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Question
The school system often curbs individual talents. Discuss.
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Solution
A model answer has been provided for students' reference.
It is strongly recommended that students prepare the answer on their own.
Various points to prove the fact that the school system curbs individual talents are:
Focusses more on memorising facts and data rather than encouraging them to understand concepts and ideas.
Thrust on taking exams rather than focussing on increasing the mental and intellectual aptitude of a student;
The irregular student-teacher ratio makes it impossible for the teachers to provide individual attention to each and every student.
One-to-one interaction with the kids have lessened these days.
Quantity matters more than quality.
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RELATED QUESTIONS
B1. Select
Fill in the blanks choosing the correct alternatives from those given in the bracket:
(i) The author was inspired and motivated to read ............................................ by the time she was eleven.
[Shakespeare, Chaucer, G.B. Shaw]
(ii) Every lesson .......................... ......... took was spiced with half a dozen or more anecdotes.
[Mrs. Rowlands, Sister Monica, Mr. A.N. Patil]
(iii) The teachers helped the narrator to become ..................................... . .
[confident, happy, independent]
(iv) Mrs. Cynthia Nesamani and Sister Monica gave .......................................... to the narrator.
[freedom to do what he wanted, advice to do something, instructions to produce better results]
In a way, one of the greatest gifts any teacher can give a student, I think, is to inculcate a curiosity to learn.
I've been incredibly lucky to have at least one such teacher at every stage in my life. The first was Mrs. Rowlands who taught me in primary school. She taught me to read without ever pushing me. She made me want to read more by giving 'me some of the most interesting children's books available. And although I still love to go back to those books from time to time, it was only because of her that I was able to read Shakespeare by the time I was ten, and Chaucer a year later.
In later years, it was Mr. A.N. Patil, my Marathi and Hindi Teacher who made a huge impression on me. Every lesson he took, was spiced with half a dozen or more anecdotes from a wide variety of subjects: among them history, politics, religion and sociology. I was, and still am in awe of his knowledge, which despite rather desperate attempts, I doubt I'll ever be able to match.
There have also been other teachers who helped me to try to become independent: to think and act for myself using my own judgement, which to my mind has been just as, if not more important, than actually learning anything.
After all, it's much too easy to become a completely useless repository of facts and little else.
Two teachers whom I remember in particular are Mrs. Cynthia Nesamani and Sister Monica, both taught me in school. The former, by and large, gave me a free rein to do what I wanted to do. I, being one of those people who dislike instructions, she helped me to produce much better results than I'd have otherwise done.
B2.Complete
Read the extract and complete the following:
The teacher can
(i) .............
(ii) ..............
(iii )..............
(iv).................
B3. Similar word
Look at the following sentences arid pick the word having similar meaning to the given word and rewrite:
(i) Spiced His conversation is always with a lot of humour. (made interesting, garnished, flavoured)
(ii) Repository
The library should not merely be a ................ of books. (store-house, reservoir, tank)
(iii) Inculcate
It is the responsibility of the parents and teachers to .......values in the child's formative years. (imbibe, give, show)
(iv) Incredibly
I have been .. lucky to have at least one such teacher at every stage in my life. (importantly, unbelievably, beautifully)
B4. Language study
(i) There have also been other teachers. They have helped me to try to become
independent. (Combine using 'who')
(ii) It was only because of her that I was able-to read Shakespeare.
(Rewrite beginning with: If it was not for her, ).
B.5 Out motivators
Look at the following table and complete it by presenting your own views
| Personalities | Influence on your life |
| (i) Teachers | |
| (ii) Parents | |
| (iii) Relatives | |
| (iv) Friends |
We sang our school fight song dozens of times – en route to Arlington National cemetery, and even on an afternoon cruise down the Potomac River. We visited the Lincoln Memorial twice, once in day – light, the second time at dusk. My classmates and I fell silent as we walked in the shadows of those 36 marble columns, one for every state in the Union that Lincoln laboured to preserve. I stood next to Frank at the base of the 19 foot seated statue. Spotlights made the white Georgian marble seem to glow. Together we read famous words from Lincoln’s speech at Gettysburg remembering the most bloody battle in the war between the status : “………….we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom………..”
