Working with words

A. Find the words from the text that match with the following meanings.

a. Shuffle – walking by dragging one’s feet along or without lifting them fully from the ground

b. Doodle – drawing pictures or patterns while thinking about something else

c. Plaque – a piece of flat metal with writing on it

d. Precepts – a general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought

e. Sneaky – move or go in a furtive or stealthy way

B. Consult your teacher and define the following thinking skills.

a. Convergent thinking Convergent thinking is the type of thinking that focuses on coming up with the single, well-established answer to a problem. It is oriented toward deriving the single best, or most often correct answer to a question.

b. Divergent thinking Divergent thinking is a thought process or method used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions. Many possible solutions are explored in a short amount of time, and unexpected connections are drawn.

c. Critical thinking Critical thinking is the analysis of facts to form a judgment. The subject is complex, and several different definitions exist, which generally include the rational, skeptical, unbiased analysis, or evaluation of factual evidence.

d. Creative thinking Creativity is the ability to generate a thought or an idea that is completely new, appealing, and useful. Creative thinking is a skill that enables you to come up with original and unconventional ideas.

Comprehension

Answer the following questions.

a. Who was Jack? How did he make children laugh?

Jack was a kind of kid other kids like and had a lot of friends. He made children laugh by saying jokes.

b. Why are “Sharks” important to Reid?

Sharks are important to Reid because they keep ocean clean by eating dead organisms.

c. What does Mr. Browne think about the most important thing?

Mr. Browne thinks that the most important thing is to know oneself, or own character’s and evaluate them to bring the best version of someone.

d. What is that has not been noticed by the student?

The thing that has not been noticed by the student is the message in the notice board of the school entrance gate that writes – “Know Thyself”.

e. How did Jack make fun of the English class?

Jack made fun of the English class by saying that they were there to attend English class to the teacher’s question “Why are you here?”.

f. What were the students going to do at the end of the month?

The students were going to write an essay on the basis of the Brownie’s percept at the end of the month.

g. What particular act of students surprised a girl student?

Students used to come up with their very own personal precept, write it on a postcard, and mail it to Mr. Brownie after their graduation, this thing surprised the girl student.

Critical Thinking

a. Have you made your own precept after you read this lesson? What is it? Share it with your friends.

Yes, I have made my own precept after reading this lessons. They are as follows:

"Success is temporary but failure is permanent"

"Always stay Positive"

"Believe in Karma rather than fate&quot

"Anything that happens, happens for good"

b. According to Josh Lanyon, “If there was one life skill everyone on the planet needed, it was the ability to think with critical objectivity.” Justify this statement with your logic.

Josh Lanyon’s statement regarding critical objectivity somewhat reflects the core idea related to the development of human skills on this planet. He has presented the fact behind the skills of the people of this planet. Here, Josh has related life skills of people of this planet with critical objectivity. According to him, the need for life skills itself was the ability within people to think with critical objectivity.

People on this planet moved along with different life skills in their lives. From ancient times up to now, people have been doing development in the sector of skill development and invention. The development of people on this planet was possible due to their ability of critical objectivity which runs along with their life skills knowingly and unknowingly.

Critical objectivity always moves along with life skills. People have applied various life skills in their lives which means they can think with critical objectives. Behind all these life skills, the ability of thinking with critical objectivity always remain with them.

Writing

Write an email to your friend explaining an interesting class you had.

From: binodkumar12@gmail.com

To: shristi2011@gmail.com

Subject: Interesting class that I had

Dear Shristi,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I am doing pretty fine here. I am writing to you in order to share my experience of my English classes.

Compared to any other classes I have taken during my school history, I feel that no other class could give me so many joys, knowledge and pleasures than the English class could do. I learned it quite good and, in every test, I got the best mark in the class. I learned not only a lot of Basic English knowledge in my middle school but also the personal characteristics which lead my interests along through my later education life.

When I was in my middle school, it used to be a great thing when I know that there would be an English class tomorrow morning because I could enjoy another interesting 45 minutes during the class. Rather than other classes, like Science, Nepali or Mathematics, I established my English-relative interests’ group in social media, which give me a great benefit in my study in the university. I believe no other class can inspire me so far to pursue a scientific result.

Another important thing I achieved through the English class is to collaborate with other students. I think it certainly formed my teamwork sprite when I entered the career position as an engineer. I can still clearly remember my English teachers of primary school and high school. They are all the people of great patient and instructive characteristic. They told me not to quit when I failed again and again. They give me a lot of confidence and disciplines of the mind toward success. Saying that English class is the only class that I used to enjoy most, I would like to end this mail.

Regards,

Binod Kumar

Grammar

Rewrite the following sentences adding appropriate question tag.

a. Gill does not know Ann, does he?

b. I’m very patient, aren’t I?

c. They’d never met me before, had they?

d. Listen carefully, will you?

e. Let’s have a break, shall we?

f. Let us invite them, will you?

g. Hari used to live in France as a boy, didn’t he?

h. You’d better not take a hard drink, had you?

i. Sheep eat grass, don’t they?

j. Mr. Pande can speak nine languages, can’t he?

k. She’s finished her classes, hasn’t she?

l. She barely managed to reach the goal, did she?

m. Don’t let him swim in that pond, will you?

n. There are lots of people here, aren’t there?

Read the following situations. What do you say in these situations? Use question tags.

a. The sky is full of cloud. You can see lightning and hear thunder.

It’s going to rain soon, isn’t it?

b. You want to pay the taxi fare but you are short by 100 rupees.

Shyam, you have to lend me Rs. 100, haven’t you?

c. You have met a stranger at a party and you want to have a chat with him/ her.

We will talk later, won’t we?

d. You came out of the film hall with your friend. You enjoyed the film.

The film was very enjoyable, wasn’t it?

e. You and your friend listened to a comedian on the stage and felt spellbound by his/her performance.

He gave an excellent presentation, didn’t he?

f. You think your friend’s father has arrived from the US but you are not sure.

Your father has not arrived from US, has he?

g. You think Susan will join the new job tomorrow but you are not sure.

Susan will go to her new job tomorrow, won’t she?

h. Your friend’s hair looks too short.

You have got too short hair, haven’t you?

i. You want to go for a picnic with your friends in class.

Let’s go to picnic, shall we?

j. You want permission from your father to go for a walk.

Let me go for a evening walk, will you?

Comprehension

A. The headings of the first five paragraphs of the above text are given below. Write paragraph number next to them.

a. Patriarchal family – 3

b. Functions of the family – 2

c. Modern model of family – 5

d. Effects of industrialization on family structure – 4

e. Defining family – 1

B. Answer the following questions.

a. What type of family is thought to be the oldest form of the family?

Nuclear family is thought to be the oldest form of the family.

b. How does a family provide security to its members?

Family provides emotional and psychological security through the warmth, love, and companionship. Families also provide physical security for their members, who are too young or too old.

c. What were the features of medieval European family?

The main feature of the Medieval European family is that it was a patriarchal or male-dominated and extended family.

d. What caused the dissolution of extended families in the West?

Many people, particularly unmarried youths, left farms and went to urban centers to become industrial workers. Thus industrialization and urbanization led to the dissolution of extended families in the West.

e. What change occurred in gender role in the modern family that emerged after the Industrial Revolution?

Following change occurred in gender role in the modern family that emerged after the Industrial Revolution:

(i) Patriarchal rule began to give way to greater equality between the sexes.

(ii) Family roles once considered exclusively male or female broke down.

(iii) Some couples choose not to marry legally.

(iv) The rising levels of divorce led to increase in the number of one-parent households.

f. What is family law?

Family law is a practice area concerned with legal issues involving family relationships, such as adoption, divorce, and child custody. Attorneys practicing family law typically handle divorce, child custody, child support, and other related legal matters.

g. How is modern marriage defined?

Modern marriage is defined as a voluntary union, usually between a man and a woman.

h. What do special family courts try to do?

Special family court tries to deal more fairly with sensitive issues such as custody of children.

i. What does the legislation on child labor and child abuse declare?

The legislation on child labor and child abuse declares that there is the responsibility of society for a child’s best future and to provide compulsory education to the children.

j. What is common among most legal systems regarding property?

In most legal systems a departed family member deals with property left by the deceased family member.

Critical Thinking

a. What changes have started to occur in Nepali families in recent days? What impacts will they bring on the society? Discuss.

Since the world is now in 21st century, everything is gradually developing through traditional culture to modern culture. Nowadays, people want to satisfy their feeling. They change their behaviour to family lifestyle in modern societies. They want to live in nuclear family with the full of happiness with child, husband and wife but other side in there is rapid increase of divorce in Nepal due to misunderstand in nuclear family. In Nepali families both male and female can rule household, country. Everybody male and female is getting equal right in family. Every family member understanding each other felling, happy and they can share their idea, concept in family member. In Nepalese families young age at marriage in Nepal is closely linked to the widespread practice of arranged marriages, where relationships and agreements between families prevail over individual choices. Thus, a decline in very early marriage, accompanied by a decrease in the interval between marriage and cohabitation, may indicate a change in the marital decision-making process and an increase in the level of involvement on the part of spouses in the formation of their own marital unions. Thus, they will bring both positive and negative changes on the society.

b. We see many elderly people in the elderly homes these days in Nepal. Some of them are abandoned while others live there willingly. Do you think Nepali people are deviating from their traditional culture? Give reasons.

With the rapidly increasing number of aged, the care of elderly has emerged as an important issue in Nepal. Providing care for the aged has never been a problem in Nepal where a value based joint family system was dominant. This family structure has been the socio-economic backbone of the average Nepalese. The families were sharing the responsibility to look after their elderly by giving them all kind of support including emotional, psychological, behavioural or economic. They were getting full respect and value. They were living in the family till the end of their life. With the increasing influence of modernization and new life styles resulting in transitional changes in value system in recent times, the joint family is breaking down into several scattered nuclear families. Change in family structure and contemporary changes in the psycho-social matrix and values often compel the elderly to live alone or to shift from their own homes to some institutions or old age homes.

Misbehaviour of children, financial crisis often lead to feeling of ignorance and lack of emotional support in elderly which often compel them to opt other places for living a problem free life. And, in present scenario along with other reasons elderly homes are being considered as a better alternative to reside. There is a need to generate emotional support facilities in these homesandthegovernmentandvoluntaryagenciesinNepalmustmakearrangementsfor institutional support and care for the elderly.

Writing

a. Write an essay on The Importance of Family. In your essay, you can use these guided questions.

• Why family is important to you.

• Why family is or is not important for society

• How you think families will change in the future.

The Importance of Family

In today’s world when everything is losing its meaning, we need to realize the importance of family more than ever. While the world is becoming more modern and advanced, the meaning of family and what stands for remains the same. It does not matter what kind of family one belongs to. It is all equal as long as there are caring and acceptance. You may be from a joint family, same-sex partner family, nuclear family, it is all the same. The relationships we have with our members make our family strong. We all have unique relations with each family member. In addition to other things, a family is the strongest unit in one’s life.

One cannot emphasize enough on the importance of family. They play a great role in our lives and make us better human beings. The one lucky enough to have a family often do not realize the value of a family. However, those who do not have families know their worth. A family is our source of strength. It teaches us what relationships mean. They help us create meaningful relationships in the outside world. The love we inherit from our families, we pass on to our independent relationships. Moreover, families teach us better communication. When we spend time with our families and love each other and communicate openly, we create a better future for us. When we stay connected with our families, we learn to connect better with the world. Similarly, families teach us patience. It gets tough sometimes to be patient with our family members. Yet we remain so out of love and respect. Thus, it teaches us patience to deal better with the world. Families boost our confidence and make us feel loved. They are the pillars of our strength who never fall instead keep us strong so we become better people.

As we know that society is important for family. Society is the combination of one or more family member so, without family society cannot create. A family makes us responsible for our duty toward society. Family provides social security in the society. Family introduces you in the society. In the social world without a family an individual’s identity is never complete. And I think that family will change in future due to upgrading of modern technology, 5-10 year there is big family where very family member were residing but now day most of the family is living in nuclear family format.

b. Some people think it is better to live in a nuclear family. Other people think that living in extended family is more advantageous. What do you think? Write an essay discussing the advantages and disadvantages of both.

In my views both the Extended family and Nuclear family are better at their own place as both of them have some advantages and some disadvantages.

Extended family is a combination of all generation of member. In these families, all member of the family including the children also grow with the belief that they also have certain duties and function to perform. They should learn to control their demand and expectation. In Nepal, more people prefer to stay in extended family and I’m also one of them in comparison to nuclear family. The advantage of extended family are, in extended family there is a good social and emotional relationship among the family members. There is a proper economic and social security. In extended family there is a proper care and supervision for the children also proper education and control over the problem of adolescence. The important advantage of extended family is a sense of protection of culture, tradition and values. There is not only advantage of Extended family but also some disadvantages occur in extended family. In extended it can push back in personality development. There is less privacy. There may be probability of low living standards. There may be difficult to meet needs and demand of each member in the family. Less of self confidence and dependency may increase in the extended family

Now talking about the nuclear family, Nuclear family is composed of husband, wife and their children, otherwise Extend family composed of grandfather, grandmother, parents, brother and their wives, daughter in-law, grandson etc., who share same kitchen and shelter up to four generation. Some of the advantages of nuclear family is that there is high understand and cooperation among each other, less possibility of quarrel among family member due the fewer members. It is easy to meet need and demand of each family.There is freedom of making decisions of their own. Also there are some disadvantages of having nuclear family as there is lack of security and confidence, there is lack of proper care of children and old age people.There is generation gap in respecting the norms and value of people. There is lack of love and care for the children if the couple engaged in professions.

Thus in short we can say that both the nuclear and extended family are better at their own place.

Grammar

B. Choose the best answer to complete the sentences.

a. ‘How much was your parking ticket?’ ‘Fifty rupees.’ ‘Oh well, it could have been worse.’

b. It must have. got lost in the post. These things happen sometimes.

c. ‘Sorry I’m late. I got delayed at work.’ ‘You must have called. I was really worried about you.’

d. ‘I don’t think he meant to be rude.’ ‘He must have said sorry.’

e. ‘Whose signature is this?’ ‘I don’t know. It could be Manoj’s. That looks a bit like an M.’

f. I had it when I left the office so I mustn’t have. lost it on the way to home.

g. You must have think it’s funny, but I think it’s pathetic.

C. Complete the following sentences with appropriate endings. Use correct modal verbs.

a. At the end of the course, we must be prepared for the individual presentation.

b. If you want to earn a lot of money, I would suggest some tips.

c. You were not in your house yesterday. You could have your belongings stolen.

d. I’m quite busy tomorrow. I must visit my dentist.

e. When you were a small kid, you could ask for money from your relatives.

f. My car is broken. I should take it to the service center.

g. I’ve got a fast speed internet at home. I can watch movies in high quality.

h. Even though she didn’t study well, she could solve all the problems.

i. There are plenty of newspapers in the library. You can read any of them if you want.

j. What do you think you were doing, playing in the road? You could have been hit by the car.

k. I have no time. I can’t meet you.

l. You don’t look well. You should take a rest.

Sports Exercise : Question Answers and Grammar

Sports

Working with words

A. Many English words are from other languages, such as redemption in the news above comes from the Latin word redimere, a combination of re(d)-, meaning “back,” and emere, meaning “buy.”

Now, find out the origin and the meaning of the following words from the text.

Penalty : From Middle French pénalité

a punishment imposed for breaking a law, rule, or contract

Major : From Latin word “great” and French word “majeur”

important, serious, or significant.

Stadium : From Latin word meaning “study”, “zeal”, “dedication”

A center for the study of the Liberal Arts

Trophy : From the French trophée in 1513, Old French trophee, from Latin trophaeum

A cup or other decorative object awarded as a prize for a victory or success.

Defender : From the Latin word in this sense was “defensor” and Old French “defendeor”

One who protects from injury a champion

Anthem : From Greek antiphōnos

A rousing or uplifting song identified with a particular group, body, or cause.

Dejection : From the Latin deicere meaning “throw down.”

A sad and depressed state; low spirits.

Jubilant : From Latin word “jubilare”

Making a joyful noise

Record : Form Latin word “cor” and “re-”

A thing constituting a piece of evidence about the past, especially an account kept in writing or some other permanent form.

Suave : Form Latin word ” suavis” means “agreeable.”

Charming, confident, and elegant

Podium : Form Greek word “pous and pod” meaning “foot”

finish first, second, or third, so as to appear on a podium to receive an award.

Tournament : Form old French torneiement

A series of contests between a number of competitors, competing for an overall prize.

Reminiscent : Form Latin word “reminisce” meaning remembering

Tending to remind one of something.

Incredible : Form Latin word “In-” meaning “not” and “credibills” meaning is “believe.”

Savor : Form Latin word “sapere” meaning “to taste”

B. Consult a dictionary and define the following terms related to cricket.

Stump:

Each of the three upright pieces of wood which form a wicket.

Crease:

Any of a number of lines marked on the pitch at specified places.

Boundary:

A hit crossing the limits of the field, scoring four or six runs.

