Question

Read the following passage and do the activities:

A1. Complete the following web.     [2]

Dr. Kalam sat contemplating deeply. He recollected the tenet of goodness of action from Pramukh Swamiji. Then, perhaps swimming in silence to the shores of Mahapragyaji, he gathered the sands of conscience to be our guide, our best friend. Deeper down in the space-time of memory, he must have heard Professor Brahma Prakash’s words about the need of living a pure and ethical life, and Father Pereira’s and Dr. Sarabhai’s lesson of selflessness in service. Eventually his thoughts would have settled on Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh, in whom he saw great tranquility, and finally they must have come full circle with the memory of the life of simplicity of his father, who always espoused the value of giving back. At long last, he spoke. ‘It is the very spirit of What Can I Give.’ He elaborated, ‘Mahaswamiji lives with the beliefs and ethos of our mission. He gives and gives education to famished minds, food to famished bodies. In giving so much, he becomes strong. His munificence fuels his strength. That is what keeps him standing tall and active in life. The essence of a happy life and a peaceful society lies in one sentence - What can I give?’

A2. What thoughts came in Dr. Kalam’s mind when he was contemplating?     [2]

A3. List four adjectives from the passage.     [2]

1. ............
2. ............
3. ............
4. ............

A4. Do as directed.     [2]

1. He gives education to the famished minds
   (Pick out the verb and state its tense)
2. What can I give?
   (Change the voice)

A5. Do you like to help the poor, orphans and the downtrodden? Justify your answer.     [2]

Answer 1

A1.

A2.

When Dr. Kalam was contemplating, he recalled the guidance and values he had received from various mentors throughout his life. He remembered the importance of goodness of action, the role of conscience as a best friend, the necessity of living a pure and ethical life, the value of selfless service, the beauty of tranquillity, and the simplicity and spirit of giving inherited from his father.

A3.

1. Goodness
2. Pure
3. Famished
4. Peaceful

A4.

1. Verb: gives
   Tense: Simple Present Tense
2. What can be given by me?

A5. Yes, I believe that helping the poor, orphans, and the downtrodden is a fundamental human duty. As Dr. Kalam emphasised, the essence of a meaningful life lies in asking, ‘What can I give?’ Helping those in need not only alleviates their suffering but also creates a more compassionate and balanced society. It provides the giver with a sense of purpose and empowers the receiver to break the cycle of misery, ultimately contributing to the nation's collective growth and harmony.