 minutes during the class. Rather
than other classes, like Science, Nepali or Mathematics, I established my English-relative
interests’ group in social media, which give me a great benefit in my study in the university. I
believe no other class can inspire me so far to pursue a scientific result.
Another important thing I achieved through the English class is to collaborate with other students. I
think it certainly formed my teamwork sprite when I entered the career position as an engineer. I can
still clearly remember my English teachers of primary school and high school. They are all the people of
great patient and instructive characteristic. They told me not to quit when I failed again and again.
They give me a lot of confidence and disciplines of the mind toward success. Saying that English class
is the only class that I used to enjoy most, I would like to end this mail.
Regards,
Binod Kumar
Grammar
Rewrite the following sentences adding appropriate question tag.
a. Gill does not know Ann, does he?
b. I’m very patient, aren’t I?
c. They’d never met me before, had they?
d. Listen carefully, will you?
e. Let’s have a break, shall we?
f. Let us invite them, will you?
g. Hari used to live in France as a boy, didn’t he?
h. You’d better not take a hard drink, had you?
i. Sheep eat grass, don’t they?
j. Mr. Pande can speak nine languages, can’t he?
k. She’s finished her classes, hasn’t she?
l. She barely managed to reach the goal, did she?
m. Don’t let him swim in that pond, will you?
n. There are lots of people here, aren’t there?
Read the following situations. What do you say in these situations? Use question tags.
a. The sky is full of cloud. You can see lightning and hear thunder.
It’s going to rain soon, isn’t it?
b. You want to pay the taxi fare but you are short by 100 rupees.
Shyam, you have to lend me Rs. 100, haven’t you?
c. You have met a stranger at a party and you want to have a chat with him/ her.
We will talk later, won’t we?
d. You came out of the film hall with your friend. You enjoyed the film.
The film was very enjoyable, wasn’t it?
e. You and your friend listened to a comedian on the stage and felt spellbound by his/her
performance.
He gave an excellent presentation, didn’t he?
f. You think your friend’s father has arrived from the US but you are not sure.
Your father has not arrived from US, has he?
g. You think Susan will join the new job tomorrow but you are not sure.
Susan will go to her new job tomorrow, won’t she?
h. Your friend’s hair looks too short.
You have got too short hair, haven’t you?
i. You want to go for a picnic with your friends in class.
Let’s go to picnic, shall we?
j. You want permission from your father to go for a walk.
Let me go for a evening walk, will you?
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesUnit 2: Family
Working with words
A. Find the words from the text and solve the puzzle. Clues are given below.
ACROSS
1. the custom of having more than one wife at the same time - Polygamy
5. to find an acceptable way of dealing with opposing ideas, needs etc. - Conflict
6. the process in which towns, streets, etc. are built where there was once countryside -
Urbanization
7. the process by which somebody learns to behave in an acceptable way in their society -
Socialization
DOWN
1. ruled or controlled by men - Patriarchy
2. the act of taking over a position - takeover
3. done in a way without caring if people are shocked - surprise
4. single-parent - lone-parent
B. Find the meanings of the following family–related words and use them in your own
sentences.
Nuclear family
Meaning: A family of a couple and their dependent children
Sentence: I live in a nuclear family and my parents are modern enough.
Monogamy
Meaning: The practice of marrying or state of being married to one person at a time
Sentence: When my husband and I got married, we took a vow of monogamy.
Sibling–in–law
Meaning: Brother-in-law or sister-in-law
Sentence: I had a sibling-in-law, who came last Monday to see me.
Milk kinship
Meaning: A form of fostering allegiance with fellow community members
Sentence: Milk kinship, formed during nursing by a non-biological mother
Matrilineal
Meaning: Based on kinship with the mother or the female line
Sentence: The fact that all livestock are inherited along the matrilineal line is exceptional.
Nepotism
Meaning: The practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, especially
by giving them jobs.
Sentence: The nepotism in which the pope indulged is especially inexcusable.
Maternity:
Meaning: The period during pregnancy and shortly after childbirth, motherhood
Sentence: Many expectant mothers were crowded out of the maternity hospitals.
C. The following words are from the above text. Each word has two parts.
poly, un, non, dis and in are prefixes. They make new words when they are added to the beginning of
other root words.
Make at least five words using the prefixes given. Consult a dictionary to learn how they change the
meaning of root words.
Pre - preposition, precaution, previews, prefer, prepare
Semi - semi abandoned, semiabstract, semiarid, semi casual, semi-conductor
Sub - subconscious, subjugate, submissive, subordinate, subsidiary
Mis - misunderstand, mistake, misbehave, mistrust, misspell
Mono - monochrome, monocot, monocular, monoplane, monopoly
Un - unhappy, unhealthy, untouchable, undo, unemployment
In - internal, inflated, inject, informal, infant
Inter - Intermission, interactive, intercept, interchange, interlock
Comprehension
A. The headings of the first five paragraphs of the above text are given below. Write paragraph number
next to them.
a. Patriarchal family - 3
b. Functions of the family - 2
c. Modern model of family - 5
d. Effects of industrialization on family structure - 4
e. Defining family - 1
B. Answer the following questions.
a. What type of family is thought to be the oldest form of the family?
Nuclear family is thought to be the oldest form of the family.
b. How does a family provide security to its members?
Family provides emotional and psychological security through the warmth, love, and
companionship. Families also provide physical security for their members, who are too young or too old.
c. What were the features of medieval European family?
The main feature of the Medieval European family is that it was a patriarchal or male-dominated and extended family.
d. What caused the dissolution of extended families in the West?
Many people, particularly unmarried youths, left farms and went to urban centers to become
industrial workers. Thus industrialization and urbanization led to the dissolution of extended families in the West.
e. What change occurred in gender role in the modern family that emerged after the Industrial
Revolution?
Following change occurred in gender role in the modern family that emerged after the Industrial
Revolution:
(i) Patriarchal rule began to give way to greater equality between the sexes.
(ii) Family roles once considered exclusively male or female broke down.
(iii) Some couples choose not to marry legally.
(iv) The rising levels of divorce led to increase in the number of one-parent households.
f. What is family law?
Family law is a practice area concerned with legal issues involving family relationships, such as adoption, divorce,
and child custody. Attorneys practicing family law typically handle divorce, child custody, child support, and other
related legal matters.
g. How is modern marriage defined?
Modern marriage is defined as a voluntary union, usually between a man and a woman.
h. What do special family courts try to do?
Special family court tries to deal more fairly with sensitive issues such as custody of
children.
i. What does the legislation on child labor and child abuse declare?
The legislation on child labor and child abuse declares that there is the responsibility of society for a child’s best future and to provide compulsory education to the children.
j. What is common among most legal systems regarding property?
In most legal systems a departed family member deals with property left by the deceased family member.
Critical Thinking
a. What changes have started to occur in Nepali families in recent days? What impacts will they bring on
the society? Discuss.
Since the world is now in 21st century, everything is gradually developing through traditional
culture to modern culture. Nowadays, people want to satisfy their feeling. They change their behaviour
to family lifestyle in modern societies. They want to live in nuclear family with the full of happiness
with child, husband and wife but other side in there is rapid increase of divorce in Nepal due to
misunderstand in nuclear family. In Nepali families both male and female can rule household, country.
Everybody male and female is getting equal right in family. Every family member understanding each other
felling, happy and they can share their idea, concept in family member. In Nepalese families young age
at marriage in Nepal is closely linked to the widespread practice of arranged marriages, where
relationships and agreements between families prevail over individual choices. Thus, a decline in very
early marriage, accompanied by a decrease in the interval between marriage and cohabitation, may
indicate a change in the marital decision-making process and an increase in the level of involvement on
the part of spouses in the formation of their own marital unions. Thus, they will bring both positive
and negative changes on the society.
b. We see many elderly people in the elderly homes these days in Nepal. Some of them are abandoned while
others live there willingly. Do you think Nepali people are deviating from their traditional culture?
Give reasons.
With the rapidly increasing number of aged, the care of elderly has emerged as an important issue in Nepal. Providing care for the aged has never been a problem in Nepal where a value based joint family system was dominant. This family structure has been the socio-economic backbone of the average Nepalese. The families were sharing the responsibility to look after their elderly by giving them all kind of support including emotional, psychological, behavioural or economic. They were getting full respect and value. They were living in the family till the end of their life. With the increasing influence of modernization and new life styles resulting in transitional changes in value system in recent times, the joint family is breaking down into several scattered nuclear families. Change in family structure and contemporary changes in the psycho-social matrix and values often compel the elderly to live alone or to shift from their own homes to some institutions or old age homes.
Misbehaviour of children, financial crisis often lead to feeling of ignorance and lack of emotional support in elderly which often compel them to opt other places for living a problem free life. And, in present scenario along with other reasons elderly homes are being considered as a better alternative to reside. There is a need to generate emotional support facilities in these homesandthegovernmentandvoluntaryagenciesinNepalmustmakearrangementsfor institutional support and care for the elderly.
Writing
a. Write an essay on The Importance of Family. In your essay, you can use these guided questions.
• Why family is important to you.
• Why family is or is not important for society
• How you think families will change in the future.
The Importance of Family
In today’s world when everything is losing its meaning, we need to realize the importance of family more
than ever. While the world is becoming more modern and advanced, the meaning of family and what stands
for remains the same. It does not matter what kind of family one belongs to. It is all equal as long as
there are caring and acceptance. You may be from a joint family, same-sex partner family, nuclear
family, it is all the same. The relationships we have with our members make our family strong. We all
have unique relations with each family member. In addition to other things, a family is the strongest
unit in one’s life.
One cannot emphasize enough on the importance of family. They play a great role in our lives and make us
better human beings. The one lucky enough to have a family often do not realize the value of a family.
However, those who do not have families know their worth. A family is our source of strength. It teaches
us what relationships mean. They help us create meaningful relationships in the outside world. The love
we inherit from our families, we pass on to our independent relationships. Moreover, families teach us
better communication. When we spend time with our families and love each other and communicate openly,
we create a better future for us. When we stay connected with our families, we learn to connect better
with the world. Similarly, families teach us patience. It gets tough sometimes to be patient with our
family members. Yet we remain so out of love and respect. Thus, it teaches us patience to deal better
with the world. Families boost our confidence and make us feel loved. They are the pillars of our
strength who never fall instead keep us strong so we become better people.
As we know that society is important for family. Society is the combination of one or more family member
so, without family society cannot create. A family makes us responsible for our duty toward society.
Family provides social security in the society. Family introduces you in the society. In the social
world without a family an individual’s identity is never complete.
And I think that family will change in future due to upgrading of modern technology, 5-10 year there is
big
family where very family member were residing but now day most of the family is living in nuclear family
format.
b. Some people think it is better to live in a nuclear family. Other people think that living in
extended family is more advantageous. What do you think? Write an essay discussing the advantages and
disadvantages of both.
In my views both the Extended family and Nuclear family are better at their own place as both of them have some
advantages and some disadvantages.
Extended family is a combination of all generation
of member. In these families, all member of the family including the children also grow with the belief
that they also have certain duties and function to perform. They should learn to control their demand
and expectation. In Nepal, more people prefer to stay in extended family and I’m also one of them in
comparison to nuclear family. The advantage of extended family are, in extended family there is a good
social and emotional relationship among the family members. There is a proper economic and social
security. In extended family there is a proper care and supervision for the children also proper
education and control over the problem of adolescence. The important advantage of extended family is a
sense of protection of culture, tradition and values. There is not only advantage of Extended family but
also some disadvantages occur in extended family. In extended it can push back in personality
development. There is less privacy. There may be probability of low living standards. There may be
difficult to meet needs and demand of each member in the family. Less of self confidence and dependency
may increase in the extended family
Now talking about the nuclear family, Nuclear family is composed of husband, wife and their children, otherwise
Extend family composed of grandfather, grandmother, parents, brother and their wives, daughter in-law, grandson
etc., who share same kitchen and shelter up to four generation. Some of the advantages of nuclear family is that
there is high understand and cooperation among each other, less possibility of quarrel among family member due the
fewer members. It is easy to meet need and demand of each family.There is freedom of making decisions of their own.
Also there are some disadvantages of having nuclear family as there is lack of security and confidence, there is
lack of proper care of children and old age people.There is generation gap in respecting the norms and value of
people. There is lack of love and care for the children if the couple engaged in professions.
Thus in short we can say that both the nuclear and extended family are better at their own place.
Grammar
B. Choose the best answer to complete the sentences.
a. ‘How much was your parking ticket?’ ‘Fifty rupees.’ ‘Oh well, it could have been
worse.’
b. It must have. got lost in the post. These things happen sometimes.
c. ‘Sorry I’m late. I got delayed at work.’ ‘You must have called. I was really worried
about you.’
d. ‘I don’t think he meant to be rude.’ ‘He must have said sorry.’
e. ‘Whose signature is this?’ ‘I don’t know. It could be Manoj’s. That looks a bit
like an M.’
f. I had it when I left the office so I mustn’t have. lost it on the way to home.
g. You must have think it’s funny, but I think it’s pathetic.
C. Complete the following sentences with appropriate endings. Use correct modal verbs.
a. At the end of the course, we must be prepared for the individual presentation.
b. If you want to earn a lot of money, I would suggest some tips.
c. You were not in your house yesterday. You could have your belongings stolen.
d. I’m quite busy tomorrow. I must visit my dentist.
e. When you were a small kid, you could ask for money from your relatives.
f. My car is broken. I should take it to the service center.
g. I’ve got a fast speed internet at home. I can watch movies in high quality.
h. Even though she didn’t study well, she could solve all the problems.
i. There are plenty of newspapers in the library. You can read any of them if you want.
j. What do you think you were doing, playing in the road? You could have been hit by the car.
k. I have no time. I can’t meet you.
l. You don’t look well. You should take a rest.
Comprehension
A. The headings of the first five paragraphs of the above text are given below. Write paragraph number
next to them.
a. Patriarchal family - 3
b. Functions of the family - 2
c. Modern model of family - 5
d. Effects of industrialization on family structure - 4
e. Defining family - 1
B. Answer the following questions.
a. What type of family is thought to be the oldest form of the family?
Nuclear family is thought to be the oldest form of the family.
b. How does a family provide security to its members?
Family provides emotional and psychological security through the warmth, love, and
companionship. Families also provide physical security for their members, who are too young or too old.
c. What were the features of medieval European family?
The main feature of the Medieval European family is that it was a patriarchal or male-dominated and extended family.
d. What caused the dissolution of extended families in the West?
Many people, particularly unmarried youths, left farms and went to urban centers to become
industrial workers. Thus industrialization and urbanization led to the dissolution of extended families in the West.
e. What change occurred in gender role in the modern family that emerged after the Industrial
Revolution?
Following change occurred in gender role in the modern family that emerged after the Industrial
Revolution:
(i) Patriarchal rule began to give way to greater equality between the sexes.
(ii) Family roles once considered exclusively male or female broke down.
(iii) Some couples choose not to marry legally.
(iv) The rising levels of divorce led to increase in the number of one-parent households.
f. What is family law?
Family law is a practice area concerned with legal issues involving family relationships, such as adoption, divorce,
and child custody. Attorneys practicing family law typically handle divorce, child custody, child support, and other
related legal matters.
g. How is modern marriage defined?
Modern marriage is defined as a voluntary union, usually between a man and a woman.
h. What do special family courts try to do?
Special family court tries to deal more fairly with sensitive issues such as custody of
children.
i. What does the legislation on child labor and child abuse declare?
The legislation on child labor and child abuse declares that there is the responsibility of society for a child’s best future and to provide compulsory education to the children.
j. What is common among most legal systems regarding property?
In most legal systems a departed family member deals with property left by the deceased family member.
Critical Thinking
a. What changes have started to occur in Nepali families in recent days? What impacts will they bring on
the society? Discuss.
Since the world is now in 21st century, everything is gradually developing through traditional
culture to modern culture. Nowadays, people want to satisfy their feeling. They change their behaviour
to family lifestyle in modern societies. They want to live in nuclear family with the full of happiness
with child, husband and wife but other side in there is rapid increase of divorce in Nepal due to
misunderstand in nuclear family. In Nepali families both male and female can rule household, country.
Everybody male and female is getting equal right in family. Every family member understanding each other
felling, happy and they can share their idea, concept in family member. In Nepalese families young age
at marriage in Nepal is closely linked to the widespread practice of arranged marriages, where
relationships and agreements between families prevail over individual choices. Thus, a decline in very
early marriage, accompanied by a decrease in the interval between marriage and cohabitation, may
indicate a change in the marital decision-making process and an increase in the level of involvement on
the part of spouses in the formation of their own marital unions. Thus, they will bring both positive
and negative changes on the society.
b. We see many elderly people in the elderly homes these days in Nepal. Some of them are abandoned while
others live there willingly. Do you think Nepali people are deviating from their traditional culture?
Give reasons.
With the rapidly increasing number of aged, the care of elderly has emerged as an important issue in Nepal. Providing care for the aged has never been a problem in Nepal where a value based joint family system was dominant. This family structure has been the socio-economic backbone of the average Nepalese. The families were sharing the responsibility to look after their elderly by giving them all kind of support including emotional, psychological, behavioural or economic. They were getting full respect and value. They were living in the family till the end of their life. With the increasing influence of modernization and new life styles resulting in transitional changes in value system in recent times, the joint family is breaking down into several scattered nuclear families. Change in family structure and contemporary changes in the psycho-social matrix and values often compel the elderly to live alone or to shift from their own homes to some institutions or old age homes.
Misbehaviour of children, financial crisis often lead to feeling of ignorance and lack of emotional support in elderly which often compel them to opt other places for living a problem free life. And, in present scenario along with other reasons elderly homes are being considered as a better alternative to reside. There is a need to generate emotional support facilities in these homesandthegovernmentandvoluntaryagenciesinNepalmustmakearrangementsfor institutional support and care for the elderly.
Writing
a. Write an essay on The Importance of Family. In your essay, you can use these guided questions.
• Why family is important to you.
• Why family is or is not important for society
• How you think families will change in the future.
The Importance of Family
In today’s world when everything is losing its meaning, we need to realize the importance of family more
than ever. While the world is becoming more modern and advanced, the meaning of family and what stands
for remains the same. It does not matter what kind of family one belongs to. It is all equal as long as
there are caring and acceptance. You may be from a joint family, same-sex partner family, nuclear
family, it is all the same. The relationships we have with our members make our family strong. We all
have unique relations with each family member. In addition to other things, a family is the strongest
unit in one’s life.
One cannot emphasize enough on the importance of family. They play a great role in our lives and make us
better human beings. The one lucky enough to have a family often do not realize the value of a family.
However, those who do not have families know their worth. A family is our source of strength. It teaches
us what relationships mean. They help us create meaningful relationships in the outside world. The love
we inherit from our families, we pass on to our independent relationships. Moreover, families teach us
better communication. When we spend time with our families and love each other and communicate openly,
we create a better future for us. When we stay connected with our families, we learn to connect better
with the world. Similarly, families teach us patience. It gets tough sometimes to be patient with our
family members. Yet we remain so out of love and respect. Thus, it teaches us patience to deal better
with the world. Families boost our confidence and make us feel loved. They are the pillars of our
strength who never fall instead keep us strong so we become better people.
As we know that society is important for family. Society is the combination of one or more family member
so, without family society cannot create. A family makes us responsible for our duty toward society.
Family provides social security in the society. Family introduces you in the society. In the social
world without a family an individual’s identity is never complete.
And I think that family will change in future due to upgrading of modern technology, 5-10 year there is
big
family where very family member were residing but now day most of the family is living in nuclear family
format.
b. Some people think it is better to live in a nuclear family. Other people think that living in
extended family is more advantageous. What do you think? Write an essay discussing the advantages and
disadvantages of both.
In my views both the Extended family and Nuclear family are better at their own place as both of them have some
advantages and some disadvantages.
Extended family is a combination of all generation
of member. In these families, all member of the family including the children also grow with the belief
that they also have certain duties and function to perform. They should learn to control their demand
and expectation. In Nepal, more people prefer to stay in extended family and I’m also one of them in
comparison to nuclear family. The advantage of extended family are, in extended family there is a good
social and emotional relationship among the family members. There is a proper economic and social
security. In extended family there is a proper care and supervision for the children also proper
education and control over the problem of adolescence. The important advantage of extended family is a
sense of protection of culture, tradition and values. There is not only advantage of Extended family but
also some disadvantages occur in extended family. In extended it can push back in personality
development. There is less privacy. There may be probability of low living standards. There may be
difficult to meet needs and demand of each member in the family. Less of self confidence and dependency
may increase in the extended family
Now talking about the nuclear family, Nuclear family is composed of husband, wife and their children, otherwise
Extend family composed of grandfather, grandmother, parents, brother and their wives, daughter in-law, grandson
etc., who share same kitchen and shelter up to four generation. Some of the advantages of nuclear family is that
there is high understand and cooperation among each other, less possibility of quarrel among family member due the
fewer members. It is easy to meet need and demand of each family.There is freedom of making decisions of their own.
Also there are some disadvantages of having nuclear family as there is lack of security and confidence, there is
lack of proper care of children and old age people.There is generation gap in respecting the norms and value of
people. There is lack of love and care for the children if the couple engaged in professions.
Thus in short we can say that both the nuclear and extended family are better at their own place.
Grammar
B. Choose the best answer to complete the sentences.
a. ‘How much was your parking ticket?’ ‘Fifty rupees.’ ‘Oh well, it could have been
worse.’
b. It must have. got lost in the post. These things happen sometimes.
c. ‘Sorry I’m late. I got delayed at work.’ ‘You must have called. I was really worried
about you.’
d. ‘I don’t think he meant to be rude.’ ‘He must have said sorry.’
e. ‘Whose signature is this?’ ‘I don’t know. It could be Manoj’s. That looks a bit
like an M.’
f. I had it when I left the office so I mustn’t have. lost it on the way to home.
g. You must have think it’s funny, but I think it’s pathetic.
C. Complete the following sentences with appropriate endings. Use correct modal verbs.
a. At the end of the course, we must be prepared for the individual presentation.
b. If you want to earn a lot of money, I would suggest some tips.
c. You were not in your house yesterday. You could have your belongings stolen.
d. I’m quite busy tomorrow. I must visit my dentist.
e. When you were a small kid, you could ask for money from your relatives.
f. My car is broken. I should take it to the service center.
g. I’ve got a fast speed internet at home. I can watch movies in high quality.
h. Even though she didn’t study well, she could solve all the problems.
i. There are plenty of newspapers in the library. You can read any of them if you want.
j. What do you think you were doing, playing in the road? You could have been hit by the car.
k. I have no time. I can’t meet you.
l. You don’t look well. You should take a rest.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesUnit 3: Sports
Working with words
A. Many English words are from other languages, such as redemption in the news above comes from the
Latin word redimere, a combination of re(d)-, meaning “back,” and emere, meaning
“buy.”Now, find out the origin and the meaning of the following words from the text.
Penalty : From Middle French pénalité
a punishment imposed for breaking a law, rule, or contract
Major : From Latin word “great” and French word “majeur”
important, serious, or significant.
Stadium : From Latin word meaning “study”, “zeal”, “dedication”
A center for the study of the Liberal Arts
Trophy : From the French trophée in 1513, Old French trophee, from Latin trophaeum
A cup or other decorative object awarded as a prize for a victory or success.
Defender : From the Latin word in this sense was “defensor” and Old French
“defendeor”
One who protects from injury a champion
Anthem : From Greek antiphōnos
A rousing or uplifting song identified with a particular group, body, or cause.
Dejection : From the Latin deicere meaning “throw down.”
A sad and depressed state; low spirits.
Jubilant : From Latin word “jubilare”
Making a joyful noise
Record : Form Latin word “cor” and “re-“
A thing constituting a piece of evidence about the past, especially an account kept in writing or some
other permanent form.
Suave : Form Latin word ” suavis” means “agreeable.”
Charming, confident, and elegant
Podium : Form Greek word “pous and pod” meaning “foot”
finish first, second, or third, so as to appear on a podium to
receive an award.
Tournament : Form old French torneiement
A series of contests between a number of competitors, competing for an overall prize.
Reminiscent : Form Latin word “reminisce” meaning remembering
Tending to remind one of something.
Incredible : Form Latin word “In-” meaning “not” and “credibills” meaning
is “believe.”
Savor : Form Latin word “sapere” meaning “to taste”
B. Consult a dictionary and define the following terms related to cricket.
Stump:
Each of the three upright pieces of wood which form a wicket.
Crease:
Any of a number of lines marked on the pitch at specified places.
Boundary:
A hit crossing the limits of the field, scoring four or six runs.
Sixer:
A hit for 6 runs.
Googly:
Type of deceptive delivery bowled by a right-arm leg-spin bowler.
Leg-by:
A run scored from a ball that has touched part of the batsman’s body (apart from the hand) without
touching the bat.
Wicket:
Each of the sets of three stumps with two bails across the top at either end of the pitch
Maiden:
An over in which no runs are scored.
Pitch:
The strip of ground between the two sets of stumps.
Power-play:
The set of overs with special fielding rules during a limited-overs cricket match
No-ball:
An unlawfully delivered ball, counting one as an extra to the batting side if not otherwise scored
from.
Yorker:
A ball bowled that hits the cricket pitch around the batsman’s feet.
C. Pronunciation
Divide the following words into two groups in accordance with their pronunciation /aɪ/ and
/aɪ/
Fine, shine, why, height, bright, might, five, sight, white, by
/eɪ/
Rein, rail, sleigh, snail, break, fake, eight, game, claim, friend, gait, hail, frame
Comprehension
A. State whether the following sentences are True or False or Not Given.
a. England was the champion of 1996 World Cup Football. - True
b. Italy bagged its first Euro Cup trophy in the Euro Cup 2020. - True
c. The English team has won more trophies in International Football than Italy. - False
d. According to the captain of the English team, the pain of losing a match has lasting effects. -
Not Given
e. The Italian team was playing in their home ground. - False
f. The goalkeeper of the Italian team had performed the best than any other players in the match. -
True
B. Answer the following questions.
a. Why does the reporter say that England is waiting to heal its half-century long pain?
The reporter said that England is waiting to heal its half-century pain because England had not won
any title after 1966 A.D.
b. How did the Italian players react as soon as they became the champions?
The Italian players reacted by shouting into a TV camera amid the celebrations, mocking the famous
lyric “it’s coming home” from the England team’s anthem as soon as they became
the champions.
c. Why did Saka and Sancho cry?
Saka and Sancho cried because of their third straight penalty failure.
d. Penalty shoot-out has long been a bitter experience for the English team. Why?
Penalty shoot-out has long been a bitter experience for the English team because they missed three
penalty shoot-outs consequently.
e. State the contribution of Roberto Mancini to the Italian football.
Less than four years ago, Italy fell to the lowest point in its footballing history with
failing to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in six decades. They are now the best team in Europe and with a national record of 34 games unbeatenunder Roberto Mancini. Mancini brought great confidence to the Italian football team and went all out to win the Euro 2020.
f. How does the Euro Cup final 2020 remind the audiences of the 2018 World Cup semifinals? How?
The Euro Cup Final 2020 remind the audiences of the 2018 World Cup semifinals because England also
scored early against Croatia then spent most of the game chasing its opponent’s midfield before
losing in extra time.
Critical thinking
a. “Every match is a new opportunity. Put its failure behind and start over again.” Does this
apply to the Italian football team when we analyse their performance from their failure to qualify for
the World Cup Football to their victory in the European Championship in these four years?
Yes, the statement “Every match is a new opportunity. Put its failure behind and start over again” applies to the Italian football team. Italy is constantly improving and investing more and more in the improvement of its football team. Despite having faced so many challenges, digesting so many defeats, we can say that they have continued to improve and now the football culture in Italy is second to none.
There is no place in the world where a typical technician is more qualified than another. Every casual Italian staff member is excellent in rehabilitation, strategy and organization. Wherever they go, they have a manager who can lead a top club to success. They have an upscale nightclub. Juventus has a rich history, well-organized organization and a management team that is able to bring out the best in every player they sign. Few clubs reach this level of competence, which should be the standard. Think of the three biggest clubs in Europe: Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Manchester City.
In the last four years Italy has undergoneradical changes under Mancini. The Azzurri won 4-2 on penalties after taking the lead with Federico Chiesa, but came back from a draw by Alvaro Morata, who scored 1-1 goals and needed added time before the Italians won by 4-2 on penalties. From this we can say that Italian football team constantly learned from their past games and hence qualified for the World Cup Football to their victory in the European Championship in these four years.
b. When a team plays in a home ground, it gets a huge support from the audience in the stadium. Does
this support them to win the match or the players may feel pressure to win and thus lose? What do you
think?
I think a team playing in the home ground gets huge support and confidence from their home fans but
the teams from other places get huge disadvantages; according to their zone, climate, and fan follower.
Many teams have been won Match on home ground. More than 100 teams won the match on the home ground.
In team sports, the term home ground - also called home field describes the benefit that the home
team is said to gain over the visiting team. This benefit has been attributed to psychological effects
by the supporting fans on the competitors or referees. Also, the players are used to, playing on their
home ground due to which they can easily play there, despite of the weather, pitch or ground condition.
But the visiting teams suffer from changing time zones or climates, or from the rigors of travel; and in
some sports, to specific rules that favor the home team directly or indirectly.
According to my views, in Euro Cup 2020 England lost the final match against Italy due to their fear and
lack of faith. They had not won any match after 1966 A.D so that they had less hope and got more
pressure from the home ground fans. Therefore, getting a huge support from the audience in the stadium
does both i.e., supports the team to win the match as well as the players may feel pressure to win and
thus lose.
Writing
A. The following passage does not have any punctuation marks. Punctuate it with appropriate punctuation marks.
A lot of people try to get away from home for a few days each year for a holiday. There are lots of things to choose from, and where you go depends on how much money you’ve got to spend. Ideas for holidays include relaxing on a beach, exploring cities, and skiing. One man wanted to go to Australia but thought he’d never have enough money to get there. He’d go to his brother’s caravan at the seaside instead. A young woman wanted to go clubbing in Ibiza as she’d heard it was a lot of fun.
Grammar
B. Complete the following sentences with much, many, few or little.
a. He is an introvert. He has got very few friends.
b. I am busy in preparing my examinations. I have very little time to give to you.
c. The entire winter season was dry this year. We had little rain.
d. Our town has almost been modernized. There are few old buildings left.
e. You can come today. I haven’t got much to do.
f. The party was crowded. There were too many people.
g. How many photographs did you take while you were in Switzerland?
h. There was little traffic so I came in time.
i. Can I borrow few books from you?
j. Mohan can’t be a good teacher. He has little patience.
C. Put each or every in the following sentences.
a. The party split into three factions, each faction headed by a former
prime minister.
b. Leap years occur every four years.
c. Every parent worries about their children.
d. We had a great time in Singapore. We enjoyed every minute of our time.
e. I could catch the main idea of his speech but I didn’t understand each of his
words.
f. In Nepal, every motorcycle rider should wear a helmet.
g. You must read each of these books for the exam.
D. Rewrite the following sentences using all of, most of, none of, both of or some of.
a. Your garden is superb. Most of the flowers are beautiful.
b. Do you know Bharat and Kamal? Of course, I do. Both of them are my friends.
c. I bought a box of apples thinking it would be cheaper but I was mistaken.
All of them were rotten.
d. When I was in the town, I asked some people for direction but none of them were able to help me. I
had to call my friend.
e. We all were soaked in the rain because none of us had carried an umbrella.
f. My father is healthy in his seventies but he feels isolated because all of his friends are dead
now.
g. All of the tourists are not Chinese. Some of them are Korean too.
E. Choose the best word from the brackets to complete the sentences.
a. Give me the money I owe you. (which/the/a/an)
b. I want the boat which would take me to the island. (the/an/those/a)
c. Could you pour me some water, please? (many/few/these/some)
d. Only a few employees know how important the project was. (a few/a little/little/few)
e. He was looking for an umbrella. (an/a/those/these)
f. A large amount of water was
evaporated due to excessive heat. (A large number of/ A lot of/ A large amount of/Many)
Comprehension
A. State whether the following sentences are True or False or Not Given.
a. England was the champion of 1996 World Cup Football. - True
b. Italy bagged its first Euro Cup trophy in the Euro Cup 2020. - True
c. The English team has won more trophies in International Football than Italy. - False
d. According to the captain of the English team, the pain of losing a match has lasting effects. -
Not Given
e. The Italian team was playing in their home ground. - False
f. The goalkeeper of the Italian team had performed the best than any other players in the match. -
True
B. Answer the following questions.
a. Why does the reporter say that England is waiting to heal its half-century long pain?
The reporter said that England is waiting to heal its half-century pain because England had not won
any title after 1966 A.D.
b. How did the Italian players react as soon as they became the champions?
The Italian players reacted by shouting into a TV camera amid the celebrations, mocking the famous
lyric “it’s coming home” from the England team’s anthem as soon as they became
the champions.
c. Why did Saka and Sancho cry?
Saka and Sancho cried because of their third straight penalty failure.
d. Penalty shoot-out has long been a bitter experience for the English team. Why?
Penalty shoot-out has long been a bitter experience for the English team because they missed three
penalty shoot-outs consequently.
e. State the contribution of Roberto Mancini to the Italian football.
Less than four years ago, Italy fell to the lowest point in its footballing history with
failing to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in six decades. They are now the best team in Europe and with a national record of 34 games unbeatenunder Roberto Mancini. Mancini brought great confidence to the Italian football team and went all out to win the Euro 2020.
f. How does the Euro Cup final 2020 remind the audiences of the 2018 World Cup semifinals? How?
The Euro Cup Final 2020 remind the audiences of the 2018 World Cup semifinals because England also
scored early against Croatia then spent most of the game chasing its opponent’s midfield before
losing in extra time.
Critical thinking
a. "Every match is a new opportunity. Put its failure behind and start over again." Does this
apply to the Italian football team when we analyse their performance from their failure to qualify for
the World Cup Football to their victory in the European Championship in these four years?
Yes, the statement “Every match is a new opportunity. Put its failure behind and start over again” applies to the Italian football team. Italy is constantly improving and investing more and more in the improvement of its football team. Despite having faced so many challenges, digesting so many defeats, we can say that they have continued to improve and now the football culture in Italy is second to none.
There is no place in the world where a typical technician is more qualified than another. Every casual Italian staff member is excellent in rehabilitation, strategy and organization. Wherever they go, they have a manager who can lead a top club to success. They have an upscale nightclub. Juventus has a rich history, well-organized organization and a management team that is able to bring out the best in every player they sign. Few clubs reach this level of competence, which should be the standard. Think of the three biggest clubs in Europe: Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Manchester City.
In the last four years Italy has undergoneradical changes under Mancini. The Azzurri won 4-2 on penalties after taking the lead with Federico Chiesa, but came back from a draw by Alvaro Morata, who scored 1-1 goals and needed added time before the Italians won by 4-2 on penalties. From this we can say that Italian football team constantly learned from their past games and hence qualified for the World Cup Football to their victory in the European Championship in these four years.
b. When a team plays in a home ground, it gets a huge support from the audience in the stadium. Does
this support them to win the match or the players may feel pressure to win and thus lose? What do you
think?
I think a team playing in the home ground gets huge support and confidence from their home fans but
the teams from other places get huge disadvantages; according to their zone, climate, and fan follower.
Many teams have been won Match on home ground. More than 100 teams won the match on the home ground.
In team sports, the term home ground - also called home field describes the benefit that the home
team is said to gain over the visiting team. This benefit has been attributed to psychological effects
by the supporting fans on the competitors or referees. Also, the players are used to, playing on their
home ground due to which they can easily play there, despite of the weather, pitch or ground condition.
But the visiting teams suffer from changing time zones or climates, or from the rigors of travel; and in
some sports, to specific rules that favor the home team directly or indirectly.
According to my views, in Euro Cup 2020 England lost the final match against Italy due to their fear and
lack of faith. They had not won any match after 1966 A.D so that they had less hope and got more
pressure from the home ground fans. Therefore, getting a huge support from the audience in the stadium
does both i.e., supports the team to win the match as well as the players may feel pressure to win and
thus lose.
Writing
A. The following passage does not have any punctuation marks. Punctuate it with appropriate punctuation marks.
A lot of people try to get away from home for a few days each year for a holiday. There are lots of things to choose from, and where you go depends on how much money you’ve got to spend. Ideas for holidays include relaxing on a beach, exploring cities, and skiing. One man wanted to go to Australia but thought he’d never have enough money to get there. He’d go to his brother’s caravan at the seaside instead. A young woman wanted to go clubbing in Ibiza as she’d heard it was a lot of fun.
Grammar
B. Complete the following sentences with much, many, few or little.
a. He is an introvert. He has got very few friends.
b. I am busy in preparing my examinations. I have very little time to give to you.
c. The entire winter season was dry this year. We had little rain.
d. Our town has almost been modernized. There are few old buildings left.
e. You can come today. I haven’t got much to do.
f. The party was crowded. There were too many people.
g. How many photographs did you take while you were in Switzerland?
h. There was little traffic so I came in time.
i. Can I borrow few books from you?
j. Mohan can’t be a good teacher. He has little patience.
C. Put each or every in the following sentences.
a. The party split into three factions, each faction headed by a former
prime minister.
b. Leap years occur every four years.
c. Every parent worries about their children.
d. We had a great time in Singapore. We enjoyed every minute of our time.
e. I could catch the main idea of his speech but I didn’t understand each of his
words.
f. In Nepal, every motorcycle rider should wear a helmet.
g. You must read each of these books for the exam.
D. Rewrite the following sentences using all of, most of, none of, both of or some of.
a. Your garden is superb. Most of the flowers are beautiful.
b. Do you know Bharat and Kamal? Of course, I do. Both of them are my friends.
c. I bought a box of apples thinking it would be cheaper but I was mistaken.
All of them were rotten.
d. When I was in the town, I asked some people for direction but none of them were able to help me. I
had to call my friend.
e. We all were soaked in the rain because none of us had carried an umbrella.
f. My father is healthy in his seventies but he feels isolated because all of his friends are dead
now.
g. All of the tourists are not Chinese. Some of them are Korean too.
E. Choose the best word from the brackets to complete the sentences.
a. Give me the money I owe you. (which/the/a/an)
b. I want the boat which would take me to the island. (the/an/those/a)
c. Could you pour me some water, please? (many/few/these/some)
d. Only a few employees know how important the project was. (a few/a little/little/few)
e. He was looking for an umbrella. (an/a/those/these)
f. A large amount of water was
evaporated due to excessive heat. (A large number of/ A lot of/ A large amount of/Many)
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesUnit 4: Technology
Working with words
A. Choose the correct words from the box to complete the following sentences.
a. I think that covering up the facts is equivalent to lying really.
b. If there is not a substantial move to public transport, we will have deceleration and the whole regeneration will
not work.
c. Each new leader would blame his predecessor for all the evils of the past.
d. We have, in fact, envisioned a better world and have made it happen.
e. The main linear actuators of the pneumatic systems are cylinders.
f. The barrel was short and the bullet emerged at subsonic speed.
g. The city is said to receive two-fifths of the total freight delivered in the country.
h. It would still take four hours to get down, in a spiral of gridlock.
i. Apparently, the magician will be doing some levitation on the stage tomorrow.
j. We might be experiencing some turbulence on this flight due to an approaching electrical storm.
B. Add three more words that are formed with the following prefixes.
a. hyper
hyperloop, hypersensitive, hyperlipidaemia, hyperinflation.
b. ultra
ultrahigh, ultralight, ultrashort, ultrabasic, ultrafiche.
c. up
uphill, Upwork, upside, uplift
d. over
overcoming, overwhelm, overdrunk, oversized
e. multi
multibillion, multinational, multicultural, multiply
Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
a. What is a hyperloop? How does it work?
Hyperloop is a planned train that would be capable of travelling at incredible speeds. It’s superfast because it’s
enclosed in a tube with no air in it. As a result of the lack of air, there will be no friction to slow the train
down.
b. How is hyperloop more beneficial than the traditional trains?
Hyperloop is much beneficial and superior than any traditional or a high-speed rail. It’s less expensive and uses
less energy since the track doesn’t have to provide electricity to the pods constantly and because the pods may
depart every 30 seconds, it’s more like a demand-based service.
c. Does hyperloop have a successful history? How?
No, it does not have a successful history since the original concept for hyperloop was to use waggons and pneumatic
tubes to transport mail and parcels between buildings.
d. Write the contributions of Robert Goddard and Elon Musk for the development of hyperloop.
In order to provide ultra-fast intercity transport, Space X and Tesla founder Elon Musk created the hyperloop idea.
In addition to automobiles, aircraft, boats, and trains, Elon envisions a “fifth mode” of transportation
that utilises travel pods housed within steel tubes. He revived interest in the idea of hyperloop in August 2013
with his ‘Hyperloop Alpha’ paper.
The ‘vactrain’ idea, created by Robert Goddard in the early 20th century, is clearly a prototype of the hyperloop.
Since then, a slew of similar concepts have been proposed.
e. What relation does speed have with air resistance? Explain.
More Air resistance decreases the speed of a moving body and vice versa. Since, Hyperloop will travel through the
vacuum tubes, the speed will drastically increase as the result of no-air resistance.
f. What are hyperloop capsules compared with? How are they similar?
Because both Hyperloop and Boeing 747 accelerate at the same measure of acceleration, Hyperloop capsules are likened
to Boeing 747.
g. How do the passengers feel while travelling via hyperloop? What will be done to make it luxurious?
On a hyperloop, the passengers feel approximately the same as riding a lift or a passenger aircraft. The cabin shows
beautiful scenery and each passenger has access to his or her own private amusement systems, to let them have a
easeful travel.
h. Why does the writer doubt about the success of hyperloop? What does the success depend on?
Hyperloop’s success will be determined on the destinations, the local economy, and the geographical location. The
author has concerns regarding hyperloop’s viability because of the enormous multibillion-dollar expenditure and the
fact that the projects are still in the pilot and experimental phases. In the past, Nikola Tesla and Elon Musk had
already closed the same concept program, due to no response from government authorities.
Critical thinking
a. Is the hyperloop the future of transportation or just a dream? What do you think? Justify your opinion with
suitable reasons.
Basically, Hyperloop is a conceptual transport system in which passengers are loaded into pods and fired through
vacuum tubes all at a supersonic speed. Hyperloop isn’t just about speed; it also aims to be environmentally
friendly.
The concept just like of Hyperloop is not new though. Pneumatic tubes for the parcel, mail, and money transfers
found widespread acceptance in the 19th century and are still used at supermarkets, postal sorting stations, and
banks today. Hyperloop’s concept resembles the pneumatic mail delivery systems. Even flying on the air seemed to be
impossible on past days but now travelling via air is common for us. So no one can say that it’s not possible
because everything which was a dream once, is reality now.
In conclusion, we can see that Hyperloop may become the future of transportation systems worldwide. If this becomes
a reality, even though it is not expected for decades, there will be an immense impact on ordinary people’s lives.
Apart from the convenience and the green impact, we can also hope for economic success.
However, despite the immense promise, new technologies take time, and will be a while until we can travel in a pod
inside a sealed tube with a sound only as loud as a gentle ‘SWOOSH.’
b. The number of private vehicles is increasing day by day in Nepal beyond the capacity of our infrastructure. What do you think should be done to curb the ever-growing number of private vehicles? Discuss.
The number of private vehicles is increasing day by day in Nepal beyond the capacity of our infrastructure and is
outpacing the country’s infrastructure. The number of Nepalese who own personal cars is steadily increasing. Despite
the fact that it eases their day to day life, its causing great environmental loses. Private vehicles should be
prohibited since their widespread usage degrades the environment and increases emissions of hazardous gases that
will create major problems in the future. To control this critical situation some safety measures had to be
taken.
The best approach is to discourage people from opting to buy cars. This can be effectively done by increasing toll
fare for cars and by devising a system of progressive taxation on cars. The system can have an upper limit on the
number of cars owned per family and the rate of tax on each car can be increased as the number of cars bought keep
rising.
But these efforts would be meaningless unless they are accompanied by measures to encourage people to use public
transport by revamping the dismal public transit system in Nepal. More buses need to ply during rush hour and the
buses must be made more comfortable (by using better cushions, air conditioning, better suspension, etc…).
Punctuality and reliability of public transport systems must be upheld. Cleanliness and hygiene must be kept in mind
while maintaining bus and train stations.
The above approaches must be complemented with efforts to change the false notion the using public transport is
contemptible. The best weapon to deal with this is to make public transport as dignified and pleasant as
possible.
Grammar
B. Rewrite the following sentences with the correct form of the verbs in the brackets.
a. The invitation is for one person. I don’t mind whether you or she (come) to the party.
The invitation is for one person. I don’t mind whether you or she comes to the party.
b. Neither the MPs nor the Prime Minister (have) felt regret for the party split.
Neither the MPs nor the Prime Minister has felt regret for the party split.
c. I don’t care whether he or she (win) the lottery.
I don’t care whether he or she wins the lottery.
d. Either the Kantipur or the Republica (be) used for the advertisement.
Either the Kantipur or the Republica is used for the advertisement.
e. She speaks in a strange accent. Neither I nor my sister (understand) her.
She speaks in a strange accent. Neither I nor my sister understands her.
f. I forgot whether the singers or the actress (be) given the Film Fair Award last year.
I forgot whether the singers or the actress was given the Film Fair Award last year.
g. Neither the tracksuit nor the pajamas (fit) me perfectly.
Neither the tracksuit nor the pajamas fit me perfectly.
h. Neither the gas fire nor the electric heaters (be) suitable for room heating.
Neither the gas fire nor the electric heaters are suitable for room heating.
C. This passage contains the agreement errors. Correct the subjects or verbs that don’t agree with each other. Remember to use present tense in your corrections.
Corrected Passage:
Within the state of Arizona, Rob, along with his family, moves frequently from city to city. After his arrival, one
of his first tasks was to find an apartment close to work, as he did not have a car. Usually, there are many
different places to choose from, and he considers cost, location, and luxury. If one apartment has a washing machine
and dryer and costs four hundred dollars a month, he prefers to rent it over another apartment which has
significantly less rent and is located two blocks from a Laundromat. Rob’s family never wanted to live in an
apartment on the thirteenth floor, since all of them fear heights. He also tried to choose an apartment with a
landlord recommended by former tenants. Everybody knows that it is important to find a responsible landlord. Rob and
his wife love to cook together when both are free, so they need a spacious, well-equipped kitchen. Rob often looks
for a place with an air conditioner because there are so many scorching days and nights in Arizona. Whenever Rob
finds a new apartment, all of his concerns disappear. He felt relieved and called his mother. Someone
understands!
Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
a. What is a hyperloop? How does it work?
Hyperloop is a planned train that would be capable of travelling at incredible speeds. It’s superfast because it’s
enclosed in a tube with no air in it. As a result of the lack of air, there will be no friction to slow the train
down.
b. How is hyperloop more beneficial than the traditional trains?
Hyperloop is much beneficial and superior than any traditional or a high-speed rail. It’s less expensive and uses
less energy since the track doesn’t have to provide electricity to the pods constantly and because the pods may
depart every 30 seconds, it’s more like a demand-based service.
c. Does hyperloop have a successful history? How?
No, it does not have a successful history since the original concept for hyperloop was to use waggons and pneumatic
tubes to transport mail and parcels between buildings.
d. Write the contributions of Robert Goddard and Elon Musk for the development of hyperloop.
In order to provide ultra-fast intercity transport, Space X and Tesla founder Elon Musk created the hyperloop idea.
In addition to automobiles, aircraft, boats, and trains, Elon envisions a “fifth mode” of transportation
that utilises travel pods housed within steel tubes. He revived interest in the idea of hyperloop in August 2013
with his ‘Hyperloop Alpha’ paper.
The ‘vactrain’ idea, created by Robert Goddard in the early 20th century, is clearly a prototype of the hyperloop.
Since then, a slew of similar concepts have been proposed.
e. What relation does speed have with air resistance? Explain.
More Air resistance decreases the speed of a moving body and vice versa. Since, Hyperloop will travel through the
vacuum tubes, the speed will drastically increase as the result of no-air resistance.
f. What are hyperloop capsules compared with? How are they similar?
Because both Hyperloop and Boeing 747 accelerate at the same measure of acceleration, Hyperloop capsules are likened
to Boeing 747.
g. How do the passengers feel while travelling via hyperloop? What will be done to make it luxurious?
On a hyperloop, the passengers feel approximately the same as riding a lift or a passenger aircraft. The cabin shows
beautiful scenery and each passenger has access to his or her own private amusement systems, to let them have a
easeful travel.
h. Why does the writer doubt about the success of hyperloop? What does the success depend on?
Hyperloop’s success will be determined on the destinations, the local economy, and the geographical location. The
author has concerns regarding hyperloop’s viability because of the enormous multibillion-dollar expenditure and the
fact that the projects are still in the pilot and experimental phases. In the past, Nikola Tesla and Elon Musk had
already closed the same concept program, due to no response from government authorities.
Critical thinking
a. Is the hyperloop the future of transportation or just a dream? What do you think? Justify your opinion with
suitable reasons.
Basically, Hyperloop is a conceptual transport system in which passengers are loaded into pods and fired through
vacuum tubes all at a supersonic speed. Hyperloop isn’t just about speed; it also aims to be environmentally
friendly.
The concept just like of Hyperloop is not new though. Pneumatic tubes for the parcel, mail, and money transfers
found widespread acceptance in the 19th century and are still used at supermarkets, postal sorting stations, and
banks today. Hyperloop’s concept resembles the pneumatic mail delivery systems. Even flying on the air seemed to be
impossible on past days but now travelling via air is common for us. So no one can say that it’s not possible
because everything which was a dream once, is reality now.
In conclusion, we can see that Hyperloop may become the future of transportation systems worldwide. If this becomes
a reality, even though it is not expected for decades, there will be an immense impact on ordinary people’s lives.
Apart from the convenience and the green impact, we can also hope for economic success.
However, despite the immense promise, new technologies take time, and will be a while until we can travel in a pod
inside a sealed tube with a sound only as loud as a gentle ‘SWOOSH.’
b. The number of private vehicles is increasing day by day in Nepal beyond the capacity of our infrastructure. What do you think should be done to curb the ever-growing number of private vehicles? Discuss.
The number of private vehicles is increasing day by day in Nepal beyond the capacity of our infrastructure and is
outpacing the country’s infrastructure. The number of Nepalese who own personal cars is steadily increasing. Despite
the fact that it eases their day to day life, its causing great environmental loses. Private vehicles should be
prohibited since their widespread usage degrades the environment and increases emissions of hazardous gases that
will create major problems in the future. To control this critical situation some safety measures had to be
taken.
The best approach is to discourage people from opting to buy cars. This can be effectively done by increasing toll
fare for cars and by devising a system of progressive taxation on cars. The system can have an upper limit on the
number of cars owned per family and the rate of tax on each car can be increased as the number of cars bought keep
rising.
But these efforts would be meaningless unless they are accompanied by measures to encourage people to use public
transport by revamping the dismal public transit system in Nepal. More buses need to ply during rush hour and the
buses must be made more comfortable (by using better cushions, air conditioning, better suspension, etc…).
Punctuality and reliability of public transport systems must be upheld. Cleanliness and hygiene must be kept in mind
while maintaining bus and train stations.
The above approaches must be complemented with efforts to change the false notion the using public transport is
contemptible. The best weapon to deal with this is to make public transport as dignified and pleasant as
possible.
Grammar
B. Rewrite the following sentences with the correct form of the verbs in the brackets.
a. The invitation is for one person. I don’t mind whether you or she (come) to the party.
The invitation is for one person. I don’t mind whether you or she comes to the party.
b. Neither the MPs nor the Prime Minister (have) felt regret for the party split.
Neither the MPs nor the Prime Minister has felt regret for the party split.
c. I don’t care whether he or she (win) the lottery.
I don’t care whether he or she wins the lottery.
d. Either the Kantipur or the Republica (be) used for the advertisement.
Either the Kantipur or the Republica is used for the advertisement.
e. She speaks in a strange accent. Neither I nor my sister (understand) her.
She speaks in a strange accent. Neither I nor my sister understands her.
f. I forgot whether the singers or the actress (be) given the Film Fair Award last year.
I forgot whether the singers or the actress was given the Film Fair Award last year.
g. Neither the tracksuit nor the pajamas (fit) me perfectly.
Neither the tracksuit nor the pajamas fit me perfectly.
h. Neither the gas fire nor the electric heaters (be) suitable for room heating.
Neither the gas fire nor the electric heaters are suitable for room heating.
C. This passage contains the agreement errors. Correct the subjects or verbs that don’t agree with each other. Remember to use present tense in your corrections.
Corrected Passage:
Within the state of Arizona, Rob, along with his family, moves frequently from city to city. After his arrival, one
of his first tasks was to find an apartment close to work, as he did not have a car. Usually, there are many
different places to choose from, and he considers cost, location, and luxury. If one apartment has a washing machine
and dryer and costs four hundred dollars a month, he prefers to rent it over another apartment which has
significantly less rent and is located two blocks from a Laundromat. Rob’s family never wanted to live in an
apartment on the thirteenth floor, since all of them fear heights. He also tried to choose an apartment with a
landlord recommended by former tenants. Everybody knows that it is important to find a responsible landlord. Rob and
his wife love to cook together when both are free, so they need a spacious, well-equipped kitchen. Rob often looks
for a place with an air conditioner because there are so many scorching days and nights in Arizona. Whenever Rob
finds a new apartment, all of his concerns disappear. He felt relieved and called his mother. Someone
understands!
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesUnit 5: Education
Working with words
A. Match the words in column ‘A’ with their meanings in column ‘B’.
a. expectantly
in a way that shows you are hoping for something, especially something good or exciting
b. beckon
to give signal to somebody to move nearer or to follow you
c. grapple
to try hard to find a solution to a problem
d. texture
the way food or drink tastes or feels in your mouth
e. cobbled
having a surface that is made of small round stones
f. flimsy
thin and easily torn
g. attire
clothes, especially fine or formal ones
h. marvelous
extremely good; wonderful
i. dynamics
the science of the forces involved in movement
B. An autobiography is a story of a person’s life, written by himself/herself. Use a dictionary and find the meanings of the following words related to people’s life stories.
Hagiography
the writing of the lives of saints.
Psychobiography
a biographical study focusing on psychological factors, as childhood traumas and unconscious motives.
Pathography
the study of the life of an individual or the history of a community with regard to the influence of a particular
disease or psychological disorder.
Chronicle
a factual written account of important or historical events in the order of their occurrence.
Obituary
a notice of a death, especially in a newspaper, typically including a brief biography of the deceased person.
Character sketch
a brief written description of a person’s qualities.
Profile
a short article giving a description of a person or organization.
Memoir
a historical account or biography written from personal knowledge.
Comprehension
A. Put the following events in the life of Abdul Kalam in a chronological order.
c. Abdul Kalam attended an elementary school at Rameswaram.
f. One day Abdul Kalam’s teacher visited them to share his pride and pleasure about his performance.
a. They celebrated happiness with poli.
g. A new teacher in the school forbade Abdul Kalam to sit together with his Bramhin friend.
e. Many students did not understand well of Sivasubramania Iyer’s lecture.
d. He then took the students to the seashore for a practical class.
b. Abdul Kalam was determined that he would make a future study about flight and flight systems.
B. Answer the following questions.
a. What were the causes of Abdul Kalam’s happiness?
The causes of Abdul Kalam’s happiness were his supportive father, loving mother, inspirational and
motivational teachers at schools, his keen interest in mathematics and his labour and dedication to his study.
b. Which two places did Abdul Kalam visit before going to school?
Abdul Kalam visited to his Arabic tutoring class and his mathematics teacher’s home before heading to school.
c. What did he like about mathematics?
He liked to learn rules and principles of mathematics and solving complex number problems for hours.
d. Why was the new teacher unhappy?
The new teacher was unhappy because he saw that a Brahmin boy Ramanadhan Sastry and a Muslim boy Abdul Kalam sitting
together in a same bench in the classroom.
e. Why did Abdul Kalam have to split with his intimate friend?
Abdul Kalam had to split with his intimate friend because of the discriminating behaviour of his new teacher in
terms of religion in Rameswaram Elementary School.
f. What was the topic of Sivasubramania Iyer’s class?
The topic of Sivasubramania Iyer’s class was how the birds could fly in the sky.
g. How was the teacher’s reaction when the students told him that they did not understand his lecture?
Teacher didn’t become upset when the students told him that they didn’t understand his lecture.
h. Why did Sivasubramania Iyer take his students to the seashore?
Sivasubramania Iyer took his students to the seashore because he wanted to demonstrate the mechanism of bird flight
to the students.
Critical Thinking
a. APJ Abdul Kalam became a renowned aerospace scientist in his later life. Do you find any association of his childhood days in shaping his career? Explain with specific instances from the text.
APJ (Avul Pakir Jainulabdeeni) Abdul Kalam is a well-known aerospace scientist of India. He became a famous
aerospace scientist because he was inspired and motivated by the explanation of the flight dynamics of birds
practically given by his teacher Sivasubramania lyer in his school. There is the great associations of his childhood
days in shaping his career. He was a keen student of mathematics and always scored full marks in it. He also scored
full marks in Science in his study time. Beside this he would take extra classes of mathematics at his
teacher’s home. He kept himself always busy in solving complex number problems. The most impressing thing to
him was the practical lecture of his teacher Sivasubramania lyer. He, along with his friends, was taken to the
seashore of Rameswaram to have a practical demonstration on flight dynamics of the birds. The real teaching of his
teacher had left him an influential remarks. He learnt how birds could fly using their wings and tails in a proper
balance. When he learnt flight systems of the birds he was determined to study flight dynamics and following every
steps suggested by his teacher, and hence he became an aerospace scientist.
b. Kalam mentions an instance of discrimination against him in his school life. What picture of society does he want to depict by mentioning the incident? Discuss.
In his memoir, he mentions a sad event of religious discrimination in his school. His new teacher showed his
discriminating behaviour when he saw a Muslim boy (Abdul) and a Hindu boy (Rameswaram) sitting together in a same
bench in the classroom. Rameswaram Sastry was an intimate friend of him belonging to Hindu community. Abdul was
ignorant about the religious discrimination between Hindu and Muslim. During the time, there was extreme religious
discrimination between Hindu and Muslim. The behaviour of the new teacher was a true picture of the then society. He
could not digest the friendship between a Hindu boy and a Muslim boy, so he forbaded Abdul to sit close to his
Brahmin friend. Abdul was totally upset by this behaviour. By this incident, Abdul wants to show the picture of the
society that was parted between two sects - Hindu and Muslim. Few people denied such divisions, but most of the
people, including educated people believed in partition.
Writing
Write a short autobiography featuring your childhood life using the following guidelines.
I was born in a small village of north - eastern part of Nepalgunj District. I’m from a middle class family.
There are five members in my family including me. First of my respected Father who is tailor, then my lovely mother
she is House wife. Other my family members are a eldest brother and a younger sister and both of them are studying
too.
Since I’m a student, my daily routine focuses on studying and classes. I usually wake up at 6:00 am and do my
daily routines like brushing my teeth, taking a shower and getting ready for class. After which I check my notes and
revise for the day. My classes usually used to start by 8:00 am and ends by 1:00 pm. I used to attend classes
regularly. After classes, I hang out with my friends for a while and go back home. I reach home and then usually
take a nap till 4:30 pm. After taking a nap, I go out and play. I usually come back by 6 and have a bath. After
which I get ready to study and by 9:00, I go to the bed.
I used to play a lot with my siblings. I remember very fondly the games we use to play. Especially, in the evenings,
we used to go out in the park with our sports equipment. Each day we played different games, for example, football
on one day and cricket on the other. These memories of playing in the park are very dear to me. Most importantly, I
remember this instance very clearly when we went out for a picnic with my family. We paid a visit to the zoo and had
an incredible day. My mother packed delectable dishes which we ate in the zoo. My father clicked so many pictures
that day. When I look at these pictures, the memory is so clear, it seems like it happened just yesterday. Thus, my
childhood memories are very dear to me and make me smile when I feel low.
Grammar
A. Study the following sentences and underline the connectives.
a. Although she spoke very fast, I understood what she meant to say.
b. In spite of her hard labour, she failed her exam.
c. Though he had all the required qualifications, he did not get the job.
d. Despite having all the qualifications, he did not get the job.
B. Join the following pairs of sentences twice, using although/though/even though and despite/in spite of as in the example.
a. He is a millionaire. He lives in a simple house.
- Although he is a millionaire, he lives in a simple house.
- Despite of being a millionaire, he lives in a simple house.
b. The weather was extremely bad. The pilot landed the plane safely.
- In spite of extremely bad weather, the pilot landed the plane safely.
- Although the weather was extremely bad, the pilot landed the plane safely.
c. We study in the same college. We hardly see each other.
- Despite studying in the same college, we hardly see each other.
- Although we study in the same college, we hardly see each other.
d. It rained heavily. We enjoyed our holiday.
- Although it rained heavily, we enjoyed our holiday.
- In spite of the heavy rain, we enjoyed our holiday.
e. I had an umbrella. I got wet in the rain.
- Despite having an umbrella, I got wet in the rain.
- Although I had an umbrella, I got wet in the rain.
f. I was really tired. I could not sleep for a moment.
- Although I was really tired, I could not sleep for a moment.
- I couldn’t sleep despite being very tired.
g. She has a very good accent in English. She failed the interview of a newsreader.
- Despite having a very good accent in English, she failed the interview of a newsreader.
- Although she has a very good accent in English, she failed the interview of a newsreader.
h. Lhasa has extremely cold weather in winter. Millions of tourists go there in January.
- Millions of tourists go to Lhasa in January, even though it has extremely cold weather in winter.
- Despite having extremely cold weather in winter, millions of tourists go to Lhasa in January.
i. He was badly injured in the first round of the boxing match. He was victorious in the third round.
- In spite of being badly injured in the first round of the boxing match, he was victorious in the third round.
- Although he was badly injured in the first round of the boxing match, he was victorious in the third round.
C. Complete each sentence in an appropriate way.
a. He passed the exam although he hadn’t prepared well.
b. She climbed the mountain in spite of her leg injury.
c. He did not give any alms to the beggars even though he earned a lot.
d. In spite of his poor eyesight, he is conducting online courses.
e She does not go to parties, though she is very sociable.
f. He could not pass the test, in spite of his ten attempts.
g. He refused to eat anything despite having an appetite.
h. He could not score goods grades in the SEE exams in spite of his hard with private coaching.
i. She accepted the job although she couldn’t meet her salary expectation.
j. Even though we had planned everything carefully, we could not complete our mission.
Comprehension
A. Put the following events in the life of Abdul Kalam in a chronological order.
c. Abdul Kalam attended an elementary school at Rameswaram.
f. One day Abdul Kalam’s teacher visited them to share his pride and pleasure about his performance.
a. They celebrated happiness with poli.
g. A new teacher in the school forbade Abdul Kalam to sit together with his Bramhin friend.
e. Many students did not understand well of Sivasubramania Iyer’s lecture.
d. He then took the students to the seashore for a practical class.
b. Abdul Kalam was determined that he would make a future study about flight and flight systems.
B. Answer the following questions.
a. What were the causes of Abdul Kalam’s happiness?
The causes of Abdul Kalam’s happiness were his supportive father, loving mother, inspirational and
motivational teachers at schools, his keen interest in mathematics and his labour and dedication to his study.
b. Which two places did Abdul Kalam visit before going to school?
Abdul Kalam visited to his Arabic tutoring class and his mathematics teacher’s home before heading to school.
c. What did he like about mathematics?
He liked to learn rules and principles of mathematics and solving complex number problems for hours.
d. Why was the new teacher unhappy?
The new teacher was unhappy because he saw that a Brahmin boy Ramanadhan Sastry and a Muslim boy Abdul Kalam sitting
together in a same bench in the classroom.
e. Why did Abdul Kalam have to split with his intimate friend?
Abdul Kalam had to split with his intimate friend because of the discriminating behaviour of his new teacher in
terms of religion in Rameswaram Elementary School.
f. What was the topic of Sivasubramania Iyer’s class?
The topic of Sivasubramania Iyer’s class was how the birds could fly in the sky.
g. How was the teacher’s reaction when the students told him that they did not understand his lecture?
Teacher didn’t become upset when the students told him that they didn’t understand his lecture.
h. Why did Sivasubramania Iyer take his students to the seashore?
Sivasubramania Iyer took his students to the seashore because he wanted to demonstrate the mechanism of bird flight
to the students.
Critical Thinking
a. APJ Abdul Kalam became a renowned aerospace scientist in his later life. Do you find any association of his childhood days in shaping his career? Explain with specific instances from the text.
APJ (Avul Pakir Jainulabdeeni) Abdul Kalam is a well-known aerospace scientist of India. He became a famous
aerospace scientist because he was inspired and motivated by the explanation of the flight dynamics of birds
practically given by his teacher Sivasubramania lyer in his school. There is the great associations of his childhood
days in shaping his career. He was a keen student of mathematics and always scored full marks in it. He also scored
full marks in Science in his study time. Beside this he would take extra classes of mathematics at his
teacher’s home. He kept himself always busy in solving complex number problems. The most impressing thing to
him was the practical lecture of his teacher Sivasubramania lyer. He, along with his friends, was taken to the
seashore of Rameswaram to have a practical demonstration on flight dynamics of the birds. The real teaching of his
teacher had left him an influential remarks. He learnt how birds could fly using their wings and tails in a proper
balance. When he learnt flight systems of the birds he was determined to study flight dynamics and following every
steps suggested by his teacher, and hence he became an aerospace scientist.
b. Kalam mentions an instance of discrimination against him in his school life. What picture of society does he want to depict by mentioning the incident? Discuss.
In his memoir, he mentions a sad event of religious discrimination in his school. His new teacher showed his
discriminating behaviour when he saw a Muslim boy (Abdul) and a Hindu boy (Rameswaram) sitting together in a same
bench in the classroom. Rameswaram Sastry was an intimate friend of him belonging to Hindu community. Abdul was
ignorant about the religious discrimination between Hindu and Muslim. During the time, there was extreme religious
discrimination between Hindu and Muslim. The behaviour of the new teacher was a true picture of the then society. He
could not digest the friendship between a Hindu boy and a Muslim boy, so he forbaded Abdul to sit close to his
Brahmin friend. Abdul was totally upset by this behaviour. By this incident, Abdul wants to show the picture of the
society that was parted between two sects - Hindu and Muslim. Few people denied such divisions, but most of the
people, including educated people believed in partition.
Writing
Write a short autobiography featuring your childhood life using the following guidelines.
I was born in a small village of north - eastern part of Nepalgunj District. I’m from a middle class family.
There are five members in my family including me. First of my respected Father who is tailor, then my lovely mother
she is House wife. Other my family members are a eldest brother and a younger sister and both of them are studying
too.
Since I’m a student, my daily routine focuses on studying and classes. I usually wake up at 6:00 am and do my
daily routines like brushing my teeth, taking a shower and getting ready for class. After which I check my notes and
revise for the day. My classes usually used to start by 8:00 am and ends by 1:00 pm. I used to attend classes
regularly. After classes, I hang out with my friends for a while and go back home. I reach home and then usually
take a nap till 4:30 pm. After taking a nap, I go out and play. I usually come back by 6 and have a bath. After
which I get ready to study and by 9:00, I go to the bed.
I used to play a lot with my siblings. I remember very fondly the games we use to play. Especially, in the evenings,
we used to go out in the park with our sports equipment. Each day we played different games, for example, football
on one day and cricket on the other. These memories of playing in the park are very dear to me. Most importantly, I
remember this instance very clearly when we went out for a picnic with my family. We paid a visit to the zoo and had
an incredible day. My mother packed delectable dishes which we ate in the zoo. My father clicked so many pictures
that day. When I look at these pictures, the memory is so clear, it seems like it happened just yesterday. Thus, my
childhood memories are very dear to me and make me smile when I feel low.