Sixer:

A hit for 6 runs.

Googly:

Type of deceptive delivery bowled by a right-arm leg-spin bowler.

Leg-by:

A run scored from a ball that has touched part of the batsman’s body (apart from the hand) without touching the bat.

Wicket:

Each of the sets of three stumps with two bails across the top at either end of the pitch

Maiden:

An over in which no runs are scored.

Pitch:

The strip of ground between the two sets of stumps.

Power-play:

The set of overs with special fielding rules during a limited-overs cricket match

No-ball:

An unlawfully delivered ball, counting one as an extra to the batting side if not otherwise scored from.

Yorker:

A ball bowled that hits the cricket pitch around the batsman’s feet.

C. Pronunciation

Divide the following words into two groups in accordance with their pronunciation /aɪ/ and

/aɪ/

Fine, shine, why, height, bright, might, five, sight, white, by

/eɪ/

Rein, rail, sleigh, snail, break, fake, eight, game, claim, friend, gait, hail, frame

Comprehension

A. State whether the following sentences are True or False or Not Given.

a. England was the champion of 1996 World Cup Football. – True

b. Italy bagged its first Euro Cup trophy in the Euro Cup 2020. – True

c. The English team has won more trophies in International Football than Italy. – False

d. According to the captain of the English team, the pain of losing a match has lasting effects. – Not Given

e. The Italian team was playing in their home ground. – False

f. The goalkeeper of the Italian team had performed the best than any other players in the match. – True

B. Answer the following questions.

a. Why does the reporter say that England is waiting to heal its half-century long pain?

The reporter said that England is waiting to heal its half-century pain because England had not won any title after 1966 A.D.

b. How did the Italian players react as soon as they became the champions?

The Italian players reacted by shouting into a TV camera amid the celebrations, mocking the famous lyric “it’s coming home” from the England team’s anthem as soon as they became the champions.

c. Why did Saka and Sancho cry?

Saka and Sancho cried because of their third straight penalty failure.

d. Penalty shoot-out has long been a bitter experience for the English team. Why?

Penalty shoot-out has long been a bitter experience for the English team because they missed three penalty shoot-outs consequently.

e. State the contribution of Roberto Mancini to the Italian football.

Less than four years ago, Italy fell to the lowest point in its footballing history with failing to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in six decades. They are now the best team in Europe and with a national record of 34 games unbeatenunder Roberto Mancini. Mancini brought great confidence to the Italian football team and went all out to win the Euro 2020.

f. How does the Euro Cup final 2020 remind the audiences of the 2018 World Cup semifinals? How?

The Euro Cup Final 2020 remind the audiences of the 2018 World Cup semifinals because England also scored early against Croatia then spent most of the game chasing its opponent’s midfield before losing in extra time.

Critical thinking

a. “Every match is a new opportunity. Put its failure behind and start over again.” Does this apply to the Italian football team when we analyse their performance from their failure to qualify for the World Cup Football to their victory in the European Championship in these four years?

Yes, the statement “Every match is a new opportunity. Put its failure behind and start over again” applies to the Italian football team. Italy is constantly improving and investing more and more in the improvement of its football team. Despite having faced so many challenges, digesting so many defeats, we can say that they have continued to improve and now the football culture in Italy is second to none.

There is no place in the world where a typical technician is more qualified than another. Every casual Italian staff member is excellent in rehabilitation, strategy and organization. Wherever they go, they have a manager who can lead a top club to success. They have an upscale nightclub. Juventus has a rich history, well-organized organization and a management team that is able to bring out the best in every player they sign. Few clubs reach this level of competence, which should be the standard. Think of the three biggest clubs in Europe: Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Manchester City.

In the last four years Italy has undergoneradical changes under Mancini. The Azzurri won 4-2 on penalties after taking the lead with Federico Chiesa, but came back from a draw by Alvaro Morata, who scored 1-1 goals and needed added time before the Italians won by 4-2 on penalties. From this we can say that Italian football team constantly learned from their past games and hence qualified for the World Cup Football to their victory in the European Championship in these four years.

b. When a team plays in a home ground, it gets a huge support from the audience in the stadium. Does this support them to win the match or the players may feel pressure to win and thus lose? What do you think?

I think a team playing in the home ground gets huge support and confidence from their home fans but the teams from other places get huge disadvantages; according to their zone, climate, and fan follower. Many teams have been won Match on home ground. More than 100 teams won the match on the home ground.

In team sports, the term home ground – also called home field describes the benefit that the home team is said to gain over the visiting team. This benefit has been attributed to psychological effects by the supporting fans on the competitors or referees. Also, the players are used to, playing on their home ground due to which they can easily play there, despite of the weather, pitch or ground condition. But the visiting teams suffer from changing time zones or climates, or from the rigors of travel; and in some sports, to specific rules that favor the home team directly or indirectly.

According to my views, in Euro Cup 2020 England lost the final match against Italy due to their fear and lack of faith. They had not won any match after 1966 A.D so that they had less hope and got more pressure from the home ground fans. Therefore, getting a huge support from the audience in the stadium does both i.e., supports the team to win the match as well as the players may feel pressure to win and thus lose.

Writing

A. The following passage does not have any punctuation marks. Punctuate it with appropriate punctuation marks.

A lot of people try to get away from home for a few days each year for a holiday. There are lots of things to choose from, and where you go depends on how much money you’ve got to spend. Ideas for holidays include relaxing on a beach, exploring cities, and skiing. One man wanted to go to Australia but thought he’d never have enough money to get there. He’d go to his brother’s caravan at the seaside instead. A young woman wanted to go clubbing in Ibiza as she’d heard it was a lot of fun.

Grammar

B. Complete the following sentences with much, many, few or little.

a. He is an introvert. He has got very few friends.

b. I am busy in preparing my examinations. I have very little time to give to you.

c. The entire winter season was dry this year. We had little rain.

d. Our town has almost been modernized. There are few old buildings left.

e. You can come today. I haven’t got much to do.

f. The party was crowded. There were too many people.

g. How many photographs did you take while you were in Switzerland?

h. There was little traffic so I came in time.

i. Can I borrow few books from you?

j. Mohan can’t be a good teacher. He has little patience.

C. Put each or every in the following sentences.

a. The party split into three factions, each faction headed by a former prime minister.

b. Leap years occur every four years.

c. Every parent worries about their children.

d. We had a great time in Singapore. We enjoyed every minute of our time.

e. I could catch the main idea of his speech but I didn’t understand each of his words.

f. In Nepal, every motorcycle rider should wear a helmet.

g. You must read each of these books for the exam.

D. Rewrite the following sentences using all of, most of, none of, both of or some of.

a. Your garden is superb. Most of the flowers are beautiful.

b. Do you know Bharat and Kamal? Of course, I do. Both of them are my friends.

c. I bought a box of apples thinking it would be cheaper but I was mistaken. All of them were rotten.

d. When I was in the town, I asked some people for direction but none of them were able to help me. I had to call my friend.

e. We all were soaked in the rain because none of us had carried an umbrella.

f. My father is healthy in his seventies but he feels isolated because all of his friends are dead now.

g. All of the tourists are not Chinese. Some of them are Korean too.

E. Choose the best word from the brackets to complete the sentences.

a. Give me the money I owe you. (which/the/a/an)

b. I want the boat which would take me to the island. (the/an/those/a)

c. Could you pour me some water, please? (many/few/these/some)

d. Only a few employees know how important the project was. (a few/a little/little/few)

e. He was looking for an umbrella. (an/a/those/these)

f. A large amount of water was evaporated due to excessive heat. (A large number of/ A lot of/ A large amount of/Many)

Technology Exercise : Question Answers and Grammar

Technology

Working with words

A. Choose the correct words from the box to complete the following sentences.

a. I think that covering up the facts is equivalent to lying really.

b. If there is not a substantial move to public transport, we will have deceleration and the whole regeneration will not work.

c. Each new leader would blame his predecessor for all the evils of the past.

d. We have, in fact, envisioned a better world and have made it happen.

e. The main linear actuators of the pneumatic systems are cylinders.

f. The barrel was short and the bullet emerged at subsonic speed.

g. The city is said to receive two-fifths of the total freight delivered in the country.

h. It would still take four hours to get down, in a spiral of gridlock.

i. Apparently, the magician will be doing some levitation on the stage tomorrow.

j. We might be experiencing some turbulence on this flight due to an approaching electrical storm.

B. Add three more words that are formed with the following prefixes.

a. hyper

hyperloop, hypersensitive, hyperlipidaemia, hyperinflation.

b. ultra

ultrahigh, ultralight, ultrashort, ultrabasic, ultrafiche.

c. up

uphill, Upwork, upside, uplift

d. over

overcoming, overwhelm, overdrunk, oversized

e. multi

multibillion, multinational, multicultural, multiply

Comprehension

Answer the following questions.

a. What is a hyperloop? How does it work?

Hyperloop is a planned train that would be capable of travelling at incredible speeds. It’s superfast because it’s enclosed in a tube with no air in it. As a result of the lack of air, there will be no friction to slow the train down.

b. How is hyperloop more beneficial than the traditional trains?

Hyperloop is much beneficial and superior than any traditional or a high-speed rail. It’s less expensive and uses less energy since the track doesn’t have to provide electricity to the pods constantly and because the pods may depart every 30 seconds, it’s more like a demand-based service.

c. Does hyperloop have a successful history? How?

No, it does not have a successful history since the original concept for hyperloop was to use waggons and pneumatic tubes to transport mail and parcels between buildings.

d. Write the contributions of Robert Goddard and Elon Musk for the development of hyperloop.

In order to provide ultra-fast intercity transport, Space X and Tesla founder Elon Musk created the hyperloop idea. In addition to automobiles, aircraft, boats, and trains, Elon envisions a “fifth mode” of transportation that utilises travel pods housed within steel tubes. He revived interest in the idea of hyperloop in August 2013 with his ‘Hyperloop Alpha’ paper.

The ‘vactrain’ idea, created by Robert Goddard in the early 20th century, is clearly a prototype of the hyperloop. Since then, a slew of similar concepts have been proposed.

e. What relation does speed have with air resistance? Explain.

More Air resistance decreases the speed of a moving body and vice versa. Since, Hyperloop will travel through the vacuum tubes, the speed will drastically increase as the result of no-air resistance.

f. What are hyperloop capsules compared with? How are they similar?

Because both Hyperloop and Boeing 747 accelerate at the same measure of acceleration, Hyperloop capsules are likened to Boeing 747.

g. How do the passengers feel while travelling via hyperloop? What will be done to make it luxurious?

On a hyperloop, the passengers feel approximately the same as riding a lift or a passenger aircraft. The cabin shows beautiful scenery and each passenger has access to his or her own private amusement systems, to let them have a easeful travel.

h. Why does the writer doubt about the success of hyperloop? What does the success depend on?

Hyperloop’s success will be determined on the destinations, the local economy, and the geographical location. The author has concerns regarding hyperloop’s viability because of the enormous multibillion-dollar expenditure and the fact that the projects are still in the pilot and experimental phases. In the past, Nikola Tesla and Elon Musk had already closed the same concept program, due to no response from government authorities.

Critical thinking

a. Is the hyperloop the future of transportation or just a dream? What do you think? Justify your opinion with suitable reasons.

Basically, Hyperloop is a conceptual transport system in which passengers are loaded into pods and fired through vacuum tubes all at a supersonic speed. Hyperloop isn’t just about speed; it also aims to be environmentally friendly.

The concept just like of Hyperloop is not new though. Pneumatic tubes for the parcel, mail, and money transfers found widespread acceptance in the 19th century and are still used at supermarkets, postal sorting stations, and banks today. Hyperloop’s concept resembles the pneumatic mail delivery systems. Even flying on the air seemed to be impossible on past days but now travelling via air is common for us. So no one can say that it’s not possible because everything which was a dream once, is reality now.

In conclusion, we can see that Hyperloop may become the future of transportation systems worldwide. If this becomes a reality, even though it is not expected for decades, there will be an immense impact on ordinary people’s lives. Apart from the convenience and the green impact, we can also hope for economic success.

However, despite the immense promise, new technologies take time, and will be a while until we can travel in a pod inside a sealed tube with a sound only as loud as a gentle ‘SWOOSH.’

b. The number of private vehicles is increasing day by day in Nepal beyond the capacity of our infrastructure. What do you think should be done to curb the ever-growing number of private vehicles? Discuss.

The number of private vehicles is increasing day by day in Nepal beyond the capacity of our infrastructure and is outpacing the country’s infrastructure. The number of Nepalese who own personal cars is steadily increasing. Despite the fact that it eases their day to day life, its causing great environmental loses. Private vehicles should be prohibited since their widespread usage degrades the environment and increases emissions of hazardous gases that will create major problems in the future. To control this critical situation some safety measures had to be taken.

The best approach is to discourage people from opting to buy cars. This can be effectively done by increasing toll fare for cars and by devising a system of progressive taxation on cars. The system can have an upper limit on the number of cars owned per family and the rate of tax on each car can be increased as the number of cars bought keep rising.

But these efforts would be meaningless unless they are accompanied by measures to encourage people to use public transport by revamping the dismal public transit system in Nepal. More buses need to ply during rush hour and the buses must be made more comfortable (by using better cushions, air conditioning, better suspension, etc…). Punctuality and reliability of public transport systems must be upheld. Cleanliness and hygiene must be kept in mind while maintaining bus and train stations.

The above approaches must be complemented with efforts to change the false notion the using public transport is contemptible. The best weapon to deal with this is to make public transport as dignified and pleasant as possible.

Grammar

B. Rewrite the following sentences with the correct form of the verbs in the brackets.

a. The invitation is for one person. I don’t mind whether you or she (come) to the party.

The invitation is for one person. I don’t mind whether you or she comes to the party.

b. Neither the MPs nor the Prime Minister (have) felt regret for the party split.

Neither the MPs nor the Prime Minister has felt regret for the party split.

c. I don’t care whether he or she (win) the lottery.

I don’t care whether he or she wins the lottery.

d. Either the Kantipur or the Republica (be) used for the advertisement.

Either the Kantipur or the Republica is used for the advertisement.

e. She speaks in a strange accent. Neither I nor my sister (understand) her.

She speaks in a strange accent. Neither I nor my sister understands her.

f. I forgot whether the singers or the actress (be) given the Film Fair Award last year.

I forgot whether the singers or the actress was given the Film Fair Award last year.

g. Neither the tracksuit nor the pajamas (fit) me perfectly.

Neither the tracksuit nor the pajamas fit me perfectly.

h. Neither the gas fire nor the electric heaters (be) suitable for room heating.

Neither the gas fire nor the electric heaters are suitable for room heating.

C. This passage contains the agreement errors. Correct the subjects or verbs that don’t agree with each other. Remember to use present tense in your corrections.

Corrected Passage:

Within the state of Arizona, Rob, along with his family, moves frequently from city to city. After his arrival, one of his first tasks was to find an apartment close to work, as he did not have a car. Usually, there are many different places to choose from, and he considers cost, location, and luxury. If one apartment has a washing machine and dryer and costs four hundred dollars a month, he prefers to rent it over another apartment which has significantly less rent and is located two blocks from a Laundromat. Rob’s family never wanted to live in an apartment on the thirteenth floor, since all of them fear heights. He also tried to choose an apartment with a landlord recommended by former tenants. Everybody knows that it is important to find a responsible landlord. Rob and his wife love to cook together when both are free, so they need a spacious, well-equipped kitchen. Rob often looks for a place with an air conditioner because there are so many scorching days and nights in Arizona. Whenever Rob finds a new apartment, all of his concerns disappear. He felt relieved and called his mother. Someone understands!

Education Exercise : Question Answers and Grammar

Education

Working with words

A. Match the words in column ‘A’ with their meanings in column ‘B’.

a. expectantly

in a way that shows you are hoping for something, especially something good or exciting

b. beckon

to give signal to somebody to move nearer or to follow you

c. grapple

to try hard to find a solution to a problem

d. texture

the way food or drink tastes or feels in your mouth

e. cobbled

having a surface that is made of small round stones

f. flimsy

thin and easily torn

g. attire

clothes, especially fine or formal ones

h. marvelous

extremely good; wonderful

i. dynamics

the science of the forces involved in movement

B. An autobiography is a story of a person’s life, written by himself/herself. Use a dictionary and find the meanings of the following words related to people’s life stories.

Hagiography

the writing of the lives of saints.

Psychobiography

a biographical study focusing on psychological factors, as childhood traumas and unconscious motives.

Pathography

the study of the life of an individual or the history of a community with regard to the influence of a particular disease or psychological disorder.

Chronicle

a factual written account of important or historical events in the order of their occurrence.

Obituary

a notice of a death, especially in a newspaper, typically including a brief biography of the deceased person.

Character sketch

a brief written description of a person’s qualities.

Profile

a short article giving a description of a person or organization.

Memoir

a historical account or biography written from personal knowledge.

