Life And Death | Unit 4 | English

Reading 1

Death is a Fiction

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

a. a thing that is imagined- fiction

b. a way of looking at something – dimension

c. to force somebody to leave -dislodge

d. faced somebody so that you could not avoid – confronted

e. to make somebody feel better – solace

B. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

a. Death is a fiction created by a human being.

b. Ultimately, we are moving straight to the grave.

c. According to the speaker, death is guaranteed. It is sure to happen.

d. Human beings have corrupted everything and they have twisted it whichever way they want.

C. Answer the following questions.

a. According to the speaker, there is only life. How?

⇒ According to the speaker, there is only life as nobody has experienced death.

b. According to the speaker, what is life?

⇒ According to the speaker, life is the process of moving from one dimension to another.

c. Why is there nothing wrong with death?

⇒ There is nothing wrong with death because it is a natural part of life, and has to happen.

d. Why do we fear death?

⇒ We fear death because we do not know what it is. We have never experienced it, and we do not know what happens after we die. This uncertainty can be scary, and it can lead to fear.

e. Why do people have an idea of death?

⇒ People have an idea of death because people have been talking about it without knowing about it. /People have an idea of death because they have been told about it by others.

D. What is your view on death? Write a short paragraph.

Death is the end of a life in a living thing. All living and biological actions of the living thing stop, including the mind and the senses. The usual indication for death both in humans and many other animals is that the heart stops beating and cannot be restarted. This can be caused by many things. All living things have a certain lifespan, and they finally die.

Grammar I

Simple Present Tense

A. Rewrite the following sentences using the correct form of the verbs given in the brackets.

a. The winter follows the autumn season.

b. The human body consists of some 60 trillion individual cells.

c. Cows feed on grass.

d. He earns a handsome salary every month.

e. Akila makes delicious cookies.

f. Arati and her husband live in Singapore.

g. Do you like chocolate milk?

h. He doesn’t want to go to the movies.

i. My grandfather adores his pet dog.

j. Plants need water and sunlight for photosynthesis.

k. He has a big apartment in Venice.

B. Make a statement or a question using these prompts. Use the present simple.

I/not/check/my emails when I get to school.

Answer: I don’t check my emails when I get to school.

you/watch/the news on TV every day?

Answer: Do you watch the news on TV every day?

she/wear/a red dress.

Answer: She wears a red dress.

you/have/a school bus?

Answer: Do you have a school bus?

what/you/want to drink?

Answer: What do you want to drink?

you/not/need more reading practice.

Answer: You do not need more reading practice.

your friend/not/like computer games.

Answer: Your friend does not like computer games.

mum/wash/car once a week.

Answer: Does mum wash a car once a week

B. Change the following sentences into negative and questions.

The swimming pool opens everyday at 9: 30 am.

Neg- The swimming pool doesn’t open everyday at 9: 30 am.

Q- Does the swimming pool open everyday at 9: 30 am?

I use my car very often.

Neg- I use my car very often.

Q- Do you use your car very often?

John comes from Mexico.

Neg- John doesn’t come from Mexico.

Q- Does John come from Mexico?

I play the piano very well.

Neg- I don’t play the piano very well.

Q- Do you play the piano very well?

Ann watches television a lot.

Neg- Ann doesn’t watch television much.

Q- Does Ann watch television much?

I write to my parents every month.

Neg- I don’t write to my parents every month.

Q- Do you write to your parents every month?

This car breaks down every five hours.

Neg- This car doesn’t break down every five hours.

Q- Does this car break down every five hours ?

Writing I

Message of Condolence

A. Write a message of condolence to her family on behalf of your school. It will be published in a local newspaper. Use the clues given in the box below.

Subhadra Adhikari (1946 – 2019) …….. passed away at her residence, in Kathmandu, due to respiratory problems …….. famous and wellknown senior actress .……. contributed a lot to the Nepali film industry ………….. Basanti, Basudev, Muna Madan, Chino among superhits ………….heartfelt condolences

HEARTFELT CONDOLENCE DOB: 1946      DOD: 2019 We are deeply saddened by the news of the demise of our veteran actress Subhadra Adhikari. She passed away at her residence, Kathmandu, due to respiratory problems in 2019. She was a famous and well- known senior actress. She contributed a lot to the Nepali film industry. Basanti, Basudev, Muna Madan, and Chino are among her superhit movies. She was quite popular for her congeniality, diligence and great virtue. At this time of grief, we want to express our sincere condolences to her bereaved family and pray for the strength to bear the irrecoverable loss. We will always cherish her wonderful memories. May the departed soul rest in peace in heavenly abode. ABC School Nadipur, Pokhara

Reading 2

Crossing The Bar

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

moaning – v. complaining

boundless- iv. never-ending; infinite

twilight- vii. dusk

embark – iii. go on board

tho’ – ii. though

bourne- i. a boundary; a limit

crost- vi. crossed

B. Fill in the gaps with the words/phrases given below to complete the paraphrase of the poem.

I notice the sunset and evening stars in the sky and hear a sound calling for me loud and clear. I hope that the sandbar will not be disturbed when I go out to sea. Instead, I want to be carried out on a tide moving so slowly it seems almost asleep, and which is too swollen to make a sound. That’s what I want when I return home to the depths of the great unknown. Twilight comes with the evening bell which will be followed by darkness. There don’t need to be any sad goodbyes when I go. Even though I’ll be going far from this time and place, floating on the tide of death, I hope to meet  God, who has been like my pilot in this journey, when I’ve made it across the bar.