Grammar
A. Study the following sentences and underline the connectives.
a. Although she spoke very fast, I understood what she meant to say.
b. In spite of her hard labour, she failed her exam.
c. Though he had all the required qualifications, he did not get the job.
d. Despite having all the qualifications, he did not get the job.
B. Join the following pairs of sentences twice, using although/though/even though and despite/in spite of as in the example.
a. He is a millionaire. He lives in a simple house.
- Although he is a millionaire, he lives in a simple house.
- Despite of being a millionaire, he lives in a simple house.
b. The weather was extremely bad. The pilot landed the plane safely.
- In spite of extremely bad weather, the pilot landed the plane safely.
- Although the weather was extremely bad, the pilot landed the plane safely.
c. We study in the same college. We hardly see each other.
- Despite studying in the same college, we hardly see each other.
- Although we study in the same college, we hardly see each other.
d. It rained heavily. We enjoyed our holiday.
- Although it rained heavily, we enjoyed our holiday.
- In spite of the heavy rain, we enjoyed our holiday.
e. I had an umbrella. I got wet in the rain.
- Despite having an umbrella, I got wet in the rain.
- Although I had an umbrella, I got wet in the rain.
f. I was really tired. I could not sleep for a moment.
- Although I was really tired, I could not sleep for a moment.
- I couldn’t sleep despite being very tired.
g. She has a very good accent in English. She failed the interview of a newsreader.
- Despite having a very good accent in English, she failed the interview of a newsreader.
- Although she has a very good accent in English, she failed the interview of a newsreader.
h. Lhasa has extremely cold weather in winter. Millions of tourists go there in January.
- Millions of tourists go to Lhasa in January, even though it has extremely cold weather in winter.
- Despite having extremely cold weather in winter, millions of tourists go to Lhasa in January.
i. He was badly injured in the first round of the boxing match. He was victorious in the third round.
- In spite of being badly injured in the first round of the boxing match, he was victorious in the third round.
- Although he was badly injured in the first round of the boxing match, he was victorious in the third round.
C. Complete each sentence in an appropriate way.
a. He passed the exam although he hadn’t prepared well.
b. She climbed the mountain in spite of her leg injury.
c. He did not give any alms to the beggars even though he earned a lot.
d. In spite of his poor eyesight, he is conducting online courses.
e She does not go to parties, though she is very sociable.
f. He could not pass the test, in spite of his ten attempts.
g. He refused to eat anything despite having an appetite.
h. He could not score goods grades in the SEE exams in spite of his hard with private coaching.
i. She accepted the job although she couldn’t meet her salary expectation.
j. Even though we had planned everything carefully, we could not complete our mission.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesUnit 6: Money and Economy
Working with words
A. Match the words in column ‘A’ with their meanings in column ‘B’.
a. prominent
vi. standing out so as to be seen easily, conspicuous
b. vulnerable
iv. exposed to the possibility of being attacked / harmed
c. potentially
viii. with the capacity to develop or happen in the future
d. transaction
i. an instance of buying or selling of something
e. initiatives
ii. the power or opportunity to do something before others do
f. launched
iii. to introduce a new plan or product
g. enduring
ix. lasting over a period of time; durable
h. robust
v. strong and unlikely to break or fall
B. There are different abbreviations used in the text. With the help of the internet, find their full forms.
QR : Quick Response
ISO : International Organization for Standardization
IEC : International Electrotechnical Commission
URLs : Uniform Resource Locators
EMVCo : Europay, Mastercard, and Visa Company
PIN : Personal Identification Number
C. Pronounce the following words and identify the vowel sounds /ʊ/ and /u:/. You can take help from a dictionary.
/ʊ/
put, push, hood, full, bull, book, foot, look, hook, cook, should, soot, stood
/u:/
boom, fool, food, loose, boost, groom, moon, soon, room, soothe,
Comprehension
A. Decide whether these statements are True or False. Write NOT GIVEN if you do not find the information.
a. The system of QR codes was first launched in South Asia. True
b. The standards of payments via the QR codes were approved by EMVCo. True
c. All sorts of businesses are aided by the QR code payments. False
d. There are several models to the QR code payment service. True
e. In countries like Nepal, the QR code paying system is a complete fiasco. False
f. The QR codes payment service is not applicable to small business. False
B. Answer the following questions.
a. How can one pay with QR codes paying system?
One can pay with QR codes paying system either by presenting a QR code for scanning to the merchant, or by scanning
at the merchant’s QR code.
b. How did Tencent and Alibaba companies utilise the QR code services at the beginning?
At the beginning, Tencent utilized the QR code services in its social media WeChat for friending and Alibaba
utilized to facilate Alipay payment services.
c. How do the QR code based payment services launched by Visa and Mastercard mitigate payment problems?
The QR code based payment services launched by Visa and Mastercard mitigate payment problems by linking QR code
payments to debit and credit card accounts.
d. Why do we need a scheme operator to run the QR code based payment system?
We need a scheme operator for scheme branding at acceptance points, defining the scheme rules and providing a
mechanism for handling disputes and exceptions.
e. What basic requirements are needed to use the QR codes services?
A suitable, secured scheme operator is required to use the QR code services.
f. How can security concerns related to payment via QR codes be addressed?
Security concerns related to payment via QR codes can be addressed by the use of merchant IDs, registration and
real-time notification of payment.
g. Who should be more careful: customer or the merchant in terms of payment issues? Why?
A customer should be more careful in terms of payment issues because it would be better to stop the fraud happening
in the first place rather than trying to correct it later by the merchant.
h. Do you think the QR code based payment can be a panacea for all sorts of payment problems? Why?
Yes, I think the QR code based payment can be a panacea for all sorts of payment problems because it is fast, secure
and easy to create.
Critical thinking
a. Some business houses, shops and department stores in city areas have started to adopt QR code payment systems in
Nepal, too. What should be done to make it more accessible? Discuss.
The Covid-19 pandemic has immensely boosted the Scan and Pay service through the QR code in Nepal too. People being
concerned with their hygiene are supporting the contactless payment system. Evolving digital payment service
providers like Fonepay, IMEPay, Khalti, QPay, and SmartQR also encourage QR code payment by offering their users
Scan and Pay services.
QR code payment systems can play an impactful role in changing informal sectors into the formal economy. However,
Nepal needs to tackle challenges in many infrastructural and behavioural traits before reaching the full potential
of e-payment. The lack of interoperability is another major issue for a stable digital payment service. Rapid growth
in several PSOs and PSPs may result in an imbalance in the ecosystem of the digital economy. To avoid this hurdle, a
unified payment switch is necessary.
QR code payment can be a vital factor in uplifting Nepal’s digital economy. The government giving more
priority to digital payment systems and the central bank to promote this system can be a head start for QR code
payment.
Mass awareness campaigns and promotional events can also influence this transition. Infrastructural development like
high-speed internet connection and wider user accessibility must be considered. Payment service providers, payment
service operators, bank and financial institutes, and traders should work together to bring interoperability to
their digital payment services.
b. The payments landscape is shifting gears from cash to digital mode. Digital payment brings ease and convenience
to the consumer. Is it possible to apply such cashless methods in payments in Nepal? Discuss.
It’s hard but not impossible to apply Digital payment system in Nepal. Nepal needs to tackle challenges in
many infrastructural and behavioural traits before reaching the full potential of e-payment. The number of internet
users is impressively growing but still not enough to process an established digital economy.
QR code payment systems can play an impactful role in changing informal sectors into the formal economy. The
government giving more priority to digital payment systems and the central bank to promote this system can be a head
start for QR code payment.
Mass awareness campaigns and promotional events can also influence this transition. Infrastructural development like
high-speed internet connection and wider user accessibility must be considered. Payment service providers, payment
service operators, bank and financial institutes, and traders should work together to bring interoperability to
their digital payment services.
The ultimate goal should be offering a one-stop solution for the consumers to access all sorts of e-payment
services, including QR code payment.
Writing
A. Punctuate this paragraph with appropriate punctuation marks.
It was a cold freezing day, it had been snowing all day in New York. Mr. Tim cooked and I went outside to play
in the snow. We had not seen much snow since we went skiing in Sweden last year. Mrs. Smith was right because she
had said that we’d see snow. The next day we had really a wonderful time there, didn’t we?
B. Write a news article about digital payment systems in Nepal.
Digital Payment Systems in Nepal
Digital payment is gaining momentum due to social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic. The evolution of digital
payment platforms and increasing consumers’ preference towards e-payment secures a bright future for online
payment in Nepal.
What is Digital Payment?
Digital Payment is definitely growing in popularity and is becoming a trend these days. The reason is simple -
convenience. In the era when businesses are shifting online, why not transactions!
Major Use of Digital Payment System in Nepal
You can find QR codes in various good and service sectors like departmental stores and small shops, and many banks
and financial institutes (BFIs). You can make payments in supermarkets via a QR code scanner using a digital wallet.
Local vendors and shops are also using QR codes for quick payment. Fruits and vegetable markets also feature digital
payments for grocery shopping.
According to a report by the Nepal Rastra Bank, the number of digital transactions from mid-December 2020 to
mid-January 2021 was 372,176. Similarly, the transactional amount was Rs 1.245 billion. The next month, the number
of transactions increased to 535,790 and the amount to Rs 1.712 billion, suggesting a clear rise in the use of
digital payment.
Future and Challenges
Switching to any e-payment services like QR code will be a long-running process. PSOs like eSewa have been offering
QR payment services without charging any additional fee during transactions to encourage such platforms. This
generation has access to different media that can raise awareness of digital payment significance, so the numbers of
users is expected to grow in the future rapidly but still not enough to process an established digital economy. The
lack of interoperability is another major issue for a stable digital payment service.
Conclusion
QR code payment can be a vital factor in uplifting Nepal’s digital economy. The government giving more
priority to digital payment systems and the central bank to promote this system can be a head start for QR code
payment. The ultimate goal should be offering a one-stop solution for the consumers to access all sorts of e-payment
services, including QR code payment.
Grammar
A. Look at the following questions and say what type of questions they are.
a. Do you like this country?
Yes/No Question
b. Where is she from?
Wh Question
c. How many eggs do we need for this cake?
Wh Question
d. Whose children are playing in the yard?
Wh Question
e. Does she like ice cream or sweets?
Choice Question
f. She sent him an invitation, didn’t she?
Tag Question
g. Could you tell me if the doctor is available?
Indirect Question
h. Do you know how tall they are?
Yes/No Question
B. Choose the correct words from the box to complete the sentences.
a. Is your friend a scientist? - No, he’s an artist.
b. Does Naresh live in Kathmandu? - No, he lives in Pokhara.
c. When did you get home? - I got home yesterday.
d. What time do you get up? - I get up at 6:00.
e. Did the children go to the part? - Yes, they went there after school.
f. Are you going to school? - No, I’m going home.
g. Can you speak Chinese? - Just a little.
h. Where did you grow up? - I grew up in Okhaldhunga.
C. Make wh-questions so that the words in bold become the answer.
a. Romeo loves Juliet.
Whom does Romeo love?
b. My mother made a delicious bread yesterday.
What did your mother make yesterday?
c. The music was composed by Narayan Gopal.
Who composed the music?
d. I’m looking for a new book.
What are you looking for?
e. They were talking about the new movie.
What were they talking about?
f. She got the idea from a story.
Where did she get the idea?
g. She always goes to school on foot.
How does she go to school?
h. She sometimes goes to the cinema.
How often does she go to the cinema?
i. They have been waiting for three years.
How long have they been waiting for?
D. Change these indirect questions into direct ones.
a. Could you tell me where the Market Street is?
Where is Market Street?
b. I’m longing to know what time the bank opens.
What time does the bank open?
c. Do you have any idea how he’s managed to get in shape so quickly?
How has he managed to get in shape so quickly?
d. I’d like to know how much this motorcycle costs these days.
How much does this motorcycle cost these days?
e. Did you notice if he had left the car in the park?
Had he left the car in the park?
f. Have you found out if the train has left?
Has the train left?
g. I was wondering if they speak English well.
Could they speak English well?
h. Would you tell us how we can get to the post office from here?
How can we get to the post office from here?
i. Do you remember if I locked the front door?
Did I lock the front door?
Comprehension
A. Decide whether these statements are True or False. Write NOT GIVEN if you do not find the information.
a. The system of QR codes was first launched in South Asia. True
b. The standards of payments via the QR codes were approved by EMVCo. True
c. All sorts of businesses are aided by the QR code payments. False
d. There are several models to the QR code payment service. True
e. In countries like Nepal, the QR code paying system is a complete fiasco. False
f. The QR codes payment service is not applicable to small business. False
B. Answer the following questions.
a. How can one pay with QR codes paying system?
One can pay with QR codes paying system either by presenting a QR code for scanning to the merchant, or by scanning
at the merchant’s QR code.
b. How did Tencent and Alibaba companies utilise the QR code services at the beginning?
At the beginning, Tencent utilized the QR code services in its social media WeChat for friending and Alibaba
utilized to facilate Alipay payment services.
c. How do the QR code based payment services launched by Visa and Mastercard mitigate payment problems?
The QR code based payment services launched by Visa and Mastercard mitigate payment problems by linking QR code
payments to debit and credit card accounts.
d. Why do we need a scheme operator to run the QR code based payment system?
We need a scheme operator for scheme branding at acceptance points, defining the scheme rules and providing a
mechanism for handling disputes and exceptions.
e. What basic requirements are needed to use the QR codes services?
A suitable, secured scheme operator is required to use the QR code services.
f. How can security concerns related to payment via QR codes be addressed?
Security concerns related to payment via QR codes can be addressed by the use of merchant IDs, registration and
real-time notification of payment.
g. Who should be more careful: customer or the merchant in terms of payment issues? Why?
A customer should be more careful in terms of payment issues because it would be better to stop the fraud happening
in the first place rather than trying to correct it later by the merchant.
h. Do you think the QR code based payment can be a panacea for all sorts of payment problems? Why?
Yes, I think the QR code based payment can be a panacea for all sorts of payment problems because it is fast, secure
and easy to create.
Critical thinking
a. Some business houses, shops and department stores in city areas have started to adopt QR code payment systems in
Nepal, too. What should be done to make it more accessible? Discuss.
The Covid-19 pandemic has immensely boosted the Scan and Pay service through the QR code in Nepal too. People being
concerned with their hygiene are supporting the contactless payment system. Evolving digital payment service
providers like Fonepay, IMEPay, Khalti, QPay, and SmartQR also encourage QR code payment by offering their users
Scan and Pay services.
QR code payment systems can play an impactful role in changing informal sectors into the formal economy. However,
Nepal needs to tackle challenges in many infrastructural and behavioural traits before reaching the full potential
of e-payment. The lack of interoperability is another major issue for a stable digital payment service. Rapid growth
in several PSOs and PSPs may result in an imbalance in the ecosystem of the digital economy. To avoid this hurdle, a
unified payment switch is necessary.
QR code payment can be a vital factor in uplifting Nepal’s digital economy. The government giving more
priority to digital payment systems and the central bank to promote this system can be a head start for QR code
payment.
Mass awareness campaigns and promotional events can also influence this transition. Infrastructural development like
high-speed internet connection and wider user accessibility must be considered. Payment service providers, payment
service operators, bank and financial institutes, and traders should work together to bring interoperability to
their digital payment services.
b. The payments landscape is shifting gears from cash to digital mode. Digital payment brings ease and convenience
to the consumer. Is it possible to apply such cashless methods in payments in Nepal? Discuss.
It’s hard but not impossible to apply Digital payment system in Nepal. Nepal needs to tackle challenges in
many infrastructural and behavioural traits before reaching the full potential of e-payment. The number of internet
users is impressively growing but still not enough to process an established digital economy.
QR code payment systems can play an impactful role in changing informal sectors into the formal economy. The
government giving more priority to digital payment systems and the central bank to promote this system can be a head
start for QR code payment.
Mass awareness campaigns and promotional events can also influence this transition. Infrastructural development like
high-speed internet connection and wider user accessibility must be considered. Payment service providers, payment
service operators, bank and financial institutes, and traders should work together to bring interoperability to
their digital payment services.
The ultimate goal should be offering a one-stop solution for the consumers to access all sorts of e-payment
services, including QR code payment.
Writing
A. Punctuate this paragraph with appropriate punctuation marks.
It was a cold freezing day, it had been snowing all day in New York. Mr. Tim cooked and I went outside to play
in the snow. We had not seen much snow since we went skiing in Sweden last year. Mrs. Smith was right because she
had said that we’d see snow. The next day we had really a wonderful time there, didn’t we?
B. Write a news article about digital payment systems in Nepal.
Digital Payment Systems in Nepal
Digital payment is gaining momentum due to social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic. The evolution of digital
payment platforms and increasing consumers’ preference towards e-payment secures a bright future for online
payment in Nepal.
What is Digital Payment?
Digital Payment is definitely growing in popularity and is becoming a trend these days. The reason is simple -
convenience. In the era when businesses are shifting online, why not transactions!
Major Use of Digital Payment System in Nepal
You can find QR codes in various good and service sectors like departmental stores and small shops, and many banks
and financial institutes (BFIs). You can make payments in supermarkets via a QR code scanner using a digital wallet.
Local vendors and shops are also using QR codes for quick payment. Fruits and vegetable markets also feature digital
payments for grocery shopping.
According to a report by the Nepal Rastra Bank, the number of digital transactions from mid-December 2020 to
mid-January 2021 was 372,176. Similarly, the transactional amount was Rs 1.245 billion. The next month, the number
of transactions increased to 535,790 and the amount to Rs 1.712 billion, suggesting a clear rise in the use of
digital payment.
Future and Challenges
Switching to any e-payment services like QR code will be a long-running process. PSOs like eSewa have been offering
QR payment services without charging any additional fee during transactions to encourage such platforms. This
generation has access to different media that can raise awareness of digital payment significance, so the numbers of
users is expected to grow in the future rapidly but still not enough to process an established digital economy. The
lack of interoperability is another major issue for a stable digital payment service.
Conclusion
QR code payment can be a vital factor in uplifting Nepal’s digital economy. The government giving more
priority to digital payment systems and the central bank to promote this system can be a head start for QR code
payment. The ultimate goal should be offering a one-stop solution for the consumers to access all sorts of e-payment
services, including QR code payment.
Grammar
A. Look at the following questions and say what type of questions they are.
a. Do you like this country?
Yes/No Question
b. Where is she from?
Wh Question
c. How many eggs do we need for this cake?
Wh Question
d. Whose children are playing in the yard?
Wh Question
e. Does she like ice cream or sweets?
Choice Question
f. She sent him an invitation, didn’t she?
Tag Question
g. Could you tell me if the doctor is available?
Indirect Question
h. Do you know how tall they are?
Yes/No Question
B. Choose the correct words from the box to complete the sentences.
a. Is your friend a scientist? - No, he’s an artist.
b. Does Naresh live in Kathmandu? - No, he lives in Pokhara.
c. When did you get home? - I got home yesterday.
d. What time do you get up? - I get up at 6:00.
e. Did the children go to the part? - Yes, they went there after school.
f. Are you going to school? - No, I’m going home.
g. Can you speak Chinese? - Just a little.
h. Where did you grow up? - I grew up in Okhaldhunga.
C. Make wh-questions so that the words in bold become the answer.
a. Romeo loves Juliet.
Whom does Romeo love?
b. My mother made a delicious bread yesterday.
What did your mother make yesterday?
c. The music was composed by Narayan Gopal.
Who composed the music?
d. I'm looking for a new book.
What are you looking for?
e. They were talking about the new movie.
What were they talking about?
f. She got the idea from a story.
Where did she get the idea?
g. She always goes to school on foot.
How does she go to school?
h. She sometimes goes to the cinema.
How often does she go to the cinema?
i. They have been waiting for three years.
How long have they been waiting for?
D. Change these indirect questions into direct ones.
a. Could you tell me where the Market Street is?
Where is Market Street?
b. I'm longing to know what time the bank opens.
What time does the bank open?
c. Do you have any idea how he's managed to get in shape so quickly?
How has he managed to get in shape so quickly?
d. I'd like to know how much this motorcycle costs these days.
How much does this motorcycle cost these days?
e. Did you notice if he had left the car in the park?
Had he left the car in the park?
f. Have you found out if the train has left?
Has the train left?
g. I was wondering if they speak English well.
Could they speak English well?
h. Would you tell us how we can get to the post office from here?
How can we get to the post office from here?
i. Do you remember if I locked the front door?
Did I lock the front door?
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesUnit 7: Humour
Working with words
A. The following words are synonyms and antonyms of the verb ‘laugh’. Group them into synonyms and
antonyms.
Synonyms
chuckle, giggle, chortle, crackle, snicker, groan, smirk, whoop
Antonyms
grin, sob, grimace, frown, pout, scowl, cry, moan
B. Match the following emotions with their definitons.
a. fear
an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain or harm
b. anger
a strong feeling of displeasure
c. surprise
an unexpected event, fact, etc.
d. disgust
a feeling of strong disapproval aroused by something unpleasant
e. sadness
affected with grief or unhappiness
f. happiness
a pleasurable or satisfying experience
g. relief
removal or lightening of something oppressive, painful, or distressing
h. triumph
a great victory or achievement
i. contentment
the quality or state of being satisfied
Comprehension
A. Complete the following sentences with words/ phrases from the text.
a. According to Sophie Scott, laughter is one of the important and misunderstood behaviours.
b. After her study in Namibia, Scott came to the realization that laughter is one of our richest vocal tics.
c. Studies have shown that there are six universal emotions across cultures based on facial expressions.
d. Scott found out that most of the laughs have nothing to do with humour.
e. The couples who laugh at each other are likely to stay together for longer.
f. The primary way of communication of grown up people is laughing.
g. Comedians usually find it easier to work in larger places due to the contagious nature of laughter.
B. Answer the following questions.
a. Why do people giggle at someone’s pain or suffering?
People giggle at someone’s pain or suffering because giggling through someone’s pain or suffering is a
way of convincing yourself (and therefore others) that you’re alright, or at least on our way to being alright.
b. What did Scott’s study in Namibia come up with?
Scott’s study in Namibia came up with the realization that laughter is one of our richest vocal ties.
c. How is laughter a social bonding?
Laughter is a social bonding because it is an emotion that brings us together and helps us to bond, whether or not
something is actually funny.
d. According to the author, what role does laughter play in husband-wife relationship?
According to the author, laughter makes the husband-wife relationship stronger and long-lasting by making it easier
to dissipate tension after a stressful event.
e. How does laughter work as a painkiller?
Laughter correlates with increased pain threshold, and by encouraging the release of endorphins, it works as a
painkiller.
f. What did the study find about the relation between laughter and brain?
The study about the relation between laughter and brain found that the brain responds to each kind of laughter and
both seem to tickle the brain’s mirror regions - the areas that tend to mimic other’s actions.
g. What are two emotions that the author associates with infants and adults?
Crying and laughter are two emotions that the author associates with infants and adults.
h. How does a stand-up comedian take the audience’s laughter?
A stand-up comedian takes the audience’s laughter by interacting with them, taking the advantage of contagious
nature of laughter and reducing the audience to fits of hysterics.
i. Show the relation between laughter and crowd.
The relation between laughter and crowd is that laughter is contagious in crowd means that it can easily catch a
wave when there are more people in crowd.
j. What does the author mean when he says “there is always a meaning to it?”
When author says “there is always a meaning to it” he means that laughter is never neutral and always
have a meaning although it seems to be trivial, ephemeral and pointless.
Critical thinking
a. Do you agree that ‘the couples, who laugh together, stay together?’ Is it important for married
couples to have the same sense of humour? Why?
Yes, I agree with the statement that “the couples, who laugh together, stay together.” A sense of humour
is an attractive trait. There is abundant cross cultural evidence that shows that being funny makes you more
desirable as a mate. Simply having a funny bond doesn’t mean you two are the perfect match - apparently being able
to laugh at the same things makes your partnership even stronger. A good sense of humour makes a person more
attractive. Laughter is called the best medicine not without a reason, and this holds true for couples who might be
going through stressful times. Studies have proved time and again how laughter helps release feel-good hormones that
help to relieve stress. So, it’s important for married couples to share good laughter and have the same sense
of humour whenever they find themselves bogged down by trouble.
b. Some people believe that sometimes crying is good for health. Do you believe it? Give your reasons.
Crying is a natural response humans have to a range of emotions, including sadness, grief, joy, and frustration. Yes
I believe that crying is good for health. Medical benefits of crying have been known as far back as the Classical
era. Thinkers and physicians of ancient Greece and Rome posited that tears work like a purgative, draining off and
purifying us. Today’s psychological thought largely concurs, emphasizing the role of crying as a mechanism
that allows us to release stress and emotional pain. When we cry, we let out tons of emotions that allow our body
and mind to reboot after you release all those emotions. Crying is particularly important during periods of
grieving. It may even help to process and accept the loss of a loved one. People often report feeling better after
they cry. That could be because crying forces us to pay attention to what triggered us and work through our emotions
and thoughts. Crying might also help in understanding what’s important to us, especially if we cry over something
that upset us unexpectedly. By this we can say that crying is an essential form of relief and hence it is good for
health too.
Writing
B. Write a description of your favourite comedian explaining his/her personality, acting, performance and
uniqueness.
Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the silent era. He is mostly
famous for his screen persona “the tramp”. Born on April 16, 1889 in London, Chaplin is considered one of
the most important figures in the history of the film industry. He had been a productive and creative film maker for
about 75 years before he died in 1977.
Chaplin suffered from poverty and hardship in his childhood. He was sent to a workhouse twice before the age of
nine. His mother struggled financially when his father was absent. When he was 14, his mother was sent to a mental
asylum.
Chaplin’s first performances were at music halls as a stage actor and comedian at the age of 19. He went to the USA
where he was scouted for the film industry, and began appearing in 1914 for Keystone Studios. He soon developed the
Tramp persona and formed a large fan base. Chaplin directed his own films from an early stage, and continued to hone
his craft. By 1918, he was one of the best known figures in the film industry.
Chaplin wrote, directed, produced, edited, starred in, and composed the music for most of his films. He was a
perfectionist, and his financial independence enabled him to spend years on the development and production of a
picture.
Grammar
B. Put the frequency adverbs in appropriate place and rewrite the following sentences.
a. I forget to do my homework. (sometimes)
Sometimes I forget to do my homework.
b. My father has touched an alcoholic drink in his life. (never)
My father has never touched an alcoholic drink in his life.
c. My father goes for a walk on Saturdays. (often)
My father often goes for a walk on Saturdays.
d. We go to the movie theatre. (occasionally)
We occasionally go to the movie theatre.
e. My brother is in America. He telephones us. (from time to time)
My brother is in America. He telephones us from time to time.
f. My mother gets up at five o’clock. (always)
My mother always gets up at five o’clock.
g. He does not like alcoholic drinks but takes some wine. (now and then)
He does not like alcoholic drinks but now and then takes some wine.
h. I drink my tea with milk. (generally)
Generally, I drink my tea with milk.
i. Have you been to Agra? (ever)
Have you ever been to Agra?
j. The restaurant hours vary as it is booked for special events. (frequently)
The restaurant hours vary frequently as it is booked for special events.
Comprehension
A. Complete the following sentences with words/ phrases from the text.
a. According to Sophie Scott, laughter is one of the important and misunderstood behaviours.
b. After her study in Namibia, Scott came to the realization that laughter is one of our richest vocal tics.
c. Studies have shown that there are six universal emotions across cultures based on facial expressions.
d. Scott found out that most of the laughs have nothing to do with humour.
e. The couples who laugh at each other are likely to stay together for longer.
f. The primary way of communication of grown up people is laughing.
g. Comedians usually find it easier to work in larger places due to the contagious nature of laughter.
B. Answer the following questions.
a. Why do people giggle at someone’s pain or suffering?
People giggle at someone’s pain or suffering because giggling through someone’s pain or suffering is a
way of convincing yourself (and therefore others) that you’re alright, or at least on our way to being alright.
b. What did Scott’s study in Namibia come up with?
Scott’s study in Namibia came up with the realization that laughter is one of our richest vocal ties.
c. How is laughter a social bonding?
Laughter is a social bonding because it is an emotion that brings us together and helps us to bond, whether or not
something is actually funny.
d. According to the author, what role does laughter play in husband-wife relationship?
According to the author, laughter makes the husband-wife relationship stronger and long-lasting by making it easier
to dissipate tension after a stressful event.
e. How does laughter work as a painkiller?
Laughter correlates with increased pain threshold, and by encouraging the release of endorphins, it works as a
painkiller.
f. What did the study find about the relation between laughter and brain?
The study about the relation between laughter and brain found that the brain responds to each kind of laughter and
both seem to tickle the brain’s mirror regions - the areas that tend to mimic other’s actions.
g. What are two emotions that the author associates with infants and adults?
Crying and laughter are two emotions that the author associates with infants and adults.
h. How does a stand-up comedian take the audience’s laughter?
A stand-up comedian takes the audience’s laughter by interacting with them, taking the advantage of contagious
nature of laughter and reducing the audience to fits of hysterics.
i. Show the relation between laughter and crowd.
The relation between laughter and crowd is that laughter is contagious in crowd means that it can easily catch a
wave when there are more people in crowd.
j. What does the author mean when he says “there is always a meaning to it?”
When author says “there is always a meaning to it” he means that laughter is never neutral and always
have a meaning although it seems to be trivial, ephemeral and pointless.
Critical thinking
a. Do you agree that ‘the couples, who laugh together, stay together?’ Is it important for married
couples to have the same sense of humour? Why?
Yes, I agree with the statement that “the couples, who laugh together, stay together.” A sense of humour
is an attractive trait. There is abundant cross cultural evidence that shows that being funny makes you more
desirable as a mate. Simply having a funny bond doesn’t mean you two are the perfect match - apparently being able
to laugh at the same things makes your partnership even stronger. A good sense of humour makes a person more
attractive. Laughter is called the best medicine not without a reason, and this holds true for couples who might be
going through stressful times. Studies have proved time and again how laughter helps release feel-good hormones that
help to relieve stress. So, it’s important for married couples to share good laughter and have the same sense
of humour whenever they find themselves bogged down by trouble.
b. Some people believe that sometimes crying is good for health. Do you believe it? Give your reasons.
Crying is a natural response humans have to a range of emotions, including sadness, grief, joy, and frustration. Yes
I believe that crying is good for health. Medical benefits of crying have been known as far back as the Classical
era. Thinkers and physicians of ancient Greece and Rome posited that tears work like a purgative, draining off and
purifying us. Today’s psychological thought largely concurs, emphasizing the role of crying as a mechanism
that allows us to release stress and emotional pain. When we cry, we let out tons of emotions that allow our body
and mind to reboot after you release all those emotions. Crying is particularly important during periods of
grieving. It may even help to process and accept the loss of a loved one. People often report feeling better after
they cry. That could be because crying forces us to pay attention to what triggered us and work through our emotions
and thoughts. Crying might also help in understanding what’s important to us, especially if we cry over something
that upset us unexpectedly. By this we can say that crying is an essential form of relief and hence it is good for
health too.
Writing
B. Write a description of your favourite comedian explaining his/her personality, acting, performance and
uniqueness.
Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the silent era. He is mostly
famous for his screen persona “the tramp”. Born on April 16, 1889 in London, Chaplin is considered one of
the most important figures in the history of the film industry. He had been a productive and creative film maker for
about 75 years before he died in 1977.
Chaplin suffered from poverty and hardship in his childhood. He was sent to a workhouse twice before the age of
nine. His mother struggled financially when his father was absent. When he was 14, his mother was sent to a mental
asylum.
Chaplin’s first performances were at music halls as a stage actor and comedian at the age of 19. He went to the USA
where he was scouted for the film industry, and began appearing in 1914 for Keystone Studios. He soon developed the
Tramp persona and formed a large fan base. Chaplin directed his own films from an early stage, and continued to hone
his craft. By 1918, he was one of the best known figures in the film industry.
Chaplin wrote, directed, produced, edited, starred in, and composed the music for most of his films. He was a
perfectionist, and his financial independence enabled him to spend years on the development and production of a
picture.
Grammar
B. Put the frequency adverbs in appropriate place and rewrite the following sentences.
a. I forget to do my homework. (sometimes)
Sometimes I forget to do my homework.
b. My father has touched an alcoholic drink in his life. (never)
My father has never touched an alcoholic drink in his life.
c. My father goes for a walk on Saturdays. (often)
My father often goes for a walk on Saturdays.
d. We go to the movie theatre. (occasionally)
We occasionally go to the movie theatre.
e. My brother is in America. He telephones us. (from time to time)
My brother is in America. He telephones us from time to time.
f. My mother gets up at five o’clock. (always)
My mother always gets up at five o’clock.
g. He does not like alcoholic drinks but takes some wine. (now and then)
He does not like alcoholic drinks but now and then takes some wine.
h. I drink my tea with milk. (generally)
Generally, I drink my tea with milk.
i. Have you been to Agra? (ever)
Have you ever been to Agra?
j. The restaurant hours vary as it is booked for special events. (frequently)
The restaurant hours vary frequently as it is booked for special events.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesUnit 8: Human Culture
Working with words
A. Complete the given sentences with the suitable words from the box.
a. The annual report has caused acute embarrassment to the government.
b. Ellen has worn high-heels. She is teetering.
c. Look! The poor horse is dragging a heavy load.
d. As they approached the outskirts of the city, Ella’s mood visibly lightened.
e. The parcel was wrapped in plain brown paper. It still looks attractive.
f. Fruits and vegetables grow in abundance in the Terai region.
g. They can abstract precious medicines from ordinary substances.
C. Add suitable suffix to the root words given and write the parts of speech of each newly formed
word.
| Root Word | Suffix | New Words || — | — | — || Neighbour | hood | Neighbourhood (n.) || Comfort | able | Comfortable (adj.) || Shop | ing | Shopping (n.) || Husk | er | Husker (n.) || Squeamish | ly | Squeamishly (adv.) || Change | ing | Changing (adj.) || Shine | ing | Shining (adv.) || Colloquial | ly | Colloquially (adv.) || Collect | ion | Collection (n.) || Embarrass | ment | Embarrassment (n.) || Persuade | ive | Persuasive (adj.) || Type | ing | Typing(adj.) || Differ | ence | Difference (n.) || Ship | ing | Shipping(adj.) || Tropic | al | Tropical (adj.) || Drive | ing | Driving (adj.) || Reside | ence | Residence (n.) || Brother | hood | Brotherhood (n.) || Fresh | ness | Freshness (n.) |
D. Look for the following words related to waste management in an English dictionary. Make sentences of
your own using them.
Sewage
Sewage often pollutes the ocean.
Sludge
A lot of sludge was scooped out of the base of the river.
Organic waste
Oxygen is required for efficient decomposition of the organic wastes.
Inorganic waste
The inorganic waste is being processed in a new government-owned plant.
Methane
The ignition of methane gas killed eight men.
Waste reduction
The government should focus on waste reduction for pollution free environment.
Monofil
It was caught in a monofilament gill in about 60 feet of water.
Market waste
Proper recycling and management of market waste should be everyone’s first priority.
Incineration
The government is proposing to incinerate cattle carcasses at 22 sites.
Hazardous waste
Regular CFLs are categorized as household hazardous waste.
Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
a. How does the author describe the Japanese waste management system?
The author describes the Japanese waste management system saying that three nights a week, the residents
of his neighborhood deposit their household trash at specified areas on the street corners, wrapped in
neat bundles, like gifts, and it disappears at dawn.
b. What are the two reasons behind the existence of sodaigomi in Japanese culture?
The two reasons behind the existence of sodaigomi in Japanese culture are: one is the small size of the
typical Japanese house and another is the Japanese desire for freshness and purity.
c What, according to the author, do the Japanese feel at the thought of buying second hand items?
According to the author, the Japanese feel embarrassment at the thought of buying second hand items.
d. How is Malaysian culture different from Japanese culture concerning the used items?
In Malaysian culture no one throws anything away whereas in Japanese culture heaps of clean, new-looking
merchandise are thrown on the street. Several customer bids enthusiastically for second handed small to
small things in Malaysia whereas shoppers seem to feel embarrassment at the thought of buying second
hand items in Japan.
e. Why did the author feel awkward at the sodaigomi pile?
The author felt awkward at the sodaigomi pile because he never believed that everything looing perfectly
clean, whole, and serviceable is thrown out in Japanese culture.
f. How many articles did the author bring to his house one after another?
The author laid in as many provisions as he decently could. At first he grabbed an ordinary low Japanese
tea table. He then brought a shiny new bell for one son’s bicycle, a small but attractive wooden
cupboard, a complete set of wrenches and screwdrivers in a metal toolbox, a Naugahyde-covered barstool
and a lacquer serving tray.
g. Why do most people try to find things in trash pile ‘in the dead of the night’?
Most people try to find things in trash pile ‘in the dead of the night’ because everyone can
pretend not to notice and they can bring no shame upon their kind.
h. How did the author’s family assimilate Japanese culture in using consumer goods?
The author’s family assimilated Japanese culture in using consumer goods by operating in the dead
of night to collect the essential materials or goods thrown out in the sodaigomi pile.
Critical thinking
a. If you happen to be in Japan someday, will you collect articles from sodaigomi? Why or why not?
Yes, I would have collected articles from sodaigomi if I happen to be in Japan someday. I live in the
country where people only buy the new things after it gets old, damaged and unable to function properly.
So, living in Japanese culture, following the sodaigomi tradition is not of my kind. It is painful to go
from the world to one in which we didn’t have any household goods, couldn’t bring ourselves to buy the
overpriced new ones in the store - and then saw heaps of clean, new-looking merchandise just sitting on
the street. By picking up items form sodaigomi, I would save a lot of money and would live a good life.
So, definitely I will collect articles from sodaigomi instead of going for the new one.
b. There are some second hand shops in Nepal, too. But, people are not much interested in them. What
practice would be suitable in managing second hand items in Nepal?
Some consumers love buying and selling second-hand items due to cost-effectiveness, as well as ethical
and environmental benefits. But many of the peoples if Nepal are not much interested in them. So to
encourage second hand shopping in Nepal following things should be considered.
1. Second hand shops should partner with the brands that sell well, and provide assistance for
consignors on what products and what brands are best to consign with.
2. A realistic price should be kept by starting with the original value of the newly manufactured item,
and then reducing it in accordance with wear and tear and extent of usage.
3. Providing additional support, such as offering consignment consultations with advice on pricing,
photographing, and shipping items can encourage more people to buy and sell on these shops.
4. Second hand stores have vibrant social media followings and it should work toward getting out to as
many people as possible.
Writing
A. Write a paragraph elaborating the idea of 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle) in garbage management.
3Rs - Reduce, Reuse & Recycle
The principle of reducing waste, reusing and recycling resources and products is often called the
“3Rs.” Basically, it is a sequence of steps on how to manage waste properly. Reducing means
choosing to use things with care to reduce the amount of waste generated. Reusing involves the repeated
use of items or parts of items which still have usable aspects. Recycling means the use of waste itself
as resources. The three R’s all help to cut down on the amount of garbage we throw away. They conserve
natural resources, landfill space and energy. Plus, the three R’s save land and money communities must
use to dispose of waste in landfills. Siting a new landfill has become difficult and more expensive due
to environmental regulations and public opposition.
B. Garbage management is a big problem in most of the cities in Nepal. Write a letter to the editor to
be published in the daily newspaper suggesting the ways of ‘Solving Garbage Problems.’
12/24 Amritnagar Tole,
Kalanki, Kathmandu
26th Jan, 2021
To the Editor,
The Kathmandu Post
Sub : Regarding the news coverage about ‘Solving Garbage
Problems’.
Dear Sir,
I would be grateful if you allow a little space in your widely circulated and popular newspaper. In
order to draw the attention of the general public as well as the concerning authority of the government
to the problem of garbage management in most of the cities in Nepal, I am writing you this. We know that
we have a serious garbage problem. It is clear that there will be no value from waste, as energy or
material, if it is not segregated. But this is where our waste management system stops short.
The problem of waste is something that needs to be handled on a smaller scale and aggregated to solve
the bigger problem. Waste-pickers already contribute greatly to solving this problem. We need to tap
into their capacity. An IT platform like I Got Garbage can build business models for wastepickers.
Instead of picking and dumping garbage from each house, the government can provide subsidy and give
every home a composter. Landfill sites can never be a solution to solid waste in cities as it is an
outdated idea. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle are the most common methods to reduce landfill waste. 80
percent of organic waste littering the streets can be used if the government cooperates with pig farmers
in the respective cities. I wonder why the authorities are not adopting this method. As long as
governments try cleaning the city by doing the same things they always did and say they will do it
better this time, the city won’t become cleaner. We need something dramatically different.
I hope the concerning authorities will make appropriate steps immediately.
Looking forward to seeing an article in this regard in your upcoming publication.
Faithfully yours,
Subarna P.
Grammar
B. Use the words from the brackets to complete the sentences.
a. This house is very small. I want to buy a much bigger one. (much / big)
b. I liked the magic show. It was far more exciting than I’d expected. (far / exciting)
c. It was very cold yesterday. It’s a bit warmer today. (a bit / warm)
d. The warmer the weather the better I feel. (good)
e. An average American earns considerably higher than an average Nepali. (considerably / high)
f. Health care in Nepal is not as expensive as it is in the US. (expensive)
g. I think the problem is far more complicated than it seems. (far / complicated)
h. You are driving very fast. Would you please drive a bit slowly? (a bit/ slowly)
i. Your handwriting is not legible. Can you write a bit neat? (a bit/ neat)
C. Rewrite the following sentences with the sentence beginnings given below.
a. Kabir is less intelligent than he pretends. He is not as intelligent as he pretends.
b. I am busy today but I was busier yesterday. I’m not as busier as I was yesterday.
c. Hari has lived in Kathmandu for 10 years but Bikram for 20 years. Bikram has lived in Kathmandu 10 years more
than Hari.
d. I used to study 12 hours a day but nowadays I study only 5 hours a day. I don’t study as much as I used
to do.
e. It’s a very good room in our hotel. In fact, it’s the best compared to other.
f. He earns 30 thousand rupees a month but spends 40 thousand. He spends more than he earns.
g. There is no other mountain higher than Mt. Everest in the world. Mt. Everest is the highest mountain in the
world.
h. The place was nearer than I thought. It was not as far as I thought.
i. Bharat can play better than Mohan. Mohan can’t play as good as Bharat.
Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
a. How does the author describe the Japanese waste management system?
The author describes the Japanese waste management system saying that three nights a week, the residents
of his neighborhood deposit their household trash at specified areas on the street corners, wrapped in
neat bundles, like gifts, and it disappears at dawn.
b. What are the two reasons behind the existence of sodaigomi in Japanese culture?
The two reasons behind the existence of sodaigomi in Japanese culture are: one is the small size of the
typical Japanese house and another is the Japanese desire for freshness and purity.
c What, according to the author, do the Japanese feel at the thought of buying second hand items?
According to the author, the Japanese feel embarrassment at the thought of buying second hand items.
d. How is Malaysian culture different from Japanese culture concerning the used items?
In Malaysian culture no one throws anything away whereas in Japanese culture heaps of clean, new-looking
merchandise are thrown on the street. Several customer bids enthusiastically for second handed small to
small things in Malaysia whereas shoppers seem to feel embarrassment at the thought of buying second
hand items in Japan.
e. Why did the author feel awkward at the sodaigomi pile?
The author felt awkward at the sodaigomi pile because he never believed that everything looing perfectly
clean, whole, and serviceable is thrown out in Japanese culture.
f. How many articles did the author bring to his house one after another?
The author laid in as many provisions as he decently could. At first he grabbed an ordinary low Japanese
tea table. He then brought a shiny new bell for one son’s bicycle, a small but attractive wooden
cupboard, a complete set of wrenches and screwdrivers in a metal toolbox, a Naugahyde-covered barstool
and a lacquer serving tray.
g. Why do most people try to find things in trash pile ‘in the dead of the night’?
Most people try to find things in trash pile ‘in the dead of the night’ because everyone can
pretend not to notice and they can bring no shame upon their kind.
h. How did the author’s family assimilate Japanese culture in using consumer goods?
The author’s family assimilated Japanese culture in using consumer goods by operating in the dead
of night to collect the essential materials or goods thrown out in the sodaigomi pile.
Critical thinking
a. If you happen to be in Japan someday, will you collect articles from sodaigomi? Why or why not?
Yes, I would have collected articles from sodaigomi if I happen to be in Japan someday. I live in the
country where people only buy the new things after it gets old, damaged and unable to function properly.
So, living in Japanese culture, following the sodaigomi tradition is not of my kind. It is painful to go
from the world to one in which we didn’t have any household goods, couldn’t bring ourselves to buy the
overpriced new ones in the store - and then saw heaps of clean, new-looking merchandise just sitting on
the street. By picking up items form sodaigomi, I would save a lot of money and would live a good life.
So, definitely I will collect articles from sodaigomi instead of going for the new one.
b. There are some second hand shops in Nepal, too. But, people are not much interested in them. What
practice would be suitable in managing second hand items in Nepal?
Some consumers love buying and selling second-hand items due to cost-effectiveness, as well as ethical
and environmental benefits. But many of the peoples if Nepal are not much interested in them. So to
encourage second hand shopping in Nepal following things should be considered.
1. Second hand shops should partner with the brands that sell well, and provide assistance for
consignors on what products and what brands are best to consign with.
2. A realistic price should be kept by starting with the original value of the newly manufactured item,
and then reducing it in accordance with wear and tear and extent of usage.
3. Providing additional support, such as offering consignment consultations with advice on pricing,
photographing, and shipping items can encourage more people to buy and sell on these shops.
4. Second hand stores have vibrant social media followings and it should work toward getting out to as
many people as possible.
Writing
A. Write a paragraph elaborating the idea of 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle) in garbage management.
3Rs - Reduce, Reuse & Recycle
The principle of reducing waste, reusing and recycling resources and products is often called the
“3Rs.” Basically, it is a sequence of steps on how to manage waste properly. Reducing means
choosing to use things with care to reduce the amount of waste generated. Reusing involves the repeated
use of items or parts of items which still have usable aspects. Recycling means the use of waste itself
as resources. The three R’s all help to cut down on the amount of garbage we throw away. They conserve
natural resources, landfill space and energy. Plus, the three R’s save land and money communities must
use to dispose of waste in landfills. Siting a new landfill has become difficult and more expensive due
to environmental regulations and public opposition.
B. Garbage management is a big problem in most of the cities in Nepal. Write a letter to the editor to
be published in the daily newspaper suggesting the ways of ‘Solving Garbage Problems.’
12/24 Amritnagar Tole,
Kalanki, Kathmandu
26th Jan, 2021
To the Editor,
The Kathmandu Post
Sub : Regarding the news coverage about ‘Solving Garbage
Problems’.
Dear Sir,
I would be grateful if you allow a little space in your widely circulated and popular newspaper. In
order to draw the attention of the general public as well as the concerning authority of the government
to the problem of garbage management in most of the cities in Nepal, I am writing you this. We know that
we have a serious garbage problem. It is clear that there will be no value from waste, as energy or
material, if it is not segregated. But this is where our waste management system stops short.
The problem of waste is something that needs to be handled on a smaller scale and aggregated to solve
the bigger problem. Waste-pickers already contribute greatly to solving this problem. We need to tap
into their capacity. An IT platform like I Got Garbage can build business models for wastepickers.
Instead of picking and dumping garbage from each house, the government can provide subsidy and give
every home a composter. Landfill sites can never be a solution to solid waste in cities as it is an
outdated idea. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle are the most common methods to reduce landfill waste. 80
percent of organic waste littering the streets can be used if the government cooperates with pig farmers
in the respective cities. I wonder why the authorities are not adopting this method. As long as
governments try cleaning the city by doing the same things they always did and say they will do it
better this time, the city won’t become cleaner. We need something dramatically different.
I hope the concerning authorities will make appropriate steps immediately.
Looking forward to seeing an article in this regard in your upcoming publication.
Faithfully yours,
Subarna P.
Grammar
B. Use the words from the brackets to complete the sentences.
a. This house is very small. I want to buy a much bigger one. (much / big)
b. I liked the magic show. It was far more exciting than I’d expected. (far / exciting)
c. It was very cold yesterday. It’s a bit warmer today. (a bit / warm)
d. The warmer the weather the better I feel. (good)
e. An average American earns considerably higher than an average Nepali. (considerably / high)
f. Health care in Nepal is not as expensive as it is in the US. (expensive)
g. I think the problem is far more complicated than it seems. (far / complicated)
h. You are driving very fast. Would you please drive a bit slowly? (a bit/ slowly)
i. Your handwriting is not legible. Can you write a bit neat? (a bit/ neat)
C. Rewrite the following sentences with the sentence beginnings given below.
a. Kabir is less intelligent than he pretends. He is not as intelligent as he pretends.
b. I am busy today but I was busier yesterday. I’m not as busier as I was yesterday.
c. Hari has lived in Kathmandu for 10 years but Bikram for 20 years. Bikram has lived in Kathmandu 10 years more
than Hari.
d. I used to study 12 hours a day but nowadays I study only 5 hours a day. I don’t study as much as I used
to do.
e. It’s a very good room in our hotel. In fact, it’s the best compared to other.
f. He earns 30 thousand rupees a month but spends 40 thousand. He spends more than he earns.
g. There is no other mountain higher than Mt. Everest in the world. Mt. Everest is the highest mountain in the
world.
h. The place was nearer than I thought. It was not as far as I thought.
i. Bharat can play better than Mohan. Mohan can’t play as good as Bharat.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesUnit 9: Ecology and Environment
Working with words
A. The words/phrases in the box are from the text. Check their meanings in a dictionary and use these words to
complete the given sentences.
a. Logging is one of the main reasons behind the rapid deforestation in the world.
b. That’s one example of how the pandemic should be a wake-up call.
c. Propane is a gas used as a fuel for cooking and heating.
d. Emergency teams are still clearing the debris from the plane crash.
e. What a transformation! You look great.
f. My father made a New Year resolution to give up smoking.
g. He has worked in the Army for two years. He hates that two-year detrimental.
h. Emissions from the factory are widely suspected of having a/an stint effect on health.
i. My father is an occasional smoker. He doesn’t smoke often.
j. Redwood is a very tall type of tree that grows especially in California and Oregan.
B. Choose one word from each box to make sensible compound words.
Rattle : Rattlesnake
Sun : Sunflower
Touch : Touchdown
Moon : Moonlight
Day : Daydream
Fire : Fireworks
Water : Watermelon
Basket : Basketball
Pass : Passport
Wash : Washcloth
Weather : Weatherman
Grand : Grandmother
Cross : Crosswalk
C. Match the following words/phrases related to the ecology with their meanings.
Sustainability
to keep in existence; maintain. To supply with necessities or nourishment
Tree line
the height on a mountain above which the climate is too cold for trees to grow
Precipitation
water that returns to the earth as rain, hail, sleet, or snow
Tropical Zone
the region between latitudes 23.5 degrees S and 23.5 degrees N
Kyoto Protocol
an agreement between countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. It was established in Japan in 1997 but
didn’t become international law until 2004
Pollutants
substances that destroy the purity of air, water, or land
Geosphere
the soils, sediments, and rock layers of the Earth’s crust, both continental and beneath the ocean floors
Deciduous
a plant that sheds all or nearly all its leaves each year
Ephemeral
an organism that has a short life cycle
Trash
items that are discarded
Comprehension
A. Choose the best answer.
a. The author of the text above has the opinion that Julia Hill made her pastime in a tree for two years more.
b. The sentence ‘Julia had occasional visitors’ indicates she had a few visitors now and then.
c. The logging company managed 24 hour security service around the tree to discourage her from her campaign.
d. Ms. Hill began to respond the loggers with songs and conventional conversations because she had unconditional love for all nature’s creations.
e. Julia Hill climbed down the tree after 738 days when her demands were about to be fulfilled.
B. Answer the following questions.
a. Who was Julia Butterfly Hill? How did Hill’s campaign gain popularity?
Julia Butter Jill was a person who lived in a 200-ft-tall redwood tree for more than two years to draw attention
to the continued clearcutting of California’s remaining redwood forests. Her campaign gained popularity
when she started to have occasional visitors.
b. What made Hill start her mega campaign to save redwood trees?
When she arrived in the redwood forest, she was gripped by the spirit of the forest. She dropped to her knees
and began to sob seeing the clearcutting of redwood trees. She sat and cried for a long time and finally decided
to start her mega campaign to save redwood trees.
c. What kinds of amenities were there to support Hill’s life in the tree?
Hill had a sleeping bag, a solar-powered cell phone for media interviews, and a single-burner propane stove to
cook and heat water to support her life in the tree. She had few necessities, and no luxuries.
d. Did Hill’s value of life change after her car accident? How?
Yes, Hill’s value of life changed after her car accident. She said the experience was a wake-up call.
Before accident her main focus had been work but later on she became clear that value as people is not in their
stock portfolios and bank accounts, but it is in the legacies they leave behind.
e. Deforestation causes natural calamities. What evidence do you have in the text to prove this?
Yes it’s true that deforestation causes natural calamities. In the text we can see that the cutting of
redwoods destabilized the hillside and caused the mudslide which carried trees, stumps and debris from that
hillside down into the town, leaving seven families without homes.
f. How did the logging company try to discourage Hill in the early days of her sit-in?
The logging company tried to discourage Hill in the early days of her sit-in by hiring 24-hour security guards
to harass her and to ensure her support team couldn’t deliver her supplies. She was menaced with a
helicopter at a dangerously close range. A neighboring tree was felled, hitting Luna’s outer branches and
nearly causing Hill to fall. She was verbally abused, threatened with violence, rape and death, kept awake with
floodlights, and bugles and air horns were blown through the night.
g. How were the vagaries of nature unwelcoming to Hill?
The logging company wasn’t her only problem. One of her scariest times was a 16-hour, 70-mph windstorm
that shredded the tarps that surrounded her, and even ripped huge branches off the tree. When lightning struck
nearby during an electrical storm, her hair stood straight up. In this way the vagaries of nature were
unwelcoming to Hill.
h. What is the purpose of the author to write a review on Hill’s book? Do you think the author stands
for ecological sustainability? Give reasons.
The purpose of the author to write a review on Hill’s book is to bring a spotlight to the issue of
deforestation. He wants people to learn about the deforestation and its ill effects through his review and make
people know about what a person should do to prevent from this should. Yes I think the author stands for
ecological sustainability.
Writing
A. Write a review of a book/film which you have read/watched recently.
The Time Machine
1. Title of the Book: The Time Machine
2. Author of the Book: H.G. Wells
3. Country: United Kingdom
4. Language: English
5. First originally published by: William Heinemann, London in 1895.
6. Genre: Science Fiction Novel
7. Cost of the Book: Rs. 300
8. Name of the Publisher: Dover Publications
9. Edition and year of Copyright: April 3, 1995
10. No. of pages: 80
11. Writing style: Narrative
12. Characters: The Narrator-Hillyer, Eloi, Morlocks, Weena
13. Plot: The story follows a Victorian scientist, who claims that he has invented a device that enables him
to
travel through time, and has visited the future, arriving in the year 802,701 in what had once been London. The
narrator recounts the Traveler’s lecture to his weekly dinner guests that time is simply the fourth
dimension and demonstrates a tabletop model machine for travelling through the fourth dimension. He reveals that
he has built a machine capable of carrying a person through time and returns at dinner the following week to
recount a remarkable tale, becoming the new narrator.
14. Summary: A group of men, including the narrator, is listening to the Time Traveler discussing his theory
that time is the fourth dimension. The Time Traveler produces a miniature time machine and makes it disappear
into thin air. The next week, the guests return, to find their host stumble in, looking disheveled and tired.
They sit down after dinner, and the Time Traveler begins his story.
15. My Impressions: The time traveler’s machine is described in such sketchy terms that it can scarcely
be believed as an instrument of science, and the time traveler’s account is similarly sketchy and bizarre.
The very nature of time travel means that he’s away for only a short period of time, and the only
“proof” of his travels is a crunched up flower. And given that the narrative is told in a
twice-removed manner, the reader can’t help but wonder whether any of the novels is true at all. Did the
time traveler truly engage in such chronological shenanigans, and did he experience what he claims? Or is he
simply using an imagined future to provide a warning about the current state of society? But the reality is that
neither the truth nor the journey matters: it’s only the outcome.
B. Your school is going to organize a speech competition on coming Friday. The subject of the speech is
“Let’s save the trees and protect our environment.” Draft a speech using the following
prompts.
Let’s Save the Trees and Protect Our
Environment
Good morning everyone, thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak on such an important topic Let’s
Save the Trees and Protect Our Environment. When one thinks of the most important element to survive the answer
that always comes to our mind is air. Air is important for all living beings be it animals or humans. The trees
which occupy 32% of the earth’s surface provide us with this air.
The trees of the planet act as the lungs in our body and purify the air we breathe. It is due to the existence
of trees we inhale fresh air. As trees inhale carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen which serves as the important
life source of all living beings. The more trees the planet has the fresher and purer the air we breathe.
Man’s attempt to outlive nature is costing us an unfortunate price. This drive for civilization and
modernization is harming the environment and therefore the planet to an irreversible extent. When man violates
nature the planet suffers and we have to bear the harmful consequences. Let’s understand how.
The road to civilization is more often through the way by destroying natural resources.
Man views trees as roadblocks in modernization, that is they see it as it comes in the way of building more
buildings and roads. So they tend to deforestation, which is an act of cutting down trees. When trees are cut
they build more homes and offices in the land.
Deforestation leads to many unnatural things that disrupt the balance of nature. Due to deforestation, air
pollution increases, and global warming rises. Animals lose their home and shelter, the quality of the soil
where deforestation is practiced deteriorates due to the untimely removal of roots of trees leading to soil
erosion.
As their population is only increasing, it is imperative to have more trees so that the next generation lives
breathing fresh air. If deforestation continues the planet will not be able to inhabit future generations
because of the imbalance it experiences.
The best way to solve this problem is by avoiding deforestation and moving towards afforestation that is
planting trees. We should all strive to save our home which is the planet. Even planting one tree can save so
many lives.
It is high time that we take action and protect the environment which nourishes all living and breathing
creatures. When saving trees they save lives and inevitably save the planet. Saving trees and protecting
environment is the motto we should all live by. Let’s leave behind a green planet for the next generation.
Spread the word and take action to save trees and in that way, we can protect the environment.
Thanks for the patient hearing!
Grammar
B. Someone says something to you which contradicts to what they told you earlier. Match the beginnings of the
conversations with the correct endings.
a. I’m going to Pokhara on holiday.
You said you were going on business.
b. He’s a lawyer.
You told me he was a teacher.
c. She’s had a baby girl.
You said she’d had a boy.
d. I haven’t seen Binesh for ages.
You told me you’d seen him previous week.
e. I love these new boots.
You said you hated them.
f. I only cheated in one exam.
You admitted you cheated in all your exams.
g. She doesn’t speak Hindi or Chinese.
You told me she was fluent in both.
h. He works in Kathmandu.
You told me his office was in Biratnagar.
C. Rewrite the following sentences with the sentence beginnings given below.
a. The principal said, “You can phone from my office, Rita.”
The principal said that she could phone from his office.
b. “You must not neglect your duty,” said the teacher to the student.
The teacher told the student that he/she must not neglect his/her duty.
c. The student said, “Sir, please, grant me a leave for two days.”
The student requested to grant him leave for two days.
d. I said to her, “Go to school or you will be fined.”
She was told to go to school or she would be fined.
e. The headmaster said, “Don’t make any noise, boys.”
The headmaster asked boys not to make any noise.
f. “Work hard if you want to rise in life,” said the old man.
The old man suggested working hard if they wanted to rise in life.
g. He said, “Goodbye, my friends!”
He said goodbye to his friends.
h. She said to me, “Have a pleasant journey ahead.”
She told me to have a pleasant journey ahead.
i. “Don’t give me the book, please,” Sharmila said.
Sharmila pleaded not to give her the book.
j. “Where have you been these days?” she spoke on the telephone.
He asked on the telephone where I had been those days.
k. The teacher said, “Have you submitted your assignments, students?”
The teacher asked students if they had submitted their assignments.
D. These are the exact words Dinesh said to you yesterday.
“I’ve just got engaged! We’re getting married next month. We’re going to Pokhara for our honeymoon. It’s
all going to be very expensive. Luckily, my friend is a photographer so he’ll take the photos for us. We’ll be
having the reception in my parents’ back garden. My mum is baking the cake for us and my sister’s band is
playing free for us. I hope you’ll come to the wedding.”
Now, you’re telling your friend what Dinesh told you. Complete the text.
He said he (1) had just got engaged. He told me that he (2) they were getting married next month. He
told me (3)
they were going to Pokhara for their honeymoon. He mentioned that it (4) was all going to be very expensive.
He
said that his friend (5) was a photographer and he (6) would take the photos for them. He mentioned
that they
(7) would be having the reception in his parents’ garden. He admitted that (8) his mum was baking the cake for
them. He said his sister’s band (9) was playing free for them. He said he (10) hoped I’d come to
the
wedding.
Comprehension
A. Choose the best answer.
a. The author of the text above has the opinion that Julia Hill made her pastime in a tree for two years more.
b. The sentence ‘Julia had occasional visitors’ indicates she had a few visitors now and then.
c. The logging company managed 24 hour security service around the tree to discourage her from her campaign.
d. Ms. Hill began to respond the loggers with songs and conventional conversations because she had unconditional love for all nature’s creations.
e. Julia Hill climbed down the tree after 738 days when her demands were about to be fulfilled.
B. Answer the following questions.
a. Who was Julia Butterfly Hill? How did Hill’s campaign gain popularity?
Julia Butter Jill was a person who lived in a 200-ft-tall redwood tree for more than two years to draw attention
to the continued clearcutting of California’s remaining redwood forests. Her campaign gained popularity
when she started to have occasional visitors.
b. What made Hill start her mega campaign to save redwood trees?
When she arrived in the redwood forest, she was gripped by the spirit of the forest. She dropped to her knees
and began to sob seeing the clearcutting of redwood trees. She sat and cried for a long time and finally decided
to start her mega campaign to save redwood trees.
c. What kinds of amenities were there to support Hill’s life in the tree?
Hill had a sleeping bag, a solar-powered cell phone for media interviews, and a single-burner propane stove to
cook and heat water to support her life in the tree. She had few necessities, and no luxuries.
d. Did Hill's value of life change after her car accident? How?
Yes, Hill’s value of life changed after her car accident. She said the experience was a wake-up call.
Before accident her main focus had been work but later on she became clear that value as people is not in their
stock portfolios and bank accounts, but it is in the legacies they leave behind.
e. Deforestation causes natural calamities. What evidence do you have in the text to prove this?
Yes it’s true that deforestation causes natural calamities. In the text we can see that the cutting of
redwoods destabilized the hillside and caused the mudslide which carried trees, stumps and debris from that
hillside down into the town, leaving seven families without homes.
f. How did the logging company try to discourage Hill in the early days of her sit-in?
The logging company tried to discourage Hill in the early days of her sit-in by hiring 24-hour security guards
to harass her and to ensure her support team couldn’t deliver her supplies. She was menaced with a
helicopter at a dangerously close range. A neighboring tree was felled, hitting Luna’s outer branches and
nearly causing Hill to fall. She was verbally abused, threatened with violence, rape and death, kept awake with
floodlights, and bugles and air horns were blown through the night.
g. How were the vagaries of nature unwelcoming to Hill?
The logging company wasn’t her only problem. One of her scariest times was a 16-hour, 70-mph windstorm
that shredded the tarps that surrounded her, and even ripped huge branches off the tree. When lightning struck
nearby during an electrical storm, her hair stood straight up. In this way the vagaries of nature were
unwelcoming to Hill.
h. What is the purpose of the author to write a review on Hill’s book? Do you think the author stands
for ecological sustainability? Give reasons.
The purpose of the author to write a review on Hill’s book is to bring a spotlight to the issue of
deforestation. He wants people to learn about the deforestation and its ill effects through his review and make
people know about what a person should do to prevent from this should. Yes I think the author stands for
ecological sustainability.
Writing
A. Write a review of a book/film which you have read/watched recently.
The Time Machine
1. Title of the Book: The Time Machine
2. Author of the Book: H.G. Wells
3. Country: United Kingdom
4. Language: English
5. First originally published by: William Heinemann, London in 1895.
6. Genre: Science Fiction Novel
7. Cost of the Book: Rs. 300
8. Name of the Publisher: Dover Publications
9. Edition and year of Copyright: April 3, 1995
10. No. of pages: 80
11. Writing style: Narrative
12. Characters: The Narrator-Hillyer, Eloi, Morlocks, Weena
13. Plot: The story follows a Victorian scientist, who claims that he has invented a device that enables him
to
travel through time, and has visited the future, arriving in the year 802,701 in what had once been London. The
narrator recounts the Traveler’s lecture to his weekly dinner guests that time is simply the fourth
dimension and demonstrates a tabletop model machine for travelling through the fourth dimension. He reveals that
he has built a machine capable of carrying a person through time and returns at dinner the following week to
recount a remarkable tale, becoming the new narrator.
14. Summary: A group of men, including the narrator, is listening to the Time Traveler discussing his theory
that time is the fourth dimension. The Time Traveler produces a miniature time machine and makes it disappear
into thin air. The next week, the guests return, to find their host stumble in, looking disheveled and tired.
They sit down after dinner, and the Time Traveler begins his story.
15. My Impressions: The time traveler’s machine is described in such sketchy terms that it can scarcely
be believed as an instrument of science, and the time traveler’s account is similarly sketchy and bizarre.
The very nature of time travel means that he’s away for only a short period of time, and the only
“proof” of his travels is a crunched up flower. And given that the narrative is told in a
twice-removed manner, the reader can’t help but wonder whether any of the novels is true at all. Did the
time traveler truly engage in such chronological shenanigans, and did he experience what he claims? Or is he
simply using an imagined future to provide a warning about the current state of society? But the reality is that
neither the truth nor the journey matters: it’s only the outcome.
B. Your school is going to organize a speech competition on coming Friday. The subject of the speech is
“Let’s save the trees and protect our environment.” Draft a speech using the following
prompts.
Let’s Save the Trees and Protect Our
Environment
Good morning everyone, thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak on such an important topic Let’s
Save the Trees and Protect Our Environment. When one thinks of the most important element to survive the answer
that always comes to our mind is air. Air is important for all living beings be it animals or humans. The trees
which occupy 32% of the earth’s surface provide us with this air.
The trees of the planet act as the lungs in our body and purify the air we breathe. It is due to the existence
of trees we inhale fresh air. As trees inhale carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen which serves as the important
life source of all living beings. The more trees the planet has the fresher and purer the air we breathe.
Man’s attempt to outlive nature is costing us an unfortunate price. This drive for civilization and
modernization is harming the environment and therefore the planet to an irreversible extent. When man violates
nature the planet suffers and we have to bear the harmful consequences. Let’s understand how.
The road to civilization is more often through the way by destroying natural resources.
Man views trees as roadblocks in modernization, that is they see it as it comes in the way of building more
buildings and roads. So they tend to deforestation, which is an act of cutting down trees. When trees are cut
they build more homes and offices in the land.
Deforestation leads to many unnatural things that disrupt the balance of nature. Due to deforestation, air
pollution increases, and global warming rises. Animals lose their home and shelter, the quality of the soil
where deforestation is practiced deteriorates due to the untimely removal of roots of trees leading to soil
erosion.
As their population is only increasing, it is imperative to have more trees so that the next generation lives
breathing fresh air. If deforestation continues the planet will not be able to inhabit future generations
because of the imbalance it experiences.
The best way to solve this problem is by avoiding deforestation and moving towards afforestation that is
planting trees. We should all strive to save our home which is the planet. Even planting one tree can save so
many lives.
It is high time that we take action and protect the environment which nourishes all living and breathing
creatures. When saving trees they save lives and inevitably save the planet. Saving trees and protecting
environment is the motto we should all live by. Let’s leave behind a green planet for the next generation.
Spread the word and take action to save trees and in that way, we can protect the environment.
Thanks for the patient hearing!
