Reading Comprehension
Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.
1. What is responsible for the present degradation of individual development?
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2. What is the meaning of development in relation to individuals?
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3. What is the ‘planned division of labour’? How will it be helpful in human development?
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4. What does the phrase ‘symptoms of decadence’ mean in the opening line?
(a) diagnosis of degradation
(b) warning signs of depravity
(c) signs of prosperity
(d) diagnosis of indifference
5. The phrase ‘crying necessity’ in the opening paragraph means:
(a) urgent need
b) weeping need
(c) sad need
(d) average need
6. Circle the odd one out
(a) presence, distance, existence, being, alive
(b) possible,feasible,probable,unthinkable, obtainabl
(c) violence, assault, roughness, passivity, fierceness
(d) conflict, contest, contention, rivalry, accord
(e) consolation, compassion, annoyance, sympathy, support
1. Albert Einstein admired M.K. Gandhi because: [tick () the right answer]
(a) Gandhi discarded the method of violence.
(b) Gandhi showed that it is possible to succeed without violence with those who have discarded the method of violence.
(c) Gandhi showed that it is possible to succeed without violence only with those who have discarded the method of violence.
(d) Gandhi showed that it is possible to succeed without violence with all irrespective of whether they have continued or discarded the method of violence.
2. Where did Gandhi wish to meet Einstein? [tick () the right answer]
(a) his residence in London
(b) his Ashram in India
(c) his Ashram in London
(d) during his tour to London
3. Why does Einstein want Gandhi’s example to go beyond India?
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4. You have read the chapter and the exchange of letters between A. Einstein and M. K. Gandhi. What similarities do you find in the ideas of both the personalities?
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5. Find the opposites of the words given below from Einstein’s letter
(a) impossible_________________________________________.
(b) fail_________________________________
(c) peace______________________________
(d) absence____________________________
(e) enemy_____________________________
6. In the context of Gandhi’s response to Einstein’s letter, ‘finds favour in your sight’ means:
(a) satisfied you
(b) delighted you
(c) appreciated by you
(d) not accepted by you
1. Which lines in the poem tell us to have self control, a clear head and not to become bitter when people speak against us? Stanza 1
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2. One must be just as graceful in losing as he is in winning. What are the two words in the poem that can replace the underlined ones? Stanza 2
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3. In the third stanza what does the poet mean by ‘And lose, and start again’?
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4. There is a necessity to treat all people equal and amidst people we should not lose our self ‘who we are’? How has the poet expressed this in the fourth stanza?
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5. List two things from each stanza that we can do to make the Earth ours, as given in the poem
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Vocabulary
1. Read the paragraphs mentioned against each explanation and find out the words in that paragraph which best match the explanation given. Refer to the chapter ‘A Truly Beautiful Mind’ given in your textbook, Beehive.
(a) A word used disapprovingly to talk about a person who is unusual and doesn’t behave like others._____________________________(paragraph 1)
(b) Taking part in an activity for pleasure, not as a job.____________________________(paragraph 3)
(c) Respecting and allowing many different types of beliefs or behaviour._________________(paragraph 5)
(d) A person who is lacking in or hostile or smugly indifferent to cultural values, intellectual pursuits, etc.________________________________(paragraph 7)
(e) Relating to work that needs special training or education.__________________________(paragraph 8)
2. Einstein was a world citizen
This means he does not belong to one country because his contributions to science and the society have moved beyond the borders of his country
World’ has different meanings in a variety of contexts.
Read the sentences given below and find out the meanings of ‘world’ in each sentence.
(a) My mother means the world to me.
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(b) Vasco da Gama sailed round the world.
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(c) He is a big name in the world of fashion.
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(d) Stars from the sporting and artistic worlds participated in the function.
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(e) She is a simple person in real world as well as in the movies.
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Grammar
Participle Clause
You have read about and done exercises on participle clauses (Beehive, p. 52). We know that participle clause is a form of adverbial clause which enables us to say information in a more economical way. We can use participle clauses when the participle and verb in the main clause have the same subject.
Example: Waiting for John, I made some tea
1. Choose the correct option for the sentences below.
(a) Waiting for the doctor, ____________________________ ________________________________ [a big noise scared everybody, Dave read a magazine, the alarm went off]
(b) ____________________________________ in the jungle, George had to find the way out on his own. [having lost, lost, losing]
(c) _____________________________________ our pottery will last for generations. [treating with care/you treat with care/treated with care]
(d) ____________________________________ a holiday, all the banks were closed. [having been/been/ being]
(e) ____________________________________ for so long, he had lost all hope. [being unemployed/unemployed/ having been unemployed]
2. Join the following sentences using a present-participle as given in the example.
Example:
We walked along the footpath. We saw an accident. Walking along the footpath, we saw an accident.
