Prasanna

Kerala State Board New Syllabus Plus One English Textbook Answers Unit 6 Chapter 1 The Cyber Space Text Book Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes.

Kerala Plus One English Textbook The Cyber Space Questions and Answers Unit 6 Chapter 1 (Essay)

The Cyber Space (Essay) Textual Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What is special about the ‘modern psyche’?
Answer:
The modern psyche loves new frontiers. We love wide-open spaces; we like to explore; we like to make rules instead of following them.

Question 2.
What is cyberspace? How has it evolved over the years?
Answer:
Cyberspace is the community of networked computers. It is the imagined place where electronic data goes. Before J#was a playground for computer nerds and techies. But now it embraces all kinds of people, including children.

Question 3.
What type of metaphor is used by the author to describe cyberspace?
Answer:
To describe cyberspace the author has used the metaphor of real estate. Real estate is an intellectual, legal, artificial environment constructed on top of land. It recognizes the difference between parkland and shopping mall, between red-light zone and school district, between church, state and drug store. In the same way we can think of cyberspace as a giant and unlimited world of virtual real estate.

Question 4.
Mention some of the traditional metaphors used to denote cyberspace.
Answer:
Some of the traditional metaphors used to denote cyberspace are highways and frontiers.

Question 5.
Why does the author maintain that censorship will not work in the case of cyberspace?
Answer:
The author maintains that censorship will not work in the case of cyberspace because it is not a frontier where bad people can grab unsuspecting children. It is also not a giant television that telecast offensive messages at unwilling viewers. In cyberspace users choose where they visit, what they see and what they do. It is optional.

Question 6.
Why is cyberspace described as a voluntary destination? Do you agree with the author here?
Answer:
Cyberspace is a voluntary destination because you have to go someplace in particular. People can choose where to go and what to see. I fully agree with the author.

Question 7.
Who, according to the author, are the right people to set the standards?
Answer:
According to the author, the right people to set the standards are the cyberspace communities themselves.

Question 8.
What are the three major areas of services available in cyberspace?
Answer:
The three major areas of services available in cyberspace are: First, the private email conversations similar to the talks you have on the telephone or voice mail. Second, information and entertainment services. Here people can download anything. These places are like book stores, malls, and movie-houses. Third, there are ‘real communities’- groups of people who communicate among themselves. They are like shops or restaurants or playgrounds. Each participant contributes to a general conversation, generally through posted messages. Other participants may simply listen or watch.

Question 9.
What is in store for cyber communities in the future?
Answer:
Cyber communities will have to have a moderator because anyone is free to post anything. Because of that there will be unwanted advertising, discussions that are. not healthy and rude participants. Then the cyberspace will become too noisy. To keep these negative elements in check a moderator would be needed.

Question 10.
What are the comparisons made by the author between cyberspace and terrestrial communities?
Answer:
What is special about cyberspace is that it frees us from the tyranny of power structures of the terrestrial communities. Cyberspace allows communities of any size and kind to flourish. In cyberspace communities are chosen by the users, not forced on them by accidents of geography. This freedom gives the rules in cyberspace a moral authority that rules in terrestrial environments don’t have. Most people are forced to stay in the country of their birth. But if you don’t like the rules of the cyberspace community, you can quit. It loves it or leave it, which is not possible in terrestrial communities.

Activity -1 (Writing)

Question 1.
A group of students are asked to prepare a list of Dos and Dont’s of using cyberspace. They list the points as given on p. 167 of the Text. Classify the ideas generated under the following heads. Write the corresponding number.
Parents: …………
Teachers: …………
Students: …………
Counselor: …………
Answer:
Parents : 2, 4,7
Teachers: 5, 8
Students: 1
Counsellor: 3, 6, 9

Question 2.
Now, write an article on the use and misuse of cyberspace for your School Magazine using the hints given in the text.
Answer:
Use of computers has become widespread and accordingly the uses and misuses of cyberspace have also multiplied. Cyberspace is an excellent way of getting information, giving information, and also for entertainment. But it has potential dangers. These days we hear a lot about cybercrimes. The culprits are mostly young people, including students. Even as we acknowledge the importance of cyberspace in the modem world, should be aware of its potential dangers and how to avoid them.

Cyberspace is full of sites that give vulgar and explicit sex material. Young children are naturally curious about these things. So to prevent them from watching these things privately in their own rooms, computers should be kept in open view in a common hall. This way, children will be discouraged from visiting bad sites. There should be a specific time schedule for browsing the net. Late-night browsing should b discouraged. When students are given assignments and projects they rush to cyberspace for the material. The download material from it and copy it in their assignments. Teachers should check the authenticity of the sources used in the papers given by the students. Many schools and colleges now have computers and the Internet, including Wi-Fi. Teachers must ensure that students do not misuse these facilities.

Counsellors have also a big role to play in the right use of cyberspace. They should conduct awareness programmes on the various cybersecurity measures. The net addicted children should be given counselling in the school.

Students should be aware of the risks involved in the use of cyberspace. It is easy to fall into the mire of bad habits. It would be difficult to get out. Ultimately they are responsible for their acts and they are the masters of their destiny. They should not reveal their e-mail address to everyone and should use cyberspace sensibly. Cyberspace is a double-edged tool. It is like a knife and it can be used to cure (like a surgeon) or to kill.

Activity – II (email)

Read the email given on page 168.

Question 1.
What is this mail about?
Answer:
It is an application for a job.

Question 2.
How is it different from surface mails?
Answer:
It is different from surface mails in different ways:

• It has no address of the receiver (except the email address),
• It has no date
• It has no signature of the sender
• The sender’s name and address are given at the bottom with the mobile number and email address.

In the surface mail these appear on the top part of the letter.

Question 3.
Analyze the language structure, style and format of the email.
Answer:
The language is simple and straight. Block style is used with all the paragraphs aligned to the left.

Question 4.
Imagine that you organize a seminar on Technology and English language Teaching in your school. In order to ensure the presence of the distinguished scholars invited, you draft a detailed email about the seminar.
Draft the email to be sent to the visiting dignitaries.
Answer:
To: [email protected]
Subject: Seminar on Technology and English language Teaching

Dear Prof. Job
Our school is organizing a seminar on Technology and English language Teaching. As a person renowned in this realm, we would very much like to have your presence during the Seminar. The seminar will begin at 9.00 in the morning and it will end by 1.00 p.m. Please make it a point to come. Your expertise and experience will be of great use to our students as well as staff.
We look forward to meeting you.

Sincerely,
Simi Hyder

Simi Hyder
Secretary, Students’ Welfare Association
AlAzharHSS
Mala
PIN – 679342
Mobile: 8547028805
Email – simihyder@gmail. Com

II. Read And Reflect

Are you familiar with the i-pod generation? You see them everywhere, at railway stations, busy places in the city, or even in remote villages. You may be one of them. What is so special about them and how do you distinguish them? Read on to know about the ultramodern representatives of today’s youth.

The Cyber Space (Essay) About the Author

Esther Dyson is an American technology analyst. She is a leading commentator on digital technology, biotechnology and space. The present article is a discussion on the possibilities and challenges involved in the use of cyberspace.

The Cyber Space (Essay) Summary in English

Page 164: Something in the modern psyche loves new frontiers. We love wide-open spaces; we like to explore; we like to make rules instead of following them. Is there a place you can go and be yourself without worrying about the neighbours?

Yes, there is such a place: cyberspace. Before, it was a playground for computer nerds and techies. But now it embraces all kinds of people, including children. Can they all get along in a friendly way in the cyber world? Or will our fear of kids misusing cyberspace provoke a crackdown?

First of all, we ought to know what cyberspace is. For this, we have to leave behind metaphors of highways and frontiers and think instead of real estate. Real estate is an intellectual, legal, artificial environment constructed on top of the land. It recognizes the difference between parkland and shopping mall, between red-light zone and school district, between church, state and drug store.

You can think of cyberspace as a giant and unlimited world of virtual real estate. Some property is privately owned and rented out; another property is common land; some places are suitable for children; others should be avoided by all but the strangest citizens. Unfortunately, it is those places that are now capturing the popular imagination. They make cyberspace sound like a bad place. Good citizens, therefore, say: Regulate it.

Page 165: Using censorship to silence cyberspace misinterprets the nature of cyberspace. It is not a frontier where bad people can grab unsuspecting children. It is also not a giant television that telecast offensive messages at unwilling viewers. In this kind of real estate, users choose where they visit, what they see and what they do. It is optional. It is easier to bypass a place on the net than it is to avoid a block of bad stores on the way home.

Cyberspace is a voluntary destination or many destinations. You choose a site. That means you can where to go and what to see. Community Course Book standards should be enforced but those standards must be set by cyberspace communities themselves. We don’t want control from outside; we need self-rule.

Cyberspace is so interesting because it is different from shopping malls, television, highways, and other terrestrial jurisdiction. So, let us define its territory:

First, there are private email conversations similar to the talks you have on the telephone or voice mail. These are private and done with the consent of both parties. So they require no regulation.

Second, there are information and entertainment services. Here people can download anything. These places are like book stores, malls, and movie-houses. The customer needs to request an item. Some of these services are free, for some you have to pay.

Third, there are ‘real communities’-groups of people who communicate among themselves. They are like shops or restaurants or playgrounds. Each participant contributes to a general conversation, generally through posted messages. Other participants may simply listen or watch. Many of these services started out un¬moderated. But now some rules are imposed because of unwanted advertising, outside discussions, and increasingly rude participants. Without a moderator, the decibel level often gets too high.

Page 166: What is special about cyberspace is that it frees us from the tyranny of power structures. In a democracy, minority groups and minority preferences get squeezed out. Cyberspace allows communities of any size and kind to flourish. In cyberspace communities are chosen by the users, not forced on them by accidents of geography. This freedom gives the rules in cyberspace a moral authority that rules in terrestrial environments don’t have. Most people are forced to stay in the country of their birth. But if you don’t like the rules of the cyberspace community, you can quit. Love it or leave it.

What is likely to happen in cyberspace is the formation of new communities. Instead of a global village, we will have another world of self-contained communities that will cater to the wishes of their members without interfering with anyone else’s. We will be able to test and evolve rules regarding what should be governed. These may include content and access control, rules about privacy, and free speech.

Our society needs to grow up. It means understanding that there are no perfect answers and solutions. We don’t have a perfect society on earth and so we won’t have perfect cyberspace. What we can have is an individual choice and individual responsibility.

The Cyber Space (Essay) Vocabulary

Kerala State Board New Syllabus Plus One English Textbook Answers Unit 1 Chapter 2 I Will Fly Text Book Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes.

Kerala Plus One English Textbook I Will Fly Questions and Answers Unit 1 Chapter 2 (Speech)

I Will Fly (Speech) Textual Questions and Answers

I Will Fly Summary In Malayalam Chapter 2 Question 1.
Why does Dr Kalam say that ‘No youth needs to fear about the future’?
Answer:
Dr Kalam says that ‘No youth needs to fear about the future’ because the ignited mind of the youth is the most powerful resource on the earth, under the earth and above the earth.

Plus One English Second Chapter Notes  Question 2.
What was the mission of Sashtrayaan?
Answer:
The mission of Sashtrayaan was the preparation of about 2000 students from different schools to be engineers, doctors, scientists, qualified managers and civil servants. This would, in turn, empower 2000 families of the village.

I Will Fly Chapter Summary In Malayalam Question 3.
Dr. Kalam’s talk was on the topic ‘Science Empowers the Nation’. How does science empower the nation?
Answer:
Science empowers the nation by making continuous progress in the fields of agriculture, medicine, nutrition, mining, industries of various kinds, architecture, space exploration, defense, transportation, communication and all such related matters that bring progress to the nation.

Hss Guru Plus One English Notes Chapter 2 Question 4.
Why couldn’t the boy gather confîdence?
Answer:
The boy couldn’t gather confidence because he did not get it through his education all those years. One of the primary things education should do is to instill confidence in the students. The failure of the boy to gain confidence can be seen as the failure of the educational system and the teachers.

Hsslive Guru Plus One English Notes Chapter 2 Question 5.
If yo u were there, would you dare to ask Dr. Kalam a question?
Answer:
Yes, I would. I would ask him to tell me ways to eradicate poverty from our country.

I Will Fly Meaning In Malayalam Chapter 2 Question 6.
What was the boy’s concern?
Answer:
The boy wanted to be a marine engineer. He wanted to travel in a ship. He wanted to be the captain of the ship. He wanted to build the engine of the ship. He wanted to know if he would be able to do all this and how to achieve his mission and what he should do to achieve it.

Hss Live Guru Plus One English Notes Chapter 2 Question 7.
Why did the audience look at Dr Kalam when the boy completed the question?
Answer:
The audience looked at Dr Kalam when the boy completed the question because it was a very tough question to answer. The boy was from a remote village and he himself admitted that he was nervous. He wanted to be a marine engineer, the captain of the ship and he wanted to build the engine of the ship. The audience was curious to know what reply Kalam was going to give to this young boy.

Hsslive Guru English Plus One Chapter 2 Question 8.
Why did Kalam value the boy’s question?
Answer:
Kalam valued the boy’s question because it was the most difficult question among the many questions he had reœived from millions and millions of students he had met. The boy was echoing the fear of many.

Plus One English Chapter 2 Notes Question 9.
How can you unique?
Answer:
You can be unique by being yourself. The world around you wants you to be like others. At home, you parents will tell you to be like the children of the neighbors. At school, the teacher will tell you to be like the first 5 rankers of the class. All the people tell you to be somebody else. But Kalam tells you to be ‘YOU’. You should not try to be somebody else. You should not be a copycat. Be you and thus you can be unique.

Activity – I (Think and respond)

Hss Reporter Victers Notes Plus One Chapter 2 Question 1.
Are you confident enough to ask questions or express your views in public?
Answer:
Yes, I am confident enough to ask questions and express my views in public.

Plus One English 2nd Chapter Notes Question 2.
Have you ever felt inferior to others in any way?
Answer:
Yes, I have sometimes felt inferior to others in some ways.

Travel Info Format Plus One English Chapter 2 Question 3.
How can you overcome your fear or inhibition?
Answer:
I will try to build self-confidence, telling me I learned to walk after falling many times. If you are afraid, you will not be able to do anything good and people will despise you.

Abdul Kalam Speech To School Students Pdf Chapter 2 Question 4.
What is your ambition in your life?
Answer:
My ambition in life is to become a good teacher and help the students to become competent persons and lovers of humanity.

Plus One English Chapter I Will Fly Malayalam Meaning Question 5.
Are you confident that you can fulfill your dream?
Answer:
Yes, I am confident that I can fulfill my dream.

Abdul Kalam Speech On Youth Pdf Chapter 2 Question 6.
How do you think you can attain your goal?
Answer:
I can attain my goal through hard work, selfconfidence and perseverance. I will also need the support of my family and well-wishers.

Activity – II (Speech)

Question 7.
Imagine that you get the opportunity to address Class X students before their public examination. On the basis of Dr Kalam’s message, prepare a speech to motivate and prepare them for the examination.
Answer:
My dear students,
You are soon going to appear for the SSLC Examination which is considered to be a big turning point in your life. Some students get panicky before the examination and spoil their chances to do well. There is no need to fear. The examinations are simply to test your understanding of the things that you have been taught in the class. Millions of students before you have taken this kind of examination. So this is nothing new or terrifying.

Be confident. Don’t be nervous. Be optimistic. Be cool, calm and composed. Fear will not help you. It will only make you forget what you already know. You have been reading your lessons regularly and doing the assignments. The teachers have been testing your knowledge every now and then. You already know what types of questions are coming in the examination and the time you have to answer them. So read the instructions and questions carefully and make a plan to answer them in the most appropriate manner.

You have read the story ‘His First Flight’ by Liam O’Flaherty. The seagull was reluctant to take his first flight. But goaded by his mother, he takes his flight and then he finds it is smooth and he experiences no problem. In a similar fashion, you go courageously and confidently to take your examination and everything is going to be fine. Keep your mind happy with encouraging thoughts. Be optimistic. You are not the first or the only one going to write this examination.

Life is full of examinations. The people who face them with confidence and courage will succeed in life. You don’t have to compare yourself with others. Kalam has told you to be unique, to be you. You know you have done your best during the preparation time. Now you simply have to do your best as you write the examination without being unduly worried about the result. Do your best and leave the rest to God.

I wish you all the resounding success in the forthcoming examinations!

Activity – III (E-mail)

Question 8.
You get inspired by Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam’s message and decide to communicate your thoughts and ideas to your friend who is studying abroad. Draft an e-mail to your friend.
Answer:
Dearest Raj, I was greatly inspired by a speech of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam in one of the English text books. In that speech, Kalam tells students to be unique. He says that the world around you wants you to be like others. At home, you parents will tell you to be like the children of the neighbors. At school the teacher will tell you to be like the first 5 rankers of the class. All the people tell you to be somebody else. But Kalam tells you to be ‘YOU’. You should not try to be somebody else. You should not be a copycat. He says “Be you and thus you can be unique”. I think this is a wonderful idea. This will release everybody from his inferiority complex. It is when you compare yourself with others you feel inferior. Kalam wants people to be confident, self-reliant and hardworking. He wants everyone to believe he was born with some potential, ideas and dreams. Everybody is born with wings and so nobody needs to crawl because he can fly. And as he has confidence he will fly. I really enjoyed this speech and it has given me a new insight.

Read And Reflect

Question 1.
Dr. Kalam exhorts everybody to be unique in his/her own way There are any people who have proved their uniqueness even while fighting adversities and limitations. Stephen Hawking’s profile shows how he overcame his disabilities to become a shining star in physics.

I Will Fly (Speech) About the Author:

– DR. APJ Abdul Kalam

DR. APJ Abdul Kalam was a former President of India. He is a distinguished scientist. He is famous for his contribution to the field of space research. His vision is to make India a developed nation by 2020.

He was born on 15 October 1931 at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu. He specialized in Aeronautical Engineering from the Madras Institute of Technology. He became a Professor of Technology and Societal Transformation at Anna University. He is actively involved in teaching and research.

I Will Fly (Speech) Summary in English

Dear friends,

The youth of the past have continuously contributed to the world of today in many fields. Today the youth does not have to fear about the future. The flamed mind of the youth is the most powerful resource on earth. The topic I will talk to you today is “I am born with wings’.

Last year I went to a village to inaugurate a programme called ‘Sashtrayaan’ which means the propagation of Science’. It was to ensure the preparation of about 2000 students from different schools to be engineers, doctors, scientists, qualified managers and civil servants. This would, in turn, empower 2000 families of the village. My inaugural address to the audience of about 5000 people was on ‘Science Empowers the Nation’.

After my talk, hundreds of hands were raised for asking questions. Because of the lack of time, I chose 12 students at random from the last row to the first to ask questions. One question impressed me greatly and I want to share it with you.

The question was from a teenager who came from a remote village. He was nervous and a typical representative of the youth of India. He began like this, “Sir, I don’t know what I should ask. I am nervous. I have not asked any question in class. I need to have confidence, but I have not gained any confidence through my education all these years. I am afraid to talk to my teachers, and even to my friends. Whenever I talk I compare myself with other students and their elegant dress. I want to become a marine engineer. I want to travel in a ship. I want to be the captain of the ship. I want to build the engine of the ship. Shall I be able to do all this, Sir? How can I achieve this mission? What should I do?” The entire audience and the dignitaries on the dais, including the Chief Minister, looked at me wondering how I would answer this sincere question from a village boy.

I replied, “You have put the most difficult question I have received from millions and millions of students I have met. I know you are echoing the fear of many. Let me recite a beautiful ancient poem named ‘I will fly’.

I am born with potential.
I am born with goodness and trust
l am born with ideas and dreams.
I am born with greatness.
I am born with confidence.
I am born with wings.
So, I am not meant for crawling,
I have wings, I will fly
I will fly and fly.