Grammar
B. Someone says something to you which contradicts to what they told you earlier. Match the beginnings of the
conversations with the correct endings.
a. I'm going to Pokhara on holiday.
You said you were going on business.
b. He's a lawyer.
You told me he was a teacher.
c. She's had a baby girl.
You said she’d had a boy.
d. I haven't seen Binesh for ages.
You told me you’d seen him previous week.
e. I love these new boots.
You said you hated them.
f. I only cheated in one exam.
You admitted you cheated in all your exams.
g. She doesn't speak Hindi or Chinese.
You told me she was fluent in both.
h. He works in Kathmandu.
You told me his office was in Biratnagar.
C. Rewrite the following sentences with the sentence beginnings given below.
a. The principal said, “You can phone from my office, Rita.”
The principal said that she could phone from his office.
b. “You must not neglect your duty,” said the teacher to the student.
The teacher told the student that he/she must not neglect his/her duty.
c. The student said, “Sir, please, grant me a leave for two days.”
The student requested to grant him leave for two days.
d. I said to her, “Go to school or you will be fined.”
She was told to go to school or she would be fined.
e. The headmaster said, “Don’t make any noise, boys.”
The headmaster asked boys not to make any noise.
f. “Work hard if you want to rise in life,” said the old man.
The old man suggested working hard if they wanted to rise in life.
g. He said, “Goodbye, my friends!”
He said goodbye to his friends.
h. She said to me, “Have a pleasant journey ahead.”
She told me to have a pleasant journey ahead.
i. “Don’t give me the book, please,” Sharmila said.
Sharmila pleaded not to give her the book.
j. “Where have you been these days?” she spoke on the telephone.
He asked on the telephone where I had been those days.
k. The teacher said, “Have you submitted your assignments, students?”
The teacher asked students if they had submitted their assignments.
D. These are the exact words Dinesh said to you yesterday.
“I’ve just got engaged! We’re getting married next month. We’re going to Pokhara for our honeymoon. It’s
all going to be very expensive. Luckily, my friend is a photographer so he’ll take the photos for us. We’ll be
having the reception in my parents’ back garden. My mum is baking the cake for us and my sister’s band is
playing free for us. I hope you’ll come to the wedding.”
Now, you're telling your friend what Dinesh told you. Complete the text.
He said he (1) had just got engaged. He told me that he (2) they were getting married next month. He
told me (3)
they were going to Pokhara for their honeymoon. He mentioned that it (4) was all going to be very expensive.
He
said that his friend (5) was a photographer and he (6) would take the photos for them. He mentioned
that they
(7) would be having the reception in his parents’ garden. He admitted that (8) his mum was baking the cake for
them. He said his sister’s band (9) was playing free for them. He said he (10) hoped I’d come to
the
wedding.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesUnit 10: Career Opportunities
Working with words
A. Complete the sentences with the correct words from the box below.
a. You must learn about 2000 Kanji to develop competence in the spoken Japanese language.
b. I can type both English and Nepali but not as fast as professional typists.
c. When she was in class eight, she got the opportunity to participate in a national painting competition.
d. The Prime Minister gave a long list of his achievement.
e. He spent many years in jail before reaching the position of a minister.
f. About fifty workers were made redundant because of the financial crisis in the factory.
g. He is affiliated to the World Bank as a senior consultant.
h. They registered my application after making verification of my documents.
i. I requested my teacher to be my referee in my CV.
j. To make our country self-sustained in food production is an imperative need at present.
B. Define the following employment-related terms and use them in the sentences of your own.
Volunteering : work for an organization without being paid.
Volunteering is an easy way to get involved in practical conservation.
On the job training : a practical approach to acquiring new skills.
I learned the skills necessary to be a top music producer on the job training.
Career opportunity : a particular job that may be a steppingstone to loftier ambitions.
Networking opens a lot more career opportunities and at a faster rate.
Skill development : the method of detecting skill gaps and improving these skills.
The social skill development needs to be going on all the time.
Apprenticeship : the position of an apprentice.
He served his apprenticeship as a fitter.
Career counselling : a type of support provided by career counselors to their clients.
They oversee career counseling programs and testing which measures students.
Credentials : something that gives a title to credit or confidence
His campaign has refused to credential any reporter from that outlet.
Human capital : the economic value of a worker’s experience and skills.
Investment in education is seen as the key to improving human capital.
Internship : a period of work experience offered by an organization for a limited period of time.
He served his medical internship at Norvic Hospital.
Soft skills : character traits skills that characterize a person’s relationships with other people.
Veterans should be valued for their soft skills more than their hard technical skills.
Minimum wage : the lowest wage per hour that a worker may be paid, as mandated by federal law.
The country requires a minimum wage because workers paid below the poverty line have an added cost on society.
Recruitment : the action of enlisting new people in the armed forces.
An excellent career opportunity has now arisen with a leading recruitment agency.
Role model : a person looked to by others as an example to be imitated.
She was a great role model and indeed a great mentor to me.
Aptitude : a natural ability to do something.
He has demonstrated a great aptitude for carpentry skills.
Assessment : the action of making a judgment about someone or something
It’s a difficult problem that requires careful assessment.
C. Based on their pronunciation, divide the following words into two groups so that the vowel sounds rhyme with
here and hare.
Here /hɪə/
Fear, beer, ear, leer, cheer, sheer, shear, tear (n.), mere, deer, dear, clear, sneer, gear
Hare /hɛː/
Fare, fair, bear, bare, care, heir, air, share, lair, chair, share, tear (v.), mare, dare, snare
Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
a. What does a CV mean and why is it important in one’s career?
Curriculum vitae is a Latin term that literally means ‘course of life’. In practice, it is a
document that sets out a whole host of your personal details, experience and achievements as they relate to your
working life.
It is important because it provides with a crucially important opportunity to reflect on and plan further
developments in one’s career. It is need when applying for jobs, seeking promotion and trying to get
research funding.
b. Does the same CV work for all job opportunities? Why or why not?
Yes, the same CV works for all job opportunities but it’s better to make slight tweaks to ensure that the
CV highlights your most relevant skills and qualifications on the basis of job description and uses terminology
found in the job listing.
c. What are the different areas where CV can help you?
A good CV is required when applying for jobs, seeking promotion and trying to get research funding. It helps for
things such as when you’re asked to be an external examiner for a course or a research thesis; for audits
of teaching and research activity; if your faculty or department has to be validated by an external professional
body - in short, any circumstances in which somebody needs to judge your individual professional
competence or that of you and your colleagues collectively.
d. What do you mean by ‘staying CV’ and ‘leaving CV’? Which one would you develop for
yourself as a freshman?
A ‘staying CV’ is that of the good university citizen, including plenty of committee work and
administration, pastoral care of students, a heavy teaching load as well as a credible research record. A
‘leaving CV’ is that which reflect the interests of a prospective new employer and will probably
highlight research achievements, while still showing that you are generally competent and willing across the
range of duties undertaken by academics.
I would develop a leaving CV for myself as a freshman.
e. How can you draft a good CV?
One can draft a good CV with the help of your friends, family, mentors and more experienced colleagues. A basic
framework can be used to structure your recollections and thinking. You should show your draft CV to people who
know you and/or who know what an academic CV should look like and ask for feedback. In this way, you can draft a
good CV.
f. What is the difference between academic CV and non-academic CV?
There are two key differences between academic and non-academic CVs. One is that academic CVs tend to be quite a
bit longer than those of non-academics, and they get longer as a person’s career develops. A second, and
perhaps more fundamental, difference is that non-academics, especially when they are seeking middle management
positions, are frequently encouraged to make largely unverifiable assertions about their qualities and skills
rather than to list verifiable achievements.
Critical thinking
a. CV may not represent a person’s skills and abilities accurately because one’s confidence cannot
be rendered in a paper. What do you think the employers should do to find the best people for the job?
It’s true that CV may not represent a person’s skills and abilities accurately because one’s
confidence cannot be rendered in a paper. Employers prefer candidates who can communicate effectively. Oral and
written communication is a key skill needed in almost every job. In my view, instead of judging the ability of a
person by a piece of paper, employers can divide the selection process in three steps. First step is to get
acquainted with the willing participants. Employers can introduce their company terms and conditions to the
participants and if they think they can work under the conditions, then they can be invited for further process.
Next step is cover letter explanation. In this step the employers should judge the person’s behaviors,
skills, their character and ability whether they could perform well in the company or not. Last but not the
least step is calling the selected candidate to participate intelligently to join colleagues at weekly Friday
lunch where everyone “talked shop”. Employees are meant to work in team. So only a person should not
take their interview. Every person who is already in the company should get a chance to talk to them and decide
whether they can work with him/her or not. These are the things the employers should do to find the best people
for the job rather than focusing on CV only.
b. If the employers provide job opportunity by assessing one’s CV, how can fresh graduates compete with
the experienced competitors?
In today’s competitive job market, having a degree and doing good work unfortunately may not be quite
enough to land you the job you. In order to get yourself one step closer than other graduates to your dream job,
you have to stand out from the crowd and make a good impression on your potential employers.
For some careers you will be required to have achieved a good degree in a specified area, however a lot of the
time employers are looking for more than just a great set of exam results in their prospective employees. They
want candidates with personality and the right combination of soft skills, in areas such as interpersonal and
leadership. Many fresh graduates have no idea on how to write a good CV. Most use the same resume template and
end up having CVs with similar format. To make yours stand out, you should break the mould and be creative. If
you’re applying for a creative industry, you may wish to opt for something a bit out-of-the-box or
visually impressive that will really make it stand out from others. By doing this a fresh graduate can compete
with the experienced competitors.
Writing
A. Study the following advertisement. Write an application for one of the positions. Prepare your CV too that
suits for the job.
Application:
Bharatpur-7, Chitwan.
6th June 2021
To:
The Assistant Director,
MM Construction Pvt. Ltd.,
Satdobato Marg,
Lalitpur.
Subject : Application for The Post of Civil Engineer
Dear Sir,
With reference to your advertisement in THE PIONEER on 2nd July inviting application for the post of a civil
engineer under your authority, I beg to offer myself as a candidate for the same. My qualifications and
experience are given below.
I passed my civil engineering examination from the IOE, Pulchowk Campus in first division and also got degree in
B.Sc. Physics (Hons.) I have an excellent academic career and have won many scholarship and awards during my
school and college life.
I worked in ArEiCon Engineers Pvt. Ltd. - Lalitpur for five years and during the period tried advanced
techniques which proved to be highly beneficial to the firm. At present I have been working with Global Impex
International Pvt. Ltd. for the last four years. The job involves administrative and supervisory duties. In
recognition of my services, the company has offered me further incentives in the form of special bonus. But this
job does not have much future. So I seek a job under you which will open new avenues for my career. I am ready
to work at any of the branches.
I have attached my CV to the email for your reference. Please have a look at it.
I hope to meet you and discuss this opportunity further. Thank you for considering my application for the role.
I may assure you if I am given the job, I shall work diligently.
Yours Faithfully,
Manoj Poudel
CV:
Manoj Poudel
Pashupati Vision Complex, Ring Road, Kathmandu 44600
T: 01-4113713
M: 981-234-5678
E: manojpoudel@gmail,com
PERSONAL SUMMARY
An ambitious and dedicated civil engineer with strong practical and technical skills and a range of experience
within construction engineering and project management. Having a sound knowledge of designing, testing and
evaluating a designs overall effectiveness, cost, reliability, and safety. Currently seeking a challenging
professional civil or structural engineering position either in the UK or abroad and willing to consider
permanent or short term contracts.
CAREER HISTORY
SENIOR CIVIL ENGINEER - Global Impex International Pvt. Ltd.
January 2018 - present
• Directing tasks to a multi-disciplined team of staff.
• Arranging the planning and scheduling of work.
• Creating Monthly Quality Audits.
• Carrying out spot inspections on welding, pipe cleanliness, compression fitting installation etc.
• Liaison with engineers, designers, local authorities, contractors and suppliers.
CIVIL ENGINEER - ArEiCon Engineers Pvt. Ltd.
April 2013 - January 2018
• Involved in a project that included the construction, maintenance and repair work on motorways.
• Designing and supervising of motorway maintenance works.
• Responsible for the design and development of bridge maintenance schemes.
• Maintaining non-conformance / non-compliance records and logs.
• Responsible for quality control of engineering and construction documents.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Civil Engineering
• Able to understand a client’s quality compliance requirements and then make sure they are met.
• Have worked for both public and private sector clients.
• Excellent communication skills and able to work closely with both clients and other specialists such as
architects and building contractors
• Ability to carry our detailed feasibility studies for projects to ensure the most effective and efficient
utilization of materials, equipment and labour.
• Experience of using the latest computer software for modeling and design purposes.
Project Management
• Arranging and chairing meetings with clients.
• Ability to liaise with key project stake holders like the clients, water companies, the Environment
Agency, local authorities and also utility companies.
• Experience of designing, project managing & liaising with clients.
• Directing outside consultants in construction activities.
• Assisting in the pricing of tender enquiries and valuations.
KEY COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS
Structural Design
Inspections
Quality assurance
Certification
Surveying
Project management
Strategic planning
Feasibility studies
AutoCad
Highway design
Producing ACAD plans
Site supervision
TECHNICAL SKILLS AND EXPERTISE
AutoCAD
Autotrack
Autosign
Signplot
Microstation 2D & 3D
Inroads
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
BSC Civil Engineering 2009
B.Sc. Physics (Hons.), 2011
Jan 2012 Introduction to AutoCad 2012
Sept 2012 CIWEM Sewerage and Waste Water Treatment Seminar
Sept 2012 CDM Regulations 2007 and compliance
REFERENCES - available on request.
Driving license: Yes
DOB: 1985
Languages: English, Nepali, Hindi
Grammar
B. Rewrite the following sentences using the correct form of the verbs.
a. If you sell your stocks now, you won’t get much money for them. (not/get)
b. A lot of people would lose job if the factory closed down.(close down)
c. Our country won’t have to export wheat if it rains in November and February. (rain)
d. If we had found him earlier, we could have saved his life. (find)
e. If he had not been wearing helmet, he would have been seriously injured. (be)
f. Unless you follow the instructions, you won’t pass the exams. (not/ pass)
g. I don’t mind walking home as long as the weather is fine. (be)
h. The bank will sanction you the loan provided you deposit a collateral. (deposit)
i. What would you have done if you had not got this job? (you/do)
j. If you had the choice, wherewould you have lived? (you/live)
C. Change the following sentences into ‘if sentences’ as in the example.
a. The driver was talking on the phone so the accident happened.
If the driver wasn’t talking on the phone, the accident wouldn’t have happened.
b. There is no anyone at home because all the lights are off.
If there was someone at home, all the lights wouldn’t be off.
c. He must be an educated person because he has subscribed ‘The Kathmandu Post’
If he wasn’t an educated person, he wouldn’t subscribe ‘The Kathmandu Post’.
d. His head was not injured in the accident because he had put the helmet on.
His head would have been injured in the accident if he hadn’t put the helmet on.
e. I am sure he passed the exam because he gave a heavy treat to his friends.
If he hadn’t passed the exam he wouldn’t have given a heavy treat to his friends.
f. You didn’t take any breakfast so you are hungry now.
If you had taken some breakfast, you wouldn’t have got hungry now.
g. I am sure he is a doctor because he is wearing the white gown.
If he wasn’t a doctor, he wouldn’t be wearing the white gown.
h. She is very rich so she drives a Mercedes.
If she wasn’t very rich, she wouldn’t drive a Mercedes.
i. I didn’t know it was only half a kilometer from my house, so I booked a ride.
If I had known it was only half a kilometer from my house, I wouldn’t have booked a ride.
j. He has hidden something in his mind, so he does not look fresh.
If he hadn’t hidden anything in his mind, he would have looked fresh.
Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
a. What does a CV mean and why is it important in one’s career?
Curriculum vitae is a Latin term that literally means ‘course of life’. In practice, it is a
document that sets out a whole host of your personal details, experience and achievements as they relate to your
working life.
It is important because it provides with a crucially important opportunity to reflect on and plan further
developments in one’s career. It is need when applying for jobs, seeking promotion and trying to get
research funding.
b. Does the same CV work for all job opportunities? Why or why not?
Yes, the same CV works for all job opportunities but it’s better to make slight tweaks to ensure that the
CV highlights your most relevant skills and qualifications on the basis of job description and uses terminology
found in the job listing.
c. What are the different areas where CV can help you?
A good CV is required when applying for jobs, seeking promotion and trying to get research funding. It helps for
things such as when you’re asked to be an external examiner for a course or a research thesis; for audits
of teaching and research activity; if your faculty or department has to be validated by an external professional
body - in short, any circumstances in which somebody needs to judge your individual professional
competence or that of you and your colleagues collectively.
d. What do you mean by ‘staying CV’ and ‘leaving CV’? Which one would you develop for
yourself as a freshman?
A ‘staying CV’ is that of the good university citizen, including plenty of committee work and
administration, pastoral care of students, a heavy teaching load as well as a credible research record. A
‘leaving CV’ is that which reflect the interests of a prospective new employer and will probably
highlight research achievements, while still showing that you are generally competent and willing across the
range of duties undertaken by academics.
I would develop a leaving CV for myself as a freshman.
e. How can you draft a good CV?
One can draft a good CV with the help of your friends, family, mentors and more experienced colleagues. A basic
framework can be used to structure your recollections and thinking. You should show your draft CV to people who
know you and/or who know what an academic CV should look like and ask for feedback. In this way, you can draft a
good CV.
f. What is the difference between academic CV and non-academic CV?
There are two key differences between academic and non-academic CVs. One is that academic CVs tend to be quite a
bit longer than those of non-academics, and they get longer as a person’s career develops. A second, and
perhaps more fundamental, difference is that non-academics, especially when they are seeking middle management
positions, are frequently encouraged to make largely unverifiable assertions about their qualities and skills
rather than to list verifiable achievements.
Critical thinking
a. CV may not represent a person’s skills and abilities accurately because one’s confidence cannot
be rendered in a paper. What do you think the employers should do to find the best people for the job?
It’s true that CV may not represent a person’s skills and abilities accurately because one’s
confidence cannot be rendered in a paper. Employers prefer candidates who can communicate effectively. Oral and
written communication is a key skill needed in almost every job. In my view, instead of judging the ability of a
person by a piece of paper, employers can divide the selection process in three steps. First step is to get
acquainted with the willing participants. Employers can introduce their company terms and conditions to the
participants and if they think they can work under the conditions, then they can be invited for further process.
Next step is cover letter explanation. In this step the employers should judge the person’s behaviors,
skills, their character and ability whether they could perform well in the company or not. Last but not the
least step is calling the selected candidate to participate intelligently to join colleagues at weekly Friday
lunch where everyone “talked shop”. Employees are meant to work in team. So only a person should not
take their interview. Every person who is already in the company should get a chance to talk to them and decide
whether they can work with him/her or not. These are the things the employers should do to find the best people
for the job rather than focusing on CV only.
b. If the employers provide job opportunity by assessing one’s CV, how can fresh graduates compete with
the experienced competitors?
In today’s competitive job market, having a degree and doing good work unfortunately may not be quite
enough to land you the job you. In order to get yourself one step closer than other graduates to your dream job,
you have to stand out from the crowd and make a good impression on your potential employers.
For some careers you will be required to have achieved a good degree in a specified area, however a lot of the
time employers are looking for more than just a great set of exam results in their prospective employees. They
want candidates with personality and the right combination of soft skills, in areas such as interpersonal and
leadership. Many fresh graduates have no idea on how to write a good CV. Most use the same resume template and
end up having CVs with similar format. To make yours stand out, you should break the mould and be creative. If
you’re applying for a creative industry, you may wish to opt for something a bit out-of-the-box or
visually impressive that will really make it stand out from others. By doing this a fresh graduate can compete
with the experienced competitors.
Writing
A. Study the following advertisement. Write an application for one of the positions. Prepare your CV too that
suits for the job.
Application:
Bharatpur-7, Chitwan.
6th June 2021
To:
The Assistant Director,
MM Construction Pvt. Ltd.,
Satdobato Marg,
Lalitpur.
Subject : Application for The Post of Civil Engineer
Dear Sir,
With reference to your advertisement in THE PIONEER on 2nd July inviting application for the post of a civil
engineer under your authority, I beg to offer myself as a candidate for the same. My qualifications and
experience are given below.
I passed my civil engineering examination from the IOE, Pulchowk Campus in first division and also got degree in
B.Sc. Physics (Hons.) I have an excellent academic career and have won many scholarship and awards during my
school and college life.
I worked in ArEiCon Engineers Pvt. Ltd. - Lalitpur for five years and during the period tried advanced
techniques which proved to be highly beneficial to the firm. At present I have been working with Global Impex
International Pvt. Ltd. for the last four years. The job involves administrative and supervisory duties. In
recognition of my services, the company has offered me further incentives in the form of special bonus. But this
job does not have much future. So I seek a job under you which will open new avenues for my career. I am ready
to work at any of the branches.
I have attached my CV to the email for your reference. Please have a look at it.
I hope to meet you and discuss this opportunity further. Thank you for considering my application for the role.
I may assure you if I am given the job, I shall work diligently.
Yours Faithfully,
Manoj Poudel
CV:
Manoj Poudel
Pashupati Vision Complex, Ring Road, Kathmandu 44600
T: 01-4113713
M: 981-234-5678
E: manojpoudel@gmail,com
PERSONAL SUMMARY
An ambitious and dedicated civil engineer with strong practical and technical skills and a range of experience
within construction engineering and project management. Having a sound knowledge of designing, testing and
evaluating a designs overall effectiveness, cost, reliability, and safety. Currently seeking a challenging
professional civil or structural engineering position either in the UK or abroad and willing to consider
permanent or short term contracts.
CAREER HISTORY
SENIOR CIVIL ENGINEER - Global Impex International Pvt. Ltd.
January 2018 - present
• Directing tasks to a multi-disciplined team of staff.
• Arranging the planning and scheduling of work.
• Creating Monthly Quality Audits.
• Carrying out spot inspections on welding, pipe cleanliness, compression fitting installation etc.
• Liaison with engineers, designers, local authorities, contractors and suppliers.
CIVIL ENGINEER - ArEiCon Engineers Pvt. Ltd.
April 2013 - January 2018
• Involved in a project that included the construction, maintenance and repair work on motorways.
• Designing and supervising of motorway maintenance works.
• Responsible for the design and development of bridge maintenance schemes.
• Maintaining non-conformance / non-compliance records and logs.
• Responsible for quality control of engineering and construction documents.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Civil Engineering
• Able to understand a client’s quality compliance requirements and then make sure they are met.
• Have worked for both public and private sector clients.
• Excellent communication skills and able to work closely with both clients and other specialists such as
architects and building contractors
• Ability to carry our detailed feasibility studies for projects to ensure the most effective and efficient
utilization of materials, equipment and labour.
• Experience of using the latest computer software for modeling and design purposes.
Project Management
• Arranging and chairing meetings with clients.
• Ability to liaise with key project stake holders like the clients, water companies, the Environment
Agency, local authorities and also utility companies.
• Experience of designing, project managing & liaising with clients.
• Directing outside consultants in construction activities.
• Assisting in the pricing of tender enquiries and valuations.
KEY COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS
Structural Design
Inspections
Quality assurance
Certification
Surveying
Project management
Strategic planning
Feasibility studies
AutoCad
Highway design
Producing ACAD plans
Site supervision
TECHNICAL SKILLS AND EXPERTISE
AutoCAD
Autotrack
Autosign
Signplot
Microstation 2D & 3D
Inroads
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
BSC Civil Engineering 2009
B.Sc. Physics (Hons.), 2011
Jan 2012 Introduction to AutoCad 2012
Sept 2012 CIWEM Sewerage and Waste Water Treatment Seminar
Sept 2012 CDM Regulations 2007 and compliance
REFERENCES - available on request.
Driving license: Yes
DOB: 1985
Languages: English, Nepali, Hindi
Grammar
B. Rewrite the following sentences using the correct form of the verbs.
a. If you sell your stocks now, you won’t get much money for them. (not/get)
b. A lot of people would lose job if the factory closed down.(close down)
c. Our country won’t have to export wheat if it rains in November and February. (rain)
d. If we had found him earlier, we could have saved his life. (find)
e. If he had not been wearing helmet, he would have been seriously injured. (be)
f. Unless you follow the instructions, you won’t pass the exams. (not/ pass)
g. I don’t mind walking home as long as the weather is fine. (be)
h. The bank will sanction you the loan provided you deposit a collateral. (deposit)
i. What would you have done if you had not got this job? (you/do)
j. If you had the choice, wherewould you have lived? (you/live)
C. Change the following sentences into ‘if sentences’ as in the example.
a. The driver was talking on the phone so the accident happened.
If the driver wasn’t talking on the phone, the accident wouldn’t have happened.
b. There is no anyone at home because all the lights are off.
If there was someone at home, all the lights wouldn’t be off.
c. He must be an educated person because he has subscribed 'The Kathmandu Post'
If he wasn’t an educated person, he wouldn’t subscribe ‘The Kathmandu Post’.
d. His head was not injured in the accident because he had put the helmet on.
His head would have been injured in the accident if he hadn’t put the helmet on.
e. I am sure he passed the exam because he gave a heavy treat to his friends.
If he hadn’t passed the exam he wouldn’t have given a heavy treat to his friends.
f. You didn't take any breakfast so you are hungry now.
If you had taken some breakfast, you wouldn’t have got hungry now.
g. I am sure he is a doctor because he is wearing the white gown.
If he wasn’t a doctor, he wouldn’t be wearing the white gown.
h. She is very rich so she drives a Mercedes.
If she wasn’t very rich, she wouldn’t drive a Mercedes.
i. I didn't know it was only half a kilometer from my house, so I booked a ride.
If I had known it was only half a kilometer from my house, I wouldn’t have booked a ride.
j. He has hidden something in his mind, so he does not look fresh.
If he hadn’t hidden anything in his mind, he would have looked fresh.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesUnit 11: Hobbies
Working with words
A. Find the words from the text which have the following meanings.
a. a wave-like motion
undulation
b. to make or do something again exactly in the same way
replicate
c. decayed, deteriorated, or fallen into partial ruin especially through neglect or misuse
dilapidated
d. a bright, smooth surface
sheen
e. the feeling of having no energy and enthusiasm
listlessness
f. a state of noise, commotion and confusion
cacophonous
g. being alone, often by choice
solitude
h. to regard with respect, often tinged with awe
revere
i. said in a way that is not direct, so that the real meaning is not immediately clear
obliquely
B. Find the meaning of the following words from a dictionary.
Sophisticated : deprived of native or original simplicity, highly complicated
Conscious : likely to notice, consider or appraise
Blistering : extremely intense or severe
Proximity : immediately preceding or following
Invisible : inaccessible to view, recognize or identify
Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
a. What is the author’s favourite hobby? Why does she like it so much?
The author’s favourite hobby is walking. She likes it so much because the movement, the rhythm, the
undulation of the senses and of the body it initiates is enjoyable.
b. What sorts of roads did the writer prefer to walk on when she was very young?
The writer preferred to walk on the roads that were unpaved and uneven, like the paths around her mamaghar when
she was very young.
c. How did walking give the author and her classmates a sense of freedom?
Walking gave the author and her classmates a sense of freedom because they could be free-willed masters of their
time and could find their own way.
d. In what ways were the roads in Kathmandu different from the ones in Sydney?
The roads in Sydney were far quieter and organized when compared to the cacophonous streets of Kathmandu.
e. How did walking help the author in the new country?
Walking was an escape of all kinds of pressures, a search for pace and a rhythm to the author. It helped her to
navigate the new country and it renewed the circumstances of her life.
f. What were the treasures of Petersham, where the writer lived with her family?
The treasures of Petersham, where the writer lived with her family were a tiny park which was a minute down the
Parramatta road, another park with a huge rock at one end, a buffer zone suburb etc.
g. What things became her permanent friends with whom she could share her feelings?
The components of nature such as the earth, the sky, the trees, water, air became her permanent friends with
whom she could share her feelings.
h. Why did she feel that she had travelled to ‘a desert, to emptiness’ as she went to the United
States?
She felt that she had travelled to ‘a desert, to emptiness’ as she went to the United States because
people living there were running after material pursuit and comfort because of which she felt lonely and a
barrier of communication with them.
i. Why did the author eventually feel that the strange city was known to her?
Eventually the author felt that the strange city was known to her because she found the place similar to every
other place on the earth. The essence of the nature she felt in the strange city was same to the one she found
in her hometown.
j. How did walking make her feel at home with different places she visited?
Walking made her feel thankfulness to all the streets she walked on because they gave shape to her feet, her
body and her being.
Critical thinking
a. Do you believe that walking helps us understand ourselves? Give reasons in support of your opinion.
Yes, I believe that walking helps us to understand ourselves. Walking provides the best of both worlds. It
offers the physical benefits of exercise while also boosting your emotional well-being. It can help reduce
anxiety, depression, and a negative mood. It can also boost self-esteem and reduce symptoms of social
withdrawal. Walking also helps to clear our head and think creatively. It opens up a free flow of ideas and is a
simple way to increase creativity and get physical activity at the same time. While walking we interact with our
inner self, we evaluate ourselves, our works, our behavior. This makes us realize actually who we are.
Understanding ourselves means self-realization which can happen when we are alone and submerged with natural
world. Thus it’s true that walking helps us to understand ourselves.
b. Think of one of your hobbies. How does this hobby relate to your psyche and self?
Hobbies are seen as markers of a balanced person who is adept at juggling personal and professional well-being.
I have only one hobby. Yet, it consumes all my free time. I enjoy reading and have always been a voracious
reader.
Although I prefer reading fiction, I make a deliberate effort to read at least one non-fiction book in a couple
of months.
My first book was “Famous Five Go to Kirrin Island” at the age of ten. What I truly treasure about
my hobby is its power to transport me to different locations whilst I’m still on my couch.
It is a low budget travel option that I often take! Recently, I started attending book club meetings.
It’s a group of 15 individuals and we meet on the third Sunday, every month to discuss books that we have
read in that month.
It’s wonderful how a few lines can have so many varied interpretations, and can give rise to a multitude
of emotions and opinions.
My hobby has made me develop analytical thinking and open-mindedness.
Reading has also broadened my imagination across horizons. I wouldn’t possibly trade it for anything else,
ever!
c. Many people turn their hobbies into careers. Is it good to turn one’s hobby into a career?
Yes, it’s true that many people turn their hobbies into careers. But what I think that is; a big decision
of whether to turn a hobby into a career is a godsend for some lucky folks, but for other poor souls, it’s
not all it’s cracked up to be. Whether you’re looking to go freelance, set up a limited company or
become a sole trader, making hobby turn into livelihood can be a messy business. Hobbies are really important
for personal growth and enjoyment, and the last thing you want to do is turn a form of escapism from the hustle,
bustle, and grind of everyday life into something stressful and pressurized. To sum up, if a person is truly
passionate about his/her carry, then he/she can easily turn their hobby into a career else it’s going to
be a great suffering.
Writing
a. Highlighting the advantages of walking, Henry David Thoreau says, “An early morning walk is a blessing
for the whole day.” Write an essay on the advantages of morning walk.
Advantages of morning walk
The modern-day world is full of psychological disorders, poor health, mental tension, and many more problems.
Likewise, the life of some people is like a mad rush from one work to another without any break. Besides, there
are very few people in the world that care about their health more than their work or daily tasks. But, there
are ways by which we can restore our healthfully and morning walk is one of them. Additionally, it is so
effective that it can reduce the amount of health disorder from the world.
From childhood, we have heard that “early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and
wise.” This is not just a saying because morning walks make a man healthy and wise.
Moreover, it improves the physical shape and state of the body which protects us from many diseases. Besides,
all this morning walks create a sense of equality among the people.
Above all, morning walk gives you energy, motivates you to avoid laziness, creates a positive mindset, it is
good for your organs especially heart, and it gives you time to plan your schedule. According to research, the
best time for a morning walk is in the latter part of the afternoon between 3 pm to 7 pm.
To sum it up, we can say that, Morning walk is very important for the body. Also, it helps to keep the body and
mind healthy. Besides, everyone whether kids or elders should try to make a morning walk a part of their daily
routine. As it is seen that the life h4 of people who walk daily is more in comparison to those who do not do
morning walk.
Grammar
B. Change the following sentences into passive voice.
a. I want someone to love me.
I want to be loved.
b. Someone broke into our house while we were on holiday.
Our house was broken into while we were on holiday.
c. I don’t like people staring at me.
I don’t like being stared at.
d. Is it true that someone stole your car?
Is true that your car was stolen?
e. The cat enjoys someone tickling him.
The cat enjoys being tickled.
f. Would Swostika open the window?
Would the window be opened by Swostika?
g. Did they confess the crime?
Was the crime confessed by them?
h. He thinks that someone is teaching Jennie.
He thinks that Jennie is being taught.
i. Sabina hates people laughing at her.
Sabina hates being laughed at.
C. Complete the following sentences as in the example.
a. English people think that the number thirteen is unlucky.
The number thirteen is thought to be unlucky by English people.
b. What are you wearing for the wedding?
Actually, I am having asuit made (a suit make). They will give it tomorrow.
c. The carpet in our drawing room is very dirty.
It needs to be cleaned (clean).
d. There are rumours that the factory at the corner is manufacturing bombs.
The factory at the corner is rumoured to be manufacturing bombs.
e. Some people believe that Silajit from Jumla cures all indigestion problems.
Silajit from Jumla is believed to cure all digestion problems.
f. People claim that Changu Narayan temple is the oldest temple in Nepal.
Changu Narayan temple is claimed to be the oldest temple in Nepal.
g.
A: Your car is making a terrible noise.
B: Thank you. I am not a mechanic and I will make it be repaired soon. (repair).
h. The police suspect that the criminal left the country.
The criminal is suspected to leave the country.
i.
A: Where are you going?
B: I am going to the stationery to get my document photocopied. (my document /photocopy)
j. People allege that the corrupt leader has embezzled millions of rupees.
The leader is alleged to embezzle millions of rupees.
Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
a. What is the author’s favourite hobby? Why does she like it so much?
The author’s favourite hobby is walking. She likes it so much because the movement, the rhythm, the
undulation of the senses and of the body it initiates is enjoyable.
b. What sorts of roads did the writer prefer to walk on when she was very young?
The writer preferred to walk on the roads that were unpaved and uneven, like the paths around her mamaghar when
she was very young.
c. How did walking give the author and her classmates a sense of freedom?
Walking gave the author and her classmates a sense of freedom because they could be free-willed masters of their
time and could find their own way.
d. In what ways were the roads in Kathmandu different from the ones in Sydney?
The roads in Sydney were far quieter and organized when compared to the cacophonous streets of Kathmandu.
e. How did walking help the author in the new country?
Walking was an escape of all kinds of pressures, a search for pace and a rhythm to the author. It helped her to
navigate the new country and it renewed the circumstances of her life.
f. What were the treasures of Petersham, where the writer lived with her family?
The treasures of Petersham, where the writer lived with her family were a tiny park which was a minute down the
Parramatta road, another park with a huge rock at one end, a buffer zone suburb etc.
g. What things became her permanent friends with whom she could share her feelings?
The components of nature such as the earth, the sky, the trees, water, air became her permanent friends with
whom she could share her feelings.
h. Why did she feel that she had travelled to ‘a desert, to emptiness’ as she went to the United
States?
She felt that she had travelled to ‘a desert, to emptiness’ as she went to the United States because
people living there were running after material pursuit and comfort because of which she felt lonely and a
barrier of communication with them.
i. Why did the author eventually feel that the strange city was known to her?
Eventually the author felt that the strange city was known to her because she found the place similar to every
other place on the earth. The essence of the nature she felt in the strange city was same to the one she found
in her hometown.
j. How did walking make her feel at home with different places she visited?
Walking made her feel thankfulness to all the streets she walked on because they gave shape to her feet, her
body and her being.
Critical thinking
a. Do you believe that walking helps us understand ourselves? Give reasons in support of your opinion.
Yes, I believe that walking helps us to understand ourselves. Walking provides the best of both worlds. It
offers the physical benefits of exercise while also boosting your emotional well-being. It can help reduce
anxiety, depression, and a negative mood. It can also boost self-esteem and reduce symptoms of social
withdrawal. Walking also helps to clear our head and think creatively. It opens up a free flow of ideas and is a
simple way to increase creativity and get physical activity at the same time. While walking we interact with our
inner self, we evaluate ourselves, our works, our behavior. This makes us realize actually who we are.
Understanding ourselves means self-realization which can happen when we are alone and submerged with natural
world. Thus it’s true that walking helps us to understand ourselves.
b. Think of one of your hobbies. How does this hobby relate to your psyche and self?
Hobbies are seen as markers of a balanced person who is adept at juggling personal and professional well-being.
I have only one hobby. Yet, it consumes all my free time. I enjoy reading and have always been a voracious
reader.
Although I prefer reading fiction, I make a deliberate effort to read at least one non-fiction book in a couple
of months.
My first book was “Famous Five Go to Kirrin Island” at the age of ten. What I truly treasure about
my hobby is its power to transport me to different locations whilst I’m still on my couch.
It is a low budget travel option that I often take! Recently, I started attending book club meetings.
It’s a group of 15 individuals and we meet on the third Sunday, every month to discuss books that we have
read in that month.
It’s wonderful how a few lines can have so many varied interpretations, and can give rise to a multitude
of emotions and opinions.
My hobby has made me develop analytical thinking and open-mindedness.
Reading has also broadened my imagination across horizons. I wouldn’t possibly trade it for anything else,
ever!
c. Many people turn their hobbies into careers. Is it good to turn one's hobby into a career?
Yes, it’s true that many people turn their hobbies into careers. But what I think that is; a big decision
of whether to turn a hobby into a career is a godsend for some lucky folks, but for other poor souls, it’s
not all it’s cracked up to be. Whether you’re looking to go freelance, set up a limited company or
become a sole trader, making hobby turn into livelihood can be a messy business. Hobbies are really important
for personal growth and enjoyment, and the last thing you want to do is turn a form of escapism from the hustle,
bustle, and grind of everyday life into something stressful and pressurized. To sum up, if a person is truly
passionate about his/her carry, then he/she can easily turn their hobby into a career else it’s going to
be a great suffering.
Writing
a. Highlighting the advantages of walking, Henry David Thoreau says, “An early morning walk is a blessing
for the whole day.” Write an essay on the advantages of morning walk.
Advantages of morning walk
The modern-day world is full of psychological disorders, poor health, mental tension, and many more problems.
Likewise, the life of some people is like a mad rush from one work to another without any break. Besides, there
are very few people in the world that care about their health more than their work or daily tasks. But, there
are ways by which we can restore our healthfully and morning walk is one of them. Additionally, it is so
effective that it can reduce the amount of health disorder from the world.
From childhood, we have heard that “early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and
wise.” This is not just a saying because morning walks make a man healthy and wise.
Moreover, it improves the physical shape and state of the body which protects us from many diseases. Besides,
all this morning walks create a sense of equality among the people.
Above all, morning walk gives you energy, motivates you to avoid laziness, creates a positive mindset, it is
good for your organs especially heart, and it gives you time to plan your schedule. According to research, the
best time for a morning walk is in the latter part of the afternoon between 3 pm to 7 pm.
To sum it up, we can say that, Morning walk is very important for the body. Also, it helps to keep the body and
mind healthy. Besides, everyone whether kids or elders should try to make a morning walk a part of their daily
routine. As it is seen that the life h4 of people who walk daily is more in comparison to those who do not do
morning walk.
Grammar
B. Change the following sentences into passive voice.
a. I want someone to love me.
I want to be loved.
b. Someone broke into our house while we were on holiday.
Our house was broken into while we were on holiday.
c. I don’t like people staring at me.
I don’t like being stared at.
d. Is it true that someone stole your car?
Is true that your car was stolen?
e. The cat enjoys someone tickling him.
The cat enjoys being tickled.
f. Would Swostika open the window?
Would the window be opened by Swostika?
g. Did they confess the crime?
Was the crime confessed by them?
h. He thinks that someone is teaching Jennie.
He thinks that Jennie is being taught.
i. Sabina hates people laughing at her.
Sabina hates being laughed at.
C. Complete the following sentences as in the example.
a. English people think that the number thirteen is unlucky.
The number thirteen is thought to be unlucky by English people.
b. What are you wearing for the wedding?
Actually, I am having asuit made (a suit make). They will give it tomorrow.
c. The carpet in our drawing room is very dirty.
It needs to be cleaned (clean).
d. There are rumours that the factory at the corner is manufacturing bombs.
The factory at the corner is rumoured to be manufacturing bombs.
e. Some people believe that Silajit from Jumla cures all indigestion problems.
Silajit from Jumla is believed to cure all digestion problems.
f. People claim that Changu Narayan temple is the oldest temple in Nepal.
Changu Narayan temple is claimed to be the oldest temple in Nepal.
g.
A: Your car is making a terrible noise.
B: Thank you. I am not a mechanic and I will make it be repaired soon. (repair).
h. The police suspect that the criminal left the country.
The criminal is suspected to leave the country.
i.
A: Where are you going?
B: I am going to the stationery to get my document photocopied. (my document /photocopy)
j. People allege that the corrupt leader has embezzled millions of rupees.
The leader is alleged to embezzle millions of rupees.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesUnit 12: Animal World
Working with words
A. Find the words from the text which have the following meanings.
a. Persons who are related to you and who live after you, such as your child or grandchild are called descendants.
b. ‘Twirl’ means to turn or spin around and around quickly
c. Glycoproteins are proteins which contain oligosaccharide chains (glycans) attached to amino acid side-chains
d. Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins that are highly specific for sugar groups that are part of other
molecules and so cause agglutination of particular cells.
e. Polyps are abnormal tissue growths that most often look like small, flat bumps or tiny mushroom like stalks found
in the phylum Cnidaria and the medusa
f. Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its
prey.
g. Anemone is a genus of flowering plants in the buttercup family.
h. A/An finicky person is extremely or excessively particular, exacting, or meticulous in taste or standards.
i. Nudibranch is a group of soft-bodied, marine gastropod molluscs which shed their shells after their larval stage.
j. A medusa is a free-swimming sexual form of a coelenterate such as a jellyfish, typically having an
umbrella-shaped body with stinging tentacles around the edge.
B. Look up a dictionary and write the meanings of the following words then use them in your own sentences.
Arthropod :an invertebrate animal of the large phylum Arthropoda
Many arthropod animals undergo physiological changes that smooth their integration.
Gastropod :a mollusc of the large class Gastropoda
The problem of the causes of the torsion of the Gastropod body has been much discussed.
Biomass :the total quantity or weight of organisms in a given area or volume
Energy from biomass is a growing source of renewable energy.
Calcification :the hardening of tissue or other material by the deposition of insoluble calcium compounds
The extremities of the cartilages frequently undergo calcification.
Metamorphosis :the process of transformation from an immature form to an adult form in two or more distinct stages
A butterfly is produced by metamorphosis from a caterpillar.
Sturgeon :a very large primitive fish with bony plates on the body
Caviar is sturgeon roe prepared by a special process.
Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
a. What are the indicators of the fact that we are very self-conscious about ourselves these days?
The indicators of the fact that we are very self-conscious about ourselves these days are self-realization,
self-help, self-development, self-awareness, self-respect and self-enlightenment.
b. How have we celebrated the fact that we have our individual identity?
We have celebrated the fact that we have our individual identity by providing ourselves with a real name.
c. Are we, human beings, really unique? Why/Why not?
No, we human beings, aren’t really unique. It’s because uniqueness is so commonplace a property of
living things that there is really nothing at all unique about it. The phenomenon can’t be unique and
universal at the same time.
d. How do fish recognize each other?
Fish recognize each other by the smell of each other.
e. What is the function of individuality?
The function of individuality is self-preservation and maintaining individuality.
f. What does the mix-up of two selves tell us about our identity?
The mix-up of two selves tells us unity and cooperation to each other is required for survival and existence.
g. What does the author illustrate with the tale of the nudibranch and the medusa?
The author illustrates the value of co-existence, cooperation, helpfulness, collaboration and togetherness with the
tale of the nudibranch and the medusa. It also projects the significance of friendship and dependence on each other
for survival and existence.
h. Why is the author disturbed by the thought of the creatures like the nudibranch and medusa?
The author is disturbed by the thought of the creatures like the nudibranch and medusa because it provides him with
an odd feeling and confuses in with vague and bizarre concept like a dream.
i. What does the writer mean by “they remind me of the whole earth at once?”
By saying “they remind me of the whole earth at once’”, the writer means to say that it is very
complicated and bizarre to justify the relationship between the creatures and non-living things of the world and as
more as one tries to understand, the more he/she gets confused.
Critical thinking
a. How does the author make satire on the modern idea of the ‘self’ based on individuality, independence
and uniqueness?
The author in this essay satires on the modern idea of ‘self’ based on individuality, independence and
uniqueness. This essay is about the self and what nature can teach us. In the beginning the writer brings an
attention to the trend in humans on uplifting the feeling of self-based on individuality, independence and
uniqueness.
Here the author is presenting the close relationship between the nudibranch and medusa living in the Bay of Naples.
A mature jellyfish engulfs a tiny newly-hatched slug only to be devoured bit by bit until the snail dominates and
the jellyfish is reduced to a round “successfully edited parasite” affixed to the skin near the snail’s
mouth. Finally the tentacles, until the jellyfish becomes reduced in substance by being eaten while the snail grows
correspondingly in size.
This essay projects both creatures cannot live in any other way, they depend for their survival on each other. The
author illustrates the value of co-existence, cooperation, helpfulness, collaboration and togetherness with the tale
of the nudibranch and the medusa. We all are important and one’s life is determined by another like the
relation between anemones and crabs as well as medusa and snail. It also shows the significance of friendship and
dependence on each other for survival and existence. Through this, the author justifies that the modern people’s
pride over the concept of individuality, independence and uniqueness is not applicable in the real and practical
life.
Writing
A. Write an essay on “Independence vs. Interdependence” in about 250 words.
Independence vs. Interdependence
Human beings usually categorize themselves into individual or group entities. These self-conceptions usually emanate
in people’s minds and determine their motivation as well as cognitions. There are usually two perceptions that
people have about themselves regarding their relationship with others. The first is the independent self-concept
where an individual’s conception about his or her existence is that he or she exists separate from other
people. Independent self-concept encompasses behaviour traits, preferences and attitudes of an individual. The
second perception is the interdependent self-concept where a person is affiliated or feels connected to others. This
paper explores the advantages of interdependence as opposed to independence. Gish Jen argues that “the joy of
a functioning interdependent relationship can be tremendous.”
Unlike independent-self which focuses on individual responsibility separate from the entire society, interdependent
self-concept emphasizes shared responsibilities. The main tenet of interdependence self-concept is the reliance that
exists among individuals in the society for survival and mutual development. Interdependence self-instils the idea
that people are not alone in their attempts at mental growth and development. People also provided support for one
another to grow socially. Interdependent self-concept also promotes responsibility sharing by encouraging
individuals to take various roles, which contribute to the development and growth of the society.
Interdependent self-concept is also crucial for overcoming fear. Unlike independence, which puts an individual
against the rest of other members of the society, interdependence promotes cohesion among society members, thus
helping individuals to experience lower levels of fear and insecurity. The recognition of the fact that one has
support of others remains crucial for alleviating negative feelings, which could yield fear in individuals. Support
for each other is only possible in a society where people feel close to each other and the society is characterized
by high level of interdependence.
Interdependence emphasizes on how people relate with each other and get on well with existing norms of the society,
which dictate how people relate. Intrinsic attributes of individuals play no major role in the way individuals
think, feel or act. However, Jen also argues that “we need both the interdependent and the independent
self,” appealing that people from either side of self-concepts accommodates and understands each other.
B. Write a newspaper article highlighting the increasing individualism in the modern Nepali society.
Increasing Individualism in the Modern
Nepali Society
By Ramesh Thapa
March 12, 2019
Individualism is the moral stance, political philosophy, ideology and social outlook that emphasizes the intrinsic
worth of the individual. Individualists promote the exercise of one’s goals and desires and to value independence
and self-reliance and advocate that interests of the individual should achieve precedence over the state or a social
group while opposing external interference upon one’s own interests by society or institutions such as the
government. Individualism is often defined in contrast to totalitarianism, collectivism and more corporate social
forms.
In the modern Nepalese society, individualism is increasing rapidly. This increase appears to be due mostly to
increasing socio-economic development, including higher incomes, more education, urbanization, and a shift toward
white-collar jobs. Increases in these factors in a given region are reliably followed by gains in individualist
beliefs and practices in the ensuing decade Nepal comes under those few countries that bucked the global trend
toward individualism.
Rising prosperity and education are largely welcome changes that reflect not merely gains in wealth for the
already-wealthy, but for the desperately poor as well. Wealth, and the individualism that follows, are often
conflated with selfishness. This is, in part, because individualism’s inverse – collectivism –
emphasizes close social ties and an interconnected rather than independent view of the self.
Grammar
A. Make passive sentences from the following information as in the example.
a. volleyball/every/country/play
Volleyball is played in every country.
b. spaghetti/boiling water/cook
Spaghetti is cooked in boiling water.
c. each lesson/an exercise/follow
Each lesson is followed by an exercise.
d. taxes/the price/include
Taxes are included in the price.
e. extensive information/the internet/find
Extensive information is found on the internet.
f. our order/the waiter/took
Our order was taken by the waiter.
g. the schedule/the participants/will distribute
The schedule will be distributed by the participants.
h. the police/footprint/found
Footprint was found by the police.
i. the children/the sandcastles/built
The sandcastles were built by the children.
j. the father/the window/not going to open
The window is not going to be opened by the father.
B. Rewrite the following sentences in the passive voice using the correct form of verbs in the brackets.
a. Call the ambulance! Two boys have been injured (injure) in a motorbike accident.
b. The clock has been used (use) since the 17th century.
c. I had to wait outside the classroom while the classroom was being cleaned (clean).
d. The problem is being discussed (discuss) by the subject specialists at the moment.
e. By the time I came back, the task has been finished (finish).
f. Women are said (say) to be happier than men.
g. Look! The house had been destroyed (destroy) by the fire.
h. The other three reports will be submitted (submit) by next month.
i. Many people have been resuced (rescue) from the floods by the security persons this year.
j. The state of Florida was hit (hit) by a hurricane that did serious damage.
Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
a. What are the indicators of the fact that we are very self-conscious about ourselves these days?
The indicators of the fact that we are very self-conscious about ourselves these days are self-realization,
self-help, self-development, self-awareness, self-respect and self-enlightenment.
b. How have we celebrated the fact that we have our individual identity?
We have celebrated the fact that we have our individual identity by providing ourselves with a real name.
c. Are we, human beings, really unique? Why/Why not?
No, we human beings, aren’t really unique. It’s because uniqueness is so commonplace a property of
living things that there is really nothing at all unique about it. The phenomenon can’t be unique and
universal at the same time.
d. How do fish recognize each other?
Fish recognize each other by the smell of each other.
e. What is the function of individuality?
The function of individuality is self-preservation and maintaining individuality.
f. What does the mix-up of two selves tell us about our identity?
The mix-up of two selves tells us unity and cooperation to each other is required for survival and existence.
g. What does the author illustrate with the tale of the nudibranch and the medusa?
The author illustrates the value of co-existence, cooperation, helpfulness, collaboration and togetherness with the
tale of the nudibranch and the medusa. It also projects the significance of friendship and dependence on each other
for survival and existence.
h. Why is the author disturbed by the thought of the creatures like the nudibranch and medusa?
The author is disturbed by the thought of the creatures like the nudibranch and medusa because it provides him with
an odd feeling and confuses in with vague and bizarre concept like a dream.
i. What does the writer mean by “they remind me of the whole earth at once?”
By saying “they remind me of the whole earth at once’”, the writer means to say that it is very
complicated and bizarre to justify the relationship between the creatures and non-living things of the world and as
more as one tries to understand, the more he/she gets confused.
Critical thinking
a. How does the author make satire on the modern idea of the ‘self’ based on individuality, independence
and uniqueness?
The author in this essay satires on the modern idea of ‘self’ based on individuality, independence and
uniqueness. This essay is about the self and what nature can teach us. In the beginning the writer brings an
attention to the trend in humans on uplifting the feeling of self-based on individuality, independence and
uniqueness.
Here the author is presenting the close relationship between the nudibranch and medusa living in the Bay of Naples.
A mature jellyfish engulfs a tiny newly-hatched slug only to be devoured bit by bit until the snail dominates and
the jellyfish is reduced to a round “successfully edited parasite” affixed to the skin near the snail’s
mouth. Finally the tentacles, until the jellyfish becomes reduced in substance by being eaten while the snail grows
correspondingly in size.
This essay projects both creatures cannot live in any other way, they depend for their survival on each other. The
author illustrates the value of co-existence, cooperation, helpfulness, collaboration and togetherness with the tale
of the nudibranch and the medusa. We all are important and one’s life is determined by another like the
relation between anemones and crabs as well as medusa and snail. It also shows the significance of friendship and
dependence on each other for survival and existence. Through this, the author justifies that the modern people’s
pride over the concept of individuality, independence and uniqueness is not applicable in the real and practical
life.
Writing
A. Write an essay on “Independence vs. Interdependence” in about 250 words.
Independence vs. Interdependence
Human beings usually categorize themselves into individual or group entities. These self-conceptions usually emanate
in people’s minds and determine their motivation as well as cognitions. There are usually two perceptions that
people have about themselves regarding their relationship with others. The first is the independent self-concept
where an individual’s conception about his or her existence is that he or she exists separate from other
people. Independent self-concept encompasses behaviour traits, preferences and attitudes of an individual. The
second perception is the interdependent self-concept where a person is affiliated or feels connected to others. This
paper explores the advantages of interdependence as opposed to independence. Gish Jen argues that “the joy of
a functioning interdependent relationship can be tremendous.”
Unlike independent-self which focuses on individual responsibility separate from the entire society, interdependent
self-concept emphasizes shared responsibilities. The main tenet of interdependence self-concept is the reliance that
exists among individuals in the society for survival and mutual development. Interdependence self-instils the idea
that people are not alone in their attempts at mental growth and development. People also provided support for one
another to grow socially. Interdependent self-concept also promotes responsibility sharing by encouraging
individuals to take various roles, which contribute to the development and growth of the society.
Interdependent self-concept is also crucial for overcoming fear. Unlike independence, which puts an individual
against the rest of other members of the society, interdependence promotes cohesion among society members, thus
helping individuals to experience lower levels of fear and insecurity. The recognition of the fact that one has
support of others remains crucial for alleviating negative feelings, which could yield fear in individuals. Support
for each other is only possible in a society where people feel close to each other and the society is characterized
by high level of interdependence.
Interdependence emphasizes on how people relate with each other and get on well with existing norms of the society,
which dictate how people relate. Intrinsic attributes of individuals play no major role in the way individuals
think, feel or act. However, Jen also argues that “we need both the interdependent and the independent
self,” appealing that people from either side of self-concepts accommodates and understands each other.
B. Write a newspaper article highlighting the increasing individualism in the modern Nepali society.
Grammar
A. Make passive sentences from the following information as in the example.
a. volleyball/every/country/play
Volleyball is played in every country.
b. spaghetti/boiling water/cook
Spaghetti is cooked in boiling water.
c. each lesson/an exercise/follow
Each lesson is followed by an exercise.
d. taxes/the price/include
Taxes are included in the price.
e. extensive information/the internet/find
Extensive information is found on the internet.
f. our order/the waiter/took
Our order was taken by the waiter.
g. the schedule/the participants/will distribute
The schedule will be distributed by the participants.
h. the police/footprint/found
Footprint was found by the police.
i. the children/the sandcastles/built
The sandcastles were built by the children.
j. the father/the window/not going to open
The window is not going to be opened by the father.
B. Rewrite the following sentences in the passive voice using the correct form of verbs in the brackets.
a. Call the ambulance! Two boys have been injured (injure) in a motorbike accident.
b. The clock has been used (use) since the 17th century.
c. I had to wait outside the classroom while the classroom was being cleaned (clean).
d. The problem is being discussed (discuss) by the subject specialists at the moment.
e. By the time I came back, the task has been finished (finish).
f. Women are said (say) to be happier than men.
g. Look! The house had been destroyed (destroy) by the fire.
h. The other three reports will be submitted (submit) by next month.
i. Many people have been resuced (rescue) from the floods by the security persons this year.
j. The state of Florida was hit (hit) by a hurricane that did serious damage.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesUnit 13: History
Working with words
A. Match the words with their definitions/meanings.
a. passion
any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as love or hate
b. surveillance
continuous observation of a place, person, group, or ongoing activity in order to gather information
c. integrity
the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished
d. avuncular
like an uncle
e. livelihood
a means of supporting one’s existence
f. fascination
powerful attraction
g. innovation
an idea, practice, or object that is perceived as new
h. panorama
an unobstructed and wide view of an extensive area in all directions
i. resilience
the power or ability of a material to return to its original form, position, etc., after being bent, compressed,
or stretched
j. evacuation
the removal of people or things from an endangered area
B. Define the following professionals. One has been done for you.
architect
An architect is an engineer who designs buildings and advises in their construction.
civil engineer
A civil engineer is an engineer who designs and oversees the construction of public works.
mechanical engineer
A mechanical engineer is an engineer who designs, produces, and operates machines.
aerospace engineer
An aerospace engineer is an engineer who designs, tests and manages the manufacturing of aircrafts.
automobile engineer
An automobile engineer is an engineer who designs, manufactures and repairs vehicles.
electronic engineer
An electronic engineer is an engineer who designs, develops and manufactures electrical equipments.
electrical engineer
An electrical engineer is an engineer who creates, designs and manages electrical equipments.
computer engineer
A computer engineer is an engineer who evaluates, designs and maintains computer hardware and software systems.
food engineer
A food engineer is an engineer who ensures the safety and efficiency of processing, packaging and delivering of
food items.
chemical engineer
A chemical engineer is an engineer who develops and designs chemical manufacturing processes.
biomedical engineer
A biomedical engineer is an engineer who develops new equipment for improving human health.
Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
a. Where were Frank and Nicole employed?
Frank and Nicole were employed as architects in the twin towers of the World Trade Centre situated in the USA.
b. How does the author describe Frank’s attachment to the twin towers?
The author describes Frank’s attachment to the twin towers as a source of livelihood and passion.
c. How did the two families become intimate with each other?
The two families became intimate with each other because of their children.
d. What, according to Nicole, did Frank think of the towers?
According to Nicole, Frank thought of the towers as an incredible human fest. The scale, magnitude, innovative
design, efficient use of materials of the towers were awesome to Frank. Sometime he said that they were built to
take the impact of a light airplane.
e. Why did Frank want to help the people in the tower after the attack?
Frank wanted to help the people in the tower after the attack because only few people knew about the strength of
the building.
f. Why did Frank not follow Nicole’s request even after knowing that the building was on fire?
Frank did not follow Nicole’s request even after knowing that the building was on fire because he had a
confidence that he could help the injured people on their way to safe place without hurting himself.
g. Who did Frank call from the building after the attack?
Frank called his sister Nina, who lived on West 93rd street in Mahnattan, from the building after the attack,
h. How did Nicole feel after the collapse of the first tower?
After the collapse of the first tower, Nicole felt that was like the beginning of a nuclear war. Everything went
absolutely quiet and she felt in the middle of a fog that was as blindingly bright as a snowstorm on a sunny
day.
i. Were Frank’s children serious as soon as they heard the news of their missing father? Why?
Frank’s children were not serious as soon as they heard the news of their missing father because they were
busy playing games.
Critical Thinking
a. Many innocent people lose their lives in ruthless attacks every year. What do you think the governments
should do to protect their people from such attacks and make the world a safer place to live? Discuss with your
friends.
Yes, it’s true that many innocent people lose their lives in ruthless attacks every year. The government
must be responsible to handle and control such situations. It should think seriously for the security of their
citizens from such ruthless attacks. The things the government should do to protect their people from such
attacks and make the world a safer place to live are as follows:
- Every government should maintain stability in them, the leaders and the political parties.
- Borders restrictions should be done.
- Armed forces should be kept at several places where there is the high risk of attack outbreaks.
- Though the peace treaty are being signed but not followed accordingly. So every nation should work to maintain
peace.
- Peoples should be moved to safer place if there is any danger.
b. Revenge and violence are the integral parts of the history and civilization. They can’t be ignored, only
managed. Do you agree or not with this statement? Present your logic.
Yes, I agree with the statement that revenge and violence are the integral parts of the history and
civilization. Revenge is associated with hurt and damage, and violence is the use of physical force so as to
injure, abuse, damage, or destroy. The cause of World War II is also due to the Revenge from German, in 1919
June 28. When the Treaty of Versailles was signed and the war between German and Allied Power was ended, it
humiliated and blamed Germany for World War I and imposed heavy debt payments on Germany. Germany revenged for
it in 1939 and from that World War II had stared. We have seen from our past that revenge and violence and lead
to a miserable situation. Thus, it can’t be ignored, but only managed.
Writing
A. Write a description of an event that you have recently witnessed.
Recently I witnessed a very special celestial event known as the full lunar eclipse. It was special because
astronomers declared it to be longest lunar eclipse of this century which took place on July 27. It was
difficult for me because I had to wake up till late night for watching this lunar eclipse. Finally the eclipse
started at 11:30 pm and ended at 1 a.m. I was accompanied by a few friends who chose to witness this lunar
eclipse. We kept looking up in the sky for one and a half hours which was a bit difficult but rewarding in the
end.
B. Human life does not pass as one expects. You might have also gone through different but memorable incidents.
Write an essay on “An Unforgettable Event in my Life’ in about 500 words.
It is true that if we have joys in our life we have sorrows too. Like all others, I cannot be an exception. I
still remember the day when I felt that there is no joy in the world but sorrow.
I was enjoying the vacations after my tenth class board ex-examinations. My best friend in the neighborhood,
Alisha, was staying with me. Her parents had gone to Kathmandu where her grandfather was to undergo some major
operation. I and my parents did our best to keep her happy and away from missing her parents. For us it was play
time all through the day.
One evening as we were playing our little brain game, her parents called and said her grandfather’s
operation was successful and her parents were to return the next day by plane. On reading it Alisha was
overjoyed and I joined her in her moment of happiness.
That night Alisha did not sleep. She counted the hours till the early morning. We dressed hurriedly and my
father took us to the airport. On reaching there we sensed something wrong. The Yeti Airlines flight from
Kathmandu had crashed while landing. Fire tenders and ambulances were on the run. Our hearts sank. Alisha
fainted from shock. My father hired a taxi and sent us back home.
We waited with throbbing hearts for my father to return with her safe and sound parents. My mother sent for a
doctor as Alisha’s condition became worse. I sat by her side silently wishing for a happy turn. My father
returned only to say that there was no sign of her parents though their names were mentioned in the
airline’s passenger list. Alisha was hysterical and it became difficult to control her.
She said that she wanted to go to her home. I decided to go with her while my mother would soon follow. Once out
on the street she ran towards her home. I saw a speeding car and shouted after her to stop. She didn’t.
The car didn’t stop and sped away leaving her laying on the road badly hurt.
We immediately took her to a nearby hospital. The doctors who examined her said she may recover gradually but
did not confirm her recovery. She was placed in the intensive care unit.
I returned home with my parents. The moment we entered the room the telephone rang. It was a call from the
hospital to inform that Alisha was no more. I felt numb and tears welled up in my eyes. I still refused to
believe what I heard was true.
Again, the telephone rang and it was from Alisha’s parents to inform that they had missed their flight due
to some car trouble on their way to the airport. The news of Alisha’s parents as alive did not touch my
heart.
Alisha’s parents were shocked to hear about their daughter’s death when they came home next day. But
nothing could be done. Even today when I remember the incident every moment of that day flashes through my eyes
and I begin to cry, “Alisha, why did you have to die? I have lost a good friend in you.”
Grammar
Prepositions
B. Complete these sentences with the correct prepositions.
a. The relationship between the two boys has changed significantly over the past few years.
b. In Nepal, many girls get married at an early age.
c. I’m not in the mood for such silly games.
d. There were no security personnel on duty at that time.
e. The new smartphone is similar to the one I bought a few years ago.
f. My dad insisted on taking the later train.
g. People with ambition always try to achieve their goals, no matter what happens.
h. Mr. Jenkins has been disabled all his life as a result of a childhood illness.
i. We bought the TV because it was on sale.
j. She has no understanding of how computers really work.
k. I gave him my new T-shirt in exchange for a few cigarettes.
l. The company is run by two people who hardly ever meet.
m. All the celebrations and parties were called off because of the tragic accident.
n. There was a great need of volunteers at the site of the crash.
C. Complete the following text with correct prepositions.
What are we seeing here? One very real possibility is that these are the educational consequences of the
differences in parenting styles that we talked about in the Chris Langan chapter. Think back to Alex Williams,
the nine-year-old whom Annette Lareau studied. His parents believe in connected cultivation. He gets taken to
museums and gets enrolled in special programs and goes to summer camp, where he takes classes. When he’s bored
at home, there are plenty of books to read, and his parents see it as their responsibility to keep him actively
engaged in the world for him. It’s hard to see how Alex would get better at reading and math in the summer.
Simple future, future continuous, future perfect and future perfect continuous
B. make sentences from the given clues as stated in brackets.
a. Who/pass the exam? (future simple)
Who will pass the exam?
b. How/you/get home? (future continuous)
How will you be getting home?
c. I/come later. (future simple)
I’ll come later.
d. She/catch the train by 3 pm. (future perfect)
She will have caught the train by 3 PM.
e. It/rain tomorrow. (future simple)
It will rain tomorrow.
f. John/sleep at 4 am. (future continuous)
John will be sleeping at 4 am.
g. How long/you/see your boyfriend when you get married? (future perfect continuous)
How long will you have been seeing your boyfriend when you get married?
h. It/rain in Kathmandu next week. (future continuous)
It will be raining in Kathmandu next week.
i. How long/you/work here when you retire? (future perfect continuous)
How long have you been working here when you retire?
j. He/not/finish the cleaning by the time she gets home. (future perfect)
He won’t have finished the cleaning by the time she gets home.
C. Complete the following sentences with the correct future tense form of the verbs in the brackets.
a. It will snow (snow) in Brighton tomorrow evening.
b. On Friday at 8 o’clock, I‘m going to meet (to meet) my friend.
c. Wait! I will drive (to drive) you to the station.
d. When they get married in March, they will have been (to be) together for six years.
e. You’re carrying too much. I will open (to open) the door for you.
f. Do you think the teacher will have marked (to mark) our homework by Monday morning?
g. When I see you tomorrow, I will show (show) you my new book.
h. After you take a nap, you will feel (to feel) a lot better.
i. I will let (to let) you know the second the builders finish decorating.
j. We will wait (to wait) in the shelter until the bus comes.
k. I’m very sorry, Dr. Jones won’t be (not be) back in the clinic unit 2 pm.
l. This summer, I will have been living (to live) in Birgunj for four years.
m. I don’t think you will have (to have) any problems when you land in Pokhara.
n. The baby should be due soon, next week she will have been (to be) pregnant for nine months.
o. By the time we get home, they will have been playing (to play) football for 30 minutes.
p. When you get off the train, I will be waiting (to wait) for you by the ticket machine.
q. This time next week, I will be skiing (ski) in Switzerland!
r. Now, I am going to check (to check) my answers.
Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
a. Where were Frank and Nicole employed?
Frank and Nicole were employed as architects in the twin towers of the World Trade Centre situated in the USA.
b. How does the author describe Frank's attachment to the twin towers?
The author describes Frank’s attachment to the twin towers as a source of livelihood and passion.
c. How did the two families become intimate with each other?
The two families became intimate with each other because of their children.
d. What, according to Nicole, did Frank think of the towers?
According to Nicole, Frank thought of the towers as an incredible human fest. The scale, magnitude, innovative
design, efficient use of materials of the towers were awesome to Frank. Sometime he said that they were built to
take the impact of a light airplane.
e. Why did Frank want to help the people in the tower after the attack?