Comprehension

A. Put the following events in the life of Abdul Kalam in a chronological order.

c. Abdul Kalam attended an elementary school at Rameswaram.

f. One day Abdul Kalam’s teacher visited them to share his pride and pleasure about his performance.

a. They celebrated happiness with poli.

g. A new teacher in the school forbade Abdul Kalam to sit together with his Bramhin friend.

e. Many students did not understand well of Sivasubramania Iyer’s lecture.

d. He then took the students to the seashore for a practical class.

b. Abdul Kalam was determined that he would make a future study about flight and flight systems.

B. Answer the following questions.

a. What were the causes of Abdul Kalam’s happiness?

The causes of Abdul Kalam’s happiness were his supportive father, loving mother, inspirational and motivational teachers at schools, his keen interest in mathematics and his labour and dedication to his study.

b. Which two places did Abdul Kalam visit before going to school?

Abdul Kalam visited to his Arabic tutoring class and his mathematics teacher’s home before heading to school.

c. What did he like about mathematics?

He liked to learn rules and principles of mathematics and solving complex number problems for hours.

d. Why was the new teacher unhappy?

The new teacher was unhappy because he saw that a Brahmin boy Ramanadhan Sastry and a Muslim boy Abdul Kalam sitting together in a same bench in the classroom.

e. Why did Abdul Kalam have to split with his intimate friend?

Abdul Kalam had to split with his intimate friend because of the discriminating behaviour of his new teacher in terms of religion in Rameswaram Elementary School.

f. What was the topic of Sivasubramania Iyer’s class?

The topic of Sivasubramania Iyer’s class was how the birds could fly in the sky.

g. How was the teacher’s reaction when the students told him that they did not understand his lecture?

Teacher didn’t become upset when the students told him that they didn’t understand his lecture.

h. Why did Sivasubramania Iyer take his students to the seashore?

Sivasubramania Iyer took his students to the seashore because he wanted to demonstrate the mechanism of bird flight to the students.

Critical Thinking

a. APJ Abdul Kalam became a renowned aerospace scientist in his later life. Do you find any association of his childhood days in shaping his career? Explain with specific instances from the text.

APJ (Avul Pakir Jainulabdeeni) Abdul Kalam is a well-known aerospace scientist of India. He became a famous aerospace scientist because he was inspired and motivated by the explanation of the flight dynamics of birds practically given by his teacher Sivasubramania lyer in his school. There is the great associations of his childhood days in shaping his career. He was a keen student of mathematics and always scored full marks in it. He also scored full marks in Science in his study time. Beside this he would take extra classes of mathematics at his teacher’s home. He kept himself always busy in solving complex number problems. The most impressing thing to him was the practical lecture of his teacher Sivasubramania lyer. He, along with his friends, was taken to the seashore of Rameswaram to have a practical demonstration on flight dynamics of the birds. The real teaching of his teacher had left him an influential remarks. He learnt how birds could fly using their wings and tails in a proper balance. When he learnt flight systems of the birds he was determined to study flight dynamics and following every steps suggested by his teacher, and hence he became an aerospace scientist.

b. Kalam mentions an instance of discrimination against him in his school life. What picture of society does he want to depict by mentioning the incident? Discuss.

In his memoir, he mentions a sad event of religious discrimination in his school. His new teacher showed his discriminating behaviour when he saw a Muslim boy (Abdul) and a Hindu boy (Rameswaram) sitting together in a same bench in the classroom. Rameswaram Sastry was an intimate friend of him belonging to Hindu community. Abdul was ignorant about the religious discrimination between Hindu and Muslim. During the time, there was extreme religious discrimination between Hindu and Muslim. The behaviour of the new teacher was a true picture of the then society. He could not digest the friendship between a Hindu boy and a Muslim boy, so he forbaded Abdul to sit close to his Brahmin friend. Abdul was totally upset by this behaviour. By this incident, Abdul wants to show the picture of the society that was parted between two sects – Hindu and Muslim. Few people denied such divisions, but most of the people, including educated people believed in partition.

Writing

Write a short autobiography featuring your childhood life using the following guidelines.

I was born in a small village of north – eastern part of Nepalgunj District. I’m from a middle class family. There are five members in my family including me. First of my respected Father who is tailor, then my lovely mother she is House wife. Other my family members are a eldest brother and a younger sister and both of them are studying too.

Since I’m a student, my daily routine focuses on studying and classes. I usually wake up at 6:00 am and do my daily routines like brushing my teeth, taking a shower and getting ready for class. After which I check my notes and revise for the day. My classes usually used to start by 8:00 am and ends by 1:00 pm. I used to attend classes regularly. After classes, I hang out with my friends for a while and go back home. I reach home and then usually take a nap till 4:30 pm. After taking a nap, I go out and play. I usually come back by 6 and have a bath. After which I get ready to study and by 9:00, I go to the bed.

I used to play a lot with my siblings. I remember very fondly the games we use to play. Especially, in the evenings, we used to go out in the park with our sports equipment. Each day we played different games, for example, football on one day and cricket on the other. These memories of playing in the park are very dear to me. Most importantly, I remember this instance very clearly when we went out for a picnic with my family. We paid a visit to the zoo and had an incredible day. My mother packed delectable dishes which we ate in the zoo. My father clicked so many pictures that day. When I look at these pictures, the memory is so clear, it seems like it happened just yesterday. Thus, my childhood memories are very dear to me and make me smile when I feel low.

Grammar

A. Study the following sentences and underline the connectives.

a. Although she spoke very fast, I understood what she meant to say.

b. In spite of her hard labour, she failed her exam.

c. Though he had all the required qualifications, he did not get the job.

d. Despite having all the qualifications, he did not get the job.

B. Join the following pairs of sentences twice, using although/though/even though and despite/in spite of as in the example.

a. He is a millionaire. He lives in a simple house.

– Although he is a millionaire, he lives in a simple house.

– Despite of being a millionaire, he lives in a simple house.

b. The weather was extremely bad. The pilot landed the plane safely.

– In spite of extremely bad weather, the pilot landed the plane safely.

– Although the weather was extremely bad, the pilot landed the plane safely.

c. We study in the same college. We hardly see each other.

– Despite studying in the same college, we hardly see each other.

– Although we study in the same college, we hardly see each other.

d. It rained heavily. We enjoyed our holiday.

– Although it rained heavily, we enjoyed our holiday.

– In spite of the heavy rain, we enjoyed our holiday.

e. I had an umbrella. I got wet in the rain.

– Despite having an umbrella, I got wet in the rain.

– Although I had an umbrella, I got wet in the rain.

f. I was really tired. I could not sleep for a moment.

– Although I was really tired, I could not sleep for a moment.

– I couldn’t sleep despite being very tired.

g. She has a very good accent in English. She failed the interview of a newsreader.

– Despite having a very good accent in English, she failed the interview of a newsreader.

– Although she has a very good accent in English, she failed the interview of a newsreader.

h. Lhasa has extremely cold weather in winter. Millions of tourists go there in January.

– Millions of tourists go to Lhasa in January, even though it has extremely cold weather in winter.

– Despite having extremely cold weather in winter, millions of tourists go to Lhasa in January.

i. He was badly injured in the first round of the boxing match. He was victorious in the third round.

– In spite of being badly injured in the first round of the boxing match, he was victorious in the third round.

– Although he was badly injured in the first round of the boxing match, he was victorious in the third round.

C. Complete each sentence in an appropriate way.

a. He passed the exam although he hadn’t prepared well.

b. She climbed the mountain in spite of her leg injury.

c. He did not give any alms to the beggars even though he earned a lot.

d. In spite of his poor eyesight, he is conducting online courses.

e She does not go to parties, though she is very sociable.

f. He could not pass the test, in spite of his ten attempts.

g. He refused to eat anything despite having an appetite.

h. He could not score goods grades in the SEE exams in spite of his hard with private coaching.

i. She accepted the job although she couldn’t meet her salary expectation.

j. Even though we had planned everything carefully, we could not complete our mission.

Money and Economy Exercise : Question Answers and Grammar

Money And Economy

Working with words

A. Match the words in column ‘A’ with their meanings in column ‘B’.

a. prominent

vi. standing out so as to be seen easily, conspicuous

b. vulnerable

iv. exposed to the possibility of being attacked / harmed

c. potentially

viii. with the capacity to develop or happen in the future

d. transaction

i. an instance of buying or selling of something

e. initiatives

ii. the power or opportunity to do something before others do

f. launched

iii. to introduce a new plan or product

g. enduring

ix. lasting over a period of time; durable

h. robust

v. strong and unlikely to break or fall

B. There are different abbreviations used in the text. With the help of the internet, find their full forms.

QR : Quick Response

ISO : International Organization for Standardization

IEC : International Electrotechnical Commission

URLs : Uniform Resource Locators

EMVCo : Europay, Mastercard, and Visa Company

PIN : Personal Identification Number

C. Pronounce the following words and identify the vowel sounds /ʊ/ and /u:/. You can take help from a dictionary.

/ʊ/

put, push, hood, full, bull, book, foot, look, hook, cook, should, soot, stood

/u:/

boom, fool, food, loose, boost, groom, moon, soon, room, soothe,

Comprehension

A. Decide whether these statements are True or False. Write NOT GIVEN if you do not find the information.

a. The system of QR codes was first launched in South Asia. True

b. The standards of payments via the QR codes were approved by EMVCo. True

c. All sorts of businesses are aided by the QR code payments. False

d. There are several models to the QR code payment service. True

e. In countries like Nepal, the QR code paying system is a complete fiasco. False

f. The QR codes payment service is not applicable to small business. False

B. Answer the following questions.

a. How can one pay with QR codes paying system?

One can pay with QR codes paying system either by presenting a QR code for scanning to the merchant, or by scanning at the merchant’s QR code.

b. How did Tencent and Alibaba companies utilise the QR code services at the beginning?

At the beginning, Tencent utilized the QR code services in its social media WeChat for friending and Alibaba utilized to facilate Alipay payment services.

c. How do the QR code based payment services launched by Visa and Mastercard mitigate payment problems?

The QR code based payment services launched by Visa and Mastercard mitigate payment problems by linking QR code payments to debit and credit card accounts.

d. Why do we need a scheme operator to run the QR code based payment system?

We need a scheme operator for scheme branding at acceptance points, defining the scheme rules and providing a mechanism for handling disputes and exceptions.

e. What basic requirements are needed to use the QR codes services?

A suitable, secured scheme operator is required to use the QR code services.

f. How can security concerns related to payment via QR codes be addressed?

Security concerns related to payment via QR codes can be addressed by the use of merchant IDs, registration and real-time notification of payment.

g. Who should be more careful: customer or the merchant in terms of payment issues? Why?

A customer should be more careful in terms of payment issues because it would be better to stop the fraud happening in the first place rather than trying to correct it later by the merchant.

h. Do you think the QR code based payment can be a panacea for all sorts of payment problems? Why?

Yes, I think the QR code based payment can be a panacea for all sorts of payment problems because it is fast, secure and easy to create.

Critical thinking

a. Some business houses, shops and department stores in city areas have started to adopt QR code payment systems in Nepal, too. What should be done to make it more accessible? Discuss.

The Covid-19 pandemic has immensely boosted the Scan and Pay service through the QR code in Nepal too. People being concerned with their hygiene are supporting the contactless payment system. Evolving digital payment service providers like Fonepay, IMEPay, Khalti, QPay, and SmartQR also encourage QR code payment by offering their users Scan and Pay services.

QR code payment systems can play an impactful role in changing informal sectors into the formal economy. However, Nepal needs to tackle challenges in many infrastructural and behavioural traits before reaching the full potential of e-payment. The lack of interoperability is another major issue for a stable digital payment service. Rapid growth in several PSOs and PSPs may result in an imbalance in the ecosystem of the digital economy. To avoid this hurdle, a unified payment switch is necessary.

QR code payment can be a vital factor in uplifting Nepal’s digital economy. The government giving more priority to digital payment systems and the central bank to promote this system can be a head start for QR code payment.

Mass awareness campaigns and promotional events can also influence this transition. Infrastructural development like high-speed internet connection and wider user accessibility must be considered. Payment service providers, payment service operators, bank and financial institutes, and traders should work together to bring interoperability to their digital payment services.

b. The payments landscape is shifting gears from cash to digital mode. Digital payment brings ease and convenience to the consumer. Is it possible to apply such cashless methods in payments in Nepal? Discuss.

It’s hard but not impossible to apply Digital payment system in Nepal. Nepal needs to tackle challenges in many infrastructural and behavioural traits before reaching the full potential of e-payment. The number of internet users is impressively growing but still not enough to process an established digital economy.

QR code payment systems can play an impactful role in changing informal sectors into the formal economy. The government giving more priority to digital payment systems and the central bank to promote this system can be a head start for QR code payment.

Mass awareness campaigns and promotional events can also influence this transition. Infrastructural development like high-speed internet connection and wider user accessibility must be considered. Payment service providers, payment service operators, bank and financial institutes, and traders should work together to bring interoperability to their digital payment services.

The ultimate goal should be offering a one-stop solution for the consumers to access all sorts of e-payment services, including QR code payment.

Writing

A. Punctuate this paragraph with appropriate punctuation marks.

It was a cold freezing day, it had been snowing all day in New York. Mr. Tim cooked and I went outside to play in the snow. We had not seen much snow since we went skiing in Sweden last year. Mrs. Smith was right because she had said that we’d see snow. The next day we had really a wonderful time there, didn’t we?

B. Write a news article about digital payment systems in Nepal.

Digital Payment Systems in Nepal

Digital payment is gaining momentum due to social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic. The evolution of digital payment platforms and increasing consumers’ preference towards e-payment secures a bright future for online payment in Nepal.

What is Digital Payment?

Digital Payment is definitely growing in popularity and is becoming a trend these days. The reason is simple – convenience. In the era when businesses are shifting online, why not transactions!

Major Use of Digital Payment System in Nepal

You can find QR codes in various good and service sectors like departmental stores and small shops, and many banks and financial institutes (BFIs). You can make payments in supermarkets via a QR code scanner using a digital wallet. Local vendors and shops are also using QR codes for quick payment. Fruits and vegetable markets also feature digital payments for grocery shopping.

According to a report by the Nepal Rastra Bank, the number of digital transactions from mid-December 2020 to mid-January 2021 was 372,176. Similarly, the transactional amount was Rs 1.245 billion. The next month, the number of transactions increased to 535,790 and the amount to Rs 1.712 billion, suggesting a clear rise in the use of digital payment.

Future and Challenges

Switching to any e-payment services like QR code will be a long-running process. PSOs like eSewa have been offering QR payment services without charging any additional fee during transactions to encourage such platforms. This generation has access to different media that can raise awareness of digital payment significance, so the numbers of users is expected to grow in the future rapidly but still not enough to process an established digital economy. The lack of interoperability is another major issue for a stable digital payment service.

Conclusion

QR code payment can be a vital factor in uplifting Nepal’s digital economy. The government giving more priority to digital payment systems and the central bank to promote this system can be a head start for QR code payment. The ultimate goal should be offering a one-stop solution for the consumers to access all sorts of e-payment services, including QR code payment.

Grammar

A. Look at the following questions and say what type of questions they are.

a. Do you like this country?

Yes/No Question

b. Where is she from?

Wh Question

c. How many eggs do we need for this cake?

Wh Question

d. Whose children are playing in the yard?

Wh Question

e. Does she like ice cream or sweets?

Choice Question

f. She sent him an invitation, didn’t she?

Tag Question

g. Could you tell me if the doctor is available?

Indirect Question

h. Do you know how tall they are?

Yes/No Question

B. Choose the correct words from the box to complete the sentences.

a. Is your friend a scientist? – No, he’s an artist.

b. Does Naresh live in Kathmandu? – No, he lives in Pokhara.

c. When did you get home? – I got home yesterday.

d. What time do you get up? – I get up at 6:00.

e. Did the children go to the part? – Yes, they went there after school.

f. Are you going to school? – No, I’m going home.

g. Can you speak Chinese? – Just a little.

h. Where did you grow up? – I grew up in Okhaldhunga.

C. Make wh-questions so that the words in bold become the answer.

a. Romeo loves Juliet.

Whom does Romeo love?

b. My mother made a delicious bread yesterday.

What did your mother make yesterday?

c. The music was composed by Narayan Gopal.

Who composed the music?

d. I’m looking for a new book.

What are you looking for?

e. They were talking about the new movie.

What were they talking about?

f. She got the idea from a story.

Where did she get the idea?

g. She always goes to school on foot.

How does she go to school?

h. She sometimes goes to the cinema.

How often does she go to the cinema?

i. They have been waiting for three years.

How long have they been waiting for?

D. Change these indirect questions into direct ones.

a. Could you tell me where the Market Street is?

Where is Market Street?

b. I’m longing to know what time the bank opens.

What time does the bank open?

c. Do you have any idea how he’s managed to get in shape so quickly?

How has he managed to get in shape so quickly?

d. I’d like to know how much this motorcycle costs these days.

How much does this motorcycle cost these days?

e. Did you notice if he had left the car in the park?

Had he left the car in the park?

f. Have you found out if the train has left?

Has the train left?

g. I was wondering if they speak English well.