Let me tell you how you can be unique. I have met some 15 million youth in a decade’s time. Every youth wants to be unique, that is YOU! But the world all around you is doing its best to make you just ‘everybody else’. In your home, you are asked by your parents to be like the neighbors’ children for scoring good marks. At school, your teacher asks you to be like the first 5 rankers in the class. Wherever you go people tell you to be somebody else or everybody else. But you should be unique – yourself.

The challenge is that you have to fight the hardest battle which any human being can ever imagine, and never stop fighting until you arrive at your destined place, that is a UNIQUE YOU.

I Will Fly (Speech) Glossary

Kerala State Board New Syllabus Plus One English Textbook Answers Unit 6 Leaps and Bounds Text Book Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes.

Kerala Plus One English Textbook Leaps and Bounds Questions and Answers Unit 6

“That’s one small step for a man one giant leap for mankind.”

– Neil Armstrong

Let’s begin

Look at the pictures on page 163 carefully:

Question 1.
Can you identify the actor in these visuals?
Answer:
It is Charlie Chaplain.

Question 2.
What do these pictures communicate to you?
Answer:
They communicate to me the wonder-world of technology and machines.

Question 3.
Do you think that technology and its various aspects must be studied in detail to get a serious understanding of society?
Answer:
No, I don’t think so. Technology is just one aspect of the society and not everybody understands it.

Question 4.
Write a short paragraph on the role of technology in modern society and share the ideas with your friend.
Answer:
In modern society, technology is an inevitable part of our everyday life. It has a role in everything we do even though we sometimes do not realize it. Thanks to development in technology there have been many breakthroughs in different fields such as communication, transportation, education, medicine, entertainment and agriculture. Our life has become simpler and more enjoyable than before. We have mobile phones and so we can talk with anybody, anytime, anywhere in the world. The planes, trains, buses and trucks transport people and goods fast from one place to another.

In medicine, X-ray, Scanning etc. help doctors to diagnose the disease. Laser treatment and surgery is common. We have video, audio and TV to keep us entertained all the time. Even in religion, technology is playing a role. Using powerful sound system, cassettes and CDs, religious leaders propagate their beliefs. Agriculture is revolutionized by the use of technology.

About the Unit

Science and technology have brought about big changes in every walk of life. Technology has transformed every corner of the world. It caters to the demands of everyone including the differently abled. This progress is, however, not without some hazards.

This Unit starts with an article ‘The Cyber Space’ by Esther Dyson on the use and abuse of cyberspace. ‘Is Society Dead?’ by Andrew Sullivan is a humorous but strong write-up on the i-Pod generation which is in a way disconnected from societal interactions. The short story titled ‘Conceptual Fruit’ by Thaisa Fank, presents the efforts of a loving father to enable his differently abled daughter to make sense of the world around her, with the help of technology.

Read And Reflect

The advent of the www (world wide web) has brought a revolutionary change in the spread of information. A cultural transformation from the printed space to the cyber space took place. It redefined the spatial dimensions of our universe.

Kerala State Board New Syllabus Plus One English Textbook Answers Unit 5 Chapter 3 Going Out for a Walk Text Book Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes.

Kerala Plus One English Textbook Going Out for a Walk Questions and Answers Unit 5 Chapter 3 (Essay)

Going Out For A Walk (Essay) Textual Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What does the author consider the drawbacks of London?
Answer:
The drawbacks of London are its endless noise and hustle, its smoky air, and its squalor.

Question 2.
What is the author’s excuse to avoid walking?
Answer:
The author’s excuse to avoid walking is to tell the people who call him for a walk that he has many letters to write.

Question 3.
Why is the author’s excuse ineffective?
Answer:
The author’s excuse is ineffective in three ways: i) it is not believed; ii) it forces you to rise from your chair, go to the writing table and pretend to be writing a letter until the walk monger goes out of the room; iii) it won’t work on Sunday mornings because there is no post out till the evening.

Question 4.
What makes the author say that walking for walking’s sake stops one’s brain?
Answer:
The author says that walking for walking’s sake stops one’s brain because then a person’s power to instruct or to amuse when he is sitting on a chair or standing on a hearth-rug leaves him.

Question 5.
‘Trespassers will be prosecuted’ – Write down two more such wall notices.
Answer:
i) ‘DRIVE SLOWLY’
ii) ‘CAUTION, SHARP CURVE’

Question 6.
What, according to the author, is the thought process taking place in the brain during a walk?
Answer:
A man is not urged by his reasoning faculties to go for a walk. He is urged by something that surpasses reason, by his soul. His soul tells his body to go for a walk. The brain asks the soul where to go and for what purpose. The soul then replies that there is no definite destination or any particular mission.

Question 7.
What is the author’s opinion of having a vehicle for every destination?
Answer:
The author does not take a vehicle to every destination. He never goes out of his way to avoid exercise. When a vehicle is essential he takes one.

Question 8.
What holds the author back from going out for a walk?
Answer:
People wanting to see him and work in his own premises hold the author back from going out for a walk.

Activity – I (Write-up)

Question 1.
Do you usually go out for a morning walk or evening stroll?
Answer:
Yes, I do. I usually go out for a morning walk.

Question 2.
Who do you usually go out with?
Answer:
I usually go out with my friends.

Question 3.
What do you enjoy the most while walking?
Answer:
While walking I enjoy the sights along the street most.

Question 4.
How do you feel after the walk?
Answer:
After the walk I feel energetic and happy.

Question 5.
Make a distinction between going for a walk and being taken out for a walk.
Answer:
Going out for walk means you go out because you want to go out. Being taken out for a walk means you don’t go because you are keen on going, but somebody, whom you can’t refuse, forces you to go with him. If a very dear person comes and tells you to go for a walk with him, you can’t refuse.

Question 6.
Now prepare a write-up on walking and your preferences.
Answer:
Walking:
Walking is an excellent form of exercise and it is good for our health. A person who walks for about three kilometres a day can maintain his physique very well. Walking gives exercise not only to the body but also the mind. As our muscles and body shake up, increasing the blood circulation, we see new things forcing our mind to think. Staying inside all the time makes one bored with life. Walking brings variety into our lives. Variety is the spice of life.

Doctors say that large numbers of people suffer from back pain due to lack of exercise. They say walking reduces back pain. When we walk, the fat accumulated in our body burns up. Then carbohydrates are burnt. Thus we clear our body from extra fat and carbohydrates.

Walking is an exercise which does not cost anything extra. You may need a good pair of walking shoes. These days there are many people who jog every morning or evening for health reasons. Jogging is walking at a greater speed, less than running. Walking is especially good for people who do sedentary jobs, which force them to sit down for long periods.

I like to go for walking with friends. When we walk, talking with friends, walking becomes doubly enjoyable. We forget the bodily exertion of walking and at the same time we exchange views on so many things. I prefer to walk early in the morning when the streets are not crowded. The airthen will be fresh and without much dust. My advice to all the young boys and girls is to go to their schools on foot, if the distance is not much. Walking will make you healthy, wealthy and wise.

Activity – II (Personal Essay)

Read the note and tips on Personal Essay given on page 152 and 153 of the text.
Attempt to write a personal essay on a topic of your choice, e.g. (swimming, jogging etc.)
Answer:
The other day I was walking with my friend when I saw a gruesome sight. Two young boys were working at a construction site. They were carrying heavy loads of bricks on their heads. They were about 10 years old. They wore rags and poverty was writ large on their faces. Although child labour is banned in India, may people still make children do a lot of hard work. I felt sorry for them.

Child labour refers to the employment of children in any work that deprives them of their childhood and interferes with their ability to attend regular school. It also refers to any employment of children in jobs that are mentally, physically, socially or morally harmful. Employing children in jobs which are supposed to be done by the adults is considered exploitative by many international organizations. Legislations across the world prohibit child labour. No country wants its children to spend their childhood in working at jobs which the adults are supposed to do.

Child labour was employed to varying extents through most of history. Before 1940, many children between the ages of 5-14 were made to work in Europe, the USA and the various colonies of European powers. These children worked in agriculture, home-based assembly operations, factories and even in mining. Some worked night shifts lasting 12 hours. With the rise of household income, availability of schools and passage of child labour laws, the incidents of child labour rates fell.

In developing countries, where there is high poverty and less opportunities for schooling, child labour is still prevalent. In 2010, sub-Saharan Africa had the highest incidence oftmild labour, with several African nations witnessing over 50% of children aged between 5-14 working. Agriculture is the largest employer of child labour. Vast majority of child labour is found in rural areas and informal urban economy. Even parents make their children labour hard at homes and in the fields. Poverty and lack of schools are the main causes for child labour.

In Kerala, which is called God’s own country, we see children from other States employed in the homes of the well-to-do to work as servants, to do household chores. Making the children work like a servant is a sin against God and man. When the rich people send their own children to school, these poor boys and girls stand looking helplessly at their miserable plight. You can try to prevent child labour by reporting such cases to the police or to some other authorities.

God has given us childhood to enjoy and to learn. It is gross injustice to deprive the children of their childhood and learning opportunities. In the novels of Charles Dickens we see how boys like Oliver Twist suffered because of child labour. Remember each child has a dream. Don’t deprive him of it. God will never forgive you if you are the cause to deprive a child of his dream.

My friend and I went to the nearest police station to report what we saw at the construction site. The policeman sitting there took down our complaint. But will the police take any action against those who employed the boys to work there? We could only hope they will.

Activity – III (Survey)

The survey is to be carried out by the student themselves. Do it following the questionnaire and the suggestions given in the text on p. 153 and 154.

Activity – IV (Read and Practise)

Read the notes on the use of would rather and would prefer on page 154 and 155.

Let’s practise:
Answer the following questions using ‘would rather’:
1. What did you have for breakfast today?
2. How would you like your coffee, with some cream or milk?
3. How are you going to the doctor’s?
4. Where do you like to go on vacation?
5. Whom do you like to go out with?
Answers :
1. I would rather have bread and jam for breakfast today.
2. I would rather like my coffee with some milk.
3. I would rather go in a car to the doctor’s.
4. I would rather go to Singapore on vacation.
5. I would rather go out with Kareena.

Expressing Wishes:

a) For wishes about the future we use would or could. I wish I could get a better bike.
b) To talk about wishes in the present we use the past tense forms.
I wish the dress was not so expensive.
c) For past wishes we use the past perfect tense.
I wish I hadn’t wasted my money on that silly movie.

Activity – V (Make a start)

Read the notes on p. 156 and discuss your plans with your friends.

Activity – VI (Project)

Read the notes and tips given on page 156-158 and see how a good survey report is made.

Extended Activities

Activity – I : (Discussion)

Discuss the points given on page 158-159.

Activity – II : (Write-up)

Question 1.
Do you think that there should be physical education in schools? Prepare a WRITE-UP saying why or why not.
I think there should be physical education in schools. I have many reasons to say so.

In Latin there is a saying ‘Mens sana in corpore sano’. In English it means ‘A sound mind in a sound body.’A . sickly body will not have a healthy mind. Physical education helps in the formation of a healthy and active life style. Such a life style makes the body and the mind sound.

Physical education helps in the development of leadership qualities. To be a leader one should have the capacity to organize, take initiative, guide and control his mates. He should be fearless and just. By taking part in physical education, one develops confidence, cooperation, and team spirit. Work is done in teams. Although individual excellence counts, it is the group work that makes a project successful. Any big event is the result of team work. Games are lost and won based on the team spirit. We all know that ‘United we stand, divided we fall’ and ‘Unity is strength’.

A positive attitude is very essential for success. An optimistic attitude keeps one cheerful and prepared to work hard. Perseverance is essential for any important work. Physical education helps one to build a positive attitude to life and things. When we keep our bodies in shape, our mind also gets shaped with the right attitudes. Physical education brings confidence and self-esteem. Only if we believe in ourselves, others will believe in us. Dr. Abdul Kalam said that each person is unique and he should try to remain he and no one else. We should feel that we are unique. We don’t have to imitate and copy others. Self-confidence and self-esteem grow by our being active in physical education.

Physical education also helps us to learn better. A fit body keeps the mind fit and alert. An alert mind grasps things fast and physical exercises help the brain to retain things for a long time. Physical education also instils civic virtues in us. We become more compassionate and loving. We become ready to help others. Physical education is a group activity and so group welfare, social welfare, becomes an important aspect of our training. Man is not an island. He is a social being and physical education drives into our mind this significant concept. In all schools all over the world physical education is compulsory because it has such a big roldto play in the life of an individual and also in the life of the society.

Activity – III (Speech)

Read the notes given on page 159.
The newspaper headlines below may remind you of some of your friends who are addicted to junk food, energy boosters, computers, bike racing, etc. You are worried about how these habits will affect them mentally, physically and academically. Being the Health Officer of your school, you decide to make a speech in the morning assembly on the adverse effect of such a lifestyle and the need to take charge of oneself.
Draft the script of the speech.
Answer:
My dear students,
Today I am going to talk to you about some of the things that bring a lot of harm to the youth of today. Being part of the youth, you should know some of the dangerous things that have gripped the young minds. First of all, many youngsters think that homemade food is not cool. They go after fast food and fizzy drinks. They are fond of eating hamburgers, pizzas, KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken), noodles, pasta and such others things. They forget that these use a lot of dangerous additives and colours. Recently we heard how the broiler chicken which we consume so much is injected with all sorts of antibiotics and hormones.

A hectic life style leads to ill-health and anxiety related illness. Hurry brings worry. Many of you like speed. Speed thrills but it kills. So slow down! Slow and steady wins the race. Haste makes waste.

Many of you are tech-savvy. You are addicted to all sorts of latest gadgets mobiles, i-pad, i-pod, and all such devices. Once you are denied these things you suffer from gadget withdrawal syndrome. You feel as if they are essential in life. Did your parents use them? Did they not live well? And happily? So don’t think these are essential for a good life.

You like to spend your nights before the TV or the computer screen watching your favourite programmes or playing your favourite games. Scientists have established that just on night of sleep deprivation can lead to weight gain and related illnesses. “Early to bed and early to rise – Makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”

Instead of drinking clean water, you prefer energy drinks or fizzy drinks which contain alarming rate of caffeine. Large amount of caffeine adversely affect your body and mind. So avoid them. Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Fanta and Sprite taste good. But their excessive use can bring you harm.

Don’t remain indoors all the time. Play vigorously. Let your bodies get proper exercises. Enjoy eating nuts, fruits and vegetables. They will help you to keep your body trim and healthy. Nuts and buttermilk help to cut flab.

It would be a good idea to keep pets to beat stress. Spend some time with them. Watch them. If you don’t have pets, watch Nature. The trees, flowers, creepers, birds, butterflies, bees, etc. will make you marvel at the variety of life. Sunrise and Sunset can fill your life with colourful thoughts. Is there anything more beautiful than a beautiful night with the queen moon surrounded by the stars? Or the waves kissing the sandy shore on a breezy evening?

Activity – IV (Role play)

“Last year, I went to pay him a visit. I thought I would go and see what it was like” – Ivan goes on to narrate his meeting with his brother. Attempt a role-play of the narration. (Read the notes on page 159).
Answer:
Nicholai: Welcome Ivan! Nice to see you after such a long time.
Ivan: Niholai, you’ve changed a lot! You have become fat and old!
Nicholai: Yes, Ivan. I’ve become fat. I spend much of my time inside the house. Ivan, you too have become old!
Ivan: I can’t help. Time runs. Remember how young we were! Good old days!
Nicholai: Okay, Ivan, let’s go and look around my estate.
Ivan: How are you getting on, brother?
Nicholai: I’m doing very well. I am a landowner now. I am not the old official in the treasury. I’ve become a man of importance. Ivan : Good to hear that! You are happy, aren’t you?
Nicholai: I’m happy. When the peasants in my estate become sick they come to me and I treat them with soda and castor oil. On my birthday, a thanksgiving service is held in the middle of the village. I then give the peasants half a bucket of vodka. Okay, Ivan, let’s now go back to the house. It’s tea time. (They go back to the house and are having tea. There are gooseberries on the table.)
Nicholai: Ivan, look at those gooseberries. They are from my estate. They are so nice. Ivan : Gooseberries. I don’t think I like them. They are too sour for me.
Nicholai: Sour? No man, they are so delicious. I can eat a whole lot them.
Ivan: Sorry Nicholai, I can’t eat them. You may eat. Maybe, you enjoy them so much because they grew in your estate. My idea of happiness is quite different.
Nicholai: Well, I know. But for me they are so , delicious.
Ivan: Enjoy them, Nicholai.

Activity – V (Essay)

“Satisfaction, self-sufficiency and piety are the characteristics of a happy life.’’ Do you agree? Keeping in mind all the texts that you have read in this unit, prepare an essay on your idea of a happy life.
Answer:
Happiness differs frojn person to person. That is why we say ‘One man’s*meat is another man’s poison’ and ‘One man’s religion is another man’s madness’. Happiness, like beauty, is non-definable in precise terms. Still, there are some common ingredients, some characteristics that constitute a happy life. I definitely agree with the view that satisfaction, self-sufficiency and piety are some of the characteristic. Satisfaction comes when our desires are fulfilled. Desires are of various kinds. Some love adventure. Climbing the Himalayas, swimming across seas, flying into space, etc. are things some people enjoy and such things give them great satisfaction. For some satisfaction comes when they behold things of beauty. Sights, sounds and movements of nature and even people make them happy and satisfied. Standing on a hill and watching the sunset might satisfy the lovers of nature. Walking through the forest, watching the wild life might be a thrilling experience to some.

Self-sufficiency is an important characteristic of a happy life. If a person does not have the essential requirements like food, dress and shelter, he can’t be happy. He should have self-sufficiency in these matters. Depending on others for our needs is demeaning especially for an adult. Even birds and animals train their young to be self-sufficient when they grow up.

Piety is another important characteristic of a happy life. Piety does not mean mere religious piety. Piety also includes the love and- respect for our parents, elders, teachers, brethren, relatives, neighbours and people at large. We saw that piety of Mahatma Gandhi did not limit itself to some rituals and religious worship. His piety went much beyond that. A real pious man will also think of the welfare of his fellow beings. He will not do anything that brings pain and sorrow to others because he feels that all human beings are the children of the same God. “Ishwar”, “Allah” and “God” are synonyms of that Great Power that created us and that nourishes us.

There are many more characteristics of a happy life, but satisfaction, .self-sufficiency and piety seem to be most important. Once we have all these we definitely will be happy people.

Activity – VI (Comparative1 analysis)

There is a poem ‘Ode on Solitude’ by Alexander Pope. What is the poet trying to convey through the poem? Make a comparative analysis of this poem with Wordsworth’s ‘To sleep’.
Answer:
In his poem ‘Ode on Solitude’, Alexander defines a happy man. A happy man has a lot of land. He does not have to go out looking for any job. He has milk from his cattle, bread from his fields and dress (wool) from his sheep. The trees give him shade in the summer and in the winter he makes fire with the wood from those trees. He has health in body and peace in mind. He sleeps soundly at night. He uses his life for study and recreation. He is a good man and spends time in meditation. The poet wants to live like him. He does not want to be famous. He wants to quietly go away from life unlamented. He does not even want any memorial stone raised on his tomb.

The poem To sleep’ by William Wordsworth, who is known as the high priest of Nature, is an exquisite poem that presents to us some of the finest sights, sounds and movements of Nature. We can see a flock of sheep leisurely passing by one after one; we can the sound of rain and the murmuring of bees. We can hear the fall of rivers, winds and seas. We can see the smooth fields, white sheets of water and pure sky. We also hear the melodies of small birds coming from the orchard trees. We hear the cuckoo’s melancholy cry. The poet can’t sleep. Maybe he is worried about the bad things happened during the past. In fact he has not slept for a couple of days and this makes him all the more worried. If he does not sleep he won’t be able to enjoy the wonderful signs and sounds of the morning. Sleep brings fresh thoughts and joyous health.

Both are exquisite poems. While Pope describes the things needed for a man to be happy, Wordsworth is more interested in presenting the beautiful sights, sounds and movements of Nature. In both poems ‘Sleep’ is an essential element for happiness. Only a happy man can have a sound sleep. The reverse is also true. Only a sound sleep can make a man happy. Sleep and happiness are complementary.

