Reading 1
The Ant and the Grasshopper
A. Choose the appropriate words given below to replace the underlined words in the given sentences.
[industry, hilarious, qualm, enticements, obliged, amendments, expostulations]
a. If your talent combines with diligence, you can excel in your field.
⇒ industry
b. The dessert menu has a lot of delicious temptations.
⇒ enticements
c. The house passed the bill without listening to the public objections.
⇒ expostulations
d. Knowledge of the ill effects of tobacco has led to modifications in smoking behaviour.
⇒ amendments
e. Without any regret, Yule started spending his father’s inheritance.
⇒ qualm
f. Mr. Smith read a humorous story which matched his real life.
⇒ hilarious
B. Put the following sentences from the story in the correct order.
The correct order is:
- The Ramsays were perfectly respectable people.
- Tom left his wife and his office.
- When his money was spent, he borrowed it from friends and spent it on luxuries.
- George continued to pay for his brother’s expenses.
- Tom promised to make a fresh start.
- Tom bought a motor car and some very nice jewellery.
- Tom never settled down.
- Tom began to blackmail his brother for money.
- Tom took the help of Cronshaw to cheat his brother, and left for Monte Carlo.
C. Answer the following questions.
a. Why is Tom described as the ‘black sheep’ of the Ramsay family?
⇒ Tom was a black sheep in Ramsays’ family because he always created problems.
b. What was a respectable profession for Tom?
⇒ To serve in a bar or to drive a taxi was a respectable profession to Tom.
c. Why was George Ramsay staring into space?
⇒ George Ramsay was staring into space because his only brother, Tom, troubled him very much.
d. Why did Tom leave his work and wife?
⇒ Tom left his work and wife because he wanted to enjoy himself.
e. How did Tom manage his life when he ran out of money in the beginning?
⇒ Tom managed his life when he ran out of money at first by borrowing from friends.
f. How did Cronshaw and Tom cheat George?
⇒ Cronshaw and Tom cheated George by creating a fake case at the court.
g. What made George realise that his brother would never settle down?
⇒ George gave Tom considerable sums for amendment which Tom spent to buy a car and jewellery. Such situations forced George to realise that his brother would settle down.
h. What is the moral of the story ‘The Ant and Grasshopper’?
⇒ The story writer takes a different approach to the moral of the traditional fable, presenting a contrasting perspective. Instead of emphasizing the notion that honesty and hard work lead to success, the story delves into the darker aspects of life, suggesting that not everyone who is honest and diligent will necessarily achieve prosperity. However, despite this portrayal, the narrative also carries a message of optimism, encouraging readers to maintain a positive outlook even during difficult times.
Read the story again and write a brief summary.
The Ramsays were a respected family, led by George Ramsay and his troublesome brother, Tom. Despite starting a business, Tom found it dull and abandoned not just his venture but also his wife and two children to embark on a journey. In dire need of funds, he borrowed money from friends, while George, hoping Tom would eventually settle down and start anew, continuously supported him financially. However, Tom misused the money given by George, purchasing a car and jewellery instead of focusing on stability. When George stopped providing him with funds, Tom resorted to blackmailing his own brother. Eventually, with the assistance of Cronshaw, he concocted a fraudulent lawsuit and managed to acquire five hundred pounds. Immediately after cashing the cheque, Tom and Cronshaw escaped to Mont Carlo, where they remained for several months.
Grammar I
Causative Verbs
A. Fill in the gaps with the correct form of have, get or make.
a. Did they make you give a speech on behalf of the group?
b. Instead of buying a new car, why don’t you get the old one fixed?
c. I will get my hair cut tomorrow morning.
d. The teacher gets every one of us to write an essay yesterday.
e. Ms Shrestha usually gets her hair dried at the hairdresser’s.
f. My mum always makes me clean my room on Saturdays.
g. I got my landlord to fix the broken windowpane this morning.
h. Suman had all the Maths problems solved by the teacher.
B. Rewrite the sentences with have, get or make.
a. She will ask her sister to light the lamp.
⇒ She will make her sister light the lamp.
b. I am going to ask the dentist to fill my teeth.
⇒ I get the dentist to fill my teeth.
c. Will you ask the barber to cut your hair?
⇒ I get the barber to cut my hair.
d. I can’t design my house myself. So I am going to ask an architect to do it.
⇒ I have an architect design my house.
e. The girl asked her mechanic to repair her moped.
⇒ She got her mechanic to repair her moped.
f. The landlady asks the gardener to cut the grass.
⇒ The landlady makes the gardener cut the grass.