Could they speak English well?

h. Would you tell us how we can get to the post office from here?

How can we get to the post office from here?

i. Do you remember if I locked the front door?

Did I lock the front door?

Humour Exercise : Question Answers and Grammar

Humour

Working with words

A. The following words are synonyms and antonyms of the verb ‘laugh’. Group them into synonyms and antonyms.

Synonyms

chuckle, giggle, chortle, crackle, snicker, groan, smirk, whoop

Antonyms

grin, sob, grimace, frown, pout, scowl, cry, moan

B. Match the following emotions with their definitons.

a. fear

an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain or harm

b. anger

a strong feeling of displeasure

c. surprise

an unexpected event, fact, etc.

d. disgust

a feeling of strong disapproval aroused by something unpleasant

e. sadness

affected with grief or unhappiness

f. happiness

a pleasurable or satisfying experience

g. relief

removal or lightening of something oppressive, painful, or distressing

h. triumph

a great victory or achievement

i. contentment

the quality or state of being satisfied 

Comprehension

A. Complete the following sentences with words/ phrases from the text.

a. According to Sophie Scott, laughter is one of the important and misunderstood behaviours.

b. After her study in Namibia, Scott came to the realization that laughter is one of our richest vocal tics.

c. Studies have shown that there are six universal emotions across cultures based on facial expressions.

d. Scott found out that most of the laughs have nothing to do with humour.

e. The couples who laugh at each other are likely to stay together for longer.

f. The primary way of communication of grown up people is laughing.

g. Comedians usually find it easier to work in larger places due to the contagious nature of laughter.

B. Answer the following questions.

a. Why do people giggle at someone’s pain or suffering?

People giggle at someone’s pain or suffering because giggling through someone’s pain or suffering is a way of convincing yourself (and therefore others) that you’re alright, or at least on our way to being alright.

b. What did Scott’s study in Namibia come up with?

Scott’s study in Namibia came up with the realization that laughter is one of our richest vocal ties.

c. How is laughter a social bonding?

Laughter is a social bonding because it is an emotion that brings us together and helps us to bond, whether or not something is actually funny.

d. According to the author, what role does laughter play in husband-wife relationship?

According to the author, laughter makes the husband-wife relationship stronger and long-lasting by making it easier to dissipate tension after a stressful event.

e. How does laughter work as a painkiller?

Laughter correlates with increased pain threshold, and by encouraging the release of endorphins, it works as a painkiller.

f. What did the study find about the relation between laughter and brain?

The study about the relation between laughter and brain found that the brain responds to each kind of laughter and both seem to tickle the brain’s mirror regions – the areas that tend to mimic other’s actions.

g. What are two emotions that the author associates with infants and adults?

Crying and laughter are two emotions that the author associates with infants and adults.

h. How does a stand-up comedian take the audience’s laughter?

A stand-up comedian takes the audience’s laughter by interacting with them, taking the advantage of contagious nature of laughter and reducing the audience to fits of hysterics.

i. Show the relation between laughter and crowd.

The relation between laughter and crowd is that laughter is contagious in crowd means that it can easily catch a wave when there are more people in crowd.

j. What does the author mean when he says “there is always a meaning to it?”

When author says “there is always a meaning to it” he means that laughter is never neutral and always have a meaning although it seems to be trivial, ephemeral and pointless.

Critical thinking

a. Do you agree that ‘the couples, who laugh together, stay together?’ Is it important for married couples to have the same sense of humour? Why?

Yes, I agree with the statement that “the couples, who laugh together, stay together.” A sense of humour is an attractive trait. There is abundant cross cultural evidence that shows that being funny makes you more desirable as a mate. Simply having a funny bond doesn’t mean you two are the perfect match – apparently being able to laugh at the same things makes your partnership even stronger. A good sense of humour makes a person more attractive. Laughter is called the best medicine not without a reason, and this holds true for couples who might be going through stressful times. Studies have proved time and again how laughter helps release feel-good hormones that help to relieve stress. So, it’s important for married couples to share good laughter and have the same sense of humour whenever they find themselves bogged down by trouble.

b. Some people believe that sometimes crying is good for health. Do you believe it? Give your reasons.

Crying is a natural response humans have to a range of emotions, including sadness, grief, joy, and frustration. Yes I believe that crying is good for health. Medical benefits of crying have been known as far back as the Classical era. Thinkers and physicians of ancient Greece and Rome posited that tears work like a purgative, draining off and purifying us. Today’s psychological thought largely concurs, emphasizing the role of crying as a mechanism that allows us to release stress and emotional pain. When we cry, we let out tons of emotions that allow our body and mind to reboot after you release all those emotions. Crying is particularly important during periods of grieving. It may even help to process and accept the loss of a loved one. People often report feeling better after they cry. That could be because crying forces us to pay attention to what triggered us and work through our emotions and thoughts. Crying might also help in understanding what’s important to us, especially if we cry over something that upset us unexpectedly. By this we can say that crying is an essential form of relief and hence it is good for health too.

Writing

B. Write a description of your favourite comedian explaining his/her personality, acting, performance and uniqueness.

Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the silent era. He is mostly famous for his screen persona “the tramp”. Born on April 16, 1889 in London, Chaplin is considered one of the most important figures in the history of the film industry. He had been a productive and creative film maker for about 75 years before he died in 1977.

Chaplin suffered from poverty and hardship in his childhood. He was sent to a workhouse twice before the age of nine. His mother struggled financially when his father was absent. When he was 14, his mother was sent to a mental asylum.

Chaplin’s first performances were at music halls as a stage actor and comedian at the age of 19. He went to the USA where he was scouted for the film industry, and began appearing in 1914 for Keystone Studios. He soon developed the Tramp persona and formed a large fan base. Chaplin directed his own films from an early stage, and continued to hone his craft. By 1918, he was one of the best known figures in the film industry.

Chaplin wrote, directed, produced, edited, starred in, and composed the music for most of his films. He was a perfectionist, and his financial independence enabled him to spend years on the development and production of a picture. 

Grammar

B. Put the frequency adverbs in appropriate place and rewrite the following sentences.

a. I forget to do my homework. (sometimes)

Sometimes I forget to do my homework.

b. My father has touched an alcoholic drink in his life. (never)

My father has never touched an alcoholic drink in his life.

c. My father goes for a walk on Saturdays. (often)

My father often goes for a walk on Saturdays.

d. We go to the movie theatre. (occasionally)

We occasionally go to the movie theatre.

e. My brother is in America. He telephones us. (from time to time)

My brother is in America. He telephones us from time to time.

f. My mother gets up at five o’clock. (always)

My mother always gets up at five o’clock.

g. He does not like alcoholic drinks but takes some wine. (now and then)

He does not like alcoholic drinks but now and then takes some wine.

h. I drink my tea with milk. (generally)

Generally, I drink my tea with milk.

i. Have you been to Agra? (ever)

Have you ever been to Agra?

j. The restaurant hours vary as it is booked for special events. (frequently)

The restaurant hours vary frequently as it is booked for special events.

Human Culture Exercise : Question Answers and Grammar

Human Culture

Working with words

A. Complete the given sentences with the suitable words from the box.

a. The annual report has caused acute embarrassment to the government.

b. Ellen has worn high-heels. She is teetering.

c. Look! The poor horse is dragging a heavy load.

d. As they approached the outskirts of the city, Ella’s mood visibly lightened.

e. The parcel was wrapped in plain brown paper. It still looks attractive.

f. Fruits and vegetables grow in abundance in the Terai region.

g. They can abstract precious medicines from ordinary substances.

C. Add suitable suffix to the root words given and write the parts of speech of each newly formed word.

D. Look for the following words related to waste management in an English dictionary. Make sentences of your own using them.

Sewage

Sewage often pollutes the ocean.

Sludge

A lot of sludge was scooped out of the base of the river.

Organic waste

Oxygen is required for efficient decomposition of the organic wastes.

Inorganic waste

The inorganic waste is being processed in a new government-owned plant.

Methane

The ignition of methane gas killed eight men.

Waste reduction

The government should focus on waste reduction for pollution free environment.

Monofil

It was caught in a monofilament gill in about 60 feet of water.

Market waste

Proper recycling and management of market waste should be everyone’s first priority.

Incineration

The government is proposing to incinerate cattle carcasses at 22 sites.

Hazardous waste

Regular CFLs are categorized as household hazardous waste.

Comprehension

Answer the following questions.

a. How does the author describe the Japanese waste management system?

The author describes the Japanese waste management system saying that three nights a week, the residents of his neighborhood deposit their household trash at specified areas on the street corners, wrapped in neat bundles, like gifts, and it disappears at dawn.

b. What are the two reasons behind the existence of sodaigomi in Japanese culture?

The two reasons behind the existence of sodaigomi in Japanese culture are: one is the small size of the typical Japanese house and another is the Japanese desire for freshness and purity.

c What, according to the author, do the Japanese feel at the thought of buying second hand items?

According to the author, the Japanese feel embarrassment at the thought of buying second hand items.

d. How is Malaysian culture different from Japanese culture concerning the used items?

In Malaysian culture no one throws anything away whereas in Japanese culture heaps of clean, new-looking merchandise are thrown on the street. Several customer bids enthusiastically for second handed small to small things in Malaysia whereas shoppers seem to feel embarrassment at the thought of buying second hand items in Japan.

e. Why did the author feel awkward at the sodaigomi pile?

The author felt awkward at the sodaigomi pile because he never believed that everything looing perfectly clean, whole, and serviceable is thrown out in Japanese culture.

f. How many articles did the author bring to his house one after another?

The author laid in as many provisions as he decently could. At first he grabbed an ordinary low Japanese tea table. He then brought a shiny new bell for one son’s bicycle, a small but attractive wooden cupboard, a complete set of wrenches and screwdrivers in a metal toolbox, a Naugahyde-covered barstool and a lacquer serving tray.

g. Why do most people try to find things in trash pile ‘in the dead of the night’?

Most people try to find things in trash pile ‘in the dead of the night’ because everyone can pretend not to notice and they can bring no shame upon their kind.

h. How did the author’s family assimilate Japanese culture in using consumer goods?

The author’s family assimilated Japanese culture in using consumer goods by operating in the dead of night to collect the essential materials or goods thrown out in the sodaigomi pile.

Critical thinking

a. If you happen to be in Japan someday, will you collect articles from sodaigomi? Why or why not?

Yes, I would have collected articles from sodaigomi if I happen to be in Japan someday. I live in the country where people only buy the new things after it gets old, damaged and unable to function properly. So, living in Japanese culture, following the sodaigomi tradition is not of my kind. It is painful to go from the world to one in which we didn’t have any household goods, couldn’t bring ourselves to buy the overpriced new ones in the store – and then saw heaps of clean, new-looking merchandise just sitting on the street. By picking up items form sodaigomi, I would save a lot of money and would live a good life. So, definitely I will collect articles from sodaigomi instead of going for the new one.

b. There are some second hand shops in Nepal, too. But, people are not much interested in them. What practice would be suitable in managing second hand items in Nepal?

Some consumers love buying and selling second-hand items due to cost-effectiveness, as well as ethical and environmental benefits. But many of the peoples if Nepal are not much interested in them. So to encourage second hand shopping in Nepal following things should be considered.

1. Second hand shops should partner with the brands that sell well, and provide assistance for consignors on what products and what brands are best to consign with.

2. A realistic price should be kept by starting with the original value of the newly manufactured item, and then reducing it in accordance with wear and tear and extent of usage.

3. Providing additional support, such as offering consignment consultations with advice on pricing, photographing, and shipping items can encourage more people to buy and sell on these shops.

4. Second hand stores have vibrant social media followings and it should work toward getting out to as many people as possible. 

Writing

A. Write a paragraph elaborating the idea of 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle) in garbage management.

3Rs – Reduce, Reuse & Recycle

The principle of reducing waste, reusing and recycling resources and products is often called the “3Rs.” Basically, it is a sequence of steps on how to manage waste properly. Reducing means choosing to use things with care to reduce the amount of waste generated. Reusing involves the repeated use of items or parts of items which still have usable aspects. Recycling means the use of waste itself as resources. The three R’s all help to cut down on the amount of garbage we throw away. They conserve natural resources, landfill space and energy. Plus, the three R’s save land and money communities must use to dispose of waste in landfills. Siting a new landfill has become difficult and more expensive due to environmental regulations and public opposition.

B. Garbage management is a big problem in most of the cities in Nepal. Write a letter to the editor to be published in the daily newspaper suggesting the ways of ‘Solving Garbage Problems.’

12/24 Amritnagar Tole,

Kalanki, Kathmandu

26th Jan, 2021

To the Editor,

The Kathmandu Post

Sub : Regarding the news coverage about ‘Solving Garbage Problems’.

Dear Sir,

I would be grateful if you allow a little space in your widely circulated and popular newspaper. In order to draw the attention of the general public as well as the concerning authority of the government to the problem of garbage management in most of the cities in Nepal, I am writing you this. We know that we have a serious garbage problem. It is clear that there will be no value from waste, as energy or material, if it is not segregated. But this is where our waste management system stops short.

The problem of waste is something that needs to be handled on a smaller scale and aggregated to solve the bigger problem. Waste-pickers already contribute greatly to solving this problem. We need to tap into their capacity. An IT platform like I Got Garbage can build business models for wastepickers. Instead of picking and dumping garbage from each house, the government can provide subsidy and give every home a composter. Landfill sites can never be a solution to solid waste in cities as it is an outdated idea. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle are the most common methods to reduce landfill waste. 80 percent of organic waste littering the streets can be used if the government cooperates with pig farmers in the respective cities. I wonder why the authorities are not adopting this method. As long as governments try cleaning the city by doing the same things they always did and say they will do it better this time, the city won’t become cleaner. We need something dramatically different.

I hope the concerning authorities will make appropriate steps immediately.

Looking forward to seeing an article in this regard in your upcoming publication.

Faithfully yours,

Subarna P.

Grammar

B. Use the words from the brackets to complete the sentences.

a. This house is very small. I want to buy a much bigger one. (much / big)

b. I liked the magic show. It was far more exciting than I’d expected. (far / exciting)

c. It was very cold yesterday. It’s a bit warmer today. (a bit / warm)

d. The warmer the weather the better I feel. (good)

e. An average American earns considerably higher than an average Nepali. (considerably / high)

f. Health care in Nepal is not as expensive as it is in the US. (expensive)

g. I think the problem is far more complicated than it seems. (far / complicated)

h. You are driving very fast. Would you please drive a bit slowly? (a bit/ slowly)

i. Your handwriting is not legible. Can you write a bit neat? (a bit/ neat)

C. Rewrite the following sentences with the sentence beginnings given below.

a. Kabir is less intelligent than he pretends. He is not as intelligent as he pretends.

b. I am busy today but I was busier yesterday. I’m not as busier as I was yesterday.

c. Hari has lived in Kathmandu for 10 years but Bikram for 20 years. Bikram has lived in Kathmandu 10 years more than Hari.

d. I used to study 12 hours a day but nowadays I study only 5 hours a day. I don’t study as much as I used to do.

e. It’s a very good room in our hotel. In fact, it’s the best compared to other.

f. He earns 30 thousand rupees a month but spends 40 thousand. He spends more than he earns.

g. There is no other mountain higher than Mt. Everest in the world. Mt. Everest is the highest mountain in the world.

h. The place was nearer than I thought. It was not as far as I thought.

i. Bharat can play better than Mohan. Mohan can’t play as good as Bharat.

Ecology and Environment Exercise : Question Answers and Grammar

Ecology And Environment

Working with words

A. The words/phrases in the box are from the text. Check their meanings in a dictionary and use these words to complete the given sentences.

a. Logging is one of the main reasons behind the rapid deforestation in the world.

b. That’s one example of how the pandemic should be a wake-up call.

c. Propane is a gas used as a fuel for cooking and heating.

d. Emergency teams are still clearing the debris from the plane crash.

e. What a transformation! You look great.

f. My father made a New Year resolution to give up smoking.

g. He has worked in the Army for two years. He hates that two-year detrimental.

h. Emissions from the factory are widely suspected of having a/an stint effect on health.

i. My father is an occasional smoker. He doesn’t smoke often.

j. Redwood is a very tall type of tree that grows especially in California and Oregan.

B. Choose one word from each box to make sensible compound words.

Rattle : Rattlesnake

Sun : Sunflower

Touch : Touchdown

Moon : Moonlight

Day : Daydream

Fire : Fireworks

Water : Watermelon

Basket : Basketball

Pass : Passport

Wash : Washcloth

Weather : Weatherman

Grand : Grandmother

Cross : Crosswalk

C. Match the following words/phrases related to the ecology with their meanings.

Sustainability

to keep in existence; maintain. To supply with necessities or nourishment

Tree line

the height on a mountain above which the climate is too cold for trees to grow

Precipitation

water that returns to the earth as rain, hail, sleet, or snow

Tropical Zone

the region between latitudes 23.5 degrees S and 23.5 degrees N

Kyoto Protocol

an agreement between countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. It was established in Japan in 1997 but didn’t become international law until 2004

Pollutants

substances that destroy the purity of air, water, or land

Geosphere

the soils, sediments, and rock layers of the Earth’s crust, both continental and beneath the ocean floors

Deciduous

a plant that sheds all or nearly all its leaves each year

Ephemeral

an organism that has a short life cycle

Trash

items that are discarded

Comprehension

A. Choose the best answer.

a. The author of the text above has the opinion that Julia Hill made her pastime in a tree for two years more.

b. The sentence ‘Julia had occasional visitors’ indicates she had a few visitors now and then.

c. The logging company managed 24 hour security service around the tree to discourage her from her campaign.

d. Ms. Hill began to respond the loggers with songs and conventional conversations because she had unconditional love for all nature’s creations.

e. Julia Hill climbed down the tree after 738 days when her demands were about to be fulfilled.