Between the two I prefer the poem by Wordsworth. The imagery there is far better. Both poems have good rhythm and rhyme. There are instances of alliterations and assonances in both and they increase the melodious quality. There are excellent figures of speeches, especially personification. Both poems have a grave mood. Nothing funny, nothing light¬hearted. Both are philosophical poems. I do not agree with the idea of Pope of a man going away from this world quietly, unknown, not even leaving behind him a tombstone for posterity to remember him.

Going Out for a Walk (Essay) About the Author

Sir Henry Maximilian Max Beerbohm (1872-1956) is an English writer and caricaturist. He is remembered for the gentle humour of his essays. In the present essay he challenges the idea that walking is a productive mental exercise, especially if one is accompanied by a talkative companion.

Going Out for a Walk (Essay) Summary in English

Page 149:1 have not gone out for a walk all my life. But I have been taken out forwalfor walks while I walked by my nurse’s side I felt nostalgic for the old days when I had a perambulator. When I grew up I felt that one advantage of living in London was that nobody ever wanted me to come out for a walk. The endless noise and hustle of London, its smoky air and its squalor were unsuitable for walks.

Page 150: When I was in the country and if there was no actual rain somebody might come any time and ask me to go out for a walk with him. People think there is something noble and virtuous in the wish to go for a walk. A person with such a desire feels that he has a right to impose his will on somebody sitting in an armchair and reading and ask him to accompany him. It is easy to say ‘No’ to an old friend. In the case of a mere acquaintance, one wants some excuse like ‘I wish I could, but …’. I always have just one excuse: “I have some letters to write.” This excuse is unsatisfactory in three ways: i) it is not believed; ii) it forces you to rise from your chair, go to the writing table and pretend to be writing a letter until the walk monger, who does not dare to call you a liar and a hypocrite, goes out of the room; iii) it won’t work on Sunday mornings. There is no post out till this evening’, the walk monger will tell you and you will have to go with him quietly.

Walking for walking’s sake may be laudable and exemplary for those who practise it. My objection to it is that it stops the brain. Some people have told me that their brains work well when they walk along the high road or over hill and valley. Experience tells me that a person’s power to instruct or to amuse when he is sitting on a chair or standing on a hearth-rug leaves him when he takes one out for a walk. Plenty of ideas come to him when he is in a room. But when he is out for a walk all those ideas evaporate. His encyclopaedic knowledge goes away. His imagination dries up. The man’s face becomes hard. Light goes from his fine eyes. He says that A (our host) is a thoroughly good fellow. Fifty yards further on, he adds that A is one of the best fellows he has ever met. We go for another furlong and then he says that Mrs. A is a charming woman. Then he adds that she is one of the most charming women he has ever known.

Page 150: We pass an inn. He reads quickly to me, “The King’s Arms. Licensed to sell Ales and Spirits’. I foresee that during the rest of the walk he will read aloud any description that occurs. We see a milestone. He points to it with his stick and says, ‘Uxminster. 11 miles.’ We turn a sharp corner at the foot of a hill. He points at the wall and reads, ‘Drive Slowly’. Far ahead there is a small notiCe-board. He sees it. He looks at it carefully and in due course he says, Trespassers will be prosecuted.’ Poor man – he has become a mental wreck.

Luncheon at the A.S, brings his mind back. Once again he is the life and soul of the party. I think he will never go out for another walk after the bitter lesson of this morning. But an hour later I see him walking with a new companion. I watch him out of sight. I know what he is saying. He is saying that I am a rather dull man to go for a walk with. He will then say I am one of the dullest men he ever went for a walk with. Then he will start reading the inscriptions.

It is surprising how this deterioration happens in those who go for walking for walking’s sake. A man is not urged by his reasoning faculties to go for a walk. He is urged by something that surpasses reason, by his soul. His soul tells his body ‘Quick march!’ The brain then says, ‘Halt! Stand at ease!’ and sweetly asks the soul ‘To what destination and on what mission are you sending the body?’The soul replies saying that ‘On no mission at all and to no destination’.

Page 151: People are always on the look-out for some Ulterior motive. The body goes out because it is a sure indication of nobility, probity and rugged grandeur of character. But the brain says it won’t be mixed up with the foolishness of the body and it would go to sleep till the walk is over. It will wake up again only when the body is safely placed inside the house.

Even if you go to some definite place, for a definite purpose, the brain wants you to take a vehicle. It does not insist on that and it will serve you well unless you are going out for a walk. While your legs are competing with each other, the brain will not do any thinking for you, but it will do any number of odd jobs for you. Even this the brain will do only if it is sure that the legs are making themselves useful and not merely fooling you about to gratify the pride of the soul.

This essay was composed in the course of a walk this morning. I do not take a vehicle to every destination. I never go out of my way to avoid exercise. I don’t despise the exercise of a walk because the sickly people are always talking about it or practising it to excess. I think in moderation it is good, physically. I will never go out for a walk until no people want me to see them or there is nothing for me to do in my own premises.

Going Out for a Walk (Essay) Vocabulary

Kerala State Board New Syllabus Plus One English Textbook Answers Unit 5 Chapter 2 To Sleep Text Book Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes.

Kerala Plus One English Textbook To Sleep Questions and Answers Unit 5 Chapter 2 (Poem)

Activity – I (Read and respond)

Question 1.
I’ve thought of all by turns what are the things that the poet thinks of?
Answer:
The things that the poet thinks of are a flock of sheep leisurely passing by one after one; the sound of rain, and bees murmuring; the fall of rivers, winds and seas, smooth fields, white sheets of water and pure sky.

Question 2.
Why couldn’t the poet sleep for three nights?
Answer:
The poet couldn’t sleep for three nights because sleep was running away from him.

Question 3.
Do you think that sleep embraced the poet in the end? Why?
Answer:
Yes, I think that sleep embraced the poet in the end because he entreated her not to run away and praised her with some fine words.

Question 4.
How many of you can identify with Wordsworth’s experience of lying awake until the ‘birds twitter their dawn chorus’?
Answer:
Many of us can identify with Wordsworth’s experience of being sleepless the whole night as they are stressed out by the pressures of life and so they cannot fall asleep until the birds twitter their dawn chorus.

Question 5.
How do you think the poet feels at the start of the poem?
Answer:
At the start of the poem the poet feels is a bit desperate and longs for sleep.

Question 6.
Pick out the images from the poem.
Answer:
The images from the poem are: A flock of sheep that leisurely pass by one after one, the falling rain, bees murmuring, the fall of rivers, white sheets of water and pure sky .smooth fields, twittering birds in the orchard and a mother bringing sweet things to her child.

Question 7.
Which lines or images do you think are the most effective in conveying the necessity of sound sleep?
Answer:
The last three lines are the most effective in conveying the necessity of sound sleep. Only if he sleeps the morning’s wealth will have any meaning for him. Sleep is the blessed barrier between day and day and she is the mother who brings fresh thoughts and joyous health.

Question 8.
The poem ends in a note of wistful hope and prayer. Do you agree? Why?
Answer:
Yes, I agree that the poem ends in a note of wistful hope and prayer. The poet is requesting sleep to come to him. She has been running away for three nights in succession. He hopes she will listen to his entreaty and come to him this night.

Question 9.
Comment on the length of the poem and the poetic form.
Answer:
The poem is a sonnet. A sonnet is a poem of 14 lines with a strict pattern of rhyme and rhythm. There are different forms of the sonnet but they share some common things which include: a key idea, its proper development and a conclusion with a twist. A sonnet is divided into 2 parts. The first 8 lines are called an octave and the last 6 lines are called a sestet. The poet has used several images in the poem which include a flock of sheep that leisurely pass by one after one, the falling rain, bees murmuring, the fall of rivers, white sheets of water and pure sky, smooth fields, twittering birds in the orchard and a mother bringing sweet things to her child. The rhyming scheme in this sonnet is abba, abba, edc, cdc.

Question 10.
The poet uses several images in the poem, like the sound of rain and the sight of the fields. Identify the images used buy the poet in ‘To Sleep’.
Answer:

• a flock of sheep passing by one after one
• bees murmuring
• white sheets of water
• pure sky
• birds singing from the orchard trees
• cuckoo’s melancholy cry

Study the various poetic devices given on page 147 of the text.

Activity – II (Critical Appreciation)

Question 1.
Based on the above discussions, prepare a critical appreciation of the poem bearing the tips given on page 147 and 148 of the text.
Answer:
The poem To sleep’ by William Wordsworth, who is known as the high priest of Nature, is an exquisite poem that presents to us some of the finest sights, sounds and movements of Nature. We can see a flock of sheep leisurely passing by one after one; we can the sound of rain and the murmuring of bees. We can hear the fall of rivers, winds and seas. We can see the smooth fields, white sheets of water and pure sky. We also hear the melodies of small birds coming from the orchard trees. We hear the cuckoo’s melancholy cry.

The poet can’t sleep. Maybe he is worried about the bad things happened during the past. In fact he has not slept for a couple of days and this makes him all the more worried. If he does not sleep he won’t be able to enjoy the wonderful sights and sounds of the morning. Sleep brings fresh thoughts and joyous health.

To Sleep’ is a sonnet. In the octave (first 8 lines), the poet describes the alluring sights and sounds of Nature. In the sestet (the last 6 lines) he describes his condition without sleep and requests sleep not to run away from him. He also talks about the blessings sleep brings. The rhyming scheme in the octave is abba, abba, and in the sestet it is cdc, cdc.

The poet has used personification effectively. Sleep is pictured as a mistress who is refusing to come to the poet. There is the Rhetorical Question “Without Thee what is all the mornings wealth?” There is onomatopoeia in ‘bees murmuring’. There is fine alliteration in ‘blessed barrier between’. There is hyperbole in calling sleep as the ‘Dear mother of fresh thoughts and joyous health’. On the whole To Sleep’ is an enjoyable poem with a fine message for all of us.

Question 2.
Wordsworth’s ‘To Sleep’tells us how important it is to have a sound sleep in order to remain mentally and physically fit. In this world where everything is ‘instant’ or instantly done, isn’t it important to avoid unhealthy habits? Discuss.
Answer:
In our modern world everything has become ‘instant’. We get instant coffee and tea, instant meals from the fast-food outlets, instant cures by quacks and even instant sleep through sleeping pills. People are in a hurry and they want everything instant. In the readymade stores you can get almost everything instant. If things go like this, the day is not far off when we can also get instant ‘babies’.

This desire for everything ‘instant’ is symptomatic of a disease that has gripped the modem society. People have lost the virtue of patience. Nobody is willing to wait for anything. This lack of patience makes us sick as it increases our blood pressure. We forget that ‘Haste makes waste’. By consuming all the ‘instant’ foods and clicks we are spoiling our health. The same thing happens when we resort to instant cures. There are instances where people wanted instant sleep. They swallowed many pills and they never got up from their sleep!

III. Read And Relfect

Walking, like any other exercise, undoubtedly leads to physical wellness. There may be differences of opinion. The argument that each and every moment has to be filled with activity has gained currency these days. Here in this essay, Max Beerbohm looks at walking from a different angle.

To Sleep (Poem) About the Author

William Wordsworth (1770-1850) was a major English Romantic poet. He had a deep love for nature which is depicted in many of his poems. He considered nature to be his friend, philosopher and guide. He became the Poet-Laureate in 1843 and remained so until he died in 1850.

To Sleep (Poem)Summary in English

Lines 1 – 8: I have thought of all these things by turns: a flock of sheep leisurely passing by one after one; the sound of rain, and bees murmuring; the fall of rivers, winds and seas, smooth fields, white sheets of water and pure sky. Still I lie sleepless. Soon I must hear the melodies of small birds, first uttered from my orchard trees, and the first cuckoo’s melancholy cry.

Lines 9 – 14: Last night it was like that. Two nights more I lay awake without winning sleep. Sleep, do not run away from me by using some tricks so that I don’t have to pass this night also without sleep. Without you the morning’s wealth is nothing. You are the barrier between day and day. You are the dear mother of fresh thoughts and joyous health.

To Sleep (Poem) Vocabulary

Kerala State Board New Syllabus Plus One English Textbook Answers Unit 5 Chapter 1 Gooseberries Text Book Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes.

Kerala Plus One English Textbook Gooseberries Questions and Answers Unit 5 Chapter 1 (Story)

Gooseberries (Story) Textual Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What purpose does the first sentence serve?
Answer:
The first sentence serves as a suitable introduction to a story which itself talks about a sad and gloomy situation. It looks like rain but it does not come. Happiness is like the rain here. It looks like happiness but it is not there!

Question 2.
Can you guess what story Ivan was about to tell Bourkin?
Answer:
The story is of two brothers who pursue happiness in their own ways.

Question 3.
How do you feel when it rains?
Answer:
I feel sad and gloomy when it rains. I prefer sunshine to rain.

Question 4.
Describe Aliokhin’s appearance.
Answer:
Aliokhin was about 40, tall and stout. He had long hair. He looked more like a professor or a painter than a farmer. At the time we see him first he was wearing a grimy white short and rope belt, and pants instead of trousers. His boots were covered with mud and straw. His nose and eyes were black with dust.

Question 5.
Why couldn’t Aliokhin bathe regularly despite having a good bathing shed?
Answer:
Aliokhin couldn’t bathe regularly despite having a good bathing shed because he had no time.

Question 6.
How did Ivan respond to the rain?
Answer:
Ivan responded to the rain by plunging into the water with a splash. He swam about in the rain, flapping his arms, and sending waves back. He swam out to the middle of the pool and dived, trying to reach the bottom. He shouted with glee and said how delicious it was.

Question 7.
When did Ivan start narrating his story?
Answer:
After Ivan’s bath they all went to the house. The lamp was lit in the large drawing-room upstairs. Bourkin and Ivan were dressed in silk dressing-gowns and wore warm slippers. They sat in chairs. Aliokhin was also washed and brushed. He wore a new frock-coat. He paced up and down. It was then that Ivan began his story.

Question 8.
How did the brothers spend their childhood after their father’s death?
Answer:
After their father’s death, the estate went to pay his debts. The children spent their childhood in the country. They were like peasants’ children. They spent their days and nights in the fields and the wood. They minded the horses, took the bark of the lime trees and fished.

Question 9.
Comment on Ivan’s view on the saying that a man needs only six feet of land.
Answer:
It is a common saying that a man needs only 6 feet of land, the land for his grave. But Ivan says 6 feet of land is for the corpse and not for. a man. He needs much more.

Question 10.
“To leave town, and the struggle and swim of life, and go and hide oneself in a farmhouse is not life – it is egoism, laziness.” Do you agree? Why?
Answer:
Yes, I agree. We have only one life. We should be able to make the best use of it. We should see the world a bit and we should make use of all the talents that God has given us. Hiding in a farmhouse, away from the hustle of bustle of life would be living like a frog in a well, not knowing what is going on outside.

Question 11.
What was the difference in the attitudes of Ivan and Nicholai towards life?
Answer:
Nicholai wanted to live in a farmhouse. He wanted to eat in the open air, sleep in the sun, and sit for hours together on a seat by the gate and look at the fields and the forest. He wanted garden walls, flowers, fruits, nuts, carp in the pond and such things. He was very fond of gooseberry bushes. Ivan did not have such an attitude. He also loved country life as he lived there as a child, but his love for it was not as passionate as his brother’s.

Question 12.
What was Nicholai’s dream?
Answer:
His dream was to live in the country, eating out in the open air, sleeping in the sun and sitting for hours together on a seat by the gate and gazing at the fields and the forest. He wanted to sit on the veranda drinking tea and watching his ducklings swim in the pond, and everything smelling good. His dream house always had a gooseberry-bush in it.

Question 13.
Mention some of the advantages of country life.
Answer:
Country life has many advantages. One can eat out in the open air, sleep in the sun and sit for hours together on a seat by the gate and gaze at the fields and the forest. One can sit on the veranda drinking tea and watch the ducklings swim in the pond and everything smells good. There is fresh air in the countryside and there is less dust, smoke and traffic noise. Country life is definitely healthier than city life.

Question 14.
‘Fixed goals help us achieve success in life.’ What is your opinion?
Answer:
I fully agree with the statement that fixed goals help us achieve success in life. It is so because goals give a sense of direction to our work. Once we have the sense of direction and goals are fixed our work becomes goal-oriented and we can succeed in life.

Question 15.
What are the sacrifices Nicholai made to achieve his goal?
Answer:
To achieve his goal, Nicholai lived meagrely. He never had enough to eat or drink. He dressed almost like a beggar. He always saved the money and put it into the bank. He was terribly stingy. Ivan used to feel hurt seeing his brother like this and he used to give him money to go away for a holiday. But he would put that money also in the bank.

Question 16.
Nicholai had to buy an estate quite different from what he had dreamt of. But he did not grieve much. How would you behave in such a situation?
Answer:
I would feel very sad. After making so much of sacrifice for so long, if I could not get the kind of thing I had hoped for I would be grieved.

Question 17.
What were the ‘good works’ of Nicholai? How did he care for his peasants?
Answer:
Nicholai looked after his soul and did good works pompously. The good works included curing the peasants of all kinds of diseases with soda and castor-oil. On his birthday he would have a thanksgiving service held in the middle of the village. He would treat the peasants to half a bucket of vodka. He thought it was the right thing to do.

Question 18.
The gooseberries were unripe and sour, but Nicholai found them delicious. Why?
Answer:
The gooseberries were unripe and sour, but Nicholai found them delicious because they were his own gooseberries. Even the ugliest child would look most beautiful to its mother.

Question 19.
Was Nicholai happy with his life? How do you know?
Answer:
Nicholas was happy with his life. His dearest dream had come true, He had attained his goal in life. He had got what he wanted. He was pleased with his destiny and with himself. We see him laughing with joy looking at his first gooseberries. When he looked at them there were tears of joy in his eyes.

Question 20.
What distinction did Ivan make between the happy and the unhappy?
Answer:
Contentment is an overwhelming power. The happy man feels he is happy and he is happy. The unhappy man bears his burden in silence.

Question 21.
What, according to Ivan, was the relevance of freedom?
Answer:
According to Ivan freedom is a boon, as essential as the air we breathe, freedom should be instant and not something that Hornes after a long wait.

Question 22.
Why did Ivan find it difficult to live in town after visiting his brother?
Answer:
Ivan found it difficult to live in town after visiting his brother because the peace and quiet of the town oppressed him. He did not dare to look in at the windows because to him nothing was more dreadful to see than the sight of a happy family, sitting round at table, having tea. He was an old man now and he was no good for the struggle.

Question 23.
What change in attitude came over Ivan at the end?
Answer:
Ivan asked forgiveness from God. He realised that his previous attitude was wrong.

Question 24.
How can happiness be achieved in life?
Answer:
Happiness can be achieved in life by getting your dreams realized. Gooseberries may be hard and sour for Ivan but they were delicious for Nicholai. Happiness differs from person to person. One man’s meat is another man’s poison and one man’s religion is another man’s madness. There are no common criteria for happiness. Prayer, sacrifice, fasting and abstinence may make some people happy. But others feel happy when they are rich and successful.

Activity – I (Read and Respond)

Question 1.
What lesson does Ivan seek to learn from his brother’s life?
Answer:
The lesson Ivan seeks to learn from his brother’s life is to know how the hard and sour gooseberries become delicious to him.

Question 2.
Compare Aliokhin’s first appearance in the story with that of Nicholai.
Answer:
When he sees him first Aliokhin was standing at the threshold. He was about 40, tall and stout. He had long hair. He looked more like a professor or a painter than a farmer. He was wearing a grimy white short and rope belt, and pants instead of trousers. His boots were covered with mud and straw. His nose and eyes were black with dust. Nicholai was 2 years younger to his brother Ivan. Nicholai was at the Exchequer Court when he was 19. He was not happy at the Exchequer. For years he was sitting in the same place, writing the same documents. He was thinking of only one thing – how to get back to the country and buy a small farm near the bank of a river or lake.