Frank wanted to help the people in the tower after the attack because only few people knew about the strength of
the building.
f. Why did Frank not follow Nicole's request even after knowing that the building was on fire?
Frank did not follow Nicole’s request even after knowing that the building was on fire because he had a
confidence that he could help the injured people on their way to safe place without hurting himself.
g. Who did Frank call from the building after the attack?
Frank called his sister Nina, who lived on West 93rd street in Mahnattan, from the building after the attack,
h. How did Nicole feel after the collapse of the first tower?
After the collapse of the first tower, Nicole felt that was like the beginning of a nuclear war. Everything went
absolutely quiet and she felt in the middle of a fog that was as blindingly bright as a snowstorm on a sunny
day.
i. Were Frank's children serious as soon as they heard the news of their missing father? Why?
Frank’s children were not serious as soon as they heard the news of their missing father because they were
busy playing games.
Critical Thinking
a. Many innocent people lose their lives in ruthless attacks every year. What do you think the governments
should do to protect their people from such attacks and make the world a safer place to live? Discuss with your
friends.
Yes, it’s true that many innocent people lose their lives in ruthless attacks every year. The government
must be responsible to handle and control such situations. It should think seriously for the security of their
citizens from such ruthless attacks. The things the government should do to protect their people from such
attacks and make the world a safer place to live are as follows:
- Every government should maintain stability in them, the leaders and the political parties.
- Borders restrictions should be done.
- Armed forces should be kept at several places where there is the high risk of attack outbreaks.
- Though the peace treaty are being signed but not followed accordingly. So every nation should work to maintain
peace.
- Peoples should be moved to safer place if there is any danger.
b. Revenge and violence are the integral parts of the history and civilization. They can't be ignored, only
managed. Do you agree or not with this statement? Present your logic.
Yes, I agree with the statement that revenge and violence are the integral parts of the history and
civilization. Revenge is associated with hurt and damage, and violence is the use of physical force so as to
injure, abuse, damage, or destroy. The cause of World War II is also due to the Revenge from German, in 1919
June 28. When the Treaty of Versailles was signed and the war between German and Allied Power was ended, it
humiliated and blamed Germany for World War I and imposed heavy debt payments on Germany. Germany revenged for
it in 1939 and from that World War II had stared. We have seen from our past that revenge and violence and lead
to a miserable situation. Thus, it can’t be ignored, but only managed.
Writing
A. Write a description of an event that you have recently witnessed.
Recently I witnessed a very special celestial event known as the full lunar eclipse. It was special because
astronomers declared it to be longest lunar eclipse of this century which took place on July 27. It was
difficult for me because I had to wake up till late night for watching this lunar eclipse. Finally the eclipse
started at 11:30 pm and ended at 1 a.m. I was accompanied by a few friends who chose to witness this lunar
eclipse. We kept looking up in the sky for one and a half hours which was a bit difficult but rewarding in the
end.
B. Human life does not pass as one expects. You might have also gone through different but memorable incidents.
Write an essay on “An Unforgettable Event in my Life’ in about 500 words.
It is true that if we have joys in our life we have sorrows too. Like all others, I cannot be an exception. I
still remember the day when I felt that there is no joy in the world but sorrow.
I was enjoying the vacations after my tenth class board ex-examinations. My best friend in the neighborhood,
Alisha, was staying with me. Her parents had gone to Kathmandu where her grandfather was to undergo some major
operation. I and my parents did our best to keep her happy and away from missing her parents. For us it was play
time all through the day.
One evening as we were playing our little brain game, her parents called and said her grandfather’s
operation was successful and her parents were to return the next day by plane. On reading it Alisha was
overjoyed and I joined her in her moment of happiness.
That night Alisha did not sleep. She counted the hours till the early morning. We dressed hurriedly and my
father took us to the airport. On reaching there we sensed something wrong. The Yeti Airlines flight from
Kathmandu had crashed while landing. Fire tenders and ambulances were on the run. Our hearts sank. Alisha
fainted from shock. My father hired a taxi and sent us back home.
We waited with throbbing hearts for my father to return with her safe and sound parents. My mother sent for a
doctor as Alisha’s condition became worse. I sat by her side silently wishing for a happy turn. My father
returned only to say that there was no sign of her parents though their names were mentioned in the
airline’s passenger list. Alisha was hysterical and it became difficult to control her.
She said that she wanted to go to her home. I decided to go with her while my mother would soon follow. Once out
on the street she ran towards her home. I saw a speeding car and shouted after her to stop. She didn’t.
The car didn’t stop and sped away leaving her laying on the road badly hurt.
We immediately took her to a nearby hospital. The doctors who examined her said she may recover gradually but
did not confirm her recovery. She was placed in the intensive care unit.
I returned home with my parents. The moment we entered the room the telephone rang. It was a call from the
hospital to inform that Alisha was no more. I felt numb and tears welled up in my eyes. I still refused to
believe what I heard was true.
Again, the telephone rang and it was from Alisha’s parents to inform that they had missed their flight due
to some car trouble on their way to the airport. The news of Alisha’s parents as alive did not touch my
heart.
Alisha’s parents were shocked to hear about their daughter’s death when they came home next day. But
nothing could be done. Even today when I remember the incident every moment of that day flashes through my eyes
and I begin to cry, “Alisha, why did you have to die? I have lost a good friend in you.”
Grammar
Prepositions
B. Complete these sentences with the correct prepositions.
a. The relationship between the two boys has changed significantly over the past few years.
b. In Nepal, many girls get married at an early age.
c. I’m not in the mood for such silly games.
d. There were no security personnel on duty at that time.
e. The new smartphone is similar to the one I bought a few years ago.
f. My dad insisted on taking the later train.
g. People with ambition always try to achieve their goals, no matter what happens.
h. Mr. Jenkins has been disabled all his life as a result of a childhood illness.
i. We bought the TV because it was on sale.
j. She has no understanding of how computers really work.
k. I gave him my new T-shirt in exchange for a few cigarettes.
l. The company is run by two people who hardly ever meet.
m. All the celebrations and parties were called off because of the tragic accident.
n. There was a great need of volunteers at the site of the crash.
C. Complete the following text with correct prepositions.
What are we seeing here? One very real possibility is that these are the educational consequences of the
differences in parenting styles that we talked about in the Chris Langan chapter. Think back to Alex Williams,
the nine-year-old whom Annette Lareau studied. His parents believe in connected cultivation. He gets taken to
museums and gets enrolled in special programs and goes to summer camp, where he takes classes. When he’s bored
at home, there are plenty of books to read, and his parents see it as their responsibility to keep him actively
engaged in the world for him. It’s hard to see how Alex would get better at reading and math in the summer.
Simple future, future continuous, future perfect and future perfect continuous
B. make sentences from the given clues as stated in brackets.
a. Who/pass the exam? (future simple)
Who will pass the exam?
b. How/you/get home? (future continuous)
How will you be getting home?
c. I/come later. (future simple)
I’ll come later.
d. She/catch the train by 3 pm. (future perfect)
She will have caught the train by 3 PM.
e. It/rain tomorrow. (future simple)
It will rain tomorrow.
f. John/sleep at 4 am. (future continuous)
John will be sleeping at 4 am.
g. How long/you/see your boyfriend when you get married? (future perfect continuous)
How long will you have been seeing your boyfriend when you get married?
h. It/rain in Kathmandu next week. (future continuous)
It will be raining in Kathmandu next week.
i. How long/you/work here when you retire? (future perfect continuous)
How long have you been working here when you retire?
j. He/not/finish the cleaning by the time she gets home. (future perfect)
He won’t have finished the cleaning by the time she gets home.
C. Complete the following sentences with the correct future tense form of the verbs in the brackets.
a. It will snow (snow) in Brighton tomorrow evening.
b. On Friday at 8 o’clock, I‘m going to meet (to meet) my friend.
c. Wait! I will drive (to drive) you to the station.
d. When they get married in March, they will have been (to be) together for six years.
e. You’re carrying too much. I will open (to open) the door for you.
f. Do you think the teacher will have marked (to mark) our homework by Monday morning?
g. When I see you tomorrow, I will show (show) you my new book.
h. After you take a nap, you will feel (to feel) a lot better.
i. I will let (to let) you know the second the builders finish decorating.
j. We will wait (to wait) in the shelter until the bus comes.
k. I’m very sorry, Dr. Jones won’t be (not be) back in the clinic unit 2 pm.
l. This summer, I will have been living (to live) in Birgunj for four years.
m. I don’t think you will have (to have) any problems when you land in Pokhara.
n. The baby should be due soon, next week she will have been (to be) pregnant for nine months.
o. By the time we get home, they will have been playing (to play) football for 30 minutes.
p. When you get off the train, I will be waiting (to wait) for you by the ticket machine.
q. This time next week, I will be skiing (ski) in Switzerland!
r. Now, I am going to check (to check) my answers.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesUnit 14: Human Rights
Working with words
A. Pair the following words as opposites.
Despair : hope
Kind : cruel
Fresh : stale
Strange : familiar
Normal : eccentric
Fierce : gentle
Corrupt : honest
Selfish : generous
B. By adding a suitable suffix to each word in the table, form another word as in the examples below.
into noun
open-minded : open-mindedness
accommodate : accommodation
rehearse : rehearsal
transgress : transgression
angry : anger
mix : mixture
into adjective
pain : painful
differ : different
behave : behavior
remark : remarkable
indifferent : indifference
thought : thoughtful
into verb
less : lessen
sure : ensure
real : realize
glory : glorify
power : powering/powers
prison : prisoning/prisoned
C. Pronounce the following words with the help of a dictionary.
| Words | Pronouncation || — | — || Viewer | /ˈvjuːə/ || sure | /ʃɔː,ʃʊə/ || cure | /kjʊə,kjɔː/ || fluent | /ˈfluːənt/ || poor | /pɔː,pʊə/ || affluence | /ˈaflʊəns/ || flower | /ˈflaʊə/ || curious | /ˈkjʊərɪəs/ || tourist | /ˈtʊərɪst/ || allowance | /əˈlaʊəns/ || usual | /ˈjuːʒʊəl/ || intellectual | /ˌɪntəˈlɛktʃʊəl/ || visual | /ˈvɪʒ(j)ʊəl,ˈvɪzjʊəl/ || mature | /məˈtʃʊə/ || endure | /ɪnˈdjʊə,ɛnˈdjʊə,ɪnˈdʒɔː,ɛnˈdʒɔː/ || join | /dʒɔɪn/ || coin | /kɔɪn/ || boy | /bɔɪ/ || voice | /vɔɪs/ || noise | /nɔɪz/ || soil | /spɔɪl/ || hoist | /hɔɪst/ || moist | /mɔɪst/ || avoid | /əˈvɔɪd/ || toy | /tɔɪ/ || toilet | /ˈtɔɪlɪt/ || annoy | /əˈnɔɪ/ || enjoy | /ɪnˈdʒɔɪ,ɛnˈdʒɔɪ/ || poison | /ˈpɔɪz(ə)n/ |
Comprehension
A. Write True or False after each statement. Give reason for your answer.
a. The author says his father was an ideal person in the family. False
He used to abuse his mother verbally and physically when he was drunk.
b. The author wanted to forgive his father but he did not get an opportunity. False
Because he had many pressure and stresses.
c. It’s worth forgiving a person if he/she realizes his/her mistakes. True
d. South Africa had dual type of education system in the 1960s. True
e. The author lived in a joint family. False
Because the author had only his wife and two children in his family.
f. The author regretted for not getting a chance to talk to his father. True
g. According to the author, all our glories and splendors are short lived. True
B. Answer the following questions.
a. How does the author remember his family environment when he was a small boy?
The author remembers his family environment when he was a small boy as his father was verbally and physically abused
to
his mother.
b. Why does the author blame system more than his father?
The author blames system more than his father because the system was the reason behind his father’s stresses,
pressures and traumas.
c. How does the principle of forgiveness work?
The principle of forgiveness does not depend on the actions of others. . It is the way of self-healing and obtaining
peace and harmony. It releases our pain, brings the state of freedom in our heart and mind. It shows that people do
not
forgive for helping another person but they forgive for themselves as it is a matter of selfishness.
d. How does the author interpret the noise, squalls and tantrums of his children?
The author interpret the noise, squalls and tantrums of his children as the whole catalog of failures, irritations,
fatigue thought etc. for the parents.
e. Why did the author decide to educate his children in Swaziland?
He decided to educate his children in Swaziland because he was dissatisfied with the inferior education as a result
of
Bantu Education Act of South Africa to black children.
f. How does the author define human life?
According to the author, human life is a great mixture of goodness, beauty, cruelty, heartbreak, interference, love
and
so much more.
g. According to the author, is it heredity or environment that shapes a man’s character? Explain.
According to the author, it is heredity or environment that shapes a man’s character. The birth of every child
is
same. By birth, a child is neither a liar, nor a rapist. He/she is not born full of hatred or violence. No one is
born
in any less glory or goodness that us. Hence heredity doesn’t shape a man’s character. It is our surrounding
environment
that shapes out character.
h. Why is forgiveness important in our life?
Forgiveness is important in our life because it is the way of freeing ourselves from our past errors and moving
forward
into our future unaffected by the mistakes we made in the past.
Critical Thinking
a. Desmond Tutu once said, “Forgiving is not forgetting; it is actually remembering-remembering and not using
your
right to hit back. It’s a second chance for a new beginning.” Does this quotation apply to this text? Analyze.
“Forgiving is not forgetting; it is actually remembering-remembering and not using your right to hit back. It’s
a
second chance for a new beginning.” is one of the famous quotes of Desmond Tutu. Forgiveness is the way to
release
feelings of vengeance toward a person or group who harmed us, not matter they deserve forgiveness or not. It is not
to
deny seriousness of an offense against us or it doesn’t mean forgetting. Here in the text, even if the author is
willing
to apologize, he is still a victim of his father’s domestic violence. Desmond Tutu remembers the pain his
father
had given to his mother. He wanted to hurt back his father in his childhood. But later he forgives his father
justifying
that his father’s rude behavior was because of the mistreat of white people to black people in South Africa.
Therefore
forgiving is not forgetting rather it is remembering-remembering and not using it to hit back.
b. The author interprets “I am sorry” as three hardest words to say. How does it apply to your life?
Committing mistakes are the part of human life. But accepting it and apologizing for it is the hardest task. In the
text, the author interprets “I am sorry” as three hardest words to say. Empathy is the ability to put
ourselves in another person’s shoes and feel what they feel. This is something we need to develop. It takes
humility. Too often, we are preoccupied with our own feelings. Empathy is the recognition that it’s not all
about
us. Other people matter. They have feelings, too, and those feelings are important. By saying we are
sorry–sincerely and with authentic humility–we validate them as human beings.
For me the three words “I am sorry” are hardest words to say when I hurt others. Instead to say sorry, I
remain aloof to them who have been hurt by me and don’t go close to them to talk again. I don’t talk and be close to
them unless they come to speak to me. I am so much proudly and sensitive person. I easily get hurt by other and feel
sad
and I wish them to come close to me and say “sorry”. But I never realize how much they are affected by my
misbehavior. I feel very uneasy and difficult to say, “I am sorry.” Thus, as a matter of pride, fear of
being
shameful, lack of awareness, sense of superiority, gap in understanding, overwhelming emotion of guilt etc. also
makes
me hard to say the three words “I am sorry”.
Writing
The author talks about dual education system based on race in South Africa in the second half of the twentieth
century.
We also have private schools and public schools in Nepal. What should be done to make education equal to all
citizens of
Nepal? Write a couple of paragraphs expressing your views.
Nepal has come a long way in improving equity in education. In most countries, factors like income, geography,
gender,
language and disability contribute to inequitable access and high drop-out rates. Nepal’s education system has
faced many problems since the mid-1800s. The first education system in Nepal was only available to elite families,
and
Nepali people did not have access to education until 100 years later in the 1950s. Current day education in Nepal is
still in the developing stage and did not really start integrating the use of technology in the classroom until
2007.
To illustrate the issues that Nepal’s public school systems face, the children need access to clean drinking
water
while they attend school as well as at home. The lack of water and high temperatures result in the children having
difficulty concentrating and comprehending the material at hand. Thus, this combined with child malnutrition in
Nepal,
children in public schools do not have an advantage to performing well and tend to fall behind or drop out of
school.
Given these facts, Nepal’s school system is indeed fairly new and continuing to develop, but there is still
limited access to public schools. This limited access is a result of isolation of women from continuing education
which
leads families into poverty. In Nepal, there is an additional factor of caste and ethnicity which further aggravates
this situation. While the caste system was legally abolished in the 1960’s, its legacy continues to impact the
population for many years thereafter, and people considered low-caste are often economically and socially
disadvantaged.
In the past, children from such castes did not have access to schools. This has now changed with government
initiatives
such as school enrollment campaigns and scholarships for marginalized children.
Grammar
A. Join the following pairs of sentences using when and while
a. Bibha Kumari was doing her homework. The doorbell rang.
i. Bibha Kumari was doing her homework when the doorbell rang.
ii. While Bibha Kumari was doing her homework, the doorbell rang.
b. I heard the telephone ring. I picked it up.
When I heard the telephone ring, I picked it up.
c. Dil Maya found a thousand rupee note. She was washing her pants.
i. While Dil Maya was washing her pants, she found a thousand rupee note.
ii. Dil Maya was washing her pants when she found a thousand rupee note.
d. Tenjing gave his measurements to the dressmaker. He was visiting the market yesterday.
i. When Tenjing gave his measurements to the dressmaker, he was visiting the market yesterday.
ii. While Tenjing was visiting the market, he gave his measurements to the dressmaker.
e. I was at the butcher’s shop. I met Harikala.
When I was at the butcher’s shop, I met Harikala.
f. The sales agent was dealing with the customer. A thief stole the jewels.
i. While the sales agent was dealing with the customer, a thief stole the jewels.
ii. The sales agent was dealing with the customer when a thief stole the jewels.
g. My small brother was sleeping. I played chess with my father.
i. While my small brother was sleeping, I played chess with my father.
ii. My small brother was sleeping when I played chess with my father.
h. The old lady fell down. She was climbing up the stairs.
i. When the old lady fell down, she was climbing up the stairs.
ii. The old lady fell down while she was climbing up the stairs.
i. The leader was giving a speech loudly. He lost his voice.
i. While the leader was giving a speech loudly, he lost his voice.
ii. The leader was giving a speech loudly when he lost his voice.
j. Kanchan broke her backbone. She was lifting up the load.
i. Kanchan was lifting up the load when she broke her backbone.
ii. While Kanchan was lifting up the load, she broke her backbone.
B. Fill in the blanks with one of the connectives from the box.
a. We didn’t go for a morning walk today since it was raining.
b. I wanted to go home early as I was not feeling well.
c. My brother stayed at home because of/ owing to his illness.
d. I was late in the class owing to traffic jams.
e. He didn’t like dogs so he was not happy when his wife brought a puppy at home.
f. He was not included in the team owing to his knee injury.
g. As I was tired, I went to bed early.
h. He was very unhappy since he lost one million rupees in share market.
i. We cancelled our trip to Rara Lake owing to the bad weather.
j. These two lines intersect with each because they are are not parallel lines.
Comprehension
A. Write True or False after each statement. Give reason for your answer.
a. The author says his father was an ideal person in the family. False
He used to abuse his mother verbally and physically when he was drunk.
b. The author wanted to forgive his father but he did not get an opportunity. False
Because he had many pressure and stresses.
c. It’s worth forgiving a person if he/she realizes his/her mistakes. True
d. South Africa had dual type of education system in the 1960s. True
e. The author lived in a joint family. False
Because the author had only his wife and two children in his family.
f. The author regretted for not getting a chance to talk to his father. True
g. According to the author, all our glories and splendors are short lived. True
B. Answer the following questions.
a. How does the author remember his family environment when he was a small boy?
The author remembers his family environment when he was a small boy as his father was verbally and physically abused
to
his mother.
b. Why does the author blame system more than his father?
The author blames system more than his father because the system was the reason behind his father’s stresses,
pressures and traumas.
c. How does the principle of forgiveness work?
The principle of forgiveness does not depend on the actions of others. . It is the way of self-healing and obtaining
peace and harmony. It releases our pain, brings the state of freedom in our heart and mind. It shows that people do
not
forgive for helping another person but they forgive for themselves as it is a matter of selfishness.
d. How does the author interpret the noise, squalls and tantrums of his children?
The author interpret the noise, squalls and tantrums of his children as the whole catalog of failures, irritations,
fatigue thought etc. for the parents.
e. Why did the author decide to educate his children in Swaziland?
He decided to educate his children in Swaziland because he was dissatisfied with the inferior education as a result
of
Bantu Education Act of South Africa to black children.
f. How does the author define human life?
According to the author, human life is a great mixture of goodness, beauty, cruelty, heartbreak, interference, love
and
so much more.
g. According to the author, is it heredity or environment that shapes a man's character? Explain.
According to the author, it is heredity or environment that shapes a man’s character. The birth of every child
is
same. By birth, a child is neither a liar, nor a rapist. He/she is not born full of hatred or violence. No one is
born
in any less glory or goodness that us. Hence heredity doesn’t shape a man’s character. It is our surrounding
environment
that shapes out character.
h. Why is forgiveness important in our life?
Forgiveness is important in our life because it is the way of freeing ourselves from our past errors and moving
forward
into our future unaffected by the mistakes we made in the past.
Critical Thinking
a. Desmond Tutu once said, "Forgiving is not forgetting; it is actually remembering-remembering and not using
your
right to hit back. It’s a second chance for a new beginning.” Does this quotation apply to this text? Analyze.
“Forgiving is not forgetting; it is actually remembering-remembering and not using your right to hit back. It’s
a
second chance for a new beginning.” is one of the famous quotes of Desmond Tutu. Forgiveness is the way to
release
feelings of vengeance toward a person or group who harmed us, not matter they deserve forgiveness or not. It is not
to
deny seriousness of an offense against us or it doesn’t mean forgetting. Here in the text, even if the author is
willing
to apologize, he is still a victim of his father’s domestic violence. Desmond Tutu remembers the pain his
father
had given to his mother. He wanted to hurt back his father in his childhood. But later he forgives his father
justifying
that his father’s rude behavior was because of the mistreat of white people to black people in South Africa.
Therefore
forgiving is not forgetting rather it is remembering-remembering and not using it to hit back.
b. The author interprets "I am sorry" as three hardest words to say. How does it apply to your life?
Committing mistakes are the part of human life. But accepting it and apologizing for it is the hardest task. In the
text, the author interprets “I am sorry” as three hardest words to say. Empathy is the ability to put
ourselves in another person’s shoes and feel what they feel. This is something we need to develop. It takes
humility. Too often, we are preoccupied with our own feelings. Empathy is the recognition that it’s not all
about
us. Other people matter. They have feelings, too, and those feelings are important. By saying we are
sorry–sincerely and with authentic humility–we validate them as human beings.
For me the three words “I am sorry” are hardest words to say when I hurt others. Instead to say sorry, I
remain aloof to them who have been hurt by me and don’t go close to them to talk again. I don’t talk and be close to
them unless they come to speak to me. I am so much proudly and sensitive person. I easily get hurt by other and feel
sad
and I wish them to come close to me and say “sorry”. But I never realize how much they are affected by my
misbehavior. I feel very uneasy and difficult to say, “I am sorry.” Thus, as a matter of pride, fear of
being
shameful, lack of awareness, sense of superiority, gap in understanding, overwhelming emotion of guilt etc. also
makes
me hard to say the three words “I am sorry”.
Writing
The author talks about dual education system based on race in South Africa in the second half of the twentieth
century.
We also have private schools and public schools in Nepal. What should be done to make education equal to all
citizens of
Nepal? Write a couple of paragraphs expressing your views.
Nepal has come a long way in improving equity in education. In most countries, factors like income, geography,
gender,
language and disability contribute to inequitable access and high drop-out rates. Nepal’s education system has
faced many problems since the mid-1800s. The first education system in Nepal was only available to elite families,
and
Nepali people did not have access to education until 100 years later in the 1950s. Current day education in Nepal is
still in the developing stage and did not really start integrating the use of technology in the classroom until
2007.
To illustrate the issues that Nepal’s public school systems face, the children need access to clean drinking
water
while they attend school as well as at home. The lack of water and high temperatures result in the children having
difficulty concentrating and comprehending the material at hand. Thus, this combined with child malnutrition in
Nepal,
children in public schools do not have an advantage to performing well and tend to fall behind or drop out of
school.
Given these facts, Nepal’s school system is indeed fairly new and continuing to develop, but there is still
limited access to public schools. This limited access is a result of isolation of women from continuing education
which
leads families into poverty. In Nepal, there is an additional factor of caste and ethnicity which further aggravates
this situation. While the caste system was legally abolished in the 1960’s, its legacy continues to impact the
population for many years thereafter, and people considered low-caste are often economically and socially
disadvantaged.
In the past, children from such castes did not have access to schools. This has now changed with government
initiatives
such as school enrollment campaigns and scholarships for marginalized children.
Grammar
A. Join the following pairs of sentences using when and while
a. Bibha Kumari was doing her homework. The doorbell rang.
i. Bibha Kumari was doing her homework when the doorbell rang.
ii. While Bibha Kumari was doing her homework, the doorbell rang.
b. I heard the telephone ring. I picked it up.
When I heard the telephone ring, I picked it up.
c. Dil Maya found a thousand rupee note. She was washing her pants.
i. While Dil Maya was washing her pants, she found a thousand rupee note.
ii. Dil Maya was washing her pants when she found a thousand rupee note.
d. Tenjing gave his measurements to the dressmaker. He was visiting the market yesterday.
i. When Tenjing gave his measurements to the dressmaker, he was visiting the market yesterday.
ii. While Tenjing was visiting the market, he gave his measurements to the dressmaker.
e. I was at the butcher's shop. I met Harikala.
When I was at the butcher’s shop, I met Harikala.
f. The sales agent was dealing with the customer. A thief stole the jewels.
i. While the sales agent was dealing with the customer, a thief stole the jewels.
ii. The sales agent was dealing with the customer when a thief stole the jewels.
g. My small brother was sleeping. I played chess with my father.
i. While my small brother was sleeping, I played chess with my father.
ii. My small brother was sleeping when I played chess with my father.
h. The old lady fell down. She was climbing up the stairs.
i. When the old lady fell down, she was climbing up the stairs.
ii. The old lady fell down while she was climbing up the stairs.
i. The leader was giving a speech loudly. He lost his voice.
i. While the leader was giving a speech loudly, he lost his voice.
ii. The leader was giving a speech loudly when he lost his voice.
j. Kanchan broke her backbone. She was lifting up the load.
i. Kanchan was lifting up the load when she broke her backbone.
ii. While Kanchan was lifting up the load, she broke her backbone.
B. Fill in the blanks with one of the connectives from the box.
a. We didn’t go for a morning walk today since it was raining.
b. I wanted to go home early as I was not feeling well.
c. My brother stayed at home because of/ owing to his illness.
d. I was late in the class owing to traffic jams.
e. He didn’t like dogs so he was not happy when his wife brought a puppy at home.
f. He was not included in the team owing to his knee injury.
g. As I was tired, I went to bed early.
h. He was very unhappy since he lost one million rupees in share market.
i. We cancelled our trip to Rara Lake owing to the bad weather.
j. These two lines intersect with each because they are are not parallel lines.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesUnit 15: Leisure and Entertainment
Working with words
A. The words in the crossword puzzle are from the text. Find them from the text to solve the puzzle based on
the clues given below.
Across
1. outdated, of or relating to the Middle Ages : Medieval
3. the character and atmosphere of a place : Ambience
6. highly decorated : Ornate
7. beat with a strong, regular rhythm; survive : Throb
10. with the agreement of all people involved : Unanimously
11. the destructive effects of something : Ravages
Down
1. a large city : Metropolis
2. wandering from place to place without any purpose : Loitering
4. an unpleasant place; a place of extreme misery : Hellhole
5. an active revolt or uprising : Insurgency
8. paved with cobbles : Cobbled
9. prosperous and growing; flourishing : Thriving
B. Look up the meanings of the following words in your dictionary.
Amenities
a desirable or useful feature or facility of a building or place.
Exquisite
extremely beautiful and delicate.
Etiquette
the customary code of polite behaviour in society or among members of a particular profession or group
Accommodation
a room, group of rooms, or building in which someone may live or stay.
Mainstay
a person or thing on which something else is based or depends.
Antique
having a high value because of age and quality.
C. Underline the content words in the following sentences.
a. The cat sat lazily on the dirty mat.
b. She gives performances on the stage beautifully.
c. Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched.
d. I came I saw I conquered.
e. It is my life, my very identity.
Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
a. Why did the author and his classmates decide to visit Bandipur?
The author and his classmates decided to visit Bandipur because all of them were fed up with the hectic pace of life
in the Kathmandu metropolis.
b. What is special about Bandipur?
Bandipur is special because it is a place where old Nepal still lives on in that cool, cobbled Newar settlement.
c. How has the business changed in Bandipur today?
Today, the traditional variety of business has changed into tourism-related business in Bandipur.
d. Why do the local people who have migrated to Kathmandu visit Bandipur time and again?
The local people who have migrated to Kathmandu visit Bandipur time and again because they want to be free from the
hectic life of Kathmandu.
e. How do the local people learn to speak English in Bandipur?
The local people learn to speak English in Bandipur from the local school children.
f. What does the author mean when he says that ‘time stops in the town of Bandipur’?
When the author says that “time stops in the town of Bandipur’, he means to appreciate the natural beauty of
Bandipur which catches attention in such a way that everyone gets lost in its beauty and originality.
Critical thinking
a. The writer seems to believe that rural life is better than urban life. Do you agree with him?
Yes, I agree with the writer that rural life is better than urban life. First and foremost, the tranquil
surroundings and environment attracts me a lot. The village is always described as a quiet and peaceful paradise,
which is a perfect place to unwind and escape from the rat-race and Hustle and bustle of the city life. Besides, the
rural areas are less crowded because there are not many people and cars. The scenery in a village is beautiful as
the beauty of nature is still well-conserved. Thus, people who live in the village can enjoy nature and have a
peaceful mind.
This condition is completely different with the city dwellers, who lead a hectic life and often feel annoyed due to
great stress in their daily life. The environment in the rural area is less polluted. The air in the village is
fresh and clean as there are plenty of undeveloped areas and greenery. In the rural area, there is less air
pollution since there are not many factories and cars around. Living in the city may have its benefits such as
better facilities and education. However, I am still in the opinion that living in the rural area brings more
advantages than living in the city.
b. Is the writer’s way of looking at Bandipur just a gaze of an urban tourist? Why? Why not?
No, the writer’s way of looking at Bandipur is not just a gaze of an urban tourist. He doesn’t visit Bandipur just
as an urban tourist. Being fed with his hectic life in Kathmandu, he visit there along with his friends to feel the
peaceful environment and amazing beauty of the place by his heart.
Bandipur is a hilltop settlement and a rural Municipality which lies in Tanahu district of Nepal. This place is the
centre of attraction for various reasons. The true and original beauty of the place attracts most of the tourists to
this place. The amazing beauty and scenario of Bandipur also attracted the writer. At Bandipur, he and his friends
are amazed by the local cultures, behaviours and organic and delicious food items. He enjoys various places in
Bandipur along with his friends. He feels himself heartily connected to this place where he gets all sorts of
refreshments which he has been looking for. He learns about places, people and their tourism businesses. The writer
spends his best time in Bandipur. Thus, his gaze towards this beautiful place is more than an urban tourist.
Grammar
A. Tick the correct one.
a. He has obtained full mark/marks.
b. More than two boys were/was absent.
c. One of the boy/boys was not found there.
d. His wonder knew no bounds/bound.
e. I give you my words/word.
f. He gave me much/many good advice/advices.
g. He gave wrong information/informations.
h. Give me two dozens/dozen eggs.
i. Six miles is/are a long distance.
j. The clock has struck four hours/hour.
k. Would you lend me a ten rupees/rupee note?
l. Nepal government makes five year/years development plan.
m. They went to Singapore on a four days/day trip.
B. Which of the sentence is correct in each pair? Rewrite the correct one.
a. My all books are lost. All my books are lost.
All my books are lost.
b. His both brothers are ill. Both his brothers are ill.
Both his brothers are ill.
c. Give me a hundred rupee. Give a hundred rupees.
Give me a hundred rupee.
d. Everybody except me was absent. Everybody except I was absent.
Everbody except me was absent.
e. He was died of fever. He died of fever.
He died of fever.
f. It is raining for a week. It has been raining for a week.
It has been raining for a week.
g. I have seen my friend long ago. I saw my friend long ago.
I saw my friend long ago.
h. My friend has gone out before I arrived. My friend had gone out before I arrived.
My friend had gone out before I arrived.
i. He said he has never seen him before. He said he had never seen him before.
He said he had never seen him before.
j. He assured he will come. He assured he would come.
He assured he would come.
Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
a. Why did the author and his classmates decide to visit Bandipur?
The author and his classmates decided to visit Bandipur because all of them were fed up with the hectic pace of life
in the Kathmandu metropolis.
b. What is special about Bandipur?
Bandipur is special because it is a place where old Nepal still lives on in that cool, cobbled Newar settlement.
c. How has the business changed in Bandipur today?
Today, the traditional variety of business has changed into tourism-related business in Bandipur.
d. Why do the local people who have migrated to Kathmandu visit Bandipur time and again?
The local people who have migrated to Kathmandu visit Bandipur time and again because they want to be free from the
hectic life of Kathmandu.
e. How do the local people learn to speak English in Bandipur?
The local people learn to speak English in Bandipur from the local school children.
f. What does the author mean when he says that ‘time stops in the town of Bandipur’?
When the author says that “time stops in the town of Bandipur’, he means to appreciate the natural beauty of
Bandipur which catches attention in such a way that everyone gets lost in its beauty and originality.
Critical thinking
a. The writer seems to believe that rural life is better than urban life. Do you agree with him?
Yes, I agree with the writer that rural life is better than urban life. First and foremost, the tranquil
surroundings and environment attracts me a lot. The village is always described as a quiet and peaceful paradise,
which is a perfect place to unwind and escape from the rat-race and Hustle and bustle of the city life. Besides, the
rural areas are less crowded because there are not many people and cars. The scenery in a village is beautiful as
the beauty of nature is still well-conserved. Thus, people who live in the village can enjoy nature and have a
peaceful mind.
This condition is completely different with the city dwellers, who lead a hectic life and often feel annoyed due to
great stress in their daily life. The environment in the rural area is less polluted. The air in the village is
fresh and clean as there are plenty of undeveloped areas and greenery. In the rural area, there is less air
pollution since there are not many factories and cars around. Living in the city may have its benefits such as
better facilities and education. However, I am still in the opinion that living in the rural area brings more
advantages than living in the city.
b. Is the writer’s way of looking at Bandipur just a gaze of an urban tourist? Why? Why not?
No, the writer’s way of looking at Bandipur is not just a gaze of an urban tourist. He doesn’t visit Bandipur just
as an urban tourist. Being fed with his hectic life in Kathmandu, he visit there along with his friends to feel the
peaceful environment and amazing beauty of the place by his heart.
Bandipur is a hilltop settlement and a rural Municipality which lies in Tanahu district of Nepal. This place is the
centre of attraction for various reasons. The true and original beauty of the place attracts most of the tourists to
this place. The amazing beauty and scenario of Bandipur also attracted the writer. At Bandipur, he and his friends
are amazed by the local cultures, behaviours and organic and delicious food items. He enjoys various places in
Bandipur along with his friends. He feels himself heartily connected to this place where he gets all sorts of
refreshments which he has been looking for. He learns about places, people and their tourism businesses. The writer
spends his best time in Bandipur. Thus, his gaze towards this beautiful place is more than an urban tourist.
Grammar
A. Tick the correct one.
a. He has obtained full mark/marks.
b. More than two boys were/was absent.
c. One of the boy/boys was not found there.
d. His wonder knew no bounds/bound.
e. I give you my words/word.
f. He gave me much/many good advice/advices.
g. He gave wrong information/informations.
h. Give me two dozens/dozen eggs.
i. Six miles is/are a long distance.
j. The clock has struck four hours/hour.
k. Would you lend me a ten rupees/rupee note?
l. Nepal government makes five year/years development plan.
m. They went to Singapore on a four days/day trip.
B. Which of the sentence is correct in each pair? Rewrite the correct one.
a. My all books are lost. All my books are lost.
All my books are lost.
b. His both brothers are ill. Both his brothers are ill.
Both his brothers are ill.
c. Give me a hundred rupee. Give a hundred rupees.
Give me a hundred rupee.
d. Everybody except me was absent. Everybody except I was absent.
Everbody except me was absent.
e. He was died of fever. He died of fever.
He died of fever.
f. It is raining for a week. It has been raining for a week.
It has been raining for a week.
g. I have seen my friend long ago. I saw my friend long ago.
I saw my friend long ago.
h. My friend has gone out before I arrived. My friend had gone out before I arrived.
My friend had gone out before I arrived.
i. He said he has never seen him before. He said he had never seen him before.
He said he had never seen him before.
j. He assured he will come. He assured he would come.
He assured he would come.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesUnit 16: Fantasy
Working with words
A. Match the following words with their definitions.
a. snappy
irritable and inclined to speak sharply
b. discretion
the ability to behave without causing embarrassment or attracting too much attention
c. radiant
showing great happiness, love or health
d. irresolute
not able to decide what to do
e. brusque
using very few words and sounding rude
f. fitful
a quiet period between times of activity
g. harlequin
a humorous character in some traditional plays
h. lull
happening only for short periods
i. janitress
a lady whose job is to take care of a building such as a school or a block of flats
j. speck
a very small spot
B. Consult a dictionary or search over the internet and write definitions of the following terminologies used
in the
stock market.
a. Liquidity : the availability of liquid assets (cash) to a market or company.
b. IPO : the process of offering shares of a private corporation to the public in a new stock issuance.
c. NEPSE : the only stock exchange of Nepal which stands for Nepal Stock Exchange
d. index : measurement of the value of a section of the stock market
e. portfolio : collection of financial investments like stocks, bonds, commodities, cash, and cash
equivalents,
including mutual funds and ETFs
f. dividend : a payment to shareholders that is made in shares rather than as cash
g. turn over : a measure of stock liquidity
h. margin : the amount of equity an investor has in their brokerage account
Comprehension
A. Write ‘T’ for true statements, ‘F’ for false ones or ‘NG’ if the
information is not given in the text.
a. Harvey Maxwell was a stock broker. T
b. He was not happy with his clerk, Pitcher. NG
c. Miss Leslie had been married to Maxell for a year. F
d. Maxwell had hired a machine to work in his office. NG
e. He had instructed Pitcher to get a new stenographer. T
f. Miss Leslie was amazed by Maxwell’s proposal. T
g. She thought that he had probably gone mad. F
h. She realized that he had been absent-minded due to his business. T
B. Answer the following questions.
a. How did Maxwell enter his office?
Maxwell entered his office briskly with the young lady stenographer and greeting Pitcher by saying “Good
Morning”.
b. Describe the physical appearance of the young lady.
She was beautiful in a way that was decidedly unstenographic. She forewent the pomp of the alluring pompadour. She
wore no chains, bracelets or lockets. She had not the air of being about to accept an invitation to luncheon. Her
dress was grey and plain, but it fitted her figure with fidelity and discretion. In her neat black turban hat was
the gold-green wing of a macaw. On this morning she was softly and shyly radiant. Her eyes were dreamily bright, her
cheeks genuine peachblow, her expression a happy one, tinged with reminiscence.
c. What changes did Pitcher notice in the young lady?
Pitcher noticed a difference in her ways this morning. Instead of going straight into the adjoining room, where her
desk was, she lingered, slightly irresolute, in the outer office. Once she moved over by Maxwell’s desk, near
enough for him to be aware of her presence.
d. What was Pitcher’s reply to the young lady concerning a new stenographer?
Pitcher’s reply to the young lady concerning a new stenographer was that Maxwell had already told him to get
another stenographer and then he had notified agency a day before to send over a few samples that morning and none
of the candidates arrived till the time except her.
e. What proposal did Maxwell make with Miss Leslie?
Maxwell made a marriage proposal with Miss Leslie.
f. How did she react to his proposal?
She acted very queerly when he proposed her. At first she seemed overcome with amazement; then tears flowed from her
wondering eyes; and then she smiled sunnily through them, and one of her arms slid tenderly about the broker’s
neck.
Grammar
A. Study the following sentences and underline the relative clauses.
a. I snatched a minute when things had slackened a minute.
b. Instead of going straight into the adjoining room, where her desk was, she lingered slightly irresolute in the
outer office.
c. She was beautiful in a way that was decidedly stenographic.
B. Fill in the blanks with suitable relative pronouns: who, which, that, whom, whose, where, why, how, what or
when.
a. There is a lady whose wallet has been stolen.
b. Do you know the man who sold these glasses?
c. The knife which you cut the bread with is very sharp.
d. Why do you blame him for everything that goes wrong?
e. A cemetery is a place where dead bodies are buried.
f. This school is for those children whose mother tongue is not Nepali.
g. I don’t know the name of the person whom I spoke over the telephone.
h. I came to Kathmandu on the day when the devastating earthquake took place.
i. In the application form she wrote when she needed a good payment.
j. The pilot explained why he made force landing on the road.
C. Join the following pairs of sentences using who, which, that, whose, whom, where, when or what.
a. The building was destroyed in the fire. It has now been rebuilt.
The building which was destroyed in the fire, has now been rebuilt.
b. A new cricket stadium is being made in Chitwan. It can accommodate one hundred thousand people.
A new cricket stadium which is being made in Chitwan, can accommodate one hundred thousand people.
c. Shanghai is the most populated city in the world. I stayed there for five years.
Shanghai, where I stayed there for five years, is the most populated city in the world.
d. This is the man. I gave some money to him this morning.
This is the man whom I gave some money this morning.
e. Do know the man? His son was awarded in the school yesterday.
Do you know the man whose son was awarded in the school yesterday?
f. His step-mother was not very kind to him. He had been staying with her.
His step-mother, with whom he had been staying, was not very kind to him.
g. He can never forget Nakkhu Jail. He had spent 14 years there.
He can never forget Nakkhu Jail where he had spent 14 years.
h. He showed me his new tab. He had paid a hundred thousand rupees for it.
He showed me his new tab for which he had paid a hundred thousand rupees.
i. Nelson Mandela joined ANC in 1930s. He was a student then.
Nelson Mandela joined ANC in 1930s when he was a student.
j. She forgot to buy the things. Her mother had told to buy them.
She forgot to buy the things which her mother had told her to buy.
Comprehension
A. Write ‘T’ for true statements, ‘F’ for false ones or ‘NG’ if the
information is not given in the text.
a. Harvey Maxwell was a stock broker. T
b. He was not happy with his clerk, Pitcher. NG
c. Miss Leslie had been married to Maxell for a year. F
d. Maxwell had hired a machine to work in his office. NG
e. He had instructed Pitcher to get a new stenographer. T
f. Miss Leslie was amazed by Maxwell’s proposal. T
g. She thought that he had probably gone mad. F
h. She realized that he had been absent-minded due to his business. T
B. Answer the following questions.
a. How did Maxwell enter his office?
Maxwell entered his office briskly with the young lady stenographer and greeting Pitcher by saying “Good
Morning”.
b. Describe the physical appearance of the young lady.
She was beautiful in a way that was decidedly unstenographic. She forewent the pomp of the alluring pompadour. She
wore no chains, bracelets or lockets. She had not the air of being about to accept an invitation to luncheon. Her
dress was grey and plain, but it fitted her figure with fidelity and discretion. In her neat black turban hat was
the gold-green wing of a macaw. On this morning she was softly and shyly radiant. Her eyes were dreamily bright, her
cheeks genuine peachblow, her expression a happy one, tinged with reminiscence.
c. What changes did Pitcher notice in the young lady?
Pitcher noticed a difference in her ways this morning. Instead of going straight into the adjoining room, where her
desk was, she lingered, slightly irresolute, in the outer office. Once she moved over by Maxwell’s desk, near
enough for him to be aware of her presence.
d. What was Pitcher’s reply to the young lady concerning a new stenographer?
Pitcher’s reply to the young lady concerning a new stenographer was that Maxwell had already told him to get
another stenographer and then he had notified agency a day before to send over a few samples that morning and none
of the candidates arrived till the time except her.
e. What proposal did Maxwell make with Miss Leslie?
Maxwell made a marriage proposal with Miss Leslie.
f. How did she react to his proposal?
She acted very queerly when he proposed her. At first she seemed overcome with amazement; then tears flowed from her
wondering eyes; and then she smiled sunnily through them, and one of her arms slid tenderly about the broker’s
neck.
Grammar
A. Study the following sentences and underline the relative clauses.
a. I snatched a minute when things had slackened a minute.
b. Instead of going straight into the adjoining room, where her desk was, she lingered slightly irresolute in the
outer office.
c. She was beautiful in a way that was decidedly stenographic.
B. Fill in the blanks with suitable relative pronouns: who, which, that, whom, whose, where, why, how, what or
when.
a. There is a lady whose wallet has been stolen.
b. Do you know the man who sold these glasses?
c. The knife which you cut the bread with is very sharp.
d. Why do you blame him for everything that goes wrong?
e. A cemetery is a place where dead bodies are buried.
f. This school is for those children whose mother tongue is not Nepali.
g. I don’t know the name of the person whom I spoke over the telephone.
h. I came to Kathmandu on the day when the devastating earthquake took place.
i. In the application form she wrote when she needed a good payment.
j. The pilot explained why he made force landing on the road.
C. Join the following pairs of sentences using who, which, that, whose, whom, where, when or what.
a. The building was destroyed in the fire. It has now been rebuilt.
The building which was destroyed in the fire, has now been rebuilt.
b. A new cricket stadium is being made in Chitwan. It can accommodate one hundred thousand people.
A new cricket stadium which is being made in Chitwan, can accommodate one hundred thousand people.
c. Shanghai is the most populated city in the world. I stayed there for five years.
Shanghai, where I stayed there for five years, is the most populated city in the world.
d. This is the man. I gave some money to him this morning.
This is the man whom I gave some money this morning.
e. Do know the man? His son was awarded in the school yesterday.
Do you know the man whose son was awarded in the school yesterday?
f. His step-mother was not very kind to him. He had been staying with her.
His step-mother, with whom he had been staying, was not very kind to him.
g. He can never forget Nakkhu Jail. He had spent 14 years there.
He can never forget Nakkhu Jail where he had spent 14 years.
h. He showed me his new tab. He had paid a hundred thousand rupees for it.
He showed me his new tab for which he had paid a hundred thousand rupees.
i. Nelson Mandela joined ANC in 1930s. He was a student then.
Nelson Mandela joined ANC in 1930s when he was a student.
j. She forgot to buy the things. Her mother had told to buy them.
She forgot to buy the things which her mother had told her to buy.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesUnit 17: War and Peace
Working with words
A. What do the underlined words in the following sentences mean? Tick the best answer.
a. clamour : a loud and confused noise
b. precariously : not securely
c. scrutiny : examination
d. absconded : hid somewhere secretly
e. anglicized : characteristics of English
f. platitudes : doubtful remarks
B. Many words have been borrowed in English from different languages.Find the meaning of the following words which are borrowed from Hindi language.
Veranda : a roofed platform along the outside of a house, level with the ground floor.
Khaki : A strong cloth of wool or cotton, often used for military or other uniforms.
Pashmina : a shawl made from fine-quality goat’s wool.
Pajamas : loose-fitting jacket and trousers for sleeping in.
Pukka : genuine, excellent
Pundit : an expert in a particular subject or field who is frequently called upon to give their opinions to
the
public.
Avatar : the incarnation of a deity, particularly Vishnu.
Bangle : A rigid bracelet or anklet, especially one with no clasp.
Cheetah : a large slender spotted cat found in Africa and parts of Asia.
Guru : A Hindu or Sikh spiritual teacher.
Jungle : an area of land overgrown with dense forest and tangled vegetation, typically in the tropics.
Karma : good or bad luck, viewed as resulting from one’s actions.
Nirvana : Complete cessation of suffering; a blissful state attained through realization of sunyata;
enlightened
experience.
Shampoo : an ideal or idyllic state or place.
Raita : an Indian side dish of yogurt containing chopped cucumber or other vegetables, and spices.
C. Add the given suffixes to the following words to make new words. Notice whether ‘e’ is retained
or dropped.
a. change + -able / -ing / -ed / - less
changeable, changing, changed, changeless
b. time + -ly / -ing / -ed / -less
timely, timing, timed, timeless
c. notice + -able / -ing / -ed
noticable, noticing, noticed
d. praise + -worthy / -ing / -ed
praiseworthy, praising, praised
e. home + -less / -ing / -ly
homeless, homing, homely
Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
a. Why did Iqbal want to sleep in the afternoon?
Iqbal wanted to sleep in the afternoon because he had spent the night sitting on his bedroll in a crowded
third-class compartment of the train.
b. How did people react with each other in the train?
People reacted in a very loud way with each other in the train.
c. Why did the book Iqbal was reading bring commotion in the compartment?
The book Iqbal was reading brought commotion in the compartment because the book was an English book and the people
thought that reading the book in the English language as wise, praiseworthy and prestigious.
d. Why did Iqbal have to give clarification with his personal details?
Iqbal had to give clarification with his personal details about his background because the travelers in the train
thought him as an intellectual and wise person and therefore, they insisted him to reveal his personal details.
e. Who was Meet Singh and what did he report to Iqbal?
Meet Singh was a priest of Gurudwara and he reported to Iqbal about the murder of a fellow villager perhaps by a
village’s dacoit named Jugga.
f. How according to Meet Singh, was Jugga Sing different from his forefathers?
According to Meet Singh, Jugga Singh was different from his forefathers in the sense that his forefathers were also
dacoits like him in the past. They never looted or harm their own village or its people. They used to keep the
villagers safe from dacoits. But Jugga robbed the people of his own village and even killed the people of his
villager. He killed one of the people of his village.
g. How does the author show contradiction in Meet Singh’s character?
The author shows contradiction in Meet Singh’s character by saying that Meet Singh was not bothered by Jugga’s act
of murdering fellow villager and as a priest of Gurudwara, he even wanted to swear on the holy Granth to defend
Jugga from the crime of murder.
h. Who was Hukum Chand and how did he succeed in his career?
Hukum Chand was the Deputy Shahib, also known as Nar Adami. He succeeded in his career by pleasing his Shaibs and
getting promotions one after.
Critical Thinking
a. Iqbal is addressed as Babu Sahib by general folk simply because he knew English. Are Nepali people who can
speak
English taken with respect? Discuss the importance of learning English in the Nepali context.
Yes, Nepali people who can speak English are taken with respect. In Nepal, English is treated as a language of elite
class. Most of the Nepalese think that English is closely associated with class and social status of a person. If
you are fluent in English you’ll be perceived as a very respectable person who has achieved great things in life.
It’s almost same as visiting a store wearing classy clothes and getting all the attention from the salespeople
there. If you visit the same store with normal clothes, you are bound to get less attention. People often judge a
book by its cover. For Nepalese, if the cover is in English they’ll directly buy the book, not just judge it.
b. Do you agree with Iqbal’s comments on crime and punishment? In your view, what should the state,
society
and individuals do for peace and order in social lives?
Yes, I agree with Iqbal comments on crime and punishment. To cultivate and maintain a culture of peace, state,
society and individuals ought to work together.
Peace begins with the individual. We must realize that, as individuals, we are not powerless and that the power of
one can make a difference. As individuals we must accept the responsibility to end the scourge of war and culminate
a culture of peace. We must realize that peace is more than the absence of war. War is a drain on both human and
financial resources and as history proves, is not an effective means of resolving conflict. Peace involves a process
of individual and communal participation. It requires justice, equal rights and equal opportunities.
Next, society plays a very important role in maintaining peace and order in social lives. In society, every family
has to be united to make their society a fine and secure place to live in. There should be a formation of a special
team in society who takes care of peace and order in society. This team has to perform its duty for peace and order
management and determine the punishment to the criminals.
The state also plays a very important and responsible role in maintaining peace and order in social lives. The state
has to implement various rules and regulations for the sake of peace and order in social lives. It should focus
attention on the security of social lives by minimizing the crime and violence from the state. The state must have
strict rules against crime and criminals. It should have the proper management of punishment to the criminals too.
These are the things the state, society and individuals should do for peace and order in social lives.
Writing
A. Meet Singh says Jugga a badmash. There can be such people in your locality, too. Write a paragraph
describing him / her.
I met a guy during my school days, initially he was so good to me. Later he turned out to be the most dishonest guy
I have ever met. I used to share all tiny and big secrets of mine with him as we had become good friends in no time.
As time passed, I found out that he was not worth that. He used to reveal all those things of mine with his stupid
friends and misinterpret me. When I got to know that, I was completely broken and frustrated. But being strong, I
forgave him, who didn’t even sincerely apologize. I believe in – forget, forgive and move on and that is
how we should deal with such people. But don’t forget the lesson you learn from them.
B. You may have travelled by bus or train. During your travel, you might have got different experiences. Write
a letter to your friend describing about your unforgettable journey.
Date: 2082-10-13
Pokhara-7, Kaski
Dear Pratik,
Hope this letter of mine finds you in the best of health and spirit. My heart fills with joy to share with you about
one of my experience of travelling in bus to my hometown Sankhuwasabha. I traveled in Manakamana Yatayat numbered
Nine Hundred and Ten boarded at 05:30 AM on 10/10/2082 and reached the destination at 06:30 PM on the same day.
The journey throughout was amazing and relaxing. The view from the windowpane while it feels like trees running far
from us looks so relaxing and calming. Waterfalls going by our side, fresh air coming through the window also adds
excitement to the journey. The ticket price was not much expensive and was reasonable. Meals expenses were included
in the ticket pricing. I got the corner seat. People traveling along with me were so friendly that we played cards/
ludo/ chess while traveling and the time passed very easily.
I believe this is some experience everyone should have at least once in the whole lifetime. The time spent on the
bus that day was very comforting and enjoyable. I will surely be making another trip plan in the coming days and
will be asking you to join me. Till then, take care.
Much love,
Aayusha Sharma
Grammar
C. Fill in the gaps with the suitable form of the verb in the brackets. Use past simple/past continuous/past
perfect
tenses. You may need to use negative too.
It was Sunday afternoon. I was watching (watch) a cookery programme on TV when I realised (realise)
how hungry I
was. But of course, I was hungry; I hadn’t eaten (eat) anything since lunch, and I had run (run) a
race in the
morning. “Biscuits!” I thought (think). My mother had given (give) me a jar of delicious home-made
biscuits.
I went (go) into the kitchen, opened (open) the fridge and poured (pour) some milk in a big
glass. Then I looked
(look) for the kitchen chair but it wasn’t (be) there: somebody had taken (take) it away. And there were no
biscuits
in the biscuit jar: somebody had eaten (eat) them all! I was sure I had put (put) the jar there the
previous day and
I had eaten (eat) only one cookie. It was very strange.
A few minutes later, I was drinking (drink) my glass of milk when I heard (hear) a loud noise coming
from the dining
room. I went (go) there quickly and I opened (open) the door. I couldn’t believe my eyes. An enormous
monkey was
eating (eat) the biscuits excitedly on the kitchen chair.
D. Rewrite the following sentences correcting the mistakes.
a. She played the flute and then she had sung in their choir.
She had played the flute and then she had sung in their choir.
b. I borrowed Rima’s car. Had you known about it?
I had borrowed Rima’s car. Had you known about it?
c. After the lesson had finished, we run out of school.
After the lesson had finished, we ran out of school.
d. Had you be there? - Yes, the previous year.
Had you been there? -Yes, the previous year.
e. Did you liked my article published in the Himalayan Times yesterday?
Did you like my article published in the Himalayan Times yesterday?
f. I recognized him because I saw him before.
I recognized him because I had seen him before.
g. I hadn’t gone out because I hadn’t finished my homework.
I didn’t go out because I hadn’t finished my homework.
h. We had done nothing like this at that time.
We did nothing like this at that time.
i. It was quite difficult. I had had no idea what to do.
It had been quite difficult. I had no idea what to do.
j. As far as I’d known, she had always had some pets.
As far as I knew, she had always had some pets.
k. When I met Jim, he was already a soldier for three years.
When I met Jim, he had already been a soldier for three years.
l. He had gone to the coffee because somebody had told him.
He went to the the coffee because somebody had told him.
Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
a. Why did Iqbal want to sleep in the afternoon?
Iqbal wanted to sleep in the afternoon because he had spent the night sitting on his bedroll in a crowded
third-class compartment of the train.
b. How did people react with each other in the train?
People reacted in a very loud way with each other in the train.
c. Why did the book Iqbal was reading bring commotion in the compartment?
The book Iqbal was reading brought commotion in the compartment because the book was an English book and the people
thought that reading the book in the English language as wise, praiseworthy and prestigious.
d. Why did Iqbal have to give clarification with his personal details?
Iqbal had to give clarification with his personal details about his background because the travelers in the train
thought him as an intellectual and wise person and therefore, they insisted him to reveal his personal details.
e. Who was Meet Singh and what did he report to Iqbal?
Meet Singh was a priest of Gurudwara and he reported to Iqbal about the murder of a fellow villager perhaps by a
village’s dacoit named Jugga.
f. How according to Meet Singh, was Jugga Sing different from his forefathers?
According to Meet Singh, Jugga Singh was different from his forefathers in the sense that his forefathers were also
dacoits like him in the past. They never looted or harm their own village or its people. They used to keep the
villagers safe from dacoits. But Jugga robbed the people of his own village and even killed the people of his
villager. He killed one of the people of his village.
g. How does the author show contradiction in Meet Singh's character?
The author shows contradiction in Meet Singh’s character by saying that Meet Singh was not bothered by Jugga’s act
of murdering fellow villager and as a priest of Gurudwara, he even wanted to swear on the holy Granth to defend
Jugga from the crime of murder.
h. Who was Hukum Chand and how did he succeed in his career?
Hukum Chand was the Deputy Shahib, also known as Nar Adami. He succeeded in his career by pleasing his Shaibs and
getting promotions one after.
Critical Thinking
a. Iqbal is addressed as Babu Sahib by general folk simply because he knew English. Are Nepali people who can
speak
English taken with respect? Discuss the importance of learning English in the Nepali context.
Yes, Nepali people who can speak English are taken with respect. In Nepal, English is treated as a language of elite
class. Most of the Nepalese think that English is closely associated with class and social status of a person. If
you are fluent in English you’ll be perceived as a very respectable person who has achieved great things in life.
It’s almost same as visiting a store wearing classy clothes and getting all the attention from the salespeople
there. If you visit the same store with normal clothes, you are bound to get less attention. People often judge a
book by its cover. For Nepalese, if the cover is in English they’ll directly buy the book, not just judge it.
b. Do you agree with Iqbal’s comments on crime and punishment? In your view, what should the state,
society
and individuals do for peace and order in social lives?
Yes, I agree with Iqbal comments on crime and punishment. To cultivate and maintain a culture of peace, state,
society and individuals ought to work together.
Peace begins with the individual. We must realize that, as individuals, we are not powerless and that the power of
one can make a difference. As individuals we must accept the responsibility to end the scourge of war and culminate
a culture of peace. We must realize that peace is more than the absence of war. War is a drain on both human and
financial resources and as history proves, is not an effective means of resolving conflict. Peace involves a process
of individual and communal participation. It requires justice, equal rights and equal opportunities.
Next, society plays a very important role in maintaining peace and order in social lives. In society, every family
has to be united to make their society a fine and secure place to live in. There should be a formation of a special
team in society who takes care of peace and order in society. This team has to perform its duty for peace and order
management and determine the punishment to the criminals.
The state also plays a very important and responsible role in maintaining peace and order in social lives. The state
has to implement various rules and regulations for the sake of peace and order in social lives. It should focus
attention on the security of social lives by minimizing the crime and violence from the state. The state must have
strict rules against crime and criminals. It should have the proper management of punishment to the criminals too.
These are the things the state, society and individuals should do for peace and order in social lives.
Writing
A. Meet Singh says Jugga a badmash. There can be such people in your locality, too. Write a paragraph
describing him / her.
I met a guy during my school days, initially he was so good to me. Later he turned out to be the most dishonest guy
I have ever met. I used to share all tiny and big secrets of mine with him as we had become good friends in no time.
As time passed, I found out that he was not worth that. He used to reveal all those things of mine with his stupid
friends and misinterpret me. When I got to know that, I was completely broken and frustrated. But being strong, I
forgave him, who didn’t even sincerely apologize. I believe in – forget, forgive and move on and that is
how we should deal with such people. But don’t forget the lesson you learn from them.
B. You may have travelled by bus or train. During your travel, you might have got different experiences. Write
a letter to your friend describing about your unforgettable journey.
Date: 2082-10-13
Pokhara-7, Kaski
Dear Pratik,
Hope this letter of mine finds you in the best of health and spirit. My heart fills with joy to share with you about
one of my experience of travelling in bus to my hometown Sankhuwasabha. I traveled in Manakamana Yatayat numbered
Nine Hundred and Ten boarded at 05:30 AM on 10/10/2082 and reached the destination at 06:30 PM on the same day.
The journey throughout was amazing and relaxing. The view from the windowpane while it feels like trees running far
from us looks so relaxing and calming. Waterfalls going by our side, fresh air coming through the window also adds
excitement to the journey. The ticket price was not much expensive and was reasonable. Meals expenses were included
in the ticket pricing. I got the corner seat. People traveling along with me were so friendly that we played cards/
ludo/ chess while traveling and the time passed very easily.
I believe this is some experience everyone should have at least once in the whole lifetime. The time spent on the
bus that day was very comforting and enjoyable. I will surely be making another trip plan in the coming days and
will be asking you to join me. Till then, take care.
Much love,
Aayusha Sharma
Grammar
C. Fill in the gaps with the suitable form of the verb in the brackets. Use past simple/past continuous/past
perfect
tenses. You may need to use negative too.
It was Sunday afternoon. I was watching (watch) a cookery programme on TV when I realised (realise)
how hungry I
was. But of course, I was hungry; I hadn’t eaten (eat) anything since lunch, and I had run (run) a
race in the
morning. “Biscuits!” I thought (think). My mother had given (give) me a jar of delicious home-made
biscuits.
I went (go) into the kitchen, opened (open) the fridge and poured (pour) some milk in a big
glass. Then I looked
(look) for the kitchen chair but it wasn’t (be) there: somebody had taken (take) it away. And there were no
biscuits
in the biscuit jar: somebody had eaten (eat) them all! I was sure I had put (put) the jar there the
previous day and
I had eaten (eat) only one cookie. It was very strange.
A few minutes later, I was drinking (drink) my glass of milk when I heard (hear) a loud noise coming
from the dining
room. I went (go) there quickly and I opened (open) the door. I couldn’t believe my eyes. An enormous
monkey was
eating (eat) the biscuits excitedly on the kitchen chair.
D. Rewrite the following sentences correcting the mistakes.
a. She played the flute and then she had sung in their choir.
She had played the flute and then she had sung in their choir.
b. I borrowed Rima’s car. Had you known about it?
I had borrowed Rima’s car. Had you known about it?
c. After the lesson had finished, we run out of school.
After the lesson had finished, we ran out of school.
d. Had you be there? - Yes, the previous year.
Had you been there? -Yes, the previous year.
e. Did you liked my article published in the Himalayan Times yesterday?
Did you like my article published in the Himalayan Times yesterday?
f. I recognized him because I saw him before.
I recognized him because I had seen him before.
g. I hadn’t gone out because I hadn’t finished my homework.
I didn’t go out because I hadn’t finished my homework.
h. We had done nothing like this at that time.
We did nothing like this at that time.
i. It was quite difficult. I had had no idea what to do.
It had been quite difficult. I had no idea what to do.
j. As far as I’d known, she had always had some pets.
As far as I knew, she had always had some pets.
k. When I met Jim, he was already a soldier for three years.
When I met Jim, he had already been a soldier for three years.
l. He had gone to the coffee because somebody had told him.
He went to the the coffee because somebody had told him.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesUnit 18: Music and Creation
Working with words
A. Find the single words for the following definitions. The words are given in the jumbled letters at the
end.
a. A person who hates or distrusts mankind misanthrope
b. A sensation of noise, such as a ringing or roaring tinnitus
c. An examination of a body after death to determine the cause of death autopsy
d. A musical composition or movement for five instruments or voices quintet
e. A severe life-threatening illness caused by a bacterium meningitis
f. An object that directs one’s attention away from something else distraction
g. The action or process of becoming impaired or inferior in quality, functioning, or condition deterioration
h. Failing to perceive something impercipience
i. A hearing disorder that makes it hard to deal with everyday sounds hyperacusis
j. A bacterial infection usually spread by sexual contact syphilis
B. Put the musical instruments into different categories as below.
Wind Instruments : trumpet, harmonica, clarinet, conch, trombone
Stringed Instruments : violin, viola, cello, double bass
Percussion Instruments : drum, tabls, cymbal, bell, tambourine
C. Use a dictionary and find the definition of these genres of music.
rock music : a form of popular music that evolved from rock and roll and pop music during the mid and late 1960s.
pop music : commercial popular music, in particular accessible, tuneful music of a kind popular since the 1950s and
sometimes contrasted with rock, soul, or other forms of popular music.
hip hop : a style of popular music of US black and Hih4ic origin, featuring rap with an electronic backing.
jazz : a type of music of black American origin which emerged at the beginning of the 20th century, characterized by
improvisation, syncopation, and usually a regular or forceful rhythm.
folk music : music that originates in traditional popular culture or that is written in such a style.
classic music : music written in the European tradition, when forms such as the symphony, concerto, and sonata were
standardized.
blues : melancholic music of black American folk origin, typically in a twelve-bar sequence.
heavy metal : a type of highly amplified harsh-sounding rock music with a strong beat, characteristically using
violent or fantastic imagery.
Gospel music : a fervent style of black American evangelical religious singing, developed from spirituals sung in
Southern Baptist and Pentecostal Churches.
country music : a form of popular music originating in the rural southern US. It is a mixture of ballads and dance
tunes played characteristically on fiddle, banjo, guitar, and pedal steel guitar.
grunge : a style of rock music characterized by a raucous guitar sound and lazy vocal delivery.
breakbeat : a sample of a syncopated drumbeat, usually repeated to form a rhythm used as a basis for dance music,
hip-hop, etc.
reggae : a style of popular music with a strongly accented subsidiary beat, originating in Jamaica.
disco : a club or party at which people dance to recorded pop music.
dubstep : a form of dance music, typically instrumental, characterized by a sparse, syncopated rhythm and a strong
bassline.
Comprehension
A. Put the following events in the life of Beethoven in chronological order.
c. Beethoven was born into a musical family in Bonn, Germany.
e. He learned to play the organ, piano, violin, and viola.
a. He migrated to Vienna.
h. At the age of twenty-seven, he felt the deafness to high-pitched sound.
d. His deafness got gradually worse: He could hear but not understand.
g. He lived a life in seclusion.
b. He even made suicidal attempts.
f. He died of hepatitis at the age of fifty-six.
B. State whether the following statements are True or False.
a. Beethoven became blind in a gradual process over two decades. False
b. He became a celebrity musician in his teenage. True
c. He did not disclose his hearing problem for a long time. True
d. He knew that he misunderstood the speakers and gave up his public performances. False
e. He tried to get his deafness treated until his death. False
f. Beethoven died in his early fifties. False
g. Doctors found the cause of his deafness after his death. False
C. Answer the following questions.
a. What does Hellen Keller think about deafness and blindness?
Hellen Keller thinks that blindness separates people from things whereas deafness separates people from people.
b. Why does the author compare Beethoven with Milton, Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec?
The author compares Beethoven with Milton, Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec because those people have similar types of
disabilities like that of Beethoven.
c. When and how did Beethoven notice him being deaf?
Beethoven noticed himself being deaf at the age of 27. At that time, he lost his ability to hear high pitch sounds,
an indication of nerve deafness. He noticed that he had some sort of disabilities like deafness.
d. What psychological effects did he have when he noticed that he was being deaf?