B. Answer the following questions.

a. Who was Julia Butterfly Hill? How did Hill’s campaign gain popularity?

Julia Butter Jill was a person who lived in a 200-ft-tall redwood tree for more than two years to draw attention to the continued clearcutting of California’s remaining redwood forests. Her campaign gained popularity when she started to have occasional visitors.

b. What made Hill start her mega campaign to save redwood trees?

When she arrived in the redwood forest, she was gripped by the spirit of the forest. She dropped to her knees and began to sob seeing the clearcutting of redwood trees. She sat and cried for a long time and finally decided to start her mega campaign to save redwood trees.

c. What kinds of amenities were there to support Hill’s life in the tree?

Hill had a sleeping bag, a solar-powered cell phone for media interviews, and a single-burner propane stove to cook and heat water to support her life in the tree. She had few necessities, and no luxuries.

d. Did Hill’s value of life change after her car accident? How?

Yes, Hill’s value of life changed after her car accident. She said the experience was a wake-up call. Before accident her main focus had been work but later on she became clear that value as people is not in their stock portfolios and bank accounts, but it is in the legacies they leave behind.

e. Deforestation causes natural calamities. What evidence do you have in the text to prove this?

Yes it’s true that deforestation causes natural calamities. In the text we can see that the cutting of redwoods destabilized the hillside and caused the mudslide which carried trees, stumps and debris from that hillside down into the town, leaving seven families without homes.

f. How did the logging company try to discourage Hill in the early days of her sit-in?

The logging company tried to discourage Hill in the early days of her sit-in by hiring 24-hour security guards to harass her and to ensure her support team couldn’t deliver her supplies. She was menaced with a helicopter at a dangerously close range. A neighboring tree was felled, hitting Luna’s outer branches and nearly causing Hill to fall. She was verbally abused, threatened with violence, rape and death, kept awake with floodlights, and bugles and air horns were blown through the night.

g. How were the vagaries of nature unwelcoming to Hill?

The logging company wasn’t her only problem. One of her scariest times was a 16-hour, 70-mph windstorm that shredded the tarps that surrounded her, and even ripped huge branches off the tree. When lightning struck nearby during an electrical storm, her hair stood straight up. In this way the vagaries of nature were unwelcoming to Hill.

h. What is the purpose of the author to write a review on Hill’s book? Do you think the author stands for ecological sustainability? Give reasons.

The purpose of the author to write a review on Hill’s book is to bring a spotlight to the issue of deforestation. He wants people to learn about the deforestation and its ill effects through his review and make people know about what a person should do to prevent from this should. Yes I think the author stands for ecological sustainability.

Writing

A. Write a review of a book/film which you have read/watched recently.

The Time Machine

1. Title of the Book: The Time Machine

2. Author of the Book: H.G. Wells

3. Country: United Kingdom

4. Language: English

5. First originally published by: William Heinemann, London in 1895.

6. Genre: Science Fiction Novel

7. Cost of the Book: Rs. 300

8. Name of the Publisher: Dover Publications

9. Edition and year of Copyright: April 3, 1995

10. No. of pages: 80

11. Writing style: Narrative

12. Characters: The Narrator-Hillyer, Eloi, Morlocks, Weena

13. Plot: The story follows a Victorian scientist, who claims that he has invented a device that enables him to travel through time, and has visited the future, arriving in the year 802,701 in what had once been London. The narrator recounts the Traveler’s lecture to his weekly dinner guests that time is simply the fourth dimension and demonstrates a tabletop model machine for travelling through the fourth dimension. He reveals that he has built a machine capable of carrying a person through time and returns at dinner the following week to recount a remarkable tale, becoming the new narrator.

14. Summary: A group of men, including the narrator, is listening to the Time Traveler discussing his theory that time is the fourth dimension. The Time Traveler produces a miniature time machine and makes it disappear into thin air. The next week, the guests return, to find their host stumble in, looking disheveled and tired. They sit down after dinner, and the Time Traveler begins his story.

15. My Impressions: The time traveler’s machine is described in such sketchy terms that it can scarcely be believed as an instrument of science, and the time traveler’s account is similarly sketchy and bizarre. The very nature of time travel means that he’s away for only a short period of time, and the only “proof” of his travels is a crunched up flower. And given that the narrative is told in a twice-removed manner, the reader can’t help but wonder whether any of the novels is true at all. Did the time traveler truly engage in such chronological shenanigans, and did he experience what he claims? Or is he simply using an imagined future to provide a warning about the current state of society? But the reality is that neither the truth nor the journey matters: it’s only the outcome.

B. Your school is going to organize a speech competition on coming Friday. The subject of the speech is “Let’s save the trees and protect our environment.” Draft a speech using the following prompts.

Let’s Save the Trees and Protect Our Environment

Good morning everyone, thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak on such an important topic Let’s Save the Trees and Protect Our Environment. When one thinks of the most important element to survive the answer that always comes to our mind is air. Air is important for all living beings be it animals or humans. The trees which occupy 32% of the earth’s surface provide us with this air.

The trees of the planet act as the lungs in our body and purify the air we breathe. It is due to the existence of trees we inhale fresh air. As trees inhale carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen which serves as the important life source of all living beings. The more trees the planet has the fresher and purer the air we breathe.

Man’s attempt to outlive nature is costing us an unfortunate price. This drive for civilization and modernization is harming the environment and therefore the planet to an irreversible extent. When man violates nature the planet suffers and we have to bear the harmful consequences. Let’s understand how.

The road to civilization is more often through the way by destroying natural resources.

Man views trees as roadblocks in modernization, that is they see it as it comes in the way of building more buildings and roads. So they tend to deforestation, which is an act of cutting down trees. When trees are cut they build more homes and offices in the land.

Deforestation leads to many unnatural things that disrupt the balance of nature. Due to deforestation, air pollution increases, and global warming rises. Animals lose their home and shelter, the quality of the soil where deforestation is practiced deteriorates due to the untimely removal of roots of trees leading to soil erosion.

As their population is only increasing, it is imperative to have more trees so that the next generation lives breathing fresh air. If deforestation continues the planet will not be able to inhabit future generations because of the imbalance it experiences.

The best way to solve this problem is by avoiding deforestation and moving towards afforestation that is planting trees. We should all strive to save our home which is the planet. Even planting one tree can save so many lives.

It is high time that we take action and protect the environment which nourishes all living and breathing creatures. When saving trees they save lives and inevitably save the planet. Saving trees and protecting environment is the motto we should all live by. Let’s leave behind a green planet for the next generation. Spread the word and take action to save trees and in that way, we can protect the environment.

Thanks for the patient hearing!

Grammar

B. Someone says something to you which contradicts to what they told you earlier. Match the beginnings of the conversations with the correct endings.

a. I’m going to Pokhara on holiday.

You said you were going on business.

b. He’s a lawyer.

You told me he was a teacher.

c. She’s had a baby girl.

You said she’d had a boy.

d. I haven’t seen Binesh for ages.

You told me you’d seen him previous week.

e. I love these new boots.

You said you hated them.

f. I only cheated in one exam.

You admitted you cheated in all your exams.

g. She doesn’t speak Hindi or Chinese.

You told me she was fluent in both.

h. He works in Kathmandu.

You told me his office was in Biratnagar.

C. Rewrite the following sentences with the sentence beginnings given below.

a. The principal said, “You can phone from my office, Rita.”

The principal said that she could phone from his office.

b. “You must not neglect your duty,” said the teacher to the student.

The teacher told the student that he/she must not neglect his/her duty.

c. The student said, “Sir, please, grant me a leave for two days.”

The student requested to grant him leave for two days.

d. I said to her, “Go to school or you will be fined.”

She was told to go to school or she would be fined.

e. The headmaster said, “Don’t make any noise, boys.”

The headmaster asked boys not to make any noise.

f. “Work hard if you want to rise in life,” said the old man.

The old man suggested working hard if they wanted to rise in life.

g. He said, “Goodbye, my friends!”

He said goodbye to his friends.

h. She said to me, “Have a pleasant journey ahead.”

She told me to have a pleasant journey ahead.

i. “Don’t give me the book, please,” Sharmila said.

Sharmila pleaded not to give her the book.

j. “Where have you been these days?” she spoke on the telephone.

He asked on the telephone where I had been those days.

k. The teacher said, “Have you submitted your assignments, students?”

The teacher asked students if they had submitted their assignments.

D. These are the exact words Dinesh said to you yesterday.

“I’ve just got engaged! We’re getting married next month. We’re going to Pokhara for our honeymoon. It’s all going to be very expensive. Luckily, my friend is a photographer so he’ll take the photos for us. We’ll be having the reception in my parents’ back garden. My mum is baking the cake for us and my sister’s band is playing free for us. I hope you’ll come to the wedding.”

Now, you’re telling your friend what Dinesh told you. Complete the text.

He said he (1) had just got engaged. He told me that he (2) they were getting married next month. He told me (3) they were going to Pokhara for their honeymoon. He mentioned that it (4) was all going to be very expensive. He said that his friend (5) was a photographer and he (6) would take the photos for them. He mentioned that they (7) would be having the reception in his parents’ garden. He admitted that (8) his mum was baking the cake for them. He said his sister’s band (9) was playing free for them. He said he (10) hoped I’d come to the wedding.

Career Opportunities Exercise : Question Answers and Grammar

Career Opportunities

Working with words

A. Complete the sentences with the correct words from the box below.

a. You must learn about 2000 Kanji to develop competence in the spoken Japanese language.

b. I can type both English and Nepali but not as fast as professional typists.

c. When she was in class eight, she got the opportunity to participate in a national painting competition.

d. The Prime Minister gave a long list of his achievement.

e. He spent many years in jail before reaching the position of a minister.

f. About fifty workers were made redundant because of the financial crisis in the factory.

g. He is affiliated to the World Bank as a senior consultant.

h. They registered my application after making verification of my documents.

i. I requested my teacher to be my referee in my CV.

j. To make our country self-sustained in food production is an imperative need at present.

B. Define the following employment-related terms and use them in the sentences of your own.

Volunteering : work for an organization without being paid.

Volunteering is an easy way to get involved in practical conservation.

On the job training : a practical approach to acquiring new skills.

I learned the skills necessary to be a top music producer on the job training.

Career opportunity : a particular job that may be a steppingstone to loftier ambitions.

Networking opens a lot more career opportunities and at a faster rate.

Skill development : the method of detecting skill gaps and improving these skills.

The social skill development needs to be going on all the time.

Apprenticeship : the position of an apprentice.

He served his apprenticeship as a fitter.

Career counselling : a type of support provided by career counselors to their clients.

They oversee career counseling programs and testing which measures students.

Credentials : something that gives a title to credit or confidence

His campaign has refused to credential any reporter from that outlet.

Human capital : the economic value of a worker’s experience and skills.

Investment in education is seen as the key to improving human capital.

Internship : a period of work experience offered by an organization for a limited period of time.

He served his medical internship at Norvic Hospital.

Soft skills : character traits skills that characterize a person’s relationships with other people.

Veterans should be valued for their soft skills more than their hard technical skills.

Minimum wage : the lowest wage per hour that a worker may be paid, as mandated by federal law.

The country requires a minimum wage because workers paid below the poverty line have an added cost on society.

Recruitment : the action of enlisting new people in the armed forces.

An excellent career opportunity has now arisen with a leading recruitment agency.

Role model : a person looked to by others as an example to be imitated.

She was a great role model and indeed a great mentor to me.

Aptitude : a natural ability to do something.

He has demonstrated a great aptitude for carpentry skills.

Assessment : the action of making a judgment about someone or something

It’s a difficult problem that requires careful assessment.

C. Based on their pronunciation, divide the following words into two groups so that the vowel sounds rhyme with here and hare.

Here /hɪə/

Fear, beer, ear, leer, cheer, sheer, shear, tear (n.), mere, deer, dear, clear, sneer, gear

Hare /hɛː/

Fare, fair, bear, bare, care, heir, air, share, lair, chair, share, tear (v.), mare, dare, snare

Comprehension

Answer the following questions.

a. What does a CV mean and why is it important in one’s career?

Curriculum vitae is a Latin term that literally means ‘course of life’. In practice, it is a document that sets out a whole host of your personal details, experience and achievements as they relate to your working life.

It is important because it provides with a crucially important opportunity to reflect on and plan further developments in one’s career. It is need when applying for jobs, seeking promotion and trying to get research funding.

b. Does the same CV work for all job opportunities? Why or why not?

Yes, the same CV works for all job opportunities but it’s better to make slight tweaks to ensure that the CV highlights your most relevant skills and qualifications on the basis of job description and uses terminology found in the job listing.

c. What are the different areas where CV can help you?

A good CV is required when applying for jobs, seeking promotion and trying to get research funding. It helps for things such as when you’re asked to be an external examiner for a course or a research thesis; for audits of teaching and research activity; if your faculty or department has to be validated by an external professional body – in short, any circumstances in which somebody needs to judge your individual professional competence or that of you and your colleagues collectively.

d. What do you mean by ‘staying CV’ and ‘leaving CV’? Which one would you develop for yourself as a freshman?

A ‘staying CV’ is that of the good university citizen, including plenty of committee work and administration, pastoral care of students, a heavy teaching load as well as a credible research record. A ‘leaving CV’ is that which reflect the interests of a prospective new employer and will probably highlight research achievements, while still showing that you are generally competent and willing across the range of duties undertaken by academics.

I would develop a leaving CV for myself as a freshman.

e. How can you draft a good CV?

One can draft a good CV with the help of your friends, family, mentors and more experienced colleagues. A basic framework can be used to structure your recollections and thinking. You should show your draft CV to people who know you and/or who know what an academic CV should look like and ask for feedback. In this way, you can draft a good CV.

f. What is the difference between academic CV and non-academic CV?

There are two key differences between academic and non-academic CVs. One is that academic CVs tend to be quite a bit longer than those of non-academics, and they get longer as a person’s career develops. A second, and perhaps more fundamental, difference is that non-academics, especially when they are seeking middle management positions, are frequently encouraged to make largely unverifiable assertions about their qualities and skills rather than to list verifiable achievements.

Critical thinking

a. CV may not represent a person’s skills and abilities accurately because one’s confidence cannot be rendered in a paper. What do you think the employers should do to find the best people for the job?

It’s true that CV may not represent a person’s skills and abilities accurately because one’s confidence cannot be rendered in a paper. Employers prefer candidates who can communicate effectively. Oral and written communication is a key skill needed in almost every job. In my view, instead of judging the ability of a person by a piece of paper, employers can divide the selection process in three steps. First step is to get acquainted with the willing participants. Employers can introduce their company terms and conditions to the participants and if they think they can work under the conditions, then they can be invited for further process. Next step is cover letter explanation. In this step the employers should judge the person’s behaviors, skills, their character and ability whether they could perform well in the company or not. Last but not the least step is calling the selected candidate to participate intelligently to join colleagues at weekly Friday lunch where everyone “talked shop”. Employees are meant to work in team. So only a person should not take their interview. Every person who is already in the company should get a chance to talk to them and decide whether they can work with him/her or not. These are the things the employers should do to find the best people for the job rather than focusing on CV only.

b. If the employers provide job opportunity by assessing one’s CV, how can fresh graduates compete with the experienced competitors?

In today’s competitive job market, having a degree and doing good work unfortunately may not be quite enough to land you the job you. In order to get yourself one step closer than other graduates to your dream job, you have to stand out from the crowd and make a good impression on your potential employers.

For some careers you will be required to have achieved a good degree in a specified area, however a lot of the time employers are looking for more than just a great set of exam results in their prospective employees. They want candidates with personality and the right combination of soft skills, in areas such as interpersonal and leadership. Many fresh graduates have no idea on how to write a good CV. Most use the same resume template and end up having CVs with similar format. To make yours stand out, you should break the mould and be creative. If you’re applying for a creative industry, you may wish to opt for something a bit out-of-the-box or visually impressive that will really make it stand out from others. By doing this a fresh graduate can compete with the experienced competitors. 

Writing

A. Study the following advertisement. Write an application for one of the positions. Prepare your CV too that suits for the job.

Application:

Bharatpur-7, Chitwan.

6th June 2021

To:

The Assistant Director,

MM Construction Pvt. Ltd.,

Satdobato Marg,

Lalitpur.