Question 3.
The story begins and ends in rain. What does the imagery convey to you?
Answer:
The imagery conveys to me a gloomy atmosphere. There is no joy and mirth.

Question 4.
Why do you think the story is titled Gooseberries?
Answer:
The story is titled ‘Gooseberries’ because life is very much like gooseberries. Gooseberries are sour and sweet. Similarly life too is sour (bitter) and sweet. Nicholai lives all his life like a miser and even marries an ugly widow to get money to buy the estate with a gooseberry bush. The state he bought does not have a gooseberry bush and so he plants some. Later he eats the gooseberries from the plants he had planted and looks pleased when he eats them. Gooseberries may be sweet for one, but sour for another. Life is like that. One man’s food is another man’s poison and one man’s religion is another man’s madness.

Question 5.
Identify the climax of the story.
Answer:
The climax of the story is when in the night Ivan watches his brother Nicholai going again and again to the plate of gooseberries and eating gooseberries. That night Ivan was able to understand he too had been content and happy. We don’t have to wait for happiness.

Question 6.
Rain has an additional symbolic relevance in this story. Can you identify other symbols?
Answer:
The other symbols are, Gooseberries, six feet of land, the name Himalayskoe, the red-haired dog, soda & castor oil curing all diseases and the family sitting round a table having coffee.

Question 7.
Analyze Ivan’s argument against happiness (‘There is nothing sadder than the sight of a happy man’).
Answer:
Ivan argument against happiness stems from the fact that he has no family. He says that nothing is more dreadful to see than the sight of a happy family, sitting round table, having tea. Everybody has his idea of happiness. But Ivan’s idea of happiness seems to be peculiarly his own. I don’t agree with him.

Question 8.
How does Chekhov develop his theme in the story? What are the techniques used? (story within the story, realism, irony, symbolism)
Answer:
Chekhov’s theme in the story is finding happiness. Nicholai finds happiness in eating strawberries. He thinks he can make the peasants happy by giving them half a bucket of vodka. People pursue happiness in different ways. Some find happiness in eating, drinking and merrymaking. Some find happiness in strict ascetic life. Some find happiness in serving others and making sacrifices for them.

Chekhov develops his theme by using different techniques. There is a story within a story. Ivan and Bourkin are walking. It is raining and they take shelter in the farmhouse of Aliokhin. Then Ivan tells the story of his brother Nicholai, how he sought happiness. Chekhov uses realism in unfolding the story. The account of the life of Ivan and his brother Nicholai in the village after the death of their father is highly realistic. There is also realism in the description of Aliokhin and his farmhouse.

Irony is an important ingredient Chekhov has used. Nicholai eats gooseberry after gooseberry to feel happy and contented. We know how gooseberry is. Nicholai lived all his life like a miser, not eating and drinking properly, not dressing properly, to eat gooseberries, He even married an ugly widow to eat gooseberries!

Chekhov is a master in the use of symbolism. He has used the symbol of rain to great effect. It gives the entire story a sad and melancholic mood. The red¬haired dog which looks like a pig is an excellent symbol. So is the symbol of the family sitting round the table enjoying their coffee. Both Nicholai and Ivan have their peculiar, even perverted, sense of happiness. It is a relevant question to ask whether our own sense of happiness is normal or something queer.

Activity – II (Review)

Question 1.
Based on the above points, attempt a review of Chekhov’s ‘Gooseberries’ bearing in mind the following hints:
Read and recall what you have read and formulate your own observations.

• Theme/content
• Writing style/presentation
• Characters
• Depiction of landscape
• Symbolic relevance

Answer:
Chekhov’s story ‘Gooseberries’ is essentially a satire on man’s search for happiness. Here we see two brothers – Ivan and Nicholai – seeking to be happy. Ivan is a veterinary doctor and Nicholai is an official at the Exchequer. Nicholai is fed up with his job – sitting in the same place and writing out the same documents. His dreams were centred round a farmhouse with a garden, an orchard, a fishpond and above all a gooseberry fish. He lives like a miser to get his ideal place. He even marries an old ugly widow to fulfil his dream. In the end he buys an estate with a farmhouse but it had no orchard, no duck-pond and no gooseberry bush. He plants some gooseberry bushes in his new estate. His joy in life is going on eating the gooseberries his gooseberry bushes produce.

Checkhov has presented the story in a fine way, as a story inside another story. We are curious to know what happens to Nicholai after all his sacrifices. The characterization by Chekhov has been excellent. There are only 4 main characters in the story Ivan, Nicholai, Bourkin and Aliokhin. We are also told about Tchimsha Himalaysky, the father of Ivan and Nicholai. The characterization of Nicholai and Aliokhin stand out as superb.

Chekhov has presented the landscape in exquisite beauty. We see the endless farms and the windmills. We can see the dreamland of Nicholai – an estate with a farmhouse, a river nearby, garden, mill, mill¬pond, garden-walls, flowers, fruits, nests, carp and ducklings in the pond. It is country side at its best. Chekhov is a master in the use of symbol. The rain, gooseberries, six feet of land, the name Himalayskoe, the red-haired dog, soda & castor oil curing all diseases and the family sitting round a table having coffee, are all symbols. They make a powerful impact on the readers.

Activity – III (Write-up)

Question 1.
According to Chekhov, ‘money, like vodka, plays queer tricks with man ’. How far is this statement relevant in the present-day world? Prepare a write-up on the topic.
Answer:
in the present day world, the statement by Chekhov that money, like vodka, plays queer tricks with man’ is highly relevant. When a person drinks vodka he feels that he can do anything, Alcohol gives even a weak man courage to speak out his mind. We often suppress our feelings because of fear. But once some vodka gets into us, our tongues become loose and we can say anything without any fear. The same is the case with money. Once people have money they think they can do anything and speak anything. In the present day world, there is a lot of corruption and so people with money can get away from punishment by bribing the authorities. Money, like vodka, intoxicates a person and gives him courage to do things he would not normally do. It is called Dutch courage.

Activity – IV (Debate)

Read the following lines from the story. ‘Freedom is a boon as essential as the air we breathe.’ How far is this statement true in the case of an individual?
Is freedom essential for an individual? Debate the topic.
(Study the tips given on page 141 of the text.)
Answer:
Arguments in favour of freedom:

1. Freedom is a natural thing.
2. Only with freedom we can develop to our full potential.
3. Freedom forces us to be independent.
4. With freedom we choose what we want and do what we want.
5. Freedom enables us to be what we want to be, and not what others want us to be.
6. All living creatures love freedom. You may make a golden cage fora bird, keep it in an air-conditioned room and give it the best and costliest food. But it won’t be happy to be confined to the cage. It would fly away the moment you open the cage, because it prefers its freedom to food and comfort.

Arguments against freedom:

1. Absolute freedom is impossible and undesirable.
2. Your freedom might cause problems to others.
3. If everybody doe^ what he wants, there will be chaos in the society?
4. Imagine the situation if you drive freely on our roads.
5. Regulations are necessary for a peaceful and enjoyable life.
6. Even Nature follows a discipline – the sun rises and sets in time, seasons come and go.

Activity – V (Seminar)

Question 1.
In the story, ‘Gooseberries’ represent whatever is indigenous, whatever should be preserved to retain the culture of the countryside. Do you think that it is our responsibility to preserve our indigenous culture? Conduct a seminar on this topic.
Present you paper in the class. You may take note of the following guidelines:

• Introduction
• Objective
• Theoretical background- what others say on the topic
• Research – connect theoretical background
• Conclusion – your references and findings – reflect on what you have been able to prove.

Answer:
Our seminar today discusses the question “Is it our responsibility to preserve our indigenous culture?” I would start by saying it is our duty to do so. Every nation and every tribe has a culture. India is a nation of mixed cultures. That is why Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru talked about university in diversity. Although we have different cultures and traditions, ultimately we are all Indians, the children of Bharat Mata.

Culture can be defined as the patterns of behavior and thinking that people living in social groups learn, create, and share. Culture distinguishes one human group from others. It also distinguishes humans from other animals. A people’s culture includes their beliefs, rules of behaviour, language, rituals, art, technology, styles of dress, ways of producing and cooking food, religion, and political and economic systems. Anthropologists commonly use the term culture to refer to a society or group in which many or all people live and think in the same ways. Likewise, any group of people who share a common culture and in particular, common rules of behaviour and a basic form of social organization constitutes a society. Thus, the terms culture and society are often interchangeable.

The objective of preserving culture is to bring about unity. For survival unity is essential. Unity is strength; united we stand, divided we fall. So we ought to preserve our culture. But at the same time we should not be rigid. We should never become jingoistic about our culture.

The world has seen may wars fought in the name of culture as one group tries to impose its culture on another group. We hear about tribal wars and ethnic cleansing. These are caused by extremists who feel that their culture is the best. I would say that even as we preserve our culture, we should respect the culture of others. The principle should ‘Live and let others live.’

Activity – VI (“Wh” Interrogatives)

We use ‘wh’ interrogatives to make questions. Study the set of questions given on p. 142 and 143. Reported Questions: Read the notes and examples given on page 143.
Frame questions to get the underlined words as answer.
Example: He bought twenty gooseberry bushes.
What did he buy? Or How many gooseberry bushes did he buy?

1. They went to Aliokhin’s barn.
2. He was a gentle, good-natured fellow.
3. We have spent our childhood running wild in the country.
4. Ivan saw a happy man.
5. I went away from my brother’s house early in the morning.
6. That night, Ivan realized that he too was happy and contented.
Answers:
1. Where did they go?
2. What type (kind) of a man was he?
3. How have you spent your childhood?
5. Whom did Ivan see? Or What type of a man did Ivan see?
6. What did Ivan realize that night?

Activity – VII (Exclamations)

Let’s practise

Change the following assertive sentences into exclamatory sentences.

Question 1.
It was a great beautiful land.
Answer:
What a great, beautiful land!

Question 2.
The water looked cold and contaminated.
Answer:
How cold and contaminated the water looked!

Question 3.
That was a very interesting dream.
Answer:
What an interesting dream it was!

Question 4.
Nicholai is very generous.
Answer:
Nicholai is so generous!

Question 5.
It would be nice if I were young once again.
Answer:
How I wish to be young once again!

Question 6.
He is an incredibly positive man.
Answer:
What an incredibly positive man he is!

II. Read And Enjoy

In Chekhov’s “Gooseberries”, after visiting his brother Nicholai, Ivan’s head is hot with the rush of ideas and he can’t sleep. Have you ever lain awake, sleepless at night? Describe your experience. Let’s see what Wordsworth has to say about sleep.

Gooseberries (Story) About the Author

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860-1904) was a Russian physician, dramatist and author. He is one of the greatest short story writers. ‘Gooseberries’ is the middle story in a trilogy of Chekhov’s stories. The first is entitled The Man in a Shell’ and the last is titled ‘About Love’. All are united in theme – the isolation and escape from life. This story has much irony and humour and is poetic in mood.

Gooseberries (Story) Summary in English

Page 132: From early morning the sky had been overcast with clouds. The day was still, cool and wearisome. It looked like it would rain but it never came. Ivan Ivanich, the veterinary surgeon, and Bourkin, the schoolmaster, were tired of walking. The fields seemed endless to them. Far ahead they could see the windmills of the village of Mirousky. Nature looked gentle and melancholic and the two men were filled with love for the fields and thought how nice the country was.

Bourkin reminded Ivan of the story he had promised to tell him. Ivan told him that he wanted to tell him about his brother. Ian took a deep breath and lit his pipe before he began his story. But soon the rain fell and showed no signs of stopping.

Page 133: Bourkin said they would take shelter in Aliokhin’s place. They took a short cut until they came to a road. Soon they came to a mill and a white bathing- shed. It was Sophino where Aliokhin lived.

The mill was working, drowning the sound of rain. It was wet, muddy and unpleasant. Ivan and Bourkin felt wet and unpleasant. Their feet were tired with walking in the mud.

In one of the bams a winnowing machine was working. It was sending out clouds of dust. Aliokhin was standing at the threshold. He was about 40, tall and stout. He had long hair. He looked more like a professor or a painter than a farmer’ He was wearing a grimy white short and rope belt, and pants instead of trousers. His boots were covered with mud and straw. His nose and eyes were black with dust. He recognized Ivan and was pleased.

He asked Ivan and Bourkin to go into his house. He would soon follow. The house was large and two storied. Aliokhin lived downstairs. Ivan and Bourkin were received by a chambermaid.

Soon Aliokhin came showing his pleasure at seeing his friend and his companion. He said he never expected them. He asked the maid, Pelagueya, to give them a change of clothes. He also would change. Before changing he will have a bath. He hasn’t had one since the spring. He invited them to come to the bathing shed. Things will be got ready soon.

Aliokhin led his guests to the bathing-shed. He repeated that he did not have a bath for a long time. He had a good bathing shed, His father and he put it up, but he has no time to bathe. He sat down on the step and lathered his long hair and neck. The water round him became brown.

Page 134: Ivan came out of the shed. He plunged into the water with a splash. He swam about in the rain, flapping his arms, and sending waves back. He swam out to the middle of the pool and dived, trying to reach the bottom. He shouted with glee and said how delicious it was. Bourkin and Aliokhin were already dressed and ready to go. But Ivan kept on swimming and diving.

He continued shouting ‘Delicious’. Bourkin told him it was enough. They went to the house. The lamp was lit in the large drawing-room upstairs. Bourkin and Ivan were dressed in silk dressing-gowns and wore warm slippers. They sat in chairs. Aliokhin was also washed and brushed. He wore a new frock-coat. He paced up and down. Ivan then began his story.

They were two brothers- Ivan and Nicholai. Nicholai was 2 years younger. Ivan went in for studies and became a veterinary surgeon. Nicholai was at the Exchequer Court when he was 19. Their father, Tchimsha- Himalaysky, was a cantonist (service obliged military person). He died with an officer’s rank and left them his title of nobility and a small estate. After his death, the estate went to pay his debts. They spent their childhood in the country. They were like peasants’ children. They spent their days and nights in the fields and the wood. They minded the horses, took the bark of the lime trees and fished.

Once a man has fished or watched the thrushes (small song birds) hovering in flocks over the village in the bright cool autumn days, he can never be a townsman. Ivan’s brother Nicholai was not happy at the Exchequer. For years he was sitting in the same place, writing the same documents. He was thinking of only one thing – how to get back to the country and buy a small farm near the bank of a river or lake.

Page 135: He was a good fellow and Ivan loved him. But Ivan did not like his idea of shutting himself upon his farm. It is a common saying that a man needs only 6 feet of land. It is the corpse that wants it, not a man. To leave town, and the struggle and swim of life, and go and hide yourself in a farmhouse is not life – it is egoism, laziness.

Nicholai, sitting his office, would dream of eating in the open air, and of sleeping in the sun, sitting for hours together on a seat by the gate and looking at the fields and the forest. He enjoyed books on agriculture, the hints in almanacs (calendars) and reading the newspaper advertisements of land to be sold, with a farmhouse, river, garden, mill and mill-pond. He would dream of garden walls, flowers, fruits, nets, carp in the pond and such things. His fantasies used to vary according to the advertisements he found. However in every fantasy of his there was always a gooseberry bush. He could not imagine a house or a romantic spot without a gooseberry bush.

He used to say that countryside has its advantages. You sit on the veranda drinking tea and your ducklings swim in the pond and everything smells good … and there are gooseberries.

He used to live meagrely. He never had enough to eat or drink. He dressed almost like a beggar. He always saved the money and put it into the bank. He was terribly stingy. Ivan used to feel hurt seeing him like this and he used to give him money to go away for a holiday. But he would put that money also in the bank. Once a man gets a fixed idea, there is nothing to be done.

Years passed. Nicholai completed his 40th year and was still reading advertisements in papers and saving up his money. Then he was married. With the idea of buying a farmhouse with a gooseberry-bush he married an elderly, ugly widow, not out of any feeling for her but because she had money. With her he still lived stingily, kept her half-starved and put the money into the bank in his own name. Money, like vodka, can play strange tricks with a man.

Page 136: After the death of his wife, Nicholai began to look for an estate. Through an agent, Nicholai raised a mortgage and bought 300 acres with a farmhouse, a cottage, and a park. But it had no orchard, no gooseberry- bush and no duck-pond. There was a river but the water was coffee-coloured because the estate lay between a brickyard and a gelatine factory. Nicholai was not worried about that. He ordered 20 gooseberry-bushes and settled down to a country life.

Last year Ivan visited him to find out how things were with him. In his letter he called his estate Tchimbarshov Corner or Himalayskoe. Ivan reached there in the afternoon. It was hot. There were ditches, fences, hedges, rows of young fir-trees, trees everywhere. There was no place to put the horse. Ivan went to the house and there he was met by a red-haired dog, as fat as a pig. He tried to bark and felt too lazy. From the kitchen the cook came. The cook was barefooted and looked like a pig. Ivan was told that Nicholai was having his afternoon rest. Ivan went into his brother who was sitting on his bed with his knees covered with a blanket. He looked old, stout and flabby. His cheeks, nose and lips were hanging loosely. Ivan said he half expected his brother to grunt like a pig.

They embraced and shed a tear of joy thinking that once they were young. Now they were going grey and nearing death. Nicholai dressed and took Ivan to see his estate.

Page 137: Ivan waited to know how Nicholai was getting on. He said he was doing very well. He was no longer a poor, tired official but a real landowner and a person of importance. Like a good landowner, he looked after his soul and did good works pompously. The good works included curing the peasants of all kinds of diseases with soda and castor-oil. On his birthday he would have a thanksgiving service held in the middle of the village. He would treat the peasants to half a bucket of vodka. He thought it was the right thing to do.

Ivan says a change took place in him when he was in his brother’s house. In the evening when they were having tea, the cook laid a plateful of gooseberries on the table. They were not bought but were Nicholai’s own, plucked for the first time since the bushes were planted. Nicholai laughed with joy and for a minute or two he looked at the gooseberries with tears in his eyes. He could not speak for excitement. He put one in his mouth and glanced at Ivan in triumph. He said they were good and asked him to try one.

The gooseberry was hard and sour but Ivan saw a happy man whose dearest dream had come true, who had attained his goal in life, who had got what he wanted, and was pleased with his destiny and with himself. In Ivan’s idea of human life there is always some alloy of sadness, but now at the sight of a happy man he was filled with something like despair. In the night the feeling got stronger. A bed was made for Ivan near his brother’s. He could not sleep and he heard Nicholai going again and again to the plate of gooseberries. Ivan thought about the many contented and happy people. Contentment is an overwhelming power. We want this state. A happy man feels so because the unhappy bear their burden in silence. Without that, happiness would be impossible.

That night Ivan was able to understand how he too had been content and happy. He used to say that freedom was a boon as essential as the air one breathes, but one had to wait. But now he wanted to know why people had to wait.

Ivan looked angrily at Bourkin. He asked him why one has to wait. Why do people fast? People are told that they can’t have everything at once and that every idea is realized in time. Who says that and where is the proof for that? Why should people wait?

Ivan left his brother the next morning. From that time it was impossible for him to live in town. The peace and quiet of it oppresses him. He does not want to look in at the windows because nothing is dreadful to see than the sight of a happy family, sitting round a table having tea. He is an old man now and he is no good for struggle. He started late. He can only feel sorry within his soul and feel angry. At night his head buzzes with so many thoughts and he can’t sleep. He regrets that he is old.

Ivan suddenly shook the hands of Aliokhin and told him not to be satisfied. He should not let himself be lulled to sleep. While one is young, strong and wealthy he should not stop to do good. Happiness does not exist. If there is any meaning and purpose in life, they are not in our peddling little happiness, but in something reasonable and grand. Do good.

Page 139: Then all three sat in different corners of the drawing room and were silent. Ivan’s story had satisfied neither Bourkin nor Aliokhin. It is boring to hear the story of a miserable official who ate gooseberries. They had a desire to hear and to speak of charming people, and of women. Sitting in the drawing-room was much better than any story.

