English

Certainly anyone who insists on condemning all lies should think about what would happen if we could reliably tell when our family, friends, colleagues, - English Elective - NCERT

Advertisements
Advertisements

Question

Certainly anyone who insists on condemning all lies should think about what would happen if we could reliably tell when our family, friends, colleagues, and government leaders were deceiving us. It is tempting to think that the world would become a better place without the deceptions that seem to interfere with our attempts are genuine communication. On the other hand, perhaps there is such a thing as too much honesty. - Adapted from Allison Kornet, "The Truth About Lying"

Would the world be a better place if everyone always told the complete truth? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

Answer in Brief
Advertisements

Solution

The concept of truth and its role in human interactions has been a subject of philosophical debate for centuries. While it might be tempting to believe that a world where everyone always told the complete truth would be an ideal utopia, upon closer examination, it becomes evident that the issue is far more nuanced. Absolute honesty can indeed lead to positive outcomes in certain situations, but it can also bring about unintended consequences that disrupt relationships, undermine societal structures, and hinder personal growth.

Human relationships are built on a delicate balance of transparency and diplomacy. Sometimes, minor lies or omissions can be employed to maintain the harmony within these relationships. For instance, consider a scenario where a friend prepares a meal with genuine effort, but it turns out to be less appetizing than expected. In this case, pointing out the truth might hurt their feelings and strain the relationship. A gentle lie or a more tactful approach could spare their feelings while preserving the bond between friends.

In conclusion, the idea of a world where everyone always tells the complete truth is an appealing notion on the surface.  A balanced approach that considers the impact of honesty on relationships, society, and personal well-being is crucial. The challenge lies in striking a harmonious balance between honesty and the preservation of social bonds, personal emotions, ethical principles, and individual growth. As Allison Kornet wisely noted, there is indeed such a thing as too much honesty, and recognizing this complexity is key to navigating the intricate web of human communication and interaction.

shaalaa.com

Notes

The marks may be divided as:

  • Content – 2 marks
  • Organisation – 1 mark (fluency, coherence, logical flow)
  • Expression – 2 marks (vocabulary, originality of ideas, grammatical accuracy)
Writing Skills
  Is there an error in this question or solution?
2023-2024 (March) Board Sample Paper

RELATED QUESTIONS

What are these bangles for? Why has the poet repeated the word happy in the last line here?


Do you think Dahl is being extreme when he recommends that television sets should be tossed-out of our homes? Is there a balance which could be struck between watching television and reading books? What would that balance be?


Describe in your own words the poet’s feelings when he sees the host of golden daffodils ?


What does the word “clipped” mean in this poem?


What is the message of the poem?


Anderson’s story shows the young girl having visions. Through them Anderson gives didactic and moralistic lessons. Discuss.


What is the setting of “All Summer in a Day”?


(A) We did not know that Mr. Francis was retiring and leaving for Ooty.
(B) Little……………………………


We are not allowed to play in the sun. We are not allowed to play in the rain. 


In the poem Breaking Out. the poet shows the gradual transformation of a young girl into a confident and independent individual who breaks the conventional stereotypes of society. Discuss with close reference to the text. 


Fill in the blank with an appropriate word:     

The cyclist rode quickly ______ the path. 


The tree grew at a dangerous slant and had to be cut ________


Answer the following questions with reference to Ray Douglas Bradbury's short story, 'All Summer in a Day'. 
Describe how the planet was transformed when the sun came out and shone briefly over it.
Why was Margot not able to witness this phenomenon?
What emotion of you supposes the children experienced when Margot emerged at the end of the story?


We have come across words like 'gale' and 'storm' in the account. Here are two more words for 'storm': typhoon, cyclone. How many words does your language have for 'storm'?


Name some leaves and flowers that are used as adornments in our country.


What laburnum is called in your language?


What is the language spoken in Flanders?


Discuss with your partners

Reading plays is more interesting than studying science.


Within a few pages, the author has packed the important events in the lives of John Ipe and his wife. Discuss how conciseness and economy of expression can achieve an effective portrayal of entire lives.


Discuss the manner in which the author interweaves details of the narrator’s family with the flow of the main narrative.


How is Satyajit's financial crash introduced to the reader?


Locate instances of irony in the story.


Your teacher will speak the word given below. Write against two new words that rhyme with it.
chop ______ ______


Multiple Choice Question:

What was the result of the quarrel?


Look at these sentences.

  • Deserts are the driest places on earth.
  • Gerbils spend the hottest part of the day in cool underground burrows.

Now form pairs. Ask questions using a suitable form of the word in brackets. Try to answer the questions too.

Do you know

1. Which animal is the _______________________ (tall)?

2. Which animal runs the _______________________ (fast)?

3. Which place on earth is the _______________________ (hot) or the _______________________ (cold)?

4. Which animal is the _______________________ (large)?

5. Which is the ————————————— (tall) mountain in the world?

6. Which is the _______________________ (rainy) place on earth?

7. Which is the ________________________ (old) living animal?

Can you add some questions of your own?


Look at the sentences given below. Find out which one is correct. If the sentence is wrong give reasons.


Read the following note from a school girl’s diary:

Miss Fernandes is our new class teacher. She is slim and fit even at the age of 50. With her grey hair, spectacles, and plain formal clothes, she looks so strict!

But we discovered that her classes can be great fun. We begin each class with a simple two-minute game or activity. Today we had to write as many words beginning with 'a' as we could, within 60 seconds. I wrote 50! I got a pot on my back for making 'the best effort'! I feel on top of the world. 