C. Choose the best alternatives and complete the sentences.
[The answer of the Question has been bold]
a. Mina got Shambhu ……………… (carry/to carry/carried) her suitcase.
b. Rita had Ankit ………………… (wash/to wash/washed) her clothes.
c. They got me ……… (dance/to dance/danced) at my brother’s wedding.
d. Kumari was made………….(turn on/to turn on/turned on) the television.
e. Barsha got new books …………… (buy/to buy/bought) her last week.
f. Upendra got Mukesh ………… (watch/to watch/watched) his house.
g. My father is very kind. He never makes us ……… (do/to do/done) heavy work.
h. The film was very humorous. It made us all………………… (laugh/to laugh/laughed) throughout the film.
i. His hair was too long. So he had it ………………… (cut/to cut/cutting) yesterday.
j. The manager……………..(made/got/make) his secretary attend the conference.
k. Mathew made the mechanic ………………… (overhaul/to overhaul/overhauling) his car.
l. Smith had Jacque ……………… (fetch/to fetch/fetched) a pail of water.
m. My maths teacher asked us to remember all the theorems. In other words, we were made ……… (remember/remembered/to remember) all the theorems.
Reading 2
Leisure
A. Match the words with their meanings.
a. stare- iv. to look at somebody or something for a long time
b. beneath- v. under somebody or something
c. woods- i. an area of trees
d. enrich – ii. to improve the quality of something
e. glance- iii. to look quickly at somebody or something
B. Answer the following questions.
a. Why is our life so miserable, according to the poet?
⇒ According to the poet, our life is so miserable because we have no time to stand and stare.
b. What do sheep and cows do in nature?
⇒ Sheep and cows stand beneath boughs and stare.
c. What do squirrels do in the woods?
⇒ Squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
d. What magic does Beauty perform?
⇒ Beauty (a beautiful girl) smiles and dances beautifully.
e. What is human life like, if observed carefully?
⇒ If observed carefully, human life is poor.
Grammar II
A. Change the following sentences into passive voice.
Someone is helping her with the housework.
⇒ She is being helped with the housework.
The mail-order company sent him a parcel.
⇒ He was sent a parcel by the mail-order company.
My friend sent me an invitation.
⇒ I was sent an invitation by my friend.
The secretary has given the minister the letters.
⇒ The minister has been given the letters by the secretary.
The traffic police officer had already fined him for a parking offence.
⇒ He had already been fined for a parking offence by the traffic police.
John gave Elizabeth that beautiful ring.
⇒ That beautiful ring was given by John.
Her students have sent her flowers.
She has been sent flowers by her students.
He must give the message to the right person.
The message must be given to the right person.
We teach our students English and French.
⇒ Our students are taught English and French.
Someone bought flowers for the bride.
⇒ Flowers were bought for the bride.
The guide showed the tourists the sights of Pokhara.
⇒ The tourists were showed the sights of Pokhara by the guide.
They pay her an excellent salary.
⇒ She is paid an excellent salary.
B. Fill in the blanks with the correct passive form of the verbs in the brackets.
The Mayor inaugurated a sports centre in our town last week. The facility is believed to be one of the largest in the country and experts hope that it will be visited by thousands of amateur and professional athletes over the course of the next few years. The centre had been constructed for over 6 years. However, it hasn’t been completely finished yet. Workers are making the final adjustments this week and say that it will be completed by the end of the month. The centre offers various sports facilities including two indoor swimming pools, three large gyms, and a ball court. They can be booked online or directly at the administration desk. The equipment was bought from local companies, which also provided training programs. The new centre was financed by government funds as well as grants that have been given to the region by the European Union. Politicians and famous athletes from all over the country have been invited to the official opening ceremony, scheduled for next Tuesday.
Writing II
Write an essay about ‘Work and Leisure’ in approximately 200 words.
Work and Leisure
Work and leisure are two fundamental aspects of human life that play significant roles in shaping our experiences, perspectives, and overall well-being. Work represents the necessary activities we engage in to earn a living, contribute to society, and meet our material needs. It often involves dedicated time, effort, and skill application. On the other hand, leisure encompasses the time we spend outside of work, engaging in activities that bring us pleasure, relaxation, and personal fulfillment.
Work provides a sense of purpose, accomplishment, and financial stability. It allows us to utilize our skills and talents, contribute to society’s progress, and establish a sense of identity and self-worth. However, an excessive focus on work can lead to burnout, stress, and neglect of other important aspects of life. This is where leisure steps in as a vital counterbalance.
Leisure time allows us to recharge, rejuvenate, and pursue activities that bring us joy and fulfillment. It enables us to explore our passions, develop hobbies, spend quality time with loved ones, and appreciate the beauty of life. Engaging in leisure activities nurtures our mental and emotional well-being, fosters creativity, and promotes a healthy work-life balance.
While work and leisure are often viewed as separate entities, they are interconnected and influence each other. A well-rounded life integrates work and leisure harmoniously, ensuring that we find fulfillment in both domains. Striking a balance between the two is crucial for maintaining overall happiness, productivity, and a sense of fulfillment.
In conclusion, work and leisure are integral aspects of human existence. Work provides purpose, financial stability, and personal growth, while leisure offers opportunities for relaxation, self-expression, and enjoyment. Balancing the demands of work and the benefits of leisure is essential for leading a fulfilling and meaningful life. By acknowledging the importance of both and nurturing a healthy integration, we can optimize our well-being and create a life of purpose and joy.
Discussion
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