Aliokhin wanted to go to bed. He had to get up for his work very early, about two in the morning. His eyes were closing. Bourkin said it was time to go to bed and wished them good night. Aliokhin said good night and went downstairs, and left his guests. Each had a large room with an old wooden bed and carved ornaments. Ivan undressed in silence and lay down. He asked forgiveness from God as he drew the clothes over his head. The rain beat against the windows all night long.

Gooseberries (Story) Vocabulary

Kerala State Board New Syllabus Plus One English Textbook Answers Unit 5 Harmony of Life Text Book Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes.

Kerala Plus One English Textbook Harmony of Life Questions and Answers Unit 5

Good health is a state of complete physical, social and mental well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity Health is a resource for everyday life, not the object of living, and is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources as well as physical capabilities.

– WHO

Look at the Logo give below.

Question 1.
Can you identify the words that appear with the entry ‘wellness’ in the logo?
Answer:
The words are Health, exercise, flexibility, movement, balance, energy.

Question 2.
What is your idea of wellness?
Answer:
My idea of wellness is a state of complete physical, social, financial and mental well-being. In other words I should be physically healthy, free from diseases. Socially I must be accepted by others and they should like me. Financially I should be free so that I can have all the material that I think I need for my comfort and happiness. Mental well-being is a state which always keeps me happy, optimistic and contented, free from tensions, worries and anxieties.

Question 3.
Does it pertain to the physical realm alone?
Answer:
No. It also pertains to the social, mental and financial realms.

Question 4.
What are the activities conducted by your School Health Club for promoting wellness?
Answer:
Our School Health Club conducts many activities for promoting wellness. There is a trainer who gives the members yoga classes. Every day a few minutes are spent on physical exercises. Twice a week we have compulsory outdoor games at least for an hour. Once a month we go out trekking. We also have made it a regular practice to plant trees around the compound, or take care of the existing ones. As part of our program the members are asked not to overeat and oversleep. Whenever possible they are encouraged to swim. We also tell the members to come to the school on foot, and not in vehicles, if the distance is not much.

Question 5.
Prepare a logo, (This should be done by each student, ensuring that the logo reflects some of the aims (goals) of the Club.)
Answer:

Harmony of Life About the Unit

The holistic concept of wellness is the basic premise of this unit. It has a short story, a poem and an essay. The short story ‘Gooseberries’ by Anton Chekhov reflects on the belief in following one’s dream and doing whatever it takes to achieve that. The poem To Sleep’ by William Wordsworth stresses the importance of good sleep. The essay ‘Going out for a walk’ by Max Beerbohm challenges the notion that walking is a productive mental exercise – especially if one is with a talkative companion.

I. Read And Reflect

Chekhov’s ‘Gooseberries’ is a story of two brothers who pursue happiness in their own ways. The story gives plenty of opportunities to critically examine the ways they have chosen. The extent to which they succeed is a/so worth our consideration.

Kerala State Board New Syllabus Plus One English Textbook Answers Unit 4 Chapter 3 The Wreck of the Titanic Text Book Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes.

Kerala Plus One English Textbook The Wreck of the Titanic Questions and Answers Unit 4 Chapter 3 (Poem)

Activity -1 (Read and respond)

Question 1.
Why was the Titanic called ‘a poem of iron and steel’?
Answer:
The Titanic called ‘a poem of iron and steel’ because it was grand and beautiful like a poem.

Question 2.
What was the feeling of the people on board when they started the journey?
Answer:
The people on board felt that they were very safe and they would not meet any danger.

Question 3.
What was the ‘ominous form ’ that loomed out of the darkness?
Answer:
The ‘ominous form’ that loomed out of the darkness was the huge iceberg that would collide with the Titanic and break it up.

Question 4.
Why was Captain Smith, the commander of the ship called, ‘brave’?
Answer:
Captain Smith, the commander of the ship was called, ‘brave’ because for not even for one moment he thought of saving his life when he knew the ship was sinking. He stood on the bridge and told his crew that they were British and they should remember their country and should do their duty. They should save the passengers first.

Question 5.
Who got the top priority to be rescued from the sinking Titanic?
Answer:
Women and children got the top priority to be rescued from the sinking Titanic.

Question 6.
What was the only hope for the people of the sinking Titanic when the all boats sailed away?
Answer: When the all boats sailed away the only hope for the people of the sinking Titanic was ‘eternity’-the hope that they will go to heaven.

Question 7.
What were the bandsmen doing when the Titanic was sinking?
Answer:
When the Titanic was sinking, he bandsmen were playing the hymn ‘Nearer my God to Thee’. It shows how courageous they were even in the face of danger.

Question 8.
What was the ‘awfully grand’ scene, according to the poet?
Answer:
According to the poet the ‘awfully grand’ scene was the courage displayed by those who were left out in the sinking ship. One of them could have saved his life but he offered his place to his friend and willingly accepted death. Definitely that was ‘awfully grand’.

Question 9.
Why would the story of the Titanic be remembered always?
Answer:
The story of the Titanic would be remembered always because of two reasons. First, it was the greatest maritime tragedy ever occurred in world history. Second, the sacrifice one sailor made by sending another person in his place, accepting death voluntarily, will be remembered always. There is no sacrifice greater than giving up one’s life one’s friend.

Activity – II:

Question 10.
Have you heard/read about any such persons? Share your answers with your friends. The crew of the Titanic were real heroes because even in the face of death, they were duty-bound, upholding certain values and principles. Do you know any such person who has upheld moral values and principles, even in the moment of death?
Answer:
I have read about one such person. He is Sydney Carton in the novel ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ by Charles Dickens. In the end we see Sydney Carton willingly dying in place of Charles Darnay, who was the husband of Lucie Manette. Sydney Carton had loved Lucie before she married Charles. Charles was to be guillotined. Sydney, who had some resemblance to Charles, saves him from the prison and dies on his behalf.

Activity – III (Appreciation)

Question 11.
Read the poem more critically again, and think of it in terms of it theme, emotion, language and relevance. Add more points to each of the boxes given related to the theme, emotion, language and relevance of the poem.

Answer:
Theme: 1. Shipwreck, 2. Duty, 3. Sacrifice
Emotion: 1. Patriotism. 2. Love for one’s fellow-beings, 3. Pity
Language: 1. Simple, 2. Lucid (clear), 3. Conversational
Relevance: 1. Insights about crisis management,
2. The need for compassion,
3. Fortitude and heroism in times of crises.

Share your ideas with your friends in your group. Collect more views from them and enrich your understanding of the poem.

Based on your analysis, write a critical appreciation of the poem, ‘The Wreck of the Titanic’.

The poem The Wreck of Titanic’ by Benjamin Peck Keith is an excellent one. The poem tells how noble people could be even in times of danger. It talks about the sinking of the Titanic and brings out the best in men even in the most adverse circumstances threatening their lives.

From Southampton the Titanic starts her voyage. It was a beautiful and grand ship. She was a sea dream. Thousands of people standing on the shore watched her steaming away. She was the largest and the grandest of all the ships made until then. There were thousands of passengers in the ship. They felt very secure. Nobody thought of any danger, as the captain stood at the wheel. He was directing the course of the ship. The ship was speeding on her first voyage when suddenly, out of the darkness, in the night, a ghostly white, iceberg appeared. Soon it collided with the ship wrecking it. It soon began to sink and people knew it was sinking.

Captain Smith was the commander of the ship. He was brave. Not even for one moment he thought of saving his life. He stood on the bridge and told his crew that they were British and they should remember their country and shocfld do their duty. They decided to send the women and children in the lifeboats. The crew had no hope of saving themselves. The Titanic sank from sight, as the band played ‘Nearer my God to Thee’. There never was a scene grander or more tragic than this. The ship was sinking but the band was playing. All credit goes to Smith, the crew and the men of Titanic. Their bravery and courage will be remembered forever. They had showed such courage and nobility during the great tragedy.

The poem has different themes which include shipwreck, duty and sacrifice. It appeals to our emotions like patriotism, love for one’s fellow-beings and pity. The poet has used simple, lucid and conversational language. The poem is in rhyme and the rhyming scheme is aabb. It has a fine rhythm and it sounds melodious. It has fine imagery and the poet has used a number of figures of speeches, especially metaphor and personification. The poem has great relevance as it gives insights about crisis management, the need for compassion, fortitude and heroism in times of crises.

Activity – IV: (Newspaper report)

Question 12.
We know that newspaper reports are non- fictional. They give us factual information about an incident.

Study the features of a good newspaper report as given on below.

• Headline : Short and attention-grabbing.
• Byline : Usually written below the headline. It may carry the writer’s name.
• Paragraphs : Follow the inverted pyramid principle. The most important details come in the initial paragraphs.
• Quotes : It will be interesting and useful to quote the words of people involved in the incident.
• Facts and opinions : Try to add all the facts possible using the five W’s (who, what, why, where, when).
• Third Person : The report is written in the third person, as the reporter is retelling the incident without being involved in it.

Work in groups and Till up the table given below:

Answer:
Features – Details
Headline – The Titanic Sinks – 1500 passenger feared dead
Byline Paragraphs Broad outline of Each paragraph – Report by Rahul Binoy five
a. Start of the voyage, number of passengers, a description of the ship.
b. How happy and confident the people were
c. The iceberg hitting the ship and wrecking it; it begins to sink.
d. The heroic captain and the crew deciding to evacuate passengers, the band playing and the crew and male passengers going down.
e. The lesson to be learnt. Nobility and heroism of people.
Survivor’s opinion – “I have never seen anything more tragic and nobler in all my life.”

Question 13.
Use the clues in the table and prepare a newspaper report about the wreck of the Titanic.
Answer:
The Titanic Sinks, More Than 1500 People Dead
Southampton: 15 April 1912: The Titanic which began its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York collided with a huge iceberg and sank in the icy waters off Newfoundland. It was the biggest passenger ship ever made and it was supposed to be unsinkable. There were 2220 passengers and nearly 60 crew members. The captain was Mr. Smith. Since the ship was thought to be safe, it earned only a few lifeboats.

Captain Smith and the crew behaved gallantly. Instead rushing to safety, they allowed the passengers to go into the. lifeboats. They asked the women and children to enter the life boats first. More than 1500 people could not get to safety and they sank with the Titanic. What Captain Smith, the crew and the male passengers did was a heroic act. It will be remembered by the posterity. England has declared a day of mourning for the dead. The government has announced some financial relief to the relatives of the victims.

One survivor- Marianne Monroe – remarked: “”l have never seen anything more tragic and nobler in all my life.”

Activity – V (Pronunciation)

Find out how the following words are pronounced:
Sank = /saet]k/
Band = /baend/
Grand = /graend/

Question 14.
Which is the vowel sound used in these words?
Answer:
/ae/

Question 15.
How do you pronounce this sound?
Answer:
As the ‘a’ in man /maen/.

Question 16.
Do you have this vowel sound in your mother-tongue?
Answer:
No, we don’t.

Question 17.
Find out more words from the poem with this vowel sound:
Answer:
The words are: and, gigantic, as, captain, that, act, than.

The Wreck Of The Titanic About the Author:

– Benjamin Peck Keith

Benjamin Peck Keith (18561927): He was an American poet. The Wreck of the Titanic’ is one of his most famous poems.

The Wreck Of The Titanic Summary

Stanza 1:
From Southampton, the Titanic started her voyage. She was a poem of iron and steel. She was a sea dream. Thousands of people standing on the shore watched her steaming away. She was the largest and the grandest of all the ships made until then.

Stanza 2:
There were thousands on board. They felt very secure. Nobody thought of any danger, as the captain stood at the wheel. He was directing the course of the ship. This would be her (the ship’s) first and the last trip as she will never reach a port again.

Stanza 3:
She was the best shipman had made. She was speeding on her first voyage when suddenly, out of the darkness, in the night, a ghostly white form appeared.

Stanza 4:
It was a huge mountain of ice. Such a huge iceberg was never seen ^n the North Atlantic. It hit the ship, sending a shiver throughout the entire length of the ship. It soon began to sink and people knew it was sinking.

Stanza 5:
Captain Smith was the commander of the ship. He was brave. Not even for one moment, he thought of saving his life. He stood on the bridge and told his crew that they were British and they should remember their country and should do their duty.

Stanza 6:
England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales proved to the world that their courage never fails. They said that the women and children should go in the lifeboats. All the crew stood by and watched.

Stanza 7:
The lifeboats were lowered and the women and children were sent away to safety. The crew had no hope of saving themselves. The Titanic sank from sight, as the band played ‘Nearer my God to Thee’.

Stanza 8: Was there ever a scene gander than this? The ship was sinking but the band was playing. Al credit goes to Smith and the men of Titanic. Once again they bring to memory the heroes of Trafalgar. (There the Royal Navy of England fought against the combined fleets of the French and Spanish Navies.)

Stanza 9:
It also brings to memory the thrilling story of the Alamo (The Texians defeated the Mexican Army, ending the revolution). It also brings to memory the battle of Waterloo (where Napoleon was defeated). It also reminds us of the charge of. The Light Brigade’ (the English forces fighting against the Russians in 1854) and also Jim Bludso’s courageous act (He was an engineer who died while saving the lives of the passengers on a boat named Prairie Bell sinking in the Mississippi river).

Stanza 10:
Along with all these stories of bravery and courage, the story of the crew of Titanic will be remembered forever. They had showed such courage and nobility during that great tragedy.

The Wreck Of The Titanic Glossary

Kerala State Board New Syllabus Plus One English Textbook Answers Unit 4 Chapter 2 The Serang of Ranaganji Text Book Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes.

Kerala Plus One English Textbook The Serang of Ranaganji Questions and Answers Unit 4 Chapter 2 (Short Story)

The Serang of Ranaganji Textual Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What was notable about the appearance of the Indian sprang?
Answer:
He was squat and looked very ugly. He was with short legs and a large disproportionate head.

Question 2.
Who were the passengers were on the Ranaganji?
Answer:
The passengers were on the Ranaganji were tourists and pleasure seekers.

Question 3.
Who was Miss Jope-Smith? Write a short character sketch.
Answer:
Miss Jope-Smith was a passenger on the Ranaganji. She was a thrusting person. She was over thirty but she dressed herself smartly and in a dashing style to look younger. She was a first class passenger on the Ranaganji. She was always seen with her male companion Ronnie. She was a snob and a big bore. Her comment aboutjhe serang was ‘an absurdly comic creature’. When, aTthe end of the story, she asks the narrator whether he had kept the serang in a cage, the narrator gave her a befitting reply. He said that he had kept the serang in a cage but all the animals were outside. He meant that she was an animal with her rude remark about people and her showing off nature.

Question 4.
What was the condition of the seamen who were brought by the serang to Dr Cronin?
Answer:
The seamen did not look well. They complained of general illness, strong headache and severe bone pains. They looked frightened, as the doctor began to examine them. Both had fever. Theirtongueswere covered with thick sputum. They had dry skin, which is nature’s gravest warning. The doctor then discovered hard little nodules under the wrist skin of each man. It was the sure symptom of smallpox.

Question 5.
How did AJ Cronin conclude that the seamen were inflected with smallpox?
Answer:
AJ Cronin concluded that the seamen were inflected wi.th smallpox because he discovered hard little nodules under their wrist skin. It was the sure symptom of smallpox.

Question 6.
Describe Captain Hamble. What was his reaction when he heard about the breakout of smallpox on the ship?
Answer:
Captain Hamble was a thickset man of fifty five. He was known as a strict disciplinarian. When the doctor told him that two of the deckhands had small pox, Captain Hamble’s lips drew tightly together showing his tension. He was also a just and fair-minded officer. When he heard about the breakout of smallpox on the ship, he asked the doctor to do his best to keep the disease frorn spreading. He also wanted others not to know of the disease as passengers would then get panicky.

Question 7.
Where and how was the shelter for the infected patients made?
Answer:
The shelter for the infected patients was made in the back part of the ship where it wouldn’t be so visible to others. Hasan was the main person who made the shelter. In an hour he erected a large canvas shelter. Mattresses and sheets were then brought up and the two patients were placed there.

Question 8.
How did the serang take care of the diseased patients?
Answer:
The serang was very sincere and compassionate in caring for the diseased patients. It was a situation to test the strongest nerves. But the serang was calm and undisturbed. In attending the patients, he seemed untiring. The doctor had to beg him to be careful and asked him not to go too close to the patients. But the serang was not afraid and he continued taking care of the patients in all possible ways.

Question 9.
What information did Dr Cronin collect about the serang?
Answer:
Dr Cronin I gathered some information about the serang’s past history. His name was Hasan. He was from the Punjab. But his parents had moved into south India. There like many others in the coastal region he had taken to the sea-faring life. For nearly 40 years, he had been travelling in the various oceans of the world. In the Ranaganji he had spent 15 years. He had no place on shore; he had no friends or family. He had never married. He was a Muslim. All his life he had acquired nothing, neither money nor property. What he had was worth a few rupees and it was in the ship.

Question 10.
What was Hasan’s attitude to life, as explained to Cronin?
Answer:
Hasan thought money was of no use for someone who had all that he needed. He was quite happy with the way he was. He needed no extra money for his service. He had no respect for money and he despised it. He was never worried about tomorrow.

The Serang of Ranaganji Textual Activities Questions and Answers

Activity -1 (Think and Respond)

Question 1.
Do you agree with A.J. Cronin’s remark that ‘the animals were all outside.’ Why?
Answer:
I partly agree with A.J. Cronin’s remark that ‘the . animals were all outside.’ People like Miss Jope- Smith and her companion Ronnie were definitely animals. They could not see a man as a man but as an animal. I don’t think all the 1500 passengers and the crew outside were as bad as these two people. That is why I said I partly, and not wholly, agree.

Question 2.
Do you think that A.J. Cronin should have reported the selfless efforts of Hasan to the authorities and recommended him for rewards and promotion?
Answer:
In normal circumstances, I would say ‘yes’. But in the case of Hasan he is already happy with his life and his position. I don’t think any rewards and promotion would make him happier. His is a contented man and contentment can’t be got through rewards and promotion.

Question 3.
How is the world view of the passengers in general different from that of Hasan?
Answer:
The .passengers are mostly tourists and pleasure seekers. They find joy in partying and such things. They strive all their life for success and earning more wealth, as the doctor himself testifies. But for Hasan, happiness is service and he is contented. He is neither interested in parties nor in wealth or success.

Question 4.
“Why, naturally it is me.” These words show that Hasan is very ready to shoulder any responsibility happily. Comment on Hasan’s ability to volunteer at the time of an emergency.
Answer:
Smallpox is a deadly disease and it is very contagious. Nobody would like to go near a person afflicted with smallpox. Hasan is a serang and he is no way obliged to nurse the sick people. He could have easily said he would not take care of the sick, as it does not form part of his job obligations. But the moment the doctor asked who would help him the ready reply comes from Hasan. By volunteering to nurse the sick men, he was risking his life. It is not easy to find such good people in the world which strives for success and wealth. People like Hasan are very rare and such people will always come forward in case of any emergency.

Activity – II (Letter)

Question 5.
You know that A.J. Cronin, the physician of the ship is extremely impressed by the service of Hasan. Imagine that after the voyage, Cronin writes a letter to the director of the company which owns the ship Ranaganji, detailing the selfless service Hasan rendered during the voyage. He also requests the director to reward Hasan with a promotion in return for his service. Draft the letter which Cronin would write.
Answer:
Government Hospital
Lord Curson Lane
Calcutta
17 July 1940

The Director
Eastern Import Export Company
Strand
London

Dear Sir,
Sub: Hasan, the Serang on Ranaganji

Our last trip to Calcutta was quite eventful. Ranaganji had nearly 1500 passengers – mostly tourists and pleasure seekers. The voyage to Calcutta began favourably in calm, clear weather and we passed Aden without any incident. Now we were in the Arabian Sea.