When he noticed that he was being deaf, he suffered from fear, lack of self-esteem, emotional disarray, increasing
isolation, self-neglect and lack of confidence at work.
e. How did he triumph over his suicidal thoughts?
He triumphed over his suicidal thoughts with the help of his life’s ethics and interest in music. Also, he had read
somewhere that a man should not give up his life as he can do many other good deeds in life. These things inspired
him to conquer suicidal thoughts.
f. How did he accept his deafness?
He accepted his deafness by saying that no one can save him from deafness and to go further in his life, he must
eventually accept it.
g. How was his deafness ironically good for the world?
His deafness was ironically good for the world in the sense that his deafness resulted in extra creativity within
him. It also allowed him to listen to his inner sounds and feelings without any distraction.
h. When did Beethoven give up his musical performances forever?
Beethoven gave up his musical performances forever during his mid-forties. During that time, it was some sort of
embarrassing faux pas for him.
i. What did Stephen von Breeuning comment on Beethoven’s reactions?
In 1804, when Beethoven had problems in hearing the wind instruments during a rehearsal for the Eroica, his friend,
Stephen von Breuning commented that Beethoven had become withdrawn and mistrusted by his best friends.
j. How did Beethoven express the conflict in his mind?
Beethoven expressed the conflict in his mind by isolating himself from social functions, mistrusting his best
friends and thinking to have suicidal attempts repeatedly in his mind.
Critical thinking
a. Suicidal thoughts came in Beethoven’s mind several times but he did not commit suicide and kept on
composing music. Write a monologue in about 150 words from Beethoven’s perspectives describing his
suicidal
thoughts and his will to live.
I was the life of the party. Even when there was no party. I made one happen. I made people laugh. I made myself
laugh. I worked good and hard to make myself laugh. Lord, you could hear my laugh from a block away.
“Isn’t he something, that Beethoven?,” people would say. “Always happy. Look at him. Always with
the smile.” In this situation, I’m feeling quite lonely and helpless. My condition has isolated me from my
coworkers and relatives. They think negatively about me. They consider me a deaf guy. The entire efforts of my life
to make music alive and people of the world proud would go in vain. I can’t stand this situation in my life. There
is no hope within me to get cured. It wore me out sometimes, working like that, keeping the motor running, the horn
honking, the smoke pouring out. Sometimes I just wanted to come to rest. So today, I made a mistake. I stayed alone.
And then I decided, that’s what I’ll do. I’ll just stop. I’ll rest.
Later the day, I think it’s bad to kill my own life. I must try to conquer these suicidal thoughts. I should think
about the ethics of life and my interest in music. People say that a man should not give up his life because he can
do many other good things in life. Why do I have those thoughts? I can make everyone think that I am normal, that I
am coping, and that I am fine. I think to myself, suicide is not a permanent solution to a temporary problem’. Human
life is precious and important. I’m ready to leave this miserable thoughts! I’m ready for a real life.
It doesn’t matter if I can’t listen to others. I’m going to listen to my inner sounds and
feelings!
b. Was it divine inspiration or rigorous practice that made Beethoven one of the world’s greatest
musicians?
Give the reasons.
No, it wasn’t divine inspiration but rigorous practice and his belief in music that made Beethoven one of the great
composers of the world. Ludwig van Beethoven was a German pianist and composer widely considered to be one of the
greatest musical geniuses of all time. His innovative compositions combined vocals and instruments, widening the
scope of sonata, symphony, concerto and quartet.
Beethoven’s personal life was marked by a struggle against deafness, and some of his most important works were
composed during the last 10 years of his life, when he was quite unable to hear. He went on singlehandedly to change
the musical world forever. Due to his deafness, he became quite sad and serious. In that suffering too, he didn’t
give up his passion for his music and continued his creative works further. He kept on composing his best music even
after his deafness. Due to his rigorous practice and musical devotion, his music career reached its height and made
him quite popular not only within his country but across the globe. It has been said that he alone dragged music out
of the Classical age and into the Romantic. But that doesn’t go far enough. I believe passionately that
Beethoven both defined and deserves his own musical era.
Writing
Who is your favourite Nepali musician? Write his/her biography in about 300 words.
Swar Samrat Narayan Gopal Guruacharya
Narayan Gopal was born to a Newar family in Kathmandu in 1996 Bikram Sambat (BS). His father was a classical
musician and wanted his son to follow his footsteps. Narayan Gopal was interested in music from an early age but not
exactly into classical field. Regarded one of the most significant cultural icons in Nepal, he is referred as
“Swar Samrat” in Nepal. He is also known as “King of Tragedy” owing to his numerous tragedy
songs. He also sang in Nepal Bhasa.
Narayan Gopal is by far the most prominent and popular singer in Nepali music. When people think or talk about
Nepali music, the name most associated is that of Narayan Gopal. For most people, he is the singer. He was also an
accomplished music composer in his own right. Not only was he gifted with a great voice, he was very versatile. His
voice range allowed him to sing songs of every genre. His songs are often richly orchestrated with the sitar,
harmonium and the flute. Some of his most popular songs include: Euta Manche Ko Maya le Kati, Jhareko Paat Jhai, Yo
Samjhine Man Cha, Saawan ko jhari bani, Manche ko Maya and many more.
He has sung over 500 songs, including in films, ballets and drama. Most of his songs are melodies. It is said that
he was very selective about which songs he sang. Although 500 songs is not a lot for some of his caliber, they are
outstanding in some ways-be it the lyrical depth or superb rendition. In recognition of his contribution in
the field of Nepali music, he has received several national honors and awards, Trishakti Patta, Chinnalata Puraskar
to name a few.
Continued sales of his albums attest to his immense popularity. Even more than a decade after his death, his songs
are equally liked, loved and sung. His legacy lives on.
Grammar
B. Fill in the blanks with appropriate prepositions.
a. I was accompanied to the hospital by my friend.
b. I have great respect for my teachers.
c. The culprit was sentenced to death.
d. His arguments are not based on truth.
e. He has not contributed to the development of our nation.
f. He died because of Corona at the age of thirty-five.
g. The young generation of Nepali people don’t take interest in politics.
h. Our village was not infected by Corona.
i. Why do you sneer at me?
C. Fill in the blanks with for, since, until, by or in.
a. The classes will be over by 5 PM.
b. Karma Sherpa reached the top of Mt. Everest in 8 hours.
c. We had met after five years. So we kept on talking until three in the morning.
d. She has been living in America since she got married.
e. He has been playing video game for ten hours.
f. She practices the Sitar every day for five hours.
g. He lived in Jumla until he passed high school examinations.
h. There is no chance of dry weather even today. It has rained since last Saturday.
i. I can type 120 words in a minute.
j. We take an early breakfast. It’s generally ready by six in the morning.
Comprehension
A. Put the following events in the life of Beethoven in chronological order.
c. Beethoven was born into a musical family in Bonn, Germany.
e. He learned to play the organ, piano, violin, and viola.
a. He migrated to Vienna.
h. At the age of twenty-seven, he felt the deafness to high-pitched sound.
d. His deafness got gradually worse: He could hear but not understand.
g. He lived a life in seclusion.
b. He even made suicidal attempts.
f. He died of hepatitis at the age of fifty-six.
B. State whether the following statements are True or False.
a. Beethoven became blind in a gradual process over two decades. False
b. He became a celebrity musician in his teenage. True
c. He did not disclose his hearing problem for a long time. True
d. He knew that he misunderstood the speakers and gave up his public performances. False
e. He tried to get his deafness treated until his death. False
f. Beethoven died in his early fifties. False
g. Doctors found the cause of his deafness after his death. False
C. Answer the following questions.
a. What does Hellen Keller think about deafness and blindness?
Hellen Keller thinks that blindness separates people from things whereas deafness separates people from people.
b. Why does the author compare Beethoven with Milton, Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec?
The author compares Beethoven with Milton, Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec because those people have similar types of
disabilities like that of Beethoven.
c. When and how did Beethoven notice him being deaf?
Beethoven noticed himself being deaf at the age of 27. At that time, he lost his ability to hear high pitch sounds,
an indication of nerve deafness. He noticed that he had some sort of disabilities like deafness.
d. What psychological effects did he have when he noticed that he was being deaf?
When he noticed that he was being deaf, he suffered from fear, lack of self-esteem, emotional disarray, increasing
isolation, self-neglect and lack of confidence at work.
e. How did he triumph over his suicidal thoughts?
He triumphed over his suicidal thoughts with the help of his life’s ethics and interest in music. Also, he had read
somewhere that a man should not give up his life as he can do many other good deeds in life. These things inspired
him to conquer suicidal thoughts.
f. How did he accept his deafness?
He accepted his deafness by saying that no one can save him from deafness and to go further in his life, he must
eventually accept it.
g. How was his deafness ironically good for the world?
His deafness was ironically good for the world in the sense that his deafness resulted in extra creativity within
him. It also allowed him to listen to his inner sounds and feelings without any distraction.
h. When did Beethoven give up his musical performances forever?
Beethoven gave up his musical performances forever during his mid-forties. During that time, it was some sort of
embarrassing faux pas for him.
i. What did Stephen von Breeuning comment on Beethoven’s reactions?
In 1804, when Beethoven had problems in hearing the wind instruments during a rehearsal for the Eroica, his friend,
Stephen von Breuning commented that Beethoven had become withdrawn and mistrusted by his best friends.
j. How did Beethoven express the conflict in his mind?
Beethoven expressed the conflict in his mind by isolating himself from social functions, mistrusting his best
friends and thinking to have suicidal attempts repeatedly in his mind.
Critical thinking
a. Suicidal thoughts came in Beethoven’s mind several times but he did not commit suicide and kept on
composing music. Write a monologue in about 150 words from Beethoven’s perspectives describing his
suicidal
thoughts and his will to live.
I was the life of the party. Even when there was no party. I made one happen. I made people laugh. I made myself
laugh. I worked good and hard to make myself laugh. Lord, you could hear my laugh from a block away.
“Isn’t he something, that Beethoven?,” people would say. “Always happy. Look at him. Always with
the smile.” In this situation, I’m feeling quite lonely and helpless. My condition has isolated me from my
coworkers and relatives. They think negatively about me. They consider me a deaf guy. The entire efforts of my life
to make music alive and people of the world proud would go in vain. I can’t stand this situation in my life. There
is no hope within me to get cured. It wore me out sometimes, working like that, keeping the motor running, the horn
honking, the smoke pouring out. Sometimes I just wanted to come to rest. So today, I made a mistake. I stayed alone.
And then I decided, that’s what I’ll do. I’ll just stop. I’ll rest.
Later the day, I think it’s bad to kill my own life. I must try to conquer these suicidal thoughts. I should think
about the ethics of life and my interest in music. People say that a man should not give up his life because he can
do many other good things in life. Why do I have those thoughts? I can make everyone think that I am normal, that I
am coping, and that I am fine. I think to myself, suicide is not a permanent solution to a temporary problem’. Human
life is precious and important. I’m ready to leave this miserable thoughts! I’m ready for a real life.
It doesn’t matter if I can’t listen to others. I’m going to listen to my inner sounds and
feelings!
b. Was it divine inspiration or rigorous practice that made Beethoven one of the world’s greatest
musicians?
Give the reasons.
No, it wasn’t divine inspiration but rigorous practice and his belief in music that made Beethoven one of the great
composers of the world. Ludwig van Beethoven was a German pianist and composer widely considered to be one of the
greatest musical geniuses of all time. His innovative compositions combined vocals and instruments, widening the
scope of sonata, symphony, concerto and quartet.
Beethoven’s personal life was marked by a struggle against deafness, and some of his most important works were
composed during the last 10 years of his life, when he was quite unable to hear. He went on singlehandedly to change
the musical world forever. Due to his deafness, he became quite sad and serious. In that suffering too, he didn’t
give up his passion for his music and continued his creative works further. He kept on composing his best music even
after his deafness. Due to his rigorous practice and musical devotion, his music career reached its height and made
him quite popular not only within his country but across the globe. It has been said that he alone dragged music out
of the Classical age and into the Romantic. But that doesn’t go far enough. I believe passionately that
Beethoven both defined and deserves his own musical era.
Writing
Who is your favourite Nepali musician? Write his/her biography in about 300 words.
Swar Samrat Narayan Gopal Guruacharya
Narayan Gopal was born to a Newar family in Kathmandu in 1996 Bikram Sambat (BS). His father was a classical
musician and wanted his son to follow his footsteps. Narayan Gopal was interested in music from an early age but not
exactly into classical field. Regarded one of the most significant cultural icons in Nepal, he is referred as
“Swar Samrat” in Nepal. He is also known as “King of Tragedy” owing to his numerous tragedy
songs. He also sang in Nepal Bhasa.
Narayan Gopal is by far the most prominent and popular singer in Nepali music. When people think or talk about
Nepali music, the name most associated is that of Narayan Gopal. For most people, he is the singer. He was also an
accomplished music composer in his own right. Not only was he gifted with a great voice, he was very versatile. His
voice range allowed him to sing songs of every genre. His songs are often richly orchestrated with the sitar,
harmonium and the flute. Some of his most popular songs include: Euta Manche Ko Maya le Kati, Jhareko Paat Jhai, Yo
Samjhine Man Cha, Saawan ko jhari bani, Manche ko Maya and many more.
He has sung over 500 songs, including in films, ballets and drama. Most of his songs are melodies. It is said that
he was very selective about which songs he sang. Although 500 songs is not a lot for some of his caliber, they are
outstanding in some ways-be it the lyrical depth or superb rendition. In recognition of his contribution in
the field of Nepali music, he has received several national honors and awards, Trishakti Patta, Chinnalata Puraskar
to name a few.
Continued sales of his albums attest to his immense popularity. Even more than a decade after his death, his songs
are equally liked, loved and sung. His legacy lives on.
Grammar
B. Fill in the blanks with appropriate prepositions.
a. I was accompanied to the hospital by my friend.
b. I have great respect for my teachers.
c. The culprit was sentenced to death.
d. His arguments are not based on truth.
e. He has not contributed to the development of our nation.
f. He died because of Corona at the age of thirty-five.
g. The young generation of Nepali people don’t take interest in politics.
h. Our village was not infected by Corona.
i. Why do you sneer at me?
C. Fill in the blanks with for, since, until, by or in.
a. The classes will be over by 5 PM.
b. Karma Sherpa reached the top of Mt. Everest in 8 hours.
c. We had met after five years. So we kept on talking until three in the morning.
d. She has been living in America since she got married.
e. He has been playing video game for ten hours.
f. She practices the Sitar every day for five hours.
g. He lived in Jumla until he passed high school examinations.
h. There is no chance of dry weather even today. It has rained since last Saturday.
i. I can type 120 words in a minute.
j. We take an early breakfast. It’s generally ready by six in the morning.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesUnit 19: Migration and Diaspora
Working with words
A. Find the words from the text that have the following meanings. The first letter of the word has been
given.
a. sojourner a person who resides temporarily in a place
b. transnational existing in or involving different countries
c. remittance a sum of money sent in payment or as a gift
d. assimilation the process of allowing somebody to become a part of a country or community
e. misnomer a name or a word that is not appropriate or accurate
f. confer to give somebody an award or a particular honour or right
g. dormant not active or growing now but able to become active
h. persecution the act of treating somebody in a cruel and unfair way
B. Pronounce the following words. What sounds do the underlined letter(s) represent?
ribbon : /ˈɹɪbən/
filled : /fɪld/
phone : /fəʊ̯n/
often : /ˈɒf(t)ən/
ghost : /ɡəʊst/
who : /huː/
back : /bæk/
edge : /ɛdʒ/
jellyfish : /ˈdʒɛliˌfɪʃ/
Christmas : /ˈkɹɪsməs/
acclaim : /ə.ˈkleɪm/
spell : /spɛl/
summer : /ˈsʌmə(ɹ)/
sink : /skɪn/
tongue : /tɒŋɡ/
happy : /ˈhæpiː/
wrong : /ɹɒŋ/
sun : /sʌn/
batter : /ˈbætə(ɹ)/
five : /faɪv/
why : /waɪ/
yellow : /ˈjɛl.əʊ/
treasure : /ˈtɹɛʒɚ/
cheese : /t͡ʃiːz/
shark : /ʃɑɹk/
thief : /θiːf/
feather : /ˈfɛð.ə(ɹ)/
C. Write the number of syllables and mark the stressed syllable of the following words.
| Words | Stessed Syllables | Syllables || — | — | — || certificate | /səˈtɪfɪkeɪt/ | 4 syllables || holiday | /ˈhɒlɪdeɪ/ | 3 syllables || zoology | /zuːˈɒlədʒi,zəʊˈɒlədʒi/ | 4 syllables || photographic | /ˌfəʊtəˈɡrafɪk/ | 4 syllables || geography | /dʒɪˈɒɡrəfi,ˈdʒɒɡrəfi/ | 4 syllables || curiosity | /kjʊərɪˈɒsɪti/ | 5 syllables || mechanically | /mɪˈkanɪkli/ | 5 syllables || characteristics | /karəktəˈrɪstɪk/ | 5 syllables || examination | /ɪɡˌzamɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n,ɛɡˌzamɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n/ | 5 syllables || negotiation | /nɪɡəʊʃɪˈeɪʃ(ə)n/ | 5 syllables || paraphrase | /ˈparəfreɪz/ | 3 syllables || paradoxically | /ˌparəˈdɒksɪkli/ | 6 syllables || territoriality | /ˌtɛrɪˈtɔːrɪəlɪti/ | 7 syllables |
Comprehension
A. Match the first halves of the sentences (a-g) with their second halves (i-vii).
| a. The term assimilation has been used | iii | b. It is essential to study the process of diasporization | v | c. The definition of dediasporization | vii | d. The dediasporization process for migrants who have not given up their native citizenship | vi | e. Some countries grant full citizenship to the returnees | iv | f. It is surprising that | i | g. The role of a state in dediasporization | ii || — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — || b. It is essential to study the process of diasporization | v | c. The definition of dediasporization | vii | d. The dediasporization process for migrants who have not given up their native citizenship | vi | e. Some countries grant full citizenship to the returnees | iv | f. It is surprising that | i | g. The role of a state in dediasporization | ii || c. The definition of dediasporization | vii | d. The dediasporization process for migrants who have not given up their native citizenship | vi | e. Some countries grant full citizenship to the returnees | iv | f. It is surprising that | i | g. The role of a state in dediasporization | ii || d. The dediasporization process for migrants who have not given up their native citizenship | vi | e. Some countries grant full citizenship to the returnees | iv | f. It is surprising that | i | g. The role of a state in dediasporization | ii || e. Some countries grant full citizenship to the returnees | iv | f. It is surprising that | i | g. The role of a state in dediasporization | ii || f. It is surprising that | i | g. The role of a state in dediasporization | ii || g. The role of a state in dediasporization | ii |
| i. in some countries the returnees are referred as diaspora. || — || ii. reveals its identity. || iii. as an analytical tool in the study of integration of the migrants. || iv. while some countries bar them from certain rights. || v. in order to understand the description of immigration. || vi. requires them only to return to their homeland. || vii. focuses only on the aspect of relocating migrants to their homelands. |
B. Answer the following questions.
a. According to the author, what are the three aspects of migration?
According to the author, the three aspects of migration are the forward motion, the migrants themselves and the
backward motion.
b. Which aspect of migration is neglected by the researchers?
Pluridimensionality of the dedasporization phenomenon aspects of migration is neglected by the researchers.
c. What is ‘dediasporization’?
Dediasporization is the process by the help of which a diasporic subject either reacquires homeland citizenship by
returning to the sending country, effects generational assimilation in the host state, or reinscribes himself or
herself in the transnational circuit of the transnation-state.
d. Why is the role of the state important in dediasporization?
The role of the state is important in dediasporization because it intervenes in the process to assure itself of the
eligibility of such a person to reacquire state citizenship, with all of its privileges and obligations.
e. How is Chinese diaspora in the Caribbean different from others?
The Chinese diaspora in the Caribbean is different from others as they are considered foreigners by the local
Caribbean citizens though they have been living there for more than a century.
f. Why is it difficult to regain citizenship after returning to the homeland?
It is difficult to regain citizenship after returning to the homeland because the integration of citizens in society
depends on the state’s bestowal of legal legitimacy.
g. What do the Germans feel towards the returnees from Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan?
The Germans have distinct feelings and are quite alienated towards those returning from Russia, Kazakhstan and
Uzbekistan.
h. How are the returnees’ activities in Israel different from that of other countries?
The returnees’ activities in Israel are different from that of other countries as these individuals assert full
citizenship, form their own political parties and grant freedom and advocate rights to other citizens of the
country.
i. What is the role of the individual in dediasporization?
The role of the individual in dediasporization is to assimilate with the people and culture and maintain citizenship
and help in the nation-building process.
Writing
A. The following words and phrases are used in interpreting data of different types of charts and diagrams. Study
the words/phrases and put them in the right column.
| Upward Trend | Downward Trend | Stable Trend || — | — | — || grow, go up to, boom, peak, level up, rise, climb, increase | decline, collapse, fall, drop, dip, go down, reduce, decrease, crash, plunge, plummet | stay constant, remain stable, no change, remain steady, stay, maintain the same level |
Grammar
A. Make sentences from the table below using used to / didn’t use to as shown in the example.
a. She used to travel a lot but now she rarely leaves her town.
b. She used to be lazy but now she works hard.
c. She didn’t use to like junk food but she eats momo and noodles these days.
d. She used to have a pet but it died last year.
e. She used to be a school teacher but now she is a professor.
f. She used to have many friends but now she has limited friends.
g. She did not use to read many books but she reads a lot books.
h. She didn’t use to take coffee but now she drinks coffee.
i. She used to go to parties a lot but now she doesn’t attend parties.
B. Complete the following sentences with used to or would.
a. My sister used to have short hair when she was young.
b. We used to have lunch in the same school café when I was in middle school.
c. My father used to play badminton before he had backbone problem.
d. When I was very young, I didn’t use to (not) like milk.
e. She would call me after class for a chat.
f. My mother didn’t use to (not) wear glasses when she was at the university.
g. When I was a child, we used to live in a village.
h. On Sundays, My mother would wake up and go to the temple.
i. How many friends would have in class ten?
j. My father would always read me bedtime stories before bed.
Comprehension
A. Match the first halves of the sentences (a-g) with their second halves (i-vii).
| a. The term assimilation has been used | iii | b. It is essential to study the process of diasporization | v | c. The definition of dediasporization | vii | d. The dediasporization process for migrants who have not given up their native citizenship | vi | e. Some countries grant full citizenship to the returnees | iv | f. It is surprising that | i | g. The role of a state in dediasporization | ii || — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — || b. It is essential to study the process of diasporization | v | c. The definition of dediasporization | vii | d. The dediasporization process for migrants who have not given up their native citizenship | vi | e. Some countries grant full citizenship to the returnees | iv | f. It is surprising that | i | g. The role of a state in dediasporization | ii || c. The definition of dediasporization | vii | d. The dediasporization process for migrants who have not given up their native citizenship | vi | e. Some countries grant full citizenship to the returnees | iv | f. It is surprising that | i | g. The role of a state in dediasporization | ii || d. The dediasporization process for migrants who have not given up their native citizenship | vi | e. Some countries grant full citizenship to the returnees | iv | f. It is surprising that | i | g. The role of a state in dediasporization | ii || e. Some countries grant full citizenship to the returnees | iv | f. It is surprising that | i | g. The role of a state in dediasporization | ii || f. It is surprising that | i | g. The role of a state in dediasporization | ii || g. The role of a state in dediasporization | ii |
| i. in some countries the returnees are referred as diaspora. || — || ii. reveals its identity. || iii. as an analytical tool in the study of integration of the migrants. || iv. while some countries bar them from certain rights. || v. in order to understand the description of immigration. || vi. requires them only to return to their homeland. || vii. focuses only on the aspect of relocating migrants to their homelands. |
B. Answer the following questions.
a. According to the author, what are the three aspects of migration?
According to the author, the three aspects of migration are the forward motion, the migrants themselves and the
backward motion.
b. Which aspect of migration is neglected by the researchers?
Pluridimensionality of the dedasporization phenomenon aspects of migration is neglected by the researchers.
c. What is ‘dediasporization’?
Dediasporization is the process by the help of which a diasporic subject either reacquires homeland citizenship by
returning to the sending country, effects generational assimilation in the host state, or reinscribes himself or
herself in the transnational circuit of the transnation-state.
d. Why is the role of the state important in dediasporization?
The role of the state is important in dediasporization because it intervenes in the process to assure itself of the
eligibility of such a person to reacquire state citizenship, with all of its privileges and obligations.
e. How is Chinese diaspora in the Caribbean different from others?
The Chinese diaspora in the Caribbean is different from others as they are considered foreigners by the local
Caribbean citizens though they have been living there for more than a century.
f. Why is it difficult to regain citizenship after returning to the homeland?
It is difficult to regain citizenship after returning to the homeland because the integration of citizens in society
depends on the state’s bestowal of legal legitimacy.
g. What do the Germans feel towards the returnees from Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan?
The Germans have distinct feelings and are quite alienated towards those returning from Russia, Kazakhstan and
Uzbekistan.
h. How are the returnees’ activities in Israel different from that of other countries?
The returnees’ activities in Israel are different from that of other countries as these individuals assert full
citizenship, form their own political parties and grant freedom and advocate rights to other citizens of the
country.
i. What is the role of the individual in dediasporization?
The role of the individual in dediasporization is to assimilate with the people and culture and maintain citizenship
and help in the nation-building process.
Writing
A. The following words and phrases are used in interpreting data of different types of charts and diagrams. Study
the words/phrases and put them in the right column.
| Upward Trend | Downward Trend | Stable Trend || — | — | — || grow, go up to, boom, peak, level up, rise, climb, increase | decline, collapse, fall, drop, dip, go down, reduce, decrease, crash, plunge, plummet | stay constant, remain stable, no change, remain steady, stay, maintain the same level |
Grammar
A. Make sentences from the table below using used to / didn’t use to as shown in the example.
a. She used to travel a lot but now she rarely leaves her town.
b. She used to be lazy but now she works hard.
c. She didn’t use to like junk food but she eats momo and noodles these days.
d. She used to have a pet but it died last year.
e. She used to be a school teacher but now she is a professor.
f. She used to have many friends but now she has limited friends.
g. She did not use to read many books but she reads a lot books.
h. She didn’t use to take coffee but now she drinks coffee.
i. She used to go to parties a lot but now she doesn’t attend parties.
B. Complete the following sentences with used to or would.
a. My sister used to have short hair when she was young.
b. We used to have lunch in the same school café when I was in middle school.
c. My father used to play badminton before he had backbone problem.
d. When I was very young, I didn’t use to (not) like milk.
e. She would call me after class for a chat.
f. My mother didn’t use to (not) wear glasses when she was at the university.
g. When I was a child, we used to live in a village.
h. On Sundays, My mother would wake up and go to the temple.
i. How many friends would have in class ten?
j. My father would always read me bedtime stories before bed.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesUnit 20: Power and Politics
Working with words
A. Find the words from the text for these meanings. The first letters have been given for you.
a. reluctance unwillingness or disinclination to do something
b. repressive preventing the expression or awareness of thoughts or desires
c. mutilation the infliction of serious damage on something
d. ghettoized restricted to an isolated or segregated place, group, or situation
e. history feminist history viewed from a female or specifically feminist perspective
f. genital relating to the human or animal reproductive organs
g. hysterectomies surgical operations to remove all or part of the uterus
h. paranoid obsessively anxious, suspicious, or mistrustful
i. eventuation thrusting forward of abdominal organs through the abdominal wall
B. Complete the chart.
| Verb | Noun | Adjective || — | — | — || commit | commitment | committed || nurture | nurturance | nurturable || legitimatee | legitimization | legitimize || oppress | oppression | oppressive || defense | defensiveness | defensive || victimize | victimization | victimized |
C. Consult a dictionary and define these terms.
Racism : the belief that different races possess distinct characteristics, abilities, or qualities, especially so as
to distinguish them as inferior or superior to one another.
Lesbian : relating to gay women or to homosexuality in women.
Radical : forming an inherent or fundamental part of the nature of someone or something.
Feminist : the advocacy of women’s rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes.
Patriarchy : a system of society or government in which men hold the power and women are largely excluded from it.
D. Underline the consonant clusters in the following sentences.
a. Fluffy went flip-flop all over the floor.
b. The whites sing a song about the striking stars.
c. Here are some flowers and a flask of tea of your favourite flavour.
d. Smita fell ill with flu.
e. My friend is frightened of frogs.
f. Thumbelina stumbled out of the green bush.
g. She heard a rumble and a cry.
h. ‘Climb up’, said Tom.
i. Freedom needs to be strived for.
j. Children were munching crunchy French fries.
Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
a. Why does Audre Lorde think that Mary got a sort of victory in the University of Boston?
Audre Lorde thought that Mary got a sort of victory in the University of Boston because she becomes so glad to find
many women attending the speak out, and the show of joined power will provide more space for them to grow and be
within.
b. Why is Lorde thankful to Mary?
Lorde is thankful to Mary because Mary has provided her a book named Gyn/Ecology that is full of import, useful,
generative, and provoking. The book is strengthening and helpful for her.
c. What impression has the writer had about the way white women looked upon black women?
The writer has had a very bad impression about the way white women looked upon black women. According to her, the
white women were unable to hear Black women’s words or to maintain dialogue with the black women. The act of white
women is long and discouraging for her.
d. Why did Mary not cast black women as goddesses in her book according to Lorde?
According to Lorde, Mary didn’t cast black women as goddesses in her book because she had made a conscious decision
to limit her scope and deal only with the ecology of Western European women.
e. Why did Lorde think that she misused her words?
Lorde thought that she misused her words because she utilized her words only to testify against Lorde as a woman of
colour.
f. For Lorde, how were women, especially from the black community, undervalued?
For Lorde, women, especially from the black community were undervalued as they were ghettoized by a white woman
dealing only out of a patriarchal western European frame of reference.
g. How does Mary take white women as? Does Lorde agree with Mary’s view?
Mary takes white women as superior to non-white women. Her assumption is that the herstory and the myth of white
women is the legitimate and sole herstory and myth of all women to call upon for power and background, and that
nonwhite women and their herstories are noteworthy only as decorations, or examples of female victimization.
No, Lorde does not agree with Mary’s view. Lorde does not liked the supremacy of white feminism over black feminism
shown by Mary in her views presenting blacks as decorative and useful things and ignoring their pain and oppression.
h. What is Afrekete? How does it connect to this lesson?
Afrekete is the collective voice to the tradition of black lesbian writing. It connects to this lesson as the author
wants to connect all the black women in the arena of black writing.
Critical thinking
a. “The oppression of women knows no ethnic or racial boundaries.” Do you agree or not? Justify with
your reasons.
“The oppression of women knows no ethnic or racial boundaries.” Yes, I agree with this statement.
Women have fought to be treated equal for many years and deserve same pay as men. Men receive better treatment,
jobs, and better pay than women, which shows discrimination towards them. Women continue to fight against the
discrimination worldwide. The oppression of women getting defined equality creates a form of intolerance. Women not
having the rights they deserve can lead to uncertainty within oneself.
In history, women did not have equality rights which connects to why some still face sexist discrimination against
men. Despite the tremendous progress made in the struggle for gender equality, women still face violence,
discrimination, and institutional barriers to equal participation in society. Women are treated less than men
because of gender inequality, this show how women are not looked on the same social status. It should be equal pay
for equal work, but unfortunately women are looked as less than men. Many countries do not give women the right to
education because they believe women should not be educated. Many poor women cannot afford to pay for education,
limiting them to receiving it. Many times it is not an option because governments prevent women from achieving their
goal of education. Thus, due to all these things, women have been suffering a lot. Their oppression knows no ethnic
and racial boundaries and they have been the victims for ages.
b. Why is it important to question our beliefs and values? How are they set up in a person’s
mind?
It is important to question our beliefs and values because it builds character, honesty, compassion, acceptance and
strength. People usually tend to avoid questioning their own beliefs because they assume that it will diminish their
beliefs. If we think this way it’s because we already doubt the veracity of our claims, and we are being dishonest
with ourselves. Questioning beliefs through objectivity and observing as a third party/person helps us to gage not
only if our beliefs are true, but what are the logical consequences of our ideas in the world (positive and
negative). As soon as we question another person’s beliefs on a topic, we should evaluate our own. If we discover we
are wrong, this fosters acceptance. If we discover we are wrong and modify our beliefs and admit our error, this
fosters strength. Thus, it’s important to question our beliefs and values.
Writing
B. Write an article for a national daily on “The Status of Women in Nepali Society.”
The Status of Women in Nepali Society
2021-01-26 : Nepal is a country of great geographic, cultural, ethnic, religious diversity. Across the diversity,
the majority of communities in Nepal are patriarchal. A women’s life is strongly influenced by her father,
husband and son. Such patriarchal practices are further reinforced by the legal system. The status of women is
determined by the patriarchal social system, values, and women’s right preserved and protected by the state,
and state policy for the development of women.
Women’s relative status, however, varied from one ethnic group to another. The economic contribution of women
is substantial, but largely unnoticed because their traditional role was taken as for granted.
The health status of Nepal’s people is one of the lowest in the South Asian region and this is particularly
true for females. One fifth of women get married in the early age of 15-19. As a result of their premature pregnancy
the deaths of women have been occurring in a very high.
National statistics shows that women’s literacy rate is 30 percent while 66 percent to male. The enrollment of
women in higher education is only 24.95 percent. Women’ involvement in technical and vocational education is
also lower than men. This is due to the social norms and culture that we follow also. As in rural areas girls are
considered as “paraya dhan”(others property) and they don’t get the opportunity to get education.
A large part of women’s work is not considered as economic activity. As a result only 45.2 per cent of women
as compared to 68.2 per cent of men are classified as economically active. There are very few women working in
professional work in Nepal. They may study the law, but few are able to enter the profession.
Grammar
B. Choose the correct alternative.
a. an old foreign car/a foreign old car
an old foreign car
b. a beautiful white dress/ a white beautiful dress
a beautiful white dress
c. a nice tall young man/a tall nice young man
a nice tall young man
d. a big black wooden desk/ a black wooden big desk
a big black wooden desk
e. a delicious Italian pizza/ an Italian delicious pizza
a delicious Italian pizza
f. a huge brown bear/a brown huge bear
a huge brown bear
g. a purple cotton sleeping bag/ a cotton purple sleeping bag
a purple cotton sleeping bag
h. a beautiful old Indian village/an old beautiful Indian village
an old beautiful Indian village
i. a cute little kitten/ a little cute kitten
a cute little kitten
j. an expensive antique /an antique expensive table
an antique expensive table
C. Put the adjectives in the following sentences in the correct order.
a. I bought (red/ a /comfortable/new) scooter.
I bought a comfortable new scooter.
b. She reached home and sat on (relaxing/old/her/wooden) chair.
She reached home and sat on her old relaxing wooden chair.
c. We ate (Chinese/delicious/some) food.
we ate some delicious Chinese food.
d. I need (golden/delicious/some/round) apples.
I need some delicious round golden apples.
e. We like to live in a (calm/unmediated/remote) place for some time.
We like to live in a calm unmediated remote place for some time.
f. She is wearing (silver/beautiful / a(n)/ old) ring.
She is wearing an old beautiful silver ring.
g. I am looking for (golden/stylish/a/Japanese) watch.
I am looking for a stylish Japanese golden watch.
h. She dropped (old/china/attractive/a(n)) cup and smashed it.
She dropped an old attractive China cup and smashed it.
i. He wants to marry (young/pretty/educated/a(n)/rustic) girl.
He wants to marry a pretty young educated rustic girl.
j. We stayed in a (luxurious/five star/new) hotel in Dubai.
We stayed in a new luxurious five-star hotel in Dubai.
Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
a. Why does Audre Lorde think that Mary got a sort of victory in the University of Boston?
Audre Lorde thought that Mary got a sort of victory in the University of Boston because she becomes so glad to find
many women attending the speak out, and the show of joined power will provide more space for them to grow and be
within.
b. Why is Lorde thankful to Mary?
Lorde is thankful to Mary because Mary has provided her a book named Gyn/Ecology that is full of import, useful,
generative, and provoking. The book is strengthening and helpful for her.
c. What impression has the writer had about the way white women looked upon black women?
The writer has had a very bad impression about the way white women looked upon black women. According to her, the
white women were unable to hear Black women’s words or to maintain dialogue with the black women. The act of white
women is long and discouraging for her.
d. Why did Mary not cast black women as goddesses in her book according to Lorde?
According to Lorde, Mary didn’t cast black women as goddesses in her book because she had made a conscious decision
to limit her scope and deal only with the ecology of Western European women.
e. Why did Lorde think that she misused her words?
Lorde thought that she misused her words because she utilized her words only to testify against Lorde as a woman of
colour.
f. For Lorde, how were women, especially from the black community, undervalued?
For Lorde, women, especially from the black community were undervalued as they were ghettoized by a white woman
dealing only out of a patriarchal western European frame of reference.
g. How does Mary take white women as? Does Lorde agree with Mary’s view?
Mary takes white women as superior to non-white women. Her assumption is that the herstory and the myth of white
women is the legitimate and sole herstory and myth of all women to call upon for power and background, and that
nonwhite women and their herstories are noteworthy only as decorations, or examples of female victimization.
No, Lorde does not agree with Mary’s view. Lorde does not liked the supremacy of white feminism over black feminism
shown by Mary in her views presenting blacks as decorative and useful things and ignoring their pain and oppression.
h. What is Afrekete? How does it connect to this lesson?
Afrekete is the collective voice to the tradition of black lesbian writing. It connects to this lesson as the author
wants to connect all the black women in the arena of black writing.
Critical thinking
a. "The oppression of women knows no ethnic or racial boundaries." Do you agree or not? Justify with
your reasons.
“The oppression of women knows no ethnic or racial boundaries.” Yes, I agree with this statement.
Women have fought to be treated equal for many years and deserve same pay as men. Men receive better treatment,
jobs, and better pay than women, which shows discrimination towards them. Women continue to fight against the
discrimination worldwide. The oppression of women getting defined equality creates a form of intolerance. Women not
having the rights they deserve can lead to uncertainty within oneself.
In history, women did not have equality rights which connects to why some still face sexist discrimination against
men. Despite the tremendous progress made in the struggle for gender equality, women still face violence,
discrimination, and institutional barriers to equal participation in society. Women are treated less than men
because of gender inequality, this show how women are not looked on the same social status. It should be equal pay
for equal work, but unfortunately women are looked as less than men. Many countries do not give women the right to
education because they believe women should not be educated. Many poor women cannot afford to pay for education,
limiting them to receiving it. Many times it is not an option because governments prevent women from achieving their
goal of education. Thus, due to all these things, women have been suffering a lot. Their oppression knows no ethnic
and racial boundaries and they have been the victims for ages.
b. Why is it important to question our beliefs and values? How are they set up in a person’s
mind?
It is important to question our beliefs and values because it builds character, honesty, compassion, acceptance and
strength. People usually tend to avoid questioning their own beliefs because they assume that it will diminish their
beliefs. If we think this way it’s because we already doubt the veracity of our claims, and we are being dishonest
with ourselves. Questioning beliefs through objectivity and observing as a third party/person helps us to gage not
only if our beliefs are true, but what are the logical consequences of our ideas in the world (positive and
negative). As soon as we question another person’s beliefs on a topic, we should evaluate our own. If we discover we
are wrong, this fosters acceptance. If we discover we are wrong and modify our beliefs and admit our error, this
fosters strength. Thus, it’s important to question our beliefs and values.
Writing
B. Write an article for a national daily on "The Status of Women in Nepali Society."
The Status of Women in Nepali Society
2021-01-26 : Nepal is a country of great geographic, cultural, ethnic, religious diversity. Across the diversity,
the majority of communities in Nepal are patriarchal. A women’s life is strongly influenced by her father,
husband and son. Such patriarchal practices are further reinforced by the legal system. The status of women is
determined by the patriarchal social system, values, and women’s right preserved and protected by the state,
and state policy for the development of women.
Women’s relative status, however, varied from one ethnic group to another. The economic contribution of women
is substantial, but largely unnoticed because their traditional role was taken as for granted.
The health status of Nepal’s people is one of the lowest in the South Asian region and this is particularly
true for females. One fifth of women get married in the early age of 15-19. As a result of their premature pregnancy
the deaths of women have been occurring in a very high.
National statistics shows that women’s literacy rate is 30 percent while 66 percent to male. The enrollment of
women in higher education is only 24.95 percent. Women’ involvement in technical and vocational education is
also lower than men. This is due to the social norms and culture that we follow also. As in rural areas girls are
considered as “paraya dhan”(others property) and they don’t get the opportunity to get education.
A large part of women’s work is not considered as economic activity. As a result only 45.2 per cent of women
as compared to 68.2 per cent of men are classified as economically active. There are very few women working in
professional work in Nepal. They may study the law, but few are able to enter the profession.
Grammar
B. Choose the correct alternative.
a. an old foreign car/a foreign old car
an old foreign car
b. a beautiful white dress/ a white beautiful dress
a beautiful white dress
c. a nice tall young man/a tall nice young man
a nice tall young man
d. a big black wooden desk/ a black wooden big desk
a big black wooden desk
e. a delicious Italian pizza/ an Italian delicious pizza
a delicious Italian pizza
f. a huge brown bear/a brown huge bear
a huge brown bear
g. a purple cotton sleeping bag/ a cotton purple sleeping bag
a purple cotton sleeping bag
h. a beautiful old Indian village/an old beautiful Indian village
an old beautiful Indian village
i. a cute little kitten/ a little cute kitten
a cute little kitten
j. an expensive antique /an antique expensive table
an antique expensive table
C. Put the adjectives in the following sentences in the correct order.
a. I bought (red/ a /comfortable/new) scooter.
I bought a comfortable new scooter.
b. She reached home and sat on (relaxing/old/her/wooden) chair.
She reached home and sat on her old relaxing wooden chair.
c. We ate (Chinese/delicious/some) food.
we ate some delicious Chinese food.
d. I need (golden/delicious/some/round) apples.
I need some delicious round golden apples.
e. We like to live in a (calm/unmediated/remote) place for some time.
We like to live in a calm unmediated remote place for some time.
f. She is wearing (silver/beautiful / a(n)/ old) ring.
She is wearing an old beautiful silver ring.
g. I am looking for (golden/stylish/a/Japanese) watch.
I am looking for a stylish Japanese golden watch.
h. She dropped (old/china/attractive/a(n)) cup and smashed it.
She dropped an old attractive China cup and smashed it.
i. He wants to marry (young/pretty/educated/a(n)/rustic) girl.
He wants to marry a pretty young educated rustic girl.
j. We stayed in a (luxurious/five star/new) hotel in Dubai.
We stayed in a new luxurious five-star hotel in Dubai.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesStory 1: Neighbours
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. Describe how the young couple’s house looked like.
The young couple’s house was small, but it’s high ceiling and paned windows gave it the feel of an elegant
cottage. From his study window the young man could see out over the rooftops and used car yards the Moreton Bay figs
in the park where they walked their dog.
b. How did the young couple identify their neighbours in the beginning of their arrival?
The young couple identify their neighbours in the begining of their arrival by the sound of spitting, washing and day break watering.
c. How did the neighbours help the young couple in the kitchen garden?
The neighbours helped the young couple in the kitchen garden by advicing them about spacing, hilling, mulching and providing the bagful of garlic cloves for planting.
d. Why were the people in the neighborhood surprised at the role of the young man and his wife in their
family?
The people in the neighborhood were surprised at the role of the young man and his wife because his wife used to do work in hospital while he used to live in the house working on his thesis and cook for his wife when she return back home.
e. How did the neighbours respond to the woman’s pregnancy?
The neighbours responded to the woman’s pregnancy by smiling tirelessly. The man in the deli
gave her small presents of chocolates and him packets of cigarettes. In the summer, Italian women began
to offer names. Greek women stopped the young woman in the street, pulled her skirt up and felt her
belly, telling her it was bound to be a boy. By late summer the woman next door had knitted the baby a
suit, complete with booties and beanie and the Polish widower next door had almost finished his two-car
garage.
f. Why did the young man begin to weep at the end of the story?
The young man began to weep at the end of the story because he was greatly touched by the help of neighbours which wasn’t expected by him due to the human feelings of neighbours towards them.
g. Why do you think the author did not characterize the persons in the story with proper names?
I think the author didn’t characterize the persons in the stroy with proper names because he wants to generalize the case not to specific person but also for the every person who are culturally and linguistically from different society. So the writer make the couple for the universal character and he tries to share his idea that in neighbourhood, humanity remains even after having different languages and cultural norms.
Reference to the context
a. The story shows that linguistic and cultural barriers do not create any obstacle in human
relationship. Cite some examples from the story where the neighbours have transcended such
barriers.
The story shows that linguistic and cultural barriers do not create any obstacle in human relationship. Humanity and love is one of the such feelings that links the persons. It doesn’t look race, caste, language, nationality, culture or language. The love, respect and kindness of a person towards othe beautify the person or shows a real person. In this story also, due to different languages there was some misunderstandings on newly couples towards their neighbours. But when they were in problems the neighbours helped them alot.
Some examples where the neighbours have transcended such barriers are as follows:
1. In spite of the different languages and cultures, the neighbours gave advice to the young couple
about spacing, hilling and mulching the vegetables in the kitchen garden.
2. The polish widower rebuilt the falling henhouse of the young couple although they didn’t
understand his words.
3. The young couple offered heads of cabbage and took gifts of grapes and firewood from neighbours.
4. The neighbours gifted chocolates, knitted the baby a suit when the couples were going to be parents.
b. The last sentence of the story reads “The twentieth-century novel had not prepared him for
this.” In your view, what differences did the young man find between twentieth-century novels and human
relations?
In my view, the young man as the writer used to think that the people in twentieth were selfish and helpless and his thought become true for sometimes when he had just shifted to the new community. The people of the community are noisy and annoying. They used to make noises and shout each others. Even the small kids also have poor sanitation. But when he and his wife need small help too, all the neighbours helped them without saying a word. Yeh way of counselling each othes in nedd and sharing happiness with each othe touches his heart and proved him wrong. He found the huge difference between his thinking and reality. His thinking changed and he said that the novel for which he was researching had not prepared for him.
c. A Nepali proverb says “Neighbors are companions for wedding procession as well as for funeral
procession.” Does this proverb apply in the story? Justify.
Yes, this proverb applies in the story. Neighbours are the real companions of life who keep on passing their lives with us in various situations. Neighbours are need in every step of life no matter joy or sorrow. They are the companions for wedding procession as well as a funeral procession. Here in the story, we find the nieghbours involvement in various events. The story has mainly focused on three close neighbours who are seen living their lives sharing and caring for eachother. We find the concept of share, care and help among the neighbours in the story. During the pregnancy, the young woman was cared, assured, presented gifts by people of her neighbourhood. These neighbours are seen passing time teaching each other, enjoying and shouting, living in a neighborhood. Thus neighbours in the story are seen as the best companions as mentioned in the proverb.
d. The author has dealt with an issue of multiculturalism in the story. Why do you think
multiculturalism has become a major issue in the present world?
Multiculturalism is the way in which a society deals with cultural diversity, both at the national and at the community level. Multiculturalism can take place on a nationwide scale or within a nation’s communities. It may occur either naturally through immigration, or artificially when jurisdictions of different cultures are combined.
I think multiculturalism has become a major issue in the present world because along with making people
of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds together, it invites various social problems such as
failure to assimilate, ethnic segregation, and adaptation issues such as school dropout, unemployment,
and high crime rates etc. Also, migration is another reason for multiculturalism. People travel across
different places of different countries and they settle in any place where they get proper facilities
and job due to which multicultural peoples are found in same city or region. Due to this many peoples in
neighbourhood don’t know each other and the relation, love, compassion between the neighbours
found in the past days are not found in the present days. In this way, multiculturalism has become a
major issue in the present world.
Reference beyond the text
a. Write an essay on Celebration of Childbirth in my Community.
Celebration of Childbirth in my Community
Childbirth celebration is the ceremony or ritual to celebrate the birth of a child with joy and
happiness. My community is a hindu majority community with the majority of castes like Brahmin, Chhetris, Newar, Magar etc. Due to the majority of Hindu my community people worship child as the image of god. Specially girls are considered as goddess, laxmi and sarswati in my community. Every good works are started with worshipping the girls.
When a baby get birth in my community, people congratulate the parents and celebrate it as a ceremony. When the child become of 6 days, there is a ritual known as chhaiti. In this day it is believed the god comes to write the future of that baby. So, the lamp is burn all over the night and a paper and pen is kept below the childs pillow so that God will come and write the child’s future. After that at the 11th day of child birth there is naming ceremony called ‘Nwaran’. At this the day the child is give a name. When the child is of 5-6 months, there is weaning ceremony in which the child is feded with different kinds of foods especially rice. This day is also known as rice fedding day.
This is how the people celebrate in my community at the birth of a child.
b. Do the people in your community respond with similar reactions upon the pregnancy and childbirth as
depicted in the story? Give a couple of examples.
Yes, the people in my community also respond with similar reactions upon the pregnancy and
childbirth as depicted in the story. As in the story our culture also includes child birth and pregnancy. In our community, a pregnant woman is blessed by all her relatives. She is given alot of advice and cares. Pregnant womes are helped in each and every aspects regarding food and nutrition. After knowing about a woman’s pregnancy in the community, community members (especially women) will visit her at her home and spend time discussing the mother’s condition. They celebrate child birth by providing shower gifts, chocolates, and clothing on the families of pregnant women. They also come up with a lot of names for the unborn child, both male and female. In this way the peoples express their love and affection upon the pregnancy and celebrate the child birth in my community.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. Describe how the young couple’s house looked like.
The young couple’s house was small, but it’s high ceiling and paned windows gave it the feel of an elegant
cottage. From his study window the young man could see out over the rooftops and used car yards the Moreton Bay figs
in the park where they walked their dog.
b. How did the young couple identify their neighbours in the beginning of their arrival?
The young couple identify their neighbours in the begining of their arrival by the sound of spitting, washing and day break watering.
c. How did the neighbours help the young couple in the kitchen garden?
The neighbours helped the young couple in the kitchen garden by advicing them about spacing, hilling, mulching and providing the bagful of garlic cloves for planting.
d. Why were the people in the neighborhood surprised at the role of the young man and his wife in their
family?
The people in the neighborhood were surprised at the role of the young man and his wife because his wife used to do work in hospital while he used to live in the house working on his thesis and cook for his wife when she return back home.
e. How did the neighbours respond to the woman’s pregnancy?
The neighbours responded to the woman’s pregnancy by smiling tirelessly. The man in the deli
gave her small presents of chocolates and him packets of cigarettes. In the summer, Italian women began
to offer names. Greek women stopped the young woman in the street, pulled her skirt up and felt her
belly, telling her it was bound to be a boy. By late summer the woman next door had knitted the baby a
suit, complete with booties and beanie and the Polish widower next door had almost finished his two-car
garage.
f. Why did the young man begin to weep at the end of the story?
The young man began to weep at the end of the story because he was greatly touched by the help of neighbours which wasn’t expected by him due to the human feelings of neighbours towards them.
g. Why do you think the author did not characterize the persons in the story with proper names?
I think the author didn’t characterize the persons in the stroy with proper names because he wants to generalize the case not to specific person but also for the every person who are culturally and linguistically from different society. So the writer make the couple for the universal character and he tries to share his idea that in neighbourhood, humanity remains even after having different languages and cultural norms.
Reference to the context
a. The story shows that linguistic and cultural barriers do not create any obstacle in human
relationship. Cite some examples from the story where the neighbours have transcended such
barriers.
The story shows that linguistic and cultural barriers do not create any obstacle in human relationship. Humanity and love is one of the such feelings that links the persons. It doesn’t look race, caste, language, nationality, culture or language. The love, respect and kindness of a person towards othe beautify the person or shows a real person. In this story also, due to different languages there was some misunderstandings on newly couples towards their neighbours. But when they were in problems the neighbours helped them alot.
Some examples where the neighbours have transcended such barriers are as follows:
1. In spite of the different languages and cultures, the neighbours gave advice to the young couple
about spacing, hilling and mulching the vegetables in the kitchen garden.
2. The polish widower rebuilt the falling henhouse of the young couple although they didn’t
understand his words.
3. The young couple offered heads of cabbage and took gifts of grapes and firewood from neighbours.
4. The neighbours gifted chocolates, knitted the baby a suit when the couples were going to be parents.
b. The last sentence of the story reads “The twentieth-century novel had not prepared him for
this.” In your view, what differences did the young man find between twentieth-century novels and human
relations?
In my view, the young man as the writer used to think that the people in twentieth were selfish and helpless and his thought become true for sometimes when he had just shifted to the new community. The people of the community are noisy and annoying. They used to make noises and shout each others. Even the small kids also have poor sanitation. But when he and his wife need small help too, all the neighbours helped them without saying a word. Yeh way of counselling each othes in nedd and sharing happiness with each othe touches his heart and proved him wrong. He found the huge difference between his thinking and reality. His thinking changed and he said that the novel for which he was researching had not prepared for him.
c. A Nepali proverb says “Neighbors are companions for wedding procession as well as for funeral
procession.” Does this proverb apply in the story? Justify.
Yes, this proverb applies in the story. Neighbours are the real companions of life who keep on passing their lives with us in various situations. Neighbours are need in every step of life no matter joy or sorrow. They are the companions for wedding procession as well as a funeral procession. Here in the story, we find the nieghbours involvement in various events. The story has mainly focused on three close neighbours who are seen living their lives sharing and caring for eachother. We find the concept of share, care and help among the neighbours in the story. During the pregnancy, the young woman was cared, assured, presented gifts by people of her neighbourhood. These neighbours are seen passing time teaching each other, enjoying and shouting, living in a neighborhood. Thus neighbours in the story are seen as the best companions as mentioned in the proverb.
d. The author has dealt with an issue of multiculturalism in the story. Why do you think
multiculturalism has become a major issue in the present world?
Multiculturalism is the way in which a society deals with cultural diversity, both at the national and at the community level. Multiculturalism can take place on a nationwide scale or within a nation’s communities. It may occur either naturally through immigration, or artificially when jurisdictions of different cultures are combined.
I think multiculturalism has become a major issue in the present world because along with making people
of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds together, it invites various social problems such as
failure to assimilate, ethnic segregation, and adaptation issues such as school dropout, unemployment,
and high crime rates etc. Also, migration is another reason for multiculturalism. People travel across
different places of different countries and they settle in any place where they get proper facilities
and job due to which multicultural peoples are found in same city or region. Due to this many peoples in
neighbourhood don’t know each other and the relation, love, compassion between the neighbours
found in the past days are not found in the present days. In this way, multiculturalism has become a
major issue in the present world.
Reference beyond the text
a. Write an essay on Celebration of Childbirth in my Community.
Celebration of Childbirth in my Community
Childbirth celebration is the ceremony or ritual to celebrate the birth of a child with joy and
happiness. My community is a hindu majority community with the majority of castes like Brahmin, Chhetris, Newar, Magar etc. Due to the majority of Hindu my community people worship child as the image of god. Specially girls are considered as goddess, laxmi and sarswati in my community. Every good works are started with worshipping the girls.
When a baby get birth in my community, people congratulate the parents and celebrate it as a ceremony. When the child become of 6 days, there is a ritual known as chhaiti. In this day it is believed the god comes to write the future of that baby. So, the lamp is burn all over the night and a paper and pen is kept below the childs pillow so that God will come and write the child’s future. After that at the 11th day of child birth there is naming ceremony called ‘Nwaran’. At this the day the child is give a name. When the child is of 5-6 months, there is weaning ceremony in which the child is feded with different kinds of foods especially rice. This day is also known as rice fedding day.
This is how the people celebrate in my community at the birth of a child.
b. Do the people in your community respond with similar reactions upon the pregnancy and childbirth as
depicted in the story? Give a couple of examples.
Yes, the people in my community also respond with similar reactions upon the pregnancy and
childbirth as depicted in the story. As in the story our culture also includes child birth and pregnancy. In our community, a pregnant woman is blessed by all her relatives. She is given alot of advice and cares. Pregnant womes are helped in each and every aspects regarding food and nutrition. After knowing about a woman’s pregnancy in the community, community members (especially women) will visit her at her home and spend time discussing the mother’s condition. They celebrate child birth by providing shower gifts, chocolates, and clothing on the families of pregnant women. They also come up with a lot of names for the unborn child, both male and female. In this way the peoples express their love and affection upon the pregnancy and celebrate the child birth in my community.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesStory 2: A Respectable Woman
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. Why was Mrs. Baroda unhappy with the information about Gouvernail’s visit to their
farm?
Mrs. Baroda was unhappy with the information about Gouvernail’s visit to their farm because she was looking forward to a period of unbroken rest, now, and undisturbed tete-a-tete with her husband.
b. How was Gouvernail different from Mrs. Baroda’s expectation?
Mrs. Baroda had formed an image of Gouvernail in her mind as tall, slim, cynical; with eyeglasses, and his hands in his pockets but he was different from her expectation. He was slim enough, but he wasn’t very tall nor very cynical, neither did he wear glasses nor carry his hands in his pockets.
c. How does Mrs. Baroda compare Gouvernail with her husband?
Mrs. Baroda compares Gouvernail with her husband by their frankness. Mr. Gaston Baroda, her husband was frank and chatty but Gouvernail was not frank and he was quite silent person.
d. Why and how did Mrs. Baroda try to change Gouvernail’s solitary habits?
Mrs. Baroda was a frank woman and wanted. Gouvernail to be frank chatty and demanding to make him feel at home. She tried to change Gouvernail solitary habits by being frank and offering wordy hospitality.
e. How does Gaston disagree with his wife on Gouvernail’s character?
Mrs. Baroda was taking Gouvernail seriously and Gaston disagrees with his wife on Gouvernail character by saying that Gouvernail gave no trouble to her and he didn’t like commotion.
f. Why is Gaston surprised with his wife’s expression towards the end of the story?
Gatson is surprised with his wife’s expression towards the end of the story because she never like the arrival of Gouvernail but at the end she proposed, wholly from herself, to have Gouvernail visit them again.
Reference to the context
a. What is the cause of conflict in Mrs. Baroda’s mind? What role does Mrs. Baroda ‘being a
respectable woman’ play in the story?
The cause of conflict in Mrs. Baroda’s mind is her attraction towards Gouvernail and the fear of society. Being a respectable woman Mrs. Baroda controls her feeling and let the social norms win. She was so attracted to her husband’s friend Gouvernail, she wanted to touch his face, lips with her sensitive fingers but she doesn’t do that and controls herself being a respectable woman.
b. Sketch the character of Gouvernail and contrast it with Gaston.
Gouvernail is the Mr. Baroda’s college friend who came to spend a week or two in his friends’ sugar plantation. Gouvernail is a slim and attractive man. He doesn’t wear eyeglasses and he is so lovable and inoffensive. He is a silent guy and loves peace. He neither frank nor too chatty. He loves to sit on portico and enjoy the cool air with cigar. He accepts what Baroda couple gives and doesn’t demand anything. Some characters of Mrs. Baroda and his friend Gouvernail are just opposite. Mr. Baroda is so frank and chatty but Gouvernail is too silent. Gouvernail smokes but Mr. Baroda does not. It can be said that Mr. Baroda is extrovert and more sociable man whether in contrast Gouvernail is introvert and less sociable man.
c. Why does Mrs. Baroda not disclose her feelings towards Gouvernail to her husband?
There are some battles in life which a human being must fight alone. Mrs. Baroda was a respectable woman and if she discloses her feelings towards Gouvernail to her husband, it may cause a serious problem. A husband never likes his wife being attracted to another man. Many husbands have given divorce to their wives after knowing that they are attracted towards other man. Moreover, if she reveals her feelings the friendship of Mr. Baroda and Gouvernail may weaken. That’s why Mrs. Baroda does not disclose her feelings towards Gouvernail to her husband.
d. The last three sentences of the story bring a kind of twist. After reading these three sentences, how
do you analyze Mrs. Baroda’s attitude towards Gouvernail?
The last three sentences of the story bring a kind of twist. Mrs. Baroda liked Gouvernail but due to the fear of society and fear of loss of her respect she didn’t want Gouvernail to come in their house. But last she proposed, wholly from herself, to have Gouvernail visit them again. She said to her husband, “I have overcome everything! You will see. This time I shall be very nice to him”. After reading this I think Mrs. Baroda has overcome the fear of society. And now, she will not control herself and will flow with her emotion. I think she will do everything what her heart wants to do with Gouvernail as she has said that she will be nice to him. In another point of view, we can say that she has overcome her feelings and emotions towards Gouvernail and will be normal to him.
Reference beyond the text
a. The entry of an outsider into a family has been a recurring subject in both literature and films.
Narrate a story real or imaginative where an outsider’s arrival destroys the intimate relationship
between the husband and the wife and causes break up in marital relationship without direct fault of
anyone. Anton’s Chekhov’s story ‘About Love’ is a story on this subject.
The story of “About Love” has been written by a Russian writer Anton Chekhov. “About
Love” is a story about love affairs. Here in this story, the third love story somewhat reflects the
same ideas as seen in the story of Kate Chopin’s “A Respectable Woman”.
The third story has presented the love story of the major character Alyohin and Anna, the wife of
Dimitry Luganovich.
When Alyohin is elected for honorary justice of the peace, he has to go to town for work. There he meets
another judge whose name is Dimitry Luganovich. Once he goes to the house of Luganovich to have dinner.
There he meets Anna Luganovich, the wife of Dimitry Luganovich. The beauty, youth and intelligence of
Anna attract him. Alyohin’s mind is disturbed by Anna’s memory. He starts meeting with her.
They pass time together for hours. They share gifts. They go to the theatre and also share their joys
and sorrows. Alyohin falls in love with her, but his morals and thoughts stop him to express his love
openly. As a result, Anna suffers from mental tiredness. Both of them suffer a lot due to middle-class
moralities. But later on, Alyohin sees the illusion that Anna enjoys her life and doesn’t pay
attention to him. Due to their relationship, Anna suffers from mental tiredness. Finally, the Luganovich
family has to move. Alyohin goes to say goodbye to Anna inside the train. When their eyes meet for the
last time, both cry and hug each other. Alyohin kisses Anna and expresses his deep love. Finally, both
separate from each other because Anna is leaving for Creamea for her treatment.
b. Mrs. Baroda makes an expectation about Gouvernail even before meeting him. Suppose you are a mature
girl/boy and your family members are giving you pressure for getting married. Write in about 200 words
describing what qualities you would like to get in your future husband/wife.
Marriage is a sacred relationship between two people. Simply, it is the union of two people that creates a family tie and carries legal, social or religious rights and responsibilities. It is a lifetime decision and should be taken carefully as our whole life will depend on the decision we take today. Before marriage, we need to think as well as know about the person with whom we are going to get married. It is a lifelong relationship that’s why we have to choose a perfect life partner.
If I get pressure from my family members for getting married, I would like to have the following
qualities in my future wife.
1. Lovable and caring: My future wife must be lovable and caring. She must be lovable and caring for all
my family members.
2. Well mannered: She must be well mannered. She should be polite and well-mannered to all.
3. Beautiful: She must be beautiful not only from her physical appearance but also from her heart. She
should be outstanding in performing the role in the family.
4. Responsible and respectable: She must be a responsible and respectable wife. She must know her
responsibilities towards family and spend her life being a respectable wife.
5. Educated: She must be highly qualified and know the way of educating others. She must have the
quality of making others realize the importance of education in life.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. Why was Mrs. Baroda unhappy with the information about Gouvernail’s visit to their
farm?
Mrs. Baroda was unhappy with the information about Gouvernail’s visit to their farm because she was looking forward to a period of unbroken rest, now, and undisturbed tete-a-tete with her husband.
b. How was Gouvernail different from Mrs. Baroda’s expectation?
Mrs. Baroda had formed an image of Gouvernail in her mind as tall, slim, cynical; with eyeglasses, and his hands in his pockets but he was different from her expectation. He was slim enough, but he wasn’t very tall nor very cynical, neither did he wear glasses nor carry his hands in his pockets.
c. How does Mrs. Baroda compare Gouvernail with her husband?
Mrs. Baroda compares Gouvernail with her husband by their frankness. Mr. Gaston Baroda, her husband was frank and chatty but Gouvernail was not frank and he was quite silent person.
d. Why and how did Mrs. Baroda try to change Gouvernail’s solitary habits?
Mrs. Baroda was a frank woman and wanted. Gouvernail to be frank chatty and demanding to make him feel at home. She tried to change Gouvernail solitary habits by being frank and offering wordy hospitality.
e. How does Gaston disagree with his wife on Gouvernail’s character?
Mrs. Baroda was taking Gouvernail seriously and Gaston disagrees with his wife on Gouvernail character by saying that Gouvernail gave no trouble to her and he didn’t like commotion.
f. Why is Gaston surprised with his wife’s expression towards the end of the story?
Gatson is surprised with his wife’s expression towards the end of the story because she never like the arrival of Gouvernail but at the end she proposed, wholly from herself, to have Gouvernail visit them again.
Reference to the context
a. What is the cause of conflict in Mrs. Baroda’s mind? What role does Mrs. Baroda ‘being a
respectable woman’ play in the story?
The cause of conflict in Mrs. Baroda’s mind is her attraction towards Gouvernail and the fear of society. Being a respectable woman Mrs. Baroda controls her feeling and let the social norms win. She was so attracted to her husband’s friend Gouvernail, she wanted to touch his face, lips with her sensitive fingers but she doesn’t do that and controls herself being a respectable woman.
b. Sketch the character of Gouvernail and contrast it with Gaston.
Gouvernail is the Mr. Baroda’s college friend who came to spend a week or two in his friends’ sugar plantation. Gouvernail is a slim and attractive man. He doesn’t wear eyeglasses and he is so lovable and inoffensive. He is a silent guy and loves peace. He neither frank nor too chatty. He loves to sit on portico and enjoy the cool air with cigar. He accepts what Baroda couple gives and doesn’t demand anything. Some characters of Mrs. Baroda and his friend Gouvernail are just opposite. Mr. Baroda is so frank and chatty but Gouvernail is too silent. Gouvernail smokes but Mr. Baroda does not. It can be said that Mr. Baroda is extrovert and more sociable man whether in contrast Gouvernail is introvert and less sociable man.
c. Why does Mrs. Baroda not disclose her feelings towards Gouvernail to her husband?
There are some battles in life which a human being must fight alone. Mrs. Baroda was a respectable woman and if she discloses her feelings towards Gouvernail to her husband, it may cause a serious problem. A husband never likes his wife being attracted to another man. Many husbands have given divorce to their wives after knowing that they are attracted towards other man. Moreover, if she reveals her feelings the friendship of Mr. Baroda and Gouvernail may weaken. That’s why Mrs. Baroda does not disclose her feelings towards Gouvernail to her husband.
d. The last three sentences of the story bring a kind of twist. After reading these three sentences, how
do you analyze Mrs. Baroda’s attitude towards Gouvernail?
The last three sentences of the story bring a kind of twist. Mrs. Baroda liked Gouvernail but due to the fear of society and fear of loss of her respect she didn’t want Gouvernail to come in their house. But last she proposed, wholly from herself, to have Gouvernail visit them again. She said to her husband, “I have overcome everything! You will see. This time I shall be very nice to him”. After reading this I think Mrs. Baroda has overcome the fear of society. And now, she will not control herself and will flow with her emotion. I think she will do everything what her heart wants to do with Gouvernail as she has said that she will be nice to him. In another point of view, we can say that she has overcome her feelings and emotions towards Gouvernail and will be normal to him.
Reference beyond the text
a. The entry of an outsider into a family has been a recurring subject in both literature and films.
Narrate a story real or imaginative where an outsider’s arrival destroys the intimate relationship
between the husband and the wife and causes break up in marital relationship without direct fault of
anyone. Anton’s Chekhov’s story ‘About Love’ is a story on this subject.