C. Answer the following questions.

a. Where does the speaker have to go crossing the sandbar?

⇒ The speaker has to go to the sea crossing the sandbar.

b. Why can’t the tide make a huge sound or create a lather?

⇒ The tide can’t make a huge sound or create a lather because it seems asleep.

c. What do the twilight and the evening bell suggest in the poem?

⇒ In the poem, the twilight and the evening bell suggest the end of the day. In a deeper sense, the speaker’s approaching his end.

d. Where is the speaker going without accepting sad goodbyes?

⇒ The speaker is going to a sea journey without accepting sad goodbyes.

e. Who is the only agent that helps the speaker to go far on his journey?

⇒ His Pilot (God) is the only agent that helps the speaker to go far on his journey.

f. Does the speaker fear death? Why/Why not?

⇒ The speaker does not fear death because he believes that he will be able to see his creator face-to-face in the afterlife. He believes that death is not the end, but rather a transition to a new life.

g. What does the pilot symbolise?

⇒  The pilot symbolises God (his creator).

Grammar II

A. Complete the following sentences with the correct adverbs from the brackets.

I see one or two movies every week. I …. (often/never) ….. go to the movies.

⇒ often

I let my roommate borrow my car just once. I ………… (sometimes/rarely) ……….. let my roommate borrow my car.

⇒ rarely

Maria eats cereal for breakfast seven days a week. Maria …… (usually/always) …….. eats cereal for breakfast.

⇒ always

Four out of five visitors to the museum stay for three hours or longer. Museum visitors ……… (usually/seldom) ….. stay for at least three hours.

⇒ usually

We occasionally have quizzes in history class. The teacher ……… (always/sometimes) …….. gives quizzes in history class.

⇒ sometimes

Subina always misses the morning assembly. She …… (rarely/ never) ……. arrives at school on time.

⇒ never

In the desert, it rains only two days between May and September every year. It ……… (rarely/often) …….. rains there in the summer.

⇒ rarely

Rohit asks me to go to the winter camp, but I don’t accept his invitation. I ……… (seldom/often) …….. go to the winter camp.

⇒ seldom

Lisa and Samrat go fishing/ to dinner at least three times a week. They ……… (usually/seldom) ………. go out to dinner with each other.

⇒ usually

B. Rewrite the following sentences with the correct alternatives from the brackets.

Your friendship over the years and your support ……. (has/have) …….. meant a great deal to us. – plural subject

⇒ have

Hamilton Family Center, a shelter for teenage runaways in San Francisco, ……… (offers/offer) ………. a wide variety of services. – singular subject

⇒ offers

One of the major sources of income of Trinidad ……. (is/are) ……. tourism. – singular subject

⇒ is

The chances of your being promoted …. (is/are) …… excellent. plural subject

are

There …………… (was/were) …………… a Pokemon card stuck to the refrigerator. – singular subject

was

Neither the professor nor his assistants …………… (was/were) ……………. able to attend the conference. plural subject

⇒ were

Many hours at the driving range …… (has/have) ……. led us to design golf balls with GPS locators in them. – plural subject

⇒ have

Discovered in the soil of our city garden …….. (was/were) …… a button dating from the turn of the century.- singular subject

⇒ was

Writing II

A. Read the email below and write a reply to Asmita Praja. Express your sympathy and wish that she gets well soon.

From: abcdef@gmail.com

To: asmita@gamil.com

Subject: Expressing sympathy and wishing a speedy recovery

Dear Asmita,

I was deeply saddened to hear about your recent accident. Please accept my sincere sympathy and heartfelt wishes for a speedy recovery. Knowing how cautious and careful you are, I find myself wondering how such an unfortunate incident occurred. Nevertheless, I want you to know that I firmly believe it was not your fault.

On a positive note, I’m relieved to hear that you will be able to engage in some bed reading and writing after a week. That’s truly wonderful news! In light of your current situation, I want to assure you that your studies should not be a cause for concern. Your health takes precedence above all else, so it’s crucial that you focus on your recovery. Rest assured that I will take it upon myself to record all the lectures and diligently gather class notes for you. This way, you won’t miss out on any essential information or fall behind your classmates.

Please remember that I am here for you during this challenging time. If there is anything you require, whether it be assistance or simply someone to talk to, please do not hesitate to reach out. Your well-being is of utmost importance, and I am committed to supporting you in any way I can.

Please take care and know that my thoughts are with you as you embark on your journey to regain your strength and well-being. Wishing you a swift recovery.

With deepest sympathy and warmest regards,

With love,

Subham