To our dismay and horror we discovered that two of our lascar deck hands had small pox. When I reported the matterto the Captain, Mr. Hamble, he told me to keep the matter a secret as the news would spread panic among the passengers. I was quite worried and did not know what to do and how to cope with the problem. It was then I realized what a good man Hasan, our serang, was. He told me not to worry. He made a shelter in the stern of the ship into which the infected patients were moved. He volunteered to nurse them without worrying about his own safety. Later more workers were diagnosed with smallpox. In all we had 14 cases and Hassan took care of all of them without murmur and complaint. I was astonished at his selfless service and devotion.

Later two sick men died. Hasan sewed their shrouds and read loud a short passage from the Ramayana. We should know that he himself was a devout Muslim but he read the Ramayana because the persons who died were Hindus. It showed his religious tolerance. After that he cast the bodies overboard at midnight. When we reached Colombo the sick men were taken to the hospital. Hasan was in the forefront to help them, although some of them were with running sores of smallpox. Normally no one would dare to do such things. But Hasan did it. He really loved men.

It is difficult to find such unselfish and self-sacrificing people like Hasan. I strongly recommend that Hassan be given a promotion in recognition of his great services to the company. He should be made the Chief Petty Officer of Ranaganji.

I will talk to you more about the trip to Calcutta when I return to London.

With regards,

(A.J. Cronin)
Chief Physician of Ranaganji

Activity – III (Speech)

Question 6.
The Director of the Company receives a letter from A.J. Cronin. He is pleased with the service rendered by Hasan throughout the voyage. They arrange a special get-together of all the officials and crew of the ship. In that get-together, the Managing Director of the company announces that the company appreciates the service of Hasan and promotes him as the Chief Petty Officer of the ship. The Director invites Hasan to speak a few words on this occasion.
Answer:
Imagine that you are Hasan. What would be your reaction and feelings at this moment? Draft a speech that you would deliver on the occasion. My reaction would be that of gratitude to God and the company. Of course I will be happy on getting the promotion. When I am in a better position I will be able to give better service to people.

Dear Director, Dr. Cronin, respected officers and crew members, I am so happy to be given this kind of recognition by the Company and the officers. I don’t think I did anything great in serving the sick people in the ship.

Wasn’t it my duty to serve the suffering? Allah has given us this life to love and serve others. When we get a chance we should be able to of service to others.

I am a Muslim. But I believe we all are children of God. That is why I even read from the Ramayana some relevant part when I sewed the shroud for the dead people and wanted to cast them overboard. I was not worried about getting the disease because I felt that life is a gift from God. He will take it way whenever he likes. Whatever precautions you might take, you can’t prevent death from coming to you.

I don’t value money or position much. But I am happy that I am given promotion because it will help me to do more service to my brethren. I would like to end my humble words with a quotation from the Bible. It asks: What is the use of earning so much wealth in this world,’ if you lose your soul? So my advice to my friends is ‘Help others as much as possible.’

Before I close I want to thank Dr. Cronin and the Chairman forgiving me the promotion. I assure them that I will continue doing my best for the Company. May the Almighty Allah bless you all and thank you!

Activity – IV (Role-play)

Question 6.
Miss Jope-Smith soon hears about the promotion given to Hasan and the reason for the promotion. She feels sorry for her prejudiced remarks about him. She decides to meet Hasan in person, and congratulate him for his efforts and the promotion he has received.

Form pairs. Imagine that one of you is Ms Jose- Smith and the other is Hasan. Role-play the whole conversation between Jope-Smith and Hasan.
Answer:
Jope-Smith: Good evening, Hasan! I’m Jope-Smith, one of the travellers in the Ranaganji, going to Calcutta. Hasan: Good evening! Glad to you were on the ship.

JS: Congratulations on your promotion! You really deserve it.

Hasan: Thank you, Ms Jope-Smith. I thank Allah for all this wonderful things happening to me.

JS: I want to say one more thing to you. I want to say ‘sorry’.

Hasan: Say‘sorry’for what?

JS: For thinking ill of you and laughing at you. When I saw you first I talked ill of you for no reason. I guess I was very proud. I could never imagine that you were such a nice and brave person.

Hasan: I don’t think I am such a nice and brave person. I did what I ought to have done in the circumstances. When I knew some workers were having smallpox, had to take care of them. Does not Allah want us to help one another?

JS: You’re right, Hasan! We ought to help one another. I am ashamed of my prejudice. I’m sorry!

Hasan: It’s okay Madam! We all make mistakes. Forget it and be happy.

JS: Thank you, Hasan, I feel quite relieved now. Thank you very much.

Activity – V (Word power)

Question 7.
The parts of a ship Here is a picture of a ship. Mark as many parts as you know.

Answer:
1. funnel
2. stern
3. anchor
4. hull
5. tank
6. bow’
7. mast
8. deck
9. cabins.

Question 8.
The crew of the ship Who are the professionals working in a ship? What do they do?

Answer:

Activity – VI

Question 9.
The past participle as Adjective Study the following expressions carefully:
a. smartly-dressed woman
b. Well-bred voice
c. amused gaze
d. titled friends

The expressions smartly-dressed, well-bred, amused and titled are used as adjectives. They are participle forms of the verbs dress, breed, amuse and title.

A.J. Cronin has used many such expressions in the story. Find out more expressions from the story where the past participle forms of the verbs have been used as adjectives. Explain the meaning of these expressions to your friends.
Answer:
Added source – a source which is added to something,
Looked frightened – looked afraid
Thickly furred tongues – like fur
Young and inexperienced – not having enough experience
Lined and battered face – face full of creases and looked sad
I am overloaded and understaffed -1 have too much work, and very few workers
Baffled, I looked – worried and confused
Serang, who, undismayed – calm and cool
Protected from view-safe, hidden
Calm and unperturbed – undisturbed

Note: Prefixes like under-, over-, etc. can also be added to the past participle form of a verb to function as an adjective, e.g. over-crowded ship, understaffed crew.

Activity – VII (Think and discuss)

Question 10.
Adverbs of frequency
Read the notes and explanations given on below.
a. He had never married.
b. Money had no interest for him, he had always despised it.

• What is the meaning of the words underlined?
• What is the function of these words?

Language tips

• ‘Never’ and ‘always’ are adverbs of frequency – which tell you how often an action is done.
• Here is a continuum which will help you to understand some of the adverbs of frequency and their meanings.

Practise: (Inversion of word order with adverbs)
The sentences 1-5 given on below contain errors. Identify the errors and correct them.
1. Seldom they have reached the office on time.
2. Only when the last visitor left the museum he closed the gate.
3. Little he knew about the nature of the job he was undertaking.
4. Not until next year, there will be a new vacancy.
5. Hardly I had reached the station when the train arrived.
Answer:
1. Seldom have they reached the office on time.
2. Nosoonerdidthe last visitor leave the museum than he closed the gate.
3. Little did he know about the nature of the job he was undertaking.
4. Not until next year will there is a new vacancy.
5. Hardly had I reached the station when the train arrived.

Activity-VIII (Passivisation)

Question 11.
Study the following sentences carefully:
a. Soon the sick men had been taken off to the hospital.
b. Mattresses and sheets were then brought up and the two patients were comfortably installed.

In both the above sentences, we are not told who did the action. The doer of the action is unknown.

Rewrite these sentences without changing the meaning. (Begin tije sentences with ‘they’)
Answer:
Soon they had taken off the sick men to the hospital. They brought mattresses and sheets and installed the two patients comfortably.

there is a chart that offers clues about the steps taken by Cronin and Hassan to prevent the spreading of smallpox in the ship. Go through it carefully and prepare a report of how they controlled the spreading of smallpox in the ship.

Hasan found two deck lascars with fever and he brought them to Dr. Cronin. Dr. Cronin examined both the patients. He found that they had smallpox. Hasan prepared an evacuation room and moved the patients there. On examining all the crew members Dr. Cronin discovered fresh cases of small pox. Dr. Cronin isolated all the patients and gave them treatment. He kept the outbreak of smallpox a secret from other passengers because it might scare them. There were altogether 14 patients. Two of the patients died. But the others survived. Dr. Cronin and Hasan were successful in preventing the killer disease from spreading.

The Serang of Ranaganji Textual Extended Activities Questions and Answers

Activity -1

Question 12.
Given below is a list of some of the cases in which first-aid would be required. You may add more to the list.
Answer:

• Injured leg – bleeding
• Fractured hand
• Burnt fingers
• Fits
• Snake bite
• Fainting
• Asthmatic attack

What first aid would you give in these situations? Get the information from the internet or from a medical practitioner.

Here is an example: In the case of a snake bite, the first thing to be done is to prevent the spreading of the infected blood. Using a long piece of cloth tie the limb above the site of the bite. This will prevent the blood from spreading. Then with a sterilized blade or a knife widen the wound so that the infected blood can flow out. Then try to get medical help as fast as you can.

Activity – II (Read and compare)

Read the story “On Courage” by A.G Gardiner given on below of the Text.

On Courage

… But if I were asked to name the instance of individual action which had most impressed me, I should find the task more difficult. Should I select something that shows how war depraves, or something that shows how it ennobles? If the latter, I think I would choose that beautiful incident of the sailor on the Formidable.

He had won by ballot a place in one of the boats. The ship was going down, but he was to be saved. One pictures the scene: The boat is waiting to take him to the shore and safety. He looks at the old comrades who have lost in the ballot and who stand there doomed to death. He feels the passion for life surging within him.

He sees the cold, dark sea waiting to engulf its victims. And in that great moment – the greatest moment that can come to any man – he makes the triumphant choice. He turns to one of his comrades. ‘You’ve got parents,’ he says. ‘I haven’t.’ And with that word – so heroic in its simplicity – he makes the other take his place in the boat and signs his own death warrant.

I see him on the deck among his doomed fellows, watching the disappearing boat until the final plunge comes and all is over. The sea never took a braver man to its bosom. ‘Greater love hath no man than this …’

Can you read that story without some tumult within you – without feeling that humanity itself is ennobled by this great act and that you are, in some mysterious way, better for the deed? That is the splendid fruit of all such sublime sacrifice. It enriches the whole human family. It makes us lift our heads with pride that we are men – that there is in us at our best this noble gift of valiant unselfishness, this glorious prodigality that spends life itself for something greater than life. If we had met this nameless sailor, we should have found him, perhaps, a very ordinary man, with plenty of failings, doubtless, like the rest of us, and without any idea that he had in him the priceless jewel beside which crowns and coronets are empty baubles. He was something greater than he knew.

Question 13.
“The sea never took a braver man to its bosom. ” What does Gardiner mean by this expression? Do you agree with Gardiner? Write your views in a paragraph.
Answer:
I quite agree with Gardiner. The ship named ‘Formidable’ was sinking. Only a few could be saved by using the life boats. So lots were taken to see who will be taken in the boats to safety. A sailor gets the lot and he can board the boat to safety. The boat is waiting for him. He looks at his comrades who are doomed to death. The he turns to one of his comrades and tells him, ‘You’ve got parents, I haven’t.’ He then makes the comrade take his seat on the boat and thus signs his own death warrant. The doomed ship sinks taking with it the courageous sailor who offered his place to his comrade.

The sea never took a braver man to its bosom. Jesus said, “There is no greater sacrifice than giving up one’s life for his friend.” Here we see that happening. What a sacrifice! The story brought tears to my eyes and I was proud to know that there are still people like the sailor who chose to die for his comrade.

Now, examine the pictures on below carefully.

Question 14.
Can you recognise the ship and the incident?
Answer:
The ship is The Titanic’ and the incident is its sinking on 14th April 1912, as it collided with an iceberg.

Question 15.
Do you know how the passengers and the crew of the ship responded to this situation?
Answer:
Yes, I know. They responded quite bravely and gallantly. Some passengers showed the greatest acts of courage, heroism and sacrifice.

Read and Enjoy

Question 1.
This poem is about one of the greatest tragedies at sea. On 14 April 1912, the Titanic, which carried 2100 passengers and crew, collided with an iceberg and sank into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. However, this tragedy brought out some of the greatest acts of courage and heroism.

The Serang of Ranaganji About the Author:

– A.J. Cronin

A.J. Cronin (1896-1981) was a Scottish novelist. He was a physician by profession. He has published a number of world-famous novels. His strengths are his keen observation, his graphic description and his narrative skill. The excerpt is taken from ‘Adventures in two Worlds’, his autobiographical novel. It is an anecdote from his experience as a surgeon in the Royal Navy.

The Serang of Ranaganji Summary

Page 112:
A smartly dressed woman, who was a first class passenger on the Ranaganji asked her companion, pointing to a man, if he had seen such an absurdly comic creature. They were standing before me. The Ranaganji is a ship and it was about to sail from Liverpool to Calcutta. I and the lady and her companion were on the ship’s upper deck. Following their gaze, I saw a squat, very ugly native seaman, with short legs and a large disproportionate head. He was the Indian serang, orquarter-master(a small naval officer, in charge of navigational matters) of the ship. He was quietly supervising the crew of lascars (petty naval workers) who were completing the loading of the luggage. The companion of the woman said that the serang looked hardly human. He further added that by seeing the serang, one would think that Darwin was right.

The voyage began in calm, clear weather. We crossed the Bay of Biscay without suffering much from the turbulent waters. Soon we passed through the Strait of Gibraltar, passing through the calm Mediterranean under blue skies. The Ranaganji was a big ship, manned by white officers. The crew was entirely Indian. I was the physician on tie ship.

Page 113:
The ship was crowded with pleasure seekers and tourists. There was a large number of Anglo- Indian army officers. Many of them were with their wives and families. From the start, there was gaiety on board. The chief among the social promoters was Miss Jope- Smith. She was over 30, but she had a dashing style to look younger. She was snob and a bore. We reached Port Said. Everyone went ashore excitedly. They bought silks, shawls, cigarettes, scent and jewellery. We passed the Red Sea, and the barren rock of Aden. Now we were in the Arabian Sea.

The following morning, the serang, Hasan, came bringing with him two of his lascars (deck hands). He greeted me and then told me that those two men were sick. The seamen did not look well. They complained of general illness, strong headache and severe bone pains. They looked frightened, as I began to examine them. Both had fever. Their tongues were covered with thick sputum. They had dry skin, which is nature’s gravest warning. I then discovered hard little nodules under the wrist skin of each man. It was the sure symptom of smallpox.

I was young and inexperienced in my profession. I had not learned to control my feelings. My expression must have altered visibly. Although the serang said nothing, his face assumed a look of seriousness. I quickly went to the ship’s control room.

Captain Hamble was not there. He was in the chartroom below. He looked up as I burst in. I told him that two of the deckhands had small pox. I saw his lips drawing tightly together. He was a thickset man of 55 and a strict disciplinarian. But he was also a just and fair-minded officer.

Page 114:
He came close to me and told me that I was in charge of the health of the ship. It was entirely up to me. He could not give me any of his officers as he was overloaded and understaffed. But he would give me the serang, who was the finest man he had. He wanted me to keep the disease from spreading. He also wanted others not to know of the disease as passengers would then get panicky.

I left the chartroom realizing my grave responsibility. We were in the middle of the Arabian Sea with 1500 passengers aboard. There was no way of vaccinating them. Smallpox was the most deadly contagion.

Back in my surgery I found that one lascar was in the grip of violent rigour (rigidity of body) and his body was shaking. I told the serang that we had to isolate these men. There was no sick bay on board and not even an inch was available in the cabin space. Worried.

I looked at the serang. He looked undisturbed and told me that a shelter could be made on the rear-deck. It was very cool there with plenty of fresh air.

In the back part of the ship, he began to work. In an hour he erected a large canvas shelter. Mattresses and sheets were then brought up and the two patients were comfortably installed there.

Our next step was to get the crew for a thorough medical inspection. One of the stokers (people who tend the furnace) who complained of fever and headache showed signs of the rash. He was placed with the other cases. I then asked Hasan who would help me in attending these men. Hasan told me that he would help me. I then told him that he should be careful as the disease was most contagious. Hassan told me he was not afraid.

Hasan and I sponged the patients and gave them medicines. We hung sheets soaked in disinfectant round the shelter. We set up a cooking stove where liquids could be heated and simple meals prepared.

The next day there was fresh cause for worry. Three new cases were found among the deckhands. The segregated men were much worse. The same afternoon 4 more of the crew were sick. We now had ten cases in our small isolated shelter. It was a situation to test the strongest nerves. But the serang was calm and undisturbed. In attending the patients, he seemed untiring. I had to beg him to be careful. I asked him not to go too close to the patients. Smilingly he asked me whether I was careful rrjyself. I told him I was and it was my work.

I was so weighed down by responsibility that I was a bit worried for myself. The ship was going with maximum speed. Colombo was the nearest port and it was still 8 days away. In the course of another 2 days, 4 more stokers became sick. Now there were 14. One of the earlier victims had gone into a coma. He seemed likely to die any time. Under this added worry I could not sleep.

The serang was always there helping me. When he stood in meditation, his long arms folded on his bare chest, motionless as a statue, even I felt comforted. When a sick man made any sound of pain, he would move towards him with help. He would return and then again fold him arms in prayer. The ship was moving forward with speed.

Hasan had no liking for speech. Still I gathered some information about his past history. He was from the Punjab. But his parents had moved into south India. There like many others in the coastal region he had taken to the sea-faring life. For nearly 40 years, he had been travelling in the various oceans of the world. In the Ranaganji he had spent 15 years. He had no place on shore; he had no friends or family. He had never married.

He was a Muslim. All his life he had acquired nothing, neither money nor property. What he had was worth a few rupees and it was in the ship. This thought pained me. In a moment of sympathy, I told him that in that emergency, the company ought to give him extra pay. He was silent for a moment and then asked me what use money had for someone who has all that he needs. He was quite happy with the way he was.

He was sincere and he needed no extra money for his service. He had no respect for money and he despised it. He had courage, self-control and faith. The men among whom he worked lived poor and died poor. It had become his habit not to worry about tomorrow.

Standing with him in the moonlight I felt a strange pain. Beside his simplicity the world’s values seemed worthless. A great party had started in the saloon. I had a passionate desire for success and wealth and I felt ashamed when I compared myself with this serang.

On the next day two patients died. Hassan sewed their shrouds. In his hoarse dnd low voice he read a short passage from the Ramayana before their bodies. They were wrapped in sailcloth, with a weight at their feet and were thrown overboard at midnight. No fresh cases developed. A week later we reached Colombo. Soon the sick men were taken to hospital. Most patients had passed the crisis. But three were in bad shape with running sores. They were carried in the arms of Hassan. I could see tears flowing through his dark cheeks.

Our passage through the Bay of Bengal was brief and uneventful. We soon reached Calcutta. Suddenly I heard the voice of Miss Jope-Smith. She was pointing to Hasan and telling her companion Ronnie that the ‘absurd creature’ was there again. Hasan was busy in the procedure of unloading the baggage. Then she turned to me and asked me where I had kept the absurd creature during the entire voyage. Did I keep him in a special cage? I told her that in a way he was in a cage. But all the animals were outside.

The Serang of Ranaganji Glossary

Kerala State Board New Syllabus Plus One English Textbook Answers Unit 4 Chapter 1 Disasters and Disaster Management in India Text Book Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes.

Kerala Plus One English Textbook Disasters and Disaster Management in India Questions and Answers Unit 4 Chapter 1 (Essay)

Disaster and Disaster Management in India Textual Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What does the recent World Disaster Report say about disasters?
Answer:
The recent World Disaster Report says that disasters have increased in number and intensity.

Question 2.
What are some of the common disasters?
Answer:
Some of the common disasters are earthquakes, floods, cyclones, landslides, droughts, accidents, plane crashes and forest fires.

Question 3.
What is true about both developed and developing countries?
Answer:
The fact that disasters like earthquakes, floods, cyclones, landslides, droughts, accidents, plane crashes and forest fires have increased in their number and intensity is true about both developed and developing countries.

Question 4.
What is the relationship between human development and disaster preparedness?
Answer:
There is a direct correlation between human development and better preparedness to manage disasters. The less developed countries are more prone to suffer damages caused by disasters.

Question 5.
Which is the deadliest disaster?
Answer:
The deadliest disaster is drought. It accounts for 48% of deaths due to natural disasters.

