Unseen Passage 5: All About Dates (BBC Compacta class 7th self Access Module Q.8.)

 Q. Read the following passage carefully:

ALL ABOUT DATES

(1) If someone were to ask you, "When do we celebrate New Year?" what would you say? "January 1, of course!" wondering why you were being asked such a stupid question. New year has been celebrated on january 1 only for the last 400 years or so- after Pope Gregory introduced the new calender in 1562. Four thousand years before that, that Babylonians first started celebrating New year- but in late March, at the beginning of spring. The Romans observed New year in March, though each of the emperors tampered with the calender till it becomes out of tune with the seasons. Finally to set the calender right, Julius Caesar declared january 1 to be New Year in honour of Janus, the gatekeeper to heaven and earth. Have you seen a picture of Janus? He's the god with two faces, one looking back to the old year and the other looking ahead to the new one. And in order to set the calender right, Caesar had to let the previous year drag on for 445 days!

(2) Did you know that April Fool's Day came into existence only because of this change of date? Some people who were not aware of the change continued to celebrate New Year on April 1. Others made fun of them and played tricks on them and this day came to be known as April Fool's Day! Though the Romans celebrated New Year, the church did not approve of the practice for a long time. So, it is approximately during the last 400 years that the western world started celebrating this day.

(3) The tradition of making new year resolutions began when the Romans who loved wild and crazy parties, came up with the convenient excuse that they could always start afresh in the New Year. Another interesting belief is that what we eat or do on the first day of the year will affect our luck for the rest of the year. Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolises coming full circle, completing a year's cycle. That's why the Dutch eat doughnut on New year's day. Other lucky foods are cabbage and rice. The Spanish eat 12 grapes for hood luck when the clock strikes 12. The French eat a stack of pancakes for good luck. 

[Usha Narayan, The Hindu (Modified)]

                         Questions

(I)  On the basis of your reading of the passage, complete the following sentences as briefly as possible. Write the answers in the space provided.

(a) "When do we celebrate New Year?" would be such a stupid question to ask because ........... 

(b) In ancient times New Year was celebrated .............. to mark the .............

(c)  The calender became 'out of tune' with the seasons as a result of .......... 

(d) The significance of January being named after the god Janus is that it ...........

(e) An unusual occurrence helped 'to set the calender right'. That occurrence was ..........

(f) People who continued to celebrate New Year on April 1 were considered fools because ............

(g) Four 'lucky foods' as mentioned in the passage are: (i) ..... (ii) ..... (iii) ..... (iv) .....

(II) Complete the following table with relevant words and phrases. Write the answers in the space provided. Do not copy the whole table.

 

Year/Date                       Event/occasion

1562.                             (a) ..................

(b) .......                         Western world started.                                          celebrating New year

(c)..........                           Babylonians first                                                    started celebrating                                                 New year.

(d) ............                      Ancient New Year

January 1.                      Modern New Year

(III) Find phrases from the passage which mean the same as the following from the paragraphs indicated.

(a) changed something wrongfully (paragraph 1)

(b) returning to the starting point  (paragraph 3)

                       Answers

(I) 

(a) It had been celebrated on january 1 for the last 400 years 

(b) in march.       beginning of spring

(c) new year observed by Romans in March.

(d) is the gatekeeper to heaven and Earth and the god with two faces, one looking back to the old year and the other looking ahead to the new one.

(e) that caesar had to drag the previous year for 445 days.

(f) they were not aware of the change and other people made fun of them and played tricks on them.

(g) (i) droughnut 

     (ii) cabbage and rice

     (iii) grapes

     (iv)  pancakes

(II)

(a) Pope gregory introduced the new calender.

(b) 1 April

(c) 4000 years before 1562

(d) March 1

(III)

(a) Out of tune

(b) began

Caring For Elderly

 Q. You are Sonal/Sumit. You feel blessed to have grandparents living with you. You feel that they are the pillars of the house and a store house of love, affection and wisdom. In return they only need a sense of regard and tolerance from us. Write an article for your school magazine on 'Caring for the Elderly'. Refer to the unit 'Tolerance' of My English Reader. Include your own ideas too.

A.              CARING FOR THE ELDERLY

                                                              By: Sumit

Elderly care is the fulfilment of the special needs and requirements that are important for the senior citizens. They need love, care and concern(relation) at this phase of life. But, now a days this has become a myth(creation of mind) that they are a burden for the family and society too. Old group people only expect respect, privacy and good assistance from their family. Because of them only, we are able to live in the society. They have raised us and now being as grandparents, they are making our childrens familiar to the surroundings and rituals. They gives us courage and motivation to face hardships of life. 