Subject : Application for The Post of Civil Engineer

Dear Sir,

With reference to your advertisement in THE PIONEER on 2nd July inviting application for the post of a civil engineer under your authority, I beg to offer myself as a candidate for the same. My qualifications and experience are given below.

I passed my civil engineering examination from the IOE, Pulchowk Campus in first division and also got degree in B.Sc. Physics (Hons.) I have an excellent academic career and have won many scholarship and awards during my school and college life.

I worked in ArEiCon Engineers Pvt. Ltd. – Lalitpur for five years and during the period tried advanced techniques which proved to be highly beneficial to the firm. At present I have been working with Global Impex International Pvt. Ltd. for the last four years. The job involves administrative and supervisory duties. In recognition of my services, the company has offered me further incentives in the form of special bonus. But this job does not have much future. So I seek a job under you which will open new avenues for my career. I am ready to work at any of the branches.

I have attached my CV to the email for your reference. Please have a look at it.

I hope to meet you and discuss this opportunity further. Thank you for considering my application for the role.

I may assure you if I am given the job, I shall work diligently.

Yours Faithfully,

Manoj Poudel

CV:

Manoj Poudel

Pashupati Vision Complex, Ring Road, Kathmandu 44600

T: 01-4113713

M: 981-234-5678

E: manojpoudel@gmail,com

PERSONAL SUMMARY

An ambitious and dedicated civil engineer with strong practical and technical skills and a range of experience within construction engineering and project management. Having a sound knowledge of designing, testing and evaluating a designs overall effectiveness, cost, reliability, and safety. Currently seeking a challenging professional civil or structural engineering position either in the UK or abroad and willing to consider permanent or short term contracts.

CAREER HISTORY

SENIOR CIVIL ENGINEER – Global Impex International Pvt. Ltd.

January 2018 – present

• Directing tasks to a multi-disciplined team of staff.

• Arranging the planning and scheduling of work.

• Creating Monthly Quality Audits.

• Carrying out spot inspections on welding, pipe cleanliness, compression fitting installation etc.

• Liaison with engineers, designers, local authorities, contractors and suppliers.

CIVIL ENGINEER – ArEiCon Engineers Pvt. Ltd.

April 2013 – January 2018

• Involved in a project that included the construction, maintenance and repair work on motorways.

• Designing and supervising of motorway maintenance works.

• Responsible for the design and development of bridge maintenance schemes.

• Maintaining non-conformance / non-compliance records and logs.

• Responsible for quality control of engineering and construction documents.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Civil Engineering

• Able to understand a client’s quality compliance requirements and then make sure they are met.

• Have worked for both public and private sector clients.

• Excellent communication skills and able to work closely with both clients and other specialists such as architects and building contractors

• Ability to carry our detailed feasibility studies for projects to ensure the most effective and efficient utilization of materials, equipment and labour.

• Experience of using the latest computer software for modeling and design purposes.

Project Management

• Arranging and chairing meetings with clients.

• Ability to liaise with key project stake holders like the clients, water companies, the Environment Agency, local authorities and also utility companies.

• Experience of designing, project managing & liaising with clients.

• Directing outside consultants in construction activities.

• Assisting in the pricing of tender enquiries and valuations.

KEY COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS

Structural Design

Inspections

Quality assurance

Certification

Surveying

Project management

Strategic planning

Feasibility studies

AutoCad

Highway design

Producing ACAD plans

Site supervision

TECHNICAL SKILLS AND EXPERTISE

AutoCAD

Autotrack

Autosign

Signplot

Microstation 2D & 3D

Inroads

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

BSC Civil Engineering 2009

B.Sc. Physics (Hons.), 2011

Jan 2012 Introduction to AutoCad 2012

Sept 2012 CIWEM Sewerage and Waste Water Treatment Seminar

Sept 2012 CDM Regulations 2007 and compliance

REFERENCES – available on request.

Driving license: Yes

DOB: 1985

Languages: English, Nepali, Hindi

Grammar

B. Rewrite the following sentences using the correct form of the verbs.

a. If you sell your stocks now, you won’t get much money for them. (not/get)

b. A lot of people would lose job if the factory closed down.(close down)

c. Our country won’t have to export wheat if it rains in November and February. (rain)

d. If we had found him earlier, we could have saved his life. (find)

e. If he had not been wearing helmet, he would have been seriously injured. (be)

f. Unless you follow the instructions, you won’t pass the exams. (not/ pass)

g. I don’t mind walking home as long as the weather is fine. (be)

h. The bank will sanction you the loan provided you deposit a collateral. (deposit)

i. What would you have done if you had not got this job? (you/do)

j. If you had the choice, where would you have lived? (you/live)

C. Change the following sentences into ‘if sentences’ as in the example.

a. The driver was talking on the phone so the accident happened.

If the driver wasn’t talking on the phone, the accident wouldn’t have happened.

b. There is no anyone at home because all the lights are off.

If there was someone at home, all the lights wouldn’t be off.

c. He must be an educated person because he has subscribed ‘The Kathmandu Post’

If he wasn’t an educated person, he wouldn’t subscribe ‘The Kathmandu Post’.

d. His head was not injured in the accident because he had put the helmet on.

His head would have been injured in the accident if he hadn’t put the helmet on.

e. I am sure he passed the exam because he gave a heavy treat to his friends.

If he hadn’t passed the exam he wouldn’t have given a heavy treat to his friends.

f. You didn’t take any breakfast so you are hungry now.

If you had taken some breakfast, you wouldn’t have got hungry now.

g. I am sure he is a doctor because he is wearing the white gown.

If he wasn’t a doctor, he wouldn’t be wearing the white gown.

h. She is very rich so she drives a Mercedes.

If she wasn’t very rich, she wouldn’t drive a Mercedes.

i. I didn’t know it was only half a kilometer from my house, so I booked a ride.

If I had known it was only half a kilometer from my house, I wouldn’t have booked a ride.

j. He has hidden something in his mind, so he does not look fresh.

If he hadn’t hidden anything in his mind, he would have looked fresh.

Hobbies Exercise : Question Answers and Grammar

Comprehension

Answer the following questions.

a. What is the author’s favourite hobby? Why does she like it so much?

The author’s favourite hobby is walking. She likes it so much because the movement, the rhythm, the undulation of the senses and of the body it initiates is enjoyable.

b. What sorts of roads did the writer prefer to walk on when she was very young?

The writer preferred to walk on the roads that were unpaved and uneven, like the paths around her mamaghar when she was very young.

c. How did walking give the author and her classmates a sense of freedom?

Walking gave the author and her classmates a sense of freedom because they could be free-willed masters of their time and could find their own way.

d. In what ways were the roads in Kathmandu different from the ones in Sydney?

The roads in Sydney were far quieter and organized when compared to the cacophonous streets of Kathmandu.

e. How did walking help the author in the new country?

Walking was an escape of all kinds of pressures, a search for pace and a rhythm to the author. It helped her to navigate the new country and it renewed the circumstances of her life.

f. What were the treasures of Petersham, where the writer lived with her family?

The treasures of Petersham, where the writer lived with her family were a tiny park which was a minute down the Parramatta road, another park with a huge rock at one end, a buffer zone suburb etc.

g. What things became her permanent friends with whom she could share her feelings?

The components of nature such as the earth, the sky, the trees, water, air became her permanent friends with whom she could share her feelings.

h. Why did she feel that she had travelled to ‘a desert, to emptiness’ as she went to the United States?

She felt that she had travelled to ‘a desert, to emptiness’ as she went to the United States because people living there were running after material pursuit and comfort because of which she felt lonely and a barrier of communication with them.

i. Why did the author eventually feel that the strange city was known to her?

Eventually the author felt that the strange city was known to her because she found the place similar to every other place on the earth. The essence of the nature she felt in the strange city was same to the one she found in her hometown.

j. How did walking make her feel at home with different places she visited?

Walking made her feel thankfulness to all the streets she walked on because they gave shape to her feet, her body and her being.

Critical thinking

a. Do you believe that walking helps us understand ourselves? Give reasons in support of your opinion.

Yes, I believe that walking helps us to understand ourselves. Walking provides the best of both worlds. It offers the physical benefits of exercise while also boosting your emotional well-being. It can help reduce anxiety, depression, and a negative mood. It can also boost self-esteem and reduce symptoms of social withdrawal. Walking also helps to clear our head and think creatively. It opens up a free flow of ideas and is a simple way to increase creativity and get physical activity at the same time. While walking we interact with our inner self, we evaluate ourselves, our works, our behavior. This makes us realize actually who we are. Understanding ourselves means self-realization which can happen when we are alone and submerged with natural world. Thus it’s true that walking helps us to understand ourselves.

b. Think of one of your hobbies. How does this hobby relate to your psyche and self?

Hobbies are seen as markers of a balanced person who is adept at juggling personal and professional well-being. I have only one hobby. Yet, it consumes all my free time. I enjoy reading and have always been a voracious reader.

Although I prefer reading fiction, I make a deliberate effort to read at least one non-fiction book in a couple of months.

My first book was “Famous Five Go to Kirrin Island” at the age of ten. What I truly treasure about my hobby is its power to transport me to different locations whilst I’m still on my couch.

It is a low budget travel option that I often take! Recently, I started attending book club meetings.

It’s a group of 15 individuals and we meet on the third Sunday, every month to discuss books that we have read in that month.

It’s wonderful how a few lines can have so many varied interpretations, and can give rise to a multitude of emotions and opinions.

My hobby has made me develop analytical thinking and open-mindedness.

Reading has also broadened my imagination across horizons. I wouldn’t possibly trade it for anything else, ever!

c. Many people turn their hobbies into careers. Is it good to turn one’s hobby into a career?

Yes, it’s true that many people turn their hobbies into careers. But what I think that is; a big decision of whether to turn a hobby into a career is a godsend for some lucky folks, but for other poor souls, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Whether you’re looking to go freelance, set up a limited company or become a sole trader, making hobby turn into livelihood can be a messy business. Hobbies are really important for personal growth and enjoyment, and the last thing you want to do is turn a form of escapism from the hustle, bustle, and grind of everyday life into something stressful and pressurized. To sum up, if a person is truly passionate about his/her carry, then he/she can easily turn their hobby into a career else it’s going to be a great suffering.

Writing

a. Highlighting the advantages of walking, Henry David Thoreau says, “An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.” Write an essay on the advantages of morning walk.

Advantages of morning walk

The modern-day world is full of psychological disorders, poor health, mental tension, and many more problems. Likewise, the life of some people is like a mad rush from one work to another without any break. Besides, there are very few people in the world that care about their health more than their work or daily tasks. But, there are ways by which we can restore our healthfully and morning walk is one of them. Additionally, it is so effective that it can reduce the amount of health disorder from the world.

From childhood, we have heard that “early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” This is not just a saying because morning walks make a man healthy and wise.

Moreover, it improves the physical shape and state of the body which protects us from many diseases. Besides, all this morning walks create a sense of equality among the people.

Above all, morning walk gives you energy, motivates you to avoid laziness, creates a positive mindset, it is good for your organs especially heart, and it gives you time to plan your schedule. According to research, the best time for a morning walk is in the latter part of the afternoon between 3 pm to 7 pm.

To sum it up, we can say that, Morning walk is very important for the body. Also, it helps to keep the body and mind healthy. Besides, everyone whether kids or elders should try to make a morning walk a part of their daily routine. As it is seen that the life h4 of people who walk daily is more in comparison to those who do not do morning walk.

Grammar

B. Change the following sentences into passive voice.

a. I want someone to love me.

I want to be loved.

b. Someone broke into our house while we were on holiday.

Our house was broken into while we were on holiday.

c. I don’t like people staring at me.

I don’t like being stared at.

d. Is it true that someone stole your car?

Is true that your car was stolen?

e. The cat enjoys someone tickling him.

The cat enjoys being tickled.

f. Would Swostika open the window?

Would the window be opened by Swostika?

g. Did they confess the crime?

Was the crime confessed by them?

h. He thinks that someone is teaching Jennie.

He thinks that Jennie is being taught.

i. Sabina hates people laughing at her.

Sabina hates being laughed at.

C. Complete the following sentences as in the example.

a. English people think that the number thirteen is unlucky.

The number thirteen is thought to be unlucky by English people.

b. What are you wearing for the wedding?

Actually, I am having a suit made (a suit make). They will give it tomorrow.

c. The carpet in our drawing room is very dirty.

It needs to be cleaned (clean).

d. There are rumours that the factory at the corner is manufacturing bombs.

The factory at the corner is rumoured to be manufacturing bombs.

e. Some people believe that Silajit from Jumla cures all indigestion problems.

Silajit from Jumla is believed to cure all digestion problems.

f. People claim that Changu Narayan temple is the oldest temple in Nepal.

Changu Narayan temple is claimed to be the oldest temple in Nepal.

g.

A: Your car is making a terrible noise.

B: Thank you. I am not a mechanic and I will make it be repaired soon. (repair).

h. The police suspect that the criminal left the country.

The criminal is suspected to leave the country.

i.

A: Where are you going?

B: I am going to the stationery to get my document photocopied. (my document /photocopy)

j. People allege that the corrupt leader has embezzled millions of rupees.

The leader is alleged to embezzle millions of rupees.

Working with words

A. Find the words from the text which have the following meanings.

a. Persons who are related to you and who live after you, such as your child or grandchild are called descendants.

b. ‘Twirl’ means to turn or spin around and around quickly

c. Glycoproteins are proteins which contain oligosaccharide chains (glycans) attached to amino acid side-chains

d. Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins that are highly specific for sugar groups that are part of other molecules and so cause agglutination of particular cells.

e. Polyps are abnormal tissue growths that most often look like small, flat bumps or tiny mushroom like stalks found in the phylum Cnidaria and the medusa

f. Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey.

g. Anemone is a genus of flowering plants in the buttercup family.

h. A/An finicky person is extremely or excessively particular, exacting, or meticulous in taste or standards.

i. Nudibranch is a group of soft-bodied, marine gastropod molluscs which shed their shells after their larval stage.

j. A medusa is a free-swimming sexual form of a coelenterate such as a jellyfish, typically having an umbrella-shaped body with stinging tentacles around the edge.

B. Look up a dictionary and write the meanings of the following words then use them in your own sentences.

Arthropod : an invertebrate animal of the large phylum Arthropoda

Many arthropod animals undergo physiological changes that smooth their integration.

Gastropod : a mollusc of the large class Gastropoda

The problem of the causes of the torsion of the Gastropod body has been much discussed.

Biomass : the total quantity or weight of organisms in a given area or volume

Energy from biomass is a growing source of renewable energy.

Calcification : the hardening of tissue or other material by the deposition of insoluble calcium compounds

The extremities of the cartilages frequently undergo calcification.

Metamorphosis : the process of transformation from an immature form to an adult form in two or more distinct stages

A butterfly is produced by metamorphosis from a caterpillar.

Sturgeon : a very large primitive fish with bony plates on the body

Caviar is sturgeon roe prepared by a special process. 

Comprehension

Answer the following questions.

a. What are the indicators of the fact that we are very self-conscious about ourselves these days?

The indicators of the fact that we are very self-conscious about ourselves these days are self-realization, self-help, self-development, self-awareness, self-respect and self-enlightenment.

b. How have we celebrated the fact that we have our individual identity?

We have celebrated the fact that we have our individual identity by providing ourselves with a real name.

c. Are we, human beings, really unique? Why/Why not?

No, we human beings, aren’t really unique. It’s because uniqueness is so commonplace a property of living things that there is really nothing at all unique about it. The phenomenon can’t be unique and universal at the same time.

d. How do fish recognize each other?

Fish recognize each other by the smell of each other.

e. What is the function of individuality?

The function of individuality is self-preservation and maintaining individuality.

f. What does the mix-up of two selves tell us about our identity?

The mix-up of two selves tells us unity and cooperation to each other is required for survival and existence.

g. What does the author illustrate with the tale of the nudibranch and the medusa?

The author illustrates the value of co-existence, cooperation, helpfulness, collaboration and togetherness with the tale of the nudibranch and the medusa. It also projects the significance of friendship and dependence on each other for survival and existence.

h. Why is the author disturbed by the thought of the creatures like the nudibranch and medusa?

The author is disturbed by the thought of the creatures like the nudibranch and medusa because it provides him with an odd feeling and confuses in with vague and bizarre concept like a dream.

i. What does the writer mean by “they remind me of the whole earth at once?”

By saying “they remind me of the whole earth at once'”, the writer means to say that it is very complicated and bizarre to justify the relationship between the creatures and non-living things of the world and as more as one tries to understand, the more he/she gets confused.

Critical thinking

a. How does the author make satire on the modern idea of the ‘self’ based on individuality, independence and uniqueness?

The author in this essay satires on the modern idea of ‘self’ based on individuality, independence and uniqueness. This essay is about the self and what nature can teach us. In the beginning the writer brings an attention to the trend in humans on uplifting the feeling of self-based on individuality, independence and uniqueness.