Question 6.
What makes India more vulnerable do disasters?
Answer:
Its geographical location and geological formation make India more vulnerable to disasters. Its long coastline, snow-covered peaks and high mountain ranges and the perennial rivers of the north combine to make the problems worse. India has only 2% of the total geographical area, but it supports 18% of the total population. So, there is a great pressure on the natural resources. This directly or indirectly leads to disasters like floods, droughts, landslides and earthquakes.

*Question 7.
What causes tremendous pressure on the natural resources in India?
Answer:
India has only 2% of the total geographical area, but it supports 18% of the total population. This causes a tremendous pressure on the natural resources.

Question 8.
Which is a relatively new natural disaster in India?
Answer:
Tsunami is a relatively new natural disaster in India. Due to the lack of an adequate warning system, the tsunami of 2004 destroyed a large portion of the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and also the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It killed many people and destroyed properties worth many crores.

Question 9.
Which is the man-made disaster that India witnessed in the last century?
Answer:
The man-made disaster that India witnessed in the last century is the Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984.

Question 10.
Name some of the major natural disasters faced by India during this century.
Answer:
Some of the major natural disasters faced by India during this century are: The Gujarat earthquake (2001), the Mumbai-Gujarat floods (2005), the tsunami (2004), the Uttarakhand flash-floods and the hurricane Phailin in coastal Orissa and Andhra Pradesh (2013).

Question 11.
Which are the lifeline support systems that get damaged in disasters?
Answer:
The lifeline support systems that get damaged in disasters are communication, power supply and water supply systems. Drainages get are damaged. Healthcare and hospitals come under severe stress. Commercial and economic activities are badly affected. Life, then, almost comes to a standstill.

Question 12.
Which is the man-made disaster mentioned here? Which section of the society is most affected by disasters? Why?
Answer:
The man-made disaster mentioned here is riots. The most affected are the poor sections of society. It is so because they have to work daily to earn their livelihood.

Question 13.
What are the major limitations in constructing safe and secure buildings?
Answer:
The major limitations in constructing safe and secure buildings are people don’t follow the regulations laid down for ensuring safety and security. In developing countries, only 30% of the buildings are constructed in accordance with the regulations. The lack of a master-plan and the inferior quality of materials used for construction are also major limitations.

Question 14.
What measures need to be taken to ensure the safety and security of the buildings?
Answer:
To ensure the safety and security of the buildings, both private and public buildings should be constructed according to the guidelines prescribed by law. Construction should be according to the master plan approved by the authorities. Good quality materials should be used for construction.

Question 15.
What is the requirement in the areas vulnerable to earthquakes in order to reduce damage and death?
Answer:
In areas vulnerable to earthquakes, the existing buildings should be technically assessed and owners should be informed about the weaknesses in their construction. It is estimated that nearly a million buildings are constructed in India each year and an equal number of them gets damaged as a result of disasters. To reduce the damage to buildings, a monitoring mechanism should be set up. It should work in proper coordination with the concerned authorities to ensure the fulfilment of building codes.

Question 16.
What is the structure of the state and central level committees of disaster management?
Answer:
At the state level^Jiere is a State Level Disaster Management Committee consisting of the senior secretaries of various departments and the representatives of NGOs. At the national level, there is a Crisis Management Committee, headed by the Cabinet Secretary and the secretaries from the major departments of the government.

Question 17.
How does the central government coordinate disaster management activities in India?
Answer:
The central government, with proper coordination with various ministries, give the necessary support to the states. This includes defence services like air dropping, rescuing, searching, transport of relief goods, etc. and availability of railway and ferry services, health personnel and medical support.

Question 18.
What are the special requirements of the rescue team, according to the author?
Answer:
The rescue teams should have special skills and attitudes in dealing with disasters. They need to be well equipped and should have the latest technologies.

Question 19.
What is the purpose of disaster management?
Answer:
The purpose of disaster management is to reduce the destructive impact of disasters. It is not possible to prevent or avert many of these disasters but with proper disaster management, we can definitely reduce the deaths and damages caused by them.

Disaster and Disaster Management in India Textual Activities Questions and Answers

Activity -1 (Note-making)

Question 1.
You have read the essay ‘Disasters and Disaster Management in India.’ Given below is an outline of the notes on this essay. Read the essay carefully again and complete the notes.
Answer:
Disasters and Disaster Management in India
1. Disasters – the global scenario
1.1 a challenge for all humanity
1.2 increase in frequency and intensity
1.3 the world becoming more prone to disasters
1.4 developed and developing countries are affected
1.5 floods-more common, India, China, Bangladesh – most affected
1.6 drought – deadliest (40% of all deaths and disasters)

2. Disasters-Indian Context
2.1 highly prone to disasters
2.2 reasons for vulnerability
2.2.1 geographical location and geological formation
2.2.2 long coastline, snow-clad peaks, high mountain ranges, perennial Rivers
2.2.3 overpopulation and inadequacy of natural resources
2.3 different kinds of disasters in India – Regional
2.3.1 Northern region
2.3.2 Eastern region
2.3.3 The North-eastern region
2.3.4 The western region
2.3.5 The southern region
2.3.6 The Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep & coastal areas
2.4 major disasters in this century
2.4.1 Gujarat earthquake (2001)
2.4.2 the Mumbai-Gujarat floods (2005)
2.4.3 the tsunami (2004)
2.4.4 the Uttarakhand flash-floods
2.4.5 Hurricane Phailin in coastal Orissa & AP (2013)

3. The direct and indirect impact of disasters
3.1 damage, destruction, death
3.2 lifeline support systems are damaged
3.3 Healthcare and hospitals come under stress
3.4 Commercial and economic activities badly affected
3.5 poorer sections – most affected

4. Risk due to disaster – need for safer buildings
4.1 cyclones, tsunami, earthquakes, defects in construction of buildings can cause greater destruction.
4.2 scenario in the developing countries
4.2.1 only 30% of the buildings are constructed as per regulations
4.2.2 lack of master plan
4.2.3 using inferior quality materials
4.3 suggestions for safer infrastructure
4.3.1 both private and public buildings to be constructed as per guidelines
4.3.2 constructions to be adhere to the master plan
4.3.3 only good quality materials be used for construction

5. Management in India
5.1 purpose – not prevention, but reduction of impact
5.2 state government
5.2.1 – role- state level disaster management committee
5.2.2 – structure – senior secretaries and representative of NGOs
5.3 centre government
5.3.1 – role – Crisis management committee
5.3.2 – structure – cabinet secretary and secretaries of major departments
5.3.3 – support offered – air dropping, rescuing, searching, transport of relief goods, rail and ferry services, health personnel, and medical support.
5.4 rehabilitation of victims
5.4.1 – integral part of disaster management
5.4.2 – proper coordination among various departments
5.4.3 – rescue teams – additional skills, equipped with latest technology

Activity – II (Writing precis)

Question 2.
You have read the essay and prepared notes on ‘Disasters and Disaster Management in India.’ Based on the notes you prepared, write a precis on the essay. A precis, usually, is one-third the size of the original text.
Answer:
Disasters have become a big challenge for all humanity. There has been an increase in the frequency and intensity of disasters. It seems that the world becoming more prone to disasters. Disasters affect both developed and developing countries. Some of the disasters are floods, windstorms, droughts, and earthquakes. Floods are more common in India, China and Bangladesh. Drought is the deadliest. Nearly 40% of all deaths and disasters are caused by droughts.

India is highly prone to disasters. There are many reasons for this. The geological formation, Geographical location, the long coastline, snow-clad peaks, high mountain ranges, perennial rivers, etc. are some of them. Overpopulation and the inadequacy of natural resources add to them problem. India faces many different kinds of disasters. In all regions there are problems. Some of the major disasters India had in this century are the Gujarat earthquake (2001), the Mumbai-Gujarat floods (2005), the tsunami (2004), the Uttarakhand flash-floods and the Hurricane Phailin in coastal Orissa & AP (2013).

There are direct and indirect impacts of disasters. Some of the impacts are the damage, destruction, death caused by them. Following the disaster, the lifeline support systems are damaged. Healthcare and hospitals come under stress. Commercial and economic activities get badly affected. The poorer sections are the most affected.

To reduce the damages caused by disaster, there is a need for safer buildings.,Disasters like cyclones, tsunami, earthquakes, etc. can cause greater destruction if there are defects in the construction of buildings. The scenario in the developing countries is pathetic. Only 30% of the buildings are constructed as per regulations. There is a lack of any master plar and people construct buildings using inferior quality, materials.

There is a need for safer infrastructure. Both private and public buildings should be constructed as per the guidelines given by the government. Constructions should adhere to the master plan and only good quality materials should be used for construction purposes.

It is true that we can’t prevent disasters and we can reduce their impact. For this, the state government and the central government have to work together. At the state level, there has to be a disaster management committee with all the senior secretaries of various departments and representatives of NGOs. At the centre, there must be a Crisis management committee with the cabinet secretary as the chairman and secretaries of major departments as members. The centre can offer support like air dropping, rescuing, searching, transport of relief goods, rail and ferry services, health personnel and medical support. The rehabilitation of victims is an integral part of disaster management. There should be proper coordination among various departments. The rescue teams should have additional skills, and they should be equipped with the latest technology. If these things are carried out, the impact of the disasters can be reduced and many lives saved.

Activity – III (Think and respond)

Question 3.
What are some of the disasters (natural/man-made and industrial) your locality has witnessed in the last ten years? What were the impact of these disasters on man and nature?
Answer:
My locality has witnessed two major disasters. Bothe of them are man-made. One is water pollution. The local farmers, in their eagernare to get bumper harvests, used a lot of chemical rertilizers and later insecticides on a large scale. Ttoe result is that the water in the area is polluted. The fish in the stream and ponds nearby have died.

Another disaster is the mindless cutting down of trees and building concrete jungles everywhere. With high- rise buildings around you, you feel choked. There is no place for the children to run about and play. Every available piece of land is used for various types of construction. In the summer season the place becomes very hot. All the birds that nestled on the trees around have left the place, which looks barren.

Question 4.
Is your locality prepared to manage any potential disaster? If not, what precautions can be taken to prevent and manage possible disasters?
Answer:
My locality is not at all prepared to manage any potential danger. The streets are so narrow in the township that not even a fire-truck can enter the place in case of a fire disaster. At least the Municipality should take steps to widen the roads so that the victims can be reached in case of a disaster.

Question 5.
The author says that disaster management in India is the responsibility of the state and central governments. Do you agree with this view? Do you think that the people of our country have a role in preventing and managing disasters?
Answer:
I don’t agree with The view of the author that that disaster management in India is the responsibility of the state and central governments. I fully agree with the view that the people of our country should have a role in preventing and managing disasters. Preventing natural disasters may not be possible but we can do many things to reduce the impact of such disasters. Without the people’s active cooperation, no scheme of any kind will succeed.

Question 6.
What do you think about the measures of rehabilitation that are adopted after each disaster? Do you think the measures are sufficient?
Answer:
The measures of rehabilitation that are adopted after each disaster are not good enough. When a disaster happens, the chief ministers and some other ministers run to the spot of disaster. Some half-hearted measures are carried out just to please the people. Often these measures are just temporary solutions. After the tsunami, some houses were constructed to rehabilitate the victims. After two seasons of heavy rain most of the houses became so bad people could not live there. The measures taken are insufficient. Corruption is the main cause for our troubles. The contractors who make the buildings use defective material and the buildings they make do not last. We have seen what happens to our roads. There is no determined effort on the part of anybody to make things work properly. Authorities become immune to criticism.

Activity – IV (Explore the roots)

Question 7.
Disaster = Dys + aster
‘Disaster’and ‘disastrous’ originate from the Greek word ‘astron’ which means star. In ancient times, it was believed that stars shaped human destiny; any misfortune or calamity, therefore, happened to someone because the stars were not favorable. The prefix ‘dys’ here means against. Here is a list of words which are derived from the Greek root ‘astron’: All these words are related to stars. Find out the meaning of these words:
Answer:
1. astronomy = scientific study of the universe
2. astrophysics = the physics of astronomical objects
3. astronaut = space traveller
4. aster – Star-shaped structure in cells
5. asterisk = star shaped symbol
6. astrologer = one who studies stars in relation to human behaviour
7. asteroid = rocky object orbiting the sun

Activity – V (Crossword puzzle)

Question 8.
Here is a crossword puzzle about natural calamities. Use the clues below to solve the puzzle.

Answers :
1. Twister
2. Tsunami
3. Earthquake
4. Avalanche
5. Lava
6. Famine
7. Ice
8. Landslide
9. Storm
10. Tornado
11. Hurricane

Activity – VI (Project)

Question 9.
The author says that ‘Of all the disasters, floods are the most common. … India, China and Bangladesh are the most affected by floods. ’ In Kerala also we experience floods during the monsoon. The water levels of rivers rise, flooding cities and towns. What are the reasons for this flooding?
Answer:
There are many reasons for the flooding. We can divide them into two categories. In the first group we have natural causes like high rainfall, snowmelt, relief (in low-lying areas rivers flow very slowly and so the water volume increases suddenly) and coastal flooding because of high tides. In the second group we have human causes which include deforestation, poor farming (over-grazing, over-cultivation, etc. which makes the top soil washed away), poor water management and population pressure. All these factors can be found in India, China and Bangladesh.

Question 10.
Investigate the reasons for flooding in your locality. Write a report of your finds. Make an ICT assisted presentation.
Answer:
The reasons for flooding in my locality are high rainfall, poor farming, poor water management and population pressure.

Activity – VII (Collection)

We are highly vulnerable to many natural disasters. While some fail to act in the moments of crisis or become victims of these disasters, some others rise up to the occasion and help the victims. Here is a newspaper report about 4 children who won bravery awards for their timely and heroic action in a moment of crisis.

Read the report on below of the Text.

Bravery award for children

Thiruvananthapuram: Four children from Kerala will be among the recipients of this year’s National Bravery Awards at the next Republic Day function, in New Delhi.

They include Jismi P. M., who was selected for the Geetha Chopra Award, Vishnudas K., the winner of the Bapu Gayadhani Award; and Anoop M. and Raj Narayanan, both selected for the general award.

Jismi, 12, a native of Perinchery in Thrissur district, was chosen for the award for saving a woman and her two children from drowning in a pond. A Class IX student of the Government Vocational Higher Secondary School at Cherpu, Jismi is the daughter of a manual labourer.

Vishnudas won the award for saving two children from a watery grave. A native of Palakkad, he is a Plus One student of the Sri Sankara Oriental Higher Secondary School, Lakkidi.

Anoop, a Class VIII student of the Bishop Kuriyalanchery Public School at Chambakulam, bagged the award for saving a 5-yearold from drowning in a lake. Raj Narayanan, the fourth nominee, was selected for saving a boy from drowning in a river in Alappuzha. Raj is a Class IX student of the NSS High School, Kuttanad. The General Secretary of the Kerala State Child Welfare Council P. Krishnan, said Jismi is the first winner of the Geetha Chopra Award, from Kerala.

Collect such newspaper reports and discuss with your friends how children can act timely in moments of crisis.

Read and Reflect

Question 1.
This story is about a voyage from Liverpool to Calcutta during the British rule in India. It tells how the author and the* hero of the story manage a potential calamity, silently and bravely.

Disaster and Disaster Management in India Summary

Disaster is something that often happens to people. People have experienced disasters in different forms from the beginning of time. The latest World Disaster Report shows that disasters have increased in number and intensity.

People are becoming more and more exposed to disasters of all kinds. They include earthquakes, floods, cyclones, landslides, droughts, accidents, plane crashes, forest fires, etc. This is quite true in the case of both developed and developing countries. The floods in the UK and France, and the heat waves in Europe, especially the one in France in 2003, claimed many lives. In the last few years, America has also faced devastating disasters in the form of tornadoes, hurricanes and cyclones. They caused many deaths and much destruction. Although progress in technology is helping man to reduce the impact of disasters, it is still not enough.

There is a direct correlation between higher human development and better preparedness to manage disasters. The less developed countries are more prone to suffer damages caused by disasters.

Of all the disasters, floods are the most common. They are followed by windstorms, droughts, and earthquakes. Drought is the deadliest, accounting for 48% of deaths due to natural disasters. Asia has the highest number of death toll from disasters. India, China and Bangladesh are in the Asian continent.

India, due to its geographical location and geological formation, is highly prone to disasters. Its long coastline, snow-covered peaks and high mountain ranges and the perennial rivers of the north combine to make the problems worse. India has only 2% of the total geographical area, but it supports 18% of the total population. So, there is a great pressure on the natural resources. This directly or indirectly leads to disasters like floods, droughts, landslides and earthquakes.

The northern region of India faces problems due to landslides, floods, droughts and earthquakes because it falls under the seismic zones III to V. The eastern region has the problem of floods in the perennial rivers which include the Brahmaputra, the Ganga, etc. Drought, heat waves, hailstorms, cyclones, heavy winds and earthquakes are also common here. The north-eastern region has floods, landslides and earthquakes. This region comes under seismic zones IV & V.

The western region is known for severe droughts, wind erosion of land and soil, floods and cyclones. It is also prone to earthquakes. The southern region, particularly the coastal area, is vulnerable to cyclones, sea erosion, tsunami and landslides. The islands of Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep are open to the problems of Sea erosion and tsunami. The Indian coastal areas have faced some of the worst cyclones.

Among all the disasters in India, the tsunami is a relatively new thing. Due to the lack of an adequate warning system, the tsunami of 2004 destroyed a large portion of the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and also the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It killed many people and destroyed properties worth many crores.

India has faced a number of natural disasters. There was also the man-made disaster of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984. During this century, India faced the Gujarat earthquake (2001), the Mumbai-Gujarat floods (2005), the tsunami (2004), the Uttarakhand flash-floods and the hurricane Phailin in coastal Orissa and Andhra Pradesh (2013).

The direct and indirect impacts of disasters, either natural or industrial, are damage, destruction and death. When disaster strikes, the lifeline support systems like communication, power supply, watersupply and drainage are damaged. Healthcare and hospitals come under severe stress. Commercial and economic activities are badly affected. Life almost comes to a standstill. The psychological traumas caused by disasters are so severe that they last the entire life of the victim. So along with other rehabilitation works, psychological rehabilitation should be given.

The impact is the same even in the case of man made disasters like riots. The most affected are the poor sections of society, who have to work daily to earn their livelihood.

In some natural disasters like cyclones, tsunami and earthquake, it is the building structure that causes the destruction and death. In developing countries only 30% of the buildings are constructed in accordance with the regulations laid down for ensuring safety and security. The lack of a master-plan and the inferior quality of materials used for construction also increase the casualties arising out of disasters. Both private and public buildings should be constructed according to the guidelines prescribed by law. Construction should also be according to the master plan approved by the authorities. Good quality materials only should be used for construction.

The UNDAC (United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination), along with the Indian Government, has jointly prepared an action plan for cities and towns prone to earthquakes. In vulnerable areas, the existing buildings should be technically assessed and owners should be informed about the weaknesses in their construction. It is estimated that nearly a million buildings are constructed in India each year and an equal number of them gets damaged as a result of disasters. To reduce the damage to buildings, a monitoring mechanism should be set up. It should work in proper coordination with the concerned authorities to ensure the fulfillment of building codes.

In the case of disaster management, the state governments play a major role. The central government plays only a facilitating role. At the state level, there is a State Level Disaster Management Committee consisting of the senior secretaries of various departments and the representatives of NGOs. At the national level, there is a Crisis Management Committee, headed by the Cabinet Secretary and the secretaries from the major departments of the government. Thfffcentral government, with proper coordination with various ministries, gives the necessary support to the states. This includes defence services like airdropping, rescuing, searching, transport of relief goods, etc. and availability of railway and ferry services, health personnel and medical support.

Rehabilitation is an integral part of disaster management. Disasters are non-routine events and so they need non-routine services. It means the Government can’t rely on normal procedures to take urgent action. There should be proper coordination among the various departments of the government to bring speedy relief to the victim. The rescue teams have to learn special skills and attitudes in dealing with disasters. They need to be well equipped and should have the latest technologies.

