Question

Read the following passage carefully and complete the activities given below :
A.1) Complete the web :
Write the words from the passage on the web. 

          We saw small bits of grass peeping through the small cracks in concrete pavement. It left us thinking: however impossible things may look, there is always an opening…………
             We saw a tree bare of all leaves in the cold winter months. We thought its chapter was over. But three months passed, spring set in and the tree was back to its green majesty once again, full of leaves, flowers, birds, and life. What if we too had the conviction that, however difficult things are right now, it will not remain so forever. Remember, this too shall pass.
             We saw an army of ants lugging a fly which was at least ten times the ant’s size. The ants organized themselves around the fly, lifted it on frail feelers and carried it to quite a distance. Their teamwork and perseverance were impressive. What if we too are consistent, organized, focused ……… Spider webs are delicate, yet very strong. A rainbow colors the entire sky. Oysters take in a grain of sand they open up with a pearl. Innumerable stars shine across the infinite sky. Clouds take new shapes with every passing moment. The wind makes trees dance with unhindered passion. Water, without a hint of ego, changes its form according to the dictates of the sun and the wind. When we see a caterpillar turn into a butterfly, a flower turns into a fruit, we experience the alchemy of nature ………. We touch it and become gold ourselves.

A.2)  Finding meanings :
Write what you mean by :
(i) _______ there is always an opening.
(ii) _______ its chapter was over.
(iii) _______ the tree was back to its green majesty.
(iv) _______ this too shall pass. 

A.3) Matching :
Match the words in Column ‘A’ with their synonyms in Column ‘B’: 

	Column 'A'		Column'B"
(i)	conviction	(a)	strong feeling
(ii)	alchemy	(b)	delicate
(iii)	frail	(c)	mysterious/magical power
(iv)	passion	(d)	strong belief

A.4) Language study : 
Rewrite the sentence using the correct question tag given in the brackets :
(i) Water changes its form. (does it?, do it?, do they?, doesn’t it)
(ii) However impossible things may look, there is always an opening. (Rewrite using ‘but’) 

A.5)  Personal Response :
Nature is the best teacher. Explain. 

Answer 1

A.1)

A.2) Finding meanings: 
(i) ... there is always a solution to an impossibility. 
(ii) ... its life or its term was over. 
(iii) .... after autumn, the tree was full of green leaves. 
(iv) .... this also will go away, and not last forever. 

A.3) Matching:

	Column 'A'		Column'B'
(i)	conviction	(d)	strong belief
(ii)	alchemy	(c)	mysterious/magical power
(iii)	frail	(b)	delicate
(iv)	passion	(a)	strong feeling

A.4)
(i) Water changes its form, doesn’t it?
(ii) Thigs may look very impossible, but there is always an opening.

A.5)
Nature is a great teacher.  No wonder our ancestors used to look up to nature to understand life itself. Our ancient scriptures are filled with hymns devoted to nature, as we treated nature as God in many instances.
SUN: The giver of light, energy, seasons … the list is endless.
MOON: The bestower of calm, cooling sensations to the aggrieved or restless mind.
TREES: Nature’s ardent helper, giver of oxygen, provider of shade to the tired traveler, health giver, shelter provider to the birds and other creatures.