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Question
Why does Russell call the three passions 'simple'?
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Solution
The essay actually is the preface to Bertrand Russell's autobiography. Every human is driven by a force, a passion all her/his life. It keeps her/him going. Some desire money, other, fame. There are some who desire simple satisfaction. Bertie's desires that he chased through his life were simple as well. He was driven by passions that any ordinary man or woman might feel for. For one, he wished love and got it too; he believed that it brought ecstasy. He got married four times to tell. Second, he hungered for knowledge and of course we all seek for it. He was a mathematician, a logician, political activist and wrote vastly on philosophy and contributed to literature, for which he received Nobel Prize as well. Third, he shared “an unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind”. He took a stand against World War 1 and Vietnam war. Any human will pity a suffering man or a woman for they have a heart and feel, and so did Russell. Russell was a man who did not lust after materialistic gains; he was born in a prominent aristocratic family of Britain and gave away much of what he inherited. He rose his voice in favour of suffragists and world government. He believed in free thought in religion and morals.
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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 |
Answer any four of the following in 30-40 words each:
(a) Why was the peddler amused at the idea of the world being a rattrap?
(b) Why did Gandhiji agree to a settlement of mere 25 percent?
(c) Aunt Jennifer's efforts to get rid of her fear proved to be futile. Comment.
(d) What does Stephen Spender want to be done for the children of the school in a slum?
(e) How did the ten-day-old baby (the future Tiger King) react to the prediction about his future made by the astrologers?
(f) Why was Dr. Sadao not sent abroad along with the troops?
Answer any four of the following in 30 – 40 words each:
(a) How did his experience at the YMCA swimming pool affect Douglas?
(b) What hospitality did the peddler receive from the crofter?
(c) Aunt Jennifer;s efforts to get rid of her fear proved to be futile. Comment.
(d) What does Stephen Spender want to be done for the children of the school in a slum?
(e) What kind of life was enjoyed by crown prince Jung Bahadur till he reached the age of twenty?
(f) Where, when and how did Dr. Sadao meet Hana?
Complete the following table :
Complete the following statements :
(ii) Maharashtra depends on India, because ................
Tick the item that is closest in meaning to the following phrase.
to meet one's match
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Discuss in pairs or in small groups
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What does the reference to raw mythology imply?
Comment on the contemporary concern that the poem echoes.
Read the extract 'Being Neighborly' and complete the following statement:
Jo entered the old stone house carrying _______________.
Read the extract and state whether the following statement is true or false. Correct the false statement.
The author wanted to grow the desi variety of rice.
Fill in the blank.
The author wanted to grow ______________.
Name the world-famous personality who reached great heights despite of humble circumstances.
Answer in your own words.
How did the plants react to the fast rhythmic music?
Study the pictures below and note down the differences.
Find evidence from the lesson and write in your own words.
We Indians are obsessed with foreign things.
A small thought, put in action, led to a great achievement. Pick out the lines from the beginning and end of the poem and explain their significance.
Read the poem and complete the web about the activities the planners do.
Who gives medicine/treatment to sick animals and birds?
Read the first and second stanza of the poem. We understand that the poet wants to suggest the powerful dominance of the planners who shape the town according to their selfish desires. Make a list of such expressions. You may begin with -
- All the spaces are gridded, filled with permutations of possibilities.
- ________________________________
- ________________________________
- ________________________________
Draw a picture of the scene described in the poem.
Compare the features of a comedy and tragedy.
Read aloud with the leader: Form groups of five. Read the passage aloud in groups. The leader begins every sentence and stops after a few words. The other members complete the sentence, reading it aloud in the chorus.
Discuss the following questions after you have seen a presentation of the ‘ad’.
Will you love your brother or sister only if she’s fair?
List five questions from the play which can be answered with 'yes' or 'no'.
Name the white and bright things mentioned in the poem.
Read the following sentence aloud. Write who said it and to whom.
“Why, the dress you go to the theatre in !”
Write one or two sentences about something beautiful, using your own experience or imagination. Then rearrange the words in the sentences in a poetic form. You may write about a beautiful day, a beautiful night, a stream, a crop standing in a field, a graceful bird or animal, etc.
Form groups of 4-5. Read the following sentences aloud. Using your imagination and with the help of group discussion, write other situations in which the sentences can be used.
- The outcome: disappointment and anger.
- The hour of battle had sounded
- What a chase!
- This was our chance, .........
Read the following from the Language Study pages:
- adjective clause
- adverb clause
- noun clause
Find one example of each from the passages. (Note the linking word when you do that.)
Make adjectives from the following.
- harm
- continue
- believe
- fear
- thought
- wish
- question
- courage
Find out how the following game is played.
Football
Write other meaningful words that begin/end with footprint.
List the characters in the play.
Birds and animals
What is meant by 'Honour the white cane'?
Guess the meaning of the following word.
pleasing
__________________was the chief of all spirits
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Answer the question in a paragraph of about 100 – 150 word.
Write a detailed character sketch of Prospero.
What was the e-mail message sent to Somu by Dr.Krishnan?
How were offerings carried during the ancient period?
Based on your reading, rearrange the following sentences in the correct sequence.
- Since all her methods failed, finally she gave him a pain-killer.
- He told his aunt that Peter had no aunt, so he gave him the medicine.
- The pain-killer triggered adverse reactions on Peter.
- It jumped out of the open window.
- Tom was dull and depressed.
- This incident upset Aunt Polly and she questioned him.
- But, Tom gave that painkiller to the cat Peter.
- So, Aunt Polly tried different types of remedies on him.
‘ If only her son were there, it would have been a different kind of Eid’! What had happened to her son?
Write the name of the toys against each picture.
Usha went to visit her______ house after shopping in the market.
Fill in the table
| Problems Faced By Mr. Fogg And His Team | Solution |
| The train stopped in the middle of the forest. | |
| They couldn’t hire the elephant. | |
| They were in need of an elephant driver. |
Read the following lines and answer the questions.
It’s part of his hours, his days and his years,
Back of his smiles and behind his tears.
What does ‘tears’ mean?
Identify the sports and the sports personalities from the lesson and fill in the table.
| Sports | Name of the player & Field of sports | Awards |
 |
||
 |
||
 |
What does the phrase ‘presence of mind’ mean? Explain the phrase using Muthu’s action.
Why did the crowd gather by the side of the pond?
Read scene I of the play carefully and answer the question below.
List the characters that appear in the scene. What human characteristics do they exhibit?
How was the rich man's house?
Identify the character or the speaker.
“Oh no! What shall I do now?”
Why did everyone ridicule the boy?
What is the name of the girl?
Parents never let us get ______.
Speak and win.
Join in one of the two groups. Choose two characters. Support or oppose any one of the characters. Say some sentences for the one you support and say some sentences against the other one, to win.
| I support | I oppose |
The villagers took oath not to harm the _______.
Write the related words as shown in the example.