Write diary entries for the interesting or important events that take place in your school. Write at least 3 entries.


According to the poet, how does God help people, when they pray to him for help?


Discuss the following elements of a detective or mystery story. 

  • a mystery 
  • strange happenings
  • a smart detective who investigates the happenings
  • a crime/possibility of a crime 
  • preventing the crime and catching the criminal.
  • characteristics of the victim 
  • characteristics of the criminal 
  • characteristics of the detective

Use the elements to prepare outlines of detective stories using your imagination. Write a story using any one of the outlines.


Say ‘WHY’?

One should avoid getting angry about a difference of opinion.


What is the meaning of ‘intellectual rubbish’?


Write in your own words:-

Why does the bank need so many details of its customer?


Write the reason in your own words.

Akbar strongly desired to hear Ostad sing.


The man who came to the house gave the cross as a gift to the girl. Why did he do this? What do you think would have happened if he had taken back the cross with him?


Work in groups and discuss. Then write a diary entry in about 60-80 words describing your feelings and emotions for the given situation.
Imagine, you are Pongo.

Your feelings and emotions when you came back and found the oranges gone.


Look at the picture given below and frame your own slogan.


Write an article for the following.

You are Jansi/Avinash of Class X studying in GHSS, Chengalpet. You believe that physical activities improve our health and reduce the risk of sickness. It has got immediate and long-term benefits. Write an article in not more than 150- 200 words for your school magazine stressing the importance of physical activities in a student day to day life.


You are the receptionist of your school. Your Head master instructs you to send a message to all the parents of class ten to attend a PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) meet which is to be held on 22.12.2019

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________


______ do you have for breakfast?


______ do you want for your birthday?


Find one word from the story that means

  1. to walk fast  ___________ .

In the sentence below the capital letter, comma, full stop and question mark are missing. Put these in the correct place.

every sunday i go for a walk have breakfast read story books listen to music and watch television


The grandmother was strong-minded. Justify


State whether the following statement are true or false

Both Jimmy and Bob were of the same age.


State whether the following statement are true or false

Jimmy grew a little taller after he was twenty.


The narrator went to the photographer to ______.


“To me, it is but a worthless bauble.” Why did the photographer’s touch of technical expertise appear a worthless bauble to Leacock?


The Government of Tamil Nadu has imposed a ban on the use of plastic. Effective implementation of this ban depends on public awareness and individual responsibility.

Write an article of 150 words for your school magazine to create an awareness of the dangers posed by indiscriminate use of plastic. Expand the ideas given below as notes.

Notes:

a. Introduction

(i) Plastic – synthetic material – doesn’t decompose in soil

(ii) Inevitable role of plastic – man’s day-to-day life

b. Human Health Hazard

(i) Leeching of plastic into food – micro plastic entering food chain

(ii) Human body’s inability to deal with this unnatural substance

(iii) Reaction of microplastic in human body and ill effects

c. Adverse Effects on Plants and Animals

(i) Plastic particles choking waterways – affect aquatic animals

(ii) Ingestion by aquatic and terrestrial animals–blocking of intestines and respiratory passages

d. Environmental Degradation

(i) Manufacturing process and burning of plastics–pollute atmosphere

(ii) Plastic–non-biodegradable – interferes with soil microorganisms – affects soil fertility

e. Conclusion

(i) Suggestions for restricted use – alternatives for one-time use of plastics

(ii) Segregation of plastic waste – for recycling


Read the given sentence and underline the no word.

None of the two boys came.


Read the following passage and write a summary of it. Suggest a suitable title to the summary.

According to some experts, a staggering 93 percent of our daily communication is non-verbal. Facial expressions are easy to decipher. One can readily detect happiness, sadness, anger. Physicians can tell a patient is doing well (or not) by looking at his/her face.

Eye contact is another type of non-verbal communication, which can tell a lot about the other person. The eyes convey a range of emotions-happiness, sadness, boredom, surprise, confidence ..... even emotional interest. Staring at someone's forehead may intimidate the recipient, staring at the mouth is sometimes interpretated as a sign of emotional interest. In fact staring into someone's eyes is a sign of lying, and so is looking away. In certain cultures, lack of eye contact is taken as a sign of respect.

If body language is to be defined, it is a combination of facial expression, gestures, eye contact, body movements and posture and voice.

Frequent blinking is a sign of the person feeling distressed or uncomfortable. If the pupils are dilated, it often indicates interest, even emotional interest. The lips also reflect our body language, and lip biting indicates worry and/or anxiety; tightening of the lips may be an indication of disapproval. Slightly turned-up lips indicate happiness and slightly turned-down lips indicate sadness.


Write letter to your father asking permission to go on a educational tour.


Why does Portia ask Shylock if he had arranged for a surgeon to be present at Antonio's trial?


What might success mean to the following people? Think about it and write.

A student


What might success mean to the following people? Think about it and write.

A teacher


Using the given informal letter as a model, write a letter on topic given below.

Write letter to your father asking permission to go on an educational tour.


With reference to the short story Quality, trace the journey of the Gessler Brothers from “ld is an Ardt!" to the bitter realization of “Dey dake it away from us, who lofe our boods….bresently i haf no work.” Write your answer in about 200-250 words.


Share
Notifications

Englishहिंदीमराठी


      Forgot password?
Use app×