As Frank motioned me into place to take my picture, I took one last look at Lincoln’s face. He seemed alive and so terribly sad.
The next morning I understand a little better why he wasn’t smiling. “Clifton,” a chaperone said, “could I see you for a moment?”
(1) When did the boys visit Lincoln Memorial?
(2) What made the Georgian marble glow?
(3) What did the words: “………. We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom …………” remind them?
(4) Do you believe in building memorials? What kind should they be, if your answer is ‘yes’? If no, give reasons why you do not believe in memorials?
Give reasons for the following statement.
The author’s experience at Hor was in stark contrast to earlier accounts of the place.
Group related points.
“One day back there in the good old days when I was nine and the world was full of every imaginable kind of magnificence, and life was still a delightful and mysterious dream. ” The story begins in a mood of nostalgia. Can you narrate some incident from your childhood that might make an interesting story?
Examine the communication channels in the story between Basset and Paul's uncle.
Read the poem and fill in the table.
| Time of the day | Location | Poet’s Activity | Hawker’s Activities | Gardener’s Activities | Watchman’s Activities |
| Morning | __________ | __________ | __________ | __________ | __________ |
| Afternoon | __________ | __________ | __________ | __________ | __________ |
| Night | __________ | __________ | __________ | __________ | __________ |
Find evidence from the lesson and write in your own words.
In Israel, the media have a positive outlook and self-respect.
State whether the following statement is True or False. Correct the false statement by finding evidence from the poem to support your remark.
The cherry tree did not take long to grow.
Discuss in groups, reasons/ consequences/ effects:
The cherry blossomed.
Answer the given question in your own words.
What was the first task given to the Swallow?
Read the story and choose the appropriate meaning.
Struggling artists ____________
Read the descriptions of the following from the story and describe any one of them using your own words.
- The ivy vine
- Behrman
- The last leaf that Johnsy saw
Read the expression:
‘the blueprint of our past’s tomorrow’. Consider in a group why the poet has not mentioned ‘the present’. It is because of the planners who have possessed our ‘present’ in order to change ‘our past’ into the ‘future’ they desire. Go through the poem and write the lines which support this thought.
- The buildings are in alignment with the roads which meet at desired points.
- ____________________________________________
- ____________________________________________
- ____________________________________________
- ____________________________________________
- ____________________________________________.
Draw a picture of the scene described in the poem.
There were some reasons why Theseus was initially against but later gave consent for the marriage of Helena with Lysander. Explain.
Discuss the following questions after you have seen a presentation of the ‘ad’.
Can you become fair in five days? How long will the effect of the cream last?
Read the story and write about the following in short.
Yonamine Chiru of Okinawa
Write a conversation between a donkey and a horse.
Name the white and bright things mentioned in the poem.
Write a short note on the following:
The ‘four signs’ that Prince Siddharth beheld.
Write about what you would like to do if ‘Time’ was your friend.
Visit a library:
Read Lewis Carroll’s book ‘Alice in Wonderland.’
Make a time table of your daily routine
- On a school day
- On a holiday, and
- During examinations.
Start at the time you normally get up and list your activities
hourly: 7 am to 8 am, and so on.
Does the poet expect anything in return? What is the poet’s reward?
Prepare similar word chains using the following ideas.
sunshine - warm ________________.
Write your own impressions about the news items given in (a), (b), (c), and (d) in the table below.
| News item | Good news Bad news | Reliable Unreliable | Interesting Uninteresting Boring | Others |
| (a) | ||||
| (b) | ||||
| (c) | ||||
| (d) |
Write the characteristics of a good listener.
Form groups. Discuss how one can be a 'good reader'. Use the points in the above passage in your discussion. Write down the points that show what makes a 'good reader'.
Read the word. Write the words that combine to make it.
springtime
List the insects, birds, trees and plants mentioned in the poem.
Read the following and say whether the statement tells you about a fact or whether it is imaginary.
There is a man in the Moon.
Guess the meaning of the following word.
beautify
Identify the character or speaker.
It seems to me like the recollection of a dream.
Why had Prospero raised a violent storm in the sea?
What made the reporter gaze at the author?
Who is wise according to you?
Read the letter again and write a few lines on each of the following.