Here the author is presenting the close relationship between the nudibranch and medusa living in the Bay of Naples. A mature jellyfish engulfs a tiny newly-hatched slug only to be devoured bit by bit until the snail dominates and the jellyfish is reduced to a round “successfully edited parasite” affixed to the skin near the snail’s mouth. Finally the tentacles, until the jellyfish becomes reduced in substance by being eaten while the snail grows correspondingly in size.

This essay projects both creatures cannot live in any other way, they depend for their survival on each other. The author illustrates the value of co-existence, cooperation, helpfulness, collaboration and togetherness with the tale of the nudibranch and the medusa. We all are important and one’s life is determined by another like the relation between anemones and crabs as well as medusa and snail. It also shows the significance of friendship and dependence on each other for survival and existence. Through this, the author justifies that the modern people’s pride over the concept of individuality, independence and uniqueness is not applicable in the real and practical life.

Writing

A. Write an essay on “Independence vs. Interdependence” in about 250 words.

Independence vs. Interdependence

Human beings usually categorize themselves into individual or group entities. These self-conceptions usually emanate in people’s minds and determine their motivation as well as cognitions. There are usually two perceptions that people have about themselves regarding their relationship with others. The first is the independent self-concept where an individual’s conception about his or her existence is that he or she exists separate from other people. Independent self-concept encompasses behaviour traits, preferences and attitudes of an individual. The second perception is the interdependent self-concept where a person is affiliated or feels connected to others. This paper explores the advantages of interdependence as opposed to independence. Gish Jen argues that “the joy of a functioning interdependent relationship can be tremendous.”

Unlike independent-self which focuses on individual responsibility separate from the entire society, interdependent self-concept emphasizes shared responsibilities. The main tenet of interdependence self-concept is the reliance that exists among individuals in the society for survival and mutual development. Interdependence self-instils the idea that people are not alone in their attempts at mental growth and development. People also provided support for one another to grow socially. Interdependent self-concept also promotes responsibility sharing by encouraging individuals to take various roles, which contribute to the development and growth of the society.

Interdependent self-concept is also crucial for overcoming fear. Unlike independence, which puts an individual against the rest of other members of the society, interdependence promotes cohesion among society members, thus helping individuals to experience lower levels of fear and insecurity. The recognition of the fact that one has support of others remains crucial for alleviating negative feelings, which could yield fear in individuals. Support for each other is only possible in a society where people feel close to each other and the society is characterized by high level of interdependence.

Interdependence emphasizes on how people relate with each other and get on well with existing norms of the society, which dictate how people relate. Intrinsic attributes of individuals play no major role in the way individuals think, feel or act. However, Jen also argues that “we need both the interdependent and the independent self,” appealing that people from either side of self-concepts accommodates and understands each other.

B. Write a newspaper article highlighting the increasing individualism in the modern Nepali society.

Increasing Individualism in the Modern

Nepali Society

By Ramesh Thapa

March 12, 2019

Individualism is the moral stance, political philosophy, ideology and social outlook that emphasizes the intrinsic worth of the individual. Individualists promote the exercise of one’s goals and desires and to value independence and self-reliance and advocate that interests of the individual should achieve precedence over the state or a social group while opposing external interference upon one’s own interests by society or institutions such as the government. Individualism is often defined in contrast to totalitarianism, collectivism and more corporate social forms.

In the modern Nepalese society, individualism is increasing rapidly. This increase appears to be due mostly to increasing socio-economic development, including higher incomes, more education, urbanization, and a shift toward white-collar jobs. Increases in these factors in a given region are reliably followed by gains in individualist beliefs and practices in the ensuing decade Nepal comes under those few countries that bucked the global trend toward individualism.

Rising prosperity and education are largely welcome changes that reflect not merely gains in wealth for the already-wealthy, but for the desperately poor as well. Wealth, and the individualism that follows, are often conflated with selfishness. This is, in part, because individualism’s inverse — collectivism — emphasizes close social ties and an interconnected rather than independent view of the self.

Grammar

A. Make passive sentences from the following information as in the example.

a. volleyball/every/country/play

Volleyball is played in every country.

b. spaghetti/boiling water/cook

Spaghetti is cooked in boiling water.

c. each lesson/an exercise/follow

Each lesson is followed by an exercise.

d. taxes/the price/include

Taxes are included in the price.

e. extensive information/the internet/find

Extensive information is found on the internet.

f. our order/the waiter/took

Our order was taken by the waiter.

g. the schedule/the participants/will distribute

The schedule will be distributed by the participants.

h. the police/footprint/found

Footprint was found by the police.

i. the children/the sandcastles/built

The sandcastles were built by the children.

j. the father/the window/not going to open

The window is not going to be opened by the father.

B. Rewrite the following sentences in the passive voice using the correct form of verbs in the brackets.

a. Call the ambulance! Two boys have been injured (injure) in a motorbike accident.

b. The clock has been used (use) since the 17th century.

c. I had to wait outside the classroom while the classroom was being cleaned (clean).

d. The problem is being discussed (discuss) by the subject specialists at the moment.

e. By the time I came back, the task has been finished (finish).

f. Women are said (say) to be happier than men.

g. Look! The house had been destroyed (destroy) by the fire.

h. The other three reports will be submitted (submit) by next month.

i. Many people have been resuced (rescue) from the floods by the security persons this year.

j. The state of Florida was hit (hit) by a hurricane that did serious damage.

History Exercise : Question Answers and Grammar

History

Working with words

A. Match the words with their definitions/meanings.

a. passion

any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as love or hate

b. surveillance

continuous observation of a place, person, group, or ongoing activity in order to gather information

c. integrity

the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished

d. avuncular

like an uncle

e. livelihood

a means of supporting one’s existence

f. fascination

powerful attraction

g. innovation

an idea, practice, or object that is perceived as new

h. panorama

an unobstructed and wide view of an extensive area in all directions

i. resilience

the power or ability of a material to return to its original form, position, etc., after being bent, compressed, or stretched

j. evacuation

the removal of people or things from an endangered area

B. Define the following professionals. One has been done for you.

architect

An architect is an engineer who designs buildings and advises in their construction.

civil engineer

A civil engineer is an engineer who designs and oversees the construction of public works.

mechanical engineer

A mechanical engineer is an engineer who designs, produces, and operates machines.

aerospace engineer

An aerospace engineer is an engineer who designs, tests and manages the manufacturing of aircrafts.

automobile engineer

An automobile engineer is an engineer who designs, manufactures and repairs vehicles.

electronic engineer

An electronic engineer is an engineer who designs, develops and manufactures electrical equipments.

electrical engineer

An electrical engineer is an engineer who creates, designs and manages electrical equipments.

computer engineer

A computer engineer is an engineer who evaluates, designs and maintains computer hardware and software systems.

food engineer

A food engineer is an engineer who ensures the safety and efficiency of processing, packaging and delivering of food items.

chemical engineer

A chemical engineer is an engineer who develops and designs chemical manufacturing processes.

biomedical engineer

A biomedical engineer is an engineer who develops new equipment for improving human health.

Comprehension

Answer the following questions.

a. Where were Frank and Nicole employed?

Frank and Nicole were employed as architects in the twin towers of the World Trade Centre situated in the USA.

b. How does the author describe Frank’s attachment to the twin towers?

The author describes Frank’s attachment to the twin towers as a source of livelihood and passion.

c. How did the two families become intimate with each other?

The two families became intimate with each other because of their children.

d. What, according to Nicole, did Frank think of the towers?

According to Nicole, Frank thought of the towers as an incredible human fest. The scale, magnitude, innovative design, efficient use of materials of the towers were awesome to Frank. Sometime he said that they were built to take the impact of a light airplane.

e. Why did Frank want to help the people in the tower after the attack?

Frank wanted to help the people in the tower after the attack because only few people knew about the strength of the building.

f. Why did Frank not follow Nicole’s request even after knowing that the building was on fire?

Frank did not follow Nicole’s request even after knowing that the building was on fire because he had a confidence that he could help the injured people on their way to safe place without hurting himself.

g. Who did Frank call from the building after the attack?

Frank called his sister Nina, who lived on West 93rd street in Mahnattan, from the building after the attack,

h. How did Nicole feel after the collapse of the first tower?

After the collapse of the first tower, Nicole felt that was like the beginning of a nuclear war. Everything went absolutely quiet and she felt in the middle of a fog that was as blindingly bright as a snowstorm on a sunny day.

i. Were Frank’s children serious as soon as they heard the news of their missing father? Why?

Frank’s children were not serious as soon as they heard the news of their missing father because they were busy playing games. 

Critical Thinking

a. Many innocent people lose their lives in ruthless attacks every year. What do you think the governments should do to protect their people from such attacks and make the world a safer place to live? Discuss with your friends.

Yes, it’s true that many innocent people lose their lives in ruthless attacks every year. The government must be responsible to handle and control such situations. It should think seriously for the security of their citizens from such ruthless attacks. The things the government should do to protect their people from such attacks and make the world a safer place to live are as follows:

– Every government should maintain stability in them, the leaders and the political parties.

– Borders restrictions should be done.

– Armed forces should be kept at several places where there is the high risk of attack outbreaks.

– Though the peace treaty are being signed but not followed accordingly. So every nation should work to maintain peace.

– Peoples should be moved to safer place if there is any danger.

b. Revenge and violence are the integral parts of the history and civilization. They can’t be ignored, only managed. Do you agree or not with this statement? Present your logic.

Yes, I agree with the statement that revenge and violence are the integral parts of the history and civilization. Revenge is associated with hurt and damage, and violence is the use of physical force so as to injure, abuse, damage, or destroy. The cause of World War II is also due to the Revenge from German, in 1919 June 28. When the Treaty of Versailles was signed and the war between German and Allied Power was ended, it humiliated and blamed Germany for World War I and imposed heavy debt payments on Germany. Germany revenged for it in 1939 and from that World War II had stared. We have seen from our past that revenge and violence and lead to a miserable situation. Thus, it can’t be ignored, but only managed.

Writing

A. Write a description of an event that you have recently witnessed.

Recently I witnessed a very special celestial event known as the full lunar eclipse. It was special because astronomers declared it to be longest lunar eclipse of this century which took place on July 27. It was difficult for me because I had to wake up till late night for watching this lunar eclipse. Finally the eclipse started at 11:30 pm and ended at 1 a.m. I was accompanied by a few friends who chose to witness this lunar eclipse. We kept looking up in the sky for one and a half hours which was a bit difficult but rewarding in the end.

B. Human life does not pass as one expects. You might have also gone through different but memorable incidents. Write an essay on “An Unforgettable Event in my Life’ in about 500 words.

It is true that if we have joys in our life we have sorrows too. Like all others, I cannot be an exception. I still remember the day when I felt that there is no joy in the world but sorrow.

I was enjoying the vacations after my tenth class board ex-examinations. My best friend in the neighborhood, Alisha, was staying with me. Her parents had gone to Kathmandu where her grandfather was to undergo some major operation. I and my parents did our best to keep her happy and away from missing her parents. For us it was play time all through the day.

One evening as we were playing our little brain game, her parents called and said her grandfather’s operation was successful and her parents were to return the next day by plane. On reading it Alisha was overjoyed and I joined her in her moment of happiness.

That night Alisha did not sleep. She counted the hours till the early morning. We dressed hurriedly and my father took us to the airport. On reaching there we sensed something wrong. The Yeti Airlines flight from Kathmandu had crashed while landing. Fire tenders and ambulances were on the run. Our hearts sank. Alisha fainted from shock. My father hired a taxi and sent us back home.

We waited with throbbing hearts for my father to return with her safe and sound parents. My mother sent for a doctor as Alisha’s condition became worse. I sat by her side silently wishing for a happy turn. My father returned only to say that there was no sign of her parents though their names were mentioned in the airline’s passenger list. Alisha was hysterical and it became difficult to control her.

She said that she wanted to go to her home. I decided to go with her while my mother would soon follow. Once out on the street she ran towards her home. I saw a speeding car and shouted after her to stop. She didn’t. The car didn’t stop and sped away leaving her laying on the road badly hurt.

We immediately took her to a nearby hospital. The doctors who examined her said she may recover gradually but did not confirm her recovery. She was placed in the intensive care unit.

I returned home with my parents. The moment we entered the room the telephone rang. It was a call from the hospital to inform that Alisha was no more. I felt numb and tears welled up in my eyes. I still refused to believe what I heard was true.

Again, the telephone rang and it was from Alisha’s parents to inform that they had missed their flight due to some car trouble on their way to the airport. The news of Alisha’s parents as alive did not touch my heart.

Alisha’s parents were shocked to hear about their daughter’s death when they came home next day. But nothing could be done. Even today when I remember the incident every moment of that day flashes through my eyes and I begin to cry, “Alisha, why did you have to die? I have lost a good friend in you.”

Grammar

Prepositions

B. Complete these sentences with the correct prepositions.

a. The relationship between the two boys has changed significantly over the past few years.

b. In Nepal, many girls get married at an early age.

c. I’m not in the mood for such silly games.

d. There were no security personnel on duty at that time.

e. The new smartphone is similar to the one I bought a few years ago.

f. My dad insisted on taking the later train.

g. People with ambition always try to achieve their goals, no matter what happens.

h. Mr. Jenkins has been disabled all his life as a result of a childhood illness.

i. We bought the TV because it was on sale.

j. She has no understanding of how computers really work.

k. I gave him my new T-shirt in exchange for a few cigarettes.

l. The company is run by two people who hardly ever meet.

m. All the celebrations and parties were called off because of the tragic accident.

n. There was a great need of volunteers at the site of the crash.

C. Complete the following text with correct prepositions.

What are we seeing here? One very real possibility is that these are the educational consequences of the differences in parenting styles that we talked about in the Chris Langan chapter. Think back to Alex Williams, the nine-year-old whom Annette Lareau studied. His parents believe in connected cultivation. He gets taken to museums and gets enrolled in special programs and goes to summer camp, where he takes classes. When he’s bored at home, there are plenty of books to read, and his parents see it as their responsibility to keep him actively engaged in the world for him. It’s hard to see how Alex would get better at reading and math in the summer.

Simple future, future continuous, future perfect and future perfect continuous

B. make sentences from the given clues as stated in brackets.

a. Who/pass the exam? (future simple)

Who will pass the exam?

b. How/you/get home? (future continuous)

How will you be getting home?

c. I/come later. (future simple)

I’ll come later.

d. She/catch the train by 3 pm. (future perfect)

She will have caught the train by 3 PM.

e. It/rain tomorrow. (future simple)

It will rain tomorrow.

f. John/sleep at 4 am. (future continuous)

John will be sleeping at 4 am.

g. How long/you/see your boyfriend when you get married? (future perfect continuous)

How long will you have been seeing your boyfriend when you get married?

h. It/rain in Kathmandu next week. (future continuous)

It will be raining in Kathmandu next week.

i. How long/you/work here when you retire? (future perfect continuous)

How long have you been working here when you retire?

j. He/not/finish the cleaning by the time she gets home. (future perfect)

He won’t have finished the cleaning by the time she gets home.

C. Complete the following sentences with the correct future tense form of the verbs in the brackets.

a. It will snow (snow) in Brighton tomorrow evening.

b. On Friday at 8 o’clock, I’m going to meet (to meet) my friend.

c. Wait! I will drive (to drive) you to the station.

d. When they get married in March, they will have been (to be) together for six years.

e. You’re carrying too much. I will open (to open) the door for you.

f. Do you think the teacher will have marked (to mark) our homework by Monday morning?

g. When I see you tomorrow, I will show (show) you my new book.

h. After you take a nap, you will feel (to feel) a lot better.

i. I will let (to let) you know the second the builders finish decorating.

j. We will wait (to wait) in the shelter until the bus comes.

k. I’m very sorry, Dr. Jones won’t be (not be) back in the clinic unit 2 pm.

l. This summer, I will have been living (to live) in Birgunj for four years.

m. I don’t think you will have (to have) any problems when you land in Pokhara.

n. The baby should be due soon, next week she will have been (to be) pregnant for nine months.

o. By the time we get home, they will have been playing (to play) football for 30 minutes.

p. When you get off the train, I will be waiting (to wait) for you by the ticket machine.

q. This time next week, I will be skiing (ski) in Switzerland!

r. Now, I am going to check (to check) my answers.

Human Rights Exercise : Question Answers and Grammar

Human Rights

Working with words

A. Pair the following words as opposites.

Despair : hope

Kind : cruel

Fresh : stale

Strange : familiar

Normal : eccentric

Fierce : gentle

Corrupt : honest

Selfish : generous

B. By adding a suitable suffix to each word in the table, form another word as in the examples below.

into noun

open-minded : open-mindedness

accommodate : accommodation

rehearse : rehearsal

transgress : transgression

angry : anger

mix : mixture

into adjective

pain : painful

differ : different

behave : behavior

remark : remarkable

indifferent : indifference

thought : thoughtful

into verb

less : lessen

sure : ensure

real : realize

glory : glorify

power : powering/powers

prison : prisoning/prisoned

C. Pronounce the following words with the help of a dictionary.

Comprehension

A. Write True or False after each statement. Give reason for your answer.

a. The author says his father was an ideal person in the family. False

He used to abuse his mother verbally and physically when he was drunk.

b. The author wanted to forgive his father but he did not get an opportunity. False

Because he had many pressure and stresses.

c. It’s worth forgiving a person if he/she realizes his/her mistakes. True

d. South Africa had dual type of education system in the 1960s. True

e. The author lived in a joint family. False

Because the author had only his wife and two children in his family.

f. The author regretted for not getting a chance to talk to his father. True

g. According to the author, all our glories and splendors are short lived. True

B. Answer the following questions.

a. How does the author remember his family environment when he was a small boy?