   In most of the country family is regarded as the main institution of elderly care. As they were beside us when we were in need so we must not left them alone because without family support the elderly may fall into depression or can be the victim(पीड़ित व्यक्ति, one who suffers)  of any severe disease. So, with our loving and caring attitude we can make them feel that they are no longer unwanted. They need family support and patience which create positive and optimistic environment for the elders. We must care for them as they are knowledgeable part of the society and also plays an important role in balancing the economy of the country. (221 words)

SHORT ARTICLE 

Elderly care is the fulfilment of the special needs and requirements that are important for the senior citizens. The elderly people lead a love and care to age with dignity. But today the people take the elderly people as a burden for the family and the society. It is the duty of the family to take care of their old and elderly people. They are the people who have raised their children and have made them able to live in the society. They give them courage and motivation to face hardships of life. So, when they grow old, it is our responsibility to stand beside them. We should give them our love, care and time as they had given us when we were in need. They should not be left alone. With our loving and caring attitude we can make them feel that they are no longer unwanted.(149 words)

Q. Your school is organising 'Senior Citizen Day' to make people aware about the importance and contribution of the elderly people to society and Nation. Write a speech to be delivered in your morning assembly showing your concern on the issue of care of our elders.

Unseen passage 4: The Eagle And The Baby Bird (BBC Compacta class 6th Module 5 worksheet 17)

 Q. Read the passage carefully:

   THE EAGLE AND THE BABY BIRD

(1) In a big shady tree lived a mamma and papa bird with their small little bird. Everyday they would feed and take care of the baby bird till it grew up to go on its first flight.

(2) "Today we will teach you how to fly. Then you can go and see the world,"papa bird said. "But wait till we get some food for all of us,"said mama bird softly.

(3) The baby bird sat in the nest waiting in excitement for its first flight. Suddenly a shadow fell on him. He looked up and saw a huge bird staring at him.

(4) "Who are you?" asked the baby bird. "I am an eagle,"said the big bird in a gruff voice.

(5) "Oh, hello eagle uncle. My papa and mamma are not home. They have gone to get some food for us and after that they are going to teach me how to fly," said the baby bird excitedly. "You please wait. They will be returning any moment now."

(6) "I have not come to meet them. I have come to eat you because I am hungry," said the eagle.

"Why do you want to eat me. I am no food. You wait, eagle uncle and share the food my papa and mama will bring,"said the baby bird.

Eagles have always eaten other smaller birds and so I am not going to eat you also. So, don't talk too much and let me eat you in peace."

(7) "Okay, eagle uncle, I won't stop you but first let me kiss you to forgive you the way my mama does to forgive my moschiefs." So saying the baby bird kissed the eagle near the left eye.

"That felt nice. Do it on the other side too,"said the eagle.

The baby bird obliged.

(8) "Hey, this is nice. I never knew you could also love another being. Come here baby bird and let me thank you for showing me the meaning of love,"said the eagle hugging the baby bird.

(9) Very soon, the papa and mama bird returned home to find a guest for lunch!

The Tribune

(I) On the basis of your reading of the above passage, complete the following statements as briefly as possible. Write the answers in the space provided.

(a) The shady tree was home to ...........

(b) One day the baby bird was alone as ...........

(c) .......... made the baby bird feel very excited.

(d) The visitor with gruff voice wanted ...........

(e) Two qualities of baby bird as revealed in the story are: (i)......... (ii) .............

(f) The eagle felt a little irritated because ......... .

(g) The baby bird wanted to kiss the uncle because ...............

(h) The uncle wanted the baby bird to kiss him a second time as ...............

(II) Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following from the paragraphs indicated. Write the answers in the space provided.

(a) looking fixedly (paragraph 2-3)

(b) deep and rough (paragraph 4-5)

                         ANSWERS

(I) 

(a) mama bird, papa bird and their small little bird. (para 1)

(b) her parent's (mama bird and papa bird) has gone to get some food for all of them. (para 2)

(c) its first flight (para 3)

(d) to eat baby bird (para 6)

(e) i) sharing (para 6) 

     ii) loving (para 7)

(f) baby bird was talking too much and don't let her to eat yourself in peace. (para 6)

(g) baby bird forgave eagle the way her mama does to forgive her mischiefs. (para 7)

(h) It felt her nice (para 7)

(II)

(a) staring 

(b) gruff

Tolerance - The Need of the hour.

 Q. We hear in the news about growing intolerance among children and youth, which is causing great trouble and discomfort in modern times. There are cases of bullying in schools and colleges, frequent fights and rising tempers. Understanding the importance of tolerance, prepare a speech to be delivered in the morning assembly on the topic "Tolerance- The need of the hour" in about 120-150 words.

A.        TOLERANCE - NEED OF THE HOUR

Respected Principal, My worthy teachers and dear friends. Today I stand before you to express my views on the topic 'Tolerance- The need of the hour'.

Man is a social animal and has to live in a spirit of harmony and cooperation with others. In this process some amount of give and take is necessary. Tolerance is a virtue of civilized age which helps us to makes with those people who have different ways and views. Without tolerance, broad mindedness energy will be wasted. Since people of different backgrounds, religions interact with each other, so they depend on each other. The level of tolerance should be increased so that harmony is created. Racism, castism are the results of intolerance. A greater amount of tolerance will bring a lot of peace and harmony into this world. Today Gandhi ji is not present but his high principles of non-violence and tolerance still exists. We should follow the principle of 'live and let live'.