- things that the coach taught….
- transformation in the child……..
- things that amazed the writer……..
Do you think this was a good idea?
Read the poem aloud in groups.
Neerja passed on the warning in a code to the pilots because she______.
There are seven kinds of sea turtles in the world.
Read the lines and answer the questions given below.
Summer comes
in a blaze of heat with
sunny smiles
and dusty feet
- Does the poet welcome the summer? How do you know?
- Which line tells you that there is no rain in summer?
They rode back home quickly.
The Chinese troops attacked the lonely Indian post located in ______.
Nauranang is in Himachal Pradesh.
Look at the picture and Choose the correct word.
What did the hen-pigeon whisper?
Why did everyone ridicule the boy?
Appu felt hungry and ate a______.
Answer the following yes or no question.
Did Bujju realise his mistake?
Choose the correct answer.
Circle and write the adverbs.
Suddenly the old man fainted. ______
Read the advertisement and answer the question given below.
What is the size of the screen?
Why did Jana’s friends stop her from going near the tree?
Read the passage three times and colour a dustbin each time.
|
I am Mani. I had to take a bus to nearby city. I crossed the road to reach the bus stand. I got the bus, sat down, and read a book. Before I started to read, I just looked at the people around me. The two men sitting next to me were talking loudly. Some were listening to music on their phone. I was unable to focus on reading. The men were talking about cleaning the city. As they were talking, they opened a pack of biscuits to eat. After some time I dozed off. When I opened my eyes, the bus had reached the city. The two men were not there but pieces of the biscuits and wrappers were there. I cleaned the wrappers and put them in the dustbin.
|
- What did Mani take out?
- What did Mani find on the seat when he woke up?
- If you were Mani, what would you do?
List three questions that the little boy asks.
- ______
- ______
- ______
Are these sentence TRUE or FALSE
The poet tells the child to think of friends after it is dark.
Choose the right word.
“Eat the leaves of the tamarind tree, and you’ll also sing like ______.
Now, read the following passage on “Laughter Therapy” and answer the questions that follow.
- Laughing is an excellent way to reduce stress in our lives; it can help you to cope with and survive a stressful life. Laughter provides full-scale support for your muscles and unleashes a rush of stress-busting endorphins. Since our bodies cannot distinguish between real and fake laughter, anything that makes you giggle will have a positive impact.
- Laughter Therapy aims to get people laughing, in groups and individual sessions and can help reduce stress, make people and employees happier and more committed, as well as improve their interpersonal skills. This laughter comes from the body and not the mind.
- Laughter Yoga (Hasya yoga) is a practice involving prolonged voluntary laughter. It aims to get people laughing in groups. It is practiced in the early mornings in open-parks. It has been made popular as an exercise routine developed by Indian physician Madan Kataria, who writes about the practice in his 2002 book ‘Laugh for no reason'. Laughter Yoga is based on the belief that voluntary laughter provides the same physiological as well as psychological benefits as spontaneous laughter.
- Laughter yoga session may start with gentle warm-up techniques which include stretching, chanting, clapping, eye contact and body movements to help break down inhibitions and encourage a sense of playfulness. Moreover, laughter is the best medicine. Breathing exercises are used to prepare the lungs for laughter followed by a series of laughter exercises that combine a method of acting and visualization techniques. Twenty minutes of laughter is sufficient to augment physiological development.
- A handful of small-scale scientific studies have indicated that laughter yoga has some medically beneficial effects, including cardiovascular health and mood. This therapy has proved to be good for depressed patients. This laughter therapy also plays a crucial role in social bonding.
Answer the following.
a. How does laughter help one to cope with stress?
b. Which word in the text (para 2) means the same as ‘dedicated'?
c. Why do you think voluntary laughter provides the same physiological as well as psychological benefits as spontaneous laughter?
d. ‘Laughter is the best medicine’. Explain.
e. Given below is a set of activities. Which of these are followed in the ‘Laughter Yoga’ technique?
- sitting on the ground with legs crossed
- body movements
- clapping
- closed eyes
- breathing exercises
- chanting
- stretching of arms and legs
- bending backwards
- running/jogging
- eye contact
f. ‘Laughter therapy also plays a crucial role in social bonding’. How?
