Class 12 Compulsory English Human Culture Notes

Working with Words

A. Complete the sentences with 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. Root Words, Suffixes, and Parts of Speech

D. Waste Management Vocabulary & Sentences

• 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 a pollution-free environment.
• Monofilament: 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 by stating that three nights a week, residents of his neighborhood deposit their household trash at specified areas on street corners, wrapped in neat bundles like gifts, which then completely disappear by dawn.

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

The two primary reasons behind the existence of sodaigomi (bulky waste) are the small size of the typical Japanese house and the strong Japanese cultural 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 a sense of shame and embarrassment at the thought of buying or using second-hand items.

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

In Malaysian culture, no one throws anything away, and customers bid enthusiastically for small second-hand items. Conversely, in Japanese culture, heaps of clean, new-looking merchandise are openly discarded on the streets, while shoppers feel too embarrassed to buy them second-hand.

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

The author felt awkward because he could not believe that items looking completely clean, whole, and fully serviceable were routinely thrown out in Japanese culture.

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

The author collected several items: an ordinary low Japanese tea table, a shiny new bell for his 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 piles ‘in the dead of the night’?

People search through trash piles in the dead of the night so that everyone can pretend not to notice, allowing them to scavenge without bringing shame upon themselves or their families.

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

The author’s family assimilated by operating in the dead of night to collect the essential materials and goods discarded in the sodaigomi piles.

Critical Thinking

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

Yes, I would collect articles from sodaigomi if I were in Japan. Coming from a culture where people only discard items after they are completely old, damaged, or entirely non-functional, seeing perfectly good merchandise left on the street is astonishing. Buying brand-new items in Japan can be very expensive, and picking up clean, usable items from sodaigomi is a smart, sustainable way to save money while preventing good resources from going to waste.

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?

While some consumers value second-hand items for their cost-effectiveness and environmental benefits, many people in Nepal still look down upon them. To encourage second-hand shopping in Nepal, the following practices would be effective:

• Brand Partnerships: Second-hand shops should partner with trusted brands and provide clear guidance to consignors on which products sell best.
• Realistic Pricing: Prices should be set transparently based on the original value of the item, properly discounted according to its extent of wear and tear.
• Enhanced Customer Support: Offering consultations on pricing, cleaning, photographing, and listing items can build trust and attract more sellers and buyers.
• Vibrant Digital Marketing: Stores should utilize social media platforms actively to normalize second-hand shopping and reach a wider audience.

Writing

A. Paragraph on 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle)

The principle of reducing waste, reusing resources, and recycling products is widely known as the “3Rs.” Essentially, it provides a structured sequence for proper waste management. Reducing means choosing to consume with care to minimize the amount of waste generated in the first place. Reusing involves using items or parts of items repeatedly for as long as they have usable life. Recycling means processing waste materials so they can be utilized as raw resources again. Together, the 3Rs significantly cut down the volume of garbage sent to landfills, conserving natural resources, energy, and valuable land space. Adopting this framework also reduces the heavy financial and environmental burdens communities face when dealing with waste disposal.

B. Letter to the Editor

12/24 Amritnagar Tole,

Kalanki, Kathmandu

26th Jan, 2021

To the Editor,

The Kathmandu Post

Subject: Regarding the urgent need for solving garbage problems.

Dear Sir,

I would be grateful if you could allow a little space in your widely circulated and popular newspaper to draw the attention of the general public and government authorities to the worsening crisis of garbage management in Nepali cities. We all know that solid waste is a severe problem, yet our current management systems fall short because waste is rarely segregated at the source. Without proper segregation, extracting value from waste—either as energy or recyclable material—becomes nearly impossible.

Waste management needs to start on a smaller, localized scale to solve the broader city-wide crisis. Informal waste-pickers already contribute immensely, and their capacity must be formally integrated. Platforms like I Got Garbage can help build sustainable business models for them. Instead of simply collecting and dumping mixed household waste, municipalities should provide subsidies and home composters to every household. Relying on massive landfill sites is an outdated and unsustainable solution.

Furthermore, roughly 80 percent of the organic waste littering our streets could be repurposed if local governments cooperated with pig farmers and compost producers. As long as authorities attempt to clean cities using the same failed methods of the past, conditions will not improve. We desperately need a dramatically different approach.

I hope the concerned authorities take prompt and appropriate steps.

Yours faithfully,

Subarna P.

Grammar

B. Complete the sentences using the words in brackets

• a. This house is very small. I want to buy a much bigger one.
• b. I liked the magic show. It was far more exciting than I’d expected.
• c. It was very cold yesterday. It’s a bit warmer today.
• d. The warmer the weather, the better I feel.
• e. An average American earns considerably higher than an average Nepali.
• f. Health care in Nepal is not as expensive as it is in the US.
• g. I think the problem is far more complicated than it seems.
• h. You are driving very fast. Would you please drive a bit more slowly?
• i. Your handwriting is not legible. Can you write a bit neater?

C. Rewrite the sentences with the given beginnings

• a. Kabir is less intelligent than he pretends. $\rightarrow$ He is not as intelligent as he pretends.
• b. I am busy today but I was busier yesterday. $\rightarrow$ I’m not as busy today as I was yesterday.
• c. Hari has lived in Kathmandu for 10 years but Bikram for 20 years. $\rightarrow$ Bikram has lived in Kathmandu 10 years longer than Hari.
• d. I used to study 12 hours a day but nowadays I study only 5 hours a day. $\rightarrow$ I don’t study as much as I used to.
• e. It’s a very good room in our hotel. In fact, it’s the best compared to others. $\rightarrow$ It is the best room in our hotel.
• f. He earns 30 thousand rupees a month but spends 40 thousand. $\rightarrow$ He spends more than he earns.
• g. There is no other mountain higher than Mt. Everest in the world. $\rightarrow$ Mt. Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
• h. The place was nearer than I thought. $\rightarrow$ It was not as far as I thought.
• i. Bharat can play better than Mohan. $\rightarrow$ Mohan can’t play as well as Bharat.