(Note: Out of the two actions, the one which takes place first is changed into present participle.)
(a) He stood by the side of a temple. He asked people to go in.
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(b) She came out of the room. She greeted the visitors.
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(c) He heard the news. He started crying.
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(d) He found the lock broken. He rang up the Police.
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(e) He felt sleepy. He went to bed.
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Editing
There is an error in each line. Underline the incorrect word and write the correct word in the blank given. The first one has been done for you as an example.
I entred the manager’s office and sat down. entered I have just lost five hundred rupees and I felt very upset.
(a) _________________________________________ “I leave the money in my desk,” I said, (b)____________________________ “and it is not there now”. The manger was very sympathetic but he can do nothing. (c)_______________________“Everyone loses money theses days,”(d) ______________________________ he said. He start to complain about this wicked world, (e)_____________________________________but is interrupted by a knock at the door. (f)_________________
Listening
Listen to the story given below. The teacher or your classmate will read the story aloud. Listen to it carefully and then answer the questions that follow.
Gautama Buddha was journeying through the Kosala region. He was warned not to pass through the deep jungle, as it was the den of a famous robber chief, Angulimala. He was the terror of the whole countryside. He lived by plundering travellers and feared no one. He had committed many murders. All attempts to capture the inhuman Angulimala had failed. So he continued his crimes unpunished. The people of Kosala pleaded with the Buddha not to expose himself to the dangers of the robber’s territory. But Gautama Buddha knew no fear. The warnings of the people of Kosala did not affect him. He made his way into the jungle. Angulimala got enraged at this boldness. He was plunder: to steal things from a place or people using force If something cannot be counted, use “LESS”. • less sorrow • less time • less air • less pain Fun fact Rationalised 2023-24 64 Words and Expressions 1 determined to kill the intruder. But when he saw the Buddha, calm and self-possessed, and heard his words of kindness, the robber hesitated. His arm, which had been uplifted to kill, fell helpless by his side. His wrath cooled, and he knelt down before the Buddha. He confessed all his sins and declared his faith in the Buddha. When the people saw the new disciple following his Master, they were amazed and could not believe that this was the ferocious man who had been a terror for so long. Angulimala became a monk. His past was forgotten, and he was widely respected for his holiness
1. Why did the people of Kosala warn the Buddha not to go into the jungle?
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2. Why was Angulimala considered to be a terror?
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3. What enraged Angulimala when he saw the Buddha?
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4. Why did the robber hesitate to kill the Buddha?
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5. What kind of transformation took place in Angulimala?
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6. Why did people start respecting Angulimala?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Speaking
A debate competition is being organised in your school. Take a stand for or against this statement: “Our happiness in life depends entirely on our mental attitude.” Prepare an outline of the main points in the order in which you wish to present them (in about 100 words), giving reasons for your point of view.
• Debate is a contest between two speakers or two groups of speakers to show skill and ability in arguing.
• A proposition, a question or a problem is required for this purpose, which can be spoken for or against.
• To participate in a debate, one must prepare for it. So, one must prepare an outline of the main points in the order in which one is going to argue.
• There are the limitations of time (only 5 to 6 minutes are allowed).
• The speaker addresses the audience.
• Every topic/subject has its own vocabulary. These must be learnt.
• The speaker addresses the Chair (Mr President/ Madam), ‘submits’ an argument, ‘appeals’ for sympathetic understanding and support, ‘questions’ the opponent’s views and ‘concludes’ an argument.
Write the outline of the main points, then make a presentation in the class.
Topic
___________________________________________________________________________________________.
Introduce the topic with a quotation.
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Highlight the main points.
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Elaborate the points by arguing logically and convincingly.
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Give your opinion in the concluding paragraph.
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Writing
• In groups of four, discuss in favour of or against the topic:
“New technology is common, New thinking is rare.”
• Each group presents their points and the whole class brainstorms on the topic.
• Jot down all the points discussed.
• Write an argumentative article giving logical and relevant reasons along with your points of view.
Project
You have read about Stephen Hawking in Class VIII. Go through the text once again and gather information about his genius. You can also search web resources. Follow the steps given below and then write what made Hawking a genius.
(i) Who is a genius?
(ii) What are the attributes that make a person a genius?
(iii) How is Stephen Hawking a genius?
(iv) What is he famous for?
(v) What books has he written?
(vi) Refer to the obituaries written by people on him and find out his inspiring qualities.