The story of “About Love” has been written by a Russian writer Anton Chekhov. “About
Love” is a story about love affairs. Here in this story, the third love story somewhat reflects the
same ideas as seen in the story of Kate Chopin’s “A Respectable Woman”.
The third story has presented the love story of the major character Alyohin and Anna, the wife of
Dimitry Luganovich.
When Alyohin is elected for honorary justice of the peace, he has to go to town for work. There he meets
another judge whose name is Dimitry Luganovich. Once he goes to the house of Luganovich to have dinner.
There he meets Anna Luganovich, the wife of Dimitry Luganovich. The beauty, youth and intelligence of
Anna attract him. Alyohin’s mind is disturbed by Anna’s memory. He starts meeting with her.
They pass time together for hours. They share gifts. They go to the theatre and also share their joys
and sorrows. Alyohin falls in love with her, but his morals and thoughts stop him to express his love
openly. As a result, Anna suffers from mental tiredness. Both of them suffer a lot due to middle-class
moralities. But later on, Alyohin sees the illusion that Anna enjoys her life and doesn’t pay
attention to him. Due to their relationship, Anna suffers from mental tiredness. Finally, the Luganovich
family has to move. Alyohin goes to say goodbye to Anna inside the train. When their eyes meet for the
last time, both cry and hug each other. Alyohin kisses Anna and expresses his deep love. Finally, both
separate from each other because Anna is leaving for Creamea for her treatment.
b. Mrs. Baroda makes an expectation about Gouvernail even before meeting him. Suppose you are a mature
girl/boy and your family members are giving you pressure for getting married. Write in about 200 words
describing what qualities you would like to get in your future husband/wife.
Marriage is a sacred relationship between two people. Simply, it is the union of two people that creates a family tie and carries legal, social or religious rights and responsibilities. It is a lifetime decision and should be taken carefully as our whole life will depend on the decision we take today. Before marriage, we need to think as well as know about the person with whom we are going to get married. It is a lifelong relationship that’s why we have to choose a perfect life partner.
If I get pressure from my family members for getting married, I would like to have the following
qualities in my future wife.
1. Lovable and caring: My future wife must be lovable and caring. She must be lovable and caring for all
my family members.
2. Well mannered: She must be well mannered. She should be polite and well-mannered to all.
3. Beautiful: She must be beautiful not only from her physical appearance but also from her heart. She
should be outstanding in performing the role in the family.
4. Responsible and respectable: She must be a responsible and respectable wife. She must know her
responsibilities towards family and spend her life being a respectable wife.
5. Educated: She must be highly qualified and know the way of educating others. She must have the
quality of making others realize the importance of education in life.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesStory 3: A Devoted Son
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. How did the morning papers bring an ambience of celebration to the Varma family?
The morning papers brought an ambience of celebration in the Varma family as it showed that the Rakesh had topped the Medical Examination and it was the matter of pride for the family.
b. How did the community celebrate Rakesh’s success?
The community people celebrated Rakesh’s success by visiting his little yellow house at the end of the road. There they congratulate Rakesh’s parents on their son’s remarkable success and congratulate Rakesh himself. The whole house and garden was quickly filled with the sights and sounds of a festival, with beautiful garlands, party clothes, and gifts.
c. Why was Rakesh’s success a special matter of discussion in the neighbourhood?
Rakesh’s success was a special matter of discussion in the neighbourhood because he was the first son in the family to receive an education. His parents had sacrificed so much in order to send him to school and then medical college. It was the matter of pride for the family as well as neighbours. Rakesh’s exemplary behavior that he touched the feet of his father as soon as he saw his results made Rakesh success a special matter of discussion in the neighbourhood.
d. How does the author make fun with the words ‘America’ and ‘the USA’?
Rakesh had won a scholarship in USA. His father learnt it to be called as ‘USA’ and taught the whole family not to say it as ‘America’ as it was the term to be called by his ignorant neighbours. In this way the author makes fun of the words ‘America’ and ‘the USA’.
e. How does the author characterize Rakesh’s wife?
The author characterizes Rakesh’s wife as an uneducated, old fashioned, plump girl. She was so placid, complaisant and lazy but too good-natured and pretty fat one.
f. Describe how Rakesh rises in his career.
After completing his medical education, he started his career as a doctor in the city hospital and quickly reached the top of administrative: organization and was made a director. Then, he opened his own private clinic and became known not only as of the best but also the richest doctor in city.
g. How does the author describe Rakesh’s family background?
Rakesh was from a poor family who used to live in a village in India. His father worked for a kerosene vendor and his mother spent her life in the kitchen. His grandparents also used to work as vegetable vendors. Despite of the poor economic condition, his parents worked hard and sacrificed everything they have for the higher education and medical college of his son Rakesh.
h. What is the impact of Rakesh’s mother’s death on his father?
Rakesh’s father was broken into pieces by the death of his wife. He fell ill so frequently and suffered with such mysterious disease named a peevish whim (sudden irritation in mind) that even his son could no longer make it out.
i. What did Rakesh do to make his father’s old age more comfortable?
Rakesh used to bring his father his morning tea in the old man’s favorite brass tumbler, and sat at the edge of his bed, comfortable and relaxed his father’s night-shirt, and read out the morning news for him. He used to help his father down the steps and onto the bed, soothing him and settling him down for a night under the stars.
j. Why did the old man try to bribe his grandchildren?
The old man tried to bribe his grandchildren in order to buy him sweets and Jalebis from the shop at the crossroads.
k. Are Mr. Varma’s complaints about his diets reasonable? How?
I don’t think that the Mr. Varma’s complaints about his diets are reasonable. His son had made a diet plan for him so that he could live a healthy life. Rakesh being a responsible son and a doctor too, can’t allow his father to risk his life eating unnecessary foods and sweets. Rakesh did so because he didn’t what to lose his father as he had already losed his mother. Thus the Mr. Varma’s complaints about his diet aren’t reasonable.
Reference to the Context
a. How did the Varma couple make sacrifices for their son’s higher education?
Mr. Varma being a worker in a Kerosene Dealer Deport and Mrs. Varma being a housewife doing household things have done and made a lot of sacrifices for their son’s higher education. Mr. Varma had never seen how the school looks like from the inside as he had never gone to study. So, he wanted to fulfill his dream from his son and he sent Rakesh to the school for quality education. Rakesh was the first son in the family to receive an education. Thus the Varma couple worked hard and sacrificed their life, time, money and everything they have for the higher education and medical college of son for the betterment of his future.
b. Mr. Varma suffers from diseases one after another after his wife’s death. Would he have enjoyed
better health if she had not died before him? Give reasons.
I think yes he would have enjoyed better health if she had not died before him. He had fell ill as soon as his wife died. Before the death of his wife he was enjoying his life with no mental harassment but after the death of his wife he started being in depression and many other mental conditions. He was broken mentally as well as physically. It is usual too because when a person with whom you have spended decades, they become part of your life and when they leave permanently, it is obvious to get a shock. Thus, if she had not died before him, he would have enjoyed better health.
c. Dr Rakesh is divided between a doctor and a son. As a son, he loves his father and worries about his
weakening health but as a doctor, he is strict on his father’s diet and medicine. In your view,
what else could Rakesh have done to make his father’s final years more comfortable?
With no doubt Rakesh is a good son and a good inspiring doctor. Though he did remain devoted to his father. Actually he is divide between a doctor and a son. In my view, Rakesh could have been more polite and respectful in his behaviour with his father in the final years. He could have let his old father take the lead and give him the same independence and freedom because it is the age where parents feel like they are left behind. Rakesh could have also given his father some personal space and let him dictate how and when his son help him. His loud-speaking made his father very troublesome and miserable. So, if he had spoke to his father politely and in respectful way, he could have made his father’s final years more comfortable.
d. What does the story say about the relationship between grandfather and grandchildren?
Desai’s story “A Devoted Son” shows loving companionship between grandfather and grandchildren. There is an unbreakable bond between them. Having a close relation, once the grandfather tried to bribe his grandchildren to bring Jalebis for him. He used the innocence and mean nature of a small kid for his own benefit. Though he loved his grandchildren very much but due to his meanness he tried to show his grandson the wrong path. For that reason, the relationship between grandfather and grandchildren was found to be innocent, tricky, trusty and bonding in the story.
e. Do you call Rakesh a devoted son? Give reasons.
Yes, I call Rakesh a devoted son. He always did whatever his parents have advised or wanted him to do like; good academic performance, crucial part of a boy’s life which is marriage, and also choosing to get back to his own nation and live with his family though he could earn a lot of more money living in the USA. Though Rakesh stucked at some part of giving his father a happy life but he had tried his best. He always used to separate time for his old father despite of being very busy in his professional life. He never wanted his father to suffer. Hence, I think that Rakesh is a devoted son in the sense that he is able to put his own wishes aside for their betterment.
Reference beyond the text
a. Write an essay on The Parents’ Ambition for their Children in Nepali Society. You must give at
least five examples.
The Parents’ Ambition for their Children in Nepali Society
One of the primary roles of parents is to be a leader of their children. Dedicated, motivated parents are usually one of two kinds of leaders; ambitious leaders or led leaders. While ambition seems like a powerful quality in a leader, it’s flawed because ambition is self-serving. On the other hand, a leader who is a good follower of truth, principles, and a higher moral authority, even if it is inconvenient to themselves or lacks showiness is a powerful influence for good in the lives of their children.
Parents have great ambition for their children in Nepali Society. Most of the parents want their children to be the best person in the society such as the best doctor, the best engineer, the best teacher, and many more. Due to parents’ ambition for their children, some children work hard to achieve their destination and get succeed at the end. But due to this the children are forced to do the thing other than their interest and follow the paths shown by the parents blindly. Due to which many children are lacking behind in Nepalese society. Thus, parents should listen to the voice and aim of their children as well for their better in future.
b. Medicines replace our diets in old age. What can be done to make old ageless less dependent on
medicine?
As we get older, the body becomes less efficient and weaker. It cannot fully function the way it used to on young age and hence many viruses or diseases enter into our body. At old age our immunity system also becomes weak and our body cannot fight or prevent from the severe diseases. So to prevent form this medication is done. Hence medicines replace our diets in old age.
To make old ageless less dependent on medicine, they should do the following things:
- Exercise daily by running, jogging, playing sports, dancing or brisk walking.
- Eat three nutritional meals a day with all the food groups (carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals).
- Make sure to get enough sleep, i.e., 7-8 hours per night.
- Drink about 10-15 glasses of water a day to prevent dehydration especially in summer.
- Don’t sleep too much or too less, because either can lead to fatigue.
- Avoid harmful habits like smoking, drinking, drugs, etc.
c. Write an essay on “Care of Elderly Citizens” in about 300 words.
Care of Elderly Citizens
Elderly refers to old people who have crossed middle age. The old age is the final period of human life. During this time a person needs love and affection and proper elderly care. It is said that caring for the elderly is the moral duty of every man. Generally, an old person faces different health issues and thus he or she needs proper care. The length of an old person’ life depends on how much care he/she gets. Taking care of the elderly is not a naïve task. The care needs for the elderly is very limited.An old man doesn’t have much requirement. He /she only need a little affection, care, and a homely environment to spend his/her final stage of life.
We all should know how to take care of old people. But in today’s busy schedule some people consider the elderly a burden. They even don’t want to spare time for their parents. And thus they prefer to put their old parents in old age homes rather than taking care of them. This is nothing but a shameful act. Being a human we all should know the importance of elderly care. In every country, there are different laws to protect the elderly. But the elderly care law can’t do anything if we don’t change our mindset.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. How did the morning papers bring an ambience of celebration to the Varma family?
The morning papers brought an ambience of celebration in the Varma family as it showed that the Rakesh had topped the Medical Examination and it was the matter of pride for the family.
b. How did the community celebrate Rakesh’s success?
The community people celebrated Rakesh’s success by visiting his little yellow house at the end of the road. There they congratulate Rakesh’s parents on their son’s remarkable success and congratulate Rakesh himself. The whole house and garden was quickly filled with the sights and sounds of a festival, with beautiful garlands, party clothes, and gifts.
c. Why was Rakesh’s success a special matter of discussion in the neighbourhood?
Rakesh’s success was a special matter of discussion in the neighbourhood because he was the first son in the family to receive an education. His parents had sacrificed so much in order to send him to school and then medical college. It was the matter of pride for the family as well as neighbours. Rakesh’s exemplary behavior that he touched the feet of his father as soon as he saw his results made Rakesh success a special matter of discussion in the neighbourhood.
d. How does the author make fun with the words ‘America’ and ‘the USA’?
Rakesh had won a scholarship in USA. His father learnt it to be called as ‘USA’ and taught the whole family not to say it as ‘America’ as it was the term to be called by his ignorant neighbours. In this way the author makes fun of the words ‘America’ and ‘the USA’.
e. How does the author characterize Rakesh’s wife?
The author characterizes Rakesh’s wife as an uneducated, old fashioned, plump girl. She was so placid, complaisant and lazy but too good-natured and pretty fat one.
f. Describe how Rakesh rises in his career.
After completing his medical education, he started his career as a doctor in the city hospital and quickly reached the top of administrative: organization and was made a director. Then, he opened his own private clinic and became known not only as of the best but also the richest doctor in city.
g. How does the author describe Rakesh’s family background?
Rakesh was from a poor family who used to live in a village in India. His father worked for a kerosene vendor and his mother spent her life in the kitchen. His grandparents also used to work as vegetable vendors. Despite of the poor economic condition, his parents worked hard and sacrificed everything they have for the higher education and medical college of his son Rakesh.
h. What is the impact of Rakesh’s mother’s death on his father?
Rakesh’s father was broken into pieces by the death of his wife. He fell ill so frequently and suffered with such mysterious disease named a peevish whim (sudden irritation in mind) that even his son could no longer make it out.
i. What did Rakesh do to make his father’s old age more comfortable?
Rakesh used to bring his father his morning tea in the old man’s favorite brass tumbler, and sat at the edge of his bed, comfortable and relaxed his father’s night-shirt, and read out the morning news for him. He used to help his father down the steps and onto the bed, soothing him and settling him down for a night under the stars.
j. Why did the old man try to bribe his grandchildren?
The old man tried to bribe his grandchildren in order to buy him sweets and Jalebis from the shop at the crossroads.
k. Are Mr. Varma’s complaints about his diets reasonable? How?
I don’t think that the Mr. Varma’s complaints about his diets are reasonable. His son had made a diet plan for him so that he could live a healthy life. Rakesh being a responsible son and a doctor too, can’t allow his father to risk his life eating unnecessary foods and sweets. Rakesh did so because he didn’t what to lose his father as he had already losed his mother. Thus the Mr. Varma’s complaints about his diet aren’t reasonable.
Reference to the Context
a. How did the Varma couple make sacrifices for their son’s higher education?
Mr. Varma being a worker in a Kerosene Dealer Deport and Mrs. Varma being a housewife doing household things have done and made a lot of sacrifices for their son’s higher education. Mr. Varma had never seen how the school looks like from the inside as he had never gone to study. So, he wanted to fulfill his dream from his son and he sent Rakesh to the school for quality education. Rakesh was the first son in the family to receive an education. Thus the Varma couple worked hard and sacrificed their life, time, money and everything they have for the higher education and medical college of son for the betterment of his future.
b. Mr. Varma suffers from diseases one after another after his wife’s death. Would he have enjoyed
better health if she had not died before him? Give reasons.
I think yes he would have enjoyed better health if she had not died before him. He had fell ill as soon as his wife died. Before the death of his wife he was enjoying his life with no mental harassment but after the death of his wife he started being in depression and many other mental conditions. He was broken mentally as well as physically. It is usual too because when a person with whom you have spended decades, they become part of your life and when they leave permanently, it is obvious to get a shock. Thus, if she had not died before him, he would have enjoyed better health.
c. Dr Rakesh is divided between a doctor and a son. As a son, he loves his father and worries about his
weakening health but as a doctor, he is strict on his father’s diet and medicine. In your view,
what else could Rakesh have done to make his father’s final years more comfortable?
With no doubt Rakesh is a good son and a good inspiring doctor. Though he did remain devoted to his father. Actually he is divide between a doctor and a son. In my view, Rakesh could have been more polite and respectful in his behaviour with his father in the final years. He could have let his old father take the lead and give him the same independence and freedom because it is the age where parents feel like they are left behind. Rakesh could have also given his father some personal space and let him dictate how and when his son help him. His loud-speaking made his father very troublesome and miserable. So, if he had spoke to his father politely and in respectful way, he could have made his father’s final years more comfortable.
d. What does the story say about the relationship between grandfather and grandchildren?
Desai’s story “A Devoted Son” shows loving companionship between grandfather and grandchildren. There is an unbreakable bond between them. Having a close relation, once the grandfather tried to bribe his grandchildren to bring Jalebis for him. He used the innocence and mean nature of a small kid for his own benefit. Though he loved his grandchildren very much but due to his meanness he tried to show his grandson the wrong path. For that reason, the relationship between grandfather and grandchildren was found to be innocent, tricky, trusty and bonding in the story.
e. Do you call Rakesh a devoted son? Give reasons.
Yes, I call Rakesh a devoted son. He always did whatever his parents have advised or wanted him to do like; good academic performance, crucial part of a boy’s life which is marriage, and also choosing to get back to his own nation and live with his family though he could earn a lot of more money living in the USA. Though Rakesh stucked at some part of giving his father a happy life but he had tried his best. He always used to separate time for his old father despite of being very busy in his professional life. He never wanted his father to suffer. Hence, I think that Rakesh is a devoted son in the sense that he is able to put his own wishes aside for their betterment.
Reference beyond the text
a. Write an essay on The Parents’ Ambition for their Children in Nepali Society. You must give at
least five examples.
The Parents’ Ambition for their Children in Nepali Society
One of the primary roles of parents is to be a leader of their children. Dedicated, motivated parents are usually one of two kinds of leaders; ambitious leaders or led leaders. While ambition seems like a powerful quality in a leader, it’s flawed because ambition is self-serving. On the other hand, a leader who is a good follower of truth, principles, and a higher moral authority, even if it is inconvenient to themselves or lacks showiness is a powerful influence for good in the lives of their children.
Parents have great ambition for their children in Nepali Society. Most of the parents want their children to be the best person in the society such as the best doctor, the best engineer, the best teacher, and many more. Due to parents’ ambition for their children, some children work hard to achieve their destination and get succeed at the end. But due to this the children are forced to do the thing other than their interest and follow the paths shown by the parents blindly. Due to which many children are lacking behind in Nepalese society. Thus, parents should listen to the voice and aim of their children as well for their better in future.
b. Medicines replace our diets in old age. What can be done to make old ageless less dependent on
medicine?
As we get older, the body becomes less efficient and weaker. It cannot fully function the way it used to on young age and hence many viruses or diseases enter into our body. At old age our immunity system also becomes weak and our body cannot fight or prevent from the severe diseases. So to prevent form this medication is done. Hence medicines replace our diets in old age.
To make old ageless less dependent on medicine, they should do the following things:
- Exercise daily by running, jogging, playing sports, dancing or brisk walking.
- Eat three nutritional meals a day with all the food groups (carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals).
- Make sure to get enough sleep, i.e., 7-8 hours per night.
- Drink about 10-15 glasses of water a day to prevent dehydration especially in summer.
- Don’t sleep too much or too less, because either can lead to fatigue.
- Avoid harmful habits like smoking, drinking, drugs, etc.
c. Write an essay on “Care of Elderly Citizens” in about 300 words.
Care of Elderly Citizens
Elderly refers to old people who have crossed middle age. The old age is the final period of human life. During this time a person needs love and affection and proper elderly care. It is said that caring for the elderly is the moral duty of every man. Generally, an old person faces different health issues and thus he or she needs proper care. The length of an old person’ life depends on how much care he/she gets. Taking care of the elderly is not a naïve task. The care needs for the elderly is very limited.An old man doesn’t have much requirement. He /she only need a little affection, care, and a homely environment to spend his/her final stage of life.
We all should know how to take care of old people. But in today’s busy schedule some people consider the elderly a burden. They even don’t want to spare time for their parents. And thus they prefer to put their old parents in old age homes rather than taking care of them. This is nothing but a shameful act. Being a human we all should know the importance of elderly care. In every country, there are different laws to protect the elderly. But the elderly care law can’t do anything if we don’t change our mindset.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesStory 4: The Treasure in the Forest
Summary
The story begins with two men, Evans and Hooker, “stranded British wastrels”, heading in a canoe towards
a coral island in the heat of the noon sun, after having paddled all night from the mainland. Hooker is studying a
map, which the narrator reveals they have stolen from a Chinaman, Chang-hi, whom they murdered during the theft.
Chang-hi had by chance discovered the treasure left behind by a shipwrecked h4ish galleon, and had decided to
rebury it elsewhere, at a location revealed by his map. One aspect of the map puzzles Evans and Hooker though; part
of it is covered by little dashes pointing in every direction.
Evans and Hooker identify the spot indicated on the map, and after beaching their canoe they strike into the
interior of the island, through the forest. They soon discover the identifying pile of stones just as the map says,
but alongside it lies the purple and swollen body of a Chinaman who had evidently himself been looking for the
treasure, as they can see some half-exposed yellow bars of gold in the hole he had been digging. The men assume the
Chinaman to have been one of Chang-hi’s associates, who had decided to try and claim the treasure for
himself.
Evans starts to pick up the gold ingots to take them back to the canoe, but as he does so feels a thorn prick. The
two men load as much of the gold as they can drag back to the boat in Evans’s jacket and set off, but after
about a hundred yards Evans’s arms start to ache, he becomes sweaty and he begins to convulse. Hooker, in
rearranging the ingots on the jacket after Evans’s collapse, himself feels a thorn prick, and at last realizes
the meaning of the little dashes on the map; Chang-hi had protected his treasure with thorns “similar to those
the Dyaks poison and use in their blowing-tubes”.
The story ends as Hooker lies dying alongside the “still quivering” body of his companion.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. Describe the expository scene of the story.
The story opens with two treasure hunters, Evans and Hooker in the canoe approaching the land, the thicker and deeper green forest, sloppy hill with a little river flowing to the sea.
b. What does the map look like and how do Evan and Hooker interpret it?
The map looks like very old rough map. By much folding it was creased, unclear and worn to the pitch of separation. Evan interprets twisting lines in the map as the river and the star as the place whereas Hooker interprets the dotted line and straight line and the way to the lagoon in the map.
c. How did Evan and Hooker know about the treasure?
Evan and Hooker knew about the treasure by hearing the Chinese man conversation and the map he had.
d. Describe Evan’s dream.
During their journey, Evan began to doze and saw a dream. Evan had a dream about the treasure and Chang-hi. In the dream, they were in the forest and saw a little fire where three Chinese men sat around it and talked in quiet voices in English. Evans went closer and he knew that Chang-hi took the gold from a h4ish galleon after shipwrecked and hide it carefully on the island. He worked alone and it was his secret, but now he wanted help to get the gold back. There was a battle and Chang-hi was brutally killed by them. He thought that someone was calling him, so he suddenly woke up.
e. What do the two treasure hunters see when they walk towards the island?
The two treasure hunters saw three palm trees, thick bushes and dim white flowers at the mouth of the stream when they walk towards the island. They also saw the dead body of Chinese man named Chang-hi which makes both of them surprised.
f. In what condition did the treasure hunters find the dead man?
When Evan and Hooker reached the place where the treasure was buried, they saw a dead man lying in a clear space among the trees with a puffed and purple neck and swollen hands and ankles.
g. How did the treasure hunters try to carry gold ingots to the canoe?
The treasure hunters tried to carry gold ingots to the canoe with the help of the coat of which one end of the collar catching by the hand of Hooker and the other collar by Evan.
h. How were Evan and Hooker poisoned?
Evan and Hooker were poisoned as a slender (thin) thorn nearly of two inches length pricked in Hooker’s thumb and Evan rolled over him and both of them crumpled together on the ground which made them suffered a lot.
Reference to the Context
a. How do you know the story is set on a tropical island?
The story “The Treasures in the Forest” has been set on a tropical island. It begins with two men, Evans and Hooker, heading in a canoe towards a coral island in the heat of the sun. It’s atmosphere, naturally variable ecosystems, thicker and green forest, freshwater lakes and streams, salt marshes and mudflats (wetland), mangrove and coastal forests, fringing and offshore coral reefs, and deep sea represents that the story is set on a tropical island.
b. Why do you think Evan and Hooker took such a risk of finding the buried treasure on a desert island?
I think Evan and Hooker took such a risk of finding the buried treasure on a desert island because of their greed for wealth. They took it as a challenge and the risks as rewards. They were also attracted by the fact that it was the treasure left behind by a shipwrecked h4ish galleon which may cost millions of dollars. So they became crazy about the treasure and took such a risk of finding the buried treasure on a desert island.
c. Do you think the narrator of the story is racist? If yes, what made him feel superior to other races?
Yes, I find some sort of racist feelings in the narrator of the story when he presents Evan and Hooker as superior to that of the Chinese man in the story. In fact, a racist is a person who is prejudiced against or antagonistic towards people based on their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized. In the story, we find the Chinese man was brutally killed by Evans and Hooker. When Hooker said to Evans, “Have you lost your wit?”, it also reflects dominating nature of Hooker over Ivan. Thus, many instances in the story state that the narrator of the story looks like a racist.
d. What do you think is the moral of the story?
The moral of the story is that peoples can do anything for money. They can take any kind of risks for it. As in the story Evan and Hooker killed a Chinese man brutally to get their way to treasure buried in the desert, people can even take lives of other. It’s greed that is the disordered desire for more than is decent, not for the greater good but one’s own selfish interest, and at the detriment of others and society at large. Greed can be for anything but is most commonly for money or treasures and power which is much more. At the end of the story, Evan and Hooker both were poisoned. This shows that greediness leads to the destruction. So we should not run behind the money and treasure, rather than focus on our dreams and be happy with the things as much as we have.
Reference beyond the text
a. Interpret the story as a mystery story.
The story “The Treasures in the Forest” is full of mystery. The story has fine descriptions of its mysterious setting and characters. It has a fine plot with various twists in characters’ situations.It’s hard for a reader to predict what is going to happen next. The story is about two treasure hunters, Evans and Hooker who seek to find the hidden treasures in the forest left behind by a shipwrecked h4ish galleon. Some mysterious events are : Hooker murder Chang-hi, a Chinese man to steal the treasure map. Chang-hi grins at them when he gets murdered. They travel by canoe sailing towards the coral island. However, neither of them understands the intention behind it. The fearful surroundings of the forest and the final painful death of the characters create a kind of suspense among the readers. The poisonous thorns appear out to be the main cause of the death of the characters. All these things prove this story as a mystery story.
b. Treasure hunting is a favorable subject of children’s story. Remember a treasure hunting story you read in your childhood and compare and contrast it with ‘The Treasure in the Forest.’
I have read a treasure hunting story named “Treasure Island” by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Both “The Treasures in the Forest” and “Treasure Island” are almost similar.
In the story, treasure hunts began when Stevenson sketched an imaginary island complete with swamps, graves, and an X to mark the spot where the “Bulk of Treasure” was buried. From his sketch, Stevenson conceived the tale of young Jim Hawkins, who finds the map in a dead man’s chest and takes up the role of cabin boy in a search for pirate gold. At the end of the story, a significant part of the treasure is left on the island, and the way is left open for a number of sequels, though none by Stevenson himself. Treasure Island is packed with vivid characters, but it’s Long John Silver who steals the show as a murderous mutineer who nevertheless spares Jim’s life. In a metafictional companion piece, The Persons of the Tale, Stevenson has Silver and his arch-enemy Captain Smollett step out of the story between chapters to smoke a pipe and discuss the intentions of the Author, of whom Silver says: “I’m his favourite chara’ter … he likes doing me.”
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. Describe the expository scene of the story.
The story opens with two treasure hunters, Evans and Hooker in the canoe approaching the land, the thicker and deeper green forest, sloppy hill with a little river flowing to the sea.
b. What does the map look like and how do Evan and Hooker interpret it?
The map looks like very old rough map. By much folding it was creased, unclear and worn to the pitch of separation. Evan interprets twisting lines in the map as the river and the star as the place whereas Hooker interprets the dotted line and straight line and the way to the lagoon in the map.
c. How did Evan and Hooker know about the treasure?
Evan and Hooker knew about the treasure by hearing the Chinese man conversation and the map he had.
d. Describe Evan’s dream.
During their journey, Evan began to doze and saw a dream. Evan had a dream about the treasure and Chang-hi. In the dream, they were in the forest and saw a little fire where three Chinese men sat around it and talked in quiet voices in English. Evans went closer and he knew that Chang-hi took the gold from a h4ish galleon after shipwrecked and hide it carefully on the island. He worked alone and it was his secret, but now he wanted help to get the gold back. There was a battle and Chang-hi was brutally killed by them. He thought that someone was calling him, so he suddenly woke up.
e. What do the two treasure hunters see when they walk towards the island?
The two treasure hunters saw three palm trees, thick bushes and dim white flowers at the mouth of the stream when they walk towards the island. They also saw the dead body of Chinese man named Chang-hi which makes both of them surprised.
f. In what condition did the treasure hunters find the dead man?
When Evan and Hooker reached the place where the treasure was buried, they saw a dead man lying in a clear space among the trees with a puffed and purple neck and swollen hands and ankles.
g. How did the treasure hunters try to carry gold ingots to the canoe?
The treasure hunters tried to carry gold ingots to the canoe with the help of the coat of which one end of the collar catching by the hand of Hooker and the other collar by Evan.
h. How were Evan and Hooker poisoned?
Evan and Hooker were poisoned as a slender (thin) thorn nearly of two inches length pricked in Hooker’s thumb and Evan rolled over him and both of them crumpled together on the ground which made them suffered a lot.
Reference to the Context
a. How do you know the story is set on a tropical island?
The story “The Treasures in the Forest” has been set on a tropical island. It begins with two men, Evans and Hooker, heading in a canoe towards a coral island in the heat of the sun. It’s atmosphere, naturally variable ecosystems, thicker and green forest, freshwater lakes and streams, salt marshes and mudflats (wetland), mangrove and coastal forests, fringing and offshore coral reefs, and deep sea represents that the story is set on a tropical island.
b. Why do you think Evan and Hooker took such a risk of finding the buried treasure on a desert island?
I think Evan and Hooker took such a risk of finding the buried treasure on a desert island because of their greed for wealth. They took it as a challenge and the risks as rewards. They were also attracted by the fact that it was the treasure left behind by a shipwrecked h4ish galleon which may cost millions of dollars. So they became crazy about the treasure and took such a risk of finding the buried treasure on a desert island.
c. Do you think the narrator of the story is racist? If yes, what made him feel superior to other races?
Yes, I find some sort of racist feelings in the narrator of the story when he presents Evan and Hooker as superior to that of the Chinese man in the story. In fact, a racist is a person who is prejudiced against or antagonistic towards people based on their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized. In the story, we find the Chinese man was brutally killed by Evans and Hooker. When Hooker said to Evans, “Have you lost your wit?”, it also reflects dominating nature of Hooker over Ivan. Thus, many instances in the story state that the narrator of the story looks like a racist.
d. What do you think is the moral of the story?
The moral of the story is that peoples can do anything for money. They can take any kind of risks for it. As in the story Evan and Hooker killed a Chinese man brutally to get their way to treasure buried in the desert, people can even take lives of other. It’s greed that is the disordered desire for more than is decent, not for the greater good but one’s own selfish interest, and at the detriment of others and society at large. Greed can be for anything but is most commonly for money or treasures and power which is much more. At the end of the story, Evan and Hooker both were poisoned. This shows that greediness leads to the destruction. So we should not run behind the money and treasure, rather than focus on our dreams and be happy with the things as much as we have.
Reference beyond the text
a. Interpret the story as a mystery story.
The story “The Treasures in the Forest” is full of mystery. The story has fine descriptions of its mysterious setting and characters. It has a fine plot with various twists in characters’ situations.It’s hard for a reader to predict what is going to happen next. The story is about two treasure hunters, Evans and Hooker who seek to find the hidden treasures in the forest left behind by a shipwrecked h4ish galleon. Some mysterious events are : Hooker murder Chang-hi, a Chinese man to steal the treasure map. Chang-hi grins at them when he gets murdered. They travel by canoe sailing towards the coral island. However, neither of them understands the intention behind it. The fearful surroundings of the forest and the final painful death of the characters create a kind of suspense among the readers. The poisonous thorns appear out to be the main cause of the death of the characters. All these things prove this story as a mystery story.
b. Treasure hunting is a favorable subject of children’s story. Remember a treasure hunting story you read in your childhood and compare and contrast it with 'The Treasure in the Forest.'
I have read a treasure hunting story named “Treasure Island” by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Both “The Treasures in the Forest” and “Treasure Island” are almost similar.
In the story, treasure hunts began when Stevenson sketched an imaginary island complete with swamps, graves, and an X to mark the spot where the “Bulk of Treasure” was buried. From his sketch, Stevenson conceived the tale of young Jim Hawkins, who finds the map in a dead man’s chest and takes up the role of cabin boy in a search for pirate gold. At the end of the story, a significant part of the treasure is left on the island, and the way is left open for a number of sequels, though none by Stevenson himself. Treasure Island is packed with vivid characters, but it’s Long John Silver who steals the show as a murderous mutineer who nevertheless spares Jim’s life. In a metafictional companion piece, The Persons of the Tale, Stevenson has Silver and his arch-enemy Captain Smollett step out of the story between chapters to smoke a pipe and discuss the intentions of the Author, of whom Silver says: “I’m his favourite chara’ter … he likes doing me.”
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesStory 5: My Old Home
Summary
Lu Xun’s “My Old Home” tells the story of one’s memories, from youth to old age, and the confrontation of the
delusions created when memories challenge realities. With the protagonist, Lu Xun’s persona, being away from home
for so many years, images of glamour, beauty, and respectability framed his childhood, diluting his memories. Upon
arriving at his long-past home, his memories are forced to come to terms with the truth, thereby shattering his
prior conceptions and understandings of the world.
“Ah! Surely this was not the old home I had remembered for the past twenty years?” the narrator declared as he stood
in front of an old, broken-down home. Having been worn down by weather and inhabitants, alike, the house’s old,
perceived, splendor was invisible to the eye, only to be seen in that of the mind. Rationalizing the discrepancy
between memory and that standing before him, he tried to convince himself that his “home had always been like this,
and although it had not improved, it was not so depressing as imagined; it was only his mood that had changed,
because he was coming back to the country without illusions”. Despite his rationalization, it was clear that his
memories had deceived him; having transformed his past home into a grand building it had never been, only to be torn
down for re-evaluation along with his other assumed childhood memories that had been built into the magnificent
illusions.
After recovering from the shock of seeing his old home, he was informed that his old friend, Jun-Tu, would be
returning to town to visit him. Over thirty years had passed since the narrator had last seen his friend, Jun-Tu,
and at first, memories were scarce. After pausing for a moment, “a strange picture suddenly flashed into his mind”.
Stories, ripe from the passing of time, filled the narrator’s mind. He was full from the fleshy details he recalled,
from the glory of his friend, Jun-Tu’s sea-side childhood. Oh, how he wished he could be Jun-Tu. His stories were
like candy, appealing to a child and idealized in every way, shape, and form. The narrator could no long wait to
reacquaint himself with Jun-Tu; he wanted to hear more of the sea-side glamour. Upon his long-awaited arrival, the
narrator was flustered from anticipation. “Jun-Tu stood there, mixed joy and sadness showing on his face. His lips
moved, but not a sound did he utter. Finally, assuming a respectful attitude, he said clearly: “Master! . . .” The
narrator’s memories had deceived him once again. Had Jun-Tu not been his friend? Had they not played together and
shared stories with one another? As a child, the narrator was unable to understand class differentiation. He
remembered, due to his childhood naivety, that his time with Jun-Tu was that of a mutual friendship. This memory
grew until it reached utopian standards. Their friendship had been perfect, he had believed.
The narrator’s childhood was shattered. His house was not as it had seemed. Jun-Tu had not even been his equal,
living a glorified, sea-side life. Memories had deceived the narrator, blurring truth, ignoring class boundaries,
forgetting the power money possessed. How such a divide could form between himself and Jun-Tu, memories and truth
was unfathomable to the narrator. The true fickleness of one’s mind and one’s memories, of one’s past, became
apparent. One cannot trust one’s recollections of the past. The mind changes the past, glorifies it, in order to
glorify the individual. By seeing himself as Jun-Tu’s equal, the narrator was able to separate himself from the
wrongs associated with class differences. His having to face the truth, having to face Jun-Tu, means having to face
poverty within China. His memories had provided a means of protection, a way to detach himself from the inequalities
Chinese society produced. Only by confronting his memories, by discovering the truth behind the memories, was he
able to see the realities of China.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions
a. How does the narrator describe his feeling at the arrival of his old home?
At the arrival, the narrator perceives the mixed and blended emotions. He feels pleasure and happiness.
In his childhood, his hometown was lovely where the green sky lies above. But now, he saw that everything had
changed. The green sky changed into a vast and greying sky: they were gloomy, deserted, devoid of any deception of
life. There is no sign of development in his hometown. The condition of his home was extremely bad. His childhood
deceived him here and made him nostalgic.
b. What were the three kinds of servants in China then? What does it indicate about contemporary Chinese society?
There were three kinds of Chinese servants: dailies, yearlong and busy-mothers. First are day workers who work for the day or for some time only, sometimes
known as short-timers. Yearlong are people who work for the same family all year or more. Finally, Busy-mothers were
landowners who only worked for one family at a time, such as around New Year’s festivals, or when rent was due to
pay.
The servant in contemporary Chinese society demonstrates the slavery system and the tendency of dividing the work.
Based on their statuses, the work used to be allocated.
c. What makes the narrator nostalgic? What did he do with Runtu in his teenage years?
With the words of his mother to meet his childhood friend Runtu, the narrator becomes nostalgic. When he was a
teenager, He and Runtu used to catch the bird with a trick and also kill the Zha by stabbing it. They went to
collect shells–reds, blues, ghost-scarers. They also went out to look for badgers, porcupines.
d. How did Runtu hunt a Zha at a young age?
Runtu hunted a Zha by attacking with a pointed knife suddenly while he was standing to watch over watermelons at a
young age.
e. How does the narrator make a humorous picture of Mrs Yang?
The narrator has described the image of Mrs Yang. He has associated Yang with the beancurd beauty. The narrator
narrates the appearance of Yang with narrow cheekbones and lips. She used to powder her face. He portrays her as the
face of two compasses in a geometry box when he sees her and expresses her as a humorous picture.
f. According to the narrator, what were different factors that made Runtu a poor man throughout his life?
The narrator exposes Runtu as a poor man throughout his life. There are many factors behind the poverty of Runtu.
Different obligations and social division play the most important role behind his poverty. Alongside he suffered
from a lack of opportunities. feeble economic background and discrimination he faced in his prime time is a
reasonable factor. Besides it, the bad harvest, too many children, harsh taxes, famine and gentry folks are the
other factors behind his poverty throughout his life.
g. How does the narrator help Runtu before leaving the old home?
The narrator helps Runtu before leaving the old home by offering different household items. Since they were leaving
Runtu was financially poor, the narrator thought he could make his life a bit easier so he gave him two large
tables, a few candles, an incense burner, and a set of scales.
h. How does the author differentiate two kinds of idols?
Superstitious idols and hope are two mentioned idols of the story.
He distinguishes between these two types of idols in sense of time and belief, stating that people worship
superstitious idols for the short term because they want something immediately, while hope is shown as the long term
enduring empathy people need in most circumstances.
Reference to the context
a. While reading the friendship between the narrator and Runtu, Hindu readers remember the friendship between
Krishna and Sudama. Which particular description reminds you of the mythological example?
The friendship between Xun and Runtu reminds the story of the friendship between Krishna and Sudama to the Hindu
readers. The friendship between Krishna and sudama is described in the Mahabharata epic. The friendship doesn’t cost
anything but a good heart is shown in the Mahabharata epic showing the true friendship between Krishna and sudama.
Same as the old home story also resembles the moral and story of true friendship. There are many similarities
between the friendship of Xun and Runtu to Krishna and sudama. The mythological examples include:
The story shows that xun is a rich person and Runtu as a poor man which resembles the Mahabharata where Krishna was
the king and rich person whereas sudama was a poor brahmin. Xun’s friend Runtu is suffering from poverty, same as
Krishna’s friend sudama.
Runtu is not even able to fulfil the basic needs of his family like sudama.
In the story, when Sudama meets Krishna he felt ashamed and shy thinking that he is very poor and in front of
Krishna his standards are not even like servants. the same incident is narrated in this story too. Runtu is feeling
shy and ashamed to meet Xun thinking that Xun is rich and happy.
Another similarity or the incident is when sudama meet Krishna, Krishna welcomes him very greatly and with love for
him. Krishna helped Sudama by changing his hut to a palatial mansion where every facility was available to live a
happy life. Similarly, xun also welcomes Runtu with a great heart and gives him household goods and helps him to
make his life a little better.
By both stories, we get to learn that friendship is not about wealth, status, fame or anything. True friendship is
often conducted with a good heart and respect for each other. Wealth never can desperate true friends. And we should
help our friends with their needs.
b. How does the story support the proposition that the relationships of childhood are innocent, impartial and
disinterested?
The story of ‘My Old Home’ supports the proposition that the relationships of childhood are innocent, impartial and
disinterested by showing the friendship between Xun and Runtu. We all know that children are natural. They are
innocent. They don’t know the meaning of life or death, love or hate, struggle or persistence, hatred or betrayal
and other social boundaries. They don’t know what is rich and what is poor. Which is upper-class and which is
lower-class. Children make friends in their childhood not for the seek of profit besides their friendship. The
friendship in childhood is pure and never changed. they are helpful and willing to do the same in the future. The
relationship built-in childhood never changes. But later different social boundaries and greed make them apart. When the desire is fulfilled most of the
friendships become stories.
In the story, the friendship between Xun and Runtu is shown. xun is portrayed as rich and Runtu as a poor person.
But the friendship between them is stronger as much when they were childhood friends. They used to play and enjoy
themselves together. In the story, the friendship between them is shown as a great gesture when Runtu is suffering
from poverty and needs help, Xun helps him by providing household goods such as a long table, incense burner to make
his life a little easier. Therefore the helping nature of Xun and their pure friendship is an example of childhood
relations that are innocent and impartial.
c. After reading the story, what inferences can you make about the contemporary Chinese economic and social system?
The story ‘My Old Home’ is a story based in the contemporary society of China which shows us the value of true
friendships and gives a vision of ancient Chinese society. The narrator narrates the geographical features, types of
classes and the value of friendship in this story. Two main characters Xun and Runtu are portrayed as poor and rich
personalities to indicate the economical divergence in ancient society. After reading the story, many assumptions
can be made about the contemporary Chinese economy and social systems.
The story shows the main occupation of people in ancient Chinese society is agriculture. Thus the economy and income
of people associated with agricultural activities were low. They are making their basic life hard. they couldn’t
even fill their family’s stomachs. Thus the poor economic condition of Chinese society is shown as a main agenda of
the story.
Alongside, the story tells about the different social classes of people and servants. the main society was divided
into two classes i.e. rich or upper class and poor or lower class. The tradition of being a servant was there as poor
people also had to make a living. servants or people are classified as Yearlongs, short-timers, and busy mothers. If
they worked for a whole year, they would be called year-longs, if they worked for a day or short time, they were
short-timers, and people who own land or worked for a specific family just during holidays and when rents were
collected, they would be called busy-mothers. people of one class weren’t allowed to make any relations with other
or lower classes. This shows the redundant and narrow-minded society which has inhuman social boundaries and
discrimination.
d. What does the story indicate about the geographical features of the narrator’s hometown?
The setup of the story ’ My Old Home’ is in the winter season of 1921 in ancient China. The story includes the
ancient Chinese society often called the contemporary society, its economic condition and social boundaries. The
obligations put by ancient society is somehow unethical and inhuman. The story focuses on the true friendship of Xun
and Runtu by justifying their respect and locality beside the obligation of making relations between a different
class of people.
The story also speaks about climate change and destruction in the name of development. The narrator nostalgically
narrates his hometown. In his childhood, his hometown was lovely and surrounded by greenery where the green sky lies
above. The story especially focuses on the hometown of the narrator that was underneath the blue-black sky and land
covered with green grasses and vegetables. The birds used to fly around his garden and house. He feels very good and warm when he comes
home.
But now, when Xun went back to his old hometown after twenty years, everything was changed. The green sky he used to
see and wonder was changed into the vast and greying sky where no imagination was possible to be made. they look
like they already lost the resemblance of any life, they were drab and desolate. There is no sign of progress over
the years.
He also talked about the seaside where he used to go to collect shells of different colours. He also described how
he caught the bird, kill Zha underneath the blue-black sky.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions
a. How does the narrator describe his feeling at the arrival of his old home?
At the arrival, the narrator perceives the mixed and blended emotions. He feels pleasure and happiness.
In his childhood, his hometown was lovely where the green sky lies above. But now, he saw that everything had
changed. The green sky changed into a vast and greying sky: they were gloomy, deserted, devoid of any deception of
life. There is no sign of development in his hometown. The condition of his home was extremely bad. His childhood
deceived him here and made him nostalgic.
b. What were the three kinds of servants in China then? What does it indicate about contemporary Chinese society?
There were three kinds of Chinese servants: dailies, yearlong and busy-mothers. First are day workers who work for the day or for some time only, sometimes
known as short-timers. Yearlong are people who work for the same family all year or more. Finally, Busy-mothers were
landowners who only worked for one family at a time, such as around New Year’s festivals, or when rent was due to
pay.
The servant in contemporary Chinese society demonstrates the slavery system and the tendency of dividing the work.
Based on their statuses, the work used to be allocated.
c. What makes the narrator nostalgic? What did he do with Runtu in his teenage years?
With the words of his mother to meet his childhood friend Runtu, the narrator becomes nostalgic. When he was a
teenager, He and Runtu used to catch the bird with a trick and also kill the Zha by stabbing it. They went to
collect shells–reds, blues, ghost-scarers. They also went out to look for badgers, porcupines.
d. How did Runtu hunt a Zha at a young age?
Runtu hunted a Zha by attacking with a pointed knife suddenly while he was standing to watch over watermelons at a
young age.
e. How does the narrator make a humorous picture of Mrs Yang?
The narrator has described the image of Mrs Yang. He has associated Yang with the beancurd beauty. The narrator
narrates the appearance of Yang with narrow cheekbones and lips. She used to powder her face. He portrays her as the
face of two compasses in a geometry box when he sees her and expresses her as a humorous picture.
f. According to the narrator, what were different factors that made Runtu a poor man throughout his life?
The narrator exposes Runtu as a poor man throughout his life. There are many factors behind the poverty of Runtu.
Different obligations and social division play the most important role behind his poverty. Alongside he suffered
from a lack of opportunities. feeble economic background and discrimination he faced in his prime time is a
reasonable factor. Besides it, the bad harvest, too many children, harsh taxes, famine and gentry folks are the
other factors behind his poverty throughout his life.
g. How does the narrator help Runtu before leaving the old home?
The narrator helps Runtu before leaving the old home by offering different household items. Since they were leaving
Runtu was financially poor, the narrator thought he could make his life a bit easier so he gave him two large
tables, a few candles, an incense burner, and a set of scales.
h. How does the author differentiate two kinds of idols?
Superstitious idols and hope are two mentioned idols of the story.
He distinguishes between these two types of idols in sense of time and belief, stating that people worship
superstitious idols for the short term because they want something immediately, while hope is shown as the long term
enduring empathy people need in most circumstances.
Reference to the context
a. While reading the friendship between the narrator and Runtu, Hindu readers remember the friendship between
Krishna and Sudama. Which particular description reminds you of the mythological example?
The friendship between Xun and Runtu reminds the story of the friendship between Krishna and Sudama to the Hindu
readers. The friendship between Krishna and sudama is described in the Mahabharata epic. The friendship doesn’t cost
anything but a good heart is shown in the Mahabharata epic showing the true friendship between Krishna and sudama.
Same as the old home story also resembles the moral and story of true friendship. There are many similarities
between the friendship of Xun and Runtu to Krishna and sudama. The mythological examples include:
The story shows that xun is a rich person and Runtu as a poor man which resembles the Mahabharata where Krishna was
the king and rich person whereas sudama was a poor brahmin. Xun’s friend Runtu is suffering from poverty, same as
Krishna’s friend sudama.
Runtu is not even able to fulfil the basic needs of his family like sudama.
In the story, when Sudama meets Krishna he felt ashamed and shy thinking that he is very poor and in front of
Krishna his standards are not even like servants. the same incident is narrated in this story too. Runtu is feeling
shy and ashamed to meet Xun thinking that Xun is rich and happy.
Another similarity or the incident is when sudama meet Krishna, Krishna welcomes him very greatly and with love for
him. Krishna helped Sudama by changing his hut to a palatial mansion where every facility was available to live a
happy life. Similarly, xun also welcomes Runtu with a great heart and gives him household goods and helps him to
make his life a little better.
By both stories, we get to learn that friendship is not about wealth, status, fame or anything. True friendship is
often conducted with a good heart and respect for each other. Wealth never can desperate true friends. And we should
help our friends with their needs.
b. How does the story support the proposition that the relationships of childhood are innocent, impartial and
disinterested?
The story of ‘My Old Home’ supports the proposition that the relationships of childhood are innocent, impartial and
disinterested by showing the friendship between Xun and Runtu. We all know that children are natural. They are
innocent. They don’t know the meaning of life or death, love or hate, struggle or persistence, hatred or betrayal
and other social boundaries. They don’t know what is rich and what is poor. Which is upper-class and which is
lower-class. Children make friends in their childhood not for the seek of profit besides their friendship. The
friendship in childhood is pure and never changed. they are helpful and willing to do the same in the future. The
relationship built-in childhood never changes. But later different social boundaries and greed make them apart. When the desire is fulfilled most of the
friendships become stories.
In the story, the friendship between Xun and Runtu is shown. xun is portrayed as rich and Runtu as a poor person.
But the friendship between them is stronger as much when they were childhood friends. They used to play and enjoy
themselves together. In the story, the friendship between them is shown as a great gesture when Runtu is suffering
from poverty and needs help, Xun helps him by providing household goods such as a long table, incense burner to make
his life a little easier. Therefore the helping nature of Xun and their pure friendship is an example of childhood
relations that are innocent and impartial.
c. After reading the story, what inferences can you make about the contemporary Chinese economic and social system?
The story ‘My Old Home’ is a story based in the contemporary society of China which shows us the value of true
friendships and gives a vision of ancient Chinese society. The narrator narrates the geographical features, types of
classes and the value of friendship in this story. Two main characters Xun and Runtu are portrayed as poor and rich
personalities to indicate the economical divergence in ancient society. After reading the story, many assumptions
can be made about the contemporary Chinese economy and social systems.
The story shows the main occupation of people in ancient Chinese society is agriculture. Thus the economy and income
of people associated with agricultural activities were low. They are making their basic life hard. they couldn’t
even fill their family’s stomachs. Thus the poor economic condition of Chinese society is shown as a main agenda of
the story.
Alongside, the story tells about the different social classes of people and servants. the main society was divided
into two classes i.e. rich or upper class and poor or lower class. The tradition of being a servant was there as poor
people also had to make a living. servants or people are classified as Yearlongs, short-timers, and busy mothers. If
they worked for a whole year, they would be called year-longs, if they worked for a day or short time, they were
short-timers, and people who own land or worked for a specific family just during holidays and when rents were
collected, they would be called busy-mothers. people of one class weren’t allowed to make any relations with other
or lower classes. This shows the redundant and narrow-minded society which has inhuman social boundaries and
discrimination.
d. What does the story indicate about the geographical features of the narrator’s hometown?
The setup of the story ’ My Old Home’ is in the winter season of 1921 in ancient China. The story includes the
ancient Chinese society often called the contemporary society, its economic condition and social boundaries. The
obligations put by ancient society is somehow unethical and inhuman. The story focuses on the true friendship of Xun
and Runtu by justifying their respect and locality beside the obligation of making relations between a different
class of people.
The story also speaks about climate change and destruction in the name of development. The narrator nostalgically
narrates his hometown. In his childhood, his hometown was lovely and surrounded by greenery where the green sky lies
above. The story especially focuses on the hometown of the narrator that was underneath the blue-black sky and land
covered with green grasses and vegetables. The birds used to fly around his garden and house. He feels very good and warm when he comes
home.
But now, when Xun went back to his old hometown after twenty years, everything was changed. The green sky he used to
see and wonder was changed into the vast and greying sky where no imagination was possible to be made. they look
like they already lost the resemblance of any life, they were drab and desolate. There is no sign of progress over
the years.
He also talked about the seaside where he used to go to collect shells of different colours. He also described how
he caught the bird, kill Zha underneath the blue-black sky.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesStory 6: The Half-closed Eyes of the Buddha and the Slowly Sinking Sun
Story 7: A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. How does the narrator describe the weather and its effects in the exposition of the story?
The narrator set up the picture of a rainy day to describe the weather and its effects in the exposition of the
story. The rain falls continuously for three days and makes the land and houses filled with rainwater. During the
rainy season, the sky and sea were changed into ash grey colour and the sand of the shore glimmered like powdered
light, which had become a hash of mud and rotten shellfish. The light sparked was so weak and hard to see.
b. Describe the strange old man as Pelayo and his wife first encounter within their courtyard.
When Pelayo and his wife first encountered the strange old man, they noticed him dressed in the manner of a rag
picker. He had a bald head and looked almost completely shaved. His mouth was almost empty with no sans teeth
remaining. His large and dirty buzzard wings were half-plucked and entangled in mud.
c. Why did Pelayo and Elisenda imprison the old man in the chicken coop?
Pelayo and Elisenda imprisoned the old man in the chicken coop thinking that he is an angel and he was there to take
their child.
d. Why was Father Gonzaga not sure about the old man being a celestial messenger?
Father Gonzaga Was not sure about the old man being a celestial messenger because the old man didn’t know how to
greet ministers and also didn’t understand the language of god. Father noticed this when he said good morning in
Latin, he just murmured something in his dialect which father didn’t understand.
e. Many people gathered at Pelayo’s house to see the strange old man. Why do you think the crowd
assembled to see him?
Many people gathered at Pelayo’s house to see the strange old man because he was unique and strange with his buzzard
wings. People thought of him as an angel or messenger of god and thought of making some fun with him.
f. Some miracles happened while the crowd gathers to see the strange man. What are these miracles?
In the story, it is mentioned that some miracles happened while the crowd gathers to see the strange man. Those
miracles were the blind man who couldn’t recover his eyes but grew three new teeth, the paralytic person who
couldn’t walk but almost won the lottery and the leper whose shore flourished sunflowers.
g. State the irritating things that the people did with the strange old man.
The people gathered at Pelayo’s house also did some inhuman and teasing tasks with the strange old man. Such
irritating things include throwing stones at the old man and burning his side with an iron rod. Which made him
injured and he was not capable of moving. He laid there like a dead man for half an hour and woke up full of tears.
People pulled his feathers too.
h. How and why was the woman changed into a spider?
The reason behind the changing of the woman into a spider is lightning. Without any permission, she went out to
dance and when she was returning from the forest a massive lightning strike shattered the sky and a bolt of
brimstone hit and converted her into a spider.
i. Describe how Elisenda saw the strange man flying over the houses?
Elisenda saw the strange man flying over the house from her windows while she was chopping vegetables in the
kitchen. While doing so, she felt a breeze and moved to the window to check whether it is. She then saw the elderly
guy was trying to fly and after a while, she saw that he succeeded to fly and vanished as quickly.
Reference to text
a. The arrival of a strange old man at Pelayo’s courtyard arouses many suspicions and explanations.
Explain how the neighbour woman, Father Gonzaga and the doctor speak of the strange man. Why do you think these
three people give three different kinds of interpretations?
The appearance of a strange old man at Pelayo’s courtyard produces many suspicions and explanations. According
to the neighbour woman, he was an “angel” who came for their child, but the poor fellow is so old that
the rain knocked him down. When Father said Good Morning in Latin, he muttered something in his dialect which father
couldn’t understand.
Father Gonzaga was not sure about the old man being a celestial messenger because he (old man) did not understand
the language of God or know how to greet His ministers. He looked much too human, he had an intolerable smell of the
outdoors, and the backside of his wings was sprinkled with parasites. There was nothing about him measured up to the
proud dignity of angels. So Father told to the viewer that an old man who has wings wasn’t an angel. But the
crowd didn’t pay attention to Father Gonzaga.
According to the doctor, the strange man couldn’t be alive for a long time. He found so much whistling in the
heart and so many sounds in his kidneys. It seemed the body of an angel was complete as a human organism but he
couldn’t understand why other men didn’t have them too.
In my opinion, these three people give three different kinds of variations to a strange old man because they are all
involved in different types of activities and they all see the strange old man with their different views. An old
woman believes in things like an angel, ghosts, etc. Father Gonzaga was a person who believed in god and interpreted
everything with proof. And a doctor was a person who see the strange old man as his patient.
b. This story belongs to the genre of ‘magical realism, a genre perfected by Gabriel Garcia Marquez in
his novels and short stories. Magical realism is a narrative technique in which the storyteller narrates the
commonplace things with magical colour and the events look both magical and real at the same time. Collect five
magic realist happenings from the story and argue why they seem magical to you.
The story ‘a very old man with enormous wings’ belongs to the genre of ‘magical realism’, a genre
perfected by Gabriel Garcia Marquez in his novels. Following are the five magic realist happenings from the story:
At the beginning of the story Pelayo saw a very old man, lying face down in the mud in his garden who couldn’t
get up in spite of his tremendous efforts which also had wings. The writer here uses Magical realism techniques
through the word ‘enormous wings’ of an old man. This show that an old man belongs to another universe
or world.
When Pelayo and Elisenda tried to talk with the strange old man, he answered in an unbelievable dialect with a
strong voice. It shows the example of a magical link in the sense that he was from another mysterious world.
After seeing the old man, the old woman called him the “angel” who came for their child, but the old man
is so old that the rain knocked him down. The word ‘angel’ itself justifies the magical link in the
story.
The modification of the woman in spider for having disobeyed her parents by going out to dance without any
permission to a spider. In his childhood, she had crept out of her parent’s house to go to a dance, and while
she was coming back through the dark forest after having danced all night without permission, a massive thunderclap
hit and through the crack came the lightning bolt of brimstone that changed her into a spider. This also links the
story to magical realism techniques.
As shown by the story, the doctor failed to treat the old man. According to the doctor, the strange man
couldn’t be alive for a long time. He found so much whistling in the heart and so many sounds in his kidneys.
An old man became weak and sick. His feathers had fallen down. But quickly his feathers regrow again and fly in the
sky. This also links the story to magical realism.
c. The author introduces the episode of a woman who became a spider for having disobeyed her parents. This
episode at once shifts people’s concentration from the strange old man to the spider woman. What do you
think is the purpose of the author to bring this shift in the story?
The author introduces the episode of a woman who became a spider for having disregarded her parents by going outside
to dance without any permission. The scene of shifting a woman into a spider is somewhat breaking the attention of
an old man, I think, the author brought this shift in the story is to show another example of magical realism. The
intention of the author was to show us the greed of humans. In the beginning, Pelayo, and Elisenda take care of a
strange old man when they benefit from him by charging five cents admission to see. But when a spider woman comes
and people pay less attention to an angel, they do not care about him. Old man drags here and there. The house of an
old man collapse due to rain and sun but they didn’t repair it.
d. The story deals with the common people’s gullibility. How do Pelayo and his wife take advantage of
common people’s whim?
The story ‘A Very Old man with Enormous Wings’ deals with the common people’s gullibility. Pelayo
and his wife saw an old man with wings in their garden. When they wanted to talk with him, he answered in an
impenetrable dialect with a strong voice. They were unable to understand his language. So they called an old woman
who was a witch. She called an old man an “angel” who come to take their child but he is so old that the
rain knocked him down. Pelayo pulled him out of the mud and locked him up with the hens in the wire chicken coop. A
short time afterwards the child woke up without a fever and with a desire to eat. They now felt like magic just
happened. Then they felt generous and decided to put the old man on a raft with fresh water and provisions for three
days and leave him to his fate on the high seas.
But when they get early in the morning and saw that, their courtyard was full of crowds and they were amazed by
seeing that. The news of the angel spread like a fire. People didn’t even listen to Father Gonzaga’s
voice that he was not an angel. Pelayo’s wife got an idea to charge five cents admission to see an angel. They
gathered a lot of wealth from it and built a luxurious house for themselves.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. How does the narrator describe the weather and its effects in the exposition of the story?
The narrator set up the picture of a rainy day to describe the weather and its effects in the exposition of the
story. The rain falls continuously for three days and makes the land and houses filled with rainwater. During the
rainy season, the sky and sea were changed into ash grey colour and the sand of the shore glimmered like powdered
light, which had become a hash of mud and rotten shellfish. The light sparked was so weak and hard to see.
b. Describe the strange old man as Pelayo and his wife first encounter within their courtyard.
When Pelayo and his wife first encountered the strange old man, they noticed him dressed in the manner of a rag
picker. He had a bald head and looked almost completely shaved. His mouth was almost empty with no sans teeth
remaining. His large and dirty buzzard wings were half-plucked and entangled in mud.
c. Why did Pelayo and Elisenda imprison the old man in the chicken coop?
Pelayo and Elisenda imprisoned the old man in the chicken coop thinking that he is an angel and he was there to take
their child.
d. Why was Father Gonzaga not sure about the old man being a celestial messenger?
Father Gonzaga Was not sure about the old man being a celestial messenger because the old man didn’t know how to
greet ministers and also didn’t understand the language of god. Father noticed this when he said good morning in
Latin, he just murmured something in his dialect which father didn’t understand.
e. Many people gathered at Pelayo’s house to see the strange old man. Why do you think the crowd
assembled to see him?
Many people gathered at Pelayo’s house to see the strange old man because he was unique and strange with his buzzard
wings. People thought of him as an angel or messenger of god and thought of making some fun with him.
f. Some miracles happened while the crowd gathers to see the strange man. What are these miracles?
In the story, it is mentioned that some miracles happened while the crowd gathers to see the strange man. Those
miracles were the blind man who couldn’t recover his eyes but grew three new teeth, the paralytic person who
couldn’t walk but almost won the lottery and the leper whose shore flourished sunflowers.
g. State the irritating things that the people did with the strange old man.
The people gathered at Pelayo’s house also did some inhuman and teasing tasks with the strange old man. Such
irritating things include throwing stones at the old man and burning his side with an iron rod. Which made him
injured and he was not capable of moving. He laid there like a dead man for half an hour and woke up full of tears.
People pulled his feathers too.
h. How and why was the woman changed into a spider?
The reason behind the changing of the woman into a spider is lightning. Without any permission, she went out to
dance and when she was returning from the forest a massive lightning strike shattered the sky and a bolt of
brimstone hit and converted her into a spider.
i. Describe how Elisenda saw the strange man flying over the houses?
Elisenda saw the strange man flying over the house from her windows while she was chopping vegetables in the
kitchen. While doing so, she felt a breeze and moved to the window to check whether it is. She then saw the elderly
guy was trying to fly and after a while, she saw that he succeeded to fly and vanished as quickly.
Reference to text
a. The arrival of a strange old man at Pelayo’s courtyard arouses many suspicions and explanations.
Explain how the neighbour woman, Father Gonzaga and the doctor speak of the strange man. Why do you think these
three people give three different kinds of interpretations?
The appearance of a strange old man at Pelayo’s courtyard produces many suspicions and explanations. According
to the neighbour woman, he was an “angel” who came for their child, but the poor fellow is so old that
the rain knocked him down. When Father said Good Morning in Latin, he muttered something in his dialect which father
couldn’t understand.
Father Gonzaga was not sure about the old man being a celestial messenger because he (old man) did not understand
the language of God or know how to greet His ministers. He looked much too human, he had an intolerable smell of the
outdoors, and the backside of his wings was sprinkled with parasites. There was nothing about him measured up to the
proud dignity of angels. So Father told to the viewer that an old man who has wings wasn’t an angel. But the
crowd didn’t pay attention to Father Gonzaga.
According to the doctor, the strange man couldn’t be alive for a long time. He found so much whistling in the
heart and so many sounds in his kidneys. It seemed the body of an angel was complete as a human organism but he
couldn’t understand why other men didn’t have them too.
In my opinion, these three people give three different kinds of variations to a strange old man because they are all
involved in different types of activities and they all see the strange old man with their different views. An old
woman believes in things like an angel, ghosts, etc. Father Gonzaga was a person who believed in god and interpreted
everything with proof. And a doctor was a person who see the strange old man as his patient.
b. This story belongs to the genre of ‘magical realism, a genre perfected by Gabriel Garcia Marquez in
his novels and short stories. Magical realism is a narrative technique in which the storyteller narrates the
commonplace things with magical colour and the events look both magical and real at the same time. Collect five
magic realist happenings from the story and argue why they seem magical to you.
The story ‘a very old man with enormous wings’ belongs to the genre of ‘magical realism’, a genre
perfected by Gabriel Garcia Marquez in his novels. Following are the five magic realist happenings from the story:
At the beginning of the story Pelayo saw a very old man, lying face down in the mud in his garden who couldn’t
get up in spite of his tremendous efforts which also had wings. The writer here uses Magical realism techniques
through the word ‘enormous wings’ of an old man. This show that an old man belongs to another universe
or world.
When Pelayo and Elisenda tried to talk with the strange old man, he answered in an unbelievable dialect with a
strong voice. It shows the example of a magical link in the sense that he was from another mysterious world.
After seeing the old man, the old woman called him the “angel” who came for their child, but the old man
is so old that the rain knocked him down. The word ‘angel’ itself justifies the magical link in the
story.
The modification of the woman in spider for having disobeyed her parents by going out to dance without any
permission to a spider. In his childhood, she had crept out of her parent’s house to go to a dance, and while
she was coming back through the dark forest after having danced all night without permission, a massive thunderclap
hit and through the crack came the lightning bolt of brimstone that changed her into a spider. This also links the
story to magical realism techniques.
As shown by the story, the doctor failed to treat the old man. According to the doctor, the strange man
couldn’t be alive for a long time. He found so much whistling in the heart and so many sounds in his kidneys.
An old man became weak and sick. His feathers had fallen down. But quickly his feathers regrow again and fly in the
sky. This also links the story to magical realism.
c. The author introduces the episode of a woman who became a spider for having disobeyed her parents. This
episode at once shifts people’s concentration from the strange old man to the spider woman. What do you
think is the purpose of the author to bring this shift in the story?
The author introduces the episode of a woman who became a spider for having disregarded her parents by going outside
to dance without any permission. The scene of shifting a woman into a spider is somewhat breaking the attention of
an old man, I think, the author brought this shift in the story is to show another example of magical realism. The
intention of the author was to show us the greed of humans. In the beginning, Pelayo, and Elisenda take care of a
strange old man when they benefit from him by charging five cents admission to see. But when a spider woman comes
and people pay less attention to an angel, they do not care about him. Old man drags here and there. The house of an
old man collapse due to rain and sun but they didn’t repair it.
d. The story deals with the common people’s gullibility. How do Pelayo and his wife take advantage of
common people’s whim?
The story ‘A Very Old man with Enormous Wings’ deals with the common people’s gullibility. Pelayo
and his wife saw an old man with wings in their garden. When they wanted to talk with him, he answered in an
impenetrable dialect with a strong voice. They were unable to understand his language. So they called an old woman
who was a witch. She called an old man an “angel” who come to take their child but he is so old that the
rain knocked him down. Pelayo pulled him out of the mud and locked him up with the hens in the wire chicken coop. A
short time afterwards the child woke up without a fever and with a desire to eat. They now felt like magic just
happened. Then they felt generous and decided to put the old man on a raft with fresh water and provisions for three
days and leave him to his fate on the high seas.