Disaster management has acquired greater importance of late. The purpose is not to prevent natural or man-made disasters. We may not be able to prevent many of these disasters but we can definitely reduce their destructive impact.

Disaster and Disaster Management in India Glossary

Kerala State Board New Syllabus Plus One English Textbook Answers Unit 3 Chapter 3 The Sacred Turtles of Kadavu Text Book Questions and Answers, Summary, Notes.

Kerala Plus One English Textbook The Sacred Turtles of Kadavu Questions and Answers Unit 3 Chapter 3 (Based on Fijam Legend)

The Sacred Turtles of Kadavu (Based on Fijian Legend) Textual Questions and Answers

Question 1.
How, according to the legend, did the warriors of Kadavu save themselves a long journey by sea?
Answer:
According to the legend, the warriors of Kadavu saved themselves a long journey by sea by sliding their canoes on rollers up over the narrow neck of land. This way they could avoid the long journey around the east and the west of the Kadavu island.

Question 2.
The turtles will not rise to the surface of the bay if any member of the nearby village ofNabukulevu is present there. What could be the reason?
Answer:
It was the fishermen of Nabukelevu who tried to take away Tinaicoboga, the wife of the chief of Namuana, and herdaughterRaudalice. These two women saved themselves by turning into turtles. The turtles that now live in the bay are descendants of these two women. The people of Namuana and Nabukelevu are great rivals. That is why the turtles will not rise to the surface if any member of the village ofNabukulevu is present during the turtle calling by the Namuana maidens.

Question 3.
Are all rituals strange? Why?
Answer:
Yes, all the rituals strange. They are strange because in all of them some impossible things are described. As they are passed from generation to generation, people go on adding things to the original story according to their imagination.

Question 4.
Comment on the opening sentence of the legend.
Answer:
The opening sentence is the typical way of starting a story. Here the syntax (the order or the arrangement of words) is also changed. It says ‘Many, many years go,…. lived a very lovely princess called Tinaicoboga”. The verb here comes before the subject.

Question 5.
What happens to the two women when they go fishing?
Answer:
When the two women go fishing, they are seized by the fishermen from the neighbouring village. Their hands and feet are tied and they are thrown into the hold of the canoe of the fishermen. As the women are taken away a storm rises in the sea and the canoe is in danger of drowning. The women turn into turtles and they are thrown into the sea by the fishermen. The belief is that the turtles that live in the Kadavu bay are the descendants of these two women.

Question 6.
What does the change in weather signify?
Answer:
The change in weather signifies that the gods of the sea-answered the prayers of the two women – Tinaicoboga and her daughter Raudalice. The changed weather would help them to escape from the captivity of the fishermen from Nabukelevu.

Question 7.
Why are the women dressed in mourning?
Answer:
They are dressed in mourning because they had lost the wife of their chief and her daughter – Tinaicoboga and Raudalice. Since they changed into turtles and never returned to their village, they were as good as dead.

Question 8.
What do the lines of the song indicate?
Answer:
The lines of the song indicate that the women of Namuana love the wife of their chief and her daughter – Tinaicoboga and Raudalice and they also want to have a look at them.

The Sacred Turtles of Kadavu (Based on Fijian Legend) Textual Activities Questions and Answers

Activity -1 (Debate)

Question 1.
Who do you think are really punished; The Nabukelevu fishermen or the two women from Namuana?
Answer:
I think the two women from Namuana are really punished. From two beautiful human beings they were changed into turtles!

Question 2.
Discuss the situation in the present context of atrocities against women. Conduct a debate on the topic: Are women empowered in our society?
Answer:
For:
a. Women are empowered in our society.
b. We have powerful woman like Sonia Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee and Mayawati.
c. Mrs. Indira Gandhi was the strongest Prime Minister India had.
d. Women have the same political rights as men.
e. In government services and public undertakings, women get the same salary for the same job.
f. Women are given preferential treatment when it comes to education and health care.
g. There are many programmes today meant for the empowerment of women.

Against:
a. The equal rights for women are limited to the paper.
b. Women don’t get equal pay with men especially in the private sector.
c. Women are treated as second class citizens.
d. In the home, man commands and the woman obeys.
e. There are so many limitations to the mode of dressing and such things for women.
f. No religion lets women to be priests. Some religions even deny access to women to their places of worship.
g. Because Manu had said in the past ‘Na Sthree Swatantryamarhati’, many people don’t let their women have any kind of freedom.
h. Even now the dowry system is very much active in different names like share & pocket money.

I Rapes and such heinous crimes against women are rampant.

Activity – II (Write-up)

Question 3.
You have read the story of an unusual Fijian ritual. Can you think of similar rituals practised in your locality?
Answer:
Onam is festival that is celebrated by all the Malayalees. It is commemorated every year because of a legend. King Mahabali ruled Kerala and he was a just ruler. All the people were treated equally. There was liberty, equality and fraternity in the land. There was happiness everywhere. People here were happier than the inhabitants of heaven. So they became jealous. So one god, disguised as an ascetic, Vamana, came to Mahabali and requested him to give him three feet of land to sit and do his ‘tapassu’. The generous Mahabali gladly granted his wish. Then suddenly Vamana began to grow in size and he was as tall as the sky. With one foot he measured the entire land of Mahabali, with the second foot he measured the skies above the land.

Then he asked Mahabali where he duld have his third foot of land. Mahabali bent his head and told him he can have it there. Vamana put his foot on Mahabali’s head and Mahabali was pushed deep down into the underworld. As he was going down, he asked Vamana to give him a boon: He should be allowed to come back and visit his beloved people once a year. His request was granted. The Kerala people believe that Mahabali comes to earth to see them every year on Thiruvonam day.

To receive their beloved king, the people make pookkalams in their yards. They make sumptuous meals. They wear new clothes and adorn themselves as best as they can. They also have some folk dances and other entertaining things to welcome their great king. It is a festive season in Kerala and everybody looks happy on that day. The occasion is commercially exploited by businessmen to sell all kinds of things. It is the holiday season for Keralites and people organise tours and various other activities.

Activity – III (Travel Brochure)

Question 4.
Let’s prepare a travel brochure of a place of your choice.

Tips
A travel brochure should

• open with a catchy sentence which is followed by short, concise sentences.
• satisfy the interest of the target audience.
• highlight the main features:
  • description of scenic beauty
  • scope for adventures (sky diving, mountaineering, etc.)
  • reference to local culture, customs and traditions.
• appeal to the five senses.
• present one or two positive testimonials from past visitors.
• include attractive photographs of the destination.

Answer:
Niagara in Kerala? Yes, Athirappally Falls in Kerala is nicknamed The Niagara of India’. It is a 24-metre (80 ft).waterfall near the Vazhachal Forest Division and the Sholayar ranges. It is a thrilling sight especially in the monsoon season. At the Athirappally Falls, the water of the Chalakudy River surges around big rocks and cascades down in three separate paths. Below the falls the river remains turbulent for about 1 km. Then it calms down and flows smoothly until reaching the dam at Thumboormuzhi.

Wildlife in the area includes the Asiatic elephant, tiger, leopard, bison, sambar and the lion-tailed monkey. Different types of hornbill live in this area. Plantations in the area contain teak, bamboo and eucalyptus. This area is renowned for its biodiversity. You will see God’s plenty here. Visitors can reach the top of the waterfall via a paved path that leads through thick bamboo clusters. A steep narrow path also leads to the bottom of the falls. The best time to visit this wonderful place is between June and September. Many films are shot here because of its glory, splendour and scenic extravaganza. If you love Nature, beauty and adventure, come to Athirappally and enjoy its breathtaking view. It is truly the Niagara of India. Niagara is much bigger but it does not have the wildlife and the biodiversity seen in this miraculous place.

Athirappally is 30 km to the west of Chalakudy. The journey from Chalakudy to the Falls passes through a landscape of winding roads, small villages and lush green trees. If you enjoy local food, you will find a lot of small restaurants on your way where you can enjoy local dishes. But be careful! Some of them could be very spicy and hot!

The Sacred Turtles of Kadavu (Based on Fijian Legend) Textual Extended Activities Questions and Answers

Read the English translation of the Malayalam excerpt taken from S.K. Pottekkattwho has written several books of travel.

Tips

• Transfer the meaning; avoid word for word translation.
• Be aware of the cultural differences in languages.
• Ensure that the translation is in tune with the linguistic features of the target language.

Read the passage in Malayalam given on below. Here is the translation.

Athiranippadam is a village that gradually developed from a large muddy area. In the ancient times, a small river flowed through it and emptied its waters into the sea one mile west of the place. In the course of time, centuries perhaps, the river was filled with mud and reduced itself into a canal. That part is still known as the bank of the river. Even that canal stopped flowing and the entire area became a vast muddy field. As the muddy field began to dry up, men entered and started living here.

Question 5.
You decide to conduct a tour programme. What are the different stages involved in it? Discuss.
Answer:
a. How many are ready to come?
b. How long is the tour programme?
c. What is the destination?
d. What are the things to be done there?
e. The cost per person.
f. The type of transport.
g. Food and Stay
h. Safety precautions to be taken

Activity – II (Travel Info)

Read the Travel Info given below:
Getting There

• Heathrow Airport is one of the largest and busiest airports in Britain which connects the major cities in the world.
• The London Metro connects you to the major tourist destinations of the city.

Don’t miss out

• The National Gallery
• The British Museum
• The Tower of London
• Windsor Castle

The cuisine

• Fish and Chips-a true English treat of freshly caught fish and crisp potato fries.

Question 6.
Let’s prepare a Travel Info of a place of your choice.
Answer:

Travel Info – Malampuzha Dam

Getting there : You can get to Malampuzha by road, train or plane, The nearest railway station is Palakkad Junction. The distance will be then 7km by road. The nearest airport is Coimbatore, From there the distance to Malampuzha is 55 km by road.

Information about Malampuzha Dam : It is the largest reservoir in Kerala, with the scenic hills of the Western Ghats in the background. It is a combination of a masonry dam with a length of 1,849 metres and an earthen dam with a length of 220 metres. The dam is 6,066 feet high and crosses the Malampuzha River, a tributary of Bharathappuzha.

Don’t miss out: The Dam, amusement park, boating facilities, rock garden and ropeway.

Around the reservoir of the dam are gardens and amusement parks. Boating facilities are available on the lake.

Cuisine : Fried Karimeen – A true treat for you – fish are freshly caught and fried – supplied with potato chips and special hot chutney.

Activity – III (Conversation)

Question 7.
Decide on a place to visit and approach a travel agency to make arrangements. Write a conversation between you and the travel agent.
Read the tips given below of the Text.

Answer:
You : Is that Intersight, the Tour Company?

Agent: Insight here, I am Tom. How can I help you?

You : I saw your advert in Malayala Manorama about the 8-days tour of Europe, starting on 19th April. I would like to join you.

Agent: You are welcome. To book you have to pay an initial amount of Rs. 30,000/-. Then you send us your passport. We have to get you a European visa.

You : When should I pay the rest of the amount?

Agent: It should be paid when you get the visa. We will let you know of the date.

You : How many are there in the group?

Agent: You are the 33rd member of the group.

You : What are the things I must bring with me?

Agent: You will need warm clothes as Europe is still cold in April. You should also bring your essential medicines. You can’t buy medicines in Europe as you buy them in India. You will need a doctor’s prescription and seeing a doctor could be quite expensive and time-consuming. Carry your camera with you as you will like to take photographs. Keep some Euros with you, in case you want to buy something special.

You : How much luggage can I carry?

Aent: You can carry 30 kgs. Bu I suggest you take the minimum luggage. Less luggage, more comfort.

You : Okay, thanks. I will send you the passport and the money soon.

Agent: That’s fine. I assure you that it will be a memorable trip. Bye!

You : Bye!

Activity – IV : (Introductory speech)

Question 8.
Imagine yourself to be a travel guide. A group of tourists visits one or the most popular tourist spots of your locality. How would you welcome them?

Prepare the script of a speech you will make o the occasion, introducing the tourist spot to the visitors.
Answer:
Welcoming Tourists : Ladies and gentlemen, you are welcome to God’s Own Country, Kerala! I am your guide Joe. I will be with you during the entire tour of this place. I assure you that you will enjoy here. Here you are going to see some amazing sights. Be ready with your camera. These are some sights and sounds that will thrill you and you will come back again and again to see them and hear them!

Describing the location : This is Athirappally Falls. It is called The Niagara of India’. It is a 24-metre (80 ft) waterfall near the Vazhachal Forest Division and the Sholayar ranges. It is a thrilling sight especially in the rainy season. At the Athirappally Falls, the water of the Chalakudy River surges around big rocks and cascades down in three separate paths. Below the falls the river remains turbulent for about 1 km. Then it calms down and flows smoothly until reaching the dam at Thumboormuzhi.

Introducing special events/highlights: Here soon you are going to see the Asiatic elephant, tiger, leopard, bison, sambar and the lion-tailed monkey. Different types of hornbill are also here. You will see teak, bamboo and eucalyptus. This area is renowned for its biodiversity. You will see God’s plenty here. We will go to the top of the waterfall via a paved path that leads through thick bamboo clusters. A steep narrow path also leads to the bottom of the falls. Many films are shot here because of its glory, splendour and scenic extravaganza. If you love Nature, beauty and adventure, you will love this place. Niagara may be much bigger but it does not have the wildlife and the biodiversity seen in this miraculous place. Don’t forget to shoot these sights!

Offering advice: If you are weak or tired, don’t climb up to the top or go down to the bottom. The place could be slippery. Make sure your shoes have good grips: Taking a stick with you will be helpful.

Closing remarks: I hope you have enjoyed the sights and sounds. Thanks for coming. Come again!

Activity – V (Discussion)

Question 9.
In the poem given on below:

Friends,
Our dear sister
is departing for foreign
in two-three days, and
we are meeting today
to wish her bon voyage.

You are all knowing, friends,
what sweetness is in Miss Pushpa.
I don’t mean only external sweetness
but internal sweetness.
Miss Pushpa is smiling and smiling
even for no reason
but simply because she is feeling.

Miss Pushpa is coming
from very high family.
Her father was renowned advocate
in Bulsar or Surat,
I am not remembering now which place.

Surat? Ah, yes,
Once only I stayed in Surat
with family members
of my uncle’s very old friend,
his wife was cooking nicely…
that was long time ago.

Coming back to Miss Pushpa
she is most popular lady
with men also and ladies also.

Whenever I asked her to do anything,
she was saying, ‘just now only
I will do it.’ That is showing
good spirit. I am always
appreciating the good spirit.
Pushpa Miss is never saying no.
Whatever I or anybody is asking
She is always saying yes,
And today she is going
to improve her prospect
and we are wishing her bon voyage.

Now I ask other speakers to speak
and afterwards Miss Pushpa
will do summing up.

there are grammatical mistakes, strange arrangement of words, phrases and idioms which are direct translations of expressions from Indian languages. They sound very odd ¡n English. Identify them and discuss.
Answer:
a. departing for foreign (going abroad)
b. We are all knowing (We all know)
c. What sweetness is in Miss Pushpa (How sweet Miss Pushpa is)
d. I don’t mean only external sweetness but internal sweetness (She is sweet both externally and internally)
e. Miss Pushpa is smiling and smiling even for no reason but simply because she is feeling (Miss Pushpa always smiles because of her good feelings).
f. Miss Push is coming from very high family (Miss Pushpa comes from a noble family)
g. was renowned advocate (was a renowned advocate)
h. I am not remembering (I don’t remember)
i. Once only I stayed in Surat (Only once I stayed in Surat)
j. With family members of my uncle’s very old friend (with the family members of a very old friend of my uncle)
k. His wife was cooking nicely (his wife was a good cook)
l. She is most popular lady with men also and ladies also (Miss Pushpa is very popular with men and also ladies)
m. Whenever I asked her to do anything, she was saying, ‘just now only I will do it.’ (Whenever I asked her to do something she would say she would immediately do it)
o. That is showing good spirit (that shows good spirit)
p. I am always appreciating (I always appreciate)
q. Pushpa Miss is never saying no. (Pushpa Miss never says no)
r. Whatever I or anybody is asking she is always yes. (Whatever I or anybody asks her she agrees)
s. improve her prospect (improve her prospects) we are wishing her (we wish her)

Now I ask other speakers to speak and afterwards, Miss Pushpa will do summing up. (Now I ask other speakers to speak and later Miss Pushpa will respond)

The Sacred Turtles of Kadavu (Based on Fijian Legend) About the Author:

It is a multicultural island nation. It has the cultural traditions of the people of Oceanic, European, South Asian, and East Asian origins. It consists of nearly 320 islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean, 3152 kms from Sydney, Australia. Nearly 100 of these islands are inhabited.

The Sacred Turtles of Kadavu Summary

Kadavu is one of the larger of islands of the Fiji Group. Some 50 miles by water from the capital city of Suva is the Fijian village of Namuana. Namuana is at the foot of a beautiful bay close to the Government Station in Vunisea Harbour. Here, the island of Kadavu narrows down to an isthmus (a narrow strip of land connecting two large land masses). Legend says that in the days gone by, the warriors of Kadavu slid their canoes on rollers up over the narrow neck of land to save the long journey around the east and the west of Kadavu Island.

The women of Namuana village still preserve a very strange ritual – that of calling turtles from the sea. If you visit Namuana village to see turtle calling, your boat anchors in a beautiful bay under the cliffs of a rocky headland. You land on the beach and sit on the rocks. Or climb to a rocky tract to a point some 150 or 200 feet up the rock face. From here you can have a splendid view. You will find all the maidens of the village of Namuana assembled and singing a strange chant. As they chant, you will see giant turtles rise one by one on the surface, listening to the music.

This is not fairy tale. It actually takes place. The fishing of turtles is prohibited in this area.

There is another interesting sideline to this performance. If any member of the nearby village of Nabukelevu is present, then the turtles will not rise to the surface of the bay and the turtle calling has to be abandoned.

As is usually the case with such strange ceremonies and customs, in Fiji, the turtle calling is based on an ancient legend. This legend is passed on from father to son among the Fijian people of Kadavu.

Many, many years ago, in the beautiful village of Namuana, on the island Kadavu, lived a very lovely princess called Tinaicoboga. She was the wife of the chief of Namuana village. She had a charming daughter called Raudalice. The two women often went fishing on the reefs around their home.

Once they went farther than usual. They waded out on the submerged reefs. They became so involved with their fishing that they did not see the approach of a big war canoe. I was full of fishermen from the nearby village of Nabukelevu. This village is situated in the shadow of Mount Washington, which is the highest mountain on Kadavu Island. Today this mountain is well known to the mariners because there is a fine light-house there. It warns them of the dangers of the rocky coastline.

Suddenly the fishermen jumped out of their boats and caught the two women. They tied their hands and feet with the vine (the plant on which grapes grow) and threw them into their canoe and they went home in a great hurry. The women begged for their lives. But the cruel fishermen from Nabukelevu did not listen to their requests.

But the gods of the sea were kind. A great storm arose and the canoe was tossed about by huge waves, which almost drowned it. As the canoe was in serious difficulty, the fishermen were surprised to see that the two women lying in the water in the hold of the canoe had turned into turtles. To save their own lives, the fishermen threw the turtles into the sea. Immediately the weather changed and there were no more waves.

The Nabukelevu fishermen continued their journey home. The two women from Namuana who had changed to turtle lived on in the water of the bay. It is their descendants today who rise from the water when the maidens of their own village sing songs to them from the cliffs.

This is the translation of the song chanted by them:
“The women of Namuana are all dressed in mourning
Each carries a sacred club each tattooed in a strange pattern
Do rise to the surface Raudalice so we may look at you
Do rise to the surface Tinaicoboga so we may also look at you.”

You may doubt the truth of the legend. But the chanting of this strange song does bring the giant turtles to the surface of the blue waters of the bay, near Namuana village.
(From a Fijian legend)

The Sacred Turtles of Kadavu Glossary