Thank you! 

Q. Tolerance is a virtue of civilized age. There is an immediate need to educate our students on the importance of maintaining the secular fabric of our nation. Write a speech to be presented in the morning assembly on the topic 'Tolerance-Need of the hour' in about 150-200 words. 

Unseen Passage 3: Robert Falcon Scott and his men (bbc compacta class 6th Module 1 worksheet-1).

Q. Read the following passage carefully:

(1) In 1912 the British explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott and his men were caught in a snowstorm and died while returning to their base camp after reaching the South Pole. Their tent, buried under snow, was discovered the following year by Sir Ernest Shackleton. Scott was found holding in his dead hand an unfurnished letter addressed to his author~friend, James Barrie. After describing the fierce snowstrom and the approaching death, Scott wrote that he and his colleagues were spending the time singing songs and pleasant conversation. Below these lines he had written in bold letters one word- COURAGE. When he returned to England, Shackleton handed over the letter to Sir James Barrie, who read it and kept it in a box.

(2) A few years later, Sir james developed some defect in his right hand because of which he could not hold a pen. The author lost all hope of ever being able to write again. One day, in a pensive mood, he took out Scott's letter and read it again. It lifted his spirits, and set him thinking. If scott and his men could remain cheerful in the face of certain death, could he not learn to face adversity bravely? He picked up his pen and began practising writing with his left hand. In a few weeks he could write perfectly well with it.

                        Questions

 (I) On the basis of reading of above passage, complete the sentences as briefly as possible. Write the answers in space provided.

(a) Robert Falcon Scott and his men were killed when..............

(b) Sir Ernest Shackleton discovered ...........

(c) Just before his death, scott ..............

(d) The atmosphere in the scott's tent just before  the snowstorm was one of ............ and .............. .

(e) James felt sad and hopeless because ........ .

(f) The lesson Scott's letter taught James was ............. .

(g) "...and set him thinking" (para 2). What thought came to Sir James's mind? 

(II) Find words from the passage which mean the opposite of the following from the lines indicated.

(a) gentle (Paragraph 1)

(b) happy (Paragraph 2)

                       Answers

(I)

(a)  they were returning to their base camp after reaching the south pole. (para 1 line 1)

(b) captain Robert Falcon Scott and his men's tent buried under snow. (para 1 line 2)

(c) found an unfurnished letter addressed to his author friend, james Barrie. (para 1 line 3)

(d) pleasant and joyful. (para 1 singing songs  and pleasant conversation)

(e) he was not able to write again. (para 2 line 2)

(f) To face adversity bravely. (para 2 line 5)

(g) Thought came to Sir james mind was that if scott and his men could remain cheerful in the face of certain death, could he too not learn to face adversity bravely. (para 2 line7)

(II)

(a) fierce

(b) pensive

Success comes to those who will and dare.

 Q.  You are Madhu/Madhav, a student of class VIII. You feel really inspired after reading about great talented people like Adam Ezra, Cohen, etc. You realize that 'Success comes to those who will and Dare'. Taking hints from the unit 'Enterprise', along with your own ideas, write a speech to be deliver by you on the same topic in about 150 words. [SA1 2016-17 Class VIII DAV BOARD]

A.     SUCCESS COMES TO THOSE WHO WILL AND DARE

Respected Principal, My worthy teachers and dear friends. Today I stand before you to express my views on the topic 'Success comes to those who will and Dare'.

All want to be successful in their life. Success is a journey and not a destination. Success means to achieve the goal of our life. It is rightly said that,"Hard work is the key to success". Nothing can be gained without hard work. To get success in life, one has to takes risks. We have to face all the challenges of our life very boldly; we should learn from our failures. We should have a positive attitude towards our life. Only then we can achieve our goal. History shows that all the freedom fighters, leaders had worked  very hard to achieve their aim. So, we can say that nothing can be achieved if we do not dare and will. To reach the ladder of success, we should have a strong willpower, determination and dareness.

Thankyou! 

Q. Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly. Taking ideas from the unit 'Enterprise' along with your own ideas, write a speech to be delivered in the morning assembly of your school on the topic 'Success comes to those who will and dare'. You are Radha/Rishabh of class VIII. (Word limit: 100-120 words) [D.A.V Board March 2021]

Q. Many start-ups began during the pandemie but only a few succeeded. Others failed due to lack of determination and consistent hard work. This proves that no endeavour can be successful without hard work, determination and perseverance. Taking ideas from the Unit-Enterprise, write a speech on the topic, Success comes to those, who never give up'. (Word limit: 100-120) (Sample paper 2022)

Q. Ups and downs are a part and parcel of life. But maintaining an indomitable spirit in the face of such circumstances helps one achieve success. Taking ideas from the unit- Enterprise- of English Reader along with your own ideas write a speech on the topic- Success Comes to Those Who Will And Dare.                                         (100-120 words)