But when they get early in the morning and saw that, their courtyard was full of crowds and they were amazed by
seeing that. The news of the angel spread like a fire. People didn’t even listen to Father Gonzaga’s
voice that he was not an angel. Pelayo’s wife got an idea to charge five cents admission to see an angel. They
gathered a lot of wealth from it and built a luxurious house for themselves.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesPoem 1: A Day
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. How does the poet describe the morning sun in the first stanza?
In the first stanza, the poet describes the morning sun as the beautiful beginning for a new day which brings hope, glow
and beauty along with joy and happiness.
b. What does the line ‘The news like squirrels ran’ mean?
The line ‘The news like squirrels ran’ means that with the beginning of a new day, everything changes so fast
and everyone starts accomplishing their task in a hurry after the sunshine.
c. What do you understand by the line ‘The hills untied their bonnets’?
The line ‘The hills untied their bonnets’ implies that hills are no longer covered with darkness and have begun
to glow because of sunshine.
d. Is the speaker watching the morning sun? Why? Why not?
In reality, the speaker is not watching the morning sun because all the visions that she had created are not
possible to occur in same time. The rising and setting of sun is not possible to occur simultaneously.
e. How does the sun set?
The sun sets by taking all the happiness, glow and beauty of a day and leaving the darker side of dusk.
Reference to the context
a. What, according to the speaker, is a day?
According to the speaker, a day is a minor form of journey throughout the life which usually begins with many
new hopes and lots of happiness. After learning many new things and gaining lots of experience throughout the day, it
comes to an end leaving a dusk.
b. What purpose does the hyphen in the first line serve in the poem?
A hyphen (-) is a punctual mark used as pauses, longer ones than commas or semi-colons. It enhances the
methodical, unhurried nature of the scene. Poet has filled the gap by letting readers imagine after the end of the
phrase.
c. What makes this poem lyrical and sonorous? Discuss.
The poem “A Day” by Emily Dickenson is both a lyrical and sonorous poem. Emily has used her magic wand to make
this poem lyrical and sonorous. She has depicted her own experience of dusk and dawn in her writing. The pronoun “I”, as
used in lyrical poems, indicates the poet’s persona. On that note, ‘A Day’–like most of Dickinson’s poems–is a lyric; it
expresses a powerful thought from the perspective of a single persona. This poem’s musicality is enhanced by the use of
sound techniques such as alliteration, assonance, rhyme, and rhythm.
d. Who are the target audience of the speaker? Why?
Basically, children are the target audience of the speaker because the poem has tried to reveal the truth of
human life by comparing it with a day. The speaker is imparting the message about the beginning and ending of a day
where a kid accomplishes his journey from innocence to experience. Thus, the speaker is delivering her beautiful message
about life to everyone mostly the children.
e. The poem seems to describe a day for children. How would the adult people respond to this poem? Discuss this
poem
with your parents/guardians and write the answer based on their responses.
As this poem speaks about the reality of human life, it is somehow obvious that the adult people will respond
normally and will find it meaningful because they also have gained the same experience throughout the life-time.
Reference beyond the text
a. Observe your surroundings of one fine morning and write a poem based on your own experience.
My Surroundings
I look at my surroundings,
The paintings and pictures,
Some are good some are bad,
Some are happy and some are sad,
They are doing sports or dancing,
Others are kissing or singing,
I wish I could be one of those happy people again,
Singing and dancing every day,
But I find myself depressed and deceived,
I long to have a perfect life.
b. Write a personal essay on A Day in the School.
A Day in the School
Everyone loves school life and mostly the beautiful events which one experiences in a school. People develop a sense
of emotional and social connection with the school. The school teaches us so many life lessons and values.
But, there comes a day when we all need to part away from our school and our friends. It is difficult for anyone to
leave the school one day and forever. When I recall my last day at school, I become very emotional. It was a moment
of painful separation.
That day it felt like we had a really short journey together that it passed so fast. Some of my friends became too
emotional that tears started rolling down their cheeks. There was a small gathering arranged in our school hall.
Our juniors welcomed us to the hall which was decorated for us. Everyone gathered to bid us goodbye and to wish us
for a better future. Our juniors gave speeches. Some of them sang and danced for us. They also asked us to give
speeches. Some of my friends and I went to the stage and performed a group song. I also gave a speech on how we
spent our school days there.
Our teachers came to us and started consoling us. They tried to inspire us with motivational words. Our headmaster
praised us for being disciplined and honest in school. She also advised us to maintain the same wherever we go. All
other teachers encouraged us and told us to do hard work in life because it would help us to be successful in life.
The day was a mixture of sadness and happiness. I felt happy I was going to a new school. I was sad because I was
leaving my teachers and was parting from our dearest friends. It was a hard day for every one of us. This is how I
experienced my last day at school.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. How does the poet describe the morning sun in the first stanza?
In the first stanza, the poet describes the morning sun as the beautiful beginning for a new day which brings hope, glow
and beauty along with joy and happiness.
b. What does the line ‘The news like squirrels ran’ mean?
The line ‘The news like squirrels ran’ means that with the beginning of a new day, everything changes so fast
and everyone starts accomplishing their task in a hurry after the sunshine.
c. What do you understand by the line ‘The hills untied their bonnets’?
The line ‘The hills untied their bonnets’ implies that hills are no longer covered with darkness and have begun
to glow because of sunshine.
d. Is the speaker watching the morning sun? Why? Why not?
In reality, the speaker is not watching the morning sun because all the visions that she had created are not
possible to occur in same time. The rising and setting of sun is not possible to occur simultaneously.
e. How does the sun set?
The sun sets by taking all the happiness, glow and beauty of a day and leaving the darker side of dusk.
Reference to the context
a. What, according to the speaker, is a day?
According to the speaker, a day is a minor form of journey throughout the life which usually begins with many
new hopes and lots of happiness. After learning many new things and gaining lots of experience throughout the day, it
comes to an end leaving a dusk.
b. What purpose does the hyphen in the first line serve in the poem?
A hyphen (-) is a punctual mark used as pauses, longer ones than commas or semi-colons. It enhances the
methodical, unhurried nature of the scene. Poet has filled the gap by letting readers imagine after the end of the
phrase.
c. What makes this poem lyrical and sonorous? Discuss.
The poem “A Day” by Emily Dickenson is both a lyrical and sonorous poem. Emily has used her magic wand to make
this poem lyrical and sonorous. She has depicted her own experience of dusk and dawn in her writing. The pronoun “I”, as
used in lyrical poems, indicates the poet’s persona. On that note, ‘A Day’–like most of Dickinson’s poems–is a lyric; it
expresses a powerful thought from the perspective of a single persona. This poem’s musicality is enhanced by the use of
sound techniques such as alliteration, assonance, rhyme, and rhythm.
d. Who are the target audience of the speaker? Why?
Basically, children are the target audience of the speaker because the poem has tried to reveal the truth of
human life by comparing it with a day. The speaker is imparting the message about the beginning and ending of a day
where a kid accomplishes his journey from innocence to experience. Thus, the speaker is delivering her beautiful message
about life to everyone mostly the children.
e. The poem seems to describe a day for children. How would the adult people respond to this poem? Discuss this
poem
with your parents/guardians and write the answer based on their responses.
As this poem speaks about the reality of human life, it is somehow obvious that the adult people will respond
normally and will find it meaningful because they also have gained the same experience throughout the life-time.
Reference beyond the text
a. Observe your surroundings of one fine morning and write a poem based on your own experience.
My Surroundings
I look at my surroundings,
The paintings and pictures,
Some are good some are bad,
Some are happy and some are sad,
They are doing sports or dancing,
Others are kissing or singing,
I wish I could be one of those happy people again,
Singing and dancing every day,
But I find myself depressed and deceived,
I long to have a perfect life.
b. Write a personal essay on A Day in the School.
A Day in the School
Everyone loves school life and mostly the beautiful events which one experiences in a school. People develop a sense
of emotional and social connection with the school. The school teaches us so many life lessons and values.
But, there comes a day when we all need to part away from our school and our friends. It is difficult for anyone to
leave the school one day and forever. When I recall my last day at school, I become very emotional. It was a moment
of painful separation.
That day it felt like we had a really short journey together that it passed so fast. Some of my friends became too
emotional that tears started rolling down their cheeks. There was a small gathering arranged in our school hall.
Our juniors welcomed us to the hall which was decorated for us. Everyone gathered to bid us goodbye and to wish us
for a better future. Our juniors gave speeches. Some of them sang and danced for us. They also asked us to give
speeches. Some of my friends and I went to the stage and performed a group song. I also gave a speech on how we
spent our school days there.
Our teachers came to us and started consoling us. They tried to inspire us with motivational words. Our headmaster
praised us for being disciplined and honest in school. She also advised us to maintain the same wherever we go. All
other teachers encouraged us and told us to do hard work in life because it would help us to be successful in life.
The day was a mixture of sadness and happiness. I felt happy I was going to a new school. I was sad because I was
leaving my teachers and was parting from our dearest friends. It was a hard day for every one of us. This is how I
experienced my last day at school.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesPoem 2: Every Morning I Wake
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. When does the speaker pray to the Lord?
The speaker prays to the Lord in the morning time and evening time.
b. What does the speaker pray for?
The speaker prays to the Lord for having his loving eye on all poor creatures who are mortal.
c. Who are the ‘poor creatures’? Why does the speaker call them ‘poor creatures’?
The ‘poor creatures’ mean all the innocent creatures that are on planet earth. The speaker calls them ‘poor creatures’ because they are born to die and it is not sure whether they can see another morning or not.
d. What does Milk Wood sound like? A type of wood or a place? Why?
Milk Wood sounds like a place because there is no use of article before this noun. If it is a type of wood then an
article either ‘a’, ‘an’ or ‘the’ must have been used according to grammatical rules.
e. Why do the inhabitants of Milk Wood bow to the setting sun ‘but just for now’?
The inhabitants of Milk Wood bow to the setting sun ‘but just for now’ because they know that they are not permanent
and they are ending the prayer of that day and wishing to see another day.
Reference to the context
a. Discuss “Every Morning When I Wake” as a prayer to the God.
“Every Morning When I Wake” is a prayer poem by Dylan Thoma’s. In this poem, the speaker prays to the magnificent
God to have mercy on ordinary inhabitants living under the Milk Wood. The speaker prays to the Lord to keep his
loving eye on all mortal poor creatures. He says the remote of all creatures is in the hand of the Lord and prays to
have mercy on them. He prays to the Lord to let him/ them see the next morning as no one knows what is going to
happen tomorrow.
b. Why does the speaker make a prayer to the God, but not to a king, a billionaire or a scientist?
The God is the creator of all beings. The God is immortal and all creatures are created and destroyed by him. The
remote of all creatures life is in the hand of the God. A king, a billionaire and a scientist are nothing in front
of the God. They are just humans created by the God. They are born to die but the Lord is immortal. Hence the
speaker makes a prayer to the God, but not to a king, a billionaire or a scientist.
c. How does the poet highlight the magnificence of the God?
‘Every Morning I Wake’ is a prayer poem by Dylan Thomas. In this poem, the speaker has highlighted the magnificence
of the God. He says that the God is the creator of all creatures who can destroy it too. The God is immortal. We can
see next morning because of the blessings of the God. He makes us and is guiding us. He see the best side of us as
nobody is perfect to do so. In this way the poet describes the magnificence of the God by highlighting his
powers.
d. How does the rhyme scheme of the poem reinforce its message?<
A rhyme scheme is the ordered pattern of rhyming words at the end of each line of a poem. The rhyming structure of
this poem is AABB. The rhyme scheme of the poem reinforces its message beautifully. It makes the poem lovely to
read. AABB rhyme scheme has made the poem much more attractive. It is a prayer poem in which the speaker prays to
the God to have mercy on all creatures. For this poem, the rhyme scheme that has been used is the best.
Reference beyond the text
a. Does the God exist? Give your opinion.
“Does God exist?” is a controversial topic which has been discussed since the beginning of human civilization.
It depends upon our belief. Some people believe in the existence if the God and some do not. In my opinion, the God
exists. The God live in our mind. The existence of God is like the existence of radiation. We just see the effects
of it. We don’t see God but we find effects in our lives. Unexpected and miraculous things are the example of the
existence of God. Although there is no physical presence of God but the God exists in our sub conscious mind. Hence
god exists upon us and he is immortal and intangible.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. When does the speaker pray to the Lord?
The speaker prays to the Lord in the morning time and evening time.
b. What does the speaker pray for?
The speaker prays to the Lord for having his loving eye on all poor creatures who are mortal.
c. Who are the ‘poor creatures’? Why does the speaker call them ‘poor creatures’?
The ‘poor creatures’ mean all the innocent creatures that are on planet earth. The speaker calls them ‘poor creatures’ because they are born to die and it is not sure whether they can see another morning or not.
d. What does Milk Wood sound like? A type of wood or a place? Why?
Milk Wood sounds like a place because there is no use of article before this noun. If it is a type of wood then an
article either ‘a’, ‘an’ or ‘the’ must have been used according to grammatical rules.
e. Why do the inhabitants of Milk Wood bow to the setting sun ‘but just for now’?
The inhabitants of Milk Wood bow to the setting sun ‘but just for now’ because they know that they are not permanent
and they are ending the prayer of that day and wishing to see another day.
Reference to the context
a. Discuss “Every Morning When I Wake” as a prayer to the God.
“Every Morning When I Wake” is a prayer poem by Dylan Thoma’s. In this poem, the speaker prays to the magnificent
God to have mercy on ordinary inhabitants living under the Milk Wood. The speaker prays to the Lord to keep his
loving eye on all mortal poor creatures. He says the remote of all creatures is in the hand of the Lord and prays to
have mercy on them. He prays to the Lord to let him/ them see the next morning as no one knows what is going to
happen tomorrow.
b. Why does the speaker make a prayer to the God, but not to a king, a billionaire or a scientist?
The God is the creator of all beings. The God is immortal and all creatures are created and destroyed by him. The
remote of all creatures life is in the hand of the God. A king, a billionaire and a scientist are nothing in front
of the God. They are just humans created by the God. They are born to die but the Lord is immortal. Hence the
speaker makes a prayer to the God, but not to a king, a billionaire or a scientist.
c. How does the poet highlight the magnificence of the God?
‘Every Morning I Wake’ is a prayer poem by Dylan Thomas. In this poem, the speaker has highlighted the magnificence
of the God. He says that the God is the creator of all creatures who can destroy it too. The God is immortal. We can
see next morning because of the blessings of the God. He makes us and is guiding us. He see the best side of us as
nobody is perfect to do so. In this way the poet describes the magnificence of the God by highlighting his
powers.
d. How does the rhyme scheme of the poem reinforce its message?<
A rhyme scheme is the ordered pattern of rhyming words at the end of each line of a poem. The rhyming structure of
this poem is AABB. The rhyme scheme of the poem reinforces its message beautifully. It makes the poem lovely to
read. AABB rhyme scheme has made the poem much more attractive. It is a prayer poem in which the speaker prays to
the God to have mercy on all creatures. For this poem, the rhyme scheme that has been used is the best.
Reference beyond the text
a. Does the God exist? Give your opinion.
“Does God exist?” is a controversial topic which has been discussed since the beginning of human civilization.
It depends upon our belief. Some people believe in the existence if the God and some do not. In my opinion, the God
exists. The God live in our mind. The existence of God is like the existence of radiation. We just see the effects
of it. We don’t see God but we find effects in our lives. Unexpected and miraculous things are the example of the
existence of God. Although there is no physical presence of God but the God exists in our sub conscious mind. Hence
god exists upon us and he is immortal and intangible.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesPoem 3: I Was My Own Route
Summary
‘I Was My Own Route’ is a poem written by Julia de Burgos, a writer of Carolina. Puerto Rico, who collected the
experiences of a literary writer, journalist and the freedom fighter. Her poems are full of racial and gender
sentiments where she provokes the equality between male and female and the black and the white race. She has been
also regarded as a contemporary Latino writer who depicts how the women are burdened with the patriarchal ideologies
from the past. Therefore, de Burgos urges the women to detach themselves from the past so as to redefine their own
identity.
The poem ‘I was My Own Route’ has altogether 6 stanzas. Each stanza expresses the powerful feelings of the poet who
is always remaining in between masculinity and her own femininity. She begins her poem reflecting her past feelings
when she wished to convert herself as the wishes of the men. In such acts, she has found a hide and seek game
between her own instinct and the instinct of the patriarchal society. The same game inspired herself to move forward
to investigate a new path that is totally new for all. Though it is challenging, she joyfully accepted it.
In discovering a new path, she moves alone mainly to get her internal happiness and a feeling of intimate
liberation. She has described her journey to a new path beautifully where she faced a serious problem in balancing
herself and the truth of the time. However, she expresses her joy in discovering a new route of her life that has no
history, even she doubts for its future. Anyways she is happy enough living in the present and waiting for the
response of the time. To denote this, she has repeated a line in the poem. “a game of hide and seek with my
being but l was made of nows”. This refrain has captured the main essence of the poem. The poem is written in
free verse and it is the perfect example of a poem of the marginalized community.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. Why did the speaker try to be the way men wanted her to be?
The Speaker tried to be the way men wanted her to be because she was a modern woman and actually she didn’t like to
be a puppet of male ideologies. Infact, she was determined to fight against the prevailing male domination.
b. What do you understand by her feet ‘would not accept walking backwards’?
The term her feet ‘would not accept walking backwards’ means that she didn’t like to live a life being
inferior to men. She was digging out her own route that could lead the entire female race in a similar position to
men that is the destination of freedom.
c. Who are the old guards? Why did they grow desperate?
The old guards are the rigid members of male-dominated society. They behave women as inferior creatures and dominate
them in each and every aspect of their lives. They grow desperate because Julia was advancing her steps to the
liberation of the women race.
d. How did the speaker have ‘a feeling of intimate liberation’?
The Speaker had a feeling of intimate liberation by advancing steps forwards to a new route despite difficulties.
Ultimately she made a separate route separating more and more in spite of pains from the old route made by males.
e. Why did the speaker’s desire to follow men warp in her?
The speaker’s desire to follow men wrapped in her because she sensed the rigid rules and regulation imposed by men
on woman. She wanted to become independent, enjoy freedom and happiness, and utilize her own potentials which were
suppressed by men ideologies that is why she twisted them.
Reference to the context
a. What does the speaker mean when she says she was playing a game of hide and seek with her
being’?
The line “she was playing a game of hide and seek with her being” appears in the third line of the first
stanza and is repeated in the last stanza too. Hide and seek is a game played by the children in which one player is
blind folded, other players hide in different place and the blindfold is unfolded and he or she finds the other
places from the hiding places. “A game of hide and seek is also used as an idiom which means a situation in
which one is constantly evading or avoiding partly the other. In the poem, the line a game of hide and seek with my
being means that the speaker is trying to avoid the norms and limitations set by males to females. Men wanted her to
be a woman defined as by them but as a modern and rebellious being, she was evading males.
b. Why, in your view, was her back ripped by the old guards as she was advancing forward?
The Speaker says “At each advancing step on my route forward, my back was ripped by the desperate flapping
wings of the old guard” in the second stanza. She was walking ahead on the path of women’s liberation
challenging the chains of male ideologists. She was advancing forward the desperate flapping wings of the old guard
was pushing her back. The limitations and chains of patriarchal ideologies can be found as the old guard was
obstructing her on the way forward intimate liberation of women race. In her advancing steps forward, the old guard
imposed several threats to her.
c. What, according to the speaker, did it feel like to be free?
According to the speaker, she felt being free is like getting cherished liberation. It is like she won independent
identity being free from all kinds of social norms and limitations imposed on women by the men.
d. Why does the speaker prefer the present to the past?
The speaker prefers the present to the past because the situation of her past was miserable. She was one of the
victims of male domination. Her family background was not so good. Even one of her siblings’ died of
malnutrition. She was living under the shadow of a male-dominated society. But in the present, she has become an
iconic person, a pathfinder, and a savior of the female race. She has set a route for all the women who can walk
freely pursuing their own identity. She feels proud of herself and deserves the homage.
e. John Donne, in his poem “No Man is an Island”, says, “No man is an island entire of
itself.” Would Burgos agree with Donne? Do you agree with Donne or Burgos?
John Donne (1572-1631) is an English poet and is considered the preeminent representative of the metaphysical poets.
He is also famous for his quotes. The quotation, “Noman is an island entire to itself” is taken from his
poem “Noman is an island” which means that no one is truly self-sufficient. Everyone must rely on the
company and comfort of others in order to thrive. Donne believes in co-existence. Every man is a part of the whole
entire population. All human are an equally integral part of the collective group of humanity. We must value and
respect all lives. It is said that “a man and a woman are two wheels of a cart”. The cart can’t
move ahead if one wheel is broken. Burgos wanted to avoid male’s existence in terms of getting liberation to women.
Males and females are equal and the co-existence of males and females shapes a balance in the society. Her concept
is impractical in reality; it is just a way to express her race against males.
Reference beyond the text
a. Write an essay on My Idea of Freedom.
My Idea of Freedom
A freedom, what a wonderful word! How much energy there is in it! How much opportunity, dream, even believe that
only we ourselves determine our capacity to do something, to achieve new horizons, to acquire new skills.
I am sure that each and every one of us has his or her own definition for this word. Someone believes it to be
somewhat ephemeral, unachievable. But somebody has it like a deliberate way of life and for others it is a goal they
crave it with all their heart.
So, what is the enigma of this seems to be a simple word? What is freedom? And what is importance of freedom in our
life.
To me, freedom means to be able to learn from my mistakes. If I didn’t have freedom, I would have to do what
the top authorities always tell me to do. I don’t have any room for mistakes so it would be harder to learn
about life.
Freedom also means having the time to do things right. No freedom, in this case, would mean that I wouldn’t
have any time for fantastic, clever thoughts. I would have to do things extremely precise and quick. When I
don’t have freedom, I am under pressure constantly. While I am under so much pressure, it makes it a more
stressful world to live in.
One last example of my idea of freedom is being able to do many things without being forced into doing anything. No
freedom means that I might have to enlist in the army reluctantly. I might even be forced to quarter troops and
watch them take over my home! If I didn’t have freedom, I might have to get married at a young age and start a
family which I have no intention of doing at my age. My life minus freedom would equal being controlled with
everything. When I don’t have freedom I can’t do anything except for what the strict laws tell me to do.
In summary, we are lucky to be in a society of freedom. Just remember, we are the land of the free and the home of
the brave!
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. Why did the speaker try to be the way men wanted her to be?
The Speaker tried to be the way men wanted her to be because she was a modern woman and actually she didn’t like to
be a puppet of male ideologies. Infact, she was determined to fight against the prevailing male domination.
b. What do you understand by her feet ‘would not accept walking backwards’?
The term her feet ‘would not accept walking backwards’ means that she didn’t like to live a life being
inferior to men. She was digging out her own route that could lead the entire female race in a similar position to
men that is the destination of freedom.
c. Who are the old guards? Why did they grow desperate?
The old guards are the rigid members of male-dominated society. They behave women as inferior creatures and dominate
them in each and every aspect of their lives. They grow desperate because Julia was advancing her steps to the
liberation of the women race.
d. How did the speaker have ‘a feeling of intimate liberation’?
The Speaker had a feeling of intimate liberation by advancing steps forwards to a new route despite difficulties.
Ultimately she made a separate route separating more and more in spite of pains from the old route made by males.
e. Why did the speaker’s desire to follow men warp in her?
The speaker’s desire to follow men wrapped in her because she sensed the rigid rules and regulation imposed by men
on woman. She wanted to become independent, enjoy freedom and happiness, and utilize her own potentials which were
suppressed by men ideologies that is why she twisted them.
Reference to the context
a. What does the speaker mean when she says she was playing a game of hide and seek with her
being’?
The line “she was playing a game of hide and seek with her being” appears in the third line of the first
stanza and is repeated in the last stanza too. Hide and seek is a game played by the children in which one player is
blind folded, other players hide in different place and the blindfold is unfolded and he or she finds the other
places from the hiding places. “A game of hide and seek is also used as an idiom which means a situation in
which one is constantly evading or avoiding partly the other. In the poem, the line a game of hide and seek with my
being means that the speaker is trying to avoid the norms and limitations set by males to females. Men wanted her to
be a woman defined as by them but as a modern and rebellious being, she was evading males.
b. Why, in your view, was her back ripped by the old guards as she was advancing forward?
The Speaker says “At each advancing step on my route forward, my back was ripped by the desperate flapping
wings of the old guard” in the second stanza. She was walking ahead on the path of women’s liberation
challenging the chains of male ideologists. She was advancing forward the desperate flapping wings of the old guard
was pushing her back. The limitations and chains of patriarchal ideologies can be found as the old guard was
obstructing her on the way forward intimate liberation of women race. In her advancing steps forward, the old guard
imposed several threats to her.
c. What, according to the speaker, did it feel like to be free?
According to the speaker, she felt being free is like getting cherished liberation. It is like she won independent
identity being free from all kinds of social norms and limitations imposed on women by the men.
d. Why does the speaker prefer the present to the past?
The speaker prefers the present to the past because the situation of her past was miserable. She was one of the
victims of male domination. Her family background was not so good. Even one of her siblings’ died of
malnutrition. She was living under the shadow of a male-dominated society. But in the present, she has become an
iconic person, a pathfinder, and a savior of the female race. She has set a route for all the women who can walk
freely pursuing their own identity. She feels proud of herself and deserves the homage.
e. John Donne, in his poem “No Man is an Island”, says, “No man is an island entire of
itself.” Would Burgos agree with Donne? Do you agree with Donne or Burgos?
John Donne (1572-1631) is an English poet and is considered the preeminent representative of the metaphysical poets.
He is also famous for his quotes. The quotation, “Noman is an island entire to itself” is taken from his
poem “Noman is an island” which means that no one is truly self-sufficient. Everyone must rely on the
company and comfort of others in order to thrive. Donne believes in co-existence. Every man is a part of the whole
entire population. All human are an equally integral part of the collective group of humanity. We must value and
respect all lives. It is said that “a man and a woman are two wheels of a cart”. The cart can’t
move ahead if one wheel is broken. Burgos wanted to avoid male’s existence in terms of getting liberation to women.
Males and females are equal and the co-existence of males and females shapes a balance in the society. Her concept
is impractical in reality; it is just a way to express her race against males.
Reference beyond the text
a. Write an essay on My Idea of Freedom.
My Idea of Freedom
A freedom, what a wonderful word! How much energy there is in it! How much opportunity, dream, even believe that
only we ourselves determine our capacity to do something, to achieve new horizons, to acquire new skills.
I am sure that each and every one of us has his or her own definition for this word. Someone believes it to be
somewhat ephemeral, unachievable. But somebody has it like a deliberate way of life and for others it is a goal they
crave it with all their heart.
So, what is the enigma of this seems to be a simple word? What is freedom? And what is importance of freedom in our
life.
To me, freedom means to be able to learn from my mistakes. If I didn’t have freedom, I would have to do what
the top authorities always tell me to do. I don’t have any room for mistakes so it would be harder to learn
about life.
Freedom also means having the time to do things right. No freedom, in this case, would mean that I wouldn’t
have any time for fantastic, clever thoughts. I would have to do things extremely precise and quick. When I
don’t have freedom, I am under pressure constantly. While I am under so much pressure, it makes it a more
stressful world to live in.
One last example of my idea of freedom is being able to do many things without being forced into doing anything. No
freedom means that I might have to enlist in the army reluctantly. I might even be forced to quarter troops and
watch them take over my home! If I didn’t have freedom, I might have to get married at a young age and start a
family which I have no intention of doing at my age. My life minus freedom would equal being controlled with
everything. When I don’t have freedom I can’t do anything except for what the strict laws tell me to do.
In summary, we are lucky to be in a society of freedom. Just remember, we are the land of the free and the home of
the brave!
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesPoem 4: The Awakening Age
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. Who are the people ‘who travel the meridian line’?
The people who travel the meridian line are Nigerians who are grouped after a long civil war. These people are
suffering from hunger, poverty, unemployment and other facets of their life due to fragments.
b. What does the poet mean by ‘a new world’?
The poet means by a ‘new world’ to the emergence of peace in Nigeria. He implies the power of hope, unity,
truth, wealth, knowledge, creativity and refers to unified Nigeria by his beautiful words
c. How are people connected?
People are connected through the strong bond of hope and optimism derived from history. They have believed in
their dreams and want to gain the new height of unity and prosperity. The connection is due to strong dedication
towards optimism.
d. What can we gain after our perceptions are changed?
We can gain very different benefits and fields of view after our perceptions are changed. We may get opportunity
and honesty from our troubles. We may gain harmony, belief, love, integrity, wealth, creativity, wisdom and
vision by changing our perspectives. The change of perception brings the potentiality of changing views from
negative to positive and positive to negative aspects.
e. How are we benefited by new people?
We are benefited by new people in a variety of ways. Our bond and unity with them help us to reach new heights,
explore new visions and conduct new missions. We can get happiness, harmony, integrity, knowledge, sincerity,
discipline, creativity from new people and use them to make a flourishing nation.
f. Describe the rhyme scheme of this sonnet.
In the poem, there are seven separate couplets with each of two lines. This sonnet’s rhyme scheme is sonorous.
It provides a rhythmic tone, and each stanza has a rhyming couplet. This sonnet’s rhyme scheme is AA BB CC DD EE
FF GG.
Reference to the context
a. What does the poet mean by ‘the awakening age’?
As the word glorifies itself, ‘the awakening age’ refers to the period when Africans realize and become
conscious about their situation as well as the time to create their new world. They realise that this is the
time of peace, harmony, integrity, liberty, happiness, prosperity, unity and creativity amongst the people. They
strongly believe that their new world will arrive after Nigeria’s brutal civil war.
b. Why, in your view, have these people ‘lived with poverty’s rage’?
In my view, these people have ‘lived with poverty’s rage because since a long time before history Africans are
being exploited by the Americans and Europeans. They did a long injustice to the people of Africa and exploited
natural resources. Also meanwhile, due to lengthy war in African countries, the political stability was almost
negligible. As a result of instability, a few strong people gained control of the authority. This further
resulted in an imbalance in the distribution of natural resources and wealth.
The people of Africa were beyond knowledge and light. They didn’t even know that life exists out of poverty.
They were also preoccupied with various internal problems like civil war, discrimination, religion, culture,
ethnicity, philosophy and so on which neglected the suffering of ordinary Nigerians. Thus the poverty’s rage had
been all their life.
c. Why does the poet appeal for solidarity among the people?
The poet appeals for solidarity among the people to make a reality out of their hope to form a new world for
them. He wishes for all Nigeria’s unfortunate and poor people to reach the new height of unity, prosperity,
hope, truth, wisdom, liberty and creativity. He strongly believes that solidarity only and only amongst them can
help them to overcome challenges and sufferings.
d. Does the poet present migration in a positive light? Why? Why not?
Yes, the poet presents migration in a positive light as it helps the people to change their perceptions. Mostly
the migrants are of the working-age population. Migration helps people to raise their height of acceptance and
helps to grow their condition to the new state from the past one.
In the poem also, the poet wishes for them to be unified, smart, prosperous and creative in the new age of
awakening and appeals for solidarity to create a new world. Most of us have seen that migrants bring skill with
them. Some bring capital and some bring creativity. They try to craft their ideas, knowledge and learning in
recipient countries. They also wish to be innovative and contribute.
e. Nepal is also known for its economic as well as educational migrants. Have you noticed any change in
the perceptions and behaviours of these migrants when they return home from abroad?
Yes, Nepal is known for its economic and educational migrants. The data each year people pursue abroad for
education and employment. Certainly, I have noticed many changes in the perceptions and behaviours of these
migrants when they return home. I have noticed the change in their attitude and way of thinking. As a person
opens in a wide space from the narrow door, he experiences many things, explores many heights, learns, thinks,
crafts and thus the way of thinking and way of seeing the world is certainly changed. Every worker or student
brings their gained knowledge and tries to use it in their homeland. If either it is capital gain or a degree
they try to craft from them. They gain financial literacy and learn to invest and keep the hope of changing
traditional thoughts and parameters that limits the exploration. These are the different perceptions that I have
seen of people returning from abroad in my community.
f. Relate the rhyme scheme of this sonnet to the kind of life idealized by the poet.
The rhyme scheme of this sonnet is sonorous and is of AA BB CC DD EE FF GG. It can be said that it is the poetry
of optimism and hope. The poet is trying to show the idealized existence of Africans, especially Nigerians, in
the new world of awakening with the assistance of the poem’s rhyme pattern. All of the lines and rhyming phrases
after couplets are linked with the lives of Nigerians and their ideal way of life. This includes realization,
hope and solidarity. He also wishes for wisdom, liberty, knowledge and joy. His excellent rhyming scheme
synchronizes with the ideal existence of Nigerians in the world of the awakening age.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. Who are the people ‘who travel the meridian line’?
The people who travel the meridian line are Nigerians who are grouped after a long civil war. These people are
suffering from hunger, poverty, unemployment and other facets of their life due to fragments.
b. What does the poet mean by ‘a new world’?
The poet means by a ‘new world’ to the emergence of peace in Nigeria. He implies the power of hope, unity,
truth, wealth, knowledge, creativity and refers to unified Nigeria by his beautiful words
c. How are people connected?
People are connected through the strong bond of hope and optimism derived from history. They have believed in
their dreams and want to gain the new height of unity and prosperity. The connection is due to strong dedication
towards optimism.
d. What can we gain after our perceptions are changed?
We can gain very different benefits and fields of view after our perceptions are changed. We may get opportunity
and honesty from our troubles. We may gain harmony, belief, love, integrity, wealth, creativity, wisdom and
vision by changing our perspectives. The change of perception brings the potentiality of changing views from
negative to positive and positive to negative aspects.
e. How are we benefited by new people?
We are benefited by new people in a variety of ways. Our bond and unity with them help us to reach new heights,
explore new visions and conduct new missions. We can get happiness, harmony, integrity, knowledge, sincerity,
discipline, creativity from new people and use them to make a flourishing nation.
f. Describe the rhyme scheme of this sonnet.
In the poem, there are seven separate couplets with each of two lines. This sonnet’s rhyme scheme is sonorous.
It provides a rhythmic tone, and each stanza has a rhyming couplet. This sonnet’s rhyme scheme is AA BB CC DD EE
FF GG.
Reference to the context
a. What does the poet mean by ‘the awakening age’?
As the word glorifies itself, ‘the awakening age’ refers to the period when Africans realize and become
conscious about their situation as well as the time to create their new world. They realise that this is the
time of peace, harmony, integrity, liberty, happiness, prosperity, unity and creativity amongst the people. They
strongly believe that their new world will arrive after Nigeria’s brutal civil war.
b. Why, in your view, have these people ‘lived with poverty’s rage’?
In my view, these people have ‘lived with poverty’s rage because since a long time before history Africans are
being exploited by the Americans and Europeans. They did a long injustice to the people of Africa and exploited
natural resources. Also meanwhile, due to lengthy war in African countries, the political stability was almost
negligible. As a result of instability, a few strong people gained control of the authority. This further
resulted in an imbalance in the distribution of natural resources and wealth.
The people of Africa were beyond knowledge and light. They didn’t even know that life exists out of poverty.
They were also preoccupied with various internal problems like civil war, discrimination, religion, culture,
ethnicity, philosophy and so on which neglected the suffering of ordinary Nigerians. Thus the poverty’s rage had
been all their life.
c. Why does the poet appeal for solidarity among the people?
The poet appeals for solidarity among the people to make a reality out of their hope to form a new world for
them. He wishes for all Nigeria’s unfortunate and poor people to reach the new height of unity, prosperity,
hope, truth, wisdom, liberty and creativity. He strongly believes that solidarity only and only amongst them can
help them to overcome challenges and sufferings.
d. Does the poet present migration in a positive light? Why? Why not?
Yes, the poet presents migration in a positive light as it helps the people to change their perceptions. Mostly
the migrants are of the working-age population. Migration helps people to raise their height of acceptance and
helps to grow their condition to the new state from the past one.
In the poem also, the poet wishes for them to be unified, smart, prosperous and creative in the new age of
awakening and appeals for solidarity to create a new world. Most of us have seen that migrants bring skill with
them. Some bring capital and some bring creativity. They try to craft their ideas, knowledge and learning in
recipient countries. They also wish to be innovative and contribute.
e. Nepal is also known for its economic as well as educational migrants. Have you noticed any change in
the perceptions and behaviours of these migrants when they return home from abroad?
Yes, Nepal is known for its economic and educational migrants. The data each year people pursue abroad for
education and employment. Certainly, I have noticed many changes in the perceptions and behaviours of these
migrants when they return home. I have noticed the change in their attitude and way of thinking. As a person
opens in a wide space from the narrow door, he experiences many things, explores many heights, learns, thinks,
crafts and thus the way of thinking and way of seeing the world is certainly changed. Every worker or student
brings their gained knowledge and tries to use it in their homeland. If either it is capital gain or a degree
they try to craft from them. They gain financial literacy and learn to invest and keep the hope of changing
traditional thoughts and parameters that limits the exploration. These are the different perceptions that I have
seen of people returning from abroad in my community.
f. Relate the rhyme scheme of this sonnet to the kind of life idealized by the poet.
The rhyme scheme of this sonnet is sonorous and is of AA BB CC DD EE FF GG. It can be said that it is the poetry
of optimism and hope. The poet is trying to show the idealized existence of Africans, especially Nigerians, in
the new world of awakening with the assistance of the poem’s rhyme pattern. All of the lines and rhyming phrases
after couplets are linked with the lives of Nigerians and their ideal way of life. This includes realization,
hope and solidarity. He also wishes for wisdom, liberty, knowledge and joy. His excellent rhyming scheme
synchronizes with the ideal existence of Nigerians in the world of the awakening age.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesPoem 5: Soft Storm
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. When does the speaker grow soft? Enlist the occasions when he grows soft?
The poem ‘soft storm’ composed by Abhi Subedi is filled with a touch of compassion and investigates the insanities
of tumultuous times. The speaker has said he grows soft when:
• He hears the tumult of earth.
• The sky grew like crocuses
• The moon skids down
• The moon sang of lampposts and gutters in this seamless city.
b. What do you understand by ‘this seamless city’?
I understand the term “this seamless city” as a place that is free from all forms of disturbance, free
from awkward transitions, and indications. The city, from boundaries and full of freedom for human choices.
c. Describe the poor children portrayed in the poem.
In the poem, the poor and homeless children seen in Thamel are portrayed. They were hungry and crying with hunger
under the bat-bearing tree at kesharmahal.
d. What do you understand by ‘the unwedded gardens of history’?
The term ‘unwedded gardens of history’ signifies the culture and history of the Kathmandu valley that has been
ignored for a long time.
e. Why was the forlorn child wailing?
The forlorn child portrayed in the poem was wailing to find his mother in the corridors of violent history.
f. What do you understand about ‘soft storm’?
The term ’ soft storm’ signifies its meaning itself by presenting the concept of a storm that is soft or smooth. In
this poem, the poet’s disturbed feelings that are not disastrous are generalized by the term ‘soft storm’.
g. Why does the speaker call our time ‘mad time’?
The speaker points out time as mad time because the speaker finds out the disturbing mixture of destruction. The
narrator finds unusual and selfish behaviour of people. People are mannerless and their activities are unlawful.
Their thoughts and actions are reasonable with stupidity. Modern people are trying to dominate and keep themselves
up with materialism.
The speaker observes the activities like stones growing on flowers, rhododendrons blooming in winter, the earth is
full of tumults in the song of the birds, moon hums melodies, history rashes under the lampposts, and birds share
the bizarre journey over the warming earth. Thus the speaker claims mad time.
h. What does the speaker want to do in “hard times”?
The poet wants to melt like a rainbow in “hard times”.
Reference to the context
a. The poet uses the word ‘soft’ with the words like ‘storm’ and ‘gale’,
which
generally refer to disorder and violence. What effect does the poet achieve through the use of such anomalous
expressions?
The poem ‘soft storm’ composed by Abhi Subedi expresses the touch of compassion and the inner disturbance of the
poet. The title itself glorifies the emotions of the poet as they were disturbed but yet not disastrous.
In the poem, the speaker uses the word ‘soft’ with the words like ‘storm’ and ‘gale’ to express his inner
disturbance. Generally, the anomalous expression refers to the syntactically well-formed but semantically
meaningless. In the poem, the expressions ‘soft storm’ and ‘softness rose like a gale’ are
unusual and paradoxical. They are used to define the psychological effect of a speaker. By connecting such ideas,
the poet is trying to achieve the ability to express his inner state through psychology.
b. What is the speaker’s attitude towards the time he describes in the poem?
The speaker expresses his thoughts toward the time by using the term ’ mad time’. He considers the time to be mad as
he experiences different unusual things and unlawful activities. The things happening around him were unusual and
mannerless. Society is in complete disorder and mannerless. Also, he observes that modern society is out of control
and it gives him inner disturbance so his attitude toward the time seems not to be positive.
c. What is the speaker like? Is he a rebel? Why? Why not?
The poem ‘soft storm’ describes the inner emotion of the speaker when he observes modern society. With the touch of
compassion, the speaker reveals the tumultuous nature and describes what he feels. The poet finds our society in
complete disorder. Society and people are suffering from corruption. People with hunger are seen everywhere in the
streets. He witnesses modern people ignoring glorious history.
On the other hand, most things are unusual and unlawful. People are forgetting about humanity and are behaving
inhumanely with each other. They have forgotten the mutual respect and sympathy. In the poem, the poet seems to
challenge these things. So we can call him a rebel though his rebellious nature is not directly presented.
d. Explain the stanza below in your own words:
I became soft
when I saw
a blood-stained shirt
speaking in the earth’s ears
with bruised human lips
in the far corner
under the moon
of history and dreams
playing hide and seek
in open museums
of human times.
The above lines are extracted from the fourth stanza of the poem ‘soft storm’ composed by Abhi Subedi. As the title
glorifies, the poem describes his inner emotion using anomalous expression. He seems to be rebellious indirectly to
the unlawful activities of modern society.
Through the above lines, the poet expresses his suffering from uneasy feelings when he observes a person in
miserable condition during the night. When he sees a person with a blood-stained shirt during the night, he
experiences the inner soft storm inside him. In the poem, the person is lying unconsciously on the ground in the
moonlit night. Here, human dreams and achievements are presented by the moon of history. When the moon appears in
the sky, the moonlight falls on a place of cultural and historical importance. Through this natural interplay during
the night, the poet describes people who are indifferent to the injured person who might be the victim of violence.
Through this natural interplay during the night, it seems people are indifferent to the injured person who might be
the victim of violence.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. When does the speaker grow soft? Enlist the occasions when he grows soft?
The poem ‘soft storm’ composed by Abhi Subedi is filled with a touch of compassion and investigates the insanities
of tumultuous times. The speaker has said he grows soft when:
• He hears the tumult of earth.
• The sky grew like crocuses
• The moon skids down
• The moon sang of lampposts and gutters in this seamless city.
b. What do you understand by ‘this seamless city’?
I understand the term “this seamless city” as a place that is free from all forms of disturbance, free
from awkward transitions, and indications. The city, from boundaries and full of freedom for human choices.
c. Describe the poor children portrayed in the poem.
In the poem, the poor and homeless children seen in Thamel are portrayed. They were hungry and crying with hunger
under the bat-bearing tree at kesharmahal.
d. What do you understand by ‘the unwedded gardens of history’?
The term ‘unwedded gardens of history’ signifies the culture and history of the Kathmandu valley that has been
ignored for a long time.
e. Why was the forlorn child wailing?
The forlorn child portrayed in the poem was wailing to find his mother in the corridors of violent history.
f. What do you understand about ‘soft storm’?
The term ’ soft storm’ signifies its meaning itself by presenting the concept of a storm that is soft or smooth. In
this poem, the poet’s disturbed feelings that are not disastrous are generalized by the term ‘soft storm’.
g. Why does the speaker call our time ‘mad time’?
The speaker points out time as mad time because the speaker finds out the disturbing mixture of destruction. The
narrator finds unusual and selfish behaviour of people. People are mannerless and their activities are unlawful.
Their thoughts and actions are reasonable with stupidity. Modern people are trying to dominate and keep themselves
up with materialism.
The speaker observes the activities like stones growing on flowers, rhododendrons blooming in winter, the earth is
full of tumults in the song of the birds, moon hums melodies, history rashes under the lampposts, and birds share
the bizarre journey over the warming earth. Thus the speaker claims mad time.
h. What does the speaker want to do in “hard times”?
The poet wants to melt like a rainbow in “hard times”.
Reference to the context
a. The poet uses the word ‘soft’ with the words like ‘storm’ and ‘gale’,
which
generally refer to disorder and violence. What effect does the poet achieve through the use of such anomalous
expressions?
The poem ‘soft storm’ composed by Abhi Subedi expresses the touch of compassion and the inner disturbance of the
poet. The title itself glorifies the emotions of the poet as they were disturbed but yet not disastrous.
In the poem, the speaker uses the word ‘soft’ with the words like ‘storm’ and ‘gale’ to express his inner
disturbance. Generally, the anomalous expression refers to the syntactically well-formed but semantically
meaningless. In the poem, the expressions ‘soft storm’ and ‘softness rose like a gale’ are
unusual and paradoxical. They are used to define the psychological effect of a speaker. By connecting such ideas,
the poet is trying to achieve the ability to express his inner state through psychology.
b. What is the speaker’s attitude towards the time he describes in the poem?
The speaker expresses his thoughts toward the time by using the term ’ mad time’. He considers the time to be mad as
he experiences different unusual things and unlawful activities. The things happening around him were unusual and
mannerless. Society is in complete disorder and mannerless. Also, he observes that modern society is out of control
and it gives him inner disturbance so his attitude toward the time seems not to be positive.
c. What is the speaker like? Is he a rebel? Why? Why not?
The poem ‘soft storm’ describes the inner emotion of the speaker when he observes modern society. With the touch of
compassion, the speaker reveals the tumultuous nature and describes what he feels. The poet finds our society in
complete disorder. Society and people are suffering from corruption. People with hunger are seen everywhere in the
streets. He witnesses modern people ignoring glorious history.
On the other hand, most things are unusual and unlawful. People are forgetting about humanity and are behaving
inhumanely with each other. They have forgotten the mutual respect and sympathy. In the poem, the poet seems to
challenge these things. So we can call him a rebel though his rebellious nature is not directly presented.
d. Explain the stanza below in your own words:
I became soft
when I saw
a blood-stained shirt
speaking in the earth’s ears
with bruised human lips
in the far corner
under the moon
of history and dreams
playing hide and seek
in open museums
of human times.
The above lines are extracted from the fourth stanza of the poem ‘soft storm’ composed by Abhi Subedi. As the title
glorifies, the poem describes his inner emotion using anomalous expression. He seems to be rebellious indirectly to
the unlawful activities of modern society.
Through the above lines, the poet expresses his suffering from uneasy feelings when he observes a person in
miserable condition during the night. When he sees a person with a blood-stained shirt during the night, he
experiences the inner soft storm inside him. In the poem, the person is lying unconsciously on the ground in the
moonlit night. Here, human dreams and achievements are presented by the moon of history. When the moon appears in
the sky, the moonlight falls on a place of cultural and historical importance. Through this natural interplay during
the night, the poet describes people who are indifferent to the injured person who might be the victim of violence.
Through this natural interplay during the night, it seems people are indifferent to the injured person who might be
the victim of violence.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesEssay 1: On Libraries
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. Where could the author be found when he was late for lunch or dinner?
The author is none other than the greatest neurologist and literary figure Oliver sacks. There was Oliver’s
favorite room, which was very quiet and beautiful in the house and it was the room of the oak-paneled library. His
parents had libraries in the house. So whenever he was late for lunch or dinner he could be found absorbed in a book
in the library.
b. What are his first memories?
Oliver was so inquisitive that he was absorbed in a book in his favourite room of library. He even used to get late
for his lunch and dinner as he was found to be too absorbed in the books. He learnt to read early in the morning at
4 or 5 o’clock. The beautiful oak panel library and books are his first memories.
c. Why did he dislike school?
He disliked school because he didn’t like to obey the instructions from the teachers. He gained better information
and knowledge exploring books in the libraries than that from the school. He used to get excellent lessons from the
libraries before the teachers taught in the class. He was not a good student but was a better learner. Thus, he
disliked school because he liked to learn himself in libraries being free to choose books of his own choice.
d. What did he feel about at the library?
He felt free when he is at the library. It is because he is free to choose any books of his interest out of
thousands of books. The atmosphere of the library was so comfortable and quiet that he roamed through the shelves
and wondered by the books kept in them. He also used to enjoy the quiet companionship of other readers all like him
in the same quest.
e. Why was he so biased about sciences especially astronomy and chemistry?
He was biased about science especially astronomy and chemistry because of the two reasons - The first reason was
that all the children used to dream of being astronauts and explore the space at that time. So he must have wished
to know about it. The second reason was that he got older and he only needed those books which would support his
studies.
f. Why did he become so fascinated by Hook?
He became so fascinated by Theodore Hook because he found the books written by him in the Bodleian library.
Actually, Hook was greatly admired for his wit and his genius theatrical and musical improvisation. He was the
greatest star in the nineteenth Century for what he had done. He had composed more than five hundred operas on the
spot.
g. Describe library at the Queen’s College.
The Queen’s College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, England. It has the magnificent building
designed in a form of palace by Christopher Wren, who was a great architect. Beneath the college, there were
underground large rooms which was the library. There were number of book shelves. There were heating pipes attached
to the walls and corners. The design of the library was classical. The books of original prints and editions from
Gesner to Darwin were available.
h. Why did the students ignore the bookshelves in the 1990s?
The students ignored the bookshelves in the 1990s because they had access to the digitalized books. The access of
books from their computers made them rarely go to the shelves. The books were no longer of their consideration. They
felt more comfortable with the new form of reading books in their electronic devices than going to the shelves in
the library.
i. Why was he horrified when he visited the library a couple of months ago?
He was horrified when he visited the library a couple of months ago because the books from almost all public
libraries were thrown out of the shelves and were digitized. Unfortunately he didn’t know how to use the computers.
The books, the shelves and libraries were gone one by one and he was deeply saddened in the loss of the centuries of
knowledge. Therefore, he was horrified.
Reference to the context
a. The author says, “I was not a good pupil, but I was a good listener.” Justify it with the textual
evidences.
‘On libraries’ is an autobiographical essay by one of the 20th century’s greatest neurologist and
author, Oliver Sacks. In this essay, he describes about his experiences of going to libraries and how successful
stories shaped his personality and made his life better. He describes how he developed his deep interest in visiting
the libraries till he became a successful figure and how he was deeply affected by the loss of books in the
libraries in 1990s.
Oliver Sacks says, “I was not a good pupil, but I was a good listener.” That’s true. He was always
absorbed in the books in the library and he got real education from there. When he was in school, he sat in the
classrooms, merely listened to teachers but he couldn’t be convinced on what he wanted in depth from the teachers.
He listened to them through one ear and blew away their sayings from another ear. However, it doesn’t mean he wasn’t
active in the class. He was not passive either. In terms of doing exercises, submitting assignment he himself
considered that he was not a good student (pupil) but he listened to them. Besides going to school, he preferably
spent most of his time in the library, where he enhanced his skill of gaining knowledge from the additional books.
He used to search the things that he listened from the teachers, compared the lectures with findings, noted down the
conclusion in the copies and into his mind. This kind of keen interest of reading in the library made him a good
reader, learner even though he consider himself as a poor student in the classroom.
b. A proverb says, “Nothing is pleasanter than exploring a library.” Does this proverb apply in the
essay? Explain.
The given proverb, “Nothing is pleasanter than exploring a library” is quite appropriate for the essay
“On Libraries”. Nothing is more satisfying than reading a book in library with a literal companion.
Oliver Sacks was a bookworm who used to spend a lot of time in different libraries in different places. He disliked
school, sitting in class, receiving instruction; information seemed to go in one ear and out by the other. He had to
be active, learn for himself, learn what he wanted, and in the way which suited him best. So he roamed the shelves
and stacks of the libraries, had the freedom to select whatever he wanted. His book reading started from his own
library at home. All of his family members loved reading books and he was grown up in that environment. The
oak-paneled library at his own home was his favourite room. Instead of going to formal school, he preferred to read
freely in the library. He especially enjoyed the library environment and the quiet companions of other readers. Best
of all, he wants to sit at the library table with a pile of books in front of him. Therefore, he said that he was
not a good pupil, but was a good listener who explored different libraries to gain knowledge for his own academic
excellence. Hence the above proverb fits for this essay.
c. Are there any other services that you would like to see added to the library?
Yes, there are some other services that I would like to see added to the library. I would prefer different rooms for
different age groups such as child, adults and aged people because they prefer books most likely of their interest
with their age. The elders may like to read environment, nature, culture etc., the aged people may like to read
books related to politics, ethics, philosophy etc. and the kids would like to read stories, comics etc. The other
thing I would to see added in the library is surveillance camera. Many people tear the books or even take with them
due to which other readers are affected. Hence to prevent these bad activities on library, surveillance camera
should be fitted. Good furniture to read books on is also an essential thing to be added to the library. Readers may
feel bored reading on the tables. So, a small garden in the backyard of the library may be useful to remove the
reader’s tiredness. I would also like to see a cafe added to the library because peoples who love reading long
hours in the library may get hungry, then they can enjoy reading by eating something, which can quench their hunger.
These are the certain services that I would like to see added to the library.
Reference beyond the text
a. Write an essay on Libraries and its uses for students.
Libraries and its Uses for Students
A library is a place where books and sources of information are stored. They make it easier for people to get access
to them for various purposes. Libraries are very helpful and economical too. They include books, magazines,
newspapers, DVDs, manuscripts and more. In other words, they are an all-encompassing source of information.
Libraries play a vital role in providing students with reliable content. They encourage and promote the process of
learning and grasping knowledge. The book worms can get loads of books to read from and enhance their knowledge.
Moreover, the variety is so wide-ranging that one mostly gets what they are looking for. Most importantly, libraries
are a great platform for making progress. When we get homework in class, the libraries help us with the reference
material. This, in turn, progresses our learning capabilities and knowledge. It is also helpful in our overall
development. It helps us in learning and expanding our knowledge. We develop our reading habits from a library and
satisfy our thirst and curiosity for knowledge. This helps in the personal growth of a person and development.
Libraries are very economical. The students who cannot afford to buy new books and can simply borrow books from a
library. This helps them in saving a lot of money and getting information for free.
In short, libraries are a great place to gain knowledge. They serve each students differently. They are a great
source of learning and promoting the progress of knowledge. One can enjoy their free time in libraries by reading
and researching. As the world has become digitized, it is now easier to browse through a library and get what you
are looking for. Thus, libraries are found to be very useful for the students. We must not give up on libraries due
to the digital age. Nothing can ever replace the authenticity and reliability one gets from a library.
b. Do you have any public library in your locality? If so, do the people in your community use it? Give a couple
of
examples.
Yes, we have a public library in our locality. The name of the library is ‘Bhanubhakta Memorial
Library’. It is named after a Nepali writer, poet and translator Bhanubhakta Acharya known by the title
Adikavi. Of course, the people in our community use it.
This public library is the biggest treasure present in our society. It has all the resources one can take great
benefits from. One can easily find a lot of resources here that are not available anywhere on the World Wide Web.
Books are free for everyone and we shouldn’t spend a single penny for any book that we borrow. Books from
different genre such as science fiction, fiction and a lot more are kept here for people to borrow. One can use the
books in the library for many different purpose. This library helped me to study along with other reference books to
help me with my research. The availability of different kinds of books made mine and community people’s life
easier as we don’t have to go looking for books all over the city and can get everything under one roof. Also
there is free access to internet due to which its been easier for us to access online books for free. For me this
library has become a great place to socialize with my community members, as I can get to know people that have the
same interests as I do. This helps me to build relationships with people of similar interests.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. Where could the author be found when he was late for lunch or dinner?
The author is none other than the greatest neurologist and literary figure Oliver sacks. There was Oliver’s
favorite room, which was very quiet and beautiful in the house and it was the room of the oak-paneled library. His
parents had libraries in the house. So whenever he was late for lunch or dinner he could be found absorbed in a book
in the library.
b. What are his first memories?
Oliver was so inquisitive that he was absorbed in a book in his favourite room of library. He even used to get late
for his lunch and dinner as he was found to be too absorbed in the books. He learnt to read early in the morning at
4 or 5 o’clock. The beautiful oak panel library and books are his first memories.
c. Why did he dislike school?
He disliked school because he didn’t like to obey the instructions from the teachers. He gained better information
and knowledge exploring books in the libraries than that from the school. He used to get excellent lessons from the
libraries before the teachers taught in the class. He was not a good student but was a better learner. Thus, he
disliked school because he liked to learn himself in libraries being free to choose books of his own choice.
d. What did he feel about at the library?
He felt free when he is at the library. It is because he is free to choose any books of his interest out of
thousands of books. The atmosphere of the library was so comfortable and quiet that he roamed through the shelves
and wondered by the books kept in them. He also used to enjoy the quiet companionship of other readers all like him
in the same quest.
e. Why was he so biased about sciences especially astronomy and chemistry?
He was biased about science especially astronomy and chemistry because of the two reasons - The first reason was
that all the children used to dream of being astronauts and explore the space at that time. So he must have wished
to know about it. The second reason was that he got older and he only needed those books which would support his
studies.
f. Why did he become so fascinated by Hook?
He became so fascinated by Theodore Hook because he found the books written by him in the Bodleian library.
Actually, Hook was greatly admired for his wit and his genius theatrical and musical improvisation. He was the
greatest star in the nineteenth Century for what he had done. He had composed more than five hundred operas on the
spot.
g. Describe library at the Queen’s College.
The Queen’s College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, England. It has the magnificent building
designed in a form of palace by Christopher Wren, who was a great architect. Beneath the college, there were
underground large rooms which was the library. There were number of book shelves. There were heating pipes attached
to the walls and corners. The design of the library was classical. The books of original prints and editions from
Gesner to Darwin were available.
h. Why did the students ignore the bookshelves in the 1990s?
The students ignored the bookshelves in the 1990s because they had access to the digitalized books. The access of
books from their computers made them rarely go to the shelves. The books were no longer of their consideration. They
felt more comfortable with the new form of reading books in their electronic devices than going to the shelves in
the library.
i. Why was he horrified when he visited the library a couple of months ago?
He was horrified when he visited the library a couple of months ago because the books from almost all public
libraries were thrown out of the shelves and were digitized. Unfortunately he didn’t know how to use the computers.
The books, the shelves and libraries were gone one by one and he was deeply saddened in the loss of the centuries of
knowledge. Therefore, he was horrified.
Reference to the context
a. The author says, “I was not a good pupil, but I was a good listener.” Justify it with the textual
evidences.
‘On libraries’ is an autobiographical essay by one of the 20th century’s greatest neurologist and
author, Oliver Sacks. In this essay, he describes about his experiences of going to libraries and how successful
stories shaped his personality and made his life better. He describes how he developed his deep interest in visiting
the libraries till he became a successful figure and how he was deeply affected by the loss of books in the
libraries in 1990s.
Oliver Sacks says, “I was not a good pupil, but I was a good listener.” That’s true. He was always
absorbed in the books in the library and he got real education from there. When he was in school, he sat in the
classrooms, merely listened to teachers but he couldn’t be convinced on what he wanted in depth from the teachers.
He listened to them through one ear and blew away their sayings from another ear. However, it doesn’t mean he wasn’t
active in the class. He was not passive either. In terms of doing exercises, submitting assignment he himself
considered that he was not a good student (pupil) but he listened to them. Besides going to school, he preferably
spent most of his time in the library, where he enhanced his skill of gaining knowledge from the additional books.
He used to search the things that he listened from the teachers, compared the lectures with findings, noted down the
conclusion in the copies and into his mind. This kind of keen interest of reading in the library made him a good
reader, learner even though he consider himself as a poor student in the classroom.
b. A proverb says, "Nothing is pleasanter than exploring a library." Does this proverb apply in the
essay? Explain.
The given proverb, “Nothing is pleasanter than exploring a library” is quite appropriate for the essay
“On Libraries”. Nothing is more satisfying than reading a book in library with a literal companion.
Oliver Sacks was a bookworm who used to spend a lot of time in different libraries in different places. He disliked
school, sitting in class, receiving instruction; information seemed to go in one ear and out by the other. He had to
be active, learn for himself, learn what he wanted, and in the way which suited him best. So he roamed the shelves
and stacks of the libraries, had the freedom to select whatever he wanted. His book reading started from his own
library at home. All of his family members loved reading books and he was grown up in that environment. The
oak-paneled library at his own home was his favourite room. Instead of going to formal school, he preferred to read
freely in the library. He especially enjoyed the library environment and the quiet companions of other readers. Best
of all, he wants to sit at the library table with a pile of books in front of him. Therefore, he said that he was
not a good pupil, but was a good listener who explored different libraries to gain knowledge for his own academic
excellence. Hence the above proverb fits for this essay.
c. Are there any other services that you would like to see added to the library?
Yes, there are some other services that I would like to see added to the library. I would prefer different rooms for
different age groups such as child, adults and aged people because they prefer books most likely of their interest
with their age. The elders may like to read environment, nature, culture etc., the aged people may like to read
books related to politics, ethics, philosophy etc. and the kids would like to read stories, comics etc. The other
thing I would to see added in the library is surveillance camera. Many people tear the books or even take with them
due to which other readers are affected. Hence to prevent these bad activities on library, surveillance camera
should be fitted. Good furniture to read books on is also an essential thing to be added to the library. Readers may
feel bored reading on the tables. So, a small garden in the backyard of the library may be useful to remove the
reader’s tiredness. I would also like to see a cafe added to the library because peoples who love reading long
hours in the library may get hungry, then they can enjoy reading by eating something, which can quench their hunger.
These are the certain services that I would like to see added to the library.
Reference beyond the text
a. Write an essay on Libraries and its uses for students.
Libraries and its Uses for Students
A library is a place where books and sources of information are stored. They make it easier for people to get access
to them for various purposes. Libraries are very helpful and economical too. They include books, magazines,
newspapers, DVDs, manuscripts and more. In other words, they are an all-encompassing source of information.
Libraries play a vital role in providing students with reliable content. They encourage and promote the process of
learning and grasping knowledge. The book worms can get loads of books to read from and enhance their knowledge.
Moreover, the variety is so wide-ranging that one mostly gets what they are looking for. Most importantly, libraries
are a great platform for making progress. When we get homework in class, the libraries help us with the reference
material. This, in turn, progresses our learning capabilities and knowledge. It is also helpful in our overall
development. It helps us in learning and expanding our knowledge. We develop our reading habits from a library and
satisfy our thirst and curiosity for knowledge. This helps in the personal growth of a person and development.
Libraries are very economical. The students who cannot afford to buy new books and can simply borrow books from a
library. This helps them in saving a lot of money and getting information for free.
In short, libraries are a great place to gain knowledge. They serve each students differently. They are a great
source of learning and promoting the progress of knowledge. One can enjoy their free time in libraries by reading
and researching. As the world has become digitized, it is now easier to browse through a library and get what you
are looking for. Thus, libraries are found to be very useful for the students. We must not give up on libraries due
to the digital age. Nothing can ever replace the authenticity and reliability one gets from a library.
b. Do you have any public library in your locality? If so, do the people in your community use it? Give a couple
of
examples.
Yes, we have a public library in our locality. The name of the library is ‘Bhanubhakta Memorial
Library’. It is named after a Nepali writer, poet and translator Bhanubhakta Acharya known by the title
Adikavi. Of course, the people in our community use it.
This public library is the biggest treasure present in our society. It has all the resources one can take great
benefits from. One can easily find a lot of resources here that are not available anywhere on the World Wide Web.
Books are free for everyone and we shouldn’t spend a single penny for any book that we borrow. Books from
different genre such as science fiction, fiction and a lot more are kept here for people to borrow. One can use the
books in the library for many different purpose. This library helped me to study along with other reference books to
help me with my research. The availability of different kinds of books made mine and community people’s life
easier as we don’t have to go looking for books all over the city and can get everything under one roof. Also
there is free access to internet due to which its been easier for us to access online books for free. For me this
library has become a great place to socialize with my community members, as I can get to know people that have the
same interests as I do. This helps me to build relationships with people of similar interests.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesEssay 2: Marriage as a Social Institution
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. According to the author, what is marriage?
According to the author, marriage is much more than the sum of spouses which is defined by loyal, moral and
conventional assumptions and have a variety of close personal relationships and associations.
b. How is marriage an institution?
Marriage is an institution in the sense that it is a means of meeting social, economic, physical and family
requirements by two individuals, and it is linked to other institutions such as education, the economy and
politics.
c. What are the rules that a marriage has?
Marriage has a complex set of rules that help in the planning and maintenance of the rights of the spouses to each
other within a society..
d. Why does marriage matter to men?
Marriage matters to men because it provides structure to their lives and organizes their goals and ambitions.
e. What is one of the central problems in modern society?
One of the central problems in modern society is putting various legitimate boundaries around modern individuals
seemingly limiting the desires for wellbeing, comfort, luxury and prestige.
f. What does social capital consist of?
Social capital consists of a vast network of people who are all connected by a bond of trustworthiness and
reliability.
g. What is normative marriage? Explain.
Normative marriage is a form of social control, a way by which behaviors and aspirations are channeled
appropriately. It is a force greater than the individuals involved because it represents the collective sentiments
of others. Marriage in this view is qualitatively different from other intimate relationships.
Reference to the context
a. Discuss six dimensions that define normative marriage in America.
The six dimensions that define normative marriage in America are: marriages are entered voluntarily by mature,
heterosexual adults with the expectation that husbands will be the principal earners, that both partners will be
sexually faithful, and that married partners will become parents. Although many marriages depart from these ideals,
the ideals still constitute the core of normative marriage as it is expressed in law, religion, and custom.
Normative marriage is a form of social control, a way by which behaviors and aspirations are channeled
appropriately. It is a force greater than the individuals involved because it represents the collective sentiments
of others. Marriage in this view is qualitatively different from other intimate relationships. Much of the meaning
of marriage in men’s lives will be found in these rules. Together, these six premises provide a definition of
marriage that will inform the rest of this work.
b. Do marriages differ according to culture? How is your marriage practice different from marriage in America?
Marriage practices vary across cultures. Every culture has its own way of conducting marriage according to their
traditions and customs. Most cultures share common customs and practices, while some cultures have unique practices.
Even within our country, the marriage practices of one geographical place differ from those of others. However, the
Hindu religion is practiced by the majority of Nepalese people.
Marriage practices in Nepal is totally different than in America. Marriage practices are not so important in the
American culture, and couples are free to choose; to follow common or to choose a combination of practices. The
American culture is not strong on the institution of marriage as it is for Nepal. The current American society does
not consider marriage institution; its importance comes after career and financial matters. Nepal considers the
marriage institution as very important and should be treated with all respect by all in the society. The importance
of the marriage institution is evident from the marriage practices that have remained consistent in the Nepalese
culture. In Nepal, most of the marriage are arranged by the parents but in America, couples choose their partner
themselves. Marriage not only connects the two individuals (boy and girl), but also unites two different families.
There is equal involvement of the parents of the couple for the marriage ritual in Nepal. In this way, the marriage
practices differs in our culture than in America.
Reference beyond the text
a. Write an essay on the marriage practice in your own culture.
Marriage Practice in My Culture
Marriage is the social, spiritual, cultural and legal union between a man and a woman as husband and wife. Nepal has
a wide variety of ethnicity and tribal population, giving diversity to the rituals and practices involved in
weddings. However, the majority of marriages in Nepal are either according to Hindu tradition or Buddhist
traditions. I am from Hindu culture.
In my culture the groom and his family along with neighbors, relatives and music band leave for bride’s house
on the wedding day. The group of people along with the groom and music band is called ‘Janti’. The janti
is leaded by the group of women carrying trays with foods and gift (called ‘Saipata’) for the
bride’s family. There is traditional music band that play traditional musical instruments called ‘Panche
Baja’. Behind them are groom and the group of people performing dance. The wedding ceremony is performed at
bride’s house. On the arrival of janti at bride’s house they are welcomed by the parents and relatives
of Bride. The saipata is handed to the bride’s family and Janti is welcomed with the feast called ‘Janti
Bhoj’ (marriage party). Groom is taken to ‘Jaggey’ or ‘Mandap’ (the place to perform
the wedding ritual).