The author remembers his family environment when he was a small boy as his father was verbally and physically abused to his mother.

b. Why does the author blame system more than his father?

The author blames system more than his father because the system was the reason behind his father’s stresses, pressures and traumas.

c. How does the principle of forgiveness work?

The principle of forgiveness does not depend on the actions of others. . It is the way of self-healing and obtaining peace and harmony. It releases our pain, brings the state of freedom in our heart and mind. It shows that people do not forgive for helping another person but they forgive for themselves as it is a matter of selfishness.

d. How does the author interpret the noise, squalls and tantrums of his children?

The author interpret the noise, squalls and tantrums of his children as the whole catalog of failures, irritations, fatigue thought etc. for the parents.

e. Why did the author decide to educate his children in Swaziland?

He decided to educate his children in Swaziland because he was dissatisfied with the inferior education as a result of Bantu Education Act of South Africa to black children.

f. How does the author define human life?

According to the author, human life is a great mixture of goodness, beauty, cruelty, heartbreak, interference, love and so much more.

g. According to the author, is it heredity or environment that shapes a man’s character? Explain.

According to the author, it is heredity or environment that shapes a man’s character. The birth of every child is same. By birth, a child is neither a liar, nor a rapist. He/she is not born full of hatred or violence. No one is born in any less glory or goodness that us. Hence heredity doesn’t shape a man’s character. It is our surrounding environment that shapes out character.

h. Why is forgiveness important in our life?

Forgiveness is important in our life because it is the way of freeing ourselves from our past errors and moving forward into our future unaffected by the mistakes we made in the past.

Critical Thinking

a. Desmond Tutu once said, “Forgiving is not forgetting; it is actually remembering-remembering and not using your right to hit back. It’s a second chance for a new beginning.” Does this quotation apply to this text? Analyze.

“Forgiving is not forgetting; it is actually remembering-remembering and not using your right to hit back. It’s a second chance for a new beginning.” is one of the famous quotes of Desmond Tutu. Forgiveness is the way to release feelings of vengeance toward a person or group who harmed us, not matter they deserve forgiveness or not. It is not to deny seriousness of an offense against us or it doesn’t mean forgetting. Here in the text, even if the author is willing to apologize, he is still a victim of his father’s domestic violence. Desmond Tutu remembers the pain his father had given to his mother. He wanted to hurt back his father in his childhood. But later he forgives his father justifying that his father’s rude behavior was because of the mistreat of white people to black people in South Africa. Therefore forgiving is not forgetting rather it is remembering-remembering and not using it to hit back.

b. The author interprets “I am sorry” as three hardest words to say. How does it apply to your life?

Committing mistakes are the part of human life. But accepting it and apologizing for it is the hardest task. In the text, the author interprets “I am sorry” as three hardest words to say. Empathy is the ability to put ourselves in another person’s shoes and feel what they feel. This is something we need to develop. It takes humility. Too often, we are preoccupied with our own feelings. Empathy is the recognition that it’s not all about us. Other people matter. They have feelings, too, and those feelings are important. By saying we are sorry—sincerely and with authentic humility—we validate them as human beings.

For me the three words “I am sorry” are hardest words to say when I hurt others. Instead to say sorry, I remain aloof to them who have been hurt by me and don’t go close to them to talk again. I don’t talk and be close to them unless they come to speak to me. I am so much proudly and sensitive person. I easily get hurt by other and feel sad and I wish them to come close to me and say “sorry”. But I never realize how much they are affected by my misbehavior. I feel very uneasy and difficult to say, “I am sorry.” Thus, as a matter of pride, fear of being shameful, lack of awareness, sense of superiority, gap in understanding, overwhelming emotion of guilt etc. also makes me hard to say the three words “I am sorry”.

Writing

The author talks about dual education system based on race in South Africa in the second half of the twentieth century. We also have private schools and public schools in Nepal. What should be done to make education equal to all citizens of Nepal? Write a couple of paragraphs expressing your views.

Nepal has come a long way in improving equity in education. In most countries, factors like income, geography, gender, language and disability contribute to inequitable access and high drop-out rates. Nepal’s education system has faced many problems since the mid-1800s. The first education system in Nepal was only available to elite families, and Nepali people did not have access to education until 100 years later in the 1950s. Current day education in Nepal is still in the developing stage and did not really start integrating the use of technology in the classroom until 2007.

To illustrate the issues that Nepal’s public school systems face, the children need access to clean drinking water while they attend school as well as at home. The lack of water and high temperatures result in the children having difficulty concentrating and comprehending the material at hand. Thus, this combined with child malnutrition in Nepal, children in public schools do not have an advantage to performing well and tend to fall behind or drop out of school. Given these facts, Nepal’s school system is indeed fairly new and continuing to develop, but there is still limited access to public schools. This limited access is a result of isolation of women from continuing education which leads families into poverty. In Nepal, there is an additional factor of caste and ethnicity which further aggravates this situation. While the caste system was legally abolished in the 1960’s, its legacy continues to impact the population for many years thereafter, and people considered low-caste are often economically and socially disadvantaged. In the past, children from such castes did not have access to schools. This has now changed with government initiatives such as school enrollment campaigns and scholarships for marginalized children.

Grammar

A. Join the following pairs of sentences using when and while

a. Bibha Kumari was doing her homework. The doorbell rang.

i. Bibha Kumari was doing her homework when the doorbell rang.

ii. While Bibha Kumari was doing her homework, the doorbell rang.

b. I heard the telephone ring. I picked it up.

When I heard the telephone ring, I picked it up.

c. Dil Maya found a thousand rupee note. She was washing her pants.

i. While Dil Maya was washing her pants, she found a thousand rupee note.

ii. Dil Maya was washing her pants when she found a thousand rupee note.

d. Tenjing gave his measurements to the dressmaker. He was visiting the market yesterday.

i. When Tenjing gave his measurements to the dressmaker, he was visiting the market yesterday.

ii. While Tenjing was visiting the market, he gave his measurements to the dressmaker.

e. I was at the butcher’s shop. I met Harikala.

When I was at the butcher’s shop, I met Harikala.

f. The sales agent was dealing with the customer. A thief stole the jewels.

i. While the sales agent was dealing with the customer, a thief stole the jewels.

ii. The sales agent was dealing with the customer when a thief stole the jewels.

g. My small brother was sleeping. I played chess with my father.

i. While my small brother was sleeping, I played chess with my father.

ii. My small brother was sleeping when I played chess with my father.

h. The old lady fell down. She was climbing up the stairs.

i. When the old lady fell down, she was climbing up the stairs.

ii. The old lady fell down while she was climbing up the stairs.

i. The leader was giving a speech loudly. He lost his voice.

i. While the leader was giving a speech loudly, he lost his voice.

ii. The leader was giving a speech loudly when he lost his voice.

j. Kanchan broke her backbone. She was lifting up the load.

i. Kanchan was lifting up the load when she broke her backbone.

ii. While Kanchan was lifting up the load, she broke her backbone.

B. Fill in the blanks with one of the connectives from the box.

a. We didn’t go for a morning walk today since it was raining.

b. I wanted to go home early as I was not feeling well.

c. My brother stayed at home because of/ owing to his illness.

d. I was late in the class owing to traffic jams.

e. He didn’t like dogs so he was not happy when his wife brought a puppy at home.

f. He was not included in the team owing to his knee injury.

g. As I was tired, I went to bed early.

h. He was very unhappy since he lost one million rupees in share market.

i. We cancelled our trip to Rara Lake owing to the bad weather.

j. These two lines intersect with each because they are are not parallel lines.

Leisure and Entertainment Exercise : Question Answers and Grammar

Leisure And Entertainment

Working with words

A. The words in the crossword puzzle are from the text. Find them from the text to solve the puzzle based on the clues given below.

Across

1. outdated, of or relating to the Middle Ages : Medieval

3. the character and atmosphere of a place : Ambience

6. highly decorated : Ornate

7. beat with a strong, regular rhythm; survive : Throb

10. with the agreement of all people involved : Unanimously

11. the destructive effects of something : Ravages

Down

1. a large city : Metropolis

2. wandering from place to place without any purpose : Loitering

4. an unpleasant place; a place of extreme misery : Hellhole

5. an active revolt or uprising : Insurgency

8. paved with cobbles : Cobbled

9. prosperous and growing; flourishing : Thriving

B. Look up the meanings of the following words in your dictionary.

Amenities

a desirable or useful feature or facility of a building or place.

Exquisite

extremely beautiful and delicate.

Etiquette

the customary code of polite behaviour in society or among members of a particular profession or group

Accommodation

a room, group of rooms, or building in which someone may live or stay.

Mainstay

a person or thing on which something else is based or depends.

Antique

having a high value because of age and quality.

C. Underline the content words in the following sentences.

a. The cat sat lazily on the dirty mat.

b. She gives performances on the stage beautifully.

c. Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched.

d. I came I saw I conquered.

e. It is my life, my very identity.

Comprehension

Answer the following questions.

a. Why did the author and his classmates decide to visit Bandipur?

The author and his classmates decided to visit Bandipur because all of them were fed up with the hectic pace of life in the Kathmandu metropolis.

b. What is special about Bandipur?

Bandipur is special because it is a place where old Nepal still lives on in that cool, cobbled Newar settlement.

c. How has the business changed in Bandipur today?

Today, the traditional variety of business has changed into tourism-related business in Bandipur.

d. Why do the local people who have migrated to Kathmandu visit Bandipur time and again?

The local people who have migrated to Kathmandu visit Bandipur time and again because they want to be free from the hectic life of Kathmandu.

e. How do the local people learn to speak English in Bandipur?

The local people learn to speak English in Bandipur from the local school children.

f. What does the author mean when he says that ‘time stops in the town of Bandipur’?

When the author says that “time stops in the town of Bandipur’, he means to appreciate the natural beauty of Bandipur which catches attention in such a way that everyone gets lost in its beauty and originality.

Critical thinking

a. The writer seems to believe that rural life is better than urban life. Do you agree with him?

Yes, I agree with the writer that rural life is better than urban life. First and foremost, the tranquil surroundings and environment attracts me a lot. The village is always described as a quiet and peaceful paradise, which is a perfect place to unwind and escape from the rat-race and Hustle and bustle of the city life. Besides, the rural areas are less crowded because there are not many people and cars. The scenery in a village is beautiful as the beauty of nature is still well-conserved. Thus, people who live in the village can enjoy nature and have a peaceful mind.

This condition is completely different with the city dwellers, who lead a hectic life and often feel annoyed due to great stress in their daily life. The environment in the rural area is less polluted. The air in the village is fresh and clean as there are plenty of undeveloped areas and greenery. In the rural area, there is less air pollution since there are not many factories and cars around. Living in the city may have its benefits such as better facilities and education. However, I am still in the opinion that living in the rural area brings more advantages than living in the city.

b. Is the writer’s way of looking at Bandipur just a gaze of an urban tourist? Why? Why not?

No, the writer’s way of looking at Bandipur is not just a gaze of an urban tourist. He doesn’t visit Bandipur just as an urban tourist. Being fed with his hectic life in Kathmandu, he visit there along with his friends to feel the peaceful environment and amazing beauty of the place by his heart.

Bandipur is a hilltop settlement and a rural Municipality which lies in Tanahu district of Nepal. This place is the centre of attraction for various reasons. The true and original beauty of the place attracts most of the tourists to this place. The amazing beauty and scenario of Bandipur also attracted the writer. At Bandipur, he and his friends are amazed by the local cultures, behaviours and organic and delicious food items. He enjoys various places in Bandipur along with his friends. He feels himself heartily connected to this place where he gets all sorts of refreshments which he has been looking for. He learns about places, people and their tourism businesses. The writer spends his best time in Bandipur. Thus, his gaze towards this beautiful place is more than an urban tourist.

Grammar

A. Tick the correct one.

a. He has obtained full mark/marks.

b. More than two boys were/was absent.

c. One of the boy/boys was not found there.

d. His wonder knew no bounds/bound.

e. I give you my words/word.

f. He gave me much/many good advice/advices.

g. He gave wrong information/informations.

h. Give me two dozens/dozen eggs.

i. Six miles is/are a long distance.

j. The clock has struck four hours/hour.

k. Would you lend me a ten rupees/rupee note?

l. Nepal government makes five year/years development plan.

m. They went to Singapore on a four days/day trip.

B. Which of the sentence is correct in each pair? Rewrite the correct one.

a. My all books are lost. All my books are lost.

All my books are lost.

b. His both brothers are ill. Both his brothers are ill.

Both his brothers are ill.

c. Give me a hundred rupee. Give a hundred rupees.

Give me a hundred rupee.

d. Everybody except me was absent. Everybody except I was absent.

Everbody except me was absent.

e. He was died of fever. He died of fever.

He died of fever.

f. It is raining for a week. It has been raining for a week.

It has been raining for a week.

g. I have seen my friend long ago. I saw my friend long ago.

I saw my friend long ago.

h. My friend has gone out before I arrived. My friend had gone out before I arrived.

My friend had gone out before I arrived.

i. He said he has never seen him before. He said he had never seen him before.

He said he had never seen him before.

j. He assured he will come. He assured he would come.

He assured he would come.

Fantasy Exercise : Question Answers and Grammar

Fantasy

Working with words

A. Match the following words with their definitions.

a. snappy

irritable and inclined to speak sharply

b. discretion

the ability to behave without causing embarrassment or attracting too much attention

c. radiant

showing great happiness, love or health

d. irresolute

not able to decide what to do

e. brusque

using very few words and sounding rude

f. fitful

a quiet period between times of activity

g. harlequin

a humorous character in some traditional plays

h. lull

happening only for short periods

i. janitress

a lady whose job is to take care of a building such as a school or a block of flats

j. speck

a very small spot

B. Consult a dictionary or search over the internet and write definitions of the following terminologies used in the stock market.

a. Liquidity : the availability of liquid assets (cash) to a market or company.

b. IPO : the process of offering shares of a private corporation to the public in a new stock issuance.

c. NEPSE : the only stock exchange of Nepal which stands for Nepal Stock Exchange

d. index : measurement of the value of a section of the stock market

e. portfolio : collection of financial investments like stocks, bonds, commodities, cash, and cash equivalents, including mutual funds and ETFs

f. dividend : a payment to shareholders that is made in shares rather than as cash

g. turn over : a measure of stock liquidity

h. margin : the amount of equity an investor has in their brokerage account

Comprehension

A. Write ‘T’ for true statements, ‘F’ for false ones or ‘NG’ if the information is not given in the text.

a. Harvey Maxwell was a stock broker. T

b. He was not happy with his clerk, Pitcher. NG

c. Miss Leslie had been married to Maxell for a year. F

d. Maxwell had hired a machine to work in his office. NG

e. He had instructed Pitcher to get a new stenographer. T

f. Miss Leslie was amazed by Maxwell’s proposal. T

g. She thought that he had probably gone mad. F

h. She realized that he had been absent-minded due to his business. T

B. Answer the following questions.

a. How did Maxwell enter his office?

Maxwell entered his office briskly with the young lady stenographer and greeting Pitcher by saying “Good Morning”.

b. Describe the physical appearance of the young lady.

She was beautiful in a way that was decidedly unstenographic. She forewent the pomp of the alluring pompadour. She wore no chains, bracelets or lockets. She had not the air of being about to accept an invitation to luncheon. Her dress was grey and plain, but it fitted her figure with fidelity and discretion. In her neat black turban hat was the gold-green wing of a macaw. On this morning she was softly and shyly radiant. Her eyes were dreamily bright, her cheeks genuine peachblow, her expression a happy one, tinged with reminiscence.

c. What changes did Pitcher notice in the young lady?

Pitcher noticed a difference in her ways this morning. Instead of going straight into the adjoining room, where her desk was, she lingered, slightly irresolute, in the outer office. Once she moved over by Maxwell’s desk, near enough for him to be aware of her presence.

d. What was Pitcher’s reply to the young lady concerning a new stenographer?

Pitcher’s reply to the young lady concerning a new stenographer was that Maxwell had already told him to get another stenographer and then he had notified agency a day before to send over a few samples that morning and none of the candidates arrived till the time except her.

e. What proposal did Maxwell make with Miss Leslie?

Maxwell made a marriage proposal with Miss Leslie.

f. How did she react to his proposal?

She acted very queerly when he proposed her. At first she seemed overcome with amazement; then tears flowed from her wondering eyes; and then she smiled sunnily through them, and one of her arms slid tenderly about the broker’s neck.