The most important person of the wedding ceremony is ‘Pundit’ (priest). The Pundit performs the marriage
ceremony by chanting the ‘mantras’ through the holy book. The marriage ceremony is interesting due to
different rituals performed in front of the sacred fire. There are numerous instructions for the couples while
performing the ceremony guided by the Pundit. The ritual is performed by revolving around the sacred fire for seven
time with the knot tied between the couples indicating the seven lives of togetherness. The marriage ritual is
completed when the groom puts ‘Sindur’ (red vermillion powder) on bride’s head and
‘Potey’ or ‘Tilari’ (a holy Necklace) around the neck. Sindur and Potey have great
significance for married women in my culture. After this the bride’s father washes the feet of the wedded
couple and all the relatives and family members will bless them with ‘Tika’ (on forehead) and gifts.
Finally the married couple along with the janti departs from the bride’s house dancing and celebrating with
Panche baja.
The wedded couples are welcomed in the groom’s house by groom’s family. Lot of entertainment activities
and celebration is carried out at Groom’s house called “Ratyauli”. Ratyauli is celebration at
groom’s house which includes singing, dancing and starts a day before the wedding. The marriage ritual is thus
the most important as well as entertaining ritual since whole family members and relatives are involved. The wedded
couple starts their new life by sharing their feeling, body, culture, and love for eternity. In this way, the couple
begins their newly wed life in my culture.
b. Is marriage a social institution? Discuss.
Marriage is a social institution. It defines a personal forms of relationship between man and women who make a
long-lasting commitment to each other. Marriage is a unique social institution that could be interpreted and defined
in a variety of forms and characterizations.
In an emotional aspect, marriage can be generalized as being in a romantic love relationship in which it is legally
monogamous. Although sharing an emotional bond with a significant other is important, there are several factors that
must be taken into consideration when making a decision into getting married. A couple must understand the depths of
marriage in terms of survival. This emphasizes the realistic aspect of marriage which involves money. Affording a
house, a family, and the necessary items to accommodate the institution can accumulate. With the right education and
career, middle and upper class couples’ divorce rates have decreased, their marital happiness is consistent
along with family structure.
Marriage is a socially approved courtship between two individuals in which the relationship involves sexual and
economic benefits that is assumed to be permanent and includes mutual rights and obligations. It is a stable
relationship in which a man and a woman are socially permitted to live together without losing their status in the
community. Marriage is not merely concerned with the couple; rather it affects the whole society and future
generations. The responsibilities it entrusts a couple with are thus both heavy and delicate.
In Hindu view, marriage is not a concession to human weakness, but a means for spiritual growth. Man and woman are
soul mates who, through the institution of marriage, can direct the energy associated with their individual
instincts and passion into the progress of their souls. So, I think that marriage is a social institution.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. According to the author, what is marriage?
According to the author, marriage is much more than the sum of spouses which is defined by loyal, moral and
conventional assumptions and have a variety of close personal relationships and associations.
b. How is marriage an institution?
Marriage is an institution in the sense that it is a means of meeting social, economic, physical and family
requirements by two individuals, and it is linked to other institutions such as education, the economy and
politics.
c. What are the rules that a marriage has?
Marriage has a complex set of rules that help in the planning and maintenance of the rights of the spouses to each
other within a society..
d. Why does marriage matter to men?
Marriage matters to men because it provides structure to their lives and organizes their goals and ambitions.
e. What is one of the central problems in modern society?
One of the central problems in modern society is putting various legitimate boundaries around modern individuals
seemingly limiting the desires for wellbeing, comfort, luxury and prestige.
f. What does social capital consist of?
Social capital consists of a vast network of people who are all connected by a bond of trustworthiness and
reliability.
g. What is normative marriage? Explain.
Normative marriage is a form of social control, a way by which behaviors and aspirations are channeled
appropriately. It is a force greater than the individuals involved because it represents the collective sentiments
of others. Marriage in this view is qualitatively different from other intimate relationships.
Reference to the context
a. Discuss six dimensions that define normative marriage in America.
The six dimensions that define normative marriage in America are: marriages are entered voluntarily by mature,
heterosexual adults with the expectation that husbands will be the principal earners, that both partners will be
sexually faithful, and that married partners will become parents. Although many marriages depart from these ideals,
the ideals still constitute the core of normative marriage as it is expressed in law, religion, and custom.
Normative marriage is a form of social control, a way by which behaviors and aspirations are channeled
appropriately. It is a force greater than the individuals involved because it represents the collective sentiments
of others. Marriage in this view is qualitatively different from other intimate relationships. Much of the meaning
of marriage in men’s lives will be found in these rules. Together, these six premises provide a definition of
marriage that will inform the rest of this work.
b. Do marriages differ according to culture? How is your marriage practice different from marriage in America?
Marriage practices vary across cultures. Every culture has its own way of conducting marriage according to their
traditions and customs. Most cultures share common customs and practices, while some cultures have unique practices.
Even within our country, the marriage practices of one geographical place differ from those of others. However, the
Hindu religion is practiced by the majority of Nepalese people.
Marriage practices in Nepal is totally different than in America. Marriage practices are not so important in the
American culture, and couples are free to choose; to follow common or to choose a combination of practices. The
American culture is not strong on the institution of marriage as it is for Nepal. The current American society does
not consider marriage institution; its importance comes after career and financial matters. Nepal considers the
marriage institution as very important and should be treated with all respect by all in the society. The importance
of the marriage institution is evident from the marriage practices that have remained consistent in the Nepalese
culture. In Nepal, most of the marriage are arranged by the parents but in America, couples choose their partner
themselves. Marriage not only connects the two individuals (boy and girl), but also unites two different families.
There is equal involvement of the parents of the couple for the marriage ritual in Nepal. In this way, the marriage
practices differs in our culture than in America.
Reference beyond the text
a. Write an essay on the marriage practice in your own culture.
Marriage Practice in My Culture
Marriage is the social, spiritual, cultural and legal union between a man and a woman as husband and wife. Nepal has
a wide variety of ethnicity and tribal population, giving diversity to the rituals and practices involved in
weddings. However, the majority of marriages in Nepal are either according to Hindu tradition or Buddhist
traditions. I am from Hindu culture.
In my culture the groom and his family along with neighbors, relatives and music band leave for bride’s house
on the wedding day. The group of people along with the groom and music band is called ‘Janti’. The janti
is leaded by the group of women carrying trays with foods and gift (called ‘Saipata’) for the
bride’s family. There is traditional music band that play traditional musical instruments called ‘Panche
Baja’. Behind them are groom and the group of people performing dance. The wedding ceremony is performed at
bride’s house. On the arrival of janti at bride’s house they are welcomed by the parents and relatives
of Bride. The saipata is handed to the bride’s family and Janti is welcomed with the feast called ‘Janti
Bhoj’ (marriage party). Groom is taken to ‘Jaggey’ or ‘Mandap’ (the place to perform
the wedding ritual).
The most important person of the wedding ceremony is ‘Pundit’ (priest). The Pundit performs the marriage
ceremony by chanting the ‘mantras’ through the holy book. The marriage ceremony is interesting due to
different rituals performed in front of the sacred fire. There are numerous instructions for the couples while
performing the ceremony guided by the Pundit. The ritual is performed by revolving around the sacred fire for seven
time with the knot tied between the couples indicating the seven lives of togetherness. The marriage ritual is
completed when the groom puts ‘Sindur’ (red vermillion powder) on bride’s head and
‘Potey’ or ‘Tilari’ (a holy Necklace) around the neck. Sindur and Potey have great
significance for married women in my culture. After this the bride’s father washes the feet of the wedded
couple and all the relatives and family members will bless them with ‘Tika’ (on forehead) and gifts.
Finally the married couple along with the janti departs from the bride’s house dancing and celebrating with
Panche baja.
The wedded couples are welcomed in the groom’s house by groom’s family. Lot of entertainment activities
and celebration is carried out at Groom’s house called “Ratyauli”. Ratyauli is celebration at
groom’s house which includes singing, dancing and starts a day before the wedding. The marriage ritual is thus
the most important as well as entertaining ritual since whole family members and relatives are involved. The wedded
couple starts their new life by sharing their feeling, body, culture, and love for eternity. In this way, the couple
begins their newly wed life in my culture.
b. Is marriage a social institution? Discuss.
Marriage is a social institution. It defines a personal forms of relationship between man and women who make a
long-lasting commitment to each other. Marriage is a unique social institution that could be interpreted and defined
in a variety of forms and characterizations.
In an emotional aspect, marriage can be generalized as being in a romantic love relationship in which it is legally
monogamous. Although sharing an emotional bond with a significant other is important, there are several factors that
must be taken into consideration when making a decision into getting married. A couple must understand the depths of
marriage in terms of survival. This emphasizes the realistic aspect of marriage which involves money. Affording a
house, a family, and the necessary items to accommodate the institution can accumulate. With the right education and
career, middle and upper class couples’ divorce rates have decreased, their marital happiness is consistent
along with family structure.
Marriage is a socially approved courtship between two individuals in which the relationship involves sexual and
economic benefits that is assumed to be permanent and includes mutual rights and obligations. It is a stable
relationship in which a man and a woman are socially permitted to live together without losing their status in the
community. Marriage is not merely concerned with the couple; rather it affects the whole society and future
generations. The responsibilities it entrusts a couple with are thus both heavy and delicate.
In Hindu view, marriage is not a concession to human weakness, but a means for spiritual growth. Man and woman are
soul mates who, through the institution of marriage, can direct the energy associated with their individual
instincts and passion into the progress of their souls. So, I think that marriage is a social institution.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesEssay 3: Knowledge and Wisdom
Summary
Knowledge and wisdom are different things. According to Russell, knowledge is defined as the acquisition of data and
information, while wisdom is defined as the practical application and use of the knowledge to create value. Wisdom
is gained through learning and practical experience, not just memorization. Knowledge and Wisdom defines the various
ways of achieving Wisdom. He laments that though vast knowledge has been acquired; there has been no corresponding
increase in wisdom. Russell defines wisdom by telling us about things which contribute to wisdom.
The first is a sense of proportion. It is the capacity to consider all important factors in a problem carefully.
Specialization makes it difficult. For example scientists discover new medicines but they do not know what impact
these medicines will have on the life of the people. The medicines may reduce the infant death rate. But it may lead
to increased population. In poor countries it may lead to shortage of food. If there are more people, it may lower
the standard of life. The knowledge of the composition of the atom could be misused by a lunatic to destroy the
world. If misused, knowledge of atom can lead human to destruction by manufacturing nuclear weapon.
Knowledge without wisdom can be harmful. It should be combined with the total needs of mankind. Even complete
knowledge is not enough. It should be related with certain knowledge of the purpose of life. The study of history
can illustrate it. For example Hegel wrote with great knowledge about history, but made the Germans believe that
they were a master race. It led to war. It is necessary therefore to combine knowledge with feelings. Men who have
knowledge and have no feelings lack wisdom. We need wisdom both in public and private life. We need wisdom to decide
the goal of our life. We need it to free ourselves from personal prejudices. We may follow even a novel thing
unwisely if it is too big to achieve. Man may attempt to achieve the impossible, he may do harm to himself in the
process.
In personal life, says Russell, wisdom is needed to avoid dislike for one another. Two persons may remain enemies
because of their prejudice. One may dislike the other for imaginary faults. If they can be told that we all have
flaws (faults) then they may become friends. We can avoid hatred if we are wise. Wisdom lies in freeing ourselves
from the control of our sense organs. Our ego develops through our senses. We cannot be free from the sense of
sight, sound and touch. We know the world primarily through our senses. As we grow we discover that there are other
things also. We start recognizing them. Thus we give up thinking of ourselves alone. We start thinking of other
people and grow wiser. We give up on our ego. It is difficult to completely get rid of selfishness, but we can think
of things beyond our immediate surroundings. Wisdom comes when we start loving others.
Russell feels that wisdom can be taught as a goal of education. The message in the parable of the Good Samaritan is
that we should love our neighbour whether friend or foe. Many a time we miss the message in this parable
(story/fable)because we fail to love those who cause harm to the society. In brief Russell tells us not to hate
anybody. The author draws out examples from the history of Queen Elizabeth I, Henry IV and Abraham Lincoln, who were
free from the errors committed by other eminent people in the past.
The danger of hatred and narrow-mindedness can be pointed out in the course of giving knowledge. Russell feels
knowledge and wisdom can be combined in the scheme of education. People should be educated to see things in relation
to other things of the world. They should be encouraged to think of themselves as world citizens.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. What are the factors that contribute to wisdom?
Russell believes that there are several factors that contribute to wisdom. The first factor is a sense of
proportion. He defines it as the capacity to take account of all the important factors in a problem and to attach to
each its due weight. The second factor focuses on awareness of the ends of human life. Russell substantiates this
factor using the example of Hegel, an eminent historian from Germany. The third factor is emancipation from personal
prejudice. Russell also stresses on the need to try and view the world with impartiality although to the view the
world with complete impartiality is impossible.
b. What message does the writer try to convey with the example of technicians?
The writer tries to tell us knowledge itself cannot save the world. Knowledge without wisdom will not benefit the
world and in some cases will even pose a serious threat to humanity. So a wise person has to have a comprehensive
view.
c. Which leaders does Russell say were able to mix knowledge and wisdom soundly?
Queen Elizabeth I in England, Henry IV in France and Abraham Lincoln in the United States of America were the
leaders Bertrand Russell says who were able to mix knowledge and wisdom soundly. Queen Elizabeth I and Henry IV
remained free from the errors of their time, being unaffected by the conflict between the Protestants and the
Catholics. Abraham Lincoln conducted a great war without ever departing from wisdom.
d. Why is wisdom needed not only in public ways, but in private life equally?
Wisdom helps to free ourselves from personal prejudices and hatred against one another. Two persons may remain
enemies because of their prejudice. One may dislike the other for imaginary faults. However, if they can be told
that we all have flaws then they may become friends. This is the matter of public life. Considering about the
private life too, we may fail in choosing the target of our life and we may not have sufficient patience and
sufficient persuasiveness. That’s why wisdom is needed not only in public ways, but in private life equally.
e. What, according to Russell, is the true aim of education?
Russell feels that wisdom can be taught as a goal of education. The message in the parable of the Good Samaritan is
that we should love our neighbour whether friend or foe. However, in many situations we miss the message in this
parable because we fail to love those who cause harm to the society. The only way to eradicate hatred is through
understanding and love. Queen Elizabeth I in England, Henry IV in France and Abraham Lincoln in the United States of
America were the leaders Russell says who were able to mix knowledge and wisdom soundly. Russell feels knowledge and
wisdom can be combined in the scheme of education. People should be educated to see things in relation to other
things of the world.
f. Can wisdom be taught? If so, how?
Yes wisdom can be taught as a goal of education. The message in the parable of the Good Samaritan is that we should
love our neighbour whether friend or foe. However, in many situations we miss the message in this parable because we
fail to love those who cause harm to the society. The only way to eradicate hatred is through teaching of the
wisdom. The danger of hatred and narrow-mindedness can be pointed out in the course of giving knowledge. Russell
feels knowledge and wisdom can be combined in the scheme of education. People should be educated to see things in
relation to other things of the world. They should be encouraged to think of themselves as world citizens.
g. Why does the world need more wisdom in the future?
Wisdom is needed to free ourselves from personal prejudices and hatred against one another. Two persons may remain
enemies because of their prejudice. One may dislike the other for imaginary faults. However, if they can be told
that we all have flaws then they may become friends. We can avoid hatred if we are wise. Wisdom lies in freeing
ourselves from the control of our sense organs. Our ego develops through our senses. As we grow, we give up thinking
of ourselves alone. We start thinking of other people and grow wiser and thereby help us in giving up on our ego.
Thus, the world needs more wisdom in the future.
Reference to the context
a. According to Russel, “The pursuit of knowledge may become harmful unless it is combined with
wisdom.”
Justify this statement.
The essay ‘Knowledge and Wisdom’ written by Bertrand Russell talks about the need to integrate knowledge
and wisdom. He defines various ways of achieving wisdom and how knowledge without wisdom can be harmful.
Russell stresses on the importance of comprehensiveness, but at the same time says that comprehensiveness alone does
not constitute wisdom. Hegel’s philosophy was comprehensive, but was lacking in wisdom and there was prejudice
in his philosophy. Hegel wrote with great knowledge about history, but made the Germans believe that they were the
most powerful race in the whole world which led to war. Therefore, it is necessary to combine knowledge with
feelings. Men who have knowledge and have no feelings lack wisdom. We need wisdom both in public and private life.
b. What, according to Russell, is the essence of wisdom? And how can one acquire the very essence?
Russell believes that it is unwise to pursue certain goals if it is impossible of achievement. He points out that
the essence of wisdom is to free oneself from the confinement of the physical world and the emotional world and look
beyond. He also points out that emancipation from personal prejudice makes one’s thoughts and feelings to
become less personal which contributes to wisdom.
Wisdom does not come immediately with knowledge. According to Russell, wisdom is defined as the practical
application and use of the knowledge to create value. One can acquire the very essence through learning and
practical experience, not just memorization.
Reference beyond the text
a. Why is wisdom necessary in education? Discuss.
Wisdom is necessary in education because with every increase of knowledge and skill, wisdom becomes more necessary.
If wisdom is inculcated it helps us realise our purposes whether it is unwise or not. Wisdom is needed to free
ourselves from personal prejudices and hatred against one another. Two persons may remain enemies because of their
prejudice. One may dislike the other for imaginary faults. However, if they can be told that we all have flaws then
they may become friends.
We can avoid hatred if we learn how to be wise. Wisdom lies in freeing ourselves from the control of our sense
organs. Our ego develops through our senses. As we grow, we give up thinking of ourselves alone. We start thinking
of other people and grow wiser and thereby help us in giving up on our ego. The danger of hatred and
narrow-mindedness can be pointed out in the course of giving knowledge. Therefore, there is the great necessity of
wisdom in education.
b. How can you become wise? Do you think what you are doing in college contributes to wisdom?
Wisdom is something that’s hard to define and yet somehow we know it when we see it. The wise people stay calm
in a crisis. They recognize the limits of their own knowledge, consider alternative perspectives, and remember that
the world is always changing.
Becoming wiser is not a matter of night. Patience and discipline are the key to become wiser. Wise reasoning is
associated with a whole lot of positives: higher life satisfaction, fewer negative feelings, better relationships
and less depressive rumination. A wise man commits mistakes. You learn by your own mistakes. It’s necessary to
remember that the more you commit mistakes the more you learn and the more you improve. Staying happy is also a step
to become wiser. No matter what happens in your life, just be happy, keep the faith and solve the problems calmly. A
wise man is never afraid of any situations. He/she work peacefully to solve the problem. I think this are the
certain ways to become wise.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. What are the factors that contribute to wisdom?
Russell believes that there are several factors that contribute to wisdom. The first factor is a sense of
proportion. He defines it as the capacity to take account of all the important factors in a problem and to attach to
each its due weight. The second factor focuses on awareness of the ends of human life. Russell substantiates this
factor using the example of Hegel, an eminent historian from Germany. The third factor is emancipation from personal
prejudice. Russell also stresses on the need to try and view the world with impartiality although to the view the
world with complete impartiality is impossible.
b. What message does the writer try to convey with the example of technicians?
The writer tries to tell us knowledge itself cannot save the world. Knowledge without wisdom will not benefit the
world and in some cases will even pose a serious threat to humanity. So a wise person has to have a comprehensive
view.
c. Which leaders does Russell say were able to mix knowledge and wisdom soundly?
Queen Elizabeth I in England, Henry IV in France and Abraham Lincoln in the United States of America were the
leaders Bertrand Russell says who were able to mix knowledge and wisdom soundly. Queen Elizabeth I and Henry IV
remained free from the errors of their time, being unaffected by the conflict between the Protestants and the
Catholics. Abraham Lincoln conducted a great war without ever departing from wisdom.
d. Why is wisdom needed not only in public ways, but in private life equally?
Wisdom helps to free ourselves from personal prejudices and hatred against one another. Two persons may remain
enemies because of their prejudice. One may dislike the other for imaginary faults. However, if they can be told
that we all have flaws then they may become friends. This is the matter of public life. Considering about the
private life too, we may fail in choosing the target of our life and we may not have sufficient patience and
sufficient persuasiveness. That’s why wisdom is needed not only in public ways, but in private life equally.
e. What, according to Russell, is the true aim of education?
Russell feels that wisdom can be taught as a goal of education. The message in the parable of the Good Samaritan is
that we should love our neighbour whether friend or foe. However, in many situations we miss the message in this
parable because we fail to love those who cause harm to the society. The only way to eradicate hatred is through
understanding and love. Queen Elizabeth I in England, Henry IV in France and Abraham Lincoln in the United States of
America were the leaders Russell says who were able to mix knowledge and wisdom soundly. Russell feels knowledge and
wisdom can be combined in the scheme of education. People should be educated to see things in relation to other
things of the world.
f. Can wisdom be taught? If so, how?
Yes wisdom can be taught as a goal of education. The message in the parable of the Good Samaritan is that we should
love our neighbour whether friend or foe. However, in many situations we miss the message in this parable because we
fail to love those who cause harm to the society. The only way to eradicate hatred is through teaching of the
wisdom. The danger of hatred and narrow-mindedness can be pointed out in the course of giving knowledge. Russell
feels knowledge and wisdom can be combined in the scheme of education. People should be educated to see things in
relation to other things of the world. They should be encouraged to think of themselves as world citizens.
g. Why does the world need more wisdom in the future?
Wisdom is needed to free ourselves from personal prejudices and hatred against one another. Two persons may remain
enemies because of their prejudice. One may dislike the other for imaginary faults. However, if they can be told
that we all have flaws then they may become friends. We can avoid hatred if we are wise. Wisdom lies in freeing
ourselves from the control of our sense organs. Our ego develops through our senses. As we grow, we give up thinking
of ourselves alone. We start thinking of other people and grow wiser and thereby help us in giving up on our ego.
Thus, the world needs more wisdom in the future.
Reference to the context
a. According to Russel, “The pursuit of knowledge may become harmful unless it is combined with
wisdom.”
Justify this statement.
The essay ‘Knowledge and Wisdom’ written by Bertrand Russell talks about the need to integrate knowledge
and wisdom. He defines various ways of achieving wisdom and how knowledge without wisdom can be harmful.
Russell stresses on the importance of comprehensiveness, but at the same time says that comprehensiveness alone does
not constitute wisdom. Hegel’s philosophy was comprehensive, but was lacking in wisdom and there was prejudice
in his philosophy. Hegel wrote with great knowledge about history, but made the Germans believe that they were the
most powerful race in the whole world which led to war. Therefore, it is necessary to combine knowledge with
feelings. Men who have knowledge and have no feelings lack wisdom. We need wisdom both in public and private life.
b. What, according to Russell, is the essence of wisdom? And how can one acquire the very essence?
Russell believes that it is unwise to pursue certain goals if it is impossible of achievement. He points out that
the essence of wisdom is to free oneself from the confinement of the physical world and the emotional world and look
beyond. He also points out that emancipation from personal prejudice makes one’s thoughts and feelings to
become less personal which contributes to wisdom.
Wisdom does not come immediately with knowledge. According to Russell, wisdom is defined as the practical
application and use of the knowledge to create value. One can acquire the very essence through learning and
practical experience, not just memorization.
Reference beyond the text
a. Why is wisdom necessary in education? Discuss.
Wisdom is necessary in education because with every increase of knowledge and skill, wisdom becomes more necessary.
If wisdom is inculcated it helps us realise our purposes whether it is unwise or not. Wisdom is needed to free
ourselves from personal prejudices and hatred against one another. Two persons may remain enemies because of their
prejudice. One may dislike the other for imaginary faults. However, if they can be told that we all have flaws then
they may become friends.
We can avoid hatred if we learn how to be wise. Wisdom lies in freeing ourselves from the control of our sense
organs. Our ego develops through our senses. As we grow, we give up thinking of ourselves alone. We start thinking
of other people and grow wiser and thereby help us in giving up on our ego. The danger of hatred and
narrow-mindedness can be pointed out in the course of giving knowledge. Therefore, there is the great necessity of
wisdom in education.
b. How can you become wise? Do you think what you are doing in college contributes to wisdom?
Wisdom is something that’s hard to define and yet somehow we know it when we see it. The wise people stay calm
in a crisis. They recognize the limits of their own knowledge, consider alternative perspectives, and remember that
the world is always changing.
Becoming wiser is not a matter of night. Patience and discipline are the key to become wiser. Wise reasoning is
associated with a whole lot of positives: higher life satisfaction, fewer negative feelings, better relationships
and less depressive rumination. A wise man commits mistakes. You learn by your own mistakes. It’s necessary to
remember that the more you commit mistakes the more you learn and the more you improve. Staying happy is also a step
to become wiser. No matter what happens in your life, just be happy, keep the faith and solve the problems calmly. A
wise man is never afraid of any situations. He/she work peacefully to solve the problem. I think this are the
certain ways to become wise.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesEssay 4: Humility
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. Describe the claim of the Chinese nationalists about human history.
Chinese nationalists claim that history began with the Yellow Emperor and the Xia and Shang dynasties. They believe
that anything that was accomplished by other rulers like westerners, Muslims or Indians is a bit imitation of
Chinese achievement.
b. What do pious Muslims believe about human history?
Pious Muslims believe that all history follows the Quran. All the history before Prophet Muhammad was mostly
meaningless and all history after that following Quran’s revelation revolves around the Muslim ummah.
c. What did the Aztecs firmly believe about the universe?
The Aztecs firmly believed about the universe that annual sacrifice is the reason behind the existence of the
universe. Without annual sacrifice, the sun wouldn’t rise and the whole cosmos would collapse.
d. What, according to the essay, are the universal human abilities?
According to the essay, the universal human abilities are art, creativity, spirituality and mortality.
e. How are the basic yoga postures derived from the shape of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet?
The basic yoga postures derived from the shape of letters of the Hebrew alphabet as the yoga posture Tuladandasana
imitates the letter ‘daled’, Trikonasana imitated the form of the Hebrew letter ‘aleph’ and so on.
Reference to the context
a. How do Hindu nationalists refute the Chinese claim that human history began with the Yellow Emperor and the
Xia and Shang dynasties? Who do you agree with, and why?
Hindu nationalists refute the Chinese claim that humans began with the Yellow Emperor and the Xia and Shang
dynasties by claiming that Indian sages developed the theory of planes and nuclear weapons long before Plato,
Confucius or Einstein and the Wright brothers.
In the Hindu holy books of Hindus, different evidence of discoveries and inventions are found long before any
scientists proved them. Hinduism is found to be the oldest religion in the world according to various scientific as
well as archaeological studies. Thus I agree with the Hindu nationalists over Chinese claims through different
evidence that was found in Hinduism.
b. The author has dealt with a controversial debate on human history. Why do you think history has been a
major contested issue in the present world?
The essay ‘Humility’ written by Yuval Noah Harari is about the different controversies about human history. The
essay presents the thoughts and people’s beliefs in human history according to their religion.
In my opinion, history has been a major contested issue in the present world due to egoism. I would like to call
egoism the supremacy of their belief in their religion only rather than understanding others. Most individuals
believe that their religion is the oldest and they are the center of the universe. They believe that their culture
is superior to all others. According to them, everything originated from their culture. So because of egoism human
history has been a major contested issue. The author wishes to remove a sense of superiority and domination from
humanity.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. Describe the claim of the Chinese nationalists about human history.
Chinese nationalists claim that history began with the Yellow Emperor and the Xia and Shang dynasties. They believe
that anything that was accomplished by other rulers like westerners, Muslims or Indians is a bit imitation of
Chinese achievement.
b. What do pious Muslims believe about human history?
Pious Muslims believe that all history follows the Quran. All the history before Prophet Muhammad was mostly
meaningless and all history after that following Quran’s revelation revolves around the Muslim ummah.
c. What did the Aztecs firmly believe about the universe?
The Aztecs firmly believed about the universe that annual sacrifice is the reason behind the existence of the
universe. Without annual sacrifice, the sun wouldn’t rise and the whole cosmos would collapse.
d. What, according to the essay, are the universal human abilities?
According to the essay, the universal human abilities are art, creativity, spirituality and mortality.
e. How are the basic yoga postures derived from the shape of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet?
The basic yoga postures derived from the shape of letters of the Hebrew alphabet as the yoga posture Tuladandasana
imitates the letter ‘daled’, Trikonasana imitated the form of the Hebrew letter ‘aleph’ and so on.
Reference to the context
a. How do Hindu nationalists refute the Chinese claim that human history began with the Yellow Emperor and the
Xia and Shang dynasties? Who do you agree with, and why?
Hindu nationalists refute the Chinese claim that humans began with the Yellow Emperor and the Xia and Shang
dynasties by claiming that Indian sages developed the theory of planes and nuclear weapons long before Plato,
Confucius or Einstein and the Wright brothers.
In the Hindu holy books of Hindus, different evidence of discoveries and inventions are found long before any
scientists proved them. Hinduism is found to be the oldest religion in the world according to various scientific as
well as archaeological studies. Thus I agree with the Hindu nationalists over Chinese claims through different
evidence that was found in Hinduism.
b. The author has dealt with a controversial debate on human history. Why do you think history has been a
major contested issue in the present world?
The essay ‘Humility’ written by Yuval Noah Harari is about the different controversies about human history. The
essay presents the thoughts and people’s beliefs in human history according to their religion.
In my opinion, history has been a major contested issue in the present world due to egoism. I would like to call
egoism the supremacy of their belief in their religion only rather than understanding others. Most individuals
believe that their religion is the oldest and they are the center of the universe. They believe that their culture
is superior to all others. According to them, everything originated from their culture. So because of egoism human
history has been a major contested issue. The author wishes to remove a sense of superiority and domination from
humanity.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesEssay 5: Human Rights and the Age of Inequality
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. What is the first human rights declaration adopted by the United Nations?
The first human rights declaration adopted by the United Nations is mobilization for economic and social rights.
b. When is Human Rights Day observed?
Human rights day is observed on 10th December every year.
c. What is the goal of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
The goal of the Universal Declaration of human rights is to assure the most basic entitlements and key values of
human welfare and rights like equality, dignity, freedom, fairness and respect. Also, its goal is to assert justice
and peace in the world alongside the foundation of freedom.
d. What are two big stages that involve writing the history of human rights about that of political
economy?
The two big stages that involve writing the history of human rights about that of the political economy include the
heroic age of national welfare after the condition of World War II and the bitter enemies of the new cold war era in
1948.
e. What are the facts that have been missed in Roosevelt’s call for a “second Bill of
Rights”?
The facts that have been missed in Roosevelt’s call for a “second Bill of rights” are:
- It marked a provincial America’s late and ginger entry into a North Atlantic consensus which is already
foreordained.
- His highest promise was “special privileges for the few” instead of protection of masses which creates
a ceiling of inequality.
- He hoped that it would h4 the globe but it was organized nationally instead of organizing internationally.
f. Write the truth expressed in Herodotus’s Histories.
The truth expressed in Herodotus’ histories is to assure global socio-economic justice, local socio-economic
justice. it would require redistribution from rich to poor by novel forms of legal activism.
g. Why is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights important to you?
The universal declaration of human rights is important to me as it assures the basic rights of humans and provides
justice, equality, equity for all human beings equally. it aimed to remove injustice, partiality, discrimination,
inequality and so many inhuman behaviors from society.
Reference to the context
a. Does the essay give ways on how to stigmatize inequality? Explain.
The essay “human rights and age of inequality” written by Samuel Moyn is the essay briefing about how
the concept of human rights arises and what it brought to human welfare. The essay focuses on the stigmatization of
inequality rather than giving some specific ways how to stigmatize inequality. History shows us that there are wrong
kinds of agents who are not fearful enough to provoke redistribution. Surely, opponents will arise someday if
inequality grows like this.
Thus the need for justice and equality is in demand. so the new human rights movement sorted of different views for
the common people can bring and justify social equality and liberation. it is very necessary to remove partiality
and discrimination by proper supervision, monitoring and enacting strict laws. For the welfare of common people and
all human beings, inequality must be removed as it is believed to be a stigma for society.
b. Is another human rights movement necessary? Why?
In my opinion, another human rights movement is necessary. Also as the essayist finds human rights is functioning
under different political and economical suppression, I also agree on that point. He wishes to see other human
rights movements in the coming days due to many reasons. The people with political and economical power and in
higher positions are violating the law. In human affairs, inequality has been contained. The practice of nepotism
and favoritism is still in use and it has suppressed different new ideas and talents. More than that political and
social hegemony is still prevalent. Laws and rights are only documented rather than taken into practice. And the
major thing is the classification of society based on their economic conditions like rich or poor has brought
injustice and inequality. Thus the need for another human rights movement is true.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. What is the first human rights declaration adopted by the United Nations?
The first human rights declaration adopted by the United Nations is mobilization for economic and social rights.
b. When is Human Rights Day observed?
Human rights day is observed on 10th December every year.
c. What is the goal of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
The goal of the Universal Declaration of human rights is to assure the most basic entitlements and key values of
human welfare and rights like equality, dignity, freedom, fairness and respect. Also, its goal is to assert justice
and peace in the world alongside the foundation of freedom.
d. What are two big stages that involve writing the history of human rights about that of political
economy?
The two big stages that involve writing the history of human rights about that of the political economy include the
heroic age of national welfare after the condition of World War II and the bitter enemies of the new cold war era in
1948.
e. What are the facts that have been missed in Roosevelt’s call for a “second Bill of
Rights”?
The facts that have been missed in Roosevelt’s call for a “second Bill of rights” are:
- It marked a provincial America’s late and ginger entry into a North Atlantic consensus which is already
foreordained.
- His highest promise was “special privileges for the few” instead of protection of masses which creates
a ceiling of inequality.
- He hoped that it would h4 the globe but it was organized nationally instead of organizing internationally.
f. Write the truth expressed in Herodotus’s Histories.
The truth expressed in Herodotus’ histories is to assure global socio-economic justice, local socio-economic
justice. it would require redistribution from rich to poor by novel forms of legal activism.
g. Why is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights important to you?
The universal declaration of human rights is important to me as it assures the basic rights of humans and provides
justice, equality, equity for all human beings equally. it aimed to remove injustice, partiality, discrimination,
inequality and so many inhuman behaviors from society.
Reference to the context
a. Does the essay give ways on how to stigmatize inequality? Explain.
The essay “human rights and age of inequality” written by Samuel Moyn is the essay briefing about how
the concept of human rights arises and what it brought to human welfare. The essay focuses on the stigmatization of
inequality rather than giving some specific ways how to stigmatize inequality. History shows us that there are wrong
kinds of agents who are not fearful enough to provoke redistribution. Surely, opponents will arise someday if
inequality grows like this.
Thus the need for justice and equality is in demand. so the new human rights movement sorted of different views for
the common people can bring and justify social equality and liberation. it is very necessary to remove partiality
and discrimination by proper supervision, monitoring and enacting strict laws. For the welfare of common people and
all human beings, inequality must be removed as it is believed to be a stigma for society.
b. Is another human rights movement necessary? Why?
In my opinion, another human rights movement is necessary. Also as the essayist finds human rights is functioning
under different political and economical suppression, I also agree on that point. He wishes to see other human
rights movements in the coming days due to many reasons. The people with political and economical power and in
higher positions are violating the law. In human affairs, inequality has been contained. The practice of nepotism
and favoritism is still in use and it has suppressed different new ideas and talents. More than that political and
social hegemony is still prevalent. Laws and rights are only documented rather than taken into practice. And the
major thing is the classification of society based on their economic conditions like rich or poor has brought
injustice and inequality. Thus the need for another human rights movement is true.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesPlay 1: A Matter of Husbands
Summary
‘A Matter of Husbands’ by Ferenc Molnar is a very twisted one act. It depicts the story of an Ernest Woman who is
married to a lawyer who knows of a Famous Woman. The Ernest Woman comes to the Famous Woman because she believes
that her husband is cheating on her with the Famous Woman. The famous woman weaves a tale about how it is a cleverly
staged act where the man is attempting to trick his wife to get more affection from her. When the Famous Woman
finally convinces the Ernest Woman that the story is true we find out that the husband was hiding in the closet the
whole time.
This play would require only two female actresses. Our group has many strong comedic female actresses that could
make these parts very over dramatic. The relationship between the two will need to grow and both of the performers
will need to be very comfortable with each other. I don’t think either of the characters in this one act are
particularly likable. The actor playing the Ernest Woman would need to be very ditzy and gullible and the Famous
Woman would have to be very wicked and twisted.
This one act somewhat of a set; nothing too flashy but still enough to create a mildly realistic setting. Lighting
would be very basic and standard. I think that blocking could add a lot to this piece and add another layer of
comedic humor to the piece. As for costuming, I see the Famous Woman wearing a floor length gown with matching
gloves and a fur coat and the Ernest Woman wearing a frumpy dress with white shoes with the socks sticking out. I
think that the costuming will help introduce the characters before they even begin speaking. With a one act there is
not a lot of time for character development so any way to help reveal something about the characters is a necessary.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. What favour does Earnest Young Woman ask from The Famous Actress?
Earnest Young Woman asks a favour of return her husband from The Famous Actress because she loves her husband very
much but she comes to know The Famous Actress has stolen her husband from her.
b. What, according to The Earnest Young Woman, are the indications that her husband has fallen in love with Famous
Actress?
According to the Earnest Young Woman, her husband sends flowers to The Famous Actress. She comes to know about it
from a florist. One day, her husband forgets the love letter on table, which says her husband is unable to call the
Famous Actress and beg apology offering her thousands of kisses.
c. Is Earnest Young Woman convinced by the argument of Famous Actress? How?
According to the basic conversation between Earnest Young Woman and famous Actress, it Seems as Earnest Young Woman
is convinced by argument of Famous Actress.
The Famous Actress tells her that Earnest Young Woman’s husband has done that love affair with the actress so that
she gets jealous and regains love from her. She tells her that many actresses easily accept such proposal for the
sake of reunion of the families.
d. Where is the Earnest Young Woman’s husband hiding himself as they are talking about him?
According to the play, the Earnest Woman’s husband appears at the end of the play when the Famous Actress
calls him to come When Out of her boudoir. This means throughout the entire play the Earnest Young Woman’s husband
is hiding in the famous Actress boudoir.
e. When do you feel that Famous Actress is really good at acting?
I feel the famous Actress is really good at acting when she tells the Earnest Young Woman that her husband is
playing a game upon her to make her jealous so that she will change her personality and can try to impress him her
by any means. She asks for lock of hair, which the Earnest Young Woman brings with her. She says Alfred has that
because her hair-dresser may steal and give it to him.
f. How do we come to know that Famous Actress and the husband of Earnest Young Woman are in love?
From the final part of the play we come to know that famous Actress and the husband of Earnest Young Woman are in
love. Alfred is called to come out of the Famous Actress boudoir. It’s obvious that the Earnest Young woman is
fooled and they are in love.
g. Write down the plot of the play in a paragraph.
A Matter of Husbands is a one-act written by most celebrated and controversial play wright Ferenc Molnar. This play
sheds light on the role of actors on the stage and in real life and how much they are capable of keeping us in an
illusion.
In the beginning, the Earnest Young Woman rushes to the Famous Actress angrily, asking her to return her husband.
The famous Actress boldly denies, that she has stolen her husband. She says she knows him because once the contract
for a case has given to him. Earnest Young Woman tells her that her husband sends her flowers and writes love
letter. She reads her husband’s love letter for the actress.
Upon the circumstance, the actress smiles and still begins to deny that she has received any flowers or any letters
from him. Now she fools Earnest Young Woman by saying that a misunderstanding may have arrived between her and her
husband. She makes Earnest Young Woman believe that her husband has been playing with her to make her jealous and
gain her love back. Then, the Earnest Young woman innocently realizes her misdeed and begs sorry with her. Earnest
Young Woman leaves the stage and the famous Actress calls Alfred to come out of her boudoir.
Reference to the context
a. Sketch the character of Famous Actress.
The Famous Actress is a young, renowned, and beautiful actress who is envied by the ordinary woman. On the outside,
she looks innocent and harmless but in reality, she is mean and wicked. She is cunning and deceitful as seen in the
way she concocts a story to sway the woman from believing that her husband was having an affair with her. She also
lives an immoral life as seen in the conclusion of the story where it was revealed that Alfred, the ordinary woman’s
husband was actually in her house.
b. Shed light on the difference between an ordinary woman and an actress.
In the story, “A Matter of Husband”, the ordinary woman is portrayed as a simple-minded and timid person
who was easily deceived by the false story told by the actress. She had come to the actress in tears completely sure
that her husband was having an affair with the actress. However, the actress told a story to her of how her husband
was trying to regain the love he had for her by doing things to get her jealous. Without asking questions, the
ordinary woman believed her and bought into the story. In the end, it was revealed that her husband was actually in
the actress’s room. This shows that the actress was cunning while the ordinary woman was timid.
c. According to Famous Actress, men associated with theatre use the theatre actresses to make their estranged wives
jealous so as to woo them back. Do you agree with her argument? Why? Why not?
Yes I agree with her argument. A men associated with theatre mostly have an ordinary, simple-minded and timid wife
who can be easily deceived by the false story. In the act too, Alfred was hiding in the actress’s room so as
to regain the love he had for her by doing things to get her jealous. Thus, men take advantage of the cunning
actress to make their estranged wives jealous so as to woo them back.
d. How does Famous Actress make a fool of Earnest Young Woman?
Famous Actress makes a fool of Earnest Young Woman by saying that a misunderstanding may have arrived between her
and her husband. She makes Earnest Young Woman believe that her husband has been playing with her to make her
jealous and gain her love back. Then, the Earnest Young woman innocently realizes her misdeed and begs sorry with
her.
e. The conversation between the two women takes place on the stage of the theatre. What role does the theatre house
as a part of setting play in A Matter for Husband?
The scene is a drawing room and the design and colorings are exotic and suggestive of the apartment of the famous
Hungarian actress in which this dialogue takes place. When the curtain rises the Earnest Young Woman is discovered,
poised nervously on the edge of a gilt chair. It is plain she has been sitting there a long time. For perhaps the
fiftieth time she is studying the furnishings of the room and regarding the curtained door with a glance that would
be impatient if it were not so palpably frightened. At last the Famous Actress enters through the curtained door at
the right which leads to her boudoir.
f. What do you think about the ending of the play?
The ending of this play ‘A Matter of Husbands’ is totally perfect. And it is quiet justify the ending of
the play .The writer does the ending of this play is very pertness. He finishes all the nonplus of the character of
the play. All the characters are satisfied to one another. The film actress and advocate are very satisfied in the
end of the play. They clear the hurdle between them. They ensure to her that they have no affair it is only drama
for you. In the end of the play the young woman is very happy about her husband. The film actress and the husband of
young woman live together without any obstacle. The ending of the play is too good but full of irony. The film
actress narrates to young woman that her husband really loves her but in reality he has no love for his wife. He
only cheats his wife.
So, end of the play ‘A Matter of Husbands’, we can assume that “All is well the end is
well.” Innocent people always suffer by shrewd people because they are often sincere by hearts but the cunning
people always take advantage by their innocence.
Reference beyond the text
a. Write a paragraph describing your favourite actor/actress.
My Favorite Actor
I like Johnny Depp, an American actor known for his portrayals of unique characters, such as Captain Jack Sparrow in
“Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.” With the film’s success, it revealed new
doors and nominations for his career. The film also opened a new door for me. Since the film Johnny Depp has become
my favorite actor. I admire Depp as an actor because of his talent, generosity, and devotion. Johnny Depp is one of
the most talent actors I’ve seen. He is perhaps one of the most versatile actors of his day and age in
Hollywood. Not only is he extremely talented, but he is also a generous man. He is part of several charitable
causes. He supports Make A Wish Foundation, and donates frequent packages to the children. Johnny Depp is also a
devoted person. He is exceedingly devoted to his family. His favorite activity is to be home playing with the
children. There aren’t many actors like Johnny Depp, and I admire him even more for standing out against the
rest. He is a gifted actor, kindhearted, and a devoted person. Johnny Depp is my favorite actor, and I admire him
not only as an actor but as a person.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. What favour does Earnest Young Woman ask from The Famous Actress?
Earnest Young Woman asks a favour of return her husband from The Famous Actress because she loves her husband very
much but she comes to know The Famous Actress has stolen her husband from her.
b. What, according to The Earnest Young Woman, are the indications that her husband has fallen in love with Famous
Actress?
According to the Earnest Young Woman, her husband sends flowers to The Famous Actress. She comes to know about it
from a florist. One day, her husband forgets the love letter on table, which says her husband is unable to call the
Famous Actress and beg apology offering her thousands of kisses.
c. Is Earnest Young Woman convinced by the argument of Famous Actress? How?
According to the basic conversation between Earnest Young Woman and famous Actress, it Seems as Earnest Young Woman
is convinced by argument of Famous Actress.
The Famous Actress tells her that Earnest Young Woman’s husband has done that love affair with the actress so that
she gets jealous and regains love from her. She tells her that many actresses easily accept such proposal for the
sake of reunion of the families.
d. Where is the Earnest Young Woman’s husband hiding himself as they are talking about him?
According to the play, the Earnest Woman’s husband appears at the end of the play when the Famous Actress
calls him to come When Out of her boudoir. This means throughout the entire play the Earnest Young Woman’s husband
is hiding in the famous Actress boudoir.
e. When do you feel that Famous Actress is really good at acting?
I feel the famous Actress is really good at acting when she tells the Earnest Young Woman that her husband is
playing a game upon her to make her jealous so that she will change her personality and can try to impress him her
by any means. She asks for lock of hair, which the Earnest Young Woman brings with her. She says Alfred has that
because her hair-dresser may steal and give it to him.
f. How do we come to know that Famous Actress and the husband of Earnest Young Woman are in love?
From the final part of the play we come to know that famous Actress and the husband of Earnest Young Woman are in
love. Alfred is called to come out of the Famous Actress boudoir. It’s obvious that the Earnest Young woman is
fooled and they are in love.
g. Write down the plot of the play in a paragraph.
A Matter of Husbands is a one-act written by most celebrated and controversial play wright Ferenc Molnar. This play
sheds light on the role of actors on the stage and in real life and how much they are capable of keeping us in an
illusion.
In the beginning, the Earnest Young Woman rushes to the Famous Actress angrily, asking her to return her husband.
The famous Actress boldly denies, that she has stolen her husband. She says she knows him because once the contract
for a case has given to him. Earnest Young Woman tells her that her husband sends her flowers and writes love
letter. She reads her husband’s love letter for the actress.
Upon the circumstance, the actress smiles and still begins to deny that she has received any flowers or any letters
from him. Now she fools Earnest Young Woman by saying that a misunderstanding may have arrived between her and her
husband. She makes Earnest Young Woman believe that her husband has been playing with her to make her jealous and
gain her love back. Then, the Earnest Young woman innocently realizes her misdeed and begs sorry with her. Earnest
Young Woman leaves the stage and the famous Actress calls Alfred to come out of her boudoir.
Reference to the context
a. Sketch the character of Famous Actress.
The Famous Actress is a young, renowned, and beautiful actress who is envied by the ordinary woman. On the outside,
she looks innocent and harmless but in reality, she is mean and wicked. She is cunning and deceitful as seen in the
way she concocts a story to sway the woman from believing that her husband was having an affair with her. She also
lives an immoral life as seen in the conclusion of the story where it was revealed that Alfred, the ordinary woman’s
husband was actually in her house.
b. Shed light on the difference between an ordinary woman and an actress.
In the story, “A Matter of Husband”, the ordinary woman is portrayed as a simple-minded and timid person
who was easily deceived by the false story told by the actress. She had come to the actress in tears completely sure
that her husband was having an affair with the actress. However, the actress told a story to her of how her husband
was trying to regain the love he had for her by doing things to get her jealous. Without asking questions, the
ordinary woman believed her and bought into the story. In the end, it was revealed that her husband was actually in
the actress’s room. This shows that the actress was cunning while the ordinary woman was timid.
c. According to Famous Actress, men associated with theatre use the theatre actresses to make their estranged wives
jealous so as to woo them back. Do you agree with her argument? Why? Why not?
Yes I agree with her argument. A men associated with theatre mostly have an ordinary, simple-minded and timid wife
who can be easily deceived by the false story. In the act too, Alfred was hiding in the actress’s room so as
to regain the love he had for her by doing things to get her jealous. Thus, men take advantage of the cunning
actress to make their estranged wives jealous so as to woo them back.
d. How does Famous Actress make a fool of Earnest Young Woman?
Famous Actress makes a fool of Earnest Young Woman by saying that a misunderstanding may have arrived between her
and her husband. She makes Earnest Young Woman believe that her husband has been playing with her to make her
jealous and gain her love back. Then, the Earnest Young woman innocently realizes her misdeed and begs sorry with
her.
e. The conversation between the two women takes place on the stage of the theatre. What role does the theatre house
as a part of setting play in A Matter for Husband?
The scene is a drawing room and the design and colorings are exotic and suggestive of the apartment of the famous
Hungarian actress in which this dialogue takes place. When the curtain rises the Earnest Young Woman is discovered,
poised nervously on the edge of a gilt chair. It is plain she has been sitting there a long time. For perhaps the
fiftieth time she is studying the furnishings of the room and regarding the curtained door with a glance that would
be impatient if it were not so palpably frightened. At last the Famous Actress enters through the curtained door at
the right which leads to her boudoir.
f. What do you think about the ending of the play?
The ending of this play ‘A Matter of Husbands’ is totally perfect. And it is quiet justify the ending of
the play .The writer does the ending of this play is very pertness. He finishes all the nonplus of the character of
the play. All the characters are satisfied to one another. The film actress and advocate are very satisfied in the
end of the play. They clear the hurdle between them. They ensure to her that they have no affair it is only drama
for you. In the end of the play the young woman is very happy about her husband. The film actress and the husband of
young woman live together without any obstacle. The ending of the play is too good but full of irony. The film
actress narrates to young woman that her husband really loves her but in reality he has no love for his wife. He
only cheats his wife.
So, end of the play ‘A Matter of Husbands’, we can assume that “All is well the end is
well.” Innocent people always suffer by shrewd people because they are often sincere by hearts but the cunning
people always take advantage by their innocence.
Reference beyond the text
a. Write a paragraph describing your favourite actor/actress.
My Favorite Actor
I like Johnny Depp, an American actor known for his portrayals of unique characters, such as Captain Jack Sparrow in
“Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.” With the film’s success, it revealed new
doors and nominations for his career. The film also opened a new door for me. Since the film Johnny Depp has become
my favorite actor. I admire Depp as an actor because of his talent, generosity, and devotion. Johnny Depp is one of
the most talent actors I’ve seen. He is perhaps one of the most versatile actors of his day and age in
Hollywood. Not only is he extremely talented, but he is also a generous man. He is part of several charitable
causes. He supports Make A Wish Foundation, and donates frequent packages to the children. Johnny Depp is also a
devoted person. He is exceedingly devoted to his family. His favorite activity is to be home playing with the
children. There aren’t many actors like Johnny Depp, and I admire him even more for standing out against the
rest. He is a gifted actor, kindhearted, and a devoted person. Johnny Depp is my favorite actor, and I admire him
not only as an actor but as a person.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesPlay 2: Facing Death
Understanding the Text
Answer the following questions.
a. Where does the play take place?
The play takes place in Monsieur Durand’s dining room. He lives there with his three daughters as the owner of a boarding house, widower and former railroad worker.
b. Why do the grocery, the baker and the butcher send their bills to the Durand household?
As Durand hasn’t paid their bills for a long time, the grocery, the baker and the butcher send their bills to Durand’s household. As a consequence, they couldn’t provide any further items until the bills were paid.
c. Why does Monsieur Duran spend money on candles when he doesn’t have money to buy even bread?
As a strange scenario, Monsieur Durand spends money on candles when he doesn’t have money to buy even bread. This is because he wishes to burn the candles on the death anniversary of his late loving son, Rene, who died in his childhood. From the death of his son, Durand was heartbroken.
d. Why did Monsieur Duran sell his life insurance?
Monsieur sold his life insurance to pay off the loan to his debtor. He was in the worst condition and the debtor was furious with him for not paying his money.
e. Why has Monsieur Duran paid fire insurance?
He wants to compensate for his daughter’s financial difficulties. Thus, to file compensation he has paid fire insurance. He wants to burn down his own house and claim compensation, with the proceeds going to his daughters.
f. How did Monsieur Duran and Mrs. Duran run out of their inheritances from both the sides?
Monsieur Durand and Mrs. Duran ran out of their inheritances from both sides due to recklessness and stupid speculation of Mrs. Duran. Both of them lost their parental and maternal assets.
g. Why does Monsieur Duran tell a lie about his birthplace?
Monsieur Durand tells a lie about his birthplace because he used to love a woman before his marriageable age. To marry that lady, he left his hometown and migrated to Switzerland. He tells a lie to protect his and his wife’s reputation. Also, he had fought against his homeland from the side of Switzerland. So he wanted to mask his humiliation. Therefore, he tells a lie.
h. What business is Monsieur Duran running to make a living?
Monsieur is running a lodge to make a living. He turned his house into a lodge and restaurant. His visitors may stay with him there. He made it like such a hotel with a good facility to earn money.
i. What plan does Monsieur Duran have to help his daughters with money?
Monsieur Durand plans to burn his house and commit suicide to help his daughters with money, which will come as compensation for burning. He paid for fire insurance to claim compensation after he will burn his own home. He wishes to give his life for the sake of his daughters.
j. How does Monsieur Duran die?
Monsieur Durand dies by committing suicide. He drinks poison and sets his own house on fire at the end of the play. The motto behind this was to help his daughters with money which will come as compensation for fire insurance policy which he had paid earlier.
Reference to the Context
a. Sketch the character of Monsieur Duran.
Monsieur Durand is the leading character of the one-act play ‘Facing Death’ written by August Strindberg. In this play, he is portrayed as a widower, the owner of the lodge and a former railway worker. He is financially weak and he has three daughters. They all live in the lodge. He has turned his living house into a lodge to make a living. In this play, Durand is a loving, caring and protective father who has a fragile relationship with his daughters. Due to bankruptcy, his living is being hard. He isn’t even receiving love from his daughters as they always despise him and blame him. But it is shown in the play that despite the hatred and dislike of his daughters, he gave his life for the sake of his daughters. Also, he is a devoted husband and keeps worrying about his dead son. He is a sad hero who deals with financial hardships before tragically giving his life for the sake of his daughters.
b. How do we know that the Duran family has reached a dead end?
By watching the sequence of his downfall and his miserable condition, we know that the Durand family has reached a dead end. Mr. Durand’s family is completely bankrupt and is spending their life in the lodge, which he turned into his own house to make a living. They already have lost ancestral property.
Mr. Durand’s household has been borrowing money from others for years so he is full of debt. There are bills in his name and he is unable to pay those bills. His condition is going worse and he has nothing to do. His daughters hat him and blame him all the town for that miserable condition though it was because of their mother’s recklessness and stupid speculation.
His family is dying of hunger and starvation. His relationship with his daughters is not good. His debtors are forcing him to pay their bills whereas Durand is surviving by eating rat food. And in his mind, he has a plan to kill himself and burn his house. By this sequence of action, we know that the Durand family has reached a dead end.
c. ‘The mother, though already dead, seems to have had a great influence on the daughters, especiallyTheresa.’ Do you agree?
Yes, I must agree with this sentence as the mother, though already dead, had a great influence on the daughters, especially Theresa. When she was alive she used to teach the hate towards their father. She forcefully made them obey her. Most of the time she blamed her husband and taught the same to the daughters.
After the death, Mr. Durand remained silent all his life because he didn’t want his daughters to question their mother’s goodness. But due to their mother’s teaching, his daughters keep hating him. They thought and blamed their father that he was the root of their financial hardships.
And especially Theresa, the most influenced by her mother is the one who always showed rude behaviour to the father. She threw the matches away when he tried to burn tobacco. Similarly, she snatches the glass of milk from him. She was cruel towards the father and never showed respect and love.
d. Discuss the relationship between Monsieur Duran and his wife.
Monsieur Durand and his wife don’t have a sound relationship. Mrs. Durand always used to blame her husband even though she had wrecked the familial property herself. Due to her rash gambling and stupid speculation, she ruined the inherited property. She used to misuse money on lottery tickets from the family budget. She threatened her husband with becoming a prostitute for money after being beaten. She taught all her daughters to hate their father and load them with negativity. She played the main role in diverting her daughter’s mindset against their father.
e. ‘Money determines the relationship between characters in this play.’ Elaborate this statementwithexamples from the play.
‘Money determines the relationship between characters in this play.’ This sentence is so truthful in this play. In the play ‘facing death’, money is highlighted as the main asset and set up was made accordingly. It is shown that money is very important in the life of Monsieur and his daughters. Money is the cause behind all difficulties and issues among his family. Mr. Durand’s family’s financial difficulties have led the entire family to live a miserable existence. There was a lack of many vital requirements in his family. The relationship between husband and wife and between father and daughters have become worse due to lack of money. The family faced starvation. Due to their poor economic condition, they were even unable to purchase bread. In the play, it is portrayed as Mr. Durand is eating rat food. Because of no money, he is unable to provide necessities for his daughters.
Even more, the lack of money brought hatred to the girls against the father. Due to their economic downturn, they are compelled to turn their house into a lodge. The characters’ connection is being determined by money. The baker, the grocery and the butcher are refusing to provide him with items. Most of the time, his daughter blamed him and showed impolite behaviour toward him. Thus the protagonist had been through a lot due to lack of money.
f. Monsieur Duran kills himself so that his daughters would get 5000 francs as the compensation from theinsurancecompany. What does his plan tell us about him?
Monsieur Duran killed himself so that his daughters would get 5000 francs as compensation from the insurance company. This plan of his tells us about their love, care and concern toward his daughter.
Mr Durand is a sad hero of the play who lives his life in tragedy, hatred and starvation. in the play ‘facing death, it is shown that he commits suicide by consuming poison and setting his house on fire to obtain compensation from the fire insurance company which will help his daughter’s financial condition. he spends his whole life in economic hardship and downturns. As a result of the economic crisis, he has always been blamed by his wife and his daughters. His plan for his daughters’ well-being illustrates that he is a loving, caring and kind father who is serious and concerned about his daughter’s future.
g. Discuss Facing Death as a modern tragedy.
Modern tragedy generally refers to the oppression of the hero. It deals with the tragic events of society rather than fortune or fame. It came with a sad ending and shows the downfall of the hero. The play ‘facing death’ is a modern tragedy as it ends with the tragic death of dad hero Monsieur Durand. Modern tragedy, since used from the twentieth century, deals with various real problems rather than being obsessed with ideology. It deals with socio-economic conditions, mental health or destruction, common problems of people. The two main factors of modern tragedy are realism and naturalism.
The common man of modern society is the protagonist of modern tragedy. Anyway, it deals with the individual problems of a common man like family problems, financial problems, and socio-cultural problems to mental problems like loneliness and depression. The character becomes the victim of these problems and deals with hatred all around them.
The socio-cultural problems, fate, economic class, gender and loneliness around them embrace the character. Thus, we can say facing death is a modern tragedy as these all characters match with the protagonist of the play.
Mr. Durand is a common man and his life is full of crises. He has suffered through financial hardships and starvation. His relationship with his wife and daughters is not smooth even though he loves them very much. All of his daughters hate him. He doesn’t have money to buy even bread and he had to turn his house into a lodge to make a living. And at the end, he kills him with poison and even burns his own house for the welfare of his daughters. This sequence of the downfall of Mr. Durand demonstrates facing death as a modern tragedy.
Reference Beyond the Text
a. Write a few paragraphs describing the role of the father in the family.
While both parents are equally important, a father is an instrumental and key figure in the modern family. This is because he is the head of the family. Other tasks and roles performed by a father are unique and defined basing on the cultural background of the community that he comes from. However, from culture to culture, the fundamental tasks that are required of manhood are basically the same.
A father should always be there for his wife and children to provide the much needed love and support. Showering them with lots of cash does not necessarily indicate love and support. He should be ready to give them an ear, comfort them and spend quality time as well as quantity time with them. This is crucial in creating an emotional tie, a prerequisite for strong and healthy family relationship.
A father figure can significantly influence the life and wellbeing of their child. In families where the father figure is present, the father serves as one of the first male role models and male relationships the child will encounter. Children are extremely sensitive and observant beings and internalize relational experiences. These early interactions with their father serve as a blueprint for what a relationship with a man looks like and impacts both the father-son relationship, and the father-daughter relationship. This means that unhealthy relationships with a father figure can significantly impact not only the child’s psychological wellbeing, but their unconscious relational choices as they become adults.
The father therefore plays the role of loving and supporting his spouse and offspring.
No study resources or PDF files are available for this topic yet.
Request Notes & FilesPlay 3: The Bull
Understanding the Text
Answer the following questions.
a. Why have Gore and Jitman come to see Laxminarayan?
Gore and Jitman have come to see Laxmi Narayan because they want to tell him about the death of King Ranabahadur’s bull.
b. What, according to cowherds, is the reason behind the death of Male?
According to cowherds, the reason behind the death of the male was that he couldn’t eat more grass and couldn’t digest fine rice and a split gram soup.
c. Why does Ranabahadur want to see the bull himself?
Rana Bahadur wants to see the bull himself because he wants to see and examine the condition of the bull. He wants the bull to be cured if possible at Gauchar, Kathmandu so it doesn’t need to be transported to a hill.
d. Why does Laxminarayan run ahead of the convoy at Thulo Gauchar?
Laxminarayan runs ahead of the convoy at Thulo Gauchar because he wants to convey the message to cowherds to tell them to take care of the bull. He urges to massage the bull’s back feet and wave the fan at the bull. In actuality, he wants to show king Rana bahadur shah that they are taking care of the bull. If not, the king would become angry and he would punish them.
e. Why do Gore and Jitman cry when the king declares that Male is dead?
Gore and Jitman cry when the king declares that male is dead to show their supposed sympathy and affection for the bull. They cry in a pompous manner, seeking the king’s forgiveness. They want an excuse from the king’s punishment. Otherwise, the king may become enraged and may punish them, making them responsible for the bull’s death.
f. How do we learn that the bull is dead?
There are various indications of the bull’s death. The conversation between cowherds, Laxminarayan and the king clearly indicates the death of the bull. Alongside the physical appearance of the bull as his eyes are motionless, tail has loosened, it was breathless and ears were dropped down and he was unable to eat anything.
g. How does the play make a satire on the feudal system?
The play ‘the bull’ written by Bhimnidhi Tiwari is one of the mirrors of the feudal system and its terrific act. The horrible acts towards ordinary people by the feudal system have been tried to show as it was then in the play. The domination and dehumanization towards ordinary people have been tried to portray in the play. The feudal system at its best is cruel and doesn’t value the people. In the play, the survived cowherds are presented in such a panic even though they have survived by the mercy of their lord. The play shows that the king’s animal receives more respect, comfort and care than the people there. The people there are living in terror and they are hiding their reality in order to save their lives in front of the king. Thus the play satires on the feudal system showing that the oppression and dehumanization of king’s worker.
h. Write down the plot of the play in a paragraph.
The play ‘The Bull’ was written by well-known Nepali poet and dramatist, Bhimnidhi Tiwari. The plot of this play shows the emotional connection between bull and King Rana Bahadur Shah.
Reference to the Context
a. Discuss the late eighteenth-century Nepali society as portrayed in terms of the relation between the king and his subjects as portrayed in the play.
As we know, during the eighteenth century the monarchy system was prevalent in Nepal. Nepal was ruled by the shah dynasty. They were used to being strict and so is the Nepalese society. People’s choices were under the king’s or ruler’s dominance. They weren’t free to conduct their lives.
The same similarity is portrayed in the play ‘the bull’. It shows a horrible society in which people are compelled to lavender the terror of kings or lords. Their masters treated them horrifically. Also if they or their opinion went against the masters, they were punished. This play shows the miserable life condition of Nepalese society.
People were not given even fundamental rights. They were deprived of political and financial knowledge. They were bound by patriarchal rules and ideals. The society was purely male dominated. Men’s were allowed to marry multiple wives. In this play, Laxminarayan also has seven wives. And the king had complete control over the lives of common people.
b. What does the relation between Laxminarayan and his wives tell us about the society of that time? To what extent has the Nepali society changed since then?
Laxminarayan is the main character of the play and a Forty years old legal officer and king’s bull’s doctor. Taking the scenario of his relationship with his wives, he has seven wives. Yet he is not satisfied with all of them and he is planning to marry his eighth wife. He calls his wives with different nicknames. This practice of having more wives shows about the male dominant society. Men’s are allowed to marry multiple wives whereas women’s are compelled to live their life under the full dominance and violence of their husband. Women’s were illiterate and unconscious about their rights. People and especially women’s are deprived of political and financial knowledge. Child marriage was prevalent at that time. The society was reliant under male supremacy.
But the Nepalese society has altered this situation dramatically since then. The current situation of Nepali society and especially Nepali women is significantly better. Human rights and women rights are there to protect them with their basic rights. The literacy rate of women has also increased substantially. They were in a higher power of economic and political authority. The concept of equality and equity is operational in Nepalese society. Many of the patriarchal traditions like child marriage and prathas are at the end. Many organizations are working for the betterment of women. Overall the society is significantly changed.
c. Shed light on the practice of chakari as portrayed in the play. Have you noticed this practice in your society?
The practice of chakari was prevalent and very popular during the king’s rule. During the royal system, there used to be a craze or we can say majority of people were involved in the chakari of their leaders, monarchs and lords. Chakari was famous for gaining wealth or gifts from the king. They aimed to please the king by doing chakari and receiving the wealth. They do chakari in the hope of their advancement of life and living but meanwhile there are serious consequences if they do not perform correctly.
The practice of chakari was shown very perfectly in the play too. The play’s main character Laxminarayan and cowherds Gore and Jitman are frequently seen as doing the chakari of their king .Laxminarayan was once also punished due to his bad deed of speaking in loud voice in front of the king. They used to be very anxious from the deed of kings. When the bull dies, Laxminarayan is so aware of the king’s anger and punishment so he picks his moves carefully to save his and cowherds life from severe punishment. In the play it is shown that they are calling the bull by “the bull sir”. Therefore the action of Laxminarayan and cowherds demonstrates the chakari they are doing.
d. How does Laxminarayan outsmart Rana Bahadur?
Laxminarayan outsmarts Rana Bahadur with his great trickery. Laxminarayan is 40 years old, one of the legal officers and doctor of the king’s bull. As Gore and Jitman inform him about the death of the king’s bull, he rushes to the king’s palace. He has the amazing talent of flattering the king away from his emotion. He knew king will be angry and enraged by the death of bull, so Laxminarayan didn’t inform immediately. Rather than telling the truth immediately, he tells the bull about the bull’s sickness to the king. He even tells cowherds to massage and wave fans at the bull. By this action the king believes the bull died due to sickness despite excellent care and treatment. It helps to protect the lives of cowherds. This way Laxminarayan flattered the king and protected the life of his and cowherds from the king’s severe punishment.
e. Sketch the character of Laxminarayan.
Laxmi Narayan Dahal is one of the main characters of the play ‘the bull’. he is forty years old, one of the legal officers and king’s bull’s doctor. He is married to seven wives. It is shown that he is still unsatisfied with all of them despite having seven different women at home. He is planning to marry eighth wife. When he learns about the king’s bull’s death, he flatters the king using his intellectual moves. Instead of telling the news immediately, he tells the king about the bull’s sickness first. When king arrives to the cowshed at thulo Gauchar to see his bull, Laxminarayan tells the cowherds to massage and wave fan to the bull in order to please king and save his life .due to this act of Laxminarayan and cowherd, they were saved from king’s punishment. Therefore, we can say Laxminarayan was a cunning man and he unmastered the king with his trickery.
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